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DS9 12x16 – "The Blame Game"

DS9Continuing

DS9Continuing

Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
 
Meanwhile...

TNG 17x16 – “HEGHLU’MEH QAQ JAJVAM”

Honoured by the starship Ranger’s sacrifice at Khitomer, Chancellor Martok pledges the entire Klingon Empire to fight the Borg. Even his rivals on the High Council, who had previously considered the invasion purely a Federation matter, eventually support him in what may be the greatest battle in the history of the Empire. Martok assembles a fleet of over 500 warships, ready to take on the Borg. Meanwhile LaForge has detected sirillium traces on every Borg ship Starfleet has fought recently, and calculates that the range and decay rates mean they must have come from the Azure Nebula (VOY 3x02 “Flashback”), a supernova remnant on the triple border of Federation, Klingon and Romulan space. While LaForge oversees the creation of new transphasic torpedoes, Crusher confides in Worf her worries about Picard’s erratic behaviour – when the Borg are involved, you never know how he will react. Approaching the Azure Nebula, Enterprise comes under attack by several cubes...

TTN 1x16 – “WHATEVER IT TAKES”

2381: Titan’s super-sensors detect a planet hidden by a metal shell. As they approach, Keru asks Torvig to collaborate on security training, planning for every possible Borg tactic. 2168: Major Foyle and a team go to the city of Mantilis where they coerce the pacifist Caeliar – open a subspace tunnel and send us home. Foyle beams back to Columbia with a Caeliar prisoner, Arithon. Before they can do it, a massive feedback pulse hits the Great Work, forcing the sun to nova. The Caeliar attempt to escape through subspace tunnels, but Foyle’s interference means only three city-ships succeed – Axion, Mantilis and Kintana. Columbia escapes via another tunnel, crashing in the Gamma Quadrant, killing everyone but Arithon. 2381: Titan arrives at the shelled planet. Vale, Troi, Keru, Ree, Tuvok, Torvig and two security are allowed down in a shuttle. Erika Hernandez welcomes them to Axion – she has been here for 800 years, and now they must stay as well.

VOY 10x16 – “INVISIBLE”

The SCE ship Da Vinci is assigned to work with Voyager on recreating the enhanced shields and phasers that the 29th-century drone One used against the Borg (VOY 5x02 “Drone”). Da Vinci’s chief engineer Nancy Conlon works with Vorik, and she also catches Harry Kim’s eye. They are interrupted when they detect a Borg ship heading for the Troyian system (TOS 3x13 “Elaan of Troyius”). Da Vincihave been working on a phase-shifter that should be able to hide the entire planet from attack. They detect a convoy of ships trying to escape, and the Borg are practically on top of them. They only have one shot, so while Voyager takes on the Borg with their enhanced systems, Da Vinci chooses the planet over the convoy. The planet disappears, so the Borg destroy the convoy and move on. Only later do they realise that the convoy contained all of Troyius’ children. Did they save the wrong target?
 
TEASER​


FADE IN:


1 INT. COLUMBIA


The dark and ominous insides of the ancient and crashed Earth ship. Boots CLANG hard across its deck-plates as they stride quickly and with purpose.

Lt KEDAIR, security chief of the Aventine, walks towards a light at the end of the corridor. Four security officers stand in a circle, shining their palm beacons down onto one spot. Two of them hold their hands to their noses.

Kedair reaches the circle and breaks through it to see what they are shining their lights on:

Two dead bodies, KOMER (human female) and YOTT (Bolian male), both bodies twisted in agonised poses, cavities burned straight through the corpses to the deck below, pools of liquefied biomatter.

Kedair steels herself. It’s a horrifying sight - and smell - but she is the senior officer here and must show dignity. She turns to the team supervisor, Lt DARROW (human female).


KEDAIR
Who were they?

DARROW
Komer and Yott, sir. Engineers.
They were dismantling the
power relays, as per Lieutenant
Leishman’s instructions.

KEDAIR
(squats down
to inspect)
What killed them?

DARROW
We’re not sure. We picked up some
residual energy traces, but nothing
that matches any known weapons.

KEDAIR
(re burns)
These look like thermal effects.

DARROW
Partly. But we think those are
secondary. The actual cause
of death looks like molecular
disruption.

KEDAIR
(shakes head)
I’ve never seen a disruptor
do this. Did you check for
biochemical agents?

DARROW
Yes, sir. No biochem signatures
of any kind.​


Kedair stands again, not happy with this mystery.


KEDAIR
Who else has been down here?

DARROW
Just us. We locked down the area
as soon as...
(pause)
...as soon as we heard the screams.

KEDAIR
Keep it that way. Have the bodies
beamed to sickbay on the Aventine.
I want Doctor Tarses to start the
autopsies immediately.

DARROW
Aye, sir.

KEDAIR
And not a word of this to anyone.
If anyone asks -

DARROW
If...? Sir, everyone heard -

KEDAIR
Alright, when you are asked about
what happened, the only thing I
want you to say is that there was
an incident, and that it’s under
investigation. Do not mention
fatalities, injuries, or anything
else. Do not mention Yott or Komer
by name. Is that understood?​


She looks around at the other security officers - a human male, a Vulcan female and an Andorian chan - making it clear she is including all of them in this. They all nod their understanding.


KEDAIR
Good. I want you four to secure
this deck. Move in pairs and keep
an open channel to the Aventine.
If you encounter anything that
might be capable of this -
(re bodies)
- fall back immediately and call
for back-up. Clear?
(they all nod again)
Make it happen.

DARROW
Englehorn, sweep aft with T’Prel.
ch’Maras, forward with me.
(to Kedair)
Sir, I recommend you beam back
to the Aventine and track our
search from there.
(back to rest)
Move out.​


The four security officers move out as directed, leaving Kedair alone standing over the bodies, illuminated in the light of her own palm beacon. She looks down at them, full of bitterness and self-blame.


KEDAIR
I was so focused on not indulging
their fears that I failed to protect
their lives. I should have kept
an open mind.​


She looks around at the deserted ship, listens to the clanging of her officers’ boots, the keening of the wind.


KEDAIR
I still don’t believe in ghosts.
But there’s one thing I believe
without question... we are
not alone down here.​


As she looks out into the darkness...


