TEASER

FADE IN:

1 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE

The Defiant sits at its usual spot on the docking ring, and on an upper pylon sits the Akira-class USS James T Kirk. We close in, approaching the tip of a different upper pylon.

2 INT. DS9 – UPPER PYLON AIRLOCK

VAUGHN strides into the airlock, with PRYNN close behind. They approach the window, looking out across the breadth of the station towards the other pylon, where they see the ship docked. Prynn gawps with excitement to see it.

PRYNN
You got an Akira?! Oh my God,
Akiras are awesome! I loved
working on the Sentinel.

VAUGHN
Lieutenant Tenmei, please meet
the USS James T Kirk. Akira-class,
twenty-six decks, crew of five-
hundred... ish. Commanded by
Captain Elias A Vaughn.

PRYNN
Wait wait wait. You said you were
off on an exploratory mission.
Akiras aren’t explorers. They’re
troop carriers and heavy defence.
You should have got a Galaxy or
a Sovereign or something.

VAUGHN
Sadly there aren’t many of those
to go around. Plus, Starfleet is
still rather skittish about its
borders. And while I have no
plans to go to war again, I don’t
mind having a ship that can
defend itself if necessary.

Prynn nods with understanding, and gazes quietly out of the window at the new ship. Now that it’s physically here, she can’t deny it any longer.

PRYNN
When do you leave?

VAUGHN
Eleven-hundred hours. Transfer of
command takes place at ten-thirty.
They’re moving all my belongings
on board right now.

PRYNN
At least you’ll be back in some
proper Starfleet quarters again.
And not some tiny poky little
thing like the Defiant.

Vaughn gives a small wistful smile, and reaches out to stroke the bulkheads of the station.

VAUGHN
Oh, I don’t know. It hasn’t been
so bad living here. I can see why
people are taken with the place.
(rallies)
But I don’t regret going. It’s the
right thing to do. I said I had a
new lease on life, Prynn.
(re Kirk)
Well, there it is.

Standing upright and straightening his uniform, he offers his arm to Prynn. She straightens likewise and takes it.

VAUGHN
Come on. Last tour.

They stroll back into the depths of the station together.

3 INT. DS9 – MAIN OPS CENTRE

The turbolift rises into Ops, carrying Vaughn and Prynn. Around the room are all the senior staff, gathered and waiting for this moment. BOWERS at tactical, CANDLEWOOD at sciences, NOG at engineering, BASHIR, EVIK and CENN at the central Ops table, and RO standing outside the office.

Vaughn and Prynn step off and head down to the table.

VAUGHN
Would you join me, Commander?

With a deep breath, Ro descends the steps and joins Vaughn at the table. Vaughn pulls out a padd and reads from it.

VAUGHN
All hands, attention to orders.
The crew comes to attention.

VAUGHN
Captain Elias Vaughn, commanding
officer, station Deep Space Nine,
star date 56632. You are hereby
requested and required to relinquish
command of your post to Commander
Ro Laren, executive officer Deep
Space Nine, as of this date. Signed,
vice admiral Marta Batanides.
Computer, please transfer all
command codes to Ro Laren,
authorisation seven-delta-six-
four-green, execute.

COMPUTER
Transfer complete. Deep Space Nine
and all assigned vessels now under
command of Commander Ro Laren.

RO
I relieve you, sir.

VAUGHN
I stand relieved.

Vaughn shakes Ro’s hand, and the entire crew applauds.

The crew goes back to work, clearing space for Vaughn and Ro to speak more casually.

RO
Got everything you need?

VAUGHN
Yep. Cleared out the office and my
quarters last night. The place is
all yours, Commander. I dare say
it should have been all along.

RO
And you and me... we’re okay?

VAUGHN
Far more than okay. Just consider
what I’ve said. I’ll do the same.
(straightens)
Permission to disembark.

RO
Permission granted, Captain.

Vaughn nods acknowledgement and turns towards the transport platform. He takes Prynn with him on the way.

VAUGHN
Beam over with me?

PRYNN
Actually... I’d rather say my
goodbyes here. If that’s okay.

VAUGHN
Of course it is. I have to go
through the whole thing again on
the Kirk anyway. And then out
towards the Taurus Reach.

PRYNN
Eeshk. Watch out for Tholians.

VAUGHN
I will.

PRYNN
Just make sure you stay in touch,
okay? I don’t want to go years
without speaking to you again.

VAUGHN
No fear of that.

They hug firmly, and Vaughn steps onto the transporter.

VAUGHN
Vaughn to Kirk - one to beam aboard.

Vaughn makes eye contact with Ro, nods his respect. Then the transporter takes him away. Ro watches him go.

Once Vaughn is gone, Ro centres herself and turns towards the office. She climbs the stairs, enters the office...

4 INT. DS9 – COMMANDER’S OFFICE (CONTINUOUS)

Ro walks up to the commander’s desk, touches it, makes sure it’s real. She looks around the space, strolls the floors. It’s all hers now. It’s going to take some getting used to.

She walks to the big picture window behind the desk, gazes out at the stars. She’s thinking. She nods to herself at a decision made, then turns to exit.

5 INT. DS9 – MAIN OPS CENTRE (CONTINUOUS)

As she exits back out onto Ops again, Nog turns to her.

NOG
USS James T Kirk signals ready,
requesting clearance to depart.

RO
Thank you, Lieutenant. Major?

Cenn checks his boards, confirms.

CENN
Clear to depart.

RO
Hail the Kirk, and put it on the
viewscreen, Mister Candlewood.

CANDLEWOOD
Aye, sir.

The viewscreen shows an image of Vaughn, at the centre of an Akira-class bridge (as seen in 8x81 “Lesser Evil”).

VAUGHN (screen)
Commander? Everything alright?

RO
I just wanted to wish you a safe
journey, Captain.

VAUGHN (screen)
To us all, Commander. Kirk out.

CENN
(off boards)
USS Kirk is releasing docking
clamps... and she’s away.

RO
Thank you, Major. Now, if you would
please, prepare a runabout for
departure ASAP.

CENN
Are you going somewhere?

RO
I am. And you’re coming with me.

