< Probably from Earth. They like the clean air here, > Vlad continued. < They're smaller than laar, and more thickly built. Shorter tail, too, and f-four toes on each foot. There's a small expat population here in Escalus...someone will know them. >

The taller of the two officers leaned away. < We'll check immigration records, > they said dismissively, and turned to the other officer. < Here's a learning opportunity, trainee. Earthlings have violent natures. They don't change when they get here. They continue to fight and kill each other, and we have to clean up after them. No doubt this is another such case. >

Vlad couldn't pull his eyes away from the disembodied head as the words rang in his ears. The blood on the white surface beneath it, the way it sagged to one side, the cloudy eyes under long lashes, the ring in its nose--Vlad's brow knit with anger.