Hidden Agenda

Delta Story
cmwende@compuserve.com

HIDDEN AGENDA — NC -17

Summary: Chakotay finds a way to liven up those boring staff meetings!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The senior staff was drifting into Voyager’s briefing room for the weekly staff meeting . Life
had not been exactly dull in recent days, but the tedium of no shore leave in a while,
predictable schedules and leola root variations *ad nauseam* created a ho-hum attitude of the
gathering officers.

Captain Janeway opened the meeting by mentioning to the Doctor that she had noticed an
increase in job-related injuries and inquired as to their nature. The ever-informative EMH
proceeded to elaborate.

“Captain, most of the injuries have been lacerations, contusions and second degree burns
associated with the overhaul of the Jeffries’ tubes. I think that it is time to have required
inservices on the importance of keeping your mind on your job, even when — *especially* when
— performing tasks that one believes that one knows by rote. This crew takes the
responsibility of risk management far too lightly.
Furthermore….”

His words were going on indefinitely, it seemed. Janeway took in a long sigh and looked to her
right, where her first officer sat at a right angle to her. Their eyes met, with mutual agreement
that it might be best to turn the doctor off. Chakotay’s eyes picked up the hint from hers; he tried
to prevent his dimples from pulling into a smile as he said, “Thank you, Doctor. I’m sure that is
a good idea. Mr. Tuvok, would you please look into setting something up?” The Vulcan nodded
his agreement.

Next report: Neelix on the food supply. The captain gave him the floor, and he started on still
another filibuster. Kathryn Janeway wanted to shut her eyes for *just* a moment — no one
would notice — and with that, her lids closed momentarily.
They opened just as quickly, as she felt– a foot! A foot which was not enclosed in a boot — nor
did it seem to have a stocking on either! A foot — that was coming from her right! She looked
to the smile — no, suppressed grin! — on the dark face of her second in command. He was daring
her to react or say anything. Her eyes were now opened as wide as they could be, as she shot him
a shocked look. She suddenly realized that Neelix was addressing her.

“Captain? What do you think?”

“Unhh…certainly; please follow through with it, Neelix.”
His toes were gently massaging her left calf. Back and
forth…back and forth…up and down. It was getting difficult to concentrate.

“Do you think we have enough personnel?” the Talaxean continued.
The captain desperately needed to focus. She breathed deeply. “Uh — commander, why don’t you
answer that?”

Without missing a stroke, Chakotay said smoothly, “I don’t see why not. Tom, how about you
and Harry organizing an away team?”
His foot had now found the back of her knee. The quick circles and spirals he was tracing
rapidly traveled through her body. The good captain was finding herself getting weak, even
though she was sitting.

B’Elanna, seated to Janeway’s left, noticed that her senior officer was looking a little pale and
seemed to be breathing more rapidly than she had been a few moments earlier. “Captain, are
you all right?” she whispered to the captain. Janeway tried to turn to the lieutenant with mock
poise. She whispered back, “Just a little warm, Lieutenant. Perhaps if I had some water…”
The younger woman poured her a glass from the pitcher on the table. Just as she raised the
liquid to her lips, the magic toes found the inside of her thigh. She gasped as she sipped some of
the water, causing her to suddenly choke. Her cough stopped Tom mid-sentence and halted the
friendly toes mid-thigh. With solicitous concern, Chakotay hopped up, and gently thumped her
on the back. “Why, Captain, are you all right? Is there something bothering you?” His devilish
eyes cut right through her glare; would she dare say anything? *No,* he thought; *not right now,
but she’s going to let me have it later!*

Everyone settled down again. She thought that her outburst would be enough to warn off any
further “games” from Chakotay. Tom resumed his away team plan…and the toes inched their
way quickly up to where they had left off. She again took a quick gasp, but managed to keep it
behind the facade of the concerned captain’s face…

The wizardry of his foot continued with its spell. By now, she was becoming bewitched.
Sensing his final plan, she spread her legs to welcome the completion of his enchantment. She
looked over at him, this time with a dare. His response was to move his foot ever upward…

Somewhere, they heard Harry and Tom talking about some planet M system that they would
reach… as his toes reached her crotch. Again, she closed her eyes, as his large toe started its
exploration of the welcoming zone it had reached. The area was rapidly becoming wet, and his
bare toes reveled in the warmth that the moisture provided. He continued with his probing…
now gentle, now hard. It was becoming more and more difficult for her to control her
breathing…concentrate, Kathryn…the
meeting…rub, rub, rub…no, I can’t she thought…I
mustn’t…probe, poke, rub…his smile … don’t do that.. don’t do this… her muscles were tightening
and releasing … it was reflex… she couldn’t help herself… probe, probe… she was.. her eyes
wanted to close … no, concentrate … yes, Harry…no, Tom… oh, yes, yes, yes, Chakotay!… probe,
probe, probe… she felt it coming … how was she … relax, contract, throb… relax, contract,
throb… then it happened. Her eyes suddenly opened wide; she looked at him with horror…
satisfaction… release…disbelief. She felt the warm gush of her fulfillment thoroughly wet her
uniform. He let his foot continue its
movement until he felt her muscles quiet, and the wetness begin to cool with the temperature of
the surrounding room.

Abruptly, she was drawn back to the meeting by Tom Paris’
question of approval of his plan. She sat upright and smiled more than she should have at her
helmsman. “Sounds good to me, Tom. Let’s do it.” She let her satiated grin and glazed eyes scan
the room. “All right, people; we have work to do. Meeting
dismissed.”

She turned to her still-seated first officer and said, “Oh, Commander, would you please stay for a
moment; there’s a little matter we need to discuss…”

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Sex, Sighs and Holotapes

Delta Story
cmwende@compuserve.com

SEX, SIGHS AND HOLOTAPES — NC-17

Summary: Seven little lessons for Janeway and Chakotay, via a 20th century subspace temporal
anamoly…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tom Paris couldn’t believe it when Harry Kim called him over to the ops station monitor. There,
on the screen, amidst heavy plasma static, was a subspace transmission the likes of which he’d
never seen before. The image appeared to be of an attractive human woman, with a knowing
smile that ran from ear to ear. She was a little slip of a thing, with dark brown hair that was
pulled back and cascaded down her back. Her slight figure was clothed in dark charcoal tailored
trousers and topped with a soft cowl neck jersey of the same dark color. A long scarf of mixed
bright blues, purples and burgundies was casually draped around her neck, livening up the dark
color of her clothing. She was standing beside a desk in a very comfortable looking
“office”. There was a thickly upholstered sofa and chair in a paisley print, and several vases of
exotic flowers situated in various lines of sight. Her brown eyes were intense, but the officers
could see the playfulness behind their outside demeanor.
Inbetween the static lines, the two young Starfleet officers could hear her expounding in a rather
expository manner about something called “frigidity in women” and how to overcome this
“problem”. Harry’s ears had particularly perked up and called his friend over from the helm
when the word “sex” was used several times. *This is something that I think Tom would be
interested in…*, the ensign wisely concluded.

After several minutes of astute listening, Tom finally decided that “frigid” in this sense did not
necessarily mean cold as in the temperature, but cold in an unresponsive sexual way. “Harry, my
friend, have you been recording this?” he asked.

Looking back at Tom with wide eyed innocence, Harry said, “Sure. Is this important?” Tom
winked back at Harry. “Strictly as reference! Let’s see what else this person says. Make me a
copy of the transmission as long as you can receive it, would you?”
“Wait a minute; this isn’t illegal, is it?” the perennially naive Kim asked. “This isn’t going to be
another one of your betting games, ’cause if it is, I’m still paying for the last…”

“Harry, Harry…would I lead you astray — intentionally? Never! This is strictly for my private use
and reference. You’re really a pal for showing it to me.” With that, Tom turned to return to his
post. The light behind his eyes indicated that the old Paris wheels were turning fast…

****************************

Harry came over to Tom in the mess hall. “All right; here’s a padd with a download of that
subspace transmission. I think the person’s name is Dr. Dee something or other; I couldn’t make
out the entire name. It seems to be a program from late 20th century Earth that was caught in a
time anamoly bubble.”

Tom quickly finished whatever Neelix’s purple and orange special for the day was, thanked
Harry and excused himself. He got to his quarters, and reviewed the 40 plus minutes of the
woman talking. *This is better than I thought. Late twentieth century Earth had some real sexual
hang-ups to deal with, and this gal seems to know what she’s talking about.* She reminded him
of their own holodoc, in her cutesy smugness of a wealth of
knowledge that she *knew* everyone wanted her to share. But this was stuff that he hadn’t heard
the doc talking about! However… it *was* something that he decided would make into an
interesting holotape for if and when someone on Voyager might need such information. God
knows that he and B’Elanna didn’t need it; he had the scars to prove that!

He continued watching the holotape of the transmission. The energetic smallish woman was
talking quite frankly with much animation about a slow, deliberate sensitizing program to be
used by two sexual partners when one of them did not or could not release built up sexual
inhibitions. She promised that if the program were followed *exactly* as presented, that the
unresponsive or “frigid” partner would respond fully and openly in three weeks. The program
would require much discipline, especially on the part of the less restrained partner.

He took the padd over to his monitor. After filtering out much of the static, he entered the entire
presentation onto the ship’s mainline computer under the filename of “Paris Help”. He
chuckled to himself as he thought of a certain twosome on the ship who *could* benefit from
this “Dr. Dee”…

*************************************

Captain Janeway was reviewing upcoming duty rosters. Voyager was approaching an M class
planet where she hoped to allow the crew some much-needed shore leave. But misplaced ship
was also headed further into an unknown area of the Delta Quadrant, and she wanted to make
sure that all the key stations were covered properly at all times. She was puzzling over some of
the
assignments and decided that her weary mind would benefit from another person reviewing the
stats with her. She hit her comm badge. “Commander, could you come to my ready room? I
have some questions regarding the duty roster.” “On my way,” responded her first officer.

The doors of the captain’s office opened for Chakotay. He entered, with one of his beguiling
smiles lighting up his face. “You wanted me?” he said with his usual mischievousness. Janeway
looked up at him with an expression that would have pierced a hole into a cloaked Klingon bird
of prey. “I’m having a problem pulling up Tom’s duty schedule for the next week. Did it get
entered correctly?” she asked.

Chakotay came around her desk, looking over her shoulder at her monitor. Tom’s first three
on-duty shifts were listed all right, but then the computer had problems calling up anything after
that. “Here, let me try something,” he said, as he tried not to touch that silky hair that was
tempting him. The captain moved out of her chair, offering it to him. She walked around to the
wide window framing the vista of unknown that they were
traversing. She glanced back over at her second in command. His attention was focused on the
information before him. *How I wish I could just go over to him and say ‘Let’s just stay. Let this
planet be the place. I’m tired; we’re all tired.’… No, I am the captain first and Kathryn second; I
got us into this, and I’m going to get us home.*

Her thoughts were interrupted by a burst of words from Chakotay. “What the hell is this?” His
eyes were intent on the screen. “What’s the problem?” Janeway asked as she hurriedly returned to
her desk. By this time, Chakotay, was in turn laughing,
snickering, and turning red. He quickly hid the screen from her view, and rapidly logged off. “I
think I found one of Tom’s ‘secret files’ “, he said. “What is it doing on the mainline computer?
And what is it exactly?” she asked with a touch of enmity in her voice. “Am I going to have to
put him on report again?”

“I’ll talk to him, Captain; it really isn’t that bad. But, it shouldn’t have been on the mainline.
Probably a little fun and games for him and B’Elanna.” He quickly typed in some commands.
Janeway assumed her trademark pose, and looked at him, with her previous thoughts still
hovering. “Anything you care to share with me, Commander?”

Chakotay’s expression took on another look. His face outwardly became somewhat serious and
thoughtful, but his eyes told a whole different story. After a brief pause, he looked up at her.
“Meet me for dinner, and I’ll let you know,” he said smiled mysteriously.

“All right; but how about the duty roster?”

“Oh, now that I’ve taken care of our intruding file, Mr. Paris has been assigned all the duty shifts
he can handle and then some.”

“It sounds like you have handled both the initial problem and disciplinary action in one move.
Efficient as always,
Commander… 1900 hours in my quarters?” Janeway smiled back at him.

“Aye, Captain,” winked the first officer, as he got up to return to the bridge.

***************************************

Chakotay was prompt as always in reporting to his captain’s quarters for their dinner
engagement. He had had time to
completely view Tom’s little “Help” file, and it proved to be quite interesting! He had decided
that some prudent editing would make it into a fascinating instructional device. And this Dr. Dee
was both a most affable and enlightening person! He chuckled to himself as he buzzed at
Kathryn Janeway’s door.
He was greeted by his senior officer who was still in uniform. “I’m sorry, Chakotay. I just now
got back to my quarters. Let’s see what I can do with some replicator rations,” she said as she
headed over to the device. “What are you in the mood for?” she asked. As she said it, she
realized that she had worded it in an ambiguous way. She turned quickly, before the words came
out of her first officer’s mouth. “You know what I mean!” she shot back at him, with eyes like
ice.

A cheese souffle with a mixed green salad appeared quickly. Chakotay walked over to help her
bring the dishes to her eating area. She noticed that he was dressed quite informally, in a loose
tunic over pants that seemed just as comfortable. His feet were clad in his favorite soft leather
moccasins. “Well,
commander. It seems that you have come dressed in your native attire this evening.”

“I just wanted to be comfortable, Kathryn. I suggest that you do likewise.”

“After we’ve eaten; I’m famished!” she said, as she greedily helped herself to the steaming dish.
Even as they ate, Chakotay couldn’t help but notice that she was still “on duty” — that uniform
always did it! Several times, he attempted to steer the conversation to small talk, but she was
determined to review the events of the day with him. Finally, as they took the empty utensils
back to the recycling replicator, she sighed. “Well, maybe I will follow your suggestion and
change clothes. I’ll be just a minute,” she said as she turned to go to her bedroom area.
“Kathryn, why don’t you put on that lovely green caftan?”
Chakotay called after her. “You know, the one that Neelix found for you.” She looked back at
him with a stern stare. “Commander, just *what* do you have in mind?”

The sternness of her look was returned with one that was quite the opposite. “I just want to help
you relax, that’s all,” was Chakotay’s enigmatic reply.

As Kathryn was changing, Chakotay was suddenly having second thoughts about what he was
going to show her. But, he knew that they had both waited long enough. Kathryn respected the
opinions of people who were experts in their fields, and this Dr. Dee certainly appeared to be
just that! Now, if he had only edited her presentations in such a way that Kathryn would not
suspect the final purpose of the transmission from Earth’s distant past.
He himself was absolutely enthralled in its purpose and the thorough methodical way in which
its end product was
accomplished. It seemed to him that this was meant to be for him and Kathryn. Could it be that
some spirit guide had brought it to them, in this place and at this time? Spirit guides were
known to do such things. Silently, he offered a prayer of thanks to his guide, and at the same
time, asked for support and
approval in what he was doing.

His thoughts suddenly were pulled pack to the present as Kathryn reappeared. She had indeed
put on the deep green caftan. Her hair was down but pulled back and held in place by two large
shell combs. Following his lead, she had slippers on her feet. *Thank you!*, he whispered softly
to whatever spirit would receive his gratitude, as he saw that she had followed his suggestion.

He was seated on her sofa, with at a padd in his hands. She came over and situated herself close
to him with her feet pulled up underneath her. “Now, commander, what is this great mystery
that you were going to share with me regarding that misplaced file of Tom Paris’?”

Chakotay took a quick breath — he didn’t want to appear too nervous! “Kathryn, do you trust
me?” he said with mock
seriousness. “Of course, I do!” she answered back. “After three years of battling the unknowns
of the Delta Quadrant? After several brushes with death for both of us? Why do you even have
to ask?” she answered, rather taken aback.

“Then, I would ask you to allow us to learn something new, together. I have something to show
you, and all I ask is that we try to appreciate what this person has to say. This is a
transmission that Tom seems to have picked up from subspace. Based on his file notes, the
transmission appears to be from the late twentieth century; it’s filled with a lot of static that I
couldn’t filter out. The holotape looks to be about learning how to relax and appreciate a …er,
um,… a close friend. I think we can qualify ourselves in this category, and I just thought it might
be interesting for us to work through the suggested
exercises together.”

She smiled back at him. “I don’t see why not. We both could use a little help along that line, I
guess myself more than you though,” she added with smile. “Let’s see what this person has to
say.”

“Before I start the holotape, I have to tell you that it requires a time commitment. The entire
series, if done properly, will take us three weeks, with probably an hour each day,” he stated.
“Barring any major surprises, I think our current location in our journey will allow us that
timeframe. Let’s consider it an experiment for science!” said a curious Kathryn Janeway.

Chakotay let out a silent sigh. *All right; here it goes…* and he activated the holotape file.
Janeway moved in closer to him to see the image and hear the words from the small screen.
The pleasant looking brunette woman that Chakotay had seen before appeared in her equally
pleasant office setting. “Good evening, my friends,” she began, “I’m so glad you could join me.
My name is Dr. Dee, and for the next three weeks we are going to explore ways to become
more…” Suddenly, the words were garbled with static. After a few lost seconds, her words were
clear once more. “So, we want to start with some touching exercises, just so you can learn about
the (again static) areas that make you (static). We will work with these activities for three days,
for as long each day that you want to explore. Remember, you know your own comfort levels!
But, limit yourself only to these activities. We want to make certain that your are totally content
before we move on. Make sure you are dressed comfortably and are in a soothing location.”

“Now, to begin. To achieve the (static) level, we will explore reactions with different tactile
stimuli. My suggestions would be fingers, of course; a downy feather, a silk scarf, and a piece of
soft fur. You will explore each other by lightly touching these items to different areas of your
head, neck, face, arms, hands, feet and lower legs. Talk with one another as you do this; share
your sensations, about what feels good and what doesn’t. Remember, communication is very
important in all phases of this (static) training! Continue these activities for three days and then
we will proceed to phase two. Be gentle, good friends! See you in three days!”

The screen went blank. Kathryn looked up at the man next to her. “What is this all about?” she
said with a rather belligerent tone.

“Trust, Kathryn; trust,” he said softly, as he pulled a small pouch out from underneath his tunic.
He slowly opened it, and pulled out a wispy feather. Raising it towards her face, he brushed it
across her cheek, then her nose, then under her chin; he quickly repeated the pattern several
times, each time with longer lingering strokes.

She closed her eyes, and allowed a delicate sigh. Without saying a word, he put the feather into
her hand. Sensing what she was to do, she repeated the ritual with him, making sure that each of
his dimples was included in her moves. She gave it back to him and he gently lifted her hair
from her neck and explored the long lines along up to and around her ears with the plume. Paths
were traced down along the curves leading to her shoulders, then quickly brushed across her lips.
This time, she reached for the feather and continued the sensory exploration of her counterpart.
He then brought forth a wispy piece of material. He laid it against her forehead, and
languorously stroked it down her face: across her eyes, her nose, her chin, and finally barely let it
float over her neck and down the front of her caftan. As he slowly pulled the piece of fabric up
from its concealment under her garment, the motion and texture brushed across her breasts, and
she let out a small gasp. He stopped, and their eyes met. Again, with their silence doing their
speaking, she took the gossamer material and drew her own designs on his exposed skin.
Even as he gently pulled the filmy substance from her, the motion against her hand caused her
expression to change. Picking up on this cue, he took her hand into one of his. With the other,
he lightly floated the tips of his massive fingers across her open palm, up the underside of her
wrist, and formed figure eights on the underside of her delicate arm. Again, her eyes closed, as
if she were being transported. He then softly pulled he length of each of her fingers through his
cupped stroking fingers, finally circling his fingers in delicate spirals over the top of her hand
and her forearm. He again repeated his motions with her other hand and arm.

Kathryn followed his actions with her repetitive movements. He was surprised to find himself
so stimulated by her exquisite touch — he thought that only a woman could respond to such
softness! They found themselves alternating between the feather and the lightest of touches with
their fingers for an unknown duration of time.

Then, he pulled her hands together, and with one last round of sensual circles made by his
fingers, he said, “I think that’s enough for our first lesson, Kathryn. We’ll continue tomorrow.”
She looked up at him with a myriad of questions in her eyes, but acquiesced to his bidding.
“Tomorrow,” she said.

The following day, their bridge shift was punctuated with several more than normal
knowledgeable looks at one another. At one point, they noticed Tuvok’s questioning arched eye.
Thankfully, Tom’s face was facing forward! Silently, they vowed to be more circumspect.

That evening, they repeated the events of the preceding one. Through many smiles and not a few
giggles, they explored the exposed areas of their bare feet and lower legs.

On the third night, as they proceeded with the now familiar and ever welcome movements,
Chakotay gently pulled down the shoulder of Kathryn’s caftan, and started exploring the gentle
touches against all of the surfaces of her upper arm and chest. At first, she felt shock at the
intrusion of her protected body, but she quickly succumbed to the pleasant sensations that the
actions were producing.

Just to keep things on an even plane, when it was her turn, she reached down to the bottom of his
tunic, and taking the lower edge of each side in her hands, she eased the garment up, over his
arms and finally his head. As his head came out from behind the encasing fabric, his smile not
only went across his face, but into the depths of his eyes.

Kathryn’s eyes silently drank in the beauty of his smooth dark body. She then delicately ravished
it with her now expert tactile skills. Once more, the man gasped at the sensations. He felt his
emotions were as exposed as his body, and chills ran throughout him. Every pore of his skin
called out its need. This woman was awakening as much in him as he was hoping he was in her.
He looked into her eyes. Before she could show any regret for her actions, he quietly said,
“Thank you, Kathryn; see you tomorrow.” He languidly arose from her couch, and put on his
tunic. He took her hand, and gently ran it the length of his cheek, then did likewise to her with
his own. He turned and left.

***************************************

Early the morning of the fourth day, a very weary appearing Tom Paris was getting off the
turbolift on the quarters deck for the junior officers. Harry and B’Elanna were just getting on,
ready to report to their respective positions. “Boy, I don’t know what Chakotay has up his rear,
but these five shifts that he’s
assigned me to in the last three days have been crazy! Sorry, honey — I’m on again tonight,” he
said as he quickly kissed the chief engineer. “Gotta get some sleep…” His eyes were
practically closed as he headed down the hall.

The half-Klingon lieutenant appeared none to happy, either. “This multiple shift stuff has really
put our lives on hold. Harry, do you know anything about Chakotay’s doing this?” Harry tried to
keep his eyes level as he said no to his good friend. But down deep, there was a nagging
suspicion about that
transmission that he had recorded for Tom a few days ago…
************************************

Towards the end of the alpha shift, Janeway was in her ready room reviewing some new stellar
cartography data when her comm screen announced a personal message. She glanced at the few
words that appeared on it:

“My quarters tonight, same time.
Dress comfortably! C.”

She smiled in anticipation. They were going to be starting on the second chapter from the
mysterious Dr. Dee.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kathryn scanned the hall outside her quarters before making the quick transit to those of her first
officer. She had put on her exercise leotard and topped it with a gauze textured tunic of a
m‚lange of heather hued colors. It wasn’t that she was embarrassed in being seen going into
Chakotay’s quarters; it was what she had on — or didn’t — that made her uncomfortable.
As if knowing the exact moment she reached his door, Chakotay opened his door to greet her.
An unusual aroma wafted into the hall from the area behind him. He asked her in, closing the
door quickly, so that no more of the pungent scent could escape. Without her asking, he
answered, “It’s sage. My people treasured its smoke for its soothing and healing qualities.”
Kathryn took a deep breath, and let the burning herb perform its magic.

Chakotay had laid out a simple table with Kathryn’s favorite corn pudding and baked squash for
their evening meal. Whether it was the unusual effects of the sage or her own apprehension
about what was to follow, she wasn’t very hungry. He noticed this. “Don’t tell me that you don’t
like my cooking,” he joked.
“Never; you can cook for me anytime,” she said as she now, without any hesitancy, reached up
and caressed his face. “I guess I’m just wondering what the next three days will bring with this
little “exercise” holotape…” “Let’s find out,” he winked back at her, as they cleared away the
remains of their meal.
They assumed their now familiar positions on Chakotay’s sofa. He tapped some information into
the padd that had been on the table, and Dr. Dee reappeared. She walked around her desk,
smiled and sat down on her sofa, extending her one arm across its back, and pulling her legs into
a prone position. “With this next level, we are going to explore the areas of the (static) which
respond well to the firmer touch of massage. Many of you have done this before, but have you
really ventured to all of the body’s hidden (static)? Can you really appreciate the (static) value of
massage? I have found that an added stimulus to this activity is that of aroma. Find some
scented candles and surround yourself by their warm fragrance. Or crush some rose petals or
freshly ground spices into gently simmering water. Let yourself be caressed by this wonderful
sense.” The lighting around her seemed to soften, as she demonstrated a slow, sensual intake of
a deep breath.

She glided off the sofa, and walked across to another area of the room that had been previously
hidden from view. A large, wide platform appeared. It was covered with what appeared to be a
thick coverlet of some type, iridescent in color. She reached over to the platform, and gently
smoothed its surface. “A firm area, large enough for both of you to relax upon, is necessary at
this point. The obvious choice is a (static) with good firm support. But a thickly carpeted floor
will do just as nicely. Just make sure that there is plenty of room for you to move.” She sat down
on the plush surface. “The secret to thorough massage is not strength and pressure, but a firm
rhythm that can be transferred from one to another, relaxing the muscles and calming the mind.
This, coupled with the deep breathing of the selected aroma will aid in allowing the (static)
partner to (static).”

“Begin with the arms, shoulders and upper back. In the next two days, we shall explore the
(static). Happy relaxing, my
friends.” With these words, the screen went blank.

Kathryn looked into Chakotay’s piercing eyes. “Well, I already know that you can give some
very good neck rubs, Commander. I don’t understand why you need any practice with that,” she
winked back at him.

“It’s your turn, too, Kathryn. I could stand to feel your healing hands also.”

“Oh, I have no skill or patience for that,” she retorted.

“Then let’s work on those skills and patience,” he said huskily. With that, he led her into his
sleeping quarters and laid down on his stomach, diagonally across his bed. She noted that there
was an earthenware jar in that room also, emitting the smoke of smoldering sage leaves. “My
shoulders get stiff, too, Kathryn,” he murmured. Just try it.” He took several deep breaths, with
his eyes closed.

Kathryn hesitated; this action felt like she was crossing some forbidden border. But, following
his lead, she too breathed deeply. She half sat, half knelt beside his prone body and tentatively
started moving her hands and fingers into the sinewy muscles of his upper back. As she worked
her way across, she learned quickly by both his sighs and the feel of the muscles when she was
performing the task properly. And she herself felt her muscles become more loose as she
continued. It reminded her of the times when she was a girl and she had helped her mother make
bread upon occasion. The work itself was pleasurable, as the texture of the dough changed with
continued manipulation. Soon, she found herself in a rhythm with him, in their mutual breathing
and sighs. He tenderly guided her to other areas: his arms, his hands, the back of his head and his
scalp. She lost track of the time…

Chakotay finally sat up, and gently laid her down, in the same face down position from which he
had started. From her efforts, her shoulder and arm muscles were already quite loosened up, but
he managed to discover new areas on her that elicited low mews of response. At one point, he
thought that she was asleep, and he stopped and leaned back. “Don’t…stop,” she whispered. How
he wanted to just turn her over, allow the rhythm of his hands to become more probing in their
movements, and use the bed for another purpose. But he reminded himself…patience, patience;
let her come to you. “Kathryn, I think we better call it an evening before we each fall asleep.
This is a very relaxing technique, don’t you think?”

She rolled over, and lazily stretched herself out to cover most of his bed. Her eyes were glazed,
and she allowed herself a sleepy response. “Chakotay, you really know how to show a girl a
good time. I think I’m going to look forward to this after a long Voyager day.” Again, she
closed their time together with the now familiar cheek touch. He smiled as she slowly left, again
checking the hall before she made her way back to her quarters. She was looking forward to
these times, now. *Dr. Dee, you ‘do’ know what you’re doing!* he chuckled to himself.

Kathryn found herself transported to nirvana the second night. When it was “her” turn to place
herself into the talented hands of her first officer, he started with her feet. He gently removed
her soft shoes, and applied a frangipani-fragranced balm on his hands before he started
massaging her boot-weary feet. Who would have thought that fingers and toes and palms and
soles were so compatible? Nerve endings that she had never known to be present succumbed to
the gentle release that he brought to her.
He then silently removed her tunic, allowing only the form fitting leotard to cover her taut body.
He felt his own body respond with a ferocity that he had not invited, as he gazed down on the
curves and angles of her form. Her eyes were closed, so he was able to worship this goddess of
his affection. Her breasts were slowly moving up and down, with deep satisfied breaths. He now
took some calming breaths, willing himself into a more placid state.

In order not to let his body betray itself until he became more controlled, he again laid on his
stomach as he invited her to take over. He kept his eyes closed, not wanting to see her tempting
beauty.

Kathryn decided to brave his muscular legs in her ministerings. She methodically started with
his calves, and finally reached the large thigh muscles. His groans transmitted his approval of
her actions. As she continued, she felt some stirrings inside herself that she had not felt in a long
time. Perspiration appeared across her brow as she continued, and she realized that her
breathing was no longer in deep breaths, but in short shallow ones, as if she were grasping for
the heavy scented air. She stopped suddenly, trying to sort out her responses. But he called for
her to continue, so she did.

By the next night, Kathryn had some misgivings about continuing the “relaxation skills” of Dr.
Dee, but she found that not only was her body expecting it; she was craving Chakotay’s touch.
And she could hardy wait to kneed those firm muscles of his. Just knowing that he felt the same
way again gave way to a sudden warmth throughout her body.

At the conclusion of the third session of massaging, Kathryn definitely knew that she and
Chakotay had allowed themselves to become more than friends. But still, they both remained
within the guidelines that the petite holographic figure had given them. They reluctantly parted,
both wanting to learn more about the other. They agreed to meet back at Kathryn’s place the
following evening.

*******************************

It was Day 7 – the first of the third lesson. In a rare spur-of- the-moment whimsy, Kathryn
decided to stop by the hydroponic bay to see if there were any plants that could match the
fragrant sage that had engulfed her for three nights. As she was
wandering through the lush verdant room, Kes stepped out from behind some Turilian spur
plants that she was trimming. “Why, Captain — what a pleasant surprise!” she said. The older
woman suddenly realized that she wasn’t alone, and blushed
uncharacteristically.

“Hello, Kes,” she responded. She knew that she should explain herself, but the words stumbled
on her lips. “Er, I…umm… Kes, I’m looking for some plant or blossoms that would…umm… well,
that would add a pleasant aroma to my quarters. What would you suggest?”

The young Ocampan read the captain well. “Aroma is very soothing, isn’t it, Captain? Let me
see… I think over by the Acadian lilies, there are several Circe myria. Their fragrance is not too
noticeable, but it has a rather subliminal effect on the senses. Perhaps that’s what you would
like.” The two women walked over and looked at the saucer sized lilac blossoms, with soft
feathery foliage. The flowers themselves were like a deep funnel, hiding the interior by the
curved corolla. The captain closed her eyes, and breathed in a long deep breath. “Yes, Kes; I
think those would be perfect.” Kes pulled out her pruning knife and quickly cut six stems for her
friend. “Do enjoy them, Captain,” she said with a gleam in her eye.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The meeting time arrived. She met her evening guest in the green caftan again. Only she knew
that she wore nothing under it — she had realized how sensual the feel of the fabric was on her
bare skin. And it was loose enough that he would not notice. Their smiles welcomed each other;
their touches confirmed their togetherness. “Are you ready?” Chakotay asked, as they sat close
to one another on the sofa. “It’s just another mission,
Commander,”she answered teasingly.

Dr. Dee was back at her desk again, but the lighting was still subdued. “For our next sessions,
we will repeat and reenforce the touch techniques from the first three meetings. However, this
time, I want you to replace the fingers, feathers and other items with just two things: your lips
and your tongues. Most people don’t realize how (static) these two (static) are. Not only are
they important in vocal communication, but they are important in (static) communication. Only
when you have learned their effectiveness, can you become truly (static). So, I would like for
you to spend the next three meetings practicing these touches. These are not really kisses — nor
do I want you to kiss. They are for developing your (static). Gently, dear friends, gently.” Her
voice faded into a caressing whisper as her image became a shadow on the screen.

Kathryn’s expression was one of disbelief. This was going just a little too far… as a matter of
fact, she wondered what the final goal was! But Chakotay was rubbing her neck, just the way
she liked it. There was a pleasant languid quality to the air which seemed to weigh her down but
elevate at the same time.
He had taken one of her hands in his, and raised it to his mouth. She realized that he was ever so
lightly kissing each of her fingertips. Then quickly flicking his tongue across each one. He
gently pushed up the sleeve of her caftan and continued his kisses and anointing on her inner
wrist, then the underside of her arm. His fingers gently caressed the sensitive tissue of the upper
part of her underarm. She was mesmerized! Never had she known such sensations. They all
seemed to call to other parts of her body. He repeated the motions with her other hand and arm.
Kathryn felt that she was going to loose control if she didn’t take the initiative. She again eased
his tunic off of his well formed torso. She began on his upper body where he had left off on hers.
She poured rapid light kisses all over his upper arms, trailing them onto his neck, around it to the
nape. There, she allowed her tongue to awaken the responsive nerve endings. She continued her
journey to his ears, and allowed her lips to tenderly close around their lobes. She then traced the
outline of his tattoo with her kisses, then the more focused tongue. Chakotay, too, felt like all of
his senses were fusing into one omniscential experience. The warmth of their bodies, the
moistness of their mouths and the blending of their own
encompassing pheronomes and the enticement of the Circe blossoms created a cocoon all their
own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kathryn felt like she was in a daze the following day. Her actions were rote, and several times
different people had to repeat their questions or comments to her. Harry asked if she were ill;
she assured him that all was well. Her problem was that she was replaying the previous evening
in her mind. *Get a grip, Kathryn! You have a job to do*, she reprimanded herself.

That evening proved to be a replay of the previous, only this time, she allowed her “teacher” to
lower the shoulders of her caftan, and return the upper body ministrations that she had bestowed
upon him the night before. Before they parted, before he even asked — she knew that the
following night she would wear the gauze tunic — without the leotard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dr. Dee’s three day pacing of each of the subject sessions was becoming more and more difficult
for Chakotay. But he understood the need for patience, and the desired flaming of the embryo
embers of Kathryn’s long dormant passion. He made special efforts to control himself, in spite
of the ever increasing need for his release. And he knew that this ninth session would be a
pivotal one for both of them, as the elusive goal was manifesting itself more and more.

That evening, as they lay next to each other on Kathryn’s bed, talking about — what *were* they
talking about? –, he let his hand ever so slightly brush up along the inside of her leg. She tensed
momentarily, but then let herself relax into the moment. She leaned her head back, and closed
her eyes. He lowered his head, and his lips took over for his hand. As he moved up her leg, he
alternated his kisses with his tongue. She gasped and started to draw away. “Are you afraid?” he
asked. “No,” she answered back. “It’s just so new to me.” She let out a long sigh. He continued,
stopping short of the hem of her tunic. She rolled over, and after returning delicate kisses on his
back, she lay back. He could tell that there was a new barrier that had slipped into place, but he
was reluctant to broach the subject.
“Kathryn, if you want, we can stop…”

“I just don’t know,” she said. “It’s been so long…”

“Yes, I guess three years is a long time,” he responded.

“Oh, no,” she said, turning to look at him. She immediately lowered her gaze and her voice. “It’s
been almost fourteen years,” she said.

He looked at her incredulously. “Fourteen years? But, Kathryn, – – he almost choked on his next
words — you and Mark had been together for ten years before…”

She gently laid her hand against his lips, silencing the words she knew he would say. “Mark and
I were good friends, Chakotay. Good friends — do you understand? I just couldn’t…”

Chakotay leaned in to kiss the sensitive spot on the back of her neck. “I understand,” he said
quietly. “I truly understand.” And he again silently uttered words of thanks for this wonderful
way of helping Kathryn exorcise her demons, once and for all.

********************************

The next morning, the Voyager crew saw their commanding officers arrive together as usual in
the mess hall for breakfast.
However, in contrast to the lighthearted expressions that they had been showing lately, their
moods seemed rather somber. The couple appeared absorbed in their own conversation.

Over the past week, rumors had been flying about the now known meetings that these two were
having, behind the closed doors of their quarters. No one had actually seen them entering or
leaving, but the security monitoring left nothing secret as to their whereabouts. Their demeanors
didn’t nullify the suspicions of the observing crew members still at their morning meal, but
neither did the onlookers get the feeling that all was perfect in the world of senior command.

Chakotay leaned close to Kathryn, as she played with the pieces of fruit on the plate in front of
her. “Do you want to stop meeting?” he asked, with a fear that she would say yes.

She looked up at him, with eyes that did reflect that fear, but also reached out to him in
supplication. She thought for what seemed an eternity. “No; please, help me, Chakotay. I’m
afraid. But I have never let fear conquer me before, nor will I now.”
He wanted to reach out and touch her, in several of the many ways he now knew gave her
pleasure. But they were in public, and there could be none of that action here. “All right. But
we will take it slowly,” he said. “Let’s meet in my cabin; perhaps the ghosts that follow you
won’t appear there.”

She looked at him with a smile that spoke the volumes that they both knew were in her mind.
“Thank you,” she said simply. She took a deep breath, and finally ate the marvolian melon on
her plate.

As they left to report to the bridge, the silent observers noted a much improved look in both their
countenances.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chakotay met Kathryn at the door as soon as she signaled. He was almost afraid to touch her,
fearful of her rejection of the delicate relationship that had grown over the past nine days. To
his surprise, she reached for his hand, and led him over to his sofa. “What is Dr. Dee’s next plan
for us?” she asked.

The smile which he had been so hesitant to express lit up his face. He tenderly put his arms
around this wonderful woman, and delicately kissed her hair. Pulling back, he again tentatively
asked, “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” she said softly, but firmly.

