A sadder and a wiser man,
He rose the morrow morn.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Location: Albatross
Since the away team's return to Albatross neither command officer had attempted to speak to the other. The ship was on it's way back to Sentinel no wealthier than when it had set off. The hour was late when Icmod entered the ship's rec area. He pour himself a mug of coffee and went across the way to where the tables sat. He hadn't expected to see anyone else around let alone Noluk. The aged Vulcan sat alone at one of the lounge's tables. In front of him was a Kal-toh board and a cup of tea. He barely acknowledged the XO's entrance before returning his focus back to the game.
Icmod sat at the same table and Noluk. Both men sat in silence for several minutes. Noluk focused on his game, Icmod just sat and reminisced about when times had been happier between the two.
After not being able to stay silent any longer, Icmod spoke. "Trouble sleeping?"
Noluk didn't show any sign of hearing his XO. He merely contemplated the board configuration in front of him.
"Yeah me too." Icmod sighed and took a sip from his mug. "Maybe we should talk. My actions on the surface were reckless. I had no right to do what I did other than because it was the right thing to do."
"Kal-toh is an intriguing game don't you suppose?" Noluk finally spoke up while still focusing on the board. "Each move is of precision and comes only after much patience. Rash choices only lead a player to disorder and chaos."
"I get it friend, I should of thought out my plan more. There just wasn't time. Those people needed help." Icmod set his mug down for fear of spilling the contents.
"Not only did you betray my trust as an officer, but as a friend." Noluk finally made eye contact with his XO. "Your decision put my reputation and the Albatross' reputation on the line. Were you anyone else I would of suggested you spend the rest of the trip confined to the cargo hold."
"If that's what it takes to heal the wounds I caused I'd do it. That brings me to a subject I wanted to wait to talk to you about, but I suppose now is as good a time as any. I've come to the decision to hand in my resignation." Icmod watched his friend's face hoping for a reaction. A smile, a frown, a furrowing of the brow, anything to indicate how Noluk felt. Nothing came, apparently the Vulcan's ability to suppress emotions had overcome his years of Trellium addiction. That night at least.
"Your resignation is not necessary Mr. Smith. No matter how heinous your actions I would rather have nobody else than you by my side." Noluk's attention was now fully on his XO.
"It's not as punishment that I'm resigning." Icmod wasn't sure of the best way to phrase it to Noluk. "My days as a drifter are coming to an end my friend. I can't exactly how to describe it, perhaps instinct. With Roquel, this life is becoming too dangerous. I have to say that coming to the DQ I never imagined that I would be a part of a crew let alone two. You and Elias taught me a lot about leadership and life. If it hadn't been for you I don't know if I would have reacted the same way on the planet."
"Where will you go?" Noluk asked.
"We haven't decided yet." Icmod replied. "Home I guess wherever that might be."
"Short a pilot and an XO. Not to mention two good friends." Noluk gazed off. He had become so used to having Icmod and Roquel around that he wasn't sure how to Albatross without them. With them, along with Zoss, and Zal gone the Albatross was beginning to feel very empty.
"I can help you find some new personnel to take our place." Icmod had no intention of leaving Noluk high and dry.
"That would not be necessary." Noluk shook his head. "I would never ask you to do that. You and Roquel will have enough to worry about."
"Then I'll leave Albatross in your hands." Icmod appreciated Noluk's consideration. "If you need any help I'll be around okay?"
"I will contact you if anything comes up." The Vulcan stood up. "I believe it is time for me to retire to my quarters. I hope to see you on the bridge tomorrow morning."
"Yes sir!" Icmod smiled feeling that the bond between the two men had been repaired and strengthened.
#
The time had come for Icmod and Roquel to leave. They were finishing up packing their belongings when the door chime rang. Icmod answered. "Come in."
Noluk opened the doors to the XO's quarters. He walked on in. "Am I interrupting anything?"
"Have a seat." Icmod indicated to the room's single chair. "Come to say goodbye?"
Noluk took his XO up on the offer and sat down. He had been running back and forth all day with taking care of the administrative tasks of running a freighter. "I have and to deliver a gift."
Roquel sat at Icmod's side. She felt awful for him. They had made a decision together that would effect him for a long time. But they didn't really have a choice! Time and again they had found out just how hazardous things could be in space. If they were going to have a life together, it was time to go. "We don't deserve a gift, Captain."
"It's something I found while inventorying the ship's supplies." The captain pulled out a couple pieces of fabric from his pocket and handed them to his two friends. "In case you fail to find home."
Icmod looked at what Noluk handed him. He smiled in delight. It was an insignia patch from the T'mur. "I thought these were all destroyed when the T'mur was. Beyond the ones we were wearing that is."
"I found them in the shuttle. There was a small crate of emergency supplies." Noluk had been trying to decide what to do with the insignias. They were out of date and not relevant to any other ships.
The Risian took one of them from Icmod's hand. Feelings of nostalgia and belonging flooded through her. But as she ran her thumb, over the raised embroidery of Vulcan ship's outline, she remembered just how that ship had met its end. In it's own way, it was an affirmation of their decision. Was that what he was going for? It was so...appropriate...for the moment. It seemed to her to be both a celebration of their shared service together, and a symbol of understanding. It brought her peace. "Thank you."
"Yes thank you friend." Icmod stood up. "We should get going. A freighter is headed for Crossroads and with the recent events there are some lucrative opportunities to start a new life on the station."
"Take care." The Vulcan got up to see the young couple out. "Should you ever need Albatross' services you will be welcome to them."
As Icmod looked back at one of his closest friends he had a heavy heart. Holding up his hand in the traditional Vulcan way he gave the Vulcan one last goodbye. "Live long and prosper."
Even after his friends had left, Noluk stood in the doorway of the crew quarters. It was with a heavy heart that he closed the doors to the vacated room at last. As Noluk turned for the bridge, Zeno stood nearby.
"Captain a word please." The robot stood awaiting a response.
"Yes Zeno." Noluk asked not much in the mood to chat.
"I must be departing the Albatross captain." Zeno's toneless voice made it sound to Noluk as though the android had already made the decision and was ready to leave. "I have run system diagnostics and ordered any repairs that you will need during your time at the station. I would stay longer but with the moving of the Gatrubbian fleet, Zenophile Cafe on Crossroads needs to be opened to maintain temporal continuity. I can show you the records that my future self gave me if that will convince you."
"There is no need." The Vulcan shook his head. "Depart when you need. You have more than paid for you passage on this ship. Your service will be remembered."
"Thank you captain." Zeno gave a slight bow as his body allowed it. "Both the Doctor Karbo and Shenara have expressed their intention of staying aboard. I look forward to seeing you and them again sometime."
"We will visit as time permits. Will there be anything else?"
"No sir. Goodbye." Zeno continued walking down the corridor towards the airlock. He had no belongings to carry.
Noluk went the opposite direction towards the bridge. New frontiers were calling and Noluk wanted to be there to answer the call.
