ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

29 INT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - CORRIDOR

Raiq SCREAMS, incoherent with rage, the Ascendant FLAMES bursting from her hands and scouring the stone walls.

OPAKA rushes down the corridor, avoids the blasts of fire, tries to get close, shouting to be heard over the noise...

OPAKA
Raiq! Stop this at once! What
in the name of the Prophets is
going on? Raiq, stop it!

Raiq turns to Opaka, almost turns her rage on her...

...but gets herself under control before she goes too far. The flames die out, but Raiq is still seething...

RAIQ
I told her! I said she should not
go, and now they have killed her!

OPAKA
Raiq, slow down. What’s going on?

RAIQ
Word. From Cardassia. The world of
your enemies. And as I feared they
have taken Kira from us. Death and
destruction at some great pavilion
of theirs, and it is said that the
Bajorans were there. She is dead.

Opaka takes a deep breath, hoping to heaven it’s not true. She steps close, reaches out to take Raiq’s hands...

...realises that the Ascendant woman’s hands are still red hot and glowing with the sheer force of her anger...

...and takes them anyway. It’s only burned skin after all, and here is a person in pain and in need of comfort.

OPAKA
Raiq, listen to me. We have no
proof of that. I believe Nerys is
safe. I have no doubt I would
know, I would feel it if she were
truly gone. I think you know that
you would feel it too. Do you?

Raiq searches her feelings, as best she can with so much fear and anger in the way... and she shakes her head.

OPAKA
Exactly. We will hear more soon,
and then we will know for certain.
In the meantime... pray with me.
We will seek comfort together.

Raiq nods agreement, and lets Opaka lead her away...

30 INT. DS9 - CAPTAIN’S OFFICE

The door opens and Slaine walks in, apprehensive. Ro is on the near side of the desk, smiling and holding out a data rod. Cenn and Rwogo are on either side of her...

RO
They’re alive.

Hardly daring to hope, Slaine takes the data rod...

SLAINE
How do you know?

RWOGO
Between us, Dalin, we have access
to Bajoran, Starfleet, Ferengi and
Cardassian intelligence. A perfect
example of many nations working
together for the good of all.

RO
I’m friendly with Legate Macet.
He gave me a “limited report” on
the incident at the Annex. Nyra,
Yevir and Kira are all fine.

Slaine sighs with relief and gratitude.

SLAINE
Thank you, Captain. I was afraid
that coming to work here might
be too difficult for all of us. I’m
sorry for underestimating you.

RO
That’s not all. You’ll also find
some access codes on that rod
- they’ll let you watch the live
feed from the trial.

SLAINE
Trial? It wasn’t an accident?

RO
Apparently not. A Cardassian pilot
deliberately crashed his freighter
into the Academy building. But he
was caught, and he’ll pay for it.

CENN
Honestly, I’m surprised the trial
hasn’t already happened. I guess
they wanted to make sure they 
had all the evidence first this time.

Cenn smiles again, still not realising he has said anything wrong. From Slaine’s ambivalent reaction...

31 INT. CARDASSIAN COURT - PREP ROOM

...to Kira, similarly ambivalent. She and Yevir are both back in their vedek’s robes for this special occasion.

YEVIR
Are you sure it shouldn’t be you?
You are the one who caught him.

KIRA
I’m not the politician you are.
I’d probably just start a whole
new interstellar incident.

Yevir smiles at Kira’s joke... but she’s not smiling.

KIRA
(continuing)
Besides, I’m too much a reminder
of the past. I’d be a distraction.

YEVIR
I’m hardly the most welcome person
here today either, Nerys. If the new
Oralian Cleric hadn’t insisted on it,
the Chief Archon would not have
me anywhere near that room.

A door opens with an ominous CLUNK. Kira offers Yevir a nod of good luck, then he turns and strides through the door.

Kira is left standing alone, looking around at the familiar Cardassian architecture. She hugs herself in comfort, then takes a deep breath and deliberately uncoils. 

32 INT. CARDASSIAN COURT ROOM

As seen in 2x25 “Tribunal”, with warmer lighting to better represent the newer, softer Cardassia. It doesn’t convince.

Yevir heads to the spectator seats, nods hello to SOLDIER 1 (who helped Kira earlier) who is just entering from the other end. As they both sit, Yevir looks around and sees...

Archon MAKBAR, the same woman as in 2x25, in the judge’s high seat, gavel in hand. She BANGS it on her desk...

MAKBAR
The defendant may enter.

Another door opens, and MORAD is led in, hands shackled behind his back. The Cardassian civilians RAP KNUCKLES on the railing in front of them - Yevir watches with interest.

The guards lead Morad up to the offender’s box, while his CONSERVATOR and NESTOR take places at the defence table. Makbar BANGS her gavel again to bring the room to order.

MAKBAR
The defendant, Denison Morad, is
accused of causing the deaths of
eleven civilians and six members
of the military by using his own
vehicle to deliberately attack the
Cardassian Science Academy
Annex in Lakat. The sentence is...
(tightly)
...yet to be determined. The trial
will now begin.

With one last BANG of the gavel, we CUT TO:

33 INT. DS9 - SECURITY OFFICE

SLAINE stands watching the trial on a wall SCREEN. Rwogo continues to work at her own desk, providing moral support.

The trial has moved on a little since the last scene, and the CONSERVATOR (defence lawyer) is questioning his client, whom he has coached to appear demure and apologetic...

CONSERVATOR (screen)
Mister Morad, it was your vehicle
that crashed into the Science
Academy, and that you escaped only
moments before that crash. These
facts are confirmed by our remote
surveillance. Do you accept this?

