Q & Star Trek
What omnipotent beings tell us about ourselves
Q is one of the more fascinating characters (and race of beings) in Star Trek. Supposedly omnipotent and omniscient, Q is a character that appears in the first episode of The Next Generation, and then he appears intermittently to vex Captain Picard and the Enterprise crew. The Q Continuum is an entire race of these omnipotent beings (So “Q” can refer to the character, or to the race of beings).
I just finished reading Peter David’s novel “Q-Squared,” in which we discover that Trelane, a being of great power that appears in The Original Series, is Q’s son. In the novel, Trelane goes rogue (at least more rogue than your average Q), and nearly destroys the universe. Q, clearly harassed to be the parent of an out-of-control teenager, asks Picard for wisdom in how to deal with him. Exhausted from Trelane’s (and Q’s) antics, Picard rolls his eyes and gives Q a few pointers. The dialogue between Q and Picard in this book makes for some of the funniest scenes in any Star Trek novel:
“Picard, I could blast this ship out of existence if I felt like it. I could grow hair on your head. Turn your crew into embryos, force Worf to recite doggerel. I could turn your ship inside out, your reality outside in. I am not being condescending, Picard . . . not that I’m incapable of it, you understand, but this simply isn’t one of those times. Now, what I most definitely am, Picard, is arrogant. Why? Because I have reason to be. I have a right to be. So. . . mortal. . . what’s your excuse?”
There was a long silence, and Picard stood there with his arms folded. “Are you through?” he said finally.
Q rolled his eyes. “I knew I could count on you for a dazzling riposte.”
In a delightful twist, Trelane appears again on Strange New Worlds, in “Wedding Bell Blues,” a season 3 episode. Here Trelane again wreaks havoc, and his “parents” have to reign him in. John de Lancie, who played Q in The Next Generation 30 years ago, provides the voice for Q when he appears at the end of the episode to reign in Trelane. Both Q and Trelane are fascinating, lovable rogues who continue provide challenges to the Federation.
In many ways, beings in the Q continuum are like the Greek gods of old. They have great power and knowledge, but just as petty, jealous, and immature as the worst humans. Q toys with humans as his playthings, but Trelane appears and makes Q look tame by comparison. Why is it that we humans continue to invent great, powerful beings that are just as flawed as us? Can we not help it?
“Just because I’m omnipotent, doesn’t mean I’m perfect.” –Q
(Promo pic courtesy of StarTrek.com. Rhys Darby as Trelane on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds)