Chapter 4: Becoming Good Friends and Having Nightmares
Captain EO's POV
I was in my resting quarters for the rest of the day as the evening started to roll in. I was just so frustrated with how things went between me and Commander Bog. He never believes in me or what I've done for him and the galaxies and planets we had to face. I didn't want to leave Natalie and the crew hanging like that, but I just had to get away from everybody before I could say anything that I didn't mean or regret.
As I continued to think about what happened earlier, all of a sudden, I heard a knock at the door.
I asked, "Who's there?"
She answered back, "It's Natalie, do you mind if I come in?"
I thought I could use a bit of company, so I said, "Oh no, no! come in."
She opened the door and walked right into the room.
I then said to her tapping on the bed, "Sit down."
She came over to the bed and sat down next to me. I asked,
"Were you alright with working the controls?"
She answered,
"Yeah, Major Domo helped me out for a bit and he also showed me some of your controls too in case you weren't there and we were being attacked."
I nodded and said, "Oh, okay. It's good that you're learning though about the controls of the ship." She nodded in response.
I then asked Natalie with a smile, "So, why else did you want to come see me?"
She answered shrugging her shoulders, "Well to be honest, I just thought that you could use a friend."
It was very sweet of her to do so, but I didn't want her to go through any trouble just because of an argument. I then said to try to brush it off,
"Oh Natalie, that's so sweet of you. But you don't need to worry about me, I'm alright."
She asked in a more concerned tone, "Are you sure?"
I knew she wouldn't let me get off easy and I thought that I might as well be honest.
So I said shaking my head, "No, not really."
Natalie said as she had a look of guilt on her face,
"Captain, I'm really sorry about what happened earlier between you and Commander Bog. It was all my fault."
I shook my head at her and said, "No it wasn't."
She said. "Yes it was, it wouldn't have happened if I hadn't revealed that we were in combat with those robots."
I said as I placed my hand onto her shoulder,
"Natalie trust me, it wasn't your fault. You don't need to be apologizing. Besides, Commander Bog never really has believed in me anyway."
She asked, "What do you mean?"
I answered venting about my frustrations to her, "He doesn't believe in me or the crew on this ship. To him we're just a joke."
Natalie shook her head in response and said, "That's not true. You're not a joke and neither is this crew."
I argued, "But Nat, you heard what he said, he always has a hard time trusting us in these kinds of missions."
She asked, "Then why would he pick you then if he felt so lowly about you?"
I answered unsure, "I wouldn't know."
She said looking me in the eyes, "I think it's because he sees something in you that nobody else could ever see."
I asked, "What?"
She answered solemnly, "Heart."
She then went on to say,
"Captain EO, I'm going to admit it. You're not perfect and neither is this crew. But you know what, you and this crew have something that no other space crew could ever have. You have that passion and desire that's going to take you many different galaxies and planets. Even if Commander Bog doesn't believe it now, he will eventually."
I said shrugging my shoulders, "But still, he doesn't even think that I'm a good captain to begin with."
I then turned away from her feeling ashamed and disappointed. She then said as she placed her hand on my shoulder,
"Well, if it means anything to you, I think you make a great captain."
She was so nice. Even if Commander Bog didn't believe in me, she did.
I smiled in response and said feeling a little bit better, "Thanks Nat."
She then said with a grin, "Hey, what are friends for?"
I then I asked her out of curiosity, "How are you able to have so much hope?"
She answered,
"I have to. Everything that I've gone through in my life, whether it being good or bad, I've always had to look forward to now and the future and to be hopeful. It's how I was raised."
I nodded in response and she had a very good point. We all got to look forward to the future and what's going on now, no matter what circumstances or situations we're in.
I then heard Natalie ask, "Captain EO?"
I asked, "Yes?"
She asked, "Do you think that the world can really become a better place?"
I was a little surprised by her question. I always believed that all worlds can become a better place, including our own.
I asked her, "Yes, I believe so. What made you want to ask that question?"
She explained,
"I don't know. It's just, bad stuff often happens on Earth and everyone talks about how we all want to make the world a better place. And yet, it hasn't happened yet. I guess I'm just wondering, is there really a chance that the world will change and become a better place?"
I then thought about that question for a moment and explained,
"I think it's truly possible that the world can become a better place. You see Natalie, to do or accomplish something like that, it all depends on what kind of person you are and if you have the passion for it. Now a lot of people may not have the passion or will to do it, but I can see that in you. The world can become a better place Natalie, it all just depends on your heart."
She nodded in response and said, "I guess you're right captain, it really does depend on whether you have the heart and passion for it."
I nodded in response and said, "And I know for a fact that you have them."
She then said with a smile, "And I know for a fact that you have them too. You've always had them."
I was a little confused by the last thing she said, I wasn't sure what she meant.
I then asked her with a raised brow, "What?"
She then said looking a little embarrassed,
"Oh! Um, I mean, you-"
She then stopped and said,
"What I mean is that, I know you have the heart and passion for this Captain EO. And I know we'll be able to deliver the gift to the Supreme Leader and bring peace to her and her planet."
I smiled in response.
She then asked, "Oh captain? Just out of curiosity, what gift are we giving to the Supreme Leader?"
I answered, "We'll be giving her the gift of music."
She asked, "The gift of music?"
I answered with a nod,
"Yes, with that gift, we will be able to unlock her inner beauty and bring the peace that she and her planet needs."
She asked, "So, we're basically going to be performing for her?"
I answered with a nod, "Yes."
She then said with a nervous look on her face,
"I don't know about this captain. I mean, I haven't really played an instrument since I was ten or twelve."
I said to her reassuringly, "Don't worry, Nat, you'll be alright. I'll explain to you what we need to do before we give her the gift."
She said with a nod, "Okay." I nodded to her in response.
