I finish getting ready with hardly a moment to spare. I steal a quick glance in the mirror, to make sure I’m presentable. I certainly am. I wonder who selected it, and how they knew my size, because the gown hugs every last curve and complements my hazel eyes perfectly. It’s more sensual than I would choose for myself, and I feel a tad exposed, even though every square inch of me is covered with fabric. It makes me question the minister and his intentions, and I wonder if I can use them to my advantage.

A knock at the door interrupts my thoughts and startles me. I open the door and the same nurse, Hexia, is waiting for me once again.

“Please follow me.” She clasps her hands behind her back and begins walking down the hallway. I’m so excited the leave my room that I have trouble believing it’s actually going to happen. I wait for the door to slam shut in my face as I cross the threshold, but nothing happens as I follow my guide.

“Is it a long walk?” I ask, trying to keep the excitement out of my voice.

“Not at all,” she answers. “We’ll be there in a moment.”

I soak up every detail of our journey, committing everything to memory and looking for any opening that could help advance my escape, if it comes to that. Unfortunately, there’s not much to see. The hallways are quiet and uninteresting. Beige walls and marble-like floors. We pass a few doors like mine, but I don’t hear any other sounds. We don’t encounter any other people. When we reach the end of the hallway, Hexia swipes her wristband against a control panel and a pod opens for us. We step inside and she indicates for me to sit.

“Minister’s dining,” she says. I hold onto the armrest next to my bench as the pod begins to move. I expected it to raise or lower like an elevator, but we seem to be moving laterally instead. It takes all of twenty seconds or so and our ride grinds to a halt. I rise to my feet, my leg surprisingly shaky after the short journey, and we step out into a lobby.

Two guards flank the main doors. They must be expecting us, because they step forward and open the door in anticipation, motioning us inside. My nurse retreats back into the pod and I’m left to face the minister alone. I take a deep breath, stretch to my fullest height, and walk into the room.

It’s not what I expected. I wasn’t imagining anything quaint or intimate – I’m aware of how governments want to impress when they roll out the red carpet for visitors and dignitaries. But I’ve never seen such a garish display of wealth in my entire life. It’s like a futuristic Palace of Versailles on steroids. The sheer vulgarity of it stops me in my tracks.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” I look for the source of the nasal pronouncement. My eyes are drawn to the head of the table, where a man with dark eyes perches on a throne-like chair. He has to be the minister. I search for something appropriate to say, but the enormity of this entire experience threatens to crush me. I’m rendered utterly speechless.

A second man rises from the table and approaches me. He has the same coloring and bone structure as the man at the head of the table and it occurs to me that they must be related.

“It took my breath away the first time I saw it, too.” he says with a wink as he arrives at my side and takes my arm. “My name is Ramyx,” he says as he gently directs me to my seat at the table. “I am the minister’s brother.” His face radiates kindness and empathy, and, in that moment, I understand that although the two men may be related, they are nothing alike. “You must be exhausted after everything you’ve been through,” he says as he helps lower me into the chair.

“Thank you,” I say. “I am finally starting to feel better.”

“Our medical care here is second to none,” the man at the head of the table announces. He pauses, and I realize he’s waiting for accolades.

“You must be the minister.” I nod my head in respectful greeting. “I’m Natalie Wells, the ship’s engineer. I’d like to start by thanking you for the wonderful care I’ve received under your watch,” I say. I long to blurt out the dozens of questions I have, to demand answers and rail against the treatment I’ve received, but I realize I’ll get nowhere with that approach. I need to tamp down my hotheaded nature in the interest of the bigger picture. “I’ve been so impressed with the doctors looking after me, not to mention the quality of my accommodations.”

“I’m glad you find them satisfactory,” He motions to the service staff with a wave of his hand. The approach the table with cloche-covered plates, whisking away the covers once they have deposited the meal on the table in front of each of us. They disappear into the shadows of the room just as quickly and quietly as they arrived.

“There is one problem,” I say as I pick up my eating utensil, which looks like a really fancy spork. “With my room. My door. It seems to lock from the outside.” I lift my eyes to his face and take measure of his response. He looks shocked and displeased at my insolence.

