A/n: Ever have a story that told you how it wanted to be written? This is that story for me. It was originally going to be humor but fell to the dark, angsty side; Anakin decided to take it over, the little snot; and I was going to end it two chapters ago, somewhat more happily than it does now. And now Q has decided he wants the last word, when last chapter was supposed to be the end. If any more characters come clamoring for attention I shall whack them soundly with Master Yoda's stick. Not entirely sure I'm happy with this, so please let me know if it makes any sense at all. If not, I'll just delete it and it can still end on the last chapter. Anyway, thank you for following this story and either way, this is the end!

A different view of the end

From high atop the towers of the Jedi Temple, another watched the senator soothe the hotheaded apprentice. Q told himself that none of this mattered; it was just an experiment after all. An experiment with an outcome he hadn't entirely anticipated, but it didn't change the course of the future. Just because the little angst-ridden Padawan had succeeded in throwing off the seduction of the Q power did not mean that he would succeed a second time with a more familiar power. And the Jedi were too blind to see it all…

Not that he could say he really expected too much. After all, look who they had pinned all their hopes onto, and what that outcome would be.

"You really should learn to choose your prophetic beings a lot more carefully," Q muttered, addressing the majestic Temple whose occupants remained heedless of his warning.

A long time from now, in a distant galaxy, Jean-Luc Picard had invited—or would invite—Q to test humanity. Told him that while they were not perfect, they were still growing and improving. He was convinced that Q would see that they were constantly bettering themselves. Q shook his head, knowing better. These Jedi seemed far more advanced than humanity could ever boast in the bright future Picard envisioned, and yet they were dying from within. Not evolving, stagnating. Burning out in a brief flame that just was not bright enough to stand against the darkness to come. And ignorantly awaiting that final blow to seal their fate. A second being joined Q but the superbeing did not look up, nor care.

"Twilight of the gods?" the blonde Q said conversationally. Q snorted at the term "gods" being used to describe the Jedi Order.

"More like observing entropy in action. Want to watch with me? I'll even provide popcorn, that human staple commonly consumed while watching something entertaining," Q answered, sounding like he could care less, but the other knew differently. Despite Q's words, there was a more personal reason for Q's attention, which was not brought about by amusement at the Jedi plight. Not that it was exactly altruistic either...

"And they have not been in existence as long as the Continuum," the other Q replied in understanding.

"I don't see how that has to do with anything," Q declared in a huff.

"Oh, I think you do."

"Pray enlighten me."

"I think you look at them and see what's happening in the Continuum. Perhaps you're even using them as a control group? I think you're almost hoping they will succeed so that perhaps the Continuum will have a chance also."

Q laughed nastily, "You know that's not going to happen. They've chosen to be blind to what's going on around them. You should have seen the Jedi Council scratching its collective head over what I was going to do. Give them a wake-up call and they'll just roll back over and fall asleep again." He stopped for a moment, and then chuckled lightly. "Though it was rather amusing to watch Master Obi Wan running around when his "Jedi Sense" was tingling." The two sat together impassively for a moment, until Q once again broke the silence.

"Well, it's on their own heads, anyway." he said dismissively. "Give finite beings a little taste of power and you know no good can come of that. These petty squabbles over which side is better, the light or dark…well, I just wanted to give them some perspective."

"These Jedi have done some good, you have to admit," the other Q commented. "They seem to have worked well within their limitations for this long."

"But you and I both know the outcome of this little history lesson. The brat fails. The Order falls." Q turned back toward the scene before them. "But maybe this is a good thing. Maybe they were due for a little pruning."

"And of course, that's why you offered them more power. To help them weed out their ranks?" The blonde Q's tone held more irony than Q cared to hear. "After all the eons, still trying to find new blood to infuse into the Continuum." Blonde Q shook his head and vanished before Q could even think of a scathing response.

Q gave the Jedi Temple, hiding the sheltered Jedi behind its grand walls, one last contemptuous glance. "I really did have higher hopes for you guys," he said softly, before he disappeared himself.