BLACK OUT


END OF TEASER​
 
ACT ONE​


FADE IN:


2 EST. AVENTINE


Establishing the Aventine, still in orbit of the golden-coloured desert planet.


3 INT. AVENTINE - SICKBAY (AUTOPSY ROOM)


Aventine’s Doctor TARSES pulls a medical mask over his nose and mouth, and steels himself. He steps through a door and into a closed room within the sickbay - the door seals itself behind him immediately.

In front of him are the two dead bodies. Tarses has to hold back a retch at the gruesome sight and smell of them. He has done this before, and it never gets easier. He picks up a medical tricorder and begins to scan...


4 INT. AVENTINE - SICKBAY (MAIN ROOM)


Out in the main part of the sickbay, Kedair stands. She is still full of self-blame for what happened. The main door opens and Captain DAX strides in. Kedair immediately snaps to attention, but Dax waves her down.


DAX
As you were. Please. Where’s
Doctor Tarses?

KEDAIR
In the autopsy room. He’s been
at it about fifteen minutes.​


Dax walks towards the back of sickbay, where the glass of the door reveals Tarses still at work. She KNOCKS on the door, he turns and sees her, and she beckons him out. Dax returns to the main part of sickbay, with Tarses joining her soon after, stripping off his face mask. All three are tense and upset but powering through it.


DAX
What’ve we got?

TARSES
Still no definite cause of death.

KEDAIR
We’ve ruled out friendly fire, and
my team has kept the Columbia
secure since the bodies were found.
No-one else has been down there.

TARSES
My preliminary autopsy found
evidence of neuro-electric damage
in both subjects’ brain tissues, and
their bodies exhibit molecular
dissociation at all levels, from
the epidermis to the marrow.

DAX
What can kill like that?

KEDAIR
The caustic effects are similar to
the damage caused by the Horta.

TARSES
Except that the caustic injuries
were highly localised. And instead
of fusing synthetic and organic on
the corpses, it dissolved them
without mixing them.

KEDAIR
Which is what made me think of a
Denebian predator called a teblor.

TARSES
Interesting. But a teblor doesn’t
possess anything like a neuro-
electric attack, and if memory
serves it lives in environments
of no higher temperature than
two degrees Celsius.

KEDAIR
(crosses arms, annoyed)
Yes, I admit, it’s a bit warm for
a teblor on this desert rock with
no name. Of course, an Alteiran
cave-fisher -

TARSES
- would leave a trail of easily
followed slime back to its watery
lair. Neither of which seems to
exist within a thousand kilo-
metres of the Columbia.​


There seems to be a competition brewing between the doctor and the security chief. Dax decides to break through it.


DAX
Doctor, instead of telling me what
the killer isn’t, can you offer any
insight about what it is?

TARSES
(reluctant)
Not at the moment, Captain.

DAX
We’re running out of time here.
Starfleet Command wants us back
in the Alpha Quadrant a-s-a-p. I’ve
asked for an extension because
of what happened to Komer and
Yott, but I wouldn’t count on it.
(to Kedair)
Get your security team to run
a hard target search of every
compartment, locker, crawlspace,
nook and cranny on the Columbia.
If whatever killed our people is
still there, I want it found.

KEDAIR
We could use some extra sensor
capability.

DAX
I’ll have Leishman and Mirren free
up whatever you need.
(to Tarses)
Do you have everything you need?

TARSES
Enough to start. But I’d like to
visit the site and collect -

DAX
Denied. I need you on the ship
working on what we have. Darrow
has forensic experience, right?

KEDAIR
Aye, sir.

DAX
Then order her to collect samples
from the site and beam them back
at quantum resolution. Time is
short, Doctor. Make do with what
we’ve got - and do it fast.​


Dax turns and strides out of sickbay...


5 EST. BAJOR - DAY


The usual establishing shot of Bajor’s capital city, with golden stone buildings, peaceful green spaces and water features glittering in the sun.


BELLIS (v.o.)
The death count grows by the day.​


6 INT. VEDEK ASSEMBLY CHAMBER


The large stone chamber as seen in 11x14 “No Confidence”. Kai PRALON (female, 50s, last seen 11x21 “Inferno”) sits in her place in the Apex Chair, but Vedek BELLIS (male, 60s, last seen 11x15 “Never See It Coming”) is on his feet with hands placed on table - he has the floor.


BELLIS
These attacks by the demons known
as the Borg have the potential to
be worse than any of the horrors
attributed to the Cardassians, the
Klingons or the Jem’Hadar. And
Starfleet appears to have little
defence against them.

PRALON
We are all painfully aware of what
Starfleet is facing, Vedek Bellis,
and the things of which the
Borg are capable.

BELLIS
Were you aware of who is to blame
for these events?​


Pralon looks around the assembly chamber, at the faces of the other vedeks. They are equally as confused as she is.


PRALON
The Borg are to blame. Surely.

BELLIS
The Borg may be the instrument of
our destruction. But another’s hand
wields that instrument.​


Vedek YEVIR sits further along the table, his hands folded patiently before him.


YEVIR
Less poetry, if you please, Bellis.
Do you have a point?

BELLIS
The vedek from Janir wishes to
know if I have a point. I wonder
if he does - why is he here? Why
does he even carry the title of
‘vedek’? He no longer follows
the path of the Prophets.​


Voices clamour over each other in anger at Bellis’s smug pronouncement. Yevir himself remains patient and quiet, not rising to the bait. Pralon bangs the GONG beside her chair.


PRALON
We will not go over this again,
Vedek Bellis. You have been
censured for your insults to other
members of this assembly before,
and I will happily do so again. If
you have a point to make, make
it. Your only other options are
to sit silently... or leave.​


Bellis absorbs the fact that the room is clearly against him. But it does not daunt him. He knows he is right.


BELLIS
Very well, Kai Pralon. I intend to
leave this assembly this very day.​


Bellis enjoys the susurrus of surprise that flits around the room. They weren’t expecting him to say that.


BELLIS (cont)
And when I return... I will be
solely responsible for saving
Bajor from the Borg.​


Bellis stands smugly as the assembly dissolves into anarchy around him...