Off Cenn’s reaction to that...

FADE OUT:

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

6 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE

The runabout heads away from the station, deeper into the Bajoran system.

7 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

Ro is piloting, Cenn beside her.

CENN
So now that we’re on our way, am I
allowed to know where we’re going?

RO
Just to Bajor. To see Kira.

CENN
And what about the station? The
one you just took command of.

VAUGHN
Bowers and Evik can handle things
for few days. And it’s not like
we’ll be a million miles away.
Ro pauses, then chuckles to herself.

CENN
What’s funny?

RO
Just that moment when you hear
your father’s voice coming out of
your own mouth.

CENN
I barely knew my father.

RO
Me either. Anyway... That brings
us nicely onto the topic I want to
address before we get to Bajor.

Ro glances over their shoulders towards the door at the back of the cockpit.

CENN
(curious, wary)
Go on.

RO
Before we start, I need you to
understand that this is highly
classified, Major. Top level.

Cenn sits back, nods to himself. Confirmation.

CENN
Ah... here it is, then. At last.

RO
Here what is?

CENN
I had a feeling Vaughn’s transfer
wasn’t the whole secret. That you
were still keeping things from me.
I figured you had your reasons.

RO
We did. But I’ve decided those
reasons are no longer enough.

CENN
Now that Vaughn’s gone?

RO
The timing is suspicious, isn’t it?
Anyway, listen. The secret we’ve
been keeping is that we still have
Axno’s ship.

CENN
That was one of the possibilities.
I didn’t care for it especially,
because it implied you lied to me
when you told me it was destroyed
when Axno killed herself.

RO
Yes. We did. Vaughn ordered us to.
It was my contention that you are
one of the team and you deserved
to know, but Vaughn overruled me.
He wanted the information kept to
Starfleet personnel only as a security
measure. Now he’s gone, and I’m
in charge. So here we are. And I
need to know, Major... are we
okay about this?

Cenn takes a moment to think. Doesn’t really answer.

CENN
Where is the ship?

RO
Originally it was on Empok Nor.
It was recently moved to Derna.

CENN
You realise that by telling me this,
I’m obligated to report it up the
chain to General Lenaris.

RO
I do. And you’re free to do that.
But I am imploring you, and I am
asking you to implore him, that
this has to be a military secret.
One that I’m sharing between
our military and yours as a
gesture of good faith. It can’t
go any further than that.

CENN
You don’t think the public deserve
to know?

RO
There’s enough civil unrest out
there already over Raiq’s mere
existence. Tell the public we have
one of their ships as well... it’d
be a disaster.

CENN
Raiq... that’s why we’re going to
Bajor. You’re going to let her in
on the secret.

RO
She deserves to know too. And more
than that, she deserves to know...
what we learned from the ship.

CENN
Why? What did you learn?

As Ro prepares to answer...

8 EXT. JANIR MONASTERY

The small monastery sits in its valley, by the winding river. Unlike Kendra, it’s still warm here.

9 EXT. BAJOR - SURFACE

The runabout has just touched down in an open wooded area. As the ship settles, the hatch opens. Ro and Cenn step out.

RO
So you’re gonna stay and contact
Lenaris?

CENN
I think I should. And it’s not like
you’ll need me for this.

RO
No... it’s gonna be tough, though.
It could be good, or it could be
the end of the world.

CENN
And that’s not just a metaphor.

Ro chuckles with gallows humour. Then she turns and calls back through the runabout’s open hatch.

RO
Well? Are you coming or not?

Then PIF trots happily out of the ship and onto the grass.

PIF
Sorry to keep you, Commander.
It’s a whole new world, and I
wanted to look my best. What
do you think?

He bares his teeth in the brightest Cheshire cat smile, his spines upright and perky.

RO
Handsome as ever. I don’t know how
Quark will manage without you.

PIF
Tiffo will keep him company. Come
on, then. Race you!

And Pif pelts off into the distance.

CENN
Why did we bring him, again?

RO
We’re going to need him. I hope.

With a nod of goodbye, Ro heads off after Pif. Cenn turns and heads back into the runabout.

10 EXT. JANIR MONASTERY - ARBORETUM

A beautiful, tranquil rock garden area with pools, plants, paths and twittering birds.

KIRA crouches among the plants, working with them by hand. She’s wearing simple novice’s robes, dirty from the earth.

After a while, we see Ro stroll up.

RO
Well, that’s a sight I never expected
to see.

Kira looks up, beams with delight at Ro’s arrival. She gets up, wipes her hands down, and they hug in greeting.

KIRA
Ro! What are you doing here?

RO
I needed to talk to you about
something. Didn’t realise I was
interrupting gardening time.

KIRA
You know, Vedek Bareil tried to
get me to do some gardening once.
I couldn’t see the sense in it. But...
it’s weird how it really does help
to relax you.
(pause)
So what’s on your mind?

RO
Vaughn left this morning. I am now
officially in command of DS-Nine.

KIRA
You don’t seem too happy about it.

RO
I’m not unhappy about it. But I’m
also not... sure, I guess. If this is
where I should be. It’s only a few
years since I was hiding in caves
and running for my life.

KIRA
That’s the story of pretty much any
Bajoran I could name. But I thought
Elias was mentoring you?

RO
He was. Turns out he and I have
some very different ideas about
how to do things.

KIRA
(chuckle)
Oh, you should have seen some
of the fights Sisko and I had.

RO
But you ended up being perfect
for command.

KIRA
Perfect?! Prophets, I was anything
but. Starfleet was never the right
fit for me. But it is for you.

RO
Hi, my name’s Laren. Have we met?

KIRA
(laughing)
I mean it! For me, my Starfleet
life was always in conflict with
my spiritual life. You don’t have
that problem. You’re the perfect
Bajoran to work with Starfleet.

Ro is surprised into a smile. She never thought of that.

RO
You do seem comfortable here.

KIRA
I didn’t expect to be. My whole
life has been one fight after
another. Against the Cardassians,
then Starfleet, Klingons, Maquis,
Dominion, Ascendants.... I never
stopped fighting till I came here.
(sigh)
It’s amazing the tranquillity that
comes, when you finally find the
place where you’re supposed to be.

