Brian caught her before she fell.
"There is no cause for excitement. Sit down, please." The quiet courtesy of Serono's voice did not alter, but the steel thread of command was subtly woven into his words. "You have been very clever, Hanson, too clever. I thought, almost, you had escaped me, but no one ever does. My enemies are delivered into my hands; soon there will be none on Venus."
The moment of shock passed. Brian's superlatively keen faculties keyed acutely to the emergency. They needed time first.
"How do we rate as your enemies?" he stalled.
"Mr. Hanson, we are not children. You know why you are my enemy. I recognized you years ago, you are far too brilliant a man to have against me, and you would never be with me. Your loyalty to Venus Consolidated made you dangerous."
"My loyalty? What about yours? I thought you were working with McHague and the company."
"Oh, of course, as long as it suits my purpose."
"Suppose someone got word to the Earth Council. You wouldn't last long, then."
"Perhaps not, but Venus Consolidated controls all communication with Earth and soon I will control Venus Consolidated. But I'm sure you must be tired. Max will show you to your quarters." The guard ushered them out with the muzzle of a projector.