She sat up straight, took a deep shaky breath and managed to look at Enrico without flinching.

She said, ‘We don’t kill people. We would never do a thing like that. Even if this Topaz really was a bad person, we wouldn’t kill her – and it sounds like she’s not bad. She’s just fighting for what she believes in. We can’t help you.’

Enrico smiled knowingly. ‘This is a negotiating tactic, I assume? Rest assured, I’m fully aware of your reputation. The Brigade first came to my attention when I heard that you had survived a trip to the planet of Arth. I knew then that you must be formidable creatures indeed!’

‘But all we did was freeze the Arth Creatures,’ said Nicola. ‘We’re not killers!’

‘LIAR!’

This time Enrico punched the table with both fists. Most of the goblets on the table fell over, spilling liquid everywhere.

‘Daddy!’ said Josie, mopping at her dress.

Enrico ignored her. ‘I have PROOF that you are trained killers!’ he shouted.

‘Proof? What proof?’ said Nicola. How could there be proof of such a terrible thing?

He pulled a faded newspaper from his pocket and shook it at them. Nicola caught a glimpse of the headline, NICOLA AND HER FRIENDS SAVE THE WORLD. It was the same clipping that was pinned to the noticeboard at home. Her heart sank as she remembered what it said.

‘Oh frizzle,’ said Sean quietly.

‘Let me read this to you,’ said Enrico. ‘Last week, Nicola Berry and blah, blah, blah, “The Space Brigade ”undertook a daring intergalactic mission to kill an unspeakably evil alien princess – Princess Petronella – blah, blah, blah. They succeeded admirably.’

‘But it’s not true,’ said Nicola miserably.

‘Not true? It’s in the newspaper! Are you suggesting they just make things up?’ Josie and Joseph tittered behind their hands.

‘I think that sometimes they just bend the truth a little to make a story sound more interesting,’ said Nicola.

‘Princess Petronella is alive and well,’ pointed out Shimlara. ‘We never killed her. We just convinced her to change her mind about destroying Earth. Ring the Palace on Globagaskar if you don’t believe me. They’ll tell you! Or ring my mum.’

Enrico looked at her thoughtfully. He pulled a hank of his hair over his shoulder and stroked it lovingly.

‘Mmmmm,’ he said.

Tyler spoke up. ‘We’re just kids, sir. Do we look capable of killing anyone?’ He made his eyes look wide and innocent.

‘It’s true that you do appear very young and weak,’ said Enrico.

‘Hey!’ Sean looked insulted.

Nicola shot him a ‘be quiet’ look. She decided it was time to press home the advantage with Enrico.