PRIME DIRECTIVE: Space may be the final frontier, but I'll never get there by any monies derived from this as Harry Potter and all properties of such are owned by the Dark Lady JKR. All content, characters related to Star Trek are owned by Paramount Pictures, Inc....except maybe some of that stuff that ended up being used in Starfleet Battles which is owned by the Amarillo Design Bureau who used much of their content via the Starfleet Technical Manual by Franz Joseph Schnaubelt and published by Ballantine Books.

XxXxX

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO – GENERATIONS

(Episodes: ST: VOY Blissand The Disease)

(References: ST: VOY Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy and In the Flesh)

XxXxX

PITHY STATEMENT RELATING TO THIS CHAPTER: "The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard."– Gaylord Nelson – American politician and environmentalist. Founder of Earth Day – 1916 - 2005

LAST UPDATED ON: 02-04-24

BRIDGE, THE PHOENIX, SECTOR 355, DELTA QUADRANT – STAR DATE 51453.5

"How are we looking Thor?" Harry asked, his voice tight with concentration. Something one needed when fighting an interstellar creature who could warp one's perceptions toward the goal of getting you into its belly.

"Your actions are still matching my inputs. The Beast's neurogenic field has yet to penetrate our counter-measures. These inputs also show little variance from the data coming from Captain Qatai who is still maintaining the agreed upon distance from the Beast," Thor said through the ships interlink system.

While similar to Zim's voice that Harry had been hearing daily for the last 16 years, the Phoenix Zim had decided to alter his synthesized voice so as not to match the one the exile's children had grown up with. Given Zimmerman meant carpenter, the A.I. had decided to change his name to Thor as his ability to fly the Marauder fighters remotely was sort of the 'hammer' for the fleet.

This ability was being used now as two groups of six fighters escorted Hugin and Munin to close on the cloud-like entity. Both carried large, multi-warhead missiles too big for the fighters to carry. The Phoenix trailed behind them, careful of the neurogenic field's increasing strength as they closed. As automated as the former Hazari ships were, they were the best way to attack the Beast while allowing the organic crews to keep their distance as much as the plan required.

Harry mentally opened a communications link as he, like Alars and Veer, were completely jacked in via their Borg data-links, "Captain Tahl, we are preparing to begin our attack run. So far we've been able to successfully negate the effects of the Beast's neurogenic field. How is the fleet doing?"

While not adept as someone like Tuvok, Tahl's Romulan heritage made him the best commander to watch the fleet and keep the Beast from interrupting the plan. Even so, he sounded tired to Harry's ears. "It was dicey for a moment, Captain Potter. Regardless of the command lock-down on all ships, I was forced to release the neurozine gas on all three ships. Even with the lockdown and all of the unaffected former drones keeping watch, the crew is frighteningly competent at trying to get around our blocks. Surprisingly, something in the make-up of the Ark has kept things there more stable. It is regrettable we didn't know this earlier so we could have just beamed everyone there till this is over."

"How is our telemetry looking? So far, we've been matching up with Captain Qatai's readings are showing ," Harry asked. With the Beast's ability to telepathically manipulate minds, the plan hinged on multiple sources cross-checking everything. Captain Qatai had shown them plenty of evidence that you would swear your instruments were saying you were turning to port when in fact you were turning to starboard. Luckily between the various A.I., former drones and Harry himself, they had personnel capable of staving off the effect for the most part. Still, they were taking no chances.

"Your readings are good though I myself am starting to see one set of data, after a blink, it changes. A hard blink and it changes back so I'd counsel getting this done quickly. If it gets worse, I'm going to have Dhael sedate me and take over. The Beast isn't affecting her as much as it seems to be doing to me," Tahl replied.

"Well she was a drone for a lot longer and still has more tech in her body. Still, hopefully we can wrap this up in a few minutes or so; Phoenix out," Harry said as he cut the connection. Through his link he asked, "Alars, Veer; are we ready?" Even though both former drones were on the bridge with him, Harry didn't trust voice communication under the circumstances.

"Warheads are armed," Alars replied through the link as did Veer, "Targeting analysis complete. We can commence the attack on your orders."

Harry nodded to himself. "Make it so!"

XxXxX

FLEET COUNCIL ROOM, USS VOYAGER, SECTOR 355, DELTA QUADRANT – STAR DATE 51453.8

Commodore Janeway took a sip of her coffee and hoped it would help with the lingering head-ache brought upon from the neurozine gas exposure. Quite a few of the members of the Fleet Council looked to be suffering the same discomfort. Still, the grinding ache aside, she had a job to do.

"Captain Qatai, I would like to formally thank you for your help against the Beast. While I am confident that we could have managed to escape its neurogenic field if we'd come on it unaware, your experience was key to ridding a serious danger to this part of the Delta Quadrant."

"Aye, I don't doubt it lass. A good crew you have. Course most ships don't have former drones on board so I am just as grateful we met. I've been chasing the Beast for going on forty years. Frankly, now that it's dead, I'm not quite sure what to do with the rest of my life," the Wyngari monster hunter said in the deep, gravelly voice of his.

Tom glanced slyly at Harry who was sitting next to him and taking a drink from his own coffee cup and smirked, "Have you thought of piracy? You'd make a great Dread Pirate Roberts!"

The fact no one understood this comment (other than Harry) was overshadowed by Harry spewing out the coffee he'd just drank even as he tried to keep from laughing.

"God damnit Tom! I am so going to get you for that!" Harry groused as he cleaned up the mess with a wave of his hand which made Captain Qatai's eyes go wide in surprise.

Tom's smirk faded as he turned to the Wyngarian with a serious look, "All jokes at my friend's expense aside, maybe we can entice you to stay with us? You have years of experience chasing the Beast throughout the Delta Quadrant and could be an immense help to us. You could retire on the Ark. If you could put up with it, I think the kids would love to hear your stories."

Janeway was happy Tom wasn't looking at her so he wouldn't see the surprise on her face. Even though it had been a little over three months since the away team had returned with Harry acting as Moses leading the faithful away from Tartarus, she had been constantly surprised in the changes in both Tom and Tuvok. Even after Lieutenant Thelan and the Doctor had worked to get the exiles up to speed with various gene therapy, cellular repair and the like, there was still so much of the exile that was imprinted on them. While Harry had undergone a slight physical change, he too was subtly different in ways Janeway and the rest were coming to learn.

