'Q2' Synopsis

The episode opens with Icheb delivering a monotonous speech about Kirk's Prime Directive violations, much to the pain of Captain Janeway. As he carries on unabated, she interrupts to ask him how many chapters he has left. After telling her there's thirty-four chapters left, quite more than the twenty-minute presentation it is supposed to be, Janeway passes him on the "early Starfleet history" test-just to get rid of him. As Icheb leaves her ready room, a voice from off camera states, "I would've failed him." Janeway turns to find a young man in a Starfleet uniform, reclining on her sofa. He is a Q, referred to as Q2 in the script. Q2 wryly says, "That report was as exciting as a Vulcan funeral dirge." She tries to call security, but the attempt fails. Janeway then demands to know who he is, and off camera comes the voice of the Q we know. "I know he's grown since you saw last him, Kathy..."says Q as he appears, "but don't tell me you can't see the family resemblance. This is Q... my son."

Once back for act one, Q wonders why Janeway didn't recognize Q2. Q2 explains that he remembers his encounter with Janeway, even though he was an infant. "I may have looked like an infant, but I was still a Q," he explains with the arrogant flair of his father. "Maybe you should've picked a better godparent," he says to Q. Q then ponders, "I wonder if it's too late to ask Jean-Luc...." Q then explains that Q2 has been fascinated by his "old man's" stories about Humans, and is now on vacation. So Q has brought him to Voyager to learn about the race, and before Janeway can protest he is gone, leaving Q2 there with Janeway. The captain explains she wants to set some "ground rules," but Q2 vanishes himself just moments later.

On the bridge, having explained the situation, Tuvok scans for the Qs but is results turn up negative. Then, Q2 appears. "I've been through every deck on this ship, and do you know what I've seen?" he asks. "Bipeds pushing buttons, bipeds running diagnostics, bipeds replacing relays... when are you going to do something interesting? Twenty minutes observing humanity, and I'm already bored." After his suggestions of fighting Species 8472 or detonating a few Omega particles fall on deaf ears, he flashes out. Moments later comes B'Elanna voice over the comm channel requesting the captain's presence in engineering.

In engineering, the warp core is strobing to the sound of thumping alien music as scantily clad aliens dance on both levels. B'Elanna is not amused, and Janeway tells Q2 to stop his party. "I like you, Aunty Kathy," he explains. "You've got... 'gumption'. What you don't have is unlimited control of space, matter, and time... which means I give the orders around here." The Voyager officers are then transported from engineering to a corridor. Janeway is fuming, but Tuvok suggests to the other officers that ignoring Q2 may be best, so that he doesn't get the satisfaction of disrupting the crew.

Meanwhile, while Seven of Nine is working at a console in the cargo bay, her clothes suddenly disappear! Off camera, Q2 admires "Talk about perfection...." Seven is unfazed, and tells Q2 that his attempt to embarrass her won't succeed. "I'm just... 'observing humanity'," he tells her. Seven just goes back to work, still naked. Not getting any reaction from her, Seven's clothes reappear and Q2 flashes out.

In the mess hall, Janeway orders coffee. "Make it yourself," the computer tells her. Neelix explains to the captain that Q2 thought the computer needed "more personality". Discussing the situation, Neelix explains that he thinks Q2 needs guidance, rather than being ignored. Neelix volunteers to be his mentor.

So Neelix heads off to astrometrics, where Q2 is watching two alien vessels fight on the viewscreen. "Can I help you, Kitchen-Rat?" asks Q2. Neelix tries to talk to the young Q, but Q2 seems more interested in the starship fight on the screen, a battle "between the Vojeans and Wyngari." "We passed through that region a few months ago," explains Neelix, "[and] they were at peace." "Not anymore," explains Q2, who then adds another ship to the fray. Neelix suggests they play Kadis-Kot. "Are there explosions in Kadis-Kot?" asks Q2. There isn't, so he's not interested. After another attempt to reason with him, events take a sinister turn. "You know what, Talaxian? You talk too much," he says. We then go to sickbay, where Neelix's mouth is covered with skin. The Doctor informs us that Neelix's "jaw has been fused and his vocal records removed." There's nothing the Doctor can do for him, Q2 will need to undo the damage. Then, as if things couldn't get worse, the ship jolts and Q2 invites Janeway to the bridge for a "surprise."

As Janeway comes on to the bridge, we see that three Borg Cubes are attacking the ship. "Q said I should pay attention to how humans act under pressure," Q2 explains. "Is this enough 'pressure'?" On this, we end act one.

