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DS9 12x17 – "Army of Me"

DS9Continuing

DS9Continuing

Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
 
TNG 17x17 – “SHATTERING SEA”

Approaching the Azure Nebula, Enterprise is set upon by three Borg cubes at once, and is almost overwhelmed with many casualties, but is saved by the unexpected arrival of Aventine. Crusher and her team fight to save survivors. Dax reports that she returned to the Alpha Quadrant via a subspace tunnel – perhaps that is how the Borg have been getting here as well. While chief engineers LaForge and Leishman work on repairs to both ships, Enterprise’s science officer Elfiki and ops manager Kadohata work together on detecting another tunnel at the nebula – only to find dozens, each leading somewhere different in the galaxy. Dax suggests mining the nebula like they did the wormhole (DS9 5x26 “A Call to Arms”), but simulations say the region is too unstable for mines to work. Picard orders the crew to find a way to destroy all the tunnels, no matter their potential for exploration – an order which pleases no-one.

TTN 1x17 – “POWERLESS”

2381: Titan is trapped in orbit of the shelled planet, unable to move or communicate. The Caeliar will not let the Starfleet ship go in case they tell others what they found. On Axion, Hernandez explains her backstory to Troi, who continues to suffer from her deteriorating pregnancy. 1519: The city-ship Axion drifts through space, on a years-long journey to find a new homeworld. The gestalt – the Caeliar’s shared consciousness – is weakened after so many died in the Cataclysm. The humans are not to blame, as readings suggest the feedback pulse was caused by one of the other lost city-ships, Kintana, making the whole thing a predestination loop. The four remaining human women are given every comfort but are unable to leave, and the lack of purpose wears. To fill the time, Hernandez begins helping Inyx in the search for a new homeworld. 2381: Vale, Keru and the away team start planning their escape.

VOY 10x17 – “RATTLESNAKE FLATS”

Dr Kaz proposes fooling the Borg into destroying themselves via a ‘critical failure’ bug. Counsellor Cambridge objects – isn’t this genocide? Chakotay won’t lose any sleep, which only worries Cambridge more. Kaz and Vorik work on the technical aspects while Kim hunts for a target. Voyager sets course for a small tactical probe, and Paris pilots the Delta Flyer as distraction – enough to drop the Borg’s shields, beam five drones off, then destroy the probe. Kaz injects the captured drones with modified nanoprobes, then they lure another cube into a Badlands-like region where mines and plasma storms disable the cube enough to beam the captured Borg back aboard. As Voyager runs and the cube pursues, it looks like the plan hasn’t worked – but Drone Five reaches the central plexus, injects the nanoprobes, and the cube explodes. Chakotay is disappointed that it didn’t spread to the entire collective, while Cambridge is quietly relieved – for Chakotay’s sake.
 
TEASER​


FADE IN:


1 DAX


Seated in her command chair, looking calm and steady, hands resting relaxed on her armrests. But unquestionably focused on the main viewscreen before her.


2 VIEWSCREEN


...shows weapons fire being exchanged in the distance, too far at this range to identify who the combatants are.


DAX (o.s.)
Magnify.​


The image shifts, zooming in on the battle scene...


...revealing a BORG CUBE chasing the USS Enterprise at warp and firing on it repeatedly, while the Federation starship desperately tries to evade at this high speed.


3 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


The entire bridge is on edge, RED ALERT lights flashing silently. They are all trying their best to control their anxiety - the last time they faced the Borg, a third of their crew were killed.

MAVROIDIS (Ullian female) at helm. MIRREN (human female) at Ops. HELKARA (Zakdorn male) at science. KEDAIR (Takaran female) at security, and first officer BOWERS.


DAX
Time to intercept?

MAVROIDIS
Two minutes, Captain.

BOWERS
I feel like a dog chasing a
shuttle. Even if we catch up
to them, what do we do then?

DAX
Sink our teeth in, Sam. As deep
as we can.

KEDAIR
We’ve just been scanned by a
Borg sensor beam.

BOWERS
So much for a surprise attack.

DAX
Mirren, signal Enterprise. We
need to coordinate our attack.

MIRREN
Aye sir. Hailing them now.

MAVROIDIS
Sixty seconds to firing range.

MIRREN
Incoming signal from Enterprise.

DAX
On screen.​


The daunting image of the Borg cube on the viewscreen is replaced by a HASH of static and a WAIL of feedback noise.


DAX
Can we clean that up?

MIRREN
I’m trying, Captain. The Borg are
jamming us.​


Mirren works her panels again, and after a few seconds, the hash of static on screen resolves into a view of Captain PICARD looking rather harried as the Enterprise’s bridge shakes and judders around him. He is surprised to see her.


PICARD (screen)
Captain Dax? I thought your ship
was in the Gamma Quadrant.

DAX
Long story. We’re coming up fast
on the Borg. How can we help?

PICARD (screen)
Our targeting sensors are damaged,
we need you to be our eyes.
(nods off-screen)
We’re sending you our targeting
protocols. After we fire, you’ll
have to arm and target the
transphasic torpedoes for us.

MIRREN
Data received. Decrypting now.

HELKARA
I’ll have to recalibrate the sensors.

DAX
How long?

HELKARA
Three minutes.

DAX
(back to Picard)
Hang on, Captain. We’re on our
way. Aventine out.​


The signal drops, returning the screen to the ongoing battle scene between Enterprise and the Borg.


DAX
Sam, let’s give the Borg something
new to think about for the next
three minutes.

BOWERS
Aye, sir. Tactical - arm phaser
cannons one and two, stand ready
on quantum torpedoes. Helm, set
attack pattern Alpha Tango...
and engage.​


The Borg cube looms ever closer... closer... and then it FIRES. A spinning green light shoots out and hits Aventine, making the ship LURCH and the impact RING through the ship.


DAX
(deadpan)
I think they’re in range now, Sam.

BOWERS
We’ll only get one shot, Captain.
I plan on making it count.
(to Kedair)
Fire at will.​


4 EXT. SPACE


Enterprise twists and turns, trying to escape the Borg.

The Borg relentlessly pursue the Enterprise...

...and the Aventine pursues the Borg.

Aventine FIRES its two forward-mounted phaser CANNONS with their new advanced super-powerful phaser beams.

The Borg’s shield bubble FLARES under their assault, and quickly COLLAPSES. In split-second timing, four quantum torpedoes follow through the hole, punching through the Borg cube’s hull with EXPLOSIONS.


5 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


Dax hisses a victorious “Yes!” under her breath, too quiet for her officers to hear. Bowers turns to Kedair...


