[u][center][h2]Kaitiaki HQ, New Zealand[/h2][/center][/u]
[center][h3][color=ec008c]Samantha Dalton AKA Chaos[/color][/h3][/center]
[center][h2]Chaos Subdued[/h2][/center]



Samantha sat on a cliff looking out at the ocean. She had gone for a run. She needed some space and time to think. The last operation in Chile had been insane. She had called to check in with her adopted grandmother when she got back to base. She had felt the need to tell the old woman what she had meant to her. She sighed as she thought about all the events that had brought her to this point in her life. She sighed as she pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. She had come to Raven Squad hoping that she would find out more about what had happened to her father. She had a burning desire to see those truly responsible for that act of terrorism brought to justice. She knew revenge wouldn’t help her feel better. But the thought of those people running free without a care in the world after they had taken so much from her grated. She wanted to see them punished. She also wanted to prevent any other attacks such as the one that had cost her the only living relative that she had left, but also an adopted grandfather. 

Samantha had been seeing a therapist since she lost her father. Therapy had uncovered a host of underlying issues that she had to confront, in order to pass Raven Squad’s psych evaluation. She sighed and shifted around with nervous energy. She couldn’t lie to herself, it wouldn’t be productive. She had to admit that while she still wanted to see those responsible for her father’s death brought to justice, it was no longer a burning need within her. She looked out over the ocean and let the tears fall. She let the pain of his passing out as she ugly cried where no one could see her. This last operation had forced her to reexamine her role in Raven Squad. If bringing those people to justice cost her the life of one of her team, it would be too high. She didn’t know when it happened or how but she had a new family. It was hard for her to comprehend but this new family had chosen her. She felt as if Freya and Skye were long lost sisters. She didn’t want her pursuit of justice to define her as a person. 

Samantha could admit she was good at what she did. She was an asset to the team. She was struggling to figure out what she wanted out of life now. [color=ec008c][i]If justice for her father was no longer a goal, what was she striving for? Freya had her projects and research. What was Samantha’s legacy to the world?[/i][/color] She left death and destruction in her wake. She built stuff for the team but it was not things that would help the greater world. She knew she was doing important work to help keep the world safer. She could do so much more with her talents to help the world. [color=ec008c][i]Was she putting her talents to the right use? Would her father be proud of the woman she had become?[/i] [/color]She wouldn’t leave Raven Squad because she knew that Skye and Freya would be safer with her to help them. Samantha was not so arrogant as to think others couldn’t do her job. She knew they could. Samantha knew she would always wonder if she could have made a difference if something happened to them and she was not there. She knew it was tied up with the guilt she felt over her father’s death. She wiped at her tears angrily. She hated admitting that she had vulnerable spots. It was easier to keep people at arms length than let them in. When you let them in you could get hurt. 

Samantha's emotions and thoughts finally started to wind down. She had been sitting here looking at the ocean for a few hours now. She could do better and she would. She would contact the think tank that had tried to recruit her on societal issues when she was in college. She would start working on small projects for them in her down time. She could help the world in more positive ways without leaving the team. She felt better now that she had thought it all through. She felt more settled in her skin. She had found a new home here in Raven Squad. Maybe she could help Freya with her latest project. She resolved to find more balance in her life. It couldn’t be all fire, doom, and destruction all the time. She needed to have positive moments too. She needed to have some fun. She smiled as she remembered something her father used to tell her. [i][color=00aeef]“Slow down and smell the roses. Experience what life has to offer. Paint with all the colors. Don’t let others put you in a box. Create your own path in the world.”[/color][/i] She smiled brighter as she stood up and dusted off her yoga pants. [color=ec008c]“Thanks Dad.”[/color] She tugged her soft worn t-shirt that had her dad’s mechanic shop logo on it down. She took off running back towards the base. 

Samantha took a long hot shower when she got back. She felt better and more relaxed after. She pulled on her combat boots, jeans, and a simple black t-shirt. She pulled on one of her coveralls over it all. She rolled up the sleeves and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. She went down and laid out Freya’s suit. She began to check it out and take notes on what she needed to repair. She thought about upgrades and made some design notes to talk to Freya about potential upgrades if she was interested. She looked at the clock and swung by her room and pulled off her jumpsuit coverall and threw it in the laundry. She washed her hands and face. She was presentable again. She then made her way to the recreation room for the team meeting Skye had called. 

She walked into the meeting and took one of the seats in a corner. She watched as Skye came in and began her speech. She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. She had been with Skye on the operation and she had seen how impacted Skye had been by Lynx. She looked over at Freya and gave her a knowing look and raised her eyebrows and a slight head shake. Skye was wanting them to toast with whiskey. She politely grabbed a glass of ginger ale. She didn’t want liquor at the moment. She didn’t judge those who wanted it. She didn’t really like alcohol and she was still feeling a little raw after the self revelations and decisions earlier in the day. She put her glass in and toasted with the rest of the team. She was surprisingly quiet and withdrawn for her this evening. She was worried about Skye. She knew their leader was hiding and repressing how she really felt about everything that happened. How did Sam know? She knew because they were so much alike in that regard. Samantha had been working on her issues though.