The Sato Series, Episode 3: a new Frontier

Seven shook her head. “You’ve never been a follower. You’ve always been a leader, and you will make your mark on this ship, without a doubt, as you have on me. A Borg hears millions of voices in their head while they are in the collective,” she said thoughtfully, her expression momentarily far away. “But severed, there is such emptiness, such silence,” she said with feeling. “I am fortunate that the two distinct voices I hear when I close my eyes are Kathryn’s and yours. So much of who I am is due to your influence. I’m grateful Kathryn and I can remain on your ship and in your family, so that my children will have your influence, as well. You are their Godparent for a reason. I hope that what I offer you is enough,” she said gently. “I know it isn’t everything we wanted together, but it is substantial.”
Kieran nodded, kissing her forehead. “It’s enough, Seven. It’s much more than I deserve. But I’m grateful for it—for everything we’ve shared. The memories of that other world get easier to bear every day. And if you are happy, then I am happy for you, my love,” she promised her former lover.
“I am happy,” Seven confirmed. “Kathryn sees to it.” Her glacier-blue eyes glowed with warmth, and Kieran knew every word was true.
“Good,” Kieran nodded emphatically, grinning wickedly. “Because I can order her to make you happy, if you need me to,” she offered. “I may not be a threat as a romantic rival, but by God, I’ve got the pips now,” she laughed, taking Seven’s hands.
Seven wasn’t laughing. “You are not a threat because I choose not to let you be. Never convince yourself that was an easy choice. And know that from time to time I regret it,” she said softly.
Kieran’s heart tugged at her. “Your Borgness, why? Why would you regret it? Do I need to be worried about you?” she asked protectively.
“It is a fleeting regret,” Seven assured her. “Brought on by an unguarded moment, here and there—when I hear you laugh, when you sing or play your guitar, when the light catches your face just so—and for a nanosecond I am back on that planet, and none of this exists. Just you, and my child. And then the moment passes, and I remember I should look away from the light on your face, I should not cast furtive glances while you sing or play, I should not long to hear your laughter.” Seven smiled confidently, squeezing Kieran’s hands. “I can live with that sort of regret.”
Kieran nodded, her throat closed with tenderness. “Seven,” she half whispered, “you touch my heart so deeply, at times, I have no words for your eloquence. I have always been your friend, and I am still here if you ever need me. I love you, Seven, with all my heart. And I love your children, and I will be responsible to you for the things you entrust to me.”
“I entrusted my life to you,” she said sincerely. “And you preserved it when I was incapable of preserving it for myself. I think about that every day I spend with my children—that if you had died when the Viper crashed, I would have died, too. That if you had made even one mistake after the crash, forgotten to do something, done it wrong, not foreseen potential problems, we would have both perished. I owe you everything. But this friendship, this family connection, is all I can give back.”
Kieran had no words, and could only hug Seven close, tears threatening her composure. They had shared a life-altering experience that no one else would ever truly understand but them. It was an experience that would cement them forever. And that was long enough for Kieran.

Ambassador Kathryn Janeway danced with her spouse throughout the entire celebration, feeling lighter than she could remember since before she attended the Academy. The decisions were no longer her problem, and she could turn her attention to the joys of space exploration, to the pursuit of a happy and balanced family, all with the clear knowledge that the ship, the crew, her children’s lives, and Seven’s, were in good hands. Hands that Kathryn had personally trained and tempered and tested. She would sleep at night, and feel safe. It didn’t hurt at all knowing that her captain loved her wife so much, she would do anything to preserve Seven’s life.

“Kathryn,” Seven smiled down at her wife, “I need to rest. And something to drink. Can we sit down for awhile?”
Kathryn nodded. “Of course. Come with me.” She led Seven off the dance floor and over to the tables where the Wildman family sat, talking to Gerry Thompson and Gretchen Janeway. Joely Winfield, Amanda Brand and Kate Pulaski were there, as well, and Kieran was telling them about being marooned on the jungle planet. Kieran saw Kathryn and Seven approaching, and stood to pull out chairs for them. “Ladies,” she said brightly, “can I get you something?”
“We’d love iced tea,” Kathryn replied. “But you don’t have to get it. I’m not your captain any longer, you know.”
Kieran stooped and kissed Kathryn’s cheek. “That was never at the heart of my politeness, Kathryn,” she assured her. “I’ll be right back with your tea.”
Seven smiled warmly as the newly promoted captain walked away.
“So how did you keep from killing her, Seven?” Kate Pulaski asked, smirking. “Eight months stranded with her? And all that wide open land to bury the evidence? I thought you Borg were more efficient,” she laughed.
