The Quiet Refusal
Posted on Fri Jun 20th, 2025 @ 3:27am by Lieutenant JG Abrasax & Commander Hiro Sommers-Yoshida
2,214 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Episode 9: Across Time
Location: Deep Space 21, Chief Science Officer's Office
Commander Hiro Sommers-Yoshida had always believed that promotions should be earned, not merely given. It was a lesson reinforced by years of service in Starfleet. And today, as he strode through the corridors of Deep Space 21 toward the Chief Science Officer’s office, he was certain that Lieutenant Junior Grade Abrasax had earned his next pip.
The doors hissed open at his approach, revealing the scientist’s workspace, the soft glow of data displays casting blue and violet hues across the walls. Hiro stepped inside, glancing around at the neatly organized chaos of scientific models, field reports, and several scientific artifacts scattered across the desks. He’d never been one to linger in science labs for long unless duty required it, but he respected the work done here. And Abrasax, brilliant, meticulous, was at the center of it all.
He clasped his hands behind his back, allowing himself a small smile. “Lieutenant Junior Grade Abrasax,” he said, his voice even, yet carrying an unmistakable note of purpose. “We need to talk.”
The mélange of drinks Abrasax had consumed over the past few days had left him unstable, to say the least. The strange part was that he didn’t feel drunk—at least, not in the traditional sense. Instead, there was a light-headedness, a curious detachment from his own movements, like he was floating just slightly out of sync with reality. If this was as close as he ever got to intoxication, so be it.
Still, he had enjoyed himself. Over the last few days, he’d found comfort in chattering with both Starfleet officers and civilians, lingering in the easy flow of conversation, letting the stress of the Euryale mission dissolve into casual company. There was something therapeutic about it—just sitting back, enjoying the warmth of connection, and for once, not overanalyzing everything.
The whoosh of his office door opening hit differently today—louder, sharper, as though the sound had weight. He rubbed his temple briefly, chasing away the slight haze as he looked up from the reports spread across his desk. His department seniors had been thorough; everything seemed to be running smoothly, and apart from the ongoing system survey, the team was making steady progress on their projects.
Then he heard his name. Abrasax glanced up just in time to see Commander Hiro Sommers-Yoshida striding toward him. The hybrid’s brow furrowed as he instinctively stood. When a commanding officer says, 'we need to talk,' it’s rarely a good thing.
“Commander, what’s wrong?” he asked, his relaxed mood evaporating into something more cautious, more alert.
Hiro studies Abrasax for a moment, noting the slight hesitation, the subtle tension in his shoulders. The scientist had been relaxed just a second ago, but now his posture had shifted - straightening too quickly, as if caught by surprise and and unsure how to react. That reaction alone told Hiro what Abrasax is expecting: bad news. He lets a small pause settle between them before offering a slight nod, his tone even but firm. “Nothing is wrong, Lieutenant. In fact, quite the opposite.”
The moment Commander Sommers-Yoshida assured him that there was nothing wrong, Abrasax visibly relaxed. His mind had already braced for some dire revelation—a new threat from Euryale, a station-wide emergency, or some unseen crisis lurking just outside their sensor range. That tension eased in his shoulders as his gaze flicked to the raktajino steaming on his desk.
Instinctively, he started to reach for it, but paused—subconsciously aware of the presence of his commanding officer. It felt improper, somehow, to casually sip his drink mid-conversation, so instead, he let his hand settle back at his side as he straightened.
He was already halfway into sitting back down when a genuine smile replaced his earlier concern.
“That’s good to hear, sir,” he said, his tone carrying a note of relief and mild amusement. He gestured to the chairs in front of him. “Would you like to have a seat?”
Realizing belatedly that he was still the host here, he quickly added, “Oh, would you like anything? Something to drink?” His head tilted slightly in an inquisitive manner, his natural curiosity and hospitality surfacing at once.
The offer of hospitality wasn’t unexpected, but it did earn a slight nod of approval. Some officers, especially those wrapped up in their work, had a tendency to overlook such things. Abrasax, for all his analytical precision, hadn’t lost sight of simple courtesies.
“I appreciate the offer, but I will not take up too much of your time,” he replied, stepping further into the office. His gaze flicked to the reports spread across the desk, a subtle gesture rather than an outright comment. “I and Commander Horn did, however, review your file some time ago.” A pause—just long enough to let the weight of that statement settle before he added, “Not because of any concern, but because of what comes next.”
He finally took the offered seat, his expression unreadable for a moment before he leaned back slightly, adopting a more conversational tone. “Your work has been difficult to overlook, Lieutenant.” Another small pause. “And I mean that in the best possible way.”
"Thank you sir, I wasn't going to apply for Chief until I had, at least, another 6 years experience." Abrasax explained, he smiled. "There's so much to explore and investigate, not to mention the Hades Cluster's wealth of secrets," he shuddered at the recalling of their encounter with Euryale, and he prayed that was the last time both with her and any other superior threats.
A smile escaped before Hiro shook his head. “If we all waited until we felt completely ready, half of Starfleet would be understaffed. I’ve learned that myself recently.” His tone was lighter now, the formal edge easing just slightly. “I know you didn’t plan on stepping into the Chief Science Officer role this soon, but circumstances rarely wait for the perfect candidate. And despite that you’ve handled it well.”
He let that settle for a moment before leaning forward slightly, resting his forearms on his knees. “You’ve more than proven yourself, Abrasax. Not just in the lab, but as a leader. Deep Space 21 needs officers who can think critically, adapt under pressure, and still manage to keep their team moving forward. You’ve done that.” A small nod, as if reinforcing the point. “Which is why I’m here, to offer you a promotion to full Lieutenant.”
