“I don’t know what you—“
Another kick, this one with more force, hit him on the side. Jeffrey slumped over. The pain was intense, causing his vision to waver.
“Wait, Major! I really believe he doesn’t know what’s going on with his crew. He’s told me everything—“
“And you believe him?” Major Ontarii growled, turning to his officer. “You trust this human, and not the readings we received on his ship? You trust him, and not your C.O.?”
“That’s not what I’m saying!” Kat’Chinna shouted, but Major Ontarii turned his back on her. He squatted, grabbing Jeffrey by the hair to pull him back into a seated position.
“Talk, human,” he ordered, then hit him once in the face.
A line of blood dripped from his mouth.I wouldn’t doubt if he knocked a few teeth loose with that one.
The major’s fist came in again but this time Jeffrey blocked, knocking it away with his forearm. He struggled to break Major Ontarii’s grip on him, but the alien pulled harder on his hair, stretching his neck.
“Give it up, human,” the major said, wrapping a huge hand around Jeffrey’s throat and starting to squeeze. “You will talk, or you will die.”
“Is this how you treat your prisoners?” Jeffrey said, using part of his precious reserve of air. “I wouldn’t have expected such brutality from a so-called advanced race.”
“We do what we must to protect our planet,” Major Ontarii answered, squeezing harder.
Jeffrey struggled with all his might, using both hands to try to pry Major Ontarii’s fingers away from his throat.
“To protect your planet, or to fool these Zantharians into thinking you’re one of them?”
Major Ontarii’s face was plastered by a feral grin. “Oh, is that the game you’re playing? Trying to convince my lieutenant that I’m the real enemy? It’s not going to work.”
“I think you’re helping to prove my point right now,” Jeffrey countered. His neck was on fire, his oxygen reserves at a low. He decided to change his tactics.
Removing both hands from their task of trying to dislodge Major Ontarii’s grip on his neck, he locked his fingers and swung his hands at the side of Major Ontarii’s head.
The blow landed, and the major’s head fell back, the shock causing him to loosen his grip.
Jeffrey pulled away and scooted backward until his back hit the wall. His gaze shot to Kat’s face. She stood there, paralyzed with confusion.
He couldn’t fault her indecision. Major Ontarii had been her commanding officer for years, and he had obviously earned her loyalty in that time. How could a couple hours with a human compete with years of training and trust?
Still, he knew what those hours had meant to him. He was half in love with the alien female. He could still taste her on his lips. He’d never wanted anyone as bad as he wanted her, and he didn’t know if he ever would want anyone more.
Had their time really meant so little to her? Jeffrey hoped not.
Then the time for thinking was over. Major Ontarii stood, moving forward with menace written large on his features. “You’ll pay for that, human.”
“Major Ontarii, wait,” Kat’Chinna said, stepping up and putting a hand on the major’s shoulder. “The human brought up some interesting points while we were talking. He thinks our ship may have been infiltrated already. Hareema could be on board as we speak.”
Major Ontarii stared at her, then burst out laughing. “Well, I see the prisoner was able to get into your head during the interrogation. I thought that’s what you were supposed to be doing to him.”
Kat’s eyes fell to the floor, her head hanging down.Come on kid, don’t give up so easily. He tried to meet her eyes, to send some strength to her, but she wouldn’t look in his direction.
“The fact that he tried to convince you that we’d been taken over by the enemy proves to me that he is a Hareema collaborator. And if he won’t talk, there’s only one thing to do.”
Major Ontarii approached, his face a mask of wrath. “You’re a danger to my ship, and to my entire race.” He aimed another kick at Jeffrey’s midsection, but by moving quickly, Jeffrey was able to grab the foot. He attempted to pull the alien off balance, but he was outweighed by almost a hundred pounds.
The major growled and pulled his leg out of Jeffrey’s grip. “Insolent little shit,” he said, this time aiming for his chest.
The kick landed, knocking the wind out of Jeffrey. One kick was followed by another, then another, until he was huddled in a ball on the floor, trying to protect his vital organs from the onslaught of pain.
“Major!” Kat’s voice broke through the barrier of his agony. “Please, this isn’t how we treat our prisoners. According to the Intergalactic Convention, we—“
