STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Vortex" #40511-412 Written by Sam Rolfe Directed by Rick Kolbe THE WRITING CREDITS MAY NOT BE FINAL AND SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR PUBLICITY OR ADVERTISING PURPOSES WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING WITH THE TELEVISION LEGAL DEPARTMENT. Copyright 1992 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved. This script is not for publication or reproduction. No one is authorized to dispose of same. If lost or destroyed, please notify the Script Department. Return to Script Department FINAL DRAFT PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION JANUARY 12, 1993 STAR TREK: DS9 - "Vortex" - 1/12/93 - CAST STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Vortex" CAST SISKO AH-KEL O'BRIEN CRODEN KIRA YARETH ODO VULCAN OFFICER BASHIR HADREN DAX RO-KEL QUARK ROM COM-BADGE VOICE COMPUTER VOICE Non-Speaking Non-Speaking MORN 4 ALIENS (2 Gatherers & 2 BAJORAN GUARDS 2 Aliens) N.D. SUPERNUMARIES STAR TREK: DS9 - "Vortex" - 1/13/93 - SETS STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Vortex" SETS INTERIORS EXTERIORS DEEP SPACE NINE DEEP SPACE NINE OPS INFIRMARY ASTEROID COMMANDER'S OFFICE HOLDING AREA RUNABOUT HOLDING CELL QUARK'S NORMAL SPACE PROMENADE SECURITY THE VORTEX HOLOSUITE WORMHOLE RUNABOUT PLASMA FIELD CAVE TUNNEL CAVERN STAR TREK: "Vortex" - 1/20/93 - PRONUNCIATION STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Vortex" PRONUNCIATION GUIDE MIRADORN MEER-ah-dorn RO-KEL row-KEL AH-KEL ah-KEL LANGOUR LAN-gore TOH MAIRE tow-MARE RAKHAR ra-KAR RAKHARI ra-KAR-ee TIVRAN t'VRAN CRODEN CROW-den ALTORAN al-TOR-uhn NEHELIK neh-HEL-ick HADRAN HAY-dran RIGELIAN ri-JELL-ee-an YARETH YAR-eth DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - TEASER 1. STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE "Vortex" TEASER FADE IN: 1 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) Establishing. A large freighter is docked at a pylon. 2 INT. QUARK'S Light business as ODO walks in. His eyes range over the sparse crowd as he crosses to the bar. At the far end of the bar, a figure wearing nondescript clothes sits, drinking alone (CRODEN). He wears a locket on a chain around his neck. Odo moves halfway toward him to his usual spot at the bar, deliberately makes eye contact with the alien who looks away. Odo already has him marked for suspicion. QUARK moves over. QUARK (sarcastic) The usual, Odo? ODO Nothing. QUARK (nods) The usual. Odo ignores the barb, his attention still generally focussed in Croden's direction. QUARK (continuing) If all my customers were like you, my family would be begging on the Promenade. ODO Oh, I seriously doubt that. Not as long as there's a Miradorn raider for you to do business with. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - TEASER 2. 2 CONTINUED: QUARK Raider? (at Odo's look) You mean the Miradorn ship that just docked? ODO The raider. QUARK It's reputation, like mine, has probably been exaggerated. (another Odo look) Anyway, I don't know the ship or its crew. ODO You didn't make your usual welcome call inviting them in for a free drink? QUARK Miradorns are a quarrelsome people. I chose to forego the usual amenities. Odo lets that lay... his visual attention has continued to be in the direction of Croden... and without pausing in the tempo of the conversation, he casually changes the subject to the alien. ODO He looks away whenever I make eye contact. QUARK (already knows) Who? ODO The new arrival. The one the Klingons brought back from the Gamma Quadrant. Quark looks, makes a point of "discovering" Croden sitting there... Croden musing about his drink. QUARK Croden? He's harmless. ODO Really. How is it you've come to know him so well... ? DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - TEASER 3. 2 CONTINUED: (2) QUARK A man comes in for a drink... he wants to talk... ODO He didn't seem to want to talk much to Sisko when he arrived... QUARK Who would? All those Starfleet officers greeting him at the airlock. It would scare me too. The Federation could learn a few things from the Ferengi about hospitality. ODO They scared him, huh... ? QUARK ... of course... ODO ... I wonder what he has to be scared about... Quark reacts to... 3 ANGLE (OPTICAL) two hulking aliens ENTER the bar. RO-KEL and AH-KEL sweep into the room. They are twins. They move up the stairs toward the holosuites. They clearly nod to Quark... 4 RESUME SCENE ODO Well now! I believe a pair of twinned Miradorns just nodded your way. QUARK I'm the man behind the bar. Obviously, they want to use a holosuite. Quark must get on with his plans... trying to cover by reacting indignantly to Odo's suspicions... moving away down the bar... shaking his head, "incredulous"... louder -- DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - TEASER 4. 4 CONTINUED: QUARK (continuing) You think the whole galaxy is plotting around you, don'tcha... paranoia must run in your species, Odo... maybe that's why no one's ever seen another shape-shifter... they're all hiding. Croden and others look up at the outburst. Odo listens curiously to this speech, and it only raises his suspicions more... QUARK Well, I won't have you coming here harassing my customers... order a drink, play the tables or vacate the premises. Quark moves around the bar toward the stairs... QUARK Rom -- bring a flask of my special langour. Quark moves up the stairs... as Croden gets up and EXITS... Odo glances at him once more... muses with a glance up the stairs. Nearby him on the bar, ROM is putting... 5 ANGLE -- A TRAY WITH FOUR LARGE GOBLETS 6 ANGLE ON ROM as he bends down behind the bar and takes an ornate bottle out of a cabinet... and as he lifts it up, we follow to see that Odo is no longer at his seat... and... 7 ANGLE - A TRAY WITH FIVE LARGE GOBLETS Rom, containing nervous energy, doesn't take time to think about it, he just puts the bottle on the tray and, in an homage to Hitchcock's Notorious, we focus on the odd goblet as Rom carries the tray up the stairs until we... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT ONE 5. ACT ONE FADE IN: (NOTE: Episode credits fall over opening scenes.) 8 INT. QUARK'S - SECOND FLOOR Continuing our move close on the goblet... as we reach a holosuite door which opens and as we go inside... 