Hiro sat back again, watching for Abrasax’s reaction. “You’ve earned it.”
His eyes widened slightly as he took this offer in, Abrasax leaned back in his chair as he seriously considered it. As his memories played quickly backward, nothing he did really stood out. It was all just dumb luck or timing as he perceived it.
Abrasax smiled apologetically. "While I do appreciate it, sir, I must decline." He replied and didn't elaborate.
The words caught him off guard. Hiro blinked, just once, but it was enough to betray a flicker of surprise. Of all the responses he’d anticipated—gratitude, humility, maybe even disbelief—outright refusal hadn’t been one of them. He studied Abrasax more closely now, his expression tightening ever so slightly as he tried to read between the lines.
“I see,” he said carefully, leaning back in his seat. “That’s… not the answer I was expecting.” His tone wasn’t sharp, but there was a clear undercurrent of curiosity threading through it. “Mind if I ask why?” He kept his voice even, calm, giving Abrasax room to speak if he chose, but his eyes were searching now, looking for the hesitation, the self-doubt, or something deeper that might explain the refusal.
It did seem rehearsed as Abrasax spoke, perhaps for the possibility he'd be offered promotion. His expression softening, the smile he had just offered. "I'm not seeking advancement at this time, sir."
Hiro let the silence settle for a beat. Not uncomfortable, exactly - just long enough to give weight to the moment. He studied Abrasax with quiet intent, the edges of his expression softening from surprise into something more thoughtful.
“All right,” he said at last, not pressing further. “I won’t argue with a well-considered decision.” He paused, then added, more gently, “You should know, though, that advancement doesn’t always mean chasing ambition. Sometimes it’s simply recognition of how far you’ve come, and how much you already contribute.” His tone carried no judgment, only a kind of quiet respect. “But I’ll respect your decision.”
He leaned back, his posture easing once more, though the gears behind his eyes were clearly still turning. “Still,” he added, a small smile forming, “you’ll forgive me if I keep the pip handy. Just in case.”
Abrasax found his left eyebrow raised. "My work is my ambition." He replied simply, smiled with his eyes closed, and his head tilted slightly.
A quiet laugh slipped from Hiro. Short, but genuine. “Spoken like a true scientist,” he said, a note of warmth in his voice. He regarded Abrasax for a moment, then gave a slow nod. “And that’s nothing to apologize for. Frankly, it’s probably why you’re as effective as you are.”
He shifted slightly in the chair, relaxing into it. “Still, that pip isn’t going far. I’ll hold onto it until the day your ambition and your rank finally align, whenever that is.”
Abrasax opened his eyes as Hiro spoke. He gave a shrug. "Who knows, I do wonder when we will be returning to the system survey since it was rudely interrupted." He said.
Hiro gave a small, understanding tilt of his head. “I wonder that too,” he said, his tone turning more pragmatic. “But until Starfleet finishes chewing on the Lethe report, we’re in a holding pattern.”
He let out a quiet breath, not quite a sigh. “They’ll want to be cautious. Euryale wasn’t exactly something we could’ve prepared for, and Command is… understandably uneasy about what else might be out there.” He met Abrasax’s gaze evenly. “But I’m sure we’ll return to exploring once they’ll have fleshed out new protocols. There’s much more to see out there.”
"Considering there wasn't much we could do against her, except out-think her," Abrasax let out a sigh. "I doubt we will ever be able to be prepared for her or others like her again unless our technology advances." He leaned forward and steepled his fingers as his elbows made contact with his desk's surface. "Hopefully our sensors should have some information about how to detect her species or her vessel's characteristics, we can run sweeps for such in the future."
He smiled. "Don't worry I have already begun concept work, I will be consulting the other department heads in the coming days. Maybe at a senior staff briefing with your permission, of course?" Abrasax smiled after he asked.
“That’s exactly the kind of initiative I like to see,” he said, his tone lifting slightly with approval. “If there’s a way to turn that encounter into something constructive—even preventative—I want us pursuing it.”
Hiro gave a nod, crisp but encouraging. “You have my full permission to coordinate with the others and call a staff briefing whenever it suits. If it leads to even one new detection protocol, it’s worth the time.”
"Ayesir." Abrasax agreed, he smiled and stood. "I will leave instructions for science in Ops to run scans for her ship, just in case she is bold enough to attack the station. It might be worth informing regular traffic to keep an eye out as well. Unless you already made those arrangements?" He asked.
While standing himself, Hiro adjusted the cuff of his uniform with a quiet nod. “I’ve already issued advisories to civilian and merchant traffic. No straying too deep into the Briar Patch or beyond the mapped regions of the system. They’re to report anything anomalous, no matter how minor.”
He paused for a moment, then added, “But I agree, there’s no harm in having Science run passive sweeps for other signatures like Euryale’s. Quiet vigilance.”
"Precisly." Abrasax said in a tone that meant business, it faded as he glanced at the chronometer. "Is it that time already?" He asked in surprise.
Abrasax’s sudden glance at the chronometer caught Hiro’s attention. The question hung in the air—“Is it that time already?”—and for a moment, Hiro found himself wondering the same thing. Had the conversation passed more quickly than he realized? Or was there something else pulling Abrasax’s focus away?
He gave a small, knowing smile. “Time does have a way of sneaking up on us,” he replied lightly, though inwardly he was curious what Abrasax really meant. “If you’ve got somewhere to be, I won’t keep you.”
"Apologies, I had a meeting with some of my staff," Abrasax stood. "Thank you sir." He grabbed a few padds and made his way out of his office. Not at a run but a slight jog.
Commander Hiro Sommers-Yoshida
Commanding Officer Deep Space 21
Lieutenant jg Abrasax
Chief Science Officer, Deep Space 21
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