The Main Auditorium at the Pasadena Convention Center hosted a very special event last Friday night during Creation Entertainment's 9th Annual Grand Slam convention. Fans were treated to a confrontation of Star Trek characters never seen on any television show; "Spock vs. Q."

Taking the stage first was Leonard Nimoy ("Spock"), casually dressed in slacks and a black sweatshirt. Appearing onstage without introduction, the crowd eagerly applauded the legendary Vulcan's human counterpart as he stepped up to the podium.

Spock's presentation began with an assessment of the state of modern humans, with social criticism in the form of digs towards the preoccupation with hair and weight loss, among others. He used a newspaper to demonstrate humanity's misdirected sense of what's important, noting that the only thing he found of interest in the publication was buried deep on a back page; the discovery of an ancient Phoenician ship. Spock noted of the sailors of antiquity, "They were truly enterprising voyagers."

Moments later, Nimoy was joined on stage at another podium by John de Lancie ("Q"), clad in a black t-shirt under a sport coat. The pair's verbal chemistry sparked immediately, with Nimoy playing the stoic straight man to de Lancie's clowning as the omnipotent and arrogant Q.

One exchange that brought appreciative laughter had Q asking Spock for his autograph, with Nimoy, in a gentle dig at the convention atmosphere, wryly responding, "There's a line, you'll have to join the end of it." The audience played right along, booing Q when he demeaned humans and applauding Spock when he pointed out that our world would be improved if only people would trade in their gas-guzzling Sport Utility Vehicles for more fuel-efficient cars.

As the presentation proceeded, the first act was built around the notion that a Montana-sized asteroid is headed for Earth, due in mere hours to wipe out all life on the planet. Q has the power to avert the catastrophe with but a mere thought, but he doesn't find humanity worthy, and points out that under the Federation's own Prime Directive, Earth should be doomed.

The banter continued, playing on one of Star Trek's more dominant themes- the value of humanity as a race, especially amongst the interstellar community. After an intermission, a second exchange between the two ("Spock vs. Q: The Sequel") also pleased the enthusiastic crowd.

"Spock vs. Q" is a presentation Nimoy and de Lancie have performed at other conventions and have recorded as an audio book for Simon and Schuster, in conjunction with Alien Voices, the production company the two actors formed. Alien Voices has produced a number of audio science-fiction works, utilizing not only its talented founders, but other Star Trek actors as well.