Chapter 8

On board Ranger-1, New Mars City Spaceport
Day 212, 2098, 6:49 a.m.

Gaea stepped hesitantly aboard Ranger-1 under Goose's watchful eye. Zach and Niko had already boarded to prep the ship for launch. Doc stood at the hatch, smiling gently.
"Welcome aboard Ranger-1, Gaea," he said. "This is GV. He's our onboard AI." He indicated a dataport station in the airlock. The AI's blue and green eyeball icon bobbed in acknowledgement. "GV, this is Gaea. She's sort of a VIP, so take good care of her, all right?"
"How do you do, Ma'am?" GV greeted her in his cheerful way. "I look forward to serving you."
Gaea blinked. "Thanks," she mumbled, looking at the deck. "Um- nice to meet you."
Goose touched her elbow, touched by her shyness. "I can show you a place to stow your bag."
She nodded, and Doc's voice floated after them as Goose led her out of the airlock and into a long corridor. "Okay, GV, final pre-launch-" The sound of the familiar ritual faded as they headed aft.
Gaea followed Goose down the corridor to a hatch, which opened into a long compartment with four seats. "Nav Bay," he told her, nodding toward the port. She stepped through the hatch, gaze fixed on the rocky Martian landscape.
"Never been out before?" he asked, guessing at the reason for the fascination in her gaze.
She tore her eyes away from the bright vista and looked at him, shaking her head. "It's expensive. I never had the money."
Niko's image blinked onto the screen in front of the forward set of chairs. "Goose, we're ready for takeoff. Are you secure back there?"
"One minute, please, Niko."
"All right, Goose. Countdown starting." The screen went dark.
Goose opened a cargo bin and gestured for Gaea to stow her bag inside. She set it down hesitantly. He shut the bin and showed her how the lock worked.
"You can get it out any time you want as long as we're not taking off or landing, but just remember it's better not to have unsecured stuff lying around on board. We need to strap in now." He gestured toward the forward pair of the four seats. "Take your pick."
She hesitated again, glanced at him and the stations, and then chose the left-hand seat and busied herself with straps and buckles. Goose settled into the station at her right and strapped in with the automatic ease of long practice. He glanced over and saw that she'd gotten the buckles fastened and was now fidgeting with the straps. At his look she hastily dropped her hands into her lap and folded them neatly. Sitting very still, she draw a slow breath that quivered audibly. He looked more sharply at her, concern rising again.
"You okay?"
She nodded, refusing to meet his eyes. He searched her face for a moment, but unlike her nervous hands her controlled features offered no clue to her state of mind. Niko's image appeared on the screen again.
"Twenty seconds."
"We're ready, Niko," Goose said. "We sent out the report to Captain Dansky yet?"
Niko's lips twitched as she stifled a smile. "Zach just got off the comm with him. I don't think he was satisfied with our explanation, but he agreed to wait for the rest of the information until after we're back at BETA."
Goose caught Niko's glance over at Gaea and noted from the corner of his eye that the girl kept her eyes glued to her lap.
The hatch slid open and Doc stepped through, quickly seated himself behind Gaea, and strapped in.
"Five seconds," Zach's voice came from offscreen. "Doc, you in Nav?"
"Ay-firmative, Captain," came the cheerful answer.
Niko touched a switch. "New Mars Spaceport, we are go for takeoff in three, two, one-"
Liftoff was smooth. Goose reached out and touched the data station keypad, thinking Gaea would enjoy watching the forward view of their ascent, and suddenly the screen switched from Niko's face to a view of the Martian sky, spread above them like vibrant cloth. He smiled gently at her rapt expression as Ranger-1 flung itself away from the surface of the planet.
Out of the frying pan... Goose sighed, feeling some of the tension draining out of him, and Gaea turned her head curiously. He returned her glance and quirked up one corner of his mouth.
"That much closer to getting you out of this mess," he said quietly.
To his dismay, he saw suddenly that Gaea's eyes had filled with tears. She blinked furiously, stared down at her lap and shivered. A teardrop plopped softly into her lap, followed closely by another. Okay, this is bad.
They cleared Mars' atmosphere, and a moment later Goose said quietly over his shoulder, "Doc, would you excuse us?"
Doc paused briefly, looking a little startled, before answering easily, "Sure, my Goose man. No problem." His seatbelt clicked, and his gaze, compassionate and a little sad, rested on Gaea's bowed head as he rose. Goose caught Gaea looking obliquely toward Doc before he stepped through the hatch and it closed behind him.
