USS Virgo
November 8, 2384
Katianna looked around her quarters. She had packed almost everything. Soon, she would be at another assignement... Alone... No daughter, no Kara and no Jovo... She sighed as she sat down on her bed and looked at the framed photos in her hands. One was of Laurissa and the other was of Jovo and herself together. She sighed with a heavy heart and stood to pack them in a bag along the far wall. Tears stung her eyes. Because her mind had been preoccupied with getting Laurissa back, Section 31 had decided that she wasn't as focused as she use to be and therefore not as useful. Though they had not terminated her, they had placed her duties on a back burner. That was actually fine with her, except that it also took her away from Jovo... He was off on another assignement for Section 31 and she was off to SB901 to be the new Intel Officer.
Tonight was essentially their last night together. She took a deep breath, wiped away the tears that threated to fall from her green eyes and stood up. Tonight was going to be a memorable night. She was going to make certain of that. She'd planned a private good-bye dinner just for the two of them. Though she knew they could see each other again, she didn't have much luck with men in general. The list of men she had truly loved was short, and on the list, only two were still alive. Jovo being one of them. She caught sight of herself in a mirror and saw that she looked less than stunning and quickly went to change.
An hour later she was dressed in a striking black dress made of satin and lace. She had pinned her hair back and let it cascade around her shoulders and down her back. She had a piece of black lace pinned around her neck as a choker. For dinner she was going to serve prime rib au jus with garlic potatoes and seasoned green beans. For dessert, chocolate fondue... And she wanted to talk to Jovo. To see him one last time... She chilled wine and lit candles. Just as she subdued the lighting, the door sensor sounded. As the door slid open, Jovo entered. He was all casual until he saw her and just stopped, stunned. She smiled, happy that she could still surprise him.
"Hello there," she smiled, "Glad you could make it."
"Wow," he replied, "You look... stunning."
Her smile brightened further as she went to him. "Thank you," she replied. "You look pretty good, yourself." She smirked as she looked him over.
"Had I known you were going to dress up..."
She laughed. "Don't worry about it. I just did this to do it... And partly to see the look on your face."
The twinkle in her eye was unmistakable and he smiled, taking her in a warm embrace. Gently he caressed her face. "And how are you holding up?" He asked, searching her green eyes. He watched as her emotions flickered there though she tried to remain outwardly calm.
"I'm fine," she replied, reflecting her strong self.
But he knew her better than that. "Kat, we've known each other a long time now... And I know you're not fine," he replied.
Tears began misting her eyes, but she pushed them away. "Well, tonight we're going to pretend that I'm fine," she said with a smile. "This is our last night together, and I want it to be a good one."
"It will be," he replied.
Dinner was excellent, but did nothing to offset the heaviness of the occasion. After the meal both Kat and Jovo seemed to be at a loss for words.
She looked into his eyes and smiled. "So can you tell me where you're headed, or is that confidential at the moment?" she asked quietly. Her mind couldn't leave the fact that tomorrow they would go their separate ways. She picked up a strawberry and dipped it in the chocolate fondue, offering it to him to bite.
Jovo looked a bit uncertain. "At the moment it is classified," Jovo said. "Need to know only. Sorry, Kat." He looked at the strawberry nervously, then overcame his apprehension and took a bite.
She nodded. "That's okay, I understand," she replied, as she dipped a strawberry for herself and ate. "At least you'll know where to find me," she said softly.
"You can be sure I'll be looking for you too," he said, taking another bite of the strawberry, this time with more gusto.
Tenderly, she caressed his face. "Its just going to be strange not being near you after tomorrow..." She looked away as tears stung her eyes. She didn't want him to see them, as she fought for control of her emotions.
Jovo reached over and caressed her face. "It's all right, Kat. I know what you're feeling. Let's enjoy what we have for now, and hope for the best possible future." He stood up, bent over, and kissed her gently on the forehead.
She leaned her head just enough so their lips met. He pulled back to see the look in her eyes and then caressed her face. She stood up, ran her fingers through his hair and pulled him to her, allowing her heart to guide her.
For some reason Jovo felt nervous. It wasn't as though they were doing anything any different, but somehow he felt more apprehensive. After all, it was their last night together, and he didn't want to disrespect her. He wanted their last moments to be special, to mean something. So much to say, so much they had never done...
"Kat, I want you to know that you will always mean the world and more to me," Jovo said. "I don't want this evening to end without me saying that I love you and I'll do whatever I can to get back to you." he said as he embraced her.
"I know..." she replied, as she traced his lips with her fingers. "And I love you..." The tears were starting to form in her eyes and she couldn't stop them. She caressed Jovo's face and kissed him gently. "Stay with me tonight, Jovo..." The look in her eye, the tone of her voice... The touch of her fingers through his hair left no doubt to her meaning. "Please stay with me..."
