Page 35 of Protected By the Alien Commander

Doshax stepped closer to the pirate, who scooted as far away as his restraints let him. “What do you know about my squadron?”

The pirate tried to shrug but could barely move his shoulders since his arms were stretched to their limit, trying to stay away from Doshax. “I just know what Mack said. That there were six of you, and that we needed to scatter and jump. Then our ship went dead. And we crashed on the planet.”

“How many of you crashed in the area?”

“I'm not really sure. I had my eyes closed at the end. Didn't want to have them open to see the planet growing closer and then splat.”

I rolled my eyes.

“After you left the ship,” Doshax asked very slowly, “did you see any other crashed ships in the gully?”

The pirate’s black eyes widened. “Well, it looks like you know things, so why are you asking me?”

I didn't know how Doshax could stand to be so patient questioning that guy. I felt like smacking the jerk. And I wasn't even the one interrogating him.

“Tell me, how many crashed near you? How many total pirates did you see? Answer, or you are not going to get any more food and water until you do.”

Wow, Doshax meant business. And his scary, interrogation act really turned me on. I wonder if I could talk him into role playing prisoner/interrogator later?

“Okay, okay. You’re a mean son of a bitch, aren’t you? Don’t get those pointy things on your head all twisted.” The pirate glared at Doshax. “I could see three other ships in the distance, but I didn’t see anyone moving in them. And we climbed out of the gully,” the pirate paused, then shrugged and continued, “to see if any authorities would come. That’s when we found one of your guys up top. Mack was real quiet. He can be real quiet when he wants to be. But he got the jump on your guy, hitting him over the back of the head. Wasn’t long after that you found us. Then, I don’t know what you did, but Mack disappeared.”

I kept my mouth shut. If Doshax didn’t want to tell the pirate that he didn’t cause Mack’s disappearance, then I surely wasn’t going to.

“Can I have some clothes?” The pirate glanced down at his orange-dirt-smeared body.

“I will think about it. But first you must tell me what you know about an attack on a ship called Proximo.”

“Huh?” The pirate squinted at Doshax. “I don’t know anything ’bout that.”

I huffed, sure he didn’t.

Doshax changed somehow. I didn’t know how, but suddenly he seemed a little bigger, taller and scarier. I quit leaning on the doorframe and stood up straight, watching as he strode to the bunk bed with a glare so intent I wasn’t sure lasers wouldn’t shoot out of his eyes. I heard a gulp next to me.

“You will tell me,” Doshax lifted the pirate one handed and held him up, their faces inches apart. “Everything.”

“Hey! Hey, okay, hold on now! When, where was this Proxima attacked?” His feet dangled above the floor.

“Proximo, it was the ship Proximo carrying people that looked like me. It was at the edge of Delta System near the planet Simurlia.”

His voice was so growly it sounded like gravel rocks rubbing against each other. I may have taken a step back.

“Uh, hey, I’m real sorry for whatever happened to that ship, but my buddy Mack and I, we’re normally in the Ypsilon System.” The pirate licked his lip while sweat rolled down his cheek. “I know nothing.”

Doshax growled.

“I’m serious! Please don’t hurt me! I swear I’d tell you everything I knew if I knew anything!”

“Who would know since you are a waste of resources?”

“Don’t kill me! I know stuff! I can get you to the guys that know more. We all crashed here, they’re here right now. I can help you find them. Please, I’m telling the truth!”

Doshax threw him down on the bed and turned towards the doorway.