Epilogue
Trip sat up with a jolt. He looked around his quarters then he expelled a long breath of relief. He was in his quarters in his bunk and there was no one else there.
The engineer threw back his blanket and sat up, throwing his legs over the edge of the bunk. He stood and walked on trembling legs to his bathroom. Leaning over the basin, Trip turned on the cold water and filled his hands then doused his face. He turned the water off and braced himself on the edge of the little sink. Looking up, Trip stared at his reflection in the mirror. In all of his dreams of childhood, he had never ever imagined that he would be a killer. Space exploration was supposed to be just that - exploration.
Trip met his own eyes and suddenly saw the eyes of the Tozran he'd killed. He looked at his hand still damp from the water and saw the man's blood covering it. The engineer's eyes went back to his reflection. What had he become? Was he willing to kill again?
Trip squeezed his eyes closed. "Yes," he replied. He knew in his heart he would kill again if he had to, if it were necessary to save the people he loved and his world he would do anything. He sighed and opened his eyes again. Charles Tucker III was indeed an explorer but he was also a killer and he'd have to live with that knowledge for the rest of his life.
The commander turned and pulled a towel off the shelf then dried his face. He left the bathroom and began to dress knowing that after a brief respite, sleep was again his enemy.
THE END