Subject: NEW Whatever Houses I Enter 0/7 [PG-13] VOY (P/T,Q)From: Annette Welsh-Shinya <ryukyu3@web-ster.com>Date: Sat, Jan 2, 1999 12:21PMMessage-id: <36b755a2.9466602@nntp.ix.netcom.com>Here lies my effort at a malfunctioning holodeck/Q/Tommy-Angst/P/Tstory.  It really didn't start out that way, promise!  You be thejudge if it works...And, as always, thanks for flying P/T Airlines, "We give you feverishflights..."Annette=========Subject: NEW Whatever Houses I Enter 1/7 [PG-13] VOY (P/T,Q)From: Annette Welsh-Shinya <ryukyu3@web-ster.com>Date: Sat, Jan 2, 1999 12:21PMMessage-id: <36b855ae.9478077@nntp.ix.netcom.com>Title: Whatever Houses I EnterAuthor: Annette Welsh-Shinya  12/98Series:  VOYPart: 1/7Rating: PG-13Codes:  Paris-Angst, P/TSummary: Spoilers of a sort for 30 Days.  Tom Paris is requested tomake a house call on the Q...can Captain Proton save the day, or willit be Tom Paris?Disclaimer: Paramount's got all the rights to Trek, do-dah, do-dah,Viacom's got all the money from Trek, do-dah, do-dah, I got the storyand that's about it, oh do-dah day.Warning:  Severe Tommy-Angst alert, Mushy 'Shipper alert, Q Storyalert...if you can't stand 'em...don't read it!Feedback:  Encouragement/criticism gladly responded to.  Flames willbe consigned to the nearest airlock where proper venting proceduresper Starfleet Engineering regulations will be followed.Email:  parisienne1812@geocities.comPosting:  Please notify me if you post anywhere...I love to see myname in lights!Note:  This is my fanfic author's obligatory malfunctioning holodeckand Q story combined *g*.***"Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit ofthe sick..."  From The Oath of Hippocrates***The chandelier gleamed and the light refracted down through thehundreds of brilliantly faceted crystals to the room below.  Thegolden warmth lent a burnished glow to the blond hair of the man atthe top of the curved staircase.  From his startlingly blue eyes tothe crispness of his stark white tuxedo shirt to the impeccablypolished black dress shoes, Thomas Proton's appearance demandedattention.  He got it.  The women stopped and stared, the men stoppedand glared, and Captain Proton?  He was unaware.  His attention waswholly occupied by the lovely woman on his arm.  Her Most RoyalHighness, Princess Belladonna, sole heir to the throne of Kronos.She was dressed in a floor length gown of royal blue velvet, with ayellow and navy sash over one shoulder bearing the Royal Seal broachthat marked her as an official representative of her country.  Atopher raven tresses a tiara of diamonds and blue sapphires sparkled incompetition with her shimmering deep brown eyes.A hush had fallen on the crowd as the couple approached the landing atthe top of the sweeping double staircase.  They were announced, "HerRoyal Highness, Princess Belladonna of Kronos and Captain ThomasProton!"  Thomas turned his head to the Princess and said, "Shall we,Your Highness?"  The Princess graciously inclined her head, and theydescended the last of the staircase.The crowd of elegantly bedecked ladies and gentlemen openedautomatically to let them cross the room to the dance floor.  Therewere sighs and murmurs as the striking couple passed by and took theirposition at the center of the floor.  At a slight nod from Thomas, theorchestra struck up a waltz, the national anthem of Kronos.  Itsounded vaguely like Strauss.   The coupled gracefully whirled aboutthe floor in their solitary dance.  The skirt of her dress belled outfrom the Princess as Thomas executed a turn with a flourish.  As theyfinished their first circuit about the floor, other couples joinedthem.  All eyes, though, were on Thomas and the Princess."You look very lovely tonight, Your Majesty," said Thomas, smiling atthe Princess."Thank you, Captain," replied the Princess formally."Please, call me Thomas," he replied smoothly."Thank you, Thomas," she said evenly, her eyebrows slightly raised."You've come a long way, in troubled times, to visit a country thatyou don't have any diplomatic ties to, Princess.  May I ask why?"questioned Thomas.Princess Belladonna looked at Thomas, then said, "I am here to lookinto establishing relations with your country, Captain.""Thomas, remember?" he said with another smile."You make things difficult for me, when you make me violate protocol,Captain," said Princess Belladonna, looking directly into his endlesseyes."Ah, but what is protocol?  Merely an outline of how to behave, not ablueprint for each occasion.  Tell me Princess," said Thomas.  "do yourun all of your life by protocol?""It is smarter sometimes to do so," she replied."Yes, but not nearly as much fun," he said looking at her intently.They were lost in the intense contemplation of each other, whensuddenly, the power went out.  There was a scream, and then peoplebegan shouting.  The crowd began aimless milling and there was shovingand a few curses.  Thomas grasped Princess Belladonna by the arm andeased her over to the side of the dance floor where there were fewerpeople. He felt his way, relying on memory for the location of thesmall alcove that was there.  He found it and they stood there.Thomas pulled back his sleeve and activated his two-way communicationwristlet.  "Captain Proton to Buster Kincaid, come in Buster Kincaid!""Buster Kincaid here, Captain!" came his faithful cohort's voice fromthe rocketship Nautilus, in hover-mode just outside the City.  "What'shappening, Captain?  The whole city has just blacked out""Unknown at this time, Buster," replied the Captain.  "Can you get anyreadings at all on the ultra-radaroscilliscope?""Nothing, Captain!  Do you suppose it could be Dr. Chaotica, usingsome sort of new energy weapon he's developed?"  replied Buster in anexcited voice."It's possible," said the Captain.  "We'll just have to keep our eyesopen.  Keep trying to get a reading on what's happening.  In themeantime, I'm going to take a look around here.  Captain Proton, out."Thomas reached back behind his jacket and pulled his emergencyflashlight from his beltloop and turned it on.  He flashed it around,and said to the Princess, "I'm going to take a look around.  You stayhere.""I don't take orders from you, commoner!" growled the Princess, andtook his arm in an iron grip."Uh, suit yourself, Princess, but could you loosen your grip a little?I need to use that arm," replied Captain Proton wincing a little."Oh," said the Princess, and let up on her grip a bit, then said,"hmpf," and raised her head up.Thomas grinned and using the flashlight to light the way, moved uptoward the staircase at the entrance of the ballroom.  The Princesshad a suspicion of a smile about her sensuous lips.  He was stoppedseveral times with questions about what was happening, but he justreplied that he was looking into things and for everyone to remaincalm and where they were.  Gradually, as he progressed through theroom, it quieted down.  Captain Proton was on the job, and everythingwould be all right.Just as they reached the foot of the staircase, a bright lightsuddenly appeared!  There, at the top of the staircase was...Dr.Chaotica!  He was flanked by tall, muscular bodyguards, dressed inblack jumpsuits with silver belts, boots, and helmets.  They eachcarried powerful ray-rifles on slings in their hands, and theirhelmets had built in lamps that shone brightly throughout the darkenedballroom.Dr. Chaotica laughed evilly, and said, "I have disabled all electricdevices with my electron dampening ray.  All your weapons areuseless...You will surrender at once, Captain Proton!"Thomas reached for his raygun and pulled it out, but he could see thatthe battery was dead!  Only his subatomic-relay powered two waycommunication wristlet was still working!  He quickly keyed in thecall sign for the Nautilus to open a channel to broadcast to BusterKincaid what was happening at the ballroom."Just what do you think you're doing, Chaotica?" called out CaptainProton in a ringing voice."I'm here for the company, Captain Proton," Chaotica sneered.  Hedescended the staircase with two of his henchman lighting him and thestairs up with the lights from their helmets.   "That, and the finejewelry displayed in such a lovely fashion around the necks of themost beautiful women in the City," and he reached over to stroke theRoyal Seal broach at the top of the sash around the PrincessBelladonna."Take you filthy hands off of her, Chaotica!" Proton yelled as helunged for Chaotica.  Two more of the henchman appeared and caught himby the arms."Oh, not to worry, Captain Proton," said Chaotica in an oily voice."I wouldn't dream of hurting Her Highness!"  He leaned over PrincessBelladonna with a leer and then looked down at the Royal Seal broach.He reached out and plucked it from her sash, tearing the delicatesilk, the sound loud in the hushed room.  " I need her to focus thepower of the Royal Seal...take her!!" and he motioned to the henchmanat his side, who moved up to grasp the Princess by the arms.  Shestruggled mightily, with very unprincess-like growls manifesting fromher, but to no avail.  She glared daggers at the woodenfaced henchmen.Thomas pulled hard at his captors hold, and then experienced a momentof disorientation.  He shook his head, then looked up at the top ofthe staircase.  He saw Chaotica and his henchman with PrincessBelladonna, then he swayed and blacked out...Tom woke up with a splitting headache and looked around.  He was stillin the ballroom scene and the holographic guests were milling aboutlooking concerned.  The lights were back on and he was laying on adaybed on the edge of the dancing floor.  Strangely, the Doctor, infull tuxedo, was bent over him.  He nodded, pulled his stethoscope outof his ears, and said to the crowd, "It's all right. He's going to befine." The Doctor reached down and helped Tom to his feet.  Sounds ofrelief went through the crowd.  Then he noticed that the crowd's facestended to look a lot like the crew of Voyager.  Strange, he hadn'tprogrammed the faces to be there, just random images from the basicholographic data banks.Tom, totally mystified as to why the Doctor was in his program, inblack and white no less, said, "Thanks, Doc.  But what are you doinghere?""I am a guest this evening, Captain Proton," intoned the Doctor in apompous voice.  "My wife and I often attend such gala events in theCity."  The Doctor inclined his head toward another figure. Tom turnedand saw the Doctor's holographic wife, in full evening attire, smileat him.  He put his hand to his head and massaged one temple."Headache?" inquired the Doctor."Yeah, a doozy," said Tom frowning."Here," said the Doctor, opening a black medical bag and taking abottle of white tablets.  "Take two of these and call me in themorning if the headache doesn't go away."  The Doctor turned awaylooking pleased with himself and went over to his wife.Tom looked down bemusedly at the bottle in his hand with the labelthat stated 'Aspirin'.  He turned it over and read the instructions.He looked up as a waiter approached him.  He almost dropped thebottle.  It was Neelix, in a waiter's jacket and white gloves,balancing a tray with glasses of champagne."Champagne, sir?" said the Talaxian, in a creditable lower East Sideaccent."Uh, I really need some water...waiter.  Can you direct me to thekitchen?"  faltered Tom, unsure as to where this was going.  Thiscertainly wasn't exactly what he programmed. Sometimes program pickedvariables based on some choices that he didn't make, so he thoughtperhaps that B'Elanna had tripped a subroutine that he had forgottenabout.  The Captain Proton program was getting pretty big.  However,he hadn't put in the Doctor or Neelix, and they had no plans to joinB'Elanna, Harry, and him on the holodeck that he know about. Also,this headache had to go.  He wondered if holographic aspirin would dothe trick?  Probably not.  He followed Neelix the Waiter through thecrowd.In a low voice he said, "Computer, end program and save."  Nothing."Computer, arch." Nothing.  "Computer, respond."  Nothing squared.Tom sighed.  Malfunctioning holodeck.  The ultimate in Starfleetnightmares.  