DS9 11x20 - "Fugitive"

[DS9Continuing]

Hi all


Time for episode 20.

Again, this episode dramatises events first described post facto in the licensed DS9 novel Rough Beasts of Empire by David R George III, and also incorporates elements from from A Time for War, a Time for Peace by Keith RA DeCandido.


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.

11x18 - "The Never-Ending Sacrifice" (Memory Beta)
At the new Cardassian Embassy on Earth, Garak receives an unexpected visitor.

11x19 - "Gratitude" (AdAstra, pdf, ebook)
It’s Gratitude Festival time, and there are celebrations on DS9 and Bajor.

11x20 - "Fugitive" (AdAstra, pdf, ebook)
Rebecca has been kidnapped, and all of Bajor is looking for the kidnapper.

Enjoy!

.

 

[DS9Continuing]

TEASER​

FADE IN:



1 INT. NEWS STUDIO


Regular Bajoran newsreader TIANA FEEN looks directly into camera, narrating her report.

TIANA
And we’re continuing with our
news of the surprise resignation
of Federation President Min Zife,
of Bolarus Nine.​

Still image of ZIFE, Bolian male last seen 10x11 “Harmony.”

TIANA (v.o.)
President Zife announced his
departure, only two years into his
second term, with a pre-recorded
message to the press. He is joined
in resignation by chief of staff
Koll Azernal of Zakdorn, and
secretary of military intelligence
Nelino Quafina, of Antede Three.​

We CUT TO that pre-recorded message:



2 PRESS CONFERENCE


Zife sits at his presidential desk, the Federation flag and seal behind him, Eiffel Tower visible through the window.

ZIFE
While my chief of staff and I were
able to serve our nation well in
war, we were, it seems, less
suited for peace. As the war grows
more distant in our past, it has
become increasingly obvious that
Koll and I need to step down for
the good of the Federation.​

3 INT. NEWS STUDIO


Tiana continues her report, as several other stock images take their turns on the display by her side...

TIANA
Zife succeeded former president
Jaresh-Inyo in the 2373 election,
and led the Federation through
the Dominion War and many other
major events, including the Iconian
gateway crisis and the collapse
of the Trill government.
(beat)
By the rules of the Federation
Charter, Damiani councillor R’ach
B’ullhy has already been sworn in
as president pro tempore for a
period of thirty days, while a
special election is held to decide
Zife’s permanent replacement. The
candidates approved to run by the
Federation Council include...​

Tiana is replaced by more stock images, first of an older Ktarian male, PAGRO...

TIANA (v.o.)
Federation special emissary Arafel
Pagro, of Ktar...​

An older human woman, white-haired and motherly, BACCO...

TIANA (v.o.)
Governor Nanietta Bacco, of
Cestus Three...​

Ancient Vulcan woman T’LATREK, last seen 10x11 “Harmony”...

TIANA (v.o.)
Councillor T’Latrek, of Vulcan...​

And finally by Adm ROSS, in his Starfleet uniform...

TIANA (v.o.)
And Starfleet admiral William
Ross, of Earth.​

Return to Tiana, facing into camera...

TIANA
However, Councillor T’Latrek and
Admiral Ross have both declined
the council’s invitation, leaving
Pagro and Bacco as the only
remaining candidates.
(beat)
This will be the first time Bajor
has voted in a full presidential
election since joining the
Federation. So the eyes of all of
Bajor are sure to be fixed on the
candidates as they campaign -​

SMASH CUT TO:



4 INT. B’HALA CAVES – BANTACA CHAMBER


KASIDY screaming her lungs out in fear as she desperately calls her daughter’s name...

KASIDY
Rebecca! Rebecca, where are you,
baby? Rebecca!​

SISKO emerges from another direction, equally distraught.

SISKO
She’s not there. I couldn’t find
her anywhere.​

Ranjen SOOL emerges from a third direction.

SOOL
She’s not in the mausoleum,
Emissary. It’s possible she may
have made her way down into
the catacombs beneath the city…

KASIDY
Oh God, Ben... she’s gone again.
How can she be gone again?

SISKO
It’s okay, Kas. We’ll find her.
We’ll find her.

SOOL
I’ll get all the staff and all the
volunteers searching, Emissary.
If she is in the caverns, we’ll find
her. I promise you.

SISKO
Do you have anyone with medical
training? She might have fallen,
hurt herself somehow.

SOOL
I have a little training myself.
And there’s Doctor Hens.

SISKO
Good. Thank you.​

Sool turns and runs off, gathering the other staff.

KASIDY
That damned girl. Why does she
always have to run away?

SISKO
(grave)
She’s got her father’s wandering
spirit, that’s why.

KASIDY
Ben, no. Don’t do that. We’re not
blaming each other. We’re not
turning on each other. Not now.
We can flog ourselves later – right
now we just have to find her.​

Sool runs back into the area with an expression of dread.

SOOL
Emissary...

SISKO
Have you found her? Is she hurt?

SOOL
I’m sorry, we haven’t found her.

KASIDY
But...?

SOOL
I was gathering the volunteers
to help in the search... and I
couldn’t find one of them either.

SISKO
Who is it?

SOOL
(blanches)
It’s Luka Tirem, Emissary.​

Kasidy looks to Sisko, who begins to realise what must have happened...



FADE OUT:

END OF TEASER​

 

[DS9Continuing]

ACT ONE​

FADE IN:



5 INT. DS9 – CANDLEWOOD’S QUARTERS


Last seen in 11x05 “The New Normal”. Begin on CANDLEWOOD in bed asleep, his face smushed unglamorously into the pillow.

He GRUNTS his way to consciousness with a start. Gets his bearings, looks around at the tangled sheets. He’s alone in bed. That hits him hard. He doesn’t like it.

Then HETIK emerges from the other room, shirtless, carrying a tray to bring Candlewood breakfast in bed. Candlewood gazes in awe, hardly able to believe it.

HETIK
Hi.

CANDLEWOOD
...Hi.

HETIK
Now, I know you’re not much of a
morning person. So I thought I’d
give you a kick start.​

HETIK sits on the bed, brings the tray to John. John stares at it, stunned.

HETIK
Is something wrong?

CANDLEWOOD
I’m terrified.

HETIK
Of what?

CANDLEWOOD
That I’m still asleep.

HETIK
Don’t worry. You’re very much
awake. Trust me.​

John begins to tuck in to the food in front of him.

CANDLEWOOD
Thank you.

HETIK
Stop thanking me.

CANDLEWOOD
I’m going to keep thanking you
till my vocal cords fall off. And
then I’m going to find other ways
of thanking you. Get used to it.​

Hetik chuckles. He stands and goes over to the shelf with the photo frames. Picks up the one that contains a picture of him and Candlewood on their date in Vic’s lounge.

