In The Blink of An Eye

[DrDMatthews 0]

"Computers compute.....people think!" Or so claimed Rose Matthews, the Grandmother who raised Debbie from age four on. She found it a bit odd that she would recall that particular expression at a time like this. At the same time, she finally understood how right her Grandma had been.

 

Debbie and everyone around her knew they had mere seconds to live, if that long. Yet, in the blink of an eye, a zillion thoughts raced through her mind. She wasn't afraid. Maybe a little sad but Debbie was more resigned to her fate than anything else. From the expressions on the faces around her, she was pretty sure most of her crew mates felt the same way.

 

Deborah Matthews believed in an afterlife. She was confident she was just passing on to the next phase of her immortal existence. She'd tried to behave herself throughout her life to insure safe passage from this world to next. All she could do now was hold on to her faith and hope for the best.

 

She recalled a memory from the distant past. She couldn't have been more than three years old. She was with her parents as the family celebrated a holiday. Debbie could see their faces as clearly as if they were standing in front of her. They were smiling and laughing. Her mother was so beautiful. It had been a long time since this small snippet from her past had forced its way to the forefront of her memory. But here it was. In her final moments, she found herself recalling a brief moment from the beginning of her life.

 

Her thoughts raced on. She was in her Grandparent's kitchen and her Grandma was crying. She sat in Grandpa's lap as he tried to tell her something but he kept stumbling over his words. Little Debbie reached up and wiped a tear from his cheek. She had never seen him cry before but she still couldn't quite grasp what he was trying to say about her Mom and Dad.

 

The thought vanished, replaced by another memory from several years later. Debbie was ten. Grandpa was ushering her through the corridors of a new ship at Utopia. This one was leaving within the hour for its shakedown cruise. She looked up at his beaming face and couldn't help but grin. Grandpa was retired but he sure didn't act like it. He was so proud of this ship. If she didn't know better, you would think it belonged to him. But it didn't and they both knew that. But even then, at the tender age of ten, Debbie had a secret that she knew would please this wonderful man whom she adored. One day, she would be on a ship like this. Maybe she would be an engineer just like Grandpa.

 

The memories continued to flood her thoughts, drowning out all concerns she may have had just minutes earlier. She recalled the tumultuous teenage years, going off to college then med. school and the Academy. How scared she was when she reported for her first assignment and the uncanny feeling she experienced when she reported to Reaent. Within days after arriving, she knew she had finally found home.

 

The parade marched on. There was a very young and very green Brian Smith extending his hand as he introduced himself to Debbie. And Mimi softly purring as she dropped small flakes of fish food into the Sickbay Aquarium, blissfully unaware that anyone was watching. Russ, Miles and Gracie laughing until they cried at one of Rocco's outrageous tales.

 

There was Murray, so enthusiastic and sure of himself and Pierre with his lilting French accent. Debbie never tired of listening to him speak. And Geovanie sitting glumly on a biobed as one of the nurses suggested he start wearing a helmet during red alerts. Otherwise, he would most likely continue "kissing the console." And Lit Remy, the new security officer, a stunning Bajoran woman who was as confident as she was beautiful. There was Aaron von Scherer, an engineer extrodinaire who not only knew his business, he knew how to put up with his Chief.

 

Her thoughts turned to Captain Michaels as he was when she first met him. An instant later, she could see his pale, gaunt face as he nodded good-bye when he left the Reaent. Was he undergoing treatment? Was he recovering from his disease? What would he think, how would he feel when he found out about this?

 

And there was Aidan, the stern faced, red haired Irishman who seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. He stood on the bridge, all business and a moment later, she saw him walking through the green fields of his ancestral home, relaxed and seemingly at peace with himself. He had a beautiful smile that he rarely displayed. Debbie treasured every one of those smiles Aidan shared with her. Where was he? Not among her small band of evacuees. Did he survive the Reaent's destruction? Was he picked up by another ship? Or was he somewhere else on this god forsaken planet, watching and waiting for the end of this world.

 

There were no more memories now. Time was slowing down and Debbie knew it would soon stop altogether. She smiled sadly at George McLean, standing just a few feet away. He didn't need to speak. His eyes said it all. Debbie was fond of claiming that she would never completely understand McLean's amazing transformation. She didn't really believe that. She always thought she would figure it out one day. But it wasn't going to happen. That mystery would remain intact as they all moved on to the next life.

 

The lightening was growing more intense. Bolts fell from the plasma riddled sky like phasers from a fleet of warships. Debbie thought of her grandparents and her extended family on Reaent. She offered a silent prayer for all of them while continuing to hope at least some had managed to survive. But her final thought surprised her.

 

There was a lot going wrong around her. Too many things to count. But, in the blink of an eye, Debbie Matthews knew, without any doubt, this entire scenario was just plain wrong. None of them were supposed to be in this place at this time. In the blink of an eye, Debbie was certain this wasn't supposed to be happening.

[FstLtMcLean 0]

This is an incredible piece of writing, one of the best logs I've ever read. Great job Doctor.

 

-McLean

[remy 0]

I love it!!!