Here  is my latest offering, for no reason other than the pleasure  of 
putting  it  in the warm light of reality.  As I have no plans to do 
anything further with this, you may read it for what it is & leave the 
editing pens stowed away.
Please accept as given the standard disclosure _ Paramount, I swear, I 
wouldn't THINK of impinging on your Trek rights, but the story ideas  are 
mine and only mine, so don't touch!
As  for  the  former CMO of Voyager, I gave him a first name.  And now, 
all that remains is the dreaded wait for the first  reviews to roll in.  
I hope you get some enjoyment from my tale!

Note:  The story is Barbe's, I'm just posting ... Jan Davis

THE MATING GAME
By Barbe Smith

" ... Finally, we remember Ensign Simmons for his unfailing  courage and 
dedication to the Starfleet mission.  It was his lifelong dream to reach 
for the unknown and we can be comforted knowing that he died in pursuit 
of that dream..."
The  words came automatically now.  Captain Kathryn  Janeway was even  
able to detach herself while she spoke them.  What funeral was this  now? 
 Number 5, 15, 50?  So many had died in such a short time that  her 
emotions were switching over to auto-pilot rather than deal with  the  
pain once again.  The other crew members felt it  -- Tom Paris  lifted 
his hand to his face as though to wipe his eye,  Janeway knew it was more 
a camouflaged move to conceal a yawn.  Ensign  Harry Kim squirmed 
uncomfortably in his seat.  At his tender age of 22, he'd had more  than 
his fair share of death to contend with and  it showed in his 
restlessness.
What  was  happening  to this group?  Was this  all  that  awaited  them -
- a circle of 'mandatory mourners' and ritual A, B or C?  Had they all  
been so hardened to the reality of their plight, that they  could no 
longer even FEEL the pain of loss?
The  ceremony came to an end.  Ensign Simmons was  launched  onto his 
galactic burial ground as had been his wish.  With a last  backward  
glance toward her crewmember's final journey, Janeway steered herself 
toward  the private sanctuary of her ready room.  The matter that  she  
had pushed aside could be denied no longer. With a deep sigh, she sank 
her head into her hands and forced herself to think ...
******************************************
The accident in Engineering had been a fluke.circuits have been known  to 
short  out on a regular basis,  the  back-up  systems  were created with 
that possibility in mind.  But only the fates could  have foreseen  that 
the diagnostics test run on the security  system  would overload a grid 
of circuits in the one Jeffries  tube  where Ensign Simmons was  making 
repairs.  An  accident. A ... terribly tragic accident ... but a 
Starfleet fact of life.
Only  ere  n  oyager, there was no luxury  f  requesting  new  personnel 
to replace the fallen comrade.  Engineering now had one less able-bodied 
crewman to help them find their way home.
B'elanna Torres had been shaken by the latest loss.  Her crew put in  
strenuous shifts as it was and each departure caused her  to cut back on 
'non-vital' operations.  With routine maintenance being put on hold, the 
risk of more accidents increased ten-fold.  
After  meeting with the Captain to discuss Ensign Simmons' final 
arrangements, Torres had voiced her concerns to the Captain: "Captain  
Janeway,  we  have to start  training more people in Engineering  
procedures.  We barely have the manpower for  two  shifts  now  and if 
we're going to get this ship home, it has to  be  properly maintained.  I 
don't see how we can keep this up much longer..." "B'elanna,"  Janeway's  
no-nonsense tone belied the  anxiety  he struggled  daily to keep in tow, 
"every department is facing the  same crisis.  Your  Maquis  crew has 
capably filled many  of  the  vacant positions caused by our difficult 
journey here.  The simple truth is we can't afford to lose one more 
crewmember in any department."
Torres began to argue but was forestalled as the Captain  brought  up her 
hand and continued reasonably: "B'elanna,  I  know, without Engineering, 
there IS no  reason  to worry about other departments. Suppose I ask 
Commander Chakotay to re-
    evaluate the duty rosters one more time?  Will that help?" Torres' 
Klingon blood noticeably cooled before Janeway's eyes.