He returns his attention to his plate. “That’s for your own protection. I can’t allow a guest of mine to wander around the grounds unescorted.”

“I understand,” I say carefully, “and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I’m just really anxious to find out how the rest of the crew is doing. I feel so isolated from them.”

“Well, I’m afraid there’s not much I can tell you on that count.” He spears a long purple wedge and lifts it to his mouth. “Your leaders insisted on leaving immediately, so we sent your crew mates into the wilderness outside the city walls so they could proceed with their mission.”

“By themselves?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing.

“Of course not.” He waves his hand in a dismissive motion. “I assigned a large group of our most elite warriors, the Attalan guard, to accompany them on their journey. Your friends from Earth wouldn’t last one day outside the walls without help.”

I clench my hands together in my lap. “I’m assuming the members of the guard you speak of are trained in dealing with the elements.”

“Trained is an interesting way of putting it. I’m inclined to say ‘bred’ would be more accurate.” He pushes his plate aside and leans forward, eager to share every little detail with me. “Volunteers for the guard undergo a rigorous genetic transformation. We make them stronger and faster. Give them better endurance. Improve all of their senses. Make them almost impervious to the cold. We add a little training to the mix, in terms of thing like navigation, tracking, and battle techniques. But they come of the box mostly ready to go.”

“Have you not explored these types of modifications on your planet?” He seems impressed with himself. Undeservedly so.

“There have been rumors over the years, but such attempts usually come under intense ethical scrutiny.” I lift my glass and take a palate-cleansing sip of water. “So, these men are with my friends. Where are they now?”

He leans back in his chair, suddenly less eager to share. “I wish I knew. We haven’t had any contact with them since they left, last tarsack. That’s about a month in term of your human time.”

I just lost what little appetite I had left. “A month?!? You’ve been holding me here for an entire month?”

He shrugs, unconcerned. “Much of that time you were unconscious, in the healing unit. You should be flattered we allowed you to use it. Most of the time it is reserved for those at the highest level of government.”

“I can’t believe this. You haven’t made contact with them in that time? How is that possible?” My questions are met with silence until his brother finally joins the conversation.

“Please don’t worry. Our communication technology has always been a bit glitchy outside the walls of the city. I assure you, the warriors accompanying your comrades are the best we have. It’s not unusual to be out of contact with them. We don’t usually see them until they return home again, with the mission complete.”

I press my hands flat against the table top and struggle for control and direct my attention back to the minister. “Why didn’t you send someone out to check on them? For a report?”

“It was unnecessary.” He grabs a sphere that resembles a dinner roll and slathers it with a bright green spread. “As my brother just explained to you, the guard never fails. Now, please take your seat and calm down. You’re coming dangerously close to ruining our dinner.”

Anger bubbles inside me like red hot lava. “I can see you’re not getting this. At all. I need to leave. Right now.”

“I can’t allow that.” The minister practically scoffs as he says it. He doesn’t even look at me when he speaks.

“You have no right to stop me,” I say as I rise to my feet.

“I certainly do. And I will.” He pushes away his plate and gives me a withering look. “Now SIT DOWN.” I sink back into my chair as he rubs his hands together, brushing the crumbs from them. “As I explained, I sent a large number of our guards with your friends. More than I could really spare. That means we’re spread a bit thin around here, in terms of security. There’s nobody I can send with you. You need to stay here, and wait for them to return. That’s all I can offer and you just need to accept it.”

The fight goes out of me. I let my head fall forward and rest it in my hands. “You seem tired,” the minister says. “I’ll have someone escort you back to your room.”

“You mean my prison cell.” I can’t help it. I’m feeling petulant.

“If I may offer a suggestion,” Ramyx says, and I’m started at the sound of his voice. “I’d be happy to escort our guest around the compound tomorrow, so she can get out of her room. Perhaps I could show her my workspace. Put her to work helping out with my project. We can always use an extra engineer around here, as you know.” They share a knowing look, and I feel a glimmer of hope.

“I suppose that would be satisfactory, as long as you promise not to leave the compound. I won’t have you put our guest at risk.” The minister wags his finger as Hexia appears to escort me back to my room.