Game Film Part II
Posted on Mon Mar 2nd, 2026 @ 9:01am by Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble & Major Edmund Merrick & Staff Warrant Officer Rommie
Edited on on Thu Mar 5th, 2026 @ 2:36am
1,943 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 17 - Going Home
Location: Office of the Executive Officer - Deck 2 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD008 1745 hrs
"For the coordinating things where taking down the portal, yes she should have been in charge of getting that done. She's got a good head on her shoulders" Edmund looked at the images that were there.
"And what you said is true, and you are not off base at all. Those mistakes are not going to be made again" Ed firmly stated.
Neil let the silence hang for a long minute then said, "No they can't. The Corp; the Cure and the Pioneer need to see you out front, leading by example. Even when people are getting their moments in and everything seems handled, don't think you can't judiciously add to things or tell them to keep doing what they're doing...but then add more to it. Be seen. Be heard. Be effective."
Finally, he said, "Ok. Enough of that. Rommie, do me a favor and break out the Owl, will you?" On the desk between them, a bottle and two thin walled, heavy based rocks glasses materialized. Each of the glasses held an orb sized chunk of ice. The AI emerged from her customary data stream, dressed in her equally customary skant, with marine green piping that was twisted in gold indicating her role as Neil's aide and batman. She uncorked the bottle that even appeared dusty and poured off a measure into both of the glasses before replacing both cork and bottle. "Anything else, Colonel?"
"Nah. And if there is, I'll call. You can give Ed and I the room. Shift's over," Neil said as he reached over and picked up the glass nearest him.
"Aye aye, Colonel. Good day, Major," and with that she exited through the hatch, though it was mostly for show as she dematerialized just outside the hatch as it closed.
Neil watched her go appreciatively and said, "She does that on purpose. For an AI, she's got great legs and they go all the way up." He took in the smell of the bourbon and said, "The Owl is from Australia. Mix of scotch and bourbon apparently and I figure it's a good time to air out any bad laundry. So, no rank. Just you and me. How you doing Ed?"
His eyes lingered towards the now closed hatch where Rommie disappeared through. "Yes, she is easy on the eyes." he turned back towards Neil, picking up his glass taking a slow sip from it.
"This is really good." he stated before taking another, sip letting it rest upon his tastebuds.
Ed let the a few moments of silence pass by as he savored the drink.
Lowering the glass, he raised an eyebrow. "Airing out the bad laundry. That could be a good thing or a bad thing, well would clear out the stink." the corners of his mouth quirking up slightly.
"I am doing better ever since you sent Shy to get me out of my sack cloth and ashes." Ed giving a slight laugh. "Can't believe that it took you to send him to break me out of my issue."
Neil loosened his tie and then eased his leg out before leaning back in his chair and appreciating the feel of the weight of the glass in his hand and the bourbon within. "I can't believe it either, really," he commented. "Usually a marine doesn't need a road map why we do all this. Beyond the high moral intent of the Federation, life is supposed to be lived." After a sip of the hootch, Neil said, "I'm as guilty as ignoring that as the next person, at least in the past. Working on that though."
"The excursion with Shy definitely gave me a different perspective as to where I was on the road of life. Made me rethink about getting involved with anyone right now. Except for just being friends with someone."
Edmund shifted his seating, putting his ankle upon the other knee.
"I had been thinking of dating Rowena, went out on a date with her before the whole silence thing. I think it was two dates but Neil, I have come to the conclusion that getting seriously involved with anyone right now would be a huge mistake."
Ed took another sip of his drink, feeling the heat go down his throat, and enjoying the warmth that spread in his belly.
Neil looked at the Cure's CO, the bourbon in his glass and said, "From my point of view...and I don't generally worry about other people's personal lives unless it thrack's up my Corp. Letting a tragedy define who you are rather than mould you will keep you in the same loop, tripping over yourself. My pépère quoted an old saint to me one time: Treasure the past but Live for the Future. I'd pretty much bet your wife would have said the same thing."
"She would have. And in essence, I don't know if you believe in ghosts but she paid me a visit before I did something very stupid." his tone was nonchalant, "She told me to live my life. Of course like a dunce, I didn't follow up on her request. Let myself be eaten up by survivors guilt."
Ed poured himself another drink.
Taking a pull of his own glass, Neil decided they were friends enough to use the very Marine reply and said, "Dumb ass. But it sounds like you're getting past it. You've no plans to jump into another relationship immediately looks a lot like the same thing as survivor's guilt which curious minds and a lottery you probably don't know about in Marine Country as to whether you'll go butt wild chasing skirts or monk up. As a dignified colonel, I of course can't take part so I can ask."
