The Sato Series, Episode 3: a new Frontier

“She’s the best distraction for Geejay going,” Kathryn put in. “Have you told Seven?”
“Nope. You get to do that. After lunch, we’re going to drop all of you at the resort, and the kids at the day camp with Naomi and I. What did you think of the manatees?”
Kathryn smiled. “I think this place is as magical as Naomi and Seven told me it was.”
Kieran hugged her as they walked back to the house. “I’m glad you finally got to find out first hand. Something smells great,” she commented.
“Mom made hoppin’ jack,” Kathryn replied, sniffing the familiar scent on the air. “My favorite recipe.”
_________________
Jenny Wildman sat in front of the fireplace of her childhood home, disconcerted by the looks her father kept giving her and Ro Laren. Dinner had been awkward, to say the least, no matter how hard Kit and Emily tried to put a happy face on things. Jenny wondered if it would have been easier if she had simply told the Calverts the truth, that Kit and Laren were lovers.
Mr. Calvert finally asked Kit and Emily into the kitchen to speak with them. The poor man was clearly bewildered. “Kit,” he began, ruffling his fingers through his hair distractedly, “this—situation with Corey,” he stammered. “You and Emily are all right with this?”
Kit nodded eagerly. “Yes, Sir, Corey is happy, and so are we. We’re all on the same page with it. Please don’t concern yourself,” she assured him.
“Mr. Calvert,” Emily put in, “Laren is really a wonderful woman, and we’re pleased to have her in our lives,” she added.
“Could you—call me something besides Mr. Calvert?” He seemed so off balance, Kit nearly laughed at him. “I—call me Roger, or Dad, or—Corey isn’t thinking of marrying Laren, too, is she?” he asked, trying to get his head around the concept.
“Not at the moment,” Kit replied. “Dad,” she tested the waters, “really, don’t fret. We love Jenny. And we aren’t upset by any of this. Please, give Laren a chance. She’s a little hard to get to know, but she loves Jenny,” Kit fibbed.
He shook his head. “I thought I knew my daughter,” he murmured. “When she brought you home the first time,” he inclined his head toward Kit, “I could tell she was in love with you. It showed. I don’t see that when she looks at Laren. Not at all. I’m not sure what I do see, but it’s not the same as it was with you. And then when Emily came into your relationship, Corey was, again, so obviously in love. I can’t put my finger on it with her and Laren, but something is wrong.”
Kit swallowed her nervousness, wondering how far to push the lie. “It’s—new for them. And the details are unimportant, but I imagine Corey is pretty tentative about letting you see her feelings. She was very worried about how you and your wife would react. She loves you both so much, and she knows just acclimating yourselves to our marriage has been a stretch,” she explained.
He nodded. “Maybe that’s it,” he agreed, wanting to believe Kit and not his eyes. “I just hate the idea of her doing anything to hurt the two of you,” he said absently. “You’re really okay with her?”
Emily nodded and slipped her hand in his, a gesture that totally disarmed him. Emily wondered if he had ever hugged his children. “Everything is fine. Don’t worry.”
When Kit and Emily went back into the living room, she knelt down and kissed Jenny’s cheek, and whispered “You’re not being very convincing. Your dad thinks there’s something wrong.”
Jenny nodded, and relayed the information to Laren. Laren smiled wickedly and draped her arm across Jenny’s shoulders, squeezing her. Jenny leaned into her, pretending as well as she could that she and Ro Laren were passionately in love. Laren became instantly solicitous, offering to get Jenny hot tea, asking if she was warm enough, retrieving an afghan from the couch and tucking it around Jenny’s legs. She made a point of calling Jenny Averone, and noted that Jenny’s father leaned over and asked Kit for a translation. Laren nearly laughed when the man blushed.
Later, when the dishes were recycled and everyone was hankering for second helpings of pie, Laren and Jenny offered to fetch some for anyone who asked. Jenny and Laren spooned out slices and trooped back and forth until everyone was fed, and then went to get their own dessert. Jenny smiled at the Bajoran, and could see her father looking in at them from where he sat in the living room.
“Go with me on this,” Jenny requested, leaning down to kiss Laren.
Laren quirked an eyebrow, then shrugged and planted a lingering kiss on her ersatz lover. Laren gave the younger woman a knowing, devious grin as Jenny broke their kiss, clearly staggered by the physical reaction it created. “Breathe, jumja cake,” Laren teased her, retrieving her pie and scooting back into the living room, chuckling all the way.
Jenny only stood there, mouth hanging open and pulse thundering, watching Laren’s behind as she sauntered away.