"We've defeated the Borg before. We'll do it again," Janeway states defiantly. "Not this time," replies Q2 as he takes their weapons and shields go offline. Three Borg beam on board, soon adapting to the phaser fire. As one of the drones goes to assimilate Janeway, they then disappear and things return to normal. Q senior is back, and Q2 isn't happy with his father's interference.

"If the Continuum's told you once, they've told you a thousand times: don't provoke the Borg," chides Q. Q demands that Q2 tells Janeway he won't do it again. However Janeway thinks he won't get a chance, as he's leaving right now. "The 'grown-ups' need a moment in private," says Q as he transports himself and Janeway appear to the ready room. Q explains that all is back to normal, and that he even gave Janeway's "pet Talaxian his vocal chords back." Janeway is unconvinced though, and doesn't want anything to do with the troublesome child. Q goes on to explain that this was meant to be a lesson for Q2. "Think back to my last visit. I made you the offer of a lifetime," explains Q. "Asking me to mate with you was hardly the 'offer of a lifetime'," replies Janeway dryly. Q explains that the young Q was meant to bring peace and compassion to the Continuum, but in fact brought more chaos. "He's been starting wars among innocent species... tampering with primordial gene pools... punching holes in the fabric of space-time." His mother, humiliated by the antics, has disowned Q2 and blamed Q for everything. Q was hoping that by bringing his son here, Starfleet ideals would wear off on him. However Janeway explains that Q2 needs good parenting. However, Q naturally misunderstands what Janeway was meaning. "Of course... once he gets to know me better... he'll idolize me. He'll do anything I say! Kathy, you're a genius!" says Q excitedly, before flashing out.

Janeway enters the bridge, which is now Q-free. Breathing a sigh of relief, she says she'll be in her quarters. Later, Janeway is relaxing in a hot bubble bath. "I take it back: you're not a genius," says Q off camera. It turns out that in the ten minutes since he left, which is years in Q time, Q's attempt to pay attention to Q2 has failed and the young Q is now embarrassed to be seen with his father. "Q[2] got away from me and 'rearranged' the tectonic plates on Bozel prime," admits Q. As punishment Q tried to make his son apologize to all sixteen billion Bozelians, but that also failed. So, giving in, Q gave the planet to his son so that he could shift the plates as he wished. "You need to make him understand that there are consequences to his actions," explains Janeway. Again inspired, Q replies "Kathy... I take it back. You are a genius."

Now in the medlab, Q is holding a petri dish with greenish good in it, while Janeway looks on. Snapping his fingers, Q2 appears. Q2 is furious. "What was that for?" Q2 demands to know. "What's wrong? You didn't enjoy life as an Oprelian amoeba?" Q2 obviously didn't, so Q explains that he should do everything possible to avoid returning to the petri dish. It turns out the Continuum and Q senior have decided that Q2 either becomes an upstanding citizen, or spends life as an amoeba. Q2 has also been relieved of his powers, to ensure he remains well behaved while staying with Janeway. Both Q2 and Janeway are surprised. Q explains that Janeway is a better parent than he. "Just look at how quickly you 'housebroke' that Borg Drone." After one final warning for Q2, Q vanishes.

In the corridor, security guards now escort Q2. Janeway is smug, now that she has control again. She then gives him some quarters, very basic quarters! "The petri dish was less cramped," he complains. Still smug, Janeway states that she's preparing a 'curriculum' for the now-powerless Q2. Q2 is not amused, but Janeway explains that she believes Q's attempt to care for his son is genuine. "He abandoned me on an antiquated flying machine run by primates!" Q2 answers in disbelief. He only has to stay on board seven days, "how hard can it be?" he then ponders.

Next morning, Tuvok enters the quarters of Q2 putting the lights on to wake him up. Q2's day will start with a "rigorous exercise routine, followed by a lesson in mental discipline." Q2 then ponders about dreaming, which he'd been doing while sleeping. Q2 tells Tuvok to come back in a few hours; he wants to explore dreaming some more. However Tuvok won't have anything of it, lifting him out of bed. He is given 30 seconds to join Tuvok in the corridor.

In astrometrics, Seven and Icheb are at work. Q2 has lessons with Seven, Tuvok informs him. Icheb introduces himself, only to be scolded by Q2. Seven tells Q2 that he should follow Icheb's example. Q2 is unimpressed. "Can I see you naked again?" he asks Seven.

Chakotay is next to tutor Q2, this time diplomacy in a holodeck reaction of the briefing room. A Nausicaan, Ferengi, Bolian, Cardassian, Romulan and Bajoran are disputing territory. Chakotay tells Q2 that it's his job to settle the dispute. "One of your responsibilities as a Q is to maintain order in the universe, right?" asks the first officer. "So I've been told," replies Q2 dryly. Chakotay leaves Q2 to go through the simulation. Outside in the corridor, Janeway and Chakotay discuss Q2's latest task. Chakotay believes that Q2 will fail miserable, and come running for help.

