“I’ll have them killed by inches!” Kanus roared. “And Romis too!”
“Yes, of course. But it will be important to recapture the Intelligence Ministry and free me. And also, you should be ready to deal with any elements of the army and space fleet that refuse to follow your orders.”
‘Traitors! Traitors everywhere! I’ll have them all killed!”
Kanus banged the control stud over his bed and the wall screen went dark. He began screaming orders to the cringing servant, still standing by the doorway. Within minutes he was robed and hurrying down the hallway toward the room where he had his own private dueling machine.
A squad of guards met him at the door to the dueling machine room.
“Keep that machine off!” Kanus ordered. “If anyone appears inside the machine, bring him to me at once.”
The guard captain saluted.
Another servant appeared at Kanus’ elbow. “Foreign Minister Romis has arrived, my Leader. He….”
“Bring him to my office. At once!”
Kanus strode angrily back to his office. Two guards, armed and helmeted, stood at the door. He brushed past them and stalked inside. Romis was already there, standing by the window alongside the elevated desk.
“Traitor!” Kanus screamed at the sight of the diplomat. “Assassin! Guards, cut him down!”
Startled, Romis reached for the gun at his waist. But the guards were already inside the office, guns drawn.
Romis hesitated. Then the guards took off their helmets to reveal two blond heads, two lean, grinning faces.
“We arrived at your dueling machine sooner than you thought we would,” Odal said to Kanus. “It was a simple matter to overpower the guards at the door and take their uniforms.”