Chapter 20

"All praise to Commodore Zachary North!" Caeldon cried. Cheerful roars sounded in the Redscales' caverns as the Draco let their gratitude be known.

North shared a smile with McQueen, both of them supervising the return of the Draco's eggs. He had informed them of how the comet had changed course and spared Berengaria VII from destruction. While North appreciated their response (although it was a tad loud), he felt it unearned.

"Thank you," he said, "but I didn't really have anything to do with it. The creature in the comet-"

"You would have saved our unhatched young," Caeldon said. "And the fact that you have returned them now shows you are as trustworthy as I believed. There were many of us still unsure about the Human Clan, but you have silenced their doubts." She lowered her head level with North. "You are a hero to us, Commodore Zachary North." He raised her neck upwards again and led another chorus of approving roars.

North winced. He didn't think the Draco fully understood what he'd been trying to tell them. Then, next to him, McQueen nudged his elbow.

"Just enjoy it, sir," she said. "We could all use some good vibes."

North smiled and nodded, letting the Draco roar for him. Maybe he had been a positive influence after all.

Maybe he had made a difference for the better.

"I've decided to stay," Sherene said.

Despite their closeness during the storm, she had remained cold towards the bondgroup (although that had been welcome after the temperature on Berengaria V), and this was the first thing she'd said to them since returning to their quarters.

Everyone stopped their unpacking to face her. Azhri was delighted. "Oh Sherene! We're so happy to hear that!" She and Chalmos ran over to embrace the small shen.

Threv remained on the other side of the room. He nodded his thanks to Sherene.

"I still hate that you lied to us," she said to him, icy but no longer as hostile.

"I understand," Threv said, his antennae drooping.

"But I'm willing to try and... accept you. To help you."

Threv's antennae picked up again. "Thanks, Sherene. That's all I ask."

Sherene broke free from the others and made her way over to Threv, tentatively hugging him. He wrapped his arms around her as well. He now felt foolish for his hasty, emotional abandonment of his bondmates during the storm, but he wondered what had brought on Sherene's change of mind.

"I... I was so scared in that storm," she whispered to him. "Scared for my life. Scared for you. I guess... I guess I know how you must have felt. During the war. And why you didn't want to tell anyone."

Threv said nothing. He just hugged her even tighter.

Now returned to her quarters, T'Ling resumed her meditation. It got slightly easier every time, and she once again focused her thoughts on the flame on the floor in front of her.

Just like a few days ago, she sensed the minds of those on the base, then the Draco in the mountains, then those in the ships in orbit. Concentrating, she reached out further, searching for the creature.

It took a bit longer this time, but she suddenly felt it. Its mind was still overwhelming, but T'Ling did not recoil from it now. Primitive as it was, T'Ling could sense one emotion radiating strongly from the lifeform.

Contentment.

It had fulfilled its lifecycle. In a few months, it would unleash its spawn and start a new cycle all over again. And, millions of years from now, when the planets of this system began to break up, one of its distant descendants would also fly out through space in search of a new home. But there was something else prominent in the creature's mind.

There was compassion also. Compassion, perhaps for the lives it had spared on Berengaria VII?

Commander McQueen had speculated that her pleas had reached the lifeform on some level. T'Ling now recalled that, in the habitat, during McQueen's heightened emotional state regarding the creature, while hoping that it would change course, T'Ling had been holding her hand. And Vulcans were touch-telepaths. Had she somehow focused McQueen's sentiments, transmitting them to the creature?

It was a highly illogical, purely emotional hypothesis...

But T'Ling chose to believe it.

Author's Note: I realise that this story has a tone of finality to it (and the title doesn't help) but rest assured, there are still two episodes to go in Season 1! I just couldn't think of a suitable epilogue teaser for the next one. All I'll say is... things are gonna kickoff.