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oordination and reflexes were unprecedented。
Max was still trying to figure out what she was talking about when his body saw the flash of steel； understood； and ducked； he was doing his best to recall the awkward； rather romantic little speech he had meant to make to her when those supreme and somehow strangely given bat reflexes cut in。
His evasion was barely a flicker of movement； the knife flashed past him to land solidly in a tree trunk。
This was the first time she had ever missed。 But she kept ing at him。
Stunned； Max watched her charge headlong toward him。 She threw the sheath of the first knife far from her； it made no sound； landing in the grass。
〃Hey； are you crazy？〃 Everything had suddenly slid into place within him； he already loved her so； but the physical Sterling； the part that made him unbeatable； was broadcasting warnings and threat updates； putting his body in motion。
She drew a second； sheathed blade from the open front seam of her body suit。 〃I am Quadrono Leader Miriya Parino： Zentraedi warrior！〃
Max gulped。 〃There goes our first date。〃
But something in him had already changed； his balance was forward； on the balls of his feet…he felt nearly weightless…and his hands were curled into the fastest fists on the SDF…1。
However； he was still infatuated with her； he held himself in check when all his impulses were to counterattack。 A little thing like attempted murder couldn't alter the fact that he was hopelessly in love with her。
She had seen him pacing； heard his concern for her。 The weakling human fears…for the safety of an imagined loved one； of all things！…were so contemptible and misplaced； and yet。。。
Somewhere deep inside of her she knew； with a clear and pure knowledge； that Max's worry was a reflection of his regard for her。 Who else； in the course of her matchless military career； had ever shown such simple； loving concern for Miriya Parino's well…being？
No one。 Not ever。 The very thought galvanized her； launched her forward to murder。
The sheath hissed briefly with a metallic rasp as the blade glimmered wickedly under the soft park streetlights。 〃You're such a fool！ Fight for your life！〃
There was something nauseatingly vulnerable and adoring in his eyes； the expression with which he regarded her was unworthy of any true warrior…but it sapped her determination so。
Yet inside her； a furnace as hot and powerful as any Protoculture engine burned。 Kill him！ Kill him now； at once！ Before。。。before he can。。。
〃My life？ But why attack me？〃 Max asked bewildered； but his body was already set…they were both so locked into the physical language of hand…to…hand that a fight was inevitable。
She brought the glitter of the blade up into their line of sight like a fencer so that they could both consider its cold blaze。 〃I will have my revenge！〃
His hand went to the hilt of the knife embedded in the tree trunk； and she made new calculations based on his being armed。 Sterling's having a knife was so much the better as far as Miriya was concerned； she wanted to kill him in a fight on equal terms； wanted to humble him as he had humbled her…before。。。before he could。。。
His hand came away from the haft of the knife…very reluctantly； very slowly； very deliberately。 He turned back to her。 〃I'm afraid I don't know what this is all about。〃
He left the weapon aside when he might have taken it。 His life was in danger； but in another way his life was there； staring at him； a knife in her hand…the person； he was sure； he couldn't live without。
I wonder what the court…martial punishment is for falling in love with the enemy？
〃What d' you mean； revenge？ If you're a Zentraedi； I understand why we have to…to fight。〃 He barely got the word out。 〃But why d' you want revenge？〃
She held the short； tanto…style knife high； a miniature samurai blade； burnished and keen； that threw the light back like a mirror。 〃I。。。have。。。reasons！〃
With that she sprang at him； fast as any jungle cat。
But Max Sterling's emotions and misgivings were subject to a sudden override； body and reflexes took over。
An edge so fine that it would have cut a hair floating in the air sliced through the spot where he had been standing； with a curt； sinister sibilance。 Max was already aloft。
She spat a Zentraedi oath in frustration； watching him dive and flip to momentary safety。 He whirled on her when he might as easily…and more sanely…have run for it。 〃Miriya； what'd I ever do to you？〃
She wasn't blind to his decision to stand when it would be more advisable to run。 Like a Valkyrie； she lifted the knife blade again； so that it threw back shards of light。
〃You defeated me。 And you don't even know who I am； do you？〃
She swirled the blade around； en garde； so that there was a contoured trail of light between them。 〃I am the Zentraedi's greatest pilot！ And I will not be humiliated by a human insect！〃
She plunged at him； the razor…sharp edge slitting the air。 In less than a second she executed two masterful infighting moves that would have disembowled a lesser opponent。
But Max Sterling simply wasn't there。 He made no countermoves； but he avoided the cuts and thrusts like a shadow。 Miriya was even more enraged to see that he wasn't terrified； but rather mystified。 That he still felt weakling human emotions for her。
She fought down the chaotic impulses that flared up within her。 She slashed again； but the knife hissed through empty space once more。
And she began to know a certain fear。 By the Protoculture！ He's so fast！ Her fear had nothing to do with dying； she was Zentraedi。 In this strangest battle of her life； she wasn't quite sure what that ultimate and most dire of terrors was； the dread that was somehow bound up in Max Sterling。 She had had many mental images； wondering about what this utter demon of war would be like； none of them were anything like the truth。
〃The first time you were lucky！ The second time was your final victory！〃
She cut at him； barely missing； Max dodging with that same uncanny speed。 〃Nothing can save you now！〃 Miriya hissed。 〃I will defeat you！〃
She hurled herself at him； the blood thirsty edge ing around in an eviscerating arc。
CHAPTER E