​     "He's lying!" Goldbody roared into his own microphone. "Don't listen to a word that fool says! I am still in control of the Skymaster! I still have the power to destroy this vessel and everyone on Earth! Associates, stand with me! Kill everyone who tries to board one of those escape pods. Kill them! Kill them, and I will reward you! I will give you billions! Billions!" 

​     But it was no use. Claudia really had taken complete control of the Skymaster. The microphone he screamed into no longer worked. No one heard a word he said. 

     He had a cache of highly advanced weapons hidden behind the walls of the private office where he stood. He waved the sensor that opened the secret compartment where he kept them. He took only a moment to choose. The laser, yes. He'd cut them all in half, that's what he'd do. He'd show them, show them all. He'd cut them into tiny pieces, all of them. If it absolutely had to end, let it end in blood. 

CONTINUE