ACT V

(KIRA and ODO are confabulating in ODO's office over a PADD)

ODO: Assuming we're looking for a Bajoran male living on the station who cannot account for his movements during the entire time period we have established as covering Garak's abduction, I was able to narrow it down to fifteen candidates. Since we believe this confederate was responsible for the technical side of the operation, it made sense to me to throw out those whose biographical data indicate no engineering background. This leaves us with seven. Of those, there are three whose life histories indicate a possible connection with the Kai. (KIRA is not apparently paying attention) Major.

KIRA: What kind of connection?

ODO: This would be a lot easier if I could interview the witness myself.

KIRA: I don't think so, Odo. I really think if he'd known he would have told Garak. You didn't see...(trails off)

ODO: It's hard for me to understand why you trust the unsupported testimony of an admitted double agent who--(KIRA shakes her head)

KIRA: It's...(Looks up at him) You think you know. You think you know what loyalty is, or love, or treachery, you think you know what a Bajoran is or a Cardassian, you think there are--there are *some* rules that hold true
and make sense. There's Galatep and Grayrock and the massacres at Katra and every other kind of atrocity. So why is it I'm sitting here thinking the worst thing that happened during that long nightmare was the *mess* they made of that poor boy's heart? (There is a long pause)

ODO: Or Garak's.

KIRA: (frustrated that she feels this way) *Or* Garak's!

ODO: Or yours.

KIRA: At least I knew who my people were and what I had to do for them. I didn't know before how lucky that made me. (Looks at him) All right, why do I trust the unsupported testimony of an admitted double agent. Because everything he said perfectly fits the bitter, twisted, *insane* logic of occupied Bajor. Because it is perfectly *natural* that Starn should try to kill his past even though it kills him to do it and that he should love
what he hates and that he should destroy Garak, still loving him, and that a traitor should forgive another traitor's treachery and that two men who have made lives and careers out of lying every time they breathe should be
sitting there in the dark telling each other the truth! (ODO tries to digest this) Now what does it *say* about the world or the prophets that this makes *sense* to me?

ODO: (after a pause) To me, it says we don't need to worry about the Founders.

KIRA: I'm assuming there's a connection that you're going to explain?

ODO: There's always a connection, Major. What does this prove, except that among you solids order is an impossible thing? (KIRA looks at him) Garak is sent here by the Order to keep Cardassians in power (lays one hand palm up to represent them) and Bajorans under them (the other hand) and make sure that never the twain shall meet. To do this he needs Bajoran operatives. During the course of training one he makes a connection and now we have a Cardassian father with a Bajoran son. (brings his hands together) And it's all over. (his hands morph into one blob) The line blurs. You cannot keep a structure in place without doing things that destroy it. Barriers get crossed. Distinctions melt. Divisions collapse. Definitions disintegrate. Yes, it is messy. But if it comes to the final battle, I'm hoping that humanoid mess will beat changeling order.

KIRA: (Looking at ODO seriously) Why is that what you hope for?

ODO: (Uncomfortably, as his hands form again) I suppose I've been around you all for too long.
 

(Ops. O'BRIEN, KIRA, ODO, GARAK, BASHIR, SISKO, DAX and OPHIDIA are bustling around, getting things ready)

O'BRIEN: (handing OPHIDIA a box) Here, this should do the trick. (OPHIDIA opens the gift box and sees, inside it, a brooch with a large green stone in the middle)

OPHIDIA: You know, Chief, this is really quite lovely. Have you considered designing jewelry *without* surveillance equipment in it?

O'BRIEN: Couldn't see the point.

SISKO: We will be keeping a transporter lock on Ophidia, will we not?

OPHIDIA: I should @#$!! hope so.

DAX: Yes, Benajmin.

SISKO: Using civilians makes me nervous.

OPHIDIA: It makes them nervous too, but what can you do.

ODO: (to GARAK, as he shows him some pictures on a screen) And you don't recognize any of them.

GARAK: Odo, I recognize *all* of them. They live here.

KIRA: Refpec is standing by to move on her when we give the word. (To OPHIDIA) As soon as we know we have enough we'll notify you through the subdermal communicator. Get yourself somewhere private and we'll beam you out. We want you gone before the arrest so there's no question of a hostage situation.

OPHIDIA: Thoughtful of you.

KIRA: All right, you'd better get going. She puts a high value on punctuality. (OPHIDIA groans)
 

(The interior of the Kai's home. WYNN and OPHIDIA are sitting around in a living room having cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, or at least the hors d'oeuvres; OPHIDIA isn't drinking but the Kai is, rather nervously.)

