Death Becomes Her

Chapter 22

Epilogue

Jo came out of her room. She knew she was getting moved today. The Krogan were off the ship and they were leaving for the next Mass Relay tomorrow. She was betting her new room wasn't going to be anywhere near as big as this space was. But Rick was the captain. Well, Commodore now, not that she understood the difference.

Movement told her Katie and Alexis were in the reading room so she joined them, sat down, and watched as Alexis was sitting really close to Katie and was reading to her instead of Katie reading to Alexis. She was doing pretty good too.

"Something on you mind, Mom?" Kate was doing her best to adjust to the fact that her mother didn't look anything like her mother and yet she sure sounded like her.

"No, just watching." Jo smiled since it was good to see. Even if she still couldn't believe she was here or that this woman was her daughter.

"It is sorta my job, you know," Kate reminded her.

"This coming from my daughter who refused to do babysitting jobs so she could earn some money. Then you bought that thing with the money you did have." Jo shook her head. Where her daughter had come up with that idea escaped her.

"My Harley Softail. I kinda miss that bike. I worked hard to earn that money." Kate dreamed for a moment of things and times long gone.

Alexis had stopped reading and was now listening to these two. "What's Harley?"

"My bike that isn't here. You have your bike and I had mine. Are you done reading?" Kate asked her and she nodded. "Okay, so what's next?" Kate tried to think based on what time of day it was and where in this ship they could go. "Gym or pool?" Kate inquired.

Now Alexis was torn. She liked both. The gym meant she could be with some of her friends if they were even there now. The pool meant she could go swimming and she liked swimming.

"What about you, Mom? Lift weights or go swimming?" Kate would put money on one over the other. Though swimming meant putting on a swimsuit and her mother had shown a tendency to think she looked terrible in a swimsuit. So maybe neither. But her money was still on swimming. Lifting weights was something Kate was willing to do to get her body into shape.

"Some choice." Jo didn't care for either. "There's no amusement park?" Jo questioned and Katie shook her head. Jo tried again. "No movie theater with popcorn and sodas?" Katie shook her head again. "No beach to get a suntan on? Never mind, strike that." That meant wearing a swimsuit yet again.

"You're thirty now, Mom," Kate reminded her, betting she looked a lot better in any swimsuit than she thought she would.

"Don't remind me. I get up, take a shower and look in the mirror, and I'm still turning around to see who's behind me and how did that Latino looking woman get in my bathroom anyway?" Jo shook her head. It was still all just too fantastic to believe.

She was dead but she wasn't dead.

"Welcome to my world. I tried for red hair once and it didn't work out. Now look at me. I have red hair everywhere and it's real red. This isn't dyed." Kate pulled on her own hair so she could see it.

Alexis made up her mind partly because she was being ignored. "Pool!"

"Well go get changed then. My mother and I will be right behind you." Kate watched Alexis race to her room to get changed.

"I will?" Jo didn't remember asking if she could go.

"Yes. I'm betting you have at least one swimsuit in your room and you don't have to move, you know. This is a big space." Kate was willing to share.

Jo shook her head. "I'm willing to babysit from time to time, but this space is for you and your family. You're married now and I need to learn how to adjust to this life. If I can ever stop trying to find out who that woman is behind me." Jo laughed at herself which had Kate joining her a little.

oOo

"Here's your float if you want it." Kate handed over Alexis's long tube meant to keep her afloat if all she wanted to do was float and kick her feet. Then watched her jump into the pool, tuck the float under both arms, and head out.

Kate grabbed a lounge and took off her wrap to show off her bikini. Then she put down her towel as her mother pulled a lounge next to hers and did the same. Jo was in a one piece that wasn't cut to her taste. It was backless, showed off her breasts, and wow, was the cut really high. It was a good thing she was bald down there or people were going to see too much.

"I'm going to get Amelia for this," Jo vowed as she laid down next to Katie.

"That suit shows a lot of you, Mom. You look good, though. Just like I was betting," Kate mentioned

"That's why I'm going to get Amelia for this. And is that a Brazilian bikini?" What Katie was wearing didn't cover all that much.

"Brazil is on Earth and we're nowhere near Earth. Rick likes my bikini, so there." Kate stuck her tongue out at her mother.

