Both men knew the Tuann were capable of it.
To his surprise, Skarsdale didn't immediately submit. "As I said, I can't do that. The Consortium has a policy about sharing information about its citizens, especially when they've served in a military capacity."
Stubborn. Just like the rest of his race.
Graydon flicked his fingers at the rest.
Liont and his people stood, stepping through the barrier easily. En-blades appeared in their hands as they arranged themselves protectively around Graydon.
Skarsdale didn't blink, as if the sight of the Tuann stepping through his security barrier wasn't a concern. Graydon began moving to the door. If Skarsdale wouldn’t tell him what he wanted to know, he’d find out the information for himself.
"Lord Graydon, wait."
Skarsdale was interrupted as the door to the interrogation room slid open and humans entered, blades at the ready.
Skarsdale held up a hand, palm facing out. "Don't interfere."
The humans hesitated, backing out slowly, gazes locked on the exposed en-blades.
Skarsdale focused on Graydon. "Why do you want to know about her?"
"She's Tuann," Graydon said, his words short and brusque.
Skarsdale’s expression remained fixed and remote, no sign of any reaction to that statement. Graydon couldn’t help but be impressed at his composure. It was worthy of a Tuann. Perhaps their race wasn't quite so useless after all.
Not that it mattered. If the humans had broken the alliance, they would pay. Their treaty mapped out what was to be done when one of theirs strayed so far. They were to be returned to their people. The Tuann were protective of their own, and they didn't trust the humans to deal appropriately with their kind.
Not when the humans experimented on their own young, bioengineering unborn children for the purposes of war. They’d have no compunction about doing the same to another race’s children. If they got their hands on the Tuann’s unique set of abilities, there would be chaos in the galaxy.
The treaty might have put a stop to the practice of bioengineering super soldiers, but humans held the potential and desire to pursue the science. If they were caught mapping a Tuann genome or doing any tinkering with one of his, they would pay dearly.
Skarsdale's forehead furrowed. "I've known Captain Kira Forrest for many years. Long before first contact with the Tuann. She's not one of yours."
"No mistake. She bears our mark. She is Tuann." Graydon wasn't in the habit of having to repeat himself. He wouldn't do so again.
Liont leaned forward. "She did identify herself as a salvager when asked about her affiliations, and she didn't appear to understand our language.
Skarsdale's gaze flickered. Graydon's eyes narrowed, something in the man's manner triggering his instincts.
"Why do you react to that?" he asked.
Skarsdale hesitated, before meeting Graydon's gaze stubbornly. "Captain Forrest dropped out of view after the war. I wasn't aware of her current employment."
The words could be true, but something told Graydon there was more to it.
"She is Tuann," Fari insisted. "I saw the glyph. A human couldn't have done what she did."
Recognition flared in Skarsdale's eyes, quickly hidden.
"You know what he's speaking of." The words were a statement.
Skarsdale's mouth tightened. "She's had that mark for as long as I've known her."
The tight feeling in Graydon's chest loosened. The human was telling the truth. If that was the case, it was possible they hadn't knowingly violated the treaty.
He needed to learn everything he could about the woman and her purpose here.
"You may have not known before, but you do now. I want everything you have on her."
