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Evazan shook his head. “Still not enough. This is the third attempt on my life here. They get better every time.”

“We had rather assumed that hiding you in such a fortress on such an isolated isle would be protection enough,” the senator returned with an indignant tone. “Of course, we didn’t know then that half the galaxy was trying to hunt you down.”

Evazan stepped back toward him. “Are you saying I’m not worth it?” he demanded.

“It is that very point about which I’m here,” was the stern reply.

“All right,” the doctor assented. “We’ll talk about it.” He waved at the dining table. “Do you want to finish our meal first?”

The senator looked at their plates still filled with food. “Eat?” he said, then looked toward the bodies. “What about them?”

“Oh, Rover will take care of it,” said Evazan.

The blob had already crawled up to one of the dead men. drawing its viscous mass over the form, engulfing and hiding it. The creature began to quiver in excitement and gave forth a slurping noise.

“He cleans up all leftovers,” Evazan said. “It’s part of why I’ve been able to train him with such ease. He’s so well fed here.”

“I’m really not very hungry anymore,” the Aqualish said. He sat down and took a very deep gulp of ale. “Let’s just get on to the point of my visit, shall we? I don’t want to … I mean, I don’t have much time to stay here.”

“Fine,” said the doctor, taking a seat, too. “What’s your problem?”

“Credits,” the senator replied bluntly. “This whole project has gotten out of hand. Supplying this place and your laboratory facilities was costly enough. And now there’s security. This incident only underscores the problem. It’s costing our government a fortune!”

“And well worth one,” Evazan returned, leaning forward on the table to speak with intensity. “For decades now you’ve been all but slaves of the Empire, living by its orders. You’ve lost your pride and your identity to survive. Just how much are you willing to pay to get loose from your chains?”

Rover had finished ingesting the first body. Leaving only a man-shaped wet spot on the stone, it crawled to a second form.

“No amount would be too great to be free of the Empire,” the senator admitted, trying not to watch the creature’s grisly work. “Still, my appropriations subcommittee needs reassurance to continue your financing. Our present budget squeeze—”

“Your budget be scorched!” Evazan shouted. “When I finish my research, you’ll have a secret so valuable to the Empire that they’ll give you your freedom and anything else you’d want.”

“Yes, yes, so you assure us,” the senator replied. “But we’ve had little evidence of late to support your claims for some great medical breakthrough. Perhaps if you give me some proofs of your progress, something solid I can take back, then I can convince them to go on.”

“Fair enough,” the doctor conceded. “I’ll show you how very close to total success I am. It’s already been tested several different ways. In fact, I only need one last thing to prove my breakthrough works. I have to find a specimen of a human male—a young, strong, healthy, perfectly formed one.”

The senator’s large eyes narrowed in curiosity. “Why?”

“You’ll see for yourself.” Evazan got to his feet. “I’ll take you down to the laboratory right now.”

The senator looked up at him. “To your … laboratory?” he said with clear misgivings. “Is that really necessary, Doctor? Surely some other evidence would suffice. Research data, perhaps, or—”

“I insist,” Evazan said. “You have to see what I’ve done here for yourself!”

The Aqualish sighed and, with great reluctance, got to his feet.

“This way, Senator,” said the doctor, ushering him from the room.

Behind them the Meduza noisily finished its second meal and moved on to the final course. The third dead man lay curled halfway on his side. A small comlink unit attached to his belt was partly visible. The tiny green “power on” indicator light was aglow …

Outside the castle, not far above the windows, a single figure clung to the sheer