That moment emerged later when they had returned to Eamon’s suite to share a meal together.
“I have some news.” Guardian announced as they relaxed after the meal. “I have infiltrated the homeworld datanet.”
“A spy in the enemy camp.” Eamon greeted the news with a smile. “It got anything for us?”
“An item from a news transmission, the identity of the Hunter ship that has been assigned to us.”
“Anyone we know?”
Though it was asked lightly Guardian could detect the underlying tension.
“It is Hunter one eleven.”
“The Black Queen,” Eamon murmured “twenty three kills, number one in the league.”
“Eamon, how do you know this? I have not given it to you.”
“Eh? I don’t know.” Eamon shrugged. “It just popped into my head, I must have gotten it from my Traveller core data, lord knows why I should have that lying around up here.” He said tapping his head.
“Yet it is correct, one eleven is known as the Black Queen on the homeworld datanet. It is indeed the Hunter most often chosen for the particularly difficult cases of defective Traveller-Guardian entities.”
“So we’re public enemy number one, up there with all the real badass Butch and Sundances.” Eamon commented looking up at the ornate plasterwork of the ceiling of his study.
“They were outlaws and murderers, it was right to hunt them down, though I believe they were not scheduled for automatic termination under the laws of that era.”
“You pick up some interesting snippets Guardian.” Eamon mused. “How did you figure it was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid so quick?”
“I have been studying the tactics of fugitives, seeking possible responses that might be applicable to our situation. It was a logical area of research.”
“So, any pearls?”
“Of wisdom?” Guardian queried, it was still not completely familiar with every nuance of the English language.
“Uh huh.”
“Not really. When they went to ground they did not wave a flag over their heads saying effectively ‘here I am’.” Guardian replied with a self-deprecating shrug.
“Too bad.”
“They were indeed.” Guardian said with a small smile.
Eamon chuckled as he leant back.
“You carry on this way and you are going to develop a serious sense of humour.”

Guardian considered this. The possibility of developing such organic intelligence characteristics in the calculated time frame before their probable termination seemed too remote.
The following day Guardian introduced Eamon to Tai Chi and he took to it immediately. The ordered precision appealed to the Traveller part of his hybrid identity and he very quickly mastered the flowing moves that Guardian demonstrated to him. Although Guardian could mimic to decimal places of perfection it had no physical limbs with which to actually practise the mind-body balancing that was at the core of the discipline.
Now with the balance of Tai Chi and the physical activity of Kendo Eamon found a new structure to his days and he did not succumb to the numbing depression as they prepared and waited for the inevitable conflict. The turning point came fifteen days later when Guardian turned to face his companion at the end of a Tai Chi session. The manifestation did not speak but the news was writ large in the body language it projected.
“It has begun.” Eamon stated as his pulse began to rise.
“The Black Queen has emerged into local space.” Guardian confirmed.
“Our status?”
“We will penetrate the asteroid field in thirty one minutes and reach the chosen battle site in one hour and nineteen minutes from now.”
Eamon nodded, they had selected the dense cluster of smaller asteroids many days previously, it was the ideal trap for the Hunter ship which relied solely upon warping for any major movement through space.
“Weapons?”
“I am still producing both armour piercing shells and mines, our stock of decoys is adequate. I am reconfiguring my internal transport network to use as railguns.” Guardian paused. “I regret that this precludes a hot bath.”
“Its okay, I’ll shower here and catch a quick bite before showtime.”
“Showtime indeed. My spy reports that the news networks are demanding direct feed of our demise.”
“They can have it.” Eamon snorted derisively, “We’re gonna kick ass on primetime.” he added with soft menace.

Guardian did not make any comment; the projected outcome from its latest simulation still projected a seventy two percent probability that they would be terminated.
“I will be unable to maintain my manifestation during the conflict, perhaps now would be an appropriate time to cease this agreeable, but expensive function.”
“Okay Guardian, catch you later.”
“Later.” Guardian responded with a bow and vanished.
Eamon snapped his fingers.
“Poof.” He muttered and headed for the shower.
He was ready for action. The screens about his study showed tactical and realtime exterior scenes, an ominous red sygil crept towards them on the former whilst soft washes of light flashed on the asteroids in the latter. Each pulse of light was their nemesis quickly and economically carving a safe passage for itself towards them.
“Any communications from one eleven?” Eamon enquired.
“No Eamon, that is not normal protocol.”
“Lets set a precedent then.”
“You wish to communicate with one eleven?” Guardian questioned him.
“Sure do.”
“I will establish a communication link but I do not foresee any benefit, mercy is not a part of a Hunter ship conceptual framework.”
Eamon shook his head.
“I’m not going to ask for mercy Guardian.”
Guardian considered that Eamon might let some sensitive information slip in any exchange with their enemy but with the odds stacked heavily against them such a tactical loss would be insignificant, it completed the task.
“Communication is now possible.”

“One eleven. Are you out there?” Eamon began almost tentatively.
“That is self evident Traveller. You would not attempt to communicate with me otherwise.”
“Ah, the Black Queen speaks.”
“What is the purpose of this communication?”
“Just a friendly chat.”
“You are scheduled for termination. It does not seem rational to attempt to influence my actions in this manner.”
“We don’t have to be enemies.”
“You are not an enemy Traveller, you are defective. Your present circumstance requires that you be terminated.”
“So I’m not dangerous?”
“You may be dangerous to some sentient races, therefore it is my responsibility to ensure that you are safely terminated.”
“So we’re not a threat to the Iss Ngi?”
“It is not a high probability.”
“Or to you?”
“No.”
Eamon snapped his fingers.
“Bingo.”
“Your response has no meaning.”
“Sorry Queenie, you wouldn’t understand, but my Guardian does.”
Guardian made the jump in understanding that the Black Queen could not. The pure machine intelligence made the assumption that the defective Traveller identity was inferior to the functioning one, it was ‘overconfident’.
“Well it’s been nice talking to you Queenie and I’d like you to know that I don’t personally blame you, you’re just doing your job.”
“It is good that you understand the necessity of your termination Traveller.”
“Bye now Queenie.” Eamon concluded and gestured for Guardian to end the link.
“You have given one eleven much to think about, perhaps engaging much processing capacity.” Guardian commented. “Was that your plan?”
“Not as such, I just wanted to sound her out.”
“One eleven will shunt such tasks to low priority once the conflict begins.” Guardian cautioned.
“Whatever.”
“Contact will be in two minutes.”
“My console live?”
“Yes.”
“Okay Guardian, lets take the fight to the Black Queen. Take out the last screening asteroid and go for a strafing run, its showtime.”
Then Guardian uttered words that were never programmed into its function.
“Commencing attack.”