9 INT. HOLOSUITE - CONTINUOUS RO-KEL (O.S.) One-thousand bars of gold press latinum. AH-KEL (O.S.) Non-negotiable. The tray is put down on a table next to a small ornately carved metal sphere that has just been taken out of a bag... Quark's hand picks it up and we pull back to widen and see him... his eyes glow with greed. QUARK Very nice. But he covers. QUARK Unfortunately, there's a problem. RO-KEL Problem? ROM Langour, anyone? Ignoring him... AH-KEL What problem? QUARK The buyer backed out. RO-KEL You guaranteed us a buyer. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT ONE 6. 9 CONTINUED: QUARK A question's been raised about the origin of this bauble. A similar item was taken during a raid on a Vanoben transport just two light years from here. If you had a bill of sale... Ro-kel grabs Quark and lifts him against the wall... RO-KEL You didn't ask for any bill of sale when we contacted you... ROM Gentlemen, gentlemen please... try some rare Cardassian Langour, it will sooth you... RO-KEL (to Quark) You will find another buyer... QUARK A buyer who will ask no questions... that could take a long time... AH-KEL We don't have a long time. Suddenly, the door opens again and Croden ENTERS wielding a Ferengi phaser... Croden is nervous, not a man who has done this before. RO-KEL What's this? QUARK Don't fire. What do you want? CRODEN No one will be hurt. Just give me... (motioning) ...that... AH-KEL (threatening) You're making a mistake. CRODEN It wouldn't be my first. And probably won't be my last. Give it to me. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT ONE 7. 10 ANGLE (OPTICAL) Croden brandishes the weapon enough to motivate Ah-Kel to move to the table, but -- and this all happens quickly -- he kicks the table at Croden, knocking him down as Ro-Kel draws a weapon and fires... barely missing Croden... Rom and Quark dive for cover in a corner... 11 ANGLE - THE FIFTH GOBLET (OPTICAL) falls and immediately begins to morph into Odo... 12 ANGLE - CONTINUOUS ACTION (OPTICAL) Croden fires from the floor in self-defense and nails Ro-Kel, who goes down... at the same time Odo's morph is complete and he immediately moves to disarm Croden... ODO (pops his combadge) Security and medical to holosuite one. 13 QUARK glares at Rom... QUARK Five glasses... for four people... ? Rom sputters a Ferengi nervous sound... 14 AH-KEL moves to his brother and examines him... shocked, stunned... AH-KEL He's dead. My brother... He stands up in a daze... looks at Croden who is in way over his head... Ah-Kel charges at Croden... but Odo blocks him... using his incredible strength... a beat later, two security men ENTER... restrain him. ODO Take them all to my office. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT ONE 8. 14 CONTINUED: Quark moves to Odo's side... as BASHIR is arriving, exchanges a glance with Odo, moves to the victim... QUARK Yes, take them both to his office. Thank goodness, you were... close by, Odo... Odo interrupts, pushes Quark toward the door... ODO All of them... Rom meekly follows Quark and Odo looks back to Bashir who shakes his head, no hope and Odo frowns and EXITS... 15 INT. SECURITY Close on Ah-Kel, sitting... in incredible pain... brooding, deeply disturbed but not wildly crazy... more of an intense, contained fury, cold and dangerous... AH-KEL Have you known any twinned Miradorn, Commander? Moving to reveal SISKO who is standing... Quark and Odo are seated... the sphere is in Odo's desk... SISKO I'm afraid I haven't met any before now. AH-KEL In my species, we are not just twin brothers... together we are a self... two halves of one being. I am incomplete now. ODO (without compassion) You should have considered the risks before trying to sell stolen merchandise. Quick back and forth -- AH-KEL You have no proof... DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT ONE 9. 15 CONTINUED: ODO Two people were killed on the transport this object was taken from... AH-KEL My brother and I purchased it from an Altoran trader... ODO His name... his ship's identification... AH-KEL (to Sisko) I am the one whose brother was killed, Commander... ODO You have only yourself to... Sisko holds up his hand and stops the exchange... SISKO I'd like you to return to your ship for now. You have my sympathies. But there may be more questions... Please don't leave the station. AH-KEL I want to deal with the one who killed my twin. SISKO The law will deal with him. Their eyes meet and lock in challenge. Ah-Kel moves to the door, pauses... AH-KEL My only purpose in life from here on is to see him dead. And he EXITS. QUARK Well, can't say I didn't warn you about Miradorns, Odo... I assume we're free to go... ? SISKO Have you got enough evidence to hold them, Constable? DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT ONE 10. 15 CONTINUED: (2) QUARK As Odo will be happy to confirm, I was just as concerned as everyone else that this was a stolen objet d'art. ODO Yes, curious... but it's true. QUARK We'll be on our way then... ODO You know what else was curious... Croden had a Ferengi phaser... QUARK Available in many a port. ODO And it's curious that he knew the Miradorn were trying to sell you something of value. ROM How dare you suggest that my brother set up this robbery! ODO What an interesting theory, Rom. Quark looks at Rom like he's a jerk for bringing it up at all... SISKO If that "theory" should ever get to the Miradorn... QUARK ... I'd wake up dead one morning. (to Odo, indignant) So, I'd appreciate your not spreading wild theories around casually... DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT ONE 11. 15 CONTINUED: (3) And EXITS without looking back... Rom isn't so strong, he takes a beat to look at both Odo and Sisko to make sure it's okay to leave before he follows. Sisko and Odo exchange a grim look... SISKO I better have a talk with your prisoner, Constable... Odo nods, rises, leads Sisko into... 16 INT. HOLDING AREA Croden lies on a bunk at the rear of the holding cell, legs crossed, the picture of relaxed ease. There is almost a relief at being caught. He has the locket in his hand, contemplating it. He glances over as Sisko and Odo ENTER. CRODEN Don't you feed your prisoners? ODO The fact that you killed a man doesn't affect your appetite? CRODEN It was him or me. If he killed me, I wouldn't be hungry now. SISKO I want to be sure you understand what's going to happen. A trial will be held to determine your guilt or innocence. We can assign an advocate to defend you or you can request one from your home world. CRODEN I doubt that anyone on Rakhar would care. SISKO Really. Isn't murder considered a serious crime where you come from? DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT ONE 12. 