Dealing With Prejudice"

"... Captain," continued a disgruntled Cardassian. "I don't want to seem like a complainer but I am tired of this."

Captain Devore sat behind his desk in his ready room and listened to Lieutenant Dakul. For the past few weeks Dakul has complained about the way he was being treated by the rest of the crew. Now Devore's Chief of Security was making formal grievance against his first officer.

"Sir. The away mission last week was an uncomfortable experience. I totally understand why Commander T'Kul would hate me, but she is my superior officer. Shouldn't she be treating me, well, better ?"

Devore sat back in his chair and looked at Dakul. "You know something. You're right, but after 40 years of your people occupying Bajor couldn't you understand why it would be difficult for her to have warm fuzzies for you."

"Yes sir. I am not asking for a miracle. Just for professional respect. I am a StarFleet officer and Chief of Security on top of that."

Devore didn't want to say any more. Instead he tapped his combadge. "Commander Rashad. Please report to my ready room."

[On my way.] Came a woman's voice.

For a few minutes, the tension in the room could be cut with a knife only to be broken by the signal that Rashad was waiting on the other side of the door. "Enter." Immediately as she entered Rashad almost stopped in her tracks when she saw Dakul, but decided against it and headed for the captain.

"Captain ?" She said with a smile.

"Sit down please," Devore said standing politely. Even though he was her commanding officer, chivalry wasn't dead. Surprisingly Dakul also stood which for a moment caught her off guard. "Rashad, there has been some serious allegations of prejudice made against you."

Immediately her half smile disappeared. Instead she became tight lipped. "Captain. Not prejudice... hatred! I don't like Cardassians."

Devore looked at her. Her response caught him guard. Honestly, he was prepared for her to deny it, but this remark of total admittable was surprising. "Really ?"

"Yes. I hate ALL Cardassians."

"But you don't even know me." Dakul said shortly after this shocking revelation.

"You are Cardassian. That is all I have to know."

"Commander. I don't get it........"

"Commander T'Kul!" She said correcting him, her voice now edged with anger.

"Look,..."

"You look! I don't like you that is all you need to worry about."

Devore said nothing but stood up. He turned to face his window, an action that he always seems to do when in higher thought. "Lieutenant Dakul. Please will you leave us."

Without a word but a glare to T'Kul that was felt by all, he stood up and left. Devore than turned and looked at T'Kul.

"Commander!" His voice was louder then normal. "Listen to me and listen to me good. I don't care what your personal reasons are but you have to over look these feelings of prejudice."

"Sir with all due respect, you nor StarFleet can dictate to me how to feel about that... that... thing out there."

"Let me put it to you like this... If you want to remain as my first officer then yes you will."

"You can't do that!"

"Oh I can't. Watch me!"

Rashad looked at Captain Devore. They had been through a lot together and knew that Devore was a man of his word. He was a poker player, so his poker face was stone solid. "Sir. Cardassians killed everything I ever loved. My family, my home, my identity. I can't allow myself to get along with him let alone like him."

"Rashad," Devore began coming around and sitting in a chair next to her. "I understand. But you are my first officer. You are to promote a cooperative environment, not fight against one. That man out there is a fine officer. You are too. I don't want to let this be your down fall. Remember Section 31 took everything I loved too, but I have what I lost back. I didn't even like for that fact, now look at you. You are my trusted officer..."

"Beside Commander Devore." Rashad said with a smile.

"Of course, but she is my wife. You are my first officer. I need you to at least get along with him professionally, personally you can do what ever, but on duty you need to work with him. Remember this, he is our Chief of Security."

"I understand where you are going with this, but Captain I don't think I can."

"Yes Rashad, you can. You have overcome tremendous odds in the past, make this one of those missions as well."

Rashad stood up.

"I can't promise nothing. I loathe Cardassians !"

"Do you know anything about Dakul ?"

"He is Cardassian. That is all I need to know." She began to head out.

"Did you know that he has never been to Cardassia nor Bajor ? As a matter of fact he is orphaned as well... by Bajoran resistance fighters." Rashad stopped. "So you see he has just as much right to hate you and other Bajorans but he has chosen not to. Can't you look past the hatred ?"

Rashad said nothing and headed out of the ready room.

*Damn*

Devore looked over at his clock. It was 03:30 and he couldn't sleep. The Captain had his hands clasped behind his head breathing deeply but he just couldn't sleep. The thoughts of what was happening with Dakul really disturbed him. The rest of the officers seem to get along with him, but Rashad just couldn't see past the outside appearance. Prejudices, Devore thought, was eradicated, but obviously he was wrong.

"You okay honey." Sierra said turning over. She noticed that Marc was not sleeping.

"No. I hate this thing that is going on."

"With Rashad and Dakul ?"

"Yes."

"Talk to me about it."

"You know I can't."

"Not as your wife, but as ship's counselor."

"Oh really. Do you do this with all of your patients, offer therapy in bed ?"

