ACT FOUR
FADE IN
24 EXT. SPACE
The
Aventine and the
Enterprise are still being harried by half a dozen Hirogen warships. Both Starfleet ships twist and turn, trying to shake off their attackers. But each has one Hirogen vessel literally jammed into their hulls.
CLOSING IN on the
Aventine... we see four FIGURES stomping along the outside of the hull, along the spinal hump from the shuttle bay forwards.
25 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE
Bowers rushes past clouds of smoke to Kedair’s station.
BOWERS
They’re where?
KEDAIR
Heading aft on the outside of
the dorsal hull. One of them has
a pretty serious-looking piece
of shoulder-mounted artillery.
Power failures are following
them every step of the way.
DAX
They’re heading for engineering.
Sam, get Leishman and her people
out. Riordan, isolate all command
systems on the bridge and lock
down the engineering computer
core. Kedair, get your people
down there, and dead or alive,
get those bastards off my ship.
Nodding her understanding, Kedair beckons an EXTRA to take over her tactical console and heads towards the turbolift.
BOWERS
Lieutenant! Where are you going?
KEDAIR
Main engineering, sir.
BOWERS
(folds arms)
I don’t recall giving permission
to leave your post, Lieutenant.
KEDAIR
(snaps to attention)
Sir. Request permission to lead
the counter-attack and make
our boarders sorry they ever
set foot on Captain Dax’s ship.
Bowers steps aside, letting Kedair enter the turbolift.
BOWERS
Permission granted, Lieutenant.
Give ‘em hell.
KEDAIR
That’s the plan, sir.
The turbolift doors close on her.
26 INT. DS9 - CANDLEWOOD’S QUARTERS
Candlewood stands at the open door.
CANDLEWOOD
Computer, hold the door open.
The computer BEEPS affirmatively, and John turns back to the room, where the main part of the dinner is now eaten. Hetik sits back from the table, leaning to his left.
HETIK
So tell me about these plagues.
CANDLEWOOD
Ten of them, various horrible
things, all aimed at the Egyptians
as God’s attempt to convince them
to do the right thing. The last was
the death of the firstborn.
HETIK
But not for you.
CANDLEWOOD
That’s why it’s called Passover -
because the plagues “passed over”
the Jews without affecting us.
Not joining Hetik back at the table, John instead goes to stare out of the window at the stars.
CANDLEWOOD
I know the rabbis would cast me
out, but I’m really sympathising
with the Egyptians right now.
HETIK
How come?
CANDLEWOOD
An unstoppable plague of death...
nothing you can do to run or
escape it. It will consume you.
HETIK
But you’re Jewish. The plague
will pass you over.
Candlewood comes back to Hetik, crouches down by his chair, takes his hands and looks deeply into his eyes.
CANDLEWOOD
It’ll pass us both over... if we
have faith.
Hetik holds his boyfriend’s hands...
27 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S QUARTERS
Wearing his colourful Ferengi pyjamas, Quark presses the control to open the door - and there stands Ro.
QUARK
Laren... it’s late. Are you okay?
RO
Can I come in? Just to talk.
She seems troubled, so Quark steps out of the way, letting her in. She heads to the couch and slumps into it. Quark follows, sitting beside her. They turn to face each other.
RO
I feel useless, Quark. I’m not
used to sitting these things out.
I’m used to being in the thick of
it, fighting alongside everyone.
QUARK
You’re in command now. It’s not
always an easy place to be.
RO
But the fight’s out there, and I’m
not doing anything. And if the fight
does come here... there’s nothing
I can do about it anyway.
QUARK
Laren... there’s always something
you can do. You just need a good
night’s sleep, and it’ll all look better
in the morning. I promise.
Quark CHUCKLES. Ro looks at him askance.
RO
What?
QUARK
I was just thinking... it’s come
to something when I have more
faith in Starfleet than you do.
She chuckles along with him.
28 INT. AVENTINE - CORRIDOR
The huge, heavily armoured forms of two
HIROGEN stomp along the corridor, the entire section losing power as they move. The Beta, KEZAL, reports to the Alpha, ORMOCH.
KEZAL
Scramblers are in place.
ORMOCH
That should keep our prey busy
until we bypass their computer
lock-outs. Then we can finally
test their skills in combat.
SIMMERITH (o.s.)
Why wait?
Ormoch and Kezal turn in anger, and see a
CHELON security officer, SIMMERITH, brandishing a curved-blade axe. The hefty Chelon’s turtle-like beak and reptilian scales look tough and threatening. Ormoch draws his own blade.
ORMOCH
This looks like worthy prey indeed.
Stay clear, Kezal - this one is mine.
SIMMERITH
Don’t be greedy, friend. I’m willing
to kill you both at the same time.
Bring it on.
ORMOCH
Mind your place, Kezal!
Ormoch launches into hand-to-hand combat against Simmerith. The Hirogen LUNGES. The Chelon DODGES and SLASHES back. The Hirogen DUCKS and CHOPS a piece of flesh off the Chelon’s leg. The Chelon seems unaffected. The Hirogen is impressed.
Ormoch decides not to play with his food any longer. He FEINTS and SWITCHES back, SLASHING Simmerith across the throat. As the Chelon lurches, his throat SPURTing green blood, Ormoch STABS up into Simmerith’s gut, impaling him.
As Simmerith JUDDERS in his death throes, he tries to bring his axe down. Ormoch uses his free hand to BAT the axe out of the way, where it CLATTERS harmlessly to the deck. With the last of his energy, Simmerith SLASHES his sharp claws across Ormoch’s face, drawing blood... then expires.
