Neverwylde by Linda Mooney

forced to abandon all things Seneecian and Terran in order to survive. The question was, could the D’har let go of protocol? Kyber believed he already knew the answer.
    “Por D’har!” D’har Plat’s voice reverberated down the length of the narrow corridor.
    Kyber stopped, turning around to await what the man had to say. In the pale gleam from their tube lights, the white-furred Seneecian appeared to glow.
    “How far down are you taking us?”
    “I do not know the exact depth, D’har. By my estimate, we are almost there.” Without waiting for an answer, Kyber resumed the downward hike.
    If the D’har’s method remained true to form, Kyber expected the other two to subtly take new positions, one in the middle of the line and the other near the front, close to him. Two hundred meters further down, he sensed someone coming up behind him. A quick glance proved his instincts were correct. Verin met his eyes but said nothing as he remained at Kyber’s heels.
    Within another hour, the lights in the atrium filtered into the tunnel, guiding them. As they filed into the open area, Kyber glanced around at the closed doorways. The place looked empty.
    “Is this our destination?” the D’har inquired. The man continued to speak in Seneecian. He would not use Terranese until he was ready, and only then when he had to directly address them.
    Kyber kept his back to the commander. “Yes. We’re here,” he answered in Terranese, knowing it would inevitably infuriate the D’har at some point. But the Terrans needed to remain aware of what was being said.
    “Where are the others you told me about?”
    “They’re here. Inside their apartments.”
    “What apartments? Call them out. Now.”
    Bowing his head, Kyber peered from the corner of his eye. Verin’s blaster remained on him. The D’har had the three Terrans in his line of fire. That would mean Kleesod’s weapon was trained on Gaveer and Massapa. At this point, the odds were not in Plat’s favor. Kyber suspected the commander was about to attempt a coup. He took a deep breath.
    “Hello! Where is everyone?”
    As he expected, Kelen was the first to burst from their apartment. The joyous smile on her beautiful face instantly disappeared as she grasped the situation. She skidded to a halt and stared at him with apprehension.
    “I must admit, it didn’t take you as long as I thought it wo—” Sandow came to a jerky halt as he also spotted the three new Seneecians, all of whom had blasters trained on Kyber and the others. The physician’s face reddened with anger. “Who are you?”
    “This is D’har Plat, of the warship Ist Umberu. ” Kyber made the introductions.
    “D’har!” Tojun emerged from his apartment, a surprised look on his face as he cradled his arm. The Seneecian glanced at the other two new visitors. “Kleesod! Verin! You survived! Thanks be to the gods.”
    Kyber mentally noted the two crew members smiling back at Tojun. On the other hand, the D’har barely acknowledged the wounded man.
    “You said there were five others,” the D’har remarked.
    “He wants to know where the others are,” Kyber interpreted.
    Sandow pointed behind him. “I have a sick man inside my apartment. Our fifth member is at work in that apartment there.”
    “Por Veenosh Massapa.” The D’har made a motion with his hand, indicating Verin should hand his blaster over to the Seneecian. Massapa glanced at Kyber, but accepted the weapon.
    The D’har indicated Massapa to go over to the doorway. Giving a nod, Massapa left his position and hurried over to where Dox was located. “Dox, this is Massapa. Please open up.” He beat on the door but there was no answer. He looked back at his commander for instructions.
    “Blow it open.”
    The Seneecian was visibly shaken, and Kyber understood why.
    “Reconsider, D’har. If Dox is standing directly on the other side, the blast will kill him.”
    The D’har’s eyes narrowed. “Are you countermanding my