#201 Semper Fi

Posted on Sun Nov 5th, 2023 @ 5:59pm by Major Jackson "JJ" Barnes {Meji}
Edited on on Thu Nov 30th, 2023 @ 10:05pm

Mission: Wedding Blues And Trouble
Location: Marine Berth
Timeline: current

ON:

Major Jackson Barnes sat in his old office for the Marine XO. He did not feel it was right to take over Hurd's office since the Commodore had made it clear that his promotion to Leatherneck Alpha was temporary. When it became official, and permanent, then, and only then, would he take Hurd's command space. His marines had been in their own phaser holodeck range, going through various battle scenarios to prepare them for any and all environments they may be asked to fight in. So far, these Devil Dogs were comporting themselves well, and truth be told, Jack would not want to be on the receiving end as an enemy. As per Nira's request, he had been sending three person teams to look after the VIP section, wearing their tactical holsters and sidearms, along with stun batons and stun grenades.

Finishing his last report to ship and Marine HQ, Barnes coded the report and sent it off to Earth. Closing down his computer Jack leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. As he did so he heard a light tapping on the door jam. Pulling his hands away from his face he turned his gaze to his locked open door, seeing Corporal Scabbia. "Hey, Scabby. What can I do for ya?"

Knowing her CO the way she did, Cristina Scabbia knew that when he asked anything like that, it was an invitation to step inside, which she did. Her eyes were swollen and red and she looked like someone had just walked over her grave. "Sorry to bother you, Sir. But, I uhh...need a few days. To myself, I mean."

Barnes was good at reading body language at times, and this time he could see that something devastating had happened, or was going to happen to one of his people. "Talk to me, Sca..." He stopped himself and quickly switched gears. "Cristina, talk to me. What's up?"

"I...I just got..." Her eyes welled with tears and they began to run down her face unchecked, her chin dimpling with the need to cry, but being who she was she held her mud and swallowed quickly to keep her control. Finding it difficult to speak, fearing it would unleash a torrent of emotion, Scabbia chose to lift her left hand and hold a PADD out for the Major. "Please," she pleaded, the only word she could trust herself to speak.

Seeing she wanted him to read whatever was on the facing page, Barnes took the PADD and flipped it around, his eyes beginning to scan the letter from her family. "Dear God," he said, his own emotions rising within his chest. The letter was from her family, explaining to Cristina that her baby brother, a second year cadet at the Academy, had been killed in a shuttle mishap, and there were no survivors. Jack set the PADD down and stood, coming around his desk to stand face to face with the Corporal. "Take all the time you need, Cristina. You have my sympathies."

As he spoke to her, that country drawl of his and so soft spoken when not being a badass marine, Scabbia's willpower began to crack. "He...he was so proud, Sir. He scored high enough to enter the Academy at...sixteen. He...he was only eighteen..." Her voice trailed off as she broke, the sobs beginning to make headway.

Barnes reached out and wrapped his arms around the woman, pulling her to himself and hugged her warmly, rubbing and patting her back as her sorrow unleashed into full crying. She buried her face in his chest, her legs weakening slightly as she gave herself over to the sobbing. Jack held her up and held her to himself, not saying a word as he let her get it out. For five minutes she cried, turning her head to the side and laying her head on his shoulder, not wanting to lose the strong arms of courage and security now protecting her from the evils of the galaxy. But, as with all things, the overwhelming sorrow calmed, with Cristina getting herself under control and slowly pulling free to face him, swiping away the tears still on her face. Looking at his chest she gave a chuckle. "Sorry, Sir. I snotted your uniform."

Jack glanced down, returning a smile. "No apology necessary, Cristina. I'm just glad you can still smile and laugh. In days to come you may feel the need to burst again. And, as always, my door is open. Snot me anytime."

Scabbia gave a nod and a weak grin. "Thank you, Sir."

"Hey," he said softly. "At times like these, the name is Jack, okay?" He saw her nod. "As I said, sister. Take all the time you need. But, when I call you here in the near future, I just ask that you show up. Cool?"

Scabbia nodded and grinned again. "Cool."

"Alright, then." Jack said. "Carry on, Corporal. See you soon." He reached over and took up the PADD, handing it back to her. "That's yours. I wouldn't dare erase that message. That is for you to decide."