 "Yes Captain, that will be fine."

Commander  Chakotay's  report  did little  to  relieve  Janeway's tension 
 but  a  few  transfers  from  Security  mollified  the  Chief Engineer.  
She hoped that Lt. Tuvok's questioning stares  would lessen  in  
intensity  as the days went by_obviously the Vulcan  thought  the moves 
to be unwise.
Still,  the  undeniable  fact  remained:  they  needed  new  life onboard.
  If Janeway could be assured that around the next corner  lay  the  
wormhole that would transport them home, or that the  planet  two stars  
over held the secret to space-folding travel, then  they  could cope.  
But, they were little closer to home than they had been at  the  start,  
and  the miracles were slow in coming.  It was  time  to  face  
facts_they had to plan for a long haul ahead...

************************************************

The  staff meeting was even more awkward than Janeway could  have  
imagined.  No matter how she tried to delicately phrase matters,  this 
Captain  was  launching  into private areas  for  which  no  Starfleet 
training  could have prepared her.  After trying to take a  circuitous 
route to broach the topic, she was met by only mystified glances.   As 
she  drew  a deep breath and attempted to try a new  approach,  Neelix  
stood up.
"I think what the Captain is trying to say is that this crew  has been  
lax in their mating practices and must take immediate action  to  correct 
this problem!"
"Well, THAT got their attention," Janeway thought wryly as  heads pivoted 
 as one in her direction. Personally, she would have traded  a  month's  
supply  of  her precious coffee to be anywhere  else  in  the 
universe_even  if only for a few moments for the heat to recede  from her 
face and neck.
"Ah...um...Yes,  thank you Mr. Neelix.  I guess you COULD sum  up  what 
I'm trying to say in that direct, albeit, indelicate manner.  The  fact  
of  the  matter  is  that Voyager is  in  urgent  need  of  crew  
replacements.  While the staff we have now could safely pilot us  home if 
 it  were to take three or four years, a  journey  of  seventy-five years 
will surely require additional manpower.  As we have no youth on board 
that we can train to fill openings as they arise, we are in  the 
uncomfortable  position  of needing to supply  these  future  trainees 
ourselves.  While, under normal conditions, you could expect nature to 
take  its  course and for some crewmates to bond, we do not  have  the 
luxury to wait for nature nor can we depend upon the whimsy of romance to 
get this ship back home..."
The  Captain  paused to gauge the reactions of her  Bridge  Crew.  Tuvok, 
Chakotay and Torres did not seem the least bit disturbed by the Captain's 
 revelation_it was obvious to Janeway that they'd  formerly considered 
this matter in some depth.  By the lascivious leer  playing on  Tom 
Paris' lips he was lost in contemplation of the  'hazards'  of this 
newest mission.
Janeway  wondered  if  she was the only one  discomfited  by  the notion  
of dictating sexual encounters when she happened to glance  in Harry 
Kim's direction.  The Ensign was intently examining the ceiling pattern  
in  the conference room_perhaps that  unusual  position  was responsible 
for all the blood that had drained from his face.
For the first time Janeway laughed to herself: "Poor  Harry,  I'm sure 
he'd have much rather I assigned  him  to board  a  hostile  vessel 
single-handed than consider  the  notion  of selecting a mate!"
Chakotay's voice broke the lengthy silence: "Captain, that's fine 
declaring that we have a problem.  But, how do we go about the next 
step_after all Voyager is hardly prepared  to  accommodate infants in 
great numbers..."
"Yes, Commander, I am well aware of that.  Logistically, we  will have  
to make preparations for nurseries, child care,  and  eventually 
schooling.  Perhaps Kes here could assist us in that regard?!"
The  ethereal  Ocampan  appeared delighted  to  tackle  one  more project 
and nodded serenely.
