Hi all Time for episode 17. Here's the links: Deep Space Nine Season 10 - eps 1 to 22 11x01 - "Systems Under Repair" (Ad Astra, pdf, ebook) As Ro settles into command, Prynn pleads for help with rescuing her father. 11x02 - "Structural Integrity Compromised" (Ad Astra, pdf, ebook) While the Defiant responds to a distress call, Prynn tracks down answers. 11x03 - "Self Destruct Initiated" (Ad Astra, pdf, ebook) A survivor of the Ascendant attack causes havoc in the Bajoran system. 11x04 - "Separation Manoeuvres Complete" (Ad Astra, pdf, ebook) Things fall apart for Kira, Odo and the Dominion alliance. 11x05 - "The New Normal" (Ad Astra, pdf, ebook) After Vaughn’s return to the station, new crew arrangements need to be made. 11x06 - "Two Steps Forward" (AdAstra, pdf, ebook) Cardassia sends a new representative to the station, but not everyone welcomes him. 11x07 - "In Love and War" (AdAstra, pdf, ebook) Vaughn assigns Prynn, Nog and Candlewood to a secret mission on Empok Nor. 11x08 - "Puppy Love" (AdAstra, pdf, ebook) As Pif tries to find a job on the station, Quark and Ro babysit the puppies. 11x09 - "The Laughing Policeman" (AdAstra, pdf, ebook) The station’s new security chief arrives, leaving Major Cenn with a dilemma. 11x10 - "Gut Feelings" (AdAstra, pdf, ebook) When Raiq falls ill, the situation could lead to catastrophe for the crew. 11x11 - "The Crucible" (AdAstra, pdf, ebook) When Vaughn takes Ro on a training voyage, things go from bad to worse. 11x12 - "Vigil" (AdAstra, pdf, ebook) Sisko’s friend Prylar Eivos dies, leading to problems between him and Kasidy. 11x13 - "The Late Show! With Morn" (AdAstra, pdf, ebook) It’s your new favourite chat show, starring the most talkative man in the galaxy. 11x14 - "No Confidence" (AdAstra, pdf, ebook) Raiq asks Kira to take her back through the wormhole to look for more Ascendants. 11x15 - "Never See It Coming" (AdAstra, pdf, ebook) A challenge to Kai Solis’s leadership leads to tensions on the station and Bajor. 11x16 - "Unleashed" (AdAstra, pdf, ebook) Candlewood discovers a strange computer program that runs amok on the station. 11x17 - "Whistleblower" (AdAstra, pdf, ebook) Someone has released military secrets to the public. Then Quark is arrested. Enjoy! .
TEASER FADE IN: 1 INT. DS9 – MAIN OPS CENTRE Open upon Major CENN at the central Ops table. It’s a normal day, and he’s working as normal. NOG is at the engineering station, CANDLEWOOD at sciences, BOWERS at tactical, extras elsewhere. NOG If I ever suggest going to that place again, you have permission to shoot me on the spot. CANDLEWOOD Oh come on, Nog. It can’t have been that bad. NOG Oh you think so? Would you want to spend four hours being lectured by a two-hundred year old Vulcan on the relative merits of wild or domesticated sehlat milk? I swear it was the worst party I’ve ever been to. I would rather die than go through that again. CANDLEWOOD So... that would make it a fête worse than death? Nog grabs a padd off the side and makes as if to throw it at Candlewood’s head. Candlewood ducks. Cenn smiles at the capering, but as the senior officer on duty... CENN Alright, fellas. Settle down. An ALERT comes in on Cenn’s panels. He reads it, frowns in worry. Then he touches another control. CENN Commander, could you come out here, please? After a moment, the office door opens and RO strides out. RO What’s going on, Major? CENN There’s an incoming signal from General Lenaris – he wants to speak to both of us. RO (shrug) Okay. Put him on screen. Ro joins Cenn at the central table. Cenn works his panels, and the main viewscreen changes to show an image of Bajoran Militia General LENARIS, looking grave. RO General, what can we do for you? LENARIS (screen) Ah, Commander, Major. Good. Have you seen the news today? RO Not yet. Why? LENARIS (screen) Watch this. Lenaris works some controls at his end, and the image on screen changes to a NEWS BROADCAST, featuring regular reporter TIANA FEEN (last seen 10x21 “Into the Fire”). Tiana is improvising, hastily coming up with a report on the fly for a developing situation. TIANA (screen) And we’re still receiving reports of violence on the streets of the capital in response to this news. 2 ON SCREEN The image changes to scenes of Bajoran civilians rioting on the streets, as Bajoran Militia and Starfleet officers work together to keep them under control. We’re up close with them, camera shaking as the cameraman is buffeted about. TIANA (v.o.) We’re receiving these live images now from Teris Juze and Lamerat Anjen, who are on the ground in Ashalla. Teris, can you hear me? 3 RO and CENN watching this, stunned... RO What the hell is going on? 4 ON SCREEN The camera image moves around, finding field reporter TERIS JUZE looking a little battered but determined. TERIS Tiana! The crowds here in Ashalla have doubled in the last hour. At least. As you can see, the Militia and Starfleet are working together to try to get it under control, but they are heavily outnumbered. TIANA (o.s.) And what are the people saying? Can you hear them? TERIS It’s a little – (buffeted by protestor) - a little confused and scattered, but the general consensus seems to be demands for a response from the government and the Militia as to whether the leaked information is true, and fury at both, on the assumption that it is true. 5 RO and CENN Ro looks disturbed. She glances to Cenn... RO “Leaked information”? On the screen, the image returns to the news studio. TIANA (screen) Thanks, Teris. Stay safe. (beat) If you’re just joining us, the top story is that classified military data has been released onto the Bajoran comnet by as-yet-unknown parties - data that reveals the existence of a ship belonging to the race known as the Ascendants, currently being held in Starfleet protection on Derna. As Ro’s jaw drops with horror, the screen changes to a still image of RAIQ, taken by some enterprising amateur cameraman. Tiana’s narration continues... TIANA (v.o.) The Ascendant woman Raiq is currently residing on Bajor at Janir monastery... The image changes to a stock of Vedek YEVIR. TIANA (cont) ...the residence of Vedek Yevir Linjarin, of the Oralian Way. The image returns to the studio... TIANA (screen) So far there has been no official response from either the First Minister or the Militia to these startling accusations - The image CUTS suddenly, returning us to General Lenaris, looking more like thunder than ever. LENARIS (screen) It seems that your secret is out, Commander. RO Crap. How? Who did this? CENN The newsreader said it was ‘as yet unknown’... LENARIS (screen) Thankfully, Major, our own techs are somewhat more skilled in tracking electronic signatures than the media’s. Naturally we haven’t told them what we know. RO Then you do know? LENARIS (screen) Oh, yes. He was good, I’ll give him that. But we’re better. As Ro wonders what that means... 