Chapter 3: The Royale:
Author's Note: No, I am not doing these in order and yes I will get to Measure of a Man. Please be patient thank you. I do not own Star Trek or its characters.
The next episode began with the Enterprise approaching a green planet and a captain's log with Captain Picard.
"I cannot believe how accurate these episodes are. I actually remember recording that in a log." Picard commented.
"I find it hard to believe too. It seems like these people from the twenty-first century are some sort of sorcerers." Riker replied.
"Oh please. Gene Roddenberry and the rest of them were regular human beings. They may have been accurate about the future, but that doesn't mean they had powers. I would know if they ever had been Q or something similar." Q replied.
"Maybe they were psychic?" Riker said as if he were asking it.
"I doubt it. I don't think there was anything unusual about them or I would know." Q answered.
"Well, you don't know everything, Q."
"But I do know everything. I'm all knowing, remember?"
"Q you're not- nevermind."
The episode continued with Geordi giving a report on the planet. Then Picard and Riker talked about how Picard couldn't solve a complex ancient mathematical problem. Then Chief O'Brian transported a piece of a NASA shuttle onto the Enterprise.
"Oh, I remember this. This is where-" Riker commented.
"No spoilers, Mr. Troi." Picard ordered.
Q snickered and the episode continued. Picard cringed a bit when he heard himself say the Star Trek theme. Riker smiled and looked at him. Picard sighed to himself.
The episode continued and Wesley discovered the building surrounded by breathable air. Riker, Data, and Worf beamed down to the surface of the planet and they saw the revolving door. They stepped into a strange casino slash hotel called the Hotel Royale and lost communications with the Enterprise. They then check in at the front desk and were mentioned as three foreigners and had been exspected.
They question the host at the front desk only to discover the humanoid aliens call the planet Earth and refuse to give information as to how he got there. Data begins to scan around only to discover none of the aliens were emitting life signs.
"It seems you have gotten yourself stuck in a strange situation." Picard commented looking at Riker.
"Strange wouldn't even begin to discribe it." Riker replied.
"Shut up and watch the episode." Q ordered.
Riker smirked ever so slightly and the episode continued. Data is trying to explain how the people are there but do not exhibit life signs and uses the man with a cowboy hat as a example. He mentions getting down to business with Data and Data looks confused. Q and the crew all laugh as he asks Riker what business he was getting down too.
"Man, I really love that android, Data. He was something special." Q admitted.
"Oh, the mighty Q admits he cares about someone. How sweet, but he was more the something special." Riker replied.
Q looked annoyed, "Now I never said I cared."
Picard smirked, "Actually, you most certainly did. You said you loved Data. I would take that as caring about him."
Q crossed his arms, "Just shut up."
They all became real quiet and the episode continued. The man with the cowboy hat invites Data to play blackjack. They all smiled as Data explained blackjack. They all smiled again when Data won blackjack.
"Yeh, you show them how to play!" Dr. Crusher cheered.
The episode continued. Riker, Worf, and Data tried to exit only to end up back inside. They tried to ask around for other exits only to be ignored. Worf tried using a phaser against a wall to no effect. Then Data reports finding no other exits. They were trapped. Then the kid and the host talked about Mikey D. Then Riker tried to talk to the host to no avail.
"How did it feel to be trapped like that?" Picard asked.
"Very frustrating." Riker replied.
The episode continued with Data discovering human DNA. They went to the elevators which Worf thought were turbolifts and tried to use them.
"Seems to be malfunctioning." Worf said. Q laughed.
"You people and your limited understanding of technology." Q said smirking.
"In Work's defense. It was an antique elevator." Riker said.
"Or maybe he was just stupid."
"Q, I will not stand by as you insult my crew. There was no way he could have known." Picard said.
"Yeh, and further in his defense it is human technology not Klingon." Riker added.
Q rolled his eyes and the episode continued. They discovered the body of the human male and reported it to Captain Picard. Worf then found books in a drawer. One of then was titled Hotel Royale. Data then summarized the Hotel Royale. Riker then read the diary to Captain Picard and they discussed a method to escape. The phone then rang and Worf picked it up. He says it's for room service and Data replies that he thinks they're asking if they want the room cleaned. Worf tells her no and tells Riker that she said the kitchen will be open twenty-four hours.
"I can't believe how unbelieving dense you all could be." Q commented.
"In our defense, room service was something that hadn't been required for centuries." Riker replied.
"Still, you seem to have forgotten quite a lot of history."
"We know our history even if not perfectly."
"Whatever."
The episode continued. Data talks to the man in the cowboy hat to no avail. Then Micky D arrives and Picard continues to listen to the book. Micky D then kills the bellhop. Then they discover the way out is to buy the hotel. Data plays rolette to buy the hotel. Data then repairs the dice.
"Baby needs a new pair of shoes." Data says.
They all laughed. And Riker smiled as Data smirked.
"You know for an android with no emotion well he just sure seems to have it." Riker commented.
"That's because he did. He just didn't know it." Q replied.
"That's unfortunate. He deserved to enjoy it."
Q nodded slightly. The episode continued and they bought the hotel and were finally free to leave. They left and beamed back to the Enterprise. The episode ended and the music played at the end.
"Man, I sure do like that music." Riker commented.
"Likewise." Picard agreed.
"So, I'm guessing you would like to see more?"
They all nodded their heads yes.
Author's Note: I'll think I'll do Measure of a Man or The Big Goodbye next chapter. We'll see. I hope you liked this chapter. I worked mighty hard on it and am eager for reviews. 8D!