"With what?" It was the Panadur Leader speaking through his robot. "Listen, O Man of evil! The five-hundred scientists you sent to our world, no longer exist. Their minds activate such robots as you have never even imagined. Verdugo is a robot himself--the robot whose voice you are listening to, as my telepathic commands reach its brain. You saw my people hurling themselves against your might and dissolving into _radiant energy_, which we absorb directly from matter as you absorb energy from food. We can store it in our bodies, increasing it into a potential which can be directed at will and released with cumulative force. Nothing in our universe can withstand that--and we're willing to die by the millions that Panadur may be free!" "We shall make treaties with Mars and Venus, to permit the millions of Terrans to dwell on their Planets until we can provide habitation for them elsewhere. In the meantime, take your choice, old man! Your terror-reign is ended. We give you the choice of the radiant death, or a space ship to take you and your vermin beyond the inner planets. You will be provided with whatever you need--but the Council must go forever!" The Supreme Ruler realized defeat. He had never granted mercy--he expected none. His arms hung limp at his sides, and his head with its smoldering, hatred-filled eyes hung on his aged chest. He gazed at the stunned assembly of scientists below him and knew there was no escape. If he defied Mark Lynn and the Panadurs, the Terran Fleet would be utterly destroyed and without that safeguard, Mars and Venus would sweep them off their planets. Everywhere his thoughts turned he only saw death. And, as the power he had held for years slipped from his grasp, he became a gray, broken old man who knew fear. "We will go, International!" He flung with one final sneer, as the hatred of a trapped beast flamed in his eyes. * * * * * As Mark Lynn manipulated the keys and cut the connection, he found a warm body being pressed against his, and a tear-wet face that burrowed beneath his chin. His arms went about Lucero. "Crying, indeed! Where is the dignity of a scientist, Doctor Fortun?" He smiled with a vast tenderness. "Damn scientists," she exclaimed inelegantly, and burrowed deeper. "All I want is to be a woman, Mark!" At that moment the tele-panel lighted signaling and Mark connected again. It was Palanth. "Mark! Mark!" His face was alight with triumph. But Mark did not answer, for a new dawn was rising in his heart, and Lucero's lips were pressed to his. The Martian went silent, scowled for a moment and shrugged his shoulders, then pressed a square of Venusian silk to his supercilious nose in order to hide a spreading grin. * * * * * [Transcriber's Note: No Section V heading in original.] End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Star Guardsman, by Albert dePina