STAR TREK
"Get Well Soon"
He was walking pleasantly down the street with a fellow student named Charlie. Duncan smiled for the friends he made every day on the world he had not left in his entire life.
"And that's why, I feel, in times of war, the President's orders should remain suggestions," Duncan spoke. They were outside the youth center of their local community when a Cardassian appeared off in the distance.
"Is it possible you have such respect for life that you would sacrifice it for anything?" Charlie responded with admiration for his new friend. Duncan's friends tended to be a little bit older than he.
Charlie pointed to say, "Look. It's a Cardassian."
Duncan and Charlie stayed alert. The Cardassian challenged Duncan to a fight. He began, "My race is from a distant world. Meet me, tomorrow, outside of this youth center or you have no honor."
The alien spat as he walked away. Duncan Swan thought this a good reason to enter into the Academy after graduation. He was so poor that he was forced to mend his shoe that morning with thumbtacks.
The next day, he was walking down the same street, at the same time. Alone, he forgot all about the challenge that was made. He was more worried for his damaged shoe.
By the youth center, a group of Cardassians waved him over. Already impressed that he chose to come at all, it was implied that he should have brought others.
"Oh, I forgot," Duncan responded walking over in the same clothes as the day before.
Realizing the human might have some fight, the leader of the group made himself known. He was the one who challenged him in the first place. Each in the group was larger than he.
"How do we do this?" the young boy, Duncan, inquired of them.
It was good that he respected his elders, "Step over this invisible line and the fight will begin, human."
He did. It got him punched in the head. The alien forced a reverse headlock. Duncan ran backwards until his foe hit a dumpster. Luckily, he was still in the reverse headlock. He was told, "Stop the fighting. Please?"
The Cardassian stopped moving. Duncan was more worried that someone might see the bottom of his shoe than anything else. When he stopped moving, the fight was over.
"Can I go now?" he politely asked the Cardassians. Duncan Swan fought with honor. He would not remember the fight for many years. Later, his counselor told him that he was right to not bring friends.
After the counselor made record of these facts, she informed Starfleet of that record. Sara Baker was a student about to graduate from the Academy. She was also a fan of history. She wanted to meet him.
In being asked of her choice for assignment, Sara replied, "I have to meet this guy. He is the sole reason for the diplomatic tension between us and the Cardassians. And it has only grown."
"You are only twenty-one years old," her teacher informed her.
Folding her arms, she asked, "Don't I have enough school credits to be posted on a Galaxy-class starship?"
"Yes," he replied, "I just didn't want to lose my best student quite yet. But, if it means that much to you, have your fun. No one says you can't go to the Academy twice. Where are you headed now?"
In a shuttlecraft, Ensign Baker gazed upon a photo, "I am already on my way to the Prime Maxim. Could you tell the dockmaster this shuttle is not stolen? Thanks."
Her hand gracefully operated the controls as she entered warp for Deep Space Eight. On the Galaxy-class starship, the two started off as friends. She found him six months into therapy and convinced him that it was not a good idea.
The End