Aftermath

Posted on Sat Oct 11th, 2014 @ 4:58am by Captain Torilla Yamaguchi & Lieutenant Colonel Jillian "Phoenix" Sullivan

2,263 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Mission 86 - Discovery
Location: Infirmary - Starbase 400

"Aftermath "

Rachael Yamaguchi
Blake Sullivan
Dorothy Sullivan
Aryssa Sullivan
Lieutenant Siaxx Dvald
Major Jill 'Phoenix' Sullivan
Lt Commander Torilla Yamaguchi

Music Soundtrack: Halo 4 OST - Reaching the Core.

***** Infirmary - Starbase 400 *****

Lt Commander Torilla Yamaguchi was sitting at Siaxx's bedside as the Bolian female slept, blissfully unaware of what had happened after Phoenix had demolished her face as her youngest child arrived. "how is she mom?"

"She'll be alright.. Physically anyway" Torilla commented. "Mentally.. I have no idea." she admitted quietly as she turned her head as she regarded her daughter.

Rachael noted the look on her mom's face. "I don't have school tomorrow... or the following day." she explained with a smile.

"Ahh." she commented. "Where is Phoenix and her family?"

"I... have no idea.." she admitted as the nearby doors opened and in came Aryssa and her parents, Torilla didn't know who they were so she didn't move where as Rachael went over to meet them. "Hey guys. Fancy meeting you all here."

"We came once I got Jill into bed," Dorothy spoke as she came in fairly feebly on her cane. "How is she?"

Torilla rose to her feet as she stood up. "Hello, I'm Torilla Yamaguchi." she introduced herself in the human style. "I'm sorry we have to meet like this." she paused. "How's Phoenix doing... other then sleeping?" she inquired as she paused. "What happened to bring this on?" she inquired with a concerned look on her face.

Rachael paused as she watched her mother carefully, it didn't seem like Torilla was going to lose it as she wanted the explanation more then anything else. "Last time I saw Siaxx get mashed like this was her last boyfriend who cheated on her, she confronted him on it and he beat her senseless... " she explained. "she got her revenge later though..."

"I can only speculate at this point," Dorothy spoke with a shrug. "Warden Yeager's unknown arrival date has gotten Jill so wound up."

"That... An' she don' like the fact you're dying," Aryssa added.

"We think a lot of things just boiled over all at once," Blake added. "I'm Blake. My wife here is Dorothy. An' our youngest is Aryssa, by the way."

Torilla nodded as she gently shook hands with the three newcomers. "I knew something was bothering Siaxx.. but while she's normally blabby to me... she sat on this one..." she sighed softly. "she didn't tell me anything about Warden Yeager... who's that?" Torilla looked puzzled.

Rachael too didn't know who it was and Torilla noticed her daughter frowning. "Siaxx didn't tell you either?"

"No mom, she didn't tell me squat.." she turned to Dorothy. "Wait... back up... what's happening to you?" she looked at the older woman as clearly this was a surprise.

"Blood toxin is shutting down my body, Dear." Dorothy sat in a chair close to the bed and held Siaxx's hand warmly. As if the woman was yet another daughter of hers. "...What did Yeager tell you about Jill, Aryssa?"

"He told me she was a drunken whore that didn' want me when she got knocked up," Aryssa finally answered bitterly. "Been waitin' for the bitch to come clean... Instead she just lies 'bout it."

"I promise you, we'll sit down and discuss this as a family later. Deal?" Dorothy asked Aryssa.

"Yeah. Sure," Aryssa shrugged and leaned against the window.

"Right..." Dorothy took a deep breath and attempted to tell this story in a way any age could take it in. "Yes, Yeager is Aryssa's dad, and Jill is Aryssa's mom. I can confirm that there really wasn't any sort of willingness in that relationship, on Jill's part."

Torilla nodded her head as Rachael raised an eyebrow. "That explains a few things.." she admitted. "I keep hearing these nasty rumors about Phoenix... things that are just... wrong." she admitted. "of course.. I hear all but trust nothing..."

"Jill gets into fights often. So tha rumors are true... sorta," Aryssa tried to affirm. "A little less monster in the tales. More like a wounded dog. She cuddles as much as she bites."

