Alara looked bereft. Claire took it upon herself to tell Isaac.
"That what you reported as your memories are accurate. The memories we retrieved match what you have in your reports," Claire revealed.
"You seem upset, Lieutenant, did I not tell you...?"
Alara cut him off. "Yes, Isaac, you did. It's my own issue, you did nothing wrong!"
"All senior bridge officers report to the bridge!" a voice said, it sounded like Bortus.
Ten minutes earlier, John, Gordon and Ed were in Ed's office.
"I offloaded everything I could from Isaac's storage banks!" Gordon announced.
"So, these are the secret files," Ed asked, somewhat humorously. Gallows humor, he felt.
"As dumb as that sounds, it's probably accurate," Gordon responded. "Oh, and also..."
John opened a container. It contained a couple items that Jenny removed from Gordon.
Everyone was now at their stations; the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Into this mix two Xelayans came on the bridge carrying a large block with some flashing lights on it and two handles.
"Jesus, what is that?" Kelly demanded.
One of the Xelayan researchers who carried it in said, "the two who had their consciousness transferred, if they were to grab a handle at the same time, this could transfer their consciousness back!"
Silver Gordon practically bounded over while Isaac the Red walked to it. They each grabbed a handle, then let go.
"Yeah, baby, I'm back! Whew!" Gordon cried.
"I, too, am in my own construct," Isaac concurred.
The Xelayans promptly disabled it and took it away.
"I hope we get a complete report on that thing," Kelly commented.
"I'm sure we will. One thing about Xelayans, they're thorough!" Ed remarked.
"I assume they just didn't have it with them all this time and just decide to bring it out now!" Kelly groused.
"Well, they did say they were working on it. Ugh, who knows?" Ed responded. "However, it does make things easier."
"How so?"
Ed ordered Alara, "Lieutenant Kitan, please send a security contingent up to the bridge immediately!"
Alara, puzzled, did as she was ordered.
A contingent arrived. Ed went to Isaac and stated, "Isaac, we need to take you to the brig. You will be held and taken to Earth on a charge of espionage."
"I will go willingly," Isaac responded. He pointed to his forehead, and warned, "but, Captain, you must immediately..."
"Already done!" Ed replied. "But thanks for the heads up!"
At Kelly's groan, he realized what he said. "Sorry."
John showed Isaac the head guns Isaac had behind his "eyes", now in the container he held. Jenny had installed light tubes in their stead, and Gordon had figured out how to defer the diagnostics so Isaac wouldn't notice until after he was taken into custody.
Alara looked devastated. Kelly took her aside and said in a low voice, "it's a good thing you kept it secret and don't have a long public history of being with him. I'm sorry. Alara, I really am. You can take the rest of the shift off."
"I'm okay, Commander, really. Thank you."
Kelly smiled, "Okay, good for you!"
The files retrieved with Gordon's help contained information and schematics that aided the Planetary Union considerably in building a robust defense against possible Kaylon attack. Isaac himself testified at length about what Kaylon 1 is really like, what motivates their vendetta, what their infrastructure is.
A two-prong approach consisted of diplomacy, assuring them that there is no plan to subjugate Kaylon 1, and a strong military force, a bulwark in case diplomacy fails.
Kaylon 1 has agreed to talks so at present there is no incipient war looming. Everyday life seems about the same.
"He never loved me," Alara said at the table where she, Gordon, John and Bortus sat. "I'm such a sad sack. I fell for a fantasy and wound up with an enemy of the Union!"
Bortus observed, "you cannot help whom you love!"
Gordon took out his comscanner and pressed some controls, then said, "look at yours," to Alara. She did. Scrolling through the data sent to her she gasped, "is this from Isaac's, uh... ?"
"Yep," John confirmed, nodding. "Extensive list of your likes and dislikes, little reminders of special occasions, things like that. A file that was copied before being deleted and purged from Isaac's system, courtesy of Gordon."
Gordon smiled at her. "It's not like you're a renowned public figure he was trying to butter up. I think he did love you in his way. We also found a file where he was compiling an encrypted list of details, no doubt planning to reveal the Kaylon plot, pretty soon, I guess. He was always monitored under threat of death. Ed said he's going to argue for Isaac based on that list. I guess he's a hero in a way," Gordon conjectured.
"You said it was encrypted; how do you know if it's useful, and how did you figure it would be pretty soon?" Alara asked him.
Gordon raised an eyebrow and told her, "I figured out the password." He smiled at her. "I'm just guessing about when he planned to reveal it."
"How?"
"Uh, I saw it in a dream! It's how I know Isaac has you in a special place in his, uh, memory core." Gordon shrugged.
"Saw what?" Alara demanded to know.
"The date and time of your first get together!"
"I suppose you saw everything else as well," Alara smirked.
"Hey, I couldn't help it. It's not as if I could close my eyes!" Gordon argued.
"How was it?" John asked, chuckling.
"John!" Alara cried out, shaking her head, a little smile forming.
"Hmmm, how would Isaac put it?" Gordon asked, grinning. "Oh, yeah, it was fascinating to witness!"
Even Alara had to laugh at that. Gordon was always there to cheer her up, always there for her...
She looked thoughtful as she gazed at him...