Guinan's History
Guinan was an enigmatic bartender who ran Ten Forward, the lounge aboard the USS Enterprise-D. She was well known for her wise counsel, which proved invaluable many times. Guinan was an El-Aurian, a race of "listeners" who were scattered by the Borg. Q, however, once suggested that there was far more to her than could be imagined.
Guinan was born on her homeworld sometime before the late 19th century. In her childhood, she had a Tarcassian razor beast as an imaginary friend. When she was troubled, she'd talk to it. She enjoyed imagining that she was curling up on its warm belly. As she grew older, she found that she talked to it less and less, but the idea of the creature always remained with her.
As a mature adult, Guinan hid from her father on Earth (prior to the planet's first official contact with an alien race), posing as a celebrated and obviously wealthy socialite in San Francisco, calling herself "Madame" Guinan. While there, she entertained such luminaries as Samuel Clemens.
In 1893, Guinan encountered Data, from the 24th century, who claimed they were friends from the Enterprise. Guinan had no knowledge of this and when she expressed her absence of awareness about the situation, it allowed Data to quickly realize that he was dealing with the Guinan of this era rather than from his own time. She learned about his predicament and agreed to help in any way she could in stopping the Devidians and returning Data to the 24th century. She also met Jean-Luc Picard, William T. Riker, Geordi La Forge, Deanna Troi, and Dr. Beverly Crusher from Data's time. When Data prevented the Devidians from attacking them, he was decapitated but the rest of his body, along with Samuel Clemens and the Enterprise crew (sans Picard), traveled back to the 24th century. Picard stayed behind to make sure Guinan was all right. When Clemens helped Picard return, he saw to Guinan's wounds.
During the 21st century, Guinan owned a bar at 10 Forward Avenue in 2024 Los Angeles. She planned on leaving Earth, but met up with Picard, whom believed Guinan to be the Watcher. However, she led Picard to said watcher, Supervisor Tallinn. Guinan later helped Picard by contacting Q. However, to her confusion her technique did not immediately bring Q to her and Picard. She and Picard were the arrested by FBI agent Martin Wells.
In the FBI's custody, Guinan denied being an alien and called Agent Wells crazy. Guinan was then called to another room while Wells interrogated Picard personally. Guinan was later interrogated by Q, who complained about her summoning him. Guinan thought she sensed Q's fear about himself dying and that Q was unable to vaporize her by snapping his fingers. She demanded to know what his plans with Picard, but Q evaded her questions. She was then left in the room. Guinan was able to project herself into Picard's mind, telling him what Q said about all humans being stuck in the past. She then joined Picard and the two of them were let go by Wells. Guinan admitted to Wells that she was not from Earth and floated the idea that Wells was meant to encounter non-humans in order to eventually be there to help Picard. Guinan then wished Picard good luck and hope to meet him more properly.
After her encounter with Picard, Guinan became a good friend to Cristóbal Rios, Teresa Ramirez, her son Ricardo, and Renée Picard who frequented her bar every time they were in Los Angeles.
Guinan had "some dealings" with Q sometime during the 22nd century and also other members of the Q Continuum, some of whom she said "were almost respectable." Her relationship with Q was evidently hostile. Centuries later, Q described Guinan as an "imp" and stated, "Where she goes, trouble always follows." Around the 22nd century, Guinan, according to Q, went by another name.
Following the destruction of her homeworld by the Borg in the 23rd century, Guinan became a refugee aboard the SS Lakul in 2293. She, along with the rest of her ship, subsequently became caught in the Nexus, an experience she described as "being inside joy." She was rescued, among 46 others, shortly before the destruction of the ship by the USS Enterprise-B and assisted by Pavel Chekov. Along with most of the other El-Aurian refugees, Guinan was traumatized upon being pulled out of the Nexus. In 2371, Captain Picard conferred with the "echo" of Guinan who remained in the timeless Nexus and, with her help, was eventually able to leave the Nexus.
Guinan came aboard the Enterprise-D in 2365, at Captain Picard's personal request. Guinan and Picard shared a long-time relationship, which, according to Guinan, went "beyond friendship and beyond family." At that time, there were rumors among the Enterprise-D crew that she had met Picard when he was the commanding officer of the USS Stargazer. However, to protect the timeline, she lied by saying she only knew Picard after boarding the Enterprise.
In Ten Forward, Guinan kept a selection of alcoholic beverages for special occasions. These drinks included a bottle of Aldebaran whiskey given to her by Captain Picard. Her quarters aboard the Enterprise-D were located on Deck 8, Room 3150. She also had an office located on Deck 10, adjacent to Ten Forward. As lounge host, Guinan made herself available to anyone in need, especially to the senior staff, as an informal counselor. In mid-2366, Lieutenant Commander Data believed spending time in Ten Forward, observing Human social interaction, would be beneficial for his android "offspring" called Lal. With Guinan's guidance, Lal worked as a waitress for a brief period.
When, in 2367, REM sleep-deprived crewmembers began to draft conspiracy theories about the Enterprise being unable to escape a Tyken's Rift, Guinan was able to defuse the situation, thanks to an energy-beam rifle she had acquired on Magus III.
In early 2369, Guinan, together with Captain Picard, Ro Laren, and Keiko O'Brien, was affected by an anomaly that caused them to revert to the bodies of twelve-year-olds due to the effects of a molecular reversion field. While Captain Picard temporarily stepped down from command, a group of Ferengi commandeered the Enterprise. Believing Guinan to be a child, they confined her to a classroom aboard the ship. She, Picard, Ro Laren, and Keiko O'Brien, however, with the help of Alexander Rozhenko, were able to devise a plan to retake the Enterprise from the Ferengi.
In 2371, Guinan cautioned Captain Picard that Dr. Tolian Soran was seeking to return to the Nexus, which Guinan described as a doorway to a paradisiacal place. She also warned Picard that anyone who entered the Nexus would never want to leave it and that, should someone be forcefully taken away from the Nexus, their desire to return to it might make them extremely dangerous. When Picard was trapped in the Nexus shortly thereafter, an "echo" of Guinan that had remained there after the rest of her left the Nexus reminded him to focus on his mission: to prevent Soran from destroying the Veridian sun. With the help of Captain Kirk, Picard succeeded in stopping Soran and was able to escape from the Nexus. Guinan, meanwhile, was among many individuals who survived an emergency crash landing of the Enterprise.
After the destruction of the Enterprise-D, she attended the wedding ceremony of Deanna Troi and William Riker in 2379.
By 2401, Guinan had returned to running a bar at 10 Forward Avenue in Los Angeles. She had adjusted her physical aging to appear older, as she had observed that Humans "don't like to be reminded of their mortality.
Following Picard's return from 2024, he visited Guinan who apologized for not telling him sooner about their meeting in the past. Guinan was sure that if she guided him right and set Picard straight, he'd circle around eventually. Guinan also thanked Picard for setting her straight first. Guinan then drew Picard's attention to a picture of Cristóbal Rios behind the bar and revealed that Rios and Teresa Ramirez had started a medical movement together, the Mariposas and led them through hard times to help those in need while Ricardo put together a team of the brightest minds in the world and they found a way to heal the ocean and clean the sky using the alien organism found by Renée Picard on Europa. Having become close friends with Rios and his family, Guinan shared funny stories of his life with Picard before revealing the details of Rios and Teresa's deaths. Guinan then joined in Picard's toast to family alongside Seven of Nine, Raffaela Musiker and Elnor.
