DS9 Season 10, ep 10x19 - "Reset"

Discussion in 'Fan Fiction' started by DS9Continuing, May 13, 2012.

  1. DS9Continuing

    DS9Continuing Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2001
    Location:
    Manchester
  2. DS9Continuing

    DS9Continuing Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2001
    Location:
    Manchester
    .


    TEASER


    FADE IN:


    1 INT. PRISON CELL


    Dark stone walls, bare of any identifying marks. A single high window, out of reach of human hands, but still barred. It lets in weak and watery light, the only light in the room. PAN DOWN from this window, until we find...

    VAUGHN and RO. Both are dressed in the rough and dirty civilian clothes they wore in 10x16 “I Will Survive,” and both look like they’ve been through a fight. They sit on the ground, backs against opposite walls of the cell.

    RO
    (amazed)
    Ross?! ​

    VAUGHN
    Yup. ​

    RO
    (still not sure)
    Ross? ​

    VAUGHN
    Just goes to show, doesn’t it?
    You never can tell. Although,
    to be fair to the admiral,
    “working with” isn’t strictly
    accurate. He doesn’t consider
    himself a member. Doesn’t
    believe in their policies. He
    just recognizes that they have
    certain resources and techniques
    that can be useful in extreme
    circumstances. He likes to think
    he’s using them, rather than the
    other way around. They’re happy
    to let him have his illusions. ​

    Ro shakes her head, having trouble accepting what Vaughn is teaching her.

    RO
    I always thought, if there was
    any admiral up to their neck in
    Section 31, it wouldn’t be Ross.
    It would be Akaar if anyone. ​

    VAUGHN
    (sympathetic)
    I know you have your past with
    LJ. But I really do think you
    judge him unfairly. ​

    RO
    He ruined my life. ​

    VAUGHN
    He thought you betrayed him.
    Capellans take that kind of
    thing very seriously. ​

    RO
    It wasn’t my fault. ​

    VAUGHN
    He doesn’t know that. He has no
    idea Section 31 even exists. ​

    RO
    But he’s, like, seven hundred
    years old. One of the highest
    ranking admirals there is. ​

    VAUGHN
    Yes. He’s also a true believer
    in the virtue and honesty of
    the Federation. And I’ve worked
    very hard to make sure he stays
    that way. Someone has to have
    that confidence in the system,
    in the values the Federation is
    based on. I’d hate for everyone
    to be as cynical as me. ​

    RO
    What about people like Nechayev?
    You said she was pushing for a
    more aggressive stance towards
    the Dominion. Section 31 want
    to keep us as enemies as well. ​

    VAUGHN
    True. Nechayev often has to think
    like them, make similar decisions.
    But even the head of Starfleet
    Intelligence has to answer to a
    panel of other admirals, to the
    C-in-C, and through them to the
    President and Federation charter.
    Thirty-One claims to get their
    authority from the charter, but
    in reality, they answer to no-
    one but themselves. ​

    RO
    So you and Batanides decided to
    give them their answer. ​

    VAUGHN
    Marta’s only been one of us for
    about six years. I’ve been in
    it for almost three decades. ​

    RO
    But she’s in charge. ​

    VAUGHN
    She is the admiral. I suppose
    in effect it’s more like Marta
    and I work together, what with
    my greater experience. But she
    has final say. Conversely, since
    she’s higher profile, she’s more
    vulnerable. Hence why I’m taking
    point on this mission, not her.
    Besides... it’s my fault we’re
    in this mess in the first place. ​

    RO
    What do you mean? ​

    VAUGHN
    L’Haan. I’m the one who called
    her in. I practically handed
    Taran’atar right over to them.
    I had my suspicions. I didn’t
    do anything about them. Not
    until it was too late. ​

    RO
    (gently)
    Why didn’t you? ​

    VAUGHN
    Because I didn’t want to think I
    was right. I wanted to believe
    that I was out of that life for
    good. I’d started this whole new
    life on DS-Nine. Exploration,
    family... peace. I liked that. ​

    RO
    Well, now you’ve got Bashir.
    You’ve got me. You can be out
    of it, if you want. ​

    VAUGHN
    (shakes head)
    Nice thought. But it doesn’t
    work like that. ​

    RO
    Bashir wants to help, you know.
    You haven’t forced him to do
    anything he doesn’t want to.​

    VAUGHN
    What I’ve learned about Bashir
    is that he loves an adventure.
    A daring mission with little
    chance of success... he could
    never resist. I knew he’d agree
    to it. He made it easy for me. ​

    RO
    Are you going to use my issues
    to get to me? ​

    VAUGHN
    (enigmatic)
    Do I need to? ​

    There’s a clanking noise, a jangling and clunking of heavy metal. Vaughn looks towards the prison cell’s cold steel door. The small eye-level hatch slides open.

    VAUGHN
    (cheerful)
    Ah. Here we are. ​

    The worried face of BASHIR appears at the hatch, peering in. Vaughn and Ro get to their feet, brush themselves down. The heavy metal door swings open, and Bashir stands there.

    BASHIR
    Commander? Lieutenant? You
    both alright? ​

    VAUGHN
    Fine, Doctor. All part of the
    plan. We’ve been expecting you. ​

    RO
    Part of the plan?​

    VAUGHN
    Well, yes. The easiest way to
    get into the heart of Section 31
    was to get them to bring us in. ​

    RO
    (outraged)
    Getting beaten up was part of
    the plan?! ​

    VAUGHN
    Look, it worked, didn’t it?
    (to Bashir)
    Aren’t you risking your cover
    letting us out? ​

    BASHIR
    I don’t think it’s a problem.
    Mister Cole is nowhere around. ​

    RO
    He’s not? Where is he? ​

    BASHIR
    No idea. I haven’t seen him in
    days. He left me going over
    some intelligence files. That’s
    why it took me so long to find
    you and get you out. Sorry. ​

    Vaughn stops to ponder. Why isn’t Cole around?

    RO
    Is that bad? ​

    VAUGHN
    I don’t know. Have you managed
    to track L’Haan down yet? ​

    BASHIR
    I’m afraid not. I tried every-
    thing short of asking Cole “Hey,
    where’s L’Haan?” I’m probably
    hampered by having to look like
    I’m on his side, but still, it’s
    frustrating. All this time and
    we’re no closer to our goal. ​

    VAUGHN
    We don’t have much more time
    left, Doctor. The Ascendants
    are coming. ​

    RO
    For all we know, they might have
    already hit while we’ve been in
    here. Deep Space Nine and Bajor
    could be rubble right now. ​

    BASHIR
    Don’t say that. Don’t tempt fate. ​

    VAUGHN
    L’Haan... where is she? ​

    As Vaughn creases up his lined, old face with worry...


    2 ON L’HAAN


    The Vulcan woman L’HAAN rests calmly, her eyes closed in peaceful meditation. The light of a candle flickers on her face, but we don’t yet see her surroundings.

    There’s a small, rhythmic beep – a computer indicator. She slowly opens her eyes, brings herself out of meditation. She turns to her side, and we see a comm panel beside her.

    The comm panel is of Cardassian design. L’Haan works its controls, receives a message in Vulcan script. She reads what it says with restraint and composure. Turns back to her meditation lamp, looking just the tiniest bit eager.

    PULL BACK slowly. We see where L’Haan is sitting – a bare, disused industrial area, with rusty machines and pulleys and pistons and trolleys. She’s alone here.

    PULL BACK further, as we recede through the body of the construct, seeing more and more industrial machinery in our way. Finally we PULL BACK through a grimy porthole...


    3 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE


    ...and find ourselves pulling away from the outer skin of Deep Space Nine. The porthole was in one of the engineering sections in the lower core area. We continue to PULL BACK, gradually seeing the entire station, with the Defiant on the docking ring and freighters moving elsewhere...


    FADE OUT:


    END OF TEASER


    .
     
  3. DS9Continuing

    DS9Continuing Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2001
    Location:
    Manchester
    .


    ACT ONE


    FADE IN:


    4 INT. DS9 - PROMENADE


    Morning on the Promenade, as officers and civilians and random aliens head to work. Morning services are letting out at the Shrine, and the jumja kiosk is just opening, but Quark’s Bar is already bustling with the breakfast crowd.

    ETANA KOL and KRISTEN RICHTER walk together out of Quark’s after breakfast, hand-in-hand and perfectly content.

    RICHTER
    Ah, good old bacon and eggs
    for breakfast. Nothing like
    it. Even if it is replicated. ​

    ETANA
    (dubious)
    If you say so. I still think
    it’s foul stuff. ​

    RICHTER
    That’s because you’re a heathen
    who wouldn’t know good food if
    it slapped her about the face. ​

    It’s all just cute couple-y banter. They pause outside the Infirmary, and lean in for a quick kiss.

    RICHTER
    See you later, yeah? ​

    ETANA
    Yep. Gotta get that paperwork
    finished, but then the joy of
    mid-shift is mine to possess. ​

    Another quick peck, and Etana heads off. Richter watches her go with a smile, then turns to enter the Infirmary.


    5 INT. DS9 - INFIRMARY


    Richter enters to find SIMON TARSES working, scanning and cataloguing the contents of the pharmacy alcove.

    RICHTER
    Morning, Doctor Tarses. ​

    TARSES
    Oh, hi Kristen. Sleep well? ​

    RICHTER
    Like a temeseen. ​

    TARSES
    I have no idea what that is,
    but I’ll assume it’s good. ​

    With an amused pout, Richter heads off to start her work.


