Now, I realize that the last time I posted anything at all, I probably had something written at the top like, I've nearly go the next one done, stay tuned, blah blah blah. And now that I've brought it up, you're reliving all that anger and frustration you got after looking, week after week, but not finding that I updated. And now you're thinking, 'no, I didn't check, this was just a chance encounter.' Well don't tell me that. I have four words for you: Four exams, four days. Plus all that culminating stuff that they make you do. You would not believe High School these days, and if you're not there yet, join the circus, and if you're struggling through it like me, I've started a suppot/anarchist group.

Anyhow, this is it. (Well there may be a juicy sequel but don't hold your breath.) And there's a little epilogue. Thanks for sticking around. And when you're done, don't just sit there, review, let me know what you thought sucked/didn't make sense/was ridiculous/was great (!!). great is underlined.

Miral was in bed for the next several days. Her eyesight returned to normal but she would never forget what she saw of her parents, and of Q. She hadn't seen many crew members but she knew there were mixed opinions; now she understood what her father had meant when he said people were 'talking'. Too restless for sleep, she was aimlessly turning a figurine over in her hands.

It was then that it happened, a loud pop and a Q was standing in front of her. It was one she did not know, although equally, if not more, brilliant, and he told her it was time for her to go with him. He snapped his fingers and she had that feeling of being pushed through space that told her she was being transported somewhere.

She landed in a large counsel room. It was long and narrow, like a hallway. She stood at one end while a panel of robed figures sat at a high table at the far end.

"Miral Paris," one on the end shouted, "You have been summoned here today regarding events exactly one Earth week ago in the Gobi prison of the sacred quadrant. Are you aware of the crimes you have committed?"

"N..no." she stammered. It was unlike her to be afraid but the tone of the woman speaking was far too unhuman to avoid fear.

"You did knowingly connect with Particles without a permit? You did knowingly create a matter disturbance for your own benefit? You did knowingly plot to escape the holding tank of the Gobi?"

"I did do it, to save one of your own." Miral said, guessing at the meaning.

"Miral Paris," called a voice, much deeper and more familiar than the last, "I, for one, thank you for your efforts. Your 'abilities' have caused something of an uproar in the continuum, as you will understand."

"Your efforts in saving the younger Q will not be forgotten in your impending trial." interrupted the woman.

"Trial?" said Miral.

"Yes, trial." affirmed the elder Q, "It seems some are rather confused, they can't quite seem to believe it's happened yet." he emphasized the 'it'.

"What's happened yet?" interrupted Miral.

The elder Q did not notice her interruption and continued on, "Oh, certainly, I was one to judge when my son first became attached to you, but now I can see he made a very wise decision. But my Gobian colleague here does not hold the same reverence for you as I do. You see, they are a very strict species, they keep up the traditions of old, and keep most of the universe in order."

Miral suddenly realized that she was indeed looking at a jury made of Q and others like the Q but definitely different: the Gobi.

They were murmuring, the beings in the benches. Miral couldn't tell what they were saying. Her head began to hurt, it had done that lately, when she concentrated for too long.

"Miral." said a voice from behind, "Would you like to make a visit?"

Before she had contemplated it, Miral was standing in the middle of a sick bay. It was not as the ship's sick bay was, but far more cluttered and high-tech than any other place she had seen. A spindly arm pointed from beside her head to a figure lying in bed across the room: Q.

He was pale, but better than the last time Miral had seen him. As she walked over, he rose just a little to see who it was, then sat bolt upright.

He wouldn't look at her. He turned his head as she walked closer to him.

She was confused, after all they had just been through, all that she'd been through, the last person she expected to act like this was Q.

"Q?" she whispered tentatively.

"I..." he began to answer, but then faltered for a moment, "I just, I can't believe you did that."

"I did what I needed to, to save your life. Don't be angry with me."

"I can be angry if I want."

"Q, the last person I need to hate me right now is you. I don't even understand why."

