Posted by Captain Dante Knight (Commanding Officer) in Starfleet Academy - Daye’s Fourth Class Flashback - Spring Term

Posted by Lieutenant Natasha Daye (Doctor) in Starfleet Academy - Daye’s Fourth Class Flashback - Spring Term

Snip

“You want me to go with you, and John, to the Wellington because you don’t want me here with Natasha? Even if I am getting advanced training that is going to get me out of the run of the mill Security ranks and into a Bridge Officer Tactical position?” Dante put down his beer and looked at her in disbelief for a moment.

“You want me with you and him on the Wellington, where he and I can follow you around ‘doing whatever we do’ as Security Officers as you advance your career so you always have someone to be with, is that it? Him when I’m working and me when he’s working? And you have an issue with Natasha? You have no interest that I have an opportunity to get a jump in my own career or that you can do more from the Outpost in Science than you possibly could with a backwater cruiser like the Wellington, except work your way up the ranks by knocking off those above you?” He picked up his beer and went to take a drink, then looked at it and placed it down on the table again, hard, which caused a number of people to look in their direction.

“Science is not like security,” Ashley shot back. “We don’t just sit around eating snack foods waiting for something to happen or some idiot to come pick a fight with us or our crew. In science, we have to actively pursue our goals. That is why we are going to take the Wellington. You can get into a fist o’ cuffs on any ship so why not one that will benefit me and my goals,” she said in a neutral tone. “Besides we will be together and that should be your primary goal.”

Dante leaned forward with a fire in his eyes and looked at her, and somehow despite the Italian fire his eyes were stone cold. “You haven’t listened to a word I’ve said, nor even considered my point of view or how valid it might be. If you have you certainly decided it wasn’t important. Ash it’s all been about what you want, what suits you best and not what is the best for us. All about you and I can’t believe that I have finally seen that. You make us less by being around him and acting like you do, you want me to hold my career back to keep you company on a ship nobody cares about because you might be able to swing an early promotion, even though you deserve one anyway. You want me away from Natasha even if that means I lose out on the advanced training that will put me on the exact path I spent four years working for, I can respect the reason why you don’t want me around her but not when you act the same around John and ignore my concerns about us. Hell I would even talk about your idea if you weren’t such a goddamn hypocrite.” By now Dante was talking fast, and not too quiet and slipping into the Italian accent that he often regained when he was angry enough to almost lose his temper completely, and he was obviously oblivious to the other patrons.

Ashey could see that Dante was quickly slipping into that state where he was not going to calm down until a few hours passed and a few beers drank. Rarely did he get this hot but when he did it took a while for him to come back down.

“I’ve had enough, Ashley” Dante told her flatly, “I’d rather be here doing my extra training, with ‘My Little Russian Lolita” as you put it so eloquently, than serving on a go-nowhere ship gaining rank by waiting for the old Department Heads to die off, and wondering if I get to be with my girlfriend, or if you will even acknowledge I exist after I finish my shift or if I have to wait around for you to finish what your up to with him. I always made sure I was around for you, Ash, but I’m done. I hope you do well on the Wellington, enjoy your lunch.” Without waiting for a reply, Dante stood. He didn’t just stand however, he came to his feet with all the fire of his ancestors boiling in him, and one hand gripping the side edge of the table. With a strong, powerful lift, Dante sent the table flipping upside down spilling chilli infused pasta and sauce in all directions as well as their drinks and the vase of flowers. The entire cafe went quiet as the sound of the table boomed across the room, and it took most people only moments to realize that the only noise, was the music still playing a jaunty beat as the tall and now very angry and brooding Security Cadet walked between the tables glaring at the people sitting down, almost daring them to get in his way as he left.

Cadet Dante Knight

“Dante Alighieri Knight,” a woman’s voice came from off in the corner. It was probably the only one that could stop the cadet in his tracks. The voice was not booming or loud. It was, however, the voice that belonged to one Alessandra Knight. “I can see you are quite upset but maybe we should take a moment and calm down before you make any more brash decisions,” she offered walking up to him. Walking across the cafe as if nothing had transpired at all, Mrs. Knight moved with a quiet elegance. She approached her son and gave him a warm embrace.

Far too shocked to make any kind of move to stop her, and the shock showing plainly on his face, Dante simply stared at his mother dumbfounded then looked back at Ashley. “Madre, che cosa state facendo qui? Avete saputo circa questo?” he asked her reverting to the Italian of his childhood, then his anger flared once again and his voice became direct and serious. “Ashley vi ha messo fino a questo, non ha fatto? Non avete idea che cosa la meretrice è fare, distruggente ci per ottenere che cosa vuole e vi porta qui combattere le sue battaglie! Cagna!“

“Dante darling you know the beauty of speaking Italian? It makes everything sound polite,” she said eyeing him slightly. The words he chose would have made a nun blush yet it did sound rather poetic as long as you didn’t understand what was being spoken.

“Can we get another table,” she said to no waiter, in particular, linking her arm in his. While most women, especially a mother, might have been appalled at the scene, she was married to and a full-blooded Italian herself. Tempers ran hot and fiery but then settled into a steady smolder until extinguished with enough water or wine. Now she understood why Ashley had called her at three AM. Things were more than off-kilter as her son’s girlfriend called it. It was a full-blown Vesuvius incident here and Allessandra needed to save Pompeii.

Mrs. Allesandra Knight.

“No we most certainly can not get another table” Dante said forcefully, removing his arm from his mothers and placing his hands on her shoulders, throwing a glare at Ashley that would not of been set to stun had it been a Phaser. “I have nothing further to discuss with her mamma, I’m done. Do you think i’m going to sit here and let her dictate where we go and with who? A relationship isn’t about getting what you need from someone and manipulating them, it’s about love, passion and trust. I can’t trust Ashley anymore mamma, and if she truly loved me and wasn’t just using me for company and status, she wouldn’t trust me either.” Stepping to one side, Dante left an obvious space for his mother to move to the door and leave with him, and he made a point to not look back at Ash this time.

Cadet Dante Knight

“Yes, but do you think it was always clear sailing with your father,” Alessandra asked not moving. “He was lucky to have married me in his early twenties. Young men run hot and italian men…well Galactic Quarterly did not name them hottest hot bloodied male again for the fifth year running. You have been together too many years to let an indiscretion tear you apart. Ashley still loves you. She has been a part of this family for four years now. I have lunch with her mother once a month.” Allessandra leaned in lowering her voice so that only Dante could hear the next part.

“Come. Sit,” she said moving back just far enough to look in her son’s eyes. “I am not saying you have to stay with her or work it out. I am going to ask you to sit down with her for one last time and discuss that it is truly over before you walk out that door. Do not give up something you have built for years over a bubbly borscht you know very little about. ” Allesandra took a step back and waited to see what her son would do. She did love Ashley. She had planned on the redhead to be a part of her family for quite some time now; however, if her son was truly over with Madison, Allesandra knight would follow Dante out of the restaurant.

Allesandra Knight