*Log-in: Starnet HoloMail Inbox 096-B31-098-K232—Michael Sorenson*

*New Holo Message Created*

*Visual Feed: Enabled*

*Recipient: Teal Sorenson; Link #098-A34-013-K112; Location: Iolanthe*

*Subject: Hey*

*Recording: On*

[Fidgets]

[Clears throat]

Hey, Teal. It’s been a while. But then, chances are you’ll never see this, so I guess it doesn’t really matter anymore.

[Silence: 34 seconds]

[Drums fingers and taps foot]

I sent you a few messages earlier, but none of them made it. They all came back undeliverable. Same with the links. It’s the quarantine, I guess. Nothing goes in, nothing comes out.

[Looks down]

[Drums fingers a few times, then looks up again]

They’ve put me on leave—not optional. Told me I should take some time off, kick back, see my family. [Laughs] See my family, isn’t that a hoot? With Mom on some ship somewhere and Dad gone to the stars, and now you—

[Long pause]

You know, when Mittag told me what happened to Iolanthe, about the Spectres invading and the net dropping, there was a moment in there when I thought, “That’s it. She’s gone. I’ll never see her ever again.” And suddenly it all seemed so deficient. All this time, I’ve never had the words, and now that I have the words, my time has run out.

[Sets jaw, stares into the camera]

But then I realized: This is my sister. This is Teal—the smartest, bravest, most determined person in the galaxy. Mittag is acting like you’re already dead, but he doesn’t know you. He doesn’t know my sister will never go down without a fight. So you know what? I will see you again. I don’t know when, and I don’t know where, but I will see you again. I have to believe that.

So you hang in there. Keep fighting down there, and I’ll keep fighting up here, and one day soon, we’ll see each other again. I promise. I know I haven’t always kept my promises, but I’ll keep this one. I’ll see you again, and . . .

[Short pause]

I miss you.

[Silence: 26 seconds]

*Recording: Off*

*Message Status: Saved*