CANDLEWOOD
You’re a really good cook. My
mother would love you.

HETIK
I hope I get to meet her one day.

CANDLEWOOD
Only if I get to meet yours.​

Awkward pause. Candlewood realises, and slumps.

CANDLEWOOD
Wow. That was fast.

HETIK
What was?

CANDLEWOOD
Ruining it. Must be a new record.​

Hetik brings the picture frame over, sits back down.

HETIK
Don’t worry. A lot of orphans on
Bajor. It makes us more determined
to find families of our own.​

As Candlewood wonders what on earth that could mean, the comm signals.

RO (comm)
This is Commander Ro. All senior
officers to the ward room. Now.

CANDLEWOOD
(wide eyed)
I guess that means breakfast is over.​

Candlewood quickly jumps out of bed, rushes around the room throwing his uniform on and fixing his hair and brushing his teeth. Hetik sits and eats, watching him with a smile.

CANDLEWOOD
Are you still gonna be here when
I get back?
(reconsiders)
Not here here. I mean, you are
allowed to leave my quarters.
You’re not chained to the bed.​

Candlewood is soon ready, comes back to Hetik.

CANDLEWOOD
I just mean that I’m not gonna get
back and find out this was all some
horrible practical joke or holodeck
malfunction or something.

HETIK
I’m not going anywhere. So stop
worrying. That’s an order.​

Candlewood stops and stares into Hetik’s eyes again. Then gives him a quick kiss and heads out the door. Hetik looks down at the picture still in his hand, and chuckles.



6 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE – ESTABLISHING


Just a moment to establish. The Defiant sits at its usual spot on the docking ring. A few shuttles and transports still around, although not as many as last time.



7 INT. DS9 – WARD ROOM


The door opens and Candlewood rushes in. He’s the last to join the meeting. PRYNN, BOWERS, NOG, BASHIR, EVIK and Counsellor MATTHIAS are there. RO stands at the head of the table, pacing anxiously. CENN is sat at her right hand.

Candlewood slips into an empty seat beside Prynn. She glances over his mussed up hair and satisfied happy glow.

PRYNN
No need to ask what kind of night
you had.​

Candlewood blushes. Ro gets down to business.

RO
Alright, listen up. Twenty minutes
ago, Major Cenn received a call
from his contacts in the Militia.
There is a situation developing on
Bajor that they felt we should be
made aware of.

EVIK
What’s going on?

RO
Rebecca Sisko, the young daughter
of Captain Benjamin Sisko and
Kasidy Yates... is missing.

MATTHIAS
Oh my god...

RO
What’s worse is that someone else
is missing at the same time.
(hits control)
This guy.​

The screen displays an image of LUKA, the same criminal record that Cenn found in 10x06 “Two Steps Forward.”

BASHIR
That’s the man who tried to kill Garak.

CENN
Correct. Luka Tirem, well-known
member of the Ohalavaru, and by
all accounts a rather extreme one.
His attack on Ambassador Garak
was on that basis. Since then, he’s
been in rehabilitation at B’Hala.

RO
Which is where Rebecca was last seen.

NOG
What can we do to help?

RO
“We” can’t do anything.

CENN
The Militia is tracking Luka’s
movements as best they can. The
volunteers at B’Hala are combing
the dig site in case they’re still
there. They’re not jumping to any
conclusions - it’s only a theory
that Luka is involved at all.

RO
(mutter)
A very likely theory.

CANDLEWOOD
Then why can’t we help?

BOWERS
Because it’s not Starfleet’s job to
police Bajor, Lieutenant.
(re Cenn)
They have their own agencies for
that. And until the Militia asks for
our help, we leave it up to them.
For now, they haven’t.

CENN
They know the territory better than
any of you. No disrespect.

MATTHIAS
I could at least offer my services
to the family...

CENN
I’m sorry, Counsellor, no. Lenaris
specifically told me no Starfleet
involvement unless he says so.

RO
They’re trying to keep this under
wraps. Given public feeling about
the Emissary and the Ohalavaru,
they don’t want this getting out
to the media. So once again...
we have a secret.​

Ro grips the back of her command chair. The tension in her hands speaks to her frustration. She looks at her crew.

RO
I understand your frustration.
Believe me. But until I tell you
otherwise, we have to sit on our
hands and do nothing.

NOG
What about the captain?​

8 INT. SISKO’S HOUSE


Sisko and Kasidy sit together on the couch, both looking terrified, hands held tight. RENA brings them both a hot drink from the kitchen. They look up and nod their thanks.

KASIDY
Thanks, Rena.​

Elsewhere in the living room, JAKE paces back and forth, just as frustrated to do something. Sergeant JASMINE TEY stands in her Bajoran Militia uniform near the door.

JAKE
There’s gotta be something else we
can do. Somebody should have found
the guy by now.

JASMINE
The Militia is doing everything –

JAKE
They’re not doing enough!

RENA
(calming)
Jake...

JAKE
(to Jasmine)
You said he was known to the
authorities. Why was he allowed
to roam around free? Why was he
allowed anywhere near children?

SISKO
Jake. It’s not her fault. You wanna
blame someone, blame me. He
was my friend. I trusted him.

KASIDY
Ben, stop it. You had no way of
knowing he’d go this far.

JASMINE
In the interest of fairness, I’d
like to remind you that Mister
Luka is only a suspect at this
time. It’s still possible this is
all a horrible misunderstanding.

JAKE
You don’t really believe that?

JASMINE
It’s my job to consider all the
options, Mister Sisko. The moment
the First Minister heard about this,
she insisted on detaching me to
your family. And believe me, the
best thing you can do right now
is stay calm. My colleagues in
the Militia will find Rebecca.
I promise you that.

KASIDY
Sergeant Tey... Jasmine... you
can’t expect me to just sit here
and do nothing. She is my child.

JASMINE
I’m not a mother myself, so I can’t
pretend to know how you feel,
Kasidy. I can only ask you to trust
me. If Luka believes that your
daughter is the Avatar of Peace
as foretold in the Book of Ohalu,
then she’s precious to him. It’s
extremely unlikely he plans to
hurt her.

JAKE
That doesn’t mean she won’t get
hurt anyway. There could be bounty
hunters out there, God knows what.
People who’d be very happy to hold
the Emissary’s daughter to ransom,
and won’t be so particular about
what condition she comes in.

KASIDY
Oh god, Ben! I didn’t even –

RENA
Jake, you’re not helping.

JASMINE
Alright, that’s enough. There are
no bounty hunters, no hostage
takers. No-one but the military
and us even know there’s anything
to worry about. So we sit tight
while they do their jobs, and
we try our best to stay calm.​

The others reluctantly agree, no matter how hard it must be. Rena tries to do something constructive.

