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DS9 12x15 – "Ghost Ship"

DS9Continuing

DS9Continuing

Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
 
Meanwhile...

TNG 17x15 – “THIRD OF FIVE”

Making repairs at Ramatis, Picard reviews reports – he knows this is only the beginning. Almost every active ship and officer has been drafted into defence. Listening reluctantly to the whispers in his head, Picard realises that the Borg will next hit five targets simultaneously – starbases 157, 234 and 343, and the Klingon colonies at Khitomer and Korvat. Only one of the five is in range for Enterprise to reach in time, so Picard sets course for Korvat, knowing it leaves the others all but undefended. Ten million people are killed on Korvat before Enterprise can destroy the cube, leaving only a few thousand survivors. Meanwhile three Starfleet ships fight the Borg over Khitomer. Two are destroyed, and Ranger’s XO orders her crew to ram the cube. The helmsman cannot do it, so the XO does it herself. Ranger is destroyed, taking the cube with it and saving the planet, to the Klingon governor’s great honour.

TTN 1x15 – “GODS OF NIGHT”

2381: Titan passes through an area of subspace distortions – similar but not identical to Borg transwarp. The readings lead to a blank area of space, where star charts prove a planet used to be. 2168: On the ultra-advanced Caeliar world, Captain Hernandez gets shown around their Great Work – a millennia-old project to contact any lifeform as advanced as themselves. Their representative Inyx explains – they are made of catoms (programmable matter) and can be or do anything. Many Columbia crew bristle against being kept here, MACO leader Major Foyle especially. 2381: Dr Ree explains Troi’s failed pregnancies – her experience with Ian (TNG 2x01 “The Child”) corrupted her ovarian DNA. Riker attempts to confide in Vale, leading to an argument about allowing Troi to remain on active duty in her condition, then to Vale’s aborted attempt to kiss her married captain. As they approach the empty space, a subspace pulse knocks Titanout of warp, leaving the ship blind and immobilised...

VOY 10x15 – “I AM A MIRROR”

Voyager’s first mission back on active duty is to track the still-missing Reston (VOY 10x12 “Revenant”). Before they can destroy it, its commander contacts them – an assimilated Nick Locarno. He claims they are not connected to the Collective, and they can help. Dr Kaz starts working with them on anti-Borg strategies. Paris and Locarno argue – they had almost identical backgrounds but Paris got his second chance while Locarno was shunned. Paris responds that it was all Locarno’s choice, like when Nick chose to let himself be assimilated to escape capture, while Tom would have rather died. Meanwhile, Admiral Owen Paris has taken command of Starbase 234, just in time for it to come under attack from the Borg. Adm Paris barely manages to send a message to his son, apologising for their latest argument, before the base is destroyed. Having just destroyed Locarno and Reston, Tom Paris receives the report that his father has been killed.
 
TEASER​


FADE IN:


1 EXT. DESERT


A vast expanse of sand, carved into rolling dunes by a strong and persistent wind, and under scorching sunlight. We PAN slowly across the view, until we gradually come upon something half-buried under the sand - grey metal plates, forming a large shape that peeks out of the sand.

We PULL BACK some, enough to see more of the shape of the vessel, the curve of a hull, the grooves separating the plates, holes where the hull has been broken and the sand is dropping through into the darkness within.

PAN and PULL BACK some more, until we finally see enough of this metallic shape to recognise it as a Starfleet vessel, specifically of the NX class (from Star Trek: Enterprise). The ship is clearly lifeless, a crippled husk that crashed here and went no further.

Upon the back of this dead beast, black boots climb. As they pick their way across the metal plates, they pass over the name of the ship etched onto the hull.


NX-02 COLUMBIA​


The boots continue to climb up the hill of the ship’s primary hull, until they reach a point where it is possible to look out over the body of the vessel, half covered in constantly shifting sand.

We see this figure only from behind as it looks out across this view. The figure is female, has long dark hair tied into a clasp, and is wearing a Starfleet uniform.


SISKO (o.s.)
Dax!​


The figure turns, revealing itself to be JADZIA DAX. She looks back the way she came, seeing Captain BENJAMIN SISKO following in her path, also wearing his Starfleet uniform. Sisko stands beside Jadzia and gazes out with her.


SISKO
Quite a find, old man.

JADZIA
Tobin watched the Columbia launch
from space dock around Earth. I
never imagined I’d see her again
here, in the Gamma Quadrant,
two hundred years later.

SISKO
How’s the search going?

JADZIA
Slowly. There’s some unusual
subatomic damage in the hull. Not
sure what it means yet. All we
know for sure is that she’s been
here almost that entire time.​


They walk on a bit, towards a place where a great gash was torn into the hull by its crash. Hull panels are caved in, old cables droop, and sand has fallen in through the hole. Jadzia and Benjamin pause at the edge of the hole.


SISKO
Have you been able to identify
any of the crew?

JADZIA
We haven’t found any bodies.
No remains of any kind.

SISKO
Is it possible they abandoned
ship and settled somewhere
on the planet?

JADZIA
Maybe. But most of their gear is
still on board, and this desert
goes on for almost nine hundred
kilometres in every direction.​


They look down into the dark hole...


2 INT. COLUMBIA


Now inside the wreck, looking up at the jagged hole. Jadzia and Benjamin stand in a shaft of bright sunlight. As Jadzia turns away from this, she sees something out of the corner of her eye and quickly turns to look at it...

Sparkling, twinkling LIGHTS in the darkness, gone as soon as they are seen. Jadzia shakes her head and rubs her eyes.


SISKO
You alright, Dax?

JADZIA
Fine, it’s nothing. Just scorching
my retinas.​


They turn a corner and find Chief O’BRIEN hunched beneath a low-hanging tangle of wires and ancient circuit boards.


JADZIA
Chief. Any luck?

O’BRIEN
Not yet. It’s a damn museum
piece, is what it is. Our tricorders
can’t talk to it, and I can’t find
an adaptor in Defiant’s database
that’ll fit these inputs.

SISKO
Are the memory banks intact?

O’BRIEN
Well, they’re there. But whether
they work... Nobody’s used a
system like this in a century.

SISKO
How long, Chief? Give me a number.

O’BRIEN
A couple of days, at least.

SISKO
That won’t work. Worf just called.
The Defiant’s sensors detected
Jem’Hadar approaching the system.
They’ll be here in twenty minutes.

KIRA (o.s.)
Does that mean we can get out
of her now?​


They all turn to see KIRA, in her Bajoran Militia uniform circa season 5, approaching from out of the darkness. She looks uncomfortable, glancing back over her shoulder.


