.gif)
Q-Less (DS9 episode)
Encyclopedia
"Q-Less" is the 7th episode
of the science fiction
television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
.
and Vash, who arrive aboard the Deep Space Nine
station.
returns from the Gamma Quadrant in her runabout with a woman O'Brien
recognizes as Vash. Although the crew is unaware of his presence, Q
— a nearly omnipotent
prankster — has also stowed away on the runabout. Vash explains that she has spent the past two years in the Gamma Quadrant, but she describes her method of getting there as a "private matter."
Soon after Vash's arrival, the station begins to experience power drains similar to those experienced by Dax's runabout
. In the meantime, Q appears to Vash, apparently infatuated with her. Q was the one who transported Vash to the Gamma Quadrant two years earlier, but now she wants nothing to do with him, much to Q's annoyance. When Dr. Bashir asks Vash out for dinner, a jealous Q uses his powers to send Bashir off to sleep. Meanwhile, Quark
arranges to auction off various items Vash has found in the Gamma Quadrant, most notably an unknown but extremely valuable crystal of some kind, and in the meantime O'Brien spots Q and recognizes him immediately, since they met during O'Brien's tour of duty on the Enterprise
.
O'Brien warns Sisko
of Q's presence and the likely cause of the power drains. Q denies any wrongdoing, although he offers no alternative explanation. As the power drains become more severe, some type of gravimetric field begins pulling the station toward the nearby wormhole. Q challenges Sisko to a boxing match on the Promenade, and they suddenly are wearing antique-style boxing costumes. A few punches are thrown, and Q is shocked when Sisko knocks him down. "You hit me! Picard
never hit me!" Q exclaims. Vash and Quark go about their auction and the crystal receives bids in excess of one thousand bars of gold-pressed latinum.
Casually joining the bid process, Q ups the ante on Vash's crystal to 2501 bars before bidding one million. Soon after, however, the source of the gravimetric field and power losses is found to be the crystal. The crystal is beamed into space before it can destroy the station, and once outside, it reveals itself to be a mysterious life form and travels into the wormhole. After the trouble is over, Bashir finally awakes. Unaware of what has happened, he yawns and tells Dax that he feels like he has been asleep for days. A bemused Dax gives him a strange look to which Bashir replies "What--did I miss something?"
Episode
An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
of the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
.
Overview
The episode features QQ (Star Trek)
Q is a fictional character who appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager, as well as in related products. In all of these programs, he is played by John de Lancie....
and Vash, who arrive aboard the Deep Space Nine
Deep Space Nine (space station)
Deep Space Nine is a fictitious space station, and is the eponymous primary setting of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It serves as a base for the exploration of the Gamma Quadrant via the Bajoran wormhole, and is a hub of trade and travel for the sector's denizens...
station.
Plot
DaxJadzia Dax
Jadzia Dax , played by Terry Farrell, was a main character during the first six seasons of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine....
returns from the Gamma Quadrant in her runabout with a woman O'Brien
Miles O'Brien (Star Trek)
Miles Edward O'Brien, played by Colm Meaney, is Chief of Operations in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Before DS9, he appeared as a recurring transporter chief in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
recognizes as Vash. Although the crew is unaware of his presence, Q
Q (Star Trek)
Q is a fictional character who appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager, as well as in related products. In all of these programs, he is played by John de Lancie....
— a nearly omnipotent
Omnipotence
Omnipotence is unlimited power. Monotheistic religions generally attribute omnipotence to only the deity of whichever faith is being addressed...
prankster — has also stowed away on the runabout. Vash explains that she has spent the past two years in the Gamma Quadrant, but she describes her method of getting there as a "private matter."
Soon after Vash's arrival, the station begins to experience power drains similar to those experienced by Dax's runabout
Runabout
A runabout is a small vehicle:* Runabout , a small boat* Runabout , antique car body style and 1964 3-wheel GM concept car* Runabout , horse-drawn vehicle* Runabout , a destruction driving game series...
. In the meantime, Q appears to Vash, apparently infatuated with her. Q was the one who transported Vash to the Gamma Quadrant two years earlier, but now she wants nothing to do with him, much to Q's annoyance. When Dr. Bashir asks Vash out for dinner, a jealous Q uses his powers to send Bashir off to sleep. Meanwhile, Quark
Quark (Star Trek)
Quark is a fictional character in the American television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The character, which was played by Armin Shimerman, was depicted as a member of an extraterrestrial race known as the Ferengi, who are stereotypically ultra-capitalist and only motivated by...
arranges to auction off various items Vash has found in the Gamma Quadrant, most notably an unknown but extremely valuable crystal of some kind, and in the meantime O'Brien spots Q and recognizes him immediately, since they met during O'Brien's tour of duty on the Enterprise
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
.
O'Brien warns Sisko
Benjamin Sisko
Benjamin Lafayette Sisko, played by Avery Brooks, is the main character of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Early life and career:...
of Q's presence and the likely cause of the power drains. Q denies any wrongdoing, although he offers no alternative explanation. As the power drains become more severe, some type of gravimetric field begins pulling the station toward the nearby wormhole. Q challenges Sisko to a boxing match on the Promenade, and they suddenly are wearing antique-style boxing costumes. A few punches are thrown, and Q is shocked when Sisko knocks him down. "You hit me! Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
never hit me!" Q exclaims. Vash and Quark go about their auction and the crystal receives bids in excess of one thousand bars of gold-pressed latinum.
Casually joining the bid process, Q ups the ante on Vash's crystal to 2501 bars before bidding one million. Soon after, however, the source of the gravimetric field and power losses is found to be the crystal. The crystal is beamed into space before it can destroy the station, and once outside, it reveals itself to be a mysterious life form and travels into the wormhole. After the trouble is over, Bashir finally awakes. Unaware of what has happened, he yawns and tells Dax that he feels like he has been asleep for days. A bemused Dax gives him a strange look to which Bashir replies "What--did I miss something?"
Arc significance
- While flirting with a Bajoran woman, Bashir mentions for the first time that he missed being valedictorian in his class because he confused 'pre-ganglionic fiber' with 'post-ganglianic nerve' in the orals. This may be an early clue to his true nature (cf. "Distant Voices", "Doctor Bashir, I Presume").
Context
- This is Q's only appearance on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
- This episode is a follow-up to the events of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Q-Pid". At the end of that episode, Q and Vash left together to explore the galaxy.
- This episode aired just before the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Tapestry", resulting in the sequence of two Q-centered Star Trek episodes initially aired in a row, as, at the time, Star Trek: The Next GenerationStar Trek: The Next GenerationStar Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine were in their initial run, concurrently, on U.S. television.