Truth and Reconciliation

Posted on Fri Mar 13th, 2020 @ 6:11am by 1st Lieutenant Selendis "Ratchet" Yamaguchi & 1st Lieutenant Atin Temetti

Mission: Mission 94: Shattered Shields and Crack'd Swords
Location: Various Locations - USS Lancaster
Timeline: 0800Hrs - July 13th, 2392

Lieutenant Selendis Yamaguchi gently tugged on her boots, one at a time as the moderately built female got up from the chair she had been sitting on. "Alright, gotta go check in and see what they need of me today." the young woman commented. "Why aren't you in uniform Atin?" Yamaguchi inquired of her boyfriend.

Atin Temetti had asked himself that question several times over the last hour or so, he was wearing a pair of track pants and a simple shirt as he regarded her with a puzzled look. "You are in uniform," he said as if stating the obvious. "Why are you in uniform?" he inquired while he peered at her, in truth, he knew why but he didn't want to mention it.

"Well, I got work today," Yamaguchi answered with a pause. "Don't tell me I forgot something," she added.

"We are on leave Selendis," Temetti explained as if talking to someone who was missing something that was obvious to him.

"Was that today, I thought it was tomorrow," Yamaguchi admitted as she let the second boot fall back to the ground while she straightened up. Clearly, she knew and she had not forgotten.

"No. Today," Temetti explained. "You ever think that maybe you worry too much?, the world won't end in the next ten minutes and you don't need to wear that all the time you know, I won't inspect your boots or get into your personal space." the half Klingon male explained. "Besides, help yourself to some breakfast." Atin indicated the two platefuls of food nearby. "I cooked this morning while you slept, you sleep like a rock."

"I was not considering things," Yamaguchi admitted as the young woman let out a soft sigh, while she slipped off her boots again and then her jacket. "I gotta change." the tall female grabbed her jacket before she went back into the bedroom the two of them shared.

Temetti smiled as he turned back to the food on his plate, he lifted a french fry and he tossed it into his mouth. "Terran food really isn't too bad," he said to himself while he settled in to wait for Selendis. "Still nothing beats Andorian or Bajoran."

Meanwhile, Selendis was changing out of her clothing, she draped the jacket over the back of a chair that was sitting at the foot of the bed where she normally kept her uniform. She then slipped off her undershirt and then it was the pants before she changed into a pair of black jeans with a light grey shirt, a pair of white socks completed the look. She went out into the main living area a moment later.

Temetti regarded her as a smile graced his lips. "Much better Selendis," he commented as she sat down across from him. "I think I have a problem," Yamaguchi responded.

Temetti frowned as he regarded her. "Whats wrong?"

Yamaguchi regarded her boyfriend. "I should be happy that Aunt Torilla is alive. Yet I feel nothing, I felt nothing when she died and I felt nothing when I was told she had been revived and now I still don't feel anything." Yamaguchi explained. "I know I should feel something considering she is identical to my mother in every respect but. I just feel.. Nothing." the slender female sighed softly. "I don't know what to do about it," she added, almost as if she was asking for help.

"I can understand," Temetti responded, the response was a surprise to her as she had been expecting him to either get angry about the matter with her or dismissive of her, citing that it was irrelevant or unimportant at the present time. "I mean you did say you'd been through a lot in your reality or origin and that could have numbed you to loss and pain." Temetti paused. "I mean if one subjects the mind and body to pain long enough, eventually one becomes numb to it," Temetti explained evenly. "They don't want to think about it or to feel it."

Selendis regarded him. "Are you sure that you are meant to be a marine and not a therapist?" she inquired. "I wouldn't complain if you went to become a counselor, you are better then most I've seen." she paused as she realized that he was right about her on more then one level.

Temetti regarded her, a gentle smile gracing his lips as he felt his cheeks warm at her compliment. "I am quite sure. Mom was a scientist and Dad is intelligence," he explained, his smile widening. "Both felt I needed to find my own way in life."

"Ahh. I'm supposed to be meeting them at some point," Selendis paused. "I don't know if I'm ready for this.." she admitted. "Is there anything I ought to know?"

