Major Ontarii turned back to face her. She was struck for a moment by the coldness of his expression. "Protocol, Yarr?"
Kat'Chinna swallowed. "Yes. We have to initiate the energy exchange."
Major Ontarii cracked a small smile. "Worried I've been taken over by the enemy?"
Her brows furrowed. "It is protocol."
"Of course. Follow me." His strides resumed, and in another moment he was sliding through the membrane to the bridge.
Kat'Chinna ran after him, crossing the bridge right behind him. "Major, if you please!"
Major Ontarii stopped and nodded at her. "Of course, Lieutenant. Your devotion to duty is, as always, appreciated."
Kat'Chinna let out the breath she'd been holding in. Her body rippled with the energy charged up inside her. She held out a hand, expecting him to accept the shock required to prove he was not one of the Hareema.
Instead, he turned to the bridge crew. "You," he said, pointing to the navigator. "Initiate energy exchange."
Kat'Chinna was barely able to stop her jaw from dropping. Why would he not accept her charge? They'd completed the energy exchange together countless time, per Zantharian protocol.
The navigator stood and held out his hand. Kat'Chinna watched as the charge arced between the two men.
Major Ontarii turned to her and smiled. "Satisfied that I am who I say I am?"
"I...I never doubted you," she replied, confusion barreling around inside her like a circling school of shinerfish.
The membrane once again opened, the guards from the corridor escorting the humans onto the bridge. Major Ontarii scowled. "I thought I ordered the prisoners taken to the brig."
"Prisoners? Now wait just a minute."
Kat'Chinna watched as the human male approached her commander. His voice was smooth, but with an edge he didn't bother to hide. "You never said we were prisoners. Captain Brooklyn trusted you to keep us safe while your crew and ours hunted for these supposed shapeshifters, but she never agreed that we were to be your prisoners."
Major Ontarii's expression betrayed his annoyance, even as his skin stayed an even green. "Your captain understands the situation. You're no match for the Zantharian fleet. And whether you want to call yourselves our guests or our prisoners, the point remains that you will be kept here, under guard, until we get the answers we seek."
The human women huddled together, their faces belying their fear. But no fear was evident in the male's expression. His face was dominated by unbridled anger. "Take me back to my ship immediately!"
Major Ontarii ignored him, speaking instead to the guards. "Put them in the brig."
While the guards attempted to herd the humans back toward the membrane, the male dodged around them, rushing toward the major.
Without thinking, Kat'Chinna stepped into his path, slapping both hands against his chest and letting loose her bioelectricity.
The human froze, his face a rictus of pain as the charge ran through his body. He dropped to his knees, his muscles clenching and unclenching uncontrollably. After a moment he slumped, his chin against his chest, his breathing heavy.
"Well, at least we know this one's still human," Major Ontarii said with a light chuckle. "Get them out of here."
One of the guards pulled the male up and dragged him toward the membrane. The women followed, eyeing the guards warily and putting up no further protest.
Kat'Chinna watched them clear the membrane, then turned back to her commander. “What happened on that ship, Major?”
For a moment she thought Major Ontarii would ignore her. He pulled up his command console and began pressing buttons.
It was unlike him not to respond. He’d always shared everything with his second in command. Was that about to change?
“Things are still underway on the Earthling's vessel,” he said at last. “I’ve spoken with their captain, and she’s agreed to help search her ship for any Hareema. I’ve left two of my best men behind to aid in the search.”
Major Ontarii’s eyes met hers. “Things are going to be different,” he said, not bothering to speak to her privately but allowing the whole bridge to hear his words. “The Hareema threat is worse than we could have thought, and we have no idea how these humans play into their plans. But make no mistake, the humans are involved somehow. It is imperative that we discover how.”
Kat’Chinna nodded, eager to show her obedience. "Your orders, Sir?"
"Find out what they know. The Hareema have been on that ship. I need to know how they got there. Don't let up until you get me the information I need."
"Understood," she said, almost relieved to break eye contact and leave the bridge. Major Ontarii was never one to laugh at his adversaries.
He's under enormous pressure to root out the enemy, she told herself as she headed toward the brig.Stress like that can have strange outlets. Stop worrying and focus on what's at hand.
Kat'Chinna concentrated on emptying her body of doubt and anxiety. She'd been charged with a task. And by Noruma, she was going to complete it.
