Professor Alison Harkins sat at the desk in her modest office in Starfleet Academy, San Francisco, Earth. Her long strawberry blond hair was pulled back into a ponytail, her brow slightly furrowed with concentration. Two piles of PADDs, a modified tri-corder, and a cup of black coffee sat next to her computer.
The USS Armstrong had recently returned from its mission to an unexplored sector of the Alpha Quadrant, and its captain had handed over close to twenty PADDs full of data. Her expertise had been called upon to help classify a multitude of newly described life forms, some silicon based, some based on recently discovered new elements, encountered during the mission.
A heavy teaching load at the Academy and a joint position with the Federation Council on Exobiology meant she had little time for her own research (she was an expert in comparative exobiology), let alone undertaking a mission. She had a flare for teaching and administration and was recognised accordingly for it. But deep down, she simply relished the thrill of finding, describing and cataloging life forms that were previously unknown to Starfleet. A sense of excitement rose in her belly as she opened a report on one of the PADDs.
She was lost in a field description of an invertebrate silicon-based life form when a knock on the door and, an oh so familiar voice, husky and sensual, interrupted her.
"I always knew you would make professor."
Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway stood in in the doorway, resplendent in a newly issued command uniform, hands on her hips. A beaming smile spread across her lips. Her auburn hair fell about her attractive face in a bob and her blue eyes sparkled. The light caught the brass of the vice admiral pips on the collar of her red undershirt.
Alison was speechless for a moment then quickly gathered her thoughts. Her heart was pounding feverishly.
"Oh my god! Kathryn!" She rushed towards her visitor. "I was going to come and visit you after all the fanfare died down."
'I guess I got in first." Kathryn said smiling.
The old friends embraced. Kathryn's arms around her felt so familiar and Alison enjoyed the sensation. Kathryn's heady perfume touched her nostrils. Long buried feelings and memories of adventures together came rushing back.
It was going on eighteen years since they had met at Starfleet Academy while in their second year of training. Alison was instantly drawn to the strong willed, level headed, A grade student that was cadet Janeway. Kathryn was ambitious, Alison a steady, quiet archiver. They became inseparable, sharing quarters, pulling all-nighters fuelled by copious cups of black coffee, venturing into San Francisco and spending hours discussing exobiology, space exploration and the vastness of the universe in a little coffee shop on Market Street.
They served together as science officers on the USS Al-Batani, with Kathryn displaying her burgeoning command skills and Alison her knowledge of exobiology. Countless hours were spent on away missions gathering data and specimens, analysing reports and brainstorming complex scientific puzzles. They were suitably matched in wit and intelligence and had spurred each other on in their scientific work.
The boundaries of their friendship had blurred over the years. But complications and heartache led their lives and careers down different paths.
"It's so wonderful to see you. I'm so pleased you made it home." Alison said as they pulled away from each other.
"After seven years and all the battles with the Kazon and the Borg, I'm glad to be back in the Alpha Quadrant and here on Earth." Kathryn said, then added, with a gentler tone to her voice, "and its lovely to see you."
Alison blushed and was suddenly conscious of the mess in her office. She hurried over to her desk and tried to tidy the pile of PADDs.
"My office is a mess. Sorry." She grabbed her handbag from off a chair so Kathryn had somewhere to sit.
"At ease, Lieutenant," Kathryn joked trying to ease Alison's nervousness, "Its fine." And sat down.
Alison sat at her desk, feeling strangely formal with such an old friend. Their eyes met.
"How long has it been? 11 years?" Kathryn asked. But she knew exactly how many years it was since the two had spent time together. It was just after Mark had proposed.
"Ahhh, 10 years to be precise."
Kathryn smiled and said "It's been way too long." She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts, "I thought about you a lot when I was on Voyager, and how much I missed you in my life. One of the first things I wanted to do when we got back to Earth was to come and see you."
Oh! Those words, that voice. Her resolve was starting to crack. But before Alison could respond, Kathryn spoke.
"I'm wondering if you would like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?" Kathryn said.
"Oh... I'm so sorry, but I can't tomorrow night. I'm hosting a guest lecture from a visiting Vulcan scientist.' Why did it have to be that night Alison thought? "But I'm free on Thursday night."
"Great. Shall we meet at La Viola's, if it's still there, at 1900?"
"Well the restaurant is still there, and 1900 sounds perfect."
Kathryn stood to leave.
"I'm looking forward to hearing all about your adventures." Alison said enthusiastically.
"And I want to hear all about yours." Replied Kathryn, with a wry smile.