Through the one-way mirrors, he could see Priscilla sitting in a relaxer. There was a frightened, defiant expression on her face. And she was staring up at Fredrik Roos.
The lean saturnine chief of the Asgardian police was bending over the green haired girl, saying furiously, "After what I've done, do you think I'd hesitate to kill you?"
Priscilla shivered.
Behind Joel, Thorp said, "The Emperor, Fredrik I of Asgard. He's going to have the shortest reign in history!"
"Shut up!" said Joel. "He's talking."
Roos said, "I don't need the mutants; they need me! Look what happened to Eden. Nelsville and Nuvenice will fall the same way. But you can save thousands of lives if you persuade them to cooperate."
Joel said, "I'm going to take him," and touched the switch.
The panel made a faint squeak as it slid back. Joel leveled the paralyzer, touched the stud.
Roos jerked around, his eyes widening. Then he leaped aside spasmodically. The yellow flame splashed harmlessly against the opposite wall.
Before Joel could catch the police chief in his sights again, the room was plunged into darkness. Priscilla screamed.