This couldn’t be all there was. Tennal dug a layer deeper, past Surit’s conscious thoughts. It didn’t take much to find the emotions lurking at the edge of Surit’s lists like a fog.

“Surit,” Tennal said, “why do you keep thinking about your mother?”

“Don’t do that.” Surit drew away from Tennal, trying to mentally to fold in on himself, but there was nowhere to go. Surit was pressed against the far wall of their sync.

“Sorry. Sorry,” Tennal said. He tried to pull himself back as well, but they were inextricable.

“It’s not going to come to a civil war,” Surit said.

Tennal caught a last flash of Surit’s mother. “Obviously not.” Tennal could say, This is just division posturing. He could say, Neither of them are Marit Yeni. Instead he reached out. He concentrated entirely on isolating his right arm, his own muscles stretching and contracting, his own bones moving in their joints. He kept his mind to himself. He touched Surit’s wrist.

Something in Surit changed, like a dull background noise that suddenly stopped. He mustered up a faint smile, which was a miracle given the amount of strain Tennal could feel from him. He said, “Showtime.”

The docking level was like an anthill overturned. The legislator’s sudden early arrival had thrown everyone. Rankers scurried down the corridor with comms equipment and Archer banners. Civilian passengers stood around in groups muttering about the sudden freeze on arrivals and departures. Sergeants shouted and chivvied. The legislator’s still image was on every screen Tennal saw. That picture’s from two years ago, Tennal thought irrelevantly. He’d bet she was a lot more furious now.

A wide, low-ceilinged room opened in front of them. The reception bay was usually another hall full of passenger crowds, occasionally repurposed to welcome VIPs like Resolution staff. It had been cleared and hastily turned into a conference room, with a negotiating table and Archer banners around the walls.

Soldiers were drawn up in ceremonial ranks at the sides. The legislator hadn’t yet arrived, and neither had Oma, so there was a certain amount of quiet talking. Tennal and Surit slipped in at the side; Tennal was recognized and waved forward. He tried not to seem a twitchy mess. He still didn’t have complete control of his left knee.

“Control says the legislator’s ship just docked,” one of the lieutenants reported.

The main doors on the other side of the room opened to admit Oma.