Episode 131: “Absolute Power”

TEASER

BLACKNESS

ALL-KNOWING NARRATOR (V.O.)

Previously on “Star Trek: Series ?.”

FADE TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-G -- ESCAPE POD (FLASHBACK: “FORTYSEVENTHSPACE, PART II")

Captain Braxton and Evil Braxton, having their last conversation.

EVIL BRAXTON

I’ll see you when you’re me... Bwahahaha!

CUT TO:

EXT. SPACE (FLASHBACK: “FORTYSEVENTHSPACE, PART II")

The Relativity-G blows up, and it blows up real good.

CUT TO:

INT. TEMPORARILY FORMERLY EVIL EXCELSIOR -- TEMPORARILY FORMERLY EVIL BRIDGE (FLASHBACK: “RIGHT ON Q")

Q is sitting in a rocking chair.

Q

Once upon a time, there was once a species similar to your own. They too had developed temporal technology, and used it to look into their own futures. Unfortunately, when they tried to alter their fates, they failed because of the paradoxes involved. So, their best scientists got to work on an amazing device that could eliminate paradoxes and allow them to change their destinies. It was called the Plah D’Viz...

CUT TO:

INT. PLAH D’VIZ -- DARK ROOM (FLASHBACK: “ATROPOS")

Captain Braxton is with the Alien Hologram.

ALIEN HOLOGRAM

Let the tapestry of time be rewoven!

CUT TO:

INT. PROGENY SHIP -- HOLDING ROOM (FLASHBACK: “ADRASTEIA, PART II")

Captain Braxton is bound to a futuristic table while the Progeny Female makes the typical villain mistake of explaining her plan before implementing it.

PROGENY FEMALE

What has been done can be undone! We shall restore the paradox that you have eliminated, thus restoring the timeline you have erased!

CUT TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- BRIDGE (FLASHBACK: “HITTING THE ROAD, PART II")

Captain Braxton vanishes in a golden Progeny transporter beam.

CUT TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- BRIDGE (FLASHBACK: “HITTING THE ROAD, PART II")

Moments later.

PROGENY VOICE

Goodbye.

CUT TO:

EXT. SPACE (FLASHBACK: “HITTING THE ROAD, PART II")

The Progeny vessel powers up its weapons again and fires at the Relativity-H.

FADE TO:

BLACKNESS

ALL-KNOWING NARRATOR (V.O.)

...And now the continuation.

FADE TO:

EXT. SPACE

The Progeny vessels energy weapons lance out towards the Relativity-H, but they are stopped by... something.

CUT TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- BRIDGE

The bridge shakes, but is otherwise unharmed.

KES

That was some fast repair work, Damar!

DAMAR

Wasn’t me. Dax? Yar?

Dax and Yar shake their heads in the negative, as equally confused.

DOCTOR

Well, maybe whoever or whatever saved us is the same one doing that.

The Doctor points at the viewscreen. The Progeny vessel’s shields are clearly being strained by... something.

CUT TO:

INT. PROGENY VESSEL

Captain Braxton is being hauled towards some kind of freaky-looking device by two Progeny. Braxton’s only defense is throwing a tantrum like a three-year-old.

BRAXTON

I don’t wanna go in that thing! I don’t wanna! I don’t wanna!

PROGENY #1

You don’t have a choice.

Braxton’s tantrum is interrupted by one of his rare coherent thoughts.

BRAXTON

And just how is it that you’re carrying me around like a rag doll anyway? Aren’t you all supposed to be noncorporeal?

PROGENY #2

One of the perks of being noncorporeal is that you can switch back to being corporeal whenever you want.

BRAXTON

Say it with me now, people...

EVERYONE

Stupid noncorporeal aliens!

The Progeny are about to toss Braxton into the device when the lights begin to flicker and and out and the “losing power” sound effect can be heard. Another Progeny partially phases out of the nearby wall.

PROGENY #3

We’re losing shields fast!

PROGENY #1

What?

PROGENY #3

Something is protecting the Federation vessel and is attempting to penetrate our shields. Wait, we’ve just lost...

