Chapter 6
Jeffrey let out a ragged exhale and ran both hands through his hair.Out of the fucking frying pan, into God knows what. But it’s definitely worse.
He stared at the alien female before him. She tapped at the station in front of her, a flush of red creeping into her mint-green skin. The station most resembled a rugged outcropping of coral, but a holographic display screen had risen from the rocky surface when she’d touched it.
“Damn,” she muttered, hitting the button with more force and speed. “I can’t get into the navigational display. It’s been locked to Tier 1 access.”
“What does that mean?” He stood behind her, leaning in to try to decipher the screens that were cascading in front of them.
“It means I can’t see where we’re going.”
“But you’re the second in command. You don’t have this…this Tier 1 access?”
She turned to him, a slight frown pursing her lips and causing a small wrinkle to crease her otherwise smooth forehead. “No. Only the Flagship Commander has Tier 1 access.”
Jeffrey couldn’t help his hands from balling into fists at his side as his anger spiraled. Kat’Chinna noticed his reaction and blinked, then her expression became neutral, her skin tone once again evening out.
Keep a level head, his inner voice counseled. His counterpart seemed able to calm herself, but his own equanimity was hanging on by a thread.
He glared at his companion. She was back in Ice Queen mode. He did his best to match her frigid demeanor, bringing his logical mind back online. “Is this standard operating procedure for missions of this sort? Like your energy exchanges?”
The female’s eyes narrowed, as if she was debating her answer. “No,” she said at last, turning back to the console. “I’ve never been locked out like this before.”
In that moment, Jeffrey’s gut twisted. Something’s wrong. A conspiracy at the highest level.
He was distracted when a face filled the screen in front of them.
“Yes?” It was Major Ontarii, and he seemed to be staring daggers at his second.
“Sir, we’re moving away from the human ship.” Kat’Chinna’s voice was level, giving away no hint of the emotions she must be feeling.
“And?” The Zantharian commander had the appearance of a picnicker annoyed that an ant had crawled up his arm.
He saw Kat’Chinna swallow. The major was intimidating her, even if she was doing her best not to show it. “I’ve been locked out of the navigational display. I wondered…what is our current heading?”
An eyebrow arched and the major’s face tightened. “That’s a need to know right now, Lieutenant. Have you gotten the information I need from the prisoners?”
“Not yet.” Her voice sounded smaller to Jeffrey, less sure of itself.
“Then stop worrying about things that don’t concern you. You have your orders.”
The screen went blank.
“That guy’s an asshole,” Jeffrey muttered.
Kat’Chinna turned to him, her eyes narrowing. “He’s right. I haven’t done my job.”
“Are you serious?” Jeffrey threw his hands into the air and turned around, slamming himself into his seat. “He knows I don’t have any information for you. He’s stalling you, keeping you distracted while he makes his move.”
“That’s ridiculous.” The alien female stalked to the table, putting her hands on the surface and leaning in, giving him a delicious view of the cleavage between her tightly-bound breasts. This time, though, it was an unintentional display, and not an attempt at seduction. “Major Ontarii doesn’t hide things from me.”
“Except our current course.”
She frowned, but then quickly blanked her face. “There is no need to argue. I trust the commander. And I’m going to follow his orders. So start talking.”
“Look,” he said, leaning his chin on his hand. “I’ve told you absolutely everything I know. I haven’t heard of the Hareema until your crew invaded my ship. We were on a rescue mission. I’ve been with the same crew for years now, and I trust each of them implicitly.”
“Then how do you explain the Hareema DNA?”
