V’alura had arrived about three days ago. It was still weird for Solal, it made her feel like more of a person to have her there in person, and made the fact he had a sister feel more real. Emotions he was still avoiding. He had slept most of yesterday, he hadn’t felt well. It felt like the fatigue was getting worse again. It was something he should expect, and yet, still didn’t. He kept hoping he’d simply get better. What a human idea that was.

Of course, as it became more and more difficult to meditate he was becoming more human in his behaviors as his emotions became more difficult to control. It was visually evident as such upon a quick look around his quarters: the noticeable dent in his work desk, the candles he used for meditation slammed forcefully on the counter, instead of set in the drawer in which they belonged, and his blankets and sheets, instead of being neatly made, were tossed haphazardly into the corner of the bed. A combination of his meds and his illness left his appetite lacking, and that meant the small area for prepping food or drinks in his quarters, looked untouched in the last few days, though he had been seen in the galley, so he must have been at least trying.

Today was another off day. He felt like he’d slept too much lately, yet at the same time felt drained of every bit of energy. So he had decided to use some of his seemingly endless free time on something he had not done in a very long time. He sat curled up on the edge of the bed, one of the blankets from his bed wrapped around him, facing the screen of a PaDD as though it were a TV, a movie playing on the screen. Solal gave a little cough as he watched. He didn’t expect anyone. No one typically visited his quarters, and it was only 1400, well before he’d have to try and eat again. At present, the movie’s main character appeared across the screen, instantly recognizeable to most from the planet Earth: Batman.

~ Lt Solal