6 INT. DS9 – QUARK’S BAR The news and its response have not reached here. In Quark’s it’s a perfectly pleasant afternoon with a normal crowd. QUARK himself is on the open side of the bar, comfortably schmoozing an ALIEN customer. QUARK Well, you know what I always say. If you can’t do the time, you really should have done a better job of hiding what you were up to. The alien nods sadly. EVIK (o.s.) Quark. Quark turns towards the main entrance, where EVIK, Bowers, Cenn and Ro are all entering together. Several security officers are with them. Quark doesn’t know why they’re here, but a small army of armed officers can’t be good. QUARK Lieutenant Commander Evik. Can I get you a drink? EVIK Not right now, Ambassador. Right now... we have a job to do. QUARK Really. There’s an awkward pause. Evik looks disappointed. Bowers looks professional. Cenn looks nauseous. Ro looks pissed. EVIK Ambassador Quark. Under Starfleet code article 36-Beta, subsection seventeen, you are under arrest for the unauthorised release of classified data to the public. Quark takes this calmly – he knew they’d be coming for him. Meanwhile, the crowd in the bar goes quiet, listening in. TREIR emerges from the edges to watch – unhappily. QUARK I’m impressed. I didn’t think I’d left any traces, but I guess I’m just not as good as I thought. Unluckily for you, as the Ferengi Ambassador, I enjoy diplomatic immunity from prosecution. So I’m afraid you won’t be arresting anyone today, Commander. (beat) Now if you’d like a drink, I’ll be happy to oblige. Ro steps forward – her fury is blistering. Quark sees it, and is sad for it. RO I don’t care. You have broken the law for the last time, Quark. You have betrayed my trust. Mister Evik, Mister Bowers... on my authority you may consider the Ambassador’s diplomatic immunity rescinded. Arrest him. Now. The junior security officers draw their weapons. Evik and Bowers step forward and grab Quark by the arms. Quark stands his ground, refusing to be intimidated. Keeping his dignity, Quark allows himself to be marched out the bar and towards the security cells. The crowd have all seen this happen in broad daylight. Cenn still looks like he could vomit. Ro is incandescent with fury. She turns to Treir... RO The bar is yours. Congratulations. Ro turns and stomps out of the bar, following the others. Treir is left dumbfounded... FADE OUT: END OF TEASER
ACT ONE FADE IN: 7 INT. DS9 – COMMANDER’S OFFICE Ro SLAMS her hand down on the desk, the padd it carries clattering against the surface. She’s standing, looming over the desk comm screen, and still blazing angry. RO Now you listen to me. I will answer questions about this when I’m damn well ready to answer questions about it. And it’s gonna take more than some hopped up little bureaucrat to make me be ready. Do you understand? ON SCREEN A BAJORAN functionary is bristling at Ro’s tone. BAJORAN (screen) This request comes directly from the office of the First Minister. You are required to – RO I don’t care who it comes from. Until the First Minister herself turns up on this station, I’m not saying a word. BAJORAN (screen) Commander Ro, this is a direct order from – RO And you’re done. Ro STABS the comm panel, cutting the signal, then turns and HURLS the padd in her hand against the wall with a SMASH. She looks up, and sees Cenn has just entered the room from Ops, and seen her tantrum. RO What? CENN You know, it might be wise to be a bit more respectful to the government. For your own sake. RO I don’t respect them. CENN It’s called diplomacy. RO It’s called lying. What do you want, anyway? Cenn steps in the room, brings up the padd in his own hand. CENN I’ve been fielding calls all morning from angry people all around the station. “Why did you keep the ship? Why didn’t you tell us? Why do you think you can arrest an ambassador?” RO What have you been telling them? CENN That I understand their concerns and that we’re looking into it. Otherwise known as “nothing”. RO What does it even say? What was the information that he released? Have you seen it? CENN I have. It’s quite narrowly focused. He wasn’t just uploading indiscriminately. It was very specifically about Axno’s ship. RO But why? Why would Quark care? And how did he even get access to that information? Everyone involved knows how sensitive this was. I can’t see any of them being that careless. CENN Neither can I. But it’s all there – the fact that we’ve had the ship since the initial incident with Axno, that we kept it on Empok Nor at first, then moved it to Derna, and that we’ve been conducting scientific research on it. Ro slumps against the wall, looking up to the ceiling. RO Why would he do this to me? CENN You’d have to ask him. Ro looks to him... and nods. That’s exactly what she’ll do. 8 INT. DS9 – SECURITY CELLS Quark sits on the bench, behind a forcefield in one of the cells. He accepts his lot – which is not to say he’s happy. QUARK I bet you’re feeling very... “disappointed” right now, aren’t you, Commander? Reveal that he’s talking to Lt Cmdr Evik. EVIK Well, I wouldn’t say I’m happy, exactly. QUARK You know who would be really happy right now? Odo. EVIK You think so? QUARK Are you kidding me? There was nothing he dreamed of