[Tars Lamora Prison Colony (Delta Quadrant)]

(Where various races are mining glowing orange crystals the hard way. One biped is timing when the loadRoked bucket being raised to the surface passes him.)
DAL: Five, four, three... my ticket outta here. Hmm? Did you see that?
(A figure on a distant pinnacle.)
DAL: Oh, yeah, no one here understands anything. Sorry, didn't quite catch that. You'll have to chirp a little slower. Easy, fellas. It's called humour. It takes the edge off of the hard labour. Drednok. What's the top bot doing down here? You look... tense.
DREDNOK: Have you seen Fugitive Zero?
(A hologram in the palm of his hand.)
DAL: Well, I can see how you lost him. He barely fits in your hand. But I'll make sure to keep an eye out. Er, you may wanna ask that thing. He looks like he has a big mouth. If that even is a mouth. Hey-oh-oh. Woah.
(Big robot Drednok who looks like a Vorlon from Babylon 5 has picked Dal up by his t-shirt.)
DREDNOK: Prisoner Dal R'El, what species are you?
DAL: Wow, getting personal. Borderline inappropriate. Okay. Let's do this. Honestly, who knows? If you can enlighten me, it'd sure be a weight off of my shoulders. I'd ask my co-workers, but you banned translators to keep us from talking, so...
DREDNOK: He's seen Zero.
DAL: Hey... hey now, easy with that thing.
(Dal is threatened with an energy weapon, and yells. Zero shorts out the power and an ore carrier (?) falls to the floor of the mine.)
DREDNOK: Fugitive Zero is here.
(Dal's ankle monitor beeps and falls off. He runs.)
DAL: Which way is up? Up. Up. Up.
(The aliens don't understand.)
DAL: Ugh. Whoa. Not this way, okay.
(Dal walks into a very large red crystalline or scaly alien.)
DAL: Ah. Oh, no... Seems that you've spilled your goop.
(Dal runs again, chased by the robot guards, or Watchers.)
DAL: Mind your own business. Nothing to see here. Ahh-ah-ah.
(And nearly slides off the edge of a cliff. A pause, then he jumps and re-emerges on an ore bucket.)
DAL: Ha, ha, ha, ha. Remember this day, Watchers, when you watched the wily Dal R'El fool you all and escape.
(The chain hauling the bucket breaks.)
DAL: Oh, n-n-n-n-no.
(He spots a vehicle of some sort being mended by a Tellarite.)
DAL: What's that? I can borrow it? Thanks. I'll be sure to return it. Get out of the way. Whoa. Ah. Okay, what's the plan?
(Watchers are in pursuit.)
DAL: Okay, Dal. Let's find a way outta here.
DAL: Rubble Crusher Outlet? It probably sounds worse than it is. Ah. Ah. It's worse. It's so much worse.
(Dodging around stomping crushers. The Watchers do not follow. The doors at the far end are closing.)
DAL: No, no, no. No, no, no. No, no, no, no, no.
(The vehicle gets trapped between the doors. There is a bang, then it continues.)
DAL: Come on. Come on. Come on.

[Solum's chamber]

(Dal is on the screen. The voice comes from inside a column.)
SOLUM: No one. No one shall escape.
(And turns the power off.)

[Vehicle]

DAL: You can make it. You got this. Just a little further. Come on, Dal.
(The vehicle makes it up a ramp and launches briefly into the air.)
DAL: Please. Please.
(Before gravity takes over again.)
DAL: Ah. No. No.

[Spaceport]

GWYN: The Kazon apologises for his delay. His excuse is that he's already given us every criminal and orphan this side of the Delta. But to continue this relationship, he offers this one for half price.
(A small cat-child.)
DREDNOK: I agree to these amends.
(Gwyn and the Kazon speak in his language. The Kazon leaves, and goes back into his ship.)
GWYN: I told him if he ever brought us one so young again, it would be him working the mines.
(Gwyn purrs to the little Caitian.)
DREDNOK: You may be fluent in many tongues, Young Progeny, but only I am to speak for Our Diviner's dealings. Do not overstep your boundaries.
GWYN: I don't understand why my father makes me translate when you're programmed to do just the same.
DREDNOK: Have trust. Our Diviner has a plan for you.
GWYN: A plan he never tells me.