Goose laid a hand on her arm and felt her shivering. "Gaea," he said gently, "what's wrong?"
"I'm scared," she admitted in a small voice.
"I don't blame you. I'd be afraid too. You've been on your own a long time, haven't you?"
"I-"
The hatch hissed open again. Niko stood framed there, hesitant. They both looked up at her, and Gaea hurriedly scrubbed at her face.
"Gaea, I'd like to talk with you," Niko said softly. "You can have Goose here or not, as you like." She stepped into the Nav Bay, and the door hissed shut behind her.
Gaea sniffled and drew a couple of deep breaths to steady her voice. "What about?"
"As you've already discovered, I have psi powers, just as you do. Zachary has asked me to evaluate your abilities so that we can-"
Gaea went rigid, fighting to control her breathing. Compassion flitted across Niko's face.
"-better help you and give a more thorough report to our commander. Are you willing to answer some questions about that?"
Gaea closed her eyes briefly, obviously trying calm herself. Niko moved gracefully across the Nav Bay toward the younger woman and squatted down next to her, waiting until Gaea was ready before speaking again.
"It's all right to be afraid, Gaea," she said. "But you know that none of us will ever hurt you, or let you be hurt if we can possibly help it."
Inwardly Goose smiled. That's our Niko.
Gaea nodded, and Niko smiled.
"All right, let's rotate your seat so you can face me," she said, suiting actions to words, "and make sure you're comfortable." Goose rotated his own seat to bring it back in line with Gaea's, and Niko flickered a wry look at him before turning her attention back to the girl. "Does anything need adjustment? No? All right." Niko sat opposite Gaea and settled back into the chair. "To save you having to do this again, Gaea, I'd like to record this session."
Gaea tensed again and Niko raised a hand in a placating gesture. "It's just for our commander; he'll want some kind of record of your abilities, and this means you won't have to demonstrate like a trained parrot." A wry half-smile flickered across the auburn-haired Ranger's lips.
Gaea took a deep breath and nodded again.
"Thank you, Gaea. GV, begin recording." Niko pulled a small datapad from her belt and made a notation on it.
"Yes, Ma'am," the AI responded.
"Please repeat your name, age and address and give consent for this session to be recorded," Niko requested.
Gaea licked her lips. "I'm- my name is Gaea. I don't have a last name, I don't think. Or an address. Now. Um- I'm 17 years-"
"GV, pause," Niko cut in, glancing over at Goose with a look of dismay. "Shane..."
I was expecting this. He threw up his hands. "What are we going to do, Niko, call her mommy? I don't think 'underage' really applies here."
Niko sat still for a moment before sighing lightly. "GV, resume. Gaea, please state your age again."
"I'm 17."
"Legally we are required to have your parent or guardian here unless you have applied for, and been granted, legal adult status."
"Um... I don't have any parents, or a guardian. And I've been taking care of myself since I was seven years old, except for Maggie."
"Maggie?" Goose straightened, interest piqued again.
Gaea smiled sadly. "She found me when I was, oh, 11 or 12, I think. I was living in a ventilation shaft where she worked. She took care of me so I didn't have to scrounge for food or a place to sleep any more. She called me Lily."
"How can we contact her?" Niko asked. Gaea shook her head.
"She died a few years ago. She was sick for a long time, something to do with the place she worked, I think. She taught me to sew." Gaea straightened, and for the first time Goose heard pride in her voice.
"And what did you do then?" Niko asked. Gaea met her eyes.
"I got fake papers and went to Mars. And I took care of myself. I got a job - it wasn't much, I just cleaned buildings, but I had my own apartment."
"So you've essentially been living as an adult for the past two years?" Goose put in.
"Yeah, I guess."
Niko looked across at Goose, her eyes uncertain. He shrugged and gave her his best Hell-if-I-know look. She sighed and returned her gaze to the younger woman. "I'm not sure what your legal status is, Gaea," Niko confessed, "but with your consent I'd like to continue. Is that all right?"
Gaea shrugged, eyes fixed on the floor. "Yeah, I guess."
"Thank you." Niko paused as if to gather her thoughts and then nodded to herself. "Gaea, I'd like to start by hearing about the history of your abilities. When did they surface?"
Gaea blinked. "Um- I guess I don't remember."
"Can you remember the first time you used your abilities?"
