TEASER

FADE IN: 

1 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE

Establishing the station... 

2 INT. DS9 - COMMANDER’S OFFICE

Beginning on another padd, held in Commander RO’s hands. It shows more Starfleet reports of the ongoing situation. 

The office door opens and Major CENN steps into the room. 

CENN
Commander... 
(she doesn’t look up)
It’s nearly oh-one-hundred hours.
You shouldn’t be here. 

RO
(re padd)
Just... reading the reports. 

Cenn takes a seat, not sure he wants to know. 

CENN
To quote yourself... hit me. 

RO
(shrug)
More attacks. More deaths. 
(beat)
One small ray of light though. The
reports from the Enterprise and
the Aventine say they’ve found the
point where the Borg are entering
the Alpha Quadrant - the Azure
Nebula. So I suppose strictly
speaking that’s the Beta Quadrant. 

CENN
That’s why the first few attacks
were all in the Onias sector.

RO
Yep. Some kind of subspace tunnel
from the Delta Quadrant. I’ve sent
the technical details to Nog and
John. Unfortunately... there are
dozens of these tunnels leading
all around the galaxy and all
intersecting at the nebula, and
they don’t know exactly which
one the Borg are coming through.

CENN
So what are they doing about it?

RO
Some good old-fashioned exploring.
One ship goes through while the
other stands guard at the nebula,
then they swap over, until they
find the right tunnel.

CENN
And when they do, then what? 

RO
Ray of light number two. Admiral
Akaar - he’s the new liaison to
the president since Ross retired,
so congratulations to him...

Cenn smirks - he knows Ro and Akaar don’t get along. 

RO (cont)
...says that Bacco is talking to all
the ambassadors and trying to
pull together a unified fleet to
blockade the nebula and stop
the Borg getting through.

CENN
So we might have a chance. 

RO
Maybe. Still a hell of a lot of
people dying while we wait
for that chance, though. 

CENN
Do you want me to tell the crew?

RO
It can wait till morning. May as
well let someone have a good
night’s sleep.

CENN
On that subject, I’m officially
relieving you of duty. Go to bed. 

RO
(sad smile)
I’m too tired to argue. Can’t
promise you I’ll sleep, though. 

Sluggishly, Ro gets up from her seat and follows Cenn out. 

3 INT. DS9 - ETANA & RICHTER’S QUARTERS

ETANA KOL (Bajoran female) and KRISTEN RICHTER (human female) lie tastefully in bed together. Richter is at least trying to sleep, but Etana is just staring at the ceiling. Finally Richter turns over to look at her girlfriend. 

RICHTER
What is it? 

ETANA
Sorry, go back to sleep. 

RICHTER
I wasn’t sleeping anyway. And
I can tell when you’re thinking.
There’s kind of a whirring noise. 

Etana gives her girlfriend a playfully withering look, but eventually also turns in bed so they are facing each other. 

ETANA
Okay. It’s just that we had a
patient in the Infirmary this after-
noon. Old man, must have been
over a hundred. And he was dying.
Nothing we could do, he had a
long-term chronic condition. We
just had to help him go to the
Prophets in peace and comfort.

RICHTER
I’m sorry. 

ETANA
But he was alone. No friends.
Never had any children. Nobody
to be with him at the end but me
and a couple of other strangers.
And I just thought - I never
want that to be us. Ever.

RICHTER
I don’t think it will.

ETANA
Me either. But...

Etana suddenly sits up in bed, something on her mind. 

ETANA
If I ask you something, will you
promise not to take it the wrong
way? 

RICHTER
Of course. You can ask me what-
ever you want, you know that. 

ETANA
Okay. 

Etana suddenly jumps out of bed, dashes across the room to the wardrobe, digs inside and pulls something out. Without showing it, she comes back to the bed and sits facing her girlfriend. Richter sits upright as well.

ETANA
If... anything... should happen, I
don’t want to go to the Prophets
an old, single woman... with no
wife. Will you marry me? 

Etana holds out a Bajoran PLEDGE BRACELET in both hands, offers it nervously to Richter.

ETANA
Now, just to be clear, I’m not
asking you to marry me because
I think we’re all about to die and
I just don’t want to be alone. I’m
asking you to marry me because I
don’t want to die - whenever that
happens - without having stood
before the Prophets and said that
you, Kristen Richter, are the love
of my life. The one I want to
spend the rest of my life with
- however long that is - 

Richter reaches out and puts a finger over Etana’s lips to stop her from babbling.

RICHTER
Yes. Yes, Etana Kol... I will
marry you.

ETANA
You will? 

RICHTER
Yes, of course! 

ETANA
Oh, thank the Prophets! 

The two women kiss, full of excitement and happiness and relief. PAN ACROSS to the window of stars... 

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

FADE IN

4 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE

A new morning... 

5 INT. DS9 - COMMANDER’S OFFICE

Ro HUGS Etana in excitement. 

RO
Congratulations! Of course I’ll be
in your wedding. But, ah... what
does “give you away” mean?

ETANA
Oh, that’s a human thing. We’re
going to do a mostly traditional
Bajoran wedding, but I am marrying
a human, so she gets to have some
things her way too. It just means
you have to hand me over to her.

RO
What, like - I don’t own you
anymore, now she owns you? 

ETANA
Basically.

RO
Sometimes I don’t think I’ll ever
understand humans.

Ro turns away, hiding an expression on her face. 

ETANA
...What? I know that face. There’s
something you’re not saying. 

RO
It’s nothing. I’m just happy for
you, that’s all.

ETANA
Laren, I thought we were friends.
Say it, for Prophets’ sake. 

RO
Okay, but don’t hate me. I’m just
worried that you’re doing this for
the wrong reasons. 

ETANA
Like what? 

RO
Like because there’s a real-life
apocalypse bearing down on us. 

ETANA
We talked about that. Spent most
of the night talking about it, in
fact. But we’re not doing it just
because we might all die soon.
We would have got married
eventually anyway - we just
didn’t want to miss our chance.

RO
Then I’d be honoured to “give you
away”, Kol. Besides, a big party
might be just what the station
needs right now. 

6 INT. DS9 - INFIRMARY

BASHIR regards Richter with delighted surprise. 

BASHIR
Kristen, I’d be delighted! But...
shouldn’t your parents be the
ones to give you away? 

RICHTER
Well, they would. But given that
they live back on Proxima, and
that’s a good two weeks away... I
mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m not
saying you’re my second choice - 

BASHIR
Kristen! I’m privileged to be any
kind of choice at all. Although I
was already feeling my age, and
me acting as your father figure
doesn’t exactly help with that...

