said Haviland Tuf. “Guardian, something very odd is happening on Namor.” “You’ve noticed,” she said drily. The laser did not move. “Indeed. You are being destroyed by an infestation of creatures that we must, for want of a better term, collectively dub sea monsters. Three species have appeared, in less than half a dozen standard years. Each of these species is

Haviland Tuf reacted not at all. “Violence,” he said, in a voice of mild reproach. “Perhaps, before you burn a hole in me and thereby doom yourself and your world, you might give me the opportunity to explain?” “Go on,” she said. “I’ll listen. For a little while.” “Excellent

where she found him sitting before a bank of computer screens, watching red and blue lines chase each other across a grid. “Tuf!” she roared. He turned off the screen and swung to face her, batting away Ingratitude. Shrouded by shadows, he regarded her impassively. “The Council of Guardians has given me an order,” she said. “How fortunate for you,” Tuf replied. “I know you have been growing restless of late from inactivity.” “The Council

Kefira Qay spent the next week and a half avoiding Tuf as much as possible. She skipped dinner and scowled when she saw him in the corridors. Each day she repaired to the communications room, where she had long discussions with her superiors below, and kept up on all the latest news. It was bad. All the news was bad. Finally, things came to a head. Pale-faced and furious, she stalked into the darkened chamber Tuf called his “war room