<USS Avalon> "A Dream" By Jr. Lt. Marksbury

"A Dream"
By Junior Lieutenant Elissabeth Marksbury
 
Lissi lay upon her bed letting her body relax.  Lyryn Cate, she kept repeating 
to herself - it becoming a sort of mantra.  It wasn't long before she fell into 
a peaceful sleep in which a vivid dream began to form.
 
"You've got to listen to this," he said, offering her his arm.
 
"Listen to what?" she questioned.  "And where are we going?"
 
"To the holodeck.  I want to show you something.  You've been too quiet lately 
- too withdrawn.  I wanted to do something to make you smile."
 
"James, sometimes you are just too much.  I've been busy that's all."
 
"It's been too long since we've spent any time together and it won't take long. 
 Humour me, okay?"
 
"Alright, but it's been an exceedingly long day."
 
He led her to the holodeck and proceded to load the program he had in mind.  
When she stepped through the door, she was surprised to see so many people 
milling around.  They were outdoors, but it looked like a stage was set at the 
bottom of two hills.
 
"It's called an amphitheater.  People on Earth used to hold outdoor concerts at 
them.  I stumbled upon it when I was researching some twenty and twenty-first 
century music.  Come on, we sit on the ground.  They're getting ready to start."
 
She smiled, intrigued at the idea of a concert outdoors.  And what sort of 
music had he come up with this time?  James was a collector of old books, 
movies, and music.  He never followed any trends - he just ended up with an 
ecclectic mix.  She watched as the band took stage and began to play.
 
"The acoustics are better than what I expected," she commented.  "And I like 
this style.  It's sort of a contemporary rock jazz thing.  I don't even know 
how to describe it.  What is the name of the group?"
 
"Dave Matthews Band.  Apparently they weren't exactly mainstream, but had 
rather a cult type following during the 1990's and first decade of the 
twenty-first century.  Good, aren't they?"
 
In response, she leaned back onto her elbows and closed her eyes, letting the 
music lift her spirit to other places.
 
"This is the song," James told her after a bit, taking her hand.  She sat up 
and watched.  It began slowly, almost sounding sad and depressing.
 
Could I have been a parking lot attendant?
Could I have been a millionaire in Bel Air?
Could I have been lost somewhere in Paris?
Could I have been your little brother?
Could I have been anyone other than me?
Could I have been....anyone?
 
"Sounds a little depressing."
 
"Just listen," he told her.
 
He stands touch his hair, his shoes untied
Tongue gaping stare
Could I have been a magnet for money?
Could have been anyone other than me?
Twenty three and so tired of life
Such a shame to throw it all away
The images grow darker still
Could I have been anyone other than me?

Then I look up at the sky
My mouth is open wide - lick and taste
What's the use in worrying? What's the use in hurrying?
Turn turn we almost become dizzy

"You hear the hope?  That's what makes this so fantastic.  It sound depressing 
at first, but it's so full of hope - so full of...reality.  Dance with me."
 
"What?"
 
"C'mon.  Will you dance with me?  Please?"  The look on his face convinced her 
to take his proffered hand.
 
 
I am who I am who I am well who am I?
Requesting some enlightenment
Could I have been anyone other than me?
And then I'll

He wrapped his arms around her - hers around his neck - and they swayed to the 
music.  He sang the next few lines softly into her ear.

Sing and dance
I'll play for you tonight
The thrill of it all

She felt the stress and cares just leave her body and she was smiling again.
 
Dark clouds may hang on me sometimes
But I'll work it out
And then I
Look up at the sky
My mouth is open wide, lick and taste
What's the use in worrying? What's the use in hurrying?
Turn turn we almost become dizzy

Falling out of a world of lies
Could I have been a dancing Nancy? A dancing Nancy?
Could I have been anyone other than me? 
 
The lyrics to the song ended, but the music did not.  The band just seemed to 
take the energy from the music and ride it on a wave that never threatened to 
break.  It was almost magical.  When the notes had finally spent themselves, 
the theater was silent for several seconds before errupting into applause.  She 
and James applauded as well.
 
"I told you that you had to hear it," he grinned at her impishly.
 
"Thank you." She wrapped her arms around him into a friendly hug and he rested 
his chin on top of her head.
 
"That mean you're gonna come around more often, Lyryn?" he asked her.
 
The name jolted her from slumber.  
 
"Lt. Maturin?" she said outloud.  "We were...involved?  And did that actually 
happen?"  Lissi sat up and stretched her arms.  "Curiouser and curiouser," she 
whispered to no one, wondering what it all meant.

                
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