CHAPTER 7 – New Earth, New Problems

Kathryn and Q walked softly amongst the grass and trees at dusk on a warm evening. This time, Kathryn didn't have to ask where they were. It was as if he had reached straight into her memories and retrieved this particular evening with no detail spared.

As they drew closer to the emergency shelter that she and Chakotay had called home, Q spoke up. "Why don't we just peek in the window this time?"

Kathryn moved to press her face to the small square of glass. She could see herself inside, seated at the table in front of Chakotay. He was fiddling with a carving tool and speaking to her doppelganger. Kathryn could hear his words in her mind's voice. He was telling her a not-exactly ancient legend. She recalled at that moment the passion and devotion laced in his every word. She watched a tear roll down her double's cheek, then they raised their hands to touch.

Kathryn closed her eyes and took a deep breath then prepared herself to see her counterpart do something that she had only dreamed about.

Their hands fell, together, to the table surface. The woman pulled away and walked slowly back toward her room, then she stopped suddenly and turned back to Chakotay. He rose, met her halfway, and their lips accosted eachother passionately. The Kathryn still standing outside took a heated heavy breath.

"Are they doing it yet?" Q asked.

"Shut. Up."

Q let out an annoyed huff as Kathryn watched herself lead Chakotay to the back bedroom. She got down off of her tiptoes and leaned her back and head against the side of the shelter.

"Was it everything you dreamed it would be?"

"Ok, so they kissed and then, I'm assuming they did something significantly more than kissing."

"Let's just say they're not folding laundry back there," Q replied, waggling his eyebrows. "Would you like to watch?"

"I'll pass. You've proven what's happening in this timeline."

"Suit yourself."

"So what's the consequence?"

"Why, Kathy, whatever do you mean?" Q asked innocently.

"Something awful is going to happen because of this, isn't it?"

"What makes you think it won't end in roses and wedding bells?"

"Because I wouldn't be here watching if that were the case. I wouldn't have anything to learn, which seems to be your point in all of this. So I'm asking you, Q, what happens?"

"Oh very well." Q reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small, hardbound book. Then he deliberately and slowly licked his index finger and paged through it. "Let's just skip ahead a bit then, shall we?" As his fingers skipped a section of pages Kathryn felt herself transported off of New Earth, through the starry sky and eventually came to rest in a cavern.

Before them in the darkened chamber was an energy field. To the side stood Chakotay, Neelix and Kathryn's counterpart, deep in conversation. In the middle of the group laid Kes, unconscious on a biobed.

Q nodded. "And they say religion can't be fun."

"I know what I'm doing," Kathryn said to Chakotay.

"Are you sure of that? There are eight hundred mega joules of biogenic energy running through that shrine. The thoron radiation levels are off the scale. That's what you'd be taking yourself and her into. Why don't you take some time to think about this and let us run a few more scans," Chakotay urged.

"No."

Chakotay's eyes grew serious. He put his hand on her arm and gripped her tightly. "I want to talk to you, privately."

"No. Chakotay, I need to do this now. We're running out of time." She moved to go around him, to get to Kes. But he blocked her path.

"Kathryn," he pleaded. "I have to keep you safe. For the crew. And for… other reasons."

Her eyes grew serious and her voice went soft. "Chakotay. Don't interfere. Don't stop me from doing this, I'm warning you."

Kathryn could feel the heat from Chakotay's eyes burning into her double. Both Kathryns waited with halted breath for his next words, and watched in horror and he did what they feared.

"Chakotay to Voyager. Four to beam up."

Shock and horror ripped across the doppelganger's face as she was whisked away.

Q turned back to his companion.

"That's not what happened. He trusted me. He let me walk through the field with her. We… I saved her life. Why would he stop me?" she asked, slightly panicked.

"In your timeline, he didn't have as much to lose. He loves you, sure. But here, you've told him the same and you've begun building a real life together. His interests are different now, he's protecting more than just his captain."

"And because of that, Kes dies. This is the consequence," she realized out loud.

"One of several."

"I'm not sure I want know the others."

Q reached for the book in his pocket and licked his finger again. "Oh, let's just take a little peek."

The instant Kathryn and Q reappeared in sickbay, their ears were assaulted with the sounds of shouting.

"Send me back down!" the captain yelled. "Chakotay!" she turned to him and grabbed him by the arms, "Please. Don't do this. Don't stop me, she's going to die!"

Kathryn looked over at Q. He had a bag of popcorn in his hand and was eating loudly. "Snack?" he asked. She let out a low, repulsed growl.

In the background she could see the doctor and Neelix attempting to tend to Kes.

"Chakotay," the captain said, trying to force herself to calm down. "I know what I'm doing. I understand the risks."

"I don't think that you do. You've been through a lot in the last few days. You've been exposed to toxins and sleep deprivation. You're not well and I can't let you make this decision for yourself."

"If she dies Chakotay. I will never, never forgive you."

"If you die, I'll never forgive myself."

"You have no right to do this," she yelled at him.

"Maybe not, but I have the responsibility. I won't let you die, too, Kathryn. This crew needs their captain. And I need you."

The shrill of a monitor combined with the cold clap of a tricorder being closed made everyone stop and turn to Kes. The doctor faced them. "She's gone," he said.

The only thing left to hear was the sound of Neelix crying. That, and a snapping of fingers.

Becoming used to the transitions by now, Kathryn leaned forward in her chair. "So, Kes is dead. I'm furious with Chakotay."

"Eternally."

"I'm guessing our relationship…"

"Kaput."

A final flash of realization struck her. "Which means that we wouldn't work well as a command team anymore either. Which also means, Voyager would be vulnerable."

Q nodded and reached in his pocket for the book one final time.

"Please. No," she said waving him off. "I get the idea."

Q shrugged and tossed the book carelessly into the corner of her quarters.

Kathryn ran a trembling hand through her hair. "All of this because we kissed on New Earth."

"A butterfly flaps its wings, Kathy. Or in your case, a captain 'folded laundry' with her first officer in the back of a shack."

Kathryn closed her eyes and released a breath. "I knew it. I knew a relationship with a member of the crew, with Chakotay, was a bad idea, and you've just proven it."

"Don't you hate being right all the time?"