"Marc! I am serious."

"Okay, okay. This thing with Rashad and Dakul is really getting to me. I just don't understand why they can't get along."

"Forty years of hatred will never be overlooked in a short amount of time. You just have to let things play out."

"Play out ?"

"Over time something may work out. However, pushing the envelope may allow for things to fix themselves faster."

Marc turned and looked at his wife. He smiled and leaned over to give her a kiss. The Captain may have just figured how to do it. In this short dialogue, Devore may have found what he needed to do. He shot out of bed and headed for the wardrobe.

"Where are you going ?" Sierra asked.

"I need to run ! It helps me think."

Sierra plopped back down on the bed and sighed, frustrated.

"I am sorry honey."

"Go ! Do what you have to !" Sierra said. She understood, but still doesn't make it easier- being denied.

In shorts, running shoes, and an old 20th century base ball cap turned backwards, Captain Devore headed for holodeck 3. "Computer, initialize and create Central Park, New York circa 2010."

<Enter when ready.>

"One, two, three, and a quarter......" Suddenly came from down the hall. It sounded like Major Phanan and his Marines. In repetition a mass of people returned the cadence, "One, two, three, and a quarter..."

"I have a date with the Captain's daughter..../ Captain, Captain what a sucker... / He doesn't know that I am going to ......." As the formation turned the corner the Major saw the Captain. "Going to sing to her !!!" Phanan yelled trying to cover up the next word. Devore smiled. As the formation turned the corner into the holodeck. "Quick time march. Platoon halt !"

Major Phanan approached Devore. "Captain. I am sorry. I meant no disrespect it is just a cadence."

"Major. I know, don't worry about it ! Mind if I join your run."

The question caught Phanan off guard. That is a first, a Fleetie wanting to join a Marine run. *We are going to smoke him !*

"Of course Captain. Please do."

"Platoon...." The platoon sergeant bellowed. "....Forward March. Double time March."

The platoon began their run. Purposely, Major Phanan ran them over six miles through the park through areas that were hard to run, up the gently rolling hills, and increasing the pace, but the captain kept up with them in stride. Two or three of his Marines fell out throwing up their stomachs and just when they thought they were over and done with the seventh mile, Phanan yelled, "Suicide run ! Anyone caught behind me once we finish will scrub out the barracks !"

Devore didn't at first know what that was, but when the platoon began to sprint, he realized what was going on, Devore sprinted and passed the platoon. He was now neck and neck with Major Phanan who led the platoon. Just as they came up to the finish mark, Devore sprinted harder and finished just before Phanan. One by one, the platoon trailed Devore and Phanan and collapsed.

"Get up ! Get up !." Phanan yelled kicking feet and legs. "Stand up straight. Put your arms in the air. Lets Go, ladies !"

"Major. Since they have to do the barracks for not beating you, come see me later for your assignment for losing to me." Devore said with a smile. He turned and left the holodeck, but just as he did he heard. "Attention!"

The entire platoon popped to their feet and snapped to attention. Devore turned and looked. With a smile he said, "as you were." From the hallway he heard the platoon plop to the floor wheezing and coughing. Devore smiled as he entered the turbolift. The door shut after, he ordered the turbolift to where he want to go then he himself dropped to the floor coughing and wheezing.

Later that morning, Captain Devore limped on to the Bridge. He legs were like rubber, but also stiff as a board. He felt that they were not going to hold him up, but they were barely. Honestly, Devore thought that legs were going to snap as stiff as they felt from this morning's run.

"You okay Captain ?" T'Kul asked.

"Yeah. Just a little sore."

Just as he said that the turbolift doors opened and Phanan walked out stiff-legged. He walked like his legs were broken, held together with boards. Devore looked at Phanan who just smiled. Devore returned the smile.

The entire senior staff was on the Bridge. Devore stood up and "walked" to the front of the Bridge. Chief Shale sat at the helm as the rest of the crew wondered what was going on.

"May I have your attention, I have figured that we have on member of the crew who is totally out of uniform. I am tired of seeing him like this. So I have to correct this now before it goes any further." Devore said resulting in everyone looking around at each other and themselves. "Computer. Effective stardate 4388.5 because of his superior leadership abilities, exemplary service record, and being just and all around great guy," the crew smiled. "I hereby grant Chief Petty Officer Richard Shale commissioned officer status as authorized by StarFleet Regulations 3500-2a, at the rank of Lieutenant."

Devore approached Shale literally ripped off his stripes and pinned the two gold pips to his collar. "Congratulations, Lieutenant Shale."

"Thank you sir !"

Everyone applauded.

"Now. Tomorrow morning at 05:00, I want the following personnel to report to holodeck two. Commander Rashad, Major Phanan, Cadet McCaffee, Ensign Morriden, Lieutenant Dakul, Commander Taline, and Lieutenant Gordon. Plan on being there for the weekend. This is mandatory 'retreat'. Understood ?"

"Aye sir."

"Carry on !"