Back on the Skymaster:

​     "Excuse me, excuse me," Goldbody said softly into his com. All around him were security screens, each screen linked to one of the cameras that supervised all the activity on the Skymaster. He saw that all of his associates had, by this time, rounded just about everybody up. They had the guests huddled together at the center of each room. The guests, now prisoners, looked either terrified or outraged or both. Goldbody almost laughed out loud.

​     "Do I have your full attention?" he went on. "Good. I'm sorry, but there's been a bit of a change of plans. I'd hoped to allow you to enjoy the facilities for at least twenty-four hours before continuing on with the second phase of my operation, but then that awful man appeared and...anyway..."

     "Here's what we're going to do. Those of you who have already checked into your rooms, please raise your hands. An associate will see you to your room. Those of you who haven't gotten your rooms yet, please do so at this time. Again, an associate will assist you."

​     "No!" Goldbody heard a deep, male voice shout. Where did it come from? Oh yes, there he was, part of the group that herded around the entrance. 

     It was Baxter Cobbs. 

​     Another oil billionaire. 

     The great-great-great grandson of Byron Cobbs. the original owner of Cobbs Oil. The dossier on Baxter Cobbs indicated that he was as arrogant and narcissistic as anyone who'd ever owned their own jet. 

     "You have a problem, Mr. Cobbs?" Goldbody asked over the com.

     "You bet I do!" Two of Goldbody's associates tried to contain him, but Baxter was having none of it. "What is the meaning of this? We're being treated like cattle! I won't have it!"

​     "I see. Would one of my associates please see to Mr. Cobb's needs, please?"

​     "Of course." The associate that stood to Mr. Cobb's immediate right aimed his rifle at Baxter's ribcage and pulled the trigger. Baxter was a large, muscular man. It took four shots to drop him.   

​     That shut the crowd up. 

     "All right, then. To continue." Goldbody smiled. He had a camera aimed at him so that all the screens in the casino showed his image. "Let's have no more misunderstandings, ladies and gentlemen. You are my prisoners. I'm about to ransom you all to the world for half a trillion dollars. Five hundred billion dollars. Given what I've just said and demonstrated, you will not be treated badly. You will be well fed. You will have complete access to the internet and to the public areas of the casino. Is that understood? Good. Let us have no more silliness. My associates will see to you now." 

                                                 CONTINUE