"The Means and the Ends and Everything Inbetween "
(previous post "Command Performance")
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Stardate: 60326.1650
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Black Hole Lounge
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Prav watched Maya leave and as much as he wanted to go after her he knew it was pointless. Every conversation they had the past few months ended in one or the other storming off. **What the hell am I doing?** he asked himself. Obviously the two of them were oil and water or maybe a better description would be Nitroglycerin and diatomaceous earth, either way Prav was beginning to question the sanity of his interest in the Chief Science Officer.
He cast a quick glance around the room, happy to see that those who did take notice of Maya's departure had gone back to their own conversations and he was even happier to see that the two members of the senior staff who had been present hadn't noticed at all. Straightening his uniform he headed out the door but not before seeing the two giants from the MERCURY crew having a drink. Prav had heard that they had been reassigned to the ANUBIS and although he had mixed feelings about that he certainly wasn't going to share that with them. He gave them a congratulatory smile as he went past. "Welcome aboard," he said, without stopping or waiting for a reply.
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Stardate: 60326.1750
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section A Level 6
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The debriefing with General Alvarez had gone pretty much as he expected, though the 15 minute diatribe about Lt. Dawson had been 14 minutes too long in Prav's opinion. They went over troop replacement for those killed or injured and although he didn't make mention of it, Alvarez noticed something different in Prav's demeanor as they went over the casualties from the last mission. Not that Prav had ever been emotional about such things but the General did sense more of an unsympathetic tone in his voice. It wasn't that he didn't care that there were causalities but the concern was more of a logistical matter than a personal one.
When the debriefing was over, Prav stood to leave but Alvarez held him back for a moment. "I understand that you took a pretty good blast down there," the General said as he looked up from his desk at the ANUBIS' MCO.
"Yes, Sir," he replied, "I did take a hit but it wasn't much more then a scratch."
"And that's why you neglected to report to sickbay?" he asked, obviously knowing more than he was letting on.
"I didn't see the need," Prav replied stoically
"If there is a problem between you and the CMO you better resolve it," Alvarez stated emphatically.
"Sir, there is no problem between me and Ensign Summers or any of the medical staff. I just didn't feel like I needed any medical assistance."
"Bullshit," the General said and before Prav could respond, Alvarez tossed a PADD at him.
Prav brought his right arm up to catch it but a sharp pain from the sudden movement caused him to miss. As the PADD fell to the floor Prav looked to his commanding officer. "I'm a little sore," he said lamely.
"I better see a medical report filed on you by 0500 tomorrow or I will give you a reason to be seen by a doctor. Do you understand me, Lieutenant?"
"Sir, yes sir," Prav barked in response.
"Dismissed," Alvarez said. As Prav turned to leave, Alvarez had one more order for him. "And pick up that PADD and put it back on my desk."
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Stardate: 60326.1820
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA Level C section 1
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Knowing full well that the General was a man of his word Prav made his way to the medical facility but instead of returning to the ANUBIS he remained on the base hoping that he'd find Lt. Damon Townsend on duty.
Townsend was one of the few non-marines that Prav had befriended. Although one was a marine and accustomed to causing injury and the other was a doctor dedicated to healing they both found common ground in a mutual interest in Philosophy. Many would probably be astonished to overhear one of their conversations which of late and focused on the whether ethics was relative or absolute.
As he walked into the quiet, tomb like medical facility he was happy to see Dr. Townsend sitting at a desk reading a PADD. He looked up and smiled as he saw Prav walk in.
"Lt. Pravat, to what do I owe this surprise? Couldn't sleep I hope," Townsend said as he turned in his chair toward the Marine.
Prav smiled. "Well I'd love to say that I couldn't wait to argue with you again but no, I'm here on business."
Damon's smile disappeared. "I had heard you guys had a rough time but I didn't see your name on any of the injury reports."
Taking a seat across from his friend, Prav sheepishly smiled. "Well, that's why I'm here. General Alvarez didn't believe me when I told him I didn't need medical attention. He wants to see a clean bill of health on his desk by 0500."
"Well, do you?" Damon asked, as he moved toward his friend.
Prav answered by removing his tunic and undershirt and revealing a red, swollen burn scar.
"Mother of…" Damon gasped. "What the hell did you do… or should I say didn't do? Did you have anyone look at that?"
"It looks worse than it is," he said moving his arm, trying to stretch the tight skin. "I had Corporal Black take a look at it before the final assault."
The doctor shook his head as he ran a tricorder across the scarred skin. "And the reason you didn't have Doctor Summers or someone else on ANUBIS take care of it was?"
"Just forgot, I guess," Prav said feebly. He had reasons but he just could quite articulate them and he wasn't really sure he wanted to in front of his friend.
"To bad it wasn't your head that was injured," Townsend said, picking up another device and bringing it against his chest.
Prav grimaced a little as the doctor pushed against the injury. "And why is that?" he asked.
