TEASER

 

FADE IN:

 

1 EXT. SPACE

 

The Defiant flying at impulse. PULL BACK to reveal the Aventine likewise nearby...

...and PULL BACK again to include the Robinson, keeping formation with the other ships. CLOSE IN on Robinson...

 

2 INT. ROBINSON - MAIN SHUTTLE BAY

 

As in 13x22 and 14x13, lights low and sombre. The runabout Styx sits on the deck, nose completely caved in from where it impacted the warbird, one nacelle hanging by a thread...

NOG and BASHIR both stand outside the ruined ship, moving steadily as they scan with tricorders. As he reads off...

 

BASHIR
I’m picking up trace amounts of
DNA, most of it from Robinson’s
crew, but most recently... from
Chief O’Brien and Vedek Kira.

 

Bashir moves around to where ODO stands in his Bajoran uniform, hiding his emotions as he stares at the massive CRACK in the ship’s starboard side, from hatch to roof.

 

ODO
But there are no indications that
she perished while onboard? No
sign of her... remains?

BASHIR
(sensitively)
No. But then conditions within the
wormhole are hardly normal under
the best of circumstances...

NOG
And given this damage, I can’t see
how she could have survived.

 

Odo doesn’t like that, but he can’t argue with it either. He turns to where SISKO and ROGEIRO stand, watching...

 

ODO
What do you think, Captain?

SISKO
I... don’t know.

 

Sisko is clearly struggling himself. Nog tries to help...

 

NOG
Are we sure she was even onboard?

ROGEIRO
She was when the Styx went into
the wormhole.

ODO
I know she was onboard... because
I saw her there myself.

 

Off Odo’s recollection...

 

FLASHBACK - 14x21 “THIEVES IN THE TEMPLE”

 

-- Kira visible through the runabout’s front windows, she turns from the front console to run for the rear cabin...

-- Odo hanging in the wormhole, seeing this with horror...

 

BACK TO SCENE

 

The others are still talking...

 

NOG
What about the transporter?

BASHIR
She didn’t beam to the Defiant.

NOG
So maybe she beamed to the
Romulan ship instead. Maybe
she survived its trip through the
Tzenkethi’s artificial wormhole...

ROGEIRO
No. Captain Dax said there were
no survivors of the Vetruvis’s crash
onto the Tzenkethi asteroid base.
And no Bajoran remains either.

 

Odo offers a grunt of acknowledgement. There isn’t much else to say. Bashir and Nog close up their tricorders...

 

SISKO
Odo... I’m sorry for your loss.
And I know this won’t end your
pain... but if she is dead... at
least her path reached its end
inside the Celestial Temple. I
think she would have liked that.

ODO
(keepingit tight)
Thank you, Captain. And I’m sorry
as well - I know you had your own
special relationship with her.
(beat)
Would you have any objection...
if I spent a few moments alone
aboard the runabout?

SISKO
Of course. Take as long as you
need. It’ll be at least an hour
until we reach orbit of Bajor.

 

Odo nods in thanks. Bashir and Nog EXIT the shuttle bay. Sisko hovers a moment with Rogeiro, watching...

...as Odo MORPHS, leaping into the air as a STREAM of gold changeling matter that SQUEEZES through the crack in the runabout’s bulkhead to make his way inside...

 

ROGEIRO
I’d like to suggest that you book
an appointment with Counsellor
Althouse, Captain.

SISKO
What for?

ROGEIRO
To discuss your continuing belief
that this was somehow your fault.

 

Sisko turns to Rogeiro, surprised...

 

ROGEIRO
(continuing)
Are you going to deny it? Are you
going to claim you don’t believe
the Prophets are punishing you by
taking Kira away from you and Odo?

SISKO
They wouldn’t speak to me, Anxo.
Even when I was trying to save
their lives, they ignored me. They
haven’t spoken to me in years. And
now their own Temple is destroyed.

ROGEIRO
I’m no expert on the Prophets. But I
seem to recall something about them
not being linear. Isn’t is possible
that the wormhole being destroyed
now... is what led to your lack of
contact with them in the past? Isn’t
it possible you’ve misinterpreted
everything... for years?

 

Sisko is struck with that idea - it never occurred to him.

 

SISKO
Maybe. I don’t know.

ROGEIRO
Exactly my point. You don’t know.
(beat)
Shall we?

 

Sisko nods, and he and Rogeiro EXIT the shuttle bay.

Turning back to the damaged runabout on the deck...

 

3 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

 

ODO moves slowly around the runabout, gazing at the cracked bulkheads, the smashed computers, the shattered windows.

This is where the woman he loves died.

He reaches the seat she sat in...

 

FLASHBACK - 14x21 “THIEVES IN THE TEMPLE”

 

-- Kira turns from the front console, runs for escape...

 

ODO

 

running this memory through his mind, eyes narrowing...

 

FLASHBACK - 14x21 “THIEVES IN THE TEMPLE”

 

replay the memory, SLOW MOTION as Kira runs for escape...

...and there’s SOMEONE ELSE THERE. An arm, a hand...

 

BACK TO SCENE

 

...as Odo realises - there was another person with her in the runabout. She wasn’t alone at the end. But who was it?

As Odo absorbs what this could possibly mean...

 

FADE OUT

 

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

 

FADE IN:

 

4 EXT. ALJULI VILLAGE - DAY

 

The locals are in the streets of the small Bajoran village, helping to clean up the mess after the recent flood. They pick up driftwood, brush leftover water into the drains.

 

LENARIS (v.o.)
I don’t know how you did it, Ro.
But I have to admit I’m impressed.

 

5 INT. BAJORAN CONTROL CENTRE

 

Captain RO LAREN stands and talks to General LENARIS on the main viewscreen. She is the only one in the control centre, exhausted, not to mention confused by Lenaris’ praise.

 

RO
Umm... thank you, General. How are
the First Minister and the Kai?

LENARIS (screen)
Both quite safe. And I intend to
make sure they both understand
what you’ve done for Bajor today.
(shakes head)
A forcefield around the planet -
I hope Starfleet knows what they
have in you, Captain. Lenaris out.

 

Lenaris drops the line before Ro can protest. She turns at the sound of the TRANSPORTER... and some of her junior officers beam in, also exhausted but celebrating. They won.

ETANA and RICHTER rush over to Ro and hug her fiercely, congratulating her, thanking her. Ro accepts it, still unsure - she has no idea where the forcefield came from.

 

6 EXT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - DAY

 

The monastery, crumbling precariously on the mountaintop. A runabout is already parked on the docking platform outside.

 

7 INT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - COMMISSARY - DAY

 

Tenmei REMATERIALISES in the largest communal room of the monastery, expecting scenes of horror and misery...

...but finds everyone safe, if a touch dishevelled. O’BRIEN and KEIKO with their kids, MATTHIAS and SIBIAS with theirs, RAIQ and VEXH taking care of their baby, JAKE and RENA sat together and whispering, REBECCA asleep in KASIDY’s lap.

Kasidy looks up with tired but content eyes...

 

KASIDY
Prynn! Hello...

TENMEI
Umm... hi. Are you all okay?

MATTHIAS
We’re fine, Lieutenant. You?

TENMEI
Fine. Sorry to drop in unannounced.
(looks around)
Looks like you all had fun here.

O’BRIEN
Something like that. Where’s Kira?

TENMEI
Umm...

JAKE
Prynn, where’s my dad?

TENMEI
Okay, one at a time.
(to Jake and Kasidy)
Captain Sisko’s fine. He stayed on
the Robinson for the journey back.
(to O’Brien)
Julian and Nog are there too.
(looks down)
As for Kira... that’s why they’re
there. They’re inspecting the
damage to her runabout.

 

At this, Raiq finally looks up at Tenmei. Tenmei looks back at her, unwilling to say it... but Raiq already knows.