7 INT. DS9 - MAIN OPS CENTRE


A mostly normal business day. Major CENN runs the central Ops table, with NOG at engineering, CANDLEWOOD at sciences, and Ensign ALECO replacing the departed Bowers at tactical.

At an upper level replicator, Commander RO retrieves a mug of tea, and carefully carries it around the stations. She checks in with Nog and Candlewood, smiling encouragingly.

Eventually she reaches Aleco at the tactical console. He is a little nervous - he did only just get promoted - and has his head down working hard. Ro smiles sympathetically.


RO
You need anything, Ensign?

ALECO
No Commander, thank you. I
have everything under control.​


It is clear Aleco is overcompensating, trying to be perfect to impress. Ro leans nonchalantly against the console, sips her tea. She speaks low, so as not to be overheard.


RO
Relax, Ensign. You’ve got this.
I wouldn’t have assigned you
this job if I didn’t think so.​


He looks up at her, surprised. For a moment he is worried. But he sees the gentle, encouraging smile, and relaxes.


ALECO
Aye, sir. Thank you, sir.​


Ro nods and leaves him be. She heads down the steps towards Cenn at the central table, sipping her tea gingerly. As she arrives, her encouraging smile drops. In truth she is just as worried as Aleco. She just has more experience with hiding it. Cenn sniffs the air...


CENN
Tea? Not coffee?

RO
Vaughn always used to drink tea.
He said it’s soothing.

CENN
Yes, but coffee is invigorating.

RO
And I feel the need to be soothed
right now. I’m tense enough.

CENN
Then maybe you don’t want to hear
the latest reports from Starfleet?​


Ro pauses, takes a sip of her tea, steadies her nerves. She steps closer so that she and Cenn can speak quietly.


RO
Hit me.

CENN
The Borg launched simultaneous
attacks on Starbases 157, 234 and
343. Destroyed with all hands. The
Klingon colonies at Khitomer and
Korvat have... some survivors.

RO
Five targets. Three all at once
last time, five all at once this
time. It’s getting worse.

CENN
Yes, sir. But did you notice the
pattern?

RO
Two Klingon colonies... but ones
that still have a lot of history with
the Federation.

CENN
And Barolia, a neutral world that
we only just persuaded to break
their trade agreements with the
Romulans and come over to us.

RO
It’s not just Federation targets.
They’re going after anyone we’ve
ever had anything to do with.

CENN
So, the entire Alpha Quadrant,
then. There is some good news.

RO
Hard to believe. But go on.

CENN
Starfleet vessels sacrificed
themselves to defend Khitomer and
Korvat. Chancellor Martok was very
honoured... so he has dedicated
the entire Klingon Defence Force
to fight the Borg alongside us.

RO
Then maybe we do have a prayer
after all.​


BEEP BEEP BEEP. An alert on Cenn’s console. The tension in Ops immediately spikes, especially Aleco at the tactical console. Cenn checks his readouts...


CENN
It’s not a tactical alert. It’s a
comm signal from Bajor.​


They relax again. Cenn reads the message, and sags in frustration. He knows this will not to be popular news.


CENN
Vedek Bellis Nemani is honouring
us with a personal visit. He’s on-
board the Assembly’s dedicated
shuttle as we speak. And he has
made an official request to speak
to you, Commander... at your
earliest convenience.​


Ro looks down into her mug, hoping the answers lie within.


RO
I’m gonna need more tea.​


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT ONE​
 
ACT TWO​


FADE IN:


8 EXT. DESERT


The half-buried Columbia. Kedair stands on its back, near the top of the saucer section, looking out across the sand. Runabouts and shuttles dot the area around the ship itself. Aventine crew carry or anti-grav equipment and machinery away from Columbia, packing it inside the shuttles. Sand swirls around in the howling wind, almost a full-blown SANDSTORM partially blocking this view and getting in Kedair’s eyes. She taps her combadge.


KEDAIR
Kedair to Riordan. How much longer
till you’re ready to leave?

RIORDAN (comm)
A few more minutes. We’re rounding
up the last of the small stuff.

KEDAIR
Quickly, Ensign. We’re scheduled to
leave in less than an hour. It’d be a
shame to have to leave you here.

RIORDAN (comm)
Just a few minutes. I promise.

KEDAIR
Notify me the moment you’re
ready. Kedair out.​


The line drops, and Kedair goes back to gazing out across the constantly shifting desert. After a few moments, boots CLANG on the metal surface again. Kedair turns to see Captain Dax approaching. They have to shout to hear each other over the sandstorm.


DAX
This sand is getting into every-
thing. My eyes, my mouth, my
boots, my uniform...

KEDAIR
It feels like a million insects
attacking me from every direction.

DAX
Still better than going back in there,
though. How’s the evacuation going?

KEDAIR
A few minutes. The investigation?

DAX
Tarses says they must have scoured
the deck-plates down there, the
number of samples. He’s subjecting
them all to every test known to
sentient life. Still no clues.

KEDAIR
(haunted)
If only they weren’t all so fragile.

DAX
What do you mean?​


Kedair takes a moment to ponder her response.


KEDAIR
Sixteen years ago, when I reached
adulthood and made the decision
to emigrate to the Federation and
apply to Starfleet Academy, there
was a lot of culture shock.

DAX
(where is
this going?)
I can imagine.

KEDAIR
But the biggest surprise was
discovering how all my classmates,
every other person of almost every
species I would ever meet, were so
absurdly delicate as compared to
Takarans. Growing up I’d simply
assumed that everyone was like
us. But humans, Bolians, Trill...
you all have specialised internal
organs, limited disease and toxin
resistance, no cellular stasis
abilities... It astounded me. I was
living in a galaxy of hopelessly
vulnerable people.
(beat)
That’s when I made the decision to
train in security. Defending these
people - defending you - was going
to be my purpose from now on.
(beat)
And I failed in that purpose. I
failed to defend Komer and Yott.

DAX
Blaming yourself is a self-
fulfilling prophecy, Lonnoc. You
must know that. And this can’t be
the first time you’ve lost people.

KEDAIR
Of course not. But every time, it
reminds me of that vow I made
to myself sixteen years ago.