    6 INT. DS9 – HABITAT RING CORRIDOR


    TARAN’ATAR walks along the corridor, alone. The civilians and officers he passes on the way are getting used to his being around, but they still keep a wary eye, just in case. He reaches his quarters and the door opens...


    7 INT. DS9 – TARAN’ATAR’S QUARTERS


    ...and he enters. The instant he does, he knows something is wrong. The door closes, and he drops into a fighting stance, his senses reaching out to detect the problem.

    Then Admiral BATANIDES emerges from the bedroom. Small and gentle, nothing to a Jem’Hadar. But she smiles confidently.

    BATANIDES
    Ambassador. A pleasure to meet
    you at last. ​

    TARAN’ATAR
    Who are you? And why are you
    in my quarters? ​

    BATANIDES
    My name is Marta. And... it’s
    about time we had a talk. ​

    Taran’atar is wary, but he doesn’t attack. He finds himself intrigued as to what this strange woman might say.


    8 INT. DS9 – QUARK’S BAR


    Busy with breakfast eaters and pleasant chatter. QUARK himself stands behind the bar. He’s watching across the other side of the room, where Major CENN is eating at a table. TREIR strolls up to check if he needs anything else, and by the look on Cenn’s face, all he needs is Treir. Quark rolls his eyes and chuckles. Not a chance.

    There’s the beep of an incoming communication, and Quark turns away to his comm panel. He presses a few keys.

    QUARK
    Welcome to Quark’s Bar, Grill,
    Embassy, Gaming Hall and Holo-
    suite Arcade. Ambassador Quark
    at your service. Please state
    the nature of the catering
    emergency. ​

    NOG (comm)
    Uncle, it’s me... Nog. I’m up
    in Holosuite Three. Could you
    come up here a minute? ​

    QUARK
    I’m busy, Nog. Can it wait? ​

    NOG (comm)
    Taran’atar tore a hole in the
    wall again. I need your thumb
    print to authorise the repairs.
    It’ll take five seconds. ​

    QUARK
    (grumble)
    Fine. Treir can handle things
    for five seconds, I guess. ​

    He stabs the comm to close, and mutters under his breath.

    QUARK
    That damn Jem’Hadar. Who’d have
    thought I’d ever miss Worf? ​

    With a humph, he heads out from the bar and up the spiral staircase to the holosuites.


    9 INT. DS9 – QUARK’S BAR, HOLOSUITE CORRIDOR


    Quark stomps along, reaches the holosuite, enters...


    10 INT. DS9 – HOLOSUITE


    ...and finds a bare holosuite grid. He walks in a few steps, turns with an exasperated sigh. Nog is not here.

    QUARK
    Nog! Stop screwing around! I
    told you I’m busy. ...Nog! ​

    The door opens again, and EZRI DAX enters.

    DAX
    Hey, Quark. What’s up? ​

    QUARK
    What’s “up” ? What’s up is that
    my nephew has decided to waste
    my time with stupid games...
    (out loud)
    ...that do not befit the
    dignity of a Starfleet officer! ​

    There’s no response. Dax looks at him, mystified.

    DAX
    No, I mean, what did you want
    to see me about? ​

    QUARK
    I didn’t want to see you about
    anything. I’m here to see Nog. ​

    The door opens again, and PRYNN TENMEI rushes in.

    PRYNN
    Okay, I’m here! Nobody panic,
    everything’s under control.
    What’s the big crisis? ​

    Dax looks at her, confused. Back to Quark. Back to Prynn.

    DAX
    There is no crisis. Is there? ​

    PRYNN
    Well, there was two minutes ago,
    when you called me up over the
    comm and said, “Come to Holo-
    suite Three, we have a crisis.” ​

    DAX
    I never called you, Prynn. ​

    PRYNN
    Uh, yeah, you did. Two minutes
    ago. “Crisis.” ​

    DAX
    No, I didn’t. Quark called me up
    here to meet me in private and
    talk about something. Wouldn’t
    tell me what. ​

    QUARK
    And I got a call from Nog, he
    needed me to authorise repairs. ​

    PRYNN
    Nog’s in Ops. ​

    They all look between themselves, baffled and increasingly worried. What is going on here?

    PRYNN
    Okay, forget this. Somebody’s
    playing games with us. ​

    Just as she turns to leave again, the holosuite door slams shut. The lights go out. It’s almost completely dark.

    QUARK
    What the – ​

    DAX
    Dax to Kira. What’s going on? ​

    Three Cardassian transporter signals suddenly light up the room. Dax, Quark and Prynn look to each other in alarm, scared and surprised, as all three dissolve in the golden swirling beams. Holosuite Three is left empty.


    11 EXT. SPACE – EARTH ORBIT


    Bright and gleaming blue, Earth’s surface looks peaceful and harmless. The mushroom Space Station is in orbit, and various Starfleet ships and freighters move back and forth.


    12 INT. COLE’S APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM


    The wood-panelled, leather sofa’d lounge, as seen in 10x15 “I Will Survive.” The room is unoccupied, the fire unlit.

    The large double door creaks open, and Bashir pokes his head in. Scans the room visually, just to make sure. He nods and opens the door further, letting Vaughn and Ro in with him. Ro carefully closes the door behind them.

    VAUGHN
    I still don’t like this. Cole is
    the director of Section 31. Or
    one of the directors at least.
    He wouldn’t disappear like this
    unless he was on a mission. ​

    RO
    Might be nothing to do with us. ​

    VAUGHN
    It might... But do you really
    think we’re that lucky? ​

    BASHIR
    Let’s just take the chance we’ve
    been given. Even if it’s a trick,
    we’ll never get a better one. ​

    RO
    What are we looking for? ​

    BASHIR
    I don’t know. Sloan already told
    me there’s no central store of
    records or paper trail of what
    Section 31 gets up to. It would
    leave them open to exactly what
    we’re trying to do. But we have
    to try anyway. Check that book
    shelf over there. ​

    Ro does as Bashir says. Vaughn stands, pondering, thinking it all through. Bashir goes to the big painting over the fireplace, begins feeling along its edge. Maybe there’s a safe or something behind it.

    Bashir finds a catch of some kind, and presses it. The painting seems to dissolve into thin air, via some kind of subtle transport beam. Behind it is a comm screen.

    BASHIR
    Commander... Lieutenant...​

    At the bottom of the screen is a flashing icon. Vaughn and Ro approach, curious. With a nod from Vaughn, Bashir pulls his sleeve over his hand and reaches with his cloth-covered finger to touch the icon. The screen comes to life...

    ...with a close-up image of Quark. The Ferengi is staring into the screen, eyes wide in panic, shaking, breathing in shallow gasps. He’s plainly terrified.

    RO
    Quark? What the hell are - ​

    Quark reacts in desperate hope to the familiar voice.

    QUARK (screen)
    (gasping breaths)
    Laren... help...​

    The image on the screen moves sideways, away from Quark. The next face in line is Dax. Just as scared as Quark, but controlling it better, and with a touch of righteous anger. Ro, Bashir and Vaughn share worried glances...

    On screen, the image shifts sideways again, revealing the next face in line – Prynn. Vaughn’s eyes flare in fury. This is the worst possible thing someone could do to him.

    The image shifts again, pulling back a little until we see all three side by side. They are standing ram-rod straight in a dark room, with no clear sign of what it is that has them so scared. But then a new figure steps into frame – L’Haan, wearing the all-black uniform of Section 31. She looks into the camera with infuriating calmness.

    VAUGHN
    What have you done to them? ​

    L’HAAN (screen)
    I have done nothing. Yet. Once
    I leave this room it will flood
    with radiation. The forcefields
    that currently surround your...
    friends... are strong enough to
    protect them from the radiation.
    They are not, however, strong
    enough to protect them from
    themselves. ​

    Vaughn, Bashir and Ro frown in confusion...

    L’HAAN (screen)
    If your companions move more
    than a matter of centimetres,
    they will contact the fields.
    This will cause the fields to
    collapse... and expose them to
    the radiation. The result will
    be quite remarkably painful,
    and in mere moments, fatal. I
    believe I’ve made myself clear. ​

    The signal drops, and the screen goes blank. Bashir and Ro both look to Vaughn for what to do next.

    Vaughn tenses with renewed anger...


    13 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE


    Sitting at rest, seemingly peaceful...


    14 INT. DS9 – QUARTERS


    Mister COLE sits calmly, with legs crossed, at a table. Quite relaxed and chummy.

    COLE
    Thank you for meeting with me.
    I realise your time is valuable
    right now, so I’ll try not to
    take up too much of it.
    (beat)
    Let me start by saying how very
    helpful it’s been having you
    here, keeping an eye on things
    for me. I especially value the
    reports you’ve submitted to me.
    They’ve helped me more than you
    know. And I know how difficult
    it must have been to stay...
    “invisible,” so to speak.
    (beat)
    But there’s something more I
    need you to do for me, if you
    wouldn’t mind. You know I like
    my agents to remain hands-off
    whenever possible. But this is
    something I’m afraid I can’t
    do through my normal channels.
    It’s a tiny thing, barely
    noticeable. But you are in the
    perfect position to help me. ​


    REVERSE ANGLE


    ... to reveal at last that he is talking to Etana Kol.

    ETANA
    That’s alright, Mister Cole. I’m
    happy to help however I can.
    What do you need me to do? ​

    Off Etana’s open, helpful face...


    FADE OUT:


    END OF ACT ONE


    .
     
  4. DS9Continuing

    DS9Continuing Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2001
    Location:
    Manchester
    .


