<USS Avalon> Insights and Inspirations

Insights and Inspirations


by Nightwalker and Ensign Mary O'Donnell



Disembarking at the most famous space station in the Alpha Quadrant Mary felt 
like a little kid. It was stories about this place that had been part of the 
reason for her joining 'Fleet, the other being of course Moy. As she wandered 
down the Promenade she gaped in wonder at all these places, that were now 
forever etched into the fabric of Federation and Quadrant history.

"Kinda impressive, isn't it?" a deep, gravelly voice said from behind her.

Turning she replied, "I'd have never believed that Cardassian architecture 
could be so beautiful. I hope Moy gets to see this once she graduates." She 
found herself gazing up into the weather-worn face of an Native American. 
Taking in his soft hide trousers and cotton shirt, she smiled, "Vacationing 
from Earth or returning to Dorvan V?"

Nightwalker chuckled and shook his head. "And if I was, in fact, just passing 
through between Cardassia and the Klingon Empire?"

She laughed, "I'd ask how the rebuilding efforts were progressing, and if you 
were dining with the Chancellor when you reach Qo'noS?" Her jade eyes danced 
with mischief. "Ensign Mary O'Donnell."

"Nightwalker," he said with a smirk. "That I know of, the rebuilding goes 
slowly and, I have to admit, the slower the better. And as for the Chancellor, 
the last time I spoke with him, he was very well. But as much as your 
assumptions were fair, they were still wrong." Waggling his finger at her, he 
said, "Never make assumptions about white haired old men just based on what you 
see with your eyes. I'm afraid we have a tendancy to slip out of the boxes you 
young people insist on putting us in." Laughing softly to himself, he folded 
his arms and looked her over. "So, Fire Wolf, what brings you to Terok Nor?"

Fire Wolf? "I'm just here with the Avalon, why it's here I don't know, although 
we've just come out of The Badlands. Why I'm on the Avalon nobody seems able or 
willing to tell me. I was 'chosen' apparently." Mary wrinkled her nose. "I 
don't like secrets."

"Perhaps you were the best person for the job," Nightwalker offered. "There is 
a big change coming, can't you taste it in the air? You'll come into your own 
as the wind changes."

She looked at him in awe. "Nanny Sinead used to say something similar, but 
Granny Moira said I'd always know why I was where I was."

"And why are you where you are?" Shaking his head, Nightwalker clarified, "Not: 
why were you assigned to this current position. But, why are you here, in this 
career, in this world? Why this one and not one slightly different?" Then he 
chuckled. "These are the types of questions that a man can spend his whole 
existence pondering. Personally I much prefer to simply be where I am and enjoy 
it, instead of all the tedious soul searching."

Her brow furrowed in contemplation, "Of course, you're right. I shouldn't worry 
about the whys and wherefores. I've already had some fun and made some friends 
and I should go on doing the same."

"And do your job too," Nightwalker warned jovially. "But if you can do all 
three at the same time, all the better."

Mary nodded, "That's if I'm not transferred in the meantime." She couldn't hide 
her embarrassment. "I had a serious disagreement with Captain Ketchum over 
something." 

Nightwalker chuckled. "It seems a lot of people have disagreements with the 
good Captain, though I do believe the last one wasn't quite as verbal as the 
one you're referring to? But... let's set that aside. If you were he, and he 
were you, what would you do and what would you have done?"

"If I've worked out what was going on correctly I can see his actions were 
valid ones, but I think I would have stayed on the bridge and dealt with 
anything sensitive on a secure channel from my ready room. I feel my actions 
were heightened by frustration and my claustrophobia."

"And do you think your captain would see that? Do you trust him to be wise 
enough to understand a person's actions under pressure?"

Mary felt the heat rise across her nose. "I was awfully insubordinate, and in 
front of another senior officer. But if I was given a chance to explain I do 
believe he would." 

