A Brief Act of Kindness

Posted on Thu Jul 13th, 2023 @ 10:39pm by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Lieutenant JG James Phoenix

Mission: Writing the Q Cards
Location: USS Washington

Q had been all over the ship, watching and at times interfering with the crew. He was particularly interested in the crew members he had switched over from another reality. They seemed to be his biggest source of amusement. James had caught his eye, and he had unfinished business with him, and so he sought him out.

Chris sat in his, or rather James' quarters contemplating the situation. He was a hardcore Trekkie and to serve in Starfleet would be the ultimate opportunity. But as much as he liked it here he didn't quite belong here and he felt as if he would be robbing Phoenix of his own career in a weird way. But would Q ever send him back? He couldn't be certain.

But what Chris was certain of was that he hadn't had a cup of coffee in a bit and he decided to make himself one. He moved over to the replicator in the room. "Coffee with cream, sweetened" he said before his and Phoenix's favorite beverage appeared seconds later. He grabbed the drink from the slot and sat down at the desk in the room.

"Availing yourself of the luxuries of this reality I see. Good for you." Q appeared, sitting on the sofa. "You and I have unfinished business. In a way, I suppose I owe you a debt. My father warned me about such things, especially amongst humans, so I am here to repay that debt. I am sending you back to your life, but I don't wish to make it feel like something rushed. In truth I was going to send all of the others back eventually, you'll just be the first. After all, in your reality you have a pressing engagement approaching quickly."

Chris chuckled. "That's fair, and I greatly appreciate it Q. But even if you owe me a debt, why the change of heart?" he asked curiously.

"No change of heart. I was always sending you all back. But Aunt Kathy is angry, so I need to make a gesture. Now then..." Q snapped his fingers and suddenly Joe appeared, a look of surprise and annoyance on his face, "there you are captain. I wanted you to be aware of your ensign here being returned to his reality. When it happens the rest of the universe will know of no change whatsoever, just as it was when you were all brought here. I'll do the same for the rest of you soon, but I will start with him as a gesture of goodwill."

Joe had grown tired of Q playing around with the lives of people, but now wasn't the time and place to express such things. "Very well" he said in a crisp voice. He looked over at his officer, "You'll be leaving off to your real world tasks very soon as I recall. I wish you success in that endeavor, even though I will always be an Army man myself" he said as he offered a small grin. "We'll keep a berth open for your return."

"Thanks" he looked at Joe before trailing off and turning to Q. He was sad to be leaving this universe but he had his own story to write in his own time. "Thank you for sending me back Q."

"Eh, not a big deal" Q said nonchalantly.

"Good luck in your endeavor. We wish you well" Joe said.

"Enough of this silly sentimentality. You ready?" Q queried.

Chris shrugged. "As I'll ever be" he kept his mouth open for another second before closing it as if he were going to make a quip, but he held himself back as he didn't want to cause Q to change his mind.

Q snapped his fingers and Chris disappeared in a flash, and Phoenix appeared unconscious on the sofa. Joe looked at him and then at Q, "What is going on?"

"He'll be none the wiser when he wakes up. As far as he is concerned, everything has been status quo. You'll find he is being requested for training back on Earth for tactical training. You humans really have taken an interesting twist since you were introduced to some of the more hostile species by my father."

Joe held his anger. What Q had done was the best option in reality. "Very well Q. When might the rest of us expect to get this all back to normal?"

"I'll get on that. Want to start with aunt Kathy. I'll get on it right away." With that Q disappeared in a flash, leaving Joe to ponder things.