Something for Tayalas

Posted on Sun May 10th, 2020 @ 4:52pm by Lieutenant JG Gallia Norris & Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: Season 3: Episode 4: Cause and Effect
Location: Gallia's Quarters
Timeline: After NEXT!
1791 words - 3.6 OF Standard Post Measure

The ship and crew were still recovering from the temporal wave that had tossed then about like a toy boat.
Damage reports were still coming in and assigning priority to repairs was finally becoming a reality. However
even in the mist of chaos and confusion certain things couldn't be put off or ignored and with that in mind
Gary made his way down the corridor to Gallia and Kara's quarters. An oversized and elegantly wrapped box
tucked under his arm for Tayalas. it was a surprise for her after the ordeal she had gone through of being stuck
in a bunker with Mrs. Blankenship, Miran and Triston when the Elysium collided with the temporal wave

Arriving at the door to Gallia and Kara's quarters, Gary pressed the chime and waited.

He tucked the box tighter under his arm. Though he was careful not to damage the wrapping. Inside was an
oversized cross a replica of the one given the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz with the word "Courage" emblazoned
across it.

Gallia came to the door with Tayalas in her arms, opening it with her foot, "Oh, Commander, good a ye te stop in on us." She smiled, "An' thank ye for takin' such good care a me l'il blueberry."

Gary returned the smile and spoke, "Hi Gallia, I apologize for intruding but I have something for Tayalas." Gary looked to the adorable little girl, "Hiya precious, how are you?"

"SANA!!!" Tayalas squealed, instantly reaching out for him with both arms.

"Whoa! Hold on sweetie." Gary replied as he moved the box from under his arm so he could take Tayalas. Once he had her, he smiled at the child, "How are you Tay? Being good for mommy?"

"Vewy good fow mommyy." Tayalas stated with a smile, cuddling close to her Sana, "Mommy an Yalas taked a nappy nap togethew."

"Right we did." Gallia smiled, "We brushy brushed our teethies an' got in bed an' took a nice two hour nap."

"Mommyy needed nappy nap." Tayalas informed, it was the truth, she had been in a not goody mood, "We nappy nap togethew."

"That is wonderful!" Gary replied with a smile. "It's good that you are here with mommy Tay, makes her sleep better and you my angel need to sleep as well so you can grow big and tall." He smiled at the adorable child. "Lets go sit on the couch, I have something for you. How's that sound to you?"

"Fow me?" Tayalas cooed, she loved getting presents, especially from Sana, "What it is?"

Gary chuckled at Tay's inquisitiveness, "If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise. Sit right here, next to me, so mommy can see as well." He finished as he handed Tay the box.

"Ooooh, pwetty." Tayalas gasped as she looked at the beautifully wrapped parcel, "Mommyy, you heps?" She asked, wanting to preserve the paper.

"Of carse, darlin', mommy will help." Gallia laughed, opening her old engineering knife and gently cutting the tape, allowing the wrapping paper to come free of the box beneath.

Gary smiled at both Tayalas and Gallia, their relationship was a sight to see and behold and he'd be dammed if he let anyone separate them. He pushed the thought to the side and focused his attention on Tay as she gingerly set about opening the box.

Opening the box as deftly as she could with her chubby toddler fingers, Tayalas looked down on the item inside, she wasn't sure what it was, but she was pretty sure Enn-a had one kinda like it. Whatever it was, it was really pretty, "I lub it! Tank oo, Sana."

Gary could see Tay was unsure of what it was, so it was time for an explanation. "This is a medal for you sweetie. I heard how brave you were in the bunker and now when people see you, they will say, there's Tayalas she has courage." He finished as he took the medal out and placed it around Tay's neck. "Perfect!" He finished with a smile.

"Oh, Tay, that's a reward for bein' such a brave l'il blueberry." Gallia continued, "Kinda like the ones Captain Lalor gives me and Kara for what we do here."

"Yes." Gary pitched in, "Mommy is right Tay. It's a very special reward for a very special little girl."

"Tank oo, Sana." Tayalas smiled cutely, "I can has?"

"Absolutely, you can has precious. That is your medal forever and ever. No one can take it from you and you are welcome darling." Gary replied with a grin.

"Mommyy, look, wha's it say?" Tayalas asked, in awe of her present.

"It says courage, darlin'." Gallia smiled, "An' it's ye reward for bein' brave."

"Bravest little girl on the whole ship." Gary added. "What till Mommy Kara sees. She will be so proud of you. Just like Mommy and I am."

"Tank oo, Sana." Tayalas said proudly, "I awways twy be bwave."

"Thank you angel. You do great. I wish everyone was as brave as you." Gary said with a smile at the child.

"Wight? Not evewybody is Scottish though." Tayalas smiled back to him, repeating one of her mommy's favorite sayings.

