The Rescue OP.

Posted on Sat Oct 25th, 2025 @ 7:17pm by Captain Sean Loewen {Meji} & Lieutenant Griffon Resch & Lieutenant JG Ken Kudo {Meji} & Lieutenant JG T'Pri & Yui Kudo {Little Fox} {YuiFox}

Mission: The Inner Flame
Location: USS Capernum
Timeline: Current

ON:

Sean Loewen sat behind his desk in the Ready Room, leaning back far enough to use the headrest to catch little cat naps even as he continued to evaluate the current situation with the station. The three small craft he had sent out were now on their scrimmage line and watching for incoming missiles, with USS Capernum playing blocker with an extended shield bubble to protect a vulnerable portion of the station. He so wanted to go down to Sickbay and see Len, but he knew she was busy with the wounded aboard. So far, though, there had been no casualties aboard ship, just some serious injuries that he knew they could handle quickly and efficiently.

"Resch to Captain."

Sean sat up a bit more as he tapped his badge. "Loewen, here."

The Ready Room door swished open and in walked Griffon, tapping his badge twice to shut it off. "We have another problem, Captain." He turned his direction towards the briefing table, stopping on the opposite side from the wall where the monitor was housed, which he activated and tied his PADD into. He began tapping even as Sean got up and came over, stretching his back and arms from all the tension.

"Computer," Resch said. "Tactical overlay on the monitor, bird's eye view, M-69 and the Lagoon Nebula." The computer acknowledged and the screen changed to the overlay, the grid square image that of a tactical analysis. All pertinent facilities and ships were on the screen moving around, enemies and allies, but the data was showing to be logged over an hour ago. There were two dots far out of the battle zone, but still at short range. "The smaller dot was moving along at a casual cruising speed, Captain Kudo's X-wing. I can only assume she was scouting the perimeter for any further enemies. And, she found one. That larger dot appeared out of nowhere, and sensors show it was a Tvaro class BoP. It came out of cloak for less than two minutes and then cloaked and vanished. Look at the power readings on the X-wing, Captain."

Loewen had been studying the screen even as Resch had been relaying his information. The X-wing was at full power, then the Romulan ship appeared, and suddenly the X-wing was barely showing a power reading of any kind and showed to be adrift. "Any life signs?" Sean was working hard to remain calm because he knew that all that had happened could only end one of two ways. Either Ro was dead, or had been captured. Before he chose to say anything further he had decided to ask about life readings.

"Yes, Sir." Resch responded. "However, after checking the sensor logs, I was surprised to find two life signs in the X-wing, not just one. Now, adrift, there is only one. I haven't said anything to Kudo, yet, and I put myself up for discipline as I did not inform my XO of what I had found. With who Ro is to Ken, I chose to bring it to you first. Also, I checked the sensor logs for Ro's badge. It was in the X-wing, now it is not. It has disappeared from sight and scans."

Sean cursed under his breath, hands on hips as he paced around for a few moments. Finally, his hands dropped to his sides and he looked to his Security Chief. "So, Captain Kudo is now a prisoner of war?"

Resch gave a sheepish look. "Nothing confirmed yet, but that seems to be the case, Skipper. It makes me curious, though. Who else was in the fighter?"

Due to the strain of the past several hours, Loewen's mind was not working as sharp as usual, so it took a few moments for it to all crash into his brain and provide the only piece of information that was logical. "Shit! Yui!"

"Damn it!" Resch said, perturbed that that idea had not occurred to him as well. "Why the hell would she have Yui with her, though?"

"That doesn't matter right now, Griff. What matters is getting out there to see who it actually is in that fighter." Loewen, after offering that, tapped his badge. "Lieutenant Kudo, report to the Ready Room immediately. Loewen, out."

Resch gave a frustrated sigh. "Prepare yourself, Sean. I don't think he is going to take this well."

"Would you?" Sean shot back at his friend before he brought an apologetic hand up. "Sorry, sorry. Long day, and all."

The door swished open and Ken walked in and, seeing the two officers standing near to the briefing table he came over even as his eyes looked to the monitor for the few moments it took to join them. "You want to see me, Captain?" His eyes had finally caught up with the monitor, a repeating section of a time stamp from the sensor logs. His eyes widened and then squinted as he took in the information. He said nothing as he now realized why he had been called here, and would now wait for the Captain to confirm it.