 

8 INT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - HOSPICE ROOM - DAY

 

The door CREAKS open, and Tenmei pokes her head in. Opaka turns to her, heartbroken at having to break the news. She steps aside, revealing a body draped in a sheet on the bed.

...and again, Tenmei already knew. The dam breaks, and she falls into Opaka’s arms, the older woman holding her close as the tears of mixed sorrow and relief start to flow.

 

9 INT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - COMMISSARY - DAY

 

In the commissary, the mood is dampened as everyone absorbs the news about Kira. O’Brien and Keiko sit together at one table, commiserating MOS. Kasidy approaches RAIQ as the latter cares for her baby with her co-parent VEXH...

 

KASIDY
Raiq...
(Raiq turns to her)
...I’m sorry about Kira. I know
you were close.

 

Raiq lowers her eyes without speaking. Vexh steps up...

 

VEXH
Kira spoke of you often. We know
that you were close also.

 

Raiq cannot speak - it’s all too much - but she hopes her actions will say it loud. She holds out her baby to Kasidy. Kasidy is overwhelmed at the gesture, given what Raiq did to Rebecca... she takes the Ascendant baby, whose tiny gold eyes GLOW as she giggles happily. Kasidy is enchanted...

ELSEWHERE, Matthias beckons a Bajoran civilian over - the vineyard worker she rescued in 14x21. To her husband... 

 

MATTHIAS
Sibias... I’d like to introduce you
to someone. This is Chon Ivarish,
from the Tilar Peninsula.

SIBIAS
(shakes hand,
polite)
Nice to meet you...
(then realises)
...wait, did you say Chon? From Tilar?

MATTHIAS
That’s right, hun. Your family.

 

Sibias can barely believe it, he never knew any family...

ELSEWHERE, Jake and Rena sit on the ground, against a stone wall, Rebecca fast asleep between Jake’s legs, her head on his chest. Rena gently takes Jake’s hand in hers...

 

RENA
Jake... I don’t know if this is the
right time, given what Prynn
just told us... but here.

 

She moves his hand onto her belly, presses it there. He is momentarily confused... then BEAMS with amazed realisation.

 

JAKE
Oh my god... are you serious?

RENA
(nods, smiles)
I don’t know if it was us sleeping
at the bakery again... or whatever
happened today with Rebecca
and Raiq... but yes. I’m serious.

 

Jake WHOOPS with delight and pulls Rena into a hug. Rebecca stirs at the noise...

ELSEWHERE, Kasidy gently hands baby Aniq back to Raiq, when the excited cry comes from across the room...

 

REBECCA (o.s.)
Mommy! Come and see!

 

Intrigued, Kasidy goes to her daughter...

 

10 INT. QUARK’S NEW BAR

 

QUARK commands the rest of his staff to tidy up in here, or to serve locals who feel the need for a good stiff drink. All except for HETIK, who hugs Lt CANDLEWOOD tightly...

 

HETIK
Actually I feel good. Watching my
old orphanage get destroyed was
strangely cathartic.

CANDLEWOOD
That’s nice. I feel like I somehow
betrayed my own character arc.

HETIK
(chuckle)
What does that even mean?

CANDLEWOOD
(sigh)
I was supposed to be proving I was
good at my job and I didn’t need a
man. But my tachyon buoys got
blown up, again - people seriously
need to stop doing that, by the
way, it’s very rude - plus I failed to
separate the wormholes, and here
I am... running back to my man.

HETIK
(quiet smile)
Your man...?

CANDLEWOOD
(bashful)
Shush.

HETIK
John... nobody gets it right the
first time. You build something...
it falls apart through no fault of
your own... but you don’t give up.
You learn your lessons. You build
it again, stronger and better.

CANDLEWOOD
Are we still talking about the
tachyon buoys?

HETIK
Why don’t we get a drink... and
I’ll explain.

 

Hetik heads behind the bar and starts mixing... Candlewood sits down, quietly thrilled at the way this is going...

 

11 EXT. ROMULUS - CAPITAL CITY - NIGHT

 

The cityscape of Romulus’s capital, under cover of night.

 

12 INT. ROMULAN STRONGHOLD

 

Two pairs of boots CLACK on the floor as they progress down a broad corridor offering access to a long series of prison cells, built from ancient stone, unchanged for centuries.

Finally the boots reach the last cell. A stone slab serves as the only furniture. The occupant, the half-Romulan half-human woman SELA glares disdainfully through the forcefield at her visitors - Praetor KAMEMOR and Proconsul VENTEL.

 

KAMEMOR
Good evening.

 

Sela pointedly ignores them, just as Tomalak did before.

 

KAMEMOR
It may interest you to know your
former position as chairwoman
of the Tal Shiar has been filled.

 

Sneering, Sela reaches down to an alcove, and comes back holding a BRONZE CHALICE. She pointedly tips the chalice over, pouring its contents - a thick, viscous silver liquid - onto the floor, holding Kamemor’s steady gaze throughout.

 

KAMEMOR
It was not my choice to place the
goblet in your cell. But in crimes
of this magnitude, the law is
quite specific.

SELA
Of course it wasn’t your choice.
That would have been too Romulan
an action for you to take.

KAMEMOR
(re the puddle)
And for you as well, apparently.

SELA
Nothing is too Romulan for me. My
mother was human, and yet I’m
more Romulan than you will ever be.

KAMEMOR
I think that you and I have very
different ideas of what it means
to be Romulan.

SELA
Clearly. All I’ve done is fight to
overcome the Federation’s military
advantage, and I’ve had to do that
because the supposed leader of our
people refuses to do so herself.

KAMEMOR
Starfleet has been installing the
quantum slipstream drive on its
ships for three years now. And yet
not once in all that time have they
attempted to penetrate our space.

SELA
Just because they haven’t attacked
yet doesn’t mean they won’t.

KAMEMOR
Surely past behaviour is the best
predictor of future behaviour?

SELA
It’s inevitable. The inferior always
resent their betters.

KAMEMOR
So we’re back to that, are we?
Romulan exceptionalism. Such
an outdated notion. But even
if we are superior... so what?
(off Sela’s
amazement)
Does that necessarily mean we
must vanquish them? Wouldn’t a
truly superior species help lift up
the less fortunate of the galaxy?

SELA
I can see our rightful place in
the universe. Why can’t you?

KAMEMOR
Our rightful place? Or yours? Like
Tomalak, you espouse patriotism, but
neither of your actions have in any
way benefited Romulus. In his case,
it was pure self-aggrandisement. In
yours... I suspect it’s more of a
reaction to your self-loathing.
(shrug)
Regardless, you and Tomalak can
discuss your respective neuroses
with a Federation counsellor. Who
knows - it’s always possible you
and he will have adjoining cells.

SELA
The Empire has no extradition
treaties with the Federation.

KAMEMOR
True, we didn’t. But while I was on
Earth, President Bacco and I came
to a short-term agreement about
delivering accused criminals into
each other’s custody. Both the
Imperial Senate and the Federation
Council have already ratified it.

 

Kamemor steps close to the forcefield, demonstrating her victory calmly but firmly, so there is no ambiguity.

 

KAMEMOR
That’s why I came to see you - to
tell you that tomorrow, you’ll be
placed into stasis. When you are
taken out of it again, you’ll find
yourself in a Federation holding
cell. I thought you should know.

SELA
(w/ horror)
You... you can’t do that! You have
to give me a choice.

KAMEMOR
Sela, everything you’ve done to
reach this point has been your
choice. All that’s left now is
consequences. Jolan tru.

 

Kamemor turns to walk away, Ventel ever loyal by her side. Their boots both CLATTER on the cold stone floor.

A dozen steps away, there echoes the PING of a metal goblet hitting the stone, then the THUD of a body following it.

They turn and look back - the goblet has rolled up to the forcefield, the silver liquid it carried still dripping.

