Station: Yui Goes Home

Posted on Sat Sep 6th, 2025 @ 10:49pm by Captain Rogue "Ro" Kudo {Meji Master} {Flt. Cpt.} & Lieutenant JG Ken Kudo {Meji} & Yui Kudo

Mission: The Inner Flame
Location: M-69
Timeline: Current

ON:

As Sean and Len had gone into the CMO's office, Ro watched as the nurses handed their swaddled daughter to Ken. Wanting to hold her daughter, Ro also felt funky. If there was one thing Ro hated it was feeling icky when there was no reason to. Closing her eyes while father and daughter bonded, she placed her hands flat upon her belly under the blanket covering her lower half, calling on the Force and sensing where her body was 'wounded' from giving birth. Through Control the body let her know, through Sense she focused the Force to those places, and through Alter she healed her internals and her nether regions. Feeling the healing complete she kept the blanket around her lower regions like a skirt and got up, going to the replicator. She tapped in her personal code for clothing, getting underwear and a folded black velvet style sweat suit. One that was fitted to her size as when she was not pregnant.

Ken looked over at her even as he cradled Yui. "You don't want to hold her?" He was smiling at his rather ridiculous question, knowing the answer.

Ro tilted her head, giving him a mirthful yet cynical expression. Ken, I love you but, sometimes, you're so dense. Let me get proper first. I've had time with her for months, so a bit more dad time is what she needs. Now, my love, if you'll excuse me." A nurse led Ro towards the patient shower stalls.

Yui was sleeping in her papa's arms, already having had a busy day. One moment she was fine, cozy and warm, the next she went upside down, all the warm water she was in went rushing away, and then she was being squeezed and forced out into the cold. Now, wrapped in a warm blanket, in her papa's strong arms, she felt safe and content, listening to his voice as he spoke to her. "Welcome to the world, Yui." Ken said, using the backs of his fingers to gently stroke her cheeks. She had a full head of pitch black hair which he smoothed away from her face gently. He walked back and forth speaking to her and loving on her tiny self. He lost track of time as he and his daughter got acquainted.

"May I hold her now, husband?" Ro asked from behind him during one of his walks a few meters even as he rocked Yui and spoke to her. Turning around he gave a smile that spoke volumes. A proud father who's love for his newborn daughter was undeniable. He looked his wife up and down, wearing the black velvet jogging suit, looking as if she had never even been pregnant. Her feet were covered in pull on sneakers, black in color to match her outfit, and her hair was still somewhat damp from just showering and she smelled of soap and lavender; cleanliness. The hair had been pulled back into a ponytail with some Japanese traditional bangs in place. Ken loved her that much more over such a simple thing, that she was able and willing to live according to his ancestral culture. With Yui cradled in his left arm, Ken wrapped his right arm around Ro's shoulders and pulled her in for a hug, careful not to mash poor Yui. They exchanged several quick kisses before Ro's eyes looked down towards Yui even while in mid-kiss, her own smile forming so much that she had to break the kiss or slobber all over her husband's chin.

"We're being watched." Ro said to Ken, who gave her an odd look before her eyes pointed to who was in his left arm. Mom and dad looked own, and sure enough, while they had been kissing Yui had opened her eyes and had been watching them. Even as they watched, Ken could feel Yui begin to fidget with both her legs and arms; especially the arms, as if trying to get them free. Ken, feeling that, then transferred Yui from his arms over to mama's. That was all it took.

Once Yui was in her arms Ro's eyes welled with tears and they began to run down her cheeks as she held her daughter. "Hi, Yui, it's mama," she said in Japanese, even as she moved the blanket enough for Yui's tiny left arm to be free form the elbow forward. They stared into each other's eyes for several long moments, Yui's hand opening and closing as if testing herself and how her body worked. Ro gave Yui her right index finger to hold onto and she gripped it as hard as she could at this stage in life, as if she would never let go. This simple action caused Ro to look up into Ken's eyes. "She is so beautiful." Ken kissed her again.

"Come on," Ken said. "Let's get her home where we can all relax." The three of them left the Capernum Sickbay and proceeded home, Ro carrying Yui the entire way.

***

As they entered their home, Ro heading for the armchair perfect for holding Yui and letting her arms relax on the arms of the chair, Ro asked a query as she sat and got comfortable, Yui still gripping her finger as she slept. "You don't mind if I hold her a while longer?"

