The light of flames streaked across the door as he opened it.

"Good job."

"Thank heavens it's you," said Abner Brookings.. "We're getting out of here."

"Yes. For now." Evanston got in, slammed the door, and motioned for the lawyer to get away from there. "My s.h.i.+p. We'll get out of here for now. But when I get back-there's going to be payback. Believe me."

The limo rushed through the night. "Where's he going?" said Machiko. Not fooling around: Her gun was pointed right under the nostril of the chief technician.

A drop of sweat slipped down the man's smooth brow. "There's an escape tube from the bunker. He'll have a car waiting. I'd say he's given up. He's always got his s.p.a.ce yacht ready. He's capable of piloting it himself. He's out of here."

She looked down at the head of Attila.

"Any thoughts on this?"

The thing lumbered out of the night.

"Jesus," said Brookings.

Evanston recognized it. It was too fast. It would catch them. The silhouette of his s.p.a.ce yacht loomed just a hundred meters distant. So close.... How had the thing stumbled out this far?

He couldn't take a chance.

The limo was rocketing along, but the hybrid would catch them. Evanston leaned over and jerked the steering wheel, sending the limo careering off at a different angle entirely.

"Evanston! What are you doing!"

The limo hit the hybrid so hard it buckled its legs. Its body crashed through the winds.h.i.+eld. It shrieked, its hands and claws scrabbling.

Evanston didn't wait to see what would happen next. With the car slowing to a stop, he pushed open the pa.s.senger door and jumped out, a peripheral glimpse of jaws closing around the right shoulder of Abner Brookings, Esquire.

Brookings screamed.

Evanston ran.

He ran for all he was worth, and he pulled his wrist up as he did so, hitting a radio stub, already attuned to the proper frequency. When he ran up the ramp, the door would be open on its other end, and the instruments ready and activated. There would be a minimum of preparation for takeoff.

His breath burned in his lungs. He could hear Brookings' cries suddenly cut off. The hybrid wouldn't be able to follow him, though. He'd snapped the creature's legs.

At long last the s.h.i.+p reared before him, beautiful and s.h.i.+ny in the moonlight. He raced up the ramp and sailed gleefully through the door, open as expected.

He cycled it closed.

Safe! Truly safe at last! All he had to do now was run up to the bridge and tap the codes for automatic takeoff! A force field had automatically erected outside the s.h.i.+p, and no one, not Bug nor Predator, not Machiko Noguchi nor the genetic hybrids, could touch him. He would take off, return to the center of his true power. Regroup. Recoup. Talk to the Company. Bring in the Marines and wipe these traitors from the face of his world. The determination and anger gave him the additional power to climb the steps to the bridge. He stumped through with a happy sigh. A sigh that changed into a shriek as a form rose from the pilot's chair.

A form without a head.

It finished tapping out its final work on the computer bank and then stood up. "I suggest you not move," said the headless android body. "There will be parties here soon that will bring you back." The voice of Attila.

"No," cried Evanston, frustration replacing his fear. "No, you can't do this!"

He pulled out his gun and fired at the android torso: The bullet smashed the chest, pushed back the body. But it did not bring the robot down.

"I suggest you put that weapon down." Machiko's voice. "We've gotten the door open below. There will be a party there very soon to pick you up and take you back."

"Can't we talk about this, Noguchi?" said the man, his voice quavering.

"we certainly can, Evanston. Once you get back here. Once we get things back on-line. Now, I suggest you tell us what we need to know, or you're going to be in deep trouble."

Evanston considered. But not for long.

He told them.

"Thanks," said Noguchi. "See you soon."

Evanston took a deep breath. He sighed. There was nothing more to do. But if he could just stay alive, there would be hope.

He heard the pound of feet in the hold Looked up.

One of the Predators strode in. Evanston could smell musk and blood and hate. The thing took off its mask, and bright red eyes burned.

Gore dripped freely from its wounds and from the long knives attached to its wrists.

"Machiko," called Evanston. "Machiko!"

The android's headless body had, however, slumped back into the pilot's chair.

Epilogue.

On my mark!" said Machiko Noguchi.

Technician hands hovered over controls.

"Now!"

