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ACT FIVE
FADE IN:
37 EXT. COBBLED STREET - NIGHT
The mist swirls, the moon peeks out...
38 INT. COLE’S APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM
Bashir has taken a second chair by the fire. Cole is back in his own chair, the flames crackling between them. Cole sips a mug of hot tea. Bashir has a mug also, but he sniffs at it warily. Cole sees this and chuckles.
COLE
Doctor, please. If I wanted to
kill you, would I have had the
admiral bring you all the way
to my own home?
BASHIR
Maybe that’s precisely why you
brought me here – because you
don’t plan on letting me leave.
You know I’ll remember every
step of the way here from the
dinner party.
COLE
I do know that, yes. And I’m
glad you’re not bothering to
pretend otherwise. But you’d
have figured out the location
wherever I met you. So why go
to any extra trouble?
Accepting that logic, Bashir sips at the drink. To his surprise, it’s actually quite pleasant.
BASHIR
I’ve been waiting for weeks,
you know. Just keeping myself
occupied with debriefings and
conferences and writing papers.
And beginning to wonder if you
would ever respond to my hints.
COLE
I’m sure you can understand my
caution, Doctor. After all, how
many times exactly have you
called us an abomination on the
face of the galaxy, or a pox to
be stamped out, or some other
equally pithy yet overdramatic
epithet? And now here you sit,
begging to join the party?
BASHIR
Begging?! I don’t beg, Mister
Cole. But as I’ve indicated in
my logs, a certain situation
has arisen on Deep Space Nine
that, in all good conscience,
I find I cannot be a party to.
COLE
Yes, this whole Ascendant thing.
Kind of a mess, isn’t it? What
I’m not clear on, however... is
why you imagine my organisation
should care one way or the other.
BASHIR
You once told me, and I quote,
“People die all the time. It’s
simply a matter of who, how,
and how many.” As much as it
pains me to say it, if anyone
has to die, then I’d rather it
be the Eav’oq, and not the people
I’ve sworn to protect on Bajor
and DS-Nine. Especially since
the Eav’oq don’t seem to care
if they die anyway. And since
you claim your raison d’être
is to protect Federation lives,
I thought that might appeal to
you. Or am I wrong?
Cole takes a moment to think it all over. He sips at his tea, quite content to take his time and not rush anything. He may be outwardly calm, but there’s many layers inside.
COLE
So you’ll betray your friends
in order to protect them?
BASHIR
That’s not what I’m doing.
COLE
I’m not judging, Doctor. It’s
all semantics anyway. I just
want you to grasp how they’ll
see you once this is over.
BASHIR
I don’t want them to know.
COLE
You’re afraid of tarnishing
your good image? I shouldn’t
worry. They’re hardly a bunch
of angels on that station,
are they?
BASHIR
They’re good, honest people.
COLE
Really? I know things about your
sainted Captain Sisko that would
curl your hair. But that’s by the
by. If I agree to work with you
on this – to commit resources
and personnel and capital – what
will you give me in return?
BASHIR
I’m giving you me. Isn’t that
what you’ve always wanted?
COLE
I’ll grant that we’ve expended
considerable effort to convince
you we can work together. That
alone makes me suspicious as to
why those efforts should have
suddenly borne fruit.
BASHIR
I’m not going to pretend I’ve
converted, if that’s what you
mean. You wouldn’t believe me
if I did. I’m only saying that
there’s a cause that’s dear to
my heart, and I need your help
to see it through. It doesn’t
mean I’m working for you full
time from now on.
Cole sips his tea, and chuckles to himself.
BASHIR
What?
COLE
You’ve been working for us for
years, Doctor. You just refuse
to admit it to yourself.
Bashir goes quiet, refusing to confirm. Cole takes silence as assent.
COLE
You realise, of course, that
I’m going to be keeping a very
close eye on you? Testing you
constantly?
BASHIR
I’d expect nothing less.
COLE
Alright. Let’s say you’ve
convinced me. What next?
Bashir’s mind is racing for what to say next, all while he has to look like he’s nervous to be here...
BASHIR
Next... we work out a plan for
how to stop Kira from pulling
us all into another war.
Cole smiles modestly. He knows so much more than Bashir...
39 INT. DS9 – INFIRMARY
Starting on Kira...
