Under ordinary circumstances she might have protested that hugs were unprofessional, but these circumstances are anything but ordinary. Tayrey wraps her arms tightly around Cassandra, letting the emotion carry her. When the other woman pulls back, she swipes her sleeve across her eyes.

'You went home!' Tayrey absolutely beams with delight. 'I knew it. I knew believing everything our captor said was a mistake. It was never hopeless. I'm so glad you got home.'

Then the smile fades, as she has to tell the rest of the story. 'I died,' she admits. 'I tried so hard, but all my accelerated healing did was draw out my death. I knew I was getting worse. Turns out those injuries just weren't survivable. I died, and then Citizen Mortanne revived and healed me. Gave me that choice. She was able to reach me because we had breached the barrier and sent out that beacon, I'm sure of it.'

Tayrey has turned intense, now. This matters to her. 'I chose to live because I was assured I'd never be returned to that intolerable prison, and if I help these people bring down their own barrier, I can go home. But you must know that part.' Determination fades into concern. 'What happened to you, back home?' Only death could have brought her here.