Artist/Author: rosesofred
Title: How The Mighty Have Fallen
Fandom: Star Trek Next Generation
Summary: Q must answer for his crimes against the Calamarain when he's stripped of his powers and turned into a human. Unfortunately for him, his archenemy Guinan knows just how to handle the problem.
Notes & Warnings: spanking
It wasn’t like they hadn’t warned him, cautioning his antics during his latest game a month ago. That’s what their lives were to Q, just a game he liked to play with; toy them around for his amusement. Though it wasn’t nearly as amusing for him now as he stood captive on the bridge of the Enterprise, ear trapped in the grasp of a bigger more powerful Q.
“I do apologize for his lowly behavior, you had my word he would not do it again.” The larger Q twisted the other’s ear. “I was wrong.” The smaller Q yelped, seething with contempt. He threw him forward at the Captain’s feet, folding his arms as he looked down his nose at the disgraced god.
“You can’t do this!” Q got to his knees in an attempt to stand up but the other god stopped him with his powers, forcing him to remain in position. “Bastard!”
“I would watch yourself, Q. I find this position much more fitting for you.”
“What do you want with us, why are you here?” Captain Picard stood defensively, the entire crew quiet and on edge as they watched the scene unfold.
The more powerful entity focused his attention on Picard, regarding him briefly. “To see him pay his dues, of course. He’s dishonored the continuum by disobeying our commands, we can’t allow such behavior.”
“Then handle this yourselves, do not bring your fighting to my bridge.” It was difficult not to show his underlying anger mixed with the bit of fear he felt naturally around any Q but Picard managed to keep a straight face as he spoke. He looked the very image of a strong confident captain.
The blonde Q walked around the Captain, relishing in the fear he felt from the group. It was against his peoples’ rules to play god with less evolved creatures so being feared and respected was a thrilling and rare experience. “Let me make this clear, Captain . He has wronged you, played another one of his games with your lives and you refuse to punish him for it? Any other lifeforms would jump on the opportunity. You are a curious species.”
“It is not my place to be his judge and executioner, his actions are not my responsibility.”
“Well now that’s an excellent idea, I could just execute you.” The powerful god smiled evilly at the Q on his knees.
“You don’t have the power!” Q glared at him from the floor, his fists held tightly at his sides. If he were any closer he’d punch the god as hard as he could.
The blonde Q sighed, laughing to himself. “You underestimate my hatred for you and your foolishness.” He leaned forward to speak to the lower god, tone dripping with condescension. “But I’ll be merciful, Q. I’ll even let you choose your own punishment. You can either you come back with me and I tell the continuum about your disobedience, or you can ask your precious captain to punish you for tormenting him.”
Q’s eyes darted to Picard and his breathing became shallow at the thought of another walloping. He looked back at the older more powerful Q, terrified of what the continuum would most certainly do to him. They were nothing if not incredibly creative, their punishments always going far beyond cruel and unusual. The disgraced god swallowed and stared at the floor, a deep blush creeping up his neck. “The Captain, I choose the Captain.”
“A little louder, Q. What exactly are you asking for?”
“Go to hell.” His breathing almost stopped altogether when he felt the other god lift him off his knees, scrambling for support as he was forced to stand on the tips of his toes. He hung by his neck, scratching at the other god’s hands to let him out of the stranglehold.
“Push your luck more, I dare you. See what I do to you and your toys.”
Q looked frantically to his captain, feet scrambling for support as his hands wrapped around the blonde’s strong arm to prevent himself from choking. “Picard! Please- please punish me.”
The powerful god laughed, dropping Q to the floor in front of the Captain like he was a worthless sack of meat. “Good boy. You’re stripped of your powers until your precious humans decide you’re forgiven. Oh and captain.” He grinned at the man. “I’ll be watching so don’t try anything stupid. I know you humans love to twist the rules.” The god disappeared in a flash of light, leaving the entire bridge to process what had just transpired in a moment of uncomfortable silence.
“You’ve got to help me- Picard please!” Q shouted from the floor, his eyes already filling with tears at the sheer embarrassment he’d just endured. He perched on his hands and knees, begging for his life with what little shreds of dignity he had left.
The older man looked down at him, setting his jaw in resolution. “Number One you have the bridge.”
“Yes sir.” Riker took command without question, knowing what had to be done. If they wanted the Q continuum out of their hair then he’d have to follow through, difficult and strange as it may be.
“Captain!” Q whined as he was helped to stand, distraught with fear as everyone around him ignored his plees. “No, you’re supposed to help me!” He struggled to keep up as he was led into the ready room, the doors hissing shut behind him to give them total privacy.
“Knock this off, Q.” Picard took a moment to calm himself, glaring at the entity with a spite he rarely felt for anyone besides the continuum. “I expect full honesty from you. Is this another one of your tricks? I need to know what kind of danger my ship is in.”
Q’s eyes dropped as he stared at his feet, shifting uncomfortably. “It’s just a trick, really. Just say you’ve punished me and I can go back-” A white flash blinded Picard and he squinted his eyes, shocked by what he saw when his vision fully returned.
“You think we’re that stupid, you dumb animal.” The bigger Q had reappeared, standing over the younger god who struggled like a fish out of water, pinned across the captain’s desk. His legs kicked wildly as the blonde Q’s hand fell over and over, lecturing as he punished the being. “Let that be a lesson not to lie to us. We see all Q, we know all. Now take your punishment without that incessant whining.”
The white flash returned and Q appeared alone at the desk, having slumped over in defeat as his shoulders shook.
Picard felt a slight sympathy for the being but pushed it aside to fulfill his duty and protect his crew. “The sooner we get this over with the sooner we can part ways.” He paused for a moment as he looked for a place to sit, deciding on the small couch. He took his seat in the middle of the cushioned seat, hands on his knees as he waited.
When Q lifted his head he grimaced, eyes red-rimmed and nose sniffling as he looked at him. “But this is beneath you.” He wiped at his face with his sleeve, pushing himself to stand up. “We can fight the continuum together, escape-.” He yelped suddenly as a disembodied hand landed on his backside. The small god turned, scowling as he rubbed out the sting and cursed the continuum in his head.
“I am not willing to risk the safety of my crew simply because you can’t handle a little well deserved discipline.” He pointed between his own knees, eyebrows raised. “Come here Q.”
The disgruntled entity frowned, pouting with all the bratiness of an eons old being who had never been told no. Still, he took a few steps forward, stopping just out of arms reach in front of the captain. Picard reached a hand out, palm up to ask for his hand. Begrudgingly Q complied, letting the man pull him forward and over his lap with a thud. The godling fell across his knees sharply, rigid and unwilling with every muscle tensed. “This isn’t fair.”
“I don’t care if it’s fair, Q.” His hand came down with a pop, the smack crisp as it echoed through the room. He struck again, finding his rhythm in a faster tempo than he’d used before. Watching data perform the duty had given him some better instruction as to what worked and how the being would be affected by it.
“Captain!” Q’s voice was high pitched with desperation, scrambling to gain some footing and escape. “I thought you were my- ah! My friend!”
Picard landed extra hard swats to the back of his legs, ignoring the man’s squirming and yelping. “Friends do not torment one another, Q.”
“But it was a- a gift, I was trying to repay you!” He bared his teeth at the pain, kicking as hard as he could to avoid the slaps. “It’s not my fault you can’t take a joke!”
“Is that what our lives are to you, our well-being? The only person who found your game entertaining was yourself.”
“You're impossi-ah! Impossible to please.”
Picard stopped for a moment as the god’s kicking got to be too much to control and he pushed his legs down. “You behave like a child with little regard to those around you. I told you repeatedly I did not wish for anything in return.” He smacked the man’s thigh hard, annunciating each following word with a slap. “But you don’t listen! You do only as you please.”
Q choked on a half-formed sob, pushing off the captain’s thigh with his hands in an attempt to escape.
“Enough!” The smack that followed echoed in the room with a crisp pop and the god cried out in pain. “It’s clear to me that none of this is getting through to you.” He knew he could deliver exactly what the being needed to express remorse but the threat would at least humble him. “Behave yourself or I will call Commander Data in to finish this.”
“No!” The panicked man tried to contain his panic, forcing himself to lower his legs so they touched the floor. It was a fight within himself not to struggle and he bit his lip to keep a yelp from escaping when the Captain began again. “I’ll behave- ah! Ow! Please I’ll behave, just don’t hit so hard.”
Picard continued in silence, maintaining the same speed and force without pause. He was, if he had to admit, slightly impressed with Q’s attempt to submit without fighting. There had to be a rather painful burn building by now but the man crossed his legs tightly, trying his best to keep his feet touching the floor. It wasn’t intentional but the godling held his breath, his upper body rigid and stiff like a board.