Before the third Progeny can finish his sentence, Captain Braxton vanishes in a flash of light...

CUT TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- BRIDGE

...and reappears on the Relativity-H bridge. He’s in the same position as before, but without the two Progeny holding him up, he falls to the floor.

BRAXTON

Ow! What the...

Everyone is momentarily shocked to see Braxton. The Doctor and Kes are the first to recover, and they move to help their captain up.

DAX

I’m reading catastrophic failure of nearly every system onboard the Progeny vessel. It’s dead in space.

Braxton finally gets to his feet and stares confusedly at the viewscreen.

BRAXTON

What did you guys do to them?

The camera begins to move from Braxton.

DAMAR (OFFSCREEN)

Wasn’t us, sir.

The camera finally stops on close-up of Ducane, and we get a good look at him for the first time this episode. He clearly isn’t well. He collapses and falls from his seat onto the bridge floor...

FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER

---

ACT ONE

FADE TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- SICKBAY

Ducane is laying unconscious on a 29th Century sickbay bed. The senior staff watches as the Doctor administers care.

BRAXTON

About time, too! When exactly was the last time you gave medical treatment anyway?

DOCTOR

I give medical treatment all the time!

BRAXTON

Oh yeah? Where were you when I needed you last week to kiss my boo-boo on my finger and make it feel better?

Braxton holds up his finger, which had a small scratch on it which was clearly healing just fine on its own.

DOCTOR

What am I, your mother? Shut up and let me finish running these tests!

Braxton turns to the rest of the crew, expecting one of them to kiss his boo-boo. Clearly, no-one is interested.

BRAXTON

Fine! No-one kiss my boo-boo! And what the heck are all of you doing down here, anyway? Don’t you all have something better to do, like, oh, I don’t know, watching the big bad alien ship and making sure it doesn’t try to ruin my life again?!

DAX

Forty-seven steps ahead of you, sir, as usual. I’ve tied in sensors to this PADD. They so much as hiccup over there and we’ll know about it.

BRAXTON

Do noncorporeal aliens even hiccup?

DAX

Uh... Hey, look! Something shiny!

Dax points off in some random direction. Braxton eagerly goes looking for the nonexistent shiny object.

DOCTOR

Hmm... This is odd.

YAR

What?

DOCTOR

I’m not picking up anything on my tricorder scan. He seems perfectly healthy.

KES

Maybe it’s something psychological.

YAR

Yeah, let’s turn to the only person on this ship even more useless than the Doctor.

DOCTOR AND KES (IN UNISON)

Hey!

YAR

When was the last time you actually did any counseling around here? I’ve got serious anger management problems that need to be addressed!

Yar punches Damar in the face, who promptly falls to the floor unconscious.

YAR (CONT’D)

See?

The Doctor and Kes haul Damar onto the adjacent bed. The Doctor scans him with the tricorder.

DOCTOR

You’ve fractured his lower jaw. Great. Now I’ve got two patients.

Braxton, whose short attention span quickly forced him to give up the shiny object search, returns to the group.

BRAXTON

Fine. Kes? Doctor? You stay here and take care of Ducane and Damar. Yar? I want your trigger finger ready. Blow the Progeny ship sky high if it tries anything. The rest of you? Figure out what the heck happened.

DAX

And what will you be doing, sir?

BRAXTON

The most important job of all: Tracking down the reason why we’re suddenly in a script format! Dismissed!

CUT TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- MAIN ENGINEERING

About an hour later. Dax and Xaronna are reviewing sensor information at one of the consoles. Braxton walks in with a PADD in his hand.

BRAXTON

Report.

XARONNA

We’ve got a major problem, sir. It seems that some of our sensors were damaged in the first Progeny barrage.

BRAXTON

Some?

XARONNA

Yeah. You see, the Relativity-H has two sets of sensors. The first set tells us stuff that’s blatantly obvious. Unfortunately, the logs from those sensors are totally useless.

Xaronna hands Braxton another PADD. Braxton reads from it.

