Captain Kathryn Janeway and her First Officer Commander Chakotay were just leaving the mess hall on their way to the bridge, Kathryn holding an inevitable cup of coffee in one hand and a padd in the other. "You know the latest gossip going around the ship is that Neelix offered to get rid of his entire leola root supply if you would give up coffee," said Chakotay with a wicked smile on his face.

"I’ll never understand how these nasty rumors get started," said Kathryn with a droll smile.

Chakotay’s smile grew wider and after letting Kathryn take a healthy drink of her coffee, he asked, "So you want to tell me about this latest deviation from our previous course?"

"According to the starcharts we purchased from the Vihori, the Sartori system with the two red supergiant’s are at these coordinates." Captain Janeway pointed at the location on her padd, as she handed it to her first officer with an excited smile.

"And these two stars are nearing their death?" Chakotay asked glancing up from the display.

If anything her smile grew broader. "Yes, within the month. The Vihori scientist said that their latest reports indicated that the larger star, which is at least 50 times bigger than Earth’s sun, is pulling in the smallest of the pair. When the stars collide they will produce a hypernovae. It can produce one hundred times more energy than supernovae. Luckily there are no inhabited planets in this system, and the data we collect should be interesting to study."

"How long till we reach the system?" Chakotay asked with obvious concern.

"We should be there within the hour. The deviation from our flight plan is not significant, but I still see you have something on your mind Commander."

Chakotay seemed to gather his thoughts as they stood waiting for the turbolift. He spoke without turning, "I am curious why we are taking the time to study this event, when the crew needs shoreleave, and our supplies need replenishing. Unless you haven’t noticed how many casserole surprises Neelix has been creating?" He turned with a definite look of amused tolerance for their Talaxian chef’s continuing culinary experiments.

"How could I ever miss one of Neelix’s casseroles--they’re the wonder of the Delta quadrant--as much as I might like to", she said with a half smile which faded as she continued. "Chakotay, we’re only talking about a four hour delay in the system. We’ll make it to the M class planet that we’ve scheduled, in plenty of time to rescue you from Neelix’s next ‘surprise.’ In fact if you’d like, we can have dinner in my quarters, and I’ll replicate a non-Talaxian dinner for two."

The turbolift doors opened and they stepped inside.

He smiled and added, "and I’ll bring the coffee ice-cream."

** **

"Tuvok to Captain Janeway" the Vulcan security chief’s voice broke into the discussion she and Chakotay were having about the crew rotations on the next foraging expedition in her ready room.

"Janeway here", she replied not raising her eyes from the padd in her hand.

"Captain, we’re approaching the Sartori cluster now."

"On our way," she said, and with a nod at Chakotay, she rose from the couch tossing the padd in her hand onto her desk with the other reports waiting for her.

The doors to her ready room swished open then the Captain and her first officer walked into the command area. Kathryn nodded at Commander Tuvok before she walked over to stand by Tom Paris’ shoulder at the conn position.

"Mr. Paris prepare to slow to impulse." She patted his shoulder and turned to face the rear of the bridge. "Tuvok, shields at full, and Mr. Kim," she smiled at her Asian operations officer as she looked at him. "Mr. Kim, inform Seven of our arrival and tell her to make the most of our stop here."

At Tuvok and Harry Kim’s nods she finally allowed herself to settle into her command chair next to her first officer’s.

Chakotay saw her tension and saw her lean forward as if urging on their arrival. "Relax Kathryn," he said in a low voice. "If you would prefer to be in Astrometrics with Seven analyzing the data yourself, I’ll handle this end."

She smiled appreciatively and said, "Am I that transparent?"

His only reply was a wry smile.

Rising Kathryn said, "You have the bridge Commander, keep me informed. I’ll be in Astrometrics."

He nodded and said, "Enjoy yourself."

She gave him a lopsided smile before she walked quickly up the ramp to the turbolift.

** **

The Captain had just entered Astrometrics and nodded hello to Seven when, quite literally, all hell broke loose. After she picked herself up off the floor and checked Seven’s status, she tapped her combadge and yelled above the roar of panels shorting, hissing, and buzzing. "Commander Chakotay, report!"

After a brief pause, Tuvok answered instead of Chakotay, "Captain, it appears that when we came out of warp we arrived in the vicinity of a massive singularity. Commander Chakotay and Mr. Kim have been injured and were beamed directly to sick bay."

Kathryn interrupted before he could go further, "On my way."

As she raced back along her path, she tapped her combadge again, "Janeway to the Doctor. Doctor what is the status of Commander Chakotay and Mr. Kim?"

Even above the static she heard the Doctor’s annoyance and worry. "Mr. Kim has some third degree burns, lacerations, a broken arm and a concussion, but Commander Chakotay suffered severe internal injuries and burns. In fact Captain, right now I don’t have time to talk. Chakotay will require emergency surgery immediately."

"Acknowledged," she said. The discussion ended but not the worry for her crew.

** **

When she entered the bridge, she called out for a report from Tuvok.

"Captain, it would appear that the information we received about the stars in this system was incorrect. The stars have in fact collapsed, releasing a massive amount of energy and forming the singularities, which produced shipwide damage upon our entry. Without full shields, the ship would have been destroyed."

Tom spun around in his seat, and broke in with a question, "You mean we’re being sucked into a black hole?"

Tuvok looked faintly annoyed at the interruption but could not help correcting him. "Mr. Paris, it is a common misconception that singularities are cosmic vacuum’s, but it is inaccurate. The only way to be ‘sucked into a black hole’ as you put it is to cross inside the Schwarzschild radius. At this radius, the escape speed is equal to the speed of light. Unfortunately, we have crossed this radius and are in the accretion disk surrounding the singularity."

"So we are being sucked into a black hole," said Tom.

Kathryn frowned at her navigator and said, "Go assist the Doctor in sickbay, Tom." She then turned back to Tuvok. She nodded and asked, "Damage report."

Tuvok's face showed the seriousness of what he was about to say, "We have shipwide system failures, but most importantly our warp drive sustained considerable damage. Our impulse engines will not be able to break us free, and we will be destroyed when Voyager is brought into conjunction with the second black hole. The ship, even with full shields will not withstand the opposing gravitational forces." Tuvok's voice was of course uninflected, even as he delivered his deadly news.

Captain Janeway went in search of her Chief Engineer, but was informed that B’Elanna Torres was in sickbay. She headed there immediately and when she arrived saw B’Ellana laying on a biobed with Tom hovering over her taking readings. She stopped and called for the Doctor.

"Lieutenant Torres has just been brought in Captain," said the Doctor as she came forward. "Apparently, she pulled several of her people out of a blast area. She went in again for Samantha Wildman who had been knocked unconscious. She was not as lucky on her last trip as there was an additional explosion. I’ve already treated ensign Wildman and sent her back to her quarters with Naomi to ensure she rests. B’Elanna has a concussion, but fortunately her hard Klingon head saved her. I should have her on her feet and back to duty within the next few days."

Kathryn caught her breath. "The baby?" she asked.

"Their baby is fine. She seems to share her mother’s constitution." The Doctor’s voice was reassuring. "I will need to monitor Ms. Torres for a few days but she will make a full recovery."

"Unacceptable Doctor. I need her back in engineering immediately." She held up her hand to forestall his obvious protest. "If we don’t get those engines back on line, it won’t matter when you deem her fit for duty. I need my Chief Engineer now."

"Captain!" Tom protested.

"Tom I wouldn’t ask if there was any other choice." She said firmly. "I’m sorry, but the Doctor did say the baby was fine. I wouldn’t risk her, Tom."

Tom looked unhappy, but nodded.

The Doctor was still frowning but reached for a hypospray. Turning he looked at the readings Tom Paris had just taken of B’Elanna and studied them momentarily. He made an adjustment to the hypospray in his hand before he applied it to her neck.

B’Ellana groaned and sat up. Tom steadied her.

The Doctor said, "B’Elanna, I’ve given you something for any pain you might still be experiencing." He saw her hand go to her midsection instinctively. "Don’t worry Lieutenant. You’re baby is doing fine. If your pain becomes worse, or if you experience any other symptoms, please inform me immediately."

"I’m informing you," she said with a growl even as she tried to slide her legs off the bed.

He frowned again and scanned her, humphing over the readouts. He loaded a second hypo and reached towards her neck.

She waved it away. "What’s this?" Her tone if possible was more irritated.

"This," his tone was matter of fact, but brooked no refusal, "is for the dizziness and should help you with the nausea as well. The Captain is insisting that you return to duty immediately, and against my better judgment, I am releasing you."

B'Elanna looked at the Captain who was stepping forward.

Kathryn said, "B’Elanna, you’ve got to get the warp engines back online. Recruit anyone you may need. Tuvok can give you an update on a deadline, but this is your top priority."

B’Elanna took a deep breath, nodded, and said, "I’ll get right on it." She left at a brisk pace already tapping her combadge for a report from Lieutenant Carey.

Kathryn said, "Tom return to the bridge and assist Commander Tuvok." She watched him leave before she turned back to the Doctor and asked, "What’s the status of Harry and Chakotay?"

His frown deepened as he led her back towards the last occupied biobeds. "Mr. Kim while still in serious condition is responding well to treatment and will no doubt be back on his feet and on the bridge within the week. I trust that you are not going to require me to revive, and release Mr. Kim for duty right now, Captain?"

The Doctor’s sarcasm only made her raise an eyebrow as she prompted him, "And Commander Chakotay?"

His face suddenly looked anxious as he said, "The Commander’s condition is…well I’m afraid I don’t have good news to report. I have been able to repair his internal injuries, and to treat his external burns and lacerations, but the Commander’s body received a massive shock. When one of the personal display panels by the command chairs detonated, he took practically the full brunt of it. If he had been in your chair, he would have undoubtedly been killed instantly, as it is, we’ll know within the next twenty-four hours."

Seeing the Captain’s evident distress, he laid a hand gently on her forearm, and said, "I’ll keep you informed." With those words he turned and left her alone with her two unconscious crewmen.

She approached Harry Kim’s bed and leaned over to see his face as peaceful, if just a bit more vulnerable than usual. She was always surprised at how young Mr. Kim was, even after these years of seasoning in the delta quadrant. She laid a hand on his shoulder and bent down to say softly, "I look forward to seeing you back on the bridge soon Mr. Kim." She straightened. "Rest well Harry."

Turning, reluctantly, she finally looked at Chakotay. Even after dermal regeneration, his pallor was pronounced, making his tattoo stand out in relief. She reached out to touch his cheek and whispered, "Fight this Chakotay. I need you beside me on that bridge, and besides," her voice turned playful, "I believe we have a dinner date. Don’t think I’ll let you get out of bringing the coffee ice cream this easily." She smiled, but it vanished as she waited for any flicker of a response. At his continued stillness, she blinked away the sheen of tears from her eyes, and cleared her throat gruffly. She straightened her shoulders and turned, glancing back only once more before heading for the bridge.

** **

The senior staff meeting was strange, mostly because of everyone’s awareness of the empty chairs. Only Tuvok seemed unperturbed by the absences, but Tom and Neelix were obviously distressed, and Seven seemed distracted. B’Elanna was in engineering driving her staff to their best efforts to try to beat the deadline.

"Tom, what’s our current status," the Captain asked getting the meeting started. Tom mentally shook himself and straightened as she addressed him.

"At full impulse we are holding our relative distance from the singularity, but we are spiraling towards the second one. B’Elanna said they are still working on the warp engines. Captain, I have a suggestion. If we shut down all nonessential systems, and move the off duty personnel into central locations, we could divert the energy from those sections to boost the impulse systems with only a few modifications. We should be able to slow our progress down further, and buy us a little more time to get the warp engines up."

She saw Tuvok’s nod out of the corner of her eye and simply said, "Do it."

Following Tom’s exit, Neelix spoke up, "Captain, I believe I can break out the emergency rations and shut down the food replicators and the mess hall. We could work that into Mr. Paris’s idea as well."

