Stirring from his sleep after hearing the computer announce the time, Max found himself wrapped up with his husband close by. Looking down at his chest, Max saw Tobias’ face resting against his torso, all snuggled into him with his right arm wrapped closely across his abs. Taking a moment to savour this time, Max smiled. 

Tobias, still half-asleep, mumbled something unintelligible and snuggled closer. Max couldn’t help but smile more as he kissed Tobias’s forehead softly. “Good morning, Commander Court,” he whispered. 

Tobias blinked a few times, his eyes slowly focusing. A sleepy smile spread across his face as he looked up at Max. “Morning, birthday boy,” he said, his voice thick with sleep. He reached up to pull Max into a gentle kiss. “Happy birthday.”

Max chuckled. “Thank you, Tobes. It’s a good start to the day already.”

“I can make it an even better one if you want?” Tobias asked suggestively as he leaned further on top of Max.

“Oh yeah?” 

“Oh yeah!” Tobias echoed back before he reached over to the bedside table and retrieved a small, neatly wrapped package.

Max chuckled at Tobias’s attempt at being seductive and stupid simultaneously. Curious, he took the package. “You didn’t have to get me anything,” he said, but his smile showed his appreciation.

“Of course I did,” Tobias replied, settling back against the pillows to watch Max open the gift.

Max carefully unwrapped the package, revealing a small, ornate box. He opened it to find an old-fashioned compass pocket watch nestled inside. The brass casing was polished to a shine, and the intricate engravings on the lid hinted at its craftsmanship.

“Tobias, this is incredible,” Max said, his voice filled with awe. He gently lifted the watch from its box, feeling its weight in his hand. “It’s beautiful.”

Tobias’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “It’s not just any watch,” he explained. “It’s a compass pocket watch. I thought it would be perfect for your first day officially commanding the Odyssey. Something to remind you of your path, wherever it may lead.”

Max’s heart swelled with emotion as he turned the watch over in his hands. “It’s perfect,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He leaned in to kiss Tobias, a kiss full of gratitude and love. “Thank you, Tobias. This means more to me than you know.”

Tobias smiled, resting his hand on Max”s cheek. “You deserve it, Max. You’ve worked so hard for this. I’m so proud of you.”

Max felt a surge of determination and confidence. Today was a significant day—his first day as the captain of the Odyssey.

Stepping into the living room of his quarters, Commodore James McCallister stopped before he reached the final step of the twisted staircase. He looked around and realised just how empty his quarters now seemed. With his wife now on the Bellerophon, conducting final transfer requests for her crew and Alfie already out on his morning run with Jordan, the whole place wasn’t feeling like his home anymore. 

These quarters had been home to him and his family for over fifteen years. His boys had grown up on the Odyssey. He had raised his family, and now that they were all going off in different directions, he wondered if he could accept remaining here. Should he request smaller quarters and allow this space to be reused for VIPs?

“Computer, tea, hot,” He ordered as he took his final steps across the living room and into the kitchen area. The replicator came to life and automatically created his warm beverage. Picking it up, McCallister sipped it and noticed his reflection against the replicator’s shiny surface.

His new commodore pips and gold piping looked odd. McCallister was more used to seeing his previous uniform. This one made him look older. Should he have turned the promotion down? Would he still have been able to continue? Probably not.

The door chime went off.

“Come in,” McCallister replied. 

Standing in the doorway, wearing his cadet uniform and looking smart, was his son, Alfie.

“Alf, I thought you went for a run this morning with Jordan?” McCallister asked his son. He couldn’t get over how handsome Alfie was in his uniform. He reminded him a lot of himself back when he was a young, eager cadet.

“I did, but Jordan and I decided to go early. We’ve also started to move some of our staff into our quarters,” Alfie said. “So I decided to take a shower there, get changed and meet you here.”

“That’s kind, but why?” McCallister asked as he put his mug down on the nearby kitchen counter. 

“As you’re officially starting your new job today as sole squadron commander, I thought I would walk you to the command centre,” Alfie replied. He then stood to attention before speaking in a more formal tone. “Cadet Alfie McCallister-Reyas reporting for duty, sir!”

