<USS Avalon> Defying Gravity

Defying Gravity
By Captain Keith Ketchum

After Vevay left his quarters, things were going through his head so much.

His thoughts were of what were going to happen to his career and who would 
command the Avalon.  This was his ship and his command.  This was his home.  
The 
crew was his family.

He walked out of his quarters and headed to a vacant holodeck and entered.  â
Computer, load Ketchum one-zero-one.â

The scene changed and he was on the bridge, watching himself and the crew 
working through the Ferengi battle.  Suddenly, the copy of himself turned and 
looked at him.  âWhy couldnât you have stayed calm, for once? Instead of 
flying 
off the handle!  I hope you're happy.  I hope you're happy now.  I hope you're 
happy how you've.  Hurt your cause forever.  I hope you think you're clever.â

The real Keith responded, âI hope you're happy.  I hope you're happy too.  I 
hope you're proud how you would.  Grovel in submission.  To feed your own 
ambition.â

They both continued, âSo though I can't imagine how.  I hope you're happy. 
Right now.â

The duplicate stated on, âKeith, listen to me. Just say you're sorry!  You 
can still be with Starfleet.  What you've worked and waited for.  You can have 
all you ever wanted.â

Keith responded, âI know.  But I don't want it - No!  I can't want it 
anymore.  Something has changed within me.  Something is not the same.  I'm 
through 
with playing by the rules of someone else's game, too late for second-guessing, 
too late to go back to sleep.  It's time to trust my instincts, close my 
eyes, and leap... It's time to try defying gravity.  I think I'll try defying 
gravity.  And you can't pull me down.â

âCan't I make you understand?  You're having delusions of grandeur?â

âI'm through accepting limits.  Cause someone says they're so.  Some things I 
cannot change, but till I try I'll never know.  Too long I've been afraid of, 
losing love I guess I've lost.  Well if that's love, it comes at much too 
high a cost.  I'd sooner buy defying gravity.  Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying 
gravity, and you can't pull me down!  Keith, come with me. Think of what we 
could 
do - together!  Unlimited!  Together we're unlimited.  Together we'll be the 
greatest team there's ever been - Keith!  Dreams the way we planned 'em.â

âIf we work in tandemâ

Together they talked on, âThere's no fight we cannot win, just you and I, 
defying gravity.  With you and I defying gravity.â

âThey'll never bring us down!  Well, are you coming?â

Making a decision, the holographic Keith walks towards the real one and then 
disappears, a voice only left that appears now to come from the real Keith, 
âI 
hope you're happy.  I hope your happy now that youâre choosing this â I 
hope 
it brings you bliss.  I really hope you get it.  And you don't live to regret 
it.  I hope you're happy in the end.  I hope you're happy my friend.â

To no one in particular, âSo if you care to find me, look to the Western sky! 
 As someone told me lately, everyone deserves the chance to fly.  And if I'm 
flying solo at least I'm flying free.  To those who ground me, take a message 
back from me!  Tell them how I am defying gravity.  I'm flying high, defying 
gravity.  And soon I'll match them in renown and nobody in all of Starfleet.  
No Admiral that there is or was, is ever going to bring me down!!â

The holographic crew looks towards the real Keith, âLook at him, he's wicked. 
 Get him!!   No one mourns the wicked.  So we got to bring him â down! *â   
They moved from their positions and headed towards him.

Keith turned, âEnd Programâ and exited the holodeck almost running.  
Leaning 
against the wall, he took a deep breath and slid down the wall, his face in 
his hands.  âWhat have I done?â

Suddenly the voice was back in his head, âYou did what you thought was right, 
be prepared and with me, youâll get through it.â

Getting up from the corridor floor, he made his way back to his quarters.  âI 
am ready.â



* Borrowed and edited from the song âDefying Gravityâ from the Tony Award 
Winning Musical âWickedâ

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