POV: Lyra
Orion brought me to a nutrient café near the security station so we didn't have to rush. Unlike the previous day, we didn't take our time. We finished in less than an hour and went to the station.
The alliance members had just arrived and were with Christian, who looked serious as he spoke to the three security officers preparing the prisoner.
When Christian saw us, a gracious smile stretched across his serious face. He paused the conversation before greeting aloud, "Ah, My Emperor. My Empress. You're both here."
After exchanging formal greetings, Chief Dalloway continued to brief us. "So, he's been in Neural Suppressors since you brought him here, Your Grace. He hasn't said a word since captivity. He did try to mind-touch someone twice when he first woke up. Never again after that."
Neural Suppressors are made specifically for Lyrokan criminals. They're the only restraints capable of suppressing a Lyrokan's abilities. When these are on, they can't heal, speed, or even mind-touch, and their strength equals that of a standard humanoid. These suppressors have detection chips embedded to monitor if a prisoner tries to mind-touch someone, and if so, whom. The downside is the person the prisoner tries to link can only be detected if the link is strong enough.
Orion asked, "How intense was the link?"
"Our systems detected it as faint, my Emperor. The medics say that may be due to his weakened state at that time. The suppressors were never removed. And there haven't been any attempts to break them."
I asked, "Are you able to identify who he is?"
Chief Dalloway looked at me apologetically. "No, my Empress. I'm afraid not. We've taken his bio-samples and run them through medical databases but no match has been found yet."
"No criminal records either, I suppose?"
He shook his head in dismay. "None, my Empress."
Orion noted, "So he's either a first-time offender or this is his first time getting caught."
Chief Dalloway spoke up, "If I may, my Emperor, we think it's the latter. First-time offenders are normally more fidgety and willing to talk, even if it's lies. This one is unusually calm and quiet. Medical says there's nothing wrong with his physique or neural abilities, so he's ready for questioning."
Orion's face hardened slightly. "Good. Show the alliance members to the observation room. We'll take it from here."
"Yes, Your Eminence."
The other two officers held open the door for the Kaelari. That's when Orion called out, "Juan." Everyone turned, and Orion smiled as he continued, "Christian and I were hoping you could join us."
Everyone's eyes widened in surprise. I was surprised as well, and couldn't help the upward curl of my lips. Juan glanced at me and the alliance before nodding with a grateful smile. "It would be my pleasure, Your Eminence. Thank you."
The alliance went into the observation room. Juan and Christian waited outside while Orion wasn't ready yet. He held my hand to stop me from following the others.
Looking deeply into my eyes as he held my hands, he kissed my forehead and uttered softly, "Star-heart, we're not going to play nice in there. We'll try our best to play fair. But..." he furrowed his brows and averted his gaze momentarily before locking eyes with me again, "But I might have to use the Emperor's Neural Compulsion if he refuses to speak."
The Emperor's Neural Compulsion is like a Commander's Authority, only stronger because Orion was the Lyrokan Emperor. When activated, it enables the Emperor to compel any subject to do anything he commands, the same way Commanders can command their station members. Not even the Empress is strong enough to defy it.
It's an archaic power seldom used by civilized Commanders and Emperors, who believe using that power to force beings against their will makes them ruthless dictators. Orion himself felt uncomfortable wielding it after his father's death and had never used it. He only tested it on Christian once for curiosity. It worked, to Christian's excitement and Orion's dismay. They never activated it again.
His worried eyes pierced into mine as he kissed my fingers before assuring firmly, "I just want you to know I will never use that on you or anyone innocent. If I use it in there, it's because I have to. I just need you to be safe, okay?"
I took my hands from his and reached for his face, pulling it down to kiss his lips before whispering, "I know you enough to know you won't use it unless you need to, Orion. Go. It'll be okay."
He smiled with relief and kissed my nose before uttering, "Thank you for understanding, star-heart."
I stepped into the observation room where the others were. Most had pulled chairs close to the one-way transparisteel to study the prisoner. Those who didn't sit were leaning close to the glass, eyes converging on the figure in the next room.
The prisoner's suppressed hands were on the small metal table. He sat upright facing the entrance. Security had tied his legs to the chair as well. He didn't look scared or defeated. It was difficult to know what was going through his head. He just looked like he was waiting for a transport.
I pushed myself up to sit on the rectangular table behind my friends in their chairs. Toby joined me.
Orion entered the interrogation room with Christian, Juan, and Chief Dalloway behind him. The Emperor's face was dark and hardened. Menacing didn't begin to describe Orion at that moment. He looked ready to single-handedly destroy an entire station.
When he reached the rogue, Orion slammed the prisoner's head against the table. The prisoner groaned in pain. The Kaelari in the observation room flinched upon impact. I jerked in shock as well. I thought they were going to be nice first, then use force.
Toby whispered from my side, "Let's be fair. If it was someone else who got stabbed, you would've done what the Emperor just did."
"No argument there." I said with a smile.
The three men took seats around the square table, and the Chief stood at the side, ready to record. Orion sat facing the rogue. He growled in warning as he said, "Talk."
The rogue, whose head was already inflamed, smirked. "About what, Your Eminence?"
Christian had an equally deadly expression as he extended his claws—sharp Lyrokan bone extensions—and plunged them into the rogue's arm with force before pulling back, eliciting a second groan. "If your mind is foggy from your time here. Let's start simple: who sent you to attack?"
Blood stains formed in large patches on his prison suit but no one cared. The rogue gritted his teeth to cope with the pain as he uttered, "No one." He was clearly lying.
Juan's hand reached for his nape and gave it a good squeeze before saying darkly, "You'd die trying to protect your boss, huh? You don't see your boss protecting you now. You're the one rotting here."
The rogue's dark chuckle would send shivers down the spine of anyone with a faint heart. Juan retracted his hand, seeing the rogue was about to say something. With a cocky smirk, the rogue locked eyes with Juan and taunted, "At least I'm capable of protecting someone. What did you accomplish when your people needed you?"