The table erupted in laughter, but Seven merely smiled. “I am certain it was Kieran who wanted to kill me,” she replied as the captain returned with drinks for the Janeways. “She saved my life, in more ways than I can explain,” she said sincerely.
“And I never once considered killing her,” Kieran assured the Borg, handing her the iced tea. “Though she did threaten to assimilate me when she was in labor,” she laughed. “But I was being an insufferable wise-ass, and I probably deserved it,” she added. “Kathryn, I’m glad you came over. I’ve been thinking. You and Seven and the girls are so settled into your quarters, and it’s such a hassle to move out. I know technically I’m supposed to make you, but I think that’s dumber than hell. Why don’t you keep the quarters you’re in? There’s no reason to uproot your family. My family is fine where it is, and all we need to do is shuffle one wall so the captain’s dining room is accessible from my quarters instead of yours. I already had a chat with the quartermaster, and it’s no problem to do it that way.”
“But if you stay there, what will Laren do? She’s entitled to a huge upgrade in her accommodations,” Kathryn pointed out.
“That’s worked out, too. She’ll be across the hall, and the lower level officers will have to shift down the corridor. I’d rather uproot them than you and Seven. None of them have kids.”
Laren smirked. “Oh, so that’s how it’s going to be on this ship? I have to whelp to be treated well?” she teased, her teeth glittering in the overhead lights.
Kieran loved the way Laren was starting to open up, and she intended to encourage it as much as she could. “Emily can do the whelping for your harem,” Kieran smarted. “But I do think families deserve special consideration at times. You don’t mind, do you Laren? I promise your quarters will be the standard first officer’s plus three Lieutenants accommodations.”
Laren grinned. “Admit it, Kieran. You just can’t stand the idea of moving away from Geejay. She’s so crazy about you,” Laren teased her.
Kieran nodded. “I have to have at least one gorgeous blonde who thinks I’m a good idea,” she agreed facetiously. “Geejay works.”
Seven touched Kieran’s hand. “That is extremely generous of you, Kieran. And I, for one, would love to keep living next door to your family. I love being able to walk two steps to see you all.”
Kieran smiled. “And I love knowing that if Kathryn is so close, I can keep her from pulling so many pranks. I’m having maintenance take down that freaking statue this afternoon,” she promised.
“Hold on there, missy,” Amanda protested. “That is MY personal property, and I still outrank your sorry ass. The statue stays. Kathryn, I am commissioning the decorations committee to continue the fine work it has done. Ship’s morale would certainly suffer if the statue goes,” she insisted.
Kieran took one pip off her collar, holding it out to Amanda. “You can have it back. If I can’t even control my own ship, what’s the use?”
Amanda laughed. “The point is that you’ll work hard enough to be an Admiral, so you CAN get it removed. I won’t outrank you, then,” she reasoned. “And I’ve already told you, I want you to replace me at the Academy someday. So set your sites, and stop sniveling about your fate.”
“Besides, Kato,” Kathryn pointed out, “you’ve always felt humor is a crucial tool to use in any command. That’s your opportunity.”
“Swell. My own advice comes back to bite me,” she groused, grinning. “So are we in agreement? You’ll stay on officer row, and Laren can move across the hall?”
“There goes the neighborhood,” Kathryn teased Laren. “I appreciate it, Kato. It saves me having to clean up Geejay’s room. I was thinking a bulldozer would be required, just to find the floor.”
Kieran laughed uproariously. “Damn, Kat, you shouldn’t have ever told me that. Laren? Schedule an inspection of the Janeway’s quarters. Make it your top priority,” she decided.
Kathryn’s eyes widened. “Wait, don’t you just mean Geejay’s room? Like last time?”
Kieran smirked. “Laren, I meant the entire Janeway residence,” she chuckled.
“You wouldn’t,” Kathryn protested. “Would you?”
“Oh, Kathryn, the way I see it, I have about fourteen costumes worth of revenge to exact on you,” Kieran smarted. “This is gonna be sweet,” she decided, stretching in her chair and lacing her fingers behind her head.
“Sixteen,” Seven offered as the table erupted in laughter.
“Thanks, your Borgness. I love having you as a spy in the enemy territory,” Kieran said with a winning smile.
“Traitor,” Kathryn hissed at her wife. “Just because she delivered Erin,” she bitched.
Seven winked at Kieran. “Darling,” she said to her spouse, “the delivery wasn’t the reason I sold you out, at all.” Seven waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
Kathryn pretended to slam her head on the table. “They just keep rubbing my face in it.”