BOWERS
More! Keep firing!​


Kedair does, and on screen, we see two more torpedoes shoot out from Aventine towards the Borg cube...

...and FLARE harmlessly against the instantly regenerated shields. Two more phaser cannon blasts suffer the same pointless fate. Dax’s victory is diminished.


HELKARA
Sensors ready!

BOWERS
Signal Enterprise.

MIRREN
(works panels)
Enterprise confirms. Torpedoes
away in ten.

DAX
Helm, all ahead. We need to get in
close and arm the warheads before
the Borg realise what we’re doing.​


Mavroidis complies, bringing the ship ever closer to the Borg. Bowers looks grim. He doesn’t like this, but he knows not to question Dax’s orders. He just gets on with the job.


BOWERS
Helm, show the Borg our port side.
Ops, reinforce the port shields
for the fly-by. Tactical, arm the
Enterprise’s torpedoes as soon as
they’re away, and lock them onto
the Borg cube as fast as you can.

KEDAIR
Incoming!​


More Borg weapons impact on Aventine, making panels EXPLODE and screens SCRAMBLE and engines WHINE.


MIRREN
Six torpedoes away!​


On screen, six twinkling lights shoot out from Enterprise.


KEDAIR
Acquiring control... Armed...
Target acquired!

BOWERS
Hard to port, full evasive!​


6 EXT. SPACE


As Aventine twists out of the way, the twinkling lights of the transphasic torpedoes suddenly become bright shining blue balls of fire. They turn and head towards the Borg...

The Borg try to shoot them down, but the torpedoes twist and turn, corkscrewing past the Borg’s defensive fire...

...until all six hit, and a blinding pulse of light WHITES OUT in a massive explosion.


7 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


The SHOCKWAVE hits the ship, LIFTing everyone off their seats for a moment before being dumped unceremoniously back onto the deck in a tumble. The viewscreen shorts out from the overload, and lights FLICKER as power is interrupted.


DAX
Stations!​


They all scramble to get back into their seats...


DAX
Mirren, get the viewer back on.
Mavroidis, new evasive pattern.
Kedair, report!

KEDAIR
Target successfully destroyed.​


The screen sputters back to life, offering the image of a Borg cube blown into chunks and tumbling debris.


KEDAIR
Permission to finish the job, Captain?

DAX
(grin)
Permission very much granted.​


Kedair works her panels...


8 EXT. SPACE


Aventine swoops around, firing more of its own torpedoes and phasers, blasting all the remaining bits of Borg ship until there is only dust.


9 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE


As everyone recovers, Mirren’s console chimes...


MIRREN
Enterprise is hailing, Captain.​


Off Dax’s nod, the viewscreen changes to show Picard again.


PICARD (screen)
My thanks and compliments on a
fine rescue, Captain Dax.

DAX
The pleasure was all ours, Captain
Picard. I have medics and damage-
control teams standing by...

PICARD (screen)
I’m not too proud to say we’re in
need. Any help you can offer will
be gratefully received.

DAX
Understood. I’ll have my chief
engineer handle the details.

PICARD (screen)
Thank you. Meanwhile, I’d like to
invite you and your first officer to
meet with me aboard Enterprise.
We came to the Azure Nebula on a
mission, and I’m afraid I need to
ask for your help completing it.

DAX
Of course, Captain. Commander
Bowers and I will beam over as
soon as you’re ready.

PICARD (screen)
An hour, then. Enterprise out.​


The signal drops, returning us the starfield.


DAX
Enterprise took some heavy damage
in that fight. Make sure Mikaela
knows to prioritise their repairs.

BOWERS
Will do.
(turns away,
then turns back)
I suppose it would be awkward
to ask them to loan us a few of
those transphasic torpedoes?

DAX
Not as awkward as it’ll be for me,
seeing Worf again. Last time we
spoke, I was congratulating him
on being made first officer of the
Enterprise. Now I outrank him.

BOWERS
Maybe he’ll just be happy for
you, as a friend.

DAX
Maybe. But you know what they
say. Rank is like sex - it changes
everything.​


BLACK OUT


END OF TEASER​
 
ACT ONE​


FADE IN:


10 INT. VEDEK ASSEMBLY CHAMBER


The chamber is in chaos as the vedeks all SHOUT over each other, clamouring and arguing and gesturing wildly. Present among them are BELLIS, SOLIS, YEVIR and PRALON.


SOLIS
You tried to get Starfleet to
leave?! Are you insane?

YEVIR
You could have at least told us
what you were planning, Bellis.

BELLIS
Would you have allowed me to
continue if I had?

PRALON
Of course not.

BELLIS
Well then. But as it happens, that
heathen Starfleet commander Ro
Laren refused to take my advice.

SOLIS
Good. That you could imagine -

BELLIS
At least I was doing something to
help Bajor! No-one else here has
made any suggestions at all.

KIRA (o.s.)
I have a suggestion.​


The new voice cuts through the clamouring, and everyone turns to see KIRA, standing a little bashful. She is very much the junior in this august company, and she knows it.


BELLIS
Kira Nerys. Of course you run to
your old crewmates’ defence. Sadly
for them, as a mere prylar you are
here to listen and to learn, not to
imagine you have the right to
tell us what to do.

SOLIS
I have never known Kira Nerys to
keep silent when something needs
to be said.

YEVIR
You should listen to her, Bellis
- you might learn something.

PRALON
The prylar may speak...
(sly smile)
...this once.​


Bellis sits back down with a grumble. Kira takes a deep breath, nervous now that everyone is looking at her.


KIRA
Thank you, Kai Pralon. And thank
you to the entire Assembly.
(beat)
Vedek Bellis is correct. Something
needs to be done to help Bajor get
through this difficult time. But
sending Starfleet away is not it.
They have stood with us through
everything the galaxy has thrown
at us. We cannot abandon them now.
But... I have been speaking with
many of our citizens the last few
weeks. And they are terrified.
Bajor has never had to face the
Borg directly, thank the Prophets.
But everyone has heard stories.
Everyone knows there is little
chance of stopping them if they
decide to come for you. And that
knowledge is tearing us apart.

YEVIR
I have heard much the same. I try
to minister as best I can, to help
them keep calm and trust in the
Prophets... but fear too often
drowns out the words.

SOLIS
It’s true. Family members, life-
long friends and neighbours...
fighting over inconsequential
bits of nothing, just out of
the sheer emotional strain.