She asked as she got up from the bed, "Well, I think I'm gonna get ready for bed. Captain, do you know where I could sleep?"
I answered pointing towards the door, "There are some bunks in the second room that's to the left."
She nodded and said with a wave as she walked towards the door,
"Okay thanks, have a good night."
I said, "You too."
She then stopped and said, "And one more thing. If we're all asleep, who's going to be driving the ship?"
I answered, "Oh don't worry, it's on autopilot, so we'll be alright."
She nodded and said, "Ok cool, goodnight."
I said with a smile and wave, "Goodnight."
And with that, she left the room and I got ready for bed.
Natalie's POV
I was glad that I was able to help cheer up Captain EO for a bit and I actually did learn a few things from him. Although, I couldn't help but think about the question that I asked him, about changing the world and making it a better place. I always thought it was possible and I still do, but sometimes, I do question it because everyone does talk about it and yet nothing ever really happens, but in the end, I always try to remain hopeful because as the saying goes, never say never.
I was also afraid that I was going to screw things up when we came to deliver the gift to the Supreme Leader. I wasn't good at playing any instrument since I was little and I wasn't really as good of a singer and dancer as he was. I just didn't want to let him down.
As I entered the second room, I already saw all of our crew members asleep in their bunks. I looked around to see most of the bunk beds taken, except for Fuzzball who was sleeping above in his own little hammock hanging above the ceiling. As I kept looking around, I finally saw a bunk bed that was available. It was the one that Hooter was sleeping in and there was nobody in the top bunk. Yes! I carefully walked over the bunk to make sure I didn't wake anybody up, and I climbed up the ladder and got up to the top bunk.
Once I got up there, I saw a little window hanging right next to the bed. I looked through and I saw all of the stars of the galaxy. With thoughts of us finding the Supreme Leader as well as Captain EO and Michael Jackson, I looked to the shiniest star and whispered,
"Oh Michael, I'm happy that I'm here. Really I am. I'm just afraid, afraid that I'm going to screw up."
I sighed as I continued to say,
"I don't want to let anyone down, especially you. Even if it's just Captain EO talking to me, I can still see you inside of him. And I know Captain EO is a hard worker within himself, and I don't want to mess anything up for him either. Please, if you can hear me, just please let there be a chance. That we can do well on this mission and that I won't screw anything up for anybody."
The shiny star twinkled back at me as a new glimmer of hope grew in my heart. I then kicked off my boots, and got under the covers and fell asleep as I waited for tomorrow to come.
As I slept in the dark room, I dreamed;
I was on a planet that seemed a lot like Earth, and I was in a wooded area near flower field. I was walking around the trees as a butterfly flew right by me and a bunny hopped towards me. I knelt down on my knees to pet it and more came by and I giggled slightly as I continued to pet all of them. They then all hopped away as I continued to smile at them. Then all of a sudden, I saw the sky turn from blue to red and gray.
In disbelief, I asked, "What?"
I then saw sparks flying and flames and garbage falling from the sky as trees started to burn down.
I asked as I started to panic, "What's happening?!"
I then saw people being led by some robot guards in chains. I then started to hear loud and painful screams of a man being whipped by the vicious and scary looking Supreme Leader.
She shouted as she continued to whip him, "You ingrate! You infidel!"
Enraged, I shouted, "Hey! Leave him alone!"
I then raced over to them, grabbed the whip out her claw-like hands, and threw it away. I then looked to the injured man lying on the ground and said to him as I helped him off of the ground,
"Go! Get out of here! Go!"
And with that, he ran off. I then turned my attention towards the Supreme Leader as she snapped,
"You little brat! What have you done?!"
I snapped back, "What are you doing?! How dare you hurt this man!"
She then mocked, "And who are you? Ha! You're nothing!"
She then jammed her claw into the ground as I heard the sound of thunder. I then looked to the ground as I felt it crumbling beneath me and I let out a scream as I fell. As I fell, I heard voices and saw the people that I knew from my childhood say,
"Oh, you're ugly!"
"You will never be like us!"
"You're such a scaredy cat!"
"They won't hurt you!"
I started to panic and say, "Shut up!"
And they continued to shout as I tried to cover my ears,
"What do you know? You're nobody!"
"You're so pathetic!"
"You're such a baby!"
"You're weak!"
"You're not going to change the world! You're nothing!"
And they finally said as my eyes started to fill with tears, "Nobody likes you!"
I finally snapped as I finally landed in a gray setting, "Stop it! Stop! Just Leave me alone!"
And I instantly broke down into tears. I just felt defeated and I couldn't take it anymore. I also felt like a loser and that I wasn't strong enough to do this.
I shouted as I continued to sob, "I-I can't do this! I'm not strong enough for this!"
I finally said, "I can't do this!"
And I continued to sob on the ground.
Then all of a sudden, I heard a mysterious voice say, "Do not despair anymore, my child."
I looked up to see a bright glow floating above me. The voice sounded very familiar, but I couldn't make it out who it was. I then asked as tears continued to fall from my eyes,
"Who are you? Who's talking to me?"
He answered, "You'll find out soon eventually, but for now, I need you to do something for me."
I asked with a sniffle, "What?"
He answered, "I need you to start believing in yourself."
I asked,
"But how can I, I'm not as good or as strong as Captain EO. If I screw anything up, I'll put everyone in danger, I don't want to let him down."
He answered,
"But it doesn't mean you will. Listen, you are more capable then you realize. If others aren't able to see that then that's there problem. But don't diminish yourself because you're afraid of what others will think."
I sighed in response and asked, "What I should do?"
He answered, "Be brave, be very brave. Keep that light of hope in you glowing, and use your heart and more importantly, don't give up."
And with that, I woke up from the dream.