RIORDAN (comm)
Riordan to Kedair.

KEDAIR
(taps combadge)
Go head, Ensign.

RIORDAN (comm)
Everything’s packed and ready to
go. Launching in twenty seconds.

KEDAIR
Carry on, Ensign. Kedair out.
(back to Dax)
I hate to leave without knowing
what killed our people. It feels
like dereliction of duty.

DAX
Believe me, I feel the same. But
we have to go.
(taps combadge)
Dax to Aventine - two to beam up.​


Dax and Kedair watch the various shuttles and runabouts below LIFT OFF and struggle through the buffeting winds to leave the planet.


DAX
I just wonder... did we find anything
here that was worth two people’s
lives? Or was it all for nothing?​


Transporter beams take Dax and Kedair away, leaving the Columbia alone once again.


9 INT. AVENTINE - CONFERENCE ROOM


Dax rubs her temples in frustration.


DAX
That doesn’t answer my question,
Lieutenant Commander.​


Science officer HELKARA sits to Dax’s left at the meeting table. Hovering over the table between them is a 3-D wire-frame hologram of a SUBSPACE TUNNEL. Helkara is a little taken aback by Dax’s stressed and impatient tone.


HELKARA
I’m sorry, Captain. Which question
didn’t it answer?

DAX
Any of them! We’ve suspected since
day one that a subspace phenomenon
carried Columbia here from the Beta
Quadrant. I want to know how it
entered the phenomenon, as
well as where and when.​


Helkara looks at the others arrayed around the conference table - Dax at the head, plus engineer LEISHMAN, first officer BOWERS and computer specialist RIORDAN.


HELKARA
(ashamed to admit)
I don’t have the data to answer
that question right now, Captain.

DAX
(exasperated)
Why not? I thought we recovered all
of Columbia’s logs and databases.

RIORDAN
We did. That’s the one upside of
what happened to Komer and Yott.
It gave us more time. But as I
was saying before you -​


Bowers sends a warning glance at Riordan’s inappropriate tone. The young ensign has gone too far to stop now, but he does at least moderate his tone.


RIORDAN
(continuing)
- before you cut me off, there was
a gap in their logs.
(Dax backs down)
Eight whole months separate the
last data on the Romulan ambush
and the start of their sensor logs
about this subspace phenomenon.

DAX
Could it have been a malfunction,
or a result of the crash?

RIORDAN
No, sir. There’s no sign of damage
or erasure. It’s as if the sensors
just got turned off for eight
months, then back on again.

DAX
What are the last regular entries
in the Columbia’s log?

HELKARA
The Romulan ambush. It looks like
the Romulans were testing out the
telepresence device before their
war with Earth. The chief engineer
tricked the Romulans into thinking
Columbia was destroyed, but it was
left without communications or
warp drive near Romulan space.

DAX
Any indication what their next
plan of action was after that?

HELKARA
None at all. The last entry in
Captain Hernandez’s log is that
their engines and subspace
antennae were irreparable.

LEISHMAN
And that damage hadn’t been fixed
by the time they crashed here.

HELKARA
For what it’s worth, Captain, the
data from their journey through
the subspace tunnel is completely
intact, and as detailed as sensors
of that era could be.

DAX
(re hologram)
Alright, so what do we know about
this subspace tunnel?

BOWERS
Columbia was inside the phenomenon
for just over forty-five seconds.
There were thirty-one human life
signs aboard at the start of its
journey, and one Denobulan. That
leaves ten crew unaccounted for.

DAX
Could they have been killed during
the Romulan ambush?

HELKARA
The logs identified fifty-three
ambush casualties and forty-
two survivors.

BOWERS
Once the ship was inside the sub-
space phenomenon, it got kicked
around pretty bad. The subspatial
stresses were more volatile than
a wormhole or a warp bubble.

DAX
(re display)
I see the difference between this
and a warp bubble. But how is it
different from a wormhole?

HELKARA
Essentially, only in how and where
it exists.
(brings up
new hologram)
This is the Bajoran wormhole, with
which I believe you’re already
familiar, Captain.

DAX
Yes - that wormhole’s relatively
stable structure is made possible
by a twelve-dimensional helical
verteron membrane.

HELKARA
Exactly. But the subspace tunnel
Columbia encountered doesn’t
exist in normal space-time, only in
subspace. Plus, the data suggests
it was powered by dark energy
drawn from normal space-time.

DAX
Is that what killed everyone?
The dark energy?

HELKARA
Not directly. It was the byproduct
- hyperphasic radiation. I’d
estimate every organic particle on
the Columbia was disintegrated
within the first twenty seconds.

DAX
Mirren said the ship’s autopilot was
engaged. When did that happen?

LEISHMAN
About fifteen seconds after the
ship exited the subspace tunnel.

DAX
In other words, forty seconds
after every living thing on
that ship was dead.

BOWERS
Give or take, yes.

DAX
And there’s no record of who or
what triggered that autopilot?
(Bowers shakes head)
Maybe it’s some kind of subspace
life-form. Could it be the same
thing that killed Komer and Yott?

BOWERS
We just don’t know yet.

HELKARA
Captain, there’s one more thing.
The energy field that supported
the subspace tunnel was very
stable, much more than a worm-
hole would be. I think there’s a
very good chance it’s still there.

BOWERS
If it leads back to the Romulan
border, we could be back in the
Federation within the hour.

DAX
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
We still need to find it, and even
if we do, it’s probably flooded
with hyperphasic radiation.

LEISHMAN
I can work around that. A properly
tuned metaphasic shield should
be able to cancel out the effects.
So what’s the word, Captain?

DAX
The word is go. Leishman, get to
work on that shield. Helkara, find
us a subspace tunnel. Bowers,
think up some excuse I can
give the admirals for why we
haven’t left yet. If there’s -

KEDAIR (comm)
Kedair to Captain Dax.

DAX
Go ahead.

KEDAIR (com)
Captain, I need to see you and
Commander Bowers in shuttle-
bay one right away.​


They all worry what that could mean...


10 INT. AVENTINE - CORRIDOR


Dax and Bowers stride together out of a turbolift and into a corridor. As they turn a corner, they are surprised to see four security officers blocking a doorway, all armed with phaser rifles. As Dax approaches warily, the four officers surround her and Bowers, and escort them through the door...


