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nd shot the second； a massive sergeant who was trying to get his own pistol out。
Everyone was milling about； and that made it impossible for the court officers and other MPs to get through。 In a moment； Edwards and Adams were through the inner door and Edwards was firing blasts through it。 Adams was screaming something incoherent； but Edwards took no time to listen。 Instead； he backhanded the man； then seized a fistful of his uniform and dragged him toward the front entranceway。
Ghost Rider sentries and escorts there already knew Edwards's whistled signals。 As other REF troops tried to understand what was going on； the Ghosts got the drop on them。 In another few seconds； Edwards was inside his personal limo with Adams； lifting away。
Adams curled up in a corner of the luxuriously upholstered back seat； whimpering。 Edwards tried to think； though it felt as if his blood vessels would peel the scalp away from his naked skull。 The driver was already headed toward HQ and the armored escort vehicles were falling in before and behind。
T。R。 Edwards smiled in the dark； even as the rivulets of sweat poured down across his face and dribbled over his faceplate。 The council thought it had him cornered。
You've got me where I want you。
Edwards gave a quick mand。 The rest of the motorcade went on； toward the landing areas and the shuttles； along the route the council would expect him to take。
But the limo veered aside and down a ramp； through a recessed hatch that led to the underground levels。 There were loyal troops there to wele him； Edwards emerged and led the way down and down toward the installation that connected him so appropriately with the Regent。
Behind the convoy； the street…access door rolled shut。 No one was there to see a single figure； standing atop a building opposite； watch it close。 Unmoving； the hunter poised and prepared himself。 Tonight the hunt would end。
There were two Humans； a Karbarran； and a Garudan； they were purposely shoving toward the partment hatch despite Gnea's protests。
〃It's not just a request anymore；〃 the Human； a junior officer Gnea recognized as Susan Graham； said。 〃Admiral Hunter says Tesla's to be braced right now； and answer a coupla questions。〃
Gnea looked around at the mixed posse。 〃And suppose I say no？ Tesla is unwell； and I've been charged with seeing to it that he lives。〃 She placed herself before them； big…boned and used to fighting； seemingly indifferent to whether she lived or died。 She fingered her halberd and waited； throwing the ball back into their court。
Susan Graham brought up a pistol； and the others leveled weapons； too。 〃Then； you can either let Doc Obu here look at the patient or you can get your bellybutton micro…waved； toots； and we'll still see what we came here to see。〃
Obu； the Karbarran scientist； growled and inclined his head gently。 When he raised his eyes to Gnea's again； there was a frank sanity in his steady gaze。 But there was mayhem on the backburners。
〃I…I see the wisdom of what you say；〃 Gnea got out。 It was very nearly a whisper。 〃But don't you understand？ You'll frighten him。 Just when we were doing so well with him。〃
The Garudan； Quias； growled。 〃If we damage him； it's not much loss； is it？〃
〃No！ You're wrong！〃 Gnea objected so quickly that they drew back a little。 Something told her that she had made a mistake； and so she looked around to where Jack Baker stepped out of the shadows。
〃We're not sure； but Tesla may be dying；〃 he said quietly。 〃Those two Invid scientists； Pye and whosis； Garak； say they can pull him through…maybe。 But not if you go in there and rough 'im up。〃
While the deputation was wavering； Jack took another step toward them； so that the light fell across his face now。 It was strangely posed and unsmiling； unlike the jaunty young man they knew。
This Jack Baker stood shoulder to shoulder with Gnea； smiling at them with his mouth but frowning with his forehead。 〃And that wouldn't do anybody any good； would it？ Put that weapon away； Graham。 Relay my respects to the admiral； and tell him I'll have Tesla on a remote hookup for questioning as soon as he can stand it。 Well？ You heard your orders。〃
Rick had put Jack in charge of the Tesla problem。 Susan Graham slowly bolstered her pistol。 〃I just hope you know what you're doing； sir。〃
〃Move it！〃 Jack snapped。
He and Gnea watched the foursome leave； then made their way back to the partment where Tesla now dwelt。 When they were sure no one was near； they entered。 Inside； they stood with faces blank； as the thing before them threw their shadows on the bulkhead with its intense light。
〃Well done； my good and faithful servants；〃 said Tesla。
The drop capsule was a miracle of the bined sciences of the various Sentinels races as orchestrated by the capable Obu。 Despite the increased Invid sensor surveillance in the wake of their defeats on Karbarra and Garuda； the tiny lozenge…shape fell through the planet's atmosphere without raising a single alarm； transparent to enemy detectors。 In many ways； the war had forced the oppressed to out excel their oppressors。
Rick badly regretted the limitations to the new techniques that restricted the size of an 〃invisible〃 drop capsule to something on the order of a padded mo booth。 He would have liked to equip the Ark Angel with the same protection； but that was impossible as yet。
Impossible； too； to arm and equip Teal and her son with Human…style gear for their espionage mission； where they were going； no hardware could follow。
In due course the two Spherisians stood next to their abandoned capsule； looking out over the homeworld Baldan II was seeing for the first time。
It was a prismatic landscape； reflecting and refracting and breaking into spectra the light of Blaze； the planet's primary。 Human and Invid and other offworlders required visors or other eye protection there； so they weren't blinded by the furious splendor of it all； but Baldan II gazed； unblinking and unshielded； on the planet he had never glimpsed before。
The capsule lay on a beach that scintillated like a field of stars； each infinitesimal grain throwing back its white or multicolored rays。 The sea that crashed again