ACT FIVE
FADE IN:
83 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE
Ro stares at the Ascendant ship on the screen, silhouetted against the star. Behind her, the door opens and Prynn and Nog both enter. Ro gestures for Bowers to join her.
Ro, Bowers, Nog, Candlewood, Matthias and Tenmei huddle together at the rear of the bridge. Ro makes sure she still has eyeline to the viewscreen.
RO
Alright. We can’t just sit here.
We can’t keep running after him,
and getting there too late. So I
want ideas. Plans. Psychological
insight. Anything to let us get
ahead of him.
She looks around at the gathered officers. Nobody has any ideas. Then there’s an ALERT – Nog quickly turns to check.
NOG
There’s an incoming transmission
from Bajor.
RO
Lenaris?
NOG
No, sir. It’s on a system-wide
broadcast... from Janir.
RO
On screen.
Nog presses buttons, and the main viewscreen changes.
84 VIEWSCREEN
shows the main anteroom of Janir Monastery. There’s a gaggle of reporters, of which our POV is one. At the front of the room, standing near a makeshift platform, are Yevir, Kira and Mika... with Raiq standing a little apart.
85 INT. JANIR MONASTERY
In the room with them now. Yevir is the first one to step up. The crowd hushes, training their cameras.
YEVIR
Citizens of Bajor, welcome to Janir
Monastery. My name is Yevir
Linjarin. You may know me.
86 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE
Back to the
Defiant. Ro is unimpressed.
YEVIR (b.g.)
I come before you today not
in pursuit of fame or self-
aggrandisement, but with a vital
message for the people of Bajor.
RO (f.g.)
Euch. Mute it. We don’t have time
for that jackass.
Nog presses more buttons. The image remains, but now muted.
RO
Alright, concentrate. Luka has the
advantage – he can jump instantly
anywhere in the Bajoran system. So
we need to nullify that advantage.
87 INT. DS9 – MAIN OPS CENTRE
Major Cenn stands at the central Ops table, in command of a bunch of unknowns. The main screen shows the broadcast.
YEVIR (screen)
Janir is the home of the Oralian
Way. But we are not alone here.
All four religions who currently
call Bajor home reside together.
And we live together, in peace.
88 INT. DS9 – QUARK’S BAR
Business goes on as usual. Treir, Hetik and Pif all work as they always have. Quark stands and watches the screens. At the hatch opening out onto the Promenade, Lt Cmdr EVIK also stands, watching, sharing camaraderie with Quark.
YEVIR (screen)
In the face of current, horrendous
events, we stand together now, as
an example of unity. All of Bajor
must come together, whether they
be Oralian, Ohalavar, traditional,
or even Ascendant. We are one,
and we must not let anyone or
anything come between us.
Evik smiles. That’s a good sentiment, one he agrees with. Quark is not quite so sanguine.
89 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE
Continuing the confab...
NOG
Maybe we can figure out where
he’ll jump next, and be there
waiting for him.
BOWERS
Raiq said it was out of control.
Jumping at random.
MATTHIAS
(sudden inspiration)
No – it’s not random.
90 INT. JANIR MONASTERY
Yevir stands aside, allowing Mika to take the stage.
MIKA
My name is Cerin Mika, and I have
travelled a long and winding path
to stand here today. In my youth,
I walked with the Prophets, as did
everyone. In my adolescence I
turned to the pagh-Wraiths, and
found them similarly wanting. Now
as an adult, I follow Ohalu. So
you may believe me when I say I
recognize the many different faces
that faith can wear.
91 INT. BAJORAN MILITIA CENTRAL
Lenaris, Kasidy and the other officers watch the same broadcast on the big incident screen.
MIKA (screen)
The vedek was vague as to the
events currently unfolding. But I
say it clearly. A man named Luka
Tirem has kidnapped the daughter
of the Emissary, taken the deadly
Ascendant ship kept in hiding by
Starfleet, and attacked and killed
several Bajoran officers.
Lenaris darkens...
92 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE
Matthias continues her theory...
MATTHIAS
Think back on all the Ascendant
attacks we’ve seen. They’ve all
been against Bajoran targets.
PRYNN
Yeah, we’re in the Bajoran system.
MATTHIAS
But look at the specificity of
those targets. Axno hit the main
monastery at Ashalla twice. Of
all the places on Bajor.
