What was of concern was how the owners of the stolen vessel would view its quartet of human captives. Though he as yet knew nothing of them, he doubted the adroit Reed would be able to bluff them the way the big man had hoped to bluff the leaders of Earth’s governments. Surely, he thought, the rightful owners of the ship would sympathize with the primitive captives and return them to their own world, which was so very nearby. Surely, they would not confuse captives with captors. Surely.

He could not tell if the entirety of the alien crew was present in the bridge area, but there were certainly more A'jeii and Kaijank than he had previously seen in one place. Vantolos was there as well, along with a pair of other Olone. It was the first time Dev could recall seeing the Kaijank unarmed. They stood off to port, their muscular limbs hanging limp at their sides, looking thoroughly depressed behind their half-dome helmets. Dev gave a slight shiver. Anything dominant enough to unsettle them must be formidable indeed.

As Tilenyii had assured him, Dev’s companion was also present.

“Was wondering if you were going to join the party.” Reed looked unhappy. His splendid planet-girdling bluff, so meticulously thought out and primed, was now so much brain chaff. Useless in the face of an unknown new menace. Ignoring the disconsolate Reed, Dev focused his attention on Katou-Zimmer.

“Everyone is okay? Do we know anything yet about the ship’s owners? Do we know anything at all? Tilenyii was not helpful.”

She tried her best to sound encouraging. “Only that Syrenii and the rest were ordered to assemble here—and wait. Being part of ‘the rest,’ we had to come too. Are you all right, Dev? We were starting to worry about you.”

“I am fine. I was half asleep when Tilenyii came for me.” Raising his gaze, he surveyed the assembled aliens. In the course of his stay aboard the alien craft he had learned enough about their gestures, posture, and expressions to divine that they were at present a sullen lot. “Our hosts do not seem too happy.”

“They don’t know what is going to happen to them.” Jakob Zimmer made a sweeping gesture. “Is there anything else that strikes you about this less-than-joyful gathering?” When Dev didn’t reply, the scientist explained. “There are no automatons here. None of the ship’s omnipresent ambulatory robotics are present. Can you recall a time outside your cabin when you did not encounter at least one or two?”

Dev thought. “No. No, I cannot. I imagine the owners have immobilized them. Or at least removed them from the equation.”