Not for long, Ty thought and raised a hand. “You will release us from these cells,” she said, trying to impose her will on the thug. Usually Ty found mind tricks impossible. She always had, but she needed to do something. At the very least, it would gave the Gran a blinding headache.

To her amazement, the Nihil paused, letting out a confused, “Errrr.”

“Try again,” Mantessa hissed, and Ty fought the urge to smash her own head against the bars.

“I said …” Ty began, but the Gran nodded stupidly before she could complete the command, his gas mask bobbing up and down.

“I release you from the cells,” he mumbled, shuffling toward the cell controls.

“That’s it,” Ty coaxed, thinking that perhaps the universe wasn’t such a bad place after all. “That’s it. Reach for the buttons.”

The Gran’s hand came up and …

“Zarabarb!” shouted another voice from the door. “What are you doing, man?”

The Gran whirled around, confused as his trance was broken, and unleashed a hail of blaster bolts. The newcomer—a Mon Calamari in a cracked visor—jumped back, narrowly avoiding the storm of blasterfire, but Ty knew what was coming. So much for the universe. For all she cared, it could take its help and shove it where the stars didn’t shine.

The cell block erupted into a war zone as the Mon Calamari at the door retaliated, joined by more raiders who didn’t care who they were shooting at as long as they caused as much damage as possible. Zarabarb’s body danced in the blasterfire as the Nihil piled in, a stray bolt nearly taking off Ty’s head.

Well, two could play at that game.

“Ram!” she shouted above the onslaught, hoping that the kid was still breathing. “Push them back, together.”

She didn’t wait for a response, pushing out with the Force. The blasters stopped as the marauders flew back, smashing painfully against the wall.

Ty glanced over, seeing Ram in his cell, a shaking hand held high. He looked pale but unhurt, although this was no time to rest on their laurels.

“Blasters,” she shouted. “Now!”

They both pulled with the Force, snatching weapons from dazed Nihil hands, at least a couple of fingers snapping as they were disarmed. Ty found it hard to sympathize as a carbine clanged against the bars of her cell. It fell to the floor, just out of reach. Ty called out with the Force, but the blaster didn’t budge.

“Get it, will you?” Mantessa barked.

“I’m trying,” Ty snapped. Using the Force wasn’t just a case of waving your hands and waiting for the magic to happen. It took effort, especially for the likes of her.

She’d just have to do it the old-fashioned way.

Ty dropped to the floor and reached through the bars up to her shoulder.