BRAXTON

We’re doomed. Hey, we’re saved. Braxton’s back. He’s a total idiot. The Progeny aren’t looking so good.

XARONNA

The other set of sensors, the one that tells us stuff that’s not obvious, took damage. We’re attempting to reconstruct the logs now.

BRAXTON

Very good.

DAX

How about you, sir? Any answers on the script format?

Braxton shows her the info on his own PADD.

BRAXTON

I’ve narrowed down the possibilities to two: Either an infinite number of monkeys on an infinite number of typewriters have taken over writing the show, or the usual writer has decided to get artsy again.

XARONNA

It’s gotta be the latter. If it was the former, I think we’d be seeing a better-quality episode.

BRAXTON

Exactly what I was thinking. First a podcast, and now this? When will the madness end?!

CUT TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- SICKBAY

The Doctor continues to run tests on Ducane, while Kes watches. Damar is sitting on his own bed, rubbing his sore jaw.

DOCTOR

I’ve mended your jaw, but it’ll still be sore for a few days.

DAMAR

You ain’t kidding. That Yar sure has a mean right hook.

The Doctor glares at Kes.

DOCTOR

And didn’t the captain order you to help me?

KES

What do you think I’ve been doing?

DOCTOR

Looks like a whole lot of standing there doing nothing.

KES

I’m trying to contact Ducane telepathically.

DOCTOR

I thought you didn’t have any powers left, except for the cheating at cards.

KES

I don’t. But Ocampa are somewhat telepathic, even without godlike powers. Remember all those training sessions I had with Tuvok during the first seasons of Voyager?

DOCTOR

So let me get this straight... You’ve spent years telling us that you’re not a Troi rip-off only to bring up five years into the show that you’re somewhat telepathic just like Troi?

KES

Oh shut up.

DOCTOR

Well, have you sensed anything?

KES

Nothing.

A soft beeping sound comes from one of the sickbay consoles.

DOCTOR

Ah, more test results.

The Doctor taps a few buttons and brings up the results.

DOCTOR (CONT’D)

What the... Oh $@*#!

CUT TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- MAIN ENGINEERING

Dax and Xaronna are still trying to repair the damaged parts of the sensor logs. Captain Braxton has taken up a position nearby, working on his own PADD.

DAX

Let me try another algorithm.

Dax punches a few buttons. Although we can’t make out exactly what’s on the computer screen, it’s clear from her reaction that it’s the desired result.

DAX (CONT’D)

Finally! Let’s see what we’ve got!

Dax and Xaronna take a few seconds to read the logs, while Braxton gets up and walks over to take a look for himself.

DAX (CONT’D)

What the... Oh $@*#!

XARONNA

What? What’s so bad?

DAX

The shield that magically saved us, the force that disabled the Progeny ship, your transport back to the ship... How could we have been so stupid!

BRAXTON

Get on with it, Dax!

DAX

We left the galaxy, you fool!

XARONNA

Yes, and now we’re stuck millions of light-years from anywhere. Your point?

DAX

We left the galaxy! Which means...

CUT TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- SICKBAY

Kes and Damar are unconscious on the floor and the Doctor is nowhere to be seen. Ducane is sitting up on his bed, but his eyes are still closed.

DAX (V.O.)

...we crossed the galactic barrier!

Ducane opens his eyes, revealing them to be an unearthly silver...

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE

---

ACT TWO

FADE TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- CORRIDOR

Braxton, Dax, and Xaronna are running as fast as possible.

BRAXTON

Why are we running as fast as possible again?

DAX

We crossed the galactic barrier!

Beat.

BRAXTON

Let’s pretend I have no idea what that is.

DAX

The galactic barrier is a field of negative energy that surrounds the Milky Way Galaxy. It also happens to occasionally mutate people within it, giving them godlike powers.

BRAXTON

And when exactly did somebody come up with that brilliant idea?

DAX

Way back in the Original Series.

BRAXTON

See, this is why needed Sulu! He was always good for telling us about all the dumb TOS stuff that’s still around! What the heck do I not pay you for, Xaronna?

XARONNA

To fly your ship ‘cause no-one else can?

