| 'Something New for the People' Kathryn Janeway sat back in her command chair, legs crossed, looking up at the view screen. For the last week or so they hadn't run into any problems. She looked around at her bridge crew. Tuvok was at tactical performing system diagnostics at his terminal. Kim was working on a few equations back at Ops. He looked up from what he was working on and saw Janeway glance at him. He gave her a quick nod and returned his attention back to his console. She nodded back and continued looking about the bridge. She finally turned her attention back to the view screen. Out the corner of her eye she saw Chakotay smile at her. "Tired, Captain?" Chakotay whispered as he leaned a bit towards her so only she could hear him. "Actually...," she smiled at him with a conspiratory tone in her voice, "I'm trying to pass the time." He held back a chuckle and leaned back in his chair. "I know how you feel." She gave him a quick smile as she tried to suppress a few of her own chuckles. For the next few hours it remained quiet on the bridge. The only sounds coming from the crew shifting positions and punching away at their controls. //Another uneventful day,// Janeway thought to herself with an inaudible sigh. Kim was going over his readouts when suddenly he saw that they were being hailed. //Now this is odd,// he thought as he double checked his console to make sure he wasn't seeing things. //No...everything checks out.// He glanced up and announced, "Captain, we're being hailed." Janeway turned and looked at him, "On screen." "Ah...audio only, sir," he began. "Put it through." "Captain...," Tuvok interrupted. She glanced over to him. "Yes, Mister Tuvok?" He raised an eyebrow and she knew that look as being perplexed for a Vulcan. He looked right at her, "Sir, there are no vessels within hailing distance." She got up out of her chair and walked towards tactical. She suppressed a look of surprise, "Mr. Kim, go ahead and put it through." "Aye, Captain." He worked the controls and nodded at Janeway to proceed. "This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voy..." "I know who you are Captain," a female voice interrupted. "May I come aboard your vessel?" Before Janeway could protest about how she normally didn't just let anyone on her ship, a bright flash appeared on her bridge. Not having to look to know who the flash was, she yelled, "Q!" Unable to hide her genuine look of surprise that crossed her face, she glared at the figure who stood in front of her. The shape turned out to be a young human female with long brown hair, half pulled back and brown eyes. Janeway looked at the young woman who she finally saw looked to be in her final trimester of pregnancy, wearing a maternity Starfleet uniform with the Q's customary captain's rank. This in itself was what surprised her greatly. She couldn't help but feel a little protective of this woman, but pushed it aside as she remembered that no Q was helpless. She shook out of her thought as the woman spoke. "Actually Captain," the female Q said smiling warmly, "My name is Teresa Martinez." She snapped her fingers in the same fashion as the well known Q used. A comfy looking chair materialized on the bridge. Teresa sat down with a sigh. She looked up at Janeway and smiled apolegetically. Getting over the initial surprise and shock, Janeway demanded, "What the hell is going on? Why have you disrupted my ship?" Before she could finish her long list of questions, Teresa interrupted, "My apologies Captain, but I needed somewhere to crash before our son was born." Janeway let her guard down a fraction and walked over to the young Q. "Teresa..." she began. "Maybe we should discuss what you want in private." Teresa looked up at Janeway and smiled, "Oh of course Captain." Teresa snapped her fingers and they disappeared along with the chair. Chakotay jumped out of his seat, "Computer, locate Captain Kathryn Janeway!" "Captain Kathryn Janeway is in the ready room," came the computer's unemotional female voice. Hitting his comm badge, "Chakotay to Janeway." Sounding out of sorts, "I'm alright, commander. Stay at your post." "Understood." Paris looked quizzically at Chakotay, "What was that all about?" "I haven't a clue, but I'm sure the Captain will fill us in." Paris nodded and returned his attention to his task at the helm. ************** Janeway and Teresa materialized in her ready room. Janeway was seated behind her desk and Teresa was seated on the sofa with her feet propped up on a foot stool that hadn't been there before. Janeway steadied herself than looked over at Teresa. Teresa was looking back at Janeway smiling. Kathryn couldn't help smiling back. Of all the Q she'd met, Teresa was perhaps one of the sweetest. Which made Janeway wonder what hidden agenda this young lady had. "Teresa, why have you chosen my ship?" The female Q looked at her and winked. Janeway gave her a puzzled look. Teresa snapped her fingers, a cup of tea appeared in her