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that meant getting around his gravity-defying ass.
    Some part of her brain didn’t want to believe where she was or what happened. The illusion they were in deep space might just be that.
    “So, the little Earther has claws and the inability to thank the people who saved her life.” Darius spoke quietly, though ominously.
    “
Saved
me? You’ve
kidnapped
me and I’ve been told the others who were with me are dead. You want me to thank you for that?”
    “We weren’t responsible for anyone’s death. The man who killed your comrades has been placed in custody. He’ll stand trial for what he’s done.”
    As she sidestepped closer and closer to the hatch, hoping he’d think she was just moving out of nervous anxiety, she saw his eyes narrow. He moved to block her. His body was so large there was no way she’d get by him, even if she did drop the only blanket covering her body and ran like hell.
    “Let me go,” she demanded. “I don’t belong here.”
    “You’re right … you don’t. But we’ll all have to make concessions. The man we tracked to Earth … the same man responsible for killing your friends … has a date to be tried on a planet some distance from our present location. I’m under orders to see this done, and Earth is in the opposite direction. I will ask about returning you to your world when my current assignment is over.”
    “Yeah? And how do I know you’re not lying? Who are
you
that you can make any promises? I want to speak to the highest authority!” She swung her head again to move her hair back over her shoulders.
    “I am the highest authority on this ship!” he said as he pointed toward the deck.
    • • •
    He tried to ignore the soft waves of shimmering brown hair that she’d just tossed back. The thick, soft, and luxuriant textures of those tresses made him want to reach out and stroke them. He shook his head to put his mind on matters at hand and off how tempting her slender body was, all wrapped in that blanket with bare, creamy shoulders exposed and fire flashing from her blue eyes. He’d been in space too long.
    Taking time so her anger might abate, he slowly explained who he was. “My name is Darius Starlaw. My surname is in deference to what I do; it’s a moniker adopted by one of my ancestors when my family accepted law enforcement as their profession. You’ll probably discover from my crew that my real surname is Regalis. This name isn’t used outside a few circles on my home world.”
    He continued speaking slowly and on matters of little consequence to help her calm down. Still, his opinion concerning her behavior must be known. In space, there was no room for tantrum-throwing harridans. If she was an enforcer, she should be used to following orders. Now, whether she liked it or not, she’d follow his. She had no choice.
    “I’m the captain of this vessel and by protocol and desire, I require the title of
commander
be employed. As for your not knowing whether I’m lying or not, you don’t. You simply have no other choice but to trust us.”
    Darius paused and looked around the space. It was difficult to control his temper but he did the best he could.
    “While I can understand your distress, I must make my feelings concerning your behavior quite clear,” he stoically informed her. “If there are any more outbursts like this, I’ll confine you to a compartment no larger than the incubation unit by the wall. It’s that same
coffin-
like, healing device you referred to previously. If you cannot control yourself, I’ll reconsider my promise to ask for your return home. Do I make myself perfectly clear?”
    “Yeah … I understand,” she bitterly responded. “And is there any reason why your medical person says she put something in my brain? Something I never permitted?”
    Darius sighed loudly, passed a weary hand over his face, and answered quickly. “That was done so you could understand and converse with numerous sentient beings. The chemicals