Episode 41 - The Q and the Grey
Stardate: 41698.5
Earth Standard Date: September 12, 2364
Location: The Q Continuum
Janeway found herself in an elegant parlor, wearing a matching period gown. Exploring the room, she tested the ornate doors. Locked, every one of them.
"Q? Where have you taken me?"
The doors swung open, revealing Q in a Union Army officer's uniform. He strode in with theatrical confidence. "Well, I must admit, your gown is very becoming." He circled her appreciatively.
She crossed her arms. "I don't have time for your little fantasies. Return me to Voyager."
"This is no fantasy." He gestured around them. "You're in the Q Continuum."
"The Continuum?"
"That's right. I'm simply allowing you to perceive it in a context your human mind can comprehend."
"The last time you brought me here, it looked like some sort of way station on a desert road."
"It was awfully drab, wasn't it?" Q adjusted his cuffs. "But this is a much more colorful representation for a human of American descent, don't you think? An elegant manor house, a beautiful Southern belle, a dashing Union officer determined to win her affections despite her hatred for Yankee interlopers."
"Enough." She turned to face him. "The only thing that interests me right now is the welfare of my ship and crew."
Q waved dismissively. "I'm sure your first officer, Chuckles, is it? I'm sure he has everything under control for the moment."
"I'd like to make sure of that myself."
"This has gone way beyond your ship." His tone grew serious. "It's even gone beyond you and me. This is about the future of the Continuum itself."
She stood her ground. "Stop speaking in riddles, and tell me what's going on."
"I'll do better than that. I'll show you."
He moved to the French windows and flung open the shutters.
Orange flames devoured the distant horizon. Thunder rolled across the grounds; it wasn't the weather, but artillery. Cannon fire boomed in waves, punctuated by the sharp crack of rifles and the wet sound of explosions tearing through the earth. Smoke hazed the air, turning the sky the color of old blood. The acrid stench of gunpowder drifted through the open window.
Janeway stepped closer, one hand braced against the window frame. The battlefield stretched endlessly, tiny figures moving like insects across the scorched ground.
"The Continuum is burning," Q said. "The Q are in the middle of a civil war."
She couldn't look away from the destruction. "Start explaining."
"Do you remember our friend, Quinn?"
"The Q who committed suicide aboard Voyager."
Q nodded. "Do you recall what I said might happen if he were allowed to take his own life?"
"You said it would represent an interruption to the Continuum. That it could have dire consequences."
"I'd say a civil war is pretty dire, wouldn't you?"
"His death caused this conflict?"
"It caused chaos and upheaval." Q paced before the window. "Because even though he was gone, his calls for freedom and individualism continued to echo in the ears of those who believed in his teachings, myself among them. I sounded the trumpet and carried the banner. Naturally, others followed. The forces of the status quo tried to crush us once and for all, but we fought back. And now there's a cosmic struggle for supremacy, and the battle is spreading, causing hazardous repercussions throughout the galaxy."
"Oh! The supernovas."
"You might call them galactic crossfire. It's terrible, isn't it? But it's also a wonderful opportunity."
"I fail to see anything wonderful about a war."
"War can be an engine of change. War can transform a society for the better. Your own Civil War brought about an end to slavery and oppression."
"But our Civil War came at a time before mankind had learned to resolve disputes without bloodshed. Surely the Q have evolved to a point where you can find a non-violent way to resolve a conflict."
Q smiled. "That's where you come in."
"What do I have to do with any of this, Q?"
"I want you to help me transform the Continuum in the same way your Civil War transformed a nation."
She stared at him. "By mating with you?"
"I know. It's brilliant, isn't it?"
"I don't see how a baby is going to end a war being fought by a race of omnipotent beings."
"It's simple. Mating will create a new breed of Q, which will combine my omnipotence and infinite intellect with the best that humanity has to offer."
"You believe human DNA is going to restore peace?"
"Precisely. What the Continuum needs right now is an infusion of fresh blood, a new sensibility, a new leader, a new messiah." His voice grew passionate, filling the parlor. "Think of it, Kathy. Our child will be like a precious stone tossed into the cosmic lake, sending endless ripples of human conscience and compassion to wash up on every distant shore of the universe. What greater contribution could a being of your limited power ever hope to make? What is more important to humanity than peace? I'm offering you the opportunity to be the mother of peace."
Janeway stood firm even as the sounds of battle echoing through the windows.
"It's time to end all this," she said.
Q's face brightened instantly. "I knew you'd come around."
"I've been thinking about what you said, that creating a new Q could bring an era of peace." She walked slowly around the room, her gown rustling against the floor.
"Oh, my wild, sweet Kathy." He moved closer, practically glowing with anticipation. "I promise you won't regret it."
She held up her hand, stopping him. "Oh, you're not going to have a child with me. You're going to mate with that charming lady friend of yours that appeared on my ship."
His expression collapsed. "Mate with another Q? Ridiculous."
"It sounded to me like you and she had a very long-term relationship."
"Yes, but it was never physical. I mean, the Q are way beyond sex. It's never been done."
"Really? Then how exactly did the Q come into existence in the first place?"
Q waved his hand. "The Q didn't come into existence. The Q have always existed. Besides, I can only mate with a species capable of copulation, like you."
"But I don't love you, Q." She watched him process her words, saw the moment they landed.
"Yes, but what does that have to do with it?" He was so confident, so certain of her eventual agreement.
"Everything." Her voice was soft now, but firm. "It's the foundation of a family. I could never have a child with someone I didn't love, much less give it up to the Continuum."
"Dearest Kathy, I would never dream of having you give it up. I mean, who would raise it? Who would look after it? I'm really not cut out to be a wet nurse."
She turned to face him directly. "Oh, so you're not willing to do the hard work?"
"I'm an idea man. Hard work isn't my forte."
"I'd change specialties if I were you, because the kind of trouble you're in needs more than a quick fix." She gestured toward the battlefield. "You can't just sprinkle a little human DNA into the Continuum and make everything all right."
"Why not?"
She turned back to him, her voice rising with conviction. "Those best qualities of humanity you talked about aren't a simple matter of genetics. Love, conscience, compassion. They're attributes that mankind has developed over centuries. Values that have passed from one generation to the next, taught by parents to their children. Creating a new kind of Q is a noble idea, but it will take more than impregnating someone and walking away." She met his eyes directly. "If you want your offspring to embrace your ideals, you're going to have to teach them yourself."
Q paced thoughtfully. "Yes, but that's exactly why I want you here, to nourish and guide the little tyke. Think of the opportunities here in the Continuum. The entire universe would be our child's playground. Together the two of you could explore dimensions you've never even imagined." He paused, studying her face. "Fess up. Isn't it even slightly tempting?"
"I'd be lying if I said no." She walked to the window, watching the distant battle. "What explorer wouldn't be intrigued by the idea of seeking out whole new dimensions. But I have other responsibilities, and I won't just abandon them."
"Ah, yes. The crew of the intrepid starship Voyager." Q followed her. "Perhaps you'd be interested in sending them home."
"You've tempted me with that prospect before. But frankly, your credibility is more than a little suspect. My crew and I will get home. We're committed to that. But we're going to do it through hard work and determination. We are not looking for a quick fix."
Q slumped into a nearby chair. "Even if I wanted to mate, I wouldn't know how. It's totally unprecedented."
"You'll figure something out. You are omnipotent, after all."
"I need time to think about it."
Janeway watched as Q's expression transformed. The theatrical despair gave way to calculation, then to something resembling genuine inspiration. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the chair arm.
"I need a pet project," he murmured, almost to himself. "Someone respectful, loyal, and sincere. Someone who could give me relationship advice for picking up an alien woman." He stood abruptly. "Someone human, with values, with some of the best qualities of humanity. Someone who would do the hard work while I'm the idea man."
She observed this unusual display with cautious interest.
"Someone who could help get Kathy home," Q continued, "so that I make good on my word, even if I won't interfere directly." His eyes brightened. "And it would help if I had someone who was good enough in a fight to back me up."
Q straightened suddenly, clarity striking him. "I'll be right back."
He snapped his fingers and vanished.
"Q!" Janeway called out.
Another flash illuminated the parlor. Q reappeared, looking immensely pleased with himself.
"Where did you go?"
Q smiled. "Recruitment drive. Plus a few sprinkles of motivation."
