Refugee

Posted on Thu Feb 27th, 2020 @ 5:14pm by Commander Tressa Brislan-Antilles & Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Yamaguchi-Solusar & Lieutenant JG Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi-Cullen & Commodore Siaxx "Bluemoon" Dvald-Vaxx MD

Mission: Mission 23: Foundations of Stone
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 1800Hrs - January 23rd, 2391

Music Soundtrack: Gladiator Soundtrack: Now We are Free

Cadet Rachael Yamaguchi was sitting next to Siaxx Dvald, trying to get through the Bolians woman's icy shell which she had erected because of her own mother and Phoenix both suddenly developing issues with her.

Elizabeth had let her move in with her for the time being until everyone involved could take some time and calm down, however right now Elizabeth was running late.

"Ladies, Good Evening," the counselor said. "How are you today?"

Siaxx completely ignored the human woman

Rachael raised an eyebrow. "This isn't going to get out of hand... is it?"

Siaxx turned her head, the dark and evil look in her eye did not help the atmosphere of tension that had suddenly appeared. "Mm... Oh No... I don't think so."

"I am here at your behest, to help in any way I can," Tressa said smoothly.

"What do you want... human?" there was something in Siaxx's tone. "Speak your mind... then be gone..."

"Ladies..." Rachael's tone held plenty of warning. "This is a public place... Lets keep this civil..."

Siaxx said nothing, she was instead waiting.

Tressa turned to Rachael and smiled; Siaxx always had been childish. Let her sulk, the counselor thought, I've got enough stress in my life. "What can I do for you, Rachael?"

Rachael simply raised an eyebrow as she mentally thought into Tressa's mind I heard that.... be grateful Phoenix isn't here to hear you thinking that.... because... I won't keep that sort of thing from her... Rachael then smiled but there was nothing cheery about this smile, it was the kind of a predator who had her victim dead to rights. 'I mean it, Tressa... you and everyone else on this ship might think I'm a simple child but... I don't like getting caught up in other peoples wars.'

"Speak to me Rachael, do not think to me," Tressa said firmly.

"You two used to be friends... " Rachael finally said aloud about a minute after Tressa had sat down. "So... what happened..."

"What happened... is that she called me a Monster because I said I hated Cardassians.. in a nutshell... the argument turned into a very ugly screaming fight after that."

"That is true," Tressa said.

Siaxx gave the human a sardonic smile before responding. "Oh I believe your exact words were and I quote 'you would perpetuate xenophobia and violence? YOU are the monster!"

Tressa smiled. "You remembered..." she didn't even attempt to deny it.

Rachael raised an eyebrow but rather than react with shock, she simply lifted one eyebrow. "Is that true?" she inquired of Tressa.

"Absolutely true, Rachael," Tressa said, turning her dark eyes on the Bolian. "Let me make something perfectly clear; I will only accept so much abuse before I fight back.... and I will NEVER hesitate to protect a patient..." Her voice was measured and calm but she never blinked. "I will not be bullied or made to change my professional opinion to suit someone's personal agenda..."

Siaxx regarded the human woman. "That's good.... otherwise you would get nowhere.." she turned to Rachael. "I did what I had to do to save your mothers life... I still need to deal with her."

"Nope... leave my mother out of this... Elizabeth, Dad and I will deal with her.." Rachael's tone had gotten a lot darker and far more ominous over the course of the conversation. "I can't believe you two are seriously wanting to hate on each other."

Siaxx looked at Rachael. "Rachael... don't worry about it... there is no need to fix anything..."

"Actually there is, we can help Phoenix!" Tressa said passionately. "She has made so much progress, if we can help her to face and get over her past then she can be free of it!"

"I know..." Siaxx turned to Tressa. "But then... Phoenix is all I have left in this worthless existence. I have nothing else... so what does it matter..."

Tressa quickly stood and leaned across the table. "ITS ALL THAT MATTERS! How can you be so obtuse? She needs to get past the past so that she can move on... you want her to be at war all of her life!

Siaxx regarded the larger human woman. "You know nothing of what I have been through... " as a soft sigh which almost sounded like a wheeze escaped her. "However you are welcome to think whatever you like..."

The counselor shook her head slowly, then sat back down. "If you loved her you would want her to be free."

Rachael growled. "Tressa. Sit yer ass down!" she snapped, sounding almost like Phoenix, even using her inflections in her speech. "Phoenix is one of the strongest, most loyal and courageous people I've ever known." she commented. "Phoenix needs no coddling or therapy, she needs to fly... and to be able to express herself..."

