Infant Son

Posted on Sat Jun 18th, 2022 @ 1:22pm by Captain Samuel Woolheater
Edited on on Sat Jun 18th, 2022 @ 1:44pm

Mission: Season 5: Episode 4: Reef
Location: USS Elysium - DECK THIRTY-TWO - MHQ
Timeline: MD01 - 0500
Tags: Bryant
1335 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON:]

=== USS ELYSIUM – NCC 89000 – DECK THIRTY-TWO – MHQ – 0500 HOURS ===


0:10
0:09 - BAJOR
0:08
0:07 - TRILL
0:06
0:05 - VULCAN
0:04
0:03 - ANDORIA
0:02
0:01 - EARTH
0:00

The Federation Network News (FNN) logo was displayed on a monitor in the Marine HQ Office. It is now 0500 hours, and the host of the program says, “Good day to you from Federation Network News, our top story today comes again from Titan where just two weeks ago a criminal terrorist attack destroyed the passenger liner Jubilee. In orbit, right above the Federation’s top military defense perimeter. This morning, just a few hours ago, the Commandant of the marine base, General Mark Hostee, a forty-five-year veteran of the Starfleet Marine Corps was found dead in his quarters. General Hostee had long served the marine base on Titan as the Commandant of the many military and Starfleet services that the Titan base provides. The General was having heart issues as reported by the on base hospital. Doctors say that the General was under an increasing amount of stress and pressure caused a fortnight ago by the attack on the Jubilee. The investigation is still ongoing. In other news…”

First Lieutenant Woolheater returned to the office having missed the headline of the program. He sat down at the desk and was about to review the marine compliment for the first platoon when the COMM system alerted him that there was a call coming through. “Computer? Mute audio?” The audio for the FNN was muted. Sam activated the COMM, “Division six, sixty-second marine detachment, First Lieutenant Woolheater speaking. How may I help you?”

A young man, aged about 21 or 22 years old was on the other end. The call details were displayed on the screen, and they read that the call was coming from Pacifica.

=A= I’m looking for a marine. I think that he may be stationed or posted, I don’t know what you call it? I think he’s with your troopers? =A=

Sam smirked, “OK, those kinds of requests have to go through personnel…”

=A= Please! Don’t hang up on me. His name is Woolheater. Sam Woolheater =A=

Sam stopped and looked at him questioningly, “Well, I’m Lieutenant Woolheater. Who are you sir?”

=A= I’m Evan Hope. I’m Emily Hope’s brother =A= the young man said.

Sam was speechless a moment, now he remembered seeing pictures of Evan when he was younger. He’d never met any of Emily’s family. They were planning on doing that, “making the rounds” this year. Of course, that wasn’t going to happen now. Sam pressed a button and closed the office door. “Evan, I’m sorry about your sister. She didn’t want to tell you and the family until…”

He interrupted Sam, =A= Save it Lieutenant. I know that you and my sister were close. I know that because you got her pregnant. Emily had your baby about four months ago =A=

Sam was incredulous, ”What??!”

=A= Did you have sex with my sister? Did you get my sister pregnant with your son? =A=

Sam’s head was spinning, “A baby? A baby boy? I have a son?” He tried to know what to say and what to feel. He was in shock. And yet happy, ecstatic that there was still a part of her still alive in the child. “Hold on. I loved Emily. OK? Yes…we slept together. I was super careful not to…do that.”

=A= Apparently, you were not careful enough? =A=

Sam inhaled and tried to put it together, “Evan, hold on. Please. Emily’s passing is painful for everyone. But…please…why? How do you? What makes you think I’m the father?”

=A= Who else could it be? It wasn’t until Emily was killed that any of us knew about the child. She kept that a secret from all of us. It matches up with the time that you were last together with her, doesn’t it? About nine to twelve months ago? =A=

Sam said, “That’s hardly any proof!”

=A= Are you calling my sister…my sister a whore? =A=

“No! I loved her!” Sam said.

=A= There were no other men. The child must be yours. She was keeping the baby at her friend’s house. There she could keep the baby a secret. I suppose that after she married you, or before…maybe that’s why she was coming to see you? I don’t know. What I do know is that you need to take responsibility for this child. Prove to us that you are an honorable father? Come and get your son Lieutenant. If I don’t hear back from you in a few days, I will report this to whoever will listen to me. I will not allow you or anyone else to abandon this child. =A=

Sam said, “No, of course not. But…I have many questions? Where is the baby now? How can I get in touch with you or your family?”

=A= Our parents do not know yet. I’m holding that back until the baby has a future with you. Emily didn’t talk about your relationship with her. She kept that part secret from us. Do you have any idea why? =A=

Sam was surprised and said, “No, I don’t. Emily was a very private person I know. I asked her not to talk about what I do and after I saw her last; I was on a long deployment. I hadn’t seen her for ten, or eleven months. That’s the way it goes when you are in the service.”

=A= It doesn’t matter. I’m sorry for your loss too, Lieutenant. Maybe, in time, we can be friends? I am the baby’s uncle. And after our parents meet you. I’m sure they will welcome you as a son-in-law. My dad might even like having a marine for a son-in-law. Even if now you’d just be adopting the boy. =A=

Sam swallowed hard, “I’m at my new post. I don’t know when we’re going to be deployed. It could be soon. But now that we’ve established contact; you can contact me anytime. Do you have a picture? Does he have a name?” Evan pressed a few buttons, and a few pictures came through. As well as a few other documents. Birth certificate, among them. =A= Emily named him Bryant Hope =A=

He looked at the pictures. He could see Emily’s face in the child. “Bryant?” Sam said, “It’s a good name. We never discussed it. Having a kid much less a name. And I guess by not using my last name the kid would never know I was his dad?”

=A= Maybe she thought you’d never marry her? Or, that if you got killed? =A=

Sam nodded his head, “Thank you Evan. I am so sorry about all of this. I didn’t know. I didn’t know anything about this. She never told me.”

=A= It’s OK now. I found you. Call me back and tell me when you can be here? Then we can decide what to do for Bryant. Where will he live and grow up? =A=

Sam nodded and the channel closed.

Sam sat there stunned. “I have a son? I have a baby boy?! I have a baby boy!” After a few minutes, he said, “Computer? Download the data from that last call to a PaDD please?”

=A= Working. Download is complete. =A=

Sam got up from his chair and taking the PaDD with him, he went to sickbay.



[OFF:]


1st Lieutenant Samuel Woolheater
“Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas”
Division VI, MARDET 62nd Company "Spartans", 1st Platoon CO
=/\= USS ELYSIUM - NCC-89000 =/\=

 

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