The bottom drawer of the typically Starfleet plasticcy built-ins lay open. Senja turned, her eyes glimpsing the myriad stars outside of the large window that flew by at warp speeds and stooped to acquire another small and neatly folded pile of clothes. She took them from their spot with care. The newly gazetted Lieutenant Commander didn’t spend much time out of uniform, some of the items she held hadn’t even been worn since she came aboard the U.S.S. San José six years previously. They were stowed with equal neatness in the large duffel bag laid out on the bed, immaculate except for the inevitable indentations of the holdall laid atop. Senja took a deep breath and sighed, regarding the small collection of items. The ritual of the occasion was not lost on her. Friends and family she had, and yet packing for a new posting had become a solitary affair. She had placed calls to Luna and Taylor, but they had not been available to take them, of course. Luna was a Starfleet Officer herself and Taylor a busy father of two.

The computer terminal beeped signalling an incoming transmission. Senja crossed the room to it and quickly quieted its eager tones with the accept button. Luna appeared on the screen in twinned white towels, one wrapped around her body, the other around her head. Luna had acquired a taste for water showers in Norway and used them to relax after long shifts. It was a sight not alien to Senja, the two women had roomed together at the Academy.

“Hey Mom, what’s up?” Luna smiled from the screen. She was her mother’s daughter, forever cordial and pleasant, although being markedly less Vulcan in genetics was more easily able to display it. Strands of blonde hair fell from her towel across her eye and Luna scowled momentarily and tucked them back underneath. Senja drew up a chair to the small table and took a seat.

“What’s that? Is that a third pip?” Luna asked her before Senja was properly ready. The light of her quarters had betrayed her, her new rank caught a reflection that was beamed lightyears over subspace to her daughter on the U.S.S. Carlsbad. “Mom did you get promoted again?” Senja nodded slightly.

“I did.” Luna grinned.

“Yeesh Mom, you’re making me look bad. You’re already two ranks ahead of me and we graduated at the same time!” Luna rolled her eyes at the hair strand that had fallen again and dragged the towel from her hair. She started to dry it roughly. “Congratulations!” Senja smiled, slightly. She rarely grinned, such a display would be tantamount to a total loss of control.

“Thank you. I might remind you, I have a significant advantage in experience.” Senja commented, kindly in her soft and unassuming voice, trying to spare Luna any pressure of competition. Luna nodded through her towelling.

“Yeah, you’re pretty ancient.” This jibe only received a raised eyebrow in response. Luna balked.

“Don’t give me that Vulcan eyebrow crap Mom, you have a sense of humour, as former bunk-mate and long-time offspring I know you do.”

“Of course I do,” Senja responded quickly, the curved edges of her mouth raising just slightly. “I gave birth to your brother, didn’t I?” Luna screeched with laughter.

“Oh burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn. Oh Taylor’s gonna hear about that one.”

“I shall deny everything.”

“Mom!” Luna giggled. Senja closed her eyes as she often did when regulating joy. Being part Betazoid, Senja allowed herself to feel emotion but was rarely if ever overtaken by it. She gently put the emotion back in its place. “Seriously, congratulations,” Luna continued. “I knew you’d nail Starfleet. So, you staying on the San José?” Senja shook her head.

“I have been given a new assignment. A Sovereign class vessel, the Valkyrie.”

“Oooooooh, very Nordic. J’approve. And a Sovereign huh, fancy!” Luna finished towelling and a throng of blonde hair scarecrowed her features for a moment. “Still the big cheese? Science cheese obviously.”

“I am still Chief Science Officer.”

“So I should think. Doctor Solberg. They’re lucky to have you.” In the background of the call the Carlsbad’s computer interrupted Senja’s daughter with a reminder of the time.

“Oh crap, Mom I have to go get ready,” Luna exclaimed with some urgency. “I’m meeting someone for dinner and errr…” Luna gestured at her frizz.

“Abigail again?” Luna stopped her panic long enough for a still and pregnant pause.

“Yeah…?”

Senja nodded sagely. “Enjoy yourself.”

“What?” Luna protested. “I’m just meeting a colleague for dinner!” Senja pouted in response.

“Luna Raghavan-Solberg, I am your former bunkmate, your best friend, your mother… and I’m telepathic.”

Luna grinned. “There’s that sense of humour. Say uh… Mom…?”

“Yes dear?”

“I’ve got a girlfriend, Mom.”

“I look forward to meeting her. Now go get ready.”

“Love you!” The screen flickered and Luna’s face, one that reminded Senja so much of her own was replaced with the emblem of the United Federation of Planets. Another deep breath and a sigh, yet this one was contented. Senja rose and stared at the stars wizzing past a moment before continuing the packing. Beside her bag lay the one item that was always packed last and unpacked first, a photo of Rakesh, her husband, many years passed. Senja picked up the photo frame and reminisced for a moment.

“You would be so proud,” she told it quietly, and placed it snugly amongst some shirts.