FADE IN:

36. EXT. SPACE

The U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR flies past, followed closely by the I.S.S. ENDEAVOUR, which CLOAKS.

CUT TO:

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

The tension is high, and RED ALERT is in effect.

ELENA
The enemy has cloaked.

T’RESS
(into comm)
Lt. Paran, are you in place?

PARAN (VO)
(over comm)
Ready to go, Commander.

T’RESS
(to Hikaru)
Helm, bring us to heading 118 mark 49.
(to TAC OFFICER)
Ensign, prepare to fire phasers as soon as the sensors acquire the target.

38. EXT. SPACE

The U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR banks, on an attack vector.  We see a SHIMMER

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

ELENA
We’ve got them, Commander!

T’RESS
Fire phasers.

40. EXT. SPACE

The U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR fires phasers, lighting up the I.S.S. ENDEAVOUR.

The I.S.S. ENDEAVOUR DECLOAKS.

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

HIKARU
They’ve decloaked!

T’RESS
(into comm)
Go, Mr. Paran.

CUT TO:

42. INT. SHUTTLECRAFT - DAY

The Away Team stands in the center of the shuttle, ready for action.

PARAN
Energize!

They’re taken by the TRANSPORTER.

CUT TO:

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

M Jaredan is thrown “into” the camera, then rolls to his feet.  He and Jaredan circle again.  Both men are bruised and bleeding.

The ship ROCKS, but they keep fighting, including during the dialogue.  It’s only loud enough for them to hear, though.

M JAREDAN
(taunting)
You know, my Kara told me what she learned from you.  I’m very disappointed.

JAREDAN
Ask me if I care.

M JAREDAN
Oh, I know you don’t but– aren’t you terribly jealous of me?

JAREDAN
You treat her like a possession!  A slave!

M Jaredan laughs.

M JAREDAN
Poor little righteous Cadet.  She came to me.  Now she belongs to me.

Jaredan attacks.  They begin grappling, and Jaredan gets the upper hand.  They struggle, face-to-face.

JAREDAN
Give up.  It’s over.

M JAREDAN
You of all people should know my answer to that.

Unseen by Jaredan, he reaches under his sash, drawing a slim KNIFE.

Across the mat, Kara sees.

KARA
Jaredan, he has a knife!

It’s too late.  Jaredan looks down just in time to see M Jaredan plunge the knife into his stomach.

Jaredan lets go, and staggers back.

KARA
(frantic)
Jaredan!

She starts forward, but is stopped by a phaser held in front of her.

Jaredan drops to his knees.

CUT TO:

44. INT. I.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - BRIDGE - DAY

Half the Away Team (THREE SEC EXTRAS and SEC OFFICER #1) MATERIALIZES on the bridge.  Instantly, their rifles are up, and the MIRROR BRIDGE CREW has no time to react.

SEC OFFICER #1
No one move.

He drags M Hikaru up out of the center seat and jams his rifle under M Hikaru’s chin.

SEC OFFICER #1 (CONT’D)
Where’s our captain?

CUT TO:

45. INT. I.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - CORRIDORS - DAY

The other half of the Away Team, led by Paran and Jennifer, rush through the corridors.  They reach a junction, and are met with phaser fire.  They return fire.

SEC OFFICER #2
(to Paran)
Lieutenant!  Bravo team reports they’ve secured the bridge!

PARAN
Great!  Did they say if they’ve found the captain?

SEC OFFICER #2
One deck down, where our main cargo bay is!

PARAN
Then let’s move!

They hustle off.

CUT TO:

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

M Jaredan stands over Jaredan.

M JAREDAN
Hurts, does it?

Jaredan pulls the knife out.  M Jaredan kicks it out of his hand.

M JAREDAN
Very impressive.

He turns and walks towards Kara.

Suddenly, his feet are swept out from under him by Jaredan’s leg.  In a flash, Jaredan is on him.

Jaredan pins one arm with his knee, and starts to strangle M Jaredan.  M Jaredan slaps with his free hand, but Jaredan is angled away.