hands along with a cup of coffee on Janeway's desk. "Captain, I came here to have my son." "Yes, yes. You've said that already. What I want to know is why?" "Captain, Q told me all about you," she smiled. "I told him I wanted somewhere safe to give birth and your name popped up." Janeway opened her mouth to intergect when Teresa held up her hand to stop her. "Kathryn, hmm...where to start?" The female Q leaned forward as far as she could. "I am only half Q." "*Excuse me*?" Kathryn gasped in shock. She had a few hundred questions, although she had absolutely no idea where to start. Sensing this hesitation, Teresa continued, "The other half of myself is human. My mother is a full Q and my father is human." "How was it that the continuum didn't interfere?" Janeway asked taking a sip of her coffee. She was pleasantly surprised to find it just the way she liked. Teresa looked a little uncomfortable but continued, "My mother was one of the higher-ups. They didn't dare harm her or her family." Janeway listened intently to Teresa's story. She got up from her chair and gazed out the window, looking at the stars. She gathered her thoughts for a moment than finally spoke, "Must of been hard." "Yes it was until I hit puberty. That's when my limited powers started to manifest themselves." She absentmindedly placed her hand on her belly, "That's when mother told me she asked one of her 'siblings' to help me adjust to my inborn abilities." Kathryn turned around, "Q?" she asked quietly. Teresa grinned, "Yup. The one and only." Janeway raised an eyebrow at this. The female Q continued, "He showed me what I could and couldn't do. He was very patient," Janeway snorted at that. Teresa went on unperturbed, "He showed me what it was to be Q, I helped him with humanity." She closed her eyes as she continued, "After a few months we became romantically involved. He told me all about his ex, you know the female Q he mated with," she paused, seeing if Janeway knew who she was talking about. "What ever happened between those two?" Kathryn asked. She walked over to Teresa and sat down next to her on the sofa. "Well," she started taking a sip of tea. Janeway thought she smelled chamomile. "As you know, they had a child together. According to Q only because the fate of the continuum was at stake." Janeway nodded her acknowledgement. "He told her afterward, that he wanted to be with me." Janeway piped in with a laugh, "He tried mating with me once." Teresa smiled at Janeway saying, "Actually Captain, he wasn't serious. He knew he'd get Q's attention going after you," she paused feeling her son kick her, she moved her hand. Holding her hand right above the young Q's belly, Janeway asked, "May I?" "Certainly, he's kicking right here," she answered placing Janeway's hand on her belly right above her navel. Janeway smiled as she felt the baby kick. Teresa went on, "Q told me he couldn't procreate with me, being a mix breed and all. So I told him that I understood." She looked over at Janeway who still had her hand on her belly. Teresa giggled as her son shifted position. Kathryn was smiling. She removed her hand, got up and paced a bit. Now she knew why Q had left without further inclinations towards her. She looked towards Teresa, "So you're carrying his child now?" Teresa nodded. *God, he's mating with everyone these days!* Kathryn mused to herself. "Captain, do I have your permission to stay on board your ship til I deliver?" The Captain thought it over for a bit, "Just answer me one thing." "Anything." "Why us? Why not go to earth or pester some other captain?" Janeway asked thinking about a certain captain that had quite a bit of experience dealing with Q. Teresa motioned to Janeway to help her up. Janeway moved towards her and helped the young woman to her feet. The young Q sighed, "I am in no condition to even attempt teleportation to the other side of the galaxy, with or without Q assisting me." "I see." Janeway thought a moment, "Yes you may stay. Will Q be joining you?" As if on cue, there was a bright flash. Janeway looked over to see Q leaning against the bulkhead with his arms crossed over his chest. "Of course I will Kathy," Q said winking at her. *What's with all this damn winking the two of them keep giving me?* Janeway thought to herself. Q raised an eyebrow at her, but said nothing. Teresa waddled over to Q, who met her half way. She walked into his embrace, kissing him with vigor. Janeway noticed Teresa was a good foot shorter than Q. They broke the kiss after a few moments, than suddenly Teresa was giggling, playfully punching him in the arm. It took a moment for her to realize they were communicating telepathically with each other. *I wonder what he said to get her rialed up?