The red-headed woman at the desk sighed. Frankly, she felt like banging her
head against the desk and giving up. But that would not get the reports stacked
around her read.
"Neither is sitting here staring blankly at
them." she mused. She cradled the mug of lukewarm coffee in her hands and
looked around at the room. Blank, impersonal.
"Starfleet ugly."
The phrase swam through her consciousness. "Even interior design's
distracting me now. Concentrate!" She turned her attention back to the PADD
lying on the desk.
A white flash broke the stillness in the ready room. A
tall woman in a Starfleet admiral's uniform appeared. Her long, brown hair
curled loosely over her shoulders. An irritated expression marred her otherwise
beautiful face. She spoke.
"Hello Kathy."
Captain Janeway looked
up from her reverie, startled by an unannounced visitor. Particularly this
visitor.
"Q!"
"Ah, ever observant." The woman moved closer and
perched on the edge of the Captain's desk, looking down at her. "Godmother. How
ironic." A smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Two immortal, omnipotent
parents and our son has you for a 'God'mother. Are you a fairy Godmother, Kathy?
Because that's what I feel like today. Your fairy Godmother."
"What's
this about Q?" Janeway sounded annoyed, but resigned. She knew that Q could and
would do whatever they liked. "I didn't ask to be..."
Q snapped her
fingers. There was a momentary flash of white light, and she was gone. Once
again, Captain Janeway sighed. The beginnings of a stress-induced headache
twinged and she pinched the bridge of her nose as she activated her
communicator.
"Captain Janeway to Chakotay."
"Yes Captain?" Her
first officer's voice drifted unembodied over the commlink.
"I've just
had a visit from Q. She didn't seem to happy and I've got a feeling she'll be
back. Put security on full alert."
"Aye Captain."
"Janeway
out."
"Pointless," nagged her internal monologue, "you can't
take precations against Q."
The astrometrics lab. Seven of Nine was alone, working at her usual console
in front of the huge display. Her blue biosuit hugged her excessively feminine
figure, the last traces of Borg technology visible as ridges under the tight
material. They gave the impression that her slim waist was enclosed in outdated
corsetry, rather than the invasive technology they actually
represented.
"Not bad to look at, if you like that kind of limited
organism." The thoughts of the female Q drifted through
astrometrics.
"You're not here to look at her!" the male Q
snapped. "Get on with it."
"Pester me any more, and I won't
do this at all. Go away!"
"Hmmph."
The door slid open behind
Seven with a woosh, seemingly unheeded by the room's only visible occupant.
Captain Janeway strode across to Seven and stood behind her, waiting to be
acknowledged. Seven continued working.
"Seven?" she enquired.
"One
moment please, Captain."
The younger woman continued working for a
moment. Then she stopped, straightened up and turned to face her Captain, gazing
at her expectantly, hands clasped behind her back.
"I was just going to
get some lunch. The Doctor tells me you haven't been eating as much as he would
like. Would you care to join me?" Janeway smiled invitingly, "I'm sure we can
find something you'd enjoy."
Seven nodded her assent.
"Very well Captain, although the enjoyment of
nutrition is irrelevant."
Captain Janeway suddenly seemed distracted. She
glared up at the ceiling. When Seven followed her gaze, she could see nothing of
specific interest.
"Please excuse me for a moment Seven." Janeway
addressed this remark directly to the younger woman and then glared upwards
again. "I meant it Q, buzz off!"
"Q?" Inquired Seven,
confused.
"The Q are a race of highly intelligent, omnipotent beings"
explained Janeway, "who seem to make a hobby of irritating Starfleet captains. I
had the pleasure of a visit from a Q this morning."
Seven once more
looked up at the ceiling, at the spot that had been unfortunate enough to be on
the receiving end of a force ten Janeway glare. There was still nothing
there.
"How are you aware of their presence Captain?" she
enquired.
"In all honesty, I'm not," she raised her voice a little and
added pointedly "but it wouldn't surprise me if Q's around here
somewhere."
"Alright, alright, I'm going." The thoughts of the
male Q echoed around the room, undetected by Seven.
The mess hall was busy, the tables crowded. Neelix bustled around greeting
the crew and serving blue and orange slop. Captain Janeway and Seven of Nine
entered. Smiling, the brightly dressed Talaxian gestured to them to follow him
over to his counter.
"Captain, Seven. What can I do for you today?" He
enquired cheerfully.
"Is the lunch that I asked you to prepare for me
ready Mr. Neelix?" Janeway asked in reply as she snapped her fingers. There was
a brief white flash. No-one noticed her movement, or its effects.