KIRA
Are you absolutely sure?
Revealing that she’s talking to Dax, Gard and Tarses in the main room of the Infirmary. Behind them in the surgical suite, Etana is tending to Odan, who sits on a bio-bed.
GARD
I agree with Commander Dax’s
conclusion, Captain. I think
a controlled separation is the
best chance for the continued
health of host and symbiont.
KIRA
(to Tarses)
And you... you’re sure about
this serum of Julian’s?
TARSES
It was never tested. It’s still
officially experimental. But
Doctor Bashir’s notes indicate
that it worked in the field,
on a statistically significant
number of patients. I’m prepared
to use it – with the patient’s
consent, of course.
KIRA
Can he give consent? If he’s
as messed up psychologically
as you say, is he legally
capable of it?
DAX
I think he’s made his wishes
clear, Captain. He’s been trying
to end this joining himself for
a while, just in a more extreme
way. This way would allow both
of them to survive and get on
with their lives.
Taking that all on board, Kira steps through into the surgical suite. Odan sits on the bio-bed, visibly suffering but clear-headed nevertheless, not drugged or sedated.
KIRA
Mister Odan, I’m Captain Kira.
I’m in command here. Before we
go through with this, I need to
ask you – are you absolutely
certain? From the little I know
on the subject, this isn’t the
kind of thing you can change
your mind about later.
Odan looks up at Kira. He knows she’s being sympathetic, takes no offense. He’s tries to explain himself clearly.
ODAN
Captain... I appreciate your
concerns. But I have seen and
felt nothing but death for two
years. Constantly dying, but
never able to actually die
from it? Had I known this was
even an option, I would have
done it a long time ago. So
yes, I’m ready. I consent to
this in the strongest terms.
Kira can’t really empathise with what he’s going through, but she can sympathise. She nods to Tarses.
TARSES
Alright. Clear the room, please.
I need to prepare for surgery.
Nurse...?
Etana comes back and begins to gently guide Odan back onto the bio-bed. Kira, Dax and Gard all move back to the main room. Before they go, Dax turns and looks back at Odan. He’s looking back at her, a serene smile on his face, a silent thank you. She nods, and turns to leave.
KIRA
So how are you handling it?
The tone and look make it clear Kira is talking about more than just Odan. She’s talking about Julian. Dax understands that, and with a deep breath, replies equally cryptically.
DAX
I’ll be fine. Just gonna take a
little getting used to. Seeing
someone else in that room.
KIRA
It’ll all work out.
Again – Bashir, not Tarses. Not that Gard gets any of that. Kira moves to leave.
KIRA
Mister Gard.
GARD
Captain.
And she’s gone, leaving Dax and Gard alone to watch.
GARD
Are you alright? Considering
this was your idea, you don’t
seem overly happy about it.
DAX
That’s cause I’m not. Look at
us, Gard. You and me... we get
to keep our symbionts. Again.
All around us, joinings are
ending. I’m destroying another
Trill symbiosis right now. But
not us. We just keep going.
(bitter)
I guess we’re... “special.”
GARD
You made the right choice, Dax.
DAX
I know. I understand it. But
I don’t have to like it.
40 INT. DS9 – TARAN’ATAR’S QUARTERS
The door opens, and Vannis enters from the corridor. Tense but professional. Not looking forward to facing Taran’atar again, but it has to be done.
Taran’atar is waiting for her. He can’t apologise for what he did... as much as he might want to.
VANNIS
Ambassador. What is your wish?
TARAN’ATAR
Return to the Idran system.
Continue to manage and compile
information about the current
activities of the Ascendants...
and about the state of the
Dominion. I will call for you
if I need you.
VANNIS
Yes, Ambassador.
She turns to leave, but he calls her back.
TARAN’ATAR
Vannis... thank you. For your
assistance.
It’s as much of an apology as she’s going to get. She calmly considers her response, resigned to her role.
VANNIS
It is... the order of things,
Ambassador.
And she leaves.
41 INT. DS9 – DOCKING RING CORRIDOR
Gard’s unnamed security agent is gently carrying a portable symbiont pod (seen in previous episodes) into the airlock, the slosh of the liquid audible as he goes.