16 CONTINUED: CRODEN On Rakhar, all crimes are serious... but there are no trials. SISKO (beat) It's a shame our first encounter with your species has to take place under these circumstances. CRODEN Sorry if I made things awkward. I didn't have much choice. SISKO Why not? CRODEN My needs exceed my skills. Now, if I had... (looks at Odo) ... his talents, I'd have no problems at all... I've never heard of a changeling with such versatility. Odo who has been only paying routine attention until now... looks up... ODO A what? CRODEN A changeling. Like you. ODO You've heard of other shape-shifters in the Gamma Quadrant? CRODEN Haven't they come through the wormhole yet? I assumed when I saw you... ODO He's lying. He heard me talking in the bar to Quark... DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT ONE 13. 16 CONTINUED: (2) CRODEN (beat, smiles) Well, maybe I dissemble a little. "Lie" is a hard word. But shape- shifters are harsh in their judgements. Odo reacts again... studies him... CRODEN Feed me... and maybe I'll tell you where I met someone just like... you... Sisko glances at Odo who studies Croden and on his reaction... FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/14/93 - ACT TWO 14. ACT TWO FADE IN: 17 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) 18 INT. COMMANDER'S OFFICE Sisko, KIRA, DAX, O'BRIEN and Bashir are in conference around the Sisko's desk. SISKO I don't see that we have any choice. We have to contact his planet... O'BRIEN Not the best way of introducing ourselves... BASHIR (amused) Homicide as a means to open relations... not exactly how they teach it at the academy, is it... KIRA I think you're all wrong... (reactions) They're going to thank us... SISKO Thank us? KIRA That's what I'd do. He's probably committed all sorts of crimes in their system... they'll be glad that we've taken a problem off their hands. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/14/93 - ACT TWO 15. 18 CONTINUED: SISKO There's only way to find out... Dax? DAX It won't be hard to find Rakhar. According to the logs, Croden was picked up in a damaged shuttlecraft about three light years from the wormhole. There aren't many M class planets in that area. SISKO (acknowledges, rising) You're with me. Major, as long as the Miradorn ship is here, there's a threat to Croden... I don't want to have to tell his people that he was killed in our custody. KIRA I'll have Odo increase security. And as Sisko and Dax EXIT into Ops... 19 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) The Runabout rises to view. 20 ANGLE (OPTICAL) the Runabout is launched from the station and flies into the wormhole. 21 INT. QUARK'S Quark is at the bar as Odo arrives... QUARK Stop in to see if I'd run away? DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT TWO 16. 21 CONTINUED: ODO I couldn't get that lucky. (beat) That Croden is an interesting fellow. QUARK I wouldn't know. ODO Really. I thought you said you got to know him rather well. QUARK I never told you that. I merely said we chatted when he bought a drink or two. ODO I've talked to several people who saw the two of you engaged in heavy conversations... why Morn there said you even bought the fellow a meal... 22 ANGLE TO INCLUDE MORN AT THE BAR who smiles at them as they look over... QUARK Morn should keep his big mouth shut! Morn hears and his smile disappears. 23 RESUME ANGLE ODO So what were you talking to him about... QUARK Just being friendly. He was so out of place here; alone. I felt sorry for him. You should sympathize with my kindness. ODO There's no profit in kindness. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT TWO 17. 23 CONTINUED: QUARK You attribute odious motives to my every charitable act. ODO That's because your favorite charity is your own pocket. (beat) Speaking of odious motives, I hear you've been making inquiries about securing a small ship to go through the wormhole. QUARK That had nothing to do with any of this. ODO I think it did... I think you were trying to secure passage back to the Gamma Quadrant for Croden in exchange for staging this tragic little robbery of yours. QUARK (looks around, nervous) This could turn into a much bigger tragedy for me if you don't keep your voice down. ODO (hard) What did Croden tell you about himself? QUARK Nothing. We didn't talk about anything except busi... (breaks, starts over) ... inconsequential things. ODO What is inconsequential to you may be important to me. Did he say anything about his home world? QUARK No. ODO Other species in the Gamma Quadrant? DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - 1/12/93 - ACT TWO 18. 23 CONTINUED: (2) Quark takes a beat to wonder what the hell Odo is getting at. QUARK No. Odo looks like he's going to press for more information, when his com-badge squawks. COM-BADGE VOICE Security to Odo. ODO Go ahead. COM-BADGE VOICE Ah-Kel and his crew are blocking the entrance to your office. Should we clear them out? ODO Leave it. I'll handle them. Odo EXITS, much to Quark's relief. 24 INT. PROMENADE - OUTSIDE ODO'S OFFICE Two Bajoran Guards anxiously eye Ah-Kel, who stands staring coldly at the security office. He is accompanied by four of his crewmen, two Gatherers and a pair of weird-looking aliens. The five of them have effectively blocked the entrance to the security office, and the Pedestrians on the Promenade are carefully avoiding them. Odo steps in front of Ah-Kel. ODO You were told to stay on your ship. AH-KEL Understand me, shape-shifter. He killed the part of me that made existence bearable. I cannot stop until I kill him. ODO You're not killing anyone. Get back to your ship and stay there. If I find you here again, I'll lock you up too. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT TWO 19. 24 CONTINUED: Ah-Kel meets Odo's eyes; then turns to stare at the office again, sending a silent message. He turns and walks away followed by his men. Odo enters the office. 