"Ken, we have a situation, as I see you have noticed on the screen. According to the sensors, Captain Kudo, your wife Ro, has been abducted by enemy forces." Sean said this with the authority of a commanding officer, but there was a tone of apology and sorrow over this having happened. "I'm sorry, Ken, but the evidence suggests that. However, that is not the only reason you're in here. That X-wing still has a life reading, and if Ro was taken, we came to the conclusion that that other life form could possibly be Yui."

Kudo took all that in, hands clasped behind his back as his internal turmoil began. The stoic, all business Ken Kudo had returned. He stood quietly, his eyes going back and forth slowly between Captain and Security Chief while his mind came to grips with the news. It was unwise to overreact and if Yui was out there then he had to maintain composure so he would be given leave to go get her.

"Nothing?" Resch asked, a look of surprise on his face as Ken did not react at all. But, looking into those brown eyes of Ken's, Griff could see that Kudo was dealing with it internally.

"Griff," Loewen said. "Ease back. Give him a moment."

"No need, Captain," Ken said. "May I go out and see if it's her? If not, we still need to collect the X-wing and not allow others to make off with it. I can easily take another Delta out there, Captain."

"Resch, you agree to that?" Sean asked. "You'll be XO while he's gone is why I ask."

"Go get your daughter, Ken." Resch said. "I suggest a couple of security officers and a medic. They'll be waiting in the main shuttlebay when you arrive. Go armed, Ken, and shoot to kill if need be."

Kudo gave a nod to that, all his joy in life now on hold. First, rescue his daughter if it was her. Second, find who is responsible and kill their entire species. The Samurai he was was ready to go OG on anyone even partially responsible for his wife's capture. He hoped pain was something they enjoyed. "Captain, may I also take a few personal weapons?"

"Such as," Loewen asked.

"My katana, wakizashi, and tanto." Kudo answered simply.

"Permission granted, Lieutenant. Now, get going. Dismissed."

Kudo gave a nod and spun around, walking out with his back ramrod straight.

***

Going to his quarters quickly, Ken changed into Starfleet black combat fatigues, the chest armor, and all-terrain combat boots. In his wardrobe he brought out his Samurai sash, tying it around his waist over the equipment belt, adjusted so he could still pull a tricorder and PADD from it without difficulty. The tactical holster was not in the way on his right hip/thigh, so he checked the sidearm's charge, found it ready, and holstered it after setting it to thermal level five. It may not disintegrate anyone, but it could kill with a torso shot, and cook flesh to black when striking non-vital areas. Today, this Starfleet officer was not here to spare lives, he was here to take them. Checking that he was ready with all he needed, Ken Kudo left his quarters for the main shuttle bay. Arriving, he met with the three others, boarded the Delta Flyer, and after a few minutes were on their way to the coordinates for the X-wing.

***

Still about twenty minutes out from the target vessel at this speed, Ken leaned back in his chair with his back straight. Not for ease for himself, but for the muscles in his back. The security boys and the medic were all sitting around the cockpit area/Bridge. He checked the chrono again, for the third time in a minute, his eyes scanning the console to make sure all was still well...for the third time in a minute.

"I think it's cool the Captain let you use Samurai weapons, Lieutenant. I mean, I read you are Japanese, but do you actually know how to use them?" This was someone Ken did not recognize, probably a newbie assigned during one of the crew rotations. Ken noted that the other two, whom he recognized, were closing their eyes and shaking their heads slightly at the man's brazen attitude. Ken taught Japanese sword techniques to those who were interested, and they had seen him not only use his own blades for a demonstration, but then he also chose to bludgeon people with the wooden Bokken. Not too hard, but enough to remember for the next lesson.

Ken turned his head to look directly into the man's eye's casual as could be. "I am Samurai, Ensign. My family can trace their service all the way back to 12th century Japan. On that note, were this 12th century Japan, I would decapitate you where you sit for questioning my honor." Kudo motioned forward out the viewport. "The craft we are going to may have my young daughter aboard. That would mean I am not in the best of moods. So, before I do something to ruin my career and end yours, please, shut up." He saw the man swallow hard, and then avert his eyes to anywhere but on Ken. The last stretch of the trip was completely quiet unless it had to do with business.

On approach, slowing his speed considerably, Kudo was looking at the darkened fighter. With the way the canopy had a black tint to it made it difficult to see inside the X-wing's cockpit. "You," Ken pointed at the man who had questioned his use of swords. "Scan the fighter and lock on to the life form. When I say so, beam them to the transporter pad in the aft." He looked to the others. "You two get set to tow the fighter back to 69." Without another word he stood up and went into the back.

"Friendly guy," the muppet said, rolling his eyes. "Guy needs some leave time, like yesterday."

"Ya know," said the woman assigned as the EMT. "If I didn't like my job so much I'd toe kick you right in the junk. Also, Doctor Holbrook will receive a report on your conduct, Ensign. You think Ken's bad? Wait until you're on the rug in front of the Captain."

"Or, worse yet," said the other guy. "Lieutenant Resch. I hear one more thing about Ken, I write my own report to OUR boss. Griffon and Ken are best friends, just so you know."

"Oh..." The Muppet got real quiet, real quick.

Then, the speakers sounded. "I am waiting, Ensign. What's the hold-up?"

"One moment, Sir. I got distracted helping the others." His hands worked the controls and he did the scan, locking onto the life form over there. "We're good, Sir. Ready when you are."

In the back, Ken got down on a knee right next to the transporter pad so he could easily pick his daughter up from the floor. Deciding to ease off on the Ensign since he was now able to cope better with his own personal situation, Kudo spoke up. "Thank you, Ensign," he said in a more pleasant tone than previously. "Energize." Within moments the shimmering sound, and then light show for the transporter flared in the small pad chamber, depositing a little girl inside, her back to Ken, a tube of ration paste and a bottle of water in her hands

Yui, sitting in the cockpit on the floorboard, had not noticed the Delta Flyer approaching, and Cosmo was still out cold. In her search to find a way to do something, Yui had suddenly become hungry. So, digging into the ration hold for the lifeboat, she got herself a squeeze tube of ration paste and a bottle of water. The ration hold just so happened to be under the seat, and why she had ended up sitting on the floor. So, setting the bottle down she looked at the tube of paste and opened it. Sniffing the top, her nose especially acute since her seizures and changes, it smelled nasty but it was all she had. Still not used to her new strength Yui gave the base of the tube a squeeze, just a tad too much of a squeeze, and a larger glop of orange-ish goo came out. Before it ran down to her hand Yui stuck her mouth over the opening and sucked the goo up so as not to make a mess of the ship or herself. The moment that goo hit her tongue Yui began to do the heave, swallowing the goo quickly so as not to taste it anymore since she did not want to spit it out in mom's ship. She closed the tube, still doing the gagging occasionally as she worked fast to get the water open. Once done she drank the whole ten ounce bottle down in one go, making sure to rinse her tongue, belching like a seasoned pirate after. Then, she felt weird and heard a strange hum even as the X-wing around her faded from sight. When she could see again, Yui sat in what looked like a shower stall, facing a wall, looking up, down, and side to side.

"Hello." Kudo said from behind the girl. She wore pigtails like Ro wanted for Yui, which he was fine with. They had become quite the staple of Japanese girl fashion over the centuries. Not unusual to see others wearing them. However, why was this girl in his wife's cockpit?

Yui, hearing that voice and knowing exactly who it was, used her feet to spin herself around on her bottom and face him, the paste tube and empty water bottle still held fast in both her hands. The moment she laid eyes on him her bottom lip began to quiver, her mouth screwing up into a face of sorrow, the tube and bottle tossed aside as she realized he did not recognize her. "Papa, it's me! Yui!" She got up and jumped into his arms, latching on and hugging him tight even as she began to sob and cry into his chest.

Ken was still catching up with her saying she was Yui even as he hugged her back, not sure what exactly was happening. But, despite his own confusion he still hugged the girl. She kept pushing into him with a strength he had not expected, until he could not lean back any more and teetered onto his back. This Yui ended up knelling next to his torso, her knees near to his waist, her hands on his chest as she lightly slapped at it in anger and frustration.

"It's me, Papa! Uncle Manny took me to his ship when mama dropped me off to be watched." Yui continued to cry, but at least it was not heaving sobs that kept her from being able to talk.

Just as Ken went to address this news, the speaker sounded. "Everything alright back there, Sir?"

"It's fine, thank you. Get the tractor beam going and let's get moving." Kudo ordered. "I'm speaking with our guest now." He heard the channel close, then looked to the girl. "Okay, you are far bigger than Yui was last time I saw her. And, you can speak. She could not do that last I saw her, let alone walk. How can I trust this?"