SISKO
Is something wrong, Major?

KIRA
There’s something in here. I can’t
explain it, but I can feel it. There’s
a borhyas watching us.

SISKO
A ghost? Are you telling me you
think this ship is haunted?

KIRA
I don’t know. But I heard things,
and I felt the hairs on my neck
stand up, and I keep seeing
blinks of light in the dark...

DAX
(unnerved)
Blue flashes? Just out of the
corner of your eye?

KIRA
(thrilled to
be validated)
Yes!

SISKO
I’ve heard enough. Let’s get back
to the Defiant.​


The team starts walking together down the corridor.


JADZIA
I wish we had more time to find
some answers. Like how the hell
the Columbia ended up all the way
out here when history records it
being lost near Romulan space.

SISKO
Sorry, old man. Besides, Kira still
needs to get back to the station
so Doctor Bashir can give her a
full check-up.

KIRA
Should we plant demolitions? To
stop the Jem’Hadar from capturing
the ship?

SISKO
I doubt they’ll find much more
than we did. No, the Columbia has
kept her secrets for two hundred
years already. She can wait a
little longer.
(taps combadge)
Sisko to Defiant. Four to beam up.​


A moment, and Sisko, Kira, Dax and O’Brien all disappear in transporter beams, leaving the Columbia deserted once more.

A moment, and more blue flickering lights flash in the depths of the darkened ship, just out of sight.

A moment, and another figure walks out of the darkness into the beams of sunlight - EZRI DAX.

She walks around the space, looking at the buckled bulk heads, the dead and dangling cables, the gashes in the hull. Nothing seems to have changed in the years since she was last here. Ezri taps her combadge.


DAX
Dax to Helkara.

HELKARA (comm)
Helkara here.

DAX
Is your tricorder still reading
clear?

HELKARA (comm)
As clear as it can be with this
kind of atmospheric disturbance.
Is there a problem?

DAX
Check life sign readings again,
will you? Just to be sure.​


A pause as Helkara does exactly that.


HELKARA (comm)
Only the readings that match
perfectly with the Aventine crew
who should be here, sir. Do you
have reason to believe otherwise?

DAX
No... no, I’m sure it’s nothing.
Dax out.​


Out of the corner of her eye, Ezri sees the flickering blue lights again. She feels the prickling of the hairs on her neck and the backs of her hands. She knows something is here with her, in the darkness. She just knows.

She walks on into the dead and deserted Columbia...


BLACK OUT


END OF TEASER​
 
ACT ONE​


FADE IN:


3 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE


Looking down upon the station from above, tight upon the Ops capsule at the top. Then WIDEN, and reveal...

Defiant moored on the docking ring. On the opposite side, the Akira-class James T Kirk. On an upper pylon, the Vesta-class Aventine, and on a lower, the Nebula-class New York. The four ships are distributed evenly around the station.


4 INT. DS9 - WARD ROOM


Beginning tight on Ezri Dax’s red uniform collar, which now features four pips, indicating a rank of captain.

WIDEN to reveal Dax sitting at one end of the ward room table, fingers woven on the table before her. She looks up and sees the others around the table with her.

At the opposite end of the table sits Commander RO LAREN. Beside her, Major CENN. Along the two sides, captains Benjamin Sisko and ELIAS VAUGHN. Supporting their captains are Commander ROGEIRO of the Kirk, and Lieutenant CAVANAUGH of the New York.


DAX
Thank you all for meeting with me.
I realise you’re probably busy.

SISKO
It’s good to see you safe, old
man. And congratulations on
the promotion.

DAX
Thanks, Benjamin. I just wish it
were under better circumstances.
But after our losses at Acamar,
Starfleet apparently saw fit to
promote me two ranks and put
the ship under my command. I
guess they were short-handed.

VAUGHN
Don’t put yourself down, Dax.
Now what do you need from us?

DAX
I have a mission from Starfleet.
One I had to convince them to give
me. They weren’t happy about it -
every other ship in the fleet is
being reassigned to defence
against the Borg attacks.

RO
Then why are you different?

DAX
Because I have a hunch. When we
fought the Borg at Acamar, my
science officer, Helkara, detected
something strange about the cube.
Some weird subatomic damage to
its hull metals. I knew it reminded
me of something at the time, but I
was kind of busy so I didn’t give
it much thought. Once the battle
was over, I went back and looked
at those readings again... and
eventually, I remembered
where I’d seen them before.

VAUGHN
Where was it?

DAX
On the Columbia.

SISKO
You mean, in the Gamma Quadrant?
Dax, that was seven years ago.

CENN
(puts hand up,
hesitant)
I don’t think I know this story.

DAX
Sorry, Major. It was on the Defiant,
just before the Dominion War.
We were returning from another
mission when I - or rather when
Jadzia - detected Earth-made
technology on a planet where
there shouldn’t have been any.

CAVANAUGH
Earth-made? Not Federation-made?

SISKO
It was Columbia, a pre-Federation
warp five ship. It was missing and
presumed destroyed in the Earth-
Romulan War two hundred years ago.

RO
So then what was it doing in the
Gamma Quadrant?

DAX
Exactly. It was the archaeological
find of the century, I couldn’t turn
it down. Unfortunately the Jem’
Hadar came calling and we had
to run. And then war broke out a
couple of months later, and we all
had other things to worry about.
Hopefully, it’s still there.

SISKO
You’re going back to find it?

DAX
It’s the same subatomic readings,
Ben. I checked Defiant’s records
against Aventine’s, and allowing
for differences in construction
between us and the Borg, the
readings are identical.

RO
Okay, say it is the same readings.
Forgive my ignorance, but so what?

SISKO
Nobody knows how the Borg have
been getting into Federation space
for these attacks. When Voyager
destroyed their transwarp hub in
the Delta Quadrant, it should have
crippled their network for years.

VAUGHN
(nodding along)
And there have been no indications
of transwarp activity, of quantum
slipstream, of wormholes - of any
of the known methods of extra-warp
travel - that might explain how
they’re getting so deep into our
territory without setting off any
of our border proximity alarms.

DAX
That subatomic damage might help
explain how the Columbia managed
to make it from the Romulan border
to the Gamma Quadrant in less than
ten years, a journey that should
have taken it three-hundred-fifty
years under its own power.

RO
And if it can tell you that, it might
also tell you how the Borg are
getting into Federation space.
And how we can stop them.

DAX
That’s how I sold it to Starfleet.
I told Admiral Nechayev this could
be the most important mission in
the fleet right now. That may have
been an exaggeration. But like I
said, I have a hunch.

