32

Old Friends

The next day Alexandria is once again at the Mess Hall. Today's cuisine is not at all appealing and remains mostly intact on her plate. As she plays with the food, she hears a familiar voice calling out to her.

"Alex!"

Alexandria narrows her eyes in the direction of the voice in a way that suggests her ears are deceiving her.

"Alex!" repeats the voice.

Munro tries to identify the voice over the crowd at the entrance of the Mess Hall.

"Chell?" yells back Munro in shock.

Chell, a blue skinned Bolian, waves to her from a distance.

"Yes, it's me!"

Alexandria jumps out of her set rushes to meet Chell and runs into him at full speed, almost leveling the Bolian.

"Whooa!" says Chell while hugging Munro.

"I can't believe it, Lieutenant Alexandria Munro in the flesh," says Chell.

For a minute, they remain in a tight hug.

"It's actually ensign, remember."

"Yeah… whatever," shrugs Chell. "How long has it been?"

"Almost a year."

"When did you get in?"

"We got in a couple hours ago."

"We?" asks Munro.

"Geez, did I say 'we'."

Alexandria feels a tap on her shoulder.

"Alex?"

Munro turns around to discover the hand belongs to a beautiful athletic brunette in striking red command uniform smiling radiantly.

"Oh my god, Telsia!"

"Alex," says Telsia Caitlin Murphy.

Alexandria grabs Telsia Caitlin Murphy and hugs her tightly.

"Oh Alex… it is so good to see you," says Telsia Caitlin Murphy.

Alexandria is speechless and almost brought to tears.

"Alex, Alex!" exclaims Murphy while trying to wrestle out of Munro's air crushing bear hug.

"I'm sorry," chuckles Munro and lets her go. "I can't believe this."

Telsia just smiles and reciprocates, hugging Alexandria tightly.

"The crew is back," adds Chell.

Chell gestures to an open table where the three make themselves comfortable.

"What brings you here?" inquisitively asks Munro.

Chell looks over to Telsia.

"Right to the point," remarks Murphy with a sigh. "We just got here!"

"Telsia?"

Chell and Telsia exchange a glance that conveys a single thought: I told you so.

Telsia turns her gaze to Alexandria and gives a hard smile and follows it with a deep sigh.

"I don't know what you know or you've been told but things aren't looking so golden for the Federation."

A nearby officer overhears the three and seems disturbed by the content of their conversation.

"Alexandria, god it's like every time I see you, the galaxy is coming to an end,"

"Sorry?" remarks Munro.

"Don't be silly Alex, it's never your fault. If anything, you've saved our collective butts more times than I care to count."

Incensed, the nearby officer stands up and takes his leave.

"Look I need to talk to you about something very important, privately. I'll meet you at your quarters tomorrow at 18:00, we'll talk more then," says Telsia.

"Sure," says Munro. "I'll see you then."

"It's really good to see you Alex."

Telsia smiles and hugs Alexandria tightly, again.

"You too T – "

Telsia and Chell exit the Mess Mall and only when outside Telsia turns to Chell.

"She doesn't know?" asks Chell.

"No," Telsia turns back as if someone might hear her." She doesn't."

"Are you going to tell her?"

"Absolutely," without hesitation.

"I owe her that much that it has to come from me," with a lower, conciliatory voice. "God and that's not even the worst of it."

Chell grimaces.