Horatio stiffened at his words. After a moment, he relaxed and spoke over his shoulder. “She walked away from us. There’s a difference.”

As he moved on, Kayros turned to Benedick, clasping his arm. “You’re okay with this?”

To be fair, he hardly seemed to be. “Sorry, Zirani. I wish I could help. But Horatio understands these things better than I do. I trust him.” He gave Zirani a brief, tentative hug, muttered an apology, and moved on.

Ashrafi called out after the receding group. “Yeah, well… there are more things in heaven and earth than you knew well, Horatio! Or however that goes!”

Kayros sighed. “Don’t be too hard on him. You know he always puts his duty to Arcturus first.”

Her human friend grimaced. “Yeah, and peace this and gentleness that. I’m all for peace, but it’s not the same as passivity.”

Ashrafi checked his data slate for updates, but it still displayed little more than interference. “Damn these flares! As if the first time wasn’t bad enough! It’s like the damn things followed us here. Are we cursed, do you think? Are curses a thing?”

She rolled her eyes. His frivolity was wearing thin. “I heard a rumor that they’re connected to Starfleet ship movements somehow. When it comes to Starfleet, all roads lead to Earth sooner or later.”

He glared at her. “And who convinced me to stick with Starfleet when I almost quit, Zirani?”

She paused. “Actually, it was Vekal.”

He was uncharacteristically silent for a few moments. “Do you think he and Targeemos were in there when the Warborn showed up?”

“We haven’t heard from them. I have to think they were.”

“Do you think maybe Vekal can use his Vulcan logic and talk the hostage-takers into laying down their arms?”

They exchanged a horrified stare. “No, you’re right,” Ashrafi said in response to her wordless response. “He’ll probably make it even worse.”

U.S.S. Enterprise

Rajendra Shastri paced the confines of the communications lab like a caged animal. Uhura, who sat at the main console with her favorite receiver nestled comfortably in her ear, couldn’t help noticing that the arc of his pacing tended to keep as much distance between them as possible.

“How long before we get to Earth?” Shastri asked to break the uncomfortable silence.

“About six hours. But we’re not supposed to be thinking about that.” She said it to remind herself as much as him.