"I... guess I remember waking up from a bad dream and Ma-, um, Mira was there and she already knew what the dream was about. I can't even remember myself, maybe falling. She told me it was all right. She said, "I'll c-catch you." Gaea looked away as tears once again filled her eyes. She sniffled.
"Do you know how old you were?" Niko asked, busying herself with her datapad and ignoring the tears.
"Um... maybe three? She- I wasn't four yet," Gaea said, and at the pain in her voice Goose shifted his weight in dismayed sympathy.
Niko nodded. "So you think your telepathy was active as early as three years of age?" Her eyes flicked to Goose, holding a hint of something he couldn't immediately decipher, and then back to Gaea's face.
"I guess."
"Good. Now, do you remember the first time you consciously Touched someone else?"
"Not much older, I guess. He made me practice all the time, Listening and Sending. And moving things. He made me start with pencils and little weights, but I got bored. I-"
Gaea's voice choked off, and a sound emerged from her throat that shriveled Goose's heart inside him. In an instant he was out of his seat and crouching next to her. Her eyes were huge, terrified.
"Gaea, what's wrong?" Worry creased Niko's forehead, and she leaned forward slightly.
Gaea burst into tears.
"GV, pause," Niko said calmly, and then she leaned forward to touch the fingertips of one hand to Gaea's temple, stroking lightly. "It's all right," Niko whispered. "It's all right." She kept up the gentle motion of her fingers, stroking Gaea's forehead and hair, as the girl regained control of her emotions.
"I'm sorry," Gaea hiccuped. "I don't know what's wrong with me." Goose fumbled in his pocket and offered her his handkerchief; she took it and swiped at her eyes before blowing her nose. "Thank you." She took two deep breaths and settled herself.
Niko leaned back in her chair. "Gaea, can you tell me why you're crying?"
She shook her head. "I'm not sure. I just keep hearing his, Latham's voice in my head, with all those rules, never this, never that, over and over, and I just want it to stop..." She put one hand on her forehead and sniffed again.
Niko's eyes narrowed. She glanced over at Goose. "Shane, did you-" Did they do this to you? her eyes asked.
"Not like this, Niko. Gaea, would you let Niko do a reading on you?" Gaea tensed, and he patted her arm. "I can promise you, Niko doesn't pry. We'd be looking for one specific thing. Okay?"
"Your mind belongs to you, Gaea," Niko added firmly. "I will never read you without your permission. Right now I'm going to use a Gift called psychometry to See into the past."
Slowly Gaea relaxed. "Okay," she whispered. Goose rose to his feet and leaned against the side of her chair, too restless to sit again.
Once again Niko leaned forward and put one hand to Gaea's temple. With the other, the left, she touched the golden badge at her belt. The pale golden glow of Niko's powers surrounded the two of them, and Gaea flinched.
"It's all right, Gaea," Niko said calmly, her eyes closed. "It's just the charge from my Series-5 implant."
The two sat quietly for a few moments. Goose studied them, bathed in golden light: two women, more alike than not, who- He tried to shut the thought off, but it popped up in spite of his efforts. Who are both becoming important to me. He shifted uncomfortably. No way, he thought. Don't go there, Gooseman.
Niko frowned and sat back, opening her eyes. The luminescence dimmed.
"It's hard to be sure," she said slowly, "but Gaea, the vision I saw leads me to believe your mind has been tampered with. Some kind of conditioning was imposed on you."
Gaea tightened her mouth, looking sick.
"I don't believe it could have been terribly strong, though," Niko continued. "You were able to choose freedom for yourself and make an independent life. Do you often find yourself getting upset when you think about these rules?"
"Y-yeah." Gaea swallowed hard. "I always just thought it was b-bad memories."
Niko looked compassionately at her. "I think we can help you overcome that conditioning eventually. Do you think you can continue, or do you need to stop for a while?"
"No. No. I want to keep going." Her eyes hardened into a look of stubborn determination.
Niko nodded and picked up her datapad again. "So you consciously used your telepathy at the age..."
Goose watched in appreciation as skillfully, gently, Niko led Gaea through the questions: when, how, for what purpose she had used her abilities, how strong they seemed to be, how difficult she found it to use them.
"So you don't remember a time when your telepathy wasn't active," Niko summed up, eyes flickering up and down her notes. "The psychokinesis manifested at age four, when your foster mother was out of the room and you wanted a toy from a shelf. You have practiced these skills fairly consistently from the time they manifested-"
"Except when the headaches came," Gaea cut in, and blinked in surprise. "I forgot about that," she added slowly, an odd expression crossing her face. "Why did I forget about it?"
