Haunted Dreams
Posted on Mon Jun 4th, 2018 @ 8:09am by
Edited on on Mon Jun 4th, 2018 @ 4:51pm
557 words; about a 3 minute read
Mission:
Episode 3 - Weary Travellers
Location: =/\= SNCO Quarters =/\=
Timeline: MD002 2330 Hrs
Andrew sat on his small love seat and sighed as he watched the bulkhead. The rest of the crew was at the CO's promotion ceremony, but, Moore wasn't much of a party goer these days. He'd sent Tyler a message congratulating him and apologizing for the absence. The Mental Health Specialist may seem callous sometimes, but, he knew this was a special night for the Captain. Andrew sighed and picked the bottle of whiskey up to his lips, taking a long shot. Inwardly he hated being so cut off from everyone, though he'd never admit it to anyone. Moore just didn't want to get close to anyone, distance was the safest thing, if he kept everyone away he didn't have to risk pain again if they were killed, something that almost seemed like a daily occurrence in Starfleet some days.
Chaos looked at his small desk next to the twin bunk bunk in the corner. On it was a picture of his late wife, crumpled and showing signs of wear after being carried on deployments and from post to post. He just stared, sipping the bottle and losing track of time. The windowless bulkheads of the small SNCO quarters started to warp and the room started to spin. Andrew could feel his eyes getting heavy as sounds started to get farther away, starting to sound like they were in a tin can or far off in a canyon. He ran a hand through his hair, pulling it back, then over his face as his head dropped against the plush fabric.
His hand and the bottle started to slowly slide down into his lap as his eyes closed by themselves. Suddenly he was laying in bed with Asuka slowly waking up. She kissed his forehead as the sunlight filled the room and a breeze lightly flowed through the curtains. The Ronali air was filled with the sweet fragrances of flowers mixed with the salty smell of the nearby ocean.
"Hey there," Andrew said groggily and smiled.
"Hey there sunshine," she replied and rested her palm on his face, "how'd you sleep?"
"Better now that I'm here and not in some run down room with Simon on investigation," Andrew replied with a chuckle as he watched Asuka get up and pull a bathrobe on.
'Me too," she replied and looked back with a smile before the scene suddenly changed.
Now Andrew felt like he was watching a movie. In front of him the happy couple teased each other on the front porch of their house. The blueish-green sky of the Ronal Colony was clear and only the various jumpers and birwuirrels, across between an Earth squirrel and bird, flew overhead. As the two kissed goodbye Andrew tried to call out to them, telling himself not to leave that day. Then the scene changed again, this time he watched Asuka boarding a shuttle then he snapped awake, sweat pouring over his face and his heart racing.
Andrew sat the bottle on the table and wiped his face with both hands, sitting for a second before standing up and moving to the dresser to change into his workout gear. It was going to be another sleepless night.....
Chief Petty Officer Andrew "Chaos" Moore
Behavioral Health Specialist, USS Pioneer
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