ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

33 VIDEO CLIP

The same video clip all over again - explosion, space station torn apart, ball of flame carrying debris towards the camera, finally cut to static.

34 INT. DS9 - CAPTAIN’S OFFICE

Bashir, Ro and Deel watch this on Ro’s desktop screen, all suitably daunted. Bashir remains tense...

BASHIR
I’m sorry but I still don’t see
what this has to do with me.

DEEL
(re the screen)
The moment this happened, we began
analysing ship activity throughout
Typhon Pact territory, looking for
patterns that might suggest they
were gathering components and
material for building a slipstream
ship. We think we’ve found it.

RO
In Romulan space?

Deel brings up new data on the screen - an icy PLANET.

DEEL
Actually, no. We’re looking at the
Breen world of Salavat. Not much
more than a chunk of frozen rock,
but it’s been getting an awful lot
of attention lately from Breen and
Romulans. It’s also where they’ve
been shipping critical parts for a
chroniton integrator, which is the
secret to making slipstream work
without slamming into planets at a
thousand times the speed of light.

RO
If you know that’s where they’re
building the prototype, why not
just send in a fleet and frag the
whole planet?

DEEL
Tempting, but ultimately self-
defeating. We’re in no condition
to start a shooting war with the
Typhon Pact, Captain. Besides,
just because this is where they’re
building it doesn’t mean it’s the
only place they’re keeping the
plans. But it does mean it’s where
they’re doing their research -

BASHIR
(catching on)
And updating those plans as they
figure out how to make the drive
work with their ship designs.

DEEL
Very good, Doctor. That’s this
target’s real value. We don’t just
want to destroy the ship - we want
to sabotage the stolen data and
all its back-ups. If we succeed,
we can set back the Typhon Pact’s
slipstream research by a decade,
by which time Starfleet should
be back on its feet. If we fail...
I don’t think any of us wants to
know what happens after that.

BASHIR
On that much we can agree. But
I still don’t see why you think
I’m the right man for this job.
It’s hardly my area of expertise.

Deel brings up another new image - the madman ETHAN LOCKEN from 8x08 “Abyss”. Bashir is not happy to be reminded...

FLASHBACK - 8x07 “ROGUE”

-- Romulan dead bodies half-materialised through a wall

-- Locken smiling and polite, a pleasant older gentleman

BACK TO SCENE

Bashir shudders with revulsion. Deel continues unheeding...

DEEL
On the contrary Doctor. The after-
action report from your mission to
Sindorin suggests you’re quite
capable. In addition, Intelligence
suffered losses to the Borg just
like the rest of Starfleet. Quite
frankly we don’t have anyone with
the skills this mission requires.

BASHIR
And what skills would those be?

DEEL
Our knowledge of the Breen is
still limited. Remote observation
has yielded almost no usable intel
about their society or biology.
Whoever we send will have to think
and adapt at superhuman speeds.
The cold temperatures and higher
gravity on Salavat mean we need
someone with great strength and
endurance. And, not to put too
fine a point on it, but we need
someone who can fit in the suit.

BASHIR
(deep breath)
I see. Forgive me if I don’t seem
thrilled at the prospect of being
dropped alone onto a Breen planet
when you don’t even have any idea
what you’re sending me into. 

DEEL
Well, you wouldn’t be going in
alone. As for what you’d be going
into, we’ve brought some experts
who may be able to shed some light
on that. Assuming you’re willing
to commit to the mission.

Bashir is clearly struggling with this. He looks to Ro for guidance, but she only shrugs.

RO
Your call, Doctor.

DEEL
The fact is, Doctor, we need you.
Your enhanced abilities give you
a better chance of surviving this
mission than any other agent. If
you turn us down, we’ll go ahead
without you... but I honestly
don’t like our chances.

Bashir ponders for a moment, then makes his decision.

BASHIR
Alright, Commander. Let’s go and
meet your experts.

Off Bashir’s determination...

35 INT. DS9 - CARGO BAY

...to his utter dismay at who those experts are.

BASHIR
Oh no...

JACK (from 6x09 “Statistical Probabilities”) flashes a crazy-eyed smile, rattles out his rapid-fire speech...

JACK
Bet you weren’t expecting us,
were you? Hm? Hm? Hm?

Next to him, 60-year-old man-baby PATRICK bounces with excitement, gives a childish wave and a shy giggle...

PATRICK
Hello, Julian.

Bashir JERKS as a hand grabs his ass - he turns to find sex-crazed LAUREN leaning seductively against the wall...

LAUREN
Love the beard. Very sexy.

Bashir turns to Deel, who brought him here...

BASHIR
I’m out.

Bashir heads for the door, but Deel grabs his shoulder...

DEEL
I know about your history with
these three, Doctor, but -

BASHIR
Then you know they shouldn’t
even be here.

DEEL
(placating)
Let’s be reasonable, Doctor. You
and I both know that Jack and his
friends possess remarkable insight
when it comes to analysing raw
intelligence. They say they have
new information about the Breen
- information we need, Doctor.

Bashir pauses, something occurring to him. Then he gets it.

BASHIR
Oh, I see. The real reason you
need me isn’t that I’m enhanced.
It’s that Jack and his friends
won’t reveal their information
to anyone but me.
(to Jack etc)
Isn’t it?

JACK
(manic applause)
Bravo, Julian! Well done! Way to
use those synapses!

BASHIR
This is ridiculous...

JACK
This is life and death, Doctor!

Everyone flinches at Jack’s deafening outburst. He cringes.

JACK
Sorry.

DEEL
I know this looks bad, especially
after that unfortunate business
with the Dominion...

As Bashir remembers...

FLASHBACK - 6x09 “STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES”

-- Jack PUNCHES Bashir, he falls to the deck unconscious

-- Bashir and security catch Jack et al in the corridor

BACK TO SCENE

Deel continues...

DEEL
(continuing)
...but where our people hadn’t
made any progress in years, they
made breakthroughs in mere hours.

Deel steps close, speaks sotto, calm but firm, bringing her authority to bear...

DEEL
I could have Starfleet Command
make it an order, Doctor. But I’d
rather you consent to help us.

Feeling trapped, Bashir looks to the three savants. Jack shrugs. Patrick giggles. Lauren blows him a kiss.

BASHIR
Fine. Let’s get it over with.

Jack pokes Lauren on the arm repeatedly...

JACK
See? See? Told you he’d do it.
Told you. Knew he would. Said so.

Lauren rolls her eyes and struts off to safety. Only mildly chastened, Jack turns to Patrick and pokes him instead.

JACK
See? Told you.

BASHIR
(already
regretting this)
How long is this briefing supposed
to take?

DEEL
A few hours at least. They tell me
there’s a lot to go through.

Lauren reclines on a couch and seductively pats the space beside her.

LAUREN
You should make yourself...
comfortable, Julian.

Julian resists the urge to roll his own eyes...

BASHIR
I’m sure I’ll be fine, thank you
Lauren. We should get to work.

DEEL
Just a moment, Doctor. They should
brief your mission partner at the
same time. No point going through
it all twice.
(taps combadge)
Ready to start when you are.

VOICE (comm)
Coming.

Bashir recognises the voice with alarm. It can’t be. But a glance at the Jack Pack shows them smiling knowingly...

The cargo bay door opens, and SARINA strides confidently in. The fourth member of the Jack Pack is now strong and graceful, and she wears the same Starfleet uniform as Cmdr Deel - with the black collar. Bashir gazes in amazement...

FLASHBACK - 7x05 “CHRYSALIS”

-- Bashir and Sarina kiss on the star-backed Promenade

-- Sarina walks into the airlock, leaving Bashir forever

BACK TO SCENE

Miraculously back in his life, Sarina smiles at Bashir...

SARINA
Hello, Julian.

Bashir can only reply in a tiny, quaking voice...

BASHIR
Hello, Sarina.

In the background, Lauren leans in to whisper to Jack...

LAUREN
And you thought this would
be awkward.

BLACK OUT

END OF ACT FOUR