11 INT. AVENTINE - SHUTTLEBAY


Still wary and wondering what is going on, Dax and Bowers stride together into the shuttlebay. Ahead of them is a RUNABOUT parked on the deck, its side hatch open. But Lt Kedair and more armed security stand blocking their way.

As Dax and Bowers approach, that same distinctive SMELL makes them wince and put their hands to their noses.


KEDAIR
Captain, I think we have an
intruder.​


At Kedair’s gesture, the security officers stand aside so that Dax can see into the runabout. And there...

...is another CORPSE, in the same state as Komer and Yott. Off Dax’s reaction...


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT TWO​
 
ACT THREE​


FADE IN:


12 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT


The gruesome sight of the third dead body. Uniform melted into skin, innards showing, pools of liquefied matter. Dax, Bowers and Kedair stand nearby, all wincing in horror.


BOWERS
Have you identified the victim?

KEDAIR
Crewman Ylacam. Flight technician,
first class. He was logged in for
routine maintenance on the Seine.

DAX
How much do we know about
what happened?

KEDAIR
Not much more than we know
about Komer and Yott. Mirren’s
pulling the internal sensor logs
and starting a forensic review.

BOWERS
Are we sure it’s the same cause of
death as we saw on the Columbia?

KEDAIR
Almost certain. I’m just waiting on
final confirmation.
(looks up)
And here it comes now.​


As Dax and Bowers turn around to look, Dr Tarses enters, wearing the same wince of horror at the sight and smell.


TARSES
Not again.​


Looking around in resignation at the other officers, Tarses pulls out his medical tricorder and begins to scan.


TARSES
(off tricorder)
Molecular disruption. Acute
thermal effects. Major break-
down in all organic material.​


Tarses puts away his tricorder again with a sigh. The conclusion seems perfectly obvious.


BOWERS
Is the damage consistent with
hyperphasic radiation?

TARSES
No, it’s not. That would desiccate
organic matter and disperse it
into subspace. Basically, it turns
people into gas and dust. Whatever
did this turns people into soup.

DAX
Was this done by the same thing
that killed our people on the
Columbia?

TARSES
Unquestionably.

DAX
Bowers, tell Starfleet we’re not
going anywhere, not till I know
what we’re dealing with. Kedair,
sound a ship-wide intruder alert.
All non-essential personnel are
restricted to quarters. Have your
people sweep the ship. Something
followed us up from the surface,
and I want it found. Now.​


Dax strides out of the runabout, angry and determined.


13 EST. DEEP SPACE NINE


Returning us back to the familiar environs of the space station, with Defiant and several other vessels docked.


14 INT. DS9 - COMMANDER’S OFFICE


CLOSE UP on a padd screen, which shows CASUALTY REPORTS from more Borg attacks. WIDEN to reveal that Ro is reading this padd, sat at her desk. Obviously she is not happy at what she is reading.

She hears the CLANG of boots outside, and looks up. Major Cenn is just approaching the door with Vedek Bellis right behind him. Cenn presses the door CHIME. Ro hits a button to open the door, then stands to greet them politely as Cenn and Bellis enter.


CENN
(introductions)
Commander Ro, Vedek Bellis.

RO
Welcome to DS-Nine, Vedek.
You honour us with your visit.

BELLIS
Thank you for seeing me, Commander.
I appreciate it was short notice.​


They both turn to look expectantly at Cenn, waiting for him to excuse himself. He gets the message.


CENN
Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’m
needed in Ops.

RO
Thank you, Major.​


Cenn leaves the room, walking back down the stairs to the central Ops table as the doors close. Ro gestures Bellis towards the guest seat as she retakes her own, doing her absolute best to remain diplomatic.


RO
So what can I do for you, Vedek?

BELLIS
My colleagues in the Assembly are
aware of recent events, and they
trouble us greatly. Bajor itself
may soon be in grave danger.

RO
I’m afraid that’s very likely
correct. But Starfleet is doing
everything it can to investigate
the Borg attacks and stop them
before they get any worse.

BELLIS
That is good to hear, Commander.
Sadly, it is not entirely true.

RO
I... don’t understand.​


Bellis brings up a padd of his own that he had stashed in his robes. He activates it and begins flicking through.


BELLIS
You see, before coming here I
made some investigations of my
own, and they left me with one
inescapable conclusion.

RO
What conclusion is that?

BELLIS
The conclusion as to who is
ultimately responsible for the
horror that is engulfing us all.

RO
Really? Please, enlighten me. Who
is responsible for this invasion?

BELLIS
You are.​


Ro looks at him with bemusement. Blinks repeatedly. It takes a moment to process such a ludicrous statement.


RO
Oh, this should be good.

BELLIS
I don’t mean you personally, of
course, Commander. I mean
Starfleet in general. After all...
(makes show of
checking notes)
...according to this, at the time
of Starfleet’s first encounter with
the Borg, you were in prison.
As a traitor to Starfleet.​


Ro’s face hardens into ice, but she does not respond. Bellis returns to his notes, quite proud of them.


BELLIS
According to my research, fifteen
years ago, Starfleet angered the
entity known as Q. He responded
by hurling a Starfleet vessel into
the path of the Borg, leading them
to become interested in us.
(flick to
next page)
Less than three years ago, another
Starfleet vessel angered the Borg
again, by destroying an important
piece of their infrastructure in the
Delta Quadrant, I believe.

RO
How do you know these things?
Starfleet reports are not for
just any old civilian to read.

BELLIS
Do not concern yourself. The point
is, I have mentioned only two data
points, and yet the connection is
not hard to see. Starfleet goes
out of its way to annoy the Borg
in their own territory, and the
Borg retaliate in blood.
(puts down notes,
case made)
You, and those like you, are
entirely to blame for bringing
this catastrophe down upon
Bajor. But it is not too late.

RO
Oh, you have a plan to save Bajor
from the Borg. This just gets
better by the minute. Do go on.

BELLIS
I have come here to demand that
Starfleet leave Bajor at once.
That you take your ships, and
your soldiers, and your godless
Federation, and leave.

