Toon obviously shared Ty’s disappointment. “I thought it would be a little more … polished,” he admitted, stroking his jowls.

“It is a prototype,” Mantessa said quickly. “A working prototype.”

Toon took a step forward, his Orzrelanso muscle shifting beside him. Ty had already discounted the overgrown oaf, whom the senator had hilariously introduced as his “secretary,” Ratko. He looked impressive, but Ty had already formulated at least three different ways to incapacitate the brute. It always paid to be prepared.

“And how exactly does it work?”

Mantessa smiled, pulling a small remote from her sleeve. She pressed a button and the unit started whirring, lighting up like the Dynamo’s control console.

“The finished unit will be far less conspicuous,” she explained. “Not to mention much smaller, meaning it can be mounted on walls or roofs without drawing attention.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Toon said, peering at the device, which, rather disconcertingly, was starting to steam.

“At its heart is a recainium core,” Mantessa continued, unperturbed, “which is currently spinning within a vortex chamber.”

Toon took a sharp step back. “In which case you can turn it off! Recainium is illegal!”

“Only in its raw form.”

“In every form,” Toon insisted. “And for good reason.”

Mantessa wasn’t giving up. “But as you will see, the four-seven nullifier will be an excellent reason for the Senate to revisit that decision.”

Ty’s stomach tensed. She knew what she was about to be asked to do and didn’t like it, or the way the Orzrelanso’s hand had moved none-too-subtly to the bulge beneath his jacket.

“Turn it off,” Toon insisted.

Mantessa’s eyes flashed with frustration. “But you said you wanted a demonstration.” She turned to Ty. “Yorrick, if you would be so kind?”

Ty breathed out, snatching her lightsaber from her belt. The purple blade snapped on, and the Orzrelanso finally pulled his blaster, the idiot going so far as to squeeze off a bolt. This was not how this had been meant to be. Ty swung, sending the energy slamming harmlessly into the wall. The Orzrelanso’s finger tightened again and Ty threw up a hand, pushing him back a little too forcibly. He crashed into the wall, cracking his domed head on the stonework, his blaster skidding across the floor toward Toon’s feet. The senator dived for it, coming up to fire at Ty, who again batted the bolt away.

This was definitely not what Ty had signed up for, and that was before a figure in white and gold flew through the window.

Stellan had been ready to jump the moment a lightsaber had been mentioned, but Elzar had held him back.

“Wait. We need to know what they are doing.”