Chakotay waited in the transporter room as Tom and Belanna beamed back from the planet. He leveled a hard stare at Belanna as she materialized in front of him. "Report?'

"The converter they have is no better than our replicators." She stepped down from the pad and lowered her eyes. "In fact, it's cruder, just like Lura said."

"I see."

"It doesn't mean they don't have another one," Tom said as he walked off. "They have the basic technology…"

"We have better technology. We can't reproduce a human being," Belanna replied.

"Don't tell the Doctor that," Tom said.

Chakotay rubbed his chin. "The Doctor isn't human. He doesn't have a heartbeat. Kathryn did."

"Easy enough to simulate," Belanna said. "But I can't prove that they did."

Chakotay shook his head. "I don't think these people wasted their time on me with technological endeavors they've since deemed unnatural. It's time to go."

As he turned, Belanna caught his arm. "You don't care that Lura used you like that?"

"You just said you have no proof that she did. Or did I miss something?"

Belanna folded her arms and shook her head. "No, but I still think something very strange happened here."

"It did. But, we are leaving, now."

"What would you have us do, Belanna?" Tom said. "Storm Lura's hut with a security team and demand she spill her guts?"

"We're not storming anything." Chakotay placed a hand on Belanna's shoulder. "Even if everything wasn't as real as it seemed last night, it's okay. I'm okay."

Belanna frowned and watched Tom shrug as Chakotay patted her on the shoulder. She heard the swish of the door as he left the transporter room.

Chakotay walked onto the bridge and nodded to the crew. He received status updates and gave their new heading before retreating into his ready room. He poked at his console for a few minutes before leaning back in his chair and gazing out the window. He watched the stars rush by as Voyager jumped to warp and left its orbit around Jula. He thought about last night's experience with Kathryn. Calling up his personal log, he re-read the details he had documented about their encounter. After a few minutes, his concentration was interrupted by a flash of light out of the corner of his eye. "Kathryn!"

"Kathryn? Living in the past, are we? Close but I am afraid it's strike one." Q, dressed in his now familiar red Starfleet uniform, perched on the couch under the window and waved.

"Where's Kathryn? Is she with you?"

Q extended his arms. "Why, hello, Q! How sporting of you to grace this ship with your esteemed presence!" Pointing at the replicator, he said, "Are you not even going to offer me a beverage?"

Chakotay knew better than to force Q's agenda. Knowing Q would get to it in his own time; he sighed and leaned back into his chair. Snapping his fingers, he said, "Problems with your own?"

Q huffed. "Well, this is appalling! Kathy never ran the ship like this. No caviar, no champagne, pretzels, not even a breath mint?"

"Snap your fingers and serve yourself. I seem to remember you did that quite well before." Chakotay picked up a padd and tossed it across the desk. "As you can see, Q, I'm busy."

"Busy taking Kathy's place, I see. You know, she was much more fun to visit. Serve yourself. Why, it's inhumane."

Chakotay frowned. "What's inhumane is not telling me she's been with you all this time."

Q waved his hands. "Do you see her? The last I heard she had met her demise at the hands of the Borg under your watch, I might add." Q smiled and rubbed his chin. "I do understand Kathy's appeal but what exactly does she see in you? Of all the wonders of the cosmos, I confess that your attraction is one of the few that still eludes me."

"We're not talking about me, Q. We are talking about Kathryn." Chakotay ran his hand over the edge of his desk. "Where are you keeping her?"

"Keeping her? Please. I tried to play god with Picard at the moment of his death. It was disappointing." Q settled back into the couch and crossed his legs. "Such a preoccupation with your dead Captain. Or was it Admiral when she died? Ah yes, I believe it was. Admiral and she didn't have to wait for someone to die to get promoted." Q leaned forward. "I always knew there was more than rank between you two."

Chakotay frowned again as Q added, "Well, if you must know, Kathy is, well, she's quite the rebel now, isn't she? Can't even die properly. Just hung on to her existence, kicking and screaming."