The windows shattered. Gunshots rang out. Q lunged forward, pulling Janeway down as glass showered around them.
"Well, what's it going to be? Oh!" Q clutched his shoulder, his confidence shifted to shock.
Blood. Red and impossible, spreading across his uniform like spilled wine. Janeway stared at the crimson stain, her mind struggling to reconcile what she was seeing with everything she knew about Q.
"Q! You're bleeding."
Bullets continued to smash through the windows. Q stared at the red on his hand in shock.
She crouched behind an ornate settee, tearing strips from her petticoats. The makeshift bandage pressed against his shoulder, his blood warm against her fingers.
"Ow! That hurts," Q complained.
"Be still." She applied firmer pressure. "I never thought a Q could be injured."
"As I said, this is only a perception of what is happening." He glanced toward the shattered windows. "I can assure you, those are not mere cannonballs and lead charges being fired at us."
"So they're some sort of Q weapons?"
"You'd be surprised what innovative munitions can be created by one immortal being who's set his mind on killing another."
From outside, a commanding voice called. "Hold your fire! You're surrounded, Q. Surrender now. We'll be merciful."
She grabbed his arm. "Call a truce. Talk to them. Maybe you can resolve this peacefully."
"What's your answer, Q?"
Q drew his revolver and tottered toward the windows. "I'll never surrender! You know that!"
He fired through the broken window, triggering an immediate response.
"Resume fire!"
A renewed barrage hammered the house.
Q pointed to the corner. "Get the rifle and take the other window."
"This is your fight, Q, not mine."
"If that's how you feel about it." He reloaded with surprising dexterity. "But if their weapons can make me bleed, what do you think they'll do to you?"
A thunderous explosion rocked the house. The cannonball tore through the wall, knocking Q off his feet.
"Q!" She rushed toward him.
The familiar swirl of a transporter beam materialized. Lady Q appeared, accompanied by Tuvok and two Starfleet officers Janeway didn't recognize. A human man and a Vulcan woman.
"Tuvok!" Relief flooded through her, then she turned to the strangers. "Who are you?"
"That's the cavalry," Q answered weakly from the floor.
The human stepped forward. "Commander Tyson, USS Enterprise-D. Pleasure to meet you, Captain Janeway."
Lady Q rushed to Q's side, examining his wound. "Q, look at what you've done to yourself."
"Not the time," Q muttered, struggling to sit up.
Janeway looked toward the windows. "Can we parlay with them?"
"It won't work." Q shook his head. "They want me dead. They think it's the only way to stop and silence us. We have to fight."
"Just get us out of here."
Q slumped against the wall. "I can't."
Tyson raised his hand in an unusual gesture, as though attempting to grasp something invisible. His expression darkened when nothing happened. "No portals either. One-way trip, huh?" He knelt next to Q and began channeling the Force, using Force Heal. Turning to Lady Q, he asked, "You have any options?"
Lady Q picked up one of the rifles. "I haven't been in a fight in eons."
"None of us have," Q added. "We're not really fighters."
Tyson plucked the rifle from her hands, checking its mechanism. "Any advice?"
"No kill shots," Q said firmly. "The Continuum has suffered enough damage already."
"Don't get hit," Lady Q added, uncharacteristically serious. "Your protections aren't nearly enough to survive."
Outside, the sounds of approaching soldiers grew louder. Tyson glanced at the Vulcan woman, then at the group. "T'Pol, keep them safe."
He dashed out through the destroyed wall.
Gunfire crackled through the air as Confederate soldiers advanced on the manor house. Tyson ducked behind a fallen tree, assessing the battlefield. This wasn't a simple firefight. He wasn't actually running through Civil War-era woods. This was merely how the Q Continuum presented itself to his limited human perception.
But while his perception was limited, there was something that wasn't.
The Force.
He reached for it, expecting resistance or that he wouldn't feel anything. It responded immediately to his call. His Perks remained intact, even here in this strange subspace realm. The System functioned as an absolute constant across dimensions; whether in the real world, a holodeck, or even here in the incomprehensible Continuum.
And if one thing was sure, he was specced for combat.
Snakeskin, Duelist, Master with your Hands, Best of the Best, Everything Is A Weapon, Augment, Force Specialization: Intelligence. And the most significant of all, Q This.
While his Gray Goo Suit couldn't withstand direct hits from whatever passed for Q weapons in this reality, the Force still whispered warnings in his mind, guiding his movements. The Q weren't teleporting or snapping their fingers to reshape reality. Here, they seemed bound by the rules of their own perception, flesh and blood, vulnerable as Q's wound had proven.
Tyson didn't fancy his chances if he took a direct hit. But with the Force flowing through him, even without his Lightsaber able to deflect projectiles, he could evade their attacks.
Three Q in Confederate gray crouched behind a barricade of wooden crates, rifles aimed toward the manor house. Tyson moved silently through the underbrush, approaching from their blind side. The Force guided each footstep. Twenty yards. Fifteen. Ten.
He raised the rifle musket, sighting down its length. The weapon felt primitive after years of phaser use, but the principles remained the same. He exhaled slowly, squeezing the trigger.
The rifle bucked. Smoke billowed. The 'lead' ball found its target. The first Q soldier dropped with a cry, clutching his leg.
Tyson abandoned the empty rifle and sprinted toward the barricade. The remaining two Q soldiers whirled, bringing their weapons to bear.
Too slow.
He vaulted the barricade, landing between them. The nearest Q swung his rifle like a club. Tyson ducked it. He activated Q This as his fist connected with the Q's jaw.
The impact sent the Q flying backward, unconscious before he hit the ground. The third Q fumbled with a flintlock pistol, hands shaking.
Tyson's Lightsaber ignited with a familiar snap-hiss, its green blade casting an eerie glow. He lunged forward, grabbing the Q's wrist and forcing the pistol skyward.
"Drop your weapon."
The pistol fell.
"You can't win," the Q sputtered, eyes fixed on the lightsaber. "The Continuum will never accept change."
"That's not my problem." Tyson delivered a precise strike to the Q's temple. He crumpled.
More Q soldiers were advancing through the trees. Tyson extinguished his Lightsaber and retrieved the fallen flintlock pistol, checking its priming.
The Force whispered a warning. He spun as a bullet whizzed past his ear. Three more Q had appeared on his flank, rifles raised. Tyson dropped into a defensive stance. The Confederate Q soldiers fanned out through the woods, their movements predictable, almost mechanical. For beings of supposedly limitless power, they fought with surprising conventionality.
He activated the Scaling Cloak within his Gray Goo Suit, moving cautiously at first.
A Q soldier passed within arm's reach, looking straight through him. Another walked past, completely oblivious.
The Q seemed to lose track of him immediately.
It couldn't be this easy.
But it was.
Tyson moved like a shadow. He grabbed the first from behind, clamping one hand over his mouth while delivering a precise strike to the base of his skull. The Q collapsed without a sound. The Scaling Cloak dropped with his first attack, but he had the element of surprise. Two more Q turned, raising their rifles. Tyson was already in motion. He swept the legs from beneath the first, then twisted the rifle from the second's grasp and struck him across the temple with its stock. Both lay unconscious before they could call for reinforcement.
He collected two flintlock pistols, checking their priming. Reactivating the Scaling Cloak, he moved deeper into the Confederate lines.
The battle had spread across a wide area. Tyson quickly identified the command structure; officers wore more elaborate uniforms and directed groups of soldiers. Like a ghost moving through the Confederate ranks, he struck without warning, seemingly materializing from thin air to disable sentries before vanishing again. At one position, he emerged behind three Q soldiers preparing to fire on the manor house. The first fell to a blow to the back of the neck. The second turned, eyes widening in shock, only to meet Tyson's fist. The third managed to raise his rifle, but Tyson was already inside his guard.
He made probing strikes throughout the Confederate line, dispatching Q and leaving them disabled before moving on.
A pair of officers conferring over a crude map never saw him approach. Tyson struck both simultaneously, rendering them unconscious.
Near a creek bed, four Q soldiers had established a firing position. Tyson dropped from a tree branch into their midst. Before they could react, he had disarmed the first, used him as a shield against the second's wild shot, and knocked both unconscious. The third and fourth Q backed away, fumbling for sidearms. Tyson drew both of the flintlock pistols he'd acquired and fired. The balls struck their shoulders, spinning them to the ground with howls of pain.
