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The Meeden soldier was too happy. Hyuse could hear him whistling in his prison chamber on the away ship, as Hyrein set their course back to Aftokrator. Hyuse was disappointed. He had imagined the ship would be quiet now that Enedora was dead, but he had simply been replaced by another annoyance.
He was also suspicious. If Hyuse had been captured, he could not imagine himself being anything other than constantly outraged and yelling to be released. He went to check on the prisoner.
The Meeden soldier was sitting on the floor, but he was staring at the door like he was waiting for Hyuse to appear. “Yo! Got any fried rice crackers? Or manga?”
“No.” Hyuse narrowed his eyes. He was right to be suspicious. He didn’t know what manga meant, but it could be a word for a deadly weapon.
“I’m elite agent Jin, by the way. I was hoping you could help me with a problem.”
“I don’t care.”
The prisoner smiled at him disarmingly. “But here’s the problem. I’m bored.”
“Not my problem. And stop whistling.”
“You’ll have to talk to me eventually.”
“I won’t.”
“...If you want me to stop whistling.”
Hyuse looked to the side. Which was a worse fate: being forced to listen to horrible whistling for days? Or engaging in conversation with an impudent prisoner?
Hyuse decided. “You can ask three questions. But they must be yes or no questions.”
“Sure!”
“And you have to stop whistling.”
“It’s a deal. I’d say let’s shake on it, but I have a feeling you’d refuse.”
Hyuse had no idea what he was talking about. “Question one. Ask”
“Will I be fed today?”
Hyuse rolled his eyes. “Yes.” Stupid to waste a question on that. Everyone knew there was no point in a dead prisoner.
“Are we going to Aftokrator.”
More slowly, Hyuse answered, “Yes.” Anyone with half a brain could figure that out, and this soldier had a high rank. He likely had intelligence on them.
“Great! Third question. Let me see.” The prisoner’s smile faded. “Did you know that if you hadn’t captured me, your commanding officer was planning to leave you on our planet?” He made unbreaking eye contact with Hyuse.
Hyuse experienced a moment of pure panic. Then he slammed the door on the prisoner without answering. The metal noise echoed through the ship.
Shit. The prisoner had to be lying. But the look of pity in his eyes gave Hyuse a cause for concern.
Hyuse turned his back on the door, took a few steps away, and grimaced. Behind him, Jin was whistling again.