Room with a Q2/Jealous Q 4
Scene 1
Kathryn looked around her classroom to make sure everyone was on task. As it was almost home time, some of them tended to lose focus. The bell cut through the peace of the classroom like a knife. Kathryn positioned her book box at the front of the classroom.
"As you leave, put your book in the box. I will mark the work and hand it back to you on Thursday. If I don't think that you have done enough work then you will be staying late."
She dismissed the class table by table so they left in an orderly fashion. She left as soon as her classroom was tidy and ready for use in the morning. She packed the children's books into her bicycle basket and set off for home.
It had been a month since she started riding her bike to work. She was already noticing the results. Her stomach was flat and she had more energy. Q appreciated her new figure, especially her legs.
As she cycled along the Promenade she appreciated the scenery. The sea was a rich, deep blue. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the sun was still warm as it started to set.
Scene 2
Before they left Voyage, Q created a family history. The story was that Q and his family moved to Miami after he took up a post at the University. He started his position in the Physics department at the start of the semester. He posed as a visiting Professor in Quantum mechanics. Q even awarded himself a doctorate in philosophy.
They rented a small ground floor apartment with sea views. The French doors at the back lead to a patio and a small garden. Kathryn enjoyed gardening. She planted flowers and vegetables in her small patch and enjoyed watching them grow. On Voyager she didn't have the time for her hobby.
As soon as she entered the house she could hear the Twin begging Amanda to let them have sweets before dinner.
The Twins heard her moving her bike into the hallway. The door slammed open and they came running towards her at full speed.
"Mama, you're home early, will you come and play with us?" asked Qat.
Quinn answered, "You're silly, Mama will play with us after she's had her coffee."
Amanda came out of the kitchen, with a mug of coffee in her hand for her employer.
"Amanda you're an angel!"
"Children, Go outside and play, your mother will let you know when she is ready."
After a lot of whining, she pushed them out of the door.
Kathryn sat down at the kitchen table with her feet on another chair. She sipped her coffee and enjoyed the peace and quiet.
"Do you still need me to babysit tonight?
"Yes, definitely, this is the first time Q and I have had a date night."
"I've left the Twin's dinner in the oven. I'll have a rest while you get ready. Give me a shout when you're ready to leave."
"I am so grateful that you decided to come with us. I don't know what I would have done without you."
"My place is with you and the children. I couldn't leave you alone to face this horrible threat. I will defend you and the Twins to the death."
Kathryn laid the table and called the Twins in for their dinner. They chatted about school while eating their pasta. As soon as they finished their dessert, they heard their father open the door.
"Honey, I'm home."
The Twins giggled and ran to meet their father. He always had candy for them in his pockets which they had to find.
He kissed his wife on the lips, "How was your day Kathy?"
"Fine, did you manage to book the restaurant for later this evening?"
"Don't worry, I have a table for two booked at your favourite Indian restaurant."
He sat at the kitchen table while she washed the dishes and tidied up.
"Will you get the twins ready for bed while I have a quick shower?"
Scene 3
Q walked up the stairs not the nursery. Quinn was sitting on a window seat reading. Qat was building a complicated three-dimensional jigsaw. Q stood at the door admiring his omnipotent offspring. Quinn sensed him first.
"Have you detected any threats within the perimeter of the town, father."
"I haven't noticed any signs of aliens in the neighbourhood," answered Q.
"Can we come to the pier when you use the scanners to look for signs of the Borg tonight?"
"I'm afraid your mother will not allow me to take you out that late."
Scene 4
Q learnt about the contract on his wife from Mr. Neelix. He was shopping in a market when he heard one of the stallholders mention the name, Janeway. He went to browse and heard that the contract had been taken out the Borg. There was plenty of interest in local bars, where criminal gangs were active. The Borg Queen wanted Captain Janeway dead because that would leave the Q with nowhere to hide. The Q and senior officers had a meeting to discuss how they were going to protect Captain Janeway and the Twins.
"One of the Q will have to guard the Captain for twenty-four hours a day," declared Madam Q.
The Captain went pale, "No, that is not an option, I need my
privacy."
Q didn't trust any of the crew or the Q with Kathy's safety.
"I will look after my family but I can't protect the crew and the Q as well. For the first time in our existence, we are vulnerable as well."
"What do you suggest Q?" asked the Captain. She was surprised that Q chose to take responsibility for his family.
"We will go back in time. If we don't use our powers they will have trouble finding us."
"How will you survive?" asked his cynical mother.
Q declared, "We will find employment and live as a normal human family."
Captain Janeway laughed out loud, "What do you know about a human family life and employment?"
