"You've got to get out of here," he choked out. "Get your men,
get your ships, go!"
Jenner put a firm hand on Gene's shoulder, and Kimball lowered the
light. "What's going on? Where's Zimbardo?" Jenner's voice was a little
quieter than Kimball's but just as demanding.
Gene gulped and looked up. "He-, he's aimed the asteroid at Earth! It's
on a collision course! He burned out all the power-all the power! He
can't stop it! He doesn't want to stop it!"
There was a stunned silence. Jenner, his mouth opening and closing like
a fish out of water, finally blurted out, "Why did he do that?"
"All the men in the fleets have been captured! We're the only ones
left, and Space Command will be boarding us in less than three hours!"
The three smugglers gasped in dismay. Jenner pushed Gene away and the
three of them shot back down the stairwell. When they reached the lower
level, Gene heard them shouting for their men. The light gradually
diminished until Gene was once again in complete darkness.
"Gene! Gene! Where are you?" came the voice of Lurton Zimbardo from far
behind him. Startled, Gene quickly whirled and peered into the
darkness. From far away came a sound as of scurrying feet. There were
men coming-the men from the control center, with Zimbardo. Gene spun
again and ran for his own room.
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