A Wooz for the Cure
Posted on Mon Dec 8th, 2025 @ 7:02am by Major Edmund Merrick & 2nd Lieutenant Diska Wooz
Edited on on Thu Dec 11th, 2025 @ 7:47am
2,072 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 17 - Going Home
Location: Office of Major Edmund Merrick - Deck 9 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD003 0900
Diska pushed her way through the the crowd as she made her way to the bordering tube for the USS Pioneer. The ship had arrived under a…
Well.
Not quite a cloud, but there was a lot of rumors and whisperings going on about where the ship had been and what they had been doing. Scuttlebutt was that they’d gone off on an unsanctioned mission and that had some of the higher ups in Fleet apoplexy.
Well, maybe not quite. But she’d heard there was a couple of hacked off Admirals head hunting. The Corp on the other hand had bigger fish to fry and she, as a 2nd Lieutenant of Marines (better known as a butter bar) had orders to report aboard.
So, that’s what she was doing.
She found the tube easily enough and her in-hand orders got her aboard, past the deck officer and security team. They’d told her the Colonel was indisposed and she was to report to a Captain Merrick.
The OOD had gestured her toward the decks where Marine country was ensconced with something of a smirk and cryptically telling her that the Majormight be up to getting her signed aboard.
Whatever THAT meant.
She navigated her way through the ship, having memorized deck plans while she was waiting for the ship to return and she filtered her way through. Strangely, she found a sergeant of the guard manning a gift shop? And was then directed down a slightly intimidating, very Marine corridor that included several blast doors with redundant shielding. Stepping up to the hatch marked MAJOR E. MERRICK, CO the Cure, she paused as the door scanned her and then opened. Stepping in she caught site of a man male sitting behind a desk and said, “Excuse me sir. Second Lieutenant Diska Wooz, reporting aboard to join.”
Edmund had just put together his bromo-seltzer into a glass of water, the seltzer bubbling and fizzing as it dissolved into the water. The cobalt colored glass bottle was moved to one side. He had a pounding headache, from not drinking enough water.
He winced slightly, as he peered up towards the woman who had arrived.
He was slightly confused, a new arrival. His XO for the Marines had been suddenly transferred as soon as the Pioneer had arrived at Empok Nor. Much to his relief, he paused in his thoughts as well there were a few comments he could make to himself but he wasn't going to even waste anymore thoughts about the man. Except though, he was glad the man was gone.
Bringing himself back to the woman in front of him, Edmund motioned towards the chair in front of the desk. "Take a load off and tell me about yourself." Edmund downing the glass.
Taking in her new, slightly fuzzy looking CO, Diska removed her cover, slid it into a loop on her shoulder and sat as prescribed, though her back was straight and both feet firmly on the deck. "EOD in ninety-two, going through FMC Boot at Forma six barracks, then served with Tenold III Colonial militia while I finished my degree. Then reverted to FMC for OCS about three months ago, sir."
Since that was in the record, she took a breath and said, "Not much of an origin-story. I was orphaned in eighty-seven in the Hobus Incident. Displaced to a refugee camp on Tenold later that year."
Edmund's head started to clear as a result of the Bromo-Seltzer. "What do you like to do, when on your personal time. Any hobbies? Do you have something that drives you on to continue to improve yourself? And are you someone who is willing to engage with the rest of the marines."
Sure Edmund was firing off rapid questions but he wanted to know.
Diska wondered if the Cure's representation was represented by this boozer of a CO, but she ignored the warning twitch in her stomach, answering, "Yes sir. I enjoy music and outdoor activities. Played most of the intramural sports at Academy and cliff diving when I can find someplace interesting." She took a breath as she processed the flurry of questions, watching her new CO to see if he was actually listening. "Driving myself sir? Every marine should seek to better themselves each and every day or they might as well quit and join the Fleet. I've been lucky in having mentors and people give me direction since Hobus. The only one that's going to get me anywhere is me, and I very much hate letting myself down."
Pursing her lips then, she saw her way through his third question, "Engaging with my Marines shouldn't be a problem. I'm here to do a job and from what I understand, the job is basically a platoon commander dressed up in different terms because the Cure is a detachment. I think I can engage, sir."
"Good, that is something I do expect to have happen." Edmund fixing his gaze upon her, "Not knowing what any of our Marines can do outside of fighting, it, I feel makes for less of a unity in the Cure."
Edmund sat back in his chair, "Cliff diving, I've not done anything of that nature, and music, what do you like to listen to?"
"I listen to pretty much everything as long as it tells a good story or has a beat. Mostly I play Doom metal and slamming death core for the beats, Major," Diska said, slightly embarrassed as she pushed back stray locks of her dark brown hair from her eyes after unconsciously ducking her face.