She looks sideways to Ro, sees she’s not so sure.

KIRA
Don’t worry. It’ll come to you too.
In time.

SPLASH. Ro and Kira turn in surprise, and see Pif ankle-deep in one of the small rock pools, and shaking himself dry in the usual dog way. He sees them watching, and grins.

PIF
Water! Actual real, fresh water.
You have no idea!

They all chuckle together. Then Ro gets to business.

RO
Where’s Raiq? I think it’s time
we told her the truth.

On Kira’s reaction to that...

11 INT. JANIR MONASTERY

By the archway, where RAIQ and Kira watched the sunrise together. Now the silver-skinned Ascendant woman stands framed by it, talking to Kira and Ro. Pif is elsewhere.

RAIQ
Axno’s vessel.

Ro nods. Raiq is wary, slowly realises...

RAIQ (cont)
That is how you healed me. You
placed me into the vessel...
and it took away my pain.

KIRA
Yes.

RAIQ
You knew?

RO
Don’t be angry with her, Raiq. We
kept it from her too... until your life
was in danger and we had no other
choice. If you’re angry... be angry
with me.

RAIQ
I will go to the vessel now.

RO
That won’t be possible.

RAIQ
And who are you to deny me?

RO
I’m the one who knows where it is
and how to find it. But I’ve come
to offer you something else, that
I hope you’ll accept instead. Some
information that the ship gave us.

RAIQ
(sneer)
What is this... information?

RO
When we investigated the ship, the
communications system was still
working. We found a message...
from another Ascendant.
(beat)
You’re not the only one, Raiq.

On both Raiq and Kira’s reactions to that...

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

12 INT. JANIR MONASTERY

Picking up from Ro’s revelation to Raiq. The Ascendant woman doesn’t know what to say...

KIRA
I didn’t know this part.

RO
Lieutenant Candlewood translated
it, using Shar’s program.

Ro pulls out a padd, works it for a moment, then hands it to Raiq, who takes it cautiously.

RO
Press the green button.

Unsure what to expect, Raiq does. VEXH's voice issues from the padd, a recording from 11x07 “In Love and War.”

VEXH (comm)
Hear me, brothers and sisters. If
you are there, hear my words. I am
here, I received your call. I came
as swift as I was able. But I was
far from the Hearth, and my vessel
is wounded. Have you yet to arrive?
Or have you arrived already, and
continued the Quest without me?
(pause)
Is it true that the Fire came to
us at last? And that the Final
Ascension approaches?
(pause)
Hear my words, I beg. I am Vexh,
Archquester of the Ascendancy.
Without guidance, I await you,
here at the Hearth. Answer me,
my brothers and sisters, if you
are able. Is there no-one?

They all absorb that. Kira tries to be encouraging.

KIRA
That’s amazing. Raiq, this is
exactly what you’ve wanted all
along. You’re not the last of
the Ascendants anymore.

Raiq doesn’t seem to hear her - she’s still processing.

KIRA
It’s even a male. You could start
all over again.
(still no response)
Raiq?

RAIQ
(quiet)
He does not know of the Ascension.

RO
No. It sounds like he got there too
late. He doesn’t even know he’s
the last. Or the second last.

RAIQ
He must know. The vessel keeps us
always in contact with each other.

RO
He said his vessel was damaged.

RAIQ
Kira... I am not alone.

KIRA
(warm)
No. You’re not.

RAIQ
Ro. If you will not take me to
Axno’s vessel, will you take me
to Vexh? Or did you come here
to offer this before me and then
snatch it away again?

RO
I was never going to take this away
from you, Raiq. I came here hoping
you’d ask me to take you. I want to
take you.

KIRA
He said he was at the Hearth. You
mentioned that to me before, Raiq.

RAIQ
It is a sacred place. Where we
gather to continue the species,
where we assembled before the
Quest. Where the Fire came to us.

KIRA
Can you find your way back there?

RAIQ
I am not certain. Without my own
vessel, I too am without guidance.

RO
Luckily, I brought a guide along.
The nearest thing we have to an
expert on the Gamma Quadrant.

Okay then. They’re really going to do this.

13 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

Still parked on the planet’s surface. The trees and hills of Bajor show through the windows. Cenn sits at the front panels, alone, with GENERAL LENARIS on the screen.

CENN
I’m really not happy about this,
General. One Ascendant on Bajor
was bad enough. Now they want
to go find another one? And
another ship, too?

LENARIS (screen)
I can see Commander Ro’s point,
Major. This Raiq does deserve to
know she’s not the last of her
species. But your points are very
well taken too, I assure you.

CENN
What do you want me to do?

LENARIS (screen)
Go along with it. This is a fact
finding mission if nothing else.
But just remember that you’re
an officer in the Bajoran Militia,
Major, not in Starfleet.

CENN
I’m very much aware of that, sir.

Pif’s perky head pops in through the still-open hatch.

PIF
They’re coming back!

Then Pif is gone again. Cenn turns back to Lenaris.

CENN
I’d better go, General.

LENARIS (screen)
One last thing, Major.

14 EXT. BAJOR - SURFACE

Ro, Kira and Raiq walk across the grass towards the ship.

KIRA
Oh, umm... just to warn you, Ro’s
guide is a bit unusual. He’s not
humanoid, for a start.

RAIQ
You think Ascendants care about
the physical form of others? Such
concerns are senseless. What is
in the heart is all that matters.
Faithful, heretic... or godless.

At the sight of Raiq, Pif is no longer his effervescent self. He sits, watching her closely. Kira heads into the ship first, followed by Raiq. Ro hovers back.

RO
You alright?

Pif just gives a low growl, then heads inside. Ro follows.

15 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

Ro enters the cockpit to see Kira and Raiq heading into the back. Cenn turns to her as she enters.

RO
Everything ready, Major?

CENN
Yes, sir. Bowers is aware we’ll be
going through the wormhole.

RO
Alright, then. Let’s get this...
quest... underway.

Ro settles into the other seat. Cenn works his panels. The hatch closes, and the ship begins to rise.

