The Sato Series, Episode 3: a new Frontier

“Didn’t they have a woman on the high counsel once before—Chancellor Gorkon’s daughter?” Mossy asked, sure that P’Arth would not be the first woman on the counsel.
“Yes, his daughter, Azetbur,” Picard confirmed. “And under similarly suspicious circumstances,” he advised.
“So Worf is going to serve as the Ambassador from the Federation—to what end?” Mossy puzzled over it.
Picard smiled. “Ostensibly to deal with the political fallout over Starfleet’s decision to place the stable wormhole’s aperture in Romulan space. The Klingon Empire sorely wanted the wormhole to terminate in Klingon space, and sending an Ambassador is a way to soothe hurt feelings. Meanwhile, Sato is going to do a covert investigation into the murder. And Kathryn Janeway is going to be instated as the official Ambassador to the entire Beta Quadrant,” he added. “She’ll be working closely with Worf.”
“And while we’re at HQ, what is our assignment?” Stephanie asked, knowing he had called her in for a specific assignment.
“Ro Laren is serving aboard the Sato. I want you to work with her and with Kieran Wildman on the murder investigation. Put your heads together. And number one? Keep an eye on Kieran. If she has a history with this P’Arth, we can’t drop our guard for a second.” He hesitated, then smiled. “And when the mission is over, my friend, you’re going to be taking the big chair on the Sagan,” he added.

_____________

Kit Wildman was off cleaning the Captain’s quarters, satisfying a bet she had lost. Her lover and roommate Ro Laren lounged on the couch in their quarters with Kit’s two wives, who were sprawled on the floor.
“So I’ve been afraid to admit this to Kit,” Laren was saying, “but I don’t get the whole statue joke. Why is there a statue of Kieran on the ship?” Her dark eyes sparkled with amusement as she smoothed her shoulder length jet-black hair behind her ears.
Emily grinned at the Bajoran, liking the way the ridges on the bridge of her nose bunched up when she something delighted her. “Oh, you just wait. We’ll show you the real one at the Academy,” she promised, dark eyes equally merry.
“The real statue? There’s a statue of Kieran at Starfleet Academy?” Laren was incredulous.
Jenny nodded, her shoulder-length brown hair swaying with her laughter. “When Voyager got lost, Kieran’s old teammates erected a memorial in her honor. The statue in the gym is a much smaller version of the real McCoy.”
Laren laughed then. “Now I get it. Oh, Prophets, I bet Kieran almost died when she saw it. Have you guys ever seen the championship game she played in?” she asked.
“Too many times to count. Kit made us watch it repeatedly. If she hasn’t forced you yet, I’m telling her not to forget it,” Emily smarted, stretching her slender legs and leaning back on her hands. “Share the misery.”
“I saw the original,” she replied. “You can’t blame Kit for being proud, you know,” Laren teased them. Her dark eyes sparkled with humor.
“While you were mining dolamide, Kieran was playing pro ball. She took her team to the championship. She was rookie of the year, too. I cannot believe Kit hasn’t made you look at the shrine,” Jenny complained. “But since we’re going to Florida, you’ll have to see Kieran’s old room. It’s quite the tribute. She hates it.”
“Have you ever been scuba diving?” Emily asked her.
Laren shook her head. “I’m not even sure what it is,” she admitted.
“It stands for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus,” Jenny explained. “It’s where you take a rebreather, it recycles the air from your lungs and turns it back into breathable air, and you swim in the ocean,” she detailed. “Kit is crazy about it—so are the Moms, and every vacation we do a dive. Kieran’s parents were marine biologists, and she and Cassidy grew up diving coral reefs for fun. We should take you on the holodeck and show you, in fact. Kit will be thrilled if you know how to dive, and she can take you in Florida. We went on a dive honeymoon,” she added.
“Yeah,” Emily enthused. “We’ve been diving in Australia, Micronesia, Hawaii, Mexico, Bali, California, Florida—we should show you the pictures sometime.”
“Show me now?” Laren asked.
After retrieving the photo album of their wedding, Jenny and Emily joined her on the couch. “When we got married, we dove the lava tubes in Hawaii, and went diving at night with sharks,” Emily showed her the photos.
Laren grinned ear to ear. “These are your wedding pictures? Prophets aren’t you three cute!” she laughed. “How sweet,” she added. “You’re both so pretty with the flowers in your hair. And Kit looks so happy,” she realized, swallowing hard. She was happy with them once. And if you would only bow out, she could be again. “Pah-wraiths,” she swore, “I shouldn’t be here,” she muttered. She started to get up and leave.
Emily held her arm. “Laren, don’t go,” she urged her. “Why would you think you shouldn’t be here?”
Laren stared at her blankly. “I’m sleeping with your wife,” she reminded them.
“Yeah, we know,” Jenny teased her. “We aren’t deaf,” she laughed, nudging the Bajoran. “Kit loves you, Laren. It’s fine. We didn’t get these out to rub your nose in the marriage. Look—these are sharks,” she showed her the dive photos. “And that’s Kit feeding one.”
Laren’s eyes bulged. “That thing has more teeth than a Do’vahk,” she squeaked.
“That’s the point. Sharks could eat people if they wanted to, and sometimes they do,” Emily explained.
“And you’re feeding them?” Laren looked genuinely frightened. “Couldn’t it just as easily bite your hand?” She pointed to the photo of Jenny holding out a large fish.
“Yes. That’s the risk. It’s what made it fun. You know, dangerous things get your adrenaline pumping,” she enthused. “Let’s go diving on the holodeck. Kit won’t be home for hours, and you really need to experience this. It’s amazing.”
Laren looked skeptically at her. “Okay, but delete all the sharks from the program,” she insisted.
Jenny lay her hand on Laren’s shoulder. “I promise. No sharks,” she said.