Theoretically impossible, in real life it happened sodamn often it ought to be in the manual.Neelix the Waiter led him though a door into a busy kitchen.  He said,"Wait her, Mac.  I'll get you a glass of water," and disappeared intothe bowels of the kitchen.  Shouts from the members of the galley crewand steam from the pots boiling away on the numerous stoves mingledwith the scents of a multicourse dinner underway in the adjoiningdining room.Tom looked down at the aspirin bottle in one hand, and the flashlighthe still held in the other.  He put the flashlight back into its loopon the back of his belt and concentrated on getting the bottle ofaspirin open.  Any port in a storm.  He hoped Tuvok and whoever elsewas on the bridge was aware of the malfunctioning holodeck and wereworking on getting B'Elanna, Harry, and him out of here.  He wonderedwhere B'Elanna was.  The last memory he had was when Chaoticadescended on the Chamber of Commerce Ball to honor the Princess.  Tomchuckled to himself.  It had taken a lot to get B'Elanna into theCaptain Proton program.  She'd liked the Princess idea, surprisinglyenough.  She'd almost balked at the costume, though.  It had taken alot of convincing to get her to participate.  He had promised her thatshe got a costume change in the middle so she could be in fightingform to combat evil to get her to try the program.  The top of thebottle popped open and he shook two tablets into his hand.Neelix appeared at his elbow, a water glass in his hand.  Tom said,"Thanks," and took the glass.  He looked at the tablets in one handand the glass in the other, then shrugged his shoulders and muttered,"What the hell."  He swallowed the tablets and took a drink of thewater.  He finished the water and handed the glass back to Neelix, whotook it impassively.  He tucked the bottled into the inside pocket ofhis jacket and looked at Neelix."I have to find where Dr. Chaotica took Princess Belladonna.  Do youknow which door they went out of?"Neelix looked at Tom appraisingly, then said, "You really CaptainProton, Defender of the Weak, Scourge of Inter-Galactic Evil?"Tom, slightly taken aback, said, "Well...yes I am.""Where's your rocket pack?  Your space ship?" quizzed the skepticalNeelix."My ship's hovering above the City...and..my Faithful Sidekick, BusterKincaid, is bringing my rocket pack to me as we speak," Tom managed toget out, a do-you-really-need-to-hear-this tone in his voice.Neelix the Waiter, though, seemed to find the answer satisfactory,because he leaned in closed to Tom and said in a low voice, "I'm notsupposed to know this, and if they found out I told you, I could getinto big trouble.  But, I overheard Councilman Ayalla and MayorBartholomew talking right before Dr. Chaotica came.  They said thatthey'd been promised positions in the New Order when Chaotica tookover.  All they had to do was to sit tight and wait for Chaotica toovercome everyone with the Mind Control Device he was working on!"End Part 1Subject: NEW Whatever Houses I Enter 2/7 [PG-13] VOY (P/T,Q)From: Annette Welsh-Shinya <ryukyu3@web-ster.com>Date: Sat, Jan 2, 1999 12:22PMMessage-id: <36b955b8.9488327@nntp.ix.netcom.com>Title: Whatever Houses I EnterAuthor: Annette Welsh-Shinya  12/98Series:  VOYPart: 2/7Rating: PG-13Codes:  Paris-Angst, P/TSummary: Spoilers of a sort for 30 Days.  Tom Paris is requested tomake a house call on the Q...can Captain Proton save the day, or willit be Tom Paris?Disclaimer: Paramount's got all the rights to Trek, do-dah, do-dah,Viacom's got all the money from Trek, do-dah, do-dah, I got the storyand that's about it, oh do-dah day.Warning:  Severe Tommy-Angst alert, Mushy 'Shipper alert, Q Storyalert...if you can't stand 'em...don't read it!Feedback:  Encouragement/criticism gladly responded to.  Flames willbe consigned to the nearest airlock where proper venting proceduresper Starfleet Engineering regulations will be followed.Email:  parisienne1812@geocities.comPosting:  Please notify me if you post anywhere...I love to see myname in lights!Note:  This is my fanfic author's obligatory malfunctioning holodeckand Q story combined *g*.***"But," said Tom, puzzled.  "I destroyed Dr. Chaotica's mind controldevice two episodes ago.  How could he have rebuilt it?  I blew it upwith dynamite.""I dunno," said Neelix in a horse whisper barely audible over the dinof the kitchen.  "All I know is, they said it was going to be workingsoon, and that they were to wait for the signal to begin enforcementof the new rules.  You've GOT to do something, Captain!  The fate ofthe World rests in your hands!""OK," said Tom, still not really into it, but willing to go along."That's the spirit!" said Neelix and slapped Captain Proton's shoulderin encouragement.Tom nodded and walked toward the door at the rear of the kitchen.  Itopened out into an alley, and he walked toward the street to theright, heading toward a streetlamp.  He glanced down at his rightwrist, and realized that there was a glow to his two way communicationwristlet. He lifted it up to his mouth and said, "Captain Proton toBuster Kindcaid, come in Buster!"  No response.  He wondered whereHarry was. He shut off the wristlet to conserve battery power andwalked the last of the alley to the street.He looked up and down the street.  It was dark and there was a lightfog hung low in the street, partially occluding the view of thebuildings grouped together on either side.  Gloomy and dangerousfeeling.  The hairs on the back of his neck pricked up, and Tom turnedaround just in time to see a tall heavyset man swinging a sap at hishead.  He held up his arm to block the blow, and yelled as the pain ofthe hit to his nerve endings made itself felt.  Tom scrambled back toavoid another blow, positing that the safeties were malfunctioning aswell as the rest of the systems.  So what was new.  He got in a fewlicks at the bad guy, then a whistle blew and the henchman turned andran.  Tom brushed off some dirt from the alley and looked up to seethe silhouette of a cop in the dim light of the streetlamp.  He walkedup to the cop."Boy, am I glad to see you.  He got the..." Tom trailed off as helooked at Tuvok in the uniform of the City's finest, a cap on hishead, jodhpurs and shiny black knee boots completed the ensemble."...Drop on me," finished Tom weakly, unable to stop staring at theVulcan."Yeah, he got away down that alley. Must be a dozen different ways todisappear around this neighborhood.  Real ratholes, you know what Imean?" said Tuvok walking up to Tom.  "You'd think the geniuses up atCity Hall would know better than to put have a party in this neck ofthe woods.  The Grand Hotel sure ain't what it used to be."Tom just continued to stare and realized his headache was not anybetter.  He winced as the throbbing got worse."Hey, buddy?  You OK?" said Tuvok as he came up to Tom and took him bythe arm.  "You look kinda green, you know what I mean?""I'll be fine," said Tom shaking his head to clear it.  "I just needto get to my ship.""Hey, it's you!  The guy that flies...Captain Proton!""Yeah, it's me," said Tom in a slightly self-mocking voice."Wait'l I tell the boys back at the stationhouse, they'll neverbelieve me!" Tuvok's voice held no enthusiasm despite the content ofhis speech.  It was unnerving to hear him speak like he always spoke,but in the vernacular of the times."Can you help me get to my ship?" said Tom with a little moreinsistence in his voice."Sure.  Lemme give dispatch a call, and then I'll give you a lift.Hotdog, I'm gonna help out Captain Proton!"  Tuvok said turning aroundand heading toward a police motorcycle parked next to the curb nearthe streetlamp."Hot dog?" said Tom soundlessly as he followed Tuvok to the bike.Tuvok picked up his mike, "Dispatch, this is Viking 4, over.""Dispatch here.""Have citizen assist, Main and Andover, proceeding code 5, over.""Copy, be advised, Dr. Chaotica seen in your area.  Use ExtremeCaution.""Roger and wilco, Dispatch.  Viking 4 out."Tom looked over the police bike, which looked like a Norton, and wasimpressed.  Someone had done some great programming at some time.  Thedetails on the bike were astounding.Tuvok straddled the bike and said, "Hop on, Captain!"  Tom complied,getting onto the back of the big bike.  "Where to?""Head out to the..uh..west side, Officer," said Tom, remembering thathe had 'parked' his ship near the factories on the outskirts of town.Tuvok nodded, pulled down his goggles, revved the bike's engines, andthey roared off down the road.Tom was thinking furiously.  How could this malfunction happen?  Howcould all these people appear in his program, somewhat in their owncharacters, but acting out the parts as if  assigned to them?  It  waspuzzling to say the least.  He could come up with some theories,pretty wild ones, but nothing made any sense.  He was no better offwhen Officer Tuvok pulled up to the parking lot of a factory at theedge of town with a flourish of gravel.  There, leaning against a wallof the factory was his rocket pack and a pile of clothes topped by hisleather jacket.  Funny, he didn't remember leaving them there.  He gotoff the police bike and turned to look at Tuvok."Here's where I gotta leave you, Captain," said Officer Tuvok.  "Igotta get back to my beat, keep those yahoos in line, you know?""Thanks a lot, Officer," replied Tom smiling a bit.  "I reallyappreciate the help.""You go get that bum, Chaotica.  We'll keep the crooks in line," Tuvokpointed to his police shield, his voice totally emotionless."You do that," said Tom, nodding his head in a slight daze.  Maybe hehad a concussion?  Officer Tuvok roared off into the night and quietdescended on the deserted factory.Tom walked over to the pile of clothing and equipment.  It was his allright.  He stripped out of his evening wear and donned his CaptainProton accouterments.  Strapping on his rocket pack, he checked thepocket of his jacket for his goggles.  Right where he left them.  Heput on the goggles, tucked his flashlight into his belt again andpicked up the pile of evening wear and stuffed it inside his jacket.He activated the rocket pack, and roared up into the air toward theNautilus."Captain Proton to Nautilus, come in Nautilus."  There was no answer.He neared the ship and put his rocketpack into hover-mode and reachedout to grasp the handle near the entry lock.  He activated the manualoverride opening and the airlock opened with a hiss. He took hold ofthe handlebars just inside the lock and heaved up and over.Disengaging his rocketpack, he hit the close airlock button and openedthe inner door to the main part of the ship.  He shrugged out of therocketpack and hung it on the hooks next to the airlock for thatpurpose.  He hung his evening wear next to the rocketpack.He walked into the main control room and activated the centralviewport monitor.  Then he fired up the ultra-radaroscilliscope,trying to get a signal as to where Chaotica could be.  He shook hishead as there was nothing on the 'scope, and the monitor remainedblankly snowy.  He looked around for some clue as to what happened toHarry, but there was nothing out of the ordinary.Tom walked back to the main console, his face resolute.  He was goingto find out what was happening.  He muttered, "Don't worry, B'Elanna,Harry.  I'll find you and get you out, no matter how weird this gets.""Well, Captain Proton to the rescue," drawled an all too familiarvoice.Tom turned around and gazed at the center of the command center.There, in the very middle, dressed in a leather jacket and boots ofhis own, was Q."Black and white spectrum, how boring," Q went on.  "But I supposeit's very indicative of bi-pedal, humanoid mortals and their thoughtprocesses."  Q walked over to where Tom stood.  "What's the matter,fly-boy?  Cat got your tongue?""Q?" was all Tom could manage for a moment."It's me, in glorious black and white" said Q in mock cheerfulness,putting both hands on his chest and smiling idiotically.Tom then he shook his head and said, "I should have known when nothingmade sense of all sudden.""Really," said Q.  "I guess I've become too predictable.  