True Q

ST episode
name = True Q


Amanda and Q stand on the "Enterprise"'s hull.
series = TNG
ep_num = 132
prod_num = 232
date = November 1 1992
writer = René Echevarria
director = Robert Scheerer
guest = Olivia d'Abo
John P. Connolly
John de Lancie
stardate = 46193.9
year = 2369
prev = Schisms
next = Rascals

"True Q" is a 6th season episode of "".

The "Enterprise" has received an intern from Starfleet Academy, Amanda Rogers, to study biological sciences under Dr. Crusher, but soon strange things start to happen. In a cargo bay, Commander Riker is nearly hit by a falling cargo crate, which mysteriously swerves to avoid hitting him mid-flight, astonishing the onlookers including Amanda. Later, when Amanda is in main Engineering, the warpcore suffers a catastrophic meltdown and explodes at the point of the intermix chamber. Amanda is able to repel the plasma/energy wave with nothing more than her hands and reverse the damage to the core. A bemused La Forge remarks that for a second "the laws of Physics went out the window". Suddenly Q materializes and remarks that why shouldn't the laws change, because "they're so "inconvenient".

Captain Picard gets Q to admit he is behind the recent "Enterprise" incidents. He is testing Amanda, who is not human, but actually a Q, meaning that she inherited the powers of Q. This means she must decide whether to join the continuum or not. Not convinced, but keen to allow Amanda a chance to make the right decision, Picard allows Q to teach Amanda how to use her powers. Amanda is particularly keen to learn about her biological parents, who were members of the continuum - they sired Amanda while in human form, but were killed by a tornado in Topeka, Kansas when she was very young. Q shows her how to see an image of her parents and she begins to trust him. They play a game of Q-style Hide and seek, eventually ending outside the ship on the hull between the warp nacelles (pictured).

Meanwhile on the bridge, a suspicious Picard asks Data to investigate just how members of the nearly god-like Q continuum could be killed in a simple tornado, suspecting that Q may have been involved. Picard decides to confront Q with the findings; apparently the rogue tornado had not only manage to escape the weather modification net, but destroyed only Amanda's parents' house before dissipating. Q admits the continuum's' involvement, stating that they were a 'threat', and that they couldn't be trusted not to use their powers. It is decision that Amanda must, in time, make too.

The "Enterprise" receives a distress call from a stricken planet nearby - the power net of their ionic pollution systems are failing; if they are shut down, the planet's atmosphere will fill with ionic pollution and sunlight won't be able to reach the surface. Picard sends La Forge to help, aware that failure will lead to disaster. Amanda and Q join Picard on the bridge as La Forge tries to keep the planetary systems open, but is failing fast. Q taunts Amanda saying that if she doesn't join the continuum she won't be able to resist using her powers. As the reactor fails Amanda makes a choice and removes all ionic pollution from the atmosphere. Data, who is at Ops, remarks that ionic pollution is now only one part per trillion. Q steps forward to claim Amanda, but she demands time to explain all of this to her adoptive parents. They depart, leaving Picard to wonder, once again, about Q's motivations, and whether Amanda has made the right choice.

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