History Recap / StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS01E07QLess

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Turns out that a strong-willed, independent-minded woman like Vash couldn't put up with an overbearing egomaniac like Q for very long.

* DidntThinkThisThrough: Q spends several minutes antagonizing Sisko and then places the two of them in a boxing match, i.e. a socially acceptable situation to punch somebody in the face. What did he think was going to happen?

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Turns out that a strong-willed, independent-minded woman like Vash couldn't put up with an overbearing egomaniac like Q very long.

Q makes one last stab at luring Vash away with him, finally admitting that he enjoys showing her things and experiencing her sense of wonder, something that a jaded old superbeing like him can rarely do. But Vash turns him down one final time. But heeding his words that Earth is a real drag, she instead commits to chasing down a brand-new archeological lead. After she whisks away for another adventure, a newly awakened Bashir stumbling along and asks if he's missed anything.

But before the ecstatic Quark can collect his share, the station crew burst in and identity the orb as the source of the calamity. They beam it outside the ship, where it turns into an enormous golden manta ray thing, which swims into the wormhole.

* NotSoDire: The episode opens with Bashir relating a time when he was in deadly danger, facing panic and confusion with not a friendly face in sight! Turns out he's referring to a test.

* NoPronunciationGuide: People occasionally pronounce Vash's name to rhyme with "cash" rather than "posh." In one scene, two consecutive lines use different pronunciations.

-->'''Vash:''' It's over, Q. I want you out of my life. You are arrogant, you are overbearing and you think you know everything.
-->'''Q:''' But I do know everything.
-->'''Vash:''' That makes it even worse.

Also known as "[[JustForFun/TheOneWith The One Where]] Sisko Punches Out Q".

* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Among his lists of ancient Earth's character, Q lists UsefulNotes/TheCrusades, UsefulNotes/TheSpanishInquisition[[note]]Nobody expected ''that''[[/note]], and [[UsefulNotes/RichardNixon Watergate]].

* FixFic: Similar to Khan recognizing Chekov in ''Film/StarTrekTheWrathOfKhan'', O'Brien recognizes Q, despite having no on-air (direct) contact. However, since O'Brien's job on the ''Enterprise'' involved being at several different places for duty, it's reasonable that he knew of the command crew's adventures with Q.

--> "Picard and his lackeys would have solved all this technobabble hours ago!"

Bashir is telling a gripping story to a young floozy at Quark's while O'Brien eavesdrops. It turns out that Bashir's story isn't about some adventure he was on, but a test he took at Starfleet Academy. O'Brien can barely contain his disapproval that the girl is so entranced by such a lame story. When they're both called away, Bashir brags to him that exam stories "get them every time." They're called in to extract Dax and her crew from a damaged runabout that is back from the Gamma Quadrant. They manage to get inside, and O'Brien is surprised to recognize Vash as Dax's passenger.

Also known as "[[TheOneWith The One Where]] Sisko Punches Out Q".

Bashir is telling a gripping story to a young floozy at Quark's while O'Brien eavesdrops. It turns out that Bashir's story isn't about some adventure he was on, but a test he took at Starfleet Academy. O'Brien can barely contain his disapproval that the girl is eating out of Bashir's hand with such a lame story. When they're both called away. Bashir brags to him that exam stories "get them every time." They're called in to extract Dax and her crew from a damaged runabout that is back from the Gamma Quadrant. They manage to get inside, and O'Brien is surprised to recognize Vash as Dax's passenger.

Meanwhile, crew notice that the ship is starting to spring leaks due to a strange graviton build-up. If they don't find the source, the ship will eventually get ripped apart. Everyone assumes that Q is throwing a tantrum over Vash, trying to get her to beg for his help. He denies it, though he does offer to rescue Vash if she'll return to him. Vash turns him down and continues planning an auction with Quark.

Meanwhile, crew notice that the ship is starting to spring leaks due to strange graviton build-up. If they don't find the source, the ship will eventually get ripped apart. Everyone assumes that Q is throwing a tantrum over Vash, trying to get her to beg for his help. He denies it, though he does offer to rescue Vash if she'll return to him. Vash turns him down and continues planning an auction with Quark.

But before the ecstatic Quark can collect, the station crew burst in and identity the orb as the source of the calamity. They beam it outside the ship, where it turns into an enormous golden manta ray thing, which swims into the wormhole.

But lo and behold, Q is onboard. He puts Bashir to sleep and confronts Vash for ditching him. He demands that she come back to him for more adventures. Vash has had a lifetime's worth of Q, however, and announces that she's planning on retiring to Earth with her fortune. In the process, O'Brien spots Q and runs to tell Sisko, who confronts Q. The extradimensional being provokes Sisko into punching him, which stuns Q but pleases him, noting that Sisko is easier to provoke than Picard.

A visitor to the station is revealed to be [[AdventurerArchaeologist Vash]], returned at last from her journeyings with Q. However, their arrival on the station marks the beginning of a series of issues that almost destroys the station.

* AscendedExtra: {{Lampshaded}} - Q's reaction to Miles confronting him is a bored "Do I know you?" When Miles jogs his memory, Q notes he was "one of the little people." (Given that Q is supposed to be omniscient, he probably didn't ''need'' to have his memory jogged and was just being a {{troll}}.)

--> '''Q:''' You hit me! Picard never hit me.\\

* {{Auction}}: Quark hosts one for a group of the very rich to sell Vash's findings.