FADE IN:

28. INT. I.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - BRIG - DAY

Jaredan is on the verge of injuring himself as he convulses from the Agony Booth’s power.  Kara is on the verge of rushing the force field.

KARA
Jaredan!
(to M Kara)
You’re killing him!

M KARA
Oh, no.  Believe me, Kara, I’ve got plenty of practice at this.

KARA
You’re Betazoid.  How could you possibly stand being anywhere near someone suffering like that?

M KARA
Stand it?  Darling, it’s my specialty.
(beat)
I’ve found that at no other time can I delve as deep into a prisoner’s mind as when it is… otherwise occupied.

KARA
(aghast)
You’re scanning his mind?

M KARA
Well, between you, me and the two slabs of granite by the door, your boyfriend here is quite a piece of work.
(beat)
I may have to work on him for hours…

She steps closer to the Booth, where Jaredan has yelled himself hoarse.  She stares at him for several long moments while Kara, in the BG, watches helplessly.

Suddenly, Jaredan’s eyes snap open.  M Kara smiles– she’s made contact.  Jaredan begins to resist, but he’s much too weak.

M KARA
(scanning)
Hmmm… oh, terrible about your stepfather…
(beat)
… overachiever, commendations, blah, blah, blah…
(beat)
Here’s the good stuff.

JAREDAN
(in great pain)
If you… want to kill me… go ahead… Just… let her… go… Let her go…

M KARA
(grinning)
Oh, this is just too much!
(to M Sec. Officers)
Put him back in with her.

They take a nearly-unconscious Jaredan out of the Agony Booth, and into Kara’s cell.

In a repeat of the previous scene, Kara cradles Jaredan tenderly.  Jaredan stares outward, almost catatonic.

M Kara crouches so that he can see her.

M KARA (CONT’D)
All those service medals, all those commendations for bravery…
(tsk, tsk)
… and you still haven’t told her?

She EXITS the brig, laughing.

Kara watches her go, then turns to Jaredan.

KARA
(softly)
Tell me what?

Jaredan looks at her blankly, then passes out.

CUT TO:

29. INT. I.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - READY ROOM - DAY

We’re in the mirror version of the Captain’s READY ROOM.  It’s much more like a plush lounge for relaxation and indulgence than a place of duty.  M Jaredan sits among some cushions, reading a PADD.

M Kara ENTERS.  She stretches out beside him.

M JAREDAN
So, have you found anything interesting?

She kisses him on the cheek, then whispers in his ear.  He smiles, then laughs.

M JAREDAN (CONT’D)
Absolutely perfect.

M KARA
Then I take it you’ve decided what do to with them.

M JAREDAN
(nodding)
Yes, but one decision remains– which one gets to watch the other one die?

CUT TO:

30. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - MAIN SHUTTLEBAY - DAY

SIX SECURITY OFFICERS stand at attention, beside the SHUTTLECRAFT BRAHMS.  Each carries two hand phasers and a phaser rifle, along with transporter armbands.  Paran inspects them, one by one.  He carries the same weapons.

As he completes the last, Jennifer ENTERS, a medical pack slung over her shoulder.  Paran stands in her way.

PARAN
And where do you think you’re going?

JENNIFER
Are you seriously going to stand there and tell me that you don’t think they’ve been harmed?

Paran thinks it over for just a second.  Then, he crosses to a weapons locker, removing the last hand phaser and rifle left.  He holds them out to Jennifer.

PARAN
You’re checked out on these?

Kara takes the weapons with expert ease.

JENNIFER
I’ve been target shooting since I was ten.

PARAN
There’s no points for second place where we’re going.

JENNIFER
I’ll let you do your job and you let me do mine, okay?

PARAN
(with respect)
Okay.

Paran, Jennifer and the Security Officers board the shuttle.
 
 
 

31. EXT. SPACE - I.S.S. ENDEAVOUR

Exterior shot of the mirror ship.