Physically, beyond Tom gaining almost 10 kilograms of muscle, he had kept his beard and long hair even though he had trimmed them both back considerably. Harry's beard and pony-tail also gave him an air of roguishness while at the same time an aura of maturity and wisdom. Listening to Tom brought home how different he was than the angry man who gave her the finger when she had demoted him and tossed him into the brig.

Then there were the clothes. While on Tartarus the exiles had adapted to Vulcan desert-wear out of necessity. Yet even now most had adopted the flowing garments modern Vulcans favored especially the styles used off-planet. Even the Talaxians had adopted them while decorating them with the runic patterns so common in their arts. Only the Skurk and the Devore had gone back to clothing more in line of their own cultures. Both Tom and Harry might be mistaken for Vulcan diplomats from the clothing they were both wearing to the meeting.

Sadly, she hadn't seen Tuvok nor Tom back in a Starfleet uniform since their return and was coming to realize that it was long odds she would ever get her Tactical Officer back. If Ransom was the fleets Commissioner, Tuvok was the governor of the exiles. A job he took very seriously and with all the children involved, Janeway couldn't fault him in the least. In Tom's case, beyond continuing to help raise the exiles children, the only thing which Tom seemed willing to go back to was being part of V'Lana's commando team. The lure of piloting the intensely maneuverable Earhart was apparently too much to turn away from, no matter what his new responsibilities were.

Captain Qatai's voice broke Janeway out of her reverie, "Aye, I think I may take you up on that. Even with the fancy medical tech you have, my bones are old and aren't getting any younger. I think they'd like resting in the heat of your Ark. Never got around to having a family so it would be a good change of pace to see how that works out. Besides, one of the few joys I had throughout the years was all the trading and haggling I did. Be nice to do so without having to cut such things short to keep up with the Beast."

Neelix clapped his hands together, "Well I, for one, would be overjoyed to work with you. We've long gone past the areas of the Delta Quadrant I'm familiar with. Partnering with you would be an immense help keeping the fleet stocked."

"Well if you change your mind, Captain Qatai, at the very least let us do some work on your ship as thanks for your help. Even if you stay, I'm sure that can be done as well," Chakotay said from his side of the round conference table. "With our new Ark and having to replace fighters lost in Devore space, we'll be working on fleet maintenance issues for quite a while and your ship can easily be slipped into the work cycle."

"Aye, your Ark," Qatai mused. "I just realized that I might have a possible solution to that problem. No promises given the people I have in mind are a prickly bunch but at the very least you can get a better idea of what you might do."

Janeway leaned forward, "We're all ears, Captain." Having to tow the Ark, which had been created simply to get off Tartarus and survive in space and little else, was a serious problem facing the fleet. She'd take any help she could get.

OoOoO

Harry waved a hand at the door to B'Elanna's quarters to ensure it opened silently. He'd just apparated over from the Ark and it was late and she was probably asleep by now. During the time on the run, Harry had found Hermione was a terror if woken up early. Seemed it took a lot to get her busy-brain to shut off so when it did, it took a jolt to get her up. Having to wake Hermione early was something he and Ron had took to playing Rock/Paper/Scissors to choose who got stuck with the task. While not as bad, B'Elanna wasn't someone to wake up pleasant unless she'd gotten at least 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Given Harry didn't need to sleep more than four hours, he planned to just hang out in her quarters for a few hours and read or meditate. Then, when it was safer, sneak into her bed. B'Elanna, he found, could cuddle without waking up. Right now, Harry wanted some of that given his disquiet of late.

All of the exiles had known returning to the Fleet was going to be a big adjustment. Yet even after three months, the hits kept coming. Inside the Ark was still basically one big tent-city of a refugee camp and it broke the rhythms of the life they had back on Tartarus.

That and it wasn't home.

Tom had mentioned how much he'd missed the hum of the ship early on in their exile. That ever-present thrum that was like the heartbeat of the ship. Now Tom said how he and Maria would have the ship play the sounds of wind when they slept on the Equinox the few times it wasn't worth beaming back to the Ark. While it wasn't like it was on Tartarus, at least keeping the air fresh inside the Ark meant there was always a slight wind going. But it just wasn't the same.

Harry had found himself, after all this time, really needing to be around people. So even though B'Elanna would be asleep, just hearing her breathing coming from her bedroom would soothe Harry's nerves. His bed back on Tartarus had rarely been empty. With so many children, it was inevitable there was one or two kids who needed to be soothed by wanting to sleep with an adult. That and there had been Samantha initially. Then he and Treana had spent a lot of time together and he'd had a 'friends with benefits' relationship for over four years with Jevex's middle daughter Dannix. His room back on the Phoenix, spartan as he once liked it, now might as well be his old cupboard under the stairs for all his desire to sleep there alone.

Harry was startled out of his musings by a very loud, pleasurable moan from B'Elanna's bedroom. Harry smirked. Apparently B'Elanna had decided to work off the effects of the Beast's neurogenic field and subsequent neurozine gassing in a much more pleasurable way. He quietly made his way to the door and looked in. As expected, B'Elanna was leaning up against some pillows piled up against the headboard. Her legs were splayed wide and Seven's head bobbed over B'Elanna's sex.

Like Harry, Seven enjoyed playing B'Elanna's body like the fine instrument it was. It invariably led to B'Elanna orgasming and then wanting to either give or get some rough sex. Which was about to happen soon, Harry felt, as he could see B'Elanna's thighs quivering and her knuckles white as she gripped the sheets as an orgasm ripped through her.

"Well that looks a lot more fun than just hitting up the Doctor for a quickie analgesic shot," Harry quipped.

Neither paid him any mind as Seven like to continue to work on B'Elanna orally till she begged for the former drone to stop. Which she began to do after another, but smaller, orgasm made her body shake and left B'Elanna gasping for breath. Seven finally got up from where she had been half on the floor and on the bed. She looked at Harry, "Your timing is fortuitous. I believe B'Elanna is at the stage where she enjoys being 'ridden hard and put away wet' although if you were inclined to engage me in sexual congress instead, I would find that most agreeable."

