A Sullivan's Return

Posted on Thu Feb 27th, 2020 @ 8:36pm by Commander Siaxx Warfield & Lieutenant JG Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi-Cullen & Jillian "Phoenix" Sullivan

Mission: Mission 26: Points of Divergence
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 0800Hrs - February 11th, 2391

Aryssa Sullivan looked nervous as she waited on the station, outside the airlock to Roanoke. She expected to see Phoenix waiting but for reasons unknown, she was told Siaxx would be meeting her. This newfound information made the teen even more anxious, mostly because she did not know Siaxx all that well.

The only thing Aryssa knew to do to was pull out her pocket communicator and earpiece. Her music list was already loaded into the isolinear chip slot, so she leaned against the wall and jammed to her tunes.

Lt Commander Siaxx Dvald made her way down the hallway, taking her time as she was in no rush, she turned as she headed towards the transporter room, at the far end of the hallway the turbolift doors opened and out came Rachael Yamaguchi, wearing civilian clothing.

"Rachael" Siaxx greeted her goddaughter who was a few inches taller than she herself was.

"Hey Siaxx... shall we?"

"We shall." and with that the teenager and the Bolian went into the airlock area. "Hey Aryssa.." Rachael greeted her old friend. "Fancy meeting you here.."

"Hi," Aryssa smiled brightly and hugged her friend. The one good thing about this new living arrangement.

Rachael returned the hug with one of her own. "Whats new?" she commented. "You recall Siaxx?"

Siaxx simply remained motionless. "Hello Aryssa."

"Hello," Aryssa greeted with practiced politeness. They type a mother ingrained into their child. "....What exactly do I call you, Siaxx? You're Jill's fiancee."

"Siaxx will be fine." the smaller Bolian responded lightly. "No need for fancy titles or anything else..." she then shrugged. "Well... shall we get you settled in?" the Bolian commented. "Phoenix is in sickbay most of the time now because of various... problems.." was the word she settled on.

"Jill don' got what Mom has, does she?" Aryssa asked out of much concern.

"No... Her issue is...different." Siaxx sighed softly. "Do you want to visit her... I'll warn you, its not pretty."

"I'd like to, yeah." Despite her feelings on Phoenix, Aryssa was well and truly worried for her. "Mom didn't tell me she was sick."

"Its complicated." Siaxx responded as she looked at Aryssa. "Come on... lets go visit Phoenix.." she said quietly.

Rachael looked at Aryssa. "Come on...." she smiled.

"What's new with you?" Aryssa asked Rachael. She was still worried about Phoenix and annoyed with being kept in the dark, but she also cared about her friend.

"I'm pregnant." Rachael came out and said it. "It was an accident.." the younger teen commented softly. "However I'm going to keep the little one.... Mom was pregnant but... thats complicated.."

"I'm sorry to hear 'bout your mom," Aryssa admitted and looked about the ship. it was an old girl. Some of the computer interface displays flickered or were too cracked to work. "...What sort of trash heap is this place?"

"The unwanted bastard stepchild of the Fleet." Siaxx commented as she smiled. "Roanoke is not highly regarded by anyone... but the Admiral finally got the Engineering crews to work on her.... after we screamed to her about it."

"...And you and Jill were assigned here? Or did you request this shithole?" Aryssa asked as she stared very long at one display crack that looked like it had a lot of help, being as badly cracked as it was.

"No... we were assigned here along with Rachael's mom." Siaxx answered evenly. "You should have seen this ship a month ago.... she looked like she'd been through the battle of Cardassia alone.."

"I'm sorry," Aryssa intoned very sympathetically. "Nothin' like 400's facilities. Looks like it needs to be decommissioned to a museum."

"Yeah well... Admiralty keeps fucking us over." Rachael answered evenly. "I mean it could be worse... right?" she noticed that something wasn't right with her friend but this wasn't the time or place to mention it.

"So if Jill's in the hospital, that mean it's just you an' me?" Aryssa asked to Siaxx as she pulled the hood of her hoodie over her head.

"Something along those lines..." Siaxx responded. "Why.... do you have an issue to sharing quarters with me?" the Bolian inquired.

Rachael smiled but otherwise said nothing.

"I don' have an issue," Aryssa spoke almost defensively. "I just wasn' told anythin'. Like usual."