RICHTER
Then don’t think of yourself as my
father. You can be my cool younger
uncle, or a fun boss, or - 

BASHIR
Please stop, I’m begging you. I
appreciate the honour. So you’re
having the ceremony straight away? 

RICHTER
No time to waste, not to put
too fine a point on it. 

7 INT. DS9 - CANDLEWOOD’S QUARTERS

HETIK is making the bed in the morning. CANDLEWOOD shouts from off screen, his voice muffled as if mid-ablutions. 

CANDLEWOOD (o.s.)
So I promised Nog I’d go through
these readings the Aventine sent
in with him. This isn’t exactly the
most science-heavy post in the
fleet. I should take the chance
to strut my stuff while I can. 

HETIK
Sounds like a good idea. 

Hetik pauses and looks at the freshly made bed, as if seeing it for the first time. He turns and looks around at his boyfriend’s quarters - the books, the computers, the picture frame of the two of them, the mezuzah by the door. 

When Candlewood comes out of the bathroom, he finds Hetik sitting on the bed and waiting for him. 

CANDLEWOOD
Uh-oh. That’s serious face. 

HETIK
I was just thinking about how I do
this every morning. Tidying up the
place like it’s my own quarters. 

CANDLEWOOD
Well, you do spend practically
every night here. You’re just
being a polite house guest. An
admirable quality in a man. 

HETIK
What if I were more than just a
house guest? What if... what if
these were my quarters too? 

CANDLEWOOD
(taken aback)
You want to move in with me? Why?

HETIK
Because I love you, stupid. 

Candlewood’s confused amazement turns to bashful joy. 

HETIK
What do you think? 

CANDLEWOOD
I mean, we’d have to figure out
the logistics, find somewhere to
put your prayer mandala, but your
work clothes don’t exactly take
up a lot of space in my closet... 

HETIK
(laughs)
So is that a yes? 

CANDLEWOOD
I’ve... never actually lived with any-
one. Even my Academy roommate
seemed to find any excuse to be
out. And I kinda want you to keep
liking me. So let’s talk about it
tonight, after work? 

Hetik nods his agreement. After a quick kiss, Candlewood bounces back towards the bathroom, doing the “I am so awesome” dance and singing along tunelessly... 

CANDLEWOOD
I’ve got a boyfriend, he wants to
live with me, I am so awesome... 

Hetik chuckles, glad that that went as well as it did. 

8 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR

QUARK brandishes a padd in Ro’s face, as the morning set-up goes on around them. 

QUARK
What the frinx is this, Laren? I
host the weddings around here.

RO
Etana wanted a traditional Bajoran
ceremony, Quark. It’s going to be
in the shrine, and Kira’s going to
officiate. Besides, you should be
glad - seven hours is no time to
pull a wedding together.

QUARK
Laren... this is all I can do.

RO
Look further down the list. 

Quark pauses, reads the padd further. Then he sees what she wanted him to see. He keeps a dignified air, not wanting to seem relieved. Ro sees right through him. 

QUARK
Well, okay then. You’d just better
get ready for the best afterparty
this station has ever seen.

RO
Are you sure? It’s not much time. 

QUARK
Are you doubting my last-minute
catering skills? 

RO
Perish the thought.

QUARK
(faux casual)
Heard anything from Dax?

RO
We heard from her this morning. 

Ro wills him not to ask any further - some things she can’t tell him. He understands. But at least Dax is still alive.

QUARK
Okay. Good to know. 
(re padd)
I’ll get to work on this. 

He walks away to get to work. Ro watches him go. 

9 INT. SUBSPACE TUNNEL

USS Aventine shoots through the blue-white vortex of energy, moving comparatively smoothly.

10 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE

Captain EZRI DAX instinctively grabs the armrests of her command chair as she watches the pulses of blue-white energy zoom past on the gigantic main viewscreen. They have no idea where they’re going, or where they will end up.

Suddenly the curtain of blue-white BREAKS OPEN on the screen and normal space appears beyond... 

11 EXT. SPACE

The subspace tunnel SPITS the Vesta-class ship out into space, the rip in space-time sealing itself up behind.

12 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE

The ship SHUDDERS around them as they slam back to normal speed from the impossible speeds of the subspace tunnel. Dax catches her breath and forces her hands to let go. 

DAX
Confirm position. 

The current helm officer, MAVROIDIS (Ullian female) works her consoles, and reads the results.

MAVROIDIS
Delta Quadrant, between the
Perseus and Carina arms. 

First officer SAM BOWERS leans forward in his chair. 

BOWERS
Distance from the Azure Nebula? 

MAVROIDIS
Sixty-four thousand, five hundred
and ninety-two light years.

Restless, Dax gets up and approaches the science station, where HELKARA (Zakdorn male) works with singular focus.

DAX
Gruhn - what’s the word on the
subspace tunnel? Do both ends
open to the same frequency? 

HELKARA
Negative. It seems to need a
unique frequency pulse for each
aperture. That’ll likely be true
for all the tunnels. 

BOWERS
Any sign of the Borg out there?
This is the Delta Quadrant... 

KEDAIR (Takaran female) replies from the tactical console. 

KEDAIR
Also negative. But we’re picking
up a massive debris field bearing
three-three-one mark one-five.
Lots of refined metals - duranium,
rodinium, terminium, and semi-
rigid poly-duranide. 

DAX
Enough mass to suggest a starship? 

KEDAIR
More like a thousand starships.
It’s an entire ring of pulverised
metal orbiting the nearest star. 

DAX
Range? 

KEDAIR
Just under a light year. 

MAVROIDIS
At top speed, we could reach the
ring in about an hour. 

BOWERS
I don’t think we can afford the
distraction. We should hold station
while Commander Helkara works
out the aperture frequency for
the return trip.

HELKARA
Don’t hang around on my account.
This’ll take a few hours at least. 

Decision made, Dax returns to her command chair. 

DAX
Mavroidis, set a course for the
debris field. I want to check it out. 

BOWERS
(leans in, quiet)
Captain, if something did destroy
thousands of ships, are they
really somebody we want to
meet right now? 

DAX
Depends whose side they’re on.
Still, a little caution never hurts.
Kedair, scan the region for
subspace radio activity or
any other artificial signals. 

KEDAIR
Aye, Captain.

MAVROIDIS
Course laid in, Captain. 

