TEASER

FADE IN:

1 EST. ALJULI APARTMENTS - DAWN

Early morning in the small Bajoran town. The sun is only just starting to peek over the horizon, no-one is up yet.

2 INT. ALJULI APARTMENTS - CORRIDOR

CANDLEWOOD quietly closes the door behind him so as to not wake anyone at this early hour, and starts to creep down the corridor. Out of uniform, hair mussed, coat over one arm, a bit dishevelled - he just screams “walk of shame”.

He passes the other doors to other quarters where junior officers stay, turns a corner, and stops dead...

...at the sight of TENMEI creeping out of another room in much the same state as himself. They stare awkwardly at each other, both knowing they’ve been caught out.

CANDLEWOOD
(clears throat)
Morning.

TENMEI
You don’t live here.

CANDLEWOOD
Neither do you.

TENMEI
Let me guess - Hetik?

CANDLEWOOD
(shrug)
His Vulcan Love Slave number came
up at last. He invited me along.
I guess it can inspire even me.
(beat)
Let me guess - th’Shant?

Tenmei is immediately defensive, knowing he disapproves.

TENMEI
We got talking. He needed comfort.

CANDLEWOOD
Is that really the best reason to
sleep with someone?

TENMEI
Are you actually gonna talk to me
about toxic relationships, John?
How many times did you and Hetik
break up and get back together?

CANDLEWOOD
I don’t trust him, Prynn.

TENMEI
And that’s exactly why he needed
comfort. In fact I’m meeting him
for breakfast at Quark’s, so why
don’t we both get back to Vanadwan
so we can shower and change
and get on with our days, hmm?

CANDLEWOOD
After you.

Still tense with each other, Tenmei stalks off. Candlewood glances back at th’Shant’s door, then follows her.

3 EXT. ALJULI TOWN - MORNING

An hour or so later, and the town is coming to life. The locals open up their businesses, cafés glaze the pastries, stalls set out their wares, and people wave cheery hellos.

BASHIR and SARINA stroll hand-in-hand, enjoying the warm morning and the relaxed atmosphere. Any tension between them is now gone, and they’re a comfortable couple.

SARINA
Really? You like it here? When you
talked about the excitement of
being posted to the Federation’s
frontier, I didn’t think this was
quite what you had in mind.

BASHIR
I think it’s quaint.

SARINA
You mean it’s old.

BASHIR
It’s cosy.

SARINA
You mean it’s small.

Bashir looks at her - she’s half joking, but half not.

BASHIR
Would you rather we took a post
somewhere else? Like we said?

SARINA
(playful swat)
Of course not. But that doesn’t
mean I have to like this.

BASHIR
Where’s your spirit of adventure?

SARINA
Little quiet for adventure. I’m more
likely to grow old and grey.

BASHIR
But with each grey hair, you will
become a very handsome old woman.

SARINA
Handsome?!
(harder swat)
How dare you? That would be like
me saying you’re a lovely man.

BASHIR
I’ll have you know I am a lovely man.

Sarina grumbles, Bashir chuckles... and they stroll on.

4 INT. QUARK’S NEW BAR

Bashir and Sarina now enter the bar, which is busy with the breakfast crowd - locals and junior officers. QUARK serves at the bar, nudges O’BRIEN to see who just entered.

O’BRIEN
Julian! I saved us seats...

BASHIR
You’re a gentleman, Miles.

O’BRIEN
I’m a gentleman who wants his
breakfast, so sit. Hi, Sarina.

All three sit at the bar. Quark smiles as he pushes PADDs across the bar for them to order - it’s like old times.

SARINA
Hi, Miles. Keiko not coming?

O’BRIEN
She’s helping the ranjens to set
up a school for all the children.
She said to say hi, though.

BASHIR
Keiko setting up the school - the
Prophets have turned back time.

O’BRIEN
If they had, I’d be avoiding you
every chance I got.

Bashir turns to Sarina to explain the banter...

BASHIR
When we first came to the station,
Miles wasn’t my biggest fan.

SARINA
(dry)
I wonder why.

They all chuckle as they pass their orders back to Quark.

RWOGO (o.s.)
Lieutenant Douglas?

SARINA
Yes?

They turn, and see Inspector RWOGO approaching, flanked by two armed security - ALECO and NARAN. That alone is enough to put Bashir on red alert. He stands, confronts them...

BASHIR
Is there a problem?

ALECO
(hand out)
Please step back, Doctor.

BASHIR
Inspector, what’s going on here?

RWOGO
Sarina Douglas... I am placing you
under arrest.

Around them, the morning crowd has quieted, all forgetting their breakfasts to watch the drama unfold.

BASHIR
Wait, what? You can’t -

Bashir has pushed forwards again, trying to get in between Sarina and Rwogo - but Aleco physically pushes him back.

ALECO
(calm but firm)
Step back, Doctor.

While Bashir boggles, O’Brien gently holds him back, and the entire crowd watches, Rwogo lifts a pair of SHACKLES.

RWOGO
Please hold your arms out in front
of you, Lieutenant.

SARINA
May I at least know what I’m being
charged with first, Inspector?

RWOGO
You’re wanted for questioning about
the destruction of Deep Space Nine.

BASHIR
What?! That’s absurd -

But he cuts himself off as Sarina turns to him - and her face registers the tiniest hints of guilt... and relief.

SARINA
It’s alright, Julian.

BASHIR
No, Sarina. It’s not alright.

Sarina turns back to Rwogo, holds her hands out, and allows the security chief to lock the shackles around her wrists.

SARINA
Let’s go.

Aleco and Naran take an arm each and lead Sarina out of the bar. Rwogo nods respect to Quark, then follows them out.

PAN ACROSS the crowd as they watch the perp walk - CENN and SLAINE with Candlewood at one table, Tenmei with TH’SHANT at another. The Andorian engineer is on his feet, eyes wide with alarm. Tenmei glances to Candlewood, almost smug...

...and ending on Bashir, with O’Brien and Quark offering support. Did the woman he loves really do it after all?

BLACK OUT

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

5 INT. DEFIANT - CORRIDOR

Captain RO stands in front of a door...

RO
Doctor, you need to calm down.

BASHIR stands before her, agitated, hands through hair...

BASHIR
You realise that’s the worst thing
you can say to someone if you want
them to calm down, don’t you?

RO
Sarina is here voluntarily.

BASHIR
Really? So the shackles, Rwogo’s
use of the phrase “under arrest” -
(points at door)
- and the fact Sarina is sitting in
the brig right now just gave me
the wrong impression, did they?

