"I'll kill you first," said Joe. "As a favor to myself."
Al shot back the bolt. "Don't try it, Joe."
The commander pulled on the door. It swung open a couple of feet. A bolt of red fire swept through the opening. But Al had expected this and he was safe behind the neutralizing door. Then Al stepped into the opening. He didn't need light, for Joe was a red glow against the quadrant wall.
Joe stood with his feet wide apart, with an aura of fire around his body. Flaming sparks seemed to lick the air to form an outline of a human being.
Joe raised his finger toward the commander and Al didn't wait. He squeezed the pistol's trigger and then stepped back behind the door as flame lashed toward him again. The report of the gun echoed.
"You murderers!" Joe groaned. His body hit the floor with a thud.
Al waited, then opened the door again. Joe lay on the floor. No sparks came from his body now. He looked like a sleeping man.