Guardian of Forever



The Guardian of Forever is a time portal portrayed in the fictional universe of Star Trek.

Fictional Origins
In the Star Trek universe, analysis of the ruins on the Guardian's home world suggests it may be billions of years old but no one knows who built the Guardian. The Guardian is able to speak to anyone who asks it a question, though the meaning of its responses is not always clear. For instance, when asked if it was machine or being, it responded, "Both, ... and neither." When Spock says that there is no reason to speak in riddles, the Guardian says that it answers in the way that is best for "your limited understanding." The Guardian can detect changes in the timeline, but typically provides its users little help in figuring out how to change it back. And being in the vicinity of the Guardian when such changes occur isolates those from the effects of the change in the timeline.

Canonical
The first appearance of the Guardian was in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The City on the Edge of Forever" (1967). In that episode, the voice of the Guardian was provided by Bartell LaRue. The Guardian's only other on-screen appearance was in the animated episode "Yesteryear" (1973), in which the Guardian's voice was provided by James Doohan (best known as Scotty).

Non-canonical
In the unofficial mini-series Star Trek: Of Gods and Men, the Original Series character Charlie Evans used the Guardian to go back in time and change history. The Guardian also appears in an episode of Star Trek: New Voyages. The episode also portrays a second Guardian, much larger than the first, through which a starship can fly.

Books
The Guardian has proven popular in both fan fiction and the "official" Star Trek novels published by Pocket Books. However, none of these writings are considered canon.

Computer games

 * In the computer role-playing game Fallout 2 there's a random encounter in which the player is able to enter a time portal resembling the Guardian of Forever which paradoxically makes him start the plot of the game's predecessor, Fallout.