Attack of the Bounty Hunters Ch. 09

[This is not a "sex story". It is a story about a society where people have superfast reflexes... and guns.]

Chapter 9: Attack On The Conference

League Ambassador Don Miller sampled some refreshments as he eyed the crowd. The entire diplomatic corps was here, not just senior diplomats, but mid-level staff as well from all the major embassies. The League was there in full force, of course, but also there were the diplomats from the June Directorate, the Slurians, and all the other major interplanetary governments.

Quandry had wanted it this way, extending broad invitations to all the embassies, to bring their entire staff. After being cooped up for weeks in their embassies because of the hostility of the local population, most of the embassy staffs had accepted, even if they were a bit wary. Quandry had capitalized on the weariness and especially the gullibility of the diplomats, which, as it turned out, was not very difficult to do.

Grafton was a difficult planet under the best of circumstances. It had no government to speak of, so there were no unified authorities to deal with. The planet didn't recognize the concept of diplomatic immunity, which meant that embassies were not considered sovereign territory and diplomats could be shot or even killed without due process. That hadn't happened, even during this current period of ugliness. The local Graftonites took a patronizing view towards them, referring to them as 'sheep', and as long as the diplomatic corps took pains not to offend anyone there were no problems.

As least until several weeks ago. Several embassy staffs were threatened by hostile mobs, and they fled to their embassies, and soon no off-worlder was leaving any embassy for any reason.

But Quandry had given them his personal assurances of safe-conduct to and from the meeting hall, and Miller was pleased that he had delivered. There were Graftonite guards around the building who were unfailingly polite, and the hall was well stocked with excellent food, which Miller thought was a good sign. Quandry was taking pains to treat them well. That meant only one thing: he was prepared to deal.

Miller approached the Slurian ambassador, a man named Stod Rukanan. He was Miller's counterpart on Grafton, as much as any Slurian could be. Of course, all members of the Slurian foreign service were almost automatically also members of various branches of the Slurian Secret Police, usually the NGB, but that didn't mean that they couldn't be civil with each other.

Rukanan eyed him coming warily, rapidly gobbling down food from a tray, like an animal fearing that it would be taken away at any moment. Slurians were like that.

"Ambassador," said Miller, by way of greeting.

"Um," grunted Rukanan, as he eyed Miller warily. He continued to eat, only stopping when the tray was empty. Miller wondered if there was enough to eat in the Slurian embassy.

"This is an auspicious beginning, don't you think?" said Miller.

"What makes you say that?" said Rukanan, looking about for something else to eat.

"The banquet hall is very well provided for. Perhaps Quandry is prepared to be reasonable."

"You are very foolish if you trust Quandry," said Rukanan.

"It's my understanding that Slurians never trust anyone," said Miller.

"That's why we always win," said Rukanan.

"Do you?" said a new voice.

They turned to see Ambassador Steve Yardin of the June Directorate. "It seems to me that the Slurian Union has had some reverses of late."

"All lies and enemy propaganda," said Rukanan, waiving a hand dismissively.

"The industrial accident that blew up the largest power plant on Sluria, reports of low harvests and food shortages on Ufranda Prime, further reports of unrest on-"

"As I said, all lies and propaganda," said Rukanan. And then, as an afterthought, "But even if they were not all lies, they would be exaggerations, not under my jurisdiction, and caused by bad weather."

"Well, I suppose that covers all the possibilities, then," said Yardin. "I wonder when our host will make an appearance?"

They didn't have to wait long. Part of the room darkened and a hologram of Mo Quandry appeared.

"A hologram?" said Miller. "Why doesn't he appear in person?"

"Greetings, noble diplomats," said the hologram. "As most of you know, I am Mo Quandry. I want to thank you for taking the time to come to our conference."

"How are we supposed to have a conference when their main negotiator won't appear in person?" Yardin wondered.

"Perhaps appearing in person might anger hardliners in his faction," Miller theorized.

"We've had a lot of discussion and argument over the past few weeks regarding our proposal to have your governments make economic development grants to our planet. While most of your governments have accepted the idea in principal, the amounts they've offered have been insultingly small," said Quandry. "Take the League, the biggest and richest federation of planets. They offer a meager 500 million credits in aid a year, when we requested 20 billion. They might as well not have bothered to respond."

