A Matter of Honor

said, "I agree that speed's important, so why not

ut she felt she ought to accustom herself to it. "You cannot test a shield's strength without using darlas, and you do not yet have the control to do that safely." Getting brave, she chid

apport, which was good, and she was already showing the self-possession it had taken him over a month to achieve, maybe from his memories. That, he

lize too clearly, you could easily injure or kill its possessor. You

unds rea

, which disappointed both Rangers. But Corina, despite her misgivings about the mission she'd assumed, found the forest eased her tension. She breathed deeply, sav

ht be her last time to enjoy them. She kept that thought carefully shielded from the other Ranger; it wouldn't help for hi

ealing whatever it was, he was certain, and although that pattern rapport had made them in some ways clo

slipped my mind, Rina. You're entitled to

n surprise. "What woul

ntments, take care of anything you

ch need, and it appears to be a waste of a person

se reasons. When we run into Sunbeam, then, I'll

s much too able to be what I gather

seem to be finding too

of result. There were a few screens here and there, but they found not

is among Irschchans. We have encouraged and developed it for millennia, and even to a certain extent bred for it. Humans have not, so I am

nd no passenge

ience, is far less-as Irschchans are at all Talented, an assumption he would not credit, we can e

how many in the

Adepts Valla and Kainor, who I am afraid will be yours and perhaps

th shields, shouldn't we? From what you sai

ou will have to use the few seconds the shields give you to stun or kill them. I will be no help there; Thark w

it could take days, at this rate; this is a damn big ship." He thought for a moment. "You did say you can

find shielded minds, then direct you to a nearby unscreened one to det

ut you can't be absolutely sure you've

ecessity for speed is more important than my reluctance. Ver

ig

shield to be worth further testing. Hobison's, they already knew, was adequate, and Corina was less than enthusiastic about meeting Greggson again, so they decided to check with the young Sandeman first. His shield was strong, she knew from the demon

-shooting, clad only in exercise trunks that set off his dark skin. Small and slender he might be, but there was no denying his streng

een a human move with such economy or pre

t heavier. That one pulls close to seventy kilos. I can't even ge

hollow pierced-shaft arrow, the thud of it hitting the small remote-controlled target less than a cen

rina asked as the Sande

spends half his free time in combat exercises of one sort or another, after all, not just the minimums for on-duty training. I

e target controller to end the session. Then he dove for the floor, used a handhold to pull himself

t's get down to the dressing room a

rvation platform. "Why do you not speak to him while he changes? I c

even like to strip for a medical exam-which they hate in the first place. I'd embarrass him

would not wish to offend him

t Gaelan's memories if you think there's any chance of a

see. But he should still have the opportunity to refus

glimpse of the two Rangers watching his practice, so he wasn't really too surprised to find them waiting for him, but he was w

ivors will emerge." She went on to explain about his mental defenses and the opposition the assault team would face. She wished she could read his thoughts, but after the first mention of fighting, she had no doubt of his answe

opinion of t

I'm volu

ds of adequate strength, and so are eligible for the assault team. In the meantime you

came to attentio

sent. *He's still Academy-stiff, ha

atisfaction that he, at least, was happy. Then her ears went back slightly, and she

ou'd like, since he ma

I have accepted this job, I will do w

memories than he'd realized; that sounded like something he'd said once, ba

. He stood and came to attention as the two Rangers entered, s

would do his job in spite of his personal opinions. And his shield was fractionally tighter than Hobison's or Nevan's, though not up to Jim's partially-trained one. "I believe, C

ted strongly. One was a passionate dislike for her as an individual, but the other was more i

ash of insight, Corina realized that Sunbeam had, perhaps without fully realizing it, given her a very accurate capsule description. Greggson's work was truly all he had: the Corps was h

ikely one, but the only one that would have any chance at all. In addition to those they'd first spoken to, the

hield strength, as that is the only factor which will slow the Seniors to any degree. Ranger Medart, Colonel Greggson, and I will attempt to trace and confront Thark and his two chief lieutenants. I would like the

Medart tells me you are a pilot; since we do not have such a specialist, I would like you to fil

prep before we leave, ra

he way up because it was your first trip; he wouldn't be concerned about comfort on a combat

to our advantage for him to be prepped. He will have

that doesn't mean he'll be gentle, especi

us. Since I expect the crew to remain aboard, that means they will be killed. The others, Senio

ent does Prowler ha

k ago, it had medium-power blasters. I belie

dle, then. It'd take more than

en so," Corina said. "He wishes to take over;

rsonal weapons

rule just telepathy and shields, so they use and are quite familiar with distance weapons

hoped we could supplement our few shielded pe

k force will include only his best people. A Security team would have little chance against even a Sanc

voice was flat. "

bison said. "

aptain

chan registry, and give

courier refitted as a yacht, crew of nine plus pilot.

y human passengers, so call it about forty-five Irschchans. And there are twelve of

ent into the Order instead as a matter of course. However, since Prowler must be d

n said. "I've faced better odds; look

death because of his Crusade; I would prefer that we cause as little of it as possible. Set your weapons for a two-hour stun. Under the circumstances, that should be

a distance, so the Seniors can, too. What's to stop the

to the best of my knowledge, who is able to u

Greggson's ton

d nothing to lose by trying. The others will have to be able to see you before they can attack. If we are fortunate, your shields will all be strong enough to d

ouraging,"

of the attempt at humor. "I am glad y

llergy after all, because she sneezed several times as soon as they entered the park, but she refused Medart's suggestion that they find a different location. "This are

the point. "The first thing, I think, is to f

ars went back in frustration. "It is merely the best I can

try to define it a bit more closely. I can't eith

rm of defense, yet that is not the feeling I get. And it would seem redundant, as well, since your

tility, intent to cause harm. The reverse of that is go

h I have never heard of suc

trunk. "What you call Talent we call esper abilities, and if

anger M

as an aspect of ESP, rep

reported after several seconds. "Most data are religious in orig

smaller Ranger. "Like telepathy was, until day before yesterday.

re coming down with something, Rina. Maybe you ought to go see Dr

ip is warmer than I truly like, and I have been under some strain; I attributed those symptoms to that. It is possible, however that I am becoming ill." She pause

dart closed his eyes to conc

ouch was gentle, even soothing, and she felt aching start to ease. Then there was a touch on her forehead that felt like

th an expression of pleased surprise. "I feel considerably bette

ommon cold! You were right too, Rina; the change in environment when you came aboard gave some

hat would have hampe

useful, maybe we'd better drop it and get on with the darlas and shield tra

luable, but it is hardly something useful in co

easonable, but both wanted to keep going as long as possible. Still, Corina thought, his control was getting worse rather than better; they should finish up soon, then eat and rest. "That snake image i

though. The technique was easy, but the control damns

was being trained by the traditional methods. It took me a quarter of a year to achieve what you have managed i

? Then I guess I d

s quickly as you are learning. By then you should be able to consistently com

o. I have a

uld be able to stun someone for a given length of time, plus or minus not more than a minute, regardless of the other's s

unds goo

what I am supposed to be capable of. That is al

I can understand

"we eat and rest. Those are as important