"Don't worry..." Siaxx responded "I get an update about Phoenix once a day... and I'm due for todays update..." as she led the two women into a turbolift. "Sickbay."

The lift started moving, moments later the doors opened and the three came out.

"You like bein' a CMO finally?" Aryssa asked Siaxx.

"Sometimes." Siaxx admitted. "At times it has its perks but most of the time, its a real pain in the ass." she explained as the three of them walked into sickbay.

Tienn came over. "Doctor... Phoenix is awake... I thought you might want to know.. I checked on her and she seems to be doing alright.."

Aryssa stuck her head in the door that was assigned to Phoenix, and noticed her sister (at least in her mind), sitting in a chair, looking out at the busy stardock traffic inside the dome.

Her puppy was sitting on the floor with Phoenix stroking it's head. And the closer Aryssa looked at Phoenix, the more she noticed something was off.

"She's pregnant," Aryssa stated more as fact than excitement.

Siaxx nodded. "Yes..." the Bolian explained. "The situation is actually quite complicated..." Siaxx explained, suddenly glad that she had had this chat with Jill earlier. "The situation is actually quite complicated.."

"So I keep hearing," Aryssa noted darkly, though her deep brown eyes fought hard against the need to see Phoenix.

Rachael looked at her. "Those babies are my siblings... Phoenix here is pregnant with my mom's babies... Mom almost died and someone else had to carry them to term.... Phoenix here was the only one who wasn't infected or available."

Aryssa's eyes grew sad. Was this why Phoenix gave her up? Did Phoenix find motherhood so frightening that she shut everyone out?

"She's not in danger though, is she?" the older teen asked as she continued to watch Phoenix from afar.

"Not at present." Siaxx responded quietly. "But she is having issues adjusting."

"Is it safe ta go in an' talk to her?" Aryssa asked Siaxx.

Siaxx regarded the Teen. "You always shout at her..." the Bolian responded quietly. "You always curse and call her vile names... what would you say to her this time?" Siaxx added in that same quiet tone.

"I dunno," Aryssa answered with much confusion.

Siaxx turned to Rachael. "Head on in and let her know that Aryssa is here. please and thanks."

"Willdo." and with that Rachael turned, she padded over to Phoenix's door before tapping the chime. "Hey Phoenix... may I come in?" Rachael asked, wingman to wingman, and student to mentor, rather than child to adult. "Its me, Firebird."

"It's open," Phoenix called to Rachael and tried to dry her eyes as she looked to her wingman.

Rachael smiled. "Hey Phoenix." and with that the teen came over as she gently gave Phoenix a hug. "I thought I'd come see how you were.. and ruin your day..." Rachael grinned at the larger woman. "Seriously though... It'll be okay." as she plopped down on the bed next to her mentor. "Aryssa is here... Siaxx has her outside and the angry Bolian isn't letting her in... she sent me in to see how you were about it."

"I shoulda gone ta meet her," Phoenix spoke guiltily as she rubbed her tear-stained face. "Kid already hates me enough."

Rachael gently rubbed Phoenix's shoulders. "Not in your present condition... besides... the Deltan wouldn't let you out of here on short notice anyway..."

"Oh... Right," Phoenix agreed after she thought about it.

"Phoenix.." Rachael responded quietly. "I know you.... in here, you're like a caged lioness.. What would you say or do...if she was present before you?"

"I'd tell her I was sorry," Phoenix spoke solemnly as she started to pet on Dora's ears once more. "Tell her I kept tha lie goin' cause I thought I'd put her in danger."

Rachael smiled. "Mom is always telling me that we can;'t fix the past... we can only move foward to whatever future comes to us."

Meanwhile Siaxx regarded Aryssa with kind eyes. "So.. what would you say to Phoenix... if you had the chance that is...?"

Aryssa watched the ease of exchange with Phoenix and her friend. And it made her jealous to some extent. The nicknames. Callsigns, rather. Aryssa was no fool, and seeing their bond made the teen feel even more betrayed, to some extent.

"I think I'd tell 'er that I can' tell anymore if she's tellin' lies ta me. An' it hurts ta know our folks an' her all kept me in tha dark," Aryssa finally spoke, with a hard swallow.

Siaxx gently placed a hand on the taller womans shoulder. "Jill and I have had our issues, we've fought and we've hurt the other... I still love her... why... many reasons... but the main one is that she's always been there to protect me from harm...in all the empty places where I walk.." she then smiled. "Sorry... an old Egyptian blessing.." she turned back to Aryssa. "In the end.. you have a simple choice... do you trust her or do you not?" she inquired. "because... your biological father lied to you too."