 

VENTEL
She was never going to choose
Earth, Madam Praetor.

KAMEMOR
No. I suppose not.

 

Disappointed, they turn and walk on.

 

FADE OUT

 

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

 

FADE IN:

 

13 EXT. PALAIS DE LA CONCORDE - NIGHT

 

The centre of Federation government, among the glittering lights of Paris...

 

14 INT. PALAIS - PRESIDENT’S OFFICE - NIGHT

 

President BACCO sits alone at her desk, working on padds late into the night. Agent STINSON opens the door, allows AKAAR and Z4 BLUE into the room, then closes it again.

 

BACCO
Gentlemen. What do we know?

AKAAR
The initial reports are confirmed,
Madam President. All indications
are that the Bajoran wormhole
has been destroyed.

BACCO
(sags)
What about Bajor itself?

AKAAR
Physically, the entire planet was
protected by as yet unclear means.
Spiritually, on the other hand...
that remains to be seen.

BACCO
Offer Captain Ro and First Minister
Asarem whatever support they
need. Engineers, counsellors... hell,
decorators if they want them.

AKAAR
At once, Madam President.

BACCO
What about politically?

Z4 BLUE
K’Mtok, Garak and Derro are aware.
Tezrene is being unusually quiet.

BACCO
I’m not surprised. The Typhon Pact
have screwed themselves pretty
thoroughly on this one.

Z4 BLUE
Ma’am?

BACCO
Kamemor’s consolidating her control
as we speak, purging her government
of traitors. Sozzerosz called me -
directly this time - to apologise
for the actions of his “allies”. The
Kinshaya are busy with their liberal
revolution, and the Breen Domo has
been deposed by his own ministers.

Z4 BLUE
Only for wasting money on so many
unsuccessful schemes. Not because
they think he did anything wrong.

BACCO
You know what, I’ll take it.

Z4 BLUE
There’s still the Tzenkethi and
the Tholians.

AKAAR
Tomalak believed the Tzenkethi’s
wormhole generator was a highly
experimental prototype. Our agents
on ab-Tzenketh agree. It’s unlikely
they’ll be able to recreate it.

BACCO
And as for the Tholians, well, yes
they’ve still got their claws into
Andor. But I have to believe the
Andorian people will come to their
senses sooner or later. Hopefully
soon enough to let us help them.
(beat)
Alright, gentlemen. Thanks for
the update. Goodnight.

Z4 BLUE
Thank you, Madam President.

 

Z4 Blue turns and trundles to the door, but Bacco calls...

 

BACCO
Zee-Four...
(he turns back)
Thank you. For everything you’ve
done the last few months. It can’t
have been easy stepping up for
Esperanza. But I couldn’t have
got through all this without you.

 

The Nasat chief of staff is not used to such heartfelt praise from Bacco - he tinkles in pleasure.

 

Z4 BLUE
You’re welcome, ma’am. Admiral.

 

Stinson opens the door again, and Z4 EXITS. Bacco is left alone with Akaar, comes around the table to stand with him.

 

BACCO
So! Whaddaya think? Peace in our
time, at last?

AKAAR
I understood that phrase was used
as a warning against naivety and
overconfidence. Not in earnest.

BACCO
I’m not a fool, Leonard. But I am
an optimist.

AKAAR
The balance does seem to be more
in our favour today, despite the
tragedy of recent events.

BACCO
Got any plans for the evening?

AKAAR
(tiny smile)
I believe Starfleet can manage
without me for one night.

BACCO
I should hope so.

 

She stretches up, he stretches down... and they KISS.

That done, they turn to EXIT themselves. On the way...

 

BACCO
One good thing about all this -
at least we don’t have to worry
about the Dominion anymore.

AKAAR
Indeed, ma’am.

 

CUT TO:

 

15 EXT. SPACE

 

The blasted Dominion Vessel 971 adrift in space...

 

16 INT. JEM’HADAR SHIP - BRIDGE

 

As damaged as before. WEYOUN and TARAN’ATAR work at panels, as surviving Jem’Hadar soldiers try their best to repair. But they all stop in amazed reverence as CHANGELING matter flows through a grating in the wall, reforming into MEERA.

 

WEYOUN
Founder. It is most gratifying to
see you safe. The refugees?

MEERA
They’re safe as well. Thanks to
the Even Odds and the Eav’oq.
(looks around)
What happened here?

TARAN’ATAR
We were attacked, by the Romulan
ship that raided Bronis Two. Then
we were hit again when the anomaly
destabilised. These soldiers you
see here are the only survivors.

MEERA
Have you called for help?

WEYOUN
Yes, Founder.

MEERA
And where is Odo?

 

Taran’atar and Weyoun look to each other awkwardly...

 

WEYOUN
He went to warn Starfleet about
the Romulans.

TARAN’ATAR
He had not yet returned when the
anomaly imploded.

MEERA
You mean he’s trapped in the
Alpha Quadrant?

TARAN’ATAR
That is the best case scenario.

WEYOUN
(defiant)
The Founder has not perished. He
told us to wait for his return. I
have faith he will return to us.

TARAN’ATAR
You misunderstand me, Weyoun. And
I am afraid Odo may have as well.

MEERA
What do you mean, First?

TARAN’ATAR
I predicted he would abandon the
Dominion for Kira. That was not an
accusation. I witnessed their love
for each other. The strength of that
relationship, even from the other
side of the galaxy. If Odo chooses
to remain with the Federation,
it is because that would make
him the happiest. And that is
something to celebrate.

 

Weyoun and Meera take a moment to absorb that.

 

MEERA
That was beautiful, Taran’atar.
I only hope the Dominion can
survive without him.

 

An alert from a panel - Weyoun goes to check it, and turns even more white-skinned than usual...

 

WEYOUN
Three Jem’Hadar vessels are on
approach. Laas demands to know why
we are outside of Dominion space.

MEERA
What if Laas finds the refugees?
The Eav’oq can’t fight to protect
them. It’s not in their nature.

TARAN’ATAR
Then we will.

 

Off Taran’atar’s resolve...

 

CUT TO:

 

17 INT. BAJORAN CONTROL CENTRE

 

ODO, staring out at the busy control centre, packed with the former officers of Deep Space Nine. Little actual work is getting done - they’re all celebrating. Odo is not.

 

DAX (o.s.)
Odo...? Did you hear me?

 

Odo starts, turns to see Captain DAX peering up at him...

 

ODO
Captain Dax. I’m sorry. My mind was
elsewhere. What were you saying?

DAX
I was saying... that Admiral Akaar
has authorised me to offer you
the use of the Aventine.

ODO
“Use” of the Aventine? For what?

DAX
To get you back to the Dominion.
Even with slipstream it would take
a few months of travel, but you’ve
been an ally to the Federation for
years. And you are alien royalty.

ODO
I see... Thank you, Captain. But
that won’t be necessary. I’d much
rather stay here on Bajor for now.

DAX
Why?

ODO
I’d been hunting for other members
of the Hundred. I can do that just
as well in the Alpha Quadrant.

 

Dax isn’t fooled for a second - this is about Kira - but she nods sympathetically and moves off, leaving Odo alone.

 

QUARK (o.s.)
Odo!

 

Odo sighs internally, rolling his eyes. Not what he needs. He turns... and sees QUARK and NOG guiding RWOGO to him.

 

QUARK
Odo, I’d like you to meet our new
exchange officer from the Ferengi
Alliance, Inspector Rwogo.

 

Rwogo does the Ferengi bow for the stern Changeling.

 

RWOGO
A pleasure to meet you, Constable.
I’ve enjoyed reading your files.

ODO
You’ve... read my files?

NOG
Rwogo is our chief of security.

ODO
A Ferengi... chief of security?

QUARK
(points)
There! That face. That’s all I wanted.
Come on, we can go now.

