ACT THREE

FADE IN:

19 EXT. SPACE

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

20 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

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

CENN
Any ideas for a heading?

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

RAIQ
I was observing the metamorphs.

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

CENN
It’s not your homeworld?

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

RO
So... yes on the Omarion Nebula?

RAIQ
It is a place to begin.

Ro nods to Cenn, who gets the ship underway.

21 EXT. SPACE

The runabout jumps to WARP.

22 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE

Bringing us back home...

23 INT. DS9 – QUARK’S BAR

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

QUARK
In or out, Commander.

EVIK
As you wish, Ambassador.

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

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

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

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

EVIK
Ah, you’re a traditionalist.

QUARK
I’m a pillar of the community.

EVIK
Is Mister Gaber not around?

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

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

QUARK
You can trust me, Commander.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

QUARK
What? What happened?

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

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

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

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

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

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

24 EXT. BAJOR - ASHALLA

Returning to the Bajoran capital...

25 INT. VEDEK ASSEMBLY CHAMBER

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bellis’s demeaning word choice does not go unnoticed.

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

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

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

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

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

PRALON
Why would they do such a thing?

BELLIS
To search for more Ascendants.

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

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

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

More shouting and angry voices.

PRALON
You have gone too far, Vedek!

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

YEVIR (o.s.)
You’re wrong, Bellis.

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

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

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

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

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

26 EXT. SPACE

The runabout travels at warp...

27 INT. RUNABOUT - REAR CABIN

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

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

RAIQ
(quiet)
I have thought.

And apparently come up with no answers.

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

28 INT. RUNABOUT - COCKPIT

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

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

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

RO
Jem’Hadar.

Kira realises the problem...

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT THREE