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Janice looked up at the web of light。 〃You might say that Haydon IV has been teaching me a few things about my own capabilities and potential。 The Tokyo project teams and even Dr。 Lang； I'm afraid； didn't quite realize them all。〃
She collected herself； turning her attention to matters at hand。 〃But that's beside the point now。 We must be on our way。〃
She had bent to pick up her own weapons and equipment。 〃And we must hurry。 The others are in danger； up above in Glike； and we have to get to them at once。〃
〃Huh？ Hey！〃 Jack trotted after to catch up； as Jan started for a nearby column of instrumentality。 The others fell in behind； Gnea and Bela in particular making sure the Invid kept up and got into no mischief。
The column was the circumference of a spaceport control tower； stretching from the floor to the ceiling。 As Jan approached it； a section of flickering indicators slid aside； revealing a small partment。
Jan turned on her panions； silencing their objections； demands； and threats。 〃Listen： I'll answer any question you want； explain everything I can； on the journey。 Only； we must start now； and this is the first step on the road to Glike。〃
Jack blew his breath out； cheeks bulging like a bugler's。 〃If I survive； I'm never volunteering for anything again。 Okay； let's march。〃
The place wasn't too cramped； they had about as much room as in a half…filled elevator。 None of them was particularly surprised when the partment closed up again and there was a feeling of movement； straight up。
〃First question；〃 Jack said tiredly。 〃D'they have rest rooms on this flight？〃
〃You should've thought of that before we left。〃 Janice Em grinned back at him。
The medics had injected her with something calculated to speed along her sobering…making her neurotransmitters block the acute depressant effects and raising her P3 waves。 But Minmei was still writhing between a pair of Ghost Rider security people as she was dragged before Edwards in his office on the top floor of Base Tirol HQ on Fantoma。
She had tried to bite； scratch； and kick； but the REF people were used to hand…to…hand bat； and even though they were under orders not to retaliate； they had kept her from inflicting any significant damage。 Exhausted； she was pushed forcefully into a chair and kept seated。
Her face was smudged with dirt and tears。 Through a sort of blur； she saw a figure move and heard Edwards's voice。 〃Wait outside；〃 he told his troops。
She heard the brittle fury in his voice and became truly afraid for the first time。 She had seen his moods before； knew he was capable of anything when he was like this…even of murdering her on the spot。
She wiped her eyes and tried to stop crying。 Edwards was standing behind his desk； hands clasped at the small of his back。
〃Who was the pilot who helped you escape？〃
〃Go to hell；〃 she choked。
He walked unhurriedly from behind the desk。 〃Where did you think you were going？〃
〃God damn you！〃
He moved with stunning speed； grabbing a fistful of her hair and winding it painfully； making her cry out； holding her in her seat with his other hand。
〃Do you really think you can ever be free of me； Minmei？ I never yield anything that's mine； you should know that by now。〃 His voice was very soft； as if it calmed him to be hurting her。
Minmei resisted ineffectually for a moment； then gave up。 〃Go ahead！ Do what you want！ You think being cruel makes you strong？ I've known real men； and pared to them you're a pitiful excuse for a Human being and a miserable failure as a lover…〃
Her own scream cut her off； as he gave her more pain。 He had her wrist in a hold that felt like he was about to break it； and he shook her head back and forth slowly to emphasize each word。 〃Your Jonathan Wolff's dead by now； like Hunter and the rest。 Were you going to join the Zentraedi？ They got in my way； too； they're finished。〃
He knelt； pulling her face around to his。 〃I told you there are things I know； things I've learned since we got to Tirol； that will give me unlimited power。 Unlimited control。 You may not love me willingly； but you will love me。〃
Nothing Minmei had ever heard had terrified her like those words。 She could feel his hot breath on her； it sickened her。
〃Now； you're going to tell me everything I want to know； and all the rest of it。 And in the meantime we'll just keep you nice and calm。〃
The general reached out with his free hand and buzzed for the guards。 All her blathering about awakening the dead…it had to be mad raving； of course； he told himself； but it still bothered him。 And yet a search of the area had turned up no sign whatsoever of the pilot who had spirited her off SDF…3； nor could Edwards's agents produce any clues。
The dead might mean a number of things； but Edwards suspected he knew whom she meant。 Preposterous。。。
He flung her at the guards。 〃Lock her up； dry her out。 I want no one to get word of this。 plete cover…up。 Tell the interrogators to keep me updated。〃
After the guards had dragged her out； Edwards gazed out the window。
He could hardly know that； far across a distant landing…site hardtop； a man in a pilot's suit was staring back through a telebinoc at the silhouette so far away that was a mortal enemy。
Lieutenant Isle lowered the telebinoc。 All the elaborate security systems and plex equipment and weaponry between him and Edwards were just an abstract problem in mission planning now； just a layered project requiring the proper application and strength of will。
But the battle itself was joined。
CHAPTER EIGHT
If Sartre's right and the history of every person is the story of failure； then something's outta whack here。
mander Vincent Grant； quoted in The Sentinels； by Le Roy la Paz
If Glike was enchanting from the landing stages and spires of the city； it was overwhelming from the vantage point of a Haydonite cone…flier。
Vince； mesmerized by the fantasyland view； blinked in surprise to realize that the cone was hovering； with its disk…rim up against a landing stage； over the summit of a skyscraper that suggested an inverted icicle。 The transparent dome under which he； Jonathan Wolff； and Max had been standing now parted； providing a