Parting Icy Clouds

Posted on Tue Mar 17th, 2020 @ 2:47am by Commander Ennis Cullen & Lieutenant JG Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi-Cullen

Mission: Mission 98: Building Our New Home
Location: Hanger Sixteen - Starbase Vanguard
Timeline: 0800Hrs - June 7th, 2393

Rachael Yamaguchi-Cullen knew that this morning would be hard, she had not expected her children to like this and indeed they had not, Saki losing her temper had been downright biblical as she smashed a tennis ball into the wall of her quarters and it had become embedded there while Sarah was just downright upset had been telling. Rachael and Ennis both had tried to comfort their children as best as they could but what had been a surprise was that Saki had demanded to go with her dad and see the galaxy. Yamaguchi-Cullen had not objected as her family group had discussed the issues before them over the last few days, as a family should. Saki had not liked it but she had come around to the idea as she realized that she needed to learn to develop and think for herself, rather than lean on her mother like she always did. It helped that Sarah had explained much of this to Saki at the time.

Now the time for their departure had come as Cullen had gotten their children sorted out, with both large cats and the infants had already said goodbye to their mother, Yamaguchi-Cullen knew she would not see Ennis for a long time and that was if they were fortunate, assuming that the Heart of the Tiger came back to this base rather then one of the other half dozen bases for their refitting and resupply at the end of their patrol assignment.

"You sure, you're gonna be okay?" Cullen had brought Yamaguchi-Cullen back to the present as he gently placed her hands on her shoulders before he gently cupped her face with one of his hands.

Yamaguchi-Cullen looked up at her husband as he was a few inches taller then she herself was. "No." she answered quietly. "I'm going to be parted from our children, from you," she explained. "It sucks," she added in a quiet tone of voice.

"I know Rachie," Cullen answered with a soft sigh. "I never said I had to like it."

"Yeah, and I did encourage you to accept the assignment, knowing we'd be parted," Yamaguchi-Cullen answered. "I think it'll be the solitude that'll get me at the end of it all," she explained. "I got used to a loud and noisy house with five children and two cats to a house that's empty and silent." she sighed softly.

Cullen gently rubbed his wife's shoulders, he was several years older then she was and while he was used to these separations and he knew what to expect, he knew his wife was not as experienced as he, himself was. "It'll be okay, we'll manage." as Cullen gently rubbed his wife's shoulders with his hands.

"Yeah," Yamaguchi-Cullen answered with a nod, as she let out a soft sigh. "Maybe having a break from the demands of children could be a good thing for me, at least right?" she regarded him.

"You'll have a chance to get some sleep and further your education." Cullen smiled. "Besides, there are others around who could help you."

"Yeah," Yamaguchi-Cullen answered quietly. "I got family present, Elizabeth, and Kam are both here, along with mom and Dad." Yamaguchi-Cullen smiled, but it was forced and she didn't like this, none of the Cullen-Yamaguchi's did and Saki's temper was still cooling off from her losing her temper violently two nights previously. "It'll be alright, Saki will calm down," Yamaguchi-Cullen explained in the same gentle tone of voice.

"I hope so. This is already hard enough and I don't need her making it worse." Cullen responded with a sigh. "I'd best go." and with that, he and his wife shared a rather passionate kiss. "Just say goodbye," Yamaguchi-Cullen responded softly after their kiss ended.

"I'll see you in my dreams." and with that, Cullen turned and slowly boarded the shuttle, as if he was suffering from a major physical injury. Yamaguchi-Cullen turned and walked out of the hanger bay, there was nothing she needed to say to anyone or do with anything here at this point in time. She did not stay to watch the shuttle lift off with her husband and children aboard and she did not wish to either.

Yamaguchi-Cullen sighed softly to herself as she paused at the entrance to the hanger, she turned back to watch the shuttle departing before she turned away, exiting the hanger as it carried her family away and left Yamaguchi-Cullen to her solitude.