And as if that weren't bad enough, he doubted he'd convinced her of what she was capable. He hoped someday she would find out for herself. He hoped she'd find someone to love. His heart constricted. No, he didn't want that. No other man would treat her right. No other man would love her like he did. Right now, he'd trade anything for one more look at her sweet face, just one more touch of her soft skin, one more kiss.

"Well, well, well." A chuckling voice broke through his moughts.

Zain turned his head to the familiar inflection from the other side of the force field. A staunchly built man moved closer, his InterGlax uniform filling the doorway. Closely cropped gray hair framed a wide, ruddy face. Blue eyes penetrated the force-field and the man's thin lips broke into a smug grin as he reached out and deactivated the artificial door.

"How you been, Zain?"

"Major Schuler." Sudden insight and anger flashed through him. Last he knew, Schuler was a deskbound twit who pushed through requisitions forms. He'd sucked up to the command level until he pretty much ran inventory and supplies. He was the perfect man to steal ships from IG. The pieces clicked together. "So have you killed any good InterGlax operatives lately?"

Schuler shook his head with great drama. "Not since you and Crista, I'm afraid. And it looks like I didn't do a very good job with you." He eyed Zain's outfit. "Have you killed any good assassins lately?"

"Just one," Zain said simply.

The major nodded. "Pity. So, it is vengeance that brings you to me, Masters?"

"Vengeance never dies. You ambushed us, you bastard." Zain hissed. "And when you couldn't kill me, you set me up for Crista's murder."

Schuler shrugged. "I couldn't have you shutting down my supply channels. Not after all the alliances I'd built. The Avakurians are surprisingly skittish."

"You stole the ships and gave them to Avakur," Zain stated, all the pieces coming together. "Used the armories to launch attacks on defenseless juveniles, and then approached them with promises to keep them safe from big, bad InterGlax... for a small price, of course."

Genuine respect registered on Schuler's face. "Very good."

"Did General Lundon know?"

"Your old supervisor? No," Schuler said with a shake of his head. "The man wallows in integrity. Must be why you liked him."

"Also, he never tried to murder me," Zain said. "That has a tendency to sour a working relationship fairly fast."

"True, but he never covered your ass either," Schuler added. "A pity that InterGlax was so much quicker to believe a bunch of no-name locals in a swamp than they were their own field operative."

Zain's jaw worked. He hadn't forgotten that little detail.

"Would you like a tour of my base?" Schuler offered.

Zain frowned at him. "Why?"

The traitor smiled. "Because I think we have much in common."

Zain growled at the implication. "Before you kill me?"

One corner of the Major's mouth turned up. "Perhaps we can work an arrangement to avoid that."

What was Schuler trying to pull? "Tell me why I should trust you."

Schuler nodded to the guard to his right, and the man motioned to Zain to exit the cell. Still restrained, Zain followed Schuler past a narrow row of similar rooms.

"I know for a fact that you never approved of InterGlax's policies. You weren't afraid to defy outdated procedures and guidelines. And neither am I," Schuler said. "We just have a different approach. Mine has proven more ... effective, don't you think?"

They cleared the cell block and headed down a long corridor with doors along one side and windows open to a large center courtyard on the other. "By attacking juvenile systems and killing innocent people? How do you justify that?"

Schuler replied, "I believe those new systems deserve to see what InterGlax is truly capable of. My armories are no different from the power InterGlax wields."

"Those juveniles aren't ready for first contact," Zain growled. "You have no right to interfere."

"And CinTerr does?" Schuler asked, stepping up to a sealed door. He placed his palm against the security pad. "Who are they to decide when a juvenile is ready? And who are they to represent the sector and dictate with whom juveniles will interact politically and economically?"

"The difference is that InterGlax never terrorized new systems." He glared at Schuler. "And they don't hide behind killing machines like cowards."

The door slid open, and Schuler turned to stare at Zain. "Don't count on it, Captain Masters. InterGlax has had their share of collateral deaths. Twelve hundred killed during the Bruielian uprising. Thirty-five hundred lives lost in Kqui-jo region. Countless economies devastated and ruined through InterGlax policies. You know I'm right."

Zain pursed his lips. "They aren't perfect, but then again, they aren't impersonating another group and slaughtering people under a false identity, either."

"There is a dark side to InterGlax that you have never seen," Schuler pointed out. "I have."

Zain narrowed his eyes. "So have I. In that swamp."

Schuler led him into a dark round room lit only by control panels and thin rings of light. Men huddled over consoles, barely giving them notice. In the center of the room was a holodeck displaying the star systems of the quadrant, each color-coded.

A weasely-looking man scurried over. Schuler scowled at him. "Another surprise for you, Everard. Meet Zain Masters."

The man's eyes widened in horror as he stared at Zain. Then he swallowed. "I see."

Schuler brushed him aside and stepped up to the holodeck. "We control ninety-five munitions installations from this base. They are designated in blue. Yellow systems are targets that have not yet been contacted. Green systems are under our protection."

Zain chuckled. " 'Protection.' That's an interesting definition for extortion."

"We offer the juveniles the same options as InterGlax. InterGlax's protection also comes at a price. We just got there first," Schuler countered.

"You used the Narous's system to locate juvenile systems," Zain observed.