KEDAIR
No short-range signal activity,
Captain. Minimal subspace radio
traffic at long range. No sign of
transwarp signatures or other
vessels. 

DAX
Glad to hear it. Helm, engage. 

Mavroidis works her helm controls... 

13 EXT. SPACE

...and the Aventine ramps up to warp, jumping away into the distance. 

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

FADE IN

14 EXT. SPACE

Aventine flies at warp... 

15 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE

Now the screen shows the much more familiar and comforting sight of stars at warp, as Aventine zooms through them. Dax looks to her side, where Bowers is still not happy.

DAX
Don’t look so glum, Sam. Think of
it as a chance to learn something
while we’re stuck out here. 

BOWERS
It’s not the learning that worries
me. I just can’t help wonder if
any of that debris is from ships
whose captains also wanted to
learn something. 

DAX
Y’know Sam, for someone who
likes to think of himself as a
man of action, you sure don’t - 

BEEP BEEP BEEP. Kedair reads her console... 

KEDAIR
Long-range contacts. Multiple
unidentified objects leaving
the debris-ringed system. 

BOWERS
Speed and heading? 

KEDAIR
Warp two, intercept course. At
that speed, they will reach the
debris field the same time we do.

BOWERS
(to Dax)
I suppose this’ll go in your log
as a coincidence. 

DAX
Maybe. 

MAVROIDIS
Captain, do I change course? 

DAX
No. Whatever’s on its way out to
meet us knows we’re here. If it’s
friendly, I want to make contact. 

BOWERS
And if it’s not? 

DAX
Then we’ll just have to hope
we can outsmart it, outrun it,
or outgun it - in that order.
Steady as she goes, helm. 

MAVROIDIS
Aye, sir. 

DAX
(aside to Bowers)
But it might not be a bad idea
to take the ship to yellow alert. 

BOWERS
I thought you’d never ask. 

Bowers works his own console, and the lights around the ship begin to flash with YELLOW ALERT. 

16 EXT. SPACE

Aventine continues on its way into the unknown... 

17 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE

Returning us home to the station... 

18 INT. DS9 - DOCKING RING CORRIDOR

The regular Bajor shuttle disgorges its EXTRAS into the corridor. Ro is there waiting, until the one she is waiting for finally emerges - KIRA NERYS. They smile at each other. 

RO
Back so soon? 

KIRA
You really don’t have to greet me
at the door every time. I do know
my way around. 

RO
Simply showing all due respect to
an honoured member of the church,
Prylar Kira. 

KIRA
Wow - Major Cenn must be having
a good effect on you. 

RO
You mean you believed that?
Great! Make sure you tell him.

They chuckle together, and head down the corridor. 

RO
So how are things going down in
the good old Vedek Assembly?

KIRA
Better. I think it was the right
thing, bringing Opaka back from
the Gamma Quadrant. Even Bellis
has cut down on his complaining.

RO
That really is a miracle. 

KIRA
He has mentioned repeatedly that
you two had a “conversation”... 

RO
Look, Nerys... you know I was just
angry, and lashing out... 

KIRA
Don’t worry about it, Laren. We all
handle stress in our own ways. I
may or may not have had a couple
of daydreams about punching Bellis
over and over until he just stops
talking... but I pause, I take a
deep breath and I remember that
he’s under a lot of stress too. 
(beat)
And then I just enjoy the fact that
you got to punch him for me. 

They laugh together again. 

RO
Speaking of stress... thanks for
doing this at the last minute. 

KIRA
Honestly, I’m just glad someone is
trying to be happy. I think we could
all do with a bit of that lately. 

RO
You’ve been keeping up with the
reports? 

KIRA
Obviously not as much as I used
to. But what I can.

RO
Entire planets, Nerys. Planets.

KIRA
I know, Laren. It’s inconceivable.
I just try to hold on to my faith
that the Prophets have a plan
for all of us. 

RO
But this is what I was saying.
I don’t understand how you can
possibly find the good in what’s
happening. I mean, it’s not even
as if the Borg are assimilating
people anymore, where you could
maybe make the argument that
at least they’re still alive. They’re
just killing everyone. 

KIRA
I hear what you’re saying, Laren.
I really do. And I don’t know the
answer. I just think... there has
to be one. There has to be.
(beat)
And until I know what it is, I do
whatever is in my power to help
whoever I can. 

They walk on down the corridor... 

19 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR

Hetik walks into the bar, preparing for his work shift. But before he gets very far, he stops in surprise to see silver banners being draped from the railings, flowers everywhere.

Meanwhile Quark yells directions at his Ferengi workers. 

QUARK
Come on come on come on! Only
three hours to go till this show
is on the road, so get moving! 

Confused, Hetik approaches TREIR, who is restocking the bar. The Orion dabo girl is dispassionately getting on with her job, not caught up in the excitement. 

HETIK
Did I somehow sleep for two months
and miss that it was Gratitude
Festival time again already? 

TREIR
You didn’t hear?

HETIK
Didn’t hear what? 

TREIR
Ensign Richter and Sergeant Etana
are getting married. 

HETIK
...Now? 

TREIR
In a couple of hours, yeah. 

HETIK
Okay... good for them. Kinda
standing in my sunlight, but... 

TREIR
What do you mean?

HETIK
I was all excited ‘cause I asked
John to move in with me. That’s
kind of been eclipsed now. Still,
congrats to the happy couple.

Treir stops what she was doing, still neutral. 

TREIR
You’re moving in with John? 

HETIK
It’s not decided yet. I hope so. 

Treir nods silently, absorbing that without reaction. 

TREIR
Well then, congrats to you too.
Excuse me, I’ve got to grab the
spring wine from the store room. 

She turns and walks towards the store room. Quark turns and pinpoints Hetik with a finger and a shout. 

QUARK
You! About time you got here. 

HETIK
But I’m not - 

QUARK
Don’t wanna hear it. I hope those
muscles are not just for show,
because I’ve got eight crates of
Kandora champagne in the store
room and they need bringing
out here and chilling. Move! 

Quark is clearly in slave master mode, so Hetik just gets on with it. He heads towards the store room... 

20 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR - STORE ROOM

The door to the store room opens and Hetik enters...

...to find Treir standing there among the crates, WIPING TEARS from her eyes. She instantly reacts, embarrassed and trying to cover, not wanting to be seen like this.

TREIR
What? 

Stunned, Hetik approaches gently, not wanting to crowd her. 

HETIK
Hey... what’s wrong?

TREIR
Nothing. Nothing’s wrong. What
did you want? 