____________

The sloop scudded through the waters off the Florida Keys, and the entire Wildman clan, the Thompsons, plus Kathryn and Seven and Ro Laren were aboard. Kieran piloted the boat while Gerry Thompson and Cassidy Thompson gave Ro Laren a crash course in diving and safety. After the lecture, Kit showed Laren some photos on PADD of the types of corals and fish they would see.

“This is elkhorn coral, and this is stag coral. This one we never touch—it’s called fire coral, and it has it’s name for a reason,” she paged through. “In fact, just don’t touch the reef at all, and you’ll be good.”
“What’s this?” Laren pointed to a colorful fish.
“Queen trigger,” Kit replied. “I have text messaging on my dive computer, so while we’re down, I’ll type in the ID’s of the different things we’re seeing. Mom did that for me the first few times we went diving, and I learned a lot that way. Mostly, it’s just peaceful and pretty, like in the holodeck program you did. Only, there are no safety protocols, so if you get in trouble, signal someone. Okay, Ja’clu?”
Laren smiled. “Your pronunciation is perfect now,” she complimented her lover. Kit had called her the equivalent of a soulmate, in Bajoran. “I promise, if I get in a jam, I’ll make all sorts of crazy hand signals,” she agreed.
“Grandpa Gerry,” Katie said, climbing into his lap, “are you sure Geejay and I are big enough to do this?”
Gerry kissed her cheek. “Your mom and your aunt Cassidy started when they were much younger than you, kiddo. I promise. And your mom and I will be with you. I’m going to watch Geejay, and your mom will watch you.”
“And I’ll watch all of you,” Cassidy promised her niece. “No problem.”
Cameron smiled at her wife, taking Cassidy’s hand. “Remember when we taught Marina?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Cassidy nodded, “and Chance isn’t too far off. I figure by three, she’ll be swimming, if I have my way,” she promised her wife.
Cameron had come to life in ways neither woman had anticipated since having a child, and Cassidy knew from the second Chance arrived, it had been the best decision they could have made. She watched Cameron’s face, the way the light played upon her cheeks, the stray silver in her dark, short hair, the paleness of her skin. They needed to get into the sun more, shake off the pallor of space. But even without a trace of a tan, Cameron Wheeler Thompson was a gorgeous woman.
“You usually do have your way,” Cameron teased, leaning over to kiss the younger Thompson.
“Sundance,” Kieran called to her sister, “get ready to drop anchor,” she instructed.
“Got it, Kelsey,” she called back, jumping up to the bow and waiting for the boat to slow. “Dropped, Kelsey,” she shouted.
Kieran calculated the swing and dropped a second anchor. “How’s the first rode, Cass?”
“Looks good, Kieran. How’s the second?”
“It’s firming up,” she advised. “We’re good. Dad, can you double check me? I don’t want to be wrong and have the boat drift.”
Gerry double checked the anchors and nodded. “Nice. You’re good to captain a starship, I reckon, Starfish.” He grinned facetiously at his daughter. “Okay—group one, you’re up,” Gerry advised. “Kit, Ems, Jenny, Laren. Hit the water.”
“Are we next?” Katie asked Kieran, looking frightened.
“Yep. We are. Sweetie, are you scared?” Kieran picked her up. “You don’t have to do this, you know, if you don’t want to.”
“You’ll stay really close, right?” She looked up with wide brown eyes, swallowing hard as the first group hit the water.
“Like glue,” Kieran agreed. “And you can hold my hand. Our weights will do the work to take us down. You’ve gone swimming with me a zillion times, Katie-bear. Have you ever even gotten water up your nose?” Kieran smiled at her.
“No, Marmar. You always watch me. ‘Cuz you love me clear around the world,”
“And back again,” Kieran promised. She stepped up on the edge of the sloop, holding Katie’s hand. “Are you ready? Got your rebreather? Okay. Remember how I showed you to jump off. One, two, three!”
Laren and Kit looked above them as the second group hit the water, and began its descent. Laren noted that Katie and Geejay were doing at least as well as she was, but Kit smiled around her rebreather and gave Laren the ok. Since Kit had bought Laren and her wives a dive trip for Christmas, and they were going next week, Laren knew she had to pick up the skills quickly. She wished she had paid more attention to the program Jenny and Emily shared with her.