[Solum's chamber]

(Kneeling in front of the large column, Gwyn speaks Vau N'Akat.)
SOLUM: Progeny of Solum, you may speak in Standard. I know you favour this primitive tongue.
GWYN: You summoned, Our Diviner? Did my negotiations with the Kazon disappoint you?
SOLUM: You have always cared for my Unwanted, but that isn't why I called for you.
SOLUM: How well do you know this prisoner, Dal R'El?
GWYN: I know his species is... unknown. He's mildly intelligent, but his abilities... are few. He talks a lot.
SOLUM: I need him to talk. My advisor believes he may be working with Fugitive Zero. How is his tolerance to pain?
GWYN: Forgive me, Our Diviner. That won't be necessary. I can get him to talk, but I need time.
SOLUM: Time? Every moment Fugitive Zero stays at large gives the Unwanted hope, and hope has no purpose here.
GWYN: I should have never questioned you.
SOLUM: My Progeny, we are the last of the Vau N'Akat, and whatever future our people hold will be up to you. Do it your way. But if you can't get him to talk, Drednok will use alternative methods.
GWYN: I will not fail you. (to Drednok) That's 12-me, six-you, not that I'm counting.
(Gwyn leaves.)
DREDNOK: You are hiding her from the truth of our mission.
SOLUM: She is not ready. She must not know what I'm searching for. I can't have the thought of the Federation influence her in any way. When the time is right, she will understand why. But if this boy fails to deliver, use your methods.

[Cell]

ZERO [OC]: You never give up hope, do you?
DAL: Ah. Who's there? Who said that?
ZERO [OC]: Just a prisoner, like everyone else.
DAL: You speak my language. What species are you? What sector are you from?
ZERO [OC]: Does it matter? We're all trapped here just the same.
DAL: Not me. I'm getting outta here.
ZERO [OC]: Everyone wants to escape. But you're special. You're the only one who still thinks he can.
DAL: Who are you?
ZERO [OC]: Just someone curious who needs a little hope.
(Watchers hustle Del out of his cell.)
DAL: Ah. Hey. Okay. Okay.

[Corridor]

DAL: Easy, tripod. Wait. Who was I just talking to?
(Gets a punishment prod.)
DAL: Oh. Ow. Okay, okay, okay.

[Room]

(Mostly empty. A shutter rises to allow sunlight in.)
GWYN: Tell me again what it's like out there.
DAL: Share some of those honey lychees, and I'll tell you stories that'll make you feel like you're living amongst the stars. Good to see you, Gwyn. It's nice to have someone to chat with, even if you are my only option.
GWYN: You tried to fly a class-D loader into space. Really?
DAL: Truthfully, I didn't think that far ahead, but I would've figured it out. I saw my chance, so I took it.
GWYN: So it was just chance you escaped at the very moment Fugitive Zero sabotaged the manacle antenna?
DAL: Whoa, now, hold up. Is this what this is about? You think I'd hitch my fate to some rebel fighter?
GWYN: I know you'd do anything to get out of here. Fess up. You two are in cat boots.
(Del laugh)
GWYN: What's so funny?
DAL: Cat boots? You mean cahoots.
GWYN: I refuse to be mocked by someone of your reputation.
DAL: And, er, what reputation is that?
GWYN: Tell me where to find Fugitive Zero, and Our Diviner will set you free.
DAL: Gwyn, Gwyn, Gwyn. You're a chump to think he'll let anyone off this rock, even you.
GWYN: At least I know what I am.
DAL: You want Fugitive Zero? Tell you what. Get me a ticket outta here on that Kazon ship, and I'll tell you everything I know about him.
GWYN: Fugitive Zero isn't a him or a her. Medusans are non-corporeal. They don't have a body.
DAL: A Medusan? A telepath.
GWYN: You know nothing. I tried to help you, but you can't even help yourself.
DAL: Wait, wait, wait. I did talk to Fugitive Zero.
GWYN: Sure you did.
DAL: In my cell. Someone was in my head, asking all sorts of questions. I swear to you, I can find Fugitive Zero.
(Gwyn releases his manacles.)
GWYN: You have until the end of tomorrow to locate the fugitive. If you don't, I can no longer protect you from Drednok.
DAL: You know what he'll do to me.
GWYN: Then for your own sake, I hope you come through. Fugitive Zero was last seen in the Northwest Crevasse. I suggest you start there.
DAL: That's deep core mining. How is a guy my size supposed to get down there?
GWYN: You're crafty. Figure it out.