Laren emerged from the water, climbing into the motorboat, smiling with satisfaction. “That was better than eating jumja sticks all day,” she sighed, hugging Jenny and Emily. “Thanks for showing me. No wonder Kit loves it. It’s beautiful down there. Thanks for taking out the sharks,” she added.

Jenny laughed. “We didn’t. You just didn’t notice them, you were so intrigued with the fish. Honest, Laren, if you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you, unless there’s blood in the water. Mostly, they avoid people like the plague,” she assured the Bajoran.
“Where did you say this program is set?” She toweled salt water from her hair.
“This one is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Next time we’ll invite Lenara to come and take you diving on a holoprogram of Trill’s Oceans.”
Laren grinned. “You’re telling me all the Wildwomen go diving?”
Emily nodded. “Kieran got them all hooked on it. She got Kit hooked, too, and Kit taught us. It’s a family tradition, now. Kathryn’s been diving for years, and Seven learned from Naomi and Kieran. I think the only ones who don’t dive are B'Elanna and Noah.”
“Cassidy and Cameron, too?” she asked. She adored Cassidy, and liked Cameron almost as much.
“They’re marine biologists, just like Kieran’s parents. They used to dive every day in their jobs,” Emily affirmed.
“People do this for a living?” Laren was stunned.
“They study fish and aquatic plants. That’s what marine biologists do. That’s why Cassidy runs the fish hatchery on the ship. She’s imminently qualified for it. You should hang out with her at her job, one day. It’s really interesting,” Jenny encouraged her. “She makes sure the crew from the Aqualands of Xerxes Four stays fed.”
“Speaking of eating fish, I’m starving,” Emily put in. “Diving always makes me ravenous,” she commented.
“Diving and sex,” Jenny ribbed her. “Shall we go out to dinner, or make something at home, honey?”
“I think since we’re doing the whole marine thing, we should have Seafood. Have you been to Uncle Salty’s Crab Shack, Laren? It’s on Main Street,” Emily asked.
Laren shook her head. “Nope. I used to always cook for Kit, and I’ve only eaten at the Transwarp and Chimera,” she noted.
“Oh, you’re in for a treat, then,” Emily promised. “This one’s on me, in fact. I got the advance for my next book,” she said happily.
Laren grinned at her. “I cannot believe you’re a published author. I really ought to read Lenara's biography. Kieran was bragging about you one day, Ems, and told me your book is now required reading at the Academy for all the Stellar Sciences majors. You must be really proud,” she complimented the dark-haired young woman.
Emily shrugged. “It was the kind of opportunity that comes along once in a lifetime, and Lenara just—dropped it in my lap.”
“How did that happen? I mean, she’s your mother, right?” Laren asked.
“Let’s go home and clean up,” Jenny motioned them out of the holodeck. “Computer, end program,” she ordered. “We can tell you the whole story over dinner. Laren, you can shower first if you want, and Ems and I will wait. You know, if you want, we can reconfigure our quarters so we’re not sharing one big ensuite. We just didn’t bother when you moved in because we figured you’ll be promoted soon, and we’ll move to new quarters then,” she reasoned.
Laren shrugged. “I don’t mind showering with you guys. You won’t bite like the sharks, will you?” she asked, smiling.
“Well, Emily might,” Jenny teased. “She thinks you’re Beta Quadrant pretty,” she added, elbowing Emily.
“Damn, Jen, shut up,” Emily giggled. “She’s such a blowfish,” she told Laren.
Laren laughed uproariously. “Well, you can look if you want, but don’t say I didn’t warn you,” she giggled, entering their quarters. “Should I keep this?” She pointed to her wetsuit.
“Definitely. They’re pretty pricey, so take good care of it,” Jenny warned.
“Wait—how did I get this without paying for it, then?” she asked, dismayed. “I didn’t enter my credit chit.”
