Ontarii’s eyes widened as he looked down at his companion. The human female looked up at him, her lovely eyes questioning.
Why would she be asking me how to turn off the FIDOs? Surely she would know more about it than me?
Wanting to give Brooklyn the benefit of the doubt, Ontarii thought that perhaps the captain didn’t concern herself with all the functions on her ship. That’s what her crew was for, but that kind of assumption didn’t jive with what he already knew about the woman.
Doubt swept through him, and he brushed his fingers over his lips as he watched her. Something had been off since she’d marched him to the airlock. She’d turned on him then, so how could he trust her now, despite her smile and beautiful golden eyes?
“I believe the main controls are on the bridge,” he said, concentrating on recharging his energy weapon. Unfortunately, the last double blast had completely depleted him. He wasn’t sure how long it would take to build up a sufficient charge again.
The last time he’d been so empty, it had been almost an hour before he’d been strong enough to send out a satisfactory zap.
“Of course,” Captain Brooklyn mumbled to herself, then turned, starting toward the corridor that would take her to the bridge.
Ontarii frowned, but followed behind the woman. She’d made a big deal out of confirming his identity, but he’d now lost the opportunity to confirm hers. Not only could he not zap her to determine if she were human, but if they did confront any others before he recovered his charge, he’d be unable to test them as well.
They walked to the bridge in silence, Ontarii’s thoughts reverberating through his head like the echoes of their footsteps in the corridor. Everything hinged on him making smart choices, and so far he’d made several missteps. Costly missteps that had gotten his men killed.
Now he had to put his trust in a human female who’d almost sent him to die in the void of space. A human female that he alternately wanted to strangle and hold tenderly.
Could he trust her?
Or would he end up like his men?
Ontarii shook his head and took a deep breath. Only time would tell whether he’d live or die, and whether his planet would suffer the same fate.
