"Guards!" "Don't speak or make a sound." "My reflexes are dull." "They almost fell over me before I heard them." "I've forgotten how useful telepathy is." " Oh, I must practice that, too." " No sign of him?" "Just patrols, lots of them." " I think I've found where he's being kept." " Is it as we were told?" "It's certainly very strange, the weirdest prison I've ever seen." "Listen." "Keep down." " What was it?" " I don't know." "But in the back position, that was Sarkoff, wasn't it?" "That was President Sarkoff, yes." "Come on, let's go." "[FAINT ELECTRONIC CHIRPING]" " Yes?" " I think we've got some intruders." " Are you sure?" " Our electronic surveillance is usually reliable." "Very reliable, yes." "Last time it turned out to be a local rodent digging a hole under one of your listening devices." "We spent two hours chasing our tails on that occasion." " That wasn't our fault." " All right, give me the coordinates." " Five, one..." "If they are there then they've already penetrated two of our security perimeters." " Have you got them all?" " Yes." "Sub commander Cheney to all units." "This is a red alert." "I repeat, this is a red alert." "Electronic security reports intruders in Sector Three." "All units are now on Red Standby." "Out." "At the double, move it." "Thank you, Tyce." "You may put the automobile under cover now." "Don't forget the base commander's gift." "Ah, yes, it was very courteous of the base commander, don't you think, to spend part of his leave getting this, and then to bring it all the way from Earth?" " He values your friendship." " Yes, I think he does." "And he's a social climber." "Probably works your name into every conversation." ""My friend, ex President Sarkoff"." " Tyce, that is a most ill mannered remark." " It's the truth." "Civilisation has always depended on courtesy rather than truth." "And I need civilisation." "Now, more than ever." "He looks older." "He is older." "It's 7 years since he came into exile." "Liberator." "Come in, Liberator." " Liberator to spacecraft." "Can you hear us?" " Looks like some sort of cruiser." " Not making much headway." " Blake to Liberator, do you read me?" " We read you." " Do you think he's ready to come up?" "We've run into more security than we expected." "It's going to take longer." "Listen, Blake, we've got a problem." "There's an unidentified ship moving in on our position." "Federation?" "Zen says not, but Gan can't make a voice contact." "Seems to be closing in all the time." " Well, what do you want to do?" " Investigate." "Be careful." "We can handle things." "If it turns out to be hostile, we'll do a part orbit and lose it." "We can't just wait for it to close in." "If you've got to move off station, be as quick as you can, and don't take any stupid risks." "We're taking enough of those down here." " Don't worry." " I will if you're not back in time to get us out." "We'll be here." " Good luck." " You too." " I don't like the look of that." " Not again, Vila." " I'm entitled to my opinion." "It is your assumption that we are entitled to it as well that is irritating." "What do you think?" "As a matter of fact, I don't like the look of it either." "He agrees with me." "The flight path is too erratic." " Makes it all seem worthwhile somehow." " It looks deliberate to me." "It could be an injured pilot." "It could be a trap." "It's not a very good one, then." "We're suspicious of it already." "The test is not whether you are suspicious but whether you are caught." "Then we'll make sure we're not." "Vila, clear the neutron blasters for firing." "Zen, put up the radiation flare shields." "Confirmed." "Keep trying to establish a voice contact." "I'll fly her on manual." "If you'll read the detectors and scanners?" " First sign of trouble, we get out, right?" " Goes without saying." "I only wish it did." "We attack the guards or climb?" "There's a door on the ground floor, it's the only entrance." "There is an open window round the back but it's high up." "We've got to get onto that roof." " We climb." " We don't want to risk raising an alarm." "Come on." "It's not a burrowing rodent this time." "Looks to be two intruders, two at least." "Cheney to all units:" "Red Standby Alert is now Red Mobilisation." "Repeat:" "Red Mobilisation." "All units to move in on the residence." "Liberator to spacecraft, Liberator to spacecraft." "You're closing too fast