Reap the Whirlwind

Posted on Thu Feb 27th, 2020 @ 5:36pm by Commander Tressa Brislan-Antilles & Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Yamaguchi-Solusar & Lieutenant JG Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi-Cullen & Lieutenant Commander Kameron "Foehammer" Solusar-Yamaguchi
Edited on on Mon Apr 26th, 2021 @ 6:10pm

Mission: Mission 23: Foundations of Stone
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 1800Hrs - January 24th, 2391

Rachael was sitting at one of the corner tables, alone with her thoughts as she was mulling over what to do now.

She knew that her mother was in the room along with her brother and his wife, but she didn't want to join them for dinner as she didn't have the heart to talk to anyone as she felt like crying.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth was late for her lunch date as Lieutenant Kam Solusar walked into the Green Dragon, wearing a pair of uniform pants but a black sweatshirt which had a red skull and two phaser rifles as crossbones on it, on the back it said "U.S.S. Roanoke."

It was something that Siaxx and Rachael had designed a few weeks ago and had stuck into the replicator as a sweatshirt design that could be replicated.

Just then the doors opened and in came Elizabeth, still wearing her duty uniform, she looked tired and unhappy but that was normal considering she had just finished a shift in sickbay with a woman that most couldn't stand.

Kam gently gave her a hug. "Hey..." as Rachael sighed softly, she knew why her sibling and her boyfriend even if he didn't like to admit it, were here for... a late lunch or early dinner.

It was that contact which Rachael wanted, it was something she had missed and now, thanks to recent events, had lost as she recalled the letter she had gotten back from Paul regarding her situation, he had all but refused to admit any chance that her child could be his on any level whatsoever.

Rachael sighed as another person slipped into the booth with her, except she found herself looking into the eyes of one Tressa Brislan.
Wordlessly, she slid the PADD across to the other woman.

Tressa cocked her head at the teen before her eyes dropped to the PADD.

"I see," she said after a moment. "I am surprised, but it was always a possibility. You have two options now; we can pursue this through the Federation and prove paternity, or you and your family can raise your child without him." Her voice was soft and sad. "You will need to talk this over with your mother and family."

"Mom and I discussed it last night..." she commented. "Elizabeth and Dad don't know yet... though if I know my mother... she's telling dad now..." the teen sighed. "They look so happy... don't they?" she indicated her sister who was presently chatting with Kam Solusar over drinks. "She makes it look easy..."

Tressa smiled wanly, her thoughts turning to Tom. "Relationships are as difficult as we make them." She watched the couple for a moment. "I was pregnant once, a long time ago. I was nineteen," she said softly.

Rachael raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" she inquired. "I had no idea.." she commented. "What happened?"

"I terminated the pregnancy," the counselor said quietly. "I didn't think I was ready to be a mother, the very idea terrified me."

"Ahh." Rachael paused. "Fair enough." she paused. "I'm not ready and I know I'm not but... I'm not prepared to make that choice." Rachael admitted.

"I didn't say you should, just sharing what I went through. I wanted to finish college and medical school, just being pregnant would have slowed me. It was my choice," Tressa said.

Rachael listened in silence as she regarded Tressa. "Paul and I never meant for me to become pregnant, he even said as much.." she explained. "I may go to the academy later... I'm not fully decided if I want to join Starfleet as a career... If what's happening on the ship is normal then I have some serious thinking to do."

"Of course neither of you meant for this to happen! Has anyone implied that your pregnancy was planned?"

"Not that I've heard." Rachael commented as she sipped her drink. "But that virus has left me thinking... and it was sheer chance and chance alone that meant I was spared..." she paused. "Mom almost died.. and Elizabeth wasn't much better off... even if she doesn't talk about watching mom almost die on us.."

"That's far too much for anyone to have to go through," Tressa said.

"I know... but such is life Tressa... and I have to deal with it... I refuse to run away from scary things... "

"The scary things still find us even when we run away," the counselor said with a grin.

Rachael looked over to where her sister and her companion were having lunch as a sigh escaped her lips. "Yeah.... and run away to where...?" she inquired. "I'd rather stand my ground at a location where I have the advantage... make him come up a mountain to face me. or fight at the edge of a black hole." the teen paused. "I prefer to fight... then flee.."

Tressa cocked her head at the teen. "You're angry...."

"Yes.." Rachael nodded. "I am angry... I want that bastards head for this... he won't man up and accept responsibility... so I'll do it because I've been doing it... all of my fucking life." and with that she smashed her fist into the table, causing everything to jump.

Tressa watched her for a moment. "So tell me, what would you say to Paul if he were here right now?"

"I'd tell him that I missed him and that his refusal to accept responsibility really hurt, I thought he was better then that.." Rachael commented. "What he did was to tell me that I'm stuck raising this child alone unless I abort it.." Rachael paused as she was clearly unwilling to even consider it because of her mother's culture.