#MicroTreks
“No, go for it,” Jurati says. “Ask me anything.”
“Anything?” Soji asks.
“That’s what I said,” Jurati replies.
Soji leans forward, her face incredibly still, her eyes wide. “Do you—regret what you did?”
Jurati tilts her head, confused.
“To Bruce,” Soji adds.
1/8
Jurati’s lungs stiffen as if a lightning strike rattled through them.
“You—you don’t have to answer that,” Soji says. “I—I just sometimes blame myself for Picard’s—well, I’m so thankful you and Dr. Soong could give him a second chance.”
Jurati stood up and left the table.
2/8
“Oh,” Soji says. “Okay.”
Jurati sits back down with two a drink. “A special concoction I affectionately call a Sour Rios.”
Soji picks up a glass. “What’s in it?”
“Better not to ask,” Jurati says, smirking as she takes a swig. She gently places the glass on the table.
3/8
Soji sips the Sour Rios. “How are you even alive?” Soji teases.
“It’s funny—well maybe not, really—but I ask myself that a lot,” Jurati says, her face falling flat. “Like every day. Mornings. Nights. Now.”
“I’m sorry I asked the question,” Soji says.
“No, no,” Jurati says.
4/8
“My brain tells me that Oh is responsible,” Jurati says. “But my eyes saw his face, my ears heard my name on his lips, my—heart bears the—well, so, yeah, myself blames myself, if that makes sense.”
“I’m sorry,” Soji says. “How do you—deal with it?”
Jurati lifts her glass.
5/8
“But seriously,” Jurati says. “You.”
“Me?” Soji asks.
“You’re everything Bruce lived for,” Jurati says. “We lived for. And seeing you in this diplomacy gig—and killing it in that top—softens the guilt and grief—a little.”
Soji smiles. “You brought Picard back, saving me.”
6/8
“We’re even then,” Jurati says, raising her glass to Soji. Soji taps her glass against Jurati’s.
“Doctors Jurati and Asher, we’ll be arriving at Raritan IV in ten minutes,” reports a voice over the comm.
“Can you do me another favor—” Jurati asks, standing.
7/8
“Anything,” Soji says, standing.
“Can you use those super synth ears to listen in on any—transmissions I make,” Jurati says. “I tend to—drunk hail as another coping mechanism, so—”
“I’ll be all ears,” Soji replies, laughing.
They leave the mess hall.
8/8
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