ACT FIVE

FADE IN

33 INT. CARDASSIAN WARSHIP - CAPTAIN’S OFFICE

Where we left it - with Natima have made her declaration and Quark horrified by it. 

QUARK
You heard what Mogad said. We
all heard it. You were a dissident
before the war, Natima. They’d
love to get hold of you again.
Ghemor isn’t around anymore to
protect you, and Gint only knows
what this new Castellan will do. 

MACET
Rakena Garan may be cautious but
she is no dictator, Quark. She will
treat Ambassador Lang fairly.

QUARK
Can you guarantee that? Can you
guarantee people like Mogad won’t
ever get their hands on her and
indulge their fantasies of the good
old days when he could abuse and
torture anyone he wanted?

NATIMA
Quark, there’s no other choice.
Besides, I am a popular figure
with the public. People like Mogad
are the minority these days. And
when I tell everyone what I was
arrested for, it may do more to
help solve this food problem than
any amount of smuggling would.

QUARK
But they’ll kill you! 
(to Ro)
Laren, you can’t let her do this. 

Ro struggles to answer - this whole time, she has been watching Quark’s extremely emotional display in Natima’s favour, and realising how much he cares for her. 

RO
Quark... I’m afraid she’s right.
Macet takes Natima, the Ashell,
and the cargo - which was already
half-destroyed anyway - back home.
Then they’re distracted while you
and I take over the operation. I
use Starfleet to get the food and
supplies, you get it out to the
colonies however you like. We can
even drop the crew off at Orias
under cloak. Mogad thinks they’re
dead anyway, nobody’ll know. 
(beat, reluctant)
It’s the best way. 

Quark looks at Ro, something astonishing and horrifying slowly occurring to him. He steps close, speaking quietly. 

QUARK
Are you trying to get rid of her?
Get her out of the way? 

Ro’s jaw drops - she is genuinely hurt and upset that he could think that of her. Quark sees this and backs off. 

QUARK
Okay, you’re not. I’m sorry.
Forget I said that. 

Ro takes a moment to reorient herself from such a personal attack. Quark is ashamed of himself. Macet and Natima both sense the tension but do not comment. After a moment... 

MACET
So, then - we have a plan of action. 

QUARK
I still hate it. 

NATIMA
I’m not thrilled myself. Sitting
in that cell, staring at Mogad’s
condescending, sneering face...
I know exactly where I’m going.
But I’ve handled worse. And it’s
the best thing for the colonists. 

She reaches out and caresses Quark’s face affectionately. Ro watches this with a tense jaw. 

NATIMA
I’ll be fine, Quark. Don’t worry
about me. 

He clearly will worry, but she is obviously determined. Then she straightens - the meeting is concluded. 

NATIMA
Thank you for everything, Laren -
thank you both. It’s probably best
you were on your way now. 

RO
Good luck, Ambassador. Gul. 

MACET
Commander. 

Quark still doesn’t want to leave, holding Natima’s hand till the last moment. But Ro guides him out of the room anyway, leaving Macet and Natima alone. 

34 EXT. SPACE

The Trager and the Ashell, but focusing on the Defiant. 

35 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE

The door opens and Ro steps back onto the bridge, Quark at her side. Bowers shoots to his feet from the chair. The bridge is now back at regular non-cloak lighting. 

BOWERS
Captain on the bridge. 

Ro smiles indulgently as Bowers steps aside for her. She settles back into the command chair. 

RO
Status, Lieutenant? 

BOWERS
All the Ashell’s crew - aside from
Ambassador Lang - have been
beamed aboard. Doctor Bashir
is tending to them in sickbay. 

RO
Good. 

TENMEI
Commander - the Trager. 

They all look to the viewscreen, which shows the Cardassian warship snaring the freighter in a TRACTOR BEAM. Once it is settled, the two ships begin moving off together. 

Ro looks to her side - and Quark is watching the Cardassian ships leave with a look of anguished concern. Ro can’t help but feel for him, but still... She pulls herself together. 