Harry chuckled, "Where did you hear that phrase anyway, B'Elanna?

B'Elanna still lay slumped against the headboard, her legs still open. She didn't even open her eyes as she languishly answered, "Kessik IV where I grew up had a few of those types who left Earth to get away from having to make changes to their culture or beliefs. Well I grew up next to some from the Texas region of North America. It was all chaps, cowboy hats and herding Terran cattle along with the native kiltapan. My mother and her other Klingon friends loved them because they liked a 'friendly' bar fight as much as they did. My father, of course, wasn't as enamored with them especially when I'd sneak off to do bull riding."

Harry laughed at the image of 'Cowboys and Klingons' duking it out in some high-tech saloon, "I'll bet. From the pictures I've seen of him, he looks like he would have been a shoo-in to be sorted into Ravenclaw."

B'Elanna stretched like a cat and grabbed a towel which she put between her legs, "By the way, Harry, I want to thank you for that present of yours. I'm not sure which I like better, Seven using it on me or me using it on her."

Harry looked at the very nude Seven who merely quirked her lips as she raised an eyebrow. "Glad to hear it. I was worried that since it uses a quasi-Borg interface to trick your brain into thinking you've got a real penis that it might creep you out." Harry had gotten the idea from Treana back on Tartarus and had used some of the Borg tech to make a unique form of strap-on. It interfaced through the skin and attached via a static field so there weren't any straps or such to get caught on. Its memetic plastic felt and acted like real skin. It could even be heated or cooled as desired. Treana loved it because unlike a real penis, it would become erect as long as the wearer was willing. When Harry had first mentioned this, Treana had quipped that 'willing' was her middle name. Given Tom was only one man, Treana felt it was up to her to help please Maria and Samantha. Or at least Maria after the schism. Once back in the Fleet, Harry had quickly made another for his lovers.

B'Elanna chuckled, still sounding a bit sluggish from her orgasms. "Far from it. I'm almost tempted to slap it on some night and terrorize Maria and Tom."

Harry laughed again at that mental image as he began to get undressed, "I'm not sure Tom would be into catching as much as he is pitching."

B'Elanna smirked, "All's fair in love in war. Besides, Maria needs to share. I graciously stood back when she and Treana got their hooks into him. That should get me a least one night with that new, rocking body of his."

"Indeed. Tom Paris' increase in physical desirability has been quite the topic. Treana has commented she has been constantly queried about it," Seven said as she moved to stand next to Harry and began to slowly stroke his growing erection. Unlike the other exiles, Treana had gone back to working, at least part-time, in her old post in the Astrometrics Lab.

Harry effected a hurt look, "So I guessing I'm low on the shagability scale then compared to Tom? I'm betting Tuvok is probably beating me out there as well. I know even before we crashed a lot of women wanted to try and crack that Vulcan equanimity."

B'Elanna gestured to Seven, "No. They just know they have to get through Treana, Seven and myself to get to you. Now while your new Borg sex-toy is great but I think Seven really wants the real thing. Be a good wizard and don't crap out afterwards as I want some of the same.

Harry let Seven push him onto the bed, "Far be it for me to turn down such a challenge!"

OoOoO

As much as life had been hectic in the last three months, laying there with his head between Seven's breasts while B'Elanna cuddled up next to him and played with his beard was the best way he could think of to find his center. As comfortable as he was, Harry looked forward to fucking Seven in the shower as soon as B'Elanna eventually drifted off. For all the toughness her Klingon heritage afforded her, Harry and Seven almost always had another round after she'd finally fall into exhausted sleep.

"Are we being selfish, Harry?" B'Elanna murmured suddenly.

Harry ran a hand through her hair, "How so?"

"You lived so long down there. I know Treana doesn't seem to be the monogamistic type, but you and her were together for so long. Plus, what about that Talaxian, Dannix is it?" B'Elanna asked.

Harry chuckled softly, "There is nothing to worry over, love. As you said, Treana is the last one who is going to complain. If anything, she'd probably bitch up a storm I didn't send a Patronus to have her join us when I found Seven so pleasantly engaged with you. As for Dannix, well it was, well I guess still is, just sex. I mean Talaxians and humans can't breed together so it's not like I'm going to settle down with her. Besides, I think she's finally going to move her on/off relationship with Polvex to on permanently. He's a good man and an excellent blacksmith even if I doubt that skill will be as useful now.

"So we are your only sexual partners in the Fleet then?" Seven asked. "I find myself somewhat relieved to hear this."

Harry chuckled again, "Well I didn't say that. I've had and probably will have again some downtime with V'Lana. I'm sort of shocked she hasn't taken a pass at you B'Elanna. You're her type of gal. Of course she's probably also scheming to snag a shag with Tom at the moment. Beyond that, I've had a few tumbles with Jondra back before the Devore mission after some training sessions."

"Let me guess. It's because you're tougher than humans," B'Elanna said before leaving tiny kisses on Harry's chest.

"Well I'd like to think it's because of my intense manliness and general awesomeness but I'm thinking that is a big part of it. It's actually sort of kinky having her toss me around and have her way with me. Still, she's like Dannix; it's the sex and that's about it. Although, I've got to admit that Jondra is almost the clichéd quiet girl. You know, soft and introverted in the hydroponics bay but at night after she lets her hair down, turns into a sexual tiger."

"And you getting all the tail!" B'Elanna quipped with a smirk.

Harry practically giggled at that.

A comfortable silence fell on them before Seven asked, "I do not wish to ruin the mood, but I find myself wondering on what has become of your previous relationship with Ensign Wildman? She was your mate for quite some years."

Harry shook his head even if this ended up being more like him cuddling Seven's breasts with his cheeks. "Hardly my mate. It was sex at first and then for a bit, felt like a real marriage. Still, looking back, it was like being married to Ginny again. Now? I avoid her as much as she does me. In my case, I'm angry for Cedric's sake and don't trust myself given I inherited my mother's temper. I know exactly what it feels like to be called a freak by your own blood and it pisses me off that Cedric does as well. That and Anthea is really confused. She loves her mother but she loves me as well. She knows I don't want to come between her and Sam but she's at that point where she's starting to resent that Sam is putting herself between father and daughter."

