Miles steps back with Sonia, biting back a stream of curses. His mind is racing - can he possibly talk their way out of it? Given what Tarn is threatening, Miles doesn't think he has much room to talk here. He'll be damned if he lets a threat to himself sway Sonia into surrendering. He's supposed to be the one protecting her, not the other way around.

He lifts both hands as if in surrender, though his body is coiled as tense a spring. If Tarn fires that stunner - or makes a move towards Sonia - he is going to launch himself, dammit. Fight tooth and nail if he has to. But his tongue has always been his best weapon, so he's damn well going to try it now. "You're after the Princess," he says, stating the obvious. "But she's not your best target. You'll do better dragging me back instead."

Please, please take him instead.