"We've gone back and forth for some time but the numbers have not moved markedly in our direction. That's why we've called this conference, to resolve our outstanding issues," said Quandry. "After analyzing the problem in depth with a blue ribbon panel of political scientists, we realize the problem is that we aren't getting the attention of sufficiently senior government officials on your homeworlds. With your cooperation, we have figured out an efficient way to deal with this problem."

He paused, and if by signal, Graftonite gunmen streamed into the room. The crowd started to murmur with trepidation.

"You will be held at this facility for the next 50 hours. Your governments will be told that if they do not agree to pay, you will be executed."

The murmur grew into a roar.

Quandry raised the volume of his broadcast. "Naturally, I'm sure it will not come to that. We are all civilized people, aren't we? You will be kept comfortable and safe during this period, but you will not be allowed to contact your governments." He paused. "One last thing: I ask, for your own safety, that you do not attempt to leave or interfere with my diplomatic representatives. I would not want to needlessly create a diplomatic incident."

Graftonite gunmen fanned throughout the room, carrying weapons detectors. Their detectors flashed when they scanned two Slurian diplomatic representatives. The Slurians moved to draw their weapons--and were shot dead before they could get their hands on their blasters.

"If you want to live, drop your weapons now," said Rocco, speaking loudly. After a moment's hesitation, there was a clatter as weapons were dropped to the ground. The gunmen fanned out and picked them up. Once they were done scanning the crowd, they took up positions along all the exits.

"This is not good," said Miller. "I'm not sure if my government will pay."

"I'm certain my government won't," said Yardin.

Yardin turned to Rukanan, who before Yardin had a chance to ask the question, bitterly said, "What do you think?"

"Well, perhaps we will be rescued," said Miller.

"We don't have more than a handful of military guards at our embassy," said Yardin. "And none of them would have a chance against Graftonites."

"Our situation is the same," said Miller.

Rukanan said nothing.

********

"We're changing the scramble code every half second, but even that is no guarantee of complete security," said Croft, eyeing the hologram.

"Elements of the Eighth Fleet are already on their way to Grafton," said the image of the Chief. "But it's unclear if they're going to make it in time or not."

"Is negotiation not an option?" said Tane.

"You're wasting your time," snapped Croft. "He wants to execute the captives, but he needs an excuse to do so. He's not going to negotiate."

"You've got a point," said the Chief. "What, then, are our options?"

"I could attempt a rescue," said Croft.

"The nearest Column team is more than four days away," said the Chief.

"When I said I, I meant 'I' as in 'I' singular," said Croft.

"That compound is ringed with Graftonite guards. How do you propose to rescue the ambassadors while holding off all of the Graftonites on your own?"

"I don't know... yet," said Croft.

"I'm leery about a haphazard rescue attempt," said the Chief.

"What alternative do you have?" said Croft.

The Chief was silent for a moment. Then she said, "You do have a reputation for achieving the very difficult."

"I have a very good publicist," said Croft.

The Chief appeared to stare at Croft intently. Could he do it? "All right," the Chief said finally. "We have no other choice. What is your plan?"

"I'm afraid you can't micromanage me this time, because even I don't know all the details of my plan yet and I can't tell you what I don't know," said Croft. "I'm not even certain it will be possible to rescue them all safely. I may only be able to rescue a handful of people. I'll try to do what I can." Before the Chief could respond further, he said, "Croft out." And cut the connection.

"I rather liked that," said Croft.

"I know you did," said Tane. "What can I do to help?"

"You see that spot?" Croft asked, pointing to the ground.

"Where I'm standing?"

"Yes," said Tane.

"I need you to stay precisely on that position," said Croft.

"Why? For how long?"

"Until further notice," said Croft.

"How can that help?" Tane asked.

"You're an analyst, not an operative," said Croft. "No, this work is only for the operations guys." He reached out and put a brotherly arm around the Clapper.

The Clapper squealed and pulled away. "Not to touch!" he said, trembling.