"Because, dad, you were the first one to change my diaper when you brought me home. Mama was tired and just needed to relax, so you took care of me. Who else would know that?" Tears still fell from her eyes but their frequency was slowing and the crying had pretty much ceased.

"Yui...how?" His hand made an up and down gesture at her before he got sat up in the cross-legged position, his daughter copying him and sitting right in front of him.

"Call Manny, Papa. He can explain, along with Doctor Nazarov." Yui then stopped and tilted her head. "I was in the eggpod when I got on the ship, then this happened." She motioned at herself. "Do you have something to eat?"

"Something to...right now?" Ken gave a crooked, confused grin. "Can we wait a minute, I'm still catching up, here. So, this new you is natural? No one gave you anything to enhance it?"

"Doctor Nazarov says, how did he put it...oh, yes. I am growing in a similar fashion to that of a Jem'Hadar, just at a slower rate. They can speak and are cognitive at one day. Me, I took a week." Yui was wiping her face with a towel she had grabbed, getting the tear tracks off. "Can I have some food now?"

Kudo grinned at her, really paying attention to her face and eyes. The thing about eyes was that they were the same size all your life. From birth to death, the actual eyeball never grew since they stayed the same size for life. So, he was really examining her face for any hint of who she had been as a baby. And, a few moments of scrutiny, he saw the baby behind the new face. But, Yui's eyes were yui's eyes. "Come here." He reached out and grabbed her wrists and then pulled her into an embrace, this time causing her to giggle as she hugged him back. "So good to see you, Little Fox. We have some catching up to do. So sorry I did not recognize you but, in my defense, mom had you while I was away."

"True," Yui admitted. "Still..." The lip began to quiver again. "They took her."

Ken had Yui stand back while he readjusted to being in a kneeling position, sitting up on his knees. "Stop crying. It does her no good, Yui." He gently pulled her to stand right in front of him. then cupped her face in both hands. "Listen to me, daughter. I will find your mother, dead or alive, you have my word. You are clan Kudo, never forget that. Ever. If she dies we honor that death no matter how sad it makes us. We must always remain strong and ready to defend, and avenge, those we love."

"Are you going to kill them, father?" As Yui asked this Ken noted that her eyes became hyper-focused, as if the very idea of taking their lives thrilled her in some part of her being. He also did not miss the slightest upturn in the corners of her mouth as she gave a subtle grin at the thought, dipping her chin slightly as she looked him in the eye. Her stance showed that she was ready to join him in this quest.

"Perhaps," said Kudo. "For now, we get you home and get her X-wing aboard and find out what's wrong with Cosmo. Could be something as simple as a system reset." He looked her up and down with a grin. "That outfit will not do. Food and clothing while we head back to the Capernum. Come." He got to his feet and moved about with his daughter, first getting her something to eat, and then he scanned her sizes and used the replicator to create her some proper clothing. Track suits were for wearing around home. The outfit was black and red with a sleeveless red blouse on under a flat black leather Japanese style sleeveless tunic complete with buckles and straps on the front. The skirt was layered, with black over red lace, and came down to just above her knees, maybe an inch at most. Next, thigh high black socks, not stockings. No daughter of his would dress like a tramp. He had let her decide on the color of her knickers, but then created a pair of Underarmor shorts and handed them to her. "Underwear first, then these go over the top of them, understood?" She nodded that she did. The final item was a pair of ankle high Doc Martin style black boots with a non-slip sole. "Go in the bathroom and get changed. You can keep the track suit for home use. When you come out I will be up front, through that door." He chinned at the entry door. Ken thumbed over his shoulder. "That one is the aft hatch so don't open it." He gave her a smile and a wink. "Go on."

Once Yui entered the bathroom, Kudo went back up front, explaining to his people that his daughter was fine, but that a medical tricorder check-up should be conducted. After about fifteen minutes Yui came in from the back, but she now carried a pink and white backpack over one shoulder, the back of the backpack complete with the white, cute face of a Japanese fox. Kudo did not say a word, just reached out for his daughter, who gladly set her backpack down and climbed onto his lap. The EMT did the health and welfare check, exclaiming that Yui's health was perfect and she had no issues she could find. Now safe in her dad's arms, Yui leaned back on him like a lounger, her body completely relaxed. The disappearance of her mother still bothered Yui, but papa had said to be brave and not to cry. Being with her dad was far different than being with mom. He expected obedience, obviously. Mom did too but she was not as blunt about it. He was the head of the household and the representative of his clan, so Yui and mom were now a part of that due to his bloodline. Not to respect him would be to dishonor him.