WYNN: I must say at the time it was a little too much for me, but after it was over, then of course I understood, you *had* to take risks to get your message across.

OPHIDIA: Oh, I'm so glad you feel that way. I was afraid Kira might have offended you by--

WYNN: Not at all, my child. I understood it was all part of the production.

OPHIDIA: Eminence...I wish you wouldn't call me that. It makes our relationship so...parental. And I'd rather think of us as...

WYNN: (fortifying herself with a large gulp from her drink) As...?

OPHIDIA: Well, as friends. If you don't think that's too presumptuous--

WYNN: No, no my ch--Ophidia. (OPHIDIA forces herself to smile)

OPHIDIA: Oh--I nearly forgot. (Takes the box out of a pocket) I hope it's not improper of me, but I wanted to show you my appreciation for your hospitality and the interest you've taken in my work. (WYNN takes the box,
opens it, and is enchanted by the brooch)

WYNN: Of course it's not improper! It's beautiful.

OPHIDIA: (looking pleased that she likes it) Put it on, I want to see if it goes with your eyes.

O'BRIEN: (In OPHIDIA's ear, as the KAI pins the brooch on) Why you silver-tongued demon. (OPHIDIA causally puts a hand up to rearrange her hair, intentionally sending O'BRIEN a blast of electronic feedback) 

OPHIDIA: Oh, it does! I'm so glad, I hoped it would.

WYNN: Thank you. I shall cherish it always. (Hands her the tray of hors d'oeuvres; OPHIDIA takes one. To get over her nervousness, WYNN attempts small talk) How are things on the station?

OPHIDIA: To tell you the truth, I'm glad to be able to get away for a while. They've gone nuts up there.

WYNN: Really? In what way?

OPHIDIA: Nobody tells me anything, you know, all I know is everyone's veeeeeeeeeeeeery tense. Kira and Odo keep having these classified meetings in his office and every once in a while they'll take a crew member in to "interview" them and they always come back out in a *really* bad mood. Sisko and the Provisional Government have been in contact daily and they seem to be arguing about something, and everyone in general is just freaking out, quietly. The word on the net is it has something to do with Garak's abduction.

WYNN: But it was my understanding the suspects were in custody.

OPHIDIA: Turns out only one of them is. Oh, I don't know the details, I don't really follow these things, but Rom told me they suspect someone on the station, and that's why everyone's acting so weird. He even says they're ready to make an arrest, but you can't believe everything a Ferengi tells you. (Bites into her hors d'oeuvre; her eyes immediately start watering) Say, are these fresh brini peppers in here?

WYNN: An arrest!

OPHIDIA: Like I said, Ferengi always pretend they know about things whether they do or not. I think he's just boasting so he can take credit for having predicted it, although it'd have been smarter if he hadn't pegged the actual guy--

WYNN: He thinks he knows who they're arresting? (OPHIDIA nods) How amusing. Who?

OPHIDIA: (shrugging) Some guy in engineering, I don't know who. Or maybe it was security. I wasn't paying attention. You ask me, just an arrest couldn't create this much tension. I think there's something the matter on
Bajor, personally.

WYNN: Why do you say that?

OPHIDIA: Sisko doesn't like dealing with the Provos if he can avoid it, so if he's on the horn with them every day now it must be important. I think, if you wanna know the truth, they've found someone in the government who's implicated. (Takes another bite. Urgently) Eminence, would you mind if I got myself a glass of water?

WYNN: By all means. The replicator is in through there. (OPHIDIA exits. WYNN remains pensive. She gets up and goes to me doorway) Ophidia, I'm just going to check on the roast. I'll be back shortly.
 

(She exits. The camera follows her down a corridor into an office. She shuts the door and hits a button that activates a communications screen. We see her punching in a code. Cut to Ops, where O'BRIEN is monitoring)

O'BRIEN: It's Jenak. (SISKO nods to ODO, who moves off into the turbolift. We cut back to WYNN, who is talking to JENAK on the screen) 

WYNN: I have reason to believe you are in danger.

JENAK: I believe I have eradicated all the evidence. I have a contact willing to provide me with an alibi. They can prove nothing. 

WYNN: Unless, of course, you were to be so unwise as to make a confession.

JENAK: Eminence, I hope you have more respect for my intelligence, if not my integrity. My life is too important to me.

WYNN: Rest assured it will not last long if you lead them back to me, Jenak. (JENAK nods) My people will make their own inquiries. So long as you preserve your silence, count on me to provide for you. Open your mouth and you will close it in death.