BELLIS
Clearly, this Assembly has set a
bad example, then. This is what
happens when Ohalavaru,
Oralians and...
(sneer at Kira)
...you are allowed to enter it.

YEVIR
Opaka Sulan herself studies with
the Eav’oq in the Gamma Quadrant,
Bellis. Do you know the will of the
Prophets better than her?

PRALON
This squabbling ends, now.
(to Kira)
If you have a suggestion, Prylar
Kira, we are willing to hear it.

KIRA
When the Cardassians came, we
fought. When the Klingons came, we
fought. When the Ascendants came,
we fought. Now that the Borg are
coming, are we really just going
to sit here and wait for them to
kill us all? We need to fight.

BELLIS
Are you suggesting we send
Bajoran citizens out against the
Borg? I hardly think that will
make them less terrified.

KIRA
No, I’m not suggesting that. But
we do need an army. That’s what
has always held us together before
- that and faith. And I can only
think of one army that even has a
chance of standing up to the Borg.

PRALON
And who is that?​


Kira takes another deep breath. This is the crux of it.


KIRA
The Dominion.​


The room explodes into more clamouring and arguing. Onala has to bang her GONG repeatedly to bring it to order again. As the shouting dies down, Pralon chooses her words...


PRALON
Prylar Kira... I would think you
of all people can understand why
that idea would cause a little...
consternation.

KIRA
Of course I can. But we’ve worked
with them before, against the
Ascendants. We can do it again.

BELLIS
They have banned anyone from the
Alpha Quadrant from even speaking
to them! How exactly do you expect
to persuade them to go to war
against the Borg on our behalf?

KIRA
I’ll speak to Odo.

BELLIS
Ah, we come to the truth of it.
The prylar thinks her changeling
lover will ride to her rescue.

PRALON
About this at least, Vedek Bellis
is correct. The Dominion wants
nothing to do with us.

KIRA
So I’ll change their minds. The
Jem’Hadar are strong, sure. But
sooner or later the Borg will come
for them too. Helping us now would
be helping themselves later.

BELLIS
And you believe that telling the
Bajoran people that we can save
them from one murderous enemy by
calling in another murderous enemy
will help to keep them calm?

YEVIR
Knowing they have an army willing
to fight to the death for them
might just do that, Vedek Bellis.

BELLIS
It’s insanity!

SOLIS
The entire Alpha Quadrant may
be at death’s door, Bellis. What
harm can it cause to try?​


Kira looks towards Pralon, who has the final say. The whole room does. Yevir, Solis, Bellis and Kira all looking to Pralon for guidance. What will she do?


11 EST. DEEP SPACE NINE


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


12 INT. DS9 - COMMANDER’S OFFICE


Commander RO looks up from her work as the door CHIMES. Major CENN is there. She beckons him on in.


RO
Afternoon, Major. What disasters
have befallen us all now?

CENN
Funny you should put it that
way. I thought you should
knowthat another shuttle is
on its way up from Bajor.​


Ro gestures for Cenn to sit, and sighs resignedly.


RO
I should have known Bellis would
never let me get away with it.

CENN
You were kind of brutal with him.

RO
You heard that, huh?

CENN
Most of Ops heard it. Your voice
tends to carry.

RO
Yeah, well, he got me mad.

CENN
You got him mad too, believe me.
I think I managed to talk him down
on the walk back to the shuttle,
though. Get him to take a deep
breath before calling for your
public execution.

RO
Well, you’ve got more patience
than I do.

CENN
Which is why I’m going to try to
do the same for you.

RO
(tensing)
You think I was wrong?

CENN
I think you made some excellent
points... that you could have
phrased more delicately.

RO
Come on, Major. He tried to blame
me for millions of deaths.

CENN
And I told him he was wrong about
that. But you said some pretty
unfair things too, Commander.

RO
I guess. He just wound me up so
much and it all came out.

CENN
I understand. But being in charge,
from what little I know on the
subject, sometimes means you
have to suck it up even when
you’d rather spit it all out.

RO
You think I should apologise?

CENN
I wouldn’t go that far. At least
not right now. Bellis probably
wouldn’t hear it anyway. But it
might do you some good to figure
out a way to work better with the
recognised religious authorities.
(stops, ponders
a moment)
And the political authorities, for
that matter. Not to mention the
military authorities. We may be
detecting a theme here.​


Ro sighs again. She knows he’s right, and she just has to suck it up. Might as well just get on with it.


RO
Alright, fine. Whose ass am I
kissing today? The First Minister,
the Kai or the Over-General?
Who’s on that shuttle?

CENN
(smile)
None of them. It’s just Kira.

RO
(jaw drops, annoyed)
Why didn’t you just tell me that
when you walked in the door?

CENN
Because it made for an easier
way into this conversation.

RO
It’s not too late to throw you off
the station as well, you know.​


With a smirk, Cenn gets up and leaves.


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT ONE​
 
ACT TWO​


FADE IN:


13 INT. DS9 - NOG’S QUARTERS


Lieutenant NOG moves around his quarters, quickly throwing bits and pieces into a travel bag - including his Marauder Mo figurine. TENMEI and CANDLEWOOD are there with him.


TENMEI
So just all of a sudden you’re
going into the Gamma Quadrant?

NOG
Kira wants to go and talk to Odo.
And Ro can’t just hand over a
runabout to a lowly prylar, even
if she used to be our captain.

TENMEI
Yeah, but... you’re not the pilot
here. I am.

NOG
But Odo doesn’t really know you. He
knows me. And Ro suggested that
maybe I might be able to persuade
Meera to help us out as well.

CANDLEWOOD
Ooo-ooo-oooh!​


Nog stops what he’s doing and looks confused at Candlewood.


NOG
What does that noise mean?

TENMEI
John is trying to suggest in his
typically subtle way that this
might be more about you seeing
Meera than about helping Kira.

NOG
What are you, twelve?

CANDLEWOOD
Emotionally speaking, yes. You
did tell us you liked her.​


On Nog as he remembers...


14 FLASHBACK - DS9 11x04 “SEPARATION MANOEUVRES COMPLETE”


Nog and Meera, the teenage changeling girl, say goodbye on board the Even Odds. As they part, they touch hands briefly but affectionately.


15 BACK TO SCENE


Nog pushes the memory aside. He goes back to packing.


NOG
I also told you all the reasons
why it’s a bad idea. And after the
debacle with Leishman, I’m really
not looking for love right now.
Besides, Meera has experience with
the Borg, so she knows what we’re
up against. Remember on Defiant,
when we found Prynn’s moogie?​


16 FLASHBACK - DS9 8x22 “GREATER GOOD”


Assimilation tubules LEAP out of a Borg corpse as it lies on a bio-bed in Defiant’s sickbay. They sink into Meera’s changeling flesh and inject Borg nanoprobes.

