Hidden Child

Chapter 5: The Letter

Admiral Janeway sat at her desk soaking in the information she had just received from Rose Clearwater. Rose had been at Starfleet Medical since she had received a very disturbing letter.

The letter had told Rose that Lee no longer existed. Her son's name was now Shinzon. Shinzon told her of how he had suddenly found himself on board Voyager sharing the mind of her late son, and how he had perfected his plan of escape from his captors. He told her how he had found his old Viceroy alive and that he would get his revenge upon her and her world. Rose was terrified by this and knew that Kathryn was the only one she could turn too. Shinzon had to be stopped at all costs before he left the Romulan Star Empire.

Admiral Janeway left her office determined to get Rose's son back. She went to sickbay and told the Doctor what she knew of Lee and his breeding, and that Lee had been missing for three days. She was sure the letter was genuine and that Rose's fear of him was exactly what Shinzon wanted. The Doctor told her he had a sample of Lee's blood from checking his iron levels, and with the help of B'Elanna Torres and Seven of Nine who had both had their DNA tampered with and were extremely well versed in cloaking technology, he should be able to demystify this young man. .

After consulting Chakotay about the Doctor's choice of assistants, Admiral Janeway told them to work as long as they could each day and take turns resting until the solution had been found. The three of them worked 24 hours a day for five straight days. They finally de-cloaked the DNA and as a result had found that Shinzon's memories had been telepathically implanted into Lee's mind through this strand. Once the DNA strand was de-cloaked, the Doctor found his blood to have normal iron levels so they knew the shots were no longer necessary to his survival

Admiral Janeway and Captain Chakotay called all the Senior Staff together. Janeway explained the situation at hand and the threat to Earth. She then asked B'Elanna, Seven, and the Doctor to explain their findings to the rest of the crew.

B'Elanna began the meeting--"It appears that the Romulans had a very sophisticated cloaking device 26 years ago. They injected their prey with the cloaked DNA and fertilized the waiting the female egg. Because the cloaking technology was so new, no one from Starfleet was able to de-cloak the DNA without killing the mother and child. Attempts to do so ended before Rose gave birth to Lee because Lee was the last child and last hope of finding out what the Romulans were trying to do. Once we were able to determine the cloaking signature, we deactivated it and the father's DNA strand appeared also making the blood cells normal.

Kathryn turned towards B'Elanna and asked--"Who is the father?"

B'Elanna looked towards the Doctor who in turn looked at Seven. Seven took a deep breath and said "As a matter of fact it is the same DNA strand that created Shinzon as a clone. It is Jean Luc Picard's."

The officers started to whisper excitedly to one another about the discovery. Kathryn felt as if she would faint and sat slowly into her chair. She looked over at Chakotay and nodded to him that all suspicions were confirmed now and that he needed to tell the officers his plan.

"Ok, this is how we are going to precede. First, we need to alert Captain Picard of the threat to Earth, because he has been sent back home for a short respite. He also needs to know it is Shinzon, not another clone, but his son who's life is at stake now. Secondly we need to neutralize Shinzon's personality and get Lee back. We will not kill Lee unless all other attempts have failed. Seven, you have had the most experience with covert operations, and I want you to head the team. B'Elanna, you need to create a force field strong enough that the Remans and Romulans will not be able to beam aboard. Once they find out what we are up to, they will want to fight to keep their Praetor.

At this point in the conversation, the Doctor decided it was time to explain the rest of Shinzon's existence. "Admiral Janeway, Captain Chakotay there is something else you must know. Shinzon's memories were planted into Lee's mind telepathically. Either there is someone on board who has done this, or a very strong telepathic entity has done this from one of the planets.

Admiral Janeway took all the information she had received from the meeting and immediately contacted Picard on a sub space non-traceable frequency. She apologized for the delay in telling Picard, and when he had recovered from the news of Shinzon's return, he asked her if she was sure he wasn't a clone. Janeway explained Rose's story and Picard believed her. They must have received my DNA while I was aboard Stargazer. I was very ambitious back then and they must have perceived me as a threat. After believing that the first attempt of creating the ultimate warrior against the Federation had taken decidedly to long, the must have decided to created the clone.

Kathryn nodded her head knowing Jean Luc was is a state of shock. He thanked Kathryn for the information and requested that any other information she received on Shinzon's whereabouts, or information on how they were going to neutralize Shinzon's personality be forwarded to him in case he did confront Shinzon. He wanted to be prepared to save his son's life, and Earth. After their transmission ended, Kathryn called Rose and told her what they had found, and how they would do everything they could to save her son.