"Ensign Wildman has also been remiss in her duties as mother to Naomi Wildman. I have begun to feel that the role of caregiver has fallen to Mr. Neelix and myself. I find my time with Naomi to be…unsettling."

"Why?" Harry asked. He thought Naomi was blossoming under Seven's mentoring. And Harry didn't think Neelix could mess up in a parental role even if he tried to.

"While spending time mentoring Naomi is degrading my efficiency, I am finding such times to be increasingly rewarding. However, I feel that she is too young to understand that I, in my own way, am a freak. While I resisted Commodore Janeway's efforts, I now am comfortable in my path to regain my humanity. However, the fact is I am no longer human and never will be. I am Borg. She apes too much of that state for my liking."

"Seven…" B'Elanna said before Harry cut her off.

"No, I think I know what you're saying. You may not be Borg with a capital B but you'll never stop being a reflection of what you were. In a way, you remind me of my friend Fleur. People back home had a hard time understanding Veela. When we were Tri-Wizard competitors, I heard a lot of people talk of her being "quarter-Veela" which wasn't true. It didn't matter if both parents were Veela or if one was a Muggle or a Wizard, the child was Veela. Sure their innate powers varied but in the way things truly matter, they were always Veela first. It takes almost a half dozen generations before that element fades closer to the baseline of other Magicals."

"But Harry, the others don't talk like that," B'Elanna pointed out.

"The other former drones did not go through the maturation chamber process as I did," Seven replied.

"I agree. People like Ventrys and Tahl were infected by the Borg. You, on the other hand, were transformed by the Borg. Even if we could take all the Borg tech out of you, the imprint would always be there. Still, that doesn't make you a freak. It makes you a hybrid like so many of us. I'm one, B'Elanna's one. Hell one could argue Zim is. The Ark is teeming with them now. Plus, if you are a freak then Naomi is as well given her parentage. Maybe that's why she looks up to you," Harry said gently.

Seven was silent and after a moment B'Elanna chuckled, "Hybrids unite! Down with mono-speciesism! You have nothing to lose but your genetic purity!"

Harry laughed at that and he could almost feel Seven raise an eyebrow and fight down a smirk. "You know, maybe that's why the Ancients or whoever who seeded the galaxy with compatible genes did it. Easy to hate someone who is different than you. Easier to get along when you can cross-breed. Either way, I'm glad to be in the arms of the two of the finest freaks in the fleet."

B'Elanna surprised Harry due to the late hour and grabbed his cock and began to stroke him to hardness, "Finest fucking freaks at that!"

"I concur. More fornication is needed," Seven agreed.

"No rest for the wicked…and I'm feeling pretty wicked right now," Harry said as he rolled over to begin licking Seven's erect nipples as B'Elanna took his cock into her mouth.

XxXxX

BRIDGE, USS EQUINOX, SECTOR 354, DELTA QUADRANT – STAR DATE 51462.7

Tahl frowned as the tactical display on the main screen showed far too many small craft attacking the Varro generational ship which Captain Qatai had told them of. Unfortunately, the Varro where a distrustful and suspicious race and so even with Hugin and Munin along with the powerful sensors of Voyager's Astrometrics Lab, the Fleet had had to split up in hopes of finding it in the region Qatai had felt it was their best bet of locating them.

As it was, if the ship hadn't been under attack, Tahl wasn't sure they would have found them. From the records Qatai had gathered on his long quest to destroy the Beast, the Varro were being attacked by a race called the Overlookers. What worried Tahl was this races government, the Hierarchy, was diligent in not wasting energy to the point of mania. That they were attacking now meant they felt confident of victory. Tahl hoped their arrival would throw that energy equation out of balance. On the other hand, the Hierarchy might feel that with so much energy expended already, they needed to continue to justify the attack.

The problem at hand was the Overlooker ships were too close to the leviathan of a ship which was called the Aušrininkas for Tahl to use photon torpedoes and even phaser fire could be dangerous. Still, even though they were not at full complement, there still were enough Marauder fighters between the Equinox and the Phoenix to field a squadron. They were engaging the enemy in a blur of phaser fire and missiles.

The tactical situation did not please him and many routes to protect the Aušrininkas could easily bring about the destruction of the Equinox itself. But he hadn't risen to the ranks of Commander in the Romulan Imperial Navy via bribes or nepotism. He'd earned it. Something Tuvok and Janeway had said to him months ago came back to him and he smiled.

"Ensign Ro! Bring us onto a course of two, three, seven mark eight at one-half impulse. Bring us right down the spine of the Aušrininkas! Lieutenant Santos, I want all tractor beams ready to grab as many of those attack craft as we can at a distance outside our warp bubble. Then, Ro, go to warp briefly. The shock of acceleration before the tractors cut off as we go to warp should overload their navigational systems making them easy targets for the fighters and the Varro's defensive array. Then I want to come back and drop out of warp behind the Aušrininkas so we can protect her engines from attack."

"Aye captain!" Ensign Ro replied. She had transferred over from Voyager given Tom Paris had formally declined to return to his post on the Equinox. He currently was piloting the Earhart as V'Lana led the fighters against the Hierarchy.

"It seems we're not the only one using unorthodox tactics," Dhael said beside him. Tahl looked at the screen built into her chair to see a display of the Phoenix accelerating and physically ramming through a cluster of Hierarchy attack craft.

"Those ships are insects compared to the Devorian dreadnaught he smashed through. I doubt he's had to increase power to the hull integrity fields due to that Borg armor the Phoenix has," Tahl said approvingly.

"We are coming up on the requested vector, Captain," Ro said in a calm voice. So far the phaser fire directed towards them had been easily absorbed by the Equinox's enhanced shields.

Tahl raise a fist, "Accelerate and begin the attack." He smiled evilly, "Korath, feel free to destroy any ships with phasers and grab more throughout the run."

His tactical officer snapped out a response in Klingon. Once again, in the back of his mind, Tahl wondered why the Universal Translator would sometimes not translate certain things. Perhaps it was because Korath was speaking to himself?