Meera SCREAMS, her form losing control, thrashing all over the room. She pulls her flailing appendages under control, pulling tighter and tighter until she forms a ball, a black mass visible at its centre, vibrating on the deck.

The changeling-ball stops vibrating and grows back to its humanoid shape. Meera extends a third arm out of her chest and opens the hand to reveal a black pebble – nanoprobes.


17 BACK TO SCENE


Nog shudders with revulsion at this memory. Then he looks across at Prynn and sees that she is similarly haunted.


NOG
Frinx it, Prynn, I’m sorry. I
didn’t mean to -

CANDLEWOOD
Hey, look at that. I wasn’t the
one who made a massive social
faux pas for once. Yay me.

TENMEI
(pats him on back)
The day is young. Don’t worry
about it, Nog. When do you leave?

NOG
Whenever I’m ready. Kira wants to
get out there and contact Odo as
soon as possible.

CANDLEWOOD
No time to lose, I suppose. I
just don’t like the idea of you
being out there in the Gamma
Quadrant on your own.

TENMEI
We’re all in danger these days,
aren’t we? Leishman’s gone,
Shar’s gone, Bowers is gone...
(shrug)
Well... good luck, Nog. On
both counts.​


She goes and gives him a hug. Candlewood does likewise. Then they turn and leave the room together. Nog sighs.


NOG
Thanks, guys. I’ll need it.​


18 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE


A runabout lifts off from its padd on a crossover bridge of the station and heads out towards the wormhole. It curves around, the wormhole BURSTS open, the runabout dives in, and the wormhole closes up again.


19 EST. AZURE NEBULA


Against the rich blue swirls of gas and particles that make up the Azure Nebula, the Sovereign-class Enterprise and the Vesta-class Aventine hold position side by side.


20 INT. AVENTINE - READY ROOM


Captain Dax sits behind her desk. Captain Picard paces the room in front of her. Both are tired and frayed from the long days of tension and little sleep. Tempers are short, but Dax must defer to the vastly more experienced captain.


DAX
I think you’re making a mistake,
Captain. It’s like using a photon
torpedo to swat a fly.

PICARD
I would hardly call the threat of
a massive genocidal Borg invasion
a ‘fly’, Captain.

DAX
But your people found dozens of
subspace tunnels intersecting the
Azure Nebula. Think of where some
of those tunnels might lead. Their
value to science is immeasurable.

PICARD
(frustrated)
As is their threat to our very
survival. If there was some way
to know which one the Borg are
using to enter Federation space,
I might consider a surgical strike.
But there’s no way to be certain.
We have to destroy them all.

DAX
We could open them up, go through,
and scout ahead. If we could save
even a few of the passages...

PICARD
We don’t have that luxury. Your
science officer said it could take
hours to calculate the frequency
to open just one aperture, and
they all resonate at different
frequencies. It could take days to
scout them all, and I have reason
to suspect the Borg won’t give us
that much time. Collapsing every
tunnel is the swiftest and safest
means of ending this invasion.​


Dax turns away, looking out of the window to the nebula outside. She considers his argument, finally turns back.


DAX
Alright. I see your point. All the
research opportunities in the
galaxy don’t mean much if we’re
not here to enjoy them. Do you
have a plan for how to proceed?

PICARD
I’d like our science, engineering
and operations teams to continue
working together. This is a new
phenomenon, and we need to figure
out how it works before we can
figure out how to dismantle it.

DAX
That’ll still take time.

PICARD
Yes. So in the meantime, we take
advantage of the fact that all the
apertures surround a central point
within the nebula. If we mine that
area heavily enough, we can
prevent any further incursions
while we do our research.

DAX
A minefield? Inside a nebula
filled with sirillium gas?

PICARD
Exactly. Make the environment
work for us, and use it to amplify
the impact of the mines.

DAX
At this range, the blast effects
of a full scale detonation would
probably cripple both our ships.

PICARD
I’ve already made it clear to my
crew that the Enterprise is to be
considered expendable if that’s
what it takes to seal this breach
in our defences. I need to know
that you and your crew share
this commitment.​


A suicide mission? Dax doesn’t like the sound of that. But she has little choice. She stands from her seat, a little intimidated and cowed by this powerful and driven Picard.


DAX
Aye, Captain.

PICARD
Good. Make it so.​


Picard gives a curt nod and turns to leave.


21 EXT. SPACE


The runabout holds position in open space, quiet and tiny against the vast backdrop of stars.


22 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT


Nog and Kira sit in the two forward seats. Kira checks something on the panels in front of her, seems frustrated.


KIRA
The signal’s still transmitting. It’s
been three hours. Somebody
should have responded by now.

NOG
Maybe they’re trying to figure
out what to do about it.

KIRA
And maybe they’re putting together
an army to blow us to pieces.

NOG
Do you want to go back?

KIRA
(ponders)
No. This was my idea, I’m going
to see it through.

NOG
What did you put in the message?

KIRA
I said who I was, explained the
situation, and that we need help.
No point lying about it.

NOG
Is it a good idea to put your own
name on it? You said the other
changeling held you personally
responsible for ruining his life.

KIRA
(sad chuckle)
Yeah. Laas never was my biggest
fan. But it’s also the quickest
way to get Odo’s attention. We
don’t have time to mess around.​


Nog pauses, seems to gather his courage.


NOG
Can I ask you something? I mean...
something personal? You can say
no if you want. I still think of you
as the captain, really, so if it’s too
awkward...

KIRA
Nog. What do you want to know?

NOG
Okay. Just... are you looking
forward to seeing Odo again?

KIRA
(smile)
Of course. Why wouldn’t I?

NOG
I just mean... you haven’t really
been a couple for four, nearly
five years. Do you still care about
him that much, even though
you barely ever see him?

KIRA
(as if just
realising)
Yes. I do. I suppose I always
will. I think you do, when you
find the right person, no matter
how long you spend apart.

NOG
And what if, when you do finally
see them again, you find out
they don’t feel the same way?

KIRA
I guess there’s nothing else to do
but move on. Carrying a torch can
burn you if you’re not careful.
(beat)
Nog, I’ve known you since you were
a child. You’ve never spoken like
this, to me or anyone. Why now?

NOG
(big admission)
I’m twenty-eight years old. And
I’ve never been in love.

