Star Trek: Deep Space Nine s02e04 Episode Script

Station log, stardate 47182.
1.
DS9 has been temporarily evacuated|due to a plasma disruption.
Until the disturbance ends,|the station has a skeleton crew.
- How are we holding up?|- So far, so good.
The Cardassians built|this place to last.
l've got the Orinoco ready at pad C.
Any word from Chief O'Brien? He and Odo sealed off the airlocks and were moving|on to the docking ring.
- Sisko to O'Brien.
|- O'Brien here.
- What's your status?|- Almost done.
We've sealed the airlocks|in levels 21 to 23.
We have to check the bulkheads|for crystallisation from the plasma discharges.
|lt shouldn't take too long.
- Did you hear that?|- Hear what? l could have sworn l heard something.
What are you doing here?|You're under orders to stay in the bar.
l'm not a prisoner.
l volunteered to stay|and protect the station.
You volunteered because|there wasn't room on the shuttles for 600 bars of gold-pressed latinum.
Which still doesn't explain|why you're in the docking ring.
l was saying goodbye|to my brother.
Your brother?|His shuttle left three hours ago.
Funny.
lt's only been three hours and l'm already lost without him.
Please! Don't tell me you've been here|all this time pining for Rom.
l know.
l know.
He couldn't find a cup of water|if you dropped him in a lake.
But he's still my brother.
You'd betray him in a second|if it suited your interests.
That doesn't mean|l don't love him.
- Chief, do you have any brothers?|- As a matter of fact, l have two.
Did you ever say goodbye to them? - When l joined Starfleet.
|- Did it bring a tear to your eye? - l suppose so.
|- Try explaining that to him.
The storm's intensity is up 37%.
How long will it last? Your guess is as good as mine.
Plasma storms are rare.
But this is a great opportunity|to study one.
The view from the Promenade|is amazing.
ls the Promenade secure? l've battened the hatches, so to speak.
You'd better take a look at this.
l'm detecting a small vessel|headed this way.
- They're hailing us.
|- On, screen.
- l can't get a visual.
|- This is the cargo ship Ekina.
We've been caught by the storm.
Our engines are severely damaged.
We need emergency assistance.
This is the cargo ship Ekina l've lost it.
- Can we get a lock on the crew?|- There's too much interference.
Engage their tractor beam.
|Bring them into a docking bay.
l'll get down to the infirmary.
- Sisko to O'Brien.
|- O'Brien here.
We've got storm victims|coming in to docking bay 5.
l'll have to release the emergency seal|in the airlock.
Stand clear.
- ls anyone hurt?|- Not yet.
- What are you doing?|- No questions.
We just saved your lives.
You see?|The ever-helpful Federation.
So predictable.
ln case you haven't heard, the Federation|and the Klingon empire are allies.
The empire is governed by doddering|fools and frightened old women who aren't worthy of the name Klingon.
Mareel! The combadge.
- This must be the shape-shifter.
|- What are you waiting for? You're a Trill.
You! Shifter! lnside.
And what if l refuse? Please, do as he says|and no one will get hurt.
Now.
Or this one dies.
Let's goally.
- Were there any casualties?|- That depends on you.
- What's this all about?|- Yeto, get the Ferengi.
- Any more questions?|- Don't hurt him.
Mareel, the box.
Put it in your stasis chamber.
|Now or l will destroy it.
- ls that some kind of threat?|- They've got Odo in there.
l see.
ln that case Still no response from O'Brien or Odo.
- Run a security scan.
|- Don't bother! Please, take your hands|away from the controls.
Now!|Get to the centre of the room.
Do as he says.
lt's going to be all right, Verad.
Get with the others.
Move! Your turn, little man.
Disable the back-ups|as well as the primary systems.
lt's my fault, Commander.
|They caught us by surprise.
Somehow they neutralised the security|systems on the docking ring.
How did they manage that? l've got a pretty good idea.
|We ran across Quark in an airlock.
When this is over,|Quark and l are going to have a talk.
Do you know him? Yeto.
lt's such a pleasure|doing business with Klingons.
You're sopunctual.
l see your ship was rescued|according to plan.
l've got your merchandise right here, but l don't see any latinum.
You Ferengi! You think|you're so clever, but you're stupid.
There's no need for name-calling.
lf you don't want these data chains, l can line up other buyers.
Go right ahead.
