Most of the crew have recovered and are returning to duty. I am pleased that the doctor was able to find a treatment so quickly. We have left orbit of Drakus and are continuing on our journey home.
Kimberley liked having her mom help out at school. It meant that she got to spend more time with her. Voyager was sitting in orbit of a planet that looked a lot like Mars and after viewing the initial reports Janeway deemed it safe for the crew to go on some long overdue shore leave.
"Captain may I speak with you a moment?"
"Certainly Lieutenant. What can I do for you?"
"Well, I heard that you and Crewman Celes were planning a field trip of sorts down on the planet for the children and I was wondering if I might join you?"
"I'm not sure if that's a good idea Lieutenant. I'd like to talk it over with the Doctor first. If he says it's okay, then I'll approve your request."
"Thank you Captain". Kathryn watched Munroe head off down the corridor with a large smile on her face. This sight lifted Kathryn's spirits high and she hoped the Doctor okayed the shore leave for Ms. Munroe.
-----
It had been a very productive and informative day for the children. They had learned a lot and had a great time playing as well. She wouldn't admit it anyone but she had actually enjoyed spending time on the planet today with Celes, Munroe and all the children. She had even unconsciously let them see a side of the Captain that very few people had seen before. "Crewman Celes please go gather the children together, it looks like a storm is coming in and we should get back to the ship."
"Yes Captain"
"Janeway to Voyager…Voyager please respond." Taking out her tricorder she ran a few scans and closed it again with a sigh. Catching up with Celes she pulled her aside for a moment. "I am unable to hail Voyager and believe it is from all the energy fluctuations in the air. That's probably what's blocking the signal so we'll just have to find somewhere to use as a shelter and wait out the storm.
"I saw a cave about 20 meters over in that direction that was unoccupied. We could take shelter in there" Celes offered.
"Good idea, let's go"
"Okay children gather around. The Captain has an announcement to make so pay close attention." Looking around at everyone Kathryn asked, "Where's Lieutenant Munroe?"
"She went that way to go see the rock specimens that Kimmy told her about," Naomi said pointing in the general direction.
"Janeway to Lieutenant Munroe…Lieutenant respond" she repeated. The comm. line was too staticky to make out any words. With her command abilities automatically kicking in she put her 'captain's mask' in place and started dishing out orders. "Crewman Celes, take the children to the cave you found earlier and stay there until you hear from me."
"Captain, what about you?" Celes questioned her orders but caught the look that Janeway gave her and quickly changed her mind.
"I'm going to go find Lieutenant Munroe. You have your orders Crewman." Janeway started to walk away when Celes objected "Captain you shouldn't go alone." After seeing the look that Kathryn gave her Celes quietly added, "yes ma'am."
Kimmy and a few of the other young kids began to cry when they saw Kathryn turn away. "No mama don't do, please don't go!" she called out grabbing Kathryn's leg and hanging on tight.
"Kimberley let go of my leg and go with Crewman Celes to the shelter. I'll be back soon".
"Uh-uh" she said defiantly shaking her head and getting a stubborn look in her eyes. The other children were silent as they watched Kathryn take the 'hands on hips' Captain Janeway stance. They had all heard stories about it but to see it for themselves was a little intimidating. Being best friends with the Captain's daughter meant Naomi had seen it a fair amount herself and she knew what was about to come next.
"Kimberley Ellen Phoebe Janeway. I gave you an order and I expect you to follow it. Let go so I can go find Lieutenant Munroe". Slowly Kimmy let go of her mom and stepped back. She knew that when her mom used her 'Captain's voice' she meant business. Standing up straight and looking Janeway in the face Kimmy saw the anger in Kathryn's eyes and whispered, "yes ma'am".
-----
Janeway shifted trying to find a more comfortable position and smiled as she watched the children play and talk quietly amongst themselves. They had been down on the surface for 6 hours now with still no word from Voyager. Little Nikki Paris felt a poke in her back and looked around in surprise. "What was that?"
"What was what?" Michael Paris asked turning to his sister.
"Something just poked me in the back. There it is again. Who's poking me?" she snarled.
Kathryn chuckled and calmly said, "calm down Nikki, it's just the babies kicking."
"Can I feel?" Mikayla Jackson asked shyly stepping forward.
"Sure, put your hand right here." Kathryn nodded and indicated that the other kids could feel too. Doing as she was told Mikayla frowned and said, "I don't feel anything"
"Well, you have to give it a minute sometimes". Shaking her head, Mikayla announced that there was still no movement. "Here, let's see if this works." Janeway pushed down near the top a bit and sure enough the twins shifted and started kicking again. "That's so cool!" one of the other children said in wonder. "Does it hurt?" asked another.
Wincing, Kathryn inhaled sharply. "Sometimes, but not always. Okay guys, you're gonna have to move so I can stand up." Reaching behind her she used the wall of the cave as support to help her stand. Walking to the back of the cave Kathryn told Celes and Murphy to keep an eye on the children. "I need to walk around some, my legs are starting to cramp. How are you two holding up?"
