Part V
Rated: M

By: AW

Disclaimer: I don't own the people or the episodes but the story is mine.

Kathryn arrived in her room at Starfleet medical to the stern look of Doctor Crusher. "Admiral, I understand that there is a long history between the two of you, but I need to know who you've been in contact with since your return. According to these scans, Commander Chakotay and your mother and sister show no signs of the infection. I have no idea why it has targeted you, but you don't appear to be contagious. I checked out lieutenants' Paris and Torres' baby and she shows no signs of it either and B’Elanna was involved in the assimilation scheme with you two years ago."

Kathryn nodded. "According to your scans though, there is no threat to anyone's health that I come in contact with, correct?"

Beverly looked at the Admiral. Not that I can see, but I want you back here in a week's time. I'll be the one who takes over your prenatal appointments now." She paused, "And by the way Admiral, you really should gain some weight, eat properly, sleep more, according to these scans you're the equivalent of four terrain months pregnant. You should have more to show for it by now."

Kathryn nodded. "Understood doctor, I'll try to have more to show for this pregnancy in a week's time. Are Chakotay and I dismissed?"

Beverly nodded. "For the time, but if you have any symptoms, I expect to see you immediately."

Kathryn nodded and made her way back to Chakotay's 'chambers'.

She quietly stepped into the room and looked for Chakotay who was slumbering near the far side on the cot. "Chakotay, we've been released."

Chakotay slowly made his way from the land of sleep to the land of the waking. "Kathryn?" He shook the cobwebs out of his head. "Is everything okay with you?"

Janeway nodded. "As far as she can see, but I need to come back in a weeks time. She's taking over my prenatal care."

Chakotay nodded and led her out of Starfleet medical. "What do you say we go and get something to eat. You're still awfully scrawny, you could probably use a good meal or two."

Kathryn gave him a death glare. "I suppose you're right. Let's go."

The former command team ended up at a small Bajoran restaurant on the grounds of Starfleet Command. They had a nice meal and then proceeded to Chakotay's quarters on the grounds of Starfleet headquarters.

They sat and stared at each other. They both had some explaining to do, and neither had any place to start.

Chakotay broke the silence with the subject both had been avoiding and neither wished to broach. "So, how far along are you?"

Janeway stared at the ground, unsure of what to say. "The doctor guesses me at about four months...but she wasn't sure seeing as we've never even had contact with the species let alone interspecies breeding."

Chakotay looked at her and clasped her hand. "Kathryn, I know this is hard for you, but you have to take better care of yourself and decide what you're going to do about it."

Janeway looked at him incredulously. "What I'm going to do about it? I guess I'm going to have a baby." Her flippant remark hurt his feelings.

"You know that's not what I mean Kathryn. I'm willing to help you deal with this, but you have to let me in."

Kathryn bowed her head and began to let the tears fall again. "For everything I planned when we got home, it didn't include this. I always assumed if and when I did decide to have a baby I'd have some control over it, here I have none." She looked out the window in the living room and essentially ended the questioning....

*~*~*~*

Starfleet Medical 0300 hours

Seven of nine lay on the bed, waiting for the tests to finish. Having had contact with Admiral Janeway, and having been part of the collective herself she was a critical part of the investigation into Kathryn Janeway's condition.

The Admiral was pregnant carrying an apparent half Borg child. How this came to be and why she was such a big part of the investigation was beyond Seven but she had been a great part of everything Starfleet since arriving in the Alpha Quardrant.

She remembered the offer of the pseudo-Borg-Queen, begging her to take over the drones on Earth. She remembered the temptation, the sorrow she felt for this woman who had endured so much.

She remembered...

An adult Brenna Covington stood before Annika now. She reached out and clasped Annika's hands, two tall, fair-haired women, so similar and yet so different.

"Take it," Brenna implored. "Take it. Take them. You know what I have endured. You know what I feel for them. They need a queen. They need you. You can be better than the original queen. You can exceed the programming. You can look at your drones as beloved children, not as things to be used and discarded. They can be glorious. You can take them to perfection. There's nothing they and you won't be able to achieve."

Annika clutched Brenna's hands. This was no trick, no lie. The Royal Protocol, modified and adapted by Brenna Covington, surged through her. She could feel it already, closing off some parts of her body, opening others, exploring, downloading information. Brenna was right. Already, she could hear the voices of the confused hive, turning to see, seeking solace. She could be a new type of queen, a benevolent, loving monarch, to lead her people to perfection and-

No. She would not be seduced by the glory. Sweet though it was, it was an illusion. The Borg represented suppression of individuality, no matter how the queen thought of her drones. Brenna sensed her decision.

"No," she cried, "please, don't abandon them!"

"I am sorry," Annika said, sincerely, and slowly, deliberately, closed the door on the Royal Protocol, the clamoring of drones, and her last, best chance to be a part of something infinitely greater than herself.

Seven laid in wait, she was receiving something that she didn't understand. It's not over...the files have been downloaded, the queen will live on. Seven didn't understand at first...unsure of what she was hearing, unaware of the importance of the words. Then like a flash of a camera, she understood. The Queen was immortal, so long as she could find someone to take her place, and found someone she had...

"Seven of Nine to Commander Crusher. I understand it's late but I have to speak with you. I have something of the utmost importance, new information."

Crusher came on the com line sleep deprived. "What's going on, it's 0315 in the morning Seven of Nine."

Seven impulsively went on. "I need to know the sex of Admiral Janeway's child."

TBC in part VI

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