"Let's go and have a look at that building," said Croft. He turned to go, but saw something out of the corner of his eye. He turned back to the Clapper.

"Is there something you want to tell me?" Croft asked.

The Clapper looked nervous, avoiding eye contact. "... noooo...."

"Are you sure?"

The Clapper nodded.

"Then can I ask a question?" said Croft. "Just a small one?"

The Clapper, considered, then nodded.

"Why is there a fire coming out of the bathroom?"

Red Sally stepped out of the bathroom, a small flame coming out of her fingers. "I got bored," She complained.

"You came back to Grafton against orders because you got bored, or you lit a fire because you got bored?" Croft asked.

Sally thought about that one for a moment. "Both."

"I thought I told you to return to August," said Croft.

"I followed your orders," said Sally, making a face. "I did return to August. But then I got bored again. I'm tired of training exercises. All they do is try to do is to keep me from starting fires."

"They're such villains, I know," said Croft.

"Please don't send me back," said Sally.

Croft started to say something, stopped, and started again. "All right. Maybe we can use you."

Sally smiled and actually jumped into the air for joy.

"On one condition!"

"What?" said Sally.

"You must not ignite any Graftonite without my permission."

Sally considered, looking crestfallen. "You drive a hard bargain."

"Don't pout," Croft advised.

********

Croft parked the ground car outside a familiar home. Although time was of the essence, he needed to recruit some more help for what was sure to be a tough job. He got out of the car and looked at the Silencer's home. He had commed Annie and found out that the Silencer had returned from his latest mission. If he could persuade the Silencer, perhaps the best gunman of all the Graftonites, to help, it would be much easier to rescue the hostages.

Annie met him at the door. "Clifford! Good to see you again." She was wearing her trademark old-style cowboy hat and brown leather skins.

"I wish the circumstances were better," said Croft grimly.

"Yes, I heard the news," said Annie.

"Is John in?" said Croft, knowing he was.

"Let me take you to him," said Annie.

She led him into another room where the Silencer could be seen packing up items into a backpack.

"Shouldn't you be unpacking?" said Croft.

"I did that last night," said the Silencer. "I just got another job, I'm heading out again."

"There's a lot of demand for your services," said Croft.

"There usually is, for the best," said the Silencer.

"I was hoping I could hire you," said Croft.

"I'll be happy to talk about it when I get back," said the Silencer.

"I kind of need your help now," said Croft.

The Silencer stopped packing for a moment and looked Croft in the face for the first time. "To rescue the diplomats."

"I'd pay double your fee."

"It's suicide. That building is ringed with gunmen," said the Silencer.

"Meaning you couldn't do it?" said Croft.

"Well, I didn't say that," said the Silencer. "But you have to understand, it wouldn't be me going up against ten or twenty people; I would be going up against ten or twenty Graftonites. And some of them probably know how to shoot. What you need is a commando team."

Croft knew that. He had already tried flashing Traker Fields by comm, but had been quickly turned down.

"I'd love it if I could get one," said Croft. He noticed that the Silencer had started packing again. "John, I really need your help. Do you know what will happen if they're not stopped?"

The Silencer shrugged.

"It could mean war," said Croft.

The Silencer shrugged again. "It won't affect my work."

"John, maybe we should listen to him," said Annie.

"Annie, I love you, but you have to restrain your philanthropic impulses," said the Silencer. "Charity work is nice, but doesn't pay the bills."

"John, we have more than enough credits, and you know it," said Annie.

"It's the principle," said the Silencer. "I'm not going to risk my life unless there's something in it for me."

"There is something in it," said Croft. "I'll double your normal fee."

No change in expression.

"I'll quadruple it," said Croft desperately.

The Silencer hesitated, then said, "Tempting though it might be, I've already committed to another employer. To be honest, I think your mission is too crazy for one person to take on. So what if a few paper pushers get shot? There are always more to take their place."

"Yes, that may be true," said Croft. "But the League will take particular offense to having these paper pushers shot. I happen to know there's a League fleet on the way here."

The Silencer said nothing.

"What happens when the League fleet start bombing the planet?"

The Silencer shrugged. "As long as they don't bomb my house, that's fine." He resumed packing.