 

Quark guides Rwogo away again, satisfied. As they head off, Quark takes Rwogo’s hand, and Odo reacts all over again...

 

NOG
Yep. Uncle Quark and the security
chief are in love. And I thought I’d
seen amazing things in space.

 

Odo GRUNTS with displeasure and stalks away...

RO stands outside her tiny corner office, gazing towards Rwogo and Quark - she is showing him around her own office. Ro turns the other way, towards the tiny infirmary room in the other corner, where BASHIR and SARINA stand together, chatting lightly MOS, comparing notes on their adventures.

 

DAX
Nice place you’ve got here, Ro.

 

Ro looks up, and sees that Dax has drifted over to her now.

 

RO
Oh - hi, Dax. Yeah, it’ll do for
now. Until we get the new station
built, anyway.

DAX
I look forward to it. How are you
holding up?

RO
I kinda feel like... I’m in the same
place you were after Salavat.

 

Dax is confused - what does that mean? Ro nods to Quark and Rwogo, thick as thieves. After a moment, Dax gets it.

 

DAX
Ah. I see. I’m sorry, Ro.

RO
I can’t help wondering - is that
why I was so hard on her when she
first arrived? Because I could see
she was a much better partner for
him, better than I could ever be?

 

Dax gazes over towards Bashir and Sarina...

 

DAX
That’s... a strong possibility.
(back to Ro)
I am a trained counsellor, you
know. And thanks to Curzon, I have
a lot of experience with alcohol
too. So if you need to talk...

RO
Thanks, Dax. I might well do that.

 

Dax heads off - towards Bashir and Sarina. As Ro watches, Dax greets the other two warmly, with hugs and chaste pecks on the cheek, and they set to chatting comfortably.

CENN approaches, enjoying the convivial atmosphere of the crew’s celebrations. He’d like to get Ro involved.

 

CENN
Captain, come and join the party.
You are the guest of honour.
Everyone’s saying you saved Bajor.

RO
I know they are. But it wasn’t me,
Desca. Whatever it was, it came
from the monastery at Vanadwan.
I asked Chief O’Brien, he said he
couldn’t explain it if he tried.

CENN
(how to explain?)
You remember after the invasion?
You couldn’t understand how
people were praising the Prophets.

RO
Right. They had nothing to do
with stopping the Borg.

CENN
Right. But people had faith in the
Prophets. That faith was rewarded.
And now, they have faith in you.
(beat)
Feels nice, doesn’t it?

 

A moment, and Ro gives a small smile. Yes, it does.

 

RO
Alright. But then we’ve got work
to do. Bajor needs us... it needs
me. And I won’t abandon it.

 

Ro follows her friend and XO into the celebrations...

 

FADE OUT

 

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

 

FADE IN:

 

18 INT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - KIRA’S ROOM - NIGHT

 

RAIQ sits alone on Kira’s bed, staring out of the window at the dark night beyond. The door creaks open, and OPAKA peeks in with VEXH at her side. Raiq does not react.

(NOTE: This is the flashforward from 14x06 “True Colours”.)

 

OPAKA
She still hasn’t said anything?

VEXH
No. But then... this is our way.
We Ascendants grieve in silence.

 

NEW ANGLE

 

Now we can see that O’BRIEN and ODO stand nearby as well.

 

O’BRIEN
Are you sure we should leave her
alone at a time like this?

ODO
You go. I’ll stay with her.

 

O’Brien understands, and nods. He, Vexh and Opaka leave. Odo steps gently into the room, closes the door behind him.

 

ODO
Hello, Raiq. I realise you don’t
know me. My name is Odo. I’m...
I believe you called us polymorphs.

 

Raiq doesn’t react, or even look at him. Odo approaches, sits beside her, quietly struggling with his own grief.

 

ODO
I’m not going to ask you to talk.
I know that’s too difficult right
now. I used to feel the same way.
I never told anyone how I felt.
(beat)
It was Nerys who changed that. I
think, looking back... I loved her
from the first moment. So wounded,
yet still so kind. The strongest,
bravest person I’ve ever known.
(beat)
So if it’s okay with you, I’d like
to sit here a while. We can wait
together... for her to come back.

 

Raiq turns to look at Odo at last, emotions raging behind her golden eyes... and nods. She grasps his hand in hers, and they turn to look out the window... at the darkness.

 

19 INT. ROBINSON - CORRIDOR

 

SISKO walks down the corridor, lights set to night shift. He nods perfunctorily at the junior crew he passes on his way, mind as full of self-recrimination as ever.

 

20 INT. SISKO’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (INTERCUT)

 

KASIDY sits on the sofa, reading from a PADD. Rebecca lies sideways next to her, dozing with her head in her mother’s lap as before. Kasidy strokes the girl’s hair in comfort.

 

KASIDY
Sleep, baby. Saving the world will
take it out of any six-year-old.

 

21 INT. ROBINSON - BRIDGE (INTERCUT)

 

Sisko strides down the ramp from the upper turbolift to his ready room, nods polite acknowledgement to the delta shift officer. Then he proceeds on into his ready room...

 

22 INT. ROBINSON - READY ROOM (INTERCUT)

 

...not noticing CASSIE (Kasidy) sat on the sofa, reading a sheaf of papers, their daughter Becky asleep in her lap.

Captain Sisko stops when he notices the ANTIQUE TYPEWRITER on his Starfleet desk. A wave of vertigo makes him stagger, prop himself up against the four-legged wooden chair.

 

23 INT. BENNY’S APARTMENT - NIGHT (INTERCUT)

 

Sisko looks down at himself - he is still wearing his black and grey Starfleet uniform. Cassie looks up, worried...

 

CASSIE
Benny? Are you alright?

 

BENNY RUSSELL takes off his glasses, rubs his eyes, looks down at himself again... and sees the usual charcoal slacks and an olive green button-down shirt. Phew - all normal.

 

BENNY
I’m... I’m fine.

 

Cassie lifts the papers in her hand, speaking quietly so as not to disturb young Becky...

 

CASSIE
Have you read Kay’s new story? She
does a terrific job with her woman
first officer, Kira. She saves the day
aboard the spaceship Temple...

 

Captain Sisko replies from near the wooden writing desk...

 

SISKO
No... I haven’t read it yet.

 

Kasidy holds out the PADD for him... Benny takes it...

 

KASIDY
You should. The report has a lot
of unanswered questions.

BENNY
Kay’s become a very good author
while I was... away. She really
knows how to write the words.

 

The BLEEP of a Starfleet door chime, and they turn...

 

BENNY
Who can that be? It’s so late.

 

Unsteady, Benny goes to answer the apartment front door...

 

24 INT. ROBINSON - READY ROOM (INTERCUT)

 

...the ready room doors SWISH open to reveal KIRA, in earth tone vedek robes and brandishing a bottle of spring wine.

 

KIRA
Hello, Benjamin.

 

25 INT. SISKO’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (INTERCUT)

 

Sisko stands amazed and relieved at the sight of his friend out on the verandah of his house...

 

SISKO
Nerys... you’re alright.

KIRA
(grin)
Of course I’m alright. You didn’t
think my story would end like
that, did you?

 

26 FLASHBACK - 14x21 “THIEVES IN THE TEMPLE”

 

Kira in the runabout, about to either be sucked out into open space or plummet down the whirlpool... and VAUGHN is there to grab her by the waist and fling her to safety.

 

27 INT. BENNY’S APARTMENT - NIGHT (INTERCUT)

 

Benny Russell welcomes KAY EATON (Kira) into the apartment, takes the bottle of champagne from her gratefully.

 

BENNY
So, what are we celebrating? That
you’re alive?

KAY EATON
We don’t need to celebrate that
I’m alive. We need to celebrate
that you are.

KASIDY (o.s.)
I’ve got the glasses right here.