more, in his little bucket, than getting me in one of these cells and leaving me here. He’d be in here right now gloating, saying how he always knew I’d come to a bad end. Then he’d grunt and strut off like he was High Sheriff of Smugtown. (beat) At least if I do come to a bad end, it’ll be for a good reason. RO (o.s.) You think this was a good thing? Evik and Quark both turn, and see that Ro has been hovering in the doorway, out of sight. Quark stays calm. QUARK Yes. Yes, I do. RO Commander Evik. Would you mind? EVIK I’m... not certain that’s a good idea, Commander. RO (cold smile) I didn’t ask. Get out. Reluctantly, Evik does as he’s told, and turns to leave. Quark chuckles sadly. QUARK No witnesses, right? You better keep those life-sign sensors on. Evik leaves, his expression suggesting that yes, maybe he should. Once he’s gone, Ro steps closer to Quark. RO You think this is a joke, Quark? QUARK Not for a second. RO Do you have any idea what you’ve done? QUARK I told the public what they had a right to know. What their military is up to behind their backs. RO You’ve let out highly classified information. You’ve started riots all over Bajor, and outside that door right now. Who gave you the information? QUARK I don’t reveal my sources. RO Oh yes you do. QUARK You’re gonna torture it out of me? RO If I have to. Who gave you the information, Quark? QUARK That’s Ambassador Quark to you. RO You’re not the ambassador in here. In here, you’re nobody. QUARK Do you really think you’ve got the upper hand here, Laren? The moral high ground? RO You broke the law, Quark! QUARK You broke the trust of the entire Bajoran people. Keeping dangerous alien technology. Experimenting on it. Putting every life on Bajor and this station at risk. And then when somebody calls you out on it, you break the diplomatic immunity between two sovereign governments and illegally hold a prisoner without charge. It’s not looking good for you, Laren. Frustrated, Ro turns away, paces round the room. After a moment to gather her wits, she turns back to him. RO Why? Why did you do this? QUARK I told you why. Because the people deserved to know. Ro shakes her head in disgust, refusing to believe that. Then she turns and leaves. Quark watches her go, sadly pondering his options. 9 INT. DS9 – SECURITY OFFICE Ro re-enters the security office, where Evik stands. He has clearly been watching their conversation on the screens. Ro sneers as she makes to walk on past. RO Watch him. EVIK I’m watching everything. Ro pauses, turns back at the insinuation in Evik’s voice. RO I beg your pardon? EVIK Anyone being accused of a crime has the right to a fair trial. You don’t seem willing to extend that courtesy to Mister Quark. RO You’re new. You don’t know him like I do. EVIK True, I haven’t been here very long... but he has. Longer than any other resident of the station, if I’m not mistaken. I seriously doubt he’d do anything to harm the people who’ve given him a home and a career for almost twenty years. RO (astonished) Are you defending him? EVIK I’m simply trying to keep an open mind. If I may be blunt, Commander, you’re emotionally compromised here, due to your relationship with the prisoner. RO We don’t have a “relationship”. EVIK The vehemence of your reaction suggests otherwise. I suggest you leave further interactions with Quark to those less... invested. RO I spent months arguing over that damn ship with Vaughn, Bashir, Kira, Cenn... everyone. And then Quark comes in and pulls the whole thing out from under me. How would you feel? CENN (comm) Cenn to Commander Ro. RO Go ahead, Major. CENN (comm) We’ve just received a top priority message from Ferenginar. From the office of the Grand Nagus himself. RO I guess I’m not surprised. What does it say? CENN (comm) That they have already lodged an official complaint with both the Bajoran government and Starfleet Command. Also that the Nagus is outraged at the illegal treatment of the ambassador, and that if he is not released, they are prepared to break off diplomatic relations entirely and withdraw all Ferengi citizens from Federation space. RO (scoff) Is that supposed to be a threat? CENN (comm) Perhaps not. But what definitely is a threat are the three D’Kora- class Marauders on their way here now, with orders to secure Quark’s release... by force if necessary. Off Ro and Evik’s reaction to that... FADE OUT: END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO FADE IN: 10 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE A Bajoran shuttle docks at the station... 11 INT. DS9 – DOCKING RING CORRIDOR The airlock cycles open, and KIRA steps out. Ro and Cenn are there to greet her. Cenn is looking pale and sickly. As they talk, other passengers disembark from the shuttle, many giving dirty side-eye to all three of our characters. RO Nerys. KIRA Commander, Major. CENN How are things on Bajor? KIRA Not good. We’re pretty isolated in Janir, thank the Prophets. But I’m hearing stories of angry protests from all over the planet. RO Yeah. We’re hearing the same stories here. CENN I’ve already had to break up two fights on the Promenade. Some people are calling Quark a hero of the people... others a traitor. KIRA (deep breath) That’s why I’m here. Yevir came to me. He said that the kai requested me specifically, to come here and handle this. RO A simple novice? KIRA A novice who’s worked with all the people involved... and who knows because she’s been there herself. LEDAHN (o.s.) I look forward to hearing the Vedek Assembly’s position. They turn, and see that Bajoran politician LEDAHN (last seen 10x07 “Instinct”) is one of the last passengers off the shuttle. They’re all surprised to see him. RO Second Minister Ledahn. I didn’t realise you were on board. LEDAHN I was able to secure a private cabin. It’s not exactly safe to be a politician in public right now. Cenn blanches even further. This is all getting worse. LEDAHN I think it’s best we not talk in a corridor, Commander. Shall we? RO Lead the way, Major. Nodding, Cenn haltingly leads them off down the corridor. 