Practice
Lights flashed as they slowly maneuvered through the tightly packed corridors. They did their best to not be detected. As long as they didn't give the drones any reason to suspect something was amiss, they wouldn't be caught. Kathryn stopped at juncture, holding a hand up to stop the group. The eerie green vapors so characteristic of Borg vessels illuminated her face, making her appear almost sickly.
"Is something wrong?" Harry asked softly.
Kathryn shook her head. "Let's get this done."
The group paired off; Harry and Tuvok going one direction while Kathryn and Seven of Nine went the other. The two women moved through the corridors, dodging drones left and right until they reached the reactor core. They would need it if they were going to enhance the warp drive.
"Keep moving. Come on. We've got less than two minutes to meet up with Harry and Tuvok and get out of here," Kathryn prompted as Seven began to lag.
The blond closed her eyes, trying to concentrate. It was not a difficult task but the fear of being caught was more overwhelming than she'd anticipated. She tried her best to retrieve the reactor coil as quickly as she could.
"Let's go!" Kathryn called as soon as Seven had extracted the component.
They took off at a sprint through the corridors to get to the rendezvous coordinates. They needed to make up as much time as possible. Just as they rounded the corner, Kathryn's comm. badge went off.
"Kathy…you need to come see this."
Kathryn tried to ignore the sound of Q's voice. They had a mission to complete. Unfortunately, Q was persistent. He continued to talk as they reached the rendezvous point. Several drones seemed drawn to the sound emanating from her badge.
"Q, I'm busy. It will have to wait," Kathryn finally ground out through clenched teeth.
"No…it cannot," an unfamiliar voice answered.
Before Kathryn could respond, Harry and Tuvok joined them.
"Four to beam out."
They disappeared just in time to avoid being attacked by drones. Moments later they appeared in Transporter Room Two. Chakotay stood by the console and shook his head.
"It took twenty seconds longer than we have," he informed them.
Kathryn groaned. "Let's try it again."
"Maybe you should take a break. You've run the simulation twelve times today. You need to clear your head, Captain."
"Besides, we have more pressing matters," Q said. He stood framed in the doorway.
Kathryn looked at the rest of the crew before walking towards Q. "Computer, end simulation."
The Transporter Room disappeared, being replaced by the cold metallic walls of the holodeck. Q retreated a step or two so that Kathryn could exit before he started to lead her towards a turbolift. They walked in silence until they reached the Briefing Room. They walked in to find two figures standing by the windows.
"You had better have a damn good explanation for interrupting that simulation," Kathryn finally spat, glaring at Q.
"Don't blame me. Blame them," Q replied in self defense.
Kathryn turned her attention back to the two figures by the window. They slowly turned to reveal that they were Q Continuum magistrates.
"I thought I made myself clear. You ask before you just show up on my ship."
"The matter was of some urgency," one of the Q answered.
Kathryn had to take several deep breaths to keep her temper under control. If they had been on the actual mission, they'd most likely be dead or assimilated by the Borg already.
"You realize if you had contacted me during the actual mission, you would have put this entire ship and its crew in jeopardy?" she asked.
"You were running a simulation. We were monitoring your ship."
"You're monitoring Voyager now? Why?"
"We've been monitoring your vessel since the child returned from the Continuum," the second Q explained. Her demeanor betrayed no emotion at all.
Kathryn slid into a chair. She hated being spied on. It went against everything she believed in, the ethics of dealing with other species and races. Q stood behind her, arms crossed over his chest.
"We told you Junior would be fine onboard. And Kathy is certainly a woman of her word," he interjected.
"You forced the child to revert to an inferior stage of development."
"That was his choice. He wanted to grow up like a normal human child."
"He is not a human child! That is the point. He is Q," the first Q protested.
"Is that what this is about? The way we've chosen to raise our son?" Kathryn demanded.
"No. We said we would not interfere and we stand by our word. We are here on another matter."
Kathryn exhaled, running a hand through her hair. She did not have time for this ridiculous back and forth bantering. She had a mission to conduct.
"You have five minutes to explain yourselves before I order security to escort you off my ship."
It has come to our attention that Q has been unable to use his powers as he pleases."
"That was a decision we made together for the best interests of our son," Kathryn rebutted.
"I don't think you understand the great power Q possesses. You're squandering his abilities all because of your precious Starfleet protocols. Captain, you have this asset on your crew. Use him or we'll be forced to take action."
Q's mouth hung open like a fish caught on a line. "What…what sort of action?"
"We will remove the temptation…you would be unable to use your powers unless there was an absolute emergency."
"That isn't fair to Q," Kathryn interrupted.
"Neither is keeping him from using his powers."
Kathryn stood up, assuming as authoritative a position as she could. "I have a duty to this crew to get them home safely. You may not understand Starfleet protocols and procedures. Hell you may think we're foolish for following them, but it is not your decision to make."
Q tapped Kathryn on the shoulder, motioning for her to join him. "Let's talk about this…why not let me use my powers…I won't use them around Junior."
Kathryn weighed the question for several minutes. It went against everything she'd been taught at Starfleet Academy. It no doubt broke half a dozen regulations but they were in uncharted territory, where Starfleet had very little control over them. Perhaps she'd been selfish to think she could keep Q from using his powers, to not let him get them home faster. She'd been so wrapped up in following the rules she had avoided the obvious resources right in front of her.
"Alright."
They turned back to the two Q magistrates. Kathryn took a deep breath. "I have been selfish in trying to keep my crew from getting home as quickly and painfully as possible. Don't take Q's powers away simply to punish me."
The pair seemed to discuss her sudden surrender quietly for a few moments before nodding in unison.
"Very well. But you must learn to rely on him. He is a far more advanced and intelligent being than yourself, Captain."
Q took a step forward. "I wouldn't go around insulting the mother of your Messiah. It wouldn't look so good to the rest of the Continuum."
"Very well. We will be watching you. Do not misuse this opportunity, Captain."
Kathryn and Q watched them disappear before both heaved sighs. "I don't know how you put up with them for millennia," Kathryn muttered.
"I didn't have the…insight of humanity."
Several decks down, Seven of Nine walked into Cargo Bay Two. She had skipped the previous day's regeneration cycle in order to accommodate the Captain's rigorous schedule of running simulations. She did not like to admit the unease that was building within her. She hated to appear weak. It was such a human trait.
"Computer, begin regeneration cycle," Seven instructed as she stepped into her alcove.
The computer beeped in compliance as the cycle began. Seven closed her eyes, letting the alcove work its will, restoring the low electrolyte levels and allowing her some respite from the ship. Unfortunately, within her subconscious a frightening image filled her mind. The Borg Queen's voice called to her.
"Seven of Nine." It was ethereal, as if it came crashing down on the shore like a wave.
"You are not here," Seven replied.
"Seven of Nine. You are mine."
"No. You are not real."
"I know what you're doing."
"How?"
Without another word, Seven of Nine's body writhed as an electric current shot through it. She fell forward, disengaging form her alcove. She barely heard the computer informing her that the cycle was incomplete. She tried to stay awake, to call for help but her body ached to much to move. She fell victim to the lulling darkness tugging at her consciousness.
