<br/>As they walked the Captain decided to explain himself, “First of all you look lovely.  Though your man had asked for spare uniforms, Once I saw you I just wanted to see you in this dress.  Thank you for indulging an old man.  It had belonged to my daughter, you remind me a little of her…I ..uh …  lost her a few years ago…”<br/><br/>He bowed his head as they approached the room.  With a sweeping gesture he indicated for her to enter first.  Kat smiled, gently gave his arm a squeeze and entered the room first.  She nodded politely at the woman stood.<br/><br/>Her face brightened measurably when Krip entered.  He looked gallant in the dress uniform.  But once seated she was shocked at the way the other woman was treating them.  She took any insult to her Knight, her partner personally as well.  Before she could speak her mind the Captain beat her to it, swiftly reacting to the Navigator’s rudeness.<br/><br/>As the scene played out, it was every thing she could do to hold her tongue, but the Captain did what was right.  She smiled once more when he described Krip as a hero.  The older man was quickly earning her respect since he recognized the wonderful qualities in her man too.<br/><br/>Kat was actually relieved when she left.  “Though I understand that there is still some prejudicial hatred out there, I simple have never completely understood it.  How can you hate someone before getting to know them?  Hate simply because they are different?”  She shook her head.  The carefully curled tendrils of her upswept hair caressing her cheek for a moment.  “I just…  It confuses me.”<br/><br/>Looking back at Krip as he and the Captain returned to their seats, she lovingly placed a hand over her Knight’s.  She was not afraid to show she held an amours affection to him.  She didn’t care who approved and who didn’t…<br/>