Death of the Iceman

Posted on Wed Mar 18th, 2020 @ 4:13am by Captain Robert Connor & Division Admiral Celeste Yamaguchi-Hobbs

Mission: Mission 98: Building Our New Home
Location: Captain's Quarters - USS Massachusets
Timeline: 1930Hrs - June 19th, 2393

Captain Robert Connor smiled as he nodded his head before he took a pull from the glass of water sitting near his right elbow, he often took breaks between hands for people to go to the bathroom or collect food and drink from the replicator. A game of poker was only as good as the mood of the people in the room and if people were upset for some reason or having a bad day then Rob inevitably found out about it and he had made it clear that he would help them with their issues if he could. He wasn't just the skipper of the Massachusets, he was also a friend to his crew, he would help those in need. Of course, remembering over six hundred names was harder then most tasks but Rob did alright for himself and if he didn't know then he would ask them who they were when addressing them.

The senior staff was having their weekly poker game while the Massachusets was back at Starbase Vanguard, dropping off some supplies and equipment for the base when suddenly there was a knock at the door. Rob raised an eyebrow as T'Paro was the one who regarded him. "It's open!" Connor called aloud. The Vulcan female present raised an eyebrow, as she had not been expecting anyone else to arrive.

The door opened and in walked Commander Celeste Yamaguchi, she wore a simple white blouse with a pair of hip-hugging jeans shorts with a pair of sneakers and a small pair of heal-hugger socks to complete the picture. "Hey, guys. Am I interrupting?" Yamaguchi-Hobbs looked at the dozen or so people present.

Connor regarded her in silence a moment. "Nope, pull up a chair and you're just in time."

"Excellent," Yamaguchi-Hobbs responded as there was a space cleared for her while everyone else present began moving to permit her access to the table.

"Everyone this is Celeste Yamaguchi, she's a very old friend of mine," Connor explained. "Celeste, this is my senior staff. Commander Steven Mullen, Chief Medical Officer, Lt Commander T'Paro." Connor rattled them all off as Yamaguchi-Hobbs smiled. "I'm happy to meet you all," she explained to the assembled crew present.

Connor regarded her after all was said and done with the introductions. "The game is five card stud, nothing wild."

"Ahh, tame," Yamaguchi-Hobbs commented with a smile as the dealer began dealing the first hand of cards while Connor gently placed a few dozen coins before Celeste. "We're here to relax and unwind, not get all excited."

"Ahh, well its been a while since I played, let's see if I recall how it's done."

The various members of the senior staff all began to assume that Celeste would be an easy mark as the betting began. "I open with ten."

The people began tossing in coins. "I'm in for ten."

Yamaguchi-Hobbs smiled as she tossed in one token which has the number 'ten' marked on it in silence before another card was dealt from the dealer, two members instantly folded as Celeste smiled. "I'm in for ten." and the betting went around the table a second time.

Connor answered. "Here's your ten and a hundred more." as three more folded instantly.

Yamaguchi-Hobbs chuckled softly. "Ooooh. I'll see your hundred and three hundred more."

The only person who remained in at that point was Connor. "Looks like its just you and me sexy," Connor commented, a wide grin on his face.

"I wouldn't have it any other way, handsome." Yamaguchi-Hobbs smiled at his bluntly hitting on her, so far the game has cost her half her stake as she grinned at him, it was almost unsettling to see. "so, you in or not?"

"Oh yes," Connor answered with a smile.

Yamaguchi-Hobbs watched him go through his motions before she called, he placed his cards and Celeste realized that she had won this hand, she had also more than tripled her stake in this game. "Alrighty," she commented as two of the senior staff both chuckled softly. "Well I'd like to stay and chat but I have to get home. The game has gotten too expensive." the human-looking female explained and an apologetic smile before the young woman rose to her feet. "It was nice to have met you Celeste." before she then departed.

The next hand of cards was dealt out and much to everyone's surprise, the same result occurred with Celeste more or less crushing her opposition, two more members of the senior staff made their farewells as the next few hands were played. Yamaguchi-Hobbs won two hands and lost two hands but as time passed, it was down to her, Connor and one other who made his farewells and now it was the two of them.

Yamaguchi-Hobbs regarded Connor who sat across from her. "You're good at this game."

"I've played a few hands here and there," Yamaguchi-Hobbs answered enigmatically.

"I find that poker keeps my mind sharp most days," Connor explained. "When I need someone else. I talk to Jasmine."

Yamaguchi-Hobbs raised an eyebrow. "Whos Jasmine?" the tall female inquired.

"She's my daughter. You'd like her." Connor smiled. "She is in the Marines... I'm not sure where she's assigned these days.." he added as a frown appeared on his face. "Actually. I think she's assigned here to Utgarde Four." he paused.

Yamaguchi-Hobbs raised an eyebrow as she regarded him, she could tell that he really liked the subject, he still lit up like a Christmas tree whenever a favored subject came up as he had clearly not changed all that much from when she had known him as a teenager. "Go on?" Yamaguchi-Hobbs pressed.

"Well, Jasmine always was a tomboy. A bit like you growing up if I recall." Connor answered with a nod.

"I never needed a lot of makeup really, anything I did need, I tended to borrow from mom or Marie," Yamaguchi-Hobbs answered with a smile.

"How is Marie doing these days?" Connor inquired. "I've not talked with her in a while."

"How long have you and Marie known each other?" Yamaguchi-Hobbs inquired.

Connor considered it a moment. "Since the Worchester was in for a layover and minor refit on Starbase 74 when Marie was a commander based there," he explained. "It was thirteen years ago and Marie knew who I was, which was ironic really when you consider that I had no idea who she was." he then took a sip from his drink. Yamaguchi-Hobbs recognized the tactic as him stalling for a moment to consider his options, there was no way he was going to avoid talking about it as he was never the type to simply cut and run from a conversation. "Marie was polite about it but as soon as I saw her, I called her by your name and she lost her temper right there and then," he explained.

Yamaguchi-Hobbs nodded her head in silence.

"Well. I had assumed she was you." Connor sighed. "She got angry real quick, saying that I needed to have my eyes examined or maybe I needed new eyes which she would happily grow for me after she removed the old ones for what I said and did to you."

Yamaguchi-Hobbs regarded him. "You left me no word. I didn't know what to think."

"I couldn't handle what had happened. I wasn't ready.." Connor sighed. "Marie told me bluntly that the only thing saving my ass from her, was the uniform and she also said that I was never to take it off, for the second I did, she would kill me." There was no malice in his tone, only acceptance. "I told her back that her hatred for me was nothing compared to my own hatred for myself."

Yamaguchi-Hobbs knew how deep her sister's temper went and she knew what Marie had said, in addition to why she had said it, she left out a soft sigh. "Marie was being the protective older sister."

"No," Connor answered. "This was more than that, she was truly angry with me and I had assumed that she had been waiting over ten years to have her say to my face over what had happened. I guess I'm glad it was her and not your brothers."

"Oh god. Daniel and James." Yamaguchi-Hobbs grimaced. "James would have said a few words and if he didn't get the point across then he would have resorted to force," she said evenly. "Daniel, on the other hand, he would simply have skipped the verbal parts and went in, fists swinging." the tall female explained.

"Like I said. I'm glad it was Marie." Connor explained when the com system beeped at them both. "Bridge to the Captain?"

"Go ahead?." Connor answered as he tapped his combadge. "Sir you have an incoming message from the surface. Its marked as personal."

"I'll take it down here, pipe it through whenever you're ready." Connor rose to his feet. "Come on, I'll introduce you."