Emily smiled. “Housewarming gift for you. Welcome to Chez Wildwoman,” she laughed, spreading her arms wide to present their quarters in grand style. “If you’re going to hang with this crew, you have to have gear, Laren. Don’t worry about it,” she hugged her lightly. “Jenny acts like we’re on some major budget, when we have money out the ying yang,” she nudged her wife. “She grew up poor. So did I. But we’re pretty well off, thanks to Kit’s trust fund and my book royalties.”
Laren looked befuddled. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you,” she offered, hugging Emily briefly. “Can I borrow a copy of your book? I really should read it,” she said faintly.
“I’ll give you your own. I still have advanced copies leftover. It wasn’t so popular that I had to give them all away,” she said lightly.
“Don’t let her tell you that,” Jenny said proudly, slinging an arm around her wife’s shoulders. “It was on the bestseller list for fourteen weeks.” Her frost-white eyes glowed as she bragged about her spouse. “Ems was the talk of the publishing world for quite some time,” she added.
Emily kissed Jenny softly, not caring that Laren was watching. “Honey, the subject matter sold the book, not my writing. Lenara is a worthy topic, and her career is important.”
“What’s your next book about?” Laren asked, impressed. She headed for the ensuite and slipped her wetsuit down to the waist. “Uh—how do you get out of these?” she asked, getting stuck at her thighs.
Jenny grinned. “Peel yourself like a banana,” she demonstrated, standing there in her bikini. “You should stuff your shirt and shorts in the recycler, Laren. They’re soaked with sweat,” she noted the damp spots gathering on Laren’s chest.
“Prophets up a jumja tree,” Laren swore, dismayed at herself. “I didn’t mean to mess up my new garb, you guys,” she apologized.
Emily held her shoulders. “Laren, you live here. You can make whatever mess you like,” she said kindly. “Besides, while the holographic water disappears the instant the program ends, the wetsuit doesn’t, and without the cool water, you’re bound to break a sweat in it. I’ll start the shower. Jenny, would you run my wetsuit through the cleaning cycle?”
“Sure, honey,” Jenny agreed. “Laren, give me yours, too,” she offered.
Laren hung on to the neoprene suit. “I’ll carry mine. You look loaded down.”
“In here,” Jenny replied, showing her the facility. The ensuite had a large dressing area with hooks for hanging wet clothes, and a drain in the floor, for when they went diving in real environments and needed to let their wetsuits drip dry. “We designed it with this sport in mind,” she explained, stuffing hers through the special recycling unit inside the ensuite. “Give me your shirt and shorts, and I’ll run them through,” she said.
As Laren stripped off her shirt, Jenny was stunned to see her body covered with scars. “Laren, my God,” she breathed, “what happened to you?”
Laren shrugged. “I got the benawa kicked out of me by the Cardies,” she replied. “They beat their prisoners for exercise,” she said nonchalantly. “And the Valerians aren’t much better,” she reported, showing Jenny her back.
Jenny covered her mouth in horror. “Good Christ on Sunday,” she gasped. “Oh, Laren, how did you survive that?” she asked, eyes filling with tears.
Laren touched her cheek, trying to calm her down. “It’s okay, Jenny. It doesn’t hurt now. It just looks bad.”
Emily came into the dressing area. “The water’s good and—holy shit,” she gasped. “Laren, you look like I did after my foster mother beat me with a wire hanger,” she gaped at the wounds. “I can’t believe Dr. Winfield didn’t treat you for that. Didn’t you want her to?”
“She never mentioned it. I didn’t think it could be treated, after so many years. You looked like this? Your parents did this to you?” she asked, outraged.
“Foster parents. My real ones didn’t want me at all,” she replied off-handedly. “Come on, let’s get showered and then have dinner.”

They spent the evening lingering over crab legs and lobster tails in drawn butter, Emily detailing for her companions the subject of her next book which was the opening of the wormhole between Quadrants. After dinner, the women retired to their quarters, and Emily showed Laren her medical file, to demonstrate how scarred her own back had been.