"You will, tonight we're going over to the USS Infinity for dinner, she's tied up here at Starbase 12, much as we are," Temetti explained. "You'll meet mom, dad, and my siblings. Don't worry so much, it'll be fine."
Temetti responded as he regarded her. "Besides, they'll love you." Temetti sounded really sure of himself.

"We will see," Yamaguchi responded, clearly unconvinced but what he was saying. "But I think that's part of a larger problem." Yamaguchi sighed softly. "I tend to avoid feeling strong emotions," she admitted.

Temetti regarded her. "You could still be adjusting to this new reality. Didn't you tell me that you were being ignored by everyone except your mother and siblings at one point?" he inquired. "You've been through a lot in a short space of time." was what he said but what he left unsaid was 'You are an abuse victim and its manifested differently.' he thought to himself rather than say aloud.

"I don't remember honestly.." Yamaguchi responded in a hesitant tone of voice. "You sure you were meant to be a marine... Because I really think you'd make a good therapist.?"

"I do moonlight as a therapist. Yours." Temetti responded. "Be it physical care, mental care or spiritual care. I can handle whatever you need that day." Temetti regarded her with a grin. "You aren't what I would call overly demanding." he paused. "Most of the time anyway," he added the last as an inside joke before he grinned at her.

"Most of the time?" Selendis inquired, as she arched an eyebrow while she regarded him with a questioning look.

Temetti paused as he poured himself a glass of water before he took a sip. "Well let's see." as he indicated the other chair next to his, indicating that she was to sit down. "You enjoy your work to the point that I would call you a workaholic," he explained. "That can also be explained away as family tended to ignore you, except for your sisters and mother. All are refugees from that other reality." Temetti explained. "You feel you owe something? or you have to prove your worth.?" he regarded her with a careful eye as he knew he was walking over thin ice with heavy boots on, he could hear the ice cracking in his mind's eye so he decided to back off. "Today was a classic example, you don't forget dates Selendis, you knew we were on leave today but you are so comfortable wearing your uniform that you can't let it go." he paused. "You can't switch off and that's the main issue here. But there are a few other issues too."

Yamaguchi paused. "I don't feel comfortable wearing anything other than black and marine green." she paused. "I just prefer the uniform."

"You don't feel comfortable outside of the uniform Selendis because you like it but honestly, its a prison," Temetti responded. "But if the clothing doesn't suit you then we need to find you some new clothing." he indicated the replicator. "Getting new clothing is easy enough."

Yamaguchi raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Yes. We have millions of different styles and colors to pick from." Temetti explained with a smile. "So, shall we?" he then lifted his glass to his lips before he downed the entire contents of the glass. "Let's see what you have in terms of clothing first." he rose to his feet except she remained seated. "You sure this is a good idea.?" Yamaguichi inquired.

"What I think Selendis, is unimportant. Its what you think. Personally, I think jeans look better on you then uniform pants. Especially the washed out look but that's me." he paused. "Jeans makes any woman look hot, it conforms to the shape of her figure and could that be what you are afraid of?" Temetti explained before asking the question.

"What do you mean?" Yamaguchi inquired, she wanted more details.

"You don't want to be seen as sexy, Selendis. You want to be left alone because of what you endured in your home reality." He decided to skip the preamble and move in for the kill.

Selendis looked somewhat unsettled at that statement as he was right again, he was landing shots with his comments and hitting a lot of her targets. "Atin, I'm still coming to terms with whats in this reality. I want to make my home here, with you but." the young woman sighed while she stopped.

"But you don't think it'll last," Temetti responded as he regarded her.

"No." she answered softly. "I know the Empire, I'm scared... I'm scared they'll come for me and mom and my sisters." Yamaguchi paused as she wiped at her eyes, her fingers coming away wet with unshed tears. "I hide in my work... because.. of them."

Temetti moved over to her in silence before he gently kissed her on her lips. "They can try but they will not succeed," he responded. "If they want you, then they will need to go through me and my kin first."

Yamaguchi smiled as she barked out a sudden laugh. "I had no idea you were such a romantic."

"You'd be suprised Selendis. So what do you say we decide what we're doing for today before we go to dinner with my family tonight. I mean what could go wrong?" he then suddenly grinned at her.

Selendis gave her boyfriend a look before she let out a soft sigh. "Alright, well lets see." she paused before she smiled.