He got up and walked over to his desk to retrieve the padd with their next instructions. He sat
down next to her and recalled the file.

Dr. Dee walked from her desk back over to the sofa in the
well-known scene. Her voice became almost purr-like. “What is a kiss?” she queried. “What
does it mean? Why do we share kisses? This is what we will explore next.” She leaned forward,
as if to invade the intimate space of the viewers.

“I like to think of a kiss as a union of souls. A kiss is a form of communion, the blending of the
most secret parts of our beings. A kiss transcends any verbal communication. It can warm when
one is cold; it can console when a person is grief stricken. Much has been written on how to kiss,
but much more important is the why. The science and techniques of kissing means nothing if
there is no emotion behind it. At this point, I want you forget about thinking about the how, but
just to uncover what a kiss means to you. The only thing I want you to remember is that there is
no incorrect way to kiss. For the next three days, explore the different types of kisses; invent
your own new ones. And remember to use all of the other senses that you now can experience.
Explore your own new frontiers.” Once again, her image disappeared.

Chakotay’s eyes looked into Kathryn’s with his unspoken question. She answered his query by
leaning over and gently kissing him on his lips. He felt her hesitancy, but also read a yearning
that was waiting to be freed. He placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her closer and
returned her kiss. They were the uncertain kisses of new lovers, afraid of what was to come,
afraid of what would be if they did not. He left her lips long enough to make a journey around
her face and neck with his lips, only to return to their point of origin. When he broke the
intimate contact of their lips and once again looked at her, she opened her closed eyes which
shone at him through a layer of unshed tears.

She then performed the ritual of kissing his fingers and hands, as if she were worshiping him.
She concluded her veneration by searching for his lips. This time, he chanced to advance their
actions another step. He opened his lips ever so slightly and grazed hers with the tip of his
tongue. She understood his invitation and opened her lips. They gingerly ventured to deepen the
exploration.

*Yes,* she thought, *it is solace for the grieving,* as she allowed his intimate probing to deepen.
Their kisses continued to grow in intensity, and their hands began their own independent
explorations. The comfort of his hands cradling her body, with the rhythm of their soothing
movement, took Kathryn to a realm she had never known before. She felt as if all the stars of
the galaxy were flashing in front of her at the same time, and that her body was in another
dimension. Likewise, the man who was holding her became less of himself and more of her. He
was exchanging his serenity for her energy; his karma for hers. Just as billions of others before
them had done, they thought of themselves as the only two people in the universe; they were the
only ones who could explore this beautiful new realm. Where would it take them? Only they
could answer this timeless
question.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day, they no longer could — nor wanted to — hide their knowing glances from each
other. The Captain, if she had been disturbed twenty-four hours earlier, seemed to glow from an
unknown source now. The first officer’s eyes never seemed to leave her; she was the focal point
in his every move. Only when she left the bridge did he seem to realize that there were other
crew members present.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The events of the tenth night eased into the next one. Kathryn and Chakotay were back in his
quarters. The evening had started with their usual sharing of the evening meal. They both were
more at ease than they had been in several days. It seemed that they no longer were afraid of
others knowing about their growing relationship. They were oblivious to the stern looks which
they both had been receiving from the ship’s security officer and the non-verbal approval that
most of the rest of the crew was
communicating.

As they were cleaning up, the lightness of their mood eased into a warm embrace, with an
equally warm shared kiss. Chakotay seemed to dance them over to the sofa, without breaking
their oral contact. They reclined as much as sat on the long piece of furniture. As each of their
responses became more intense, he lowered his arms to the bottom of her tunic, and moved his
hands in one long sensual move up her sides, gliding the fabric up along his arms. In a final
motion, he lifted the piece of clothing over her head, leaving her in a silky one piece
undergarment. Her exposed skin reacted quickly to the temperature to which it had suddenly
been exposed. Not wishing to be alone in her state of undress, she eased him out of his tunic.
She shivered, not so much because of the sudden chill on her skin as much as with the
expectation of his touch.

His kisses rained over all of the soft territory of her bare skin. The contrast of their heat with the
unanticipated exposure of her body gave her chills and hot flashes at the same time. She moaned
with the delicious contradiction. The interior of her body cried out with the same surprise of its
external surface. She was experiencing feelings that she had long thought to be dead; no,
feelings that she had never known before.

Kathryn gently raised Chakotay’s head from its intense focus. She held his head between her
hands as she kissed him. This time she initiated a full exploration of his willing mouth. She
could not get enough of him; he was her forbidden fruit. All the while, his hands were
rediscovering the areas which brought her the greatest delight: tiny circles underneath her arms;
gentle touches along the long pillars of her white neck; figure eights around her thighs. And all
along, his mouth was in a search of the depths of hers.

They finally broke their intense embrace. Both of them were breathing hard. He sat back to
admire the exquisite vision that had recently filled his arms and being. He leaned back, and
closed his eyes, gasping for the control that he desperately needed.

“Kathryn,” he panted through his rapid breathing, “we need to pace this. “I’m only human, you
know!” he chuckled as he opened his eyes and looked at her. Her fervor was rapidly
approaching his, and he didn’t want to push her into something that she would later regret. He
fully understood — although did not
necessarily agree with! — the importance of the timing of their progress. “Let’s drop back a bit,
just for tonight,” he said as he reached up to gently caress her neck.

Her soft, guttural moans left him no doubt as to her physical and emotional state. He knew that
if his hands sought that area of her body which he so wanted to touch and explore, he would be
greeted by a flood of the rich moistness of her womanhood. Once more, he willed himself into a
less passionate state, and
breathed slowly and calmly. He didn’t know if he — or she — could stand another evening like
this, without proceeding further toward what both of them knew was their final goal.

She sensed his concern. Her answer was to make a wondrous tour of his torso with her mouth
and fingers. Her intent was to soothe him, but it only restoked the fires in his groin. For once, it
was he who said, “No; let’s wait. This has to be just right, Kathryn. You are too special to me,
and I want to know that you are truly ready.” He reluctantly pulled her up from her wondrous
journey.

She look into his eyes with regret but complete understanding. “Yes,” she sighed, “you’re right.
But, for once, my dear
Chakotay, I do not think I’ll be looking backward. I’m already looking forward — to tomorrow.”
She confirmed her pledge with a deep kiss which he had never dreamed would come from her —
one which asked forgiveness for all the time lost, and one that promised of much more to come.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kathryn and Chakotay’s “completion” of this stage of Dr. Dee’s carefully choreographed program
was done with tender
ministrations, but they purposefully restrained themselves from the rapidly growing desires that
both of them had. They had learned more about each other, mentally, physically and
emotionally, in the last twelve days than they had in all of their three years of close contact on
Voyager.

*******************************

Voyager’s captain made a brief appearance on the bridge the following day, although she was not
scheduled for duty. She then proceeded to walk through all of the other departments on the ship.
Her radiant smile enlivened the spirits of the entire crew as she spoke with them, frequently
individually. She chatted with much animation, asking them very un-captain like questions about
their visits to the holodecks; new friendships; Neelix’s most recent creations… Both she and the
stunned residents on the wandering spaceship enjoyed her pleasant attention to matters other
than the ever-present problems of maintaining the vessel. She still had that command presence,
but there was something that had softened their captain’s composure…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kathryn was in her quarters, completing the preparations for Chakotay’s arrival. Her face
glowed with the warmth of her recent bath. She had even “blown” some replicator rations on
bath oil in the Circe myrian fragrance that he had now come to associate with her; its scent clung
to her skin and radiated its message to the surrounding air.

He arrived, secreting behind his back some of the blossoms from which “her” fragrance
originated. Like a schoolboy, he held them out to her when she greeted him.

“How did you know?” she teasingly asked him, as she took them from him, and added them to
the large vase that already held several of the flowers.

“There was a special sale today, only for us,” he answered as he took her into his arms. She
silently led him into her bedroom.
They immediately went to their favorite padd, to follow the next instructions of their mentor.
The tiny brunette arose from the sofa and walked over to one of the many plants visible in her
office. She lovingly took one of the large leaves between her fingers and stroked it as she spoke.

“Let’s return for the next three days to using your hands and fingers in yet another way. We have
examined the value of them in tactile stimulation, but now, I would like for you to use them in
more familiar ways: holding, manipulating and grasping, to name a few. The hands and fingers
of humans are unique in their ability to perform complicated maneuvers. Use them to learn
more about your bodies; stroke, squeeze, invade, (static). But, again, I ask you to be gentle in
your inquiries; do not use these tools for harm, only for the (static) that is now (static) between
you.” This section of the transmission closed as she sensuously pulled the long leaf through her
fingers.

The Voyager pair was ready for this level, for even as the image faded from the screen,
Chakotay’s free hand reached over to Kathryn’s body and tenderly brushed against one of her
protruding breasts. She let out a small cry, not realizing how prepared she was for his touch. He
felt that her nipple was hard and erect. He took it between his fingers and ever so gently
massaged it. The added friction of the fabric’s touch sent electrical charges through her body.
His hand continued an ever spiraling journey around the soft mound. As he reached its outer
most perimeter, he realized that it exactly filled his hand. The perfect ecstasy of the fit of the
two parts of their bodies elicited a deep, satisfied sigh. His sounds were paralleled by similar
ones from her.

His pressure increased on the delicate tissue, until Kathryn thought that she would faint. She
*knew* that she would when he silently moved to mimic his movements with the other breast.
Her body arched as he lightly pinched each nipple.

Unsatisfied with not being able to touch her flesh, he again performed the ritual of lifting her
tunic, removing its encasing material. Now it was his turn to gasp with pleasure as he realized
that the tunic was the only piece of clothing covering her. He remained motionless, drinking in
the beauty of the body that was underneath his hands: skin as white and glistening as the stars,
with the orbs of her breasts swollen with pleasure and the areolae and nipples crimson as blood.
He allowed his eyes to follow the undulating curves of that radiant flesh over her stomach;
around the trim waist; filling out the arched paths of her slim hipline; and finally, to the soft
patch of thick auburn hair that led to the goal they both now desired. One of her legs was flexed
at the knee, further allowing the richness of her unique scent to envelope him. Never in his most
sensuous dreams had he imagined such a glorious sight.

Kathryn derived her pleasure in watching him assimilate the vision of her complete nakedness.
Each movement of his eyes embraced her. So absorbed was she in watching him that she didn’t
realize that his hands were taking parallel journeys down her body until they both met in the
downy thatch between her legs. His fingers greedily welcomed the moistness that met them; his
murmur of appreciation reverberated in her heart.

Her sounds of delight echoed his as he let his fingers plunge deeper and deeper through the
auburn thicket until they found that opening that was so prepared for his touch. Like a garden
ready for planting, she was swollen and wet, awaiting to be cultivated. His fingers gently
explored the furrows of this secret garden, tilling the entire area with alternating pressure and the
slightest of touches. With his other hand, he took his middle finger and, searching, found the
swollen garden gate latch. Gently rubbing this and continuing his internal
exploration, he opened the floodgates of her desire. The rich, warm deluge thoroughly wet both
of his hands, as she arched her back and let out a cry that seemed to come from the depths of her
soul.

Chakotay’s still clothed body cried out to be released from its prison, but he decided that this was
Kathryn’s night, that his needs would have to sublimated for another time. Her reactions were
frightening enough to him; God knows what they were doing to her!

He sat upright, gradually withdrawing his hands from that most precious area. Looking at her
and smiling, he said, “Tomorrow will be your turn. If we continue now, there won’t be any
benefit in testing you skills.” He reached for one of her hands and laid it across the large
swollen area in his groin. Another groan of pleasure emitted from her lips. “I want to be able to
please you as much as you please me,” she said huskily.

“Oh, you will,” he responded, as he bent to kiss her. “You will!” He replayed her own scent to
her by gently stroking his hands across her cheeks and nose and mouth. She took one of his
fingers and placed it in her mouth, slowly pulling it out between her closed lips, once more
moistening his finger. “Tomorrow,” he barely got out. He had to leave while he could; discipline
was important — after all, this *was* a starship!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And her turn did come. After fourteen hours that she thought would never end, he once more
appeared in off-duty casualness. An air as full of magnetism as a phase 4 plasma storm filled the
room, as they managed to eat a light meal. But food was left unfinished as she arose, took his
hand and again led him into her sanctuary.

Without a word, she slipped out of her concealing tunic, watching his eyes feast on her splendor.
Taking advantage of his
mesmerized state, she coaxed his large arms out of his tunic, and eased him onto the bed. As
soon as he was prone, she untied the drawstring of his loose pants and pulled them down. Just as
she had been tonight and the night before, he was devoid of any other clothing. He reached up
and pulled her down to him. The tender kisses which ensued were a prelude to the symphony
that was to follow. Again, he took pleasure in her pendulant breasts, allowing her to join him in
the music.

In a surprise move, she rolled him over onto his stomach. She started lightly massaging his
shoulders. Low sounds of pleasure came from his muffled mouth as she continued to gain a
rhythm. Then, to his shock, she quickly but lightly ran her fingernails down the entire length of
his back, summoning a shiver from his body. “Oh, yes,” he called out softly, “yes!” She repeated
her action, varying the speed and pressure. His satisfaction again reverberated. His shivers
became trembles as she let her nails trace random patterns all over his firm buttocks. Her own
entrancement with the reaction prompted her to continue the tactile stimulation of this until-now
undiscovered part of his magnificent body. She proceeded to explore the area by letting her
fingers ever-so-gently massage the uppermost areas of his thighs, and gradually access the soft
skin of his inner thighs. His body had never known such sensations; his spirit was
euphoric! An angel was tending him…

Kathryn Janeway wanted to prove to this wonderful man that there was no challenge beyond her
reach. Keeping him guessing as to her next move was her latest test, and with her typical
determination, she was not going to let him get too comfortable. She let her slim fingers slide
through the slit between his legs. Being careful not to approach the soft skin surrounding his
twin orbs, she applied a gentle pressure to the tender gland that she knew was just below the
surface. His breath suddenly caught short as he experienced the pleasure of her massage. She
smiled silently to herself, knowing that she was touching him as
exquisitely as he had her the previous evening. His satisfaction was hers.

When he could no longer take the mind-blowing pressure, he quickly turned over. His smiling
face was lightly coated with perspiration. As she drank in the sculptured body below her, her
eyes were quickly drawn to a new sight. Chakotay could not keep himself from responding to
her contact; he was fully engorged in his acceptance of her touch. She could not help herself, as
she continued to stroke his length. If agony and pleasure could be equated, he thought, this was
it. Her touch was like the fire of a hundred suns, but a gentle as a springtime breeze. Just when
he thought he could take no more, she raised her fingers to her lips, moistened them, and ran her
warm, moist fingers down his shaft. His moans became more intense, as she continued her
stroking, up and down his swollen organ. Again she added her own moisture, picking up the
pace and encircling him with her slick fingers. She then suddenly ran a fingernail around the
head of the sensitive organ. His head was going to explode, if not something else, if he didn’t
bring this to a close.

Barely able to speak, he finally said, “Kathryn, no more… I can’t.. control.. myself… any further.”
He was panting in trying to get the words out. She slowly let her hands fall away. The flushed
look on her own face and a reach of his hand to her fountain of joy let him know that she was
close also.

She looked down at him. Her eyes were glazed with the passion of their mutual arousal. But he
could still see behind it all: she had the self-satisfied look of knowing that she had accomplished
a never-before attained goal. Kathryn Janeway was still in control…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The last session in this part of their learning was a tandem exploration of the new areas of
delight that they had discovered. But, once more, they stopped their fervent ventures short of the
crest of their sensual release.

********************************

The sixth “lesson” in Dr. Dee’s exposition came on screen. Kathryn’s head was resting on
Chakotay’s firm shoulder; his arm was engulfing her upper body, his hand possessively holding
her. They nervously watched as she continued.

“Have you discovered the true meaning of a kiss now? I hope that you and your (static) have
learned many new and (static) ways of expressing this ageless form of (static). Now, I’m going
to present you with a new challenge.

“Every woman has two pairs of lips; every man has two tongues. Each of these areas yearns for
the touch of each other. In the past few days, you have learned and explored the woman’s upper
set of lips and the man’s upper tongue. Now it is time for him to discover and learn how to kiss
her lower lips. She should master how to caress his other ‘tongue’ with her lips. There is an even
greater sensitivity of these other parts than with the first, so progress should be slow and gradual.
But your survey should be thorough and satisfying. I bid you happy exploring.”

Shyness and false modesty were forgotten words in their
vocabulary now. Although Kathryn had appeared at his quarters in a publicly acceptable tunic
and pants, she had brought with her the pink satin robe that reminded them of past times of
“almost.” As soon as the doors closed, she went into his bedroom and put the delectable garment
over her equally enticing body. Chakotay had met her in a short robe, that, like hers, lapped over
in the front and was held closed with a tie belt. Now, with their most recent instructions
received, together they unloosed each others sashes and let the robes sensuously glide into
limpid pools on the floor.

While still standing with the garments at their feet, they began their ever new explorations of
each other. In the midst of their tender touches, Chakotay led her over to a low table which he
had covered with a thick but soft blanket. He helped her lie down on its surface, gently
positioning her with the edge of the table under her knees, allowing the lower part of her legs to
hang over the edge. He placed a pillow under her head and neck, all the while murmuring soft
words of adoration and affection. Finally, he bent down and kissed her. He led his kisses down
her body, arriving at her other lips.

He knelt down between her legs and gently touched her. As he suspected, she was already
swollen and moist. He spread her, and began a slow search with his tongue. He circled the
warm
swellings which surrounded her second mouth, taking his time in enjoying the touch, the taste,
the scent of her. With a
continuous slow but steady effort, he inserted his tongue deeper and deeper inbetween the folds.
Her sighs and moans increased in proportion to the deep-seated searching of his tongue. He
reveled in the response of her body, providing him with the rich nectar of her womanhood. No
honey had been more desired; and the wait had made it all the sweeter. He retreated from her
depths, only to better experience the increasing warmth of her labia. He searched for and found
the hard head of her clitoris. With the most tender of efforts, his teeth pressed on either side of
the swelling. He ever so gently rolled the erect tissue between the tender trap of his teeth. They
both were rewarded when her arched back and cry signaled a long awaited release. A warm
gush met and wet his mouth, and he readily accepted it as his reward.
He sat back on his heels, but quickly replaced his mouth music with the steady rhythm of his
inserted fingers. They traced the flow of her sexual climax, back into the vault of her pleasure.
He pressed and teased until she came again…and yet again. Only when her body seemed to be
coming down from its emotional
pinnacle did he lean back and dare to catch his breath. He slumped back against the soft support
of a chair which was behind him. Never had he thought that her reaction would be so
uninhibited. But, then again, she had many years of repression to release.

He had closed his eyes, and in his reverie hadn’t realized that Kathryn had gotten up. She came
over and sat down next to him. No words were said. She leaned against him, her head on his
chest. Satiated, they both drifted off to sleep.

He was awakened by her touch. She was quickly bringing to life the part of him that had been so
close to releasing his own climax but had become flaccid as they succumbed to sleep. He was
surprised by his quick recovery, but not by the skills which accomplished it. He stroked the
silken tresses which were falling over her shoulders and covering part of him.

Suddenly, he was jolted out of any remaining lethargy by the feel of her sweet mouth completely
encircling him. Her tongue was tracing circles around the head of his shaft. While her hand
guided him, her mouth worked its way down his entire length, adding external heat and pressure
to the existing internal source he was producing. With exquisite deliberation, she began a slow
dance of moving him in and out of her. Each time that he felt she was going to free him from
her velvet trap, she quickly took him in again. With her other hand, she was tenderly encasing
the delicate sacs at the shaft’s base. Each move seemed choreographed to produce a growing
intensity. He could feel what little control he had quickly evaporating. He didn’t know how far
she would want him to go…

As if in answer to his unspoken question, she gave him a sharp nudge underneath his firm,
compacted testicles. At he same time, she seemed to take him into her mouth clear down to the
base of his shaft. The shock waves of his orgasm started, and she
accepted their explosion in the caverns behind her lips. She kept pace with him, and allowed his
eruption to fill her.
Finally, as his tremors subsided, she released his now softening manhood.

Again, they sat side by side, stroking each other with knowing comfort. “I love you, Kathryn,”
he said as he again plied kisses to her now moist hair and forehead. She looked up at him. “I
know,” she responded.

********************************

Dr. Dee didn’t really have to do too much in the way of
explaining what the last level was in her program, but Chakotay and Kathryn dutifully watched it
anyway. She was explaining that when proper preparation had been provided by both partners,
the inevitable full sexual congress would allow the deepest, most meaningful physical
relationship between two people. The purpose of her program, she reminded the viewers, was to
build trust and communication between them, and brushing away all fears of “doing something
wrong.” She tenderly admonished them to consummate this most intimate of relationships, and,
if they ever felt fear, to go back and repeat steps as necessary. She concluded by confirming that
if two people truly loved each other, there would be no hesitancy in giving completely one to
another.

Chakotay felt Kathryn tighten underneath his encompassing
embrace. He knew that she was concerned about her earlier
confession of not having fully made love since… was it Justin? He continued to silently hold her,
until she gave him the sign that she was or was not ready.

After what seemed to be an eternity, she turned to him.
“Chakotay, I want to continue this with all my heart. It’s just that the two times that Mark and I
attempted to achieve this level of physicality in our relationship, I … well, I … it was as if I
closed in on him, and could not let him enter me. And it hurt… I don’t know why, but it did. So
we remained…” Her words trailed off recalling the unpleasant episodes. “But now, well, I …”

He was sitting with her, against several pillows on her bed. His hands unconsciously stroked her
cheeks and neck. He quietly said, “Do you suppose it was because you really didn’t love Mark
enough?” He stopped and held her away at a short distance. “Do you love *me*?” he finally
asked.

Tears quickly made their way to her eyes. She reached out for him and embraced him as if she
never wanted to lose him. “With all my heart and being I love you,” she said after a long pause.
“And I want you to love me…”

They spent some time in again awakening the up-to-now hidden special areas that they had
discovered about one another. Gentle giggles from soft tickles proceeded in to small sighs and
then longer moans. His dark eyes finally met hers, asking one word, *Now?* and she blinked
back her assent.

He was poised above her, with most of his weight borne by his bent knees to either side of her
thighs. With one last voicing of assurance, he repeated, “I love you.” And with that, he plunged
into her.

Even though she knew of the size of his tumescence, her body reacted with pleasant shock as he
reached deeper and deeper into her. His breadth tightly pressed against the walls of her
welcoming channel and caused a friction that only managed to have her body add more of its
natural lubrication. As his movements became more urgent, she felt herself matching him with
her own thrusts of her body. He maneuvered one of his hands into the tight space between the
two of them, inbetween their rhythmical bodies, and found the hardness of her desire. Just when
he knew he could not hold back any more, he gently squeezed the erect, hard trigger of her
climax. They cried out together as three years of repressed energy was released.

It seemed that all of the stars of the quadrant went nova at the same time. Each of them felt
outside of their bodies, existing only as pure sensation. The energy hovered over their quieting
forms, looking down with a satisfaction that they never dreamed could be reached. When the
energy once again joined their physical beings, they were locked in an embrace that ran the
entire length of their bodies. It was in this position that they fell asleep together, only to awaken
and once more ascend the summit of their desires.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chakotay entered the bridge command area. As he settled into his chair, scanning reports on his
conn screen, he leaned towards the ship’s helmsman. “Mr. Paris,” he began… the younger man
turned around suddenly, thinking that his latest not-quite-Starfleet- actions had caught up with
him.

“Mr. Paris, I want to thank you for that *Help* you gave me a few weeks ago.” Thinking back to
his extra duty shifts, Tom answered hesitatingly and unsure as to what episode was being
referenced, “Er… why… sure; anytime Commander.”

He watched as the first officer’s face spread into a wide grin. “Yes, that was great ‘help’ indeed!”
he repeated with a long deep satisfied sigh. The smile remained for the rest of the shift.
************************

>> To the bold goes the battle; to the brave goes the victory <<

Posted in Voyager | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Getting the Ending Right

Delta Story
cmwende@compuserve.com

GETTING THE ENDING RIGHT PG-13

Summary: Janeway is presented with three scenarios regarding the love of her life. Will the final
ending re-create events in history, or create history of its own?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Captain’s Log, Stardate 50811.2:

We have returned from an away mission on Prexnia 3, an M planet in the Nerlian system. This
system has not been defined on any of the starmaps we had last received from the Habolians, and
stellar cartography was hard pressed to indicate when the twin star system had appeared in their
searches.

However, we found the planet to be a most hospitable one. Although its inhabitants were not as
advanced technologically as we are, they had many useful natural resources which they were
willing to trade for information regarding the presence of other cultures we had met bordering
and within their stars’ system. We were able to bring aboard much in the way of fresh food
supplies, ionized phospholaurentium to replenish our warp coils, and, most importantly, provide
shore leave for the crew. Now after six days of refreshing ourselves and our ship, we are ready
to resume our journey.
Supplemental, Captain’s Personal Log, Stardate 50811.2

During the six days at Prexnia 3, Chakotay and I managed to have 48 hours of shore leave. Even
though our personal relationship is well accepted by the crew, life on Voyager provides very
little privacy, for we must constantly be at the ready for the needs of the ship and crew. With the
crew having had four days time for relaxation and refreshment, Tuvok suggested that Chakotay
and I allow ourselves 48 hours together, promising to contact us only in the case of dire
emergency.

Tom and B’Elanna had found a rustic inn nestled in the mountains in the southern hemisphere of
the planet and recommended it to us. Their advice was well founded. Not only were we
provided with a spacious suite overlooking a mountain valley, but it also had a *huge* bathtub!
It was meant to be…I cannot remember a time when I was more relaxed, unless I go back to the
time when Mark and I
went to Lake Tahoe……………..

Janeway’s recording was interrupted by a rapidly enveloping fog. In seconds, her ready room
was entirely obscured by its presence. “What is…” she barely got out before she became quite
light headed. It was becoming difficult for her to breathe; the temperature and humidity in the
room were becoming uncomfortable.

Just as quickly as the fog appeared, it evaporated, revealing a golden clad Q, lying across the
surface of her desk.

“Kathy, Kathy…I let you turn me down for that Cheshire cat of a first officer you have, and now
you’re reminiscing of past loves. What *are* we going to do with you? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Being
unfaithful to good ole Chuckles…”

“Q, this is *none* of your business! And you now have a wife and child with whom *you*
should be! Why must you continue to pester me?”
“Pestering? Bosh! My dear Kathy, I’m just here to help you out in your predicament. I think it’s
time for moldy Mark and cutesy Chuck to meet, don’t you? Let them settle this *mano a
mano*… to the victor belongs the spoils…and you *are* such a prize… maybe I should allow
myself in on this little game…”

“Q, doesn’t the Continuum need you? What about Ms. Suzie and your adorable son?”

“Oh, she’s taken him off to Grand Q’s for a millennium or so, and I *had* to find something to
occupy my time. And you humans are so entertaining. Let’s see…”

There was a blinding flash. Janeway felt herself being drawn through a howling wind tunnel.
Suddenly, she was deposited quite unceremoniously on a deep, soft surface. As she regained her
senses, she realized that she was lying on a plushly cushioned divan. There were servants all
around her. As she tried to make sense out of her surroundings, she felt the cooling zephyrs of
two large ostrich fans being waved at either end of her lounge. Her eyes focused more, she saw
that her body
was draped in a white, diaphanous material that fell into pleats below her breasts. A narrow
piece of transparent fabric tightly spanned the breasts themselves and barely covered her upper
arms. Her exposed feet were clad in sandals composed of only thin soles and straps. Around her
neck was a necklace made of flattened rectangles of gold, embedded with gems that looked to be
rubies and sapphires. Gold circlets were twisted around her upper arms. But the strangest
sensation was the feel of hair on her forehead; she suddenly realized that she had short hair
creating a border along her forehead…what was that called…oh, yes! bangs…what a strange
name! Feeling down the sides of her hair, she noticed that it was of a much thicker texture than
usual. Pulling some of the longer-than- shoulder length hair into her peripheral vision, she
noticed how much darker it was; why, it was black!

The room surrounding her was sparsely furnished, but the sofa upon which she was lying, two
chairs and a small table were of heavy carved ebony. The table was heavily laden with plates or
fruit, nuts and other confections. Its surface was made from a variety of colors and textures of
mosaic tiles. The walls were covered by what appeared to be gold damask. An opening to the
outside allowed the bright sunlight, as golden as the wall hangings, to enter.

A servant, naked from the waist up, clad only in an intricately folded skirt of white linen, was
bringing in a gold tray which held a gem-encrusted silver carafe of wine and three large carved
silver goblets. The servant put the tray on the table. “My lady, the two gentlemen from Rome
are here. Would you like to have both of them welcomed into your chamber now?”

Kathryn Janeway’s mind was trying to quickly the assimilate the scenario unfolding around
her…what had happened in the blink of an eye, a blip in the continuum… oh, yes! Q! He had
been there, talking about her relationships with Mark and Chakotay… how dare he! And now,
here she was in this ridiculous, obscene outfit and even more ridiculous hair… wait a minute!
Her mind swiftly put together her surroundings… her dress… the “two gentlemen from Rome…”
*My God! — I’m
Cleopatra,* she thought.

She abruptly sat upright, pulling her legs around to allow her to rise to a standing position. As
soon as she did so, the servants bowed in acknowledgment of their queen. The two gentlemen
from Rome… they had to be Julius Caesar and Marc Antony… but, who… why… *I guess the
only way to get to the bottom of this is to…*

“Yes, let them both come in,” she responded to the inquiring servant. (Did he look a little like
Tuvok, she thought, looking at him as he turned to receive her guests. Come to think of it, the
two young women bearing the fans looked like… Jenny and Megan Delaney… no, oh, no…)
The tall dark servant reappeared with the two guests. They were almost the same height, one
appearing older than the other, with dark hair streaked with gray, softened further by hazel eyes.
His forehead bore the creases brought about by a life full of care of others’ burdens and heavy
responsibility. A tenuous smile enlivened his serious face. His eyes caressed her image, but the
caress was one of spent energies. The younger man had jet black hair and eyes of the same color.
His face was darker than his compatriot’s, and seemed unmarked by lines. Shadows along the
upper part of his left forehead gave him a sultry appearance. He, too, smiled, but his smile
seemed directly connected to his eyes. His eyes did not so much caress her as engulf her; his
gaze weakened her knees…her guests looked like… Mark and Chakotay!
*No, no,* her mind tried to yell for Q, only to find that the sole words she could utter were those
to issue a greeting to her guests. ” My home is honored by the presence of the great men from
Rome.”

Two more servants entered — were they Tom and Harry? — who brought the chairs forward for
their mistress’ guests. “Please, my lords, be seated,” she said as she waved them to the seats. She
herself resumed her prone position. She felt the eyes of both men trace every curve of her body
as she stretched herself across the cushions and positioned the pleats of her gown.

“How do the affairs of the great state of Rome allow both of you to be here at the same time?”
she asked of her prominent guests. With out a word, the older of the two (Julius Caesar/Mark?)
arose and walked over to her. Taking her by the hand, he gently urged her to stand. Still holding
her hand, he led her to the opening which
led to a balcony. Leaving a seemingly calm (Marc Antony/ Chakotay?) behind them, he led her
onto the balcony to overlook the city below. A deep blue sea embraced the flowing lines of the
building-lined landscape.
Speaking in a deep voice that presumed both authority and question, he addressed her. “My
goddess, you and I together could rule all of this and Rome and more, even lands which have yet
to been seen. Come with me to Rome, and I will endow you with all that is mine. My conquests
are nothing unless I have you beside me. You, glorious woman, are the one thing I lack. Come
with me, and the world is ours together.” He gently but firmly pulled her towards him and kissed
her. The kiss was one of conquest and possession, but it was not one of passion. She already
had possessions, power, and the adoration of thousands; what she wanted – no, *needed* – was
the obsessive, consuming passion of one man. And she knew that the man now holding her
could not make her the object of such a love.

“As kind as you have been to me, and with all the glories you promise me, I cannot leave my
people. Just as you must be with yours, I must remain with mine. I must be where they need me.
Your love, admiration and respect are precious gifts, but my life demands that I consider my
people and their needs. Remember me, as I shall always remember you; but Rome is your home,
just as this vast land is mine.” She returned his kiss, but it carried with it the flavor of finality.
He slowly pulled away, looking at her with a longing stare. Then, he turned, and left through the
chamber where the other man was still seated.

As the caesar named Julius walked past the younger man, he said with sorrow in his voice, “The
prize is yours; may you enjoy your reward.”
Marc Antony walked out into the balcony, where the other man had left the queen of Egypt. A
gentle breeze lifted the folds of her gown, to reveal the exquisite body underneath. He walked
behind her, and, placing his hands on her shoulders, turned her around to face him. Without a
word, he pulled her to him and gave her the kiss that she craved. Her arms entwined his neck as
his hands traced the warm curves of her body. The combined senses of his touch, his taste, his
smell… yes, *this* was what she had been waiting a lifetime for, as her body became more his
than hers…
The dizzying fog once more appeared, spinning her mind and senses, as again she was caught in
the seemingly fathomless vortex. She tried to calm her thoughts. She faintly seemed to hear Q’s
maniacal laughter and voice. “Oh, Kathy, Kathy… why must you make it so easy? Perhaps
another time and place….”

The whirling atmosphere and the vertigo it produced quickly receded. Kathryn sensed the
rhythmical
movement of the strong muscles of a large horse underneath her straddling body and legs. Dust
filled
her eyes and nostrils, as animal sounds and human voices surrounded her. Her eyes became
adjusted
to a very bright sunlight that was punctuated with by shadows from overhanging tree branches.
She
found herself astride a magnificent gray horse, whose mane was interlaced with ribbons and
flowers.
She was seated in a saddle which had her positioned with both of her legs to the left side of the
mounted animal. The voluminous folds of her cloak and equally full gown underneath swirled
to the
back, as the horse cantered along. She felt the weight of a heavy braid bouncing on her back.
She
braved taking one hand away from the reins, and touched a metal circlet which surrounded her
head,
holding a short, fine textured veil in place.

“My Lady, are you weary? Do you wish to rest?” She turned her head to the rider at her right.
There
she saw a similarly attired and mounted young woman, who looked like…B’Elanna Torres? “We
should be there before sundown. I know it has been a tiring three days on the road, but the king
does
await you.”

*King?* Kathryn thought. Her eyes broke contact with her solicitous younger companion and
quickly
surveyed the rest of the group riding with her. There was another even younger appearing
woman
along side her. This woman had turned and was speaking to one of the dozen or so men in the
group. All of the men were attired with outer coverings of chain mail armor. Swords swung
from
their sides or saddles, and most had long lances attached to their saddles also.

Several wisps of blond hair escaped from underneath the veil of the speaking woman. Based on
her
slight stature, Kathryn knew that when she saw her face, it would be that of Kes.

The blonde waif turned, and her velvet voice fulfilled the prediction. “Lady Guinevere, Sir
Thomas
has suggested that we do stop. He knows of a small lake up ahead. It would provide a perfect
respite for the horses to drink and graze. Lady Edith and I can prepare refreshing drink for all.
Pray, do let us stop.”

*Guinevere* raised her hand. “Agreed,” she said. “A rest would do us all well.” *Besides*, she
thought, *I’ve got to figure out where Q has transported us this time.*
Fifteen minutes later, a grassy glen with a crystal blue lake came into view. The riding party
quickly
dismounted. Several of the men cared for the horses, wiping them down while the animals
greedily
drank from the lake. Lady Edith and Lady Helena, which seemed to be the names of the two
female
attendants, unloaded goblets and flacons and fruit from the saddle bags. They spread a large
piece of
tapestry on the ground at the foot of an ancient oak tree for their mistress. Lady Edith, the taller
and
darker of the two women, bade her to sit. They served her first, before providing refreshment to
the
men in the party.

Kathryn noticed that, even at rest, the men remained in their protective mail garments, their
weapons
never out of ready reach. As her eyes scanned her guard unit, she suddenly saw a figure whom
she
had missed in her earlier survey. He had been following the entourage by a couple of hundred
yards.
As he dismounted, he looked over at her. The dark face, the smoky eyes, the piercing look — it
was
Chakotay. She lowered her eyes to break the intimate contact, but not before her two ladies had
noticed the shared moment.

Lady Helena leaned over to Lady Edith’s awaiting ear, whispering. Even with softly spoken
words,
the comment resonated and floated on the breeze of late spring, falling onto their mistress’ ears.
“My Lord Lancelot has a look to him that is more than protection for our lady. And she gazes at
him
more and more frequently. I have even seen her touch his arm or body. The King should not
have
sent one of his knights of the table round to escort her, for *all* know that his knights possess
magical power and charms.”

*Lancelot…Guinevere…and the king, who must be Arthur*, thought Kathryn. *Q, ‘what’ have you
done now?*

The lovely Guinevere rose from her shaded resting area and straightened the full circle of her
sky-
blue gown. “My ladies,” she said addressing Edith and Helena, “I wish to draw apart alone for a
little
while.”

“Do you think that wise, my lady?” Lady Edith asked with an agitated voice. “We know not
what
the woods hold.”

“I will be ever vigilant in observing my surroundings,” said the lady Guinevere. “You and my
able
men are only a shout away.” And she quickly disappeared into the cool shadows of the dense
trees.

*I must think!* thought Kathryn. *How did this story go? Guinevere married Arthur as part of an
alliance to unite the fiefdoms of Britain almost two millennia ago. Arthur had formed an elite
group
of knights to aid him in his benevolent causes and quests. And Lancelot…Lancelot…*

Just then, she heard a noise behind her. She turned, only to find herself immediately in the arms
of
the dark knight to whom her eyes had been magically drawn earlier. “My lady, we both know
that
this marriage to the king is wrong; you *cannot* go through with it. Let us escape now and
return to
my homeland of Normandy.” His hands were tightly grasping her shoulders as he drew her to
him
and passionately kissed her. Before she realized it, her hands were responding, positioning
themselves under his heavy mail coat, greedily feeling the taut muscles of his body under his
tunic.