RENA
I’ll see if I can’t whip up some
thing for lunch.​

Just as she turns to head back to the kitchen, there’s the SOUND of a commotion outside, in the front of the house. Confused, they all look towards the front window, which is covered by a light-diffusing blind.

Then there’s a KNOCK at the door.

KASIDY
Ben, I don’t want to deal with
anyone right now.

JAKE
I agree.

JASMINE
Just hold on a moment. It might
not be anything bad.​

From her position by the door, Jasmine reaches to pull the blind back just an inch, and peers through the gap.


JASMINE’S POV


Outside on the porch of the house are half a dozen Bajoran strangers with camera-headsets, padds and microphones.


RESUME


She looks back to the family...

JASMINE
This could be a problem.​

Off all their worried faces...



FADE OUT:

END OF ACT ONE​

 

[DS9Continuing]

ACT TWO​

FADE IN:



9 EXT. BAJOR – SISKO’S HOUSE - DAY


The porch is busy with media professionals all jockeying to get to the front door and catch a glimpse.



10 INT. SISKO’S HOUSE


As they all react to the arrival. Tense, hushed exchanges so as not to be overheard.

JAKE
Dad, we can’t let them know about
Rebecca. It would only put her in
more danger.

RENA
If they’re here, maybe they know
already.

JASMINE
I’m fully prepared to send them
away, Mister Sisko.

SISKO
No... that would only make them
wonder why.

KASIDY
Ben, I can’t talk to the news.
Not now.

JAKE
Let me handle it. I’m used to
dealing with the media.

SISKO
(stands)
Jake, sit down. I won’t be chased
away from my own front door.​

Taking a deep breath, Sisko steps towards the front door, and opens it.



11 NEWS CAMERA POV


Looking at the Sisko home’s front door through a camera lens. The gathered reporters and camera operators buzz with excitement as they hear Sisko opening the door.

As they’re confronted with him in the flesh, they hush. He makes sure to block the doorway, keeping them on the porch.

SISKO
Hello. What can I do for you?

REPORTER 1
Captain Sisko. Daljina Boff from
BNN. We were hoping to speak to
Mrs Sisko.

SISKO
She’s not really –

KASIDY (o.s.)
Ben.​

The door is pulled out of Sisko’s hand from behind, and Kasidy appears in the doorway beside him. The reporters all push forward to get a clear shot. She’s hiding everything, while trying to look like she’s hiding nothing.

KASIDY
I’m Kasidy Yates. What do you
want to know?

REPORTER 1
How do you feel about the news
that Governor Bacco is running to
be Federation president?

KASIDY
I’m sorry, what?

REPORTER 1
You’re from Cestus Three, no?
Nanietta Bacco, the governor of
your home world, is one of the
candidates to be the Federation
president. We were hoping to
get your reaction to that.​

Kasidy looks to Sisko, totally befuddled. She looks back into the house, where the cameras can just pick out Jake, Rena and Jasmine all looking awkward and confused. This isn’t what any of them were expecting to talk about.

KASIDY
I... didn’t know.

SISKO
It was a long day yesterday, we
haven’t had time to check the news...

REPORTER 1
What can you tell us about Bacco?
Have you met her? Will you be
voting for her in the election?

KASIDY
I really... haven’t had time to
think about it... But... umm... she
always seemed like a very sensible,
down-to-earth woman. I’m sure
she’d make a fine president.

SISKO
If you don’t mind, we’re tired.
Perhaps another time...​

Sisko and Kasidy awkwardly turn away back to the house, while the reporter turns to her camera operator and speaks.

REPORTER 1
That was Captain Benjamin Sisko
and his wife Kasidy Yates, no
doubt recovering from yesterday’s
Gratitude festival celebrations –​

On the slam of the door we CUT:



12 INT. SISKO’S HOUSE


Sisko, Kasidy, Jake, Rena and Jasmine all look between each other, sagging with relief but still on edge with worry over Rebecca. We can still hear the reporters outside...



13 EXT. BAJORAN FOREST - DAY


Begin close on LUKA, calling out into the trees, worried...

LUKA
Rebecca! Rebecca!​

He jogs from one tree to another, looks behind it, swatches away pieces of underbrush in his desperate search...

REBECCA is curled into a ball, hiding in a dip in the roots of one large tree. Her clothes are dirty, she’s tired and crying and terrified. She has no idea what’s going on here.

LUKA (o.s.)
Rebecca! Where are you?​

She huddles further into the hole, shivering and hugging herself. A three-year-old girl out on her own in the woods, lost and hiding from a madman.

Suddenly a hand grabs her and she SHRIEKS. She looks up, and Luka is there, hugely relieved to have found her.

LUKA
There you are! Really, young lady,
there’s no need for you to keep
running away from me. Now come
on, stop being silly.​

He drags her to her feet, but she still resists.

REBECCA
No! I don’t want to!​

He stops, sighs, leans down. Tries to patiently explain.

LUKA
I’m not going to hurt you. I would
never hurt you. You are what it’s
all been about. What I’ve been
waiting for. You are the proof!

REBECCA
(tearful)
But I want to go home. I want my
mommy and daddy.

LUKA
Your mommy and daddy left you with
me. They trust me. So that means
you can trust me too, right?​

Rebecca sniffles, confused. That seems to make sense, but she’s scared and tired and hungry.

Then Luka TWISTS suddenly, hearing a sound in the forest. Something is out there, in the woods, coming to get him.


LUKA


Pulse pounding, fight-or-flight response activated. He jumps at every tiny whisper of leaves or crack of twigs.


REBECCA


Watching him, even more scared and confused by this.


LUKA’s POV


The trees looming high and dark over him, seeming to crowd in around him. Sounds become sharper, threatening.

Luka looks between the trees, and a Bajoran Militia SOLDIER stands there, big and mean, walking towards him with deadly purpose, a sneer on his face and a phaser in his hand.


RESUME


Luka staring into the woods, reacting to something only he can see... he steps in front of Rebecca, protecting her.

LUKA
Get behind me, Rebecca, I won’t
let them hurt you...​

With his back turned, Rebecca takes the chance to RUN. She dashes off into the forest. Luka TURNS...

LUKA
Rebecca, no! Stay with me!​

But she’s gone, rushing through the underbrush. Luka turns back to the approaching soldier, afraid...

...but there’s no-one there. He blinks surprised, confused. Realising it was probably just his imagination again, he sags, upset. Holds his head, steadies his nerves. Hearing the sound of Rebecca’s running, he remembers.

LUKA
Rebecca! Come back!​

REBECCA


Running, scared, her little legs unable to go fast enough. She TRIPS and falls into a pile of leaves. Luka arrives, out of breath, and looks down at her with a sad smile.

