Return-Path: From: karmin.stjean@busilink.com (Karmin Stjean) Subject: Story: Hidden Within 1/2 Date: Thu, 05 Sep 1996 17:09:43 GMT Organization: busilink.com Note: The story was posted earlier, but I've added a bit to it. I am posting it in its current entirety for the sake of anyone who didn't see it the first time around. Lately I've been reading a lot of the "Q Knocks Janeway Up" posts and it seems that everyone believes that the only way for that to happen would be through some sexist and demeaning confrontation where Janeway is either pressured into sex with Q or outright raped by him or that such an encounter would make Janeway look like a glorified whore. But I was thinking, their *must* be a way to write a story like that where Q would not be acting in a sexist manner and where Janeway would retain her dignity.... So here's what *I* came up with... HIDDEN WITHIN HER (chapter one) They'd never let the baby survive. Amanda knew that, and it broke her immortal heart. Since she and Q had left the Enterprise, she'd been allowed the priviledge to see what the man was like without the mask. Without an audience to play the bad guy to, Q had turned out to be much different. When they were alone and there was no danger of teasing from his lessers or his peers, Q was incredibly nice to Amanda. Sometimes, they travelled to other worlds in disguise, looking for all the world like a normal couple either on a date or on their honeymoon. On one of these trips, they'd concieved a child, and they'd both known immediately that the conception had taken place. They'd managed to hide it, so far, but they both knew they would not be able to hide their crime forever. "Q," Amanda said, "we have to hide the child somehow." "Come," Q told her. "I think I know someone who can help us." * * * Captain Katherine Janeway walked into her cabin and was quite annoyed to see Q sitting on *her* sofa. "I appecriate your wanting to keep your promise to Quinn," she said, evenly, "but do you think it might be possible for you to keep it somewhere else?" Q smiled. "I see you have a sense of humor." He laughed. "An excellent quality for a mother to have." It was entirely the wrong thing to say. "I'm not your breeding mare, Q." Janeway informed him, bitterly. Amanda spoke up before Q could put his other foot in his mouth. "Captain Janeway," she said, "I am Amanda Rogers, you might have read about me in Starfleet reports." Janeway nodded. "Q and I have been involved in a relationship for some time now." Amanda explained. "And we've recently discovered that I am to become the mother of his child." "So, how do I fit in to all of this?" Janeway asked. "The child will not show its true nature until it reaches sexual maturity." Q explained. "And it is in human form. If Amanda carries it, its true nature will be known instantly and the others might kill both Amanda and the child, not to mention myself. Now, I know that my loss won't bring tears to your pillow at night, but surely you won't sacrifice Amanda, here, and an innocent child just because I'm not your cup of tea?" "I need time to think it over." Janeway told Q. "We can only keep the child a secret for two more days." Q told Janeway. "After that, Amanda and her unborn child will be at risk." Janeway nodded. "I'll have an answer for you tomorrow evening." * * * Captain Janeway took the helm of the Voyager at the usual time the next morning. Commander Chakotay handed her the log of the previous night's activities while she'd been in bed. One involved a near collision with a small meteor. "Would it have destroyed Voyager?" Janeway asked. "I do not believe so." Chakotay replied. "However, it could easily have damaged life support and guidance systems if it had hit the wrong part of the ship." "Killing us and leaving Federation technology available to a number of races, including the Kazons." Janeway concluded. "Why didn't it hit us?" "The logical assumption," Tuvok offered, "is that its course was altered by the interference of the gravitiational pull of a nearby astrological phenomenon." "Was there anything in the change of course that would indicate the meteor's change of course might have been the result of a not-so-natural interference?" Janeway asked. "Well, Q wasn't strolling along behind it, pushing it and waving to us, if that's what you mean." Tom Paris chimed in, trying to be humorous and missing the mark by miles. "I didn't ask for your sarcasm, Mr. Paris." Janeway told him, firmly. "But while we're on the subject, I did have a visit from Q last night." Chakotay, who could not make up his mind whether Q's spirit animal was a snake or a jackal, turned his head. "What did he want?" "He had a personal favor to ask of me." Janeway told him. "And you turned him down, so now he's trying to prove himself to you." Tuvok assumed. "The nature of his request was such that I could not say 'no' outright, so I told him I'd think about it." Janeway replied. "However, you may be right about his trying to influence my decision." "That would seem to indicate that whatever favor Q has asked of you is most important to him." Tuvok suggested. Janeway nodded. "By 'personal' can we assume that the request was not one you would