During a quiet evening shift, after his promotion but before the Rabid Pelican arrived at the Cloud, Mwezi sat in his chair, quietly staring at a Padd.

“Dearest Shilo and Kula. I wish I could tell you everything in person. I wish you didn’t have to live thinking… but never mind that. I spend every night reaching out to you with my soul, hoping you’ll feel my love for you despite the lightyears of distance between us. You know how I promised that after this tour on the Asimov, I’d spend some time with you? Maybe I’d come home for a while? I’m not sure if that’ll happen now. I’ve been promoted to Executive Officer. A position I never thought I’d hold. It’s too bizarre. But the Captain couldn’t promote any of the senior officers, and didn’t feel comfortable bringing asking for new blood given the… situation. So, here I am. XO of a pirate ship. What a sentence. I don’t have much to say about it other than a portion of the crew is not particularly fond of me. Most of the Senior Staff, to be honest. I don’t know how they’ll ever explain all this… I’m not entirely sure what you think of what’s happened… What the Federation and News have reported on our sudden turn to piracy. I have to hope you know me well enough to know the truth without it being told to you. I love you both more than I can describe, and my hearts beat in anticipation of seeing you again when all this is over. Yours, Promised and given freely, Mwezi.”

Mwezi stared at the letter for several long minutes, then slowly tapped the delete button, wiping the text from existence forever. No use writing a letter he couldn’t send. He let out a long breath.

Mwezi, XO