Out Amid the Savannah - Part Two

Posted on Fri Mar 20th, 2020 @ 5:52pm by Colonel Lee Antilles & Commander Autumn Yamaguchi & Lieutenant Commander Ajal Yamaguchi & Fleet Captain Coral 'Icecrown' Yamaguchi-Antilles

Mission: Mission 104: Saturn's Children
Location: Antilles-Yamaguchi Quarters - USS Kronprinz
Timeline: 1830Hrs - September 3rd, 2393

Fleet Captain Coral Antilles-Yamaguchi sighed softly as she brushed her blonde tresses out of her eyes, as she realized she had had enough and she was going to go down to the ship's barbershop and get herself a haircut, her bangs were too long and she was growing weary of this hairdo at the same time, but that was not what was bothering her, it was the endless silence as she was used to having a small gathering of children and she knew that her children were being well cared for by the woman they now called their mother. Coral truly wished no ill-will upon her sibling. Heather Yamaguchi-Johnson had taken in all five and had given them a good home and a good life, had their places been reversed, Coral would have done the same for Heather, without question, hesitation or reservation.

"Silence fills the empty grave... Now that I have gone... But my mind... is not at rest... for I linger on." Coral huffed a sigh as she sat down in the single-seat chair as she began to daydream, her combadge buzzed at her after a few minutes of intolerable silence. "Bridge to Captain Antilles-Yamaguchi?" came a voice that Coral didn't instantly recognize.

Coral lightly tapped her combadge. "This is the skipper, go ahead?"

"Sir, you have a personal transmission coming in. It's from the Coral Sea and it's marked as personal, do you want it?" came the voice who clearly didn't know whom she was talking about.

"I do, pipe it down here. Thank you." Coral answered quietly as she rose to her feet, she went over to the large wall monitor, she tapped it once with her left hand and the screen came to life as the face of her daughter appeared, her long blonde tresses had been shorn off recently as Autumn Yamaguchi was wearing a different haircut. "Hey, mom. We thought we'd say Hi... Is this a bad time?" she inquired, noting the look on her mother's face, next to Autumn was sitting the much larger Klingon woman who was also Autumn's wife. Ajal didn't say anything as she simply nodded to Coral, she could see that Autumn's mother wasn't in the best of moods.

Coral simply shook her head, clearly expecting the question. "Nothing more than normal ladies, to what do I owe the pleasure of your call?"

"Well, we've not talked with you in some time and we wanted to do that... But you look like you got things on your mind mom... Do you want to share?." Autumn inquired of her mother.

Coral decided that it was easier and quicker to leapfrog through all of the aggravation and anger, saving herself time and energy. "I have empty-nest syndrome ladies..." before she let out a soft sigh.

"Right," Autumn answered unexpectedly. At Ajal's odd look, she began to explain what she meant. "I was... honestly expecting this, just not quite this soon."

"Unexpected, Autumn. I am not sure if that's good or bad.?" Coral answered.

"You forget what I do for a living mom, I've made you one of my case studies because I know you well enough to be able to handle it, I recall how you used to be and how you are now... Considering you are expecting Warrick to be seven months old but not seven years old... and the fact that he calls Aunt Heather as 'mom'." the shorter female explained. "I'm a therapist mom, and I am good at what I do."

Coral could see the gentle age lines around her daughter's eyes as she reminded herself that Autumn was about ten years behind her in terms of age and looks. "I know... I... I see you as my daughter first and a Starfleet officer second..."

"Its fine mom and I knew you had these issues... I can help if you want?" Autumn added with a smile.

Ajal regarded her wife in silence before she nodded, clearly, she was understanding what her wife was explaining before she said it. "You could adopt." the Klingon female spoke, for the first time since this chat had started. "I know that there are a large number of orphans up for adoption in various centers around the Federation, many hundreds are fleeing the Klingon civil war." the taller female explained. "I have two relatives who are children who could use a firm hand and a watchful eye."

Coral paused, it was something she hadn't expected, it showed in her eyes too. "I'm not sure ladies, I hadn't considered it... I was thinking of having new children of my own."

"There is nothing wrong with that Ms. Antilles-Yamaguchi," Ajal answered, clearly unsure of how to address her mother-in-law.

"You can call me Coral, Ajal... I promise to behave myself..." she paused. "What are the Klingon's rules for adoption?"

"Only that they are able to behave as Klingons, if an when the time comes... But that's a rule that's never followed, once you have custody of them, you are free to raise them as you see fit, I have two relatives in all who need a new home... Considering that these children are all that's left of the House of H'ruS" Ajal sighed softly. "M,y uncle unwisely made many enemies in the empire and when I was informed of his passing, I felt nothing... But I screamed the death howl for him, all the same."

"Yeah, brought the house down too," Autumn commented with a rather wide smile. "Let's just say, that night was... unforgettable." Autumn then smiled at her mother.

"I'll believe it," Coral answered with a pause. "I'll talk about it with Lee, once he's finished in the shower and we will think on the matter... Do you have all the information on these relatives?"

"I do." Ajal rose to her feet. "I will return." and with that, she moved out of view of the display, leaving mother and daughter alone. "Is this wise Autumn?" Coral asked her last remaining child.

"I don't know mom," Autumn answered bluntly. "But the twins do need a home. They are presently stuck in a Klingon refugee center on Korvat Colony, my house is full and I can't take them.... but maybe you could help." Autumn answered.

"I want to see the information first before I even consider talking it over with your Dad..." she paused before she sighed softly.

Just then, Ajal came back into view with a PADD in her delicate-looking hands. "Here we are... Let me send these to you."

Coral picked up an unused PADD, she tapped the display a few times before she slid it into the display beneath the wall monitor. "Ready to receive," she commented

Ajal nodded as she tapped 'send.' A moment later, Coral had them all. "Alright. I'll discuss it with your dad and we'll get back to you ladies k?"

Autumn nodded as she smiled. "Goodbye mom, till next time." and with that, she hung up. The Federation wreath emblem appeared as Coral removed the PADD before she moved into the bedroom to see her husband.