"The Road to Recovery"
(Previous Post: Serena's 'Executive Schemeing')
====================================
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Sickbay
David sat on the biobed... more like leaned since his
feet were flat on the floor as the EMH scanned him.
"According to these tests Lieutenant, you have a clean
bill of health. The nanites in your systems are
operating nominal... heart rate is excellent and from
Doctor Summers logs, no traces of your *better* half."
David smirked at the holographic medical officers
deadpan bedside manner.
"Keep it up Doc" David replied, "my first stop after I
leave here is M.E." with a wry grin.
"Indeed" he replied, "well... I see no point in keeping
you here. You're free to go."
With a nod, David stood and left. Upon entering the
corridor, David reached for his commbadge. Didn't have
one and he laughed inwardly. "Computer, locate Ensign
Mei."
=/\= Ensign Mei is located in the NEW ALEXANDRIA
complex, section B, level 2. =/\=
David headed for the lift. First stop was his
quarters.
====================================
After a hot shower and a well needed shave, David stood in front of his full length mirror looking at himself. His uniform was crisp and he felt like himself. His goatee was well groomed, his head smoother than a baby's bottom... but the eye was what
he was staring at.
"Richard's coup d'grace" David said to himself. His reasoning was sound as to why he wanted to keep it. Even made him look a little mysterious in dimmed light. He tugged on his uniform blazer and headed off to his next destination.
====================================
Entering his domain for the first time since he was
called to the bridge before Richard took over, David
was like a kid in a candy store. It felt good being
back to a familiar area... but it was different. The
warp core was gone... completely. Several stations
were gutted and being replaced. The main feeds to the
nacelles were gone also.
"They've torn the place up" David said to himself as a
roar went up behind him.
"for he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fel-loooooooooooooow... which nobody can deny!" and as the CEO turned there was his staff.
"Knew you couldn't stay away for long Boss" Lieutenant
Ken Yates said as Ensign Karen Watkins held up a small
cake with a single candle burning on it.
"Blow it out sir." she said with a smile.
"It isn't my birthday Karen" David replied.
"So... humor us" Chief Thomas said with a clap on the
CEOs back. David shrugged and blew it out and they
cheered. As Karen placed the cake on the 'pool table'
David smiled.
"I... don't know what to say, so I'll just say thanks.
You guys are the best."
As the cake was being cut, David's commbadge bleeped.
=/\= Ensign Mei to *Lieutenant* Dawson, =/\= the
Counselor said putting emphasis on David's rank.
"Go ahead Counselor" David said swallowing a piece of
cake.
=/\= I'd like to see you in my office if you aren't
busy. =/\=
"I'm on my way," David said as he headed out of M.E.
====================================
David entered the counseling suites and Susan stood and smiled.
"Snuck out of Sickbay huh?" she asked as she approached David.
"Snuck isn't the word I'd use Counselor. I was released."
"Well... Lea was right. She told me that you probably
wouldn't be there by the time we finished breakfast."
David shrugged as Susan led him to a seat.
"First things first. And this might be pushing it" Susan said cautiously, "but have you decided what you're going to do about your eye?"
"I see you waste no time," David replied sitting back, "I have."
"And?" Susan asked.
"You see it don't you?" David replied, "For now... I'm keeping it."
Susan went to speak but David cut her off, "Yes, I
remember what you and Lea said in Sickbay, but I think
it'll help me in dealing with this."
"I just want you to be mindful of what others might
think. Several people saw you when your eyes changed.
And now that Richard's influence is gone, people are
going to associate it with that."
"They have that right" David replied, "but I think if it'll help me, then so be it. I don't mean to sound bitter..."
"No... not at all" Susan said with a smile and she
changed gears, "so... how are you feeling? Overall?"
David shrugged, "Stronger than a Rigalian Ox... well... somewhat. My strength isn't up to par but other than that, I feel fine."
"And how do you feel mentally?" Susan asked as David stood and paced slowly.
"To be honest Susan, I don't know. I mean... I can do my job in my sleep. But the thing that's nagged the hell out of me is hearing everyone refer to my death. And its funny..." the CEO chuckled as Susan arced an eyebrow.
"What is?" the ANUBIS' counselor asked.
