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going to strangle her scrawny neck!
    Nicola glanced at Shimlara and saw that she was sitting in the seat opposite the princess, her hands demurely folded, her eyes downcast.
    Be careful. She might read your mind, thought Nicola.
    She wouldn’t be bothered to read my mind! She’s too busy thinking about herself! I forgot how selfish she was! She’s a spoiled—
    â€œShimlara,” said Princess Petronella. “We believe your parents and brother are being held captive somewhere on the Planet of Whimsy.”
    Shimlara looked startled. “Where? What do you mean, ‘held captive?’”
    Mmmm, maybe she was reading my mind, she said in Nicola’s head.
    â€œOne of Georgio’s newspaper clippings mentioned the Planet of Whimsy,” said Nicola. “Some other planet declared war on it.”
    â€œThat’s right,” said the princess. “The Planet of Volcomania has invaded the Planet of Whimsy.”
    â€œLet me guess,” said Sean. “Shimlara’s parents started a committee.”
    â€œThey did,” agreed Princess Petronella. “The Stop the Wicked War on the Planet of Whimsy Committee. They’ve been organizing petitions, protest marches—that sort of thing. Your parents are very passionate people, aren’t they?”
    â€œWas it the Volcomanian government who took them?” asked Shimlara.
    â€œOur spies believe so,” said Princess Petronella.
    â€œOh, why couldn’t they just take up some sort of boring hobby like normal parents!” said Shimlara.
    â€œThis is outrageous! I assume the Globagaskarian royal family is going to demand they be returned!” said Greta.
    â€œUnfortunately we can’t confront them about it,” said Princess Petronella. “Because we’d have to admit we spy on them, and then they might declare war on us .”
    â€œBut someone has to do something!” spoke up Katie.
    â€œOf course,” said the princess. “That’s why I came to pick you up.” She looked up. Nicola followed her gaze and saw the glistening jewel-encrusted spires of the Rainbow Palace against a backdrop of snow-draped mountains. Nicola had barely been aware that they were moving.
    â€œWe’re here,” said the princess. She stood up and straightened her tiara. “The Chief of Special Intelligence is waiting to speak to you all.”
    She paused and looked down at Shimlara.
    â€œI did mention that I took up kickboxing, didn’t I, Shimlara? And that I excel at it? So I don’t recommend your attempt to ‘strangle my scrawny neck.’ ”

CHAPTER 7
    The Space Brigade sat around a long oval table in the Rainbow Palace. At one end of the table were Princess Petronella and her parents, the king and queen of Globagaskar, sitting in elaborate thrones.
    The king and queen gave the Brigade slightly frosty nods of welcome.
    The last time they’d met, the princess’s parents had been threatening to throw them all in jail for kidnapping their daughter.
    At the other end of the table was the Chief of Special Intelligence: a woman with a short brown haircut in the shape of a bowl. She was dressed in a dark uniform with rows of medals across her chest.
    Her name was XYZ40. Apparently all members of Special Intelligence were referred to only by their code names.
    â€œWhere is the leader of the Space Brigade?” asked XYZ40. She seemed to be looking around as if someone were missing.
    Nicola coughed nervously and lifted her finger. “That would be me.”
    â€œRight,” said XYZ40. She frowned, looking at Nicola’s pretty party dress. “And this is the same Space Brigade that just completed a mission where you helped overthrow the dictator of the Planet of Shobble?”
    â€œThat’s us!” said Nicola cheerfully. It was nice to be reminded of their previous successes.
    â€œI see.” XYZ40 studied them all. “You seem very