Excerpt: Of All Things Forgotten

“[You don’t have to defend him],” Junjie said in a low voice when he reached Chen. Chen nodded, closing his eyes.

“Sir, it’s not good for him to be talking right now. We have to let Mir scan him and see if anything’s been damaged,” Klara said urgently. Junjie gave her a glare that told her to quiet. For once, she took the hint and shut right up.

“[Chen, you must tell me the truth right now. I need to know if this man is a danger to the rest of us. If you don’t do it for yourself, then tell me and do it for the rest of us],” Junjie said fiercely. Miranda had climbed through the hatch and was making her way up to where Jack was hovering.

Chen looked him in the eye and said firmly, “[Colonel Jack Long is not a danger to us. He would die before hurting any of us. You know that, sir. I cannot explain what happened. There was a Japanese man here, in a black mask and black clothing, and he vanished before you enetered the hatch. That is my full report.]”

“Now, sir, if you will, Miranda needs to take a look at him,” Klara pressed, this time more firmly. Junjie conceded and let Klara help Chen down the ladder, with Mikhail keeping him steady at the bottom. Miranda and Jack were whispering quickly together where they were both seated. Jack glanced back down at Junjie, and Miranda slithered down the chairs and through the hatch to take a look at Chen. As the resident biologist, she was the most knowledgable about human systems. She wasn’t a doctor though.

“I am watching you, Colonel Jack Long,” Junjie said, his voice dangerous. Jack stared at him.

“I wouldn’t hurt him,” Jack said. Junjie believed the look in the American’s blue eyes, but he couldn’t believe Chen’s story. “Sweep the ship. We have to do a sweep. Anywhere that can fit a full sized male body needs to be checked. We are not alone on this ship,” Jack hissed. “For security. Dammit, Li.”

“Fine,” Junjie said, not believing that he was going along with this nonsense. “Take Mikhail and sweep the ship. Pull out everything. Check every container. I don’t want a single inch of this vessel unturned. And stay away from Lt Chen. If I catch you within two feet of him I will break your neck.”

Jack glowered at him.