***

The Delta's aft hatch opened and folded down to become a ramp to descend to the shuttle bay deck, where they had just landed minutes before. They broke apart as a group, with Yui and Ken making their way through the ship to his quarters, and since the shuttle bay was in the primary hull it made the trip to their home that much quicker. They entered the common room, with Yui looking around at all the Japanese memorabilia. "Wow," she said, looking at all the Gojira (Godzilla) items mixed in with other things. A full suit of black and red Samurai armor over in a corner, along with various ancient weapons from the Nippon archipelago. Dressing down from the armor, Ken removed his blades and made sure to hang them back on the wall where he had taken them from in their scabbards. As he went to put the tanto in its place he stopped and turned to look back at Yui, who was distracted by waving her hand in front of a Godzilla statuette he had created himself. It was motion sensitive so when anyone walked by too close then Godzilla would turn to watch them, giving his threat display of his back spines lighting up from the tip of his tail all the way to the top of his head. The thing stood 18 inches tall and was very detailed. One of his finest pieces. "Yui, here." He held the dagger out by the tip of its scabbard, hilt towards her. "Put that in your backpack and leave it there. A side pocket or something. Never be unprepared, daughter."

Yui, eyes wide open in wonder, slowly came forward in a clear state of awe. Reaching her little hand out she grasped the hilt and pulled the blade to herself as her dad let go of it, taking it in both hands as her left held onto the scabbard. "Domo arigato, father."

"You're very welcome. If I find that blade tarnished or in need of care you will never get another from me. I mean that--never. Are we clear?" Self-discipline started with taking care of one's own belongings properly.

"Yes, father." Yui took the dagger over and placed it inside her backpack, the inner large pocket, and then zipped it back up. "Where to now?"

"The Bridge," Kudo said. "Later, when the crisis is over, I'll take you to Sickbay to say hello to Len. She's the Doctor who delivered you, she and her staff." Going to a knee he waved her in, which she did. Reaching up he cupped her face again, leaning in and kissing her forehead before looking her in the eyes. "I love you, daughter, with all I am. My joy at you being here is beyond measure." His hands came down from her face as he clasped her hands in his. "We will find mom. It will take time. So, until then, you have no choice but to live with me. Is that something you want?"

"Yes." Her chin dropped to her chest, Yui's expression sad at the mention of her mother, but she did not cry.

Kudo broke into a big smile and jumped up to his feet as he scooped her up into his arms and gave her a big hug, laughing and then using his chin to growl and pretend he was trying to eat her belly while rubbing it back and forth to tickle her. Yui squealed with joy, trying to fight off the fun assault but making sure to not use too much of her strength. To look and feel like a normal girl as she played with her father. Pulling his head back, Ken continued to laugh along with his daughter. He set her down on her feet, helped to adjust her clothing back to proper, then looked down at his creation. "Welcome home, Little Fox." He raised his left hand out to her and she took it. "Come," Ken said with a grin. They left their quarters together, the same VIP suite they had moved into when Yui was first born.

***

The lift ascended quickly, with Kudo reaching out to stop it. "Yui, wait just outside the lift when we arrive. We are in red alert, so children are not normally allowed on the Bridge, even when not in battle. If the Captain says you need to leave you must do so, okay?" He got a nod of understanding. "Good. Mind your manners, please." Tapping the controls, the lift moved again, and in moments they arrived at the command deck as the door slid open. Kudo felt Yui take his hand again as they stepped out, the first to look at them being Griffon Resch since his station was right next to the lift as Security Chief.

Resch looked at Ken and gave a nodding grin until his eyes went down to the little girl. His gaze immediately went back up to Ken's face, askance. Kudo gave an expression of; I'll explain. So, Griff let it pass even as he announced the new arrivals. "Child on the Bridge."

Yui saw the Bridge. It was awesome! Then, her eyes met those of the man to their left at his post. She noted his look of confusion as he saw her, then the expression of confusion being sent back to her father through this man's eyes. It made her feel uncomfortable and ashamed so she gripped her dad's hand a bit firmer and scooched in next to his thigh, her father being her security blanket. The stranger announced SHE was here; CHILD on the Bridge. With no mention of her father. That, too, made her feel singled-out, different...broken. Tears began to well up in her eyes and she hid her face against dad's leg.

