Rostov paused by the door, his shoulders sagging, and not just from the artificial gravity.

“Ruth, are you in there?” he called out, as he repeatedly pressed the call button. There was no answer. “Ruth, I know you’re in there. Let me in. We need to talk.”

“Go away!” came the response.

“Lieutenant, I am ordering you to open this door,” Rostov said. Strictly speaking, he couldn’t actually order her to do that, but at this point he felt he had no other choice.

The Chief Engineer did not respond, but she opened her door. The Captain walked in, slowly and carefully.

She was sitting on a chair in the middle of her quarters, staring at a blank wall.

“Ruth, we have to talk about your little outburst in the conference room,” Rostov said, trying to keep his tone as gentle as possible.

“Do we?” she said. It was obvious that she had been crying.

“Yes, I’m afraid so. Now, I understand that the shock of discovering what happened to the Ke’ea has affected everyone, myself included. I’d be lying to you right now if I said I wasn’t at all scared. But it’s important that everybody stay professional right now, especially when dealing with emissaries from other alien races. Despite your strong feelings on the subject, it might have been better to have kept them hidden.”

“Oh, I know all about keeping feelings hidden inside, Captain,” Fischer said. “I’m an engineer, remember? All my life I’ve kept my emotions under control, under difficult situations, even under normal ones. It’s become a way of life for me.” She turned around and faced the Captain for the first time. “Look at the way I treat the engines! I give them far more understanding and encouragement than any human being.”

“Ruth, I…”

“And what has it gotten me? Here we are, all alone against a threat that has decimated two, no—three! of the most powerful species in our Galaxy. It’s all going to mean nothing, we’re all going to die, humanity will be wiped out, and I… I never even…”

Rostov put his hand on the Chief’s shoulder and kneeled down next to her. “We’re not going to die, Ruth. Whatever happens, whatever we’re thrown up against, I will not let this ship be destroyed. You have my personal guarantee on that.”

Fischer looked up slowly, her eyes red with tears. “Thank you, Captain,” she said. “I’m sorry for what I did. Please, if you
could just stay here a few minutes more…”

“Of course,” Rostov replied softly. “I’ll stay as long as you like.”