12 INT. DS9 – SECURITY CELLS Quark still sits in his cell. Evik sits in a chair opposite the cell, holding a padd, speaking calmly and patiently. QUARK You can ask me the same question over and over as often as you like, Commander. You’ll get the same answer. EVIK It’s important that you tell us how you got the information, Quark. So far as we know, only a very small number of people had access to it. So you knowing implies a leak in our security. QUARK That your problem, not mine. EVIK And you didn’t consider coming to me or to Commander Ro, rather than going straight to the public? QUARK Work within the system, you mean? The system doesn’t work. How are you supposed to report something that’s wrong to the people who are responsible for doing it? EVIK What exactly have we done that’s so wrong? QUARK Really? Starfleet is supposed to protect the people. But you’ve put them at risk. I have ears. I know it only takes one Ascendant ship and one pilot to destroy an entire star system. And that’s exactly what you’ve got. EVIK Raiq hasn’t been anywhere near the ship, at least not when she was conscious. It’s under extremely heavy security. QUARK You shouldn’t have it in the first place. You should have destroyed it. Ro should have destroyed it. EVIK That’s not your decision to make. QUARK If the population can’t keep their leaders honest and hold them to account... who can, Mister Evik? 13 INT. DS9 – COMMANDER’S OFFICE Ro, Kira, Cenn and Ledahn. All on their feet, although Cenn stands somewhat apart, less confrontational than the rest. LEDAHN We demand that the ambassador be turned over to us for questioning. RO On what grounds? LEDAHN What he has done affects Bajor. RO It wasn’t Bajor’s secrets he let out. It was Starfleet’s. He’s staying here. CENN He’s being questioned right now. We’ll share what we learn. LEDAHN (snide) You’ll forgive me if my confidence in that has been shaken, Major. KIRA The Vedek Assembly agrees with the Ferengi government that the ambassador should be released immediately. And I agree too. RO What?! KIRA Ro, Quark hasn’t done anything wrong. Against the rules, maybe. But that’s not the same thing. RO I can’t believe you of all people are defending Quark. KIRA Yeah, that used to be your thing. But I think you’re punishing him unfairly. And the Kai agrees. CENN (flustered) Look, it’s... is it really so bad? Maybe the public should know. KIRA Exactly. They can handle it. You underestimate them if you think they can’t. RO It’s not about whether the people can handle knowing we’ve got an Ascendant ship! LEDAHN I rather think it is. If I can’t even tell people where I’m going for fear of being attacked, then clearly this was a bad idea. RO (dismissive) So get a bodyguard or something. 14 INT. DS9 – MAIN OPS CENTRE As the raised voices continue from inside the office, Nog and Candlewood get on with their work in Ops. CANDLEWOOD You’re awfully quiet. NOG (tight) I’ve got nothing to say. CANDLEWOOD Your uncle has just pulled off the biggest classified information heist in decades. That demands some kind of reaction from you. NOG He broke the law. He’s in jail. That’s all I need to know. Candlewood gets up from his station, walks across to Nog (passing the office doors through which we can still hear the muffled arguments), and leans against Nog’s console. CANDLEWOOD Nog, he’s your family. You should at least talk to him. NOG I told you. I have nothing to say. Don’t ask me again, John. As Nog turns back to his console, with the shouting voices still going in the background... 15 INT. DS9 – HABITAT RING CORRIDOR Ro stomps along the corridor, still in a very bad mood. She turns a corner, THUMPS the wall in unfocused anger on her way past, and keeps on going. She passes a turbolift entrance. Just after, the turbolift arrives and the doors open. Treir emerges, calls after her. TREIR Commander! Can I talk to you? Ro pauses, grits her teeth. Really not in the mood for this. But she makes an effort to be pleasant and receptive. RO Treir. What can I do for you? TREIR You can let Quark go. RO (turns to leave) Goodbye, Treir. TREIR Don’t walk away from me! You will talk to me, dammit! Ro turns back to Treir, looms threateningly. RO Who the hell do you think you are? TREIR I don’t think – I know – that I’m not one of your officers, and you can’t boss me around. And I know why you’re doing this. RO (derisive) Are you gonna tell me I’m secretly in love with him? That this is a spat between lovers and if I could just let my scorned woman heart go then I’d see he was right along? TREIR Or you’re afraid he’s the scorned one who did it to get back at you. RO He doesn’t care about me. He’s proven that. TREIR Oh yes he does. But this was never about you. RO (grabs Treir) Did you know about this? Did you know he was going to do this? TREIR (shakes free) No. But I know Quark. Better than you do sometimes, I think. And this was not about you. This was about right and wrong. RO And Quark is the one in the wrong. TREIR I don’t think you’d be so angry if you really believed that, Laren. RO Treir, I’m going to say this very clearly. I have had enough. I don’t care how many people plead or beg or demand. Quark is staying where he is. Goodbye. Ro turns away again and continues to stomp off down the corridor. Treir watches her go, and makes a decision. 