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CHAPTER TEN

Cara was doing her best not to show how exhausted she was. Malosan soldiers were standing guard over them and she had a feeling they wouldn't be sympathetic to any weakness. She stole a glance over at Sophie. Her sister was tiring and Luca was having to help her with most things. She wished she'd never brought her.

"What are we doing here?"she asked quietly to Jarrel.

Jarrel didn't look round, instead speaking out of the corner of his mouth. "We are removing all the weapons from the ship. Papa Minn intends to use them in a variety of ways. Some will be installed here, some will be installed on his own planes. Some he intends to have his scientists analyse so he can try and duplicate them."

Cara tried hard not to show any outward signs of the horror she felt. An army of Malosan troops, armed with alien weapons and with Papa Minn directing them, was the stuff of nightmares. "What about the ship? Can it still fly?"

"It doesn't need the weapons to be spaceworthy. Our next job after this is to repair the ship. I think he believes his enemies will find it intimidating."

"Would it take you long?"

"Not long. Why?"

Cara gave a ghost of a smile. "I'm getting an idea."

Her thoughts were interrupted by a bark from one of the soldiers. "Work shift is over. Curfew begins. Return to your hangar. If you do not comply, you will be shot."

Stephen walked into the lab. As he'd expected, Irene was standing in front of the monitor. He coughed awkwardly and went to stand by her. "Seen anything interesting?"

Irene almost looked amused. "That's something of a loaded question."

Stephen reddened slightly. "I guess we need to talk."

"Hmm. I haven't actually had any experience on the protocol of what you say to someone you've slept with." She watched Stephen and saw the minute reaction in his face. "Yep, you picked up on that subtext."

"I'm sorry,"Stephen sighed.

"That's okay. I did kind of hope it would be you and I did kind of enjoy it. And I do know it was just a comfort thing. And you should know that it doesn't mean you didn't love her."

Stephen looked at her with something approaching wonder. "Were you in my head just then?"

"Nope. Don't need to be telepathic to be able to predict that one. So, how did I do?"

Stephen smiled. "Good talk. No-one would ever know it was your first time."

"Compliment appreciated. And to answer your original question, there's nothing new scientifically, but Russell and Mike were monitoring the news channels…and there's something that everyone should really see."

The television in the rec room was dominated by an image of Papa Minn. He had once more managed to hijack television broadcasts. "The world has seen the power I hold over those who dare to intrude on my territory. And anyone who does likewise will suffer the same fate. But now…now I seek to expand my control, as is my right. My message is for the neighbouring states of Solopus and Foroa. You have twenty-four hours to stand down your armies and surrender your territory to me. If you do not, then the power at my command will be turned upon you."

Stephen paused the recording and looked round at the crowd of Tomorrow People. "Papa Minn's starting small,"Russell remarked.

"But he's thinking big,"Stephen pointed out.

"He won't stop at two small island states,"John agreed. "He'll keep going. He'll target bigger and bigger countries."

"He wants the entire world,"Astrid finished.

"But what's that got to do with us?"Andrew demanded.

Stephen gave him a sceptical look. "You got somewhere else to live?"

"You want us to go back there, don't you?"Piper asked.

"How many of us?"Charlotte wondered.

"As many as we need,"Stephen answered.

"Last time you went out there, half the people that went with you got killed,"Andrew persisted. "What, do you want the rest of us to get killed too?"

"We know what to expect this time,"John argued. "We'll make a plan, we won't go in unless we've all got a chance of coming out alive."

Andrew didn't seem convinced. "Yeah, sure."

"Now listen to me, all of you,"Stephen said loudly. "I lost people I loved out in Malosa. I don't want to go back there either. But we are the future of humanity. We are the Tomorrow People. And we need to decide what that future's going to be. We didn't ask for this but we've got it. So, are we going to let the world be run by people like Papa Minn? Or are we going to guide it into a better future, show people that there's still some decency out there?"

Irene took a step forward. "Well, I'm in."

Astrid copied her. "Me too."

Russell joined them. "And me."

Stephen looked around as more and more people stepped forward: Mike, Charlotte, Lucy, Piper, Troy. And finally, if somewhat reluctantly, Andrew. Stephen smiled. And then he collapsed to his knees in pain.

The air was foul, slick with sweat. The atmosphere was hot. Faces swam into view. Alien faces, their skin red and blotchy, but human faces too, familiar ones. All crowded in, taking up the thin oxygen…

Stephen gave a gasp and then he was back in the Refuge. Astrid crouched by his side, taking his shoulders gently. "Stephen, what's wrong?"

Slowly, Stephen stood up. "I think…I think it was Cara."

John stared at him, not quite able to believe it. "What do you mean?"

"You remember when I had a suppression band on? She managed to link with me somehow despite it, she knew I was in danger. This felt like that. I think something's happened to her that means she can't use her powers. That's why we couldn't hear her."

John slowly began to smile. "Then that means…"

Stephen grinned. "She's alive, John! Sophie and Luca too, I think!" They double high-fived each other in delight.

Russell looked on, bemused. "Well…guess that gives us another good reason to go back."