Chapter Forty-Four: The Games Q Play

Q arrived to escort me to Jannaran Falls about thirty minutes before the meeting time set by Jaibe and Koradi. "Troops are drafted, have taken their posts, and await your high command," he bellowed. He held his hand out to me and gracefully lifted me from my bed. I almost expected a chariot to appear like the one that led Cinderella to the ball. Then we Q-flashed and the delusion ended with the roaring waters of Jannaran Falls.

A family nearby was surprised by our arrival and the father clutched at his two children in a vain attempt at protecting them. The mother hovered behind them.

Q approached them, saying, "Greetings. I am Q. We will require the use of this park for the afternoon. I suggest you take your picnic elsewhere."

Nodding vigorously, the mother gathered up their food and other belongings as the father rushed the children to their shuttlecraft. Q scouted the area, ushering off everyone frequenting the park grounds. Others, having not witnessed our arrival, required more coaxing to leave. "We do not want to place any mortals in danger," he explained to me unnecessarily.

I scoured the park grounds, not sensing the other Q. Where were they hiding?

"Members of Faction 1687 are hovering inside the threads," Q said, having read my body language as well as any Betazoid reads minds. "They will appear when you are ready for them. This is your battleground to plan out. They will help you execute it."

Q enjoyed witty double intenders. An execution could quite possibly happen this evening – carried out from either side. The thought made me shudder.

As I considered both sides of the equation, I devised the weaponry for my cohorts. I produced several Starfleet-issue assault rifles, grenades like the ones used during the twentieth-century on Earth, and a variety of Klingon-style weapons. Then I went on to produce shields, armory, and other defensive items. I was a bit concerned about the damage such weaponry would render on the beautiful park grounds until Q told me it could all be restored after the battle. He said this with unflinching confidence, but I wondered whether Faction 17 would bother to do the same should they come out victorious.

"This selection of weaponry is brilliant," Q said. "You've combined twenty-fourth-century technology not only with centuries-old technology, but with alien technology as well."

As though they had heard his acclamation, other Q from Faction 1687 began popping into the park. With little prompting from Q or me, they assumed their battle formations. Q held out a bat'leth to me. "I believe you've had some practice using one of these."

Suddenly, I remembered the bat'leth I had received from my father when I was little. I had wanted desperately to please him back then. "I must begin the battle with my mind as my weapon," I told him. "If Jaibe and Koradi see me toting a bat'leth, our element of surprise will be lost."

He nodded, pulling back the proffered weapon. "I will hold onto it until you ask for it, but don't assume they won't be aware that you have reinforcements."

I scanned the park and sensed my allies camouflaged behind a bush, in a tree, or under some other hiding spot. Jaibe and Koradi would determine our strategy the moment they arrived. Closing my eyes, I searched within the core of my being for the telepathic powers I'd inherited from Grandma. Tapping into them, I placed a telepathic shield around my allies, hoping it would prevent the two Betazoid boys from sensing them.

I sat at a picnic table in the park's center and Q took his position only meters away behind a leafy bush. Although I could no longer see him, I sensed his gaze upon me. As I waited for Jaibe and Koradi, I peered down at the freshly painted table. It represented the care taken in maintaining the park. I wished Jaibe and Koradi had chosen a desolate battleground. Perhaps they thought it humorous to choose a hallmark of the Betazoid culture instead. People throughout the Federation knew of the legendary Jannaran Falls and they might soon hear of its demise as well.

Minutes later, the boys arrived in a Q-flash and I needed no further proof that they were collaborating with Faction 17. They had brought no basket of goodies with them to continue the charade of inviting me to a picnic. What about these two mortal boys made Q believe they could help him destroy me? They had taken advantage of me once, but now I was prepared for their onslaught. At least, I hoped I was.

They sat across from me and for an eerie moment I imagined we'd flashed back in time to Market Day. Even the loud roar of Jannaran Falls did not dispel this delusion. Jaibe and I stared fiercely at one another while Koradi peered nervously at his rugged fingers.

"Oh Shannara," Jaibe said with a smirk, "You find me irresistible. Is it my charming smile or my slick suit?" He ran his fingers along the lining of his jacket. Unlike his companion, his hands were smooth and manicured. He enjoyed harassing me while his smaller friend played along and obviously did the gruff work from the appearance of his hands.

