Disclaimer; I don't own Andromeda or Star Trek Voyager so it's no use suing
me. I'm just having a harmless little fun.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who has posted reviews so far. Keep it up! I hope that those who disagree with my interpretation of the characters will still read the story and enjoy. No offense is intended; it's just my interpretation of how the characters might behave in the situations I put them in.
Enjoy!
************************************************************************
Q instinctively flinched upon hearing Trance's words. It wasn't enough that anybody would notice and the prankster made a quick recovery "Are you threatening me Trance? That wouldn't be prudent."
Trance had indeed noticed Q's fear, although it wouldn't have mattered. She wasn't out to scare Q, just keep him in line. "If you attempt to force the issue and make my friends do anything against their will, I make you very, very sorry. And that's a promise, not a threat.
"Ooh, I'm petrified," Q retorted with mock fear.
"Q, I don't think the rest of the members of the Continuum would approve of your plan, nor your behavior here," Janeway remarked, attempting to ease the tension.
Q frowned at the suggestion. "The rest of the Continuum won't mind. I'm being quite helpful here. I'm allowing two people to experience each other's world and culture. What's the harm in that?"
Janeway rolled her eyes at the question. "It is exactly this kind of interfering that got you reprimanded by the Continuum."
The Continuum's resident troublemaker shot a downcast look at the Voyager captain. As far as he was concerned that was a low blow. It deserved a response. "That's not fair. You can't compare the things I did in the past to this Kathy."
"I don't see why not. This is still a case of your meddling into the affairs of other cultures," Janeway replied, ignoring Q's use of her first name.
"And in a negative way, I might add," Hunt supplied.
Q shook his head. These humans, no matter which universe they came from were so obstinate and simple-minded. They were so afraid to broaden their horizons when it meant a little risk. Q knew there was risk in anything worth obtaining and he was sure that at least Harper and Tyr knew that as well. "Au contraire, Mon Capitan. I am to helping Voyager in its ongoing quest to return to Earth. I am also helping the good Captain Hunt and his quest to restore the Commonwealth."
None of his audience was convinced. Janeway and Hunt privately hoped for help, but doubted that Q was genuinely sincere in his offer of assistance. They certainly weren't about to trade the lives of Paris and Harper in order to receive Q's help.
Beka grew impatient with all of the talk. As far as she was concerned it was a waist of time. "Will somebody do something? All of the diplomacy and coddling of this pain in the butt pest is getting lame. And if nobody does something, I will."
Trance used the diversion Beka unintentionally created to form a golden cloud in her hands and blow it over in Q's direction. Q turned in time to see the cloud and vanished before the cloud could reach him.
"Where is he now?" Kim asked, turning around to see if he could see the Continuum member.
The others looked around as well when Trance spoke up. "He's here. I can feel his presence," The golden woman announced.
Q popped up behind Trance in an attempt to surprise her, but the alien woman was prepared. Trance grabbed Q's arm, her mere touch rendering him immobile. That was just enough time for golden skinned woman to create another golden cloud surrounded Q. Trance stepped back and let the cloud's magic take effect.
"Please Trance. Your feeble attempts to get rid of me are useless," Q chided as he snapped his fingers. Q looked stunned and shaken when nothing happened.
Seeing an opening, Dylan lunged at Q and restrained him. "It looks like our unwelcome guest has lost his touch."
Trance smiled as Harper gave her a pat on the back. "Nice work Trance. I knew you had it in you," Harper praised his Golden Goddess.
Trance also released Tyr from his state of suspended animation. The tall, muscular Nietzschean looked around, waiting for an explanation.
Trance took away Q's powers and freed you Tyr," Holo Rommie explained.
"Trance, tell me this is a permanent situation," Tyr requested. The practical Nietzschean had already prepared himself for the negative answer, but wanted to know for sure.
All eyes were on Trance. Even Q was curious, despite knowing the answer as well as Trance. He just wanted to observe the reactions of these quirky humans.
"I'm sorry, but the effects are only temporary," Trance informed.