"He's lied ta me 'bout a lot of things," Aryssa admitted with heavy tears. "Anyone I've loved, it seems, has kept me from knowin' tha truth 'bout why Jill abandoned me ta Mom and Dad... Like they think I'm fragile."

"Do you know how you came about?" Siaxx inquired bluntly. "Jill wasn't asked if she wanted a child... he raped her and impregnated her. You were the result." the small Bolian woman commented. "I have never lied to you... regardless what Phoenix says or does..." she explained.

Aryssa grew speechless as the truth came out. And it made her pity Phoenix. Yet it also made her angry. Her birth father spoiled her for nothing more than to pit her against Phoenix.

"Aryssa... What would you do... in her shoes... She was forced to carry you, against her will... treated as a common criminal... she's never known freedom... she's in the fleet because she was forced to be an indentured servant."

"She needs ta get out," Aryssa spoke rather selfishly. "Because she needs ta love me too. An' tha Fed aint bein' all that fair."

"But you've not given her anything to work with Aryssa.... You've always hated her." the Bolian commented. "So... I'm going to ask you... before I let you in there to see her... I must know..."

"Must know what?" Aryssa asked with confusion.

"What your feelings are towards Phoenix." Siaxx responded.

"I still don' trust her," Aryssa admitted. "But I also pity her. Cause Mom used ta say she was a nice person, before the war."

"Don't pity her... and respect her choices...and what she's been through...." Siaxx commented. "Always remember that respect and trust are two separate things... People always seem to confuse them..."

"I'll try ta work harder on respectin' her then," Aryssa promised.

The door opened and Rachael came back out. "She's ready for you guys..." she said quietly. "Aryssa... I'm going to ask you to not provoke her... I know you two don't get along... but she's carrying my siblings..." the teen explained.

"I'll be civil Rache," Aryssa promised.

Siaxx regarded the taller woman who looked so much like Phoenix in many regards. "Alright..." she clearly sounded uneasy.

Rachael nodded her head. "Okay.." and with that she turned and let Aryssa into the hospital room that Phoenix had made her own.

"Hey," Aryssa began gently as she looked at Phoenix's stomach. "You ok?"

"No," Phoenix answered as she continued to pet Dora. "But I will be... I know you didn' wanna come here. An' I'm sorry. Mom's really sick now. So much so she can' take care of ya."

"It's true I don' wanna be here, Jill." Aryssa agreed, fairly calmly. "But it's only cause I dunno what ta make of anythin' now."

"I aint helped much since the war ended," Phoenix admitted as she looked back out the window. "Thought you deserved better. Cause I'm not stable. An' I'm an alcoholic - or was."

"We can start over if you like," Aryssa suggested. She was trying too hard, once more to get along.

"I aint role model material, Aryssa." Phoenix went on to say. Very painfully. "I wish I were, but I aint. An' I'm sorry that I kept the lie goin'. Cause I only wanted a better life for ya with our folks."

"I understand," Aryssa spoke quietly. "Guess I'll go if you wanna be alone."

"I'm hungry," Phoenix declared as she turned to look at everyone. "Yall wanna get somethin' ta eat in the mess? Hang out somewhere not here?"

Rachael and Siaxx shared a look. "Sure... lets go on down to the lounge."

Phoenix put the leash on Dora and then put her bathrobe around her. "Let's go then."

Siaxx reached over as Shonax leapt into her arms, he greeted her with a loud meow.

Rachael turned as she led the gathering out of sickbay and down the hall, a few minutes later they were in the Green Dragon as Rachael gently accepted the leash from Phoenix and she went to sit at a table, Shonax in her other arm, she then placed the kitty on her lap as she petted him while Dora curled up at her feet.

Siaxx ordered herself a simple lunch and she ordered something for Rachael as well, then she went over to the table, leaving Phoenix and Aryssa alone.

"What do ya want ta eat?" Phoenix asked the older teen.

"Whatever's good. I aint picky, Jill." Aryssa looked around the rustic bar. A pub, really, with a mechanical bull in the far right corner.

Phoenix nodded and ordered up a few bowls of vegetable and barley soup, along with a grilled cheese each and two iced teas.

