Only Human by Alara Rogers 
 
Part III: Yamato 
 
With minor revisions to the parts posted before, here is all of 
Only Human Chapter III.
 
Paramount owns Q and the universe; I own the original characters.
No copyright infringement is intended.  Not to be sold for profit.  

ONLY HUMAN (for those who haven't caught the story thus far) is an 
alternate universe, based on the premise that Q lost his powers for 
good in "Deja Q."  In exchange for protection, he offered the 
Federation the benefit of his advanced knowledge, and was transferred 
to Starbase 56.  Three years later, miserable beyond endurance, Q 
attempted to kill himself. 
 
Dr. T'Laren, Vulcan xenopsychologist and former Starfleet counselor, 
turned up at this point, claiming that Starfleet had hired her as Q's 
therapist.  In fact, it turned out that she was really hired by the Q 
Continuum, in the person of the Q who got Q thrown out, whom T'Laren 
refers to as Lhoviri.  T'Laren persuaded Q to accept her help and 
allow her to counsel him through his depression.  To that end, they 
left Starbase 56 on T'Laren's ship Ketaya-- a gift from Lhoviri, with 
some surprising capabilities-- and headed for the starship Yamato, 
which was currently hosting a physics conference. 
 
Over the course of the past weeks of travel, Q has come to trust 
T'Laren, more or less, though they've had some knock-down-drag-out 
fights in the process.  At the end of Part II, Q decided that he no 
longer wanted to die.  Part III details 's adventures at the scientific 
conference aboard the Yamato, T'Laren's problems as her 
somewhat shady past comes back to haunt her in the forms of her 
young sister-in-law and her former lover, and the ups and downs 
of Q and T'Laren's relations with one another.  Section 14 also 
deals explicitly with sexual themes, though I consider it suitable 
for teens and mature Congresspersons (like Patrick Leahy, who 
opposed the CDA.) 
 
Note that elements of this chapter and previous ones contradict
the Voyager episode "The Q and the Grey."  I remain convinced
that my version of the Continuum is more interesting than the
vision we were presented with in that episode, and so I have not
revised to fit that episode, as it's too stupid to be canon. :-)

Parts I - III are all available at the following sites:

FTP:

ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/al/aleph/trek
ftp://ftp.europa.com/outgoing/mercutio/alt.fan.q
ftp://aviary.share.net/pub/startrek/tng

Web:

http://www.europa.com/~mercutio/Q.html
http://aviary.share.net/~alara
http://www1.mhv.net/~alara/ohtree.html

Send comments to aleph@netcom.com.
             *                   *                    *  

