Abe and Tommy
Posted on Sun Aug 7th, 2022 @ 7:42pm by Commander Abernathy Rice PhD
Edited on on Tue Aug 9th, 2022 @ 8:26am
822 words; about a 4 minute read
Mission:
The Hunt Begins
Location: Poseidon Station, Promenade
Timeline: MD001 1515 hrs
Unlike most days, the station seemed relatively quiet, which was troublesome as the Commodore walked the corridors. Looking out beyond the station, Tom sipped his coffee. There were no pressing matters, emergencies, or need for the Sector Commander. It was just him, his padd, and his coffee.
He sipped his coffee, looking up at the nearby Security Officer, “Lieutenant,” he nodded.
“Out for your morning stroll, Sir?”
“And enjoying it,” Tom replied, tipping his cup just a bit to acknowledge the Officer, “how's the wife and kids, Michael?”
The Security Officer nodded with a proud smile, “doing wonderful, Commodore, thank you. My youngest turned three yesterday,” his smile got a bit bigger as he spoke.
“I hear that’s a fun age,” Tom replied but was interrupted by a voice coming from behind him,
“Like you’d know anything about kids,” the voice was mid ranged and appeared full of energy. “Commodore Tommy,” the voice replied with a laugh. “Starfleet know you stole those pips?”
Michael stepped up a bit straighter, moving to a position between the Commodore and the man only to be waved off by Rice. “Don’t worry,” Tom shook his head, “he is safe, Michael,” Tom placed a hand on the Security Officer’s shoulder.
Tom turned to face the voice which was now standing directly in front of him, “You got old, Abe,” he gestured to the white hair, “what happened up there?”
“This,” Abe ran his hand through his hair, “happens with age, I’m told, and you know you if you ever bothered to come home, Tommy.”
Tom shuddered, hearing a slight smirk behind him; without turning to address the Security Officer, “you’d be best to forget that nickname, Michael.” Tom turned around, “meet my younger brother Abernathy Rice.”
“Commander,” Michael nodded, “pleasure to meet you, Sir.” He nodded to both, “I best be getting back to work, Commodore,” he nodded, “Commander.”
“Take care of those kids, Michael,” Tom replied, gesturing to the corridor, “there is a nice coffee place up the way.”
“Peppermint tea,” Abe added.
“Are you sure you are a Rice?” Tom gave him a puzzled look. He stuck out his left hand, “it’s good to see you, Abe.”
Abe looked at Tom, “are you serious?” Reaching out, he grabbed Tom and pulled him in for a giant hug. Tom returned the hug; however, to anyone within eyesight would have appeared to be quite awkward. The Rice family was never that close, but Abernathy was always the odd one. While the rest of the Rice clan took Security, Intelligence, or command positions, Abernathy went into Science. The Rice clan could be seen as athletic, competitive, and driven; Abernathy was more comfortable in a lab or lost in a good book.
Tom grabbed the corner of Abe’s red uniform, “you left the lab?”
“Starfleet offered the role of a lifetime,” Abe was a bit dramatic. “Executive Officer of the USS Artemis. It’s a..”
“I am familiar with the ship and her mission,” Tom stopped walking, “one white mocha with caramel syrup,” he ordered.
Abe looked to the barista, “peppermint tea, large.”
Tom continued, “Kidd picked you for the Executive role?”
“Your faith in me is overwhelming, brother,” Abe gave Tom a puzzled look.
“Hey, now that’s not what I meant,” Tom backpaddled, “I mean, it’s a unique ship, and it requires….”
“Keep digging, Tommy,” Abe interrupted.
“Abernathy,” Tom stopped him.
“Ok, ok, truce,” Abe picked up his tea, “Tommy,” he muttered under his breath.
Tom shuddered, “get your tea and shut up.”
“Yes, Commodore, Sir,” Abe mocked a salute knowing he could get away with it.
The two hadn’t seen each other in so long, yet it was like when they were little kids all over again. Firing off those not-so-subtle digs just to see how far they could get under the other’s skin. Tom looked down at the table, then back to his brother, “have you seen mom or dad recently?”
“And there it is,” Abernathy commented.
“What?”
“Can’t we just go one visit without dragging the family into this,” Aberthany sipped his tea, “just one, please.”
Tom relented and nodded, “so the Artemis, that’s quite a step up from your lab. You really ready for this?”
“It’s a smaller ship, and I just have to compare it to a lab,” Abe smiled, “With a few more people.”
“A few hundred more,” Tom replied.
“Could you let me have this one?” Abe sipped his tea.
“You win,” Tom replied, “it’s good to see you, Abe.”
“You too,” Abe gave a sheepish grin, “Tommy.”
A Joint Post By
Commander Abernathy Rice PhD
Executive Officer, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Commodore Thomas Rice
Sector Commander, Poseidon Station
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