Quinn
From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.
- This article concerns a member of the Q Continuum. For the Starfleet Admiral, please see Gregory Quinn.
Quinn was a name chosen by Q, a member of the Q Continuum who decided that he wanted to commit suicide. Once a respected philosopher among the Q, he caused quite a stir within the Continuum when he "published" his views. Quinn claimed he was bored with his life as a Q and that he wished to die rather than remain immortal. He was imprisoned in a comet, purportedly for eternity, because his views could cause a civil war within the Continuum, and ultimately did.
The starship USS Voyager encountered Quinn and released him from his imprisonment. Q then turned up to apprehend him, but Quinn attempted to hide by whisking himself and Voyager to various places in the universe such as the beginning of the universe. Q knew all the hiding places, but before he was able to re-imprison him, Quinn made a plea for political asylum to Captain Kathryn Janeway. A courtroom hearing took place aboard Voyager to determine if asylum should be granted. Lieutenant Tuvok served as his defense. He stated that he was sick of immortality. There was nothing left for him to explore, his life was pointless, and a torturous bore. Q tried to prove the worth of Quinn's life by calling witnesses such as Isaac Newton, Maury Ginsberg and William T. Riker, pointing out how Quinn had affected their lives for the better.
Quinn attempted to prove his suffering life is pointless by taking Janeway to the Q Continuum, which was presented in the human form of a house in the middle of a desert with a road running by it. The road, he told her, represented the universe and there is nothing left for him to explore. None of the Q's in the Continuum talk anymore, because all things have been discussed and all things are known. Quinn tells Janeway he does not want to end up like that. Captain Janeway ruled in favor of Quinn, despite Q's bribery. As a human, Quinn briefly served as a crewman aboard Voyager, but then committed suicide with a sample of Nogatch hemlock procured by Q, inspired by Quinn's "rebelliousness". (VOY: "Death Wish")
[edit] Background
- Quinn was played by Gerrit Graham. While still a Q, Quinn was referred to as "Q" just like all other Q. He assumed the name "Quinn" only after becoming Human.
- Hemlock, the poison Quinn is given by Q, was often used for public executions in ancient Greece. The most notable was Socrates, who was also convicted of heresy.