    ACT TWO


    FADE IN:


    15 INT. DS9 - INFIRMARY


    The door opens, and Etana strolls in from the Promenade. Relaxed, happy, no problems. She’s carrying a small satchel over her shoulder.

    Looking in through the partition to the surgical suite, she sees Tarses examining a civilian patient – nothing serious, maybe a rash or something – and Richter in support. Etana smiles at the sight of her girlfriend.

    Etana moves on past towards the pharmacy area. With a quick check to make sure the others are busy, she opens up her satchel and pulls out a metal canister.

    She goes to the shelf where we’ve seen Ro take canisters from before, and removes the first one. She replaces it with the one from her bag. Then she pulls another device from her bag, and points it at the label on the original canister. She activates the device...


    INSERT – THE CANISTER


    ...and the device’s beam rewrites the canister’s label.


    BACK TO SCENE


    She then puts the device back in her bag.

    RICHTER
    Oh, hey babe. You just get in? ​

    With the changed canister still in her hand, Etana turns to see that Richter has wandered up.

    ETANA
    Yeah, just a second ago. Thought
    I’d get a start on checking the
    pharmacy stores. Don’t want to
    get yelled at again. ​

    She nonchalantly places the changed canister somewhere else on the shelves, and nods at a job well done.


    16 EXT. SPACE


    A small, fast Starfleet ship zooms through space at highest possible warp. A runabout would do, but I’d rather it was something like Picard’s supershuttle from “Insurrection.”


    17 INT. SHUTTLE - COCKPIT


    Vaughn is at the helm, driving the shuttle forwards as fast as it will go, safety limits be damned. Bashir nervously hovers behind him, and further back, at the rear of the cabin, is Ro. Vibrating, twitching, ready to snap.

    BASHIR
    How did they know? ​

    VAUGHN
    I don’t know, Doctor. ​

    BASHIR
    Do you think she’s been there
    all along? ​

    VAUGHN
    I don’t know, Doctor. ​

    Bashir steps away, realising Vaughn isn’t in the mood right now. They’re all on edge. This is a desperate rush, and no-one has time for niceties. He goes to Ro instead.

    RO
    How much longer? ​

    BASHIR
    It’s a few days’ trip from Earth
    to Bajor at best. Just be glad
    Vaughn was able to commandeer
    this shuttle on short notice. ​

    Bashir notices Ro’s agitated state. They’re all feeling it, but Ro seems to have it worse.

    BASHIR
    Are you feeling alright? ​

    RO
    Not really, no. ​

    BASHIR
    Can I do anything to help? ​

    RO
    (sharp)
    I don’t need your help. ​

    Bashir looks stung at her tone. Embarrassed at herself, Ro turns and heads into the rear cabin. Bashir watches her go. He suspects there’s more going on than she’s saying.


    18 INT. SHUTTLE – REAR CABIN


    Ro stomps through the rear cabin, towards the bunks along the walls. She gingerly lowers herself down onto one of the bunks, wary of her back. She reaches into her boot.

    She brings out the hypospray that always sits inside. Jams it against her neck and presses the button. Nothing. Empty. She takes out the cartridge, shakes it hard, stuffs it back in and tries again. Nothing. Again. Again. Again. Nothing.

    RO
    Come on! ​

    She hurls the hypospray across the room with a frustrated scream. As it SMASHes against the far wall...


    SMASH CUT TO:


    19 INT. CAVES


    Greyed out images, memory flashes. Vaughn and Ro are being attacked by black-clad figures, masked and anonymous. This is the fight that landed them in the jail cell. Ro doesn’t know it’s part of the plan, and she’s fighting like mad.

    As she kicks one attacker’s legs out from under him, she tries to simultaneously reach for her backpack. Distracted for the tiniest moment, another attacker punches her hard.

    Dazed, she can’t stop the attacker grabbing her backpack, throwing it aside, and VAPORIZING it with a phaser. Ro’s eyes flare as she realizes – her painkillers were in there.


    CUT TO:


    20 INT. SHUTTLE – REAR CABIN


    Ro RIPS a panel open on the cabin’s replicator and shoves her hands into the internal circuitry. Thrumming with nervous vibration, hands shaking as they break and remake connections. She’s panting with desperation...

    RO
    Come on, dammit...​

    She works some more...

    COMPUTER
    Unable to comply. ​

    Ro keeps working. The computer’s voice is choppy, garbled.

    COMPUTER
    Unable to comply. Unnn...
    aaay... bullll... tooo...​

    Ro screams again in frustration. She yanks her hands out from the circuits and PUNCHES the replicator’s panel in fury. The screen shatters, but she PUNCHES again. PUNCH. And PUNCH. And PUNCH again, screaming more with every one.

    The door opens and Bashir rushes in, alerted by the noise. Ro is PUNCHing and PUNCHing. He grabs her, pulls her away from the wall. She struggles against him, but he holds her.

    BASHIR
    Laren! Laren! What’s wrong?
    What are you doing? ​

    RO
    (shriek)
    Get off me! ​

    But Bashir holds her tight. After a moment, she calms. Her head sags. Once he’s sure she’s okay, he lets her go.

    BASHIR
    What was that all about? ​

    RO
    I’m okay. I’m okay. Just...
    letting off a little steam. ​

    BASHIR
    We’re all worried, Laren. What
    I suggest is that you take that
    frustration and channel it into
    figuring out what to do next. ​

    RO
    Yeah. I guess.
    (sudden thought)
    Don’t tell Vaughn. ​

    BASHIR
    I think he’s too busy driving
    the shuttle into the red zone
    to notice anything else. ​


    21 INT. SHUTTLE - COCKPIT


    Close on Vaughn, as he pushes the shuttle onwards. His mind is working over all the possibilities, good and bad...


    22 INT. DS9 – KIRA’S OFFICE


    KIRA and VANNIS sit across the desk from each other, in the midst of another meeting.

    VANNIS
    The situation in the Dominion
    continues to deteriorate. Not
    a day passes without at least
    one report of Jem’Hadar vessels
    fighting each other over some
    trivial slight or disagreement. ​

    KIRA
    Can’t the Vorta control them? ​

    VANNIS
    The Vorta are as confused as the
    Jem’Hadar. They try to follow
    the wishes of the Founder, but... ​

    Vannis fades off, ashamed of what she was about to say.

    KIRA
    It’s alright. Go on. ​

    VANNIS
    I cannot criticise a Founder.
    But Odo, because of his unique
    upbringing... his desire is to
    find consensus wherever possible.
    By trying to please everyone...​

    KIRA
    ...He ends up pleasing no-one. ​

    VANNIS
    And what of the Ascendants? ​

    KIRA
    We got a new dispatch from our
    source this morning. They said
    things seem to have gone quiet.
    It only makes me more worried. ​

    VANNIS
    You suspect they are preparing
    for a major offensive. ​

    KIRA
    I don’t know what else to think.
    Aren’t you taking a risk too,
    talking to me like this? ​

    VANNIS
    The Ambassador authorized this
    meeting himself. I believe after
    our last “confrontation,” he is
    attempting to soften his stance. ​

    KIRA
    Well, that’s one good thing, at
    least. Thank you for coming,
    Vannis. Keep in touch. ​

    Vannis nods, gets up from the chair and leaves. Alone again, Kira sighs and tries to settle back to work.

    All the doors suddenly THUNK with the closing of locks. The BLUE LIGHTS in the corners burst into life, bathing the room in an eerie glow. Kira looks up in alarm – she didn’t do this. The air is suddenly pierced with a sharp, painful SQUEAL. Kira is forced to cover her ears and wince from the brain-hurting intensity of it. A transporter signal forms in the lounge area – the new type seen in 10x01 “Emancipation.”

    The transporter deposits Vaughn, standing grim and hard. The whining sound dies out, but the blue lights remain. Astonished, Kira rushes over towards him.

    KIRA
    Commander! ​

    VAUGHN
    I don’t have time to explain,
    Captain. Section 31 is moving
    against us, here and now. ​

    KIRA
    (re blue lights)
    But I thought these things were
    supposed to block transporters. ​

    Vaughn brings up his arm, and he’s wearing a metallic wrist strap – like Major Cenn wore in 10x08 “Property Values.”

    VAUGHN
    Ro’s transport inhibitors. Easy
    enough to retune them to pass
    through. And nobody not wearing
    one can follow. Now listen.
    L’Haan is here, on the station.
    She’s kidnapped Quark, Dax...
    (grits teeth)
    ...and Prynn. She’s probably
    got a scattering field like this
    one, so they’ll be tough to find. ​

    KIRA
    Do you have any clues at all? ​

    VAUGHN
    She threatened them with deadly
    radiation. She might have been
    lying about that, but we can’t
    risk it, and it might be a clue. ​

    KIRA
    I’ll have Tarses break out the
    hyronalin. ​

    VAUGHN
    This is my daughter, Captain.
    I’m trusting you to save her. ​

    KIRA
    I will, I promise. What about
    L’Haan? And Cole? ​

    VAUGHN
    You leave them to me. ​

    Vaughn presses the controls on his wrist strap. The SQUEAL returns, the transporter forms, and Vaughn disappears.

    Kira is instantly in action. She goes to her desk, flips up the secret panel and presses the control. The blue lights die and the doors unlock. She heads out onto Ops...


    23 INT. DS9 – INDUSTRIAL ROOM


    Dark, almost featureless, but definitely somewhere on Deep Space Nine. Quark, Dax and Prynn all stand side by side in their force field cocoons. They’re all scared and sweaty, wavering on their feet, fighting to stay awake.

