Caring Is Not A Weakness

Posted on Sun Sep 27th, 2020 @ 4:48pm by Major Samuel King

Mission: Mission 3 - 100
Location: Sam's Bunk (Quarters)
705 words - 1.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Things on board had been chaotic. From the moment they were thrown from the wormhole to now. Samuel really hadn't taken any stock in where he was or what his life was to become now. It had been just one crisis to the next. No food, radiated stores, Vrav and sleeper agents. Honestly if this wasn't real life he would laugh. It was almost like someone was making this up as they went along and they just had to deal with the consequences.

'There must be someone on the other side of us with puppet strings.' he thought to himself as he analysed the last few weeks.

An image of Pinocchio came to mind, minus the lying and large nose growing. However a comparison to the wormhole being the whale was quite relevant in this case. Being swallowed whole and spat out. Moving from being the 'puppet' to becoming something all on your own as they searched for a way to get home, to see loved ones and mainly just to survive the trip, and each other.

His mind drifted to his failed marriage. He had been married to Katie for 15 years, and most of them were loving and caring as marriages should be but the toll of being away a lot left its mark on the relationship and it eventually ran its course and ended. There was almost a rekindling after the Xindi attack on Earth as Katie worried about him and feelings got confused. However it did not last. Sam didn't expect it too as he knew in his heart it was over.

He missed her to a certain extent, they still spoke, were still friends but there conversations were mainly about the children.

His eldest, James, making great strides in school and excelling at sports with quite a mind for numbers. Katie had mentioned he was becoming more and more like Samuel every day. At 8 years of age he was already making Samuel proud as he was had done.

Then there was the twins, Kayla and Sophie, his girls. Samuel never thought he would turn soft but they always had them in the palm of their hands. For 5 year olds they were very good at manipulating those around them to get what they wanted and he swore they were telepathic by how they worked with each other to do so. He let out a little smile at that thought although it did turn a little sombre given the realisation as to his situation once more.

When would he see his children again? Would he see them again? Would the twins remember him?

All very sombre questions filled with the sadness that any father, or parent, would feel at being so far from his child and being unable to get back to them.

Sam had joined the MACO's for a number of reasons. One of which was a new exciting challenge amongst the stars with a new 'family'. As for one the military became a family away from home most of the time. He formed strong bonds on the Enterprise whilst on there, Captain Archer and him shared a few drinks from time to time and the crew grew closer throughout the Xindi operation. Now on the Atlantis similar bonds were forming, or so he hoped. His bond with the MACO's were strong enough to withstand Vrav, or any other things thrown at them but the blurred lines between them and Starfleet were now getting a little clearer.

They now needed to pitch in more.

There would be no resupply, no replenishment of crew and hope would be a fragile thing.

Sam cared for them, even if he did not show it but caring wasn't a weakness but a strength. You fight for the ones you care for, protect them and want to do for them what you would do for anyone you love. If you don't care then you don't belong.

He did care and would be there for the crew of the Atlantis.

That way they wouldn't go down in history as the City of Atlantis once did and disappear from history once more. No, they would rise from the water and be known to the world again.