Lost in Thought - Part One

Posted on Mon Mar 2nd, 2020 @ 6:11pm by Admiral Jake Yamaguchi & Commander Ennis Cullen & Saki Yamaguchi-Cullen

Mission: Mission 43: Acts of Contrition
Location: Various Locations - USS Tranquility
Timeline: 1900Hrs - October 1st, 2391

Saki Yamaguchi was lounging around on the sofa, with Jorge the cat lying on her chest as she was gently petting him. "Hey Sarah... You ever wonder what might have been?" she inquired of the girl a couple of years older then she herself was.

"Nope. Never," Sarah answered honestly. "Dad says there's always a plan for why things happen."

Emile purred as he poked his head out from under the table, his sibling, Siaxx emerged as well as she announced her presence with a plaintive meow.

"Come 'ere kitty," Sarah sighed and opened her arms and gently picked it up. "Why you ask, Saki?" as she petted Siaxx.

Siaxx purred as she turned her head before she touched Sarah's nose with her own before she meowed at her.

"Siaxx doesn't like anyone... yet she likes you." Saki smiled. "Well... I wonder what would have happened.... if your Dad and my mom would never have met..." she paused as Emile hopped up onto the sofa where Saki was sitting before he climbed onto her lap, clearly wanting some of the attention that Jorge was getting.

"I don' see me dad liking Siaxx like she does your mom," Sarah thought with pursed lips. "Siaxx is a bit weird for him."

"You mean the cat or the Bolian?" Saki inquired as Emile jostled his larger brother who reacted angrily, with a swipe of his claws, before Saki petted Jorge. "Now now kitty.." she sighed. "I wish you guys didn't need to leave.." as she knew her grandfather was coming by to pick up the cats.

"The Bolian," Sarah blinked with confusion.

"The cat is also named Siaxx.." Saki explained. "I think she likes you.." Saki raised an eyebrow in confusion. "She hates everyone else.."

"I guess it's cause she knows I'm not scared," Sarah grinned. "Me dad says that if you are calm and sure, animals respect you."

"That and if you are gentle with them and can provide them with their needs as well as see to their wants. They will bond with you." Saki smiled as Jorge regarded her with his golden eyes, before he stretched out his paws, both front and back.

Saki regarded the cat as she didn't touch him while he did his thing. "Easy kitty..."

"So are you gonna keep getting schooled by Gyce? Or are you going to try out the new school in the fleet?" Sarah asked as she pet the cats.

"I'll try the new school... I can't expect Gyce to teach me-err us everything.." Saki responded with a smile. "How long do you think before Grandpa Jake comes over for the cats?"

"I dunno... why you ask?" Sarah asked with curious eyes.

Saki paused. "I need to see Dad.." she paused. "You don't think he'd mind... do you?" she inquired as she gently placed Emile on the sofa right as the doorbell beeped at the two girls. "That's... grandpa Jake.." Saki sighed. "Bollocks.." she swore.

"That's not how a lass should talk," Ennis spoke from the kitchen area.

Jake hated to do this but he knew that it was past time, he wanted his three cats back and he was bringing Saki and Sarah their surprises.

"Sir," Ennis spoke in the reverence a son might her father when the door opened to his quarters.

"Hey Ennis. I'm here to piss everyone off." Jake responded with a smile. "Why do you call me sir?" he inquired. "I don't let my guys who work for me call me sir... makes me feel old and overly important... I prefer being addressed by name.. but that's me."

"You're my intended's father, Sir. It's only right I respect you as kin," Ennis explained apologetically as he moved aside for Jake to come in.

"Respect is all well and good." Jake responded with a smile. "I know you respect me... and I know how much you love Rachael.. but you don't need to call me sir..." he paused. "I brought them... as you requested... " he placed the two cat carriers down on the floor. "Now we just need to round up Noble team... I know Saki will be angry with me... and I'm okay with that.. "

"We'll probably go pet shopping, when next we make port," Ennis assured before he called the girls. "Saki? Sarah? You two mind coming in here for a minute?"

Saki regarded Sarah before she let out a soft sigh. as she gently picked up Jorge in her other arm as she gently held Emile. "Come on Sarah... lets go.." as she really didn't wanna go. She knew that Dad wasn't saying it for the fun of his health. "You got Siaxx?"

"Your grandpa's here," Ennis smiled at his girls. "He wanted to visit you guys, but also he wanted to collect his cats. He misses them, you see."

Saki looked unhappy as Jake placed the three cat carriers on the table. "Grandpa Jake... this is so unfair."

"I know... " Jake responded. "I brought you something however.." as he placed two small cat carriers on the table. "Your Aunt Elizabeth saw these two... and thought of you two.." as he gently petted Jorge. "You miss me big guy?, I've missed you three.."

"Thank you Mister Jake," Sarah spoke shyly as she went to pet the new kitty.

