Walkabout - Part I
Posted on Thu Oct 22nd, 2026 @ 3:05pm by Lieutenant Vura & Lieutenant Commander Katherine Malbrooke
Edited on on Fri Oct 23rd, 2026 @ 11:41am
1,472 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 18 - The Edge of Darkness
Location: Office of the Chief Counselor - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD003 1300 hrs
Katherine Malbrooke had rearranged their quarters and, with Tyler's help, fixed up a nursery for the baby. Everything was clean and organized. And still, Kat wanted to do...something. So, she started walking the corridors of the ship, occasionally talking with people she knew or had met before. She didn't know many, and almost none in engineering, which was unusual for her, but her pregnancy had kept her in her quarters most of the time.
Today she decided to stop by counseling and say hello to Zhara. The counselor and her dog had visited a couple of times and she wanted to return the favor. But when she walked into the reception area, she was informed that Zhara was out and not expected back for a while.
"Lieutenant Vura is here if you need to talk to someone," the helpful aide said. "She doesn't have an appointment right now."
At first, Kat was going to say no, but then she thought better 520 blooming lavender plants, which gave off a pleasant soothing smell. On a wall, over a couch, she had put up a copy of Katsushika Hokusai's "The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife" above a periwinkle couch that swooped up and then down in the middle and then back up again. The couch had definite sensual innuendos written all over the convenient shaping.
The walls of her office were of a deep rose with hints of purple hues. From there, she opted only for a small desk, so the desk would not set a barrier between her and her clients. It was a semi-circle and she placed it carefully in such a way where she could swivel on a chair and quickly type something on a computer or PADD and not interfere with her relationship with her client. The color of the desk nearly blended into the wall but was more mauve on closer inspection.
Warm wooded mahogany chairs were available in case her clients did not prefer to be on the couch. There was a small glass circle table between the chairs. The table contained a small Zen sand garden and rake for clients to manipulate.
Vura led Kat towards the couch. "I suspect that the couch would be most comfortable for you, but if I'm wrong, please, take a seat wherever." She continued back on the original conversation. "So, your pregnancy has been taking a lot of energy.... Has it been terribly uncomfortable?"
"At this stage? Yes. But no more than it should. At least the nausea is over." She decided the couch was firm enough for her to push herself up and not get stuck, and sat down.
"These are all sensations that I have yet to experience," Vura replied neutrally. Thinking about pregnancy and its possibility was something that she had not even remotely considered for quite some time. "But you do not have much longer, do you?"
"No. About six weeks, give or take. Babies tend to come on their own timeline. But the nursery is set up so I can use the rest of the time relaxing...which occasionally means I nap."
"It takes a lot of energy to incubate," Vura agreed. "At least that's what I've read and discovered from others similarly situated to you." She shrugged politely before changing the topic. "So, to what do I owe this pleasure? I must say that I am pleased to have some time with you."
Kat wasn't sure she wanted to tell Vura she initially came to talk to Zhara, so she settled on something more general. "I need to exercise more, and I've been visiting people I've worked with and saying hello to those I know. It makes the waiting not so tedious. Today, I decided to come to counseling."
"How lovely!" Vura exclaimed. "Well, would you prefer to walk, rather than sitting here? I would be happy to accompany you. Besides, I feel like I only really know you through Tyler, and that's just not right, is it?"
She nodded and began to walk toward the door. It would be nice to talk to someone while she got her exercise. "I was stationed on Empok Nor for a time, but it's hard being married when you don't get to see each other very often. And when I transferred here, I spent a lot of time going through the computer database. I was looking for some files and helping reorganize others with Lieutenant Tremble. Then I was working as a consultant. Now, I'm on maternity leave. None of those allowed me to work with many of the crew."
"So, are you frustrated with not being able to meet more people?" Vura asked concerned.
"No. I wouldn't say I'm frustrated. Or even that I feel like I'm missing something. I have a couple of friends on the ship, and some friends I worked with before. And I have Ty. It's more that I'm feel so much better than I have that I want to take advantage of it before the baby's born."
"That makes perfect sense to me," Vura answered truthfully. "So, tell me about you. I really know so little about you, other than what Tyler has told me." Her voice changed, tinged with sorrow, envy, and happiness, as she told her, "He really thinks the world of you."
Kat smiled. "I think the world of him, too. He's a great man, and a great captain." She paused, not sure what to say about herself. "I'm in engineering. Well, was and will be again. I like horseback riding..." She rubbed her belly. "Again, something I'll be able to do again after the baby is born. It was hard being back at the ranch and not able to ride. But I was able to use a buggy, and I was able to relax." She raised an eyebrow. "Did you have fun at the ranch?"
"I did. I would have liked to have ride a horse but I think I got a bit too distracted with making smores. It definitely was an enjoyable experience. Though I found it rather amusing to see your husband did not pick up on Jayna and Tremble having eloped. He's usually so much more observant." She giggled pleasantly.
"So, when you're done being pregnant and your child is born, are you going to join the engineering team here?" the counselor wondered.
"Not sure. I may do more of what I've been doing. I like being able to work from our quarters. But I've got a year to figure out what I want." She couldn't do nothing, but she had no idea how she'd feel in a year.
Sagely, Vura told Kat, "Just remember that when your baby comes that you need to take time for yourself. You also need to make time for you and Tyler. Life cannot just be all about the baby, though the baby needs both of you."
"Yes, I'm aware of that, but I thank you for your concern." She'd taken a lot of time off since transferring to the Pioneer. Although she still had plenty to do. First it was digging through the Pioneer's data files, then writing academic papers and working as an engineering specialist. But she hoped that, when the baby was old enough, she'd be able to do some work again.
Vura replied with a light laugh. "My job is to be concerned." Her tone shifted slightly to something slightly more serious. "And I hear you saying that, Kat. Many women do. Then the baby is here and things subtlety shift and without any intention, the relationship between you and your spouse is negatively impacted. I do not want to see that with either of you. So, please, make certain that you carve out time for yourselves, even if it is a couple hours while your baby is napping."
Kat looked at Vura for a moment, her expression serious. "Before I came to the Pioneer, I was stationed on Empok Nor. Tyler and I only saw each other when the ship docked at the station. I'm aware of the importance of making time for us to be together. I have no delusions about the difficulties of living with a baby. I also plan on making use of the holo-nanny so we can have some time. But babies grow up, and we don't want to waste that time, either." She smiled at Vura. "Thank you for your concern, but we'll be fine. Tired, but fine."
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Commander Katherine Malbrooke
Starfleet Corps of Engineers, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
RSS Feed