Harper's frowned and looked at Andromeda's ceiling. "It figures. Like I've said before "The Universe hates you. Deal with it.'"
"I suggest we waste no time in questioning Q," Tuvok advised, ever the logical Vulcan.
Janeway nodded at the Vulcan. "Logical suggestion Mr. Tuvok."
Janeway and Tyr advanced on Q, causing the Continuum member to wriggle in Hunt's grasp. Tyr grabbed the collar of Q's uniform and he and Hunt proceeded to lift the prankster off the ground.
Q dangled his feet at first then, realizing it was futile, relaxed slightly. "Come now. There's no need to get violent gentlemen. My motives are purely honorable."
Harper pulled some tools out of his tool belt and began working on bringing AI Rommie back online.
"Mr. Paris and Mr. Kim see if Mr. Harper needs any help with Rommie," Janeway suggested.
Harper quickly waived off the help. That's okay Captain. I can get Rommie online by myself. There's nothing really wrong with her. I just need to reboot her main program."
Q smiled broadly at the news. "There, you see. I haven't done any harm. Now put me down."
"Say please," Hunt advised, with a smirk.
Q sighed, exasperated at being at the mercy of such an inferior species. "Oh very well, Please put me down."
Hunt and Tyr didn't move. Janeway had to admit she found the situation rather amusing, considering the trouble Q had caused Voyager in the past. However, violence wasn't necessary.
Tyr looked disappointed when Dylan shrugged and let go of Q. Tyr reluctantly put the Continuum member down, not so gently, on the deck.
Q gave his Starfleet uniform a few tugs. "That's more like it. Let's be reasonable."
"I thought I, for one, was being quite reasonable," Tyr retorted.
Janeway forced back a smile and stood in directly in front of Q. "What is it you really want Q? And if I don't get a straight answer I will find a way to tell the Continuum what you've been up to."
"You wouldn't do that Kathy; we mean too much to each other," Q replied, knowing it would embarrass Janeway. He couldn't be concerned about that now, however. Q moved away from Janeway and sat down on the steps.
Andromeda's crewmembers had the grace not to look too shocked. Tyr arched an eyebrow, but kept silent. You're attempt at changing the subject will not work, you pathetic man."
Q ignored the comment and continued to plead his case. "Kathy, you know me well enough to know that I wouldn't really hurt Mr. Paris or Mr. Kim. So trust me and agree to the little exchange of personnel."
Janeway wasn't quite sure what make of Q's plea. He was never one to be sincere; still, Q had appeared to have been humbled by the punishment meted out by the Continuum. But Janeway needed more assurance then Q was giving right now. "I'll need some kind of assurance from you Q if I am going to put the life of one of my crewmembers in possible jeopardy."
Q's expression turned serious for the first time since he had popped aboard the Andromeda Ascendant. "I'm sorry Kathy, but I can only give you my word. That should be enough assurance."
"It's not enough for me, not by a long shot," Hunt stated.
"Short of kicking his but out of the airlock, what do you suggest we do with this toad breath?' Beka asked, making a move towards Q.
Hunt had a ready answer; one that he knew wouldn't please his crew. "We'll throw him in the brig. A man with his powers must be used traveling around. I bet he hates being cooped up.
Tyr didn't bother to hide his displeasure. "I had a more painful punishment in mind."
"I can imagine," Hunt replied. "But we can't harm him when he hasn't done any real harm to any of us. Trance, how long until Q regains his powers?"
"I'd say around 24 hours," the golden woman answered.
Hunt turned to Q and motioned towards the doorway. "Okay Q. You have 24 hours to come clean and tell us why you're meddling. If you've been reprimanded already for meddling then you must have a good reason for interfering again. I want to know what it is."
Q shrugged his shoulders and sighed. "I've told all of you all that you need to know."
"Then it's off to the brig," Hunt replied. "Trance and Mr. Tuvok will escort you."
Q sat in his cell feeling humiliated. Not only did he not have his powers but nobody would trust him.
"That's right, they don't trust you Q. You better hope they start trusting you soon. Time is running out," came a voice from above.