Another flash of light brought Lady Q dressed in the same red Starfleet uniform. "Actually, she was very calm and stoic when she died." She held out her right hand to Chakotay. "After my invitation, she placed her hand in mine and simply walked away. I'm charming that way unlike some other beings in this room."

Chakotay rose from his chair. "Invitation? Where did you invite her to? Where is she?"

Q also rose approached her from behind. "Yes, where is Kathy?"

Lady Q sniffed. "Like I would even begin to tell you."

"You will tell me!" Chakotay demanded. "Where is she?"

Lady Q waved her hand. "Around I'm sure. It's getting tougher to keep track of her these days. I dare say I've created a monster. She does take direction surprisingly well for a former human. But I'm here now. Isn't my female companionship enough?"

"No," Chakotay and Q said together.

Lady Q bristled and put her hands on her hips. "Really! What is the appeal of this woman?"

"Funny you should ask that dear," Q said. "We were just discussing appeal. His. We decided he had none and you are losing yours very quickly."

"Agreed." Chakotay stalked over to both of them. "You saved her from death. Tell me why and where she is now or both of you get off my ship!"

"Demanding little biped, isn't he?" Lady Q said.

"Indeed,"Q said. "Worse than Picard. It must be facing the mirror every morning with that hideous tattoo."

"You realize Kathryn has no attraction at all towards you, Q?" she said.

"Please! Kathy plays hard to get. Just ask him." Q pointed a finger. "You know, you've been around these humans too long. You have picked up that human emotion of jealousy."

Lady Q sniffed at him as Chakotay took a deep breath and said, "Okay, let's try this. Is Kathryn a Q?"

"Of course not," Lady Q said. "Why, it's an insult to think that your common DNA could ever evolve into something so superior. A Q? Absolutely not!" She cocked her head. "Q like maybe. I'm not sure yet."

"What does that mean?" Chakotay said.

Lady Q remained silent as Q folded his arms and said, "Go ahead. Confess your sins. Tell him what you've done. It is inexcusable!"

Lady Q took a few steps and ran her finger across the top of the railing. "When you humans die, you become energy. A soul I believe you call it. Kathryn has simply learned to manipulate her energy back into a material state."

"I wonder where she learned how to do that," Q said.

"Well she was a competent scientist with the basic understanding of the more rudimentary ideals. But she did have an excellent teacher to show her the finer points."

"Obviously," Q said. "And now that we have your admission of guilt, you've made my mission a great deal easier." Q snapped his fingers. Handcuffs and leg shackles bound Lady Q's wrists and ankles.

Glancing down at her restraints, Lady Q smirked. "You really believe these primitive irons will hold me?" She snapped her fingers a few times. A look of horror spread across her face as Q giggled and sat back down on the couch. "Take these off of me now!" she screamed.

Q folded his arms. "Delightful! You have no idea after billions of years how this moment thrills me. I find it strangely satisfying to have the mother of my child imprisoned and I have been given the honor of doing it!" Snapping his fingers, Q garbed himself in the tribunal robe of the Q. He stared at her and said, "Consider yourself officially charged. The Continuum will deal with you now. They will sit in judgment and I suspect the sentence will not be pretty, Q."

"If you or the Continuum lay one hand on me, you'll never find her," Lady Q said.

Q snapped his fingers to put himself back in the Starfleet uniform. "We don't need you anymore. She'll come for him. All we have to do is wait."

Two tiny flashes of light flickered between them and they both stepped back. Lady Q's cuffs and shackles were gone. She broke into a wide grin as Q scanned the room. "See, we didn't have to wait long at all, did we?"

"Kathryn?" Chakotay followed Q's gaze around the room but saw nothing. "Where?"

Lady Q laughed and walked over to the railing above Chakotay as Q stalked the perimeter. "You won't find her."

Q stopped and turned. "Yes, we will. I told you she would come for him. She's taking chances revealing herself. You've created an abomination, Q, and you will answer for it!"

