Emerald Flight: Season Two: The Return of Hope

“On the main screen,” Devereux called to Hawkes as she fought back a cough from the drifting haze.

The center of three main bridge screens cleared, shifted briefly with the appearance of an emblem that tickled at her memory, and then resolved into the image from about the waist up of a female humanoid. Behind her, several darkly crimson figures moved purposefully.

The female humanoid stared with dark eyes into the screen. It took Devereux only a moment before recognition struck her like a blow.

“Hope?” Her voice was a hopeful whisper, barely audible.

“Captain.” Hope’s sounded firm.

Devereux simply stared, but quickly realized that she probably wore a ridiculous grin. She managed to regain some measure of composure, but found no words that did not sound incredibly awkward or inane in her own mind.

“You have injuries?”

It took Devereux a moment to find her voice. “I’m fine . . .” she trailed off with the realization that Hope probably referred to the crew. “Yes,” Devereux admitted, feeling her cheeks grow slightly warm.

“We will dock.”

Hope turned her head and said something to one of the winged officers behind her in that deep-throated half-trilling, half-guttural growl of her kind. The male officer bowed his head slightly in deference and spoke to other members of the crew behind Hope.

Hope looked back toward the screen. “Captain.”

“I guess we’ll see you in few minutes,” Devereux offered lamely.

“Yes.”

Hope gazed at them through the screen. After several second passed without further conversation, her image faded back to gray.