It was no use, though. The Chancellor wasn't listening. He had absolutely no sense of honor or ethical appreciation. But, Mittich reflected, that should have come as no surprise. It was to have been extrapolated from the Chancellor's political history. And now the distressing fact had to be faced: Vrausot was a megalomaniac. The Chancellor drew proudly erect and his tail stiffened. "But _we're_ not weak! Kavula--see that all gun crews stand by. We're going to finish them off now that we've established their inability to inflict damage on us." Mittich drew back, appalled at the fierce determination behind the Chancellor's driving ambition for conquest, disgusted with his own inability to turn Vrausot's purpose aside. How to stop him? It was Mittich who paced this time, helplessly wrestling with the impossible problem of preventing the Chancellor from compounding Tzarean dishonor. Frustrated, he pivoted on his tail and returned to the teleview screen. Focusing on the landing site below, he zoomed in for an extreme close-up. The aliens were still scurrying around outside their crippled ship, glancing occasionally into the sky as though terrified over the possibility of another assault. Mittich adjusted the instrument to its operational limits, as he had wanted to do on so many occasions since they had brought the aliens under observation. Two of the creatures were facing the mountain range behind which hid the Tzarean ship. Anxiously, the Assemblyman moved in and studied their heads, clearly visible through transparent helmets. He drew in a startled breath. He must be mistaken. Of course he was. He could see that now. Yet, there _was_ something fascinating as he compared one of the heads with the other. What impressed him most was the contrast. There was an indisputable difference--many differences. Then he tensed with sudden realization. Perhaps he _could_ forestall their fate. * * * * * "Chancellor," he called out softly. "Don't you think it might be a good idea to take prisoners?" "Drown the prisoners!" Vrausot swore. "We don't need them." "Yes, I realize that. But--well, look at the screen." The other studied the picture. The scales of his forehead strained erect as he pondered the contrast Mittich had already noticed. "Observe the one on the left," the Assemblyman suggested. Interested, Vrausot bent forward. "You don't suppose--?" "Yes, I do. This is our chance to study _both_ sexes." "I--" The other hesitated. "There could be significant psychological differences, you realize." Mittich pushed ahead while he had the other's attention. "Why, we can't even be sure which is dominant." The two alien creatures had gone out of the picture, leaving only an empty image of soil and rocks. "It would be nice to display a _pair_ of them at the Curule Assembly, wouldn't it?" the Chancellor said thoughtfully.