Chapter 69: Depression
July 2415
Her feet were greeted by a pair of cats, darting across her path. Kirina smiled as she stopped just inside, as the door swished closed behind her. The room, clearly Starfleet quarters, clearly Federation decor, was brightly lit and familiar.
The Betazoid in blue stood near the replicator, inhaling the steam from her mug of tea. The Senator and her best friend conversed by the window, each sipping a glass of that blue Romulan beverage that they held in such high regard. On the couch, but not for long, was the ponytail-wearing Romulan man that cared for her more than she could have known. At Kirina’s entrance, he stood and moved towards her.
Kirina smiled reflexively, even as the man threw his arms around her. She gently raised her arms to return the hug, if a bit half-heartedly. “Where have you been?” the man asked, his tone one of relief.
"I … " She could barely speak. The Senator and Aurelia approached, smiles on their faces. Even the Betazoid seemed in good spirits, though she politely kept her distance. “Sorry I’m late,” Kirina finally managed.
“We were starting to think you wouldn’t make it,” Aurelia said with a smirk, “Nethali and Duo were getting worried.” As if on cue, two of the cats meowed in unison.
“Come on,” Ahnar guided Kirina towards the door as he spoke, one arm remaining hooked around her waist, “We shouldn’t keep the transport waiting.” She allowed herself to be led towards the door, with the rest of the group in step behind the couple. The door swooshed open to a bright light and, two by two, they stepped through.
Not a moment later the whole group was standing together near the edge of a large paved platform. Behind them, a recently landed shuttle and a towering metropolis; Kirina’s view was filled by a brilliant and familiar sight. Their somewhat secluded landing pad overlooked a picturesque hillside, down and away, all the way to the point where the land faded into the unending blue of the Lasendt Sea. The wind breezed through her hair and she closed her eyes as the afternoon sunlight warmed her face. She leaned against Ahnar, resting her head against his shoulder.
In that moment, everything made sense and nothing else mattered.
Kirina’s eyes opened to darkness. She blinked. Twice. Three times. Four. Tiny specks of light appeared in her field of view. Distant stars, viewed through the small window adorning the section of corridor in which the Romulan had chosen to sit down, some moments earlier.
The darkened hallway of the tiny T’Varo felt disproportionately large in its emptiness. The buzz of the ship’s crew was long gone, replaced by the deafening hum of the idling singularity drive and the ringing in her ears. The thud of an empty hypospray falling to the ground settled the other sounds into perspective. Surrounded by virtual silence, Kirina slowly stood and lifted her PADD. With her face now bathed in the pale green light of her screen, Kirina continued her writing as she started again down the long corridor.