The ship shook slightly as they began to dash down the length of the Aušrininkas. Korath managed to destroy six of the small attack craft while capturing eight more before Ro pushed them to warp. In short order, the Equinox dropped back out of warp behind the Aušrininkas. As expected, the Hierarchy ships they had grabbed were drifting and being picked off by the Aušrininkas' and any Marauder fighters near enough to fire on them.

"Well that took the fight out of them," his XO said dryly.

Tahl nodded as the display showed the remaining attack craft moving away and the carriers which had been providing covering fire (ineffective as it had been) had stop firing as well.

"I must say, Dhael. It's odd that I'm getting more actual combat time on a Federation ship than I ever did back in the Romulan Navy," Tahl said quietly to his XO.

"I'm sure this will be something which shall not change soon," Dhael said as she reviewed the damage reports (few that there were) coming in.

Tahl smirked, "I hope so. I enjoy seeing our enemies flee before me."

OoOoO

Commodore's log, Star Date 51476.9. Supplemental. It has been two weeks since we made contact with the Varro generational ship the Aušrininkas. Captain Qatai's description of the Varro as 'prickly' was a vast understatement. In many ways, the Varro are even more xenophobic than the Devore. However, for all their distrust of non-Varro, they acknowledged that they would have been hard pressed to not have fallen victim to the Hierarchy attack. Our saving them from almost certain slavery has bought the Fleet much needed currency with them. That and the Aušrininkas has been dealing with engine issues for quite some time. Issues we can help them correct. Already, we've learned so much about many of the issues the Fleet may face in our future.

However our help created other problems. Or at least brought long-standing concerns within the Varro to light. Given the issues I have had to deal with in the short time we've been trapped in the Delta Quadrant, the discontent which has been accumulating over the generations comes as no surprise to me. Unfortunately, these issues are creating shockwaves between both the Aušrininkas and the fleet.

COMMODORE'S READY ROOM, USS VOYAGER, SECTOR 352, DELTA QUADRANT – STAR DATE 51478.4

Janeway couldn't help but blink in surprise, "Excuse me, Ensign?"

Ensign Kim scowled, "You heard me, Commodore. I said you can go to hell. Here, let me make it clearer."

Janeway had an intense sense of déjà vu as Harry gave her the finger. It hadn't been too long ago another outstanding, but problematic young officer had done the same thing in remarkably similar circumstances.

"Almost from the moment I've first set foot on Voyager, it seems I'm having someone telling me who I should hang out with, who I see, who I might fall in love with is wrong and I have to break it off. I admit that in most cases, that it was justified. But that doesn't make it any easier on me. Did I break protocols? I certainly did. Have I violated Starfleet rules and your orders? Absolutely. Am I going to just meekly take being told to stop seeing Derran Tal? Not this time. Both Lieutenant Thelan and the Doctor has confirmed the olan'vora isn't going to cause me any problems they can see. If anything, that even Tal wasn't expecting it shows how compatible we are."

Janeway tried to steer the conversation away from the gross insubordination at hand, "Can you be sure you weren't targeted by Tal? She has come out with other dissidents promoting major changes on the Aušrininkas, changes which could destroy generations of work."

Kim scoffed, "I don't care if she did. I'm not an idiot, Commodore. I might not be Tactical but I didn't sleep my way through the Academy. I'm fully aware I'm just the sort of person people with a hidden agenda would target. The issue is it doesn't matter. The olan'vora wouldn't have formed if it weren't reciprocal from both sides. So maybe Tal saw me as an easy mark to gain access to the Fleet's data and resources. The bonding wouldn't have happened if she were just using me. Her feelings for me, and mine for her, have to be real. The fact at hand is we are bonding and I'm very much okay with it and not about to let anyone stop it."

Before Janeway could think of a way to respond to this, Kim laughed, "You know…it's funny how I asked Seven about love. She likened it to a disease. Well if it is, I don't want a cure. So sure the olan'vora is affecting Tal and I, it wouldn't be able to do so if the basic ability to love each other and be right for each other wasn't there. So, again, I'm sorry Commodore, but I am not going to stop seeing her. Not for you, not for the Federation and certainly not for the Varro."

Janeway sighed. Harry Kim wasn't giving her any room to maneuver. Even if she wanted to get Commissioner Ransom involved, Starfleet rules were set in stone in such things, "You know I can't allow that, Harry."

Kim looked sad for a moment, "I know Commodore. I know this must be a big disappointment for you. You have done a lot to mentor me and guide me. The problem is I didn't ask for it and your personal attention, I think, made it harder for me in many ways. It doesn't matter anyway; it'll be out of your hands."

Kim reached up and took off his rank and comm-badge, "I hereby resign from Starfleet. "

Janeway was silent for a moment. Kim resigning changed little. She finally sighed, "You realize that this won't keep you out of the brig. I'm sorry Harry; whether or not this olan'vora relates only to you and Ms. Derran, the fact is you could have brought a serious bio-hazard into the Fleet. You can't just walk away from that violation."

Harry shook his head, "I wouldn't expect to do so. However, I would like to point out that in trying to help mentor me, you inadvertently put me in contact with a lot of things I doubt most ensigns would ever dream of dealing with. Throughout the last three years, I think I've crawled through every part of this ship. I'll miss her but I also know her inside and out."

Kim opened up the palm of his left hand which he had kept behind his back the whole time as he stood at parade rest through Janeway's haranguing of him. Before Janeway could do more than try to determine what the device Harry held, he'd touched a purple button on the small remote and Harry beamed away.

Janeway jumped to her feet and just looked at the spot where Harry had obviously done a site-to-site transport. She stared dumbly for a moment before starting to laugh. The nerve of him! The audacity as well.

Still chuckling, Janeway sat back down. Finally, with a sad wistful look at the rank and comm-badge on her desk, she realized she was down another promising bridge officer. First Tom and Tuvok and now Harry. She began to think on what her options were now and what to tell the Fleet Council after conferring with the newly promoted Commander Carey at Tactical.

In fact, it slowly dawned on her that Harry Kim would most likely work to hide out on the Aušrininkas till the Fleet left. It was quite possible that she might never see Harry Kim ever again.

