Spock VS. Q is an original Star Trek Audio Play by Alien Voices, featuring Leonard Nimoy and John de Lancie in the roles they made famous. A sequel, Spock Vs. Q: The Sequel, was also produced.
Memory Alpha's plot synopsis of the original: "Ambassador Spock travels back in time to subtly warn Earth's inhabitants of impending doom while calling into question humanity's priorities. However, before the truth is told, the all powerful being Q appears and reminds Spock that he is prohibited from interfering in Earth's history. Besides, Q doesn't see mankind as something worth saving." Or not, as it turns out Q saves Mankind by diverting the asteroid away from earth, saving millions of lives. The end? Not quite. Turns out that in the sequel, Spock and Q were teleported to outer space with (even more sinisterly) both their personalities swapped.
Spock And Q Vs. Tropes:
- Apocalypse How: An asteroid the size of Montana is on imminent collision with Earth in the present time. Should it land, humanity will be wiped out, making this a class 4 to 6.
- Batman Gambit: The entire first play was this; Spock knew only something on the level of divine intervention would be able to stop the asteroid in time, so he set up a borderline violation of the Prime Directive that would lure in someone with that kind of power, which turned out to be Q (if he wasn't trying to get Q specifically).
- Blue-and-Orange Morality: DiscussedSpock: One day, you will have to explain Continuum logic, if you can.Q: Ohhh, it's so much fun~
- Brick Joke: Autographs.
- "Be my guest" in the sequel.
- Chekhov's Gun: One of Q's riddles describes New York's Chrysler Building. His admiration for it is what ultimately tilts Q in favor of saving humanity.
- Expanded Universe
- "I Am Great!" Song: "Being Q's just swell!"
- Literal-Minded: Spock, especially in the sequel. His response to Q calling uncle is "I need not remind you we have no bloodline in common."
- Loophole Abuse: As he can't technically violate the Prime Directive, Spock manipulates Q — a higher being not bound by the commandment — into spilling the beans on the impending asteroid.
- Personality Swap: The main premise of the sequel. Though Spock also gets Q's powers; this and some other details suggests some sort of full "Freaky Friday" Flip but they (and the audience) perceive them as their original selves.
- Riddle Me This: To save Earth, Spock engages Q in a contest of riddles. Spock wins rather soundly.
- Time Police: Petunia appears to be one, as she "pulled over" Spock and Q in the sequel for changing history in the first play.
- Time Travel: Spock arrived in the present via the Enterprise going through the Guardian of Forever.Spock: Do you know it?Q: Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.
- Who's on First?: Regarding a haiku Spock creates.