Lt.  Tuvok, unfailingly thorough, voiced the concern  which  most played 
on Janeway's mind: "Captain, if I might point out, there are only 50 
females present on Voyager.  Several of these number, including yourself, 
are near the end  of  ideal child-bearing age.  Considering the 
inequality  of  the  male/female ratio, one would surmise that each woman 
will need to bear children  from  more  than one father_thus insuring  
the  proper  DNA distribution to ensure healthy future generations.  In 
order to  avoid unnecessary  rivalry  among competing males, I would 
presume  that  we  will need to establish our own codes of acceptable 
behavior in keeping with our desired ends."
This was too much for Lt. Paris:
"WHAT???! Are you telling me that there are going to be rules and  
regulation  about  sex? Are you out of your mind?  I  say,  just  tell 
everybody we need babies and let them do what they do best.   Throwing 
rules around is just going to make people crazy."
Janeway  pushed up from her seat and silenced the agitated  Pilot before  
he could go off on a rampage. As Paris settled  down,  Janeway turned 
back to the Vulcan.
 "Lt. Tuvok, I must agree with Lt.Paris...for now.  We are already 
dealing with a situation for which we have no Starfleet training could 
have prepared us. I am very much hoping that presenting the  situation to 
 the  crew  in  a realistic manner, and  depending  on  their  good 
judgment, will allow us to remedy the situation in a natural fashion."
Tuvok's body language clearly proclaimed his doubt that  anything guided  
by a human judgment would bring the desired results.  However, he 
withheld further comment.  Janeway noticeably relaxed, she had been 
prepared for additional concerns from her Security Chief.
"Very well, I want all departments to be briefed on this  matter. While 
no one is to feel pressured into making any decisions that would violate  
their  personal  moral  codes,  all  crew mates  are  strongly 
    encouraged  to seek a partner.  If problems arise due to  the  
unequal number  of males to females, they will be dealt with on an  
individual basis.  Any questions?"
"Yes,  Captain" drawled the now-amused Lt. Paris, "will the  crew be  
allowed additional off-duty time to pursue this mission? And  will 
commendations be awarded for performance above and beyond the call  of 
duty?"
Janeway  shot a quelling glance in Tom's direction yet he  merely grinned 
back and shrugged his shoulders.  After all, dictating to  the  entire  
crew to "go forth and multiply" was bound to spill  over  into  working 
hours.
"Mr. Paris, above all we are professionals, Starfleet and  Maquis  alike. 
 I would hope that we can all maintain our dignity during  this  affair  
and manage to keep this ship on its proper course at the  same  time."
Too late she realized the unfortunate use of the word "affair" as Paris,  
Torres and even Chakotay broke out into gusts of laughter  and Kim's 
color returned to his face in a crimson rush.
Hands flung up in surrender, Janeway smiled:  "God help us all!  You're 
dismissed!"
*********************************************************

The  moment she entered the galley, Janeway knew that her  bridge 
officers  had  already  spoken with their staffs.  Ensign  Iyallo  was 
engaging  in fervent eye contact with a young woman from  Cartography. 
The  Delany sisters were holding court surrounded by  several  crewmen  
that  Janeway  barely  knew.   The air  fairly  crackled  with  sexual  
electricity  as  women  and  men alike glanced at  each  other  as  if  
becoming  aware  of  their gender for the  first  time.   The  Captain  
quickly grabbed a plate with one of Neelix's creations piled high in a  
gelatinous  mound  and escaped from the common area. She  didn't  much  
care  for the change from the old, comfortable scheme  of  things_the  
occasional Maquis/Starfleet squabbles would be child's play compared  to 
the  courting  battles that were gearing up.   She  comforted  herself 
knowing at least she could remain detached from it.  
