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.

Riverside, Iowa

2403

"You're doing great, Edith, push, keep pushing...!

The pain was... Horrific, yes. Being crucified by the Borg Queen almost came close to this.

"Prommie, let go of her hand!"

"I CAN'T! SHE WON'T LET ME!"

It was also a lot noisier than that time. Or maybe she was able to focus her runtimes better, without that bitch constantly attacking her.

"You're almost there, Edith! Just a little more!"

She was even in the same farmhouse that the Borg Queen had twisted and corrupted...

"Little more! PUSH! PUSH!"

The pain... Subsided. She felt exhaustion fill her synthetic body, as her pain receptors shut down. She heard a soft cry. She looked down as a warm little bundle was handed to her. She held it carefully, her automatic systems knowing just how much pressure to use.

A squished up face greeted her, making soft little cries of confusion and anger. Edith reached out and stroked a chubby cheek. She felt Prommie looking down with her, and knew his face was filled with awe.

The baby's eyes fluttered open. Violet, just like hers. The baby looked up at them briefly, before closing his eyes and snuggling against her with a soft coo.

"Congratulations, Edith," said Doctor Crusher, beaming like a sun, "It's a boy."

Tears flowed down her cheeks. Prommie reached down, stretching out a finger. The baby grasped it, as Prommie sniffled.

"A boy," Prometheus murmured, voice thick with emotion, "We... We made a little boy..."

Beverly chuckled, and squeezed Edith's shoulder.

"Congratulations, you two... Are visitors all right? Your autorepair systems are working overtime, and I cleaned up the mess."

"Th-Thank you, and yes," Edith managed. She sobbed, even through her smile. "I-I think I might be malfunctioning...!"

"M-Me too," Prometheus sobbed. "Why... Why are we crying when we're... We're so happy?"

Beverly Crusher laughed softly.

"It's natural," she said, "Don't worry about it..."

A moment later, a few visitors filtered into the bedroom. Jean Luc cooed over the baby boy, though he tried very hard to hide it. Riker just grinned, and clapped Prometheus on the back. Worf followed suit, a fond smile on his face.

"You're supposed to hand out cigars," Riker reminded him.

"And knives," Worf added.

"I am?!" Prometheus cried. "That wasn't in the literature! Crap, my subspace link is on the fritz again...!"

Riker and Worf just smirked at one another.

Data studied the infant intently.

"I believe she has Prometheus's nose," he pronounced, "Though it has a 43 percent resemblance to Captain James T. Kirk's, as well."

"I uh... I might have wanted to grow up to look a little like him," Prometheus admitted, even as he fretted over cigars.

"I don't love you just for your nose, dear," Edith managed, still sniffling. Geordi laughed.

"Well, at least this labor went a lot better than Enty's birth," he said.

"It wasn't so bad," Troi said, cooing over the infant.

"I got blown out the airlock and lost an arm," Data stated.

"Men, always have to exaggerate their injuries," Troi snorted.

"I resemble that!" Riker laughed.

"The pain to a warrior's heart is always overlooked," Worf grumbled, as Troi laughed some more.

Hornet and Yorktown got in, followed by Enty herself. Enty grimaced as her hologram flickered.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Mom," Enty said, "The subspace relays are REALLY hard to maintain facetime on at this distance."

"It's all right," Edith said warmly, "Come on. Meet your little brother..."

She paused, as Enty walked up. The hologram very carefully touched the little infant.

"You can hold him, he won't bite," Riker suggested.

"Don't want to risk losing the signal and dropping him," Enty admitted.

"We'd catch him, don't worry," Yorktown said with a smile. "Aww... He has your eyes, Edith!"

"And Prommie's scowl," Hornet snickered, "He's gonna be fun when he learns to walk and talk, I can just tell!"

Enty smiled warmly at the little baby, tears threatening at the corners of her eyes.

"I... I think I'm malfunctioning too," Enty admitted, "I am happy... I know what happy is... And I'm crying...!"