"I'm sorry, Clifford," said Annie.

"So am I," said Croft, grimly. He started to turn away.

"You're a fool if you try to free them by yourself," said the Silencer. "These aren't Slurians, or Happy Worlders. These are Graftonites you're going up against. You'll get yourself killed."

"It looks like I have no choice," said Croft.

He walked to the front door and stepped out on the porch. Two men stood outside waiting for him. They looked grim, even for Graftonites.

Croft felt his pulse racing, but matched stares with them for a moment.

"Are you here to kill me, or are you just delivering the mail?" said Croft, tensing up.

"We're here to kill you," said one of the men.

"Wait a minute," said a new voice.

Annie Oakley stepped out onto the porch. Her pearl handled pistols gleamed in the brilliant daytime sun.

"Two against one?" said Oakley.

"We have our orders," said the first gunman who had spoken.

"It's not enough that you have to challenge an off-worlder, but you need two against one to do it," said Oakley. "Shame on you."

"He's eluded us before," said the gunman. "If I were you, I'd stand out of the way."

They waited for her to move. Annie considered for a moment. Then she said, "I don't think so."

All was almost completely silent as everyone tensed up. Croft and Annie stared at the gunmen. The gunmen stared back. There was a slight sound of the morning wind.

Croft readied himself. There was no way he could outdraw those two. His only chance was if Annie could take both of them. He knew she was good, but good enough to take on two Graftonites?

He wasn't going to be the one to draw first. He was so slow in comparison to the other Graftonites, that drawing would be an invitation to shoot him.

Something clicked in the lead gunman's expression. His muscles tensed, he reached for his gun almost faster than Croft could see-

There was a brilliant exchange of blaster fire, one shot whizzing right by Croft's face. Before Croft's gun was halfway out of its holster, it was over. Both gunmen were still standing there. So was Annie.

And then slowly one gunman dropped to the ground, and then a second later, so did the other.

Croft cautiously felt himself over. He wasn't hit. He turned to Annie. She gave him a small smile.

"Thank you," said Croft sincerely.

"I'm not the only one you have to thank," said Annie.

"What do you mean?" Croft asked.

She turned back to the house. There was a small hole in one of the windows.

Annie looked up with a small smile on her lips. "I knoooow what you diiiid," she said, in a playfully chiding voice. Then, "You can come out now."

The Silencer stepped out of the door, holding a smoking blaster. "There were two of them. I didn't want you to get hurt," he said.

"You shot them?" said Croft.

"One of them," said the Silencer. "I couldn't let anything happen to Annie."

"There were only two of them," said Annie simply.

The Silencer turned to her. "What did I tell you about killing people at home? I thought we always agreed to consult with each other first."

"They were about to kill Clifford, your friend," said Annie. "It's rude to let a guest get shot in our home."

"Hm," said the Silencer. He went back inside without a word.

Annie suddenly saw something that made her eyes widen. "Look at this!" She said, pointing to a scorch mark on the porch. She wet her fingers in her mouth and tried to rub off the mark. She looked worried. "I'll have to get that repainted."

Croft turned to eye the two bodies on the front lawn. Vultures circled above.

It was going to be one of those days.

********

"How do we reason with them? Let them know we're not a threat?" said Miller.

"I think they already know that," said Ambassador Yardin grimly.

"You don't really think they're going to execute us, do you?" said Miller.

"No, not for another four hours," said Yardin. He turned to Ambassador Rukanan, who was eyeing the food on the table but eating nothing.

"Lost your appetite?" said Yardin.

"How can I be hungry at a time like this?" said Rukanan.

"Unless our governments come up with billions of credits, this could be our last chance to eat," said Yardin. "Unless..."

"Unless what?" said Rukanan.

"You must have agents here," said Yardin.

"Agents?" said Rukanan, looking innocent.

"Every member of your foreign service is an agent," said Yardin.

"I resent that implication!" said Rukanan. And then, in a lower voice, "In any event, they were all disarmed."

"But not all your agents are here," said Yardin. "Spies are your number one export. You must have some operational teams in the field here."