"Sorry about that," Tyson muttered, collecting their weapons. "No kill shots, as requested." Master with Your Hands had allowed him to precisely aim both weapons for disabling shots simultaneously.
He continued through the forest. With each encounter, he refined his understanding of these Q. They fought like humans because, in this perception of the Continuum, they were limited to human capabilities. Their weapons could wound, even kill, but they lacked the omnipotent powers Q normally wielded.
After neutralizing a dozen more soldiers, he spotted a more organized encampment through the trees. Tents in a clearing, with a larger command tent at the center. Guards patrolled the perimeter, and officers moved between positions.
The Confederate encampment. The heart of the opposition.
Tyson circled the perimeter, counting guards and noting patrol patterns. Twenty Q soldiers at least, plus officers. Too many to take head-on. But he didn't need to defeat them all, just disrupt their command structure enough to force a retreat.
A sentry stood at the edge of the camp, partially concealed behind a large oak tree. The Q soldier stood with rifles ready, eyes scanning the forest. Tyson activated the Scaling Cloak and approached from behind.
The sentry shifted position slightly, adjusting his grip on the rifle. Tyson froze, waiting. When the sentry resumed his watch, he closed the final distance in three silent steps.
Tyson clamped his hand over the sentry's mouth. His other hand pressed a looted rapier against the Q's back. Not piercing, but unmistakable. The sentry stiffened, then relaxed in submission as understanding dawned. Tyson lowered him to the ground and bound him with strips torn from the uniform. A quick search yielded ammunition, a map, and a brass telescope, all of which he left behind.
Through the trees, the command tent waited across twenty yards of open ground.
The Confederate encampment spread before him. Their command tent stood at the center, a flag fluttering above it. Guards patrolled in lazy patterns, moving with the casual confidence of soldiers who believed themselves unthreatened.
Activating the Scaling Cloak, he moved forward, each step deliberate. A sentry walked past close enough to touch. The Q's eyes passed over him without seeing.
Between tents and supply crates, always keeping to shadows, though the cloak made it unnecessary. The command tent's entrance had two guards, rifles across their chests, eyes scanning the camp. Around back, the canvas was staked to the ground. Finding a small gap, he waited, listening as voices filtered through.
"The manor house is well defended." The speaker had a gruff voice. "We've lost contact with three squads in the eastern approach."
"Unacceptable." This voice carried authority, a commander. "They're just two Q and a handful of mortals. Press the attack."
"Sir, something else is out there," the gruff voice continued. "The men report being attacked by an unseen force."
"Nonsense. Q has no combat experience, and that fool Q is wounded. As for the mortals, they're inconsequential."
Tyson smiled. Inconsequential, my ass.
Working his fingers beneath the canvas, he widened the gap and slipped through. The interior was spartanly furnished with a field table, chairs, a cot in one corner. Maps and papers spread across the table under oil lamps.
Three Q officers stood around the table. Two wore colonel's insignia. The third, a stern-faced man with a neatly trimmed beard, bore a general's stars. He jabbed his finger at the map, outlining an assault plan.
"We'll concentrate our forces here and here. Overwhelm them with superior numbers."
The colonels nodded. One looked hesitant.
"General," the hesitant colonel said, "perhaps we should consider a temporary withdrawal. Regroup and—"
"Retreat?" The general's voice hardened. "The Q does not retreat. We will crush this rebellion and restore order."
Tyson had heard enough. These Q were committed to their course.
One of the colonels moved toward the tent entrance. The distraction was perfect. The Scaling Cloak fell away as Tyson lunged forward, rapier drawn. Before any of the officers could react, he had the blade pressed against the general's throat.
"Don't move."
The two colonels froze, hands reaching instinctively for their sidearms.
"I wouldn't." Tyson applied just enough pressure to draw a thin line of blood. The general's pulse beat against the steel. "Hands where I can see them."
They complied, raising their arms.
"Who are you?" Despite the blade at his throat, the general's voice remained steady.
"Who I am is inconsequential. Now, here's what's going to happen. You're going to order your men to cease fire and stand down."
"I will do no such thing."
Tyson sighed. "General, I've disabled at least twenty of your soldiers without breaking a sweat. I could have killed them all, but I chose not to. That courtesy can be rescinded."
"You're bluffing. One mortal against the might of the Continuum?"
"Am I?" The blade pressed deeper, another bead of blood welling up. "Your men are falling like dominoes out there. Your attack has stalled. And now I'm in your command tent with one of your own blades at your throat. Does that sound like a bluff?"
Uncertainty flickered across the general's face.
"Colonel," Tyson said to the nearest officer without taking his eyes off the general, "step outside and tell the guards to enter. Slowly."
The colonel looked to the general.
"Do it," the general ordered through clenched teeth.
The colonel moved to the entrance and spoke quietly. Moments later, the two sentries entered, rifles raised.
"Drop your weapons."
The guards looked to the general, who gave a slight nod. The rifles clattered to the ground.
"Now bind them," Tyson told the colonel, indicating the other officers. "Use those straps from the table."
The colonel reluctantly secured the wrists of his fellow officer and the two guards.
"Your turn. Hands behind your back."
Once all four Q were secured, Tyson maintained his position behind the general, rapier at his throat.
"Now, General, you're going to order a cease-fire. And you're going to mean it."
The general's jaw tightened. "And if I refuse?"
"Then I get to see what happens when an omnipotent being dies." Tyson kept his voice conversational. "My primitive brain can't wrap itself around the Continuum, so I admit, I'm a little eager to see it for myself. If I were you, I'd cooperate before I got too curious."
Silence stretched between them. The general weighed his options. Finally, he spoke. "Very well. I'll give the order."
"Wise decision." Tyson guided him toward the entrance, rapier pressed against his back. "Remember, one false move, and this blade finds your heart. And if you don't have a heart, or it's located somewhere else, I start poking around."
They emerged into the clearing. The camp had grown quieter. Those who remained turned in surprise at the sight of their general with a blade at his back.
"Attention!" The general's voice carried across the encampment. "All forces, cease fire immediately. I repeat, cease fire."
Distant gunfire gradually diminished.
"All units are to withdraw to fallback positions. This is a direct order."
Confusion spread through the ranks.
"Now tell them why," Tyson prompted.
The general's face flushed. "We are... temporarily suspending operations to reassess our strategy. The opposition has demonstrated unexpected capabilities."
Tyson leaned closer. "You're going to negotiate."
"We will be entering into negotiations with Q and Q." Each word clearly pained him. "All hostilities are to cease immediately."
Throughout the camp, soldiers lowered their weapons. Some looked relieved, others confused, but none challenged the order.
"Very good. Now, shall we return to the manor house? I believe there are matters to discuss."
They began the journey back through the forest, Tyson maintaining his guard. Behind them, the Confederate camp began to disassemble as soldiers prepared for withdrawal.
— Star Jumper —
Once Tyson had the General in the manor house, and the fighting had ceased, it wasn't long before Q's powers returned. Lady Q snapped her fingers, and they were back on Voyager's bridge. Janeway, Tuvok, Tyson, and T'Pol returned, with no signs of Q or Lady Q.
"Lieutenant Paris, what's our position?"
Paris checked his console. "We're still in orbit around Earth."
Tuvok reported from his station, "All crew present and accounted for."
"Earth?" Janeway's brow creased. "Ensign Kim, any sign of supernovas?"
"No, ma'am. Nothing on sensors beyond the Sol system."
She turned to face the newcomers. "Can someone explain to me what's going on. Now?"
Tyson sighed. "You might want to get a snack. This one is going to take a while."
Within minutes, Voyager's senior staff gathered in the conference room. Janeway sat at the head of the table, flanked by Chakotay and Tuvok. Paris, Torres, Kim, and the Doctor filled the remaining seats, while Tyson and T'Pol stood near the viewscreen.
"The floor is yours," Janeway said.
Tyson straightened. "My name is Tyson. I'm from the 21st century. I was dropped off on the Enterprise-D's bridge by Q during their maiden voyage, the mission to Farpoint Station in 2364. For the past six months, I've been serving on the ship. Thanks to Q, I've had adventures in other times and universes. I visited the NX-01 Enterprise, where I met T'Pol." He indicated his Companion. "Q sent me to a timeline where she was meant to die, but I saved her. Ultimately, I had to bring her with me to prevent contaminating that timeline."
