"You were one of us—a year ago! A technician in the synthetics department! But you vanished—and now you're here! Why?"
"I—I—oh, don't ask me that!"
I clutched her elbow, so fiercely that she whimpered. "Did you turn traitor? Answer me, Doriza!"
"You hurt me—don't—Barak, before you call me a traitor, answer this. Are you wholly for destruction of this people of Dondromogon? Haven't you changed?"
"Why—why—" And I paused. "I want to crush the Council, but the people—"
"Barak, I want to help them, too! The people—and you, Barak!" She looked at me beseechingly. "Can't you trust me?"
My heart flopped over and over, like a falling leaf, but I could not steel myself against her. "You were sweet once, Doriza, though you went away from me." As if by long practice, my arm encircled her.
"Believe me, I'm not a traitor," she whispered against my shoulder. "I want to save you—and others—and myself—"
I shook my head. "They want to kill you. They shan't. Let's defend ourselves."
For answer, she pointed to the door. A quiet humming sounded. I saw that a panel bulged and vibrated.