Thread by @jacoboy09

#MicroTrek Happy 30th, Kathy

This is set before the 2nd season of Star Trek: Picard, and simply an indulgence of something I love to think happened.

Credit to @ShelfNerds, who created #MicroTreks and @ltcomrae, who prompted me to finally post this.

The doors to Voyager’s ready room slid open before Admiral Janeway as she proceeded inside. It was just as she remembered it down to the cup of hot coffee sitting on her desk.

As she looked out of the ready room windows toward Earth, she watched as the sunlight was rising over San Francisco bay, and smiled softly remembering that it had been nearly 30 years now since Voyager was thrust into the Delta Quadrant, and her life had been changed forever.

?: “Reminiscing about old times? Or are you still thinking about the missed opportunity I offered to you all those years ago?”

A familiar voice calls out from behind her, prompting Janeway to turn and find a familiar face sitting at her desk.

Janeway: “Q?”, Janeway smirked, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Q: “Can’t an old friend pop in to say hello? I listened as that Talaxian friend of yours droned on to the Brikarian about how excited he was for the big day. What kind of a celebration would it be without moi?”

Janeway: “Oh everyone is making such a big deal about today. I’m simply commanding Voyager from here to the fleet museum at Antham Prime, not exactly a stop the presses type of event. We retire vessels like her all the time. Jean-Luc sent me a letter with his regrets because”

“he’s due to give a speech at the Academy. Neelix, Dal and Rok-Tahk are traveling in from the Delta Quadrant, and even Seven called me to check in.” Janeway laughed faintly to herself, “today must be more noteworthy than I thought.”

Janeway reaches for the coffee mug on her desk and remembers that it's simulated. As she pulls her hand back, Q snaps his fingers and a cup of fresh black coffee appears in her hand. She smiles gratefully and sips.

Janeway: “Well, that is something I could get used to.”

Janeway laughs as she puts the cup down. “Now out with it, Q, what are you doing here?”

Q stands up and circles around the desk to face Janeway, with a look on his face that she would swear was melancholic if she didn’t know better. She searched his face curiously for deception.

Q: “And how was our favorite ex Borg when you spoke with her?” A hint of curiosity colored his question in Janeway’s head, only increasing her curiosity about Q’s motives.

Janeway: “She had a better day today. We’re finalizing the arrangements for the funeral.”

“We were going to proceed sooner, but she wanted to give Neelix and Naomi to get here first. Now back to my question, Q, what are you doing here?”

Q: “To offer a gift, Kathy. 30 years may not seem all that special, but I know how important this ship, and its crew, are to you,”

“And they aren’t whole.”

Janeway’s brows soften and she searches Q’s face as she tries to understand his meaning.

Q “I will be going on a little trip soon, to help an old friend confront some very hard truths. And it got me to think about our friendship as well.”

Janeway: “Q, are you expressing sentimentality?” Janeway snides teasingly, “Look I don’t know what is going on here, but if this is some kind of trick or game, please not today. What do you mean this ship and crew aren’t whole? What’s going on, Q?”

An agitated and exasperated Janeway picked up the mug of coffee and took a deep gulp, trying to calm herself before sitting on the couch. Q joins her.

Q: “I have come to realize that there are very few individuals in the universe whom I could consider to be of importance.”

“You helped to usher in a new era of the continuum. More importantly, you helped to give me my son, and to teach him how to be a much better Q than I’ve ever been.”

Q’s voice is serious and gentle, and suddenly Janeway finds her guard dropped completely.

A single tear forms in the corner of Q’s eye and slides slowly down his cheek as he takes Janeway’s hands into his. Janeway’s face softens and she places one hand on Q’s cheek.

Janeway: “I can’t imagine how, but if there is something I can do, to be of some sort of help…”

Q: “After all this time, the capacity you humans have for kindness and caring still surprises me. And for that, as well as everything else you have given to me, I give you this gift on this special day.”

Before Janeway can utter an objection, a figure appears in her periphery.

She turns her head only to be shocked as Icheb stands in front of her. Janeway’s heart races as she looks back and forth from Q to Icheb, and she stands up. Icheb stares around the Ready Room, and up at Admiral Janeway, confused by his sudden appearance there.

Icheb: “Admiral… I don’t understand… at one moment I was on a mission in the Daimanta system, and the next…”

Icheb looks to Q trying to make sense of everything, as Admiral Janeway rushes across to him and hugs him tightly.

Janeway: “It’s okay, you’re home now.”

Janeway holds him tightly for another moment, before turning back to Q, who has joined them at her desk once more. Again, Janeway sees traces of sincerity and happiness on Q’s face as he looks upon them.

Janeway: “Q… I don’t understand. How? Why?”

Q: “It’s your anniversary. And I wanted to give you something special. All those years ago, I had the arrogance to put your species on trial for its transgressions, when in reality the trial was mine. What good is all this power, if I don’t find some good to do with it?”

Janeway’s face softens and tears begin to well in her eyes. Q smiles softly as he steps away from them and raises a hand.

Q: “Happy 30th anniversary, Kathy. I wish you many many more.”

Q snaps his fingers and is gone.