Stacia led her security team to the docking bay. Zenith stood in front of about twenty members of her crew. Brought up on a medi-cart, Hondo refused to meet her eyes. A few Ugenini and Asili dotted the sea of mzungu and other obroni faces. No matter, they were all obroni to her now. Earth First. Night Train. Whatever they called themselves or were called, they were outsiders who no longer would walk among them.

“Not going to blast us out the air lock, are you?” Zenith asked.

“To be fair, I only air locked Hondo a little.” A mirthless smile crossed Stacia’s lips. “I could be talked into going all the way if all of you don’t get the fuck off my ship.”

“Is being so judgmental part of the Muungano way?”

“How badly do you want to test me right now?” Stacia asked.

“Then I’ll leave you with a gift.” He tapped the console embedded in his wrist. “Check the compartment you first found me in. Do a resonant-level scan. I have reason to believe your missing crewman might be there.”

“Security,” Stacia locked her gaze on his, unwavering, “to cargo bay seven. Sweep using a resonant-level scan and report.”

Seconds ticked by. Stacia refused to break her stare with Zenith, noting the eminent punchability of his too-pleased-with-himself face.

“Paki secured. Unconscious, but vitals appear strong,” Kenya’s disembodied voice said.

“Take him to med bay one.”

Zenith interrupted her before she could ask. “Tesseract field. They’re all the rage with O.E. security these days.”

“Get. The entire fuck. Off my ship.”

“Until we talk again, Captain.” Zenith tipped an imaginary hat at her and disembarked toward the crowded Saqqara.

“No, not you. You’re coming with us.” Stacia wagged two fingers. Two other members of her security team sidled up to either side of Zenith and restrained him.

He struggled, albeit a vain effort. “This is unacceptable. I have…”

“… boarded the Cypher, my command, without permission. Threatened my family and disrupted my crew. You dangled a cure out here. We’ll need you to verify it. If this scenario conflicts with your diplomatic immunity, we’ll straighten out the misunderstanding when we return.”

“My superiors…”

“… will note my logs about how we didn’t discover you until after we went through the Orun Gate. You were so good at hiding. Tesseract fields and all.”

“None of that will withstand scrutiny,” Zenith said.

“Probably not. Still, you’re coming with us. If you don’t like it, you should have considered that before fomenting an insurrection on my ship. Find him some suitable quarters.”

Her security officer approached the man, who shrank away from her touch.

Zenith held his hands up. “Wait, how long do you plan on keeping me?”

“How long do you think?”

“I’m the prisoner. I can’t decide when I go free.”