Kathryn smiled and said, "Good idea Neelix."

He bounced to his feet, visibly brightening. "I’ll go see Tom on my way to close up the mess hall."

Katherine shook her head fondly as she watched her Talaxian chef and morale officer left the conference room with irrepressible energy.

Turning to Tuvok, Janeway said, "You have some updates for me."

His impassive face became stiffer than usual as he said, "While Lieutenant Paris’ measures will undoubtedly give us additional time to bring the warp engines online, we still may not be able to break the ship free."

Kathryn’s brows drew down in a frown. "Explain!" she snapped.

Seven answered, "Captain, the primary gravity well is growing in strength as it pulls in more energy from the surrounding system and the neighboring gravity well. The system is in a state of extreme flux. The weaker singularity may collide with it within our original time estimate."

"Captain, Seven and I have checked the calculations," Tuvok added gravely, "and there is no doubt. Unless we can break free of the singularity soon, in just over seven hours, Voyager will be destroyed in a hypernovae."

** **

Seven hesitated when Tuvok rose and left the conference room and asked, "Captain, I find that I am having difficulty concentrating on my work."

Kathryn let her concern show as she said, "Perhaps if you told me what was distracting you Seven, you might be able to get back to your work."

Seven paused as if searching for words, "I find I am concerned about Mr. Kim and Commander Chakotay’s status, and I am having difficulty with the prospect of the obstacles facing us. I do not wish to..." She faltered and met the Captain’s eyes.

Kathryn suddenly understood, "No one is ever ready to face the prospect of death Seven, but we still have time. I’ve seen the crew achieve amazing things when facing worse predicaments, and I checked with the Doctor before I arrived and Harry is recovering well and Chakotay’s status is unchanged. I’m sure that Harry at least would be pleased to have a visitor, but first we need to get those engines back online."

Seven nodded her head and rose briskly to her feet, "Mr. Kim has been a good...friend to me and I would not want to see him in jeopardy. Thank you Captain, I will endeavor to assist Lieutenant Torres in Engineering."

Kathryn smiled as she watched her exit, and shook her head at the constant surprises in Seven’s development.

** **

Kathryn rose and strode over to the windows of the conference room as she thought, Phoebe always said ‘curiosity killed the cat’, I just hope she’s not going to be right this time.

Sighing she let her shoulders sag for a moment. She grappled with the idea that her crew was at risk because of her decision to indulge her scientific curiosity, but as she turned to go there was a bright flash of light.

"Kathy! How’s my intrepid explorer doing today?" Q exclaimed in mocking tones.

Kathryn was becoming annoyed already. This was beyond endurance that Q would have to show up when the ship was facing a crisis. "Q, unless you’ve come to get my ship out of this mess, then this is not a good time." Not that there was ever a good time for Q. Kathryn briskly marched past him, heading for the door.

"Kathy, Kathy!" Q said as he reached out and grabbed her arm. "Is this anyway to greet someone who has come to your rescue?" He gave her an insincere smile.

Kathryn was instantly suspicious. "Q don’t play with me, if your here to help, get my ship out of here now!" She said from between gritted teeth.

Q of course ignored her irate voice and threatening body language and replied with an airy wave of his hands, "No, no Kathy. I said your rescue. Not your pitiful ship."

"If you think I would even consider saving myself and leaving my crew, then you are out of your omniscient mind Q!" Kathryn’s voice had risen even as she stood nose to nose with him.

He laughed with what seemed like genuine pleasure and said, "Oh, the same charming Kathy, even without your faithful sidekick Chuckles." Q moved to lounge on the conference table. "Seriously, I’m here to do you a favor. After all you are an old and dear friend. You need me right now, even if you’re too proud to ask!"

"Q, I don’t have time for small talk with you. My crew needs me." She turned to leave, and found Q had appeared in front of her.

"Kathy, I know you could never admit you need me, so I’ll help you unasked. You see Kathy, you have a choice to make." Saying this, Q reached out to her and suddenly there was a flash of light.

