“Look!” shouted Eric, going red in the face with anger. “I don't care whether you think Jake did it or not! We have traced the virus to his house and it started there! You have to tell us where he is!”

“Well there's no need to shout, and I don't have to do anything,” answered Rosemary indignantly. “I haven't done anything wrong.”

“And how do we know that?” questioned Eric. “You probably knew all about it, and now you're just covering for him.”

“How DARE you?!” bellowed Rosemary, the sheer force of her denial blowing the irritating smirk off Eric's interrogation face. “I know nothing about this whole mess, all I know is that my son did not start this war! And I'll prove it to you.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes. Really.”

Arthur ran into the questioning room where Eric and Rosemary had been going round in frustrating circles for three days.

“Eric, Sir,” he gasped. It was a long run from the control room. “There's something you need to see.”

He handed him a tiny tablet which Eric squeezed and it projected an image up onto the wall.

“It's Jake!” Rosemary squealed in delight, seeing her son's image.

The video panned out, and her son looked uncomfortable as a white crown was placed onto his head by a green alien.

“He's in Crawk!” Eric shouted triumphantly. “I told you!”

“There must be a mistake,” muttered Rosemary. “Jake hasn’t even got a passport.” That was the least important reason for her belief though, she knew Jake would never start a war. He was weird and slightly disturbed, but essentially a good boy. He knew his right from wrong.

Sound was emitted from the tablet as the Crawkling began to speak.

“Citizens of the Outer Galaxies, I present to you Jake, our mole in your midst. The man who made this whole thing possible, the man who brought down your defences from the comfort of his sitting room. The future Emperor of the Outer Galaxies. Thank you Jake Spencer. Every man, woman and child in Crawk salutes you.”

The video faded with the sound of cackling Crawk laughter.

“It was him! You have to admit it now!” insisted Eric.

“No! Never!” Rosemary stood, demanding to be believed. “Couldn't you see? He was shaking his head through the whole thing! Jake didn't do it, he's been framed! And now they've kidnapped him!”

Eric shook his head, exasperated. “And I suppose you still want to prove it to us...”

“Of course I do, and I will do it,” said the unflappable Rosemary. There is no stopping an angry Mother when her child needs defending.

All of a sudden, Eric's mind started to race. He had an idea.

“Of course you will. Your son will stand trial for treason in the Inner Galaxies Celestial Court. That is your chance to clear Jake's name. There is just one catch though, Rosemary Spencer.”

“Yes?” she sighed.

“Someone needs to go to Crawk to bring your son home.”

“I'll do it.” Rosemary answered without hesitation. “And when the courts clear his name, you, Eric Smythe,” she added, her voice laced with contempt “will apologise.”