The First Snow of Winter - Part Six

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

Mission: Mission 116: All Along the Watchtowers - Part One
Location: Various Locations - Starbase 12
Timeline: 1750Hrs - December 11th, 2393

April nodded in agreement. "The twins are what they are... They will learn in time and soon. We will all be able to sleep better for it. Besides. Raymond here didn't ask to come here... He's here because of a promise your father made to his dad... That should something happen to his dad, then we would take him in... Well. Something did happen... Now Franklin and I are going to keep our word to our friend. You know about the importance of giving and keeping your word Kimora. I taught you better than that..." The middle-aged human female glared at her middle child.

Torilla nodded If only to sate her mother's anger. "We know mom... But the stress..." she explained. "It gets to be too much... especally when its three or four times a night..." she added.

"I know. Young children are a drain... They are demanding and they are exhausting... Believe me, girls. I feel your pain..." April answered. "I'm the one who gets dragged out of bed to answer their calls to have their diapers changed or a random feeding," she added. "I'm also up at random times for meetings. Something went wrong somewhere and I gotta help answer it or someone three sectors away committed an act of terror because he didn't like doing something on that particular day... I get the call and I gotta go deal with it, right then and there... You guys don't have that issue.."

Raymond regarded Kimora. "Mom's always on-call all the time. Just as it was for dad... He flew starfighters... He loved it."

"Now your here because he isn't..." Kimora answered flatly.

"Yeah," Raymond answered. "At the end of the day... You have her." he indicated April. "I have nobody and you hate me for it." he then suddenly rose to his feet. "I assure you... Kimora... The feeling is more than mutual little girl." There was something in his tone that set Kimora's hairs on the back of her neck, standing on end. Torilla and April both felt it too. "Frankly. I don't want anything to do with you... Little girl."

Kimora stood up before Torilla stepped between them. "There will be no fighting you two." the nine year olds tone brooked no argument. "I mean I. Kimora... He won't need to hit you... I'll do it for him."

"I'm gonna go for a walk... I'll be back later mom."

"Of course," April answered quietly. She then watched him leave. She turned to her daughter. "You... Disappoint me... Kimora..."

"Whatever." Kimora snapped back at her mother. Torilla facepalmed as she knew what was coming.

April had realized that enough was enough, so she proceeded to slap her daughter across the face. "How dare you speak to me like that!." April hissed angrily. "You are fortunate he didn't fucking deck you. I would have... I'd stay out of his way... If I were you..."

Torilla sighed, she didn't wish to be present but she knew if she spoke up then her mother might yell at her too. But she decided to risk it. "Mom. Can I leave now?"

"Yes. go." April regarded Torilla with a nod. Knowing what her daughter wanted and why she wanted it. Torilla needed no further urging as she watched Kimora burst into tears. She fled her mother's wrath and her sisters rage as the two collided with titanic force.

Torilla sighed as she spotted Raymond just heading out the door. Franklin regarded his daughter. "What's wrong sweetie?"

"Mom and Kimora are fighting... Kimora and Raymond hate each other and... I'm stuck in the middle." Torilla explained herself to her father, while she fought off tears herself. "I did nothing wrong and I'm still-" as she indicated the door, where Ramond had departed a moment earlier. She wanted to run after him but her dad was in the way.

Franklin knelt down before his biological child. "Tee... Calm yourself..." as he gently ran his hands over her shoulders, in an effort to soothe her nerves. "Everyone has to go their own way... You and Raymond get along and I know he likes you. You listen to him and you help him with matters, even when he doesn't ask it of you. You were always the studious one... You work through logic, your sister is the emotional one... She is also jealous of you."

"Of me?" Torilla asked. "Why?"

"Because she sees you and Ramond getting along. He helps you with your homework and you help him. You also take interest in his interests... You enjoy getting physical... Hell. I've heard you two sing together... He likes that. You help him fit in... It would be nice if your twin could share the sentiment..." Franklin smiled at his daughter. "Kimora is more of the bookish type... She likes to read and lead... Except she's not good at it."

"Oh," Torilla answered softly. "Where did Raymond go?" she asked.

"He said something about hitting some balls with a bat... If you hurry. You might catch him..." Franklin then looked left and then looked right, as if wanting to reveal a secret. "He also said something about holosuite eight.
This chat never happened, we were never here. Cool?"

Torilla nodded her head. "Yes, dad. I wanna go see if he's alright." the nine-year-old explained.

"Keep in touch honey. I'll let your mother know where you've gone..." and with that. Torilla pulled on a pair of sneakers and fled out the door, after Raymond.