The Wounded Skies - Part Three

Posted on Thu Mar 19th, 2020 @ 4:55am by Lieutenant Melody McKnight-Yamaguchi & Department Master Chief Petty Officer Stephen "Orthos" McKnight & Major Daisy Rohr-McKnight

Mission: Mission 100: I'm Going to Ruin Somebody's Day
Location: Various Locations - Starbase Vanguard / Utgarde IV
Timeline: 1330Hrs - July 12th, 2393

Orthos tapped his combadge. "McKnight to Vanguard, one to transport," he commented right before he was beamed away. As if on command a young female rounded the corner as she had tears streaming down her face. Had Melody McKnight-0Yamaguchi been here just five seconds earlier, she would have been able to stop her father from beaming away but she missed him by a few crucial seconds.

Her long blonde hair swayed back and forth. "Dad?" Melody called.

The young woman then knocked on his front door, wondering if he was home, Melody did not live here so she would knock and not just barge right on in.

Daisy opened the door. She could see the torment on the young woman's face. "Melody? What's wrong?"

"Mom and I... we had a big fight." Melody sobbed. "Wow, she was mean and nasty. You should have heard her Daisy, your blood would have been boiling." she paused. "Is dad around?." this wasn't a grown woman asking, this was a small and lost child asking for her daddy, the big man in her life who could soothe her fears and calm her.

"There was an issue today on Starbase Vanguard. He had to return. Please come in, it looks like you need to talk." Daisy invited her.

Melody slipped her form past Daisy. "Thanks." she responded. "so what happened on the Starbase?" the younger female tried to pull herself together.

"There was a psychic event. What that exactly means I can't tell you." Daisy explained. "So, what happened between you and your mother?"

"A what?" Melody paused. "I was sitting in my office, doing paperwork, requesting supplies and the like when I get a message from mom, she started yelling at me, swearing and the like, she was really losing her temper, calling me an ungrateful child and the like. I was really shocked. I mean I have issues with mom and dad because they never got together but I've never seen mom that angry... or that emotional." Melody paused as she focused on Daisy, a clear sign that she had been thinking about it.

Daisy nodded, keeping quiet for now. "Please make yourself comfortable Melody. Would you like a refreshment?"

Melody shrugged off her uniform jacket, she was wearing the tank top vest underneath it, much like Orthos's style of undershirt. "Mmmm yes please Daisy, thanks." she paused. "How are the kids doing?" she paused as the kitten hopped up on the sofa, the small kitty curled up on Melody's lap before she placed her head upon Melody's left thigh and promptly fell asleep. "I think the cat like me," Melody added.

"I think she likes you too." Daisy agreed. "We are doing great. You never told me what you wanted. Coffee, hot cocoa, whiskey?"

"Oh, I'll have something cold. None alcoholic." she paused. "a glass of water will be fine." she paused as she heard the kitten purring. "I never saw myself as a cat person.." Melody commented.

"You don't choose a cat. A cat chooses you." Daisy smiled as she handed a Melody a glass of ice water.

Melody gently ran her fingers through the cat's fur. "Oh?" she inquired with an odd look.

"There was an incident on the starbase today," Daisy told Melody, trying to start to de-escalate the situation.

Melody held her silence. "What happened Daisy.?" she asked softly.

"Something psychic happened. I can't explain what. I do know that Orthos thought I wanted to kick him out and give him a divorce." Daisy told Melody.

"What?" Melody asked in a quiet tone. "Dad thought you wanted a divorce?" Melody paused. "I did not see that one coming.." she mused.

Daisy smiled at Melody. "Neither did I. Orthos swore it happened. We even had to do a mind meld to prove I didn't.".

"Dad is not the type to propose a mind-meld. He did one with me and I know he's done one with mom. But I can count on one hand the number of times dad has even talked about it and he mentioned it to you, just like that?"

"Your father was really upset. He couldn't explain what happened to him." Daisy explained.

"I guess not." Melody answered quietly. "so what happened between you two?"

"Well, we melded and found out I wasn't trying to mess with him. I called to the station and there was an incident up there. A lot of people were affected." Daisy told Melody.

"You think I might have been affected as well?" Melody paused. "I was on the base.."

"Do you want me to call and check on your mother?"

Melody paused before she nodded. "Sure... Don't say anything to her, please... I don't need her starting on you." she stressed at that point.

Daisy nodded to Melody. "This is Major Rohr-McKnight calling Vanguard. I'm trying to contact Talon Yeager. Can you patch me through please?"

The voice of Plataea Lasky came back. "Copy Major. I'm patching you through now."

Melody gently held the small kitty as she got up. "I want to see her face.." she commented quietly. "Mind if we use the wall display?" she asked quietly.

"Alright, but on one condition: You let me do the talking. You're a bit upset and that can lead to saying things we don't mean to say." Daisy told Melody warmly.

Melody nodded her head in a shaky manner. "Fine by me," she answered evenly. The screen suddenly activated as Talon Yeager's face appeared on the display. "Hello, Major. What can I do for you?" she then sat back in her chair, she was wearing her uniform tank top rather than the normal duty uniform. Talon knew she was dealing with Orthos's wife so she knew something was going on. "What's happening?"

"Good afternoon Admiral. There has been an incident on the starbase. Orthos is up there now helping command sort it out. We're just doing a friendly check in to see if you're alright?" Daisy asked and explained.