"I don't need to say anything behind anyone's back... I prefer to say it to their face, at least they will respect me for it." she commented with a smile. "keeps the stress levels down and me, out of trouble."

Torilla meanwhile regarded Dorothy. "I've known Siaxx ever since about a year before Rachael was born, she came to me right out of medical school." she sighed as suddenly there was a soft moan as Siaxx woke up.

"Hey..." Torila smiled down at the Bolian who blinked. "Hey guys..." she breathed out as her dark eyes flickered open. "What happened?" as she focused. "Torilla...what are you doing here...wait.. where am I?"

"Hospital, Little One," Dorothy answered with concern. "How ya feeling?"

Siaxx blinked a few times as Torilla dimmed the lighting in the area by sixty percent to help the Bolian see better. "Thanks." she said to Torilla who nodded in silence. "Well... last thing I remember was apologizing to Jill... then her getting an odd look on her face and then advancing on me.... I don't remember anything after that..."

Rachael nodded her head. "Its probably a good thing that you don't.." she admitted softly.

How does a mom apologize for their offspring? Dorothy contemplated that greatly. She knew Phoenix was sorry. Distraught, really, over the beating she did to her lover. But was it Dorothy's place to correct that? No, as much as it pained the older woman to do it.

"There anything you'd like us ta get ya Little One?" Dorothy asked.

"No Mom... I'll be okay..." Siaxx responded softly, not relizing she had started thinking of Dorothy as her second mother but Torilla noticed as a smile graced her lips. "You need anything to eat or drink Siaxx?"

"No thanks Torilla... " Siaxx responded softly.

Dorothy just smiled as she rubbed the top of Siaxx's head gently. "Jill's resting. But when you're ready to see her, let me know."

"Alright.." Siaxx sighed softly as she blinked her eyes closed. "Before I nod off... what actually happened?" she inquired. "I mean how did I get here.... I don't remember." she inquired gently.

Rachael opened her mouth but stopped herself in time as she looked at Dorothy. "We should let you get some sleep Aunt Siaxx..."

"Mmm... nice try young one... but no dice..." Siaxx smiled with her eyes closed. "I can handle it..."

"Jillian beat ya in a fit of rage," Blake spoke, part of him still shocked with all of it.

"She's really tore up about it though," Dorothy explained sympathetically. "I know she's sorry and will apologize once the tranquilizer wears off."

"If my dad is such a prick, then why is our family lettin' him drive us all bonkers?" Aryssa voiced bitterly. "I don' like this fightin' with each other."

Torilla smiled as she regarded the teenager with a gentle smile. "Because he wants to divide you all from each other... to prevent you all working together to deal with him..."

Rachael nodded. "Of course... he must want something from you guys..." she paused. "but what....that is the question you guys need to chat among yourselves...."

"Yeah... I should be there for that conversation too." Siaxx said softly. "Aryssa.... you're a genius..." she added quietly.

"So you aren't mad at Jill for lossin' it on ya?" Aryssa shook her head in bafflement.

"No.." Siaxx commented. "Holding a grudge is pointless and wasteful Aryssa. It gets in the way of moving on and letting go." she added by way of explanation. "I had assumed that she had put me here when you mentioned she wasn't here." she added. "so what... exactly... happened?"

"She cried a lot, while hittin' ya," Aryssa answered as she tried to make sense of it all. "Hit ya twice in the face. An' in the stomach... Said she trusted ya an' felt betrayed."

Dorothy could only narrow her eyes at the teenager. Tact was never Aryssa's strong point.

"Once she saw what she did, Jill nearly went into a panic attack. So I sedated her to keep her calm," Dorothy explained. "She loves you a lot, Little One."

Siaxx slowly nodded her head. "She had cause." she commented. "Still... I normally tell Torilla here everything and I sat on this one.... I'm still rather proud of myself.... except I told Tressa because she is my doctor and she's sworn to silence on the matter...." the Bolian explained. "Only three... I must be slipping....or just getting weak and impotent." clearly her sense of humor was returning. "thish explains why 'alf me face is num'." she added.

