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True Q

Captain's Log, Stardate 46192.3.

We have arrived at Starbase 112

and are loading relief supplies

destined for Tagra IV,

an ecologically devastated planet in the Argolis Cluster.

We have also taken on a rather unusual passenger.

Welcome to the Enterprise, Miss Rogers.

I'm delighted to have you on board.

Thank you, sir.

And congratulations. I understand that you were selected for this internship out of hundreds of applicants.

Yes, sir, I still can't believe they chose me.

There were lots of other people with better records.

CRUSHER: Her transcript is very impressive. She's done honors work in neurobiology, plasma dynamics, and eco-regeneration.

I'd say that's pretty well-rounded.

Well, that's a nice way of saying that I haven't decided what I'm going to do with my life.

I've arranged to have you work in all the major departments while you're here, and I'm willing to bet that by the time it's over, you'll have a pretty good idea what field you're interested in.

PICARD: Or, at least what fields you're not interested in.

( door chimes )

Come.

We're bringing up the rest of the cargo now.

We should be ready to leave within the hour.

Commander, will you escort Miss Rogers to her quarters?

I need to discuss the Tagrans' medical needs with Dr. Crusher.

And Miss Rogers?

Yes?

You've won yourself a rare opportunity.

Avail yourself of it.

I will, sir, and thank you.

It'll take you a few days before you know where everything is.

If you need any help you just use... use one of these com panels.

Um... we're on deck seven, section four.

You're right.

I practically memorized the specs on the way over here.

You're a quick study.

This is it.

Is this for me?

It's all yours.

It's so big.

For honor students, only the best.

Well, I could have brought my zoo.

Your zoo?

Well, it's just what my parents call it.

Three dogs isn't that many, is it?

It depends how they get along.

I could have had a dozen.

Mother said enough is enough.

I'm sure going to miss them.

We'll keep you so busy you won't have a chance to.

I've got to get going. I have to get back to Cargo Bay Two.

Well, thanks for, uh... walking me down.

Sure.

Oh, no.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

I didn't mean it.

Oh, no.

( puppies whining )

You guys can't stay here.

( whining )

Come on, all of you.

( puppy whining and barking )

Hello.

( puppy whining )

Oh, come here, little one.

You, too. Come on.

Come on.

( sighs )

Space, the final frontier.

These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise.

Its continuing mission--

to explore strange new worlds,

to seek out new life and new civilizations,

to boldly go where no one has gone before.

See all these readouts?

That's your heart rate, your blood pressure, all your vital signs.

You're in good shape.

You might just live to be my age.

Now, all these tricorders need to be tested before they can be put in the supply containers that we're taking to Tagra.

So, I should scan myself with each one to make sure the readouts are working.

Any unit that doesn't, put it aside and we'll do a diagnostic on it later.

Okay.

I hear you've been accepted to the Academy.

I have a son there.

Oh. Being posted on the Enterprise,

I guess you don't get to see him very often.

No, not as often as I'd like.

Do you have any other children?

My husband died a number of years ago.

Wes was our only child.

Was he old enough to know his father?

Jack died when he was five.

My parents died when I was a baby, too.

I don't remember anything about them.

Sometimes I wonder what they were like.

Your adoptive parents are in Starfleet, aren't they?

Yeah, they're marine biologists.

They've just been posted to the Bilaren system.

CREWMAN: Sick Bay to Dr. Crusher.

You wanted to be told when the cultures were ready.

On my way.

When you've finished with the tricorders,

Nurse Ogawa will help you to take them down to Shuttle Bay for loading.

Okay.

Oh, thank you very much for your help.

We can use every available hand we can get.

This is one of the largest relief efforts we've ever mounted.

Now, why are you bringing everything down in shuttlecraft?

Well, because we can't use the transporters for all the ionization in the Tagran atmosphere.

From the baristatic filters?

How did you know that?

I did a paper on eco-regeneration.

Well, then you know that a thousand baristatic filters puts out quite a bit of ionization.

A thousand?

Yeah. They've managed to pollute their atmosphere pretty badly.

It's amazing to think that they go to such lengths to clean the air, instead of regulating the emissions that cause the problem.