"Of
course Captain." Neelix passed her the large picnic hamper that had appeared
behind him in the kitchen. "Have a nice lunch."
"Thank you. Come with me
Seven."
The Captain turned and walked quickly out of the mess hall. Seven
raised the implant above her left eye and followed.
In Captain Janeway's ready room, a meeting was in progress. The Captain was
at her desk, with Chakotay seated opposite her and Tuvok standing to Chakotay's
left.
"There has been no further evidence of Q's presence Captain."
reported Tuvok.
"Thank heaven for small mercies! But I'm sure we haven't
seen the last of her."
"It's odd that it's her visiting though. She only
came before because He was here. Did she give you any indication of her
intentions?" asked Chakotay.
"Nothing. She just made some cryptic remark
about being my fairy Godmother. Maintain security alert Tuvok, we'll just have
to wait and see."
Seven and Janeway entered Holodeck one. The room was empty and no programme
was running. The gold grid glowed. The Captain handed Seven the picnic
basket.
"Computer, run programme" she began and then snapped her fingers.
The white flash that this created was unnoticed by her companion. "Janeway
Alpha-3-0."
They appeared to be standing in a park. It looked like a park
on earth on a bright, sunny, Spring day. Birds were singing, a breeze drifted
across the hillside. Flowers were dotted here and there. A picnic blanket was
spread out on the grass. Janeway walked towards it, Seven followed. Grinning
Janeway breathed deeply, seeming to bask in the warm sunlight. She took the
basket from Seven and gestured for her to sit on the blanket.
"I prefer
to remain standing."
"You can't remain standing, this is a picnic."
Janeway put down the basket and sat on the blanket, as if to provide a good
example. "Sit down. Do you like the programme?"
"It is very...bright."
commented Seven, as she sat carefully next to the Captain.
Under her
breath, Janeway muttered "I take her home, and it's bright!"
"Holodeck
One is not my home Captain, and it is bright."
"I told you. She
has...enhancements."
Janeway frowned slightly. "And I told you
to go away!"
She turned to Seven and spoke out loud. "We're off duty
Seven, call me Kathryn."
"Very well, Kathryn."
"May I call you
Annika?"
"No."
Janeway sighed and began to unpack the picnic.
Seven picked up a piece of chocolate cake and nibbled at it.
"That's
pudding Seven. It is customary to have the cake after you have eaten the savoury
items."
"'Pudding' is...pleasing. I do not wish to consume savoury
items."
"I'm glad you like it. I expect you are wondering why I have
arranged this."
"I am not."
Janeway snapped her fingers. Seven
froze. It was as though for her, time had stopped. Janeway jumped up and moved a
little away from her.
She glared toward the sky and shouted. "Q! Come
here, now." She sucked air through her teeth in pain and hunched her shoulders.
"Ugh. Kathy really should do something about this tension."
With a flash,
the male Q appeared. He looked bored.
"Go away Q! Come here Q! What am I?
An omnipotent yoyo?" he demanded sarcastically.
Janeway was replaced by a
scowling female Q.
"This is ridiculous. I cannot believe you are taking
this much of an interest in such miniscule...things!" she snapped angrily.
"She's not even trying to talk to me."
"Nonsense. You're just sulking
because it's not as easy as you thought."
At that, Q bristled. She
narrowed her eyes and insisted "No, it is as easy as I thought, except you won't
let me just put them in bed together and not let them get out."
"That
wouldn't work. Kathy has to make up her own mind."
"Then what am I doing
here?"
Q looked pained. He was obviously not used to asking nicely.
"Please just do what I asked?" he whined.
Q scowled, resumed the form of
Captain Janeway and returned to her place beside Seven. As the other Q
disappeared, Seven unfroze. The conversation continued as though there had been
no interruption.
"Oh?" enquired Janeway.
"You have already
expressed the reason for our 'lunch date'. The Doctor does not believe I am
consuming enough solid nutrients and therefore you are attempting to encourage
me to 'eat'." clarified Seven.
"Oh."
"Is that not correct
Kathryn? I can recall exactly what you said if it would help?"
"No, I did
say that, didn't I? Hmm. Well that's only part of the reason Seven. I wanted to
talk to you. I'm curious, you called this a 'lunch date'?"
"If I am not
mistaken, this could be described as such."
"Yes. I, well, I was
wondering, I know your first date was not exactly very successful, but have you
considered trying again?"
"Dating is irrelevant."
Janeway smiled,
teasing. "And yet here you are on a lunch date with me, allowing yourself to be
encouraged to consume 'pleasing' nutrients."
