I Cannot.

Chancellor Gowron and Lt. Commander Worf meet again

GARAK: 

We can stand here all day reminding ourselves 

just how much we hate each other, 

but you don't have the time. 

The Klingon fleet will reach Cardassian territory 

in less than one hour. 

I suggest you prepare for them.

[Ops]

(The War Game is being monitored on the big table)

KIRA: 

Based on Klingon transmissions we've intercepted, 

the outlying Cardassian colonies were overrun almost immediately. 

But, now that the Cardassian fleet has mobilised, 

the Klingons are meeting stronger resistance.

DAX: 

You'd almost think somebody warned the Cardassians they were coming.

KIRA: 

Hopefully it'll make the Klingons think twice about what they're doing.

WORF: 

Unlikely, Major. 

Now that the battle has begun, Martok and his troops will settle for nothing less than victory.

(Sisko enters from his office.)

O'BRIEN: 

Well, what did the Federation Council say?

SISKO: 

They've decided to condemn the Klingon invasion. 

In response, Gowron has expelled all Federation citizens from the Klingon Empire and recalled his ambassadors from the Federation.

KIRA: You're saying he cut off diplomatic relations?

SISKO: He's done more than that. The Klingons have withdrawn from the Khitomer Accords. The peace treaty between the Federation and the Klingon Empire has ended.

O'BRIEN: Captain, you're never going to believe this. A Klingon ship just decloaked off upper pylon three and is requesting permission to dock. They claim they have Chancellor Gowron on board and he is demanding to speak with Mister Worf, personally.

[Klingon Bridge]

WORF: Chancellor Gowron. You wished to speak with me?

GOWRON: Worf. Worf! It is good to see you. I always said that uniform would get you into trouble one day.

WORF: It seems you were right. But I do not apologise for my actions

GOWRON: Yes, yes. I know. you did what you thought was right. And even though you may have made some enemies, I assure you I am not one of them.

WORF: I am glad. Your friendship means much to me.

GOWRON: And yours to me. It has been too long since you last fought at my side. But now the time has come again. We will do great deeds in the coming days. Deeds worthy of song.

WORF: You want me to go to Cardassia with you?

GOWRON: What better way to redeem yourself in the eyes of your people. Come with me, Worf. Glory awaits you on Cardassia. Worf, why do you stand there like a mute d'blok. I have offered you a chance for glory. All you have to do is take it.

WORF: If there's any glory to be won, Gowron, it'll have to be yours alone. I cannot come with you.

GOWRON: Of course you can. It is where you belong.

WORF: I cannot abandon my post.

GOWRON: You no longer have a post. You have no place on that station, and no business wearing that uniform.

WORF: I have sworn an oath of allegiance.

GOWRON: To the Federation.

WORF: You would have me break my word?

GOWRON: Your word? What good is your word when you give it to people who care nothing for honour, who refuse to lift a finger while Klingon warriors shed blood for their protection. I tell you, they are without honour. You do not owe them anything.

WORF: It is not what I owe them that matters. It is what I owe myself. Worf, Son of Mogh, does not break His Word.

GOWRON: And what of your debt to me? Are you saying you owe me nothing? I gave you back your name, restored your house, gave your family a seat on the High Council. And this is how you repay me?

WORF: It is true I owe you a great debt. I would give up my life for you. But invading Cardassia is wrong, and I cannot support it.

GOWRON: Worf, I have always considered you a friend and an ally. And because you are my friend, I am giving you this one last chance to redeem yourself. Come with me.

WORF: I cannot.

GOWRON: Think about what you are doing. If you turn your back on me now, for as long as I live, you will not be welcome anywhere in the Klingon Empire. Your family will be removed from the High Council, your lands seized, and your House stripped of its titles. You will have nothing.

WORF: Except my honour.

GOWRON: So be it.

[Quark's cafe]

(As happy gamblers play below, Worf sits alone at a table and stare at nothing.)

O'BRIEN: You look like you could use some company.

WORF: Chief, do you remember the time we rescued Captain Picard from the Borg?

O'BRIEN: How could I forget? It was touch and go there for a while. There were a couple of moments when I thought we were all going to wind up being assimilated.

WORF: I never doubted the outcome. We were like warriors from the ancient sagas. There was nothing we could not do.

O'BRIEN: Except keep the holodecks working right.

WORF: I have decided to resign from Starfleet.

O'BRIEN: Resign? What are you talking about?

WORF: I have made up my mind. It is for the best.

O'BRIEN: Look, I know how much you miss the Enterprise, but I'm sure they'll be building a new one soon.

WORF: It will not be the same. The Enterprise I knew is gone. Those were good years, but now it is time for me to move on.

O'BRIEN: And do what?

WORF: I do not know. I thought I would be returning to Boreth, but now that is impossible. I have made an enemy of Gowron, and every other Klingon in the Empire.

