Death Wish: Part Two

Chapter 56: Death Wish: Part Two.

(Dinner Time)

Bini Filters POV

-----

"Stop watching them." Micheal hissed across the Messhall table.

"Shhhhh, shut it." I barked. Listening to the conversation between Q2 and Tuvok at the table beside us.

"We're going to lose, aren't we?" Q2 started.

"I would say we have not yet convinced Captain Janeway of the validity of our argument," Tuvok replied.

"You're doing a fine job, Mister Tuvok. It's nice to know someone believes in me." Q2 replied.

"I am representing your position to the best of my ability. It is most definitely not my own. I see no persuasive evidence that a life like yours should be wasted simply because you are disgruntled. Frankly, I see no logic to your position."

"You, you surprise me, Mister Tuvok, which is a rare and special gift to a Q. Thank you. But may I say, if you only knew what life as a Q was like, you would see the logic."

"Then perhaps what we should do next is take this hearing to see life in the Continuum itself." Tuvok suggested.

"Ohhhhh, Mommy has an exciting job!" Micheal said.

-----

(Captain's log, supplemental. I'm determined to find a better alternative to suicide or endless prison, so I've summoned the advocate Q to make him a proposal.)

I stood in my ready room. Watching Q flash into my ready room.

"Yes, what is it, Captain?" he asked with a smug expression.

"Come to the next session of the hearing and announce that the Continuum is ready to reintegrate Q into your society. That you won't condemn him to that cell for eternity." I insisted.

"And you will rule in our favour." Q concluded.

"I would consider it a very meaningful gesture by the Continuum."

"How would you know if I intended to keep my word?"

"Based on my research, you have been many things. A rude, interfering, inconsiderate, sadistic-"

"You've made your point." Q interrupted but I continued.

"Pest. And, oh yes, you introduced us to the Borg, thank you very much. But one thing you have never been is a liar." I concluded.

"I think you've uncovered my one redeeming virtue. Am I blushing? I wish I could help you, Kathy. I just can't. We're dealing here with the most dangerous man in the Continuum. Now I didn't tell you this, but one of his self-destructive stunts created a misunderstanding that ignited the hundred-year war between the Romulans and the Vulcans. No, this man goes back into his confinement. But I would like to make it easier for you. The Continuum is prepared to do you a little favour if we approve of your ruling. Look out the window." He said. I looked out my window to see...Earth.

"Now you see it." He snapped his fingers. "Now you don't."

---One hour later---

We sat in the briefing room, preparing for the continued meeting.

"We are prepared to illustrate the nature of Q's suffering, Captain. But in order to do so, we must show this hearing what life is like in the Continuum." Tuvok started. Q rolled his eyes and scoffed.

"And how do you intend to do that?" Q asked.

"By going to the Continuum itself."

"Is this possible?" I asked.

"No. It's a ridiculous idea. You would never understand." Q snapped back.

"My client has the right to ask for an inspection of the living conditions that lead to his suffering, Captain."

"I would agree with that."

"I suppose you have some crazy idea how to pull this off?"

"Yes."

Q2 bent over and whispered something in Q's ear.

"Only-"

"Fine, fine."

"We've agreed on a format for this little sojourn. But I still believe it's ill-advised."

"I'll be the judge of that." I announced. "Whenever you're ready."

Q2 nodded and snapped his hands, we suddenly were transported to a desert road. Tuvok and I looked around in confusion. This is the great Q continuum?

"Continuum? A road in a desert?"

"I told you so." Q said, looking over to Q2.

"This is a manifestation of the Continuum that we hope falls within your level of comprehension. This way." Q2 explained. Q gestured us to follow him. We walked off the road and found a rundown building. There were a man and a woman in 20's clothes, playing croquet on an immaculate lawn, with planets for balls. A scarecrow was in a Starfleet uniform stood nearby. The sign over the front door said "Never Closes and the clock has no hands."

There was a man sitting on the porch reading a book called "The Old." while a young woman was reading a magazine called "The New."

I saw in one of the windows I saw someone else playing a Continuum Galaxy pinball machine. As we continued towards the house we walked pat a panting bloodhound, making me think of Mollie.

"Good afternoon." I said to the young woman sitting on the porch. She looked up and me slowly.

"I apologize for their lack of hospitality, Captain. We're not used to visitors here. In fact you are the only ones who've ever come." Q2 explained.

"Then what is the purpose of the road?" Tuvok asked.

"The road takes us to the rest of the universe, then it leads back here. An endless circle."

"This was your existence before your confinement?"

"I travelled the road many times, sat on the porch, played the games, been the dog, everything. I was even the scarecrow for a while."

"Why?"

"Because I hadn't done it."

"Oh, we've all done the scarecrow. Big deal." Q interrupted.

"I can't say I entirely understand what I'm seeing here, but these people don't seem to be suffering." I said, looking over everyone.

