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equipment, you can detect even tiny little particles of it. That’s why there’s so little crime back on Earth these days. The cops can work out exactly who was where, when, and what they did.”
    â€œStop that whispering!” cried Commander Ferguson. “More scheming? I’ve heard quite enough from you three. Stand there, where I can see you, and don’t move. You can consider yourselves under arrest, until the rescue ship arrives.”
    At that moment, Mr Snodbury came bustling in. “Ah! There you are! You three were supposed to stay with me and Jane Parker. I’m so sorry, Commander, I hope they’ve not been making a nuisance of themselves.”
    Commander Ferguson slowly turned to face Mr Snodbury. The expression on his face declared that he’d had about all he could stand for one day. Within a matter of minutes, he and Mr Snodbury were having a heated discussion on the topic of George, Josh and Amira.
    While Mr Snodbury was squawking things such as “Under arrest?” and “Outrageous accusation!” George turned his attention to other matters.
    â€œWhere’s Dwayne got to, I wonder?” he muttered to himself. Making sure that the Commander wasn’t looking in his direction, George nudged Amira with his elbow. “Does this station have security cameras?”
    â€œYes, I think so,” said Amira. “I don’t know how many will still be working.”
    â€œCan you hack into the camera system with your mini-screen?”
    â€œSure, easy.” She booted up some software, entered some data, and up popped a picture of the corridor outside the Control Centre. “Here. You can flick between cameras by pressing this button.”
    â€œThanks,” said George, taking the mini-screen and tapping his way through various views. At last, he found what he was looking for. A thin, furtive figure was sneaking along towards the crew quarters. The image from the camera was jumpy and crackling, but George could clearly see that the figure was Dwayne.
    â€œI knew it,” he muttered. “I knew you’d be trouble. Why are you sneaking back to the cabins?”
    Could Dwayne have been responsible for the explosion? Was he secretly working for MaxiBoost Spaceways?
    George passed the mini-screen to Josh and Amira and pointed at the figure of Dwayne. A look of shock and surprise flashed across their faces.
    â€œYou don’t think – ” Amira began.
    ZZAAA – ZZAAA – ZZAAA –
    Before they had time to discuss the theory any further, an emergency siren filled the air. George almost jumped out of his skin. Technicians dashed across the Control Centre, gathering around a screen which was flashing warnings and a series of numbers rapidly counting down from 65%.

    â€œOne of the emergency seals has given way!” cried one of the crew to the Commander. “We’re losing oxygen fast!”
    â€œCut in the back-ups!” called the Commander.
    â€œI can’t, sir, they run on power from reactor 2. There’s no way to engage the air pump.”
    Mr Snodbury cowered in terror behind one of the workstations.
    â€œWhere’s the manual over-ride?” cried the Commander. “If we don’t get the back-ups working we’ll all suffocate!”
    â€œIt’s on the other side of corridor B-11, sir… so, since the explosion, it’s now out in space.”
    George clapped his hands to his ears to block out the din of the alarm. The station was becoming more than simply a space-wreck in need of rescue. Its systems were starting to break down. It was rapidly turning into a death trap.

Chapter Five

Lost in Space
    Ash returned to the Control Centre accompanied by Parker, just as the alarm was silenced by a sharp order from the Commander.
    Ash brandished a small metallic device in his hand.
    â€œI’ve scanned the reactor’s panels, Commander,” he said. “The scanner is just