for me to get an accurate scan." " All right, I'll reduce speed." " Thank you." " Liberator to spacecraft." "Can you hear us?" " Blasters are ranged and ready to fire." "No sign of any external damage." "Carries no heavy armament." " I'm getting a voice, very faint, lot of static." " Boost it to the main channel." "Star Queen." "General distress call, general distress call." "This is the civilian cruiser Star Queen." "If anyone can hear me, we need help." "Please help us." "General distress call, general distress call." "Zen, are we in teleport range?" "Liberator will be within teleport range of the civilian cruiser Star Queen in seven minutes." " Good." " No." " They need help!" " Do they?" "Well, you heard him." " It's not quite the same thing." " Avon's right." "We need more information." "Let me go across and get it." "If it is a trap." "I'll warn you." "Then Vila can open fire." " With you on board?" " If necessary." " You feeling all right?" " Fine." "You would give the instruction for your own death;" "you expect us to believe that?" "Yes." "I expect you to believe that." "Cover me whilst I climb, then hide the box." "Blake!" "A guard is coming!" "You must get to Sarkoff." "I will hide this one and then follow you." "Come on, Gan." "What's taking so long?" "[COMMUNICATOR CHIME]" "His time's nearly up." "Stand by to fire on that ship, Vila." "I still don't think this is such a good idea." "I didn't ask for your opinion." "Are you standing by to fire?" " We don't want to do anything hasty." " Vila!" "Yes, I'm standing by." "[COMMUNICATOR CHIME]" "This is Gan." "It's all right." "You can bring me back across now." "There's no danger to us, but they need our help all right." "I've got all the details." "Bring me back." "Information:" "Analysis of voiceprint confirms that was not Olag Gan speaking." "Avon!" "Avon!" "All right, bring him up." "Avon!" "Avon!" "Avon!" "Answer me!" "Avon!" "It's not Gan!" "Avon?" "Jenna?" "Now don't let's be silly." "Answer me, one of you." "I shall come out in a rash." "Zen, has something happened to them?" "Data is not available." "I don't want data!" "I want to know what's happening." "It will be necessary for you to make a personal investigation." "Oh, you're a big help." ""Personal investigation"" ""Personal investigation"" "The next time Avon wants to make a personal investigation on how you work." "I shall make a personal point of handing him the instruments, personally." "Beautiful, aren't they?" "Earth insects of the order Lepidoptera." " Butterflies." " Ah, so you're an historian, are you?" "No, but I did study some natural history." "It's interesting, isn't it, that when that term "natural history" was originated, it referred to the study of living things." "It was much later that it came to mean the study of things long since past and dead." "History in its more conventional sense." " You don't seem surprised to see me." " I've been expecting you." "Oh, not you, specifically, but someone." "Do you know what this is?" "Why are you expecting someone?" "Assassination has always been a legitimate tool of statecraft." "Its respectability and public acceptance has varied from civilisation to civilisation, but its practical application has remained remarkably consistent." "[MUSIC PLAYING]" " I ..." " Echoes of a more civilised age." "I didn't come here to murder you." "You know this is the finest private collection of Twentieth Century Earth objects anywhere in the galaxy." "Even on Earth itself you would find no collection like it." "This building is a replica of a typical residence of that period, set in an authentic Earth garden." "I said, I'm not a murderer." "I'm grateful for your semantic precision." "Political assassination I can live with." "To be murdered would be the final, sordid indignity." "Now my educated friend, do you know what this is?" " Uh, it's a projectile weapon." " It's called a revolver." "Explosive charge here, projectile emerges with great force and considerable accuracy, over short distances anyway." "Primitive, but efficient enough for my purposes." "President Sarkoff, I must speak with you." "Will you listen to what I have to." "[CLICK]" "EX president." "I haven't got time for the niceties of this game that you're playing." " Just time for a hasty rationalisation." " I just want you to listen." "I've wasted my life listening." "Listening to people who are