“Well well well. Look who finally found time to drag himself away from his other friend to come spend time with his… friends.” Jaxon greeted Matthys with open arms and pulled him into a huge hug as he entered their accommodations on the other side of the planet from where he had been.

The room was much smaller than the luxurious suite Samwell had managed to reserve for himself, and, by proxy, what Matthys had lived in on Colludia II. However, it was still beautifully decorated and carried the same relaxed shore leave atmosphere.

Matthys and Samwell had agreed to part ways for the day. They had spent almost every waking moment together over the past week. It had been everything Matthys had hoped for and more, and his emotional cup already felt much fuller because of it. The timing had worked out well, as Alim had messaged asking if they could meet. Apparently, he had some news to share.

“It’s good to see you too, Jaxon.” Matthys returned the bear hug with all the enthusiasm he could muster.

“Matthys. You’re here. Good.” Alim emerged from the bedroom wearing an oversized, flamboyant floral shirt. It practically screamed shore leave.

“Come. Sit. Jaxon, make yourself useful and get us some tea.” Alim ordered, almost as though he were giving instructions to a crewman.

Jaxon offered an exaggerated salute before disappearing into the kitchenette while Matthys and Alim settled into the living area.

“So,” Alim began, “how have things been going with Samwell? I was hoping I’d get to meet him, you know.”

“It’s been… wonderful.” Matthys smiled instinctively. “Better than I imagined. It honestly feels like no time has passed at all. Like we’re back on the Columbia together again.” He laughed quietly. “I’m just… really happy.”

His expression alone was enough to answer the question. Alim noted he did not acknowledge his statement on getting to meet Samwell.

“Well, I’m glad.” Alim smiled warmly. “Hold on to that feeling. I do have some more good news to share.” There was something cautious in his tone. Matthys picked up on it.

“You remember asking me to have the results of your Starfleet Academy applications forwarded to me? Something about not wanting to find out through a letter?”

Matthys felt his heart skip a beat.

Now?

He had been convinced the results were still weeks away.

“Alright…” Matthys drew in a slow breath. “Which program?”

“Well…” Alim hesitated. “That’s the thing.”

“You got in, Matthys.”

Matthys blinked.

“…Which program?”

“To both.”

Alim reached for the PADD resting on the coffee table and handed it across. Not exactly the sort of thing anyone wanted to see while on holiday, a PADD that is. Matthys accepted it without hesitation, scanning the results for himself.

“Well…” He leaned back against the couch and let out a long sigh.

“Shit.”

Jaxon returned carrying a tray with three mugs of tea and a plate piled high with fresh scones.

“I see Matthys is taking the news with his usual level of restraint,” he observed. “Who’d have thought getting accepted into two prestigious Starfleet Academy programs would be so traumatic?”

“Sometimes having to choose is the stressful part, Jaxon.” Alim shot him a familiar that’s enough look before passing Matthys a mug of tea.

“You don’t have to make any decisions today. Or tomorrow. Or even this week. But both starfleet medical and science want you in their doctoral programs.”

He smiled.

“Congratulations, my friend.”

Matthys nodded quietly and took a sip of the tea, grateful for Alim’s calming presence.

This wasn’t the outcome he had expected when he had submitted the applications months ago. Truthfully, he had never expected to be accepted into either program. His academic history had been respectable, but hardly exceptional, and his career to date had always felt… ordinary. He was still an ensign after all.

This should have been everything he had ever wanted, though.

Starfleet medical represented the chance to become a doctor and carry on the Clark family legacy, just as his parents had always hoped. Perhaps this was finally the opportunity to earn the acceptance he had spent his entire life chasing.

Then there was the doctorate in botanical sciences. A chance to immerse himself in research and build a career around a passion he had never expected to discover. Plants. It was a path his parents would almost certainly never understand, one that would carry him even further from the future they had imagined for him.

It was a dilemma.

A wonderful dilemma.

But a dilemma all the same.

Then another thought occurred to him.

Samwell was here.

There was no one better to help him untangle this than Samwell. He understood Matthys’ family almost as well as Matthys did himself. If anyone could help him figure out what came next, or what he should do, it was his best friend.