"I'm still dead. I was looking at my service record and it still has me listed as being dead. And that's the weird part. I died. I should be dead... but here I am. And that makes me question a few things?"
"Like?" Susan said as she rose and went to the replicator, "something to drink?"
"Raktajino please" David said as Susan brought him the mug.
"As you were saying?"
David took a long pull of the hot steamy brew and
placed it on the table. "Why? Why was I spared? I know
that death is enivible but why was *I* spared? My
parents died. Both my brothers are dead. I was brain
dead. No neural activity or heart murmurs for over 8
minutes... but here I am. Hale and whole. And I'm
stumped as to why."
Susan took a breath. "Near death experiences can
be... somewhat traumatic. But then again, many people
who experience it makes them enjoy life even more."
"I agree" David replied sitting on the couch next to
the ANUBIS' counselor, "but it doesn't tell me *why*.
We shouldn't be having this conversation...."
"But we are" Susan replied, "and that's the point
David. The powers that be must have deemed that it
wasn't your time..."
"But look at what I've lost. I mean... Jordan was only
20... he still had a life to live... experiences to
have... loves to share..."
"And apparently it was *his* time David."
"You called being murdered your time?!" David said
standing up and he walked into the opening, "that
makes no sense."
"Let's extrapelate on that" Susan said, "in Richard's
case, you murdered him. To save your mother and
Jordan. Did you have the right to kill him?"
"No... but," David said and Susan continued on.
"True enough, Zulot had *no* right in killing
Jordan... or setting the stage for his death.
Everything in life has a start and a finish David."
David eyed the counselor. His great grandfather told
him the exact same thing.
"Death never makes sense when it comes to a loved one.
Did it make sense when your parents died?"
"No" the CEO replied.
"How about anyone else you've known in life? You've
lost people under your command. Did it make any sense
when they died?"
David frowned. "No... it didn't."
Susan stood and guided David back to the couch. "In this line of work we find ourselves if we know that *any* given moment could be our last. A warp core breech that you can't stop that'll lead to the destruction of the ANUBIS... a wayward torpdeo from an attacking enemy could send all of us to our graves..." and she took his hand, "*you* have been given a second chance David. One that wasn't given to your parents... or Jordan... or Richard. The question you must ask yourself is not why? But what am I going to do with my second chance."
Susan looked into the eyes of the CEO. She could see
them darting back and forth in his head.
"You're the only person I know that has come back from
the dead. Many may look at you as an egnima. Some may
even say that it was another one of David's tricks you
are so well known for."
"That's another point," David huffed, "the crew. I've
gotten some strange looks as I moved about the ship
this morning..."
"And you're simply going to have to get use to it. But don't look at it from a pessimistic point of view. Try to see the positive side of it. You're still here. Starfleet hasn't lost one of its best engineers... and *we* haven't lost our friend. We lost one David. I don't think the crew could have survived another so soon."
Enaii flashed into David's mind. But that was another thing. Everyone said the ILO died trying to beam down to SURIAL III... but he saw her when he was in the airlock. He saw her when he was in Sickbay... or was that his imagination? His thoughts were interupted when his commbadge bleeped.
=/\= Allyson to Lieutenant Dawson, report to Admiral
Koniki's office at once, =/\= she said in a cheerful
tone.
David tapped his badge, "On my way," and he stood.
"David" Susan said, "keep this in mind. Koniki's not
your enemy. I know that you don't have the greatest
affinity for the admiral... but do your best to keep
your cool."
David nodded. "Susan..." and the CEO smiled, "thanks."
"Only doing my job. And um... my shower could use a
little adjusting. The water isn't heating up fast. No
rush... when you can get around to it."
David grinned and shook his head. "As soon as I'm done
with the admiral," and he left.
====================================
as
Lieutenant David Dawson
and
aChief Engineer
"A Starfleet officer... that's all I am and that's all I'll ever be." 2005 post #485
Stardate: 60328.0930
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Dawson's quarters
Stardate: 60328.1000
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Main Engineering
Stardate: 60328.1010
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Counseling Suites
Stardate: 60328.1030
Julian Knight (d_dawson_1@yahoo.com)
Chief Engineer
USS ANUBIS NCC 18501
USS HATHOR
- Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko,
Commanding Officer of the Federation Spacestation Deep Space 9