"Then perhaps you should find the time to meet with him." Nightwalker smiled 
fondly at her. "I'd make it somewhere neutral though. Standing in an office is 
never a fun place to be." 

The redhead nodded thoughtfully. "It's just working out how to make it happen."

"That," Nightwalker imparted, "is half the fun."

Her jade eyes twinkled, "Any suggestions, wise one?"

Nightwalker smirked. "Got a smart mouth, don't you, Fire Wolf? Buy the man a 
drink, take him coffee, offer to cook him dinner. Anything, just don't wait for 
him to call you into his office. Make the first move."

"Certainly have. Couple that with my temper and well you get the idea? What's 
with the Fire Wolf thing?"

"Your name, of course," Nightwalker said as if it were obvious.

She raised an eyebrow, "You mean my true name?"

"If you like. It's all about who you are. I am Nightwalker, there is nothing 
more to tell about me. You are Fire Wolf," he said, poking her lightly in the 
middle of her chest. "That is who you are, what you are and your name."

That got him a full-beam O'Donnell smile, "And everyone's is unique? I mean my 
sisters wouldn't be the same?"

"Of course," Nightwalker said, laughing jovially. "You think my brothers were 
called Nightwalker? There have been Fire Wolves before you but that is 
something to be proud of, all of them were deeply honourable people. Your 
sister would be, I imagine, a bird of prey rather than a wolf. Aenohe, at the 
very least." Then he barked out a laugh. "Aenoheeve'hatse, of course. Flying 
Hawk."

"Yep, Moira's always had her head in the clouds. She's due to graduate as a 
Navigator from the Academy Flight School soon."

"And you regret missing it." Smiling at her, Nightwalker reached out his hand 
and laid it on her cheek. "She'll understand."

She huffed, "Yes, but duty first. Anyway if I be so bold as to ask? What brings 
you to this triumph of Cardassian, Bajoran, and Federation ingenuity?"

"I search for the displaced," he told her cryptically. "And this is a good 
place to get my bearings."

"That because of the wormhole?"

"Perhaps," he said simply.

"Perhaps he says? It's recognised as one of the most sacred places in the 
Quadrant." She shook her head, "Were you always this enigmatic, or did you take 
lessons?"

"After one hundred and thirty eight years, it just comes naturally," he 
chuckled.

"You should meet the Reverend, I'm sure you'd have much to talk about."

"That would be Nalas's son-in-law, correct?" Nightwalker asked innocently.

Mary snorted. "Come on, you Native-American smart-arse. You only ask questions 
you've already got answers to, so feigned innocence is not going to wash with 
this Security officer. I take it you've seen the great man himself?" 

"Perhaps." Grinning mischievously at the young woman, Nightwalker winked as he 
fold his arms across his chest. "And you should watch your language when 
addressing your elders," he teased. "If you're not careful, you might learn 
some words that make your hair curl." 

Mary's eyes twinkled again, "What makes you so sure I don't? Creative profanity 
is considered a national sport where I'm from."

"And Cheyenne swearing is an artform," he laughed brightly. "We can take it to 
whole new levels of expression you've never dreamed."

"Maybe you should teach me. It'd certainly go down a storm in the pub at home."

"Perhaps."

She stuck her tongue out at him. "And perhaps I should contact the Captain?"

"Ah, now that's not a perhaps, that's a certainty." Nightwalker made shooing 
motions at her, laughing brightly. "Just don't threaten him with a rifle this 
time, eh?"

She looked at him, and narrowed her eyes. "I can see I'm going to have to be 
careful around you." She tapped her commbadge. "O'Donnell to Captain Ketchum, 
if it's not inconvenient would you care to join me for a drink somewhere?"



"If there's nothing wrong with me... maybe there's something wrong with the 
universe!" 
~ Dr Beverly Crusher (ST:TNG, Remember Me)



                
---------------------------------
To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! 
Security Centre.

Other related posts: