Chapter Five

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="041d4c00dduajq.png"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="95" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 46 WIDTH="91"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="46" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="91" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div>             Crossing the</div> <div> Nebula </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="159" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 30 ><NOBR><div> Chapter Six</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div> <A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter Six"><U><IMG SRC="06e20180.png" border=0 width="32" height="24" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 33 WIDTH="71"><div> <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter Four"><U><IMG SRC="07320180.png" border=0 width="32" height="24" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div> Previous Page</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 33 WIDTH="71"><div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Table of Contents"><U><IMG SRC="07320180.png" border=0 width="32" height="24" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div> Table of Contents</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Teleport Instructions:</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a7300a800f0ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Click on white rectangles above to go to a specific page.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a7300a800f0ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Hold your mouse over a rectangle to see the topic.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a7300a800f0ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Notice that the page you're currently viewing has a "halo" and is highlighted in yellow.</div> <div> Click <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Me"><U>HERE</U></A> to give me quick and easy Feedback on this site.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#990033" FACE="Jokerman" ><B>Crossing the Nebula</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#333399" FACE="Arial" >     |    </FONT> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Crossing the Nebula"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter One"><U>Chapter One</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter Two "><U>Chapter Two </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter Three"><U>Chapter Three</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter Four"><U>Chapter Four</U></A>   |   <B>Chapter Five</B>   |   <A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter Six"><U>Chapter Six</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter Seven"><U>Chapter Seven</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter Eight"><U>Chapter Eight</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Art of Seduction"><U>The Art of Seduction</U></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0c6644b0.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="75" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="0d2644b0.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="75" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Chapter Five</div> <div> By Trekscribe</div> <div> Hickson was in the middle of running a diagnostic program to pin point a problem he'd discovered with one of the photon torpedo launchers when he noticed Tuvok and Chakotay heading his way<I>.  What's Mudface want?</I> <I>I only get to work up here if little Ensign Kimmy has something better to do. So why can't the Mudpie leave me alone until the end of the shift?</I></div> <bR> <div> “Lt. Hickson, come with me.” Chakotay motioned for Hickson to follow him then headed into the turbolift.  </div> <bR> <div> “Who's gonna run Ops?” Hickson asked. <I>Ya want me to just get up and leave? Real smart.</I></div> <bR> <div> “I will take over your post Lieutenant.” Tuvok waited as Hickson slowly got out of the chair.</div> <bR> <div> “Lieutenant Commander, there's a problem with the fore photon torpedo launcher.. these numbers don't look right. I started the diagnostics and I'll--.”</div> <bR> <div> “I will continue to assess the problem and assign a maintenance detail to inspect it.” </div> <bR> <div> <I>I hate being yanked when I'm right in the middle of tracking something down.</I></div> <bR> <div> “Lieutenant?” Chakotay poked his head out of the turbolift. A wrinkle of impatience formed between his eyes.</div> <bR> <div> “Coming, sir.” Hickson trotted into the turbolift and stared at Chakotay. <I>Well, Fathead?</I> “Commander, where we goin'?”</div> <bR> <div> “Deck 11.” Chakotay pronounced, not to Hickson but to the turbolift. The turbolift jolted downward. </div> <bR> <div> “Engineering?? I'm not scheduled there until tomorrow.”</div> <bR> <div> “Yes, I know about your <I>date</I> with the Bussard Collectors.” A faint smile curled at the corners of Chakotay's lips. “The Doctor needs some maintenance. I've assigned you and Lt. Torres to do the job.”</div> <bR> <div> “What's wrong with The Doc? Better not be anything serious cause he's got some hosting to do tonight.”</div> <bR> <div> “That can wait. Getting The Doctor taken care of is more important than any party you and your friends have planned.” Chakotay huffed. <I>The priorities of these people--amazing! </I></div> <bR> <div> Hickson rolled his eyes. <I>Now</I> <I>how did I know you'd say that? Of course you don't care about us or anybody having a good time. You wouldn't know a good time if it came up and bit you on your fat rumble seat. Wait a minute!!!!..did you say Torres?? </I>Hickson couldn't help but grin.</div> <bR> <div> “Well at least I'm gonna give Lt. Torres a little… helping hand…She's so HOT. Somethin' about those Klingon women. Course ya have to make sure they don't break it off in the process.” The missed bridge log time was forgotten. Hickson was in bliss thinking about the possibilities.</div> <bR> <div> “Computer, add another day to Lt. Hickson's Bussard Collector assignment.”</div> <bR> <div> “Huh?? What'd I do??” </div> <bR> <div> Chakotay didn't bother to answer him. <I>This guy is unbelievable! How does the Captain expect me to work with someone as dense as this?</I></div> <bR> <div> Chakotay exited the turbolift and walked past the workstations to the Chief Engineer's office. </div> <bR> <div> B'Elanna was staring intently at her console when she saw Chakotay approaching-- she smiled warmly. Although she was living with Tom -He <I>definitely</I> wasn't her first choice. It was Chakotay who decided that they should only be friends. But she hadn't closed the door entirely. She loved Tom, at least most of the time she thought she did. No harm with a little flirting with Chakotay<I>--</I> a girl's got to keep her options open, doesn't she? She figured that they were going to be in the Delta Quadrant a long time, anything can happen. Hickson stepped from behind Chakotay and B'Elanna's smile faded. <I>Not him! I had to work late because of this Balteron thing and now I have to deal with this.. misfit?</I> She understood why Chakotay assigned Hickson to the project. For all his faults, which were many, he was one of the best programmers on the ship, second only to her. If he wasn't so sloppy--- hurrying to get the assignments finished ahead of schedule, trying to prove something that wasn't worth proving. It's a pain that he needs someone to give his work a double check.  <I>So I'm the lucky one who has to baby sit. Fun. </I></div> <bR> <div> “B'Elanna, how are you?” Chakotay would always have warm feelings toward her. She had told him she loved him once, a long time ago. She's always stuck by him-- remained loyal.  Not like Tom.  But things were more complicated now that she was living with Tom.</div> <bR> <div> “Well that depends…I was reviewing your work order. What I don't understand is why we need to do all this?”</div> <div>  </div> <div> Chakotay took her arm gently and walked her toward the turbolift door-- so that they could talk without Hickson hearing the conversation.</div> <bR> <div> Hickson watched them stroll away. <I>Uh huh, real lovey dovey. So, that's how it is, is it?-No wonder mudface got so bent when I was talkin' about her! Oh man, look at her falling all over him. I wonder, Lt. Torres if you're just flirting or seriously in the market to give Tommyboy the ole heave ho? Verry In-ta-rest-ting.</I></div> <bR> <div> When they finished, Chakotay hopped into the turbolift heading for the mess hall.  B'Elanna came over to Hickson shaking her head with a wry grin. “The Doctor never ceases to surprise me.” She gave Hickson a no nonsense look then punched a couple of commands into her console. “OK, Lieutenant Hickson, I forwarded the work order to you. I want you to do the things I highlighted. Just do them, don't ask me any questions about it unless you don't know how to do something.”</div> <bR> <div> <I>Tonight's your lucky night my lovely Klingon Tigress, I usually like to finish up as fast as I can, but I think I'll drag this assignment out so that I may gaze at your loveliness as long as I possibly can. Sheesh, that sounded creepy. I've been hanging out with The Doc too much. </I>Hickson looked at his padd and read the requisition. “WOW, we gotta do all this? How come and why right now?…could we wait a couple hours. I think The Doctor has plans tonight and we ain't getting all this done anytime soon.” </div> <bR> <div> “The Captain wants it done today. The reasons why, <I>you</I> don't need to know. Besides, what plans could The Doctor have anyway? It's late.”</div> <bR> <div> “Well he's suppose to host the monthly Karaoke party tonight and he'd probably be <I>real</I> upset if-”</div> <div> “Oh… I remember him saying something about that. He was really excited-- making a big deal out of it- too much of a big deal if you ask me. I hate to burst his little bubble but--I don't want to be here all night.” B'Elanna hit her comm. badge. “Doctor…we need to take you offline right now. Sorry for the inconvenience it may cause you.”</div> <bR> <div> “Wait! You can't..” But before The Doctor could finish his protest, B'Elanna shut him down.  She glanced at Hickson. “Get started. I want you to setup his security levels-- I'm going to work on his personal directories.” </div> <bR> <div> “He's going to be royally pissed at you when he wakes up.”</div> <bR> <div> “Is that suppose to matter? Get busy, like I said, I don't want to be here all night.”</div> <bR> <div> “What's the hurry, sweetcheeks. Tommyboy got something waiting for you at home?”</div> <bR> <div> “If you call me sweetcheeks again I'll mash your head into the floor. Don't press your luck.”</div> <bR> <div> “Ooooo, that's some major foreplay for a Klingon babe. I'm ready for ya!”</div> <bR> <div> “Work over there.” She pointed to the workstation across from her office. “And stay over there.”</div> <bR> <div> “I get it, don't trust yourself being so close to me-you might want to grab my ass or something, I can relate.” Hickson smirked, convinced of his overpowering magnetism. He trucked over to the workstation cracked his knuckles and accessed the Doctor's files. <I>This massive bundle of code is what makes you the geeky twerp you are, Doctor man. Yeah baby, what if I just happened to delete segment 10202. You wouldn't remember a God Damn thing that's been goin' on for the past</I> <I>3 days. Heheheh, I'm the master of your fate; I'm king of YOUR world! Oh well, better not.  Rene' would get all hot and bothered and break my arm.</I>   </div> <bR> <div> “Why me?” B'Elanna mumbled to her console. <I>Next time I'll tell Chakotay forget it. I'd even take Maxwell over Hickson</I>. He had his back to her typing into his workstation. She decided to check him out.    <I>Well he's actually not bad looking, in a baboonish kind of way. He does have a cute ass, too bad the rest of him isn't. God, first I'll thinking about being with Chakotay and now I've stooped to looking at this jerk's ass. What's wrong with me!? Nothing at all. Anyone who hasn't had sex in awhile gets preoccupied with it.  Tom hasn't touched me in two months! He's tired, tense or just wants to program his holodeck simulations at night when he comes home. It `relaxes' him, he says. Just being with me should `relax' him! He's the one with the problem, not me. Of course if he has a problem, it's my problem too.</I></div> <bR> <div> She looked over at Hickson again. <I> </I>Then checked his progress on her monitor. <I>Good, he's actually started to work. I'm sure there's plenty of people on this ship who would want to go out with me, Tom should keep that in mind. Even Hickson can see I'm attractive.  Tom says he does too but---He's doing a lousy job showing it lately. He promised to spend more time with me but he's still using most of his days off fixing up those dumb ancient earth vehicles with Harry, playing in the holodeck with Harry-Anything-- to avoid sleeping with me, talking to me. I'm trying not to make the same mistakes my mother made with dad. Nagging, accusing, being vindictive. I have to fight that aggressiveness--- that part of being a Klingon that drove dad away. It's a part of me that I hate. I wish I could talk about Tom with someone.  Seven would listen but she hasn't had to deal with anything as complicated as this. If I dump my problems on her she might start to think that relationships aren't worth it and give up on the Captain and I wouldn't want her to do that. It's so easy to give up. That's what my parents did-they didn't even try to work it out even for me. I begged dad not to leave-- I guess I wasn't worth staying for.  Well, I'm not like my parents. I don't give up on someone I love just because they're having some problem. I'm better than that.  </I>She took a deep breath. <I> Ok, I better concentrate on what I'm doing or the Doctor will be walking around with two heads when he wakes up and I'll never hear the end of it. Or maybe two penises, hmmm that might not be so bad. What am I thinking!? </I>     <I> </I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ***</div> <div> Tuvok raised his brow, “ Lieutenant Maxwell, you are <I>well</I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>aware that if you murdered anyone you would be confined to the Brigg for the remainder of Voyager's time in the Delta Quadrant. Once we arrived at the nearest starbase you would be transferred to a penal holding cell until you could be tried. If you are convicted you would--”</div> <bR> <div> “Would you visit me in the Brigg like you use to do?”</div> <bR> <div> “Perhaps.” Tuvok thought Rene' was one of the most <I>human</I> of all the crewmembers on the ship. Being human wasn't a trait he particularly admired, in fact he found a direct correlation based on the amount of humanity one possessed verses the amount of emotion a person was likely to expressed and of course being a Vulcan, he found any type of emotion distasteful and unproductive. And yet in spite of himself, he enjoyed talking with her.  He liked her perfectionist streak and sense of duty.</div> <div>  </div> <div> “Ah, Tuvok, you're a man after my heart--too bad you're married.”</div> <bR> <div> “Even if I was not, I feel that a union of <I>that</I> nature between the two of us would not yield positive results. You are more illogical than most humans I have encountered, prone to emotional outbursts, stubborn, self-absorbed-”</div> <bR> <div> “Well, thanks for letting me down easy. Besides, Vulcans ain't that great in bed anyway. Ta Ta.”</div> <bR> <div> Tuvok, eyes narrowed as he watched her leave. Was that an insulting remark, or a poor attempt at what the Humans call “Humor?”-- a concept that he <I>thankfully</I> was incapable of grasping, surprisingly, sometimes Humans found him amusing. It could possibly be sarcasm too. Sarcasm he disliked most of all. Using language to be flippant and caustic is inefficient. Yet another way Humans waste their time. Well, he'd just have to ask her the next time they talked, just what she meant by that remark!  How could she presume to make judgments about<I> </I>Vulcan sexual habits? Unless…. The thought was of course-- absurd.  No self-respecting Vulcan would mate with her! He thought back to the last conversation they had a few days ago when she tried to get him to talk about his sex life. Was she mocking, teasing him with her leading questions? Yes, she is odd indeed, even for a Human. </div> <bR> <div> Rene' left the bridge and entered the turbolift. Before selecting the floor she decided to buzz Hickson and put the brakes on his impromptu assignment. Maybe she wouldn't have to go down there.  “Hicks, what do you think you're doing?”</div> <bR> <div> “Hey babe, I <I>know</I> what I be doin'. Kicking it for the Alpha female, ya know, `She who must be Obeyed'.”</div> <bR> <div> “You can put it off `til after The Doctor finishes Karaoke. That's an order.”</div> <bR> <div> <I>Who's he talking to??</I> B'Elanna came out of her office listened to get the drift, then broke in their conversation  “Lt. Maxwell,” Her Klingon blood already starting to sizzle. <I>She knows I'm supervising this project. I'm the one she should be talking to. Who the hell does she think she is? </I> “Lt. Hickson, will <I>not</I> stop working, Lt. Maxwell. If we wait until The Doctor finished doing-<I>whatever</I>, we'll be here all night. I'd like to get some sleep.”</div> <bR> <div> “Don't blame you-- You need all the beauty sleep you can get, dear.” <I>She's rushing to get this done so she can sleep?? That's absurd! </I></div> <bR> <div> “Would you like to come down here and say that, Maxwell?” </div> <bR> <div> “You don't want me to come down there, Torres. <I>Believe me</I>.”</div> <bR> <div> “Now, now Ladies”, Hickson purred, “there's no reason for us to get our panties in a wad..---” </div> <bR> <div> “SHUT-UP!!! and get back to work!!!” B'Elanna roared. Hickson's condescending tone was too much to take.</div> <bR> <div> He started to fiddle at his workstation console. “Oh Lieutenant Torres,” he called sweetly over his shoulder,  “She wishes she looked half as good as you, beauty sleep or no beauty sleep.” </div> <bR> <div> “You can't shut-up, can you? It's impossible for you to go one minute without talking. Physically impossible!” B'Elanna threw up her hands and went back into her office, fuming. <I>That---there's not even a word for her! She thinks she runs this ship. Why hasn't Chakotay done something about her? He acts like he's afraid of her, well, I'm not.  She just better not come down here. </I></div> <bR> <div> “Hickson, don't do anything until I get there! Out!” <I>Torres can be such a bitch! </I>Rene' ordered the turbolift to level 11. <I>She'll back down if she knows what good for her. </I></div> <bR> <div> Suddenly the lighting in the turbolift dimmed until she could barely see the door. <I>I don't need this thing screwing up on me now.</I> <I>Somebody up there must like you Torres!</I> “Halt.” The turbolift continued to go on its merry way; then the door slid open. </div> <bR> <div> She stepped out onto the floor. It was darker outside of the turbolift but she could make out a light up ahead--- 200 yards away. She touched her comm. badge, “Hickson, Torres…you there?” No response. “Computer, what's my location?” Silence. She turned back toward the turbolift but it had disappeared. <I>At least there's a light -might as well check it out. </I>She walked closer to the light and noticed that it was a huge spotlight shining down from a light source she couldn't see. There's something in the light-it looked like a chair, a big ruddy overstuff chair with a high back.  Someone was sitting in the chair. She could see him more clearly now. She stopped where she was, realizing that her predicament was <I>his</I> doing-not sure what she should do next.  He was wearing a Starfleet Admiral's uniform. </div> <bR> <div> <I>Figures, his arrogance knows no bounds.</I></div> <bR> <div> Besides his chair was another chair, not as grand as the ruddy chair but comfortable and between the two chairs was a small round table with a bottle and two glasses. He was reading something, it looked like... what did they call those things….a book…they were used to record information in old earth times.</div> <bR> <div> “Don't dawdle Lt. Maxwell. I'm a very busy man.”</div> <bR> <div> Rene' slowly moved into the spotlight-- just within it. Her Starfleet training taught her to never let her guard down during this type of situation. Not that being wary would do any good. He was in complete control and could do anything that popped into his warped mind. <I>What a comforting thought</I>. She quickly reviewed the protocols she learned during officer training school in regard to Q.</div> <bR> <div> “You're wasting your time thinking about those silly protocols, my dear. I'm supposed to be `kinder and gentler' now, weren't you and the Captain just talking about moi? He smiled at her like they were the best of friends. “Those protocols are based on some wild notions Jean-Luc made up after I spurned him. Now, come closer, sit down-I picked this chair out especially for you, like it?”</div> <bR> <div> She came a little closer to him but didn't sit down. “ Captain Picard would have no reason to lie about you. You may have convinced everyone else that you're a good guy, but I know that people, or should I say, things, like you, don't change. Once an asshole always an asshole.” She made the tactical decision to play rough with him for now, hoping that he would get disgusted and let her go. “What do you want? I'm busy too.”</div> <bR> <div> “Not very sociable and not very smart, are we? That's a pity and it might be quite hazardous to <I>your </I>health.” Q opened the bottle of wine and poured two glasses. “Do you really want to make me angry?  Oh, I'd think again.” He gestured to the chair. “Sit down, have a drink. <I>I insist.</I>”</div> <bR> <div> <I>So much for 'Kinder and Gentler'. Must be running some lame scheme, great timing pulling this now. He'll probably just keep me a few minutes, I've never even talked to him before so what could he want?</I>  Rene' sighed and sat down, took one of the glasses and sipped. It was smoother and richer than any wine she'd ever had but she wasn't about to tell him. </div> <bR> <div> “1945 premier Mouton Rothschild. On earth, during the year 1997 it was the most expensive wine money could buy. I knew you would appreciate something from earth.”</div> <bR> <div> “Are you going to tell me what you want? I really do have a million things going on.”</div> <bR> <div> “All in good time. Don't worry about your petty squabble with the Klingon, or that project you're working on to help the poor, poor Balterons. Here's a little tidbit to give to the `Alpha Female', that's actually a really good name for her, she better watch her step. Sometimes people get what they deserve.” He closed his eyes and put his fingers to his temples trying to imitate a fortuneteller.  “The great Q has spoken.” </div> <bR> <div> <I>What a drama Queen. </I>“Oh, so are you the Wizard of Oz now? He turned out to be a liar and phony, didn't he?”</div> <bR> <div> “You have a marvelous mind, you know. I bet you're the only one on the ship that knows that line came from the Wizard of Oz. Storing all that information, everything-- the trivial and the important. It's not normal (for inferior life forms, like you)-something's going to give. Are you worried that it could crash at any moment? You know that, don't you?” She stared at him.  “Of course you do.  You were eleven-- sitting with your father while the physician talked about it, your father wanted you to hear it, because he knew you would remember the conversation years later when you were old enough to understand. And once it does crash--- All the kings horse and all the kings men couldn't put humpy together again…”</div> <bR> <div> “I'm not going to talk to you about my personal life don't waste your time. She hoped he couldn't sense her heart start beating faster. She'd never spoken about her “deflect” with anyone except her father. Even her brothers didn't know. To have him talking about it, making fun of her, using it to get a rise out of her. The embarrassment she felt having him expose her “mental weakness” quickly flooded into anger. <I>Keep cool, don't let him know he got to you. Get him off the subject.</I> As calmly as she could manage, fighting the urge to knock him out of his chair, she said, “I'm not the only one who's read the Wizard of Oz on the ship. It's a classic, timeless.”</div> <bR> <div> “Ah, but I bet you're the only one who could recite all the words to it. `There's no place like home,' Simplicity, thy name is human.  I'll wager with you. If you can recite all of Dorothy's lines from start to finish, I'll let you go back to your precious ship and never talk you again. If you fail to recite all the words in the right order, then someone on the ship dies.”</div> <bR> <div> “Movie or Book?”</div> <bR> <div> “I'll let you choose. I'll even let you decide which person should die if you like. The Klingon? The Commander?”</div> <bR> <div> “How about I choose you?” She was seething now, “ Just because I've had some… heated discussions… with certain people on the ship doesn't mean I want them dead. I won't give you an excuse to murder someone.”</div> <bR> <div> “Don't have much faith in your talents, lieutenant? Shame on you.” He yawned.  “Good thing you're attractive, because you have the I.Q. of a tribble. Using the word murder is insulting and shows an extreme lack of knowledge. An intelligent person would describe it as helping a fellow being reach another level of consciousness.”</div> <bR> <div> “What gives you the right to decide when someone should die?”</div> <bR> <div> “I'm Q, that's all the rights I'll ever need.”</div> <bR> <div> “What do you mean by that `people get what they deserve' comment. Making more threats?”</div> <bR> <div> “I can't say any more about the Balterons. I have certain rules I shouldn't break.”</div> <bR> <div> “Great, you can kill someone, that's OK, but if you talk about the future that's wrong. Very good. I don't think we have anything else to say.” </div> <div>  </div> <div> He shook his head ruefully. “When I'm done with you I'll put you back---No one will notice you are missing. Would you like a cigarette?” Instantly a cigarette case appeared on the table. It was gold, the initials B.D were engraved on the cover. Q picked it up and handed it to Rene'. “Know who owns this? One of your favorites….. could it be….Bette Davis.”</div> <bR> <div> “Rene' looked at the case in her hands in awe. “You kidding me?”</div> <bR> <div> “Not at all, She's shooting a scene now…for..<I>All About Eve</I>, when she returns to her dressing room and finds this gone she'll go into a fit of madness and refuse to work with “a bunch of low class thieves”, production of the film will be shut down until the studio buys her two of these things and has Darryl F. Zanuck, the film's producer presents them to her in front of all the cast members. </div> <bR> <div> <I>Incredible-the way he moves through time and space. To have all that power and he uses it to make people miserable. If I had half the power he has…</I> “You should put it back before she notices it's gone.”</div> <bR> <div> “Aren't you curious about how a <I>real</I> cigarette tastes? Not those sorry attempts you're forced to smoke. Go ahead. You know you want to.”</div> <bR> <div> <I>The Q will try intimidating you or try to impress you with gifts and favors. His purpose? To manipulate you into doing his bidding. Which believe me is  never honorable.  </I>She heard her old instructor Lieutenant Maples droning on. That man could sap the life out of even an interesting subject like Q and leave only the husk of the topic.</div> <bR> <div> <I>I shouldn't do this.</I> She opened the case took a cigarette and placed it between her lips, one cigarette isn't going to hurt anything. The cigarette instantly lit up. She took a drag---the burning in her lungs was like nothing she'd ever experienced. All she could think of was expelling as much of the foul smoke that she could. She was coughing uncontrollably dropping the lit cigarette to the floor.</div> <bR> <div> “Oh dear, I forgot to warn you that they're a bit stronger than what you're used to. With all those…carcinogens, tar and nicotine added and the like.” He shrugged, not hiding that he enjoyed her discomfort. Eventually your lungs will get accustomed to the poison and you'll start to love these more than life itself. So I've observed. Addiction, what an interesting concept to study. I'll have to take a look at that when I have some time.” He waited for her to stop hacking and offered her a glass of wine to sip to help her throat. She took it reluctantly, but it did help stop the coughing. “You're not as tough as you think, Lt. Maxwell. I'm going to enjoy seeing how tough you really are. Now that you've recovered, shall we get down to business?” He placed the book he'd been holding on his lap down on the table and pushed it toward her. </div> <bR> <div> She picked it up and scanned though the pages quickly. The story of… “O”. What is this??…Hmmm, dominance, submission, bondage and-- torture! The so called heroine demands that she be debased and put though degrading and “perverse” sexual and psychological tests to prove her love for…Rene' … <I>Well, I bet in its day, which was a long, long time ago this book was positively scandalous!</I> She put the book down and looked at Q. <I>Why is he looking at me like that….Nah, he can't be thinking that I would even go there! I mean, isn't he, wasn't he after the Captain??! What's going on here? I don't even want to know.</I></div> <bR> <div> “Get any ideas?” Q smiled coyly at her. “I have quite a few ideas about you.”</div> <bR> <div> <I>What kind of ideas??? You got to be fuckin' kidding!!!! I think-- he's making a pass at me. Nope, that's too… But look at the way he's looking at me, I've seen that look too many times not to know what it means. What should I do?? This is horrible!! I have to think fast, OK he thinks I'm an idiot, that's good! Maybe if I pretend not to understand, he'll forget it. God, I hope so. Talk about a fate worse than death.</I></div> <bR> <div> “Yes, I have an idea..this book looks like something you should show your wife. Maybe try out a few things, see if you like them. Some of the things in here sound--- fascinating-I mean, you don't come across torturing tips everyday, do you? Oh, maybe you would.”</div> <bR> <div> Q continued to smile at her.</div> <bR> <div> “Well, thanks for introducing me to this book…I've been really busy like I said before, and haven't had time to do any recreational reading lately, but I'll put this on my reading list. Speaking of busy, it's been really fun chatting with you and I know you're busy too--- so I don't want to take up another minute of your time, really. I'm sorry I was so bitchy when I first got here, it takes me a while to warm up to people who abduct me, keep me with them against my will, threaten to kill my fellow crewmembers. I need to work on that, being more laid back. I have a bit of a temper, in case you didn't notice. We all have our little quirks, don't we?  This <I>has </I>been fun. I can't even remember when I've been so thoroughly, utterly, entertained.  Let's do it again some time, real soon. I'll call you. So, if you don't mind just point me in the direction of the turbolift I'll be on my way.”</div> <bR> <div> “Ah…Since you mentioned my darling wife, I have an update for you. You see-I'm sure you'll relate to this being you're “married” of sorts, yourself---When you're a young married couple with a child to raise so early in your relationship, it can cause a strain, a rift. My not so better half “split” as you and your “20 Something” friends would say. So, I'm single and ready to mingle.”</div> <bR> <div> He poured himself another glass of wine. Rene' watched him too dumbfounded to speak.</div> <bR> <div> “I'll let you in on a little secret of mine, since you have your own captain fetish going you'll appreciate it.”</div> <bR> <div> “I don't know what you're talking about.”</div> <bR> <div> He didn't seem to be listening.</div> <bR> <div> “I collect captains. I've had them all. All the ones worth having that is. All the ones that deserved the pleasure and honor of pleasuring Q. I've had Kirk, Jean-Luc…”</div> <bR> <div> <I>He's delusional</I>. “You really expect me to believe that Captain Picard would screw you? Hey, Kirk would try anything once but Captain Picard wouldn't let you to manipulate him into that. Can I leave now??”</div> <bR> <div> “I can show you one of our encounters if you like..”</div> <bR> <div> “You can `show' me anything, doesn't mean that it happened except in your demented sick mind.”</div> <bR> <div> “When it comes to my captains, I don't lie. I think you'd enjoy seeing your precious Jean-Luc, in a compromising position. Remember how he dressed you down for acting inappropriately on his ship? What's wrong with you making love to anyone you feel like? She wasn't even a crew member, she was just visiting the Enterprise, right? I can show you some things, some delicious things, him on his knees-- next time you see him you could drop a few hints that you know. Wouldn't you enjoy watching him squirm for a change? Think how embarrassed he would be...just say the word.” </div> <bR> <div> <I>I'd love to see it actually. Seeing prim and proper Captain Picard with his pants down. And then to let him know that I know he's no different that the rest of us-- he needs to get off like all of us, maybe he's even worse than us,  letting Q get the better of him, how pathetic!!.. It's really tempting; I bet he'll never tell anyone. I bet I could hold this over him-- what would his crew think?  No, I can't. He's a good guy-- just a little uptight that's all. I like him, why am I even considering doing this to him??  Fuckin' Q's  trying to sucker me in, to what?  And it almost worked!! Hang around him enough and his sick way of looking at things starts to seep into you. I have to figure out a way to get him to let me go.  </I></div> <bR> <div> Q sniggered. “Picard couldn't get enough. He was ready, willing and” Q waved his hand back and forth “able-- for the most part. You know the old saying use it or lose it, well he didn't use it much but I was patient with him.”</div> <bR> <div> “I'm going to believe he couldn't be coerced into getting involved with the likes of you. He's too smart for that, a lot smarter than you. I <I>know</I> you haven't slept with the Captain. She'd never do it either.”</div> <bR> <div> “Yes, you're right-- for the time being…I think it was because I was attached. Being the old fashioned gal that she is, she didn't want to be a home wrecker. Once she hears I'm free, well…” </div> <bR> <div> Q smoothed back his thinning hair. A mirror suddenly appeared in his right hand. He smiled at his reflection and preened. “I'm too handsome for words. Which do you think is my better side? Right or left? I think my right profile has a bit more definition.”</div> <bR> <div> “Neither side does much for me.”</div> <bR> <div> “Oh, that wasn't very nice to say. A minute ago you were being so nice. Now you're starting to get not so nice again. One could get the impression you don't like me. <I>That better not be true-- if you know what's good for you.</I> Fickle girl.” He made the mirror disappear. “You're young. Younger than I usually like to have them, but, I've found I get the best results when my quarry's under stress, in pain, confused. I'm not going to have many chances at you.”</div> <bR> <div> <I>You wait until someone is vulnerable then you strike when they aren't expecting it. Don't snakes do that? He doesn't care about anyone or anything except forcing his will on others. It isn't the sex.. A creature like him is beyond sex. It's the domination.   I'm trying to be as pleasant as I can be-- but it's so hard. I have to try another approach... </I></div> <bR> <div> “This probably just slipped your mind, but you weren't married when you asked Kathryn to sleep with you. She doesn't know you're “single” again. She should be told as soon as possible, don't you think? The sooner she finds out the sooner you two can get together.” <I>I'm sorry Kathryn but I think you'll understand why I'm doing this I have to somehow get him to talk to you. He has respect for you, he will listen to you when you tell him to leave both of us alone, he owes you a favor. He has zero respect for me.</I> “She's the type of woman who likes to take her time, a lot of time, before getting involved in romantic relationships, so I've heard. You're not the patient sort. But don't make the mistake of telling her yourself---the Captain will think you're desperate, too easy to get. No one wants to date someone desperate.”</div> <bR> <div> “So true! You're making sense. Go on.” </div> <bR> <div> “I could mention to her that you're available--put in a good word for you. Tell her how we spent this really nice time together and I think you're….a great catch.  This is the first time you and I have had a chance to really get to know each other and I'm…. impressed, except for a few missteps, this conversation hasn't been <I>that</I> bad.” She smiled.  <I>I want to shoot myself</I>. </div> <bR> <div> “Well, what you've said is reasonable-- the only thing you've said all night that's made any sense. I would take you up on it <I>if</I> I wanted to have the Captain tonight. Let's see… where is she now-Ah, with the Borg female. While the news that I'm single again would give her heart palpitations, I'm sure, I'm not in the mood for the Captain tonight. It's not the right time for her.   I'm much more interested in you right now. There's <I>always</I> something unexpected to learn about you Lieutenant. Until today I'm didn't know about how much <I>affection</I> you two have for each other. All this time I thought it was “Chuckles” that Kathryn was infatuated with but it was you. And now, the Borg. I'll have to compare notes with the Captain about you next time I see her.”</div> <bR> <div> <I>He knows about Kathryn, I'm not going to get upset about it. How does this weasel know so many things about me and not know anything at all.  He doesn't have the ability to read minds-- according to Starfleet there's been no evidence of that. They theorize that it's his ability to move though time and see our past, future, present-- passing through the ship, watching us unobserved, undetected. I guess to him Voyager is some kind of giant ant farm, and every once in a while he decides he wants to be one of the ants…Huh??Chuckles??</I></div> <div>  </div> <div> “Who's Chuckles!??” </div> <bR> <div> “Chuckles…that's my pet name for Commander Chakotay. That tattoo. Well, it seemed clownish to me, thus the nickname.” Q stroked his face. “Oh dear, I'm growing a little shadow, I hope that won't be a problem for you.”  </div> <bR> <div> “Well, the Commander doesn't deserve to be called a clown.” <I>Not by you, anyway</I>. “And why should I care whether you have stubble?”</div> <bR> <div> “It's just the two of us here, Rene' no need to pretend that you respect the man, the protocols and chain of command means nothing here.”</div> <bR> <div> Q shifted in his chair moving closer to her, picked a cigarette out of the case putting it between his lips.  To light it he touched the tip of his index finger to the end. </div> <bR> <div> “Are you the Devil?” She wasn't sure she was joking by asking the question.</div> <bR> <div> “Nonsense.” Q laughed. “Too bad you can't appreciate how good this taste.” He closed his eyes a moment in bliss, twirling the cigarette between his fingers.  The cigarette case vanished. “I put it in your quarters. It's yours, something to remember our night by.”</div> <bR> <div> “No…I'd like you to give it back to Bette.”</div> <bR> <div> “Don't be a cretin.” A prefect smoke ring floated slowly out of the spotlight. “You won't believe this because for some reason you have this negative impression of me-but it's not enjoyable for me unless the Captains gives themselves to me <I>willingly</I>. I've never made anyone do anything they didn't agree to do.”</div> <bR> <div> “Right, after being threaten and bullied in submission.”</div> <bR> <div> “You aren't the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree but…I'm sure even you figured out what I want from you and why.”</div> <bR> <div> “I gave up on that hours ago.”</div> <bR> <div> “You think being a Q is glamorous, bustling with excitement. It's hard work though, being perfect-- a lot of responsibility. It's your turn, luv. I'm here to rock your world. I'm just going to lie back for a change and let you do all the work the first few times I sure if you put your mind to it you'll make good use of this book, then I'll try a few things out---the book's given me some wonderful ideas too. Once you go Q nothing else will do. I made that up, catchy isn't it?” He winked at her. Off to the left of them another spotlight appeared with a king sized four-poster bed. There were whips, restraints, a strap-on dildo and other assorted “toys” scattered across the bed, on the floor and on a table next to the bed.”</div> <bR> <div> “You're insane. Why are you doing this to me??” Rene' rose from the chair. <I>What am I going to do??? I'm trapped with this supernatural being who's mentally disturbed and horny. </I>She wanted to move as far away from him as she could but before she could take a step she felt a force wrap around her-keeping her in place like a bug pinned to a display pad. It pushed her back into the chair. She couldn't speak or move.</div> <bR> <div> “You've been a major disappointment Rene'. I don't think you've been taking me very seriously at all. I'm a kind, compassionate man but if I'm not treated with the deference that is entitled to me as a superior being, well, I'm not responsible for the consequences.” Q eyed her coldly.</div> <bR> <div> “You seemed like such a fun girl on the ship, the few times when I've popped in on Voyager I've enjoyed watching you. Now when you have your chance to let your “horses run free” like, what's his name? Oh, Prince, would say,  You're a bust; a tease, a whore. I suppose that's what I get for dealing with you women. You're the hardest to persuade, it's got to be <I>your </I>idea or it's just not the right thing to do.” Q whined.  “The only reason you don't want to make love to me is that it wasn't your idea!” He puffed on the cigarette one last time then flipped it away.  </div> <bR> <div> “Let me explain some things to you cause you'll never figure it out at this rate. Some time in the future a long time for you but a tediously short time for me you will become a Starfleet Captain. Yes, I know it's astounding but true. It doesn't matter to me that you aren't a Captain <I>now</I>, all that matters is that you will be one-- so I've decided it's time for you to fulfill your sexual obligations to me. Be gentle but firm. We can use one of those “safe words”, just in case either one of us gets overcome with passion. How about “Janeway?” as our safe word? One more thing,  I don't have to look like this-I can look like Kathryn if you want, or would you prefer Seven? Maybe someone else? This image you're viewing now is my standard image, the skin I put on to protect you lower life forms. You couldn't comprehend the splendor of the true vision of Q. I can change this image to suit you. Observe.”  Instantly, he presented himself as the Captain. </div> <bR> <div> <I>It does look a lot like Kathryn. I could just fantasize it was her, get this over with, would it be so bad? He'd let me go home. I'll put it out of my mind. And let him win??? </I></div> <bR> <div>  “Well? Pretty good isn't it? You can't tell the difference. You know you still want her. What harm would it do? Oh, you can't speak, I'm sorry.” </div> <bR> <div> He waved his hand and she could move her face again.</div> <bR> <div> “Q, please change back to your <I>low life</I> self.”</div> <bR> <div> “That was almost funny.” He was Q again.   “Simply trying to make it easier for you. There's no pleasing some people. Picard enjoyed it when I took on the shape of some of his past lovers. There was this boy he knew at the Academy--- every time I became this boy, Jean-Luc would get rock hard.”</div> <bR> <div> “Q-I'm not going to sleep with you ever. You can keep me here a million years. Since you don't have a life I wouldn't be surprised if you did. Doesn't matter what you say, who you are. Even if you put a bag over your head I wouldn't touch you--- the thought makes me ill.” </div> <bR> <bR> <div> “Ouch---and I thought we were bonding a little. I acted like a gentleman, I would have dined you but you don't like to eat much. I actually talked to you before asking for sex.” Q materialized a Playboy magazine circa 1959 and flipped though the pages. “Hmmm, I did what this stupid magazine article told me to do, `How to get her to want you' this isn't worth the paper it's printed on!  Next time I'll just go with my gut. I have a natural instinct when it comes to ladies. I wanted to be a little daring and try something different, see where it got me.  By the way, that last comment wasn't very ladylike, but I should have expected as much, you are <I>definitely</I> not a lady. </div> <bR> <div> “And you're <I>definitely</I> a bastard.”</div> <bR> <div> “Bastard or no, you're here to entertain me this evening-- either you join me in the boudoir or you entertain me some other way.” </div> <bR> <div> “I pick the latter.”</div> <bR> <div> “Your lost--obviously you're too young to appreciate the charms of a sophisticated, older man. Another time, and believe me, Rene' there will be.” Q leaped out of his chair and pulled his uniform jacket down. “Let's go. I'm sure you can't wait to see what I have planned for you.”</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>