Fighting Demons

Posted on 31 Jul 2014 @ 4:41pm by Lieutenant Elijah Williams IV, M.Sc. & Senior Chief Petty Officer Keval zh'Erinov

2,209 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 06 - Legend of Souls
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 4, Williams/Jones' Quarters f/b Deck 7, Oberservation Loung
Timeline: MD 8 - 0200 Hrs

[ON]

Athens, Georgia - Earth, 10 years ago

He talked back - that was his first mistake.

He then ignored what he was being told - that was his second mistake.

He swung back - the third and final mistake.

The first slap swung him around, his vision blurred momentarily and then he steadied himself. That was when he took his swing, he was no match for his father. At 15, he barely stood at five foot five and he was scrawny. He hit puberty late and the deep voice had yet to develop. The only thing that he had going for him was that he didn't have acne. His father was a hulk of a man, he could easily intimidate the strongest of men. He had a nasty attitude but yet most people would have never known. Elijah Williams the Third was nice to everyone, except his own kids.

After being grabbed by the front of his tee, he felt himself being thrown to the floor. Next came a swift kick to the abdomen then another kick then another. He rolled, his hands going to his stomach to try to protect the tender flesh. It didn't help.

"GET UP YOU LITTLE BASTARD!"

He groaned and got to his hands and knees. This time his father grabbed him by his hair and pulled him to his feet. He screamed as he felt hair pulling from his scalp. A fist connected with his face but he was in too much shock and pain to even cry out. The crack of his nose was deafening and blood flew from his nose. He wanted to beg for mercy but he knew it wouldn't do any good. Another punch to the face, this time his eye, it swelled shut almost immediately.

His father kneed him repeatedly. The air left his lungs and he gasped for breath.

In the immediate background he could hear his mother screaming, telling his father to stop, that their first born had been punished enough. Her voice was near hysterics and he was sure that it was only because she was worried she wouldn't beable to fix the damage his father inflicted.

She always fixed the damage.

He felt his father's knee hit his groin, the pain of that almost made him pass out. His father let him go and he dropped to the floor like a crumpled sheet of paper. He was still trying to catch his breath, blood had covered his face and shirt.

"You stupid piece of shit!"

He felt a wad of spittle and phlegm hit his cheek.

He felt one last kick to his head, his eyes rolled back at the impact. Just as he was about to lose consciousnesses...

USS Galileo - Present

Elijah Williams woke up with a gasp, he couldn't breath and his heart was beating out of his chest. He pushed the sheets off of him as quick as he could, they were stifling him, confining him. He sat up and grabbed at his sweat soaked tee. He pulled that off too. His whole upper body was drenched in sweat. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and placed his bare feet firmly onto the deck. He grasped the edge of the mattress. He swallowed hard, his mouth felt like cotton. He squeezed his eyes shut, he tried to calm his heart beat, his breathing. He was on the Galileo, far from Athens, Georgia, far from his bastard of a father.

Once he felt a bit more steadier, he pushed himself up and made his way to the bathroom. He didn't want to wake Grayson, so he tried to be as quiet as possible. Once enclosed in the sanctity of the bathroom, he raised the lights and looked at himself in the mirror. He looked like hell. His hair was a mess, his face and chest were flushed a soft pink, there were circles under his eyes. He activated the sink, bent down and splashed cool water against his warm face. It felt good, calming even.

He yawned, but sleep was not going to happen right now.

He left the bathroom and grabbing a pair of his low top converses and his hoodie off his desk chair, he left his quarters. Once in the corridor, he pulled on the shoes first and then the hoodies and zipped it up halfway. He felt underdressed, only sweat shorts and a hoodie and shoes without socks covered his frame, but he just needed to get out of the confinement of his quarters. He walked to the turbolift and entered. He called out for deck 7 and within seconds he was there.

Deck 7 - Observation Lounge

The good thing about it being oh-two-hundred was that the ship was in night mode. The corridors were clear and the lounges weren't always in use. That was what Elijah was hoping for when he reached his most favorite spot on the tiny starship. Here, he could be alone with his own thoughts. He entered and looked around the compartment, it was empty except for one lone individual. The Andorian was bathed in the bright light of the stars. "Keval?" Elijah said as the doors hissed closed quietly behind him. "What are you doing here?"

Keval didn't know why sleep had deserted him, he rarely had issues like that. But he had tossed and turned for what seemed like ages. There were so many things on his mind; what was going on, on the away mission, his claustrophobia, Elijah, the overall mission, all the damned tribbles around.

Finally he gave up on sleep and headed to the observation lounge. At least there he could be alone, really alone and watch the stars.

He dressed in his favorite painting shirt and a pair of navy sweat pants. and made his way there, taking a bottle of water with him. He slipped into the place quietly and found himself alone. Just what he wanted. He took a seat next to the main viewing port, opened the water, the star light reflecting off the condensation on the bottle.

He'd been there about five minutes when he heard something behind him. No not something, someone and not just any someone, but Elijah and his voice sounded shaky.