Rukanan said nothing. Slurian Security had a number of operational teams on Grafton. He had actually expected rescue several hours ago. Each passing minute made him more nervous. If he were going to get out of this alive, he would have to do so on his own.

The gunmen were concentrated largely near the exit, on one end of the grand ballroom. Rukanan went over to them, but was stopped by an armed sentry.

"Get back to your flock, sheep," said the guard, pointing the muzzle of his blaster at Rukanan's nose.

"I want to speak to the man in charge," said Rukanan.

The man said, "I'm only going to say this one more time-"

"Wait," said Rocco, stepping forward. "What do you want?"

"My name is Stod Rukanan, I'm the Slurian-"

"I know who you are, sheep," Rocco snapped. "What do you want?"

"I have a proposal for you," said Rocco.

"The only proposal we're interested in is several billion credits from your bosses," said Rocco. He checked his watch. "And it doesn't look like they're going to deliver."

"We can get the money to you, but it will take more time," said Rukanan.

"Unfortunately, you don't have much more time," said Rocco. He gestured for Rukanan to be taken away.

"Wait!" said Rukanan. "I have personal funds. Kill the others--the Leaguers, even my own staff. But spare me and I can make it worth your while."

"You don't have anything I want," said Rocco contemptuously.

Rukanan was given a friendly shove to indicate that the conversation was over.

"I wonder what that was all about," said Miller, eyeing the exchange.

"He was probably trying to sell us out to the Graftonites," said Yardin nonchalantly.

"But we're all in this together!" said Miller.

"You know the Slurians," said Yardin philosophically.

********

Croft lay on the ground outside the building where the hostages were being held.

He studied the building with his electrobinoculars set to infrared. There were entrances in the front and back that were tightly guarded. But there was also an open terrace on the third floor. Unfortunately, there were no other nearby buildings from which he could gain access to it. Quandry had been careful to pick an isolated building to hold the hostages in.

Hm...

Croft panned the electrobinoculars in other directions. A glint caught his eye...

"What do you see, Vasily?" Yuri asked.

"Many guards, patrolling around the building," said Vasily, looking through his electrobinoculars. "We could take some of them out with long-distance sniping-"

"Correction," said a new voice.

They both turned, guns raised, to see Clifford Croft standing behind them. His blaster was pointed squarely at them.

"You might get one, or perhaps two of them, but the minute the light from the first target shot out of your barrel the Graftonites would have your position pinpointed and you'd be dead," said Croft.

"We must rescue our ambassador," said Yuri.

"And the rest of your staff too, of course."

Yuri waved his hand dismissively. "Yes, I suppose."

"Only the big bosses matter, eh? I'm surprised, given how egalitarian Slurian society is reputed to be," said Croft.

"What are you doing here?" said Yuri.

"I'm here to tell you not to throw away your lives. Your plan won't work."

"And you have a better plan?" Vasily asked.

"Maybe," said Croft.

"You really think you can rescue everyone?"

"I didn't mention rescuing everyone," said Croft. "My focus is on League personnel."

"What about Slurians?"

"What about them?"

"If you're going to rescue your people, why not also rescue ours?" Yuri asked.

"Let me get this straight," said Croft. "A few days ago you tried to have me killed. And now you're asking me for a favor?"

"That was not us!" said Yuri.

"No," said Vasily emphatically.

"Oh no, not you, that must have been some other Slurian agents," said Croft.

"It wasn't us," said Yuri. "But even if it were, we were acting under orders and had no choice."

"Are you a lawyer?" Croft asked, recognizing arguments in the alternative when he saw one.

"What will it take to get you to rescue our ambassador as well?" Yuri asked.

Croft pretended to consider for a moment. "Well, since you ask so nicely, there is one small thing you can do."

"Yes?"

"We need a getaway vehicle."

"Getaway vehicle?"

"One that can fit about, oh, 200 captive diplomats."

"200?" said Yuri. "What did you have in mind?"

Croft told him.

"And where would we bring it?"

Croft told him.

Yuri looked at the building. "Impossible!"

"Quite possible," said Croft. "But, if you'd rather I just rescue my own people...."

"We'll do it," said Yuri. Then, looking suspiciously at Croft, he said, "Why are you trusting us?"

"I'm trusting you because if you don't show up, I'll kill your ambassador myself. Before I launch this mission I intend to record delay a personal message to your security services detailing your role in this mission. If I don't return in time to cancel it, your people will know that it was your incompetence, or treachery, that led to your ambassador's death."

Yuri looked relieved. "You are prepared for betrayal. Your actions make sense."

"I'm glad we can all feel good about it," said Croft. "I want you to be there in exactly... two hours from now."

"Two hours! We have no time-"

"In two hours and 4 minutes the ambassadors will be killed. I suggest you get moving," said Croft.

Yuri looked at Vasily, who nodded, and they both headed off.

Croft made his way back to Red Sally and the Clapper.

"Talking to friends?" said the Clapper, grinning moronically.

"The best of friends," said Croft, rapidly thinking how he would classify the Slurian NGB agents.

"Do I have to wear this?" said Red Sally, looking distastefully at the formal dress she was wearing.

"It's quite nice," said Croft, offering no further comment.

He picked up the electrobinoculars again and studied the movements of the guards. He felt confidence that there was a gap big enough for him to get through them, but not enough time to climb up the side of the building to the third floor terrace without being seen. He'd have to get up to the third level almost immediately, like with an external lift, or...

Croft turned to the Clapper. "Can you lift people?" he asked.

"What?" said the Clapper, repeating his most commonly used word.

"Can you lift me into the air?" said Croft.

The Clapper tried to lift Croft with his hands.

"No, not with your hands," said Croft, looking disgusted.

"Uh.....," said the Clapper. He tried to clap his hands together but Croft held them shut.

"Can you lift me three stories into the air, onto that terrace, over there?"

The Clapper looked at the terrace. It looked like a nice terrace.

"Can you?"

"What?" said the Clapper.

"Lift me up there, and then Sally?"

"I don't know," said the Clapper.

"Well, we're all about to find out," said Croft.

Croft studied the situation for some time, waiting until the guards were in the optimal position, and then breached the perimeter and made it to the side of the building without being spotted. He waved an arm, giving the signal.

The Clapper waved back. Like an idiot.

This was not according to plan. A Graftonite guard was going to be coming around the corner any second now.

In the gloom, Croft saw Red Sally punch the Clapper in the arm and say something while pointing at Croft.

Suddenly he felt himself jerkily lifted into the air, first a few inches, then a few feet, then he started to float higher, and higher...

A guard came around the corner. Croft was only seven feet above him. If he even looked slightly up...

There was no shout, or blaster bolt, and the guard simply continued walking. But Croft started to sink. Terror gripped him.

Then, just as suddenly, he started to climb again. Climbing... climbing... his rate of ascent slowed. By the time he almost reached the third floor terrace he was ascending at a crawl. Finally, he stopped.

He was still several feet short of the rooftop. Reaching up, he was barely able to grab the edge. Laboriously, he pulled himself up and over the edge.

Croft reached out and activated his comm.

"That was close," he whispered, putting the receiver in his ear.

"It drained him. It's going to take a few minutes for him to send me," came Red Sally's voice.

"We don't have much time."

"Do you want me to just go in and flame them?"

"No," said Croft.

They waited a few minutes. Time was passing.

********

"It doesn't look like they're going to pay, Mo," said Rocco, speaking to a holo of Quandry in the privacy of a small room.

"I should hope not," said Quandry. "Sensors are detecting a fleet approaching Grafton."

"The League?"

"Looks like it," said Rocco.

"Will they get here in time to interfere?"

"Doesn't look like it. They won't get here for another two hours, and it will take them another hour to send down troops," said Quandry. He checked his chrono. "And there are only 47 minutes left before our deadline. Are all the holorecorders in place and in good working order?"

"Yes. I checked them myself."

"Good," said Quandry. "We'll only get one try at this. I want holos of this massacre to be broadcast throughout League space. Make it look good."

"We will," said Rocco grimly.

"One last thing," said Quandry. "Any sign of that Croft pest?"

"None," said Rocco.

"He may still try something. Be on your guard."

"He's only one sheep," said Rocco.

