 In "The Star Fox", a relationship of grudging respect is built up between the hero, space privateer Gunnar Heim, and his enemy Cynbe, an exceptionally gifted Alerione trained from a young age to understand his species' human enemies to the point of being alienated from his own kind.In the final scene, Cynbe challenges Heim to a space battle which only one of them would survive.Heim accepts, whereupon Cynbe says, "I thank you, my brother."