LUKA
You see what happens? Now stop
playing around and let me take you
to my friends. They’ll be waiting!​

Rebecca is too tired to fight any longer. Still crying but no longer resisting, Rebecca allows herself to be hoisted up onto Luka’s hip. He carries her off into the woods, catching his breath, watching out for soldiers.



14 INT. DS9 – COMMANDER’S OFFICE


Ro continues to pace around her office. Cenn stands with her, watching her pace.

RO
This is taking too long.

CENN
If he has gone into the Janitza
forests, he’ll be hard to find.
The tourmaline deposits always
confused Cardassian sensors. It’s
exactly why resistance members
went there.

RO
Half the Militia is ex-resistance.
They should know the way as well
as he does. And the longer this
drags out…

CENN
I know - the more chance there is
of something bad happening to
Rebecca Sisko.

RO
Or of him getting off-world.

CENN
If he did get off-world, we’d be
able to track him more easily.
So I dare say he won’t do that.

RO
Damnit!​

She punches the wall in frustration. Cenn watches.

CENN
You keep doing that, you’re going
to break your knuckles.

RO
I had him, Major. I had him twice.
In my cells, safe and locked down,
twice. And I let him go twice.

CENN
(sagely)
Ah, I see. The famous Ro Laren
blame-self-for-everything trick.

RO
(askance)
When did you get to know me
so well?

CENN
Quark knows you well.

RO
And you talk to him? About me?

CENN
Is there a better way to get to
know you? Look, Commander...
At no point in your dealings with
Luka Tirem - at no point in your
life - have you deliberately done
something you knew to be wrong.
You’re not one of the Prophets.
You don’t know in advance how
things are going to turn out, and
you can’t blame yourself for it.

RO
Alright stop it. This is getting
weird. What happened to the
real Major Cenn?

CENN
I’m just trying to be a better
first officer, sir.

RO
Well, you may regret that. We need
to kick this thing in the ass, Major.
And we need to do it now.

CENN
But sir, you know General Lenaris
specifically forbade Starfleet from
getting involved.

RO
I wouldn’t be doing anything. You
know how most Bajorans feel about
the Emissary. Said it yourself.​

Cenn slowly realizes what she intends to do... he doesn’t like it.

CENN
Commander... it’s too dangerous.
You could be putting Rebecca at
even greater risk.

RO
The more people we have looking
out for Luka, the faster we find
Rebecca. And the safer she’ll be.

CENN
But Lenaris –

RO
Screw Lenaris. If he wants to mess
with me, I’m happy to mess with
him right back. I think it’s time for
you to go have another chat with
Quark, Major.​

Cenn doesn’t like it, but he accepts the order. He turns and leaves the office.

Ending on Ro, tense and worried...



FADE OUT:

END OF ACT TWO​

 

[DS9Continuing]

ACT THREE​

FADE IN:



15 EXT. FOREST – SHANTY TOWN - DAY


In a clearing, a rough village has crept up, made out of pre-fab buildings and tents. Not a refugee camp, more like a back-to-nature survivalist type of thing. People live here because they want to, not because they’re forced to.



16 INT. OHALAVARU CAMP


Inside the largest construction at the camp. A little bit MASH, a little bit Waco. Bajorans go about their business, living a peaceful life away from modern civilization. NOTE: none of them wear earrings.

Into this walks Luka, carrying a sleeping Rebecca in his arms. A leader of sorts, SORAYA, stops what she’s doing as she recognizes him in surprise.

SORAYA
Luka? What are you doing here?

LUKA
Hello, Soraya.

SORAYA
We haven’t seen you in months.
We heard you’d been arrested
up on the space station.

LUKA
Well, yes, that’s true, sadly.
(re Rebecca)
Can I?​

Soraya comes forward and gently takes the sleeping girl off Luka, holding the child to herself instead. Luka gasps with relief, shaking his arms out.

Soraya looks at the girl’s face, half-recognizing her...

SORAYA
Luka, who is she?

LUKA
(w/ wonder)
This... is Rebecca Sisko. The
second born of the Emissary, the
Avatar of Peace, as foretold by
Ohalu himself.​

Others all around hear this, and gasp in amazement. They begin to crowd in...

LUKA
Is there somewhere for her to
sleep? Poor thing’s exhausted.
So am I, for that matter.​

Wary, Soraya gently carries Rebecca over to a small bed or couch. She lays the child down, covers her with a blanket.

As the other Bajorans try to keep a respectful distance for all their fascination, Soraya returns to Luka. He sees the uncertain look on her face.

LUKA
Don’t worry, everything’s fine. Her
parents gave her to me to look
after for a while, that’s all.

SORAYA
Why does she look so dirty?

LUKA
(cheerful)
Oh, we were just playing in the
woods. There’s nothing to worry
about. She’s the Avatar, Soraya!

SORAYA
Yes, I know the Book. I’m just not
sure why you brought her here.

LUKA
Think about it! This will show them
once and for all!

SORAYA
Show who?

LUKA
All of them! You know how they
talk about us. They call us freaks
and deviants. This would show them
once and for all that we’re right.
That the Path of Ohalu is the only
true religion.​

Luka’s zealous glow is rather disquieting to Soraya.

SORAYA
Luka... why don’t you have a rest.
It’s a long walk, especially if you
were carrying her the whole way.
You said you were exhausted.
We’ve got a spare bed in the back.

LUKA
Oh thank you, Soraya, yes. I knew
you’d take care of me!​

Luka grasps Soraya’s arms in fellowship, and then heads out towards the back. She watches him go, still unsure and wary about all this. Then she goes to check on Rebecca, pushing her way through the adoring crowd.

SORAYA
Don’t crowd her. Come on.​

They let her through and she crouches by Rebecca’s make shift bed. She lightly strokes the exhausted girl’s hair away from her sleeping face. Tucks in the blanket.

Troubled, Soraya gets up again and heads across to one of the few technological devices in this place – a data and comm system.

While Rebecca sleeps and everyone else gazes at her in quiet wonder, Soraya works the machine. She calls some information up on the screen, in native Bajoran script.

As she reads through it, her face darkens. She gets to the end of the page. She looks across the room, past the adoring crowd and towards where Luka is sleeping.

He’s really dropped them in it.



17 INT. NEWS STUDIO


And we’re back to Tiana, looking between camera and the new information coming in on her console.