"You're not a bad person, Jill. Mom talks very highly of you often," Aryssa finally told Phoenix as she followed her to the table.

"I honestly just wanted the best for you, Aryssa," Phoenix confessed. "I know you don' like it, but look at me. Do you honestly think I can raise a family as I am?"

"When you're better, you'll think differently."

"That's evadin' tha question," Phoenix countered as she sat down beside of Siaxx. "I aint mother material, no matter how much I'd like ta be."

"But you do wanna be a mother," Aryssa caught on.

"Wantin' somethin' an' bein' good at somethin' aren' always tha same thin' Aryssa," Phoenix countered. "You were still a kid. Happy, with our folks when tha war ended. An' I was an abusive drunk who couldn' hold any type of relationship for a week. So you can' tell me that's tha mother you wanted ta live with."

Aryssa looked to Siaxx for help. Answering that question honestly would hurt Phoenix, she felt. And she promised not to upset the woman.

Siaxx took that moment to interject herself into the conversation. "Aryssa... in the end... the past doesn't matter... it informs your choices but don't let it make your choices going forward." she explained. "I have bad blood with my own family.... yours took me in and made me one of their own..." she explained. "but my history is different to yours..."

Rachael nodded. "My family tends to be very large and we tend to breed like mice.." she joked. "but all joking aside.. we all make mistakes in life... Mine was getting knocked up... I knew it was a possibility but I didn't take precautions, thinking.. whats one night of sex.. right?" she commented. "Don't let your past relationship with Phoenix here cloud you're judgement... You're here now..."

Siaxx sipped her drink slowly. "Phoenix here is the best thing that could have ever happened to me.... "

Phoenix blushed to that compliment greatly as she looked to Siaxx with a massive grin.

"Tha past was never clouded," Aryssa admitted with a half-smile. "I loved havin' Jill as my big sis. An' I think Mom did too."

"Let's pretend what you were told about your lineage never happened for a moment," Phoenix after she cleared her throat. "Mom still will die an' we both know there's no miracle ta fix that, right?"

"Yeah," Aryssa spoke with sadness on the thought.

"Mom would still want you to come over here. As your older sister, for me to be your guardian," Phoenix told Aryssa very soberly. "So I don' think Mom told you the truth to muddle tha future, but rather she wanted ya to eventually accept the truth an' stop livin' a lie."

"I guess I understand," Aryssa answered with a confused sigh.

"Dorothy Sullivan raised ya," Phoenix admitted with teary eyes. "I've no right ta demand ta be named as your mom. An' it would intrude on a territory you've already made clear is hers. So if you wanna see me as a sibling, I don' mind."

"All right," Aryssa agreed and reached for her drink once the waiter came with their orders.

Rachael wanted to cheer and cry with happiness but what she did instead was accept her food and start eating, alongside of everyone
else as Siaxx accepted hers.

"So you an' Jill are gonna be pregnant together?" Aryssa asked Rachael.

"Pretty much. Yes.." Rachael responded with a smile. "Its better than the alternative... considering what happened to mom..."

"Is your mom ok?" Aryssa asked with true concern.

"No... she's slowly losing her mind because of what happened.." Rachael admitted. "She's not seeing what's in front of her... as she's not the only one in this situation..." she paused. "see to a Halanian, everything revolves around children, babies and pregnancies... Mom would have been well within her rights to request transfer to a desk assignment on some Starbase while she was pregnant... they would have let her."

"So now she regrets that?" Aryssa asked, very sad at the news.

Rachael nodded. "Yes... She's not seeing that there are others in her situation." she sighed. "I wish I had better news... I'm sorry guys."

"She needs ta spend time with her babies... Telepaths do that, right?" Aryssa asked her friend.

Rachael nodded. "Its part of their development... but Mom doesn't wan to ask or demand that of Phoenix.." she paused. "She doesn't feel she has the right..." as she sighed. "She's soo stubborn at times... why can she not seee.....!"

"She's every right ta ask," Phoenix sighed gloomily as she drank on her tea. "I aint their mom. If she wants ta bond with 'em she needs ta tell me."

"I'll remind her of that... again." Rachael commented with a sigh.

"Would ya be their mom if somethin' bad happened?" Aryssa asked out of curiosity.

"Siaxx an' I both would," Phoenix answered as both a dodge and truth.