She  noticed  the substance on her plate for the first  time  and  made 
her first unequivocal decision of the day_she was DEFINITELY not going  
to  eat lunch!  Disposing of Neelix's delicacy  with  a  silent prayer  
that  the  waste system would not suffer an  overload  in  the  process, 
Janeway made her way back to her ready room. 
As  she studied the star charts for this sector, her  door  chime 
announced a visitor:
"Come,"  she  uttered  looking up only  as  she  noted  Commander 
Chakotay standing before her.
"Commander  Chakotay, are they the duty roster updates  that  you have 
for me?"
"Yes  Captain,  the  three new Engineering trainees  seem  to  be 
adapting  well.   Lt.  Torres  is pleased.   I'm  not  as  sure  about 
Tuvok..."
"Lt.  Tuvok has a superb staff, I'm confident that Security  will  manage 
just fine."
Janeway noticed Chakotay's awkward stance and uncertainty for the first  
time.   She  only hoped that "affairs of the  heart"  were  not already 
plaguing her First Officer.
"Commander?" she stood and gently laid her hand on one  shoulder, "is 
there something else you'd like to talk about?"
"Uh...yes  Captain. I guess this whole mating business will  make day-to-
day  dealings  a  bit  trickier.   The  thing  is,  I've   been 
considering  this  whole  matter, and while  it  would  be  completely 
inappropriate for me to be your mate, I would like to offer to  father 
one of your children."
Janeway  was  prepared for a confession but this wasn't  it!  Her  hand 
dropped numbly from Chakotay's shoulder and she dropped back into  her 
chair in a dazed thud.
The  bombshell  now  delivered, Chakotay hurried  to  finish  his 
explanation before the Captain could refuse.
"Captain,  consider  before  you  answer.  I  know  it  would  be  
inadvisable  for a Captain and her first officer to bond, but we  have  
common  strengths and an existing friendship.  I promise that I  would  
cherish  any  child we create together and with  both  our  leadership 
skills  the child would grow to be strong and wise. All this,  without  
the  romantic  entanglements  that will cloud so  many  of  the  other  
crew member's judgments..."
Chakotay's declaration was the stuff of science-fiction.  Janeway  felt  
as  if  she'd stepped into an alternate timeline  where  no  one behaved 
as they should. Her stolid, comfortable XO was standing before her 
looking for all the world like a gawky teenager on his first date.
As  she  racked her brain for something diplomatic to  say  (what COULD  
she say?_what did she WANT to say, for that matter),  she  was saved by 
the chime, and the fortuitous arrival of her Security Chief.
"Lt. Tuvok, come in, PLEASE," From Chakotay's pained glance,  she had 
injected a bit too much enthusiasm into her greeting. 
She  tried  to soften the blow as she approached  the  her  First  
Officer and walked him to the door: "Commander,  I  will  consider  very  
carefully.  It  is  a  most unexpected  offer but I am honored by it.  We 
will speak more of  this  later." Her eyes told him that she spoke the 
truth.
Satisfied and grateful that his part was done, Chakotay nodded to  the 
Captain and Tuvok and left the room.
Releasing  the  breath she had apparently been  holding,  Janeway  turned 
in relief to Lt. Tuvok. "Tuvok, you can't realize how excellent  your 
timing was!  Now what can I do for you?"
The  Vulcan noted the Captain's attempt to regain  her  composure and 
deduced that the Commander had entered his petition for  paternity rights.

"Captain,  I presume from what I have heard of your  conversation with 
Commander Chakotay that he has put forth his proposal to father a  child 
for you?"
         "Dear Tuvok, never misses a thing!" she thought, at ease  
knowing  that here was one friend who was rock steady, a sturdy anchor in 
 this sea of rampant hormones.
         "Yes Tuvok, I just didn't think that anyone would consider me 
for his.   As Captain, I always figured that I would be ineligible for  a 
relationship,  let  alone Motherhood.  I guess  Chakotay's  offer  was 
sudden. Somehow, I never imagined the two of us in that way..."