“At ease, cadet,” McCallister said with a smirk. “Let me guess, your mother asked you to do this?”

Alfie sighed. “A bit, but I planned to do something nice, Dad.”

McCallister chuckled as he walked over to his son and gave him a hug. “I appreciate it.”

“She also ordered me to make sure you’ve eaten breakfast,” Alfie said after they let go. “So, I’ve organised for us to have breakfast in the commodore’s private dining hall.”

“There is no commodore’s private dining hall,” 

Alfie shook his head. “Yeah, there is,” He replied. “Well, as of oh-five hundred this morning, there is. Captain Duncan ordered a refurbishment of one of the private function rooms for your use.”

“I see my former first officer is already taking over my old places,” McCallister joked. He hadn’t even considered the fact that the captain’s dining hall was no longer his. Perhaps he should consider relocating to one of the other ships in the squadron? 

“So, hurry up, or we’ll be late, and I’m starving!” Alfie remarked, rubbing his belly.

“Some things never change,” McCallister chuckled as he put his arm over his son’s shoulders and gave him one more hug before they left his quarters to have breakfast together.

USS Themis (NCC-76554), docked at Deep Space 19, Kovar System, Alcott Sector, Beta Quadrant

“What’s all this?” 

Captain Cambil looked up from where she sat at the table’s head and stood up gracefully. “It’s your going away breakfast!” 

Hunsen grinned as he stepped into the captain’s private dining hall. “I know we only spoke about this last night, but—”

“There’s no ‘but’, Tremt,” Cambil stopped him as she gestured for him to join her. “We might not be able to give you the going away celebration I’d like, but you can at least officially have one final meal with me before you go.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” He replied sincerely.

“Sit, sit,” Cambil insisted as she poured Deka tea into some cups. In the last few months, she had gotten Hunsen hooked on the beverage for breakfast. “Just remember, not even Max Duncan can outdo me on a celebratory breakfast.”

“I won’t, ma’am,” Hunsen chuckled. “I promise.”

She picked up one cup, handed it to him, and took her own. “To my Number One.”

Clinking their cups against each other, Hunsen appreciated the sentiment. “Thank you, ma’am. It has been an honour.”

“Drop the formalities, Tremt; you’re only my first officer for another two hours or so,” Cambil said as she placed a napkin over her lap. “But it has been an honour to have you as my first, first officer.”

Hunsen took a sip of his tea. “So, who’s my replacement?”

“T’Rani, of course,” Cambil confirmed. 

“She’ll make an excellent first officer,” Hunsen agreed. 

“I’m promoting her and Cline,” Cambil shared.

“Good, they deserve it, especially after completing their latest bridge qualifications,” He stated. “I hear Max has asked Abbej if she could join Odyssey?”

“Yeah, she’s turned him down. For now, she wants to remain here; even though things between her and Tierra are mending, they still want to give it time.” Cambil informed him. “I’m afraid you’ll need to find someone else to poach. Got any candidates in mind?”

“Max and I are going through candidates later,” Hunsen conveyed. “There’s someone that Captain Banfield knows who is currently teaching down at the Academy’s campus on Kovar; we may approach.”

“Anyone else you plan to steal?” Cambil asked, putting her cup down.

“From here?” He checked. Cambil nodded. “No one; the others are all either based from the station or the Starfleet facilities on Kovar. I think the new crews from the Bellerophon and Triton are being taken from the Odyssey.”

“Not all those eager young cadets?” Cambil probed.

Hunsen shook his head. “No, no, they’re staying behind with us. Though the training unit is losing some of its senior staff, it will continue to function in a different capacity on the Odyssey.” 

“Well, I hope it goes smoothly and with good luck,” Cambil said sincerely. “We could do with luck before we return to the Delta Quadrant.”

“Are you worried about our return to the other side of the galaxy?” Hunsen asked as the holographic servers came in with their usual breakfast orders.

Shrugging, Cambil showed some concern. “I am, and I’m not, if that makes sense. It’s returning to what we know but through a new means. That said, I am intrigued by what we may find. I just hope we don’t have another run into the Krenim.”

“Agreed,” Hunsen said, raising his cup again. “Here’s to no more alternative timeline shenanigans!”