Gary looked at her and laughed, "You are so right angel. It's a shame though. Think how much better everything would be if they were."

"Then we'd have a hard time fillin' positions on these ships, Sir." Gallia stated, "I mean, the engines would be perfect, but we wouldnae have anyone te fly the bloody thing."

Gary looked at her, then a perfectly passable Scottish accent spoke, "And wha da ye think I am? Chopped liva?"

"Well, tha's not great, but it wasnae near as bad as Estelle's attempt." Gallia laughed, "Least ye didnae use any Irish expressions in yer impression of a Scot."

Gary chuckled, "At least I didn't stink the place up. So that is something."

"Right?" Gallia giggled, "Sae get this, she starts an impression of me the mornin' we met Tallia Strode for the first time, doin' an impression of me right in fronta me no less, and in the middle a playin' Scottish suddenly says 'Begorah!' Wha's that all aboot?"

Gary could picture the erstwhile Estelle Hertz and her off the wall sense of humor doing exactly what Gallia was describing. He shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, "She blew it."

"She didnae study for the part mooch." Gallia laughed, causing Tayalas to laugh, also, "Stell was so silly."

"Stelle silly." Tayalas agreed

"Listen to the two of you in stereo." Gary teased.

"Right? Sometimes it feels like we're sharin' a brain." Gallia agreed with a laugh, there was definitely an almost psychic connection between her and her daughter.

"You're totally in tune with each other and that is a testament to how close and loving your relationship is Gallia. I personally think it is wonderful to witness." Gary pointed out.

"Thank ye, Sir." Gallia smiled, "I dae everything I can for me girl, she's me everything."

"Mommyyy, i's scary out there." Tayalas said, pointing to the window into the emptiness of space, "I sleep with yoos tonight?"

"Of course, darlin', even a brave l'il blueberry needs her mommy sometimes." Gallia replied sweetly, leaning over and telling her daughter softly, "An' sometimes even the bravest mommy needs their baby to help them through the night."

"You draw and give each other strength." Gary replied. "Remember Tay, your medal. Courage. It's okay to be scared but courage makes you strong to overcome being scared."

"I's okay be scared." Tayalas nodded, making a mental note since she couldn't yet write an actual one, "I take care my mommyy, Sana, be bwave fow hewr."

"You do that angel. I'll be brave for mommy and you. How's that?" Gary asked Tay, "Will that be okay?"

"Tha's good, Sana." Tayalas smiled, reaching over and putting her little hand in his, "We all be bwave an' we be okay."

Gary smiled and nodded, looking to Gallia, "Out of the mouth's of babes." Then holding Tay's tiny hand he looked into her big brown eyes. "We brave together and everything will be fine." He assured her.

"Okay, Sana." Tayalas said, a beautiful smile and a brave voice, "We bwave togethew."

Gary leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "It's a deal precious. We be brave together."

"We be okayy, mommyy." Tayalas promised, "Sana say we okay, no wowwy."

"You tell her Tay." Gary encouraged the girl. "Here do this." He suggested as he gave her a thumbs up. "That lets everyone know that everything will be okay."

Tayalas mimicked her Sana's gesture to her mother, "We be okay, mommyy." She said, "We togethew, be okay."

"Very good angel. I want you to do that with everyone you see. When they start to worry, You give them the thumbs up and say be brave like me."

"Okie, Sana." Tayalas smiled, she knew he needed her help taking care of everybody on their home now and she wouldn't let him down.

"That's right my A-Number One girl. I know you can do this." Gary answered with a smile of his own. It filled his heart with joy to see Tay so willing and accepting to help. He knew adults that could take lessons from her.

"This one'll make a fine morale officer one day." Gallia laughed, though she could see her kind, loving, and sensitive child one day making a fine counselor.

Gallia's words struck a nerve with Gary and he had an inspiration. he looked at the small child. "Tayalas Norris, I hereby appoint you a junior morale officer for USS Elysium. You are to greet everyone with a smile and tell them be brave."

"I do, Sana!" Tayalas promised, she wasn't going to fail him, ever.

Gary gave her a hug, "I know you will Tayalas. Not a doubt in my mind. Thank you Angel for helping me."

"Mommyy, I hep." Tayalas announced proudly, squeezing Sana close, "I hep you, Sana. Any ting oo need."

"I knew I could count on you Tay to help." Gary told her sincerely.

Tayalas for her part simply kissed Sana's cheek, held up a thumb and held out her medal, "We ok, be bwave."

Gary smiled at Tayalas, touched by her sincerity. "You betcha. We be okay." He repeated.

"Keep up that level a bravery an' ye'll get another medal, Tay." Gallia said proudly, her child had guts that some of the full grown members of the crew couldn't match.

"Keep doing what you are doing sweetheart and everything is going to be just fine and mommy is right, you just might just get another medal." Gary said with a proud smile at the bravest crewman on the ship.


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