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Mar Arden said.
    “Giving us time to find their secret colony,” Sion Shif said.
    “Another interesting question is how the being in the other room came to be in this star system in the first place,” Mar Arden said.
    Sion Shif narrowed his gaze, taking a good look at the holoscreen. “It’s doubtful they’ve developed anything like the Cherubian drive on their own. From what I’ve seen of their weapons capability, I’m not sure they’re technologically advanced enough to make it here on their own.”
    “Well, they’ve obviously made it here somehow,” Kandra Rene said.
    “Or they were brought here,” Mar Arden said.
    “How?” Sion Shif asked.
    “Before the Boxans fled this system there was a broadcast signal sent from the Mardoxian chamber at the listening station. We were keen on capturing the station to gain access into the Star Shroud network, but the station was destroyed. What if the signal that was sent out was received by the species in the next room and somehow they were brought here?” Mar Arden said.
    Sion Shif’s eyes widened, and Mar Arden nodded.
    “That’s right. There is an intact Boxan listening station out there somewhere, and that being in the next room is our key to it,” Mar Arden said.

C HAPTER F OUR

    Z ACK ’ S MOUTH WAS dry and there was a slight ringing in his ears. He worked his mouth into a swallow and tried to push his eyes open, but he felt like there were tiny weights attached to his eyelids that prevented them from opening. A raspy breath left his mouth as he tried to move. He was lying on his back, and he couldn’t get his muscles to cooperate.  
      Zack focused his will and forced his eyes to open. The room he was in was so dark that he could hardly see anything. He pushed the fogginess from his brain and began to wake up. The pain in his leg and side was gone. He tried to move again, but he was strapped against the table. A door on the far side of the room opened, and a soft amber glow streamed into the room. Zack squinted as he peered through the doorway. A large shape filled the area, and Zack noted the third appendage that hung to the floor behind it.
    Xiiginn! The thought blazed through his mind like lightning, and his breath caught in his lungs. Zack struggled against his restraints, but they wouldn’t budge.
    “Don’t try to move. You’re being restrained for your own protection.”
    Zack stopped moving. He tried to access Athena through his implants, but there was no response. He flexed his wrists and realized that his PDA was gone.
    “Where am I?” Zack asked.
    “Safe,” the Xiiginn said.
    Zack followed its movements by the dim amber lighting engaged along the wall. The Xiiginn turned around, and Zack noticed stark white skin that seemed to give off its own glow. Icy cold fear settled in the pit of his stomach.
    “I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced. I am Mar Arden.”
    Zack clamped his mouth shut, refusing to speak. He looked around, trying to find the nearest exit, and then his gaze settled back on Mar Arden.
    “Surely members of your species have names,” Mar Arden said.
    “Zack,” he said finally.
    “Excellent,” Mar Arden said. “A pleasure to meet you.”
    “Why can’t I move?” Zack asked, refusing to let the Xiiginn dispel his suspicions.
    “It was for your protection. You were wounded and were brought here for healing,” Mar Arden said.
    “Thank you. I’m feeling better now. Will you let me go?” Zack asked.
    Mar Arden raised his chin while his dark eyes peered at Zack. “It’s not that simple.”
    “Of course,” Zack said. He wanted to get up off this bed, but he knew he couldn’t. He was completely at the Xiiginn’s mercy, and Mar Arden seemed to be waiting for Zack to arrive at that conclusion.
    “We will let you go after we’ve had a chance to speak with you,” Mar Arden said.
    “Really,” Zack said, fighting to keep himself from rolling his eyes.
    “I will answer any questions you may have in