History Literature / TheQContinuum

* MyheroZero: the antagonists name is always written as the numerical "0". Not "Zero", while apeing "Q" in [[DoubleMeaning form and appearence]], 0 is lacking in certain [[EvilCounterpart essential qualities]].

* EvenEvilHasStandards:
** 'Evil' might be a strong word, but Q uses his time with Picard to reinforce how he differs from 0, as he always sticks to the rules of his games and allows his 'opponents' a chance to win (even if Picard considers Q's standard of 'playing fair' a flexible one considering the vast power difference between Q and his potential opponents), whereas [[spoiler:0 'changed the rules' to ensure his own victory when it looked like the Tkon were going to pass his test]].

* PhlebotinumKilledTheDinosaurs: Well, Q's redirection of an asteroid during the battle royale did. This becomes a minor plot point, as Q is tasked with keeping an eye on Earth, as penance for what he'd done.

* MovingTheGoalposts: Although 0 inspires Q's interest in testing lesser races, Q is willing to accept failure whereas 0 isn't. When the Calamarain refuse to allow 0 to take control of them, he turns them into a block of ice. When Q asks why he did that, and 0 simply says that the Calamarain cheated and must be punished. The next "test" is to put the powerful Tkon Empire (which is trying to replace their dying sun with a new one) into a state of civil war. When the leader of the Empire manages to convince both sides to stop fighting and complete the project after fifty years of conflict, the enraged 0 causes the dying star to become a supernova and destroy the entire race. Once again, the shocked Q confronts 0 about this. 0 says that any younger race that overcomes a challenge set to it by a powerful entity like 0 [[MortonsFork must have either cheated, or the challenge wasn't sufficient]]. Q privately disagreed, and notes that every test he conducts always provides at least one achievable victory condition, and is a relatively GracefulLoser when they "won" (at the very least, no DiabolusExMachina, even if Picard privately muses that the power difference between Q and his opponents makes the concept of 'fair play' somewhat debatable).

* AFormYouAreComfortableWith: Q began his explanation to Picard by turning them both into beings that actually existed in the time frame: Aldebaran serpents, which are three-headed. Picard becomes disoriented and uncomfortable (especially when two of his heads look at each other), and implores Q to return him to human form, despite the anachronism. During their later 'trip' through Picard's past, Q often confirms that much of what they are witnessing has been 'translated' by him into a form that Picard can more easily perceive.

* EnemyMine: [[spoiler: It takes Q and the Calamarain, two mortal enemies, working together to bring 0 down.]]

* KryptoniteFactor: The closest thing 0 has to a weakness is that some past injury somehow prevents him from travelling at faster-than-light speeds under his own power, requiring him to either get the young Q to help him around or [[spoiler:take control of the ''Enterprise'' to travel that way]].

* OriginsEpisode: Shows where several of the enemies that Kirk and co. encountered in their original five-year mission came from.

* SealedEvilInACan: Inverted. The galactic variet is the can that keeps 0 out of the galaxy. Played straight with the One's imprisonment at the center of the Great Barrier.

* AFormYouAreComfortableWith: Q began his explanation to Picard by turning them both into beings that actually existed in the time frame: Aldebaran serpents, which are three-headed. Picard becomes disoriented and uncomfortable (especially when two of his heads look at each other), and implores Q to return him to human form, despite the anachronism.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: 'Evil' might be a strong word, but Q uses his time with Picard to reinforce how he differs from 0, as he always sticks to the rules of his games and allows his 'opponents' a chance to win (even if Picard considers Q's standard of 'playing fair' a flexible one considering the vast power difference between Q and his potential opponents), whereas [[spoiler:0 'changed the rules' to ensure his own victory when it looked like the Tkon were going to pass his test]].

* HairTriggerTemper: It doesn't take much to set 0 off.

* PowerBornOfMadness: 0 after spending countless eons trapped alone is more than a match for Q. [[spoiler: It takes Q teaming up with the Calamarain to finally defeat him]].

* SoreLoser: After [[spoiler: causing the Tkon star to go nova]], Q asks 0 if anyone's ever beaten his games. 0's only response is a SlasherSmile.
* SupernormalBindings: After being released, 0 traps Q aboard the ''Enterprise'' which is shown as a pair of manacles. Q later finds himself in hydroponics trying to pick them with a cactus needle.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: 'Evil' might be a strong word, but Q uses his time with Picard to reinforce how he differs from 0, as he always sticks to the rules of his games and allows his 'opponents' a chance to win (even if Picard considers 0's standard of 'playing fair' a flexible one considering the vast power difference between Q and his potential opponents), whereas [[spoiler:0 'changed the rules' to ensure his own victory when it looked like the Tkon were going to pass his test]].

* DivineConflict: 0 and his gang's actions eventually lead to a confrontation with the Q Continuum, which ends with 0 trapped outside the Great Barrier and The One imprisoned [[Film/StarTrekVTheFinalFrontier in the center of the galaxy]]. [[Recap/StarTrekS3E4AndTheChildrenShallLead Gorgan]] and [[Recap/StarTrekS3E7DayOfTheDove (*)]] both escape to do their mischief.

* MamaBear: Mrs. Q pulls out all the stops to protect her son.

* ContinuityNod: 0's three associates are Gorgan (from "And the Children Shall Lead" episode of ''TOS''), an entity with no name that fed off of conflict (who would appear in the ''TOS'' episode "Day of the Dove"), and a monotheistic entity calling himself "The One" (whose head would be imprisoned at the center of the galaxy, where the ''Enterprise'' would find Him in ''Film/StarTrekVTheFinalFrontier'').

* RocksFallEveryoneDies: When the Tkon seem to be about to beat 0's "test", 0 [[spoiler:causes the Tkon star to explode before they can move the planet away]].

* DivineConflict: 0 and his gang's actions eventually lead to a confrontation with the Q Continuum, which ends with 0 trapped outside the Great Barrier and The One imprisoned in the center of the galaxy. Gorgon and (*) both escape.

* OracularHead: The One is reduced to one at thbe end of the fighting.

When the ''Enterprise''-E is sent on a mission to study the Great Barrier at the edge of the galaxy, Q suddenly appears and attempts to dissuade them. When Picard refuses, Q takes him on a trip through time to show the captain what really lies beyond the Barrier. In the meantime, the ''Enterprise'' crew are left dealing with Q's wife and young son.

* BerserkButton: Q finally turns acts against 0 after he threatens the future Mrs. Q.