Chapter 10

Just a couple of hundred million miles from Marshia was a darkened room that had neither doors nor windows. The only illumination in the room came from a flickering display screen which lit up the face of the small, dark, bearded man peering intently into it. Wires from a skull cap disappeared into the gloom above him. In each hand he held a joystick which he twitched occasionally. The project was coming together nicely.

The small, dark man let go of the joysticks and leaned back with a sigh as he realised his thoughts were starting to wander.

Absolute concentration was imperative.

That last fist-sized comet he had managed to capture was just what the doctor ordered. It contained some missing iron and water he so badly needed for completion.

The thousands and thousands of hours he had spent coaxing and cajoling the molecules into place would be paying dividends in the very near future.

Yards away, in another, brighter, room that had neither doors norwindows, sat another small, bearded man. The casual observer would think he was reading a large volume on the psychology of subliminal smells in confined spaces and the meta-language of pheromones. But had that observer taken the trouble to glance over the small, neat little man’s shoulder he would have seen that the man was actually conducting a detailed examination of Miss December’s ample physique.

*

Phoenix lay on his bed marvelling at his luck at being given command of a genuine ClassA Quantatronic Battle Cruiser. ‘All these personnel,’mused Phoenix. ‘Relying on me for leadership, example,strength . And we’re squaring up to the enemy.Mustn’t show any weakness.Firm jaw, steady hand. The crew do look up to me, after all.’

“Are you even trying?” Tracy’s question cut across Phoenix’s thoughts. “My arm is starting to ache! It’s like trying to breathe life back into a long dead, badly shaved albino squirrel!”

“I’m sorry pet,” Phoenix looked embarrassed. “It’s the pressures, you know.”

Tracy jumped off the bed, pulling her dressing gown around her shoulders.“Pressures, pressures, pressures!” She was not a happy lady. “Same old excuse. I am now going to take a shower because somehow I’ve worked up a sweat.Hot and still bothered!” She turned before entering the bathroom, narrowing her eyes. “I’ll be back!” she said.

Phoenix watched the bathroom door close with relief and trepidation.