         "And that is not at all surprising Captain," injected Tuvok,  
"as  I  was  telling  the Commander, a  parental  relationship  requires  
a certain  degree of intimacy between partners that would be a  distinct  
disadvantage to the necessarily detached working relationship  between  a 
First Officer and his or her Captain.  I do not believe that such  a  
pairing would be optimal nor desirable."
Janeway  smiled fondly at Tuvok's evaluation. Trust a  Vulcan  to keep an 
eye to the optimal!
But Tuvok was not through: "I  on the other hand, would be the more 
logical choice.  As  the 
distance between us has logistically divorced me from my real mate,  I  
am  free  to  look  elsewhere.   You and I  have  a  long  history  of 
companionship,  and there would be no emotional barriers to cloud  our 
judgments whether raising a child or in our professional  environment.   
While  my  Pon  Farr state is some time ahead of me yet,  I  am  still 
capable  of fathering a child and would find it an honor to donate  my 
DNA  to  you on this behalf. Do you not see that this  would  be  most 
suitable?"
"Oh  no!"  Janeway's mind shrieked,"Your anchor has  just  turned  into  
a helium balloon!" Janeway hoped her thoughts didn't  color  her  body 
language while she groped for words.
"Tuvok,  you  make  perfect sense as always.  But  I'm  sure  you realize 
 that this is a decision that I cannot rush.  I will give  you  my 
decision in twenty-four hours."
"Captain, that is perfectly acceptable.  I await your decision."
"Thank you Tuvok, that will be all!"
Her  thoughts spun, a near-hysterical giggle sprang  through  her  lips: 
"Two proposals in one day! Wouldn't Mother have  been pleased?!"  
Feeling  suddenly claustrophic in her ready room, Janeway fled to  the 
galley.  Perhaps during this offtime, she could drink a cup of  coffee 
and THINK.
The  Dining Hall was blissfully peaceful now.  Unfortunately,  it allowed 
Neelix to lavish all his attention on the Captain.
"Captain, I've experimented with different blends of patari beans and  
I've concocted a brew which I think you'll find most  satisfying.  Would 
you care to try some?"
Janeway sighed: "Not now Neelix. I need something I can count  on today.
there  are already too many changes to deal with, at least  my coffee can 
still be the same."
 "Oh  you're talking about this new mating dictate, aren't you?  I must  
admit, Kes and I are most restrained in our rituals compared  to what's  
happening  around her already.  No one ever informed  me  that rutting  
human  males  are  quite so blatant  in  their  attention  to females.   
And  for  that  matter, some  of  the  females  are  pretty enthusiastic  
themselves.  Take Ensign Davis for example, why  I  could tell you 
stories about her..." "Thank  you  Neelix! I don't think I really need  
to  know  those types of details."
 "So  Captain," Neelix settled himself into his  confidante  mode, "who 
have you selected as your first partner?"  
"Mr. Neelix, Please!"
"Well  Captain, it's not like me to be nosy but the fact  of  the matter  
is Talaxians are not compatible with Ocampan physiology  so  I  cannot  
father a child for the woman I love.  Kes, the angel that  she is,  
suggested  that since Talaxians ARE compatible with  humans,  who would  
be  better to father the next generation of Captains  for  this ship?  
After all, I have a fair amount of captaining experience myself  and  
with  your intellect and my superior personality,  our  offspring would 
be exceptional.  Of course, I would have to adapt to its  homely 
appearance  if it took after you, but I'm sure I could get used to  it in 
time..."


        A ludicrous image of a bristly, auburn-locked child sweet-talking  his  
way  out  of numerous scrapes  flashed  across  Janeway's  neural 
pathways. Some decisions were easier to make than others...
        "Mr. Neelix, while that is a MOST generous offer on both yours  & Kes' 
behalf, I must decline.  It would be unsuitable of me to  impinge upon  
an already-established relationship for the purpose of having  a child.   