Fingers flicked switches.

Machiko watched the monitors. On the screen closest to her, one of the b.u.g.g.e.rs was tearing through a doorway to get at men who had taken shelter.

Its cyborg portion simply blew up, rendering its bizarre body into tatters. On ten other screens similar b.l.o.o.d.y and explosive fates met other b.u.g.g.e.rs.

When the last of the blood and bone drifted down, Machiko got on the all-comm.

"'That was to save your miserable carca.s.ses as well as ours," she said.

"The rule of the particular tyrant here has ended. Lay down your arms. The yautja will not harm you if you are not armed! An immediate truce has been called. Headquarters has been captured and Livermore Evanston is being incarcerated. This is Machiko Noguchi. All will be explained in the fullness of time. Call in and report."

"Pretty authoritative," said a voice from behind her.

She turned and saw that Ned Sanchez was standing. He hobbled over and slouched into a chair.

"Ned." She went to him.

"Go back to work. I'll be fine."

"You need something for those burns."

"Yes, I do, but I'm sure that one of these technicians can fetch me something appropriate."

She snapped her fingers, and one of the techies went to a cabinet, pulled out a first-aid kit. As the guy attended to Sanchezs wound, the reports began to come in.

It took a few minutes, but everyone seemed to be willing to throw in the towel.

MacCraken and Marino called in, still hale and hearty, and were given a.s.signments to help take care of the wounded.

"Hey, you sons of b.i.t.c.hes. You left me out here to rot!" called the friendly voice of d.i.c.k Daniels.

"Hey," said Machiko. "You're alive. You should be grateful for that."

"I seem to have missed most of the fun."

"You okay?"

"Yeah, sure, nothing that a couple of beers won't take care of. Hope you're buying."

"You got a case coming, soldier. Now, get yourself to HQ and we'll put you to work."

"The only ones not to report in are the Hunters."

"I see 'em forming ranks on the vids," said Machiko. "Attila, have you still got that contact with Bakuub?"

The eyes in Attila's head dimmed a moment, then brightened. "Yes. They're on their way in to talk about what happens next."

"Well, that about wraps it up," said Machiko.

"So to speak," said Sanchez, holding up his newly dressed arm. "Whathappens next, kiddo?"

"We let the Hunters hunt. We stay out of their way-and put down the guns here. Like I said, these guys will only kill those who kill. It's a part of their honor system, as that system is stronger, believe me, than the high-tech armor they wear."

"What about the settlement?"

She turned to Attila. "I guess we're going to have to ask Mr. Subversive about that."

"I know the correct parties to contact. We shall receive the necessary supplies and armament. This can be a free planet, independent of the Company-free to trade with whom we please. Free to accept the colonies we please."

"You think the Hunters will want to help us?"

Machiko shrugged. "I think the Hunters will do what they want. What I hope is that they don't stick around too long."

"After a good look at you, I don't blame you."

"We humans are lucky. We can change." She shook her head. "I don't think they can. I think they like themselves exactly the way they are. And that's why they are the way they are, and have been for a long, long time."

"No interest in psychoa.n.a.lysts from the Predators?"

"Sure. Give some shrinks guns and send 'em running, and you'll get a lot of interest."

"Monitors are showing the arrival of a Predator party," said a technician.

"Can't see them too well."

"Let them in, if you please," requested Machiko.

Appropriate controls were touched, and within moments they heard heavy footsteps outside.

"I believe the next thing to do is let them in," said Machiko.

The appropriate technician looked reluctant, but one proper glare from Machiko solved the problem.

Within moments the big aliens shouldered their way into the room. Attila made the proper greeting noises.

Bakuub stepped forward.

Machiko stepped toward him.

They made a gesture of mutual respect.

"Where's old Evanston?" asked Sanchez.

Machiko could handle that question, and so she asked.

Bakuub gestured to a member of his pack.

A warrior stepped forward. Held out his hand.

From the hand dangled a net sack, holding a skull with only the spinal column, some flecks of brain, and a dangling eyeball to testify for its freshness.

"Trophy," said Bakuub.

One of the technicians gagged and then was sick beside his station.

"Alas, poor Yorick," said Attila.