Page 4 of Black Star

The transport to the Slaver took exactly thirteen and one half standard minutes. Nadira felt every second of them. Her nerves were strung so tight, she could barely pilot the shuttle the short distance. Neither she nor Damon spoke, and Barnus could only offer muffled grunts.

Once they were locked with the Slaver, Damon turned to her. “Let me do the talking.” His quiet, raspy voice projected calm that belied the almost palpable tension. Nadira could see Damon’s unease in the way he held himself so erect. He didn’t like this any more than she did, but under the circumstances, they didn’t really have a choice. Though why they had asked her to join the party was still a mystery. There was nothing she could offer in any negotiation.

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

“Agree with anything I suggest and don’t let them see any hesitation on your part.”

“Understood.”

Before he opened the hatch, Damon gave her a reassuring smile as he readjusted his hold on Barnus. Nadira placed her hand on the scan pad and the air lock began to click and whir. In a few seconds, the door slid open with a hiss.

The corridor was so dimly lit Nadira couldn’t see anything at first. As her eyes adjusted, however, she could see shadowy outlines of five or six very large people.

“Which one is captain of theBlack Star?” Nadira couldn’t tell who spoke, but the voice was masculine, very deep, and obviously in charge.

“This one.” Damon pulled Barnus up beside him. Barnus’s eyes went wide with fear as he looked from Damon to the Asalians.

There was a brief pause before the Asalian in charge responded. “I will need verification.” There was no emotion in his voice, nothing to indicate his mood or state of mind.

“Understandable. I’m sure you have the Empire’s registry of ships and their command crew. You can verify him by DNA.”

“Agreed. You will come with us.”

Nadira’s eyes had adjusted to the darkness somewhat and she was able to better focus on their hosts. All five were very tall. Their body armor was dark and bulky, so it was hard to get an idea of their exact build, but Nadira knew there was no way she could take any of them on in hand-to-hand combat. Any idea of armed combat went out the airlock when they were searched and their weapons confiscated. With Asalians all around them, there was no way to return to their shuttle unless they were given permission.

She didn’t like this.

Nadira exchanged a look with Damon. He looked as impassive as the Asalian sounded. Nadira wondered if he was as calm inside as he seemed outside. Damon didn’t resist when they were led to a large room with an oval table surrounded by chairs. Nothing else graced the chamber’s interior. It looked as impassive as the Asalian himself. The guards took their stations on either side of the door, silent but large in their presence.

“Please be seated.” The Asalian gestured to the table and turned to a control panel on the wall. When he touched it, the lights brightened slightly. He turned. Nadira’s breath caught and that negative feeling she’d had about this whole situation got worse. This man was a predator.

His gaze passed over her briefly before acknowledging both Damon and Barnus, but his attention came back to her and they stared at each other for several very long minutes. She felt…

Uneasy.

It was like he’d decided heownedher, and wanted to see what he’d purchased. She had the strangest urge to cover herself, and it was all she could do not to fidget. She didn’t think fidgeting would help their situation.

He wasn’t handsome by any standard, but he was striking. Nothing about his face seemed ordinary. He had a square face, with a strong, straight jawline, chiseled cheekbones and those piercing, cobalt blue eyes. His head was shaved clean, but black eyebrows slashed at an angle over his eyes.

Nadira tried to match him stare for stare, but his penetrating gaze seemed to command submission. She shivered, and her skin prickled as if she’d stepped into the freezing cold. The man terrified her. Why was he so focused on her?

“We’re here.” Damon broke the building tension. The Asalian continued to regard her for several more moments. After a brief pause, he turned his attention back to Damon. Damon continued to speak as if the Asalian’s concentration had been on him the entire time. “Since you’ve agreed to meet us, I sincerely hope we can work out terms we can both live with.”

“I would have introductions first and verification of your identity.” His accent was strange and harsh, but the quality of his voice reminded her strongly of Damon’s -- raspy and quiet. This was a man who didn’t have to yell at his troops to be obeyed.

“Of course. An oversight in protocol on my part. Forgive me,” Damon conceded without hesitation. He rose smoothly, gently nudging Nadira to do the same, and bowed slightly at the waist. “I am Damon Singh, second in command of theBlack Star.”

“Mikiel Anjoom, commander of this vessel and the surrounding squadron. You said this one is captain?” He indicated Barnus with a raised eyebrow; otherwise there was no indication of any emotion.

“He is. Captain Hom Barnus.”

“And why is he bound thus?”

“Captain Barnus has been relieved of duty. Regardless of the outcome of the previous battles, it is not the policy of the Vok’nair Empire to fire with the intent of destruction unless there is an imminent threat of death. I know the Asalians do not kill unless there is a good reason.”

“Unfortunately, second in command, I cannot say the same for the Vok’nairs. I had the pleasure of spending many months as a prisoner of war at the behest of your government.”

Both men looked at one another, neither backing down, sizing each other up. Nadira was far from the timid type, but she was next, and the last thing she wanted was Mikiel Anjoom’s unsettling stare directed at her again. When her shoulder touched Damon’s arm, she realized she was inching closer and closer to her commander and friend. Ideally, she could hide behind his larger frame, but somehow she knew Commander Anjoom hadn’t forgotten her, nor would he. He wasn’t the type of man to forget anything.

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