"It would take days," replied Commander Janus, "and we're lucky to be away from there as it is!" "But--" "Haven't you had enough action this trip?" Janus snapped. "Look," Ross said suddenly, pointing down at the tiny satellite they had just left. Blasting out into space from that planet was a sleek, black space-ship. Janus exclaimed: "That's Perrin--I'd recognize his ship anywhere! That must have been his rocket-plane we saw fighting with the Brain! And we came out here to get that pirate!" He leaped to the radio, clicked it on. "Attention Perrin! Perrin, in the _Princess_! Commander Janus of Earth Patrol ship _Wasp_ speaking. We now have our long-range blast trained upon you, and you cannot outrun a Patrol ship. You will please go into a drift while we come over to board you." A voice replied almost immediately, calm and a little amused: "Very well, Commander, do not get excited. I was just coming over to you, but if you wish, come to me instead." The rockets of the _Princess_ immediately ceased blasting, and the pirate ship drifted just a few hundred miles away. The _Wasp_ drew near and made contact. Janus spoke again: "Our lock is ready. I should prefer that you came across, Perrin. No tricks!" A minute later Perrin stepped through their lock with his hands held high, mockingly. He was tall, darkly handsome, with a straightforwardness that put Commander Janus ill at ease. Perrin smiled and looked down at his belt. "My pistol, Commander? That is customary I believe." Janus stepped forward and took it. Perrin lowered his hands and said, "That is better. I was going to come over anyway, and see who it was I saved down there. I thought you were Earthmen, but I wasn't sure." There was a slight mockery in the words. Janus flushed a little as he said: "This is damned awkward, Perrin. You did save our lives, but we were sent out here to get you, you're wanted on three planets." "Three? I thought it was four," said Perrin, still smiling. "But I quite understand, Commander, and I ask no favors. As for saving your lives, that was a side issue. I really came to take a crack at that Brain. What did you think of our duel?" "Interesting," murmured Janus. He was still uncomfortable, wavering between his duty and his debt of honor. "Yes, wasn't it?" Perrin said. "You know, that thing's getting more powerful than I ever thought possible! Oh, sure, I've had a couple of other encounters with it. It's too canny to let me get a good crack at it, but how it hates me! I've been hanging around out here to see what it's up to." "Then you know about that fleet of space-ships down there," Devries spoke up. "What do you think? Is that Brain going to direct that fleet toward the inner planets by remote control?"