"Nothing would make me happier," Jovo said as he returned her kiss deeply and passionately. The tears were starting to well in his eyes as his arms closed around her.
As the kiss ended, she laughed gently and wiped away his tears and sniffed. The happiness apparent in her green eyes. "And to think, had Section 31 not recruited me to be your Watcher we would have never become friends... never more... " She sighed. "I suppose I owe Section 31 for that..." She brushed away a strand of hair from his forehead as she looked into his eyes, before again kissing his passionately.
"They're good for something, I guess," Jovo smirked as he pulled her toward him more aggressively into another kiss. Before long he had her pinned to the floor. There was so much he wanted from her, but he had never been sure he had the right to it.
For the moment, Kat could lose herself. Their passionate kissing had barely stopped since starting except for momentary conversation. As he pinned her to the deck, she smirked and caressed his face. As she kissed him again, she executed a grace yet strong move that found Jovo beneath the lithe Katianna. She smiled and bit her lower lip as her playfulness took over.
Jovo was startled by the suddenness of Kat's move. "And here I was worried you might not want this," he said breathlessly as his hands took her by the waist and began working their way up her back.
"I've wanted this for a long time, Jovo," she replied, softly. "I was just waiting for it to be the right time for you..."
"And I didn't want to rush you," he said, drawing her upper body toward him, then moving his hands down to her lower back and thighs. "I was never sure...and I'm not entirely sure now..." he said nervously.
"I know that you've never been with anyone..." she replied with a gentle smile as she caressed his face. "It's okay... I'll guide you..." With that she kissed his again. At first tenderly and then with more passion. "I love you so much..."
"And I love you too," he said, running his hands up into her dress.
Kat awoke early the next day at 0530. She felt Jovo's arm around her waist and sighed. She smiled, but just as quickly it hit her like a ton of bricks that today she would have to say good-bye to him. Today, she would be alone. She didn't even have Laurissa. Their attempts to retrieve her had failed... So there she was, in an alternate dimension, though a better one than she was in. Her daughter was missing in an alternate dimension and the only other person she had a strong bond with she was having to part ways with. Aboard SB901 she would be completely alone. Not like she hadn't been alone in her life, but being a parent had changed her. There was definitely something missing. And then Jovo... She had only loved four men in her entire life and he was one of them. And she was having to say good-bye. She had to, she understood that. But it hurt to do so. Tears stung at her eyes as they had done the night before as the pain welled up within her.
Kat's stirrings woke Jovo up. He'd wanted nothing more than just to stay with her until the end of time, but duty called... in just a few hours he would have to leave her -- for a short while, at least.
"I won't forget you, or abandon you," Jovo said. "I will stay in touch with you as much as possible. I hope you know that," he said.
"I know," Kat replied, as she turned toward him, her eyes green pools. "I know that you wouldn't leave me if you didn't have to." She gently caressed his face. "I'll just miss you very much..." she said.
"And I'll miss you too," Jovo said, before he could finally contain his emotions no more. "What I have with you is my real life... everything else is just illusion," he said, choking.
She caressed his face and kissed him. "I guess somehow we'll find each other again. Section 31 can't keep us apart forever..." Though she knew if they wanted they could. They both knew Section 31 could.
"Love finds a way," Jovo said. "It always does. And I'll do whatever it takes to get back to you as soon as possible!" he said fervently, although he knew that she was right. Section 31 could keep them apart permanently if it so desired. They had their means and would let nothing deter them in any goal it sought to achieve.
"Lets hope you can come back soon," she smiled as ran her hand through his hair. She sighed as she gazed at his face, memorizing it.
"You can count on it!" he said with a smile as he gazed back at her, memorizing her features. "And in the meantime, don't be afraid to write!"
She smirked. "I'll find a way to do that," she replied. She sighed and kissed him. "The time flew by... In another couple of hours we have to get up and get dressed... Then say our good-byes..."
"Not 'goodbye,'" Jovo said. "Never that. Instead, let's say 'until later," he said, smiling.
Kat nodded as the tears still misted her eyes. "'Until later...'" she echoed. "Okay..."
Supply Base 901
November 11, 2384
Upon learning of Katianna's arrival, Kitty hastily arranged a side party to greet the station's new Intelligence Officer. Why can't they ever give us more warning on these things? she thought as she struggled into her dress uniform.
At the docking bay, Kitty joined Garek, Tarik, Deveraux, and Kassia at the head of an honor guard. The hatch to the shuttle opened.
"Attention!" Kitty ordered. Everyone snapped to with a salute.
Out of the shuttle emerged a lowly yeoman in a medical uniform, who looked rather surprised at the attention. Unsure of himself, he returned the salute. "Yeoman Dennis Franklin reporting for duty, sirs!" he said.
