Maruu had been relieved from the Bridge. He was already in his quarters when he received a message. He accepted the message. "Maruu here."
[Stephen?] the voice came through the com badge.
"Lili! Are you okay?"
[No, that's why I need you. You're the only one I have now.] She closed the com.
Immediately, Maruu left to Lt. Lili Roen's quarters. He had removed his upper uniform and walk onto the Bridge with only a tight gray T-shirt and the uniform pants he had to wear during normal duty hours.
Commander Surok saw him exit his quarters. "Captain?"
Maruu signaled for Surok to continue his job as he entered the turbolift. "Deck Three, Section C," he told the computer. Soon, he was there. He walked very quickly down the halls, and he walked into Roen's quarters without ringing the chime. "Hello, how are you holding up?"
Roen was sitting on her bed with her hands on her face; she had been crying.
Maruu sat beside her. Roen laid her head on Maruu's chest, and Maruu held her with love.
Roen began to speak. "I loved my father. He was a good man. We used to go to Denmar IV together every year when I was small. My mother would also enjoy the trips. She and Daddy would hug me and tell me that, no matter what, they would always be with me. That they would never leave me. I relished the thought. I always admired them. When I was there, I would look at the sky from our suite. I would see all the stars and, I believed that they were the houses of happy families like mine. And I would imagine a little girl, like me, at each house. And she would be smiling and looking at all the other little houses, and mine among them. I feel like my light just flickered off." She paused. "I know it's silly."
"No, it's not," replied Maruu. "Lili, when I was younger, my planet was taken under an occupation from a stronger race called Cardassians. As soon as I could, I encouraged my family to join the Resistance. They did. One day, the Cardassian forces found one of our camps: ours. We fought to hold them back, but they were too strong. It was too hard. My father was fighting beside me when I saw a flash. Next thing I know, my left arm is burnt and half of Father is on the floor beside me, the other half is a meter away. They took the camp. I was retreating with my mother and some others. Mother is telling me that I have to go and not worry about her. She would hold them back for us. I said no, but she got away with my gun and began firing. I swear I've never seen a woman get fired at so many times. I could barely recognize her. So, I understand how you feel. The loss of one's parents can be a terrible thing."
Roen grabbed Maruu's face and kissed him on the lips. "You should have been a counselor."
Maruu returned the kiss. They fell onto the bed in a deep embrace. Maruu paused them movement and sat up. "Are you okay with this?"
"Yes, I am. Computer, lock doors." She grabbed Maruu and brought him back down on Roen.
"I barely know you..."
"...and yet I feel as if I've known you..."
"...all my life."
They began to undress.