[Cat's Quarters]
After Cat left Ash in the new Mess Hall, she went in search of her quarters. Maybe making the space her own would help her feel more settled. She wandered the halls until she came across her door.
The new rooms assigned to her were a bit more spacious, but the decor was spartan. Luckily her pets, Trip and Archer had already begun making themselves at home. The black cat wove between her legs, purring, as she walked through the rooms. With a few personal touches it could be home again. If that was what she wanted.
Trip trilled and she bent down and picked the tribble up. She set him on her shoulder and he snuggled against her neck. She smiled to herself. Her pets were therapy animals to her as much as the people she helped.
Cat dialed up Bran Maddux, her father, on her comm screen. Within seconds, his bright smiling face and coppery hair was in view.
"Good morning, starshine!" His blue eyes crinkled in the corners at the sight of his daughter.
"Morning Da! Didn't realize the time difference. Sorry if I woke you up."
"Haven't talked to you in a while. Heard a bit of news, that your crew made some discovery about the Borg?"
Bran crossed his arms and looked concerned. He hadn't entirely approved her joining Starfleet, but she was an adult and had to spread her wings.
"Ah well, there isn't much to tell ya that wasn't already on the telly. I don't know enough of the science technobabble anyways." She shifted uncomfortably. She was tired of thinking and talking about the Borg. "How have you been? Gotten any new paintings done?"
"You know I love to talk about my paintings, but that was an obvious subject change. Somethin's bovverin' you." His concerned parent mode intensified. He knew his daughter well, and knew she wanted to talk.
"I'm not bovvered. Really. I'm fine. Everything is fine." Color rose in her face as she protested.
"Is it that pilot you were telling me about? Linden or Leon or something? Do I needta have a man ta man talk with the boyo?"
"DA NO! Leo hasn't done any thing. He's been great. It's me, alright? I'm the problem. It's my... Emotion thing. The empathy stuff. It's been pretty stressful and everything just... I've been having trouble controlling it." She looked down at her hands, feeling much the same as she had as a child. Only instead of breaking a paint brush, it was something in her head that was broken.
"Oh darlin. I knew I shoulda done more for you, to get you trainin with Jalera or her people. Didn't you say there was someone in the Academy that did that sorta thing?"
"I don't need that Woman or her people. If She didn't have time for me then, I don't have any for her now. I'm human, like you Da. That's all."
"Catrin, you are so much more. You're a gift, from the kindness in your heart to your compassion. And like it or not, Jalera is your mother and you have her talent."
She glared at the screen for a while then sighed. He loved her dearly, and he was right.
"If it'll make you happy, Da. I'll give her a call. No guarantees though."
"That's my girl. You might want to try an honest talk with your Leo lad. If he's as decent as you say, I'm sure he'll appreciate it. Now you take care, starshine."
"You too, old man." She stuck her tongue out at him and they ended the call. It was their traditional farewell after all. Maybe it was time to set up a talk with Leo. If that went well, she'd work up the nerve to call... her mother.