Chapter 4: The Measure of a Man:

Author's Note: As requested I'm doing Measure of a Man. Hope you like it. I don't own Star Trek or its characters.

The episode began with the captain's log. The episode continued with Data, Riker, Pulaski, Geordi, and O'Brian playing poker. Troi smiled as Data asked Riker if he was making a poker face.

Picard shook his head as Riker bluffed Data and looked at Riker, "And you wonder why I never played with you."

"I always thought you were a sore loser." Riker joked.

"Actually, if I recall correctly I was a sore winner. I just don't like to play with cheaters."

"I never cheat."

"I'm sorry, Will, but you definitely do cheat." Troi commented teasingly.

"You were supposed to defend me, Deanna."

"Well, it's true." Troi said smiling.

"I always knew you were a cheater." Picard continued to joke.

Riker rolled his eyes and the episode continued with Picard meeting Admiral Nakamura. Then the introduction played. Then it showed Picard and Nakamura talking.

Q snickered as she called Picard a pompous ass and laughed as she said he was a damn sexy man.

"Shut up, Q!" Picard ordered.

Q continued to laugh to himself and the episode continued. Then an admiral introduced Bruce Maddox and Q shook his head irritated. Maddox began staring at Data and Q didn't look pleased at all.

"That bigot staring at Data as if he's an object. That's not very fair. Data is not some shiny toy." Q commented.

"Sounds like you care about him." Troi said.

"I do not care. I'm just smart enough to understand that Data is a living being." Q argued.

Troi didn't look like she really believed that but shrugged it off, "Whatever you say."

"Damn Maddox." Q said angrily under his breath and the episode continued.

As Maddox mentioned disassembling Data, Troi and Crusher both appeared as upset as Q.

"Now that's not very fair." Dr. Crusher commented.

"Exactly what I was trying to say!" Q said angrily, "I'm beginning to wish I had turned Maddox into a betaziodian flee."

"Well, that's not exactly fair either even if Maddox is a big jerk." Troi said.

"But he deserves it."

"I actually agree, but having turned him into a flee would have solved nothing."

"Whatever."

The episode continued with Picard, Maddox, Data, and Riker talking in the briefing room and it was clearly shown how incompetent Maddox really was.

"He didn't even know what he was doing and he excepts that Data will just say yes. I hate him." Q commented.

"I think we can all agree on that even if hate is such a strong word." Riker said. The rest of them nodded in agreement.

"Yeh, it's not cool for him to treat Data like he's just a machine." Wesley said appearing.

Dr. Crusher smiled at the appearance of her son and Q rolled his eyes.

"What are you doing here?" Q asked.

"I know I wasn't officially invited, but I thought that I would be welcome to also watch this old television show with you." Wesley said.

"Fine, but I'm the only one who uses magical powers around here."

"What's wrong, Q? Jealous?" Dr. Crusher asked.

"Not at all. He will never be Q material. I just don't like him flaunting his abilities when I'm around."

"Whatever you say Q." Both Crushers said and the episode continued.

Picard and Data were talking and Picard mentioned how Data should maybe submit to the procedure.

"I can't believe you said that sir." Riker commented.

"I can't believe I did either, but Data sure did set me straight when he asked why not all officers required to have their eyes replaced. Now I would never say something like that again." Picard replied.

"I hope so, sir."

The episode continued with Picard going to Nakamura for help. Q rolled his eyes when she said all this passion over a machine.

"I've learned that Data was more than a machine." Wesley said and everyone agreed.

The episode continued with Data packing and Maddox trespassing into his room. Maddox practically threatened Data and Q shook his head angrily. Then Picard, Nakamura, and Maddox argued on whether Data has rights. Then it cut to Data carefully opening a gift and Wesley trying to tell him you're supposed to rip up the wrapping.

"I miss that most about Data. How he could never quite understand human tendencies, but then he proved himself to be more human than any of us." Wesley commented.

Picard smiled, "You're damn right, Wes."

The episode continued with Data and Geordi talking. Then with Nakamura, Picard, and Riker talking about convining a hearing. Riker then was forced to agree to rule against Data. Data then tells Captain Picard that he is okay with him representing his interests. It then cuts to Riker finding evidence that Data is just a machine. Then it cuts to Riker proving that Data is a mere machine.

"That must of been hard to do." Troi commented.

"It was the hardest thing I ever done." Riker replied.

The episode continues with Picard's defense and at the end when Data refuses to undergo the experiment Q claps. Wesley and then the rest of them follow suit.

"I think it's sweet how Data cared about Tasha." Troi commented.

"This he was currently that most feeling of us all as well." Picard replied.

"And it's amazing how he forgave Riker." Wesley added.

"Well Data was an almost wise man." Riker replied.

"Yes, he was more than worthy of being called friend." Q muttered.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

"So I assume everyone wants to see more."

They all said yes.

Author's Note: I hope you liked this chapter. Please don't flame me for a more passive approach on the trial. It just worked better that way. Please review and tell me which episode you would like to see next.