He was still fumbling with the helmet when he heard the whoosh of escaping air. His ears popped and his nose trickled a thin pink thread of foaming blood before he got the helmet secured. Tickler had popped the valve at once rather than wait for the air to bleed off slowly. It was a dirty trick.

"Ready?" Tickler leveled the taser on him again and shoved him forward.

They walked out of the air lock and into the cavernous docking bay. Ahead of them, across a wide, empty expanse of gleaming duralum, two ships waited. One, the transport Gyrfalcon, dwarfed the smaller six-passenger shuttle-the one used by the director for his trips back and forth to board meetings and other special occasions. Between them and the ships waiting at the end of the tether ramps only a few roboskids moved about on their programmed errands; there was nothing to offer an escape.

They've thought of everything. They even picked a time when the maintenance crew is away and the outer doors open.

That meant, of course, that anyone entering the docking bay would have to don a pressure suit and thus be slowed down considerably. Most likely any attempt to save Spence would come too late-he was not even sure if there was an attempt being made to save him.

Tickler pushed him across the floor toward the small shuttle. Halfway to the vehicle Spence saw a large figure emerge from the Gyrfalcon and come toward them. He thought the huge, hulking form vaguely familiar.

Closer, the figure raised an arm to them and stepped into their path. Through the helmet's wide face plate Spence recognized the smiling, good-natured face.

"Ah! Dr. Reston! It is good to see you again!"

"Hello, Captain Kalnikov. It's good seeing you again, too."

Kalnikov, his manner easy and unconcerned, looked at the two men with Spence. He smiled, showing even rows of large white teeth. "Are you and your friends going somewhere?" the Russian asked, his booming voice sounding tinny and distorted as it overpowered the helmet's radio.

"Yes, we are," replied Spence vaguely. "A little trip. Allow me to introduce you." Spence fastened on the stalling tactic which Kalnikov offered him.

"That won't be necessary," said Tickler sharply.

"Oh, nonsense," objected Spence. His mind raced for a way to let Kalnikov know he was in trouble. "I'm sure we have time for a little chat. Captain, I'd like you to meet my two former assistants – Dr. Tickler and Cadet Millen. Very thorough, both of them."

"Charmed," said Tickler. His eyes strayed to the shuttle.

"Have you ever been aboard the Gyrfalcon, gentlemen?" Kalnikov asked.

"Thank you, no," said Tickler. "Perhaps some other time." He moved as if to continue on his way. Kalnikov stopped him, laying a big hand on his shoulder.

"Do not think that it would be an imposition, please," said Kalnikov. His smile remained, but his eyes had grown cold. "I would be happy to show you around."

Tickler hesitated. Spence saw the hesitation and pounced on it. "We'd be delighted! Why don't you take us aboard?"

As they moved toward the great transport, he felt an electric charge of excitement run through him. The game had been moved to neutral ground and now he had a chance to score a few points of his own.

He had just put his foot on the boarding ramp when he heard another familiar voice inside his helmet. "Spence! Wait for us!" It was Adjani. He turned to see two bulky figures emerge from the air lock and dash across the floor. A quick glance to Tickler's face showed that his kidnappers were getting worried.

They waited while Adjani and Ari drew up. "We've been looking all over for you, Spence," said Adjani.

Ari, with a strange, defiant scowl on her face, pushed her way through the others and came to stand beside him. "You promised to take me to lunch today. Remember?"

"Gosh, I clean forgot," said Spence.

"All right!" barked Tickler. His voice buzzed in their helmets. "Enough of this charade! Get back all of you!" He drew the taser again and waved it at them.

Kalnikov stepped forward, thrusting Spence and Ari behind him. "That is such a little gun. And it has only one sting. How will you stop all of us, I wonder?"

Tickler nodded to Kurt who brought up the cloth-wrapped bundle he was carrying. The cloth slid off to reveal a stun rifle.

"Does that answer your question? Now back off, all of you. Reston, step over here."

"I'm sorry," said Spence. "Nice try, everybody." He made to step around Kalnikov and as he passed the Russian pilot a strange thing happened.

Kalnikov raised his arm and his glove suddenly shot off his hand and flew into Tickler's face. There was a muffled whoosh and Tickler gasped as instantly a jet of white foam splashed over him.

Before anyone could speak or move, the foam jet was turned on the cadet and his face plate obliterated beneath the white mess. Spence saw his two antagonists reeling and heard their, voices swearing into their microphones; then Kalnikov was herding everybody up the ramp into the transport.

Spence reached the top of the ramp first and turned to pull Ari through the portal. Adjani jumped through and then he ducked inside. Kalnikov was right behind him shouting, "Close the hatch!"

Just as the Russian reached the hatch he staggered, his eyes rolling to the tops of his sockets and eyelids fluttering. A strangling noise came from his throat, his head snapped back and his arms flung themselves wide as a convulsion passed through his mighty frame. He collapsed onto the ramp and Spence saw the taser dart sticking out of his still-twitching body.

He did not wait to see more but jumped through the hatch and ran into the interior of the ship. He saw Adjani motioning to him and he ducked after him into the next section.

"I couldn't get the hatch closed," said Spence as they huddled together in the next compartment. "They'll be in here in a second. "

"I've got an idea," said Adjani, "Follow me."

Aware that their pursuers could hear every word in their own helmets, Adjani motioned for them to proceed aft. Inside the next compartment he pushed Spence and Ari into deck tubes and sent them and himself to the level below.

The three hurried further aft through the transport. They could hear Tickler and Millen, their rapid breathing and grunting loud inside their helmets; it made it seem as if they were inside their suits with them.

"Stop where you are!" shouted Tickler. Spence turned just in time to see the scientist level the stun rifle at him. He threw himself to the deck and rolled into the next compartment. Adjani punched the access plate and the door slid shut. Spence looked around-they were in the hold of the transport. Along the sides of the hold were the hatches of the empty landing pods. Adjani gestured excitedly toward the first hatch.

Ari dived into the pod with Spence behind her. Adjani jumped through and Spence threw the switch to seal the hatch. They were now safe within their own spacecraft. Adjani pressurized the cabin with a flick of a switch and waited a few moments until the light on the switch changed from red to green. Then he grabbed his helmet and gave it a sideways tug.

"Now what?" asked Spence. They could hear Tickler and Kurt pounding on the hatch outside.

"Get strapped in," said Adjani. "Hurry!"

"You can't be serious! We won't get anywhere in this."

"Where do you want to go?" asked Adjani, heading for the small pilot console.

"Earth, I guess. Wasn't that the plan?" He stared at his slim, brown friend buckling himself into his seat.

"This is a landing pod, isn't it? Well, we're going to land it. Now get yourself strapped in."

It had not occurred to Spence that the landing pods could make such a trip, but they could at least get out of Tickler's range and then figure something out. "Okay," he shouted when he had thrown the straps over him. "Just one more thing: you sure you know how to drive this bucket?"