ACT THREE

FADE IN:

28    INT. ODO'S OFFICE.

ODO is working at his desk, as usual when SISKO ENTERS through the doors from the promenade.

SISKO

Odo, have you found anything?

ODO

I've talked to just about everyone, checked all the passenger logs, all subspace communications, and nothing has turned up yet, Commander.

Sisko paces around the room, looking very frustrated.

SISKO (sadly)

Do you want to know the truth?

ODO

You're worried.

SISKO (frustrated)

A little, about Jake. I need some answers, and soon.

ODO

I can assure you, all my officers are doing the best they can.

Sisko smiles a little after hearing Odo's reassurance.

SISKO

I have absolutely no doubts about their abilities.

Suddenly the doors open and QUARK ENTERS, looking angry.  He notices Sisko and acknowledges his presence by nodding.

QUARK

Commander... I'm glad the two of you are here.

SISKO

What's the problem now, Quark?

QUARK

My nephew Nog has been missing, and I demand to have him returned at once.

ODO (to Quark)

If you'd be more cooperative, maybe I'll be able to find him sooner.

SISKO

Quark, my son Jake is missing  too. I'm sure the Constable will see to it that all efforts be made in returning them safely.

QUARK (to Sisko)

Ah, that explains it. Your son is always getting Nog into trouble. And who will pay for my losses? Nog has been missing his work shifts, there is substantial loss to be accounted for.

Sisko shakes his head in disbelief of Quark's attitude towards Nog's disappearance.

ODO (sarcastically)

Wouldn't that be a perfect excuse to cut his wage... Quark realizes Odo's insult and tries to speak more convincingly.

QUARK (sarcastically)

That's easy for you to say. And my emotional damage, my favorite nephew, I have always loved and cared so much for him...

SISKO

That's quite enough Quark.

(to Odo)

Odo, the Chief and I examined the anomaly. We have determined that it is possible that it was created by artificial means.

QUARK

What anomaly?  Why wasn't I informed of this earlier? Have you began investigating this anomaly?

ODO

Maybe your beloved nephew would know something about this.

Quark finally quiets down.

29    ANGLE ON ODO

SISKO

I suspect this could be a deliberate attempt to sabotage the station.

ODO

Commander, give me a little more time, I think I know just who may be responsible for this.

30    INT. OPERATIONS CENTER

Sisko doesn't appear to be around and O'BRIEN is working at his console. DAX and KIRA also appear to be working at their stations, but Kira turns to speak with Dax.

KIRA (to Dax)

What's the ETA on the Excalibur?

DAX

The Excalibur will be arriving in approximately six hours. They drop their formalities and engage in a more casual conversation.

KIRA (smiling)

Dax, so what's Qo'noS like? Is it as nice as everyone says?

DAX

In some ways, if you're not looking for any excitement in particular.

KIRA

I'm sure the conference will be enough excitement for me.

O'Brien, not noticing their conversation interrupts for a question.

O'BRIEN (to Dax)

Lieutenant, do you have the results from the spectral anaylsis test?

DAX (to O'Brien)

Yes, Chief. I'll update the database right away.

Dax begins to work on O'Brien's request but continues to talk with Kira.

DAX (to Kira)

While you're there, could you look up an old friend for me? Her name is Nan Kern, a human, she would now be about 90 years old.

KIRA

Anotherr retired Starfleet Admiral?

Dax smiles after hearing Kira's comment.

DAX

No, she was one of Curzon's girlfriends. They spent a lot of time together on Largo V. I heard she married a Klingon diplomat and moved to Qo'noS.

Kira appears surprised by Dax's answer.

KIRA (smiling)

Really? I'll let her know you sent your regards.

DAX

Actually, tell her Curzon did.

Kira appears satisfied with Dax's request and proceeds with her work.

CUT TO:

31    INT. DETENTION CELL - PAST

JAKE and NOG are being held in a typical Cardassian cell; an open room, shared by twenty or so other prisoners, mostly Bajoran. It is crowded, as some have barely enough room to sit, while the sick are lying down on the ground in obvious pain. Jake and Nog have found themselves a little corner where they sit with their backs against each other.

NOG

It's all your fault, if you wanted to know more about her, you should go and ask her yourself. Now look at us, prisoners waiting here, for who knows what.