HETIK
Quark sent me in here to get the
champagne - 

TREIR
(half-points)
It’s over there.

HETIK
- but I think there’s something
more important I need to deal
with first. Is it the wedding? 

TREIR
(lying)
Yes. Yes, that’s it, absolutely.
I’m crying about the wedding.

Hetik comes closer, thinking he’s on safe ground now. 

HETIK
Never took you for the sentimental
type. But I tend to get emotional
at weddings too. I have done ever
since the orphanage. I guess I’m
just a hopeless romantic.

TREIR
(smile through
the tears)
Yeah. Hopeless. That’s me. 

HETIK
It’ll happen for you one day,
Treir. Don’t give up yet.

Hetik quickly gives Treir a half-hug and a chaste peck on the cheek. Then he turns and hefts up one of the crates she pointed out, carrying it effortlessly out of the room.

Treir stays where she was, watching him go... 

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

FADE IN

21 INT. DS9 - SHRINE

Kira stands framed by the oval archway of the shrine apse, wearing a humble but beautiful version of her monk’s robes. She smiles beneficently, filled with joy at the occasion. Candles adorn the walls, the room is packed with guests. 

Starfleet officers stand in pure dress whites - EVIK, NOG, TENMEI and Candlewood. Bajoran Militia officers in their own lilac dress uniforms - Major CENN and Doctor AYLAM. Civilians, Bajorans and otherwise, in their Sunday best. 

Clerics enter the room carrying twinkling chimes, swinging incense burners. The crowd makes a passage to allow these to move down the middle of the room towards Kira. Once there they move to each side, along the front wall. 

A GONG sounds, and the crowd hushes in anticipation. 

After a moment, Commander RO steps into the entry wearing her dress whites, guiding Sergeant ETANA by the arm. The Bajoran bride is wearing stunning golden robes, with an elaborate earring draping gracefully over her shoulder. 

Both beaming with smiles, they walk down the centre of the room, everyone’s eyes following their progress. Once at the front, they stand to Kira’s right. 

The GONG sounds again, and everyone’s eyes turn... 

Doctor BASHIR steps in, also in dress whites, nurse RICHTER on his arm. The human bride also wears Bajoran robes in a complementary shade of gold, and an elaborate earring. This pairing moves through the crowd, ending up at Kira’s left. 

The GONG sounds a third time, and all the Bajoran guests kneel silently onto cushions on the deck. The non-Bajoran guests follow their lead. Kira smiles to Ro and Bashir...

KIRA
Thank you both. 

Taking their cue, Ro and Bashir let go of their charges’ arms and step back, joining the crowd on their knees. Etana and Richter now stand alone, facing each other across Kira.

KIRA
Thank you all for joining us on
this blessed occasion. Nothing so
pleases the Prophets as to see two
of their children share the love
that is at the core of every pagh,
and pledge to walk the same path. 
(beat)
This is most true in the darkest
of times - because the light that
Etana Kol and Kristen Richter
bring to each other’s lives, and
to the lives of everyone gathered
here to witness it, banishes that
darkness as surely as the light
of the Prophets themselves.
(beat)
Who bears the dais? 

The kneeling crowd looks around, and three PUPPIES enter. These are the three girl puppies - FETT, KETT and WETT. Each of them wears a load-bearing harness, and they move in formation, because balanced across the three harnesses is a DAIS, and on the dais is a BOWL of water. Fett looks behind her, seeing her mother SETT encouraging them on. 

As the group moves cautiously down the line, the crowd AWWWs. They reach the front, and Etana and Richter both crouch down, picking up the bowl of water between them. That done, the puppy-amalgam scuttles off to stand by Ro. Tenmei whispers to Nog... 

TENMEI
Nice work on the dais rig-up. 

NOG
Considering I only had about two
hours, and I nearly lost my lunch
a couple of times attaching it to
them, I’m quite proud of it. 

As Etana and Richter both hold the bowl (revealing that they are now both wearing pledge bracelets) and gaze at each other across it, Kira speaks... 

KIRA
Boray pree hadokee. Tolata impara
boresh. Preeya Kristen, preeya Kol,
abrem varo atel. 
(beat)
For the non-Bajorans among us,
that means... May you drink from
the Tears of the Prophets, binding
Kristen and Kol, so that you walk
this path together, forever. 

Without either letting go of the bowl, first Etana and then Richter both sip from it. Then they gently lower it to the deck. Then holding left hands, they simultaneously reach up with their right and gently grasp the other’s left ear.

KIRA
Your pagh is one. You are joined
in the eyes of the Prophets, and
so in the eyes of everyone here. 
(smirk)
You may both kiss the bride. 

Etana and Richter lean in to KISS, and the room explodes in CHEERS and APPLAUSE. Kira beams with happiness. Eventually the brides separate with wide grins, and turn to the crowd. 

ETANA
Thanks so much, everyone. It
means a lot to us both that you
would all be here with us.

RICHTER
Yes... thank you all. 

KIRA
Congratulations to you both.
But... there’s one last thing. 

This is a surprise to both brides. Kira steps aside, and we see that hidden behind her all this time...

...is an ORB BOX. Etana and Richter had been so focused on each other that they hadn’t even noticed it. The crowd hushes as Kira walks behind the Box. 

KIRA
By special permission of the Kai
herself... 
(Etana’s 
jaw drops)
...and with the help of DS-Nine’s
commander and chief of security... 
(Kira nods thanks 
to Ro and Evik)
...I have brought the Orb of
Destiny, so that the brides may
begin their journey secure in the
knowledge of all the joy to come. 

Etana is overwhelmed. The chance for an Orb Experience is something an ordinary everyday Bajoran like her dreams of but never believes will actually happen.

On the other hand, Richter is hesitant. She doesn’t want to make a scene or seem ungrateful, but she has questions. 

Etana sees the look on her now-wife’s face, and pulls her in close, touching foreheads so that the crowd might think they are whispering sweet romantic nothings. 

ETANA
(whisper)
What is it? What’s wrong? 

RICHTER
Do we really want to know the
future? I mean, what if...?

ETANA
Don’t worry. The Prophets will
take care of us. We’re on their
path now. 

RICHTER
But... in front of everyone?

ETANA
It’s with the blessings of the
Kai. I think we kind of have to. 

After a moment’s thought, Kristen nods subtly, still unsure but willing to go through with it. They step apart, turn back to Kira, and KNEEL before the Orb Box. 