RO
Granted, Rwogo may have gotten
a little carried away. But Sarina
is only here to help us with our
enquiries, that’s all.

BASHIR
I want to see her. Now.

RO
I don’t think that’s a good idea.

BASHIR
Now, Captain.

Ro really has no grounds to deny him - she grudgingly steps aside... the door opens, and Bashir stalks through into...

6 INT. DEFIANT - BRIG (CONTINUOUS)

Last seen occupied by Tomalak in 14x13 “Fragments” - now Sarina sits in the tiny cell behind a forcefield. Bashir turns to the guard on duty, ALECO...

BASHIR
You’re dismissed, Lieutenant.

Aleco glances through the still-open door to Ro - she nods. Aleco locks out his station and exits, allowing the door to close behind him. Alone now, Bashir approaches the cell...

BASHIR
Sarina...

SARINA
(sigh)
I asked Ro to keep you away.

BASHIR
Why?!

SARINA
I just thought it would be easier
for us both that way.

Bashir paces away, trying to process everything...

BASHIR
Sarina... this can’t be real. Can
it? Please tell me you didn’t do
it. Tell me you’re innocent.

SARINA
(indignant)
Of course I’m innocent. Though
I can’t tell you how good it feels
to hear you ask the question.

BASHIR
How can I not? You’re with Section
Thirty-One, Sarina! Who knows
what you’re capable of?

SARINA
You do. I thought we’d put this to
bed once, Julian.

BASHIR
I thought so too. But I guess I
was wrong. Ro wouldn’t let Rwogo
arrest you - or even “ask you for
help with her enquiries” - without
a good reason to suspect you.

SARINA
Apparently she’s not the only one.

Bashir sighs, exhausted by the whole thing.

BASHIR
What now? You’re the one with all
the plans - so tell me, what am I
supposed to do now?

SARINA
Stay out of it, that’s what.

BASHIR
How can I? I love you.

SARINA
Promise me you won’t do any-
thing stupid, Julian.

Bashir sighs again, silently submitting.

BASHIR
So what are you going to do?

SARINA
I’m going to let this play out.

BASHIR
You’re not even going to fight
back? Offer any kind of defence?

SARINA
The evidence will speak for itself.

BASHIR
What evidence? Starfleet has been
looking for a scapegoat for what
happened ever since DS-Nine was
destroyed. Good reason to suspect
might be all they need to convict.

SARINA
You really think Starfleet would
do that?

BASHIR
Who the hell knows anymore?

SARINA
Julian... I want that promise. Say
it. Tell me you won’t interfere.

A long pause as Bashir grinds silently...

BASHIR
Alright. I promise.

SARINA
Thank you. Now go on back to the
Control Centre. I’ll be fine, and
you’ve got the crew physicals
to complete, haven’t you?

BASHIR
I can’t concentrate on that now.
I’ll take leave to stay with you.

SARINA
No you won’t. You’re a Starfleet
officer, you’ll do your duty.

Bashir wants to argue, but Sarina’s stern, resolved face sucks any argument out of him. He turns and slumps to the EXIT. Sarina sits in her cell, pondering her situation...

7 EXT. ALJULI TOWN - MORNING

Mid morning on the same day. Most of the junior officers have already strolled along towards the Control Centre as they do every morning, past the local Bajoran shopkeepers.

One of the last to go is SLAINE, the Cardassian exchange officer. She is a little nervous, wary, but striding with her head high, smiling at people as she passes by.

STALL HOLDER (o.s.)
Hey! Cardassian!

Slaine pauses, takes a second. She knew this would happen sooner or later. She turns to find the speaker - an older Bajoran male, 50s, a STALL HOLDER who sells textiles.

SLAINE
Good morning, sir. Can I help you?

STALL HOLDER
Yeah, you can. Is it true? They
arrested someone for blowing up
the space station?

Slaine approaches the man, unwilling to shout across the street. But she does it slowly, not wanting to provoke.

SLAINE
Yes, it’s true. Lieutenant Douglas
has been taken into custody.

STALL HOLDER
(pointed)
I know her. She bought a tapestry
from me for her new quarters. She
was nice. She treated me well.

SLAINE
(where is
this going?)
That’s good to hear.

STALL HOLDER
Do you think she did it?

SLAINE
I really can’t say, sir.

STALL HOLDER
I don’t think so. You know why?

SLAINE
Why?

STALL HOLDER
Because I think you did it.

Slaine pauses. How to handle this diplomatically...?

SLAINE
I... don’t understand, sir...

STALL HOLDER
Really? ‘Cause it makes perfect
sense to me. You’re a Cardassian.
You couldn’t stand the fact that
Bajorans took that station away
from you... so you blew it up.

SLAINE
Sir, that’s not -

STALL HOLDER
Better to kill a thousand people
than let Bajoran scum like me
get away with anything, right?
(pushes her)
Right?!

Slaine staggers against his SHOVE. Doesn’t respond, just raises her hands in peace, voice shaking...

SLAINE
Sir, please calm down...

STALL HOLDER
Why? What are you gonna do? You
gonna kill me too?

Another SHOVE. Slaine steps back, tries to put distance between them, but he keeps pace. She looks around at the quiet street, wonders if anyone will come to her rescue...

SLAINE
Of course not -

STALL HOLDER
That station mattered to us, you
know. It said that you Cardassian
filth don’t get to define us. But you
couldn’t stand that, could you?

Another SHOVE to punctuate. Slaine finds herself pushed further and further across the street by this angry Bajoran man, while she keeps stepping back, avoiding conflict...

...until she’s up against the far wall with nowhere else to go. The Bajoran stall holder gets right up in her face...

SLAINE
Sir, I’m just trying to go about my
day, I don’t want any trouble -

STALL HOLDER
Yeah? That’s what about ten million
Bajorans said over the last fifty
years too. Didn’t stop you then.

SLAINE
Sir, the Occupation is over -

The stall holder PUNCHES her. She YELPS, shocked...

SLAINE
Sir, please -

STALL HOLDER
Over? You think it’s over for us?
It’ll never be over for us!

He HITS her again, again, again. Slaine cowers back, arms up to protect herself, whimpering as he punches her...

BLACK OUT

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

8 EXT. ALJULI TOWN - MORNING

Where we left it - the STALL HOLDER punches at Slaine, and she is letting herself get beaten up, putting up no fight.

STALL HOLDER
You’re a murderer, aren’t you? You
killed a thousand -

OOF - the stall holder is BARRELLED down, air rammed out of him and he goes flying down the street, crashing to the cobbled stone ground with blue fists gripping him tight...

