#18 Acceptance

Posted on Mon May 13th, 2024 @ 11:47pm by Rear Admiral Paul Sanderson & Piper Sanderson
Edited on on Mon May 13th, 2024 @ 11:52pm

Mission: Aftermath

Location Planet Klavir

Piper sat on the cliff looking out across the deep cavern in front of her. She knew that by now her grandmother was looking for her which meant her parents were probably as well.

She was supposed to be at a lesson in high court etiquette. Piper would rather have a tooth pulled that go. She felt a little guilty that her parents were probably worried but she felt like though they listened her voice was not heard. She was treated like a child who didn’t know what she wanted.

Piper heard her grandmother talking and she had said that she was going to demand Piper stay here when it was time to go back to Starbase Danvers. She was scared her parents would leave her behind.

“I thought that I'd find you here.” Paul said knowing this is her favorite place to hide. So far he hadn't told Cyndi about it. And Piper had a lot on her mind, and that her grandmother was making things difficult for her.

“I needed a break.” Piper said with a sigh. She turned and looked at him. “I’m sorry, I am trying to be obedient and go through the motions until we leave here but it’s hard.” Piper paused. “I don’t want you and mom upset with me.”

“You're under a lot of pressure, I get that. You're going to need to learn to process all this and figure it out.” Paul said to his young daughter Piper.

“Are you going to let Grandmother talk you and mom into leaving me here.” Piper said, her voice raising a little. “I will run away if I have to.” She knew she was being a little disrespectful but she was scared he might say yes.

“I said no such thing, do not confuse me for your mother.” Paul said, wishing he could be on his right side but this time he couldn't. He wasn't going to force his daughter to be a queen of planet. She spent most of her life with starfleet and him.

“So is that a yes or no.” Piper replied. She felt like he was skating around her question. “What if mom agrees with grandmother? Then what are you going to do?”

“I don't even know why you ask that question, I already answered it.” Paul said not wanting to get into a little pitter patter match with his daughter.

Piper sighed as she stood up. “Can we just play hooky today, Dad? You and I go do something fun that doesn’t have to do with walking with good posture or speaking a certain way? I just want to spend time with you.” She got her sense of adventure from him, he always had good ideas.

“Sadly royal family members don't have the option of playing hookie, while on this planet.” Paul pointed out to her. The media was all over the place, there is no place to be able to go off the grounds to get away from the media. Right now they're in a private area inside the complex. A place very few royals would enter.

“Okay.” Piper said quietly. “We can head back and I will apologize and do what grandmother wants me to.” . She was disappointed but her father was right. She had a duty to fulfill, regardless of what she wanted.

“As soon as we can, I will get you off this planet.” Paul suggested to her. He could tell that Piper was really bothered by the nobility of Klavor.

“It’s okay Dad.” Piper said as she looked at him. “I don’t want you getting in trouble with grandmother.” She smiled at him then. “You understand and that’s what counts.”

“As I told you before we're here to visit your grandmother, and it's been a few years since we've been here but I'm not going to let your grandmother force you to do something you don't want to do.” Paul suggested to Piper, hoping that would calm her down.

“Thank you, Dad.” Piper replied. “I just needed to hear that. I won’t give you and Mom anymore trouble, I promise.”

“Thank you your mom's already having a hard time being here. The Queen's already tried pressing her. She needs us to be strong for her.” Paul suggested a Piper.

“Okay.” Piper nodded. “I get it, Dad. I’m ready to be the princess in waiting.” She didn’t want to talk about this anymore. “When do you think mothers ship will be finished?”

“Let's start being a granddaughter first.” Paul said thinking to himself, let's take this one step at a time.

“Okay Dad.” Piper nodded. She almost said that first the Queen needed to act like a grandmother but she was working on not being disrespectful.

“I bet you if we try hard enough we can find the grandmother in the Queen.” Paul said with a warm smile on his face.

Piper laughed. “Maybe if we did something that is family oriented instead of the future. She thinks she has to train me in this little bit of time and it’s what she focuses on.” She grinned. “You need to come up with something fun to do that will distract her!”

“I got you, you leave that up to me.” Paul said with a smile on his face, as the scene starts to fade away.

Piper had a wide smile on her face. Her dad never said anything he didn’t mean and always kept a promise. She was suddenly looking forward to the day.