The next day came, and Rayn retook command of the Adamant. She sighed happily, quite willing to be back in command of the ship (just as Reauwl was happy to relinquish it), but the happy expression soon faded.
 "Ree," she said quietly to her second-in-command, "I'll be in my Ready Room if anyone needs me."
 Without another word, she left the bridge. She sunk into her chair, the words echoing over and over again in her head:
 You are one of us. We are your real family, not those you so quaintly call "Mother" and "Father" on Leucomaris. You are one of us. You are a Changeling . . .
 She felt pain deep inside, tears that wanted to well up inside her that couldn't because of what she was . . . A Changeling. How could they be my family? Ladira and Ronarin raised me, showed me love. The Changelings sent me away - far away - and for what?
 Nevertheless, the words still echoed through her mind:
 You are a Changeling.
 Okay, okay, she knew - had always known - that she was not a true Sirenian. She had always been different. She had always been able to shape-change, except when she was so young that she could do no more than remain the golden gelatinous goo that she was.
 And Mother and Father - Ladira and Ronarin - no, Mother and Father, she decided. After all, they had always been Mother and Father to her, not Ladira and Ronarin. Mother and Father found me in the nebula where the craft I was in had drifted to. They took me home to study me as scientists, but when I proved intelligent, I became a pet. And when I could morph to look like them and could talk like them, they realized that I was no kind of pet, and adopted me as their own child.
 You are one of us
 "No!" she screamed. "I don't want to be one of you!" She was standing now, hoping desperately that the voices would go away and leave her alone. But they remained, driving her backwards until she hit the wall behind her and slid down it to the deck.
 Captain Rayn didn't notice when the door opened as she placed her head in her arms.
 "Crystyl?" It was Reauwl's voice. "Crys, are you all right?"
 She had knelt beside her friend and placed her hand on the Captain's shoulder.
 Rayn shook her head. "I learned too much. I . . . oh-no. That's it, isn't it? They can see everything I can. That's why all of this had been so easy. They sent us over here to the Alpha Quadrant when we were young to spy on this quadrant, so they would know all the secrets of everyone when they decided they could take it over. We didn't know . . ."
 "They who, Crys?"
 Rayn looked up at her friend sadly.
 "The Changelings. That's what I am, Ree. A Changeling. Of  all the things in the universe to be, I had to be one of  them . . . the enemy. And they can see us through me. How many people have lost their lives due to my ignorance?"
 "Crys, are you okay?"
 "Oh-Ree," whispered Rayn, "How was I to know? I . . . I can't keep the ship, Ree, not knowing that I could be a danger to the crew. They don't deserve that. Not from me.  Not from anyone." She paused for a moment to think it through. "Yes, I must give up command, as well as my Starfleet career. I'll contact Headquarters immediately. They'll want me to recommend someone . . ." She looked at her friend.
 "You can recommend me, but I'll turn it down . . . I'm not ready for such a responsibility . . . Are  . . . are you really going to just leave like that?'
 "What else can I do?' she paused, taking a moment to rise to her feet and sit back down in her chair. "It has to be done; I may go crazy if I don't . . . I may go crazy anyway."
 

 Captain Rayn had gathered everyone that could attend into the larger of the holodecks. It was a rather large banquet hall, beautifully decorated. Willoughby had been more than happy to provide the food for this occasion. Everyone was required to wear their formal dress uniforms. Rayn was handing out various honors that night, including medals and commendations with well-deserved praise. Though nothing had really been said about Captain Rayn leaving command, the rumor had flown about the ship and had given the festivities a sense of finality.
 "I have one last honor," she stated, relishing the moment. She really enjoyed doing things like this in this particular way.
 All of the officers watched her with admiration as she gazed at all the faces, but finally resting her silver- blue eyes on T'Hara McKenzie, with her leonine husband standing next to her and her belly quite swollen with her expecting child. "T'Hara McKenzie, I have here a special commendation for you."
 T'Hara approached her slowly, waddling just a bit. As she reached the Captain, she was handed a plaque.
 "In recognition for our first battle with the Dominion and the bravery you showed, I award you this plaque. Not only were you risking your life, like many others aboard this ship, but that of  your child's. You chose to stay aboard the Adamant as a Starfleet officer than leave. You have shown true valor."
 As T'Hara accepted the plaque, the crowd applauded. The child in her womb kicked strongly. How much longer did she have until it was time for her daughter to be born, she thought with a sharp intake of breath. She had quite a kick!