"It's so hard that I doubt it would do any damage," the doctor laughed, walking over to his work station. "You have some damage to your pectoral and deltoid muscles but I can repair that. The scarring is a bit trickier. The depth of scar tissue in some areas will prevent me from completely healing the wound but I can make it a damn sight prettier and increase your mobility in that arm substantially."
Prav smiled and relaxed some. The thought that he might have screwed up his range of motion permanently had been in the back of his mind since they returned from the planet.
Damon saw the grin and motioned Prav over to a biobed. "If you have sought proper treatment immediately then the only reminder of this injury would have been a bad memory."
Prav laid back on the treatment bed and waited for the doctor to start.
"So, have you read anymore of the Kant I gave you?" he asked, referring to the copy of Immanuel Kant’s Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals he had loaned Prav before they left NEW ALEXANDRIA for the TANGIERS ORBITAL
Prav nodded. He actually had finished it the last time they were at the base but discussing ethics was the last thing he wanted to do then, having made the decision to transmit the intelligence he had gathered on the ORBITAL to his own homeworld rather that Starfleet.
"So, what did you think? Does Kant do it for you, did he provide you with that *golden rule* you’ve been searching for?" Townsend asked as he worked on Prav’s chest.
"I think Kant was an idiot," Prav stated plainly. It was the last thing that Damon had expected to hear from his friend and he actually paused what he was doing to look at the man before him and check that he had heard him right.
"Kant is an idiot?" the doctor asked. "I figured his Categorical Imperative was right up your alley. I mean, you've been saying all along that there has to be a ethical standard out there somewhere that is universal. You don't find his premise even somewhat intriguing?"
"I am an idiot as well," Prav stated just as plainly. Damon eyed his friend, wondering exactly what new theory he was going to throw out at him but if Prav's assessment of Kant surprised him, his next statement floored him.
"Morality is relative. There is no right or wrong, no universal ethical principle and anyone who thinks there is one is an idiot."
Damon stared at his friend for a moment before speaking. "Wow, that's certainly a 180 I hadn't expected. Since when are *you* a relativist?"
Prav looked down at his reddened chest and then back at the doctor before answering. Damon picked up on the hint and returned to his work, repairing what he could of the scarred flesh.
"Since I realized that ethics don't exist! Kant proposes that we should act only according to that maxim by which we can at the same time will to become a universal law."
"Yes," Damon agreed. "But isn't that what you were looking for?"
"But it will never be a universal law because people only do what is best for themselves. They create exceptions to rules and laws for themselves but demand that everyone else follow them. Kant also stated that one should never treat another person as strictly an means to an end yet isn't that what Starfleet is doing here?" All of his frustrations were coming to the surface. It was all there, all the evidence to support his view. Although he couldn't prove it, he knew that Enaii had been responsible for the "escape" of the Romulan prisoners. For whatever reason she made her own rules and regardless of the common good she did what she wanted and David Dawson, that was a prime example of relative morality. No, there was no defined right or wrong in this universe and it was that knowledge that had changed Pravat and in a way freed him.
Damon watched the monitors and noticed the increase in heart rate and blood pressure. He was glad he was almost done because he'd rather be having this conversation over a nice cup of coffee. "But is that the world you want to live in?" the doctor asked.
"It's not a matter of choice, it's what we got and the only choice I have is whether to continue being a fool or take advantage of my knowledge and do what's right for me."
As Townsend finished he shook his head. This was not the Pravat he had known for these past years. There were times he thought the Enaran was a bit to idealistic but the cynicism that flowed from the man was so uncharacteristic. "So it's dog eat dog huh? Is that what explains the bloodbath on your last mission?"
Prav looked up at his friend with surprise, wondering how he knew the details of what happened.
"I have my sources," the doctor said. He stepped away and put away some of the instruments he had been using. "You're as fixed up as I can manage," he said, a bit of sadness in his voice. He hoped that what ever Prav was going through at the moment was temporary. An ethical egoist in a marine command position could be a deadly combination and it was something he didn't wish on his friend or those his friend would come in contact with.
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Stardate: 60326.1950
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Level C section 1 - corridor
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Debating whether to return to the ANUBIS or swing by the marine holodecks and try out Townsend's patch job, Pravat didn't see the young ensign jogging toward him.
"Lieutenant Pravat!" the young man yelled, finally getting the marines attention.
Pravat stopped and waited for the man to catch up. "What can I do for you ensign?" he asked, not happy being stopped.
"I was just coming to find you," he said hurridly. "There is a package for you."
Prav gave him a confused look. Why would they send someone to tell him this and not just deliver it to his quarters.
The ensign understood the confusion and explained. "It's alive so it's been waiting for you in the arboretum on level five."
It didn't take Prav long to figure out what the ensign was talking about. Maya's gift had arrived which only meant one thing; the information he had sent to ENARA PRIME had been received and accepted.
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Matt Kelly (downwitmal@yahoo.com)
Writing for: 2005 post #429
1st Lt. Pravat
MCO
USS ANUBIS