Q looked up at the ceiling and saw a familiar face.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who has posted reviews so far. Keep it up! I hope that those who disagree with my interpretation of the characters will still read the story and enjoy. No offense is intended; it's just my interpretation of how the characters might behave in the situations I put them in.
Enjoy!
************************************************************************
Q instinctively flinched upon hearing Trance's words. It wasn't enough that anybody would notice and the prankster made a quick recovery "Are you threatening me Trance? That wouldn't be prudent."
Trance had indeed noticed Q's fear, although it wouldn't have mattered. She wasn't out to scare Q, just keep him in line. "If you attempt to force the issue and make my friends do anything against their will, I make you very, very sorry. And that's a promise, not a threat.
"Ooh, I'm petrified," Q retorted with mock fear.
"Q, I don't think the rest of the members of the Continuum would approve of your plan, nor your behavior here," Janeway remarked, attempting to ease the tension.
Q frowned at the suggestion. "The rest of the Continuum won't mind. I'm being quite helpful here. I'm allowing two people to experience each other's world and culture. What's the harm in that?"
Janeway rolled her eyes at the question. "It is exactly this kind of interfering that got you reprimanded by the Continuum."
The Continuum's resident troublemaker shot a downcast look at the Voyager captain. As far as he was concerned that was a low blow. It deserved a response. "That's not fair. You can't compare the things I did in the past to this Kathy."
"I don't see why not. This is still a case of your meddling into the affairs of other cultures," Janeway replied, ignoring Q's use of her first name.
"And in a negative way, I might add," Hunt supplied.
Q shook his head. These humans, no matter which universe they came from were so obstinate and simple-minded. They were so afraid to broaden their horizons when it meant a little risk. Q knew there was risk in anything worth obtaining and he was sure that at least Harper and Tyr knew that as well. "Au contraire, Mon Capitan. I am to helping Voyager in its ongoing quest to return to Earth. I am also helping the good Captain Hunt and his quest to restore the Commonwealth."
None of his audience was convinced. Janeway and Hunt privately hoped for help, but doubted that Q was genuinely sincere in his offer of assistance. They certainly weren't about to trade the lives of Paris and Harper in order to receive Q's help.
Beka grew impatient with all of the talk. As far as she was concerned it was a waist of time. "Will somebody do something? All of the diplomacy and coddling of this pain in the butt pest is getting lame. And if nobody does something, I will."
Trance used the diversion Beka unintentionally created to form a golden cloud in her hands and blow it over in Q's direction. Q turned in time to see the cloud and vanished before the cloud could reach him.
"Where is he now?" Kim asked, turning around to see if he could see the Continuum member.
The others looked around as well when Trance spoke up. "He's here. I can feel his presence," The golden woman announced.
Q popped up behind Trance in an attempt to surprise her, but the alien woman was prepared. Trance grabbed Q's arm, her mere touch rendering him immobile. That was just enough time for golden skinned woman to create another golden cloud surrounded Q. Trance stepped back and let the cloud's magic take effect.
"Please Trance. Your feeble attempts to get rid of me are useless," Q chided as he snapped his fingers. Q looked stunned and shaken when nothing happened.
Seeing an opening, Dylan lunged at Q and restrained him. "It looks like our unwelcome guest has lost his touch."
Trance smiled as Harper gave her a pat on the back. "Nice work Trance. I knew you had it in you," Harper praised his Golden Goddess.
Trance also released Tyr from his state of suspended animation. The tall, muscular Nietzschean looked around, waiting for an explanation.
Trance took away Q's powers and freed you Tyr," Holo Rommie explained.
"Trance, tell me this is a permanent situation," Tyr requested. The practical Nietzschean had already prepared himself for the negative answer, but wanted to know for sure.
All eyes were on Trance. Even Q was curious, despite knowing the answer as well as Trance. He just wanted to observe the reactions of these quirky humans.
"I'm sorry, but the effects are only temporary," Trance informed.
Harper's frowned and looked at Andromeda's ceiling. "It figures. Like I've said before "The Universe hates you. Deal with it.'"