Rachael nodded. "Elizabeth, Kameron and I would help as best we were able." she added.

"You're a liar," Aryssa sighed irritably, but quickly added, "but you aint a bad person. An' if Rachael likes ya, even after seein' ya at a low point, you gotta know that others probably like ya too."

"Parenthood isn' about bein' liked, Aryssa. It's raisin' your kids to not be boneheads in life," Phoenix corrected with much difficulty. "An' I dunno how ta do that."

"We're all liars.." Siaxx interjected. "We all tell lies, we all steal and we all are criminals of some regard or another..." she shrugged. "Aryssa... sometimes being straight laced is so boring... seriously... you should spend a few days in my sickbay... its... educational..."

"and scary.." Rachael muttered.

"I heard that.." Siaxx smiled sweetly. "I have such.. wonderful... people...to share with you.."

"No thank you," Aryssa frowned and started on her soup the second it was placed in front of her. "So why don' ya come outta that room much? Has to be boring."

"Furban wants to track my vitals, on most occasions," Phoenix half-truthed. "Mostly I prefer peace and quiet."

Rachael sipped her drink, she was clearly expecting that answer. "Instead of dealing with the pilots... I'd almost feel like I was on vacation..." she then looked down at her belly. "Even with my little one."

Siaxx regarded the teen. "You still have a prenatal exam with Saki tomorrow morning.... don't forget."

"I've not forgotten." Rachael responded.

"You crossin' your fingers for a boy or girl?" Aryssa asked with a bright smile.

"I'll be happy with either." Rachael responded. "I am quite young after-all... and while I am part human... I'm also part Halanan which muddies the picture somewhat."

"You two should start hangin' out again," Phoenix prodded as she ate on her soup. "Not right for either of ya ta waste your courtin' time, sittin' in my room."

Rachael raised an eyebrow. "Most of my time is still dealing with schoolwork, homework and pilot training." the teenager responded. "I don't need to deal with any men at the present time."

Siaxx slowly smiled as she sipped her drink. "We hang out with you... because we care."

"Plus the ship doesn't have anyone my age to even want to hangout with. Besides Rach here," Aryssa shrugged.

"You're goin' back to school," Phoenix declared to Aryssa. "You don' stop until you can read on your grade level."

"Fair enough," Aryssa agreed, only to appease Siaxx. But she did not want to go through all that embarrassment again.

"Actually there is Sian and Kimora Anderson. Along with a couple of others." Rachael explained. "Oh and I'd avoid picking up any of the Kurokuri who wander around ship.. there are four of them.... take it from me.... don't pick them up."

"Yeah... I'm still sorting out that one clown who had to have his face put back together because he picked up Hakaya." Siaxx explained. "Still... after a month.."

"I've never heard of their race before," Aryssa admitted curiosity.

Siaxx answered. "Well they are relatively new to the Federation.. a few of them are even in Starfleet.. but I'm a little fuzzy on the details myself."

"I've no idea either," Phoenix admitted. "We'll get you settled in and have you entered in the school system."

"I'm not goin' ta school," Aryssa reminded Phoenix. "I have ta train an' learnin' ta read collage shit aint really a requirement for the sport I'm tryin' ta turn pro in."

Phoenix facepalmed and tried not to freak out. Her only response was to work on her meal.

Siaxx interrupted. "Aryssa.... How old are you?" she inquired bluntly. "You wanna bet on this?" as she slowly smiled. "I've never lost a bet.... and I will win this one... you are going to school... even if I have to drag you down there by your fingernails..."

"But school only cuts into my trainin' time," Aryssa argued. "I'm ranked third best keeper in the junior circuit and I can get a ride easily, once I turn eighteen."

Siaxx chuckled softly. "Ahh the wonders of youth..." the small Bolian commented. "Let me share a little something with you dearee.." she commented upon seeing the effects of the conversation and what they were doing to Phoenix. "I used to be you.... hell I remember sitting there before my father and uncle, having the very same chat.... I'm gonna go pro... except in my case it was Zero Gee Soccer."

Rachael listened in silence, she had no idea whatsoever of any of this, she also doubted her mother knew of this either.

Siaxx regarded Aryssa. "When you turn Eighteen... let me give you a little perspective... You have no backup plan, you MUST go pro or bust.. and when you go bust... what will you do then.... because I dunno...but I know that nobody will hire you..."

"Siaxx is right," Phoenix agreed in a rather quiet tone while she stared at her bowl of soup. "You don' have a back-up and until ya do, an' Siaxx an' I think it's a good one, you go ta school."

"But it's a remedial class I have ta go to. You don' know how much of a retard it feels ta go ta one," Aryssa said with watery eyes.

"Yeah... well... You took advantage of our sickly mother an' skipped a lot of classes. So now ya pay for that stupidity," Phoenix finally bit back. "You wake up. Eat. Shower. Then you go to school. Come back home. Study. Eat again. Then you go to bed. That is your new life until I know you aint gonna fuck it up any further."

"Whatever." Aryssa got up and stormed out of the bar.

"Yeah... I overplayed that, didn' I?" Phoenix asked Siaxx as when she looked up at both of them.

Siaxx simply smiled. "Nope... not at all." she responded. "You told her how it was going to be... As you have every right to do so... she might think of you as her sister but you are still her mother.."

Rachael waited. "You didn't drag it out... sometimes harsh things need to be said to get the message across.. My siblings and I got the same treatment from Mom and Dad when we screwed up." she looked down at her belly. "I'll be doing the same thing with my little one when the time comes.... but... if it helps... You didn't coddle her about it.."

Siaxx nodded in turn. "You do care... otherwise you wouldn't have said it." she then smiled. "When are we going to start our own family?"

"I just keep thinkin' that if I'd grown a backbone an' not let Mom keep her after that war, that she'd not be such a screwball," Phoenix spoke with a sigh. "But I do care. I just think I waited to long ta care for her. Don' think I can reverse all tha damage done ta her."

"No.." Siaxx agreed. "But it'll take time.. and she has to want you in her life for you to be able to make a serious difference."

Rachael nodded her head. "Elizabeth had a hard time accepting me when I was young.. Gabe however accepted me quickly. They were seven and six respectively." the teen explained. "It just takes time... she's been lied to by everyone involved..."

"I'm a bad mom," Phoenix admitted with watery blue eyes. "I messed her up. An' I nearly messed your siblings up, not thinkin' about what I was doing."

"Jill." Rachael commented. "You're beating yourself up over an accident." the teen explained. "You don't like being caged.... That makes two of us..." she paused. "I hope I don't run into that Bajoran crack potted cop...."

Siaxx gently placed her hand on Jill's. "Your system has been through one hell of an ordeal... But you have us here, with you... Besides... if Torilla had issues about things... the three of us would know about it quick."

"I'm glad ta have you both as friends," Phoenix admitted. "But I still don' want either of you bein' hard on Aryssa... She's as much sufferin' as I am."

"But you know how to ask for help." Siaxx commented.

"Aryssa needs time to adjust... when she finds an issue... she runs and hides..." Rachael explained. "Its easier to run away... then it is to stand your ground.."

"I don' think it's a matter of her not wantin' ta ask," Phoenix guessed. "I think she just don' know what ta ask for."

Siaxx shrugged. "She'll either learn... or she'll break.."

"I hope she don'," Phoenix admitted solemnly.

"She's not giving this a chance." Rachael admitted. "Thats her biggest issue... " the teen commented as she turned her attention to her food. "Mmm.."

Siaxx regarded the teen with a look of amusement and pity. "Do you always eat like this?"

"Hey.. I am eating for two.."

Phoenix probably should of had a bigger meal, when Rachael's comment, but she just did not have a big appetite. Once she had finished, though, she kissed Siaxx on the cheek.

"I'm gonna go lay back down I think. Thanks, both of you for commin' ta get her," Phoenix offered with a grateful head bow.

"Jill... you can't spend all your time sleep in bed.." The Bolian commented softly. "You should get some exercise.... go for a stroll... I'll go with you."

Rachael meanwhile had swiped the remnants of Siaxx's food and she was busy demolishing it herself. "Jill... you need to eat more..." she said between mouthfuls.

"Rachael. seriously?" Siaxx sighed.

"What... I'm hungry..."

"All right," Phoenix agreed with a vague nod. She truly did not want to, but she knew she could not argue with her fiance.

"We won't go far... just enough for you get some exercise... because you're not getting it.... and I'll skip the lecture... so lets go to the holodeck and we can have a romantic moonlit stroll on a beach instead."

Rachael meanwhile was busy devouring the meals left at the table. "God.. I'm hungry.."