"Don't flatter yourself," I responded. "You know why I'm here. You owe me an explanation and an apology."

Jaibe laughed sinisterly. "What makes you so deserving of one?"

"You took me by surprise, violated me in the most spiritual way."

"And how could we possibly manage that with a superior being?"

I ignored the insult. "Now that I'm aware of your game, I won't fall victim to you again."

They did not back down, probing my mind. I feared my mental shields would collapse. They would learn the locations of the other Q. But would good would that knowledge do them? I suddenly realized. We could easily overpower them. They had no way to warn the Evil Q.

"You're a couple of pawns on Q's chess board," I continued, trying to weaken them first. "He'll use you for as long as he needs you, then discard you like broken dolls."

"Why should I believe you over him? He has promised us wealth and power," Jaibe informed me. "If we successfully carry out our mission—and you will crumble—he will place us high up in the ranks of his faction."

"Faction 17 does not accept new members. They don't even sanction the creation of new Q. He enlisted you to play his game against me, though I haven't yet figured out why. I don't even know why he's singled me out."

He grabbed me forcefully by the arm. Surprised, I didn't resist. "They want to destroy you because you want to force reintegration on them. That's like forcing different cultures into merging into one culture that has to share the same beliefs and values."

"You mean like 'respect your fellow Q?" I quipped.

He growled deeply with disgust. "Denounce your life as a Q, and we'll show you a good time. Q value very little, except living forever. Why live forever if you can't enjoy life?"

"Or don't," Koradi added, barely above a whisper. He glanced furtively at Jaibe as though he had spoken out of turn. "We'll have to kill you. Safeties off, remember?"

"I have to lower myself to your aberrant level and then you'll spare my life?"

The boys glanced at one another. "She'll never give up the powers of the Q, Koradi," Jaibe said. "She thinks she's better than us."

"I know I'm better than you," I said in a lilting tone.

They didn't realize the dangerous game they were playing. They could not over power me! Q didn't choose allies outside the Continuum, only pawns. What did Q expect to accomplish by using them?

"You're an abomination of your kind," I clarified. "You don't fit in with the norm."

"And you do?" Jaibe countered.

He didn't expect an answer, and I offered none. As Jaibe and I continued to stare at one another, the wind suddenly picked up and my hair blew in my face. Although I sensed the wind was artificial, I did not break my stare to investigate its source. The gust picked up and a flash of lightning filled the sky. Someone screamed as he was hurled from a tree. Finally, I stood, scanning the park for the enemy both with my eyes and my telepathy. Not only had Jaibe and Koradi been aware of the presence of my allies, they had distracted me well from Faction 17's arrival.

Arsenal fire exploded from all directions. Q from Faction 17 flashed onto the field, sporting their own array of weapons. Without a weapon, I felt as naked as the day of the undressing.

*What's the matter, Shannara?* Jaibe said inside my head. *You neglected to plant any loopholes to get you out of a bind?*

I did not look back at him or his companion as I ran for cover behind a rock edge. A nemesis either spotted my movement or was directed by their mortal pawns. Whichever the case was not my greatest concern as he leaped toward me armed with a phaser rifle. Frantically, I searched for anything to use as a weapon and scooped up some loose rocks, heaving them at his face. My arm strength was good thanks to my Klingon genes and most of the rocks hit the target. He screamed, though the pebbles had inflicted only scratches. I scrambled to get away searching for a better weapon and a better cover. As I ducked behind the huge Gracko tree, I glanced back.

Q was not chasing me. To my surprise, he was screaming in agony. Then I noticed the d'ktahg protruding between his shoulder blades. Although twisting around fiercely, Q was unable to remove the Klingon blade. A member of Faction 1687 smiled victoriously at me before he took on a new opponent.

I gazed at the battlefield, horror struck as I watched the carnage playing out. I should have taken a weapon and joined the fighting, but I was still a little girl and had lost my courage. Within minutes, a dozen or more Q lay sprawled on the ground, most of them seriously injured, and a number of them, I suspected, dead. How many of them were allies? Certain I would be next, I remained paralyzed, clinging to the Gracko tree.

I spotted Q in the middle of the melee. Brandishing the bat'leth he had offered me, he barely managed to ward off one foe before another charged at him. He vainly attempted to look for me in between parrying blows. I could not flag him down because that would draw the attention of the enemy as well, so I helplessly tried to will him in my direction.

"Shannara!" someone called out, startling me out of my paralysis. I looked up just as Q dropped an assault rifle down from a high branch. I no more than clutched the trigger when three members of Faction 17 rushed at me with daggers. Little girl or not, I was about to test my battle skills! I fired the rifle continuously until they each fell. I examined the setting on the rifle. It was set on stun, but I could have easily killed them. I discarded the weapon in disgust. Klingon DNA raced through me, but I had no desire to be a warrior.

"What are you doing?" someone yelled at me and before I could turn toward him, Evil Q was upon me, clutching me by the throat. "You do not make a formidable enemy, Shannara." He spat out my name as though it were venomous. "You are puny and weak. I could snap your neck and end your life in an instant."

"Why won't you?" I managed in a gravelly voice.

He had no intention of carrying out his threat because torturing me was too much fun. He released his grip on me, but his fingers hovered over my jugular.

"You've murdered countless Q. Why begin this game if not to end it with the termination of my life?"

Jaibe and Koradi stood behind Q like henchman guarding his back. Their air of assumed superiority was sickening. They were mere ants in this soldiers' game, oblivious to their true fate. Around us, the fighting suddenly ceased and many of the Q drew near us. Allies gathered behind me while Q's minion flocked near him.

"I want a great show," Q answered. "You offer me so little that your head is hardly worthy of a trophy. I think I'll continue to torture you for a bit and see if you live up to Q's vision." The two pawns laughed in agreement until Q glared at them. "I know you're capable of so much more, Shannara. Otherwise, Q would never have enticed you under his wing." He pointed at my guardian angel as though expecting Q to openly agree.

"She hasn't disappointed me," Q countered. "You will see one day."

Ignoring my guardian angel, Evil Q continued. "Why are you living under the charade of a little girl?"

"I am a little girl," I replied, holding my head up high. "I'm not ashamed of that."

Jaibe leaned toward Q and with a smirk, said, "She's a little girl all right. Her body's shaping up nicely, though, if we could just cover up the head.

My nostrils flared as I balled my hands into fists. How dare he insinuate that I was a beast!

"You must learn to refrain from carnal pleasures if you are to embrace the life of a supreme being," Evil Q warned the boy.

Jaibe grinned. He could not understand why he had to give up any pleasure in exchange for immortality. "Other Q enjoy—"

"Not from Faction 17!"

With one swift and precise move, Q produced a blade from underneath the folds of his jacket and handed it to Jaibe. "If you are to join Faction 17, then prove you are fearless. Safeties are on for fellow Faction 17 members."

Completely trusting that he had been given the power of the Q, Jaibe sliced into his throat. The boy fell to his knees and clutched feebly at his gushing wound. The knife tumbled to the ground, the blade digging into the earth. Jaibe's eyes grew wide, fixing Q with accusation, then the life quickly began to fade from them and Jaibe tumbled forward. Reactions were mixed among the crowd members; some members of Faction 17 cheered, while others from Faction 1687 gasped in horror that the battlefield had transcended to include mortals. Yet no one attempted to help Jaibe as he bled out.

Koradi, sensing immediate danger, futilely ran away. He could run around the world and Q could zap him down with one flash of his powers. Yet Q shrugged nonchalantly and let the boy go. He was no longer of any use and certainly of no threat to Q.

"I lied to them," Evil Q admitted as though it needed saying. "They were hardly worthy of Qness." Several hoots of agreement came from his side of the crowd. "I would never have admitted them to Faction 17." He smirked at me. "Their usefulness has just expired. You, on the other hand, Shannara, will live to battle Faction 17 on another day. Perhaps, then you will prove more worthy of the immortality Q has bestowed upon you." He raised his hand, clenching it into a fist. "Or if not, I will enjoy pulverizing you."

"She will rise above you!" Q vowed as he stepped up from behind me to place his hands on my shoulders. "After all she is the first telepath to accept the power of the Q."

Evil Q chuckled. "She can read my thoughts day in and day out, but she will never understand me or be privy to the master plan of Faction 17."

