"Mirral get back here this instant!" Kathryn had to laugh as she heard her dear friend call out in exasperation as the public transport doors opened and weary travellers stood to disembark "let the people pass"
"I want to see her" Kathryn heard the young girl squeal as she pushed past people.
"Ugh sorry" groaned B'Elanna to a rather flustered and angry looking admiral who Mirral had just pushed her way past "she takes after her father."
"B'Elanna!" laughed Kathryn as she stepped down from the transport ship to embrace her old friend.
"Kathryn!" laughed B'Elanna as the two women embraced having not seen each other in many months.
"Hello Mirral" Kathryn smiled as he ruffled the young girls hair.
"Are you an admiral?" Mirral asked looking up at Kathryn who was darned in all her admiral uniform.
"yes, I am also a very good friend of your mum and dad" Kathryn smiled and then looked up at B'Elanna realising just how long it had been since she had seen them "she's grown much in the last few months" in some ways it broke Kathryn's heart to know her job and her personal life had drawn her apart from those that really mattered.
"Yes; too much" groaned B'Elanna as she looked down at her little girl, no longer was she the toddler that had been at Chakotay's promotion.
"How are you?" Kathryn asked as she looked deep into her friend's eyes.
"Good" the half Klingon engineer told her as she avoided the stare of her commanding officer by paying attention to the tall blonde woman who had stepped down from the transport ship behind Kathryn. "Seven" B'Elanna greeted with an embrace much to the shock of Kathryn to see these once enemies embrace as friends.
"It's her it's the drone!" screamed the child clearly excited at finally getting to see who she had always wanted to see.
"Mirral!" hissed B'Elanna who was really beginning to feel annoyed with her wayward daughter.
"Welcome to Jupiter station" Mirral beamed up a glorious smile at the slender figure of the ex-Borg drone.
"Indeed" nodded seven in her usual stiff manner "I must report for duty perhaps I will see you all later"
"Yea" B'Elanna had barely said before Seven was gone heading towards security clearance.
"What?" B'Elanna snapped at Kathryn who was stood watching her closely.
"Nothing" smiled Kathryn "it is so good to see you again"
"You too" admitted B'Elanna.
"So how is life for you all on Jupiter station?" Kathryn asked wanting to catch up with her friend.
"It's good, I mean it's a job but it's so much more than that" B'Elanna told her knowing Kathryn of all people would understand.
"Just another adventure?" Kathryn laughed as she imagined tom and B'Elanna acting out a captain proton adventure.
"For tom yes"
"Anything is an adventure for tom!" snorted Kathryn at the thought of it.
"Come on let's get you through security and then I'll show you to your room" B'Elanna laughed thinking to herself how far they had all come since the early days on Voyager.
As Kathryn and B'Elanna walked towards the security desk where a young dark skinned female sat reading a PADD which she held in her left hand. She had not paid much attention to them before as they appeared to pose little threat. Everyone else from the transport had already cleared security. Mirral stood in a board grump due to sevens lack of acknowledgement or her greeting. The three has been stood at the desk for a while with no response from the young ensign. Kathryn gave a slight cough causing the young woman to place her PADD down and ask casually "admiral?"
"Yes?" Kathryn asked just as casually though she could feel B'Elannas temper begins to rise.
Kathryn handed her a PADD with her travel documents on, as the young woman looked down at it she suddenly realised who it was stood before her she quickly snapped out of her uninterested mode and into her role as security check in which, let's face it, is a pointless job as all the people traveling on those transports are Starfleet personal cleared for transport upon boarding. "Welcome to Jupiter station" the young ensign said to Kathryn with real enthusiasm.
"Thank you" Kathryn smiled warmly at her.
"We need to scan you medically" the ensign informed her casually, she had had many admirals refusing this in the past.
Kathryn looked at her long and hard for a while, nodded, straightened her uniform jacket, glanced awkwardly at B'Elanna stood beside her and said stiffly "yes"
"Thank you" the woman said visibly relaxing as she ran the tricorder over Kathryn.
As she passed the device over Kathryn's abdomen it let off a tell tail bleep which caused the ensign to freeze and stare at the reading "is everything ok?" B'Elanna asked looking from one to the other. Both women were now stood staring at each other.
"Admiral?" the young woman tentatively asked the older woman.
"I saw my own doctor before leaving earth, he granted me safety to travel at this stage." Kathryn informed her handing her a PADD the doctor had written out. B'Elanna was looking at Kathryn with a look of horror and confusion.
Taking the PADD the young ensign looked down at it as she read the doctors report. With a slight nod of her head she agreed telling her "yes I see no problems," as she handed the PADD back to Kathryn and added "just avoid taking a trip outside the station on our zero G walls."
"Obviously" Kathryn told her slightly harsher than she had intended.
"Perhaps avoid rigours and dangerous test flights" the young girl added giving B'Elanna a rather dirty look.
"She is the captain of Voyager she can handle it" growled B'Elanna clearly making a point that went rather over Kathryn's head.
"I am aware of who she is but captain of Voyager aside she is still a woman." snapped the young ensign then turning to Kathryn she said "your doctor recommends you see a doctor on board the station before taking a transport back to earth."
"I will be sure I will" Kathryn said with a slightly too sarcastic smile.
"Very well" came the response; clearly this woman had experience of dealing with annoying 'I know best' kind of admirals. "You are medically clear for entry; please step into our security booth."
"Thank you" beamed Kathryn as she walked into the scanning device the woman was gesturing to. The green light showed she wasn't smuggling anything into the station so she was free to step down. The dark skinned woman was gesturing for B'Elanna and Mirral to also step into the booth, though it was protocol it certainly annoyed B'Elanna but she surprised Kathryn by making little fuss as she too stepped into the booth taking Mirral with her and also showed a green light.
As B'Elanna stepped out and tried to gesture for Kathryn to leave with the young girl whispered eagerly "admiral?" causing Kathryn to turn and look at her "may I tell you admiral it is an honour to meet you."
"Thank you" nodded Kathryn.
"Your luggage will go through security check and is to be transferred to your guest quarters shortly" added the young woman giving B'Elanna a rather dirty look she added "I trust I can leave you in the capable hands of Lieutenant Torres?"
"Yes thank you." smiled Kathryn "you are ensign?"
"Lessing ma'am" the girl informed her as she snapped to attention. "Ensign Rebecca Lessing"
"Lessing?" whispered Kathryn almost as though she knew that name but couldn't quite place it.
"Yes thank you for rescuing my father"
"Your father?" Kathryn asked confused then it hit her like a bomb "Lessing? Your Noah Lessing's"
"Daughter yes" nodded the girl.
"It's my pleasure ensign Lessing" Kathryn told her embracing her in a hug and then looking deep into her eyes.
With that Kathryn turned with B'Elanna close behind her who was telling Mirral to stop sulking and join them. Once they were out the room and out of earshot of the young ensign Kathryn told B'Elanna "I never knew crewman Lessing has children"
"Nor did I till I came here" admitted B'Elanna "he was here only last month to visit her, it was lovely to catch up with an old Voyager face"
Kathryn silently walked down the corridor with mother and child as she pondered on what would have happened if Noah Lessing did die that fatal day on Voyager "oh B'Elanna it's great to see you"
"You too" B'Elanna told her. Then stopped walking folded her arms and demanded "well?"
"Well what?" Kathryn asked trying to sound casual like she had no idea what B'Elanna could be talking about.
"Don't 'well what' me" snapped B'Elanna "what was all that about?" the half Klingon demanded "why do you have to see a doctor for a transport?" then in a softer more concerned voice she asked her friend "are you sick?"
"No" Kathryn reassured her softly.