JAKE

It was your idea, if you had listened to me, we wouldn't even be here.

NOG (frustrated)

Yeah, but you... ah... forget it.

JAKE

You're right, there's no use blaming each other. We have to find a way out of this mess.

TARQUEL

You're wasting your time, even if you get out, you'll never be able to leave the station.

Jake and Nog turn to see who was making the comment. They see TARQUEL, a Bajoran prisoner.

JAKE

What happened to him?

Jake is referring to the sick prisoner laying on the floor.

32    ANGLE ON TARQUEL

TARQUEL is crouching near a sick prisoner, attending to his wounds, speaking to Jake and Nog without looking directly at them. He is calm and subtle throughout their conversation.

TARQUEL

The guards have a way of making us talk.  I don't think he's going to make it, he's been unconscious for nearly two days now.

Tarquel gets up, and walks to another injured prisoner sitting up by the wall.

TARQUEL

Are the two of you hungry? The only thing they serve here is some kind of Cardassian stew, it takes a little time to get used to.

33    RESUME

Jake and Nog are still sitting in their previous positions.

JAKE

No thanks, I'm not really...

NOG (excitedly)

Great, I feel like I haven't eaten for days.

Nog gets up and walks over to the pot of stew by the main entrance of the cell.

TARQUEL (to Jake)

Your friend there must be hungry.

JAKE

His name is Nog...

Nog, after eating a spoon full of the stew, reacts in disgust. Jake and Tarquel can hear Nog shout in the b.g.

NOG

Ah, they expect us to eat this?

Both Jake and Tarquel turn to see what the problem is. Jake gives a little grin. Tarquel turns to Jake once again, this time speaking more seriously.

TARQUEL

My name is Tarquel. We may be here together for a long time.

Nog returns and sits down beside Jake again, looking disappointed.

NOG (sadly)

Jake, we're all going starve to death without any decent food.

TARQUEL

So Jake, what do they want from the two of you?

JAKE

I don't know. They say we're spies, but we haven't done anything.

TARQUEL

So are you?

JAKE (surprised)

What?

TARQUEL

Are the two of you spies?

JAKE & NOG (irritated)

No.

JAKE

We're not spies, we're just lost, all we want is to go home, that's all.

TARQUEL

I wish I could help you, but like the rest of us here, we have no control over our own fate, so we rely on our faith. The prophets have said that this would be a difficult time for our people.

Jake gets up for the first time, surveying the environment, trying to find a possible way out.

TARQUEL (continuing)

... it's really hard for us, those who survive, knowing that there's nothing we can do, but to watch our own people suffer and die under the hands of the Cardassians.

NOG (lightly)

Don't worry, eventually the rebels will...

Jake gives Nog a nudge in the chest, and Nog then quiets down.

JAKE (interrupting)

I'm sure if your people fight hard, one day you will be freed.

(beat)

...Is this where they keep all their prisoners?

TARQUEL

All those that are too sick to work. They take the others to help them process ore. But eventually, everyone ends up here.

NOG

Why do you they keep you here?

Tarquel continues to mend the others' wounds.

TARQUEL

They accuse me of sabotage. They found a bomb hidden on the station. A Bajoran's responsible.

(beat)

She is too important, she can't afford to be caught.

JAKE

You're a brave man.

TARQUEL (humbly)

We have learned to become this way.

34    INT. DETENTION CELL

From this angle, only the entrance is visible; it opens and ODO ENTERS. He walks slowly and approaches a single cell. Slowly, the we MOVE to see that the prisoner held within one of the cells is TARQUEL. He looks older and different in many ways.

ODO

Are you going to tell me what you were doing?

He notices Odo there and he sits up on his bed.

TARQUEL

No, I have no desire to converse with you. I need to be released, if you can't understand that, let me talk to someone who can.

ODO

I'm afraid no one else here can do that for you. You'll have to cooperate with us, I need to know what you were doing?

(beat)

What were you doing in the access tunnels when I found you?

TARQUEL

Nothing you would be interested in.

ODO

Are you sure?  There is evidence that someone tried to sabotage the station, you wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?

Tarquel refuses to respond, Odo however, is not annoyed by this at all.