O'BRIEN: All the more reason to stay in Starfleet.

WORF: This uniform will only serve to remind me of how I have disgraced myself in the eyes of my people. I suppose I could get a berth on a Nyberrite Alliance Cruiser. They are always eager to hire experienced officers.

O'BRIEN: The Nyberrite Alliance? That's a long way. What about your son?

WORF: Alexander is much happier living with his grandparents on Earth than he ever was staying with me. One thing is certain. The sooner I leave here, the better. My continued presence on Deep Space Nine would only be a liability to Captain Sisko in his dealings with the Klingons.

QUARK: Do you hear that, Chief? Seventy two decibels. Music to my ears.

O'BRIEN: I think I liked it better when it was quiet.

QUARK: You want quiet, go to the Replimat. This is Quark's the way Quark's should be. The way it was meant to be. Am I glad we finally got rid of all those Klingons. Present company excepted, of course.

(Worf leaves.)

O'BRIEN: I got to hand it to you, Quark. You really know how to make your customers feel welcome.

QUARK: What do I care? All he ever drinks is prune juice.

[Captain's office]

SISKO: I'm sorry, Mister Worf, but I can't accept your resignation at this time.

WORF: I do not understand. What further use could I be here?

SISKO: I'm not sure yet. But as long as the fighting continues between the Klingons and the Cardassians, 

I need you here on the station.

WORF :

If you think that is wise.

SISKO: 

I don't know if it's wise or not. 

But I do know that you're a good officer,

and right now I need every good officer I can get.

(Kira enters)

KIRA: 

Captain, we just got word from Bajoran Intelligence. 

The Klingons have broken through the Cardassian fleet.

SISKO: 

How long before they reach Cardassia Prime?

KIRA: 

Fifty two hours.

WORF: 

If The Klingon Empire has reverted to the old practices, 

they will occupy the Cardassian homeworld, 

execute all government officials, 

and install an imperial overseer 

to put down any further resistance.

SISKO: 

I think it's about time we had a talk with the Cardassians.

DUKAT [on monitor]: 

Captain, I'm a little busy at the moment, so whatever you have to say, make it brief.

SISKO: Dukat? I was trying to reach someone in the civilian Government.

DUKAT 

[on monitor]: 

And you have succeeded. 

You are speaking to the new 

Chief Military Advisor to the Detapa Council.

SISKO: 

Does this mean you've turned your back on 

The Central Command?

DUKAT 

[on monitor]: 

It means that as a loyal officer of the Cardassian Military, 

I am pledged to serve the legitimate 

ruling body of the Empire. 

Whoever that may be.

SISKO: 

In other words, 

you saw which way 

the wind was blowing 

and switched sides.

DUKAT [on monitor]: 

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

SISKO: 

Dukat, you have got to get those council members to safety before the Klingons reach Cardassia Prime.

DUKAT [on monitor]: 

I am open to suggestions, Captain.

SISKO: 

If you can get a ship and meet me at these coordinates, 

I'll do what I can to escort you out of the war zone.

DUKAT [on monitor]: 

That is a very generous offer. 

I must say I am touched. 

By saving the members of the Detapa Council, you will be saving some very

SISKO: 

Forget The Speech, Dukat. 

Just meet me at the rendezvous point.

DUKAT [on monitor]: 

And if the Klingons try to stop us?

SISKO: 

Then I'll be there to reason with them. 

I doubt the Klingons will fire on a Federation ship.

DUKAT: 

I'm not sure I share your optimism, 

but then I don't have much choice, do I? 

We'll meet you there.

(Transmission ends)

WORF: 

Sir, if the Klingons are right, 

if the Cardassian government 

has been taken over by The Founders

SISKO: 

Then we'll be helping them to escape. 

That's the chance we'll have to take. I know you want to be out of that uniform but right now I need you with me.

WORF: 

I understand

What Would The Emissary of The Prophets Do?

A : Get Measured for a New Suit.

Garak Warn Dukat About The Klingon Fleet

[Ops]

DAX: 

Captain, I think you'd better take a look at this. 

(Klingon ships are cloaking and leaving.) 

SISKO: 

Report. 

DAX: 

As soon as General Martok beamed back to his ship, 

he sent a message to the Klingon fleet. 

It was just one word :

In'Cha. 

WORF: 

Begin. 

O'BRIEN: 

I'm picking up a huge distortion wave in subspace. 

The Klingon ships are going to warp. 

KIRA: 

Can you plot their course? 

O'BRIEN: 

Judging from the vector of the subspace disturbance I'd say their heading is two six nine mark zero three two. 

SISKO: 

Straight to the Cardassian Empire.

[Wardroom]

SISKO: 

The Federation Council has been trying to contact Gowron. 

So far, they've had no response. 

So until they've had a chance to speak with him, 

we've been ordered not to get involved. 

KIRA: 

The Bajoran Government has agreed to abide by the decisions of the Federation Council. 