 But in the din of the crowd, Crystyl leaned over and whispered in her ear.
 "I've read your history and military background," she said, "And I think you'll make a fine Captain someday. Maybe some day soon."
 As the crowd quieted down, T'Hara looked at Captain Rayn and sensed something from her. Something she wanted to announce, but didn't . . . or couldn't. T'Hara couldn't tell which, but the Captain's mind was definitely someplace else. And what did she mean about being a Captain, T'Hara wondered. Taking the plaque, she thanked the Captain and rejoined her family, as her father and son joined her husband. Just then, the Captain changed her stance, indicating another announcement and the crowd was once again silent.
 "I know I have only just returned, but I must leave again. This time, I'll be heading to Starfleet Headquarters where I will be debriefed," she said, "I know I haven't been the best Captain -Hey, not everyone can be a James Kirk or A Jean-Luc Picard. And I know I didn't get on here the best of ways . . . But it was a pleasure being your Captain and getting to know you all." She paused for a moment, fighting her emotions. "Now, I'm not sure how long I will be . . . Just try to keep the ship in one piece while I'm gone."
 She  tried to end it lightly, with a smile. She didn't want them to know yet, that she would not be returning as their Captain and that someone else would be stepping up to take her place. But, unlike the day before, she knew who would she was recommending for the position. She had spent most of the day before going over personnel files, when she had stumbled on T'Hara's background. She had make it to Commander when she had joined Starfleet the first time. She was only a step away from being a Captain and she had shown great promise. After she had resigned the first time, she had joined a group called Dark Forces and gained experience in battle and covert operations. But she had come back to Starfleet, though it had meant starting back out at the bottom. T'Hara was the right choice. Rank didn't seem as important as the quality of her work. And in this time of War with the Dominion Starfleet needed all the commanding officers they could get that had seen battle or had experience with covert ops. Crys had already contacted Admiral Patrice Mateo and had gotten the ball rolling.
 As she watched her officers gather together and celebrate the evening, part of her wanted to withdraw from them. She didn't want to give away the pain she was feeling. But she noticed that T'Hara and Ree kept looking over at her from the different sides of the room they were on. Ree knew exactly what was going on. T'Hara had no idea, but her telepathic gift had picked up something. She would know soon enough, Crystyl thought. Everyone would know soon enough.
 

 It was a week later when Rayn decided to take her leave of the Adamant. She did have things to do, after all, before she could leave. Once everything was in order, she knew it was time to go. As she entered the shuttlebay, her departure was intercepted by Willoughby. In his arms were several bags and suitcases. Where did her think he was going?
 "Captain," he began, "I -"
 Outside of Ree, he was the only one on the ship that knew what was going on. That she really wasn't going to Starfleet Headquarters or even come back. She was resigning. "I'm not a Captain anymore, Willoughby; it's just plan Crystyl."
 "Ah, yes, but, some retired individuals prefer to be called by their previous rank. Anyway, I fear that the Adamant would not be the same without your presence on it," he tried to explain.
 "That seems a reasonable observation."
 "Well, you see," he continued, "I have become so accustomed to your presence these last two months that I could not possibly stay here. And, of course, my gentlemanly nature says that while you are only female in form, you will always be a lady to me, and a lady cannot go traipsing about the galaxy on her own."
 "Of  course . . . And I am female in a lot more ways than just form, Mr. Willoughby, thank you . . ."
 "tut-tut, Capt -er - Crystyl. If I should call you Crystyl, than you should call me Willoughby."
 "Well then, Willoughby, I suppose that you are rather politely asking if you may travel with me?" she asked, eyeing him with a hint of a smile.
 He cast his reptilian yellow eyes downward. "I had no idea that I was so transparent."
 "Well . . . you are," she replied. "Can you swim?"
 "What, ma'am?""
 "Can you swim?"
 "A, um, little. Why do you ask?"
 "The first thing that I must do is go home to Leucomaris and visit with my Mother and Father. Leucomaris is over ninety percent water and one cannot get anywhere much without swimming . . . But I suppose we can put you in one of the nice resort-hotels on the solid ground then, hmmm?" She watched him with warmth.
 "Thank you, Crystyl . . ." he replied.
 "Don't mention it," she answered. "Now then; shall we go?"
 It wasn't long before they had Willoughby's things stored, and they requested launch clearance. Reauwl watched the view screen as the shuttle left the ship and headed out into space. Good-bye, Crys, she thought as the tiny vessel vanished into the darkness of space.