OoOoO

Harry watched as Cedric levitated the small stone over to his half-brother Rigel. As the thirteen-year old Cedric released the stone, it hovered a bit before suddenly falling. Yet before it hit the floor, Rigel's sister Bellatrix thrust out a hand and caught it with her own wandless magic. It rose a bit before it zipped to her hand.

"Damnu ĝin!" Rigel cursed in Paroli. He gave a sour look to his sister who was trying not to look smug and mostly failing at it.

"You'll get it Rigel," Cedric said to the younger boy. "I've only have just started getting good at this." While his accent was odd, Harry was proud that Rigel and so many of the rest of the children were picking up Standard of which they had learned back on Tartarus but usually didn't speak. Cedric had always had a head-start given when they were alone, Harry always spoke to him in Standard.

Harry laid a hand on his son's shoulder, "Rigel, remember what I said. You're just reaching the age when wizards back on Earth felt it was safe to start using magic. I'm only allowing you and your sister so much leeway because Orions go through puberty earlier."

"I know Dad, it's just that I can feel the magic inside me. It wants to do something," Rigel said.

Harry frowned at this as he turned to his daughter. While Rigel resembled his mother Treana more, he had an olive complexion that wouldn't have seen too out of place in the Mediterranean region back on Earth. Bellatrix's skin, on the other hand, was only a slightly lighter shade of green than her mother. It certainly off-set the brilliant red hair Harry knew came from his own mother. "Do you feel the same way Trixie? I'm still wondering about how the magic is going to work away from planets."

Bellatrix shrugged, "Maybe a bit. I think it's more because Rigel is such a korneca knabo. Mum always says Orion men have the fire in their blood."

Both Cedric and Harry laughed at this even as Rigel scowled. Unfortunately for the boy, it was true that at a little past eleven years of age, he was already actively sniffing around girls. Luckily for Harry's nerves, Bellatrix's pheromones wouldn't begin to emit till she was closer to 15 or so. While Trixie wasn't as brash as her brother, Harry wasn't looking forward when the boys of the Ark would be hard pressed not to fall victim to her pheromones. Still, even though he'd given in to naming her after a star in the Orion constellation (and a Black family tradition) because Treana liked the name, he was amazed how much the girl reminded him of what he felt a young Andromeda might have acted like.

Harry's comm-badge beeped. Harry tapped it, "Harry here; go ahead."

"Love, the Varro have all beamed in. They need you here," came Treana's reply. "Also, tell the kids to come over to the Meditado. Sohn, T'Pev and Yin are going to be going over mind exercises again."

All three of his kids looked excited at this, "Will do. I'll walk them there and then apparate over."

Harry and his three children (out of many others that is) made their way through the still mostly chaotic tent village which made up the inside of the Ark. The Meditado was one of the few buildings made of stone that had been taken from Tartarus due to its historical nature as a temple. Now it was a place of meditation and learning. Of course, Cedric and many others all called it the Magi Temple. Harry sighed as he thought on this. Rigel wasn't the only one badgering people like V'Lana, Noss or B'Elanna to teach them sword and knife fighting so they could be 'Magi Knights' someday. Even Tom groaned about this even though it was his stash of old films which really had kicked off the craze.

After seeing the kids settled in the Meditado along with the other older children who were either expressing the magical gene from him or had mental attributes from Tuvok and/or T'Pev, Harry apparated to where the Fleet Council was to have an important meeting with the Varro Council and the Varro dissidents. Harry idly wondered if Harry Kim might show up. For some reason, Kim's soon-to-be bio-bonded mate Derran Tal had insisted on having this meeting on the Ark. While not head of the dissidents, Tal was an excellent speaker and had been chosen to be the voice of the dissidents on the Aušrininkas. Harry was sure her time with Kim helped her have a better understanding how the Fleet might act.

After his appearance gathered a few surprised yelps from the Varro party, Harry moved over to sit between V'Lana and Seven. He smiled to see many in attendance were sweating. While not kept at anything close to the temperatures of Tartarus, it was kept a lot higher than the standard temperatures on either the Aušrininkas or ships of the Fleet. For him and the rest of the exiles, the temperature was comfortable but many of the old timers were bundled up to the amazement of the visitors. Harry knew that Captain Qatai had taken to it. The old monster hunter had indeed turned out to be an excellent storyteller when he wasn't working with Neelix to set up trade deals. All the kids loved story time with the irascible old Wyngarian.

Harry was about to ask V'Lana a question about some changes to the Earhart but saw Janeway nod to Tuvok and realized it was show time.

OoOoO

Derran Tal stood up with a look of irritation on her face which she visibly calmed, "Commodore, let me try to put this into perspective for you so we don't keep going round and round on this like we have for the past few hours. I understand your natural inclination is to side with Jippeq and the other leaders of our people. They are the established order and we are very much rebels. But you must see that in a very real way, we are prisoners."

She gestured to where the bulk of the Fleet personnel sat among a cluster of tables, "You have barely begun your journey. One which is projected to be not even a tenth of what we on the Aušrininkas have already journeyed. However, we are like cousins who face similar issues. The difference is you are going through now what we did at the beginning of our own journey. However, the situation for us Varro of today is very different, but the Council won't admit it."

"That is nonsense! You are trying to destroy our way of life," Jippeq all but yelled out from where the various heads of the Aušrininkas sat.

Tal shook her head, "No. You are trying to force us to continue a life which we no longer should have to follow." She turned back to Janeway, "Right now your Fleet is low on trained people. Even the addition of your exiles brings little but bodies without the skills to help support your Fleet. While people are allowed to leave your Starfleet, many continue to do the same or similar jobs because they understand the Fleet can't go on without them. Is this not true?"

Ransom looked at Janeway before nodding, "That is correct. We have to be cautious given we can't afford to lose anyone with critical skills and right now almost everything and everyone is critical."

Tal smiled, "Exactly! Just like it was when we Varro left the war and death going on back home. We barely had enough to make it when we were just starting out. But that was generations ago. While it would be a terrible challenge, half of our crew could drop dead and the survivors could go on. That is what Jippeq and the rest don't want to acknowledge. Those of us who want to leave are not enough to cause those left behind anything more than a decade or so of an adjustment. Painful adjustment, true; but easily within their capability. By keeping us on the ship, we are being denied a right to choose our own fate. Why should I or my children be tethered to the ship simply because I was born there and my labor benefits the established order?"