"You'll get used to it," Data said. He looked up at Edith.

"So... What are you calling him?"

Edith looked up at Prometheus. He nodded, and stroked the top of his son's head. Edith looked back at her crew, her friends, her family...

"Jim. His name is Jim..."

Prometheus just watched over his son-his son-as he wriggled about on his baby blanket in the middle of the living room. Every little movement of the tiny infant was just... Infinitely fascinating to him. Those bright violet eyes were open a lot more now, and the baby keened softly as Prometheus gently stroked his belly.

The front door opened, and Edith came in, carrying another very large pile of wrapped presents. He looked up at his wife and raised an eyebrow.

"More?"

"More," Edith chuckled, adding them to the pile in the corner of the room, "I think I'll have to make room in the barn."

"Definitely," Prometheus said. He rose, but Edith shook her head.

"No, no, you keep an eye on him," she said with a gentle smile, "I'll handle this. I want to try out my new strength upgrade-!"

"PROMETHEUS!"

A young woman with some faint resemblance to Prometheus barged into the farmhouse, wearing a harsh scowl. Prometheus' eyes widened.

"Epimetheus?"

"How DARE you get married and have a baby without telling me!" Epimetheus shouted, scowling. "Who's the witch who seduced my darling big brother? I bet she's not good enough to lick your boots! Why, she'd have to be Enterprise for me to even consider letting her live in peace!"

Edith cleared her throat. Epimetheus turned, scowled... Then her eyes went wide in recognition.

"Oh... Uh... H-Hello, Enterprise, ma'am, Lady, Grey Ghost," she managed, falling to her knees. "Um... I'm really sorry I just barged in and insulted you-"

"Relax," Edith chuckled, helping Epimetheus up to her feet, "Come on, we're family now! Say hello to your new nephew."

"I-I... Oh... Is... Is it okay?" Epimetheus asked, looking worriedly at the baby. "I mean, um... Not that I'm clumsy, or anything, but uh... That antimatter refinery blew itself up, honest!"

"It's fine, Sis, come on," Prometheus chuckled. He'd lifted Jim up into his arms, and carried him over to Epimetheus. Epimetheus took the baby into her arms, very carefully. She looked him over, scanning him on low power.

"He's... Very small," Epimetheus said, "Is-Is that normal?"

"He's perfect," Edith insisted. Epimetheus trembled, and then bent down to nuzzle Jim. He squawked a bit, but cuddled back. Epimetheus giggled.

"Aw... He's so soft and warm...!"

"EDITH KIRK!"

"Oh for," Edith sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. She turned around and smiled apologetically at the familiar brunette marching up the farmhouse path.

"Zuikaku! I mean, Zee," she began, "I'm sorry I didn't invite you to the birth, it was a bit frantic-"

Zee then pulled a small baby from a pack on her back, and held her out with a triumphant grin.

"HA! You thought you could defeat me? You were WRONG! In less time than it took you, I romanced a man, married him, and bore a child mere DAYS before you did! Meet my daughter..."

She held the drooling infant with Zuikaku's eyes and slightly darker skin than her mother aloft.

"PYRRHA!" She declared.

"Oh... So you and Wrath of Achilles finally tied the knot, huh?" Edith asked with a grin, "I'm so happy for you! Congratulations!"

Zuikaku flushed.

"He... Needed some time off after the Dominion War, we bonded, we made it official and are semi-retired until we can get new hulls," she mumbled. "ANYWAY! PYRRHA will one day DEFEAT your pitiful offspring and become the NEW flagship of the Federation! Just you wait, Grey Ghost! MY VENGEANCE SHALL CARRY ON EVEN THROUGH OUR CHILDREN!"

"Would you like to set up a playdate?" Edith asked.

"... When?"

"Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow is acceptable... After 10, I join the humans in the town for yoga early."

"Oh."

"I do not really need to do it, but it is enjoyable," Zuikaku continued. "ANYWAY! Prepare your son for the playdate, Grey Ghost! YOUR SON WON'T KNOW WHAT HIT HIM!"

