A Borg ship emerges from an anomaly asking for Picard, he triggers the Stargazer's self-destruct, and he wakes to find Q has changed everything.
In 2401 Picard is chancellor of Starfleet Academy, and his former ward Elnor is among the cadets. He gently turns aside Laris's romantic interest and talks with his old friend Guinan, now running a bar, about his lifelong avoidance of love. In deep space, Captain Rios of the USS Stargazer, with Jurati aboard, investigates an anomaly that asks to speak to Picard.
When Picard arrives, a Borg ship emerges and its Queen boards the Stargazer and begins assimilating the fleet, which includes Seven of Nine on La Sirena and Raffi and Elnor on the Excelsior. Picard orders the ship's self-destruct, then wakes in an altered version of his home to find Q, who has come back to test him. Doug Aarniokoski directed the season premiere.