Janeway frowned, "That all sounds fine, Ms. Derran but the fact remains your faction is wanting to seize part of the ship against the wishes of the others."

Tal laughed, "What right do they have to the ship we ourselves do not have? My bloodline and all the rest of us dissidents are just as tied to the Aušrininkas as theirs.We are asking to take a portion of the ship due us. A portion, I might add, without many critical systems. If all of us 'own' the Aušrininkas, then those of us who wish to leave are well within our rights to take what our ancestors paid for. I never signed on for a lifetime cruise and I refuse to let this continue where my future children would similarly be bound. "

"Will I agree to your line of reasoning, the fact that you will be without such critical systems makes you wanting to leave illogical. Your faction has yet to show how you are doing anything but throwing your lives into jeopardy and putting a great strain on the community the Varro have built on the Aušrininkas," Tuvok said from his own table which held many of the notables from the Ark.

Tal's smile broadened, "That is because that is the main reason I pushed for this meeting to be here. Your Fleet has a problem of having too many people and not having a proper place for them to live. We, on the other hand, with the portion of the ship we are demanding will have excess space that will help ease your problem. An imperfect solution but again, when my ancestor left home, we faced similar challenges. You have the ships; we have the knowledge of how to be a civilization in motion. I and so many others want to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations. Not to run from contact but to boldly go where we were too scared to go before. You are all explorers, Commodore. Would you deny us the very thing you joined your Starfleet to do? What sort of life is it that we sneak through the Delta Quadrant like thieves in the night? The wonders of the universe are just outside our reach by fiat of Jippeq and the Council and I and my fellows will accept that no longer."

XxXxX

COMMODORE'S READY ROOM, USS VOYAGER, SECTOR 352, DELTA QUADRANT – STAR DATE 51482.6

Janeway, a mug of coffee in her hands, stared out at the Aušrininkas which was off their port bow. "I find am at very much at odds with myself. Commodore Janeway still feels the dissidents have not put forth a plan which doesn't just rely on luck and determination. On the other hand, Kathryn Janeway can't see why we're still arguing this. Whether on a planet or a ship, no one should be held against their will by governmental fiat."

Ransom chuckled dryly at this from his place on the couch to the left of Janeway, "Tal certainly knew right where to hit us. Dead on below the belt. She's right though. Why I'm with you on the issues at hand, she's completely correct in say the dissident Varro might as well be prisoners. The Aušrininkas can manage without them. Even more so if we help out before parting ways."

"Indeed. While I empathize with Jippeq and the Council, Derran Tal was correct in pointing out the pressures they face now, pressures I myself faced on Tartarus, do not apply now. For my part, I believe it is pride and inertia which keep the Council from realizing that allowing the dissidents to leave is their best choice. The genie, as they say, is out of the bottle. Their society has already been irrevocably altered by the dissidents coming out into the open. Better for those who wish to stay do so and let those who wish to leave do so as well," Tuvok said from where he sat stiffly in one of the chairs in front of Janeway's desk.

"I couldn't agree more," Harry said from a conjured recliner next to Tuvok. "You know, it's funny how B'Elanna was telling me about the planet she grew up had these folks from Earth who left rather than accept changes in culture and laws. The Varro are facing a similar trial except here, it's the one's tied to the old ways who are the one's making a fuss. I'm shocked they aren't acting more like, 'Good riddance! Don't let the door hit you one the way out!' or something of that nature."

Janeway turned to face Harry, "I am inclined to agree. It may be that given the Varro are rather paranoid beyond their xenophobia that they feel that dissidents would give out information which would damage their security in some way."

Harry laughed at that, "From the Varro I've talked to, they all seem ready to forget the Aušrininkas ever existed as long as they can leave."

Before anyone could say anything more, red alert sirens began to blare. All four quickly made their way onto the bridge, "Report!" Janeway ordered.

"I'm reading an increase in a particle build-up consistent with the portal Species 8472 used when they came to pick-up their lost pilot," SLT Mohindra said from the science station.

Commanded Riker moved out of the captain's chair as Janeway took her station. Ransom took the other chair leaving Tuvok and Harry to hang back to the left of the ops station. "I've put the Fleet on red alert. The other ships are already moving into the formation we used last time. Fighters are preparing to scramble," Riker said in a clipped tone.

"Have them cover the Aušrininkas. Have you alerted them yet? Janeway asked.

Riker shook his head, "No. I thought it better if you or Commissioner Ransom did so."

Janeway nodded even as another alarm blared. On the screen, a familiar portal opened up followed by two bio-ships.

The next thing which came out shocked everyone. A Borg Cube. Even though it was one of the smaller, tactical Cubes, it still dwarfed the bio-ships.

Two more bio-ships came through behind the Cube and slowly moved towards the Fleet.

"You know, it looks like those ships are towing that Cube," Harry said slowly.

Janeway nodded as well, "It does indeed."

"Commodore, we're being hailed. Same frequency as last time," Mohindra reported.

Janeway, Riker and Ransom all stood, "On-screen."

The screen blinked and then formed into the familiar form of the ersatz Boothby.

"Mr. Boothby, I'm frankly shocked to see you again. I know being in our dimension is not something your species finds in any way pleasant," Janeway said diplomatically.

"Not in the slightest. However, certain things have come together so I here am bearing gifts," Boothby said with a crooked grin.

"Gifts?" Ransom asked.

"Since we returned to our home, we've been looking at the weapon specs you provided to us. We did this along with this investigating this Cube we captured early in our war with the Borg. Again, I was proven right to prevent your destruction. You and Mr. Potter were correct about the Borg. After careful analysis, we found a few pathways the Borg might, in the future, work to subvert our superiority. With this knowledge, we are much better armed to deal with such threat. For that, I have been successful in arguing for this Cube to be turned over to you as a form of repayment."

Janeway looked non-plussed, "That is an impressive gift, but why?"

Harry laughed, "Well first off, it gets it out of their space. Even destroying it in Fluidic Space is still just dispersing what they see as contamination."