RO
Okay. Prynn, set course for Bajor,
and engage at warp one. After two
minutes, raise the cloak, then
reverse course and come right
back to Orias. We have some
colonists to feed. 

TENMEI
Aye, sir. 

Quark turns and leaves the bridge without a word. Ro watches him go. Tenmei watches Ro watching Quark, and winces in sympathy. 

But then Ro turns back, sees Tenmei watching her, and points the helms-woman’s attention back to her console. 

Understanding that Ro doesn’t want to talk about it, Tenmei sadly turns back to work and gets the ship moving. 

36 EXT. SPACE

The Defiant zooms along at low warp - the CLOAK ripples and the ship slowly disappears from view.

37 INT. DEFIANT - CORRIDOR

Lights low now that we are back under cloak. Quark strolls the corridor, things on his mind.

Nog and Leishman are coming the other way, talking MOS over the contents of a padd. When he notices Quark approaching, Nog hands the padd to Leishman and ushers her towards a turbolift - understanding, she takes it, nods and leaves.

NOG
Uncle... how are you doing?

QUARK
Just great. Never better.

NOG
Sorry.

QUARK
I’m just confused, Nog. I’m not...
“together”... with either Laren or
Natima. So why does it feel like I
just broke up with both of them?

NOG
Shar always used to say it’s
possible to love more than one
person at a time.

QUARK
But I don’t - 

NOG
Yes you do. You’ve been in love
with her from the day you met her.
I knew it the moment I heard you
offer to buy her a drink. You don’t
do that for just anyone.

QUARK
But she said - 

NOG
I know she did. And yes - nobody
says what they really mean. But
she’s said it so many times that
you’re not a couple... I think
maybe it’s time you believe her.

QUARK
But we slept together.

NOG
(gestures towards 
turbolift)
So did Leishman and I. Well, not
slept. But we talked it out, and
we agreed that we should just
be friends. Neither of us feel any
more than that. So if Ro doesn’t
feel how you feel... maybe you
should just be friends too.

Quark stares into the distance. Can he do that? 

38 INT. DEFIANT - BRIDGE

Lights lowered for cloak. Tenmei checks her consoles... 

TENMEI
Approaching Orias Three now,
Commander. 

RO
Standard orbit, maintain cloak. 

TENMEI
Aye, sir. 

RO
I’d better go and get our guests
ready. Sam, you have the bridge. 

Ro gets up and walks to the exit. Tenmei watches her go, and gets up to call after her. 

TENMEI
Commander, d’you have a moment? 

RO
Sure. 

Tenmei enters a last few commands into her console, then rushes after Ro. They both exit into... 

39 INT. DEFIANT - CORRIDOR

As they enter the corridor, Tenmei makes sure the door to the bridge has closed first. Ro turns to her... 

TENMEI
Bowers would probably kill me for
this, but... 

Tenmei pulls Ro into a gentle, comforting hug. Ro is surprised, but goes with it. 

TENMEI
I’m sorry, Commander. 

RO
Thanks, Prynn. But I’ll be fine. 

Tenmei lets go of the hug and they both step back a bit. 

TENMEI
I remember when I saw Shar going
off with his bondmates. I felt
ridiculous. I had no claim on him.
I could see for myself how much
he loved them. Still... it was tough.

RO
But I don’t... 

TENMEI
Well, I know that’s what you say.
But maybe you feel more than you
think you do. I know how it can
creep up on you sometimes.

RO
I don’t even know where this
came from. It’s stupid. 

TENMEI
You’ve been on-and-off-ing for
four years. Maybe it’s time you
made a decision, one way or
the other. Do you love him? 

Such a simple question... how can she possibly answer it? 

40 INT. DEFIANT - CORRIDOR

Quark walks along the corridor, considering what Nog said. 

Ro walks along the corridor, considering what Tenmei said. 

They both notice the other walking towards them, and stop. 

RO
Quark. We’re in orbit of Orias
Three now. Shall we? 

QUARK
After you, Commander. 

They turn together and enter a cargo bay... 

FADE OUT

END OF SHOW