Thank you, for your unselfishness in making such  a  gesture, but I'm 
afraid I have to refuse."
        She  left  a  still-puzzled  Neelix.   Obviously  he  was  having 
difficulty  in comprehending how anyone could reject such a  stud!  As 
she  returned to the bridge, she realized that she had spent  most  of  
her day avoiding male crewmates, two of whom were awaiting answers  to  
their proposals. End of shift could not come soon enough this day!
        Later, as she wandered slowly down the corridor to her cabin, she  
passed  Tom  Paris with a Delany sister on either  arm.  Catching  her 
raised eyebrows, Paris chuckled and winked.
        "At least, that's ONE bridge officer who won't be volunteering as  my  
consort any time soon!" Janeway thought to herself with  a  slight  ping 
of regret.
Realizing  where her line of thought was taking her, the  Captain quickly 
downed a warm glass of milk and settled herself for the night.  As fate 
would have it, her wearied mind could find no rest or  answers  in  sleep.
   Nightmares   filled  with  screaming  infants_some  with distinctive 
Vulcan ears, some with bold tatoos, some with bristly hair  &  covered  
in  spots_alternated with brilliant  dreams  of  maternal bliss.   Bathed 
 in sweat, Janeway  rose and stared into  her  mirror, hoping  to find 
solutions there.  Finally too exhausted to  think  any  further, she 
collapsed and sank into deep slumber.
***********************************************
    
        The  next day was bound to be easier, or so she  thought.   True,  
things  were a bit tense with Chakotay but they would  ease.   Janeway 
had  visited B'elanna Torres in Engineering earlier_she seemed to  be 
relishing  the  male attention that was being lavished upon  her.   No 
doubt the Chief Engineer would have the upper hand in any relationship 
she embarked upon. She only wished that it were that easy for her.
        Her  trip to Engineering left her thoughtful, so deep in  thought that  
Ensign  Harry  Kim  had to clear his  throat  twice  before  she  
realized that she was not alone in the Turboshaft.
        "Ensign Kim! I'm so sorry. My head is elsewhere today."
        "That's  OK Captain.  It's just that there's something I want  to  talk 
to you about and I don't know where to start..."
        "No, not again!" the instinctive voice in Janeway's head shrieked  an  
alarm, "here we go one more time, Red Alert! Red  Alert!  Defenses Up!"
        "No!" Janeway's outburst brought Kim's speech to a halt.
        "Captain?" Kim was definitely confused.
        "I  said no, Ensign.  I know what you're about to say, and  while  it  
is sweet and honorable of you, I cannot accept any offer from  you  to  
father my children..." Her explanation screeched to a halt at  the  
horrified look that came over the young Ensign's face. "That was  what  
you were going to say, wasn't it?" 
        That expression said it all.  Janeway had made one of the biggest gaffes 
of her life.  Harry Kim would have phased into the woodwork  if  he could.
  He sputtered and stammered:
        "Ah...uh...Captain...well  I would of course be honored to  be  a  
father of your child, but actually, I was trying to apologize for  not 
turning  in the science station diagnostic report yesterday..."
Kim's voice  trailed off miserably while Janeway knew beyond all doubt  
that this turboshaft ride would never end.
        She desperately tried to regain some shred of dignity: "I  accept your 
apology Ensign but I will expect you  to  improve  your handling of these 
matters in the future. Is that clear?"
        "Aye Captain"  Kim's eyes could not quite meet straight on.
        "Not   at  all  surprising",  Janeway  thought,"he's  just   been  
propositioned  by his Captain. Who wouldn't be mortified?  The  upside  
is, he certainly can't feel as stupid as I right now!"
        As  the  turbo doors opened and heads swung  in  their  direction 
Janeway knew that she needed time to compose herself. After two  short 
days, the situation was already out of hand and she desperately needed  
someone  objective  with whom to speak. Rubbing her temples  with  one  
hand, she spoke to Chakotay:
        "I am not feeling quite up to par. I believe I'll have the Doctor check 
me out.  You have the bridge Commander!"