JENAK: I understood the conditions when I took the oath, Eminence.

WYNN: Walk with the prophets. (She ends the transmission. We cut back to Ops)

O'BRIEN: Well? Do we have her?

KIRA: She didn't explicitly refer to--

O'BRIEN: Well, you can hardly expect her to--wait. She's sending another transmission. (Turns up the audio feed)

WYNN'S VOICE: Are you there?

MALE VOICE: I'm here, Eminence.

WYNN: What we discussed has become necessary.

MALE VOICE: Understood, Eminence. I will send you confirmation. (The transmission ends. O'BRIEN, KIRA, DAX and SISKO look at each other)

O'BRIEN: What the devil--(GARAK, who has been sitting with BASHIR looking on, suddenly snaps to attention)

GARAK: Kimin. (He, KIRA and BASHIR look at each other, then suddenly leap into action)

KIRA: (putting on her sidearm) Chief, prepare to beam me to the surface, Garak will give you the coordinates.

GARAK: (following her to the transporter pad) I'm coming with you. (BASHIR, meanwhile, has grabbed a medkit and is joining the party)

KIRA: Garak--

GARAK: Don't argue, there isn't time. Doctor, what are you doing?

BASHIR: If we're late, he'll need a doctor.

GARAK: Smart boy.

SISKO: *What* is going on here?

KIRA: I'll brief you when we get back. (GARAK is finished giving O'BRIEN the coordinates; they take their places) Energize. (O'BRIEN does)

O'BRIEN: Well, now what happens?

DAX: I'm not sure, but I don't think Ophidia will want to stick around for it. (O'BRIEN nods)
 

(Outside STARN's home. KIRA marches up to the front door and rings the bell. It's answered by a sallow Bajoran servant)

FARRF: May I help you?

KIRA: This'll only take a minute. (Shoves him aside and leads GARAK and BASHIR past the baffled butler down the hallway toward the staircase)

FARRF: You can't go up--(KIRA stops, holding up a hand for silence)

KIRA: Hear that? (GARAK nods, BASHIR shakes his head)

BASHIR: No.

GARAK: It's a transporter.
 

(They go charging up the stairs, FARRF at their heels. They enter the bedroom. STARN is lying on his bed, convulsing. BASHIR starts examining him; KIRA searches the room)

GARAK: Don't bother, Major, what we heard was probably the assassin leaving.

BASHIR: Garak...
 

(GARAK moves over. BASHIR has STARN lying quiet now, but he does not look at all well; his breathing is shallow and rapid, his color is going, and his eyelids are fluttering as his head tosses. Quietly)

BASHIR: Daturon administered intravenously. Most of his major organs have already failed. I'm sorry, Elim. (GARAK nods, numbly) I've made him more comfortable, but there's nothing I can do. (GARAK sits on the bed next to him and takes his hand)

GARAK: I'm here, Kimin.

STARN: (croaking) Jen'traa...(Forces his eyes open and looks in his direction) I can't see you.

GARAK: It's all right, Kimin. I'll stay with you.

STARN: Forever? (GARAK strokes STARN's head with his free hand)

GARAK: Forever. (STARN's eyes close. BASHIR gets up and walks over to KIRA, who is watching.)

BASHIR: They had to have planned this in advance. (KIRA nods) Daturon generally kills in under a minute. We must have just missed him. (They look back at GARAK, who is sitting with a hand resting on STARN's forehead; after stroking it gently one last time, he gets up)

GARAK: It's over.

KIRA: (choked up) I'll contact the authorities and arrange for an autopsy. (GARAK nods) We'll get her, Garak.

GARAK: I appreciate it, Major. But it doesn't matter. (She exits. BASHIR and GARAK look at each other)

BASHIR: I'm so sorry.

GARAK: It's not your fault. (He sighs, looking back at the bed) It's so...strange. (BASHIR nods. Sickened) Julian, let's get out of here. 

BASHIR: Two to beam up, Chief.

O'BRIEN: Two?

BASHIR: I'll explain later. Energize.
 

(Later. OPHIDIA, GARAK, BASHIR, ODO, KIRA and O'BRIEN have assembled in Ops by the transporter pad; BASHIR, KIRA and O'BRIEN are in uniform and OPHIDIA is dressed much more formally than usual. The mood is grim, although there is a sense of camaraderie and suppressed excitement)

KIRA: You have all the documents, Chief?

O'BRIEN: For the fourth time, yes. It's all in here.

KIRA: All right then. (Pause) Let's go do this. (They get on the pad; DAX energizes them.)
 

