Chapter 16

The next time Brynn awoke, the headache she had dreaded the day before was, mercifully, absent. She exhaled a long, quiet breath and sat up, glancing around the room as if to remind herself where she was.

For a long moment, she just sat there, her hands limp in her lap, before swinging her legs over the edge of the bed and planting her feet firmly on the cold floor. She winced at the chill but welcomed it -- something real to focus on, something to anchor her.

Pushing herself upright, she made her way to the galley, hoping for something warm to drink -- and maybe a way to ease into the day.

She stood in front of the machine and hesitated, not because she didn't know what she wanted -- she did -- but because she didn't know how to ask for it. The words seemed caught somewhere between her throat and her mind, as though even forming them would take too much effort.

"Ophelia, could you--"

"Of course, Miss Phytrelia."

Seemingly reading her mind, the machine chimed softly as it produced a black mug, steam curling lazily from its rim.

Brynn wrapped her hands around the cup, savoring the heat against her chilled fingers. She brought it to her lips, inhaling deeply before taking a sip. A soft sigh escaped her as her eyes drifted closed.

"Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I feel... a little better now."

She shuffled over to the table and slid into a seat, placing the cup on the surface before flopping back against the booth's cushioning. Her head thudded lightly against the backrest as she tilted her face up, staring blankly at the ceiling.

For a long moment, she said nothing, and then she leaned forward again, cradling the cup as though it might anchor her to something solid. She glanced sideways at Ophelia's projection on the table.

"What am I going to do, Ophelia?"

The AI's image tilted her head in that careful, curious way. "Do, Miss Phytrelia?"

Brynn let out a breath, nodding. "Yes. What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to..." She trailed off, waving her hand vaguely. "Fill the days? There's all this empty time, and it feels like... nothing."

Her fingers tightened around the mug, her eyes darkening. "And all the while, he's out there. Probably in the hands of her..." Her voice twisted, low and sharp. "That... creature. The one who hurt me. The one who hurt him."

Silence fell between them for a long beat before Brynn took another sip, her hands trembling slightly. She looked back at Ophelia, her voice softer now, almost breaking. "So what am I supposed to do with myself?"

Ophelia blinked, her image still, then responded gently, "I wish I had an answer, Miss Phytrelia. But I fear this is something only you can resolve."

Brynn gave a faint, tired smile, leaning back once more. "Yeah. I thought as much."

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Captain, there's a ship coming out of anti-space ahead of us."

Captain Johansen leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "Is it friendly?"

"Appears to be. They're hailing us."

She exhaled sharply through her nose, fingers drumming once against the armrest. "Open a channel."

"Aye, Ma'am."

"This is Captain Johansen of the battleship Avenger, please identify yourself."

A thickly-accented voice came over the channel. "Captain! This is Ulch Seeker Korran, in service to his eminence, Szen Seeker Xedrin of the Ulratian Defense. We have come to assist with one of your passengers."

Her brows lifted in surprise, irritation flickering in her eyes. "Oh? One of my passengers? What exactly do you mean by that?"

"It has reached us that you have a Gifted among you - recently manifested, and, as yet, is not spoken for. As you know, the agreement between our peoples provides for such individuals to be entrusted to us -- for care, for training, for their safety. I am here to allow you to turn her over to us, as agreed."

Captain Johansen seethed a little. "'Allow me?' How magnanimous of you. And you even made the trip yourself - I'm impressed!"

Her condescending, patronizing tone would have insulted another human officer, but Korran seemed to miss it.

She stood, jaw clenching, pacing a few steps as she considered her words. "And what if I don't have the slightest idea of what you are speaking of. Surely no member of my crew," she looked around, surveying the members of her bridge, "would have the gall to reach out to you without speaking to me first."

"Ah, Captain, I could not say. But please, do not trouble yourself. What matters is that we are here to help -- to ease her burden and ensure she has the support and guidance she deserves."

She bit the inside of her mouth, her jaw clenching, seething a little more. "I'm afraid we're a little busy, at the moment. Give me a few hours to look into this and I'll get back to you just as soon as I can."

He laughed at that. "Captain, you are gracious to ask for time. I will be departing with his eminence shortly. I believe all that is needed is that you provide us with the proper clearance when we arrive."

"You're coming now? No! That's unacceptable."

"Captain, truly, we will not linger. Shortly, you and your crew will be free to return to ordinary business. Until then, strength and honor be with you."