 

28 INT. ROBINSON - READY ROOM (INTERCUT)

 

Kasidy comes back from the replicator, champagne glasses in her hand... KIRA pops the cork on the spring wine, pours it into the glasses... Kasidy hands one to Sisko, keeps one for herself - Kira CHEERS all three of them together...

 

KIRA
To family. Mother, father...
(including
Rebecca, asleep
on the couch)
...and daughter.

SISKO
We may be mother, father and
daughter. But we can’t be a
family. You know that, Nerys.

 

29 INT. SISKO’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (INTERCUT)

 

Cassie lowers her spring wine glass and looks at the floor of their Bajoran house. Benny knows how much he’s hurt her.

 

KAY EATON
You’re not in jail anymore, Benny.
Or in Riverdale Asylum. You can
be a family again.

BENNY
You know how much I want to
believe that, Kay. But I can’t risk it.

KAY EATON
There’s an old saying. “You can’t
stand in the same river twice.”

 

30 FLASHBACK - 14x13 “FRAGMENTS”

 

Kay Eaton rowing her little boat across the Hudson River...

 

31 INT. ROBINSON - READY ROOM (INTERCUT)

 

Sisko realises with alarm...

 

SISKO
The wormhole... The Prophets...

KIRA
The Prophets are fine. I’m working
with them to rebuild the wormhole.
But I’m talking about you. When
you step into a river, every drop
of water is in a particular place.
But just by entering the river, you
change it. And if you leave and
come back a second time, it’s
not the same river. It can’t be.

KASIDY
I don’t understand any of this.

KIRA
It means that when the Prophets
told Benjamin he would know sorrow
if he stayed with you, that was
true - then. But the prophecy was
fulfilled... so there’s no need to
worry anymore. You’re safe now.

KASIDY
(hopeful)
The Prophets are done with Ben?

SISKO
(miserable)
The Prophets abandoned me.

KIRA
No, Benjamin. The Prophets didn’t
abandon you. They let you go.

SISKO
You’re sure, Nerys? I can safely
go back to Kasidy? You’re sure?

KIRA
I’m sure, Ben.

SISKO
(turns to Kasidy)
Then we can be a family. If you’ll
have me.

 

32 INT. BENNY’S APARTMENT - NIGHT (INTERCUT)

 

Cassie raises her champagne glass, CLINKS it to Benny’s...

 

CASSIE
To family. Welcome home, Benny.

 

They sip, then glasses still in hand, fall into an embrace.

Knowing her job here is done, Kay places down her own glass and quietly removes herself to the door. She opens it...

 

33 INT. SISKO’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (INTERCUT)

 

...Kira looks back over her shoulder, smiling quietly at the sight of Sisko and Kasidy embracing each other, Rebecca safely asleep on the sofa nearby. She closes the door.

PULL BACK, leaving the Sisko family alone together...

 

34 EXT. SPACE - ROBINSON

 

The Galaxy-class ship soars majestically through space...

An on-screen caption says...

 

 

SIX MONTHS LATER

 

 

35 INT. ROBINSON - SISKO’S QUARTERS - BEDROOM

 

SISKO looks in the mirror - in uniform, stripped down to the undershirt. He is taking a moment to process it all...

 

KASIDY (o.s.)
Ben! Are you getting ready yet?

 

He smiles, pulled out of his wool-gathering, and turns...

...to see KASIDY fixing on some earrings and straightening out the lines of the formal diplomatic gown she wears.

 

KASIDY
You know we’ll be there soon.

SISKO
I know. I just can’t believe it.

 

He holds up the picture frame in his hand, shows it to her - she knows it very well, but he’s just so proud and happy.

 

INSERT - THE PICTURE FRAME

 

A picture of JAKE and RENA in their restaurant back in New Orleans... and they’re holding their new BABY.

 

BACK TO SCENE

 

SISKO
I knew Bajorans had short gestations,
but five months just isn’t enough
time to get used to the idea. I have
a grandchild. I’m Grampa Ben!

 

Sisko is practically weeping at the sheer joy of this news. Kasidy loves to see him happy again, stands and joins him.

 

KASIDY
We’ll go and visit them as soon as
we can. But today’s a big day too,
remember? So get ready.

 

Sisko smiles at the playful scolding...

 

SISKO
As you command... “Emissary”.

KASIDY
Hey - just because I’m working for
the Diplomatic Corps doesn’t mean
you get to palm that title off on me.
Prophets or no Prophets, you will
always be the Emissary as far as
the Bajorans are concerned.

SISKO
I guess I can live with that.

 

With a wry smile, Kasidy turns and EXITS their bedroom...

 

36 INT. ROBINSON - SISKO’S QUARTERS - LIVING ROOM

 

...and into their living room. REBECCA is sat at the table, padds in front of her. Kasidy heads to the replicator...

 

KASIDY
How’s the homework, sweetie?

REBECCA
Oh, it’s easy.

KASIDY
If those lessons aren’t stretching
you, we could find you harder ones.
(to replicator)
Small Aldebaran whisky.

 

The replicator WHIRRS, and Kasidy picks up the small GLASS, turns... and sees her daughter looking at her askance.

 

KASIDY
Settles the nerves.

REBECCA
If you say so, mom.

KASIDY
Are you sure you’ll be okay here
on your own while your father
and I are on the bridge?

REBECCA
Mom. I’m seven years old. I can
look after myself for an hour.

 

Kasidy wanders across to the captain’s computer desk...

 

KASIDY
I know, sweetie. A mother worries,
that’s all. Have you heard from
Jasmine?

REBECCA
Yep - she’s almost done packing
our stuff. Then the house will be
all hers. How do you feel about -

 

But as Kasidy places the glass down, she just misses the edge of the desk, the glass overbalances and TUMBLES...

...and Rebecca CATCHES it smoothly.

Kasidy JOLTS - Rebecca was on the other side of the room a split second ago, and now she’s right next to her. Kasidy knows something strange just happened... something Rebecca.

 

KASIDY
Did I cut myself on the glass?
(Rebecca nods)
Thank you, sweetie. And yes, you
obviously can look after yourself.

 

Rebecca smiles back - this will be their little secret.

Kasidy takes the glass back off Rebecca, gulps down the whisky. Takes a deep breath, steadies herself.

 

KASIDY
Ben! Get a move on!

 

Kasidy carries the glass back to the replicator, then heads back into the bedroom to chase up her husband.

Rebecca watches her go, then sits back at the table. She picks up a STYLUS, holds it in her hand...

...then slowly moves her hand away. The stylus stays where it was, HOVERING above her hand. As Rebecca stares at it, concentrates on it...

...the stylus starts to slowly SPIN. Rebecca smiles. Easy.

 

BLACK OUT

 

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

 

FADE IN:

 

37 INT. HOLOSUITE

 

Thirishar ch’Thane, aka SHAR, stands on the bare grid of one of Quark’s new holosuites (as briefly seen in 14x16). Surrounding him are reams and reams of technical data, DNA scans, genetic information, hanging projected in mid-air.

He wears rough civilian clothes, scuffed and dishevelled as if he has been on the run. He is tense and wary, antennae stiff, as if expecting to have to run again at any moment.

 

SHAR
Over the last year and a half, the
Tholian Assembly has shared a lot
of its own intelligence about the
Shedai meta-genome. Yet somehow,
that data has never included the
sequences we need to fix the flaws
in our gene therapy programme.

 

As Shar talks, the data scans enlarge in turn, then recede. Stepping up close to inspect them... is BASHIR. He stands in uniform, a full Commander, absorbing this complex data as quickly and thoroughly as he can. Shar continues...

 

SHAR
Of course, it might be the Treishya
deliberately trying to slow down
our research until they can figure
out how to take credit for it and
solidify their own hold on power.

 

Bashir looks behind himself, appalled at this notion, and sees SARINA looking back at him equally disturbed.