T'Pol nodded slightly.
"But that wasn't the only one," Tyson continued. "I encountered Captain Pike's Enterprise and interfered when a time-traveling Romulan named Nero tried to destroy Vulcan by creating a black hole at the planet's core."
"A black hole at Vulcan's core?" Torres leaned forward. "That's impossible."
"Not with red matter. I also visited another galaxy altogether, where I fought a galactic empire led by a Sith Lord. He was powerful and possessed mythical abilities."
Paris raised an eyebrow. "Like what, exactly?"
"The Force. Think of it as a semi-sentient energy field that binds the universe together. Some can manipulate it to move objects, influence minds, even generate lightning."
"That sounds far-fetched," the Doctor said.
"For every new universe I visited. I was given access to boons to select from. One such boon was this place, a Personal Reality. One upgrade I purchased added a copy of the Sol System as it would have been without human habitation. I've been slowly improving it to the point it's fully habitable. There are people living here that I've rescued from various... adventures. I'm sure that sounds equally far-fetched, Doctor. But I'm sure Voyager's sensors have confirmed what I'm saying."
Janeway stood and walked to the replicator. "Coffee, black."
She took a sip, then turned back. The claim was extraordinary. Impossible, even. Her coffee suddenly tasted bitter.
"Let me get this straight," she said slowly. "You're a 21st-century human, plucked from your timeline by Q, given powers and abilities beyond normal humans, and now you've created some kind of pocket dimension with its own Earth?"
"That's the short version, yes."
Paris crossed his arms. "So what happens now? You go back to the Enterprise, and we pretend none of this happened?"
"This Personal Reality of yours," Chakotay said. "Could we see it?"
"I don't see why not. It might help you believe my explanation and could provide your crew with shore leave."
"Before we go anywhere," Janeway interjected, "I want to know exactly what we're dealing with. How many people are in this reality of yours? What kind of technology do you have? And most importantly, what are your intentions?"
"Currently, there are approximately twenty-five hundred inhabitants," T'Pol answered. "Primarily, Vulcans rescued from the mirror universe, where they were enslaved."
"Mirror universe?" Kim asked.
Tuvok explained, "A parallel universe where the Federation never existed. Instead, a brutal human-centric Terran Empire conquered much of known space. It was encountered by Captain Kirk."
"As for technology," Tyson continued, "there's quite a bit that you'll recognize, and more that you won't. There's a Menagerie, which holds strange creatures I've encountered and multiple biomes. The Housing Complex here has restocking pantries, think of it like ever-replicating food stores. And plenty more, but there isn't anything dangerous. Well, nothing that isn't contained in either the Mystical Menagerie or in Detainment."
"And your intentions?" Janeway pressed.
"To help where I can. Q may have thrown me into this situation, but I've tried to make the best of it. I've saved lives that would have been lost, protected people who needed protection."
"A noble sentiment," Janeway said, "but history is full of people who did terrible things with the best intentions."
"I understand your caution, Captain. In your position, I'd feel the same way."
"What about the Enterprise?" Paris asked.
"My duties on the Enterprise are somewhat outside of the normal duty rotation," Tyson explained. "The ship that you scanned isn't actually the Enterprise, it's a very sophisticated replica."
Janeway stood again. "I think I've heard enough for now. Mr. Tyson, I'd like to invite you and T'Pol to remain on Voyager as our guests while we verify what we can of your story."
Later, Chakotay and Janeway sat across from each other in her ready room.
"A parallel Earth," Janeway said, cradling her coffee cup. "Complete with breathable atmosphere, familiar solar system, even the same moon."
Chakotay leaned back. "It's everything the crew has been dreaming about for three years. Home, or close enough to it."
"But it's not our home." She stood and walked to the viewport. Their Earth lay somewhere on the other side of the galaxy. Families aging without them. Friends who'd held memorials, moved on with their lives. This Earth below had none of that history, none of those connections.
"Our families aren't there," she said quietly. "Our lives, our histories, none of it exists on that world."
"No, but it could be a new beginning." Chakotay's voice carried longing he couldn't quite hide. "The crew could build lives there, start families, contribute to a growing civilization. Some of them might prefer that to spending the next seventy years trying to get back to the Alpha Quadrant."
"And what about our mission? Our duty to Starfleet?"
"What about our duty to the crew?" He said it gently, but the question hung between them like an accusation. "We've asked them to sacrifice everything for a chance to go home. Now we're presented with an alternative."
Janeway turned from the viewport. "You think we should stay."
"I think we should consider it seriously. This isn't just about us anymore, Kathryn. We have families on this ship now. Naomi Wildman was born in the Delta Quadrant."
"But would it be fair to the crew to make that choice for them?"
"We wouldn't be making the choice for them. We'd be giving them a choice they've never had before."
The door chimed.
"Come in."
Tyson entered. "The Enterprise was made to be a diplomatic ship as well as a powerhouse, but I'm not going to lie, I like Voyager's bridge best."
Janeway smiled. "I'm glad you approve. Commander Tyson, you have put us in an interesting position."
"I imagine so," Tyson replied. "I'm not trying to complicate your mission, Captain. I'm offering resources that might help."
"Help," Chakotay repeated. "That's an interesting word. Help implies we need it."
"Everyone needs help sometimes," Tyson said evenly. "Even Starfleet captains."
"What exactly are you proposing?" Janeway asked.
"I'd like to install a door on Voyager that connects to my Personal Reality. Your crew would have access to Earth, or at least a version of it. They could visit, relax, and experience something closer to home. And in return, I'd ask for nothing except the opportunity to occasionally visit and help."
Janeway returned to her seat. "The door you want to install. How big is it? How does it work?"
"It looks like a standard door, but it opens onto my Personal Reality instead of whatever space is behind it. Think of it as a permanent transporter that doesn't require power from your systems."
"And you could monitor who comes and goes?"
"I could, but I don't particularly care who comes into my Personal Reality. Any areas that are secure are protected by force fields. Your crew can have free rein and use of the facilities. Anyone with hostile intentions or who attacks me is automatically transported into Detainment, so security on my side isn't a problem. As for my side, we can make it so that no one can enter that way, except for me or others you approve. I do have officers under my command, I wouldn't allow any of them native to the Enterprise timeline onto Voyager to respect the Temporal Prime Directive."
Chakotay looked at Janeway. "We should also consider the psychological impact on the crew. Having access to Earth, even if it's not our Earth, could be either a blessing or a curse."
"How so?" Tyson asked.
"Some might see it as a reason to give up the journey home," Janeway explained. "Others might find it too painful, a constant reminder of what they've lost."
"Would it be any worse, knowing that it was there, and within reach, and it was denied to them? I'm not trying to replace your mission, Captain. I'm trying to support it. I'm sure after such a long journey, people are fighting over holodeck time. Why not give them another option?"
Janeway stood and moved to her desk. "Chakotay, organize an away team to this Earth. I want a full assessment of the settlement and living conditions."
"The main settled area is on Crete," Tyson offered. "The climate there is Mediterranean. T'Pol can guide your team around the primary settlement."
"Good." Janeway turned to face both men. "Meanwhile, we'll have Voyager dock with your space station. B'Elanna and I will inspect this replicator of yours personally. I want to see exactly what we're dealing with before I make any commitments."
"How large a team do you want for the surface mission?" Chakotay asked.
"Take Paris, Kim, and Tuvok. Keep it small but representative. I want tactical, engineering, and operations perspectives." She paused. "And take the Doctor. If there are twenty-five hundred people down there, I want a medical assessment of their health and living conditions."
"You can have him check out the Medical Bay while he's down there," Tyson said. "I'm sure he'll be impressed."
Janeway raised an eyebrow. "We'll reconvene in six hours to discuss our findings and make a decision about your proposal."
"Sounds fair to me."
"Commander Tyson, a word in private?"
Chakotay rose, nodding to both of them before exiting. The door hissed shut, leaving them alone.
Janeway moved to her desk, resting her hands on its surface. "I want to believe you, Commander. I really do." The words came out more vulnerable than she'd intended. She was tired of being suspicious, tired of weighing every offer for hidden traps. "Everything you've said sounds almost too good to be true, and in my experience, that's usually because it is."