Boothby looked a bit cross but nodded, "There is that. Still, we've been keeping your fleet under surveillance and a subordinate of mine realized that the Cube could solve many of your current problems. That and it would give you a wealth of Borg technology to work on. You created a weapon against us. I'm thinking you might do the same against them since it is clear that your alliance with them was indeed only one of convenience. Therefore, helping you costs us little and potentially gains us much in the future."

Janeway spread her hands, "Regardless of the lack of cost to you on your end, let me assure you that your gift is appreciated." She turned to Harry, "Do you think we can at least get it moving to warp and take the Ark and whatever part of the Aušrininkas they detach with them?"

Harry thought about it for a moment, "Did you tear up the Cube while studying it?"

Boothby snorted, "Our technology is not so primitive we'd have to dismantle it to study it. It is as we captured it, down to all the dead drones."

Harry turned to Janeway, "Then yes, between all the former drones and myself, I think it can be done. And Mr. Boothby is right, this has the possibility to solve a lot of our problems."

"Well then, I'll leave you too it. The faster I get out of this dimension, the better," Boothby said and cut the connection before anyone could reply. The bio-ships moved back through the rift in under a minute leaving the dark Cube drifting next to the Ark.

"Well that was awfully convenient," Riker muttered darkly. "Seems like every time we have a problem of late, something always seems to come up."

"That may well be, Commander Riker, but in this case, I do believe paranoia is not warranted," Tuvok said in a musing tone.

Janeway turned to her former Tactical officer, "What makes you say that Tuvok?"

"Sometimes what looks like planned actions is often coincidence and serendipity. The time frame one might expect Species 8472 to experiment on the Cube from then to now is well within a believable range given their technology. That they are monitoring us is expected. And as Captain Potter said, Species 8472 would not destroy the Cube in Fluidic Space. So if they are to simply dump it, why not use it for a potential future benefit? While this may seem to be an unlikely stroke of luck to us, from the vantage point of Species 8472 it as this Boothby said, it was something easily in their power to do. Add that they did felt some degree of gratitude for Captain Potter giving them the weapons specs as he did, I do not find their actions suspicious. Thus, I find it quite likely and logical that this gift is exactly what Boothby said it is." Tuvok explained.

Harry nodded, "I've made paranoia a sort of hobby in my life. This is a great stroke of luck but like Tuvok said, in this case I don't think this is really about us."

Janeway looked to Ransom who nodded, "Feels like that to me. Besides, why would they need to trick us? We know they can destroy us at any time and we know they're observing us. They don't need the Cube to do either of those things."

Janeway nodded as well, "Well it appears all of our gut feelings are on the same page. Harry, can you give us a quick estimate how long you think before we might be able to get underway? The lure of an intact Borg Cube is likely to bring out the hyenas as it were."

Harry shrugged, "Till I get on board, hard to say. However I think if you give me two weeks I'm sure confident we'll be able to get underway. However, for the long term I'm going to have to use all those dead drones and turn them into Zimbots like I did back on Tartarus. I know that creeped a lot of folks out down there. So right off the bat, anyone who is squirrely around Borg tech needs not to be involved. Although I think our former drones and I will be enough to get us going for the short term."

Janeway thought about that, "Agreed. You are our Borg expert in this even more than Seven. Do what you must. However, if you can, I'd rather not have the drone's organic material just spaced. They deserve some form of last rites."

Harry gave a jaunty salute, "Hadn't planned on it but yeah, that's easily doable. If anything, the Skurk will probably volunteer to set up a ritual send-off. It's right up their alley. Well if you'll excuse me, I have a lot of work to do."

The crew watched as Harry disappeared in the haze of apparition.

Janeway looked over to Tuvok, "I think you; Ransom and I are needed on the Aušrininkas. This changes everything."

Tuvok nodded as he looked at the drifting Cube on the screen, "Indeed it does."

XxXxX

AUTHOR'S NOTES: And with this chapter, One of One overtakes Paging Dr. Bell to be my second longest story.

References: Long time readers will know I've gone back and added more info under the chapter title to help folks know where an episode is drawing from. This chapter directly takes from two episodes which is pretty obvious. The references are (and can be) more subtle. The Overlookers are from the episode Tenor Tinker Doctor Spy. Beyond that, that's it. Now in the case of In The Flesh, things are a bit more muddled. In this case, I included it because I wanted to invalidate that episode. There is also a small cameo if you will in the case of Boothby's associate. While I don't name her, the associate is the being who was Valerie Archer in that episode. Given how she was empathetic with Chakotay, it made sense she might be the one chosen or else volunteered to be the one monitoring the Fleet.

What Could Have Been: Sadly, if I had the time and inclination, the entire Gravity arc should have been one chapter starting like it did with them leaving and then the rest would have been from the POV of the Fleet where they try to figure out what happened and then working to free the exiles. Then you'd get a little bit of what was seen in the ST:VOY episode Blink of an Eye where the Fleet would see time-lapsed glimpses of what was going on below.

However, this idea would mean I would have had to write a completely separate fic that would have gone into greater detail about what was going on down on Tartarus. Of course, if I had done that, I would have made it EPIC ADVENTURE! Instead of there being only one anomaly, the Landing one would have been just one in a remote and nasty area. There would be others and each one would have kingdom of one race or mixed races, each competing. So Harry & Co. would initially be drawn into protecting the peaceful Talaxians from enslavement. Then, needing components from other areas, you end up in this sort of steampunk Game of Thrones sort of story. You know, Harry Potter: Warlord of Tartarus!

Beyond fun with steampunk, the concept would actually fit the story given you have lots of people with high-tech knowledge trapped on a world without any. So if you can't build a duotronic computer, well you can at least go with a Babbage Analytical Engine. So fun with steam-mecha duking it out and the like. Of course that would be an interesting group once reunited on Voyager. You could see a much older Tom saying, "Hey B'Elanna, I'd like you to meet my oldest son Lord Verne Tomson, head of the Knights of Gryffindor, victor of the Battle of the Two Fords, slayer of King Teth'pok and who personally led the sack of Katell City." Dang…now I'm almost tempted to write it!

Translations

Aušrininkas: Dawn Walker in Lithuanian. You can bet any further Varro names will be based off that language.

Damnu ĝin: Damn it!

Korneca knabo: Horny boy