wish to share with the crew?" Tuvok asked further. "At this time, that is correct." Janeway replied "However, if whatever choice I make should have any impact on this crew at any time, I will make you aware of that possibility if and when neccessary." "It would appear to a casual observer, that you are considering deciding in Q's favor in this case." Tuvok pointed out. "I can only conclude at this time that whatever Q has requested was not unreasonable." "Not entirely." Janeway admitted. "But I'm not entirely sure I should honor the request all the same." "Captain," Tuvok asked, "if the request had been made by someone other than Q, what would your answer be?" Janeway took a long breath. She knew what her answer would be. * * * Q and Amanda were waiting in her cabin that evening when she arrived. "You've decided." Amanda half-asked. "Yes, I have." Janeway replied. "I was a little uneasy about this request at first, given its origin. But then I realized, Q. You're not doing something selfish, Q. You're trying to protect your offspring. I also realized that I'd do the same thing if the need arose." Amanda nodded since Q wasn't about to admit to being an 'old softy' in front of humans, even when it was so obvious. "So, I've decided I will carrying your son." Janeway concluded. Q nodded, gratefully, and snapped his fingers. There were two flashes in rapid succession, one around Amanda, then one around Janeway, as the transfer took place. There was no pain or discomfort for either woman and when it was over Amanda hugged Janeway and said "Thank you." as she and Q returned home to the Continuum. * * * "May I help you this morning, Captain?" the Doctor asked. "Last night, Q put a baby in me." Janeway told him. "I was not aware that you and Q were having a relationship." the Doctor said. "We're not." Janeway replied, then realized what he meant. "Oh!" She corrected the error. "No! I don't mean he had sex with me. Another Q was pregnant by him and they had to hide the unborn child, so they transfered it into me. I just want to know if there's any risk involved that Q might have not told me about." "From what I've heard regarding the Amanda Rogers case," the holodoc >>> Continued to next message * SLMR 2.1a * ... A fertile mind requires a lot of dirt. >>> Continued from previous message informed her, "it would appear that the Q do not become omnipotent until puberty. It is therefore my conclusion that this will be a relatively simple pregnancy. Congratulations." Janeway nodded. "Thanks." She replied, as she left sickbay and headed up to the bridge to take command. "What is our status, Mr. Chakotay?" Janeway asked as she arrived on the bridge. "No contacts made last night," Chakotay replied. "All ship's systems are reported to be functioning normally." "How was your meeting with Q?" Tuvok inquired. "Better than expected." Janeway admitted. "I assume the two of you were able to arrive at a mutually beneficial arrangement." Tuvok concluded. "We were." Janeway nodded. For the next three months, time passed uneventfully, and Janeway had the suspicion that either Q or Amanda was protecting them. Then, a vessel approached them. "Hailing frequencies." Janeway ordered. Paris opened a channel. "Unidentified vessel. This is Captain Katherine Janeway of the USS Voyager. Please respond." No response. "Scan for lifeforms." Janeway ordered. "I am detecting two lifeforms." Chakotay replied. "Scans would indicate that the occupants are Ferengi. With all due respect, I believe I should initiate contact." Janeway didn't like it, but she hadn't become a Starfleet Captain by allowing her pride to affect her ability to command. "Do it." She nodded. "Ferengi Vessel," Chakotay addressed them, "this is Commander Chakotay on board the USS Voyager." "Voyager, this is DaiMon Goss of the Ferengi Alliance." the Ferengi replied. "I demanded you return us to the Alpha Quadrant immediately. "We cannot." Janeway informed him. "I am not interested in talking about important matters with clothed females." Goss told Chakotay. "Captain Janeway *is* in command, DaiMon." Chakotay pointed out. "Very well." Goss decided, grudgingly. "However, if you will not send me home to my wife, then you must replace her." He was bluffing, of course. He'd *never* take someone as ugly as Janeway as his wife. Human women rarely knew how to give oomox properly and were far too outspoken for his tastes. "Look!" Janeway was fed up. "I'm not going to replace your wife. I'd *like* to send you home. You *and* us, but I can't just snap my fingers" she snapped them as she said this, "and transport us all home!" For a second the she could see the familiar stars of the Alpha Quadrant outside, then there was a flash and she was back in the Gamma Quadrant. "Q!" She shouted. "What the hell is going on? Were we?" "Home?" Q asked. "Yes." "Then how....?" Janeway wanted to know. "I brought you back here." Q replied. "We were *home*?" Janeway was furious. "And you brought us back *here*?" Q nodded. "Why?" Janeway demanded. "You were brought here for a reason, Captain." Q replied. "That's all I can tell you. And that reason has not been fullfilled, yet." * SLMR 2.1a * ... A fertile mind requires a lot of dirt.