Albert shook his head. ‘It’s like all she is is a shield, whether she realizes it or—’ He broke off, looking at Father. ‘Does she know?’

Father said nothing.

‘Tell me, Father? Does Theo know who she is? Who her family is?’

There was a long silence before he replied. ‘She does not.’

Albert was still shaking his head, looking at him. ‘Well, if you don’t take the prize! I feel so sorry for that girl! You didn’t care about Theo! You just cared about keeping her here so you—’

‘Do not presume to question my motives, Albert! What do you know of any of this?’

‘Enough to know that, ironically, the only person who actually cares about Theo—Theo herself—turned out to be Marcus!’

‘That’s not fair, Albert,’ said June.

‘No? Well he’s the only one who was worried about who took her, rather than the potential fallout from her kidnapping!’

‘Well, we can’t have that, can we?’ said Colby.

Albert, June and Father all jerked their heads towards him, all wearing the same expression, even as Kieran and Joe looked at each other. Kieran grinned. ‘Somethin’ tells me the cap’n’s got a plan.’

‘Don’t laugh. We’ll probably get killed.’

‘We’re getting’ killed now.’

‘True.’

‘So, what’s the plan, Cap’n?’ said Kieran.

‘Oh not a plan, really, more a—’

‘Do you all think you’re being funny?’ enquired Albert. ‘We’re sitting here tied up, so playing at being all macho and cool won’t help!’

‘Oh yes, about that tied-up bit,’ said Colby. ‘I think Joe has something to say about that.’ He smiled. ‘Don’t you, Joe?’

Almost apologetically, Joe held up his hands, the rope still trailing loose from his wrist, the light glinting off the shining silver blade in his hand. ‘Pa always did say a man can never be too prepared. Guess he was right.’

June looked stonily at him, and then, before any of them could say anything, she turned and walked swiftly towards the door.

‘Hie,’ hissed Colby. ‘What do you think you’re—’

But she had already walked out. They heard a muffled shout, and the sounds of a short, swift struggle, which ended almost as soon as it began. A moment later, June walked back in, holding two blasters.

Colby looked at her, respect in his eyes.

‘Wow.’

She snorted. ‘Woman, indeed. I don’t think the Praetor realizes just who it was who trained me. Or what I’ve been doing all this time.’