"I suggest we waste no time in questioning Q," Tuvok advised, ever the logical Vulcan.
Janeway nodded at the Vulcan. "Logical suggestion Mr. Tuvok."
Janeway and Tyr advanced on Q, causing the Continuum member to wriggle in Hunt's grasp. Tyr grabbed the collar of Q's uniform and he and Hunt proceeded to lift the prankster off the ground.
Q dangled his feet at first then, realizing it was futile, relaxed slightly. "Come now. There's no need to get violent gentlemen. My motives are purely honorable."
Harper pulled some tools out of his tool belt and began working on bringing AI Rommie back online.
"Mr. Paris and Mr. Kim see if Mr. Harper needs any help with Rommie," Janeway suggested.
Harper quickly waived off the help. That's okay Captain. I can get Rommie online by myself. There's nothing really wrong with her. I just need to reboot her main program."
Q smiled broadly at the news. "There, you see. I haven't done any harm. Now put me down."
"Say please," Hunt advised, with a smirk.
Q sighed, exasperated at being at the mercy of such an inferior species. "Oh very well, Please put me down."
Hunt and Tyr didn't move. Janeway had to admit she found the situation rather amusing, considering the trouble Q had caused Voyager in the past. However, violence wasn't necessary.
Tyr looked disappointed when Dylan shrugged and let go of Q. Tyr reluctantly put the Continuum member down, not so gently, on the deck.
Q gave his Starfleet uniform a few tugs. "That's more like it. Let's be reasonable."
"I thought I, for one, was being quite reasonable," Tyr retorted.
Janeway forced back a smile and stood in directly in front of Q. "What is it you really want Q? And if I don't get a straight answer I will find a way to tell the Continuum what you've been up to."
"You wouldn't do that Kathy; we mean too much to each other," Q replied, knowing it would embarrass Janeway. He couldn't be concerned about that now, however. Q moved away from Janeway and sat down on the steps.
Andromeda's crewmembers had the grace not to look too shocked. Tyr arched an eyebrow, but kept silent. You're attempt at changing the subject will not work, you pathetic man."
Q ignored the comment and continued to plead his case. "Kathy, you know me well enough to know that I wouldn't really hurt Mr. Paris or Mr. Kim. So trust me and agree to the little exchange of personnel."
Janeway wasn't quite sure what make of Q's plea. He was never one to be sincere; still, Q had appeared to have been humbled by the punishment meted out by the Continuum. But Janeway needed more assurance then Q was giving right now. "I'll need some kind of assurance from you Q if I am going to put the life of one of my crewmembers in possible jeopardy."
Q's expression turned serious for the first time since he had popped aboard the Andromeda Ascendant. "I'm sorry Kathy, but I can only give you my word. That should be enough assurance."
"It's not enough for me, not by a long shot," Hunt stated.
"Short of kicking his but out of the airlock, what do you suggest we do with this toad breath?' Beka asked, making a move towards Q.
Hunt had a ready answer; one that he knew wouldn't please his crew. "We'll throw him in the brig. A man with his powers must be used traveling around. I bet he hates being cooped up.
Tyr didn't bother to hide his displeasure. "I had a more painful punishment in mind."
"I can imagine," Hunt replied. "But we can't harm him when he hasn't done any real harm to any of us. Trance, how long until Q regains his powers?"
"I'd say around 24 hours," the golden woman answered.
Hunt turned to Q and motioned towards the doorway. "Okay Q. You have 24 hours to come clean and tell us why you're meddling. If you've been reprimanded already for meddling then you must have a good reason for interfering again. I want to know what it is."
Q shrugged his shoulders and sighed. "I've told all of you all that you need to know."
"Then it's off to the brig," Hunt replied. "Trance and Mr. Tuvok will escort you."
Q sat in his cell feeling humiliated. Not only did he not have his powers but nobody would trust him.
"That's right, they don't trust you Q. You better hope they start trusting you soon. Time is running out," came a voice from above.
Q looked up at the ceiling and saw a familiar face.