“We’re only three people, with a ship on the verge of collapse,” Dex said, uncannily echoing her earlier thoughts. It was true—the Marauder needed fuel and supplies, and the thrusters desperately needed a tune-up. With the way things were going, they wouldn’t be able to hide out in this nebula much longer.

Andi looked out the window to the dusty expanse beyond. She missed seeing the stars.

Dex continued. “We all want a solid plan that will allow us to rescue the girls without dying or becoming enslaved to Queen Nor in the process. But before we even think about going back to Arcardius, we need to figure out a way to refuel and gather supplies. We’re no good to anyone stranded in a nebula.”

“Or dead,” Lon added.

Dex nodded. “Exactly. We need to get the ship back into shape first. Then we can tackle the rest.”

“As much as I hate admitting this, you’re right,” Andi said with a sigh, glancing at Gilly’s drawings again.

Dex’s jaw dropped. He grabbed the holoscreen and aimed its camera at her. “Can you say that again? I want to document this moment.”

Andi pushed the screen away, rolling her eyes. “Is your brain so addled that you have to document things externally because you can’t store the information up there?” She flicked his forehead.

“If you want to know what I’m thinking, just ask.” He winked. “Just try not to combust when I describe the dirty—”

Andi was saved from hearing the details of Dex’s explicit thoughts when Havoc pounced over the back of the couch, landing on his shoulders with claws extended.

Dex cursed, fighting the creature off and handing it to Lon instead, who allowed Havoc to curl into his arms, its horns poking out from beneath Lon’s thin black shirt.

“I swear to the stars, I’m going to skin you and use you for a pair of boots,” Dex said with a growl as Havoc yawned innocently.

“Fuzzy orange boots?” Andi said, brows raised. “That does sound like just your style.”

Dex was about to backpedal when the holoscreen dinged and the feed projected a new video stream into the room. The face of Nor Solis filled the space, and Andi groaned at the thought of yet another propaganda vid.

The queen smiled down at them, looking every bit like the benevolent ruler she definitely wasn’t. “I hate her,” Andi mumbled.

Memory’s voice cut through the room, pausing the video before it could start. “Fuel supply at thirty percent.”

“Damn,” Dex whispered as Andi’s eyes bulged.

“Preserve energy use wherever you can, Memory,” Andi commanded.

“Command confirmed.”

The room went dark, the only light coming from the holoscreen. Andi tapped on the holoscreen to resume the feed. She might hate listening to Nor address her mindless followers, but they needed all the intel they could get.