ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

39    INT. AIRLOCK

KIRA ENTERS from the corridor, carrying with her a small bag over her shoulder.

ODO'S VOICE

Major.

She hears someone call out to her, stops and turns to see who it was. She takes a few steps back into the corridor and sees ODO waiting for her.

KIRA

I thought you weren't going to say good-bye.

ODO

Well, I wanted to wish you good luck, and safe journey.

KIRA (lightly)

Don't worry too much, Odo, I've been on more dangerous missions than this.

ODO

Just a word of caution with those Klingons. I haven't had many pleasant experiences with them. They're more concerned with...

KIRA (interrupting)

...their honor, I know.

(beat)

I'll be fine.

Odo appears satisfied and Kira reluctantly leaves and reenters the airlock.

40    EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL)

The U.S.S. Excalibur is docked at one of the station's upper docking arm. Following departure protocol, The Excalibur clears the docking area slowly, and then engages warp.

41    INT. OPERATIONS CENTER

DAX and O'BRIEN, and several other officers are working at their stations. Everything seems to be back to normal, except the fact that Kira is not in Ops. Dax has taken her position in the center of the room.

DAX (to all)

The Excalibur has cleared the station and entered warp.

42    ANGLE ON SISKO

SISKO ENTERS Ops from his office. He proceeds to O'Brien's work console, continuing to look very frustrated.

SISKO

Chief, any progress on the distortion field?

O'BRIEN

I've searched through Starfleet records, no identical match to the anomaly in terms of magnitude and radiation levels. But I think I may be able to contain the field by a (TECH) and possibly even transport it into space.

SISKO

Has there been any activity or changes with the anomaly?

O'BRIEN

We've been monitoring it for over ninety minutes and no major fluctuations detected, Sir.

SISKO

In that case, it's probably best to leave it alone for now, it's the only clue we've got, so lets work with it.

A voice communication interrupts Sisko and O'Brien's conversation.

ODO'S COM VOICE

Commander.

Sisko acknowledges by tapping his communicator pin.

43    ANGLE ON SISKO

SISKO (to com)

Yes, Constable.

ODO'S COM VOICE

I think you should come down to the detention cells... there's someone you may want to talk to.

Sisko is puzzled by Odo's advice.

SISKO (to com)

I'm on my way.

44    INT. GUL DUKAT'S OFFICE - PAST

GUL DUKAT is sitting at his desk. TARQUEL is being held, standing on the other side of the desk. Several GUARDS are behind him holding disruptors. Gul Dukat is holding a computer pad, takes a glance at it, and begins to speak to Tarquel. Tarquel looks uncertain of his situation, and a slight look of panic surfaces.

GUL DUKAT

You know why you're here, do you not?

TARQUEL

I think I do.

GUL DUKAT

Then you'll have to excuse me, it's only routine for me to go through your charges.

He begins to read off the computer pad in his hands.

GUL DUKAT

Hmm... let me see.  Your charges include trespassing, attempted saboteur acts and you are also a part of the Bajoran... outcast group, as we like to say.  What do you wish to accomplish by your foolish actions?

TARQUEL

What we are entitled to... freedom.

GUL DUKAT (angrily)

Well, your people have been causing much trouble to me lately.

(beat)

I am willing to make a compromise, if you give me information about your plans, I'll pretend this little incident never happened. If not, I have no choice but to prosecute you for your crimes, I'll have to make an example of those who stand against the Cardassian military.

TARQUEL

Every one of us is willing to die for our freedom.

Gul Dukat shakes his head in disbelief.

GUL DUKAT

Fools... it brings me no pleasure to hurt you, on the contrary, every time I see a Bajoran suffering, a part of him makes me very angry. But if you must insist.

(beat)

I, representing the Cardassian military, hereby exercise the death sentence on the charges as stated. You are to be executed as once. Guards, take him away.

TARQUEL

I didn't get a chance to defend myself.

GUL DUKAT

That is not standard procedure.

The guards proceed in taking Tarquel out, he struggles and makes it very difficult for the guards.

TARQUEL

What about my plead?

Gul Dukat signals the guards to let him talk, the guards back off and Tarquel is given a little space to speak.

GUL DUKAT

Alright, how do you plead?

45    INT. DETENTION CELL.

TARQUEL is still being held in one of the cells. ODO and SISKO are speaking to him from the other side of the force field. There appears to be no guards on duty at the moment.

46    ANGLE ON TARQUEL

47 RESUME

TARQUEL

I am guilty, I am responsible for the spatial disruption. But there's something greater at stake here. You have to release me at once.

Sisko doesn’t understand his reasoning, shakes his head in disbelief.

SISKO

You also have to understand, I may not need someone responsible but I do need an explanation...  and you have offered me none.

TARQUEL (getting impatient)

You must let me go ... I'm the only one that can help you now ... I know what happened to your son.

Sisko looks somewhat shocked by Tarquel's statement.

