ACT ONE

FADE IN:

4 INT. SISKO'S QUARTERS

The main entrance opens and SISKO ENTERS his quarters casually. The room is empty though he believes that Jake is in his room. He looks around and notices that Jake has not begun packing his clothing.

SISKO

If you're serious about coming along, I suggest you start packing your stuff. You don't expect a starship to wait, do you?

He walks towards the storage shelves and proceeds with packing his clothing into a container. He continues to talk to Jake, with a little smile.

SISKO (lightly)

It's the first time they've ever held a Starfleet conference this size on Qo'noS. I've heard so many good things about the Klingon homeworld. The scenery, and the sunset there is astonishing. And you'll be able to try real brekis, not from the replicator.

He looks and finds that some of his clothes are missing. He searches all his drawers and shelves.

SISKO

... Have you seen my dress uniform? Jake? ... Jako?

He looks in Jake's room but finds that it is empty and is a bit upset. He is determined to find out where Jake is.

5 ANGLE ON SISKO

SISKO (to computer)

Computer... What is the location of Jake...

Suddenly, the lighting in his quarter flashes for a brief moment and Sisko looks curiously at it, puzzled. When it finally stops the emergency lighting is established, much dimmer than before. His command is interrupted by an incoming voice message.

O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE

Commander...

SISKO (to com)

What's the problem, Chief?

O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE

Sorry to bother you in your quarters, Sir, but...

Quark's voice suddenly interrupts the message, Sisko seems annoyed by his intrusion.

QUARK'S COM VOICE (interrupting)

Ah excuse me Commander, this is your humble occupant Quark...

6 INT. QUARK'S BAR

Quark is in his bar, it is also dimly lit and none of the games seem to be operating. In the background, the customers are alarmed and are slowly leaving the bar, except Morn who is sitting quietly.

QUARK (continuing)

...sorry to disturb you, I understand you're a busy man, and you have many things to look after, but I really...

SISKO'S COM VOICE

What do you want Quark?

Quark is becoming less patient.

QUARK

Nothing unreasonable, just a little power so I can get my little establishment running again! You don't expect me to serve my customers without games and drinks!

O'BRIEN'S COM VOICE

Commander, I've shut off main power to the promenade and established only emergency power throughout the station...

7 INT. OPERATIONS CENTER

KIRA, DAX, and several other officers are scrambling to find the problem on the computer. Ops is experiencing the same problem, the emergency lighting has been engaged making the room much darker than usual. O'BRIEN is sitting at his work console.

8 ANGLE ON O'BRIEN

O'BRIEN (continuing)

... there's been a station wide systems malfunction. Main power is down, We've switched to auxiliary power. We're still trying to track the source of the problem.

QUARK'S COM VOICE

Well, I won't be doing much in my bar, so let me know anytime when you're ready to give me power again.

SISKO'S COM VOICE

I'm sure the chief is doing the best he can. Chief, how extensive is the damage?

O'BRIEN (working)

Nothing permanent, but I'll have to reroute the power conduits and do several full diagnostics before I get main power running again. It shouldn't be a problem.

SISKO'S COM VOICE

I'll be down there in a couple of minutes, Sisko out.

9 ANGLE ON DAX

Dax is at her work station, accessing the computer. She is working intensely trying to seek out the problem.

DAX (working)

Life support on habitat ring sections 2 and 3 has failed.

10 ANGLE ON KIRA

Kira taps her communicator pin.

11 ANGLE ON DAX

KIRA (to computer)

Kira to Odo.

ODO'S COM VOICE

Yes, Major.

KIRA

Please evacuate sections 2 and 3. And place maximum security throughout the entire station.

ODO'S COM VOICE

Understood.

Dax continues her work at the station. However, she looks puzzled by the information being displayed on the panel.

DAX (to herself)

This is odd...

(to O'Brien)

Chief, take a look at the sensor logs.

O'BRIEN immediately walks over to Dax's station and reviews the information being displayed on the panel.

12 ANGLE ON SISKO

SISKO ENTERS through the turbolift and quickly paces towards O'Brien and Dax. We FOLLOW Sisko and soon see him with O'Brien and Dax.

SISKO (to O'Brien)

Can you brief me on the situation?

O'BRIEN

Sir, the system malfunction seems to have been caused by some kind of power surge on level 5, section 2. Currently, all internal and long range sensors are inoperative. The station is running on auxiliary power.

DAX (to Sisko)

We have commenced evacuation of sections 2 and 3 due to life support failure. And I have restricted all ships from departing until further notice.

Sisko acknowledges by nodding slightly. O'Brien continues to report, sitting down at Dax's station and operating the computer terminal prompting Sisko to look at the panel.

