"Inner Thoughts"
(Previous Post: Serena's 'Executive Issues')
====================================
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section G, Level 1, Containment Area Alpha
Stardate: 60327.0830
For 12 hours, Ensign Ferry sat and watched the ANUBIS' CEO. He never spoke a word, never moved. She was beginning to wonder if the CEO had died. Lieutenant O'Reily entered as she was shaking her head.
"Something wrong Amanda?"
"Its..." and she huffed, "nothing sir."
O'Reily's eyes glanced in the direction of Dawson's cell. "Has he been sitting there since I left?"
"Yes" the security officer replied, "he never touched his dinner. And when I went to give him his breakfast, he never once moved. I even poked him in the shoulder..."
O'Reily scowled at her and she raised her hands.
"I know... I know... you said no contact. But c'mon Danny. Who in the hell sits for 12 hours and *never* moves?"
The senior security officer shrugged. "As long as he isn't raising hell, he can sit till moss grows over his bald head. See you in 12," he said dismissing the ensign as he took his seat. He looked over the security feeds and she was right. Dawson never moved. He sat on his bunk feet flat to the floor and his hands never left his lap.
"If that's quiet contemplation, what the hell is he thinking about?" O'Reily said to himself.
====================================
Setting: DREAMSCAPE
David sat looking back at images of his life. His completion and graduation from Starfleet Academy. Completing the Senior Officer training. Meeting mew officers he served with and becoming friends with. Those who he formed a more personal relationship with. Ones that he disliked. A lone figure appeared.
"What are you doing?" as David looked at the figure. The little boy reminded him of himself... but at second glance, he looked like Jordan.
"Looking back at things past" David replied.
"Why?" the little boy asked.
"It keeps you on the right track. Guides you and your future."
"Why would you need to see the past in order to move forward in the future?"
"It'll remind you of who you are and where you came from" David replied with a smile.
The little boy looked up at him. "Do you know where I came from?"
David shook his head. "I don't. Do you?"
The little boy nodded and produced a type II phaser.
"I CAME FROM YOU!" he shouted. David noticed the red rings in his eyes. The hatred he felt radiating from the little boy. As he leveled the phaser to fire, the bean stopped mere inches from his chest. As David removed his hands from his face, he did see Jordan.
"Jor... is that you?"
He smiled and gestured for the CEO to follow him. Jordan turned and passed through a door. As David approached and reached for the knob...
"Knob?" the CEO asked himself and hesitated.
"What are you waiting for son?" he heard and turned. He saw an elderly gentleman.
"I'm..." and David paused letting his arm hang free by his side.
"You're what?" he asked.
There was a strange emotion he felt stirring, churning inside of him.
"I'm..."
"Scared?" the old man asked.
"Yes" David replied, "I know that I shouldn't be."
"Why shouldn't you?" he asked.
"Because I'm not afraid of nothing" David replied as the old man laughed.
"Not afraid? Boy, I saw you nearly duck for cover when the other side of you almost did you in."
"Other side?" and David paused again, "Richard?"
The old man nodded.
"I'm not afraid of him" David said tersely, and he sighed.
"So... if you aren't afraid of him what are *you* afraid of son?"
David looked at the old man who took the massive CEO by the arm and led him away from the door.
"You see, fear is a good thing at times. It protects us from harm. It keeps us safe when bad things happen... or could happen."
"But what do you do when bad things *always* happen?" David asked, "when those same bad things..." his voice trailed off.
"Makes people afraid of you?" he asked and David nodded.
"You simply embrace it."
David's brows knitted together. "Embrace what?"
"The things that makes them fear you. All your hate. All your anger. You embrace it. I'm gonna tell you something son..." the old man paused and there was another door. This one outlined with white light.
"...in order to *not* be afraid, you have admit you are. *That's* when you'll have no fear."
David thought about what the old man said. As he looked up he was walking away from him.
"Wait" David said and the old man stopped.
"Yes?" he asked with a smile.
"How am I supposed to do that?"
The old man nodded toward the door.
"Remember David... with every start, there *must* be a finish. Some things end and start again, but in the *very* end, it must end."
The old man winked at him and started to walk away. As he moved further from him David remembered where he heard those words.
"Grampy!" David shouted, "wait" but he was gone. The CEO turned and faced the door. Images exploded in his mind's eye and it hit him. For the first time in his life, David Richard Dawson, Junior had clarity like he never had before.
"Remember son... when the time is right, strike!" he heard his great-grandfather say.
David reached for the door knob and entered...
====================================
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section G, Level 1, Containment Area Alpha
Stardate: 60327.0845
David blinked and opened his eyes. He rolled his head from side to side as O'Reily nodded to him.
"Morning Lieutenant."
"Morning" David replied, "possible to get a Raktajino?"
O'Reily nodded and got the beverage for the CEO. He lowered the forcefield and David approached. The security officer handed it to him and re-activated it.
"You seem chipper this morning" O'Reily said and David nodded after taking as long pull of his drink, "you have a revelation or something?"
"I did... and I know what I must do." was all he said as he ate his breakfast.
O'Reily shook his head. "And people say *I'm* strange."
====================================
Julian Knight (d_dawson_1@yahoo.com)
as
Lieutenant David Dawson
Chief Engineer
USS ANUBIS NCC 18501
"A Starfleet officer... that's all I am and that's all I'll ever be." 2005 post #438
- Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko,
Commanding Officer of the Federation Spacestation Deep Space 9