SISKO

What have you done to Jake?

TARQUEL (to himself)

He shouldn't have interfered. None of this would have happened.

SISKO

He shouldn't have interfered with what?

TARQUEL

I will regret telling you this, but you leave me no other choice. My people have fought a long and devastating war, with many casualties.

ODO

You mean with the Cardassians.

TARQUEL

I lived through it, to see more of my people slain in the hands of those savages. I had done my best for my people, or at least I thought I had.

(beat)

Can you imagine, the possibilities of changing the past? Even if just to save the life of one single person.

ODO

So you decided to rewrite history.

SISKO

What happened to Jake?

TARQUEL

Your son interrupted the procedure, I wouldn't have caused any harm. I'm not sure where he is now, exactly. But believe me, only I can help you return him.

ODO

Commander, this man is a criminal, and is not to be trusted.

Sisko holds Odo back, wanting to give Tarquel a chance to help.

SISKO

But if he is telling the truth he may very well be our last chance.

TARQUEL

Thank you Commander, for having trust in me.

SISKO

I hope I don’t regret it.

CUT TO:

48    INT. DETENTION CELL - PAST

JAKE and NOG are sitting by the wall. Most of the other prisoners are still there. There is no sign of Tarquel returning, Jake and Nog show a little concern.

NOG

Are you scared, Jake?

JAKE

A little.

NOG (scared)

I am. What if they hold us here forever?

JAKE

I doubt it, they'd rather kill us.

Nog looks very disappointed and the two of them quiet down again. Suddenly, a wall panel behind them rattles a little and is loosened.

49    ANGLE ON QUARK

QUARK looks in through the opened panel, Jake and Nog are very surprised.

NOG (excited)

Uncle Quark, you've come to save us!

QUARK

Quiet, you fool, you'll alert the guards.  Just follow me, very quietly.

NOG (still loudly)

You believe us! You have not forgotten your nephew.

QUARK

We'll talk later, hurry, in here.

JAKE and NOG EXIT, following Quark into the access tunnels via the open panel in the cell. Quark then closes the panel, hoping the guards didn't realized their escape.

50    INT. ACCESS TUNNELS - PAST - CONTINUOUS

JAKE and NOG are climbing through the tunnels led by QUARK. After making several turns, Quark begins to talk again, while still crawling forward.

QUARK (to Nog)

Actually, I tried the drink your friend prepared. It had a very distinctive taste, I've never tried such a drink. What do you call it?

JAKE

Well, it was just a glass of...

Nog pushes Jake and Jake stops talking.

NOG (interrupting)

We call it the Noh-Jay Galactic Punch.

Quark stops for a moment, pondering and rubbing his ear lobes.

QUARK

Galactic Punch, eh... it has a nice ring to it.

Nog smiles at Jake at Quark's approval. And the three of them continue.

NOG (whispering, to Jake)

So what did you make for him?

JAKE (to Nog)

I just replicated a glass of iced tea.

QUARK

It wasn't easy getting in there to save you guys, I had to disable a couple of force fields, and take out a few guards.

JAKE (suddenly realizing)

Wait!

NOG (stuttering)

What's the matter?

JAKE

What about Tarquel? Quark, we have to go back and find Tarquel.

QUARK

I'm not going back, not for anyone.

NOG

Uncle Quark's right, it's probably too late, we should save ourselves.

JAKE

I'm not leaving without him.

Jake hesitates for a moment, then looking determined he heads back by himself. JAKE EXITS. Nog looks at Quark for an answer, but Quark is stunned.

QUARK

Where does he think he's going? I still need him to show me how the drink is made.

Quark starts crawling back, where Jake has headed and Nog follows behind. QUARK and NOG EXIT.

NOG

Wait for me, Uncle Quark.

51    INT. ACCESS TUNNELS - PAST

The three of them, JAKE, NOG and QUARK soon reunite, they are crawling with no destination in mind, just looking around everywhere for Tarquel. Suddenly, they hear people approaching and voices nearing, it is coming from a nearby tunnel.

QUARK

They're after us.  You hear those voices, they're all around us.

Jake stops by an exit panel, and peers out, seeing nobody in sight.

JAKE

Let's get out, before they trap us.  We'll look for him out there.

NOG

I hope you know where you're going.

The three of them stumble out of the access tunnels and into an empty corridor.

52    INT. CORRIDOR - PAST - CONTINUOUS

JAKE, NOG and QUARK are in an empty corridor. Quark signals them to follow him. After running several steps, Quark is knocked down by a force field in the corridor.

NOG

Are you alright, Uncle Quark?

Quark is slow in getting up so Jake and Nog help him. He looks at the force fields in front and behind them. They are trapped.

QUARK

I'm fine.

Quark looks up and sees that a couple of Cardassian guards are approaching them. Two from the front and one from the back, all pointing disruptors at them. Jake and Nog look terrified.

END OF ACT FOUR

FADE OUT.