RO
You have got to be kidding.

BELLIS
I have never been more serious. We
never wanted to be a part of your
Federation in the first place. Now
that we are, we are as damned as
the rest of you. But if you leave,
now, while there’s time, then the
Borg will not come for us. Bajor
will be safe from the destruction.

RO
You’d be completely defenceless.

BELLIS
The Prophets will protect us.

RO
(scoffs, rolls eyes)
You people are really ridiculous, you
know that? Get out, you’re done.​


She picks up a padd from the desk, turns in her seat and begins to read, dismissing Bellis, ignoring him. Bellis is amazed, indignant.


BELLIS
Commander Ro, you can’t simply -​


Ro turns back, SLAMS the padd back down on the desk, and looms over Bellis, instantly ABLAZE with fury. It’s all going to come out now, every bit of bile she has held in.


RO
No, I said you’re done. You’re
finished. You think you can come
in here, disrespecting the people
who are laying down their lives
right now to protect you, and
I’ll just take it with a smile?
(shakes head)
No, you can get the hell out of
here, Vedek. You can get the hell
off my station, back to your big
special room for stupid people,
and pray. And you can see how
much that helps you when the
Borg come to destroy everything.
(begins to pace)
You people amaze me, you know?
You want to throw away the one
thing that’s actually protecting you,
and trust in your precious little
sky-fairies to look after you instead.
But you know who’s really standing
between you and the Borg? We are.
Not the Prophets, not the Vedek
Assembly - us. We’re the ones
picking up a phaser and going out
to actually do something, while
you sit and you pray.​


She practically spits that last word, it’s the worst insult she can think of. Bellis is just stunned at the outburst.


BELLIS
This is the only way to ensure
Bajor’s safety!

RO
And what’s worse, you’re willing
to make a deal with the devil to
let the rest of the galaxy burn as
long as you can stay safe. And you
think you have the moral high
ground because you “believe”.​


Ro slaps a control on her desk, opening the doors. Major Cenn can be seen at the central Ops table.


RO
Major Cenn!​


He looks up in surprise, and quickly jogs up the steps.


RO
Please escort Vedek Bellis back to
the docking ring and see that he
boards the shuttle safely. He is no
longer welcome on this station.​


The shock and indignation on Bellis’s face. The cold fury on Ro’s. And the awkward resignation on Cenn’s.


CENN
Understood, sir.​


The major takes the vedek gently by the arm and guides him out of the commander’s office. The doors close behind them.


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT THREE​
 
ACT FOUR​


FADE IN:


15 INT. DS9 - DOCKING RING CORRIDOR


Major Cenn escorts Vedek Bellis down the corridor. The vedek is fuming quietly under his breath, conscious of not making a scene. He is ranting mostly to himself - Cenn just happens to be there to hear it.


BELLIS
Who does she think she is? How
dare she speak to a vedek in such
a manner? I should have her...
I don’t know what. Something.
The sheer gall. It will not stand.
I won’t allow it.

CENN
Vedek, please. Calm yourself.​


Bellis stops and turns to Cenn, as if noticing him for the first time.


BELLIS
Are you defending her, Major? You
work for Bajor, not for Starfleet.

CENN
With respect, Vedek, isn’t that
the point? You and I are on her
ground here, not our own. This
is a Starfleet facility, and she
is a Starfleet officer.

BELLIS
Exactly! She doesn’t even follow
the Prophets!

CENN
No, she doesn’t. Which means that
you have no authority over her.​


That might be the part that annoys Bellis the most, but he will not admit it out loud. He stews, pouts petulantly.


BELLIS
She still owes me my due respect as
a member of the Vedek Assembly.

CENN
Why should she show you the
respect you did not show her?​


Bellis reacts with surprise. He had been so sure of his righteousness that he never even considered that.


CENN (cont)
Don’t misunderstand me, Vedek.
My loyalty will always be to Bajor,
not to Starfleet. But imagine if
Commander Ro had come down to
Bajor, strode into the Assembly
and started trying to tell you
your business, like you came up
here and tried to tell her hers.
How would you have reacted?

BELLIS
(slightly chagrined)
Not well, no doubt.

CENN
No. I’ve had my conflicts with
Commander Ro, believe me. There
are several things we still don’t
agree on - faith in the Prophets
for one. But you’re wrong to blame
Starfleet for the Borg attacks.

BELLIS
Are you so sure of that?

CENN
Would you blame the walls of your
house for protecting you from an
oncoming storm? The walls hardly
invited the storm to come simply
by existing, did they? But they
might be the only thing that can
stop it from sweeping us all away.

BELLIS
(back on familiar
ground now)
You should pray to the Prophets
to protect you, child.

CENN
Oh, I do. I have been, every moment
of every day since this all started.
But the way I see it... it can’t hurt
to have others on our side as well.
And just because they don’t believe
in the Prophets is no reason for us
not to believe in them.​


Cenn is starting to get through to Bellis, just a little. The vedek is too pompous to back down entirely, of course. Cenn clears his throat into the silence.


CENN
Shall we continue, Vedek?​


Bellis reluctantly nods his acquiescence. As they turn and continue down the corridor, it is clear that Cenn has given him some food for thought.


16 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


The door from the ready room opens and Dax emerges, looking dog tired. Gazing around the bridge, she sees that the rest of them look much the same. Kedair, Leishman, Helkara, and a new helm, MAVROIDIS (Ullian female, TNG “Violations”). They have all been working long hours with no rest.

Bowers is in the captain’s chair, a coffee cup in one hand and a padd in the other, but his head is drooping and he is half asleep. Dax smirks at the sight, and stands patiently waiting for him to notice her. Finally he does, and blurts out almost reflexively -


BOWERS
Captain on the bridge!​


In jerking to his feet, he spills the coffee all over his hand and arm. Muttering oaths, he drops the padd, swaps the coffee cup to the other hand and shakes the first one dry.


DAX
(to the bridge)
As you were.​


They turn away, covering their amusement. Dax calmly takes her seat with a straight face as Bowers steps aside.


DAX
Guess how much I want to make a
joke at your expense right now.

