The Slippery Slope

Posted on Fri Feb 28th, 2020 @ 3:08am by Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Yamaguchi-Solusar & Fleet Captain Torilla Yamaguchi

Mission: Mission 30: All Thats Left
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 1900Hrs - March 16th, 2391

Music Soundtrack: Ideals - Star Trek Nemesis

It had been two days since Phoenix went missing as Torilla slowly blinked her eyes open, finding herself in bed as nude as the day she was born. She took a quick look around and upon spotting the much smaller Trill woman nearby. "Zara... what are you doing in my bedroom?" Torilla raised an eyebrow as the last thing she recalled was sitting down to lunch with the other woman.

"You slipped something to me.... didn't you?" Yamaguchi still felt weak and woozy. "I thought you had more faith in me then that." she paused. "so... out with it. Why'd you do it?"

"It dawned on me that you tend to not see logic until after the fact," Zara began respectfully as she started to undress herself. "I did it simply because I wanted you calm when I explained that the babies are healthy. That Phoenix recorded a message, saying so. And her next one she sends will be to you, to see your babies and Rache, and her kid."

Yamaguchi regarded Zara with a cool expression. "What are you doing?" she inquired as she heard the rest of Tane's statement. "Wait... we have coms with Phoenix?" she inquired, before sitting up and then flopping back down as she moaned softly. "What did you zap me with?"

"I've no idea, to be honest." Zara answered as she crawled into the bed with Torilla. "I have connections in medical that just gave me stuff to put in your drink... So we'll just relax and when Phoenix reconnects with us in about an hour, you can see the recording."

Yamaguchi looked at Zara who was as nude as the day she was born. "No... You asked Elizabeth to assist you in your crazy assed plan to calm me and... where are my clothes?" she raised an eyebrow. "Zara....?"

"No clothes until I'm satisfied you're not gonna go crazy," Zara assured her.

"If I were crazy.... would I let you in bed with me?" Yamaguchi inquired.
"Besides.. I have a cat and six kittens..." she raised an eyebrow. "and Elizabeth is in the next room..."

"Elizabeth is watching the kittens," Zara waved aside. "Last thing you want is to turn into a grief-stricken woman obsessed with cats."

Yamaguchi raised an eyebrow. "Zara.... I don't think I need to worry about turning into a mindless rage case.. I did that once already and I'm in no rush to do it again..." she responded. "So... how long was I out?"

"Six hours or so," Zara shrugged off. "You needed a rest."

Yamaguchi slowly climbed out of the bed. "I need to go to the bathroom." she admitted as she stood up, she blinked as she slowly swayed from side to side. "What the heck did you people use on me?"

"Easy," Zara consoled as she stood up and helped Torilla to the bathroom. "I'm not gonna date rape you. Promise. But I will help you to that loo."

Torilla regarded Zara with a look. "Oh that'll be the day... Besides... Beth is in the next room... I can always call her." she paused as she sighed. "I feel like shit... to be honest.."

"Shower will do you some good. And food," Zara suggested, concern in her eyes. "I'm really sorry though. Beth was the one who suggested I try to keep you comfortable."

Yamaguchi raised an eyebrow. "I've not had a good shower where the water is so hot it'll scald and blister the skin..." Torilla admitted. "and remind Elizabeth.. that she owes me."

"Heh," Zara smiled uneasily. "Look... We seriously were just trying to help. Situation as it is, you tend to get very irrational and violent when you're family's involved. And I do want to help, just not as a punching bag."

Yamaguchi regarded Zara. "Well I've not strangled you yet.." she responded. "Give me a moment would ya."

"I can, yes." Zara agreed as she helped Torilla into the bathroom. "Let me know when you're through and I'll walk you back to bed, if you're still woozy."

"Alright.." Yamaguchi responded as she stepped over to the shower, before she turned it on with the flick of a button, it activated and instantly reset itself to her personal settings.

A few minutes later, after she finished her other little bit of personal business, Torilla stepped into the shower, she closed her eyes as she felt the hot water caress her as if it were her husband.

"Can I shower with you?, Or am I still in trouble?" Zara asked hopefully.

Yamaguchi raised an eyebrow. "Sure... but you're still in trouble.." Torilla responded.

"If I gave you your clothes back after your shower, would that dig me at least halfway out?" Zara asked as she stepped in with Torilla and lathered herself up with body soap.

Torilla stood there was the hot water washed over her skin. "Perhaps... I will consider it.." as a sly smile appeared on her face.

"I'm sorry I didn't trust you," Tane spoke when the silence got to her. "I want to think you're in control now, I really do."

"I am not crazy." Torilla looked down at Tane. "I'm managing... I really am." she said softly.

"How'd we get in this spot," Zara sighed in frustration.