"Your argument is flawed. We
are not 'dating'."
"We could be." She paused and then spoke more quietly.
"I would very much like us to be."
A hint of a smile touched Seven's
lips. "You wish to pursue a romantic relationship with me?"
"How would
you feel about that Seven?"
"The thought has occured to me Kathryn. I
find it...stimulating, attractive. When I am in your presence, you make me feel
more...Human than I ever thought I could feel. I believe I am attracted to you.
My respiration is unsteady and my heart beat increases when I think of you. To
be 'dating' you, would make me...happy."
Janeway grinned. "It makes me
happy just to hear you say that." she whispered.
The Captain took Seven's
hand in her own and smiled warmly at her. Seven lifted their hands to caress
Janeway's cheek. She turned her head slightly and gently kissed Seven's
palm.
"I must admit, I did not think you would act upon your feelings."
Seven stated, revelling in the touch of Janeway's lips on the fine metal mesh of
the implant encasing her left hand.
Janeway brought their hands away from
her face and let go, sitting back a little away from Seven. Q had not just made
herself look like Janeway, she was Janeway. A real Human, with all of Janeway's
memories and feelings and right at that moment a lot was going on and she was
finding that she was having difficulty sorting through all of the sensations and
concentrating on their conversation. Maybe Humans weren't quite as simple as she
had assumed. She'd never really been inside one before. It was messy. They
didn't just do. They prevaricated, doubted, conidered. Kissed. In order to be
convincing to Seven, she had immersed herself in Janeway's feelings. They were
alien, totally outside of her frame of reference. So far she was keeping on top
of them, but it was becoming more difficult. And yet to allow the miasma of
emotion to envelop her was tempting. Q was clear. All-seeing but unfeeling. This
was dark. Rich and warm. Like sinking into sweet oblivion. No absolute
knowledge. Just instinct and feelings, pulling her down. She struggled to hang
on to her objectivity.
"You knew how I felt?" Janeway breathed so quietly
that Seven could hardly hear her.
"I was aware of your attraction to me.
My implants allow me to be aware of the slightest changes to your body's
metabolic functioning. I was aware of the impact of my presence on you
physically despite your refusal to apprise me of your emotions."
"I can
see pillow-talk's going to be a ball." she commented wryly, having got herself
more in control.
"Kathryn?"
"Sorry, I'm nervous."
"You are
nervous?" Seven looked confused. "You have experienced these feelings before,
have you not?"
"Well, yes," answered Q, knowing that Janeway had felt
similar feelings before. Personally though, and she would never admit this to
another Q, she was feeling a little out of her depth. "but being nervous when
discussing your feelings with someone new is not unusual no matter how many
times you have had similar experiences."
There was silence. The two women
sat and looked at each other. Their eyes held each other. Q leaned forward and
gently brushed her lips against Seven's. A pause. Their lips met again, opening,
the kiss slowly deepening as they each surrendered to each other and their
feelings. Q caressed Seven's thigh, exploring.
Seven felt as though her
whole being was focussed where Janeway was touching her. Her eyes closed and she
lost herself in the kiss and the caress. Janeway's hand slid up over her hip
onto the side of her waist. Gently discovering the bands of metal there through
the biosuit. She shivered as the fingers ran down the side of the implant, where
metal met skin. The older woman guided her so that she was lying on her back.
She could feel the uneven ground beneath her as she looked up into the blue eyes
of the woman she adored, leaning down over her to claim her lips once more. She
caught at her and pulled Janeway on top of her, against her, feeling their
breasts crushed together between them, longing for that experience without the
intervening layers of clothes.
Q was fascinated by the sensations Seven's
touch invoked in this body. She felt as though her skin was on fire with
sensation. The slightest brush of her fingers seemed to instantaneously transfer
itself inside her, tying her in knots. The cold emptiness as Seven broke their
kiss, pulled away from her and began to attempt to remove her uniform jacket.
Seven rolled them over so that they were on their sides. Then the shock as she
felt Seven's hands brush over her nipples as she slid them inside her
jacket.
The two women explored each other, bodies pressed together,
thoughts lost in a sea of sensation and yet at the back of her mind, Q knew that
she couldn't let this go on for long. It was vital that Seven's absence from the
ship should not be noticed. Reluctantly she pulled away from her and sat
up.
"I really have to get back to the bridge Seven. Would you like to
have dinner with me this evening?"
"Yes, I would like that. Perhaps you
will be more successful in your attempts to encourage me to consume nutrients
this evening, we seem to have become rather distracted from our
purpose."