Beat.

BRAXTON

You win this round. But wait... Isn’t this a good thing that Ducane now has godlike powers? After all, he saved me from the Progeny, right?

DAX

Unfortunately, these powers are part of a package deal. As you become all-powerful, you also become totally evil. And do we really want an evil all-powerful Patrick Ducane running around the universe?

The three enter a turbolift.

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- TURBOLIFT -- CONTINUOUS

BRAXTON

Considering how much trouble an evil non-godlike version of me was, I don’t even want to think what an evil godlike version of Ducane would be capable of.

XARONNA

Speaking of which, what exactly are we going to do if and when Ducane wakes up? He managed to lay some serious smackdown on the Progeny. What hope do we have of beating him?

DAX

Which is why we need to make sure he stays unconscious.

Dax taps her communicator.

DAX (CONT’D)

Dax to Sickbay.

Beat.

DAX (CONT’D)

Dax to Sickbay!

The turbolift stops and the doors open. The trio exit and start running again.

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- CORRIDOR -- CONTINUOUS

Braxton looks around.

BRAXTON

Didn’t we just run through this corridor?

XARONNA

Set re-use. Cuts down on production costs.

The three run into Sickbay.

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- SICKBAY -- CONTINUOUS

They find Kes and Damar on the floor and Ducane gone.

BRAXTON

Help me get these two on beds. And where’s the Doctor? Is he slacking off again?

Dax checks one of the Sickbay consoles while Braxton and Xaronna get Kes and Damar comfortable.

DAX

Looks like the Doctor’s offline. I think it’s safe to assume Ducane woke up.

BRAXTON

I’m going to take a stand and say that’s not good.

Dax opens a panel on the wall and makes a few adjustments.

DAX

Computer, activate the EMH.

The Doctor materializes out of thin air.

DOCTOR

Please state the nature of the medical emergency.

He gets his bearings.

DOCTOR (CONT’D)

Oh $@*#! Captain, I found traces of negative energy in Commander Ducane! The galactic barrier must have...

BRAXTON

We know. Where’d he go?

DOCTOR

I don’t know. I was just about to contact you when he woke up and zapped all three of us. I’d better take care of the two of them.

BRAXTON

Well, at least I’m finally getting my money’s worth out of you this episode.

Everyone glares at Braxton.

BRAXTON (CONT’D)

So to speak. Computer, locate Commander Ducane.

COMPUTER VOICE

Commander Ducane is in the Observation Lounge.

Braxton taps his comm badge.

BRAXTON

Braxton to Yar.

YAR (COMM VOICE)

Yar here, sir.

BRAXTON

Grab all the security officers you can and seal off the Observation Lounge. Do not enter. Repeat, do not enter.

YAR (COMM VOICE)

But I thought you wanted me to watch the big bad alien ship.

BRAXTON

We’ve got bigger problems. Braxton out. Doctor, take care of Kes and Damar. Dax and Xaronna, you’re with me.

CUT TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- CORRIDOR

Several minutes later. Braxton, Dax, and Xaronna arrive at the entrance to the Observation Lounge. Yar and several dozen nameless security officers are keeping guard.

YAR

The Observation Lounge has been sealed off as ordered, sir.

BRAXTON

Very good. Anybody got a plan before we go in there?

No-one does.

BRAXTON (CONT’D)

Then we wing it.

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- OBSERVATION LOUNGE -- CONTINUOUS

The four of them enter the room. Ducane is standing by the large viewscreen within, looking rather bemused.

DUCANE

Took you long enough for you fools to get here.

DAX

The only fool I see in here is the captain, and even he’s being somewhat competent this episode.

DUCANE

Let’s drop the average IQ in the room, then, shall we?

CUT TO:

INT. MAKALA CAVES

Another symbiont appears in the pools in a flash of light.

DAX SYMBIONT (V.O.)

Well... $@*#!

CUT TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- OBSERVATION LOUNGE

Jadzia isn’t looking so well, and everyone else is looking at her.

BRAXTON

Dax, what’s wrong?