“My heart sings words of yes, but my head reminds me of duty, my love. I *must* marry Arthur,
for this is the destiny and hope for our lands. He has loved me for so long. How were you and I
to
know that we would meet after I was pledged to him?”

“And how can I go on serving with him, knowing that my life and heart belong to you? For you
are
my soul, my life, my love…” the dark knight was whispering into her auburn tresses.

“Then my soul, my life and my love are yours,” she murmured back. “Physically I will be his, but
the physical state is transitory. My soul will be with yours for all of eternity. Now — we must
return to the others, else they will suspect. My life, my love, my existence…” One last time they
shared a long, deep kiss; one last time they held each other, as if transferring their very spirits
into
one another.

The brief respite from the trip was over. The group reformed, refreshed and ready for the final
leg
of their journey to… Camelot.

~~~~~~~

As Guinevere and her escort party approached the spectacular castle and its walls, the sun was
lowering in the western sky. casting a golden hue on the panoramic scene. The very stones
themselves seemed to be made of the precious metal. Lancelot rode ahead, to alert the king of
the
arrival of his bride and queen. By the time the travelers arrived at the bridge crossing the castle’s
wide moat, well wishers lined the sides of the road and the bridge itself. Flags and streamers
were
waving, and bluebells and apple blossoms were strewn in their path. The fragrance of the
crushed
flowers was heavy in the late afternoon air. Arthur himself awaited Guinevere, with all of his
knights
around him. Lancelot joined them, standing straight but expressionless.
Kathryn/Guinevere also remained in a stiff repose. As they drew closer…closer…closer, the
features
of her future husband came into focus. There, covered with the regal red and gold robes of the
house
of Uther, stood — Mark.

Kathryn’s face went ashen. Lady Helena turned to her, supporting her as she dismounted. “My
lady,
are you faint? Your face has lost its color.”

“No, my friend. I am well. ‘Tis the journey and the relief of a safe arrival at our new home.”
She
quickly made her way to the king, lowering herself in a deep curtsey. “My lord and king.”

Arthur/Mark took her hands between his. “My lady, no show of homage is necessary, other than
telling me that I am to be your love and your husband.” He raised her, and kissed her on either
cheek. His hazel eyes met hers of blue, and searched their depths for her commitment to their
troth.

“My liege, you have waited for me for many years. I have come to fulfill our pledge, and to
become
your wife and queen. All that I have and am are yours. I will be your queen, and together we
will
work to unify this land. This I pledge to you.” She stood on her toes to return his kisses of
betrothment. She blinked back the tears which suddenly filled her eyes, and smiled at him. He
looked down at her, and read her tears as a sign of happiness for their union.

“My sweet Guinevere – my love, my wife. I give you Camelot and all herein. I and my knights
are
ever at your service, and with our lives we pledge our faithfulness to you. Come now, let us
begin
our celebration and our lives together.” He lovingly enveloped her in his protective arm as he
guided
her through the massive gate. They turned to enter, and she stole one glance at Lancelot. His
eyes
bravely stared ahead, looking far into the world of what might have been, in another time,
another
place. Somewhere in the distance was the mournful cry of a lone loon. Camelot would never
again
be the same. Lady Helena looked up at the knight as she passed by. “Good sir, grieve not. A
time
will come for you and my lady to be as one. Love spans all time, and truly mated souls will
always
find one another.”

The knight turned and looked at the golden haired lady-in-waiting. As the shadows fell upon his
face,
Lady Helena saw a dark pattern form along his left forehead. In her deepest heart, she felt that
there
was a significance to its appearance.

Arthur and Guinivere passed through the castle portals, into a hall ablaze with candles, flowers
and
greenery. She looked into the flames of a group of the tapers…
And found herself being transported once more. She closed her eyes and felt her brain
exploding into
a cry, “Q, this is enough!”

“No, no, my Kathryn. *They* still haven’t gotten it worked out yet…”
“They?” asked Kathryn. “Who is ‘they’ – and why am I involved…?” she stopped in midsentence.
“It’s Mark and Chakotay, isn’t it? *That’s* what this is all about; but why?”

“Tch, tch. All in good time, Captain. Tell me, why did you refuse me, hmmmm? I could have
given you power, riches; why, even a trip back to the Alpha Quadrant! But what would happen
there? You would still have to make a choice. There, in the AQ, is long-suffering Mark: first,
patiently waiting for you to notice him; then patiently waiting for you to pursue your career; and
now
— well, probably patiently waiting for you still…oh, yes, Kathy; *I* know what’s happening, but
that’s not for you to know! And then here, in the Delta Quadrant, poor Chakie, pining away for
you,
hoping that your memories of Mark will vaporize in the next plasma storm. You *do* like to
keep
your men on a short leash, don’t you, Kathryn? Well, let’s continue our little storytelling game
and
find out which way it will go. Why don’t you step back and just watch this part with me? Can
you
stay out the action long enough to observe this time?”

“Wait a minute, Q. Don’t I have any say in this? After all, it *is* my life that you’re playing with

– my life, my decision!”

Q reached over to her and patted her on the head. “Now, now, you’ve had *years* to decide.
Let’s
see what happens when you relinquish some of that control and let others make your choice for
you.”
He put a finger on her lips as she started to speak, but, to her horror, she realized that his touch
had
rendered her speechless. All she could do was wait for the next scene in Q’s bizarre game to
play
out.

Kathryn closed her eyes momentarily, opening them quickly when she heard noises that sounded
like
Q had transported them into Tom’s holodeck program of Sandrine’s bar. It *was* a bar, filled
with
tables of laughing people and complete with a pool table at the rear. But it was not Sandrine’s.
The
doors of the tavern opened, allowing cold, damp air to come in. Three figures appeared through
the
haze, and she recognized the voices: Tom, Harry and B’Elanna. She shot a searing gaze at Q and
tried to speak. “Go on, you can get closer; they can’t see you,” he whispered to her.

Tom’s voice was the first she heard. “Man, I thought facing my father was going to be the
toughest
part of getting back. But after 15 hours with that debriefing team, Dad was a pussycat.”
Kathryn noticed that all three of the younger people looked rather exhausted.

“Yeah, I guess I got off easy,” Harry added. “Only seven hours. But I’ve got to summarize
everything again for the Academy. I’m just glad that the worst is over now.”

“Speak for yourself, you two.” B’Elanna looked frustrated, with anger and a touch of fear in her
eyes. “I don’t know what they’re going to decide about those of us who were Maquis. Chakotay
is
still with those predators! I know the Captain said that she was going to fight for amnesty for us,
but
who knows what those…those…*Vidiians* will take in return!” Her Klingon temper was rapidly
surfacing.

Kathryn started putting her clues together — Voyager had returned to the Alpha Quadrant, to
Earth, to
San Francisco and Starfleet. That meant that…oh, my God! She knew what Q was planning
now…*No; please no,* she thought.

The three junior officers sat down at one of the vacant tables, and Tom ordered a pitcher of beer.
*Beer! The *real* thing!* he thought. *The second best thing in the universe…* All of them
reverently watched the sparkling bubbles form as he poured glasses of the brew for all of them,
allowing the frothy foam to spill over the sides, savoring the aroma and sight. Tom took a sip,
and
his face took on the look of having been transported to heaven. Here he was back on Earth, his
father finally approving of his accomplishments and contributions on Voyager’s journey, and
sipping
cold beer with the woman he loved and his best friend. Life was good!
Harry broke Tom’s reverie by bringing up the Captain. Like a good son, he was worried about his
Starfleet “mom”, who had supported all of the crew’s service and performance. But he knew that
personally she had a lot to face also. “What do you think is going to happen to the Captain?” he
queried. “I monitored a couple of her communications to Earth — okay, so I eavesdropped! —
before we arrived. She contacted her mother and sister, and she tried to contact her friend, Mark
Johnson. Her sister told her that he was at a conference on Vega II, but that they could alert him.
When we arrived, I saw Mrs. Janeway and Phoebe, but there wasn’t any one else with them.”

B’Elanna’s eyes darted between Tom and Harry. “That’s just as well. I don’t know how she could
have faced him right then, with Chakotay debarking the shuttle with her. I wonder what sort of
fireworks are going to go up when those three finally meet.” Just then, her eyes focused on a
familiar
face coming through the door. He, like his compatriots already at the San Francisco bar, looked
drained of energy and emotion. “Commander, we’re over here,” she called to him. Voyager’s
first
officer saw the younger crew members, and headed over to join them. They stood as he
approached.
Even now, in off-duty mode, they showed their mutual respect for all he had done for them over
the
past five years.

“Well, at least I’m not in the brig – yet,” he sighed, as he motioned for them all to sit. “I really
should be getting some sleep. What time is it – 0200? And we started at 0700, um – yesterday.
They
want me back at 0900.”

B’Elanna fearlessly started with the questions with which all of them were bursting. “Are we
going
to be charged? Reprimanded? Drummed out of whatever service we are in? How’s the Captain?”

“Whoa, slow it down, B’Elanna! My mind is working on one-tenth impulse! No, I don’t think
we’ll
be facing any mutiny charges, after all we’ve done and been through. But other disciplinary
action? –
that’s still up for grabs. I think that we’re at the mercy of whatever the Captain can say. And, no,
I
haven’t seen Kathryn – er, the Captain – since they escorted us into separate debriefing rooms.
But,
as I was excused a little while ago, I met her sister, Phoebe. She was waiting outside the room
where
Kathryn was. Nice woman! Looks a lot like Kathryn, but her hair is a bit more uncontrolled.
She
was very pleasant. We chatted and I told her where we would be, if Kathryn got out anytime
soon. I
think I could sleep for 12 hours straight, yet my body is working on pure adrenaline right now.”
He
looked at the pitcher with its remaining beer. “I almost could join you in some of that, but I
better
stick to something my body knows.” With that, he got up and walked over to the bar. He
ordered a
Vulcan graling nectar with sparkling water, and returned, slumping quite un-Starfleet like into
the
chair.

The Voyager officers returned to their quizzing of each other over the events in the 20 hours
since
their return to Starfleet headquarters. With the late hour, the tavern’s customers were starting to
dwindle. Going against the exodus, another couple arrived. The woman was scanning the room,
searching for the face of a person she had met earlier. Her eyes lit up, as she recognized
Chakotay’s
visage.

“Chakotay!” Phoebe Janeway called out. She turned to speak to the person next to her, and they
walked over to the seated foursome.
Chakotay rose to meet her. She reached over, and hugged him. “Kathryn was excused, but she
really needed some rest. She needs to reconvene with them
tomorrow.”

Chakotay sighed and looked disappointed. “I know the feeling. I’ve got to go back, too. Is she
all
right?”

“Tired,” said Phoebe. “But she seemed to be in good spirits, considering all of the stress.”
Phoebe
realized that the man next to her was shifting uncomfortably. “Oh, please excuse my lack of
manners; must be the late hour. Chakotay, I’d like for you to meet Mark Johnson.”

B’Elanna, Tom and Harry stifled a collective gasp at the mention of Mark — Captain Janeway’s
Mark! Chakotay’s dark eyes livened at the mention of his name. He extended his hand to the
man
standing next to Phoebe. Mark — this was Mark. He was about Chakotay’s height, with a
slighter
build. His hair was almost entirely gray, and its edges framed a lined face punctuated by hazel
eyes.
*His hair has changed since that photograph I remember,* thought Chakotay. *But I guess my
own
hair has a little of that color in it now, too.*

“Mark, good to meet you. I’ve — er, um — heard a lot about you,” said a very uncomfortable
Chakotay. *Is my hand shaking? Is it cold and clammy?*

Mark took the extended hand, and shook it calmly. “A pleasure, sir. It’s good to meet folks who
have been with Kathryn throughout this ordeal.”

Chakotay quickly introduced the other three officers to Phoebe and Mark. They pulled up two
more
chairs, and ordered another pitcher of beer.

Much small talk was bantered around the table, but it was obvious that no one in the group was
at
ease. Tension was higher than at a Cardassian/Starfleet negotiating session. Phoebe, with
typical
Janeway bravura, decided that the time had come to allow Mark and Chakotay some time
together.
Seeing the pool table in the back of the room, she said, “Tom Paris, are you still the pool shark
that I
remember hearing about? How about B’Elanna and I taking on you and Harry for a couple of
games?”

The others in the group silently applauded her for the ease of her distracting gambit. Tom got
up.
“You’re on. But I warn you, Torres has a temper! Don’t criticize her technique!” He ducked, as
B’Elanna threw a punch towards him. Phoebe glanced quickly at Mark. Their eyes
communicated a
message that the others could not read. A plea? Comfort? Courage? Tom was already trying out
the
various cue sticks for balance.

After the others had left, Chakotay nervously cleared his throat. ” Have you seen Kathryn yet?”

“No, I just got in from Vega II. Phoebe met me, and told me what the situation was. I guess we’ll
get to see each other tomorrow,” said the other man. “It seems like it’s been forever at times; and
then again, only yesterday…”

“I know what you mean. One minute my Maquis crew and I were being chased as renegades;
and
the next, we were Starfleet allies. It’s been quite an eventful five years…”

It was Mark’s turn to appear nervous. “You have probably talked enough about what all has
happened, so I won’t ask specifics. Besides, it’s probably classified at this point, isn’t it?”

“That’s what we’ve been told to say.” Chakotay sighed. How much *more* was classified? Had
Kathryn told Phoebe and her mother about them? Did Mark know? “I’m sure after all the
debriefings
are over, a general report will be issued.” *God, was it hot in here all of a sudden?* Chakotay
thought. His stomach, which had not had much food in it over the last 24 hours, was turning
cartwheels. This was worse than the lengthy interrogation he had been through that day.

Chakotay continued. “Kathryn seems to have come back in good shape. There were some rough
times for all of us, but good old Starfleet technology kept us patched up pretty well. You won’t
be
disappointed by how she looks. As a matter of fact,” he grinned, “she looks pretty damned
good.”
His eyes took on the look that he always got nowadays when he thought about his captain, *his*
Kathryn… He realized his lapse in decorum and quickly added, “We all tended to look after one
another. It got to be a real family out there.”

Mark’s eyes were carefully studying the wet rings left on the table by the beer glasses. His
fingers
traced their liquid outlines, rubbing out their forms. “We sort of became a family support group
here
on earth, too. Voyager had been gone for two years before Starfleet finally declared the ship and
crew missing and presumed dead. It was one of the most difficult times of my life. Again, I was
“on hold”, waiting for Kathryn. It seemed like the story of my life was nothing but chapters
filled
with waiting, again.” His eyes looked up, and straight into those of the ex-Maquis.

Chakotay quietly said, “My Maquis days were the rare time in my life when I lost the teachings
of
my people regarding patience.” Then, his face lit up with a grin. “Thankfully, I remembered
them
on Voyager. I certainly needed it serving with Kathryn Janeway!”
For the first time since the two men met, Mark’s face showed a smile of relaxation. “She’s quite
something, isn’t she? I believe some of the words I’ve been known to hear or say about her
include
stubborn, obstinate, compulsive…”

“Adamant, unmovable, bullheaded…” added Chakotay. The two were laughing now. In the
midst of their commradery, they did not see a couple of glances shot their
way from the group at the pool table.

“I guess she really needed those qualities to get her through some of the earlier times in her life.
And, I would think that, in what all of you have been through, they were not undesirable, either,”
Mark replied, more seriously.

The first officer nodded. “There were times when she alone believed in her decisions. But she
never
lost faith that we would make it back to the Alpha Quadrant. We had a lot of heated discussions
regarding her ideas. I’m afraid I didn’t make it any easier on her. But, we always seemed to…”
Chakotay looked down at his almost empty glass, as he weighed his next words very carefully.
“…we always seemed to arrive at agreeable parameters and to compromise in a professional
manner.”

Now it was Mark’s turn to study his glass. He was silent for a while, then looked up. Again, his
light eyes pierced the darkness of the other man’s. “How long have you been in love with her?”
he
asked in a firm, steady voice.

Chakotay’s eyes met Mark’s, his gaze never wavering. However, his voice did, as he answered,
“From the first time I met her on Voyager. I was totally under her spell.” His swallowed. “I’m
sorry, Mark. Now that we are back, and I have no idea what my fate will be, you and she can
take
up where you left off.”

Mark softly chuckled. “Five years at this time of my life is a long time for me to wait for a
Janeway.” His eyes, now with a hint of glee in them, once more locked onto those of the man
across
the table from him. “Chakotay, Phoebe and I have been married for a year and a half.”

The larger man almost fell out of his chair, so startled was he with the shock of this news.
“Whatever…how…why?” his questions tumbled out, as he tried to regain a semblance of
composure.

“I’m sure Kathryn has told you that when she left, I told her that her – *our* – dog, Molly, was
pregnant. Well, I had never been through this experience before, but I knew that all of the
Janeway
women were dog people. So, I contacted Phoebe to help me. Then, when Voyager disappeared,
we
became a support for one another. As the news became less and less hopeful, we became even
closer.
And, well…the rest, as they say, is history.”

Chakotay began to laugh. Tears were forming in his eyes – whether from laughter or relief, he
didn’t
know. “This is unbelievable!” he managed to get out. “Kathryn has tried to calm the rising
jealousy
I could feel the closer we got to earth by saying that you would always be like a brother to her —
and
here you are, her brother-in-law!” He sobered somewhat. “Does she know? Has Phoebe told
her?”

“No, not yet. We thought one shock at a time was enough for her.” Marked was smiling broadly
now, and he looked up as he felt Phoebe’s gaze calling to him. “And, hopefully, you will love
Phoebe as a sister,” he said, as he rose and motioned Chakotay to follow him over to join the
others.

Suddenly, it was if the door of the bar had opened again, as thick fog swept over the scene. The
figures, the voices disappeared, as once more Q’s heavy sigh could be heard. “Well, well, Kathy.
Quite an ending to this little story, isn’t it? And poor little Captain Janeway wasn’t even there to
have
her say.” They were back in the captain’s ready room on Voyager. Q was now sitting up on her
desk, as she was pacing around it.

He snapped his fingers, and Kathryn’s mouth was open and running. “Q, this is preposterous!
You can’t tell me that this is what will happen. Why, Mark and Phoebe
don’t even *like* each other…he thinks she’s interfering, pushy, overbearing…”

“My, my; those *do* sound like family characteristics, don’t they?” Again, he sighed. “My dear
Kathy, we have just been exploring rewriting history — or is it writing history? I really don’t
know
which, but it’s so much fun, don’t you think?
And I really do sort of like your sister. I wonder if she is available. Hmmmm… maybe I’ll take a
little trip to earth. Toodles!”

Kathryn was left alone.

The only sound in the room was her plaintive cry, “Q, come back here!”
****************

…If we do not learn from the lessons of history, we are destined to repeat them…

Posted in Voyager | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Parting Gifts

Delta Story
cmwende@compuserve.com

PARTING GIFTS NC-17

Summary: Kes’ departure from Voyager brings bittersweet farewells all around; but she leaves
special gifts with Janeway and Chakotay.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kes slowly walked through the rows of Jaborian ferns in the hydroponics bay, letting the warmth
and
humidity of the jungle like atmosphere soothe her mind. It had been six hours since she received
the
subspace message from Zahir. The Nickall traveler was returning from his exploration of the
Solarian Rift and was within twenty light years from Voyager.
His face was haggard, Kes noticed immediately. But his words were firm and strong. “My
dearest
Kes, there have been no suns in any of my travels that bring the brightness to my life that you
have.
Even if it is only for a few hours, I need to see you, to replenish my soul and fill my heart.
Please
allow me to come to Voyager for a while.”

He wanted to see her! Five months earlier, he had asked Kes to join him. She reluctantly had
decided to remain on Voyager. But recently, she had begun to question her decision. Her answer
in
return to Zahir was immediate: “My life is incomplete without you. Come and make me whole
once
more.”

She reached out for one of the luxuriant plant fronds, and let the leaves slowly pull through her
fingers. They were smooth but rough at the same time, and as each green fragment passed
across her
fingers, it emitted a spicy odor. The sensual reminders created images of the last time she held
Zahir
in her arms, as they strolled through the garden outside his favorite inn. The inn! What stories
were
told there! What warmth was there, both from the continually blazing fire in the hearth to the
smoldering embers in his heart! Yes, she missed him…and yet, the Captain and Voyager’s crew
were
so good to her. And Neelix; what about Neelix? Yes, he understood that their relationship had
changed. But he *had* rescued her from her Kazon captors, and guaranteed her a place with
Voyager. However, Neelix had changed, too. He realized that she was growing in ways which
he
could not follow, just as he was carving his own personalized niche among the Voyager senior
staff.
They both knew that their journeys were moving in opposite directions away from the crossroads
that
their lives had reached a few months ago.

As she wandered from the ferns into an area with blooming Acadian lilies, she knew what she
would
say when Zahir arrived. She looked at the blossoms, as they opened before her eyes, revealing
the
ripeness and fullness of each iridescent trumpet. The time had come to move on. Voyager was a
flower that was closing upon itself with its obsessive desire of returning to the Alpha Quadrant.
She
was just beginning to bloom, alive and vibrant — opening up to all of the experiences the Delta
Quadrant. She wanted to savor its many delights. And Zahir would help her open the petals….

*************************************************

Captain Janeway sat on the sofa in her quarters with Kes. The Ocampan whom she had come to
adore had come to her once again to talk about Zahir, but this time it was not to ask the Captain’s
advice, but to advise the captain of a decision.

“Kes, I knew the moment he came on board this morning and saw the two of you together again
that
this moment was not far off. I can’t say that I’m surprised. But I guess I’m feeling somewhat
maternalistic regarding your decision. I want only what is best for you. You have been such an
asset
to the ship – and to me; it won’t feel intact without you. But you *are* growing up, and must
make
your life for yourself. That includes making your own decisions and abiding by their outcomes.
We
will miss you; *I* will miss you. What else can I say?”

“Captain, I knew that you would understand,” Kes murmured in her soft tone. “It has not been an
easy decision to make. You, the doctor, Tuvok, the commander, Neelix — you all have done so
much for me, and I feel that I can never repay you enough. Each of us is the sum of all our
relationships, and in that way, I will always be a part of you, and you a part of me.” With these
words, Kes reached over to Janeway, and embraced her as only a daughter could. She then
reached
up, and seeing tenseness in the captain’s face, gently massaged the older woman’s temples. “May
this help relieve you of your heartache,” Kes said as her fingers eased Janeway’s strained
countenance. Slowly, Janeway’s face softened into a relaxed smile.
****************************************

As quickly as he arrived, it seemed that Zahir was ready to leave, taking with him one of
Voyager’s
treasures.

Kathryn Janeway’s tears had been shed in private, so she was able to host the farewell party for
Kes
without worrying about *not* being the captain. There was a party atmosphere, with the finest
food,
drink and atmosphere that a very melancholy Neelix could provide. But the crew knew that there
would be a void left much larger than the physical size of the person leaving. The doctor was
already
complaining about having to teach someone else to assist him.
The party was breaking up. Hugs were being passed around; Neelix was both smiling and crying
at
the same time. “Be careful, my sweeting,” he said through his tears. “You will always have a
special
place in my heart.”

“And you to me, Neelix. Your understanding of all of this is making it much easier for me.
Your
love and concern have led me to know that I can be so much more, and I’ll never forget you for
that.” She gently kissed him on his whiskered cheek. He skittered off to his kitchen before his
tears
became uncontrollable.

“Commander,” Kes said softly as she walked over to Commander Chakotay. She motioned for
him
to lean over, so that she could whisper in his ear. As he bent his head to place his ear next to her
lips, she positioned her hands on his temples, her fingers leaving a soothing tingle. “Don’t be
afraid;
just think about what you both need,” she softly said. She added a gentle kiss on his cheek also,
leaving him with a mystified expression on his face.

She turned to see her friend, Tuvok, who was staring at her with the look of a secret query.
“Tuvok,
your patience and teachings will be with me always. You have given me the ability to observe
and be
non-judgmental. A brother could not have given me more.” Although she knew that he would
not
like it, she gave him a brief hug. “And it would seem, Kes,” he said looking at her sternly, “that
you
have given something to someone, too. I hope it was a wise thing to do.” Her last look at her
mentor, before she slipped away from him, was one of elfin mischief. “So do I,” she winked at
him.
“Stay well, my friend. And keep an eye on the Captain and the Commander.” She gracefully
glided
away into the corridor, to follow her newly chosen path and love.
***************************************

Kes’ departure left a pall among Voyager’s crew. Janeway knew that it was up to her to pull
them all
together. As she walked back to her quarters from the party, she was mulling over in her head
how
she was going to accomplish the task. The emotion of the day had left her quite weary. A good
night’s sleep would bring a solution.

She went to her replicator for a cup of tea. That and a couple chapters from the Klingon
romance
that B’Elanna had lent her should prepare her for a few hours of sleep. She changed into her
nightgown, and climbed into bed with the tea on her bedside table and the novelpadd in her
hands.
Sleep caught up with her quickly. As soon as the computer detected the rhythms of her sleep,
the
lights in the room were extinguished. Only the stars shining through her window gave light to
the
room.

*Kathryn, Kathryn…* She awoke suddenly, hearing her named called. Sitting up quickly,
throwing
off the covers and her sombulant state at the same time, she thought someone was in the room
with
her. “Computer,” she asked, “who is in this room?” “Captain Janeway”, came the reply. “No one
else?” she asked. “No, just Captain Janeway.” *Dreaming…I was dreaming…*, she thought, as
she
once more organized herself for sleep. Slumber came, but in a restless, dreamless form.

**************************************

The following morning, Voyager’s crew went through its paces with perfunctory motions. It
seemed
that everyone was in his or her own reverie of memories of Kes’ place in their lives. But, even
though the thought of her being gone was painful, everyone had seen the glow of love in every
expression, every movement that she and Zahir made. They were happy for the young couple.

Captain Janeway came onto the bridge, smiling her greetings to the crew in their stations.
*Good
morning, Captain; you look a little tired this morning. Long night?*, she heard her first officer
say,
with a usual mischievousness in his comment.

“Did you say something, Commander?” she asked as she settled into her chair. Chakotay had
hurriedly glanced down at his monitor.

“No, Captain; why do you ask?” he queried, looking at her. *I ‘thought’ something to you,
though,*
went through his mind.

Surprised, she glanced at him. *You ‘thought’ something to me?* she inquired with her look.

Their eyes met with a mutual astonishment. “Commander, may I see you in my ready room,”
Janeway tried to say as calmly as possible. She was on her feet and halfway to her office before
she
finished her statement.

“Right away, Captain,” Chakotay said, following close on her footsteps.
The bridge crew watched Janeway’s and Chakotay’s hurried departure. They looked at one
another,
their inquisitive expressions reflecting off of each other. All except the ship’s security officer.
Tuvok
knowingly nodded his head. He alone thought that he understood what had just happened, and
he
knew that his senior officers would be calling him shortly for advice.
***************************************

The doors to Janeway’s bridge office had barely closed when both she and Chakotay started
asking
each other the same questions.

“Chakotay, I can *hear* what you think, is that what is happening?” Janeway was pacing; her
eyes
were anticipatory and frightened at the same time.

“Captain, I was *hearing* you also! It was almost like…” Chakotay started to say, then thought
*when I was with Riley in the collective neural link…*

“…when I was with Riley in the collective neural link…” Janeway repeated back to him. They
both
stared at each other incredulously. What was happening?

“Chakotay, do you think that there is some residual of your Borg linkage and that somehow or
another it has transferred to me also?”

“Kathryn, you were there when the doctor said there was none left. And this is different; it isn’t
stimulated by physical touch, it’s just *there*!” (He actually blushed when he mentioned that the
Borg linkage seemed to be brought about, at least initially, by physical contact.)

Janeway’s pacing had taken on a frenetic cadence. “Well, we can’t go on like this. We’ve got to
find out what is causing this…this…fused mentality!”

Chakotay looked at his somewhat peripatetic captain. *Oh, I don’t know. This ‘could’ prove to be
interesting,* he transported from his mind to hers, as a devilish grin ran across his face.

“Chakotay, stop that! How could we ever get anything done?” *Especially when you look at me
like
that…*

*Like how?*

*You know what I mean…*

*Maybe we have finally found a way…to be professional, but yet have our own lives…*

Janeway stopped in the track she was rapidly embossing into her carpet. “Commander, I ‘order’
you
to contain your thoughts to the immediate business before us. We have got to determine what is
causing this phenomenon.”

The ship’s first officer sat down in the chair next to her desk. “Of course, you’re right, Captain.”
*God, you’re beautiful when you’re upset!*

“CHAKOTAY!” she yelled at him, turning on her heels. “We’ve got to figure out when and how
this
all started.”

Rapidly, her mind replayed the strange episode in her quarters the previous night. “Commander,
what were you doing at 0200 this morning?”

Chakotay looked at her strangely. “I was asleep, in my quarters. Why?”
“Commander, do you talk in your sleep?”

His expression was a mixture of question and embarrassment. “I really don’t know; why?”

“Did you dream last night?” his captain pushed on, dreading what she might hear.

“Well, probably. I don’t always remember…” *But last night, I dreamt about you…*

*Oh, you did? And why was that?*

*Why not? That’s the only place I can really be with you…*
“Commander, I’m not in the mood for these mind games.”

“Because you had looked so beautiful at Kes’ party. And because I was so happy for Kes and
Zahir.
And I was wanting to be with you. I called to you…”

“You said my name…in your dream…in your mind…”

“Yes.”

“I heard it. Your ‘call’ woke me up.”

“And what did you do?”

“I searched my quarters for an intruder. When one was not found, I decided that I had dreamt it,
and
went back to sleep.”

“Captain, it’s as if we have been endowed with telepathic capabilities, but only with each other.
Have you *heard* anyone else’s thoughts?”

“No. And come to think of it, your thoughts are transmitted only…when you are thinking of me.
I
*heard* nothing from you until I came onto the bridge.”

“So, we have determined that this probably started last night, and that the transference involves
thoughts only when we think about each other. Perhaps we should check with the doctor about
any
other similar occurrences among the crew.”

Janeway quickly hailed the EMH in sickbay. “Doctor, how’s business today? Are there any
unusual
maladies being reported?”

The doctor quipped back, “Only in the crew who partook of Mr. Paris’ supplemental punch at
last
night’s social gathering. *You* didn’t drink any of it, did you, Captain?”
Her knowing laugh answered him, “No, doctor; I learned long ago to stay away from any drink
that
has the word ‘buffalo’ or ‘purple’ in its name! Thank you for your information.”

“So,” she said, walking around her desk to Chakotay. “It’s back to us. Who on board would know
anything about telepathic transfers?”

Chakotay thought for a moment. “Well, Tuvok leans towards that talent. And Kes certainly had
those capabilities.”

Their eyes met with a sudden mutual thought. *Kes!* Could something have happened that
allowed
her to pass along her skill in such a way?

Janeway hit her comm badge, and Tuvok received the expected summons. “Mr. Tuvok, could
you
please join the commander and myself?”

**************************************

Tuvok turned the bridge over to Tom Paris, as he headed towards the captain’s ready room.
Tom’s
thoughts were soaring. *Man, something’s going on. What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall
in
there!* He shot a glance at Harry Kim, who looked more bewildered than usual.

***************************************

Voyager’s three senior officers sat around the captain’s desk, as she explained as best she could
what
she and the commander were experiencing. Tuvok’s serious expression passed back and forth
between the captain’s troubled face and Chakotay’s grinning countenance.
The Vulcan considered his words, and then spoke. “Captain, when Kes was leaving the party
last
night, I saw her speak with the commander, and then place her hands on his forehead. Did any
such
incident occur between you and her?”

Janeway thought for a few seconds. “Not at the party; but earlier, she sensed my tenseness and
massaged away a headache that was rapidly approaching. I remember how pleasant her touch
was,
and how peaceful I felt afterwards.”

“Commander?” Tuvok queried.

“Yes, now that I think about Kes’ goodbye…she did say something rather strange to me.” His
dark
eyes looked straight into the blue pools of his captain’s eyes. “She told me not to be afraid, that I
was
to…” His words became thoughts that only Kathryn could hear: *…to think about what we both
need.*

Tuvok, raising an eyebrow, sensed that the sentence was completed telepathically, as he watched
the
captain’s face slowly color and lower itself.

“Kes’ last words to me were also an enigma, although I sensed that she had effected something
with
you, Commander. She asked me…” Tuvok cleared his throat, as if he were embarrassed. “She
asked me to ‘keep an eye on the captain and the commander.’ It appears that she knew that her
transferences would not be without problems and that they would need guidance. Perhaps…if
you are
willing…I could perform a mind meld with each of you in an attempt to rid you of this
unpleasant
intrusion of your privacies.”

Janeway and Chakotay looked at each other. Janeway spoke for both of them. “Mr. Tuvok,
while
this…um…condition is somewhat uncomfortable right now, perhaps Chakotay and I could work
on
some mental exercises that would allow us to close off our thoughts when necessary. I can
definitely
see how this…um…skill could come in handy at times. Consider the possibilities if our
communications were down! Or, if we became separated without comm badges.”
“Yes, Captain, I can see your logic in this problem. You correctly have looked for the best
outcome
given an troublesome situation; I commend you on your approach. Let me think about a ritual
that
would allow you to create a privacy barrier. I will share any idea as it comes to me. Are you
certain
that you will be comfortable for the time being? Perhaps the doctor could give you each a mild
sedative that would alleviate the current state.”

*No,* the two affected officers thought to each other. *Let’s explore this for a while.*

“No, Mr. Tuvok, I think we’ll manage for the time being. Thank you for your consideration and
suggestions,” said the captain as she walked with the Vulcan to the door leading back to the
bridge.

*What now?* Chakotay passed along before she turned back to him.
*We learn to control ourselves,* the captain shot back at him, with the devil himself in her Irish
eyes.

Chakotay walked towards her, his arms close at his sides, his mouth closed in a grin that went
from
dimple to dimple. *Why, Kathryn? For ‘now’, I can do this to you, and we aren’t breaking
protocol –
– I’m now taking you in my arms. Your body is next to mine; no, your body is becoming
mine…can
you feel it, Kathryn?*

The usually proper Starfleet captain closed her eyes with a deep sigh. *Yes; I can feel and see
everything. Can you feel this?* She transferred her image of his head bending down to her
upturned
face, of his mouth covering hers, of her mouth opening to welcome his desire.

She opened her eyes, and saw her commander, standing five feet away from her, with his eyes
closed, lost in the world they had just created. *Chakotay…*
He slowly opened his eyes, glazed with the look of newly found rapture. *This is powerful…we
‘do’
have to learn to control it.*

Janeway smiled. “And we had better be careful ‘where’ we use it, too…not among mixed
company!”
she said, as her eyes traced his form from his face to a lower part of his anatomy. “Perhaps we
better wait a few more minutes before returning to the bridge.” Her voice barely covered a deep
chuckle.

Chakotay’s expression was one of chagrin. *Yes; control ‘is’ important,* he thought back to her.

*************************************

When Tuvok returned to the bridge, he said nothing. Tom had wanted to ask what had happened,
but
he knew better than to prod the security chief for details.
Ten minutes later, the two senior officers returned to the bridge. Tom glanced at them as they
briskly walked to their stations. He couldn’t put his finger on it, because they appeared perfectly
normal, but there was something in the way they looked at each other…
*************************************

Throughout the day, Janeway and Chakotay were constantly befuddled with muddled mind
messages.

As the captain was trying to calculate replicator allotments with Neelix, her thoughts were
interrupted
by images that were best reserved for off duty hours. She shot back a sharp reprimand to its
originator. She had closed her eyes, and the expressions on her face ran from surprise to shock
to
determination. Neelix looked at her in horror. “Captain, are you all right? Should I summon the
doctor? Are you in pain?”

“No. Neelix,” she smiled back at him. “Just a slight twinge of …um…a headache. I’m fine.
Now,
where were we?”

Janeway herself found out how frequently *her* thoughts were drawn to her first officer. On the
bridge, he got up to check some figures with Harry Kim at the Ops station. She subconsciously
followed him with her eyes, not realizing that her vision was being turned into thoughts.
*Chakotay,
do you know how good you look from the rear?*

*Why, Captain; I didn’t know you noticed!* he transmitted back with a quick wink over his
shoulder.
Janeway quickly looked at the expanse of the bridge’s wide window, as her face turned several
shades
pinker.

*******************************************

In the early evening, both the captain and commander were contacted by Tuvok. He had a
suggestion
for their dilemma, he said.

The three officers met once more in Janeway’s ready room. The tall slim man looked at his two
senior officers who appeared quite weary from all the mental activity of the day.

