Date: 08 Sep 2011 01:03 Title: Entire Story
Wow...is it me, or does Q think that in order to successfully playact in "her" role as a woman, that she essentially has to be the "Mean Girl"? Where in male form "she" would have engaged in some kind of power-tripping if not immediately catered to, as in, death threats or placing the crew in other perilous situations, it seems to me that "she" has mastered the art of the catfight and the personal destruction and backstabbing that represents the worst parts of the feminine nature.
And naming the baby "Emmanuelle"...damn, that's pretentious, but completely not surprising from Q. I don't think she was named that simply because it shortens to "Em," which of course sounds like a letter. Given that the name means "God with us," and is also one of the names of Christ from prophecy, it's very clear to me what Q was after with that--trying to suggest that this baby has the status of Jesus. (And undoubtedly Q would say the same thing John Lennon would about Jesus...)
What makes Q's behavior all the more insufferable is the fact that in male or female form, Q has such horrendous judgment despite all the supposed gifts of omnipotence. How could Q have been so stupid as to accelerate the pregnancy without enhancing "her" other biological functions? The only explanation I can come up with for that one--besides enormous hubris--is that perhaps because of the war, Q was limited in the ability to access the Continuum database that you've referred to in your other works. Yet even that fails to explain why Q would not deign to verbally ask a human doctor what the requirements would be or even--if he thinks that perhaps a human-designed AI would be superior--the Enterprise computer. So I guess we're back to massive hubris on that count.
Now here are a few curious questions...
Regarding immunizations, you state that the immunization regimens given to children born aboard ship are so strong that if something gets past them, it's pretty much more powerful than all Federation medical science. How extensive are these immunizations? Do they give children artificial immune systems? Or is there some room for the natural immune system left to express itself? I have problems believing that a natural immune system that doesn't at least get to "exercise" on minor ailments like the common cold is going to do any good for the child.
Also, I remember you saying once in a different story that Q generally does not mind-read for some reason. Yet "she" is clearly aware of the thoughts people are thinking about "her" nose. Is that because those thoughts were aimed at "her," so to speak, or is this just an additional part of her deciding to act like a "bitch" while acting as a female?
Finally, do you have any stories anywhere where you explain the effects of reopening Riker's link in this AU? Is it permanent? What are the effects on him?
I realize that's a lot of questions and may even sound like snipes at Q, but it's to your credit that you've really preserved his "love to hate" nature in your stories. :-)