...the bruised and bloodied Slaine slumps down the wall...

...Ensign TH’SHANT has one hand around the Bajoran’s throat and the other pulled back to drive it through his skull...

TH’SHANT
(furious hiss)
Leave her alone! She didn’t kill
anyone!

CENN (o.s.)
Ensign! That’s enough!

The Andorian engineer manages to hold himself back from killing the Bajoran on the spot, but he keeps a firm hold.

Major CENN catches up to the scene, rushes to Slaine’s side, helps her back to her feet...

CENN
Dalin Slaine, are you okay?

SLAINE
I’ll survive, Major, thank you.

With Slaine steady for now, Cenn turns to th’Shant, who has dragged the Stall Holder to his feet as well. The Andorian is still struggling to bring his emotions under control..

CENN
Ensign th’Shant, please take dalin
Slaine back to the Control Centre.
Make sure she sees Doctor Bashir.

TH’SHANT
Yes, Major.

Cenn takes hold of the Stall Holder instead, who is now terrified of th’Shant and does not resist...

CENN
I’ll hand our friend here over to
the local constabulary.
(to the Stall
Holder; growl)
And then... I’ll find someone to
look after your stall.

Cenn drags the other Bajoran away down the street.

Catching his breath, th’Shant goes to support Slaine. With her arm around his shoulder and his around her waist, they head slowly down the street towards the Control Centre.

She is as worried about him as he is about her...

9 INT. BAJORAN CONTROL CENTRE

The TRANSPORTER at the rear of the main room powers up...

...and th’Shant and Slaine BEAM IN, he supporting her.

TH’SHANT
Help - we need help here, please!

TENMEI and CANDLEWOOD are nearby, although not together. They both rush to the transporter platform, gently take over supporting the Cardassian down the steps...

CANDLEWOOD
Zivan? What the hell happened?

TH’SHANT
She was attacked in the street.

SLAINE
It’s not as bad as it looks.

TENMEI
Doctor Bashir! Doctor Bashir!

Bashir quickly emerges from his office at the summons...

BASHIR
What’s going on?
(realises)
Oh, I see - dalin Slaine, you’d
better come in.

SLAINE
If you’re busy, I can wait -

BASHIR
No, please - I’m supposed to be
doing the crew physicals anyway,
may as well start with you.

Candlewood supports Slaine to the medical suite, hands her over to Bashir at the door. Tenmei goes to th’Shant...

TENMEI
Are you okay? What happened?
Are your hands hurt? Let me see...

th’Shant glances towards Slaine, as Bashir closes the door of his office and switches on the milky translucent glass walls. Then th’Shant lets himself be led away by Tenmei...

10 INT. BAJORAN CONTROL CENTRE - DOCTOR’S OFFICE (CONTINUOUS)

Bashir directs Slaine towards the single bio-bed...

BASHIR
Take a seat, dalin. Doesn’t look
like anything life-threatening,
but I’ll give you a full check
over anyway, best to be safe...

Bashir is still clearly distracted by his own concerns, but a patient gives him something to focus on...

11 INT. BAJORAN CONTROL CENTRE - BREAK ROOM

The fourth of the small glass corner offices, this one set up as a small break room, with a single replicator in the wall and half a dozen soft chairs squeezed into the space.

Candlewood is already in here lifting his order out of the replicator, sipping the hot coffee. He turns to find Tenmei just entering as well, clearly intending to confront him.

TENMEI
There - you see?

Candlewood’s mouth is full, so his eyes say “See what?”

TENMEI
Vakell came to Slaine’s rescue in
the street. He saved her. Hardly
what someone who planned to
kill as many people as he could
would do, is it? Hmm?

Candlewood is going to answer, but she rolls right over...

TENMEI
Don’t bother, I know what you’re
going to say. “What better way to
deflect suspicion - save a damsel
in distress in broad daylight.” Well
that is the most distrustful, cynical
thing you’ve ever said, John
Candlewood. It’s beneath you.

Candlewood shrugs - he didn’t say anything...

TENMEI
I know Vakell has been emotional
lately. That’s just how Andorians
are. I saw Shar and his bondmates
after Thriss died, so don’t tell me
a couple of emotional outbursts
prove he’s a traitor - it just
means he cares, unlike some.

Candlewood sips his coffee, lets his friend rant...

TENMEI
And don’t tell me Vakell is not
Shar either - I know he’s not Shar.
You’re the one who can’t let go, who
keeps obsessing about one man
when there’s a whole galaxy of
men out there to choose from. So
don’t project your issues onto me.
In fact, just leave me alone.

Tenmei turns to leave, but Candlewood finally speaks...

CANDLEWOOD
Prynn...
(she turns back)
You realise you had that entire
argument with yourself, right?

TENMEI
What?

CANDLEWOOD
You had all the answers ready to
go. Which leads me to wonder
who you’re trying to convince.

TENMEI
...just leave me alone, John.

Thrown off, fight gone out of her, Tenmei turns and leaves the break room, while Candlewood returns to his coffee...

12 INT. BAJORAN CONTROL CENTRE - DOCTOR’S OFFICE

BASHIR gently runs a dermal regenerator over SLAINE’s face, causing the bruises to gradually disappear. He is quiet and insular, and she doesn’t push him - she saw what happened.

BASHIR
There you go, all better.

He places down the device, turns back to her. Gently lifts up her hand in his, runs his fingertips over her knuckles.

BASHIR
There’s no damage here...

SLAINE
No, Doctor.

BASHIR
All your wounds are defensive.

SLAINE
Yes, Doctor.

Bashir absorbs that, still withdrawn. Still thinking about Sarina. Can’t quite look Slaine in the eye...

BASHIR
Why? Why didn’t you fight back? I
can’t see the Cardassian military
sending an officer into the field
without the ability to defend
herself against one old man.

SLAINE
(softly)
I’m a Cardassian living on Bajor.
If I use violence, if I’m seen
using violence against a Bajoran
civilian, even in self defence...

Bashir picks up a medical tricorder, begins to scan her. Still trying to make sense of everything...

BASHIR
That doesn’t mean you have to
martyr yourself over past sins.

SLAINE
They weren’t my sins, Doctor.

BASHIR
So you’re saying... if you tried
to defend yourself, it would be
admitting you’d done something
that needed defending against.

SLAINE
I... suppose...

BASHIR
After all, if you’re innocent, you
don’t need a defence. The
evidence will speak for itself.