“Captain, Commander…I have been searching for references as to other occurrences of this
nature.
Based on the histories my own people, the Betazoids and some other telepathic cultures willing
to
share their knowledge, it seems that strict concentration with an accompanying mantra could
help
form a self-induced privacy curtain. This should be a start for you in learning how to handle
your…new-found abilities. I shall be willing to coach you in the necessary techniques. Of
course,
any training should be done with each of you individually, to make it a personal technique.”

*What do you think?* was transferred between the man and woman sitting across from the
Vulcan.
The captain spoke first.

“Mr. Tuvok, we welcome your suggestion and offer. Shall we begin now?” She looked across to
Chakotay. “I would like to be the first ‘guinea pig’; I’m sure that ‘you’ will know if it is working
soon enough.”

*I’m sure*, the dusky man smiled back at her as he rose to leave. *Let me know if you ‘need’
me.*

*************************************************

As the days passed, there seemed to be much progress in using the mind control methods in
which
Tuvok was tutoring Janeway and Chakotay. “Keeping our minds on business” had taken on a
whole
new meaning to Voyager’s two senior officers! However, it had given a dimension to their
private
lives that they had never believed possible in the close atmosphere of the small starship.

**************************************************

*Chakotay…*

*I’m here…*

*What are you doing?*

*I ‘was’ reading. Do you have something else…er…’in mind?*
*What do you think?* Kathryn answered, as vivid images flashed through the closed doors and
walls
separating their quarters.

Chakotay closed his eyes. *What are you wearing?*

*A towel. I just got out of the tub.*

*Can you drop it? I want to see you.*

*I’m dropping it. What do you see?*

*A beautiful alabaster temple, topped with a glorious auburn cascade, and I’ve come to worship
there…*

*Are you kneeling?*

*Of course. How could I do otherwise?*

*And what sort of offering are you making?*

*I’m approaching an opening of the temple. It is warm and is inviting me to taste of it…I am
kissing
it…it is becoming warmer…and moister…mmmm…*

*Mmmmm…yes, the doors are opening…I can feel them…oohhh… here, I’ll help them open
further…I can sense that your offering is…pushing itself inside further…further…*

*Let my fingers help open the doors…ohhh, yes; now my offering can taste the temple
opening…fragrant wine is starting to flow from the doors…it’s sacred wine, so I must drink it
all…*

*The temple is losing its support, and must lay down.*

*My adoration is following the temple, for I am now caught in obedience to its wishes.*

*The temple has fallen onto its back. But it’s doors are wide open, awaiting the gift to follow.*

*My gift must be unwrapped…ugnh…oh, yes…hmmmh…it is prepared and now waiting to enter
the
temple.*

*Ooohhh…the temple has been through its preparation rites…and is…unnnghgg…awaiting your
offering…mmmmm…*

*Hnghmmmm…my offering grows larger as I approach. It will be a tight squeeze through the
doors…*

*Enter slowly, then…unghmm…perhaps some movement back and forth will allow for a better
entry…yes, yes; that’s it…*

*Back and forth…mmmm…back and forth…there is friction along the temple
walls…mmmmm…the
walls feel good…they are grasping the offering…ohhhh…throbbing with delight…mmmm…*

*Unnnngh…the temple wants more of the offering…its tightness against the walls is
starting…mmmm…to…cause…the…
temple…to…tremble…like…a…rising…earthquake…ohhhh, ooooohhhh!*

*Unngghh…the offering needs to get in…mmmmm…it’s pushing harder and harder…it feels the
quivers from the walls… ohhhh…let the walls…hold on tighter…don’t let the offering escape…yes,
yes, that’s it…*

*Ohhhhhh…the walls are trembling…the quake is almost here…hold up the walls…harder,
harder…ugnnhhh…*

*Ugnnghh…the offering is ready…yes, now…ohhhh, yesss… yessss…oh,Kathryn…ahhhhhhhhh!*

*Agghh…The walls are collapsing…mmmmm, yes,yes,yes…mmmmm… oh, Chakotay…
Chakot…Cha…yes!*

*******************************************

Pulses of satiated sighs broadcast throughout the subspace wavelengths over tens of lightyears.
Somewhere in the deep space of the Delta Quadrant, as she smiled with her own fulfilled
satisfaction,
Kes *knew* that her parting gifts had been accepted, and were now being shared.

*The best gifts are those that can be shared with others.* Kes was happy that her gifts to the
captain
and the commander would be appreciated to the fullest, and that they would make the long trip
back
to the Alpha Quadrant would be just a little bit more pleasant.
******************** There is good in every gift given in love **********************

Posted in Voyager | Tagged , | Leave a comment

One is the Loneliest Number

Delta Story
cmwende@compuserve.com

ONE IS THE LONELIEST NUMBER PG-13

Summary: Janeway’s fear of intimacy is revealed a Chakotay gently peels away the concealing
layers of self-control and guilt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was sorry – that is what he told her when he came to her quarters at 2230 to give her his
written report about the incident with the reactivation of the dead Borg cube. Now Kathryn
Janeway had *four* reports in front of her that must be read before tomorrow morning’s
senior staff meeting at 0700. There were separate descriptions of the incident from Lt.
Torres, Lt. Tuvok, the Doctor, and Commander Chakotay. The four narratives included two
versions of what had happened in the shuttle with B’Elanna and Chakotay on the way back to
Voyager from the planet within the Nekrid Expanse; two versions of the activities within the
disabled Borg cube; two versions of the Commander’s physical and mental conditions; and
one that contained all of these themes. One person was common to all four reports:
Commander Chakotay.

He was sorry – that is what he told her in sickbay after his return from the Borg cube and the
reconnection of the collective on the unnamed planet. And Janeway knew that he would
never have mutinied against Voyager and her people. In the two and half years since the
fateful merger of the Maquis and Starfleet crews, they had learned to live and work as one,
and no one showed his loyalty to the ship and crew better than Chakotay. Even he and Tom
Paris were on fairly good terms now, and his relationship with Tuvok (although it would
never be considered a close one) was *almost* cordial. And he, like herself, was devastated
that yet another crewman had been lost on the mission. Ensign Kaplan had become quite
experienced and was a mainstay in operations when she died in the initial attack on the ex-
collectives’ world.

He was sorry. Not a very military expression, thought Janeway. Court martials would
never accept such a statement as explanation for such a traitorous act. And if they had been
in the Alpha Quadrant, she knew that *both* he and she would be hauled before a tribunal
board — at the very least — to explain the whole episode. But they weren’t in the Alpha
Quadrant, and as hard as she tried to run the ship by Starfleet protocol, she knew that where
they were, the rules had to be made up as they went along.
He was sorry. *The lady doth protest too much*, Kathryn recalled from the ancient play,
“Hamlet”. For what was it that Chakotay was having to atone himself? The doctor had
explained that the increased neuropeptide levels inflicted by the neural link with the aborted
Borg collective had caused the Commander no alternative but to act out their desires.
Chakotay’s report even stated that he could hardly remember anything from the moment
B’Elanna spoke to him on the shuttle to his recovering in sickbay. There was no need for
his repeated apologies to her. Come to think of it, *all* of the apologies had been focused
towards her.

******************************

Earlier, Kathryn had shed her uniform in favor of a soft,deep green caftan Neelix had
bartered for several months ago. She did not know what the material was that it was
constructed from, but the texture and color always seemed to relax her, reminding her of
lying underneath a tree on a warm summer’s day. Now she sat on the sofa, her feet propped
up on a low table in front of it, She might as well be comfortable for the next couple of
hours, as she waded through the four padds.

All of the reports bore out the facts that the Borg collective truly had been the cause of
Chakotay’s actions. Although both Tuvok and B’Elanna had incurred phaser injuries at their
Commander’s hands, they had seen enough Delta Quadrant anomalies and aberrations to
know that incidents like these happened. Thanks to the doctor’s expertise and the sickbay
technology, neither they nor Chakotay seemed to have any residual after effects. Janeway
placed her imprint on the padds from Tuvok, B’Elanna, and the Doctor. But she found
herself rereading Chakotay’s account. And then again. *I am sorry*, he had stated four times
in his report. The phrase also comprised the last three words in the documentation.

The green caftan all of a sudden no longer felt comforting. It – or something – was rubbing
her the wrong way. Her shoulders and back were stiff; she had not moved that much in more
than two hours. The reports explained things, but she felt as if there was some unresolved
question in her mind…*I am sorry*…

She slowly placed her thumbprint next to the words.

******************************

Neelix arrived for the daily senior staff meeting a few days later, announcing that he had
developed a *new* type of coffee. He had discovered that by roasting the berries of the
Xenorlian afreel bush, he could produce a beverage that could be made *fresh*, and that
tasted very much like the favored earth drink. And, being brewed fresh, the pre-comsuption
aroma stimulated the spirit as much as the beverage did the body. Why, he himself had tried
it yesterday, and it seemed to lift his spirits immediately!
“I know all of you are going to like it,” he babbled merrily. “That’s why I have brought in
several pots.” With this, he placed a tray laden with steaming pots and a cacophony of mugs
in the middle of the table.

By the time Janeway arrived at the briefing room, there was a lively discussion going on
about the drink’s merits and dismerits. When the Captain entered, there was a unanimous
agreement to let her make the final ruling. Everyone knew that Captain Janeway’s one
addiction was to her caffeine brew. Only Tuvok, who did not share the rest of the crew’s
affinity for the beverage, was not jovially offering the Captain a swallow of the liquid.

“Folks, we have work to do,” chuckled their leader after having had enough sips to equal a
cup. “Please be seated.”

The senior crew managed to control themselves enough to focus on the matters at hand.

The Captain opened the morning’s discussion. “B’Elanna has informed me that there is a
problem with the bioneural circuitry on Deck 7. Since we have had problems with the gel
packs being affected before, I think that we should set up a schedule to check them more
frequently. B’Elanna, would you like to tell us your plans?”
“Well, Captain, in conferring with the doctor, we came up with this analogy. Because of the
past bacterial infection of the gel packs, substances like scar tissue have built up within the
neurons. While we can use a thin laser beam to clear them out, we would risk completely
damaging the circuitry in the affected area. What we would like to do is try to use an
enzyme flush at regular intervals in an attempt to dissolve the build-up. It would have be
gradual, and during that time there might be some interruptions in the areas that have a high
concentration of circuitry. The biggest problem is that we must have someone monitoring the
cleansing constantly, around the clock. However, I believe the entire bioneural system could
be cleaned out in two or three weeks.”

“Then let’s do it,” Janeway responded. “We are now entering an area in this quadrant where
even Mr. Neelix has very little knowledge. I want all systems working at their highest
capability. Everyone is to give Lt. Torres any help when requested. Commander, you and I
can get together to work up duty rosters to provide monitoring coverage.”
The Captain leaned back in her chair and surveyed her staff. Everyone seemed to be the
most relaxed that she had seen them in quite a while. “Is there anything else pressing this
morning?” she inquired. Negative responses echoed from around the table, with the various
voices tumbling all over each other, mixed with differing levels of giggles and laughter.
“Dismissed, then,” the Captain chortled herself. “Oh, Commander, please join me in my
ready room in 15 minutes so that we can start on the monitoring rosters.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Commander Chakotay nodded, as he left to check over the bridge before
joining the captain.

Janeway started to follow him, in making the short trip across the bridge to her ready room.
She stopped and turned, picking up one of the pots that still contained some of the Xenorlian
“coffee”. *Mustn’t waste anything,* she smiled to herself, as she carried it with her to her
ready room.

******************************

Chakotay was prompt in reporting to Janeway for their appointment.
“Please, Commander, have a seat,” Janeway smiled at him with a wide sweep of her hand.
“Did you have any of this *marvelous* coffee? I don’t know if I ever tasted better even
back on Earth,” she said, as she was draining the mug in front of her. “There’s just enough
left in this pot for each of us to have another cup,” she continued as she rose to find another
mug for her first officer.

“I don’t mind if I do have some more,” he stated with a grin. She walked over to the
credenza, where she neatly concealed supplies. She stooped to slide open the panels of the
long cabinet. “Ah, here’s one that’s just right for you,” she said as she rose with a large
earthen colored mug.

As she took it back over to her desk, where the pot and her mug sat, Chakotay noticed that
there was something different in the way she walked. He could not think exactly what it was,
but it was like she was…well, swaying her hips! Not exactly like the Captain’s walk!

She poured two cups of the warm beverage, and they started consulting their padds on
possible duty assignments for the bioneural monitoring. Progress was made quickly, and
they had worked out a possible rotation that would require each person to commit themselves
to only four hours a week on the project. Just as quickly, they had finished drinking the
contents of the coffee pot.

“Do we really want to have Tom and B’Elanna working together on the Delta shift?”
Janeway said with a giggle. “They *have* been getting awfully friendly lately. I don’t
know if they would be giving their full concentration to monitoring enzyme levels;
*hormone* levels, maybe….”

“Hmmm, now that does sound interesting,” quipped Chakotay. “Maybe they need some
chaperones!”

Both Janeway and the her commander were feeling very relaxed. *We’re actually laughing
and making jokes about duty rosters*, she thought, as she put her feet up on the top of her
desk. She gazed across the desk at her first officer, who wore one of his grins that could
disarm *any* woman in *any* galaxy. Following her informal lead, he had draped his leg
over the side of his chair.

*I know what is said about a man in a uniform,* she thought, *but I wouldn’t mind seeing
Chakotay ‘out’ of his!* (*Oh, where had ‘that’ come from?* she wondered.)
“Commander, would you come over here so we can see if our assignment lists match?” Her
eyes danced with her inquiry.

Chakotay slowly, almost sensuously, disengaged his body from around his chair. He walked
around behind her, and reached over her shoulders with his arms, encircling her as his hands
held either side of his padd which was in front of her. “Do they match?” he whispered in
her ear.

She turned her face up to peer into the dusky one that was looking down at her. “I don’t
know, Commander. Perhaps we should go over the sofa where we can compare them
better.”

As she slid her chair back and got up, he grabbed her shoulders and turned her around.
Without any forewarning, he leaned down and kissed her. She quickly returned the favor.
Padds were dropped; the short distance between desk and sofa was covered quickly. All the
while, they remained locked within their embrace.

Voyager’s first officer for once was positioned over its Captain, as they eased into a prone
position on the wide surface of the sofa. Their mouths voraciously started exploring the
strange new worlds of each other.

Suddenly, Janeway’s comm badge chirped. “Captain, this is Neelix. I have some disturbing
news for you. Please do not be too angry with me.”

Janeway reluctantly acknowledged her chef/ambassador/morale officer. “What is it, Mr.
Neelix?”

“Well, it seems that the Xenorlian plant beans that I used in making the coffee this morning
release a substance when they are roasted, and this substance, um, changes peoples moods.
A little bit seems to make people a little jovial, but more than a cup would — well, sort of
release inhibitions in some folks. I’ve thrown away the remains of this morning’s drink, but
I seem to be missing one pot. Do you know anything about it?”
Janeway and Chakotay looked at each other, in their most non-professional positions, and
laughed. “Yes, Neelix; I know where it is. I will have it returned to you shortly. And,
please. No more experimenting with the crew!”

“I won’t, Captain. I hope that this hasn’t done any damage,” Neelix said remorsefully.

“Nothing that can’t be taken care of,” Janeway said as she signed off.
“Well, Commander,” she sighed as she broke from their position. “I guess we *now* know
what got into us. We had better get back to work.”

They slowly got up from the couch. He once again pulled her into his arms. “Kathryn,
Neelix’s coffee might have accentuated our emotions, but I think that something has surfaced
today that we both know has been there for a long time.” He leaned down one last time and
gently kissed her before quickly exiting to the bridge.

Kathryn Janeway smoothed her uniform and hair before returning to her desk, her mind
thinking many thoughts, none of them dealing with the problems of Voyager.
******************************

Janeway and Chakotay were both embarrassed by their morning breech of protocol. Although
they spoke and responded verbally to each other in their normal way throughout the rest of
their shift, they never allowed their eyes to meet. The physical distance they kept between
themselves was a little more than usual. Yet, both of them knew that something *had*
happened, not just because of Neelix’s experiment having gone awry.
******************************

Janeway was in her quarters. It was late. She was trying to get her mind off of the scene
which had occurred that morning in her ready room. She had tried reading and even had
pulled out her painting supplies. But somehow she knew that she had to put a stop to what
had started earlier. She could not let this situation proceed any further.
She exited her quarters, walked the 10 meters down the hall, and buzzed at Chakotay’s door.

The former Maquis captain answered his door, unencumbered by his Starfleet uniform,
dressed in old pants and a pullover. As the door panels opened, Janeway felt a catch in her
breath as she thought *this is him out of uniform, and yes, I ‘do’ like it!* But she quickly
brought her mind back to the task she had to perform.

“Captain, please come in,” Chakotay smiled at her. *No, no; don’t do that!* she thought.

“No, what I have to say I want to say right here.” She swallowed and could feel her
heartbeat in her throat. “Chakotay, what happened this morning was not right. I know that
we can’t forget it, but we must. We both know that we overstepped our boundaries with our
actions, and now we must find our way back within the perimeters of our positions. Please,
don’t pursue this line of action any further. We dare not jeopardize our responsibilities to
the ship and the crew.”

“Kathryn, we’ve done nothing wrong. If anything, I think now *is* the right time to
acknowledge these feelings to ourselves *and* to the crew. We all have to accept that these
past three years together, in such a close atmosphere, will bring about even closer
relationships. Tom and B’Elanna have certainly come to that conclusion, and…”

She firmly shook her head and cut him off with her hand. “No, *we* are different. It
stops, here and now. That’s the captain’s order.” And she turned and quickly went back to
the safety of her quarters.

*******************************

For the next week, Janeway went out of her way to stay out of sight and sound of her first
officer.

If the crew noticed that anything was amiss, they did not mention it. There was work to be
done, and they knew their captain could become almost reclusive at times when she was
working on a difficult problem. But their usually sociable first officer had become sullen.
He even let Tom Paris’ barbed witticisms pass by without comment. Hopefully, they
thought, this wasn’t some dire forewarning about their journey that the two senior officers
were not sharing with the crew…

*******************************

One of the ways that Janeway had been able to avoid contact with Chakotay was by rotating
their bridge shifts. The bioneural monitorings seemed to demanding more manpower than
she and B’Elanna had first estimated. She was alternating hers and the Commander’s shifts,
so that one of them would be on the bridge most of the time. Chakotay had just finished a
non-eventful but tiring overnight shift, and was exiting the turbolift to go to his quarters. The
doors of the lift opened to Captain Janeway, who was on her way to her shift on the bridge.

“Captain”; “Commander”. Their greetings were perfunctory, precise, professional.
Chakotay exited, but he abruptly turned and reentered the turbolift. As the doors swiftly
closed, he turned to Janeway.

“Captain, I know that you have regrets about what happened last week. Believe me, I
*know* we were both out of line. However, your actions since then have been out of line,
too. We are both mature, professional adults. We can handle this situation; we have before,
and we can again. But I still sense an underlying tension in you.”
She turned to look at him. Her stance was one of pure control, but her eyes, which she
briefly allowed to look into his, contained a look of fear and discomposure. “Commander,
my decision needs no further explanations. You are *not* to pry any…”
Suddenly, the turbolift jerked to a stop. The digital readout put them somewhere between
decks 3 and 4. Janeway immediately hit her comm badge. “Janeway to Engineering. I’m
on turbolift 1 and it has stopped; what’s the problem?”

A very agitated Lt. Torres answered her. “Captain, the bioneural circuit flushing has affected
the turbolift’s operation. We’ve got a tremendous scar tissue block in that area that seems to
have reacted with the proteinase solution we’re using. We should have it cleared up in about
20 minutes. But I’m afraid you’re stuck in the lift for now. We dare not try to get you out
because of the fluids we’re using. And the transporter won’t be able to be used, either,
because of molecular interference. I’m terribly sorry for the delay. Hope you have some
good reading material with you! I’ll let you know as soon as we can proceed.”

“All right, B’Elanna,” came the sighed response. “I guess we’ll survive.”
*We?* thought B’Elanna. *Has the Captain decided to speak in royal personage?* But it
was a fleeting thought, as she turned her mind back to the problem at hand.
Janeway turned her still-tense face to her second in command. She knew that the next few
minutes could make or break their fragile relationship. But she just could not seem to
initiate the discussion. She turned away quickly, concentrating on the digital readout panel
on the side of the enclosement.

Chakotay, with his arcane sense of intuition, gently put his hand on her shoulder. “Kathryn,
we *do* need to talk, and this might be the most private place we have for awhile. I know
that our actions the other day seemed strange, but in a way, they were the most natural thing
that could happen. So what if Neelix’s coffee allowed our inhibitions to surface…we cannot
deny that we do have feelings for each other that go beyond the professional relationship. But
we can work within guidelines that we ourselves know and accept. What is so terrible
about…having these feelings?”

Janeway could feel every muscle, every nerve tense up with his question. She turned to him,
and with ice in every word, she said, “Because *someone* needs to control the situation!
And that is my duty, as the captain!” Her words might have been cold, but she did not reject
his touch.

“I think you may have addressed the very core of this breech, Kathryn — your need to
control.”

She whirled around, and this time *did* disengage his hand. “My *need*..” she started to
launch into him.

He gently laid two fingers over her lips, with her words burning into his hand. “Kathryn
Janeway, you are going to be quiet, and listen to me for a minute, for your own good; no,
for the good of the ship, for all of us. For a minute, let’s relieve ourselves of our rank, and
just be two people trying to understand one another.”

The tone in Chakotay’s voice caught Janeway by surprise. She *should* reprimand him,
maybe even put him on report for speaking to her in such a way. But, in spite of the
forcefulness of his statement, there was comforting concern underlying it. Still, she
physically assumed a guarded position for whatever was coming – she leaned against the wall
of the lift, with her arms tightly crossed over her black and red uniform.
“All right, Commander; I’ll let you have your say. But, that doesn’t mean that I’ll agree.”

“So you’re determined to control this conversation, also,” he said seriously. But his face
gradually gave way to one of his bewitching smiles. “You know, even as a child it seemed
that you were involved in controlling activities. You played tennis — not a team sport, but
one in which you could impose control on yourself, with its rules and regulations on the
individual. Then there was ballet — beautiful, technical, precise. But again, it was a dance
form which abounded with structured, disciplined movement. And there was your beloved
mathematics; why, even its *errors* have defined parameters!”
Kathryn suddenly became conscious of her defensive body language position, and dropped
her arms to her sides. Her arms and palms were now pressed again the hull of the lift. Her
eyes were exploring every square inch of the walls. Anything but to look into his face, his
eyes. She felt her jaws tighten.

“Kathryn, sometimes it seems that you can see an array 20 light years away, but you cannot
see what is going on under your own feet. Letting go of control does *not* mean any less
discipline in your life; it merely means expanding the boundaries. And that’s where new
ideas come from! Why paint with only red and blue and yellow, when you can mix them
together in infinite ways to get an infinite spectrum of colors? There are still many different
colors to be discovered. Just once, try mixing some of those new colors. Then, just then —
you might discover some of the beauty within yourself.”

He moved close to her, and put his hands on her shoulders. Janeway’s eyes stopped their frantic
exploration and slowly were drawn into his.

“Let it go, Kathryn. Look for new colors; allow your boundaries to expand. Let new
feelings and thoughts enter your life. Release some of that control.” His face came closer
and closer to hers. His breath and his words were warm and comforting, even in his
admonishment.

“Let go, and trust me. You trust me with your ship. Now, trust me with your heart.” And,
as if to allow her a release for that control, he sealed her lips with his.
This time, she did not pull away, but let her arms cross his and encircle his broad shoulders.
They pulled each other closer, seeming to form a state of osmosis, his calmness and her
tension merging to create a new substance of being.

Suddenly, the turbolift started moving, just as B’Elanna’s voice came over the comm link.
“It’s working, Captain. Sorry for the delay!”

They broke their embrace before they reached the bridge. Janeway quietly said, “Chakotay,
we have to talk. Get some sleep. Maybe we could meet for dinner.”
“Your place or mine?”, he winked at her just before the doors opened.
“We’ll decide that later,” she replied with a soft smile, as the bridge crew cast a surprised
look at the commander, who earlier had left for his quarters. The doors of the lift closed on
the image of his beaming face.

Their captain assumed her position. “Good morning, everyone. And it *is* a good
morning, isn’t it?” Her mood was the brightest that any of the crew had seen in days.
Maybe things weren’t so bad in the Delta Quadrant after all…
********************************

Soft lights from the galaxy outside cast an iridescent glow through the panoramic window in
Kathryn Janeway’s quarters. Its incandescence gently bathed two people now lost in their
own universe. Their two forms seemed to be one, as they nestled in each others arms on the
sofa.

“You hardly ate anything,” Chakotay said, while exploring the back of Kathryn’s neck. She
shivered, as his lips found an area that immediately sent signals to the rest of her body.

“Why bother with food, when I have you?” she responded. Indeed, she wondered if she
would ever have to bother with food again; just think of the replicator rations she could save!

Chakotay sighed deeply, with a contentment that he had never known. How could this
woman who appeared to be made of steel be as soft and delicious as Kathryn was now? As
*his* Kathryn was now?

As if she were reading his mind, Kathryn gave him her hungry lips. The rest of her body
followed.

*******************************

An enlivened spirit was felt throughout Voyager over the next few weeks. The crew viewed
the new relationship between their two most senior officers with smiles and grins of
approval, although nothing was ever said out loud — at least, not in front of the captain and
commander! Even Tuvok almost commented upon the change in their demeanors one
morning at staff meeting.

Chakotay and Kathryn were seen together frequently in their off hours — the mess hall; the
holodeck resort; even monitoring the bioneural repairs together during one delta shift. But it
was also noticed that they *weren’t* being seen anywhere, either together or alone. They
often disappeared or reappeared together from behind the closed doors of their quarters, at
odd hours during the daily cycle.

On the bridge, in meetings, checking the different departments on the ship — they were all
spit and polish; no lapses in protocol here! But the changes were noted, and almost all who
noticed conceded that *it was about time!*

******************************

Tom Paris and Chakotay exited the holodeck, laughing over each other’s foibles in their
hoverball game. Neither had played for a while, and it was quite evident. The two officers
had been unmerciful with each other in joking about their *extracurricular activities* getting
in the way of their holodeck exercise times together.

“Tom, you go on. I’ve got to stop off in engineering to check with B’Elanna about a
possible leak in the warp core.”

“You think I’m going to let you go to engineering without *me*? the younger man quipped.
“I use any excuse to go there.”

One short turbolift ride later, the two very sweaty men entered the main room of
engineering. B’Elanna shouted her greetings, but was engaged in a discussion with one of
her staff. Chakotay moved over to the central core, examining the structure for the problem
area. He thought that he noticed a small chink in the large tube, and leaned in close to look
at it.

Without warning, suddenly the small fissure gave way and spewed warp plasma all over the
man standing in its path. Tom and B’Elanna immediately yelled for the emergency field to
be put into place. As quickly as the incident happened, the plasma was contained, but not
before Chakotay had been engulfed in the toxic substance.

“Torres to sickbay,” B’Elanna yelled into her comm. “Emergency transport from
engineering, *now*!”

Chakotay’s still form disappeared on its transport to sickbay.
*******************************

The doctor was already into assessing the damage done to the first officer when Janeway
rushed into the medical area. She was holding back tears with difficulty, but she was *not*
going to let her crew see her fall apart just because this was Chakotay. No, they had
promised each other that much: no tears if something happened.
But that promise had been made earlier; now was now.

She resisted the overpowering urge to run to his injured body and cradle him in her arms.
Instead, standing as erect as she could, she asked, “Status, doctor?”
“He seems to be burned badly in the chest and neck areas, but I think we can repair the
damage. However, internally, his lungs were burned also. The problem is infection or
pneumonia. I’ll treat him prophylactically to ward off infection, but we will have to wait
and see. Captain, you can’t do anyone much good here right now. Why don’t you go to
your quarters?”

“What good would my quarters be?” she pitifully asked the hologram figure. “I’ve got to be
here when he wakes up.”

“Captain, that could be several hours from now. Besides, I will be sedating him heavily for
awhile, until the burned tissue has regenerated.” But he saw the determination in Kathryn
Janeway’s eyes, and knew that she would not be denied.

“All right. You may stay. But at least go into my office, where you can be more
comfortable.”

Janeway all of a sudden seemed bone weary. Sitting down *would* probably be better. She
agreed, and went over to the doctor’s cubicle.

******************************

The next thing Janeway knew, she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Captain, the doctor’s
finished now,” Kes’ melodic voice told her. Janeway was on her feet immediately, only to
quickly reassume a seated position on the stool next to the biobed where Chakotay was still
asleep. She looked on his face, so still, so pale for him. She placed her hand underneath his
nose; yes, he *was* breathing. The tears started before she realized it, and a horrific
memory surfaced in her mind. “No! Not again!” she yelled out. “I’m *not* going to let this
happen again!”

Kes came running over to her, trying to calm her. “Captain, he’s fine. He’s just sleeping;
there’s nothing to worry about. You need some sleep, now. This entire incident has been
just as much a strain on you as it has been on him. Let me give you something to help you
sleep. Tomorrow, he’ll be as good as ever.”

Suddenly feeling very tired and drained, Janeway allowed her young friend to give her a
sleep inducer, making the Ocampan promise that she would be notified as soon as there was
a change in their patient. With that pledge made, she went to her quarters.

*******************************

Janeway’s sleep was a troubled one. Twisted visions kept flying at her, of people long gone.
People who were gone because of *her*. She was the constant factor in all of the equations
of their lives…and deaths. People who would probably still be alive if she had not been
entwined in their journeys. She awoke abruptly, drenched in perspiration. Her bedsheets
were thoroughly tangled around her aching body.

It was only 0530, but she quickly showered, dressed and went to sickbay. The doctor
greeted her, and said that Chakotay was well on his way to recovery; in fact, he would
probably be releasing him that afternoon, fit for duty whenever he felt like it. He led
Janeway over to Chakotay’s sombulant form.

She leaned over him and gazed at him for several long minutes. Finally, with trembling
fingers, she lovingly caressed the sculptured features of his face and the smoky lines of his
tattoo. She softly whispered, “I don’t want to lose you. What I have to do, please
understand.” She closed the remaining space between their faces and softly kissed him. She
turned back to the doctor with her best Starfleet presence.
“Doctor, please let him know that I was here. And notify me when he’s released.”

“Of course, Captain,” replied the doctor, with no outward response to the scene he had just
witnessed.

*******************************

Early in the evening, the comm monitor in Janeway’s quarters chirped on. She went to the
screen and saw Kes’s smiling face. Kes informed her that the Commander had been released,
and was coming to report to her. Janeway thanked her and switched off the monitor. Her
body felt like *she* had been hit by the plasma stream, not him. Her hands were shaking,
cold – no, hot! they were perspiring! Her mouth was dry, but her eyes were full of moisture.
But she knew what had to be done. She absolutely, positively had to break off their personal
relationship. If she didn’t, she would lose him for everyone — the entire ship, Starfleet and
Maquis alike.

The chimes at her door sounded. She walked over to the panels before she allowed them to
open. He was not going to come over the threshold. She would end it before that happened.
She *was* going to end it.

“Come”, she said simply.

The doors slid open, framing the face and body of her intense first officer. “Kathryn,” he
murmured softly, as he took a silent step towards her.

She held raised her arms out in front of her body, towards him, but in a defensive pose with
her palms out. “No,” she said, “please, don’t. Commander, I’m very happy — for the ship
– that you are all right. But, Chakotay, it is *for* the good of the ship that I can’t let you
in. Ever. It can’t *be* between us; I know that now. Yesterday’s accident proved it.”

“Whatever for?” he asked, confused and panicked. *Where had all of this come from?* he
thought. The last thing he remembered about her was that she was beside him in sickbay,
and she had touched him and kissed him. *Why this sudden brick wall now?*
“Because you spent time with me and not the ship’s business while I was unconscious?
Because you were concerned? Kathryn, I have seen you spend the same amount of time and
concern with *other* crew members who were injured or sick. It’s not wrong to *care*
about people! And it isn’t that the crew doesn’t know about our close relationship. They
do, and *they* care about *us*. They have accepted us on all of our levels, just as we must
allow ourselves to do.”

As he spoke, he reached for her hands, and enclosed each in one of his. He gently lowered
her arms.

“Something has happened for you to retreat so quickly and completely. What is it, Kathryn?
*Why* can’t you let me beyond that barricade that you insist on building?”
Kathryn’s strength was rapidly disappearing. She walked over to her sofa, sat down, and
assumed the closest position she could to a fetal position while sitting up. Every limb was
curled inwards towards her body; she appeared very small and fragile. Chakotay followed
her and sat down next to her. Her words came out, barely audible.
“How can I let my defenses down? Whenever I do, with *anyone*, I lose them! Justin and I
had our shields up for such a long time, and just when we began to realize that we could
dare to love each other, he… and daddy…and, and …”

Tears that she thought she had willed to stop forever 20 years ago suddenly welled forth.
The pain of their deaths which had been armored within layers of self-inflicted guilt poured
through the breech that had just been opened.

“It’s as if I killed them myself, by loving them so much! Then, with Mark…I thought that
since I had known him for such a long time as a friend, that there was a buffer against any
damage that I could wreak. Surely, a mature love that had grown from childhood would be
different. But, what have I done to him now? Destroyed his gentle gift of waiting so long
until I accepted his love, only to disappear from his life once more, this time probably never
for us to see each other again. Don’t you understand, Chakotay? I am *poison* to any man
I allow myself to love. And I *will not* let that happen to you! You are my friend, my
counselor, my comrade in this odyssey. If I ever *loved* you, in the way you want it, I
would be your ruination.

“We both know that our obligations to our crew – and to Starfleet – come before any personal
promises to each other. Everyday, as your captain, I have to run the risk of ordering you
into situations from which you might not return. I *must* keep my emotional barriers up; I
refuse to allow our relationship to become my albatross if something ever happened to you.
And if something *did* happen to you because of one of my orders, I could never…” Her
words were drowned in a soul wrenching sigh. She took a long, deep breath, as if
assimilating the energy to continue.

“Months ago, you tried to apologize to me for something that happened between you and
Riley Frazier. Don’t tell me that you are sorry about what happened between you and her.
Becoming a part of her collective was *our* salvation, as well as yours, because it saved you
for us. If anyone should be apologizing, it is I, for allowing you think that you love me.
Oh, Chakotay; the best thing I can do for you – the only *good* way of loving you – is for
me to keep myself *from* loving you.

Chakotay reached out and enfolded her delicate form in his massive embrace. “Kathryn, no
action like that would be your fault. I am a Starfleet officer, and I know what my duties are.
And if I were to die in fulfilling one of your orders, I would know that it was a necessary
sacrifice for the good of the entire ship. We all take risks everyday that we live. I know that
this is difficult for you to believe, but we all *do* have a time to be born, to live and love
and to die; our control over our own destinies is so minute in the greater mysteries of the
universe! It is not for us to know, nor to assume, any guilt over each other. The time we
spend in our lives punishing ourselves for self imagined guilt takes away from the time we
can give of ourselves to others.

“There is one person who needs your love more than I do, and that person is Kathryn
Janeway. Learn to love and accept her, and then perhaps you can experience the love that
others have for you. All of us are wounded and in pain at some level. Only when we have
experienced and healed the pain within ourselves can we then love and help others.”

He sensed a calming in her body. The tenseness was fading, and the tears on his arms were
drying. “It’s getting late, and I should be going. But, I would like to say goodnight by telling
you a bedtime story.”

Kathryn groaned and thought, *Uh-oh; please; no more New Earth stories!* But, the thought
was comforting, and his voice always soothed her. He started speaking in his soft
inflection….

“A long ignored grapevine awoke with the noises of spring, only to find that she was
covered with briars and deadwood and leaves from other trees that had become snared in her
circuitous branches. She knew that there was warm sunshine and gentle rain beyond the
many layers of debris that had deposited on her, but she was not able to feel them or enjoy
them or use their gifts to allow her to become productive once again. She tried to shake her
branches, only to find that the force she used entangled her all the more. She tried reaching
out by forcing growth of sport branches. But this unnatural use of her energy caused only
weak shoots to grow, which died quickly.

“Then, one day, a gardener came by. He noticed a strong form underneath the piled
deadwood and decaying leaves. He saw that under the dried rubble and brambles stood a
seasoned plant of maturity, waiting to produce once more. He carefully pulled away all the
lifeless material. He studied the remaining form of the grapevine, and meticulously pruned
away the useless branches, once again revealing the form of a plant with great potential.

“The vine looked upwards towards the sun, absorbing its life giving warmth. The gentle
rains found their way to the vine’s hidden roots, and nourishment rose throughout the plant.
The branches reached out, and soon covered the plant with a canopy of green leaves and ripe
purple fruit. Birds and butterflies played hide and seek under her protective cover.

“The branches continued to grow, gaining their strength from her, each one uniquely
individual, but still a part of the whole. No longer did each branch have to try to survive on
its own. Once again, the vine was complete, made of many parts, all with their own special
function, but surviving as one plant.

“The gardener returned frequently, and pulled the weeds which might choke out the new
growth. He tilled the soil, so that water and nutrients could easily be absorbed by the plant.
He pulled off diseased leaves and harmful insects. The vine thrived and grew, knowing that
her growth and survival were aided by the help of the gardener. In grateful appreciation, she
provided him with a wealth of fruit for his health and happiness. The vine and the gardener
lived the rest of their lives with love and thanksgiving for each other.
“Kathryn, let me be your gardener; let me free you of all the deadwood and brambles that
are keeping you from being that main vine to all of us. We *need* you, but we are
suffocating and withering because we cannot see the sun or feel the rain. Every moment you
spend your energy in trying to do things alone, you keep that energy from us.”

Kathryn lay in his arms, her body and mind calmed for the first time in days. Once again,
his parable had cut away all of her superfluous pretensions, and her naked soul was exposed
to the elements. She had spent most of her adult life punishing herself, allowing the self-
inflicted guilt to cause a disabling pain that now, to her horror, she realized gave her a
perverse pleasure. With everything striped away, all that remained was the pain — terrorizing
pain such as she had never known it before, not even during those four months following
Justin’s and her father’s deaths.

Fortunately, the aura that surrounded her at this moment was one of consummate love.
Chakotay’s healing hands were tenderly pruning her withered branches and coaxing life back
into her dying spirit. All she had to do was accept his gift of care, and she would be able to
provide him – and the rest of *their* vine, *their* crew – with the fruits of their toils.

He rested his chin on the top of her soft hair. He couldn’t help himself; he had to kiss her.
Sensing his need, she shifted to bring her tear-stained face up to his. The communication
was quiet and almost reverent. She looked into his eyes and said, “Stay with me, Chakotay;
make love to me.”

******************************

Chakotay gradually opened his eyes. He had heard the soft alarm of the chronometer earlier,
and was aware that a pocket of cold empty space had suddenly replaced the solid warmth that
had been next to him. As he began focusing on his surroundings, his vision was suddenly
filled with an entanglement of silky auburn hair and two lips that planted soft kisses onto
each of his eyelids and then his mouth. His eyes closed again briefly, as he let out a soft
moan, “That’s the *best* way to start a day that there is!” As his eyes reopened, they were
filled with Kathryn’s radiant smile.

Kathryn repeated her kiss of a couple of seconds earlier, this time with more emphasis.
“Time to get up,” she smiled at him.

“I thought I already had, a *couple* of times last night,” he quipped back, with eyes which
were now wide awake with their usual merriment at his own innuendos. She lightly punched
his shoulder, as she jumped off the bed, taking with her the covers which shielded his body.

“Mister, the doctor approved it and your captain assigned it: you have bridge command duty
in 30 minutes. And I don’t think the captain would like it if you were late, since *she* is
following the orders of her first officer and doctor by scheduling in some R & R for herself
until 1200 hours!”

Chakotay’s expression was still one of mischief. “I thought that the captain had already
worked off some of that built up stress by engaging in some physical exercise with her first
officer.”

Kathryn turned back excitedly to him, to that area in her quarters that so recently had
become both her refuge and delight. “Chakotay, you know that I have been thinking
seriously about trying to start my painting again. Well, I asked Tom to design a holodeck
program for me that would allow me to create some of those new colors you challenged me
to find. He’s finished it now, and has promised that it will introduce me to a *renowned
tutor* for my artistic efforts.” She once more bent down to caress that now-familiar and
comforting face which was still lying among the pillows. “Not that *you* haven’t tutored
me lately in some very interesting creative outlets!”

He rolled over quickly, lunging at her as she swiftly again moved towards the bathroom
area. They were both laughing, a knowing, loving laugh that comes from a fulfilling,
intimate relationship.

*********************************

A uniformed and well groomed Captain Janeway exited her quarters 30 minutes later, as her
similarly properly attired first officer followed on her heels. She turned one way, heading
towards the turbolift to take her to the holodecks, and he, without glancing back, quickly
walked the opposite direction towards the other turbolift which would take him to the bridge.
Each was armed with the proper demeanor that befit their professional images on a Starfleet
vessel.

Another day had begun on Voyager.

*********************************

Chakotay entered the bridge, greeting the staff already at their duty posts. The ship had
entered further into an area for which not even the seemingly know-it-all Neelix had little
information. The senior staff had been working diligently to assure that the ship was well
fitted for a lengthy flight into these uncharted areas. Chakotay and Janeway knew that just
as important as the physical needs of the ship and crew were the emotional and moral
support that only they, the command officers, could give to the others. Chakotay smiled
silently to himself. *And it’s important for the captain and first officer to keep themselves in
an unstressed, alert frame of mind!*

He hoped that the Captain was making the best of the short period of time she had this
morning to recharge her creative data banks. He wanted to thank Tom for his holodeck
program, but decided against it; that was between Kathryn and Tom, and any mention on his
part would cross over their well-guarded division of professional and personal lives.

*********************************

Kathryn Janeway was a child in a toy store! Tom had designed a program that gave her
every toy that *any* destined-to-be-a-Starfleet captain could want, with Santa Claus thrown
in on top! She had activated the program which he simply called “The Studio”.
Immediately, she found herself surrounded by products of genius and their creator, in the
form of Leonardo da Vinci and his sixteenth century workplace. Her mind and thoughts
could barely start to take in the breathtaking scenario. So much to ask of this wondrous
person, so much to learn from his mind and hands! She was completely entranced by the
thoroughness of detail.

*********************************

Two and a half hours into Alpha shift, Harry Kim called Chakotay over to the Ops section.
B’Elanna had asked him to use the long range sensors to try to get a signal on a probe that
they had sent out a couple of months earlier; she was not detecting and activity from it. In
doing his check, he could not find any indication of the probe, but he had noticed some
energy fluxes. He suggested that he and the Commander pay a visit to engineering to look
into the situation further. Chakotay turned to Tuvok. “Mr. Tuvok, you have the bridge.
Mr. Kim and I will be in engineering.” He and Harry quickly exited the bridge, alerting
B’Elanna as they did so.

*******************************
By the time the two officers reached engineering, the department’s chief had located the dead
probe, and the image that she had on her screen immediately sent chills throughout their
bodies. On the monitor was the unmistakable form of a gray metallic cube, with their
inactivated probe assimilated within its massive structure. They were in Borg territory.

*******************************

Even in the presence of da Vinci’s virtuosity, Kathryn Janeway still had the carriage of the
captain. Just as if she were in a market square somewhere, she was “bargaining” with the
maestro for work space and lesson time. Their negotiations had just reached an agreeable
stage, when a chirp came from her comm badge, calling her mind back across the centuries.

“Captain, we need you in engineering,” Chakotay said, his voice barely disguising a sense of
urgency.

“On my way,” she answered back, as she reluctantly closed her toy chest by halting the
program.

*******************************

The discovery of the startling proximity of the Borg cube called the ship to near red-alert
stage. Janeway quickly summoned her senior staff to work out a preparatory plan. Chakotay
led the officers in their briefing, and assignments were quickly made and actions
implemented. The entire ship was adrenaline charged. No longer was the confrontation with
the Borg an “if”; it was “when.”

“When” came quickly. It seemed like only seconds between the time Harry alerted the
bridge that one, two, no – fifteen Borg vessels were approaching them; and then the ominous
shapes were upon them; and then, *past* them, with only a single inquisitive scanning beam
indicating any acknowledgement of Voyager’s presence. The armada was gone as quickly as
it had appeared. Now, the question was, “why?” Janeway turned the bridge over to
Chakotay. “I’ll be in my ready room; I’ve got some research to do,” she said as she hurried
toward her sanctuary.

*******************************

Alpha shift was over. Janeway was concentrating at the Starfleet top-security reports
scrolling slowly across her comm screen: other narratives of run-ins with the Borg and
debriefings from scarred survivors. What could she learn from their written words; or, more
importantly, their unwritten thoughts and fears? She subconsciously heard the buzz at her
ready room door and answered reflexively. “Yes, come in…”
Chakotay had been concerned about her two hour silence and absence from the bridge since
the Borg armada had flown past them. He also knew that with the activities of the last 12
hours, Janeway had once again put on her full Starfleet front of assuming the burden of the
entire crew and had ignored herself and her human needs. He tapped his padd, using it as a
prop to open the conversation.

“By my calculations, neither of us has eaten since last night. Care to join me for dinner?”

Janeway did not look up, because she knew if she did, those brown magnets that were his
eyes would draw her away from her concentration; she *had* to remain the Captain.

“No,” she responded wearily, “I’m not hungry. I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

He noted the formal tone in her answer. He could sense that she wanted him to stay for
*Kathryn*, but that as *Janeway*, she had solitary decisions to make. He turned reluctantly
to exit back to the bridge when she decided to comment on some of her predecessors’
thoughts about the Borg. Chakotay caught her intent, in her needing him to help quell the
growing concern and fear she had for *all* of Voyager. Her seriousness was betrayed by
the deep absorption she had with her reading material. As she started reciting the words of
the reports printed on her comm, Chakotay could not prevent his deep smile, the one that
produced the dimples that were always her downfall. Just then, she looked up.

“What’s so funny?” she asked as seriously as she could.

Chakotay laughed his way through his explanation of how she sounded like the very people
whom she quoted; imitation is *always* the highest form of flattery! “Ensign Hickman in
astrophysics does a passable Janeway,” he informed her, with a luminescent twinkle.

Janeway pulled her fingers through the front of her hair, which looked as weary as her mind
and body were. “If we survive these next few days, I’m going to have to have a talk with
Ensign Hickman. Surely there is some Starfleet regulation about imitating the captain.”

*Good,* he thought, *she’s unwinding some. She’s going to have to get some strength and
rest for what we have ahead of us.* But as soon as he allowed the thought to form, she rose
from her chair, and walked over to the window looking out into the vastness of the Delta
Quadrant. The velvet darkness was illuminated with the glistening trails left by stars and
arrays shooting past their warp speed ship. He followed her, and they both gazed out into
the void that they both knew held either their salvation or their doom.
She turned serious on him again. “We knew this day would come. We all knew it and we
have been doing our best to prepare for it. But at what point is the risk too great? When is
discretion the better part of valor?” She turned from the deepness of outer space to look into
the deepness of the inner space of his eyes, wondering which was more unfathomable.
“Should we ask the crew to live out the rest of their lives in the Delta Quadrant? I’ve tried
to find out answers by looking at what my comrades in arms have said in those reports. But,
the truth is, I’m alone.”

Chakotay raised his right hand, and gently traced the curves of the profile of her face, down
to her chin. His other hand joined the first in cupping her chin, and his thumb caressed her
lips. Repeating the words that had been in his heart for so long, he murmured, “If that
moment comes, we’ll face it together, and *we* will make the right decision. You’re not
alone, Kathryn.”

*There is no longer a boundary between our personal and professional lives; we ‘will not’ be
alone again,* Kathryn thought. She tenderly reached up, and took each of his hands in hers.
She closed her eyes for a moment, as she slowly kissed his fingertips and then laid them
against her cheek. Letting her eyes finally be drawn into his mesmerizing gaze, she huskily
whispered, “Three years ago, I didn’t even know your name. Now, I can’t imagine a day
without you.” She raised her hand to his face; he willingly leaned into it, and his lips joined
hers. The pledge was now made. There would be no more loneliness for Kathryn Janeway.

Janeway’s comm badge buzzed, and Tuvok’s voice broke their reverie. “Captain…”

************************** FINIS ****************************

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Forget-Q-Not

Star Trek: `Voyager’
`Forget-`Q’-Not’

Story by
Cindy Brewer & Shalee Stewart

The Continuum

Q was bored.
Q was disenchanted.
Family life was not all it was cracked up to be. AND it was all
HER fault. He had allowed himself to be cajoled. HE! Q the all power-
ful. Q the prankster extraordinaire. Omnipotent. Brilliant. Cowed by a
woman. AND human to boot. Yes, he had a bone to pick with Kathryn
Janeway of the Starship `Voyager’. She and her crew of assorted half-
wits were to blame for his descent into `Mr. Mom, hell.’
“Q!!”
The Godling actually cowered at the shrill sound of his mate’s
voice. Before he could make himself disappear, Q’s beloved was right
in front of him and was holding their rather rank smelling offspring.
“Q, I told you not to leave him alone so close to that primeval
pond.” Ms. Q snarled as she yanked a lock bright red hair out of the
grip of her son. “Now, YOU’RE going to have to bathe him again.”
“ME! I did it last time.”
“Q–”
“Alright! Fine!” Q grudgingly accepted the boy, holding him at
arms length. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going out. Have him cleaned and fed by the time I return.
AND stay out of trouble. Both of you!” With those parting words, she
vanished in a blinding flash. Leaving Q holding the bag, er, boy and
wondering when was the last time HE went out and raised some mis-
chief. With a sigh of resignation, Q went about performing this as-
signed task.
“Now, I wonder what your Aunt Kathy would do in this situa-
tion?” Q asked his son as he playfully splashed in the bath water. The
child smiled shyly at his father and sent a drenching spray over the
adult. “Stop that, Qie.” Q scolded. The boy just giggled as a thoughtful
expression over came Q. “Hmmm . . . you know what? I just had a
brilliant idea.” Little Q grinned knowingly. “Yes, perhaps we should
see how the crew of intrepid `Voyager’ deals with parenthood. So,
they never forget the `gift’ they’ve given me.” Matching his son’s grin
both vanished in a flash of light.
* * * * *
USS `Voyager’
Delta Quadrant

In the Hydro/Airponics Bay, Kes, `Voyager’s’ resident Ocampa
refugee was performing her daily checks. As she moved to a rack of
Talaxian tomatoes, Kes heard something. It was a sound that shouldn’t
be there and at first she dismissed it as her imagination. Yet, some-
thing seemed to draw her to the rack that held the Odeberian cabbage
plants. That was when the sound, a small cry or mewing, came again.
Moving aside several of the plants, Kes revealed the source of the
sound. A baby with tiny pointed ears.
“The Doctor’s never going to believe this.” Kes muttered to her-
self as she lifted the bundle and hurried to Sickbay.
* * * * *
Engineering had been relatively quiet for the past few days and
that was something that unnerved Lieutenant B’Elanna Torres. She
preferred it when things were hopping. A little crisis here and there
kept reflexes and mind sharp. Lulled by the almost monotonous drone
of the warp engines, Torres was on the edge of sleep at her console,
when a piercing cry cut the air. Jumping to feet, B’Elanna moved to-
ward the cry that continued to increase in volume as she neared it.
“Ohmigod–” Torres muttered as she delicately picked up the
squealing child from it’s Jefferies Tube hiding place. The baby fur-
rowed it’s small ridged brow and renewed it’s howling as B’Elanna
made all haste to Sickbay.
* * * * *
Kathryn Janeway had to stifle a large yawn as she sat up in the
command chair. Out of the corner of her eye she saw her first officer
try to suppress a smile. Janeway flashed him a dirty look, which only
made Chakotay’s grin broadened. The Captain couldn’t help but
chuckle.
“Okay, I get the picture,” Janeway replied wryly as she stood
and headed for her ready room. “Let me know if anything exciting
happens.”
“Aye, Captain,” The Native American commander acknowl-
edged as his gaze followed her until the doors slid shut.
Inside her inner sanctum, Janeway smiled to herself as moved to
the replicator.
“Hot Chocolate–” she instructed. A second later a steaming cup
materialized on the platform. As she lifted the brew to her lips, a soft
cooing drew her attention, it was followed by rustling sounds coming
from beneath her desk. Placing the cup down on the desk, Kathryn
pulled out her chair to peer into the cubby hole. Immediately, she drew
back with a startled gasp. Her hand slapped her communicator.
“Janeway to Sickbay”
“Sickbay, this is the Doctor.”
“Doctor, you won’t believe, what I’ve just found under my
desk.”
There was a slight pause before the Doctor replied.
“Let me guess. An infant approximately 2 weeks old.”
“Yes, how did you–” Janeway gasped as she gathered the baby
to her breast.
“I suggest, you come to Sickbay, Captain.”
“I’m on my way. Janeway out.” She answered already headed
out the door that led to the corridor.
* * * * *
Outside the USS `Voyager’

“Well, my boy. Don’t you think this is more fun, than playing in
the mud?” Q asked his son. The child chortled as he pointed toward
the interior of the ship.
“Fun, Da.”
Q just smiled as father and son took in the show.
* * * * *
In Sickbay, `Voyager’s’ Holographic doctor looked more than a
little out of sorts as the infant Torres had brought in continued to howl,
intermittently bringing in Kes’ infant and Janeway’s.
“Doctor–” Kathryn Janeway shouted over the noise. “What can
you tell us about these children? Whose are they? Where did they come
from?”
“Preliminary scans show they’re about two weeks old. The in-
fant Kes found is a male with both Ocampa AND Vulcan DNA.”
“So, the child shares Kes’ genetic makeup and–”
“Mr. Tuvok–”
“Oh, Neelix is going to love that,” Torres deadpanned. The
Doctor turned to her.
“And as to the infant you discovered, Lieutenant, which is also a
male but shares both Klingon and Human DNA.”
“Which human?” Janeway prompted gently.
“Mr. Paris–”
“Oh great, I can just hear his ego expanding,” Torres groaned.
“Okay, now drop the last bomb, Doctor.” Janeway sighed as
somehow she knew what was coming.
“The female infant you found, Captain, is completely human.
She has DNA from both you and–” The Doctor paused for effect.
“Commander Chakotay.”
Janeway nodded mutely as she silently pondered the situation
and it’s ensuing implications. Taking a deep breath, she hit her comm
badge.
“Janeway to Bridge”
“Bridge, Chakotay here, Captain.”
“Commander, would you, Tuvok and Mr. Paris, please report to
sickbay immediately. There’s something you need to know.”
“Captain?” Chakotay answered quizzically, hearing the quiver
in Janeway’s voice and the wails in the background.
“Just come and you’ll see,” Janeway said quietly as she closed
the link and turned to the others with a lost look on her face. Com-
mand school had never prepared her for something like this.
* * * * *
As soon as Tuvok, Chakotay and Paris stepped off the turbolift
their ears were immediately assailed with the same unpleasant cries
they had heard on the bridge.
Tom Paris winced involuntarily as he recognized the sounds for
what there were, he cast a glance at his superiors.
“Did I miss a memo? When did `Voyager’, become a nursery?”
The Vulcan merely raised a quizzical eyebrow as Chakotay
shrugged.
“Beats me, I musta missed the same memo. Let’s go find out
what’s going on.”
* * * * *
Q nearly dropped his son as his mate suddenly appeared at his
right shoulder, just off `Voyager’s’ bow, furious expression on her
face.
“Q! What’s gotten into you?! Dragging our son out in the middle
of nowhere?!”
“This isn’t a battle zone, dearest. Just thought, I’d drop in on
some old friends.”
The female Q could’ve heard the wails ensuing from the ship, a
billion miles away. Must be her mothering instincts kicking in. She
looked at her mate with an angry frown.
“Q, what have you done this time?”
Q reached to put his arm around her shoulders, drawing her
close as she tried to flinch away.
“Something, you’d be proud of, my dear. These human couples
need each other, they just don’t know it yet.”
The anger finally draining from her as she leaned back into his
embrace. Taking her son in her arms as she did so.
“I just hope you know what you’re doing.”
Q grinned.
“This is going to be fun, my pet. Just sit back and enjoy the
fireworks.”
* * * * *
As he stepped across the threshold into Sickbay, the image of
B’Elanna holding a sleeping infant struck a part of Tom Paris’ soul he
didn’t know existed. It brought the feelings, he had for her since the
incident with Ensign Vorik, flooding to the surface. Her dark eyes
locked with his gray ones. Whatever was going on, Paris decided, was
going to be very interesting.
“Ah good, you’re all here,” The Holographic doctor commented
as he bustled around the infants. “How do the three of you feel about
Fatherhood?”
Kathryn Janeway winced as she avoided Chakotay’s eyes. The
Doctor could be blunt, she knew, but this was definitely not how she
wanted the situation handled. Chakotay walked to her side, a mixture
of concern and confusion in his dark brown eyes.
“Captain, what’s going on?”
Janeway sighed and finally looked at him.
“That’s what we’re trying to find out. B’Elanna found one in-
fant in Engineering. Kes found another in the Hydroponics Bay and
the last one, I discovered in my ready room.”
“Who’s babies are they?” Paris asked fighting to keep his dis-
tance from B’Elanna. He didn’t want to say or do something they’d
both regret.
The Doctor looked at him like he had suddenly grown two
heads.
“As I just told the others, Lieutenant, the children are yours.”
“What?!” Paris yelped before he could stop himself. Fighting
down the panic, he asked. “How is that possible?”
“From the preliminary scans,” The Doctor began taking the baby
from Torres, “this infant has a mixture of Klingon and Human DNA.”
He placed the squirming infant in Paris’ arms. “The Human part be-
longing to you, Lieutenant.”
Tuvok repressed a very un-Vulcan smile at Tom Paris’ expres-
sion. The young helm officer was holding the baby like it was a snake
that would bite him at any moment.
The Doctor walked over to Kes and gently took the baby boy
from her arms then crossed to the Vulcan security officer.
“And this infant’s genetic makeup blends yours and Kes’
DNA.”
After carefully taking the infant, Tuvok looked at Kes with what
could only be surprise. Not a Vulcan-type reaction.
The Holographic doctor then crossed back to the medical bed,
where the last infant lay. Picking up the now quiet child, the doctor
turned to the commanding officers of `Voyager’.
“And last but certainly not least. This little girl is entirely human
and has a genetic profile that combines your DNA, Commander, with
the Captain’s.”
Cautiously accepting the sleeping infant from the Doctor, Cha-
kotay stared down at the baby, not quite believing what was happen-
ing. How was it possible that this beautiful, perfect thing was HIS
`daughter’, his AND Kathryn’s? They had never– Chakotay shook off
the thought. No, this was someone’s game. Someone or something was
playing with them. He looked up at that moment and found himself
looking into Kathryn Janeway’s blue-gray eyes. Then he watched as
Janeway gently brushed her fingers over the auburn down that covered
the baby’s head.
“You know, she does look like you,” Chakotay said softly.
Janeway looked away from him, startled, it seemed by the comment.
“But how can she? She’s not. We haven’t–” Kathryn whispered.
“I know, but somehow she’s here and that’s the point we have
deal with at the moment.”
Janeway shook her head as she started to back away.
“I don’t know if I can–” she murmured, meeting Chakotay’s
dark gaze for an instant before she turned the fled Sickbay. The darkly
handsome Commander stood there for a moment with babe in arms,
then gently but quickly gave the infant back to the Doctor and hur-
riedly followed the Captain.
“Curious–” Tuvok commented at the exchange.
“Yeah weird–” Tom Paris concurred as he looked down at his
`son’. “Too weird for my taste.”
“You have no taste.” B’Elanna Torres shot back disdainfully.
“Now, is that any way to talk about the father of your child.”
“THAT is not my child.” Torres growled menacingly. “And if it
were, YOU would certainly NOT be his father.”
Paris opened his mouth to retort, but Torres had already turned
on her heel and stalked out of the room.
“Close your mouth, Mr. Paris.” The Doctor advised deadpan at
the gaping Lieutenant. A moment later, he was holding two infants in-
stead of one. The Hologram then turned to Kes and Tuvok, who were
exchanging identical looks. “Look, I’ll save you the trouble. Put the
baby on the bio-bed.”
Tuvok complied muttering something about getting back to his
duties, while Kes professed her apologies as she went in search of
Neelix. The Doctor could only stand there in arch discontent as the
three infants once again began to wail.
* * * * *
“Now, isn’t this a revolting development.” Ms. Q drawled.
“Interesting to say the least, cupcake,” Q supplied undramati-
cally.
The flame-haired Q gave him a chill look, “It would seem your
little play, isn’t going quite as planned.”
“Actually, I had no set course for this drama. It goes as it wills,
according to the players performance.”
“Well then, shall we just tune in and see what happens next?”
“Most definitely.” Q proclaimed as he widened their perspective
to include a birds-eye view of couple Number One–Janeway and Cha-
kotay.
* * * * *
Kathryn Janeway couldn’t catch her breath, the air in her quar-
ters seemed stifling. Pacing back and forth, she tried to think but no
answers came. Dropping to the sofa, Janeway pulled her knees to her
chest and wrapped her arms around them. Slowly, she began to rock
struggling to keep her emotions in check. Lost in her own turmoil,
Kathryn never heard the door buzzer, but wasn’t surprised when the
door slid open to reveal Chakotay’s stocky build filling the opening.
“Kathryn–” Chakotay called to her softly.
Janeway glanced up and shook her head at him, in a gesture to
leave.
`Voyager’s’ second-in-command didn’t budge.
“We should talk about this.”
“I can’t, Chakotay. I can’t do this. It’s not right. It’s not fair . . .
not this way.” Janeway whispered her voice gravelly with unshed
tears.
Chakotay nodded his understanding but stepped across the
threshold into the room. The door closed silently behind him.
“I know how hard this is for you . . . it is for me as well.” Cha-
kotay said as he knelt down next to his captain. “Kathryn, you know, I
care about you. I would do anything to make things right. But I’m just
as much at a loss about this as you are.”
Janeway looked down at him, seeing both hurt and concern in
his dark brown eyes.
“I’m sorry, Chakotay. I–I don’t mean to sound selfish.”
“You don’t,” The proud warrior denied vehemently. Kathryn
couldn’t help the small smile that crept to her lips.
“Oh yes, I do. So, stop trying to protect me from my own self-
absorption. I’ve lost that battle many times.”
Chakotay smiled back.
“Okay, so what’s the problem?”
“The problem? There’s no problem, I have the child I’ve always
wanted. THE PROBLEM is I had no hand in her creation, nor in the
choice of her father.” She caught the commander’s gaze in that mo-
ment and had to struggle to for the right words to express what she was
feeling. “Not, that you couldn’t be my choice–”
“BUT, you at least, wanted some sort of say in the matter.”
Chakotay provided the finish.
“YES! I mean, haven’t I been through this before with Tom
Paris. Three offspring, unplanned and left behind. Children, I don’t
remember nor will I ever see them again.” Janeway exclaimed loudly
startling herself as well as the good commander with fervor behind her
words. When she continued in was in a markedly lower tone. “God, I
hate being helpless. Being manipulated this way, it drives me crazy.”
“I know. I felt the same way with Seska.” Chakotay murmured
solemnly as he rose and joined her on the sofa. The Captain’s own out-
rage seemed to drain away as she realized this wasn’t very easy on her
first officer either. Relaxing her self-protective position by dropping
her feet to the floor, Kathryn half turned to look at Chakotay, her hand
caught his naturally.
“Again, I’m sorry. I’d forgotten what you’d been through. This
must seem like a slap in the face.”
Chakotay squeezed her hand gently.
“Something like that,” he murmured thoughtfully. “Kathryn,
what do you really think is happening here?”
Janeway looked thoughtful for a moment. Then drew on a grim
smile.
“If I had to guess, I’d say this smells of `Q’.”
“That was my thought.” Chakotay agreed matching her expres-
sion. “The next question is . . . why?”
“In Q’s case, it’s probably pure malice.”
“Maybe he just wants to see how we react to sudden parent-
hood.”
“You mean, because of his recent predicament with the Contin-
uum and the outcome. You think perhaps, he’s feeling the pressure.”
Janeway theorized her blue-gray gaze still troubled.
“Could be. With Q, can you really be sure of anything?” Cha-
kotay asked as they both pondered the significance of the Godling’s
interference.
“Only that he’s probably enjoying watching us squirm.” Kathryn
muttered.
“No doubt.” Chakotay flashed a crafty smile. “You know I
really would like to see him squirm for once.”
Janeway looked intrigued as she leaned in a little closer.
“What exactly did you have in mind, Commander?”
“Nothing really, I just–” The former Maquis was abruptly cut
off by the chirp of Janeway’s communicator.
“Sickbay to the Captain–” The Doctor’s disembodied voice
filled the room.
“This is Janeway–”
“Captain, I’ve discovered something about these children you
should know. Could you please, come down here?”
“Of course, Doctor. Janeway out.”
Chakotay and Janeway looked at each for a long moment before
they rose from the sofa. Then together they headed back to Sickbay.
* * * * *
“Well, that was an interesting exchange.” Q mused as he
watched the Captain and first officer leave Janeway’s quarters. His
spouse nodded shifting Q the younger to a more comfortable position
in her left arm.
“Agreed. Shall we see what’s happening with couple number
two?”
Q smiled as he snapped his fingers. In a flash of light his Star-
fleet uniform was replaced with that of a hotel bellman.
“All aboard! Next stop, Engineering, featuring warp cores, im-
pulse engines and a very complicated Chief engineer.”
Ms. Q returned her mate’s smile and raised her hand; in an in-
stant the Q family was transported to the catwalk just above the anti-
matter reaction chamber.
* * * * *
If there was one thing `Voyager’s’ engineering crew had learned
in the last three years, it was how to read their Chief’s mood. Seeing
the half Klingon storm from the turbolift and over to her station, the
crew quickly got out of her way.
Whether or not, B’Elanna Torres noticed the skittish behavior of
her crew, she didn’t let on. Whenever her life was turned upside down
she always found comfort in her work. Today was definitely one of
those times. If she allowed herself to think of what had occurred in
Sickbay, B’Elanna didn’t know what would happen. So, she kept her
human side well under control and threw herself into her work. Intent
on her task, she didn’t notice Tom Paris’ quiet entrance.
Frowning at her data padd, Torres addressed at a young Bajoran
woman standing a few feet away.
“Ensign, I thought I told you yesterday, I wanted the diagnostics
on the impulse engines done by 0800 this morning!”
The young woman tensed but held her tongue as she walked
over to her superior.
“Yes Lieutenant AND I did as you requested. They should be
over here.” She said picking up a small computer padd at the right of
Torres station. B’Elanna snatched the pad from her. Slim fingers
pounding the keys until she determined the data was to her liking.
“I apologize, Ensign. Your work is just fine. I have a lot on my
mind and shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”
The woman nodded smiling.
“No apologies necessary, Lieutenant.” She replied exchanging a
glance with Paris before returning to her station.
Torres caught the look and frowned as she saw Paris lounging in
the alcove near where she had found the baby. Absently, despite her
recent resolution, she began to wonder what the ship’s rumor mill had
begun to crank out but this whole mess. Nothing stays a secret on this
ship for long.
“Look Tom, I’m not really in the mood for a discussion.” Torres
said before Paris could even open his mouth.
Tom Paris curbed the curt retort on the tip of his tongue. Care-
fully, he assessed the half Klingon’s body language, then he took a
deep breath and jumped in.
“B’Elanna, I know this is a difficult situation–”
“Difficult–” Torres challenged, “You didn’t know the meaning
of the word. How could YOU understand how I’m feeling?”
“Have you forgotten? I’ve been through forced parenthood be-
fore, with the Captain.” Paris replied sounding remarkably calm com-
pared to the Chief Engineer. “AND it hasn’t exactly been the easiest,
having to face her every day after what happened.”
“But neither of you had any control over what happened.” Tor-
res insisted as she moved to check readings on another console.
“Yeah, but that doesn’t make it any easier.” Paris murmured as
he glanced behind to gauge the whereabouts of on-duty engineering
personnel. He smiled slightly as he noted the wide berth he and
B’Elanna had been given. “I guess, I’ll always feel I’m to blame for
what happened. But you and I both know, we had nothing whatsoever
to do with this present situation. I mean, it’s not the child’s fault why
should he suffer just because we can’t deal with this.”
Torres stopped what she was doing and stared at Paris, feeling
both surprised and a bit betrayed by his insight and truthfulness.
Shaking her head, B’Elanna drew closer, “Maybe, you’re right. This is
all so strange.”
Paris nodded, “I know, it feels like we’re being set up.”
“Yes, that’s it exactly but by who or what?”
“Could be that Q guy?”
“But why would he go to so much trouble?”
“From what I’ve heard, the more complex the scheme, the more
likely it that Q is involved.”
Torres nodded, “So, you think we should go along until we find
what his plan is.”
Paris shrugged, “Do we really have anything to lose?”
Before Torres could respond the Doctor’s voice came over both
their comm badges simultaneously.
“Lieutenants, could you please come to Sickbay? It’s about the
children.”
Torres and Paris exchanged glances and after B’Elanna’s acqui-
escence Tom acknowledged, “We’ll be right there, Doc.”
* * * * *
“This little drama is running a bit long, don’t you think?” Ms. Q
complained as she and Q watched Paris and Torres depart Engineer-
ing.
“Patience, my dear. Just one more little scene with our final
couple, then we move on.” Q assured his mate with a smile.
“Oh, very well–” And a split second later they were seated on
the counter in Neelix’s kitchen just as Kes entered the Mess Hall.
* * * * *
“Kes sweetie, what brings you by in the middle of the day.”
Neelix asked before the Ocampa could get out a word.
“Neelix, I need to tell you something. It’s important.”
“Of course, that’s why I’m here.”
Kes sighed and wrung her hands, this wasn’t going to be easy.
Even though she and Neelix had broken up, they still cared a great deal
about each other.
“Neelix, something has happened me. To us– I mean, Tuvok
and I.”
The Talaxian looked hurt almost at once, “I didn’t realize that
you and Mr. Tuvok–”
“Neelix, we have a child.”
`Voyager’s’ moral officer looked confused but just as he was
about to speak, Tuvok entered.
“Kes, the Doctor just contacted me. We’re needed in Sickbay.”
“Is something wrong with the baby?” Kes asked immediately
concerned. Something she regretted as she saw the look on Neelix’s
face.
“The Doctor was vague as usual, but suggested we come to hear
him out. Along with the others.” Tuvok supplied noting the Talaxian’s
expression but not the emotion behind it.
“The Captain and Commander Chakotay–” Kes continued her
inquiry.
“Also, Lieutenants Paris and Torres, apparently it involves all
three infants.”
As Kes and Tuvok started for the door, Neelix regained his
voice.
“What’s this about infants? What’s going on, Kes?”
“I’ll explain later, Neelix. I promise–” With those words they
swept out, leaving Neelix to stew over what had been said.
* * * * *
“You know, I almost feel sorry for the little guy with the bad
hairdo.”
Q said in a tone that was far from compassionate.
“Mmmm–” Ms. Q agreed as she skillfully provided a bottle for
Little Q. “So, what’s your next trick?”
“Come with me, the best is yet to be.” A second later they were
in Sickbay.
* * * * *
The holographic doctor had to do some fancy footwork to avoid
being trampled by the three pairs of would-be-parents who suddenly,
crowded into Sickbay. Immediately, he took them to the area that had
been converted in a nursery of sorts. As the couples looked down at
their supposed progeny, there were startled gasps from all around.
“Doctor–” Kathryn Janeway prompted the hologram for a ex-
planation.
“I’m afraid what you’re seeing is true, all the infants are dying.”
“But it’s only been two hours, how could it have happen so
fast?” B’Elanna Torres challenged.
“I am still trying to discern the cause but it appears as though
without contact with their parents . . . the six of you; the infants cannot
survive.”
“But why, most children have an inborn instinct to live, with or
without parents.” Chakotay asked as he was distracted by the sallow-
ness of his `daughter’s’ complexion.
“I have a theory about that.”
“Well, don’t keep us in suspense, Doctor.” Janeway prodded as
she unwillingly moved to stand next to her `child’s’ bedside.
“I believe, that what is happening now is connected with how
these children came into existence.”
“And how DID that happen?” Tom Paris questioned as he
moved with Torres to stand by his `son’.
“It is myself belief, based on the few facts I DO have, that these
children took on the characteristics of each of you the moment you
touched them.”
“Imprinting, you mean.” Janeway summarized.
The Doctor nodded, “Yes, but more than that. For example in
your case, Captain. You said, the child made sounds that drew you to
locate it. Did you get a good look at the infant BEFORE you touched
it?”
“No, it was completely covered in a blanket.”
“Ah, I thought as much. So, the child could have only a shell, so
to speak and the moment you touched her, Captain, your genetic
makeup was passed on.”
“But I DIDN’T touch her.” Chakotay said, “Until after you said
she carried my DNA.”
“Yes well, that part I haven’t completely figured out yet. But my
guess is once the Captain became her biological mother, you as the
person nearest to her emotionally become the father. This undoubtedly
happened with the others as well. The fact is . . . anything is possible at
this point.” The Doctor muttered but before he could elaborate further,
Neelix burst into Sickbay.
“Mr. Neelix, you look somewhat distraught.” The Doctor replied
stating the obvious.
The Talaxian ignored the Holographic doctor as he made a bee-
line for Kes. She hated seeing the pain in his eyes.
“Neelix–” Kes began softly trying to urge him to a quiet corner.
The little man wouldn’t budge, his gaze flickered from her to the
baby to Tuvok and then back to her, “So it is true–” He sputtered ac-
cusingly in a voice barely above a whisper, “Kes, I know we broke up
but I thought, I would’ve at least heard it from you.”
Kes placed a hand on his arm, “Neelix, this isn’t what you
think.”
Neelix waved his arms toward the make-shift nursery.
“It’s not what I think? Kes, these babies had to come from
someone!”
“That’s precisely what we’re trying to figure out, Mr. Neelix.”
Janeway said stepping away from Chakotay. “Why don’t you give us a
moment to explain?”
“Explain, Captain–” Neelix challenged, “Explain what? That
I’ve somehow missed what’s been going on between Kes and Mr. Tu-
vok.” The Talaxian shook his head, “On the other hand, I suppose it’s
not really any my business. Not any more–” He said then abruptly
Neelix wheeled and exited Sickbay.
Kes called after him, “Neelix–”
Paris grabbed her arm, “Let him be. He’ll come around.”
Kes looked torn but in the end returned her place beside her
`son’.
With the interruption over the Doctor turned to face the pro-
spective parents, “Now until I can figure out just how these infants
came to be. You as their genetic parents will have to care for them day
and night.”
“How are we supposed to do that on our schedules?” B’Elanna
asked glancing at Paris.
“You’ll have to make sacrifices just like all parents do. Now,
I’ve implanted a tiny subcutaneous monitoring device in each of the
infants to alert you of any changes in their conditions. I would suggest
at least one of you be with the child at all times. Perhaps even share
quarters to make it easier to provide care.” The Doctor advised as he
hovered around the children making a final check before he released
them into their `parents’ custody.
“You expect us to live together?” Tom Paris asked instantly re-
gretting the way he phrased it when he saw the hurt flash across
B’Elanna’s eyes, “Not that under different circumstances I wouldn’t
enjoy it but–”
The Doctor cut him off, “But nothing, this is the only way to in-
sure the health of these infants, and THAT is the most important thing
at the moment, Lieutenant. Not the crimp it puts in your social life.”
Finally, Paris relented and when there were no more objections,
the Holographic doctor handed each child over to it’s `Mother’. After a
couple of awkward moments, all three newly formed `families’ moved
out of Sickbay. Watching them go, the Doctor began to ponder his
next step.
* * * * *
Unheard applause, echoed through the plane of existence in
which the Q family sat. Hardly as bored as she thought she would be,
Ms. Q handed her son to her mate as they both watched the screen be-
fore them. The screen, something called a TV and they were sitting on
a cushioned seat, a sofa. Q had thought this was a better way to view
coming attractions. And for a change he was correct.
“You were right, my love. This IS proving to be quite interest-
ing.”
Q bounced his son on his knee as he smiled, “Think it as an ex-
periment in human behavior. Always, unpredictable.”
* * * * *
Walking through the corridors of `Voyager’, Captain Kathryn
Janeway tried in vain to ignore the curious glances from members of
her crew as she and Chakotay passed them. But then again, seeing
their captain and her first officer parading through the ship with a baby
was quite a strange sight indeed. Still musing and without realizing it,
both Janeway and Chakotay came to a stop at a crossroads in the cor-
ridor. The Native American Commander looked at his Captain with an
unaccustomed expression of indecision and amusement.
“Well . . . and forgive me for asking but– Your place or mine?”
That brought a chuckle from Janeway, “Good question– Well,
how about my place? It’s closer.”
Chakotay nodded and followed. In his opinion, the sooner they
got behind closed doors, the better. A dozen or so steps finally brought
to Janeway’s quarters. The Captain used voice authorization to open
the door and after thinking about for a moment, instructed the com-
puter to recognize Chakotay’s voice for admittance.
The first officer was genuinely surprised by the gesture, “Are
you sure?”
“It seems only right.” Janeway confirmed. Once inside they both
stood there wondering what to do next.
Chakotay finally broke the tension.
“Look, why don’t I go see if can find something to use as a crib
and bring us back something to eat.”
“Sounds like a good idea. Just don’t be gone too long.” Janeway
expressed.
“I’ll make as fast as I can.” Chakotay assured her, sensing the
uneasiness behind her words as he went to the door. “Hang on–” He
flashed her a smile and was gone.
Janeway stood there for moment staring after him, until a sound
from the baby captured her attention. Drawing back the blanket that
covered the infant, Kathryn saw dark brown eyes gazing up at her.
“Well, hello there–” Janeway murmured, “I’ll bet you’re won-
dering what’s going on. Believe me, I wish I knew.”
The little girl cooed softly in response to Janeway’s voice, it
went straight to the captain’s heart. Deciding that she couldn’t fight
her emotions, Janeway began the slow process of bonding with her
`daughter’. Taking the infant into the bedroom, she placed her on the
bed a pillow on either side to protect the baby from rolling off.
Changing out of her uniform into something more comfortable, Kath-
ryn removed one of the pillows and lay down next to the child. Care-
fully removing the blanket from around the infant and began a slow
inspection. `She’s absolutely perfect.’ Janeway thought as her fingers
gently caressed the baby’s cheek.
“Well, little one–” Janeway stopped and smiled, “We can’t call
you that forever, can we? I suppose, a name is in order. We’ll have
discuss that with your `daddy’ when he gets back.” The infant cooed
again as her tiny hand curled around her `mother’s’ finger and brought
it to her mouth. “Hmmm . . . hungry are we.” Getting off the bed
Janeway padded over to the replicator and called for the formula the
Doctor had recommended. A bottle appeared on the platform and mo-
ments later, `Voyager’s’ captain was curled up among the pillows on
bed and the baby was feasting on her supper.
* * * * *
Kes, with infant arms, led a reluctant Tuvok into her quarters,
the Vulcan still seemed unable or unwilling to accept the circum-
stances they were in. Of course, the Ocampa couldn’t really blame him
any. Their situation was strange to say the least.
As the doors slid shut behind him, Tuvok put some distance
between him and Kes. They were so different, Kes was emotional and
always there to help others with their problems. Tuvok by his nature
and upbringing always logical, never allowing his emotions to interfere
with any decision. No matter how personal. Yet, fate or `Q’ had
thrown them together in this unique situation.
Shifting her sleeping `son’ to her right arm Kes looked at the
Vulcan for a long moment not sure of what to say. When the Security
Chief remained silent Kes realized, standing in her living room wasn’t
going to get any thing accomplished. Walking into the small bedroom
Kes made a nest out of a blanket and several pillows. Gently, she
placed the infant inside. Turning she nearly collided with her mentor,
not having heard him approach. Automatically, Tuvok’s hands shot out
to steady her as she started to fall.
“I’m alright, Tuvok,” Kes said softly as she recovered and took a
step back from the Vulcan.
Tuvok’s hands remained on her upper arms for a moment longer
before he too stepped back.
“We need to come up with a plan that will be efficient for both
of us in taking care of the infant until the Doctor can figure out, some
other way to deal with them.”
Kes bristled slightly as she put more distance between them. She
walked around to the opposite side of the bed, her attention once again
focused on the sleeping baby.
“Tuvok, this is a baby not a security drill.”
The Vulcan stiffened, if he was hurt by her words his face
showed no reaction, “I am well aware of that fact.”
The couple realized they were at an impasse. Neither one sure of
what to do next or how to handle the situation. Perhaps, time and the
task at hand would aid in making things clearer.
* * * * *
B’Elanna Torres returned to her quarters after her shift and al-
most walked back out in surprise. After their talk in engineering earlier
in the day, she and Paris had made some headway, agreeing to have
him temporarily move into her quarters for the baby’s sake. Now, the
sight that greeted her upon entering warmed her heart. Both Klingon
and human.
Tom Paris had fallen asleep in a wooden rocking chair he had
managed to find or replicate somewhere. Their `son’ was asleep in the
crook of his right arm. As if sensing her presence Paris jerked awake.
Remembering the precious bundle in his arms he carefully stood,
smiling at B’Elanna as he walked toward the bedroom.
“Hi, how long have you been standing there?”
Torres allowed herself to return his smile, “Long enough to see
you’re getting pretty comfortable with this father thing”.
Paris looked at her in surprise, “Me? Don’t bet on it. He just fell
right asleep after I fed him and I didn’t have the heart to move.”
B’Elanna laughed softly as she placed a gentle hand on his left
shoulder as they both looked down at the sleeping infant.
“You can deny it all you want, Tom Paris, but you are growing
up.”
Paris unconsciously slipped an arm around her waist drawing
her close. He was mildly surprised, when she didn’t resist.
“To quote Peter Pan– I’ll never grow up.” Paris replied softly.
Part of him realized B’Elanna might be right, but he was nowhere near
ready to admit that to her or anyone.
* * * * *
Soon after rather greedily consuming her meal the infant nestled
next to Kathryn Janeway, fell quickly asleep. Realizing she was some-
what hungry herself but wanting to wait for Chakotay. Kathryn cau-
tiously rose and walked to the replicator in the other room, ordering a
cup of tea. Taking the steaming mug out of the slot, Kathryn turned to
walk over to the small sofa and nearly dropped the hot liquid at the
same moment she saw him–
“Q!”
With her preoccupation with the baby, she hadn’t even seen the
telltale flash of white light.
The alien smiled, still clad in a Starfleet command uniform he
leaned against the door frame of the bedroom.
“My apologies Kathy, did I startle you?”
Janeway kept her gaze focused on the mug, fighting to keep
from spilling the liquid as she sat it down on the small coffee table.
Only then did she face her nemesis.
“Why are you doing this Q?” She demanded as she folded her
arms across her chest. “What do you hope gain?”
Q smiled as he moved away from the door, “Gain? Why would
you think I–?” At her dubious look he continued, “Alright, I just
wanted to return the favor you and your crew did for me.
Janeway blinked, “Favor? What favor?”
“Have you forgotten so quickly? I’m hurt, Kathy.” He snapped
his fingers and a photograph of `Q’ Jr. appeared, “You helped give me
save the Continuum and in the process provided me with a challenge. I
just wanted to return the favor.”
Just then Janeway heard a familiar hiss as the doors slid open
and she saw Q turn as Chakotay entered the room carrying a dinner
tray. Very nearly dropping Neelix’s casserole surprise when he saw
Janeway’s guest, the former Maquis’ dark gaze narrowed in concern.
Quickly, he set down the tray and took several steps forward to come
to a protective stance next to his Captain.
“Is everything alright, Kathryn?”
“Kathryn?” Q parroted, “My haven’t we gotten familiar. Have I
missed something?”
Janeway gave the Godling a cold look the would have withered
most of her crew, while Chakotay just glared.
“Oh my, you two are just made for each other. Kathy, the Great
Starship Captain and Commander Wilderness, the Mystic Warrior. It
makes one wonder how you’ve withstood temptation for so long.”
“It’s not so hard to understand. It has to do with something,
someone like you would never consider– respect and honor. It’s only
binding tie we need.” Chakotay proclaimed as he took a step toward
the Godling.
“No–” Janeway murmured softly as she placed a hand on the
first officer’s arm. She settled angry eyes on Q, “I want you to send
these children back where they came from. NOW–”
Q looked stunned, “But Kathy, isn’t this what you always
wanted.”
“What I wanted?”
“Yes, you told me you would like to have children someday, just
not with me. So, I thought–”
“So, you thought I would be a good choice.” Chakotay finished
coldly as he advanced a couple more steps, in spite of Janeway’s hold
on him. “What the hell, gives you the right–”
“Chakotay, please. He’s not worth it.”
“I’ll second that–”
Janeway and Chakotay could only watch in bemusement as Q’s
mate or at least her hand, appeared behind him from a glowing portal.
The hand snagged the omnipotent one by his collar and yanked him
backward into the gateway that winked out in his wake.
“There appears to be a bit of domestic trouble in the Q house-
hold.” Janeway mused as she sank down on the sofa.
“Yes, I just wish we could have gotten more out of him first.”
“I don’t think we’ll have to worry. Knowing Q’s nature, he’ll be
back.”
“Right, the question is– When?”
Kathryn shook her head and dropped her face into her hands.
Concerned Chakotay sat down next to her, when Janeway looked up at
him, he saw her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. He was about to
speak when waking cries were heard from the bedroom. In moments,
Kathryn had the her `daughter’ in arms as was making soothing sounds
as she paced the room. From Q’s former vantage point in the door-
way, Chakotay watched as `mother and child’ performed what was to
become a ritual. In the days that would follow, a routine would be de-
veloped among the parenting couples. When one was on duty, the
other was with the child. But what happened when they faced a situa-
tion that required both parents to be gone at the same time. Chakotay
could only hope that time was a long way off.
“What are you thinking?” Kathryn asked in a low tone as she
noted the first officer’s faraway look.
Chakotay smiled slightly, “Just the future–” he murmured. Then
after a moment he snapped his fingers, “Oh, I almost forgot.”
Kathryn followed Chakotay into the living room with the baby
and watched as he stepped outside into the corridor to retrieve some-
thing. It took her a moment to realize what it was– a wooden cradle.
“Oh Chakotay, it’s beautiful. Where did you ever–”
“I started carving it, when I learned about Seska’s baby.” He
admitted as he carrying the cradle into the bedroom and set it at the
foot of the bed. “And then, even after the Kazon were defeated and I
found out the child WASN’T mine, I kept working on it. It was a kind
of therapy, I guess and maybe a hope of the future.”
“I understand, it’s perfect.” Kathryn told him as she gently laid
the now quiet infant inside, making sure she was comfortable and se-
cure among the pillows within. Kathryn gently brushed her fingers
over the intricately carved headboard before moving lightly along var-
nished and sanded sides. They felt smooth and warm beneath her
touch, a great deal of love had been put into this creation of wood.
“Do you think she likes it?” Chakotay whispered as they stood
watching the infant sleep.
“There’s not reason why she wouldn’t, she’s your `daughter’.”
“Yes, I guess she is,” He agreed, then he looked at Janeway. “I
suppose, we should give a name. I have feeling, she not going to be a
`little one’ for long.”
Kathryn smiled at way, he had picked up on her endearment for
the child. She looked up at him in the subdued lighting, his eyes ap-
peared darker than she had ever seen them.
“Okay, you can name her anything you like. BUT–” Janeway
held up a hand as Chakotay started to speak. “You can’t name her after
me.”
“Spoil sport–”
Kathryn chuckled as the two of them remained in silent vigil for
awhile longer.
* * * * *
The Continuum

“Q– Just what did you think you were doing?” Ms. Q de-
manded of her mate.
“I-I just wanted–” Q stammered.
“I KNOW what you wanted. You just can’t get that woman,
THAT pathetic excuse for a lifeform out of your system, can you?
Maybe I should do it for you.”
“NO–” Q bellowed, startling himself as will as the female Q.
Her face turned crimson in shock, she really hadn’t expected this sort
of reaction. Perhaps, she was closer to the truth than she had thought.
Deciding now was not the time to challenge his apparent infatuation
with Janeway, the red-headed Q backed down.
“I’m sorry, dearest. Perhaps, we need a bit of time apart.” Be-
fore Q could answer his mate, she was gone. Sighing, Q looked down
at his forgotten son, who was playing in an asteroid field. Picking up
the boy, Q began to plan his next move.
* * * * *
Captain’s Personal Log, Stardate 49967.9–
In the two weeks, that have passed since the arrival of the three
infants, life on `Voyager’ has been anything but normal. Fitting a
child into your life isn’t easy under the best of circumstances, but
when that child is thrust upon you it’s challenge just to keep going on
an even keel. Yet, against seeming all odds the three children seem to
be thriving and are becoming fixtures in their parents lives. To this
end, the infants in question shall hence forth be called– Hunter Torres
Paris, `son’ of B’Elanna Torres and Thomas Eugene Paris. Kevok,
`son’ of Kes and Tuvok, and lastly, Alaura Kolopak Janeway,
`daughter’ of Kathryn Moira Janeway and Chakotay.

Kathryn Janeway paused in her narration to observe Chakotay
trying without much success to feed their `daughter’, Alaura. The child
having been named for her paternal `grandparents’, Alaura and
Kolopak, at Kathryn’s request. In turn, it had been Chakotay, who in-
sisted on Janeway for the baby’s surname. Kathryn chuckled softly to
herself as another squeal from the child resulted in Chakotay’s shirt
bearing the striking resemblance to a paint splattered smock. The child
had obviously inherited a mischievous streak from somewhere. After
watching a while longer, Janeway returned to the log–

But of course, I must note that these are infants no longer. The
growth of the children is accelerated, they seem to age two weeks for
every day. Given that they were, according the Doctor, approximately
two weeks old when they arrived, each infant is now eight to ten
months old. If this pattern continues, in two to three more weeks
they’ll be talking up a storm and needing even more supervision. It’s a
little overwhelming to me still, I–

“Kathryn–” Chakotay called out.
“Yes, what is?” Kathryn asked as she rose from her desk in the
ready room and moved over to the commander’s side. She saw imme-
diately what was wrong. “What happened? Where’s Alaura?”
“I don’t know. One minute she was here, the next– Poof– She
was gone.” Chakotay and Janeway exchanged looks of dread as they
spoke in unison.
“Q”
* * * * *
In the Hydro/Airponic bay, Kes was busy planting new seed-
lings. A few feet away her `son’ Kevok, played on a blanket, while
Tuvok worked at console nearby. They had, over the last two weeks,
achieved a balance between them. Yet, at times communications was
strained as well as patience.
Spurred by a flash of intuition, Tuvok glanced up suddenly, in
time to see Kes loose her balance and drop to her knees next to their
son. Her eyes squeezed shut in pain, her small hands pressed against
each side of her temple.
“Kes, what is it?” The Vulcan asked concern clearly in his dark
gaze as he quickly crossed the space between them. His hands grasped
her shoulders to steady her.
Fighting against the strange sensation Kes struggled to regain
control of herself, “I-I’m not sure. I’ve never felt anything like this.”
“I’ll alert the Doctor, and we’ll get you to Sickbay.” Tuvok said
as he reached for his commbadge.
Kes stood as her hand shot out to stop him, “No, Tuvok, I’m al-
right. It’s passed now.”
Though they were both now standing Tuvok didn’t release his
hold on her, “Are you certain? This could be something more serious
than it appears.”
Kes shook her head as she forced herself to take a step away
from the security chief, “I appreciate your concern, Tuvok, but I’m
fine now.”
As if sensing his `mother’s’ unbalance Kevok began to cry.
Kes grateful for the distraction leaned down and scooped up the
child rocking him gently, “I think I’ll take Kevok to visit his `Uncle’
Neelix for a little while. It might do us both some good.”
Tuvok nodded and was about to reply when his commbadge
beeped distracting both of them.
“Tuvok–” Chakotay’s concerned voice came back, “There’s
been an incident in the Captain’s Ready Room.”
Tuvok glanced at Kes before nodding as he hit his commbadge,
“I’m on my way, Commander.”
* * * * *
In the Continuum

Q was not used to being angry. He disliked that emotion. It
clouded his mind. However, the antics of his mate earlier had made
him livid. He was glad his son was in another part of the continuum, a
nursery, if you would, so he wouldn’t hear what was about to tran-
spire.
“How dare you talk to me that way!” Q shouted as soon as Ms.
Q reappeared in their home.
His mate’s face turned crimson with fury as she stood toe to toe
with her husband, “How dare `I’ talk to you that way?” She repeated
incredulously, “We need to get some things very clear, dear.” Her tone
was icy. “No one controls me. I do and say as I like.”
Q watched in bemusement as his mate flashed out of their home,
shaking his head as he turned to look at `Voyager’.
“Women–” He muttered as he began to pace, “Oh Kathy, if only
you had agreed to my original proposal. Perhaps, then neither of us
would be in this mess.” Q sighed and plopped down in front of the
television. Tuning into his favorite program as of late, Q was shocked
to hear his name being called by the instigator of his torture. Just what
had his lovely sparing partner gotten herself into now.
* * * * *
“Q–”
Kathryn Janeway called out again as she noted Tuvok’s entrance
to the ready room. “Dammit Q, I want to see you here. NOW–”
“Kathryn–” Chakotay prompted gently, “You know he’s not
going to answer.”
Janeway sighed, “Yes, I know.”
“We are not even sure, he’s behind Alaura’s disappearance.”
“Well, how else could she vanish so suddenly?”
“Perhaps, she was transported by someone on the ship.” Tuvok
supplied as his investigative nature took over. “Or, one of the other
members of the Q Continuum. We cannot be certain it was Q.”
“AND we can’t be certain, it wasn’t. Dammit, I really don’t care
who did it. I just want her back.” Kathryn muttered giving Tuvok a
disgusted took before she turned away from the two men to face the
window and the broad expanse of space beyond. Usually, it was a
view that heartened her, today it brought nothing but pain. Gazing out
into the endless depths a feeling panic washed over her and a voice
screamed in her mind. Kathryn whirled and almost trampled Chakotay
and Tuvok as she plunged past them onto the bridge. And then collided
with Tom Paris as he was moving toward the ready room with
B’Elanna on his heels.
Janeway met Paris’ gray eyes as he steadied her, “Don’t tell me.
Hunter’s missing too.”
“Yeah–” Paris confirmed and did a double take, “What do you
mean, too?”
“Alaura vanished about twenty minutes ago.” Chakotay related
as he came to stand next to Janeway.
“Just what the hell is happening?” Torres demanded, allowing
her emotions to burst forth. Paris put a reassuring arm around her
shoulders . . . AND surprisingly she didn’t flinch away. But his sur-
prise was short lived as B’Elanna moved to stand with Janeway.
“Does it matter . . . we have to find them.” Kathryn extolled as
she headed for the turbolift, B’Elanna was right on her heels. Chako-
tay’s voice caught her as the doors slid open.
“Kathryn, where are you going?”
“To get my `daughter’.” Janeway shot back over her shoulder
and was gone before anyone could react.
“And my `son’– Torres added much to Paris’ own disbelief at
B’Elanna’s sudden motherly concern for Hunter. She had resisted get-
ting close to the child, whereas he, accepted the boy and was more
than welling to love him without prejudice. Now, he was just left in
the dust with his mouth gaping open.
Chakotay, poised to follow, let his shoulders slump in defeat.
`Why did she always have to do that?’ He wondered dispassionately,
`Shut him out, like she was the only one feeling anything. After all
wasn’t HE Alaura’s `Father’–‘
“Commander–”
Chakotay turned to face the cool Security Chief, marveling at
his apparent detachment even as the Vulcan’s commbadge chirped.
They listened silently as Neelix informed them of Kevok’s apparent
disappearance. A call to Sickbay told them that Kes had joined in the
`Mother’s’ frantic search. Still Tuvok seemed unruffled, while Cha-
kotay and Paris wanted to climb the walls.
“Mr. Tuvok–” The first officer prompted when Tuvok failed to
react to the situation. The Security Chief blinked once and turned a
jaundiced eye on the former Maquis.
“Shall I instigate a shipwide search?”
“Yes, by all means. We have to start somewhere.”
The Vulcan nodded and moved to his Security board.
“What about the monitors the children have implanted?
Shouldn’t we be able to locate them that way?” Paris asked as he came
forward to huddle with the other two near the turbolift.
“I’m already working on it.” Harry Kim offered from his station
as his fingers skillfully worked at his console. Two long minutes
passed before Kim found something. “I’ve got them, Commander.
Holodeck Three.”
“Tuvok, are the Captain, Torres and Kes in the vicinity?”
“Affirmative–” The Vulcan answered as he continue to consult
his board. “They are directly outside.”
“Let’s get down there,” Paris prompted going for the exit. Cha-
kotay and Tuvok moved to follow, when Kim’s announcement brought
the trio to an abrupt standstill.
“Commander, the safety protocols have been disengaged.”
“How?” Chakotay demanded.
“Unknown–” Kim paused as he worked at his console a frown
furrowing his brow. Then he slammed a fist down on the board in
frustration. “And I can’t re-initialize them.”
“It’s okay, Harry. Keep trying. We’re going down there. You
have the bridge.” Chakotay ordered as he joined Tuvok and Paris in
the turbolift.
Harry Kim’s nod of acknowledgment was wasted as the turbolift
doors closed.
* * * * *
Q sighed as he stood with his gaze fixed on his `favorite pro-
gram’.
“Guess, I better get over there before she does anything both of
us will regret.” With a flash of white light he was gone.
* * * * *
Kathryn Janeway was angry. More angry then she had ever been
in her life . . . but she didn’t really know why. Or did she? Maybe she
didn’t want to admit, even to herself how much this experience with
Alaura had meant to her. Maybe that was why, she wasn’t about to let
Q OR anyone else, spoil what could be her only chance at motherhood.
Whatever the reason or the cost, Kathryn Janeway was NOT going to
fail this test. She looked at her compatriots in this venture. B’Elanna
Torres was pacing, much like a caged animal. Kes was standing still,
only her hands slowly clenching and unclenching at her side showed
her agitation.
Finally, Kathryn had had enough, “Ladies, it seems we all ad the
same instinct to come here. Now, we have the same problem and there
seems only one way to solve it.”
“Let’s get it there.” Torres said as she began to work at the
Holodeck control panel.
“Captain, just what are we going to do once we’re inside?” Kes
asked.
“I haven’t the faintest idea, Kes. I’m sure it will become clear as
soon as the test begins.”
“Test?” Torres queried as her efforts succeeded and the doors to
the Holodeck opened.
“Yes, I believe that we’re being given a challenge and we must
be prepared to face anything to save our children.” Janeway pro-
nounced evenly as they stepped through.
“But Captain, they aren’t REALLY our children.” Kes quietly
as a mist seemingly from nowhere engulfed them.
Janeway turned and looked at her, “Aren’t they–” Then the
women moved out each following her own instincts.
* * * * *
The turbolift doors had barely slid closed before the first hint of
trouble began.
“Commander, I think the best approach to this situation would
be . . .”
Chakotay turned around, when Tuvok’s sentence ended prema-
turely. The Security Chief had vanished
in a familiar flash of white light.
Tom Paris blinked in surprise, “Leave it to Tuvok, to make a
dramatic exit.”
Chakotay smirked in spite of himself, “I don’t think it was his
choice.” The words were barely out of his mouth when the Turbolift
came to an abrupt halt. “Now what?” He muttered.
Paris braced himself against the wall, “Well, this is nice. What’s
that saying about things happening in three’s?”
“I didn’t think you were the superstitious type, Mr. Paris.” Cha-
kotay replied as he tried the manual override.
“Let’s just say my stint on `Voyager’ has made me a believer.”
Chakotay rolled his eyes and hit his commbadge, “Chakotay to
Tuvok–” Silence. “Chakotay to Janeway–” Again nothing. He shot a
glance at Paris.
“Paris to Kim–” There was no response. “Paris to Torres–”
Nothing. Paris sighed, “I’ll bet, Q is laughing his head off right now.”
“Maybe, but we can’t let him stop us.” Together they attempted
to pry open the doors. They were struck tight. Presently Chakotay’s
gaze wandered to the ceiling. “So, Paris, how are you at climbing?”
Paris followed his gaze, “You’ve got to be kid–” Paris never got
a chance to finish as he disappeared leaving Chakotay to his own de-
vices.
* * * * *
Ensign Harry Kim did a double take as Tuvok suddenly reap-
peared on the bridge. Only this time he was hanging upside down in
midair, directly above the Captain’s chair. It took all of Harry’s will
power to keep a straight face as he asked, “Tuvok, what are you do-
ing?”
“It would appear, Mr. Kim, that I am hanging around.” Tuvok
replied in his usual matter-of-fact tone, “Now, would you be so kind as
to find a way to get me down from here?”
The young ensign forced down a barely contained laugh as he
replied, “Yes sir. Right away, sir.”
* * * * *
The moment Kes moved into the mist, away from the other
`mothers’, she found herself on a barren planet. A world much like the
home she had left. Complete, she noted with a Kazon encampment.
Moved slowly, toward the grouping of shelters, Kes heard a muffled
cry.
“Kevok–” She whispered as she saw him surrounded by a group
of Kazon children. They were taunting him mercilessly.
“Mother–”
Kes heard the name but it wasn’t spoken aloud, it was in her
head.
“Kevok, it’s all right.”
“Mother, what do I do?” The boy, looking to be about four
years old, thought back to his `mother.
Kes pondered for a moment, then, “Don’t act frightened. Stand
up. Face your attackers. Show them you’re not afraid.”
Kevok allowed a crafty smile to curve his lips, he spoke aloud,
“You are behaving in an illogical manner. I have nothing of value.”
The Kazon children looked baffled. One sneered, “Then you will
die, Ocampa slave.”
“I am, also Vulcan and that makes me your better.”
“How can you, a weakling and a baby, be MY better.”
“Looks can be deceiving, Kazon.” Kevok changed as he
straightened and stared at his antagonist. “How am I doing, Mother?”
The boy asked mentally.
“That’s excellent, Kevok. They started the war, now you must
finish it. Quickly, use your wits and turn his aggressiveness against
him.” Kes advised as she saw the Kazon boy charge at her `son’.
Kevok neatly sidestepped the onrushing child, who slid and fell face
first into the dirt.
“Anger clouds your actions, Kazon.” Kevok intoned with an
arching eyebrow, a gesture reminiscent of his `father’. The other chil-
dren stepped back for Kevok in awe and fear. The Ocampa had beaten
the strongest of them, without lifting a finger. They were not about to
stick around and find out what else he could do. So, without a back-
ward glance the throng of children scattered.
“Well done,” Kes said as she joined Kevok, putting a hand on
his shoulder. In seconds, they were outside the Holodeck and together
they waited for the others to join them.
* * * * *
“Well, aren’t you just going to stare or are you going to get me
down from here?” Tom Paris demanded as he suddenly materialized
standing atop the stove Neelix’s kitchen each of his feet encased in a
pot of the Talaxian’s special of the day. Neelix was livid.
“What’s this?! Got out of my Easegmonte`!!”
“Oh, is that what you call it. Well, it feels like wet cement.”
Paris groaned as he tried to extricate himself only to have pot and all
come along.
Neelix in a dither was mumbling to himself, “I work my fingers
to the bone to make something special and this big oaf, decides to soak
his feet in it.”
“Neelix, I’d say I was sorry, but it wasn’t my fault. So, could
you just please get me down.”
Still muttering, the ship’s moral officer hit his commbadge to
request assistance.
* * * * *
Q was almost rolling with glee as he watched the predicament of
the `fathers’. He had to give his lovely mate credit, she had imagina-
tion. But she also, seemed to have managed to prevent him from inter-
vening when it came to Janeway and her companions. Of course, he
could watch things transpire but he couldn’t help. Thus he had re-
turned to his spot in front of the television.
“Well, my boy–” Q murmured to his son as the boy joined him.
“I suppose, we just have to wait and see what your mother comes up
with next.
“Dada, play–” The little Q said clapping his hands.
Q smiled and lifted the boy. Bouncing him on his knee, Q kept
one eye on `Voyager’ and the events taking place.
* * * * *
B’Elanna Torres impatiently batted back thick foliage as she
trudged forward. The landscape spread out before her was primeval,
perhaps, drawn from her own Klingon background. At this point,
B’Elanna really didn’t care about the scenery, her only goal was to get
to Hunter. As if in answer, the foliage suddenly thinned to expose a
clearing, just a cry rent the air. B’Elanna ran to the middle of the
clearing to see Hunter cornered against a large boulder by a Klingon
Targ.
Forcing herself to stay calm B’Elanna called to her `son’,
“Hunter, don’t move. It’s alright, I’m coming for you.”
“Momma-” The boy, who now appeared to be about four years
old, whimpered held out his arms to her. The Targ let out a low growl
as the child moved.
“Hunter, listen to me,” B’Elanna said her voice low and as reas-
suring as she could make it. “You have to be still. Don’t talk. Don’t
move. Not even a little.” She instructed edging closer to the pair, while
lifting a large tree branch as a makeshift club. “Please Hunter, look at
me and nod, just once. If you understand.”
The boy found his `mother’s’ brown eyes with frightened gray
ones, his bottom lip trembled as he lowered his chin in the slightest of
nods. B’Elanna flashed him an encouraging smile. Working her way to
directly behind the Targ, the half-Klingon engineer brought her
weapon down with all her strength on the back of the Targ’s head.
Beast let out a roar as it reared back in pain.
“Hunter run!!” Torres yelled as she braced herself for the Targ’s
attack. It never came. All B’Elanna saw was a brilliant flash, then she
and Hunter were outside the Holodeck with Kes and Kevok. Only one
challenge remained . . . that of Kathryn and Alaura Janeway.
* * * * *
After what had to the longest time, Chakotay got himself out of
the turbolift. He climbed back up the shaft for several levels, until he
found a door that opened for him. Not wasting any time, the former
Maquis headed for the Holodeck but this time he took the Jefferies
Tubes, he arrived at his destination at the same moment, B’Elanna and
Hunter appeared to join Kes and Kevok. With Tuvok and Paris arriv-
ing minutes behind, after being sidelined. In silence, Chakotay and
the others listened to the stories of the challenges the two `mothers’
had faced. Chakotay feared for Kathryn and Alaura, it seemed to him
the dangers the `mother’ had to face to save her child were getting pro-
gressively worse. Could . . . would they be able to survive? The simple
fact was only Q knew.
* * * * *
Then again, perhaps he didn’t.
Q was getting antsy. His mate may be going a little to far with
her labors. He really SHOULD do something.
“And just WHAT do YOU think you could do, my dear.” Ms. Q
asked as she suddenly appeared in front of him.
“I could– Well, maybe . . .”
“I think, you should worry about yourself and leave the object of
your infatuation to me.” Ms. Q advised.
“I’ll leave things alone. Just be sure you don’t do any real
harm.”
“It’s all a matter of interpretation, my love.”
Again, Q watched helplessly as his mate vanished to complete
her plans. Q decided he had to do some heavy thinking, about a way he
could intervene if it became necessary. Then, he hit upon an idea, and
with a snap of his fingers he followed his female counterpart into
oblivion with Q the younger in tow.
* * * * *
Kathryn Janeway was in a fine mess. Instead of the mist thin-
ning as she moved out from the other `mothers’, it thickened. So thick
in fact, she couldn’t see her hand in front of her face, much less any-
thing else. Still, she plunged forward as the air turned heavy and took
on a rank, damp smell. It seemed almost . . . familiar. It wasn’t until
Kathryn heard an unearthly howl, that she was convinced she’s been to
this place before. Urtea II, the Cardassian Outpost where she, Admiral
Owen Paris and Justin Tighe had barely escaped with their lives. It had
been over seventeen years, and she could remember like it was yester-
day. Kathryn knew what the howling was now, Toskanar Dogs.
A new kind of fear gripped Kathryn, it made her heart feel like
it was being turned inside out. Was this what happened in that strange
maternal bond between mother and child? When nothing else mattered
but saving that special person, that you–yourself had created and nur-
tured. Alaura–
As Kathryn’s heart whispered the name, a swirling gust of wind
parted the mist and she saw them. Alaura and . . . Gul Camet, it
shouldn’t be possible but there he was. AND he was looking directly at
her–
“Well, if it isn’t, the lovely Ensign Kathryn Janeway of the
United Federation of Planets,” Gul Camet drawled as he kept a heavy
hand on Alaura, who, much to Kathryn’s surprise, appeared to be
about four years old. But she was still equally recognizable as her and
Chakotay’s daughter. “I was wondering when we would meet again.”
He smiled maliciously, “but it isn’t `Ensign’ anymore, is it? You’ve
become one of Starfleet’s finest, Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Star-
ship `Voyager’. The Admiral and your precious Justin would be
proud.”
“What the HELL, do you know about Justin?” Kathryn de-
manded as she took a step closer. Her blue-gray eyes met the little
girl’s deep brown gaze with reassuring look in them. Child hedged a
brave smile for her `mother’.
The Gul seemed not to notice the exchange as he gloated, “I
know many things. And I’m sorry, Captain, that you don’t understand
my presence here. It just makes, what I have to do, that much harder.”
Slowly, he withdrew something for the pouch at his waist. It was the
control for the implant, he had used to torture Admiral Paris, all those
years ago.
Recognizing the object, Kathryn tamped down the sudden rush
of panic that raged over her being. Still, her voice revealed nothing of
her inner struggle as she spoke. To the listener, it was a rich sound
with a timbre that resonated like a cymbal– “I UNDERSTAND, all
TOO well. AND I will not allow you to harm my child.”
“Spoken like a true mother but are you willing to go the distance
for her.” Camet taunted as he ran a caressing hand over Alaura’s
golden-red locks. The child tried to twist away but to no avail as Ca-
met held her fast. “Well, Captain, I’m waiting for an answer.”
Kathryn kept her gaze fixed on Alaura as she mulled over this
situation. Something wasn’t right here, that much was certain. Then
she, hit upon it . . . no matter how annoying or self-righteous Q could
be . . . he was never deliberately malicious or hurtful. No, this wasn’t
Q’s doing at all. It was–
“I wondering, how long it was going to take you.” A disembod-
ied saucy voice said as Gul Camet as well as everything on the
Holodeck disappeared in a blinding flash. And then a second later, she
was standing with Chakotay and the other `parents’ on the familiar
yellow and black grid . . . Alaura was in her arms. The child buried her
face against her `Mother’s’ neck as Kathryn hugged her fiercely. Cha-
kotay wrapped his own arms around them both as they were allowed a
moment of peace. A minute later, Ms. Q appeared in all her impetuous
glory. “How touching to see a family reunited.”
Kathryn pressed Alaura into Chakotay’s arms as she moved to
stand face to face with the female Q, “Why have you done this?”
“It was test. The challenge you perceived it to be.”
“And did we pass?” B’Elanna Torres demanded as she stood
with Tom Paris and Hunter in the tight group they had established with
Tuvok, Kes and Kevok. Chakotay, Kathryn and Alaura were slightly
apart from them.
“Yes–” Ms. Q admitted, “It surprised me that you managed so
well.”
“So, what now?” Kes asked quietly, “Will you repeat, this little
escapade with the children’s father?”
“No, I–” Ms. Q began then canted her head slightly to the side
as she seemed to perceive something that was beyond the humans.
Suddenly, she let out a scream of outrage, “Q!!” And she vanished.
The `Voyager’ group exchanged perplexed looks and Kathryn
Janeway looked fit to be tied, she faced the group with a furious ex-
pression. “Dammit, I didn’t get a chance to–”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll get rematch.” Chakotay told her
as he put a hand on her shoulder. “In the meantime, let’s get this guys
to Sickbay.”
Kathryn stared at the former Maquis for a moment, then her lips
curved into a smile, “Okay–” And with Alaura between them, each
with a hand, followed closely by the others, they headed off the
Holodeck.
* * * * *
In the Continuum

Ms. Q was seething. Q had really gone and done it this time.
Her son was nowhere to be found. Well, she’s show him. She wasn’t
one to be trifled with. Both Q and the half-wit crew of `Voyager’
would learn a hard lesson this day.
* * * * *
USS `Voyager’

It was a miracle.
That’s all the Doctor would say after the children’s jaunt on the
Holodeck. A miracle, that all of them had come out of it without a
scratch. Still, he decided to keep all three in Sickbay overnight, just to
be safe. With the children under the doctor’s watchful care, the senior
officers regrouped in the conference room.
Captain Kathryn Janeway was furious. If it was one thing she
hated it was being used and manipulated. And that exactly was what Q
and his mate had done. For the last time.
“If anyone has a plan, now would be a good time to speak up.”
Janeway stated as she sat down in her chair at the head of the table
with Chakotay at her left.
“Perhaps I can help, Kathy.”
All heads snapped forward as Q materialized levitating above
the center of the table. His legs were folded Indian style. The Starfleet
uniform was gone in its place was a bright flowered Hawaiian shirt.
The blonde helmsman was instantly on his feet, “You have a lot
of nerve showing your face here, Q! Those children are innocent! How
could you even think of putting them in harms way?”
Q’s chuckle brought Paris’s tirade to an abrupt halt the young
man’s eyes narrowed into slits, “You think this is funny?!”
“Tom–” Janeway said warningly, “This isn’t Q’s doing.”
Q turned so he was facing `Voyager’s’ captain, “Kathy, I always
knew you had brains as well as beauty.”
“Why is she doing this Q?” Janeway asked rising out of her
chair placing her hands, palms downward on the table’s surface.
Q smiled innocently, “Who?”
Chakotay glared at the alien, “She asked you a question, Q.”
The Native American commander didn’t raise his voice but the threat
was clearly there.
B’Elanna Torres placed a hand on Paris’ shoulder urging him to
sit down. Paris glared at her slightly but complied.
Q folded his hands behind his head as he reclined into a more
comfortable position clearly enjoying the power he held.
“My lovely mate appears to be having a little fun.”
That got under Torres’ skin as the half Klingon engineer shot to
her feet walking around to Paris’ right, “Fun?! These are people’s lives
your `Mate’ is playing with!”
“B’Elanna!” Paris whispered urgently as he half stood.
Then before anyone, could move the Chief Engineer disap-
peared in a brilliant flash of white light.
* * * * *
In the Continuum

“There that should get their attention,” Ms. Q mused as she be-
gan to formulate her next move. All the while, her mind was searching
the continuum for the slightest inkling as to the whereabouts of her
son. “One way or another Q is going to pay for his flirtations with that
WOMAN and appropriately, so is she.”
* * * * *
USS `Voyager’

The calm of the conference room was now organized chaos.
“A security team is already on its way to sickbay.” Tuvok re-
plied to Janeway’s unasked order.
Paris had to fight to keep a reign on his temper, “Bring her back
Q. NOW!”
Janeway sent a warning glare to her helmsman before focusing
her attention on Q, “I suggest you do as he asks, Q.” Her voice the
calm in the surrounding storm.
“I’m afraid that’s out of my power, Kathy, I can’t.” Q replied
softly.
Tom Paris’ fear for B’Elanna intensified, “What do you mean,
you CAN’T?!”
Q rolled his eyes, “Just what I said, what she does is out of my
control.”
“She’s your mate,” Chakotay interjected.
Q nodded, “Precisely.”
Just as Paris was about to leap onto the table and strangle Q,
when the Comm-system brought a call from Sickbay and at request a
videolink was established.
The Doctor cleared his voice, “If I could have everyone’s atten-
tion?” Once assured that all eyes were on him the hologram continued,
“Good. Mr. Paris, you’ll be relieved to know that Ms. Torres is here in
Sickbay.”
Paris closed his eyes briefly in relief.
Janeway detected something in the Doctor’s voice, “What is it,
Doctor?”
“I’m afraid Lieutenant Torres has fallen into a coma from un-
known causes. Her prognosis is grave.” Paris was out of his chair and
halfway to the door before the Doctor even finished. But it was Jane-
way’s voice and the question she asked, that brought him up short.
“Doctor, are the children alright?”
“The children, I–”
The Doctor was interrupted as support monitors sounded a
medical alert with furious beeping.
“Captain, I think you and the others better get down here now.”
There was only a brief exchange of horrified looks before all
those assembled vacated the conference room. They left, a slightly be-
wildered Q –all by his lonesome.
* * * * *
Tom Paris was at loss. Moments before he had plunged into
Sickbay, only to be halted in his tracks by the sights and sounds that
greets him. B’Elanna Torres on a bio-bed in coma, dying as the Doctor
worked to save her. At the same time, the children, who had been fine
an hour ago, also lapsed into comas one by one. Now, those sights and
sounds were permanently etched in his memory. As he stood out of the
way with the other senior officers, Paris realized just how much the
last few weeks had meant to him. The was nothing he could do, the
Doctor refused to let him near enough to help as the EMH battled to
save B’Elanna. So, Paris turned to the children as did the others —
Janeway and Chakotay to Alaura’s bedside, Tuvok and Kes to Kevok’s
as he moved to Hunter’s side noting the boy had the better vitals of the
three. Having some medical training, Paris did what he could until the
Doctor joined him along with Kes. It was quite a sight, all of them
working feverishly for hours to save the young lives but in the end,
both Kevok and Alaura simply slipped away. Someone would pay for
these. Paris silently vowed as hovered near over Hunter, who was
somehow holding on. One way or another they would pay.
* * * * *
Normally, when he entered Sickbay, Chakotay found it an oddly
comforting place but this day it almost terrified him. Probably, because
what had transpired there in the last few hours. Or maybe, it was the
image of B’Elanna Torres laid out on a bio-bed with Tom Paris at her
side, his hand tightly clinched around the Engineer’s as he quietly
talked her. Then again, perhaps it was the sight of the Captain speak-
ing softly to Hunter Paris who lay on another bed as her fingers
brushed blonde hair from a damp ridged brow. Mostly likely, it was
ALL of the above. Silently, almost reverently Chakotay came to stand
beside Kathryn Janeway.
“How is he?”
Janeway spoke without shifting her attention, “He’s just hanging
on.”
“And B’Elanna?”
“The same . . . she and Hunter appear to be linked. What hap-
pens to one, happens to the other. AND according to Q, for one to live,
the other has to die. It’s like the incident with the two `Voyagers’
drawing from one source of antimatter.”
Chakotay nodded as he heard the sadness in her voice, “I’m sur-
prised, Tom, is sticking this out.”
“Frankly, I think, so is he,” Janeway murmured, “But then he
has an awful decision to make.”
“Yeah, I don’t know if I could make that kind of choice; your
child or the person you love.” Chakotay admitted.
“I know, but we were never given that chance–” Janeway whis-
pered as she looked at him, their eyes meeting for a lingering moment
before she redirected Chakotay’s attention to Kes and Tuvok standing
closely in the Doctor’s office talking with the EMH. The Vulcan ap-
peared almost aloof in his manner, but the hand on Kes’ shoulder be-
layed his true feelings. “They’ve been like that for an hour.” Janeway
commented softly as she dropped her gaze to Hunter.
Frustrated anger flashed across the commander’s dark features,
“Q’s doing this. Why?”
Janeway sighed, “If this were truly Q’s doing, he would not be
showing up so often.”
“I wouldn’t put it past him to stay close, just to gloat.”
Janeway shook her head, “No, not this time. I believe he’s being
genuine in his protests of innocence but I–”
“What?” Chakotay urged gently noting the fatigue reflected on
her face and in her posture. It hadn’t really sunk in yet, that the child
they had sacrificed and cared for, was gone.
“I’m almost sure, he knows more than he’s telling. May have
even had a hand in it all, in the beginning at least. Though I suspect his
mate, wields the heaviest of hands.”
“All this because she’s jealous of Q’s–” Chakotay paused
searching for the right word.
“Fascination–” Janeway supplied simply, her voice sounding
distant.
Chakotay nodded, “His fascination with you. I would think the
Q were beyond that sort of thing.”
“Arrogance and ego are a match, taken to the extreme with these
two.”
“No argument here.”
Janeway didn’t reply and Chakotay wasn’t sure what he should
do but he didn’t want to leave her here. He laid a gentle hand on her
shoulder and felt her tense slightly.
“Look, you’re exhausted. Let me walk you back to your quar-
ters.”
Janeway released another sigh and rose from her seat. Her gaze
wandered to Paris and Torres. The sandy blonde haired man sitting
next to the bio-bed looked up at that moment and offered his brand of
misery to his captain. Their eyes connected blue and blue, one drawing
the strength, the other giving and vise versa. It was a long moment be-
fore contact was broken and a grim smile of understanding was ex-
changed. Then and only then, did Janeway allow herself to be escorted
from Sickbay.
* * * * *
Tom Paris watched the captain and first officer leave then re-
turned his gaze to the woman beside him. “Come-on B’Elanna,” he
urged softly, “you gotta wake up. Please. The ship needs you. Hunter .
. . hell, I need you–” Paris tightened his grip on the small hand within
his own. He was concentrating so hard, he didn’t hear the soft footfalls
behind him.
“Tom–”
Paris looked up startled.
“Kes, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you.”
The Ocampa smiled slightly and put a hand on his shoulder,
“It’s okay,” she murmured. “Look, I’ll stay with B’Elanna, why don’t
you go get some rest.”
Paris shook his head, “I can’t–”
“Tom, I understand,” Kes tightened her grip on his shoulder and
it made him look into her bright blue eyes. “I really do, but you need to
make a choice. A choice, neither I nor Tuvok had to make. AND you
can’t do that, until you clear your head.”
“Kes, I don’t know if I can. I mean, I love them both, who am I
to decide who lives and who dies.” Paris agonized as he reached up to
grip the Ocampa’s small hand in his. “No matter what I chose,
B’Elanna or Hunter, one of them will die. Why do I have to do this?
You didn’t. The Captain didn’t. Chakotay– DAMMIT! WHY ME?”
He finally cried out in frustration as he suddenly rose and moved away
from Kes.
“At least, YOU have a choice.” Kes returned in a forceful tone,
that shocked Paris.
Instantly, Paris dropped his hand from Kes’ as his expression
turned sheepish. In his own pain and anger, he had forgotten about
what everyone else was going through.
Paris stepped forward and drew the small woman into an em-
brace, gently resting his head on top of hers.
“Forgive me, Kes,” Paris said softly, “I am being selfish. I tend
to get so involved in my own problems, I forget what’s going on
around me.” He pulled back far enough so he could look in his friend’s
eyes, “I’m so sorry about Kevok. If there’s anything I can do for you or
Tuvok–”
Kes smiled warmly as she reached up to gently touch Tom’s
right cheek, “There’s nothing to forgive, Tom. We’ve all been through
a lot the last few weeks.” She paused looking down at B’Elanna’s still
form, “Now get out of here, get something to eat and catch an hour or
two of sleep. I’ll stay with B’Elanna.”
Paris’ feet wouldn’t obey his commands to move, “I don’t want
to leave her.” He replied softly.
Kes gently placed a hand on his right shoulder turning him
around and giving him a gentle shove toward the door, “I understand
what you’re feeling Tom, but you won’t do either of them any good, if
you collapse.”
Paris looked back at Torres, “Alright, I am a little tired.” He
admitted, “AND hungry.”
Kes nodded, “I already told Neelix you were coming and he’s
making up something called `casserole surprise’. You know how
Neelix gets when he’s disappointed.”
In spite of the circumstances Paris grinned, “Yeah, we wouldn’t
want to disappoint ol’Neelix. He might start experimenting again.”
Again, Paris looked past Kes to Torres.
“I’ll be right back, luv,” Tom said softly as he blew her a kiss,
“Don’t even think of going anywhere.”
Kes watched with a bittersweet expression as Tom stopped by
Hunter’s bed for several minutes. The helmsman didn’t say a word to
his son but seemed to give him silent encouragement with a tender
smile.
When Paris finally left Sickbay, Kes sank wearily into the chair
next to B’Elanna’s bed as she looked up at the ceiling sending off a
prayer to whomever may be listening. “Please let this nightmare have a
happy ending for someone.”
* * * * *
Kathryn Janeway took two steps into her quarters and immedi-
ately froze as memories of Alaura came at her with unforgiving force.
Chakotay blocked her escape path as his strong hands gently grasped
her shoulders forcing her to stop, “Kathryn–” He began his own face
etched with sadness.
Janeway shook her head fiercely as she sank to her knees, her
eyes squeezed shut against the tears. As her hands moved to cover her
face Chakotay grasped them within his own as he knelt before her,
“Chakotay, please, just let me go. I can’t stay here–”
“Kathryn, this room holds the same memories for me as well.”
Chakotay began softly as he tenderly placed a hand under her chin
forcing her to meet his gaze, “But it’s not going anywhere, we have to
face the sadness sometime, so we can look back at our `daughter’ with
only happiness.”
The tears started as soon as he began speaking and seemed to go
faster when she heard his voice catch on the phrase `our daughter’.
“Why did this happen, Chakotay? After everything we . . . I– I
tried, I really did.” Janeway whispered between choked sobs as her
head rested against his chest, her hands clutching at his tunic, “For
seventeen years, I allowed Gul Camet to continue his tortures, never
really standing up to an old nightmare. That is until he threatened
Alaura. There was no way he was going to hurt her.” Chakotay was
dumbfounded by these revelations. He had no idea she had ever been
captured by the Cardassians. He realized Q or his mate, had used this
old adversary to test Janeway’s commitment to Alaura. And she had
succeeded in facing her own demons to save her `daughter’ but–
“Why wasn’t it enough for the Q?”
Chakotay gently urged her to stand then moved them over to the
small sofa and sat down rocking her tenderly, “I wish I had the an-
swers, Kathryn, but I don’t.” The former Maquis commander replied
softly as he brushed a stray auburn lock away from her forehead, “I
promise you and Alaura, one thing . . . I will make the Q pay for this,
one way or another.”
“Big words, Chief,” Q mused as he suddenly appeared next to
Janeway on the sofa. “But do you have the means to back them up?”
With lightening speed, Chakotay released Kathryn and grabbed
Q by his uniform and pulled him to his feet, “How’s this?” The God-
ling yelped as he struggled to get loose, amazingly without using the
powers of the Q.
“STOP IT!!” Kathryn yelled at them as she huddled on the sofa.
“Both of you, just stop!” She entreated burying her face in her hands.
“Now, see what you did, Chuckles,” Q moaned impudently.
“What I– You–” Chakotay growled as tightened his hold and
lifting Q several inches of the floor.
“ENOUGH!!”
The two men broke apart as a furious flash filled the room and
Ms. Q made her presence known. Q and Chakotay blinked at her as
they lay on their backs.
The female Q stood over them her hands on her hips, “This has
gone on long enough. Q–” She stared down at her mate. “Bring our
son back.”
“Of course, dearest–” Q complied with a snap of his fingers.
Nanoseconds later, Q the younger, appeared looking much like a
human five year old. He looked at the `adults’ on the floor, then at his
mother finally settling his gaze on Janeway. Without a word, he
climbed up on the sofa and almost hesitantly placed a hand on her
shoulder.
“Aunt Kathy–” Q Jr. started to say but stopped when she didn’t
respond. “Please, Aunt Kathryn, it’s over. Everything’s going to be
okay.”
“No–” Janeway whispered shaking her head.
“Humans–” Ms. Q said icily, “A little emotional trauma and
they crumble.” She looked at Janeway with disdain, “I can’t see how
Q, thought, this woman was any different. It makes me sick to even
think–”
“Shut-up, Mother–” Q Jr. ordered with a hard edge to his voice.
He then turned back to Janeway saying in a softer tone. “Aunt Kath-
ryn, what has happened here is regrettable, but–”
Janeway jerked up her head at that, “Regrettable–” She choked
out, trying vainly to keep herself in check and regain composure. “Re-
grettable, you say, yes, I suppose from your point of view it is.” Her
telling azure gaze centered directly on the young Godling, pinning him
in place. “But consider mine, ours–” She glanced at Chakotay, who
responded with a reaffirming nod. “We were given, a gift. A surprise
to be sure, but never rejected. It tasked us to be our best, to give our
gift, our daughter . . .” Her quavered slightly as she bite back tears, “. .
. all we had to offer. She made us come together in a way, we had been
afraid to and we’ll always to grateful to her part. But understand, with-
out her everything we had is gone. Alaura’s–” Kathryn struggled to get
the name out as Chakotay returned to her side on the sofa. Putting an
arm around her trembling shoulders, he took the entreaty when she
couldn’t continue.
“Alaura’s abrupt departure. The fact that she was unceremoni-
ously ripped away from us, has tainted the gift, that was the child,
whom we had come to love and to cherish as any parent would.”
“Oh please–” Ms. Q taunted.
“Not now–” Q Sr. advised harshly as he sat joined the group on
the sofa, next to his son.
“Right, like you’re the model of parenthood,” The female Q
scoffed under her breath as she folded her arms and leaned against the
wall next to the door.
Q Jr. looked from his mother to his father a smile creeping on
his lips, “You understand now. Don’t you, Father.”
Q smiled at his son, “Yes, finally. I think I do.” He caught
Janeway’s eye and slowly nodded. “You were right, Kathy. Being a
parent, requires more than creating a life and walking away. It’s more
than letting someone else care for it, do the hard part, so to speak. It’s
standing by the child, no matter what. Giving guidance, teaching by
example and sacrificing everything, even your own life for the sake of
that child. This is what love is all about, isn’t it?”
“Oh yes,” Janeway agreed as she now rose, Chakotay followed
her but stayed a discrete distance away, while she moved to stand be-
fore the windows. “But what was the cost for your education, Q? Two,
three, maybe four lives if B’Elanna dies. Tell me, where DID those
children come from . . . really?” She turned to them then, her arms
folded and woeful expression on her face, “Or do I already know?”
* * * * *
Tom Paris felt tired. More tired that had ever been on his life.
But sleep wouldn’t come for him. When Kes had urged him from
Sickbay, he had gone directly to his quarters, showered and changed,
not even looked at the bed or the makeshift crib set up in one corner.
Fifteen minutes after entering, he was striding down the corridor, to-
ward the Mess hall. That’s where Harry Kim found him almost an
hour later.
“Tom–”
Paris looked up blankly. Kim accepted this as recognition and
took the chair opposite him. The young ensign said nothing for several
minutes, not knowing quite what to say.
Paris saved him the trouble, “You know, I never thought things
would end up like this.” Kim nodded obligingly, but didn’t say any-
thing. “B’Elanna and I . . . hell, we were just getting started. Then all
of a sudden we’re parents.” He shoved the plate of Neelix’s something
or other away from him. “Dammit Harry, what am I supposed to do
here?”
“Only the best you can, Tom, you can’t ask more than that. No
one can.” Kim provided with a wisdom that seemed beyond him.
“Paris shook his head, “It’s not enough. Not, for this . . . this
goes past what I want, what I can do. I’m not God.”
“Maybe it’s not God who’s needed.”
Paris met Kim’s soft brown eyes with a furious glint to his own
bright blue. It softened as he considered those wisely spoken words.
Then his eyebrow arched high and that familiar cocky grin spread
across his features.
“Damn Harry, you’ve hit on it.”
Kim looked puzzled, “What?” And could only watch as Paris
got to his feet and sprinted from the room.
* * * * *
Four sets of eyes looked at Kathryn Janeway with varying levels
of surprise at her last statement. Chakotay’s surprise turned quickly to
puzzlement as Q let out a low chuckle.
“Oh Kathy . . . may you never cease to amaze me.”
“It’s the only explanation . . . Kevok, Hunter and Alaura . . .
they’re the children of the Q. Sent here to learn from us, things that the
Q could never teach. Compassion, trust . . . love.”
“Q, you didn’t?” Ms. Q uttered in an astonished voice.
“Yes, and I got to help.” Q Jr. piped up with pride.
Chakotay shook his head, “Why the pretense? Why didn’t you
just tell us what you wanted.”
Janeway stepped up and placed a hand on Chakotay’s arm, “Be-
cause it had to be real, without . . . in our case . . . pretense.”
“Exactly–”
“BUT-it-was-still-wrong,” Janeway proclaimed, pronouncing
each word as if it stood alone.
“Yes, but–”
“Sickbay to the Captain–”
Startled by the call from the EMH, it took Janeway a moment to
answer as she tried to compose herself. Finally, she answered, “Jane-
way here–”
“Captain, I thought you would like to know, Lieutenant Torres
is awake and responsive.”
“That’s wonderful news, Doctor. How’s Hunter?”
There was an obvious hesitation on the other end of the
Commlink, then muffled conversation. Then–
“Paris here, Captain. Hunter is gone.”
Janeway hung her head as her vision clouded. She barely heard
the rest of what Paris was saying.
“It happened, just after B’Elanna woke up. He spoke to us and
then just faded away.” Paris’ voice cracked with emotion.
“Understood, Tom, I’m glad you were able to say good-bye.”
“Me too.”
“Take care of B’Elanna, we’ll be down to see you soon.”
“Aye, Captain–” Paris acknowledged as the link closed.
A deadly silence filled Janeway’s quarters as the exchanged
ended and the Captain directed a shattered look at the `Q’. Chakotay
took the lead.
“There it’s done, now, why don’t you leave.”
Q seemed to balk at the notion until his mate and son inter-
vened.
“He’s right, Q. The novelty here has more than worn off.”
“It’s time, Father–” The young Q advised quietly yet his gaze
never left Janeway and Chakotay. The Commander had slipped his
arms around his Captain, gently drawing her into a comforting em-
brace. The boy smiled slightly as his Mother literally dragged his father
back to the Continuum. They knew, he would follow. After watching
the human couple for a few more moments, the first of a new genera-
tion of `Q’, smiled as he whispered, “Have faith, Aunt Kathryn, you’ll
have your wish.” Then he vanished in the blink of an eye.
* * * * *
Two days later

Kathryn Janeway released a soft sigh as she stared out the ob-
servation window in her ready room. `Voyager’s’ crew was finally
back to normal, more or less. They all had struggled in the past couple
of days to put the incident with the children and Q behind them. Of
course, this was harder for some than for others.
Neelix and Harry Kim, had been left out of the loop. They sym-
pathized with their friends but really had no idea what they had been
through. Not so with, Tuvok and Kes, but they had accepted loss of
Kevok, especially since he had been able to communicate with his
foster parents telepathically. Though Janeway was sure he would not
be forgotten, Kevok would be missed.
Then there was B’Elanna Torres and Tom Paris, neither seemed
inclined to discuss Hunter. Although Paris had related to her and Cha-
kotay that deciding to die himself, rather then let anything happen to
his `family’, had made a lasting impression on him. So much so, that
ship’s rumor had it that he and B’Elanna were becoming quite an item.
Perhaps, there was a true Torres-Paris offspring on the horizon. Faced
with these happening and possibilities Both Janeway and Chakotay
had given their blessing to the relationship.
That left, them, Captain and First Officer, to deal with their own
feelings about what had occurred. Janeway sighed again and closed
her eyes resting her chin in her hand. It would have so much easier if
Q hadn’t interfered. Hadn’t taken it upon himself to give her, what he
proclaimed to be, she wanted. But at what price? Shaking her head
sadly, Janeway opened her eyes and was started to find herself no
longer in the ready room, but was sitting under a tree overlooking a
field.
“Kathryn–”
Janeway got to her feet as she saw Chakotay coming toward her.
“Chakotay, what’s–” She stopped as she saw a strange look in
his eye. The commander was no longer looking at her, but beyond,
over her shoulder. Turning, Kathryn Janeway focused on the grassy
meadow spread out before her and a small figure running toward them,
sun-kissed auburn hair streaming behind her. Kathryn gripped Chako-
tay’s arm tightly as her lips formed a name, “Alaura–”
“Mama. Papa.” The child cried out to them.
And suddenly, she was there in their arms as they dropped their
knees among the tall grasses. The three of them stayed that way for a
long moment, until finally, Alaura, herself separated to sit cross-legged
in front of her `parents’. Kathryn and Chakotay followed the example
of the child who appeared as last they saw her, that of a human four
year old. She regarded the adults solemnly when, she spoke it was in
voice and wisdom that should have been beyond her physical age.
“You have many questions, I know,” Alaura ventured her fea-
tures reflecting an inner a tranquillity as well as traces of her parent-
age. Dark brown eyes looked out from a heart-shaped face, that mir-
rored the fierce spirit of her `mother’ but also the gentle manner of her
`father’. Her surrogate parents could not help be effected.
“Yes, many questions–” Kathryn answered in the same calm
tone Alaura was using.
“But also, we, thank you–” Chakotay responded likewise fol-
lowing his captain’s lead.
The child nodded as she smiled, “I also, thank you and apolo-
gize.”
“Apologize– For what?” Chakotay asked.
“For leaving, the way that I did. But I had no choice, if I had, I
would stayed for as long as you wanted me.”
“But you couldn’t.” Kathryn whispered.
“No . . . as much as this was a lesson or trial for you, it was for
me. To prove I am worthy of the `Q’.”
“And did you pass–” Chakotay challenged bitterness evident in
his voice.
Alaura dropped her head for moment as she sighed. When she
looked at them again there were tears in her eyes.
“Yes, in a way, I suppose. I will be allowed to remain with the
Q and teach along with Kevok and Hunter, what we have learned from
being with you. We will also be allowed to keep the names and physi-
cal traits that you have given us.” The child paused as she reached out
her hands to them.
“But–” Kathryn prompted squeezing her `daughter’s’ proffered
hand. Chakotay did the same.
“This will be the last time, I will be able to speak with you for
many years. And . . . and I will miss you.” Alaura whispered as her
bottom lip trembled. “It can get very lonely in the Continuum.”
“What about your `Q’ parents?” Chakotay asked gently.
“They merely initiated the spark from which I formed. You,
gave me the gifts, that make me who I am.” Alaura paused and seemed
to grow distant for a moment. Then she turned back to them. “I have to
leave soon.”
Kathryn nodded as she wiped tears from her cheeks and glanced
at Chakotay who was doing the same. Grasping both their hands Kath-
ryn got to her feet. “Then let’s not waste any more time. We have some
memories to make.”
Chakotay smiled and nodded, “A run in the grass and a picnic
seems in order.” The women in his presence heartily agreed.
What seemed like hours were spent together mother, father and
child all appearing to be a happy family group and they were, for a
time. Then, it was over and Alaura once again was standing before
Kathryn and Chakotay. They embraced, saying a final good-bye to
each other and finally, Alaura stepped away as Chakotay slipped arm
around Kathryn’s shoulders. She raised a hand in silent salute and was
gone. Seconds later, they were back on `Voyager’. Kathryn was still
holding the flower she had picked in the meadow– a forget-me-not.
Standing wrapped in each others arms, they had concern knowledge
their lives were never going to be the same, for this experience and
they would never–Forget-Q-Not . . .
* * * * *
Epilogue

Tom Paris stood in silent awe as he watched B’Elanna Torres
come toward him. She looked as beautiful as he had ever seen her in
her wedding gown. He vowed then and there, that she was his life and
it would be a happy one.
After the ceremony and the reception came the opening of the
gifts. B’Elanna run her fingers tenderly over the canvassed surface of
the painting she held. It was of herself, Tom and Hunter with a beauti-
ful landscape as a backdrop. Her gaze drifted to the artist, “Captain,
thank you. It’s a wonderful gift.” Janeway only nodded in acknowl-
edgment.
“Kathryn, painted one for Tuvok too, in memory of Kes and
Kevok, and one of Alaura, with us.” Chakotay told them proudly. No
one seemed to notice the informal use of the captain first name. Maybe
that’s because, the crew as so used to seeing them together and were
happy for them.
Kathryn Janeway smiled at Chakotay as she rose from her chair
and picked up her champagne glass.
“Everyone, today is the most joyous of occasions. Please join
me in wishing Tom and B’Elanna the best of wishes for the future.
May their love bring only happiness and be without sorrow. To Tom
and B’Elanna–” The toast was echoed throughout the room. Then
Chakotay rose to join her as she continued, “Chakotay and I are, like
all of you, far from our homes and our families, but now, we’ve come
think of `Voyager’ as our home and all of you as our family. For this
reason, we, would like you to be the first to know that there’s going to
be another wedding in the near future.” Kathryn looked up into Cha-
kotay’s eyes and smiled. Tom let out a loud whoop and they were soon
besieged with congratulations.
Somewhere in the Continuum . . . Q was laughing.

Finis

49

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Hidden Talents

This story takes places shortly after the Fourth season
Episode `Nemesis’– And is after all, and henceforth,
purely a work of fiction . . .

All hail Paramount!! (How’s that for a disclaimer)

Star Trek: Voyager
`Hidden Talents’

By
Shalee Stewart

Night on a starship.
That had to be the cruelest joke of all.
It was always night in space. Blackness — 24 hours a day; seven
days a week; 52 weeks a year. A cold darkness punctuated only by the
light of a trillion billion stars. Yet, even the stars seemed cold this night
for the lone being who traversed the lower decks of Voyager.
Chakotay couldn’t sleep. It was as plain as that. AND when
sleep eluded him, the first officer prowled the ship. It always amazed
him how many people and sounds he encountered during his nightly
treks, then again it was never really quiet on a starship. Not with the
constant thrum of the warp engines and muffled hum of countless con-
versations being held on the other side of the walls he past.
The Native American commander released a sigh. It had been
two weeks and Chakotay was still recovering from being captured and
brainwashed by the Vhori. Although, he hadn’t minded being planet-
side despite the circumstances, he would have preferred the peace of
the nights on New Earth.
New Earth, the image rose unbidden and blanketed his mind
with a sudden yearning. He felt a need to be with the person, with
whom he had shared quiet moments on a planet, now hundreds of light
years away. But she would only push him away. They had grown apart
in the past few months. More so after the encounter with Borg and
Species 8472, they couldn’t seem to get past only being proper Star-
fleet officers, even when they were alone.
Unconsciously, Chakotay turned and began to walk at a brisk
pace, back the way he had come. The path that would lead him to the
deck where he was quartered. He only managed a few steps before he
sensed something almost intangible. Then he heard it in reality; the
gentle strains of music. A piano? Accompanied by a low, slightly lilt-
ing voice, that seemed familiar, yet he couldn’t quite place it. Not re-
alizing why, he allowed himself to follow the music to its source. Mo-
ments later, Chakotay was shocked to find himself at the entry to Jef-
fries Tube 7 on Deck 14, yet without the slightest hesitation, he
climbed inside.
The former Maquis found as he moved closer, the music with its
accompaniment seemed to surge and pulse around him. His very soul
was encompassed as he paused at crossection of an accessway. The
acoustics here were incredible and as the purveyor of his rapture began
again, Chakotay could now distinguish the words to what must have
been a ballad. For, they lay heavy on his heart.

“If I had only known–
It was the last walk in the rain . . .
I’d keep you out for hours in the storm.”

The voice seemed to quaver for a moment, then continued —

“I would hold your hand
Like a life line to my heart.
Underneath the thunder, we’d be warm.
If I had only known–
It was our last walk in the rain.”

Slowly Chakotay, got up his nerve and peered through the
hatchway to behold the owner of the voice that held him so beguiled.
The person’s identity shocked him but pride swelled his chest as his
eyes drank in the visage of . . . Kathryn Janeway–

“If I had only known–
I’d never hear your voice again.
I’d memorize each thing you ever said.”

As he continued to listen and watch, Chakotay realized he
shouldn’t really be surprised by this . . . the Captain of Voyager was a
woman of many talents. Though, he wondered what had spurred her to
such an exhibition of sorrow. Her face was mask of grief and Chako-
tay only wanted to take her into his arms.

“And on those lonely nights.
I could think of them once more,
Keep your words alive, inside my head . . .
If I had only known–
I’d never hear your voice again.”

I am an intruder here, Chakotay thought to himself as he noted
tears rimming her eyes. Not wanting to interrupt, he decided to leave
the same way he come but as luck would have it, he made a less than
graceful departure. Stumbling over his own feet, the first officer fell
against the bulkhead with a grunt, putting himself in the open. The
music stopped abruptly and he felt Kathryn’s smoky azure gaze settle
on him. Chakotay swallowed hard as he watched the expression on her
face change from startled to angry to sad.
“Captain, I sorry. I didn’t–” Chakotay began haltingly.
Kathryn shook her head, “It’s alright, I knew I’d be discovered
sooner or later, but I always thought it would be B’Elanna or another of
the engineering team. I didn’t think–”
“You didn’t think it would be your first officer in the middle of
the night.”
Kathryn smiled slightly, “Couldn’t sleep, Commander.”
“Apparently, neither could you.”
“Touch‚–”
“Kathryn, what’s this all about? I mean–”
“Why am I sitting in a Jeffries Tube . . . in the middle of the
night . . . singing?”
“Yes–”
“I couldn’t sleep,” Kathryn bantered though her heart wasn’t
really in it.
Chakotay suppressed grin, “Kathryn–” He warned.
“Okay, I needed to do this.”
“Why?”
Kathryn sighed, “It’s a long story.”
“So, I’m listening.”
She stared at him for a long moment.
Kathryn Janeway had more than surprised as she realized, she
was not alone, and more so for the identity of the intruder. Now, the
look in those deep brown eyes was mesmerizing.
Slowly, Chakotay came to sit before Kathryn. He said nothing
as he gently took her hands in his and waited for her to pull away. She
didn’t. Only the flash of panic that swept over her features, belied her,
before it was gone.
“Chakotay,” Kathryn said though her voice was but a whisper.
“Please Kathryn, I only want to help. Tell me–” Chakotay gently
urged.
Kathryn shook her head, “I can’t–” It was then he noticed her
hands were shaking in his. He gave them a squeeze and released her,
to lift the slim keyboard into his lap. He played a few notes experi-
mentally and then looked at her.
“This is interesting–” He observed as he studied the instrument.
“It was a gift from an old classmate. She’s a concert pianist.
Nella wanted something easily portable and this fit the bill perfectly.
You can roll it up and put in a travel bag. She replicated one for me
before my last mission and gave it by making me promise I’d practice
more.”
“Nella–” Chakotay mused thoughtfully, “That wouldn’t Nella
Darin, Stellar Sciences, would it? She’s tops in her field.”
“The same and she’s a commander now. Chief of Stellar Cartog-
raphy on the Yorktown-C, formerly posted on the Enterprise-D.” Kath-
ryn smiled covertly. “Rumor had it, she and Jean-Luc Picard were an
item, but Nella never talked about and I didn’t press her.”
“Why do I sense, you’re trying to make a point here?” Chakotay
bemoaned. Kathryn cocked her head slightly as she looked at him.
“Tit for tat, Commander.”
Chakotay sighed and nodded, “I haven’t been very talkative
lately either, have I?” Kathryn was silent as they stared into each others
eyes. Cerulean on sable. The effect, left him feeling intensely vulner-
able as he pushed on, “I’m still trying to work through what happened
with the Vhori.”
“I know, so am I–” Kathryn whispered as she dropped her gaze
and to Chakotay’s surprise, softly sang the next verse of the song, sans
the piano.

“You were the treasure in my hand.
You were the one who always, stood beside me.
So unaware, I foolishly believed.
That you would always be there.
But then there came a day–
And I turned my head and you slipped away.”

She fell silent again as tears slipped down her cheeks. Under-
standing now, Chakotay laid the keyboard aside as tenderly took her
into his arms. Kathryn stiffened then slowly allowed herself to give
into the comfort that was being offered. Chakotay smiled to himself as
her arms crept around his waist to hold him tightly while she buried
her face in his shoulder. Long moments passed before she seemed to
gather herself and whispered the last verse of the song, never leaving
his embrace.

“If I had only known–
It was my last night by your side.
I’d pray a miracle, would stop the dawn.
And when you’d smile at me.
I would look into your eyes.
And make sure you know.
My love for you, goes on and on . . .
If I had only known–
If I had only known–
The love I would’ve shown.
If I . . . had only known–”

Chakotay felt as though he had been hit point-blank with a
phaser. `Was Kathryn admitting, finally, what he hoped she was.’ He
stared down at the profile of the woman, who was snuggled comforta-
bly against his chest. `No, I won’t speculate, until I hear the words.’
Nevertheless, his arms moved to tighten the embrace as he lowered his
head to gently brush his lips against hers just as a low cough was
heard. The couple jerked guiltily apart as Ensign Vorik appeared from
one of the maintenance shafts.
“Captain. Commander. I had no idea. I apologize.” The Vulcan
intoned looking about as flustered as a Vulcan could.
“It’s alright, Ensign,” Janeway assured him as she picked up her
keyboard. She glanced at Chakotay, offering a fleeting smile of thanks,
then she exited into an access tunnel. The first officer watched until
she was gone from sight, momentarily lost in thought. When he came
around, Vorik was staring at him. Chakotay said nothing as he quickly
followed Janeway’s path. Vorik responded to the officers abrupt de-
parture with an arched eyebrow and went on with his work.
* * * * *
A couple of days later, Chakotay found B’Elanna Torres, Tom
Paris and Samantha Wildeman huddled at a table in the mess hall, dis-
cussing something reeking with vital importance. As the first officer,
neared the table Torres called him over almost at the same moment
Kathryn Janeway entered the room. Obviously torn, Chakotay reluc-
tantly took the chair across from Paris. He started to eat mechanically,
his gaze never leaving Janeway as he remembered how it felt to hold
her in his arms.
Torres exchanged a look with Paris and Wildeman as she said
his name, “Chakotay– Voyager to Chakotay–” It took the second call
and a nudge from Torres’ foot to bring the first officer back to reality.
“B’Elanna, what?”
“Where were you?”
“In Jeffries Tube 7 on Deck 14, I’ll bet–” Paris quipped glee-
fully. It earned him a kick in the chins from BOTH Torres and Wilde-
man AND a hot glare from Chakotay.
“Look, Vorik said he came upon you and the Captain, the other
morning, he DIDN’T elaborate further,” Torres said in an attempt to
smooth Chakotay’s ruffled feathers.
“But of course, EVERYONE else, is putting their own spin on
things.”
“Well, rumor had it, it was the Captain who was providing late-
night entertainment recently for whoever has been up and within
range.”
“Yeah, who woulda thunk it. That she could sing at all,” Paris
offered up with awe. “It’s going make Harry’s Birthday party some-
thing to remember.”
Chakotay found himself smiling slightly as he said, “It was a
surprise to me, too.” Then after a thoughtful moment. “Harry’s party,
she’s gonna sing for him?” It was statement more than a question.
“Yep, along with Sam, they’re gonna do a duet. Harry doesn’t
know it yet, though,” Paris provided with a grin, “AND it did take a
lot of convincing.”
“AND coercing, but I said anything for Harry. It’s just this once