16 EXT. BAJOR - SURFACE

The runabout lifts off on thrusters and into the air.

17 EXT. BAJOR - ASHALLA

The usual establishing shot of the Bajoran capital.

18 INT. MONASTERY – KAI’S OFFICE

Last seen in 11x01 “Systems Under Repair.”

Kai SOLIS reaches out to shake the hand of JAKE SISKO.

JAKE
Thank you very much for agreeing
to meet me, Kai Solis.

SOLIS
You’re very welcome, Mister Sisko.
Please, take a seat.

Jake sits in a guest seat; Solis heads behind his desk. Jake gets out a padd, sets it on the table between them, presses a button so it starts recording.

JAKE
I realise it’s not very often that
you give interviews to the press.
But the Federation News Service
was pestering me for an exclusive.

SOLIS
Had it been anyone else, I might
well have refused again. But I
trust your outsider perspective.

JAKE
We’ve actually met before, up
on the station, for the Gratitude
festival. You were raising money
for charity.

SOLIS
Ah yes, for the war orphans fund.
Of course, I remember meeting
the son of the Emissary.

JAKE
(wry)
I’m sure you also remember being
arrested by Constable Odo for not
having the proper permits.

SOLIS
(grin)
Not my first moment of civil
disobedience, I assure you.
And hopefully not my last.

JAKE
Don’t worry, Kira gave him hell
for that.

SOLIS
Kira never did suffer fools. Not
that Constable Odo was a fool. He
was only doing what his conscience
and his position demanded of him.
I bear no grudge. In fact, it taught
me a valuable lesson.

JAKE
And what’s that?

SOLIS
That there are times when it is
necessary to step outside of the
rules to get things done. And
times when it is not necessary.
The trick, naturally, is telling
which is which.

JAKE
It’s been a difficult time for the
church on Bajor, over the last
few years.
(re Solis)
Obviously there’s the Ohalu
movement, but now the Oralian
Way, and Raiq the Ascendant
living with you. Some of the more
traditional among the populace
have had a hard time adjusting.

Solis takes a deep breath. They’re into the meat of the interview now.

SOLIS
It’s true there has been tension.
Bajorans are a passionate people,
no doubt. I would not have it any
other way. But we must be wary
of turning those passions against
each other.

JAKE
Is that what you see happening?
Bajorans turning on each other?

SOLIS
I have my opponents in the Vedek
Assembly, certainly. Those who
claim I have no right to even be
Kai at all. But I have faith that in
time, those opponents will come
to see that we are not a threat.

JAKE
Your opponents - that would be
Vedek Bellis Nemani.

Solis shakes his head, amused. Jake will not catch him out.

SOLIS
I will not speak ill of my fellow
spiritual leaders, young man.
Bellis is far from the only member
of the faithful who has had some
trouble accepting an Ohalavar in
the Apex Chair.

JAKE
I think ‘trouble’ is understating it,
Eminence. From my research,
he’s opposed every single motion
you’ve made before the Assembly
since your election, even if - to an
outsider like myself - it was the
best thing for all Bajorans.

Solis pauses, trying to find a way to explain himself best without getting into trouble in the press.

SOLIS
You must understand, Mister Sisko,
that the function of the Assembly
is to discuss ideas of a spiritual
nature, and come to some consensus
about how best to guide the people
in their search for the Prophets.
More than a hundred individuals,
representing an entire planet’s
worth of people. There have always
been opposing views and there
always will be.

JAKE
Forgive me for saying so, Kai, but
that sounds like an evasion. You
say the Assembly’s job is to find
a consensus. Vedek Bellis seems
determined to make it impossible.

SOLIS
Nothing is impossible. As long as I
remain in the chair, I will work to
find that consensus. And I will
never give up that work.

JAKE
As long as you remain in the chair.

The implication being that Solis might not always be in the chair. As Solis absorbs that possibility...

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

19 EXT. SPACE

The Gamma exit of the WORMHOLE bursts open and the runabout flies out of it.

20 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

At impulse. Cenn is driving the ship, Ro beside him. Kira and Raiq stand behind, gazing out at the stars. Raiq was just inside the Fortress of the True. She’s absorbing that.

CENN
Any ideas for a heading?

KIRA
Raiq, you met us not far from the
Omarion Nebula.

RAIQ
I was observing the metamorphs.

KIRA
So your Hearth can’t have been too
far from there.

CENN
It’s not your homeworld?

RAIQ
The Hearth is where we gather to
give birth, but not where we were
first born. The cradle of the
Ascendants was lost many millennia
ago. We live our lives always on
the Quest. Or we did.

RO
So... yes on the Omarion Nebula?

RAIQ
It is a place to begin.

Ro nods to Cenn, who gets the ship underway.

21 EXT. SPACE

The runabout jumps to WARP.

22 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE

Bringing us back home...

23 INT. DS9 – QUARK’S BAR

The bar is doing a roaring trade. Lt Cmdr EVIK strolls in, pauses in the door and looks around the space with a smile. Busy behind his bar, QUARK calls over to him.

QUARK
In or out, Commander.

EVIK
As you wish, Ambassador.

And he means that. Evik strolls over and leans on the bar, watching the crowd. The two have a friendly camaraderie.

QUARK
I hope you’re not here looking for
an excuse to shut me down.

EVIK
Not at all – in fact I enjoy it here.
It’s a vital resource for the station’s
community. Plus it’s... charming.

QUARK
Charming?! I would have preferred
exciting, welcoming, alluring even...
but whatever gets people to give
me their money, I guess.

EVIK
Ah, you’re a traditionalist.

QUARK
I’m a pillar of the community.

EVIK
Is Mister Gaber not around?

QUARK
Don’t tease me, Commander. First
day in months I can work without
my skin crawling. Would have been
nice if Ro had told me what she
needed him for, though.

EVIK
Why would she? I would certainly
never tell you anything you didn’t
need to know.

QUARK
You can trust me, Commander.

EVIK
For the most part, I think that’s
true, Quark.

Quark is surprised - people don’t usually say that to him.

