Aberrant: Stargate Universe - Family Matters [Complete]

[Yseult Sierra]

Before 'The Other Side'

Yseult stilled the flutter in her chest as she prepared to go speak with General Landry. She was terribly anxious to see how he would respond to her plight - both the thought of him granting her request or denying it made the flutter strengthen into a full scale tizzy.

She didn't want to the general to see her as a soldier, so she wore her civilian clothing instead of BDUs. She settled on her dark, pin-striped skirt-suit and a blue women's Oxford shirt, with a few buttons undone to reveal a hint of golden cleavage. As she preferred, she wore dark garters and a stylish pair of heels; her make-up was light and subtle, her hair was styled in an updo, and she even wore her detested contacts - which shrunk the size of her irises, if did nothing to conceal their vivd colouring.

Yseult took the lift down to level 27, and strode to General Landry's office with the clicking of heels. She was so fixed on her goal that she was barely aware of the looks she was receiving from the others in the halls, at most, managing a distractedly acknowledging nod.

She stopped outside the general's office to wipe her sweating palms on her skirt, then timidly knocked on the door. At his gruffed voiced 'enter', she took a deep breath, stilled her features, then slipped into his office. She gave the general a nod, then sat on the edge of the chair in front of his desk, legs crossed, a foot bouncing with her apprehension.

"Général Landry, monsieur, I have a concern, très sérieux, that I would like to bring to your attention." Yseult took another breath, forcing herself not to rush. "It is a personal matter, directly resulting from the actions of the IOA. I am very much hoping you can help me in this regard." Yseult's small smile was tremulous, but her jaw was firm and determined.

[Mr Fox]

"The IOA huh?" General Landry frowned, "Colonel Mitchell just gave me a report of some of their activities recently."

He continued to shuffle through papers until he found the one he wanted and scanned it for a second before putting it on the top of the stack.

"Miss Sierra, have a seat." Now that his attention was focused on her, she couldn't help but be a bit nervous, he didn't seem to be in the best of moods.

"The Colonel mentioned a bit about your situation to me. I'm sorry for what you've had to endure. So tell me, what can I do for you?"

[Yseult Sierra]

"I want my family back!" Yseult exclaimed, chewing on a finger to still her outburst. "Excusez-moi. This has been a very difficult time for me. The agreement that was thrust upon me by the IOA, it was not made under the best circumstances for me. I had just spent more than a month as a captive of the NID, been subjected to the effects of not one, but two alien artifacts, then watched myself, my real body, die."

Yseult's cheeks were red with emotion. "No sooner had I been rescued by members of the SGC, then the IOA had shown up and thrust their new NDA at me, covering up the manner of my 'death' and providing me with a new identity." The young-looking blonde eyes blazed with anger. "My name is not Sierra - it is Yseult Marie Dionne-Langlois!"

Her voice tight, Yseult continued. "Still in shock, I signed the condamné thing, letting my family believe me dead. At the time, I did not know what else to do. I am not sure what they would have done had I refused to sign it. And even then, the IOA still kept me in restricted isolation for a month because they did not fully believe who I was. Even now, I undergo weekly brain-scans."

"I have tried to move on, tried to force myself to believe that in aiding the SGC, I am helping my family as well. But it is not enough! I miss them too much. They other specialists, they cannot tell their own loved ones what has happened, but they can still be with them. I cannot! I am sure, you yourself Général Landry, can understand this. Dr. Carolyn Lam, she is your daughter, yes?"

Yseult stood up and began pacing, her hands gesturing forcefully with her agitation. "I do not know why the IOA insisted on this course of action. Exceptions to the NDA have been made before. Daniel Jackson's estranged grandfather, Nicholas Ballard was brought to Montagne Cheyenne. And Samantha Carter was granted leave to tell her fiance Pete Shanahan as well. I have been nothing but cooperative the entire time I have been here, close to six years now. I have done nothing to be treated in such a way."

Yseult stopped her pacing, and sat back down, on the very edge of her chair, arms wrapped about herself tightly. Her voice had an eerie calm to it as she faced Landry directly with her vivid turquoise eyes.

"What I would like, is for you to talk to the IOA on my behalf, and get my agreement amended. I want to kiss my husband again, to hug my children and have a chance to watch them grow up. Is that too much to ask? I chose to work here and I was proud of the work I was doing. I wish to remain being proud to be working here - rather than simply no more than a civilian forced into service."

