between the seats, and though North was holding
the man's arm, he felt the blade of the weapon pushing into his side.
41 Suddenly a metallic hand closed around the hilt of the weapon,
stopping it in mid thrust. Another hand drove into the man's shoulder,
knocking him away, as his weapon was jerked out. The Peepian flew over
two rows of seats and landed in a heap between them. I.S. stood over
North. "Should you move?" he inquired, "Are you badly hurt?"
42 "My wings are caught under the seats," explained North. "Get them
out!"
43 I.S. obliged. By the time North was on his feet other Peepians and
North's own people were rushing in. "Check out the attacker," ordered
North.
44 One of North's men went over. "He's dead, sir! It looks like he
staved in his skull on one of the seats when he came down."
45 "No," I.S. suddenly cried, "only disable, not kill. Not dead! Dead
means no longer function. Repair, yes? Fix? I see...."
46 "NO!" North snapped. "The others will take care of it. Accompany me
to medical."
47 "Must not destroy living things," I.S. argued. "Must repair! Must!"
48 "At present," argued North, "you must get me to sickbay, so this
injury can be treated."
49 The droid was obviously confused, looking towards the dead Peepian,
then back to North. "Yes," he finally responded, "programming so states
the injured must be treated first, before those who have ceased to
function are dealt with."
50 A stretcher had arrived and I.S. accompanied North to the hospital.
Outside of the droid's field of vision North gave hand signals to his
Officers to get rid of the Peepian's body and clean up. The hospital
staff was aware