32. INT. I.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - BRIG - DAY

Jaredan and Kara have been moved again to separate cells.  They’re still in some pain, but they’re both lucid.

KARA
So, where are you planning to go for semester break?

JAREDAN
Oh, I don’t know.  How about you?

KARA
I hear Pacifica is nice this time of year.

JAREDAN
Pacifica is nice any time of year.

KARA
I guess you’re right.

JAREDAN
Hikaru never stops ranting about Risa.

KARA
Don’t you dare, Jaredan Aquino.

JAREDAN
(shrugs)
Not my style, anyway.

KARA
Skiing, maybe?  A great day out on the slopes, risking life and limb, then curling up beside a warm, crackling fire, with a big mug of hot cocoa in your hands?

JAREDAN
With marshmallows?

KARA
Of course.

JAREDAN
How about the beach?  Powdery white sand, crystal blue water, the sun shining down just right in a cloudless sky.  You can surf or ride hoverskis, or just lounge all day, getting tan and sipping sweet drinks with umbrellas in them.

KARA
I think we have a winner.
(beat)
What’s that place that Professor Kim is always raving about?

JAREDAN
Um… Cancun.

KARA
Cancun.  It even sounds like a beach.  Mind some company?

JAREDAN
Why not?

They fantasize for a few moments.  Kara slides closer to the junction.

KARA
Jaredan?

JAREDAN
Yeah?

KARA
What is it?

JAREDAN
What is what?

KARA
Whatever it is that you’ve never told me.

JAREDAN
What are you talking about?

KARA
When she was… finished with you, she talked about how brave you are, and then said, “and you still haven’t told her?”
(beat, less and less sure)
I know that it’s something she pried out of your mind, and that it’s probably something you would rather keep secret…

JAREDAN
(finishing the thought)
…but since it’s very likely we’re about to die, why not tell you?

KARA
(sorry)
Something like that.

Jaredan pauses, thinking it over.

JAREDAN
(sighing)
One: we’re not going to die.
(beat)
Two: that thing?

KARA
Yes?

JAREDAN
Maybe I’ll tell you one day.

KARA
You promise?

JAREDAN
I promise.

M Jaredan and M Kara enter, along with a half-dozen M Sec. Guards.  The forcefields are lowered, and Jaredan and Kara are manhandled out.

JAREDAN
Now what?

M JAREDAN
Well, since you’ve been so insistent on my having a specific intent for you, I’ve decided to accommodate you.

KARA
Where are you taking us?

M KARA
(mock scolding)
Now, honey, that would spoil the surprise, now wouldn’t it?

The prisoners are hauled off, their mirror counterparts close behind.

33. INT. I.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - CORRIDORS - DAY - CONTINUOUS

The group makes its way down the dark corridors of the ship.  MIRROR CREWMEMBERS stop and stare at the prisoners, who have decided to march proudly to their fate.

34. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - BRIDGE - DAY

T’Ress stands beside Hikaru, both studying the Conn displays intently.

T’RESS
How many times have you run the simulation?

HIKARU
Four.  It doesn’t predict better than a sixty-five percent chance of succeeding.

T’RESS
That is sufficient.

T’Ress stands and takes the Captain’s Chair.

T’RESS (CONT’D)
(to Elena)
Lt. Reyes– you have prepared the SIF and IDF systems for the necessary maneuvers?

ELENA
Aye, sir.  Structural Integrity and Inertial Damping Fields rigged for overpower when needed.

T’Ress activates the comm.

T’RESS
Bridge to Engineering.

CADET LT. KI TALCHOS, the Chief Engineer, answers.

KI (VO)
(over comm)
Talchos here.

T’RESS
Lieutenant, are your preparations finished?

KI (VO)
(over comm)
Yes, sir.

T’RESS
Then I would like to have you at the transporter controls.

KI (VO)
(over comm)
Acknowledged, Commander.  Talchos out.

