Paint and Powder

A Star Trek anthology by Andrew Joshua Talon

DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan based work of prose. Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager et al are the property of CBS Television, and creation of Gene Roddenberry. Please support the official release.

Motherhood - By Nohvarr

Captain Walter Emick nodded at some of his crewmates as he strolled towards his quarters aboard the Intrepid, fighting back the desire to yawn. It'd been a VERY long day, though an interesting one. The Akagi was, apparently, pregnant. By Jake Sisko, courtesy of the same anomaly that had allowed Enterprise to become pregnant.

The science department was still going insane over it. Captain Sisko himself was caught between rage and pride. Jake Sisko himself was in the middle of a nervous breakdown, while Defiant was ecstatic about becoming an auntie. It was rewriting cybernetics and evolution, but it mostly didn't seem like his problem.

Of course, in Emick's experience, the Universe always found a way to throw a curve ball at you no matter HOW well one prepared.

Emick reached his quarters and ducked inside as the doors whooshed open and then closed behind him. Safe and alone in his quarters he finally allowed himself to yawn. His posture shifting a bit as exhaustion dragged at him. He glanced down at his personal desk and stared at the little personal project he'd been working, a partially constructed Lego Super Star Destroyer, inspired by the Executor from the surviving original trilogy of films.

He smiled as he looked at his handiwork. Supposedly there'd been a sequel trilogy but apparently it'd been lost to the ages during the Eugenics war. A shame, really, the 'Mandalorian' series had survived and judging by that shows quality the sequel trilogy must've been Amazing!

The Captain of the Intrepid was about to take a seat and continue his project when another yawn rolled up from deep within him, stretching his mouth open wide. Afterwards, with a sigh, he turned and headed into the refresher.

A little later, clad for bed, he exited and found the Intrepid's avatar in his room, studying the scale model DeLorean from Back to the future on his shelf and then the proton pack from Ghostbusters mounted on the wall beside it.

"Intrepid, is there a problem?" The Captain said as he moved about his room, making a few adjustments to the lighting and preparing his relaxation and wake up music (Song of Women & Wolfe Totem by the HU!).

Intrepid whirled in surprise "Uh… No, of course not Captain." She said forcing a confidant smile on her face as she placed her hands on her hips. "I ah…. I just had something I wanted to talk with you about!"

Emick nodded, but narrowed his eyes, noting how the red was slowly creeping into his shipgirl's cheeks. "All right then." He began, tone a bit cautious "Talk."

"Er… well…." She stuttered a bit then dug deep, shifting her stance into her old confidant defense screen "We should have a child together!" her voice probably a bit louder than she'd meant it to sound.

Years of diplomatic training allowed Emick to keep his face Neutral. "I see." He said then moved to sit on the edge of his bed. "I think I can guess WHY having children is on your mind." The way her cheeks turned slightly redder confirmed his theory. "So why me?"

She stood before him as he sat, and, in her own way, attempted to show off for him. Yet, he could see the nervousness in her body language the near overpowering fear of rejection in the way she held herself even as she spoke. "I am the Federations most advanced Starship. YOU are one of it's best Captains. We make a great team and you have helped me connect with my crew which has only increased our collective effectiveness." Seeing him nod for her to continue bolstered her confidence a bit and her voice became a bit more eager, and hopeful "Our child would be AMAZING…. And a benefit to the Federation at large. I mean if that busty sl…. Soldier of the Federation Akagi can make a child then why not me!"

Captain Emick nodded in approval, not at her argument but at catching herself before insulting the Akagi, she was improving! "All right, I'm sure any child you produced and raised would be a beautiful little miracle… " he paused, as he saw hope spring forth in her eyes.

"Really!?" she blurted out, her entire face red as her Captain gently took her hands in his "I mean… of COURSE they would be… still I appreciate you acknowledging my ability to produce superior offspring!"

Emick chuckled but then looked serious "However, NOW is not the time for such things. Yes Enterprise safely produced a child and Akagi seems to be about to do the same…. But there's a LOT about this process we are still getting a handle on." Her face fell as he spoke. "Any child you choose to produce with your chosen partner should be given the BEST chance in life so let's table any talk of kids until we're sure we can give them the best chance at success in life."

Intrepid sighed but slowly nodded, a small little smile touching her lips "You are of course, right Captain." She looked him in the eyes "You're going to be a wonderful father." She added then faded from his room.

Captain Walter Emick waited until he was sure she was gone, then laid back in his bed and stared at the ceiling "Hoo boy."

Shipgirls do introduce all sorts of new possibilities to the universe...