Cally took a step forward almost without thinking. Low down on the wall opposite, the crudely scratched words mocked her with their message, cryptic no longer. She stared at them in dismay.

Earlier she had recognised the drawing of Gan's boot by the Decima but the meaning of the remainder of the message had eluded her. What she had thought of as "4647/5" became "AGANS" before her eyes. She thought to the flight deck: "Jenna, there are three of them: two armed Amagons, captive Decima knows Gan. They have Orac's key. I am wounded, need help."

"Gan," said Avon, "What happened when you teleported over to the Amagon ship?" "They showed me a console that had burned out. They talked with me for a few minutes then knocked me out with some foam-gas. When I came to I was in the hold with Cally and the others." "Were there any Decimas on the Amagon ship?" asked Blake. "No," said Gan. "I think they planted a transmitter in your boot while you were out. Four days ago they homed in on it and triggered it. Then it exploded, disintegrating your boot in the proc ..." " - Are we going to answer Cally's message?" Jenna interrupted. She grabbed a gun. "We are not over Zondar now."

"Where are you going?" asked Gan. "I am heading to the far entrance of the teleport bay. Give me two minutes, then distract them from the near entrance. They know you or Blake as the big guy. Avon, work on Zen." Jenna stole off before Blake or Avon could add anything.

Two minutes later Gan walked past Cally in the dark, bumbled into the invader. He reversed himself but he had been seen. "Stop. Hands up." Gan raised his hands, turned around. The older man approached him, weapon at the ready. Behind him Jenna jumped out of her hide and shot the younger one. Gan grabbed the elder by the throat and his gun-arm. "That wasn't supposed to happen, was it? Where is Cally?" "She, she got away."

"We have killed one and captured the other," said Jenna into the ship-wide-phone, "but I don't think they are Amagons." "Bring him to the flight deck," said Avon. "Will do," said Gan. "The Decima is here with Orac's key but there is no sign of Cally." "Blake and Vila have gone to look for her. Come back here quickly."

At that moment the Liberator lurched. Gan fell down, on top of the prisoner, tearing his, the captive's, shiny, silvery belt buckle. Jenna smiled at the sounds.

On the flight deck Jenna gave Orac's key to Avon. "Reverse thrust and stop." "It is ignoring us," said Avon, "but let's see if Orac can't fix it." Zen's calm voice came through Orac's channel: "Command Code has been keyed and by-passed. Liberator is unable to maintain normal functions." "Over-ride it and gain control, Orac." "Your little box can't give you your ship back," said the captive. "Blake, Vila, Cally," said Gan, "report your location, please. We are on the flight deck."

"For two days we have been hailing Federation flotilla 17," said the captive. "They will be upon you soon." "Orac, how far away is Federation flotilla seventeen at time-distort ten?" "The flotilla is thirty-four minutes away." "How many pursuit ships are there in Federation flotilla seventeen, or do I already know?" Avon was thinking of the device he had used on Silmareno to detect detectors. "There are three pursuit ships in flotilla 17."

... Part Four ends

Seven things to include (min. 1, max. 7, replace after use)

1) a sensor-pad

2) serum of a mutoid

3) voice-synthesiser

4) "We are calculating at time distort ... "

5) Cally fainting

6) Cygnus

7) a small black case belonging to Avon

DC, who welcomes Sally M back

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