        "Aye Captain" Chakotay once again settled in the Captain's chair.
***********************************************

        "Emergency  Medical  Holographic  Supplement,  please  state  the  
nature of your medical emergency..." 
        As  the  Doctor  materialized  in  his  ready-for-anything  mode, 
Janeway wondered  whether  this  predicament  was  one  within   his 
parameters.  The supplement programmers had not been  overly  generous  
with  sympathetic personality traits for the Doctor, but at  least  
hecould  be guaranteed not to offer the solution of parenting her  child  
himself _ at least she hoped not!
        "Captain,  what can I do for you?" The Doctor's  brusque  inquiry 
penetrated her preoccupation.
        "Doctor, I need someone to talk to. I came to what I feel is  the  
rational decision of suggesting that the crew consider producing  some 
new  life onboard_we have no other alternative if we are to find  our way 
 home_but  somehow  I never realized how  this  would  affect  me 
personally.  Now, several men that I care for as friends are  offering to 
 father  children  for me and I have embarassed  myself  by  seeing 
hidden  motives  in  the action of another.   There  is  certainly  no 
precedent  for this type of behavior.  As Captain, what should  be  my  
role?"
The Doctor was not one to mince words: "Well  Captain,  as leader of the 
ship, you should not  be  above what you mandate for the others.  There 
is a shortage of women on this ship and therefore, you should also 
consider becoming a parent."
Janeway  felt  as though she been doused with cold  water.  She'd come  
in  here looking for justification to take herself  out  of  the game, 
the Doctor was suggesting that she take Center Court!
"But  Doctor,  how  can I operate successfully as  Captain  if  I become  
involved with a crewmate.  Somehow I can't see me  kissing  my husband 
good morning only to send him on a  hazardous mission  minutes later.  It 
just doesn't work."
 "Ah...but  Captain,  one  does not necessarily  have  to  form  a 
romantic  attachment in order to produce a child.   Certainly  Science 
has progressed to the point where a child can be conceived without the 
two parents ever meeting..."
"That's  well and good Doctor, but the men on this ship  WILL  be aware 
of any offspring they've fathered and I do not wish to ruin  the 
relationship I have with any of them by picking one over the other."
"Captain,  that  is,  of course, you're decision.  But,  at  your 
advanced age I believe you should consider carefully and soon!   There 
may however, be one more solution to your dilemma..."
***********************************************

A  mere  ten  months later, 8 lb, 9 oz  Tamara  Kathryn  Kim  was  
reverently  place into an incubator in Voyager's  improvised  nursery.  
She  serenely  perused  her  new surroundings  pausing  only  to  gaze  
intently into the eyes of her adoring father.
"Strange  how  things work out!" Janeway whispered  to  Chakotay,  "Harry 
 was the most mortified when this whole operation started,  yet he's  the 
 first  to 'fulfill his mission' as it  were.   And  in  the process, he 
seems to have gained something truly special."
They glanced over to where Harry and his wife Theresa were cooing over  
their  new addition.  Apparently, Ensign Kim had  been  secretly seeing 
the young officer from Engineering, Janeway's dictum had merely spurred 
their relationship along.
"I wouldn't be surprised if my little misunderstanding with Harry  also  
hastened his proposal to  Ensign Yunelle." Janeway grimaced  at the 
memory in spite of herself.
Chakotay  laughed,  the  image  of  his  straight-laced  Captain 'coming-
on' to the naive Ops. officer was ludicrous to say the least.
Time  had  moved  on,  and Janeway was now  able  to  joke  about  the 
incident,  although  it was still apparent that Kim did  his  best  to 
avoid being alone with his Captain.