Yeah, you're right.

Actually, the only thing the filters can do is keep things from getting worse.

They shoot the air full of...

Commander, are you all right?

You okay?

I didn't even see it coming.

And this is the main control area.

We can access any of the primary circuits from all of these panels.

Over here is a Jefferies tube...

Where most of the major conduits are routed.

You've been doing your homework.

It's hard to imagine how much energy is harnessed in there.

Imagination is not necessary.

The scale is readily quantifiable.

We are presently generating

12.75 billion gigawatts per...

( alarm sounding )

The temperature in the reaction chamber has increased by 47%.

Injector couplings are frozen.

I can't slow down the reaction.

Temperature increase is at 106% and rising.

La Forge to Bridge.

We're looking at a core breach.

We're going to have to try and vent the plasma.

Plasma inductors are not responding.

We're going to lose containment.

All right, everybody, out of here now!

Let's go! Let's move it!

Data, bring down the isolation door.

We're going to have to eject the warp core.

( explosion )

Temperature in the reaction chamber... has returned to normal.

She's a little shaken up but she's going to be fine.

You said she was adopted.

Could she be an alien?

She's human.

There's nothing more unusual about her.

Not that my instruments can detect.

Commander, have you been able to determine the cause of the warp breach?

No, sir. Everything was normal and then suddenly it's like the laws of physics went right out the window.

Q: And why shouldn't they?

They're so inconvenient.

Q.

Mon Capitain.

Are you responsible for this incident in Engineering?

Of course.

I needed to find out if what I suspected about the girl were true.

That being?

That she's Q.

TROI: Amanda's a Q?

How is that possible?

Her-Her parents-- her biological parents-- were human.

Well, not exactly.

They had assumed human form in order to visit Earth,

I suppose for... for amusement, but in vulgar human fashion, they proceeded to conceive a child.

And then like mawkish humans, they became attached to it.

What is it about these squirming little infants that you find so appealing?

I'm sure that's beyond your comprehension, Q.

I desperately hope so.

TROI: What happened to Amanda's parents?

They died in an accident.

None of us knew whether she had inherited the capacities of the Q, but recently, they've begun to emerge, and as an expert in humanity, I was sent to investigate.

You, an expert in humanity?

Not a very challenging field of study, I grant you.

Are you saying that you created a core breach just to test this girl?

Uh-huh.

What would have happened if she couldn't stop it?

Then I would have known she wasn't a Q.

And now that you know, what do you intend to do?

Instruct her.

If this child does not learn how to control her power, she may accidentally destroy herself... or all of you, or perhaps your entire galaxy.

I find it hard to believe that you're here to do us a favor.

You're quite right, I wouldn't, but there are those in the Continuum who have an over-exaggerated sense of responsibility.

They think that we need to take precautions to keep the little dear from running amok.

And once you've taught her, then you'll go away?

And leave her here?

Of course not.

She'll come back to the Continuum where she belongs.

Wait a minute. You can't just come in here and take her away from everything she's ever known.

I assure you, I can.

She has plans for herself.

She wants to have a career and a family.

I'm rescuing her from that miserable existence.

That "miserable existence" is all she's known for the last 18 years.

You have no right to take her away from it.

Mon Capitain, I really think that we need to speak privately.

Well, there, that's better.

Crusher gets more shrill with each passing year.

Q, what is it you really want?

Well, since you know so much about the Q,

I thought you'd be the perfect person to introduce me to the child.

Let her know that she can trust me.

I don't trust you, Q.

Why should I expect Amanda to?

Well, she'd better, because I'm all she's got.

She needs me to help her prepare for her future with the Q.

But what if she doesn't want that future?

It must be her decision.

Oh, yes! Yes! Yes!

Do you think that she will want to remain an enfeebled mortal?

Well, if she really is Q, she must understand what that means.

Very well.

I will introduce you, but...

( sighs ) we cannot argue like this in front of her.

We must at least appear to be...

Pals?

Civil.

I knew I could count on you, Jean-Luc.

Mr. Data, I want you to access any available records on Amanda Rogers.

Yes, Captain.

I want to know about her biological parents... about their death.

