The guard returned silently to his station. Kingsley walked over to Rose, grinning. "Looking feisty as ever,, isn't she, Dom?"

Rose whispered. "Be quiet, you fool. There's trouble for you here."

"Nonsense! She's the prisoner. Wasn't she put off to see me, though?" He chuckled.

"You have a grudge against this male?" asked Parquit. The question was purely rhetorical.

Her voice was even, without a hint of the emotion boiling beneath it. "He spent a small time, recently, doing unwanted, ungentlemanly things to me, Excellency. But I endeavor to always remain ladylike. I promise to make his death as quick as possible."

"Did you do as she claims?" said Parquit interestedly. He turned to face Kingsley. "Is that essentially true?"

Kingsley was no interpreter of AAnn intonation, but he was suddenly on guard. "Not exactly, I ... "

"... lie a lot," the Commander added. He examined the youngster closely. Kingsley shifted uncertainly under the close observation.

"You don't appear to be armed."

"I'm not. Your people took my weapons as soon as I landed."

"As was only appropriate. It would be required now anyway. Such things would impair the engagement."

"Engagement? What engagement?"

"Well, it seems the young lady made a vow. Under AAnn social convention, I should not attempt to prevent her fulfilling it. As my having her for dinner would certainly do. And despite your species' noted predilection for personal combat, one which I am told approaches our own, I have never had the opportunity to observe such an action. I've seen transceived casts of simulations, but never one in person.

It should prove entertaining. I am in dire need of such, these days."

"Now look here, Excellency, I'm a guest. Surely-"

"Death-vows take precedence over common, let alone forced, hospitality."

"But I'm not an AAnn! I'm not subject to your social conventions."

"Then why do you and your superior claim sanctuary? For yourself- you do not even understand your own reasoning. Pagh!"

"Excellence," Rose began. The Commander turned sharply, as if anticipating the sentence to follow. He gestured at Kingsley.

"This one means so much to you?" Parquit was watching the drugger closely.

"It's not that, really, but-"

"You bastard!" Kingsley shouted. "You rotten, putrid ... !" He took a step towards the older man, halted when the guard's rifle came up menacingly.

"My, everyone wishes to kill everyone else," Parquit mused. "I'm not unfamiliar with humanx history. If you humans hadn't encountered the thranx when you did, it's conceivable you would have both been sufficiently weak for us to defeat you. A black day when that meeting first took place. Otherwise we would now be in a position to pursue our natural destiny of galaxy-wide domination at a more natural pace."

"Don't hold your breath," said Mal.

Parquit turned to face the freighter-captain. "Periodic minor conflict is necessary in order to correctly ascertain an opponent's strength before waging war, man. We made an improper evaluation last time.

We will not make the same error again."

"Okay, I retract the request. Hold your breath."

The Commander ignored him, turned to Kitten. "So, young female. Is the center of my office agreeable to you?..

"Just give me an arm's length." She smiled ferociously.

Rose made a last try. "Thisdoes violate accepted standards of politeness, Excellence."

When Parquit had concluded the AAnn laughterequivalent, he spoke again. "See? A good idea! I am amused already. To hearyou complain of a violation of politeness. To hearyou cite accepted standards.

How many standards of civilization have you violated? How many beings owe the visit of the Thiever-of-Thoughts to you? The Mindburner? Or He-Who-Walks-Blacksand? Do not speak to me of politeness! ... You! Are you afraid of this female? You substantially outmass her."

"No, your Excellency. Save your insults for this ... this maggot. I'll fight her."

"Then be to it! I give you," he checked his own timepiece, "ten time-parts. No one will interfere."

Kitten shrugged out of the elaborate confection of crepe and silk. She crumpled the delicate material into a wad, handed it to Porsupah. Moving away to one side of her companions, she stood in very unregulation undergarments.

"Must you fight indecently, too?" said Porsupah.

"That's funny coming from you, you lecherous muskrat! This isn't going to be pretty, and I could barely walk in that thing. Give me a kiss for luck. And stop playing with your whiskers. It makes me nervous to see you nervous." Porsupah dropped both hands awkwardly to his sides.

Mal knelt until his head was on a level with the smaller Tolian's. "He outweighs her by a good 30 kilos and he doesn't look slow. You think she can handle him?"

"I don't know. She does."

Kingsley found Rose and the AAnn Commander staring at him interestedly. After all the talk, the silence in the under-room weighed heavily on him.

He took a step towards Kitten. Another. "Listen," he said, smiling nervously. "If you want an apology or whatever, I'm willing to go through the whole bit. We all seem to be in the same ship here." He held out a hand.

"You really feel that way?" She relaxed. "Well, I suppose I'd gain merit by forgiving. Once, anyway. As you say, we do seem to have the same unpromising future."

Kingsley let out a deep breath. "I was hoping you'd feel that way." He stepped forward abruptly, his left leg coming up in a vicioushsi kick, using the tibia like a knife-edge, aiming for her temple.

Her right arm shot up as she dropped, deflecting the kick over her head. At the same time, her left arm drove forward from her hip, knuckles first. Her awkward position caused her to miss the solar plexus, hitting him slightly low.

Kingsley whoofed loudly and stumbled backwards, one hand going to his stomach.

Porsupah whispered to Mal, "Kitten comes out ahead on the first exchange of greetings."

Kingsley moved forward, trying an unsubtle right chop. She didn't even bother to block it, but spun to her left, jumping and twisting in one motion. Her heel hit him on the side of the jaw, He crumpled to the stone flooring, scattering sand, and had enough left to roll to his feet. He came up spitting blood and white splinters and there was nothing civilized left in his expression.

His rush was completely unchecked, animal-like. She hit him sharply on the side of the neck. It slowed but didn't stop him. His head hit her hard in the midsection and they tumbled into a complex, flowerlike table arrangement to her right. Rose had to scramble to get out of the way.

Despite the destruction, Parquit was enjoying himself hugely. Personal combat was one of the highest arts of the AAnn. This exotic spectacle was one few among even the highest nobles could afford to have staged.

Kingsley staggered dazedly to his feet, trying to clear his head. Kitten lay stunned do the sandy floor.

Mal took a step forward but had to halt when the guard's rifle came up.

Staggering drunkenly, Kingsley stumbled over to the inert body and raised a heel over her groin. At the same time both long legs locked at different angles around Kingsley's free leg and pressured. Flailing his arms, he crashed to the hard floor, landing heavily on his side. He rolled to his knees, attempting to rise, just in time to meet a flying kick that made pulp of the left side of his face, the cheekbone giving way completely.