e a guard
outside their door. Give him this note and there won't be any trouble."

Strong looked at the lieutenant governor coolly. "There better not be,"
he said.

"That's a strange attitude to take, Captain," said Vidac.

"Vidac," said Strong coldly, "I want you to know right now that I don't
like this setup. There are many things cadets might be, but they are not
kidnappers or murderers!"

"I intend to prove otherwise!" asserted Vidac.

"I figured you would," said Strong, "but you still have to produce
Professor Sykes's body."

"Don't worry, Captain." Vidac smiled. "My men are searching for it now.
We'll find it."

"When you do, Vidac," said Strong grimly, "and he happens to be alive,
make sure he stays that way, eh?" The Solar Guard captain wheeled and
entered the Administration Building before Vidac could answer.

Inside, he found the slidestairs and rode up to the seventh level.
Taking the first corridor to the left, he rounded a corner to find Ed
Bush standing in front of the door to the cadets' quarters. As he
approached, Bush took out his paralo-ray gun and held it on Strong.

"That's far enough, mister," said Bush.

"Do you realize what you're doing?" demanded Strong.

"Never mind what I'm doing," snapped Bush. "Who are you and what do you
want?"

"You'd better get spacewise, mister! It's against the law to hold a
weapon on an officer of the Solar Guard! I'm Captain Strong and I want
to see the cadets!"

"No one gets inside without a pass from Governor Vidac," Bush answered
surlily.

Strong pulled out the note and handed it over brusquely. Bush glanced at
it and handed it back.

"O.K.," he said. "You got ten minutes." He unlocked the door and stepped
aside.

Strong was furious at this treatment. But he held his temper in check,
realizing he had to talk to the cadets first and find out what had
happened. He would deal with Bush later. He stepped past Bush and opened
the door.

"_Polaris_ unit--stand to!" he yelled.

Seated around the table, the three cadets stared at their captain in
disbelief, then instinctively rose and snapped to attention. Their backs
were straight and their eyes forward, but it was impossible for them to
keep smiles off their faces. Suppressing his own elation, Strong managed
to stride in front of them in mock inspection, but then could no longer
hold back an answering smile.

"Unit--stand easy!"

Like three happy puppies the cadets swarmed over their skipper, p