Slaine understands they are having two conversations here, even if she doesn’t know the full context. But she seems to have lost track of him. She tries to bring him back...

SLAINE
So, Doctor... will I live?

Bashir looks up at her - that’s the question, isn’t it?

13 INT. BAJORAN CONTROL CENTRE - BREAK ROOM

Now Bashir is the one lifting a steaming mug of tea out of the replicator. He sips it, his mind still miles away.

BONK - Bashir turns at the noise...

...and sees O’Brien rubbing his forehead where he just walked into the glass door. Embarrassed, O’Brien reaches for the handle and manually opens the door, muttering.

O’BRIEN
Stupid new-fangled technology.

Bashir smirks, glad for the moment’s amusement. O’Brien enters, Bashir steps aside to let him reach the replicator.

O’BRIEN
Coffee, Jamaican blend. Double
strong, double sweet.

BASHIR
One of those mornings, I take it.

O’BRIEN
For both of us. How’re you doing?

BASHIR
Oh Miles... I don’t even know
how to answer that.

O’Brien turns with the coffee, sits, lets his friend talk.

BASHIR
How do you handle it, Miles, when
the woman you love tells you a
terrible secret about herself?

O’BRIEN
Are we talking about the genetic
engineering thing again? Because
we all know already - about you
and Sarina.

BASHIR
No, we’re not talking genetic
engineering. We’re talking about
Section Thirty-One.

O’BRIEN
What do they -

But then it dawns on O’Brien... a moment of quiet horror...

O’BRIEN
Sarina? Works for Thirty-One?

Bashir can only nod sadly, stare into his own mug of tea. O’Brien takes a moment to absorb the revelation...

O’BRIEN
How did you find out?

BASHIR
She admitted it. No, she announced
it to me. She wanted me to know.

O’BRIEN
Why?

BASHIR
So that I would join her, help her
take them down from the inside.

O’BRIEN
So she doesn’t really work for
them... but you’re afraid she
really does.

BASHIR
I don’t know what to think any
more, Miles. There’s a million
thoughts going through my head.

O’BRIEN
Like... maybe she did destroy DS-
Nine, like Inspector Rwogo said?

BASHIR
I want to believe she’s innocent.
That she could never do anything
so... heinous. But she has killed
people. I saw her do it. Was her
telling me she works for Section
Thirty-One just to throw me off
the scent, distract me while she
puts some other plan into action?
That is how Thirty-One work...

O’BRIEN
Have you spoken to Ro? Or Rwogo?

BASHIR
(shakes head)
What if she wasn’t lying? The more
people who know, the more chance
Thirty-One would see us coming.

O’BRIEN
Alright. But what about this? Even
if she really is working for them,
it doesn’t necessarily follow that
she helped destroy DS-Nine.

BASHIR
What do you mean?

O’BRIEN
Well, Thirty-One say they work for
the good of the Federation, right?
So how does blowing up Starfleet’s
base of operations in a tactically
critical sector fit in with that?

BASHIR
(defeated shrug)
The sector’s even more fortified
now. There’s three heavily armed
starships on constant patrol.
Maybe that was the pay-off.

O’BRIEN
What about the casualties? They
may say they do what needs to
be done, but a thousand of their
own people killed? I don’t buy it.

BASHIR
Maybe they didn’t mean to kill so
many. Maybe it was an accident.

O’BRIEN
Are you defending Sarina? Or are
you defending Section Thirty-One?

BASHIR
I really don’t know. I don’t know
anything for sure anymore.

O’BRIEN
You know one thing. You know I’ll
support whatever decision you make.

BASHIR
Thank you, Miles.

But does it help? Bashir still doesn’t know what to do.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

14 INT. BAJORAN CONTROL CENTRE - DOCTOR’S OFFICE

Back in the medical suite, with the walls still translucent to hide the patient from view of the entire Control Centre.

BASHIR prepares another scanning device, turns back...

...and begins to scan TENMEI, who now lies on the bio-bed. She is just as distracted as he is, thoughts elsewhere.

BASHIR
Unusually low GABA levels...

TENMEI
Unusual what, sorry?

BASHIR
Gamma-aminobutyric acid. It’s a
neurotransmitter that helps to
control stress and anxiety. I
suppose that’s not unexpected.

TENMEI
Yeah. Been a hell of a few months.

Bashir nods again, turns away, prepares his next device.

TENMEI
Doctor, can I ask you something?

BASHIR
Of course.

TENMEI
Do you think it’s possible to fall
in love with the wrong person?

Bashir pauses - this is hitting too close to home again. But he tries to swallow it, continues his scans...

BASHIR
Why do you ask?

TENMEI
Just... thinking. Wondering if you
can mislead yourself... get stuck
on an idealised image of someone
that they’ll never live up to... if
you see what you want to see
instead of what’s actually there.

Bashir takes his readings, enters them into the computer. Tenmei is staring up at the ceiling...

BASHIR
Yes... I’d say that’s possible.
Seems like that’s all I’ve ever
done, sometimes.

TENMEI
I know what you mean.

As they both swallow their feelings down...

15 EST. SPACE - BAJOR ORBIT

The Defiant holds position in orbit, as the meridian creeps across the planet’s surface below, bringing night...

16 INT. DEFIANT - BRIG

The lights are lower, suggesting night shift. Sarina curls up sideways on the narrow bunk, trying to get some sleep. But the forcefield is still buzzing, and an armed security officer keeps watch from the shadows...

17 EST. VANADWAN MONASTERY - NIGHT

Dark night on the mountain top, with flickering candles in the windows, as in 14x14 “Absolute Beginners”.

18 INT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - CORRIDOR - NIGHT

BASHIR slumps along the corridor, heading back to his room. He’s had a long day, but he’s more emotionally exhausted than physically. Most other people are in bed already. He reaches the door to his room, opens it...

19 INT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - BEDROOM - NIGHT (CONTINUOUS)

...and enters the double bedroom he shares with Sarina. He doesn’t turn on the light, barely spares a glance for the empty bed. He just heads to the sideboard under the window, rests against it. Takes off his combadge, places it down.

But as he does, the viewer might notice a silhouette FIGURE sat calmly in an armchair in the darkness. Bashir sighs...

BASHIR
Honestly. Don’t you people get
tired of this? Of all the cloak-
and-dagger window dressing?

He turns... and sees L’HAAN, the Vulcan female Section 31 agent, sitting in his armchair, fingers steepled.

