"Do you know what your sin is?" asked the Operative.

"Today or in general?" asked Jason in response.

"Your sin is Pride. It makes you careless and overconfident. You actually thought you could infiltrate the most powerful and well guarded ship in the Alliance Fleet."

"Seems I've done a pretty good job," replied Jason as he held his had to his waist to stem the flow of blood.

"Look around you," replied the Operative. "You are the one about to die.”

With surprising strength for a man with his injuries, Jason kicked the soldier holding him in the groin with the back of his foot, then elbowed him on the neck in almost the same motion. Pulling the man's weapon he fired at the Operative. The bullet struck him in the chest and he fell to the ground. Spinning his legs, the Operative kicked Jason's feet out from under him, knocking him to the floor as well. Jason tried to aim for the other man's head, but the Operative man was quicker. The gun was knocked from Jason's hand by a blow from his sword that almost took off several of his fingers.

Jason rolled himself toward the weapon, but the Operative was already on his feet. Leaping over Jason, he kicked the weapon away. Another kick to Jason's chest left him gasping on the deck. The Operative waited patiently for him to recover. Jason finally looked up to see the point of the sword mere inches from his face.

"This is a good death," said the Operative. "It is nothing to be ashamed of. For all of your pride, you have fought well." The Operative drew back the sword and raised it above his head, preparing to behead the man in front of him. "For you, there is no need to fall upon the blade. You will die a warrior's death, defeated honorably in battle."

Sarah looked on in horror as the Operative’s blade flashed downward. "No!" she cried.

The Operative paused, stopping the blade mid stroke and mere inches from Jason’s neck. He looked back at the girl he had almost forgotten. "Do you wish to be first? If I had to guess, I would say t