Snapshot

Posted on 19 Dec 2014 @ 12:34am by Clarence Pearl

1,368 words; about a 7 minute read

ON:

Harbor View House Psychiatric Hospital, California, 5th September 2387

"Mr Pearl...Mr Pearl, are you listening?" the woman stood in the room, watching the young man who seemed more interested in watching the lights in the ceiling than anything else. She sighed, her short red hair moving with it before she took a seat. "Clarence," she said, firmly, sitting down and crossing her legs. She wore a green dress, asymmetrical and classic. It was clear she was not Starfleet.

"I can see the end of the world," he said before sitting up, properly, his eyes dark. His hair was a mess, he needed a shave...but in it all, he looked...lost. He wore the standard clothes from the hospital; light blue soft cotton trousers, soft shoes and a tee shirt. Even so, he kept tugging at the sleeves, as if he wanted to pull them longer, cover his arms up. He then moved his hands, slowly, as if he was holding something that could shatter in his grasp, frowning as he considered it. "Technology. I mean, enough of it, piled up, evolving and then we don't evolve with it. The Borg? We can build better and more dangerous than that...we can...I know we can, it's all..." he tapped his head hard, grimacing. "All in there, somewhere. Somewhere deep in there is the end."

"Clarence. Take a deep breath and lower your hands," she said softly but firmly, watching him. "Your mind is a bit foggy. It is the medication we gave you. I want you to relax your body and only focus on me. Only on me." She repeated that with touching his arm, so he had to look at her when getting the physical reminder.

Clarence frowned, worrying his lip for a moment before lowering his hands. He shook his head slowly, taking a deeper breath. "It...it is my mind. You've...touched my mind. You..." he glanced over at her, at her dark eyes. "You are a Betazoid. Can't untangle the end of the world. Can't change the future..." he tilted his head, slowly, trying to see through the fog in his head. Nothing. Just random thoughts, nothing he could pinpoint as himself. It scared him. But he wasn't feeling fear. "You've drugged my emotional responses...that's...clever. Why didn't I think of that?"

"You were hysterical," she said lightly, watching him closely. "We were concerned. We have given you a sedatives and a suppressant. To...suppress your emotional reactions as well. Your fear. Your anger. I thought it would have taken care of your...nervous ticks." She gestured at him before smiling, gently.

"No, they're part of the original...part of the me..." he said and shook his head, his body relaxing with the medication. "I can end the universe, you know. Ideas. It's all in my mind. I dream of it sometimes...just...things...just things happening. I've been working, been working when I can't sleep, can't sleep properly. One problem a day, one problem and then a new problem and then everything...everything is just so much in my head..." he moved his hand, slowly, to his own face. He covered his eyes, with a weak smile. "I can stop the world."

"No one can 'stop' the world," she said and smiled gently, watching him for a long moment. "Clarence...you've suffered a...psychotic break. We are going to find out why....and make you better. But you need to listen to me..." she stood, moving to him before tilting her head so she could consider him. "Because it's the only way we are going to get anywhere."

Clarence stopped, looking at her for a moment before shaking his head. "Not getting better. Mad hatters and all that. Can't...get better, I've seen the future..." he whispered as he shook his head, slowly.

"No one has seen the future," she said and touched his arm, closing her eyes. She pulled her hand back as if burned, her eyes widening at the depth of emotions she felt from him. He believed it. With all he was, he believed he would end the universe. "I know you believe you have, but you haven't. No...Clarence...we are going to work on this."

Starbase 84, Pavillion Bar, Present Day (MD-10)

"Right, darlings!" Clarence smiled as he looked at the people before him. He hummed as he moved to make the cocktails. "I have 'The Borg Queen'..." he winked at the woman who had ordered it. "Don't worry, sweetheart, it'll do the job but also keep you just...fabulous..." he teased and moved to the next person, stopping as he saw her face. Short red hair, dark eyes...older, but he'd recognise her anywhere. "Doctor."

"You look good, Clarence," she said and looked around before meeting his eyes. "You feel good. Real. It's good to see you."

"Good to see you too...unless you're here to put me in the nut house again, because I am not going back there anytime soon..." he said and shook his head, watching her. "Let me make you a cocktail."

"If you like," she said softly, just studying him closely. He looked healthier. He was physically taking good care of himself. What she got from his emotions was...nervousness. Because of her. She hid her smile at that. He had always been nervous around strong women, she had noticed that herself when she had a few sessions with him. But he seemed steady. She knew he wasn't on medication anymore anyway, but he seemed...steady.

"Good, because I like this," he said lightly and met her eyes, holding them for a long moment. "This...this I can do. Without any added...bad. You know, no 'the end is nigh' sort of thing..." he laughed nervously and then swallowed, moving to make her the cocktail. "I thought you'd like something with a bit of a kick...you like your green teas. I remember that, you always had that in our sessions..." he finished the drink, pouring it into a martini glass. "Here we have a green tea martini, finished off with some caramel chilli syrup...enjoy..."

She took it, watching him before taking a sip of it. "Clarence...that's...different."

"Tasty different or spit it out different?" he asked, with some hope that she would enjoy it. He didn't like making drinks people hated and he had hoped she'd like it.

"Tasty," she smiled and shook her head, watching him. "I am not here to check up on you. I am back in the regular fleet now and...thought I should see how you are. I hear you are going on a ship."

"Yes...I am. It will be different," he said lightly, holding her eyes as he smiled. "I think it will be good. I know it will be. I'll watch my brain and other people's tastebuds. And...I can keep in touch, if you want?"

"Do you even know my full name?" she asked, studying him closely before chuckling softly. "I am Ada. Ada Saunders. And you always assumed I was full Betazoid despite my...Australian accent. I am only half...but strong in my abilities. And you, Clarence Pearl...you are so much. Could be so much. And it frightens you..." she stopped and sipped her drink. "But that is something for your next counsellor to worry about. You are doing well..."

"Why, thank you," he beamed a smile at her, searching her face. "I appreciate it...since I don't want to be sent back to the looney bin. Can I get you another drink, Ada?"

She shook her head, sipping her drink. "No...thank you though," she said softly, searching his face for a long moment. "I will see you again, Clarence..." she promised and finished her drink, touching his arm. "Take care of yourself."

"Always!" he smiled and patted her hand before watching her go. Only then did he let out a breath of relief...he had genuinely thought she had come to send him back. Because while he was fine now, he remembered...his time there. And it hadn't all been a dance on roses whilst high on drugs.

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