er ready to
fire--but he was looking to his left, away from her, and that gave her
the time she needed to push the stunner's powerpack release and, as it
fell, spring at him with her sheathed blade coming to rest at the angle
of his jaw, close under his ear.

To her surprise he grinned at her, raising his hands. "I'd call that
conclusive advantage, Sir Corina," he said. "With abilities and
reflexes like that, you should've been born Sandeman--I'm Lieutenant
Nevan DarLeras. Welcome aboard."

Corina replaced the soul-blade at her belt and stepped back, returning
his courtesy with a bow. She'd read about Sandeman ethnocentrism, and
knew he meant his words as a compliment, so she said, "You do me honor,
warrior. I am pleased to meet you; I hope my victory has not
dishonored you or your fellows in the eyes of your shipmates."

The Sandeman chuckled. "Hardly, with powers that were only legend
until you proved them. The others are all right?"

"They are unconscious and they will have painful headaches when they
wake, but other than that, they are fine."

"Only because it was an exercise, I'd say." Nevan picked up the
powerpack, replaced it in the stunner, and holstered his weapon. "May
I ask a tactical question?"

"Of course."

"In that case, why did you knock them out and simply remove the
power-pack from my stunner? I would have expected you to use your
strongest ability against me."

Both looked toward the entrance as they heard footsteps, and saw Ranger
Medart approaching. When he joined them, he said, "I'd like the answer
to that one myself."

"I did," Corina replied. "Although it would be more precise to say
that I used the strongest of my powers he was vulnerable to. His
shield is strong enough to protect him from an attack directly against
his mind; were it weaker and this not an exercise, I could break
through, injuring or killing him. However, even the best shield does
not protect from physical effects, so I was able to use TK against him.
Had this been actual combat, I would have attacked him instead of his
weapon, but a ruptured blood vessel in the brain is too permanent for a
simple demonstration."

"It is that," Medart agreed, pleased and a little surprised at what
sounded like she might be attempting mild humor. "If this were real,
then, you're saying all five would be dead."

"Yes. Although had the warrior Nevan entered the corridor facing right
instead of left, the result would hav