(Cut to the interior of a Bajoran courtroom.  OPHIDIA, GARAK, BASHIR, ODO, KIRA and O'BRIEN sit at a semicircular table facing a raised podium on which sits a desk and an empty chair. On the desk is a round stone ball (not a bloodheart). PADDs and other documents are spread out on the table in front of them and the bloodheart, in a sealed plastic case, rests on the table near them. Two Bajoran court officials are standing near the podium. KIRA whispers to BASHIR)

KIRA: This is the preliminary. All we have to do is show sufficient cause for inquiry. The standards for proof go up at every stage until you get to the conviction proceeding. (BASHIR nods)

O'BRIEN: I'd say by any standard we have sufficient cause for inquiry.
(KIRA nods. PANLA, a Bajoran woman judge, enters the room through a door behind the podium; they stand as she moves behind her desk, and everyone sits.)

PANLA: Complainant, are you ready to hear our decision in the matter of Kai Wynn Tanho against Elim Garak? (KIRA stands)

KIRA: Yes, Judicant, we are.

PANLA: Having reviewed the testimony of the witnesses, the evidence you have presented and the transcripts of alleged conversations between the accused and her co-defendant...(KIRA waits)...we find the case against Kai Wynn Tanho circumstantial at best. (KIRA is now starting to get worried) In our view, the evidence is insufficient to establish reasonable grounds for inquiry and the witness testimony too compromised to support a case of this nature. This court therefore recommends against proceeding further in this inquiry. (She picks up the stone ball and slams it back into a cradle standing next to it) This chapter is closed. (She gets up and walks out, leaving KIRA staring after her in openmouthed shock. The others are equally perturbed)

O'BRIEN: Circumstantial my--

KIRA: Oh no. No, that can't have just happened.

BASHIR: What did she mean, compromised?

KIRA: I'll tell you who's compromised--

GARAK: It was to be expected. Let's go.

OPHIDIA: (exploding) What *is* this woman, the Mafia? What the hell is going on here?

GARAK: Major, it's not your fault. (Stands) This problem is older than your legal system. It's older even than the occupation. (Nudges BASHIR) Come on, there's nothing to be done here. (They start leaving)
 

(KIRA and ODO are conferring in his office)

ODO: What about Federation law?

KIRA: You would not believe how byzantine the citizenship rules are under the Cardassian/Federation peace treaty. Apparently even though he's married to a Terran Garak cannot be legally treated as a Federation citizen and therefore a crime against him cannot be prosecuted under Federation law. Meanwhile, according to Cardassian law he no longer exists so even if we wanted to we couldn't get this case tried that way. We're dead in the water.

ODO: And we still don't really know *why* she was involved in this.

KIRA: Maybe Starn promised her political favors after the election. Maybe she has her own reasons for wanting Garak permanently out of commission. I wouldn't be surprised. (She sighs) Kai Wynn, Vedek Starn, Telpar of the Ghii. Three separate lives, all coming together for the sole purpose of eliminating Garak. (Looking at ODO) Is that all we are? A jumble of loose ends and cross purposes held together by hatred of the same enemy?

ODO: If I were you, Major, I'd try not to see this particular sample as representative of the Bajoran population. They aren't. Any more than Garak is representative of the Cardassian population. (KIRA nods) Major...

KIRA: Yes, Odo?

ODO: It may take us a while. But we *will* get her. If not for this, for something else.

KIRA: Thanks, Odo. (She puts a hand on his arm; he waits) You've been...(breaks off, and pats him on the arm before turning to go)  Goodnight, Odo. I'll see you tomorrow. (She exits. ODO stays sitting, looking after her)

ODO: I've been...? (Contemplates, then shakes his head) Forget it, Odo. (Stands and walks to the door; on his way he notices the bloodheart, which is still sitting on the desk. He picks it up, tosses it in his hand once, and then suddenly hurls it against one of the walls, where it shatters into thousands of long, red-tipped shards which fall to the floor. He watches the wreckage, not sure why he's just done that. The doors open and KIRA's
worried head pokes through them)

KIRA: Odo, are you all--(Looks at the pile of glass and makes the interpretation)

ODO: Destroying evidence. A prosecutable offense.

KIRA: Come on, Odo. (He looks at her) I can tell right now I'm not getting to sleep tonight. Let's go to Quark's. (Smiles) I'll buy you a drink.

ODO: That's all right, I'll bring my own. (He follows her out. The camera closes in on the pile of glass fragments, which break the light into rainbows that flash around over the walls and ceiling of the office.
Blackout and credits.)

THE END.