" Unexpected Wisdom "
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The only way out is through.
- Ancient Wisdom
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Stardate: 60325.1415
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Sickbay
The call from the ship's Chief Medical Officer had reached the Oltharian only a few minutes ago, and even though she had said that it had not been urgent Elan had wasted no time in responding to the summons of the ship's 'Healer'. Those who had witnessed the massive giant rushing through the corridors much have believed that the ship had been on some sort of collision course or that someone dear to the former Chief Engineer had been near death. Whatever reason had made Elan rush as he had, everyone had decided out of nothing more than self-preservation to stand out of the way.
The Oltharian bowed his head the moment he had entered Sickbay to see the Chief Medical Officer, Ensign Lea Summers, in the middle of the room looking surprised that the giant had responded to her call so rapidly. "You must have been like next door," the Doctor said through a chuckle, certain that she had not had time to take more than a few steps since she had contacted the Robotics Engineer.
"I was on the Bridge taking care of some minor adjustment to the navigational systems," Elan ever so politely announced as he displayed the customary reverence to the woman due to her position has *Healer*. "I am sorry if my having responded to your call as quickly as I did has caused you any sort of trouble," the Oltharian added sounding genuinely apologetic for something that he should not been as far as the Doctor had been concerned.
"Elan," Ensign Summers began finding it hard to adjust to the fact that someone as large and imposing as the Oltharian could show such a level of reverence and admiration for someone like her simply because she held the position of Chief Medical Officer onboard a ship. "You really didn't have to rush like that, I only wanted to speak with you, have you answer a few questions and maybe have you share some of your world's wisdom which I have heard so much about."
"Healer I am deeply honoured," Elan replied deepening his bow, "I shall do my best to help you in whatever way I can."
Not wanting to have the discussion that would follow take place in the middle of Sickbay and open to anyone who passed near them, Doctor Summers requested that the Oltharian followed her into her office - a request that the giant promptly acquiesced.
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Stardate: 60325.1420
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Office of the Chief Medical Officer
Upon entering her officer Doctor Summers settled on the edge of her desk suspecting that the Oltharian would likely refuse to sit should she offer him a seat. The height difference between the two officers had been already almost more than the Chief Medical Officer could handle so she believed that avoiding to make it worse had been a wise move. "Elan, I wanted your opinion on David and the situation that he is in. I have heard a lot of rumours floating throughout the ship and I wanted to you where you stood on the issue having known David in more ways than many of us."
"I consider David to be a good friend," Elan replied not surprising the Chief Medical Officer by his reply, but the next words that came out of the Oltharian had almost caused the Ensign to lose her balance and fall to the floor. "That said I support the course of action Captain Rikar has chosen in dealing with David."
"What?" The Doctor demanded as she forced the large lump that had formed in her throat down. "How can you claim to be his friend and support what Captain Rikar is doing to him? I would greatly appreciate you explaining that to me."
Bowing once again his reverence to the Healer, the Oltharian proceeded as he had been asked without any hesitation. "Forget about all that is assumption, emotion or reaction and allow your mind to focus for a single moment on the time that is now. If David has been possessed by a ghostly entity, be it that of his twin brother Richard or any other creature capable of such feat, than the body that it has chosen to take control of cannot be allowed to roam free in this universe permitting it to spread its evil onto others. If on the other hand David was in any way in control of his actions when he disobeyed those orders and placed the lives of many others in danger, then he should be made accountable for his actions. I consider myself to be his friend, as I know he considers me to be the same, and as a friend I wholeheartedly believe that this court-martial is what is needed to bring an end to the darkness that has taken hold of his spirit," Elan explained with a calmness that the Chief Medical Officer found unable to believe.
"You can't be serious?" The Chief Medical Officer gasped, of all the people onboard the ANUBIS Elan had been the last she had expected to be in support of the course of action taken by their Commanding Officer - a court-martial. "Do you know what a court-martial will do to David? I am not just talking about his career but also to him as a person."
"I do," the Oltharian replied with the same unsettling calmness, a calmness that a Vulcan would have been most envious of. "If David has been possessed by this Richard who wishes nothing more to see our friend's life destroyed, the court-martial will provide him with the satisfaction he is so desperately seeking leaving the entity with no other goal to strive for once it has been accomplished. Without a purpose to drive us through each new day we would stop and die, and I believe that once Richard has accomplished his ultimate goal he will abandon David to his fate. It will be then and only then that we as David's friends will be the most needed, not before. If on the other hand David was conscious of his actions, facing them and their consequences will be the only way for him to clear his name and conscience allowing our friend to move ahead with his life without carrying on his shoulders the burden of past deeds. Salvation for David rests at the end of this trial, trying to avoid it would serve nothing but to insure that his suffering continue until he can no longer bare the increasing weight on his spirit."
The Chief Medical Officer tilted her head to one side as she studied the Oltharian as if trying to ascertain if he had been the same gentle giant she had grown to know only in passing over their last mission.
"Thank you Elan," Doctor Summers said uncertain if the discussion had been a good or bad thing. "You have given me a great deal to think about, so I will not keep you any longer from your duties."
Without appearing hurt or disturbed by this sudden dismissal the Oltharian once again bowed and exited the office of the Chief Medical Officer, offering the Healer a blessing native from his world, "May your nights always have the light of a moon to ward of the shadows of doubt."
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Francois Charette {f_charette@hotmail.com}
Lieutenant Junior Grade Elan Talak Fairborn 2005 post #410
Robotics Engineering Officer
NEW ALEXANDRIA