BASHIR
Oh don’t you look stylish in your
mysterious black clothing? And
aren’t you so terribly clever to
have infiltrated my unlocked room.
Did you crouch in my closet among
the dirty laundry? How glamorous.

L’HAAN
It is agreeable to see you again
too, Doctor.

BASHIR
What do you want, L’Haan?

L’HAAN
She’s not guilty.

A brief flash of anger - Bashir advances, but stops himself as he realises the over-reaction is too obvious.

BASHIR
Don’t you think I know that? Of
course she’s not guilty.

L’HAAN
Then why are you allowing her
to wallow in custody?

BASHIR
She hasn’t been charged. She’s
helping with their enquiries.

L’HAAN
It is possible the investigation will
clear Lieutenant Douglas of any
wrongdoing. But we can’t take
that chance. People are crying out
for justice, Doctor. It won’t be
sufficient for President Bacco to
say, “Yes, someone destroyed one
of our vital assets and killed a
thousand people, and no, we don’t
know who did it, but don’t worry,
I’m sure they won’t do it again.”
It would make everyone feel too
vulnerable... and that leads to
rash decision-making.

BASHIR
What are you saying? That because
they need to blame somebody for
what happened, they’ll find Sarina
guilty even if she’s innocent?

L’HAAN
If she’s innocent, Doctor? How
quickly we lose trust.

Bashir turns away in disgust, as much at himself as at her. L’Haan stands smoothly from the chair and approaches.

L’HAAN
Here’s what’s going to happen,
Doctor. Federation Security will
hold onto Sarina for questioning
for as long as they legally can.
When that time expires, which
it will soon, they will indict her.
And then everyone’s need for
a villain will see her convicted.

This is exactly what Bashir said to Sarina himself, but he instinctively argues against it...

BASHIR
They can’t convict her without
evidence.

L’HAAN
But there is evidence, Doctor.
There is her position in security,
which provided her access to the
very location on Deep Space Nine
where the bombs were found. There
is her unsubstantiated accusation
that Ensign th’Shant made threats
against the station. There is her
own survival of the disaster.

Bashir turns away again, tries to escape all the facts he knows very well. L’Haan calmly pursues, keeps pushing...

L’HAAN
Then there will be the revelation
of her illegal mission to Salavat.
Her violation of Breen borders.
Her abetting the murder of Breen
civilians. All of this establishes
Lieutenant Douglas’s character.
There is also the matter of her
being genetically engineered. The
general public doesn’t like that.

At the seemingly impenetrable image of Sarina’s guilt, the strength goes from Bashir’s legs, and he sits on the bed.

BASHIR
At least half that is immaterial
to what happened on DS-Nine.
And the rest is circumstantial.

L’HAAN
But circumstantial does not mean
unconvincing. In many crimes,
particularly sophisticated ones,
there is no physical evidence.
That leaves only circumstantial
evidence, and that’s what puts
most criminals in prison.

BASHIR
If they are criminals.

L’HAAN
Because they need her to be, they
will make her so. But as I said,
she is not guilty, and she is far
too valuable an asset to lose.

BASHIR
So why don’t you do something?

L’HAAN
I am. I’m here talking to you.

BASHIR
I mean, why don’t you break her
out of custody? I know you could
do it.

L’Haan strolls away, seemingly pondering this option...

L’HAAN
We could do that. But her value as
an asset would be diminished. She’d
have to operate in the shadows...
and I’m not sure how satisfying
that would be for her...
(turns back to him)
...or for you. Because then your
choices would be to join us... or
to never see Ms Douglas again.
(strolls again)
No, it is better that she retain an
identity that people know and
trust. But that means her name
needs to be cleared. As her lover,
people would expect you to try.

BASHIR
And how am I supposed to do that?

L’HAAN
By finding the actual culprit, of
course.

BASHIR
Who is it?

L’HAAN
I don’t know. If I did, I wouldn’t
be here talking to you right now.

BASHIR
Well if you don’t know, with all
your resources, how am I supposed
to figure it out on my own?

L’Haan strolls away again, almost smiling...

L’HAAN
Were you aware that revitrite, the
Andorian explosive used in those
bombs, leaves behind a radioactive
signature in cellular material?

BASHIR
I don’t think that’s true.

L’HAAN
No? Even in certain circumstances,
like proximity to a fusion core?

BASHIR
That doesn’t sound right either.

L’HAAN
Maybe not. But very few will know
that. And I’m certain you could
produce some experimental results
to reinforce such an assertion.

BASHIR
Are you suggesting I substitute
another innocent person to take
the blame in Sarina’s place?

By now L’Haan has reached the door. She pauses, looks back.

L’HAAN
I am suggesting that Ms Douglas is
not guilty of the crimes for which
she will be charged, and that you
must therefore do everything in
your power to see her freed.

BASHIR
Everything in my power?

L’HAAN
Good night, Doctor.

She silently opens the door, and is gone.

...leaving Bashir wondering what the hell to do next.

20 EST. ALJULI APARTMENTS - NIGHT

The same night, outside the juniors’ apartment block...

21 INT. ALJULI APARTMENTS - RO’S QUARTERS

A KNOCK at the door. And again. And again. RO drags herself out of bed with an annoyed GROAN, slumps the small distance to the door of her room, pauses before opening it...

RO
Quark, I swear to the Prophets,
if this is you -

BASHIR (o.s.)
It’s not Quark. It’s Bashir.

Ro pauses, gathers herself... then opens the door. Bashir stands outside, looking worried, excited, nervous...

RO
Doctor? What’s going on?

BASHIR
I know it’s late, Captain, but I
needed to talk to you right away.
May I come in?

Ro considers him for a moment, then lets him in and closes the door behind him. She heads to the bed, sits back down, and lets Bashir pace back and forth across the small room.

BASHIR
There’s something I should have
told you a long time ago, Captain,
and I’m sorry that I didn’t. But
I’m going to tell you now.

RO
Alright. Go on.

BASHIR
I just had a visit from L’Haan,
the Section Thirty-One agent.

RO
What did she want?

BASHIR
To tell me that Sarina didn’t
destroy Deep Space Nine.

RO
And how would she know that?

BASHIR
Because Sarina... also works for
Section Thirty-One.

Bashir expects an explosion, but Ro absorbs this calmly...

RO
Well, thank you for telling me,
Doctor. But as it happens...
I already know.

As Bashir’s jaw drops in amazement...

BLACK OUT

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

22 INT. ALJULI APARTMENTS - RO’S QUARTERS

Bashir still has jaw dropped with amazement, dumbstruck...

BASHIR
You... how...

