Bob’s synthesized voice sounded in alarm, “the Nebula is eating up all the fucking exotic matter!” Sable, who had already come to that conclusion, ran a trillion calculations in her heads in a split second, pressed a few buttons on the helm controls, and promptly collapsed.

“It’s not good,” Bob was explaining, “we’ve got nothing. Nada. We can’t generate new exotic matter, not in here. It seems to be biologically safe enough at this level. If it wasn’t for Sable…” “I know,” Sam said, somewhat resigned, “I know. Can you man the ship for a little?” “Not much to do, anyway. Sure.”

Sam dragged the inert Sable back to her quarters. Sam didn’t go in here often. She was surrounded by Sable, in chairs, on beds. All of them looked different, but they were all Sable. After a few minutes, the one that was on the bridge started coming to.

“That was a shock…Did it work? I’m…in my quarters?”

“Ssh…yes, I brought you here. I can’t tell for sure but…it looks like we’re heading out. That was a work of genius.”

“Yeah well, I had some help, after all. I wonder how they…I wonder how I’m doing.”

"Really? Millions of minds out there and you’re worried about them?"

"But they don’t have you…I do"

"I really don’t see how I’m that important."

"Because…I love you. How long have we got?"

"Well, thanks to Einstein there are two very different answers to that question. We’re in for 70, maybe 75 hours. Outside? Half a year."

"Ouch. I knew what I was getting into though"

"You saved our damn lives, that’s what. Using the last of our exotic matter to boost the NAFAL drives…who would have thought of that in time? Most vessels don’t even have working NAFALs"

"Having 337 million brains certainly helps."

"Well at the moment you’ve only got seven. How are you holding up?"

"I can hardly remember anything…I mean I remember most of what we’ve done, but anything else…I’m glad you’re here. I don’t think I’ve ever said ‘I love you’ to you before today."

"Sure you have."

"Then it must be my memory"

"No, it’s not that. You’ve never said those words to me…but…you’ve said it. Clearly enough."

"How’s Bob doing?"

"He can manage. We’ve just got to wait this out. Momentum will take us out and we can reestablish communication and haul ourselves to the nearest starbase."

"I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be in such a situation with."

"Me neither."

Three days later, the crew was gathered on the bridge as the Silver Fox peaked out of the Nebula, The exotic matter generation restarted, and Hyperspace Radio and Alcubierre Warp were restored. Sam pointed her to the nearest base, and sat back in to her chair, staring at Sable”

Sable’s look back said “I love you”

And if that wasn’t enough, her voice did as well.