[Mr Fox]

General Landry listened with a straight face as Yseult stormed. When she had done he nodded solemnly and said, "I'll see what I can do. The IOA has a great deal of influence, but as a whole they aren't all heartless." He looked like he might say more, but then decided against, and instead finished with, "I am sorry you were put in this position and I personally don't believe it was the right choice. I will speak with them and ask them to reconsider your situation, but I can't make any promises."

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult let out a long, soft sigh. I could have probably have done this better, yes? But I do not possess the charm of Damien or Kyria or Courier. She worked a grateful onto her lips, and leaned over as if she was to going to reach out to Landry, though her hands stayed in her lap.

"Merci beaucoup, Général. I was not expecting promises, only that you would try. I will wait for any further news you have for me and then -" Yseult closed her mouth with an audible click, chewing an underlip. She stood up and gave Landry a handshake in heartfelt thanks. "Again, thank-you, Général Landry."

Yseult gave Landry a thankful nod, then turned on her heel and left the commander of the SGC's office, her chin tilted in resolve, her shoulders straight.

She would get her family back.

One way or another.

[Rorx]

Gwyn bumped into the fancily dressed, i.e. not BDU's, and obviously still upset Yseult in the corridor outside the General's office.

"Hi Yseult. Hey, are you ok?", he looks back at the General's office briefly before offering her his arm.

"How about a coffee, the lunchtime rush should be over by now, or we could grab a couple to take to your lab?"

[Ryan Hawke]

Ryan knew she was going, but he also had a feeling Landry wouldn't get her the answer she wanted immediately. "It just doesn't work that way, even if it should." His words were said in a whisper to himself, and he banished the darker thoughts from his mind as he moved up on the pair of specialists.

He looked at Yesult and smiled. "WellI'm guessing that didn't go perfectly." He looked to Gwyn. "I like the coffee idea, but I'm not going to ask Yesult to go back to her lab today."

He looks to her his smile growing. "Consider it a day's leave. I honestly wasn't feeling liking training this afternoon, so it's no issue for me."

[Yseult Sierra]

"Oui, I am fine," Yseult said, taking a deep breath to composed herself. She offered Gwyn a perfect, companionable smile. "Thank-you for asking, Gwyn."

Yseult's smile slipped for a moment when Ryan asked how her meeting with Landry went, but it returned quickly, only a little forced. "The meeting, it went much as you said it would, Ryan. Landry, he said 'I am sorry you were put in this position and I personally don't believe it was the right choice. I will speak with them and ask them to reconsider your situation, but I can't make any promises.'" Yseult's inflection changed to a surprisingly accurate copy of General Landry's.

"He will try, it is... It is, I am not sure how long I can wait." Yseult's lyrical spoprano was soft.

"Coffee? I am thinking that I would like to get something stronger. Since I have a day's leave," Yseult said, giving Ryan a grateful nod, "perhaps, we can go off-base. I need... to leave the Montagne, as least for a while."

"Would you two like to accompany me? Perhaps a few others, they would like to come too, yes?"

[Rorx]

Gwyn nodded a greeting to Ryan, but answered Yseult,"Sure, just let me tell Damien and Bill while I get changed. Anybody you want me to invite along the way?"

[Yseult Sierra]

"Any of the girls would be nice, Gwyn, thank-you. Cameron would be welcome as well," Yseult layed a soft hand on Gwyn's arm in thanks. "Of course, you are free to invite whomever you like. I will check for the girls on the way to the car-pool, then procure us a vehicle while you two change."

[Rorx]

"If I bump into any of them I'll let them know."

Gwyn gets about 5 steps down the corridor before he spins back to face Yseult, "What sort of place you thinking of Yseult? Should we dress up to match your suit or are you going to be changing into something more casual as well?"

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult gave Gwyn a slightly blank look. "I was... not thinking of any place in particular, just someplace where I could get a nice red." She looked down at her attire, then back at Gwyn. "More casual, but not too casual. That is sounding fine to you? I will go change as well."

[Rorx]

"That's fine Yseault. Shirt, slacks and maybe a casual jacket rather than jeans and a t-shirt. No problem. I'll pass the word."

As he walks down the corridor he breifly calls into Major Caine's office to tell him what was happening. Caine was busy with a pile of paperwork to do with settling the Goa'uld Eight and so unable to join them, but he happily gave the rest of the team the day off.

