The scav droids littered the surface of the hull, their talonlike claws embedded in the metal plates, their burrowing, drill-like jaws already rending holes in its pitted surface. They’d descended on the transport moments after the ship had entered the planet’s atmosphere. More were tumbling out of the sky, glowing bright orange as the friction of atmospheric entry caused them to overheat.

But these were hardy droids, designed to work in the harshest conditions, and as they fell, they flowered open their legs and slammed into the ship, attaching like deadly limpets ready to feast.

She felt the hull plating vibrate with each new arrival, trembling beneath her feet.

She didn’t have long.

You can do this, Avar.

Avar closed her eyes and listened for that strange, discordant song. And then, when its faint strains began to tickle at the edge of her thoughts, she opened her eyes again and leapt, pirouetting up onto the hull of the ship, holding herself there by sheer force of will as they dived through the thin upper atmosphere of Prandril.


Star Wars The High Republic The Eye of Darkness Chapter 22