You expect me to believe|that you've come all this way just to tell me|that the deal is off? Stupid Ferengi! - l said no one moves.
|- What is your business here? You'll have to ask my employer.
l'm l'm sorry about all this.
lf everyone would just co-operate,|it will all be over soon.
- What will be over soon?|- Release me at once! - Enough of your whining!|- What do these people want? - l was about to ask you that.
|- That's enough.
Tell me what you want here.
Dax.
l want Dax.
She's not going anywhere with you.
l don't want the girl.
|l only want what is rightfully mine, what should have been mine|years ago.
l want Dax.
The symbiont, Benjamin.
|He's come to steal my symbiont.
You can't remove Jadzia's symbiont.
|lf you do, she'll die.
- He knows that, Doctor.
|- l'm l'm sorry about all this.
Please, believe me.
|l wish l didn't have to do this.
- Then don't.
|- l don't have a choice.
l spent my whole life trying|to qualify for the joining.
l studied constantly every day,|every waking hour.
l sacrificed everything and then l went before|the symbiosis evaluation board and they reduced my entire life|to one word: unsuitable.
That's nothing to be ashamed of.
Neither of my parents or my sister|underwent symbiosis and they live happy lives.
Only one Trill|in ten is chosen to be joined.
That's easy for you to say.
|They chose you.
- l was one of the lucky ones.
|- Now it's Verad's time to be lucky.
Why Dax? There are thousands|of symbionts on Trill.
l did research.
The Dax symbiont|is the best match for me.
We have mutual interests:|science, diplomacy There is another reason, isn't there?|The wormhole.
After you steal the symbiont,|you'll escape to the Gamma Quadrant.
Can you think of a better place|to start a new life? There could be dozens of reasons why the board didn't select you|for symbiosis.
They have to be very careful.
An improper joining can cause|permanent psychological damage to the symbiont and the host.
They were looking after|your best interests.
Your best interests, not mine.
All they've done is condemn me|to a life ofof mediocrity.
|l refuse to accept that.
l'm not going to spend|the rest of my life dreaming about what l could have been.
What l should have been.
l deserve more and l'm going to get it.
Yeto, T'Kar, it's time.
- l'll have no part in this.
|- l understand.
Keep away from him, Doctor.
There.
You see?|l've taken the first step.
Even if l don't get what l want,|my life is over.
Either you help me|or you and your friends will die.
lt's your choice.
He'll help.
l don't want|anyone else hurt because of me.
But you have to give me your word|that no one else will be harmed.
l promise.
Doctor.
Do as he says, Julian.
|Please.
Let me treat the phaser wound first.
|lt won't take long.
There's a medical kit|in the console.
Get it! Hold still, Chief.
There.
There should be|no permanent damage.
Apply this every 20 minutes.
|lt should help the wound regenerate.
Enough stalling! Do as he says.
|This is no time to be a hero.
Take them to the infirmary.
This isn't over, Dax.
|l promise you.
Dax l know, Benjamin.
|You'll do everything you can.
Just in case it isn't enough, l want you to know it's been fun.
Let's go.
- Good luck.
|- lt won't be long now.
Then you'll see.
|Everything will be just as l promised.
l know.
What's that? A delta wave inducer|to keep you asleep.
lt increases endorphin production|to help the healing process.
- l don't want it.
|- l recommend you use it.
- The surgery will be easier|- l don't want your advice.
l want to be awake.
|Use a neuroelectrical suppresser and set up a monitor|so that l can watch the procedure.
lf you run into any trouble,|l can assist you.
Let's get started.
l'm sorry, Jadzia.
Don't blame yourself, Julian.
You did everything you could.
- This will help you sleep.
|- Thank you.
Forgive me.
How long can Dax survive|without the symbiont? Once the symbiont is removed,|the host usually dies within hours.
But Jadzia is young and healthy.
Bashir will do what he can.
She'll make it through the night.
- lt doesn't give us much time.
|- No talking! l don't want to kill you, Commander,|but l will.
This is ridiculous.
Don't you realise|they're going to kill us? - Do something.
|- Do you have any suggestions? Why should l have suggestions?|l'm not the military mastermind.
l'm just a victim of circumstances.
Then tell me how four armed terrorists|got by our security grid? - l don't know anything|- Save it.
You crossed the line.
You sold us out|and now Dax may die.
Whatever happens, one thing's certain:|you are through here.
- Are you all right?|- l'll live.
l don't want to hurt anyone.
- Tell that to Jadzia.
|- That's different.
- Do you really believe that?|- Verad had no choice.
- That's his reason.