** **

Kathryn found herself enveloped in a bright white space. She shielded her eyes and turned trying to find anything to define the place. "Q! Q, where am I? What have you done? Take me back to my ship right now!" Kathryn felt her frustration mounting. "I don’t want to play your game. Q, take me back immediately!"

She saw a distortion in the haze of white, which came slowly into definition as the figure of a man. Kathryn moved towards it. It was a figure cloaked in white. She reached up to the individual’s shoulder and he turned to face her. It was Q.

When she started to speak, Q playfully reached out and covered her mouth with his hand. "Now Kathy, don’t get yourself worked up over these little things. I’ve brought you here for a purpose. I’m saving you from yourself Kathryn." He nearly looked serious, not quite, but almost.

Her agitation was growing as she wrenched his hand away from her face. "Q, I’m warning you, if you don’t return me to my ship..."

Q’s hand again descended over her mouth. "Kathy, if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear you’ve been spending too much time with Chuckles. You aren’t listening to me, so I’ll say it slowly." Seeing her eyebrows and a blush rising, Q moved his hand and continued. "I am here to help you. You need me!"

Kathryn jerked away from Q and said, "Okay Q, obviously I’m not going to go anywhere until you’ve had your say, so lets get this over with. However, I warn you, if you ever try to shut me up or dare to lay your hands on me again, I’ll guarantee you’ll regret it!" Her glare could have melted bulkheads. She crossed her arms over her chest and said in her best Captain’s dressing down voice, "You said I had a choice, so what is it?"

"Prickly little thing aren’t you?" he said with a smirk. At her continued stony face, he sighed and added, "Kathy, I’m going to be your guardian angel. I’m going to show you what the universe would have been like without you and that irrepressible curiosity of yours. First, let’s go see some old friends!"

Then there was a flash of light.

Q and Kathryn flashed into a yard of an old farmhouse. Kathryn’s eyes widened as she looked around. "Indiana. Q this is the house I grew up in! What are we doing here?"

Kathryn caught her breath as a beautiful older woman exited the house to water some hanging plants.

"Mom!" she all but yelled as she started forward. Q caught her arm and said, "She can’t see or hear you Kath. You’re here to observe only...so shut up, and observe."

Kathryn didn’t relax in his hold, but she watched her mother intently as her mom raised her hand to shade her eyes as she peered at an approaching vehicle.

Mrs. Janeway’s face was wreathed in a smile as recognition set in. She approached as the vehicle came to a stop and threw her arms around the man who exited the ground car.

Kathryn’s legs just about gave out from beneath her. Q’s arms tightened as he pulled her closer so he could whisper in her ear. "Recognize him Kathy?"

Kathryn’s eyes filled with tears and her free hand covered her mouth as she breathed out one word. "Daddy."

She whirled on Q and said in a voice choked with tears, "Q, how? How is this possible? Are you saying it’s somehow my fault that my father is dead today?"

** **

Tuvok read the report from lieutenant Torres and with a furrowed brow, lifted his head and said to the comm. system. "Captain Janeway to the bridge." Receiving no acknowledgment, he repeated his request. At the continued silence, he said "Computer, locate Captain Janeway."

"Captain Janeway is not on board." The computer replied.

Tom Paris turned from the con and faced Tuvok. The alarm on his face was apparent.

"Curious," Tuvok said with just a hint of perturbation on his Vulcan brow. "Computer how long has Captain Janeway been absent from Voyager?"

"Captain Janeway has been absent from Voyager for one hour." The computer said.

"What?" Tom’s voice was strident.

"Computer, what was the method of the Captain’s departure?" Tuvok asked.

"Unknown" was the cryptic reply.

"Tuvok, we’ve got to do something!" Tom rose from his chair and approached Tuvok.

Tuvok allowed a frown as he tapped his combadge and said, "Doctor, what is the status of Commander Chakotay?"

The Doctor’s acerbic voice sounded tinny over the comm. system. "Commander Chakotay is still unconscious, but he appears to be improving. I am cautiously optimistic."

"Thank you Doctor." Tuvok then addressed Tom and the bridge crew and said, "Until the Captain’s return or Commander Chakotay’s recovery, I will assume command." He rose and said, "Computer, please notify me when the Captain returns. Lieutenant Paris, you have the bridge, I will be in engineering."