KIRA
(gently)
I didn’t think Ferengi cared much
about love. Relationships are just
a business transaction, same as
any other.

NOG
I guess that’s the Ferengi ideal.
But my dad loves Leeta. He loved
my mom. Even uncle Quark loves
Commander Ro, in his way. But I
never loved anybody. And the way
things are going... I’m not gonna
get the chance.​


Kira can’t really say anything to that. It’s too sad.

An ALERT sounds. They both jerk to attention. Nog checks...


NOG
Proximity alert. A ship’s coming
out of warp.​


They both look forwards out of the front windows...


23 EXT. SPACE


A ship drops out of warp and slows to a stop not far from the runabout - a JEM’HADAR CRUISER. The giant warship looms threateningly over the tiny Starfleet ship.


24 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT


Nog and Kira both GULP with nervousness. Are they both about to be blown to bits?


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT TWO​
 
ACT THREE​


FADE IN:


25 EXT. SPACE


The giant Jem’Hadar cruiser continues to loom threateningly over the much smaller runabout...


26 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT


Kira and Nog both stand nervously in the as-yet-otherwise-unoccupied runabout cockpit. Kira looks to Nog, daunted...


KIRA
You ready for this?​


Nog nods uncertainly. Kira works the controls...

...and the transporter alcove powers up, depositing the two changelings ODO and MEERA onto the platform.

Kira beams wide and rushes to hug Odo. Meanwhile, Nog and Meera’s reactions are more like shy flirty smiles.


KIRA
Odo!

NOG
Hi, Meera.

MEERA
Hello, Nog.​


Odo allows Kira’s hug, revels in it for a moment, but then pushes her away again.


KIRA
Odo...? What’s wrong?

ODO
You shouldn’t be here, Nerys.​


Odo seems worryingly stern. Kira looks back and forth between Odo and Nog, worried about what this means...


27 EST. AZURE NEBULA


Re-establishing the Enterprise and the Aventine against the backdrop of the rich blue swirls of the Azure Nebula...


28 INT. AVENTINE - CREW GYM


The door opens, and Sam Bowers steps into the doorway. Across the room, on her own and not noticing his arrival at first, is Dax. She is wearing a white gi and going through a basic pattern of exercises with a bat’leth.

Although the weapon is the standard size, it looks far too big for Dax’s diminutive frame, and she is having trouble swinging it about and keeping her balance. The failure is frustrating and annoying her.

Finally as she slashes towards him, she notices Bowers.


DAX
Sam.

BOWERS
Captain. Looks a bit on the heavy
side for you, don’t you think?

DAX
It was a gift from Worf. One of
these years I’ll get the hang of
it, like Jadzia did.

BOWERS
I may never have met her, but from
everything I’ve been told, she was
several inches taller than you. And
she began her martial arts training
at a much younger age.

DAX
So I should accept my limitations
and not try to punch above my
weight, is that it? I thought I
left Julian behind on DS-Nine.​


It’s clear that Dax is stressed and in a bad mood, so Bowers lets that go with patience.


BOWERS
No. What I’m saying is - perhaps
you should fight with your own
weapon, not with someone else’s.​


Dax smiles and relaxes - she shouldn’t judge others by her insecurities. She moves over to a bench, rests the bat’leth against the wall, and wipes her face of sweat with a cloth.


BOWERS
I just wanted to let you know that
Helkara is aboard the Enterprise,
working with their Lieutenant
Elfiki on a way to collapse
the subspace tunnels.

DAX
(bites tongue)
Understood.​


Bowers comes over, strokes the edge of the bat’leth. It is a magnificent weapon. Dax sees this, smirks.


DAX
Want to spar? We can replicate
one for you, go a few rounds...

BOWERS
No, I don’t think so. Not really
my weapon either.

DAX
What’s your preference? I’m
flexible.​


Dax seems oddly eager to fight, to get her aggression out. It worries Bowers.


BOWERS
Are you feeling okay, Captain?

DAX
We’re alone, Sam. You can drop
the formality in here.

BOWERS
I just seems a bit weird, this
sudden need to spar. Have
you tried the holodeck?​


She picks up the bat’leth, returns to the centre of the floor, begins going through the exercises with it again. Her arms quake with the effort of handling the heavy blade.


DAX
What’s the point of the holodeck?
There’s no satisfaction in it.

BOWERS
You mean a holodeck character
can’t hang out in the lounge
and tell the crew he got his
ass kicked by the captain.​


Dax’s concentration is broken. She drops the bat’leth in anger and frustration - at herself as much as at him.


DAX
Gods dammit it, Sam. I’m just
trying... I just want to get my
focus back so I can feel like
I’m in control.
(sigh)
Maybe you won’t understand this.
But I feel like I’m faking my way
through every minute of the day,
and that everyone around me knows
it. Five weeks ago, I was the second
officer of this ship. Third in command.
Then one direct hit by the Borg, and
it was like I was back on the Defiant
watching Tiris Jast die all over again.

BOWERS
If your moment on this ship was
anything like the one you had on
the Defiant, you deserve to be
in the centre seat.

DAX
It’s not just that one incident.
It feels like my whole career’s
been like that. Just one lucky
coincidence after another. What if
Brinner had taken the Dax symbiont
on the Destiny? Then I’d just be
Ezri Tigan now, counsellor un-
extraordinaire. If Jast hadn’t
been killed, I’d still be wearing
medical blue instead of command
red. Or what if Dexar or Tovak
hadn’t been killed at Acamar?

BOWERS
Bullshit.​


The blunt curse gets Dax’s attention - as Bowers intended.


BOWERS
Who cares how or why you ended up
in those situations? What matters is
what you chose to do each time
you faced a challenge.​


He steps close, bends down to pick up the dropped bat’leth, and offers it back to Dax grip-first.


BOWERS
You’re in command because you’re a
natural leader. When others shrink
back, you step up. And you’ve got
the advantage of eight lifetimes
of experience. That’s seven-and-
a-half more than most captains.
You’re a hell of a good CO, Ezri.
And I bet the man who gave
you that sword would tell you
the same - if you let him.

DAX
Thanks Sam. And you’re a damn
good XO too.​


She smiles gratefully, and takes the bat’leth back off him.


29 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT


Kira pleads with Odo. Nog and Meera stay out of the way.


KIRA
Odo, we need you. Bajor - the
entire Federation - needs you.

ODO
Nerys, you’re lucky to be alive
right now. Laas was already
furious enough from the Vorta
detecting a Starfleet ship around
a nearby world a few days ago.