* Janeway pondered to herself. Without breaking his gaze from Teresa, *That's for us to know and you to find out,* Q thought to Janeway. Kathryn gave him a dirty look. Q said out loud, "Didn't your mother tell you not to make faces or else it would stay that way?" Teresa stifled another set of giggles, Q smirked and Janeway sighed. Teresa addressed Q, "The good Captain here said we could stay onboard." She than glanced over at Kathryn, "Correct, Captain?" "Correct. Do try to keep him in line," she nodded towards Q. Q just rolled his eyes. "Wonderful!" Teresa cheerfully exclaimed. Suddenly she grabbed the front of Q's tunic, doubled over by a brief sharp stabbing pain in her abdomen, moaning lightly. Q keeping her steady asked with concern, "Is it time?" The young woman strained a smile, "No not yet, but very soon." Janeway motioned towards her communicator, before she could hail the good doctor, Q and Teresa vanished. Sighing Janeway tapped it, "Janeway to Doctor." "Yes Captain?" came the annoyed voice. "I need you to be prepared for a baby delivery." "Oh? Who's expecting?" "You'll *never* believe me." **************** Q and Teresa arrived at their quarters. Teresa waddled over to the sofa with Q in tow. She turned and sat down with a plop. Q started pacing in front of her. "Would you like something to drink, love? he asked still pacing. She smiled at him, "Anxious?" He stopped, looking over at her, "*Nooooo*. I always do this. I just love wearing holes in carpets," he said sarcastically, continuing his pacing. She giggled at him. "Q, I'm fine and junior will make his appearance soon enough. Now would you please sit down or stop pacing, you're making me seasick." He opened his mouth about to protest, but sat down next to her instead. Teresa moved closer to him, laying her head on his chest. He shifted a bit to make them more comfortable, moving his arms to hold her. She sighed contently, closing her eyes. After a few moments she fell asleep, cuddling up next to him. Q sighed, closing his eyes. He moved his hand towards her bulging belly. In a bit he too was asleep, still fully aware of his surroundings. **************** Having informed the Doctor about the Q family's appearance and hopefully *short* stay, she downed the rest of her coffee, *Hmmm... Maybe I may offer to let them stay a bit longer, in exchange for a never ending supply of coffee,* she mused. Shaking her head, *Nah. I can't get Q to send us home. Why would I think I'd be able to get coffee?* Shaking out of her musings, she tapped her comm badge, "Janeway to Chakotay." "Yes Captain?" came his quick reply. "Have the senior staff meet me in the conference lounge in 15 minutes." "Aye Captain." "Janeway out," she sat down in her chair. *Well, this past week has been boring,* she thought getting out of her chair to pace a bit more in the small confines of her office. *Although, knowing Q, we sure as hell won't be bored any longer.* Kathryn continued to pace some more than deciding it wasn't worth replacing the carpet, she headed out the door. ***************** "Aye Captain." "Janeway out." Chakotay made the announcement throughout the ship. He turned to Paris, "Well Mr. Paris, I guess now we get to find out." Paris turned and nodded to Chakotay, eager to learn what went on in the Captain's office. Tuvok who heard the whole conversation, naturally, was curious himself. No good *ever* came out of one of Q's appearances. Although he had to admit to himself, he was genuingly intrigued. Kim looked on, wondering himself what had just happened. He glanced at the chronometer on his display. Soon they would all find out. ****************** Janeway was already seated in her chair in the conference lounge when Chakotay, Tuvok, Kim and Paris arrived. They took their seats at the table. Chakotay sat down to the left of the captain. Leaning just a smidge too close. Too her delight! Tuvok was seated to the commander's left, eyebrow arched knowingly. Kim was seated next to the door, saving the seat on his right for a certain ex-Borg. Paris seated a chair away on Janeway's right, was saving the chair on his right for his wife. Janeway knowing that the two young men always did this, smiled so lighty that no one except her, even knew she had changed her expression at all. Lieutenant Torres-Paris, Seven of Nine and Neelix filed in with the Doctor tagging along. Torres-Paris sat down next to Tom, placing her hand on his knee underneath the desk. Tom looked over to her, winked and turned his attention back to the Captain. Seven walked over to Harry, sat down in her seat, spine as rigid as ever staring straight ahead. Harry moved his leg towards Seven's. She recognized this as 'playing footsies'. She made no move towards Kim but sat a little less stiff. To Harry this meant that she liked his rubbing against her leg. Neelix sat in the chair between Janeway and Paris. A slight look of puzzlement on his face. The Doctor took his seat next to Seven. Janeway, satisfied that everyone was now done grabbing and rubbing one another, began, "As the majority of you know, we had another run-in with Q," noting the looks of surprise and eye rolling from most of her senior staff she continued, "Q has taken another