Thane pulled away and left the room. Another door opened somewhere behind me and I glanced back to see the medic and Amabel striding toward me.

"Miranda," Amabel said. "So you know your part in the rebellion now, I take it? You're Thane's little pet."

"Excuse me," the medic interrupted, her voice quiet. "I need to check your wounds, Miranda. Would you mind lying back down?"

"No problem." I laid flat on the table - not without a struggle, of course - and the medic hovered ...