Expert: Justin Case - 6/13/2009

Question
QUESTION: Besides Q, which beings do you think could defeat the Traveler in a death match? Although Nagilum and the Edo god didn't show the ability to manipulate time, I think they would eventually defeat the Traveler. The Traveler cannot simply 'hide' outside of time forever; he must eventually fight.

I think the Guardian could defeat him if it can truly manipulate time, and isn't simply the vehicle by which others access the timeline.

What about the others: Prophets, Cytherians, Douwd, Trelane, Organians, Kelvans, Krenim? Any others?

ANSWER: Hi John -

I think you're right, the Traveler showed a pretty specific ability to manipulate one form of energy (thought) and convert it into another (speed), but Nagilum and the Edo god showed advanced abilities to control energy, matter, physics and the interaction of all those things on a scale I doubt the Traveler could easily match.

Even if the Traveler pulled himself out of time I'd bet Nagilum and the Edo God could pull him back.

Yeah, the Guardian is tough because we really don't know the full extent of his abilities, but any being that can monitor time lines, avoid paradoxes and contain all the energy to do that must be more powerful than the Traveler who needed the help of the Enterprise crew to get them back home.

I think the Prophets could easily defeat the Traveler.  My guess is the Cytherians could figure out pretty quickly how to do it as could the Douwd.

Trelane might have trouble because he seemed to get confused easily and not to have matured into the use of his powers.  I think he'd be able to defeat the Traveler, just not right away.

Probably the Organians, Kelvans and Krenim could do it.  Maybe an evolved Zalkonian who'd had thousands of years to improve upon his abilities and possibily a highly advanced Ocampa (Like Kes after a century of practice) but other than that I can't think of anyone!

Thanks!

Deran

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I think your answers make sense. The Traveler did show a lot of potential defensive abilities, such as the ability to step out of time, to move great distances, and to shapeshift, etc., but not much in the way of offense. Although no real enemies were ever shown in the episodes he was in, so that could be misleading.

Even if he did have a chance to strike at an advanced energy being, I'm not sure what he could do to them.

One question, though: You said that even if the Traveler stepped out of time, the Edo god and Nagilum probably could pull him back. How could they do that if they apparently cannot manipulate time?

Answer
Hey John -

Yeah, he seemed filled with a great sense of wonder about this plane/level of existence as well, which indicated to me that he didn't know a great deal about it.

Time/Space is a tricky thing involving a complex interaction between different dimensions which, we as humans perceive as linear and existing under the umbrella of certain rules.

That is our perception and some scientists have begun to question it and explore the idea that other dimensions, that we cannot perceive, exist and the relationships between those dimensions is scarcely understood.

So, my guess is that the Edo God and Nagilum have a vast understand of dimensional space, the time continuum and the interactions of quantum physics between dimensions other than just ours that could possibly allow them a means to yank the Traveler out of wherever it is he goes when he pulls himself out of time.

We know from experiments done with quantum physics that matter from 'somewhere' (a parallel universe, an anti-matter universe, dimensional cast off etc.) can and does interact with this universe, its just that we as humans aren't able to perceive it at all.

So, if matter, particles etc. can interact with our universe and we're blissfully unaware of it, I could believe that a multi-dimensional being like the Edo God, or one who can manipulate matter and energy and space/time on a scale like Nagilum could figure something out.

Thanks!

Deran