The aide fell silent, and they continued toward the walker, their eyes stinging despite Stellan’s protection, disorientation immediately setting in. A scream cut through the smoke to their right, the cry of a small child, distorted by the fog. A shadow appeared, materializing into the shape of a pale-skinned Krantian female, carrying a youngling, who ran straight into the group, barging into Stellan. He took a step back, his concentration broken, and the fog rolled in.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Quo snapped at the woman, who sobbed openly with tears prompted by grief as much as the caustic smoke.

“My family. I can’t find them. I … I think they’re dead. There was an explosion …” She was covered in blood, her child, a boy of no more than five years, clinging to her, terrified out of his wits.

Stellan leaned into the Krantian’s sorrow, using it as fuel to push back against the smog, to protect the woman and her child.

“What is the name of this little one?” Elarec said, supporting the woman who looked like she was about to collapse.

“Sarry.”

“And you are?”

“Lerahel.” The Krantian was answering automatically, the regasa’s tone commanding but compassionate.

“We haven’t time for this,” Quo told them.

“Then we make time,” Soh said, putting a supportive hand on Lerahel’s arm. “Come with us, and we will do everything we can to keep you safe. Do you understand?”

Stellan didn’t see the woman nod. He was too busy trying to work out which way they should be traveling. The drama with the mother and child had disoriented him. He barely knew which direction they were facing anymore.

“The walker is that way,” Maramis said, pointing ahead, as if reading Stellan’s mind.

“Are you sure?” Norel Quo said, rubbing his inflamed eyes.

“He is,” Stellan said, nodding in thanks. He had heard stories about Togruta montrals, that the conelike horns gave the species a form of echolocation, but had never seen it in action until now. The Force told him he could trust it. They moved on as one, Stellan wishing he could help poor Sarry who wailed pitifully in his mother’s arms, but it was all he could do to keep them breathing clearly, let alone calm their minds.

“Surely we should have reached it by now?” Madam Conserra burbled, fear getting the best of her.

“Reached what?” Quo snapped back.

“The walker, of course.”

“We’re nearly there,” Soh said firmly. “Isn’t that right, Council Member?”

“We are,” Stellan replied, although for a moment he wasn’t so sure. Had they walked straight past the REW? Surely not. It had to be just ahead.

“There!” Maramis cried out. “There it is.”

The warning came just before Stellan could blunder into the gigantic metal leg that swam out of the smoke like a tree in front of them.