arrogant, or vacuous, or just plain vicious." "I smiled and acquiesced in the face of prejudice and stupidity." "I've tolerated mediocrity and accepted the tyranny of second class minds." "But now all that is over." "I am ready to die, here among the things I value." "I am ready to let you kill me but I am not ready to listen to you justify the act." "Quite still." " Very good." " I meant what I said Put those down, Tyce." "I'm afraid they do work." "I said, put them down." "I heard what you said I heard every feeble, self pitying word." "Why should they send assassins for you, you're already dead, Sarkoff." "Before I kill you, who are you and what do you want?" "I came here to take President Sarkoff back to his people." "My name is Blake." "Idiot, why didn't you report this to me immediately?" "You two, around the rear." "I won't do it." "No, Blake, what you ask is impossible." "It would be a mistake for me and the people of my planet." "I am NOT the same man." " To them you are." " I am no longer a politician." "But if I were, I would tell you that your timing is wrong, anyway." "And if I were, I would tell you that if you wait any longer it will be too late." "You don't understand." " Blake?" " She's with me." " I did tell you that." " Are there any more?" " No, just Cally." "Something has alerted the guards." "Are we safe in here?" "Yes." "But I'll go and check." " Did you hide the box?" " Of course." "Is he ready?" " Well, Cally." "Must I listen to you, too?" " No" " Have you no opinions?" " None." "You are needed to unite your people." "I see." "Facts, not opinions." "Would we have risked our lives for an opinion?" "What do you think of my collection?" "It is most impressive." ""Impressive", only?" "Ah, but then your people don't originate from Earth, do they?" "My people are the Auronar." "Yes, I remember in my last years of office, we received an ambassador from Auron." " His name was..." " Lehan." "Yes, Lehan." "I remember how alone he seemed." " He did not return to us." " Because he failed." " Because I failed him?" "I wanted that alliance." " So did we." "To resist the Federation." "You seem to have shifted your ground somewhat since then." "I was leader of the planetary government on Lindor for five years." "During that period I resisted political pressure to join the Federation, even from factions within my own party." "Eventually I decided to settle the issue by trying to get a vote of confidence." "So I called elections." " And he was beaten." " Of course he was beaten." "My friend, I was totally annihilated." "Complete rejection." "And no precise decisions followed my political disgrace." "Lindor did not join the Federation." "You see, it wasn't a rejection of my policies." "The vote was merely a rejection of me." "So he ran away and hid." "Here on this empty, nameless planet which the Federation so generously provided." " Together with a security force." " And you're right, something has stirred them up." "Since there's nothing else that's any threat to them, they must know you're around here somewhere." "I'm afraid that Tyce has never been able to accept that I am no longer important" "It's a very impressive bodyguard for someone who is no longer important." "Courtesy." "Besides it would be politically embarrassing for them if I were to be killed while I was their guest." "Not unimportant, then." "Not naïve, either." "I mean, surely you must realise you're a prisoner here?" "Of course he does." "Don't you see it, Blake?" "He relies on them keeping him here." " No, no that's not true." " Blake, we're running out of time." "President Sarkoff, your planet is in total chaos." "There are dozens of factions fighting for power." "They're on the brink of civil war." "That cannot be true." "I get regular reports." "When the fighting starts, the Federation will move in a peacekeeping force." "They'll take over the government and your planet will have lost its freedom." "Just swallowed up into the Federation." "All quite legitimate and not a single voice raised in protest." "That cannot happen." "I know the situation on Lindor." "I get regular reports." "From the FEDERATION communications, yes?" "Yes." "But I have proof of their authenticity." "The Lindor Strategy." "That's what they called it." "It began with the rigged elections, which removed you from power and will only end when you return to your planet as