Chapter XIII
"What has happened, Commander Kadohota?" the Klingon asked. "I'm not sure. Our controls don't seem to be responding," she explained, shaking her head in disbelief. They could be confused like this forever, Q thought miserably. Why in the world did I agree to watch over them in the first place? he wondered. I have other things to concern myself with, Q realized. Like 0 and his vile cohorts, he recalled and wondered how close they were to finding him. If I know 0, he will live up to his word and tell his friends where I am, Q thought. Which means we may have a battle on our hands, he realized. "Continue to try," micro-brain encouraged her and then turned to La Forge and asked, "Do we have any information which might tell us what has happened to Captain Picard or Lieutenant Commander Data?" "I'm afraid not, but wherever they are; that young Q went with them," the engineer explained. "I should've known from the beginning that any offspring of Q was trouble. He has probably abducted the Captain!" Worf said. Q wished that he could roll his eyes, but realized it was best for him to remain out of sight. If I chose to materialize, one of my old enemies could catch up with me, he reasoned, But still, how hard is it for the Klingon to realize that my son is taking care of things? "I don't agree," Beverly replied. Ah, the doctor has always had a soft spot for me, hasn't she? he thought. "Quaid is nothing like his father," the medical officer stated. Q wanted to strike her down right there, but resisted the urge once again.
Crusher sat down beside Worf and explained, "He seemed especially concerned about the end of the universe as we know it… perhaps our current situation is his way of protecting us." Well, if that doesn't beat all, Q thought. Leave it to Jean-Luc's doting bride to get these simpletons to understand us, he realized. "Why would the Q possibly wish to help us?" Worf argued. "Quaid said this vessel has a role to play and I'm inclined to agree with the doctor… maybe we should just wait until the Captain returns," Miranda urged the first officer. "That may not occur," the Klingon growled. "Q has never truly hurt us in the past… perhaps he is trying to help Data and Jean-Luc to discover more about what is happening," Beverly replied. "Or he has chosen to use our two comrades as bait for his enemies. That would not be below him," Worf commented. Oh for heaven's sake, how long are they going to prattle on like this? Q thought. "Nevertheless, our own predicament cannot be changed. We are stuck at warp nine… or at least that's what the computer says," Kadohota replied. "Mister La Forge, would it be possible for us to remove the dilithium crystals? Perhaps the lack of fuel will drop us into normal space," Worf commented. "But we'll be sitting ducks!" Beverly said. "It is better to honorably die than to be a coward and hide," the first officer said. That's it, I have to end this now, he realized. "Oh, don't give me all of that Klingon babble and mumbo-jumbo… you should know by now that I always have your best interests at heart, micro-brain," Q said as he appeared in a flash of golden light right between Worf and the doctor.
"So, Q… you don't want for us to interfere?" Crusher asked. "Bingo! That should be number one on the list of things you should not do right now," the super-being replied and then turned to the Klingon and said, "And how dare you insinuate that I would actually capture Picard and his pet android? The very thought is deplorable. Once again, I'd advise you to listen Jean-Luc's Maid Marion here and not even think about any risky procedures. My son is actually helping those two idiots learn more about my foes and how we can defeat them. I actually wish I could be with them, but I'm unfortunately stuck with babysitting you and your vessel," Q explained. "So then, you are protecting us… but from what, Q? And for once, can you please be totally honest?" Beverly asked. He was about to do just that, when he felt its presence. It has found me already? They must've already gained some of their previous strength, Q realized, Does that mean 0 is doing the same even as we speak? "Now look what you've done," Q muttered as he felt a cold chill and turned to Crusher and remarked, "I really wish that I didn't have to keep spelling things out to you, doctor. And it would seem that I will not have to this time. It is already here." "It? What're you talking about, Q?" Kadohota asked. Just then, the creature appeared before them in a blinding flash of darkness and gazed at each member of the bridge crew with intense interest. The dragon's bloodshot eyes were even redder than he had ever seen them, while the phoenix seemed to be shining with radiance brighter than ever before. So, it has regained some of its strength. But it still needs to be awakened, Q realized.
Worf stood to confront the being and Q warned, "I wouldn't try it if I were you, micro-brain. I may be lenient towards you; but this fellow here will turn you into prune juice without blinking twice." Thankfully, Worf listened to him and Crusher seemed to tense as the strange super-being shimmered in and out of reality. "Q… is it, speaking?" Crusher asked. "In a way," Q admitted and now that he was paying attention to what it was saying, he started to feel uncomfortable too. "What is it that you want, my dear ?" Q asked. The dragon's teeth seemed to shine as his eyes examined him and Q listened intently to what it had to say. "Absolutely not; I won't allow it… even if the Continuum thinks that you're old news, I know you're nothing but trouble," Q growled. Then, said something else and this time, Q felt even more afraid. It was apparent that the lesser beings also felt his words and Q said, "If it's a fight you want, I'm willing to take you on." And then his adversary disappeared into the realm it'd come from, but Q could detect it nearby. "Q… what was that being? It was like there was a hole eating away at my very soul," Beverly declared. It was then that Q realized what had happened and he turned to the science officer and growled, "Very clever, . But I'm afraid that I can't let you use these beings as hosts." "What has happened?" Worf asked.
Miranda walked down towards them and then with the slightest movement, she tossed the Klingon aside with a mere thought. Kadohota cried out as she approached Q, " ." "I understand why you did that. I've never liked him either… but I am the one you want," Q said. The science officer then approached Beverly and went on in the same almost audible fashion, " ?" Wisely, the doctor rose and went over to Worf before asking, "Q… I… can't feel anything but terror… what is happening?" "Quiet, doctor; the adults are talking… I can't listen to everybody speaking at once," the super-being muttered and then turned to Miranda and said, "I won't hurt a lesser creature just to get to you… and you know that you can't stay here forever." " ?" Kadohota asked. "Because if the Continuum knows you're on the loose and causing havoc… well, this time they'll destroy you utterly," Q replied to the intruder.
The science officer cocked her head and retorted, " , ?" Q sighed, already growing tired of this before stating, "I don't care who you set free… wait, did you say… Him?" The super-being within her remarked, " , ." "I'm sure that He is," Q replied and then said, "All right; that is enough, . You've had your fun… now let this human go." But the creature refused to listen to him. Instead, Miranda kept advancing and took a weapon from one of the security officers and turned to Beverly before commenting, " ?" "I'm warning you," Q said, wondering if it would heed him. " . , ," Kadohota stated and then fired a shot at the doctor. Immediately, Q teleported to where the laser was headed and took the blow which he found to have been enhanced by his foe. said something else and he watched as it left the science officer for good. Miranda fainted to the ground. But at least she is still alive, Q thought. "Q… are you all right?" Beverly asked in disbelief. It was then that the super-being glanced at his shirt and realized that he was bleeding. "I… appear to have underestimated it," he gasped in disbelief. "Get him to sickbay," he heard someone shout. But he was already slipping into unconsciousness and as he did, he wondered whether or not he would live to see The End.
