Next morning. The Confederate camp.

Janeway and Q are led from the tent where they have been kept overnight out toward the place where they are to be executed. She tries to persuade her captors: "Why won't you listen to me? I told you commander last night: we can resolve the situation peacefully." But the enemy soldiers ignore her.

Q tells her: "If it's any consolation, there are those in the Continuum who will remember us as martyrs." Janeway: "I'd rather skip that particular honour." Q: "Still, you have to admit there's something romantic about going to our deaths together."

Confederate Q commander: "Do you have any last words?"

Janeway: "I won't plead for myown life. From your perspective I know it seems insignificant. But what is not insignificant is the fact tht the Q, as an omnipotent race, have an opportunity to be a positive force, to set a higher standard for other beings in the galaxy. I implore you all: don't go thorugh with this. Don't allow yourselves to continue using violence to resolve your differences."

Confederate Q commander: "Q, do you have anything to add?" Q: "Today I sacrifice my existence for the principles of freedom and individuality that I have fought for so long. But this woman is innocent. What's more, she saved my life and she tried to save us from each other. Kill me if you must but let her go."

Confederate Q commander: "Very touching speech, Q, but as usual your rhetoric fails to compensate for your irresponsibility."

He gives the orders to the firing squad which lines up and takes aim as the drummer beats time.

Tied to their stakes, Q turns to Janeway and says, "I'm sorry." She replies, "I know."

The Confederate Q commander shouts, "Fire!" and there are shots.

Q slumps, "I'm hit, I'm dying," but Janeway realises neither she nor Q have been shot. Janeway: "Q!" Q: "What?"

Janeway: "They're not firing at us." Q realises: "They're not."

Q's troops, supported by senior members of Voyager's crew, all armed with Q weapons, are attacking the Confederate encampment! The firing squad breaks up as the 'Confederate' forces rush to defend.

The opposing Q forces fight.

Chakotay: "Harry, get the Captain!"

Tuvok gives covering fire.

The Q Colonel fires back..

The covering fire from the Voyager away team enable Kim and Female Q to dash round the back of the tents...

...and reach the stakes where Q and Janeway are tied.

Kim unties Janeway. Kim: "Captain, are you alright?" Janeway: "I'm fine." Q to Female Q: "Oh, darling. I knew you'd come for me."

Female Q merely crosses her arms. Q: "Aren't you going to untie me?" Female Q: "How do I know you won't run off with the next bipedal female that catches your eye?" Q: "Well, it just so happens that I have a proposal that should reassure you of my devotion." Janeway and Kim are watching Q and Female Q from behind a tree!

Meanwhile Paris comes up behind the Confederate Q commander and orders him: "Put down the gun."

At the same time, Q is putting his proposal to an interested Female Q: "Think of it, Q. We'd be visionaries, innovators, the parents of peace." Female Q: "Oh, that does have a nice ring to it."

Paris brings the captured enemy commander to Janeway, while Kim, Q and Female Q look on. Paris: "Captain, what should I do with him?" Female Q to Confederate commander: "Q and I have a plan for ending the war. Call off your troops. Janeway: "Do as she says and I'll call my people off. Female Q: "They may be humanoids but they're using our weapons." The Confederate commander decides to agree and is allowed to leave, calling to his men, "Cease fire, cease fire!" Janeway: "Tell our people to stop shooting." Paris and Kim leave, calling, "Hold your fire, put down your weapons!"

Q: "So, darling, have you given any thought as to how we might accomplish this historic act of procreation?" Female Q: "I;ve thought of nothing else since you suggested it. As a matter of fact-" She whispers in his ear. What she says tickles him. Q: "I love it when you talk dirty."

Janeway: "Er, why don't we give you two some privacy." Q: "What's the matter, Kathy? Don't you like to watch?" He and Female Q touch fingers. Power of some kind flickers between them. It is all over in a matter of seconds!

Q to Female Q: "I was good, wasn't I?" Female Q: "Very good." Clearly they both found it to be a most pleasurable experience. Janeway: "That was it?!" Q to Janeway: "You had your chance. Don't go cryng about it now."

Q and Female Q snap their fingers. In a flash of bright light they disappear and....

...the Voyager crew find themselves back on the ship's bridge.

After a brief moment of bewilderment, they regain orientation and take their posts.

Janeway: "Lieutenant Paris, what's our position?" Paris, surprised: "We're back on our original course." Tuvok: "All crew are present and accounted for."

Janeway: "Ensign Kim, any sign of supernovas?"

Kim: "No, ma'am, nothing but calm space ahead. Looks like the war's over." Janeway: "Mr Chakotay, run a series of standard diagnostics. If everything checks out, take us to warp 6." Chakotay: "Aye, Captain."

Janeway: "I'll be in my Ready Room." But as she enters, she is surprised to find...

Q, with his toddler son! Janeway: "Q."

Q: "He's got my cheekbones, don't you think?"

Janeway: "He's adorable. I'd say fatherhood agrees with you." Q: "Well, I'll admit, I, I look at the universe in an entirely different way now. I mean, I can't just go around causing temporal anomalies or subspace inversions without considering what kind of impact it'll have on my son." Janeway: "I'm glad to hear you intend to set a good example." Q: "By the way, did I tell how smart he is? I've already taught him how to knock small planets out of orbit." Janeway: "And I thought you were going to teach him about love and conscience."

Q: "Oh, that's why we want Aunty Kathy to be the godmother." To Q Junior: "Now, don't we?" Janeway: "I'm honoured."

Q: "Yeah well, just wait till we ask you to baby-sit. Well, it's time to be going. The old ball and chain really hates it when we're late." To Q Junior: "Say bye-bye, bye-bye." Janeway waves bye-bye to her godson.

Both Q and Q Junior vanish as Q-power emanates from Q Junior's fingers.

They leave godmother Janeway pondering the experience.