	The door to the bathroom opened finally, and T'Laren came out.  
She walked over to the replicator and ordered a cup of Vulcan tea.  Q 
bided his time until she was sitting down, sipping her tea.  He stepped 
out of the bedroom.
	"T'Laren.  Why didn't you *tell* me you had such an interesting 
past?"
	"You're incredibly predictable, Q," she murmured without glancing 
up.
	"I never dreamed this conference would be so entertaining," he 
continued, ignoring T'Laren's comment.  "You didn't even tell me you 
were married.  Let alone that you were cheating on him."
	That got her attention.  "What makes you think I was cheating on 
my husband?"  she asked sharply.
	"Oh, come now, T'Laren.  I'm not stupid."
	"Lack of stupidity hardly means you cannot jump to the wrong 
conclusion."
	"What other conclusion am I expected to draw, my dear doctor?  
When a young Bajoran man says that he is no longer your *taran*, it 
does tend to imply that he *was* at one point.  Or are you going to 
tell me there's some subtlety to the word's translation that I missed?  
Perhaps in this context it means 'third cousin on the father's side', 
or something?"  This was fun.  He hadn't had this much fun in... in... 
come to think of it, he hadn't had this much fun since he lost his 
powers.  T'Laren's expression was quite delightfully exasperated.
	"You were eavesdropping."
	"I prefer to think of it as lending a sympathetic ear."
	T'Laren stared at him for several seconds in complete exasperated 
frustration, obviously struggling to find the correct words.  "My past 
is none of your business," she said finally.
	"Oh, really?  I think it is my business.  I seem to recall a 
little speech about how you were incapable of acting on a sexual 
temptation?  About what a stalwart Vulcan you are and how faithful and 
ethical and all that?  I can't *quite* see how that squares away with 
cheating on your husband.  Seems like a very un-Vulcan thing to *me.  
*Now, I admit I'm no expert on Vulcan culture, but..."
	"Why do you care?"  she asked coldly.  "Does the idea that I might 
have had a private life before I met you disturb you?"
	"Not at all!  You're far more interesting this way.  My respect 
for you has just gone up enormously."
	"Then I don't think I want your respect."  She turned back to her 
tea.
	Q walked over to her armchair and leaned over the top of it.  "Oh, 
come now, T'Laren, don't be a wet blanket.  I'm a trickster, remember?  
People who spend their entire lives within the confines of the socially 
acceptable bore me to tears.  I knew you were more interesting than the 
typical Vulcan before, but now you're positively intriguing.  And then, 
of course, there's that business with your sister."  He perched on the 
armrest of her chair, leaning his arm along the top of it, hovering 
next to her.  "You can't keep me in suspense.  Tell me about it."
	"No."
	"No?  She says no?  A flat rejection.  I'm crushed, T'Laren, truly 
I am."  He stood up.  "What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the 
gander.  I told you all the humiliating and sordid little stories you 
demanded of *me*."
	"I am your psychologist.  The relationship is not reciprocal."
	"If you keep saying that, I'll start to think you don't love me."
	She looked up at him.  "You think this is extremely funny, don't 
you."
	"Funny?... Oh, no, no, I wouldn't say 'funny'.  Amusing, yes.  
Entertaining, certainly.  But not exactly a knee-slapping, ripsnorting 
form of entertainment, no."
	"You're an incredible hypocrite."
	"A hypocrite?  Moi?"  That hurt a bit, actually, though he was 
damned if he'd show it.  Q had spent most of his existence despising 
hypocrisy.  "How am I a hypocrite?"
	"Three days ago you were furious because you believed that humans 
laughed at your suffering.  But you find other people's suffering 
extremely entertaining, don't you.  You haven't truly changed at all; 
the only difference between you now and the omnipotent bully you used 
to be is that you're no longer omnipotent."
	He smiled coldly.  "Them's fightin' words, darlin'," he said.  "In 
the mood for a three hour argument?"
	T'Laren set down her tea on the table.  "You have no other forms 
of entertainment available to you, do you?  When you're not brutalizing 
others, or enjoying their pain, you're arguing with them.  You can't be 
happy unless you're antagonizing someone somehow."
	"Well."  He picked up her tea and sipped at it, watching her 
reaction with amused eyes.  "It's no secret that I like to argue."
	Her eyes narrowed slightly.  "It's also no secret that you are 
deliberately and grossly obnoxious."
	Q set down the tea.  "You get what you ask for."
	T'Laren shook her head.  "No.  You returned kindness with 
thoughtlessness and cruelty.  People may *now* treat you badly, but the 
cycle started with you."
	"Did it now?"  
	"Yes."
	"I wonder.  You ever meet Dr. Taget, T'Laren?"
	"No."
	"He's a Tellarite.  And a very typical one at that, obnoxious, 
argumentative, loud-mouthed--"
	"You must have gotten along so well."
	Q smiled thinly but didn't otherwise acknowledge the sortie.  "I 
researched Dr. Taget a bit.  At one point in his career, there had been 
death threats made.  He'd managed to offend someone, I forget what it 
was, a Nausicaan or something like that.  Something bigger than he was, 
hairier, and meaner.  And because Dr. Taget was so well-respected, he 
was assigned a bodyguard while he was traveling on a Starfleet ship.  
This bodyguard was killed.  Did Security turn on Dr. Taget?  Brutalize 
him?  Make him believe he would be killed?  Did the captain of the ship 
he was on dismiss his complaints?"
	"I take it the answer is 'no.'"
	"You are so correct.  The answer is a resounding 'no.' Actually, 
Dr. Taget, for all that he had nothing good to say about anyone else, 
had only glowing terms to speak of Starfleet security in.  And this is 
not the only example I have."  Q turned away.  "Because I look human, 
and am expected to play by human rules, I have been systematically 
subjected to much greater indignities than any obvious alien.  For that 
matter, I've been subjected to greater indignities than most humans.  
I've done a bit of research on the treatment of suicide attempts, for 
one thing, and nearly everything that should have been done after my 
second try wasn't.  Whether Anderson was willing to admit it or not, 
her tactics smacked unpleasantly of trying to punish me for attempting 
to kill myself.  Everything I've read indicates that that was exactly 
the wrong thing to do.  If I *had* successfully done myself in this 
last time, it would have been the fault of Starbase 56's personnel as 
much as if not more than my own."
	"You're trying to tell me that Starbase 56 drove you to suicide?"
	Q was somewhat surprised by her skeptical tone-- wasn't that 
T'Laren's own theory?  But then, she was probably playing devil's 
advocate.  "Why did I change my mind so quickly after leaving the 
base?"  he asked rhetorically.  "Right at this moment, I feel so much 
better than I have since we defeated the Borg that I might almost be a 
different person.  The only dramatic change in my life has been leaving 
Starbase 56.  And considering that it was *you* who recommended the 
treatment, dear doctor, I would not argue against my point too 
vehemently if I were you."
	"The climate on Starbase 56 was certainly an important factor.  
But I think you're trying to shift the blame off yourself onto them.  
You seem, in fact, to be trying to blame everything unpleasant that's 
happened since you lost your powers on either Starbase 56 personnel or 
humanity in general."
	"Oh, I wouldn't say 'everything'.  Most of what I've gone through 
has to do with rampant ingratitude and/or people who just won't let 
bygones be bygones, not necessarily humanity.  Humanity, in fact, has 
been rather good about the bygones thing, although the gratitude part 
could use some work."
	T'Laren raised an eyebrow.  "Gratitude?  For what?"
	"For my services, of course.  And for the knowledge that enabled 
the Federation to defeat a practically invincible   enemy--"
	"We have only your word for it that they were practically 
invincible."
	"Then don't take my word for it.  Ask the Melgaani.  Oh, wait-- 
you can't, the Borg destroyed them.  All right, ask one of the few 
remaining El-Aurians.  You can find one aboard the *Enterprise*-- in 
fact, you and she are pals.  Of course, you can't expect her to *tell* 
you anything, because her people don't believe in giving out 
information to such lowly short-lived creatures as yourselves, even 
when they call such creatures friends-- but I digress.  You could go to 
the planet Tarvisti Seven, to the ruins of the Dream Domes, and open 
your mind to the psionic emanations.  It might destroy you, but you'd 
get a very up close and personal look at just how invincible the Borg 
used to be."  Q flung himself into a chair.  "Besides, while that's the 
most important thing I've done for the Federation, it's hardly the only 
thing.  In fact, if Starfleet weren't such complete hypocrites about 
the Prime Directive, they should by all rights have refused my offer of 
knowledge.  Maximum warp is now 9.8, up from 9.6.  I've deliberately 
avoided giving them transwarp, but that still means that the fastest 
Federation ships are faster than anything the Romulans or Cardassians 
or Tholians have.  Defensive shields have increased in power by 60%.  
Weapons systems aren't particularly more powerful, except when fighting 
species with advanced multiphasic shields like the Borg, but there 
they're something like 600% times as efficient.  Why do you think the 
Cardassians suddenly decided to give up worlds like Bajor?  They can't 
afford to keep a military presence on a world so rife with terrorists 
when they have to play scramble to catch up to Federation tech.  Which 
is why the Federation has free access to the Bajoran wormhole, 
something that would *not* have happened had the Cardassians still been 
holding the area.  The Federation is in a *much* better strategic 
position vis-à-vis everybody than they were three years ago.  And we 
haven't even mentioned the theoretical value of all the information 
I've given you people."
	"All of which was rendered as payment for protection.  Protecting 
you has cost the Federation 14 lives.  Obviously, they consider the 
price to be worth it.  But expecting gratitude into the bargain is a 
little much even for you."
	"And what is this 'even for you' nonsense?  When did you suddenly 
become a member of the Chorus for the Litany of Q's Crimes Against the 
Universe?"
	"I have always been aware of your flaws.  It is important to make 
sure you know them and are working to overcome them, or all the social 
polish in the universe will not help you."
	"That's a terribly naive attitude.  Villains who smile are better-
loved than the good-hearted but socially inept.  If I had all the 
social polish in the universe, I could be a monstrosity and I'd still 
get people to like me."
	"My conscience would be eased tremendously if I will be able to 
look back on my work with you and conclude that you did not end up a 
monstrosity."
	"So be more precise, T'Laren.  Are you saying that I *am* a 
monstrosity, or that you're afraid I'll become one?"
	"What would you call someone who is entertained by the pain of 
others?"
	Q smiled coolly.  "A normal human being."  He leaned forward.  
"Don't take that self-righteous attitude with me.  You pretend you know 
something about human nature, so either you're deceiving yourself or 
you're an enormous hypocrite.  Are you going to deny to me that human 
beings enjoy scandal?  That the unveiling of others' mysterious pasts 
excites them?  That they might find the notion that a person who had 
presented herself as above temptation turns out to be just as much 
mortal clay as they are, if not more so, intriguing?  Any human would 
have the same reaction to this whole business with your sister and the 
Bajoran fellow.  I'm just honest enough to admit it."
	"And tactless enough?"
	"Oh, they're the same thing.  Can't have honesty and tact at the 
same time."
	"But you typically display neither trait."
	"I have been brutally honest with you, T'Laren.  I've told you 
things I've told no other being alive.  I've never once lied to you."
	"Perhaps.  But you have a reputation for being... somewhat 
cavalier with your concept of truth."
	"There's no such thing as absolute truth.  Only beings as ignorant 
as you mortals could even devise the concept.  There are as many truths 
on any given topic as there are beings who know of that topic.  Since 
I'm no longer near-omniscient, of course, I'm limited to my own version 
of a given truth, but I don't make the mistake of believing that truth 
is absolute."
	"You might try to be a little more objective--"
	"*Objective?  *That's another mortal concept.  How can you 
possibly be objective?  The act of observation changes that which is 
observed.  No one sits outside the universe and watches from on high, 
not even the Q.  And besides, each individual brings so many biases to 
his perceptions that nothing of any significance can be perceived in 
any fashion remotely close to objectively.  You Vulcans are positively 
ridiculous in your belief that you can overcome your biases and view 
the universe objectively.  Through the filter of logic, and you claim 
*that's* objectivity!  Logic's just another bias!"
	"We are not discussing Vulcans, Q.  We're discussing you."
	It figured.  Get into an interesting philosophical argument-- 
especially one where his experience gave him the high ground-- and she 
would try to drag the conversation back around to his shortcomings.  Q 
refused to let his good mood be sullied by her obstinacy.  "No no no, 
we're discussing Vulcans.  In particular, a single individual Vulcan 
who *claims* to be objective, who *believes* she can transcend her own 
emotional biases when she wants to, and yet who gets on a moral high 
horse about something that everyone does and is perfectly normal just 
because *she's* uncomfortable with it.  What are you complaining about, 
T'Laren?  That I am an evil nasty person who delights in the pain of 
others, or that *you* are embarrassed to have so much of your sordid 
past revealed?"
	"You know nothing of my past."
	"Admittedly you haven't been exactly forthcoming on the topic.  So 
I've had to take what little I can get."
	"Q, I have a right to privacy.  My life is not a soap opera for 
your amusement."
	"But don't I have the right to know the person I'm dealing with?"
	"If it were--"
	The door chime interrupted.  "Enter!"  Q caroled gleefully, hoping 
a visitor might spice things up still more.
	He was not disappointed.  Sovaz stood in the doorway, hands 
clasped in front of her at her waist.  "Q?"
	"Come on in!  Make yourself at home.  My apartment is your 
apartment.  What *can* I do for you, dear girl?"
	Sovaz entered, but not very far.  "I have my own apartment," she 
said politely.  "I see no need to share yours, but thank you for the 
offer."
	Q turned to T'Laren.  "Did you ever think about teaching a course 
in human idioms at the Vulcan Science Academy or something?"
	T'Laren had gone completely stone-faced again.  "No."
	"Well, *someone* should."  He turned back to Sovaz.  "It's an 
expression, Lieutenant.  It means you should relax and make use of 
whatever I own for the sake of your personal comfort.  And please don't 
tell me that Vulcans are incapable of being comfortable or something 
silly like that."
	"I am quite comfortable," Sovaz said, "except of course for the 
fact that human-normal environments are always cold and damp, but I'm 
used to that.  Is this expression a social amenity?"
	"Did you ever meet an android named Data?"
	"Once.  When I was posted to the *Feynman* three years ago, we 
shared scientific data with the *Enterprise*, and I had an opportunity 
to speak to Commander Data.  I asked him a great many questions, and he 
answered all of them.  I was quite pleased; most people don't try to 
answer all my questions.  Why do you ask?"
	"Because you sound like him."
	Sovaz thought about it.  "I think perhaps it's a resemblance 
that's only obvious to humans.  I can't detect it."
	"Ah.  So, what brings you here?"  He was peripherally aware of 
T'Laren standing utterly still, as if she could negate her own presence 
by being unmoving.  Sooner or later Q *had* to find out what was going 
on between these two.
	"I have come to invite you to a reception tonight for conference 
guests at 1900 hours.  You may, of course, bring members of your 
entourage."  Her voice was formal and precise, and she carefully *not-
*looked at T'Laren with a visible effort.  Q grinned.
	"Well.  Let me ask my entourage."  He turned to T'Laren.  
"Entourage, how does a reception at 1900 sound?"
	"If you wish to attend, I will of course go with you."
	"I love Vulcan precision.  Not a hint about how *you* might feel 
about the concept.  Ah well, if you have no feelings you can't get 
upset if I run roughshod over them, can you?"  He turned back to Sovaz.  
"Sounds marvelous.  Formal attire?"
	"Yes."
	"Wonderful.  This gets better and better.  And you'll be there?"
	"I'm Yamato's science department's liaison to the conference.  I 
must attend."
	"Well, if you go into it with *that* attitude, you won't have any 
fun at all."  Q walked over to where Sovaz stood near the door and 
leaned on the wall behind her, hovering over her.  "I'll tell you what.  
If you'll promise not to be a complete stuffy Vulcan, I'll promise not 
to make everyone else at the reception's life a living hell.  Sound 
good to you?"
	"I am a Vulcan," Sovaz said, sounding confused, "so I can't oblige 
you on that part.  In this context, what do the adjectives 'complete' 
and 'stuffy' mean?"
	Q pointed at T'Laren.  "See her?"
	For the first time, Sovaz looked at T'Laren.  "Yes."
	"*That* is a complete stuffy Vulcan.  Note the frigid posture, the 
stony face, the total lack of animation.  Sad, really, since T'Laren's 
usually a much more interesting person, but apparently she decided that 
being interesting was hideously embarrassing.  Now, would you rather be 
interesting, or would you rather look like that?"
	"I'd rather be interesting," Sovaz said definitely.  "If I promise 
not to be a complete stuffy Vulcan, will you answer all my questions?"
	"*All* your questions?  Frankly, that depends on how many you have 
and how much detail you need on them.  I get paid for this, you know.  
But I'm sure I could see fit to toss a few freebies your way."
	"Is a freebie a kind of frisbee?"
	Q stared.  "'Frisbee?'"
	"A kind of toy that humans use to practice throwing skills, vector 
calculation and social cooperation.  My sis-- T'Laren taught me how to 
use a frisbee once.  It was very educational.  But I had somewhat more 
abstract questions in mind, actually.  I already understand the physics 
of frisbees fairly well."
	"No.  A freebie is a free gift.  Gratis.  Without charge."  He 
turned to T'Laren with a huge grin.  "Frisbees?  My dear doctor.  You 
*have* been corrupting this child, haven't you."
	"No, she hasn't," Sovaz said, sounding slightly defensive.  
"Frisbees are very useful for helping children learn how to--"
	"It was a facetious comment, Lieutenant.  A joke, in other words.  
You aren't supposed to take it seriously."  He sighed.  "What *do* they 
teach them these days?"
	Sovaz apparently figured out that that was a rhetorical question.  
"I need to deliver other invitations.  But you will be there?"
	"I wouldn't miss it."
	She nodded, and left.
			*				*				*