Tallyn watched the monitor and pondered his captives. The girl was perhaps a little more intelligent than her companion. By opting to stand guard, the man had foiled Tallyn’s intention of removing the weapon, but it was not a serious setback. It meant their first encounter would require a stress screen between them until the man could be persuaded to give up his weapon. Tallyn might have to separate them and keep the man confined until he co-operated. The girl, at least, was responding well to the first contact mediator’s overtures.
Clouds of steam rolled from under the frosted glass door while the girl showered and the man, Rawn, stood guard next to it, his expression bitterly truculent. After a few minutes, the girl emerged wrapped in a towel and donned the smaller grey outfit, which fitted her well. She rubbed her hair dry, then took the projectile weapon while the man went to shower.
Tallyn rose and hurried to the hospital, keen to speak to the girl before the man re-emerged. When he arrived in the spacious, spotless white room with its faint odour of antiseptic, the mediator, Egan, rose and saluted. Two doctors, who watched the humans over his shoulder, straightened.
“Relax, Ensign Egan,” Tallyn said. “I want to speak to the girl.” He motioned to the two guards who stood at the hospital’s entrance. “You two, set up a stress screen.”
The men brought a portable screen and placed it in front of the cell’s door. Tallyn indicated that they should stand to one side, out of sight, then nodded to Egan, who touched crystals on his console, and the cell door slid open.