mate, named Teresa Martinez. She is a Human/Q hybrid. She told me about her life and I have verified this to be true via computer records." Janeway continued telling her crew everything she knew about their new guest. When she finished, she waited to hear any comments from them. The officers who missed the initial visit of Teresa, all looked shocked. Lieutenant Torres-Paris sighed slightly and rolled her eyes, remembering what a pain the last visit by the Q brought. Though she was curious about this young woman the captain mentioned. She looked at her captain, "Are they going to be a pest like last time?" "I'm not sure, you know as well as I that they are unpredictable. We will just have to keep on our toes." Seeing no one else had any questions, Janeway dismissed them. The group started filing out of the conference lounge, going back to their posts around the ship. *************** Teresa woke up still laying next to Q. She tried to move as quietly as possible as not to wake him, but he woke just as she moved from his grasp. He had a sleepy look on his face. She smiled at him and got up off the sofa. She walked towards the bedroom. Q looked after her and decided to follow her. Teresa snapped her fingers, a night gown materialized on her. She walked over to the bed, pulled the sheets away and layed down. Q walked into the bedroom and saw Teresa laying down on the bed. Knowing she had just been through a long journey, for her, he decided to go have a little fun. He thought all this to her. She nodded to him and layed her head back down closing her eyes. He disappeared in a flash of light. Teresa opening her eyes, laughed knowing full well what Q had in mind, but was too tired to follow. She closed her eyes and pulled the sheets over her head. ******************* Q materialized in the mess hall. He was greated with loud groans and massive eye rolling. "Oh give me a break already!" Q yelled walking over to the kitchen. Neelix was bent over looking for a utensil he dropped, cursing in Talaxian. Q walked up behind him, "Need help?" Neelix jumped hitting his head on the counter. "Ouch! Don't do that!" he cried as he turned to the voice that startled him, rubbing his head. "Oh, it's you." Willing himself to keep a straight face, "Sorry 'bout that," Q said as he leaned against the counter. "No problem, you just startled me." Raising himself up he walked towards his soup terain, forgetting about the utensil that hid from his grasp. He began stirring his leola root soup, adding a few exotic spices. Q watching this, "Leola root? Ick!" He said crinkling his nose. There was silent nods of agreement coming from the peanut gallery seated around the mess. Q knew what it tasted like, it always made him nauseas. It smelled like shit and tasted just as bad. Neelix not letting anything spoil his day, replied, "You don't know what you're talking about." Q's eyebrows raised to his hairline, "Ah, yes I do. Remember? Omnipotent. Omniscient. Duh!" Neelix gave him a side glance and continued stirring his soup, ignoring Q. Q harumphed and vanished. *Good riddens,* Neelix thought to himself and continued preparing for dinner. *************** Tom Paris and Harry Kim both got off of duty at the same time today and were planning on meeting the girls in their resort program for a little R and R. Tom asked Harry while they were in the turbolift, "Har, you looking forward to our double date on the holodeck?" Harry grinned, "Yeah, I told Seven to put a swimsuit on when she got off of duty." Tom raised an eyebrow, "Really? What'd she say to that?" he asked with a grin. Sighing, "She told me that Borg do *not* swim." Tom doubled over with laughter, "I wish I could of seen the look on your face when she told you that." Harry gave Tom a dirty look then laughed himself. "Anyway, she said she'd meet us, but she isn't gonna swim," Harry said with a chuckle. Tom just burst out with another set of giggles. The lift stopped at their floor and they got out. They walked down the corridor in silence. Tom got to his quarters first. "Har, I'll see you at 1900," Tom said laughing as he walked into his quarters. Harry shook his head and continued onto his quarters. ***************** Having finally finished her duty in astrometrics, Seven walked into her 'quarters'. Actually her quarters was Cargo Bay Two, the only place on board Voyager that could accomidate her regeneration cubicle. Earlier during lunch, Ensign Kim asked her to meet him in the Holodeck wearing, *egads!