Interrogation

Star Core: Wild Space Chapter 13

The prisoner spat on the floor; his defiance evident as he glared at Valdez. She had been questioning the dishevelled man for the better part of an hour, her patience wearing thin with each passing minute. Despite her best efforts, he hadn’t given her anything—not a name, not a hint, not even the satisfaction of a reaction. Valdez was beginning to think the wretch either didn’t speak English or was deliberately stonewalling her, his blank expressions making her wonder if he even understood the Earther languages that ELON had translated.

Frustration gnawed at her as she turned to Matthews, who was leaning casually against the cell’s cold, metal wall with his arms crossed. His eyes were fixed on the pirate, observing the man’s every move with a cold detachment. When Valdez shook her head, Matthews raised an eyebrow, sensing her frustration.

“I can’t get through to this guy,” she muttered under her breath, annoyance lacing her voice.

“You sure he’ll know anything?” Matthews asked, his tone calm but with a slight edge.

“The insignia on his armour marked him as the captain. If any of these people would know anything, it’d be him.”

Matthews pushed off the wall, his posture relaxed but with an undercurrent of tension that suggested he was ready to act. “Want me to have a crack at him?” he asked, his gaze still locked on the pirate, who was now picking his nose with a nonchalant air, as if he had all the time in the world.

Valdez hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the prisoner. The man’s defiance was infuriating, and despite her distaste for unnecessary violence, she knew they were running out of time. With a sigh, she nodded slightly, stepping back to allow Matthews to take over.

Matthews stepped forward, his boots thudding softly on the concrete floor. The pirate looked up, still smirking, clearly not taking him seriously. Matthews leaned in close, his voice low and steady. “I’m going to ask you a few questions, and you’re going to answer them. If you don’t, well…” He trailed off, letting the threat hang in the air.