and Kantor’s. Jaron ignored the other two and went directly to Zerna. She lay on her back on the bunk, arms raised, hands folded under her head. She glanced their way then returned her gaze to the ceiling. “I thought you would have scampered back to Earth by now.”
“Not until I figure out what the fuck you did to me,” Nikki snapped, resentment twisting her delicate features.
So much for her letting him do the talking. Her anger was real, so he understood the outburst. Still, it was better if she let him guide the conversation. He was a trained interrogator and Zerna was one of the most manipulative individuals he had ever met.
“I didn’t do anything to you.” Zerna sat then swung her feet to the floor, facing them. “Hastos rearranged your DNA, not me.”
“Bullshit!” Nikki moved so close to the energy field that it set off a proximity warning.
Jaron grabbed the waistband of her skirt and pulled her back a step.
“You targeted me,” Nikki sneered. “You mentioned my relatives by name. Hastos might have done the procedures, but you’re the driving force behind this travesty. What was I supposed to become? Why give me these abilities?”
Zerna slowly pushed to her feet, focusing entirely on Nikki.
Protective instincts surged through Jaron. He wanted to step in front of Nikki and block her from Zerna’s view.
Back off. Malik warned telepathically. You’ll give yourself away with the hovering. Velmar isn’t protective of anyone.
It was a gross exaggeration, but this wasn’t the time to defend his friend. Reluctantly, Jaron meandered a short distance away and produced the bored expression so typical of Velmar. “Shall we have them drop the energy field so you can claw her eyes out?”
“Let’s not play games.” Zerna walked right up to the energy field, standing as close to Nikki as she could get. “You’re here to trade information for my freedom. The only problem is I know you’re full of shit. Malik will kill me regardless of what I tell you so I have no reason to cooperate.”
“Do you enjoy pain?”
The lethal coldness in Nikki’s tone made Jaron shiver. He reached for her mind, but her end of the link was shielded. She had struggled with the skill last night. How was she doing it so effectively now? “She’s right. We can’t kill her,” Jaron said in Velmar’s sardonic tone. “Malik has reserved that privilege for himself.”
“Death is too easy for this bitch,” Nikki said without shifting her hostile gaze from Zerna’s face. “I just want to hurt her.”
“Wow.” Zerna laughed, but the sound was tight and nervous. “I didn’t realize you were such a bloodthirsty little thing. Hastos will love teaching you some manners. He will be here shortly by the way. The signal I sent will reach him anytime now.”
I’m not sure that was a bluff. Jaron sent the thought to Malik and Salvo. What can we do to mitigate the threat?
That’s my job, Malik stressed. Concentrate on yours.
“Are you sure about that?” Jaron asked Zerna, motioning for Malik to activate the playback. “I don’t think Hastos is in the position to rescue anyone.”
Shock and fear registered in Zerna’s expression for a millisecond before an expressionless mask dropped into place. “When did he arrive?”
“Earlier this morning.” Jaron played along with her assertion. “He hasn’t spoken yet, but I suspect that he’ll gossip like an adolescent as soon as it truly registers that he is helpless.”
She shrugged and averted her face. “He was a serious disappointment anyway. Do what you like with him.”
“Loyal to the bitter end,” Jaron muttered, signaling Malik to turn off the feed. “This is a waste of time. Let’s go.” Ignore me. It’s time to go strip-mining. He pushed the prompt across his link with Nikki but wasn’t sure if she would receive the thought while her mind was shielded.
“Not yet,” Nikki insisted, shooting him a sidelong look. “She’s not dying until I understand what this was all about.”
Relieved by her reaction, Jaron tried to relax. Clearly, she wasn’t lost in anger. She was using her emotions to reinforce her role.
She turned back to Zerna. “What do you want with my cousin Lance and why did you alter me?”
Zerna shrugged again, hands out to her sides. “Sorry. I have no reason to indulge you.”
Nikki clasped her hands behind her back and stood straighter than before. “Velmar has been trying to teach me how to extract information without harming the person I’m interrogating.” She paused, allowing the inference to sink in. “I’ve gotten pretty good