"Answer me!" The Minister pulled hard on her collar, yanking her back to her knees. "What did you do to our defense shield? Who sent you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. I don't even know how you're speaking my language!"
The Minister growled and let go of her collar. "How stupid does this creature think we are?"
The being behind her spoke up. "It's from Earth. They're the stupid ones."
Sylvie bit back the urge to protest.
"Their species barely developed faster-than-light travel two cycles ago. Even the most basic translation matrix is beyond them."
"Then how did that tiny craft it came in take down our entire planetary defense shield?"
"Unknown, Minister. It may have been accidental."
The Minister bent to her level again, grabbed her chin, and turned Sylvie's face to and fro. "It's an intriguing creature. But if it doesn't know what happened, then I have no use for it."
He released his hold and stood up, once again activating the display. "Get it out of here."
Her captor grabbed hold of the bindings and lifted Sylvie to her feet. "Permission to perform tests to determine if something in its composition could have affected the shielding?"
The Minister gave a curt nod. "Granted."
"Tests? Wait--" But it was too late. She was already being dragged out through the opaque doorway and back into the hall.
"Let's be reasonable. You can ask me anything. You don't need to do any tests on me."
Her captor ignored her, but she noticed his color shift, going from mint green to something lighter, with a faintly pinkish cast.
Two aliens moved toward them as they stopped, her captor holding up his hand, palm open, in salute. The others returned the gesture just the same.
"What have you got there?" one of them asked.
"An Earthling."
"Is that thing responsible for the shield failure?"
"Yes, and the Minister's gone maroon over it."
The trio talked for a minute more, her captor releasing her binding in order to mimic the Minister's demeanor as part of the conversation. She didn't waste a second before bolting.
"Stop!" her captor shouted, but she ignored him completely.
It was difficult to keep her footing on the slick floors, and as she rounded a corner she slid, losing her balance. Just before she hit the floor, a pair of strong arms grabbed her.
Sylvie's head shot up, eyes wide. The arms lifted her until her face was level with the being who'd caught her.
His eyes were black as midnight, a golden rim encircling them that glowed. A strong nose led to plump lips that verged on feminine. His lips seemed to be the only soft thing about him. She shivered in response to his closeness, awareness of his masculinity causing her to shrink back.
"What have we got here?" he asked, his voice like steel-covered silk.
"Please, let me go." Sylvie started to flail, her dangling feet kicking at the creature's shins. He made a noise that sounded like laughter.
"I'm sorry, Supreme One!" her captor yelled as he jogged up. The other two beings followed closely behind him. "It slipped away. Won't happen again."
"An Earthling," the Supreme One said, his lips twisting up into a half smile. "A female. In the flesh."
"Yes, Sire. I was just taking her back to the labs."
