"Ethical Issues"
[Previous post Craig's "Hope for the Best"]
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"When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?"
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
--==(/\)==--
The screams that had filled the underground complex every day for months now had haunted the Oltharian engineer to such an extent that the gentle giant had been brought to the verge of breaking. At first Elan had thought the screams to be some sort of artificially created method to test his mind and spirit, but after a few days the aCEO of the ANUBIS discovered that the screams had been all too real and had belonged to none other than the ship's CMO.
Peace having been at the heart of this Oltharian's way of life had plunged Elan in an ethical dilemma the likes of which he could have never imagined. On one hand the aCEO could not consider acting against his captors in an effort to rescue the Healer despite the harm they were causing her; on the other hand the gentle giant found a growing anger within himself, anger which had been directed not at those torturing the CMO but rather at himself for having allowed this to go on. Each day this ethical conflict returned with the renewed cries of the Doctor, and each night the Oltharian despised himself a little more as night fell on his unwillingness to act.
"And that would be why you failed to become a member of the Religious Circle."
Elan raised his head and through teary eyes saw his uncle stand before him, a disapproving scowl engrave on his brow.
--==(/\)==--
"Uncle," a young boy sniffled as he tried his best to hold back his tears. "I'm sorry."
"It is alright Elan," a middle aged man dressed in religious robes said as he lowered himself onto a single knee. "Not everyone is meant to become a member of the Religious Circle, and even less to join the ranks of the Klaj~Ra'Shall. Yours is a different path."
"But I want to be with you Uncle Bardef," the young boy forcefully admitted. "I want to belong to the Religious Circle."
The robed man smiled down at the teary young boy as he placed a caring hand on the child's shoulder. "There is a universe of difference between what we want and what we have to do Elan, one day you may come to understand this."
--==(/\)==--
The memories slipped away from the Oltharian as his eyes searched the floor to his right for the source of a metallic echo that had just been heard. After so many days locked within the small room Elan knew each and every aspect of his cell and therefore knew that nothing that had been there before could explain what he had heard.
The aCEO quickly located the source of the odd sound and to his absolute disbelief he reached down for something that had not been there before. Half expecting it to be a figment of his imagination the Oltharian scrutinized the small metallic item which rested in the palm of his hand with great care.
How could this have been possible? Elan quickly scanned the small room that had been his cell since his capture and when he found nothing the Oltharian returned his gaze onto the small metallic device. Not only had this item simply appeared out of nowhere but it had been his up until his capture at which time the device had been taken from the aCEO. Puzzlement filled the giant's mind as he continued to study the communicator that had somehow found its way back to him.
--==(/\)==--
Lieutenant Junior Grade Elan Talak Fairborn
And
Robotics Engineering Officer 2008 post #016
Stardate: 62232.2000
Setting: P338451, Another dark room located somewhere beneath the settlement
(Insert funky FLASHBACK music)
Setting: OLTHAR PRIME, Gardens outside of the Council of Elders
Stardate: 62232.2015, Present day
Setting: P338451, Another dark room located somewhere beneath the settlement
Francois Charette
Acting Chief Engineering Officer
USS ANUBIS
NEW ALEXANDRIA
