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Which, it turned out, was not a nightmare after all.

“Stang,” Admiral Nek Bwau’tu said in a raspy, faint voice.

“Welcome back to the land of the living, nephew,” came a familiar drawl. With an effort, Bwua’tu turned his head and smiled faintly.

Eramuth Bwua’tu, Esquire, sat in a chair beside Nek. His cane, black and simple with the handle carved to resemble a beast out of Bothan folklore, was propped against a table. His favorite jaunty hat was perched beside it. Nestled under the table was a small, old-fashioned black bag. His long coat was neatly folded on another chair, and he wore only vest, trousers, and a shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He did not even wear gloves. In other words, for him, he was dressed extremely casually.

“Hello, Uncle Eramuth,” Nek rasped. “Don’t … you have a trial to be attending?”

Eramuth’s eyes grew solemn. “Alas,” he said in his resonant voice, pitched softly now, “the trial ended with a conviction for my client. And I was shocked … shocked! … to discover that soon after the jury reached its decision, the little nexu escaped. I have utterly no idea where she is.”

But his eyes crinkled as he spoke. Bwua’tu chuckled.

“Dear Uncle Eramuth, what do you have up your sleeve?”

“Why, nothing, they are rolled up, as you can plainly see.” He leaned forward. “You look a great deal better than you have for the last several weeks. How are you feeling?”

Weeks?

“I would feel better if I knew what I have missed.”

“Well, that’s quite a lot. Do you—” Eramuth paused in midsentence. One ear swiveled and he jerked his gray-muzzled head up, peering at the door for a moment before he relaxed. “Here’s someone who will be almost as glad to see you awake as I am.”

The door eased open and Rynog Asokaji entered, bearing two cups of caf.

“Is one of those for me?” rasped Nek. The Bith started, moving deftly in order to not spill the hot liquid, and blinked his large eyes rapidly as he set them down. Eramuth smiled at them both. As the admiral and his aide-de-camp talked, the lawyer fished out a comlink and spoke quietly into it.

“Admiral!” Asokaji’s voice was a gasp of happiness. “I would gladly get you an entire pot of caf if the doctors would let me. It is so good to see you back with us.”

Nek was becoming more aware of his surroundings with each minute. He glanced up at the vidscreen hanging above his bed, currently displaying a news show. Some things the report was covering seemed familiar, yet he did not remember them before his attack.

“Let me guess,” he said to Asokaji. “You’ve been with me the whole time—at least as much as the doctors would let you. And you’ve been playing these on the odd chance that something might get through to me in my comatose state.”

Asokaji nodded. “Well, sir, the FX medical droid did suggest that exposure to visual stimuli might help you awaken sooner. As soon as I heard that, I obtained permission from the doctors to have it playing constantly. It seemed to help.”

Nek nodded. “I … think there were some things that did get through. Well done.” He was still weak, and it was an effort to turn his head to look at Eramuth. “How is Natasi holding up?”

His uncle’s eyes grew sad. “That’s … one of the things you need to know. But if I’m right, and I often am, your doctors should be here momentarily. They’ll have been alerted to your new state.” He leaned forward, peering intently at his nephew. “Now, Nek, I want you to trust your old uncle. You’re awake, but you’re mighty incoherent. Groggy. There might even be brain damage.”

He was using his lawyer-to-client voice, and Nek knew better than to argue.

A golden-furred Bothan and a Duros entered. They both beamed at Nek.

“Admiral,” said the Bothan. “I’m Dr. Ysa’i, and this is Dr. Javir. We came as soon as we were alerted to your condition. Welcome back.”

Nek peered at them, then cast a helpless glance over at Eramuth, who looked somber. “He’s been awake for a few minutes, but … I’m not sure how back he is.”

Ysa’i and Javir exchanged glances and frowned. “Our instruments indicate that his brainwave