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“You’re as good as anyone. You could come and go freely from the station, and you trusted me. I ensured you’d do everything I told you to do.”

Nell hissed through her teeth. “I should squash you like a bug.”

Rane rested a hand on her arm. “Who are you working with?”

The Passista howled.

“It will only get harder if you keep fighting me.” Rane’s head pounded, and his stomach lurched. He was running out of juice.

“Councillor Agrave.”

Rane stared at the Passista in disbelief. “You and the Tolong are planning an attack on this galaxy?”

“He is working on the inside, assessing weak spots in the station, while I deal with everything else. We needed full access to the station. I recruited Nell because she was such a willing candidate.” The Passista gurgled a laugh.

Rane narrowed his eyes. It all made sense. The Passista and the Tolong had coordinated an attack. Passista had technology way beyond Tolong muscle. It would have been simple enough for Councillor Agrave to use Passista tech to block Rane’s influence during the negotiations.

“You’re both laying claim to this galaxy?”

The Passista shrank back and shuddered. “We agreed on a deal. We would share the spoils. He wants Prodigy for himself. I can’t see the appeal. I find these stations stifling. He’s welcome to it or, rather, what’s left of it after the bombs have gone off and my troops have decimated it.”

“Which isn’t happening,” Rane said. “Your explosives are being disarmed as we speak.”

The Passista growled. “The attack vessels are en route through the wormhole. It’s only a matter of time before we take control of this galaxy.”

Rane’s focus was jolted as Nell’s fingers dug into his arm. Her face was pale, and he sensed her stress level rising.

“How long have you been manipulating me?” she asked the Passista.

“Ever since your first visit.”

“What memories did you shove into my head?”

The Passista gurgled.

“Answer her,” Rane growled.

“My abduction,” Nell said. “Did you plant that in my mind?”

Rane sucked in a breath. “Is that true?”

“Foolish human,” the Passista said. “You told me you’ve been having trouble sleeping. That’s why you sought out the good Doctor Kingsbury.”

Rane caught hold of Nell as she staggered backward. “What about the marks on my body?”

“When you came to me, you mentioned a rash on the insides of your wrists. When I inspected it, they looked like the perfect alien puncture marks, the kind of thing you humans dream of happening to you. I added a few small additions and had you believe you were taken five years ago. It made you desperate for my help and so easy to influence.”

“You disgusting, lying piece of space crap.”

Rane grabbed hold of Nell as she advanced on the Passista. “Easy now. We still need our questions answered.”

“I’m going to kick the crap out of her when we’re done.”

Rane suppressed a smile. “If that will make you happy.”

The Passista slithered across the room, making a break for the door.

Rane redoubled his efforts, and she froze in place. “So, we’re clear. Nell was never abducted.”