NOG
That’d be Dax in the Aventine.

ODO
He wanted to send the Jem’Hadar
the moment we got your message.

NOG
What stopped him?

MEERA
Odo promised that we would come to
meet you where you are - outside
the Dominion’s borders. That your
ship would never enter our space.

KIRA
I can’t worry about how much Laas
hates me right now. This is bigger
than that. It’s not just one Borg
cube this time. There have been
more than a dozen attacks in the
last month alone. Entire planets’
worth of people have died already.
We will not survive without help.

ODO
Nerys, it’s not that simple...​


Kira has to bite her tongue. She turns to Nog and Meera.


KIRA
Nog, could you and Meera give Odo
and I a moment alone please?

NOG
Umm... yeah, I guess. Meera, would
you like to see my rear cabin?​


As Meera’s eyes widen in surprise, Nog blushes furiously. She smothers a smirk and gets up to leave the cockpit with him. He turns to lead the way, covering his embarrassment.


NOG
(mutter to self)
Must be hanging out with John too
much. Picking up his bad habits.​


Nog and Meera EXIT, leaving Kira and Odo alone. She sighs and takes a seat, trying to keep control of her emotions. Sadly, Odo joins her.


ODO
Nerys...

KIRA
Don’t you love me anymore?

ODO
(appalled)
How can you ask me that? I’ve
always loved you. Everything
I’ve done has been for you.

KIRA
Then why won’t you help me? The
Borg are coming for everyone.
They’re going to exterminate the
entire Federation, and they won’t
stop there. Don’t you care?

ODO
That’s not fair. I sent the
Dominion to war against the
Ascendants for you. You’re the
only reason I agreed to that.

KIRA
So, what - it was a one-time
thing? Ascendants trump Borg?

ODO
You know I love you, Nerys. But
the Jem’Hadar are not my personal
army to do with as I please.

KIRA
You’re a Founder!

ODO
I’m not the only Founder. Laas has
as many Vorta and Jem’Hadar to
follow him as I do, more perhaps.
If I try to order them into war to
help the ‘monoforms’ again, it’ll
split the Dominion even worse than
before. The Gamma Quadrant would
be just as war-torn as the Alpha
Quadrant. And that helps no-one,
least of all the Federation.
(beat)
I’m sorry, Nerys. As much I want
to give you everything you want
and more... I can’t.

KIRA
So what am I supposed to do?

ODO
You could always stay with me.​


Kira is stunned. She had never even thought of that. But is she thinking about it now?


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT THREE​
 
ACT FOUR​


FADE IN:


30 EST. AZURE NEBULA


Back to the blue swirls and wisps of the nebula, but this time focusing on the Enterprise rather than the Aventine...


31 INT. ENTERPRISE - MAIN ENGINEERING


Dax weaves between various engineers and crewmen working hard to repair the ship. WORF is standing near the warp core, conferring with deputy chief engineer TAURIK. Dax waits until they’re finished.

Taurik finally nods acknowledgement of Worf’s orders and leaves. Worf turns, and his eyes flare in surprise at seeing Dax there. But he continues out of engineering and towards the turbolift. Dax falls into step beside him.


WORF
Are you returning my chief engineer?

DAX
He’ll be back any minute. But I’m
actually here to talk to you.

WORF
Is there something you need,
Captain?​


They exit engineering, cross the corridor to the turbolift, and step directly into it. Worf has kept himself fully professional the whole way.


32 INT. ENTERPRISE - TURBOLIFT (CONTINUOUS)


The doors close and the turbolift begins to move.


DAX
Worf... can we drop the ranks and
just go back to being friends for
a minute?

WORF
Computer, hold turbolift.​


The computer bleeps affirmatively, and the turbolift glides to a halt. Worf turns to Dax, warmer.


WORF
I apologise. Tracking repairs is
time consuming. Are you alright?

DAX
I’m fine. It’s just that you and I
haven’t talked since you became
a first officer. And suddenly I’m
a captain. Must be weird for you.

WORF
How so?​


Dax doesn’t know how to respond. Worf has just perfectly punctured her pretensions in a second without even planning to. She chuckles and gathers herself.


DAX
Let me start over. The truth is, I
have no idea how you feel about
my promotion. I was projecting
my own feelings onto you. Again.
I should have known better.

WORF
You do not need to apologise.

DAX
No, I do, Worf. I’m sorry. I was
just afraid you’d resent me for
making captain ahead of you.

WORF
Because of my reprimand after
saving Jadzia on Soukara.

DAX
Well, yes.

WORF
I regret nothing that I did for
Jadzia. You earned your command
by leading in battle. Jadzia would
be proud of you... as am I. Your
success honours her.

DAX
Thank you, Worf. That means a
lot to me. And for what it’s worth,
I’ve never seen you more relaxed
and content than you are now.

WORF
(ponders)
The Enterprise is where I belong.
I consider it a great honour to
be Captain Picard’s first officer.
(out loud)
Computer, deck five.​


The lift begins to move again. Dax and Worf both return to professionalism, just in case any ensigns should enter.


DAX
It’s funny, isn’t it? Just at the
point you and I are both finally
living up to our potential, the Borg
are trying to exterminate us. What
would you call that - irony?

WORF
Bad timing.​


33 EXT. SPACE


The giant Jem’Hadar cruiser continues to loom threateningly over the much smaller runabout against a backdrop of stars.


34 INT. RUNABOUT - REAR CABIN


The lights are low, all the better to make the stars stand out. Nog and Meera both perch side by side on the edge of the conference table, legs dangling, staring companionably out at the view beyond the rear windows.


MEERA
I love looking at the stars. Most
of my people hate it. They’d much
rather stay in the Link where it’s
safe. But to me, the stars are...
excitement. Adventure.

NOG
There’s definitely adventure. But
there’s danger too.

MEERA
I know. But it has to be better
than just sitting in a puddle
for aeons on end.
(turns to him)
It’s good to see you again, Nog.

NOG
We do seem to keep running into
each other, somehow.

MEERA
What is the solid word for it -
Fate? Destiny?

NOG
Either works. I have to admit...
I was looking forward to seeing
you again too.

MEERA
(intrigued)
Really? Why?

NOG
...I like you. Which is weird, I
know, because you’re a change-
ling and I’m a Ferengi...

MEERA
Would this make it less weird?​


Meera MORPHS, her changeling form suddenly growing giant Ferengi ears and head bulges, a wrinkly forehead and buck teeth, though still Meera beneath. Nog laughs in delight.


