“I don’t like this,” Sarah said quietly, pulling Katie closer.
“It’s procedure,” Trevan said. “They process everything through official channels. It takes time.”
“Time we may not have,” Wei-Lin said. “If Naran has allies here?—”
“He does not control the Patrol.” But Becsul’s voice held less certainty than he would have liked. Naran was a Councilor. He had connections throughout Cire space and beyond. If he had chosen to act preemptively…
The minutes stretched. Robbie grew fussy, and Melissa walked with him in slow circles, humming a tune Becsul didn’t recognize. Katie asked for water, and Sarah found a dispenseralong one wall. Wei-Lin remained motionless, her eyes tracking every movement in the room.
And then a door at the far end of the chamber slid open, and a new figure emerged.
She was Terellian—tall and angular, with iridescent purple scales that caught the light as she moved. Her uniform bore the insignia of station captain, and her expression was sharp with intelligence and something else. Wariness, perhaps. Or calculation.
“I am Captain Veyros,” she said, her voice carrying easily across the chamber. “Which of you is Becsul nak’Larentar?”
Becsul stepped forward, his spine straightening instinctively. “I am.”
“Mmm.” She studied him for a long moment, her amber eyes unreadable. “You’ve created quite a situation, Captain Becsul. Quite a situation indeed.”
“I have done what I believed was right.”
“Have you?” She produced a datapad from somewhere within her uniform, scrolling through information he couldn’t see. “Because according to this, you are wanted by the Cire Council for treason, theft of classified materials, destruction of government property, and—” She paused, her eyes flicking up to meet his. “—kidnapping.”
Behind him, Melissa made a sharp sound of protest. “He didn’t kidnap anyone. He rescued us.”
“So you say.” Captain Veyros’s attention shifted to Melissa, assessing her with the same clinical detachment. “And you are Dr. Melissa Desai, formerly of Earth, currently listed asa missing person in human databases and—interestingly—as experimental subject M-7 in certain Cire records that recently came to our attention.”
“Experimental subject.” Melissa’s voice was flat with controlled fury. “Yes. That’s what they called us. Subjects. Not people. Not victims. Subjects.”
“I am aware of the terminology.” Veyros’s tone softened fractionally. “And I am aware of the circumstances that brought you here. What I am trying to establish is the official sequence of events, which is complicated considerably by the fact that Councilor Naran vel’Rendar has filed a formal complaint against Captain Becsul.”
The words hit Becsul like a physical blow. He had expected retaliation—Naran was not the type to accept defeat quietly—but the speed of it surprised him.
“What is the nature of the complaint?” he asked, keeping his voice steady.
“Multiple charges. Treason, as I mentioned. Sabotage of a classified research facility. Assault on Cire personnel. Theft of government property—that would be the supply ship you escaped on.” She scrolled through more information. “And the most serious: conspiracy to undermine Cire reproductive security by destroying vital research materials and absconding with irreplaceable subjects.”
“Irreplaceable subjects.” The words tasted bitter. “He means the women he kidnapped and imprisoned.”
“He means exactly that.” Veyros lowered the datapad. “The Councilor has requested your immediate extradition to Cirecustody. He has also requested that the human subjects be returned to the facility for their own ‘safety and medical care.’“
“No.” Becsul’s tail lashed behind him, his control slipping. “Absolutely not. They are not going back there.”
“I haven’t agreed to anything.” Veyros held up a hand, forestalling further protest. “I am informing you of the situation as it stands. Formal complaints have been filed. Counter-statements will need to be made. Evidence will need to be presented. This is not going to be resolved quickly or easily.”
“But they’re safe?” Melissa asked. “We’re safe here? He can’t just… take us?”
“The Patrol does not hand over potential witnesses to interested parties without due process.” Veyros’s voice was firm. “Whatever else happens, you will have the opportunity to tell your side of the story. All of you.”
Some of the tension drained from Melissa’s shoulders. Not all of it—not nearly all of it—but enough that Becsul could see her gathering herself, preparing for the fight ahead.
“Then let us tell it,” she said. “Let us tell everyone what really happened in that facility. What they did to us. What they planned to do.”
“That is exactly what I intend.” Captain Veyros gestured towards the door she had emerged from. “If you will follow me, we have much to discuss.”
They began to move, their small group following the station captain into the unknown bureaucratic depths of Korinth-7. But as Becsul passed through the doorway, Veyros caught his arm.
“A word of caution, Captain Becsul.”