“This was how it looked before,” she clicked into the photos of her own scars, grimacing at her own injuries.
Jenny had never seen them. She almost lost her expensive lobster dinner. “Ems,” she rested her hands on her wife’s shoulders, “honey, I had no idea. I knew you were abused, but shit, you never said they damn near killed you,” she said, biting her lip, tears threatening.
Emily lay her hands over Jenny’s as they rested on her shoulders. “Sweetie, that was a long time ago. And look now,” she showed Laren her back. “Good as new.”
Laren whistled appreciatively. “What a difference,” she sounded awed. “Can they really do that for me?”
“Absolutely,” Jenny assured her. “We can go see Joely right now, in fact. Do you want to?”
Laren considered. “Yes. I’m self-conscious about it, because when people see how I look they want to know what happened, and I have to tell the whole thing. Which means I have to relive it,” she said darkly.
“I’m sorry, Laren, you should have told me it was none of my business,” Jenny said softly. “Really.” She took Laren’s hand, looking apologetic.
Laren squeezed her fingers companionably. “I didn’t mind telling you guys. You already knew, anyway, you just hadn’t seen the evidence. I mean, I was a slave. Beatings and rape and all those niceties come with the territory.” She smiled. “Don’t fret about it. Listen, you guys stay here and enjoy some space, and I’ll see Joely alone. You don’t need to hold my hand, you know.”
Jenny smiled warmly at her. “I see Emily all the time. And I kind of like holding your hand,” she said sincerely, frost-white eyes glowing with approval.
“Jen,” Laren said quietly, squirming inwardly, “I really don’t know what to say when you flirt with me,” she admitted.
“Ignore her, then,” Emily recommended. “She’s incorrigible. Jen, quit freaking her out, you evil polygamist,” she teased, perfect teeth flashing a smile.
Laren cracked up. “You two are funny,” she commented, wiping her eyes. She shook her head, still chuckling at their teasing.
Kit came home just then, and found her wives and lover at the workstation. “How come you guys are looking at Emily’s med file?” she asked, stooping to kiss Laren.
“We were about to make a field trip to sickbay,” Jenny replied. “Laren is going to see if Joely can treat her scars.”
“Oh.” Kit didn’t seem enthusiastic about the idea. Her golden eyes took on a dullness that indicated she disapproved.
“Is there something wrong with my doing that?” Laren asked. “Don’t you think I’d look a whole lot better without them?”
Kit took her hands. “I think you’re sexy and perfect and beautiful,” she said honestly. “I don’t even notice you have scars. It just doesn’t register with me, I guess. If it’s something you want to do, then you should,” she tried to be supportive. “But they’re part of your life—of who you are. And I love who you are,” she added, touching Laren’s face tenderly and kneeling in front of her. Laren was seated beside Emily on a swiveling chair, facing Kit.
Kit reached for her face, pulling her in for a gentle kiss, the kind that made Laren’s toes tingle.
“What was that for?” Laren smiled softly at her, caressing her ear where Laren’s Bajoran earring adorned her. Laren had given her that earring as a symbol of her commitment to Kit.
“Just that I love you, and I needed you to know it,” Kit advised her.
Laren was moved by the tenderness in Kit’s tone, and she kissed her then, not caring that Emily and Jenny were right there. “I love you, too, Kittner,” she said softly.
“Do you want to see Joely?” Kit asked, cupping Laren’s face in her hand and thinking nothing Laren did could make the Bajoran more beautiful in her eyes.
Laren nodded. “I do. I think I’d be less self-conscious if I didn’t look so weathered,” she admitted.
“Okay then,” Kit kissed her again. “We’ll all go. You’re going to find that the treatments require my help,” she advised. “Ems and I went through hers together. It means you’re going to get to be naked and slathered in regenerative gel for a couple of hours a day,” she warned. “Joely will probably have you do it in sides—front and back, because you have to let the gel air itself for it to work.”
Emily nodded. “It’s not bad though. And Kit is very gentle and sweet about the application. Remember, Samurai?” she asked, smiling winningly at her wife.
“I do, honey,” Kit nodded. “It led to some pretty interesting encounters,” she said playfully, waggling her eyebrows.
“So you’re telling me if I do this therapy, I’m going to get lots of sex out of it?” Laren laughed.
“Where do I sign up for it, then?” Jenny asked.
Kit kissed Jenny briefly, something she hadn’t done since Laren moved in. “Sweetie, you have to earn the scars to do the therapy. Sorry to break the bad news. You’ll have to lure people into sex the old fashioned way.”

