Twenty-Seven: Once and Again

A few weeks later, Data and I were invited to a gathering held by the top officials of Cambridge. It was a formal gathering and I was a bit apprehensive since I hadn't dressed up in quite sometime. Since Data was a retired officer, he was entitled to wear his Starfleet dress uniform— which looked very good on him. I wore a sexy, yet classy evening gown. During the course of the evening, Data and I became separated. There was a Starfleet Admiral who was attempting to get Data to rejoin the fleet. The Admiral tried to seduce Data into accepting the offer by promising to make him captain of his own ship. I, on the other hand, was trapped with a female Klingon combat instructor who strongly suggested I try some of the ethnic fare. I tried to decline politely, but according to most Klingons, declination in itself was considered to be impolite. Therefore, I had no escape and was forced to eat a sampling of G'ah. Feeling the worms squirm around in my mouth was most unpleasant and I managed to make my way to the lavatory where I promptly evacuated the contents of my stomach. I felt awful! The synthaholic beverages I'd consumed seemed to intensify the effect.

Eventually, I pulled myself together long enough to beg Data to take me home. As soon as we returned to our quarters, I all but fainted in our bed. The next morning, the effects of the G'ah seemed to linger. I was violently ill. Data took the day off to accompany me to the campus' sickbay where we received an unexpected surprise. Once again, I was pregnant!

Although I was thrilled to make another addition to the family, I was a bit nervous. I was overwhelmed with three children, how would I handle a fourth? One thing was certain; I had nine months to figure it out. As usual, Data and I wanted the gender to be a surprise, but I already knew what it was going to be. Males seemed to be dominant in the Soong family line. However, when I gave birth to our fourth child, I was pleasantly surprised that it was a girl! We named her, Iliyana Soong. Data and I joked that she would have a heck of a time getting dates with an over-protective father and three equally over-protecting older brothers. As with our other children, she was a beautiful baby. She was the first of our children who mostly resembled me. However, unlike her brothers, she was a bit on the fussy side. Spot finally met her match in terms of the demands for attention.

Lysander, Geordan and Vencel were wonderful helpers when it came to their baby sister. They seemed to really grasp how delicately they needed to handle her. Data seemed to be a bit more emotional with Iliyana than with any of our other children. I believe it was because it was his first daughter since Lal. Data never seemed to want to let Iliyana out of his sight. Little did we know, it wasn't our youngest child we needed to worry about. One day, we had an unexpected visitor. I was preparing dinner when I bumped into him! He prompted me to drop a dish onto the floor.

"Hello my child!" Q greeted with a smile.

Needless to say, I wasn't exactly glad to see him.

"Kadalynn, are you alright?" Data called as he entered the kitchen, "I thought I heard a…" He froze when he saw Q.

"Hello, my human android. I see you've been busy since I've last seen you!" Q exclaimed.

"Q. What do you want? Why are you here?" Data asked guardedly.

"Wait a minute! You mean he's real?!" I asked Data, who nodded.

Q chuckled as he glanced around.

"Well, Data! I see you've done very well for yourself! Beautiful home, lucrative career, lovely wife… precious children." He stated.

"Q, I did what you asked. Why are you here?!" I yelled.

"Exactly what I told you years ago. I'd do you a favor in exchange for a favor from you later on."

"No! You said you might need a favor from me!"

"Oh, small details!" Q smirked.

"Q, why are you here?" Data asked.

"I'm just here to collect a small favor. Then I'll be on my way." Q smiled.

At that moment, Iliyana started crying. I rushed into the other room and scooped her into my arms. Lysander, Geordan and Vencel were at my side. Data swiftly joined us.

"No! You're not taking my baby!" I cried. "I'll die before you take her!"

"Well, there's no need for you to go all out. I'm not here for your daughter." Q chuckled. Suddenly his gaze shifted to Lysander, "I'm here for him. He will make a valuable addition to the continuum!"

Data stepped in front of Lysander.

"Q," said Data, "I can't permit you to take our son!"

"How touching! But Data, if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have a son, or any children for that matter."

"Q, please don't!" I begged, "If you have to take anyone, take me! Please, spare my children!"

"How noble! Unfortunately, I can only accept Lysander."

Upon hearing me weep, Vencel charged Q.

"Vencel, no!" Data and I yelled, but it was too late. Q suspended Vencel in mid-air.

"Okay, I'll tell you what. Let's leave it up to the boy himself." Q stated.

Q knelt down to Lysander's level. I wanted to run in front of him to block him from Q, but I couldn't move. Nor could Data.

"Hi, Lysander!" Q greeted. "How would you like to be able to do this?!" Q held out his palm and a lily grew out of it before exploding like fireworks. Like any kid his age, Lysander was impressed and smiled. "If you come with me, Lysander, you'd be able to do that and much, much more!"

"I would love to do that sir! But I want to give my parents one last present before I leave with you." Lysander answered.

"Lysander, no!!" I sobbed, nearly fainting in Data's arms.

"Sure, child! Anything you want!" Q chuckled.

"Anything?!" Lysander asked with a broad smile and Q nodded.

Lysander looked at his brothers, then me and Data. Finally, he returned his gaze to Q.

"Sir, I want for my parents… to keep all their children and never have to see you again." Lysander replied.

"NO! That's not right!" Q exclaimed angrily.

"Sir, you said I can give them anything. I wish for them to have a long happy life with all of their children."

Q sneered at me and Data before turning his attention back to Lysander.

"Hmph! You really are your father's son after all!"

"Of course." Lysander replied. "Who else's son would I be?"

Well, there's not much to tell from that point on. It's only been a few weeks since Q's visit and things have been pretty uneventful. If you ask me, Data and I could use some peace and quiet. Well, as much peace and quiet parents can have with a newborn baby, three energetic boys and a bundle of cats running around the house! As hectic as my life is at times, I wouldn't trade it for the world… not even my old one!

The End