"Mallory to Ops -- when is Commander Nadira's shuttle due to arrive?"
[It should be there now, ma'am.]
We need someone better at Ops. "Welcome aboard, Mr. Franklin. You will find Sickbay on Deck 18. Dr. Cherrin is expecting you," Kitty said, noting that Franklin was at least as embarrassed as she was.
A second shuttle arrived, landing next to the first. "Attention!" Kitty ordered again. The entire group (now including Yeoman Franklin) snapped to attention and presented the emerging officer with a salute.
Katianna Nadira emerged from the shuttle, overwhelmed by the display of attention.
Later that evening, after Kat had settled in her quarters, a dinner was held in the formal Officers' Mess. White-liveried kitchen staff laid out a feast on Andorian silver and Earth china. Everyone was extremely charming and friendly, but Kat couldn't help but feel agitated.
She smiled politely as she sat and sipped at her water, making the required banter. But her mind wouldn't leave the fact that after this dinner she was going to return to empty quarters. She wouldn't hear Laurissa laughing or see her playing with her dolls and she wouldn't have Jovo there to hold her either. As she looked over to Kassia, the green eyes held her for a moment. There was something about it that surprised her. Some hint of understanding. But just as quickly, someone interupted her thoughts.
"Would you prefer the Baron of Beef or the Chicken Parmesan, Commander?" a waiter asked her.
"The Baron of Beef, please," she answered with a gentle smile.
The waiter nodded and moved on. "I understand you come to us from a very unusual posting," Tarik said.
"Everything about my postings are unusual," she replied with a light laugh.
Typical Intelligence, Tarik thought. Kitty interrupted the exchange. "So, have you had a chance to review the reports on the situation at this station?" she aksed.
Kat nodded. "I've reviewed everything," she replied. "Looks like I'll have a few things to keep me busy around her."
Garek and Kassia looked at one another. Both had a very definite sense that there was something lurking beneath the surface. Something more than just security concerns.
"So, how did you come to be assigned to Intelligence?" Kassia asked, trying to break down the barriers discreetly.
Kat again laughed, though it seemed hollow. "That is a very long story," she replied. "I was actually on the Command Track and served as Executive Officer once. But that was a different time... And a different place from this one," she said. "After I was unable to continue as an Executive Officer for reasons I can't really go into, I was transfered into Intelligence where my abilities were found useful," she replied. "And that's where I have stayed."
She ended it simply as she looked down into her water glass swirling it around. In her mind she saw visions of the USS Sarek, the ship she had been First Officer on before its destruction in the Deltra Quadrant in her dimension. Then there were visions of the Coronia that had saved her and her child and friend. Then the Aquitania where she had met Jovo and so many things had started to go wrong instead of right. But in the end, she had wound up in another dimension and with the Virgo. The only things missing were Laurissa and Kara. And even the attempt to get them had failed. This dimension was a life saver and a new start for her, but without her daughter it didn't seem to mean much. Her thoughts just churned as she looked up again and forced a soft smile.
Kassia looked to Tarik. ~This woman's gone through a lot... Her mind is still reeling... and... and there's someone she's missing... a child... Tarik! She has a daughter!~
Tarik nodded. A glance to Garek told him to back off a little as well. Time to change the subject, he thought, noting her discomfiture. "What do you have in mind in terms of surveillance activities along the Mulluran frontier?" Tarik asked. "Do the proposed listening posts look good to you?"
"How about Francona?" Kitty asked, picking up what was happening at the table. "Is he as big a threat as we think?"
"There is a real possibility of that, yes," Kat replied with a certainty in her green eyes.
"I have developed full decryption protocols for ze Mulluran comm traffic," Deveraux added. "Zhey have been sent to your personal terminal. Eef you need 'elp weeth zhem, feel free to ask my assistance," he said proudly, with more than a little subtext involved. Unlike everyone else present, what was going on beneath the surface was completely lost on Deveraux.
"I'll be sure to do that, Mr. Deveraux," Kat replied with a smirk.
Deveraux looked smug as the kitchen staff delivered the food.
"So, tell me about your family," Kassia asked.
Kat bristled a bit as she took a sip if wine. Her heartache was still there and just as strong. "My parents are dead. I have a brother whose a doctor and a sister. We were triplets. We were pretty close, though over the last few years we've lost touch," she said. Never more so than now she thought to herself. "I was married, but..." She took a breath as she kept her compsure. "He died... And my only other family is... my daughter, Laurissa." She smiled sadly and then took a sip of her wine.
"We'll do whatever we can to try and get your daughter back for you," Kassia said, careful not to commit herself or the station to any specific course of action. After all, the exact circumstances of her disappearance were still in question.