TIANA
And we’re interrupting coverage
of the emergency presidential
election with some more shocking
news. It appears that even more
classified information has been
leaked by as-yet-unknown sources,
following a similar leak just over
a month ago. We are not able to
corroborate this at the present
time, but the information claims
that, unbeknownst to the public,
a major manhunt is going on all
across Bajor as we speak.​

18 INT. SISKO’S HOUSE


Sisko, Kasidy, Jake, Rena and Jasmine are all watching this on the TV screen, which they have brought out from the office to keep an eye on proceedings. They look disgusted. The image of Luka’s criminal record comes up on screen...

TIANA (screen, v.o.)
The Militia are searching for this
man, one Luka Tirem, known to
them as an Ohalavar extremist.​

19 INT. ASHALLA MONASTERY – KAI’S OFFICE


Vedek PRALON (last seen 11x14 “No Confidence”) rushes into the kai’s chambers. Kai SOLIS is reading an ancient book in a comfy chair away from his desk. He looks up in surprise.

SOLIS
Vedek Pralon?

PRALON
Forgive my intrusion, Eminence,
but we have a problem.​

Pralon rushes to a comm screen set into the kai’s desk, switches it on, and turns it for Solis to see.

The screen shows an image of the Sisko family, including Rebecca, as Tiana continues her news report.

TIANA (screen, v.o.)
Luka is believed to have kidnapped
Rebecca Sisko, the young daughter
of the Emissary to the Prophets,
Benjamin Sisko, and his wife.

PRALON
Eminence, Luka Tirem is a fervent
and outspoken Ohalavar.

SOLIS
Yes, I’ve heard of him, in various
security reports.

PRALON
If he has kidnapped the daughter
of the Emissary...

SOLIS
This could ruin everything.​

As the implications of this hit home...



20 INT. JANIR MONASTERY


KIRA is also watching this in horror on a modest display unit. Tiana’s report continues...

TIANA (screen)
Both Mister Luka and Ms Sisko went
missing from the archaeological
site at B’Hala following Gratitude
Festival celebrations yesterday.​

Vedek YEVIR and his assistant MIKA both run in.

YEVIR
Nerys! You’ve seen?

KIRA
Just now. Poor Ben and Kasidy,
they must be terrified…

YEVIR
I’m sure the Prophets would never
allow anything bad to happen to
the little girl...

KIRA
Something bad already happened!
I should go to them...

MIKA
I have to leave as well. I just received
a call from a friend.

KIRA
Who was it, Mika?

MIKA
I promised not to say. But Nerys,
there is something I need you to
do for me while I’m gone...​

Off Kira’s puzzled, curious reaction...



21 INT. DS9 – MAIN OPS CENTRE


Ro and Cenn stand at the central Ops table, other officers at their usual places. The news report continues on the main viewscreen, an image of Luka beside Tiana’s face.

TIANA (screen)
The anonymous source calls on all
citizens of Bajor, whatever their
political or faith affiliation, to be
on the lookout for this man,
and to inform the authorities
immediately if they see him.​

As Tiana continues in the background, Ro sidles up to Cenn and speaks conspiratorially to him in the foreground.

TIANA (b.g.)
However, they should not approach
him. Luka is considered dangerous
if provoked, and it might place Ms
Sisko at risk.

RO (f.g.)
(sotto)
Nice work, Major. Was Quark okay
with it?

CENN
(sotto)
He has no issue with Captain Sisko.
He was happy to help.

RO
What about tracing it back? I don’t
want him to get in trouble.

CENN
Fortunately I was able to show him
how they traced him last time, so
that he could avoid it this time.

RO
Thank you, Major. Really.​

There’s an alert on Cenn’s panels. He checks it...

CENN
There’s an incoming comm from
Janir monastery...

RO
On screen.​

The image on screen changes to Kira, at the monastery.

KIRA (screen)
Commander Ro, you know what’s
happening?

RO
We know.

KIRA (screen)
You remember Cerin Mika? The kai’s
niece? She thinks she has a way to
deal with this. But she needs my
help. And I need yours, Major.

CENN
Mine?​

Cenn looks between Ro and Kira, confused...



22 INT. OHALAVARU CAMP


Rebecca still lies asleep under her blanket. But a sound rouses her – a SHUTTLE coming in to land somewhere nearby.

REBECCA
Mommy?

SORAYA
I’m sorry, sweetheart, your
mommy’s not here right now.
But don’t worry, you’re safe.​

Luka enters from off-screen, also groggy from sleep.

LUKA
What was that? I heard a noise.

SORAYA
Don’t worry, Luka. It’s just a
friend, coming to talk to us.​

Confused, Luka goes to check on Rebecca. She flinches away from him. Meanwhile, Soraya goes to the entrance flap, and holds it open, looking for someone out there.

After a moment, that someone arrives – Mika.

SORAYA
Thanks for coming, Mika.

MIKA
Thank you for calling me, Soraya.
That was good of you.

SORAYA
Luka? You remember Cerin Mika?​

Luka rushes forwards and pumps Mika’s hand excitedly.

LUKA
Yes of course! You protested with
us up on the space station... oh,
it’s an honour to see you again!
Have you come to meet the Avatar?
(victorious)
See, I told you, Soraya!

MIKA
That’s partly why I’ve come. But
mostly I wanted to speak to you.
Shall we sit?​

Soraya clears a space, and she, Mika and Luka all sit together. Mika is tense and worried, but placating.

MIKA
The thing is, Luka, the Militia is
searching for you and Rebecca.

LUKA
Oh, that’s ludicrous. Sisko gave
her to me to look after!

MIKA
That’s not how they see it. As far
as the news is reporting, you’re
being accused of kidnapping her.
(off Luka’s reaction)
But it’s okay. If you let me take
her back safely, now, everything
will be alright. I promise.

LUKA
She’s the Avatar. She belongs with
us. And I would never hurt her.

SORAYA
You’ve already hurt her, Luka. You
took her away from her family. And
by bringing her here, you’ve hurt
us too.

LUKA
What are you talking about?

SORAYA
We’ve made such strides in being
accepted. We have an Ohalavar as
kai. Four fifths of people voted to
keep him there. Yes, we’ve chosen
a life out here, where we can be
ourselves. But we’re not seen as
a threat anymore.

MIKA
But now, an Ohalavar kidnapping
the daughter of the Emissary?
You’ll undo everything we worked
for. But it’s not too late. When
Soraya saw the news, she called
me first. She thought I might be
able to talk to you, so that we
could resolve this peacefully,
with no violence.

LUKA
(suspicious)
What do you mean ‘first’?

MIKA
As a close relative of the kai, my
shuttle has a tracking system,
just in case. Before I left Janir,
I passed the frequency along to
the Militia... so that they could
follow me. I asked them to leave
me a few minutes first to talk.​

Outside, the SOUNDS of more shuttles coming in to land echoes into the camp. The Militia is coming.