I find it odd that any Q could die in an accident.

It is not consistent with what we know of them, sir.

I'm convinced that Q isn't telling us everything.

See what you can find out.

Aye, sir.

It started happening about six months ago-- things that I would wish for would just suddenly appear.

I thought I was going crazy.

In a funny way, finding this out is kind of a relief.

I can understand that.

This person I mentioned-- from the Q Continuum-- would like to meet you if it's all right with you.

I'm ready.

Good.

There's my girl.

Amanda, allow me to introduce, uh... Q.

He's, um... he's an acquaintance of ours.

We've, uh... we've known him for years.

Very impressive the way you contained that explosion.

What else have you done?

I-I don't understand.

Telekinesis? Teleportation?

Spontaneous combustion of someone you don't like?

That sort of thing.

Amanda, what Q is asking is have you ever deliberately used your abilities?

Not until I came here.

The first time it happened was when the container almost fell on Commander Riker.

And you handled that very well.

That's why I gave you a greater challenge-- the warp core breach.

She has potential, this one.

I see no reason why she can't return to the Continuum right now.

What? Q...

I don't want to go anywhere.

Don't worry.

With time, you'll overcome the disadvantages you suffered as a child.

No one will hold it against you for having been human.

Let's go.

Leave me alone!

I'm not going anywhere with you.

You agree that she has a right to choose her own future, but the first chance you get, you try to abduct her.

You're overreacting, as usual, Picard.

I was merely testing her powers.

She's quite a little spitfire, now, isn't she?

What's going on, Q?

What's your real purpose here?

I think I've been perfectly clear.

The Continuum has a vested interest in this young woman.

If you wish to protect that investment,

I suggest that you approach her differently.

She was being impetuous.

She'll just have to start behaving like a Q.

If I'm not mistaken, she just did.

You understand, don't you?

It's just that I have these things that I want to do.

I'm going to go to the Academy.

I want a career and I want to join Starfleet.

You can still do all those things.

Yeah, but it just seems so complicated now.

I mean, these powers that I have-- they're just going to stand in the way.

I don't want to have to deal with that.

Well, you're going to have to.

Listen, I can only imagine how you feel.

That certainly would be easier if this had never happened or if it would just go away... but it's not going to go away, and you need someone to help you, and the person who can help you is... Q.

( sighs )

But he's so horrible.

He is the only one who can help you to understand who you are.

Amanda... you are going to have to make some hard choices about your future, and you can't make them if you're going to ignore the truth.

Yeah. I know.

But I don't want any of this to disrupt my time here.

I want to do everything that I'm expected to do and I don't want you to treat me any differently.

Please.

You've got a deal.

The first free hour you have,

I want to see you in the medical lab.

I have an experiment I need your help with.

Yes, ma'am.

SHADOW: Your progress, Q?

As anticipated, there are some problems.

I need time.

However, there is the possibility we won't have to terminate the girl.

( door chimes )

Come in.

Hello, my dear.

I've been told I behaved badly.

I apologize.

Apparently, you had every reason to chastise me, but then again, what's done is done, right?

I'd like to ask you some questions.

Anything.

What exactly are the Q?

It would be so much easier to show you than to tell you.

If you would agree to take a short visit to the Continuum...

No, just tell me.

Well, to put it simply, we're omnipotent.

There's nothing, nothing we can't do.

And what do you do with this power?

Anything we want.

Do you use it to help others?

I think you've missed the point, my dear.

Clearly, you've spent far too much time with humans.

As a Q, you can have your heart's desire instantly, whatever that may be.

Would you like precious jewels, works of art?

Would you like to walk along the rings of Tautine?

I'm not interested in any of those things.

Of course not. You're a Q.

But surely there must be something that you want-- something that you never dreamed was possible.

Tell me, Amanda, what is it?

I'd like to know what my parents looked like... my real parents.

How quaint.

So do it.

What do you mean? Summon the image.

I don't know how. Think about them.

Evoke the memory.

You can do it, Amanda.

Trust me.

Close your eyes. Close your eyes!

In your mind, return to the time when you were an infant.

Think about your parents.

Remember them.

Good.

Good.