RO
I think you’d better sit, Doctor.

BASHIR
Yes... sit...

Bashir takes the chair at Ro’s desk. Still processing...

RO
I suspected something ever since
Commander Deel came to see me...

FLASHBACK - 14x01 “SIREN”

Ro introduces Bashir to the Betazoid intelligence agent...

BACK TO SCENE

BASHIR
Deel... Sarina told me she was...

RO
...in Vaughn’s anti Section 31
group, yes. So am I, in case you
forgot. I thought you were too.

FLASHBACK - 10x19 “RESET”

Bashir and Vaughn argue over what to do with L’Haan...

BACK TO SCENE

BASHIR
I told him I wanted out... that
saving lives was more important.

RO
I don’t think it works that way,
Julian. Once you’re in, you’re in.
So then when Sarina came to
me three months ago -

BASHIR
Three months? That must have been -

RO
Just after she told you - and you
didn’t take it so well.

FLASHBACK - 14x14 “FRAGMENTS”

Bashir flinches back from Sarina, hugging his teddy bear...

BACK TO SCENE

RO
So she came to me instead. Gave
me all the right code words. Proved
she was who she said she was.

BASHIR
There are code words? Why didn’t
I know there were code words?

RO
I thought you wanted out?

Bashir clams up again at Ro’s pointed question.

RO
So then it was all three of us
searching for the sabotage. My
advanced tactical training...

BASHIR
...Sarina’s intelligence skills...

RO
...And Rwogo’s years of experience
as a Ferengi crime inspector.

BASHIR
But you didn’t find anything.

RO
Which, being arrogant, suggests
there was nothing to find.

BASHIR
At least, not until just before
the Typhon Pact tried to sneak
back through the wormhole.

RO
Which gives us a time frame.

Bashir is getting into it now, figuring things through...

BASHIR
Does Rwogo know? About Sarina?

RO
Not at first. But just last week,
she told me she’d been thinking...

FLASHBACK - 14x17 “INTO THE LION’S DEN”

Rwogo and Ro head into her office from the situation desk, and turn on the translucent privacy glass...

CUT TO:

23 INT. BAJORAN CONTROL CENTRE - CAPTAIN’S OFFICE

Immediately following that moment, RWOGO sits in Ro’s guest chair opposite the captain...

RWOGO
It occurs to me, Captain, that if
there is another conflict with the
Typhon Pact brewing, and we don’t
know for sure that an agent of the
Pact isn’t among us as we speak...
it might be prudent to bring that
particular bit of business to a
close before we proceed further.

RO
You could be right. But how? We’ve
both tried - for months before and
months after. It still happened.

Rwogo has no immediate answers...

RO (v.o.)
So, I brought Sarina in...

A smooth CUT with a simple change of angle, revealing...

24 INT. BAJORAN CONTROL CENTRE - CAPTAIN’S OFFICE

...that SARINA now sits in the office with them. The three women talk MOS, not entirely harmoniously...

RO (v.o.)
(continuing)
...and told Rwogo all about her.

CUT TO:

25 INT. ALJULI APARTMENTS - RO’S QUARTERS

Back to Bashir absorbing Ro’s story...

BASHIR
I can’t imagine that went over well.

RO
Finding out that her own deputy was
a double agent all along, and I knew
it, after I’d been the one accusing
her of being dishonest? No, I can’t
say it did. I had to do some pretty
serious grovelling. Luckily, that’s a
language Rwogo understands. And
between us, we came up with a plan.

BASHIR
To use Sarina as a decoy.

RO
It was her idea.

FLASHBACK - EARLIER

Rwogo arrests Sarina in front of all Quark’s customers...

RO (v.o.)
If Rwogo arrested Sarina for the
destruction of the station, made
as big a spectacle as possible...

BACK TO SCENE

RO
(continuing)
...then hopefully the real culprit
would relax, let their guard down.

BASHIR
That’s a pretty thin thread to hang
your hopes on. Just because some-
one else is arrested doesn’t mean
the real saboteur will start dropping
clues left right and centre.

RO
Maybe not. But nothing else had
worked, so it was worth a shot.
Especially since it might lead to
someone like L’Haan showing up and
dropping some clues of her own.

BASHIR
And you couldn’t let me in on it
because you needed my reactions
to look real for anyone watching.

RO
Sorry. If it helps, you put on a
very convincing performance.

BASHIR
So what now?

RO
Well, did L’Haan give you anything
useful?

BASHIR
Not really. She just insisted that
Sarina was innocent, and that it
was up to me to find out who the
real guilty party was. She did
suggest a way to entrap someone
else... but I have no intention of
going through with it.

Ro looks at him - can they really afford such scruples?

26 EST. ALJULI TOWN - MORNING

The next morning, business as usual on Aljuli’s streets...

27 INT. BAJORAN CONTROL CENTRE - DOCTOR’S OFFICE

Back in the medical suite, with the walls still translucent for privacy - only it’s Ensign TH’SHANT on the bio-bed, and Sgt ETANA, the Bajoran nurse, is on duty alongside Bashir.

Bashir holds up a DEVICE to the Andorian ensign, designed to go in his mouth, with a bulb of RED GEL at the end.

BASHIR
Breathe into this, Ensign. Let’s
check out your lung function.

th’Shant looks at the device uncertainly...

TH’SHANT
I don’t remember this test.

BASHIR
That’s because you’ve never done
it before. But the captain wanted
it added to everyone’s physical.

TH’SHANT
The captain’s dictating medical
policy? That seems... odd.

BASHIR
It’s not just a whim. A number of
crew spent hours trapped in small,
enclosed spaces in the aftermath
of the explosion. Myself included.
Some of those sections didn’t stay
completely pressurised, so there
could be some lung damage.

TH’SHANT
I wasn’t in the wreckage. I was
on a runabout.

BASHIR
Yes, but medical tests have to be
standardised, you know that. Now
come on, we don’t have all day.

th’Shant’s Andorian antennae shift from an expression of confusion to one of suspicion... but he submits anyway, and allows Bashir to place the device into his mouth.

BASHIR
Normal breaths, Ensign. About half
a dozen.

th’Shant does, eyes flicking anxiously between Bashir, who is observing the device, and Etana, who is preparing the next test. After the breaths, Bashir draws the device back and moves off to enter its readings into the computer.

TH’SHANT
Sergeant Etana... I thought you
were assigned to the recruitment
centre in Musilla. Like K’Uhllo.

The Bajoran nurse hands the next device to Bashir, smiles reassuringly at th’Shant...