VAUGHN
So back to my original question
- what do you need from us?

DAX
(shy smile)
Well, first of all, I need you to
tell me if I’m crazy. You are the
people who know me better than
anyone else. Does this make any
sense, or am I making it all up?

SISKO
(chuckle)
I think it makes perfect sense. I
learned to trust Dax’s intuition
thirty years ago. You should too.

VAUGHN
Captains have taken far greater
leaps on far less evidence. If it
works out, what a start to your
first command!

DAX
And if it doesn’t, it’ll probably
be my last command. So you
think I should do this?

RO
I think you have to. Besides, like
you said, Starfleet ordered you.
It’s out of your hands.

ROGEIRO
You said that was ‘first of all’.
Was there a second of all?

DAX
Actually, yes. As well as captain
and first officer, the Aventine
lost several senior staff against
the Borg. My helm officer is still
in sickbay two weeks later. So I
was hoping I could pick up some
replacements here. From you, Ro.

RO
You’re... stealing my crew?

DAX
Not all of them. But it just made
sense to bring in people I already
know and trust. I picked up Simon
- Doctor Tarses - on my way here.
He’s going to be my chief medical
officer. But I still need a chief
engineer and a first officer.

RO
Who did you have in mind?​


As Dax considers her response to that...


5 EXT. DESERT


The exterior of the crashed Columbia, still half-buried in shifting sand. Ezri Dax stands upon its surface, shielding her eyes against the glaring sun reflecting off the metal.

She stands by one of the large dark holes where the hull was compromised. She turns, crouches, stares down into the darkness, wondering about what might lurk down there. Then a FACE appears in the hole, and Dax SQUEAKS in shocked surprise, almost tumbling backwards.

But the face is only Aventine’s science officer, Lt Cmdr GRUHN HELKARA, a trim Zakdorn male. He is climbing up a set of makeshift steps which have been constructed within the hole. He pokes his head into the open air with a smile.


HELKARA
Good news, Captain. The new
converter’s working. I thought
you might want to come down
and have a look for yourself.

DAX
No thanks, Gruhn. I’d prefer to
stay topside.​


She has no intention of elaborating. Helkara clambers up until he too stands on the surface of the Columbia, looking out across the desert. He palms sweat off his forehead.


HELKARA
By the gods, did it get hotter
out here?

DAX
Yes, it did. Where are you with
the metallurgical analysis?

HELKARA
Almost done, sir. You were right.
We detected molecular distortion
in the spaceframe consistent with
intense sub-spatial stress.

DAX
And what was the cause?

HELKARA
Hard to be sure.

DAX
You mean you don’t know.

HELKARA
Well, I’m not prepared to make
that admission yet. I may not have
enough data to form a hypothesis,
but my tests have ruled out
several obvious answers.

DAX
Such as?

HELKARA
Extreme warp velocities. Quantum
slipstream vortices. Wormholes.
Iconian gateways. Time travel.
Oh, and the Q.

DAX
Doesn’t leave us much to go on.

HELKARA
No. But I love a challenge.

DAX
Keep at it, Gruhn. Something moved
this ship clear across the galaxy.
I need to know what it was, and
I need to know soon.

HELKARA
Understood, Captain.

KEDAIR (comm)
Kedair to Dax.

DAX
(taps combadge)
Dax. Go head, Lieutenant.

KEDAIR (comm)
We just got another priority
message from Starfleet Command.
I think you might want to take
this one. It’s Admiral Nechayev,
and she wants a reply.

DAX
(sigh)
Alright, Lieutenant. Beam me up.
I’ll take it in my ready room.

KEDAIR (comm)
Aye sir. Stand by for transport.

DAX
You’re in charge down here till
I get back, Commander.​


Helkara nods acknowledgment, then Dax disappears in a transporter beam, leaving Helkara alone by the ominous dark hole in the Columbia’s corpse...


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT ONE​
 
ACT TWO​


FADE IN:


6 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE


Focusing again on the Ops dome...


7 INT. DS9 - COMMANDER’S OFFICE


Ro, Dax, Lt BOWERS and Lt LEISHMAN sit in the lounge, Bowers stiff and formal, Leishman bouncing with excitement.


LEISHMAN
Are you kidding? Oh my god, yes!
Yes, absolutely!
(oh wait)
If that’s okay with you, sir.

RO
(wry)
In fact, Captain Dax’s selections
have already been pre-approved by
Starfleet Command. I don’t have
much say in the matter. But thank
you for asking, Lieutenant. And
yes, it’s okay with me.

LEISHMAN
Chief engineer of a slipstream
vessel? Do you have any idea how
many engineers in Starfleet would
kill for that?
(sudden realisation)
Oh my god, Prynn’s gonna kill me.

RO
And what about you, Sam?

BOWERS
(hesitant)
It’s certainly a rare opportunity.

DAX
Which means what?

BOWERS
(awkward)
Commander Ro, there’s something
I’d like to discuss with Captain Dax
before I accept the transfer. If I
could have a moment...?

RO
Sure. Come on Mikaela, let’s go
break the news to Nog and Prynn.​


Ro and Leishman stand to leave, and Dax and Bowers also stand out of courtesy. Once Ro and Leishman have left and the door is closed, Bowers paces slowly over towards the commander’s desk, building courage for what he is about to say. Dax watches him curiously from afar.


DAX
Sam? What’s wrong? Aren’t you
interested? I would have thought
you’d jump at the chance.

BOWERS
Oh, I’m very interested, sir. The
Vesta-class ships are a prime
assignment. And though I’ve never
chased promotion, I certainly don’t
object to it.
(turns to her)
But I have some conditions first.

DAX
Okay... I’m listening.

BOWERS
I want formality on the bridge.

DAX
What do you mean?

BOWERS
I would never say this to
Commander Ro, it’s not my place
here. But I have found myself
increasingly uncomfortable with
the way she runs this command.​


Bowers looks out through the door of the office onto Ops, where he can see Ro, Leishman, NOG, TENMEI and CANDLEWOOD. They are all laughing and joking, congratulating Leishman with hugs and high-fives and noogies. Bowers feels guilty about what he is saying, but equally, that is the perfect example of what he is saying.


BOWERS
First names, practical jokes,
senior officers play-fighting in
front of their subordinates. It
is not appropriate for the nerve
centre of a Starfleet crew.

DAX
They’re just enjoying their work,
Lieutenant. That’s not a crime.
Maybe it’s you who needs to
loosen up a bit.

