Chapter 27- Fruitful Absence of Familiarity

The words stung… even as Naia understood the logic. It just made her sound so expendable compared to Evander's tactical genius. Yet she could rationalize it by focusing on the word 'unnecessarily'... to make it seem like she was the one being selfish for wanting to put them in danger.

The commander continued to speak while seeming oblivious to her protege's inner turmoil.

"Your second mission will involve creating a stable path through a Dead Zone. We have vital intelligence trapped on the other side. A pair of loose Shift Walkers will be ready for deployment on the provided schedule."

As Orfea detailed the remaining assignments, Naia began to have more apprehension building within her. These missions would all push her abilities. She might finally step out of her squad's comfort - but she would also be out of their safety. Her fingers stroked over the stone in her pocket.

"Do you have any questions, Navigator?"

Naia squared her shoulders.

"No, Commander. I'm ready to serve."

"Very well. You deploy in an hour. Dismissed."

As the woman left the office, her emotions started their inner war anew. Excitement at the challenge ahead. Fear of facing it alone. And underneath it all, a small, quiet voice. It wondered if this separation from her squad – from Evander – might be exactly what she needed.

Naia shifted from foot to foot while she waited for the transport to arrive. The new resonator equipment was being sent along with her during warp transit. She tried to reassure herself that she was more than capable of doing this alone again. The weight of her staff at her side helped bolster her confidence.

The staff in charge welcomed her on board and she strapped herself to a seat. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to center herself before the trip. She knew it was almost useless, but it was better to do something than nothing... she was always told.

The energies of the warp touched her senses and caused her to tense uncontrollably. She hated it. Her own reaction and the reason for it. Training accidents were bound to happen and there had gratefully been no fatalities in that one. But there could have been - and her powers wouldn't have been the slightest bit helpful.

A shudder passed through her as the transport slipped into 'normal' space. The process didn't even take long with the limited distance. But the anxiety had her shaken for a few minutes once again... before she could compose herself.

Her terminal chimed with the order to disembark and report. Almost like someone knew she had just recovered. Naia gathered her equipment and headed toward the place listed. She could see technicians standing ready to do their part of the job - which left her embarrassed, even if the delay was small.

---

The pair of Operatives didn't talk much to the woman before she performed her task. The mode of transportation was sleeker and sized for smaller groups than that of her squad. The pilot - a man with the same red hair as her lover- also kept his eyes on the path she formed. Naia hummed and calmed the chaotic energies while thinking of Ev.

At least that was part of her thoughts. The rest was an inordinate pleasure stemming from the results from the first mission. She had been thanked and praised by so many people she almost thought it was coordinated. Coupled with the brand new resonators on this craft...

She was in professional heaven.

"We're approaching the supposed location of the shell."

Naia was jolted by the pilot's announcement and confirmed. The woman turned her attention forward and her grip tightened on her staff before building an entrance for them. After it was done... they merely had to wait. Seeing the man and woman emit purple strings of energy and step through the walls made her smile.

'I guess it isn't just a Poros thing...'

She looked at the opening door that stopped and closed again, before glancing toward the tactician pilot.

"I hate when they do that."

She nodded and chuckled.

"They know. They were amused when they were leaving."

He snorted and rolled his eyes.

"Course they were. Damn tricksters."

Naia wasn't sure what to say to that. She was feeling an actual bit of prejudice in him towards the Shift Walkers - so she ignored the confrontation and took out a lozenge. Luckily he didn't seem to be the type to talk while the other person couldn't.

It was a long and awkward fifteen minutes until he tapped the comm terminal.

"They found it. We'll extricate them and get this mission over with."

The Navigator was beginning to be glad that their tactician's arrogance didn't have this disdainful sort of feeling to it. She didn't care for it at all. Naia focused on her Harmonic Staff and the energies of the Dead Zone as the two returned to the ship. Her mood brightened at the sight of the sealed package in the woman's hands.

She still had to guide them back, but it looked like another successful mission.

---

Naia's fingers trembled as she unclasped her harness. The familiar nausea from warp travel churned in her stomach. It had been the eighth in a row without Ev… or anyone she could ask. Four missions in two days with a fifth still scheduled in the next hours. Her body ached for more rest than she'd gotten… but duty called.

She fumbled in her pocket and withdrew the smooth stone. Poros's borrowed heirloom. The ever familiar contours soothed her as she ran her thumb over the etched patterns. It, at least, was a reminder of her squad.

"You alright there, Navigator?"

A technician's voice snapped her back to reality. She realized that she'd been sitting for an extra minute quietly. Naia nodded at him and pocketed the stone.

"I'm fine. Just needed a moment."

The facility buzzed with activity as she disembarked. Engineers and soldiers at the forward base rushed about, preparing for her harmonization of the area. Naia gripped her staff while steadying herself for what was to come.

'It's the same procedure as the last one. You'll do fine again.'

Another young soldier approached with a terminal in her hand.

"Ma'am, we've prepared the resonators as stated in the briefing. If you'll follow me-"

"Hold on. These feel different from the last site."

The soldier nodded eagerly.

"Oh yes, ma'am. We had another special Operative through here yesterday. A blond woman. She made some modifications."

Naia's heart skipped… there was no way, right?