“I said,” Perez told him with deadly intent, “that you are without authority here. What you do down at Corporate Mine or Southern Diggings? We could care less. But you are on our turf. Now, do you want to deal with this in a civilized manner, or do you want blood on the streets? We’re Donovanian, so we’re happy to let you have it either way.”

Creamer stared into those hard alien-dark eyes. His heart was pounding; he felt suddenly much too hot, could feel sweat beginning to prickle on his skin.

“Colonel,” Soukup called from his gurney, “this is mutiny. Civil disobedience. Any action you take will be justified.”

To Creamer’s horror, Perez just chuckled, humor glinting in those bottomless eyes.

“Sir?” Firiiki asked, voice wavering.

“Don’t,” Perez told them. “The first shot goes through his skull, the second through yours, and the final one through Ituri’s. Nothing you can do, Private. Not against quetzal reflexes.”

Creamer wished he could wipe the sweat from his brow, struggled to get his breath. Had a queasy tickle deep down in his gut that urged a rapid voiding of his colon. Thirty years in the Corps, and he’d never been so sure that someone was prepared to kill him.

“Let’s . . . Let’s do it civilized,” he croaked.

And as rapidly, the pistol vanished.

Kalico Aguila, who’d stood back, arms crossed, fingers tapping on the butt of her pistol, said, “Don’t look at me, Colonel. When it comes to Tal, I’ve tried throwing my weight around in the past. It never worked out well.”

“We like civilized. Not as much to clean up that way,” Perez agreed. “And digging graves up at the cemetery takes too much time out of busy people’s schedules.”

More steps came from down the hall. Creamer barely tore his gaze from Perez’s to see short Shig Mosadek and the tall, hulking, Cinque Suharto as they came strolling forward.

“Ah! Good!” little Shig Mosadek called in a much-too-happy voice. “Talina hasn’t killed anyone yet. She has developed a deeper appreciation for sattva these days. And that’s in spite of her quetzal tendencies. Having been an observer of her evolution, I think her experience on Donovan has significantly accelerated her chances of eventually achieving moksha.”

Kalico turned. “Shig, what the hell are you doing here?”

“Why, offering Port Authority’s assistance in a matter of concern to the Corporation.”

Creamer should have stopped Perez, but the woman slipped past him, stalking up to Soukup and thrusting a finger into the IG’s startled face. The man swallowed hard, staring up uncertainly as Perez said, “If Kylee and Falise don’t make it, you toilet licker, I’ll ensure you end up as quetzal shit.”

Mosadek sighed. “But even evolution suffers the occasional setback.”