25 INT. HOLDING CELL Croden stands, face tense, staring at the entrance to the holding area. He relaxes a little when Odo ENTERS. ODO (sarcastic) You've made a lot of friends in your short stay here. CRODEN (grins) I guess you'd know how that feels. You and I have a great deal in common, changeling. ODO We have nothing in common. CRODEN We're both aliens here, the only ones of our kind. Each of us is alone, isolated. Shut out. Others like us exist only in the Gamma Quadrant. They exchange a look... Odo is tempted to ask, but restrains himself, turns away... CRODEN I've always wondered why changelings are so distrustful of other species... Odo freezes. He turns back and walks to Croden. ODO I doubt the... changelings... on your world would trust you. CRODEN Of course not. There aren't any shape-shifters on Rakhar. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT TWO 20. 25 CONTINUED: ODO You just said... (catches himself) You implied there were. CRODEN I'm sorry if I misled you. There were shape-shifters on Rakhar at one time, but that was centuries ago. ODO What happened to them? CRODEN They were persecuted... driven out. Odo looks disappointed, but not surprised to hear this. CRODEN But I do know a place where there are still some left. At least, there were a few years ago. ODO And if you had the chance, you'd take me there. CRODEN Sure I would. Why not? ODO (playing along) Tell me where it is and I'll go have a look. CRODEN I'd have to show you. There's no way you could get there on you own... Enough of this game. Odo moves closer to the containment field. ODO (quiet menace) The next time you lie, I'll save Ah-Kel the trouble of killing you. CRODEN There's that hard word again. There are times I don't dissemble. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT TWO 21. 25 CONTINUED: (2) ODO Whatever you call it, the truth isn't in you. Their eyes lock. Finally Croden removes his locket, holds it out for Odo to see. Odo stares at it... CRODEN From the colony of changelings. Odo takes measure of the man... looks at the locket... some kind of trap? Croden opens it... 26 CLOSE ON THE LOCKET (OPTICAL) Exposing a stone, which promptly MORPHS into an intricate metallic object. It holds the shape for a five seconds, then shifts back to its original shape. 27 BACK TO SCENE (OPTICAL) As Croden closes the locket and offers it to Odo. After a second, Odo turns off the containment field and takes the locket, then holds it up to his face and examines the stone through the clear lid. Croden shrugs, I told you so. On Odo's reaction... FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/21/93 - ACT THREE 22-23. ACT THREE FADE IN: 28 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL) approaches a planet... moves into orbit... 29 INT. RUNABOUT Sisko and Dax at the ship's controls. DAX We're in orbit. SISKO Open hailing frequencies... DAX Open... SISKO This is the Federation Starship Rio Grande attempting to make contact with the planet Rakhar. Please respond. A beat. Nothing. He exchanges a glance with Dax, continues... SISKO One of your people has committed a homicide and we have him in custody. His name is Croden. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/21/93 - ACT THREE 24. 29 CONTINUED: DAX I'm picking up a signal from the southern hemisphere... they're hailing us... SISKO On screen... 30 thru OMITTED 33 34 INCLUDE THE MONITOR (OPTICAL) The Monitor displays EXARCH HADRAN, a Rakhari Official, obviously of the same race as Croden. Hadran is barely courteous, very cold. HADRAN I am the Exarch of Nehelik Province. You will transport Croden to this location. SISKO I'm afraid we didn't bring him with us. HADRAN Your communication clearly stated that he was in your custody... SISKO On our space station... perhaps, I should explain where we come from... HADRAN We are well aware of the traffic through the newly discovered passage... We simply have no interest in contact with anyone from your quadrant... SISKO I'm sorry to hear that, but we'll certainly respect your wishes. We just felt it necessary after Croden was arrested... HADRAN Croden is an enemy of the Rakhari people... we request that he be returned immediately... DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/21/93 - ACT THREE 25. 34 CONTINUED: SISKO He's scheduled to be tried for his crime on our space station... HADRAN Tried? Croden has already been declared guilty in absentia for myriad crimes on this world. That judgement supersedes your charges. Return him and I can assure you his punishment will be appropriate to your crime as well as ours. SISKO I would be more comfortable if we could... Interrupting with no tolerance -- HADRAN I do not know what kind of people you are. I do not care to know. But if your society purports to respect the rules of our society, you will return him without delay. A beat. Sisko searches his mind for another alternative, but he has none and finally acquiesces. SISKO You can expect him to arrive in another vessel like this one within fifty-two hours. There is barely an acknowledgement as the monitor returns to the planet... 35 OMITTED 36 SISKO AND DAX react and... DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT THREE 26. 37 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) 38 INT. INFIRMARY (VPB) Bashir studies an electron microscope style Okudagram. The object under magnification is a mixture of crystalline lattices and moving cellular structures. BASHIR It's an amalgam of organic material and some sort of crystal. ODO You mean it's alive? BASHIR More or less. It's almost like a transitional stage between organic and inorganic matter. I've only seen one life form that even remotely resembles it. ODO Me. Bashir nods as he switches off the monitor. He retrieves the locket from under the microscope, closes it (off camera), and gives it back to Odo. BASHIR In a way, this stone might qualify as a distant cousin of yours. Maybe there's a clue to your origins here. Where did it come from? ODO Unfortunately, the only one who can tell me is less reliable than Quark. He EXITS. 39 INT. HOLDING AREA (OPTICAL) Croden sits on his bunk, staring at the wall, looking grim. He assumes a casual expression as Odo ENTERS with the locket. CRODEN How'd you like my "stone," changeling? ODO Where'd you get it? DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT THREE 27. 