When the announcement was made about the new arrivals to the Bridge, Loewen looked over even as he was swinging his chair around to face them and get to his feet. "Ken, welcome back," Sean said as he came over to greet them. He saw no baby in Kudo's arms, just a girl next to his leg who was currently hiding her face from scrutiny. His Meji training had him remain casual, with any assumptions kept to the side. "This must be Yui?"

"It is, Captain." Ken said. When Yui did not present herself Ken looked down to where she was, seeing her hiding her face in his pant leg and peeking out with one eye. "There have been changes but Yui is still Yui." He let go of her hand and knelt down to face his daughter, seeing tears forming. "What's wrong, Yui? The Captain wants to meet you."

Yui broke out crying, speaking through the opening waterworks. "Papa, why am I broken?" She stepped in and began to sob, this time hiding her face against her dad's neck as she wanted so badly to leave right now, hugging him tight about the neck. Her dad lifted her up in his arms, turning to face the Captain, thus hiding her face from view as she was now looking behind him at the lift door.

"Sorry, Sir, she has been through a lot, as you can see." Kudo said.

"No need to apologize, Ken. Everything she is feeling is perfectly understandable." Loewen replied. "Yui, if you can hear me or care to listen. Welcome aboard, sweetheart. And, welcome home."

T'Pri had watched the first few moments of the interaction, then she reached out and grabbed a tricorder and stood up, moving over to the group. She said nothing to anyone, acting as if she was scanning the outer lift control panel, surreptitiously glancing Yui's way to see if she was being watched. The girl seemed to slow on sobbing, and then went to just rolling tears even as the men kept talking. Yui swiped away tears from her eyes with a hand so she could better see what T'Pri was doing, the body language indicating such even as Yui tried to play it off. Part of being a diplomatic officer was the ability to read the room, as it were. This little girl was no different. She just needed something else to focus her mind on while the adults talked about her.

"I'm the one who needs to apologize, Ken." Resch admitted. "I did give her a strange look. It's just unexpected, that's all."

Kudo held a hand up to stop them both. "Gentlemen, please. It's okay. I did the same thing and she's my daughter. It took a minute to adjust. I think it just bothers her being under so much scrutiny and looked at like some creature rather than Yui Tamiko Kudo." Though he said this with a neutral tone, Ken was trying to get a message across that it needed to stop. He hoped it would be received since Griffon and Sean were both dear friends, as were so many others. Kudo was kind of excited to introduce Yui to Ejo, since they were also friends to a point and she was his CEO.

T'Pri, in her peripheral, caught Yui trying to see what was on her screen, but trying to be subtle about and show she did not care. This showed the Vulcan that this girl was quite intelligent, and knew how to manipulate circumstances. She turned her head slightly as she could feel she was now being watched, and her gaze met that of Yui. Of course, T'Pri was her stoic, Vulcan self, but did allow a bit of mirth to enter into her expression, to soften her appearance for the girl.

Yui locked eyes with the woman with pointed ears. Her nose began to twitch and Yui huffed a few times to commit the scent to memory. Mint tea. This woman smelled like mint tea and incense. "You smell good." Yui said. She sat up in dad's arms, her crying now a thing of the past.

"There she is," Ken said with a smile, again turning his body so that all could see her face and she could see all of them.

T'Pri, hearing what Yui said, gave a nod of thank you even as they all adjusted to see each other and speak. "May I?" She asked, looking at Ken in regards to taking Yui. Kudo checked with Yui, who vigorously nodded yes, but wiggled to get put on the floor. So, the girl was placed on the floor, standing among them, moving over closer to T'Pri even as her eyes kept dancing to the tricorder in her hand.

Yui got set down, her attention on the Vulcan and the device in her hand. She wanted it, to see it and see how it functioned. Then, she heard dad clear his throat and she looked up at him. "Mind your manners, Yui. You were upset, now you are not. Greet them properly."

So, Yui did just that, turning to Loewen first. "Hello Captain. A pleasure to meet you." She gave a respectful bow. Turning her eyes to the Security station, Yui queried. "Your name, Sir?" He answered with a smile. "Griffon Resch."

"Hi Griffon." Yui said even as her eyes went to T'Pri. Were there Japanese space people? Because this woman looked very asian simply due to poise, hairstyle, and the way she dressed in the Starfleet blue dress with knee-high boots. "And, you, ma'am?" This woman had beautiful black hair Yui noted. Maybe she could talk her into pigtails and bows like she was wearing?

