Enter The Madness - Part Two

Posted on Sun Mar 1st, 2020 @ 9:37pm by Commander Cressa Stevens & Fleet Captain Torilla Yamaguchi

Mission: Mission 36: The Crusade Against the Infidels
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 1145 Hours - July 3rd, 2391

Commander Torilla Yamaguchi regarded the smaller woman beside her. "You still glad you came here?"

Cressa thought about that a few moments and came back with a very positive head bob. "I am... It's a bit daunting, but I think I can do this. I imagine you had similar feelings when you came aboard?"

Yamaguchi regarded the smaller woman. "I did... in fact for me, it was worse... my former skipper was a very straight-laced guy who was content to sit back and lead... very formal.." she responded. "no independent initiative whatever." she paused. "Computer hold turbolift."

"I read about that last mission with the virus... That was your first mission as XO here, right?" Cressa asked her superior.

Torilla's eyes closed over as she regarded the smaller woman. "Yes... and nothing has been done... it was a Breen Superweapon.. and nothing has been done about it."

"What would you of liked to see happen?" Cassa asked with concern, for she detected something very personal in the XO.

"I want someone to pay for what they did to me!" she whispered. "they took my babies... almost killing the three of us... Elizabeth had to violate me to save me..." she whispered, now well and truly enraged.

Cressa hugged Torilla, to let her know she was safe to express her feelings. "The rage and grief you feel is normal."

Torilla regarded the smaller woman as she sighed softly. "But Nobody will ever care what happened to me... or mine... Elizabeth felt and still feels immense guilt over what happened."

"Did your babies live?" Cressa asked gently as she pat Torilla consolingly on the back.

"Yes... Tressa and Phoenix are their names," she whispered softly. "Elizabeth.... she had to violate me and then someone else to ensure they lived.." she sighed. "Breen.... I hate them... I will always hate them... I wish them nothing but ruin.."

"Is the anger about the violations taken to ensure their safety? Or the fact you felt helpless to stop the Breen?" Cressa asked.

Torilla regarded the other woman, rage in her eyes as she almost choked on her own rage. "You.... you can't know... Cressa... losing a child... what it does to a Halanan... I planned for it, I prepared for it... and I had to lose them... to someone else... Oh they were fine but they now think of someone else as mom.."

"How old are they?" Cressa asked with concern.

Torilla regarded the other woman. "Two and a half years old now." she responded quietly. "Phoenix delivered them inside a temporal anomaly which has since collapsed." she sighed softly. "and I now am co-parenting my own children with a woman who wasn't prepared for it in any way shape or form."

"You did not lose them to someone else," Cressa spoke very positively. "That person made sure they survived so you could cherish them the rest of your days. And in time, you will be seen as their mother."

Torilla nodded her head. "Alright.." she responded softly, the rage never truly leaving her eyes as she calmed down, inhaling softly as she counted to ten. "We should continue with the tour."

"Sounds good to me, Commander," Cressa agreed.

Torilla raised an eyebrow. "Commander Hakaya Vakar could use some serious time on the sofa." she paused. "I feel.... so much lighter..." she paused. "Computer... resume to Engineering" the lift resumed on its path.

"I'll make sure to have her at the top of my list, Commander," Cressa promised.

A few minutes later, the two women entered Engineering.

Ra'Vak, with his afro back on, was riding on a unicycle near the warp core juggling bowling pins. Uldyssian Davis meanwhile had his usual sermon in session.

Uldyssian opened the book before him. "Let us pray my brothers and sisters..." he then smiled as he lifted his hand to encompass the warp core. "Our god needs our sacrifices.. so let us pray..." he paused. "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them]."

Torilla raised an eyebrow. "I forgot... church services are in progress."

"Almost paganistic in nature," Cressa spoke with fascination while she watched the madness. "It is very interesting to note how others follow him, even though religion died out a long time ago with must of humans."

Torilla raised an eyebrow "This guy... the clown that is.... this is Ra'Vak, my little demon.." she introduced Cressa to the clown nearby.
"Ra'Vak?"

"How long did it take you to master those skills?" Cressa asked with an amused grin.

Ra'Vak smiled while still juggling, "What this, I've always been able to do this."

"...You don't pray with the rest of the department?" Cressa asked as she pointed to the congregation.

Ra'Vak smiled, saying "This is my prayer."

"They are an .... interesting crowd... however they manage to get everything done and maintain this ship." Torilla explained. "When I need a time out, I come here to be cheered up... as these guys are always happy.."

"Laughter is the best way to feel better," Cressa agreed. "Don't these guys neglect some of their duties when they worship?"

"I honestly have no idea." Torilla answered. "But they seem to enjoy the church services..." she paused. "I suspect they need it because of the state of this .... flying scrapheap."

"She's got a noble history, so far as ships of the line go," Cressa pointed out with envy. "A science ship, back at her first shakedown. Then turned into a carrier for the war. She's seen a lot of good and bad."

"Roanoke has a long and interesting history." Torilla sighed. "She seems destined for the scrapheap though."

"All the more reason for this old girl to go out with a bang," Cressa smiled brightly.

"Well... command don't like us so we keep getting crap for assignments and half our personnel are worthless and the other half got shafted."

"Be determined to have a good day, and you will," Cressa told Torilla wholeheartedly.

"I wish I had your faith." Torilla admitted with a sigh. "Shall we continue to the next location?" she inquired.

"Yes, please," Cressa agreed excitedly while she adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose. "What other interesting places do you have to show me?"