ACT TWO
FADE IN:
11 EXT. CARDASSIAN SCIENCE ACADEMY - DAY
A new advanced building on Cardassia Prime, in the usual Cardassian style but updated so as to seem less ominous and intimidating. The complex has room for dozens of lecture halls, laboratories, offices, and a dedicated shuttle port.
12 INT. CARDASSIAN SCIENCE ACADEMY - MAIN LABORATORY
KIRA and YEVIR walk in from off-screen, escorted by one Cardassian SOLDIER in front and another behind. Before they get very far, the soldier in front stops dead, making it clear they go no further. Kira side-whispers to Yevir...
KIRA
I guess that means we wait here?
YEVIR
Apparently so. Look at this place.
They do, and see...
...a cavernous LABORATORY for building and testing starship parts, with half-constructed machines everywhere and the SOUND of tools and industrial replicators being run. More Cardassian EXTRAS work - scientists and engineers.
KIRA
I’m surprised they’re letting us
see this. You’d think the slip-
stream factory’d be top secret.
YEVIR
I was told we were specifically
requested. By name.
They share another look, intrigued by the mystery. But then HEELS on the concrete floor, and a voice approaching...
NYRA (o.s.)
Vedek Yevir, Vedek Kira...
They turn, and Yevir GASPS, quietly amazed and thrilled...
YEVIR
Nyra? Nyra Maleren?
The younger Cardassian woman - NYRA, last seen a troubled teenager in 9x06 “Miracles”, now a professional scientist with long dark hair flowing freely - runs the last few steps and throws herself into Yevir’s arms with glee.
YEVIR
Hello again, Vedek.
YEVIR
By the Prophets, is it really you?
The hug tightly for a while, leaving Kira bemused...
KIRA
Are you going to introduce me?
NYRA
(pulling back)
My apologies, Vedek. I am Doctor
Nyra Maleren of the Cardassian
Science Academy.
KIRA
And you know Yevir?
NYRA
(wry understatement)
We met a few years ago.
YEVIR
At the Andak reclamation project.
KIRA
(recognises it)
That was you?
NYRA
The confused teenage girl with a
bomb? Yes, that was me. Luckily
Yevir was there with the gentle
hand and calm voice I needed.
YEVIR
And now you followed your mother
into the sciences, just like you
always planned. Is all this yours?
NYRA
I’m only a junior researcher, for
now. But when this project became
available, something to help pull
Cardassia out of the ruins - well,
how could I turn down the chance?
Nyra looks to the two Cardassian soldiers standing guard.
NYRA
You can go now, thank you. I’ll
vouch for them.
The soldiers nod and move off, and Nyra begins to lead Kira and Yevir deeper into the laboratory.
NYRA
Now, let me show you both around.
It’s not often we get honoured
guests from the Federation...
They move off - Nyra chattering with science talk, Yevir just amazed and happy to see her again...
...but Kira somewhat ambivalent about the whole thing.
RO (v.o.)
So... what do you think of her?
13 INT. DS9 - CAPTAIN’S OFFICE
Inside the office, looking out through the windows onto Ops, where dalin Slaine works the central Ops table under the guidance of Lt CANDLEWOOD. Ro and Cenn watch...
CENN
She’s picking the job up easily
enough. Understandable given she
already knows the technology.
RO
Yes, but what do you think of her?
Cenn steps away to gather his thoughts. Ro joins him...
CENN
I’ve barely had time to speak to
her yet. But she seems dedicated.
Capable. Confident.
RO
(gently)
And Cardassian.
CENN
Obviously. I did have one question
though...
RO
Go on...
CENN
If she’s in control of docking...
what do I do with my day?
Ro LAUGHS - that’s not what she was expecting him to say.
RO
I would think you’ve got enough to
keep you busy, Desca. Representing
the crew to the captain, collating
reports from a dozen department
heads, managing liaison issues so
I don’t end up punching anyone...
(both chuckle)
But, we have a more multi-cultural
crew now than we’ve had in years.
Exchange officers from two major
allied empires. Human, Cardassian,
Ferengi, Bajoran... someone needs
to make sure it all runs smoothly.
CENN
(sigh)
Knew I should have kept my
mouth shut.
14 INT. DS9 - OPS
Cenn trots down the stairs from the office towards the central Ops table. He nods to Slaine and Candlewood...
CENN
Thank you, Mister Candlewood. You
can take your station again now.
CANDLEWOOD
Aww. And I was just starting to
enjoy myself.
(to Slaine)
Let me know if you need anything,
I’m only just up there.
Candlewood heads up to the science station. Slaine blushes, unused to such a casual atmosphere, but quite enjoying it.
