2410.05.22 Oto-san and Oka-san

Japanese Help:
Oto-san - Father
Oka-san - Mother
Onigiri - Rice Ball- a popular Japanese food
Moshi-moshi - Hello greeting on a phone (or a video link)
Konichiwa gozaimasu - proper greeting- 'Konichiwa' is a shortened version
-chan - nickname add-on for close friends who are girls
=blah blah blah= - speaking Japanese.

Aanor Hagen can't quite speak English; Japanese is the only Teran language that he actually got the hang of. Kirimi Hagen can't speak English either.

Location: Briefly Sickbay, Gen's shared quarters
Characters: Gen Hagen, Mr. and Mrs. Hagen

Finally, it was break time for Gen. It couldn't come too soon. The past few days the half-Betazoid was hard at work with treating the large number of patients that had flowed into Sickbay during and after the battle for the Space Station Horizon.

Gen informed a nearby nurse of her leaving and went quickly to her designated quarters. Most people would have gone to the gym or the lounge, but the Doctor only wanted to avoid people for the moment. After Lieutenant Drake's assault on her mind, which she had to admit was in part her fault for snooping where she wasn't wanted, she didn't believe she could stand to be in the presence of others at the time.

She entered into her quarters, which she shared with a roommate. Luckily her shift would still be in effect during Gen's break and they would not see each other for a while... that's what Gen wanted.

With a huge sigh the half-Betazoid fell face-first onto her bed without even removing her boots or her tricorder upon entry. It was a huge thing in Japan to remove footwear when entering a room or residence, but Gen just felt too spent to even do that simple thing; that was also true for the medical tricorder.

She groaned and grabbed her pillow, hugging it close while curling up into a ball. To break the link to Sade Drake's mind she which had caused her so much distress Gen's own brain had put up what she and her family called a Panic Barrier. Whenever she felt under too much stress the Barrier went up and it was very difficult to take down. Without the subtle readings that naturally radiated from all around her Gen felt, to a certain extent, blind.

But did she really want to remove the Barrier this time? After an attack like that it made someone want to leave it up and never put themselves in that sort of position again. She was afraid of getting hurt instead of just traumatized. She was scared.

A grumbling sound came from Gen's stomach, which startled her. She hadn't eaten for a while and she knew she would need it to continue working efficiently in Sickbay. She couldn't afford to make mistakes based on distractions like fatigue or hunger... or mental unease.

With a sigh the half-Betazoid pushed herself up and went toward the replicator.

"Computer," she said clearly, "Onigiri with salted seaweed wrapping and crab meat filling with dipping sauce."

There was an acknowledging sequence of beeps and in a yellowish shimmer a rectangular plate with two riceballs that had been molded into triangular shapes appeared in the slot; as per to her request, the riceballs were wrapped in deep green dried seaweed and there was a small disk at the edge of the plate that was filled with a dark brown, almost black liquid.

"Thanks," she mumbled, taking the plate. It may have only been a computer, but Gen just couldn't go without saying "thank you". It felt a little weird, but she knew that it would somehow feel weirder to her not saying it.

She went to her table and sat down with her plate before her. In front of her there was a screen for writing reports, reading electronic letters, and video conversations.

Biting her bottom lip nervously the hybrid quickly tapped the screen and called her home. Time on the Dauntless was different from Japan on Earth, but if she was right it should only be breakfast time there.

The screen blipped on to show her father's face. Aanor Hagen had the appearance of a bright blonde European - particularly French, which a lot of people seemed to associate him with. The only thing was that he was pure Betazoid; that was clearly evident in his eyes for the irises were dark, almost a black color.

When Mr. Hagen saw who had called his face immediately beamed in excitement.

"Ah, moshi-moshi Gen-chan!" he greeted cheerfully.

Gen was helpless against a smile that grew on her own face. "Konichiwa gozaimasu, oto-san," she returned.

Aanor grinned and turned to look off-screen. =Kirimi! Kirimi-chan!= he called. = Our daughter is on videolink!=

In an instant Kirimi Hagen - or Hagen Kirimi as surenames often went first in Japan - was standing beside her husband, a whole foot and a half shorter than the tall Betazoid with her dark hair pulled up in a bun.

"Moshi-moshi, Gen-chan," the mother smiled warmly. she didn't act as excited as Aanor, but Gen knew she was equally happy.

"Konichiwa, oka-san," Gen told her. She frowned when she noticed what her parents were wearing: Pajamas. Crap, she miscalculated the time difference. =Did I wake you?= she asked, feeling guilt.

Her mother giggled, hugging Aanor's waist. =That's quite alright, sweetie. It's never too early in the morning to talk to *you*!=

The hybrid sighed. That made her feel a little relieved, but it still didn't change any facts.

=Gen...=

She looked at her father. Betazoid telepathy didn't work over video links, but the man had the uncanny ability to read her all the same.

=Honey, is something wrong?=

Kirimi glanced at her husband and then back at Gen, worry evident in her eyes.

Gen pressed her lips together and nodded. =Yeah...= she replied quietly. =Oto-san, something happened and I'm going to need your help.=

Aanor sighed, but then smiled at her. =Alright, sweetie,= he said. =Just tell me all about it.=

Ensign Gen Hagen
Medical Officer
U.S.S. Dauntless
Feeling helpless