    QUARK
    I’m exhausted... I’m hungry...
    I feel like I’ve been standing
    here for days. ​

    PRYNN
    That’s because you have been. ​

    QUARK
    I need to sleep...​

    DAX
    Stay awake, Quark. If you fall
    asleep, we all die. ​

    QUARK
    You don’t know that. ​

    DAX
    Try it and I’ll kill you myself. ​

    PRYNN
    Guys... it’ll be okay. My dad’s
    gonna get us out of this. You
    know he is. Who was that woman
    anyway? And where did she go? ​

    None of them know, but they all fear the worst.


    25 INT. DS9 – CORRIDOR


    Some similarly deserted area of the station. Ro stalks carefully along the corridor, phaser out. She’s still shaking, on edge, but channelling it like Bashir said.

    She reaches a corner, creeps up to it. Pokes her head round quickly to check. Nobody there. She steps out to turn the corner, but as she does...


    REVERSE ANGLE


    ...we see L’Haan standing behind her, tall and black and expressionless. Ro senses her presence, spins to her...

    ...but L’Haan effortlessly lifts a leg and KICKS the phaser out of her hand. It smashes to the wall, destroyed. L’Haan looks at Ro, smugly superior.

    L’HAAN
    It is agreeable to see you
    again, Lieutenant. ​

    RO
    I could’a done without it. ​

    L’HAAN
    But I must thank you. You made
    my mission so much easier. You
    took me straight to him - ​

    PUNCH in the face. Ro is in no mood to talk – she just launches straight into it. L’Haan goes with the momentum, spins with it and SLAMS Ro right back. And they go to it – a flurry of HITS and dodges and KICKS and evades. L’Haan’s moves are smooth, fluid, economical. Ro is loose and sloppy. Ro is a street-fighter. L’Haan is an assassin.

    Finally L’Haan SWEEPS Ro’s legs out from under her, like in the caves. Ro goes down with a clumsy THUD, a yell of pain as her back jars. L’Haan moves in for the kill.

    Just as L’Haan reaches her, Ro TWISTS and slaps something around the Vulcan’s wrist – another transporter band. The transporter pattern begins to form over L’Haan. Ro grins victoriously at the confused Vulcan through bloodied teeth.

    RO
    All part of the plan. ​

    And then L’Haan disappears, beamed away. Ro collapses back to the ground with a tearful scream-moan of agony.


    26 INT. DS9 – DARK ROOM


    Another unidentified space somewhere in the depths of the station, dark and anonymous. The transporter beam forms...
    ...and deposits L’Haan into the room. She looks up in mild perplexity... and sees Vaughn holding a phaser. He FIRES.


    27 INT. DS9 – INFIRMARY


    The door opens, and Ro staggers into the doorway, bloody and beaten. People out on the Promenade are staring, wondering what’s going on. Tarses is nearby, and sees her.

    TARSES
    Ro! What the - ​

    Ro stumbles on past him, heading straight for the pharmacy. She’s breathing hard, in blistering pain, no thought in her head but getting to her painkillers. Tarses tries to reach for her and help her – she pushes him out of the way. She gets to the pharmacy, goes straight to the top shelf, opens the canister...

    TARSES
    Ro, stop! You can’t just – ​

    She yanks out a drug cartridge, slips it into the hypo she already has in her hand. Tarses tries to grab the hypo off her – she PUNCHES him out of the way. Tarses goes down with an OOF of shock.

    Etana rushes in from the other room at the commotion, just in time to see Ro jam the hypo at her neck, and inject. And inject again. And again. And keeps going.

    ETANA
    Laren, stop, that’s too much – ​

    RO
    Shut up! I need it! ​

    Ro props herself up against the wall as she feels the drug flowing into her system. Peace and bliss in numbness.

    RO
    There – that’s better. ​

    Her breath catches. She starts shaking. Tries to walk. Her knees buckle beneath her. Hits the floor with a sickening THUD, uncontrollably shaking. She spasms, legs drumming on the floor, foaming at the mouth, eyes rolled up to white.

    Tarses rushes to Ro, tries to hold her down. Etana runs to the pharmacy, checks the canister Ro used. It’s the one she swapped earlier. She stares at it, stunned. Looks back at Ro, in the midst of a seizure on the Infirmary floor.

    TARSES
    Nurse! Help me! Nurse! ​

    But Etana stares at Ro. Prophets, what has she done?


    BLACK OUT:


    END OF ACT TWO


    .
     
  5. DS9Continuing

    DS9Continuing Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2001
    Location:
    Manchester
    .


    ACT THREE


    FADE IN:


    28 INT. DS9 - INFIRMARY


    Ro is on the biobed in the surgical suite, shuddering and grunting in the depths of her seizure. Tarses and Richter are both trying their best to control her. Etana stands to one side, gripping the drug canister in horror.

    TARSES
    Nurse! I need to know what was
    in that canister! ​

    Etana can’t respond. Richter looks at her, confused...

    TARSES
    (sharp, commanding)
    Sergeant Etana! You will help
    me with the patient or I will
    relieve you of duty. ​

    Coming back to herself a little, Etana shoves the canister at Richter. The human woman takes it, looks at the label.

    RICHTER
    (shocked)
    Maraji...​

    TARSES
    What?! We don’t even carry that!
    And why the hell did Ro go for
    it? What is she even doing here?
    I thought she was on Kel-Artis. ​

    ETANA
    He said it was a test, to check
    if anyone noticed... ​

    RICHTER
    Kol, what are you talking about? ​

    Etana can’t answer. She runs out of the room.

    RICHTER
    Kol! ​

    TARSES
    Let her go. She’s useless to me
    right now. Concentrate! Maraji
    alone doesn’t have this effect,
    not even in the dose she took.
    Something else is going on. ​

    Tarses and Richter get to work saving Ro...


    29 INT. DS9 – BASHIR’S QUARTERS


    Bashir stands in his quarters...

    BASHIR
    This is getting out of hand. I’m
    asking you to stop it now before
    it goes any further. Please. ​

    REVEAL that he’s talking to Cole, who stands opposite him, arms folded, unimpressed and dismissive.

    COLE
    I hope you’re not planning on
    begging me. It would just make
    the whole thing comical. ​

    BASHIR
    I’m serious, Cole! I tried to
    trick you before. I admit it.
    Obviously it didn’t work. But
    I’m not trying to trick you now. ​

    COLE
    And that’s why you asked me to
    meet you in your own quarters,
    where you have the home turf.
    Honestly, Doctor, I’m insulted
    that you think so little of me. ​

    BASHIR
    Look, I just want to find a way
    out of this that doesn’t end up
    with me and all my friends dead. ​

    COLE
    Might be a little late for that. ​

    BASHIR
    (oh no)
    What have you done? ​

    COLE
    I’m guessing you haven’t popped
    into the Infirmary since you got
    back. Lieutenant Ro’s flopping
    about on a biobed like a dying
    fish as we speak. ​

    Cole smiles evilly, trying to deliberately provoke Bashir. Bashir is on the verge of taking the bait...

    COLE
    There’s nothing you can pull on
    me, Doctor. I’ve taken antidotes
    to every airborne sedative. I’m
    carrying every kind of transport
    blocker known to man. Whatever
    you really asked me here for...
    you’re not going to get it. ​

    THUMP. Cole slumps to the ground, the victim of a double-fisted punch to the back of the neck by Vaughn. He and Bashir look down at the agent’s unconscious body.

    VAUGHN
    Every technological trick in
    the book... and you forget to
    look behind you. Idiot. ​

    BASHIR
    Is it true about Ro? ​

    VAUGHN
    I don’t know. She got L’Haan,
    but I haven’t seen her since. ​

    BASHIR
    I’ve got to get to the Infirmary. ​

    Bashir heads to the door. Vaughn blocks his way.

    VAUGHN
    You’re not going anywhere. ​

    BASHIR
    Ro could be dying! ​

    VAUGHN
    And there are other doctors to
    treat her! Unless you’re really
    so arrogant as to think nobody
    else in Starfleet is capable of
    saving a woman’s life but you?
    (accusing)
    You promised to help me with
    Mister Cole, Doctor. You joined
    this mission voluntarily. Now
    you will follow through with it. ​

    BASHIR
    But Ro...​

    VAUGHN
    Well then, I guess you have to
    decide what’s more important to
    you right now. Helping a woman
    who’s already in safe hands...
    or finishing what you started. ​

    Bashir seethes with indecision...


    30 INT. DS9 – MAIN OPS CENTRE


    NOG and BOWERS are at their stations on the upper level, feverishly working their panels. SHAR buzzes back and forth between them and his own station, comparing and contrasting readings and information with grim determination.

    Kira trots up the staircase from the central table, leans over the console to at least attempt some confidentiality.

    KIRA
    Anything? ​

    NOG
    Captain, all due respect... but
    you’ve basically asked us to
    find something that is meant to
    to be impossible to find, by
    design. We need more to go on.​

    KIRA
    I’ve given you everything I’ve
    got, Nog. A field that scatters
    all transporters, sensors and
    weapons, somewhere near a major
    radiation source. There are
    three people inside it, and we
    need to find them - now. ​

    SHAR
    Perhaps if we knew exactly what
    life signs to search for...​

    Kira looks unsure. She didn’t want to have to tell them that... but maybe it will help.

    KIRA
    Alright, fine. You’re looking
    for Trill, Ferengi and human. ​

    Horrified realizations as they figure out who it must be.

    BOWERS
    There’s only one Trill on board. ​

    NOG
    There’s only one Ferengi anyone
    would bother taking hostage. ​

    SHAR
    But who’s the human? ​

    Kira hesitates again – she knows this will be difficult.

