ACT FIVE

FADE IN:

46 EXT. SPACE

The wormhole blooms open, and the tiny runabout flies out.

47 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE

The runabout settles onto its docking pad, which sinks into the body of the station.

48 INT. DS9 – AIRLOCK

The door cycles open, revealing Ro and Kira. BASHIR and Evik are waiting for them, with a med tech and a security.

EVIK
Commander – good to have you back.

RO
Good to be back, Mister Evik. Did
we miss anything interesting?

EVIK
Yes, actually. I’ll tell you all about
it later.

BASHIR
Where’s the patient?

RAIQ (o.s.)
Healer! Attend!

They look back through the airlock, and see Raiq leading the still-wobbly Vexh along. Bashir’s jaw drops at the sight of a second Ascendant. As they emerge into the corridor and Bashir takes a hold of the patient...

RO
I’ll tell you all about it. Later.

BASHIR
Bashir to Ops – three to beam
directly to the Infirmary.

Bashir, Vexh and the med tech disappear in a TRANSPORTER beam. Ro gives a significant look to Evik. He nods.

EVIK
(taps combadge)
Evik to security – send deputies to
the Infirmary immediately.

VOICE (comm)
Acknowledged, sir.

EVIK
If you’ll excuse me, Commander.

At Ro’s nod, Evik heads off. Ro turns to Kira and Raiq...

RO
You two going to be okay to wait
while Bashir sorts Vexh out?

KIRA
We’re fine. Thanks, Ro.

Ro heads back into the ship.

KIRA
You’ve been quiet.

RAIQ
There has been much to consider.

KIRA
(wry)
Tell me about it.

RAIQ
(takes it literally)
I was alone. I needed another to
share the pain. I thought Vexh
would be that other. But he has
his own pain.
(beat)
As I realised that, I realised...
that the other I needed had
been with me all along.

Raiq turns to Kira, looks at her significantly. Kira realises what Raiq means, and her breath catches.

RAIQ
I beg forgiveness... my sister.

KIRA
(touched)
No forgiveness is required.

49 INT. DS9 – PROMENADE

A turbolift door opens and Evik emerges, heading to the Infirmary. But on the way, a voice catches his attention...

VOICE (o.s.)
And the results are in, in this
unprecedented public vote on the
validity of Kai Solis Tendren’s
ascension to the Apex Chair.

Evik turns to find the voice – a news broadcast is showing on the screens around the Promenade. Over still images of SOLIS and Bellis both, the VOICEOVER continues:

VOICE (screen)
Vedek Bellis Nemani forced the
Assembly into recess until the
vote was complete. “The people
must have their say,” he said.
And, after a massive effort by
volunteers across the globe, the
results have been counted. And
they are... it’s a landslide result.
Almost eighty per cent of Bajor
voted...

Evik holds his breath...

VOICE (screen)
...in favour of Kai Solis.

Evik lets out a huge sigh of relief, letting out tension that he’s been holding for days. All around, people on the Promenade also sigh with relief, happy with the result.

50 INT. DS9 – QUARK’S BAR

Quark stands behind his bar, cleaning glasses but really watching the screens along with all his customers. He too smiles quietly – this is what he wanted.

VOICE (screen)
This is a huge defeat for Bellis,
one that he clearly never imagined
would happen. By the rules Bellis
himself set up, Solis retains the
Apex Chair, and will remain kai.

One Bajoran customer slams his empty glass down onto his table, and stomps out of the room in anger. As Quark watches him leave, he tenses... because Pif crosses his path. The dog alien is bouncing with joy.

PIF
Quark! Did you miss me?

Quark grinds his teeth...

51 INT. DS9 – MAIN OPS CENTRE

The turbolift carries Ro and Cenn up into Ops. Nog, Prynn and Candlewood are at their stations. On the main view screen, the image changes to a live feed of Solis standing at the press conference area we’ve seen before.

SOLIS (screen)
My children, I cannot sufficiently
express the gratitude I feel for
your support and your love. You
have proven to me, and to all of
us, that Bajor is ready to grow.

Ro and Cenn head towards the office, but hover outside the door until Solis has finished...

SOLIS (screen)
I was once told that my “liberal
platitudes” were not welcome in
the Vedek Assembly, only on the
streets. Now, it seems the streets
have decided they are welcome
in the Assembly after all.

PRYNN
Eh, I don't know. Sounds a bit
preachy if you ask me.

CANDLEWOOD
Of course it’s preachy. He’s a priest.

PRYNN
Valid.
(to Nog)
Looks like they were more socially
progressive than you thought.

NOG
Marauder Mo to the rescue again.

Ro shakes her head in amusement, and turns to enter the office. Cenn follows her.

52 INT. DS9 – COMMANDER’S OFFICE

Ro enters, Cenn behind her. They pause at the desk.

RO
So... looks like we missed an
interesting time.

CENN
Apparently so.

RO
How would you have voted?

Cenn hesitates...

RO
No, it’s okay. You don’t have to
tell me. I’m not sure what I would
have voted either. Or if I even
deserve to have a vote.

CENN
(shrug)
Of course you deserve a vote.
You’re Bajoran, aren’t you?

RO
It’s nice to hear you say that.
(pause)
Listen, Major... I’m going to need
an executive officer here. And I
think we worked together well the
last few days. We have different
views about things... but a good
commander needs that. So what
do you say? You want the job?

CENN
Even though I’m Militia?

RO
Especially though you’re Militia.

Cenn takes a moment to think about the question...

CENN
Then... yes. I do want the job.
Thank you, Commander.

RO
Well, alright then. Let me talk to
General Lenaris, and –

CENN
I’ll do that. You have a brand new
office to set up.

RO
Thanks, Major. Dismissed.

Cenn nods acknowledgement, and turns and leaves. Ro moves behind the desk, takes a deep breath, and ceremoniously lowers herself into the chair. This is her command now.

53 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE

Just a few moments, to indicate time passing.

54 INT. DS9 – CENN’S QUARTERS

Cenn sits at his desk, in his quarters. On the screen in front of him is General LENARIS.

LENARIS (screen)
Congratulations, Major.

CENN
Thank you, sir. Congratulations
to you as well. You must be very
pleased with Kai Solis’s victory.

LENARIS (screen)
It’s good to know that four-fifths
of Bajor thinks I’m not a deviant,
certainly. Now – what about your
mission? Was it successful?

CENN
It was. Once Commander Ro gave
me access to the research, I used it
to sabotage Vexh’s ship, and make
sure it never left that planet. The
ship was destroyed.

LENARIS (screen)
And Ro didn’t suspect?

CENN
As far as I can tell, no-one does.
They think the ship was simply
too damaged to take off.

LENARIS (screen)
Well done, Major. It’s bad enough
we have one of those monstrosities
in the system. We don’t need two.
You’ve done Bajor a great service
today. Keep in touch. Lenaris out.

The screen goes blank. Cenn sits back in his seat, alone in his room, and ponders.

BLACK OUT:

END OF SHOW