NOG
Actually no. That just makes it
even more weird.​


Meera MORPHS back to her previous changeling appearance.


NOG
You don’t need to change for me.
I like you the way you are.
(nervous)
Not that you can’t change if you
want to. I mean, I wouldn’t want
to stop you from -

MEERA
Nog.​


He rambles when he gets nervous. She smiles shyly. It’s flattering to have someone so interested in her.


MEERA
I like you too.

NOG
Really? Well... great.​


Nog turns back to look out at the stars, relieved and happy. Reality sets in soon enough.


NOG
Of course, it won’t matter much
if the Borg wipe out all life in the
Alpha Quadrant. Are you sure
there’s nothing you can do?

MEERA
I’m sorry, Nog. I wish I could.
But Odo’s right - it wouldn’t
work. Unleashing the Jem’Hadar
would only make things worse, not
better. The Dominion is balancing
on a knife’s edge. One slip either
side - we’d all be cut to pieces.​


Nog nods sadly. It’s what he expected.


35 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT


Kira gazes in shock and amazement at Odo.


KIRA
Stay with you? But the Link -

ODO
If it means keeping you safe, I’d
leave the Link in an instant. You
and I can go somewhere, on our own
where no-one from the Dominion
would ever find us. You’d be safe
from the Borg, the Jem’Hadar...

KIRA
But what about Bajor?

ODO
Nerys, you said yourself the Borg
can’t be stopped. If they’re coming
anyway, you should save yourself
while you can...

KIRA
Odo... I can’t do that. I can’t
leave Bajor now, not when they
need me most.
(accepting)
Any more than you can leave
the Dominion.

ODO
And I can’t just send you back
to your death...

KIRA
It’s okay. The Prophets have
always protected us before. I’m
sure they’ll protect us again.

ODO
(sigh)
Sometimes I really envy you
your faith, Nerys.​


36 INT. RUNABOUT - REAR CABIN


Nog and Meera still sit where they were. The comm chimes...


KIRA (comm)
Kira to Nog. Odo’s ready to leave.
And we should really be getting
back to the Alpha Quadrant.​


Nog jumps down off the table to the deck, helping Meera to do the same. He looks at her, then taps his combadge.


NOG
I’ll be there in a moment, Captain...
prylar... sir.​


Rolling his eyes at his Candlewood-esque ineptitude, Nog taps to close the channel. He goes back to gazing at Meera.


MEERA
So... here we are saying goodbye
all over again.

NOG
I know. Thank you.

MEERA
For what? I didn’t give you anything.

NOG
You did. In fact, you gave me
something I’ve never had before.​


Meera smiles, understanding his meaning.


MEERA
Well then... perhaps there’s one
more thing I can give you before
you go.​


She gently takes hold of his face, brings their lips slowly together... and they KISS against the backdrop of stars. Hold as they indulge the long-awaited moment. Then they reluctantly separate. It’s time to go.


MEERA
Do you mind if I stay a moment?
I’d like to look at the stars some
more, while I can. I promise I
won’t touch anything.

NOG
It’s okay. I locked everything out
before you came onboard.
(shrug)
I’m still a Starfleet officer.​


After another extended hand-holding, Nog turns and walks towards the front of the ship, exiting to the cockpit.

Meera turns back to the stars and takes a deep breath. After a moment of silence...


MEERA
You were awfully quiet. Thank you.
I was afraid Nog would hear.​


Beside her at the window, TARAN’ATAR suddenly unshrouds into view. The Jem’Hadar soldier stands tall, but relaxed. Meera obviously knew he was there.


TARAN’ATAR
I believe he was... distracted.
(looks towards cockpit)
The humanoid preoccupation with...
affection... has always perplexed
me. Such things are of no concern
to Jem’Hadar.

MEERA
Most changelings would say the
same. It’s not true.

TARAN’ATAR
These Borg seem to be a formidable
enemy. Victory against them would
be most satisfying.

MEERA
There’s nothing you can offer them,
Taran’atar. You’re an army of one,
without weapons, or ships, or troops.

TARAN’ATAR
Even so, I would gladly join Kira
Nerys’s army.

MEERA
I know you would. And that does
you credit. But she thinks you’re
already dead. You should return
to the Even Odds. They’re doing
good work, and they need you.

TARAN’ATAR
As you wish, Founder.

NOG (comm)
Beginning transport.​


Taran’atar steps close to Meera, disappearing into his SHROUD as he does so. Then he and Meera are captured in a transporter beam. Part-way through transport...


CUT TO:


37 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT


Odo is also mid-transport, on the runabout’s transporter platform. As he fades, his eyes never leave Kira. She waves him a small goodbye... and then he is gone.

Kira turns to Nog, who was operating the controls from a polite distance. She steels herself, returns to her seat, and they get the ship moving.


BLACK OUT


END OF ACT FOUR​
 
ACT FIVE​


FADE IN:


38 EST. AZURE NEBULA


Back to the blue swirls and wisps of the nebula, but this time focusing on the Aventine rather than the Enterprise...


39 INT. AVENTINE - READY ROOM


The door whooshes open, and Picard strides in again. Dax is there to greet him. After her pep talks by Bowers and Worf, she is feeling more confident in herself, and that informs how she relates to Picard - no longer cowed, now an equal.


PICARD
You requested to see me, Captain?

DAX
Yes, thank you for coming, sir.
Please, take a seat. I’ll get you
something from the replicator.

PICARD
No, thank you.​


Dax picks up a padd from her desk, and then they sit on the couches together, rather than with a desk separating them.


PICARD
I’ve apprised Admiral Nechayev
of our tactical options. Teams at
Starfleet R and D, the Daystrom
Institute, and the Vulcan Science
Academy are studying our readings
and working to find a means of
destroying the subspace tunnels,
while our two crews continue to
construct the minefield.

DAX
Well, that’s why I asked to see
you. We need to stop trying to
collapse the tunnels.

PICARD
(stern)
Captain, I’ve made my decision.

DAX
Based on incomplete information.
Lieutenants Helkara and Elfiki have
been continuing their analysis, and
as a former science officer myself,
I have too.

PICARD
And what have you found?

DAX
All the passages resonate at
different sub-harmonics of the
same interphasic frequency. So,
any attempt to collapse one of
them will have a domino effect
that will collapse all of them.

PICARD
Perfect. Exactly what we need.

DAX
Except that since the tunnels only
exist in subspace, the shockwave
from it would propagate through-
out subspace, having disastrous
effects on galactic space-time.

PICARD
Such as?