Now, open your eyes.

They loved me.

Wait for it to be metabolized.

Add another... 20?

Wait for it to be metabolized over and over and then wait till the bacilli can't be absorbed anymore.

That's right.

Just be sure and record the rate of mitosis from each of the dishes.

Mitosis, right.

You seem distracted.

Well, I just saw my parents... my real parents.

Q showed me how.

Can you imagine how that felt?

No, I don't think I can.

You know, you were right.

I can't ignore what's happened to me.

I just don't know if I can cope with it.

Amanda, you are stronger than you think.

You know... when I saw them there, right in front of me,

I realized that I caused this to happen.

I wanted to see them and I did.

If it were you-- if suddenly, you could have anything you wanted, what would it be?

I have no idea.

No, think about it.

Really think.

If suddenly, you could make anything happen, what would it be?

Well, I would... probably want to heal people-- people who are hopelessly ill.

Hmm.

Would you bring your husband back?

Well, Amanda, I don't know.

And I don't think that I could make a decision like that until I was actually faced with it.

I am faced with it.

Try to do the work.

I'll come back and check on you later.

I thought she'd never leave.

I don't know if I'll ever get used to that.

It's time for another lesson.

Well, I have to finish this experiment first.

What are you doing?

We're delivering live vaccine bacilli to Tagra.

I'm supposed to find the best nutrient solution so we can keep them living while they're in stasis.

Fascinating.

Oh, I just had a splendid idea.

Why don't we... combine what you're doing with our lesson and we'll show you how to finish in no time.

Well, I think that I should finish it the way Dr. Crusher showed me first.

Oh, I'm sure she'd be delighted if we sped things along.

I mean, think what it would mean.

You could double, even triple the workload.

Well...

Good. I guess so.

Now... as you take a look at the tissue samples, form an image in your mind.

Number One, Dr. Crusher has some live vaccine bacilli to be delivered to Tagra.

It'll have to be shipped in a stasis field.

Will you make the arrangements?

I'll get right on it.

Captain, message coming in from Tagra IV.

On screen.

Enterprise, I am Orn Lote, engineer.

We are having difficulties with the reactor that powers the baristatic filters on our southern continent.

We may have to shut it down for repairs.

Perhaps my Chief Engineer could be of assistance.

I hope so.

If we're forced to disable the reactor, it would take months to reestablish the ionic currents the filters have formed in the atmosphere.

Send us your design specifications.

I'm sure we'll be able to help.

Thank you, Captain.

Captain?

What is it, Mr. Data?

I have some information regarding Amanda Rogers' parents.

Records indicate that they died in Topeka, Kansas.

Their home was destroyed during a tornado.

Tornado?

Why wasn't it dissipated by the weather modification net?

Unknown, sir. The bodies were discovered in the rubble after the storm had passed.

See if you can find out any more details, Mr. Data.

I'd like to know more about that storm.

Aye, sir.

Well, if it isn't Number Two.

I was looking for Dr. Crusher.

I didn't know what nutrients she wanted to send with the bacilli.

Uh, I'm not sure.

I'll tell her to contact you.

Thanks.

You could stay here... and wait for her, if you, you know, wanted to.

Just tell her I'll be in Shuttle Bay Two.

You're attracted to him.

I am not.

I think you are.

How repulsive.

( sighs )

How do you stand that hair all over his face?

Doctor,

Commander Riker was just here looking for you.

He said he'd be in Shuttle Bay Two.

Thank you.

Have you finished already?

Yes.

How did you do it so quickly?

Well, Q helped me.

It took us about half the time that it would have normally taken us.

That explains this data.

I needed to know the rates of mitosis.

By artificially inflating them, you made the experiment useless.

Now I have to do it all over again.

I'm sorry, Doctor.

Don't be sorry.

If she wants to make things difficult on herself, that's her business.

Why did you interfere with what she was doing?

She's a Q. Making her plod through human chores is beneath her.

CRUSHER: She asked not to be treated differently.

That doesn't mean she should be bored to death.

I don't interfere with what you're teaching her...

You would be incapable of interfering.

...and I don't think it's asking too much that you do the same.