[Elevator]

(Going down with the other miners.)
DAL: Great, goop guy. What's this? Oh. A little safety video. Oh, there's a lot of Xs down there. Okay, okay, I get it. Buddy system. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I cannot be buddies with him. Lights? Huh. Oh, what are those things for?
(Del cannot reach the handle. The elevator stops briefly, then plummets downwards.)
DAL: Argh! Whoa.
(The elevator pauses just off the bottom, then drops the final metre or so.)

[Mine]

DAL: Hey, I know we got off on the wrong foot, and our feet are connected, but my life is kinda on the line, so I really need your help to find Fugitive Zero.
(Rok-Takh roars)
DAL: Ha. I don't know what that means, but if you see anything, or hear voices in your head, growl at me. You understand? Wait a minute, where are your ears? Can you even hear me?
(Later, mining with laser cutters, Rok-Takh tugs at their leash.)
DAL: Look. Look. Yes, pictures. If you help me, I can escape. I mean, we can escape. Oh. Hey, Crater Face, I wasn't done talking. Uh, I didn't think that was actually gonna hit you. Okay, he's stomping. Back off, Rocky. Whoa.
(Del falls backwards and his laser cutter slices a piece of ceiling off, which drops onto the buddy line,breaking it and sending them downwards.)
DAL: Oh. Oh. X. X. X!
(Rok-Takh moves rubble aside. They're both surrounded by crystal outcrops now.)
DAL: You... saved my life. Ah! Whoa. Where are we? What is this? There's so much. This alone could buy our way onto that ship. With this much, we could buy the entire ship. I can see the stars now.
(Rok-Takh picks Del up and turns him around. There's a small starship with a Voyager-shaped hull here.)
DAL: Whoa. Oh, man. Would you look at this?
(He touches the hull and a hatch opens.)
DAL: How'd it get here?
(They go inside.)
DAL: Where's the crew? You said it, big fella.

[Bridge]

(Straight in and up a flight of stairs to...)
DAL: Whoa.
(Del is about to sit in the Captain's chair when Rok-Takh presses a delta shaped shining button and the power comes on.)
DAL: What did you do? What did you press?
DAL: And you're not a big fella, you're... you're a...
DAL: Not what I thought.
DAL: Dal.
DAL: Excuse me?
DAL: Nice to meet ya, kid. That thing... it's some sort of translator.
DAL: From the looks of it, our ticket out of here.
ZERO: The more important question... How do we get it out? You're... Fugitive Zero.
ZERO: Not a robot, nor a he or she. I am Medusan, an energy-based life-form.
ZERO: I built this containment suit because if any corporeal being were to lay eyes on my true self, you would go mad.
DAL: You built that... really?
ZERO: Try to build one without any hands. I think I did a fine job.
DAL: Why are you following me? They used me as a weapon, but I managed to escape. Curiously, of all the minds I could read, I couldn't see the Diviner's. I could only sense a dark purpose. He was searching for something.
DAL: He was looking for this ship.
ZERO: Not quite, but he has unwittingly found the one thing that has eluded us all. A way out. A reason for hope.
DAL: Don't start packing your stones yet. If we don't keep a lid on this, it won't save anyone. Can the three of us get it out of here?
ZERO: Three? A ship this size requires at least 20. Or, depending on the species, 37 appendages.
DAL: That's way too many appendages to keep this quiet. How many just to get it off the ground?
ZERO: From its state of disrepair, we'd at least need an engineer.
DAL: An engineer, huh?