"I'm sure that I can adapt - how hard can it be?"
Madam Q warned him, "You will be on your own. How will you protect Kathryn and the Twins."
"I have an IQ measuring four digits mother, I think I am capable of looking after my family."
Madam Q didn't have a lot of confidence in her son so she decided to level the playing field.
After a discussion, lasting two hours, they decided to take Kathryn and the Twins back in time. It had to be an era when they could adapt basic technology to set up a force field. They chose Earth because the family wouldn't stick out. The Twins, Q and Amanda were accustomed to their human forms. Q found the perfect place. A sleepy little seaside town in Miami, Florida in the twentieth century.
The most difficult task was to persuade the Crew of Voyager to allow Q to protect their beloved Captain. In the end, Chakotay made the decision that it was the best option.
For the past month, they had lived on Earth as a family unit. Q even suffered the boredom of teaching Physics at the local university.
There was a burnt out, derelict pier near their apartment. Q set up the scanners to alert them if any non-humanoid aliens appeared within the local area. He had to sneak out every night to check that all the technology was working within normal parameters. He didn't want his neighbours to alert the authorities.
"Q, are you ready?" shouted the Captain.
"Yes dear, I was looking for my sweater, it might be cold later."
Q walked down the stairs and stopped for a few minutes to appreciate his wife. She was wearing a backless, black lace dress.
"You look stunning Kathy. I am a lucky man." For once in his long life, he was completely honest.
Kathryn smiled at him, "Thank you kind Sir. You don't look too bad yourself."
"As it's such a beautiful evening, I thought we could walk to the restaurant."
"I'll fetch my shawl and give the Twins a final warning to behave themselves. Did you know that they are on a babysitter's blacklist? Amanda is the only person who is willing to sit with them."
"I'll have a stern word with them in the morning."
Scene 5
While they were waiting for their starters, Q noticed movement in a doorway across the road. He kept watch until he saw a male humanoid figure step out of the shade. He was wearing a black coat with a cap pulled over its face. When the stranger noticed Q's interest he started to walk towards the town centre. Q decided that he was being paranoid. He saw assassins on every corner.
They finished their meal and made the joint decision to walk back along the promenade.
"Did you see that?" Kathryn pointed at the old pier, "I saw a shooting star over there - make a wish."
Q glanced over, "I didn't know you believed in superstitions. You're a scientist, not a romantic."
"You can be both. Some superstitions have a basis in science."
Q tried to steer her away from the subject. "We have received an invitation to a dinner party next week at the Chancellor's home."
"That is a great excuse to go shopping, with Amanda, for a new dress. You know how judgemental the faculty wives can be."
Scene 6
Kathryn had a long day so she went straight to bed when they got home. Q waited until the light went off in the bedroom. He clicked his fingers and reappeared on the old pier. At first glance, he thought that he'd jumped to the wrong place. The equipment was still smoking. One of the Bounty hunters had destroyed the all the scanners, short and long range.
Q was in no doubt that the bounty hunters had found them. Q and his family were in mortal danger. He was more frightened than he'd ever been in his long existence. They were all alone with no support. Q's first thought was to call for help but he decided to solve his own problems. His first task was to find out who wanted to collect the bounty?
Scene 7
In the morning, Q told his wife about the destruction of the scanning equipment.
"Do you know which Bounty hunters have found us. I hope they're not Vidiian or Hirogen."
"We must continue with our daily routine. If they think we're going to run, they will try to abduct you earlier. According to the University, I will be working at home today. I told them that I have a lot of paperwork to finish," stated Q.
"What are you actually going to do today?" asked the Captain.
"I will walk with you to the Twins' school and your workplace to make sure you get there without any incidents."
"Are you sure you want to take them to school? I know you hate talking to the other parents."
"I can manage it for one morning. You need to stay alert. If there are any people at school you don't trust - get out of there!"
"Thank you Q, I owe you a favour?"
He smiled and raised an eyebrow, "I'll think of something."
He moved to stand in front of her and caressed her face. Then he tilted her chin and kissed her gently.
"We will continue this conversation when we've taken out the trash."
As soon as they finished their breakfast, Q took the twins into the garden to warn them to stay away from the Borg. The Drones were the Q's only enemies capable of killing them.
"If you are on your own, move them to the most distant place you can think of."
"What are you going to do, Daddy?"
"My first stop will be the old pier. I will repair the equipment then summon Junior, he can stay with us. We'll introduce him as Amanda's brother."
Quinn and Qat were having trouble controlling their anger.
They were deadly, "We won't let them harm our mother."