This was the first I'd heard of this master plan. Did Faction 17 have an alternate plan for the Continuum? Why had Q not warned me about it? Or was this the first he was hearing of it as well?

A shuttlecraft hummed in the distance. I willed it to fly past Jannaran Falls. It was no longer a brilliant waterfall, but a bloodbath. As the shuttlecraft came into view, I recognized it and with dread, realized its occupant understood what she was flying into. As the shuttle descended, I tried to place a Q-net around it only to remember that that was one of the powers I had forfeited for the duration of this battle.

"Well, well, more mortal blood," Evil Q said. "This ought to motivate you to try harder, Ms. Rozhenko." He walked toward the tiny shuttle and anxiously, I followed him.

The hatch door opened and Grandma emerged in the doorway. "Shannara," she said, hovering at the top step. "End this nonsense. You're immortal beings. So you can't kill each-!" Her words were cut short as she took in our surroundings. "Oh my Lord!"

Those who were not lying dead in a pool of their own blood, were desperately clutching at their wounds. Uninjured Q hovered over their comrades, desperately trying to triage the wounded. What could they do with safeties off? Their powers were not accessible until both sides called a truce.

"Stay out of this, Grandma!" I yelled. "This isn't the place for you. You cannot negotiate with the Q as you did the Iliatti. Go home. . .where you will be safe!"

"Oh, but this is the perfect place for Lwaxana Troi, daughter of the Fifth House," Evil Q said, grabbing Grandma by the arm and yanking her out of the shuttlecraft.

Grandma screamed in anger and frustration. "Unhand me, you brute!" Her outward bravery belied her racing heart.

"Ah, so sorry to be mussin' up the little lady's hairdo," Q mocked.

Red pushed to the front of the crowd. "Killing mortals must make you feel big and proud," she said. "You're one rung above the rest of us. Mortals do not make worthy trophies." She held out her arms toward him. "Take me instead!"

"Darling, what are you saying?" my guardian angel exclaimed and stepped in front of me to pull her back. He clutched her in his arms as though she meant more to him than a mere member of his faction. Did Q actually have feelings for Red? She wiggled out of Q's affectionate grasp, but did not attempt to offer herself as a sacrifice again.

"No worries. Your darling is safe for another day." Evil Q tightened his grip on my grandma.

"Please," Grandma begged. "Let me take my granddaughter home. Revoke her Q powers and we'll forget about this whole mess. She'll live out a normal, mortal life. You wouldn't be bothered by her."

She will never relinquish the power of the Q," Evil Q snarled. "She's experienced too much of what the Continuum has to offer to ever go back to a mundane existence. She will learn to regret that decision as those she loves drop like flies, starting with you!" He lifted Grandma half a meter off the ground and she screamed.

"Take me instead," my guardian angel pleaded. With his hands he tilted his head sideways. "Aren't I the head you've always dreamed would adorn your wall? This mortal woman will offer you no triumph. Let her go." Q stepped toward his greatest nemesis only to be stopped by a bolt of lightning coming from his enemy's hand. Knocked off his feet, Q flung backward and landed hard on his back, nearly knocking others over in the process as the scrambled to get away from him.

Safeties off! Ahh!

Q brought his mouth to Grandma's cheek and they were caught in a weird kiss-dance. It looked as though he were sucking the life from her. He was!

I rushed toward them as Grandma crumpled to the ground. I knelt before Grandma, trying desperately to breathe life back into her. Unable to will the powers of the Q to flow through me, I cradled Grandma in my arms, weeping.

"Game over!" someone shouted. Through my bleary eyes, I barely recognized Q from Faction 125, the same Q who had rescued me from Jaibe and Karodi during Market Day. He appeared in his older facade. "Safeties are back on," he said as he knelt down to me and Grandma. Then he stood again and waved his arms at the crowd. "Everyone disperse now. Go home."

To my amazement, they listened to him, one by one flashing out of Jannaran Falls. The well carried the dead and injured in their Q-flashes, taking the bodies back to the Continuum. In the end, even Red and my Q vanished until only Q from Faction 125 was left standing over Grandma and me. "Game over," he repeated and a great dread descended to the pit of my stomach. As he lifted Grandma and carried her inside her shuttlecraft, I followed him.