On arriving at his room Gwyn called Olivia, Cameron and Bill Lee. The first two to invite along, and the last to let him know that Gwyn wouldn't be in the lab later that afternoon but that if he left some notes Gwyn would try to catch up on some stuff overnight.

[Mr Fox]

Cam was more than happy to get out of the base for a bit. He had spent all night without a break hacking the various members of the IOA's personal computers and compiling their bank records looking for bribes or other things that could be entered in evidence.

He turned off his system with pleasure and stretched feeling for the first time in hours just how tense he had become. Even in the short time he had been at it he was already starting to see trends emerge. Some of the board members were either dirtier than others or perhaps some were just better at hiding it. Either way, he was going to do his best to forget about it for a bit.

He picked up the phone and called others letting them in turn know about the outing then called the motorpool and arranged to have one of the big vans waiting for them.

It only took him 20 minutes to make his way upstairs and to the van.

[Rorx]

By the time that Cameron arrived Gwyn was already there, sitting in the ordered van with the doors open waiting for the others to arrive. On his knee was his laptop with web pages of the local bars and restaurants open as he scanned through what might be appropriate and where it was.

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult stopped at the other women specialist's rooms and left them messages about the outing on the way to her own room. She changed from her skirt-suit into a tight pair of khaki slacks and a leather jacket, leaving on her blue Oxford shirt. She added a tasteful amount of jewelry and switched her heels for a higher pair of strappy stilettos, then touched up her hair and make-up, gathered her purse and Prada shades, and headed for the motorpool.

Yseult click-clacked her way to the motorpool, arriving third. Seeing Gwyn looking up the local bars and restaurants on his laptop, she leaned over his shoulder, adding her own suggestions.

"May I suggest Rico's at Poor Richards? I think that will suit my mood perfectly."

[z028 Riley]

Kyria showed up at the van a little nervously; she wasn't entirely sure if she was coming along to get some time off base or because she was afraid that there'd be another incident. Yse seemed pretty interesting, though, and she didn't want to turn down a friendly offer without something better than a 'excuse me, I'm obsessed about someone I've never met and trying to track them down in your timeline' excuse. She'd shown up in jeans and t-shirt, but when she got a look at Yse's more sophisticated look, she upgraded her eufiber to white slacks and a silver blouse with heeled boots.

She took up residence on Gwyn's other side, peering at the list on the laptop. "What's Rico's? Do they have parfait? I watched Shrek yesterday in the lounge, and now I want a parfait."

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult gave Kyria a smile and a welcoming nod, glad that the stunning young woman was joining them. Her eyes lingered a little as she watched her clothing shift. I definitely need to study this eufiber - another time, peut-être.

"Rico's is a fine café, with great wine and coffee, and live jazz. Their chocolates and desserts are divine. They have sundaes as a regular part of their dessert menu, but I am sure they can arrange une vrais parfait for you."

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

"Oh, Wakiki took me to Rico's earlier," Olivia said, appearing around the back side of the van. She was wearing dark pants and a nice, silver blouse made of some shiny material. The chic effect was ruined by the cardigan she wore over it, but Olivia wasn't used to the colder Colorado weather.

[Ryan Hawke]

He was dressed casually, Black Slacks with a Dark Green Sweater, with his big indulgence, a pair of black leather Doc Martens. Even though he didn't really need such a thick shirt, he wore one, it was better to be safe than sorry in the mountains.

He smiled when he saw the three lovely ladies of SGC already there. "You all make me look bad, you all look so good."

His tone was light and playful almost, something few had heard in awhile.

"Anyone else coming?"

[Rorx]

"Rico's it is then Yseult." Gwyn replied with a smile, and put the laptop away after getting the directions off the website. He grinned at Ryan's comment, "They make everyone look bad. I only passed the word to Olivia, Damien and Cameron off hand, and Damien was up to his eyeballs in paperwork about Eight and the last mission so he won't be coming."

He looks to the ladies, "Did any of you ladies invite anyone else we should wait for?"

[Yseult Sierra]

"When I went to change for the outing, I left messages for Olivie, Aradie, and Kyria." Yseult smiled at the two women who were already there. "I am thinking, we can wait a few moments more to see if Aradie will be coming too."

[Yseult Sierra]

After waiting another ten minutes, the group decided that Aradia wasn't going to show up, so they headed off to Rico's, Gwyn at the wheel.

