Domik reached them in two strides, batting the barrels of the rifles out of the way, before grabbing them and tossing the weapons across the room.
He turned and held a hand out for CJ, who shrugged apologetically at the other woman and ran across the room to put her hand in his.
Domik smiled and, tugging her after him, pushed through the double doors and into the hallway beyond.
Despite the hour of the day, there was a lot going on. In front of them was a glass wall that overlooked an open office, a door in its middle. There were lots of humans in uniform working in front of view screens at desks, and talking.
Domik rapped on the glass and a balding man with more fancy braid on his uniform than Domik had ever seen, turned with an annoyed look that quickly dissolved as he looked up and up to meet Domik’s eyes. The man scrambled backward, tripping over his chair and sprawling on the ground. The rest of the room’s occupants turned to look as Domik rapped on the glass again.
CJ opened the door and yelled into the room. “Where’s General Russell?”
The man who had sprawled on the floor lifted a shaking hand to point to a door on the far side of the room.
Of course, the man would have a private office. Not for him to be out amongst the workers.
CJ and Domik strode across the room, not paying any attention to the hushed whispers that followed them.
When he reached the door they had been shown, he turned a questioning look to CJ, who nodded.
“That’s his office, going by the sign on the door,” she confirmed.
Domik pushed down the handle and stepped into the room, CJ following to close the door behind her.
This was a large room, a desk set before a wall of windows that overlooked a lush garden. Domik didn’t want to think about how much water a garden like that would use in a desert.
What a waste.
He shook his head, taking in the rest of the room. At the desk sat a harried, familiar looking human male. The man had lifted his head as CJ and Domik entered the room, scowling at their intrusion as he pushed to his feet. He gestured toward the door. "Who let you in here?"
CJ walked into the room, ignoring the general’s question. Domik followed to stand at her side.
"Sir, my name is Sergeant Clodagh Jones. I am stationed on the Starship Zataras. You must listen to us," her voice pleaded as she spoke.
The general glared at them as they approached his desk. "I don't have to do anything."
“But, sir—”
“I know who you are, Sergeant. And it’s because of who youbothare that I will tolerate this intrusion.”
Domik growled and stepped closer to the desk. The general took an involuntary step backward as Domik approached, but, to his credit, lifted his chin and stared him straight in the eyes. “What do you want?”
CJ gently tugged Domik backward. “Sir, we need to get a message to the Starship Zataras, if it survived the attack, or Taurus High Command.”
“Didn’t you hear?” The general looked between them before walking around the desk to lean against it, arms crossed over his chest. “The Taurean fleet arrived hours ago. The Zataras held the Xakul off for quite a while, and took considerable damage, but it’s still up there. Fighting.”
CJ and Domik shared a relieved look.
“And what of the Xakul?” Domik asked.
“There have been skirmishes when they’ve broken through the Taurean defenses, but it hasn’t been the all-out assault we had feared.” The general raised an eyebrow. “Is this why you broke into my office?”
“No, sir,” CJ said. “We have news about an alliance between some humans and a Taurean terrorist group.”
The general ran a hand over his face. “Go on.”
If there was one thing that being held captive had given him, it was time to think. So he told CJ and the general his conclusions. “The human resistance believe the Xakul are a hoax, yes?”
CJ and the general both nodded.
