Seeing freedom, Maddox bolted for the door. The first sentry, who lay on the floor, hit one of Maddox’s ankles in passing. That tripped the captain so he sprawled onto the rug. Like a spring, though, he bounced back up. That gave the sentry time to lunge at Maddox as he drew a shock rod. With a loud sizzle of power, the rod stroked the captain’s left leg. It went numb, and Maddox fell back onto the rug.

The captain lacked the same speed the second time. He rose, balancing on one leg. The first sentry scrambled upright with his shock rod. The second was still unconscious behind the bed.

“Hold,” the woman said.

The sentry glanced at her.

Maddox might have lashed out. He refrained, as the woman aimed the projac once more, using her left hand. She pressed her bleeding right hand against her torso.

“Fate has decreed you to die,” she told Maddox. “There is nothing you can do to evade the penalty.”

“Perhaps you’re right,” Maddox said. Gingerly, he put weight on his shocked leg. It had gone numb. Once he realized he wouldn’t topple, he studied the woman.

Despite her insistence, she seemed hesitant to kill him outright. Had curiosity stung her? If so, he must cultivate her curiosity to prolong his existence.

“I’m surprised a provost officer isn’t curious about androids invading her embassy,” Maddox said.

“The answer is simple,” she told him. “I didn’t believe you about the androids. I’m curious concerning your combat technique, however. The knife-throw with a kitchen utensil—it was fantastically well executed.”

Maddox nodded as if embarrassed by her praise. “Star Watch Intelligence teaches its operatives intuitive techniques. This allows us to use any item at hand, turning it into a deadly weapon.”

That wasn’t true. He had gotten extraordinarily lucky with the throw. But sometimes people were happier with outrageous answers. Besides, it was good for the Spacers to believe SW Intelligence had superlative agents.

“I’m impressed with your sentries,” Maddox said. This seemed like a good moment for a compliment. “They fought much better than I had anticipated.”

The woman gave a curt nod, saying flatly, “Our sentries are the best.”

“I’ve heard that, of course.” Maddox shook his head ruefully. “Until this moment, though, I hadn’t believed it.”

“Your Earth-centric prejudice blinded you,” she said.

“No doubt true,” he said.

There was a pause. She regarded him more closely. By her stiffening features, it seemed she had decided to continue with the execution.

“Do you know?” Maddox said, a second before she raised the projac higher. “Androids are notoriously difficult to stop. It’s possible you, as a Spacer, don’t realize this.”

The woman seemed to consider the idea. Spacers had a well-known pathological hatred of androids. Maddox had forgotten the reason for this hatred. Sometimes, however, people who had an intense loathing of a thing also had a secret interest about the subject.

The woman delicately licked her lips, slightly bending her head forward, indicating curiosity. “Did…did the android possess a name?”