Among the many species that roamed the Alpha Beta, Delta and Gamma quadrants, perhaps the
most powerful were the immortal, non-corporeal Q of the Q continuum.
From the perspective of humans and other similar species, they had god like powers, able to
manipulate energy, matter, time and space.
Many of their kind, believed they were they highest and purest form of life.
However there were some limitations to their powers, as under specific circumstances they
could be killed.
Yet the death of a Q was a matter taken very seriously by the continuum and could have
lasting galaxy wide repercussions.
Although some claim the Q always existed, others say they were once similar to humans
until they evolved over eons.
Whatever their origins, the New Era as they called it, saw them reach a golden age, where
they explored the universe, sharing thoughts and opinions about every subject imaginable.
Yet while some continued to influence events wherever they deemed appropriate, as time
went on, most became lazy and apathetic, choosing to simply maintaining the status quo without
any changes that might disturb their society.
But some of their species rebelled against the system, growing fond of taking humanoid
form and interacting with less advances beings like humans of the Alpha quadrant.
In 2267, by human calendar, an immature young being named Trelane interacted with the crew
of the USS Enterprise under captain Kirk, and while his species was never identified,
his near omnipotent powers and behaviour made some believe he was a Q.
In the 24th century, as the Federation explored further into deep space, a Q appeared to the
crew of the USS Enterprise D, accusing their species of straying too far from their home
system, calling them a dangerous, savage child race, unprepared to deal with the dangers
awaiting them.
Captain Jean Luc Picard disagreed with this assessment and defended humanity claiming
they made rapid progress and were no longer the violent, greedy people of the past.
Placing humanity on trial, Picard was tested with the mystery of farpoint station, where
the people possessed a technology able to build objects of great complexity seemingly
out of nowhere.
When the station came under attack from a powerful being, Picard had an opportunity
to resolve the issue with violence but instead he continued to investigate and learned the
facility imprisoned a sentient being with incredible powers, forcing it to build whatever
they wished.
In response the being mate attacked.
By ensuring the release of the creature, the violence stopped and the mystery of farpoint
station was solved.
After passing the test, Q allowed them to continue exploring the galaxy but said the
trial wasn’t over and he’d be watching their progress.
Q and the continuum’s interest in humanity grew from a preoccupation that their natural
curiosity and ability to adapt might one day trigger their evolution into Q-like beings,
not only making them potential rivals, but also granting future humans the power to cause
great harm on an intergalactic scale.
As pointed out by the Traveller, another highly advanced being of great power, it’s only
in the 24th century that humanity truly became interesting to more developed lifeforms.
Therefore the Continuum chose the second half of the 24th century as a testing ground to
measure humanity’s potential.
Should they prove themselves unworthy of further evolution, they would be wiped out.
If they proved worthy, the would continue on to whatever fate awaited them.
Choosing Captain Picard and Enterprise crew as participants in the trial, Q started appearing
before them, often at random and for silly reasons, seeming to put them in great harm
for his own amusement.
Yet often there was a larger game being played, as indeed the trial never ended.
Unlike many of the other Q, the being who visited the Enterprise seemed to enjoy interacting
with less advanced species, often acting as an agent of change and chaos.
The Continuum did not appreciate his antics and increasingly viewed him as a rebel.
When he next approached the Enterprise, Q expressed a desire to bring a human into the
continuum, to be studied and serve as a model for change.
Therefore he gifted their first officer the incredible powers of a Q, tempting him to
permanently join the Continuum.
However Riker learned wielding great power without earning it would not bring him fulfillment
or long term happiness.
And so he declined the offer and Q agreed to leave.
Fed up with the erratic behaviour of the rebel Q, he was exiled from the continuum for a
time, and so returned to the USS Enterprise and attempted to join their crew.
When Picard refused, Q transported their vessel 7000 lightyears toward the Delta quadrant
where they met a cube shaped ship travelling in the direction of Earth.
The vessel belonged to the Borg, a relentless and merciless cybernetic species.
The Enterprise only survived the encounter, because Picard admitted to needing Q’s help.
Though on the surface, this seemed like another bout of mischief from Q, there may have been
a larger plan at work, as the Borg eventually travelled through time resulting in some of
their drones crash landing in the arctic ice of earth centuries earlier.
In 2153, several of these drones were discovered and accidentally activated by a group of scientists,
allowing them to send a signal toward far away Borg space.
The message took about 200 years to arrive but pointed the way towards Earth, meaning
this was likely the catalyst for the Borg to send the original cube encountered by the
Enterprise.
The implication of these events, meant Q likely introduced the Enterprise to the Borg, not
for his amusement but as a dire warning, giving humanity time to prepare for a threat that
was already approaching.
Growing further irritated with the rebel Q, the continuum stripped him of powers and made
him mortal.
And so he chose to take human form, and again tried to join the Enterprise crew, this time
so they might protect him from his many enemies.
Although his integration into the crew was difficult, he genuinely came to care for them
in his own way and offered to sacrifice his life for their safety.
When the other Q witnessed this selfless act, they restored his powers and welcomed him
back into the continuum.
Having particularly enjoyed his time with Data, an android who longed to be human, Q
allowed him to feel a full throated belly laugh, thereby giving him a glimpse into one
of humanities most joyous emotions.