the puppet leader of a subjugated people." " I knew!" " Nonsense." " No." "We captured a Federation cipher machine." "Now before they changed the code, we picked up a lot of information." "Our computers have been unravelling it ever since." "One of the things they came up with was the Lindor Strategy." "We have checked." "It is happening." " Why should I believe you?" " What have I got to gain by lying?" "You are the only man who can reunite your planet." "If you act now, you can save it from war and from the Federation." "Well?" " He won't go with you." " He must." " He was broken, can't you see that?" "If you'd known him before, you'd understand." "He was a very special man." "Brilliant and proud." "Failure never occurred to him." " But the elections were rigged." " It was still failure." " That's something you should understand." " I thought I could help him." " He must come with us, by force if necessary." " I know." "You will take us both?" "Put this on." "And put one on him." "I'll go and check where the guards are." "Liberator, are you back on station yet?" "Respond, please." "[COMMUNICATOR CHIME]" "Liberator, do you read me?" "Respond, please." "Liberator, do you read me?" "What is this?" "It's a teleport device Lib..." " Something to do with getting me to your ship?" " Yes, when I can contact them." " Well, I shan't need it I'm not coming with you." " I'm sorry." "So am I. It's too late, Blake, it's been too long." "Defeat has become a habit." "Blake, if you ignite this it explodes." "I thought it might be useful." "The whole of the front is cordoned off and there are two men searching the woods at the back." " Looking for the missing guard." " Do you think they'll find him?" " Well, I should think so." "Very soon they'll check in here, too." "You two must go now while you still have a chance." " Liberator's still not back on station." " Perhaps we'd be safer on the move." " It depends how long they take to get back." " There is a place you could hide, safer than this." "Deserted mine workings." " How far?" " About twenty miles." " That's too far." " That vehicle you use." " The automobile?" " Yes." " Can you get to it without being seen?" " I think so." "All right, come with me." "Cally." "[MUSIC PLAYING]" " What are you planning to do?" " Escape." " I wish you hadn't involved Tyce in whatever it is." " She is coming with us." " I should have realised." " Realised what?" " That Tyce wouldn't stay with me, not now." " Does it make any difference?" " To my decision?" "Of course not." " No, of course not." "Right." "Stay here, please." "Where else would I go?" "This is all I have left." "The rear, quickly!" "Right." "Come on." "You must come with us." "No." "[SMASH]" " All of it." "Piece by piece." " NO!" "No, please." "All right, I'll come." "Put that back on." "[ENGINE CUTS OUT]" "The starting handle!" "It's a trick!" "The front, they're at the front!" "You get back inside." "Let me try." "Hey!" "Get out." "Everybody get out." "Cheney to all units:" "This is Blue Mobilisation, I repeat, this is Blue Mobilisation." "Liberator, this is Blake." "Do you read me?" "Respond." "Liberator, respond please." "Liberator!" "Do you read me?" "Come in!" "Liberator, we need teleport, now!" "[TELEPORT WHINE]" "[EXPLOSION]" " Where are they?" " I don't know." " What is it?" "Stay here with them, Cally." "Wait here, please." "Well, it's faster than the automobile but not as amusing." "Where are they, Zen?" "Please specify question more precisely." "The others." "My crew." "Where are they?" "Their absence from the flight deck is the only data available." "Thank you, Zen." "Jenna!" "Where are the others?" " They're all dead." " Dead?" "I still don't know what happened there was a distress call." "Yeah, but I mean how did all the..." "...what, are you all right" " That was stupid." " None of us showed conspicuous intelligence on this occasion." "Keep still." " Who are they?" " They're Amagons." "Amagons?" "I thought smuggling was the Amagon speciality." "It is, but they also manage a little robbery, piracy, murder." "Anything to turn an honest profit." "There." " This lot are headhunters." " I wish you wouldn't call them that." "Bounty hunters." "They're going to sell us to the Federation." " But how did they get on board?" " Gan?" "It wasn't Gan's fault." "They used me and a voice synthesiser." "It was very well planned." "Was Jenna