ETANA
I was. But Doctor Bashir asked for
my help with the physicals.

TH’SHANT
(looks away)
Didn’t need any help with Prynn.

ETANA
No, but it’ll get done faster with
the extra pair of hands, won’t it?

BASHIR
Hmm... that’s strange...

th’Shant immediately tenses. Bashir is pondering curiously at his computer screens...

TH’SHANT
What is?

BASHIR
Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing. These
results aren’t showing any damage
from a loss of pressurisation.

TH’SHANT
Then what’s the problem?

Bashir turns to him with a soothing smile...

BASHIR
When you breathe, you’re obviously
inhaling the nearby atmosphere.
There’s a gas exchange in the
pulmonary alveoli -

TH’SHANT
(impatient)
Yes, I understand how respiration
works, Doctor. What’s the problem?

BASHIR
There are certain substances that,
if airborne, can become lodged in
the alveoli during that exchange.
Your lung test is showing that.

TH’SHANT
Is it serious? Can it be treated?

BASHIR
Most of the time, yes. It depends
on what the foreign substance is.

TH’SHANT
So what is it?

BASHIR
Not quite sure yet. I’ve got the
computer analysing it now.

The computer BEEPS, Bashir smiles, th’Shant tenses...

BASHIR
And there we go. Just a moment...

Bashir turns back to his computer, pulls up the results...

Etana is just getting on with her work in the background...

th’Shant keeps a close, nervous eye on them both...

BASHIR
Hmm... not heard of it. Apparently
it’s something called...
(to th’Shant,
confused)
...revitrite?

th’Shant LEAPS off the bio-bed in a split second, PUNCHES Bashir in the chest with the heel of his fist...

Bashir goes FLYING back, CRASHES into the computer console, head CRACKS against the glass, equipment CLATTERS...

As he slumps, Bashir looks groggily up, sees Etana pull a PHASER out of nowhere and FIRE it, the weapon SCREECHING...

Muddy sounds of SHOUTS, SCREAMS, more PHASER fire...

...and then Bashir slips into unconsciousness.

BLACK OUT

END OF ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE

FADE IN:

28 INT. BAJORAN CONTROL CENTRE

The THUMP of Bashir’s body hitting the computer, the CRACK of his skull hitting the glass, the CLATTER of equipment, indistinct SHAPES visible through the translucent glass...

The SCREECH of a phaser shot scorching the glass, a SHOUT of pain, more CLATTER of medical equipment being thrown...

Then the door of the medical suite SLAMS open and th’Shant SPRINTS out, phaser burn on his shoulder, adrenaline on overload, heads straight for the transporter platform...

...past junior crew rising in shock and horror from their stations, familiar faces like NARAN and O’BRIEN...

ETANA appears in the doorway, phaser in hand...

ETANA
Stop him!

SLAINE happens to be the closest one, makes a beeline for th’Shant before he can reach the transporter...

...the Andorian PUNCHES the Cardassian he saved earlier, she goes down, he reaches the transporter...

...Slaine reaches up from the floor, urgently works the nearest computer at top speed...

...the transporter powers down. th’Shant ROARS and rips off a cover panel, plunges his hands into the innards, tries to reactivate power... Etana approaches, phaser pointed...

ETANA
Stand down, Ensign.

Grasping that there is no escape, th’Shant looks up...

...and sees everyone looking at him. Etana, Slaine, Naran, O’Brien, Candlewood... and finally Tenmei. Staring in horror, tears in her eyes. He did that to her.

th’Shant ROARS and leaps for Etana, planning to wrestle the phaser from her...

...she FIRES, hits him in the chest, and he falls to the deck, half-conscious...

29 TH’SHANT’s POV

Looking up from the deck, he sees all the bodies gathering around him... including RO, glaring down at him with a very personal disappointment.

30 EST. VANADWAN MONASTERY - EARLY EVENING

Evening, moving towards dusk at the mountaintop monastery.

31 INT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - BEDROOM - EARLY EVENING

BASHIR winces at SARINA’s hand cradling the back of his head, as they lie tastefully together in the double bed.

BASHIR
Yeoww! Careful...

SARINA
Oh come on, you’ve had worse.

BASHIR
Nice to know the woman I love
cares so little for my pain.

Meant as a joke, but Sarina looks at him nervously...

SARINA
Do you...? Love me, I mean.

BASHIR
You know I do.

SARINA
I know this whole thing had to
have brought up all your doubts
again. It couldn’t not.

Bashir takes a moment to put it all together...

BASHIR
Yes, it did. I won’t deny that. But
thinking back... I think it gave
me some clarity as well.

SARINA
What do you mean?

BASHIR
What you said about intelligence
work forcing us to cross lines. I
lied to Ensign th’Shant. There was
no revitrite in his lungs - in any
of them. I’d used that line on
fourteen other people before him.
Just waiting to see who reacted.

SARINA
That’s why Etana was really there.
Not to help with the physicals.
Because she used to be security
before transferring to medical.

BASHIR
That... and she’d been fooled by
Section Thirty-One herself before.
She’d have the motivation.

SARINA
Is that what you think I did?
Fooled you?

BASHIR
Didn’t you? But... violating my
medical ethics that way, such a
small thing... it brought it all
closer to home than any of our
ridiculous, overblown adventures
on Salavat ever managed.

SARINA
It wasn’t so fantastical. It was
real life. But the goal was the
same - to protect the Federation.

BASHIR
No doubt that’s what Vaughn always
told himself. He had a mission...
and the ends justified the means.

SARINA
So what about me? What about us?

BASHIR
I’m not sure the doubts will ever
go away, Sarina. Every argument
you give me to prove you’re being
honest with me... my brain can’t
help coming up with the counter-
argument that proves you’re a liar.

Sarina absorbs that... she can’t really blame him.

BASHIR
So... I suppose there’s nothing
else to do but make a decision.
And I’ve decided... to believe
the woman I love. To trust you.

SARINA
(relieved)
Thank you, Julian. I know this
wasn’t easy for you.

BASHIR
Then it’s a perfect time for me to
take that leave we talked about.

SARINA
(grin)
What shall we do with the time?

He grins back to her, and they KISS, snuggling back down into the bed. PAN over to the TAPESTRY hanging opposite...

BASHIR (o.s.)
Nice tapestry, by the way. Where
did you get it?

Sarina chuckles...

32 EXT. VANADWAN MONASTERY - EARLY EVENING

TENMEI stands just within the arch that leads out onto the transporter plaza. Staring at it, and the mountain scenery beyond. Hugging herself against the chill at this height.

