PART 23:

Trip walked through the compound towards the guest quarters. He hadn't seen Liana since last night and each time he asked no one seemed to know where she was. As he reached the door, it finally dawned on him where she was. He abandoned the idea of getting cleaned up and walked away to find her.

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Liana lit the last of the candles in her secret room. She looked around the room that would never be the same to her again.

The memories of that day with Trip came flooding back to her and it brought tears to her eyes. It was all she would have now were memories.

She looked over at the door when she heard it open and saw Trip standing there.

"What are you doing here?" she asked quietly.

"I came here to talk to you."

"There's nothing to talk about."

"I beg to differ. We have a lot to talk about. Starting with why you are acting like your scared of me."

"Please just leave, Trip,"" she said.

"No," he walked up to her. "Talk to me, Liana," he pleaded.

"Trip, we can't be together anymore."

"Why?"

"I have to stay with my own kind."

"Who told you that?" he asked, placing his hands on his hips. "Was it T'Pol?"

"No," she shook her head. "It wasn't T'Pol."

"Then who was it?" he asked in frustration.

"Me," she said. "I'm the one who decided this."

"I don't believe you," Trip replied, running his hand through his hair.

"It won't work between us, Trip," Liana said tears threatened to fall.

"Someone had to help you change your mind."

Liana said nothing and continued staring at him.

"Are you trying to tell me what happened in here yesterday didn't mean anything to you?" Trip continued. "Are you telling me you don't love me?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying," she said, her heart breaking with every word.

Trip gazed at her in shock. "I want to hear you say it."

Liana closed her eyes. Why is he making this so difficult. She felt sick to her stomach because of what she was about to do.

She opened her eyes and looked him directly in the eye. "Yesterday meant nothing to me and I don't love you."

Trip grasped as if the wind had been knocked out of him, and his heart torn from his chest.

Liana saw the devastation in his eyes after what she said. She desperately wanted to take it all back and tell him how much she truly loved him. But she knew what would happen if she did.

"Please leave," she asked turning her back to him once again.

Liana heard the doors close behind him. Tears flowed freely down her face and she struggled to catch her breath.

"Well done, my dear, well done," A voice came from the shadows. "You played your part well."

Liana straighten her shoulders. "You may have gotten him to leave the planet, but know this, Drak, I will never be yours!" she turned and left the room.

End of Part 23