Q felt the captain lift his hand high, flinching at the anticipated smack that didn’t land. “That’s enough. Get up.”
The shaking god scrambled off the Captain’s lap, sniveling as he wiped the tears from his watery eyes. He flew backwards until his back hit the opposite wall, protecting his vulnerable side from any further chastisement. “Are we- are we?”
“Yes.” Picard placed his hands on the tops of his own thighs, deeply uncomfortable with the situation and causing the being actual harm. “I think that’s quite enough.”
Q didn’t move from his protective stance, staring at the captain as he waited for the other Q to make a decision. Either it would be enough and the god would let him go or he’d find himself face to face with the continuum in a few moments. “I see.” They both looked around the room to find the source of the disembodied voice before the older god materialized behind the captain’s desk in his chair. “This is very interesting.”
The Captain stood immediately, furious with the man. “I’ve done what you demanded.” He pointed to the lesser god trembling in the corner of the room. “That man has been punished, now leave my ship and crew out of this tiresome quarrel.”
The older Q studied him for a moment, leaning back in the chair as he thought. “He has wronged you and yet you don’t wish to harm him?”
“No.”
“Fascinating. You humans really are quite peculiar.”
“Peculiar or not, this ends now.”
Q rose from the chair, expecting the other man to back up and was surprised again by his confidence and steely resolve. An idea formed in his head and he smiled, coming to a decision. “You agreed to punish my failure of a brother, why?”
Picard set his jaw, eyes cool. “I believed you would kill him if I did not.”
“Wonderful. So you do care about his well being then? Even after all the trouble he’s caused, everything he’s put you through? You still wouldn’t hurt him.”
The captain frowned, crossing his arms. “No. I won’t torture a living thing simply for being- well, quite frankly a brat.”
The older Q laughed, quite amused with it all. “Excellent. Something tells me you’re just what I’ve been looking for.”
“And what exactly is that?”
“A guardian.” The powerful god held up his hand to stop the captain before the man could protest. “I know, you object. But this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity for you, for your species to… Better understand the Q. Isn’t that what your vessel’s mission is? I remember Q rambling on about it once. So!” The tall man came around to the other side of the desk, sitting on the edge of it as his younger counterpart backed away. “I’ll make a deal with you. You reform my brother so he’s not such a nuisance or we’ll obliterate your species.”
Picard found his anger rising to the surface again. “That is not a deal! I refuse to be coerced into doing anything by threat.”
“So overdramatic.” The larger Q shook his head at the smaller god. “I’ll never understand why you love these creatures so much.” He turned back to the captain, folding his hands in his lap. “You do have such a will. If you take care of my baby brother you will have the complete protection of the continuum. No harm will come your way. Deal?”
The captain measured up the man, looking between him and the freshly spanked brat swiping at his eyes. “And if I refuse?”
“We’ll kill him. You fail to understand, captain , the continuum is done with him. But If I bring him back as he is now I promise he will never bother you again.”
“You can’t!” The shaking Q finally spoke up, far more afraid of the continuum than of possibly being smacked again. “Picard, please! Don’t let him take me back.”
Picard set his jaw, sighing to himself. The options were as clear in front of him as a forked path. He could either let this creature be taken away and killed -to which he’d never be bothered with it again- or he could endure rehabilitating a godling so troublesome and bratty it would give his own maman a heart attack. “And I have your word that my ship and crew won’t be harmed?”
The blonde Q grinned, pushing himself off the edge of the desk. “My solemn oath. So long as he’s in your care, the Q will protect you.”
“Fine. I cannot sit by and knowingly allow a slaughter.” He breathed deeply, already regretting his words. “I will agree to these terms.”
“Excellent!” The older god strode confidently over to his younger brother, grabbing the man by his chin as he patted the side of his face. “You be on your best behavior now. Or don’t it’s up to you.” He let go, turning to face the already miserable captain. “I’ll be watching, Picard. I’m quite fascinated to see how you handle this, really. Well, bon voyage!”
The god disappeared in a blaze of white and both men audibly exhaled at his departure. Family was always a pain but Picard could really see now why the godling may have gotten his flamboyant attitude. Nobody could live with a family like that and turn out normal, not even a god.