Schuler grinned. "An auspicious opportunity. The first dome was discovered here twenty years ago. Through Avakur's ancient archives, I ascertained the origin and built the interface. Once that was accomplished, I was able to locate the rest of the domes and receptors in the network. Then it was just a matter of acquiring armories and weapons. In a partnership, Avakurians supplied the armories-"

"And as Head of Procurement, you stole the ships from InterGlax," Zain interjected.

"It worked well enough. I would simply point a finger at careless suppliers or inventory personnel. A few here and there from a massive inventory like InterGlax's hardly made a stir."

"Until Crista noticed."

Schuler nodded. "Yes. Most unfortunate. She was a good operative. I hated to kill her. But at the time, I was not in a position to offer an alliance to either of you and for that I am sorry." His gaze met Zain's. "However, I am now. Juveniles should have the opportunity to choose their alliances, just like mature systems do. Don't you agree?"

His sense of justice was twisted, and Zain fought the urge to head-butt him. The man was more dangerous than ever imagined. He needed to be stopped.

"You have a point," Zain conceded.

"How much time do we have left?" Schuler asked Everard.

"Two hours and counting," Everard replied. "On schedule."

Schuler smiled at Zain. "You are just in time to witness the biggest conquest in history. In two hours, we will launch a simultaneous attack from all installations to all targets that will last several cycles. By the time we are done, InterGlax and CinTerr will be history."

Zain stared at the targets in the holodeck as the full extent of Schuler's insanity took hold. Damn.

Schuler crossed his arms. "So, what do you say? I could use a good man to approach juveniles and encourage them to make the right choices. Think of it as a diplomatic opportunity. You will be well compensated for your position."

Zain realized that once the attacks were launched, he wouldn't be able to stop them unless he was on the inside. Then, he could notify InterGlax. If there was an InterGlax left to notify. But it would be the only way. One double cross deserved another. "I'll think about it."

Schuler nodded. "Good."

Zain noticed that one of the blue lights in the holodeck began to flash.

"We have lost control of Installation 93," Everard said, panic in his voice. "The main systems are not responding." Schuler turned and studied Zain. "I don't suppose you have an idea of what happened to 93?"

Zain remained silent. Lacey.

"Would you like to send a ship to check out the planet, sir?" Everard asked.

Schuler kept his gaze on Zain. "No. Blow it up. We'll get by without it."

The man blinked. "Sir?"

Schuler swung his head around. "Contact our closest ship and have them destroy the station and surrounding area." Schuler looked at Zain. "Unless, of course, you would like to consider my offer."

Zain would love to think that Lacey had followed orders and gone back to Earth, but he knew better. If she were still on the planet, she'd be dead. And even if she weren't, Reene was, and the krudo.

"That won't be necessary," Zain replied. "No one else knows about your operation except me. I work alone. For obvious reasons."

Schuler regarded him for a few moments. "So you will accept my offer?"

Zain clenched his fists behind him. "Yes."

Chapter Twenty-five.

"Does everyone have their orders?" Lacey asked her alien posse assembled in the armory.

"I'm all set," Torrie said, her pistol trained on Ferretu sitting on the floor.

Through Lacey's earpiece, Reene spoke up. "I await your signal. However, I must say that I have calculated the probability of success on this mission. It is quite low."

"You heard from Zain lately?" she asked, adjusting the weapons belt she'd borrowed from Torrie. She didn't know how to use half the stuff, but it looked threatening enough.

"No."

"Well then, our odds can't be worse than his. And remember, timing is everything.

You are responsible for executing each step on my command."

"I am prepared to kick buttocks in a most efficient manner," Reene replied.

Lacey laughed, despite the tension that filled her. Computer humor. How perfectly apropos.

She turned to Pio, standing on the island top. "Are your people in position?"

The little creature, of whom she'd grown quite fond, tilted his red saucerlike head.

"Yes. We help save Zain."

She nodded. "As soon as your work is done on Avakur, get back here. Oliver will never forgive me if anything happens to you."

Then her gaze met Ferretu's. The assassin smirked, mocking her and her plan. She gave him her brightest smile and enjoyed watching his confusion. Not even he could stop her from rescuing the man she loved.

"Begin Phase One, Reene," she ordered. Around her, the armory came alive. Portal tubes descended into the first level of tunnels. The ends attached and capsules began to float upward.

"How long to complete the transfer, Reene?" she asked through her comm unit.

"Approximately thirty minutes to empty the tunnels and move the shippers into position."

Lacey watched the capsules getting ready to make their way to Avakur. "You are sure IG won't see them coming in?"

Reene replied, "I have selected portals just beyond the compound's detection capabilities."

"Let's hope so," she said softly. Then she stepped over to Ferretu and pointed her rifle at him. "Up."

He snorted. "You won't shoot me. You almost puked when you saw what your ship did to my men."

Torrie's two pistols came into Lacey's peripheral vision. She smiled wickedly.

"Get up or I'll shoot you. And I promise I won't puke."

His face puckered in a sneer but he didn't move.

Lacey turned her head and said, "Pio."

The little creature moved to her side. She hitched her head at Ferretu. "Eat him."

The assassin's eyes widened in horror as Pio took several steps forward and snapped his claws. The man just about killed himself getting to his feet, then backed away from Pio as far as he could.

"Now, see? That wasn't so hard," Lacey said.

While Lacey covered him, Torrie wrapped tape around Ferretu's mouth and head. "That'll keep him quiet. We don't want him ruining any of our surprises. I just hate when that happens."

Lacey nodded at the assassin and swung her rifle to the portal. "Let's go say hi to all your drinking buddies."