“Sleko, wait!” Stellan called out, but it was already too late. The Toydarian had barely reached the right-hand side of the stall before the crowd rushed toward him, desperate to be the first to be flown to safety. The sudden shift in weight was enough to overload the struggling repulsors. The right-hand side of the stall suddenly dropped, flinging the audience in the air. The tier dropped like a stone, Stellan throwing his hands up to try to catch as many fair-goers as he could. It wasn’t enough. At least a dozen hit the ground as the stall itself came crashing down, landing first on its end before toppling over to crush those who had survived the fall.

“No …” Stellan moaned, knowing even before he reopened his eyes that he’d only managed to catch five of the fifty audience members waiting for the next performance. Another, a small Bivall child, was cradled in Sleko’s arms as he flew back to the ground, the Toydarian’s blue skin blanched with grief. There was no way of telling if the youngling’s parents were still alive.

Stellan went to run forward but a firm hand clasped his arm. He tried to yank it away, but Larep Reza’s fingers held fast.

“You need to get the chancellor to safety,” the Kalleran said, his dark eyes resolute. “I will help the injured.”

“As will my guard,” Elarec Yovet added.

“Regasa, no,” the guard captain said, the knuckles around his polearm white.

The queen took a step forward, displaying serenity worthy of a Jedi Master, whatever was happening around her. “Their need is greater than mine, Maramis. You will come with me, while the rest of the guard will help the vice chancellor. Do you understand?”

“As you command, Supreme Huntress,” Maramis said, bowing to his sovereign before ordering his charges to assist the wounded.

“Thank you, Regasa,” Larep said, chasing after them to join the stewards who, along with Mayor Lariin, were already at work assessing the injuries of those who had survived.

Stellan turned to the remainder of their party. In addition to Soh, Elarec, and Maramis, there was Norel Quo to worry about, not to mention the two targons and Madam Conserra, who had stayed with the chancellor when the rest of the company had turned and fled, gambling that a full company of Togruta guards would keep her safe, a bet that now looked less sensible than it had.

“We need to move,” Stellan said, trying to block out the panic and sorrow all around. The roar of the marauders’ engines was already increasing as they came around for another strike.

“We should go to the Republic building,” Soh said as they hurried from the stage.

“No. We’ll head for the Jedi outpost.”

“The outpost?” Maramis repeated incredulously. “It is not completed.”

“But the vaults beneath the surface are,” Stellan insisted. “Both the chancellor and the regasa will be safe down there.”