JADZIA

I think he took out my... you know... the thing in my belly?

BRAXTON

Your pancreas?

XARONNA

Her symbiont, you idiot.

DUCANE

Don’t worry. The Dax symbiont is alive and well back on Trill. However, you might want to get Jadzia to Sickbay. Gotta keep the Doctor busy, don’t we?

Xaronna and Yar help Jadzia out of the room, leaving only Braxton and Ducane.

DUCANE (CONT’D)

So, it’s just you and me, sir.

The word “sir” is dripping with sarcasm.

BRAXTON

Come back to Sickbay, Ducane. We’ll find a way to help you.

DUCANE

You? Help me? I think not.

BRAXTON

You’re not well.

DUCANE

Not well? I just single-handedly saved you from one of the most advanced species in the universe, and I’m not well? Ingrate!

Braxton whips out a phaser rifle and attempts to stun Ducane. Ducane is unaffected.

DUCANE (CONT’D)

Al, my old friend... Even after all these years you still have no idea whom you’re dealing with. I suggest you leave before my patience runs out.

Braxton, taken aback, retreats from the Observation Lounge. The camera zooms in on Ducane’s face. The combination of his silver eyes and his sadistic grin are the last image we see as we...

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

---

ACT THREE

FADE TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- SICKBAY

The Doctor is treating Jadzia on one of the Sickbay beds, with Braxton, Yar, and Xaronna standing nearby. Kes and Damar are still unconscious on their respective beds.

JADZIA

Am I fit to return to... uh... what’s the word?

DOCTOR

Duty?

Jadzia snickers.

JADZIA

You said “duty.”

The Doctor rolls his eyes and turns to Braxton.

DOCTOR

She’ll be fine. I’ve performed the same procedure on her that I performed when we first brought her to the 29th Century. She’s dumb as a rock again, but otherwise healthy.

BRAXTON

What about the others?

DOCTOR

Damar and Kes have both taken quite a shock. They’ll be okay, but it’ll be a while before they regain consciousness.

BRAXTON

So it’s just the three-and-a-half of us versus an evil Super-Ducane.

YAR

Not to mention that the Progeny are probably trying to restore their systems as we speak, and we’re stranded way out in the inter-galactic void.

BRAXTON

One crisis at a time. Jadzia, you said this happened once before during TOS. How did Kirk deal with this?

JADZIA

T-O-S spells tos.

BRAXTON

Wow, she’s so dumb that it’s even hurting my head, and that’s saying something.

XARONNA

Sir, I’ve been going over the records. What happened was that two individuals were affected by the barrier. They wound up fighting each other. One died, and the survivor was so weakened that Kirk was able to finish him off. That’s probably why Ducane took out Kes. She was the only one with powers at any point that could have stopped him. And with both Dax and Damar incapacitated in different ways, our technobabble options are extremely limited.

YAR

We could use the temporal transporter and go back in time. Prevent ourselves from crossing the galactic barrier. Or incapacitate Ducane before he becomes too powerful.

BRAXTON

As much as I’d like to get back to some time travel in a series that’s supposed to be all about time travel, that wouldn’t work either. We prevent Ducane from stopping the Progeny, and they succeed in restoring the time loop. I’m sure you’ve all read “Flipside,” so you know that would be equally bad.

DOCTOR

Hmm...

BRAXTON

Please tell me that means you have an idea, because you know I rarely have any.

DOCTOR

Maybe. Can you keep Ducane busy for a while?

BRAXTON

I can try.

DOCTOR

Good. Then here’s the plan...

CUT TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- CORRIDOR

Captain Braxton approaches the Observation Lounge. Unfortunately, the nameless security officers have been knocked out, and a trail of destruction leads down the corridor.

BRAXTON

Something tells me this isn’t good. Computer, locate Commander Ducane.

COMPUTER VOICE

Commander Ducane is en route to Main Engineering.

BRAXTON

I want to know where he is now, not where’s he going!

COMPUTER VOICE

Well, if somebody had gotten around to writing the Series ? Technical Manual, then maybe I’d have schematics for the ship so I could tell you where he is.

