The Sato Series, Episode 3: a new Frontier



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Kieran nodded. “I imagine so. Give it time.”
Kit grinned at her mother. “Believe me, for once I’m being patient. I want her enough to make myself do whatever it takes.”
Kieran smiled softly at her daughter. “Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart. She’s changed so much since she came aboard Sato, and I know with your love as the impetus, she’ll keep growing. You’re worth it, you know,” she praised the younger woman.
“Thanks, Mom. Your opinion means more to me than anyone else’s. And thanks for spending some time alone with me. I know your off duty time is scarce, and in high demand,” she added, acknowledging the first officer’s availability limitations.
Kieran touched Kit’s hand. “I always have time for you, honey. I promise. The Wildwomen know that my kids are first, and they understand the necessity of that, now that we have Cami. There’s never any question about the priority order in our household,” she assured her eldest.
Kit studied her mother’s deep brown eyes, and the spikes of bleached blonde hair that accented the angular nature of her face. “How are you doing, really, Mom? How are things with you and Seven?” she asked sincerely, concerned for her mother’s state of mind.
Kieran inclined her head, her expression open and honest. “I’m doing a whole lot better now,” she offered. “There are still moments of awkwardness, but Seven is really good at calling me on any obvious discomfort, and she never lets a wall develop. Our friendship feels restored, and my romantic feelings are few and far between,” she decided, toying with her food. “When you and Jenny were together, before you both approached Emily, do you remember what it was like interacting with Ems?” she asked thoughtfully.
Kit nodded. “Yeah. It was really strained, mostly. Like there was a war going on in my head between the good memories and the continuing attraction, and the knowledge of how much she hurt me. It was a tightrope act,” she recalled, thinking back to the times she had to interact with Emily on campus after their breakup.
“Well,” Kieran affirmed, “that’s how it is sometimes for Seven and me. It’s easy to lapse into old habits, and I have to monitor myself on some levels. But Kathryn has been so incredible, and she never seems to mind when Seven and I slip back into patterns we don’t mean to slip into,” she realized.
“Like—give me an example,” Kit requested, finishing her ice cream and crumpling her napkin in the dish.
Kieran chuckled. “Like the other night, the Wildwomen and I had dinner at Kat and Seven’s, and Erin was already down for the night. She started to cry, and without thinking, Seven and I both got up from the table to go for her, and took each other’s hands. I just said ‘It’s okay, honey, let me,’ without realizing I had called her that, or that I was momentarily thinking of Erin as our daughter,” she explained.
“Did the whole conversation stop?” Kit teased.
“No, but I blushed about five shades of red, and Seven just laughed. She kissed my cheek and said ‘finish your dinner, Commander,’ and that pretty much snapped me out of the behavior pattern. Kat just grinned at me, and didn’t tease me or anything.”
Kit smiled. “Yeah, Kathryn knows when to kid and when to back off. And Mom, she really does appreciate what you did. She told me all about it, you know.”
Kieran startled. Kathryn was not one to disclose private things without a good reason, and Kieran had certainly never wanted Kit to know how Kieran had nearly starved herself to death to keep Seven and Erin alive. “Why would she?”
“Because she was trying to make a point to me about duty and honor and loyalty,” Kit explained. “I was pretty upset with her for standing down on her command so early in her career, and she gave me a talking to. She used you to illustrate a point about what is truly important to her, and how hard she has fought to balance career and family.”
Kieran regarded her skeptically. “What do I have to do with any of that?” she asked, plunging her spoon into her ice cream.
“I’d say she learned a lot from you about it,” Kit replied, grinning.
Kieran scowled at her. “You’re not going to tell me what she said?”
Kit laughed. “Nope. Privileged communication,” she replied. “Suffice it to say she made her point several times over,” she added, grinning.
Kieran wasn’t entirely satisfied with the answer, but as long as Kit got the point, she wouldn’t complain to Kathryn for the breach of confidentiality. “Good. Family, Kit. Love. Those are the things you take with you into the next life—not worldly accomplishments like medals and pips. I know. I’ve seen Cassidy in that life, and never once did we discuss awards or careers,” she quipped, nudging her daughter.
Kit grinned ear to ear. “Well, if Aunt Cassidy says so, then I believe her,” she teased her mother.
Kieran pretended to be miffed. “My dead sister’s opinion carries more weight than mine. I’ll remember you said that the next time you come to me for advice. I’ll tell you to ask Cassidy.”