"I am T'Pri. It is agreeable to meet you, Yui."

"You, too," Yui responded. Due to fluctuating memories from her genetics, and her instinctual traits, Yui raised her right hand and gave the Vulcan salute. "Peace and long life, T'Pri."

T'Pri, impressed by this, arched her eyebrow and raised her own hand in salute. "Live long and prosper, Yui." Both of them dropped their hands to rejoin the group chat.

"I'm sorry I cried," Yui stated. "I am different but I am not a freak or a monster."

"Well said," offered Loewen, extending his hand to Yui, who took hold of it and shook hands with a big smile. Atta girl, Sean thought to himself. Having the Captain in her corner would greatly increase the acceptance she would receive from the crew of Capernum. On a personal note it made Loewen eager for the arrival of his own child. "You have any issues with my crew, Yui, you bring it to me. I will deal with it."

"Okay," said Yui, not sure how to take that. What would his crew try to do to her? Maybe keeping her backpack close was a good idea.

T'Pri stepped in next to the girl as she was looking at the Captain, lowering her hand and presenting her folded tricorder to Yui by putting it within eyesight. "Go ahead, take it." When Yui took hold of the device T'Pri let her have it, then placed a light hand on her shoulder and steered her towards the SCI station. "Come, I'll show you some things while the men talk." Glancing at Kudo, getting a positive nod, T'Pri then led Yui away.

Griffon was on his feet now so they could close the huddle and speak softly. What they did not know was that Yui could hear every word they said. "She's a cutey. Well, we now know you'll produce good looking children, Ken." A round of chuckles.

"Yeah, I think I'll keep her," Ken quipped. "I'm just curious about a great many things. She just...knows stuff. One moment she seems ignorant to things like any child is, and then out of nowhere she hits you with pearls of intellect and wisdom. I'm adjusting to it because it means she takes after her mother in that regard. It honestly makes me love her more."

"Not a bad thing, Ken." Sean said. "Even had she not grown like this, as a newborn, you would still have to learn who she is. What she is capable of. Now, you have a jumpstart and can ask her how she feels, what she feels, if anything is bothering her like what happened here. She fears being different to the point of being shunned as odd, weird...freakish."

"Skipper's got a point, my friend," Resch added. "It could affect her psyche, her way of viewing the world. I've seen that kind of thing turn the nicest people into absolute monsters. Some are able to shrug it off, others not so much. Again, apologies for my own lapse in judgement on that."

"Stop apologizing, Griff." Ken shook his head with a grin. "Captain, please let Len know that she is who she is now, and to be gentle in how she may ask things in regards to Yui's new self. She's a Doctor and knows how to talk to patients, no doubts there, but...I'm still working out some kinks myself. Until I can actually sit and talk to Yui at length on this, I myself have very few ideas on how to proceed. Father and daughter will learn together, as we go."

Loewen smiled. "Wise choice. You two need to figure this out first between yourselves, then worry about outside interference. I have to say, I like her very much. Consider Len and I god-parents. If anything happens to you while her mother is still missing, we'll look after her. I'll have the legal documents on standby if you agree to that."

Kudo shook the Captain's hand. "Pardon this breach of protocol. Thank you, Sean. I will consider it."

"You know I'll look out for her, too, Ken, when you're not around." Offered Resch. "Not on your death, but anytime I see her. I owe her a sitdown so I can explain myself. The polite thing to do."

Sean glanced around, his ship still sitting at red alert despite all this going on. The battle was not over but it seemed that Capernum was in a quiet spot as the battle had moved away from the station. Thank God for that. "Alright, we need to get back to work. I sent word that Captain Kudo is MIA, with a possible capture by enemy forces." His head turned to look at Yui with T'Pri at Science, then he came back to Ken. "Mister Kudo, considering it's quiet, I will allow Yui to remain on the Bridge. The moment things pick up she is to head for the Ready Room and remain there until you come get her. Show her how to get there quickly by accessing the small corridor to the port side of the viewport to get to the lavatory and the Ready Room."

"Yes, Sir." Kudo answered.

The men broke huddle and got back to work. Ken did show Yui where things were and then allowed her to go back to visit with T'Pri. She seemed to enjoy playing with gadgets and, if anyone could keep her from doing unacceptable things it was T'Pri.

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