The little speaker imbedded in his ear crackled. "Autarch! There's a disturbance on the fifth level! The assassin has entered the Palace!" It was the Commander's voice.
Suddenly, something clicked in Bartol's mind. He glanced down at his bright uniform and then looked at the plain gray of the android guards.
"You! Guard! Strip off that uniform! Quickly!"
Automatically, the android robot obeyed. At the same time, Bartol took off his own clothing. He changed with the guard and re-armed himself.
"Neither of you know where I am going. You will forget seeing me leave."
They nodded. He was the Autarch, as far as they knew; they would obey every order.
Quietly, he walked over to the heavy door that guarded the citadel, opened it, and stepped out into the corridor.
The assassin was on the fifth level. Seven levels above him! The citadel was buried deep beneath the surface.
"We have two semiportable blasters aimed at him," said the voice in Bartol's ear. "We—wait! Too late! He burned his way through the wall! Get that gun around to the other hall! Cut him off!"
The Commander's voice kept on. In his excitement, he had forgotten that Bartol could still hear him.