16 INT. DS9 – SECURITY CELLS Quark is still sat in his cell, quite calm. He looks around at the walls of his cell, at the forcefield in front of him and at the bare, unpopulated room beyond. He sighs. QUARK You really got yourself into it this time, Quark. Mother would be so proud. TREIR Not as proud as I am. Treir has appeared in the doorway from the office. QUARK How did you get in here? I thought I wasn’t allowed any visitors. TREIR I convinced Lieutenant Commander Evik that I needed to ask you something about running the bar. QUARK You better not have left that idiot Grimp in charge. TREIR I think we have more important things to worry about than that right now, don’t you? Like how to get you out of here. QUARK Treir, there is no getting me out of here. TREIR Yes there is. Because I’m gonna break you out. Off Quark’s reaction to that... FADE OUT: END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE FADE IN: 17 INT. DS9 – SECURITY CELLS Picking up exactly where we left off. QUARK What are you talking about? TREIR I can talk to Major Cenn. He’s crazy about me. If I work on him just right, I’m sure I can get him to loosen the locks on your cage. QUARK (amused) And then what? TREIR And then I sneak you out of here, get you off the station, and... QUARK And what? Treir hesitates. This is a big thing for her. TREIR And then I talk to the Orion Syndicate and get them to take care of you. QUARK The Orion Syndicate?! Oh Treir, there are so many things wrong with that plan... TREIR I know they’re not the most trustworthy people, but – QUARK Plus they hate me, plus they want to make you a slave – TREIR I know all that. But you stood up for me when I needed it. I wanna return the favour. QUARK Treir... I appreciate the offer. Really. But no. I am not going to the Orion Syndicate. You are not breaking me out of here. And you are certainly not seducing Major Cenn to do it. He’s a good guy, he doesn’t deserve that. TREIR You don’t have to be a martyr, Quark. You’ve got people out there right now fighting for you. QUARK (touched) Really? That’s sweet. TREIR And you’ve also got three Ferengi Marauders coming in with their weapons charged any minute now. QUARK I’m not running, Treir. I did this, and now I’m going to face the consequences. Quark sits back in his cell, resolute. 18 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE One at a time, three Ferengi Marauder vessels drop out of warp and approach the station. CENN (v.o.) (shaky) First Officer’s log, Major Cenn Desca reporting. The Ferengi cruisers Kreechta, Togram and Flibb’s Folly have just arrived. The three ships take up positions surrounding the station in an unambiguously threatening posture. CENN (v.o., cont) This has gone so much further than I expected. If we end up going to war over this... I don’t know what I’m supposed to do here. 19 INT. DS9 – WARD ROOM The doors open and DAIMON GROB (last seen on screen in 10x08 “Property Values”) struts proudly in. The diminutive Ferengi holds himself tall as he can, wearing a fur-lined uniform as in early TNG, energy-whip coiled at his side. Out in the corridor, two armed Ferengi security officers cringe at the dark architecture and suspiciously eye the two Starfleet security also standing there. The door closes on them, and Ro, Kira, Cenn and Ledahn rise to greet him. RO Daimon Grob, welcome to Deep Space Nine. Allow me to present Second Minister Ledahn, Novice Kira – GROB Where is the ambassador? CENN (tense) He’s being held for questioning. If you’d like to see him, that can be arranged. GROB I would like to see him freed. I have orders from the Grand Nagus himself to ensure the ambassador’s freedom... or else. RO Let me be clear about something, Daimon. Threats are not going to work. You don’t scare me. GROB I’m wearing fur, aren’t I? Of course you’re scared of me! And I will not be talked down to by clothed females. RO One more comment like that, and you’ll be wearing your fur on the inside, Daimon. Kira and Ledahn smirk. Cenn gulps nervously. RO Now if you’ll take a seat, I’m prepared to talk about this. But if you’re just going to bluster, we can leave right now. Grob seethes quietly to himself... but begrudgingly sits down. Ro, Cenn, Kira and Ledahn do the same. 20 INT. DS9 – QUARK’S BAR Nog is sat at the bar, eating his lunch, as business goes on around him. The atmosphere is quiet, as they all discuss recent events in hushed, worried tones. Treir steps up to Nog from her place behind the bar. TREIR I’m disappointed in you, Nog. NOG (surprised) Why, what did I do? TREIR You abandoned your family. People who’ve never even met him are fighting to defend his name, and you haven’t even been to see him. NOG Treir, this really isn’t any of your business. TREIR You know what I don’t understand? How come I, who have done nothing but fight with the son of a slorg since the day I got here, am the only one who seems to give a damn. NOG You think I don’t care? I care a lot. I’m embarrassed. I’m ashamed of him. I don’t wanna see him. I don’t wanna talk to him. He disgusts me. Nog throws down his fork onto the plate, leaving his food half finished. Then he stands, turns and stomps across the bar and out onto the Promenade. 21 INT. DS9 – PROMENADE (CONTINUOUS) Exiting the bar, Nog catches sight of the security office doors. He pauses, torn by indecision. What will he do? 22 INT. DS9 – SECURITY OFFICE Evik returns from the cells, stopping in surprise to find Nog standing in the office, watching his uncle on screen. EVIK Plucking up the courage? NOG Trying not to reach for a phaser. Evik steps aside; with a nod, Nog walks past to the cells. 23 INT. DS9 – SECURITY CELLS Nog enters the cells area, seeing Quark sat across from him. Quark looks up, smiles in muted relief. But Nog has nothing but scorn for him. NOG I always knew you were a criminal. QUARK Nice to know I’m appreciated. NOG How much did you get paid, uncle? How much money does it take for you to spit on the organisation I’ve dedicated my life to? On the people who’ve protected you, who let you get away with all your little schemes over the years? Huh? How much, uncle, to send an entire planet’s society to hell? QUARK (chuckle) At least you’ve inherited my flair for the dramatic, if nothing else. I’m surprised at you, Nog. You’re the one who always says money isn’t everything. NOG And I believe that. But you – QUARK Then you should be happy! I’ve finally lived up to all your hopes and dreams. I didn’t take a single slip of latinum for this. Not one. NOG I don’t believe you. QUARK Check my accounts if you want. I have nothing to hide. I received the information, I read through it, I decided that the public had a right to know that the people charged with protecting them are actually putting them in danger, so I passed it on. Simple as that. NOG Who gave you the information? QUARK Okay, I guess I do have one thing to hide. You know a businessman never reveals his contacts. NOG He does if you pay him enough. QUARK We already established it’s not about the money. I’m not getting any reward for this, Nog. Actually I’m making a substantial loss. I stand to lose my business, my reputation, even my freedom. But you know what? It was worth it. Nog is dumbfounded. This is so unlike Quark, and yet it seems to be true. Nog doesn’t know what to believe... 