MORAD (screen)
I do, Conservator.

CONSERVATOR (screen)
You also hold multiple security
licenses, and have been up till
now an exemplary citizen with no
criminal record. Please explain
this... discrepancy to the court.

MORAD (screen)
I’m not sure I have an explanation
that will satisfy the court. It was
negligence, not malice, that led
to these events, and I deeply
regret the deaths they caused.

The Conservator turns to Makbar as if this proves his case. The view on Slaine’s screen moves with him, showing Makbar silently absorbing it all. Slaine turns proudly to Rwogo...

SLAINE
That’s Makbar, the chief Archon.
Best arbiter in the entire Union.

RWOGO
(nodding along)
A former security chief had some
dealings with her. But that was
years ago. She must have a talent
for keeping up with the times.

Meanwhile in the BACKGROUND, the Conservator speaks...

CONSERVATOR (o.s., b.g.)
I am certain, Madam Archon, that
such a heartfelt declaration of
remorse will be of great comfort
to the families of those lost.

Comforted to watch justice be done, Slaine turns back to the SCREEN, where we pick up with Makbar’s deadpan reply...

MAKBAR (screen)
A great comfort, Conservator.

34 INT. CARDASSIAN COURT ROOM (INTERCUT)

Makbar gestures to SOLDIER 1, sitting next to Yevir and terrified of becoming the centre of attention...

MAKBAR
Yet according to Glinn Rettak, it
was Vedek Kira’s opinion that the
defendant’s miraculous last-minute
escape from the vehicle indicated
his intent to attack the facility.

CONSERVATOR
I ask you, Madam Archon, does that
seem likely? Indeed, it cannot be
disproven that this was all simply
a tragic accident, the result of a
catastrophic system failure aboard
the defendant’s ship, and that his
escape was at the worst cowardly.

On YEVIR as he considers this possibility, relieved by it. Makbar on the other hand is not so easily impressed...

MAKBAR
It cannot be proven either.

CONSERVATOR
The glinn’s report also claimed he
found the defendant defending
himself from Vedek Kira, who had
not, to his knowledge, confirmed
the man she was attacking was
the pilot of the vehicle in question.

35 INT. CARDASSIAN COURT - PREP ROOM (INTERCUT)

Kira watches on another SCREEN from outside the court...

CONSERVATOR (screen)
I respectfully submit that Vedek
Kira’s judgement in this matter
cannot be considered impartial.

Kira damns herself for her foolishness...

36 INT. DS9 - CAPTAIN’S OFFICE (INTERCUT)

Ro and Cenn watch on yet another SCREEN, neither happily. As the trial continues underneath, Cenn grinds his teeth...

CENN
They’re trying to turn this all
into Kira’s fault. Typical damned
Cardassians. Painting themselves
as victims of Bajoran fanatics.

RO
He’s the defence lawyer, I guess
you can’t really blame him.

Underneath the above, in b.g., they are tying up...

MAKBAR (comm, b.g.)
Thank you, Conservator. You have
served the court admirably - you
may now step down. It is time to
hear from the defendant himself.

37 INT. CARDASSIAN COURT ROOM (INTERCUT)

Attention turns to the shackled MORAD in the defendant’s stand, maintaining his repentant image...

MAKBAR
The Conservator made a sterling
case on your behalf, Mister Morad.
I hope you are suitably thankful.
However it seems to me that claims
of cowardice and negligence, while
ferrying vital components to a
government-led facility critical
to Cardassia’s future, no less,
are out of character for a man
of your reliable record.
(beat, then lightly)
Tell me... what are your feelings
on Cardassia’s recent membership
in the Khitomer Accords?

Morad blanches...

38 INT. DS9 - SECURITY OFFICE (INTERCUT)

Slaine smiles, thrilled at this development...

SLAINE
A-ha, now she’s got him.

Rwogo has got up from her desk, now watching over Slaine’s shoulder, intrigued to observe this alien justice system...

39 INT. CARDASSIAN COURT ROOM (INTERCUT)

On Morad, squirming under Makbar’s steady gaze...

MORAD
I’m afraid I don’t understand the
relevance, Madam Archon.

Makbar smiles a cold and threatening smile...

MAKBAR
Indulge the court.

MORAD
I have no feelings on the matter
whatsoever.

MAKBAR
On such a historic development in
your nation’s relationships with
its interstellar neighbours? I
find that difficult to believe.

MORAD
(grudgingly)
I was against it, Madam Archon.

The Conservator is instantly on his feet, worried that his client is going off the game-plan...

CONSERVATOR
If I might be permitted to speak
with my client, Madam Archon -

MAKBAR
That will not be necessary,
Conservator.

As the Conservator collapses into his seat, horrified and defeated, Makbar turns back to Morad, presses him...

MAKBAR
(sweetly)
Do go on, Mister Morad. You were
against the Khitomer Accords?

MORAD
I am against them. Cardassia does
not need the Federation or the
Klingons or the Ferengi. But it
seems that we have lost our way.
Nobody believes in a strong and
independent Cardassia anymore.

MAKBAR
(leading)
So you were forced to act...

MORAD
Yes! Because no-one else would.

MAKBAR
And the fact that the Science
Academy Annex employed fellow
citizens honestly working for
the betterment of Cardassia...

MORAD
They were working for the
diminishment of Cardassia.

40 INT. DS9 - SECURITY OFFICE (INTERCUT)

Slaine gapes at Morad’s sneering face on the screen, no longer proud but appalled at what she is hearing...

MORAD (screen)
(continuing)
And as far as I’m concerned...
they deserve whatever they got.

BLACK OUT

END OF ACT FOUR