QUARK
Thank you, Commander. I appreciate
that. I also appreciate that you
haven’t been constantly keeping
an eye on me. All your assorted
predecessors were always in here,
harassing my customers, trying
to catch me in something illegal.

EVIK
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve read all
the reports from Constable Odo,
Commander Ro and Major Cenn
about your, shall we say, colourful
background. But I believe in taking
people at face value. At least until
they disappoint me.

QUARK
So as long as I don’t disappoint
you, you stay out of my business?

EVIK
Exactly! You see? We’ll get along
just fine.

Under all of the above, Evik has been watching a MARKALIAN while talking to Quark. The Markalian has been slowly making his way through the crowd, excusing himself between customers, including one Bajoran woman in a flowery dress.

Just as the Markalian finally makes his way to the exit to leave, Evik shoots out his hand and grabs the Markalian firmly by the arm. Evik is entirely calm and relaxed, but leaving no doubt the Markalian is going nowhere.

QUARK
What? What happened?

EVIK
Sir, I believe you took something
from that woman, and I’m sure
she’s not the only one. Empty
your pockets, please.

Evik drags the Markalian towards the bar, again quite calm but leaving no room for argument. Despite struggles and moans, the Markalian begrudgingly begins emptying his pockets onto the bar while Evik holds him firm.

EVIK
Pickpockets, Quark? Really? That’s
very... disappointing.

QUARK
(nervous)
You can’t possibly be suggesting I
was involved in this.

EVIK
I never said any such thing. And
I’m sure you’ll see these items are
returned to their rightful owners.
As a pillar of the community. Isn’t
that right, Ambassador?

Evik smiles warmly, but the threat underneath is not lost on Quark. Evik drags the Markalian away. Quark gulps, looks down at the items on the bar. Resigned to his defeat, he starts gathering them up to return to their owners.

24 EXT. BAJOR - ASHALLA

Returning to the Bajoran capital...

25 INT. VEDEK ASSEMBLY CHAMBER

Seen in 8x01 “Avatar pt 1” and 8x20 “Twist of Faith.”

A full session of the Assembly, with Bajoran clerics of all ages, races and sexes gathered. A raucous tumult of noise, as all the vedeks talk over each other in energetic voices.

At the front of the room, Solis sits in the Apex Chair, gritting his teeth and holding his patience. Finally he’s had enough, and strikes a GONG at his side. The loudness of the sound speaks to his frustration.

Surprised, the crowd quietens down. Solis glares at them.

SOLIS
Unlike some in this Assembly, I am
committed to the principle that
every voice in this room be heard.
But one at a time. Squabbling like
this is undignified, and unworthy
of the position of trust you hold in
society, ladies and gentlemen.
Comport yourselves appropriately.

Most of the crowd is duly chastised. But Vedek BELLIS (last seen 10x02 “Brave New World”) steps forward, determined.

BELLIS
You are hardly one to speak of
propriety, Eminence. Why have
you neglected to tell this Assembly
about the hugely inappropriate
actions taken by Kira Nerys?

SOLIS
I may be willing to hear every
voice, Vedek Bellis, but I am not
willing to forgo the traditional
courtesy of hands on table.

Bellis is annoyed to be kept to formality, even more so that the mood of the room seems to be with Solis.

Pursing his lips, he slowly stands and presses his hands to the table in front of him.

SOLIS
Thank you. Now, I am not aware of
any actions taken by Novice Kira.
Why don’t you enlighten us all?

BELLIS
My sources in the Militia tell me
that a ship left the space station
yesterday, came to Bajor, stopped
at the Oralian Temple in Janir, and
then travelled through the worm
hole into the Gamma Quadrant.
(beat)
I’m surprised you didn’t know,
Eminence, given that Lenaris is a
well-known member of your... sect.

Bellis’s demeaning word choice does not go unnoticed.

SOLIS
Why should the movements of one
Starfleet ship be of concern to this
Assembly, Vedek?

BELLIS
We all know who lives at Janir. The
last Ascendant. She is in the care
of Kira Nerys, a woman who has
already once been Attainted by
this house for placing herself
outside of our authority. Clearly,
the crew of the station remain in
league with their former captain.

A third Vedek, PRALON (woman, 50s), finally speaks up.

PRALON
“In league”? You sound like some
deranged conspiracy theorist.

BELLIS
What else am I to think, Pralon?
The ship came to visit Kira and
the Ascendant, and then took them
both back through the wormhole.

PRALON
Why would they do such a thing?

BELLIS
To search for more Ascendants.

The claim sends the room back into clamouring angry voices. Solis bangs the GONG again to bring them back to attention.

SOLIS
Even if that were so, Vedek, why
is it any of our concern?

BELLIS
Is it not obvious, Eminence? Bajor
is splintering. The Ohalavaru. The
Oralians. And now the Ascendants.
What was once strong is now broken,
poisoned by destructive alien beliefs
and superstitions.

More shouting and angry voices.

PRALON
You have gone too far, Vedek!

BELLIS
Bajorans now worship the gods of
Cardassians? And of people whose
very existence is predicated on
destroying other worshippers? That
is going too far, Pralon. And the so-
called Kai has allowed it to happen,
in the name of diversity.

YEVIR (o.s.)
You’re wrong, Bellis.

The room comes to quiet again as they all look around. Vedek YEVIR has kept quiet and hidden till now. He stands calmly, commanding the room’s attention with pure charisma.

YEVIR
Forgive my breach of protocol,
Your Eminence...
(Solis nods)
...but I believe Vedek Bellis is
quite mistaken. Janir is my home,
my congregation. I have spent time
with Kira and Raiq both. And they
are not our enemies.

BELLIS
Vedek Yevir, you were the one who
Attainted Kira. You were against
the Ohalavaru from the start.

YEVIR
And I have since learned how wrong
I was. It saddens me that you have
not, Bellis. I hope that they do find
more Ascendants, if that is their
mission. And that when they do,
they will enrich Bajor with more
ways to know the truth of the
Prophets. I pray for it, Vedek.

Ending on Solis, grateful for Yevir’s support...

26 EXT. SPACE

The runabout travels at warp...

