Respite

The Enterprise drifted silently through the vastness of space, its sleek hull marked by the scars of a recent bloody mission. Inside, the atmosphere was somber, the crew weary and hearts heavy with the weight of loss. Captain Christopher Pike, his uniform still stained with blood and grime, made his way to his quarters, each step a reminder of the lives lost under his command. Dealing with the loss of lives had always been difficult for Chris. And with the passage of years, those he couldn't save accumulated to a rather high mountain. His heart ached with the burden of command, the weight of responsibility for the lives lost.