A Farewell Before Starting Again

Posted on Thu Apr 25th, 2013 @ 4:52pm by Lieutenant JG Aidan Murphy
Edited on on Thu Apr 25th, 2013 @ 4:53pm

652 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Mission 82 - The Aggressor
Location: Aboard a (nameless) transport vessel.
Timeline: Concurrent with the Durga's mission to Earth

ON:

"You ever wonder if all of this is pointless?" Jon asked, idly swirling his scotch as he stated up at the ceiling - he was clearly bored with this trip. Aidan sat across the table from him, shuffling a replicated deck of playing cards repeatedly as if he were trying to master the skill. "What do you mean?" Aidan asked, not looking up.

"All of this - flying lightyears through space - your career choice."

"No, Jonny, I don't think it's pointless." the words spilled out of Aidan on the breath of a sigh. "Besides, what the hell else would I do, I have no skill-sets..'cept flyin, of course."

"You don't need a 'skill-set' to have a career." Jon countered, looking lazily at Aidan, sipping his scotch.

"Uh, yes you do. Not all of us can live on an inherited fortune like you, Jonny." he found a Joker in the deck and flung it at his civilian friend.

"I'm not 'living off of an inheritance', I work hard." Jon said, putting an emphasis on the word 'hard', which implied he truly felt he did.

"Oh yeah? I'd hardly call that workin'. You're a writer, and you wouldn't even be if it weren't for the publishing company bein' left to you."

Jonny seemed to seize Aidan's words, sitting more rigid in his seat. "But that's exactly what I'm talking about - I can stay in one place and still make a living. And you? You fly all over the galaxy chasing adventure, facing danger and exploitation when you could just as easily be standing in Dublin with a girl on each arm, your best friend just a short distance away."

"I ain't goin' back to Dublin, you know that." Aidan's tone was slightly different, a slight sadness about it now. "Jonny you know I love you, man, but I gotta do this."

Jon fell silent, thoughtful, then nodded. He seemed to struggle with the fact that his friend was once again leaving after only a fleeting visit. He opened his mouth to speak before the intercom cut through the sound of Aidan shuffling his cards.

=^=Attention all passengers: prepare for docking at 06:00. All passengers and Starfleet personnel transferring to Starbase 400 must clear the ship by 07:00. Departure will begin at 07:35.=^=

Aidan and Jonny exchanged a glance. Jonny looked particularly bummed out, while Aidan was clearly excited and rearing to go. "That's in fifteen minutes! I guess it's the end of the line." said Aidan, standing from his seat. Jonny brooded where he sat. "C'mon," Aidan groaned. "You didn't pay for transport just to mope around?" he bent the cards between his fingers, sending them scattering all over his friend and the surrounding area. "Let's get to a transport station, I want to be first in line."

Jonny waved a hand. "You go, Aidan, I had no intention of leaving this transport ship."

"Ah, what? Come on, I can show you around before you go!"

"Not interested." said Jonny, exhaling a heavy sigh before getting to his feet. "In fact, I've got some writing to do." he managed a smile at his friend, and shook his hand. "I'm sorry I couldn't convince you yet again." His entire demeanor was warm, affectionate toward his oft absent best friend.

"I'm sorry that you have no sense of adventure." Aidan said with a grin. "Don't worry - I'll call you often with legendary fables of my adventures," he said, smirking wryly. "Just so you have something to write about." He looked for a long moment at his friend, then, in an act of rudeness that only he could get away with, Aidan took the glass of scotch from Jon's hand and drank it down. "Chirk up buddy, you ain't rid of me for good." he patted Jon on the arm, then picked up his 'carry-on' belongings and left Jon standing there with an empty glass.

OFF.

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