Is it over? thought Kathryn, as she stood finally, looking up and around the arena. The lights were not yet on.

It can't be.

You know what haunts Gretchen now.

Kathryn breathed in sharply, in terrible expectation, and in the same moment they began to arrive.

She recognized them, every single face.

There were well over 100 of them.

Voyager's crew.

Gretchen lifted up, and handed her the ba'leth.

There was nothing to say.

Like her own phantoms they did not fight back. They stood, and Kathryn whisked them away into nothing with the ba'leth, being sure to leave two in particular for Gretchen.

Tom. Harry. Naomi Wildman. Sam. Seven.

The Doctor. Tuvok. Neelix.

So many faces that she knew and loved.

That had died when Gretchen was a child.

To the terrible disease that ripped through the crew.

Or by other means.

Gretchen felt in some way she had failed them.

Or that they had failed her.

It's not really them.

Gretchen shot, and shot, and finally they were gone.

All but the two.

Gretchen looked at Kathryn, and shot Chakotay in his heart.

He fell to the ground and shuddered, and then disappeared.

The remaining woman was staring at them, 62-years-old, white hair.

Kathryn Janeway.

Gretchen's mother.

She was the only one holding a phaser. It was aimed right at Gretchen.

That must not go off.

That woman is dangerous.

Gretchen threw her phaser to the ground, and gestured towards Kathryn, holding out her hand for the ba'leth.

That's not a good strategy Gretchen, melee against ranged weapon.

This isn't real, Kathryn reminded herself, handing it to her daughter, watching, voice caught in her throat as Gretchen approached.

The woman's figure was standing oddly still, she did not move to look at Gretchen. There was no reaction at all as Gretchen brought the ba'leth down, taking off her arm below the elbow. The rest of the arm was frozen, as if a statue.

The phaser clattered to the ground, and in the same moment, Gretchen brought the ba'leth back up, beheading the woman with one blow.

Gretchen turned to her, and raised one eyebrow, "I'll understand if you want me off your crew."

"It's not real," said Kathryn, holding her gaze, "You do what you need to do."

Kathryn came forward and held one shoulder in reassurance.

And then she heard them.

Footsteps.

Oh no.

She should have know.

She had known.

About 20 feet in front of them, there were seven figures standing.

Thomas, Kathryn recognized immediately from his hologram in the Borg ship.

To his side were two women, who looked very like each other. They both had shoulder length brown hair.

And blue eyes that were absolutely glittering with hatred.

The willowy blonde woman to their right was the same, her large, beautiful brown eyes were honed in on Gretchen like a snake's.

The others were all the same.

Except for Thomas'.

Thomas' eyes were soft and inviting.

"Thomas!" screamed Gretchen suddenly, and rushed towards him.

"Don't!" screamed Kathryn, holding her back.

What will happen if he touches her?

Will he kill her?

As that spider would've?

As the guilt would've smothered me?

"Don't stop me from going to Thomas!" hissed Gretchen, pushing Kathryn back with surprising force.

Kathryn stumbled for a moment, and then lunged again as Gretchen began to run.

"No!" shounted Grechen, and pushed Kathryn to the floor.

Kathryn pushed herself upwards, only to find she could not move.

"Gretch…." Kathryn started to yell, only to hear the sound die in her throat.

She could not move, or speak, she could only watch as Gretchen rushed towards Thomas.

No.

No. Why do I feel if this dead man caught her, she would never be the same?

But he did not catch her, as Gretchen moved her arms around Thomas, he disappeared.

He flickered suddenly on the other side of the room.

"Thomas!" yelled Gretchen, and ran faster.

She threw herself harder at him, his body dissolving just the same.

"Thomas!" she ran, as he appeared across the room.

This time she dove again, so fast that when he disappeared she fell, stumbling onto the floor and skidding on the stone.

It did not stop her from getting up as fast as she could, following Thomas' form like a homing beacon.

She ran, and ran, pushing towards him, only for him to disappear.

Stop it, stop it Gretchen! Kathryn shouted in her mind, as the woman ran again.

The young woman could not hear her, and continued running.

Time after time Thomas appeared, and disappeared as soon as Gretchen approached.

The young woman continued the futile pattern, panting and heaving, rushing just the same, faster and faster, again and again.

The other six figures stood where they were, watching, sneers frozen on their faces.

As if they've condemned her to death.

Kathryn gasped, breathing heavily as she fought for air.

They have. They have.

This isn't a coincidence.

If she keeps on like this her heart will give out.

She'll die from exhaustion.

She continued to watch in horror, as Gretchen ran again, not stopping, face an alarming red.

She's young and healthy, but it doesn't matter. No one can keep this up forever.

And Gretchen will.

She'll keep running after Thomas until she drops dead.

Gretchen rushed and ran again, coming especially close to Kathryn.

Kathryn could see the sweat dropping off of her now. Her hair was tangles.

How do I stop this? Kathryn thought desperately, trying to move her hand towards her transportation crystal. She could only move the tip of one finger the slightest amount.

She tried to yell, but no sound came out.

She tried and tried to move, as Gretchen continued to run. She was circling the arena now, as Thomas kept her rushing from one stop to the next.

Kathryn, from her spot in the center, could not even see her clearly, just the leering, frozen faces of her dead crew.

Kathryn struggled to stay present, to think, as the horror descended.

So many terrible deaths, so many awful things.

But I will fight.

They will not take my daughter without fighting me for every inch.

Gretchen's mind is controlling this, came her thought suddenly.

She's the one holding me down. Which means…as she weakens, I should be able to move.

Kathryn tried her hand again, and to her surprise four of her fingers could move.

Her arm could not.

Gretchen came close again, much slower this time, and there was something on her face. Kathryn assumed that it was spit, or sweat, until she realized her mouth was actually foaming.

No, No, No, No, No!

She came even closer and her eyes were not right. Kathryn could see too much white, and realized with increased terror that her eyes were rolling upwards.

No!

NO!

In pure panic, Kathryn pushed her right leg out with all her might. It went out as Gretchen crossed, and the woman tripped and stumbled to the ground.

Her body made a nasty thump, and Kathryn screamed in terror, leaping up in the same moment.

Gretchen was lying face down on the ground, motionless.

Kathryn immediately put a hand out and turned Gretchen over, in the same moment reaching for her transportation crystal.

Even if…thought Kathryn, pushing the terror down as far as it would go.

Even if she's dead…..Voyager's medical staff can bring her back.

They've done it before.

They can bring her back.

Almost for certain.

Almost.

She nearly choked on the fear, as the transportation crystal was not working.