06-15-2026, 03:19 AM
== Mike's Quarters ==
== NPC Lt Andrea Tate ==
They had walked in silence until they reached Mike's door. When invited in, Andrea gave a single nod and entered. She let him voice his concerns and then thought a moment before responding.
"The good news is that I don't think there will be a legal battle exactly. I know the Talion family too well and Alex doesn't do things by half measures. Alex dislikes violence, but he is not beyond having people put pressure on an opponent that might send a very indisputable message. The financial risks for this Devyyn are going to be far too extreme for his family to support a fight over some foolish indiscretion on his part. I actually would not be surprised if they offered Jez a significant sum to terminate the pregnancy and have it all go away. However, I can't fault Jez for having a psychological attachment to it, even if she is not currently carrying it. As a woman, I can appreciate that she might not be able to consider such a thing."
Andrea strolled over to the replicator and got herself a cup of herbal tea. Walking over to the sitting area, she placed it on the table in front of her as she sat down, "The DNA thing isn't a shocking thing in itself. The idea of trying to genetically manipulate on the level she is proposing is monstrous, but she can't see that right now. Her attachment to you is classic though. It's often said that a girl's first love tends to be their father. In this case, a father figure, yourself. From a young age, she learned to trust you, confide in you. You taught her valuable life skills and conducted yourself in ways that helped to form what she would want to find in a future mate of her own. In the clear light of day, she would not want you as her actual mate, but you're the example and measuring stick she will use to evaluate those who might step up and try. She has also had occasional thoughts about other men filling that role, but often because of certain traits she admires and hopes to find all in one person at some point. Most are safely inaccessible or spoken for, but it doesn't keep her mind from thinking about those appealing aspects. The fact that you're such a role model in her life speaks well of you and says you did a good job in trying to bring her up with standards and that she shouldn't settle when it comes to such important life choices. Any father could only hope to accomplish such a task in raising a daughter. You've done nothing wrong and her words are coming out under some turbulent emotional conditions. I think we can all forgive that sort of thing pretty easily."
SHe sighed and sipped her tea, "Odds are that she will eventually decide to carry the child to term and roll the dice that nurture can overpower nature in the end. If she is serious about the DNA thing, which she might be, because I felt that it really does bother her, than you could give that a nudge, if you were willing to do so. I don't know what your personal feelings are about Jez effectively having your child. To my understanding, you and your wife didn't have any children. I'll not sit here and make a case for or against the idea, but that's something you would have to either be willing to say to Jez directly. I think you need to be prepared to tell her if you would or wouldn't and then why. She is likely to then be able to make a decision based on that. I do worry about her continuing the current pregnancy to term, but only because I know that abused women often can have a lingering animosity towards their abuser and it can impact their relationship with the child. I've said all that I'll say to her about it though. I've done my due diligence on that medical and psychological topic. For me to say more to her will come across as preaching or possibly even uncaring, so I dare not revisit that with her."
She leaned back and sipped her tea, "What ARE your feelings on all of this?"
== Tag Mike ==
== NPC Lt Andrea Tate ==
They had walked in silence until they reached Mike's door. When invited in, Andrea gave a single nod and entered. She let him voice his concerns and then thought a moment before responding.
"The good news is that I don't think there will be a legal battle exactly. I know the Talion family too well and Alex doesn't do things by half measures. Alex dislikes violence, but he is not beyond having people put pressure on an opponent that might send a very indisputable message. The financial risks for this Devyyn are going to be far too extreme for his family to support a fight over some foolish indiscretion on his part. I actually would not be surprised if they offered Jez a significant sum to terminate the pregnancy and have it all go away. However, I can't fault Jez for having a psychological attachment to it, even if she is not currently carrying it. As a woman, I can appreciate that she might not be able to consider such a thing."
Andrea strolled over to the replicator and got herself a cup of herbal tea. Walking over to the sitting area, she placed it on the table in front of her as she sat down, "The DNA thing isn't a shocking thing in itself. The idea of trying to genetically manipulate on the level she is proposing is monstrous, but she can't see that right now. Her attachment to you is classic though. It's often said that a girl's first love tends to be their father. In this case, a father figure, yourself. From a young age, she learned to trust you, confide in you. You taught her valuable life skills and conducted yourself in ways that helped to form what she would want to find in a future mate of her own. In the clear light of day, she would not want you as her actual mate, but you're the example and measuring stick she will use to evaluate those who might step up and try. She has also had occasional thoughts about other men filling that role, but often because of certain traits she admires and hopes to find all in one person at some point. Most are safely inaccessible or spoken for, but it doesn't keep her mind from thinking about those appealing aspects. The fact that you're such a role model in her life speaks well of you and says you did a good job in trying to bring her up with standards and that she shouldn't settle when it comes to such important life choices. Any father could only hope to accomplish such a task in raising a daughter. You've done nothing wrong and her words are coming out under some turbulent emotional conditions. I think we can all forgive that sort of thing pretty easily."
SHe sighed and sipped her tea, "Odds are that she will eventually decide to carry the child to term and roll the dice that nurture can overpower nature in the end. If she is serious about the DNA thing, which she might be, because I felt that it really does bother her, than you could give that a nudge, if you were willing to do so. I don't know what your personal feelings are about Jez effectively having your child. To my understanding, you and your wife didn't have any children. I'll not sit here and make a case for or against the idea, but that's something you would have to either be willing to say to Jez directly. I think you need to be prepared to tell her if you would or wouldn't and then why. She is likely to then be able to make a decision based on that. I do worry about her continuing the current pregnancy to term, but only because I know that abused women often can have a lingering animosity towards their abuser and it can impact their relationship with the child. I've said all that I'll say to her about it though. I've done my due diligence on that medical and psychological topic. For me to say more to her will come across as preaching or possibly even uncaring, so I dare not revisit that with her."
She leaned back and sipped her tea, "What ARE your feelings on all of this?"
== Tag Mike ==