"You can make men out of a semi-human?"
"We are adaptable, my dear sir." The creature's nictitating membrane drew up over his eyeballs and gave him a deceptively sleepy appearance.
"But what about the temperature? How could Thurner stand Callistonian heat and gravity, when built for that of Neptune?"
"Enough of this foolish questioning!" barked Thurner, "Take the fools outside."
The creature at his side raised a leather-clad hand in a peaceful, gentle gesture. "Patience, friend," he said, "We owe our guest much. For he has much to give us."
"I have!" blurted Timmy.
"Yes!" the Neptunian's manner was calm and unruffled. "You, a skilled practical mechanic, can contribute to a glorious Neptunian victory."
"And you think I will?"
"I know you will. No human-being has the nerve structure to stand up under our harsher persuasive methods. It is quite important for us to learn your method of treating impervium for these faster-than-light ships."
"But my method doesn't work."