24 ON SCREEN A small personal screen. It shows the NEWS FEED, where Bajoran civilians continue to riot in the streets. Militia and Starfleet officers work together to control them. TIANA (v.o.) The Vedek Assembly has come out in support of Ambassador Quark, calling him “a scapegoat and the victim of a monstrous miscarriage of justice”. 25 INT. DS9 – CENN’S QUARTERS Now we see that Cenn is watching, in the dark, alone in his quarters. He looks absolutely stricken, horrified. TIANA (screen) The First Minister’s office has said they will make a complete review of the evidence against the ambassador before deciding how to proceed. Cenn turns away from the screen and rushes to his bathroom. We stay with Cenn; Tiana’s voiceover continues over the background sounds of rioting Bajorans. TIANA (v.o.) General Lenaris has admitted that he was aware of the existence of the Ascendant vessel, but was under instructions from Starfleet not to reveal it. And Commander Ro of Deep Space Nine has refused to comment, despite several requests. In his bathroom, Cenn lurches to the sink and VOMITS hard, belly twisting and skin sweating. He retches and coughs, wracked with sobs of revulsion. Stay on him. No flinching. TIANA (v.o.) Meanwhile, the protests continue. And while Militia and Starfleet are ostensibly working together to quell them, there are unconfirmed reports that Militia are in fact turning on Starfleet, blaming them for having caused this crisis. Cenn drags himself upright and stares in the mirror. He looks awful – sweating, dark circles, hair unkempt. TIANA (v.o.) Dozens of injuries have been reported, and there are rumours of at least one death in the fighting outside the Starfleet recruitment offices in Musilla province... Off Cenn’s stricken face in the mirror... FADE OUT: END OF ACT THREE
ACT FOUR FADE IN: 26 INT. DS9 – COMMANDER’S OFFICE Appearing on Ro’s desk screen is the one and only Admiral JANEWAY. Ro sits in the command chair, on edge but forced to control it in front of her superior officer. JANEWAY (screen) You’re risking a major diplomatic incident with this, Commander. You cannot imprison a duly appointed envoy from a foreign state. RO I understand the rules, Admiral. But the ambassador is our only lead in a major security breach. We need answers, and he’s the only one who can give them to us. JANEWAY (screen) I do appreciate your frustration. But you’ll have to find another way. Starfleet is coming under enormous pressure from the Ferengi to resolve this – now. I’m going to have to order you to release the ambassador. He is to be freed and back on sovereign Ferengi soil within the hour. Understood? RO Understood, admiral. JANEWAY (screen) Good. Command out. Ro’s screen returns to the standard Federation banner. Ro hisses in frustration. Then she looks up as the doors open – Novice Kira is entering. RO Oh, goodie. I was just looking for someone else to yell at me. KIRA I haven’t come to yell, Laren. But I do have to wonder what the hell you think you’re doing. RO Look, Nerys – you’ve said it many times. This isn’t your problem anymore. So just let me handle it my own way, will you? KIRA You’re right, I have no control over what you do. But I can try to make you see sense. RO Really? Are you seriously telling me you wouldn’t have come down on Quark like a ton of bricks if he’d done this when you were in charge? KIRA Probably. But then Sisko or Vaughn or somebody would have come down on me like a ton of bricks, and I’d have realised it was wrong. RO Oh, don’t talk to me about Vaughn. This is all his fault. He got me into this mess. KIRA Maybe. But you’re the one who’s gotta get out of it. RO Exactly – me. Not you, not Vaughn, not the politicians, not some admiral at Starfleet Command, not some sexist pig Ferengi captain. Me. So let me do what I need to do, and this’ll all be over. Ro gets up and stomps out of the office, leaving Kira. 27 INT. DS9 – SECURITY CELLS Ro walks into the cells area, Cenn and Evik close behind. Quark looks up in confusion – this feels like development. RO Mister Evik. I have been ordered by Starfleet Command to release the ambassador within the hour. EVIK Understood, Commander. RO An hour gives me just enough time to ask a few last questions. Make sure no-one interrupts us, please. Evik hesitates. Ro gives him a stern look. RO That’s an order, Commander. EVIK Aye, sir. Exchanging a frown with Cenn, Evik retreats back to the security office. Cenn looks no better than he did before. Staring Quark down, Ro doesn’t blink. RO Computer, disengage security and life-sign sensors within cell block one, and restrict access. Authorisation Ro Laren, commanding officer, seven-J-four-two-red. COMPUTER Authorisation confirmed. Sensors disengaged, access restricted. CENN Commander, what are you – RO Mister Cenn, please release the ambassador from his cell. Confused, Cenn moves slowly to do as he’s told. He presses the controls, and the forcefield drops. Meanwhile, Ro grabs a chair, places it in the centre of the room, then moves to a locker on the wall. Quark stands, getting worried. QUARK Are you actually going to do this, Laren? To me? RO You’ve given me no choice, Quark. CENN Why, what are you – QUARK Come on, Major. You’re a Bajoran. Don’t you recognise a Cardassian torture chamber when you see one? CENN W-w-what? No, Commander, you – RO I need to know who your contact was, Quark. It’s a matter of national security. Take a seat. QUARK Make me. RO If you insist. Major, please