Lost in Thought - Part Two

Posted on Mon Mar 2nd, 2020 @ 6:12pm by Commander Ennis Cullen & Saki Yamaguchi-Cullen
Edited on on Thu May 27th, 2021 @ 3:33am

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

Saki Yamaguchi regarded Ennis Cullen as he was writing a report or was it a letter. "Hey Dad... you okay?" the eight year old asked him quietly as she placed a cup of hot chocolate within reach of him while she removed the old one which was empty. "I miss mom.." the child admitted but it was more a statement of fact rather then her getting upset.

"I'll be fine," Ennis insisted as he sat his letter down. Then pulled Saki up into his lap. "I miss your mom as well. Still... I don't think she'd want us to mope about it, would she?"

"Whee!" Saki smiled as she felt herself being picked up. "Well ummm no." the child responded. "Sarah talks about her mom sometimes.... Tell me about her?" she inquired.

"Olivia?" Ennis asked with small surprise in his voice. "Well... She was adventurous. Never afraid to try anything. A rather fearless lass, much like yourself. An' she had this laugh that was so distinctive - like she would die any moment, it was so hard and high-pitched."

Saki regarded the man she called father as she sat on his knee. "I wish..." she paused as the eight year old sighed. "Sarah misses her... I think she resents mom on some level for intruding.." she looked down as if confessing some deep dark secret. "Are there any records of Olivia?" Saki inquired.

"Oh yeah. I've a lot of holo recordings of her mom an' I as children and teens hanging out," Ennis confirmed. "But Sarah knows your mom isn't replacing Olivia. She just misses her mom, and that is fine. I miss her too around the holidays."

Saki looked at him. "I'm sorry.." she admitted. "I thought..." she paused.

"You thought I was cheating on your mom," Ennis half-smiled. "I'll never hurt her. I hope you know that."

"I... had that thought." Saki admitted. "Some regard it differently... I should know.." Saki regarded Ennis. "I have seen it done.. its different." as she suddenly grinned, yet she remained sitting on his knee.

"Promise me you'll talk to me and your mom before you decide to mimic that," Ennis asked with concern.

"Its a funny kind of wrestling though." Saki responded. "I don't get it... so before I try it.. I'll talk to you and mom first."

"I love you Saki," Ennis said before he hugged her wholeheartedly. "You're as much my girl as Sarah is."

Saki hugged him back. "Thanks Dad... I know you're not mine biologically." the small girl explained. "I wish you could have been..."

"Blood never matters. We make our own families," Ennis explained to Saki. "Sarah loves the idea of you as her sister as well."

"Having you guys around is great.." Saki responded with a smile. "Sarah lets me be myself... where most can't stand me or are afraid of me... the new cats are settling in well.. they have taken over my bed as their own." Saki explained as she grinned at him.

"As long as you take care of your pets, I don't mind them in your bed," Ennis smiled at his eldest girl.

Saki nodded. "We did okay with Noble team... I miss Jorge.." she admitted. "But these two seem to gravitate to me over Sarah.. which I'm NOT encouraging."

"At least we get to take care of them," Sarah smiled and pet her kitty.

"Remember that they are not toys. They are living creatures you need to respect," Ennis told them very encouragingly.

Saki regarded the second one who had gravitated to her. "Sandstorm will come around in time.... He needs to figure out the ground rules." as the second cat meowed at them softly from under Ennis's desk. "I'm not going to chase you kitty... " Saki said to the cat as he peered at her. Saki hopped off of Ennis's knee before she knelt down, then she tried calling the cat over with kisses.

Sandstorm regarded her but he didn't move, neither did Saki. "It'll be okay kitty..."

"Best way to win their loyalty, is to feed them," Ennis explained as he pulled out a treat bag.

The cat under the table meowed as Saki regarded Ennis. "May I?" she asked gently. "I want him to be comfortable around me.."

"Yes... Only you just sit and hold the treat out. Sandstorm will come out when he's ready," Ennis spoke patiently.

Sandstorm regarded Saki with his large eyes before he slowly came out. "Its okay Kitty, I mean you no harm..."

"Doing good. Now, just be patient," Ennis encouraged.

The cat seemed almost hesitant as he came out slowly, he approached Saki who to her credit remained motionless as she gently fed him. "Here you go." she said it softly but she kept her hands where he could see them and she moved rather slowly.

"Once they trust you, they'll be your friends for life," Ennis explained with a huge grin.

Saki produced another treat as the cat sat before her before she gently fed him. "It'll be okay kitty..." she said softly as the cat reached for the treat with his claws. "Oh no kitty... come on now.." Saki said as she gently fed the kitty before he started purring at her. "See... its gonna be alright."

"Very good," Ennis spoke happily.

Saki was careful before she gently ran her fingers through the cats fur. "See... I mean you no harm Sandstorm." as the cat blinked at her before she fed him a third treat. "I heard you guys like fish... don't worry. We will take care of you."

"I'll let you at it," Ennis spoke encouragingly.

Saki regarded her cat as she gently petted him as the cat seemed leery about her. "It'll be okay... you can smell Noble team.. But its only us.." as she gently fed the kitty another treat.

It wasn't long before Sandstorm began to feel comfortable around Saki as she was gentle with him, she gently ran her fingers behind the back of his ears. "See Sandstorm. Its okay.." she made sure to be slow and gentle.

"Let's get these little guys settled, and then you can tell Mom all about them once she gets home," Ennis smiled to the girls.

Saki gently petted Sandstorm. "It'll be okay." before she turned to her older sibling. "I remember mom telling me how this was to be done." she explained. "We're going to need to replicate a few things.." as she went over to Sarah. "Lets leave these two to get comfy... "

"Yeah," Sarah agreed with a happy head bob.

Saki smiled at her new older sibling. "They'll need at least one kitty litter box... maybe two... where to put them?" she paused.

"Bathroom?" Sarah suggested. "That's where you go when you gotta go."

"Works for me." Saki responded. "Shall we go replicate what they need?" she asked the older child.

"Sure," Sarah agreed as she went excitedly to the replicator to get their needs.