8

Chapter 57

David quietly entered sickbay…a solemn look on his face. He paused at the door…glancing from patient to patient.

Each one was quietly resting. They each looked so peaceful…fast asleep.

David's eye fell upon Lo-Chem in the far corner; he watched him for a moment…a bitter look in his eyes.

"Commander,"

David slowly turned his head; the Doctor had appeared from her office in the far corner.

David feigned a casual air; he shrugged his shoulders and tried to look sheepish.

"I just wanted…" he trailed off. He glanced around the room one more time.

"How is she?"

The doctor nodded in understanding. She beckoned to him…and disappeared near her desk. David followed behind.

The young girl lay in bed near the corner of the room; her eyes were open…but barely.

David tried to hide his remorse; he pulled up a chair…and leaned over the bed.

"Heya, kid,"

Her eyes slowly darted towards him.

"Commander," she whispered.

David clenched his jaw.

"How ya doin?"

She looked as though she could hardly understand him.

"The doctor says I'll be okay…I can't feel anything. She pumped me full of drugs,"

David nodded solemnly. He briefly glanced around…slightly nervous.

"Pearson?"

She nodded.

"You can call me Esther," she said quietly.

David feigned a smile.

"First assignment?"

She nodded again; he could see the pure innocence in her eyes. It made his chest hurt.

He put his hand on top of hers.

"I'm sorry, kid,"

David squeezed her hand and slowly rose to his feet. He turned to leave…but only got about a foot.

"Commander,"

David half-turned and made eye contact with her.

"Thank you,"

David silently shook his head.

"You can call me David,"

"There's something I haven't seen in awhile," Ed watched David as he let out a small chuckle.

David held a glass of liquid courage in his hand…holding it up in front of his chest.

He was seated at his desk…feet on top of the wood surface.

Ed was seated across from on the leather couch on the far side of the room.

Ed took a small sip of drink…and savored the taste with his lips.

"Ahhhh…"

David's laugh slowly died down…the remnants leaving behind a small and humble smile.

"The worst part is…I actually believed it would grow hair,"

Ed let out a belly laugh.

"Oh my god," he said through chuckles.

David nodded…half-smiling.

"Good times,"

David set his glass down on the desktop…and slid his feet down on the floor.

He slowly propped himself on his elbows…staring out the window.

Ed took another sip…and noticed David's sudden solemnity.

"Dave,"

"Huh?" David didn't look over.

Ed was silent for a moment…watching his friend carefully.

"David,"

"Yeah?" David glanced over…a vacant look in his eyes.

Ed looked him straight in the eyes.

"David,"

David slowly slid back in his chair…and looked down at his hands.

"Ed…"

Ed nodded.

"I…"

David thought of the people in sickbay; Esther's face flashed before his eyes.

David slowly looked up.

"Fifteen people,"

Ed scrunched his mouth to the side in frustration.

"David…"

Ed slowly got to his feet and moved towards his friend; he put his hand on David's arm.

David looked up and the two made eye contact.

"You did what you could,"

A moment passed in silence.

"That's why I feel so awful,"

Ed raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"What?" he said quietly.

David got to his feet and walked towards the window.

"I have no one to blame but myself,"

"David…"

David turned around.

"I just wasn't good enough,"

"I'm sure the people down in sickbay feel differently,"

Before David could respond…the comm system blared.

"Bridge to Commander Moore,"

David and Ed flashed each other a questioning glance.

"Moore here," he replied hitting a button on his desk.

"You'd better come out here,"

When David and Ed stepped out onto the bridge…the rest of the bridge crew had their eyes trained on the viewscreen.

A larger ship…very similar to the alien vessel…was positioned directly opposite of themselves.

David shot a glance at Dickie…who sat in the Captain's chair.

Dickie mouthed the words "You were right,"

David and Dickie slowly and quietly entered the council chamber.

The room was a dark blue and gray; the doors they'd entered led to a platform over-looking a large bottomless cavern.

Opposite of themselves were three aliens perched upon something akin to judges seat in a courtroom.

The pair made their way forward…pausing at the end of the platform.

A dim light from over-head shone in their eyes; the pair shivered from freezing cold temperatures and anxiety.

David cleared his throat…feeling the panic squeeze through his throat.

"I'm Lieutenant Commander David Moore, acting captain of the Federation starship Republic," he motioned to Dickie. "This is Lieutenant Richard Stern…"

He glanced at Dickie.

"My second in command,"

Dickie shot him a small look of surprise.

"Commander Moore," a voice said from the darkness. "I am Yachal…leader of the Chaver,"

David gulped; Dickie shot him an uncomfortable glance.

"You're…the head honcho," David asked…puffing out his lips. He started visibly shaking.

"Correct,"

David nodded his head.

"I suppose…" David bit his lower lip.

"If it means anything…we were only defending ourselves,"

The room got quiet for a moment; the pair could hear themselves breathing.

"Go on,"

David took a deep breath.

"Two weeks ago…the General attacked our ship and kidnapped part of our crew. He nearly destroyed us. We were simply attempting to rescue our people,"

The room got quiet again. David held his breath in anticipation.

"I believe you,"

David and Dickie both let out a sigh of relief.

"You do?"

"General Lo-Chem was serving time in prison for a long list of heinous crimes…including experimenting on his own troops,"

David and Dickie shot each other an uncomfortable look.

"Why us?"

The alien cleared his throat.

"Commander," he said softly. "Our people have fought bitter war for the last fifty years with our blood rival. Many of the men who fought…did not sit well with peace."

David furrowed his brow.

"That…doesn't really answer my question,"

One of the aliens let out a grunt of irritation.

"Commander…we have been watching your people for three decades. Lo-Chem believed you posed a threat to us…"

David nodded.

The alien moved out of the darkness…and into the dim light.

He looked much like Lo-Chem…but his skin was blue not green.

"Commander," he said quietly, almost a whisper. "I feel that…at this time…our peoples should keep their distance."

"Many good soldiers died on that ship…soldiers with families!"

Dickie stepped forward…a look of anger in his eyes. David put a hand on his chest…and shot him a look.

"I understand,"

"But perhaps," Yachal continued. "Someday…"

"I could call you friend," David whispered.

David looked up and made eye contact with Yachal.

"Out of curiosity…what would have happened if I had killed Lo-Chem,"

Another moment of silence; David waited with anxious anticipation.

"We would not be having this conversation,"

David nodded in understanding; Dickie shot him a look…almost of gratitude.

"Our ship will escort you to the dimensional rift. You do not belong in our area of space,"

David chuckled a bit to himself…turning to leave.

"I have been…" he whispered to himself.

"Commander?" Yachal called out.

David slowly turned back…halfway towards the exit.

"My people have a saying: I have been a stranger in a strange land,"

Yachal raised an eyebrow.

"It was spoken by a man who discovered his identity was false…but eventually recovered his true self,"

Yachal nodded his head.

"You have been a stranger in a strange land,"

"Yes,"

As David left…the words echoed in his head. A chill ran up his spine.

"I…have been…a stranger in a strange land,"