Kieran reached for Seven’s hand. “Thanks, honey. I thought you’d forgotten.” She looked at Kathryn. “And now you know the real reason I want you next door. What hours are you planning to be gone everyday?” she asked, grinning wildly.
Kathryn groaned. “I want my job back,” she griped.
Stephanie Moss joined the group at the table. “Joely,” she greeted the CMO of the Sato, “how the hell have you been?”
Joely’s eyes widened and she grinned ear to ear. “Mossy, why haven’t you come to see me before now?” she jumped up to hug her friend. “You docked with us two days ago,” she scolded.
“I’m sorry, Jay,” she apologized, pale green eyes twinkling. “I’ve been a little busy.”
Joely seated her, wedging in between Stephanie and Kate. “I hear you’re taking the Sagan,” she mentioned, clapping Stephanie’s shoulder.
“Yeah, and I need a CMO,” she said suggestively.
“Whoa, hold on there, Mossy,” Kieran lunged across the table. “You better go shopping in someone else’s store, or I’ll whip your ass,” she threatened. “Joely is MY CMO. But hey, you’re welcome to E, if you want him,” she said in a conciliatory tone.
Stephanie scowled. “You wish. He’s an insufferable boor, no thanks. So how about it, Jay? It’ll be like old times,” she tried to sound persuasive.
Joely laughed, a bitter edge in her tone. “Old times? Pass,” she replied.
“Aw, c’mon, Jay,” Mossy nudged her. “Don’t tell me you don’t miss the camps,” she teased. “The smell of sweaty Cardassians, the screaming kids,” she smirked.
Joely’s face went white. “Steph, don’t even joke about it,” she said woodenly.
Kate Pulaski lay her hand on Joely’s thigh. “It’s okay,” she said softly, trying to calm her old friend.
Kieran assessed the mood and realized Stephanie had stuck her foot in the tar. “Hey, if you need crew, I can help you find some good candidates without robbing me,” she offered.
Stephanie smiled gratefully for the bail out on both counts. “Yeah? I need a first officer. And a CMO. And I need someone to run Ops.”
Kieran laughed. “Only your most key slots,” she teased. “Sure you don’t need a ship’s counselor, and someone at tactical, too?”
Stephanie smirked. “No, wise ass, just the slots I mentioned.”
“I have a suggestion for your first officer,” Kieran advised her. “She’s one of my former players,” she added.
“Someone who’s not already on your crew?” Kate put in, joking.
“Yeah. Tell you what, come by my ready room later this afternoon, and let’s hash it out. Seriously,” Kieran supplied.
“Deal,” Stephanie agreed. “I think you need to dance with me, Captain,” she added.
Kieran grinned. “You like living on the edge, eh? Come on. I hope you’re wearing steel-toed shoes, Mossy,” she teased.
Kate leaned closer to Joely, checking to see if her color had returned. “Are you okay?” she asked.
Joely nodded curtly, aware that everyone at the table was scrutinizing her.
“Dance with me,” Kate ordered rather than asked.
Wordlessly, Joely obeyed, leading Kate onto the dance floor.
“That was awkward,” Kathryn commented, watching the two women walk away.
Laren watched as well. “Some of us just never get over it,” she allowed. “Seems like for Joely, it’s like it was yesterday.”
____________
Ro Laren hefted a crate onto the antigrav sled, grunting as it landed with a thud. “Ems,” she complained, “how much stuff can one thin girl need?”
Emily laughed lightly, setting another, much lighter crate, beside the first. “Lots of stuff. Just because you live like a Spartan doesn’t mean I can,” she shot back.
The junior Wildwomen were moving into their new quarters on officer’s row, right across from the senior Wildwomen.
“Ambassador Grandma,” Kit said to Kathryn, “don’t throw out your back.” She grinned at the elder Janeway, who rolled her eyes.
“Just because you finally beat me in Velocity doesn’t mean you can start making age jokes, smart ass,” she advised her granddaughter. “Seven, stack that one on top of mine,” she directed her wife.
Seven scowled. “Someone thinks she still has four pips on her collar,” she said sarcastically.
Kathryn deposited her box on the sled and stretched up to kiss the delectable Borg. “I am still the captain of your heart, if not the crew,” she insisted, grinning into their kiss.
Laren smiled so brightly at the amorous couple, everyone noticed. “I never thought romantic banter would work on a Borg. I mean, really Seven, isn’t romance irrelevant?”
Seven’s eyes never left Kathryn’s. “On the contrary, few things are more relevant,” she disagreed.
