Drama and Regrets - Part Ten

Posted on Fri Sep 30th, 2022 @ 5:15am by Commander Ennis Cullen & Lieutenant JG Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi-Cullen & Post Captain Tirion Fordring

Mission: Mission 108: Grains of Sand
Location: Various Locations - USS Heart of the Tiger / Starbase Vanguard
Timeline: 1230Hrs - December 3rd, 2393

Rachael Yamaguchi-Cullen entered the Starbase engineering spaces. She went over to the master system display and she found herself being distracted but the sight of it. Suddenly she had a familiar voice addressing her. "Rachael Yamaguchi-Cullen. Well well. This is a surprise." Captain Tirion Fordring approached her.

Yamaguchi-Cullen grinned as she looked up at the behemoth as he approached her. "Captain. It's been a long time."

"Indeed it has. I am told you are here to visit me.?" Fordring commented. "Let's go into my office as I would have words with you," he commented. Moments later the two were in his office. He indicated a chair. "Take a seat dear. Tell me why you are here. Is it for spare parts or something?"

"No." Yamaguchi-Cullen produced the PADD with her orders on it. "I'm here to work for you, wearing orange rather than blue."

"Ahh." Fordring commented softly. He accepted her PADD with his hand before he gave it the once over. Then he placed it onto the table before him. "I see. So they removed you from your assignment because you would not be parted from your children?." he asked of her.

"Yep," Yamaguchi-Cullen answered. "I was done with being an absent mother," she explained. "I would raise my children and my husband saw things my way so he's here too."

"Good. Any man who's willing to leave his wife over the raising over their children isn't a man." Fordring smiled warmly at the small female before him. "You were to have a week off. So you will still have that week off, take some time and settle in. Get to know the Starbase. Because this is a busy place." Fordring explained. "Also. A personal request. Could I call on you for babysitting duties?" he asked.

"Of course. Wait you and Galiaan have had children recently?" Yamaguchi-Cullen asked, she grinned. "Good. Family is meant to be cherished."

"Galiaan has been through some tough times recently, mostly fallout from what happened to your sibling. It's been a real fight to help her through it." Fordring sighed. "I hate to impose. I apologize."

"You're not imposing on me. It's what friends do. Leave your babies with me. You look after your wife." Yamaguchi-Cullen grinned. "I got your back, just like last time."

Fordring smiled at her. "You have no idea how happy I am that you're here. But go make nice with your sister. Would ya?" he commented.

"Willdo," Yamaguchi-Cullen answered. "So I start in a week then?" she asked.

Fordring nodded. "Yeah. I'll assign you to Alpha watch so you have some time to settle in. I will put you in the administration section for now. So you can learn how engineering is administered. If you do well. It'll help you with future promotions and maybe your own Chief Engineer slot someday." he explained.

"Thank you, sir." Yamaguchi-Cullen regarded him with a gentle smile. "When you see Galiaan. Tell her I send my regards."

"I will, indeed," Fordring answered. He smiled. "Do you have any questions?. Before I end this meeting. I suspect we both have things to do." he added.

"Nope," Yamaguchi-Cullen answered. He rose to his feet as she did likewise. She then turned and departed. Her next stop was home.

Meanwhile. Ennis Cullen was back aboard the USS Heart of the Tiger and he was here to collect the twins. He had brought a stroller with him for this effort. He had collected them first and now he was off to collect Daniel Cullen. His nine-year-old son.

Cullen reached his destination before he knocked on the classroom door. The teacher answered before she stepped outside rather than have him enter. "Doctor. What can I do for you?" Slater asked. This might be formal but then, it might not be.

"Is Daniel present?" Cullen asked.

"He is. yes." Slater answered. "He came back from the holosuite outing about thirty minutes ago. He asked me about Sarah and Saki not being around. I then told him you would be back for him." Slater answered.

"Thank you, Heather. I appreciate all of your efforts on my behalf." Cullen answered. A gentle smile on his lips.

"You're children were always well behaved. Even if I did not understand Saki;'s thought processes at times." Slater explained.

"I will collect him for you." With that, she withdrew into her class. "Everyone. Can I have your attention please?" Slater had given out this speech over three dozen times now and she had her own rendition of the goodbye speech. "Could Daniel Cullen come to the front of the class, please? Gather your things son, your father is outside. He has been reassigned to the Starbase." Slater commented.

Daniel paused before he began packing away his things without protest or comment. He turned to his last few remaining classmates as he made his various farewells.

Slater knew that this was always a traumatic time for children. "You will see each other again children," she commented as she gently gave Daniel a hug after he came to the front. His bag was packed and he was clearly eager to go. "Thanks, Ms Slater. For everything." Cullen said to the teacher.

"Thank you, Mr Cullen. For being one of my best students in this difficult time." Slater answered softly. She gently guided the young man to the classroom door and out the door. Daniel went, into the embrace of his father. Daniel hugged his father before he let him go. "So. It's today then?" he asked of his father.

"Yes, son. It is. Sarah and Saki are waiting for us, as is your mother." he explained. "We moved everyone in groups as it would have been overwhelming to move all of you together," Cullen explained to his son. "I wanted to move you and the twins separate from the girls," he added. "Next stop is Vanguards hospital. You and the twins will get checked over." Cullen paused as he led his son out the door and down the hall. The stroller in hand. "The girls, your mom and I have already been done. It's your turn now. You and the twins are all that remains."

"Yes, dad," Daniel answered. "Let's do this." the nine-year-old added with a smile.