Jeffers was battling for his life. A score of men were converging upon them. Jovian, Martian, Earthmen alike, they had but one purpose as they rushed forward under Zemmd's mental command.
That purpose was to kill!
But it was they who died, as Jeffers swept his beam in a deadly crossfire. Lorine had retrieved the electro, and she joined the battle, crouching beside Jeffers in the narrow doorway. Luckily it offered a measure of protection. A few of these men were armed. Beams slashed and glanced from the walls. In a matter of seconds the place was a hell of heat and blinding light.
Tor was intent upon the Tele-Magnum now. Curt sprang for the radiant-rifle, came up with it, whirled to join the battle. But already the men were falling back out of range! They left four of their dead upon the corridor floor.
In the brief respite Curt remembered Landreth, and the Energon-form. The same thing was happening now! The bodies coalesced with an inner aura of electric-blue. Four Energons emerged swiftly and hung poised, spinning, crackling with angry radiance. Then they darted forward.
"Don't let them touch you!" Curt hurled Lorine aside, sprang forward with rifle upraised. Before he could touch the firing stud, the Energons were tumbling back, wildly—as if in panic!
Curt stared. It wasn't his weapon they feared—
Then Curt knew!
It was Tor Ekkov's voice behind him, sending his strident, high-pitched aria into the telector-beam to Mars. Sound! These things feared super-sonic sound!
Lorine screamed, clutched at Curt's arm.