<The time is 0500 hours.>
Lunis stood up from his desk and realized he had stayed up all night and he actually had had no sleep. Tunis had a hard time making this choice, but he felt it was the right choice. He re-read the PADD and felt sad to have to hand this to Pike or Captain Neil.
He left his quarters and walked over to the mess hall and ordered some coffee, then took a seat across from his friend MacLeod who had recovered from his wounds.
"Lunis, how are you this morning?" Mac asked in a friendly gesture.
"Well, today I bring this to Commodore Pike." Tunis handed over the PADD.
Mac read it and slammed it on the table. "What is this Lieutenant?"
Tunis didn't feel to friendly and snapped back, "What's it look like?"
Mac got up and threw his arms up in disgust and walked out in a firm march.
Several hours later, Tunis was up on the bridge waiting for 0830 to roll around. It finally came. Tunis pressed the door chime to the Commodore's ready room.
"Enter."
Tunis walked in as he practiced and did everything like he had practiced. "Sir. I, Lieutenant Lunis Tunis hereby resign my commission and position as Chief Science Officer onboard the USS Knight, effective as of now." He handed Pike the PADD.
"Pike took it and read it and then asked, "Why Lieutenant, are you resigning? You've only been out of the academy a year. You're a full Lieutenant."
"Sir, I've been nearly killed one too many times, and I can't take being responsible for the death that has just happen." Tunis' voice started to crack.
"Very well Lieutenant. The Knight will be docking at DS9 shortly. I'm sure you can get a transport to Trill with little trouble. Dismissed."
Tunis walked out and removed his pips and walked over to MacLeod who was standing on the bridge looking a bit down.
"Here Mac. I think you'll need these more then me."
Forty-six hours later on a transport heading for Trill...
"Lunis Tunis, new professor of Science on Trill, personal log. Although my career in Starfleet is over I feel I have become a better person than before. Now I can actually live out the practice of studying life and matter."