The entity's green gaze moved back and forth from the entities on the screen and the two very unamused humans. This sort of behaviour was expected from him at this point, he even had an entire regular Starfleet briefing about his shenanigans— but for the other Q to move into HIS terf, to mess with HIS Enterprise was a new and ballsy move. It was something that he never would have thought they'd do. He felt almost as furious as Picard and the rest of the bridge crew, though much less anxious.
"See? I'm not the worst of the continuum. At least when I show up to play games I explain everything. I also don't hang up on you." Q stated, now keeping his attention on the Starfleet officers. He was arguably possessive over this certain group of mortals. While Picard was Q's favourite by far, he had in time come to claim the captain's crew too. He learned early on that there could be no Picard without them. So naturally, the commander and the other senior officers became part of his game.
"Trust me Picard, I would absolutely love to just snap my fingers and bring back your sidekick but I can't." The entity made extra effort to sound as honest as he could, so that the ship's councillor would believe him. Q knew that her reassurance could possibly help convict the captain that he honestly meant no harm this time. "As you probably know, I'm not really on the best of terms with my people— asking them for favours or trying to change their rules will cause more trouble for not just me, but for you and probably Riker too." The entity felt that the other Q likely wouldn't physically harm a human, at least not without good purpose. He sat on the floor of the bridge and let out an exaggerated huff, wishing that he didn't brag to his people about all the chaos he's brought the Enterprise crew into over the years. He never originally meant to, but he couldn't let himself look inadequate to the others when they gathered to tell each other about their intergalactic adventures. "Our less than friendly Q contacts who were just on the screen set the rules of this game— the use of my power would break their rules, we'd be punished for it." Q looked at Picard, his eyes narrow. "If you think I'm amoral and apathetic with a hint of sadism, you definitely don't want to meet some others of the continuum."
The entity got back up on his feet, brushing the dust off of his uniform. "Plus you'd get to be the second human ever to see the continuum... c'mon Jean-Luc, look me in the eyes and tell me that doesn't spark your curiosity a little bit" he let out a slight chuckle as he felt that if he came off any bit hostile, Councillor Troi would try to pounce at him.
Q made himself comfortable in the first officer's empty chair, which was at Picard's right side. "Let the record state that I have no idea about this so called infatuation I apparently have with you. I do not care for such trivial mortal things— they just try to tease me" he added. He knew that was a lie, that the other Q weren't completely wrong about how much he valued the stubborn yet smart Starfleet captain. They also may have leaned that Picard could have the tendency to be the silent, self sacrificing type. His fellow Q must have gambled that Picard's number one being missing would cause more tension and give him more stress than him being the one who was snatched from the ship.
Q turned his attention to the Android at the helm. "Mr. Data, prepare to set a mark to these coordinates..."
Jean-Luc could feel a vein pulsing in his temple. Surely his blood pressure was through the roof by now, and there was seemingly nothing he could do about it. Think, Jean-Luc think. What could the continuum possibly realistically want? What good was it doing sending Riker through space to some undisclosed location? What was there to gain?" He paced back to his captain's chair, taking a seat in it, and resting an elbow on the arm. He propped his chin into his hand with thought, mostly calculating the risks of playing along with this charade, and only half listening to Q's senseless babbling.
"Would you be quiet for a moment?" He tried, holding up his hand and looking over at Q only for him to continue rambling on as if he hadn't heard him. He ran a hand back over his head frustratedly and thought to himself how much he wished he just hadn't gotten out of bed this morning.
Troi looked to Picard, resting a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. The stress was radiating off of him like thick fog on a humid night. She could practically feel it when she reached out and touched him. It had her hand burn. "Captain.." She tried, gaining his attention as he gladly turned his gaze from Q to her. He hoped that perhaps her input would provide some solace or a solution. "Perhaps we should hear him out. Though it's not the most ideal situation, he is the only one with the information to get us anywhere. I am just as worried about the commander as you are. I think that can go for the rest of the bridge crew as well. If we don't at least hear out what he's offering, then there will be no hope of finding him."
Picard drew in a heavy breath and let it out in a sigh. She was right. As much as he despised to admit it, Q was their only option. He certainly had no idea where to begin. "Yes. You're right counsellor." He stood from his chair, her words having breathed a bit of clarity into his lungs. He was still suspicious and didn't trust Q as far as he could throw him, but what other option was there? "Alright Q." He decided, placing his hands behind his back and turning to the entity, a bit of the tension eased away from his expression. "You will take us to him, but you will not give orders, and you will act as a member of this crew, do I make myself clear?" Before he even got the chance to finish his sentence, Q had already commanded Data to set the coordinates for their destination.
"Belay that order Mr. Data!" Picard turned to him, using every ounce of willpower he had not to get angry again. "You are not the captain of this ship. I am. I will give the orders..." He cleared his throat. "Mr. Data, set coordinates to 134 bearing mark 236. Warp 8. Engage."
Data set the coordinates, the same ones Q had just stated, only now commanded by the captain. The starship plunged forward in a flash of light, speeding through the galaxy at the fastest warm as safely possible.