27 INT. RUNABOUT - REAR CABIN

Raiq stands at the rear picture window, watching the stars streak away from them at warp. Kira is with her.

KIRA
Have you thought about what you’ll
say if we do find Vexh?
(no response)
He may not react well to hearing
that all the other Ascendants are
gone, and he missed the boat.
Axno certainly didn’t.

RAIQ
(quiet)
I have thought.

And apparently come up with no answers.

Then the ship’s engines suddenly die out, and the stars out the window return to normal space. Surprised and alarmed, Kira looks to Raiq in confusion, then turns for the door.

28 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

Ro and Cenn are still at the controls. Pif perches out of the way at the back. Kira strides in from the rear cabin.

KIRA
What’s going on? Why did we stop?

In response, Ro points to a display on one of the panels in front of her, and looks back at Kira, her expression grim.

RO
Jem’Hadar.

Kira realises the problem...

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

29 EXT. SPACE

The runabout sits stationary against the backdrop of a nice pink-purple swirly nebula.

30 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

Kira, Ro, Cenn and Pif are all tense. Jem’Hadar.

RO
We detected a Jem’Hadar patrol
at the limits of the Nile’s sensor
horizon. I’m pretty sure I got us
into the edge of the nebula before
they spotted us, but it was close.

KIRA
We can’t let the Dominion find us
here. Laas was very clear that he
doesn’t want any contact with
Starfleet... and especially with
me. But we can’t hide inside the
Omarion Nebula either.

RO
No, we never made it to Omarion.
This is the Chamra Vortex.

KIRA
Chamra?! That’s barely ten light-
years from the wormhole.
(sag)
We can’t give up already. I owe
Raiq more than that.

CENN
One good thing - the vortex should
hide us long enough to come up
with another solution.

RO
In theory.

KIRA
Alright, take us deeper into the
nebula. But watch out for those
gas pockets.

Once again, Kira has slipped naturally into the role of commander, and the others go along with it. Cenn moves the ship deeper into the pink-purple wisps of the nebula.

KIRA
Kira to Raiq - can you come in
here, please?

After a few moments, the rear door opens and Raiq enters.

The moment she does, Pif’s hackles raise and he stifles a growl in his throat. She walks past him unheeding - he turns and leaves the room, returning to the rear cabin.

Cenn watched the silent exchange. He’s worried for Pif.

CENN
If you’ll excuse me, Commander,
I’ll take a break while I can.

RO
Sure. Go ahead, Major.

Cenn gets up, excuse-me’s past Raiq, and heads aft.

31 INT. RUNABOUT - REAR CABIN

Cenn enters to see Pif curled up on one of the bunks, clearly not happy. Cenn approaches and sits nearby.

CENN
Pif? Are you okay? You haven’t
been your usual happy self since
we left Bajor.

PIF
Just having... her... on board.

He means Raiq. Cenn sympathises.

CENN
I know how you feel. It’s tough to
deal with one face-to-face. But
you knew that was why we left
the station. To get her.

PIF
Commander Ro needed me. It was
a chance to walk on a planet and
breathe fresh air for a moment.
But... they killed so many people.
They attacked the Even Odds, put
my family at risk. I had to stand
there and watch one of them blow
up an entire star system. Just a
mouthful of survivors, all their
children gone. Because of her.

CENN
But we stopped them from being
able to do it again.

PIF
No we didn’t. It could start all
over again if we’re not careful.

CENN
I don’t think it will. Not that I
trust her, or the other guy. But
you can trust me. We’ll keep it
under control.

Pif nods, not entirely convinced. Cenn slumps in his chair.

CENN
To be honest, it’s not been a bag
of laughs for me, either.

PIF
Why not?

CENN
It sounds facile next to exploding
star systems, but it’s... it’s more
changes. On Bajor, I was just a
simple soldier. Now my superior
in the Militia is an Ohalavar, my
superior on DS-Nine is an atheist,
we’ve got Oralians worshipping in
the shrine, and here we are on
the hunt for yet another variation.
It’s dizzying. I’m not sure how to
handle it all.

PIF
Why do you need to “handle” it?

CENN
What do you mean?

PIF
I mean, why are you worrying
about it? It’s all stuff that’s going
to happen anyway.

CENN
(wry)
Don’t you believe in the power of
one man to change the universe?

PIF
To change his own universe, maybe.
There’s only so many things you
have influence over, Major. Your
friends, your family, your job...
the rest, you just have to let it
go. Do what your conscience
asks of you, and let the rest of
the universe figure itself out.

CENN
(chuckle)
Is that what you’re doing,
hiding in here?

PIF
Hey, I didn’t say you couldn’t
wallow for a while. It’ll pass.
I’ll be back to “my usual happy
self” in no time, just you see.

CENN
Well, while we’re stuck here in
this nebula hiding from Jem’Hadar,
why don’t you put your supposed
Gamma Quadrant expert skills to
use and come up with some ideas?

Grinning, Pif sits back up, his spines erect. A job to do.

32 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

Raiq, Kira and Ro are all on their feet. Kira and Ro are defensive, Raiq on the attack.

RAIQ
I was right about you all along.
You tell me there is another, you
bring me all this way, then you
refuse to take me any further.

RO
No, that’s not what we’re saying.
We’re not refusing to take you.
We’re just hiding until the bad
guys go away.

RAIQ
(sneer)
The metamorphs and their animals?
I fear no “bad guys”. I was the
chosen of the Fire. Let them try
to stop us. I will burn them all.

KIRA
Raiq, just stop. Not every situation
calls for a burning. We’re just going
to wait here until they’ve gone, and
then we’ll be on our way. Which, by
the way, we still don’t know where it is.

RAIQ
Because you keep Axno’s vessel
from me. With it I could find the
Hearth in an instant. But no, you
must keep me under your control.

RO
Well, how do you expect to us to
react? Why would we give you what
you want when every word out of
your mouth is a threat?
(stops, chuckles)
There’s that voice again. Look,
we’re not going to do this. We’re
not going to fight. We’re going
to talk. We can figure this out
together, if we talk.

Raiq calms down a bit. Maybe talking would be better. But it doesn’t come naturally. They come down from the tension.