"Of course not. They're happy people. Happy people. What's there to feel sad about? Look at them."

"They don't dare feel sad. If only they could, that would progress.

"Oh, the philosopher speaks." Q snapped.

"When I was a respected philosopher," He started to explain. "I celebrated the continuity, the undeviation of Q life. I argued that our civilisation had achieved a purity that no other culture had ever approached. And it was wonderful, for a while. At the beginning of the New Era, life as a Q was a continuous dialogue of discovery and issues and humour from all over the universe. But look at them now. Listen to their dialogue now."

"I'm afraid I cannot hear any."

"Because it has all been said. Everyone has heard everything, seen everything. They haven't had to speak to each other in ten millennia. There's nothing left to say."

"Well, I don't know about you, but I appreciate a little peace and quiet now and again."

"It's ironic, isn't it, Q." Q2 asked.

"I don't know what you mean." Q replied.

"Of course you do. That you of all people should be arguing their case."

"I believe in the ultimate purity of the Q."

"You, who were banned from the Continuum and made mortal to pay for your crimes?"

"My penance has ended. I'm a born again Q. That life is behind me."

"What a shame. Because in many ways, that life inspired me."

"It did? I did?"

"Oh, yes. You never knew that, did you? You see, Captain, Q rebelled against this existence by refusing to behave himself. He was out of control. He used his powers irresponsibly and all for his own amusement. And he desperately needed amusement, because he could find none here at home."

"And I paid the price for my inappropriate behaviour." Q argued.

"No, no, we paid the price by forcing you to stop. But for a moment there, you really had our attention. My attention. You gave us something to talk about. But then you surrendered to the will of the Continuum like a good little Q, and may I say that you've become a fine, upstanding member of the Continuum. But I miss the irrepressible Q, the one who forced me to think." He added. Then he looked to the young woman again and pointed to "The New" magazine she was holding. "May I borrow this?"

He took the magazine and showed me an article, where his picture was at the front, showing he was the author.

"This was the beginning of my fall from grace. This was the last edition, by the way. They shut down the presses after I wrote that." Q2 explained, the title of the article said "My Corner of the Continuum. I'm Ready To Die: How About You?" Then he handed it back and started to pace. "But they couldn't keep me silent. I continued to speak out in favour of self-termination."

"That's when he lost his mind and started trying to destroy himself. We had no choice but to confine him but for his own safety."

"Not for my safety. For theirs. I was the greatest threat the Continuum had ever known. They feared me so much they had to lock me away for eternity. And when they did that, they were saying that the individual's rights will be protected only so long as they don't conflict with the state. Nothing is so dangerous to a society. My life's work is complete, but they force immortality on me, and when the do that they cheapen and denigrate my life and all life in the Continuum. All life. Captain, you're an explorer. What if you had nothing left to explore? Would you want to live forever under those circumstances? You want me to prove to you that I suffer in terms that you can equate with pain or disease. Look at us. When life has become futile, meaningless, unendurable, it must be allowed to end. Can't you see, Captain? For us, the disease is immortality." He explained. Delivering the final blow. And with that. Q2 snapped his fingers and we were back in the briefing room.

"We rest our case, Captain." Tuvok announced.

"Very well. I'll make my ruling in the morning. We'll be in recess until then." I ordered. Everyone filed out of the room.

-----

Micheal Janeway's POV

"I don't know. Q and Q2 creep me out. They just teleport and do whatever!" I exclaimed. Sitting up in my bed and looking at Bini as she sat in her pyjamas, leaning against the wall, sitting on the floor, playing with Mollie.

"I agree with you." Bini simply replied and we fell into a comfortable silence.

"Do...you think...That Tom's new program is good?" I eventually asked to break the ice.

"It is OK. Personally I don't agree with skimpily dressed women walking around." She replied. The door to our bedroom opened for Sarah to walked in and Mommy.

"OK, time for bed." Mommy said. We all nodded and snuggled into bed. Bini curled up in her sleeping bag and said good night. Mommy kissed us on the cheek, turned off the lights and left the room.

"...I think they look nice." I whispered.

"Dear lord, Micheal. Get a life. Hang out at Sandrine's more."

-----

(Three hours later.)

Captain Kathryn Janeway's POV

I rolled over in my bed having trouble sleeping. Suddenly my eyes adjusted to see Q staring back at me wearing a night cap, laying beside me. I immediately jumped up and put on my dressing gown. Covering myself as Q got up on one elbow and stared at me with a cocky grin.

"Trouble sleeping? Did you ever try warm Kylerian goat's milk?" He suggested.

"Get out." I snapped in rage.

"Did you think about our offer?" He asked.

"You mean your bribe." I corrected with venom.

"Merely an incentive to make the proper decision."

"It'll play no part in my deliberations."