after all.” Everyone jumped at the sound of Janeway’s voice and were
a bit stunned as she casually pulled up a chair between Chakotay and
Wildeman. “So, of course, I couldn’t refuse.”
“Just this once. Oh, I hope not,” Chakotay murmured to him-
self.
“So–” Paris began as he eyed Janeway and Wildeman thought-
fully. “Whattaya gonna sing?”
The two exchanged a sly smile.
“That, my dear, Mr. Paris . . . IS for us to know and you to be in
awe of,” Janeway replied impishly. Wildeman suppressed a giggle and
Torres slapped a hand over her mouth to keep all out laughter from
erupting. Chakotay simply leaned back in his chair and grinned. This
was a side of Kathryn Janeway he and everyone else, rarely saw, much
like the side he alone, had witnessed a few nights ago. Tomorrow eve-
ning should prove very interesting indeed.
* * * * *
Kathryn Janeway looked around nervously as the crew began to
gather in the Holodeck. She wasn’t sure she could go through with
this, even for Harry. BUT, she told herself, I promised. So, with steely
determination Kathryn made her way to the table where Tuvok,
Wildeman and Chakotay sat. The Doctor and Seven were seated with
Master of Ceremony Neelix; Torres, Paris and Kim were at a neigh-
boring table.
Sliding in next to Chakotay and Wildeman, Kathryn noted the
decor created by Paris with the help of Torres and Chakotay. It was a
very good representation of a late-twentieth century nightclub or what
Paris called– a honky-tonk on `Karoake Night’ and everyone wore at-
tire appropriate to the genre. The atmosphere was made complete with
sawdust on the floor and smoke-filled air as a five-piece band
twanged-up er, tuned up in one corner of the stage. With a soft sigh,
Kathryn turned to Tuvok and began a rather disjointed conversation.
Chakotay looked on Kathryn Janeway’s pre-performance jitters
with silent mirth and admiration. The latter was partly due to what she
was wearing — black denim pants or jeans smoothly encased her slim
figure, hugging tightly at the hips and waist. A white long-sleeved silk
shirt with collar and little pearl buttons allowed tantalizing glimpses of
rounded flesh through the open neck as she moved. Capping the en-
semble, bottom then top were the three-inch high black pumps and a
riotous mass of tawny curls. He realized it must of taken her a couple
of hours to get ready and Chakotay more than appreciated her efforts.
As he watched her, his minded drifted back to their encounter in the
Jeffries Tube AND the kiss he and Kathryn had shared –their first
kiss. Unconsciously, Chakotay touched his mouth as the memory de-
voured him, both so scared to go too far . . . and both wanting to. He
had imagined in his my daydreams, what it would be like feel those
teasing lips under his, but the dreams had nothing on the reality. If
only–
“Commander–”
Chakotay turned startled at the soft entreaty to find Sam Wilde-
man, dressed similarly to Janeway, smiling at him.
“Yeah, Sam,” He answered in the same tone.
Wildeman took his arm and leaned in close, “You’re staring at
her.”
“I was?” Chakotay murmured embarrassed, then a slow grin
spread across his face as he turned and nodded at her. “I was–”
Before Wildeman could respond the lights dimmed dramatically
calling their attention to center stage. A spotlight picked MC Neelix in
sequins as he sauntered on-stage amid musical fanfare and applause.

“Good Evening, All. Welcome to Club Delta Quad. This is a
variation on our Talent Night theme and we hope you enjoy it as
much. We have many new and notable appearances for you this time,
as well as return engagements. So, sit back, relax, and remember,
there will be refreshments, in honor Ensign Harry Kim, both at inter-
mission and after tonight’s performance. Please wish him a very
Happy Birthday.” At his table, the young Ensign tried to conceal a
blush as all eyes focused on him. Paris chuckled as he elbowed him
none to gently in the side as Neelix continued. “Now, onto our first
performers– Please welcome, `Crewman Hjalmer `Hondo’ Swedlund
and the `Voyager Players’ with their rendition of- `A Phaser Fight at
the DQ Corral’ . . .”

Kathryn Janeway only half-listened as the Talaxian droned on
and when the first act took the stage. She had been well aware of her
first officer’s gaze and knew the direction of his thoughts. She too,
was a bit overwhelmed by what had occurred between them. There
was so much, they needed to talk about before their relationship, if one
could call it that, would progress any further. Perhaps, later they could-
– Janeway stopped at the low whisper in her ear.
“That’s our cue, Captain–” Wildeman informed her. Kathryn
nodded and rose to follow her backstage. Ruckus laughter followed the
antics of `Hondo and the Players’. It reminded Janeway as her eyes
widened and she suppressed a chuckle, that one of these days she was
going to have that talk with Ensign Hickman in Astro-Physics.
Chakotay smiled at Kathryn Janeway’s reaction to the act on-
stage, even he had to admit it was hilarious to watch the pseudo-
Janeway(a.k.a. Hickman) and Chakotay (a.k.a. Swedlund) face off in a
Starfleet/Maquis version of the Earps and Clantons. Of course, with
comic rather than serious undertones as Hickman yelled at Swedlund
for shooting her hair, which was piled high on her head in an elaborate
do. An easy target to say the least. It reminded the first officer of a
comment he had made once, involving an apple. The parody went on
thus and ended in a lavish but hysterical truce that rivaled the balcony
scene from `Romeo and Juliet’ as Swedlund’s Chakotay promised his
undying devotion to Hickman’s Janeway.
Applause and echoes of laughter, followed the `Voyager Play-
ers’ as they were herded from the stage by Neelix. Once again, im-
mersed in a spotlight the MC asked Harry Kim to join him. It took
both Tom Paris and B’Elanna Torres to get the reluctant guest of honor
on-stage. All Harry was told, was to just play along and make believe
he was on the bridge. Then with a little Holodeck magic the wooden
planks beneath his feet changed and he didn’t have to pretend any-
more. Now, as he took his station all he could do, was wait and see
what was in store for him. From that moment onward, Harry’s life and
image of his mentor was never the same. For as the lights dimmed
slightly, Harry heard a low husky voice begin to sing and a spotlight
singled out the form sitting in the command chair. The young Ensign’s
mouth dropped open, enough for Paris to land a shuttle if he wanted to,
and he could only stare as Kathryn Janeway sang–

Author’s Note: words in paraphrases are unaltered lyrics

“I’ve known about you for a while now–
When he leaves me, he wears a smile now.
As soon as he’s away from me–
In your arms, is where he wants to be . . .”

Janeway rested her chin in her hand in silent contemplation as
another voice almost as throaty came from the area of Tuvok’s Tactical
Station. At the visage of Samantha Wildeman, Harry Kim’s mouth
dropped open another notch– two shuttles.

“But you’re the one, he rushes (home to) to serve so- –
You’re the one, he (gave his name to) has to trust so.
I rarely (never) see his face,
In the (early mornin’)in mess hall at night (light)–
You have his mornings; his daytime’s;
And sometimes I have his nights . . .”

As she sang Wildeman moved across the upper deck to gently
chase Harry down to the command area and a waiting Janeway. To-
gether they joined in the chorus, urging the chagrining ensign into the
helm position.

“But does he love you; does he love you?
Like he loves me; like he loves me–
Does he think of you; does he think of you?
When he’s holdin’ me–
And does he whisper; does he whisper, all his fantasies?
Does he love you? Does he love you?
Like he’s been lovin’ me . . .”

With a wicked smile, Wildeman laid a hand on Kim’s shoulder
rather possessively. Harry responded akin. Another notch — three
shuttles.

“But when he’s with me, he says he needs me–
That he wants me. That he believes in me.”

Kathryn Janeway’s features twisted with a slightly hurt look,
tingled with longing as her hand rested on Kim’s other shoulder. His
reaction told everyone, there was now room to berth `Voyager’.

“And when (I’m in his arms) we’re on the bridge–
Oh, he swears there’s no one else.
Is he deceivin’ me? Or, am I deceivin’ myself?
I’m deceivin’ myself . . .”

The women faced each other for a moment, then released their
hold to move slightly apart as they sang. Harry sank a bit into his chair
in apparent relief.

“Does he love you; does he love you?
Like he loves me; like he loves me–
Does he think of you; does he think of you?
When he’s holdin’ me–
And does he whisper; does he whisper, all his fantasies?
Does he love you? Does he love you?
Like he’s been lovin’ me . . .”

Janeway walked a few feet away and crossed her arms as she
turned to face the audience with self-effacing resolve.

“Oh, I should not lose my temper–

Wildeman answered, with her own resolution as she slid her
hand up Harry’s arm in a tender caress.

Oh, I should not be ashamed.

Janeway answered with her own plea as she moved closer again.

For, I have everything to lose–”

Wildeman stood firm.

“And I have, nothin’ gain–”

Then they came again face to face each with a possessive hand
on Harry’s shoulder as they sang the chorus.

“Oh, does he love you; does he love you?
Like he loves me; like he loves me–
Does he think of you; does he think of you?
When he’s holdin’ me–
And does he whisper; does he whisper, all his fantasies?
Does he love you? Does he love you?
Like he’s been lovin’ me . . .

Janeway took a few steps away as she picked up the phaser ly-
ing conveniently on a nearby console and pointed it at the couple, who
embraced in mock-horror. A slow-malicious smile curved Kathryn’s
lips as she depressed the trigger. A brilliant flash, masking a trans-
porter beam, filled the stage; and when it faded, only Kathryn re-
mained. She half turned to the audience a wistful look of resignation
on her face and the last line of song slipped past her lips as she sank
into the command chair.

“Oh, does he love you?”

The lights went out the moment the music slipped away. It left
the assembled group to gather themselves in a stunned silence for sev-
eral seconds before thunderous applause erupted. The lights resumed
normal illumination to reveal a slightly overwhelmed Harry Kim sitting
once again next to Tom Paris at their table. On the stage, that had re-
turned to its original configuration, a similarly UN-vaporized Wilde-
man and Janeway took their bows amid a standing ovation, cat calls
and wolf whistles. Flustered and embarrassed but with big smiles, the
two women took their leave and returned to the table.
A half hour Intermission followed, then the Doctor took the
stage and initiated a riotous dialogue featuring the `Screams and
Dreams of Harry Kim, Adventures in Sickbay’. Of course, Harry
looked as if he wanted crawl under the table the whole time. The rest
of the evening moved by at impossible speed and before anyone knew
what was happening, it was time for the finale.
“Ladies and Gentleman, I regret–” Neelix began as he retook
the stage, “to inform you that our scheduled final act of the evening
has been canceled, due to an untimely visit to Sickbay. It’s seems En-
sign Parson’s has broken his leg.” The Talaxian scanned the audience
hopefully, “Perhaps, someone else would like to fill in. I’d hate to see
such a wonderful evening end like this.” Of course, no one did. But as
a fierce whispering ensued, it became clear nobody really wanted to
volunteer.
Chakotay looked at Janeway with a question on his lips. She
met his gaze with a rueful smile and wrapped her hand around his and
lifted both into the air before Chakotay could react. Neelix saw imme-
diately.
“Everyone, we have our volunteers. Commander Chakotay and
Captain Janeway.”
Kathryn tugged Chakotay reluctantly to his feet, “But Kathryn,”
he complained, “I can’t sing.”
“You don’t have to, just play.” Janeway answered as she called
out, “Computer, One baby grand piano situate stage left and provide
sheet music for Janeway ballad 73.” The instrument appeared and
Chakotay, not wanting to be a bad sport, sat down. Kathryn gave him a
few moments to study the music as she perched herself on a tall stool
with microphone in hand.
“Harry, this is for you. For your courage, insight and nobility.
May we all benefit from it, for many, many years.” Kathryn then nod-
ded to Chakotay. On cue his fingers danced across the keys and the
Captain of Voyager began to sing in a whispery voice–

“Fly, fly little wing
Fly beyond imagining
The softest cloud, the whitest dove
Upon the wind of heaven’s love
Past the planets and the stars
Leave this lonely world of ours
Escape the sorrow and the pain
And fly again–”

Kathryn paused as she caught Chakotay’s eye, he simply smiled
and gave her a slight nod. The smile was returned, eyes sparkling as
she sang–

“Fly, fly precious one
Your endless journey has begun
Take your gentle happiness
Far too beautiful for this
Cross over to the other shore
There is peace forevermore
But hold this mem’ry bittersweet
Until we meet–”

Chakotay was more than moved, by his captain’s performance.
His gaze never left her as she raked a hand through her hair in an al-
most sensual gesture. And when she turned, the look she projected at
him as so provocative it nearly made him miss a note. She smiled at
his reaction and sang on–

“Fly, fly do not fear
Don’t waste a breath, don’t shed a tear
Your heart is pure, your soul is free
Be on your way, don’t wait for me
Above the universe you’ll climb
On beyond the hands of time
The moon will rise, the sun will set
But I won’t forget–”

Kathryn found herself unable to breathe as she felt the hotness
of the gaze centered on her. Chakotay was unable to tear his eyes away
as her voice dipped into an even huskier tone.

“Fly, fly little wing
Fly where only angels sing
Fly away, the time is right
Go now, and find the light . . .”

Kathryn ducked her head as the song faded from her lips, then
she brought it up to lock her gaze on the blushing ensign. She spoke
then with a breathy tone, “Happy Birthday, Harry–”
This brought the crowd to their feet after several seconds, led by
Kim himself. Chakotay joined Janeway center stage and slipped an
arm around her waist as they bowed. `There’s almost nothing like
making love to someone with your eyes,’ he thought, `–almost noth-
ing.’ As the applause died down Neelix hustled on-stage and the com-
manding officers of Voyager slipped backstage and off the Holodeck.
Finding themselves alone in the corridor, Chakotay took Kath-
ryn’s hand and led her to a secluded alcove. Kathryn pushed her hair
back and looked up to meet Chakotay’s dark eyes. There was an un-
spoken question in them, that was answered when she slipped her arms
around his neck. Chakotay ducked his head to meet her halfway.
They were both lost to sensations evoked by the kiss that deep-
ened almost immediately. When they broke apart, both struggled to get
their breathing under control. Their eyes locked and dark sable was
rocked by cerulean fire. Chakotay dragged a gentle hand through tou-
sled russet curls as he drew Kathryn against him.
“Dare I ask, what other `talents’ you may be hiding?”
Her lips quirking into a mischievous smile, Kathryn replied,
“The same goes for you, Commander. Do you think you’re up to find-
ing out?”
“Oh, believe me, I do love a challenge.”
Kathryn’s answering chuckle was smothered by another kiss.
Finis

Shalee,
Casting Muse in Hues–

Songs 1 & 2, by Reba McIntyre
Song 3 by Celine Dion

1

Posted in Voyager | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Christmas in Space : The Previous Generation

To everyone who enjoyed the Christmas trek I posted before, please note
the following message.

Natalie,

Just thought you might want to know that Eric Rountree is the author of
the X-mas poem you posted to alt.startrek.creative. Also, the actual
title of the poem is “Christmas in Space.”

The following poem is another one that Rountree did. I thought you might
enjoy reading it.

Sheila

————————————————————–

CHRISTMAS IN SPACE: THE PREVIOUS GENERATION
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the decks
Not a crewman was stirring, ‘cept those having sex;
Their boots were all placed by the vent shafts with care,
In hopes that by morning they’d get some fresh air.
The Redshirts were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of stay’ng alive danced in their heads;
And Kirk in his gold shirt, McCoy in his blue,
Had just settled down for a nice Christmas brew–
When from the comm panel there came such a wail,
They sprang from their chairs, knocking over their ale.
Away to the panel Kirk flew, drenched in beer,
Snapped on the comm switch and barked loudly, “Kirk here!”
The squeals that emerged from the thing after that
Sounded just like the Devil was strangling a cat;
When, what to their bombarded ears should appear,
But the music of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,”
With a voice in the background, a murmur of talk,
That made Kirk exclaim, “Bones . . . That sounds just like Spock.”
More rapid than bullets his syllables came
As he tested each circuit and called it by name–
“Cross Alpha to Beta, join Delta to Theta,
Route Kappa through Lamba, and Gamma to Zeta.
To the end of the circuit, the end of the line,
Now clip a resistor–there. That should do fine.”
As Kirk and McCoy listened closely to this,
The comm unit speaker let out a long hiss.
So, off to the turbolift both of them flew,
With a mind to discover what Spock was up to.
And then, in a twinkling, they reached the bridge deck,
Stepped out of the lift and began a quick check.
As they went down the steps and were looking around,
>From a nook Spock emerged, barely making a sound.
He was all dressed in gray from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with solder and soot.
A bag of components he had in one fist,
And held in the other, a rather long list.
His eyes didn’t twinkle, his dimples were none,
Yet somehow it looked like he’d been having fun.
His mouth, at one corner, quirked up just a touch,
And one eyebrow lifted, though not by too much.
A soldering iron he held in his teeth,
And the smoke from it circled his head like a wreath.
He looked like a man with a task to complete
And nothing would stop him, not rain, snow, nor sleet.
His two colleagues stood there, dumbfounded by this.
McCoy chuckled softly; Kirk let out hiss.
The look in Spock’s eye and the set of his head
Soon gave them to know he would not go to bed.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And tuned all the sensors then turned back to Kirk,
And pressing a button and counting to three,
He lit up the bridge like a huge Christmas Tree.
His work done, he nodded, and walked toward the lift
As his friends stared in awe at his luminous gift.
But they heard him exclaim, his voice with good-will rife,
“Merry Christmas! And to you all, Peace and Long Life!”

==========

Based on “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement C. Moore
Adaptation Copyright 1991, Eric R. Rountree

This work may be freely distributed, provided that the above copyright
notice and this message are included intact.

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Pedersen Incident

SUMMARY, THE PEDERSEN INCIDENT

This is a parody of the Star Trek original characters based on an
extremely bad pun which was the working title. If you can
figure out what the pun was you will realise why it got itself
binned as a title. As usual, a small but important part of the
cosmos is saved for democracy (and profit) by the Captain and
Crew of the USS…. Well, read it and find out. Ramblin.

THE PEDERSEN INCIDENT
SavePrice Super Stores used State-of-the-Art Customer Purchase
Transfer Modules. Doreen, Michelle and Mandy were all designated
Customer Purchase Transfer Module Commanders. They all had labels
to remind them who and what they were. These had their names on
them, followed by the initials CPTMC all done nicely in red felt
tip. Most of the “a” had rubbed off Mandy’s name.
Doreen and Michelle, who had worked in a lot of supermarkets,
considered themselves rather superior to be commanding State-of-
the-Art Customer Purchase Transfer Modules. Mandy had also worked
in a lot of supermarkets. To her a State-of-the-Art Customer
Purchase Transfer Module was indistinguishable from a checkout.

In the absence of customer purchases to transfer they were
allowed to amuse themselves. Doreen and Michelle conversed about
television with frightening intensity. Mandy, whose mind was
sometimes on higher things, preferred to study the life size
photograph of Captain SavePrice which stood near the door,
welcoming customers.
The Captain wore SavePrice uniform, dark red, side buttoned.
Like a sexy dentist, thought Mandy. All the staff wore variations
on the same uniform with differing colours to show the differing
positions they held.
The uniform flattered her although she reckoned her thighs were a
shade heavy for the mini skirt. At least the new manager, Mr
Spooner, allowed tights. The previous Manager had insisted on
white stockings; white did nothing for her legs, not with her
Caribbean colouring, and the suspender buttons dug into her
bottom. Still, Managers had to have some leeway. They were in
this world all day, every day, not just shifts.
`Another day at the office’ thought Mandy as she set her personal
android to “checkout mode” and keyed her transfer code into the
computer. Transfers always had unpleasant optical effects,
usually manifesting in a green snowstorm over the delicatessen.
She opened the door ….

…. caught Captain SavePrice’s eye ….

….. and stepped onto the bridge.
`Lieutenant M’Ndy reporting, Sir!’
`Welcome aboard, Lieutenant.’
Captain Tim SavePrice, once the youngest Commander in the fleet,
had been given command of the USS SavePrice after a spectacularly
successful Promotions flight to the Sirius quadrant. He knew all
the proper actions proper to a SavePrice Captain. He returned her
salute, held in a slight belly and pressed some buttons on the
arm of his chair. Mr Stock, the Dietetic Officer, nodded
inscrutably. Mr Checkout and Mr Lublu posed at the flight
controls.
Within moments of M’Ndy opening her Communications Station,
SavePrice Central came through. The Managing Director shimmered
into view on the main screen. His handsome “older man” face was
distorted with anguish as his emotions sped down the light years.
He looked grim and serious.
`We have a Top Level Category “A” Trading Emergency, captain.’
`We don’t handle any other kind, Admiral. How can we be of
service?’
Captain SavePrice knew all the proper words as well. `The
Arcturus 7 branch is losing customers to Super Slavers. You are
the only ship in the quadrant. Do what you can.’
`Aye aye, sir. Over and out. Mr Checkout, best course for
Arcturus 7. Lieutenant M’Ndy, get me Engineer Skatt in
Beautycare.’
There was a brief interval. Lights fluttered and things bleeped.
`Mr Skatt, sir. Channel Number 5.’
`Skatty, I need Skin Factor 10.0, all tubes.
`Aye aye, Captain, but a canna’ hold these prices more than ten
minutes.’
`I want twenty minutes, Skatty. Pederson is having trouble with
Super Slavers.’
`Pederson? “Pricecut” Pederson? For “Pricey” you’ll get your
twenty, sir.’
`Good man, Skatty, see to it. Captain out.’
`Permission to be predictable, Captain.’
`Predicate, Mr Stock.’
`It seems illogical to compromise the profitability of United
Store Ship SavePrice for a one man branch store.’
`Damn your pointy Accountan ears, Mr Stock!’ Surgeon McBold
stepped forward. `I went through Grocery School with
Pederson….’
`That’s enough, Bones.’ said the Captain using his steadying down
voice. `We all know Pederson.’
Mr Stock raised a questioning eyebrow and adjusted his pencil of
rank into a more comfortable position behind his ear. He was well
aware that there was some jealousy amongst the junior officers
who believed pointed ears gave him an advantage when displaying
his pencil. The Captain explained what he meant in case anybody
suspected there might have been some original dialogue coming.
`It’s a human failing, Mr Stock. We don’t leave our people in
there. Speed, Mr Checkout?’
`Factor 9.8 and holding, Captain.’
`Pederson calling, Captain, very faint.’
`On screen, Lieutenant M’Ndy.’
`Aye, sir.’
The image of Pederson, a rugged frontiersman, shimmered into
view. He wore the uniform of the Primitive Provision Service;
brown smock coat with a wrap round apron. His top pocket held
three ball point pens signifying long service. The apron was
stained and his pencil had lost its point.
`Thank SavePrice you’re here, Tim. I can’t compete much longer.
Their bacon is already down to six credits a kilo!’
Captain SavePrice tossed his perfectly coifed hairpiece and
turned from the viewscreen.
`Status, Mr Checkout?’
`Two minutes to orbit, Captain.’
`Special Offer Screens up, Mr Lublu.’
`Sir!’
`Pederson, we’re coming in. Give Lieutenant M’Ndy your co-
ordinates. We’ll lock on with Coupon Torpedoes.
`Sending co-ordinates, Captain.’
`Keep trading, Pederson. SavePrice out.’
`Co-ordinates locked in.’
`Thanks, Lieutenant. Mr Lublu, Coupon Torpedoes, loaded with
two-for-one and money back offers. Fire when ready.’
`Firing, sir.’
`Mr Checkout?’
`Entering orbit …. now!’
`Special Offer Screens holding, sir.’
`Thankyou, Mr Lublu. Landing party, Mr Stock, Lieutenant M’Ndy,
Surgeon McBold. Sidearms please, bar-code readers set at double
bleep.’
`Double bleep, Captain?’
`Double, Bones. Arcturans don’t take coupons!’
`Sir!’
`Scatter coloured leaflets as we hit. Regroup behind the counter.
Initiate, Mr Stock.’

Arcturan religion prohibits delicatessen. Consequently there was
no green snowstorm, only a display of luminous pink shower
curtains.

The store was a shambles. The pot bellied stove upended, flour
and other dry goods spilling over dress materials and
ironmongery. Pederson crouched behind the counter, holding off
the Super Slavers by adding up furiously on a paper bag, stopping
only to blast them with surprise reductions on a chalk board.
`Assessment, Mr Stock?’
`At my count twelve Slavers, sir. Using pocket calculators and at
least one personal organiser.
`The swine!’ Captain SavePrice fired. The personal organiser
shattered to microchips.
In one clumsy movement the landing party made their way to
Pederson behind the counter, forcing the Slavers back with
accurate bar-code readings.
`Thank SavePrice you’re here. I’m out of chalk and my ball point
is going splodgy.’
`Customers, Pederson?’
`All taken, sir. They got the last two with a discount flight to
Marbella. I couldn’t go on…. Pederson broke down, sobbing.
`You did all you could. Now let’s get out of here.’
`We have a problem, Captain.’ `Special Purchase, Mr Stock?’
`No, sir. They’ve activated the portable electronic stock
checker.’
`SavePrice! That means, if we transfer …. !’
`What, Captain?’
`It’s too horrible, Lieutenant.’
`I’m SavePrice trained, sir. I can take it.’
`We would all be…. audited!’
M’Ndy gulped, dramatically, at his words. He bosom heaved,
significantly. Surgeon McBold touched her shoulder for
reassurance. His.
`Is there no chance, Tim?’
`No, Bones. They’ll pick us off with loss leaders. If that
doesn’t finish us they will probably use the ultimate
weapon,……. total stock liquidation.’
`Then we’re done for, Sir?’
`I’m afraid so Lieutenant. Lets just go down like SavePrice men.
And members of any other race and gender that happen to be
along.’
`If I might suggest, Captain?’
`Please be suggestive, Mr Stock.’
`There is a perceptible chance, Captain.’
`Then perceive, Mr Stock.’
`Jamming their computer could buy us time.’
`That’s it, Sir. GIGO, sir.’
`What was that, Lieutenant?’
`Computer acronym, Captain. From twentieth century earth. Garbage
In, Garbage, Out. Turn the instore entertainment outstore ….’
`Logical, Lieutenant. Enhancing crepitant phase levels with
dysprosium crystals from bar-code reader nuptial circuits.
`Could it work, Mr Stock?’
`If we had some garbage, sir.’
`What about the music tapes, Stock?’
`Unfortunately, Doctor, they are quite useless. Despite the
crassness of instore entertainment, particularly to my incredibly
sensitive and discriminating Accountan taste, it has,
regrettably, a perverse logic. As such it cannot be construed as
“Garbage’.’
`Did he say it was good?’ Surgeon McBold looked confused.
`The android programs, Doreen and Michelle, subroutine eight,
ought to do it, sir. I can route them through the main computer.’
`Probability of success, Mr Stock?’
`An interesting solution, Lieutenant. I will help. And in answer
to your question, Captain, slightly better than the odds against
finding a free bag of crisps in the six packs.’
`That bad, huh?’

Under a hail of totals and covering double bleeps, M’Ndy and
Stock wired and patched. A wildly ricochetting sub-total slammed
into Lieutenant Monday’s shoulder, throwing her off her feet. She
bit her lip to choke back the cry of pain and held back a tear,
bravely pretending a swirl of curry powder from the spice counter
had drifted by.
`Last wire, Mr Stock!’
`I’ll recommend you for Supervisor if we get out of here alive.
M’Ndy.’
`Thankyou, sir, switch three….. ahh.’
She fell back, not really unconscious, into the strong arms of
Captain SavePrice. The voices, raucous and amplified, came
through loud and loud.

`See it last night, `chelle.’ `Which one `reen?
`Where Tad told Peena that Zylie and Ska were going steady.’
`Yeah. That look on Mrs. Quartols face when Tad told her Joni
thought Cootie was pregnant.’
`She int pregnant, is she?
`Nah. It’s all put on. She’s really going wiv Toosh.’
`What, the lifeguard?’
`No, that’s Trash. Toosh is the lesbian needlework teacher at
Dillwater High.’
`But dint she …. ?’

Smoke gushed from the overloaded stock checker and a cloud of
sequins engulfed Surgeon McBold.
Lieutenant M’Ndy came out of soft focus in sick bay with Captain
SavePrice by her bed.
`Well done Lieutenant. You got us out of there.’
`Thanks to Aussie soaps, Captain. Best garbage on Earth.’

Captain SavePrice bent over and kissed her. Then, strictly in
order of seniority, so did, Mr Stock, Surgeon McBold, Engineer
Skatt, Ensign Checkout, Ensign Lublu, Nurse Clitheroe who had a
shapely bosom but masculine tendencies, and Yeoman Kincaid who
had come in to change a till roll.

Mr Spooner was pleased to see her return.
`Uniform, Mandy.’
She was unbuttoned at the shoulder where she had been wounded.
An interesting scrap of lace was showing.
`Gerbil Men from Mars again?’
`No, Mr Spooner. Slavers on Arcturus 7.1
`That’s Peterson’s place. Is he…. ?’
`Safe, Mr Spooner.’
`Thank SavePrice. He’s my brother-in-law you know.’
`SavePrice is a Caring Company, Mr Spooner.’

Possibly Captain SavePrice winked.

c Brian Lacey, writing as RAMBLIN, 1997

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Reverie

https://www.geocities.com/Area51/Rampart/1353/

Reverie’s summary: How much is that Vulcan in the window? The one with the
wagging tail?

Disclaimer. No matter how much I wish, Paramount owns Voyager&
crew(sigh). However, I can mess with their lives whenever I want. Anyway
that I do so is MINE!! Keep this header blah. blah, blah

MAIL ME!! ksheets@zoomnet.net

Reverie
By ejspock

Captain Kathryn Janeway stood beneath the alien sun. The alien sun which
shone on a planet so much like home. If only it had been
seventy-thousand light-years away, it could have been Earth, albeit an
uninhabited one. Without realizing it, she sighed out loud.
“I know,” said her first officer, Chakotay, the words startling her out
of her reverie.
“Exactly how you feel,” he answered. For a moment, she had thought he
had meant that he knew about her feelings for him—but no, he had been
talking about the planet. Thr Earth-like vista had affected him, too. It
had affected the whole away team, with the exception of Tuvok. Of
course, nothing ever seemed to affect the implacable Vulcan.
“We had better get started collecting food, Commander. We desperately
need the supplies,” Janeway said, then started dividing the fifteen
members of the away team into groups of three. She took Chakotay and
Tuvok in her group and started heading south.
Their group had barely walked two kilometers when Janeway saw something
that almost made her heart stop.
“What’s wrong, Kathryn?” Chakotay asked immediately concerned.
All Janeway could do was point. When Chakotay saw what it was, he
gasped. It was a house on a supposedly uninhabited planet. A house built
in a very Earth-like style.
“The sensors must have malfunctioned,” Chakotay said in disbelief.
“Not only that, Chakotay. That is. . . that looks exactly like my
childhood home in Indiana,” Janeway said, unable to believe what she
saw, “but it can’t be.”
“I think we had better investigate,” suggested Chakotay. The away team
headed towards the house with their hands on their phasers, just in
case.
As they approached the house, Janeway whispered, “This is eerie. This is
a perfect replica of my house. The only thing wrong with it is—”
“Is that it is seventy-thousand light-years away fron Indiana,” Tuvok
finished. “Logically, it should not be here. There are several
possibilities to consider, though. One is hallucination. Another that it
could be a holographic construct, somehow taken from your memories. We
shall have to determine its nature.”
“Well, we’re not finding out anything standing out here. We need to go
inside,” Chakotay said.
They walked inside. “Hello, Kathryn,” said a familiar voice.
Startled, Janeway turned around and when she saw who it was, only one
word escaped her lips, “Mommy. . . ” She hadn’t seen her mother in
almost three years and seeing her again so suddenly made her realize
just how much she missed her. Suddenly, her younger sister, Phoebe,
scampered into the room. A Phoebe who appeared to be only five years
old.
“This isn’t right,” Janeway said. “My sister is only four years younger
than me.” Janeway turned to face Chakotay, only to find that he wasn’t
there. In his place was. . . Hobbes Johnson, at the age of ten.
“Chakotay. . .” she gasped, at the same time Chakotay said, “Kathryn!”
Wordlessly, they both turned to the mirror on th wall. Janeway gasped
again. She appeared to be only nine years old.
“Who am I?” asked Chakotay, and when she told him, he asked, “Who
exactly is Hobbes Johnson?”
Janeway wouldn’t—-couldn’t tell him the truth. He might get the wrong
idea. Except, maybe, it wouldnt’t be the wrong idea. . . Janeway
resoulutely pushed those away. Chakotay was waiting for an answer, so
she temporized, “He was just a boy in my school. I used to play tennis
with him sometimes.” Technically, it was the truth—-but not the whole
truth. Hobbes had later changed his name to Mark and the whole crew knew
about her fiance, Mark. Seeing him again, even at this young age, was
painful, as was seeing her mother and sister.
Suddenly Janeway realized something, “Whare’s Tuvok?” she asked,
worried.
“Here, Captain,” yelped a voice from near her feet. Janeway looked down
and saw that the voice was coming from her dog, Bramble. Janeway
couldn’t help it, she had to laugh. Chakotay started whistling an
ancient Earth tune entitled “How Much is That Doggie in the Window.”
Tuvok muttered something that sounded like, “This is extremely
illogical.”
“I’ll say,” said Hobbes. . . no, Chakotay, Janeway corrected herself.
“I’m going to find out exactly what’s going on here,” Janeway said,
striding towards her ‘mom’. “Who are you, really? What’s going on here?”
“You don’t recognize your own mother, Kathryn?” the fake Gretchen
Janeway replied.
“You are not my mother. My real mother just happens to be about
seventy-thousand light years away from here. Now tell me what’s really
going on!” Janeway snapped, losing her patience.
“Kathryn—” the imposter started to say, but Janeway cut her off.
“If you are not going to tell me what I need to know, I’ll just walk out
this door.” Janeway turned to leave and Hobbes and Bramble. . .no,
Chakotay and Tuvok followed her. She turned the handle, but the door
wouldn’t budge. She ran at it and kicked it, but the door was completely
impervious. She couldn’t even scratch it.
“Captain, I have an idea,” Chakotay said.
“Another one of your Maquis tricks, Commander?” Janeway said with a
smile.
“No, this one’s Starfleet. Maybe if Tuvok attempted a mindmeld on the
imposter, he may be able to ascertain exactly what it is and possibly a
way to escape.”
“Good thinking, Chakotay. Tuvok, are you able to attempt a mindmeld in
your,uh, condition?” Janeway queried the Vulcan.
“Logically, since it is my mind that initiates the meld and not my body,
I should not encounter any difficulties in performing the meld,” the
steadfast Vulcan said.
“Good. I know that Vulcans don’t like mindmelding without permission
from the subject, but in this case, I believe it is necessary,” Janeway
told her dog,uh, Vulcan.
“I concur,” Tuvok said logically.
“Chakotay, we should provide a distraction for Tuvok, so he can initiate
the meld without being noticed,” Janeway said to her first officer.
“I believe that an escape attempt could provide adequate distraction
from my actions,” said Tuvok.
Janeway picked up a PADD from the table and hurled it at the window.
Neither the PADD or window suffered any dmage, not even the tiniest
scratch. It was if nothing could be damaged here. Curious, Janeway
picked up a fragile vase and threw it down with enough force so that it
shoul have shattered into a million pieces. It remained intact.
“That is not going to work,” the imposter said.
“Maybe not, but we’re going to keep trying. Eventually, we will find a
weakness,” Janeway retorted.
“You can try,” the imposter shrugged, but Janeway thought that it looked
worried.
Systematically, Janeway and Chakotay tried every door and window.
Nothing would yield. The imposter watched their futile efforts, not
knowing that Tuvok was sneaking up on her. While Janeway was kicking at
a window and Chakotay was trying to batter down a door, Tuvok hopped
onto the table that the imposter was seated at and put his paws on her
face.
“No!” the imposter cried, but it was too late; Tuvok had initiated the
meld.
After several moments, Tuvok removed his paws(thinking of Tuvok having
paws was hilarious) and hopped off the table. He quickly walked to where
the two senior officers were standing.
“What did you learn, Tuvok?” Janeway queried, anxious to know what was
happening.
“They are a race of energy beings with low-level telepathic powers who
can assume any form that they desire. They read your mind, Captain, and
took from it the memories needed to create this scenario. These. .
.diversions are how they entertain themselves,” Tuvok informed them.
“Why did they use one of my memories instead of your or Chakotay’s?”
Janeway quetioned Tuvok.
“Your memories about home were the strongest and easiest to reach when
we landed here, Captain. Tuvok answered.
“What did they do to us to make us look like we do?” Chakotay asked.
“Their telepathy influenced our minds, making us believe that we
resembled people from the Captain’s past. Actually, we are still in our
own bodies, it just appears otherwise.”
“Can you show us how to block their telepathic influence, Tuvok?”
Janeway inquired, still thinking about how weird it was to see her dog
talking, even if intellectually she knew it was really Tuvok.
“In a moment,” Tuvok concentrated, and suddenly the real Tuvok stood in
front of Janeway. He placed his fingers on the katra points of Janeway’s
face and initiated a meld. Step by step, his mind showes her mind what
to do and she hastily complied. Abruptly, she was her real age again.
Then Tuvok showed Chakotay what to do. As soon as he was back to normal,
Janeway tapped her commbadge. There was no response, so she tried again.
Still nothing.
“I believe that these energy beings are generating some sort of energy
field that is interfering with our communications, Captain. All we need
to do to contact the ship is leave this domicile,” the completely
logical Vulcan stated.
“Easier said then done,” Janewy said remembering the ordeal they had
went through trying to get the door open.
She grabbed her phaser (which had suddenly appeares when she reverted
back to her own age) and was about to fire at the door and yelled,
“Captain!” Janeway whirled around and fired at the energy being who was
rushing towards her. When the beam hit it, it exploded.
“Oh my god,” whispered Janeway, a tear sliding down her cheek, “It was
only set on stun.” As Janewy stared at the spot where the energy being
had stood, something started coalescing. “It only lost cohesion,”
Janeway realized, relieved.
Before the energy being could completely coalesce, Janeway turned and
fired at the door. It exploded in the same manner as the first enrgy
being had and started to reform immediately. “The door is an energy
being, too!” Janeway exclaimed, now understanding why everything had
been indestructible.
“I would suspect that everything in this domicile is an energy being,”
Tuvok commented.
Janeway fired another shot at the ‘door’ to interrupt its reforming
process and ran out of her ‘house’ with Chakotay and Tuvok right behind
her.
After they had run about a kilometer, they stopped to see if they had
been pursued. Fortunately, the energy beings had decided to leave the
away team alone.
“Why did the second energy being coalesce much faster than the first?”
asked Chakotay.
“I would suspect that a humanoid form is harder to emulate than that of
a door so, logically, the energy being masquerading as a door would be
able to reform with a much greater speed,” Tuvok answered.
“I don’t care. I just want to get home,” said Janeway, tired after their
ordeal.
“That will take another sixty-seven point four years, Captain,” Tuvok
reminded her.
Janeway shook her head, “Not that home. Voyager. Voyager has become my
home.”
Janeway took one ladt look at the beautiful Earth-like vista, then
tapped her commbadge, “Janeway to Voyager. Three to beam up.”
El Fin. If you want a part 2, mail me! If you bug me enough, I might.
There was 12 other people on that away mission, after all. Maybe
Chakotay will decide to look up the name Hobes Johnson. Who knows?
Live Long & Prosper,
Emily
*************************************************
Trek Quote of the Day: “No! Kathryn! You can’t
die!”~Chakotay, sobbing
*************************************************

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