Two Sontaran troopers pushed through the crowd toward Jon and Karyn. Karyn found herself paralyzed with fear. Jon's legs shook, but he stood his ground as the two aliens grabbed him roughly by his arms and dragged him back to their commander. They kicked aside Sarah's limp body as they brought him forward.
"What's your name, boy?" Stral growled.
"My name is Jon," he answered in as strong a voice as he could.
"Jon? A feeble name," the Sontaran said. "Tell me, Jon, where is Charles Merlin."
Jon held his chin high. "He's dead."
The Sontaran punched him. Karyn screamed, "Jon!" but she didn't move. When Jon looked back at Stral, a noticeable bruise had formed.
"You lie. Where is Charles Merlin?"
"I told you," said Jon. "He's dead."
Stral stared at Jon for a moment, calculating. Then, he motioned for one of his troopers to step forward.
"We have methods of obtaining the truth," he sneered. "I had hoped the death of the human female would have some effect, as it always does on your... empathetic species, but apparently not."
The Sontaran trooper held up a device. Some sort of scanner, Jon thought.
"Now, once more, tell me the location of Charles Merlin."
"I don't know."
Stral looked at the trooper.
"He's telling the truth, sir," said the other Sontaran.
Stral turned back to Jon. "Very well. Do you know Charles Merlin?"
Jon knew it was fruitless, but something in him demanded that he fight back. "No," he lied.
And the Sontaran trooper knew it at once. "He is lying, sir."
Stral's beady eyes lit up. "An acquaintance! Trooper Sarr, take this one to our ship. We shall take him back to Sontar for further questioning."
The trooper thumped his breast and moved to obey. Karyn, meanwhile, broke out of her trance.
"No, you can't!" she shouted.
Stral, who had been on his way out of the food court paused long enough to look back at Karyn. "Shoot the girl and meet me back at my ship for further instructions."
The remaining troopers turned their weapons on Karyn.
