The Path to Happiness

Posted on Wed Nov 1st, 2017 @ 10:40pm by Commander Christopher Samuels MDiv, PhD

Mission: S01E02 D-8 With the Devil
Location: USS Musashi | Bridge
Timeline: Following The Chapter Closes

…the sensor technology that the Zaranites have given us is certainly going to be useful, that is... if—and this is a big if—we can integrate the tech into our systems. If it is compatible to Starfleet technology then we will certainly have a leg up on the Klingons. However, with that said, the Zaranites methodology on how they dealt with myself and my team is less desirable. There was no asking, there was no warning, they just took it upon themselves to transport and separate us. My contact, H’thern, had explained but the explanation was a thin one. I am not sure if their indiscretion will put their Federation membership application in jeopardy, it is my opinion it shouldn’t, but it should be something worth at least looking into.

Overall, I believe the Zaranites want to help us, and I feel they could be valuable allies and members of the Federation. They have technology that certainly could help, but more than that, it was clear to me that they have been hurt in someway by the Klingons. We can empathize with that for sure. I feel all options should be weighed though not weighed in haste, sharing their sensor tech was in goodwill and in by no means a bribe. If the Zaranites were willing to help us with nothing in return, I think that shows great character.

My impression is they seem to be a compassionate people, and frankly we could use a little bit more of that in this universe.

Report by:
Commander Christopher M. Samuels
Executive Officer/Chief Science Officer
USS Musashi

Christopher Samuels looked over his work, squinting as he did so. His eyes were bothering him, and he could feel a headache coming on. He had barely slept and this morning it was hitting him hard. Because of his talk with Dylan, he had decided the report could wait; he was not in the right frame of mind to even think about it. He had been surprised that Fig hadn’t come after him for it, but he also knew that her mind was other places.

As was his.

“Boy don’t we make the good command team,” Christopher mumbled to himself, his eyes rolling. He stood in the lift now, holding the PADD that contained his report. He exhaled, grateful that he had the lift to himself this morning, he wasn’t sure if he could deal with anyone in such close quarters at the moment. Though, he was about to enter a busy bridge, and he wasn’t entirely sure what was worse at the moment. He had to use all his will power to get out of bed, but Fig was counting on him, the crew was counting on him, so his personal life had to be set aside for now.

I can grieve on my own time.

He briefly looked down at his left hand, it had still been odd to not wear his band anymore. It had been less than twenty-four hours, and the platinum wedding band still sat in the same exact spot where he had left it. What would he even do with it? Recycle it? Keep it—though he wasn’t entirely sure what purpose that would serve. He sighed, and shoved that thought out of his mind. He didn’t need to really think about any of that now, there would be plenty of time to think about it all later.

The lift came to a slow halt and the doors parted with that familiar hiss and Christopher stepped out onto a bustling bridge. Seeing everyone at their stations, seeing others consult with each other had caused a smile to form on his lips. The crew of the Musashi had recently come together, so he was glad to see that people were starting to ease into their routines.

He moved around the circular bridge, greeting everyone as he did so. He had a ‘fake it till ya make it’ attitude so no one knew that he was hurting on the inside. He checked in with the science officer on duty and then made his way to the center seat, which a junior lieutenant promptly exited to allow the XO to command. “Report, Lieutenant Clemons,” Christopher asked as he eased into the center seat. It fit nicely and he wondered briefly if he would end up with the Musashi if Starfleet felt it fit to put Fig on a desk job until the kid she was carrying turned 18. He quickly dismissed the thought, there was no reason to jump to these types of conclusions just yet. I’m not even sure if she is keeping it, he thought to himself.

Christopher regarded Lieutenant Junior Grade Allison Clemons. The woman was tall for a human female, only a few inches shorter than him. He knew she was fit and athletic simply because he had seen her in the gym a couple of times since the two had boarded. She was on the Command fast track, and he figured she would get her own command in a few years. She was a serious young woman whose body language had proved just how serious she was. She had long blonde hair that she always wore in a tight bun and icy blue eyes that could easily bore a hole in your soul. At this point, she was nothing but a command relief line officer, but her record had proven she was more than up for the job. I should probably watch out, she may take my job, Christopher mused, I can feel the tip of the knife hovering between my shoulder blades.

Face it Samuels, you are dealing with a junior Fig.

That thought was somewhat… disturbing.

He wasn’t sure if he could deal with another ball-buster on board, but he also out ranked the junior lieutenant, so that was something. Right? Anyway… She is talking, pay attention you idiot!

“… Engineering reports some issues with the aft port and starboard thrusters, though they think they have pinpointed the issue. Communications had been busy over night, Mister Jakku performed admirable with keeping up…” Clemons reported. She wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about an ‘observer’ being allowed to man a bridge station, but her concerns were not really warranted. The alien had performed his duties quite well. “Sensors have not picked up anything unusual over night, and we had to make a slight course correction to avoid a level one ion storm. We currently are back on course with a heading of six-one-nine-mark-three-four.” At that, Clemons handed the Commander a PADD with her report.

Christopher nodded as he took a hold of the offered PADD. He looked it over, it was as thorough as the verbal report. He hadn’t expected anything less. After a few moments, he sighed off on it and handed it back to the young woman. “Sounds good, Lieutenant, file your report and then go and get some sleep.

“Thank you, sir,” Clemons replied.

Christopher smiled but didn’t receive one in return, instead he watched as the young woman gave a slight nod and then turned to head toward the lift. There was nothing wrong with being serious, but it certainly never hurt to smile. If he could smile considering the crappy mood he was, Clemons could certainly smile. But that was neither here nor there at the moment. Just then a young man appeared at his side, a mug of coffee in and an outstretched arm.

“Ah sir, you are now my hero,” Christopher declared, taking the mug from the young man. The aroma tickled his nostrils. He sipped gingerly, the mix of the coffee, sweetener and creamer dancing across his tired taste buds. With that first sip he immediately felt rejuvenated like he could take on the universe and then some. “Just the way I like it.” He offered a grateful smile to the young man and received one in return. Now THAT is what I like to see, he mused. Remembering that he was still holding his report, he handed the PADD over to the young man. “Please see that the Captain gets this, once she had read it over it will need to be forwarded to Command.”

The young man nodded as he made a few notes on his own PADD. He took a hold of the one that Commander Samuels had been holding and looked it over briefly to be sure it was signed off on. “Aye sir,” came the simple reply. “Will there be anything else?”

“Nope,” Christopher replied, he raised the mug and added, “you truly are my hero.” He made the young man blush, which was kind of adorable and watched as he too had headed toward the turbolift. Christopher sipped the slightly sweet coffee and his gaze swept the bridge, taking in each and every person. Everyone was doing their job, everyone seemed happy and everyone seemed like they were connecting. A happy crew was certainly a productive crew… that was morale 101 right there. His gaze finally fell onto the forward viewscreen, he became quickly mesmerized by the stars that zipped by as the Musashi cut a swath through space at warp.

You can be happy too, Chris. You just have to allow it to happen, and it will. Allow yourself that happiness, allow yourself to be free. His gaze dropped down to his left hand again, his finger still felt naked without the ring and his heart was still breaking. However, sitting in the command chair, watching the stars, he knew this was where he wanted to be. This was the choice he made and it was a choice he didn’t regret. He knew it would be a tough and bumpy road, he had a whole future ahead of him now without Dylan… at least not together. That was a scary prospect, but all he could do was face it head on and just go where the path lead him.

Just be free… just be free…