ODO

It was never meant to do any harm, was it? Maybe just to disable the systems for a while? Or keep us occupied while you carry out your plans?

Tarquel still refuses to speak, and Odo gives up.

ODO

Alright, I suppose I'll have to come back later, when you're prepared to be more cooperative.

35    ANGLE ON TARQUEL

TARQUEL gets up from the bed, and stands up close to the force field. He looks directly at Odo while speaking.

36 RESUME

TARQUEL

I thought I've made it clear, I'm not going to say anything, but you'll have to understand I need to be released at once.

ODO

You're being unreasonable, as you very well know. I will need some answers.

Tarquel realizes that this is getting nowhere, he lies down on the bed once again.

CUT TO:

37    INT. QUARK'S BAR

QUARK is serving drinks behind his counter, while the customers are having fun playing games and drinking as usual. The main entrance opens and SISKO ENTERS.

QUARK (surprised)

Commander Sisko, it's an honor having you here. How about a drink, on the house.

SISKO SITS by the counter, silently. Quark walks to the back, gets a bottle of wine and serves it to Sisko. Sisko appears very sullen.

QUARK

You know what I had said to you before, don't take it too seriously, I didn't mean a thing.

SISKO

I didn't come here for an apology, Quark.

Sisko takes a sip from his glass and continues to talk with Quark.

SISKO (continuing)

I know I don't come here very often, all these new faces I've never seen on the station before.

QUARK

Most of them are just travelers, stopping for a drink, and playing a game or two. Tell me Commander, what really brought you here?

SISKO

Well, I thought I'd come by to...

Quark raises his hands to signal Sisko to stop talking, and pours him another drink. He points to the people, drunk on the counter.

QUARK (interrupting)

Say no more, just like the rest of these people, who have come to free themselves from their worries... and a little talk perhaps.

SISKO

I don't suppose you know what this feels like, but losing the most important person to me, and not being able to do anything about it.

QUARK

On the contrary, Commander... can I call you Ben?

SISKO (annoyed)

Go ahead.

QUARK

Ben, I can remember when I first left my homeworld, I was still a child. Leaving behind my father and not knowing the first thing about running a business. I managed to take over my dead uncle's establishment on the other side of the Cardassian border. Seeing a new world, meeting new faces. Cardassians drive pretty tough bargains, you know.

(beat)

But the point is I missed my home, just as much as you miss your son.

SISKO

So Quark, what did you do?

QUARK (to himself)

Nothing...

(continuing, to Sisko)

Ah, just drink more, until you forget.

SISKO

That doesn't work for me, besides, I still have a lot to do.

Sisko finishes the drink and gets up to leave while Quark watches quietly.

SISKO (lightly)

Quark, it was nice talking to you, maybe I'll drop by again from time to time.

Quark acknowledges Sisko's good gesture with a smile and a nod.

38    INT. DETENTION CELL - PAST

JAKE slowly sits down beside NOG, carrying a bowl of stew. Nog appears to be very bored. TARQUEL is sitting quitely near the two of them.

JAKE

The stew is not that bad, of course it's not as good as the ones my dad makes, right Nog?

NOG (very bored)

Yeah, sure.

TARQUEL

Your father's a chef?

Jake finishes the spoonful of stew and then is able to speak.

JAKE

Not really.  My grandfather taught him a few tricks though, he was a great chef. Besides, my dad doesn't get much time to cook anymore.

TARQUEL

My father was a chef, so was my mother and three of my brothers became chefs. ...Ever heard of Brim soup?

NOG (still bored)

Sure.  Bajoran food, right?

TARQUEL

My name is Brim Tarquel.  My family developed the blend for the soup over two centuries ago. I found it rather distasteful, never had the courage to tell my father how much I hated it.

Suddenly, the entrance opens and a couple of GUARDS ENTER, holding disruptors, searching for someone.

TARQUEL

They're here for me.

GUARD (shouting)

Tarquel!

Tarquel gets up and walks toward the guards. The guards escort him out, while Tarquel doesn't look back at Jake and Nog.

JAKE (to the guards)

Hey, where are you taking him? ... what are you going to do with him?

The guards turn to see who was shouting at them.

GUARD (to Jake)

He has been sentenced for his crimes. He will be executed at once.

END OF ACT THREE

FADE OUT.