Cultures

Posted on Mon Jan 27th, 2014 @ 6:47am by Lieutenant JG Paul Harrison

1,900 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Mission 84 - Blockade
Location: Hydroponics - Starbase 400
Timeline: Set Two Days before the events in Skyfall

"tbd"

Rachael Yamaguchi
Paul Harrison

***** Hydroponics - Starbase 400 *****

Rachael Yamaguchi was sitting or lying in her usual perch in the massive oak tree which dominated one section of the massive Hydroponics section of Starbase 400, there were over a dozen of these trees but she had selected one she had nicknamed 'Old Faithfull' as her preferred choice.

Her companion was Paul Harrison who looked uneasy. "So Paul... you ever thought about trying martial arts?" she inquired. "you do have the discipline for it, plus you don't get rattled easily."

"I started with Lee but he's been so busy with missions and such."

"Well, there are classes here on base, I'm looking at enrolling in a few of them and there is the big competition a couple of weeks from now..." she then frowned. "Mom will miss it as she'll be off the base at the time.."

"Oh. That's too bad." He knew how much these kind of things meant to her family.

Rachael smiled. "You could enroll in the classes with me..." she looked at him. "It'll be something else we can do together." she smiled. "You do have the self control... and it'll give you a good outlet for your frustrations and your rage.."

"Maybe. I would like to think about it though."

"Of course." Rachael might be many things but she knew she had succeeded on some level as she had wanted him to consider it. "Hows Brandon and Earl doing these days... I don't get to see much of them.... though Becca Bremer had a little more control than her friend when I ran into them a month ago.."

Paul shrugged, "They're doing good. Earl is a blast. Sometimes I think that Earl is really a human trapped in a Tiger's body." He chuckled.

"Earl is awesome, Commander McNamara must have been a hell of a guy to have done the job with Earl that he did." she sighed. "Do they honor remembrance day here?" she inquired.

"Remembrance day? I know there is several celebrations celebrating those who died in the line of duty."

"I know a few people I must pay my respects to." she commented quietly. "But... I think Mom will be off the base for my birthday... August 5th." she inquired, clearly wanting to change the subject. "What did you have in mind for dinner?"

Paul gave her a double look, "Back up Missy. You are having a birthday? When were you going to tell me about it?"

"I thought you knew." Rachael responded evenly as she looked at him. "I just sort of snuck up on us." she sighed softly. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I know now. How would you like a party? I'm sure people would come."

Rachael smiled shyly. "Its not often I get a party thrown in my honor... I'd like that though.... what's sad is that some of my family is gathered here... and they are all going to miss it.." she whimpered. "Megszakad a szivem..." (This breaks my heart...) the translator did its unthinking job and translated her statement into English.

"I know the feeling. Every birthday, I hoped that my mom would be there but she never was." Paul himself felt sad at the memory.

Rachael looked at Paul. "At least I'll have you there... that's more then enough for me..."

"Aww." Paul hugged her, "That's the sweetest thing you could have said to me." Paul teased.

Rachael smiled as she instantly relaxed, he was much more massive then she was and he also weighed more too. "Its still my time of blooming." she explained. "Gabriel and Elizabeth had theirs on starships with at most a thousand souls and they were much weaker then me.... I'm much stronger and I'm here... with a hundred thousand souls... this is a dangerous time for me..." she said softly. "Since I'm still developing... I could end up having panic attacks, anxiety attacks and telepathic shocks." it was something that clearly scared her. "Like a migraine but much worse because its effects are unpredictable... strong emotions can trigger it and... lets face it... I don't exactly have the best homelife."

Paul sighed, "I keep telling you not to worry. You are going to be fine. You have me."

"I can't help it.." Rachael answered evenly. "The time of Bloom is... hazardous for me." she sighed. "My siblings had it easy. surrounded by family and friends on Starships, where as I'm here on a giant Starbase with only you." she paused. "all in all... not a bad trade off."

"Not just me, you also have Vice Admiral T'Lar. She'll help you through it. I know she will."

Rachael smiled softly at him. "I felt her power when I was staying with her.... potent.."

Paul put his fingers softly under her chin and tilted her head up, "So will you stop worrying about it for now?"

"Alright.." she commented. "I'll... try my best.." she amended her answer. "That tickles."

"Really?" He got a devious grin on his face. He started tickling her.

Rachael began laughing as he tickled her, she was fortunate however for she did not move her legs which were holding her in the tree.

Laughing, "Now I know that you are ticklish. I finally have something on you."

Rachael laughed until she promptly fell right out of the tree and landed on the
ground as she blinked, as she looked down, finding herself standing in a small crater. "Cool..." she commented

Paul covered his mouth in terror as she fell, "Oh my God Rachael! Are you okay?"