Poor Richard's was a unique and distinctive business complex in downtown Colorado Springs. It consisted of four different venues starting with an a very diverse menu in the restaurant (ranging from New York style hand-tossed pizza, to create-your-own salads with the freshest ingredients and a wide variety of homemade soups). Next in order of appearance, you walk into Little Richard's toy store which has consistently proven to be the best of its kind in The Springs. Then, when passing through the complex's latest endeavor, Rico's, a beautiful cafe and wine bar with a stage for live entertainment you finally arrive into one of the oldest and finest used book stores in the city.

It was still early afternoon, so the extremely attractive squad of specialists - who in no way looked like they were members of a secret organization of the US Air Force - had no trouble getting a good corner table, relatively close to the stage. The band was playing an bluesy-jazz that faded into the background, providing a mellow, slightly melancholy atmosphere to the restrained class of the café. This suited Yseult just fine.

When the smiling waitress came around, Yseult wasted no time in ordering the cheese platter and a bottle of the Lucignano Chianti. Filing a glass, she offered a toast, "To Family!" and drained the glass in one long pull. She immediately filled the glass again, though didn't sip from it.

The soft smile on her full lips fitted the mood of the music perfectly.

[Ryan Hawke]

Ryan raised his glass and smiled. "To family and comrades." He drained it and refilled it, mrroing Yesult, but then snagged a piece of cheese from the platter. "I haven't been home in ages."

None of them really had, but sitting here enjoying the company of the only other people who understood what was going on, it really felt a bit less painful to give that thought voice.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

"To family," Olivia said softly, lifting her glass, her eyes troubled, "even if we can't share this with them. Though, I hope that changes for you, Yseult." She reached out and took the blond's hand. "I'm pulling for you, and if you need any help that I can provide, let me know."

Suddenly, a thought occurred to her, and her gaze grew preoccupied as she considered a new possibility.

[Rorx]

"To Family" Gwyn echoed, and wondered what his sister and family were up to then, probably sleeping given the time difference he thought with a grin.

"Let's see, I last saw my sister about 3 months before I came to the States. So about 6 months ago now. How about you then Ryan?" he replied to Ryan, before turning to Yseult.

"You already know Yseult, that I will do anything I can to help as well. As would Damien, from the last time we spoke of it."

[z028 Riley]

"To family." Kyria chimed in quietly. Seems like everyone is missing someone.

[Mr Fox]

Cam raised his own glass, "To family, both old and new."

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult returned Olivia's touch, clasping her hand in gratitude. "Thank-you, Olivie, truly." Yseult turned to face everyone at the table. "All of you, thank-you. I knew I could count on your help and support, but still, it is nice to here. But we should give Général Landry a chance first, oui?"

She gave everyone a thankful smile, then took a sip of her chianti before nibbling on a piece of Italian Gorgonzola Dolce. "Of course, any of you can call on me for help as well. I am thinking, all of us, we need to spend more time with family."

Yseult turned to the men, a slighly mystified smile on her luscious lips. "You men, I do not know how you can go so long without seeing family. Me, it would be the death of me - already, this has been the longest, by far, that I have gone without seeing my family."

Yseult took another sip of wine before continuing. "So. Who is it that you all wish to see again, who you miss most? Parents, brothers and sisters, spouses, childre - Am I the only specialist who is married?"

[z028 Riley]

Kyria set her glass down and stood up, attempting a genuine smile. "Excuse me, I'm going to go look at the dessert displays."

With that she stepped away from the others, wandering over to the emptier sections of the cafe and pretending to look the expensive confections over.

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult watched Kyria leave, her eyes full of sympathy, sorry to see her go. She understood the reason, but after speaking with General Landry, all she had flashing through her mind were crystal clear memories of François, Monique, and Loric, good times and bad.

*Sorry.*

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Olivia also watched Kyria. She'd give her a few moments, then go make sure she was alright. "I miss my parents," she said, responding to Yseult's question. "I'm very close to them... or I was. I used to be able to tell them everything in my life, but since A-, ah, Groom Lake, that's changed. Unless our NDAs are suspended, I'll never be able to share my life with them." She sighed, but was smiling a little. "I would say that I miss my brother, but he's around the area now."

[Ryan Hawke]

Ryan chuckles. "I don't have siblings, but I do have cousins and friends that were like siblings. All of us joined the Military, though they've all been discharged after their terms. Most have settled down and have families now. I'm the only one still serving."