What's yours?|- l owe him.
l grew up on Khefka lV.
|l wouldn't have got out without Verad.
What was he doing on Khefka lV? He worked at the Federation consulate.
He visited the accommodation house|where l worked.
l used to help him relax.
When he returned to Trill,|l went with him.
- We've been together ever since.
|- And that's it? He got you out of a bad situation|and now you'll kill for him? l owe him my life.
|l'll do anything l can do for him.
- Even if it means losing him?|- Losing him? After the surgery,|Verad won't be just Verad any more.
He'll be a blending of Verad, Dax|and all the previous hosts.
Their memories, their knowledge,|their personalities.
Verad told me|that you'd say things like that.
l know he'll change.
|He'll be smarter, more confident, but he'll be the same.
lf he told you that, he's lying.
Once a Trill is joined,|it's like a rebirth.
He'll be a different person.
l'm not going to betray Verad.
lt doesn't matter what you say.
l love him and l'm going|to stand by him no matter what.
l never doubted it.
Verad.
No, not just Verad.
l'm Verad Dax.
Take this.
Come on.
Move it back and forth|over the wound.
Why bother?|She'll be dead in a few hours.
- Help me.
|- Why should l? She let herself be slaughtered.
She should have fought back.
She did it to save us.
Then she is a fool|and she deserves her fate.
l don't give a damn|about Klingon philosophy.
l need your help.
|Take this instrument! So the little human|has some spark after all.
Come on.
Come on.
Julian.
Thank God.
|l thought l'd lost you.
The symbiont.
- lt's gone.
|- Everything went perfectly.
The operation|was a complete success.
l feel so alone.
l've got you stabilised.
lf only we could get|the symbiont back in time.
- l'm scared, Julian.
|- You're not going to die.
Do you hear me?|l'm not going to let you die.
l've never felt so empty.
Just rest.
Dax? That's right, Benjamin.
|lt's me.
Curzon, Tobin, Jadzia All the others.
|They're all a part of you now.
So many ideas.
|So many memories.
Eight lifetimes of memories.
|lt must be incredible.
- lt's better than l ever imagined.
|- The station must look different now.
l know this place.
- And l know you, Benjamin.
|- Of course you do.
- Remember when we met?|- Pelios Station.
That trip to the cliffs of Bole? The months we served|aboard the Livingston.
And science officer Kustanovich.
|Eight helpings of Andorian redbat? l've never seen someone eat so much.
|Remember my wedding? l remember your bachelor party.
|Some of it, anyway.
And the time we discovered|the wormhole.
My, my, my.
- One of Jadzia's proudest moments.
|- And now she's bleeding to death.
- l'd rather not discuss that.
|- You have to discuss it, Dax.
We can't let her die.
She'll live on in me.
Jadzia's memories will live on, but Jadzia herself will die.
|You'll have killed her.
You think l don't know that?|l'll never be able to forget it.
But l'll do all l can to make up for it.
l'm not going|to the Gamma Quadrant to hide.
Entire worlds can benefit|from my knowledge and experience.
- l can help them and l will.
|- l have a better idea.
Help Jadzia.
|Come with me to the infirmary.
Put the symbiont|back where it belongs.
l can't do that,|even if l wanted to.
lt's too late.
|The integration is under way.
There's time to stop it.
|Jadzia's life can be saved.
- He's just trying to confuse you.
|- lt's all right, Mareel.
The symbiont is weak|from the operation.
lf we attempt another joining so soon,|it might not survive.
- Are you willing to risk that?|- l am.
The question is: are you? - Why waste your time with him?|- He's my friend! Go watch the others.
- We are still friends, aren't we?|- l hope so.
Come with me to the infirmary|and prove it.
l can't do that.
Then you're not the Dax|that l know.
Our friendship is over.
- Drink this.
|- What is it? Senarian egg broth.
|lt'll keep your strength up.
- lt makes no difference to me.
|- Hold on.
Thank you.
He even looks different, doesn't he? The way he stands,|the way he moves, talks.
- He's better than he was.
|- l'm glad you think so.
l do.
Really?|The way he dismissed you? - Verad never did that.
|- He's under a lot of stress.
Verad was under stress|when he arrived.
- He never turned on you.
|- What's your point? You're trying to turn me|against Verad.
Verad no longer exists.
|You know that.
All right, Verad Dax.
|But it won't work.
- Nothing has changed between us.
|- You really believe that? All right.
Then make me believe it.
Go in there and talk to him.