Dax stands nearby, observing. She turns to see Gard gently leading Kinjer (no longer Odan) towards the airlock. Kinjer is walking cautiously, still a little tender after the operation. Gard is gentle and considerate with him. Dax smiles, pleased to see that Gard can be a nice guy.
DAX
Kinjer. How are you feeling?
KINJER
Still a bit spacey right now,
Commander. And weirdly light.
But I’m looking forward to
getting my own mind back.
DAX
Keep in touch.
With a warm goodbye, Kinjer heads into the airlock and away. Gard pauses, turns back to Dax.
GARD
Dax... I’ve been thinking. If
you really feel strongly about
protecting the symbionts and
getting Trill society back
into joining shape, then come
back with me.
DAX
Come back... to Trill?
GARD
You said you weren’t planning
on staying here. Just waiting
for your next assignment. This
could be it. Come home, join
the Starfleet contingent on
the homeworld, and work with me
to help the symbionts. That’s
what I’ve been doing, you know.
Dax smiles uncertainly – Gard is surprising her.
DAX
That sounds like a wonderful
idea, Gard. But I can’t.
GARD
Why not?
Dax pauses to think it through. What is she allowed to say?
DAX
Friends of mine are in danger
right now. I can’t leave until
I know they’re safe. But thank
you for the offer. And I hope
you’ll hold it open for me.
Gard is curious about that, but knows he shouldn’t ask.
GARD
Then until next time.
He steps into the airlock and away. Dax watches the airlock roll closed, and with a thoughtful nod, she turns to leave. Walking down the corridor alone, she worries about Bashir.
42 EXT. COBBLED STREET - NIGHT
The same general area on Earth as before, but a different street, enough to signify that we are not at Cole’s house.
43 INT. BASHIR’S BEDROOM
A small bedroom with a single bed and the usual furniture. Earth-style, not Starfleet. Basic but cosy. Bashir stands by the bed, unpacking from his travelling bag.
In the midst of unpacking, he glances over his shoulder, making sure the door behind him is closed. Satisfied that it is, he turns back to his bag, and pulls out what looks like a simple flask, a travel mug for coffee or soup.
Opening the lid of the flask, he reveals a portable version of Vaughn’s special transporter module inside. With a press of a button, the blue light at the top shines, casting a no signals, no weapons, no transporters field over the room. That done, he reaches into his pocket and brings out Admirals Batanides’ combadge.
FLASHBACK
Batanides hands the combadge to Bashir...
BATANIDES
Hold this for me, will you?
BACK TO SCENE
Bashir sits on the edge of the bed. Gently prises the cover of the combadge away, revealing the technology inside it.
FLASHBACK
As Bashir and Batanides browse the buffet table...
BATANIDES
Oh what’s his name, the captain
of the Musashi...
BACK TO SCENE
With a tiny metal tool, he works at the miniature controls inside the badge. He spells the name out as he does it.
BASHIR
Terapane...
Nothing happens. Bashir frowns, thinks a bit more.
BASHIR
Okay... Alexandros.
He inputs the letters... and there’s a positive bleep. He smiles with childish pride. And then Vaughn’s voice sounds, small and tinny but filled with determination and portent.
VAUGHN (comm)
I hope you’re well. You should
know... we are coming.
44 EXT. SPACE
The Trill transport we saw earlier is warping through space on its way home.
45 INT. TRILL TRANSPORT - QUARTERS
Darkened for ship’s night. A door from the corridor opens, revealing Gard. He pokes his head in...
GARD
Kinjer? Are you asleep?
No response. He steps in further.
GARD
Just wanted to check on you,
see how you’re doing.
Another step in. Then he sees something shrouded in the shadows... a pair of boots, swinging loosely in the air.
GARD
Gods damn it!
Gard rushes in to the body, hanging from a sheet tied into a rope and slung over a ceiling beam. He pulls a knife out of his back pocket and slashes at the rope, and catches the body before it can fall. He lowers it gently to the ground.
GARD
Oh gods, no...
But it’s too late – Kinjer is clearly dead. Gard notices a piece of paper crumpled up in his hand. He pulls it out, flattens it out to read it. It’s hand-written, and says...
I CAN STILL REMEMBER
Gard slumps to a sitting position on the floor, next to the body. He hangs his head and sighs.
FADE OUT:
END OF SHOW
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