_____________
Kathryn Janeway answered the chime to her door, waving Kieran Wildman inside her quarters.
“Is she in her room?” Kieran asked conspiratorially.
Kathryn nodded. “Yes, and Kit only cleaned it three days ago, but she’s got it in a state of utter discombobulation already. I thought this might do the trick,” she snickered. “If it comes from me she’ll just roll her eyes.”
“Well, then,” Kieran giggled. “Go announce the surprise inspection, Captain,” she nodded emphatically.
Kathryn chuckled all the way down the hall to Geejay’s room. “Gretchen Janeway,” she said authoritatively, “by order of the First Officer, your room is under inspection. Attention!” she barked.
Geejay sat in the floor amid a pile of PADDs, clothes, toys, and shoes. Her eyes widened. “Are you serious?” she wailed.
“Deadly,” Kathryn replied as Kieran strode into the room.
The Commander glanced around at the clutter and chaos, disapproval coloring her expression. “Gretchen Janeway,” Kieran said with obvious dismay. “This room is a disgrace.”
Geejay jumped up and stiffened to attention. “I’m sorry Kieran, I—”
“It’s Commander Wildman for the moment, young lady, and your quarters are abominable. You have one hour to clean this mess up and I will be back to inspect again. If you don’t pass inspection, your holodeck privileges will be suspended for two weeks,” she advised her young crewmate in a very stern tone. “Do you understand?” she asked, her voice softening a bit.
Geejay couldn’t speak, so she simply nodded.
“Good. One hour,” she held up one finger, her face a mask of impassivity. “I will be back with a check list and white glove,” Kieran promised, fixing the younger Janeway with a penetrating gaze.
Geejay’s bottom lip trembled, but she managed not to start crying. Kieran spun on her heel, winked at Kathryn, and marched into the living room.
Kathryn grinned wickedly at her first officer as they both stopped in front of the doorway. “Hard ass,” she accused.
Kieran’s face fell. “You told me to!” she protested. “I didn’t want to ream her like that,” she pouted, crossing her arms.
Kathryn laughed at her pique. “I wanted you to. And thank you. She has got to learn not to live like a packrat,” she advised. “She cares so much what you think I’m willing to bet that her room stays clean for a month.” Kathryn paused and listened intently. Geejay was bustling around in her room, recycling clothes, putting away PADDs, making her bed. “See? It worked.”
“Kathryn, I actually need a moment of your time,” Kieran began, folding her hands in front of her. “Can we talk?”
“Of course,” Kathryn nodded emphatically. “As friends or Captain to First Officer?” she asked amiably.
“I’m afraid it’s a bit of both. I know you were planning to have a few months in command before you hang up your pips,” she explained uncertainly. “Are you really okay about Owen asking you to step into the Ambassador’s robes sooner than any of us had planned?” Kieran asked softly. Kathryn’s command had always been an integral part of her identity, and the transition had visited itself upon both women unexpectedly.
“I am,” Kathryn agreed, “and you know the good of the ship is my first concern,” she replied. “What’s wrong, Kato?” she asked, worried now. She could sense something amiss in Kieran’s body language. Kathryn waved her to a seat on the couch, and the two women settled in together.
“I’m not sure I’m fit to take your place, yet,” Kieran said softly. “And I had expected to be back on duty a bit longer before I put the fourth pip on my collar,” she added.
Kathryn nodded. “Amy cleared you, Kato,” she said emphatically, as if the subject were closed. Amy Scott was one of many counselors aboard Sato, and Kathryn trusted the counseling staff more than any other department as a whole. “Everyone has the jitters when they get ready to take the big chair,” she said kindly. “I’m confident that I have trained you well, and you’re up to it. Or I wouldn’t be handing you the reins,” she assured her first. “Is there more than just cold feet?”
Kieran nodded slowly, contemplating it. “It’s about P’Arth. I have a very uneasy feeling about all this, about seeing her again, about the rumors of her questionable rise to prominence.” Kieran swallowed hard. “And the last time I saw her, I had flashbacks for several weeks,” she admitted.
“Flash backs?” Kathryn wasn’t sure she understood. “Are you talking about remembering your abuse?”
“Not just remembering it, reliving it, as in being totally convinced I was in the experience. I had no idea I was on a ship, or with the crew of the Enterprise. I thought I was back at school, a cadet, on Earth,” she related reluctantly. “It was only a few seconds, but you know as well as I do that a few seconds could be crucial in command. If you think I should take a leave of absence, again, or resign my commission, I need you to tell me so,” Kieran said earnestly.
