"Full Circle"
(Previous Post: Talluah's 'Somewhere Out There')
====================================
Stardate: 60322.2145
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Main Engineering
As David sat in his office... well... former office, he
watch the ANUBIS' passage through the GIZA nebula
toward their final destination... and there it was
spinning in space with the rest of the countless
billions of asteroids... NEW ALEXANDRIA. The former CEO
had been 'holed' up in T'Reni's office ever since he
finished the last of his packing. Several engineers
and technicians had tried to find a way... anything... to
make their former department head explain the reason
why he was resigning. But he gave none. T'Reni entered
and placed her hands behind her back.
"Lieutenant Dawson" she said in her cool Vulcan tone.
"Lieutenant T'Reni" David replied.
"Let me say that it has been a honor and a pleasure
serving with you. This is... somewhat difficult for
me..."
"I'm going to miss you too T'Reni. I won't have my
working voice of reason anymore."
"You will be missed David. I have worked for and
served under a lot of CEOs in my Starfleet career. You
were the most proficient..."
"Thanks" David said.
"...if not tempermental..." she replied and David
shrugged, "but we will try to keep the standard you
have set around here..."
"No you won't" David said, "*you're* the chief
engineer now T'Reni. Its up to you to set a new
standard."
The conversation between the former CEO and current
CEO was interupted by David's comm badge.
=/\= Lieutenant Dawson, report to my ready room, =/\= the
disembodied voice of Captain Simmons said and the
channel was closed.
"No time like the present" he said as T'Reni held up
her hand with the customary Vulcan greeting.
"Peace and long life to you David." she said with a
nod.
David returned the gesture. "Live long and prosper
T'Reni" he said and exited.
====================================
The bridge was alive with the normal hustle and bustle
as Commander Sabrina Rikar took a non-customary sit
down in the captain's chair. Since Captain Simmons
left her in command, there she sat as the aft lift
doors opened. As she glanced in the direction of the
hiss, the bridge grew quiet as David stepped off. This
was the first time in days he had set foot in the
command center of the SCARAB class vessel. Sabrina's
eyes followed the former CEO as he crossed the bridge
to the captain's ready room. She wanted to say
something, but didn't as the look on David's face
showed that he still wasn't forthcoming about his
resignation. Serenna, Maya, and Annie watched as the
towering engineer waited outside the COs office. The
doors opened and his disappeared behind them. Serenna
swiveled her chair to face the ExO.
"Still no reason?" she asked as Sabrina shook her
head.
"None" she sighed.
"Has anyone tried asking him?" Maya added, "I
mean... this just isn't like David" and she looked at
Serenna, "you've known him the longest. Is it in his
character to just quit like this?"
"The David Dawson I knew those years in the Academy... no... but he isn't the same man."
"I guess in time he'll tell us" Maya sighed as Sabrina
frowned.
**Dammit... its not supposed to end like this** she
thought, **why won't you talk to me?** she said to
herself as she looked at the doors to James' ready
room.
====================================
David stood with his hands behind his back as James
signed off on a padd and the young ensign left
hurriedly. When the doors closed the captain nodded
him to a seat.
"This probably goes without saying" James said
smoothing his blazer after he stood and went to his
replicator, "but I need to know what's going on with
you Lieutenant."
"There's nothing going on with me Captain." David
relied as James returned to his desk and sat.
"OK David... let's just cut to the chase" James said,
"have you *seriously* thought about what you're about
to do?"
"Yes" David replied, "I've spent many hours thinking
about it. And this is the best thing for me."
"Resigning your commission. Leaving behind what has
already started to be a stellar career..."
"Yeah... right" David mumbled.
"I'm serious. You have made your own name... your own
'niche' persay." and James sat back abnd sighed,
"David... you remember when we first
met... how... upset it made you for me to speak highly
of your father?"
David nodded, "But you didn't speak highly of him sir.
You just spoke of *him*. True enough, I have my
father's name..."
"And that's exactly my point. You're a engineer. One
of the best and brightest I've ever seen. And this
*comes* from a engineer." He added with a smile. David
just looked at his CO and blinked.
**OK.... nice and easy isn't working** James thought to
himself as he continued, "So humor your captain for a
moment please and tell me why?"
David took a breath and let it out slowly. "I'll tell
you like I've told countless others in the days since
I announced I was resigning... and you'll forgive me
if I say no."
"No?" James asked.
"That's right. No." the CEO replied.
**OK... different strategy** James thought. "OK... I
*order* you to tell me why."
**Damn you** David thought. "Permission to speak
freely sir."
James crossed his legs under his desk. "By all means."
"I'm tired."
"Tired?" James repeated.
"Yes... of the lies. Of the hard work. Of the heavy
work loads that goes un-noticed. And moreover, tired
of the bullshit that this job entails."
"No one said it would be easy Lieutenant."
