Not All Who Wander are Lost

Posted on Thu Mar 5th, 2020 @ 4:12am by Commander Ennis Cullen & Lieutenant JG Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi-Cullen & Saki Yamaguchi-Cullen

Mission: Mission 57: The Northern Lights
Location: Various Locations - USS Tranquility
Timeline: 1900Hrs - January 13th - 2392

Warrant Officer Rachael Yamaguchi who's better known to some these days as 'FNG22' or 'Ripcord' was seated on her bed, wearing a pair of shorts and a tank top, she had just stripped out of her old uniform which she removed her rank pip and combadge from before she tossed it all into the recycler, undershirt and underwear and all. She hated her job now which was something she herself had never expected but she knew why.

Rachael then showered and changed, now she felt human again or as one got to be in this world which she now hated, she thought back over the days events of being grounded permanently or at least until she could get things sorted out, she responded with requesting a transfer out of starfighter command permanently.

She heard her daughter asking her through the bedroom door if she was alright. Rachael sighed. "I'm okay Saki... go on... I'll be out in a minute."

"Okay." Saki then reached down as the nine year old child scooped up Sandstorm, while she petted him and kissed him she moved into the main living area.

Rachael remained sitting there when she regarded her bedroom door as it opened and in came Ennis.

"Hey," he smiled, pat the bed, and put his book down. "How was your day?"

Rachael sighed softly. "I got grounded." she responded. "So... I dropped my transfer request.." she added in a quiet tone. "So... Until I get that sorted out, I am now useless to anyone not in this family."

"I think what you should do is use this time to really ponder what you want to do in life," Ennis suggested easily as he hugged his wife. "You're still young enough to course correct, if flying no longer makes you fell whole."

Rachael felt numb. "All I ever wanted to do... was fly... then I got stuck inside that anomaly... and now I'm lost... I've been lost since I came back... Trying to do something I could never have.." she paused. "I don't want to do medical or anything medical related... thats Elizabeth's craft and she's worked for it... No... I want something else."

"You don't need to figure that out now," Ennis assured. "And I will never think poorly if you ignore the medical craft."

Rachael regarded Ennis. "We have enough Doctors in our house." she responded. "I'd rather fly starships or be in an Engine room somewhere." she paused. "I can't even apply for a commission.." she added. "I'm stuck... Grounded..."

"So you'll spend a few years a warrant in a job you're good at. Then we'll get you officer bars - assuming you have a fairly clean record," Ennis winked.

Rachael chuckled softly. "Clean... Considering what I do to you on a nightly basis... My thoughts are anything but pure."

"Yeah... well... not everything should go in your military jacket," Ennis winked, then kissed Rachael on the forehead. "We're gonna be fine though."

"I need to decide just.... What... I want to do in life." Rachael answered simply. "and I need to deal with Phoenix. She doesn't like it when people do this sort of thing."

"I think you're reading her wrong, Lass." Ennis continued to cuddle and caress her. "She's a mother... sorta. So she'd understand."

Rachael regarded Ennis. "What about Engineering?" she paused. "I can always go back to school for it..." she paused. "There is the on the job training... I'll do that instead of heading back to school.... Lets face it.. why am I going back to school when they have the on the job training courses aboard ship...."

"I wanna say yes... But not right now," Ennis told her lovingly. "Just think. Let it really sink on for a week or so. If it still feels like a good fit, then I'll support it. I just don't want you to jump into it too quickly, aye?"

Rachael regarded her husband, she nodded. "Alright... I'll sleep on it... and spend time planetside with Saki.." she explained.

"Yeah... you should have a lot of fun there," Ennis spoke happily. "Saki needs time with you right now. Not that she doesn't like me, but I'm not her mom."

Rachael smiled through she still looked miserable. "All I ever trained for... was flying... and now thats no longer an option.." she let out a sigh. "Now I need to find something... Engineering is a good alternative."

Ennis hugged her tightly. "I once wanted to be an engineer.... decided mid-semester freshmen year it wasn't for me. My priorities shift."

Rachael regarded him. "I can take education classes here so I don't need to leave you, Saki or Sarah or Daniel."

"You have me to help you study," Ennis promised as he leaned in and kissed her cheek.

"Thank you." Rachael smiled softly as she looked at him. "Engineering should be different.."