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.
"Bach," 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."
Antwon Bach was his name. He iterated, "Bring a Vulcan to the shuttlebay. I have something to ask."
"Yes, sir," the pilot said. "Solak, 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 Solak, reporting in. I am pleased 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 disarray?"
"The ship is rather old," the Vulcan explained as he gestured for him to walk alongside.
"I am Junior Lieutenant Antwon Bach and the man in charge of this ship," he spoke. "My question is about why I'm here."
"I will try to get answers," Solak 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," Solak said holding back a smile. He had never seen anger before.
As the two walked, he continued, "Would you like to see the bridge before anything else?"
Bach started to lose his temper, "First of all, do not imply what it is I should do. I'll waste no time finding the lab. I must take a bath."
"Yes, sir," it was said as they entered separate turbolifts. Antwon did not have many friends.
On the bridge, Solak would arrive in seconds to open a channel to Star Fleet Academy, "Was yours 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 soldier. He asks for so little."
He paused for a moment, "I must report you since you assigned him for reasons of race."
He cried, "Now wait just a minute—"
The Vulcan cracked a smile this time, "You put him here to control his rage. To learn from me."
"I saved an innocent man's career," the commandant continued. "That is never for reasons of race."
"It is your innocence in question," the Vulcan told him. "But I will heed your request."
Eyes met all around the bridge. It was a grave insult to Solak. Everyone responded with silence.
The silence was broken by Antwon Bach. He came onto the bridge with a towel. He was still drying his hair, "It's too quiet in here."
At the center of the bridge, Solak bade, "Come to me. Star Fleet has given us orders."
"What should I do?" Antwon 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. Solak put a rock in his hand, "You must eat this stone."
He asked, "How do you have a rock on a starship? Could you tell me that?"
"It is my lucky stone," the Vulcan stated. "Did you think it was religion that helped Vulcans learn of peace?"
Antwon Bach 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?" Solak inquired. Humans were always full of surprises.
"Yes, I would like the man who saved my career 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 will take six to eight months."
The captain then smiled for the first time, "Live long and prosper. You are the one who made me captain."
In Earth dock, the starship sat. Solak chose to forgive the commandant for his insult. He realized that humanity was only a half bad race.
The End