9

Chapter 33

David listened to the hum of the turbo lift. The mechanism swooshed with each passing deck.

He felt a bit of unexplainable anxiety; it grew more and more the closer he got to his destination.

He glanced at the key-pad; he examined the different colorful buttons with his eyes.

Red…blue…gray.

He didn't really care; he just had to do something with his mind.

He had to do something.

The doors swooshed open; David took a deep breath.

He took a step out. He instantly forgot about his anxiety.

He'd finally made it to the heart of the ship.

The bridge.

It was exciting; the different chairs and stations; a million blinking lights.

And the ginormous viewscreen. He'd never seen a monitor so big.

He found himself staring at it in awe for several moments.

Several technicians and officers passed him…but he was too pre-occupied.

He also didn't notice the Captain swivel his chair in his direction and stare him down.

"Commander Moore I assume?"

David was shaken from his trance. His anxiety immediately returned.

He demurely turned towards him.

"Yes, sir,"

David stiffened his body…feigning discipline.

The Captain sighed and nodded his head.

"I'd like a moment alone with you, Commander,"

The Captain motioned towards a door on the opposite side of the room; he got up and headed towards it…David in tow.

"I'm going to be frank with you, Commander," the Captain said…taking a seat at his desk. He motioned towards the other chair…and David followed suit.

"I didn't want you on my ship,"

David nodded his head…puffing up his lips.

The Captain picked up a piece of paper and started reading from it.

"Your record states: tendency to be reckless. Tendency to challenge authority. Moderate bouts with depression and anxiety. Your previous psychiatrist put it "David Moore exhibits signs of repressed anger…exhibited as uncontrollable on a number of occasions as a Cadet. He is stubborn…and has had a number of telltale signs of clinical depression throughout his career thus far,"

The captain set the paper down and sat back in his seat. David nodded his head again and shifted uncomfortably.

"So…why am I here?"

"Far as I can tell…no one has cared about you up until this point. They stuck you on that barren outpost where you can hear a penny drop,"

The Captain leaned in a bit.

"You're unfit to serve on a starship like this…and mark my words: you will be gone when this mission is over,"

"That's fine…I was planning on resigning,"

The Captain chuckled; David felt a bit ashamed.

"You never really answered my question; you just went off on a rant,"

The Captain snarled.

"You're on my ship because I was ordered to take you. As soon as were back….I will do everything in my power…"
"Yeah, thanks. I got it the first time,"

David rose from his chair.

"Can I go?"

"Dismissed,"

David felt his heart sink a bit as he walked away; he glanced over the bridge on his way to the turbo lift…watching each piece mournfully.

The flight control officer glanced up from his station as David passed.

The two locked eyes for a split-second.

David made a face of disgust.

The officer made a face of disgust.

It was Dickie.

David grabbed his tray of food and took a seat at an empty table at the far corner of the mess hall.

He licked his lips looking down at his plate; a mouth-watering grilled chicken sub-sandwich on a genuine French baguette.

David drooled a little; the food on the Republic was a million times better than anything he'd eaten on the Outpost.

Many of his meals had been standard rations; he relished this moment as much as any other.

David took a bite of his sandwich; he set it down…slowly chewing the chicken and warm, melted cheese.

He took a sweeping glance of the mess; dozens of officers eating, talking and laughing.

"I heard it's the Klingons,"

"I'm just excited we'll finally get to actually get to do something,"

"Oh my…god! Look at Johnny! The milk is coming out of his ears!"

David smiled a bit and chuckled; everyone seemed so content and carefree.

The good feelings were kind of infectious.

David took a small sip of his coffee; mid-gulp he noticed over the top of his mug an ensign standing over him.

He set his mug down…and locked eyes with the young man.

"Hello…" David said…slightly confused.

The ensign stood there for a moment…enthralled with David.

"Uhmmm…" David said…a little uncomfortable.

"Are you him?" the ensign asked excitedly.

"Him who?"

"The guy…ya know…the one who killed the Klingons,"

David smiled and chuckled a bit; he raised his mug to his mouth and glanced off…getting lost in thought a bit.

"Yeah…I'm him. I didn't know anyone even knew about that,"

"Oh yes, Sir!" the ensign said sitting down in front of him. "A lot of us guys fresh out of the academy have heard about it. We thought you were just a rumor…until word got out about you getting assigned here."

David looked at the young man; he felt flattered…but a bit guilty for the attention as well.

"Look, kid…"

"Hey, George! Its him!"

Three more young officers crowded around David; he started to feel a bit overwhelmed.

"Did you really kill them with one punch?"

"Did they really scream for their mommies?"

"Did the Admiral really kiss the back of your hand?"

"Can I get your autograph?"

David's face turned from flattered to a bit panicked; an older officer passed by and noticed the scene.

David could hear him chuckling for a moment…apparently relishing his misfortune.

"That's enough…leave the Commander be!"

A chorus of yes sirs echoed; the young men dispersed.

David was face to face with Ed.

"Ed," David said quietly. His face turned from panicked to stoic.

Ed returned the gesture.

"Can't get enough of the hero worship, can you?"

"What does that even mean?"

"I don't know…it sounded good in my head,"

"Ed…I…"

David found himself at a loss for words.

"Here comes David…waltzing in like the cowboy as usual,"

"Ed…we haven't seen each other nine years,"

"Yeah…"

Ed turned and started walking away. David leapt to his feet and spun him around.

"I don't even understand…"

Ed shrugged his arm off.

"I don't need you, David,"

"I never said you did…"

Ed glanced around the room; all eyes were on the pair.

"Ed…what the hell…"

"Just stay away from me,"

Ed turned and started walking away.

"You approached me!"

David glanced around…a look of confusion on his face.

He made eye-contact with another officer.

"What did I do?"

The officer shrugged his shoulders; David returned to his meal…pondering the incident as he ate.

On the bridge…the Captain took his seat in his chair. Everyone could immediately feel his intimidating presence.

Officers quickly took their stations…understanding the status quo.

"Captain…Starbase has given us clearance to disembark,"

The Captain nodded to the comm officer; he took a sweeping glance of the crew.

The Captain flicked a switch on his chair…accessing the intercom.

"This is the Captain speaking," he boomed. "Ladies and gentleman…I feel this is a landmark moment. After over a year of sitting and doing nothing…we are finally ready to get back out there."

The whole bridge crew cheered; David tried to contain his excitement by dangling his chin on the palm of his hand.

"We have been ordered to investigate a strange anomaly on the border of Federation territory. We've been told it will be a routine expedition. Nevertheless I am excited. Let's go explore!"

The Captain glanced over at Dickie and David…seated next to each other.

For a moment…he silently glared at David.

"Mr. Stern…take us out,"

"Aye, sir,"

On the screen…the surrounding framework could be seen slowly disappearing, until it was completely gone. All that remained was a star screen.

David felt his excitement growing. He tried to hide his boyish smile by massaging his mouth.

"Mr. Stern…warp factor six."

"Aye, sir,"

The screen transformed into a beautiful array of reds and blues; it enamored David as much as anything else. He'd been to warp before…but never actually seen it happen.

"Okay…now I'm kind of pumped," he thought to himself.