Jenny Wildman nudged Laren in the side. “I think it’s sweet. You’re just hard-hearted,” she accused her roommate.
Naomi Wildman chuckled, throwing in her two cents. “Watch out Laren. K-Mom used to be just as stoic as you, and look what she’s morphed into.”
Robin Wildman slipped an arm around her former captain. “Don’t let them razz you, Kathryn. I think the new you is much more emotionally healthy.”
Kit groaned and threw Emily’s stuffed bear at the Counselor. “No psycho babble, Robbie,” she demanded.
“Hey,” Laren grabbed Kit and restrained her, “don’t harass the volunteer movers,” she scolded. “Or you’ll be moving this crap yourself, Lieutenant, courtesy of my boot in your ass,” she teased.
Kit giggled and turned in Laren’s grasp, kissing her. “Yeah, you’re real tough. All I have to do is kiss you and you forget you’re in the midst of kicking ass,” she shot back.
Kieran Wildman poked her head in the doorway, surveying the situation. “Hey kids. How goes the great caravan of cartons?”
Kit scooted over to her mother. “Mom!” she said happily, “Look at you all dressed up to play Captain. Damn, those four gold hunks o’ gleamin’ metal look dandy on you,” she teased her mother, kissing her cheek.
Kieran blushed. “Wise ass. Someone has to run the ship while you all play hooky,” she accused.
Kit gazed adoringly up at her. “All kidding aside, Mom,” she said seriously. “I am so proud of you.”
Kieran hugged her close. “Thanks, kiddo. I feel so conspicuous, though, like everyone is staring at me.”
Naomi smirked. “Sounds like paranoia to me. Robbie, set her up for counseling,” she teased.
“Hey, slacker,” Kathryn shot a mock glare at her successor. “If you’re not going to help load the anti-grav sled, go run the ship,” she ordered.
Kieran laughed out loud. “You can’t make me,” she said in a sing-song voice.
“No,” Kathryn agreed, “but my wife can. Seven? Whip out your assimilation tubules,” she smarted.
“And make myself privy to her mental processes?” Seven asked indignantly. “Not on your life. You saw what it did to poor Seiken.”
“Yeah, not to mention our daughter,” Kathryn agreed. “Hey, Kato, have you seen the statue since your ceremony?”
Kieran glared. “No, I have not. What have you done to defile it now?”
“Let’s just say you look pretty damned cute as Captain Blye,” she replied, laughing. “I figure we’ll do Captain Nemo, then Captain Ahab, then Captain America,” she chortled.
“Let’s not forget Captain Lewis of Lewis and Clark fame. I think Kieran would be adorable in a coon-skin cap,” Seven offered.
Kieran groaned. “Something to look forward to,” she bitched. “I’m going back to the bridge where I command a modicum of respect,” she sniffed, acting injured.
_____________
Sato and Enterprise arrived at Earth on December 23^rd, and before the crews dispersed for the holiday, the Wildman clan gathered in the officer’s holodeck aboard Sato for the Prala’prem ceremony Emily Wildman had decided to undertake. Lenara and her wives spent a good long while admiring Emily’s simulated vallette, which now adorned her temples on either side of her face, exactly the patterns of Lenara’s own Trill markings. Emily’s wives and Ro Laren were also in attendance, as were Seven and Kathryn, Cassidy and Cameron, and B'Elanna and Noah.
In speaking the Prala’prem, Emily was becoming a permanent link in the fanu’tremu of Lenara’s family line, but for the young woman, the ceremony was so much more than joining the Otner clan. Emily saw it as an overall means of embracing Trill culture, of accepting their religious beliefs and customs, of embarking on a whole new aspect of existence as an adopted Trill. She had prepared a regimen of study for herself, to include the entire Trill scriptures and a couple of theological critiques, a book of Trill artwork, several books of Trill poetry, various Trill symphonies and collections of popular music, and the classics of Trill Literature, starting with Chu Nista (Dark Soul), which was a fiction piece based upon the premise that the waters of the caves where the symbionts are sheltered are poisoned and the Trill way of life is destroyed. Lenara had told Emily it was to Trill literature what “1984” by George Orwell was to American literature.
Lenara had overseen Emily’s choices, and was so touched that her daughter intended to immerse herself in Trill culture. Naomi, Robin, and Kieran honored Lenara’s culture in many ways, but even Kieran, who had lived in a strongly Trill identified marriage and spoke the language fluently, hadn’t done anything as ambitious as what Emily planned.