"I understand your skepticism, Captain. I'll be open with your crew. There's nothing malicious going on here."
"I appreciate that." She studied him carefully. "But there's something else I wanted to discuss. Something Q said before you arrived."
"What did he say?"
She walked around her desk, leaning against its edge. "He was rambling, but some of what he said struck me as odd. Well, odd even for him." She paused. "He was talking to himself. Said he needed someone respectful, loyal, and sincere. Someone who could give him relationship advice for picking up an alien woman."
Tyson's eyebrows rose, but he remained silent.
"Then he stood up and kept going. He said he needed someone human, with values, with some of the best qualities of humanity. Someone who would do the hard work while he was the idea man." She crossed her arms. "Someone who could help get me home, so that he could make good on his word, even if he wouldn't interfere directly. And it would help if he had someone who was good enough in a fight to back him up."
"Then, moments later, you showed up." Her gaze didn't waver. "It was almost like he decided he needed help, and you appeared. But he didn't just snap you into existence, did he? If his mutterings are to be believed, you already existed. He said you could help us get home."
Tyson chuckled quietly for a moment. He moved to the viewport, staring out at the Earth below. "If the Q are to be believed, their existence isn't something that could be understood by us. They operate on a level beyond our comprehension."
"I'm aware of that."
"In this case, let's say it's possible the Q don't experience time linearly. Or at least, they don't have to." He turned back to face her. "It's completely possible that moment was when Q realized he needed me. He could have left you, gone and plucked me from my original time, oversaw all my adventures, and then returned to you as if he'd never left. From your perspective, it would seem instantaneous. From mine, it's been months of experiences across multiple realities."
She pushed off from the desk, moving closer. "And the other things he mentioned. Are they true? Did you experience those things? Do they apply to you?"
"Well, I am human. Or I was originally. Now I'm half-Betazoid, if that makes any sense."
"Half-Betazoid?" Her eyebrows rose. "How does that work?"
Tyson shrugged. "I won't go so far as to say I have the best qualities of humanity. I try to be kind and fair, but I'm not perfect. I've made mistakes, some of them serious."
"And the fighting?"
A slight smile crossed his face. "I am pretty good in a fight. I've had to be, given some of the situations Q has dropped me into. As for relationship advice..." He paused. "I've had some good luck with the ladies. Whether that qualifies me to advise Q on romance, I couldn't say."
She returned to her desk, settling into her chair. "So Q essentially recruited you. Trained you, tested you, put you through experiences that would make you useful to him."
"That's one interpretation. Another is that Q saw potential in me and gave me opportunities I never would have had otherwise." His voice grew more serious. "I've saved lives, prevented disasters, helped people who needed it. If Q had ulterior motives for doing that, does it change the good that came from it?"
The question settled between them. She wanted to say yes, that motives mattered as much as outcomes. But after three years in the Delta Quadrant, making impossible choices with imperfect information, she wasn't sure anymore.
"That depends on what those ulterior motives are." She leaned back. "Q claimed he wanted to help get us home, but he wouldn't interfere directly. If you're his proxy, his way of helping without breaking whatever rules he's bound by, then what does he expect in return?"
"I don't know. Q hasn't told me anything about helping Voyager specifically. He didn't even drop me into the Q Continuum civil war, but he gave me the tools needed to arrive, indirectly as it happened. Still, he didn't give me instructions or objectives. He just let me figure it out."
"And you ended the war."
"I helped end it, sure." His expression grew more serious. "Whatever game Q is playing, I don't think it's as simple as using me as a pawn. He's given me real power, real abilities. That's a risk for someone like him."
She considered this, fingers steepled. "Power that could be turned against him."
"Exactly."
"Unless he knows you won't."
Tyson smiled faintly. "Respectful, loyal, and sincere. That's what he said he needed, right?"
"Among other things." She stood, moving to the replicator. "Coffee, black." The cup materialized and she took it, sipping thoughtfully. "I'll be looking forward to my team's report then. If what you're offering is genuine, if this isn't some elaborate manipulation, then you might be exactly what we need."
"Captain, for what it's worth, I meant what I said. I want to help. Whether Q orchestrated this meeting or not, whether he has plans I'm not aware of, that doesn't change my intentions."
"I hope you're right, Commander." She set down her coffee cup.
— Star Jumper —
The Voyager senior staff gathered in the Ready Room along with Commander Tyson. Janeway settled into her chair at the head of the table, hands clasped. "Report."
B'Elanna spoke first. "The ship is in the best shape it's been since leaving spacedock. We have deuterium, the dilithium crystal chamber is full, photon torpedoes fully stocked. Every resource we were short on has been restocked." She shook her head. "Not only that, but the station has repaired everything we hadn't gotten to over the past few months. My teams have requested shore leave because there isn't anything for them to do. We've discovered no issues with the replicated supplies, even those that shouldn't be possible to replicate. The duplicates are perfect, down to the subatomic level."
Janeway turned to her First Officer. "Chakotay?"
"We couldn't discover anything unusual about the Earth, at least not outside of what Commander Tyson briefed us on. The Menagerie was quite the sight, particularly the different environments. Desert in one biome, and a frozen arctic in another."
Tuvok spoke next. "The Earth itself is as he described. Uninhabited mostly, but otherwise pristine. Atmospheric composition optimal, magnetic field strength within normal parameters, geological surveys indicate standard tectonic activity. No signs of industrial pollution or environmental degradation." His fingers steepled briefly. "The Vulcan settlements are well-established. The inhabitants we spoke with confirmed their rescue from various situations, though they seemed reluctant to discuss specifics of their previous circumstances. There were Ferengi and Romulan refugees and races that we have never encountered before. One claimed to be native to the Delta Quadrant and identified himself as Vaadwuar. A race we have yet to encounter."
Janeway's gaze swept around the table. "Does anyone have anything that seems suspicious?" When no one answered, her brow furrowed. "Neither do I. It's almost too good to be true."
Tyson, who had been listening quietly from the far end of the table, smiled. "Welcome to your home away from home."
B'Elanna crossed her arms. "How is this possible?"
"Blame Q. That's what I do."
"The medical facilities were quite impressive," the Doctor added. "Technology I've never encountered, yet somehow familiar in its application."
Harry Kim spoke up, with evident enthusiasm. "The recreational facilities were incredible. We tried the Range and the Flight Simulator; both were realistic and excellent. And the Gyms were extensive."
After a long moment, Janeway straightened and fixed Tyson with a direct look. "Well then, Commander Tyson, your request to place a door has been approved. We've selected Cargo Bay 2, if that's not an issue."
"No issue at all, Captain."
Her expression grew more serious. "Now, before we start celebrating and sending the crew off on shore leave, we were wondering. How do we return Voyager to its previous location?"
Tyson's face took on a thoughtful expression. "Normally I'd be able to open a portal, but I haven't been anywhere in your reality except onto Voyager itself."
The admission hung in the air. B'Elanna frowned. "So we're essentially stranded here until—"
A brilliant flash of white light filled the Ready Room. When it faded, Q stood in the center, his familiar smirk firmly in place.
"I'll take it from here," Q announced, waving a dismissive hand. His attention focused on Janeway with that particular mixture of fondness and mischief that always made her wary. "Don't worry, Kathy, I'll have him back in a jiffy."
"Q, wait—"
With the snap of his fingers, everything dissolved into brilliant white light. The sensation was overwhelming, disorienting as reality bent and twisted. The familiar hum of Voyager's systems, the subtle vibration of the deck plates seemed to stretch and compress. When the light receded, the senior staff found themselves exactly where they had been, but something had changed. Through the viewport, the stars had shifted back to their familiar patterns.
"Report," Janeway called immediately, moving toward the bridge.
"We're back at our previous coordinates, Captain," came Paris's voice over the comm. "All systems normal, no damage detected."
But as Janeway looked around, she realized with a sinking feeling that both Tyson and Q had vanished.
Tyson materialized in a completely different environment. Smoke hung thick in the air, carrying the scent of exotic spices and alien beverages. He stood in a cantina, specifically, the Mos Eisley cantina from Tatooine. The familiar curved bar dominated one wall, scarred and stained. Alien patrons of every conceivable species filled the establishment, conversations creating a constant buzz. A Bith band played in one corner. The Benefactor's Lounge had once again adopted the aesthetic of the famous wretched hive of scum and villainy. After everything he'd been through, after all the realities he'd visited, he was back.