Ken, taking his tunic and over-shirt off, gave a smile at his wife. "Ro, she's your daughter, too. No, I don't mind. Plus, a mother-daughter bond is supposed to be strong and, in Japan, that is paramount to how our daughter will perceive the world. Plus," he added. "She'll be with you when I'm out on patrol, so it only makes sense that I see to it that the two of you look out for each other." Ken noted that Ro had a mischievous look on her face. "What?" He asked with a smile.

"Well..." Ro began, stretching out the word to make her announcement take a moment longer. "You will be around a while longer, I've seen to it."

"Ro," Ken said, his frustration becoming apparent as he spoke, even though he had no idea how she had seen to his staying for a while. "You know I do not like that." He had switched to Japanese. "Nepotism is wrong, and it can be seen as favoritism by others. I will not have it, wife."

Ro looked at her husband with pride in her eyes, her chin held high for him, not for herself. "You are Samurai, I know this. What makes you think I would EVER dishonor you in such a way? Do you truly think so little of me? It is through duty I tell you this, not personal want."

Yui opened her eyes when she felt and heard her mother being upset; frustrated, but not angry. She gave side eye to see who she was talking to, and saw papa. To stop it she began to fuss and then cry. Ro immediately got to her feet, switching from cradling Yui to putting her on her shoulder, rubbing and patting her back as she began to walk around the common room to calm her daughter down. "Shhh, Yui. It's okay." The glare she gave Ken should have turned him to ice.

"Explain, please." Ken said. He saw he had not only upset his wife, but his daughter as well. Or, at least, the slight argument had upset Yui.

As she approached her husband, the negative anxiety leaving her, Ro switched Yui back to the cradling. Yui had stopped fussing and crying as Ro spoke. "See, Little Fox, all is well." Standing before Ken she explained. "Captain Kingston is here with a new drydock facility that will be used to upgrade starships in this sector with a slipstream drive. He asked if I would want that for Capernum and I said yes, as Fleet Captain. Capernum will be here for weeks as that system is installed and the old warp core is removed."

Ken Gave a slight grin of shame, closing his eyes a moment as he collected himself and re-aligned. When they opened he looked at his wife. "My apologies, love. I...thought incorrectly."

"Not just me, Papa," Ro said, pointing down at the one in her arms. "She thought we were fighting and it upset her."

Ken leaned in and gave Yui a kiss on the forehead and stroked her head. "Apologies, Yui. All is fine. Positive energy, Little Fox." He smiled and stood up straight. Both parents smiled together as Yui, not even a full day old, gave them both a smile as her eyes went back and forth between them. She was not yet at the stage to use her vocals, but Ro felt that if she could have she would have squealed, or given a giggle.

"Thank you, baby." Ro said, kissing Ken. "Please, don't ever think that low of me again. Yes, I curry favor from my dad as an Admiral, but not always, and only for minor things. If he says no I take the no, okay?"

"Understood," Ken answered. He went to say more but the entry door opened and in rolled Cosmo, with a large, egg-shaped pod floating along behind him and slightly above him.

"Good morning Master, Mistress. I just heard the good news. Yui has joined our family." He rolled up beside the two adults, the pod stopping when Cosmo did.

"What is that?" Ken asked, pointing at the pod.

"That, Master Ken, is an egg-pod." Cosmo explained. "In the Pallean galaxy it is what parent use to transport their young around with them. Similar to what you would call a stroller."

"Like this, babe." Ro reached out and tapped a key on the egg-pod and half of it folded back to present a cushioned interior for placing a baby into. Another key tap and the lid folded all the way back with nanotech, completely disappearing and leaving only the bottom half like a bassinet. "Is it set for Yui's weight, Cosmo?"

"It is a brilliant design," Ken said, his engineer's eye looking the item over.

Cosmo spoke once Ken was finished. "Not yet, Mistress. If you will slowly place her within I shall adjust for her." Ro did so, holding onto Yui so the pod would not drop too swiftly and take Yui with it. It began to sink at first but then Cosmo adjusted the settings and the pod rose back up to belly height for Ro's body. Letting her daughter go and pulling her hands back, the pod remained in place. "That is a great gift, Cosmo. Thank you so much," Ro said with a smile.

"My pleasure, Mistress Ro. I hope that Yui will find me likeable." Cosmo admitted.

Ro gave a giggle. "Cosmo, not many find you unlikeable. I'm sure Yui will come to love you like I do, buddy."

If Cosmo could smile, Ro was sure he would have. "That is a relief, Mistress. I shall teach her well and look after her as I do you."

