“Not a terrible idea, Jack.” Patrick gestured at Arley’s semiconscious form. “If we have both the leaders, I can see that putting a crimp in their operation. So how will we handle this?”

Arley sat up with a groan. Another universal, I guess. He glared blearily at us from his bunk, not saying anything. He might have been looking a little green, which on an orange-skinned being should come out brown, if my old art teacher was to be believed.

I waited a few more seconds, but I guess he was going to wait for us to make the first move. Well, fine then. “We should talk,” I said.

“Why?”

“Well, we have you in a cell, for starters.”

“So?”

I glanced at Patrick and Nat. Their perplexed expressions didn’t fill me with confidence. Apparently, Arley wasn’t as talkative as Karen.

I tried to regroup. “Well, it does put a crimp in your plans for world domination.”

He shrugged. “Not really. They can handle it without me.”

“You mean without you and Karen. The two of you are the leaders and chief architects, aren’t you? How much redundancy can you build into an organization that’s built around a single small clan?”

That got a reaction. Without any kind of warning or buildup, Arley launched himself at us, mouth agape and arms spread wide. I had time to note that he also had claws—retractable, apparently—before he slammed into the cell door.

“Sheldon?” I subvocalized.

“The door will hold against considerably more than Arley can bring to bear,” he replied. “I do know what I’m doing.”

I gazed at Arley, trying to project relaxed and unafraid. “Y’know, your species has a definite anger-control issue.” Arley glared at me, as I continued, “Karen reacted much the same way, although she’s a lot more into threats. Something about not bothering to cook us first.”

Now Arley did smile. “That sounds like Karen. She does like sushi.”

“Ewww,” said Nat.

He glanced at her, then back at me. “Okay, so what now? You seem to have the momentary advantage. What do you want? Money? A spot in the enclaves? We can do that, you know. We don’t—”

“Go back on your agreements. I know. Karen tried that line.”

“Uh-huh. You’re going to a lot of trouble to bring up Karen in the conversation. Almost like you want me to think you have her. Maybe not so much?”

“Well, we didn’t eat her,” I replied. “But negotiations didn’t go well.”

“So what do you want?”

“For the Loranna to leave our planet.”

Arley laughed. “That’s not going to happen. Even with both Karen and me gone. We’re fully committed to this, Jack. It’s Jack, right? You humans all look the same to me. We have no other option. We’ve put everything into this.”