[Mine]

POG: Oh-oh-oh-oh, great. Mr. Pain-In-My-Tail-Butt is back to wreck my loader again. And he's found the only thing denser than him.
DAL: What if this Pain-In-Your-Tail-Butt told you there's a way off this rock?
POG: Oh, whoa. You understand Jankom Pog? Wait, Jankom Pog understands you? How?
ROH-TAHK: Magic.
DAL: It's a translator.
(The delta badge.)
POG: Oh.
DAL: What if we told you we found a ship, but need your help getting it off the ground?
POG: You wanna leave? (laughs) You think it's bad down here? Out there is no picnic.
POG: Sure...
DAL: He's Tellarite. That's what they do. You're right. What were we thinking? We'll stay.
POG: Stay? Ha! You wanna chop rock for the rest of your life? If you can get out, get out. It's not every day you find a free ship.
POG: How dare you. Jankom can fix everything.
DAL: But who wants an engineer who argues all the time?
POG: Er, someone who values a counter opinion that may very well save your life. Go ahead. Surround yourself with yes trolls. See how far that gets you.
POG: Like it or not, you're stuck with me. Congratulations. You just got yourself an engineer.

[Cavern]

POG: Now this is a piece of work. Can't wait to take it apart and look under the hood.
ZERO: Jankom Pog, I am Zero.
DEL: I thought you'd be more interested in the ship.
POG: You've seen one, you've seen 'em all.
ZERO: That is an impossibility. There are millions of ships in the galaxy.
POG: Don't worry, Brik-brain. It's percussive maintenance. Sorta my thing.
DAL: Can you get it up and flying?
POG: Of course. In one week.
DAL: And by week, you mean end of day.
POG: Yeah, sure, in your dreams.
ZERO: Dal already made a deal with the Diviner's daughter. If he doesn't turn me in, he will suffer greatly.
DAL: Ah, I forgot. You read minds.
DAL: How could I lie when we didn't even speak the same language until I found the ship?
POG: Tail-Butt is definitely turning us in.

[Room]

(The Caitian purrs.)
GWYN: I know it sounds like nonsense, but every language is a window into a new culture. It's hard to believe how many are out there. You really need to work on your entrance.
DREDNOK: Your favorite prisoner... are you aware of his whereabouts?
GWYN: Of course. He's looking for Zero in the Northwest Crevasse.
DREDNOK: Then why isn't he there?

[Bridge]

DAL: Looking good, Jankom. Seeing progress.
POG: And just how are you helping?
DAL: Er, motivation? Keeping morale high.
DAL: Whoa, Rok. I thought we made it clear this was a secret operation. You invited that thing?
POG: What is that bag of spit?
(The gelatinous lifeform trills.)
POG: Ah. Ah. Oh, no, no, no, no. No, back, back, back. No, no, no, no, no. Get away from there. Oh.
DAL: At least our secret's safe with him.
ZERO: Quiet. Watchers are coming this way.
DAL: They're tracking our monitors.
ZERO: You're a survivor. Help us survive.
DAL: Jankom, get this ship ready by end of day. And Rok, you're with me. Conceal the entrance. I'll keep 'em busy.

[Cavern]

(Dal carries a bowl full of crystals.)
DAL: Oh, Gwyn. What do I owe the pleasure?
GWYN: From the looks of it, you found enough chimerium to buy your way onto that Kazon ship.
DAL: Gwyn, I was gonna tell you. I was just getting somewhere on this Zero guy, but then we came across this. Honest.
GWYN: Dal, if you're hiding something, tell me.
DAL: I wish I knew what to say.
DREDNOK: You've tried your way. Now I'll try mine. Escort this prisoner to work the outer rim.
DAL: You're putting me on the surface? No one comes back from there.
GWYN: He's our best chance to find Zero. If my father knew...
DREDNOK: Your father gave the order.