M JAREDAN
You’ll never… understand… just how… alike… we are…

JAREDAN
(yells)
I’m nothing like you!

M JAREDAN
(almost smiling)
Now… you… are…

M Jaredan’s eyes roll back.  He DIES.

Jaredan stands, and starts backpedaling quickly, horrified.

JAREDAN
God, no…

As M Kara collapses, screaming, on top of M Jaredan’s body, the second half (Alpha Team) of the Away Team bursts into the room.

The Mirror Crew and the Away Team face off.

Jaredan falls.  Kara takes the opportunity and kneels by Jaredan’s side, tears in her eyes.  Their positioning mirrors their counterparts.

M CREWMAN
(to M Kara)
Commander, what should we do?

M KARA
(crying)
Let them go.

M CREWMAN
But the Captain–

M KARA
The Captain is dead!  He killed him!
(coldly)
And since he’s not of the Empire, I am now in command.  Let them go!

The Mirror Crew lowers its weapons, as does the Away Team.  Jennifer rushes to Jaredan, and begins treating him.

JENNIFER
He’s going into shock.  We have to get him to Sickbay now!

Kara looks up to see M Kara standing over her.  Kara stands.

M KARA
(softly, through tears)
Does he mean to you he meant to me?

Kara glares, then stops, wiping her own tears.

KARA
(softly)
Yes.

M KARA
Then take him and go.  We won’t follow.

Kara returns to Jaredan’s side.  Jaredan, Kara, Jennifer, Paran and the rest of the Away Team TRANSPORT away.

M Kara kneels beside M Jaredan’s body, and begins weeping loudly.

CUT TO:

47. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - SICKBAY - DAY

Jaredan, Kara and jennifer materialize in sickbay, Jaredan on the MAIN BIOBED.

JENNIFER
Kara, you’ve got to let us help him.

KARA
I can’t leave!

JENNIFER
You have to.

Jaredan’s vital signs appear on a display, including a beeping heartbeat (slow and shallow).

JAREDAN
(barely audible)
Kara…

KARA
(leaning in)
You’re going to be okay.

Jennifer tries to work around Kara.

JAREDAN
No…
(coughs)
The thing…

KARA
What thing?

JAREDAN
The thing… I could never tell you…

KARA
No, you can tell me later– you’re going to be all right!

JAREDAN
No… what I could… never tell you…
(coughs)
Now… I have to…
(gasp)
before I go…

The BEEPING becomes slower.  Jennifer is elsewhere for a moment.

KARA
Don’t leave me…

JAREDAN
I have… to tell you…
(gasp)
I love you…

The beep becomes a FLAT TONE.  His VITALS FLATLINE.

Jennifer rushes up, two NURSES beside her.

JENNIFER
(to NURSE #1)
Get her out of here!

Kara is hauled out by NURSE #1.  Kara is completely in shock.
 

48. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR - CORRIDOR OUTSIDE SICKBAY - DAY

The SICKBAY DOORS close.  Kara slumps against them and slides to the floor.  She begins crying.

Her combadge BEEPS.

T’RESS (VO)
(over comm)
Bridge to Commander Lionetti.

She ignores it.

T’RESS (VO) (CONT’D)
(over comm)
Repeat, Bridge to Commander Lionetti.

Kara stands slowly, and wipes her eyes on her sleeve.  She taps her combadge.

KARA
(whispery)
Lionetti here.

T’RESS (VO)
(over comm)
Two minutes to wormhole flare-up, and we are in position.

KARA
(forcibly regaining her composure)
Move us out of the wormhole’s range.  We can not proceed until the captain…
(she shakes)
Until the captain’s condition has stabilized.

T’RESS (VO)
(over comm)
But, Commander– the other ship–

KARA
(shaky again)
Isn’t going to do a thing!  Now follow my orders, and move us away from the wormhole!

T’RESS (VO)
(over comm)
Aye, sir.  Bridge out.

Kara shakes her head.

KARA
(to herself)
Can’t break down… not now.  Not now.

The sickbay doors open, and Jennifer appears.  Kara rushes up to her.

