In Confidence

Posted on Wed Nov 26th, 2025 @ 2:41pm by Treon Brevor

399 words; about a 2 minute read

Mission: Second Light
Location: SS Starburst

=/\= Observation Port =/\=


Treon found Lerik by the observation port, standing in the darkened room, staring out. The stars reflected faintly in the window, painting her skin in pale blue light, the station merely a shadow.

When the door hissed open, Lerik turned just enough to acknowledge her, then looked away again.

“He’s not coming back.”

Treon sighed. “Maybe if I talk to him.”

“It won’t help.” Lerik’s antennae dipped, wilted.

The two stood there in silence. Treon knew Lerik and Marken had a deep bond, though she had never asked how deep it was.

“There’s nothing you can say,” Lerik said at last, as if the long silence had never happened. “He’s not going to join a mission that even has the scent of Starfleet on it.”

“We all have our issues with Starfleet,” Treon said. Otherwise, they wouldn't be running the shipping missions they did.

“They took everything from him.”

Treon glanced at the Andorian.

“During the Dominion War… his colony was hit by a plague. Starfleet said they’d send help.” A bitter exhale. “They never did.”

Treon winced. There had been so many stories like that. “Resources were stretched thin—supply convoys, medical ships—”

“That’s what they told them too. First they said help was delayed, but would come soon. Then they said…”

She stopped — long enough for Treon to feel the rest before hearing it.

“His family…” Lerik swallowed hard. “He had a wife and two daughters. They didn’t make it.”

Treon’s breath caught. Her hand clenched instinctively at her side. It wasn’t Starfleet’s fault — but suddenly she didn’t feel like offering explanations for them.

“He never said anything.”

“He didn’t want to talk about it.” Lerik’s gaze stayed fixed on the stars. “Not to anyone.”

Not to me, Treon thought.

She let a few more moments pass before she spoke again. “What about you?”

Lerik finally turned. “What about me?”

“I won’t think less of you if you choose not to come on this mission.”

Lerik blinked, eyes wet but steady.

“You need a crew you can trust.”

A pause — small, but unmistakably strong.

“And I trust you.”

Treon swallowed, the words landing deeper than she’d expected.

She glanced at Lerik, suddenly unsure what to say.

“…Thank you,” she managed at last, soft but sincere.

=/\=

Treon Brevor
SS Starburst

 

RSS Feed