( barking )

...and you stay out of mine.

When you put it like that, I...

I think you're absolutely right.

Captain.

Yes, Mr. Data.

I have further information regarding the tornado that killed Amanda Rogers' parents.

What is it?

It was unusually compact, yet extremely powerful.

Its recorded wind velocity was characteristic of a funnel three times its size.

Download the files to my ready room.

I'll study them there.

Aye, sir.

Have you been practicing your teleportation?

Yes, but it's kind of hard.

I keep ending up somewhere I don't want to be.

Well, it won't do to be sloppy.

We should hone your abilities.

I have a wonderful idea.

Why don't we play a little game?

I'll hide somewhere on the ship and you find me.

But how do I know how...?

Q: Don't worry, Amanda.

You can do it.

Not bad.

Not bad at all.

If we can use phase buffers, we may be able to devise a mechanism that can be integrated into the present system while it is still in operation.

You're still thinking like a human.

Now do you understand?

What do humans have to offer you that even begins to compare with that?

Your future contains wonders you can't even imagine.

The universe could be your playground.

( door chimes )

Dr. Crusher and Counselor Troi-- they're taking me to dinner.

You don't have to eat, you know.

It's a nasty human habit you could easily do without.

Hello, Amanda.

Are you ready?

Yes.

Well, Amanda, how are you feeling about all this now?

It must be overwhelming.

It was at first, but actually, now I'm enjoying myself.

Hello, ladies.

Hello, Will.

Commander Riker, um, won't you join us?

I'd love to, but I have other plans.

Hi.

Hi.

So how are your lessons going?

Is Q being patient with you?

Amanda?

What is this all about?

I thought it might be nice to spend some time alone together.

I think it would be nice if you took us back to Ten-Forward.

Are you sure that you wouldn't want to stay here with me for a while?

The moonlight is so beautiful.

Isn't it nicer here than at Ten-Forward?

Yes, it's very pleasant, but that's not the point.

Oh.

I think it is.

No.

You can't snatch people and put them into your fantasies and expect them to respond.

Don't you like me?

Even just a little bit?

You're a very lovely young lady, but none of this is real.

( sighs ): My feelings are real.

I know, but you can't make someone love you.

Can't I?

Oh, Amanda... you are so beautiful.

Do you love me?

More than anything.

You're right.

None of this is real.

I thought it would be romantic, but it's empty.

Amanda...

Just go back to Ten-Forward.

Bonjour, mon Capitain.

You wanted to speak with me?

I wanted to ask you about Amanda's biological parents.

When they decided to remain on Earth, what was the reaction in the Q Continuum?

We found it incomprehensible.

Were they pressured to return?

Were they threatened with any punishment if they didn't?

What are you driving at, Picard?

Well, the circumstance of their death is quite odd.

A tornado somehow escaped the weather modification net and touched down in only one spot--

Amanda's home.

Well, you can never predict the weather.

Well, tornadoes develop from existing storm fronts but, you see, there were no storm fronts in Kansas that day.

Witnesses reported that the funnel materialized spontaneously, directly over Amanda's home, destroyed it, and disappeared.

If you say so. I wasn't there.

Were Amanda's parents executed by the Q Continuum?

And what if they were?

Well, I think she has a right to know that before she makes a choice about her future.

Don't be foolish, Picard.

She has no choice.

She never did.

If she's truly Q, then she must return to the Continuum where she belongs.

But if she were some sort of a hybrid-- neither human nor Q, then...

You would be so despicable?

Don't be naive.

You have no idea what it means to be Q.

With unlimited power comes responsibility.

Do you think it is reasonable for us to allow omnipotent beings to roam free through the universe?

So what have you concluded?

Does she live or does she die?

I haven't decided yet.

Captain's Log, Stardate 46193.8.

We have arrived at Tagra IV

and have begun delivering supplies.

In the meantime, I am faced with a crisis

of a different nature.

Look, I have no reason to believe that Q is lying.

He claims he has orders from the Continuum.

If Amanda cannot prove that she is fully Q, then he must kill her.

We have to tell her.

CRUSHER: I don't know if we should.

It almost seems cruel.

TROI: Maybe she can protect herself.

