<p>When Keelarah, Lead Interrogator in the Neuropsych subdivision of the Cartheeli Military Caste, first meets the alien, she is prepared to do her duty. He is a trespasser on her planet, has caused the death of someone dear to her, and it is imperative she find out where he&rsquo;s come from and whether his kind poses a threat to her and her people.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Often ruthless in her techniques, the interrogator uses her telepathic and empathic abilities to assault his mind, to draw out any whisper of information that can give them a better idea of what&mdash;who&mdash;they are dealing with. But she isn&rsquo;t prepared for the prisoner to defend himself with comparable talents, to disarm her with equally astute observations.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Chief Surveyor Forrest Brown might not be the best example of humanity, but he doesn&rsquo;t have to be to show Keelarah what it is to be humane. As they get to know each other, the line between captor and prisoner blur, which begs the question: is having different origins a more important factor, or the ability to find common ground? What if mutual alienation leads to the most profound bond of all.</p>