Moving Forward

Posted on Wed May 25th, 2011 @ 1:15pm by Commodore Samantha York & Colonel Damon Raine
Edited on on Wed May 25th, 2011 @ 1:20pm

971 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: The Forests of Mythraeli
Location: Sam's quarters
Timeline: Current

ON

Samantha hated mornings. More specifically, she hated writing reports and she set aside her mornings for just such a task. The plus side was she was able to have the afternoon and evening for other tasks that were more enjoyable.

Today, she was working in her quarters for a change of pace. She'd spent a good deal of the past week on the bridge or in her office. Sam finished her last report and sat back with a sigh of contentment. Done.

Damon had spent most of the morning sitting in the lounge with a coffee clutched in his hands. The liquid itself had grown long cold but his attention seemed to be fixated on it's inky blackness. There was something about staring at it that collected his thoughts; put the last few weeks in proper perspective. He didn't like what he was seeing.

With a heavy sigh Damon pushed aside the cup and stood up from his table. He thanked the bar tender for accomodating his broodish mood and left for Sam's quarters.

Sam was curled upon her couch, reading. She wasn't due on the bridge for another two hours and she was making the most of her time alone.

Damon walked up to her door and pressed the chime. Despite their relationship and the time that had elapsed, he still felt uncomfortable with just walking into Samantha's quarters un-announced.

"Come in," Sam called, setting down her PADD. When she saw Damon she walked over and hugged him. "You don't need to ring the chime, love."

He simply shrugged. "A force of habit I guess."

When she saw the expression on his face she led him over to the couch and sat down. "What's wrong?"

He took the proffered seat and began organizing his thoughts. "I think I can live without the Corps. As much as I feel it has been the singular most defining part of my life; I can live without it now."

He looked down at his hands that were folded and began to slowly rub them together. It seemed strange for him even to be saying that, he had always been strong believer that once a Marine always a Marine.

"My priorities have changed since I've met you." He continued. "The choice to stay here with you over my career was easier than I thought."

He looked up at her as he was getting to the crux of what he wanted to say.

"That part of my life, the one where I served the Federation's interests, is over. I gave it up when I resigned my commission with the Marines. I wont stand for someone demanding that I choose duty over what my heart tells me."

Sam placed her hand over his and gently squeezed. "I would have done the same if the situation were reversed," she assured him softly. She said nothing more. She sat quietly, giving him moral support and waiting for him to continue.

"The more I thought about it, though, the more I realised that I cant do this either." He gestured to the civillian clothes he was wearing. "I can't stand by and let other people make decisions where your safety is involved, let alone you I think." He smirked at the comment. "So I guess that's the irony of what I need to do; join Starfleet."

Sam smiled and walked over to her desk and opened a drawer. She pulled out a PADD and a small box. When she sat back down she began to explain. "When you told me you left the SFMC, I contacted Admiral Burke. I asked her to look into the possibility of moving you to the XO position. A Marine Colonel did it on the Endeavor. She gave me this in case you ever decided to take the job." She gave the PADD and box to Damon. "It was never a forgone conclusion. Just a hope."

He looked over the PADD with a look that showed no surprise. He knew her well enough to know that once she had a notion inside her head she would go after it, despite the opposition she might face. The small box in his hand would likely hold the new pips to his position should he decide to finally take them. Oddly the box felt heavy in his hand as if betraying the responsibility it held.

"Sam, I want to be clear about this." He said once finished reading through the information. "This position; if I take it, I can't in good conscience swear that it will to serve the best interests of the Federation. I'll do my job and protect the crew to the best of my abilities, but if it comes down to making a decision that could harm you..." He let the comment trail off.

She put a hand over his. "I couldn't, either. How about we promise to watch each other's back and do everything we can to never put each other in a position to make a decision like that?"

"In that case," He said with a smile "Where do I sign up?"

Sam couldn't contain her excitement. She handed Damon a PADD. "Just put your thumb print there and you're all set," she said.

It seemed silly to Damon that it would only cost a thumb print to devote his life to something, but he was prepared to do so. He would do anything for her at this point; offering his life up to an organisation so that he could protect her seemed like a bargain, no matter what was involved.

As his thumb pressed firmly down on the PADD one final thought crossed his mind. ~I hope to God they don't make me choose.~

OFF

Captain Samantha York
Commanding Officer
USS Calypso

Commander Damon Raine
Executive Officer
USS Calypso

 

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