Being theold married man has me in a rut, I guess," he said shaking his headruefully."What do you want," said Tom flatly."I'm crushed," rejoined Q.  "It's not what I want from you, well...itis what I want from you, but I can help you, too," and he motioned tothe communications monitor where Dr. Chaotica's face was materializingin the snow on the screen."Captain Proton," said Chaotica in a evil voice.  "I have a messagefor you.""What do *you* want," said Tom in an impatient voice, turning to lookat the viewscreen."I want you to surrender your ship and yourself, immediately, or Iwill kill everyone you hold dear!"  Chaotica motioned off to his left,and the camera panned to include the other occupants of the room.  Tomcould see B'Elanna tied to a chair.  Harry was tied back to back withSeven who was dressed in the Constance Goodheart costume.  Chaoticacontinued, "I have your precious Princess Belladonna, your faithfulcohort, Buster Kincaid, your misguided secretary, ConstanceGoodheart...and...Dr. and Mrs. Goodheart!"  Chaotica laughedmaniacally as the camera crossed the room.  There, held by manaclesagainst the wall were Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay, eachdressed in period costumes.  "I'm holding them until you bring me thestone altar artifact from the Kronos exhibit at the Natural HistoryMuseum, you have one hour!" and the screen went blank."OK, Q," said Tom in an impatient voice and he turned back to theentity.  "What the hell is..."Q held up one hand and then snapped with the other, and that sense ofvertigo came back with a vengeance to Tom.  He staggered a bit, and Qreached out a hand and steadied him.  Tom just looked at him."You're probably wondering why I have gathered you all together here,"said Q."Skip the non-humorous remarks, Q," said Tom, holding his stomach andrubbing his head.  "What's going on?""A battle," said Q flatly, guiding Tom over to a bench and helping himsit down."Don't tell me the Q are fighting again?" said Tom knitting his brow,the pain was exquisite."The Q are fighting," nodded Q.  "But it's not each other.  Notprecisely.  Anyway," Q looked straight and Tom. "we're losing.""The Q are losing?" said Tom incredulously. "I thought that wasn'tpossible.""So did we.  I mean, omnipotence is as omnipotence does, and all," Qgot up and paced.  "But, apparently, there is a force in the Universethat can take us on and win."  Q stopped to face Tom who looked up athim. "We are dying," said Q in a soft voice."All right," said Tom looking up at Q.  "I'll bite.  The Q are dying.What is it that you want from us?""Succinct and to the point," said Q.  "You've been taking lessons fromMr. Tuvok, Thomas."Tom just looked at Q.  Q swallowed, and then continued, "There issomething going on in the Continuum.  We can't figure out what'swrong, but were all affected by it.  We've lost two Q already, andit's only getting worse."  Q sat down next to Tom on the bench. "Weneed your help.""Well, I'm not sure what Voyager can do for the Q, but I'm sureCaptain Janeway will take any request of yours under consideration,"said Tom, still slightly confused as to why the Q of all beings wouldbe asking humanoids for help."It's not Voyager we're asking to help, per se," said Q.  "It's you.""Me?" said Tom in a surprised voice.  "What the hell could the Q wantfrom me?""Humility in one so great," nodded Q.  "It's very refreshing."  Q'scountenance then changed from  its usual sardonic bent and became veryserious.  "What I mean is, you are the one who can help us."End Part 2Subject: NEW Whatever Houses I Enter 3/7 [PG-13] VOY (P/T,Q)From: Annette Welsh-Shinya <ryukyu3@web-ster.com>Date: Sat, Jan 2, 1999 12:22PMMessage-id: <36ba55be.9494748@nntp.ix.netcom.com>Title: Whatever Houses I EnterAuthor: Annette Welsh-Shinya  12/98Series:  VOYPart: 3/7Rating: PG-13Codes:  Paris-Angst, P/TSummary: Spoilers of a sort for 30 Days.  Tom Paris is requested tomake a house call on the Q...can Captain Proton save the day, or willit be Tom Paris?Disclaimer: Paramount's got all the rights to Trek, do-dah, do-dah,Viacom's got all the money from Trek, do-dah, do-dah, I got the storyand that's about it, oh do-dah day.Warning:  Severe Tommy-Angst alert, Mushy 'Shipper alert, Q Storyalert...if you can't stand 'em...don't read it!Feedback:  Encouragement/criticism gladly responded to.  Flames willbe consigned to the nearest airlock where proper venting proceduresper Starfleet Engineering regulations will be followed.Email:  parisienne1812@geocities.comPosting:  Please notify me if you post anywhere...I love to see myname in lights!Note:  This is my fanfic author's obligatory malfunctioning holodeckand Q story combined *g*.***Tom scoffed, "Out of all the beings in the Universe, you need the helpof one bi-pedal, humanoid mortal?  Pardon me Q, but I don't believeyou."Q looked up as if for inspiration, then turned to look at Tom again,"I know, even I find it hard to believe, but there it is.  You are theone that came up on the old Universe's wheel of fortune."Q nudged Tom and said, "Don't you want to 'come to the rescue' of theQ?""Somehow, I never thought of the Q as needing saving," said Tomsarcastically."Start at the top, I always say," replied Q."Even if I believed you," said Tom. "And that's a pretty big if, whatcould I do for the Q?  You're omnipotent, immortal beings.  Last timeI looked, you pretty much outranked me on the evolutionary scale, tothe point of my almost not being able to comprehend you as a concept.""True," nodded Q.  "But you have more to you than you realize."Tom looked at Q, and he shook his head.  "I don't understand.""You have potential for Q-ness, you know," said Q.  "The warp 10experiments...don't you remember...think.  The memory is there.""I do dream sometimes, and when I wake, I think I remember something,but then, it's gone." said Tom.  "But what's that to do with yourproblem?""You know," said Q, looking intently at him.  "You just have torealize it.""You're talking in riddles, Q," said Tom impatiently.  "And I hateriddles.""Yes," said Q, smiling thinly now.  "You want them to be solved, don'tyou?  You don't like unfinished things.  Too many unfinished,unresolved and unresolvable things in your life, right, Thomas?""I thought this was about the Q," said Tom intently."Yes, but it's also about you," replied Q."This whole set-up.  The program, Dr. Chaotica, my friends...why arethey here?" questioned Tom."I had to bring everyone on Voyager into the program," said Q.  "It'sfor their own protection.""What's going on?" said Tom insistently."I don't know for sure, but I think that whoever is attacking the Q,may be able to follow me out of the Continuum.  And if they do, theymight attack whoever I go to for assistance.  This way, none of yourcrewmates is aware of what's happening, and yet they are functioning.""You put the whole crew 'into' the holodeck program?" said Tom."Yes, I just tweaked their minds a bit, so they think they are theircharacters.  It's the perfect defense for them...they'll have nothoughts to betray them to the other entity."  Q sounded pleased withhimself."But what about me?  I'm still here, and I'm aware of what you aresaying to me.  Doesn't that make me a risk," asked Tom."Yes, but I'm coming to that part," said Q, smiling a patently falsesmile."Why do I have to feeling I'm not going to like this," said Tom to noone in particular.  He turned to Q and said, "just tell me...what haveyou done?""I turned you into a Q," said Q with a magnanimous gesture and anotheroily smile."You made me a 'Q'?" yelled Tom, then grabbed his head as itthreatened to explode from the pain in it."Well, not entirely," whined Q.  "You're sort of a, well, honorary Q.""Honorary Q," said Tom in a deadly voice.  "What exactly does thatentail, and why have you done that?"  He advanced on Q menacingly."It means that you have most of the powers of a Q, and the potentialto become a Q, but that you retain most of your humanoid attributes,"Q was speaking very fast and backpedaling across the floor."Which attributes?" ground out Tom, backing Q up against a wall."Those which you'll need to help us solve our problem," said Q meeklylooking up at Tom.  "Did anyone ever tell you, you're tall?"Tom made a disgusted sound, and turned away from Q.  He stood, backstiff, hands down at his sides,"Why?" he finally got out quietly.Q walked up to Tom and turned him around by one shoulder.  "We reallyneed your help, Thomas."  Q continued in a subdued tone of voice.  "Weare dying and we need to find out who or what it causing it, or the Qwill be gone."Tom looked confused and sounded the same, "But how can the Q be'gone'. The Continuum is infinite.""It would be an endless road with no inhabitants," said Q lookinggrim. "A void and a lack of balance in the Universe.""I thought that there have always been Q," said Tom with a puzzledlook."And so there have been," said Q nodding.  "But there's thepossibility of the absence of Q as much as there is the presence of Q,now at least.""No Q?" said Tom softly.  It was incredible.  He flexed one hand.  Hedidn't feel any different except for the mother of all headaches.  Hesupposed that this was another of Q's tricks."It's not a trick, Thomas," said Q.  "It's real.  Test if foryourself."Tom looked at Q with skepticism, and Q just motioned him ahead.  Tomthought for a moment, then lifted his hand.  He felt extremely stupid,but he snapped his fingers, and...there he was, on the Bridge.   Helooked at Q, "You did this," he said in an accusing voice."I didn't," said Q, holding up both hands.  "I didn't snap a singlefinger.  Cross my heart," he said, making an X across his chest withone hand.Tom had to sit down.  He sank into Janeway's command chair and took adeep breath.  He looked up at Q."You made me into a Q," he said softly, in a voice that was laced withdisbelief warring with what was evident."Pretty amazing, huh?" nodded Q.  "Didn't really think I could do it,but after consideration, I made it work.""Put me back," said Tom looking up at Q.  "Put me back, right now!""I'm sorry, Thomas," said Q.  "But no can do.  I have plans for you.""Plans," said Tom in a hollow voice.  He felt an unutterable longingfor B'Elanna, Harry, even the Doctor.  He needed someone to ground himin reality.  He feared that he was really losing it this time."You are not going crazy, Thomas," said Q shaking his head."Will you stop getting into my head," yelled Tom.  He looked up at Q,who was directly in front of him.  "If I'm a Q, how can you do that?""Because, you're letting me," replied Q.  "If you don't want me to seewhat's inside that pointy little head of yours, don't let me in it."Tom pondered this a moment, then imagined a tritanium melathite alloywall around his thoughts and anchored it there for the time being.  Qlooked up at him and said, "Hmmm, not bad for a beginner."Tom just glared at Q and rubbed his head.  "Why does my head feel likeit's being pounded on by seven Tellurite miners?""Just the stress of rapid expansion of its capabilities," said Q.  "Itshould pass in a couple of weeks."Tom felt the fine edge of control slip once again.  "Weeks?"Q then began a long explanation of how time was fluid and that he hadtaken Voyager and placed her in one time and the Tom and he were in aconcurrent, but slower time, all the while, 'actual' Voyager time wasslowed until further notice.  Tom felt his headache getting worse.  Qfinally broke it down by saying that for every second of time thatpassed in Voyager's actual time line, Voyager would experience a day,and Tom, for every second of Voyager's time, would experience a day."I'm in a slower timeline than Voyager, which is in a slower timelinethan normal?" said Tom finally."Yes," said Q, rolling his eyes.  "It's a good think I don't need yourhelp for temporal mechanics, Helm-Boy."Tom laughed a joyless laugh and got up out of the chair. "I gatherthat the reason you did this is to give me some time to help you withyour problem?  Provided I can help you with this problem," Tomcontinued in a sarcastic voice."Yes," said Q, and he walked over to the Conn and then turned back."There is a limited amount of time available to the Q before we willsuccumb to our attackers."Tom was confused again.  "I thought that the Continuum was not subjectto our temporal laws?""It's not, normally," said Q.  "But somehow, this attacker has placedpressure on us on all fronts of the Continuum.  We have put updefenses, but we grow weaker. Each cycle of attack reduces us inenergy...we don't know how...but eventually, we will be worn down.  Ihave just translated it into time as a concept for you to understand.""All of the Continuum, Past, Present, Future is being attacked at thesame time?" said Tom with wonder."Yes," said Q.  "We..." Q gasped and turned grey, and started to fall.Tom raced forward to catch him as he fell to his knees.  Tominstinctively reached for his combadge, but it wasn't on his CaptainProton outfit.  He cursed, then snapped his fingers and they were inSickbay.Q was still gasping, and appeared to be in pain.  Tom wasn't sure whathe could do for him.  He put Q on a biobed and picked up a tricorder,then made a disgusted sound as he realized that it could do nothingfor Q.  He then muttered to himself, "Think, dammit!" and then stoppedand looked down at the tricorder still held in his hand.  Hewondered...Then, he snapped his fingers again, and the tricorderstarted registering readings as he held it over the prone Q.  Whateverworks, he thought, busily trying to correlate data that shouldn't makesense to him, but did.  He decided it was better to just do in thiscase, rather than think.Tom looked at the data again, then closed his eyes for a moment.   Heopened them and looked down at Q.  He reached out his hand and touchedQ's shoulder, then turned away and walked across Sickbay.  Q had beentelling the truth.  The energy matrix, for lack of a better term tocall Q's essence, was losing cohesion.  It was literally becomingnothing around the edges.  Tom was amazed that  Q had been holding ona long as he had with this sort of degeneration going on.  The utterpower of the Q was brought home to him at that moment.  He looked downat himself in wondered dismay.  Was this him?  It was not possible.He swallowed and looked inward, then had to catch himself on the doorto the Doctor's office as he experienced vertigo.He was simultaneously in humanoid form and in a Q form existing inthis galaxy in this time, all times.  He could *see* the time flowingabout him, saw Voyager and his own corporeal being a small speckfloating in the vastness that made up yet more vastness of theUniverse.  He saw himself flying the modified shuttle, breaking theWarp 10 barrier, saw himself, *seeing* himself as Voyager called tohim to stop.  He had been so close, but he hadn't known.  How couldhe?  It was barely within his grasp then to understand what happened,and even then he forgot.  He remembered now.  Knew it all now.  Somuch information, so many concepts that flowed through him, were him.B'Elanna, help me...Sounds of distress coming from where Q lay brought him out of areverie that had lasted an unknown amount of time to Tom.  Time hadceased to have any meaning in the normal sense.  He went over to whereQ was."You've been experimenting, I see," rasped Q.  "You believe me now?""Yes," said Tom softly.  "I believe you.  How can I help you?  Whatcan I do?""That's just it, Thomas," replied Q with difficulty.  "I don't know.You have to find out.  We've tried everything we know how...and wecan't even determine who they are, let alone how they are destroyingus.""But what can I know that you don't," said Tom, genuinely distressedthat he was not able to offer help."Humanoids," said Q in an ever-weakening voice.  "Especially humans,have an infinite capacity for caring for others.  You'll take anyonein, even," he coughed, "a Q.  You will defend them to the death, andhelp them to the detriment of yourselves.  It is one of your greatestweaknesses, and yet, one of your greatest strengths."Q then was racked by coughs and shudders.  Tom took him by his armsand lifted him up to a semi-reclining position and adjusted the biobedto support him.  Q smiled a weak smile and spoke in a pale imitationof his usual sardonic tone, "You never give up; you are always willingto try again, to find another way, to give or get yet another chance."Tom nodded at this last statement, "You know I know about secondchances quite a bit, don't you," his voice soft and intense.  Qcoughed violently again, and Tom caught him by shoulders and held ontohim until the coughing subsided.  "There's a hell of an ion stormgoing on in subspace, isn't there?" he quizzed Q with a small smile."Class 5," chortled Q weakly."The others, SuzieQ, BabyQ, GeneralQ...?" asked Tom, afraid of theanswer."The same as me," Q replied a look genuine regret in his eyes."Can you bring them here?  I would need to examine them, to see iftheir symptoms are the same as yours?" asked Tom.Q looked relieved at Tom stating that he was going to help.  "I can'tbring them here now, not enough energy.  But, you can," he finishedlooking up at Tom."I can?" said Tom."Look within," said Q, his voice fading down.  Tom reached down toclasp his hand.  Q looked at him intently.  "You have the capacity tocare linked to the infinite within, Thomas.  It's the way to greatnessof being...look within all of you...look.." and Q's voice trailed offas he looked into Tom's eyes.  His grip tightened once, then wentslack.Tom felt alarmed.  He grabbed the modified tricorder and ran a scan.Q was fading fast.  He racked his brains furiously, then looked up.Stasis...Q style.  He snapped his fingers, and froze Q, right at theedge of nothingness.  He just looked at him for a while, utterlyconfounded by the magnitude of what he had to do.  He felt likeweeping.Tom sat down at the Doctor's desk and made a plan of action.  Of allthe people in the Universe, Q had to pick him to try to save the day.It was utterly ridiculous.  If it weren't so serious, it would be agreat joke to tell Harry in Messhall.  The utter normalcy of thatthough had Tom chuckling to himself.  It couldn't be all that bad ifhe was still thinking about telling Harry bad jokes.  Thinking ofHarry made him think of the others, and then, ultimately of B'Elanna.He *looked* in on them on the holodeck, almost frozen in a time withina time.  He gazed inwardly at B'Elanna, still held by Chaotica, stillwearing that blue velvet dress that she hadn't wanted to wear.  Shelooked so beautiful his heart began to ache.  "B'Elanna," he calledsoftly through Time....End Part 3Subject: NEW Whatever Houses I Enter 4/7 [PG-13] VOY (P/T,Q)From: Annette Welsh-Shinya <ryukyu3@web-ster.com>Date: Sat, Jan 2, 1999 12:22PMMessage-id: <36bb55c5.9500914@nntp.ix.netcom.com>Title: Whatever Houses I EnterAuthor: Annette Welsh-Shinya  12/98Series:  VOYPart: 4/7Rating: PG-13Codes:  Paris-Angst, P/TSummary: Spoilers of a sort for 30 Days.  Tom Paris is requested tomake a house call on the Q...can Captain Proton save the day, or willit be Tom Paris?Disclaimer: Paramount's got all the rights to Trek, do-dah, do-dah,Viacom's got all the money from Trek, do-dah, do-dah, I got the storyand that's about it, oh do-dah day.Warning:  Severe Tommy-Angst alert, Mushy 'Shipper alert, Q Storyalert...if you can't stand 'em...don't read it!Feedback:  Encouragement/criticism gladly responded to.  Flames willbe consigned to the nearest airlock where proper venting proceduresper Starfleet Engineering regulations will be followed.Email:  parisienne1812@geocities.comPosting:  Please notify me if you post anywhere...I love to see myname in lights!Note:  This is my fanfic author's obligatory malfunctioning holodeckand Q story combined *g*.***B'Elanna looked up suddenly.  She could hear Tom in her mind, callingto her.  She didn't know where she was.  She was completelydisoriented. All she knew was that she could feel Tom calling to her.Then, he was there.  They embraced on another, sliding within eachother's being...they weren't *anywhere*...they just existed and shefelt great joy.  She had been worried about him; she couldn't rememberwhy, but now she knew that he was all right.  "Wait for me, B'Elanna,"whispered Tom as he slid away.  "I'll be back as soon as I can."  "I'mhere," she echoed back through the sliding existence.  "I'mwaiting..."Tom looked up suddenly, jolted out of his reverie by a shudder inVoyager.  He immediately snapped himself to the Bridge to check outwhat had happened.  He activated the scanners, enhancing the computerto perform at lower speed than normal.  In 'real' time, Voyager waspassing through the Class 5 ion storm that Q had caused with hisdecay.  Tom was unsure, but he thought that he had better move Voyagerout of the disturbance before too much damage could be done.  Hethought a moment, closed his eyes, and snapped.  He opened his eyesagain and checked the readings...not too far, just to the edge of thedisturbance.  His head ached even more, if that was possible.  He feltlike he had physically picked Voyager up and carried it to its currentposition.  Whatever was killing the Q may have picked up on his movingthe ship, but he didn't have time to worry about it.  Time, he laughedto himself.  It's really just all about time, isn't it.  He wonderedabout the decay of entropy and matter movement and anti-matter.  Itwas all so beyond him, he was really into practical matters.  Pilot aship, heal a cut, write a silly holodeck program about a IndustrialAge hero.  What he really needed was a scientist's approach to thiswhole matter...coupled with some medical research expertise.  Hepopped back down to Sickbay to access the medical database.What followed was an endless time of intense reading of the medicaldatabase, especially on research of diseases and their cures.  Heprogressed to the general Starfleet database, absorbing vast amountsof information, processing it, he supposed, only because of hisQ-ness.  He didn't stop to wonder, only felt the urgency to look, tofind, to understand what was causing the decay of the Q.  When he wasfinished, he had a vast amount of knowledge to pull from, but wasstill clueless of how to address the problem.The discovery of the problem itself had been relatively simple.  The Qwere being attacked by...the Q.  But, that was too confusing.  Hedecided to call them the -Q.  No matter.  What had started with the'birth' of BabyQ had been inequality in the balance of the Q.  No, itprobably had started with the death of Q, he mused.  It had jolted the-Q into awareness of that which had always been...the Q.   When matterand anti-matter existed peacefully, in balance, there was existence.When matter and anti-matter collided...boom.  Nothingness.  Therefore,Q + -Q = 0.  The absence of Q, or something like that.  It was morethan even his Q-enhanced brain could totally comprehend.  What helacked was the ability to equalize the balance of the Q. They werekilling themselves.  How to make them understand their Q-nessthemselves, when he was just a neophyte himself?He felt intense frustration and anger that he had not been able tolocate any idea among all of that knowledge that could help him.Where was this idea, the concept that Q had been sure existed withinhumanity?  He felt small and inadequate for the task.He walked himself down the holodeck, needing the feel on the deckbeneath him, as unsolid as it actually was, he wanted to be *human*for a while.  He wanted to be with B'Elanna.  She sat there, stillbound to that chair, the blue gown flowing gracefully from her.  Shewas proudly defiant in her frozen time.  He never tired of gazing intoher face, her magnificent eyes, her proud chin lifted.  She seemedpoised to speak, caught in the moment just before she spoke, herbrilliance flowing from her being.  He drank in the energy, her being.She was who she was, nothing more, but nothing less.  It was enoughfor that moment, forever.  Tom slid into her time, slowly he came toher."B'Elanna," he whispered softly.  She turned suddenly and was in arms."I've been waiting so long," she cried out in a low voice filled withequal amounts of anger and anguish.  "Where have you been?""I've been some other time, B'Elanna," replied Tom stroking her face."And so have you, my love.""Why," she growled fiercely, as she pulled him to her.Tom laughed and held her just as hard.  "I'm trying to find out why.When I know, I'll be coming for you.  I promise."    Tom felt B'Elannafading from him, and he tried to grasp her harder, but she faded tonothingness.  He heard her voice as she faded back to her time, "Getmove on, Helm-boy...I'm tired of waiting..."He thought, he read, he postulated...he was clueless.  He paced inSickbay, he walked the decks of Voyager, he visited the hydroponicsbay and gazed at flowers that never wilted.  He was stymied.  He waswalking the corridors of Voyager aimlessly, when he stopped andnoticed where he was.  He was outside Tuvok's quarters.  He was struckwith a thought so unusual, he laughed.  He ran to the turbolift andsaid, "Holodeck 2," in a voice rusty from disuse, so caught up in hisidea, that he forgot that he could snap himself there instantly.When he got there, he ran through the holomatrix to where Tuvok wasfrozen, ticketbook and pen in hand, standing next to the door of ashiny roadster being driven by Joe Carey.  Samantha Wildman wassitting next to him, and Naomi was sitting in the rumble seat.  Joewas looking sheepish, Samantha was embarrassed, and Naomi was staringat Tuvok, her arm frozen in pointing at his badge.Tom snapped once, and Tuvok came alive.  He looked down at himself andback at Tom.  One eyebrow made the climb up his forehead."Don't ask any questions, Tuvok," said Tom holding up one hand.  "Ican't give you any answers.  I know it's illogical but, I need someinformation, and some help.  Can you give it to me?"Tuvok considered this request for a moment, then, postulating that Mr.Paris, as erratic as he sometimes could be, did not do things withoutsome reason, nodded his acquiescence."Good," said Tom.  "I need to know a little about Vulcan philosophy.""There is no such thing as a *little* knowledge of the Vulcanphilosophy, Mr. Paris," replied Tuvok, his eyebrow getting quite aworkout.  "It would take some time to acquaint you with my own limitedknowledge of it.""Time, Tuvok, is relative," said Tom nodding his head.  "Come withme..."The adjourned to Tuvok's quarters, where Tuvok spoke and Tom listenedand asked questions.  Tuvok brought out his meditation lamp and Tompracticed.  He tried to find the inner self that was him.   Heabsorbed the tenets of Vulcan philosophy/religion from a practitioner.This was better than the cold data of the computer.  This was what Qhad been talking about, he was sure.After a long time, Tuvok said to Tom,"It is illogical that I would beable to continue without respite for this amount of time.  Therefore,I must conclude that whatever existence I am in, it is not my normalcorporeal existence.""I told you, Tuvok, I' can't answer any of your questions.  It's foryour own good," said Tom looking at Tuvok. "Well, I guess that's aboutall you can tell me, isn't it?""I can teach you no more without further data forthcoming on yourpart, Mr. Paris," said Tuvok.Tom glanced down at the floor, and then back up at Tuvok.  "Thank youfor sharing this with me.  It means a lot to me.""You are welcome, Tom," said Tuvok gazing intently at Tom.  He liftedhis hand, "Live Long and Prosper, Tom Paris."Tom saw that Tuvok knew something was happening that was more than heunderstood.  Tom raised his own hand to reply, "Peace and Long Life,Tuvok of Vulcan."  He snapped the fingers of his other hand, and Tuvokwent back to the holodeck, and he was alone again.  But now, he had aclarity of mind that was not present before.He meditated and thought for a long time.  He stopped wondering howmuch time it was in the 'real' Voyager timeline...he could manipulateit at will.  It didn't matter if he understood it or not, it could bedone. He watched only the dissolution of the Q Continuum, the slowdrain of life from it, the malignancy that pulled it from existence.And he thought.It came to him as he lit his meditation lamp for the unknown time in arow.  He hadn't the resources to think as clearly as he wanted to, sohe had requested assistance from Tuvok, a master of it.  He could askthe others for similar help.He talked to the Doctor about diagnosis and medical hypothesis.  Heconsulted Ensign Goldberg about Judaism and its philosphy.  He talkedwith Crewman Tha'lth about Emerian carving techniques.  Neelixexplained Talaxian hospitality.  He talked to them all.  He searchedthrough the crew.  He saved Harry, Seven, Chakotay, Janeway, andB'Elanna for last. His closest friends and colleagues.  He felt thesame urgency as before.  Time or entropy or whatever was running out.They all flashed in and out of the room he designated for hisresearch.  One after the other.Seven offered the explanation of the nature of Omega and the Borg'spursuit of it.  She looked at Tom and said, "You seek what is Omega tothe Borg.""Perfection," said Tom."No," replied Seven.  "The pursuit of it."Tom thanked her and progressed to Chakotay.Chakotay just looked at him.  "You want me to show you your spiritguide?"  His voice was incredulous."Yes," said Tom simply, trying to convey his seriousness to Chakotay,and knowing that he was probably doing miserable job of it.  He justdidn't know what made this guy tick, Q-ness or not."Something's wrong," said Chakotay, walking around the room where Tombrought him for his interview.  "You've never expressed interest infinding out your guide before.""Well, I've never had this motivation before," said Tom.  "It'simportant, Chakotay.  I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't.""You're truly serious about this?""Absolutely," said Tom looking directly into Chakotay's eyes."And you can't tell me any more details than this?" Chakotay asked."No.  You'll just have to trust me on this one, Chakotay," said Tom,trying to show the urgency of his problem.  "It's very real and verybad, and I need your help.  I can't do it without you."Chakotay stared at Tom for a long time.  Tom looked back.  Chakotaycame to a decision and said, "I'll need my akoona and medicinebundle."Tom produced both and Chakotay's eyebrows raised in inquiry.  "Don'task, Chakotay.  You don't want to know."  Chakotay gave a short laugh,and they sat down at the table in the center of the room.  He gave ashort explanation of the function of each item and they began.End Part 4Subject: NEW Whatever Houses I Enter 5/7 [PG-13] VOY (P/T,Q)From: Annette Welsh-Shinya <ryukyu3@web-ster.com>Date: Sat, Jan 2, 1999 12:22PMMessage-id: <36bc55cb.9507233@nntp.ix.netcom.com>Title: Whatever Houses I EnterAuthor: Annette Welsh-Shinya  12/98Series:  VOYPart: 5/7Rating: PG-13Codes:  Paris-Angst, P/TSummary: Spoilers of a sort for 30 Days.  Tom Paris is requested tomake a house call on the Q...can Captain Proton save the day, or willit be Tom Paris?Disclaimer: Paramount's got all the rights to Trek, do-dah, do-dah,Viacom's got all the money from Trek, do-dah, do-dah, I got the storyand that's about it, oh do-dah day.Warning:  Severe Tommy-Angst alert, Mushy 'Shipper alert, Q Storyalert...if you can't stand 'em...don't read it!Feedback:  Encouragement/criticism gladly responded to.  Flames willbe consigned to the nearest airlock where proper venting proceduresper Starfleet Engineering regulations will be followed.Email:  parisienne1812@geocities.comPosting:  Please notify me if you post anywhere...I love to see myname in lights!Note:  This is my fanfic author's obligatory malfunctioning holodeckand Q story combined *g*.***Tom looked around at his surroundings.  He felt vaguely disoriented,which he thought was somewhat amusing.  He had been having to becomeaccustomed to new surroundings quite a bit lately.  He gazed out onthe water of a clear lake and felt a cool breeze lifting his hair.Tall evergreen trees lined the hills and down to the water's edge insome places.  He stood at the edge of a small meadow that sloped tothe banks of the lake.  A splash of water sounded in the silence, andhe looked down to the lakeshore.  A raccoon waddled up from the shore,paused to look at Tom, and then continued down a path that paralleledthe shore."A raccoon?" winced Tom.  The raccoon showed no signs of slowing down."Uh...wait?" called Tom to the raccoon, who was just about todisappear around a bend in the path.The raccoon looked back, and heaved a sigh, "Aren't you the one that'sin a hurry, Thomas?"The raccoon paused by the edge of the lake, then reached in andswished around, then pulled up a crawfish and began crunching on itdelicately. Its clever paws pulling and pushing about the crustaceanto get at the best bits.  As the raccoon munched, it looked up at Tom,a quizzical expression on its masked face that was cocked slightly toone side.'What are you doing?" the raccoon finally asked."What am I doing?" said Tom with frustration. "You're supposed to knoweverything.  You're my spirit guide, right?""Yes," replied the raccoon, who then picked through the carcass of thecrawfish, and sighed.  It was clean.  The raccoon then proceeded togroom itself by running its paws through its fur on its head andshoulders."Somehow, I thought this was going to be more help," said Tom shakinghis head."You aren't listening, Thomas," said the raccoon."Listening to what?" said Tom lifting his hands and looking up."To yourself," replied the animal.  "It's within you, the answer youseek.  I'm just doing what I do."Tom looked at the furry animal more closely.  What was it doing?   Itwas now settling down in a pile of dried grass and looked like it wasgetting ready to take a nap.  He thought back on what Tuvok said aboutthe nature of things.  He gave a short laugh."It was there all along, wasn't it?" he asked the raccoon."Mmmm," was all the raccoon said as it snuggled down into its bed.Tom reached behind its ears and scratched its fur for a few moments,then said, "Thanks."He walked down the shore of the lake, thinking on what his true naturewas.    This could get ugly in parts, others weren't so bad, and someparts, well...they were pretty good.   Could he accept the whole,without reservations?  He walked."Tom!" said Harry.  "What's going on?""Can't tell you that, Harry," said Tom.  "But I need your help."Harry reclined back in one of the chairs Tom provided, crossed hisankles, and said, "Well, what do you need, Tom?" a smile on his face."What do you do when you haven't got a clue how to proceed, time'srunning out, and there's an insurmountable problem that's going toblow up in your face?" Tom said looking at Harry intently.Harry looked seriously at Tom.  "You're in trouble.""The deepest, Har," replied Tom."Well, I try to remember that everything that I need to know, Ialready know, and that I just need to remember it.  That's all." Harrylooked at Tom, concern in his face.  "Does that help at all?""A lot, Harry," said Tom smiling happily at his friend. "Thanks."Harry smiled back at him as he faded back to the holodeck.Tom walked around Sickbay.  He took readings from the Q's that lay inthe biobeds.  He calculated.  It was coming to an end soon.  He wouldhave to decide what to do.  He stopped at the bed where BabyQ lay.  Hestroked his hair, wondering at the existence of beings so advanced,and yet would represent themselves in his own form.  It was the oddmiracle of life.  He sighed. He was almost finished.Captain Janeway sat back, coffee cup in hand, and took a sip ofColombia's finest.  Her eyes were pensive, "You can't tell my why youneed this advice?""No, Captain," said Tom from the other chair.  'I know it's a lot toask of you to trust me like this, but I swear to you, this is the waythat it has to be."  He looked intently at her, distress andresolution in equal proportions in his face.  "I'm operating onlimited time and resources, and I need some tactical advice.""All right," said Janeway after a pause, and put her cup down on thetable with decision.  "What do you want to know?""When you're faced with that decision, the one that has no good sideto it, how do you decide?  How do you know which one is the best?What do you base your decision on?"  Tom's voice was low and urgentwith intensity."I take it you have such a decision to make," said Janeway, her voicecontaining no question, just a statement.  