CANDLEWOOD
Two points don’t necessarily make
a pattern.
MATTHIAS
She’s an Ascendant. Hates Bajorans
above anything else. And that ship
is running off her instincts.
NOG
And so does Luka. And now they’re
combined...
93 INT. ASHALLA MONASTERY – KAI’S CHAMBERS
While ranjens and Militia officers run back and forth repairing damage on the other side of the open door, Kai Solis sits calmly at his desk, with Vedek Pralon stood behind, watching the broadcast on his personal screen.
MIKA (screen)
It is true, Luka was a follower of
Ohalu, just as I am. I say he was,
because we utterly denounce this
action. None of the faiths here at
Janir endorse kidnap, murder, or
violence. Not even the Ascendants.
If anyone seeks to blame the kai,
the leader of the Ohalavaru, my
uncle, for this reprehensible act,
they could not be more wrong.
We stand with you, all of us,
against Luka Tirem now.
Pralon places her hand gently on Solis’ shoulder. He clasps it tightly, thankful for the support.
94 INT. JANIR MONASTERY
On the stage, Mika bows out and goes to stand with Yevir. That leaves Kira and Raiq.
Kira looks to Raiq – does she want to go next? But Raiq is nervous, still uncertain about this. Kira sees that, and takes pity by stepping up to the platform for her turn.
KIRA
My name’s Kira Nerys. I worked
with the Emissary for many years.
I fought for Bajor, all my life. I
believed in the Prophets, all my
life. I still do. But what that
means to me has... broadened.
95 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE
Nog notices the screen...
NOG
Hey look, Kira’s on.
RO
Great. So they’re attacking sites
of traditional Bajoran worship.
How does that help us?
BOWERS
Commander, there’s one other thing
Luka and Axno have in common.
One other place.
Ro pauses, figuring out what Bowers is referring to...
96 INT. BAJORAN MILITIA CENTRAL
The Militia officers watch the broadcast on the screen...
KIRA (screen)
I’ve had my problems with all of
these people, what they believe...
Kira gestures, and the camera follows, catching Yevir and Mika on one side, Raiq on the other.
KIRA (screen)
But I’ve come to understand them
all. There is nothing – nothing –
to stop us all living together in
peace. All of these different
interpretations of the Prophets –
the Siblings, the Fates, the True.
None of them is a threat to us.
97 INT. ENDALLA CAVE
Sisko, with his weapon out and pointing the way, making his way through the cavern beneath the surface of the moon. He bats cobwebs and roots out of the way.
KIRA (v.o.)
The Emissary needs our strength.
So I plead with you, don’t let us
fall apart now. Stand with us, as
we stand with you.
Sisko turns a corner and comes upon the pile of rocks, with Corporal Renta’s crushed and dead body poking out from it.
98 INT. JANIR MONASTERY
And back to the stage. Kira steps aside, holding her hand out to welcome Raiq in her place.
From the side, Raiq looks nervously out at the Bajorans all gathered, looking at her, waiting for her. She gulps, but hesitantly does what she must. She steps up to the stage.
RAIQ
Bajorans. I am Raiq, Archquester
of the Ascendancy. My Quest was to
seek the True – those you call the
Prophets – and to destroy any who
dared worship them also, and any
who stood in our way.
99 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE
Ro watches Raiq talking MOS on the screen, and remembers...
FLASHBACKS
-- Garak walking past the Bajoran shrine on the station, and Luka’s phaser shot comes screaming at him (11x06)
-- Axno self-immolates in a massive ball of fire, exploding and burning the shrine to pieces all around her (11x03)
RESUME
Ro realizes, with horror.
RO
The shrine.
BOWERS
They both attacked it already.
RO
He’s going to attack the station.
That’s his next target.
100 INT. ASCENDANT SHIP
The broadcast is also transmitting in here, through the hologram that hangs in mid-air. Luka-Axno watches it, at first happy to see Raiq...
RAIQ (screen)
The Quest is over. The Ascension
is past. I have seen as the True
see, and they have shown me
that death is no longer their
wish... if it ever was.
Behind him, poor Rebecca still cowers, huddled into the corner, quietly weeping.
RAIQ (screen)
The man called Luka Tirem... I
thought we were alike. Believed
alike. But we do not. His actions
are not as the True wish it.
At this, Luka-Axno’s face drops in a furious sneer...
LUKA / AXNO
Heretic. I knew it. Even my sister
has turned against me. You shame
the (Prophets/True).
The console in front of him begins to glow RED...
101 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE
There’s an ALARM from Bowers’ tactical console. He runs to check it. His eyes flare in alarm, looks back to Ro...
BOWERS
Luka’s charging up to jump...
RO
Everyone back to your posts. Red
alert, battle stations. Matthias,
contact DS-Nine. Nog, get down
to engineering and grab whatever
you need. Everyone, move!
The crew rush back to their stations. Nog exits the bridge. The ship goes to RED ALERT. On screen, Luka-Axno turns to a threatening position, the ship’s silver tip glowing red...
And he FIRES, right down
Defiant’s throat.
102 INT. JANIR MONASTERY
Standing on the platform, Raiq is still a small step away from the other three.
As she looks at their faces...
FLASHBACK – 10x20 “IN THE STARS”
Itu’s tall, white Eav’oq face with its single smiling eye.
RESUME
Mika, the Ohalavar.
Raiq turns to look at Yevir...
FLASHBACK – 10x20 “IN THE STARS”
Garak the Cardassian with his strangely serene expression.
RESUME
Yevir, the leader of the Oralian Way.
And finally, Raiq looks at Kira...
FLASHBACK – 10x20 “IN THE STARS”
Prophet Kira holds her hand out to Raiq, beckoning her...
RESUME
The real Kira is doing the same, beckoning her to join them. Finally, Raiq does. She takes Kira’s hand. All four join hands as they did in the vision.
The media is buzzing. Kira is beaming. Yevir and Mika are too. But Raiq... she’s still not a hundred per cent sure.
103 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE
Panels all over the bridge are blasted and burned, wires hanging, cables sparking, gases hissing. Everyone stays at their stations and keeps working, fighting to keep the ship alive. Ro is in the command chair, battered and bloodied...
104 INT. DS9 – QUARK’S BAR
The screens, previously showing the broadcast, all go blank, as RED ALERT lights flash all around the station.
CENN (comm)
Major Cenn to all hands. Level one
emergency is in effect. This is not
a drill. All hands report to your
supervisors for orders.
Quark looks in fear over towards Evik. It’s exactly what Quark feared would happen. Evik nods, then turns and heads directly for the security office.
All around the bar, Starfleet officers – ones who didn’t already leave for the Defiant – immediately head out. In a matter of seconds, only civilians are left, wondering what the hell is going on while the red alert lights flash.
CENN (comm)
I repeat, this is not a drill, all
hands report to supervisors. Now.
Treir, Hetik and Pif all gather back together at the bar, surrounding Quark. This is it.
104 EXT. SPACE
The
Defiant at top impulse speed, moving as fast as it can.
105 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE
We are at the top of the station, looking down on the Ops dome and the Promenade...
And Luka-Axno JUMPS into position, right on top of the station. The pointed tip glows an angry red...
And he FIRES.
The BOLT OF LIGHTNING hits the Ops dome. Electric charges skitter and fizzle all over the outer hull, dissolving the metal, spreading gradually down.
Ops DISINTEGRATES into chunks.
Luka-Axno doesn’t stop firing. The CRUMBLING continues, down the neck of the station, reaching the Promenade.
All three RUNABOUTS launch and escape. Just in time – the CRUMBLING spreads out along the crossover bridges to the habitat ring.
Starting at the core and spreading outward, the entire station DISSOLVES, chunks of metal tumbling away into space. Small EXPLOSIONS swallow up many of the pieces.
103 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE
Ro is on her feet, staring at this on the viewscreen. Dumbfounded. Stunned. The rest of the crew are likewise.
104 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE
At the top of (what was) the station, Luka-Axno finally stops firing and JUMPS away again. Just in time, because...
The station finally EXPLODES in one great massive fireball.
105 INT. DEFIANT – BRIDGE
Ro and the rest flinch back, covering their eyes from the flash of the explosion. When they look back at the main viewscreen again...
...there’s nothing but tumbling debris.
Deep Space Nine has been destroyed.
BLACK OUT:
END OF SHOW