"I'll just bet he does." Jo grinned and closed her eyes then suddenly opened them and looked for Alexis who was doing fine. "So much for closing my eyes." It was her motherly duty or grandmotherly duty to watch Alexis.

"Speaking of Rick, when do I get more grandchildren?" Jo inquired.

"Rick and I have talked about that recently. It'll take a month or more to clear the drugs from my system. Then it's only a matter of time. It was even my idea, can you believe that?" Kate was still a little amazed. Her life had changed so drastically.

"Good." Jo was happy for her.

"You are not swimming?" Someone that was all blue with a touch of purple stopped next to Jo. She/he knew who Kate was and she was taken. "Come, I can teach you if you don't know how." She/he held out her/his hand.

"Go!" Kate waved her hand at her mother. "Have some fun. Just go." Her mother was still just lying there.

Jo turned her head and whispered, "I don't even know what she is." Jo was guessing she based mostly on the suit she was wearing.

"She is an Asari. They're nice so go." Kate shooed her away again and smiled as she watched her mother get up and walk out into the pool with her.

Her mother was really in for a shock. She knew by now that Asari were a mono-gendered species. They were able to reproduce with any gender and with any species. Though they resemble human females or Angoran females, Asari were non-gender specific and had no concept of gender differences. During a talk with Janet she had learned that "Male and female have no real meaning to us."

But any species that mated with an Asari would have a 100% Asari child, both physically and genetically. Mating was used as a way for Asari to randomize the genes of the offspring so they didn't become sterile.

If that one had designs on her mother, she was in for a shock.

oOo

Kate had Alexis out of the water before she became a fish and was resting nice and quiet next to her when Jo showed up and laid down next to her.

"So how did it go?" Kate questioned her.

"I have a date." Jo still was in shock. Not too long ago, at least from her perspective, she had been married. She was still adjusting to being dead and yet not dead. So why she had said yes was a bit of a shock.

"I still don't know it's a she or a he. He talked like a male but looks a little female." Jo couldn't figure that part out.

"Neither, actually," Kate remarked.

"What!?" Jo turned her head to look at her.

"Asari don't believe in sexes though all of them look female. According to Rick they're the single most revered race in the Alliance. They're also the most richest race in the Alliance. That one is likely a Matron and about 350 years old or older." Kate had learned a lot about the races that were on this ship.

"What!?" Jo let her mouth fall open.

"They can live to be a thousand years old. They're all very nice, Mom. Just watch out for the ones in the military. Rick says they are few but feared for their power. So go on your date. You could use a friend. You only have me and Dad is long gone. So have some fun." Kate was starting to wonder if she was the one going to be a grandmother to an Asari child. Now that would be interesting.

oOo

Kate and Alexis had watched the ship go into FTL out their windows. The next Mass Relay was almost six months away this time. If it took them another four months to repair it, it might be the only relay this year.

"Bedtime for you," Kate told her.

"Awww." Alexis didn't want to go to bed. She wanted to stay up and wait for her dad to come home.

"Your dad has tomorrow off so you'll have both of us all day. Now go wash, brush your teeth, and get changed. I'll be right there." Kate shooed her toward her room and went back to watching outside. Not that there was anything to see. There never was. Still it was nice to have glass. It didn't feel so confining.

oOo

Kate was in the living room staring out at nothing and was suddenly surprised when Rick sat down next to her. "What are you brooding about?"

"I'm not brooding. I was just thinking." Kate snuggled in close.

"About what if I may ask?" Rick waited for her reply.

"Mom," Kate admitted.

"She volunteered to move out. Have you seen her room yet?" Rick asked. "It's not that bad. After we cleaned it up from the Krogan that had been in it."

"Not yet. …She got invited out on a date," Kate said. "They should be on it now."

"Really?" Rick's eyebrow went up. "Someone was a fast worker." That was impressive.

Kate nodded. "We were at the pool. It's an Asari."

"Interesting. What does she know about Asari?" She was in for a shock if she knew nothing.

"Only the little bit that I told her. I hope she's having fun." Kate was a little concerned. It was an alien and Earth didn't really believe in aliens. If only they knew what she knew now.

"Hmm, which one? I can ask Janet about her." To him all Asari were female.

"I don't know her name. Didn't think to ask. I'm sure it's fine." Kate tried not to worry even if she had talked her mother into not canceling it.

"One way to find out." Rick started to get up.