BOWERS
(exasperated)
That’s exactly the attitude I’m
talking about. I reject the idea
that I need to ‘loosen up’. That
it’s only a matter of time before
I come to my senses and start
behaving like everyone else. The
bridge of a starship – or a space
station – is a place of business,
not of games and gossip.

DAX
I didn’t realise you felt this
strongly.

BOWERS
Don’t get me wrong, I know how to
have fun. You should catch me on
the dance floor some time. But
there’s a time and a place, and
bridge duty is not it. Lives depend
on the decisions we make in that
space. So if I’m going to be your
first officer, I want your assurances
that I’ll have your support in
setting an appropriate tone.​


Dax straightens, taking everything he has said on board. He wonders if he is about to be given his discharge papers.


DAX
Very well. You’ve made persuasive
points, and I am prepared to agree
to your terms. Welcome aboard the
Aventine, Lieutenant – or should I
say, Commander Bowers.

BOWERS
Thank you, Captain. Then I accept
the position.​


She approaches, and they shake hands to close the deal.


DAX
Good. And you know I’m holding
you to that dance floor thing.​


8 EXT. AVENTINE


Establishing the large and sleek Vesta-class ship in orbit of the golden-coloured desert planet. It is now largely repaired from the beating it took at Acamar two weeks ago.


9 INT. AVENTINE - CORRIDOR


A door opens and Sam Bowers - now in a red command collar with three pips - steps out into the corridor. He walks along purposefully, past engineers still effecting repairs. He turns a corner... and finds himself at a dead end.

Embarrassed at having got lost on his own ship, he turns back the way he came. The noise of voices draws him on, and he discovers to his relief that they are coming from two junior officers waiting for a turbolift.

The Tellarite male and the human female are close, chatting and whispering intimately, clearly a couple. The moment they spot him approaching, they jerk apart, standing more professionally. Bowers remains completely above it.


BOWERS
Good morning Lieutenant, Ensign.

TELLARITE
It’s afternoon, sir.​


Luckily, the turbolift arrives. Bowers after-yous the two junior officers inside.


10 INT. AVENTINE - TURBOLIFT (CONTINUED)


As the doors close, the human woman speaks...


WOMAN
Deck twelve, engineering.

BOWERS
Bridge.
(sheepish)
Sorry.

WOMAN
That’s alright, sir. It happens.​


They stand in silence, until a few moments later, the door opens onto...


11 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Bowers exits the turbolift onto the bridge - 90 percent repaired from what we saw last episode. KEDAIR, the ship’s security chief, stands from the centre chair.


KEDAIR
Sir.

BOWERS
I am ready to relieve you,
Lieutenant.

KEDAIR
I am ready to be relieved, sir.
(hands him padd)
Salvage operations on the Columbia
are proceeding according to
schedule. No contacts in sensor
range, Dominion or otherwise,
and all systems nominal.
(hesitant)
Although... there were some
reports from the surface that
I want to check out.

BOWERS
What kind of reports?

KEDAIR
The kind that make me think our
teams are more fatigued than
they are letting on, sir.

BOWERS
What gives you that impression?

KEDAIR
A pair of incident reports, filed
eleven hours apart, each by a
different engineer. They claim
the Columbia is haunted, sir.​


Kedair’s dubious expression makes it clear how likely she thinks that is. Bowers accepts it stoically.


BOWERS
Maybe it is. Lord knows I’ve seen
stranger things.

KEDAIR
(a touch
perturbed)
I don’t plan to indulge the crew’s
superstitions, sir. I just want to
be sure they’re not becoming
delusional out of grief or stress.

BOWERS
A valid concern, Lieutenant. Is
the captain in her ready room?

KEDAIR
Aye, sir. She’s been on the comm
with Admiral Nechayev for the
better part of half an hour.

BOWERS
Very good. I relieve you.

KEDAIR
(snap to attention)
I stand relieved. Permission to go
ashore, sir?

BOWERS
Granted. But keep it brief. We
may need you back on watch.​


With a nod, Kedair strides towards the turbolift and leaves the bridge. Bowers settles into the centre seat. He barely has time to browse the padd in his hand before...


DAX (comm)
Dax to Commander Bowers. Please
report to my ready room.

BOWERS
On my way, Captain. Lieutenant
Kandel, you have the bridge.​


Bowers stands, heads towards the ready room door...


12 INT. AVENTINE - READY ROOM


As Bowers enters, Dax is standing and staring out of the window at the planet below, clearly annoyed and unhappy.


BOWERS
What happened? Is Starfleet
pulling the plug?

DAX
They might as well be. We have
twenty-four more hours to finish
our salvage and head back to the
wormhole. Nechayev wants us to
join the fleet defending Trill.

BOWERS
Why the change of plans?​


Dax steps to her desk, turns the screen around to face Bowers. It plays a VIDEO CLIP - just a few brief dramatic seconds of weapons fire exchanged with a looming Borg cube, and then static. Clearly, the recording ship was destroyed.


DAX
This is from the USS Amargosa,
one of five ships lost in the last
sixteen hours. All in the Onias
sector, and all to the Borg. No-
one knows if the same Borg
cube destroyed all five ships.

BOWERS
If it was all the work of one
cube, it might be another scout.
Another test of our defences.

DAX
And if it wasn’t, then the invasion
has started. And we’re out here
playing in the sand. Either way,
we have to break orbit by
tomorrow, so we can forget
about raising the Columbia.

BOWERS
(crosses arms,
ponders)
Our main objective is to figure out
how the Columbia got here. To
do that, we need to analyse the
computer core. If Leishman and
Helkara’s adaptors work, we can
download its memory banks over
night and be done by morning.

DAX
(picking up
the thread)
And then parse the data on our
way back. Not my first choice,
but it will have to do.
(sigh)
Alright, let’s get on with it. A
war is why we couldn’t solve this
ship’s mysteries seven years ago.
And another war is why we need
to solve them now. Before we
leave this planet, I want to know
what happened to the Columbia.​


Off Dax’s determination...


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT TWO​
 
ACT THREE​


FADE IN:


13 INT. DS9 - PROMENADE


NOG and SHAR stroll along the Promenade together.


NOG
And then, when I’ve only just
finished repairing and restocking
the New York, the Aventine turns
up and I’ve got to start repairing
and restocking that.

SHAR
I’m certain Captain Vaughn would
be willing to lend resources and
staff as long as we’re here.

NOG
Oh, it’s okay. I’m only whining.
It’s good to see you, Shar. Prynn
said you were on the Kirk now.