Rachael chuckled softly. "At least Phoenix knocked you out at the same time..."

"I think the reason she didn't hit you any more times was in part because Rachael stopped her.... But also because she truly struggles to control that rage," Dorothy explained gently. "Hitting folks in a bar brawl carries a larger responsibility for her with that metal fist."

Rachael nodded. "I wanted to separate them... had I been paying attention, I could have stopped it." she commented. "I thought about throwing Phoenix across the room but that defiantly would have done more harm then good so... I pushed her away..." she sighed.

"Rachael... stop worrying about anyones errors, screw-ups or anything else.... what happened was going to happen anyway..." Siaxx commented. "in front of you or wherever... Jill...and I were going to have it out..." Siaxx commented softly. "looking back... I can see where my error in judgement caused the problem to start." the Bolian shrugged. "everything just .... snowballed from there.... isn't that the term humans prefer?"

"Jill also puts a lot on herself she don' need to," Blake offered. "She don' want folks helpin' her cause she fears them gettin' hurt. So she takes the brunt of a lot of bad stuff that happens."

Torilla nodded her head gently. "Sounds like a lot of things went nova all at once." she paused. "Siaxx... you should be released in a couple of hours time..." one of the medics came over. "Ahh... Lieutenant, you're awake..." the smaller human woman smiled as she did a quick check on the Bolian. "Well Siaxx... you're face is healing nicely." she commented. "I'm going to cut you loose after you get some sleep..."

"I can stay here with you if you like, Little One," Dorothy promised.

"Only if you haven't got anything more pressing." Siaxx's response was soft and quiet. "I don't want to be a distraction...it is late afterall.."

"I'd like to think my future daughter-in-law is a joy, not a distraction," Dorothy smiled brightly down at her.

"Alright.." Siaxx gave in as Torilla grinned. "Well when this does happen... save me a seat among the guests.... because this... I simply have to see."

"Torilla.. modest as always.... who said you were going to be a guest... Oh no... I have plans for you..." Siaxx said quietly with her eyes closed, a smile gently tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Torilla raised an eyebrow. "Well... before you cement those plans in stone... how about you and Phoenix resolve your issues.... lest she put you in here again or worse next time."

"If I know my daughter, she'll take steps to make sure she don't repeat this sort of violence," Dorothy spoke with conviction. "She aint the domestic violence sort."

Torilla nodded. "I've heard a great many things about Phoenix... she doesn't come across as the abusive type, more that she just wants to be left alone to do her own thing." she commented as she looked at her youngest. "Doubtless you've heard the same rumors I did except embellished by kids."

Rachael nodded her head. "I want to separate fact from fiction. besides... I hate other peoples drama and... that school is drowning in it." she sighed.

"I can't make excuses for her rage," Dorothy admitted painfully. "I do feel at fault when I hear of the more violent fights she's gotten into as well... I know she needs help to deal with her pain though. And I don't know how to do that."

"Bein' a parent an' watchin' your kid suffer helplessly aint ever a good thing to watch," Blake agreed.

"My folks are tryin' ta apologize for Jill, I think," Aryssa explained to the room.

Rachael listened to both people in order. "Jill will need to face it herself." she explained. "Sometimes stupid things happen and innocents or not so innocents get caught in the crossfire." she shrugged. "Siaxx made mistakes... Phoenix snapped..."

Torilla regarded Phoenix's parents as she nodded, clearly in agreement with her youngest. "Siaxx and Phoenix will need to discuss it themselves... if there is a chance for them to work it out..."

"Guess that's up to them." Dorothy looked to Siaxx and asked gently, "I can't blame you if you decide not continue in that relationship. But if you do, I'll do my best to help you."

Siaxx blinked her eyes open. "I'll keep that in mind.... but.... it might be too late anyway..." she sighed. "depends on Phoenix's mood.... which is dangerous at times."

"We'll let ya rest then, Little One - unless ya want me to stay with you while you sleep," Dorothy offered as she kissed Siaxx's forehead.

Siaxx nodded. "I won't demand your time and presence.... how long before I can go home?" she inquired.

"Doc wants you overnight." Torilla responded with a smile. "Phoenix too."

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