Reference to "Q2" should not be confused with the "Q2" who appears in the Season 7 episode [Q2].

Simultaneously both Qs hold their head in their hand: "Vulcans!"

The Briefing Room has been re-arranged for the hearing. Each party has a table, with Janeway's larger table facing the others, with Janeway's back to the window. Janeway: "Let me begin by stating clearly that I expect all parties to act appropriately and with respect for these proceedings. I will not have this hearing turned into a circus, is that clear?" Q2 nods. Q seems to ignore Janeway so she says to him: "Is that clear, Q?" Q: "Madam Captain, we are dealing here with an issue of the greatest importance to the Q Continuum. I can assure you we take this matter very seriously." Janeway: "Thank you. And please don't call me 'Madam Captain'." To Q2: "Since you've made it clear that your asylum would lead to suicide, you place me in a difficult position." Q2: "I understand, Captain." Janeway: "May I ask you why you want to commit suicide?" Q2: "As difficult as it is for you to imagine, for me immortality is impossible to endure any longer. In the Continuum, an individual has an obligation to be responsible to the path his life will follow-" Q: "-'his life will follow', emphasise 'life'." Q2: "I never yielded that obligation to the Continuum. If the path I choose leads to death, what right have they to interfere?" Q: "He is putting his selfish wishes above the welfare of everyone else." Q2: "And if I don't agree with the majority, I'm to be locked up for eternity." Q to Q2: "You would not be confined if you were not intent on harming yourself." To Janeway: "With your permission, Captain, I would like to call an expert on the Continuum to discuss the implications of the decision to be made here." Janeway: "Proceed." Q: "I call myself to the stand." With a bright white flash of light Q appears in the witness chair with a verbal fanfare to introduce himself: "Ta-daa!". At the same time, the original/identical Q stands behind him! Q (lawyer): "Thank you for coming. It's a rare honour to have someone of your reputation and accomplishment with us today." Q (witness): "Thank you." Janeway's pursed lips make it clear what she thinks of this little charade. Q (lawyer): "Tell me, what would be the impact of a Q suicide?" Q (witness): "Oh, it would be an interruption to the Continuum. It would change the very nature of Q." Janeway: "Can you be more specific?" Q (witness): "No, because we're not even sure what the end result would be. His suicide could have all sorts of unknown consequences to the Continuum." Q2: "Precisely! It would force the Q to deal with the unknown for the first time since the new era began. They're afraid of me because they're afraid of the unknown." Q (lawyer) to Q (witness): "How would you characterise his remarks?" Q (witness): "No Q has ever tried to commit suicide. Immortality is one of the defining qualities of being a Q. By every measure of the Continuum his remarks would have to be considered as mentally unbalanced." Q (lawyer) to Janeway: "'Mentally unbalanced'. And no civilised people in the universe, including the primitive Federation societies would condone the suicide of a mentally unbalanced person." Tuvok: "Tell me, Q, Can you offer any other evidence of mental instability on the part of my client?" Q (witness): "What more do I need? He wants to kill himself." Tuvok: "In fact, until this issue arose, he was known in the Continuum as one of your great philosophers, is that not true?" Q (witness): "Not any more it isn't." Tuvok: "So your entire basis for judging him mentally unbalanced is his wish to commit suicide." To Janeway: "I submit that is a faulty premise. In many cultures, suicide is acceptable and in and of itself cannot be used as evidence of mental illness." Janeway: "I tend to agree with Mr Tuvok." Simultaneously both Qs hold their head in their hand: "Vulcans!" Tuvok: "Isn't it true that on occasion the Continuum has executed Qs for certain crimes?" Q (witness): "On rare occasions, yes." Tuvok: "Did not their deaths create an 'interruption' to the Continuum?" Q (witness): "Their crimes created the interruption. Their deaths ended it. I know where you're going with this, Lieutenant." Tuvok: "Do you?" Q (witness): "And it's not going to work. Our society, like any other, must control its disruptive elements. An execution may be undesirable, I grant you that, but on rare occasions it is necessary and warranted. And the decision to proceed is only made after great deliberation by the entire Continuum. You cannot imagine the chaos that would be created if individuals, like Q here, had the ability to choose between life and death. This is a matter of social order versus anarchy." Tuvok: "I understand. And you find nothng contradictory in a society that outlaws suicide but practices capital punishment?" Q is taken by surprise by the question but responds almost defiantly: "No." Janeway: "Any other questions, Lieutenant?" Q2 leans across and whispers to Tuvok who then says: "Just one other thing. Isn't it true that you yourself were once accused of being mentally unstable by the Continuum? Were you not yourself disciplined for inappropriate behaviour?" Q (lawyer): "Objection!" Janeway: "I'll allow the question." Q (witness): "My record has been expunged." Tuvok: "I will take that as a yes. Thank you, that is all." Janeway to Q (witness): "You're excused." The witness vanishes. Q: "If I may I beg the court's indulgence, I have other witnesses to call." Janeway: "To what end?" Q: "Your Captain Honour, I am here to argue for the majesty of life. What it means to us to be alive. A Q's life takes him to all corners of the universe. This Q's life has touched and affected many many others, including some on your own homeworld. With your permission, I'd like to call some of those people whose lives were changed by this Q." Janeway: "You want to bring people here from Earth?" Q: "I promise it won't impact the timeline and no one will remember ever having been here after I send them back." Janeway: "This is most unusual. Do you have any objection, Mr Tuvok?" Tuvok: "I am as curious as you are, Captain." Janeway: "Very well. Proceed." As Q gestures with his hand and there is a flash of bright white light then suddenly three people appear: a 1960s hippie called Maury Ginsberg, Sir Isaac Newton, and Commander William T. Riker from the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D!