She soon forgot her anxiety, surrounded by the clear, tropical waters. Lenara and Robin were to her left, inspecting a soft coral, the waving pink tendrils translucent in the surge of the ocean. Kit had assured her the surge was minimal at the depths they were diving and on a relatively calm day. Kit took her hand, pointing to a leafy outcropping. She typed ‘seafan coral’ on her dive computer. Laren watched the giant coral undulating, and it reminded her of lettuce. Kit pointed to a hard coral, and typed ‘fire coral—no touch’. Laren nodded at her.
A bright yellow and black fish skittered by in front of their masks, and Laren jerked back. Kit almost laughed. ‘Rock beauty’ she typed. A huge school of grouper went by, and Kit pointed to them. Laren watched their scales catching the light, and that was all it took. She was hooked. Kit recognized the look—she had seen it in Emily’s eyes, and Jenny’s eyes when she taught them to dive. As the grouper flashed away, Kit typed ‘lunch’, and grinned at Laren. They had eaten fried grouper sandwiches on the boat, fare they picked up at a marina restaurant.
The group stayed down for the better part of two hours, and the children were very disappointed when it was over. Kit wasn’t sure who was more reluctant to leave, Katie, or Laren. Once they were back aboard the Violet, which was the name of Gerry’s boat, everyone talked animatedly about what they had seen.
Kit wrapped Laren in her arms, facing forward on the sailboat, hugging her close. “What did you think?” she asked softly, pressing her lips to Laren’s soft, raven hair.
“I think we’re going to spend every vacation diving,” she enthused. “No wonder you fed sharks on your honeymoon. I thought that was pretty unromantic, when Ems and Jenny told me about it, but now I see it is one of the more romantic things in this life,” she allowed. “The oceans are phenomenal, here.”
Lenara had slipped up beside them, and sat down on the bench where they were perched. “You should see Trill’s, Laren. Purple amethyst, clear, warm—stunning. Robbie and Naomi loved the diving there so much, Naomi bought a beach house for us to vacation at. Her father’s life insurance money went into it. We should take you there the next time the ship is near Trill.”
Laren regarded her fondly. “Thank you—for the way you make me feel like I belong in this crowd, for including me,” she said quietly.
Lenara laughed, then, the most melodious sound Laren had ever heard, short of actual music. “Trill are all about inclusion,” she reminded her. Lenara touched Kit’s face. “And my daughter—my ananarat—is very much in love with you. It shows in every look, in every touch. I have never seen you like this, cha’on,” she told the younger woman. “But it makes my heart happy,” she said tenderly, kissing Kit’s cheek.
Kit wrapped the Trill in one arm, hugging her. “I love you, Mom,” she said sincerely. “And my heart is just as happy.”
Laren reached for Lenara’s hand. “Kit eret shar be’prala’mir, shar baza’mir; ni’draga’de paza, fol eret,” she assured Kit’s adoptive mother.
Lenara’s green-blue-gray eyes warmed, and she closed her eyes. “You speak my language, and so beautifully, Laren. How?” she asked in her native tongue.
“Wait—translate for me Nara, what did she say to you?” Kit asked eagerly.
“Laren said—‘Kit is my sacred home, my serene place. I don’t know how, but she is.’ It loses a lot in translation, though, honey. Trill is a very context sensitive language, and it has varying shades of meaning. Non-native speakers almost never understand the construction or the nuances, but Laren’s use of the word sacred in relation to the word home tells me she understands perfectly. Only a Trill would contract those words into one.”
Laren answered Lenara’s question in Trill, telling her she had studied it at Starfleet Academy. Lenara asked her then, if she was so familiar with Trill culture, how she was adapting to the inclusive relationship Kit was in with her and with Kit’s two wives. Laren said the concepts were still pretty alien to her, but she was making an effort, at least.
Lenara squeezed Laren’s hand, a gesture of gratitude for the dialogue. “Laren,” she said softly in Trill, so Kit couldn’t understand and feel embarrassed, “nothing would make me happier than if the four of you undertook the Be’Prem.”
Laren’s eyes widened. “That’s not—Lenara, I’m not thinking along those lines,” she replied, stunned.
Lenara nodded, her eyes gleaming. “Not yet,” she said lightly.
_____________
Amanda Brand greeted her guests with hugs and hand shakes and effusiveness. It had been too long since the Wildwomen were in San Francisco, and she was gratified they had all come to visit. She was shocked to see Kit with Ro Laren, for although Laren had been a model student at the Academy, she had been a dismal failure in the fleet, and her reputation was well known. That Kieran had taken her on as a salvage project didn’t surprise Amanda, but that Kit was obviously lovers with her did.
