Can She Stay? (Part 2)

Posted on Thu Sep 11th, 2025 @ 3:56am by Captain Maho Takahashi & Commander Ichika Misono & Lieutenant Commander Kurumi Ebisuzawa & Lieutenant Commander Brennyn Scott M.D.

1,252 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: The Next Myogi
Location: Kurumi's Quarters
Timeline: After 'Can She Stay? (Part 1)'

Previously, on Star Trek: Myogi:

With everyone now present. "I presume you've already worked out why I've asked you all to come this evening?" Kurumi asked softly.

"The kid." Maho sighed. "In fact, I anticipated to be outnumbered on this one, and have come prepared with talking points:"

"I don't think sending her away is going to be any good for her." Kurumi stated simply. "She's lost everyone and everything and all she has is me. If I send her somewhere, no doubt she'll feel abandoned again and it'll cause long lasting phycology issues. Nor what we want for a young child."

And now, the continuation:

"Commander, I took the liberty of looking into your personnel file for some of these talking points; and I know about Daiki and Hiroshi." Maho said. "I won't mince words, Commander: The Myogi is getting up there in years, closer to the age of the Amesbury when she was destroyed. Yes, we had a modernization, but that was fifteen years ago. Couple that with the fact that we still don't know exactly what the Iconians are capable of, and my position on this is clear: I don't want you to be in a position where history repeats itself. The Amesbury survivors had a hard enough time getting you into an escape pod, and letting you drag a few innocent officers down with you in your suicide is not an option."

"I know you'd say that." Kurumi stated. "However, we're not yet at war. And this ship is less likely to be on the front lines. We're not a combat vessel Captain." She stated. "It's likely Starfleet will send more combat orientated ships to the front lines. That lesson was learnt in the Dominion War." Kurumi explained. "I know its not a guarantee, but I won't make that mistake again."

"Allow me to put it another way, Commander," Ichika proposed. "Is there so much as the slightest doubt in your mind that the Myogi is the safest place for your daughter, both now and going forward? Because if there is, then it may behoove you to consider taking an extended leave of absence until all of this blows over."

Kurumi shook her head. "I can't just up and leave." She said. "I'm the best Security/Tactical Officer this ship has. Plus, I'm not one to sit on the sidelines when others are putting their lives at risk." She explained to them all.

She turned to Maho. "May I ask Captain. Will you be sending your new born daughter away once she's born?"

"I have indeed spoken with Keisuke about the possibility of- once the baby is able to travel- sending him back to Earth with her." Maho replied. "Commander, just because we're not likely to be on the front line doesn't mean it won't ever happen. The New Orleans class, despite its age, can still be a viable weapons platform, and we could get called upon if things get dire enough."

Maho took a sip of her tea.

"The simple fact of the matter is this:" She continued after she set her tea down. "Unless the Iconians were to suddenly sue for peace tomorrow, which is highly unlikely, I cannot 100% guarantee the safety of Yaeka or my own daughter. I don't even think I could confidently 75% guarantee it, which would be my minimal percentage of safety guarantee to allow civilians on board."

"Safety isn't guaranteed on any starship at any time. We all know that when we put on the uniform." Kurumi replied. "However, I invited our counsellor here to help with this decision. You see..." she paused and lowered her gaze. "It's not just Yaeka that needs me to heal... it works both ways. I've found more purpose since I took her in. I know she can never replace what I lost... but the fact is... I need her too."

Bree had listened quietly to the discussion as valid points were made. She had gone back-and-forth in her own mind several times, but knew she had to offer an opinion that would be in everyone‘s interests. “That’s the aspect of this that concerns me, frankly. While I recognize the bond the two of you share and don’t consider changing that connection lightly, I think you’d agree with me the most important thing is to prioritize what is best for Yaeka over the needs of any adults in her life. She has enough healing to do without even an unspoken expectation she should remain here in part to benefit someone else. I respect your desire not to give up your career, but serving as a child’s guardian is going to require some degree of sacrifice, even if the child is psychologically well adjusted, which isn’t the case right now. Given her strong attachment to you and her precarious attachment to anyone else, as well as her current psychological state, what sorts of sacrifices are you preparing to make if you remain her guardian?“

"She has a point, Commander:" Maho said. "Given what has been discussed thus far, there seems to be only one way forward for you to have your desired outcome; and that is for me to seriously consider the possibility of removing both of you from the Myogi if you are both unable and unwilling to separate."

Maho knew she was playing hardball- essentially putting Kurumi on the spot and making her choose either Yaeka or the Myogi- but given the current state of the galaxy, chances Maho was willing to take just a few weeks prior were now ones that Maho refused to take, and she needed to be crystal clear that this tine, Kurumi would not be able to have her cake and eat it too.

That hot hard, very hard. A silence fell upon the room only broken by a small voice from the doorway that led into the bedroom. There stood Yaeka. She looked at them with those big brown eyes and said softly. "You're sending me away? I don't... want to go away..."

"Oh, no, nothing like that, Sweetheart!" Ichika insisted as she got up and made her way over to Yaeka. "We have absolutely no intention of abandoning you; but right now, we have no way of guaranteeing that the Myogi will continue to be a safe place for you; the fact of the matter is that there's some very dangerous people out there-possibly even more dangerous than Ambrose Hartley- and if something were to happen to you-!"

She dipped her head. "Well... I don't think any of us here want to consider that even being a possibility; but I can say with certainty that we'd never forgive ourselves if you got hurt because we put you in the line of fire."

Yaeka trotted over to Kurumi and grabbed her arm tightly. She buried her head into Kurumi. "I'm safe with Kurumi." Her muffled voice said. She shyly looked out. "She promised to keep me safe." She said to the others before hiding her face again and clutching harder to Kurumis clothing.

"And you will be, dear." Maho said. "All this would mean is that you and Commander Ebisuzawa would be relocated- together" She put special emphasis on the word together. "To a place that can better protect the two of you than we can here."

"But... this is... home." Yaeka sniffled. "My home."

To be continued...

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