39 CONTINUED: CRODEN What does telling you get me? ODO Nothing. CRODEN Too bad. I thought you might feel sorry for me... seeing we're the only two here from the other side of the passage... ODO I feel nothing for you but contempt... you're a thief and a killer and who knows what else... CRODEN Typical. ODO Of "changeling" behavior... yes, I'm sure... He turns to leave, still holding the locket... CRODEN Excuse me... Odo turns and sees Croden holding out his hand... give me back the stone... Odo reacts, looks down at the stone and finds in himself a reluctance to give it up... but he quickly suppresses that, turns off the forcefield and as he hands it back to Croden... Croden maintains eye contact as he says intimately -- CRODEN In my sector, there is a nebula called the Chamra Vortex. There are millions of asteroids there. This "stone" came from one of them. I can take you to it, changeling. ODO Others must know where it is. CRODEN No. The Vortex is uncharted. But as a thief and a killer and who knows what else, I hid there often. I found this changeling colony by chance but... I know my way back... DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/14/93 - ACT THREE 28. 39 CONTINUED: (2) A beat as they study each other... then Odo hits the switch again, the forcefield returns and he EXITS... on Croden's reaction... 40 INT. COMMANDER'S OFFICE Sisko at his desk as Odo ENTERS... ODO Yes, Commander... SISKO I want you to escort the prisoner back to his home planet. ODO He's not to stand trial here? SISKO Croden apparently committed crimes on Rakhar. His government was adamant and the Bajorans have agreed to release him. ODO We're going to have trouble getting him by the Miradorn. SISKO Yes, I know... Ah-Kel's been screening every ship leaving the station. (beat, thinking) How soon can you be ready? ODO I'm ready now. SISKO There's a Rigelian freighter leaving here for the Gamma Quadrant in an hour... maybe we can use them to run interference between you and the Miradorn ship... ODO I'll move the prisoner to the Runabout right away. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT THREE 29. 40 CONTINUED: As he prepares to leave... SISKO Constable, once you're on the other side, you'll be on your own... the Miradorn vessel can outrun any of our Runabouts... and if they do come after you, a warning from us would just point an arrow to you. ODO Understood. He EXITS. 41 INT. RUNABOUT Odo leads Croden aboard the Rio Grande. Croden's wrists are locked in futuristic restraints. CRODEN (looks around at the Runabout) So you finally decided to take me up on my offer. Odo takes a seat at the Runabout controls. ODO You're going home. Croden reacts badly to the news. 42 INT. OPS O'Brien, Dax and Kira are at their stations. Sisko is standing on the balcony. O'BRIEN The Rigelian Freighter is ready to depart. SISKO Signal Odo. 43 EXT. DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) The Rigelian freighter moves off a pylon... across the station and as it does, the small Runabout hides in the freighter's shadow as it passes by... DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT THREE 30. 44 INT. OPS KIRA The Miradorn ship's scanning the freighter... doesn't look like they're reading the Runabout... Relieved reactions as... 45 EXT. SPACE - THE WORMHOLE (OPTICAL) The Wormhole explodes into existence and swallows the Freighter and the Runabout. As the wormhole disappears... FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT FOUR 31. ACT FOUR FADE IN: 46 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL) The Runabout in the Gamma Quadrant. 47 INT. RUNABOUT Odo is at the controls. Croden sits beside him, still in restraints, looking distracted. CRODEN How do you stand it, changeling? Living where you don't belong. Are you happy? ODO I'm as much a part of the place as anyone else. CRODEN I doubt it. They tolerate you, but you're not one of them. Being what you are, you can pour your square shape into a round hole... but you never really fit, do you? You're like my stone. ODO I think I finally figured out what crime you were found guilty of on your world... CRODEN What's that? ODO You talked too much. CRODEN Maybe you're right. Perhaps that is how it started. Perhaps I asked one question too many... That's as good an explanation as any... ODO Explanation for what? DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT FOUR 32. 47 CONTINUED: CRODEN For why they came that night. I never was told. And to this day, I don't know. They broke into my home just before dawn. By the time I stopped them, they had already murdered both my wives... Odo turns and studies him... Croden's eyes look through the window into the past... CRODEN You see, on my world, the punishment for being an enemy of the people is the death of your family. (beat) I had no sophisticated weapon... only a short, slaughter knife that I used for cutting the necks of fowl we would prepare for supper. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the necks of the security officers were no more difficult to cut than the birds'... even the sounds they made when the blade crossed their gullets were similar... The silence fills the cabin for a long beat... Odo turns back to his controls... ODO I'm supposed to believe this appalling tale... CRODEN Would it make a difference if you did? ODO No. CRODEN Then believe it. Because it's true. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/15/93 - ACT FOUR 33. 47 CONTINUED: (2) CRODEN (Cont'd) (beat) My return will be celebrated, changeling... they'll be grateful... you'll be a hero. Perhaps you can even use this as an excuse to exchange envoys... ODO If you don't stop talking, I can sedate you for the rest of the trip. CRODEN Sorry. I didn't know I bothered you. He leans back and looks out the window in silence... 48 EXT. SPACE - DEEP SPACE NINE (OPTICAL) 49 INT. QUARK'S (VPB) It's after hours. Quark is behind the bar, counting his profits when Ah-Kel bursts in, dragging a terrified Rom. Ah-Kel hurls Rom at his brother. ROM He's going to kill us. He says we were in with Croden. AH-KEL Where is he, Quark? QUARK (trying not to panic) Croden? He's in security. AH-KEL Don't lie to me. He's gone. Ah-Kel grabs Quark and holds him against a wall with a hand to his neck. Rom dives for cover. AH-KEL You're hiding him. You've been in it together all along. You're as responsible for my brother's death as he is. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT FOUR 34. 