Chapter 14
From that moment onwards Christopher Lennon knew his dream had almost became reality, there were only a few loose ends to tie up. He needed to seek his first officer Ric Sara to herald the good news and tell of the successful conclusion of the mission. Sara was not in his office where the Captain initially checked. Neither was he available for the communiqué sent to his home however Lennon was informed by an older woman which he assumed to be Ric's mother, that Sara had spent all day showing the sights of the local area to a female companion.
Feeling frustrated at his inability to convey the good news Lennon took a seat and peered from his office window admiring the beauty of San Francisco. The sun was directly overhead in the sky towering far above the buildings. Like a bolt of lightning an idea hit him. He completed a quick mental calculation realising Europe was nine hours ahead of Pacific Time. It would be 9 o'clock in Naples, the sun would just be setting and he had a pretty good idea where to find Ric Sara.
He picked up a pad and without waiting for the turbolift, ran down three flights of stairs to the transporter room. A young ensign was present and immediately Lennon handed over the pad requesting immediate transport to those exact coordinates. He jumped upon the transporter and closed his eyes. If truth be told Lennon never enjoyed using the transporter, he always thought of the idea of his body being broken down to the molecular level quite disturbing, but in his line of work it was necessary to overcome the fear.
Then the wind blew strongly against Lennon's legs and his body suddenly felt a great deal colder indicating he'd arrived at his destination. He opened his eyes again to the magnificent landscape that lay before him.
From the slopes of Mount Vesuvius Chris could see the Mediterranean Sea in all her beauty span out beneath him. As the sun approached the horizon in the far west the city of Naples illuminated splendidly in the distance.
" Christopher!" came a surprised female voice from behind him.
Turning around he was able to pick out a human form in the darkness sitting on a rock some distance behind him and began to walk closer.
" Kestra?" Lennon called, " What are you doing up here?" But the moment the words left the captain's mouth he suddenly realised the answer.
" Captain." called another voice from near Kestra which he had expected.
Another vague figure stood up from the darkness and approached Lennon who needed no indication to it's identity.
" And how are you Ric?" asked Lennon.
" Not bad, but what are you doing here?" he asked in return.
" I'm here to ask you both to join me once again, the Spartan is going to need a crew when repairs are complete and I can't think of anyone better suited for the posts of first officer and counsellor."
Ric Sara's smile widened from cheek to cheek as he turned around to see Kestra behind him. She had already risen to her feet and skipped over to them. From a closer perspective Lennon could see Kestra's hair blowing in the wind and revealing a bandaged scar on her forehead which she received as a memento of the Cardassian attack. However she was rejoicing at this news.
" You mean we aren't going back to the Aintree?" she asked.
" No, as my counsellor and one of my oldest friends I invite you to serve with me again aboard the Spartan." replied the captain.
Kestra smiled and gleefully accepted her new post. Ric looked equally as happy and for the first time in his life he felt a calling as Lennon began explaining in great detail his encounter with Admiral Nechayev.
"This calls for a celebration captain!" cried Ric as he ran up the slope to a cosy looking spot which he and Kestra had spent much of the evening.
Within seconds he returned back to his original spot with a dark bottle and three glasses.
" I was going to keep this brandy for a special occasion," Sara began, "and this seems as special as I had ever hoped." he continued whilst pouring from the bottle into the three glasses. "What shall we toast?"
" To the Spartan," proclaimed Captain Lennon, "and all who travel in her."
The moment seemed inspiring as all three officers lifted their glasses high to the background of the sea. The sun began its final descent in the distance behind the vast Mediterranean. Magnificent shades of orange and pink gleamed from the endless horizon.
" To the Spartan." toasted all three.
The sun dipped further into the sea as the colours began to fade leaving only the darkness and the memory of that life-warming moment. From overhead some distant stars could be seen gleaming against the black night sky as Chris Lennon looked up in wonder and awe. Ric and Kestra began to embrace in memory of the perfect moment as the cold night began to bite in. Ric was just curious about one thing.
"How did you find us captain?"
For a few seconds the captain didn't react to the question, as Ric pondered whether he heard properly.
" Because this is where it all began." he started. "This is where humans first stood up against tyranny and oppression and rebelled. Because these are the slopes which nearly two and a half millennia ago a group of men had an idea, the dream of freedom and justice for all men."
" You speak of the story of Spartacus and the slave rebellion." Ric put in. "A former combat gladiator who stood up against his master and the tyranny of the Roman Empire and fought for his right to live as a free man."
" Yes Ric, and we again stood up for the same freedoms as he did all these years ago." lectured Lennon.
Ric smile at the comparison, as a native Neapolitan he was taught the legend of Spartacus and the slave rebellion from an early age, it was part of his culture and he wanted to continue the story.
" For a year the slave army lead by Spartacus resided on these slopes, defying the mighty Rome and crushing each legion of troops sent against them. From nothing they pulled themselves up and fought for their God given right to be free and shook the greatest empire in the ancient world to its knees."
The darkness had now surrounded them and Ric couldn't see the look of appreciation upon Lennon's face nor the look of intrigue upon that of Kestra. Being a Betazoid she could have been forgiven for not having an extensive knowledge of human history.
" What happened in the end?" she enigmatically asked.
Both men loudly chuckled and looked each other in the eye.
" I'll tell you later Kestra."
