“Save your rules and regulations for another time, Lieutenant. This prisoner poses a threat to every person on this ship. If you think I’m going to allow him to survive to wreak havoc on the home world, you’ve got another thing coming.”
Major Ontarii squatted beside him, tugging his head out of the ball to rain more blows upon his face. “You’re gonna die here, human. You understand that, don’t you.”
Jeffrey glared at him. “That might be true, but you’ll never accomplish your goal, Hareema.”
As he said the words, he knew they were true. Kat’Chinna would never put her loyalty in a commander who would treat a prisoner, even if he were a threat to planetary security, in this fashion. Beating him to death in his own interrogation cell. That didn’t sound like the leader of the Zantharian fleet to him. It definitely didn’t sound like the man Kat had pledged herself to follow.
Major Ontarii laughed in his face. “You humans have a good sense of humor. Too bad you won’t be able to tell your jokes for too much longer.”
Major Ontarii hit him again, hard enough to cause Jeffrey’s head to bounce off the back wall. His vision wavered, and it took all of his control not to pass out.
“Lieutenant, I want you to finish this creature. Use your bioelectricity to end it.”
Kat’s eyes were round, her mouth twitching. “Sir?”
“This isn’t the time for discussion!” Major Ontarii roared at her, his body shaking at being challenged. “I gave you an order!”
“Can’t do it yourself, can you?” Jeffrey asked, his suspicions confirmed. “That either makes you a coward or a Hareema plant.”
Major Ontarii’s scowl was fierce but Jeffrey continued, hoping he could convince Kat that he was right. “A plant couldn’t zap me with electricity, could he? A plant would pummel me to death because he didn’t have any bioelectricity of his own.”
“Shut your mouth, human, or I’ll shut it for you,” Major Ontarii growled, launching a kick that connected with Jeffrey’s chin and caused his head to once again bounce off the wall. Consciousness was a fleeting friend as his world narrowed to a pinpoint of light.