BRAXTON

Never mind. I’ll just follow the carnage.

CUT TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- CORRIDOR

Ducane storming down another corridor, with panels on the walls exploding as he passes in an obvious homage to “Fury.” He is quickly joined by somebody who looks vaguely familiar. It’s Lt. Peters, the ship’s Token Recurring Character.

PETERS

Excuse me, sir, I realize that you’re kinda busy with being totally evil at the moment, but may I have a word?

Ducane ignores Peters.

PETERS (CONT’D)

It’s just that... I’m supposed to be the Token Recurring Character on this ship, and I haven’t gotten so much as a mentioning. I normally wouldn’t complain, but it’s been more than a year and...

Ducane stops and glares at Peters. Peters goes flying backwards down the hall. He nearly crashes into Braxton, who has just rounded the corner into the current corridor. Ducane continues on his way while Braxton checks on Peters.

BRAXTON

You okay?

PETERS

I’m banged up pretty well, but I think I’ll live.

Braxton squints at Peters.

BRAXTON

Do I know you?

PETERS

I’m Lt. Peters, sir. The ship’s Token Recurring Character.

BRAXTON

Not ringing a bell.

PETERS

I played “Amazing Grace” on the kazoo during Evil Braxton’s funeral.

BRAXTON

Oh... Still not ringing a bell.

PETERS

Of course not! When Xaronna was the Token Recurring Character, she was in practically every episode! When I take over the job, I’m just forgotten!

BRAXTON

Well, I’ll fix that.

Braxton whips out a PADD. The camera zooms in on it. On the PADD’s screen is a list entitled “Things To Do.” The list, in descending order, reads “Stop Ducane from taking over the universe,” “Find missing lunch,” and “Feed Helix.” Braxton fiddles with the buttons, and “Add Token Recurring Character to more scenes” is added.

BRAXTON (CONT’D)

There we go. In the meantime, head to Sickbay. The Doctor should be there shortly. Or we’ll all be dead. Whichever.

Braxton then starts running down the corridor again, following Ducane’s trail. The lights begin to flicker, and the “losing power” sound effect can be heard.

CUT TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- MAIN ENGINEERING

Braxton enters. Unconscious crewmembers litter the floor. Ducane is floating in front of the hyperwarp core, draining energy from it.

DUCANE

Hello, Al. I got tired of waiting for my powers to regenerate, so I decided to come down here and borrow some power.

BRAXTON

For someone who’s always been portrayed as the smartest member of my crew, you sure aren’t being original. Can you possibly rip off any more plot elements from “Fury”?

Ducane turns to face Braxton. The same look of utter contempt is on his face.

DUCANE

I suppose you’re here to try to stop me. Again. You never learn, do you?

BRAXTON

I learn enough. Eat phaser rifle!

Braxton whips something out from behind his back. Ducane raises an eyebrow in typical Vulcan fashion.

DUCANE

That’s not a phaser rifle. That’s a biscuit.

Sure enough, it was a biscuit in Braxton’s hand.

BRAXTON

So that’s where my lunch got off to... Wait. Is this an American biscuit or a British biscuit?

DUCANE

Does it matter?

BRAXTON

I guess not.

Braxton tosses the biscuit aside and then whips out a phaser rifle.

BRAXTON (CONT’D)

Eat phaser rifle!

This time, it’s clear Braxton’s not messing around. The phaser beam is absorbed by a shield around Ducane, but with each strike, it’s clear the energy expenditure is getting to him.

DUCANE

Maximum setting? I didn’t think you had it in you. A pity. I had hoped to keep you around as a source of amusement after I had taken over the universe, but I see you leave me no alternative.

Ducane fires a bolt of energy at Braxton. Braxton manages to dodge, and runs out of Main Engineering.

DUCANE (CONT’D)

Let the hunt begin.

BRAXTON (O.S.)

And for Gene’s sake, get some original lines!

Ducane lets loose a scream, and there are explosions throughout Main Engineering. He then flies out of the room, with the explosions following him as he goes...