Kira reverently OPENS the box, revealing the slowly turning hourglass shape within, glowing with its ethereal light. As Etana and Richter hold hands and gaze into the Orb, the ENERGY SWIRLS out of the box, filling the room and... 

WHITE OUT

Then PULL BACK from the bright light to reveal... 

22 DISCO BALL

Spinning in the air, lights and colours glinting off it as fun and light-hearted MUSIC plays. 

Continue to PULL BACK...

23 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR

The mirrored disco ball lights Quark’s Bar, which is now half classy wedding reception hall and half nightclub. The streamers and flowers gleam in the reflected light. 

PANNING DOWN to the main floor, where Etana and Richter dance together, happy and relaxed. Around them, the wedding guests and others all dance as well, in pairs or in groups. 

Around the edges and on the balconies, small candles light every table, where more partiers sit with drinks and food. 

Back on the dance floor, Candlewood is teaching Prynn and Nog how to do the STATUS QUO SHOULDER DANCE (google it), and they are all laughing and having a great time. 

As the MUSIC changes to a new song, Candlewood leaves his friends to continue dancing on their own, and makes his way across the floor to the DABO TABLE. Hetik is busy guiding the game, but smiles wide at his boyfriend’s arrival. 

HETIK
That’s two down for the lady in
the blue, and a risky five over
for the gentleman from Relliketh.
Here we go, eyes down...

Hetik SPINS the wheel and THROWS the jack with a flourish. Everyone watches spellbound as the wheel spins and spins...

HETIK
Dabo! 

Everyone CHEERS - the lady in blue has won. Even the man from Relliketh can’t feel too bad - he is having fun too. Hetik hands over some modest winnings to the woman. 

HETIK
Congratulations! Make sure to
celebrate with a drink from the
bar. Dealer takes a break, but
don’t go far - I’ll be back in
just a few minutes. 

The crowd around the table moves away. Hetik turns to Candlewood with a grin, and takes him into his arms. 

HETIK
You look amazing in that uniform. 

CANDLEWOOD
Me? It’s you they can’t take their
eyes off. And I can see why.
(kiss)
I love watching you work. It’s
like you have this magical hold
over them. 

As John gazes up into Hetik’s eyes, it’s clear that he feels the same way.

Across the room, Ro leans against the bar, flanked on one side by Quark and on the other by Kira. All three observe the happy dancing crowd - especially Etana and Richter at the centre of the floor.

RO
They seem happy. 

QUARK
I should hope so. 

RO
What I mean is, whatever they
saw in that Orb vision, it can’t
have put them off too much. 

QUARK
You think that’s good news for
the rest of us? 

KIRA
We can’t ask. Orb experiences
are private. Even a prylar doesn’t
have the right to intrude.

RO
But you wish you could? 

KIRA
(evasive)
They’re happy. That’s all that
matters. 

Ro’s combadge CHIRPS. 

ALECO (comm)
Ops to Commander Ro. 

RO
(taps to receive)
Stand by, Ensign. 
(to Quark and Kira)
If you’ll excuse me. 

Ro leaves them to find a quiet corner where she can talk freely and without having to shout over the music. Once she has, she TAPS her combadge again. 

RO
Right, sorry about that, Vel.
What’s up? 

ALECO (comm)
Sorry to interrupt, Commander.
I just thought you might want to
know, we got the latest report
from Starfleet Command. 

Ro’s face drops - what horrors is she about to hear? 

Back out on the dance floor, Etana and Richter still have pride of place in the centre as the MUSIC plays. 

ETANA
You okay? 

RICHTER
Very, very okay. You? 

In answer, Etana grabs her new wife by the waist and SPINS them both around. The couple SWIRLS ecstatically beneath the dappled lights of the mirror ball, and Richter THROWS her head back, letting her long blonde hair fly free. Around them, the crowd WHOOPS with delight. Nog and Prynn punch the air in joy. Arms around each other, John and Hetik CHEER at the sight. From the bar, Quark and Kira grin wide to see the display. 

Among all this, Ro returns from her quiet corner and stands between Quark and Kira again. She is clearly putting a brave face on it, for the sake of the party. 

QUARK
Everything alright? 

RO
Fine. Just a standard station
status update. Ensign Aleco’s
running Ops by himself, I think
he’s a bit nervous. Nothing to
worry about. 

KIRA
You sure? 

RO
Absolutely. 
(re crowd)
They’re happy. That’s all that
matters. 

Ro feels guilty about lying to them, but she can’t allow what is going on out there to spoil this happy occasion. 

Kira can very easily guess what Ro is not telling them, but she knows the responsibilities of command, and empathises. 

Quark knows that Ro is lying to them both, and feels sorry for Ro having to carry this. He wishes he could help more. 

Etana and Richter bring their spiralling to a stop with a delighted laugh, all worries and sorrows forgotten.

Ro watches all of this, forcing her face to keep a happy smile that she does not feel inside...

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

FADE IN

24 EXT. SPACE

A star system with what appears to be a massive asteroid belt - except that the belt is made up of dark and angular fragments of metal and artificial materials. 

25 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE

Cmdr Bowers observes this image on the Aventine’s giant viewscreen. The debris belt is growing larger the closer Aventine gets to it, Bowers’ anxiety rising with it. OPS manager MIRREN (human female) speaks up. 

MIRREN
Two minutes until the alien craft
enters optimal sensor range. 

BOWERS
I want a detailed threat assess-
ment as soon as possible. 

KEDAIR
Aye sir. 

Captain Dax stands over Mavroidis’ shoulder at the helm, likewise spellbound by the view on the screen. Bowers gets up from his chair and stands with her.

DAX
Sam... do you notice anything
unusual about that debris field? 

BOWERS
It all looks the same to me. 

DAX
That’s what I mean. The colour,
the composition - it’s obviously a
starship graveyard, but I’ve never
seen one this uniform. Have you? 

BOWERS
Could they all be from the same ship? 

DAX
My guess is it’s from thousands
of identical ships. 

BOWERS
Mirren - run a scan on the debris.
See if you can identify it. 

Mirren works her panels, and almost immediately looks up in mixed horror and amazement. 

MIRREN
It’s Borg. All of it. The entire ring.

KEDAIR
Thirty seconds to contact with
alien craft.

BOWERS
(quiet)
Captain, please - we’re clearly in
Borg territory. Not to mention
thirty seconds away from whatever
managed to overpower and destroy
several thousands of Borg ships.
I strongly recommend we withdraw. 