The rear door opens again and Cenn and Pif enter. Pif is definitely livelier now.

PIF
Commander!

RO
Pif, hi. What’s up?

PIF
When you repaired the Even Odds,
did you happen to download the
ship’s databanks?

RO
Probably. If Dez gave us access,
Nog would have kept a record.

PIF
And can you access them here?

RO
Yeah, should be able to. Why?

PIF
The Even was a retrieval ship. We
followed legends and stories all
around the quadrant.

CENN
Hoping to make money off them.

PIF
Of course. Now, I wasn’t much for
planning. I left that to Dez and
Facity. They’d just tell me to run,
and I ran. But all those legends,
they must be recorded in those
data banks somewhere.

KIRA
(getting it)
And there might be a clue there
to finding the Hearth.

RO
It’s worth a shot. Computer, create
subspace link with Deep Space
Nine and access full data banks
on freighter vessel Even Odds.
Download to this station.

COMPUTER
Working.

Kira smiles to Raiq, as if to say, “See? All good.”

CROSS-FADE INTO...

33 MONTAGE

-- Cenn sits at one of the front stations, going through page after page of data, reading and reading. Ro is at the station beside him, doing the same.

-- Kira brings a bowl from the replicator, places it onto a console for Pif. He looks up at her gratefully, she ruffles his fur affectionately, and then he goes back to tapping through pages of data, in between nibbles from the bowl.

-- Raiq stands at a side panel, trying to make sense of the data on it. This is not how she’s used to doing things. She swipes her hand across the surface, expecting it to respond like an Ascendant ship. She hisses in frustration.

-- Cenn is still going through records. He frowns, either not understanding or actively disliking something he reads.

-- Ro slumps against the station next to him, reading and reading. She’s been doing it for hours, her eyes are tired.

-- The rear cabin is dark, and Raiq stands at the window, gazing out at the wisps of the nebula. She reaches out to touch the window, reaching for her home. Behind, unnoticed in the doorway, Kira stands watching her in sympathy.

34 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

At his panel, Pif suddenly BARKS in victorious excitement. Making Ro jerk awake and slide off her panel with a bump.

RO
(slurry)
What, what’s going on? Is it the
Jem’Hadar?

PIF
I think this could be it!

Ro rouses herself, and she, Cenn and Kira all gather around Pif’s console. Raiq is still in the other room.

PIF
I always knew I remembered Dez
talking about the legends of the
Ascendants. We told Jake all about
it one time. About the mythical
crusaders who destroyed entire
planets for sacrilege.

CENN
Not so mythical, as it turns out.

PIF
No. But here, this is something
I’d forgotten till now. “The Black
World” - that was all we knew to
call it. Kind of a trader ship’s
boogeyman, the place you never
go if you plan on living a long life.

RO
What was so bad about it?

PIF
Every hundred years or so, it
caught fire.

KIRA
(thinking)
Raiq said that they returned to
the Hearth every hundred years.

RO
And we know how Ascendants love
their fire.

CENN
So maybe the planet catching fire
was just a metaphor - for lots of
Ascendants showing up there?

KIRA
Is there anything about where
this place is?

PIF
That’s the thing about legends.
Everybody told you never to go
there, but nobody could ever say
exactly where you weren’t supposed
to go. But, as always with these
things, somebody did once decide
to do what nobody else dared.

RO
Not Dez...

PIF
Ha! No, he was never that brave.
But there was a story that one man
was. It was said he went to the far
side of the Preetala sector, and
was never heard from again.

KIRA
Do you know where that is?
(Pif nods)
Then it’s the best shot we’ve got.
Major, any sign of the Jem’Hadar?

CENN
(off panels)
Not in sensor range. But that’s
limited from inside the nebula.

KIRA
Think we can make a run for it?

RO
We can’t stay here forever.

KIRA
Okay. You work on that. I’ll go
and tell Raiq we’re on our way.

Kira leaves to go to the rear cabin.

CENN
So we’re going to the planet that
catches fire, where people are
never heard from again, to find
somebody who wants to kill us all?

RO
Fun, right?

No. No it’s not. Cenn gets the ship underway...

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE

FADE IN:

35 EXT. BAJOR - ASHALLA

A new day in the Bajoran capital...

36 INT. VEDEK ASSEMBLY CHAMBER

Kai Solis sits in his chair, waiting to begin the day’s session. He looks out across the chamber...

...and it’s half empty. The Vedeks who are there, including Pralon and Yevir, seem equally surprised and confused by the smaller numbers. Where is everybody else?

Solis waits, trying not be impatient. But this is a bad start to the day.

After another few fidgety moments, a side door opens and a low-level monk rushes in. He goes to Pralon, whispers something in her ear. Pralon listens, thanks the monk and sends him on his way. It’s news, but is it good?

SOLIS
Vedek Pralon? There is news?

Pralon doesn’t want to have to tell him, but she can’t not. She’s quietly furious underneath it all.

PRALON
Prylar Haim informs me that
Vedek Bellis has just entered the
monastery. He is on his way here.

SOLIS
At last.

After a few more moments, a larger ceremonial door opens, and Vedek Bellis strides in.

He is at the head of a phalanx of other clerics - all the number that were missing. They march into the room behind Bellis, a determined army of stony-faced contrarians.

Bellis comes to the centre of the room, does not sit, but places his hands firmly and unambiguously on the table. Solis sees the insincerity in the action, grits his teeth.

SOLIS
(tense)
The chair recognises Bellis
Nemani. I hope, Vedek, that you
will begin with an apology for
keeping this Assembly waiting.

BELLIS
I will not... “Eminence.”

The naked disrespect gets mutters going through the crowd.

BELLIS (cont)
I am not here to pay pointless
courtesy to a chair I do not
recognise. I speak for the common
people of Bajor, who believe in
traditional worship, in the natural
order of this world.
(re his followers)
We all speak for them, whose voices
are ignored and drowned out in this
new world of blasphemy.

PRALON
Drowned out? You never shut up.

BELLIS
I must speak out, since no-one
else here will. This man has no
right to sit in that chair. This
Assembly was built upon the path
of the Prophets. So how can it
possibly have as its leader, a man
who does not even follow that
path? It is nonsense.