behind it?" "No." "But when it was clear that we had lost, THAT is when she changed sides." "Good to have you back with us, Jenna." " This is purely a business arrangement, Tarvin." " You weren't always so cold." " You weren't always a bounty hunter." " Have you forgotten Zolaf Four?" " Is it worth remembering?" " Just the two of us in the mountains." " And three hundred customs guards." " You saved my life." " We all make mistakes." " I thought you liked me." " Oh, I did." "Then." " Have I changed so much?" "One of us has." "[EXPLOSION]" " I just saved your pretty neck." " I didn't like the price." "You paid it." "What's Blake to you?" "We'd have got him anyway." "I don't think you would." "You just made it easy for them." "As betrayals go, it was really rather ordinary, wouldn't you say?" " Jenna!" "Stay here." " Don't you trust me?" "I trust you HERE." "Then shut her up." "Keep your woman quiet, or I'll do it." "Don't presume on my gratitude too much, Tarvin." "I wonder if there's a price on your head anywhere?" "No." "But I imagine there is on yours, though." "I'd be ashamed if there weren't." "Computer, how long before we rendezvous with the Federation ships?" "Two hours and seventeen minutes." " I can't do it, Blake." " Keep trying." "Look, there are two ways to set this thing off." "One is that control box they all carry." "Microwave transmitter." "Just point it in the direction of the neckband and press the button." "The other way is to force the lock." " You're not going to force it, are you?" "!" " And if I get it wrong, bang, no head." " I trust you." " And if it blows up and I'm right behind you!" " That's why I trust you." "Computer, give me a visual." "We ought to be in range by now." "I suppose I can wait a bit longer." "Tarvin, how much are the Federation paying you for this?" "13 million credits for the crew and ship intact." "Or, 12 million if I don't give them you." "Supposing I made you a better offer?" "You're a pretty woman, Jenna, but not THAT pretty." " If you hand over this ship, you'll lose a fortune." " Me?" "How can I lose?" " Oh, I'd expect a share." " Of what?" "300 million credits." "Give or take the odd 10 million." "You always did underestimate me, Jenna." "It seems that now you take me for a fool." "Oh, no I think you show great public spirit, giving up all that wealth just to bring Blake to justice." " You can prove what you say, of course?" " Of course." "You mean it's actually on the ship, this fortune of yours?" "Naturally." "Why else do you think that I'd remain with Blake and his friends?" " Go with her." " No one is going with me." "Do you think I should let you run around loose?" "Now you take me for a fool." "Do you think that I'd show him where the money is?" "Then stay here." "I'll be satisfied with 13 million credits." "Or 12 million, if the fancy takes me and I decide to keep you." "Very well." "Come on." "Information:" "Federation ships are now within scanner range." "Where?" "Yes." "Look!" "It's almost done." "Tarvin underestimates me." "[SMASH]" " I told you I couldn't do it." " I believed you all along." " Nobody could open it." " I thought you could open anything, that's always been one of your more modest claims." " I could open that door in two minutes." " This door is not quite the problem at the moment, is it?" " It seems to be a problem to you!" "Keep your head, Vila!" "That way I might have a chance at keeping mine." "Yes." " Avon?" " What?" " Shut up." "Please." " Blake is finished, I'm afraid." " You really want to believe that, don't you?" " I want you to recognise a fact." " Why?" " Because I'm afraid for you." " Don't be." " Accept it, Tyce, or it will destroy you." " You gave up." "You were wrong." "You are still wrong." " Tell me, Tarvin." "You Amagons recognize facts." " You talk too much." "Yes, it's an occupational hazard, I'm afraid." "What then is your reality?" " Wealth." " Is that all?" " What else?" "Well, as the rallying cry for a crusade, it lacks a certain inspiration." "There's my inspiration." "The Federation are coming to me." "I summoned them." "I'm going to sell them a crusader." " You'd sell your grandmother, wouldn't you?" " I did." "She was going to sell me, I got in first." "You!" "Stop!" "What are you doing here?" " Tarvin sent me to check on the others." " Why?" " Why don't you go and ask him yourself." "Well?" " I'll come with you." "Open