When Andira withdrew, breaking their link, Ekatya felt as if something had been physically ripped away from her. She wondered if it was because this had been her first Sharing involving direct contact with an empath’s emotions, but when she straightened and saw the sad smile on Andira’s face, she suspected the real cause was simpler than that. Their friendship might be young, but it went deeper than almost any other in her life, and she was already missing it.
She watched Lhyn throw herself into Andira’s arms and reflected on the irony of the situation. She’d come here because of Lhyn, and now she was leaving for the same reason.
But they were not leaving as the same people, were they?
Andira had lost her reticence when it came to hugs and embraced Lhyn tightly, closing her eyes as they held each other for the last time. Then Lhyn whispered something in Andira’s ear and kissed her cheek.
Andira’s eyes popped open, a look of such shock in them that Ekatya nearly laughed. Apparently, while hugs might be all right now, kisses were still culturally awkward. Too bad for the Lancer that she was going to get another one.
Lhyn let her go and said, “Ekatya, will you walk her out? I’m not really up to it.”
“Of course.”
Lhyn squeezed Andira’s hand. “Thank you for everything. And this isn’t good-bye. We’ll come back as soon as we can.”
“I’m counting on that,” Andira said. “Alsea won’t be the same without you.” She held Lhyn’s hand for a long moment before letting it go and meeting Ekatya’s eyes. “Shall we?”
It was a quiet walk to the lift. After the emotional intimacy of that last Sharing, there didn’t seem to be anything left to say. Colonel Micah was also subdued when they collected him, and no one spoke as they returned to the nearly empty shuttle bay.
“Micah,” Andira said when they reached the shuttle’s ramp, “I’d like a moment with Captain Serrado.”
“Of course.” He stepped up to Ekatya. “Captain, it has been a very great pleasure. And if I live until Fahla brings us home, I will never forget the sight of you shouting down the war council like an instructor with a batch of new trainees. It was the treat of a lifetime.”
She clasped his outstretched arm. “I have to admit it was rather satisfying. But there are certain things an outsider can get away with more easily.”
“You’re not such an outsider anymore. Farewell, and may Fahla guide you back to us.”
“Farewell, Colonel. Let me know if your war council needs more training; I’ll see if I can’t return sooner.”
He nodded and made his way up the ramp, where the pilot waited to settle him into his harness. Ekatya watched him go, rolling his final words around in her head. She suspected that from a man like Colonel Micah, being considered “not an outsider” was a high compliment indeed.
When she turned back, Andira was no longer making any effort to hide her sorrow. The look in her eyes brought up the lump that Ekatya had been swallowing ever since their Sharing had ended.
“You get used to saying good-bye in this job,” Ekatya said. “But in this case, it’s not helping.”
“I’ve never had to get used to it. Nor would I want to acquire any expertise. This is…” She trailed off, the consummate politician for once at a loss for words.
“Hard to believe I once wanted to kill you.” Ekatya smiled at the surprised laugh that elicited.
“You did a terrible job of it.”
“And thank your Fahla for that. I’d have lost one of my best friends and never even known it.”
Andira’s expression stilled. “I’m losing one of my best friends right now. But I know it all too well.”
“You’re not losing me. You know I’ll come back.”
“In my line of work, promises don’t always mean much.”
“Mine do,” Ekatya said firmly. “And even if I didn’t have my own incentives to come back, Lhyn would drag me here.”
“True words.” Andira managed a ghost of a smile. “Fahla knew what she was doing when she made you tyrees. She brought us the only people who could have saved us.”
“I think you saved yourselves. Lhyn put it pretty well when she said I saved Blacksun, but you saved your world.”
Andira reached out for her hand, lacing their fingers together. She studied their clasped hands for several seconds before looking up with the most open expression Ekatya had ever seen on her.
“I hadn’t planned to say this, and part of me is still convinced I shouldn’t. But I underestimated Lhyn, and if you hear it at all, it should be from me. Ekatya…had you not been tyree, I would never have let you leave without doing my best to share more than emotions.”
She should have been surprised, but some part of her had already known. Tightening her grip, she said, “Had I not been tyree, you would have succeeded.”
They stared at each other for a moment before Ekatya pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek. She held on for a long time, until she was certain she’d pushed the tears back down. Letting go at last, she said, “Good-bye, my friend. For now.”
“For now,” Andira answered hoarsely. She stepped back, stiffened her posture, and thumped a fist to her chest. Then she turned and walked up the ramp without a backward glance.
Ekatya did not leave until the shuttle was out of sight.
In her quarters she found Lhyn in front of the viewport, looking down at the planet. Without a word, she crossed the room and wrapped an arm around her waist.
“Did she tell you?” Lhyn asked.
“Yes. Which explained why you didn’t walk her out. And why she wouldn’t let down her blocks in our Sharings.”
“She’s so lonely, Ekatya. I wanted her to have at least that much with you. I could feel it, during that last connection.”
“I felt it too, but I didn’t recognize it. You seem to be better at that than I am.”
“No, I just know what it feels like to be in love with you.”
Ekatya turned and kissed her. Maybe there was something left over from their last Sharing, because she could have sworn she felt a little jolt of electricity when their lips met.
“She saluted me before she left,” she said. “I’ve never seen her salute anyone.”
“Because she doesn’t. The Lancer salutes no one. But I guess the Savior of Blacksun is in a different category.”
“So is Andira Tal.”
Lhyn made no answer except to hold her more tightly. Past her shoulder, Ekatya watched the blue and white beauty of Alsea and imagined a tiny shuttle taking its leader back home.