DAX
Sam, this could be just what we
need. These people, whoever they
are, they’re clearly no fan of the
Borg. They might help us. 

BOWERS
And they might not.

KEDAIR
Visual contact. 

DAX
On screen. 

The main viewscreen refocuses, concentrating on the alien craft approaching them. Dax watches with fascination... This object is not a starship, and not a normal space-going life-form. It appears to be a simple BALL OF ENERGY, a coruscation of colours with no obvious means of propulsion. 

Mavroidis suddenly stands from her chair, catching Dax off guard so that she and Bowers back away. Mavroidis turns awkwardly to look at Dax and Bowers, acting like someone who is not familiar with operating a humanoid body. The Ullian woman regards Dax with a blank stare, and her VOICE sounds doubled with an ethereal quality. 

MAVROIDIS
You are not Borg. 

Dax realises this is a first contact situation - and a very delicate one. Meanwhile Kedair subtly beckons Bowers over to her console. He goes, leaving Dax to handle this.

DAX
To whom am I speaking? 

MAVROIDIS
We are the children of the storm.

DAX
I’m Captain Ezri Dax of the - 

MAVROIDIS
You are trespassers. But you
are not Borg, so you may live
- if you depart now. 

At the tactical console, Helkara and Bowers have joined Kedair, all looking over the computer’s scan of the entity. They speak low so as not to interrupt Dax’s talk with it. 

KEDAIR
An energy shell, a spherical
force-field with no apparent
source of power or projection. 

HELKARA
Surrounding an atmosphere of
incredibly dense, super-hot liquid
hydrogen laced with trace metals. 

KEDAIR
And hundreds of individual energy
signatures that I would have to
characterise as life signs. 

Dax is still talking with the entity inhabiting Mavroidis.

DAX
We only wish to establish peaceful
contact and communication, on
behalf of - 

MAVROIDIS
Contact is not desired. It has
taken many centuries to purge
this space of Borg. We will not
allow it to be defiled again. 

DAX
I understand. We are engaged in
a conflict with the Borg ourselves.
Perhaps if you could help us
understand - 

MAVROIDIS
No. Reverse your course and make
no attempt to violate our space.

Helkara and Kedair continue to wrestle information out of the computer, growing more amazed with every bit of data.

HELKARA
I’d posit this species evolved in a
gas giant. Their energy patterns
are also consistent with lifeforms
with a high level of telekinesis
and other psionic talents. 

BOWERS
That’s how they’re talking through
Mavroidis - because she’s Ullian. 

HELKARA
Exactly. I think this species might
have mastered space travel - even
warp flight - through the power
of thought alone. 

Dax is still trying to convince the entity. This could be a life line to defeating the Borg...

DAX
Perhaps we could return at some
future time - 

MAVROIDIS
We do not wish you to return.
Ever.

DAX
(sags, resigned)
Very well. We’ll leave - as soon
as you release your hold on
our conn officer. 

MAVROIDIS
It is done. 

Mavroidis’s eyes flutter and she staggers on the spot, losing her balance. Dax rushes to support her. Clearing her head, Mavroidis gets her body back under control. 

MAVROIDIS
I’m alright, Captain. 

DAX
Resume your post, Lieutenant. Then
reverse course to the subspace
aperture, maximum warp. 

MAVROIDIS
Aye, sir. 

As the Ullian woman follows her orders, and the view on the screen swerves away from the debris field, Dax returns to her command chair. Bowers takes his own seat next to her.

BOWERS
I’m sorry, Captain.
(she grunts 
noncommittally)
Based on Kedair and Helkara’s
readings, I didn’t see anything
that looked like a conventional
weapon. And one good shot
from a phaser should have been
enough to burst their bubble. 

DAX
Then how did they manage to
fight off that many Borg ships? 

BOWERS
Captain... I think this is one of
those times we should just be glad
we didn’t find out the hard way. 

Dax is forced to agree, but still - she is disappointed.

26 EXT. SPACE

Aventine heads back the way it came, away from the debris ringed system and its offer of hope... 

27 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR

The evening has now moved on a bit. Etana and Richter are still dancing, but to slower, more romantic music. The disco ball spins more calmly, casting a pleasant twinkle. 

Other couples slow-dance as well, Hetik and John included. Those who are not couples - like Kira, Bashir, Nog, Tenmei and Cenn - sit at tables around the edges of the floor. 

Quark works urgently behind the bar, mixing and handing out drinks to his various Ferengi waiters before shooing them on their way. Ro stands out of the flow of traffic. 

RO
Where’s Treir?

QUARK
Damned if I know.

RO
Want me to track her down? 

QUARK
She knows the penalty for not
showing up to work. If she
doesn’t want to be here, she
doesn’t ever have to come back. 

On the dance floor, Candlewood and Hetik are slow-dancing, both smiling comfortably, immersed in the romance. 

HETIK
I wish I could have been at the
ceremony with you. 

CANDLEWOOD
It was nice. I’ve never been to a
Bajoran wedding ceremony before.
But why don’t the couple actually
say anything, though? It was all
Kira - Richter and Etana didn’t
say a word.

HETIK
Why do they need to? The Prophets
already know what’s in their hearts.
That’s all that matters. 
(beat)
John... about us living together.

CANDLEWOOD
Hetik, today’s been such a rush,
for both of us. I haven’t had a
second to think. It’s not a no - 

HETIK
No, wait. I was just thinking...
why not skip that part altogether?
Why don’t we get married too?

CANDLEWOOD
(bark of laughter)
Ha! Yeah, right. 

HETIK
I’m serious. I know what’s in my
heart. I’m pretty sure I know
what’s in yours. And look at
how happy Kristen and Kol are.
I want that for us.  

Candlewood stops dancing, looks at Hetik in shock. 

CANDLEWOOD
Wait... you actually are serious.

HETIK
Yes, I’m serious. I’m asking you
to marry me, John. Will you? 

Candlewood stutters and splutters, totally caught off guard, flustered and overwhelmed, no idea what to say.

CANDLEWOOD
But y-... wh... No! 

HETIK
(jaw drops)
I’m sorry? 

CANDLEWOOD
I... look, I s-... j-... No! Hetik,
are you insane? We are not get-
ting married. We’ve been dating
for less than a year, and -  

HETIK
(steps back)
And that’s enough for you to know
you don’t want to marry me?

CANDLEWOOD
(reaches for him)
What? No, that’s not - 

HETIK
(throws him off)
Then what? I’m just a bit of fun
for you, is that it? A good time
until you get bored?