    KIRA
    The human is Lieutenant Tenmei. ​

    Shar blanches. Prynn. Nog looks over to him, sympathetic for his friend. With renewed resolve, Shar gets back to work on his consoles. Nog nods too.

    NOG
    We’ll find them, Captain. ​

    The three junior officers get back to work, hard.


    31 INT. DS9 – DARK ROOM


    Cole JERKS awake in Vaughn’s dark room. He tries to move, but finds himself unable to. He’s tied by basic, low-tech means to a pillar of some kind, hands and feet bound but held upright.

    He looks to the right, and L’Haan is there too, likewise. She looks as embarrassed as a Vulcan can. Vaughn watches them both. Cole tries not to show how annoyed he is.

    VAUGHN
    Mister Cole. I wish I could
    say it’s good to meet you in
    person at last. ​

    COLE
    Elias Vaughn. Born 2274 on
    Berengaria Seven, to farmers
    Malcolm and Sandra Vaughn.
    Starfleet rank – commander.
    Veteran of the Tomed incident,
    the Betreka Nebula, Arvada
    Three and a hundred others. ​

    Vaughn tries to control his reaction at this. Cole chuckles and shakes his head, and again tries to purposely provoke.

    COLE
    After we killed T’Prynn, did
    you really think we wouldn’t
    keep an eye on you too? ​

    VAUGHN
    (tense, tight)
    It doesn’t matter. I’ve got you
    where I want you now. ​

    COLE
    (mocking)
    Oh yes, I’m completely at your
    mercy. Please... let me go. I
    promise to never do it again.
    (roll eyes)
    So where’s Doctor Bashir? ​

    Bashir’s voice comes from somewhere in the darkness.

    BASHIR (o.s.)
    I’m here. ​

    COLE
    Really? Well I must say I mis-
    judged you then. I would have
    sworn that with Ro in such
    dire medical straits, you’d
    have insisted on being the one
    to look after her, leaving me
    alone with the Commander here.
    I guess you’re just not as
    high-principled as I thought. ​

    Bashir surges forwards out of the darkness right at Cole and PUNCHES him in the face. Cole just laughs it off.

    COLE
    Oh, come on. Bashir the tough
    guy now? What happened to your
    Hippocratic Oath? ​

    BASHIR
    What did you do to Ro? ​

    COLE
    Took advantage of her addiction,
    of course. What else? ​

    Vaughn and Bashir look between each other, confused. Seeing this, Cole really bursts out laughing.

    COLE
    Oh my god! Are you telling me
    you brought a drug addict with
    you and didn’t even know it?
    That’s brilliant! ​

    Bashir punches him again in fury. Cole keeps laughing.

    COLE
    Check your own medical records
    if you don’t believe me. You’ll
    find missing canisters of asino-
    lyathin, morphenolog... whatever
    she could get her hands on. ​

    VAUGHN
    How could you possibly know
    what’s in our medical records? ​

    Cole looks at him like, “Come on.” Vaughn gets the answer – he looks over to L’Haan, who has been silently observing.

    COLE
    Nope. Didn’t need L’Haan for
    that. I’ve had an agent here
    for more than two years now. ​

    Bashir and Vaughn’s eyes flare in worry...


    32 INT. DS9 - INFIRMARY


    Ro is now unconscious on the biobed, lying still, but a mess from what she’s been through. Tarses places a device on her forehead and stands back, watching in concern.

    TARSES
    Alright. I’ve induced a coma
    so she at least can’t make it
    any worse on herself while I
    clean out her bloodstream. ​

    As he moves off to get more medical devices...

    BASHIR (v.o.)
    Who is it? ​

    COLE (v.o.)
    You’re the genetically enhanced
    genius – you figure it out. ​

    Tarses hands one device to Richter, keeps one for himself.

    RICHTER
    Isn’t Maraji a hallucinogenic? ​

    TARSES
    Yes, it’s a narcotic made from
    rare Cardassian crystals. It’s
    highly addictive to Bajorans –
    the few who could afford it got
    themselves into quite a mess. ​

    They continue to operate on Ro...

    COLE (v.o.)
    Who could tell me everything
    that goes on in the Infirmary,
    like when you handed in your
    resignation, Doctor? And also
    has a very close relationship
    with the Security department,
    the chief of which is also
    DS-Nine’s new second officer? ​

    Looking around with worry, Richter calls out loud...

    RICHTER
    Kol? Babe? Are you there? ​

    But there’s no answer...


    33 INT. DS9 – SECURITY OFFICE


    Major Cenn is working behind the desk. The door opens and he looks up – Etana stands there, tears in her eyes.

    CENN
    Sergeant? What’s wrong? ​

    ETANA
    Place me under arrest, Major. ​

    CENN
    ...Why, exactly? ​

    ETANA
    Because I think I’ve made a
    horrible, horrible mistake. ​

    Off Cenn’s confusion and worry...


    34 INT. DS9 - INFIRMARY


    On Ro, as she lies unconscious, Tarses and Richter working around her...


    CUT TO:


    35 INT. DS9 – HABITAT RING CORRIDOR


    Ro looks around herself in surprise – how did she get into the corridor? She’s back in uniform, and alone for now.

    RO
    What... how did I get here? ​

    She looks up the long, empty corridor – it seems to stretch on forever. And then in the middle of the deck...

    ...Taran’atar unshrouds. Ro tenses, shaking, takes a couple of steps back, looks around for anything she can use as a weapon. Taran’atar sneers at her threateningly.

    RO
    Taran’atar... ​

    TARAN’ATAR
    Shall we finish it, Lieutenant?
    Once and for all? ​

    Taran’atar begins to slowly stalk down the corridor towards her. Ro shudders in terror as her nightmare approaches...


    BLACK OUT:


    END OF ACT THREE

    .
     
  6. DS9Continuing

    DS9Continuing Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2001
    Location:
    Manchester
    .


    ACT FOUR


    FADE IN:


    36 INT. DS9 – HABITAT RING CORRIDOR


    Where we left it. Taran’atar slowly advances down the empty corridor towards Ro, who backs away, but doesn’t run.

    TARAN’ATAR
    This is all your own fault, you
    know. You did this to yourself. ​

    RO
    I don’t know what you’re talking
    about. ​

    TARAN’ATAR
    Stop lying to yourself, Laren.
    You’re dying on the floor of the
    Infirmary right now, because you
    left yourself wide open to it. ​

    RO
    It wasn’t me! It was Section 31! ​

    TARAN’ATAR
    It was you. If you hadn’t been
    a pathetic drug addict, they’d
    never have had the opening. ​

    RO
    I’m not an addict! ​

    TARAN’ATAR
    Then what do you call someone
    who steals, lies to her friends,
    thinks of nothing but her own
    pain and when she can take her
    next injection? ​

    RO
    You broke my back! ​

    TARAN’ATAR
    That healed months ago. Bashir
    told you so. Did he lie? ​

    Ro takes a few more stumbling steps back... but he is still coming. And she hasn’t answered his question.

    TARAN’ATAR
    You knew what would happen from
    the first moment you took that
    hypospray out of the trash. It’s
    pointless to pretend you didn’t.
    You’d weaned yourself off them
    once. So why? Why deliberately
    choose to use them again? ​

    RO
    (shriek)
    Because of you! ​


    INTERCUT WITH:


    37 INT. DS9 – DARK ROOM


    Bashir paces back and forth before the restrained Cole and L’Haan. They’re tied up, and yet Bashir is the one who feels helpless. Vaughn stands back and observes.

    BASHIR
    You already had me. You had Ro
    and Vaughn. You didn’t need to
    take Dax and the others too.
    They’re not a part of this. ​

    VAUGHN
    No, they’re not. But they’re not
    the point either. They’re just a
    distraction, something to throw
    us off our game and keep the rest
    of the crew occupied trying to
    save them. They probably don’t
    even especially want them dead.
    They’re just expendable extras. ​

    COLE
    (shrug)
    If your crew is as good as you
    think, then you have nothing
    to worry about, do you? ​


    38 INT. DS9 – MAIN OPS CENTRE


    On Shar, as he works his console with pin-point focus and determination...

    SHAR
    (victorious shout)
    Got it! There’s a point-seven-
    three lag in the bounce-back
    from my tachyon scan around
    the central core, level nine.
    That means a sensor-shielded
    zone of about fifty square
    metres. They’re there. ​

    KIRA
    (into action)
    Bowers. Send your security team
    to the central core, level nine.
    All of you get down there too –
    we may have found them, but we
    need to get them out safely. ​

    Shar, Nog and Bowers grab tricorders and phasers, and head over towards the transporter platform.

    KIRA
    Ops to Tarses, possible medical
    emergency in the central core,
    level nine. Take a shipload of
    hyronalin with you – there may
    be radiation injuries. ​

    The three of them stand on the transporter platform and dissolve away. Kira bites her lip in worry...


    39 INT. DS9 - INFIRMARY


    Tarses dashes around the room, grabbing triage kits for his shoulder bag.

    TARSES
    Acknowledged, Captain. Tarses
    out. Kris, keep an eye on Ro. ​

    He runs to the pharmacy store, grabs three canisters and shoves them into his bag. He’s about to run out...

    RICHTER
    Doctor! ​

    TARSES
    What? ​

    RICHTER
    Check the canisters. If some-
    one’s been swapping the labels
    you should make sure you’re
    actually taking hyronalin. ​

    TARSES
    Right. Good idea. Thanks. ​

    As Tarses takes the canisters back out again to check them, Richter turns back to Ro. She’s peacefully resting, tubes attached to both wrists and eyes fluttering in REM.