Lady Q tossed her head. "Really? And what are you going to do when you find her, execute her? She's already dead."

"No!" Chakotay said. "I won't let you do that!"

She kept her smile as Q crossed back towards her. "Don't worry," she said. "Q won't harm her. He cares for her too much. Besides, since when does he do the Continuum's bidding? I think you're the one who's been around humans too long, Q. You're the one who is jealous because the Continuum is all abuzz over my creation this time, not yours!"

"Creation?" Chakotay said. "What exactly did you do to her?"

"I did nothing other than to expand her tiny little mind. The Continuum is displeased because I interfered in the natural death of a minor species. A petty charge."

"Not so petty when, in doing so, you've also created a new life form. One with omnipotent powers!"

"She does not have omnipotent powers!" Lady Q said. "She can manipulate matter and energy. That's it! She has no control over time, space …"

"Yet," Q said.

"So that's how she came and went last night," Chakotay murmured.

Q's attention snapped to him. "Last night? You saw Kathy last night?" Pointing a finger, he said, "You, sir, have collaborated with the enemy!"

"Enemy?" Chakotay repeated. His frustration reached its limit and his temper flared. "Kathryn has been nothing but tolerant of you and this one and your son! And now she's an enemy of yours?"

"Yes. And both of you will answer for it." Q snapped his fingers and another set of handcuffs and leg irons appeared on Chakotay. "You will answer before the Q!"

"Stop!" A low voice sounded behind them. "Please stop it!"

Chakotay turned and saw Kathryn. She looked the same as she had last night. Only her expression, distressed, was different as she walked over and took his hand. He tried to take a step towards her but stumbled over the chains wrapped around his legs. Kathryn put a hand against his chest to steady him. Looking into his eyes, she gave him a small smile. Snapping her fingers, the shackles disappeared and she lowered her eyes and stepped back.

Chakotay glanced at his freed wrists and legs and watched her retreat from him. Squeezing her hand, he pulled her back and placed a finger under her chin, raising her eyes to his. "Thank you," he said.

"You're welcome."

Chakotay studied her. "Are you okay?"

Kathryn's smile widened. "Yes, are you?"

Chakotay shook a foot. "I am now. You know, Tom is going to be all over you to teach him how to do that. I can see his eyes lighting up with his betting options now."

Kathryn bit her lip. "I'd love to see him, everyone, but…" She glanced up at the two Qs. "I don't think that's possible right now. I shouldn't even be here with you. You're in danger now because of me."

Chakotay took her by the shoulders. "Why? Because of you or because of them? Since when do they call the shots about what happens to us around here?"

Both Qs snorted.

"Since about a few billion years ago."

"At least."

"I'm putting you in danger by being here," Kathryn said.

"From the Continuum?" Chakotay said.

"Yes," Q answered. Looking at his partner, he said, "This was very foolish of you. In saving the life on one, we now have to take the lives of two."

"I have no regrets about what I did," Lady Q said.

Q rolled his eyes. "You never do but creating a new life form…that's arrogant even for you. She shouldn't exist!"

Chakotay dropped his arms and turned and looked at Q, keeping one hand in Kathryn's. "But she does."

"Not for long," Q said. "It's past time to correct the natural order."

"And just who decides what the 'natural order' is?" Chakotay said.

"Have you just met us?" Q said.

"You wouldn't be that despicable, Q" Lady Q said.

"Maybe not, but, if I don't, the Continuum will and I will be more merciful," Q replied.

Chakotay pulled Kathryn close behind him. "You will not touch her."

"Look at him protecting his lady love," Lady Q said, folding her arms. "You've never done that for me and I've had your child."

Q stood beside Lady Q and looked down on Chakotay and Kathryn. "It is romantic, isn't it? I almost went to my death with Kathy. I understand the sentiment. Kathy, you almost died once with a Q. Twice, before you were rescued by this one. And now it comes time for death number three. I think you humans have a saying about that. What is it?" Q looked hard at Kathryn. "Oh yes. Third time's the charm."