Candlewood is very aware they’re in public, and doesn’t want to make a scene. But he’s completely flustered... 

CANDLEWOOD
Look, we’re both tired and a bit
drunk, let’s just take a moment - 

HETIK
I don’t think I need a moment. 

Hetik steps away from Candlewood and begins to walk off the dance floor. John reaches for him, tries to grab his arm... 

CANDLEWOOD
Hetik, wait! Let me explain...

HETIK
Oh, I think you’ve said plenty.
I’m just glad you said it before
I wasted any more time on...
this. See you around, John. 

Hetik tears his arm free of John’s grip and heads off the dance floor, and out of the bar altogether. John is left standing alone and abandoned on the dance floor, surrounded by happy romantic couples, watching the love of his life walk away in a fury... 

FADE OUT

END OF ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE

FADE IN

28 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR

It is down to the last few now. The music still plays, but no-one is dancing. They all sit at tables around the edge of an empty dance floor. 

Etana and Richter are engaged completely in each other, talking quietly MOS over glasses of champagne. 

Kira sits at a table with Evik and Cenn, swapping tales. 

Candlewood sits gazing into the distance, dumbfounded and stunned, while Nog and Tenmei unsuccessfully offer comfort. 

Ro sits on a stool at the bar, while Quark pours her one last drink. She takes it and goes to sit with Bashir. 

Once she has gone, Quark puts away his cloth and pulls out his box of isolinear rods from under the counter. He selects one, turns and slots it into the computer on the back wall, and works the controls. 

COMPUTER
Searching for Orion life signs. 
(beat)
Life signs found.

QUARK
Display. 

Quark reads the results. Then he removes the isolinear rod, stashes it away again, and looks around the bar. There is no Hetik or Treir, only his Ferengi waiters. But it’s so quiet that that’s probably enough. 

Pausing to make sure no-one is watching him, Quark lays down his cleaning cloth and walks out of the bar. 

29 INT. DS9 - HABITAT RING CORRIDOR

Quark walks along the corridor, worry creasing his brow. 

He reaches a door, and presses the door CHIME. No response. Worried, he presses the CHIME again. Still no response. 

Determined, he checks both directions down the corridor to be sure he is safe. Then he crouches, pulls a TOOL out of his jacket, and uses it to pop open a panel above the deck. 

Pulling out another isolinear rod, he inserts it and works more controls. He hears the door UNLOCK, so he retrieves his tools and stands, entering... 

30 INT. DS9 - TREIR’S QUARTERS

Not seen since DS9 10x08 “Property Values”. The room is in low lighting, with clothes thrown haphazardly across every surface, half-finished plates of food left on the counters. There has been no break-in - this is just how she lives. 

As Quark steps over the threshold, he spots Treir huddled in a corner, her knees drawn up to her chest. She wears a glamorous dabo dress, but with shoes off, hair unstyled, and her make-up running from the tears. 

But she is all cried out now. She holds an ornate KNIFE in both hands, and her eyes are fixed upon it. She glances up unimpressed at Quark’s arrival, then returns to the knife. 

TREIR
Typical man. Can’t take no for
an answer.

QUARK
You weren’t at the bar. 

TREIR
So you came to find me - out of
the goodness of your lobes. 

QUARK
Well, I made sure the party was
taken care of first. But then...
yeah, I did. You’re my employee.
A happy employee is a productive
employee. You taught me that
yourself. And you’re not happy. 

TREIR
Doctor Bashir better watch out -
we’ve got another genius on the
station. Leave me alone, Quark. 

Once again not taking no for an answer, Quark instead kneels on the deck in front of her, far enough away not to spook her, as she is clearly in emotional turmoil. 

QUARK
(re knife)
That looks valuable.

TREIR
It’s not. It’s an Orion tejar-mas
blade. Had it for years. It was
the only thing I had on me when
you took me from Malic’s ship. 

Quark remains silent. She is not really talking to him - she is just talking, and he happens to be there. 

TREIR (cont)
The slave girls always kept a
blade handy... in case the males
your master loaned you to got a
bit over-aggressive. It’s coated
in cylanite. One cut is fatal. 

And here Treir is, with this poison knife unsheathed, alone in her room, tears on her face. The realisation comes to Quark - she means to kill herself with it. Absorbing that silently, he cautiously reaches out... 

QUARK
Could I see it? 

With the tiniest incremental movement of the knife and her steely gaze, Treir makes it clear he should not do that. He lowers his hand again, letting it go. Treir settles back. 

QUARK
Treir... I don’t want you to do this. 

TREIR
It’s a long time since I’ve given
a damn what any male wants
me to do or not do, Quark.

QUARK
I don’t understand. What happened? 

TREIR
Are you really that blind? They’re
all up there, laughing and dancing
and drinking... loving... and none
of it matters. They’re all lying to
themselves.
(beat)
I’ve been a slave before, Quark.
I’m never going back to that
again. I will not be a slave to
Malic, to you... or to the Borg. 

She grips the knife tighter, as if preparing for her way out of that eventuality. Quark understands now.

QUARK
If it helps... I don’t think the
Borg are enslaving anyone these
days. They’re just killing them. 

A small flare of anger - but it’s enough to break the ice. He has got her to respond to him, engage with him. 

QUARK
Treir... this is not the way. 

TREIR
It’s my way. 

QUARK
Is it? Or were you just sitting
here waiting for someone to
come and talk you out of it? 

TREIR
You think I won’t do it? I’m
too scared? 

QUARK
I didn’t say that. 

TREIR
Because believe me, Quark - I am
the most scared I have ever been.
They’re coming, and they won’t
stop, not until they’ve killed
everyone and everything.

QUARK
Maybe not. 

TREIR
Oh, please. 

QUARK
I’m serious. If there’s one thing
I’ve learned from living on this
profit-forsaken station, it’s that
Starfleet always finds a way. They
will fight and fight, until they pull
some ridiculous last-minute
solution out of their ears. They
don’t even know what it is yet,
but I guarantee you it’s there. 

TREIR
That’s sweet, Quark. I don’t have
that faith. 

QUARK
Didn’t you say you’re a chameleon?
Whatever happens, you’ll find a
way to make it work, to survive?

TREIR
There is no surviving this, Quark!

QUARK
And what if there is? You do this
now, you’d be dead anyway. You’ll
never know if you were right.

TREIR
That’s your argument? Don’t
kill yourself, wait and see if
someone else does it for you? 
(brandishes knife)
This is my way out, Quark. This
is how I escape all of this, and
I am in control of it.