         Fortunately,  the entire atmosphere onboard was  somewhat  
easier now.  The  bridge  crew had gotten back  to  their  professional  
yet comfortable  relationship  with each other, and while  the  
occasional conflicts   erupted,   most   onboard   were   establishing    
settled relationships.  Baby Kim was the first of ten pregnancies to  
come  to term, and five others were expected in the coming weeks.
"Come on, let's leave the new parents in peace Commander." As the  two  
moved down the hall, Chakotay once again admired how his  Captain could  
carry herself in such regal bearing while so heavy with  child.  
She was every inch the Captain of this vessel and did not appear to be 
the least bit self-conscious, although it had been months since  she'd 
last been able to fit into any of her official Starfleet  gear.
Janeway, meanwhile, was thinking back several months to her first venture 
 into this realm of nausea and swollen ankles. Initially,  she had  
written off the Doctor's notion as preposterous.   The  Voyager's late  
Doctor,  Robert  Fitzgerald, had been engaged  in  medical  research 
before  his  death_research  that  dealt with  a  breakthrough  in  a 
development of a Terellian plague vaccine. Fitzgerald had been  
attempting to overcome  one  of  the side effects of a  promising  new  
drug:  a dangerous suppression of sperm motility in male patients. In 
light  of his  studies,  he had stored several frozen sperm specimens,  
his  own among them.
 Rather  than  be concerned about complicated  relations  with  a father 
onboard, the holographic Doc had reasoned,  why not make use of the DNA 
of someone who could not possibly interfere?
Captain  Janeway's  immediate  reaction to the  scheme  had  been  
revulsion.  Would it be fair to bring a child into the world who would  
never  know  his  father?   But,  at  the  Doctor's  suggestion,   she  
considered the idea further over the days ahead.
 In  the  quiet hours as she searched for sleep,  she  groped  for 
answers.  Finally,  she  tried to think of what  her  former  Medical 
Officer would say.  She decided he would be equal parts horrified  and 
flattered.  Still, above all, Rob Conner had a taste for life's little 
ironies_and  what  could be more ironic than to father  a  child  two 
years after one's own death?
Two days  later  Janeway had given her decision  to  her  bridge officers 
 and asked for their support.  Their reactions were all  that she could 
have hoped for, and she soon found herself in sickbay in the position  
universally  despised by females_feet up high  in  stirrups with legs 
askew.
"This won't hurt a bit," the Doctor reassured her as Kathryn shut  her  
eyes  tightly and questioned again if she was  the  biggest  fool alive.  
 Three  attempts  and a few months later, as  the  test  strip turned  a 
definitive blue, and the first, then second heartbeats  were  detected,  
she  knew  that it was the best  decision  she  could  have  made...
"Well  Captain, it won't be long before we're bringing you down here.  
Any second thoughts?" Chakotay's words jerked her back to the present.
"All  the time Commander," the doubt in her voice was  belied  by 
 twinkle in her eyes, "but, I must admit that I'll be happy when  these  
two seek roomier accommodations."  She rested her hand lightly on  the 
huge bulge and twin feet kicked exuberently in response.  She  turned to 
her XO and dear friend, seeking reassurance once again.
"You do understand why I made this decision, don't you Chakotay?" 
Chakotay  stopped  and rested his large hand on her  shoulder,  a  
reversal of their usual actions:
      "Yes,  Captain,  and I think it is a wonderful  memorial  to  the 
deceased  doctor.  Some of my people might say it was 'meant' that  he 
would  have  stored his frozen sperm onboard for his  medical  trials.  
Now,  through  the  birth of his two children,  you  are  giving  some 
validation to his time on Voyager. And he can live on."
      "Thank  you Chakotay. You and Tuvok have been  wonderful  through 
this  whole  process,  and I can think of no children  who  will  have 
better mentors available to them. The future looks bright, after  all, 
don't you think?"
Chakotay's eyes held that secretive gleam that bespoke of the magic he 
had found with his own bride:
       "Yes Captain, the future looks bright indeed!..."


THE END