She got up and paced a bit."It's never easy to make any command decisions.  Some are just a lotharder than others.  You must always consider the alternatives, theother side before making the decision.  Even choices that seemedsimple and straight forward at the time can be complex with immenseramifications in the end."  She looked directly at Tom."And if you can't possibly know what the total ramifications are,despite your best attempts to figure them out?" asked Tom."You have to go with your instincts, your gut feeling," replied theCaptain smiling a bit.   "That's a part of command that you can'tteach someone.  You have to learn it on your own."Tom was silent for a moment, thinking hard.  He got up and looked atJaneway where she stood next to the table, "I never thought of myselfas someone who was fit for command, Captain.  And yet, I been placedin a position where I am, in essence, in command.  I think I knowwhat's right, but I've been wrong, really wrong, before.  Even when Iknow I'm right, I've been know to make bad decisions about that, too."At the last he gave a sad smile and shook his head, turning away.Janeway caught Tom's arm and turned him back to her, and her handremained gripped on his shoulder.  "Tom," she said looking directlyinto his eyes.  "I have always thought that you had the potential forcommand.  Maybe you weren't ready for it before, but now it'sdifferent.  You've always had the knowledge and ability to leadothers, even at your lowest ebb.  You care so much about people; itmotivates you to want to do well for them."  Tom looked at her withsurprise. Janeway smiled at him kindly, "You never believed that ofyourself before.  Maybe that's why you're having trouble believing itnow.""I want to believe it," said Tom intently.  "In fact, I need tobelieve it.  But, it has to be the truth...what's inside of me.  Ihave to accept it and go on and do what needs to be done."Janeway just looked at Tom, her eyes filled with some emotion that hecouldn't name.  Then she spoke quietly, "I can't teach you anythingmore than that, Tom.  You know the answers to the questions."  Shereached down and grasped his hands in hers.  "You have to find yourown way after that."Tom looked down at their hands held together and then back toJaneway's face.  He was afraid, and he knew that it showed in hiseyes. He didn't want to be afraid, but he was. Yet, he also knew thathe would go forward, because he had to.  He was needed.  It was an oddfeeling, wonderful and horrifying at the same time."I have to go now, Captain," he said softly.  "I need to think aboutthis."Janeway gave his hands a last squeeze, and then stepped back andnodded.  "You can do what needs to be done, Tom," she said looking athim intently.  "Everything else comes into place when that happens.Remember that," she said as she faded away.Tom thought a long time about what the Captain had said.  He stood onthe bridge, gazing out through the viewscreen to the small slice ofthe galaxy that it afforded.  He thought back to himself as just ahuman. That screen had been so big, endless with possibilities.  Now,it was just a fraction of what was, almost unimportant.  And yet, heknew it was important.  It all was important, down to the lastmolecule that made up the structure of that screen.  Moreover, hisbeing, his human being, was no less in the scheme of things than a Q,just different.  He moved to his place at the conn and sat down.  Itfelt solid, although it wasn't really there, any more than he was.  Anillusion to satisfy the human-ness that was left in his mind.  Heached for his former life, desired his small needs, wished for theminor complications that made up his existence.  To know was a greatresponsibility.  He wondered at why he was the current linch-pin ofthe Universe.  It seemed so egotistical, humanity being called upon.He had never considered what that could mean.  He sighed and smiledwryly.  Ah, Captain Proton, are you ready to save the day?  He got upand made a last trip to the holodeck."B'Elanna.""You're back.""Yes.""For how long?""As long as you want me, forever if you can stand it that long.""Has it happened? Whatever needed to happen?""Not yet, but soon.""You'll have to leave.""Not for a while""You won't be coming back, will you?""I don't know, love.  I'm not sure what comes next.  I want to comeback, come back to you.""You'd better.'"I'm afraid.""Shhh, come here.""I guess I *am* a coward.""Courage comes in all forms, Paris.""You mean, today is a good day to die?""Perhaps.  But, it also can be a good day to live.""You are a wise woman, Torres.""Come here and show me how wise."This was as it should be thought Tom as he caressed B'Elanna a lasttime before taking himself back to the bridge.  She believed in him.All that was left was for him to believe in himself.End Part 5========Subject: NEW Whatever Houses I Enter 6/7 [PG-13] VOY (P/T,Q)From: Annette Welsh-Shinya <ryukyu3@web-ster.com>Date: Sat, Jan 2, 1999 12:22PMMessage-id: <36bd55d0.9512457@nntp.ix.netcom.com>Title: Whatever Houses I EnterAuthor: Annette Welsh-Shinya  12/98Series:  VOYPart: 6/7Rating: PG-13Codes:  Paris-Angst, P/TSummary: Spoilers of a sort for 30 Days.  Tom Paris is requested tomake a house call on the Q...can Captain Proton save the day, or willit be Tom Paris?Disclaimer: Paramount's got all the rights to Trek, do-dah, do-dah,Viacom's got all the money from Trek, do-dah, do-dah, I got the storyand that's about it, oh do-dah day.Warning:  Severe Tommy-Angst alert, Mushy 'Shipper alert, Q Storyalert...if you can't stand 'em...don't read it!Feedback:  Encouragement/criticism gladly responded to.  Flames willbe consigned to the nearest airlock where proper venting proceduresper Starfleet Engineering regulations will be followed.Email:  parisienne1812@geocities.comPosting:  Please notify me if you post anywhere...I love to see myname in lights!Note:  This is my fanfic author's obligatory malfunctioning holodeckand Q story combined *g*.***The bridge was the place for it.  It seemed the right thing.  Heconcentrated then held his right hand up and snapped.  The nowfamiliar ache of pain and vertigo pulsed through him.  He *looked* outand confirmed it.  He had taken Voyager to the Continuum.  He felt thepressure of the -Q all around as its awareness pounced on Voyager andits occupants.  He looked around at the bridge a last time, thenwalked down to his position at conn, and sat down.He rested his hands on the console and closed his eyes for a fewmoments.  He opened his eyes and looked down at himself.  He still waswearing his Captain Proton outfit.  He gave a short laugh.  Howappropriate.  He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a paddwith some data that the Doctor had pressed upon him when he hadfinished his interview with him, oh so long ago.  The word recorded onit were old.  It was the oath of Hippocrates.  He paged down to thesection that seemed to have a real great meaning to the situation."Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit ofthe sick..."  It was time.  He put the padd back into his pocket, nextto a holovid of B'Elanna and him during the last luau at the resortholoprogram.A snap of the fingers later, all the Q's in Sickbay were back in theContinuum.  He took a deep breath, smiled a grim sort of smile, andsaid, "What's the matter, Paris.  You want to live forever?" and hesnapped a last snap and was gone.  Voyager blinked once, and thenappeared back in its timespace as if it had never been gone. Ithadn't, really.He floated, or what might be considered floating, about and thenmanaged to find the way to the -Q's proverbial doorstep.  He reacheddown and rang the bell.  His black bag was heavy, and he shifted itfrom one hand to the other while he was waiting.  The door openedslowly and a superior-countenanced butler looked down his nose at himand inquired, "May I help you?""Yes.  I'm here to see -Q," replied Tom."You were not summoned," said the butler, getting ready to close thedoor.  Tom reached over and blocked his movement."-Q will want to see me," Tom said looking the butler straight in theeye.  A struggle ensued.  "Look," panted Tom.  "I know that the-Q areas sick as the Q are, and you're wasting energy fighting with me." Thebutler looked surly, but stood aside and let Tom pass.He straightened his jacket and walked down the hallway into thesitting room.  In a large wingbacked chair sat -Q, who lookedremarkable like Q.  In fact he was Q, only -Q.  Tom felt his headache,or whatever it was grow stronger."You're late," growled -Q.  "Thought you weren't coming.""I had a little trouble at the door," said Tom sitting down his bag onthe small table next to the chair."Non-believers," muttered -Q.  "They're convinced that they can'texist, that we are all that is and have ever been.""They're right, you know," said Tom as he opened his bag and took outhis stethoscope. He put it on and held it to -Q's chest. "You are allthat is the -Q, they are the Q.  You are together the inverse of eachother.  Q and the opposite of Q.  You cannot be one without the other.All that is you is them. Breath deeply, now.'-Q inhaled then exhaled.  Then he said, "Can't seem to convince themof anything.  Whole Continuum's going to hell in a handbasket and theyare postulating the meaning of existence.""Mmmnn," murmured Tom.  "Can you make a fist with your hand?  Good,that's it.  Any pain here?""A little.""What about here?""Yes, a bit more.""Well, doc?  What's the verdict?" rumbled -Q.Tom took off the stethoscope and hung it around his neck, his handsholding onto its ends.  "Annihilation.  Unless something is done.""You don't beat around the bush much, do you?""I'm kind of limited in my time here, -Q," said Tom rather sadly."I'm a guest player, so to speak."  He replaced the stethoscope backin his bag and closed it."What do you want us to do?""You have to accept the Q for who they are, cease the struggle toovercome them.  Embrace them as yourselves.""It won't happen," said -Q flatly. "Buggers have been hiding for solong, the others are completely suspicious of them.  How can they bewhen we are all?  They'll never go for it."Tom looked at -Q.  He felt the absurdity of this conversation thatreally wasn't taking place.  He knew that it wasn't and yet, he had tocontinue.  It was all he knew how to do.  It was his nature to helpand this was his reality."Gather the -Q together," said Tom finally.  "I have something to sayto them.""It's your funeral," said -Q getting up slowly out of the chair andmotioning Tom for him to follow through the double doors at one end ofthe room.Tom muttered in a low voice as he followed -Q, "That's what I'm afraidof..."Looking out at the faces of the -Q seated in lines of chairs in theballroom, Tom felt the magnitude of what he was trying to do sink inyet again.  His headache, a constant companion these days, notched upa grade again.  He closed his eyes, and centered himself as best hecould.  He walked to the front of the crowd, took a deep breath, andturned around to address them."-Q," he began. "You have to stop the destruction of the Q.  You'redestroying yourselves as you destroy them."A -Q that looked like GeneralQ stood from the second row.  "You haveany proof of this, that the Q even exist?""I can only offer myself as proof that Q exists.  Q made me into whatI am now," replied Tom."Just what is it that you are, anyway?" said General-Q with askeptical look.  "You're not a -Q, and from what you say a Q is,you're not one of them either."Tom laughed a bit sheepishly, and said, "I'm just a plain old ordinarybi-pedal humanoid mortal, with a little Q-ness on the side.""Why are you here?  This is of no concern to you," called another -Q."I'm here because Q asked for my help," replied Tom."Mighty convenient, seeing how we can't exactly contact the Q, if theyeven exist, and check your references, now can we?" scoffed General-Q."You're sick.  All of you have an illness," said Tom, urgencyinflecting his tone.  "You are fighting one another and killing eachother.  It must stop, or the Continuum will cease to exist.""Nonsense," barked General-Q.  "We are as we have been always." He satback down."Really?" said Tom.  