"I can't think of anyone better as a companion for our daughter," Ken said, smiling. He, too, liked Cosmo very much. The droid was a busy-body and always on the move, or collecting and deciphering data, and that impressed Ken. Plus, he had come to realize that even an automaton could have a personality and feelings given the right circumstances. He also knew that Cosmo was, to his wife, like a son. Yui would be blessed with his presence in her life. Even as he was thinking on this, Ken watched Ro tap on the pod controls and saw that half of the cushioned interior folded up like a medical bed, lifting Yui's upper body up into a sitting position. A small nodule appeared between her legs and kept her bottom from sliding forward too far and mashing her legs against the walls of the bassinet setting from doing so. Quite the impressive device. "Cosmo, I want the specs for this egg-pod. The Kudos could benefit from selling these to others."

Ro looked at her husband with a smile. "We branching out into business, now, Husband?"

"Why not?" Ken asked. "Many Starfleet officers partake in business. Gives us our own currency and provides something to do during long, boring missions. Checking the markets, stocks, you name it. I am Japanese, after all, and anything tech we love to tinker with. Especially if it is helpful to others."

"Good," Ro smiled. "I have an idea along the same lines, for the Promenade. A little enterprise that has been inspired by my new life."

Yui was sitting up, looking around, her new brain taking in all she was seeing and hearing. Mama and papa were talking and she did not understand any of it just yet, not knowing how to put it into context. The pod she was on began to drop slowly and when it got so low, slightly to her right she spotted a domed head with an electronic eye on it, looking at her. Her little arm wanted to reach out to it but with her new mind the motor skills were not yet there for that. So, instead, they kicked and flayed in excitement and then she popped out a low yield squeal. That noise surprised herself as she stopped flailing and looked around with her eyes as to where that noise had come from. Mama and papa leaned in over her, smiling at her, so she smiled back, again not sure why she was now the center of attention.

"Yui! You like Cosmo?" Ro asked, pointing to the droid.

Figuring out that Mama was referring to the odd thing next to her pod, Yui just smiled even more, not sure what mama was saying but happy to engage her. Whenever she looked at mama and smiled it made mama smile. So, her wee brain told her it was a good thing to do. So, she just did it.

Even as Ro kept smiling at Yui, she spoke to Ken about what was on her mind. "I think you were right, baby. She is going to be a handful."

"If she takes after her mother, that is a guarantee," Ken quipped.

Ro tickled one of Yui's feet, the girl wiggling and kicking to stop it even as she kept right on smiling. "I'll take that. I just hope she's as tough as both of us." And then, out of nowhere, Yui went quiet, her eyes got bigger as if in surprise and then without notice the surprise left her eyes and her bottom lip began to quiver just before she started crying.

Ken looked as confused as Ro even as he looked at his wife. "What did you do? Was it the tickling?"

"I...I don't think so," Ro said, just as flabbergasted. Yui was till crying, but not loudly as if she was in pain, more of a frustration in her tone and what Ro could sense. "Wait, I think I know." Ro lifted one of Yui's legs and felt under her, and sure enough, the blanket she was swaddled in was now wet with urine. "I found it. She wet herself." With the clean hand Ro rubbed her daughter's face and spoke kindly. "I know, I know, Yui. We can fix it. Come on," she said as she lifted her daughter and took her to Yui's room and the changing table.

Getting Yui out of the now wet blanket, her daughter no longer feeling the pee on her skin, immediately caused the girl to stop crying, smiling up at mama as she washed her little body. "Is that better, Little Fox? No more pee on you?"

Yui felt so much better, knowing that what she had expelled was yucky just by instinct. It would be her Achilles heel as a baby, not wanting to ever be dirty in such a way.

Mom got her into a tiny diaper and then put on a Japanese style baby gown. Picking Yui up she put her on her shoulder and walked back down the short hallway back to the common room. "Emergency averted. It seems our little Yui does not like a dirty diaper."

Ken gave a giggle, now sitting on the couch. "That confirms it. She is just like mama. I could tell you weren't going to sit around and let anything ooze from you, and wear something to catch it all. Not your style, Captain Kudo."

Ro sat down next to him and leaned back, cradling Yui so she could sit up in the crook of her arm and see them both and be part of the conversation. "If out camping, that's one thing, being dirty. Laying in a pristine Sickbay and allowing it to happen, no thanks."

"Like I said," Ken replied with a grin. "Like mother, like daughter."

The two parents spent the rest of the day together and into the night, with Yui crashing out, waking to partake, crashing out, and so on. A happy family.

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