The First Snow of Winter - Part Four

Posted on Wed Nov 30th, 2022 @ 6:11am by Grand Admiral April Yamaguchi

Mission: Mission 116: All Along the Watchtowers - Part One
Location: Various Locations - Starbase 12
Timeline: 1740Hrs - December 11th, 2393

Raymond heard the sounds of a child being herded towards the final destination. The child did not sound happy and neither did her mother as he let out a sigh. He suddenly realized what was coming as he backed up his work when suddenly Kimora came through the door and April followed. "Oh. Funny mom. This is about him and not me..." the nine-year-old protested.

"No," April answered bluntly. "This is about you. I wanted him to hear this simply because you made your private dispute into a public spectacle young lady." April glared angrily at her child. "Even Haiyan at her worst behaves better than you..."

Kimora glared right back at her mother. "Oh... Next, you'll be telling me that Torilla gets straight A's while I struggle for it."

April sighed softly. "Kimora... Sit your ass down," she growled in a tone that brooked no space for argument. "Now!" April barked in a tone that indicated she wished for total and complete obedience from her angry and malcontent child. Kimora was unused to being addressed in such a fashion. She sat down on the floor.

April paused as she mentally fought to calm herself. "Now... What is your issue with Raymond here?"

"He's not part of this family," Kimora answered. "No offence."

"I take great offence," Raymond answered with a soft growl. "You are not the head of this house young lady," he added.

"Indeed. I am." April then suddenly grinned. "Under normal circumstances. I would have you two switch places for a week... In fact, I would consider making it a month... Really teach you some manners... Which you desperately need young lady." April glared angrily at her child who only glared back at her mother. "But there is just one problem."

"One?" Kimora asked. "Are you quite sure of that mom...?" as Kimora clearly thought there were a lot more issues to be resolved.

"Oh yes. I am quite sure of my count young lady... For you see... You would still be here..." April commented. "Raymond is part of this family because of a promise that Franklin made to an old friend of ours... A promise I supported then and still support now," she commented. "Hopefully the paperwork to make it official will go through soon," April added with a sudden grin on her face. "Since you desire the paper to go with the claim Kimora. You will soon have your wish."

Raymond smiled. This had been something he had wanted for almost a year now. He and April had discussed the matter of formal adoption for a while now. April and Franklin had gone over the paperwork and had gone to see JAG on the matter. Now it was just waiting for the paperwork to process and making things official. Raymond Durden would become either Raymond Yamaguchi or Raymond Durden-Yamaguchi. The final choice was his and it was his alone. To be decided later.

"That's not funny mom." Kimora protested.

"Maybe we should ask Torilla how she feels about all of this." Raymond suddenly interjected himself back into the argument between mother and child.

"Very good." April was clearly in full agreenment. The Grand Admiral then rose to her feet before she went over to the door. "Torilla?" she called. "Honey, could you come in here, please?. We're presently discussing you and you should be here to defend yourself."

The second nine-year-old child regarded her mother with an odd look on her face. "Okay," she answered simply. Before she went over to her mother and she found herself dealing with Raymond and her twin. She looked to her mother with a confused look on her face. "What's going on?" she inquired bluntly.

"Well Kimora doesn't like having Raymond around and Raymond wondered how you felt on the matter?" April commented.

Torilla went over to Raymond. "I don't get it," she said to him before she climbed onto the chair next to him. "Raymond helps me with my homework often. He doesn't cause me issues... Other than when he wants me to do housework... putting used dinner plates back into the replicator." she then shrugged her shoulders as if to say that she didn't care. "Raymond is not a difficult taskmaster." as she gently placed her right hand on his left knee.

"That's not what you said last night." Kimora spat at her twin.

Torilla sighed as she facepalmed. She quickly realized what was going on here. "What I said..." she growled back at her twin was that I hate being rushed by other people. I'm cleaning the kitchen so let me finish cleaning the kitchen... " she turned to Raymond. "You have done that to me from time to time."

"Okay. I will keep an eye on that going forward." Raymond answered. "But if you're busy then tell me okay?. It's so I don't start handing out other stuff to do okay?" he paused. "I want everyone to do their fair share..."

"Okay. cool." Torilla answered. "Now that thats sorted out... I am happy." the nine year old exclaimed