[Bridge]

POG: What?
ZERO: Dal may not survive, so we have to at least consider an alternative. But we can hope, for as long as we can.

[Outer rim]

(Everyone in spacesuits, turning a capstan.)
GWYN [OC]: It wasn't supposed to end this way.

[Room]

DAL [OC]: So this is goodbye, huh, Gwyn? You know, different circumstances, we could've been friends.
GWYN: Well, if it's any consolation, I'll never get off this planet either. Remember last time in detention?

[Outer rim]

GWYN [OC]: You told me about that cluster of stars. What were they called?
DAL: The Window of Dreams.

[Room]

DAL [OC]: How do you describe the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?
GWYN: Why'd you have to get involved, Dal?

[Outer rim]

(Alarm sounds)
GWYN [OC]: Every time you escape, you lose.
DAL: Gwyn? Can you hear me?
GWYN [OC]: I can... hear fine... can you...
DAL: Oh, no.
(Geysers erupt. Dal is the last to break his leash as everyone flees.)
DAL: No. No, no, no, no, no, no. Ah!

[Solum's chamber]

(Debris is falling. Dal gets his ankle tag off and runs, whilst being watched on screen.)
GWYN: Are you happy now?
SOLUM: Well done, Progeny. He'll lead us right to Fugitive Zero.

[Bridge]

POG: Got my hands full, sweetie.
(Dal enters.)
DAL: Of course I survived. Why do you all look so surprised? Wait, were you gonna leave without me?
POG: Er... no?
ZERO: Your chance of return was low. Our desire to leave remained high.
DAL: I can be offended later. More important, can the ship fly?
POG: Of course she'll fly. But without shields, Zero will need to chart the perfect course out of these mines.
ZERO: Has anyone seen my hand?
DAL: Urgh. I'll fix the shields. You find that hand.

[Hull]

DAL: Ah. Urgh. These shield thingies... What am I looking for, Pog?
POG: You know, a severed line, a loose part. Anything out of the ordinary.
GWYN: So you did know Fugitive Zero.
DAL: How did you find me? The surge on the surface. That was you.
POG: Mmm... busted.
GWYN: I knew you were in cat boots.
DAL: Well, I wasn't, but then I was. But then I wasn't again.
GWYN: What is all of this?
DAL: Our ticket out of here, to a better life. Join us. You always wanted to see the stars.
GWYN: I tried to save you.
DAL: And now we can save each other.
GWYN: Dal. It's too late.
(Lasers line up on Dal's torso.)
DREDNOK: Well done, Progeny. He led us right to the Protostar.
GWYN: You knew this ship was here?
DREDNOK: What did you think your father was mining for all these years?
(They are surrounded by Watchers.)
POG: Ah, ah.
DREDNOK: Fugitive Zero. Our Diviner has great plans for you. Search the vessel. Make sure there aren't any more Unwanted aboard.
(Murf hides as Gwyn comes aboard.)
POG: Er... what is he doing with his face?
ZERO: He's telepathically sending me a message, but since I do not agree with his plan, I am ignoring him. He assumes his facial distortions might sway me.
POG: What is his plan?
ZERO: Take the Diviner's daughter hostage.
POG: Or the best. Ha.
(Pog uses his cybernetic hand to grab a Watcher and smash it.)
WATCHER: Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo.
ZERO: It appears we are fighting now. Hmm. Or not.
DAL: Start the ship.
DREDNOK: Do not let the prisoners escape.

[Bridge]

ZERO: Please remain calm.
GWYN: Rahk Te'Tu vanu ve.
(An arm tattoo morphs into a sword.)
POG: She's not remaining calm.
GWYN: Ah.
(She mostly fights Rok.)
ZERO: I surrender.

[Cavern]

SOLUM [OC]: Do not damage my prize.
DREDNOK: Cease fire, cease fire.
(But the Watcher's weaponry has caused some pinnacles to fracture and fall. The ship tilts.)
DAL: Oh. Ah.