“No,” Kathryn decided momentarily. “This is between you, Amy, and me. No one else needs to know.” She considered the implications, not sure she grasped the finer points. “Is there a way for me to tell when it’s happening?” Kathryn asked, touching Kieran’s hand sympathetically.
Kieran laughed. “You’ll know. I leapt into a corner, Deanna said, and pleaded with her not to hurt me,” she relayed. “No doubt about what was happening, since I was cowering away from everyone. It was a very long time ago, but I can’t guarantee it won’t happen again. I can’t control it, Kathryn. I don’t know if or when it’s coming.”
“Do you need anything?” Kathryn asked, thinking Kieran was brave to admit the potential for a problem.
“Just—keep an eye on me, Kat. If I start acting strangely, confront me,” Kieran requested. “I’m going to bring Naomi into my confidence and keep her with me whenever I’m around P’Arth, if possible. She is so keenly attuned to me, she’ll know if I’m in trouble. And I’m going to make Ro aware, as well, in case she has to step into my pips temporarily.”
“Absolutely,” Kathryn agreed. “In fact, if that happens, we’ll just rotate her into your position, and we’ll log you as on a personal assignment for me, my discretion,” she strategized.
Kieran smiled gratefully. “I appreciate your help covering for me,” she advised.
Kathryn shook her head. “Kieran, you do not need to thank me. For God’s sake, you covered for me when I was committed to the psych ward. You covered for Naomi when she broke into your computer logs. Hell, you even covered for Seven when she disobeyed a direct order on an away mission,” Kathryn reminded her, chuckling because Kieran finally knew that Kathryn knew. “I’m sure it can’t be easy to have to see P’Arth again,” she noted. “Would you like me to keep you out of her path? Because I can figure out a way to do that, if you want,” she said contemplatively.
“I’ll see how I do over the first few days. And if I think I can’t handle it, I’ll tell you,” Kieran nodded, heaving her long body off the couch. “Okay. I’ll be back in an hour to re-inspect Geejay’s room. Thanks for your help, Kathryn.” She excused herself and headed out the door for her own quarters.
Geejay peered out of her door, fearful that Kieran was still there. “K-Mom?” she called down the hallway.
“Yes?” Kathryn replied, heading back to her daughter’s room.
“What should I do with these?” she motioned her mother inside her room, indicating a stack of toys.
“Put them in your closet, honey. You know that,” Kathryn replied, puzzled.
“No, Mom, I don’t play with them anymore. But Hannah might want them someday, maybe,” she said softly. “Or maybe Kelsey?”
Kathryn smiled warmly at her daughter, a twinge of sadness aching in her chest. “You don’t play anymore?” she echoed her daughter’s words.
“Not much,” Geejay said. “Katie and I mostly go for walks or play sports. We don’t make up games anymore, except sometimes we still play jungle planet, but then it makes us feel silly.”
Kathryn sighed wistfully. “Then you should put these toys in your closet and have Kelsey come over. If there’s any he wants, let him have them. Hannah is too young for these sorts of toys—what Kelsey doesn’t want you should recycle,” she said softly, fingering a teddy bear.
“Except him,” Geejay decided, grabbing the bear. “Kieran gave him to me,” she explained.
Kathryn grinned. “Ah. Well, of course then, keep him. I have some reports to look over, sweetie, but you keep working. I’ll be back in half an hour to see how it’s going,” she promised.
Geejay nodded. “Thanks, K-Mom.”
When Kieran came back, Geejay’s room was neat as a pin. She stood stiffly at the foot of her bed while Kieran filled out the inspection sheet, watching the first officer nodding and muttering to herself as if the task totally enthralled her. Geejay watched with a sense of trepidation, thinking Kieran was finding things that displeased her.
She turned to her young crewmate with a sober expression. “Much better. Keep it that way, young lady. You passed inspection,” she advised.
Geejay smiled uncertainly. “Permission to speak freely, Commander?” she squeaked, trying to be conscious of proper protocol.
Kieran’s stern expression threatened to melt into amusement. “Granted,” she replied.
“Are you—mad at me because my room was a mess?” Geejay asked fretfully, her face clouding up.
Kieran’s demeanor changed immediately. “Sport,” she said quietly, thinking she had taken the joke too far, “of course not,” she assured her, holding out her arms. “Come here,” she said apologetically, picking the willowy young girl up and sitting them both down on Geejay’s bed with Geejay in her lap. “Do you know why it’s important on a starship for things to be put away, sweetheart?” she asked gently.
