“Wait!” Another human pushed toward the front of the group. This one was small, with dark brown hair cut in a bob around her face. “You can’t agree to a test like this without knowing what the effects will be.”
Captain Brooklyn put a hand on the smaller woman’s shoulder. “It’s okay, Tan. Someone has to be the first, and we need to get this over with if we’re going to find Dr. Cohen and get home.”
The smaller woman would not be mollified though. “How do you know these aliens are sufficiently familiar with human anatomy and physiology? This ‘test’ could kill us, if it isn’t properly calibrated.”
Captain Brooklyn turned her large golden eyes toward him. “Dr. Nguyen has a point. Have you tried this on a human before?”
Ontarii nodded. “Your Dr. Cohen has undergone the test herself on multiple occasions. It has not had any long-lasting ill effects.”
The human female nodded. “Okay. Do it.”
“No!” The doctor wasn’t so easily swayed. “We’re just supposed to take this guy’s word for it?”
“We don’t have any choice, Tan,” Captain Brooklyn replied. “Now stand down.”
“But if something goes wrong, we’ll be without a captain. If you insist on going through with this, you shouldn’t be first.”
Captain Brooklyn’s voice was strong and unyielding. “I refuse to put any member of my crew through something I have not experienced first myself. Lieutenant Brunt is a capable major. If something happens to me, he’ll get you home.”
The doctor wasn’t ready to let the matter drop. “But-”
“Enough,” Brooklyn said, her tone confirmed that she’d had all the argument she would accept.
She gained Ontarii’s respect in that moment.
The human captain stared up at him. “Let’s get this over with.”
Ontarii nodded, then started to charge up for the energy exchange. It would not be a lethal amount of electricity, but she didn’t know that. Hareema could not hold their shape under an energy discharge, so Zantharians used energy exchanges to flush out any hidden agents. It would hurt, but it wouldn’t kill.
The energy flashed over his skin and he took hold of her arm, releasing the discharge quickly.
Captain Brooklyn gritted her teeth and tried to hold still under the onslaught, but as soon as the discharge left her, her legs began to wobble.
Ontarii kept his grip on her arm, holding her steady.
“You are what you say you are,” he said, his voice low. A surge of regret went through him and he quickly repressed it.
When the captain could stand on her own, she yanked her arm away. “Some discomfort, eh?”
The one called Alvarez had his weapon up again and pointed straight at Ontarii. “You okay, boss?”
Captain Brooklyn shook her head vigorously as if to clear it. “I’m fine. It hurts like a bitch, but no lasting damage.”
“The remainder of your crew will have to undergo the same test now,” Ontarii said.
The captain nodded, but the grimace on her face told the tale of her unhappiness.
“All right, fall in,” she said, turning to face her crew. “It’s painful, but you’ll survive.”
There was agitation among the other humans.
“I’m not doing that,” one said, his voice high-pitched and frightened.
“Smith, what’s the problem?” The captain sounded tired.
Ontarii thought no one else might notice the fact, but since he was a commander himself, he knew the signs. Still, she kept her control. Another reason to admire her.
“I’m not doing it,” he said. Ontarii focused in on the dissenter, a heavy-set man with curly brown hair and a bushy moustache.
