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