CENN
So, dalin Slaine - tell me a bit
about yourself.
She snaps back to attention, assuming this is an order. She attempts to answer while keeping an eye on the Ops table.
SLAINE
Major...?
CENN
I thought Cardassian females tend
to gravitate more towards science
than the military. At least, that
always used to be the case.
SLAINE
In fact, my mother was a botanist
at a Federation soil reclamation
project on Cardassia.
CENN
Must have been difficult for you.
SLAINE
Why do you say that?
CENN
Growing up around lots of aliens.
Cardassian culture doesn’t exactly
embrace such things, as a rule. So
I’d just imagine it was confusing.
Cenn is trying to be friendly and sympathetic, but he is coming from a place of stereotypes, and Slaine feels the need to firmly but respectfully set him straight.
SLAINE
Actually it gave me a rather more
egalitarian perspective than most
Cardassians. I think you’ll find
that many things that used to be
the case aren’t anymore, Major.
Cenn takes that on board, quietly chastened.
SLAINE
As for aliens, I grew accustomed
to dealing with humans, Vulcans
and Bolians, yes...
(looks at him)
...but I’ve only ever met one
Bajoran before coming here.
Cenn realises that Slaine is confessing her own ingrained prejudices, forgiving him for his. He smiles, grateful.
SLAINE
His name was Vedek Yevir Linjarin,
and he saved my best friend from
blowing up the entire base on the
whim of some people who thought
they knew what Cardassia was meant
to be. We’d never been taught what
my people had done to yours, you
see. Yevir didn’t go out of his way
to tell us, either. I thought that
was nice of him at first... then I
realised it was misguided. We
needed to know.
Cenn is quietly stunned at all this.
CENN
What happened to your friend?
SLAINE
Nyra? She lived, and thrived. She
has followed her mother into the
sciences, as you said. She wanted
to make her world a better place.
CENN
But not you?
SLAINE
No. I went into the military...
(quietly pointed)
...for the same purpose.
As Slaine works the Ops table, Cenn is the one who has been taught a lesson...
15 INT. CARDASSIAN SCIENCE ACADEMY - SECURITY ROOM
Nyra leads Kira and Yevir into a room of control panels and screens, where several Cardassians SOLDIERS watch live VIDEO FEEDS from inside and outside of the Academy.
NYRA
And this is the security centre...
INSERT - SCREEN 1
The main laboratory room they passed through earlier...
INSERT - SCREEN 2
The security barrier at the front door, with several more armed soldiers standing sentry. Over the above...
NYRA
(continuing)
...where as you can see, no-one
gets anywhere near this place
without passing through multiple
layers of security and checking.
BACK TO SCENE
Kira smiles tightly, trying not to be reminded...
KIRA
Very impressive.
While Nyra is checking in with the soldiers and cannot see them, Yevir places a comforting hand on Kira’s arm. She looks up at him, knows that he knows what she’s thinking.
BEEP BEEP BEEP - Kira flinches.
KIRA
What’s that?
NYRA
(checks screen)
Shuttle approaching. New shipment
of components. Security codes all
check out. Nothing to worry about.
Kira nods and smiles - but she is on red alert underneath.
INSERT - SCREEN 3
Live video refocusing and zooming to find a small freighter ship growing closer...
CUT TO:
16 EXT. CARDASSIAN SCIENCE ACADEMY - DAY
...to the actual ship flying over Lakat city.
17 INT. MORAD’S FREIGHTER - COCKPIT
Flight deck of a small Cardassian vessel. MORAD sits in the pilot seat, the only crew on board, still glowering. He hates having to make this delivery, but he has no choice.
Or does he? Suddenly a new idea occurs. He quickly works the controls, a dark smile growing...
18 INT. CARDASSIAN SCIENCE ACADEMY - SECURITY ROOM
BEEP BEEP BEEP again. Kira tenses...
KIRA
What now?
Worried, Nyra rushes to the controls...
NYRA
The shuttle’s not following its
prescribed flight plan towards the
docking platform. It’s heading
right for the central laboratory.
Kira presses forwards, pushes Cardassian SOLDIER 1 out of the way, works the controls for herself.
INSERT - SCREEN 3
The security cameras zoom in on the freighter - and we can see its canopy BURST open and its pilot EJECT to safety.
BACK TO SCENE
As Kira realises what’s about to happen...
KIRA
It’s an attack! Everybody out!
19 EXT. CARDASSIAN SCIENCE ACADEMY - DAY
The freighter ship PLUMMETS uncontrolled straight towards the main body of the science academy building...
...and EXPLODES on impact, engines rupturing in flames.
BLACK OUT
END OF ACT TWO