“How do you know he’s Brunt?”
Brook froze at his words. He had a point. She shook her head and started down the corridor.
Ontarii was right behind her. “How do you know any of them are who they say they are?”
“I don’t have time for this. When I get the rest of my crew back to the bridge, your men can zap them all to confirm. Right now this takes priority.”
“Let my men zap them now,” he said, pulling abreast of her, then blocking her path. “They can test them while you search.”
“No.” That wasn’t going to happen. “I’m not leaving the process unsupervised.”
The alien’s face tightened. He clearly wasn’t used to his orders not being followed. “Then let them assist in supervising your crew, to make sure none of them leave the bridge.”
Brook frowned, but there was nothing she could say against the idea. It wasn’t as if she’d be able to get them to leave. “Fine.”
“And I’m coming with you.”
“The hell you are.” She tried to shove past him, but Ontarii was a concrete wall.
“You can’t look for your crew alone, not with the possibility of a shapeshifter among them. Right now you’re the only one, barring your drooling crewmember there, who I know for certain is human.”
“Move,” she said, pushing against him with all her strength.
He didn’t shift an inch.
“I’ve got the means to protect you if we do come across the Hareema agent. If we search together, the rest of our companions can be secure in the knowledge that it is us, and not Hareema, who are coming back to greet them.”
Fuck, why does he make such excellent points! It’s so damn frustrating!
Brook wiped the scowl from her face and stared up at him. “Fine. Let’s go.”