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

---

ACT FOUR

FADE TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- CORRIDOR

Braxton rounds a corner, dashing full speed ahead. Several seconds later, Ducane flies around the same corner, along with the accompanying explosions. Braxton taps his communicator.

BRAXTON

Braxton to Doctor. I’ve got a very ticked off Ducane on my tail. Please tell me you’re ready.

DOCTOR (COMM VOICE)

As ready as we’re going to be.

BRAXTON

Understood. Braxton out.

Braxton enters a turbolift and punches a few buttons. The turbolift doors close.

CUT TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- TURBOLIFT

Braxton is calmly standing in the turbolift while elevator music plays. He takes out his PADD. The camera zooms in on it again, while Braxton deletes “Find missing lunch” from his to-do list.

CUT TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- CORRIDOR

Ducane reaches the turbolift doors. With a wave of his hand, the doors crumple, and he begins flying up the turbolift shaft.

CUT TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- BRIDGE

The turbolift doors open, and Braxton makes a mad dash towards the temporal transporter. Seconds later, the floor of the turbolift explodes, and Ducane rises through the subsequent hole. He surveys the situation.

DUCANE

Time travel? Don’t be foolish.

Ducane flies across the bridge and tosses Braxton off the transporter pad. Braxton slams into one of the walls, and crumples to the floor.

DUCANE (CONT’D)

I do commend you for attempting to sacrifice yourself for the entire universe, though. By preventing my ascension, you doom yourself to becoming Evil Braxton, and the entire galaxy as well.

BRAXTON

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

DUCANE

Now who needs original lines?

Braxton manages to lift his head enough to look at Ducane and smile.

BRAXTON

Not me. Energize!

The Doctor jumps out from hiding and activates the temporal transporter, which Ducane is still standing on. Ducane is caught in the transporter beam, but doesn’t go anywhere. He is clearly in agony, though, as he is writhing and screaming.

DUCANE

What are you doing to me?!?!

DOCTOR

An emergency medical procedure, Commander. I’m using the transporter beam energy to cancel out the negative energy in your body, while simultaneously taking a page from “Unnatural Selection” and “Rascals” by using the transporter log to restore your original physiology.

Ducane continues to writhe and scream for several more seconds before the transporter beam terminates. He then collapses onto the transporter pad. The Doctor rushes over and begins scanning him with a medical tricorder.

DOCTOR (CONT’D)

No traces of negative energy, and he’s completely human.

He taps his communicator.

DOCTOR (CONT’D)

I need emergency transport for two to Sickbay!

CUT TO:

INT. RELATIVITY-H -- SICKBAY

Several hours later. The Doctor is tending to Ducane, who is still unconscious on one of the beds. The rest of the senior staff, along with Lt. Peters, have recovered.

BRAXTON

How is he, Doctor?

The Doctor does not look happy.

DOCTOR

He’s fine, physically. The shock from the procedure has left him in deep coma, though. I’ve tried everything I can think of to bring him out of it, but nothing’s worked.

BRAXTON

Have you been able to contact him telepathically, Troi?

KES

Kes! My name is Kes!

BRAXTON

Right. Kes.

KES

And no, I haven’t been able to contact him.

BRAXTON

Doctor, try to keep him comfortable, at the very least.

The Doctor nods solemnly.

BRAXTON (CONT’D)

What about our other problems?

DAMAR

Between the initial Progeny barrage and Ducane’s rampage, we’re in pretty bad shape. The hyperwarp drive is damaged, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to fix it with our limited resources.

BRAXTON

Try your best. What about our friends in the other ship?

YAR

No sign of activity from the Progeny. They appear to be in even worse shape than we are.

BRAXTON

Keep monitoring. We’re down one of our own, and still knee-deep in danger...

JADZIA

Knee-deep? That’s the sound a frog makes!

Braxton becomes irate.

BRAXTON

Thanks a lot, Jadzia! You just totally ruined the dramatic last line of the episode.

Jadzia doesn’t pick up on the sarcasm and smiles at Braxton.

JADZIA

You’re welcome!

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT FOUR

THE END