Geejay shook her head. “I know it looks better,” she supplied.
Kieran nodded. “Yes, but think hard, Geejay. Why might it be dangerous for you to have a lot of clutter in your floor, or on your desk?” she prodded her.
Geejay screwed up her face, concentrating, and then smiled. “Because there could be an evacuation, and I could trip. Or the inertial dampeners could go offline and things would fly all over the place, or we could lose artificial gravity,” she concluded.
Kieran smiled broadly. “That’s exactly right, honey. You are very, very smart. And that’s why we make our crew keep things neat and orderly. We don’t do it to be mean. We do it to help keep you safe, because we care about you,” she explained. She could see the haunted look in Geejay’s eyes, and it reminded her so much of Naomi at that age. She knew Geejay wanted something more personal than the collective ‘we’. She hugged her close. “I, in particular, care very much about your safety, Sport. Because I love you clear around the world and back again,” she assured her young friend.
Geejay smiled genuinely then. “I love you, too. You know that, right?” she asked, her face so utterly guileless that Kieran’s heart clutched in her chest.
“I do know that,” she agreed, smiling warmly. “And I am very glad you do. I want to tell you something I told Naomi when she was younger, Geejay. It’s important. I’m not just your Borg-Mom’s friend, or K-Mom’s friend. I’m your friend, too. And you can tell me anything. If you ever need me, you just have to say so, and I’ll be right there.”
Geejay regarded her with a quizzical expression. “If I had secrets, and I told you, you would keep them for me?” she asked.
Kieran nodded. “Absolutely. You can ask Naomi. She used to tell me things all the time and I never told on her.”
“Thanks, Kieran,” Geejay said sincerely. “I don’t have any secrets right now, but if I do, I’ll tell you,” she promised.
Kieran hugged her. “Good. It’s a deal.” Kieran eased the slender girl from her lap, kissing her forehead. “I love you, Geejay. I have to get home now. Robin is holding dinner for me,” she advised.
Geejay stared up at her, not wanting her to leave, the unspoken question hanging between them.
“Do you want to come home with me?” Kieran asked, already knowing the answer.
“I do,” Geejay admitted. “Is it okay with Robbie?”
Kieran laughed. “It will be fine. Ask your Moms.”

_____________


“You’re the Captain, you carve the thing,” Kieran insisted, handing Kathryn the carving knife and fork as Naomi set the Thanksgiving turkey down before her mother.
Kathryn shook her head. “Okay, but I warn you, I’m really not very good at this,” she replied, beginning the arduous task of cutting the bird into slices of white and dark meat. “I think Lenara gets first service, since she’s expecting,” Kathryn went on, smiling at the Trill scientist.
Everyone around the table nodded approval, noting the blush that crept up Lenara’s throat. The entire extended family sat around the gargantuan dining room table, exchanging contented looks and an occasional word. Mostly, the sound of clanking bowls and spoons filled the room as potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, gravy and egg noodles filled plates. The relish tray and salad bowl made the rounds, and everyone murmured over Robin’s cranberry sauce. Back in the kitchen, pies lined the counter top, waiting for the assembled guests to slice and devour them.
Ro Laren was simply astonished at the enormous feast, and visibly overwhelmed by the selection. She leaned over and whispered to Kit, who sat beside her “I don’t know what most of these things are. Would you make me a plate? You know what flavors I like,” she pleaded.
Kit kissed her cheek. “Of course, honey,” she agreed, heaping turkey onto Laren’s plate. “This you eat with cranberry sauce on it,” she explained gently, proceeding to pile servings around the large stoneware dish.
Seven of Nine and Cassidy Thompson watched with amused expressions as Ro Laren gazed at her meal in dismay. “Kit,” she said quietly, “I can’t eat all of this,” she protested.
Kit grinned. “Sure you can, Averone,” she replied. “This meal takes a very long time. You eat some, wait for your stomach to make some room, and then eat some more.”
Cassidy scowled at her niece. “Don’t listen to her, Laren. You eat only what you feel like eating. Not everyone is a glutton,” she said pointedly to Kit.
Cameron Thompson nudged her wife. “I think the pot is calling the kettle black,” she teased, inclining her head toward Cassidy’s very full plate.
Cassidy smirked. “I’m feeding Chance from my plate, too,” she defended herself.
Cameron rolled her eyes. “Chance is still drinking her meals,” she reminded her wife. “Ask my leaking breasts,” she added.