He waved a hand, and a portion of the air infront of the seated -Q transformed into a view of the galaxy outsidethe Continuum.  There were tears in space, holes that gaped, novasappearing and disappearing at a great rate.  Waves and emissionsfluctuating radically.  Planets lived and died in an instant, only tobe reborn to do it all over again. "Can't you see what you are doing?""Space," sneered another -Q.  "Climate of time-trapped mortal solids.Immaterial to the -Q.""No," said Tom fiercely.  "Not immaterial, but perhaps incidental tothe -Q and the Q.  It's just a symptom of what's really wrong,anyway."  He waved his hand again and the image changed to a shiftingpattern of glorious lights and colors.  The sight was amazing, but the-Q remained impassive.  The Continuum as one representation, therewere an infinite number of ways to represent it.  Tom continued, "Lookat the edges of the Continuum.  See what is happening."The -Q leaned forward a bit.  They saw the edges of the myriad ofcolors were faded, the swirling stopped, and as they watched, they sawthe Continuum shrink a bit more and lose some of its brilliance.Voices rose in argument and confusion.General-Q looked at Tom and said, "It's not possible to destroy it,it's infinite.""Yet, it's dying as we speak," said Tom.  "You're dying." He advancedto General-Q, putting all the persuasion he could into his voice. "Ican see the destruction that you refuse to acknowledge.  You don't seebecause you won't.  You are ill, your judgment of your existence isclouded.""How can we be sick?  Sickness is a mortal fate."Tom looked pensive as he replied, "Sickness can come anytime toanyone. Your sickness is not a physical one.  It's metaphysical."General-Q made a scoffing sound again, and turned away.  Tom felt thesituation sliding from him as the volume from the other -Q rosehigher. The pain that he was feeling had intensified to almost anunbearable level.  He felt within himself the fear of failure risingits ugly head.  He closed his eyes and tried to remember what Harryand the others had told him.  He knew what he had to do.  He just hadto find the courage to do it.  He smiled to himself as he thought ofB'Elanna addressing the crowd of -Q.  He actually laughed out loud ashe opened his eyes."Enough!" he yelled, and the -Q quieted down.  Tom walked over to thefront of the crowd again.  His voice took on an angry tone,"You don'twant to hear this.  I really don't want to be here.  I'm not sure ifI'll ever understand why I am.  But I am here, and you do need me.So, I'm going to tell you what you need to hear, and try to make youunderstand.  That's all there is to it."  His look brooked nointerference from the crowd, immortal or not.Tom paused a moment to gather his thoughts, and he looked out over thecrowd of -Q.  They were silent, looking at him curiously.  He began."The -Q are omnipotent eternal beings. Yet, I 've met a Q who holdsthe same opinion.  You don't  know of each other? Not possible.  Youknow each other all right.  You are each other.  You hate each other.You are to each other what is the absence of the other.  The converse,the inverse, the opposite, the negative...I could go on, but I  don'tget the concept so well.  But you do.  I know you do.  You -Q felt thechange in the Q when Q died and the new Q was born.  Change,imbalance. You don't like change in the -Q any more than most of the Qdo.  The Q fought a war over change, and I was drug into that, too.Weak little bi-pedal humanoid mortals brought in to clean up a Q'smess."  Tom shook he head.  "You can't take the imbalance, thedisharmony, the change that has come.  You want to remain the same, inyour safe little Continuum for all eternity.  You don't seek to grow,to change, as Q wants to.""Q has told you this?" said -Q."Q doesn't tell me much," said Tom with a disparaging laugh. "I'm notall that important.  But, he did tell me that what the Q needed, andby that so do the -Q, was something that only a human could bring tothem.""And just what was that?" said -Q."The capacity to care, to forgive, to help those in need, regardlessof who they are," replied Tom in a soft but firm voice.  "To help healthose who are ill, in body or mind, when they can't help themselves.""You're here to do this?" said General-Q incredulously."Absolutely amazed that I make housecalls, aren't you," drawled Tom,who then winced and rubbed his head.  The other -Q seemed to shift asthe Continuum tightened again against the degradation.  The babble onconversation rose higher and the -Q were milling around.-Q walked over to Tom.  "They're not buying it.  At least not soonenough to make a difference. What can we do?""Nothing," responded Tom, looking out over the -Q with sadness.  Helooked back at -Q and smiled crookedly. "You don't have to do a thing.This is my show, and I get to save the day."  He reached over andpatted -Q on the shoulder and walked over to the ballroom door.  Hepaused to pull out his goggles and put them on and picked up hisrocketpack that was leaning up against the wall by the door.  He slidinto the straps and fastened the buckles, humming tunelessly tohimself.He activated the jetpack and rose into the sky, higher and higher,until there was no sky left, until there was no space, until there wasonly the Continuum. Captain Proton to Oblivion.  He spoke to the Q andthe -Q a last time,"You have to love yourself in order to live.  Youhave to forgive yourself if you make mistakes.  Believe me, I know.You have to care about others or there is nothing to your existence,infinite or not." And with that he let go of the hold that had been sohard to keep his grasp on.  The pain at last was gone.  All that was Qin him flooded out to the Continuum, seeking out the degradation,smoothing over the jagged edges, soothing the strain ofself-destruction, healing.  Being what he was; it was his nature.  Hislast coherent thought was of B'Elanna, and a small message to herflitted through the galaxy.  "Today *was* a good day to die."End Part 6=====Subject: NEW Whatever Houses I Enter 7/7 [PG-13] VOY (P/T,Q)From: Annette Welsh-Shinya <ryukyu3@web-ster.com>Date: Sat, Jan 2, 1999 12:22PMMessage-id: <36be55d5.9517377@nntp.ix.netcom.com>Title: Whatever Houses I EnterAuthor: Annette Welsh-Shinya  12/98Series:  VOYPart: 7/7Rating: PG-13Codes:  Paris-Angst, P/TSummary: Spoilers of a sort for 30 Days.  Tom Paris is requested tomake a house call on the Q...can Captain Proton save the day, or willit be Tom Paris?Disclaimer: Paramount's got all the rights to Trek, do-dah, do-dah,Viacom's got all the money from Trek, do-dah, do-dah, I got the storyand that's about it, oh do-dah day.Warning:  Severe Tommy-Angst alert, Mushy 'Shipper alert, Q Storyalert...if you can't stand 'em...don't read it!Feedback:  Encouragement/criticism gladly responded to.  Flames willbe consigned to the nearest airlock where proper venting proceduresper Starfleet Engineering regulations will be followed.Email:  parisienne1812@geocities.comPosting:  Please notify me if you post anywhere...I love to see myname in lights!Note:  This is my fanfic author's obligatory malfunctioning holodeckand Q story combined *g*.***The tile on the floor of the control center of the Nautilus was veryhard and very cold.  Tom groaned as he sat up, rubbing his head.  Hiseyes opened up and he attempted to focus them.  Geez, this headachenever gave up, did it?  He sat up a little straighter as he realizedthat he had a head to ache.  What?  Something was wrong, but hecouldn't figure it out.  He heard the buzzing of the call sign of theship's communication system, and he got up unsteadily and staggeredover to the console and flipped the switch."Buster Kincaid to Captain Proton, come in Captain," Harry's voiceheld suppressed excitement."Uh...Captain Proton here.  What's up, Buster?"  Tom's jaw ached as hetalked.  What had he been doing?"Constance and I managed to get away from Dr. Chaotica's lab, but wecouldn't save Princess Belladonna or Dr. and Mrs. Goodheart.  We needyour help!  Chaotica's gone completely over the edge, he's going tokill them in less than forty minutes if we don't rescue them!""Where are you?" asked Tom, as he started the sequence of controlsthat would take the ship out of hover-mode and into airflight-mode."We're outside the City, near Brandonville.  On the road to theabandoned mine," replied Buster."I'm on my way," said Tom.  "Sit tight, I'll be there in less than 5minutes.""OK, Captain!"Tom flew the rocketship automatically, still puzzling over what waswrong.  It must be a stray subroutine kicking in like he thoughtbefore.  Whatever.  The plot was great, and he felt more relaxed thanhe had in a long time.He landed the ship in the field next to the road, and he opened theairlock to let the couple in.  Buster handed Constance up to Tom.Seven was dressed in a brown twinset and sensible tweed skirt andbalanced on improbably highheeled brown pumps.  Her hair was inringlets, pulled back on the top, her lipstick was very pink, and shecarried a leather pocketbook.  Tom's mouth dropped open, then heclosed it very quickly. Harry came in, wearing his usual sidekick'soutfit.'Constance' spoke, "Captain, we were so worried about you.  Dr.Chaotica said that he'd had you killed at the Chamber of CommerceBall."  The words were Constance, but the inflection was pure Seven."Yeah," said 'Buster'  "You're sure a sight for sore eyes!  What's theplan for getting the Princess and Constance's Mom and Dad out ofthere?"  His look was one of pure trust in the Captain's abilities tosave the day.Harry was really getting into his role, thought Tom, as they madetheir way to the control room.  Seven, too, for that matter."Well, we'll park the ship in hover-mode over the opening of the mine.You two will monitor my progress as I use the jetpack to access theopening.  When I give you the signal, I want you to flood the mineswith subsonic noise.  Everyone who doesn't have earplugs will loseconsciousness almost immediately.  I'll be able to get past Chaotica'sgoons to free the Princess and Dr. and Mrs. Goodheart before they knowwhat hit 'em!""Great plan, Captain!" enthused Harry.  "But where are you gonna getthe earplugs?""I'll just have to make something up, I guess," said Tom, and startedto walk toward the supply cabinets."I've modified this inefficient set of superannuated ear blockagedevices to withstand the waveband of the noise you wish us togenerate, Captain," and Seven handed him a pair of 'super' earphones."Will they be OK?""They're swell, Constance," replied Tom with a grin.  Harry beamed atSeven, who raised one eyebrow and looked back at him, then shruggedher shoulders.  The pair then went over to the control panel to makethe necessary modifications to their equipment.Tom donned his rocketpack and reached into his pocket.  He found apadd and a picture of B'Elanna and him there.  He wondered when he hadput them there.  He reached into his other pocket and found hisJuicyfruit, unwrapped a stick and shoved it into his mouth.  He donnedhis goggles and put the earphones over his ears.  Chomping joyously,he opened the airlock and turned around and gave a thumbs up to Harryand Seven. Harry had his head under the console, and Seven waskneeling next to him.  She nudged Harry with one hand.  He sat up,slipped an arm around her waist, and returned the thumbs up withenthusiasm.  Seven waved impassively.  Tom left the ship and engagedthe rocketpack.He gained the entrance of the main tunnel of the abandoned mine, whichwas actually the new secret hideout of the Villain, Dr. Chaotica.  Tomactivated his two way communication wristlet and gave Harry the signalto begin the subsonic noise.  It worked like a charm.  He racedthrough the tunnel, past guards that were totally incapacitated.  Heburst into the main chamber where Chaotica had equipment stackedeverywhere.  Over to one side on a platform was Princess Belladonna,bound hand and foot, still wearing her blue velvet evening gown.  Shedidn't look very happy.  To the right of the Princess were Dr. andMrs. Goodheart, bound by manacles and chained to spikes driven intothe cave wall.  