"Quite the journey you've had," came a familiar voice.
Tyson turned to find Q approaching, wearing Han Solo's unmistakable outfit. White shirt, black vest, dark pants. Even Q's hair had been styled to match Harrison Ford's roguish appearance.
Q settled into a booth, gesturing for Tyson to join him. His usual air of superiority remained, but there was something different, a hint of genuine respect that hadn't been there before.
"The Q Continuum is quite impressed with your performance. Not many beings can navigate a civil war between omnipotent entities and come out the other side with their sanity intact."
Tyson slid into the booth, still processing the surreal nature of the situation. "I take it this means the war is over?"
"Indeed, it is." Q leaned back with satisfaction. "Your little intervention provided exactly the catalyst we needed. Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to show us what we've been missing, or rather what we lost." He paused. "You may be a scruffy-looking nerf-herder, but you did it."
Tyson leaned back, working through everything that had transpired. The cantina's ambient noise faded into the background. "You saying that makes me wonder..." His voice carried realization. "When you first brought me to the Enterprise, I remember something you said to Picard. 'Advancement isn't just technology and science. Perhaps his wisdom exceeds your own. Maybe you lost something vital along the way.'"
"Was this it all along? You didn't bring me here for humanity's sake. You brought me here for the Q's?"
Q drummed his fingers on the scarred table, the rhythm matching the Bith band's melody. When he spoke, his voice had lost some of its usual theatrical flourish. "Perceptive. Though not entirely accurate. The situation was more... complex than a simple binary choice between humanity and the Continuum. You see, Tyson, the Q have always prided ourselves on our omniscience, our omnipotence, our complete understanding of existence itself. We've transcended mortality, emotion, the petty concerns that plague lesser beings."
He paused, expression growing more serious. "But in doing so, we may have transcended something essential."
Tyson nodded slowly. "The very things that make existence meaningful."
"Precisely." Q leaned forward, his usual smirk replaced by something approaching genuine concern. "You weren't there, but you know about… You remember the Q who wanted to die. When Quinn chose to end his existence, it wasn't just suicide. It was a statement that even immortality, even omnipotence, could become unbearable without purpose, without growth, without the possibility of genuine surprise or discovery."
The cantina around them pulsed with life. Aliens laughing, arguing, making deals, falling in love, experiencing the full spectrum of mortal existence. Tyson realized it wasn't just scenery. It was a reminder of everything the Q had left behind in their ascension.
"So you needed someone who could bridge that gap. Someone who had power but hadn't lost their connection to mortality, to the struggles and growth that give existence meaning."
Q's fingers stilled on the table. "The Enterprise crew, humanity in general, they represent something we'd forgotten. The capacity for growth, for change, for finding meaning in limitation." He gestured toward Tyson. "But you... You were unique. You have access to power great enough to grow to rival ours, yet you retain that essential spark of mortality. You understood both perspectives."
"And the civil war?"
"It was inevitable. Quinn's death had shattered our illusion of perfect order. Some of us wanted to retreat further into detachment, to impose even greater control to prevent such chaos. Others, like myself, began to suspect that our path toward ultimate order had led us away from ultimate truth."
Tyson absorbed this, thinking back to his encounters with Q. The tests, the challenges, the seemingly random interventions. "Every time you appeared, every situation you thrust me into, you were studying how I'd respond."
"Among other things, yes." Q's expression grew almost fond. "You consistently chose growth over stagnation, connection over isolation, hope over despair. Even when faced with difficult odds or moral complexity, you found ways to preserve what mattered most while still moving forward."
The realization struck Tyson. "The mirror universe. That wasn't just about testing me. You needed to see if I could find meaning even in a reality where everything was shit."
Q nodded approvingly. "Very good. The Terran Empire represented our worst fears about power without wisdom, advancement without growth. Yet you managed to plant seeds of change even there, to find allies and create possibilities for redemption."
Tyson's understanding crystallized. "So sending me to Star Wars was so I could get access to the Force, to fight on equal terms. D'Lavina..." He paused, remembering the dark entity. "She became an obstacle because of a Drawback you gave me. Subsequently, I chose Perks to help combat her, but in doing so, I chose perks that allowed me to fight the Q."
"You figured that out faster than I expected."
"And when I helped end the civil war?"
"You demonstrated something we'd forgotten was possible." Q's voice carried wonder. "You showed us that power could be used not to impose order, but to create space for others to choose their own growth. You didn't defeat our enemies. You helped them remember what they'd lost."
Tyson leaned back, processing the magnitude. "So this whole time, I've been unknowingly serving as a teacher for omnipotent beings."
"Teacher, example, catalyst." Q waved his hand dismissively, though his tone remained serious. "The specific term matters less than the result. The Q Continuum has remembered something vital about existence, something we'd nearly lost."
"But this brings me back to the earlier question. If it's not a binary choice between the Q and humans, I get what the Q got out of this, but what about humanity?"
"Why the Seleya?" Q countered.
Tyson paused, confused. He hadn't expected that question. It was a complete shift, but it must be relevant somehow. He spoke slowly, trying to decipher where it would lead.
"In that version of the NX-01 reality, T'Pol dies on the Seleya. I thought that might affect the timeline in a negative way..." He trailed off, reconsidering. "But it didn't."
Q raised an eyebrow.
"Or it did. And my interference put it back on course, and I saved T'Pol, and she's my Companion now."
"And..." Q said leadingly.
Tyson's mind raced. "The Kelvin Enterprise. I saved Vulcan and captured the Narada, brought back Ambassador Spock, returning a level of normalcy to that timeline."
"So..."
Tyson thought about it, the pattern becoming clearer. "Are you trying to lead me to the conclusion that you're sending me to screwed timelines that I need to fix?"
Q smiled.
"Really?" Tyson shook his head. "Voyager seems normal, the Enterprise-D seems normal."
"Because what ruins their timeline hasn't happened yet."
"Something you need me to fix or prevent from happening? What is it?"
A small viewscreen materialized between them, the image crackling with interference. The signal was poor, distorted, but unmistakably from the bridge of a Federation vessel. The Enterprise. The face that appeared was haggard, desperate, framed by a full ragged beard that spoke of months or years without proper facilities.
"We won't go back." The bearded figure's voice carried the weight of unspeakable horrors. "You don't know what it's like in our universe. The Federation's gone, the Borg is everywhere! We're one of the last ships left. Please, you've got to help us!"
The viewscreen disappeared.
Tyson stared at the empty space, his blood running cold. The desperation in that voice. Riker's voice. The absolute terror and hopelessness painted a picture of a reality gone completely wrong. The Federation, a beacon of hope and exploration, reduced to scattered survivors fleeing an unstoppable enemy.
"The Borg," Tyson said in a low voice.
The cantina around them seemed to grow quieter, as if the very mention of the name had drawn attention.
"The Borg represent something unique in the multiverse, Tyson. They're not just a threat to individual civilizations or even individual realities. They're a threat to the very concept of diversity, of growth, of everything that makes existence meaningful."
Tyson's mind worked through the implications. He knew of the Borg and their capabilities, their relentless drive for perfection through assimilation. But seeing that transmission, witnessing the complete collapse of the Federation, drove home the true scope of what they were capable of.
"That was Riker." Tyson recognized the voice despite the distortion and desperation. "From some alternate timeline where the Borg won."
"One of many such timelines."
He thought about Janeway and her crew, about Picard and the Enterprise. The scope of what Q was asking was staggering.
"You want me to prevent that from happening." It wasn't a question.
"I want you to do what you've always done."
"I don't understand. Why don't you just snap them out of existence? You could make them all disappear, or never have existed, or..." He stopped mid-sentence, eyes widening as a new realization struck. "The NX-01 Enterprise. I always wondered why you allowed me to go there the way that you did. Why T'Pol got a drawback from Daniels… It wasn't that the temporal agent had some kind of power over or connection to the System.
He paused, studying Q's carefully neutral expression. "It was you. It was a hint. The Temporal Cold War..."
"Are you fighting something like a Temporal Cold War with the Borg? Is that why you set humanity against them?"