 

SHAR
Either way, the programme I run
with Professor Marthrossi zh’Thiin
isn’t getting the information we
need. And that’s why we need your
help, Julian. Because the Andorian
people are running out of time.

 

A list of file names appears in mid-air...

 

SHAR
I’ve included all our research,
but I can already tell you it’s not
enough. To finish what we started,
you will need to access Starfleet’s
secure medical archives and get
access to the information we can’t,
figure out how to put it to use,
and then get the cure back to us.

 

The hologram of Shar JERKS, as if he hears them coming for him. Time to tie this up.

 

SHAR
I know I’m asking a lot, Julian.
But I don’t know who else I can
trust. So... that’s my plea, in
a nutshell. Save us. Please.

 

The hologram and the data files dissipate into nothingness. Bashir and Sarina stand there absorbing the task ahead.

 

SARINA
How long have they got?

BASHIR
From a quick glance, if they don’t
instigate a successful programme
within the next twelve months, the
Andorian species will be extinct
by the end of the next century.

SARINA
So we need the Shedai data. Now.

BASHIR
Starfleet Medical will never let
me see it. It’s under the highest
level of classification there is.

 

Bashir turns to his girlfriend, and says out loud what they both knew from the moment the question was raised.

 

BASHIR
But you know who could probably
get a hold of it for us.

SARINA
They’ll want something in return.
Something of equal value.

 

Bashir nods, coming to terms with it. No other choice.

 

BASHIR
I know. Get in touch with L’Haan.
Tell her... you’ve figured out how
to get me to sign up with you. If
I want access to the Shedai meta-
genome to save the Andorians...
I’ll have to join Section 31.

 

They gaze at each other, daunted - this is it.

 

38 INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR

 

A seedy mid-20th century hotel, the kind of place one does not stay in if one has the money to be anywhere else. Damp, deserted, poorly lit, wallpaper peeling. Lt Cmdrs NOG and CANDLEWOOD step into this, looking around in confusion.

 

CANDLEWOOD
Alright, I know I didn’t spend as
much time in Las Vegas as you...
but this is not how I remember it.

NOG
Blessed Exchequer... what happened
in here?

 

They both creep forward a few more steps... reach a hotel door, number 22 - except one of the 2s is hanging loose. Nog looks to Candlewood - is this the place? Candlewood shrugs - no idea. So Nog reaches out, KNOCKS on the door.

A sharp YELP and a THUD from the other side of the door - someone dropped something in surprise. A SHUFFLE as the person moves to the door, nervous breaths and thumping heart that Nog can hear even through the door.

 

NOG
Vic? Is that you?

 

An eye peers through the peephole under the door number...

 

VIC (o.s.)
(muffled)
Who is it? Show me your face!

 

Unfortunately Nog is too short to see through the peephole. Candlewood stands behind his friend, grabs him by the waist and HEFTS him up higher to be visible through the hole... a GASP from the other side... Candlewood puts Nog down again.

 

CANDLEWOOD
Thank God Hetik has been forcing
me to work out more lately.

 

The door creeps open only an inch and a face appears - VIC.

 

VIC
Nog! Kid! What are you doing here?

 

The door swings open a bit more, and at last they can see Vic properly. He looks dreadful - haggard and terrified.

 

NOG
Me? What are you doing here? This
is a long way from the Dunes, Vic.

VIC
Look, I can’t talk right now, kid.
It’s great to see you but you
gotta get outta here.

CANDLEWOOD
Mister Fontaine, I don’t know if you
remember me. I’m the computer
specialist. Maybe if you explain
what’s happened to your pro-
gramme, I can help to fix it -

VIC
No! Don’t get involved, okay? The
fat lady’s about to sing.

 

FOOTSTEPS and VOICES from further down the corridor - Vic gasps and SLAMS the door shut, leaving Nog and Candlewood in the hotel corridor. Then around the corner appear...

...SQUARE JAW and his two heavies. The three thugs stop in surprise at the Starfleet officers’ unexpected presence, the metallic glint of guns twitching in their hands.

 

SQUARE JAW
Who the hell are you?

CANDLEWOOD
We’re nobody.

SQUARE JAW
Good. Then stay out of the way.

 

Square Jaw points his GUN, holding them off... while his two heavies KICK the hotel door down and barrel inside.

Nog and Candlewood stand there scared as the sounds of a scuffle filter out from the hotel room - SHOUTS and THUMPS and OOFS. Nog tenses to run to his friend’s defence, but Square Jaw re-emphasises the weapon in his hand...

...then the thugs reappear, dragging a bruised and bloodied Vic between them. The singer is moaning, semi-conscious.

 

NOG
Vic!

SQUARE JAW
My friends and me are gonna go
now. Don’t follow us, or we’ll kill him.

 

Square Jaw keeps his gun on them as the trio drag Vic back down the corridor... at the corner he pauses, considers...

 

SQUARE JAW
Ya know what, on second thought...
we don’t need no witnesses.

 

BLAM BLAM BLAM. The bullets hit Nog and Candlewood...

...a WHOOSH of photons...

 

39 INT. HOLOSUITE (INTERCUT)

 

...and Nog and Candlewood stand on the bare holosuite grid, holding their chests, feeling where they were just “shot”.

 

CANDLEWOOD
Okay, excuse my language but what
the frinx just happened?

NOG
We were killed. Once you’re killed
in the programme... you can’t
ever go back into it again.

CANDLEWOOD
So that’s the end of Vic Fontaine?

NOG
No. I will not let it be the end. I
fought to get the Vic programme
working again for nearly a year,
and I’m not leaving it like this.
You and me, John - we’re going
to figure out how to get back to
Las Vegas despite being dead -
and we’re going to save Vic’s life.

 

Off Nog’s resolve to help his friend...

 

40 INT. QUARK’S NEW BAR

 

QUARK leans on his bar, dejected. The place is empty.

 

QUARK
I just don’t know what to do.
Maybe I should demand a refund.

RWOGO
You know the first Rule, Quark.
“Once you have their money,
you never give it back.”

QUARK
They should change it. “Once you
have any money, you should
never give it to anyone.”

RWOGO
So Viray came up with nothing?

QUARK
Nothing. Six months of searching,
and the best private investigator
money can buy can’t find any sign
of Morn anywhere. Utterly useless.

RWOGO
Does he owe you money or something?

QUARK
That’s the worst part. He actually
paid off his tab before he left.
Like he knew he wouldn’t be back.

RWOGO
Then maybe you should let him go.

QUARK
He’s in trouble, Rwogo. I can feel
it in my lobes. I want Morn safe
and sound. I want my friend back.

 

Rwogo stands back from the other side of the bar, pondering the situation. Then reaches across and takes Quark’s hands.

 

RWOGO
Then let’s stop throwing good
money after bad. If you want
to find your friend... let’s you
and me go find him. Together.

 

Quark is touched by Rwogo’s support. Then the WHOOSH of holosuite doors opening upstairs... they both look up...

 

41 INT. QUARK’S NEW BAR - UPPER LEVEL (CONTINUOUS)

 

BASHIR and SARINA walk out of the first holosuite...

 

BASHIR
I’m just concerned... what if they
figure out why we’re really there?

SARINA
Well, we’ll have to be smarter than
all of them put together, won’t we?

 

NOG and CANDLEWOOD walk out of the second holosuite...

 

CANDLEWOOD
We could always reset the code to
the factory standards. That would
at least let us back in.

NOG
And erase Vic’s memories with it.
He wouldn’t be the Vic we know.

CANDLEWOOD
Alright, well... lots of holosuite
programmes have a secret back
door to let the programmer them-
selves in. If we can find that...

 

A third holosuite door opens... TENMEI walks out of it at top speed. She wears a LEOTARD, all flushed and sweaty...

 

TENMEI
No no no no no no no no...