They looked relieved that someone had come.Tom raced up to the platform and started to untie the Princess'sbonds. She was swearing a blue streak that didn't sound much like aPrincess to him, but he supposed she was entitled.  'Dr. and Mrs.Goodheart' expressed there relief at finally being rescued, but wantedto know what had happened to 'dear Constance' and 'that nice young manwho works with you'?Tom said, "Everything's going to be all right, I'll have you out ofthere in a jiffy."  And he winked and grinned at Mrs. Goodheart.Mrs. Goodheart blushed and then said, "Oh, go on with you!"  Dr.Goodheart looked askance at Tom through his hornrimmed spectacles, andPrincess Belladonna growled.  Tom raised his eyebrows at this, but washaving too much fun to stop now.Just then, Princess Belladonna look up past Captain Proton's shoulder,her eyes wide with horrified surprise.  She rushed toward the Captain,and yelled, "Watch out, Thomas!" and was struck by an energy beam asshe pushed him down.Tom looked down at where B'Elanna was crumpled on the floor of thecave.  He looked up at saw Dr. Chaotica holding an raygun, a pair ofearphones rather similar to his now discarded ones, sitting atop hishead.  Chaotica pulled off the earphones and advanced, holding theraygun on Tom."You will surrender now, Proton!" he said in an evil voice."I won't, Chaotica!"  said Tom, his voice stalwart."Reach for the sky, Proton.  You can't stop me.  I'm going to destroyeveything you hold dear!" and Chaotica then turned and shot Dr. andMrs. Goodheart with the raygun.  "You see, my dear Captain Proton.You have nothing to bargain with...no position of power. I, Dr.Chaotica, will rule the world...and there nothing you can do to stopme...moo haa haa!" he laughed maniacally.Tom reached over and activated his two way communications wristlet andhoped that Harry and Seven could hear him so far in the cave.  "Youwon't kill them, Chaotica, I know there only stunned.  You needPrincess Belladonna to tell you the secret of the Royal Seal in orderto have a power source for your new mind control ray.  And, you didn'thave time to change you weapon when you shot Dr. and Mrs. Goodheart.You'll never get away with this.  My ship is just outside this cave,and my trusted companion, Buster Kincaid, and my faithful secretary,Constance Goodheart will stop you!""Nothing can stop me!" roared Chaotica as he advanced on Proton'sposition.  "I am Dr. Chaotica!"As Chaotica approached to where Tom was standing, he seemed toshimmer, and Tom shook his head, the looked back up.  Chaotica hadstopped, and his back was turned to him.  Tom advanced slowly, lookingfor a trick. He stopped next to Chaotica, and spun him around by theshoulder.Q looked out at him from Chaotica's robes and skullcap.  He twisted anend of his mustache with evil delight."Oh, Thomas," said Q. "This role is *much* better.  Why would you messaround with that goody-two-shoes Proton, when you could be," and herehe turned around with a flourish of robes, "Dr. Chaotica!""There's no accounting for taste, I guess," replied Tom dryly."What's going on?" as he crossed over to a bench and sat down.  Hisheadache was back, bigtime."You mean you've forgotten our little sojourn so quickly?  Thomas, I'mcrushed," said Q with a little sneer as he sat next to Tom.Tom was really confused.  He did remember it, now.  He looked over atQ.  "But, I should be..." his voice trailed off."Dead?" replied Q pleasantly.  "Yes, you should be.  In fact, youwere. Very.""So...the reason I'm still here, or here again. or, whatever..." saidTom shaking his head."Collective ego of the Q/-Q," said Q with a waggle of his eyebrows."You should be really thankful we can't stand anyone one-upping us.""Translation, Q," said Tom, unable to take much more of this.Here Q looked a little more serious, "It worked, you know.  Youmanaged to convince them, us, of the need for tolerance in ourselves.We decided that your death was not necessary for the Q/-Q to come togrips with our differences."  Q slapped him on the shoulder, "You didit." "I did?" said Tom with some wonder, wincing at the blow to hisshoulder.  "I thought that they weren't listening.  That's why Idecided to show them it could be done.  That's all it was.""A very grand Protonesque gesture," offered Q with a wave of his hand.Tom laughed and said, "Maybe."  He turned serious, "It was more liketrying to heal a part of myself, on a really grand scale of course.""Of course," replied Q, looking steadily at Tom.  "We thank you...Ithank you."Tom gazed back at Q, a suspicion of a lump in his throat.  "Thanks toa bi-pedal, humanoid mortal?  What have the Q come to?""I'm beginning to regret using that phrase, Helm-boy," said Q withmock irritation."Regret is a very human emotion, Q," grinned Tom mercilessly.Q rolled his eyes and said, "Mortals.." and got up from the bench.Tom rose with him."What happens now?" said Tom.Q turned to him and said, "The Q/-Q have some soul-searching to do.It's not over, but the violence has stopped.  It's a beginning."Tom smiled slightly. "Beginnings are a good thing, I've found," hesaid softly.Q nodded, then said in a jocular voice, "And what about you, Thomas?Are you ready to give the Q another try?  We're down a few members,remember?""No thanks," said Tom shaking his head.  "I'm sticking strictly to abi-pedal existence from now on."Q chuckled, then said, "Well, suit yourself.""Q," said Tom, his voice uncertain, but determined.  "Will I rememberany of this?"Q looked at Tom and shook his head, "No.  Well, maybe bits and pieces,here and there.  But the depth of the experience, it was too much foryour brain to process.""Oh," said Tom, somewhat disappointed that he would lose the greatthings that he had learned about himself and the others in his life."We won't forget," said Q softly.  "We can't."Tom looked at Q and nodded.  It would have to do.  He looked aroundthe frozen program and said, "Can you save this version of theprogram? It's as good or better than any of the plots I've come upwith so far.""You really think so?" said Q walking with Tom to the center of thecave."Yeah, I really like the part about kidnapping Dr. and Mrs. Goodheart,nice touch."Q looked at Tom and grinned, "You just like the fact that I chainedold Chuckles up for you.  Admit it!"  Tom only smiled and saidnothing.They stopped in the middle of the scene.  Q turned to face Tom.  "Lastchance, fly-boy.  You could have a pretty good future with the Q."Tom looked down where B'Elanna lay on the floor, one arm stilloutflung from her saving him from Dr. Chaotica.  He smiled at her andlooked back up at Q and just shook his head."I offer him eternal life and omnipotence, and he takes the Klingon,"said Q, shaking his head."Start at the top, that's what I always say," rejoined Tom.  Q justlooked askance at him as Tom grinned.  A snap, and Q was gone.The scene on the holodeck blinked a moment, and then Tom wasstruggling with Dr. Chaotica.  He managed to subdue him, but thenChaotica gave a mighty heave and pushed Proton down.  Chaotica reachedinto his robes and produced a glass cylinder.  He threw the cylinderdown on the floor, and immediately, the room was filled with noxiouswhite vapors.  In the ensuing confusion, Chaotica escaped through asecret passage.Captain Proton released the manacles that held Dr. and Mrs. Goodheart.Dr. Goodheart led Mrs. Goodheart down to the bench as Tom went over towhere Princess Belladonna lay.  She was groaning a bit, and he bentover her and lifted her up in his arms."Ohh," said Princess Belladonna. "Is that really part of the program,Tom?""Yeah, I gues it must be a new subroutine tripped by past choicesvariables.  Sorry about that, B'Elanna, I'll try to edit it out fornext time.""You think you're going to get me in here another time, Paris?"growled B'Elanna."Well, you did get to save my ass," said Tom grinning as he set herdown next to the Captain and Chakotay."Mmnn," said B'Elanna with a glint in her eye.  "Princess Belladonnato the rescue.""Exactly," laughed Tom, who turned to the others. "Well,Captain...what did you think?"Captain Janeway laughed and said, "It's a pretty amazing program, Tom.I wouldn't be adverse to returning to find out what happens next."She turned to Chakotay, "what are your thoughts, Dr. Goodheart?"Chakotay took off his spectacles and stowed them in his vest pocket."I have to admit, I'm impressed," he said with a grin.  "Just nexttime, no manacles, OK?"  They all laughed and they walked toward theexit of the cave.Just then, Harry and Seven walked into the chamber.  Harry called,"All safe to come in?""Sure, Harry," answered Tom.  "Dr. Chaotica's been vanquished foranother day.""Great," said Harry with a smile. "Hey, it's just about time fordinner.  I heard Neelix is making pleeka rind casserole tonight." Heturned to Seven, "You eating today?""Pleeka rind casserole?" queried Seven.  Harry nodded.  "I believe Iam eating today."Harry looked pleased, offered his arm, which Seven looked at for amoment, then took it, and they walked off together toward the exitthat appeared in the holodeck.Kathryn looked at Chakotay and said, "No casserole for me, thank you.I've got some rations left for this week, what about you?"Chakotay thought a moment and said, "Just about enough I think, if weorder carefully."  They exited the holodeck together, laughing aboutthe parts of the program they had experienced.Tom looked around at the program and smiled, looking at B'Elanna."You look pretty good tonight, Chief.  How about some dinner at myplace?""You're doing the cooking?" asked B'Elanna archly."I'll slave over a hot replicator, it that's what it takes," said Tomwith a friendly leer."You're on, fly-boy, but we're stopping by my quarters and I'mditching this dress..."The doors to the holodeck shut and the matrix went dark.  A solitaryfigure was standing in the middle of the large, empty room.  Hequirked a grin and snapped his fingers.  "For you, Thomas," he said assnapped his fingers again and disappeared.The next day, Tom had a shift in the morning in Sickbay, then anotherin the afternoon on the Bridge.  A long day after a very long night.He stretched pleasantly as he inventoried medical supplies in adesultory fashion."Don't overtax yourself, Mr. Paris," said the Doctor.Tom looked up, "Hey, Doc.  Just making sure everthing's where it'ssupposed to be.""Yes," said the Doctor looking at the pile of padds on the small deskthat Tom used to store his equipment while in Sickbay.  "Did youreview those texts I assigned you last week, by any small chance?""Sure, Doc.  I read them.   Don't know how much I retained, but I didread them."The Doctor heaved a long suffering sigh, and reached over to the toppadd.   He examined its contents for a moment, then said, "Mr. Paris,please name the eight parts of a frontal section of the human brain."Tom thought for a moment, then rattled off, "Sella turcica,  posteriorcommunicating artery, posterior cerebral artery, hippocampus, ambientcister, inferior colliculus, occiptial horn, tentorium cerebelli."  Heblinked for a moment and then looked at the Doctor.  The Doctor haddropped the padd.Tom grinned at him, "Didn't know I had it in me, Doc, did you?"The Doctor bent down to pick up the fallen padd and shook his head."True, Mr. Paris.  You never cease to amaze me."  He walked over to astack of padds on his desk, picked them up, and came back and handedthem to Tom."Here's next week's homework.  It's on Klingon physiology.  Somethingyou're somewhat familiar with, I believe..." and he turned and walkedback into his office, a smug look on his face.  The Doctor sat downand leaned back in his chair, watching Tom through the glass window ofhis office, a puzzled expression on his face now.  He shrugged andwent back to his own work.Tom looked down at the large stack of padds in his arms with a littledismay.  Then he gave a little laugh and put the stack down on hisdesk.  Klingon physiology, huh?  Now these really were technicalmanuals.  He went back to his inventory, and he started to whistle ashe marked off the supplies on the master list.Somewhere in the Continuum, Q laughed.End