"Just thinking, thinking of you." He turned and felt his throat constrict. It could have just been a trick of the lighting, but Elijah looked pale, almost sweaty. He stood to his feet turning to fully face his friend, "Elijah, are you okay, you look like you've seen a ghost."

There was this part of him that was angry Keval was there, it could have been anyone and he would have felt the same way. He folded his arms over his chest, it was a defensive gesture in this case. He shook his head slowly. "No, no, nothing like that," he said in a low timbre. His southern drawl which was on the lighter side typically was much more pronounced. He looked down to see there were some Tribbles here and there but they were quite. He was so wound up he would have probably kicked and stepped on them. He was so tired of the freakin furballs at this point.

"It was a dream," he said, more like a nightmare, he thought. He stepped up to the viewport and gazed down at the slowly rotating world of Lyshan Three. The atmosphere was a muddy color but it still was a sight to behold that caused his breath to hitch. "Do you ever wonder how a planet, no matter what it looks like from orbit is still so beautiful and yet it can hold such terror on the surface?"


Keval ignored the tribbles skittering around his feet as best he could. He wasn't telepathic or a counselor, but he really didn't have to be in this case. There was something definitely wrong here. He wasn't sure why Elijah had gone from his dream to asking about a planet, but he was pretty sure the two were interconnected.

"Appearances are often deceptive, he said. "Whether you are talking about planets, animals, or even people."

Elijah hummed in agreement and nodded slowly. His gray eyes stayed fixated on the slowly rotating planet, he could feel Keval's gaze on his back. It was almost like he was boring into his soul. If people had souls that is. After a few moments of silence, he spun around to face the Andorian. "So, why can't you sleep?" he asked as he leaned against the sill of the viewport, his hands gripping the edge.

Keval's left antennae bent forward slightly. "Lot's of things on my mind, I guess. I get this way sometimes. I had a bad case of claustrophobia, the l last away mission. And I don't know why. What about you? Why are you here?"

"They say incidents of claustrophobia typically come from something happening in your childhood. Being locked in a confined space, getting stuck, things like that," Elijah said in a level tone. He looked off for a moment, focusing on a slight imperfection in the bulkhead. His gaze then dropped back to Keval's. "Because..." he sighed as if he was searching for the right words. "Because, I needed to think." He once again fell silent, he closed his eyes for a moment and reopened them. "I had a dream, about my past, not a pleasant one but it has forced me to do some reflection." Again he huffed out a sigh and turned his attention back to the planet. "There is just something about this planet... it is almost like it is bringing out the demons."

"I was never forced into a closet, but I remember after I my parents were killed I used to hide in one. Just to get away from everybody and everything.

So yes, we all have demons. Tell me about yours."

A chuckle escaped, it was dark and almost sarcastic. Elijah pushed himself from the sill, once again his arms crossed over his chest - another defense mechanism. He began to pace but still made sure to keep his distance. "There are too many to list," he said lightly. "You said you were thinking about me? What were you thinking about?"

Keval's antennae curled back the tips almost touching the stalks, his own defensive maneuver. He noticed Elijah was keeping his distance and wondered if it was he had done something or that it had something to do with the dream that Elijah had been talking about.

After a pause he said, "I was remembering our time on the holodeck when you kissed me and whether or not its ever going to happen again."

Ah that. That was what the Andorian was thinking about? Seriously? "I honestly don't know Keval," Elijah said. "I don't know if I can give you what you need or want, I don't know if I ever can." He shrugged. "I have my reasons, there are... complications, feelings I need to sort through." Before Keval could say anything, he unfolded his arms and put up his hands to halt the Andorian from speaking. "Also, this isn't about you, it is truly about me... and I really mean that so don't think otherwise."

"I'm not going to push you Elijah. I like you, I've made no secret of that, I just don't know how much. So this is kind of a new journey for both of us. Wherever it takes us, it takes us. You mention that an unpleasant dream woke you. Do you want to talk about? That helps you know. Talking about things."

Elijah shook his head but one corner of his lips upturned into a slight smile. "Not right now Keval," he said. "I just need to process it myself, I mean, that is why I came here. To think."

"Look, let's forget all this romance stuff, what we have what we might have for a minute. Whatever happens, I'm your friend. So if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. But if you do, now or later, I'm here for you. No strings attached."

"Thank you Keval, I appreciate that," Elijah said. "I really do." He and Keval had gotten to know each other so the Andorian knew he was being sincere. "Maybe we can have breakfast once the Tribbles are cleared out of the mess hall and we can talk."

I'd like that Elijah I really would. You going to be okay if I go now? Let you be alone?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine," Elijah said. He came to the lounge to be alone, Keval just happened to be there. "Go and get some rest."

Keval nodded, "Good night Elijah," he said softly as he walked out,"you know where to find me if you need me."

Elijah nodded as well. "Good night Keval," he added. He watched as the Andorian left the lounge, he stood there for a few moments staring at the closed door before turning his attention back to the viewports.

[OFF]

Lieutenant JG Elijah Williams, IV
Geologist
USS Galileo

&

Chief Petty Officer Keval Graysan (zh'Erinov)
Operations Officer
USS Galileo

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