Torilla looked down at the smaller woman. "Because I'm too aggressive for my own good... and others worry about me because of my losses presently." Torilla plucked a sponge off of the shelf as she gently began rubbing Zara's back. "Relax... you're like rock..." as she gently placed her hands on Zara's shoulders as she gently began to kneed the smaller womans muscles.

"You haven't lost anything though," Zara spoke with determination. "I have to believe that, both as your friend and CO."

Yamaguchi raised an eyebrow. "Rachael is missing. so is Siaxx, Phoenix and the twins that she's carrying." the larger woman explained. "I still have Elizabeth and Kam.... I also heard my daughter talking about having a child of her own... but she wants to wait until all of this insanity is sorted out." Torilla paused. "I might take some time off the next time we all get leave... spend some time with my family.... we've all been through a lot recently.." as she continued to give Zara a massage.

"Take as long a leave as you like," Zara assured. "I get the feeling when they all come back, they'll need time too."

Torilla regarded the Trill woman who was a foot shorter then she herself was. "Zara... what are you not telling me?" Torilla inquired softly. "Stop worrying if I'm going to lose my mind and tell me already.... as soon as we're finished here...I'm going to either get dressed and go spend some time with the kitties and give Elizabeth a break or I'm going back to bed... Either will be fine."

"It's a temporal anomaly. Something like three months on the planet is one day here," Zara spoke with a tenseness in her shoulders. "So we're going to work hard to figure out how to pull them out safely."

Yamaguchi regarded Tane. "They've been gone for three and a half weeks... which means that..." she sighed softly. "Rachael's been gone for almost six and a half years at this point... she's as old as my son.."
the full magnitude of what Zara was saying hit Torilla. "She's gonna think we abandoned her..." her voice broke mid-sentence as she had to stop herself from bursting into tears.

Zara turned around and hugged Torilla tightly, letting the water wash away the soap off their bodies. She did not know what else to say or do. But giving her friend a shoulder felt like the only natural reaction.

Yamaguchi gently hugged Zara back as there wasn't anything she could really say at this point but she was grateful for her friends company.

"You want someone to sit with, I'll do it," Zara offered. "No drugs this time. Promise."

Yamaguchi smiled. "I would appreciate that..." as she regarded Zara. "Could I also get my clothes back too?" she added. "I'd hate to walk the hall in the nude... I'd have too many of the younger crew wanting my body and... according to my husband.... I don't share easily..."

"That's easy... Suspended them in the replicator buffer," Zara grinned. "Just tell the replicator to execute program Tane-Theta-2B. Might drop the lot in the middle of the floor though."

"You recycled my entire wardrobe?" Yamaguchi inquired as she raised an eyebrow. "Unbelievable."

"No... Just suspended it," Zara spoke with a small laugh. "I thought it a fun joke of sorts."

Yamaguchi sighed softly. "Recycle them all... Most of the clothing doesn't suit me anymore.." she sighed. "I'll replicate me some new clothing..."

"What you mean?" Zara asked with concern. "I think you look rather lovely in a lot of what you wear."

Yamaguchi raised an eyebrow. "You'll recall that I was expecting twins... most of those clothes were replicated with that in mind..." as a dark expression came over her face. "Before Elizabeth... took my babies from me..." Torilla regarded the small woman. "I know.." she responded a trifle hotly. "There is what I know and what I feel... my babies were taken from me and given to someone else because there was no other alternative."

"Doesn't make the theft very stomachable," Zara agreed, and finished washing the soap off. "You got carte blanche on your new wardrobe then. In so far as they can fit in your closet. Once it's full, you're done with your spree."

"Alright..." as Yamaguchi looked down at the smaller woman. "It wouldn't take me too long to replicate what I need..." she gently wrapped her arms around the smaller woman sharing the shower with her as she gave her a hug. "I'm Sorry Zara... for giving you cause to think I'm insane... I'm holding it together... really... I am.." she paused. "Because I'm still your Exec, no matter what my personal losses." she paused. "you still believed in me... even after everything that's happened... after everything I said and did to you."

"I'll get over it, hopefully," Zara replied with a playful grin.

Yamaguchi paused. "I need to talk to Elizabeth.... hopefully we can be reasonable about it.... I'd like to have Jake on coms for this one... just in case this argument gets out of hand..." she sighed. "Oh who am I kidding... I know it'll get out of hand... It always does... because I can't control my temper... its time I admitted it, to myself, it not everyone else."

"What's she done now, besides acting as my partner in crime in this little doozy?"

"I need to talk to her about how I feel about her taking my babies..." Yamaguchi answered quietly. "I have no idea of how to tell her.... how it made me feel so...." she paused. "so useless..."

"She made a hard choice," Zara spoke sadly. "She did not want to lose any of you."

"If I were human..." Yamaguchi closed her eyes. "It would be easier for me.." she explained. "For a Halanan... losing a child is devastating.."