PRALON
The kai was popularly elected by
this chamber, Vedek. Sore losers
seldom get their way.

BELLIS
You think this is jealousy?

PRALON
(simply)
Yes.

BELLIS
Then that just shows me how out of
touch you are. The people did not
vote for this man. The followers
of Ohalu are nothing but a handful
of deviants. This Assembly no
longer represents the people, and
as such it should no longer stand.
(to the room)
My followers and I call for a vote
of no confidence in Kai Solis’s
ability to lead Bajor.

Arguments explode across the room, angry voices on both sides. The noise rages for a while, as Solis slumps in his seat. Finally he grabs the GONG and bangs it hard.

SOLIS
I am disappointed, Nemani. I had
hoped you would grow past your
resentment. I’m sad for you.

BELLIS
Will you allow a public vote? Or
are you a tyrant, Solis?

PRALON
That’s not how this works, Bellis.

BELLIS
I wasn’t speaking to you.
(back to Solis)
Well?

SOLIS
As I have always said, Bellis, I
will hear every voice. Very well.
A vote. I hope you are prepared
for the results.

BELLIS
We will see about the results. But
in the meantime, this Assembly
stands in recess.

PRALON
You do not have the authority to
declare that, Bellis!

BELLIS
What I have is more than enough
followers to drag this farce to a
halt. The Vedek Assembly cannot
sit in session without a minimum
of seventy in attendance.
(grandly)
Until the people’s voices have
finally been heard and this man
is removed from the Apex Chair,
it will not.

SOLIS
You’d bring the entire religious
structure of this world to its
knees out of spite?

BELLIS
Out of duty. Out of conscience.
There are times it is necessary to
step outside of the rules to do the
right thing, Solis. To do what our
conscience demands of us. This
is one of those times.

His job done, Bellis turns and marches back out of the room, his followers trailing behind.

Solis sits in his chair, stunned.

Pralon and Yevir both go to him, and gaze in amazement at Bellis’s retreating back.

37 EXT. SPACE

The runabout approaches a dark and rocky planet.

38 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

All five are present. While Cenn drives, Ro studies the displays and readouts.

RO
I’m picking up faint traces of an
Ascendant warp signature. I think
this is the place.

CENN
It looks like the planet is
synchronously locked. A very slow
axial rotation. One hemisphere
would be almost permanently dark.

RAIQ
The Hearth does sit in darkness,
all the better to witness the power
of the True’s light.

KIRA
Very poetic. But I guess it does
fit. Any life signs?

CENN
Possibly. There’s a lot of
geothermal interference.

KIRA
Do you think we’re in danger?

RAIQ
From Vexh? The Hearth is a place
of power. He is in a strong position
from which to attack, if he so chose.

RO
And there’s no way to know what
he’ll choose until we get there.

KIRA
Then I guess we just have to take
the plunge. Take us down, Major.

Cenn gets the ship underway again.

39 EXT. SPACE

The runabout heads down towards the planet.

40 EXT. BLACK WORLD - SURFACE

The runabout touches down again. Instead of sunny fields and trees, this time its on cold dark rock, no signs of civilisation, against a backdrop of permanent night.

As the ship settles, the hatch opens. Raiq steps out first. She sighs with relief to be back here. She looks up to the blanket of stars. This was the last place she felt right.

Now she’s here, it’s like she can feel the other Ascendant nearby. Without waiting for the others or even looking back, she strides off into the distance.

Kira, Ro, Cenn and Pif step out of the ship.

PIF
Not exactly Bajor, is it?

CENN
Should we let her go on ahead like
that? Or should we stick close by?

KIRA
Best to let her face him alone at
first. She can break it gently.

RO
You realise there’s every chance
Vexh is not the one we need to
be worried about?

Kira looks to Ro for an explanation.

RO
Nerys, I want her to have this
too. But do you really trust that
she’s on our side here? We’ve gone
to all this trouble to keep Axno’s
ship out of her hands. Who’s to
say she won’t just get into Vexh’s
ship, turn around, and come right
back to Bajor with guns firing?

By the look on Cenn’s face, this is exactly what he believes will happen.

KIRA
I guess... faith. I have faith
that she’s had time to see that
we’re not her enemies.

RO
I hope you’re right.

Kira strides off after Raiq. Ro, Cenn and Pif follow.

Together they trudge up a slight incline of dark and dusty rock, until they reach a peak, and look over it to see...

41 EXT. BLACK WORLD

Stretching out before them all is the giant natural bowl formation that was the Ascendants’ encampment all last year. Black stone swoops down from the edge where Kira, Ro, Cenn and Pif stand, to a central depression far below.

Unlike last year when the place was packed with tents and pavilions and training spaces and silver vessels, all lit with flaming braziers, now it is cold and dark and empty.

Raiq is a few steps ahead of them, slowly making her way down the incline towards the centre. They stay at the lip of the quarry, letting her go on ahead of them.

At the centre of the quarry, where Iliana’s pavilion once stood, now there’s a single Ascendant ship. Clearly damaged like Axno’s, the silver skin is dull and lifeless. Raiq is heading straight for it.

From far above, Kira and the rest watch as she approaches.

With some distance yet to go, we see the ship’s transparent canopy slide open, and a figure emerge. The figure pauses, trying to ascertain if this really is what he thinks it is.

Raiq continues to approach. Kira et al continue to watch.

The figure climbs out of the ship and down to the ground, and finally we see him clearly - an Ascendant male, VEXH. He looks at the nearing Raiq with amazement and relief. She looks back with the same emotions... and something else.

Finally they’re together, and without any words said, they EMBRACE, filled with blessed relief to see another of their kind. As they hold each other, FLAMES begin to lick around their bodies, generated by their armour.

Up on the ridge, Kira and Ro share a wary look. This could be good, or it could be very very bad.

On RAIQ

...as she and Vexh hold each other, flames licking around their bodies... and Raiq’s eyes shift sideways toward where she knows Kira and Ro are watching.

On that suspicious note...

BLACK OUT:

END OF SHOW