Changes of Fate
 

2371  Deep Space Nine

Kathryn Janeway sat in an eatery on Deep Space Nine. The place was packed nearly full in a lunch rush, but she'd been able to find a table in the back. Kathryn had just came from a penal colony on Earth, to secure the services of one Thomas Eugene Paris. She was now studying the contents of a padd in front of her. The articles were pertaining to the Maquis, and the one in particular she was looking at showed the image of a man with a tattoo. Captain Chakotay. The name brought a sour taste to her mouth, and she reached for the mug of coffee in front of her and took a sip. Kathryn sighed as she read on, thinking of her lost security officer.

Kathryn set the mug down, pausing to listen to the couple in the next table argue. Her mouth twisted in a slight smile as she thought of her fianc頍ark. The smile faded though as another soft sigh escaped. She paged on to the next article. This talked about recent activities around the Badlands. Losing her interest after the first two paragraphs, Kathryn set the padd down.

"Excuse me, ma'am," a rough voice made Kathryn jump slightly. She turned to look at the speaker. It was one of the waitresses.

"Yes?"

"I was wondering.. if it wouldn't be too much trouble?" the waitress looked embarrassed. "Would you mind sharing your table with someone?"

Kathryn thought for a moment. "Alright."

"I mean, we've never had such a busy day before," the waitress continued, still a bit flushed.

"It's all right, really," Kathryn assured the younger woman.

She nodded, "Thanks so much."

The waitress went away, and Kathryn looked around. She hadn't been kidding, the eatery was filled to the gills, all but for her table. After a minute the waitress approached again.

"Really, thank you Captain Janeway," she said. "You want more coffee?"

"Uh, sure," Kathryn nodded. She heard the waitress call to someone.

"It's the third table to the back. See the woman with the bun?" There was a murmur, and the waitress disappeared into the kitchen. Kathryn turned back slightly to the table. She heard the sound of heavy boots approaching. Kathryn cast a sly look down as the table-mate came astride of her chair. She noted the heavy sole of work boots. The person cleared their throat.

"I hope you don't mind," they said. Kathryn looked up, losing her breath for a moment.

"Not at all," she managed. The woman, tall and trim, took the seat across from Kathryn. She had long blonde hair that was pulled back out of her face, and there was a dark smudge underneath her right eye. Her eyes were a fair shade of blue, and they glinted keenly. Kathryn noted the pip on the collar of her work coat.

"Is there something on my face?" the woman asked self-consciously, pursing her full lips.

"You have a little�something�under your eye," Kathryn said, smiling slightly. The woman dabbed. "No, the other eye."

"Thanks," she said, wiping the smudge off with a napkin. She gave a little laugh. "The things I get myself into."

"You're an ensign?" Kathryn asked.

"Yes. I'm Ensign Annika Hansen. You?"

"Captain Kathryn Janeway."

"Wow, I stumbled into a good table," Annika smiled.

The waitress returned with Kathryn's coffee, and asked what Annika wanted replicated. She studied the menu monitor for a moment, squinting.

"Um, just the number two with the Claudine dressing." The waitress nodded and went off. Kathryn sipped her coffee. They were quiet, and a minute or two later the waitress brought Annika's lunch.

"So," Annika said brightly as she dove into her salad, "What ship are you the captain of?"

"The Voyager."

Annika paused in mid-chew. "Never heard of it."

"Well, she's a fairly new vessel," Kathryn replied, watching the younger woman as she ate.

"Oh." A pause. "Is it that spoon shaped one?"

Kathryn chuckled into her coffee cup. "Yes, it is."

Annika swallowed. "It looks nice." Kathryn set the mug down, her hand closing over the surface of the nearly-forgotten padd.

"So what do you do here?"

"Oh, I'm not stationed here," Annika said, shaking her head. "I'm an engineer. On the USS Castles. We've been here almost a month, doing an overhaul on the engines. Messy stuff."

"I'd imagine so."

"Yeah." As she bent her head over her glass of juice a strand of hair came loose from its pins. Annika brushed it back absently. "I have to admit I didn't want to be an engineer."

"Oh?"

"Mm hmm. I wanted to be a pilot."

Kathryn smiled. "A pilot?"

Annika nodded. "I used to watch my parents fly when I was little?" She trailed off, looking briefly agitated before busying herself with eating again. Kathryn looked at her thoughtfully for a moment.

"Hansen? you're the daughter of the Hansens?"

Annika glanced up, her voice going flat. "Yes."

"Well young lady I must say I'm certainly impressed," Kathryn commented. "Your parents were great explorers. To think that they alluded the Borg for nearly ten years, and still managed to do all that research on them."

"Yes," Annika replied gruffly. "They were great explorers. And now they're rotting in some mental house."

"I wouldn't call the Handera colony a mental house."

Annika shrugged. "Everyone there is crazy." She paused. "I've lived with my aunt for the past few years. She's nice, kinda weird, but she's treated me good enough. Helped me get into Starfleet. The only bad thing she did was over encourage me to get into the Engineering field." She laughed to herself. "Sometimes I almost wish that I'd been assimilated by the Borg."

Kathryn made a face. "And why's that?"

"Well it wouldn't be any less monotonous than my current life is."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"You don't have to be, Captain," Annika said with a shrug.

"I know. I suppose it's just in my nature."

"What about your family?" Annika wondered, picking at one of Kathryn's weak spots.

"My mother lives on Earth. My sister was killed in a raid of the colony she lived on. My father's dead too."

"That's too bad." Annika finished off her salad. "I guess we can feel sorry for each other, if you want."

"All right."

Annika looked down at her plate, carefully arranging the silverware. "So what are you and the spoon ship going to do?"

"Chase down the bad guys."

"You mean the Maquis?" Annika asked. Kathryn nodded. "What'd they do?"

"Well, the ones were tracking down attacked a Federation colony, were pursued by the border patrol, and disappeared into the Badlands."

"Sneaky, aren't they?" Annika laughed.

"They can be. And so the Voyager is sent out to rat out the Maquis. A simple little trip."

"When do you leave?"

"In a few hours," Kathryn said, tapping the padd.

"Well," Annika said slowly. "I wish you luck."

"You too. Hope your engine job goes well."

Annika smiled as she rose from the table. "Thanks. I'll make sure it does." She collected her dishes and walked slowly away. Kathryn watched her depart, a curious expression on her face. After she finished her coffee Kathryn left the eatery as well, and went to her ship to see how things were progressing in preparation for the trip to the Badlands.

The End?