MIKA
They’re on their way, Luka. But as
long as you let me take Rebecca,
you’ll be fine. I promise.​

Off Luka’s horrified reaction to that...



FADE OUT:

END OF ACT THREE​

 

[DS9Continuing]

ACT FOUR​

FADE IN:



23 INT. OHALAVARU CAMP


Luka is on his feet, anxious. Mika is trying to calm him. Soraya has gone to check on the scared Rebecca. Outside, the sound of shuttles disgorging their complement.

LUKA
What have you done?

MIKA
Luka, stay calm. Just let me take
Rebecca and no-one will get hurt.​

Luka bolts towards Rebecca; Soraya pulls her away. The little girl holds the woman tight, half-hides behind her.

Then the entrance flap opens again, and half a dozen Militia soldiers stride in. Their weapons are holstered but conspicuous. At their head is Colonel DOUL, Bajoran male.

Meanwhile, all the other residents back away, scared. These people are accustomed to being persecuted and arrested by soldiers just like these.

DOUL
Everyone please stay where you
are. We have no plans to hurt you.
We’re just here for the child.
(turns to Luka)
Mister Luka. My name is Colonel
Doul Anjas. If you’ll remain calm,
this will all go much easier.

LUKA
This isn’t fair! Rebecca belongs
with me.

MIKA
She belongs with her family, Luka.

LUKA
I won’t let you hurt her.

DOUL
We have no intention of hurting
her, Mister Luka. On that, you
have my word.​

Doul directs one of his OFFICERS towards Rebecca. Soraya prepares to hand her over.


LUKA


watches this, getting more and more anxious with every step. Breathing erratic, heartbeat pounding, on the verge of panic. The officer reaches Rebecca, takes her hand...

LUKA
No!​

Like a shot, Luka launches on the officer, TACKLING him and pushing him away from Rebecca.


REBECCA


shrieks with fear, retreating back behind Soraya.

The officers draw their phasers, but Doul stops them...

DOUL
No, don’t fire! You might hit the
girl. Even on stun it’s too much.​

Instead a second OFFICER steps forward to try to pull the struggling Luka off of the first. He manages to grab the older man by his shirt and drag him up...

But then Officer 2 is TACKLED – one of the other Ohalavaru PUNCHES the officer, and he goes down. Luka fights free.

More Ohalavaru come at the other officers.

Doul is taken down with another TACKLE. PUNCHES fly. The officers are outnumbered, fighting hand to hand.


SORAYA


hides Rebecca against her skirt, shielding the terrified little girl.


ANGLE


One officer is on the ground, being punched repeatedly by an Ohalavar.


ANGLE


Colonel Doul is struggling to fend off another attacker without using his weapon.


MIKA


is trying to shout over them all.

MIKA
Stop it, please! Stop fighting!​

Nobody obeys.


LUKA


is in the frenzy of one of his panic attacks, but now the fear is turned outwards. He has a bludgeon of some kind and is BEATING the officer bloody with it.


LUKA’S POV


Luka sees the mean-looking soldier from the forest, the one who threatened him, on the ground begging for mercy.


LUKA


whaling on the already unconscious, possibly dead officer.

LUKA
See how it feels see how it feels
see how it feels?​

Soraya keeps Rebecca held tight, terrified, in the folds of her skirt, tries to hurry away from the bloodbath...

A PHASER shot catches Soraya in the back as she escapes, knocking her flat to the ground with a THUD.

Rebecca SCREAMS.


LUKA


holding the phaser he took from the officer, pointing it at where Soraya was. Shaking with adrenaline and fury.

MIKA
Soraya!​

Mika rushes to her downed friend, while around them the fight continues, officer versus Ohalavar.

Mika checks the phaser wound, looks desperately around for anything she can use as a bandage.

MIKA
It’s okay, it’s okay, it was only
on stun...

SORAYA
(half-conscious)
Rebecca...​

Realising, Mika looks up.

Neither Rebecca nor Luka are anywhere to be seen.



24 EXT. FOREST – SHANTY TOWN - DUSK


Luka is dragging Rebecca by the hand, running as fast as he can, no longer caring if she keeps up. He runs out into the clearing...

...and sees Mika’s SHUTTLE in front of him (briefly seen in 11x11 “The Crucible”). He bolts straight towards it.



25 INT. BAJORAN SHUTTLE


Like the ones we’ve seen Jake Sisko and Taran’atar use. Luka clambers in through the hatch, dragging Rebecca behind him. He shoves her carelessly towards the second seat.

LUKA
Buckle in, Rebecca. I’ve never
done this before. Concentrate
concentrate concentrate...​

26 EXT. FOREST – SHANTY TOWN - DUSK


Mika runs out of the tent’s entrance flap, bloody and scared. She looks up into the sky, and there between the trees is exactly what she was afraid of...

...her own shuttle rising into the air, turning in a wobbly and uncontrolled fashion and zooming off into the distance.

He’s gone.



27 EXT. ASHALLA - ESTABLISHING


Bringing us to the Bajoran capital city, not the monastery.



28 INT. CORRIDOR


A utilitarian corridor in a government facility. Kasidy Yates marches down it, fierce and determined. Sisko and Jasmine Tey follow in her wake, barely able to keep up.

JASMINE
Kasidy, I’m still not sure about
this. You’re a civilian, leave this
to the professionals.

KASIDY
The professionals haven’t been
getting the job done, Jasmine.​

Kasidy barrels through the door at the end of the corridor, Sisko and Jasmine behind her. They find themselves in...



29 INT. BAJORAN MILITIA CENTRAL


The big room with the giant tactical screen, where Sisko met General Krim as seen in 2x02 “The Circle”.

The room is filled with officers all working at top speed, rushing back and forth, tracking reports and tips. At the front, near the gigantic incident screen, is GENERAL LENARIS. They all turn at the unexpected arrival.

LENARIS
Sergeant Tey? What’s going on?​

Tey is about to answer, but Kasidy steps forward. She is bold, unwavering, on the warpath. She will not be denied.

KASIDY
Everybody in this room, listen up.
My name is Kasidy Yates. I am
the mother of that missing child
out there. I am the wife of your
Emissary to the Prophets. And
you will answer any and all of my
questions immediately and without
reservation. Is that understood?​

Stunned, Lenaris looks to Tey. Tey half-shrugs back, as if to say, “What can I do?” Sisko hangs back, mousy and unsure. Finally Lenaris takes a deep breath and replies.

LENARIS
Understood, ma’am. What would
you like to know?

KASIDY
(approaching)
For starters, tell me where my
daughter is.

LENARIS
Well, I can tell you where she was
up to thirty minutes ago. Here.​

He works the controls. The big screen ZOOMS IN on an area of forest, points to it with his finger.

