A Walk In The Woods, part 1

Posted on Sat Nov 21st, 2009 @ 8:12am by Commodore Samantha York & Colonel Damon Raine

1,020 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: The Devils Snare
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: current

ON

Samantha had changed into a pair of faded jeans, a black tank top and a green flannel shirt and went to holodeck 3 where she was to meet Damon to go hiking. They'd both been busy the last couple of days and she was looking forward to seeing him again.

Like Samantha, Damon was also eager to meet up again. He had spent the morning breaking in a new pair of jeans that were replicated the night before. He grudgingly had to admit that he was becoming accustomed to the feel of the new leggings, though he still preferred the free motion found in the Marine standard issue fatigues. Still, he was slightly amused by how quickly he had taken to liking them. His practicality won out when it came to slipping on a light beige sweater for the outing.

Upon rounding a small knoll he spotted Samantha waiting patiently for him to arrive. He smiled widely as he walked up to her, glad that she was able to make some time for him.

"Hiya." He said as he met up with her.

"Hi!" she replied, grinning. She wanted to throw her arms around his neck and give him a hug, but she refrained, not wanting to overdo it. "It's good to see you again."

"Likewise."

Damon had always found second dates the hardest to sort out. First dates were easy in the sense that a person really has no expectations. If it works out, great. If it doesn't work, nothing lost. But the level of expectation changes when you see a person again... or does it? That's what he wasn't sure of. They kissed the last date, does that mean anything this time around?

"I have to say, it may not be real, but these holodecks sure know how to create the perfect day." He said, pushing his thoughts to the side. "You all set?"

"They do, don't they?" Sam replied. "Unless you program as storm." She grinned. "I've done that a time or two. Sometimes I enjoy a good thunderstorm."

The two of them began to hike along the trail through a mountain wood.

The trail winded up the side of a large valley. Huge trees canopied the trail offering brief flashes of brilliant sunlight upon the two. Each step fell onto light brush that crunched under their feet adding noise to the otherwise quiet forest.

"So tell me more about your family." He said as he stepped over a fallen log. He realised that the question may have seemed out of the blue, but decided to bull through it.

Samantha thought for a few moments. "My parents are in diplomacy. One's a diplomat, the other an ambassador. There was a time I attended diplomatic functions with them. Until I escaped and spent much of my time in school or on digs." She'd pulled her hair back into a ponytail and brushed a strand of loose hair off her face. " I have five older brothers. Two in Starfleet, three still on Earth. They're very protective of me. Now. When I was younger they kept trying to get rid of me. I couldn't play the games they played; I couldn't do what they did. So, of course, that's exactly what I wanted to do." She grinned over at him. "I'm afraid I was and am a bit of a tomboy. I learned to camp, shoot and track, just to be like my brothers. It didn't work, however. But I've resigned myself to being me." She looked over at Damon. "What about you?"

"Well," He started. "My parents left my sister and I to live with our uncle back on earth when we were kids, thinking that a Starship was too dangerous a place to raise a family. Turns out that they were right. When my sister and I were seven we received the news that our parent’s ship was probably destroyed while on border patrol. After that, Alexandra and I devoted our lives to the preparation of service. We figured it would be the best way to honour their memory. Alexandra followed our parents footsteps and went into medicine when we were of age and I signed up with the SFMC.†He chuckled a bit. “Lexa... Alexandra,†He clarified. “Still gives me grief to this day about opting to join the Corps. She never understood the reason for why I signed up in the first place.â€

Samantha nodded. "What made you decide to join the Corps?"

"When they were on shore leave, I remember overhearing my parents late at night talking with my Uncle about some of the attacks their crew received in the past months.†Damon shook his head. “Sad stories. They struggled to keep people alive, some of them close friends, and had to watch as they slowly died in front of them. Even as a child I resolved never to let that happen to my friends. “ He shrugged. “The way I reasoned it, why try to save ten people a bad guy shot when I could stop that person from even shooting them in the first place.â€

Damon’s eyes fell to the ground in front of him, clearly hesitant to say more. There was another reason why he chose his career, but he wasn’t sure it was a good idea to tell Samantha. Voicing his fears was never a strong point for him. Still, he was surprised that he was even considering telling her. It was something he wouldn’t even tell his sister...especially not his sister.

Sam slipped her hand into his and squeezed. "A noble reason." She could sense there was more, but she wasn't going to pry. Instead, she tried to let him know that she was there if he needed her.

Damon was grateful for the contact and he smiled at her as they continued to walk though the forest. He would eventually tell her the other reason...but not today, he didn't want to potentially spoil the afternoon.

To be continued...

2nd Lieutenant Damon Raine
Marine CO
USS Orion

Lieutenant Samantha York
Chief Science Officer
USS Orion

 

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