A First Step
Posted on Sat Mar 2nd, 2024 @ 3:06pm by Captain Samuel Woolheater
Mission:
Back Home
Location: Pacifica
Timeline: MD08 - Late
1816 words - 3.6 OF Standard Post Measure
[ON:]
PACIFICA – HUYGENS CITY – WESTERN SEA – MR. & MRS. WOOLHEATER'S HOME
Emma had just finished packing for her trip. She sat down on the edge of their bed and felt cold and alone. She was facing out to the window and looking out onto the western sea. There, as on earth, the sun was setting low in the sky. She watched the surf roll in. Remembering better days and fonder memories. She let a tear roll down her cheek and wiped it away after a moment. She had great fear in doing this upcoming journey all alone. She didn’t know if she was even doing the right thing. Nor did she feel that she had all the necessary skills.
On the bureau, among many photographs of the family, George and Emma, Joanna the eldest and first born, Samuel and Barclay, the second and third and baby of the family. Their grandparents and a few antiques adorn the dresser top. The dresser top is a tabletop clock that is ticking. There are many books here. Even piled in a heap on the floor.
Someone is coming up the stairs. They arrive at the top and are out of focus. Appearing just as a shape. Emma, making sure the tears of fear are wiped away, remains silent. She knows that it is George, her husband. There is a long pause and George slowly walks into the bedroom and sits on the edge of the bed beside her.
“I have to do this. George. I don’t want to do this alone” she says quietly.
“I can’t. I just can’t go with you” he replies quietly. The ticking of the clock fills the void of silence. Emma nods in acceptance, but it is a devasting kind of blow. “Then, I guess I’m on my own. Joanna will meet me at Titan. And I will be glad to see her and Thomas.” She shakes her head, “I wish I had the words to make you understand. I just cannot accept that they are all…just…gone.”
George, a lineman worker on a factory plant that builds underwater craft. It’s very old-fashioned work. But, he has always liked building things with his hands. The feeling of accomplishment when its done. The pride of craftsmanship. His face is tan, he’s in his early sixties. He loves his family, but he is very private with his feelings. He says to her, “Don’t think for one moment that I love any of my children less. It’s not that Em. It’s not.”
“Then what?” she asks and turn to look at him in the face. She searches for him and finds no answers. “You ever wanted him to join the service. And you think I did? It’s what he wanted. You were the one that took them all hunting. You were the one that said he had a gift. That he had a steady hand and a good eye. Joining up is what he wanted to do George. I just supported him.” She turned back to the window. “Marines saw the potential in him too. And they took him and trained him. To do what he is good at. You didn’t teach him to kill. They did. That’s why he’s there.”
“How many times will you beat me over the head with this?” he asks her. She turns back to him, “I don’t blame you. Not at all. You mustn’t carry this weight on your shoulders. And I know now that you blame yourself. If you hadn’t spent all that time with them teaching them how to be self-reliant, hunting, camping. I don’t blame you for any of this George.” She tenderly cradles his face and rests her forehead against his, “I love you so much. I love your courage and your conviction. I love that you do your own thinking, and you stand by what you think. You say what’s on your mind and in your heart.” She kisses him and says, “Where do you think our kids get that from?” She starts to cry, and the tears roll down her cheeks, “Not from me. Not from me” she shakes her head. He reaches for her hand and takes hers in his and squeezes it lovingly.
His baritone voice is like warm southern whiskey, and it makes you feel warm inside. He says, “They learned to love from you. For everything that they do good it came from you. You have the biggest heart I know Em. You love everybody. You see the good in people. You always give second chances and a third and a fourth until we lose track. They learned how to love from you.”
She brings his hand to her face and kisses it. “Em, I am so angry with the Marines. They turned him into a killing machine. He wasn’t meant for that. And I don’t approve of it none. And I just feel it’s wrong. And every time I see him, I try and remember to see past that. But I can’t. I try. Listen? What do you hope you’re going to be able to do? Starfleet and the SFMC have both confirmed the Elysium is lost. What do you think you can do?”
