Alyssa broke eye contact with him and lowered her gaze, looking guilty.

“I'm sorry, I should have said earlier..."

Their conversation came to an abrupt end as they heard Seb's heavy boots outside the office door.

“Hey, welcome back." John said to Seb, managing to hide his earlier shock.

“Everything good to go?"

“Sure John, let me just sort out the paperwork." The faux- friendly mine owner replied as he sat behind his desk and began to prepare the auth device, which would transfer ownership of the Tyrenium to John.

John threw a glance Alyssa's way. *Are you reading my mind now?* he asked experimentally, narrowing his eyes.

Alyssa met his gaze and gave a slight nod of her head, looking a bit contrite.

*WeLl I'LL be damned.* John thought, his eyes widening in wonder. Unfortunately further experimentation was cut short, as Seb held the prepped Auth device at the ready. John handed him the logging manifest for the Invictus and Seb plugged in the device and pressed a couple of buttons authorising the transaction.

“There we go." he said, smiling. He seemed to take in their ceramic plated body armour for the first time “You two in some kind of trouble?"

“Oh just a bit of gang trouble.” John replied “better safe than sorry.” he smiled amiably.

Seb nodded agreeably. *I'Ll give you trouble alright you fucker. I'm going to make you sorry you were born!* Seb thought to himself smugly.

"Ok we're all set. You two head back to the ship with the cargo and I'll come and meet you there with some extra boys to help speed up the loading." The mine owner said in a helpful manner.

*Just wait until you load the ship, then it's time to pay the piper.* Seb thought to himself, crowing over his impending victory. «This idiot won't even see it coming! *

John and Alyssa stood and shook Seb's hand, before leaving his office to meet with the truck driver who would be taking them back to the Loading dock. The whole experience was becoming increasingly surreal for Alyssa, especially when she had to smile and shake hands with Seb who was planning to kill John and do horrible things to her.

They climbed up into the cab of the massive truck and John greeted the pale skinned driver with a friendly nod. He moved to sit in the middle with Alyssa by the door. The engine rumbled loudly and the cab begin to vibrate as the chunky six wheeled vehicle began to move, leading the other 3 trucks in the convoy to the space port.

*S0 what's he going to do? do you know his plan?* John thought at Alyssa and then waited expectedly for her voice to appear in his head.

When nothing happened, he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. The beautiful blonde frowned at him cutely and then nodded her head.

*0h right, you can read my mind but I can't hear your thoughts?* John reasoned, figuring out the silence.

Another little nod from Alyssa, the truck driver not taking his eyes off the road, oblivious to the silent conversation happening only inches away from him.

*0k then, yes or no answer questions only.* he mused.

Alyssa nodded slightly, amazed at how well John was adapting to this situation and using it to their tactical advantage.