SHAR
Yes... and given recent events,
I’m unsure if it was the right
decision. Perhaps I should have
stayed at home - to protect it.

BIF (o.s.)
Nog! Hi!​


They stop, and look down at the deck - the tiny puppy BIF is there. Far from his usual happy, tail-thumping self, his spines droop with worry. Nog swallows down his retch.


NOG
Bif - is everything okay?

BIF
I don’t think so. Can you help?​


His concern overriding his revulsion, Nog nods and follows Bif back into the shop, Shar following along intrigued.


14 INT. DS9 - ETHRAKOIS’ SHOP


In the far corner, we see ornaments and glassware SMASHED, thrown haphazardly around. MRS ETHRAKOI sits on the deck, in the middle of the wreckage, staring emptily at a padd in her hands. Nog and Shar approach gently, crouching down.


NOG
Mrs Ethrakoi... Bissenna...?
What is it? What’s wrong?​


She doesn’t respond, just stares at the padd. Nog reaches out and gently takes the padd from her - she allows it. Nog reads the screen with a small stifled gasp. He passes it to Shar, who also reads and closes his eyes to the horror.


NOG
I’m so sorry.

MRS ETHRAKOI
They all gone. Every damn one
o’ them. Even him.

SHAR
Barolia is your homeworld?

MRS ETHRAKOI
Was. Ain’t no survivors, they say.
Acamar got survivors. But Barolia
and Ramatis - ain’t nothin’ left.

NOG
Is there anything I can do?

MRS ETHRAKOI
Like what? They comin’ to kill us
all, ain’t they?​


Shar and Nog share a look - what can they say? They both know that that is very likely true.


MRS ETHRAKOI
Don’t make no sense. How can an
entire planet be dead?

NOG
Bissenna, I’m going to call for
someone to come, okay? You stay
here. Bif - stay with her. Someone
will be here soon, I promise.

BIF
I will.​


Mrs Ethrakoi nods absently. Bif crawls up close, trying to comfort her. Nog pulls Shar away and they step quietly out.


15 INT. DS9 - PROMENADE


Back out on the Promenade, Nog sees Shar’s haunted look.


SHAR
Her entire world is dead, Nog. How
many more before this is over?​


Nog has no answer.


Elsewhere, Dax walks along the Promenade. Taking in the sights and sounds, enjoying being back in these familiar surroundings for the first time in almost two years, letting herself relax despite the tense circumstances.


16 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR (CONTINUOUS)


She pauses at the threshold of the bar. It’s doing a decent trade, with a fun, casual atmosphere, all the local colour, the smell of the food wafting out. QUARK holds court, Lt Cmdr EVIK NATH sits at the bar watching the crowd.


PIF
Welcome to Quark’s!​


Dax starts a little, looks down to see PIF the green dog-like Aarruri grinning up at her.


DAX
Oh. Hello. I’m sorry, I don’t
think we’ve met.

PIF
My name is Pifko Gaber, I’m the
official maitre d’ for the Ferengi
embassy. And you must be Captain
Ezri Dax of the Aventine.

DAX
How could you possibly know that?

PIF
Always know your customer before
they walk in the door. Rule of
Acquisition number one-ninety-four.

DAX
Really? Well, things have changed
since I was last here, that’s for sure.

PIF
Would you like a table, captain?

DAX
Actually I thought I’d just sit at
the bar, if that’s okay.

PIF
We have several fine seats
available. Please take your pick.

DAX
I will, thank you Mister Gaber.

PIF
Oh, call me Pif. Everyone does!​


Grinning at this most unexpected interaction, Dax steps on into the room and approaches the bar. As she nears, Quark looks up from what he was doing, and gasps in amazement.


QUARK
Well, there she is. Captain Ezri Dax.
Who would have ever thought?
(genuine)
Jadzia would be proud.

DAX
Thanks, Quark. I like to think so
too. How are you?

QUARK
All the better for seeing you.
Although I would prefer it if we
weren’t at war all over again.

DAX
I’m still hoping there’s a way
to stop this before it gets any
worse, Quark.

EVIK
Certainly an admirable ambition,
Captain. I only hope it’s not a
futile one.​


Dax turns to notice Evik sitting at the bar with them.


QUARK
Dax, meet Lieutenant Commander
Evik Nath, the station’s chief of
security.​


Dax looks between back and forth Quark and Evik, notices the complete lack of any tension between them. They appear to be completely comfortable with each other.


DAX
And you two are friends? Wow,
things really have changed around
here, haven’t they? A pleasure to
meet you, Commander.

EVIK
And you, sir. Do you think there’s
a way to stop the Borg?

DAX
That’s what my mission is about.
And I really ought to be getting
on with it. I just wanted to look
up some old friends before I go.

QUARK
Doctor Bashir’s over there.​


Quark directs Dax’s attention towards a table under the stairs, at which they can see Ro, JULIAN BASHIR and Dr SIMON TARSES sitting together with drinks. Dax smiles.


DAX
Thanks, Quark. Good to see you.
Commander Evik.

EVIK
Sir.​


Dax steels herself and heads across towards the table. Seeing her approach, Bashir stands gentlemanly.


BASHIR
Ezri...

DAX
Julian. Simon. Commander.

RO
What, I don’t get a name?

DAX
(grin)
Sorry - Laren.

RO
Join us. I was just catching up
with these miracle workers about
that time they healed my broken
back and saved me from being in
a wheelchair the rest of my life.

DAX
(Dax and Bashir sit)
The good old days, huh? Simon,
I want to get moving within the
hour. Is everything ready?

TARSES
Aventine’s sickbay is fully
repaired and restocked, thanks
to Doctor Bashir. I arrogantly
submit we’re ready for anything.

DAX
Okay. You’d better check in with
Sam, make sure he knows.

RO
Come on, Simon, I’ll walk you to
the airlock. Good luck, Captain.

DAX
Thanks Ro. You too.​


Ro and Tarses get up from the table, pointedly leaving Bashir and Dax alone. Awkward pause.


BASHIR
Ro told me about your mission. Are
you really sure about this, Dax?

DAX
Why wouldn’t I be?

BASHIR
It seems like a hell of a stretch.
The Aventine is a strong ship -
obviously, or you’d never have
survived at Acamar. Wouldn’t you
be better off here, protecting
the Federation?

DAX
You think I’m wrong about the
Columbia?

BASHIR
I just think it’s a thin thread to
be hanging all your hopes on.

DAX
Or maybe you really think I
can’t handle it.

BASHIR
I never said that.

