Message Standby

“Message?” she said out loud, wondering what that meant.

All at once, the screen filled with the words:

Message 3 of 6. Active.

Playing Resumed.

which then disappeared, and were replaced with the image of the Andorian male Hoshi had seen before. This was Theera’s message, Hoshi realized instantly. The one she’d interrupted playback of.

The man started talking.

“… understand you at all anymore, R’shee,” he said. “You don’t seem like the same person.”

He wore the uniform of an Andorian soldier, with markings on it that made Hoshi think he was an officer of some kind.

He took a deep breath, and leaned forward in his chair, leaned closer to the viewer.

“Why haven’t you responded to my last few messages? Have I offended you in some way? Please tell me. Please talk to me.” He spoke in a calm, almost matter-of-fact tone that belied his words-but the depth of emotion he felt was plain to see in his eyes. “Remember the plans we had made? I still- “

Enough, Hoshi thought. This was none of her business.

“Stop,” she said out loud, and the terminal went to black.

It seemed as if she wasn’t the only one having a hard time getting through to Theera.

It seemed as if the task Elder Green had laid before her was going to be even more difficult than she’d thought at first.