 

SLAINE walks out behind her, also in a leotard but looking much more comfortable than Tenmei, hair tied up, smiling...

 

SLAINE
Aww, is it too hot for you, Prynn?

TENMEI
Too hot for me? That place is too
hot for life. It’s unnatural.

SLAINE
Not for Cardassians.

CANDLEWOOD
Is there a problem, ladies?

TENMEI
You shut your face.

 

Nog, Candlewood and Slaine all chuckle at Tenmei’s expense, and the four younger officers head down the stairs. Sarina and Bashir follow at a distance, muttering sotto...

 

SARINA
You know... Tenmei would be a
good person to have on our side.

BASHIR
Maybe... if we let her know that
the request came from Shar...

 

By now Tenmei has reached the ground floor, walks straight behind the bar to Quark’s bemusement... and tips a whole GLASS OF WATER over her own head. Then a COMM...

 

CENN (comm)
Cenn to all senior staff.

BASHIR
(taps combadge)
Go ahead, Colonel. We’re all here.

CENN (comm)
The captain wants to leave in
an hour. I suggest you all get
back to your quarters and get
dressed on the double.

 

They all look between themselves. They’re excited for this.

 

BASHIR
We’re on our way, Colonel.

 

Bashir taps the comm closed, and all eight draw themselves up and head for the door. Big day.

 

BLACK OUT

 

END OF ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE

 

FADE IN:

 

42 WELDER

 

SPARKS fly as an enviro-suited FIGURE uses their Starfleet welding gun on a large piece of technology in open space.

 

43 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE

 

The turbolift opens, revealing DAX, with BASHIR and SARINA behind her. They all stride out. Cmdr BOWERS stands...

 

BOWERS
Captain - Aventine is nearing the
rendezvous point now.

DAX
Thank you, Commander. You remember
our returning guests?

BOWERS
Doctor Bashir, Lieutenant Douglas.
Of course. Welcome aboard.

BASHIR
Good to see you, Commander Bowers.

 

Dax settles into her command chair. Bashir smiles...

 

DAX
What’s that look about?

BASHIR
Just that you look... comfortable.
Command really suits you, Ezri.

DAX
It’s everything I ever wanted.
A ship and crew of my own.
Adventure round every corner...

 

Bashir pulls Sarina close. Dax smiles to see the obvious love between them. There is no tension here anymore.

 

BASHIR
I know exactly how you feel. The
woman of my dreams by my side...

SARINA
...and a whole new adventure of
our own about to begin.

 

Bashir spins back to Dax, suddenly nervous they’ve let too much out. But then KEDAIR calls out from tactical...

 

KEDAIR
Captain... look...

 

All eyes turn to the huge IMAX screen, full of wonder...

 

44 EXT. SPACE

 

Aventine and Defiant next to each other again, both flying at impulse but back in the other direction...

 

45 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE

 

Captain RO sits in command, chatting along with her crew at their posts - Candlewood, Nog, Matthias, Aleco and Tenmei.

 

TENMEI
Slaine was saying the Cardassians
are about ready to start testing
their first slipstream vessel.

CANDLEWOOD
Maybe you’ll actually get to pilot
one of theirs, since you’re never
getting one of ours apparently.

RO
But the Defiant is her ship now,
to all intents and purposes. Isn’t
that right, Lieutenant Commander?

TENMEI
Certainly is, Captain. After all,
who needs slipstream when you’ve
got a badass like the Defiant?

 

Chuckles around the bridge... Then attention is caught by the viewscreen. The crew all stop and look in wonder...

 

RO
Mister Nog... you do good work.

NOG
Thank you, Captain. But I can’t
take all the credit.

CANDLEWOOD
That’s not very Ferengi of you.

 

46 WELDER

 

A different ANGLE on the Welder, as he moves on from the completed first area to continue working on a second...

 

47 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

 

Chief O’BRIEN piloting the ship, Colonel CENN beside him. Behind them sit QUARK, RWOGO and SLAINE...

 

CENN
Do you have any idea how hard it
is for someone to be late in the
age of transporters, Quark?

QUARK
It’s an important day, Colonel.
Plans had to be made.

SLAINE
(smirk)
Oh, I know what was being made.

RWOGO
(blush)
“Hear all, trust nothing,” dalin.

O’BRIEN
I told you we’d be there on time,
Colonel. And here we are...

 

Cenn looks up through the window, taking it all in. Quark, Rwogo and Slaine join him. O’Brien nods approvingly...

 

O’BRIEN
It’s coming along. Not completely
finished yet, but enough for us to
move in. I’ve got to admit, a part
of me won’t miss that old bucket
of Cardassian bolts.

CENN
Me either.

QUARK
It had its charms.

SLAINE
I think what you all fail to take
into account is that your problems
with Terok Nor had nothing to do
with it being a Cardassian station.
It was first designed as an ore-
processing centre. Would you want
to live or work on one of those?

RWOGO
She has a point.

 

48 EXT. SPACE

 

The runabout coasts to a stop in open space.

PULL BACK to reveal the punchy Defiant sitting beside it...

 

CENN (comm)
Rio Grande to Defiant...

 

PULL BACK again to show sleek Aventine beyond Defiant...

 

CENN (comm)
...Aventine... and Robinson.

 

And finally PULL BACK again to reveal the majestic Robinson just now taking its place at the end of the line.

All four ships now hold position, all facing the same way, a gleaming inspection of Starfleet’s finest.

 

49 INT. ROBINSON - BRIDGE

 

CLOSE-UP on SISKO, gazing with instant love and wonder...

 

CENN (v.o.)
We’re here, Captains.

 

ROGEIRO stands from the command chair, turns to Sisko...

 

ROGEIRO
Admiral on the bridge.

 

...revealing that Sisko now wears an ADMIRAL’s uniform.

 

SISKO
At ease, Captain Rogeiro. At ease,
everyone.

 

All turn to the viewscreen. Sisko grips Kasidy’s hand...

 

SISKO
There she is... our new home.

 

50 EXT. SPACE

 

The welder finishes and heads off, moving down the arc of a large curved space STRUCTURE, built in standard Starfleet grey-white metal. We follow down the curve with him...

...until the structure meets another larger curve at right angles, and at the intersection is a large DOCKING BAY.

 

51 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE

 

Ro, Tenmei, Nog, Candlewood, Aleco, Matthias, extras...

 

NOG
Brand new, purpose built, largest
in the Federation. Population of
13,000 at its normal capacity, but
capable of taking on the crews and
passengers of dozens of starships.

RO
Including the Defiant...

 

52 EXT. SPACE

 

Following around this thicker, horizontal curve, covered in airlocks and cargo bays and maintenance hatches...

 

RO (v.o.)
(continuing)
...the Aventine and the Robinson.

 

53 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

 

Cenn, O’Brien, Quark, Rwogo and Slaine, all admiring...

 

O’BRIEN
Plus full construction and repair
facilities. Twelve runabout bays.
Powered by eight fusion reactors
with four more as back-up...

 

54 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE

 

Aventine’s bridge crew - Dax, Bowers, Kedair, Tharp, Hyatt, Helkara, Leishman and Tarses, plus Bashir and Sarina...

 

DAX
...not to mention state-of-the-art
science labs...

BASHIR
...and of course Sector General.
A full hospital to serve the needs
of the entire Bajoran sector.

SARINA
And beyond.

 

Sarina looks pointedly to Bashir - she’s talking about the Andorians. He nods back solemnly - yes, them too.

 

55 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE

 

Tenmei, Aleco and Matthias gaze at the screen wistfully...

 

TENMEI
There’s the Memorial Deck... with
the names of all those we lost.

ALECO
Prototype thoron shield generators
- so we don’t lose anyone else.

MATTHIAS
And headquarters for the Starfleet
Judge Advocate General office in
the Bajoran sector, in the hopes
we’ll never need those shields.