Edmund blinked, he'd not heard of the music she had mentioned. "Doom Metal, and death core? I've not heard of that before. Care to enlighten me on that particular type of music?" this struck his interest.
Smiling, Diska kept a wicked little grin from capturing her lips as she said, "Yessir. It's kinda new to a lot of people your age, but it's old earth genre that sprouted from a music style known as metal or heavy metal that was very instrument and vocal forward. It was jarring and demanded attention at it's time. Some claimed it was music so bad at it's origin, you couldn't know if it was actually good for the genre. Which I think they meant it was up to the person playing and listening if it was good or not."
Her lips twitched again as she continued, "As most music does, the metal genre sprouted others. The Doom metal incorporated darker themes, most distinctly slowing down the tempo and making it sound like some machine had run out of lubricant and was grinding itself to death." Now she did laugh a little and said, "Then the genre's evolved or devolved, depending on who you discus musical theory with. But Death metal came next and that got even darker themes, but drum riffs picked up tempo rather than match the vocals and other instruments. Finally you have Death Core which added some punk music nods. My personal taste of music jumps around, but those two give me the best drum work. I think they're very tribal and actually prefer solos. I don't think I'd subject too many people to a full ensemble Doom metal work of music."
That was a lot of detail she had mentioned but also educational. He did pick up something in her information. It wasn't lost on Edmund as to her comment, drum work, does she play drums? The corner of his mouth twitching slightly. He also watched how animated her features were, as she told him about the two musical styles. She was by far nothing like his former Marine XO. In fact a smile slipped free.
"Now... what about an example of said music, I'd very much like to hear something of it. Who knows, maybe I've heard something like it before but didn't know what it was, except for maybe a harder piece of music than Heavy Metal."
Diska froze slightly. She had expected a routine interview to touch base and get the general "You've got the job till I find someone better or you die..." type of speech. Wondering at her new CO again, he really did look like he'd been drug through a knot hole backwards, Diska thought for a minute then said, "Yessir. Best I can do off the top of my head is...well we did a Beer Bust after graduation from OCS, me and a pickup band performed an old run called Dark Clouds, the Crypta version..."
Glancing to one side, she saw a wall screen...actually, it looked like the whole wall could be used as a screen. Pulling a proteus shaped like an old fashioned pocket watch from a hidden belt pocket, she pulled up the referenced performance then cast it onto the wall display. The normal grey painted wall caught the image and, after all protocols were verified, projected a three dimensional video of her and her band mates.
Sound assaulted the room and Diska bit back a smile and simply closed her eyes as she mentally worked through the beats from the song and let the song grab her own heart beat. Her hands twitched slightly as she processed the song and she just kept her head from bobbing along.
That onslaught of the drums took Edmund aback but then the tribal nature of it caught his interest, he closed his eyes as he listened. When the performance came to an end he opened his eyes and looked at Wooz
"That was rather--good." Edmund said smiling. Sure it beat against his brain but it was as he said it was. Good. "Definitely a good way to wake up and get the blood pumping."
"It's... surprising to hear someone," Diska bit off a remark about the Major's age and lamely covered by amending, "With new ears not thinking it's pure noise, sir. It's not for everyone but yes, I think it's good for a lot of what ails you. Some people are gym rats, I'm a musician."
"From one musician to another, I saw the passion you displayed for your chosen instrument." Edmund smiling. "I do worry about the throats of those who sing." touching his own throat as he spoke, "I can see that, that is definitely a roar against the tides threatening against the darkness that someone is not wanting to overcome them."
it wasn't something he'd be able to listen to all the time but dang it woke him up more.
"Any questions you have for me?" Edmund opening up the floor for Diska to ask.
Wooz eyed her new CO, still trying to decide if he was stuffy on purpose or if it was just the hangover making everything harder. "No sir. Not yet anyway. Have to get my gear sorted and racked, then get myself introduced. Rumor has it you've all seen some rough service lately, so maybe I shouldn't hold a ten K get to know me run right away?"
Edmund had an expression as if he were considering that to happen. it was more than what he had done when he was Tremble's XO. He was going to have to make himself some cliff notes in order to not fail his new rank and the position he now held.
"No, maybe after we get some recovery time. For now, get yourself settled. Dismissed." Edmund not drawing this out any further. "Welcome aboard." in his mind he added 'and may God have mercy on your soul'
Diska stood and saluted, then smiled and said, "Aye aye, Major. And don't worry. I do my ten k's-twice a day so, you and the rest can join me. I think PT is better shared. Spread the pain around."
Turning on her heel then, she exited the hatch and went to find the duty sergeant to get herself squared away. She'd need lockers then get into the schedule like she owned it.
A Joint post by:
Major Edmund Merrick
Company Commanding Officer Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Second Lieutenant Diska Wooz
Company Executive Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
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