Dangling Threads - Part Two

Posted on Sun Jul 19th, 2020 @ 5:07pm by Division Admiral Talon Yeager & Post Captain Davijaan "Oddball" Yeager

Mission: Mission 109: The Travelers Path
Location: Various Locations - Starbase Vanguard
Timeline: 1905Hrs - September 23rd, 2393

Yeager regarded his wife in silence, he knew the struggles that she dealt with daily and he often helped her hold the line against her demons who were formidable and powerful. "Was she right... That her issue can't be fixed?"

"She blames me for not working things out with Orthos..." Talon sighed.

"But you did, remember... That's how Marie came along..." Yeager reminded his spouse.

"Fuck, I was careless, stupid and arrogant... I kept her because I wanted something from happier times... I thought... I don't know what I was thinking..."

"You still carry a torch for the man." Yeager smiled at his spouse. "Orthos is not a bad guy, I mean... He isn't..." Yeager regarded his spouse as she let out a soft sigh. "You forget that I've known him for years... He spoke of you often, saying you were many things. Stupid and arrogant were never among the terms he used about you." he paused. "But you had his concerns and well-being in mind, even above your own, knowing what he might do to you, in the throes of the blood madness of the plak-tow... Knowing he could have killed you in the process... You still chose to help him."

"I know what you're going to say... " Talon regarded her husband with a sad look in her eyes. "I acted as a model officer and should be looked to as a good example for others."

"No," Yeager answered softly. "You acted as Talon Yeager would have done. The woman I fell in love with and the mother to our children..." he paused. "Honestly, I feel I won in the end and I want to make sure that you did too."

"Davijaan." Talon smiled as she regarded her husband. "I don't think we've ever had a loud argument, ever... Let alone an occasion where you and I got into a fight or we ever got physical... Other than having sex of course..." she paused. "But then we do not need to discuss that here..."

"I like to showcase something other them emotions acting without the benefit of intellect," he explained. "I prefer to remain calm, cool, and collected... Because if I can't be... Then who will?" he asked of her.

Talon regarded her husband with her dark eyes. "Why did you give up your command for me?" it was a question that she had never felt brave enough to ask and the look on her face spoke as much, if she didn't ask then she might not ever ask its question again.

Yeager was many things, but he knew his wife on a visceral level, he knew what made her happy and how to get her there, but he also understood how she thought and how she operated. What she sought was a simple answer and no attitude so he decided to answer her. "Because... I liked being a father more I liked commanding a ship... Oh anyone can command the Miranda-B or any other ship of the line... But... I wanted to be a parent... I enjoyed my time raising Sammy... Oh, she was a challenge at times, but I loved it, issues, and all..." Yeager looked at his wife as he held her gaze with his own as he decided to go all-in with what he was saying to her. "I wish we had met sooner... Then Perea and Othello would be mine by blood... and not just a piece of paper..."

"I know exactly what you mean... and maybe in another universe, we did end up together at the academy and I had Monique and Melody too."

"There is always hope, wife of mine." Yeager smiled as he regarded her.

"Yes, there is... and Othello and Perea and Marie all call you dad anyway," Talon answered. "Because of them, you are their father... Orthello asked me what happened to the evil one who was here before... I confess I chickened out of answering his question."

"The dinner party where Iason broke your nose was a good indicator of why you and Orthos never ended up together..."

"His son was unreasonable," Talon admitted. "When Melody was born. Iason was still mourning his mother and then dad brings home a child who's younger than his youngest and presents me to his kids. Oh, all of them were suddenly uncomfortable with me being the youngest in the room. But many grew to like having me... I wasn't prepared to fight for it though... I was fully prepared to leave Melody with him and never speak of it again... and here I am growling at Leah Deepshadow for doing the same thing to you." Talon sighed as she shook her head. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen, and will my hypocrisy ever know any bounds?"

"You had good reasons for thinking as you did," Yeager answered. "You had not expected to become pregnant with Melody and it was Orthos who talked you into keeping the pregnancy or you'd have aborted." he regarded his spouse.

"I would not have hesitated and he pushed... he then told me he had considerable experience raising children... I was so angry about what had happened... With him for letting it happen to me and for me for letting it happen in the first place... Ultimately, I was angrier with myself than anything else..." Talon explained with a soft sigh. "Melody thought I didn't try hard enough... Iason never gave me a chance, even when Orthos's other children did. Iason made it very plain to all that I was not welcome... So I took the excuse and ran with it... For all the good it did me."

"You are being too hard on yourself, you've had time to look back through the lens of time... Had Daisy not ended up with Orthos, you would have ended up with him in the end anyway... But you ended up with me instead." Yeager paused. "I do not feel right comparing myself to another man..." he admitted.

"I'm not comparing you to anyone, you should either." Talon nodded her head. "I married you because I wanted you, not Orthos and I was not settling for second best..." Talon added quickly.

"But we both come with a fair amount of baggage..." Yeager admitted. "Stuff I still need to work through," he added

Talon nodded her head in agreement. "Let's hope the girls have more luck..."

"Indeed," Yeager admitted.