When reentering the Holodeck, Chakotay finds that all is well. There's applause, the Bajoran and Cardassian are hugging, and Q2 is very pleased with himself. Not only has he sorted the problems, but he even got the Cardassian to apologize for the occupation of Bajor!

Next up is the mess Neelix and the mess hall. Q2 is dressed in an apron, having obviously helped with the meal that's being served. Neelix is slightly smug now that Q2 can't remove his vocal chords this time, so he speaks even more loudly to annoy him. Icheb enters; again to be insulted by Q2. Icheb deflects the insult, by offering to play a game with Q2. However Q2 doesn't have time, he needs to write an essay. Icheb is more than happy to offer suggestions, which Q2 then gets the gullible ex-drone to write on a PADD for him.

In Janeway's ready room, she commends the essay. However she instantly recognizes that it's Icheb's writing, and not Q2's. She also informs Q2 that she knows he altered the holodeck sub-routines to make the simulation work to his advantage. Janeway says she isn't prepared to help him anymore, and orders him to his quarters. This frightens him, as he doesn't want to become an amoeba. Q2 becomes desperate, almost in tears. "Please, Aunt Kathy," he pleas. "You're my only hope." Janeway agrees to give him another chance. And on this, we end act two.

Four days have passed, and Q2 has been making progress. We see Q2 jogging with Tuvok, working with Icheb and working in the mess hall. However not all has been a success. As he stands in the holodeck simulation, with all six alien diplomats dead, he says, "It always starts with the Bolian..." Q2 ponders on the cultural difficulties. After thinking some more, he restarts the simulation with renewed determination. Later, in the mess hall, Q2 presents a renewed draft of his essay to Janeway. "I, Q. An Insider's View of the Continuum," she reads from the PADD. As Q2 goes to leave, Icheb invites him to a piloting lesson that Paris is giving him. Janeway approves, and the boys leave together.

In the Delta Flyer, Paris tutors them both as Icheb flies the ship. "In case you forgot, I'm mortal now. I'd appreciate it if you didn't fly us into a rock," Q2 informs them. Icheb suggests that Q2 has a go at flying. Paris approves, and Q2 accepts eagerly.

Back on the ship, Janeway goes to enter a turbolift that Q senior is standing in. "Going up?" he asks. "I'll catch the next one," she answers wryly. Janeway asks Q why he's back. He explains that he's just popping in to check on "Junior's progress." Janeway updates Q on Q2's progress, and Q is surprised that Q2 is doing well.

Later in the day, Q and Janeway sit on the ready room sofa as Q2 reads from his essay. However Q isn't very impressed, and acts indifferent. "It was very... 'nice'," is all he can say. Q2 is hurt, and Q is oblivious. After Q2 leaves, Janeway chides Q. Q won't back down though. "Frankly, Kathy, it's a little hard to be impressed with any of the boy's 'accomplishments,' he explains. "He's been here for five days, and what have you taught him? How to 'scribble essays' and 'play with holograms.' What's next? 'Basket-Weaving?'" Janeway sticks up for Q2, but Q states that his son needs to display "exemplary "Q-ness," but fails to explain what that is exactly. Q then disappears.

In Q2's quarters, he is obviously upset. Janeway visits to try and cheer him up. He says that his father's reaction doesn't bother him. "Aunt Kathy... do you think the Continuum will be any more impressed with me than Q was?" he asks her. Janeway doesn't have an answer for him. Janeway offers to let him stay on board, if the Continuum won't have him back. He admits that he wants to be like his father though, not a human.

In a jefferies tube, Icheb is working. "Itchy! Are you in here?" comes Q2's voice. "Iiiiitchy..." "What can I do for you: 'Q-Ball?'" comes Icheb's reply. Q2 emerges from an adjoining jefferies tube, asking for Icheb's help. He wants to fix an earlier problem with the Delta Flyer as a surprise for Tom Paris. Icheb agrees, so long as Icheb doesn't refer to him as "Itchy" in front of the senior officers.

In the Delta Flyer, Q2 and Icheb are working on the problem. They fix the problem, but Q2 then starts playing with the controls. "I once learned how to open a spatial flexure... using nothing more than a deflector array," Q2 proudly states. "Flexure?" questions Icheb. "It's like a tunnel through space. I'm going to open one to the Clevari system. Just wait until you see the females... they're spectacular," says Q2 excitedly. Icheb is confused by Q2's sudden reversion to his wild ways, especially after doing so well.