"You haven't lost them though," Zara tried to console with a smile. "And the medical staff are ever vigil over Phoenix to make sure you don't lose them."

"I know... they are growing inside Phoenix...." Yamaguchi responded. "But... they aren't within me... I can't hear them or feel them..." Torilla sighed softly. "I almost feel like a hypocrite at times.... you know?"

"In this case, you're entitled," Zara winked up to her friend.

Torilla regarded Zara. "I'll try not to let that go to my head..." she paused.

"The one good thought for you to keep onto though, is that your babies are alive," Zara reiterated with a huge grin. "Take comfort in knowing that despite all odds, they were unharmed by that illness."

"I know... Phoenix lets me talk to them... trouble is..it has to be direct contact with my hand on her belly..." Yamaguchi paused. "It feels strange." before she rinsed off and then she stepped out of the shower.
"Nothing like a hot shower to really make me smile..." she plucked two towels off of the rack, she handed one of them to Zara while she began to dry off with the second. "Zara... you know I can hear you thinking right?" Torilla was standing with her back to Zara.

"You cheat," Zara sighed in protest.

"You're staring at my ass.." Torilla turned her head.

"It happens to be a very lovely one too," Zara commented with a cheshire grin.

Yamaguchi finished toweling herself off as she indicated the bedroom. "Well... I'm going back to bed.. do you need to be anywhere?"

"No, I don't." Zara looked at her friend with concern. "If you want me to just lay with you and cuddle, I can."

"Still think I'm insane?" Yamaguchi inquired.

"No. I don't." Zara was very apologetic when she asked, "Forgive me?"

"There isn't anything to forgive." Yamaguchi responded evenly. "Come on.." as Torilla went back into her bedroom.

"You want me to see if your hubby can come in the area?" Zara asked as she crawled into the bed with her friend.

"No... the Song of the East is away on assignment..." Yamaguchi responded. "No need to bug Jake about this, especially if something happens to us..." she responded before sitting down on the bed, she then climbed into bed as a sigh of contentment escaped her lips.

"Then I'll serve in whatever capacity you need me too," Zara promised.

Yamaguchi reached over as she pulled Zara further into bed with her. "Just... hold me."

"I can do that," Zara assured as she wrapped her arms around the taller woman.

Meanwhile in the next room, Elizabeth was plying with Silversides who was tending to her small kittens as a smile appeared on her face. "I misjudged Zara.."

Kameron turned his head as he regarded his wife. "What do you say that?"

"Because she's the only one who can make my mom relax..."

Meanwhile Torilla looked over at Zara. "I'm worried Zara... "

"I know you are," Zara softly whispered as she rubbed Torilla's back. "I got you now though. Just rest."

Yamaguchi surprised herself and everyone else by dropping off to sleep very quickly.

Elizabeth smiled as she gently ran her fingers over Silversides fur as she heard the bedroom door open. "Is mom alright sir?" she asked Zara.

"For the moment," Zara spoke quietly while she stroked Torilla's hair like a worried mother.

Elizabeth poked her head into the bedroom. "Alright... do you need anything from us?" the taller woman asked respectfully.

"I'm fine. Thanks," Zara insisted. "She's more important right now."

"Alright." Elizabeth responded. "I'll make sure the kitties stay away from you."

"In this case, I don't mind allergy shots," Zara shrugged off.

Elizabeth regarded Zara, a kind smile on her face. "I know how unpleasant they are." she responded as the sounds of little cats could be heard, the taller woman looked down as she found Carter slowly following her into the bedroom, she gently returned the small kitten to his mother.

She turned back to Zara. "You sure you don't need anything....?" she inquired.

"I'm positive, Elizabeth." Zara smiled at her. "She needs rest and companionship right now to get through this ordeal. So I don't mind laying with her while she sleeps."

"Alright... Like I said... call us if you need anything..... While you're here for her, we're here for you." the taller woman responded.

"Thanks," Zara smiled in appreciation.

Elizabeth regarded her mother with a soft smile. "Alright... I'll leave you to it." she paused. "call us if you want anything alright?" and with that Elizabeth turned and left Zara alone with Torilla.

Torilla was lying on her back, her eyes were closed. "Mmmm... " as a soft smile tugged at her lips.

Zara smiled as well, as she kept rubbing Torilla's back.

"Zara...." Torilla inquired. "Why do you try so hard to keep everyone at arms length... If everyone could see that you cared.... you might get more out of this crew.... you have some decent crew this time... not a boatload of failures, like last time.." Yamaguchi spoke softly.

"I aint good with folks... Not as bad as Phoenix is with people, but bad enough," Zara spoke with a frown. "And besides, almost every department has some weirdos that make my skin crawl."

Yamaguchi gently pulled Tane against her. "We'll clean them out..."