- Talk to him about what?|- Whatever you want.
l'm sure the two of you|have a lot to say to one another.
- l don't want to disturb him.
|- Why not? l don't want to.
Look at him, sitting there all alone.
|He needs you.
Why are you being so reluctant?|This is the perfect time - l said that's enough!|- Mareel? - ls anything wrong?|- No, everything's fine.
Good.
Be careful.
l wouldn't want|anything to happen to you.
l got him! Stay back.
Maybe we should talk about this? My ear.
Pathetic.
Mareel, take him to the infirmary.
What is it now? - Please.
lt hurts.
|- All right.
Hold on.
The damage appears to be superficial.
But Ferengi ears|are incredibly sensitive.
l'd better run some further tests.
The storm's intensity's|dropped another 20%.
l know this has been hard|for both of us, but it's almost over.
Good.
|l'm getting tired of waiting here.
- How are you feeling?|- Better than ever, thanks to you.
l couldn't have done this without you.
l would have spent my life|a mediocre man, only dreaming about what might|have been.
You know what to do.
Worry about the wormhole.
|We'll make sure no one stops you.
l don't want you staying here|any longer than you have to.
Give me an hour,|then head for the wormhole.
The sooner you leave,|the sooner we'll be together.
lt's going to be all right, isn't it? Wait for me|at the rendezvous point.
Stop whining or l'll put you|out of your misery.
He's got a contusion of the lobe and a possible dislocated malleus.
Either condition could be fatal.
lf you want him to stop,|give me a hand.
l'm not your nurse! Let's not go through that again.
|Hold this against his ear.
Not too hard.
Just another second.
Relax.
There.
Thank you, Doctor.
|l feel better already.
- How is she?|- She's stable, but l don't know how much time she has.
We must get the symbiont back.
- What are you doing?|- Odo's in here.
And we've got to get him out.
- Are you sure?|- Quark.
lf only we knew the access code.
Allow me.
Standard Delgorian locking mechanism.
|Sophisticated but vulnerable|if you know its weaknesses.
lt's a gift.
The storm's decreased another 15%.
That should allow safe passage|to the wormhole.
Verad to Yeto.
- Verad to Yeto.
|- Yeto, report.
The doctor must have|overpowered him.
He must have freed the shape-shifter.
|Get me to the ship.
- You'd better take a hostage.
|- l'll go with you.
l'd love your company, but you don't|have my best interests at heart.
Kira, l hate to inconvenience you.
lf Odo's free,|you're not getting off this station.
- Mareel.
|- Good luck.
Benjamin, l guess this is goodbye.
Not many friendships|last over two lifetimes.
l wish we could have made it three.
You'll see me again, Verad.
So, where's this rendezvous|going to be? You don't expect me to tell you? No, but l hope you like it there.
|You'll be waiting a long time.
- How would you know?|- You told me yourself.
l saw your face|when he asked you to wait.
The plan was he was supposed|to get there first.
He would wait for me.
Maybe it was an honest mistake, a slip of the tongue.
He lied to me.
He's never lied to me before.
He's not coming.
- He doesn't need me any more.
|- No, you're wrong.
He needs you now more than ever.
You never give up, do you? - l'm not going to betray him.
|- l'm not asking you to.
l'm asking you to help us save him.
- All you care about is Jadzia.
|- You care about Verad.
We can save them both.
Don't you see? Dax and Verad|were never meant to be joined.
We've got to remove the symbiont|while there's still time.
lf you hurt him l'll kill you.
l don't doubt it.
- The ship.
lt's gone.
|- l released the docking clamps.
That goodbye was premature.
- You're not going to shoot me.
|- What makes you so sure? This is Dax you're talking to.
We both know that if you shoot me, you risk killing the symbiont.
lf l let you go, Jadzia dies.
But Dax will live.
What's one girl's life compared|to eight lifetimes of knowledge? You're not going to shoot me.
|You know that and so do l.
Goodbye, Benjamin.
Verad.
Don't call me Benjamin.
l feel strange.
So empty.
lt's over now, Verad.
|The symbiont is back where it belongs.
So close.
l had it.
l had it and now l'm alone.
You're not alone, Verad.
|l'm here.
l'll always be here.
l can't remember any of it.
The knowledge the confidence.
lt's all gone.
Commander? Jadzia! - Are you?|- l'm fine.
l remember it all, Benjamin.
Everything he thought,|everything he did.
And it's so sad.
l guesshe'll always be with me.