"I win!" he screamed.
As the program Zimbardo had activated was engaged, the power it
required began draining the emergency resources of the asteroid. The
lights dimmed and the usual hum of the atmosphere recycler began to
stutter.
"What did you do?" Gene asked with trepidation. "Even the backup power
system is being strained."
"Just keeping a promise," said Zimbardo jovially. "I told Earth I had
sent them an asteroid. I wasn't very truthful at the time, I'm afraid.
But now I have kept my promise. I have redirected the asteroid so that
it will collide with the planet! -and I've pushed the acceleration up
to full!"
A soul-wrenching moan escaped from Gene's lips. He stumbled over to his
chair and collapsed into it. He stared ahead, seeing nothing. The other
men were frozen in their places.
Zimbardo strolled over to the wall-screen that provided a map of the
Inner Planetary system and indicated their position. With the power
drain, the images were going in and out of focus and numbers were
fading from the screen.
"Hmm. About ten days to impact," he muttered. "Can't tell for sure with
the images fading like this, but no matter. By that time we'll be long
gone."
A few minutes later the insides of the complex began to screech as
they had before. The screech did not rise in intensity but gradually
turned into a groan.
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