The meeting chamber inside the Virexian government building was impressive but cold. The sunlight that poured through towering windows bathed the room in the rose-tinted hue of Liraxia IV’s sky, making Jonathan Keller think of the Terran expression “rose tintend glasses”. Then again, while what he had glimpsed of the outside world had been serene, here,the weight of centuries-old frustrations pressed down on everyone present. 

Jonathan Keller sat stiffly in his chair, his traveling from one hand to the other in one-minute intervals, though it seemed almost useless. 

Across the long, polished table sat the elders of the Virexian tribe. Their faces weathered, their robes ornate, traditional and expensive-looking. If Brennan was correct in her assessment of Liraxan culture, these were the men and women who ruled.

And, like any good ruler, they talked a lot, and said very little.

“The telepathic component to our culture and communication might seem minor, but is fundamental regardless.”,  one of the elders said, his voice slow and deliberate.

Another elder, a woman with streaks of silver in her braided hair, added, “Without it, trust is… impossible.”

Keller clenched his jaw. They had heard the same sentiment repeated in different ways for what felt like hours. We get it, Keller thought bitterly, you can’t talk to the other side. Not in the way you prefer, anyway. Not a surprise you never became part of the Federation. 

Where was the solution? Every attempt to pry deeper only met with vague responses, as though the elders were deliberately evading real answers. Or perhaps they simply didn’t take them seriously – not a surprise when your XO looked like a teenage girl, or at best a cadet wearing the wrong uniform. 

For what it was worth though, she did seem to try her best. Sat forward with a composed expression, trying – and probably failing – to get them somewhere. 

“We understand that telepathy is essential to your communication,” she said, “But surely, over time, both tribes have developed other methods. Have there been any attempts at non-verbal communication systems? Written language? You seem to communicate just fine with us, even without telepathic bond.”

The elder shook his head slowly. “Those methods… they are not enough. We can speak, yes, but without the truth of the mind, there is always suspicion.”

Brennan seemed to remain calm and collected, interest and invested. Something Jonathan made her believe the woman wasn’t all that intelligent, and simply didn’t realist that the conversation was going in circles. He could feel frustration bubbling up. How didn’t Brennan notice? And Ceix? He had expected better, especially from him. If the Liraxans didn’t want an actual solution, this was a waste of Starfleets time.

Keller leaned in slightly. “With respect, Elder, we need something more concrete to work with. How did you talk before you decided to be at odds?”

That question earned him a disapproving glance from Brennan, which he ignored.

“We once communicated without barriers,” one of the elders responded after a contemplative pause. “But that bond has been severed.”

And it had only taken them hours to come clean on that.

“Well then, that would have been good information to have a few hours ago. Is there no record of when this telepathic disconnect first occurred? Or anthing that might help restore it?” His voice came out sharper than intended, but the elders either didn’t notice, or didn’t care.

Instead, they exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. “There is no one moment,” the silver-haired elder said at last. “It faded slowly… like a shadow growing with the dusk. And now it is gone.”

Fantastic, Keller thought, resisting the urge to sigh audibly. He once more glanced over at Ceix, who had been quiet for the entire meeting, his dark eyes flickering with that almost unnerving composure Keller usually appreciated.

“We may be focusing too much on the symptom,” Ceix said finally, his voice breaking the silence that had settled around them.

“Perhaps the telepathic disconnect is a manifestation of something deeper. A fracture that runs through the core of both tribes.”

For some reason, that seemed to calm Jonathan, and even the Elders seemed to pause.

Brennan nodded slightly. “You’re suggesting the disconnect is more than just a loss of ability. It’s a reflection of the tribes themselves.”

Ceix inclined his head. “In my experience, telepathic bonds are not just biological. They are also spiritual and emotional. If there is unresolved conflict, it could manifest in ways beyond just words or actions.”

Keller resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Great. More cryptic answers.

One of the Elders spoke again, his voice a little softer this time. “The loss of our connection has indeed mirrored the growing distrust between our peoples. It is not just a matter of speaking with the mind… but of truly hearing one another.”

Keller bit the inside of his cheek, hard enough to taste blood. “And yet, here we are. Sitting across from each other, still not hearing anything that helps.”

There was a silence after Keller’s words. Brennan turned slightly, her eyes catching Keller’s for just a moment. A fleeting glance that he felt said more than words ever could. Stay in your lane.

Stay in his lane? How dare she? Keller couldn’t shake the feeling that Brennan enjoyed being the one in control, and usually he wouldn’t mind a new XO trying herself out. But incompetent leadership had cost him his wife, and he found he no longer tolerated it. He also didn’t quite realise that Brennan never actually said those words, and that they were a mere interpretation of the way she had looked at him. 

“We may need to step back,” Brennan said smoothly, turning back to the Elders. “Perhaps there is more we need to understand about the relationship between your tribes before we can make progress. We’ll return with more questions after we’ve had time to reflect.”

Keller’s fists clenched under the table. Reflect? They wanted to act, not sit around meditating on ancient grudges and lost telepathy. But this time he kept quiet.

As they stood to leave, Ceix fell into step beside Jonathan. His voice was low, meant only for him . “I know you’re frustrated.”

Keller didn’t respond at first, eyes locked straight ahead as they walked toward the exit. “This isn’t moving fast enough,” he muttered. “We’re wasting time.”

“Sometimes stepping back allows you to see what’s hidden. You may not like it, but there is wisdom in patience.”

“I don’t need patience,” Keller hissed. “I need progress.”

“And that will come,” Ceix said. “But we are not here to solve everything at once. We’re here to understand. Remember that.”

Keller inhaled deeply, letting Ceix’s words sink in, but found they did nothing to dull his resentment. As they neared the door, Keller glanced at Brennan, who was talking to Sydin about next steps.

She’s awfully sure of herself, Keller thought bitterly. And as he followed her out into the pink-hued light of Liraxia IV’s afternoon sky, his frustration simmered quietly, unresolved.