bring Quark to the chair. CENN But, sir – RO Do it. Hardly able to believe what’s happening, Cenn moves in a daze to grab Quark by the arm. Quark struggles. Cenn weakens. But at a renewed glare from Ro, he grabs Quark again and drags him to the chair in the middle of the room. Cenn forces Quark into the seat, then stands back. Quark is starting to get genuinely worried now. Ro steps forward. RO Thank you, Major. Good to know I can depend on someone. Cenn blanches in horror. Ro brings out a set of Starfleet handcuffs, moves behind Quark and locks them around his wrists behind the chair. QUARK Okay, Laren. Ha ha. The joke’s gone far enough now. RO (stone faced) Witness my laughter, Quark. Ro moves back to the locker and begins picking through its contents. Cenn watches, beginning to sweat. Quark struggles against his bonds. QUARK Laren... if you do this, you’re going to have to live with yourself afterwards. RO I already live with worse. Ro turns around, holding two hyposprays and walks ominously back towards Quark. RO Now. Here’s a little trick they don’t teach you at the academy. But hiding in caves, fighting Cardassians and Jem’Hadar, you learn a thing or two. One hypo of morphenolog, standard painkiller, no side effects. But one hypo of morphenelog plus one hypo of dalaphaline – what a fascinating combination. Quark struggles again against his handcuffs. Cenn seems rooted to the spot. QUARK Don’t you dare do this. RO Who gave you the information, Quark? I need to know. QUARK You behave like this, I’m not telling you anything ever again. RO I’m not kidding, Quark. Once these drugs get into your system, you’ll feel like you’re burning alive from the inside out. You’ll beg to tell me everything you know. QUARK Major, do something! RO As you were, Major. You can make this all stop right now, Quark, if you just tell me who your contact was. Who gave you the information. QUARK You don’t deserve to know! With shocking suddenness, Ro PUNCHES Quark across the face. Quark SHOUTS in pain; Cenn YELPS in surprise. CENN Commander, you have to stop – RO He betrayed me, Major! He betrayed all of us... but especially me. CENN But that’s no reason to do this. QUARK (desperate) Yes! No reason! No reason at all! Laren, look, let’s talk about this, come to some arrangement. RO No arrangements, Quark. I’ve made my last arrangement with you. Now tell me who your contact was, or I’ll make you tell me. Quark begins to SQUEAL at the top of his voice, that supremely irritating sound only a Ferengi can manage. QUARK Heeeelp! Heeeelp! Heeeelp! Ro PUNCHES him again, and he stops shrieking, starts crying and moaning instead, his face swelling and bruised. RO Shut up! I only want to hear one thing from you Quark, and that’s a name. Tell me now. QUARK I don’t know! RO I don’t believe you. QUARK It’s true, I don’t know! RO Fine. You wanna do this the hard way, that’s fine with me. Ro lifts the hyposprays. Cenn surges forwards, grabs Ro, tries to pull her away. CENN Commander, no! Ro SHOVES Cenn away – he staggers back across the room. QUARK I don’t know who it was! They never told me their name! It was anonymous! It just appeared on my comm system one day! RO Don’t lie to me, Quark. QUARK I’m not lying! I can’t tell you because I don’t know! CENN Stop it! Stop it! RO Tell me their name, Quark. CENN It was me! Ro stops, turns to Cenn. Cenn is collapsed against the wall half in tears, face ashen, looking like death. He looks back at Ro and Quark, both staring at him in confusion. CENN It was me, alright? It was me! RO What was you? CENN I’m Quark’s contact. I’m the one who gave him the information about the Ascendant ship... It was me. As Ro gawps in amazement, Cenn crumples against the wall... FADE OUT: END OF ACT FOUR
ACT FIVE FADE IN: 28 INT. DS9 – SECURITY CELLS Picking up where we left off again. Cenn leans against the wall, wracked with shudders and pants. Quark slumps in his chair, his hands still bound behind him. Ro gawps in shock. Slowly, she turns away, takes a few steps, places the hypos down on a table as she tries to process this. She can’t look either of them in the face right now. RO You. (shakes head) ...You? CENN General Lenaris ordered me to do it. To find a way to get the data out there... without it looking like it was us. RO So you used Quark? Set him up to take the fall? CENN No! No-one was supposed to know. I gave it to Quark... I thought he would pass it on to somebody else. I never thought they’d trace it back to him. QUARK (slurry) Thanks for the confidence. CENN This all got so far out of hand... But this makes it okay, right? If I own up to this... then that makes it an internal Bajoran matter. The diplomatic crisis with the Ferengi goes away. Ro finally turns to him. RO It makes it okay? Yeah, sure! It just means that instead of my best friend betraying me, it was my first officer instead. CENN But - RO Does it make it okay that Quark still let out classified data, no matter where he got it from? Does it make it okay that I arrested an ambassador and held him without charge? Does it make it okay that there have been deaths on the street because of this? Or that I was about to... She can’t even finish that. QUARK Can I say something? RO Oh god, Quark... Ro rushes to free Quark’s hands. Unbound, he gingerly touches his face, winces at the bruises and swelling. QUARK This doesn’t change anything. It was still the right thing to do. RO How can you say that? QUARK You were still wrong, Laren. You shouldn’t have kept this secret. Whoever told it, the people had a right to know. RO But look what’s happened. QUARK Because of the secrets. Not because of the truth. Ro sags against a table. She looks at Quark slumped in his seat, beaten and bruised. She looks at Cenn, crying softly against the wall. RO What do we do now? No-one has any answers. 