"No, I told them it wouldn't. That's why I talked them into giving you what you asked for. You have my word. He won't go back to the cell. We'll assign someone to look after him. Whatever it takes. It's what you wanted, isn't it?"

"That's what I wanted."

"So, you've won. Let's celebrate. Just you and me. The two of us."

"What?"

"I'll take you home. Before you know it, you'll be scampering across the meadow with your little children, the grass beneath your bare feet. A man, coming over the hill way in the distance, waves to you. You run to be in his arms and as you get closer you see that it's me." He exclaimed.

"You?" I question, clearly appalled at the thought.

"Forget your dead husband. I know how to show a girl a good time. How would you like a ticker-tape parade down Sri Lanka Boulevard? The captain who brought Voyager back. A celebrated hero. I never did anything like that for Jean-Luc. But I feel very close to you. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because you have such authority and yet manage to preserve your femininity so well." He continued.

"Leave."

"We'll talk about this after the hearing tomorrow."

---Next day: In the morning.---

"I've tried to find some way to reconcile all the conflicting emotions I've felt during this hearing." I started. We all sat in the briefing room for the third day. "My own aversion to suicide, my compassion for your situation, Q. It hasn't been easy. I've tried to tell myself that this is not about suicide, but about granting asylum. That I am not personally being asked to perform euthanasia. And as technically true as that maybe, I cannot escape the moral implications of my choices. I've also had to consider that a decision to grant asylum, and the subsequent suicide of a Q, might have a significant impact on the Continuum. That such a decision could change the nature of an entire society, whether it be a favourable or unfavourable change, disturbs me greatly. But then there are the rights of the individual in this matter. I don't believe that you are mentally unbalanced. And I do believe that you are suffering intolerably. Under these conditions, I find it impossible to support immortality forced on an individual by the state. The unforeseen disruption that may occur in the Continuum is not enough, in my opinion, to justify any additional suffering by this individual. So, I hereby grant you asylum."

"May I see you in your chambers, Captain?" Q hissed. Tuvok raised an eyebrow towards us.

"You've been in my chambers enough for one visit, sir."

"A sidebar, your honour. Only for a moment."

"She ruled in my favour. You made a promise." Q2 snapped at him. Q hesitated but eventually pulled out his fingers and snapped. Granting him mortally. Q2 did his vanishing gesture. Nothing. It was over. He looked relieved and delighted.

"Nothing happened. Nothing! My powers are gone! I'm mortal."

"Well, so much for ticker-tape parades." Q muttered.

"I'm not finished, Q. Now that you're mortal, you have a new existence to explore. An entirely new state of being filled with the mysteries of mortal life, pleasures you've never felt before. I like this life, Q. You might too. Think hard before you give it up. This hearing is adjourned."

-----

Chakotay's POV

(Captain's log, stardate 49301.2. We have assigned quarters to our new passenger, who has entered his name on our crew manifest as Quinn. I am anxious to engage him in ship activities as soon as possible.)

I sat in the ready room with the Captain, reviewing our options for Quinn.

"How about Stellar Cartography?" I suggested.

"We could shut down Stellar Cartography with all the knowledge he'd bring to the job."

"Well, that's going to be a problem with just about everything we assign him to." I said. She nodded and sighed.

"There's got to be something on board that will-"

"Sickbay to Captain Janeway." The Doctor's voice cut in.

"Go ahead." She replied.

"Captain, I think you should come down to Sickbay. Mister Quinn is here. I'm afraid he's dying."

--- A few minutes later---

"There's nothing you can do?" The Captain asked as we entered sickbay.

"He's ingested a rare form of Nogatch hemlock. There is no known cure." The Doctor explained as we walked over to Quinn, who was dying on the biobed.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Captain. But I would only have be pretending to fit in to this mortal existence. This is my final gift to my people. Oh! Tell them those were my last words. I dearly thank you for making this poss-" His voice shortened and he took in a shaky breathe before passing on.

"Doctor, do you generally keep samples of fatal poisons in storage?" Tuvok asked.

"No."

"The replicators will not produce them either."

"So how did he get his hands on Nogatch hemlock?"

"I got it for him." A familiar voice admitted. We all turned around to see Q. Who even looked sad at the passing of Quinn.

"You assisted his suicide?"

"Illogical, Tuvok? I don't think so. By demanding to end his life, he taught me a little something about my own. He was right when he said the Continuum scared me back in line. I didn't have his courage or his convictions. He called me irrepressible. This was a man who was truly irrepressible. I only hope I make a worthy student." I announced.

"I imagine the Continuum won't be very happy with you, Q." I commented. He walked over and cuped my face with his hand.

"I certainly hope not. Au revoir, Madam Captain. We will meet again." He said. Stepping back and disappearing once again. I hope Quinn finds peace.

---End of Chapter 56: Next: ???---