"We're fine Captain" Lieutenant Murphy said in a curt tone.
"Not entirely" Celes replied in an equally agitated tone.
"What's wrong?" Kathryn knew that something was wrong and she intended to find out.
"Nothing Captain."
"You should tell her"
"She has enough to deal with right now, Crewman!"
"ENOUGH!" Kathryn interjected, throwing her hands up in the air. Her patience and fuse for tolerance had both grown very thin and kept getting thinner by the moment.
Naomi watched as the adults talked. "What are they saying?" Kimberley asked her. "I don't know but I don't think it's a good thing". Seeing the frown on Kathryn's face when she quickly walked past them on her way outside, Kimberley agreed. "Nope, definitely not a good thing".
Chakotay's voice filled the cave. "Voyager…away…read…?"
"Yes Commander, we read you" Janeway answered. Voyager's hail was repeated with the same amount of interference.
"Commander we read you but you're breaking up. Maybe the cave is blocking the signal. I'm going to try from outside the cave."
"How's that Captain?"
"Fine"
"Good, how are you guys doing down there? We noticed a storm was beginning but the communications went down and we couldn't keep a lock on anyone long enough to risk transporting. Shortly after that we were fired upon and forced to retreat. We took some heavy damage and it will be a while before we reach you.
"Are the transporters working at least?" Kathryn asked praying that they were.
"Negative Captain. They were one of the more seriously damaged systems on the ship," B'Elanna reported.
"Great, this is all I need" Kathryn muttered to herself. To Voyager she continued aloud "Lieutenant I need those transporters up and running right away. I have a situation down here that requires some urgency."
"What's the matter, are the children getting restless and demanding all the Captain's attention strictly for themselves?" Chakotay teased. She could picture him smiling at his comment and remembered how fascinated the children were to feel the babies move and kick. As a coincidence she received a sucker punch in her side, causing her to focus on the current problem at hand. "I wish but no. Lieutenant Murphy has gone into labor".
"Are you sure? How long ago, maybe we could send a shuttle…"
"POSITIVE! Just get the damn transporters back online and get us the hell out of here." Kathryn cut the link and took a deep breath trying to calm her nerves.
-----
Two hours later Kathryn was still sitting outside when Kimberley and Naomi walked up. "What are you doing mama?"
"Hmmm? Oh, just thinking"
"About our current predicament?" Naomi asked climbing up on the rock and sitting beside the Captain.
"Or about Lieutenant Murphy?" Kimberley inquired crawling up on the other side.
"That too" she admitted
"Mama, are you going to have the babies too while we're down here?"
Janeway looked at Kimberley with a puzzled look on her face. Where do they come up with these things? She thought to herself. Aloud she answered, "no sweetie, what makes you think that?"
"Because your tummy is the same size as Lieutenant Murphy's" Kimmy stated placing her small hand on Kathryn's oversized stomach.
"That's because the Captain has two babies growing inside. At least that's what my mommy said the reason was. Am I right Captain?" Naomi said, suddenly aware she was possibly speaking out of line. She looked up at Kathryn and timidly mirrored Kimmy's action from a moment ago. Nodding slightly Janeway rubbed her belly and in a voice barely above a whisper she confirmed, "that's right Naomi".
"Mama, I know you said we have to be brave, but I'm really scared. I wanna go back home to Voyager and see daddy, and Auntie B'Ella and Uncle Tom and…"
Putting her arms around Kimmy and Naomi's shoulders she pulled them in for a hug. "I know you girls must be very frightened…"
"Not me" Naomi interjected and doing a good job to sound brave.
"…And it's okay to be scared. Away missions can be very scary when something unexpected like this happens".
"But Captain, you're not scared" Naomi and Kimmy were watching her intently and were surprised to hear her admit that she was, in fact, very scared. "You don't look scared."
"That's an important part about being a Captain. In command school they tell you there are three things to remember about being a Captain: Stand up straight, keep your shirt tucked in, and never let your crew see that you're scared or unsure." I'm not sure why I'm even having this conversation with these two right now, but what else can I do? Voyager isn't that far away but with transporters down they may as well be in the Stozak system. At least we have the shelter and the emergency rations. I have been in situations where we've been stranded before and had to fend for ourselves until we were rescued, but those times I never had a woman in labor and children stranded with me.
"Kimberley, Naomi this isn't funny. Where are you guys!" Celes yelled in a panicked voice.
"Oops, guess we should have told her where we were going" Kimberley sheepishly admitted.
With a sigh and a roll of her eyes Janeway answered by yelling, "it's okay Celes, they're with me." Brushing away the few tears that had escaped and blinking back the rest Janeway stood up and stretched, trying to relieve the tension in her lower back. At 23 weeks she was almost as big as when Kimberley was born and her backaches were just as bad too.