IT WAS DARK when Pyra woke. At first, she believed she was dreaming, but when she tried to push herself up she found her hands were cuffed tightly behind her back. Her skull pulsed painfully. She could feel a ripe lump forming on the back of her head. She groaned and shifted about on the cold metal floor, trying to stand.

"This one's finally awake," said a muffled, gruff voice. "About time. We're clear to dock."

Pyra then became aware of other prone bodies surrounding ...