She led the group through campus, under the guise of showing them a new annex to the sports complex. Kathryn grinned conspiratorially at Amanda, knowing this was the crowning moment of the practical jokes. Kit winked at Kathryn as they meandered toward the sports arena.
“Laren’s never seen Mom’s statue,” Kit told the group. “She made me promise we would,” she set the bait in the trap.
Kieran scowled. “Laren, it looks just like the one on Sato, only bigger. Skip it,” she recommended.
Laren smiled at her commanding officer. “KT, I figure anything you hate so much must be worth a look,” she teased.
By the time the statue was in view, it was clear that it had been decorated, just as they had decorated the one on the Sato.
Kieran’s jaw dropped. “Good Christ, tell me I am NOT dressed as a Borg,” she demanded.
The women burst out laughing. Sure enough, there was Kieran, Borg implants gleaming, appendages wrapped in metal and hoses and tubing. The basketball was a miniature Borg sphere, and there was a sign that said “Assimilated by Seven of Nine”.
Kathryn slapped Kieran’s back, laughing 'til she was red in the face. “Those are some hefty implants you’ve got there, KT,” she smarted.
“How did you get my face white?” she asked, pacing around the marble base. “Seven, did you stick your tubules in this hunk of metal?”
Amanda put an arm around Kieran. “We thought we’d finalize the series of pranks with a rousing send-off, Kieran. And now the truth of the matter. This entire running joke was conceived of, planned, executed by, and the handiwork of your daughter, Kit. She gave me the idea to buy the miniature statue. She went to Kathryn with the idea of dressing it up. And this giant Borg costume, while the initial idea of Seven, was originally going to be carried out on your miniature. Kit suggested we do the real thing.”
Kieran was stunned. “You? You did this? You, who claim to love me more than oxygen?”
Kit laughed uproariously at her mother’s disbelief. “Guilty,” she acceded. “And it has been more fun than anything else, ever,” she twisted the thorn.
“Robbie,” Kieran said to her wife, “in your legal studies, did you ever read that it’s possible to un-adopt someone?”
Robin laughed. “No. You’re stuck with her. Too late to throw her back now, KT.”
Kieran slipped her arm around Kit’s shoulders, admiring the statue. “Kittner, you will live to regret this, I guarantee you,” she laughed. “But I will admit, it’s damn good work. I make a pretty decent looking Borg. Hey, Seven, if you had met me in Unimatrix Zero, would you have still wanted Axum?”
Seven sidled up beside the commander. “I’d have dumped him in a nanosecond for you,” she promised. “You have a very nice pair of pectoral plates,” she giggled.
Kathryn scowled playfully at her wife. “I was pretty hot as a Borg, you know,” she bragged.
Seven laughed. “Ah, but Kieran is just so—tall, dark and irresistible,” she teased her wife.
“If you say ‘Resistance is futile’, I will phaser you dead,” Kathryn warned Kieran.
___________
The Wildman girls and Ro Laren were collapsed in utter exhaustion on one of the King sized beds in their hotel room, staring at the ceiling.
“I hurt all over,” Laren complained. “I am too old to keep up with you three,” she added, groaning.
“Who said we kept up?” Emily replied. “I hurt everywhere, too,” she admitted.
“I am too tired to even ring for room service,” Jenny griped. “Kit, this was your idea. You get up and order us some dinner. And then you spoon feed every one of us.”
“The dive vacation was my idea. It was your bright idea to go parasailing,” Kit pointed out, rubbing the bruise on her thigh. “That boat driver was the worst ever,” she groused.
The chime to their door rang, and Kit forced herself off the bed to answer it.
“Courtesy of the parasailing service,” the young man said, “free massages. The manager feels terrible about what happened,” he added.
Kit smirked. “Translation, we could sue you if we wanted to. But we won’t. Come on in,” she waved the four masseuses inside.
They set up tables and got all four women draped for full body work. The four men rubbed the lactic acid from their muscles and the stiffness from their joints. The room was filled with groans and whimpers as tensions dissolved and aches abated.
“It sounds like an orgy in here,” Emily noted, almost drooling with relief.
The masseuses cracked up. “It does,” the lead masseuse said. “Ladies, we highly recommend you make a complimentary visit to the spa. The hot tub will complete this therapeutic intervention,” he promised.
Kit pushed up from the massage table she was lying on. “Okay. I say we hit the hot tub and order dinner there. Anyone want to argue?” she asked.
Clad in thick white robes provided by the hotel, the four women trooped down to the spa and shed their robes, sliding into the private hot tub. Kit let out a heavy sigh. “I may live to dive another day, now,” she decided. “You know, the mineral salts in this water are really helping,” she said softly.
