6. The Chair #7
But Reyna had not.
"What is this?" Reyna asked the pilot after handing her a transmission sealed with Jere's Chief crew seal.
"To be honest, Captain, I'm not sure," the pilot said, a bit embarrassed.
"I'm hoping whatever is in that transmission may shed some light on why I woke, on board the shuttle, lightyears away from Earth, holding this with Chief Larrothi's seal along with a request to hand it to you personally as soon as I land. "
Reyna took the transmission. "Thank you, pilot. I shall relay anything to you if it is deemed important."
"Thank you, Captain."
Reyna left the shuttle bay and made her way to Elena's office.
Elena's office. Even though she was acting captain, she still couldn't release the hold that space had on her and how it was Elena's, not hers.
In fact, she still hadn't sat in the chair behind the desk.
Even now, she stood at the desk with the transmission in her hands, and opened the message.
There were dried salt stains on the parchment she held. She wasn't used to what material it was. It felt foreign and wrong. She assumed Jere had appropriated it on Earth. But why not just send her a message? Sure, it would take about six hours to get to her, but it would have been faster than this.
After reading it, Reyna knew exactly why he'd use this method to give her a message. She knew Jere had written it because he couldn't have said anything in this letter without breaking.
Rey —
My dearest friend, my sister.
It finally happened, Rey. I found her. She's been here, on Earth, all along.
Maybe this is why I've always been so fascinated with Earth?
Maybe it's because she's been on this planet, waiting for me, just as I've been looking for her.
A soul match on a non-contact planet! What a fucked up situation.
I activated, Rey. I can't believe I'm having to write you this message.
Rey, I won't be coming back. I am so sorry, Reyna.
I know the timing on this is the worst kind of ironic that it's crossed into downright torture.
I know you understand, and that means more to me than anything ever could, but I know that doesn't mean it's okay.
I am so sorry I'm hurting you. That is the one part of this I will never forgive myself for causing.
But Rey, listen to me. Okay? Read these words and hear my voice.
You have a soul match too. I know there is someone out there, waiting for you, just as Maggie (that's her name) has been here waiting for me.
They will find you, or you will find them.
And promise me something, Reyna Solas. Don't you dare shy away from that person that will come into your life.
Don't you dare push them away. Let them find you and become your whole purpose.
Take care of yourself. Be the Captain both I and Elena knew you always had in you.
You have this incredible chance to show the Coalition what you're made of, and you're made of rare stock, Rey.
Carry on with this mission, the mission that wouldn't be here without you.
Sure, Elena had the idea, and I had the instincts, but you are the foundation. It would have gone to shit without you.
Don't give up on the mission because we're not there. Carry it on in our names. Carry it on for you.
I love you. I've always loved you. You are the best family I've ever had a chance to choose.
Bigger than the universe, Rey.
Always,
Jere
He had gone on an Earth mission, the same kind he'd done dozens of times over the many years prior.
Same old, same old with a few weeks on the surface, shapeshifting into human form, then observing and reporting, and coming home with stories about whatever new wonder the humans had invented since the last time he'd been planet-side.
The shuttle was supposed to bring him back today.
Instead, the shuttle had come back with a confused pilot, a sealed transmission, and an empty seat where a Qorrathi should have been.
Reyna read the transmission again.
It finally happened. Reyna knew what it was. She remembered the soul match conversation in Borran's kitchen all those years ago.
"... wherever it activates, I have to go for it. I won't not be able to. You know that, right?"
"I know."
"You promise you won't be angry?"
"Oh, Jere, I'll be furious. But, I'll let you go."
She was furious. But, she would have to let him go.
But why now? Why so soon after Elena went missing?
Why is everyone that matters leaving me?
Be the Captain.
Both Elena and Jere now, the pair of them, from different kinds of distance, were telling her the same thing. Elena from wherever PERS had scattered her, Jere from a blue planet where a woman had pulled him out of the stars and into a life he couldn't refuse.
You have a soul match too. I know there is someone out there, waiting for you...
Reyna set the transmission down on the desk. She pressed her palms flat against the surface and stood there, breathing slowly while the ship hummed around her, and somewhere on the other side of the galaxy, the last person who called her "Rey" began to build a life she could never be part of.
Bigger than the universe.
Their phrase. Jere's ridiculous, self-appointed, unilaterally declared phrase that Elena had pretended didn't make sense and Reyna had pretended to tolerate, the phrase that all three of them had carried like a secret handshake.
They had created their own shorthand for the love they'd built, where it all started at a table that nobody else could see why mattered.
Reyna left the office and began walking, not really knowing where she wanted to go. Eventually, she was standing in front of Borran's kitchen, deciding to go in.
Borran was there and watched her walk in. Reyna had never been shy to admit that Borran seemed to have special powers. And tonight was no different.
Borran sighed heavily behind the counter, pulled out a setting for one place - one plate, one drink - and set it down on the counter in front of him.
This counter used to hold three settings, with the kitchen filled with raucous laughter and sentimental confessions. But then, Elena disappeared, and the settings went down to two.
Now, it only held one. Borran patted the counter next to the setting. So Reyna walked over, climbed onto the stool, and sat. Borran set a plate of food down in front of her, and as she looked at the food, she just didn't have it in her to eat it. Not now.
Borran didn't leave her. He stood at the counter, working dough once again with his six-fingered hands, and stayed with her. And though no words were exchanged, it made it possible for Reyna to stave off the loneliness she knew was creeping in.