QUARK
Yes, yes you are. I won’t take
that away. I won’t stop you if you
decide to do this. I’m just really
hoping to persuade you not to.

TREIR
Why?! 

QUARK
Because you’re a good dabo girl,
a damn good assistant manager,
way better than my idiot brother...
and I don’t want to lose you.

TREIR
So it’s all about your profit. 

QUARK
Would you believe me if I said
anything else? 

TREIR
(small chuckle)
Probably not. 

Quark relaxes a little - these tiny displays of emotion are an encouraging sign. She is not completely out of reach.

QUARK
Those people up there... they’re
not lying to themselves. They’re
just doing what they need to
do to get through it. We’re all
feeling it, believe me. 
(emphatic)
All of us. We each have our own
ways of handling it, that’s all. 

MONTAGE

31 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR

Nog, Tenmei and Candlewood doing the Status Quo dance...

QUARK (v.o.)
Nog and his friends... they’re just
getting on with their everyday
lives, acting like nothing’s wrong,
because that’s how they cope.

32 INT. AVENTINE - BRIDGE

Dax sits in her command chair, keeping a tight lid on her disappointment as she watches the streaks of the subspace tunnel on the viewscreen, heading home empty-handed. 

QUARK (v.o.)
Dax, Sisko, Vaughn, Bowers, Shar...
they’re out there hunting for that
solution I mentioned. The answer
to the whole mess.

33 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR

Etana and Richter slow-dancing under the twinkling lights of the disco ball, holding each other tight... 

QUARK (v.o.)
Etana and Richter... they’re
making this grand gesture of
defiance. Telling an uncaring
universe, “No, we will be happy,
no matter what you do to us.” 

34 INT. DS9 - SHRINE

Kira performs the wedding ceremony...

QUARK (v.o.)
Kira... she’s doing whatever she
can to help... anyone. Everyone. 

35 INT. DS9 - QUARK’S BAR

Ro stands between Kira and Quark, not telling either of them about the latest reports from Starfleet...

QUARK (v.o.)
Ro’s keeping a brave face, for all
the people who look up to her
to be in charge, in control. 

END MONTAGE

36 INT. DS9 - TREIR’S QUARTERS

During all this, Treir has been captured in Quark’s eyes - she does not notice he has silently crept forwards. 

QUARK
And me... I’m doing what I do. As
long as they’re in my bar, dancing
and drinking... loving... they’re not
worrying about the rest of it. They
all know it’s there, they all know
they’re going to have to face it
sooner or later. But if I can just
give them a moment’s respite,
a moment’s distraction... then
that’s how I cope with it.

TREIR
So why can’t you accept that this - 

She looks down at the knife in her hands... finding to her surprise that Quark is now holding her hands in his own. 

TREIR (cont)
...is how I cope with it? 

QUARK
Because this isn’t coping. It’s
running away. 

TREIR
And don’t I have the right to
do that if I want?

QUARK
I guess. But I still think it’s a bad
idea. I think you should do what
you’ve always done. Survive.
Outsmart it. Just keep doing
whatever you need to, to make it
one more day. I’ll be with you. 
(beat)
And if it comes to it... I’ll be
here with you then too. Just
promise me there’s enough
poison on there for two.

TREIR
(shocked)
Quark, no... 

Quark shrugs sadly - why not? As if suddenly disgusted by it, Treir THROWS the knife away. 

Then she throws her arms around Quark’s shoulders, and he around hers. She lays her head on his shoulder, the tears starting to flow again. 

And Quark holds her, letting her cry. 

FADE OUT

END OF SHOW

TNG 17x18 – “CAESURA”

Feeling frustrated and powerless while Aventine is away exploring the subspace tunnels, Picard is annoyed that the calculations to open the apertures are taking so long, and that one ship must stay behind while the other explores. He presses his crew hard to be as ready as they can be. Are Worf’s security troops suitably prepared? Is LaForge manufacturing enough transphasic torpedoes? While they wait, Kadohata calls her family on Cestus III – she cannot tell them much, but she manages to imply that they should run for their lives. Aventine’s chief engineer Leishman hits on LaForge – she has a thing for fellow chief engineers under stress (DS9 11x21 “Inferno”). Worf and Choudhury stagger into sickbay clearly having just been violently intimate – Crusher smirks her way through treating them. When Aventine returns and it is finally Enterprise’s turn to do something, they find themselves in the starless void between galaxies – complete darkness. Picard fears it is prophetic. 

TTN 1x18 – “ONE BY ONE”

2381: Riker plans to send a strike team to rescue Titan’s captive crew, but the attempt fails spectacularly, leaving the remaining crew disheartened. 1525: Axion settles in around its new homeworld, hidden from detection by the metal shell. 2381: In Axion, Vale and Tuvok quietly observe the Caeliar, trying to learn their patterns. 1573: Columbia’s Dr Metzger throws herself off a building. Lt Valerian stops eating or talking, withering away. Inyx tries to save her by infusing Caeliar catoms into her system – the attempt fails and Valerian dies horribly. Once Fletcher dies of old age, Hernandez is alone. 2381: On Titan, Counsellor Huilan catches Pazlar wearing her holo-presence suit so much that she forgets she is still in the holotank. 1574: Hernandez is old and frail. Inyx begs to help her by infusing catoms – he has worked out the kinks. She accepts, and is reborn, revitalised and effectively immortal. She can also eavesdrop on the Caeliar gestalt... 

VOY 10x18 – “THE CORRIDORS OF POWER”

At the Palais, President Bacco calls a meeting of all the foreign ambassadors – she wants to form an allied fleet to defend against the Borg. The Klingons, Gorn, Talarians and Donatra’s IRS sign up, plus reluctantly Tal’Aura’s RSE. Bacco offers Garak several resource-rich colony worlds in exchange for Cardassia’s support, and gets the Ferengi to buy out the Breen’s services so that the Tholians cannot do the same. Learning of this, Tholian ambassador Tezrene vows revenge. At Starfleet Command, Seven of Nine and the admirals brainstorm. Seven suggests Shinzon’s thalaron weapon (TNG “Nemesis”), but Admiral Jellico refuses on ethical grounds. Admiral Batiste suggests Species 8472, but Seven has no way of contacting them. You cannot fight, you cannot survive – your only option is to run. She mock-attacks Jellico to make her point, which only gets her thrown out of the building. On Voyager, Chakotay receives reports about the planned allied fleet and insists on joining up.