13 ANGLE ON DISPLAY

O'Brien works on the computer and brings up a screen with the information.

O'BRIEN

There's something you should take a look at, sir. These are the sensor logs prior to the power surge. At this point, seconds before the incident, a minute distortion field was detected...

14 RESUME

Sisko turns to Dax.

DAX (to Sisko)

...along with two life signs. This is likely to be the cause of the power surge.

SISKO

Chief, I'd like you to go down and take a look at the problem.

O'BRIEN

Aye, sir.

O'Brien acknowledges and walks to his station to pick up his tools. Sisko turns around towards Kira, near the center of the room.

SISKO (continuing, to Kira)

... and Major, inform the Constable to increase security throughout the station.

KIRA

I've already done so, Commander.

Kira looks at Sisko for a reply and Sisko appears satisfied.

SISKO

Good.

(beat)

Could you find out where Jake is for me?

Kira pushes a few buttons on the computer panel and the data is available for Kira's reference.

KIRA

He and Nog are in the access tunnels on level 3, life support has failed there.

Sisko turns to see that O'Brien is about to leave. O'Brien is wearing a life sustaining suit (similar to an astronaut's) and making his way towards the turbolift carrying his equipment. Sisko stops him.

SISKO (to O'Brien)

Chief, I think I'd better come along.

15 INT. PROMENADE - PAST

JAKE has already exited the access tunnels above, and helps NOG down. The two are cleared onto the promenade. The atmosphere is dark and gloomy and many alien lifeforms roam the station. There are several Cardassian guards standing by the gates to admit the passengers of docked vessels. JAKE and NOG make their way slowly to an inconspicuous corner of the promenade.

NOG (very scared)

Ja..Jake, these are Cardassians. I don't like Cardassians, my uncle told me all about them. Let's leave Jake, we have to go back to the station.

Nog is determined to leave, but Jake holds him back by grabbing his arm.

JAKE

I'm not so sure Nog, I think we're still on the station, look around, this is the promenade.

NOG

Ah... um... maybe you're right, we're still on the station, then what are these Cardassians doing here?

JAKE

Looks like they're in charge. I don't know what happened, but let's try to stay out of their way.

NOG (convinced)

Good idea, I don't think we'll have a problem with that.

Suddenly, a door opens behind them and they find themselves in the way of a large aggressive alien. The ALIEN ENTERS shouting loudly and pushes them out of his way. The alien proceeds down the promenade, and the two of them slowly get up. Nog is extremely scared while Jake is a little more calm.

NOG (panicking)

Ah, I want my father. I want to go home. That alien almost killed us.

JAKE

Calm down Nog, I don't think you'll be able to see your father. But if I'm right, we might be able to find your Uncle Quark.

NOG

What makes you think that my Uncle Quark is here?

JAKE

If we're where I think we are, then your Uncle Quark should be here. I don't know how but it looks like we're in another... time... maybe he'll be able to help us.

Nog calms down a little after hearing Jake's suggestion, and the two of them walk down the promenade towards Quark's bar.

16 INT. ACCESS TUNNELS

SISKO and O'BRIEN are crawling through the access tunnels, both wearing life sustaining suits making it difficult to crawl through the tight areas. It is still only dimly lit. Sisko is following O'Brien, who is reading his tricorder, and they soon approach their destination. Sisko doesn't find Jake and he taps his communicator pin to talk.

SISKO (to com)

Major, what's Jake's current location.

KIRA'S COM VOICE

Jake and Nog are still in the access tunnels, Commander.

Sisko looks around but doesn't see Jake.

SISKO (to O'Brien)

The sensors must still be malfunctioning.

Sisko is puzzled and looks at O'Brien for an explanation.

O'Brien uses his tricorder to scan the area.

O'BRIEN (off tricorder)

The air pressure has dropped fifty percent. Jake may begin to have trouble breathing.

SISKO

He was never good at staying out of trouble. You know Chief, Jake has really been looking forward to visiting the Klingon homeworld. Now with all this trouble here, I don't think I'll be able to leave the station.

O'BRIEN (casually)

It's quite alright Commander, it's an important conference, you should really be there. Besides, Admiral Torlek himself has been looking forward to seeing you. He's ... a nice person to be acquainted with.

O'Brien leads Sisko a couple of steps further and the two of them stop beside an access panel. O'Brien waves the tricorder in front of the panel for a while and looks confident as to locating the source of the readings.

O'BRIEN

Here Sir... The tricorder is definitely picking up something from behind this panel.... looks like some kind of spatial distortion field, I'll have to take a closer look...

O'Brien opens the access panel located on the side.

17 ANGLE ON ACCESS PANEL

A bright light emanates from within and both Sisko and O'Brien stare in amazement.

END OF ACT ONE

FADE OUT.