REVOLT IN THE STARS
impatiently, ”Stug! Where the crap have you been for a month?” Stug pulled the mike toward him, looking deadly. ”No time for tales. The lost ones are at Interceptor Space Station 62. Just arrived.” Shock spread over the face of Chi, ”That’s commanded by a Loyal Officer.” He paused, his eyes darting about. Then he looked back at his own viewscreen and a cunning look which he thought was persuasive came over his face. ”Stug, we have always counted on you.” ”You’re counting on me now to the tune of a hundred thousand credits. Right?” ”Right.” ”I suggest you send a hyperspace interceptor here at once, ” said Stug. ”Manned with a couple of reliable men, of course. I don’t like asteroids.” ”All right, ” said Chi. He added ferociously, ”They must not talk!” Stug smiled. ”They won’t talk, ” he said smoothly and consolingly. The white doves, imported to decorate the chambered gardens of the otherwise bleak asteroid and also to fall dead if air pollution rose dangerously, flitted about from perch to perch, the whir of their wings mingling with the artificial waterfall. It was a beautiful garden but in the opinion of Lady Min and Ap was no place to spend two days of idle waiting. They sat on a seat beside a heavily grilled door, very strong in the black rock. True, they had been able to clean themselves up even though no changes of clothes had been offered them. But two days of waiting, despite the urgent notes they had sent the Base Commander, was creating a mystery that depressed their spirits. The door opened and a white-coated servant entered carrying a tray. He walked over to them and set his burden down.
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Lady Min caught at his sleeve as he turned to leave. ”Wait!” ”Listen, ” said Ap, ”we’ve been waiting two days to see the Base Commander. He can’t be that busy!” The servant shrugged and went out closing and barring the door behind him. ”I guess you get that way on an asteroid base!” said Ap. Lady Min stared at the barred door. ”Ap, something must be wrong! I feel it. Why should a Loyal Officer keep us waiting?” ”I sent him messages that you were the greatest actress in the universe and had vital data.” He looked defensive. ”Maybe I’m flopping as a press agent! Probably.” They sank back hopelessly ignoring the luncheon tray. Some hours later the bolts grated and the door opened. An officer uniformed in blue and white entered, followed closely by a uniformed guard who held his blast rifle at ready. Coolly the officer said, ”The Base Commander will see you now.” Ap looked at the guard, the blast rifle held at ready, its safety lock off. ”Future Zero!” he whispered to himself. The officer escorted them through the long tunnels and ramps which led up through the light gravity of the asteroid. The Base Commander’s office was spacious even for an asteroid base. Behind the desk was a large illuminated chart of the home planet system with small patrol craft on pins. The kidney-shaped desk was long but very narrow. The Base Commander was young, guileless, with the optimism of youth and a bit bored. He was uniformed in Loyal Officer khaki but his collar was open. A holstered blast pistol was belted about his waist, but his hands folded behind his head as he leaned back in his chair showed that he considered the whole thing rather