After it became obvious the battlepod was gone and wouldn’t come back, they spent the next couple of hours trying to get the systems back online. With Nim’s help, they tracked down the backups Kaine had made and were able to override the reset.

“How does it feel to be back in control?” asked Val.

“Comfortable,” said the disembodied voice.

She laughed.

“We should go to Pluvios,” said Peter.

“What? Why?”

“Lots of people angry against the Imperium there. We could recruit some folks to help us—”

“With what?”

“Well...”

“No, Peter. I’m not doing this again. Besides, the place is crawling with Impies. Last time we were there, things did not go so well. I’d rather not go back anytime soon.”

“Where then?”

“Kaine needs medical attention...”

“Elphine’s a bit far.”

She grunted. “We don’t need Elphine. Any reasonably advanced medical facility should do.”

“I’m sure they have one on Pluvios.”

“Peter!”

“Alright, alright...”

She scowled at him, then looked at her screens.

“Nim,” she called out. “What’s the closest planet with the medical requirements to handle Kaine’s case?”

“There are a few options,” said the voice. “But the nearest would be Gnorlia.”

She frowned at the name. “That’s not a rimworld.”

“We are far from the rim at the moment, Val. We were just on Derkanash, which is within the Imperium.”

“Damn. You’re right.” She rubbed her neck. “No matter the world we pick, there will be Impies.”

“There weren’t any on Derkanash,” remarked Peter.

“We’re not going back there!”

“Of course not. My point is, not every world within the Imperium has to be crawling with soldiers.”

She looked back at her displays. “Can you factor that in, Nim? Closest with no Impies?”

“It still would be Gnorlia.”

She sighed. “Then I guess that’s where we’re going.”

“Isn’t your friend in a stasis tube?” asked Peter.

“Yes.”

“Then why pick the closest? It doesn’t matter. There’s no rush anymore. That tube will keep him stable until we find the right place.”

“Peter, if this is another attempt to get us to Pluvios, I swear I—”

“No, sis.” He waved his hands in front of him. “Not at all. I’m just saying, why risk it? We’re in the heart of the Imperium. Even if there aren’t too many Impies on Gnorlia, any hospital there will still register our names and they’ll be processed within the system. I suspect you and I would both be flagged.”

She snorted. “You more than I.”

“Point is, it’d likely be safer to wait until we’re back in the rim. Fewer questions asked there.”

She waved a finger at him. “You’re the one who said there were worlds within the Imperium without too many Impies! It’d be nice if you made up your mind.”

“That was me making up my mind, sis. I hadn’t factored everything in. Now I have.”

“Fine. No Gnorlia. Let’s head for the rim. By the time we get there, we might have figured out where we want to go. Nim?”

“On it.”

The ship veered and sped up.

She glanced at her brother. “Just to be clear. Getting Kaine the medical attention he needs is my priority. You understand?”

He nodded. “Of course.”

As Starrider raced through space, the two of them looked at their options and finally settled for an overlooked world. Ovkan was one of the younger colonies. Settled slightly over a century ago, it had attracted medically inclined individuals because of its high biodiversity. Most plants there had healing or soothing properties that seemed promising. At the time, many thought it might become the next Elphine. Instead, it had been left to its own devices when the Emperor decided he no longer wanted to expand. A century later, almost everyone had forgotten about it.

People who lived in the rim, though, knew to go there when they needed serious medical attention. Peter had often used the place when he or his men had been hurt. So it felt like the logical choice for them now.

It was only when they finally reached Ovkan that they heard the news.

Gnorlia had sided with Qevahr, and the Emperor had sentenced the latter and its entire population to oblivion.

Val wondered if the universe was going mad.