“Everything! Anything! They vanished without a trace? They haven’t sent any starships even to go and look for them. They won’t even confirm if they sent one. No. Starfleet can do better than that. They owe it to them. To all of them. And I’m going to remind them that…that…none of them are expendable! I hate that word. I hate them so much – for calling him expendable!” She broke into tears again. For a long while,, they simply hold each other and comfort each other.
Just on the other side of the door, just outside of sight, Barclay stands listening to them.
George comforts her and buoys her up. “Then go and remind them of their obligations. Remind them of their responsibility.”
She nods and after a moment of the ticking clock says, “You know. You and Sam are a lot alike. Both headstrong and willful. You both are so clear eyed. Like you have some sort of insight into the times that the rest of us don’t. I once asked him. When he came back from being on the Hale. Do you remember? He was so quiet for a long time. Darker inside. Brooding after what they had been through. I asked him what the hardest part of his job was. None of the bullshit. Just, what is the hardest part of what you do. He said after a time. After a long time of just staring into his coffee cup, ‘Knowing that taking the life of the other person was what was required. Taking their life prevented something worse from happening. It meant saving so many people. It meant…justice. But it was still taking a life and ending someone that he didn’t know. Based on orders from the chain of command. It was nothing like hunting. When hunting the deer, he said, with you and Barclay, it was, somehow, the natural order of things. So that the deer wouldn’t starve or upset the balance. He said that this is different. More like surgery. Colder. But necessary.” She listened to the clock tick and then said, “That was before he met Emily. That girl brought out the best in him. They were going to be married and he was going to be out. At last. At last.”
“Where will you start?” he asks her.
“On Titan. Before he was transferred to Obsidian Fleet and Division Six. The Marines won’t see me. Not in person. So, I’m going anyway. Joanna will meet me there. She knows how to talk ‘corporate’ to them. I’m hoping it will be enough.”
“When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow morning. What ill you tell Barclay?” she asked.
“I’ll talk to him. He’s concerned too.” George said, “You don’t need me to go with you. You got that clear eyed look too. And I know what a force you are when you get mad. We both want answers. Don’t think I don’t want them too. I’ll keep the lights on and the fires warm. Barclay needs stability. Joanna needs to know that we’re still here too. You won’t be alone. Hear? I’m right there with you.”
She nods and squeezes his hand again. He puts his arms around her, and they sit together looking out of the window and onto the open sea.
Barclay, hearing what is going on turns and leaves the doorway and quietly goes down to his room to pack.
The next morning, after saying goodbye, Emma arrives at Earth spacedock. As she is waiting for her transport, two women come up to her and ask, “Excuse us. Are you Emma Woolheater?”
They look like two mothers. They are also dressed for travel. “Yes. I’m Emma.”
“Oh! GOOD! We’ve been looking for you. Last night, we got a call from your husband George. He let us know that this is the transport we should take. To Titan?”
Emma looked puzzled but curious, “Yes? I’m going to Titan. I want to talk to the Marine Commandant.”
“Yes, we know. George told us. We were just waiting for the time to come and meet you. We’re all here” they said.
“All?” she asked. “What all of you? Who are you with?”
“You don’t know? George set the whole thing up. He kept us up to date and told us that you would need some support. All of our sons and daughters were on Elysium too.”
Emma looked stunned and asked, “There’s more than you two?”
“See for yourself” they answered and indicated behind her.
Emma turned and then got to her face with her hand to her mouth. There were about sixty people there. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, husbands, and wives. All of them had someone they loved and were missing aboard Elysium. And none of them were willing to believe their loved ones lost. They wanted answers. George Woolheater had secretly put this group together and kept it quiet. Waiting for the right time to reveal the support group. And now seemed like the best time. She was overwhelmed and all she could do was stand there. She was now a part of a larger group.
And may the almighty help Starfleet and the SFMC.
[OFF:]
Captain Samuel Woolheater
“Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas”
Division VI, MARDET 62nd Company "Spartans", 1st Platoon CO
=/\= USS ELYSIUM - NCC-89000 =/\=