"He's one of the Column Eight," said Quandry. "Don't underestimate him."

********

Red Sally gave a small gasp as she plonked down on the third floor terrace.

"Come on, let's go," said Croft, before she could catch her breath. "And don't ignite anything until I tell you to."

"You always say that," she grumbled.

They silently climbed down a small stairwell. As they got to the ground level they started to hear noise from the captives. They also saw two Graftonites, their backs to Croft and Red Sally, standing guard at the stairwell. Of course. Croft silently gestured Sally back up the stairs.

"What now?" said Sally.

"Plan B," said Croft. He went back up to the second floor and entered a small room, which was empty, and walked carefully, measuring his footsteps. Then he took out a small cutting torch...

********

"There's less than 20 minutes left," said Ambassador Miller, standing by a refreshment table next to a wall.

"It doesn't look good," said Ambassador Yardin grimly.

"Do you really think they'll execute us?" said Miller.

"They're Graftonites," said Yardin simply. "They do this kind of thing all the time."

"Oh, I wish I had never been posted here!" said Miller. "It's all my wife's fault. She-"

"Shhsh!" said Yardin. "Do you hear something?"

"What?" said Miller.

They stood still for a moment. "I thought it was a small hissing sound. But it stopped," said Yardin.

"I don't hear anything," said Miller. "But I do smell something... like a burning smell, maybe."

Suddenly they heard a rustle under the table. They started to look down when a voice whispered, "Act normally!"

They immediately stood straight.

"I'm here to rescue you," came the soft voice.

"You are?" said Miller. "Are you with the League?"

"Yes," said the voice.

It was Croft, of course. "Now both of you stand so that guards on either end of the room can't see between you."

Miller and Yardin did so.

Using their bodies to shield him, Croft came out from hiding through the hole in the wall he had cut beneath the table. He had cut his way down from the second floor to a small room next to the ballroom and cut his way horizontally across from there. In a moment Red Sally emerged with him. Both were dressed in formal diplomatic clothing.

"I still hate this dress," Red Sally hissed.

"Keep your voice down," said Croft, through gritted teeth as he checked to make sure that none of the guards had seen him coming out from underneath the table. None did, but one of the ambassadors, eyeing him curiously, was slowly approaching.

"How many commandos are there?" said Miller.

"None," said Croft.

"None?" said Miller. "Not even you?"

"No."

"Well, then, how many soldiers?"

"None," said Croft.

"Is there anyone else besides you and this young lady?"

"Not really," said Croft.

Miller looked stunned. "I hope this is not a joke. We are scheduled to be executed in less than 15 minutes!"

Ambassador Rukanan approached, with an odd expression on his face. "I don't think I've seen either of you before."

"Stod, he's here to rescue us," said Miller, before Croft could say anything.

"You? How many soldiers do you have with you?" Rukanan asked.

Croft sighed. "None. But we don't have time for this. I need you guys to create a distraction, just for a few seconds, by one of the exits-"

"There's absolutely no way I'm going to help you," said Rukanan. "A rescue team of one? You'll surely get us all killed!"

"It doesn't seem like you have a lot of options," said Croft. "Now, this is the distraction I need-"

An idea suddenly occurred to Rukanan. If he informed the Graftonites of the plot, they might spare his life. After all, one man had no chance of rescuing him. This, then, was his only chance of survival.

His mind made up, he started running for the group of guards guarding the exit. "Help!" he cried.

Miller stood paralyzed with fear, as he watched their only hope of escape go to pieces.

But not everyone stood still; Yardin snarled something and ran after Rukanan.

"Help, help!" Rukanan cried, as he approached the guards.

They all looked at Rukanan, their weapons raised, as Yardin tackled him from behind.

"You dirty Slurian!" he cried, landing a fist into Rukanan's face. Rukanan was too helpless to fight back, as Yardin landed fist after fist into the squealing Slurian's face.

The Graftonites laughed, enjoying the spectacle.

"Well, that's a diversion," said Croft philosophically. He turned to Sally. "Get going. And whatever you do, don't let them see you starting the fire. Remember, we want it to look natural."

Sally edged closer to the side of the room where the guards were watching Yardin wrestle with Rukanan. Rukanan kept trying to say something but Yardin kept punching him in the face.