Q's drumming stopped abruptly. For the first time since Tyson had known him, the omnipotent being looked genuinely impressed. The silence stretched between them, filled only by distant cantina sounds.
"Very perceptive," Q said finally, his voice lacking its usual theatrical flair. "Though 'fighting' might not be the most accurate term for what's happening."
Tyson connected more dots. "You can't just erase the Borg because someone else is protecting them. Someone with power comparable to your own."
Q's expression grew more serious than Tyson had ever seen it. The Han Solo costume seemed almost absurd now.
"The Borg aren't the first of their type of lifeform. There are other entities that exist outside normal spacetime, much as we do. The Q Continuum has learned to value diversity and growth, albeit to varying degrees, over our history. But has always respected the endless possibilities that come from allowing lesser beings to choose their own paths..." Q paused, searching for the right words. "These others have a different philosophy entirely. They see the chaos of organic life, the unpredictability of free will, the messiness of evolution and growth, and they consider it a flaw to be corrected." His voice carried the weight of eons. "The Borg are the solution. A way to impose their vision of perfection across all of existence, one species at a time."
"That's why you can't just eliminate them. It would be a direct act of aggression against these other entities. It would escalate whatever cold war you're fighting into something much worse."
"A hot war between omnipotent beings tends to have unfortunate consequences for the rest of existence. You just got a small preview of what that could look like," Q confirmed dryly. "Entire galaxies have been known to disappear when such conflicts get out of hand. If we began interfering directly, they would attempt to purge all sentient organic life."
"So instead, you have to work within the existing framework. You can't directly intervene, but you can... influence. Guide. Like a coach and we're the players."
"Humanity in particular has proven remarkably adept at finding unexpected solutions to impossible problems," Q said with a hint of his usual smugness returning. "Your species has this annoying habit of refusing to accept that something can't be done, even when faced with overwhelming evidence to the contrary."
"And me? Where do I fit into this?"
"You represent something unique. As you've seen, your System transcends even the Q. You exist outside the normal framework. Your presence in any timeline creates... Possibilities that cannot easily be predicted or countered."
Tyson absorbed this, thinking about his various jumps between realities. "You've been positioning me, even more than I believed. Layers upon layers to everything I've done. Every little challenge is steering me to become what? Your contingency?"
"Among other things."
"So when you send me back, it won't just be about helping Janeway get Voyager home, or preventing some crisis on the Enterprise-D. It'll be about identifying and stopping whatever advantage the Borg will gain." He paused. "I can't just use my ship's Transwarp Drive to get Voyager back. If I do, I might miss the opportunity to fix whatever's broken."
Q's smile was grim. "Now you're beginning to understand the true scope of the game we're playing."
— Star Jumper —
Q raised his hand with a theatrical flourish, his fingers poised to snap. "Time to get back to work, Tyson. Voyager awaits. Go put that door in Cargo Bay 2. Curious placement, isn't it?"
The snap echoed through the cantina. Tyson vanished in a flash.
Episode: Star Trek Voyager - The Q and the Grey Complete!
+200 RP
[200 RP] High Security Inter-Reality Connecting Doors (Personal Reality)
These doors come in pairs and can connect your Personal Reality and another reality. You may choose to move this door, causing it to appear as a tarot-sized playing card and if placed on a wall it turns into a door. Using the Access Key on one of these doors allows you to turn it back into a card. You must be physically at the location you desire to install it and once installed the Door cannot be removed by anyone or anything lacking an Access Key. If you connect an external reality to your Personal Reality through a pair of these doors, that reality is not frozen in time but rather progresses on your Reality's internal clock, even after you leave it, even if the door is currently closed. High Security upgrade allows these doors to be locked and can be force field protected.
Reality Points: 1500
The booth remained quiet for exactly three seconds before two brilliant flashes of light erupted across from Q's position. When the luminescence faded, two familiar figures materialized.
Lady Q appeared first, her expression carrying that particular mixture of amusement and exasperation that Q had come to associate with her presence. The second figure materialized with considerably more dramatic flair. The Confederate General Q appeared in full military regalia. His beard was perfectly groomed, his posture rigid with military bearing, and his eyes held the sharp intelligence of a strategic mind that had helped orchestrate one of the most significant conflicts in the Q Continuum's recent history.
"You really gambled this time, Q," the Confederate General said, his voice still carrying the distinctive drawl he'd adopted. "Bringing a mortal into our affairs, giving him access to power that rivals our own, trusting him to navigate a civil war between omnipotent beings." He shook his head. "That was either brilliant or catastrophically reckless."
Q leaned back in his booth, his Han Solo costume somehow managing to look dignified despite the casual setting. "It all worked out in the end, didn't it? The Continuum is unified, Quinn's sacrifice has been given meaning, and we've remembered what we'd forgotten about the value of growth and change."
Lady Q interjected with a delicate snort. "Worked out? You nearly destroyed everything we've built over millions of years. Do you have any idea how close we came to complete dissolution?"
"Closer than I would have preferred," Q admitted, his tone growing more serious. "But sometimes the greatest risks yield the greatest rewards. The alternative was slow stagnation, watching our people fade into irrelevance as we became increasingly disconnected from the very forces that give existence meaning."
The Confederate General drummed his fingers on the table, the rhythm matching the Bith band's melody. "Your boy performed admirably, I'll grant you that."
"True strength isn't about imposing your will on others, but about creating space for them to choose their own growth. When he helped end our conflict, he reminded us who we used to be. I had hoped he would find a way to bridge our differences. His particular combination of power and mortality, of capability and humility, made him uniquely suited to the task."
"But this was never just about ending our civil war, was it? You've positioned him for something larger. The Borg situation, the other entities that threaten the balance of existence."
"The Continuum needed to be unified before we could address those threats effectively," Q replied. "A house divided against itself cannot stand, as someone once said."
Lady Q studied Q's expression carefully. "You've grown fond of him. This mortal, whom you dragged into our affairs and somehow managed to teach us about ourselves."
"Fond is perhaps too strong a word," Q said, though his tone suggested otherwise. "But I do find him... refreshing. He approaches problems without the weight of omniscience, without the burden of knowing all possible outcomes... Just one. Sometimes that ignorance allows him to see solutions that we, in our infinite wisdom, have overlooked."
The Confederate General stood. "Well then, I suppose we'll see if your gamble truly pays off." He straightened his uniform jacket. "The Continuum owes you a debt, Q. Your willingness to risk everything for the possibility of growth has reminded us why we ascended in the first place."
With that, the Confederate General Q snapped his fingers and vanished in another brilliant flash.
After three seconds, Lady Q turned to Q with a look that could have frozen a star. "You lied."
Q raised his glass to his lips, taking a deliberate sip before responding. "I'm quite sure I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't you dare play coy with me. This isn't just about the Borg or the others."
Q set his glass down, the condensation leaving a perfect ring on the cantina table. He shrugged, but Lady Q had known him far too long to be fooled by his theatrical indifference.
"Really, my dear, I haven't the faintest idea what—"
"The System." Lady Q's words cut through his deflection like a blade through silk. "You told him it transcends even the Q, that it exists outside our framework. But you left out the rather important detail of why that's the case." She leaned forward. "The System isn't some random cosmic force that happened to attach itself to a mortal. It's not even from this reality, is it? You've been playing a much deeper game than even the Continuum realizes."
The cantina around them continued its normal bustle, alien conversations mixing with the sound of clinking glasses and occasional laughter. None of the other patrons seemed aware that two of the most powerful beings in existence were having a conversation.
Q finally met her gaze directly. "You always were too perceptive for your own good."
"So I'm right." Lady Q leaned back, though her posture remained alert. "The System comes from somewhere else entirely. Somewhere beyond even our understanding."
"Beyond your understanding," Q corrected with a slight emphasis on 'your.' "Though I suspect that may change, given time and proper... motivation."
Lady Q studied his expression. "You're not just using Tyson to fight the Borg or resolve our civil war."
Q's silence was answer enough.
"And you decided to conduct your little experiment without consulting the Continuum."
"The Continuum was rather preoccupied with tearing itself apart at the time," Q replied dryly. "Besides, some research is best conducted with a certain degree of... discretion."
"I don't know what you're doing, but I'm going to keep a close eye on you and your little pet project."
Q raised his glass in a mock toast. "I expect nothing less."