    40 INT. DS9 – HABITAT RING CORRIDOR


    Ro backs away. She can stagger a few inches, but seems incapable of running. Taran’atar continues to advance.

    TARAN’ATAR
    Me? I made you deliberately
    give yourself an addiction? ​

    RO
    Yes! Just by being here! ​

    TARAN’ATAR
    You told me you forgave me. That
    you understood that my hurting
    you wasn’t my fault. ​

    RO
    Well... no... it wasn’t, but...​

    TARAN’ATAR
    Then why keep blaming me? ​

    RO
    Who else have I got to blame? ​

    In answer, Taran’atar sneers at her. She has herself.


    41 INT. DS9 – DARK ROOM


    Cole sneers at Vaughn, refusing to play the victim.

    COLE
    You brought this on yourselves,
    you know. If you’d just minded
    your own business... ​

    VAUGHN
    You sent L’Haan before we ever
    got involved with the Eav’oq. ​

    COLE
    We could see where things were
    going. So determined to be best
    friends with the Dominion. All
    you did was bring the Ascendants
    down on us. You screwed up. ​

    BASHIR
    We’re trying to stop a peaceful,
    innocent people from being wiped
    out. How in your twisted version
    of morality is that a bad thing? ​

    COLE
    See, this is where you’re going
    wrong. Morality doesn’t enter
    into it. It’s about what’s best
    for citizens of the Federation.
    What keeps them sleeping sound
    in their beds at night. Always
    has been. And whatever has to be
    done to achieve that... we do. ​

    BASHIR
    My God... you’re as bad as the
    Tal Shiar or the Obsidian Order. ​

    COLE
    (laughing)
    No we’re not! We’re much better
    than them! Romulans, Cardassians,
    they lived in constant fear of
    what the secret police might do
    if they spoke out of turn. Us...
    The average Federation citizen
    doesn’t even know we exist. We
    don’t want to control them. We
    do what we do to protect their
    rights to do whatever they want. ​

    BASHIR
    That’s what Starfleet is for. ​

    COLE
    Bingo. We all work towards the
    same ends, Doctor. We just have
    slightly different methods. ​

    VAUGHN
    And yours include assassination,
    torture, genocide...​

    COLE
    Oh, blah blah blah. We do what
    no-one else will, so they don’t
    have to. You should be grateful. ​

    BASHIR
    (to a child)
    You. Murder. People. ​

    COLE
    (shrug)
    Needs of the many.
    (nod to L’Haan)
    A little something our Vulcan
    friends taught us years ago. ​

    Bashir just can’t get his head around how anybody could possibly think that way. Vaughn observes coldly...


    42 INT. DS9 – INDUSTRIAL ROOM


    Dax, Quark and Prynn still stand where they’ve been. They look worse for wear but trying their best to hold on.

    QUARK
    I can’t stand up any longer...
    my back hurts, my legs hurt...​

    DAX
    I tell you what – I used to be
    a gymnast, and I know a lot
    of techniques for holding your
    posture as straight and smooth
    as possible with minimum effort. ​

    QUARK
    I don’t know. I was never very
    good at... exercise. ​

    DAX
    Just start with the breathing.
    Take long, slow breaths. Roll
    your shoulders back. ​

    All three of them follow her instructions.

    DAX
    Okay, good. Now - straighten
    the spine, switch on your core
    stomach muscles to protect the
    back. Imagine there’s a string
    through the top of your head,
    and it’s pulling you up tight.​

    Prynn closes her eyes and breathes deeply, tries to do as she’s told. Pause, deep breath. But she frowns, distracted.

    PRYNN
    I need to pee. ​

    Dax snorts with involuntary laughter.

    DAX
    Stop it – don’t make me laugh. ​

    PRYNN
    But I do! I can practically
    feel it running down my leg. ​

    Now Quark laughs too. Dax tries to stay firm, but...

    DAX
    Seriously, stop it. If you make
    me laugh, I’ll wet myself too. ​

    QUARK
    You think if we do wet ourselves,
    it’ll stay inside the forcefield
    and just keep building up? ​

    PRYNN
    I hope not. I had dinner at the
    Bolian restaurant. I think I’d
    be better off taking my chances
    with the radiation. ​

    Dax howls with laughter. They’re all laughing now. Then...

    QUARK
    Quiet! Somebody’s out there. ​

    DAX
    I didn’t hear anything. ​

    QUARK
    Perhaps you noticed the ears? ​

    Dax accepts his reasoning. They take deep breaths...

    ALL
    Help! We’re in here! Help! ​


    43 INT. DS9 – LOWER ENGINEERING CORE


    Nog, Shar and Bowers are working with machines against a large bulkhead of grimy metal, down near the central core. The THROB of the main fusion core rises and falls nearby.

    With them are Tarses and some of our regular security faces – SEVAK, ALECO, SHUL and others – all armed just in case. Nog reacts to something only he can hear...

    NOG
    I heard something. I think
    they’re shouting. ​

    BOWERS
    At least that means they’re
    alive. Keep going. ​

    Shar and Nog focus on their machines...


    44 INT. DS9 – HABITAT RING CORRIDOR


    Taran’atar is almost on top of the near-paralysed Ro...

    TARAN’ATAR
    You know in your mind that I am
    not to blame for your problems.
    You’ve been a mess all your life.
    But your heart, your... pagh...
    they cannot forgive me. And so
    you escape from it all. ​

    RO
    (tearful, angry)
    No...​

    TARAN’ATAR
    Only it doesn’t work, does it?
    Because you’re still a mess deep
    down. You take the drugs so you
    won’t feel your pain... but all
    you do is feel your pain. ​

    RO
    No! It’s you! It’s you! ​

    And with those words she launches into a furious flurry of PUNCHES, hitting Taran’atar as hard as she can with everything she’s got. Taran’atar takes it without protest.


    45 INT. DS9 - INFIRMARY


    On Ro, as she lies on the bio-bed, eyes flickering in her unconsciousness. Richter hovers somewhere out of sight.


    46 INT. DS9 – DARK ROOM


    Cole is still acting like he’s the one in control. Vaughn and Bashir glare at them from the darkness.

    VAUGHN
    I don’t care how you justify
    it. Me, Ro, Bashir... we’re
    going to put a stop to it. All
    of it. Here and now. With you. ​

    He turns to L’Haan, who blinks in feigned surprise.

    L’HAAN
    My apologies, Commander – my
    mind drifted. Something was
    boring me to sleep... but I
    promise it was not your banal
    and pointless platitudes. It
    was something else entirely. ​

    Cole smirks. Vaughn is not so impressed.

    VAUGHN
    So... you’ve both got smart
    mouths. You know what that
    tells me? That you’re worried. ​

    COLE
    Or maybe we’re just smart. ​

    BASHIR
    Then you must have guessed what
    we want. We want you to fix what
    you did to Taran’atar. Take out
    your subconscious control and
    let him make his own decisions. ​

    L’HAAN
    And if I refuse? Which I assure
    you I do? How do you propose to
    persuade me?​

    COLE
    You can’t torture us, Elias. For
    one thing, it would make you as
    “bad” as us. And for another...
    do you really imagine we haven’t
    been trained to resist pain?
    Especially a Vulcan? Come on! ​

    VAUGHN
    Answer me this. Have you been
    trained to resist a seriously
    pissed off Jem’Hadar? ​

    Vaughn lifts his arm, taps a control on the transporter wrist-strap. The darkness lights up with another Cardassian transporter signal... which reveals Taran’atar. The Jem’Hadar soldier looks around, briefly disoriented. But as he spots Vaughn and Bashir, he understands. He looks at Cole and L’Haan, and growls menacingly.

    TARAN’ATAR
    You. Vulcan. ​

    VAUGHN
    You see, Mister Cole... you
    thought you were tricking me
    by sending L’Haan. I figured
    it out. Then I thought I was
    tricking you by sending Doctor
    Bashir. You figured that out. ​

    Taran’atar begins to advance towards L’Haan.

    VAUGHN (cont)
    You tricked me by having Etana
    here as your spy all along. So
    now it’s my turn again. You
    thought Taran’atar would be your
    perfect mark. Bred to do what
    he’s told, no questions. Had it
    been any other Jem’Hadar, you
    might have been right. But this
    man is stronger than that.
    (nasty grin)
    And now, he knows exactly what
    you did to him. ​


    .
     
  7. DS9Continuing

    DS9Continuing Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2001
    Location:
    Manchester
    Act Four Continued:


    47 INT. DS9 – HABITAT RING CORRIDOR


    Ro PUMMELS Taran’atar as hard as she can, all the fear and rage and hatred and pain coming out. She shrieks at him...

    RO
    I hate you! I hate you! ​

    And she PUNCHES and PUNCHES. He takes it.


    ANGLE


    Ro is punching herself, beating herself up...


    48 INT. DS9 – DARK ROOM


    Taran’atar is almost on top of L’Haan. Even through her Vulcan calm and control, she’s worried.

    TARAN’ATAR
    I have been used, controlled,
    twisted. By the Founders, the
    Ghemor woman, the slave... and
    now you. It is enough. I will
    not allow any more. ​

    VAUGHN
    Doctor, please release L’Haan’s
    hands. She’s going to need them. ​

    BASHIR
    (unsure)
    Commander...​

    VAUGHN
    Now. Doctor. ​

    Reluctantly, Bashir unties L’Haan’s hands. She instantly whips them forward in an attack, but Taran’atar is too fast for her. He grabs her wrists, and begins to bend them towards his own head. She resists – he’s too strong.