While the guards were not so distracted that anyone could have slipped out, their attention was definitely not on Red Sally.

Her hair started to smoke, and flames reached out and hugged the walls.

It was a few seconds before someone started screaming, "Fire! Fire!"

The Graftonites turned to see the area around the exit covered with flames. The Graftonites looked around to see what they could use to fight the flames but there were no fire extinguishers. The crowd started screaming and fleeing to the other side of the room. The guards at the exit looked startled and alarmed.

Rocco took in the situation. The fire was getting close to the exit doors. If they stayed inside they would be trapped. But if they all went outside...

That was it. This was a rescue attempt. Their goal was to get the hostages outside.

Rocco considered his options. Mo wanted a holorecording of the diplomats being shot. But maybe being burned to death would suffice. The holorecording equipment might survive long enough to record that.

"Out, out, everyone out," said Rocco, speaking to his fellow gunmen. They cleared out; when the last one was outside, he said, "Is that everyone? Seal the doors!"

They used their blasters at a lower setting to seal the doors.

Inside the ballroom the fire was spreading throughout the room. Diplomats were screaming and running around in panic.

Croft fired a blaster into the air.

"Quiet!" he yelled.

The noise level temporarily subsided.

"If you want to live, follow me," he said.

Croft started running for the internal stairwell....

********

Rocco tried to tap into the internal holorecorders from his wrist comm, but he was having trouble. He wanted to see the holorecording of the diplomats roasting, live, as it happened. But all he was getting was static. Finally he pressed the right combination and an image of the ballroom appeared, burning in flames.

A ballroom that was substantially empty.

Completely empty of people, in fact, as far as he could tell.

Had they escaped? How could they have escaped? Where?

And then Rocco heard a roar and looked up, as a small transport slowly descended on the building, and everything became clear in an instant.

The transport touched down on the rooftop; there was barely enough room for it and the burgeoning crowd, most of which Croft had forced to stay in the stairwell.

Once it touched down and the hatch popped open they ran for it. Croft was among the first to reach the transport's cockpit.

"Do you realize this building is on fire?" said Yuri. "It could collapse at any minute!"

Even from the cockpit view Croft could see flames licking at the upper sides of the building. The interior support beams must be getting very hot about now....

"We should leave!" said Ostrov. Blaster fire was intermittently hitting the ship around them. It must be the Graftonites. Fortunately, they couldn't get a very direct angle of attack from the ground.

Croft eyed the side scanner. People were still streaming into the ship.

"Not yet," said Croft.

The ship trembled as something shifted inside the building. They waited a long second before it the building settled again.

"We are leaving!" said Ostrov, reaching for the controls.

The cold muzzle of a blaster touched the back of his neck.

"When I say so," said Croft calmly.

They waited another few seconds that seemed to pass very slowly.

The ship shifted again, just as Croft saw the last of the stragglers board the ship.

"Now!" said Croft.

Ostrov slammed the red "LAUNCH" button. The ship lifted off to a hail of blaster gunfire from the ground. It hovered for a minute, jolted downwards as a stabilizer was hit. The ship pitched downwards, and everyone stumbled for footing, until the other stabilizers compensated, and then the ship took off.

A moment passed, and then another, and another, and soon the burning building, and the Graftonites around it, were far behind them.

"That was close," said Yuri.

"Where should I set course?" said Ostrov.

"There are League ships in orbit," said Croft. "We'll rendezvous with them."

"The League?" said Yuri. "I don't think so. Set course for Sluria. All non-Slurians will be interned and eventually returned to their place of origin."

Croft was about to say something when he felt a blaster against his gut. "Correction," said Yuri. "All non-Slurians except for state enemies will be returned to their place of origin."

Yuri gave a grin and Ostrov chuckled. They both looked very happy until Yuri's blaster suddenly grew so hot that he yelped, dropping it on the ground.

Croft pointed his blaster at the other two. "Thanks, Red," he said, not looking behind him.

"That was fun!" said Red Sally. She was actually smiling broadly. "Can we go back and do it again?"

Croft gave her an unhappy look.