"Thanks, Jack. I'll answer when you call." With a final nod of farewell she turned and left his office.

Contemplating a few things for a couple minutes, Barnes cleaned the front of his uniform and then walked out of his office. Going to the main gathering area for the berth he took up a folding chair and walked to the center of the open space. Unfolding the chair he place it dead center, then walked over to one end of the yellow ready line. "Marines! On the ready line!" He shouted.

He heard the racks moving around and boots moving quickly across deck plates, all of them forming up on the ready line. They all faced into the center of the chamber.

"Atten'hut!" Barnes barked. They all went to attention. "Left face!" In unison they all turned his direction, now single file. "Stand easy, marines." He said. They all relaxed and stood easy but standing tall at the same time. "I'm gonna wave you in, show my appreciation, and then send you over to stand in a circle around that chair." He chinned towards the chair, his people looking really confused as to what he had planned. The first marine was waved in, and when they stood before him not knowing what to expect, Jack stepped in and gave them a hug like a loving brother. He said 'carry on', doing this with each marine, motioning them to encircle the chair. They did as instructed as they watched all 40 get the same treatment and a slap to the arm as he sent them over. Once the unit had all received their hug, his thank you to all of them for their service and for their professionalism.

With the group still looking confused, Barnes spun and shouted towards the bunk area. "Scabbia, step to the ready line, please!"

Corporal Scabbia came out of the bunk area, still looking haggard from the crying and the sorrow that weighed down her heart.

"Corporal, please take a seat." Jack held out his arm for her to take, which she did, escorting her over to the chair he had placed for her. She sat down, all the marines looking confused but also concerned as they saw the state that Scabbia was in. Barnes walked a circle around them all as he began to speak. "Marines, one of our own is in pain. As she is one of us, and tough as nails, Corporal Scabbia was going to shoulder this pain alone. In private. I honor that choice but as her CO I would be remiss not to inform her brothers and sisters that she is hurting." He came around to where Cristina could see him straight ahead of her, and she gave him a nod that it was okay to continue.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13, in the good book." Jack remained ahead of Scabbia, his marines now in a half moon around her so they could see him. "Cristina received word today that her baby brother was killed in a shuttle incident, and that all aboard were killed. A young man who had joined Starfleet to make a difference, his skills and intellect superb enough to get him into the Academy at 16. This was his second year, and a week after his eighteenth birthday, he was taken from us."

Cristina began to cry again, and as she did so the marines around her each took a knee, the ones closest to her placing hands on her shoulders as their own tears began to fall. Those who could not reach her knelt behind those who could, each of them placing a hand on the back of the marine ahead of them, all of them showing their sister in arms that her pain was their pain. A shared sorrow for her loss.

"We are one, always. No marine in this unit stands alone. You get down, get bad news, suffer an injury while training, anything. Just know that I require each and every one of us to come together as we are now, to support and empathize with the one who needs it. When we're out in the battlefield that kind of solidarity and honor will keep us alive, together, as one." Barnes finished that piece and came forward, a lane just wide enough for him to walk up and take a knee in front of Scabbia. He placed his hand on her knee and bowed his head. "Heavenly Father you are our Jehovah Rapha, you are our healer." As he began the prayer, every marine bowed their head and prayed with him. "Lord, I pray that you would cover our troops with your healing power. Touch their bodies and minds so that the perils of battle do not remain. Remind them of your loving kindness. Soften their hearts, and surround them with those they can lean on as they process all that they have seen. Give them hearts that lean on and seek you as they reintegrate into their daily lives. We thank you in advance for the miraculous healing that only you can provide. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen." The entire unit said Amen in stereo.

Jack stood up and took Scabbia by the hand, getting her to stand, and wrapped her in another brotherly bear hug. She still had tears rolling down her face but she had the sobs under control as he stepped back. Once he was clear of the other bodies Cristina was then mobbed by her comrades, enveloped in a sea of Marine green as they each gave her a hug, offered words of encouragement, and then stepped away to allow others to do the same. Barnes simply stood back a few meters, letting the unit comfort and protect one of their own. There was a time to be a hard ass, and then there were times to be sympathetic. Leaving his marines to aid their Corporal, Jack quietly walked away.

SEMPER FI(Always Faithful), he thought to himself as he went.

OFF: