The Q are an all-powerful race: they can shapeshift and create life almost instantly. But when the timeline is altered, what happens to the Q?
For example, in the Enterprise episode Shockwave the timeline is altered in 2152, causing earth to be in ruins in the 31st century. Since the Q are all powerful, it would seem weird if nearly a millennium of Q history could be erased, but there's no proof that that didn't happen.
So my question is, when the timeline is altered what happens to the Q?
The Q appear to be immune to changes in the timeline and can change the timeline at will and are present (singularly) in all timelines and universes.
In All Good Things, Q alters the timeline of Earth by creating (or rather prompting Captain Picard to create) an inverse time rupture which explodes backwards in time to destroy the human race. Q and Picard, with the help of Q, are entirely immune to this incident despite traveling between multiple alternate timelines and managing the paradoxical nature of Picard's existence.
Q: (continuing) We wanted to see if you had the ability to expand your mind and your horizons... and for one brief moment, you did.
PICARD: When I realized the paradox...
Q: Exactly. For that one fraction of a second, you were open to options you'd never considered. That's the exploration that awaits you... not mapping stars and studying nebulae... but charting the unknowable possibilities of existence.
The Q can take things from the prime timeline and return them without creating addition timelines
JANEWAY: (reacts) You want to bring people here from Earth?
Q1. I promise you it will not impact the timeline, and no one will remember ever being here when I send them back.
They have the ability to travel through time with total ease and no worry about the consequences of their actions.
TUVOK: Captain, based on our readings, it appears that we have been transported back in time to the birth of the universe.
[Janeway looks sharply at Q2 who smiles as he watches the viewscreen... acknowledging.]
Q2: Very old hiding place.
Q also seems to be entirely unaffected by the Narada incident and interacts with the crew of the Kelvin-timeline Enterprise just as easily he interacts with the Prime Timeline Enterprise-D. Since this break in the timeline wasn't caused (as far as we know) by the Q, this would suggest that they're immune to non-Q-caused timeline breakages and alternate universe creation.
