Drinks and Conversation [Part 3]

Posted on Tue Sep 28th, 2010 @ 9:45am by Colonel Damon Raine & Lieutenant JG Nava

1,458 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Peace, or Something Like It
Location: Lounge
Timeline: Back-post [Before arriving on Turkana IV]

ON

[OLD]

"It's ironic, really. The Corps teaches Marines how to live in the worst of all conditions. After watching other Marines die, however, living can leave you just as dead inside. Survivor's guilt is a hard thing to overcome, some never do."

[NEW]

Damon took a sip from his beer. "I don't mean to cast a shadow." He said forcing a smile.

Nava watched Damon "You didn't cast a shadow. You were being contemplative." She said "It must be hard to have watched your fellow soldiers die. I couldn't imagine even beginning to deal with that." Nava smiled "You don't seem dead inside Major. You seem full of life and determination." She said encouragingly "That radiates to your men and in turn to others on the ship. A ripple effect if you will." She took another sip of her drink "I think that we form a bond with each person that we meet. It's magnified on a star ship because of the close quarters, but I know that I would fight beside you, because you are a friend and a fellow officer. Just as I would for any of the people aboard the Calypso."

The Marine nodded enthusiastically. "That is part of the reason I don't want there to be any animosity between the Marines and Starfleet aboard this ship. We fight longer and harder for our friends, much more so than for people we just tolerate or don't care about. I'm glad you see it the same way."

Nava nodded "I may be a Ferengi, but I do like a good fight." She said "Not just to bet on either." She said with a smile "Do you have any family Major?" She asked as she took another drink of her wine.

"I do, I have a twin sister in Starfleet medical. She married a Marine and they have a six year old son together. That's the extent of my family...For now." Damon's mind remained fixated on Samantha throughout his response. His mind almost automatically made the association and he was struck by how he felt about that.

Nava smiled "Have you thought about starting your own family?" She asked the Marine standing next to her and then blushed "I apologize Major, that was very forward of me. You don't have to answer that." Nava said stumbling slightly over her own embarrassment. "How long have you been in the Marines?" She asked taking a quick drink to calm her nerves.

Damon chuckled at the question and Nava's reaction to it "It's alright. Part of what makes you a good diplomat is asking the important questions. I don't think you would get very far if you are too shy to push for the answers that mater."

Damon took a sip of his drink before answering her question. "I've been a Marine ever since I reached enlistment age, so about 14 years now, though some of it was spent as an enlisted Marine. I took a brief break to get a bachelors degree and returned afterwards to apply for Officer's school."

"Ever since I've joined the Corps it's been the entire focus of my life, there has never really been enough time for other things. Strangely, I'm busier now than I ever have been before and yet I find myself seriously questioning whether I'm ready for a family." He wondered if it was too much of an admission as at least some of the crew knew of his relationship with the Captain.

Nava smiled "Well then think about it before something slips by." She said knowing nothing of any relationship "Every time I speak to my mother, when are you getting married? When am I going to have a grandchild?" Nava laughed and took another drink. "Don't let an opportunity pass you by if you have it."

Damon nodded slowly in agreement to her comments. "My sister and your mother might get along." he said jokingly "Though I'm pretty sure she only wants me to get into a relationship so that she can share all her embarrassing stories about me to someone."

Nava laughed "That seems to span across any species. I have never understood why parents insist on sharing the most embarrassing moments of ones life with someone else." She took another drink "My Father is worse than my Mother in that respect. He enjoys recounting my many failed business attempts as a child. One thing I do have to say is that each attempt was a learning experience and ones that I won't forget."

"How many siblings do you have?" Nava asked "I'm an only child, so I was rather spoiled, I believe is the Earth saying. My parents indulged me on my whims."

He chuckled. "Just my sister. We lived with my uncle who never indulged either of us, so I would say we came out pretty balanced. I adopted my friends as brothers and sisters and in that respect I had a large family as a kid. I wish I had kept in touch with more of them, actually. Time has a funny way of drawing people apart."

"Do you ever miss home?" Damon said, still thinking about the topic. "Starfleet has a tendency to take over our lives."

Nava was silent for a moment as she took another drink "There are times that I miss home." She said "I miss going to work with my Father." She said "And my mother's cooking. For the most part, I am happy where I am. If I get to homesick I go to the holodeck and run my Ferengar program." Nava said "I remember when I left for the Academy, my parents had an Attainment Ceremony for me. Since it was my 'first business venture', those are always fun to attend."

"What about you do you ever miss home? Do you keep in touch with your sister?" Nava asked her curiosity taking over.

"There wasn't much about home to miss. I left my uncle's care at 16 and moved around with my friends a lot. Since I joined the Corps I haven't stayed in one place long enough to grow roots. My sister was more stable than I; she stayed at my uncles house until she could enrol in Starfleet."

"As for keeping touch, yeah we talk often enough. The last few months have been pretty hectic, though, I am behind in my updates. I really owe her a call."

Nava smiled "Well in the interest of keeping family peace. I suggest you call her tonight." Nava said light heartedly. She motioned the bartender for another glass of wine "How long have you known the Captain?" She asked as she took a sip of the fresh glass.

"About a year now." He flagged for another beer as well. "We met while we were department heads aboard the Orion. Doesn't seem that long ago on reflection."

Nava nodded "Time flies when you're having fun." She quipped "What do you find most exciting about being aboard the Calypso?" Nava asked as she took a drink of her wine.

"That one is easy; working with people I care about. It's true that we make connections with others no matter where we are, but I really feel like this group is special. I'm glad that most of the Orion's crew were able to move over to the Calypso."

"How about you? What piques your interest here?"

"The people." She said "I've had the chance to work at Star Fleet Command, but never with such a close knit group of people. The dynamics are intriguing." She said "I am learning about interpersonal interactions in a closed setting. Something that didn't really happen much at Command." She said as she took another drink of her wine.

"I can bet, everything is different in a setting like that. Here it's a tight knit family because we are all each other's got when on deep space missions. I much prefer it this way. You really get to know what a person is like when trapped on a starship with them."

Nava nodded "I think I like it much better than being on Earth. I was the odd man out most of the time simply because of the reputation of the Ferengi." She smiled "I hope to work toward changing that perception. She finished her glass of wine "I think that it is time that I turn in. I want to look over the situation once more before we arrive at our destination." She said "The wine has definitely relaxed me."

"Hopefully it helps you to have a better perspective on it. It's been a pleasure sharing drinks with you Nava."

OFF

Major Damon Raine
Marine CO
USS Calypso

Lt (jg) Nava
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Calypso

 

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