"Because, Miral, you can connect with Particles, you can control energy. Everything's made of energy, I'm made of energy."

"So?"

"You can control me." he snarled, looking up at her.

"But" So this was it, this is what made him drive a steak through her heart. "I would never...."

"Maybe you did, I don't know. Maybe you will."

"And you never used your abilities on me? How could you think I would do that?"

"You expect me to believe that?"

"You should."

"Well, I can't. I just can't, okay."

"No, that's not okay, Q." She couldn't look at him either now. "Do you want to know? I can show you what it feels like. So you know for sure."

"Go ahead, Miral, turn me into your pet again. I'll do anything for you when you make me."

"I will." She spun around, her eyes glaring ice. She grabbed him by the collar and turned his head to look into his eyes, into the very nature of his existence.

"Do it."

He was sincere.

"Are you sure?"

"I have to know."

"I don't know what it will do to you."

He nodded for her to continue

She let go of him. Taking a step back, she closed her eyes. She wasn't even sure if it was possible, but she had to try.

What should she do? Turn him into a solid statue, a dog? Disappear him altogether? No, just mess him up a little bit: move it but put it all back together.

She concentrated. There were the particles, now to move them. She could shift him a foot to the left. The feet first, the particles flowed like a river, unraveling Q from the bottom up. She could see particle vibrations from his mouth, he was screaming. 'Make sure you put him together exactly.' she thought. The delicate part, the brain. It was going, smoothly, it was working.

"Miral!" a voice shouted from far away. The footsteps were coming closer but she was going further away.

"I know." Voices were talking quietly above her.

"She was to be told."

"But how?"

"I'll tell her."

"I'll stay, if you don't mind."

"All right. How do you feel?"

"Normal."

"That's incredible, that's she took you apart, from your molecular-energetic core."

"I still can't believe it. It hurt then, but I could see her doing it."

"Fascinating. It's a shame she has to go through this."

"It's not that bad, is it?"

"It'll be hard, but.... She's awake."

"Miral?"

The sound of her name caused her to stir. She vaguely remembered that they had been talking about her. It seemed like an age until her eyelids stopped fluttering and she could see the people sitting over her as she lay in a hospital bed.

"Are you all right?" the elder asked.

She nodded meekly as she tried to sit up. Two firm sets of hands helped her.

"I'm sorry." said the younger.

"I told you." she said. She tried to give a laugh, but her throat was too dry. "My head hurts."

"You suffered a minor aneurism in your cerebellum." he said, "Had you been anywhere else, you might have died."

"Oh."

"But you should be all right now. Our doctors have managed to fix some of the problems your human physiology has caused in the past." The older Q, the father of the boy, said.

"What?"

"Miral, there is something very important we need to discuss." He sighed, more serious now than he had ever been in his existence. "Do you recall what you did nearly an Earth-week ago, from the Gobi prison?"

"I do." she said softly.

"You are aware that there is no one else from your Universe who could have done that. Some have mastered small objects, moved them a few inches, bent them. But you performed something of a miracle. Even I could not have done that. The Gobi certainly couldn't."

She wasn't sure where this was going; she thought she was in trouble, but this was nothing but praise.

"Are you aware of a prophecy made prior to your birth?"

"The Klingon saviour."

"Yes, the Kuvah Mah." He paused a moment leaving the room entirely quiet. "It was not a false prophecy. I believe you know this more than anyone."

She slowly nodded, hardly believing what she was hearing.

"Your abilities, not just Particle melding, but language, combat, social discipline, analytical and Engineering skills. These are all things which are not merely good-luck virtues, you were meant to have these things."

She looked up at him for the first time since he began telling her this.

"What you do with this information is up to you, you understand." He took her hand as though to give her courage. "Many prophecies have been answered but not fulfilled, but this is what you were born to fulfill. I can't do anything more to help you, whatever you decide to do. I can pardon you from your so-called crime and I can send you back to your ship. If you would like, I can help you refine your abilities to the best of my knowledge, but this is all."

"I understand."