THE END
From that moment onwards Christopher Lennon knew his dream had almost became reality, there were only a few loose ends to tie up. He needed to seek his first officer Ric Sara to herald the good news and tell of the successful conclusion of the mission. Sara was not in his office where the Captain initially checked. Neither was he available for the communiqué sent to his home however Lennon was informed by an older woman which he assumed to be Ric's mother, that Sara had spent all day showing the sights of the local area to a female companion.
Feeling frustrated at his inability to convey the good news Lennon took a seat and peered from his office window admiring the beauty of San Francisco. The sun was directly overhead in the sky towering far above the buildings. Like a bolt of lightning an idea hit him. He completed a quick mental calculation realising Europe was nine hours ahead of Pacific Time. It would be 9 o'clock in Naples, the sun would just be setting and he had a pretty good idea where to find Ric Sara.
He picked up a pad and without waiting for the turbolift, ran down three flights of stairs to the transporter room. A young ensign was present and immediately Lennon handed over the pad requesting immediate transport to those exact coordinates. He jumped upon the transporter and closed his eyes. If truth be told Lennon never enjoyed using the transporter, he always thought of the idea of his body being broken down to the molecular level quite disturbing, but in his line of work it was necessary to overcome the fear.
Then the wind blew strongly against Lennon's legs and his body suddenly felt a great deal colder indicating he'd arrived at his destination. He opened his eyes again to the magnificent landscape that lay before him.
From the slopes of Mount Vesuvius Chris could see the Mediterranean Sea in all her beauty span out beneath him. As the sun approached the horizon in the far west the city of Naples illuminated splendidly in the distance.
" Christopher!" came a surprised female voice from behind him.
Turning around he was able to pick out a human form in the darkness sitting on a rock some distance behind him and began to walk closer.
" Kestra?" Lennon called, " What are you doing up here?" But the moment the words left the captain's mouth he suddenly realised the answer.
" Captain." called another voice from near Kestra which he had expected.
Another vague figure stood up from the darkness and approached Lennon who needed no indication to it's identity.
" And how are you Ric?" asked Lennon.
" Not bad, but what are you doing here?" he asked in return.
" I'm here to ask you both to join me once again, the Spartan is going to need a crew when repairs are complete and I can't think of anyone better suited for the posts of first officer and counsellor."
Ric Sara's smile widened from cheek to cheek as he turned around to see Kestra behind him. She had already risen to her feet and skipped over to them. From a closer perspective Lennon could see Kestra's hair blowing in the wind and revealing a bandaged scar on her forehead which she received as a memento of the Cardassian attack. However she was rejoicing at this news.
" You mean we aren't going back to the Aintree?" she asked.
" No, as my counsellor and one of my oldest friends I invite you to serve with me again aboard the Spartan." replied the captain.
Kestra smiled and gleefully accepted her new post. Ric looked equally as happy and for the first time in his life he felt a calling as Lennon began explaining in great detail his encounter with Admiral Nechayev.
"This calls for a celebration captain!" cried Ric as he ran up the slope to a cosy looking spot which he and Kestra had spent much of the evening.
Within seconds he returned back to his original spot with a dark bottle and three glasses.
" I was going to keep this brandy for a special occasion," Sara began, "and this seems as special as I had ever hoped." he continued whilst pouring from the bottle into the three glasses. "What shall we toast?"
" To the Spartan," proclaimed Captain Lennon, "and all who travel in her."
The moment seemed inspiring as all three officers lifted their glasses high to the background of the sea. The sun began its final descent in the distance behind the vast Mediterranean. Magnificent shades of orange and pink gleamed from the endless horizon.
" To the Spartan." toasted all three.
The sun dipped further into the sea as the colours began to fade leaving only the darkness and the memory of that life-warming moment. From overhead some distant stars could be seen gleaming against the black night sky as Chris Lennon looked up in wonder and awe. Ric and Kestra began to embrace in memory of the perfect moment as the cold night began to bite in. Ric was just curious about one thing.
"How did you find us captain?"
For a few seconds the captain didn't react to the question, as Ric pondered whether he heard properly.
" Because this is where it all began." he started. "This is where humans first stood up against tyranny and oppression and rebelled. Because these are the slopes which nearly two and a half millennia ago a group of men had an idea, the dream of freedom and justice for all men."
" You speak of the story of Spartacus and the slave rebellion." Ric put in. "A former combat gladiator who stood up against his master and the tyranny of the Roman Empire and fought for his right to live as a free man."
" Yes Ric, and we again stood up for the same freedoms as he did all these years ago." lectured Lennon.
Ric smile at the comparison, as a native Neapolitan he was taught the legend of Spartacus and the slave rebellion from an early age, it was part of his culture and he wanted to continue the story.
" For a year the slave army lead by Spartacus resided on these slopes, defying the mighty Rome and crushing each legion of troops sent against them. From nothing they pulled themselves up and fought for their God given right to be free and shook the greatest empire in the ancient world to its knees."
The darkness had now surrounded them and Ric couldn't see the look of appreciation upon Lennon's face nor the look of intrigue upon that of Kestra. Being a Betazoid she could have been forgiven for not having an extensive knowledge of human history.
" What happened in the end?" she enigmatically asked.
Both men loudly chuckled and looked each other in the eye.
" I'll tell you later Kestra."
THE END