"You're right" David said with a nod, "absolutely
right. We're all professional officers, highly trained
and seasoned. We're told from day one that our jobs
aren't the easiest ones in the galaxy. But we do them.
But here's a question for you Captain. What do you do
when there *isn't* any joy in what you do?"
James eyed David quizzedly, "I don't follow."
David stood and paced, which James was used to in
their talks. He noticed that at times pacing was
helpful to David because he thought clearly when he
paced. David stopped, then started agin.
"I mean... when we were back on the AVALON, I *loved*
getting up every morning and getting to M.E. ...or
tackling any work order you had for me. Or anyone else
for that matter. But *here*... there is no joy. I have
come to hate this place and everything it stands for."
"David... the line of work we do here..." James
started to say but David cut him off.
"Captain, please... no more sugar coating. Let's look
at the facts" he said as he sat and leaned on the COs
desk, "the CO here... don't like him... don't trust
him. We have *no* outside contact with the rest of the
universe and look at me" David said pointing to
himself, "there are so many things I wanted to have
had accomplished by now that I have *seriously* failed
at and it sickens me..."
"Things like?" James asked.
"You name it. Have a wife. A family. Be a better
officer and in a better position than where I am right
now... and this place is a damned leech. It locks you
in and just drains everything out of you."
James knew that it would come soon, so he just said
it. "So... brass tacks to plasma inducers. You're
resigning because Jordan is dead...."
David frowned. "Not in so much as that. I'm not
looking at past generations in my family, but the job
has killed my family Captain. My father. My mother.
Now... my kid brother. And I'll be damned, dead and in
my grave or my atoms floating before I let it take
me."
James examinded David's facial features as the CEO
continued on with his reasons for resigning and he
noticed something. The more he talked about it, the
darker his eyes became. Almost like the time he was
possessed back on the AVALON.
"David... for as long as I've known you, you've always
been up front with me. But for the first time since
I've known you, I know one thing for certain."
"And that is?" David asked.
"You're lying to me."
"Excuse me?"
"Your brother is dead and that is a tragedy. *But* the
real reason is because his murderers escaped..."
David's fist thudded James' desk. "NO" the CEO snapped
and then he took a breath, "sorry Captain, but no.
They didn't escape. Enaii gave them a walk away scott
free pass. And that's *just* my point. The sacrifices
we have to make for this line of work we do. We
sacrifice and get nothing out of it..."
"So you think you should be rewarded?" James asked,
"David... if that were the case..."
"I'm not looking for a damned accolade Captain" David
replied hotly, "I'm looking for the *feeling* I used
to have. I get up every morning and the face I see
isn't me. The face I see doesn't belong to a chief
engineer... a happy one at that. And as I've said it
sickens me that this place has infected me. And I want
out."
"Not trying to sound like a counselor..." James said
but David cut him off.
"Then don't say it. We *know* just how good counselors
words are these days don't we?"
**Good thing Susan didn't hear that** James thought.
"I just don't want you to go away bitter David. That's
all."
"Too late for that" David replied, "and if you're
upset about loosing a good officer, blame your CO and
your ILO..."
James' comm badge bleeped and he tapped it. "Go
ahead."
=/\= Sorry to disturb you Captain, but the ANUBIS has
docked and Admiral Koneki is expecting us, =/\= came the
voice of Commander Rikar.
"Acknowledged number one. Out" and he closed the
channel, "so... how soon do you want me to submit your
resignation?"
David looked on the captain's desk, found the padd he
was looking for and picked it up. "I'll give it to the
Admiral once I give him my report."
James sighed and stood. "Well... it has been a honor
serving with you Lieutenant. I just wished it didn't
have to end this way." He smiled and extended his
hand.
David stood and shook his COs hand. "The pleasure is
still mine Captain."
David turned and headed for the door. Once on the
bridge, several officers had already started to
disembark as Serenna and Sabrina were still there.
Sabrina quickly crossed the bridge to the lift where
David was standing.
"Hi." she said with a sad smile.
"Commander" David replied.
She gestured for him to stoop over. David looked at
her then leaned forward.
"Lunch. Later on?" she asked.
David shook his head. "Sabrina, I don't think..."
"Please" she said and the look she had spoke volumes.
The lift doors opened and David stepped onto the lift.
He never said a word as the doors closed.
Sabrina stood there and sighed. Serenna walked up
behind her.
"I guess this really is good bye" the ExO whispered as
she looked at the COO.
====================================
as
Lieutenant David Dawson
"A Starfleet officer...that's all I am and that's all I'll ever be." 2005 post #236
Stardate: 60321.2200
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Bridge
Stardate: 60321.2205
Setting: Captain Simmons' ready room
Julian Knight (d_dawson_1@yahoo.com)
Chief Engineer
USS ANUBIS NCC 18501
- Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko,
Commanding Officer of the Federation Spacestation Deep Space 9
