The Songs of Summer - Part Four

Posted on Fri Mar 13th, 2020 @ 6:38pm by Lieutenant Melody McKnight-Yamaguchi & Department Master Chief Petty Officer Stephen "Orthos" McKnight & Major Daisy Rohr-McKnight
Edited on on Fri Mar 13th, 2020 @ 6:43pm

Mission: Mission 94: Shattered Shields and Crack'd Swords
Location: Various Locations - Starbase 12
Timeline: 1900Hrs - July 27th, 2392

"Me." Melody sounded surprised. "How so?" the younger female inquired further.

"Your mother thinks you hate her," Orthos answered in a flat tone of voice.

"Hate is too strong a word, she is my mother."

"But you dislike her." Orthos regarded Melody with a knowing smile. "I know you better than that Melody."

"I dislike the fact that she keeps making stupid mistakes in life which she does with alarming frequency. She rushes in and does something so asininely stupid that it's just breathtaking in watching her do it. Getting involved with Jerome Hunt was the classic example."

"Melody, when people choose to bond with others it is an emotional decision and not a logical one. Your mother wasn't the first person to get entangled in a toxic relationship. She certainly won't be the last. Don't hold that against her." Daisy advised Melody.

Melody regarded Daisy as she listed to what the other woman had to say. "You're right," she responded. "Its colored my perception on life, watching what she went through with this loser, and now she seems to have settled down happily with someone else." she paused. "I mean Yeager looks like a great guy and god knows my younger siblings can't shut up about how great he is.."

"But you don't think so?" Orthos responded in a gentle tone. "Melody, have you met the man?"

Melody shook her head. "After what happened with Hunt." she let out a soft breathe. "I almost think my judgment has become clouded."

"At least I don't have to tell you any of this," Orthos responded as he pulled the eggs off of the stove and slid them onto a plate before he cracked two more and poured them into the hot pan. "Melody. Mind a little advice? from a guy who's in an odd relationship?"

"Whats that?" Melody inquired.

"Let's take Daisy here," Orthos commented. "Do you judge her by her relationship with me? or by her own merits?" Orthos inquired.

"I'm not sure." Melody tried to evade the question as Orthos simply grinned at her. "I guess by her own merits," Melody added a moment later.

"Why?" Orthos asked, clearly not letting her off the hook just yet. "Melody, did you ever consider that you are being unfair to Yeager, judging him by what Hunt did.?"

Melody sighed softly. "I hated him for what he did to mom and Noel."

"I can understand that," Orthos responded. "But I recommend you go and meet this guy before your opinion hardens into something that can't be changed," Orthos explained. "Besides, do you think that Daisy and I don't have our issues?. Of course, we do, but we work on them as a family should. There are things I do that drive Daisy here completely insane and vice versa but we work on it. Your mom and Yeager are doing the same." Orthos explained.

"That's true. As a matter of fact, the reason your father and I meet was the result of a dispute." Daisy told melody.

Orthos smiled at the memory. "Yes, one of your marines was giving me a hard time. Jenkins I think was his name." he paused. "Then you gave him the fright of his life when you demanded he apologize to me." Orthos smiled at the half Klingon female who was much younger then he, himself was.

Melody regarded her father in silence. "I take it, that your relationship was a slow and gradual thing?"

"Yes, it was," Orthos responded. "I was in no desire to rush anything and neither was Daisy. When you meet Mister right Melody, you'll know soon enough." he smiled. "Then there was that weekend getaway we had together. I wasn't sure what prompted the manager to sort it out, you get upset or me losing my temper."

Melody raised an eyebrow. "Lovely."

"The point is Melody that these take time and are not always black and white," Daisy told her. "Nobody ever lives happily ever after."

Melody sighed softly. "I can only fight one battle at a time. I'm not interested in a relationship at the present, no until I get my issues sorted out."

"At least you can admit that you have issues that you need help with," Orthos responded. "Should you need advice or someone to set you right, call us." he indicated Daisy. "She's the nice one in this household," he added. "I think.." he added a moment later.

"Well...yes I am." Daisy smiled at Orthos. "You're the more rational one."

Melody raised an eyebrow as she regarded her father. "Let me finish these eggs," she commented. "You go handle the drinks," she commented as she gently flipped the eggs, showing she had an experienced hand, the eggs sizzled loudly as Melody watched them.

Orthos went over to the replicator and ordered the drinks for dinner before he brought them back to the table.

"I see you inherited your father's culinary grace?" Daisy asked.

"I did, Dad taught me that being able to cook my own food." Melody explained evenly. "Besides." she proceeded to sprinkle some salts and spices over the eggs. "Mmmm." as she had a wide smile on her lips.

"It is good you know how to cook your own food. You don't need to depend on others." Daisy explained.

"Not to mention that it gives you a creative outlet. mine is breakfast." Orthos explained.

"I much prefer deserts myself, nothing helps my mood better than something sweet." Melody explained. "Preferably also if its light," she added. "Simple fare is best but your mileage may vary."

"So you did keep going with it?" Orthos inquired.

"I did, considering you taught all your other children to cook to Dad." Melody smiled as she reminded him. "I hope Edward and your new little one are prepared to learn, Dad'll have them in the kitchen as soon as they are prepared."

"I think I've already seen your father have Edward break eggs into a skillet," Daisy replied and gave Orthos a wink.

Orthos nodded. "You did. He needed help with it but he did alright for his first time," he responded.

Melody regarded Daisy with a soft smile before she turned her attention back to her food, she began singing a soft tune as she worked with the food before her.