“All well and good,” said Kingsley, argumentative to the last. “But what guarantee have I that you’ll use these no doubt expensive supplies as you say, for the purpose you claim? In fact, what guarantee have I that you’re even telling the truth about this fantastic, impregnable boojum of yours? Maybe you’re really preparing for some large-scale nastiness of your own, hmmm?”

“So. In the first place,” Peot reached out suddenly with a long tentacle and swept up the nearest technician, “I am also not convinced of your intentions towards me. These are immaterial. As stated, I have no wish to harm you. No, do not send for your weapons, Chatham Kingsley. I wish simply to demonstrate that I could have killed everyone here quite easily. War and its arts were the reason for life among my folk. I knew the location, abilities, and probable fighting capability of everyone in this chamber before I opened my eyes. So, a demonstration of good faith on my part.”

“Well, that’s certainly reassuring,” said Kingsley, not at all reassured. His voice wavered uneasily as the giant stepped easily from its padded capsule, stretched. “My apologies. As many as you want. I accept your story, whole, complete, in toto. Now if you’d be good enough to put my technician down? I think he’s fainted.”

“I did not mean to harm!” came the alarmed voice.

“No, no, he’s fine; it’s nowhere near a lethal condition. Just put him down, please. Gently. Yes, that’s fine.” The towering alien backed, away a couple of steps as two of the man’s companions bent over him, dividing their attentions between the unconscious tech and the all-too-close Peot.

Sensing their discomfort, the alien moved to examine the interior of his capsule.

“Planning any more surprises like that?” asked Kingsley uncomfortably.

“I am not such a poor bargainer myself, that I would tell you everything at once,” the alien thought. An unmistakable undercurrent of humor came with it, then faded. The voice turned somber again. “I shall endeavor to work as rapidly as possible. So much to be done!” A mental sigh accompanied the last. “I have a professional concern only in this. But I also cannot stand by and loose the thing again on an unprepared galaxy. Not while I have such a fine chance to destroy it once and for all.”

Kitten, seeing that no one else was about to, moved close to the alien. She reached out and touched the thick pelt that encircled the alien’s waist.

“You speak of war as your race’s favorite and foremost activity. Yet your actions indicate noble and altruistic motives. I don’t understand.”

“Noble? Yes, we were noble. Altruistic? On the contrary. If this were my race’s time and not yours, you would unquestionably be an enslaved folk. War was not merely an activity with us. It was, as said, everything. Your enslavement would seem as natural to us as the freedom of others might to you. And there would be neither malice nor hate involved in the action.”