"You will not!" Kate pulled him back down to her. "If Mom doesn't like her there won't be a second date is all," Kate reasoned.

Rick corrected what she might be thinking he was planning to do. "I was only going to check if there was a disturbance anywhere on the ship. This ship is half full of aliens, you know. Not all of them are going to get along."

"Oh. …Okay, go." Kate let go of him and waited for him to come back, dying to know what he had learned.

"And?" He had her undivided attention.

"Oh, you want to know?" Rick teased her. She made a face and poked him.

"Keep it up and I'll tie you to the bed tonight," Kate threatened. Not that it was much of a threat these days like it used to be early in their relationship.

"There are presently no domestic quarrels reported or even any fights reported. Or any sexual activity in public places." That got him another poke in the chest.

"Asari are the single most respected race in the Alliance for a reason. I'm sure she isn't doing anything your mother doesn't want to do. I can still ask Janet. There can't be that many single Asari on this ship. Shouldn't be too hard to find out who it is," Rick offered yet again.

Kate knew she was going to hate this. She was spying on her own mother. "All right, go ask her. But that's all. I don't want anyone spying on them. Least of all me," she whispered.

oOo

Rick was back eventually and sat down next to Kate. "You're not going to believe this. Her name is Mallene Calis. She happens to be my Bronze bridge crew navigation officer.

"Janet says she's well respected and yes, she's single and is presently 354 years old. Which means she's looking to settle down and she might be interested in your mother. She's been alone since she came onboard and Janet is happy for her. If it works out.

"Provided your mother doesn't freak out on her."

"Mom might. It might all be too much too fast for her. From her perspective she was just married to Dad. Now she's dead, yet here in a different body that's younger than she used to be. Being dated by an Asari on a spaceship way out in space." Kate was pretty sure her mother was indeed going to freak out.

"Well when you put it like that…" Rick got back up.

"Where are you going?" Kate didn't want him interfering yet she wanted to protect her mother.

"To have Janet have a nice talk with Mallene so she understands what she's getting herself into and not to push too hard." Rick replied and left her.

"Oh." Kate smiled since it was sweet of him.

oOo

It was a few days later and Kate answered her door. "Mom?" This was a bit of a surprise. "Looks like you better come in." She looked like a woman with a problem.

"Go sit down. I'll get the alcohol." They had a little hidden away from Alexis in case of emergencies and this looked like an emergency to her.

"Here, be careful with this stuff, it's strong." Kate had one of her own and sat down. "Sip." Jo took a sip and watched her daughter do the same.

"Now tell me why you look like this? Did Mallene do something wrong?" She knew they had had at least two dates now. She was thankful that her mother had said yes for the second.

"Nothing. Everything." Jo took more than a sip this time and felt it burn its way all the way down. "She, he, whatever, kissed me," Jo blurted.

"Okay, sounds like a good thing. And it's not a she or a he, Mom. They don't believe in sexes." As hard as that was to understand.

"Looks like a she to me. She even has, I mean she has… Shehasboobs!" Jo said it so fast the words turned into one big word.

Kate played that over in her mind to get it to slow down. "And you don't like women like that. Have you even bothered to ask how they have sex yet? It might not be what you think." Based on what Rick had told her that he knew about it wasn't sex like either of them knew about.

"Of course not!" Jo was ready to slap her for that question. "I don't know what to do." Jo was so lost.

"This is a switch, Mom. Do you know how many times I wished you were there so I could ask you for advice? More times than I can count is the answer."

"I'm still sorry, Katie. I actually did have it all planned out." Neither of them should be dead but they were.

They both heard a ding. "Hold that thought." Kate got up and went to a terminal. "I have mail. I never have mail. The only people who know I'm here are on the ship." Kate had gotten up to answer it in case it was important for Rick. They didn't have to use mail to contact her.

"What's it say?" Jo was up and walking toward her.

"Let's find out." Kate opened it and a little 3D image of the sender showed up.

"I know him." Jo recognized him instantly.

"Second Chance." Kate recognized him as well. Kate let it play.

"Miss Beckett, though I'm told it is Mrs. Rodgers now. Congratulations. You are another Second Chance success story.

"Per your husband's request I had our satellite over your planet do a scan," Hurley reported. "What few people know and we prefer to keep it that way, is that for our satellite to function the way it does we need to know all we can about the person that has died.