His eyes got that far away look. "Back when I was Still Serving with the Corps, I'd get and send cards throughout the year, Especially to my Godson. His Dad and I served together in the Corps, but he got wounded in battle, and was discharged. He signle-handedly kept our whole squad in phone cards and helped us feel connected to home when we were half a world away. He passed away about a year ago, and I had used my leave to visit him when I could."

There was a sadness, he simply couldn't do that anymore.

"I'd like to go see him, but that won't happen I believe. I sorta doubt we'll be able to go cross country to Virginia any time soon. I ain't about to bring him here, that would just add whole new complications to his life and his mother's that they simply don't need." He figured the IOA would make their lives hell, and were likely already watching them. He didn't want them to go through anything more.

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult had a sympathetic look on her face as she turned to Ryan, giving his hand a pat in commiseration. "Before... this," Yseult said, gesturing to her body, her new body, "I was still able to go back to Montreal, frequently. You are right, that they are most likely watching those close to you - I know they are watching my family - but I do not think they would stop you from seeing them, or limit where you go on leave. That would make it too obvious that they are limiting us, restricting us, yes?"

Yseult's smile was warm as she faced Olivia. "Olivie, you should go see your parents anyway. Even if you cannot say all that you do for the Montagne, you can still listen to them. The NDA, it did not stop me from talking with my family, it was just that I had fewer anecdotes from work to share. You are not forbidden to speak of everything."

[Rorx]

Gwyn nods at Olivia's comments and listens to Yseult's before joining in, "Like Olivia I wasn't able to tell my family things about work from before the more recent events. My previous job was highly classified as well, so I haven't been able to talk to them much about my work basically since I left University. Now I only have my sister and her family left, and they were about 6 hours drive from where I used to work so it wasn't often I got to see them anyway, especially with being on call a lot of the time."

[Mr Fox]

"Yseult is right Major. You are free to go anywhere on leave that you have the time and money to travel to. There are places it might not be smart to visit, but it's still a free country as long as you don't attempt to breach your contract."

He took a drink from his glass and just listened to the others speak of their families. Cam didn't have much family left at least none he was close with, but he could understand how the others felt. He and his father had been close when he was still alive.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

"I know," Olivia said with a smile. "And I do, but with my mom, you can't say just one thing. She wants to know everything about my life... it's nice that she cares, but when I say, 'NDA' she gets upset about how the government is keeping secrets from the people." She gave a rueful smile and propped her chin on her hand. "My parents are proto-hippies. The only reason they aren't real hippies is because they live in the city and have a nice house."

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult nibbled on a piece of brie, then finished her glass of wine. "I suppose, in a way, I was more fortunate. Both of my parents, they worked for the federal government, specifically, CSIS. So, they too, had to keep secrets at work. François' parents, sometimes they try to pry, but he never does. As long as he can keep working on cars, he is happy, yes? And when I come home, in a bad mood from work, he knows how to make me happy." Yseult's smile turned wistful, not in the least embarrassed.

[Ryan Hawke]

Ryan looks to Yesult and then to Cam. "That has changed since I arrived."

"Considering how I came to be a part of the unit, who I knew and served before, I was given the impression I was on a very short leash."

His voice was low, as he kept in mind they were in public. He'd been effectively an enemy when he first came to SGC, recuited, volunteered actually for the NID's program.

They had trusted him with a team, and of his originaly team no one remained with him, most of the "transfers" had been specialists from his team, people he'd trained and served with. It was obvious that he was bothered by it.

Seeing how attention had gone away from him he let it go. He smiled at Yesult. "At least you can say something like that. I never found a Good woman who could put up with a husband who could only be around sometimes, and couldn't tell her about what he did when he was."

There was bitterness there too, he'd had flings and trysts, but nothing that he'd have ever called love.

[Rorx]

Gwyn nods at Ryan's comment, "That's not uncommon among the Special Forces people I've worked with. I've had similar reasons for relationships breaking down at my last job. They don't tend to like it when you have planned to do something or go somewhere at the weekend and then you get called away with work on zero notice for 3 or 4 days and can't explain anything about it when you get back. Can't say I blame them though." He says, finishing with a shrug.

"At least all our missions here have been planned in advance. We know when we will be going and we have a fair idea, barring incidents, of when we a likely to be back."