Laren looked at her. “You’re right. I feel one hundred percent better.”
Emily smirked. “It’s regenerative gel, not water,” she flipped the thick substance at Laren.
“Ewwwww,” Laren said, “she’s right.”
Jenny giggled. “Feels like snot. But I don’t give a crap. I feel better.”
Kit nodded. “Me too. Now I’m hungry,” she rubbed her hands together. “I feel like a big steak.”
Laren squeezed her arm. “No you don’t. You feel like a big goofus,” she teased, using one of Kit’s favorite insults.
Kit slid from the bench and between Laren’s legs, giving her a feral grin. “Get wise with me, eh?” she taunted, pulling Laren’s legs around her torso.
Laren pushed her away. “You’d get friendly with me in public?” she demanded. “And sully my honor?”
Jenny howled with laughter. “You can’t sully what you don’t have, honey,” she teased Ro.
Ro gave her a dirty look and stuck her tongue out.
“Promise?” Jenny shot back.
Laren blushed six shades of red, and the three Wildwomen laughed at her. “Oh, sure, gang up on me,” she splashed gel at them all. “Let’s get cleaned off and eat some dinner. I’m starving.”
Back I their room, room service brought them a feast, and they lounged in their robes, stuffing themselves contentedly.
“Does this remind you guys of anything?” Kit asked her wives.
“Yes,” Jenny said, chewing her shrimp cocktail. “Our honeymoon. After the shark encounter.”
“Why, were you guys too tired to consummate the marriage?” Laren asked, smiling.
Jenny waggled her eyebrows at Laren. “Hardly. It just took us a three course meal to get a second wind, is all,” she laughed.
“Oh, right, silly me,” Laren giggled. “I forgot, you married Kit. Abstinence is unthinkable.”
“Hey, Bajoran babe,” Emily said snottily. “We haven’t touched her since you moved in. There’s been a whole lotta abstaining going on,” she laughed, throwing a fried scallop at Laren.
Laren deftly caught it in her mouth. “Yum. Those are great,” she commented. “See, it’s a method. I make smart ass remarks, you throw food at me, I get a sampler platter for free,” she chuckled.
Emily brought her food tray over and sat beside Laren. “Help yourself. You don’t have to piss me off for me to share,” she teased.
Laren took two scallops and munched them. “Try this, it’s amazing,” she held out her plate.
“What did you get?” Emily asked.
“Crab cakes. I had them with the captain one day and loved them,” she replied.
“Can I use your fork?” she asked.
“Use your fingers, it’s fine,” Laren replied.
“No, that’s rude,” Emily argued, and started to argue more when Laren stuffed a bite in her mouth with her fingers. Emily was instantly appeased. “Those are phenomenal. I’ve never had better.”
Laren giggled, stuffing more in Emily’s mouth. “That’ll keep you quiet for a couple of minutes, anyway.” She laughed at Emily’s astonished look as she struggled with a full mouth.
Kit looked at Jenny, winking at her. Jenny grinned. Laren was actually flirting.
Emily had had enough, and stuffed three big scallops in Laren’s mouth, shoving her down on the bed. They started to wrestle and squeal, laughing hysterically. When Laren had stopped laughing and eaten the juicy morsels, she shook her head. “Why do I end up acting like I’m twelve when I’m with you?” she marveled at herself. “It must be Kieran rubbing off on me.”
“Uh, no,” Emily replied wickedly. “It’s Kieran’s daughter who’s been rubbing off on you.”
Laren grinned. “Unimatrix sixty-nine,” she reminded them, and they all howled laughing. “Kit, that was the funniest thing you’ve ever said,” she complimented her lover.
“Um, guys?” Kit giggled at them. “I hate to tell you but when you were wrestling you got tarter sauce all over the bed. And all over you. You should go shower, and let Jenny and I recycle that mess.”
Laren looked at herself in mock horror. “Holy Prophets, I’m a fish stick,” she laughed. “Emily, you pain in my ass,” she accused, lunging for her.
Emily squealed, dodging, but Laren was too fast. She had Emily down on the mattress, wrists pinned, and smeared tarter sauce on her face. “You must be punished,” she laughed evilly.
“Help!” she shouted. “Kit! Jenny!” she laughed. “You bitches! Help me!” she demanded, laughing as Laren wiped slimy tarter sauce on her nose.
“They don’t care,” Laren told her darkly. ‘You’re at my mercy, Wildman!”
Kit and Jenny cheered Laren on, watching as she slathered Emily with the tangy condiment.