Adsumus

Posted on Mon Jan 16th, 2023 @ 3:48pm by Crewman Adelaide Kirkby

Mission: Season 6 : Episode 1: Circinus
Location: DECK THIRTY-TWO - MARINE COUNTRY
Timeline: MD03 - 0700
1521 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON:MD03 – “Adsumus”]


DECK THIRTY-TWO – MARINE COUNTRY

Crewman Apprentice, Adelaide Kirkby was finally able to take a break. She had been on her feet for almost six hours now in marine medical. Doing what she could, whatever she could. She never said ‘no’ and she never let on that she was tired. Exhausted. Because, as she looked at the marine faces, they were just as tired, and the crew at large was just as exhausted. She could at least do this; be there for these first responders.

As she got a coffee, made the old-fashioned way, without a replicator, she leaned against the door wall, just outside marine medical and she looked at the large parade ground that made up the deck. A group of kids were playing a street version of Parresis Squares. In this game, the shooter wore a helmet that had the blast shield down. This was a marine deck after all – and not a playground. They had to improvise. There were about a dozen kids, Teens and younger ones that were playing as a few off-duty marines watched and coached and ‘refereed’ the game. Family members, worried and displaced and concerned for their loved ones had gathered around the impromptu game. It was a great diversion from the awfulness of the whole ordeal.

Adelaide recognized a few of the marine wives and came over to talk with them. Just about everyday, normal stuff. One of the mothers there was Madeleine Kingman, wife of Second Lieutenant Jamaal Kingman, who had previously been the first member of the crew to contact the main bridge on deck one. Jamaal had finally gotten a break, finally, after six hours he was here. He went to his wife, Maddy, and upon turning around and seeing him standing there alive and dirty with that grin on his face; they embraced and Maddy hugged him so tight.

Adelaide got tears in her eyes and felt so happy for them. The last time she got all teary-eyed like this was at the Richardson’s wedding.

Jamaal, this whole time, knew that people all over Elysium were hurting. They were worried about their loved ones. The pain of the COMM system being down made everything worse. The news was not always good. So, Madeleine had to be strong for herself and for young Mychal, her ten-year-old son. The Kingman family did not live in marine country. When Jamaal was on duty, he lived here on deck thirty-two. When he was off duty and would be off duty for a few days as on a leave of absence, he would spend those days with his family. And so, it had been almost a whole week that Mychal had last seen her husband.

Holding Maddy in his arms was heaven. She was a strong person; she had to be. Her career demanded a lot from her, and she had to be present and engaged while Jamaal worked below doing his duty. So really, their only real family time of any real length was when they were all on shore leave. “I missed you baby. I missed you and Mychal so much!”

After Maddy wiped her tears, she said, “I know somebody that missed you more!” She and Jamaal looked over at Mychal. He was on the line now as the shooter and was wearing the helmet with the blast shield down. This was little more than a flat surface and a box big enough to catch a basketball sized Paressis Squares regulation ball. Mychal’s opponent also wore a helmet with the blast shield down. And each of their teams were guiding them to the “squares” and to watch out for the other players that were trying to trap them.

As Jamaal approached his son, he didn’t say a word. The other players made room and the marines of the second platoon gave way and let him onto the “field”. Mychal had no idea that his father, whom he loved and had not seen in a month was standing behind him. The game continued as people slowly, gently, quietly stood by.

Mychal was trying his best to swerve and avoid getting caught. He relied on the voices of his team mates who were going along with this “illusion” for a bit. Jamaal, playfully, tapped him on the helmet. And Mychal darted away an ducked and then rolled. His team mates shouted, “GO LEFT….TWO METERS! LEFT! STRAIGHT AHEAD!” they shouted and hollered. Jamaal, with a big smile on his face looked at his wife who crossed her arms like, ‘really?’

Adele asked Maddy, “What’s he grinning about?”

Maddy said, “That’s Jamaal for you. He’s just a big child and carries a gun.”

Kingman rapped Mychal on the helmet again. “That’s all you got?!” he said. A few marines grinned at the playfulness of the kid. Mychal said, “I’m the best player on this whole deck!” he said as he dodged and tried to weasel his way right. Jamaal caught him, then Mychal wriggled his way out and held onto the ball. Jamaal said, “I see we got a healthy opinion of ourselves?”

The team laughed and called out to Mychal. So did the other team and there were knowing smiles all around. Nobody was prepared for what happened next.

Mychal stopped in his tracks. He still held the ball; he was a very good Parresis Squares player after all. He couldn’t see anything with the helmet visor down. There was less talking now.

Adelaide watched from where she was standing and listened closer. A small group of marines from Kingman’s platoon had gathered. Jamaal stood a few feet away from his son. Mychal’s head cocked to one-side, he maybe recognized that voice?

“Daddy?” he said.

“Oh gawd!” Adele said as she held on to Maddy.

Standing up straighter now, he could see a pair of boots just under the blast shield of the helmet armor. Jamaal smiled as he looked at his son and his fellow marines. Adelaide looked on as well. Mychal put the ball under his arm and removed the helmet.

As soon as he saw Jamaal standing there, with that grin of his, he dove at him and wrapped his arms around his dad, hugging him tightly. And Jamaal, bending over and pulling his son up into a hug held him. Tightly they held each other. In happy reunion.

Applause started as marines and crew alike felt the connection restored. The reunion that everyone hoped they got too. People needed… good news … and this was as good as it got. As good as it ever was. Mychal sobbed, just one, heaving sigh of relief. The last month of not seeing his dad and the pent-up worry and anxiety of not knowing where his dad was or if he was alive was over. Jamaal coo’d softly in that baritone voice of his. His strong arms once again wrapped around his kid. “That’s my little man…that’s my little man. Not so little anymore. Oh, I missed you! Oh how I missed you and your mom. I got you son. I ain’t going no where…”. Jamaal looked at Maddy and Mychal looked up at his dad.

Jamaal looked into his eyes, his hands smoothing over his son’s head and face in a loving embrace, “The man of the house….I’m proud of you. You took good care of your mom.”

Mychal looked for his mom but did not let go of Jamaal. It was as if, he had captured him. And it was as if he were to break that embrace for fear of losing his dad again. But Mychal’s eyes said it all. Jamaal extended his hand to his wife.

Maddy put her hands to her face to hold her tears at bay. A mother for a different child, who knew that pain all too well, gave Maddy a hug. Adele hugged her too and then released her. Maddy went over to Jamaal and Mychal amidst the well wishes and the applause and the family was reunited.

It was the good news that so many people needed right about now. Adelle was in tears and so were a few other people. It was good to see. All the way down to your soul; it felt good. And, with great mercy and kindness, it would be repeated here in marine country many times over.

Adele went and spoke with them and said that if they needed anything that she would help them. After a bit, the game resumed with another shooter and a different team. The marines of the 3rd and 4th platoons helping to keep people’s spirits up as best as they could. And slowly at first, families started coming back together as the comms system came back online.

For all the horror that they had been through; this was a bright moment in an otherwise dark day.



[OFF:]

Crewman Adelaide Kirkby
Communications Specialist
62nd Marine Detachment
=/\= USS ELYSIUM - NCC-89000 =/\=