T’Ress surveys the bridge.

T’RESS
Time to next flare-up of the wormhole?

SCI OFFICER
Eighteen minutes, twenty seconds.

T’RESS
Mr. Takani, your suggestion for a starting mark?

HIKARU
Flare-up minus… ten minutes.

T’RESS
All right.  Begin your countdown.

CUT TO:

35. INT. I.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - EXERCISE AREA - DAY

Jaredan and Kara are led to a large OPEN SPACE.  A square MAT dominates the center, and various kinds of exercise equipment line the perimeter.  It strongly resembles a prison exercise yard.  About half of the MIRROR CREW (about fifteen to twenty) are there to watch.

Jaredan is brought to the North corner, Kara to the West corner.  M Jaredan and M Kara stand in the South corner.  Jaredan and Kara are released, but kept under phasers.

M Jaredan’s vest, boots, dagger and phaser are removed lovingly by M Kara.  Roughly, Jaredan is divested of his top, shirt and boots as well.  M Jaredan retains his red sash, allowing us to differentiate between the two easily.  M Kara heads for the East corner.

M JAREDAN
Now I can only assume that the name Charles Darwin means something to you.

Jaredan stands silent.

M JAREDAN (CONT’D)
The difference is, of course, that in this universe, his law of natural selection has been taken more to heart.

He begins stretching and limbering up.

M JAREDAN (CONT’D)
With that in mind, I’ve come to the conclusion that you and I must decide which of us is the fitter…
(dramatic pause)
… and which of us is dead.

JAREDAN
(almost bored)
A fight to the death?  That’s the most original thing you could think of?

M JAREDAN
Well, a mock court martial would take too long, simply tossing you both out an airlock would be too quick…

JAREDAN
(calmly)
I’ll do it on one condition.

M JAREDAN
(amused by the suggestion)
You’ll do it whether you want to or not.

JAREDAN
I could rush your guards and they’d vaporize me and ruin your fun.

M JAREDAN
True enough.  What do you want?

JAREDAN
I fight you, and win or lose, you let Kara go.

M JAREDAN
(unctuous)
Oh, no… I’ve got some very special plans for her.

JAREDAN
(cold)
Now I’ll have to kill you.

M JAREDAN
That’s the spirit!
(beat)
Oh, and by the way–
(to Kara)
Don’t even think of interfering.  One sudden move, and you’re vapor.

M Kara draws her own PHASER.

M KARA
And just to make things fair, any member of our crew who steps onto the mat will die.

Jaredan and M Jaredan walk to the center of the mat.

M JAREDAN
Are you ready?

JAREDAN
We never discussed what would happen if I win.

M JAREDAN
No, we didn’t.

Both step back, and take fighting stances.  Suddenly, the PA COMM BEEPS.

M HIKARU (VO)
(over PA)
Bridge to Captain Aquino.

M JAREDAN
(furious)
What?!

M HIKARU (VO)
(over PA, cowed)
The other Endeavour is moving.

M JAREDAN
Stay on them.  They won’t risk killing their captain.
(he points to a few Crewmembers)
You– take your battlestations.
(to comm)
No further interruptions.

M HIKARU (VO)
(over PA)
Understood, sir.

M JAREDAN
(shrugging)
Ah, the stress of command, eh?

JAREDAN
Let’s just get to it.

M JAREDAN
I agree.

He and Jaredan return to their stances.

M Jaredan feints, then kicks, knocking Jaredan to the ground.  jaredan springs up, and retaliates with fast punches.

They circle.  M Jaredan looks like a street fighter, or barroom brawler– he likes to come in close and ruthless.  Jaredan is more trained, fighting somewhere between the fluid motion of Jeet Kune Do and the flying of Tae Kwon Do.

They fight more, and its obvious that both are exceptional fighters, and are both in for the kill.

FADE OUT TO COMMERICALS

END ACT FOUR