Niko glanced sharply up at her. "Headaches? When did you begin having them? Do you still get them?"
"No, no, not since I was little," she answered. "Um... I don't think I ever got them when I lived with... Mira. I remember having to take a lot of medicine after the car accident. It tasted bad and I cried a lot."
"Did you sustain a head injury in the crash?" Niko asked, eyes intent.
"Nooo... I was fine. I wasn't even scratched, just-" Tears welled up again, and she dashed them away impatiently. "I cried for weeks after he took me away and told me Mama was dead. I mean Mira."
"It's all right, Gaea," Goose said very softly. "It's all right for you to call her that."
She stared at her lap, getting hold of her emotions.
"Well, um... The headaches. I guess they started after the crash. I just remember horrible pain in my head - and all the pills. Some of them were hard to swallow for a little kid, but they made me."
"Do you know what kind of pills they were?" Niko asked.
"No. I think some of them were just painkillers or vitamins." She laughed suddenly. "I forgot the vitamins. They were somebody's idea of fruit flavored. But some of the pills were odd colors, green or grey or pink, a really bright pink sort of gel tablet."
Goose tensed. Pink pills. "Those pink pills - Gaea, do you remember how you felt after you took them?"
She blinked and looked up at him. "Well- no, not really."
"Did your behavior change during that time?" he asked.
"Well, of course it did," she said impatiently. "I hated the place, I was miserable and I cried all the time."
"More temper tantrums? Outbursts of temper or aggressiveness?" he pressed.
"Goose?" Niko asked softly.
He sank back into the chair next to Gaea. "Genetic enabling factor," he said heavily. "They used it to activate and enhance the special features built into the Supertroopers' genetic structure. I... quit taking it. I didn't need it, and I didn't like how it made me feel and act."
Gaea stared at him. "You're talking about a mutagen," she said, once again looking sick to her stomach.
They stared at her.
"Well, you don't have to look like that," she said impatiently. "I learned all kinds of stuff there. I could play chess by the age of five. I learned math and physics. I even had biology and physiology, with an emphasis on diseases and congenital defects. Can you guess why?" Her voice rang with bitterness. "I didn't put it all together for a long time after."
Goose shook his head, keeping his eyes on her face, but inside he was screaming Oh yes I can guess, those scumsucking bastards...
"I know four ways to cause a stroke," she said woodenly. "I can mimic several kinds of deadly heart conditions and inhibit brainstem activity in a number of ways in humans, Andorians, Kiwi and a couple other species. I-"
Goose's hand closed over hers. "You don't have to," he said quietly. "You don't have to do any of those things."
She stared emptily at him. There was a pause.
"So, Goose," Niko said, "you think the headaches were caused by genetic enabling factor?"
He shrugged. "We'd have to run it by Dr. Nagata to be sure, but that's my best uneducated guess."
Niko made a note and nodded. "Gaea, you've mentioned telepathy and psychokinesis. You used some kind of energy charge, the nature of which you say you don't fully understand, in an attempt to wipe the data chip on Louis Tulley's vidcam. Do you have any other psionic abilities?"
Gaea blinked. "I... sometimes I have dreams about things happening in other places, but they tried testing me and didn't get anything. And I heal quickly."
"How quickly?" Niko asked, writing furiously.
The hish of Niko's boot knife slipping free of its sheath sounded loud in the hush of the Nav bay. Niko yelped and aborted a grab for it, obviously realizing she would only cut her hand. Goose came half out of his seat as the hilt settled into Gaea's hand.
"This clean?" Gaea asked coolly.
"What-" Niko began.
Gaea drew in a breath; on the exhalation she drew the knife sharply across the top of her right forearm. Blood welled from the wide, shallow wound, and her mouth tightened slightly in reaction.
"Gaea!" Goose nearly shouted. "What are you doing?"
"Shh," the young woman said absently, seemingly staring through the wound in her arm. An odd sort of stillness descended over her.
"Goose, be quiet." Niko's voice was soft, but her tone brooked no argument. He was opening his mouth to argue anyway when he saw it.
Gaea's arm was healing. The bleeding slowed and stopped, and Goose stared in shock as he watched the flesh knit from the inside. Barely twenty seconds after the cut had been inflicted, the skin closed, leaving only a thin pink line that faded and was gone moments later.