    49 INT. DS9 – HABITAT RING CORRIDOR


    Ro beats the living daylights of Taran’atar. But then she’s beating herself again. And then it’s Taran’atar. And then it’s herself...


    50 INT. DS9 – INDUSTRIAL ROOM


    Prynn, Dax and Quark shouting at the top of their lungs...

    ALL
    Help! Help! We’re in here! ​

    Prynn shouts just a bit too enthusiastically – and she touches the forcefield around her. It flickers, sputters. And then falls around all three of them. They all look at each other in horror as the radiation begins to seep in...


    51 INT. DS9 – DARK ROOM


    L’Haan and Taran’atar struggle against each other – he dragging her hands to his head, she trying to keep away.
    Bashir – uneasy. Vaughn – grim and determined. Taran’atar – furious. L’Haan – scared. Cole – worried but firm.

    COLE
    L’Haan, don’t give in. You’re
    a Vulcan. He can’t force you
    to do anything. ​


    ANGLE


    Behind L’Haan... is MU-L’HAAN, the Intendant’s handmaiden.

    MU-L’HAAN
    No... but I can. ​

    MU-L’Haan reaches round and adds her weight to her double’s arms, pushing them closer to Taran’atar’s head. It catches S31-L’Haan by surprise, she can’t resist...

    ...and the fingers connect. Mind-meld.


    BLACK OUT:


    END OF ACT FOUR


    .
     
  8. DS9Continuing

    DS9Continuing Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2001
    Location:
    Manchester
    .


    ACT FIVE


    FADE IN:


    52 EXT. FOUNDERS WORLD


    The surface of the Founders’ world, but with no Founders. It’s the empty, deserted stone stretching out into the distance, as seen in 10x02 “Brave New World.”

    Together on the small rising islet, Taran’atar, RU-L’Haan and MU-L’Haan stand all facing each other.

    MU-L’HAAN
    So. Here the three of us are again. ​

    RU-L’HAAN
    How did you do this? You are
    nothing. An echo. Powerless. ​

    MU-L’HAAN
    Do you believe I hid in plain
    sight of the Alliance and the
    Intendant for so many years
    without knowing how to appear
    powerless when required? ​


    53 INT. DS9 – DARK ROOM


    Cole watches, worried as L’Haan and Taran’atar stand, joined in their mind-meld.

    COLE
    What just happened? ​

    VAUGHN
    If I had to guess, I’d say your
    agent was tripped up by her own
    arrogance. She kept the other
    L’Haan’s katra inside her head
    instead of getting rid like a
    sensible person. And once it’s
    got a foothold, a katra can be
    very difficult to get rid of. ​

    He’s talking about T’Prynn. He smiles smugly.


    54 EXT. FOUNDERS WORLD


    Taran’atar and the two L’Haans...

    MU-L’HAAN
    You believed you had me under
    control. You thought you could
    use me for your own purposes.
    But I stayed quiet, I learned
    my way around your mind... and
    I waited for my moment. ​

    RU-L’HAAN
    You have exhausted the last of
    your energy on a futile errand,
    L’Haan. I will not remove my
    suggestion. Any attempt to
    force me will be unsuccessful. ​

    MU-L’HAAN
    You spoke of a human phrase –
    “evil twins.” Of how those from
    my universe are twisted, amoral
    versions of those from yours.
    But you are the evil one here. ​

    RU’L-HAAN
    Moral lectures are irrelevant.
    You are powerless against me. ​

    MU-L’HAAN
    Then it is fortunate that you
    are not my target. ​

    Lighting quick, MU-L’Haan turns to Taran’atar and grabs him in the double mind-meld hold, fingers to both sides of his face. Taran’atar allows it - in fact grins with victory as he and MU-L’Haan vibrate against each other.

    RU-L’HAAN
    (alarmed)
    Stop! What are you doing?! ​

    MU-L’Haan and Taran’atar are in their mind-meld, ignoring her. RU-L’Haan grimaces, physically hurt by what the other two are doing. She gasps, trying to control the pain and fear and violation. Taran’atar sneer-grins...


    55 INT. DS9 – LOWER ENGINEERING CORE


    Nog’s ears prick up...

    NOG
    They stopped shouting...​

    Shar’s antennae reach around, feeling...

    SHAR
    The forcefield is down. ​

    BOWERS
    Crap. Move move move! ​

    The security team scatter to try to find entrances past the bulkhead blocking their way. All except for Sevak, who covers the corridor behind them, just in case. Nog and Shar get their machines ready, Tarses prepares his hypospray...


    56 EXT. FOUNDERS WORLD


    MU-L’Haan grips Taran’atar’s head tightly. They stare into each other’s eyes, intense and focused. RU-L’Haan grips her own head in pain, trying to fight it...

    MU-L’Haan draws something out of Taran’atar – a ghostly IMAGE of another L’Haan, superimposed. MU-L’Haan struggles to drag it out of him. RU-L’Haan groans in pain...


    57 INT. DS9 – INDUSTRIAL ROOM


    Against the wall, Quark is trying to trace some kind of exit, but his strength is sapping. He falls to his knees.

    QUARK
    (weakly)
    Help... somebody...​

    Then a figure approaches - Shar holds a small emitter which casts a new field around him, extending behind them like a clear corridor. Nog, Bowers and Tarses are with him. Nog grabs Quark and pulls him into the force field bubble.

    QUARK
    Nog... I always said... you
    were a good boy...​

    NOG
    Doctor, take him. Get him out
    of here. ​

    QUARK
    Wait... Laren. Where’s Laren? ​

    Tarses gets an awkward look, and avoids the question. He leads Quark back down the force field corridor.

    Bowers crouches down and scoops Dax’s limp, half-conscious body into his arms, as gently but quickly as he can. Once she’s secure he speeds back to safety. Shar and Nog remain.

    SHAR
    Prynn! Are you here? ​

    A faint, half-heard groan. Nog hears it.

    NOG
    Over there! ​

    Shar runs, pushing the force field in front of him. Prynn is curled up on the ground, her skin visibly burned and fizzing. Shar hands his emitter to Nog and scoops Prynn off the ground. As he runs her to safety, she croaks out...

    PRYNN
    Shar... I guess this... makes
    us even now...​

    Shar is only interested in getting her to safety.


    58 EXT. FOUNDERS WORLD


    MU-L’Haan is desperately holding on to the ghostly image between her hands – it wavers and tries to get free, but she won’t let it. RU-L’Haan is screaming with the strain of mentally pushing back against what MU-L’Haan is doing.

    But it’s not enough. MU-L’Haan takes the image, THROWS it at her opposite number. It hits her, blends with her. RU-L’Haan SCREAMS, her own image wavering.

    MU-L’Haan and Taran’atar watch RU-L’Haan as she writhes and fights... with a final wail, the Vulcan woman fades away.


    59 INT. DS9 – DARK ROOM


    In Vaughn’s hiding place, the real Taran’atar and the real RU-L’Haan slump back from each other, their mind-meld over. Vaughn catches Taran’atar, supports him. Bashir runs to check on L’Haan. He feels for a pulse...

    BASHIR
    She’s alive. ​

    Vaughn doesn’t seem overly impressed with that.


    60 EXT. FOUNDERS WORLD


    MU-L’Haan and Taran’atar are now alone. She turns to him...

    MU-L’HAAN
    It is over, Taran’atar. I have
    removed her influence. You are
    at last truly free. I hope you
    are finally able to accept it. ​

    TARAN’ATAR
    I believe I am. Thank you. ​

    MU-L’HAAN
    You are welcome. It is time for
    me to accept my fate likewise.
    I wish you well, Taran’atar. ​

    And MU-L’Haan fades away to nothing, leaving him alone.


    61 INT. DS9 – DARK ROOM


    Taran’atar comes back to consciousness, finding himself in Vaughn’s arms. Vaughn attempts to stand him up. Once he’s steady on his feet, he reaches down to touch a control on the transporter strap around the Jem’Hadar’s wrist. Taran’atar transports away...


    62 INT. DS9 – TARAN’ATAR’S QUARTERS


    ... and reappears in his own quarters. Admiral Batanides helps to steady him.

    BATANIDES
    I’ve got you. You’re safe now. ​


    63 INT. DS9 – DARK ROOM


    With Taran’atar gone, Vaughn reaches for his phaser.

    VAUGHN
    Step aside, Doctor. ​

    With alarm, Bashir realizes Vaughn means to kill L’Haan and Cole. He specifically steps between them. L’Haan lolls semi-conscious in her bonds, while Cole has gone quiet.

    BASHIR
    I’m not going to let you do
    that, Commander. ​

    VAUGHN
    You think we can just let them
    walk out of here? Step aside. ​

    COLE
    Let him, Doctor. There’s plenty
    more where we came from. Do
    whatever you want to us, it
    won’t stop them. ​

    VAUGHN
    I’ll worry about them later.
    All I need to worry about right
    now... is you two. ​

    BASHIR
    Commander - no. It’s not going
    to happen. Put down the phaser. ​

    VAUGHN
    You promised me you would see
    this through, Doctor. ​

    BASHIR
    And you promised me you weren’t
    like Section 31. I’m starting
    to wonder. ​

    VAUGHN
    How can you possibly let them
    live after what they’ve done?
    To us, to Prynn, to Dax...​

    BASHIR
    Because Cole was right about me
    earlier. Saving lives is more
    important to me than your great
    crusade. And I certainly won’t
    kill two people in cold blood. ​

    A moment of indecision, then with a roar of frustration, Vaughn casts the phaser aside. Bashir goes to untie L’Haan and then Cole. Cole helps the still groggy L’Haan.