"They need to be able to clear the first set of priorities for them to be sent on to our facility here for an in depth evaluation. But you know all this. Anyway, per your husband's request we did a scan of one Jim Beckett. Your father and husband to Johanna Beckett who should also be on your ship, so feel free to share this message with her.

"Mr. Jim Beckett is alive and still resides in a city called New York City. He is presently in a city called Miami. Based on our data he is there to spend time with a Melanie Savannah. She is a lead prosecutor for that city. I believe they are dating."

"Dad's dating!?" Kate's mouth fell open.

"Jim Beckett has been there for the last week. Beyond that I don't know. I trust you are well and I wish you both much luck and a long life. Good luck."

"Message ends," the machine told them.

"Dad's dating?" Kate said it again so she could believe it.

Jo was pissed off. "That was fast."

"You've been dead for fifteen years, Mom. Dad became a drunk because of it. It might seem a short time to you, but not to us." Kate gently chastised her.

Jo slumped. "You're right. I shouldn't criticize what he's done. So much has changed. That's why I don't know what to do. She, he, whatever kissed me and I freaked. She probably won't even talk to me now."

Kate made a quick decision. She got Rick on the screen. "Hi, Janet's with you, isn't she?"

Rick tilted his head. "Yes?"

"Would you ask her if she will send her wife to our quarters?" Kate asked him. "Mallene kissed Mom and she's freaking out. I don't know enough about Asari to help her."

Then Rick went away for a moment.

"Janet says she'll be right there. She also wants a wedding invitation. Just don't tell your mother I said that."

"WEDDING?" Jo yelled.

"Too late," Kate said.

"I have to go. Before your mother kills me." Rick killed the transmission and endured Janet smiling at him.

"WEDDING!? One little kiss and I'm married now?" Jo was freaking out a little more. Or so far as Kate was concerned, a whole lot more.

oOo

Kate left her mother and Janet's wife alone in their living room while she sat in the reading room trying to read something and failing badly. Thankfully Alexis was with friends after school today. So it was just her today. Her mother was actually lucky to have caught her here. Normally she would be out of this room.

Kate set her reader aside when her mother entered then sat down. "I never realized aliens could be so complicated," Jo stated but to Kate she looked a lot calmer and sounded calmer.

"Did she help?" It was all Kate could think of to do for her.

"Yeah. She's going to go talk to Mallene next and explain why I freaked out on her, him. It really is both, isn't it. Not sure I'm cut out for this life." Jo felt lost.

"Don't give up now, Mom. It took me months. You'll get there. So you understand Asari now hopefully?" It was why Kate had called Rick to ask Janet.

"Yeah, pretty much. Did you know I'm the one that's going to get pregnant? That an Asari can get anyone pregnant, even one of their own.

"It does explain why she was bending over backwards to be nice. Always letting me go first, asking me what I want to eat, where I want to go, what my favorite things are… What are you grinning at?"

Katie had this huge grin on her face. "She's dating you, Mom! She's trying to learn more about you. You could ask her questions, you know. Learn more about her. Find out why she's so interested in you.

"That's kinda how it works when you're dating. And I want an invitation to the wedding too." Kate tried to hide her smile since she was teasing her. Then broke out laughing when her mom glared at her. It looked different but felt the same as always.

oOo

"Mom! You have a guest." Kate had answered the door and let Mallene in. "Mom's in the reading room over there. I'll be in a biosphere if anyone wants me." Kate made a hasty retreat, hoping for the best and leaving her quarters to the two of them.

oOo

A month later Kate answered the door while leaving Alexis in the reading room. "Hi, Mom. Something's different." Kate looked her over and opened her eyes wide. "You're blushing!" Kate grinned.

"I knew this was a bad idea." Jo turned to leave.

"Get in here." Kate grabbed her, pulled her inside, and closed the door. "So talk fast before Alexis figures out you're here." When she did they'd learned that Alexis had worked out that she had a Grams now and she was over the moon.

Only Jo didn't say anything and her blush got deeper. "You didn't?" Kate worked out why she thought her mother was blushing. "So was it good?" She had no idea how an Asari had sex or what it was like.

"GRAMS!" It was too late, Alexis had spotted her. Kate would get it out of her later. Lanie had taught her well how to get people like herself to talk. So she could get her mother to talk.

As Lanie would say, "I want details, girl!"