Jake smiled as he knelt before Sarah. "Its okay... you can call me Grandpa, I don't mind... Rachael considers you her children... Which makes you family in my eyes."

"Awesome!" Sarah pipped joyously before she hugged him. "We like you a lot too, Grandpa."

Jake gently hugged the small child back. "These two are for you... Now Saki... no chasing this one.."

"Sure Grandpa. Treat them gently and feed them well... I did learn something from Phoenix."

"Good. That's all I ask.." Jake smiled as he watched as Saki opened her kitty cage, the cat slowly came out as Saki gently called him over and the cat fled across the room to hide under a table.

Saki watched him go. "It'll be okay kitty.." but she didn't move to chase him. "He'll come around when he's ready. I will still be here.."

Sarah opened the cage for hers as well, only to watch it join it's litter mate under the table. The girl could not help but laugh. "You poor dear," Sarah sighed and sat in the floor to see her pet.

Saki regarded Sarah. "Its because he smells Noble team.." she explained. "He can't see them, but he can smell them.."

Jake regarded Saki with a soft smile. "They'll come around ladies.. But don't worry.. these two are yours.." he responded. "Including giving them names.."

"Thank you Grandpa," Sarah spoke enigmatically.

"Your welcome sweetie." Jake responded before he handed a PADD to Ennis. "Elizabeth put this together for you guys... Savannah's can get to be quite large, about the size of a Norwegian Forest cat... These two have already had all of their shots and everything else. Elizabeth hasn't fixed them yet.. She asked to wait until they go into heat before she'll do that for you." Jake explained. "Or if you wanted kittens from them."
Jake explained as he gently lifted the cats of noble team into their cat carrier boxes.

"This is no way for a cat to travel." Jake sighed softly before he tapped the three combadges then he tapped his own. "Transporter room. The packages are marked. Proceed."

"Confirmed Admiral." and with that the three dematerialized quickly as Jake turned to regard Saki who was still sitting on the floor, motionless as she was trying to call the cats to her with kisses.

"She really enjoys the pets," Ennis laughed, happy to see her bond with the animals.

"Hows she settling in?" Jake indicated Saki who was trying to entice the two cats to come to her, the larger of the two seemed more curious and the other was more hesitant.

"Good. She and Sarah seem to be adjusting very quickly to the fact this is our home," Ennis answered. "Plus, Saki loves knowing I'm here for her."

"Well... While I'm going to be on the starbase for the next several weeks, feel free to hit me up for babysitting duty. I've not been much of a grandfather recently... Having Sarah meet all of Noble team would be interesting for her. She wouldn't need to do anything, just sit there and wait... the cats will go to her."

"I think she'd like that. her other grandparents aren't exactly in babysitting distance," Ennis spoke as an afterthought.

Jake regarded Ennis with an odd look. "I should clarify a couple of things... Away from those two..." he commented softly.

"Of course," Ennis agreed and led Jake into his bedroom.

Jake followed Ennis into the next room. "Rachael actually did talk to Saki's biological father Several months ago... before you two met... and before she ended up in the anomaly." Jake explained. "Saki's father is sixteen years old, he's at the academy and his name is Paul Harrison."

"Wow..." Ennis blinked as he tried to comprehend all the levels of temporal and regular craziness.

Jake paused a moment. "Paul basically told Rachael that he wasn't prepared to be a father to what he called 'her' child and he didn't want to be involved with her after that. So Rachael was stuck... Torilla and I helped out as best we could but thanks to the anomaly. We're getting to know Saki. Her various needs and demands... Same as you are." Jake sighed softly. "She seems to be happy here with you guys... Which.... honestly is a major relief for me."

"I think the best approach is to acknowledge that she is not the child most kids her age are. But at the same time, encourage her to be a kid and reward that behavior," Ennis told Jake with a huge grin. "It seems to be working so far."

Jake regarded his son in law with a smile. "Sounds great." he responded. "She seems happier here with you guys." as he regarded Saki. "Ultimately... Torilla and I are Saki's only grandparents.." he paused. "I don't know about your parents but I'm leaving that alone.... Its not my place."

"If we ever go to Earth, they would very much like to meet her as well," Ennis explained. "Though I hope there would be far more of a child in Saki, at that point."

"Well Saki looks and acts happier, she's calming down and she's more reasonable." Jake responded. "Why don't you take the kids and go back to Earth anyway?" he inquired. "The refits won't be finished for another forty days or so and I think Tranquility can spare you."

"Doctor Olmos wants to do a shakedown for the new XO," Ennis explained. "Probably a small milk run, since Rowling will want to join us to try out their new torpedo launchers."

"Ahh.. Siaxx." Jake responded. "Fair enough... But I don't think Saki has ever seen the ocean."

"I'll take tha lass once we get the time to go to Earth," Ennis promised. "She deserve the best in life, after all."

"Sounds good to me." Yamaguchi responded.