    BASHIR
    Now get the hell off my station,
    both of you. If I see either of
    your faces ever again, it might
    force me to rethink my decision. ​

    Without a word, Cole helps L’Haan out of the room, off into the darkness of the depths of the station.

    VAUGHN
    If this comes back to bite us,
    Doctor... it’s all on you. ​


    64 INT. DS9 – HABITAT RING CORRIDOR


    Ro is beating ten shades of bloody hell out of Taran’atar, roaring and crying and screaming cathartically all at once.

    She grabs him by the front of his uniform, hoists him up into the air, and THROWS him against the corridor wall. He lands against it with such force that we hear the CRACK of his back. He slumps down to the deck, eyes wide and glassy.

    Ro stands, glaring down at the unmoving body, panting...

    And now it’s Ro herself on the ground, in the same state.


    65 INT. DS9 - INFIRMARY


    With a shuddering gasp, Ro comes back to consciousness on the biobed. Looking to the side, she sees Quark sitting by her bedside, looking burned and sore. He jumps to her side.

    QUARK
    Doctor! She’s awake! ​

    RO
    Quark...? What happened? ​

    QUARK
    I don’t know and I don’t care.
    But we’re both alive. ​

    TARSES
    You had a bad reaction to all
    the medication you took. And I
    think I know why. Are you sure
    you want to talk about it now? ​

    Tarses is referring to Quark, who clearly has no idea what the doctor is on about. Ro sees that Tarses knows about the painkillers. She sighs to herself – time to face up to it.

    TARSES
    Go ahead. He may as well hear
    the whole truth.
    (takes Quark’s hand)
    If that’s okay with you. ​

    QUARK
    Hey, don’t worry about me. We
    Ferengi are made of tougher
    stuff than people think. ​

    RO
    Where’s Etana? ​

    Awkward look from Tarses...


    66 INT. DS9 – SECURITY OFFICE


    Etana’s image is on the screens on the back wall, sitting quiet and withdrawn in one of the security cells. Kira, Cenn and Richter stand watching the screens.

    CENN
    She swears she never meant to
    hurt anyone. She was told it
    was a test, to see if we were
    keeping a close enough eye on
    our pharmacy stocks. She had
    no idea what it would do to Ro. ​

    KIRA
    (cold)
    How long has she been working
    for them? ​

    CENN
    Captain, I don’t even know who
    “them” are. And I don’t think
    she does either. She said he
    told her he was with Starfleet
    Intelligence when he recruited
    her two years ago. ​

    RICHTER
    Two years? That’s the whole time
    she’s been on the station. The
    whole time I’ve known her. Ever
    since the Iconian mission. ​

    KIRA
    Right after Cole’s last visit
    to the station. He must have
    found someone in the Militia
    who’d applied to work here,
    and got in there first. Did
    she say what she did for him? ​

    CENN
    Nothing direct. Just gave him
    access to her regular reports.
    But as the second in security,
    who then transferred to work
    directly under Bashir...​

    KIRA
    Those reports would have been
    pretty interesting stuff. ​

    RICHTER
    So... what are you going to do
    with her now? ​

    KIRA
    What do you want us to do? ​

    Richter isn’t sure what to think anymore...


    67 INT. DS9 – LOWER ENGINEERING CORE


    Cole and L’Haan move through the deserted areas of the station, trying to get to their escape vessel. L’Haan is still a bit weak, but burying her pain and embarrassment under Vulcan control.

    L’HAAN
    What do we do now? ​

    COLE
    We? There is no “we”, L’Haan.
    After today, you’re finished
    with the organisation. ​

    L’Haan stops, looks at Cole with confusion.

    L’HAAN
    For what reason? ​

    COLE
    What reason?! You failed the
    mission! And not only that, you
    put everything back the way it
    was before. You’re weak. We have
    thoroughly lost this one, and
    it’s completely thanks to you.
    So yes, you’re done. ​

    That means death. L’Haan absorbs this calmly.

    L’HAAN
    I understand. ​

    Cole turns to keep walking, and L’Haan ATTACKS. A sharp stab with her fingers to the back of the neck – not enough to kill Cole, but enough to knock him down and daze him.

    He tumbles to the ground. She is on him. Pins him to the deck with her own weight, grabs his face in a double meld. Grimacing in fury, she forces herself on him. He SCREAMS as she scrambles his brains, feet kicking, eyes rolling back.

    L’Haan lets all her Vulcan rage and fire out on him. Cole’s skin actually SMOKES at the points of contact. Finally he goes limp – she’s burned out his brain. She gets her breath back, pulls herself under control, and walks away.


    .
     
  9. DS9Continuing

    DS9Continuing Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2001
    Location:
    Manchester
    Act Five Continued:


    68 INT. DS9 - INFIRMARY


    The door opens and Bashir and Vaughn enter together from the Promenade. Prynn and Dax both run to hug them...

    PRYNN
    Dad! ​

    VAUGHN
    Oh my beautiful baby girl. I’m
    so glad you’re safe. ​

    Dax hugs Bashir tight. Then she pulls back and SLAPS him hard across the face. Then she grabs him back into the hug.

    DAX
    Never! ...do that again. ​

    BASHIR
    Don’t worry, Ezri. I won’t be.
    This is where I belong. ​

    He exchanges a look with Vaughn – he’s out. No more.

    PRYNN
    You too. I’m not ready to lose
    you yet, Dad. Not after we only
    just found each other again. ​

    VAUGHN
    I promise, baby. I’m not going
    anywhere. ​

    Three couples happily reunited – Dax and Bashir, Vaughn and Prynn, and Quark and Ro.


    69 INT. DS9 – TARAN’ATAR’S QUARTERS


    Taran’atar stands by his window, looking out at the stars. Reflected in the window, we see Kira quietly approach.

    KIRA
    Looks like it’s over. Bowers
    went back down to clear up. He
    found Cole’s body. And there’s
    no sign of L’Haan anywhere on
    the station.
    (beat)
    It wasn’t your fault, you know.
    They used you. ​

    TARAN’ATAR
    Yes - again. How many times now?
    For twenty-five years, I thought
    I was strong. The oldest Jem’Hadar
    alive - surely I must have been
    strong. But I was never strong. I
    let others use me, time and again. ​

    KIRA
    You can change that if you want. ​

    TARAN’ATAR
    Can I? Is this how it is - to
    have free will? To be constantly
    pulled back and forth by forces
    outside your control? ​

    KIRA
    Not always as dramatically as
    you’ve suffered it, but basic-
    ally yes. This is how it is. ​

    TARAN’ATAR
    Then this freedom that you all
    prize so strongly – surely it is
    an illusion. If your circumstances
    dictate your choices, what value
    do those choices have? They are
    no more your own than if I were
    following the orders of a Founder.
    None of us controls our own fate. ​

    KIRA
    But that’s what makes the
    decisions that you do make all
    the more important. To have even
    that little bit of control over
    your own life - to say, “This is
    how it’s going to be, because
    I say so” – that’s the real
    victory, Taran’atar. That’s
    reclaiming your life. ​

    TARAN’ATAR
    Then I make this one decision
    for myself, here and now. In
    my position as Ambassador, I
    agree to the alliance. ​

    KIRA
    Are you sure? ​

    TARAN’ATAR
    Yes. The Ascendants may not be
    responsible for my confusion,
    but they are responsible for
    the chaos of the Jem’Hadar. I
    will solve both problems at
    once. Contact the Vorta. Tell
    her – the Dominion will fight
    alongside Bajor, and we will
    destroy the Ascendants. ​

    Kira takes a deep breath. This is it. We’re going to war.


    70 INT. DS9 – VAUGHN’S QUARTERS


    Vaughn plods into his quarters, exhausted after a long few days. He slumps onto the sofa, drained. He looks to his guitar on its stand. Pictures of Prynn and Ruriko on a side table. A spare uniform, hanging on a hook against the wall.

    VAUGHN
    I put them all in danger. Played
    on their loyalties, insecurities,
    to get them to do what I wanted.
    Forced Bashir to compromise his
    ethics. Nearly killed Ro. Prynn,
    Dax, Quark... all terrified for
    their lives for days on end. All
    for my great crusade. ​

    Batanides emerges from off screen, calm and sympathetic.

    BATANIDES
    It was all necessary, Elias.
    Hard, I know... but necessary. ​

    Vaughn stares off into the distance. Was it, really?


    73 INT. DS9 – SECURITY CELLS


    Etana, alone in her cell. She looks up, into the eyes of...

    Ro, sat in a metal chair opposite her, outside the cell. She doesn’t look angry, or upset. She’s calm, pensive. Prepared to hear Etana out.

    Etana looks back at her, desperate to explain or apologise or make it right somehow. They have a lot to talk about. But neither has any idea how to begin.


    74 EXT. SPACE


    Vaughn’s supershuttle zooms back through space at high warp, heading in the other direction.


    75 INT. SHUTTLE – REAR CABIN


    L’Haan sits cross-legged on the bunk. The lights are low, and her meditation lamp burns on the windowsill. Her eyes are closed, and she’s having trouble ordering her thoughts. She’s trying, but her Vulcan control has been hurt.

    L’HAAN
    I control my emotions. They do
    not control me. ​

    It’s not working. L’Haan opens her eyes, stares into the flame. Works to control her thoughts. Repeats her mantra.

    L’HAAN
    I control my emotions. They do
    not control me.
    (beat)
    That is the order of things. ​


    BLACK OUT:


    END OF SHOW


    .