Seven smiled sympathetically. “This is what you have to look forward to, Lenara,” she told the Trill. “I’m beginning to wean Erin, but it’s slow going,” she confided.
Noah Lessing crossed his arms petulantly. “Ladies, do you mind?” he inquired.
Kieran threw a garlic stuffed olive at him. “Lighten up, Noah. B'Elanna has breast fed enough of your whelps to qualify for dairy subsidies,” she joked.
B'Elanna nodded vigorously. “You’ve got that right. I thought the twins were never going to give me any peace,” she complained good naturedly, handing a sweet pickle to Matthew, who munched happily on everything he was given, just like his father.
Naomi Wildman scooted closer to Lenara, slipping an arm around her shoulders. “It won’t be that bad, Be’thal,” she assured her wife. “Kieran’s done it in that other dimension, and Robbie never complained with Cami.”
Kieran smiled warmly at her wives. “Lenara, it’s no big deal. Lanna just had a tough time because there were two babies at once. And both of them inherited her Klingon tendency for duplicative organs, so she had four stomachs to fill,” she noted consolingly.
“I’m not worried,” Lenara assured her wives. “I’ve watched Robbie do it a hundred times, and she said she loved it.”
Noah leaned closer, suddenly interested in the conversation. He was, after all, a former science officer. “Trill lactate?” he asked.
Lenara nodded. “Yes. Don’t most humanoid species?” she asked.
Noah set his lips in a firm line. “I never thought about it, I suppose. Is a Trill’s gestation period nine months, too?” he asked.
Lenara smiled at him. “Actually, no. It’s only eight months. Laren, don’t Bajorans have an even shorter gestation?”
Laren nodded. “Yes. Five months. We’ve evolved a little more, I guess,” she teased, smiling at the Trill and hoping the joke wouldn’t fall flat.
Lenara pursed her lips, but chuckled. “You had a head start, you know,” she shot back, referring to the much more ancient culture of Bajor.
Jenny Wildman piped up. “Laren told us once that while humans were still learning to walk upright, Bajor already had warp capability,” she laughed.
The whole table laughed at that observation. “Well, I’m all for expediency,” Kathryn chimed in. “My pregnancy with Geejay seemed to last a decade. I am so grateful Seven carried the other girls,” she added sincerely, smiling fondly at her young Borg wife. “But Lenara, you’ll have the advantage of three doting spouses to wait on you hand and foot.”
Seven pretended to be miffed. “Are you saying, darling, that I didn’t properly dote upon you when you were pregnant?”
Kathryn’s eyes darted nervously to her wife. “I ah—I didn’t mean it the way it sounded—” she began.
Seven laughed softly. “I am teasing you, Kathryn. I never heard you complain. And you were wonderful to me when I was carrying Hannah.”
Kathryn’s countenance darkened slightly. “I’m sorry about Erin, Seven,” she said seriously.
The blonde haired Borg shook her head, taking Kathryn’s hand. “Don’t be. You delegated the doting to Kieran. She did fine,” she teased. “Besides, I didn’t even realize I was pregnant, most of the time I carried Erin. I had to be retold every day,” she laughed.
Lenara leaned over the table to catch Kieran’s eye. “I’ve heard it from Seven herself, now, Be’thal,” she said to her lanky wife. “I expect you to spoil me at least as much as you did her,” she advised the first officer.
Kit winked at her mother. “Hear that Mom? Get out and kill some food for your pregnant wife,” she smarted. “And make her some clothes from the hide, while you’re at it. Lenara, you’ll look so good in tanned leather,” she noted, grinning at her adoptive mother.
Emily Wildman took Kit’s hand under the table, squeezing her fingers gently. “Mom,” she said to Kieran, “I really would like to write a book about your experience on the jungle planet,” she proposed. “The story deserves to be told. Besides, Seven is such a folk hero back at the Academy, anything I write about her will sell. Can I talk to you both about scheduling interviews and working together on it?” she asked, her dark eyes hopeful.
Jenny Wildman nudged her wife. “Ems, you’re still working on the book about Lenara’s research on wormholes,” she pointed out. “Isn’t it a bit much to work on a third book at the same time?” she asked, thinking Emily would be working far too hard.
Emily shook her head. “No, the first draft is done, save for the final chapter where Mom actually creates the stable permanent wormhole, because we’re still waiting,” she said playfully to her Trill mother. “And I need to do a chapter with Kieran about her experiences in that other dimension.”

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