"Kerrin," said Nige in a wary tone, "how do your people contact the Q?"
"The Q monitor a specific subspace channel that transects with the Continuum," said Kerrin in a matter of fact tone. "All we do is send out a subspace message on that channel, and they respond."
Kira and Nige looked at each other with looks of disbelief. The idea of being able to contact the Q and them responding still flew in the face of everything they had come to know about the Q.
"Benton," said Kira, "we'll get back with you as soon as we can with what we 're going to do. Just in case the Q don't respond to the Iconian's message, have the Kelvans move to a position just outside of the galactic core. If the Q refuse to help us in this matter I'll have the Iconians take me to your position in hopes that I'll be able to control the phenomenon on my own."
"Very well," responded Benton, "Out."
As Kerrin closed the channel on the communications array, Kira turned his full attention to her. This business about the Q being benevolent in this time needed further pursuit.
"Kerrin," said Kira, "could you contact the Q now?"
Kerrin was busy typing a series of commands into the array as Kira was speaking. After a brief second her keystrokes stopped and she calmly pressed a final key on the instrument panel. "I have already sent the message, Kira. They should respond soon."
Kira and Nige looked at each other again with looks of incredulity. These were obviously different times.
Sensing their confusion about something Kerrin asked, "Do you not know of the Q in your time?"
"Yes, we know of them," responded Nige, "but they have never offered to allow us to contact them. In fact, in our time the Q have become a nuisance of sorts."
To this comment Kerrin arched her eyebrows in surprise. "I am surprised to hear so, for the Q have always been the protectors of time and space, since their ascension."
This time it was Kira's turn to be surprised. "Since their ascension?"
"Yes," responded Kerrin, "it was well over a few centuries ago. When we first met the Q they were similar to our race, bound by the laws of space and time, but even at that point they were at an evolutionary crossroads. Their natural progression of their technology and their abilities converged to take them out of normal space and time, giving them complete control over it, as well as over the ability to manipulate matter and energy at will."
"So," said Kira, "they evolved into what they are now?"
"Yes," said Kerrin, "and you remind us greatly of them, Kira, for you seem to possess many of their original yet unrefined abilities prior to their ascension. But enough of the origins of the Q. Let's go outdoors and enjoy what we have left of this day. The Q will respond in their own time, and we can do no good by waiting for their message."
With that Kerrin led them back outdoors, through the marvelous city, and out into the country area where Nige and Kira were taken to recover from their travels through time.
Upon arriving at the house that they were quartered in, Kerrin informed them that once the Q had returned their message they would contact Kira and Nige. Until then, she asked that they simply rest.
Once Kerrin was out of earshot, Tyran immediately spoke to Kira in an excited tone, "Do you believe a word she said back there?"
"She didn't seem to be lying," said Kira.
"What about that stuff she said about you?" asked Tyran.
"I honestly don't know what to make of it," said Kira in a bewildered tone, "but it would explain Q's behavior towards me of late."
"What do you mean?"
"I haven't told anyone about this," said Kira, "because I didn't understand it at the time. But in light of what we just heard about the origins of the Q, perhaps I'd better tell you about it now. Besides," said Kira with a wry smile, "what's Starfleet going to do to me out here for telling you about this?"
"Good point," said Tyran.
At that point Kira began to relate to Tyran the two times that Q had interfered in Kira's recent past. As Kira relayed Q's conversation to him aboard the Bounty, and Q's encounter with him in Engineering aboard the old Ronin, Tyran was amazed at Q's responses to Kira and what he was trying to accomplish in both situations. What surprised him was that Kira had never told anyone about the first incident with Q in Engineering. "So, if Q hadn't intervened, you'd have been killed in Engineering when that panel behind you blew up, and you'd be left for dead aboard the Bounty."
"I know," said Kira, "but perhaps the strangest thing I've heard about the Q came from our Iconian friend, Kerrin."
"Her comment about you reminding her of what the Q used to be?" said Tyran.
"Yeah," said Kira, "I didn't even see that one coming."
A brief flash of light and an accompanying high-pitched tone occurred behind the two officers.
"So, I see that you have found your way here at last, Commander," said Q as the two men looked behind them to look for the source of the disturbance. They were met with the unfortunate visage of the Q who they had dealt with numerous times before.
"Oh great," said Nige, "here we go again."
"What, not happy to see me, gentlemen?" said Q in a mock hurt tone.
"Actually, we were just talking amongst ourselves about you," said Kira in his normal, annoyed tone that he seemed to assume with Q oh too quickly.
"Well," said Q, "that's to be expected after what you've just learned about us from our lovely Kerrin."
"So it's true then," said Nige. "You weren't always like this."
"Oh yes, gentlemen, the Iconian is correct. We once were limited by space and time as you are. But that was a long time ago," said Q, "at least from your point of view."
"I still can't believe that the Iconians think you are the 'protectors of the universe'," said Kira in a terse tone. "Very rarely have I seen you use your abilities for anything but amusement."
"Kira," said Q, "coming from you that really hurts me. I would think that you of all people would understand what a responsibility it is to have this power. To think that all we do is sit back and amuse ourselves with it is rather shortsighted of you."
"Well, I call it like I see it."
"Even you must admit that I managed to save you not once, but twice from events that would have otherwise ended your existence," said Q in an earnest, yet patronizing tone.
"For what reason I still don't know," said Kira, "but I don't want to discuss this with you now, Q; there are bigger things to be dealt with. You obviously know why we're here."
"Yes," said Q, "we have been monitoring your trek across time and space."
"Well," said Nige, "if you are the same Q who are the protectors of the universe, why didn't you fix this disaster the first time it happened."
"We have our reasons, Commander," said Q as he looked at Kira intently as though he was searching for something, "but I can't tell them to you just yet. Needless to say, we've decided to let you try to fix this situation on your own."
"Now there's the real problem, Q," said Kira hotly. "You know as well as I do that whatever we change here will have a HUGE impact on future events in three galaxies."
"Undoubtedly," was Q's simple reply.
"I can maybe control the explosion, or if I'm lucky, stop it from ever happening," said Kira, "but I have no way of knowing what the implications would be on my own spacetime continuum."
"Once again, you are correct," said Q with a wry smile.
"But, you, on the other hand, have the ability to keep the memories of my timeline intact, as well as stop the destruction of these two galaxies," said Kira.
"But you want US to fix it?" came Nige's frustrated reply.
"I'll tell you what we'll do, gentlemen," said Q in a strangely compliant manner, "if you should succeed in stopping these two stars from colliding, I'll guarantee you that your memories, and those of your peers back in your own time, will be unaffected by the change with the exception that the Kelvans would not have entered into your galaxy. But, only you and your peers will be aware of what has happened. All the rest of your precious Starfleet will be unaware of what has occurred. Is this acceptable to you?"
"So, I still have to stop a couple of stars from colliding? Unbelievable," said Kira. "If you snapped your fingers right now, you could do this in a heartbeat, but instead you want me to do it?"
"Yes," said Q, "and you'd better hurry. Make no mistakes, Commander, this is a test. And I hope for your sake that you pass it, because if you don't the future of your friends and your whole Galaxy is at stake."
With that last cryptic comment, Q disappeared from the room, leaving Tyran and Kira puzzled and concerned, for now they knew that it was up to them to do the near impossible yet again.