He heard his own muffled cry, the crackling of the whip over and over again.

“Please,” Valen begged. “Make it stop.”

The crackling turned to a soft beeping. Valen opened his eyes to find a world not doused in darkness, but drenched in light, the white walls and ceiling of Averia’s medical wing all around him.

And Nor, fast asleep in a chair at the edge of his bed.

In the few years that Valen had known Nor, truly known her, he had never seen her as she was now, utterly unguarded as she slept. His half sister was a private woman, stubborn enough to force back her tears until she could hide herself away. Her happiness manifested mostly in small smiles when they were together. Sometimes, she laughed in triumph. When Valen had finally allowed her inside of his mind, she’d grinned like she’d just captured a planet in her outstretched hands. Above all, Nor displayed her fury, her determination and her pride, like a set of badges proudly pinned to her chest.

But never...never had Valen seen her so exhausted. So empty.

“Nor,” Valen said hoarsely, as he tried to lift himself up on his pillows. His arms were weak, but he managed.

Her eyes fluttered open, panicked at first as she gasped, reaching for the sparkling necklace at her throat, then calming as she looked around and reality seemed to settle in.

A pang of guilt hit Valen. Zahn had given her that necklace.

“You slept,” Valen said. “Good. You needed the rest.”

They felt like the only words he could say. Stupid, empty words. But he’d spilled his heart already in her office. Before... He tried to remember what had happened then.

He grimaced as it all came flooding back. He’d nearly coughed up his own lungs, feeling like he was drowning in his own blood. He’d seen Nor’s face hovering over his, and then darkness. The kind he thought he might never come back from.

The beeping Valen had heard earlier still played in the background, emanating from monitors checking his vitals. The med droid that had carried him stood motionless in the corner of the room, likely ready to spring into action should Valen need any care.

“You slept, too,” Nor said. No crown, no extravagant gown. Her eyes were rimmed in red, and she looked at him like Valen imagined anyone would look at a dying person. Like every glance might be their last.

But he wasn’t dying. Valen was strong. Darai had always told him that, and Nor had, too. He was simply pushing himself too hard, too far. But was there any other choice?

No, Valen thought. There wasn’t, not when the satellite was nearly done, and Androma was likely well on her way to Arcardius to hand over her access to the weapons network.

“How do you feel?” Nor asked.