Rousing, Gaea wiped the blade on the handkerchief Goose had given her and offered the hilt to Niko.
"Thank you," she said. "I didn't think you'd give it to me if I asked."
Niko took the blade and sheathed it. "You were right. That was rash."
Gaea shrugged. "Yeah, probably. It's harder to do that with serious wounds. I got burned really badly once, and it took a lot longer. And I can't do it on other people, really. But did that tell you how fast?"
"Yes, Gaea." Niko rolled her eyes briefly. "Thank you. Do you have any other surprises for us?"
Gaea hunched her shoulders, looking suddenly embarrassed. "No."
"Is there anything else I should know for my initial report on your abilities or your background?"
Gaea seemed to shrink into her seat. "No," she almost whispered. "I don't think so."
"Gaea, it's all right. You did very well," Niko told her gently. "Thank you very much." She cocked her head slightly. "We'll be arriving at BETA soon. How does a hot shower, a change of clothes and a square meal sound? You can have them in any order you like."
"Thank you," Gaea mumbled.
Niko rose. "I'm going to go prepare my report. Goose, I think Zachary wants to speak with you before we set down."
"Sure." He shrugged. "Now?"
Niko indicated Gaea with a sidelong glance. "Why don't you give it about ten more minutes? That gives me time to brief him." She turned gracefully on her heel in a swirl of auburn hair and cycled the hatch. "Thank you again, Gaea," she said over her shoulder. "Perhaps you should try to relax for a few minutes. GV can help you if you need anything."
Goose watched as the hatch closed behind her slender form.

Doc stepped into the cockpit and settled into the co-pilot's seat. He looked over at Zachary from the corner of his eye and caught Zach looking at him. Doc smiled uneasily.
"I guess this thing has us both a little on edge," Zachary said.
"Well, gee, Captain, I can't imagine why," Doc answered with a wink. "We've just uncovered evidence of a black ops project that someone's apparently willing to kill over and we're on our way back to Earth to try and expose it. What's to be nervous about?"
Zach shook his head. "I just hope we're doing the right thing."
"Amen to that, Captain," Doc agreed, his voice unwontedly serious. Zachary turned back to his screen, his brows lowering in thought.
They traveled in silence for a while, watching the red-streaked darkness of hyperspace flow silently past the hull of their ship like currents on a river. Doc's mind drifted to projects he had in progress, ran through the conversation he'd had with Q-Ball a few weeks ago about AI neuroses, and settled finally on the matter of Goose's recent behavior.
It was no mystery to Doc just where the younger Ranger had been snooping; when you knew, logically, what someone might be looking for and were a better hacker to boot, whatever dirty laundry there was to see got aired, if only on the screen of your own terminal. Doc, no stranger to ugly deals and uglier coverups, had shaken his head in sympathetic dismay over the things he'd found, but Goose's reactions had caused him more than a little concern. Not cool, my Goose man. The smoldering rage Goose had tried unsuccessfully to conceal from his teammates had nearly landed them all in a major heap of unhappy, especially once Commander Walsh had gotten involved.
Not that I blame him. I'd be pissed off, too, if someone was treating me and my relatives like disposable people.
Zach shifted in his seat, and Doc turned to find his commanding officer watching him.
"This case is upsetting Gooseman," Zachary said. "You have any thoughts you want to share?"
"What about, Zach?" Doc asked. "I have thoughts about all kinds of stuff." As a chill came into his captain's eyes, he hastily added, "This bugs me too. I think the whole Supertrooper angle gets to him."
"You believe her story?" Zach asked, obviously trying for an even tone.
"Well..." Doc temporized. "It's true she has no records at all. It's obviously true she's got some funky abilities. And she sure seems scared. Plus there's those three men Goose intercepted. All stacks up to something pretty suspicious, Captain. If you don't buy what she says, what do you think is the truth?"
"I don't know, Doc, but I aim to find out," Zach answered, and at the stubborn set of his chin Doc had to hold back a smile.
The hatch opened and Niko stepped through. As it closed behind her, she leaned back against it and pressed a hand to her face with a sigh, datapad held against her body like a tiny shield.
Zach came half out of his seat. "Niko...?" he asked, his face filling with anxiety. Doc rose and stepped aside.
"I'm okay, just tired." Niko stepped forward and sank into the seat Doc had just vacated with a grateful smile in his direction. "Zach, that young woman needs our help. Badly."
