Saying Goodbye
Posted on Thu Oct 16th, 2025 @ 8:35pm by Lieutenant Junior Grade Jack Hunter
Edited on on Tue Oct 21st, 2025 @ 3:37pm
1,776 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
All Our Yesterdays
Timeline: 1 Day Prior to Arrival at Empok Nor
The corridor outside Hunter’s quarters felt quieter than usual, as if the ship itself knew he was leaving. A faint hum of the warp core reverberated through the walls, a constant reminder of the heart that powered the Aquarius, the ship that had been his home for the last five years.
Hunter leaned against the doorframe of his quarters, arms folded, staring at the packed duffle at his feet. His uniform was crisp, the yellow trim freshly pressed, but the ache in his ribs from fight night with Radek lingered beneath the fabric. He rolled his shoulder once, trying to shake off the stiffness, but the weight of leaving was heavier than any injury.
This was it. His transfer to the USS Pioneer had been processed, and his orders were clear: Await the arrival of the Denube Class shuttle Cyclops enroute to Empok Nor. This was finally a new start, a new challenge, but saying goodbye wasn’t going to be easy.
Hunter hoisted the duffle over his shoulder and stepped into the corridor, making his way toward the lower decks. The Aquarius wasn’t a large ship, but it was big enough to be a maze of memories. There were the late nights in engineering, long shifts underneath damaged debris, and the camaraderie of friends forged through crises and boredom alike.
He stopped at the engineering deck, where a handful of the crew had gathered to see him off. Jax, his closest friend on the ship, leaned casually against the bulkhead with a lopsided grin.
“Thought you were sneaking out without saying goodbye,” Jax said, pushing off the wall and clapping Hunter on the shoulder.
Hunter chuckled. “You know me better than that.”
Jax’s grin softened. They’d seen each other through a lot. This goodbye wasn’t just the end of a tour. It was the end of a chapter.
“You’ll do great on the Pionner,” Jax said, his voice quieter now. “They’re lucky to have you.”
Hunter gave a small nod. “Take care of things here, yeah?”
Jax smirked. “Don’t worry about us. Just try not to blow up the new ship.”
The two clasped hands, a firm, final grip. “No promises,” Hunter said as they both smiled at each other.
After saying goodbye to the rest of the crew on the engineering deck, Hunter made his way to the Commander’s office.
He stood outside for a moment, adjusting the duffle on his shoulder. He tapped the panel beside the door, and it slid open with a soft hiss. Commander Liora Sovan sat behind her desk, as composed as ever.
“Lieutenant Hunter,” she greeted, her sharp gaze meeting his as he stepped inside.
Hunter gave her a small nod. “Commander, I wanted to thank you. For everything.”
Sovan tilted her head slightly, her Vulcan features inscrutable. “You performed your duties with commendable dedication, Lieutenant. Other than a ruffle here and there, your transfer to the Pioneer is well deserved. There’s no need to thank me.”
There was a brief pause, the kind of silence that could have easily passed unnoticed by most, but Hunter knew better. This was her version of a farewell.
She continued.
“Stay sharp, Lieutenant,” Sovan said, her voice even. “The future will challenge you in ways you have not yet encountered.”
Hunter allowed himself a small smile. “I’ll keep that in mind, Commander. And still thank you again.”
She gave him a slight nod, the closest thing to a personal gesture he was likely to receive. It was enough.
Not long after, Hunter made one last stop.
The cafeteria aboard the Aquarius was unusually quiet for the midday cycle. Only a handful of crew members dotted the space, most of them focused on their meals or lost in quiet conversations. Hunter walked in and noticed Ensign Brill at a corner table, his tray of replicated food barely touched. Brill shifted nervously in his seat, poking at his sandwich as if it might come alive.
“You okay, Brill?” Hunter asked, his tone easy but direct.
Brill glanced up, surprised with guilt flickering across his face. “Jack! Yeah… just, y’know… thinking.”
Hunter sat down opposite of him and placed his bag down on the floor. He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. “You ever hear about the first time I stood up to a bully?”
Brill blinked, looking up from his food. “No, sir.”
Hunter leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “I was about ten years old. Lived on a colony world in the outer systems. It was one of those places where the community was tight, and kids had to make their own fun.” He gave a small chuckle. “You know, the kind of place where you either got along with everyone or… well, you didn’t.”
Brill tilted his head slightly, his interest piqued. “What happened?”