49 CONTINUED: QUARK (struggles for air) Ah-Kel, no. This is Odo's doing. Don't you see? He wants to turn us against each other. AH-KEL Why should I believe you? Tell me where Croden is, or you can die in his place. QUARK (choking) I don't know where he is. But maybe I can find out... if you will just release me... Ah-Kel releases Quark, and gives him a look - "Do it." Quark moves to the computer module and begins to open a file... QUARK (to Rom) Get me the security chips... Rom reaches under the bar and pulls out a tray of security chips. Quark continues to work the computer. QUARK (to Rom) Level four clearance. Rom nervously shuffles through the chips until he finds level four, hands it to Quark. Quark inserts the chip into the computer. QUARK (looking desperately) There. Station logs. (reads, surprised) Odo logged out in a Runabout at oh- eight-hundred. (a beat) Destination... Rakhar. AH-KEL Give me the coordinates. That's not something Quark really wants to do... he stalls... pressing panels, changing pages... QUARK Ah, I don't think... it isn't at all clear... DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT FOUR 35. 49 CONTINUED: (2) Ah-Kel pushes Quark hard out of the way... takes over the computer himself... he flips the pages backwards, quickly finds what he's looking for... he glares at Quark... AH-KEL The coordinates are very clearly stated... right here in the log entry. He moves away from the terminal, grabs Quark again, pushing him back against Rom and then both of them against the bar... AH-KEL One more thing, little Ferengi. You better be telling the truth or I'll be back to finish this. Ah-Kel EXITS. 50 ANGLE ON QUARK AND ROM ROM Oh, you are clever, brother. Now, Ah-Kel will rid us of Croden and Odo. QUARK (thoughtful) Unless Odo is sensible and gives up his prisoner. Even as he says it, he already knows that Odo will never do that... but Rom is not so quick... ROM (scared) Oh no! Then Croden would tell Ah- Kel the truth about our plan... we're dead... we're dead... you shouldn't have told him how to find them... QUARK Be quiet. (a beat) Odo won't give up his prisoner. He'll just get himself killed. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT FOUR 36. 50 CONTINUED: ROM (hopefully) Do you really think so? QUARK (sharply) Oh, get out of here, you fool! 51 INT. OPS Sisko ENTERS from his office... O'Brien and Kira and Dax at their stations... SISKO Yes, Chief... ? O'BRIEN The Miradorn ship is leaving the station. SISKO Major, do whatever you can to delay them... She acknowledges... presses panels... KIRA Ops to Miradorn vessel... please hold your position... stand by for departure instructions... O'BRIEN No response... they're still moving... SISKO Dax, how long before Odo reaches Rakhar? DAX (hitting panels) Just over five hours... Sisko frowns, worried... DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/21/93 - ACT FOUR 37. 51 CONTINUED: KIRA Miradorn vessel, you are in violation of Bajoran transit regulations... please return at once to the docking ring... O'BRIEN (shakes his head) They've increased power to their thrusters... SISKO On screen... 52 ANGLE (OPTICAL) - INCLUDE THE VIEWSCREEN the Miradorn vessel moves away from the outer ring and zips into the wormhole. On Sisko's reaction -- 53 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL) The Runabout moves through space, approaching the Chamra Vortex, a swirling gas nebula stretching across the vastness of space. 54 INT. RUNABOUT Inside the Runabout, Croden and Odo look through the forward window at the Vortex (off screen). CRODEN You'd save time going through the Vortex. It's a long way around. A beat. Odo concentrates on business. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/21/93 - ACT FOUR 38. 54 CONTINUED: CRODEN Aren't you the least bit curious about your own people? ODO Of course, I am. Unfortunately, I'm not at liberty to pursue that curiosity right now. CRODEN They don't maintain a humanoid shape, you know. Odo chooses not to give a verbal response... tries to show no interest... CRODEN They refused to assimilate on my world... they're a very proud species... that's why they were so persecuted. But I will say this for them... they treated me well enough when I landed at their colony. I was badly wounded... they could have allowed me to die... they didn't. You're one of them... that's for sure... you have that sense of decency, of justice... ODO You don't give up, do you... He is interrupted as the Runabout shakes from an explosion nearby... ODO Computer, what was that... COMPUTER VOICE A temporary loss of stability resulting from the impact of a concentrated plasma charge. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/15/93 - ACT FOUR 39. 54 CONTINUED: (2) ODO Concentrated plasma charge? You mean we were attacked. COMPUTER VOICE Affirmative. Pursuing vessel approaching from one-eight-one mark one-two. Odo quickly activates the Runabout's shields and powers up the weapons. ODO Put it on the monitor and identify... 55 INCLUDE THE MONITOR (OPTICAL) The monitor displays Ah-Kel's ship, in hot pursuit of the Runabout. COMPUTER VOICE Miradorn vessel, Theta class. Odo reacts, checking panels... ODO He's hailing us... Odo operates the appropriate controls and Ah-Kel's face appears on the monitor. AH-KEL (on monitor) The first shot was a warning. You will surrender the Rakhari prisoner to me... ODO I don't give up my prisoners, Ah-Kel. AH-KEL Very well. Then you can die with him. Ah-Kel's image disappears and is replaced by his ship which fires. A moment later, there is a huge explosion and shake... a panel fritzes with sparks... COMPUTER VOICE Warning. Damage to shields... DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/21/93 - ACT FOUR 40. 55 CONTINUED: ODO Computer, evasive maneuvers! 56 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL) The Runabout lurches to the side, a second later, Ah-Kel's ship moves into view and fires... 57 INT. RUNABOUT The Runabout shakes again as a photon torpedo explodes nearby. COMPUTER VOICE Warning... shields at forty-one percent... CRODEN Your computer's not going to outsmart him... ODO I'm a security chief, not a combat pilot... CRODEN Then give me the controls... ODO You? CRODEN I know how to get us through the Vortex. The ionized gasses would screen us from his sensors. The Runabout shakes again. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT FOUR 41. 57 CONTINUED: CRODEN Drop your suspicious nature for a minute, changeling. Can't you see it's our only chance. Odo frees Croden from the restraints. Croden reaches for the controls. 58 EXT. SPACE - THE VORTEX (OPTICAL) The Runabout plunges into the swirling clouds of the Vortex and is soon swallowed up by the brightly colored gasses. 