Who Is Looking Back At Me?

Posted on Wed Jul 8th, 2026 @ 6:25pm by Major Samantha Snyder

587 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Marine Ball
Location: Sam's Quarters
Timeline: Prior to Ball Starting.

Major Samantha Snyder stood alone in the quiet of her quarters, for the first time in days, there were no operations reports waiting for her signature, no patrol schedules to review, and no security briefings demanding her immediate attention.

Tonight belonged to the Corps.

Her gaze settled upon the garment hanging neatly beside her, a deep emerald green evening gown that had remained untouched since she'd purchased it earlier. It was elegant without being ostentatious, its off-the-shoulder design framing her collarbone while the fitted bodice flowed into a skirt split high along one thigh, allowing freedom of movement without sacrificing its graceful silhouette.

She had hesitated when choosing it.

Marines were accustomed to combat armour, utility uniforms and dress whites. An evening gown felt strangely foreign, almost as though she were stepping into someone else's life for a few hours.

Perhaps that was part of the appeal.

Samantha carefully slipped into the dress, drawing the fabric smoothly into place before fastening it at the back. She turned toward the full-length mirror, studying her reflection with the same critical eye she might have used when inspecting a Marine before parade.

The fit was perfect.

The emerald fabric contrasted beautifully against her fair complexion, while the clean, understated lines suited her preference for practicality over extravagance. The slit, though higher than anything she would normally choose, lent the gown an effortless confidence rather than ostentation.

She smoothed an invisible crease across one hip before giving a quiet, amused shake of her head.

"If Jack could see me now," she murmured to the empty room, "he'd probably ask where the real Sam was." The thought drew a small smile.

She crossed to the vanity, gathering her blonde hair into an elegant twist that left a few loose strands to soften the otherwise disciplined appearance. A pair of understated silver earrings completed the look, Sam put on a bracelet she was given when she graduated officer academy, a reminder that some traditions were carried not by regulations, but by memory.

She paused before the mirror one last time. The woman looking back at her was still a Marine. Years of service had shaped the confidence in her posture, the steady focus in her eyes, and the quiet discipline evident even in moments meant for celebration. No dress could change that.

Nor would she want it to.

The Marine Ball was more than an evening of music and formalities. It was a chance to honour the history of the Corps, to remember those who had served before them, and to stand alongside friends and comrades without the immediate weight of duty pressing down upon their shoulders.

There was comfort in that.

A soft chime echoed through her quarters, it was almost time.

Samantha took one final look around the room before switching off the lights. As the doors slid open, revealing the softly illuminated corridor beyond, she drew a slow breath and stepped forward.

For one evening, the mission reports could wait.

Tonight, she would celebrate alongside the men and women she had trained with, fought beside, and proudly called family, a Marine among Marines, ready to honour the traditions that had endured from Earth to the stars.

She wondered if Bianca was ready, if she'd meet Sam at the ball or if she'd venture near her quarters that even still she seldom used unless it was the night shift. Sam opted to drop by Bianca's quarters just in case, to see if she was there on the way to the ball.

RSS Feed