A Run In with the Devil

[Akirapryde]

Commander Bonham led the smaller and younger Ensign Skytower through the stacks of lockers as he dried himself off. He carried himself without shame or regard to the unexperienced Ensign walking behind him. From the back she could see the extent of the burns that ran down his back. It appeared that they started at his midsection and worked their way up his back and covered most of his neck and part of the right side of his face. The rumors of his wounds during the Battle of CMO-26 were hardly close to the truth, yet he still maintained control on the bridge long enough to save the ship.

The few remaining pilots who were finishing up getting dressed were all paying attention to the conversation. He listen to her words without given any sign that they had an effect on his opinion. "Ensign, I think you are missing the point." He said turning with his voice slightly over hers. He wanted to push her. He had to see where her breaking point was. If she had what he truly believed she was capable of, she would have to learn to access what was beyond that breaking point.

He spun around flipping the towel over his shoulder and looked down in to her eyes. His mannerism and stance could have easily mistaken anyone that this conversation was taking place on the Bridge or anywhere else but the Flight Ops locker room and he was buck ass naked. "Yes, I have the skill set to be a great influence and help to the Pathfinder Project" he said mimicking her tone and voice. He wanted her angry if she was going to see what laid before her. "You think you are on par with great minds like Reginald Barclay!?" he said as if he was dismissing her abilities. Actually the truth was, that he knew she could compete on their level if not even higher. But she had to realize that for herself, it wasn't something that he could just tell her. "Truthfully Ensign, you have good grades. But Starfleet Communications didn't put up a big fight for you. Two signatures and your life changed."

He looked in to her eyes as if he was looking deep in to her very soul. He could sense the uneasiness his glare was causing on her and moved closer to push the moment. 'Fight me....come on girl....push back....' he taught as he glared in to her eyes. "Want to waste your life in their shadows, give me the word Ensign and I personally take you back to Starfleet's Communications Research Center." he put his finger on her chest and put just enough pressure on her chest that she knew that she was being pushed. He added, "I bet I will enjoy the paper written by great minds from Pathfinder and look Ensign, at the bottom" he intentionally antagonized her, "barely even a footnote, GREAT INFLUENCE by Lylliana Skytower!"

He moved back as he attempted to refocused his attention on getting dressed. He knew he was pushing her and could tell that she was starting to break. But their conversation had drawn an audience. It was then he noticed that down the row of lockers a group of Flight Personnel had formed to watch what was going on. He snapped on them, "YOU HAVE SOMEWHERE TO BE!" he yelled so loud that everyone jumped. He was going to dress this little upstart Ensign down and rip down her walls, but he was not going to allow her to be come the center attraction for on lookers. He added, "GET OUT OF HERE! ALL OF YOU!"

On that he spun and made sure that Ensign Skytower knew he was not speaking to her, "Not you!" he jabbed his finger at her, "We are far from finished here" he commanded. His face reflected his tone, as he was completely serious about this conversation. She will never know that in this moment, she will choose between what awaits her beyond known space or to live a life in the shadows of others. He made a promise and he would not break that promise till the day he dies. In his face, she could see the scar of his face. Where the fires of the bridge had licked his face and neck during the battle of CMO-26. His eyes were focused on hers in this moment, "So tell me" he said bringing his voice and tone were much lower now. "How long do you think it will take Captain Campbell to realize that you are completely over qualified to be a Rec Officer" he asked as he motioned to her PADD.

He turned to his locker and pulled out a fresh uniform and started to get dressed. "Our Chief Science officer is a waste of the uniform. Completely too involved in his little projects to do this crew any good. Where this ship is going, no one has ever explored. Not in to deep space, but in to experimental technologies. Tactics that were never thought of ten years ago. Everything about this ship is new and will offer you a life time of experiences that you will never have back in Sol." Pulling his shirt over his hand and down his torso he finally turned back towards her with that look in his eyes once more.

He looked in to her eyes once more and smiled hoping that she would know the right path to take. He would look out for her, but if she was unwilling to live her life to the fullest, he wouldn't be able to help her. "Tell me Ensign, do you desire to run back to Sol and a life in someone else shadow or will you dare to follow me in to the unknown?" he pulled a small metal pocket flask from his locker and tucked it in to his uniform for safe keeping. He waited for her answer and kept his gaze focused on her.