[Bridge]

(Rok catches Gwyn as she slides across the floor.)
GWYN: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
(The ship slides down towards a crevasse.)

[Cavern]

DREDNOK: No.

[Bridge]

(Gwyn is tied to the Captain's chair.)
ROK: We're falling, not flying.
ZERO: There's a bit of a learning curve.
DAL: (hanging on outside) Start the ship. Start the ship!
(Thrusters fire and the ship rises.)
ZERO: Found the right button. We should probably make a note of it.
DAL: Go, Zero.
ZERO: Yes, thank you. Go me.
DAL: No, go. Get us outta here. Oh, no, not the water.
(The ship flies through the curtain of a waterfall, to cheers and applause.)
ZERO: Faster? I'm flattered you think I know what I'm doing.
GWYN: Do you realise what you're doing?
POG: Making a series of bad decisions. (laughs) Yes, Jankom Pog is aware.
(A nacelle scrapes along a rock face.)
POG: Zero?
ZERO: Oopsies.
POG: Urgh, amateurs.
ZERO: I'm sorry I wasn't born with fingers.
DAL: Let me in.
POG: Not until you fix those shields.
DAL: I'm not an engineer. That's your job.
DAL: I thought I was captain.
(More damage.)
(Drednok is on the hull.)
DAL: Ah!
POG: Left. No, your other left. Have you ever even flown a ship before?
ZERO: No. Does it show?
POG: Wall, wall. Wall!
ZERO: This will either be spectacular or a terrible end to our adventure.
(They go sideways through a rift.)
DAL: Ah. Whoa.
ZERO: Spectacular!
POG: We know, we know. Where's Dal with those shields?
ZERO: There. Any of those drainage corridors will lead us right to the surface.
(And they fly into one.)

[Hull]

DAL: Whoa.
(Dal dodges energy bolts to put a new battery into the shield array.)
DREDNOK: I've looked forward to this moment. What are you doing?

[Bridge]

ZERO: Dal needs me to turn the ship.
POG: Turn? We can barely go straight.
ZERO: Everyone, hold on.
(The ship spins, Drednok gets thrown off.)
GWYN: Ah. We're so dead.

[Hull]

DAL: Come on. Come on.
(Drednok is back. Dal manages to activate the shields.)
DAL: Tough break. Now bug off.

[Bridge]

POG: Tail-Butt actually did it.
ZERO: We should probably let him in now.
DAL: Oh, yeah. Captain on the bridge. Don't say it. I see it in your eyes. You're welcome.
POG: That's our way out.

[Drain]

(Drednok morphs his arms into honking big guns.)
SOLUM: Do not damage my prize.
DREDNOK: I'm well aware.
(And fires.)

[Bridge]

DAL: What... what was that?
POG: There goes our exit.
ZERO: Unfortunately, I haven't learned that yet.
DAL: Not yet. We just gotta fire the torpedoes.
POG: Do we have torpedoes?
DAL: Then the pew-pew-pew button.
DAL: Just hit 'em all until it goes pew pew. How good are those shields?
POG: Not good enough.
ZERO: Prepare for impact.
(Murf drops onto the console.)
POG: Huh?
COMPUTER: Activating phasers.
(Cutting through the wreckage blocking the drain.)
POG: Whoo. We got phasers, baby.
(And out into space.)
DAL: Hey, you always wanted to see the stars, am I right? Welcome to the crew, Murf. Okay, let's plot a course, Zero.
ZERO: Where to?
DAL: Um... yeah, whew... um... yeah. Man, there are a lot more stars than I thought.
GWYN: Let me guess. You haven't thought that far ahead.
DAL: I'll figure something out.
(The consoles flicker.)
JANEWAY [OC]: Did someone ask for help?
(A familiar lady with a bun of steel appears.)
JANEWAY: I am Hologram Janeway, your training advisor for exploring the greater galaxy. On behalf of Starfleet, welcome aboard. How can I be of assistance?
GWYN: What is that?
ROK: I have no idea.

[Solum's chamber]

(Out of his life-support column.)
SOLUM: Get... me... my ship.