[Danny]

*sigh* only dragadon replies. and then only because i made her promise to...

CHAPTER 48

The Guard Captain opened the door to the Director’s Office, and was greeted by a large metal paperweight, which struck him on the forehead. When he ceased cursing and looked up through the pain, the Director was once more sat calmly at his desk, his expression betraying none of the anger and frustration that had flung the paperweight at the Captain. “You have a report for me?”

The Captain knew better than to mention the paperweight attack, so he drew himself up, and drew a deep breath. “Three prisoners escaped, sir. Specimens 46, 304, and 392. A mudokon and two sligs.”

“Including the female?” The Director was impassive. It was clear by the anger showed as the Captain walked in that he already knew all of this, but was merely playing.

The Captain swallowed. “Yes, sir.”

“I see. And your men killed Dr. Angrak, of course.”

The Captain began to turn an unhealthy shade of blue. “Well…”

“Despite my specific orders that he was to be kept alive?”

“In a way, yes, sir.”

The Director leaned forward. “Captain, you have served me well up until now, so I am inclined to be lenient with you.”

The Captain’s face flushed with relief. “Oh, Thank-”

The intercom buzzed. When the Director pressed the button, a slig voice filtered through. “Sorry to bother you, sir, but President Snikkit just called, he says he’s on his way here.”

The Director frowned. This was one piece of bad news he hadn’t been expecting. “Why?”

“Says he’s investigating claims about a female slig being held here, and says he wants to negotiate for her to be released into his custody.”

The Director’s smile spread across his face once more. He’d hoped that Snikkit would have intercepted that message.

“Sir? That isn’t all. Supervisor Dran’s also on his way to see you. He says he’s recaptured Specimen 101 – the Scrab-Paramite hybrid that escaped – and wonders if there is some kind of reward.”

The Director smiled. “Ah, a piece of good news. What rank are you?”

The slig voice hesitated. “Lieutenant, sir.”

“Wrong. You are now promoted to Guard Captain. Send Snikkat and Dran up to my office when they get here. And Captain?”

The newly-appointed Captain seemed hesitant. “Sir?”

The Director smiled a wolf-like smile. “Your predecessor is in here. Take him away and dispose of him, would you? Use your imagination.”

“Yes, sir.”

The former Guard Captain turned pale as his successor entered the office, but his fevered glance at the Director brought only a satisfied smile, then he was led away.