"Don't worry I won't let anyone hurt my family."
"We understand father," said both Twins in unison."
"If I was a bounty hunter, when and where would I abduct your mother?".
"Straight after school when she is on her own," replied Qat with tears running down her face.
Q didn't know how to comfort his daughter. He left all that to Kathy and Amanda. He patted her shoulder and gave her a handkerchief.
"I will be going to the pier to build a jail cell for the bounty hunters."
"What are we going to do with them after they're captured?"
"We are going to educate them. If they are Drones, I am going to set them free and send them back to their own planets.
Scene 8
Q took the Twins and his wife to school without any trouble. Q took most of the day to build a force field for the cell. As soon as he finished Junior appeared.
"You said this was the best place to hide her. You swore that the hunters would never find you here," shouted Junior.
"You could carry on shouting at me or help us with our pest control problem," said Q.
"I'll help you with the bounty hunters for Aunt Kathy and the Twin's sake," swore Junior
"Collect the Twins from school. Find a discreet place to bring them back here," ordered Q.
"How long have I got?"
"Not long because Aunt Kathy's school will finish soon and I want to be there before the last bell."
Scene 9
Q moved them to a secluded spot opposite the school. They scanned all the faces of the parents. Unfortunately, Q never took the children to school so he didn't know any of the other parents.
"How are we supposed to find them without using our powers?" asked Junior.
"The powers of observation - look!"
A Borg Drone appeared in front of them. Qat waved her hand and moved him to the Pier.
"I'm sorry Daddy, I forgot that we can't use our powers. Can I free him and send him back to his planet."
"Of course Qat! You can save the Drone and send him home."
While he was talking to Qat, two more Drones appeared.
Junior and Quinn dealt with them.
"Don't be complacent children, it's likely that the Drones were a distraction.
As soon as Captain Janeway appeared they walked over to meet her.
"Have you had any trouble?" asked the Captain.
"A few Drones but the children dealt with them. Let's find a secluded place then I can take us home with one click."
"I thought you couldn't use your powers?"
"I think they already know we're here my dear."
Scene 10
Back at the apartment, they moved into the lounge with bedding and basic provisions. The bathroom was next to the lounge. There were two points of entry, the French windows, and the front door. Junior and Q guarded both positions.
"Don't worry, we can use our powers now so we have an advantage. This apartment is easier to defend than the ship so we will stay where we are."
He knelt down by the Twins, "I need you to use your senses to warn us if an alien is near to the house."
"If we find one, what must we do with it?"
Q was going to tell the Twins to kill them but he knew that Kathy would be apocalyptically angry if he did.
"Send them as far away as you can. I believe the Gamma quadrant is quite scenic."
The Drones kept appearing. As soon as they moved one away, another one took its place. Then Junior tried to banish a Drone and nothing happened - they had adapted.
"Daddy, what are we going to do? I can't get rid of them?"
Q tried to make the apartment invisible but that didn't work either.
The Twins joined hands and tried to move the Drones - to no avail.
While they had been dealing with the Drones, the hunters attacked the apartment from the side. Q sensed the explosive attached to the outside wall.
"Everyone move into the kitchen. Qat, Quinn, Kathy and Amanda hide in the pantry."
Q and Junior upturned the kitchen table and crouched behind it. The explosion was deafening. One of the Drones stepped over the rubble. Q wanted to blow up the Drone but he would risk harming his family. He knew he couldn't allow the Drones to get close enough to inject them with their tubules.
He tried to electrocute the Drone but it activated its adaptive shielding. Junior pulled out a phaser rifle and shot it.
He threw a gun to Q, "It's a grenade launcher, wait until there is a group of them then shoot."
"It won't take them long to adapt.
Scene 11
While they were hiding in the cupboard Quinn and Qat reassured their mother and Amanda. They kept telling them that nothing would happen to them.
The Captain laughed, "I think I should be looking after you."
They listened to the fight in the kitchen, "Mama, I think Daddy and Junior are losing, we have to do something."
"It's time to use the power Grandmother gave you," said Quinn.
Captain Janeway was shocked because she'd never told anyone about Madam Q's wedding present. She never intended to use it because she believed that ultimate power corrupts.
Qat and Q stood either side of her and held her hands. Qat asked Amanda to hold her other hand and join hands with Quinn to complete the circle.
"Mama focus on Voyager. Picture yourself in your ready room, sitting behind your desk."
Quinn nodded to Amanda, "Push now!"
In a flash, everyone found themselves back on Voyager, in the Captain's Ready room.
Q looked horrified, "I think you've got something to tell me, Kathy."