DAX
Stars could explode. Whole systems
could vanish. Spiral arms could
disperse into the void. Pluck the
wrong string on this instrument,
Captain, and you could wipe out
an entire quadrant in one note.​


Picard grits his teeth. He wants to destroy these things. Plus it feels like Dax has gone behind his back. But he knows she has not lied to him.


PICARD
Merde.
(beat)
Why didn’t Elkifi tell me this?

DAX
I asked her and Helkara to let me.
I felt it would be better coming
from a fellow captain.​


Again subtly emphasising their equal rank. It does not go unnoticed. But having made her case, Dax now steps back.


DAX
What are your orders, sir?

PICARD
(grinds teeth)
Suspend production on the mines.
I’ll tell LaForge to do the same.
But I want both crews to continue
looking for safe ways to collapse
the tunnels. I’m not willing to
entirely abandon that option yet.

DAX
Understood.

PICARD
So then we return to your first
suggestion - explore the tunnels
instead. At the least, we can
shift the front line in this war
away from Federation space.

DAX
A counter-attack?

PICARD
(thinking it through,
step by step)
A holding action. We identify the
tunnel the Borg have been using to
enter our space. We advance to the
other side of it. We hold the line
there until we have a means to
collapse the tunnels safely. Then
we fall back and implode the
tunnel behind us.

DAX
It’ll still take time to scout the
tunnels and be sure we’ve got
the right one. Just calculating the
frequency to open the apertures
takes time and processing power.

PICARD
We have Enterprise and Aventine.
Two computers are better than one.

DAX
We can’t both go at the same time.
One of us will have to stay at the
nebula in case more Borg come
through, while the other explores
the tunnels. And you’re the only
one with transphasic torpedoes.

PICARD
The Enterprise is several hours
away from completing its repairs.

DAX
(deep breath)
Then I guess it’s down to me.​


Dax gets up and moves to her personal computer terminal. She looks up reports, peruses them. Picard stands.


DAX
My engineering teams will be done
helping yours in two hours. But it
might take longer than that to pick
the lock.

PICARD
Then we’d best get started. We
have a long road ahead. And
heaven help us all if the Borg strike
the next blow before we do.​


Off Dax’s trepidation...


40 EST. IDRAN


In orbit of the Eav’oq planet, the world at the Gamma end of the wormhole. The runabout sits in orbit.


41 EXT. EAV’OQ CITADEL - DAY


Kira now sits downcast, upon one of the low stone walls that weave along the paths of this bucolic paradise.


KIRA
I failed. The Borg are going to
kill us all.

OPAKA
You mustn’t think that way, Nerys.​


OPAKA sits beside her on the wall. Behind them is the gleaming marble of the Eav’oq citadel, and a handful of EAV’OQ themselves moving around in the background in their strange lolloping multi-limbed gait.


KIRA
How can I not? I made such a big
deal about bringing back an army
to take on the Borg. I get every-
one’s hopes up and I come back
with nothing. And I tried to guilt
Odo into helping by accusing
him of not loving me anymore.
I’m no better than Bellis.

OPAKA
(patient)
Well, first, you shouldn’t compare
yourselves to others. You can only
do what you can do. And second -
if it was meant to be, then it would
be. Seemingly the Prophets do not
want the Dominion involved in this
dreadful business, and we must
trust that They know best.

KIRA
But Bajor will be destroyed! I
refuse to believe the Prophets
would protect us all through
the Occupation, the war and the
Ascendants, would send us the
Emissary to guide us into the
Federation, only to let us all
be annihilated by the Borg.

OPAKA
Exactly - They wouldn’t. Which
only means the solution has yet
to be found. Not that there is
no solution.

KIRA
You haven’t seen it, Sulan. The
Borg haven’t even reached us yet,
and the whole world is eating
itself up with fear. The vedeks are
too busy bickering among them-
selves to do anything to help.

OPAKA
Perhaps they need a sign from the
Prophets. Something to prove to
them that there is hope, a way
forward. To bring them together.

KIRA
(shakes head)
Sisko’s gone. He went back to
Starfleet. And Kai Pralon - she’s
fine, I guess. But she’s no you.​


While Opaka smiles demurely at the compliment, Kira’s jaw drops. Just like that, the answer has come to her. She turns to look at Opaka, thunderstruck. Opaka wonders what just happened...


42 EST. BAJOR - DAY


Returning us to the safety of the Bajoran capital city...


43 INT. VEDEK ASSEMBLY CHAMBER


Voices continue to clamour over each other. Crowd WALLA as no-one has anything substantive to say - it’s all pointless noise. Bellis, Solis, Yevir and Pralon present as before.

The doors at the far end of the chamber BURST open suddenly and Prylar HAIM, the kai’s regular messenger, rushes in. She runs straight to Kai Pralon and whispers into her ear.

Astonished at what she has been told, Pralon nods for Haim to continue. The messenger returns to the door and beckons. Kira enters, to the general consternation of the room.


PRALON
Prylar Kira. You have returned.

KIRA
I hope you’ll forgive the intrusion,
Eminence. But I have brought
what Bajor needs.

BELLIS
Have you? Then show us, prylar.
Where is this army of Jem’Hadar
you boasted of? The ones who will
lay down their lives to save us?

KIRA
I have no army.​


The crowd talks over each other again, drowned out by Bellis’s smug gloating.


BELLIS
As I told you all! This woman has
repeatedly placed herself above
this Assembly, considered herself
better than us. Now we see her
arrogance for the empty bluster
it is.

KIRA
(calm, but firm)
I have no army, Bellis, because I
realised that’s not what we need.

BELLIS
You said it was the only way to
hold Bajor together.

KIRA
I said it had worked in the past,
yes. But I also said we had faith.
That’s what we need now. And
that’s what I’ve brought.​


Kira turns back towards the door to the chamber. At her summons, Opaka strides through the double doors.

A GASP goes up around the room. All the vedeks step aside, making a path for Opaka to walk slowly through the chamber and towards the Apex Chair. She is bashful and a little embarrassed at all the attention and adoration.

Even Kai Pralon steps down from her podium and up to Opaka. The current kai takes her predecessor’s hands in her own...

...and then KNEELS down before her. Taking her cue, the rest of the vedeks do the same. Throughout the chamber, vedeks kneel in worship of their legendary leader.

Standing behind Opaka in the wake she has left, Kira looks around at all the vedeks around them. All behaving the same, all having faith in the same thing. Her plan worked.

Kira finally kneels as well, smiling beatifically...


BLACK OUT


END OF SHOW​
 
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