Center One's Self...

Posted on Wed Nov 24th, 2021 @ 1:44pm by Captain David Tonelly [Reece]

Mission: Season 5: Episode 3: CAPETOWN
Location: USS Elysium, Whavi / Tonelly family quarters
Timeline: MD 5 / 1430 hours
1093 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure

David was still. The only movemrnt he made was when he slowly took in a breath, held it and slowly released it. In the meditative state that he was in, he did this action every ten seconds.

He was kneeling in front of the small alter that he had built in the quarters he shared with the woman he loved, the mother of his unborn child, Baeryn Whavi. Several candles and incense sticks were lit around him. Over the hidden speakers, soft tribal-like music was playing. While the outside of him was nearly stone-still, inside his mind, there was plenty of action.

***David's Mindscape***

David was sitting on a quiet beach alone. Overhead, a few whispy clouds floated by, while the warm rays of the sun shone down upon him. His image seemed to be considering a great many things. He had an important decision to make, and he had to make it soon. Colonel Naxea had showed him a great deal of patience of these last six weeks, since they left New Canaan.

Suddenly, off to his right, a person manifested. When David turned to look, he smiled. "Hello, Ego."

His Ego, the part of his psyche that held the balance between his inner child, or the Id, and the savage defender of right against all wrongs, his Super Ego, smiled warmly as he approached. "Hello, Host. How are you feeling today?"

David smirked. "You mean, you don't already know?"

"Oh, I do." Ego sat down next to him. "I just wanted to hear you claim your feelings."

David chuckled softly. "Well, I guess I'm feeling good today. I think I've finally come to a decision, regarding my future in Starfleet."

Before he could continue, Id and Super Ego manifested as well. They moved to sit by and in front of David.

"Tell us, tell us, tell us!" Id exclaimed excitedly.

Super Ego merely grunted and growled softly.

David smiled softly as the three parts of his psyche surrounded him. "Well, as you all know, since the battle to save myself, I've been trying to figure out, not only who I really am, but where I fit in the greater scheme of the universe. Thankfully, everyone has been extremely patient with me while I worked through it all."

"And what have you discovered, Host?" Ego asked calmly.

"Well, to start with, I don't hold any resentment towards my parents. They did what they felt they had to do to both protect me and give me the best chances of survival. As I am now a father-to-be, I can better appreciate the difficult decisions they had to make."

All three nodded as they listened to David speak.

David continued. "And now that I've come to terms with their decision to alter my mind, I am better able to determine exactly who I am."

"And who is that?" Ego asked.

"Yes! Tell us please!!" Id echoed the sentiment as an excited, impatient child would.

Super Ego, simply looked at David and nodded.

"I am a warrior, a defender of my family and friends. It is who I was always destined to be. For me to try and be anything else, anyone else, would be a fraud. It would also place a heavy amount of disrespect on both my parents, and my brother." David shook his head slowly. "That is something that I can never do."

Standing, he started to walk along the water's edge. The three parts of his psyche quickly rose as well and fell into step with him.

"My place is still on the Marines. It's where I've always belonged." David picked up a round stone and flung it across the water's surface, skipping it a dozen times. "The real question now is, do I stay enlisted, or go to Officer Candidate School?"

"Why is it a choice?" Ego asked quietly.

"Naxea asked my once, after my first mission aboard the Elysium, if I was interested in becoming an officer or not. I told her then that I wasn't sure. She seemed to feel that my overall combat experience would be enough to grant me a field promotion. However," he paused briefly before continuing. "If I were to go through with it, I would request that I go through the school, just like everyone else. It would be the proper thing to do."

"That seems wise and commendable." Ego replied.

Super Ego nodded happily in agreement.

Stopping his walk, David looked out over the calm ocean surface. He felt nothing but peace and a sense of wholeness for the first time in his entire life. "Okay," je finally said as he sighed. "Then we are in agreement. Not only will I remain in the Starfleet Marine Corps, serving aboard the USS Elysium, but, I will inform Colonel Naxea that I wish to attend Marine Officer's Candidates School."

Ego, Id and Super Ego all nodded their agreement with what David had just told them. Then, slowly, one at a time, they embraced David tightly, then let go, turned and walked away, their manifestations fadimg back into the ether from which they were created.

Finally, only Ego was left. He looked at David with appraising eyes. "You have certainly come a great deal of years, Host. Once you awaken from your meditation, you will find a change deep inside of you. You will find a calmness, from which you will always be able to draw upon for strength, when you are in dire need of it. Remember this well."

David nodded. "I will. Thank you."

Ego shook his head slowly. "No need to thank me, Host. You are the ome who jas done the hard work of rebuilding yourself. We three merely stood by you, following in whichever decision you made and would make. We are parts of you, forever linked together in your mindscape."

David nodded, finally understanding. "Well then, I will simply say that, I appreciate your council, even if it was from my own mind."

Ego nodded and smiled. He then turned and walked away, fading as the other two did, leaving David alone on the beach.

"After a few beats of his heart, he said aloud, "Okay, time to begone the truly hard work." He closed his eyes and, in a few more beats, the beach faded away.

***Reality***

David's rate of breathing increased, until it had normalized. Opening his eyes, he took in a deep sigh. Now that his decision was made, he had to discuss it with Baeryn first.

Their lives were about to change, again.