Counting up, Counting Down

Posted on Fri Mar 13th, 2020 @ 6:36am by Lieutenant JG Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi-Cullen & Saki Yamaguchi-Cullen

Mission: Mission 94: Shattered Shields and Crack'd Swords
Location: Various Locations - USS Dreamcrusher
Timeline: 1900Hrs - July 16th, 2392

Warrant Officer Rachael Yamaguchi who still often answered to her callsign of 'Ripcord' which was hers until she stuck in a request for others to not use it or someone gave her a better callsign. Honestly, Rachael couldn't be bothered as she was presently wearing civilian clothing, in this case, it was a pair of jeans and a light gray blouse while Saki was wearing a pair of jean shorts and a green t-shirt that had no logos or markings on it.

"Mom... you okay?" Saki regarded her mother who looked distracted.

"Mmmm.?" Rachael shifted her attention to Saki but it was clear that the nine-year-old had caught her. "Oh... I was just... thinking."

"Mom, you have been out of sorts since that medical appointment a week ago..." the small child explained. "Don't worry Sarah noticed too. Daniel has also noticed." the small child explained to her mother.

"And there I was, thinking I could tell you when I was ready." Rachael sighed. "Now is as good a time as any.." she responded as the waitress passed by them. "Hey... you guys ready to order.?"

"Yes.. thank you.." Rachael responded. "Go ahead Saki, tell her what you want.."

Saki opened the menu as she tapped the meal she wanted. "Could I get the chicken pot pie with mashed potatoes please?"

"Of course sweetie... Would you like gravy with your potatoes?"

"Yes please?"

"Okay... and what bread for the side?"

Saki paused a moment. "Whole wheat please?" she inquired with a smile.

"Of course..." and she shifted her attention to Rachael. "and for you dear?"

"Can I get the Pasta Linguine please?"

"Of course. What side would you like?"

"Can I get two pieces of garlic toast?" Rachael sounded hopeful.

"Consider it done dear." the waitress smiled. "Your meals will be along soon." and with that, the young woman withdrew as Rachael lifted her glass of soda before taking a sip. "So... Saki...I'm alright, I'm not in any trouble or anything... I'm pregnant...." the older woman decided to come right out with it.

"Pregnant?" Saki inquired as she processed the news. "Whats that?"

"It means that basically, I'm going to have a baby in several months time... Not now.." Rachael explained. "So.. you should have something extra special for Christmas...."

"Why so long?" Saki inquired.

"It takes a lot of energy and time sweetie, to make a child... But come new years you'll have a new baby brother or sister to tend to." Rachael explained. "I was going to tell everyone at dinner... your dad doesn't know yet... and you are not to tell him, young lady.." Rachael explained with a rather serious glare.

"Yes mother," Saki responded with a smile. "Will you be keeping up with your martial arts?"

"I will, at least until the Doc sidelines me... Do you enjoy it Saki?" Rachael decided she had to know.

The nine-year-old nodded her head. "I do, yes," she explained. "I find a certain satisfaction from it. I get to vent my frustrations in good ways, I get to hit things... I mean mom. what's not to like right?"

Rachael smiled warmly at her daughter. "Good... I tried surfing and ended up eating sand ... Ennis makes it look easy."

"It's not bad mom... But you have to be there in the room at the time. you can't be distracted." Saki responded before she sipped her drink.

"That bad hmmm?" Rachael smiled.

"You shouldn't ask, I shouldn't tell," Saki responded with a smile. "I do enjoy surfing... It lets me bond with Dad." the small child added.

"Good," she responded. "I'm glad you have outlets for your energy," Rachael added. "How is school?"

"It's alright. I have no problems... Not since I enrolled in the martial arts. It's like people are afraid of me... I am content to leave it be." the child explained.

"Why is that?" Rachael decided to press for details.

"Because if they don't want anything to do with me then I am content to leave it be... I won't encourage it but.. I won't be nice to those who aren't nice to me."

"Interesting viewpoint," Rachael responded. "Don't encourage the view of why they should fear you.."

"No mom. I've seen other students in my class being picked on and they fought back using their skills, two of the kids went to sick bay thanks to others using their new skills they were taught.."

"You don't?" Rachael responded.

"I have no need to do anything... The teachers are convinced I am a ... Wildchild. I am content to encourage this whenever possible.."

"Be careful Saki. Lest they set you up to fail... But if they do. I will deal with them." as Rachael made a mental note to go and see Saki's teachers to get this sorted out.

"Please don't make problems for me mom.," Saki responded quietly.

"I won't let your teachers manipulate you or screw with you," Rachael responded. "Especially if you behave yourself and I've not heard of anything recently."

"I have been trying mom," Saki explained. "It's trying at times. When people are trying to provoke me."

"That's why you came home with that bruise on your face two days ago?" Rachael responded it was not a question.

"Yep... Someone hit me... I decided to walk away.." she paused. "I got hit in the back for my trouble. It's.. frustrating."

"Walking away was the right thing to do sweetie. It's always risky.."

"I impressed the teacher in the room and the other guy got an hours detention for it," Saki explained. "Still I was the one who ended up hurting and he got nothing.." she paused. "I know what I would like to do, however... but I decided not to as it would serve no purpose."

"See that you don't... Because it will be tempting to use your new skills to hurt people... but remember what you were taught.."

"I use my skills to defend, never to attack.."

"You, however, can and should defend yourself and those around you but be careful Saki... Others will seek to use your skills against you.. and your case is already special enough.."

"Yes mom.." the small child explained while their food arrived. "Mm... Looks great." the nine-year-old commented as the two of them were served their food.

Saki smiled as she inhaled the scent of her food before the two started eating their food.