(...CONTINUED FROM "AN IMPORTANT MISSION")
Garek was standing on a paved, two lane highway in the middle of the desert. The sun beat down on his head, and he was burning up in the standard Starfleet wool uniform. He unzipped the uniform jacket, and took it off. Off in the distance was a simple gas station reminiscent of earth's early 20th century history. He began to walk down the road towards the gas station when a honking was heard behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see an old automobile. The car was slowing down and the two men inside gave him a look. "What are you doin' here in the middle of nowhere son?" the older of the two men asked. He was in his mid to late forties with graying hair. His hair was parted to the side, and he had a mustache. The younger was in his mid thirties, about the same age as Garek. His hair was extremely short, and he was wearing a pair of overalls, the same as the other man.
"Where am I?" Garek asked.
"You're in Mississippi," the younger man replied with a heavy southern accent.
"Right..." Garek trailed off, taking a look around.
"Do you need a lift mister?" the older asked.
Garek lingered, looking around a little more before looking back into the car. "Yes, I think I do." The younger man opened the door, and Garek climbed into the back seat of the old car.
"Name's Ulysses," the older of the two said. "This is Johnny." Garek shook hands with Johnny as Ulysses continued to drive.
"My name is Garek."
"Garek, that's an interestin' name. Not from these parts I take it," Ulysses commented.
Garek grinned slightly. "Yes, you could say that."
"What brings you out to these parts Garek?" Johnny asked.
"The odd thing is, I don't know. I just ended up out here somehow." The car was quiet for a moment. "Actually, I'm looking for someone."
"Really? Who you lookin' for?" Ulysses inquired.
Garek smiled. "Well, I don't know if you've heard of him or not, but his name is Q."
"Q? You're lookin' for Q?" Ulysses was somewhat dumbfounded. "What in the hell are ya' doin' all the way out here for? Q's in the capitol."
"Why is he there?"
"Because the people of the great state of Mississippi voted him gov'ner," Johnny answered. "Shoot, me and Ulysses are headin' there if ya wanna ride with."
"I think I'd like that." Garek settled in to the seat.
The ride to Jackson was long and hot. The best that Garek could figure out was that he was on Earth, at least, a representation of it during the 1930's. The fields were dry, dusty, and brown. Garek could only imagine color to replace the different shades of brown that surrounded him. He entered the capitol building and asked for directions to see the governor. Someone gave him directions, and Garek stormed down the hallways towards the office that he was looking for. He entered the front office, past the secretary who tried to stop him, into the office of "Governor" Q. Q sat behind the desk signing a piece of paper when he looked up from his work. "Well Mister Garek, it is awfully nice of yeh to stop by," he said with a southern accent.
"Fun and games are over Q. What do you want?" Garek kept a stern look on his face.
"Well I must say Mister Garek, you are awfully foul tempered today." Q rose from his seat. "I'm here to offer you a position in my cabinet of advisors." Garek gave him a questionable look. "Cabinet? What in the hell are you talking about?"
Q dropped the southern accent. "Walk with me Garek." Q left the office, and ventured down the corridors to go outside. Garek followed, walking next to the odd omnipotent being. "The Q continuum is on the verge of another civil war. Having a child was not enough for the rest of the Q."
"What do you mean?" Garek asked.
"As you know, Q and I exchanged "genetic information" as you call it to create a new Q. By doing so, it brought an end to our little civil war, and all is alright. Well, it was all right. The Q, however, want something more. They want an outsider now to join the Q continuum."
"An outsider. Hmm. Didn't you already do that with that woman named Vash about twenty years ago?" Garek asked, remembering his history lessons from the Academy. "
That was more temporary then anything. To put it frankly, she got bored."
"Bored?" Garek asked, slightly confused. "Unlimited power and she got bored."
"It's a long story," Q replied quickly, dropping the subject. "At any rate my highly inquisitive Starfleet friend, I am offering you the chance to be the new member of the Q continuum."
Garek gave him a quizzical look. "Me, a Q?"
Q snapped his fingers. "Here. Now you're a Q. Well, a temporary Q. There's a few rudimentary powers I gave to you as a 'try before you buy' type of thing."
"I can't believe this..." Garek trailed off.
"Believe what? Do you want some kind of official ceremony?" Q snapped his fingers, and both were standing on the bridge of a starship. Garek was wearing his dress white uniform, while Q was wearing the uniform of an admiral. "I, Q, do bestow upon you the power of a Q with all rights and privileges thereof." He snapped his fingers again, and they were standing outside the capitol building again.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Garek put up his hands, and turned away from Q for a moment. He then turned back. "What about Kim? I can't just leave her like that."
"Oh yes, little Miss Tycho." Q sighed. "Here's what I propose. Keep these small powers I've given you, and go back to speak with her. I'll give you two of your days before I come back. I'm going to need an answer at that time then." Q snapped his fingers, and Garek was standing outside of Kim Tycho's quarters with a bouquet of roses.
(TO BE CONTINUED...)