LENARIS
This is a satellite image of the
Janitza forests. We have confirmation
that Luka brought your daughter
to that location. We dispatched a
regiment led by Colonel Doul to
apprehend Mister Luka and
recover your daughter.

KASIDY
So you’ve got her? She’s on her
way home?

LENARIS
Unfortunately, the regiment faced
heavy resistance from a group of
Ohalavaru who’ve made their homes
there. And, I’m sorry to report that
in the melee that followed, Mister
Luka escaped in a shuttle, with
your daughter.

KASIDY
And what are you doing about
that, General?​

Lenaris hesitates to answer...



31 INT. DS9 – MAIN OPS CENTRE


All of Ops is in a similar state of tension and heightened urgency. Ro and Cenn are at the central table together. Other officers at their usual positions – Nog, Candlewood, Bowers. Bashir, Prynn and Matthias are also present.

RO
Track that shuttle!

NOG
We’re too far away from Bajor
to get any readings, sir.

RO
Then at least remind General
Lenaris that we already gave
him Mika’s tracer codes.

CENN
I’m on it, sir.​

Cenn works his panels...



32 EXT. SPACE – ORBIT OF BAJOR


Looking down at the beautiful planet from orbit. Three Bajoran interceptor vessels are zooming up from the planet’s surface, straight for us.

We focus in on the lead ship...



33 INT. BAJORAN PATROL SHIP


The lead vessel is piloted by Corporal RENTA, last seen 11x03 “Self Destruct Initiated”.

RENTA
Renta to all ships. I’ve got the
shuttle on sensors; the tracer is
coming through loud and clear.
Your mission is to disable the
vessel, not destroy it. The vessel
is carrying passengers of extreme
importance and it is your job to
make sure that they are recovered
alive and undamaged.

VOICE (comm)
Corporal, how are we supposed to
stop it without damaging it?

RENTA
Take out its engines – carefully.
With precision. Believe me, if any
injury comes to those passengers,
all our heads will roll. And I mean
that very literally, so don’t screw
this up. Alright, everyone form
up behind me. Renta out.
(cuts channel)
Prophets watch over me, don’t
let me screw this up.​

He steels his nerves... and he moves his ship onwards.



34 EXT. SPACE – ORBIT OF BAJOR


The other two ships form up behind Renta’s lead. All three vessels take a heading, and zoom off at full impulse.



FADE OUT:

END OF ACT FOUR​

 

[DS9Continuing]

ACT FIVE​

FADE IN:



35 EXT. SPACE – ORBIT OF BAJOR


Bajoran fighters FIRE on the shuttle – low-power shots that graze the wings, trying and failing to hit the engines.



36 INT. BAJORAN SHUTTLE


Luka tries to swerve away from the attack with one hand, while the other hand shoots out to hold Rebecca into the seat beside him. They’re both belted in tight, but it’s instinctive for him to protect her.

LUKA
Are you insane? Stop shooting at
me, for Prophets’ sake!​

The tiny ship is weak, no weapons, and being driven by someone who doesn’t know what he’s doing.



37 INT. BAJORAN PATROL SHIP


Corporal Renta pilots one of the pursuing ships...

RENTA
Kosst it! Try again...​

A heads-up display is superimposed on the ‘windscreen’ in front of him – a targeting solution that actively tracks the small shuttle darting about ahead.

Renta keeps his eyes on the screen, piloting with his right hand, targeting with his left. Nearly... nearly... got it.



38 EXT. SPACE – ORBIT OF BAJOR


The patrol ship FIRES on the shuttle, takes out one engine in a small but deadly ball of flame.



39 INT. BAJORAN SHUTTLE


Sparks and smoke fill the rear of the shuttle. Luka chokes, Rebecca cries. The power stutters and fluctuates...



40 INT. DS9 – MAIN OPS CENTRE


The senior staff are all on edge. Ro waits anxiously by the central table while Cenn gets constant updates from it.

CENN
They’re in orbit of Bajor. Three
patrol ships engaged in a dog
fight with Luka’s shuttle.

RO
(to Nog, CW)
Can’t we get any better readings?

CANDLEWOOD
Boosting the sensor resolution.

NOG
Coming online now...​

The image of the battle comes on the main viewscreen...

RO
Who’s in charge out there?

CENN
Patrol led by... Corporal Renta
Vye. He’s good. Kind of an ass
personally, but a good pilot.

RO
Just please don’t hurt Rebecca..​

.

As they keep watching...



41 INT. BAJORAN SHUTTLE


The ship staggers, swerves, stutters... Rebecca is thrown about like a rag doll in her seat, held only by the straps. Luka is desperately trying to pilot with one good engine.

LUKA
Idiots! You see how much they hate
us, Rebecca? They’d rather kill us
both than let you stay with me.
Rather than admit they’re wrong
and they always have been...​

One of the patrol ships swerves around in front of the shuttle... and FIRES. The shot hits the remaining engine, and more SPARKS and SMOKE fill the cockpit.

LUKA
No!​

As the ship begins to plummet uncontrollably, we see why:

A MOON zooming up towards them.

LUKA
I’m sorry, Rebecca. I’m going to
have to take us down. If we can’t
run, maybe we can hide.​

He begins to pilot the ship down as best he can...



42 INT. BAJORAN PATROL SHIP


Renta reacts to this...

RENTA
Renta to all ships – can you get
a transporter lock? Anyone?

VOICE (comm)
Too much interference from the
engine radiation, sir.

RENTA
Damn it! Tractor beams!​

43 EXT. SPACE – ORBIT OF MOON


TRACTOR BEAMS leap out from all three ships, trying to scrabble a purchase on the falling shuttle. But the pieces the beams grab hold of BREAK AWAY, disintegrating as the ship descends. The three ships chase it down...



44 EXT. SPACE – SURFACE OF MOON


Habitable but barely. The sun shines here, but weakly. Luka’s damaged shuttle flies into view, plummeting towards the surface... and it CRASHES, skidding to a halt.



45 INT. ENDALLA CAVE


A narrow passageway, draped in spiderwebs and roots poking through from the moon’s surface above.

Luka staggers in, Rebecca riding on his hip. He is wounded, his head bleeding, his leg limping. He forges his way, not knowing where to go, just trying to escape his pursuers.

LUKA
Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid
stupid... They could have killed you!
Don’t they know how important
you are? Don’t worry, Rebecca.
I’ll keep you safe.​

Rebecca doesn’t respond. She is too exhausted to resist anymore – she just whimpers and cries softly to herself.

Luka turns a corner that opens out into a slightly wider passageway through the rock. Two Starfleet officers are there – Ensign ALECO and... another one.

They were at ease, arms folded and half-relaxed. But the moment they spot Luka, their phasers are drawn and pointing at him. Luka stops dead, scared, staring two phasers down.