"So, have you had a chance to look over the modification to the Class IV surveillance probes?" Garek, also sensing Katianna's unease, asked. "We've had some success using a modified Romulan cloaking device to evade Mulluran sensors -- thanks to our new captain!"
"I was noticing that in the reports," Kat replied, with a smile. "You're quite resourceful, Captain. Its a good quality for the time and place we live in."
"Thank you, Commander," Kitty replied. "And I have read your record and the reports from the Virgo. You are just as creative in difficult situations."
Kat nodded. "Thank you. But then the those situations usually either bring out the best or worst of a person."
"Our position here at the edge of Federation space has often called for creative and unorthodox solutions," Tarik said. "It looks like you'll do well here."
"I hope so," Kat replied with sincerity. Something that she gathered, they weren't use to seeing in an Intel Officer.
"I believe I read about her..." Kat replied. "Sinclair. She was all of that and more. Tried to kill off Col. Johnny Chee... Or rather, Lt. Commander Johnny Chee now. We had her in custody for awhile, but then she escaped. Its too bad to know she's out there somewhere..."
"So she was the one," Tarik said. "Johnny had told me about an Intelligence officer gone bad, but didn't name her." Tarik made a mental note to deal personally with the person who had ruined his friend's career if the opportunity presented itself.
Kat picked up on his thoughts and looked at him. "Now you know it. But what will you do with it?" She asked as playfully as possible, but she was also serious. If on the off-hand chance he managed to come face to face with Sinclair, Katianna didn't want to see another officer almost ruined by her. The woman was evil and Kat didn't say that often about people. But she had read the reports and had met the woman. The woman was evil.
"Let's just say that I have intelligence contacts of my own these days," Tarik said. The G'kar intelligence establishment was in his debt, and if nothing else the Tal'Shiar would stop at nothing to eliminate someone who deprived them of the satisfaction of completing their mission.
Kat nodded in understanding. "Contacts sometimes can be everything," she replied. "Still, I hope you do not have the distinction of meeting her. Unless she is well restrained," Kat replied, taking another sip of her drink.
"We know how to deal weeth such people as Sinclair," Deveraux replied proudly. "After all, we dealt weeth Vince Kelly!"
Kat could feel different emotions in the room. The strongest from Kassia and she turned to the woman. As their eyes met, Kat got images of Kassia's encounter with Kelly in the turbolift. But outwardly Kassia was calm.
"I read the report," Kat said, as she finally turned toward Paul. "It was handled as well as could be expected."
"The situation might have been handled better had we been aware of the threat Kelly posed," Garek said. "By the time he was exposed the damage was done. But we've implemented counterintelligence procedures to ensure that such nasty encounters don't take place again. In fact, that's part of why you were assigned here."
"I know," Kat replied with a smile, "And I just hope that I do my job to the best of my capabilities so that nothing like what happened before happens again... But life is full of surprises, so who knows what the future will actually bring." At that, the laughed. "When I started in Starfleet, I never imagined I would end up in Intelligence in another... well... Here..." she said, thinking better of what she was going to say. "But lets hope everything we do is enough."
"That's all any of us can ask for," Kitty said. She raised her glass in tribute to the new officer. The rest of the group joined her. "To doing enough!" she said.
Katianna entered her new quarters and immediately shifted her clothing from her dress uniform into a comfortable pair of pajamas for lounging. She felt the formal dinner had gone well and there would be a place for her on this Station. But that didn't do anything to ease her mind or the pain in her heart. She didn't even call for the lights at full illumination. She kept them dim as she went to the couch and sat so she could just look out at the stars and the vision of New Canada. But the only thing she could really see were images of Laurissa playing through her mind. It had been months since she had seen her daughter... Her daughter was three and a half years old and she had missed most of that year. What kind of mother was she? Of course, her and Jovo had saved Earth and in doing so she had saved her daughter's life... But here she was in another dimension, separated from her daughter. Not that she wanted to return to the other dimension. There were troubles there that she couldn't rectify and people that would not listen to her. But she wanted to retrieve her daughter. She had been heartbroken when the Virgo's attempt had failed. Now, she didn't know if she would ever see her daughter again. Would she grow up, not only without a father, but without a mother as well?
Tears stung Kat's green eyes. All she had of her precious Laurissa were the couple of pictures she always carried with her, and the memories she held near her heart. But she had nothing else of her daughter. With a gentle sigh, she let the tears fall. Then she looked out at the stars and thought of Jovo. Where ever he was, she hoped that he was safe and hoped she would see him again. She At least when they had been together, she hadn't been alone. She had someone she could talk to, who understood about her past. Now, she was alone. Closing her eyes, she could still feel the warmth of his embrace and the gentle touch of his kisses. She so hadn't wanted to say good-bye...