do?"
17 "If I were you," the Commandant explained, "I'd walk into the damned
place and cremate anyone in sight. But knowing your efficiency, you'll
be a little bit more selective, and want to ask some questions. You'll
need Zitrus, some recording equipment and backup people. I can supply
those things. Next time it may be one of us they desire to kill. I
don't personally care for assassin's guilds or, the people that hire
them."
18 "I guess we have no choice," North gave in.
19 Two days later the party of seven wearing commoner clothes beamed
down from Academy. They had swords, body shields, and thermal grenades.
They met twenty of North's people. Using any of their Cadets was out of
the question. It would create too many questions. Officially they were
in the Commandant's office having an all day conference. They made
their way to the top floor of a large office building in the middle of
the city. As they entered an office the young woman taking calls and
receiving visitors was an oddity. She must have been a relative of the
men who ran the office. "Can I help you, gentlemen?" she asked.
20 "Yes," North told her, "you can put your hands flat on top of that
desk and don't try to touch any buttons!"
21 A look of horror came on the girl's face when she saw the dagger in
North's hand. She quickly obeyed as
North went around the desk and looked at her button board. He
pressed the one marked "O.D." and the office door
opened while two men grabbed the girl and escorted her out of the
office.
22 As they went through the door, the man behind the desk went to reach
into a drawer, but when he saw two swords pointed at him, he changed
his mind. Morn reached over the desk, seized the front of the man's
shirt, and hauled him over the top, holding him with ease. "You can