After all, she has a great deal of power.

So did her parents, it didn't save them.

I agree with the Counselor.

Amanda deserves to know the truth of her situation.

We have no right to hold such crucial information from her, but it isn't going to be easy telling her.

What is your impression of the field modulator, Mr. Lote?

Quite ingenious. Quite ingenious indeed.

I...

( coughs )

I'm amazed at the way it can be incorporated with the existing system.

Commander, we're all loaded here.

We can head for the surface whenever you're ready.

I'm eager to see the field modulator in place, Commander.

( coughs )

( inhaling deeply )

We'd better get going.

Yes.

Kill me?

But why?

They're not convinced that you are fully Q and... they are also responsible for your parents' death.

My parents?

But what right do they have?

Q? Answer me.

Are you afraid to face me?

She's such a plucky little thing now, isn't she?

I really do enjoy you, you know.

Amanda's question deserves an answer, Q.

You've made yourself judge and jury and if necessary, executioner.

By what right have you appointed yourself to this position?

Superior morality.

Oh, yes.

I recall how you used your superior morality when we first encountered you.

You put us on trial for the crimes of humanity.

The jury is still out on that, Picard.

Make no mistake.

Your... arrogant pretense at being the moral guardians of the universe strikes me as being hollow, Q.

I see no evidence that you are guided by a superior moral code or any code whatsoever.

You may be nearly omnipotent-- and I don't deny that your parlor tricks are very impressive-- but morality.... I don't see it.

I don't acknowledge it, Q.

I would put human morality against the Qs any day.

And perhaps... that's the reason that we fascinate you so, because our puny behavior shows you a glimmer of the one thing that evades your omnipotence:

A moral center.

And if so,

I can think of no crueler irony than that you should destroy this young woman whose only crime is that she's too human.

Jean-Luc... sometimes I think the only reason I come here is to listen to these wonderful speeches of yours, but this time, your concern is unwarranted.

We've decided not to harm her and we are prepared to offer her a choice.

What kind of choice?

You can either come to the Continuum with me...

Or...?

Now, this choice is more difficult.

You have it within yourself to refrain from using the power of Q.

If you can do that, you can stay here.

Then I'm staying here.

Think about this.

This is not so easy.

Your parents were given this choice and they were unable to resist the temptation of using their power.

All I've wanted since this whole thing began is to become a normal human being again.

I know I can resist.

Worf to Picard.

There is an emergency message from Commander Riker.

I'm on my way.

RIKER: Captain, the damage to the reactor is greater than the Tagrans led us to believe.

The field modulator is installed and operational, but it's not going to be enough.

The reactor has already gone into overload.

Can you correct the problem?

Geordi is trying to stabilize the unit now.

We will stay as long as possible.

There are thousands of people in this area.

If that reactor goes...

Commander, over here, quickly!

Is this your doing, Q?

Not this time, Picard.

Mr. Worf, see if there is any way that we can cut through the interference and beam them out of there. Aye, sir.

Captain, Geordi is trying a neutrino infusion.

It may smother the reaction.

WORF: Captain, there is too much ionization in the atmosphere.

Transporters are useless.

LA FORGE: It's no use.

The heat has fused the injectors shut.

We're losing containment.

RIKER: How long till meltdown?

LA FORGE: A few minutes at most. We're going to have to...

LOTE: Commander, look at this.

This is impossible.

Captain, I don't know what's happening, but the reaction is stabilizing on its own.

DATA: Captain,

I am reading a massive energy fluctuation in the planet's atmosphere.

On screen.

DATA: Atmospheric contaminants have dropped to less than one part per trillion.

The ecosystem has been restored to its natural state.

Amanda?

I told you it would be harder to resist than you thought.

I couldn't let all those people die.

Ever since I got here,

I've been fighting this.

I've been denying the truth... denying what I am.

I am Q.

Dr. Crusher...

I've decided that I can't stay.

I can't stay here.

Well... now that you've come to your senses, let's go.

No. I want to go and see my parents first.

It's going to take some time to explain all of this, so you'll have to be patient.

I hope I can come back and see you.

You're a Q.

You can do anything you want.