46 INT. DS9 – MAIN OPS CENTRE

CENN
Militia Central reports that the
shuttle has been forced down onto
one of Bajor’s moons.

RO
Forced down?

CENN
Yes, sir. According to Corporal
Renta, life signs remained strong
up to their last sensor contact.

RO
Which moon?​

Cenn works his panels, trying to find the answer to that. Then he finds the answer... and looks up with horror at Ro.



47 INT. ENDALLA CAVE


Luka and Rebecca facing two Starfleet phasers.

LUKA
Don’t shoot! I’m unarmed.​

Aleco and friend remain wary. Step closer.

ALECO
How did you get here?

LUKA
I was in a shuttle crash. She’s
hurt. Do you know who this is?​

Aleco steps closer again, peers at the girl...

LUKA
This is Rebecca Sisko.​

Aleco’s eyes flare in amazement. He lowers his phaser.

ALECO
Ramesh, lower your weapon.​

Ramesh does. With phasers holstered, Aleco approaches Luka. Relieved, Luka passes the whimpering Rebecca over to Aleco.



48 INT. DS9 – MAIN OPS CENTRE


Ro sees the look on Cenn’s face, knows what the answer is. But she has to ask. She has to be sure.

RO
Which moon, Major?

CENN
(dry throat)
Endalla, sir.​

The strength goes out of Ro’s legs. She staggers backwards, collapses onto the steps, has to sit.

Around Ops, the other officers don’t understand what just happened. They stare at Ro, confused. Look between each other, questioning. (Except for Bowers – he knows.)



49 INT. ENDALLA CAVE


Aleco is fussing over Rebecca, making sure she’s alright.

ALECO
Who are you? And why have you
got Captain Sisko’s daughter?​

With his hands free, Luka draws the phaser he has hidden behind his back and SHOOTS Ramesh on the spot.

Aleco reacts instantly. He crouches down, curling himself around Rebecca, and KICKS out with his spare foot, catching Luka in his already wounded leg. Luka BELLOWS in pain and goes down, his stolen phaser skittering to the stone wall.

Aleco quickly places Rebecca behind himself and grabs his own phaser again, pointing it at the downed Luka.

ALECO
That was a bad move, mister.​

A NOISE comes from behind Aleco, further around the corner. A HUM of energy building, a CRACKLE of power.

Aleco is distracted for a split second...

Luka reaches for his dropped phaser and SHOOTS Aleco down. Rebecca SCREAMS again, cowering against the stone wall.

Luka heaves himself upright on his remaining good leg, but keeps the phaser trained on the unconscious Aleco.

LUKA
No. After everything I’ve been
through, all the beatings and the
arrests and the hatred... I will
not let you take her from me.​

Taking firm hold of the terrorised child, he carries on.



50 INT. DS9 – MAIN OPS CENTRE


Sat on the stairs, defeated, Ro looks up to the ceiling...

RO
Oh Prophets, no...​

51 INT. ENDALLA CAVE


Turning the corner all the way, he sees the dusty, cobwebby passageway open up into a WIDER CAVERN, the same one where Kira and Dax came in 2x03 “The Siege”.

And sat in the middle of it, is AXNO’s SHIP.

The ship is throbbing half-heartedly with power, reacting to the phaser fight, sucking up the energy from it.

A pulakoo skitters across the cavern floor – the ship responds reflexively. A BOLT of jagged white electricity shoots out from its silver nose. It’s still weak, but plenty to INCINERATE the poor pulakoo on the spot.

Luka gapes in amazement. He’s never seen anything like it. Thrilled, he rushes forwards, dragging Rebecca with him.



52 INT. ASCENDANT SHIP


Luka shoves Rebecca up over the lip of the hatchway, then follows her into the ship. Rebecca staggers to the back of the ship, tucks herself into a corner and curls up.

Luka stands there, gawping in amazement at the ship. It throbs and pulses around him.

LUKA
This is amazing. The Ascendant
ship! The one that was all over
the news. It’s so beautiful!
(turns to
Rebecca)
Don’t you know what this means?
Ohalu is smiling on us, Rebecca!
He wants us to get away!​

Coming to his senses, he settles into the pilot’s seat.

LUKA
Gotta get this thing moving.
They’ll be after us. Gotta go
gotta go gotta go...​

He reaches out to touch the console. It THROBS at the physical contact...



53 INT. JANIR MONASTERY


Kneeling and meditating before her flaming brazier, RAIQ presses her hand to her chest. She feels... something.

She stands, unsure of what’s going on. Is it the same pain as before? It could be. She’s worried.



54 INT. ASCENDANT SHIP


Pressing his hand heavier onto the console, Luka’s hand SINKS into the material. The fluid breaks over his fingers, flowing around them. Luka is fascinated.

Rebecca cowers at the back, looking around as the ship powers up more. Electricity skitters over the surfaces.

Luka thinks this is great. It’s working!

But the console won’t let go. As with Prynn, it’s keeping a hold on Luka’s hand, pulling him deeper. Worried, he tries to pull himself out with his other hand. It doesn’t work.

The console SHOOTS a limb of silver material up Luka’s arm. And another. And another. Both hands are stuck now. Around him, the ship is powering up more and more. The throbs of power getting stronger, louder. Luka struggles desperately.

LUKA
Rebecca! It won’t...​

The pilot’s seat begins to move. The silver liquid flows around his legs, around his waist, trapping him. He tries to tear himself free, but he’s held tight.



55 INT. JANIR MONASTERY


Raiq staggers back from her brazier, thrown back by the force of what she’s feeling. Her body is reacting. Kira is nearby, sees what’s going on. She approaches, cautious.

KIRA
Raiq? Are you okay?​

Raiq looks to Kira, scared and confused...



56 INT. ASCENDANT SHIP


The silver fluid continues to flow around Luka’s body, held fast in its grip. Coloured Wa patches throb to life all over the ship. Surfaces ripple as they brighten, tighten and rejuvenate. Arcs of electricity spark across the ship.

LUKA
Help me!​

Rebecca cowers in the back corner, unable to move.

The tendrils of liquid have crept up as far as Luka’s neck. They SNAP tight around him, like they did to Raiq. Small fingers of electricity skitter over the silver surface.

The power continues to build and build and build...



57 RAIQ


Feels this happening... her hands begin to burst with flame from the armour. She SCREAMS to the sky as her EYES burn, alight with fire...



58 REBECCA


SCREAMS too, utterly terrified of what’s going on...



59 LUKA


SCREAMS to the sky as the ship reaches critical mass, and his own EYES CATCH FIRE, aflame in their sockets...




BLACK OUT:

END OF SHOW​