Being a Mah’Abeu comes with many privileges, and yet, the responsibilities far outweigh them.I am feared by some, but revered by most.When a delicate problem can’t be resolved, when all other options have been exhausted, only then am I called upon to intervene. I have served humanity and her interests since the day I was born.I’ve done what was required of me.I never expected they could ask for more. UIC TABITHA: TERRAN LRP CRUISER16 HOURS LATER

  Mayvheen sat silently in her quarters.She was waiting to be summoned for her debriefing, a prospect that she was dreading.She knelt on the floor near the foot of her bed, her knees pressing into a small red pillow she had carefully pced there. Reaching under the mattress, she pulled out a bright red cloth bnket she kept hidden away. It wasn't standard-issue. The fabric was softer, and she had to smuggle it in, hidden amongst her other possessions. She pressed it against her chest for a moment, breathing in the faint, recycled scent of the room, before pulling it over her head.Under the weightlessness of the red fabric, the world disappeared. The dimmed LED strips of the cabin were filtered into a soft, crimson glow. She closed her eyes and leaned forward to–"Meow."The small sound pierced her sanctuary. Mayvheen didn't move at first, but the bnket shifted as a small weight leaned against her side."What is it, little one?" she whispered, her voice muffled by the cloth."Meow." It was a sharper, more urgent sound this time.Mayvheen sighed and pulled the bnket down around her shoulders, peering out at the small creature. Cleo sat there, his eyes wide and reflecting the dim light of the room. He looked pleadingly at her."Do you miss your friend?" Mayvheen’s expression softened. "Of course you do. I'm sorry, Cleo."The cat let out a long, pintive cry. When was the st time it had eaten?"Are you hungry?" she asked, "I don’t think I have any food that you would like..."She sighed and stood up, carefully folding the red bnket and tucking it back into its hiding spot. She moved to the wall, tapping the interface for her personal storage modules, and the metal panels slid open with a mechanical hiss.She rummaged through the sparse contents until her fingers brushed against a crinkly wrapper. She pulled it out: a standard-issue protein bar."A protein bar?" She looked at the bel, then down at the cat. "Will you even eat this?"Cleo let out a chirp of curiosity.Mayvheen walked to the centre of the room and knelt again, tearing the wrapper open. The ingredients were mostly chocote-fvoured vitamins. She held a piece out. Cleo didn't hesitate. He rubbed his fnk against her leg before sniffing the bar."Does it smell good? It does?"Cleo took a hesitant bite. He chewed the dense bar like it was toffee, his long tongue darting between his sharp teeth."Good," Mayvheen murmured, watching him swallow and reach for another piece. "At least I know you won’t starve. I have enough to worry about without a hungry stowaway on my conscience."As Cleo finished the snack, his attention shifted. A small, transparent bottle cap had fallen from the storage module earlier, rolling across the deck pting. Cleo’s ears flicked forward.Mayvheen leaned down, watching as the cat crouched, his haunches wiggling in preparation."You can py with the bottle cap if you like," she said with a small smile.Cleo let out a surprised meow before dashing toward the pstic scrap. He jumped clean over it, batting it across the floor with a paw before sliding into a roll. He ended up on his back, casually cwing at the air while the cap skittered away.The sight pulled a genuine ugh from her. She hadn't ughed in days."You remind me of a stray community cat back on Luna," she said, her voice trailing off as she drifted into the memory. "Old Goose."The memory of Luna, of its white spires, felt a lifetime away. She reached out as Cleo trotted back toward her, gently patting him on the head. He stopped, leaning into her hand and purred."There you go," she whispered. "We'll figure this out."A soft, rhythmic knock on the door made her gnce at her bed.Mayvheen jumped, her hand snapping back. "Who is it?""Kiaria," a voice called through the door."Come in!" Mayvheen called, smoothing her uniform and standing quickly.The door swished open, and Doctor Amaya stepped inside."Kiaria! It's good to see you," Mayvheen said, forcing a smile."It’s good to see you, too, Mayvheen. And it's good to have you back on board.""Can I make you some synth-coffee?" Mayvheen asked, moving toward her desk."Perhaps another time," Kiaria replied. She stepped further into the room, her gaze sweeping across the quarters. "This isn't a social visit."Mayvheen’s hands stilled. "Oh...""I just wanted to check in on you to see how you were doing?" Kiaria said.Mayvheen noticed the Doctor’s eyes lingering on the floor, specifically, the spot where the red pillow y. Mayvheen stepped forward, pcing herself between the Doctor and the bed, trying to block the view."I know you haven't been debriefed yet," Kiaria continued, "But I saw the preliminary after-action report. So... how are you doing, really?""I’m–""–Meow!" Cleo interrupted, trotting over to investigate the newcomer.Kiaria turned, her eyes widening as she looked down at the cat. Mayvheen took advantage of the distraction, snagging the red pillow and tossing it onto the bed."I’m doing better, thanks," Mayvheen said. "I was upset. I still am. But I’ve thought about everything. I’ve decided that there wasn't much I could have done differently."Kiaria didn't look up immediately. She was still watching Cleo. "That’s probably true," she said softly. "Is this the animal that belonged to the girl from Khatsey?""Yes. I’ve decided to adopt him."Kiaria finally looked up, her expression unreadable. "Did Captain Malone sign off on that?""We haven't discussed it in person yet," Mayvheen admitted, her shoulders tensing. "But there shouldn't be any issues.""I see." Kiaria nodded slowly. "And have you slept since you returned?""I have. I managed to get a few hours of rest.""Good. Very good." Kiaria hesitated. The silence stretched out, growing awkward. The Doctor’s gaze drifted back to the bed, then to Mayvheen’s face. "Uhm, Mayvheen...""Yes?""You know you can talk to me about anything, right?" Kiaria’s voice had softened. "And anything you tell me is confidential."Mayvheen nodded. "I know.""I’m aware," Mayvheen added when the Doctor didn't look convinced.Kiaria opened her mouth to speak, but stopped. She looked at the door, then back at Mayvheen, a flicker of something– concern? worry? disappointment? –crossing her features."Kiaria, what’s going on?" Mayvheen asked, her voice trembling. "Is there something you aren't telling me?"The Doctor snapped back instantly, a smile appearing on her face. "No. Of course not. It’s nothing."Mayvheen shifted her weight, waiting for the expnation she knew was being withheld.Kiaria offered a small nod. "Well, okay. I’d better go check on Veera as well." She moved toward the door."Thank you, Doctor.""Do come by for a quick checkup after your debriefing?" Kiaria added as the door began to slide open. "Maybe we can have that synth-coffee then.""That would be lovely."The Doctor nodded once and disappeared into the corridor. The door swished shut, sealing the room once more.Mayvheen stood still for a long time. She looked down at Cleo, who was sitting by her feet, looking up with those same wide, searching eyes."Strange," she whispered. Her heart hammered. "What do you think that was about?"Cleo let out a soft meow, but offered no answers. Mayvheen looked at the door, and then at the bed with the pillow and the hidden bnket.Something was wrong. And if Kiaria was afraid to say what it was, then the debriefing was going to be much worse than she had imagined.