DAX
You don’t have to, Julian, it’s
always the same with you. Every
time I try to make a change, you
try to tell me I can’t do it. My
transfer to command, negotiating
with the Yrythny, taking on the
parasites on Trill, the Luna...

BASHIR
Are we really going to do this
every single time, Dax?

DAX
(dismissive)
Do what?

BASHIR
Me trying to be nice, you taking
every single word and deliberately
twisting it to make me sound like
a monster?

DAX
Oh, so I’m the bad guy now? You
know, I came here hoping for
some encouragement. This is a
big chance I’m taking.

BASHIR
And I don’t want you to run into
it blindly, without thinking it
through first. That is Dax’s MO,
after all. Believe it or not, I
don’t actually want you to die.

DAX
Are you sure? If I die, you can
rest safe in the knowledge that
the great Doctor Julian Bashir
was right, as always.

BASHIR
You know what this really is,
Counsellor Dax? This is not me
needing to be right. This is you
projecting all your insecurities
onto me. As always.​


Dax stands slowly, utterly furious, and looms over him.


DAX
That’s Captain Dax to you, Lieutenant
Commander Bashir. I suggest you
remember that. And if any interaction
with me is so hard for you, then I have
another suggestion. How about you
and me never seeing each other again?​


She turns and leaves, head high and face stern. Bashir is left stricken, knowing that he messed this up again.

On the Promenade, Dax strides purposefully towards a turbolift. She slaps her combadge harder than necessary.


DAX
Dax to Bowers. Recall all crew to
their stations. I want to leave as
soon as DS9 can give us clearance.

BOWERS (comm)
Understood, Captain.​


The turbolift arrives, and she steps aboard, glowering.


DAX
Aventine.​


The computer beeps affirmatively, and the doors slide shut.


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT THREE​
 
ACT FOUR​


FADE IN:


17 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE


Re-establishing the Aventine docked at the station.


18 INT. DS9 - MAIN OPS CENTRE


Most of DS9’s senior staff is already present - Ro and Cenn at the central Ops table, Candlewood at sciences, ALECO at tactical, Tenmei just hanging out. Pointedly not Bashir.

A turbolift rises into Ops, carrying Captain Vaughn, Shar and Nog. Tenmei notices and runs to hug Shar and Vaughn.


TENMEI
Dad! Shar!

RO
(chuckles)
Whatever happened to the days
when you two barely acknowledged
each other’s existence?

VAUGHN
Happily long gone, Commander.
Dax on her way?

CENN
Just waiting for final clearance
now, Captain.​


Meanwhile, Tenmei and Nog have led Shar over to the science station, where the Andorian is greeted with a handshake by his replacement as chief science officer.


CANDLEWOOD
Good to see you, Shar. How’s being
back on a starship treating you?

SHAR
It is good, thank you, John. I am
finding it quite fulfilling.

CANDLEWOOD
Good, cause you’re not getting
this science station back.

TENMEI
Computers are John’s best friends.

CANDLEWOOD
Careful. Another crack like that
and this computer expert might
just replace your entire music
archive with Sinnravian drad.

NOG
And what would be wrong with that?​


The rest chuckle - everyone knows drad music is unbearable to everyone but Ferengi. Meanwhile Cenn’s panel trills.


BOWERS (comm)
Aventine to DS-Nine. We’re ready,
requesting clearance to depart.

CENN
(off panels)
Clearance granted, Aventine. Safe
journey. Walk with the Prophets.

BOWERS (comm)
Acknowledged, Major. We’ll see
you again soon. Aventine out.

RO
Put them on screen.​


Cenn does so - the main viewscreen changes to show Aventine slowly arcing away from the station and out into space. Tenmei pouts, grumbles under her breath. Shar notices...


SHAR
Prynn? Is everything okay?

TENMEI
No. Leishman gets to fly around
with a slipstream engine and I don’t.​


After a moment, the wormhole bursts into life. Aventine dives in, is swallowed up, and the wormhole closes.

Ro turns back to Vaughn, shares a look. They are proud of Dax, but they all hope she will be alright.

Then there is an ALERT on Cenn’s panels. He checks them...


CENN
It’s a message from Starfleet.
There’s been another Borg attack.​


Ro, Vaughn and Sisko blanche with horror...


19 INT. DS9 - COMMANDER’S OFFICE


The video clip from the Amargosa plays on a wall screen. Ro, Sisko and Vaughn watch in silent horror. They took this in private so as not to demoralise the crew any more.

As the clip begins to repeat, Sisko reaches out and taps off the screen. They’ve seen enough. Quiet, haunted.


SISKO
Five attacks in the last sixteen
hours. Who knows how many
more on the way.

RO
These weren’t anywhere near
the Bajor sector, though, right?
They’re not on their way here?

VAUGHN
The Onias sector is way over near
Romulan space. But since we still
don’t know where the hell they’re
coming from or how, it may not
stay that way.

SISKO
The Kirk and the New York have
been ordered back towards the
core worlds. To join the defence if
and when there’s another attack.

RO
Leaving Bajor undefended if they
do come here.

VAUGHN
(half joking)
Maybe you can pray to the
Prophets to protect you.

SISKO
(quiet, pained)
That’s not funny, Elias.

VAUGHN
No, I suppose it’s not.

RO
When do you leave?

SISKO
Admiral Whatley wants us to be
on our way as soon as possible.​


Ro turns to the other two captains, looks them both clear in the eye so there’s no mistaking. She makes this formal.


RO
Then I wish you safe journey,
Captains. And good luck.

VAUGHN
And to you, Commander.​


They shake each other's hands. Solemn, aware of the task before them, Sisko and Vaughn turn and EXIT the office. Ro steps to the window that looks out over Ops, and watches as Vaughn beckons MOS for Shar to join them.

Shar shares a moment of concern with Tenmei and Nog, who don’t want to see their friend go into danger. But orders are orders. Shar joins Sisko and Vaughn on the turbolift, which takes them all away.

After a moment, Ro turns back to her desk, lowers herself into the seat. And sits there alone, isolated. Abandoned.


20 EXT. AVENTINE


Re-establishing the Aventine in orbit of the golden-coloured desert planet.


21 INT. AVENTINE - CONFERENCE ROOM


The door opens and Dax strides in to the conference lounge, heading towards the closest chair at the head of the table. As Dax takes her seat, Bowers is already sat to her right and Helkara to her left. Next in line are Leishman next to Bowers, and MIRREN (Ops manager, human female) next to Helkara. Presumably Lt Kedair is running the bridge.


DAX
Let’s get started.