Ormoch drops Simmerith to the deck. Looking over to Kezal, he wipes the blood from his face with a grin.
ORMOCH
Not the best I’ve ever fought.
But not bad. Look at that beak
and those claws - they’ll make
fine trophies.
KEDAIR (o.s.)
Don’t forget this.
Again both Hirogen turn in surprise - and see that KEDAIR is standing there, casually holding Simmerith’s axe. She looks over at them calmly - she knows they’re going down.
29 INT. SISKO’S RESTAURANT - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Jake and Rena lie in bed together, an open window allowing a slight breeze to ruffle the light curtains. They hold each other, relaxed and comforted in each other’s embrace.
30 INT. SISKO’S HOUSE – BEDROOM - NIGHT
Kasidy lies in bed alone, and not asleep. After a moment, the bedroom door creaks open, and a small figure is dimly silhouetted in the doorway - REBECCA.
KASIDY
What is it, Rebecca honey?
REBECCA
Can I sleep with you tonight,
mommy? It’s cold.
KASIDY
Okay, sweetheart. But close the
door behind you. Gently.
Rebecca closes the door, and then climbs into bed with her mother. After a moment...
REBECCA
I miss daddy.
KASIDY
I know, sweetheart. Me too.
Kasidy hugs her little girl tight in the darkness.
31 INT. NEW YORK - SISKO’S QUARTERS
Sisko lies in his own bed, staring at the ceiling. He sits up and looks behind him - at the sight of the preparation still ongoing inside the Starbase’s hangar.
SISKO
Computer... obscure the windows.
The computer BEEPS affirmatively, and the windows quickly fade to black, blocking the view from outside the ship, leaving only tiny Starfleet nightlights. Sisko lays back down again... but still can’t sleep.
32 INT. AVENTINE - CORRIDOR
The Hirogen Alpha Ormoch weighs up this oddly confident Takaran woman, bouncing her dead colleague’s axe in her hand. But it is the young and cocky Kezal who speaks up...
KEZAL
You think you know how to
handle that axe?
KEDAIR
It’s not an axe, it’s a Rigellian
voulge. And I wield it better
than most.
ORMOCH
I’m sure you think yourself
capable. But you’re hardly
what I’d call worthy prey.
KEDAIR
Are you sure?
Kedair tosses two pieces of metal at the Alpha’s feet - Hirogen face masks.
KEDAIR
Maybe you should ask Dorrok and
Saransk. Oh right, you can’t -
because I killed them already, up
at the engineering computer core,
where you sent them... Ormoch.
The Alpha is thrown off his game - she knows their names.
ORMOCH
And now you’ve come to fight me?
KEDAIR
No - I’ve come to kill him.
She nods towards Kezal. Ormoch is utterly incensed.
ORMOCH
I am the Alpha! He is only the
Beta. Your life is mine to take!
KEDAIR
Nope. In a few seconds, he’ll be
the Alpha, because you’ll be dead.
ORMOCH
You think you can kill me? You’re
welcome to try!
KEDAIR
You still have a few seconds left,
so allow me to educate you.
(nod to Simmerith)
My colleague here is a Rigellian
Chelon. In times of stress, their
skin secretes a deadly poison.
And you just got a faceful of it.
Perfect timing - the Alpha’s knees crumble beneath him, and he tumbles to the deck, losing all control of his body.
Kezal immediately LEAPS into action, jumping over Ormoch’s uncoordinated form and drawing his own blade. Kezal and Kedair launch into hand-to-hand battle, his blade CLANGING against her axe, while Ormoch can only watch...
33 INT. DS9 - CANDLEWOOD’S QUARTERS - NIGHT
Candlewood and Hetik lie in bed, the little-spoon human relaxed and protected in the big-spoon Bajoran’s powerful brawny arms. He dozes off, safe with the man he loves.
34 INT. DS9 - ETANA & RICHTER’S QUARTERS - NIGHT
The recently married women also lie in bed together, safely warm and cuddled up under the covers, semi-conscious. Whatever comes, they can face it together.
35 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S QUARTERS - NIGHT
Ro and Quark lie in bed, she the big spoon cradling and protecting him. He is snoring lightly, while she is still awake. But she is smiling, content, relaxed. She snuggles in closer, enjoying the comfort, and closes her eyes.
36 INT. AVENTINE - CORRIDOR
The Alpha Hirogen lies on the deck, unable to control his limbs or do anything. He can only watch his Beta take on the Starfleet officer, their blades CLANGING in battle.
Kedair overextends herself... and Kezal takes advantage, STABBING his blade right through her chest. She CHOKES and GURGLES, spitting blood in horror, dropping her axe.
Ormoch GRINS in victory. Kezal raises his blade up high, letting Kedair SLIDE down it gruesomely until she is right at his hand. He SNIFFS her, taking the scent of his prey.
Then her eyes SNAP open, she quickly GRABS the two shorter blades holstered at the Hirogen’s hips and uses them to lop off the surprised hunter’s head. It tumbles to the deck with a THUD, while Kedair gracefully lands on her feet.
She turns to the Alpha, on the deck. She slowly PULLS Kezal’s sword out of her chest and tosses it aside.
KEDAIR
Biology lesson number two. My
species is called Takaran. We
don’t have vital organs, just a
distributed physiology. And, as
you may have noticed, we’re
really good with healing.
As she crouches down to the Alpha, he croaks out...
ORMOCH
Your kind are worthy prey.
KEDAIR
Funny... I was just thinking
the same thing about you.
And she SNAPS his neck.
BLACK OUT
END OF ACT FOUR
