Chapter Six
The second she heard the swishing door, she swiveled in her chair, locking her eyes on him as he entered his ready room.
Before he could say anything, she began. "I'm sure you've heard by now, Captain."
He was passive. "Word travels fast."
A drifting silence passed between them.
"Why did you do it, Hoshi?"
She shifted in her seat, and spoke gravely. "He deserved it."
Travis gave her a questioning look. "Why?"
Hoshi stared at him, appalled by his question. "Why?! Because he took my...our baby. He killed her and stuffed her in some jar as if she was a mere science project!" Her voice rose in anger. She was disgusted by his lack of outrage.
"It's not like you can't have any more children, Hoshi. Humans are capable of reproducing multiple times."
A light bulb clicked in her head and Hoshi was now more sure that what she'd concluded was right.
"I don't belong here."
"What are you talking about? Of course you do. You're my commander and linguistics officer."
She shook her head. "This ship...it's the Hades isn't?"
He spoke carefully. "Yes. But you already knew that."
"No, I didn't. In fact, I just found out on my own." She tilted her head at him. "Why didn't I already know that?"
He shrugged. "Maybe it's just stress. You seem to be forgetting a lot of things lately."
"Travis, how did we meet? Where did we date? When did you propose to me?" She waited for his answer. "Why did we fall in love?"
"Why is this so important to you?" He placed his hands behind his back.
"Because I want to know why I don't even know these things!" She was exasperated. "One day I wake up and find myself just knowing that I'm married to you. Just knowing and feeling are two separate things." She sighed. "I don't even know how I became Commander and you, Captain."
"Look, you're just having a relapse. Everything will be alright."
"Yes, it will. Once I take charge of my life." She produced a phase pistol and pointed it at him. "Put your hands in front of you and drop your weapon."
"Hoshi, just relax." He inched his way towards her.
"Stay back!" she shouted, now placing her other hand on the pistol, trying to calm her nerves as her hands trembled.
He continued to walk towards her. "You wouldn't shoot me."
"Yes I would, and I can, if I have to."
"You can't." He had a glint in his eye. "Not if you want to go back to where you belong."
She knew he was right and dejectedly put down the pistol.
He stood in front of her, towering over her. "You have a good life here and you just want to throw it all away?"
"I don't belong here."
"Of all the thinking you did, did you ever stop to wonder why you're even here?"
She shook her head.
"Would you like me to tell you why?"
She nodded.
He bent forward, coming face to face with her, his eyes level with hers. Slowly and softly, he said, "You are the communicator."
She crinkled her eyebrows, not understanding his statement.
"You were the only one who could translate the symbols of our Ancient Way."
"The symbols I was translating on the bridge. They weren't an alien language, they were traditions, your tradition," she whispered.
He smiled, a crooked smile. "And now that you've completed your task, you are no longer needed."
She yelped when she felt the intense pain.
The last thing she saw was the phase pistol.
*****
