Eliminating Threats

The bridge of CV-88 Khali was as if they were in a wake. Everyone was quiet as they resumed their jobs, trying to act as if nothing had happened. Only General Bethilda, who was sitting on her commander chair with a big baby in the name of Melody resting on her lap, was the only source of noise.

With a shaky voice, repeating the same phrase for the umpteenth time, Melody parted her lips. "Auntie... Quinlan..."

"There there... You're a big girl now, so you should stop acting like a baby, you know."

General Bethilda shushed as she gently patted Melody's head, wondering when was the last time she did this for her.

Although she was afraid of getting embarrassed in front of her people, she couldn't just brush away her niece, who was down in the dumps after losing a loved one. "Quinlan did his best. I'm sure he didn't go down without a fight."

"..."

*BEEP!*