They left the underground garage and passed through a sliding door made of black glass. It was opaque when viewed from the garage, but once inside the house Tila could see the garage though the door and its generous array of luxury vehicles.

Jayce led them across the hallway decorated in a smooth white stone veined with blue and green, past guest reception rooms and then through another door.

Behind this was a short staircase which Jayce followed down. At the bottom of the stairs the air was warmer and humid, and through a clear circle in a frosted glass door they saw the pool.

'You can swim, right?' Jayce asked as he pulled the heavy door open. More warm, moist air flooded the stairwell.

Malachi and Tila both confirmed that they could, but Ellie just bit her lip and shook her head nervously.

'I've never seen that much water before!'

'You don't have to don't drink it, Ellie,' teased Malachi.

Ellie gave him a playful shove. 'I know not to drink the water you swim in Mal. It will be mostly engine grease.'

'You could drink it if you wanted,' said Jayce. 'No one's used the pool for twenty-four hours and that's enough time for the filters to have purified it all. On the other hand, it means the household staff won't have anything to do. What do you think, Tila? A complete waste of money?' He winked.

Tila was torn. It clearly was a waste of money, anyone could see that. On the Juggernaut this much fresh water would be worth a fortune. But then, she had loved swimming ever since her mother taught her a lifetime ago. She hadn't been in a pool in nearly ten years.

'Maybe,' she said.

'Tell you what, as it's already here, I won't judge if you have a swim, okay? And Ellie, if you don't know how to swim I could—'

Tila cut him off. 'She'll be fine with us, Jayce.'

'What do we wear?' said Malachi, changing the subject.

Jayce pointed to an archway they had not yet noticed at one end of the pool. 'There's guest rooms and showers though there, and a gym you're welcome to use. You know, in case a gentle swim is too relaxing. I know how you three love excitement.'

'Where will you be?' said Ellie.

'I have to get things ready for tonight. Take your time. I'll send someone to clean your clothes, or I can find you something else to wear. I know it's been a tough day, but just relax for now. Have fun!' He winked at Ellie and left.

'Well?' said Malachi to Tila. 'Shall we?'

Tila gazed at the water, longing to dive in and at the same time wanting to refuse anything Jayce offered.

'Maybe.'

'Well I'm going in,' said Ellie, and hurried to get changed.

'You can't swim, El,' Malachi reminded her.

Ellie called back just before she passed under the arch, 'Then you had better make sure I'm safe. And you too, Tila.'

Malachi started after her. Tila grabbed him by the arm.

'Mal, wait.'

'Tila, stop worrying. I know you find Jayce irritating but I don't think he's a bad guy.'

'He's still an idiot.'

'Maybe he is.' Tila raised one questioning eyebrow. 'Okay, he is, but there's no danger here. This place is nothing like home.'

That's exactly what bothers me Mal, she thought. The unfamiliar. This place is nothing like home. The danger is different. That's why I'm afraid I won't see it coming.

'In the meantime,' Malachi continued, 'let's check out this pool. Tell moody Tila to leave us alone for a while.'

'It's called being careful, Malachi.'

'Yeah? Well, be careful you don't fall in.'

'I won't—,' she began, but never finished the sentence. Malachi shoved her once, hard, with both hands, and sent her head first into the pool. She emerged from the depths full of sodden fury, and Malachi began laughing so hard it was all he could do to stagger to the wall for support.

'I'm going to kill you, Mal.'

'Do you want to get changed first?'

'Mal!'

'You're getting water everywhere, you know.'

'Help me out at least.' Tila waded to the pool edge and raised her hands to Malachi who refused to take the bait. Instead he turned and followed Ellie.

'I'm not falling for that, T. You're on your own.'

She splashed him instead. Then, all her cares washed away for the moment, she lay back in the water, enjoyed the moment, and plotted her revenge.

* * * * *

Five minutes later, Ellie was cautiously wading through the shallows, getting used to the strange and novel sensation of being gradually immersed in water, and afraid to get out of her depth. Tila was already swimming laps underwater. Malachi was last into the pool. He announced his arrival by shouting 'heads up!' and cannonballed into the pool.

He kicked off the pool floor and broke the surface with a roar.

Tila burst through the surface in front of him and spat a mouthful of water at him. Malachi blinked the water from his eyes and grinned back at her.

'You almost landed on me,' she complained with rare good humour. The water and exercise were washing away their cares, even if only for a little while. Malachi could even see a little mischief sparkle in her eyes. He felt it too. Each splash, each stroke, brought back memories of their old lives when they were children and free to wander and swim, before they had to grow up. Before the Juggernaut.

Malachi grinned again and stretched his arms wide. He suddenly swept them together, drenching Tila in the waves he made. He turned and swam away before she could catch him and try to dunk him underwater.

'This isn't over, Chambers,' Tila half shouted, half laughed, but it was an empty threat. Instead, Tila splashed her way over to Ellie, who was still holding back in the shallows where she felt safe.

'Are you having fun?' Tila said.

'So long as I can touch the bottom.'

'Ellie, the fun comes from not being able to touch the bottom and then finding out you don't need to. Sometimes you have to get out of your depth a little.'

'That's easy for you to say. You can swim!'

'Is Ellie Young, the greatest pilot of our time, afraid of water?'

'Yes. Has Tila Vasquez, the greatest detective of our time, finally cheered up?'

Tila had the grace to look ashamed. 'I'm sorry about earlier. I really thought we had, I don't know, something.'

'You do have something. Once the right people see it they'll believe you.'

'I can't find any right people.'

'We'll keep trying. It doesn't have to end here. We're still with you.'

'Thanks, Ellie.'

Ellie grinned. 'So are you going to teach me how to swim now?'

'If you're brave enough. You have to be willing step out of your comfort zone.'

Ellie tilted her head to one side and considered this. 'We're in a strange house with a strange boy on a strange planet. We're not even supposed to be here. I think I left the zone of comfort some time ago.'

'Great, let's go! Take my hands. Together we can dunk Malachi. I need to make him pay.'

'Just make sure I can still touch the floor, okay?'

Tila deliberately tugged Ellie off-balance. Ellie slipped and shrieked and spluttered as water covered her face for the first time. She wiped her face and eyes until not a drop of water remained before she felt ready to open them again. She glared at Tila.

'That wasn't nice.'

'I'm not nice, but you can trust me,' she said as she led Ellie toward the deeper water. 'You're safe with me. I'll never let go of you.'