Starting on a Long and Narrow Road - Part One

Posted on Sun Feb 23rd, 2020 @ 6:28pm by Lieutenant JG Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi-Cullen & Ensign Paul Harrison
Edited on on Sun Feb 23rd, 2020 @ 6:29pm

Mission: Mission 1: Impact
Location: Various Locations - Starbase 400
Timeline: 1800Hrs - June 24th, 2388

"By the gods, I need a vacation." Racheal Yamaguchi sighed softly as she was sitting at one of the smaller replimats located on the promenade, she had decided to explore the base rather then remain cooped up in her new quarters while her mother went off to meet with the Admiral about work.

Racheal missed her father who was off commanding a Galaxy class starship which was supposed to be undergoing a refit at some point or something like that, as far as Racheal was concerned, it was above her level of worry when she heard another person's voice.

She raised an eyebrow as she placed the PADD down as she turned her attention to whoever wanted her time.

"Hi. I've never seen you here before. " A tall boy, almost 16 years old with dark hair was standing there observing her, "Are you new to Starbase 400?"

The twelve year old was suddenly intimidated by the larger male standing before her. "Umm... yeah.." she paused. "You busy?" she added.

"Yeah, busy talking to you." He broke a smile, "So, what does your mother do here on SB400?"

Racheal indicated a chair across from her. "She's the new Strategic Operations Officer.... whatever that means.." she responded.

"My mother is Special Ops XO. She used to be the Chief Security and Tactical Officer but she got promoted. "Have you had a tour of the base? If not, I can show you around."

Racheal found herself smiling. "I've only been on base about ninety minutes or so... I don't know where anything is.." she paused. "a tour.. sure... why not."

"Cool." He started to walk, motioning her to follow him, "So what kind of stuff do you like to do?"

Racheal looked at the larger male as she hopped off of her chair and obediently followed him out of the replimat. "Well I dabble in many of my mom's interests but then I have more interests in music, I also enjoy my training... I do like teaching people who pick on others why its unwise." she explained. "I wonder if our parents will get along.." the twelve year old mused aloud.

"They're both in OPS so I don't see why not." He looked over at her, "Um, how old are you anyway?"

The child smiled as she followed behind the larger male. "I'm twelve years old." she responded. "I'm told I'm very advanced for my age... I think its because I was forced to grow up quickly... which is a long story." she shrugged. "How old are you?"

"I'll be sixteen in another month. I thought you were older."

The child nodded as she had clearly heard that statement or something to that effect before. "Yes... so I'm told..." she sighed softly. "I'm sorry.." she shook her head, she had lost friends because she acted so much older then she actually was, but then she was more advanced then the usual preteen.

"Don't be sorry. I've met a lot of kids my age that don't act their age. Are you hungry?"

Racheal smiled. "I've only been on base a couple of hours and I can't find a decent bowl of Idanian spice pudding anywhere... " she looked up at him with a rather impish grin. "You know of where to get a large bowl.... I am a growing kid after all..." she responded.

He thought for a moment, "Yeah coming to think of it. Come on. they make the best curry too." He led her to a little whole in the wall.

Racheal followed obediantly as she raised an eyebrow as she took in the sights. "Nice place here...." she looked at the Waitress who gave her a funny look which clearly said. 'so we're serving to children now...' and Racheal sighed softly. "Paul... what do you do for fun?"

"I like computer games and to hang out with friends but that's about it." He looked at her, "How about you?"

Racheal smiled as she watched him with her blue eyes, one of the many things she had inherited from her father. "Oh lets see... aside from flying. There is orbital skydiving, surfing, my kendo training.." she shrugged sheepishly. "I also like to ..." her smile slightly widened. "deal with people who prey on those weaker then themselves.... the school bully."

"All of that. You sound like a dare devil. I've never gone skydiving before or surfing. I do know how to do some martial arts but I'm not very good." Paul admitted.