it." "Hello, Jenna." "I'm glad to see that you're all behaving yourselves." "Tarvin doesn't want you damaged, unless necessary." "We're touched by his concern." "It'll be more impressive if he can hand you over alive." " A man who takes pride in his work." " What do you take pride in, Jenna?" " Survival." " At the expense of your friends?" " I didn't know that you cared, Avon." " He didn't." "And he was right." "Wait." "Tarvin gets impatient." "Shall I tell him that you delayed me?" " I'll come with you and tell him myself." " Why?" " Move." " You'll regret this." "They've gone." " I wouldn't have thought it of Jenna." " I'm still not sure that I believe it." "What does she have to do to convince you Blake, personally blow your head off?" "If this goes wrong she won't get the chance." "Something's happened." "I told you you'd regret it." "I wonder how long before they make contact with the Federation?" "Soon." "If I could just get close to some of them." "The one called Tarvin, for example?" " Right." "What's that expression of yours?" " Companions for our death?" "That's a bit morbid, isn't it?" "I've done it!" "I've done it!" " Gently, gently!" " Now that is genius" " You could well be right." " You want more proof?" "Excuse me." " It's done." " Oh, yes?" "Oh." "Yes." "Get down!" "[EXPLOSION]" "No, you stay back." "Keep out of sight." "Get him in there." " Vila." " What?" " Take this off." " Well, that's all very well, but who's going to take mine off?" " Get on with it." "Who's going to take mine off?" "And, Vila, do be quick." "I'll be next." "Ahhh!" " Thank you." " Come on, we haven't got much time." "They're almost here now." "I must congratulate you, Tarvin." "It looks as though you have accomplished what no one else has been able to do." "You have taken Blake and his crew alive and his ship intact." " I will be a prince among my people." " Oh, at the very least." " Do not mock me, old man!" " Nothing was further from my mind." "I welcome Blake's capture." " Why?" "What's he done to you?" " He didn't give up." "He fought." "Blake shamed him." " And in the end lost, it was inevitable." " Inevitable." "I am the better man." " You?" "Selfish, greedy, vicious..." " I WON." "Yes, my dear, you see, it's a paradox." "He won because he is not the better man." " What?" "!" " And yet by winning, he becomes a prince among people." " Among MY people." " Does it matter which people, Tarvin?" "Do you care?" "Tarvin calling Federation patrol." "Do you read me?" "Tarvin calling Federation patrol." "Report." "Tarvin calling." "We will be at the rendezvous point in seven minutes." "Request you have a boarding party standing by." "Confirmed." "Out." "Jenna was obviously lying." "13 million credits, I think." " Turn the ship round, Tarvin." " Is that a weapon?" " Guess." "Turn the ship round." " We'll die together." " Be careful, Tyce!" " Leave it!" " You think I'm afraid?" " No, but a dead prince, where's the fun in that?" "Sarkoff!" " Shoot him." " We don't have a quarrel." "Shoot him, now." "Throw it away." "You couldn't kill me in time to save her." "A reflex, a dying spasm, and she's gone." "Shoot him, father." "You owe it to me." "You owe it to our people." "Put it down, Sarkoff, you can't win." "You haven't got the will for it." " Do it!" " Tarvin." "[GUNSHOT]" " So it really means that much to you?" " Aren't I President Sarkoff's daughter?" "Perhaps I just sounded as though I meant it." "Then perhaps I'd better sound as though I mean to be President Sarkoff." " The Amagon's dead." " Take us out of here, Jenna." "I should thank you, but I'm not sure I have anything to be grateful for." " I have, and I do thank you." " But as I'm supposed to be a politician, I will thank you anyway." " If ever you have need of our help again..." " I think you've helped enough." "Goodbye, Blake." " If you see Lehan..." " I have work for Lehan." "He and I have an alliance to put together." "Then tell him he can go home to Auron." " Goodbye, Jenna." " Goodbye." "Goodbye, Blake." "You'll always be welcome on Lindor." " Yes, we may have need of 13 million credits." " Over my dead body." "I hope you're not going to make a habit of that particularthreat." "Ready!" "Would you move back, please?" "Good luck." "Goodbye, Blake." "[TELEPORT WHINE]" " I had the feeling she didn't mean all of us." " Yes, I had that feeling." "Well, don't just stand there."