BOWERS
I can only imagine.
(back to business)
I’m required by regulations to
remind you that we are ten hours
overdue for departure, as per
our last orders from Starfleet.

DAX
I’ll note your reminder in my log,
thank you Commander.
(to Kedair)
Update on the manhunt, Lieutenant.

KEDAIR
We’ve completed two full sweeps
of the ship, Captain. So far, no
intruder. No new leads on cause of
death either, and no progress on
devising a defence against it -
whatever it turns out to be.

DAX
That’s not very encouraging.

KEDAIR
No sir, it’s not. But I’d still
like to complete a third sweep.
We’ve switched to some fairly
exotic detection methods.

DAX
Absolutely. Let’s hope the third
time’s the charm.
(turns to Helkara
and Leishman)
What about you two?

HELKARA
We haven’t found the subspace
tunnel, not for lack of trying.
We’ve gone through the full
range of likely triggers, and now
we’re trying the unlikely ones.

DAX
What about the hyperphasic
radiation?

LEISHMAN
That we solved. If we ever find
this thing, we’ll be ready to try
it out.

DAX
Finally, some good news. Keep at
it, and let me know when we get
a fix on the tunnel.

HELKARA
Aye, sir.

MIRREN
Captain -
(Dax turns to her)
I’ve been going over Columbia’s
transporter logs. It looks like twelve
people beamed down from the ship
to somewhere - the timestamp
places it sixty-three days after
the Romulan ambush. But only
three people beamed back up again
- six months after that, and less
than ten minutes before the ship
entered the subspace tunnel.

DAX
So that accounts for nine of the
missing people.

MIRREN
Maybe for all ten, if we assume
one of those three wasn’t a
Columbia crew member.​


Dax stands suddenly, the realisation alarming her.


DAX
You’re saying two of Columbia’s
crew beamed up with someone
- something else. Could it have
survived hyperphasic radiation?
Could it have killed our people?

MIRREN
Two hundred years later? I -​


BOOM. The ship suddenly ROCKS, a huge explosion thundering somewhere in the lower decks and resonating throughout the ship. Dax is knocked off her feet, TUMBLING to the deck and down into the ‘pit’ in the middle of the bridge. Bowers jumps to help her. As the ship settles around them, people reorient themselves and Dax gets back to her seat...


DAX
Report!

KEDAIR
Explosion in shuttlebay one! Hull
breach, explosive decompression.

BOWERS
That bay was sealed after Ylacam’s
body was found. Mirren, what the
hell happened?

MIRREN
It was the runabout. The Seine
fired on the bay doors with its
micro-torpedoes. It’s leaving
the bay now.

BOWERS
On screen.​


The main viewscreen changes to a rear view of the ship, watching a runabout fly away between the warp nacelles, while wisps of gas escaping from the shuttle bay can be seen at the bottom of the screen.


DAX
I want to know who’s in that
ship - now.

KEDAIR
No life signs in the runabout.
But I am picking up some
wild energy readings.

MIRREN
It’s accelerating to full impulse
and breaking orbit, bearing
three eight mark seven.

BOWERS
Pursuit course, full impulse!

MAVROIDIS
Aye, sir.​


Mavroidis starts the ship moving after the runabout. On screen, the curve of the desert planet below slides away...


HELKARA
(off panels)
Captain! There’s a massive energy
build-up in the runabout’s sensor
array. I think it’s reconfiguring
to emit a soliton pulse.

KEDAIR
Arming phasers.

DAX
Hold fire!​


Dax gets up from her chair again, approaches the massive viewscreen, which shows the runabout flying away while Aventine chases.

A BEAM OF ENERGY shoots out from the front of the runabout and cuts a SLASH through space-time. The jagged wound opens wider, a blue maelstrom of energy inside it...


BOWERS
Captain, we can catch the runabout
with a tractor beam before it
crosses the aperture.

DAX
No, Sam. Whatever’s on that ship,
I think it’s what came here on the
Columbia. And it’s what killed our
people. And now... I think it’s
trying to go home. I wanna
see where it leads.
(beat)
Lieutenant Leishman - activate
that metaphasic shield of yours.
Mavroidis - take us into the
subspace tunnel. Full impulse.​


Off Dax, firmly in command of her ship...


17 EXT. SPACE


The runabout dives into the subspace tunnel...

And Aventine dives in after it.


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT FOUR​
 
ACT FIVE​


FADE IN:


18 INT. SUBSPACE TUNNEL


Inside the subspace tunnel, a blue vortex of coruscating energy that is definitely NOT the same special effect as the Bajoran wormhole or a slipstream corridor. The tiny runabout Seine flies through it, and the giant Aventine chases after it.


19 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


The ship shakes as it travels through the passage. Bowers holds onto the edge of the helm console. Dax holds onto the arms of her captain’s chair. Dax looks to Kedair...


KEDAIR
Metaphasic shield is holding.​


Dax nods in gratitude. They go back to simply holding on for dear life as the Aventine rides these rapids.


20 EXT. SPACE


Normal space, but featuring a deep blue swirl of gases and ephemera - the AZURE NEBULA (as seen in VOY “Flashback”).

Space splits open in a jagged knife-cut of energy, the wound opens wider...

...and the Seine shoots out of it, followed a few moments later by the Aventine. They both coast along a moment...


21 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Now that they are back in normal space, and the ship is not shaking anymore, Dax gets up from her chair and approaches the viewscreen again.

The enormous, wall-filling screen shows the tiny runabout ahead of them, against a wash of gorgeous blue colour. It seems to surround them as they all gaze at it in wonder.


DAX
Position report.

MAVROIDIS
Beta Quadrant. We’re inside the
Azure Nebula, a supernova remnant
on the triple border of Klingon,
Romulan and Federation space.

KEDAIR
Captain, the runabout is reducing
speed. Its power levels are
dropping fast.

DAX
Helm, hold station at ten thousand
kilometres. Kedair, put a tractor
beam on it.​


On screen, a golden beam shoots out from the Aventine and snags the runabout, which makes no effort to evade.


KEDAIR
Tractor beam locked, captain.

HELKARA
Radiation levels inside the run-
about are dissipating rapidly.

BOWERS
(suspicious)
It didn’t even put up a fight. After
all that, it’s just giving up?