59 INT. RUNABOUT Croden carefully navigates the Runabout through the billowing multicolored Vortex. ODO Why are we slowing down? CRODEN The Vortex is riddled with volatile pockets of a gas we call toh-maire. If we destabilize them, they could ignite and blow this ship apart. ODO You really have been through here before. CRODEN Sometimes I do tell the truth. ODO How do you remember what's true and what isn't? Odo and Croden exchange a grim smile, then the ship rocks again as it's brushed by an explosion. Odo looks at the instruments. ODO I thought you said they couldn't detect us in here. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/21/93 - ACT FOUR 42. 59 CONTINUED: CRODEN He must be following our impulse wake. Croden punches in some coordinates. CRODEN Computer, disengage impulse engines... go to thrusters... COMPUTER VOICE Acknowledged. Thrusters engaged. Croden enters coordinates... ODO What are you doing? CRODEN Once our impulse wake drops off, he might try to pick up the discharge from our thrusters... we'll be better off if we land... (beat) So, changeling, I guess I'm going to take you home after all... As Odo reacts... DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - 1/12/93 - ACT FOUR 43. 60 EXT. SPACE - THE VORTEX (OPTICAL) The Runabout banks and slides into an especially dense area of clouds and we... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FOUR DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - 1/12/93 - ACT FIVE 44. ACT FIVE FADE IN: 61 EXT. ASTEROID (MATTE) The Runabout on the surface of the asteroid. The asteroid is gloomy and ill-lit from the heavy clouds of the Vortex. 62 INT. CAVE TUNNEL Croden ENTERS from the surface... moving with purpose, quickly... CRODEN (calling back outside) This way... He moves ahead... a beat later, Odo ENTERS... ever wary, looking around... ODO Slow down, Croden... stay where I can see you... Croden... Croden finally stops... ODO What's your hurry? What's in here? CRODEN I told you... the colony... But he is not so convincing now that he is anxious to move ahead... ODO (suspicious) Anxious to see them again are you... CRODEN Of course... A long beat as Odo studies him... takes his arm... starts to move him back toward the entrance... ODO Come on... Croden resists... DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT FIVE 45. 62 CONTINUED: ODO Whatever you came here to get, you can forget it. We're leaving. CRODEN Odo... ODO Now! Croden resists again... and Odo slams him against the cave wall with his superior strength... with bitterness -- ODO How much of it was true? Any of it? Any of it? Croden starts to lie... hesitates... decides against it. CRODEN (soft) No. On Rakhar, we tell stories about changelings. I thought they were a myth... until I met you. ODO The stone. CRODEN I don't know where it came from. Rakhari merchants buy stones like it from off-world traders. It's used as a key. ODO A key? To what. CRODEN My only reason to live. It's inside the cavern ahead. Off Odo's reaction... 63 INT. CAVERN They ENTER... sitting on the ground is a stasis chamber... covered with rocks... Croden reacts... DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT FIVE 46. 63 CONTINUED: CRODEN (desperate) Help me, there must have been a cave in... He runs over, starts to remove the heavy rocks... ODO (suspicious) What is it? CRODEN A stasis chamber. As Odo joins him, he can see through the rocks -- 64 ANGLE - CLOSER Through the clear (dusty) top, a young girl lays asleep... CRODEN My daughter. The only member of my family I could save. Odo reacts, looks at Croden, then despite his own anger, uses his superior strength to remove the larger heavy rocks blocking the casket from opening... Croden removes the locket and opens it... 65 INSERT - THE STONE (OPTICAL) morphs into the new shape... 66 RESUME As Croden inserts it into the lock... CRODEN It shapes itself to fit this lock. 67 BACK TO SCENE There is a HISSING SOUND as the vacuum seal of the casket is broken. The lid unlocks and the two men open it. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT FIVE 47. 68 ANGLE ON YARETH Croden checks on his daughter. Yareth slowly regains consciousness. YARETH (disoriented) Father? Yareth looks around and realizes where she is. Sits up... YARETH (weakly) I was dreaming about you. Croden lifts her out of the case... CRODEN I'm here, Yareth. You don't have to dream anymore. He hugs her intimately... 69 ANGLE Odo's solitary figure to the side emphasizes his aloneness once more... she looks at him over her father's shoulder... with innocence -- YARETH Hello. Croden's happy moment passes... CRODEN This is Odo. He's a security officer. She recoils in fear... CRODEN No, he won't hurt you. He'll take you to a place where you'll be safe. (to Odo) Won't you? A beat, Odo nods finally... YARETH (to Croden) Where are you going? DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT FIVE 48. CRODEN (a glance at Odo) Home. YARETH But you can't... they'll kill you... CRODEN I have to answer for my crimes, Yareth... YARETH All you did was try to protect us... Suddenly there is an explosion that rocks the cavern from above... ODO Their sensors must have picked up our life signs... we've got to get back to the Runabout... come on! They move out of the cavern and into... 69A INT. CAVE TUNNEL But as they pass through the tunnel, there's a direct hit and rocks come sliding down on top of Odo... CRODEN Odo! He leans down and examines Odo, who is unconscious... YARETH Is he badly hurt? CRODEN It's hard to tell... I don't know anything about his species... I'll carry him aboard... He breaks and stares down at Odo as he realizes he can escape... he starts to get up and leave him there... there's an explosion outside not as close as the other two... YARETH What's the matter, Father? DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT FIVE 48A. 69A CONTINUED: Croden just doesn't have it in him, he sighs to himself... CRODEN Nothing. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/19/93 - ACT FIVE 49. 69A CONTINUED: (2) He picks up Odo and carries him toward the cave entrance... 70 EXT. SPACE - THE VORTEX (OPTICAL) Hold on the swirling clouds for a beat, then the Runabout emerges from a cloud. 