"Can we talk, just for a moment?" Rain asked quietly, still seated at the opposite side of the CIC.

Ten metres might as well have been ten thousand at that very moment, as her augmented heart weighed heavy in her chest.

Zelina nodded, "A moment. I'm about to be very busy. As are you, Kohkna."

Rain rose and shot Zelina a look of anger, "Busy? Busy?! God Dammit, you've been dodging me for fucking weeks, Zelina! This is the first I've seen of you for longer than a minute in person, and that's all you have to say for yourself. I'm busy?!"

Zelina didn't answer. She looked down at the floor and remained perfectly still.

Rain dared to move closer and knelt down so that her eyes would meet the Captain's, "Just fucking talk to me, please Zelina! That's all I ask! Kayla has practically worried herself sick about you, as have I. I just want to know what's going on in that head of yours."

Not daring to look at Rain, Zelina replied, "What? Can't you read minds with all your powers?"

A single tear dropped from Rain's face. Her senses let her follow the drop from her right eyelid, all the way to the carpeted floor of the CIC. When it hit the floor, the sound in her augmented ears might as well have been that of a torpedo striking the ground.

Not unlike the one that just struck her heart.

"Is that what this is all about? Me being an Augment?! I thought we were past that, Zelina. I was cleared of everything. McClair herself signed the pardon right after the last vote was counted. I'm still a Marine." Rain said, holding the collar of her MDU out.

"And you're still the Captain of Avalon. And Kayla is still a part of our family. And you haven't taken your name off the papers, either. Just what is the problem? I'd never hurt either of you, you know that, my love. And I'll never, ever, allow anyone to hurt you."

Rain reached out and touched Zelina's face. The Captain allowed it for a moment, but turned away suddenly and stood, her back to Rain and once again not daring to look her in the eye.

She couldn't bear to let Rain see her own tears.

Rain, still on her knees, pulled her combat cap down and looked at the floor, "Do you recall the Doctor in Algiers I told you about? I saw him earlier today. As it turns out, he's very much like me. His parents did it to help him become brilliant. I allowed him to scan me. He believes he knows who the people are that made me the way I am."

"I… plan to attend to that matter when I return from New Romulus."

Zelina scoffed, "So, more killing and death, eh? I've seen your records, Rain. I know all about your time with Black Star. Not only that, but I confirmed everything you told me through friends at Fed-Sec and DS9. You're a mercenary, and you've murdered so many people I can't even grasp my mind around it. And you're only seventeen! I was still in primary school while you were blasting your way across the galaxy."

"Yes, he confirmed that as well. My age is seventeen. I don't know my exact birthday, but I've decided to line it up with Kayla's. So, I'll be turning eighteen this coming November. There are other things he told me as well. I was certainly born on Earth. My ancestry is Chinese or Korean, perhaps both. My accent is, well, indeterminate. Lower East London, perhaps." Rain said with a deep sigh.

"There are many things that I know, Zelina, things I didn't know before. But the two most important things are this; I love Kayla, and I'll always keep her safe. And I love you, and I'll always keep you safe as well. I don't care if it's Romulans, Klingons, Cardassians, Kinshya. I've killed every kind of enemy in every kind of way. I did it once for money, for selfishness, for any reason. But the one that makes the most sense is to protect the two people I love more than anything else,"

"I want to believe that," Zelina said softly, still not daring to look at Rain, "And I don't hate you. I never have. And I want, more than anything else, to join you and Kayla in that palace in the mountains, and live happily ever after like the fairy tale says…"

"Then why can't you, dammit Zelina?! Just say the word, and to hell with the Romulans, to hell with the Marines, and to hell with Starfleet. We'll go home, together, and I'll shoot dead anyone who steps through our door and tries to tell me that it can't be so!" Rain pleaded, her eyes fully erupted in tears.

Zelina ripped her comm-badge from her chest and held it high, so Rain could it see it clearly, "Maybe it's because you're so young, but it's not just about what you, or I, want! I am the Captain of a Starship! You are a Major of the Marines! We have duties, you and I. We can't just walk away from that, no matter how much either of us wants to!"

Finally, she turned and looked at Rain.

Her face was covered with stained tears and mascara, but she still looked so beautiful to Rain.

"Do you know what duty is, Rain? It means every single day, you and I will put our lives at risk for our country, our people. What happens when, one day, your luck finally runs out? What happens if, one day, my ship blows up? I almost lost you once, and as angry as I was when you lied to me, I was broken by the fact you wouldn't be there anymore. I… I can't face that, Kohkna. I'm not as brave or as strong as you! I can't fight like you can!" Zelina screamed.

Rain was barely able to keep her voice steady when she spoke next, "You don't have to be afraid. You don't have to be strong. You don't have to be brave. You don't have to fight like I do. I will always protect you, and I will never lie to you about anything, ever again."

"I only did once because I don't want you to be afraid, and you know that. But I can't live with this uncertainty anymore. I want you to be with me, to be with Kayla and Comrose, but I want you there because you want to be there, Zelina. If you really can't, or you truly believe I won't protect our family, you can walk away, and even though it will rend my heart in two, I promise that if you say it, you'll never see me again."

With every ounce of her courage, Rain looked at Zelina, "Just please… please tell me what you want…"

Suddenly, and without warning, Zelina turned away and ran through the door. Her tears followed her on the floor every step of the way, a trail of sorrow that Rain would never forget for as long as she lived.

For the eternity of thirty seconds, Rain was completely heartbroken and immobile. Living without an answer was worse than death. Part of her wanted to chase after Zelina, all the way to Avalon if she had to.

Another part of Rain suggested that she take her assault phaser out and blow her own head off. Evelyn would after look Kayla, and she was strong enough to survive losing another parent.

Yet another part of Rain told her to open her wrist-comm, tell Mark that he and the Marines could go straight to Hell, and that she was going home to help her daughter with her studies.

She didn't know what to do. For the first time in her life, Rain was torn on the inside, and couldn't decide.

Another eternity went by that lasted exactly thirty seconds. And her wrist-comm beeped, bringing Rain back to reality.

"We're waiting for you in the Fleet Admiral's Office, Rain. His Excellency demands your immediate presence. Shall I have you beamed in?" asked the insensitive voice of Virnas.

Rain sighed, and hit her wrist-comm in reply, "You are quite fortunate, Vir, that you are wearing an MDU. Keep that tone of yours up, and you may well be the first Romulan I shoot today. I'll be there in a minute."

"Half-Romulan, Rain. And 57.32 seconds." Virnas replied, closing the channel.

On instinct, Rain stood back up, took a moment to wipe her face and let the Engine in her mind take over. And just like that, all the hurt and pain was gone. And now, Rain only wanted thing.

To shoot something.