HELKARA
The salvage of the Columbia’s logs
is underway, Captain. Ensign
Riordan is helping its computer
talk to ours, and they seem to
be getting along splendidly.

LEISHMAN
I’d like to commend Ensign Riordan
for his work on this project, Captain.
If it weren’t for the schematics he
found in Earth’s archives, I doubt
we could have made a successful
connection to the Columbia’s
memory banks.

DAX
I’ll note it in my log.
(to Helkara)
How much of their data have you
translated so far?

HELKARA
About thirty-five percent. We’re
dividing our time between sensor
logs and flight records.

DAX
(to Mirren)
Have you made any progress
in analysing the data?

MIRREN
Some. By cross-referencing the
two sources, we’re developing
a simulation of the Columbia’s
approach to the planet and
its crash landing.

BOWERS
How far along is the sim?

MIRREN
We’ve locked down roughly the last
forty seconds before the Columbia
impacted the surface. If looks as
if it was on autopilot before it -​


Mirren is interrupted by a RUSTLING sound. She glares across the table, where Leishman is busy unwrapping a small piece of candy. Job done, she happily pops it into her mouth and begins to chew... before looking up and realising that everyone is staring at her.


LEISHMAN
(still chewing)
What?

MIRREN
Must you?

LEISHMAN
I get low blood sugar.​


Bowers glowers but holds his tongue. Dax sees this and covers a smirk of amusement. Leishman just keeps chewing, guileless and innocent, deliberately torturing Mirren.


BOWERS
Mirren, you said the Columbia’s
autopilot had been engaged.
Any idea by whom?

MIRREN
Not yet. We’re not even sure
when it was activated. It might
have been online for minutes,
or it could have been flying
the ship for years.

DAX
Alright, we still have fourteen
hours to work on this before we
have to pull up sticks. Sam, I
want all our resources focused
on this, understood?

BOWERS
Aye, sir.

DAX
Thank you, everyone. Dismissed.​


Everyone stands from their seats and begins to head back towards the bridge - Dax lets them all pass her before her, waiting to go last. As they do, Leishman steps into file behind Mirren and begins WHISTLING an off-key tune. Mirren lasts only seconds before turning to her with gritted teeth.


MIRREN
Do you mind?

LEISHMAN
Sorry. Helps me think.​


Dax smirks again as they leave the bridge. She is actually grateful for Leishman trying to lighten the atmosphere in here. Before the door to the bridge has chance to close, Counsellor HYATT pokes her head in.


HYATT
Do you have a moment, Captain?

DAX
Sure, come on in.​


Dax directs Hyatt to the seat Bowers was sitting in, while she sits back down where she was. The door to the bridge closes, leaving them alone.


DAX
So what’s up?

HYATT
I have some concerns about the
crew’s psychological condition.
It’s only been two weeks since
they lost an entire third of their
crew mates in a devastating
battle against the Borg.

DAX
(nodding)
I imagine your appointment
book has been full.

HYATT
Can’t deny that. But a lot of it,
especially since we came here,
hasn’t even mentioned the
Borg. At least not directly.

DAX
What do you mean?

HYATT
I’ve had more than a dozen of
the crew mention that they felt a
presence on the Columbia. That
they’d been working down there,
alone or in pairs, and had the
feeling that someone - or some-
thing - was watching them.​


Dax takes a deep breath. She has felt the same thing, but doesn’t want to admit that to a subordinate right now. It might undermine her newfound authority.


DAX
You think it’s because of what
happened at Acamar?

HYATT
So many deaths. The prospect of
many more to come. The pressure
to do something, anything to stop
it. It wouldn’t be out of the realms
of possibility for some to suffer
a certain level of paranoia.

DAX
But for all of them to have the
same story?

HYATT
(shrug)
There’s such a thing as a shared
delusion. One person talks about
it, others pick it up, think
they’re feeling the same
thing. And it spreads.​


Dax ponders quietly. Is she going crazy? Are they all?


DAX
I’ve heard similar reports from
others. Bowers wants to increase
security down on the Columbia.
Kedair thinks it’s superstition.
Tarses has treated a dozen people
for a tingling on the skin.
(pause)
And I’ve felt it myself.​


Dax looks down, vaguely ashamed. Hyatt absorbs the news without reaction. She wonders how to be delicate here...


HYATT
I spoke briefly with Doctor Tarses
shortly after we left DS-Nine. He
mentioned he detected some tension
with your former crewmates.

DAX
(sad smile)
Great. One week as a captain
and my senior staff are already
gossiping about me behind my back.

HYATT
Not gossiping. Expressing concern.
He wanted to be sure you had the
necessary support during your
transition.

DAX
So you think I’m imagining it?
The same as everyone else?

HYATT
You lost people too, the same as
they did. And you have the added
pressure of becoming captain.
Can you honestly rule it out?

DAX
(deliberately
contrary)
Maybe there’s a native life-form.
Something that took up residence
inside the Columbia for shelter.

HYATT
Helkara didn’t detect any life
signs apart from our own crew.

DAX
Starfleet records are filled with
non-corporeal life-forms that don’t
register on standard sensors until
you know what to look for.

HYATT
(gently)
They’re also full of crew who
suffered post-traumatic stress
after particularly harrowing
experiences.​


Dax sits back. She knows she is not winning this one.


DAX
Alright, Counsellor. What do you
suggest?

HYATT
I do understand that you have to
balance the needs of the crew with
the parameters of the mission. And
if there’s a chance the Columbia
can help us against the Borg, you
can’t let a few hairs standing up
on the back of your neck stop you.
But you also can’t just discount
it altogether. I just want you to
keep it in mind when it comes
to the crew’s performance.
(beat)
And your own.

DAX
Understood, Counsellor. Thank you.​


Hyatt nods, and quietly stands to leave the room. Dax sits at the conference table, pondering what Hyatt has said.


22 INT. COLUMBIA


The dark and dismal depths of the deserted Columbia, with Aventine crew working away in various corners.

And unseen by those workers, peeking around the corner and seeming to watch them from afar, the little blue lights continue to flicker...


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT FOUR​
 
ACT FIVE​


FADE IN:


23 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Dax sits in the captain’s chair, legs crossed and reading a padd. Bowers sits in the first officer’s chair next to her. The business of the bridge goes on around them.

A BEEP sounds from Lieutenant Kedair’s console. Dax quickly turns to look towards her security chief, worried it’s something bad.


DAX
Don’t tell me - the Jem’Hadar
are here.

KEDAIR
Not this time. It’s Starfleet again,
via the wormhole relay.​


Bowers calls up the message on his own console, reads through it, frowns at it.