 

56 EXT. SPACE

 

Looking BEYOND the curved frame created by the intersecting arcs, to the large GLOBE suspended in the centre...

 

CANDLEWOOD (v.o.)
And look at that central core...

 

Easily a hundred decks, with a large PICTURE WINDOW showing through to green and brown and white - an “open air” park.

 

CANDLEWOOD (v.o.)
(continuing)
...a hundred-acre park, with hills
and grass and open-air pools, that
actually functions as part of the
station’s life support system.

 

57 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

 

CANDLEWOOD (comm)
(continuing)
And my husband Hetik is in charge
of the entire exercise programme.

QUARK
Don’t forget the Plaza - a three-
deck entertainment complex with a
theatre, restaurants, a nightclub,
and a brand new Quark’s Bar, Grill
and Embassy taking pride of place
as its most important attraction.

O’BRIEN
What about your bar in Aljuli?

QUARK
It’s still there. Treir can take over
as the manager. But the one on
the station is mine. I’m a chain!

 

58 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE

 

Ro in her command chair...

 

RO
In fact, this place was designed
to be the premier operations hub
for all deep space assignments
in the Bajoran sector.

 

59 INT. ROBINSON - BRIDGE

 

Robinson’s bridge crew - Captain Rogeiro, Relkdahz, Corala, Sivadeki, Althouse, Uteln and newly promoted XO Plante...

 

RO (comm)
(continuing)
Just as long as you all remember
that it’s my station.

SISKO
(warmly)
Don’t worry about that, Captain. I
may be setting up my office and
my family’s home on this station...

 

60 EXT. SPACE

 

We reach the next intersection around the horizontal ring, follow the curve back up again...

 

SISKO (v.o.)
(continuing)
But I’ll be too busy overseeing
all three ships and the station to
interfere. This is your command.

 

...until the two vertical rings meet in a large circular multi-deck HUB at the top...

 

61 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

 

Slaine is nervous to ask... Cenn smiles comfortingly...

 

SLAINE
I have one question... The original
station was where it was because of
the wormhole. But the wormhole’s
gone. So why did Starfleet build
the new one in the same place?

CENN
It wasn’t Starfleet’s decision. It
was Bajor’s.
(off Slaine’s confusion)
The wormhole was part of our lives
for less than fifteen years, dalin.
But we’ve followed the path of the
Prophets for millennia. We know the
Temple will appear again some day.

 

62 INT. ROBINSON - BRIDGE

 

CLOSE-UP again on Sisko, overhearing these words...

 

CENN (comm)
(continuing)
And when it does... we’ll be there.

 

Sisko looks to Kasidy... she grips his hand harder.

 

CENN (comm)
But until that happens, we’ve got
a lot of preparing to do.

 

63 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

 

Rwogo jumps into action - this is where she comes in...

 

RWOGO
Of course, the opening ceremonies!
I’m already working on my security
plans. After all, it’s not every day
the President of the Federation
visits one’s place of work.

 

65 INT. ROBINSON - BRIDGE

 

Kasidy speaks up...

 

KASIDY
Or the Gorn Imperator. I hope I
can remember my traditional Gorn
greetings from Cestus Three...

 

66 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE

 

Ro looks back over her shoulder...

 

RO
Don’t worry, everyone. I’m sure
it’ll all be fine.

 

...and sees KIRA in her vedek’s robes. Kira smiles, grips Ro’s shoulder encouragingly - it’s okay, you’ve got this. With a change of ANGLE, Kira is gone. But Ro smiles...

 

RO
I have faith in us all.

SLAINE (comm)
I agree. I think the new station is
beautiful. It honours the past...

 

Tenmei looks to the side of the viewscreen, beyond the arc of the new station...

...and sees the Akira-class USS James T Kirk holding place.

 

67 INT. KIRK - BRIDGE

 

Captain VAUGHN, strong in his captain’s uniform, smiles warmly back at his daughter. It’s okay, go on without me.

 

68 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE

 

No sign of Kirk on screen, but Tenmei relaxes, comforted.

 

SLAINE (comm)
(continuing)
...while looking forward to the
future. What could be better?

 

69 INT. ROBINSON - BRIDGE

 

Sisko turns to Kasidy, speaks to her more personally...

 

SISKO
They’re right, Kas. We can turn, and
go forward. We can do anything we
want to from this point on.

 

70 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE

 

RO in command of the Defiant...

 

SISKO (v.o.)
Diplomacy...

 

71 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE

 

DAX in command of the Aventine...

 

SISKO (v.o.)
Tactical response...

 

72 INT. ROBINSON - BRIDGE

 

ROGEIRO in command of the Robinson...

 

SISKO
...or even exploration. Anything
- as long as we’re together.

KASIDY
I’d like that.

ROGEIRO
On that topic, Admiral - have you
chosen a name for the new baby?

SISKO
As a matter of fact, we have. If
you’ll excuse me, Lieutenant...

 

Sisko walks forward to the tactical station, gently nudges Uteln aside, and begins typing in some commands...

 

73 EXT. SPACE - THE STATION

 

Starting up close on the new station, as KERTHUNKS and HUMS herald power surging in, running lights coming to life...

 

SISKO (v.o.)
Admiral Akaar spoke with President
Bacco and First Minister Asarem...

 

PULL BACK to show more of the station now, its three RINGS all at right angles, creating a spherical shape, its core module held between them in the centre of the frame...

 

SISKO (v.o.)
And they all agreed that there
was really only one option...

 

PULL BACK again until the entire station is in view. With its heavy horizontal ring, and its lighter vertical rings connecting at the top and bottom, it resembles an updated, Starfleet interpretation of the original Cardassian design.

 

SISKO (v.o.)
Everyone, please meet the brand
new, Frontier-class starbase...

 

Finally the lights pick out its NAME etched in Federation standard along the horizontal ring for all to see...

 

74 ON SISKO

 

SISKO
(continuing)
...the new Deep Space Nine.

 

Off Sisko’s satisfaction at this...

 

FADE OUT

 

END OF SHOW

TNG 19x22 - “ELECTRIC YOUTH”

 

The blank Exo III android body is faulty, so Data offers the only other body he can to Moriarty – his own. LaForge believes Data is acting out of guilt over his own father’s sacrifice to save him, as well as for allowing Rhea McAdams to die to save Lal. Data cannot deny it, but he will do anything to save his daughter. Data tricks Moriarty into another temporary holocube, held hostage while he locates Lal and Alice. Lal has recovered from her fugue – it turns out all that was needed to cure her “condition” was sleep, something she had been scared of before but now has learned to embrace. Data sends Moriarty back to Mudd’s planet (TOS “I, Mudd”) with Alice. LaForge returns to Enterprise, while Data takes Lal back home to Orion. Soon they receive a message – Mudd’s androids have succeeded in uploading Moriarty, Regina and their daughters into new android bodies. But Data worries about the kind of man he is now...

 

VOY 12x22 - “ATONEMENT”

In desperation, the EMH “kills” Conlon to force the last Seriareen out of her and into his own matrix, then shunts it into the buffer where Barclay segregated his memories of Seven. The Hax also rejects the Seriareen, letting them dissipate into subspace. It is over. Starfleet leaves the Confederacy on good terms – Demeter and Galen revolutionised their medical care and agriculture, Vesta defused the Voth attack, and Voyager proved the Source really exists. On Earth, Julia Paris helps Janeway’s sister come to terms with Kathryn’s absence. For his help with the plague, Akaar promotes Icheb and sends him to the DQ with the others. Paris arrives just in time for B’Elanna to give birth to baby Michael, Sharak has many new stories to tell, and Seven reunites with Cambridge. But when the EMH deleted the last Seriareen, it took all his cherished memories of Seven with it. Seven promises to teach him everything he forgot.