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Whatever she was expecting, that hadn’t been it. It takes her a moment before she’s able to respond. “…I don’t understand.”
You point to her, then to yourself. “It’s proof that we were both here. That Sinleq Unami and Gully Elishani were alive at this point in time, hot on the heels after a Khanate raid that nearly killed us all.”
Seized by a sudden boldness, you extend a tentative hand towards Gully’s shoulder. She stiffens lightly, but makes no other movement as you draw her close, and gesture towards the city, the sea, and the rest of the Flooded World. “Come what may tomorrow…we’re still here. And they aren’t.”
…it sounded better in your head. Spoken aloud, the defiant, existential proclamation sounds just a little embarrassing. The sort of spontaneous speech-making that one of Dickens’ characters might have given at the climax of the story.
But Gully doesn’t laugh. For a moment, she just leans in against your shoulder, then murmurs flatly: “I probably won’t recognize myself in a week. My condition…it’s that bad, Sinleq.”
“I will,” you counter emphatically. “And so will all the others – your parents, Geary, Chief Holt, Aalto, Kwan and all the crew of the <span class="mu-i">Calypso</span>. You’ll still be Gully to us.”
The noise she makes could’ve been a scoff, a huff, a sigh or the faintest bit of laughter. “…didn't think you were a sophist.”
You shrug, offering a wry grin. “Book club might’ve passed around a few texts on philosophy. But you’ve got that photo of yourself and your dad in the cockpit. How do you feel about that one?”
“…anchor,” she whispers after a moment’s deliberation. “I am a PUXO pilot, and the daughter of Captain Rashid Elishani. That much won’t change, no matter what happens. When things get bad…I can always go back to that.”
…that’s more than fair enough. You can work with this.
“Then consider the following.” Gently, you bring the last photo up towards the ambient light cast by the lamps. “…you’re the friend of fellow PUEXO pilot Sinleq Unami. You know his past and why he’s a slave. Just as he knows yours and why you dive. Whether or not those things change, if he becomes free or if you find your origin…”
“…we’ll still be pilots,” she finishes, “…we’ll still keep our secrets.”
"We'll still be friends." You smile softly. “I hope you don’t think that I’m trying to get a leg up on your dad. Just…helping you put things in perspective.”
She hums quietly, neither affirming or denying anything. When she suddenly moves to break away, you let her go, spinning away to recline back up against the wall. “…you called me ‘Gully.’”
“Didn’t think it’d be proper. You said it yourself – ‘Yohana’ is reserved only for your folks and the XO.”
Gully bites her lip uncertainly, frowning in deep thought. Then, after a moment’s silence: “…Sinleq, hold still for a moment.”
(cont.)