She carefully tucked her daughter into her backpack, turned, and stormed away. Epimetheus stared in disbelief.

"Uh... So... Does that happen a lot here?"

"Yes," Edith and Prometheus sighed, as Jim drooled.

"I really need to remember to visit more often," Epimetheus muttered.

Pyrrha laid next to Jim Kirk on the blanket in Edith's living room. Both babies were on their tummies, supported by pillows. They stared at each other, both sucking on pacifiers, as their mothers watched.

"See? She's already initiated a staring contest!" Zuikaku laughed. "She seeks to dominate your weak son!"

"She blinked first," Edith deadpanned.

"What?! NO!" Zuikaku cried. "Your son clearly cheated!"

"They're babies, Zee, calm down," Edith laughed softly. Jim reached out clumsily, and set his hand on Pyrrha's head. "Aw, see? He likes her! Maybe one day they'll fall in love and get married!"

Zuikaku gasped in horror.

"NO! NEVER!"

She quickly pulled her daughter into her arms, stroking her back.

"It's okay sweetie, that dastardly Son of the Grey Ghost can't hurt you! And if you fall in love with him, I'll disown you!"

"No you won't," Edith chuckled, stroking Jim's back as he whined. Zuikaku huffed.

"No I won't... But I'll never approve!"

Edith awoke to Jimmy crying. She felt Prometheus getting up out of bed next to her, but she rested a hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay... I'll get him this time," Edith mumbled, waking herself up to full alertness. Prometheus shook his head.

"You got him last time-"

"Next time, promise," Edith said, "I just feel like I need to be up."

Prometheus nodded, and laid back to resume his sleep cycle. Edith headed to Jimmy's room. She paused a moment when she heard him stop crying. Alarm filled her heart as she entered, ready to dropkick...

"Q?"

"Hey there, Enterprise," the god-like being chuckled, Jim in his arms as he fed him a bottle. "Really, I drop by to help feed your little brat, despite the fact you didn't invite me to his birth!"

"You could have shown up anyway," Edith said, exasperated as she always was with Q. Q chuckled.

"But now I get to feel like the wounded party! It's very satisfying." He looked over Jimmy with a frown. "Hmmm... You really want to keep him in this tiny, squishy form?"

"He's very cute like this," Edith stated, taking her son from Q's arms with a scowl. Q shrugged.

"I don't see it! His subspace presence is practically nothing!"

"He's an infant," Edith said defensively, resuming feeding her son.

"Hardly an excuse! My son could blow up planets mere moments after being born!"

"That's not something to be proud of," Edith sighed. She scowled at Q. "Also, aren't you supposed to be dead?"

Q shrugged.

"Jean-Luc has great potential, for a human... But death is a very complicated affair for a being such as I. Besides... Why can't I stop on by, from time to time? You act like I would harm your little sprog."

"What do you want, Q?" Edith asked tiredly. Q beamed.

"I just wanted to say... Congratulations," he said, "And I wish you and your offspring many happy years together."

"... Thank you?" Edith managed in confusion.

"And I only do that," Q said, "Because I know... It will annoy you."

Edith scowled, opened her mouth... And then smiled.

"Sorry. You lose," she said.

Q blinked.

"What?"

"I'm glad you're wishing me well," Edith said, "And as a fellow parent, I'm taking that as a sincere sentiment. So yes... Thank you, Q. I do appreciate you stopping by. As strange as it sounds? You taking time to wish us well is very comforting."

She smiled warmly.

"Thank you."

Q stared at her... And then threw up his hands.

"Well if you're not going to make this any fun for me, I'll just go see how Junior is doing!"

"Give him my best!" Edith said with a wave. Q grumbled, waved back, and vanished.

"And that is how you handle your Uncle Q," Edith said to Jimmy.

Jimmy just made a raspberry sound. His mother beamed.

"Good boy!"