It seemed that the boats couldn’t leave the shore quickly enough. Arguments over who got to leave now and who had to wait for rescue had broken out among those who wanted to leave, leaving only a small group that remained uncertain of what their future would look like, and if they were ready for it.

Eshrevi had tried to force her way onto a boat, but it wasn’t until she had disclosed that she had abandoned their First Officer – her best friend and partner – on a desolate island that some of her fellow officers volunteered to stay behind and let the Andorian take their vessel instead.

Some looked at her with a flicker of understanding they wished they didn’t have. Others made sure she knew that they didn’t trust her, and would never trust her again – despite Alcyone’s fear of not being able to make friends among the crew, she was actually well-liked and respected.

Somewhere, in the back of her mind, Eshrevi wondered what was worse – that she had abandoned her First Officer, or that she had abandoned her friend and partner.

When she finally set sail, she was accompanied by Keller and Velix. Velix had insisted on coming along, too worried about Alcyone to stay behind. Keller, on the other hand, seemed more focussed on keeping an eye on Velix, not trusting Eshrevi to guarantee her safety.

Eshrevi was trying to tell herself that it wasn’t her fault, a futile attempt to ignore the thinly veiled contempt  – that she had been manipulated by a powerful telepathic entity. But it seemed the others didn’t see it the same way. And what would Alcyone think?

And how would she even find her? For hours, they drifted across the empty sea, moving, but getting nowhere.

When Velix spoke – to Eshrevi, not to Keller – her voice was careful and quiet.

“Maybe you should ask Naeric.”

“What?”, Eshrevi frowned as she turned around, her tone harsher than she had intended, which earned her a scolding glare from Keller.

“Ask Naeric to help.”, Velix repeated, this time a little more confident.

Keller’s expression softened as he looked at her, concern etched in his features.

“Naeric isn’t real, Neeya.”

“Yes he is. He … might not have been what he said he is, but what I… what we felt, that was real.”, she insisted.

“I will not ask him!” Eshrevi hissed, and Keller got up to position himself between her and Velix.

“Don’t speak to her that way. She wasn’t the one who abandoned her First Officer – and lover – on an island she now can’t find any more.”, he growled.

Eshrevi fell silent. She knew she deserved it. Still, the comment didn’t just sting. It was like the knife in her chest was being twisted.

“I’ll… I’ll pray, I think.”, she heard Velix say, but chose not to react. Instead, she turned around, gaze fixed on the horizon, waiting.

The world around her had changed. The rays of sunlight that had danced on the water had bowed, and left as the wind had whispered a sorrowful farewell, and the birds mourned its departure.

Alcyone Brennan didn’t understand what had happened, and how the peace and acceptance, the unconditional affection of a loving parent, had vanished so suddenly. It was an emptiness she had never experienced before, a longing that tore into her soul, a loneliness all-consuming.

She had, finally, after so many years, been able to connect. And now, that connection was gone. And despite knowing what Naeric was, what he had been, what he had done, she would give anything to get it back.

And then, on the horizon, she saw it. A boat in the distance.

“Eshrevi!”

She had come back. Brennan had always known she would come back. She ran towards the shoreline, the hot sand burning beneath her bare feet, but she didn’t care. Tears blurred her vision, then flowed freely down her cheeks, but she didn’t care. No more distance, no more pretending, no more guarding emotions.

As the boat hit the shore, Eshrevi lept from the boat, misjudging the depth, but barely registering the cold water. The waves pulled at her legs as she waded forward, dragged at her boots as if trying to hold her back, but eventually released her into Alcyone’s arms.

“I am so sorry. I don’t know what I was doing. I just… I am so sorry, Zion.”, she muttered, burying her face in her hair.

Alcyone returned the embrace, and for a small, insignificant moment, she basked in the joy of their reunion.

 “I know.”, she whispered.  “I-…”

And then, the moment was over, and she let go.

She had wanted to say that she forgave her, but the words hadn’t left her lips, as much as she had tried to force them out. As much as they seemed the right thing to say.

But did she? The weight of abandonment still pressed heavily against her, the hollow ache of betrayal, of losing that one person she thought she could always count on.

Eshrevi’s breath hitched as she looked at her, eyes wide, in sheer terror. “I love you Zion…”

It was almost a plea.

Alcyone blinked, slowly. “Just not enough…”

She turned to look at Keller and Velix, waiting on the boat, then back to Eshrevi.

“I’ll expect a full report on this, Lieutenant.”