Old Soldiers, Memories Past and New Family - Part I

Posted on Tue Nov 25th, 2025 @ 5:51am by Commodore Samantha York & 1st Lieutenant Kara Melo & Major Cameron Bourne & Lieutenant Bela Swain & 1st Lieutenant Maria Zamorano & 1st Lieutenant Mazal Falk

1,544 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Broken Mirror
Location: Marine CO’s Office

On:

Sitting in his office, Cam was at his desk staring at the old photo of him and his old friends, a slight smile on his face as he thought about old times and good friends. He’d found out a short time ago that out of the five of them, he was the last one standing, leaving him the task of fulfilling a promise. Giving a sigh, Cam shifted his attention to his computer to send out a few messages to a select group of people to meet him in his office that night at 1900hrs.

An invitation to Cam's office? Bela thought about it. This must have to do with his friend. Perhaps a memorial. I should probably dress a bit more formally than normal, and definitely not my usual form fitting clothing. The focus should not be on me. It has to be on him. But I'm not wearing black, though. I know this is a serious occasion, but I would like to leave him with a little cheer, even if this grieving stage is very necessary.

After thinking it over, she chose to replicate a navy blue dress with a jewel neckline with a 3/4 sleeve. The dress' hem went down to her knees. However, the dress sinched into the right side where a large ruffle ran down from her waist downwards. She paired it with navy blue heals that puffed her up from her diminutive 5 feet 1 inches to nearly 5 foot 4. She further adorned herself with thin gold bracelets on each arm. She just hoped that it was not too much, as she wanted the focus on Cameron.

Ringing the chime to his office, she waited patiently to be let in.

Opening the door, Cam gave Bela a smile, “I should’ve known you’d be the first to arrive. Thank you for coming” he said, stepping aside.

"Why did you think that I would be first?" Bela asked with a coy smile, as she gave Cam a heartfelt hug. "But, I would not miss this for the world. I know what this means to you and I'm here for you if you need absolutely anything."

Cam’s smile widened, “because of your caring and friendly nature. I get the impression that you don’t like seeing your friends sad and depressed, so you do what you can to cheer them up. Even if it’s just showing up for something sad.”

"The universe can work in harmony, Cam. I'm just here to help it along and hopefully it means helping my friends, too. Sadness has a place, but I hope that it is only there for a little while," Bela answered.

Cam nodded, “pain is a part of who we are. It shapes us in ways we don’t always realise. And it never gets easier. Coke on, pull up a chair”

Kara changed into her Dress Blues, befitting the occasion and went to Cam's office. She wondered who else would be invited, besides Mazal and Maria. She brought a bottle of her best booze to add to the mix and rang the chime to Cam's office.

Sam had taken to wearing Damon's dog tags under her uniform and touched them as she walked to Marine Country. She hadn't been there since his last trip to the Caly and it brought back a lot of memories. She wore her dress uniform and brought a bottle of her husband's favorite drink to toast the fallen, even if she and Cam were the only two to know what it was really for.

She saw Kara as she approached and nodded to her in greeting.

Opening the doors again, Cam was surprised to see both Kara and Sam had arrived at the same time. Giving them a smile, he stepped to one side, “thank you for coming. If you’ll take a seat we’re only waiting for a few more to arrive”

Sam nodded. "Thank you for the invitation." Then she entered the office to give Cam and Kara a moment alone.

Kara kissed him briefly. "Thanks for inviting us."

Cam gave Kara a warm smile, his face barely hiding a tired expression, "I wouldn't have it any other way" he said, leading down to kiss her cheek before motioning to the semi-circle of chairs he'd arranged in front of his office desk.

"Good." She smiled and took a seat closest to the desk. if it happened to be farther away from the counselor, that was a good thing. Not because she didn't like the other woman. She did. She just didn't want to talk to her about why Cam was her ex-husband.

Bela watched the interactions between Kara and Cam and felt the warmth enter her heart. She hoped that they could work things out between themselves, and it looked like that they were well on their way. She was only glad that she played a small part in assisting both of them and she would be there if either needed her assistance.

Maria and Falk were dressed in their formal uniform and arrived at the same time. Mazal had a black bracelet upon her wrist it symbolizing someone she had lost. She had in her hand a box which contained a bracelet, all that was needed would be the names of those fallen. She didn't know.

Maria on the other hand, she brought in an old bottle of scotch. She'd been hanging onto to share with someone for an important event and this would count.

Cam nodded to the pair he affectionately called the twins as they walked in. "thank you for coming, please take a seat"

Maria walked over and handed Cam the scotch.

"Here you go sir." Reaching out and clasping his shoulder, before she took her seat.

Mazal silently clasped Cam, on his shoulder as well. her eyes filled with compassion.

As soon as everyone was seated, Cam walked over to lean against his desk, "before we begin, does anyone here know what a Tontine is?"

Falk gave a nod, she knew what it was, running her finger along the case she held.

Kara nodded, as did Sam.

Bela was uncertain. She had an idea, but it was always better to be safe than sorry. Rather than make anyone uncomfortable for not knowing, she took the initiative and said, "I am not certain what a Tontine is. Would you explain it to me, Cam?"

Cam smiled, quietly grateful that someone asked, “Well, my dear counselor, a Tontine is a pledge or in basic terms a promise. Back in the good old days, when I was but a shiny new marine on his first adventure, my squad was assigned to assault a planet on the Cardassian boarder during the Dominion war. During one patrol, we had to bunker down in an abandoned house trying to survive a bombardment from Dominion forces in orbit. While hiding in a basement, we found a bottle of Romulan Ale, still sealed. As I'm sure you can imagine, a bunch of marines with an untouched bottle of alcohol, things got a little tense." Cam said, turning around to retrieve a wooden box, "Ironically, the jokester of the group suggested as leave the bottle sealed and hand it over to some legal type to hold onto, only to be released to the last man standing, who would then drink a toast to the fallen. Turns out I won. I became the last man standing when my last old teammate passed away last week. I only found out a couple of days ago," he said, cracking open the box to reveal the blue bottle of Romulan Ale.

"We're honored to be here with you," Sam said quietly.

Bela remained wide eyed at Cam. She knew much of this already. It should have taken many more decades before this occurred but here he was, trying to deal with it all and his grief. "If you think it is appropriate, Cam, we should all toast to their lives."

“Actually. If you don’t mind. I’d like to make this first toast solo” Cam said as he took the bottle out of its box, placed it on his desk and headed over to the replicator to retrieve 6 tumblers.

Kara watched him quietly, giving him her silent support.

"That is how it should be." Mazal quietly remarked.

Maria nodded in agreement.

Pouring out a drink for himself, Cam picked it up and held it out, “here’s to you, boys, Jack, Sam, Dean and Tim. You boys were the friends of my youth, and I’ll miss you. See you soon” he said, drinking down the Ale before pausing for a moment. After a pause, Cam turned back to pour out a glass for everyone, “right, out with the old, in with the new.” He said, handing out glasses to everyone. Once everyone was ready, he held up his glass, “here’s to friends, Companions and loved ones”

(To be continued...)

1st Lieutenant Mazal Falk
Marine
USS Calypso

1st Lieutenant Maria Zamorano
Marine
USS Calypso

Lieutenant Bela Swain
Chief Counselor
USS Calypso

Major Cameron Bourne
Marine CO
USS Calypso

Commodore Samantha York
Commanding Officer
USS Calypso

1st Lieutenant Kara Melo
Squadron Leader
USS Calypso

 

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