Ensign Elor Letek - Facing your inner demons.

[Ensign Elor Letek]

((Outside Captain's Ready Room, Deck 1))

The computer had located Captain Nicholotti in her ready room and Elor had boarded the next turbolift to go up to deck 1. With each floor the turbolift left behind, his nervousness increased. He knew that this was not just a visit to find answers to all their questions. He still had to discuss what had happened on the Ifir. He had spoken to Lieutenant Stendhal about it and they had both come to the conclusion that sooner or later he would have to face the Captain again. That moment was coming sooner than he had hoped, but whether it was today or a week from now, Elor would be no better prepared.

He stepped out of the turbolift and stopped in front of the door to his destination. Hesitantly. He took a deep breath, tightened his posture and announced himself by pressing the button next to the door. The seconds he waited for a 'come in' felt like minutes to him.

Nicholotti: Response?

Bracing himself as best he could, he entered the room and stopped at the door. Nicholotti sat at her desk and looked at him. Inevitably, the images of the day on the Ifir forced themselves into his consciousness, as Nicholotti stood over him, ready to strike a fatal blow. Elor blinked once and tried to push the images to the back of his mind.

Letek: ::clearing his throat:: Sorry to interrupt, Captain. Do you have a moment?

Nicholotti: Response?

Elor stepped closer to her desk, but did not sit down. Whether out of respect or because of a subconscious flight reflex, he couldn't tell.

Letek: First of all, I would like to sincerely apologize again for what happened on the bridge of the Ifir.

Nicholotti: Response?

A little tension eased from Elor's muscles. He had already replayed this speech in his head several times, but actually saying the words now was a challenge in itself.

Letek: There's no excuse for what I did, but I'd still like to explain my motives. For me, everything clearly pointed to a hallucination. You were talking to someone I couldn't see. And your words made no sense. Plus the signs of a headache that you showed. Under these circumstances, I could only think of a hallucination. And since I had neither a suitable drug nor a suitable medical device with me, in my judgment there was only one possibility. A shock was the only way for me to break the hallucination at that moment.

Nicholotti: Response?

He found it difficult to look her in the eye with confidence, but he did his best not to break eye contact. He may have done the wrong thing, but he had done it with conviction.

Letek: I may have misjudged the situation and I sincerely regret that. But it was only in an attempt to help, as strange as that may sound. I never meant to be disrespectful or presumptuous towards you.

Nicholotti: Response?

TAG / TBC

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Ensign Elor Letek

Medical Officer

USS Eagle

E240201EL2