THE OBSERVANCE FACTOR
The angry young man on the motorcycle was looking up at the ship that was taking shape. They were right, Q thought. You do show promise. Of course, Q knew what was going to happen as this young man grew, became a leader, and then a legend. Being omnipotent and existing outside of normal space-time could allow you to do that. There's so much I could tell you about what you'll have to face, Q thought, but he knew that he never would. That would be reserved for another Starship Captain, in another time. At this point, all he was allowed to do was watch.
Q went back a little further into the young man's history. Here he was still a boy, filled with defiance yet also a sense of a greater destiny. After all, he was a starship captain's son, even if his uncle was a mean drunk. So he looked at the cyborg officer without fear. "I'm James Tiberius Kirk!" he shouted. Q had to chuckle at that. It reminded him of himself when he was "Younger."
The Vulcan stepped forward menacingly. "I do not need to be lectured by you," he said.
"So do something about it," the cadet casually replied.
The Vulcan did, by releasing the pent-up emotions that represented his Human half. The cadet seemed surprised, but also…intrigued. You'd better keep that sense of wonder, lad, Q thought as he watched. You're going to need it…
The Guardian was an ancient device, built when the cadet's ancestors were still evolving from their ape-like cousins. "He has not yet come," the Guardian said.
"I know that," Q impatiently replied. "What I want is for you to be ready when he does. I want you to show him the history of his world up to the early twentieth century, as they reckon time. But no more than that. You are not to show them the future, even though I know you can. Is that clear?'
"I can only show what is, and what will be," the Guardian replied. "That is my function."
"Then only show them the past," Q insisted. "Their futures must not be interfered with in any way. Do you understand?"
"I understand," the Guardian intoned.
Q nodded. It will be hard for you at times, my young friend, he thought. But the rewards will be far greater than you can realize right now. And I'll be waiting to welcome you into our ranks…when the time comes. He regretted that he wouldn't be able to tell Jean-Luc about any of this, but Picard would have his own role to play in the young man's fate in good time.
In the meantime, Q would wait, and observe.
THE END