*, a swimsuit. Grudingly she agreed to his request, but she was *not* going to swim. *I'd sink like a rock,* she thought to herself. Seven walked over to the replicator, she asked the computer to show her what was appropriate for Lieutenant Paris' Holodeck simulation. After scrolling through a few dozen different styles, she decided on one that was modest yet alluring. She replicated the swimming attire. She looked at the piece of cloth in her hands. "This is satisfactory." She stripped out of her bodysuit, threw it into the refresher, and wiggled into the swimsuit. She undid her hair, taking a brush to it. She walked over to her full length mirror, she had it brought to the cargo bay a few weeks ago. She found that having a mirror helped her perfect her appearance. Satisfied with her appearance, she headed out the double doors of the cargo bay towards the holodeck. ************** Jen and Megan Delaney were busily working in stellarcartography. The twin sisters were once again going over the information Voyager had gathered passing through the Delta Quadrant. They were sitting there comparing notes on a recent anomoly they had encountered, when a bright flash of light brought them out of their thoughts. They looked over to see Q standing in the middle of the room with his arms crossed. Megan gave her sister a wink, Jen grinned getting her sister's meaning right away. Walking over to Q, "Well what have we here Jen?" Jen smiled, "Why Megan, I do believe he's one of those Q people." Jen walked over to stand by her sister. Q looked at the twins and rolled his eyes. "Why Jen, I think you're right. My he's a handsome one, isn't he?" Megan walked around Q, looking him up and down. Q straightened up suddenly, wondering why he chose to appear around these two *harlets*. Jen grinned, "Oh my yes. I wonder how he'd do in bed?" She walked closer to Q. She put her hands on his biceps, rubbing them up and down. Q's eyes went wide. He looked from one sister to the other. *Definately a mistake,* he groaned. "Oh, I don't know, Jen. Think he could take on the two of us, dear sister?" Megan walked up and went behind him. She placed both her hands on his butt. He jumped. Before either sister could feel him up anymore, he flashed out. The two sisters looked at each other and burst into giggles. With a slight pout, "Ahhh! I was going to show him a good time," Megan said looking at her sister. Jen shaking her head, with a bemused look on her face, "At least he won't be back." "True." Megan and Jen shrugged their shoulders, giggled a few more times and went back to work. **************** Q materialized right outside the door to stellarcartography. Shivering, *Those two need to be restrained!* He stared at the door, shivered some more and disappeared. **************** B'Elanna Torres-Paris walked into her and Tom's quarters. She looked around, seeing she must of just missed him, she stripped out of her uniform. Thankful to get off shift on time, she walked into their bedroom and headed for the head. She got the sonic shower going and walked in. Sighing loudly, she let the shower do it's job til she felt she got the day's grime off of herself. When she felt she was clean, she turned the shower off and got out. She went to her dresser and got out her bikini. It was black and silver. The top was a little snug, but kept her breasts in. The bottom was a bit revealing in places, but hey, she wasn't going to impress anyone. The only one she might of impressed was already married to her. Goody, goody. She giggled to herself. B'Elanna grabbed a pair of shorts to cover her bottom. She posed in front of her mirror. *Not bad, I must say,* she thought to her self, as she turned a little. Satisfied with her appearance she walked out of their bedroom and headed for the door. She sashayed out into the corridor. As she was walking towards the turbolift, she was greeted by catcalls from passing crewmen. *Still got it,* she mused to herself. The lift doors opened, she stepped in calling out, "Deck 12." ***************** Kathryn Janeway was glad to see her relief show up. A certain First Officer had a few intimate plans for the both of them. She all but ran to the turbolift, grinning all the way. "Deck 3," she enthusiastically called out. The lift took off towards it's destination. Janeway stepped out of the turbolift. She walked towards her quarters. Her First Officer's quarters were across the hall from her. She walked over the threshold to her quarters. She began to strip out of her uniform. She threw it in the refresher. She went into her bedroom and choose a light blue sundress. She knew that Chakotay loved it on her. Having finished dressing, Kathryn went over to the mirror in her bedroom. Seeing that everything was the way she wanted, she headed back into her living area and out the door of her quarters. She stood outside the entrance to Chakotay's quarters. She pressed the chime button with her right hand. She stood there in the corridors for about a minute before she heard, "Come." Kathryn stepped through the doors. **************** Teresa woke up from her sleep. Feeling hungry, she decided she'd use the replicator to get something to eat. Normally she used her powers, but right now she was too tired to do any finger snapping. She got out of bed, walked into the living area and ordered herself a grilled cheese sandwich with ketchup on the side and some tea. TBC |
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