CANDLEWOOD (o.s.)
Hey...

She glances back, sees CANDLEWOOD approaching sensitively. She turns away again, goes back to staring...

TENMEI
Come to gloat, I see. Well go on,
then. I guess I deserve it.

He joins her under the archway, hugs her from behind...

CANDLEWOOD
I would never do that.
(beat)
Okay, I would totally do that. But
I won’t. I know all about seeing
an idealised version of people.
I’m sorry it didn’t work out.

TENMEI
I just don’t understand, John. He
argued for Starfleet against his
own people. Why would he...

She can’t even say what he did. Candlewood fills the void.

CANDLEWOOD
Have you spoken to him? Asked him?

She turns, looks at her friend... can she do that?

33 INT. DEFIANT - BRIG

TH’SHANT sits in the cell, arms folded petulantly...

TH’SHANT
I don’t want to see anyone.

RWOGO stands facing him through the forcefield...

RWOGO
What you want is immaterial, Ensign.
Lieutenant Tenmei outranks you.

The Ferengi inspector turns, the door opens... and TENMEI enters hesitantly, unsure what she’ll find.

RWOGO
I’ll be right outside if you need
anything, Lieutenant.

TENMEI
Thanks, Inspector.

Rwogo EXITS, the door closes. Tenmei approaches th’Shant...

TENMEI
Hi, Vakell.
(he turns away)
I know you don’t want to talk.
But I want to try to understand
why you did... what you did.

TH’SHANT
Oh? Nobody’s bothering to explain
to me why you did what you did.

TENMEI
What I did?

TH’SHANT
All of you! But then I guess there
is no explanation for racism...

TENMEI
Racism? I really don’t -

TH’SHANT
(sarcastic smile)
No, of course you don’t. You just
belong to an organisation that
demonises all Andorians.

Tenmei pauses. It’s clear that his fear is coming out as anger, and she will force herself not to react to it.

TENMEI
The reassignment orders.

FLASHBACK - 14x08 “99 PROBLEMS”

Tenmei comforts th’Shant on the couch in his quarters...

BACK TO SCENE

TENMEI
But you chose to stay. To fight for
your right to stay.

TH’SHANT
And they still accused me anyway.

TENMEI
Look, I don’t know why Lieutenant
Douglas said what she said. Maybe
it was an honest mistake.

TH’SHANT
It doesn’t matter why. Everyone
believed her anyway. After all,
who could ever trust Andorians?
We left the Federation!

TENMEI
So... what? You decided to punish
us by becoming exactly what you
thought we thought you were?

TH’SHANT
I don’t owe you anything. You’re
the ones who betrayed us!

FLASHBACK - 14x08 “99 PROBLEMS”

th’Shant pauses at the airlock with Cmdr ZHRAR, exchanges a significant look, then notices SARINA watching them...

BACK TO SCENE

Tenmei adds the pieces together...

TENMEI
So you used Andor’s connection to
the Tholians to offer the Typhon
Pact an agent on the station. You
got ahold of the bombs somehow...

As th’Shant watches her figure it out...

FLASHBACK - 14x09 “CROSSROADS”

The True Way agent MORAD exchanges code words and data chips with a heavily cloaked figure in Quark’s bar...

BACK TO SCENE

TENMEI
...you waited for the Romulans’ signal...

FLASHBACK - 14x12 “HELTER SKELTER”

th’Shant nervously working the Ops engineering station...

BACK TO SCENE

TENMEI
...and then you planted the bombs
to force an evacuation, so we’d be
distracted when the Romulans tried
to sneak through the wormhole.
(beat)
But it went wrong, didn’t it? You
never meant for the station to be
destroyed, or for so many to die.
You never meant to kill Jeanette.

TH’SHANT
You’re wrong. I wanted them dead.
I wanted you dead.

TENMEI
No you didn’t.

FLASHBACK - 14x14 “ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS”

th’Shant crying and raging at Tenmei in the street...

BACK TO SCENE

TENMEI
You were horrified at what you’d
done. That’s why you saved Captain
Ro and Major Cenn... not out of
heroism... out of guilt.
(beat)
But what about me? I never accused
you of anything. I defended you.

TH’SHANT
You? You’re just as racist as the
rest of them. Chasing after me for
months, and not because you were
interested in me... just because
I reminded you of Shar.

TENMEI
(sigh)
Maybe you’re right, Vakell. Maybe
I was seeing what I wanted to see.
But I won’t take the blame for what
you did. You made those decisions
all on your own. And now you’ll
have to face the consequences.

She turns away to leave, then pauses and turns back...

TENMEI
You were right about one other
thing. You’re not Shar. And you
never will be. Goodbye, Vakell.

She EXITS, leaving him in the brig cell...

BLACK OUT

END OF SHOW

TNG 19x18 - “WHATEVER REMAINS”

At a greasy-spoon diner on Orion, the short order fry cook is told by his boss that “some guys” were asking after him. Months earlier, after a brief “welcome back” party on Enterprise, Data leaves with the revived Lal without even saying goodbye. He brings her back to Orion and takes over his father Noonien’s old casino empire. Enterprise is recalled to Earth to debrief and discuss Data’s resurrection. While there, LaForge connects with Leah Brahms and they sleep together – leaving LaForge feeling guilty, as he had been dating junior doctor Tamala Harstad. Then he receives a secret call from Data, pleading for his help, and he can’t tell anyone why. The day before, on Orion, the fry cook returns home to find his daughter and her nursemaid are missing. A hologram appears – “Greetings, my dear Mr Data.” It is Moriarty, and he has kidnapped Lal, holding her hostage until Data finds him a real body to live in...

VOY 12x18 - “MUST BE THE TRUTH”

Kashyk tries Janeway for her actions during Voyager’s first time in the DQ, broadcast throughout the Confederacy. Chakotay wants to rescue her, but Lasren insists she has a plan. Kashyk brings out “witnesses” to Janeway’s crimes, but she reveals they are all being manipulated by The Eight, using data from the shuttle Meegan stole (VOY “Trigger”). Nothing else can explain such an unlikely alien alliance. With the truth out, the various alien ships turn on each other, and another brutal battle ensues. Voyager throws itself between to save Janeway, and when even the Voth cityship retreats, Kashyk surrenders. Once Chakotay boards, he finds Janeway in full control. Meegan swears that all they want is access to the Streams to find their world and go home. Janeway is willing to help, but Cin would rather turn her over to Starfleet and be done. Chakotay assures Cin there is more to gain from learning the truth...