DAX
What does it say?

BOWERS
They’re cutting our deadline.

DAX
(dismayed)
What?!

KEDAIR
Did they say why? Have there
been more attacks?

BOWERS
Not explicitly. But they want
us back in the Alpha Quadrant
sooner - in four hours.​


Dax ponders into her woven fingers. What to do? She needs the data from the Columbia, but can she afford to disobey orders on her very first mission?


DAX
How soon do we have to leave
to make their deadline?

BOWERS
Taking into account reclaiming all
the hardware we’ve installed down
there, leaving orbit, maximum warp
back to the wormhole, then from
Bajor to the rendezvous point...
we basically have to start now.​


Dammit. That does not make her happy.


DAX
How much data have we got from
the Columbia so far?

BOWERS
(checks panels)
Sixty-eight percent.

KEDAIR
Is that enough?

DAX
No way to know, is there? I guess
we’ll just have to hope.
(taps console)
Dax to Helkara and Leishman.​


A moment, and a crackly signal comes through, interference caused by the atmospheric conditions.


HELKARA (comm)
Helkara here, Captain.

DAX
Change of orders, I’m afraid,
Commander. Start shutting down
the salvage operation on the
Columbia immediately.

HELKARA (comm)
Sir, we haven’t finished the data
reclamation from their computers.

DAX
I know. Leishman - is there any
way to disconnect the memory
banks and bring them with us?

LEISHMAN (comm)
Sorry, Captain. The housings were
damaged pretty badly in the crash.
That and two hundred years of wind
and sand eating away at them - if
we try to move them from where
they are, they’ll disintegrate and
we’ll lose everything.

DAX
(sigh)
Alright. So leave that part of it
running as long as you possibly
can while you dismantle the rest.
I want every last bit of data we
can get. But Aventine needs to
leave orbit as soon as possible.

HELKARA (comm)
Understood, sir. We’ll let you
know when we’re ready.

DAX
Good. Dax out.​


The line drops. Dax turns to Bowers and they share a look - she is steaming about this. He offers her a sympathetic smile, but it doesn’t help much. It feels like failing at her very first mission as a captain.


24 EXT. COLUMBIA


The broken NX-class ship sits half-buried in the sand. Runabouts, shuttles and digger vessels dot the desert around it, and figures can be seen clambering about upon its surface doing this and that.


25 INT. COLUMBIA


A young male Bolian engineering non-com, YOTT, stands among the dangling cables and broken bulkheads of the Columbia. This is one of the lower decks, where no light reaches via holes in the hull, and they work only by artificial light.

KOMER, a human female chief petty officer, is with him, working on packing bits of technology back into crates and carry-cases. She is already annoyed at Yott, who is looking up and down the corridors rather than helping with the shut-down of the operation.


YOTT
This place gives me the creeps.

KOMER
Don’t tell me you’re seeing ghosts
now too.

YOTT
Not ghosts. But something’s been
following us since we came up
from E-deck.​


As if in proof, a gust of wind blows past, kicking up some of the sand they tracked down here on their boots. An eerie MOAN accompanies it.

Komer is unimpressed. She takes her palm beacon and shines it down the corridor one way. Nothing. She turns and shines it down the corridor the other way. Nothing. That done, she turns back and shines the light directly into Yott’s face.


KOMER
Who do you think’s following us,
the invisible man?

YOTT
Chief, I’m serious. There’s
something here.

KOMER
(harrumph)
Fine.​


Since the only way to deal with this appears to be to humour him, Komer sets down her coil spanner with a sigh and picks up a tricorder instead. She opens it and begins pressing buttons, holding it out to the deserted ship.


YOTT
What are you doing?

KOMER
I’m running a full spectrum scan
for life-forms and energy readings.
Don’t worry, it’ll only take a few
seconds. You just keep standing
there. Anything special you
want me to look for?​


Yott shakes his head no, but continues to look warily about as if expecting something to jump out at him at any moment. Komer continues to scan, and tries to lighten the mood.


KOMER
You know, you ought to lay off the
raktajino. It makes you jumpy.

YOTT
I don’t drink raktajino.
(beat)
Can’t you feel it? Like a charge in
the air? It smells like ozone.

KOMER
I’m not reading anything unusual.
No bio signs in this section -
nothing but us.

YOTT
There are things tricorders can’t
read. Exotic energy patterns, trace
elements, extra-dimensional
phenomena...

KOMER
And paranoid delusions. I can’t
believe I really have to tell you
there’s no such thing as -​


The little BLUE LIGHTS flicker in the darkness. Yott sees it and JUMPS in terror. But this time, Komer also sees it. Her head snaps around and she holds the tricorder out.


YOTT
You saw that! You saw it!​


Komer takes a deep breath, continues to scan. Yott’s fear is infecting her too, but she tries to remain rational.


KOMER
Residual energy. Just a surge in
the power lines. Makes sense when
you think about how much juice
we’re pumping into this old wreck.

YOTT
Not anymore we’re not. You know
Lieutenant Leishman already shut
down the relays in this section.
There’s no power on this deck.
(points)
So where did that come from?​


Another MOAN of wind comes through, kicking up sand and whistling through cracks in the walls. An electric HUM begins to rise in the darkness. The hair on Komer’s neck stands on end.

A light fixture on the wall FLARES to life despite there supposedly being no power. Its brightness is all the more blinding for the darkness around it.


YOTT
(grabs her sleeve)
Alright that’s it. Come on!

KOMER
Komer to Aventine -​


The light fixture EXPLODES, sending sprays of shattered plastic flying like shrapnel. Streaks of jagged, blinding LIGHTNING shoot out in the darkness and HIT Yott and Komer both square in the chest.

Both crewmen are THROWN hard to the deck by the force of the blow to their chests, landing with a hard THUD while the shrapnel continues to rain down on them.

Komer and Yott lie on the deck, shuddering in SPASMS. Tools and machinery cast everywhere. The artificial lights they brought have been knocked askew, sending crazy shadows across the dark and broken bulkheads.

The electric HUM continues to build, becoming a WHINE as the power in the air intensifies. In the darkness, the blue flickering lights reappear.

As Komer and Yott lie there unable to move, watching this, the lights move closer and closer, out of the darkness. The lights multiply, tiny angry blue fireflies swarming.

Gradually, they coalesce into the rough shape of a HUMANOID figure... which hovers over them in the darkness for a moment. And then DESCENDS on them.

And Komer and Yott SCREAM...


BLACK OUT


END OF SHOW​
 
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