Tom nodded and swallowed his anxiety as Tuvok exited.

** **

Kathryn followed her parents into that oh so familiar house. "Q," she demanded, "I want an answer. Why is my father alive? He died in a shuttle crash with Justin Tighe. I was there, I saw the shuttle sink below the waters surface with them, I remember!"

Q replied with his usual aplomb, "Shuttle crash. What shuttle crash Kathy? Justin Tighe died attempting to rescue Owen Paris from a Cardassian cell."

Katherine said, "But Justin didn’t..."

Q interrupted, "Your dear Justin died ensuring Owen Paris’ get away from that cell, because you weren’t there to save him. The shuttle plans died with him. No shuttle, so no crash. Voila!" He waved his hands like a magician. "Your father is alive, but Justin is still dead." Q emphasized Justin’s fate with unholy relish.

"So, my father died because of my choice." Kathryn’s voice dropped to a whisper as a hand came up to cover her mouth.

Q watched her for a moment before he took her hand down and turned her to face him. "Next stop Kathy."

With a flash of light her parents and her home disappeared.

"Lieutenant Torres, if your repair estimates are indeed correct, we will exceed the time limit allowed for the warp drive repair."

B’Ellana Torres rounded on that damned Vulcan with barely restrained violence apparent in every line of her body. "I don’t need you to tell me that Tuvok! I am only too aware of the deadline. We sustained too much damage and there is only so much we can do. We need more time!" Her voice, which had started so savagely, ended full of regret.

Tuvok ignored her anger and said with one eyebrow lifted, "That would be preferable. However, it is not possible Lieutenant. Continue your efforts and keep me apprised of your progress." With that said, Tuvok turned and left B’Ellana to glare at his back.

She turned back to the panel she was working on, muttering a curse about Vulcan’s in general and Tuvok in particular.

** **

"No!" Kathryn’s voice was anguished as her hands reached out for her parents, even as she reappeared on a vaguely familiar colony station.

She turned on Q as she recognized the landmarks about her. "We’re on Mars Colony station. What are we doing here Q?"

Q gave her a mischievous smile and turned her by her shoulders. She was suddenly facing a deep pool and was wearing a Starfleet issued diving suit. "It’s a beautiful day for a swim isn’t it Kathy! I must say you look absolutely beautiful in that tight..."

It was now Kathryn’s turn to put her hand across Q’s mouth. "Muzzle it Q. Just tell me what’s to see here." She removed her hand.

Q’s smile was even wider now. "Kathy, don’t you recognize this spot? Oh yes, I forget about fallible human memories."

All of a sudden Kathryn was holding an armful of white lilies. "What?" She exclaimed.

"Why Kathryn," Q said dryly, "I thought you’d want to pay you respects to your dearly departed."

Kathryn whirled back to face the deep pool with a rising look of horror and recognition on her face. "No." She threw the flowers away from her as if in rejection of the possibility they represented. "No!" the word was a plea.

"Yes Kathy." Q whispered into her ear. "Mark. He drowned there in the water caverns of Mars, because you weren’t here to save him. He underestimated the currents of the underground river system and he paid the price. No on knew what happened that day, because Mark didn’t tell anyone his plans. His vacation ended rather abruptly, and Starfleet could only guess what happened to him."

Kathryn’s eyes filled with grief as she closed them at the sight of Mark’s final resting-place.

Q continued inexorably, "Mark never grows up. He never marries, and never contributes to society. His life was as meaningless as his death."

Kathryn sagged with relief as a flash of light dissolved the scene in front of her.

** **

Tuvok looked up from the calculations on the padd to meet Seven’s eyes.

She vocalized on what they represented. "Voyager will not be able to escape the gravity well’s influence. It is now only a matter of time until the ship enters the conjunction of the two singularities."

Tuvok nodded slightly as acknowledgment of her analysis. "We have six hours, due to the engine adjustments made by Lieutenants Paris and Torres. I will inform the crew so they may make their personal preparations. In the meantime, I will continue to search for possible solutions."

