Calling a Friend During a Time of Need

[losthunter]

It had been a couple of days since Hunter had learned about the Enterprise crashing, and was still separated from Jim, who was based in Yorktown.

It had been difficult for the artist to focus on his classes. Good thing he had both Chanath and Faris watching out for him, and taking diligent notes in any classes that they shared.

The fact that he couldn't just go see Jim, and be there in person was starting to wear on him.

And he knew he had to talk to someone. So he PINpointed Adia.

Hey. It is Hunter.

Jim is stuck in a situation where I can't see him.

And I need a friend.

Are you available?

Comments

[chiron_survivor]

Anastasia leans into her brother's head butts, purring happily. With her bonded owners and their extended family, she's never lonely, but time spent with a sibling is very special.

As someone who has kept her world in the dark about the Nexus for several years now, Adia can relate. "That is hard," she agrees sympathetically. "He must have been out of contact for a little while, too. How long until you can see him again?"

Tracking down the other Jim had been a lot harder, at least from what Stratos had told her, but there's no point in bringing up what any of that had been like, it would only stress Hunter out after the fact. She does wonder if this Jim decided to stash and extra PINpoint somewhere, just in case.

"Can you still send one another messages?" Caspar asks. "Starfleet doesn't scan his transmissions, does it?"

[losthunter]

"I am not sure. The Enterprise itself was destroyed. They had to separate the saucer section. And then crashed that section. They were able to repair another ship, called USS Franklin, with the help of a woman named Jaylah." If the older Jim told Adia anything about what happened three years ago, all this information will sound very familiar.

"Luckily since I am technically a Starfleet cadet right now, we can do Video Chats. As far as I know... Starfleet isn't scanning his transmissions."

[chiron_survivor]

Jim actually did not share any of the details of the Enterprise being destroyed, other than that his senior crew survived. Regardless, she knows well enough that a new spaceship is not built in a matter of weeks, or possibly even months. Who knows how long Hunter and Jim will be apart?

"Well, at least there's that," Caspar says quietly. The thought of being stuck to video chats only with Adia has him feeling a little queasy. That's the trouble with empathy, although Caspar tries not to push his own emotions aside, wanting to be a decent friend for Hunter. "But it still sucks."

Adia reaches out and takes Hunter's hand. "It's hard being separated, but it won't be forever. I'm sure Jim will find a way to see you."

[losthunter]

"He did say that he doesn't want to go back on another mission, unless I am with him." Hunter does cling to the promise and hope of being reunited with Jim.

[chiron_survivor]

"Oh! Then you'll be on the Enterprise with him. The new one, I mean." Adia gives Hunter's hand a squeeze. "No more secret dates, I hope."

"Do you have to graduate first?" Caspar asks. "How much longer do you have at the Academy?"

[losthunter]

"The Academy program lasts four years. I am half way through the program, and on track to graduate in another two years." Hunter answered.

[chiron_survivor]

"It won't take two years for the Enterprise to be rebuilt," Caspar points out, noting the discrepancy in timing.

"Do you have to do all four years in San Fransisco?" Adia asks. "Can you get an internship?"

[losthunter]

"I might be able to get an internship. The important thing I am trying to focus on... is the fact Jim told me that he is not going back on another mission, unless I am there with him." Hunter notes.

"I am basically living in Jim's apartment there. Since I don't really... exist on his world. We had to come up with a cover story for me."

[chiron_survivor]

"That's a good thing to focus on," Adia says, giving Hunter's hand a squeeze. "He'll figure something out, I'm sure."

Caspar almost suggests eloping, but bites back the impulse, knowing that Adia would probably give him a look for it.

"Oh, what's your cover story?" Adia asks curiously. "When Jim -- the other Jim -- offered to relocate my people to his universe, I had the same problem. It never came to it, but I think we were going to go with a long-lost colony." She's glad that she didn't have to worry about that after all, although she's ever grateful to Jim for offering the opportunity.

[losthunter]

"That I am from a community that is a little more remote, and thus less knowledgeable about the technology that is most common. And I have had a chance to learn a little more about adapting to that technology, at the Academy." Hunter explains.

"No one has really pressured me to prove anything, at least."

[chiron_survivor]

"I would have had to go with the same story," Adia says with a little self-effacing laugh. "The technology on Jim's world is far more advanced than ours."

"Not by that much," Caspar says, sounding a little defensive. "Aside from the replicators."

"And the medical technology," Adia adds. "I'm sure there are other things, too."

"Haven't heard of any well-dressed sentient robots at Starfleet," Caspar mutters to himself.

Adia gives Hunter a knowing smile, hoping that it'll cheer him up a little.

[losthunter]

"Your technology is even a little more advanced than what my world has. So it has been a lot to get used to."

"But I do like the fact that I get to spend more time with Jim."