The smaller child grinned across the table as she regarded him. "Oh we simply must fix that." she responded. "Wave walking is not for everyone though... it will require you to face one of your most primal fears.... tidal waves." she explained. "Would you try surfing a thirty foot wave or run from it?" she looked at him as she asked him the question.

He didn't want to look like a wimp, "Try to surf it of course."

Racheal smiled warmly at him. "Paul, you don't need to worry about impressing me... if you ran from it, I would understand... I would run from it unless I knew it was safe to surf." she watched him carefully. "You're not like the average kid our age..." she paused.

"You caught me. And you're not like the average kid our age either." He smirked. The waitress came back and took their orders. "Maybe one day, we'll have to try that surfing thing in one of the holodecks. I'm sure that I can make a program for it."

"No need.. I have my own program... my Dad made it for me for Christmas last year..." Racheal explained with a smile. "Well.. I kinda had to grow up quickly... I'm part Hallian, they grow up a little faster then humans do."

"What is a Halanian?" He was still getting used to seeing various aliens on the base.

Racheal chuckled softly. "You will need to ask my mother that... She can give you a better answer then I can since I consider myself to be human, except a little more grown up then most girls my age." she explained.

"I don't need to really know. I'm not going to like snub you because of what race you are. So when we are done here, what do you want to do?"

She suddenly grinned at him. "We head to a holodeck and I will show you my hobbies... you look like you need to get out more."

Paul chuckled, "I do. Okay, the holodeck it is. Whenever you're ready."

Her smile widened into a rather evil looking grin. "Well. lets eat first... we both will need the calories."

He laughed, "You're so weird."

Racheal raised an eyebrow as a mirthful grin tugged at her lips. "Define: weird?" she inquired as she looked at him with her lovely dark brown eyes.

"You're the only twelve year old that I know who is concerned about calories. Girls my age are a different story."

"I am also likely the only Hallian you know my good man. We develop faster then your average human and while I am part human, I'm still developing faster, it was the same with my siblings."

"Well don't develop too fast. You might surpass me too."

"Maybe... " she responded evenly.

"Maybe? Is that like we'll see?" He waved his hand, "Nevermind." They get to the holodeck, "It's all yours."

Racheal looked up at the larger guy standing next to her. "Halians are somewhat rare these days... its not helped that we mate for life... so no daliances for me." she then smiled sweetly up at him as it quickly became clear that she knew precisly what she was talking about. "Computer." she
said evenly as she tapped the display next to her on the wall, once with her finger. "Lets see.... program Yamaguchi Nerubian one." she then chuckled softly. "This was one of the more intresting programs my sister made for me.. "

"Program complete, you may enter when ready" the computer intoned as Racheal rolled her eyes. "Sounds like my aunt Talon..." she muttered. "Can you handle cold?"

"Yeah, sure, why? Should I be worried?"

Racheal looked up at him. "I'm being polite Paul." she raised an eyebrow.
"You don't have many female friends... do you?" she raised an eyebrow as she
tapped the door release and before he could answer, she turned and walked onto the holodeck where they were greeted by a scene of dark cold as Racheal sighed, her breathe coming out in a ragged, puffy cloud. "Mmmm taste that air.."

"If you must know, you're the first girl I've actually hung out with. I went to an all boys school." He shivered, "You weren't kidding, were you?"

"Mmm.. about minus 10 degrees celcius." she responded as she looked up towards the top of the frozen plain they were standing on, the sky was overcast and flashes of lightning could be seen but it was the stillness and darkness that were quite unnerving.

He looked around, "Impressive."

"Yeah, this was something Beth designed from a video game that was supost to be quite popular a few centuries ago... Warcraft or something like that."

"Hmm. Never heard of it."

"Its not a bad place to visit..." she looked around as she began walking forward towards the massive and squad looking metalic building off in the distance as they were bathed in a soft mild blue light which Racheal knew to be anything but soothing. "Welcome to Icecrown."

"This is so cool. A guy could get used to this place." He smiled.