The Mobius Loop - Part Eleven

Posted on Wed May 28th, 2025 @ 12:49am by Fleet Captain Torilla Yamaguchi

Mission: Mission 121: The Mobius Loop
Location: Various Locations - USS Grey Wolf
Timeline: 1020Hrs - February 4th, 2394

Standing on the bridge of her ship. The USS Grey Wolf. Torilla was eager to hear from the team of scientists on a solution. She knew that Rachael would be as well. In a way, she felt helpless now. Her expertise was in command and tactical, and this scientific crisis was way outside of her wheelhouse. But she knew better than to nag her people about matters. They knew their jobs, and their assignments and they would deliver when they could.

Torilla's thoughts drifted back to her conversations throughout the day with both of her parents from the past, her great-grandson and his wife and also her greatest enemy. As upsetting as those conversations could be, they were still a blessing...and an unexpected gift. Looking at it that way brought a sense of peace to Torilla. A sense of peace she had never known or felt before.

Torilla didn't say anything. She nodded to her first officer. Tienn Kerris as she entered the turbolift. A few moments later she entered her quarters. He removed the combadge and rank insignia from her uniform. Then she stripped off her uniform and all of her clothing. She took a long hot shower, preferring the water verity over a sonic one. After, Torilla tended to her grooming. Before she wrapped a towel around her while she walked into the bedroom.

Torilla laid back on the bed with her hands behind her head for a bit. She glanced over to the corner of the room and admired the Christmas tree there... Then Torilla suddenly realized she never put the tree up this year. That one was Jake's that he would always put up when November arrived on Earth and it would stay up til January 6th. Regardless of what was actually going on. Torilla slowly sat up and stared at it for a few moments. She examined the lights and ornaments, then her eyes found a single gift wrapped under the tree. Next to it were two Christmas cards.

Torilla stood and walked a few feet over to the tree. She picked up the box, as well as the two cards, looking them over almost suspiciously. After a moment. Torilla walked back to the bed and set the box down while she opened the card. One was from Jake, her husband while the second was from her parents. It was an old Earth-style Christmas card wishing for a wonderful holiday season and a new year.

Torilla felt the emotions finaly overwhelm her as she let her head fall back as began to weep. Today had been emotionally draining as she had run into both parents and her great-grandson with his spouse. All three encounters had drained her.

Torilla had been so exhausted when she came in with her head down that she hadn't even realized the decorations were up. Torilla had simply retreated into the bedroom, while she had stripped off her clothing so she could take a long hot shower. After taking a few moments to calm herself, she picked up the letter and began to read it.

The letter was from both of her parents who had been long dead by the time of today's date. Torilla had euthanized and then tended to their final matters upon their passing. The words contained within expressed how proud and happy her parents were with knowing they had a small army of relatives, and that Torilla had succeeded. They also said how much they loved her. Torilla could feel a tear roll down her cheek. After a moment she picked up the box and unwrapped it.

Inside was an old-style photo album filled with pictures of the Yamaguchi family from Jake and Torilla's wedding up until the week before her departure for this assignment. Along with it were some personal things Jake had kept aboard the USS Courageous. Effects that had been lost over the years, that he had wanted Torilla to keep. With them was his mother's golden wedding ring with a note that said 'When Gideon finds that special lady...'. At the bottom was a small gift just for Torilla herself.

After a few moments of collecting his thoughts and emotions, Torilla settled down, and she put everything from the gift box in its proper place. She allowed a small to cross her lips, then turned around to get out of the towel and dressed in a clean uniform.

Torilla came to a stop a few feet from where she had started as she wanted to enjoy this moment. Just her and the Christmas tree. It wasn't just the tree. It was what it represented and meant to her. Because it meant something to him. Christmas was a strange holiday to her and not for lack of trying to understand it. But Torilla could never quite wrap her mind around the idea that one man could visit every single child in existence and deliver presents.

"Maybe thats the point of it all," Torilla admitted. "It's not about others, it's all about me." she grinned. She went over to her desk in her study. While she placed the box there, along with the two cards contained within. Now she would go and dress, rather than stand around being totally nude.