Till the End
Posted on Sat Oct 24th, 2026 @ 12:10pm by Major Edmund Merrick
Edited on on Sun Oct 25th, 2026 @ 10:28am
1,088 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Episode 18 - The Edge of Darkness
Location: Office of Edmund Merrick - Deck 9 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD005 1100 hrs
Edmund had taken the time to locate a certain Lance Corporal Matthew Tralinsky via his combadge. He followed the map, the follow-me map making his way to where he found—Matthew.
The corporal was still at his station, lifeless, immovable, his head slumped over against his chest, his helmet upon part of the console. Till the end he stayed.
For a long moment Edmund stood there, remembering, remembering when he last saw Matthew. Age around 15, when Merrick served at the NEC.
A brief flash of a memory rose to the forefront. It was that of Major Tom Nathan Tralinsky bringing his fifteen-year-old son to where the Marines were doing exercises. With eagerness in his eyes, Matthew, with his dad's permission, went to participate.
"That's my boy," Tom had said quietly, with a sense of pride in his voice.
That echoed in Edmund's mind. TNT was so proud of his son, and he was so full of promise.
A shaky intake of breath, Edmund moved closer, reaching out to touch Matthew's head, feeling the roughness of the closely cropped hair.
"You're going home, Matthew," he hoarsely whispered, thinking of Tom.
Tom's boy.
Edmund swallowed hard, blinking back the tears that welled up.
He cleared his throat, removed the dog tags, then called another Marine to help him move Matthew into a bag, him being gently placed. Edmund took one more look at the face of Matthew as he slowly zipped the bag closed.
Straightening up, Edmund adjusted his tunic, a grim expression in his eyes. He now had a duty, an unpleasant one. He needed to give Tom a call.
Edmund sat in front of the console in his office, taking a moment or two before he placed his call.
Major Tom—well, make that now Lieutenant Colonel Tom Nathan Tralinsky. It didn't seem too long since TNT was his Marine CO and Edmund was a Lieutenant. A brief smile surfaced, which faded away quickly.
He placed his call.
Tom's image came into view, his tunic top unzipped a quarter of the way down and a mug of coffee in one hand.
Edmund noted the flecks of grey in Tom's dark brown hair and the evidence that some time had passed.
There was a note of delight in Tom's eyes.
"Edmund, make that Major Edmund Merrick." Tom had a pleased look in his eyes.
"Long time since we've spoken. I am proud of you, glad to see your progress," Tom added.
"Yeah, it's been a bit since we've spoken," Edmund said, mustering up a smile, though there was something in his eyes that made Tom look at him sharply.
Deliberately taking a sip of his coffee, Tom didn't press. He was familiar with how Edmund worked. It would come out later. His eyes wandered to a picture displayed where he could see it. It was that of his son, Lance Corporal Matthew Tralinsky.
Another sip of his coffee, then he placed it upon the desk, the bottom of the mug meeting the dark wooden desk with a small click.
"I've got something to tell you. Remember my son Matthew?" A proud smile surfaced, Tom shifting in his chair. "He made Lance Corporal and has done pretty well. I am pretty proud of him."
Edmund winced.
"Ed? What's up?" Tom saw that wince; he couldn't miss it. There was something in the way that Edmund was holding himself, the rigidness of his posture combined with the grim line of his lips.
Swallowing hard, Edmund felt his throat start to close up. Oh, he didn't want to do this. This wasn't something he wanted to deliver. He would have much rather been talking and catching up about good news, not this.
He cleared his throat, then said, "Tom, there is something I need to tell you." His hands gripped the edges of the arms of his chair, the cushioning denting under his grip.
"Tom, I am sorry to tell you, but—" His voice cracked with emotion as he delivered the next part. "I am sorry to inform you that Matthew—" His voice filled with grief. "Matthew has passed away."
Tom stared at Edmund, not quite comprehending just what Edmund had said. He quietly reached over to pick up the coffee cup and drained the last of its contents. Then it hit, Edmund's words. The coffee cup slid from his hand and hit the desk with a solid thunk, tipping onto its side.
A hard look at Edmund, his lips pressing together as if to keep himself together, a slight look of disbelief at Edmund's words.
"It was just a few days ago when he and I spoke. He was at Camp Nostromo." Tom stopped when he saw the tightening of Edmund's jaw and the glimmer of tears in the man's eyes.
"No... Are you there?"
A slow nod from Edmund.
Tom's hands clenched tightly, having lowered them to the top of his desk. He had to hold himself together.
It was hard for Edmund to watch the slow horror and contained grief, the shattering of a man's heart, show on Tom's face.
"Tell me," Tom hoarsely uttered.
And Edmund did.
He spoke of what had been found when the Pioneer had arrived, the logs of Colonel Arion Mercer, and the sight of all the bodies, all having been found dead, lying where they had fallen.
"And Matthew?" Tom forced himself to ask.
"I found him, Tom, still at his post," Edmund replied.
Tom swallowed hard. A tear trickled down his weather-worn cheek.
"Did you—?" Tom stopped. He couldn't go on, couldn't finish.
"I saw to him." Edmund let go of the grip he had upon the arm of the chair, drawing in a breath.
"Thank you," Tom said, unclenching his hands.
Edmund gave a nod.
"I've got to go and let Hannah know. Just make certain he gets home," Tom said, pulling himself together. He had to. He zipped up his tunic, rose from his chair, and straightened his tunic.
"Ed, don't be a stranger."
Edmund nodded. "I'll keep you updated."
A slight smile appeared as Tom looked back at the photo upon his desk, then said with a note of sorrowful pride, "My son, he stayed there until the end."
The viewscreen went dark, showing the reflection of Edmund staring. He looked at the dog tags of Matthew.
It was time.
A Post By
Major Edmund Merrick
Company Commanding Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
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