"I'm okay.." she called up. "My abilities broke my fall.." she added as if having a funny moment, as she turned back and then she proceeded to start climbing the tree until she was again sitting next to him. "I think it best if I remember to pay attention to what I was doing no?" she smiled. "It was only a six foot drop and I used my abilities... that was a first... I called and it responded by slowing me down..." she smiled as she slipped one of her arms around him. "Paul... You have no idea what you just did for me.... do you?"

He looked blankly at her, "Um...no?"

"You have helped me or rather forced me to overcome a critical issue I was having.... forcing me to gain control at a critical moment... usually its done in a controlled situation but.... unplanned but effective." she gave him a warm smile.

Paul was still worried, "Are you sure that you're not angry at me?"

"Angry?" she looked astonished. "Why would I be angry?." she leaned her head on his shoulder. "No.. Paul, you are the best thing that's ever walked into my life, never doubt or question that... yes we will have concerns and issues but.... not today, not after this." and with that she silenced him with a gentle kiss on the lips.

After the kiss broke, he put his one arm around her and looked out at his surroundings with a grin in his face.

Rachael settled in so she was comfortable next to him as she smiled, enjoying the silence as she heard something growl at them. "Mmm... my stomach is talking.." she commented. "So... lunch time?" she inquired.

"I am hungry myself. Yeah, lunch sounds good."

Rachael smiled at him. "Lets go back to that restaurant where we first met.."
she commented. "the chicken curry is great."

"Okay, let's go then, my treat." Paul stuck his arm out to her.

Rachael smiled. "Lets go." she then dropped out of the tree, clearly she had wanted to do that, she landed gently as if she simply stepped down a flight of stairs. she looked up at him. "you coming?"

"Yes." He was a little slower than her.

She mentaly caught him as she lowered him to the ground, then she gently took his hand. "shall we?"

"Thanks. Yes we shall."

Rachael looked at him. "I guess I'm going to have to learn to accept it." she sighed. "that... normal for me just became unusual."

"Unusual is good. Embrace it." was his only advice.

Rachael smiled. "Alright.." she commented. "shall we?"

Paul nodded. He took her hand as they walked to the promenade and the sat down. The waiter came over and Paul ordered for the both of them, "Two curried chicken plates with rice. And I'd like a cola." He looked over at Rachael, "What do you want to drink Rachael?"

"I'll have that too please. That sounds good." she commented evenly as she regarded Paul.

The waiter smiled as he noticed the two were smitten. "Can I get you any desert??"

"I would like a hot fudge sundae if it isn't any trouble." He looked at Rachael, "You?"

"Large chocolate fudge sundae please?" Rachael smiled, almost too cheerful. "I feel like making a pig of myself."

He smiled, "I won't say a word. Bon appetit."

Rachael smiled. "Great." as she waited for their food to arrive. "So... we still on for that camping trip to Kaleb IV."

"Sure. I can't wait."

Rachael smiled. "Excellent... who else is going... assume I forgot and remind me please?" she added.

"Um, I don't know all who are going yet."

"So at the moment, its just you and me." she responded evenly. "romantic." she then smiled at him. "Of course, I'd just be happy if it were the two of us."

"I could make it happen." He winked at her, "Me too but our moms would never let us go by ourselves."

Rachael gave him a sly look. "No... but I know someone who could watch over us." she suddenly grinned. "Doctor Dvald. She's an old friend of the family... mom knows she's assigned here and we can ask her if she'd be willing to watch over us while we go camping."

Paul was excited at the prospect of being alone with her, well, almost alone, "Okay, let's ask then. I really don't know many of the kids here anyway."

An evil smile appeared on Rachael's face. "Excellent." she commented. "I know someone I can ask to go with us to babysit.." she commented. "y'know... to make sure we don't get eaten by wild animals." she looked at him. "If you're still interested that is.."

"Of course I'm still interested."

Rachael smiled at him. "Good." she replied evenly. "Now we just gotta wait for the food." she commented with a smile. "I tend to get up nice and early..."

"That's fine. I'm not a late sleeper myself. My dad would never allow me to do that. He had a schedule for himself as well as for me." He realized that he started to talk about his dad again and changed the subject, "I wonder what we are having?"

"Hot dogs, burgers.... Y'know.. the usual camping food.... ever had smores drizzled in chocolate?" she gave him a look. "always good over the campfire."

He nodded, "Yeah, sure. My grandpa would take me camping once in a while and smores was the highlight of the evening."

Rachael smiled. "Mmmmm... sounds like how Dad would make 'em for me, Beth and Gabe.." she sighed. "Ahh... good times..."

"Well I for one can't wait to eat. I'm starving." Paul admitted.

She smiled as their food arrived, she inhaled the scent of the food. "Yes... lets eat."

***** Here's where the fun begins - Anakin Skywalker *****

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