"Kenniston, I came in this way because I didn't dare let Dark see me talking to you!" the Jovian exclaimed. His face was urgent in expression. "I've found out that Dark doesn't mean to let your friends here get away from Vesta alive." "What?" exclaimed Kenniston. "That's impossible! Dark said he was going to hold Gloria and the others for ransom." Holk Or nodded hastily. "I know, and he meant it, then. But since then, he's found out something that's changed his plans. He found it out from me--like a big fool, I told him everything when he questioned me." The Jovian continued rapidly. "I told him that Murdock had sent that telaudio message back to Patrol headquarters, asking about my record. Now Dark figures that the Patrol will come out here to find out if that message meant that some of John Dark's outfit had actually escaped. "Dark wants the Patrol to keep thinking that he and his outfit were destroyed--so he can slip out to Pluto and prepare a new base. So Dark, when he leaves here, is going to drop Miss Loring and her friends by the wrecked _Sunsprite_, so the Patrol will find 'em dead by the wreck and will believe their cruiser crashed accidentally. That way, they won't go on searching as they would if Miss Loring's party was all missing. And Dark will have a chance to get out to Pluto without an alarm going out." Kenniston was suspicious. "Why do you tell us this, Holk? You're one of the pirates yourself." "I know, but I'm afraid Dark means to drop _me_ with the others by the _Sunsprite_!" Holk Or exclaimed. "He didn't say so, but I believe he figures on doing it so that the telaudio inquiry about me would be explained when I was found dead with the others by the wreck." Murdock said swiftly, "The Jovian's right, Kenniston. All this is just what Dark _would_ do, to hide his trail, now that he knows my telaudio message may have aroused the Patrol's suspicion." Holk Or said emphatically, "I'm with you if you can figure out any way to take the _Falcon_, Kenniston!" Kenniston paced to and fro. His whole mind was suddenly in a wild turmoil of stark fears. This meant death for Gloria and the others, and the ultimate responsibility for that death would be his. "There is one possible chance for us to take the _Falcon_," he muttered finally. "But my God, it seems like an insane idea--" "Wait a minute!" Captain Walls interrupted. "Dark won't drop you and your brother to die, Kenniston. He still needs your brother as a physician. You two will be safe even if we are killed." "What of that? I can't let Gloria and the rest of you be murdered! I was willing to sacrifice you when I thought it was only a question of your being held for ransom, but this changes everything," Kenniston said wildly. "It doesn't change anything," the captain said firmly. "Your duty is to keep your brother alive at all costs, to save that formula that means life and hope for thousands of gravitation-paralysis victims like my son."