4

Chapter 40

Wong tossed Dickie in: he pressed a few buttons…and the force field fizzled to life…like a small bolt of lightning.

Wong stood there for a moment…staring at Dickie…shaking his head.

Dickie moaned and mumbled…massaging his temple where he'd collided with the console.

He slowly regained his vision and clarity…blinking several times to make out his surroundings; the pale white, bare walls of the brig…and the drab gray carpeting.

Dickie glanced up and noticed Wong; Wong began to turn and walk away.

"Wait a minute, you asshole! Let me out of here!"

Wong chuckled and turned back.

"You've gotta let me out of here. Now!"

Wong shook his head again grinning.

"Liiisttteeen to meeee!"

Wong started to leave again.

"David has lost his mind!"

Wong was halfway out the door.

"FOR GODS SAKE…HE SMACKED MY HEAD AGAINST A CONSOLE!"

Wong paused…turning back to look at him.

He thought of that conversation the two of them had in the gym. The kind and casual manner of David.

"That doesn't sound like him,"

"God dammit! I'm telling you the truth! The man is nut!"

"If anything…you're the nut. You tried to mutiny."

"BECAUSE…GOD DAMMIT!"

Dickie grabbed his hair and started pulling at it angrily.

"Does no on see it but me!"

Wong was silent for a moment…pondering the conversation.

He thought of Dickie…flying off of the handle for no reason.

"All I see," he said quietly. "Is a jealous man."

Wong started to leave…not feeling very confident in his words.

"…now wait a minute! You son of a bitch! Let me out of here! LET ME OUT!"

David entered his quarters. He glanced around briefly; the picture had fallen to the floor and shattered. Books were strewn all over…and his bed had been thrown into shambles.

He sighed briefly…then moved on past the wreckage.

He sat down in the corner…rubbing the palms of his hands on his face.

He noticed a book a few feet from him; he grabbed it.

It was the book he'd read years ago; it was torn to shreds in the mayhem.

He let it fall out of his hand…getting a little choked up.

He'd loved that book; he'd read it a million times.

It had inspired him at the academy; now it was gone.

David slid down onto his back…feeling defeated.

David awoke to the same blurred vision; he started to feel panic rising in his chest; he had the strong urge to get up and run.

But his legs just wouldn't work.

"David,"

David glanced up.

"Stay away!"

"Listen to me, David,"

"Stay away from me! Stay away! I'm not crazy! I'm not!"

"Bridge to Commander Moore!"

David violently awoke in his quarters; he rubbed his eyes and wiped the strand of saliva running down his cheek.

"Ugh,"

"Bridge to Commander Moore!"

"I'm coming…I'm coming!"

He struggled to his feet and lumbered to the comm panel on the wall.

"Moore! What do you want!?"

"We've found them,"