Amelia stood firm and brave before the Q council, unsifted by their cross expressions. What she had done had not been sanctioned. Creating another Q without permission, whatever her reason. Q himself was even a little shocked but not by much. After all Amelia was his daughter. Just like him she seemed a little prone to breaking a few rules. "So you admit to creating this Q without permission from the council?"
Amelia shook her head. "No, I admit to creating Emily without your permission. I admit to creating someone like me, someone who isn't entirely a Q."
"You see nothing wrong with this statement?"
"No." Amelia remained perfectly calm. "As I recall there are only laws against making other Q, not other hybrids." Q wanted to step in and tell Amelia to real it in a little before she got herself into trouble. Sometimes it felt like the Q needed an off switch for their mouth. "My father had been approved to create another Q but he created a hybrid instead. Shouldn't he also be on trial?"
"Q has been on trial enough times..." Amelia took that as her father kept screwing up so they were just going to ignore him for a while. Unfortunately his spawn was proving just as difficult to deal with. "Despite Emily's status as being partially human she still has Q abilities, as mild as they may be. Without truly being connected to the Q continuum as you are she proves to be a rouge entity, detrimental to your world as well as or own. You put us all at risk by doing this Q."
"And you put me at risk every time you've turned your back on us with your rules to not interfere with the course of the universe when you've already broken it with me. Do you even realize how many times I've nearly fallen into the hands of someone who was dangerous or could have used me against the natural order of things? If you are about to criticize me for what I've done then you should criticize yourself for what you haven't done." The other Q looked between themselves for a moment whispering under their breath before turning back to look over Amelia.
"We will discuss at length what your punishment shall be." A gavel slammed down. Amelia was never even given a chance to discuss anything further. After eons of dealing with her father that had quite enough of dealing with the Q in his bloodline. As they walked out of the room Captain Janeway and Q were allowed to walked over to Amelia. The girl remaining perfectly calm despite the punishment she may receive.
"Well that didn't seem like a fair trial." Janeway spoke up and put an arm around her daughter.
"They let her talk a lot more than they normally allow me to." Q added. "I think they like you, that's good."
Amelia looked back at her father, her stony expression finally falling. "I'm sorry father, I let you down. I let you both down. I knew better than to but..."
Janeway took hold of her are. "There is no shame in not wanting to be alone. It was a little reckless but Emily isn't a threat. They will see that. We'll get you both out of here and back on Voyager in no time." She tried to stay positive as the other Q cycled back into the room.
"Don't be too sure of that." Q spoke up. "That's normally not a good sign."
The Q took their seats and turned their attention back to Amelia. "We have come to a conclusion."
"That was fast, are you sure you don't want to turn back around and thing it over a little more?" Q injected his two cents but was shot a rather annoyed glare from female Q who stood up looking rather pleased with herself.
"In light of your confession we have decided to go easier on you. Q." She looked first to Amelia. "For going against law and creating another Q without permission we have decided to revoke your status hood as a Q and sever your link to the Q Continuum until further notice when you have proven yourself capable of handling your powers wisely and without casing disturbance in the natural order of the universe."
"Are you kidding me, if she never gets to learn how to use her powers what good will they be when you give them back to her?" Q pipped in only to have the glare cast at him once more.
"For your inability to teach her how to Q responsibly." He snickered a little at that statement. "Your powers too are being limited. You can maintain your status as a member of the Q Continuum but you are restricted to travel only within the Delta Quadrant."
"Oh come on." Q protested. "I'm not even on trial."
"We could make your punishment more severe."
Putting his hands up he took a step back. "Never mind, I'm good with the first ruling."
"As for the final Q." She turned to look at Emily. "She will be destroyed."
Amelia and Janeway both stepped forward in retaliation. "No, you can't do that, it's not fair." Janeway called out.
"Take me instead, it's not her fault." Amelia continued making Janeway's fear rise a little more. "Let her go and I'll take her place."
"You would die for that Q?" She asked raising a brow and looking over to Emily.
"Die for my sister? Every day of the week. I'm a Janeway, I can't let you erase someone who is deserving of life just because you don't agree with how they came to be."
"I see." She nodded her head. "Because of your...compassion for this Q then we won't destroy her. Instead she will remain here with us in the Continuum until further notice. Under very careful watch." She looked back at Q in case he tried to pull something funny. Amelia looked back to her sister, tears streaming down Emily's face to learn she would be left behind.
Looking back up to the Q Amelia herself felt a tear roll down her face. "Please, take me instead."
An elder looking Q shook his head. "You have a burden to shoulder for all of us. You have to learn to be human young Q in order for you to assist the Continuum one day as your father promised. We have already been lenient with you so far. Accept that this in not a fight you can win or an opinion you can change. If a time should come we see fit to return Emily to you then we will. Until that time she will be carefully watched to avoid further complications."
Amelia turned back to Emily seeing the girl shake out of fear. "It's okay Emily, I promise someday I'm going to come back for you. I promi..." With a flash of light the elder Q had snapped his fingers and where Amelia and Janeway stood was now empty space.Q followed shortly snapped away by the female Q leaving Emily aloe in the Continuum.