71 INT. RUNABOUT Close on Odo, who awakens in a chair that has been reclined (?), sits up and rubs the back of his head. Odo takes in his surroundings. Croden is at the controls and the Vortex can be seen whipping by out the windows. CRODEN You're heavier than you look. ODO (to Croden) You could have left me behind. CRODEN (not happy) Don't thank me. I already regret it. An explosion outside rattles the ship... CRODEN I haven't been able to lose them. (shakes his head) Sooner or later, one of his photons is going to trigger a toh-maire explosion... and kill us all... A beat as Odo thinks, gets an idea. ODO Let me have the controls. Find us one of those toh-maire fields... CRODEN I just told you, you don't want to go anywhere near one, changeling. (off Odo's look) Sorry. Habit. It suits you. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/21/93 - ACT FIVE 50. 71 CONTINUED: ODO Find the closest toh-maire field. Off Odo's look, Croden shrugs whatever you say... consults the monitors. CRODEN Six degrees to starboard. ODO Changing course... He's chased us everywhere else... maybe he'll follow us in there too... CRODEN His sensors may not be able to detect how volatile the field is. If he fires at us in there, the whole thing will ignite... ODO That's what I'm counting on... Off Croden's look... 72 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL) moves into a (tech) field... the quality of the vortex matter shifts subtly in color... 73 INT. RUNABOUT ODO Set a course along the interior perimeter... CRODEN Done. ODO Computer, shut down all engines... COMPUTER VOICE Engines disengaged. ODO Maintain emergency readiness to re-engage impulse on my command... DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/21/93 - ACT FIVE 51. 73 CONTINUED: CRODEN We're an awfully easy target... 74 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL) coasts silently... the camera moves to find the Miradorn ship entering the field... 75 INT. RUNABOUT (OPTICAL) CRODEN He's hailing us. ODO On screen. AH-KEL Are you prepared to surrender your prisoner? ODO I have a full array of Starfleet weapons trained on you, Ah-Kel. Frankly, I don't know too much about them... but I hear they equip this little vessel with some pretty powerful stuff... so I suggest you withdraw while you still can... AH-KEL There will barely be a trace of your little vessel when we're finished with you... He signs off... his ship appears on the view screen... Croden watches the tactical readouts... growing tension... DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT FIVE 52. 75 CONTINUED: CRODEN He's coming about... (beat) ... powering his shields... (beat) ... his starboard photon bank is armed... ODO Computer, engage! The Runabout lurches... CRODEN COMPUTER VOICE He's firing photons! Impulse engines on line. 76 EXT. PLASMA FIELD (OPTICAL) The Runabout lurches out of frame as Ah-Kel's ship fires its photon torpedoes. Immediately, the environment around it ignites and consumes the Miradorn vessel. 77 EXT. SPACE - THE VORTEX (OPTICAL) The Runabout emerges from the Plasma Field followed by a tremendous billowing gas explosion as the field ignites. 78 INT. RUNABOUT The interior is rocked by the explosion... but it finally settles down... ODO (to the girl) Everybody back there in one piece? YARETH (shaky) Yes. ODO (to Croden) Good. Take us out of your precious vortex. Croden looks at Odo with appreciation as he takes over the controls. Odo leans back with relief. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/15/93 - ACT FIVE 53. 79 EXT. NORMAL SPACE (OPTICAL) The Runabout exits the Vortex. 80 INT. RUNABOUT CRODEN (softly) I only have one last favor to ask. Yareth is going to be alone in your world. Like you've always been. She's going to need someone to look after her... ODO If you're suggesting what I think you're suggesting... CRODEN Now, you know you could use some company, changeling... you may deny it, but we both know it's true... or this rock wouldn't have meant a thing to you... COMPUTER VOICE Incoming subspace signal... Vulcan band frequency... ODO On screen. 81 ANGLE ON THE MONITOR (OPTICAL) The screen flashes to life, revealing a VULCAN OFFICER. VULCAN OFFICER (on monitor) Starfleet Runabout... this is the Vulcan Science Vessel T'Vran. Are you in any difficulty? ODO Chief of Security Odo from D.S. Nine. We're fine, Captain. VULCAN OFFICER (on monitor) We detected a major eruption in the Chamra Vortex. I was afraid a small ship like yours might have suffered damage. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT FIVE 54. 81 CONTINUED: ODO I appreciate your concern. What's your course? VULCAN OFFICER (O.S.) To the wormhole, then home to Vulcan. ODO I beamed over two survivors from a ship that wasn't so lucky. I have a mission to complete. Could you give them transportation to Vulcan? VULCAN OFFICER (O.S.) Easily done. We will rendezvous with you shortly. Prepare for transport. Odo turns back to Croden and Yareth. Croden has been listening in disbelief. ODO Don't thank me. I already regret it. Croden nods. He still can't believe this is happening. CRODEN How... how will you explain not delivering me? ODO (brushes it aside) I'll tell them you were killed when Ah-Kel torpedoed the asteroid. This dissembling must be catching. (beat) You'll have to get used to living in an alien society... CRODEN Like you. But I know where my home is. And perhaps someday, I'll be able to go back again. Croden and Odo exchange a look of bonding... Croden takes the locket and hangs it around Odo's neck. CRODEN I hope it will help you find where you came from. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/15/93 - ACT FIVE 55. 81 CONTINUED: (2) Odo nods his thanks. The comm system chirps. VULCAN OFFICER (O.S.) T'Vran to Ganges. Ready for transport. YARETH Are you really a changeling? ODO Yes. I suppose I am. 82 ANGLE (OPTICAL) Enough emotion for him, he motions for them to go to the pad. ODO Go on, we don't want to keep the Vulcans waiting. They get on the pad. He hits panels... ODO (to com) Energizing. He hits his panel, turns and sees the last of Croden and his daughter as they DEMATERIALIZE. 83 BACK TO SCENE Odo reacts. He looks around, then moves back to the controls. Feeling the weight around his neck, he lifts the locket and stares at the stone through the glass. ODO (beat, turns to controls) Computer, set a course for the wormhole. COMPUTER VOICE Course laid in. ODO Ready engines. A beat as he speaks to the stone. DEEP SPACE: "Vortex" - REV. 1/13/93 - ACT FIVE 56. 83 CONTINUED: ODO Home. Where is it? Someday, we'll know... cousin. (beat, to com) Engage. 84 EXT. SPACE - RUNABOUT (OPTICAL) moves away and we... FADE OUT. END OF ACT FIVE THE END