From the Depths of Sleep

I know I am dreaming. It makes no difference. The blackness holds me tight in its grasp. My throat chokes on the fear as if it were real.

They are all around me. Reaching to touch me, to pull me into their arms. In moving to fight them off, I succeeded only in ridding myself of my thin bedcovers, now damp with sweat.

The screaming voices of so many decisions, so many choices, echo around me. I can not wake up.

The corridor lights glow blood-red. The buffeting winds send me to the deck and I lay crouched, trying to gain my balance to stand against them. My arms are shaking and I can not make them still.

The soul-shattering scream of a child rips through me and I search to find the infant in the crowd of indistinguishable figures that surround me. Faces I had long forgotten peer at me from every corner. Not talking, not touching. They are watching every step I make.

Small fires light the darkness. I can see groups gathering around them. They conspire and plot and talk behind my back. It looks nice around the fires. I wish I could join them. I do not think I would be welcome.

I can not find the child. His cries are desperate. There is too much darkness, too many shadows and figures and memories clamouring to gain my attention and I can not move. I crumple against the wall.

A new sound echoes above the shouts and the crying, and I realise I am sobbing.

This is pointless. Get up. Your crew needs you!

My heart is pounding. My breath comes fast and jagged. The baby is still crying. A flash of light illuminates the corridor and thunder booms around me.

The child is Borg. I see him, lying alone and forgotten. Pale flesh and black skin-suit. Abandoned.

I break into a run as thick, heavy rain falls around me. My uniform feels heavy. My skin is chilled and goosebumps rise along my flesh.

There are too many shadows for the sunlight to reach the deck and I wait for the next flash of lightning to guide me.

His implants gleam silver in the darkness. They feel familiar. He is just a baby and I have to help him. He needs me. Why can't I find him? Why can't I save him?

Where is she?

Lighting blinds me. The deafening blast of thunder brings me to my knees. The storm is too close, I can not escape it. Too much has already happened. My decisions have been made.

Why do they haunt me? Those choices are long gone. I can not undo the past. I can not bring back the lives that have been lost. The pounding rain soaks my hair.

Death surrounds me. He chases me. It is his eyes I feel on my back.

I run faster, knowing he can not catch me. I am the Captain. He can not touch me.

Where is she? Is he coming for her?

I search frantically for the gleam of silver I have been chasing. I can still hear her voice. She is not crying anymore. Is it my name that she is calling?

The sudden chill at my back grabs my heart. I scream before I realise that I am afraid.

Seven!

He will not have her! I would chase down Death for any of my crew. I will not leave her behind. I will not abandon her. I must protect my crew.

I thrash out at the shadows. I punch at the clawing, dragging, yelling shadows. I keep running. My feet thud against the deck.

I see her!

There are no shadows there. Has she found a way to shield against them? Does she know what causes them?

Death is too close behind me to slow down. There is sunlight up ahead. It looks like Indiana? Am I home? Have I gotten my crew home?

Seven!

I don't think she can hear me. She does not look up.

It is not raining anymore. The sun is drying my clothes. Not much further and she will be safe. I will be safe if I can reach her.

Is Death still chasing me?

I can not feel the chill of his breath, but I dare not risk looking over my shoulder. Let me make it to the top of the hill. There is sunlight there and the grass is soft and tall. It looks like Indiana.

Seven sees me and smiles. She is not afraid. I do not think I can hear the voices anymore. Have they stopped yelling?

Two more steps and I lunge out. I wrap my arms tight around her and bring us both safely to the ground.

My heart hammers in my chest. Only the feel of her against me and the sound of her voice beside my ear calms me.

I take a deep breath and will my heart to slow. I know that it is safe here now that I have found her. Her breast is soft beneath my head. Her skin and hair is as smooth as the satin of my bed sheets. The room is peaceful and the screaming shadows have gone.

I hear only the sound of my breathing....

A tear slides down my cheek. I hug the pillow close against my chest.

end.