Ro Laren watched the ceremony with keen interest. She had studied Trill herself at the Academy, and had a fair command of the language, and so she was able to follow the gist of the Prala’prem. Kit was not so well acquainted, but she and Jenny whispered back and forth whenever they heard a phrase they understood. Kit picked out Be’unaf, the sacred bond, and the Prala’be’unaf, the sacred family bond. Jenny recognized the phrase zamure’ne fanu dragan sharu naratfanumara, keru rela genay, which meant “surrender this life to honor your mother, to follow her way”.
Laren overheard the two women trying to muddle through the details of the ritual, and she finally moved to sit between them and translated as the ritual progressed. Kit beamed with pride, and hung on every word. Jenny gaped openly at Laren, wondering what other hidden knowledge and talents she was blessed with.
“Wow,” Laren breathed in awe, “Lenara is telling Emily, now, that she is the vir’edom’abuche,” Laren whispered, “which is a huge honor. That means she will be the proxy host for the Kahn symbiont if Lenara dies,” she added solemnly. “It translates to ‘first surrogate body’,” she elaborated.
Jenny blanched. “Isn’t that—dangerous?” she whispered back.
Laren nodded. “It can be. And it is very uncommon to designate a non-native of Trill as the vir’edom’abuche.”
When the ceremony concluded, Emily had pledged herself to the survival of the Kahn symbiont, to the preservation of the Trill culture, and to Lenara’s family, immediate and extended. She could serve as a proxy for ja’prala, she could attend the temple rituals, and she was considered a permanent part of the fanu’tremu. By virtue of their marriage, Jenny and Kit were also linked to the fanu’tremu.
Her mothers kissed her tenderly as the family gathered together to celebrate the expansion of the inclusive family, and Emily shed a few happy tears. Finally, Emily Frazier had ceased to exist, and Emily belonged to a family, well and truly, who loved and respected and wanted her among them.

_____________

Gretchen Janeway and Gerry Thompson had been lovers for so long, everyone treated them as though they were married, and the elderly couple had ceased to think of each other’s children as “yours” or “mine”. All the girls just felt like their kids. Now with the whole house full of their respective children, there was barely room to move. Kathryn and Seven and their three girls, plus Katie Torres, were staying in the guest house. Phoebe, Harry, and Edward Kim were in the main house with Gretchen and Gerry, and Kieran and the seven Wildwomen including their daughter Cami, plus Ro Laren, and Cassidy and Cameron Thompson with their daughter Chance, were at Naomi’s farmhouse. When Kieran and Naomi had married Lenara and Robin, they put a new addition on the house, with four extra bedrooms, two of which were master suites, and a much larger living room. The old living room was a den, now, and the kitchen had been expanded. Even with the extra space, the house was filled to the rafters. Kieran loved having them all there, especially her infant daughter Cami. Kieran had missed the first three months of Cami’s life, and she intended to make up for lost time every chance she got.
While Kathryn, Seven, Phoebe and Harry searched the woods that surrounded the farm to find a Christmas tree to cut down, Kieran organized the creation of a snowball arsenal in the back yard of Gretchen’s house, teaching Katie, Geejay, and Edward to make the missiles. Kit, Jenny, Emily, and Laren helped, and the snow forts were erected in preparation for the snowball war of the century.
Lenara and Naomi helped Hannah make a snowman, and Robin pulled Cami around on a sled. Cami was eight months old, and happy with the world, like the mother she resembled, Kieran Wildman. Cami was the light of Robin Wildman’s life, and she was so grateful she had had Cami when she did. Lenara was just barely beginning to look pregnant, having inseminated in November, and Naomi hovered protectively around her. Lenara was carrying Naomi’s child, and all indications were that the Trill was doing fine. Naomi was vigilant, though, because Lenara had been working long hours over the stable wormhole experiments, and the Trill scientist tended to tire easily.
When they had first married, the Wildman women had planned on four children, but now that they saw how much work Cami was, they were leaning toward just two. They liked the idea of having plenty of time to devote to their children individually, and though they hadn’t ruled it out, they weren’t certain they wanted more. Kieran already had Katie, and the four women co-parented Emily and Kit, who although young adults, still required attention from time to time. Still, Naomi had always wanted children with Kieran, a girl and a boy, and she knew if she really felt that need, Kieran would carry them both. Naomi had been told she was probably not capable of sustaining a pregnancy, due to a bacterial illness she had contracted in the Delta Quadrant. It had made her age rapidly, and though Naomi was chronologically eighteen, she was physiologically twenty-nine. The bacteria had damaged her reproductive system, and the Wildwomen strictly forbade the Ktarian to carry a child. Kieran had told Naomi that she would carry twins before she would allow Naomi to become pregnant.