Meanwhile on the Reman home world. . . . .

Vkruk and Shinzon have been planning their strategies to make sure they do not repeat the same mistakes they made before. Shinzon assured Vkruk he knew what being human was this time. He had experienced Troi and found human women lacking. He knew Vkruk did not agree with his relationship with Donatra, but he was not willing to give up his pet--yet.

Donatra was beginning to feel ill. She couldn't understand why she was so weak. Romulans were not weak people. She grew more sickly everyday as the planning became a reality. She could not explain her slight weight gain either. She went to see a Romulan doctor they had on board their war bird Tee Luc and had found out what she feared most was happening. She was expecting Shinzon's child. Now more than ever she knew she could not go against him.

Vkruk found out that Donatra had visited the doctor and told the doctor with his knife to the Romulan's neck that he would divulge why she had been there. After finding out Donatra's secret, he starting planning how she could meet with an accident so that Shinzon would not fail him again.

Later that evening Shinzon returned to the quarters he shared with Donatra. He could tell she was very skittish around him and wondered if she had betrayed him already. He lashed out at her thinking the worst and left a large red mark across her face. "Donatra. . . pet, I have told you that betrayal would cause you severe punishment. I must admit, I didn't think it would take you this long." Shinzon grinned with gracious pleasure at knowing he would finally be able to torture his pet and take her with the force of his loins as he had enjoyed doing their first night. She screamed out for him to stop as the lashes grew stronger and faster. She tried to protect her child as much as possible as Shinzon kicked her across the room in a fit of rage. Donatra cowered into a corner and looked up at Shinzon as he glowered back down at her ready to strike her again. "Shinzon, please--I haven't betrayed you I promise. I haven't had time to tell you what I've just found out myself.

Shinzon looked at Donatra with pure anger. "You had better tell me now, or I'll kill you where you are.

"I'm going to have your child." Donatra looked up at Shinzon as she told him the news. He stopped and looked at her in wonderment.

"What did you say?"

"I said we're going to have a child." Donatra didn't know if she would die because she had let this happen or if he would accept the information graciously. Shinzon pulled her up to him and kissed her passionately. He smiled and a tear started to escape from his eyes. He knew the timing was bad, and that she would need extra protection.

"You will tell no one Donatra, not until there is no way of keeping it a secret. I will have to lock you in here and keep you as safe as possible from the Remans they would despise you and think this was Romulan treachery. I will find a way to protect you even if I have to turn you over to Kathryn for safe keeping.

Shinzon took Donatra to their bed and caressed her lovingly. He found that he saw her differently now. No longer a pet, but the woman who would have his child. He had never felt this type of happiness or need to be responsible.

Shinzon stared out the window towards Voyager longingly. He knew the crew would protect Donatra, especially if he transported her directly to sick bay. Once he had found out her condition, he became more paranoid of the Remans. He noticed a difference in Vkruk and had a hard time blocking his thoughts against the old Viceroy.

Vkruk could take Shinzon's loving thought for her no longer and pleaded with Shinzon to destroy the woman and the abomination she was carrying. Shinzon glared back at Vkruk and told him he would not. He asked Vkruk if he was loyal to him still, and Vkruk grudgingly said yes.

Vkruk talked with the other Reman officers after Shinzon had left him, and they decided to destroy Donatra for him. She would have an accident in front of Shinzon to show him that he would not betray them again. She would be sent a brooch with a note telling her that it was from Shinzon with his deepest love. When Shinzon saw her this night he would see the brooch on her tunic and an energy field strong enough to kill her and the child would flow through her body.

Donatra was pleased to see the gift she thought was from Shinzon and pinned it upon her tunic as Vkruk knew she would. When Shinzon walked into their quarters he looked at Donatra, saw the brooch and knew this was a sign from Vkruk that no distractions would be tolerated this time. As he watched despairingly, Donatra sank to the floor becoming unconscious, she was stronger the Vkruk had anticipated. Shinzon moved to her side as soon as he thought it was safe to do so, pulled an emergency transporter pin from his jacket and beamed her to Voyager. It had been pre-programmed for sick bay, and as he watched his beloved vanish before his eyes, he composed himself to meet Vkruk.