DAX
I don’t know, Commander. That’s
what I’m beaming over there to
find out.

BOWERS
(straightens)
With all respect, you should let a
boarding party secure the target
before you beam over.

DAX
And miss all the fun?
(heads to turbolift)
Lieutenant Kedair, with me.​


Kedair reaches the turbolift first, the door opens, and she steps aboard. Dax enters it too, and turns to face Bowers.


DAX
Well? Are you coming or not?

BOWERS
Do I have a choice?

DAX
Not really, no.​


Bowers harrumphs and heads towards the turbolift, snapping out orders on the way.


BOWERS
Mirren, watch the runabout and
make sure the transporter room
keeps a lock on us. Leishman,
lowers shields only for transport.
Helkara, you have the bridge.

HELKARA
Aye, Commander.​


Bowers steps into the turbolift with Dax and Kedair.


22 INT. AVENTINE - TURBOLIFT


DAX
Deck four.​


As the door closes and the turbolift begins to move, Bowers keeps his eyes on the wall and his voice low.


BOWERS
What happened to letting me keep
protocol on the bridge?

DAX
Says the guy with coffee all over
his shirt.

BOWERS
Nevertheless, I am required
by regulations to remind you,
Captain, that this is a really
stupid thing to do.

DAX
Sam, what’s the point in being
captain if you don’t get to do
something stupid once in a while?​


Looking at Dax’s grin, Bowers is not happy. But he knows he is not going to win this argument.


23 EXT. SPACE


Focusing on the tiny runabout Seine, sitting in space and held by the tractor beam from the Aventine.


24 INT. RUNABOUT - REAR CABIN


Three transporter beams deposit Dax, Bowers and Kedair. All are armed, but only Kedair is brandishing her phaser rifle openly. Bowers raises a tricorder and scans towards the front of the ship. He reads the results in a hushed voice.


BOWERS
No life signs, but energy readings
and motion sensors suggest one
body in there.​


Kedair steps forward with her rifle at the ready. Bowers taps the control, and the hatch slides OPEN. With Bowers holding Dax back, Kedair steps through, and walks gingerly along the corridor outside. Once at the far end of the corridor safely, Kedair gestures with her spare hand that Bowers and Dax are safe to follow.


25 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT


The hatch to the cockpit opens, and Kedair leads the way, rifle at the ready, into the darkened room, lit only by the lights of the stars and the nebula. She seems to be satisfied, allowing Dax and Bowers to enter after her. As they move further in, they see a shape half-slumped over the front console. Kedair keeps her phaser trained upon it. This is the creature who killed three crewmen she was sworn to protect.

The figure is roughly humanoid, a mottled purplish colour with fleshy protuberances that drape over its head and connect to its shoulders, and which breath shallowly. Its long dangling arms droop towards the deck, where its feet have two forward-facing claws and one rear-facing. This is a CAELIAR, and its name is ARITHON. As it senses the others approaching, it gathers enough energy to turn and look at them, but does not otherwise react. Dax walks towards the creature warily.


DAX
Kedair, lower your weapon.​


Kedair does not want to do so, but orders are orders.


DAX
I’m Captain Ezri Dax, commanding
the starship Aventine.

ARITHON
(weak whisper)
I am Arithon, of the Caeliar.​


Dax approaches closer, squats down to Arithon’s level.


DAX
Were you on the Columbia?

ARITHON
Yes. Taken as prisoner. Before
entering the passage.

DAX
Was it you who set the auto-
pilot after all the crew died?

ARITHON
Yes... Hoped to control it. Use it
to return home. Too much damage.
Couldn’t stop the crash.​


The reedy arms holding the Caeliar up on the console lose their strength, and he slumps further towards the deck in an undignified tangle. Dax reaches out to gently help him. It is clear this creature is very weak and fading fast.


DAX
That’s why you stole the runabout.
You were trying to get home. But
what happened to my people?
Are you to blame for that?​


Kedair half-raises her rifle again, her trigger finger sorely tempted to use it. Dax sees this, but chooses not to comment. She understands how her security chief feels.


ARITHON
(getting weaker)
Forgive me. Did not mean to kill.
Caeliar are peaceful, always. But
weak without the gestalt. Alone
for centuries. So hungry, so cold.
Saw heat and fuel. Had to feed.
Was nothing but the hunger. Did
not remember myself until this
vessel’s power restored me.
Made me tangible again.

DAX
I don’t understand. Tangible?

ARITHON
Needed form for the return.
To come home to the gestalt.​


Arithon uses the last of his energy to twist his head just enough to look out of the windows, at the blue swirling nebula. His voice seems distant, echoey.


ARITHON
All for nothing. My home is gone.
Voices silenced. Gestalt is lost.

DAX
What does that mean? What is
the gestalt?​


But Arithon does not answer. With his energy expended, he seems to dissolve, becoming a shape of FLICKERING LIGHTS, the blue shining fireflies that we saw on Columbia. Those lights dissipate, dim, die out. His last words...


ARITHON
(ghostly)
I’m sorry.​


He is gone. Dax lingers for a moment, torn between relief that her mystery is solved and sadness for the creature.


BOWERS
You live to make my life
difficult, don’t you?

DAX
(standing)
Yes, Sam, it’s all been about
inconveniencing you.
(looks out
of window)
I feel like we’re on the verge of a
major breakthrough here. I wish
we could see where it all leads.

BOWERS
I get the feeling Starfleet has
other plans for us. Since we’re
back in Federation space now,
we should probably check in.

DAX
We will. But this is something big,
Sam. One more ship defending
Trill won’t make much difference
against the Borg. But this might.

HELKARA (comm)
Aventine to Captain Dax!

DAX
(taps combadge)
Go ahead, Aventine.

HELKARA (comm)
Captain, we’ve just received a
priority one distress call. We’re
reeling in the runabout and
beaming you back in ten seconds.
Stand by for transport.

DAX
Who’s the distress call from?

HELKARA (comm)
It’s from the Enterprise, Captain.
They’ve engaged the Borg.​


As the transporter beams take Dax, Bowers, Kedair and their suddenly worried faces away...


BLACK OUT


END OF SHOW​
 
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