In the Wake of Change
Posted on 04/25/2024 @ 2:31pm by Rear Admiral Thomas Rice
806 words; about a 4 minute read
Mission:
Pages...
Location: Various
Timeline: MD 13
Tom walked into the main room of his quarters, carrying the last of his personal effects. Carefully, he placed these few trinkets into a tote bag, his actions purposeful yet colored by a quiet sorrow. Looking around the empty room, the weight of change settled upon him like an unwelcome presence. Change was a constant in Starfleet, a fundamental aspect of the life he had chosen, yet it never ceased to leave a bittersweet ache in his heart.
“Penny for your thoughts, Tommy?” came a familiar voice from behind.
Turning, Tom saw his brother Abe and Liv standing there, their expressions a mixture of understanding and empathy. “You two come to gang up on me?” he quipped lightly, attempting to mask the knot of emotions tightening in his chest.
Liv smiled warmly, crossing the room to Tom and wrapping an arm around him. “You okay?” she asked softly, her eyes reflecting genuine concern.
Tom sank into the nearest chair, letting out a sigh. “I’m not sure where to start. When I first met these people, I was a different person: bitter, cold, and distant.” His mind drifted back to their early missions, recalling how his walls had slowly crumbled in the face of friendship. “Now…” he trailed off, struggling to articulate the profound changes within him.
“He’s bitter, cold, and sappy,” Abe interjected with a teasing grin.
Tom chuckled, reaching over to playfully toss a pillow at his brother. “You ever serious?”
“Occasionally,” Abe replied with a hint of fun.
Liv settled beside Tom, her presence a comforting anchor. “Are you two always like this?” she asked.
“Worse,” the Rice brothers replied in unison, sharing a brief, lighthearted moment amidst the emotional currents swirling around them.
Tom managed a smile, though it couldn’t entirely mask the openness etched into his features. “I used to despise these people… especially Neil,” he admitted, his gaze wandering around the now-empty quarters. “Now, they’ve become like family.”
Abe drew in a slow breath, his expression softening. “They got to you, didn’t they?”
Tom nodded, his voice tinged with gratitude. “Yes, they did.” He tightened his embrace around Liv, the weight of upcoming farewells settling upon him. “But the promise of a new chapter, a new family, and a fresh perspective…I can’t ignore that. Still, I owe this oddball group here a lot. Especially Neil.” A tear slipped down his cheek; he still couldn’t believe the man was dead, no matter how hard he didn’t want to believe it.
The trio made their way through the station corridors toward the shuttle bay, the quiet silence following them like a shadow. Tom carried a duffle with a few personal effects, each step echoing the finality of their departures. As they reached the bay, the sight of shuttles lined up for departure heightened the sense of parting. Liv squeezed Tom’s hand, offering a silent reassurance. Abe, usually quick with banter, remained uncharacteristically quiet, his gaze fixed ahead.
Their respective destinations loomed before them—a new task force in the Romulan sector for Liv and Tom, and a return to Earth’s Starfleet Headquarters to teach at the academy for Abe.
“Looks like it’s time,” Liv murmured, her voice soft but resolute.
Tom nodded, his throat tight with emotions. “Yeah.”
Abe clapped a hand on Tom’s shoulder, before giving his brother a hug. “Take care of yourself out there, Tommy. Don’t let those Romulans get to you too much.”
Tom managed a smile, his gratitude evident. “I’ll do my best, Abernathy.” He knew Abe hated that as much as he hated the nickname Tommy.
Liv stepped forward, embracing Abe slightly. “I’ll make sure he visits you often, okay? Enjoy teaching at the Academy, Professor.”
Abe replied, “you better, and thanks.’
As Liv and Tom boarded their shuttle, Abe felt a certainly sadness. Watching them depart, he felt a swell of conflicting emotions: pride for his brother and this new family adventure he was embarking on.
The shuttle's engines came to life, breaking the quiet. Liv glanced back, offering a final wave before disappearing into the vessel. Tom caught Abe’s eye one last time giving a final wave before taking his seat.
Then, with a lurch, the shuttles began their departure. Abe stood rooted to the spot, his gaze fixed on the shuttle until they vanished into the starry expanse. Liv leaned in close, her gaze fixed on the stars ahead. Tom reached for her hand, a silent gesture of reassurance against the uncertain future.
For Tom, the journey represented not just a physical departure but a leap into the unknown: a continuation of the growth that had started when Neil first contacted him so long ago. He reached over taking Liv's hand, "to new adventures, Ambassador."
~fin
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