Edmund looked at Neil, with a strange look in his eyes as if he grew two heads.
"You know, there is something I've been wondering about, who the heck came up with that tee shirt, Merrick's Merry Maids. I came across that when in the gym program. I am half the mind of blaming you, Neil."
Humming into his glass as he finished the last of his bourbon, Neil poured himself another touch and leaned back, shifting his stump slightly as he tried to get more comfortable. He was already feeling a bit muzzy and wasn't in the mindset right now to be responsible.
Besides, they'd uncorked the bottle. Custom was you, as a marine, you finish what you start.
"Welllll," he hedged, flicking his glance at Ed, keeping his tone innocent.
"That shirt seems to have caused a stir, then I saw in the gift shop a few tee shirts one says 'Not Merrick's Merry Maid. Another Not one of Merrick's Merry Maids. Aren't you worried about this casting a bad name on the Corps?" Edmund raising an eyebrow towards Neil.
"Pffft," Neil said. "We are the ones people's mothers warn them about. This is EXACTLY the tone a Detachment command requires. That fine line between crass and crude, comes off as endearing. Anyone ever mention you kinda have a stick up your posterior and can't recognize a good time until it's dancing on a table in front of you Ed? You're the one that pointed out I had to order Shy to take you out. I think Fry one the lottery on that one on whether you'd take him up on it and...how should we say. Follow through on the fairway?"
"Plenty of times" Edmund responded to the comment Neil made as to how he acted stiff. He thought of what Vura had told him. "Fry, interesting that he won the lottery. Hopefully he made some good money."
Ed had a serious expression, then he laughed. He drank the rest of his glass and poured himself another one. "I also have a reputation for being what was it said? Oh yes a chivalrous bore."
Part of Neil was glad he was on sick call, though that part of him was in sick bay on ice. The rest of him knew Ed needed this just like the night out with Shy. "Chivalry is fine. They want to know you respect them and enter into things with good intent. And then they want to be thrown over a shoulder and carried away. You kinda forgot that last part my friend."
"Not all women want that to happen." Edmund shot back. "Depending on the woman, if you do that you'll find a knife in your back." taking a drink from his freshly filled glass. "Just gotta know the signs of which woman wants that to happen like something out of a romance novel."
"Though there are those who like being swept up in the strong arms of a handsome man, and carried away." Ed added.
Neil sipped more at the bourbon and shrugged, "You haven't dated many Klingons, though most I know carry something sharp someplace. That's part of the fun...been stabbed a few times. Twenty minute sparring, full contact with blades is probably the harshest version of foreplay you'll run into. God help you if they decide you're not up to measure.."
A sly smile appeared, after Neil mentioned dating Klingons. Edmund calmly sipped once more at his bourbon. The smile being reflected in his eyes.,
"Those were the days before my wife came along." Edmund replied, lowering his glass watching as the light danced in the remaining bourbon in the glass.
He looked towards Neil, giving a slight shoulder shrug. "Nothing like a Bat'leth competition. Enjoyable, exciting and gets the blood pumping.
Neil grinned his own smile and said, "Ahh. Then I should introduce you to my sister Larta. The Klingon ambassador to Empok Nor."
A bit of am eyebrow raise from Edmund. "A Klingon ambassador and your sister, I'd like to hear the story of how that came about. It intrigues me."
He smiled as a memory which popped up. "Reminds me of an Admiral I used to know. She had been offered to become a part of a Klingon household. House Valadorn." Ed said with a chuckle.
"You met her, Commander Cara Letsul on Poseidon Station." Edmund grinned.
"I did," Neil confirmed, looking quizzically at Ed. "Isn't she like a hundred years old? I thought she retired?"
"Nah, she's not a hundred years old. She's a young forty-six." Ed shrugged, taking the last sip of his drink.
Shrugging, Neil said, "Kinda the same thing, but then I feel ancient myself most days." Eyeing the bottle, he drained his glass and said, "One more. Then that's probably enough, yeah? Probably not the best time to go on a bender, wandering the corridors."
"One more for the road, and probably it wouldn't be a good idea. Would tarnish my rather brilliant image." Edmund giving a lopsided grin towards Neil.
He raised his glass towards his friend Edmund said solemnly, "Here's mud in your eye." then grinned.
This moment was good, and one Ed will remember.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble
Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Battalion Commander, The Cure
Major Edmund Merrick
Company Commanding Officer Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Staff Warrant Officer Rommie
Artificial Intelligence, The Cure
USS Pioneer
RSS Feed