Yeager raised an eyebrow. "As far as I know, everything is fine over here," Talon paused. "Shinano is helping to deploy a transwarp gate in the Utgarde System, we're presently orbiting Utgarde Five." The older female answered before her eyes widened slightly. "What happened on the Starbase Daisy?" as she regarded her daughter who looked quite upset, and angry but Talon would come to her in a moment since Daisy was the one who was addressing her at present.

"Oh, there was something of a telepathic or psychic event. Some of the crew are experiencing things that never happened. Orthos, for example, though I had asked for a divorce. As extreme as that sounds he honestly believed it. We even had to do a mind meld. Anyways, glad to know that you guys weren't affected." Daisy answered.

Yeager paused as she looked shocked. "What... Orthos did what!?" she paused. "Melody, what's wrong sweetie?"

"You yelled at me," Melody answered in a flat tone of voice.

"Melody, I've not talked to you in over a week..." Yeager answered, now sounding shaken. "Is it possible that this.. whatever this event was, affected you too.?"

"Perhaps..." Melody answered. "You were... cruel. Harsh with me, accusing me of various things.." she commented quietly.

Yeager regarded the two women before her on the display. "Ladies, I've not chatted with you Melody in over a week, we were discussing dinner plans. I wanted to see Orthos." Yeager knew her relationship with Orthos was complex and complicated, they shared two children together, two of her children were Jerome Hunts and two others were Davjiaan Yeagers. Her life was really complicated and insane at times but she made an effort for all the children in her life, be they adults and infants alike. "When did I contact you melody?"

"About an hour ago," Melody answered quietly.

"Ahh." Yeager paused. "I was in a briefing with Shinano's senior staff at the time. It couldn't have been me, the computer here can confirm my whereabouts as can a few others."

"I'm not accusing you of anything mom, I'm just saying it happened from my point of view."

"I understand. I'm sorry for what was said, sweetie." Yeager answered quietly. "I don't know what was said.. but since it was me then responsibility for it rests with me." she paused. "You can share the memory with me later," Yeager explained. "I should know what happened so I can help you deal with it."

"Okay, mom. When do you return?" Melody inquired.

"We should be coming back to Vanguard tonight, we need the last shipment of supplies for the gate and your dad, you guys and I can dine together. If you wish." Yeager had a special place in her heart for Orthos and she tried to remain in his life so Melody had both parents.

"We will try and make it, depending on what Orthos is dealing with. As you can see yourself, Admiral, this has been a powerfully emotional event." Daisy told Talon.

A musical tone came from Daisy's PADD alerting her of a message. "Excuse me, this should only take a second." Daisy apologized as she looked over her PADD. "Oh...that was from Orthos. Private Harrak, one my marines who were on the station, is in sickbay. She suffered burns and a concussion. Brianna Hobbs was also up there. She suffered light burns and a minor head wound."

Yeager nodded in agreement. "I can tell," she responded. "Do you need me to cut this short and come back to help with what's happening on the base?"

"No," Melody responded, far sharper then she had intended. "No." she added, much softer this time.

"Alright." Yeager was rattled as she had very seldom ever seen Melody like this, as she decided to look into this matter herself, but she would do so quietly and she would do it after hours on her own time. "Is Brianna Hobbs and Private Harrak alright?" Yeager inquired.

"They will both recover. There are other casualties too." Daisy replied. "Harrak is Master Sergeant Werner's daughter. He is still mad from what happened to his daughter thanks to Sternwald. Now I have to explain this to him."

"Torilla has told me of Werner. Duval couldn't intimidate her but Werner did, for some reason." Yeager smiled softly.

Melody turned. "I'll go with you," she commented quietly. "Mom, we'd best get going. It sounds like things are getting exciting on Vanguard but we'll see you tonight okay?"

"I'll be there. I'll cook dinner for you guys because it sounds like you guys need a good home-cooked meal after all this insanity."

"Yeah mom, if you feel up to it."

Yeager's eyes twinkled. "What? and miss an excuse to throw a dinner party, not a chance. Besides Daisy, you'll get to meet all my kids, even if they are care of mail order or surprises," she commented with a sudden grin. "Bring your own kids. It'll be fun."

"I'll round up Edward and T'Sara. Orthos will probably welcome the distraction." Daisy replied.

"Its gonna be a really full house but it'll be great. Sammy gets to meet everyone and I think Dreamcrusher is in the system too. so I'll see if I can get Melody to join us for this." Yeager grinned. "Oh, this will be great. Enough food for forty people coming right up. Are you or your guys allergic to anything?" she inquired.

"Not as far as I'm aware," Daisy replied.

"Outstanding. I'll make a chicken pasta dish with linguine.." Yeager commented. "Dinner will be sometime around nineteen hundred hours. You two ladies okay with that?" Yeager inquired.

"Sounds good." Daisy agreed.

"Alright, unless there is anything else we need to chat about ladies, I'd best get back to work, the old man wants my ass and he's getting angry with me." Yeager then giggled at her own joke. "I will see you two tonight k?" and with that, Talon hunt up. The screen went back and Melody turned to Daisy. "That was... not what I was expecting..." she admitted.

"Maybe not but do you feel better?" Daisy asked.

"I do. I can share the memory with mom... She also apologized even if she, herself, wasn't the one who said it." she paused. "Mom takes her motherly duties very seriously. There are three adult children in this family, myself, Monique and Sammy. Along with five young children and Noel, who was adopted. Mom makes time for all of us. She considers all of us her kids."