Ash and Cinder - Part Three

Posted on Sat Mar 21st, 2020 @ 5:04am by Admiral Jake Yamaguchi & Admiral Lil'yanna Olmos & Fleet Captain Racheal Yamaguchi

Mission: Mission 98: Building Our New Home
Location: Various Locations - Starbase Vanguard
Timeline: 1715Hrs - September 10th, 2393

"Nope..." she paused. "Though I sometimes wonder if I missed too much..." Yamaguchi added with a soft sigh, she rose to her feet as she followed Olmos into the master bedroom, inside was Rachael's twin XL bed and a decent sized dresser for her clothing, along with a walk-in closet as well as two bookcases, both of which were bare at present with a few knickknacks. Rachael was never known for being a packrat, as she tended to be very modest in her living style, she was also something of a minimalist as well.

However, located in the corner was a small-sized bed for an infant, it was a crib so Bethany could get some sleep if she wished it, with wooden bars painted in a tasteful color, in this case, a gentle pastel blue with pink highlights. Olmos put the small child to bed as Yamaguchi activated the holonanny, which was something the base had inside its main computer systems. A variation of the emergency medical holographic system was designed for service on larger ships, starbases and anywhere where families might be serving as an added line of defense to protest family members from the usual hazards of being in space. The hologram was designed to look like the average as Yamaguchi had not yet tailored the system to suit her rather unique needs.

"The basic model?" Olms asked.

"Yeah, I never got to improve the looks of this one," Yamaguchi commented. "Thank you, Nana. Please keep an eye on Bethany and alert us if anything changes or goes wrong." she addressed the hologram a moment later.

"Yessir. Monitoring program engaged, the child will be guarded."

"Thanks." as she indicated the door with her head, Olmos followed in silence.

The two women moved back into the main area. "What did you mean by what you said earlier..." Olmos inquired. "About missing too much."

"Well... Last time I saw my children, they were kids and three of them were cadets, one was an Ensign and one was a Lieutenant Jay Jee, Talon and Jake were not even sure if they were going to stay in... April wanted to be a scientist and Coral was more interested in Engineering." Yamaguchi paused. "Now my children all outrank me, even Coral... who returned from the dead... and when I was liberated... I find out that Ben had died and so had Coral... Losing Ben was hard, it still is... but losing my child... " Yamaguchi paused as she fought a sudden surge of emotion. "You've never had children of your own... To find out that you need to go and bury your child..." she paused. "Even though it had been almost six years earlier and everyone else had faced it, mourned and moved on... I was stuck facing both the loss of my husband and the loss of my child and her husband too." Yamaguchi paused. "Then there was Heather, taking in all of Coral's kids as her own... I know she struggles with seven children..." she then let out a very long and exhausting sigh. "Have you ever considered the ageless medical tech now available?" Yamaguchi asked. "I'm an extreme example of the usage of such."

"I had not considered it... No... But I will." Olmos answered.

Suddenly the door beeped at both women. Olmos turned to Yamaguchi. "Expecting someone...?"

"I am... With luck, this is him." Yamaguchi turned and went over to answer the door, she found herself with one of her sons. Jake smiled as he regarded his mother before he hugged her. "Hey...Lil'yanna. What are you doing here?." he commented in a light tone of voice as he followed his mother into her home.

"Lil'yanna is here because I decided to intervene," Yamaguchi explained evenly. "I know of what was said between you two. I know why it was said... and I know who said what Jake."

Jake regarded his mother in silence. "You are aware then of what happened..." it was not a question and thus, it was not phrased as such.

"I am," Yamaguchi answered her son's statement as she indicated a chair nearby. "Take a seat Jake and I'll explain why I am now involved... Rather than you two getting into another argument," she commented. "You two have had a friendship going back to when you were both much younger." Yamaguchi was reminded that Olmos babysat for her often and that Olmos had insights into her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren that many simply lacked. "Lil'yanna used to babysit for me on a regular basis when you guys were all kids which means she has a relationship with you Jake that's decades-old... I'd rather you not throw it away for someone else's stupidity."

Jake knew that his mother was one of the few who could command his obedience and he would still give it. He slid his form into the chair as requested in silence and without protest. Olmos regarded Jake as she sat down across from him. "I made a mistake Jake," she explained. "I had forgotten that you had wished to be involved. It wasn't until I talked with Nalla this afternoon that she reminded me that you wished to be involved, she also was the one who named Bethany, not me... She felt she had to honor you and your family for what you gave her."

Jake held his silence for a moment to process what he was being told. "But you said that Nalla didn't know Bethany was here," Jake answered, more sounding unsure and confused than irritated.

"I did. Until I told her twenty minutes after that conversation we had earlier today." Olmos commented with a nod. "Right after I talked to you."

"I figured you would," Yamaguchi answered, a gentle smile on her lips.