Seven gave Tuvok a cool look before saying, "I believe I will visit sick bay. I wish to speak with the Doctor and Mr. Kim. I will return shortly." She turned without waiting for acknowledgment of her words.

Tuvok’s eyebrows rose before he turned back to the calculations that were more understandable than human emotions.

"Here Kathy, I thought you might be getting homesick for the Delta quadrant, so..." his voice trailed off as Katherine raised her head.

At her obvious bewilderment, Q turned her by her shoulders until she was facing a few decrepit shelters and a mine.

The drab surroundings stirred her memories. "The Ocompa homeworld." Her voice stopped even as loud voices broke the stillness of the air.

She gasped as she saw a group of Kazon warriors come around the shelters. There was a smaller scruffy figure in their midst who they were attacking.

"My friends," Neelix pleaded, "I will replace the water I stole and then some, if you will only allow me to see Kes. I want to buy her from you!"

Neelix then fell under a brutal blow from the Kazon leader. "You will replace more than the water you stole, you little rodent. We killed the little Ocompa. She didn’t know her place and tried to escape to find you, a month after you stole from us. Since you are partly responsible for our losses, you will take her place in the mines." He then kicked Neelix in the stomach, lifting his body up off the sand.

Neelix whispered, "Kes..." before falling into a stupor as the beating continued.

Kathryn grabbed Q and shook him. "Do something, Q. Kes didn’t die and the Kazon didn’t capture Neelix. Voyager was here and we saved..."

Her voice died and a question lit here eyes.

Q answered that unspoken question, "Was Voyager here? Hmm. The answer is no. You remember Captain Cavitt," he stressed Cavitt’s new higher rank. "Cavitt was killed when the ship was pulled into the Delta Quadrant. Mr. Tuvok was named Captain upon his return to Voyager from the Maquis vessel."

"Tuvok wouldn’t..." Kathryn started to protest.

"Our Vulcan friend has a very black and white view of the universe. He decision he made was imminently logical." Q was gloating now.

There was a flash of light.

** **

"Mr. Kim."

Harry opened her eyes to find Seven standing next to the biobed.

She continued, "It is good to see you conscious again. I wished to speak to you."

"What can I do for you Seven?" Harry’s voice was a bit hoarse.

Seven raised one exquisite eyebrow but no other emotion showed on her face. "You are weak, so I will make this brief. When you were injured I felt," confusion crossed her face, "concerned for you. You have aided me with my transition to life her on Voyager. Her stance shifted as if in discomfort, "I value our relationship and wanted to tell you goodbye."

Surprise, embarrassment, and finally bewilderment were evident on Harry’s face. He struggled to sit up as he said, "Goodbye? Seven, what are you talking about."

"You have been unconscious since we arrived at our present location. You are unaware that Voyager sustained heavy damage from a gravity well. Due to damage we are unable to escape it’s influence. In approximately six hours the ship will be subject to the influence of an opposing gravity well and we will be destroyed."

Harry groaned and lay back down again upon the biobed. He closed his eyes and wished he’d remained unconscious.

"Mr. Kim, do you require medical assistance?"

When Harry opened his eyes Seven was leaning towards him with a hand raised. "No Seven, I am just not ready to deal with the thought of dying." Harry met her eyes, "Are you not afraid Seven, or is death easier than trying to reclaim your humanity?"

Seven showed a moment of pain and she opened her mouth at a loss for words. Her face quickly smoothed into her usual imperturbability.

Harry had seen the distress though and he said, "I’m sorry Seven. I shouldn’t say things like that. It’s just a reflex. ‘Shoot the messenger’ is an old saying."

Seven seemed to have regained her equilibrium. She said quietly, "Mr. Kim...Harry, I do not relish the idea of our imminent demise, but I am not through searching for solutions. I have to speak to the Doctor, but I just wanted to say goodbye to you as well, if our efforts should prove unsuccessful." She met his eyes for a moment before turning to look for the EMH.

Harry’s eyebrows rose at her use of his first name, but he shook his head as he watched her leave. "Harry. She decides to call me Harry now!"