Hi all! Sorry about the wait for this chapter-- been a bit busy lately, what with Christmas preparations and all. This one's a bit shorter than usual, but next chapter I promise I'll bring the good stuff.

Also, if you haven't already done so, check out my new fic "Broken Mirror." It's about Trelane: ) So it's in the TOS section.

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The limits placed on his existence were starting to chafe on Riker. Time, space, physics, human senses-- he'd spent too much time confined to them, and he was feeling boxed in again. It didn't help that his emotions were translating to internal energy, which was constantly itching for an outlet. He needed to spend some time being a Q, or he felt like he'd explode-- and he already knew that might be dangerously literal.

The announcement of shore leave couldn't have been more welcome.

With a thought and a grin, Riker teleported himself away. It was much easier than he'd expected it to be; having the image of Starfleet Academy to orient himself with certainly helped. In an instant, he was back on the main quad, which seemed much more definite and solid than it had last time... was that a good thing, Riker wondered, or a bad thing?

A few bystanders, noticing his arrival, looked at him with wide eyes. "S-sir?" one of them ventured, looking at the pips on his collar.

...Definitely a bad thing. Trying to navigate by physical images had evidently landed Riker at the real Starfleet Academy. "At ease, cadet," he said, thinking fast. "I've just beamed down to make a report."

It might not have been the most elaborate excuse, but it served its purpose. Riker marched briskly to the nearest building, the old astronomy hall, and began to look around the building for a suitably private location.

An empty classroom presented itself. It was locked, of course. Riker had the ultimate passkey. The door opened when he glanced at it, and he entered the room, ignoring the curious looks from a few passing cadets.

There, now he didn't have to worry about being observed. Now to figure out this business of dimension-crossing and--

"Took a wrong turn?"

Q was leaning against the wall near Riker, arms folded. Riker wasn't surprised. Somehow, he'd been half expecting this.

"If you'd give me some training," Riker said irritably, "I wouldn't keep making mistakes like this."

"Perhaps," Q said, waving his hand, "but that wouldn't be nearly as entertaining, would it?" At Riker's hard stare, he relented. "Although as it happens, the Continuum is of the opinion that you're right. They also believe that I," he affected a put-upon expression, "ought to be the one to teach you the basics, since I was responsible for selecting and recruiting you. And it seems I'm to begin straight away, before you go and do something like vaporize someone's planet."

"Fine with me," Riker said. "I'd like to spend some time off the Enterprise, anyway--"

"Ah, yes," Q said. "Your turbulent relationship with the moderately lovely Counselor Troi."

Riker was taken aback. "How much of my life have you been watching?!"

"Only the interesting parts," Q said reassuringly. "And you could block me out--"

"--if I knew how," Riker finished.

"It's for your own safety, anyway," Q said. "With the powers you've got, you could get yourself into all sorts of trouble. I can't let that happen, can I?" He abruptly put an arm around Riker's shoulder, causing Riker to tense up. "We Q have to look out for each other, after all."

"Touching," Riker said thinly.

"Now," Q said, disengaging himself (much to Riker's relief), "I believe you were trying to find your way to the Continuum when you ended up here? Unless you were returning to your alma mater to have a delightful reunion with all those mortals who once presumed to teach you the nature of the universe..."

"Yes," Riker said. "The Continuum. Although a little teaching would be appreciated, too."

Q laughed derisively. "If you would only open your perceptions, you could teach them. But I suppose you'll be wanting directions."

He snapped his fingers, and suddenly the classroom was lit up. Although he was caught off guard, Riker could actually sense himself being displaced, and he had a feeling that he could fight it if need be. Before he could react, though, he found himself seated at one of the desks; Q, now dressed in an instructor's uniform, was standing at the front of the room.

"Q, you can't do this!" Riker said, aghast. "Not here! This is Starfleet Academy!"

"Cadet Riker," Q said sternly, "you are not to speak during lecture times without the instructor's permission."

"But this-- someone might be scheduled to use this room! What if they find us?"

"I suggest you review the introductory material."

Riker looked down at his desk and saw a sheet of paper.

Q 101: Introduction to Omnipotence

Instructor: Q

NOTE: Students are expected to be familiar with the preliminary seminar, 'The Limitations of Mortal Perceptions: Why Nobody At The Academy Will Notice A Thing.'

Riker had to stifle a snicker. If Picard was here, he'd be angrily telling Q that it wasn't funny, but... it was sort of funny. Or maybe he'd just been spending too much time with Q.

"Right, class!" Q said crisply, throwing himself into his role of the moment with gusto. "Today we'll be covering the nature of the Q Continuum!"