The changes in Season Two are minor.

The first occurs when Picard is transported by Q into a parallel reality. When Q reveals to him that he is the bloodiest, most ruthless conqueror of the Confederation, he says:

"Now see why the blood can't be washed from your hands. Let's see what you're truly capable of."

Q snaps his fingers, and Picard finds himself seated, watching his darker self from this reality engage in battle with unknown ships, using brutal but highly effective strategies.

"This is some kind of hell, Q. Stop this game."

"Oh no, Mon Capitaine, you still don't understand. Clearly, you need something a little more... persuasive to make you see. The general's memories are now yours."

The second change is that Elnor dies on the planet, not on the ship. Later, when aboard the ship, Picard walks up to the Borg Queen and says:

"Take us to 2024. We need to restore the timeline. Do it now. I've disabled all external ship commands, but it's only temporary. If you don't act, you die with us."

The rest of the season continues largely the same, with only minor tweaks here and there. Picard carries a deep sense of guilt for the sins of his alternate self.

The real change comes in Season Three—it's completely different.

Episode 1: "The Past Returns"

We see Picard summoned to Starfleet Headquarters. He enters and is greeted by a lieutenant.

"Admiral Picard, I am Lieutenant Jon Pompeo. There is an order to take you immediately to the command room."

"Lead the way, Lieutenant."

In the command room, as they enter, Admiral Net Jefferson approaches them.

"According to the Reserve Activation Clause, Admiral Picard, you are hereby reinstated with immediate effect."

"What's going on here? Get to the point."

"We've lost contact with two systems. The Fourth Fleet was on maneuvers and was directed to investigate. We received a 10-second recording and energy profiles. Based on that, we know it's the artificial intelligence that was supposed to come to us above the planet Coppelius, where Altan Soong was hiding. We have no other information at this time. See the recording."

The recording plays, showing the same ships we saw in Season 2, where General Picard commanded coldly. He clenches his fists and exclaims:

"Damn it, Q, you couldn't just tell me, could you!"

He grabs a tablet, activates the hologram on the table, which displays a map with the positions of the fleets in the galaxy.

"What does Q have to do with this?" asks another admiral.

Picard responds:

"Immediately send the colonization fleet to the planet Izmus to begin evacuation. In our current state, we cannot fight. We must concentrate our forces along the Suwalki Corridor. Everything between it and the enemy current position must be abandoned."

A third admiral speaks in a firm, irritated voice.

"Izmus has a population of 1.5 billion. This is madness, you can't..."

At this moment, we hear the familiar voice of Tuvok.

"Captain Fairfax, immediately evacuate your ships and remain with critical personnel. You must begin planetary evacuation of Izmus. Every second counts."

Captain Fairfax responds:

"Understood, Rear Admiral Tuvok."

The admiral turns to Tuvok.

"Are you mad, Rear Admiral?"

"I had work with Q. It's obvious that the admiral has knowledge of the situation thanks to him. It's illogical to waste time interrogating when every second could be the difference between life and death."

Picard continues typing on the tablet and hands it to Lieutenant Pompeo.

"Transmit this to the First Fleet to begin the modifications I've outlined."

He heads towards the hologram on the table.

"The Seventh Fleet, under Admiral Sisko's command, is close enough. I want a Priority One link with him."

A lieutenant commander responds:

"At once, sir."

We see Admiral Sisko on the screen; his eyes open as Picard begins to speaks.

"Admiral, we don't have time for accusations for what I did as Locutus. The Federation is under attack by artificial intelligence. Direct your fleet to the Despiros system. Your goal is to buy time for evacuation. The primary strike should be as follows: Ships with Transphasic Torpedoes should fire them at full power one for each of their heavy ships. Those without should fire Pattern Romeo—20% Phase Torpedoes fired 0.8 seconds before the remaining 80%, which should be Quantum Torpedoes. Phaser frequency 347.819 should be used to detonate the Phase Torpedoes when they are within 500 meters of enemy hulls. After that, you have 20 seconds to inflict as much damage as possible. Then, Pattern Charlie with whatever you have left."

At this moment, the camera rotates and zooms in on him; we see his eyes. We enter his memory and return to that scene from Season 2 with Q.

"Now see why the blood can't be washed from your hands. Let's see what you're truly capable of."

"I know what you're thinking."

Q (in a light, friendly tone):

"Oh, Jean-Luc… you think this is just a test. One last joke from Q. But how can I explain to you that this isn't for you. It's for everything. For everyone. I saw the future… I saw the silence after your words, after your ideals. I saw them too—cold, merciless, with chilling logic… and perfect in their own way. This world doesn't need another speech about virtues from another philosopher. It will need a general. But not a monster. Not him..."

Q (in a soft, almost apologetic tone):

"I truly believe in you, Jean-Luc. Even more than in myself. Perhaps now you'll see what kind of Q I am. Power without compassion is destruction, and compassion without power is useless."

Picard (in a firm, irritated tone):

"I'm tired of these stupid games. I'm fed up."

Q (with firmness, even slightly angry):

"Then I'll show you. You'll remember something you've never done. You'll carry it as a burden… until the day your ideals aren't enough and darkness comes for your precious Federation."

"This is some kind of hell, Q. Stop this game."

"Oh no, Mon Capitaine, you still don't understand. Clearly, you need something a little more... persuasive to make you see. The general's memories are now yours."