— Star Jumper —
Tyson
Origins: Human, Humanoid, Drop-In, Space Pirate, Bad Guy, Officer (Inquisitor, Commander), Displaced
Race: Augment Human-Betazoid (Hybrid)
Character Points: 350, [250 KOTOR (Vicky), 100 (T'Pol)]
Reality Points: 1500
Ship Points: 2650 [650 Mirror Universe]
Credits: 115,350
Status Effects: (none)
Drawbacks:
Gauntlet (Locked)
Ensign Marty Stu
A Simple Re'Q'uest
Hybrid (Betazoid)
Amok Time/Blood Fever
Outlawed
Divine Voyeur
Black Coat Society
Alien Threat
The Science Directorate Has Determined...
Spoils of War
Perks:
Cosmic Awareness
Out of Nowhere
Going Native
Live and Let Live
This is (Not?) Rocket Science
Kinda Bland
Determinator
Painted On
Snakeskin
Adaptable
Duelist
Master with your Hands
Best of the Best
Everything Is A Weapon
Augment
Force Specialization: Intelligence
Tactical Info
Sever Force
Specialty: Operations; Sub-Specialties (Communications, Engineering, Piloting)
Speedy Promotions
Untainted
Q This
We Are Still Starfleet
Fit For Duty: Command Division - Expert Ship Tactics and Combat, Expert Ship Command
Change The Present
Items:
Laser Blade
Spacesuit
Agony Booth
Cloaking Minefield
Lightsaber
Gray Goo Suit
Transwarp Beam Equation
Iconic Item: Iconic Interceptor
Evidence Of Integrity
Dressed For Success And Murder
Companions:
(Vicky) V-KO IV Nursedroid: Access Key, Artificial Intelligence Upgrade, Gray Goo Upgrade, Master With Your Hands, Light Weapon, Jumper's Master Key, Scaling Cloak, Origin: Jedi, Force Specialization: Intelligence, Enhanced Mind, Lightsaber, Armored Robes, Battle Meditation, Origin: AI, Origin: Elite, Memory Banks, Social Algorithms, Above Law and Reason, Pedigree, Planetary Domicile, Photonic Rapier, Security Features, Quantum Locked BUS, Adaptive Personal Force Field, False Star Forge.
T'Pol: Access Key, Origin: Rubber Forehead, Origin: Elite, Above Law and Reason, Pedigree, Distinct Feature, Everone Likes Green Chicks, Planetary Domicile, Photonic Rapier, Protector Drones, Space Elf, Space Wizard, Symbol
D'Lavina
Empress Troi: Origin: Manipulator, Aesthetics Of Success, Enticing, Un-Intendant Consequences, The Living Proof That Fate Is Real
Personal Reality:
Access Key (Additional Keys (1), Key Link)
Control Room (Your Robots, Maintenance Systems)
Security System (Force Wall, Partition Plan, Detainment)
Antechamber
Warehouse
High-Security Inter-Reality Connecting Door (1 Unused, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, Star Trek Mirror Universe)
Medical Bay (The Nano-Medical Lab, The Bio-Synthesis Lab, Microbiome Replacement Lab, The Counseling Bay)
Housing Complex (Basic Nutrition, A Little Less Basic Nutrition, A Lot Less Basic Nutrition, Choice Apartments, Luxury Apartments, Who's Got the Powa, Pipes Pipes Pipes)
Playing With Portals (Portal Link, Portal Control Rod, Free Portal, Portal Aperature x4)
The Mystical Menagerie
Guardian's Greenhouse
Ship Sections (Cryo-Chambers)
Personal Mini-Reality (The Village, Wildlife for Your Wild Life, The Meaning of Life)
Digital Extranet (Voice Over Wharehous Protocol Cellular Service)
The Semi-Secret Garden (Parkland Paradise, Meditation Corners)
A Range Of Ranges
Pilot Simulator
The Library Jumpxandria (Digital Database, A Classy Classroom
GYM-NICE-IUM (Gym-Nasty-Um, Gym-Classy-Um)
Spaceships:
Tramp Freighter (Destroyed - Respawn on 02/28/2365)
Sith Interceptor (Destroyed - Respawn on 04/18/2365) (Bridge Upgrade)
Automated Repair Station (Ship Size Rating: IV, Station, Bridge, Space Hulk, Artificial Gravity, Cryo-Chambers, Auto-Repair System, Synapses, Distributed, Automated Ship, Analytic Suite, Docking Port, Transporter Room, Matter Printer, Negentropy Reactor, Deflector Shields, Clarketech Module, Production Lines, Hangar, Cargo Bay, Living Quarters)
Narada (Ship Size Rating: IV, Artificial Gravity, Alcubierre Drive, Auto-Repair System, Exotic Materials (Nanomaterials), Cargo Bay, Hangar, Hyperdrive (Transwarp), Antimatter Reactor, Navigation Suite, Analytic Suite, Deflector Shields, Missiles, Cyber Warfare Suite (Mining Drill)
Interdictor (Destroyed - Respawn on 04/18/2365) (Ship Size Rating: III, Artificial Gravity, Hangar, Hyperdrive, Fusion Reactor, Navigation Suite, Point Defense, Deflector Shields, Jump Suppression Field, Beam Weapons, Follower Crew)
False Star Forge (Destroyed - Respawn on 05/01/2365) (Ship Size Rating: III, Station, A.I. Core, Entertainment Deck, Exotic Materials: Nanomaterials, Modular, Secure, Nanite Shroud)
Symbol (Ship Size Rating: II, Station, Distributed, Battery Banks, Physical Armor, Beam Weapons, Gravitic Shields, Exotic Materials: Crystal, A.I. Core, Modular, Inertialess Drive)
Iconic Interceptor (Ship Size Rating: IV) (General Upgrades: Articial Gravity, Auto-Repair System, Bridge Upgrade, Modular, Exotic Materials: Nanomaterials, Exotic Materials: Crystal, Secure) (Sections: Cargo Bay, Cryo-Chambers, Hangar x3, Living Quarters, Production Lines, Non-Specialized Ship Alterations: Saucer separation) (Controls: A.I. Core, Distributed, Synapses) (Crew: Follower Crew, 'Hardened' crew, Automated Ship) (Propulsion: Alcubierre Drive: Warp Drive x2, Hyperdrive (Transwarp), Hyperdrive, Inertialess Drive) (Reactors: Battery Banks, Reinforced Power Systems, Fusion Reactor, Antimatter Reactor, Negentropy Reactor) (Sensors: Navigation Suite, Analytic Suite, Tachyon Sensors) (Shields: Physical Armor, Point Defense, Deflector Shields, Gravitic Shields, Jump Suppression Field) (Utilities: Docking Port, Entertainment Deck, Holodeck, Transporter Room, Clarktech Matter Printer, Medical Facilities, Laboratory Space) (Weapons: Beam Weapons: Disruptors, Beam Weapons: Phasers, Non-Specialized Ship Alterations: Spinal Phaser Lance, Non-Specialized Ship Alterations: Spiral Wave Disruptor, Missiles: Photon Torpedoes, Non-Specialized Ship Alterations: Rapid Fire Photon Torpedo Launchers, Cyber Warfare Suite (Mining Drill), Nanite Shroud, Reach: Tractor Beam)
ISS Enterprise-D (Ship Size Rating: III - Heavy Cruiser), Artificial Gravity, Cargo Bay, Alcubierre Drive, Antimatter Reactor, Navigation Suite, Deflector Shields, Beam Weapons: Disruptors, Medical Facilities, Laboratory Space, Holodeck, Hangar Bay x2, Non-Specialized Ship Alterations: Saucer separation, Non-Specialized Ship Alterations: Spinal Phaser Lance, Non-Specialized Ship Alterations: Rapid Fire Photon Torpedo Launchers, 'Hardened' crew.
Galor-Class Destroyer (Ship Size Rating: III - Light Cruiser), Artificial Gravity, Alcubierre Drive, Antimatter Reactor, Navigation Suite, Deflector Shields, Directed Energy Weapons: Disruptors, Non-Specialized Ship Alterations, Non-Specialized Ship Alterations: Spiral Wave Disruptor, Warp Drive x2, Reinforced Power Systems, Torpedo Launchers: Photon Torpedo, Sensors: Tachyon Sensors, Reach: Tractor Beam)