29 INT. DS9 – SECURITY OFFICE Evik sits in his chair, unhappy about things. He looks up as he sees BASHIR approaching in a hurry, carrying a med kit. The door opens and Bashir enters. (Outside on the Promenade, a bit of a crowd has gathered). EVIK Doctor? The door from the cells opens and Ro steps through. RO Julian. In here. Bashir quickly follows Ro back into the cells. Curious, Evik follows too. 30 INT. DS9 – SECURITY CELLS Ro, Bashir and Evik re-enter the cells area, finding Quark standing, Cenn helping him. Bashir rushes to Quark, begins to inspect his face. He throws a sour look at Ro. BASHIR Is it even worth me asking what went on in here? Ro doesn’t answer. Evik is very much not happy either. Bashir just does his work, mending Quark’s face. 31 INT. DS9 – PROMENADE The security office doors open, and Quark emerges, to a ROAR of applause and cheers from the gathered crowd. Treir is there, cheering and clapping at the front of the crowd. Kira, Ledahn and Daimon Grob are also there, in various emotional states. (Security bodies keep everyone in line.) Quark stands in the doorway of security, looking fully healed, no sign of his injuries. He raises his hands in thanks to his supporters. Ro, Bashir and Evik stand grimly behind him. Cenn is nowhere to be seen. Quark moves off into the crowd, letting them adore him. As she exits the office, Ro catches eyes with Treir. Treir nods her thanks to Ro. Ro looks away awkwardly. 32 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE The three Ferengi Marauders slowly turn and leave the area. The Bajoran shuttle also detaches and moves away. 33 INT. DS9 – COMMANDER’S OFFICE Ro is sat at her desk, talking again into the comm screen, which now features General Lenaris. RO You know, General, if you hated me this much, you could have just said so. Cenn told me it all. On screen, Lenaris takes a deep breath and centres himself. LENARIS (screen) Prophets save me from officers with persecution complexes. RO I beg your pardon? LENARIS (screen) This was not personal, Commander. At least, not in so much that I wouldn’t have taken this action regardless of whose wrong-headed decision this was. RO I gave you that information as a sign of good faith. And you just stomped all over my good faith like it meant nothing to you. LENARIS (screen) Good faith does mean nothing, Commander, when it’s including me in something so corrupt. You have put the lives I protect at risk. And I have no problem embarrassing Starfleet publicly because of it. RO While you look like the victim. So now what? I’m supposed to throw myself on my sword, beg for mercy? LENARIS (screen) You’re supposed to get rid of the ship, Commander, before it gets rid of us. RO It’s a source of vital tactical and technological information. LENARIS (screen) It’s a death machine. And now everyone – everyone – knows where to find it. You have no choice. RO (cold smile) Don’t underestimate me, General. LENARIS (screen) Is that a threat, Commander? RO (shrug) I just think that if the public were so eager to know my secrets, I’m sure they’d be fascinated by yours as well. LENARIS (screen) Mutually assured destruction, then. RO It’s what it’s all about, General. Ro stabs the comm panel, cutting the signal. She sits for a moment, ponders. Then she hits the comm button again. RO Major Cenn to my office please. CENN (comm) On my way, Commander. Ro stands and gazes out of the window behind her desk. After a moment, the door opens and Cenn enters the office. He keeps it tight and controlled, no idea how this will go. CENN Major Cenn, reporting as ordered. RO (still not looking) Thank you, Major. There’s a pause. Cenn wonders if he should say something. RO I’ve spoken to Lenaris. I’ve think we’ve both agreed that this will go no further. CENN Do you want my resignation, sir? RO I thought about it. But of the two of us, you’re the only one who was actually following orders. So no. (turns to him) But I do want your honesty. You’ll get mine in return. The Militia and Starfleet can’t be working at odds like this. CENN I’m gradually coming to the same conclusion, Commander. RO I haven’t told the crew. They all think it was just Quark, and he got away with it because he’s the ambassador. So your secret’s safe. CENN I appreciate that, sir. May I ask – what about the ship? RO I’m having it moved again as we speak. A whole new hiding place. CENN Can I know where? RO Can I trust you to know? As we await Cenn’s answer to that... 34 INT. DS9 – QUARK’S QUARTERS The tissue regenerator is in Quark’s hand, and he casts it slowly and gingerly across his cheek. He’s in his pyjamas, and alone. The DOOR CHIME sounds. Afraid he knows who it is, he hesitates. But then he places down the regenerator on a table and goes to answer it. The door opens – it’s Ro. She waits, cautious. RO Hi, Quark. Can I come in? Quark almost says no. But eventually he steps aside. She enters, fidgety, not sure what to say now she’s here. Quark returns to pick up the tissue regenerator, sits on the couch, resumes passing it over his cheek. QUARK What do you want? RO I thought Bashir fixed you. QUARK That was just cosmetic. So I could look good for my public. It’s still bruised underneath. He winces as the regenerator goes over a particularly sore spot. Ro rushes to him... RO Let me? Reluctantly, he lets her take the regenerator. She sits beside him on the couch and begins gently healing him. RO I don’t know what to say, Quark. QUARK Neither do I. It’s not something that happens every day. RO I’m still mad at you for going behind my back. (off Quark’s reaction) I know, I know. You have more reason to be mad at me. Quark settles back down, lets her run the regenerator. RO The protests are dying down, now that you’re out of jail. QUARK These things always blow over. There’ll be another next big thing soon enough, and then everyone’s attention will be on that. RO I guess so. Kira’s gone too. And Ledahn. And Grob. QUARK I’m gonna have some explaining to do to Rom. RO Me too. I’ve agreed to go on BNN and be interviewed. Prophets only know what I’m going to say. QUARK I can help you prepare for it, if you want. A long pause as Ro continues to heal Quark’s wounds. RO Thanks, Quark. That would be good. Leaving on that... FADE OUT: END OF SHOW