Hunter gathered the memory like a coil of thread unraveling. “There was this kid named Derren. He was a big kid, bigger than me and older than me by a few years. Used to make everyone’s life miserable, but for some reason, he had it out for me the most.” Hunter smiled faintly, though there was no humor in it. “Every day after school, like clockwork, he’d wait by the old transport station. Push me around, called me names, and sometimes he’d get rough.”
Brill winced, shifting in his seat. “What’d you do?”
“At first? Nothing.” Hunter shook his head. “I tried to avoid him. Kept quiet. Did all the things you’re supposed to do to stay out of trouble.” He glanced at Brill meaningfully. “But the thing about bullies is, if they think they can get away with it, they never stop. They will keep doing it.”
Brill looked down at his hands, nodding slightly. He knew that truth all too well.
“One day, though…” Hunter trailed off, a small smirk playing at the edge of his mouth. “I decided I wasn’t going to take it anymore. Derren knocked me down. It was the same as always but this time, I got back up. And I hit him. Right in the nose.” Hunter laughed softly. “Didn’t think about it, didn’t plan it. I just let my instincts take over.”
Brill’s eyes widened slightly. “What happened after that?”
“Oh, he kicked my ass,” Hunter said with a chuckle, shrugging. “Derren was bigger, stronger, and knew how to throw a punch. But that wasn’t the point.” Hunter leaned forward again, locking eyes with Brill. “The point is, I got back up. And I kept getting back up.”
Brill furrowed his brow. “But… if you still lost, what did that change?”
Hunter smiled knowingly. “It changed everything. Derren never touched me again after that. He realized I wasn’t going to make it easy for him anymore. And bullies? They hate resistance.” He tapped the table with his index finger, emphasizing the point. “It’s not about winning. It’s about showing them you won’t let them walk over you anymore.”
Brill sat in thoughtful silence for a moment, processing the story. “So… even if it’s hard, even if you’re scared, you have to get back up?”
“Exactly,” Hunter said with a nod. “It doesn’t matter if you’re afraid. Everyone gets scared. What matters is what you do with that fear.” He gave Brill a reassuring look. “You push back. Even if you don’t win, even if it’s messy, you show them you won’t be broken.”
Brill glanced down at his tray again, a new expression settling on his face. It was something closer to determination. It wasn’t going to be easy for him to change how he saw himself, but Hunter could see that the gears were beginning to turn.
“Thanks, Lieutenant,” Brill murmured, his voice sincere.
Hunter gave him a small, easy smile. “Anytime, Brill.” Brill leaned back and finally took a bite of his food. Hunter added one more point, “Besides, life’s a lot easier when you don’t let bullies win.”
Brill nodded, his posture a little straighter than before. For the first time in a while, he looked like he wasn’t just trying to disappear into the background. He looked like he was ready to stand his ground.
As they sat together in comfortable silence, the hum of the ship’s engines thrumming softly beneath their feet, Hunter knew he’d done his job.
With his farewells complete, Hunter made his way to Transporter Room 2. The familiar hum of the transporter platform greeted him as he stepped onto the pad, duffle slung over his shoulder.
The crewman that manned the transporter controls informed him that the Cyclops just pulled up and is ready to receive him. The crewman keyed in the destination.
Hunter glanced around the room one last time. This was it. His time on the Aquarius had come to an end, and ahead of him lay the Pioneer.
“Energize,” Hunter said quietly.
The transporter came to life, and the familiar shimmer of blue light enveloped him. As the Aquarius dissolved around him, Hunter felt the weight of the past lift from his shoulders. The next chapter was waiting.
Hunter rematerialized on the Cyclops. He was greeted by a similar hum of its engines and the sterile scent of the ship. A crewman gestured to come off the transport pad and toward an open seat by the viewport. Hunter followed and placed his bag in a nearby compartment. The USS Aquarius having did its job meeting up with the shuttle, veered off going on its merry way. The shuttle veering off and into warp.
Outside the window, stars streaked past in endless trails, a reminder of the vastness of space and the endless possibilities it offered. The Pioneer was a few hours away, but he found himself relaxed for the first time in days.
He leaned back in the seat, the hum of the engines a soothing constant. The Pioneer was waiting for him, and with it, new challenges, new allies, and undoubtedly new problems to solve.
But for now, Jack Hunter allowed himself a rare luxury of comfort and peace.
As the stars streaked by, he closed his eyes and let the transport carry him forward. The past was behind him. The future lay ahead.
And Jack Hunter was ready for it.
A Post By
Lieutenant Junior Grade Jack Hunter
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer, USS Pioneer
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