Lt. Commander John Kendrick - A Matter Of Perspective

[Gogigobo Fairhug]

Another great shore leave sim on Denali Station, courtesy of @John Kendrick 👏🏻

 

((Bridge, Deck 1, USS EAGLE)) 

 

Falt: Helm, lay in a course for home.

 

The ship's red alert status cast a crimson glow across John's face as he stared up at the viewscreen, where the remnants of the Reaver ship drifted silently in space. His breathing grew more rapid and the rhythm of his heart throbbed in his ears. Tomas's voice sounded distant, like an echo from a different world.

 

Kendrick: Home.

 

The word seemed to leave his mouth in slow motion, as if time had slowed down around him.

 

Raimor: =/\= Commander Dekas suffered a breakage in his left wing. Please advise the Eagle’s medical staff-  =/\=

 

Suddenly, Dekas appeared in front of his tactical station, cradling his left wing in his hands. As he opened his beak to speak, John was surprised to hear Katrina's voice coming from the Aurelian’s officer's beak, instead of Dekas's.

Dekas/Pelley: Look what you did to me, John. 

 

Startled by the sudden appearance of his friend, John stumbled backwards. Instead of landing on the console behind him, he fell to the ground and found himself staring up at a blood-red sky, with asteroids piercing through the atmosphere.

 

As he got back up on his feet and looked around, he realized he was standing in the heart of the Administrative Area of the City - or at least what remained of it. The devastating bombardment of asteroids had left the vast majority of the area in ruins. Only one building still stood, Soldotna, but even it was slowly crumbling away.

 

Pelley: You never liked it here anyway. I guess you’re happy now.

 

He turned around and faced a heart-wrenching scene: Katrina was encompassed by flames, and behind her stood the charred bodies of Dekas, Falt, and T’Lea. He reached out his hands to pull Katrina from the flames, but she started laughing frantically as the bodies of Dekas, Falt, and T’Lea turned to ashes before his eyes.

 

Kendrick: ::shouting:: No!!!!

 

((Pelley’s Quarters, level 21, Anchorage))

 

John's eyes snapped open as he found himself staring at the ceiling, with a hand resting on his sweat-covered chest. His heart was pounding so hard, it felt like it wanted to jump straight out of his body.

 

Kendrick: ::slightly disorientated:: What happened? Where am I?

 

Pelley: It’s okay, baby. It was just a bad dream. 

 

He looked to his side and smiled as he recognized the contours of Katrina’s face in the dark, her features illuminated by the faint glow of the city lights outside. He felt his pulse slowly returning to normal and reached out to place his hand on hers, comforted by her presence.

 

Pelley: Was it the same dream as last night?

 

John closed his eyes again and placed the back of his hand on his forehead.

 

Kendrick: Yeah.

 

He felt her fingers gently drawing circles on his chest.

 

Pelley: Maybe you should talk to Counsellor Yael?

 

He opened his eyes again.

 

Kendrick: Talking to a Counsellor won’t keep this Station safe from an asteroid rain.

 

He threw off the sheets, rolled to his side, and swung his legs over the edge and stepped out of bed. 

 

Pelley: Maybe not, but it's clear that the attack on the Station is weighing heavily on you. Speaking to a counsellor might help you put things into perspective. 

 

He walked over to the window, leaned with his arm against the glass, and rested his forehead on his arm as he gazed across the City.

 

Kendrick: Everything looks so small from up here. So ::pauses:: vulnerable.

 

He observed workbees still flying criss-cross across the City, despite that it was already after midnight. The repairs continued around the clock, 26 hours a day.

 

Kendrick: I was trained to protect a starship. How the hell am I supposed to protect an entire City? 

 

Katrina stepped out of bed and walked towards him.

 

Pelley: Don’t be so hard on yourself.

 

She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against him.

 

Pelley: You’ll figure it out. ::gently giving him a kiss in the neck:: Just like you always do.

 

John continued to stare into the distance, longing to be anywhere but here right now.

 

END

 

===

 

 

Lieutenant Commander John Kendrick

Chief Security and Tactical

DENALI STATION

J239801JK3