_____________

Captain Kathryn Janeway smiled warmly at her eldest daughter, Naomi Wildman, seating her at the dining room table. She pulled out a second chair for Naomi’s wife, Lenara Wildman. “Lenara,” she said to the diminutive Trill scientist, “please, sit down. Can I get either of you anything? Coffee? Wine?”
Naomi grinned, her hazel eyes alight with joy. “I think wine would be good. Champagne, in fact,” she enthused, taking Lenara’s hand across the table.
Lenara smiled back at her wife shyly, her Trill spots fading momentarily with emotion. “Champagne is perfect,” she agreed, unable to take her eyes off Naomi Wildman.
Kathryn replicated a bottle of the bubbling wine and poured drinks all around. “I get the feeling we’re celebrating something.”
Naomi blushed, but she nodded. “We are. You’re going to be a grandmother,” she replied softly, still gazing at the Trill.
Kathryn smiled broadly. “Which one of you is pregnant?” she asked, raising her glass.
Seven smiled knowingly. “Lenara, you’re glowing,” she accused playfully.
“You think?” Lenara murmured, touching her own face.
Naomi leaned over and kissed her. “You are, Be’thal,” she agreed.
Lenara chuckled. “I’m not even pregnant yet,” she protested.
Kathryn nodded. “When are you inseminating?” she asked, reaching for Naomi’s hand.
“In the morning,” Lenara replied. “I’m so nervous,” she admitted.
“I can only imagine how smart and beautiful this child will be,” Kathryn returned, nodding approval. “I’m very happy for you both. Erin, Chance and Cami will have another playmate,” she noted.
“I’m glad you finally listened to reason, Naomi,” Seven added, “and decided not to try to carry a child yourself.”
“The Wildwomen forbade it,” Lenara put in. “As well we should.” She smiled sympathetically at her wife. “Believe me, dre’cadre,” she mollified her wife, “you’re not missing anything.”
Naomi sighed. “I’m so happy I don’t even care who carries the baby. I’m just sorry to have to put you through this, honey,” she apologized.
“It was my choice. I’m ready for this, Na,” she asserted. “In fact, if I were to wait much longer, it wouldn’t be wise. And having the girls close to the same age is a good idea.” The soft-spoken Trill sipped her champagne contemplatively.
“The Wildwomen conferred last night, and we decided that since Katie is named after K-Mom, and Cami is named after Cassidy and Cameron, this child should be named Annika,” Naomi advised her Borg mother.
“And in keeping with the Trill custom of matriarchal inheritance,” Lenara added, “it will be Annika Samantha, after you and after Naomi’s birth mother.”
Seven of Nine was completely flustered, blushing and stuttering. “I—don’t—how can I? I—thank you,” she managed to say finally.
Naomi laughed gently. “Mom, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you at such a loss,” she teased.
Seven of Nine’s crystal clear eyes clouded with emotion. “I am so touched,” she said quietly, leaning over to kiss Naomi’s cheek, then Lenara’s.
“I wanted to invite you both to come with us, if you like,” Lenara offered. “Don’t feel obligated, but you’re welcome. O700 hours in sickbay, tomorrow.”
Kathryn took the Trill’s cool hand in her own. “We wouldn’t miss it,” she agreed.
_____________

The Wyoming prairie sighed as the evening approached, and Seven of Nine served dinner inside the ranch house to her wife, Kathryn Janeway. Kathryn smiled at the fare, thinking Seven had been reading up on ranch life, since dinner consisted of barbecued ribs, corn on the cob, coleslaw and cowboy beans.

“It smells wonderful, darling,” she complimented her wife, standing to seat her again. “You spoil me.”
Seven grinned. “It’s the least I can do since you took the day off to be with me,” she said sweetly. “It was a wonderful day, Kathryn.”
The auburn-haired captain served them both generous portions of ribs, smiling at her lovely wife. “Which part was your favorite?” she asked tenderly.
“I think the sunrise breakfast,” Seven decided, scooping slaw onto her plate. “It was so peaceful, gazing out over the valley. And the way the horses’ breath steamed in the cold air, the silence of the sky, the warmth of you next to me—it was all perfection, even by Borg standards,” she said dreamily.
“Annika,” Kathryn said sentimentally, “you’re so descriptive sometimes. I know deep inside that Borg enhanced ribcage lies the heart of a poet.”
Seven snapped out of her reverie. “I’ve been reading a book of poetry that Jenny lent to me,” she admitted. “It’s a whole new perspective on the world. Jenny is very well read, apparently, and she gave me a collection of the greatest poets of the Alpha quadrant. Of course, B'Elanna had to counter that with a book of Klingon poems, which sound much more like arguments than poetry,” she giggled. “She thinks they are the height of romance, though.”