STAR TREK
"Required Pardon"
In the future, many needed to be saved. In one mission, the captain of the USS Holt Jerome was in need of salvation. He was a soldier.
"Zack," the shuttle pilot spoke to the captain he was transporting, "you've got to see this."
It was an old-style light cruiser. Parked inside Earth dock, it was ready for its captain.
"I should have beamed over," he stated with a book under his arm. "She doesn't look like much."
Zackery Dore was his name. He thought, "Bring a Vulcan to the shuttlebay. I have something to ask."
"Yes, sir," the pilot said. "Solka, we need you in the shuttlebay when we get there."
In time, the shuttle landed. Inside, force fields served as a barrier protecting everyone.
It landed, "Lieutenant Solka, reporting in. I am thrilled you came to us on such short notice."
"Okay," the captain said as he looked around, "how come the ship is in a constant state of disorder?"
"The ship is rather old," Solka explained while he gestured for him to walk alongside.
"I am Junior Lieutenant Zackery Dore and the man in charge of this ship," he spoke. "My question happens to be about why I'm here."
"I will try to get answers," Solka promised him as they walked through a main corridor.
The captain was a little angry, "Do not tell me that. You are a Star Fleet officer."
"Again, I apologize," the Vulcan said smiling on the inside. He never saw anger before.
As they walked, the Vulcan asked, "Would you like to see the bridge before anything else?"
Zack started to get hotheaded, "First of all, do not imply what I should do. I'm wasting no time to find my cabin. I have to take a bath."
"Yes, sir," it was said as they entered separate turbolifts. Zack did not have many friends.
On the bridge, Solka would arrive in seconds to open a channel to Star Fleet Academy, "Yours was the place he was previously assigned to?"
"Yes," the commandant responded. "I sent him to you to be liberated from his rage. He is a fine officer. He asks for little."
He paused for a moment, "I must report you since you assigned him for reasons of race."
He cried, "Now just wait a minute—"
The Vulcan cracked a smile this time, "You put him here to become more docile. To learn from me."
"I saved an innocent man's career," the commandant continued. "That is never for reasons of race."
"Your innocence is in question," the Vulcan told him. "But I will heed your request."
Eyes met all around the bridge. It was a grave insult to Solka. Everyone met it with silence.
The silence was broken by Zackery Dore. He came onto the bridge with a towel. He was drying his hair, "It's too quiet in here."
At the center of the bridge, Solka bade, "Come to me. Star Fleet has given us orders."
"What should I do?" Zack asked throwing his towel obeying like the soldier he was. "Is there any mysticism involved in this?"
"Close your eyes," the Vulcan began. He had a student that learned well. "Hold your hand out."
The captain closed his eyes. Solka put a rock in his hand, "You must eat this stone."
He was curious, "How do you have a rock on a starship? Could you tell me that?"
"It is my lucky stone," the Vulcan stated. "You think it was religion that helped Vulcans learn of peace?"
Zackery Dore realized, "Oh, so I was sent here for anger issues. And I'm forced to eat this."
He put it in his mouth, "How long will it take before I see results, First Officer?"
"First Officer?" Solka inquired. Humans were always full of surprises.
"Yes, I want the man who saved my life to be at my side facing the unknown," he spoke.
More duties from a job he did not want. But he could not refuse, "Thank you. However, the effects take only six to eight months."
The captain then smiled for the first time, "Live long and prosper. You're the one who made me a captain."
In Earth dock, the starship sat. Solka chose to forgive the commandant for his insult. He realized that humanity was only a half bad race.
The End