The Delta Flyer fires its phasers, blasting the shuttle bay doors open. Q2 is determined to get away, before his father can turn him into an amoeba. Voyager locks on to them with a tractor beam as soon as they leave the ship. Q2 creates a spatial distortion, breaking the beam. The ship disappears through it, appearing in a new region occupied by a number of planets. Q2 is proud at getting to his destination. Icheb tries to persuade Q2 to return, and to apologize to Janeway. He won't, because he thinks it will mean the end for him. Things turn sour when an alien ship arrives. The alien captain demands the surrender of the Delta Flyer due to trespassing, but Q2 fires at the ship and flies away. The Flyer comes under heavy fire. Q2 opens another flexure to go to another system. The ship goes through just in time, but energy goes through the ship, hitting Icheb who then falls to the floor, convulsing.

Back on the Voyager bridge, Tuvok announces another flexure is opening. It's the Delta Flyer, and Q2 hails the ship. "Yell at me later," he says. "We need to get Icheb to sickbay." In sickbay, the Doctor tries to treat Icheb, but he needs more information on the weapon that hurt him. Q senior then appears. "Is this a bad time?" he asks. Q2 explains, "Icheb stole a shuttle from Voyager. I tried to stop him, but he kidnapped me and started a fight with another ship." Janeway cuts him off, having none of his lies. Q2 is upset, and begs his father to save Icheb. Q refuses, saying that if Q2's "playmate" has to die to teach Q2 a lesson, then so be it. Q disappears again. Janeway tells Q2 that he needs to go back to apologize to the alien ship, and to get information on the weapon to save Icheb. Janeway questions Q2 on his motives of coming back to Voyager, forcing Q2 to admit he cares for Icheb.

Later, in the Delta Flyer, Q2 and Janeway are talking with the alien captain. Q2 pleads for the alien captain's leniency and information on the weapon. The captain agrees to give the weapon information to them, but tells Janeway that she will be punished for Q2's actions. Q2 tries to defend Janeway, saying that he'll take the blame. "Well done, Junior. I'm proud of you," says the alien. The alien captain then turns into Q. Seconds later, Q appears behind Q2 on the Flyer. "I wish you could see the looks on your faces. Oh, wait - you can!" says Q. Two mirrors then appear in their hands. Q explains that he was the Chokuzan that they fired on initially. It turns out that it was all a test, and Q2 has passed. Q also informs them that Icheb is now well. "Now then... if we're all finished here, it's 'Judgment Day' for Junior," says Q.

In the mess hall, Q, Janeway and Q2 are in front of a judge's bench that is now in the room. Three Q judges, in the robes that Q wore back in TNG's premiere and final episodes, are at the bench. They deem that Q2 has not made sufficient progress to have his powers back. Q tries to defend his son, but it falls on deaf ears. The judges do, however, decide that he won't become an amoeba; he will just stay as a human. The three judges then go, making Q livid. Q disappears, and Janeway comforts Q2.

Later, in the ready room, Q2 enters to meet Janeway. Q2 says that he would like to remain on board, and continue his training. Q then appears on Janeway's sofa. Q explains that he went off to demand an immediate appeal and that he refused to be part of any Continuum that his son can't be a part of. "When they realized they might lose me, they crumbled like a Gelbian sand-sculpture," he informs them smugly. Q2 snaps his fingers, and a dozen vases of flowers appear throughout the room. "For you, Captain. For all your help," says Q2. Q offers Q2 a proper tour of the cosmos. "I'll meet you on Golos Prime... after I've had a few moments alone with the captain," Q says to his son. "I'll see you soon, Aunt Kathy," says Q2 before departing. Janeway isn't convinced that Q is telling the truth. "So... the Continuum 'crumpled like a Gelbian sand-sculpture?" questions Janeway. "A few of them even got down on their knees and begged me to stay... it was pathetic," replies Q. Q then admits he had to agree to some "minor" conditions, such as eternal custody of his son. "Wherever the little brat goes, I go with him," explains Q.

"Before I leave, Kathy... I did a little 'homework' for you," Q says. "Consider it a 'thank you' for everything you did for Junior." He hands her a PADD. "Not that I don't appreciate it... but this'll only take a few years off our journey. Why not send us all the way?" she asks. He explains that he's trying to set an example for his son, and that he can't do all the work for her. With that he vanishes, possibly for the last time from our screens, leaving Janeway smiling at the "irrepressible Qs" and the thought of taking a few years off the crew's journey.