"What have you got for me, Niko?" Zach asked.
She opened the datapad and ticked down the screen. "Telepathy, psychokinesis, limited self-healing, possible noncontrolled clairvoyance on the subconscious level, and whatever it was she did to Louis Tulley's vidcam." She took a deep breath and looked up at him. "And someone has tampered with her mind. She's emotionally unstable, Zachary. She needs help."
"Great." Doc groaned. "Just what we need. An emotionally unstable Supertrooper with big-time psi powers."
Zach frowned at him. "Recommendations, Niko?"
"I don't think she's dangerous, Zach. Remember that she lived in hiding for two years on Mars without causing any trouble. It wasn't until someone attacked her that she used her abilities. And Goose seems to have developed a rapport with her. He's been able to help her calm herself on more than one occasion. I'd recommend letting that continue. She seems to have had very few positive relationships in her life."
Zach nodded thoughtfully. "Did you record the interview?"
"GV, play record, pilot's auxiliary screen."
The three Rangers watched in silence as Niko's interview with Gaea played itself out. Doc winced in sympathy more than once, unable to stop himself from shaking his head.
Oh man, someone has really done a number on that kid.
The record ended, and Zachary sat back in his seat. "You saw evidence of mental conditioning, Niko - like some kind of programming? You're sure?"
Niko rubbed her forehead lightly. "It seemed to have happened a long time ago, but it's there, Zachary. I'm sure of it."
The hatch cycled again, and Goose stepped into the cockpit.
"You wanted to talk to me, Captain?"
Doc groaned inwardly as the tension level rose a notch. Zach nodded. "Doc, Niko, would you please head back to the Nav Bay to keep an eye on our... guest?"
Niko stood again, and she and Doc turned to go.

Goose stood at parade rest as his teammates quietly left the bridge. Zach watched him for a moment, considering.
"You've been tense lately, Gooseman. What's on your mind?"
Goose held quite still, but Zach could see his mind racing behind the calm mask of his face. "Nothing work related, Captain," he answered finally.
"Well, maybe not, but when it starts affecting your work, I start getting concerned. And judging from what I've seen on this mission, I think it may be time to get concerned."
Goose stiffened slightly. "I don't know what you're talking about, Zach."
Damn stubborn-
Zachary resisted the urge to grind his teeth. "Gooseman, I know you don't like what we're doing. Your objections have been noted - and now I expect you to do your job."
The blond Ranger stiffened again. "This stinks, Captain!" he snapped, voice rising at every word. "We're all full of talk, but you know damn well we can't do a damn thing about it if they decide to walk up and just take Gaea wherever the hell they feel like!" He finished at a shout, green eyes blazing in rage.
Zachary stood very tall and looked levelly at his youngest Ranger with cold blue eyes.
"Are you done, Ranger Gooseman?"
Zachary barely got his arm up in time. The force of Goose's fist as Zachary caught it in the palm of his bionic hand rocked Zach's entire frame. Gently he lowered the younger man's unresisting arm to his side and let go.
"You're taking this personally, aren't you?" he asked quietly, and nearly winced at the stricken look in Goose's eyes.
"Sit down, Gooseman," he said gently.
Goose sat.
"Look, Goose," Zach said, sinking into his own chair, "you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. But I need you to do your job and do it right. I need to know I can trust you and that you trust me. The day we don't trust one another is the day we might as well turn in our badges." He reached out a hand to gently clasp Goose's forearm. "I don't pretend to understand what this case means to you. But I'm asking you as your commanding officer and your friend to set aside your personal feelings and do what we've got to do."
Elbows on knees, Goose leaned his forehead on the heels of his hands and dug his fingers into his hair as he stared at the floor.
"I don't- I can't-" he said, his voice barely audible, and stopped.
"We'll be warping out in about ten minutes, Goose," Zachary said quietly. "Go sit by yourself for a bit."
Goose rose and turned to go. "Captain, I-" he started, pausing with his back to Zach. The hatch opened.
"It's all right, Gooseman. Go on."
Zach watched Goose as he stepped through the opening, body tense and head bowed, and strode away down the corridor. The hatch slid shut, and Zach sighed and toggled the comm.
"Doc, please return to the cockpit for landing prep."
"Aye, Captain."
Zachary Foxx stared down at his hands on the control board and leaned back in his seat, eyes closing in weariness.
Eliza... I miss you.