"Did you just tease me?" chuckled Janeway.
"Borg do not
tease."
"Whatever you say. Come to my quarters at 19:00?"
Seven
pulled her close and kissed her. She murmured against her lips "I will see you
then."
Before the captain could respond, she was on her feet, striding
away.
"Computer, end programme." called Janeway as she snapped her
fingers.
There was a flash of light and the park vanished to be replaced
by the empty Holodeck. As the doors closed behind Seven, Janeway was replaced by
a contemplative Q.
The ready room, that evening. Captain Janeway was still at her desk. There
was still a pile of PADDs. There was yet another mug of coffee. She rubbed her
hand across her eyes.
"Still hard at it?"
"You again? This is all
I need. What is it that you want Q?"
"There's no time for all that. We're
in a hurry!"
Q clicked her fingers and in a flash of light she and
Janeway vanished and re-appeared in Janeway's quarters. Q looked around and
shook her head.
"Oh, honestly Kathy, is this really were you
live?"
She waved her hand. The cabin was now lit with candles. The table
was set for a romantic meal for two. In the centre was arranged a collection of
dishes of steaming hot food. Soft music drifted through the darkened
room.
"Well, it's slightly more subtle than the bed with the red satin
sheets I suppose," commented the captain looking around at the transformation,
unimpressed. "But I am no more available to you than I was to Q."
"Oh
please. I stand by my previous comments on your appearance. This is not for my
benefit. Now be quiet and let me get on, we only have a few minutes."
"To
do what exactly?" Janeway demanded.
Q snapped her fingers and Janeway was
wearing a long, figure-hugging, green velvet dress and matching green low heeled
shoes.
Q surveyed the outfit. "Hmm. Maybe not."
She snapped her
fingers again and Janeway was wearing black trousers, a cream, corset-shaped,
strapless top and has a wispy silver tasseled wrap draped loosely over her
arms.
"There, you'll do." She grinned sarcastically. "Cinderella shall go
to the ball!"
"Q, I demand that you tell me what's going on!"
"Oh,
you'll find out. If I were you, I'd stop scowling and at least look pleased when
your guest arrives."
Like the Cheshire Cat, leaving her grin until last,
Q vanished. As soon as she was gone, the doorchime sounded. Janeway whirled
around to face the door, as if she was expecting Q to be behind
her.
"Come in." She called, tentatively.
The doors slid open,
revealing Seven wearing a light blue silk dress that clung to her hips and then
flaired out to just above her knees. Janeway's eyes widened and her eyes drifted
down Seven's body. The dress was not nearly as tight and figure hugging as her
biosuit, yet it highlighted her femininity. She was honest enough with herself
to have recognised her feelings for Seven, but she thought she had dealt with
them. Rationalised them away.
"Good evening
Kathryn."
"Seven?"
"You seem surprised. Am I inappropriately
dressed for our 'date'?"
"Date? No, you look...lovely..." she trailed
off, aware that she was staring but unable, or unwilling to bring herself under
control.
"Is something wrong Kathryn?"
"I...this is...a little
unexpected Seven."
"Unexpected? But you asked me to dinner." She paused
and looked around, taking in the changes in the captain's quarters. "You do not
seem unprepared."
"I'm sorry Seven, but I didn't ask you to dinner. It
must have been Q, she did this." She gestured to the room and her clothes, but
her eyes were on Seven.
"But you came to Astrometrics and took me to
lunch on the Holodeck. You stated that you wished to pursue a romantic
relationship with me and invited me to dinner." Seven did not allow her
confusion to show in her voice. It was flat, unemotional. But her eyes glistened
as though she might cry.
"That wasn't me, it was Q disguised as me." The
captain took a step towards her and caught hold of her arms, wanting to offer
comfort.
"You are not attracted to me. I will leave." Seven pulled away
from her touch.
"No, Seven wait. I...lets have dinner. We can
talk."
"Do you wish to be involved in a relationship with me or not
Captain?"
Janeway turned away. She noticed that Seven had switched back
to calling her Captain, and it hurt, but she could not allow this to
happen.
"It's not that easy. I am in command, I hold a position of power.
I absolutely cannot become involved with a member of my crew..." she tailed off
as she felt Seven's arms slide around her waist from behind, her lips press
against her bare shoulder.
"Absolutely not?" asked Seven quietly as she
felt Kathryn draw a ragged, slow breath.
Kathryn turned in her embrace
and looked up into her eyes. "Well..."
"And they lived happily ever
after!" crowed Q's voice, audible throughout the ship as they kissed for
the first time.