The Morcai Battalion by Diana Palmer

Author:Diana Palmer [Palmer, Diana]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin (UK) Limited
Published: 2007-09-18T20:00:00+00:00

10

Madeline felt her heart sink to her stomach. Torture. They would torture the entire crew in order to find Dtimun. Was it worth the risk, to protect an alien who might die naturally in the next few hours? A sudden, unfamiliar anguish stabbed her at the thought of that proud alien dead.

But she didn’t have to consider her answer, because it was impossible for her, ethically, to turn Dtimun over to these murderous dogs. Given a choice, she’d take torture and hope to God that she wouldn’t break under it. She glanced at her crewmates and saw the same resolve in them.

“The commander is dead,” Komak repeated.

“Untrue,” the Rojok replied with equal firmness. “We found no record of his death in your ship’s log—neither was there any evidence of a recent urning aboard the vessel. It is Centaurian law that a commander of flagship rank is to be urned ceremonially,” he added, airing his knowledge of their culture.

“There was such a cloning less than two solar days ago,” Komak said evenly, “and we did not note it in the log, as we were under alien attack. That is also our protocol. The urn has been concealed. You will not find it.” He studied the enemy. “We also cloned two crewmen…”

“You cloned one,” the alien corrected smugly. “And he was reprogrammed by our operative, who was cloned from a member of the human crew, which answered the distress call on Terramer.”

Madeline and Hahnson exchanged horrified glances. They meant Stern! He hadn’t been mentally altered—he was dead! Holt Stern was dead!

“It is no use insinuating that your commander was an altered clone,” the alien continued in a monotone. “I will ask you one last time. Where is Commander Dtimun?”

Komak raised his head. “Dead.”

“A lie! And we will uncover the truth if it requires the systematic torture of every one of your crew! Even now, an emissary from Mangus Lo’s palcenon is on his way to us to take Commander Dtimun back to our imperial Excellence. It is unthinkable to keep the emperor waiting!”

“Gee, fella, we’re sorry,” Madeline said with mock sincerity. “It’s okay with us if you want to take the C.O. to Mangus Lo. Isn’t it, guys?” she asked her comrades.

“Sure,” Hahnson said with a shrug. “I don’t mind.”

“Me, neither,” Higgins seconded. “Hell, sir, you can take him sand-swimming for all I care.”

The Rojok seemed to burn purple under his dusky complexion at the insolent treatment he was getting from these inferior humans. “You will not be impertinent!” he sputtered.

“Impertinent?” Madeline frowned. “Say, is that anything like being hungry? I just remembered, I didn’t get time for mess before you people took over our ship.”

“You will tell me what I want to know!” the Rojok officer fairly screamed. “I will have you all tortured!”

“Whatever he has in mind,” Lieutenant Higgins said lightly, “can’t be much worse than having to listen to him rave. How about some java, Dr. Hahnson?”

“Fine!” Hahnson said.

“I could use some coffee, myself,” Madeline agreed pleasantly.

The humans turned their backs on the interrogator and moved to the ancient synthesizer on the bulkhead of the dome.

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