The blaster fire lanced down for twenty or thirty seconds, blinding impact after blinding impact, the destruction far greater than was needed. On and on it went.
When it was done, and the worst of the smoke had cleared. Kane strode to stand in front of the assembled citizens. Behind him, the pit carved out by the blasters was empty, everything and everyone that had been standing there vaporised, the bodies reduced to smoke to drift in the planet's atmosphere. Some of the adults were on their knees, some screaming uncontrollably. Others were staring in wide-eyed disbelief at what had taken place.
Kane's voice was strangely quiet after the screaming and concussions. “This horror will live on in your minds for the rest of your days. Those of you that don't kill yourselves in your grief will
