-3-

[nehraa_beresaad]

Charlie Prince.

You will come to Room 1 on Level 1, and if you've a desire to disembark from this backward ship, you will do this with haste and without being told a second time. I will not issue introductions from this cheap device.

Comments

[i_hate_posses]

Yeah?

[nehraa_beresaad]

Prove that you can do your duty and that you will not dishonor your weapons by using them for ill, and I will return them.

[i_hate_posses]

What the hell are you talking about?

[nehraa_beresaad]

[Sten reaches behind him to remove his sword, Asala, from the holster on his back. It is immense, intricately carved, and nearly as long as Charlie is tall.]

A soldier's weapon is his soul. Everything that he uses it for makes him what he is. If he misuses it, he misuses himself. He dishonors himself. Even if you do not agree that it is your soul -- even if you do not believe, when you choose to pick up a weapon, what you do with it is what makes you. A soldier uses his weapon to protect himself and the people he is charged to protect. He uses it to defend his honor. He uses it to do his duty. A soldier does not kill simply because he wishes to, or to answer an insult. He does not kill those that do not equally face him on the field of battle. He does not attack unwarned.

Do you understand?

[i_hate_posses]

Sure do, Warden.

[nehraa_beresaad]

[Sten puts his sword away.]

Then your proving begins now. We have a mission -- [He looks mildly annoyed] -- Frivolous though it appears to be.

[i_hate_posses]

[Charlie looks equally annoyed by having to do more than agree.]

What mission?

[nehraa_beresaad]

The Admiral will be putting in to port today.

[i_hate_posses]

And?

[nehraa_beresaad]

As with all Inmates you will be expected to disembark and complete a series of tasks.

[i_hate_posses]

And if I ain't interested?

[nehraa_beresaad]

Then you are not even trying.

[i_hate_posses]

And what does the Admiral want us to do in this port?

[nehraa_beresaad]

The only absolute is that you must buy a costume.

[He has no idea why.]

I had hoped for something more challenging.

[i_hate_posses]

A costume? What the hell?

[nehraa_beresaad]

I have seen much discussion on the journals about this month. Some talk of terrible things to occur while others speak of festivities.