KARA (CONT’D)
(confused and rapid)
Jaredan– how…?  What’s…?  Is he…?

JENNIFER
I’ve stabilized him.  He hasn’t woken up yet, but I’m confident he’ll be fine.

Kara blinks, unable to speak.  Jennifer holds her arms.

JENNIFER (CONT’D)
(slowly)
He’ll be fine.

Kara collapses on her, and they embrace.  After a few seconds, Kara straightens, sniffling and wiping her eyes.

KARA
Some First Officer I am, huh?

JENNIFER
You look like a worried friend to me, Kara.  And that’s all right, isn’t it?

KARA
Only for a while.
(beat)
Now I have to go be the First Officer.

JENNIFER
Then go.

Jennifer goes back into sickbay.  Kara straightens her uniform, and walks off, head high.

CUT TO:

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

Most of the regulars are on duty.  The TURBOLIFT DOORS OPEN, and Kara ENTERS.  All eyes go to her immediately.

Her eyes are reddened, and her hair is disheveled, but the usual air of authority is back, if a little precarious.

T’Ress leaves the center seat.  Kara steps up.

KARA
I have the conn, Commander.

T’RESS
Aye, sir.

She takes her usual seat at the Science station as Kara takes the Captain’s Chair.

KARA
Time to the next opportunity?

ELENA
One hour, twenty-one minutes, sir.

KARA
All right, that should be enough time.
(beat)
Current position of I.S.S. Endeavour?

HIKARU
They’re on a course for Earth, at full impulse.

Kara’s eyes go distant for a moment.

HIKARU
Commander?

KARA
Yes?

HIKARU
Your orders?

KARA
Maintain position.  Mr. Paran, keep an eye out for any more ships.
(beat)
Now comes the waiting.

CUT TO:

50. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR  - KARA’S QUARTERS - NIGHT

Kara is in civvies, and is setting her table for dinner– for one.  Her log entry is heard in VO.

During the VO, Kara orders at her replicator and brings the plate back to the table.  She lifts a forkful, stares at it, then drops it.  She pushes away from the table.

KARA (VO)
Cadet First Officer’s Log, Stardate 52044.25.  The Endeavour crossed over into our own dimension approximately eighteen hours ago, and we are now en route to Starbase 19 for debriefing.
(beat)
Cadet Captain Aquino remains unconscious.
(beat)
Our CMO, however, assures me this is normal for such extreme cases of shock, and he should regain consciousness soon and will recover quickly.
(beat)
I hope she is right.

Kara walks to her sofa, and picks up a PADD from the table.  On it, she starts flipping through snapshots: Academy functions and ceremonies, semester breaks, etc.  She stops on a photo of her and Jaredan in their Nova Squad jackets.

Before she can tear up, the COMM BEEPS.

JENNIFER (VO)
Sickbay to Commander Lionetti.

Kara jumps up.

KARA
(hopeful)
Lionetti here.

JENNIFER (VO)
(evenly)
Please report to Sickbay immediately.

Kara is RUNNING OUT the door before she finishes.

CUT TO:

51. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR  - SICKBAY - NIGHT

Kara BURSTS IN.

Jennifer stands beside a side biobed.  Jaredan lays there, still asleep.  Jennifer checks the readouts against her tricorder.  The flashing heartbeat light is steady and strong.

Kara runs up.

KARA
Well?

JENNIFER
(smiling)
It should only be another minute.

She walks away.

Kara takes Jaredan’s hand in hers.  Slowly, Jaredan stirs.  His eyes drift open.

JAREDAN
(weakly)
Hey.

KARA
(beaming)
Hey, there.

JAREDAN
Is everything–?

KARA
(nods)
Back the way it was, yes.

JAREDAN
(trails off)
Not everything.

KARA
(changing the subject)
How do you feel?

JAREDAN
(simply)
Like I’ve tortured, stabbed… and dead.

KARA
(laughs)
That about covers it.
(beat)
Welcome back, Captain.

Jennifer appears, and begins passing her sensor over him.

Jaredan adds another hand to their hold, and so does Kara.

OFF the two of them as we:

FADE TO BLACK

THE END