"You don't know the situation Rachael," Tressa said, turning her gaze. "The psyche is who we are, and a person who cannot move past blind hate cannot be trusted to lead, cannot be trusted to make rational decisions."

"Knowing Phoenix as I do... she's probably doing paperwork, wondering how Siaxx is feeling.." Rachael turned to Siaxx. "Why don't you go get yourself something to drink..."

Siaxx nodded as she slid out of the booth and disappeared into the crowd.

"Tressa... why are you making this into something about Phoenix... when its got nothing to do with Phoenix?"

It was at that point when Ensign Elizabeth Yamaguchi appeared as she sat down next to her sibling. "Whats with all the rage in here?" she inquired as she regarded Tressa and her younger sibling. "Rachael... why don't you go-"

"This is Bullshit..." Rachael growled.

"Rachael, why are you involved in the affairs of adults? You have enough to deal with, do not presume to tell me how to do my job."

"Do not presume to tell me mine" Rachael responded.

"You are not a counselor, and while you may think it is fun to talk about other people I assure you it is not. These are real people with real problems, and they have to want to be helped," Tressa said.

"Enough" Elizabeth growled as everything on the table seemed to jump. "This is getting out of hand.... you tell her not to get involved in the affair's of adults ... but she is an adult... otherwise Phoenix and the skipper wouldn't have given her, her wings..."

"Is that what constitutes adulthood?" Tressa scoffed. "Attend to your own house before being concerned with your neighbors'"

Siaxx approached the table. "I'm going to go find Phoenix... " and with that she placed three glasses down. "Enjoy ladies..." then she turned to walk away.

Tressa shook her head sadly.

"No... I don't think you understand me at all.." Siaxx commented. "But then... how could you be expected to understand." she shrugged before she turned to leave.

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "Well.. that went well."

"I don't have a magic wand that I can wave and make everyone better, Elizabeth. It takes self-reflection, self-evaluation, and self-realization," Tressa said.

"Yeah..." she sighed softly. "You two were the best of friends... Now... You almost hate each other.." the larger woman sighed softly.

The counselor cocked her head. "Hate her? I don't hate Siaxx, or Phoenix. Why would I? I love them," Tressa said.

"I know." Elizabeth commented with a soft smile. "Siaxx will figure it out in her own time..."

Rachael slowly sipped her drink. "In the end... it does not matter." she commented. "Siaxx has to figure it out for herself... and it doesn't help that you're having this spat with her... It doesn't help matters because you're treating me like I'm just a child."

Elizabeth opened her mouth but she stopped, Rachael did have a point so she said quietly. "Ladies, we are in public... so... lets keep this civil."

"There is nothing I need to get angry about.." Rachael responded lightly. "I've said all I need to say on the matter.."

"Rachael, you are a child who is about to have a child, I assure you that will catapult you into adulthood faster than you want to go. You are not just a child, but still too young and undereducated to understand what is going on around you. If you think, if either of you think," she looked pointedly at Elizabeth, "That I hate someone I am fighting to save then you do not understand. I would never fight so hard for someone that I did not love."

Rachael raised an eyebrow. "Tressa... the last month for me... has been hell... Mom losing the twins with Phoenix carrying them to term... that has been ugly... seeing everyone come to terms with that virus.... was downright scary.." she paused.

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow before crossing her arms over her chest. "Everyone aboard the ship except Phoenix and a few others caught it." she explained before she turned to Tressa. "Oh I understand all too well..."

"I know you have been through a lot, Rachael, I'm asking you not to take on anything else," the counselor said. "Elizabeth you are a doctor, I hope you do understand. I fight because I care, believe me my life would easier if I didn't."

"I'm going to carry on flying and training until Siaxx or another Doctor" she gave her sister a sideline look as she said it. "Sidelines me." she gently ran a hand over her still flat belly. "After that... I'll give in to my terror.." her jovial tone however didn't fully mask her apprehension.

"Rachael, you got mom and me to help you... everything is gonna be alright..." she smiled at her younger sibling.

"You have much ahead of you but you won't be alone," Tressa added.

Elizabeth simply nodded. "Don't forget that Dad, Gabe and Sav are all just a call away... and I happen to know that Dad misses you."

Rachael smiled. "My little one will be well taken care of..." she said quietly. "Even if Paul wants nothing to do with it, that doesn't mean that others won't."