BASHIR: 

So that means we're not going to 

warn The Cardassians? 

DAX: 

The Klingons are still our allies. 

If we warn the Cardassians, we'd be betraying them. 

O'BRIEN: 

Besides, what if The Klingons are right?

 

What if The Dominion has taken over The Cardassian Government? 

ODO: 

If My People wanted to seize control of Cardassia, 

that is how they would do it. 

KIRA: 

The coup could have happened just as easily without The Founders. 

The Cardassian dissident movement has been gathering strength for years. 

With The Obsidian Order out of the way, they might have finally succeeded. 

WORF: 

The Issue is not if there are any Founders on Cardassia. 

There are many Klingons who say 

We have been at Peace too long, 

that The Empire must Expand,

In Order to Survive. 

Fear of The Dominion has given 

My People an excuse to Do 

What They were Born to Do —

To Fight and To Conquer. 

SISKO: 

If they're so Eager to Fight, 

who's to say They'll stop 

with The Cardassians. 

KIRA: 

Their next target could be anyone. 

Even The Federation. 

DAX: 

If I were you, I'd be 

more worried about Bajor —

Think about it :

What Good would it Do for 

The Klingons to defeat Cardassia, 

if They don't control The Wormhole? 

WORF: 

Agreed. If My People return to The Old Ways, 

no one will be safe. 

SISKO: 

Then We'll Have to Make Sure 

That Doesn't Happen. 

O'BRIEN: 

But How? 

The way I see it, we only have got 

Two Choices : 

Both of Them BAD. 

If We Stand By and Do Nothing, 

we run the risk of being the Klingons' next target. 

But if We Disobey Starfleet Orders and 

Warn The Cardassians, 

we may end up 

Starting A War with The Klingons. 

The SISKO : 

Which means --

We Need a THIRD Option.

We Come in Victory

  

They are coming. 

Atom by atom, 

They will coil around us 

and take all that we are. 

There is one way to confront this threat. 

By reuniting the 24 Warring Houses of Our Own Empire. 

We have forgotten The Unforgettable... 

The last to unify Our Tribes: Kahless. 

Together, under one creed... 

Remain Klingon! 

Remain Klingon! 

That is why we light our beacon this day. 

To assemble Our People. 

To lock arms against those whose fatal greeting is... 

"We come in Victory."

WORF: 

You never told me that your wife was opposed to this marriage.

MARTOK: 

Sirella is a Woman of Strong Convictions.

 

She believes that by bringing aliens into our families we risk losing Our Identity as Klingons.

WORF: 

That is a prejudiced, xenophobic view.

MARTOK: 

We are Klingons, Worf!

 

We don't embrace other cultures, 

we conquer them! 

If someone wishes to join us, they must honour our traditions and prove themselves worthy of wearing The Crest of A Great House.

WORF: 

Jadzia is worthy.

MARTOK: 

Of course she is. 

She is an honourable woman and a formidable warrior.

WORF: 

You should say that to Sirella.

MARTOK: 

That's not such a good idea. 

I don't want her to think that I'm 

interfering in her domain.

WORF: 

Perhaps I should speak with her. 

Coming from me, 

it would not seem like a challenge to her authority.

MARTOK: 

I wouldn't do that if I were you.

WORF: 

Why?

MARTOK: 

Well, the truth is....

She doesn't like you that much either.

WORF: 

Me.

MARTOK: 

Don't let that bother you -- 

I had every right to bring you into The Family 

and she's accepted the fact that there's nothing she can do about it.

WORF: 

How comforting.

MARTOK: 

Ha! And they say that you have no sense of humour!

Kal'Hya

WORF: 

By Tradition, The Klingon Man spends 

the four nights before his wedding 

on a mental and spiritual journey. 

It is called Kal'Hyah, 

The Path of Clarity. 

And he is accompanied 

by his closest male friends.

MARTOK: 

You cannot imagine the experience that awaits us —

Four long nights filled with 

song and fellowship. 

A time of unbridled pleasures.

O'BRIEN: 

Are we talking about A Bachelor Party?

WORF: 

It is a similar ritual.

BASHIR: 

That's good enough for me.

O'BRIEN: 

Me too.

SISKO: 

Count me in.

WORF: 

We will meet in the holosuite tomorrow night at twenty one hundred hours.

MARTOK: 

I advise you all to get plenty of rest.

BASHIR: 

Four nights at a Klingon bachelor party. 

Just think of the possibilities.

O'BRIEN: 

Thank God Keiko's not here.

(O'Brien and Bashir leave.)

SISKO: 

I wonder what Dax will be doing while we're travelling down Kal'Hyah?

MARTOK: 

She will be taking a different journey  — 

with My Wife.

SISKO: 

Your Wife?

[Holosuite cave]

(Dark, with a central fire and lit by flaming torches.)

BASHIR: 

I could do without the heat. 

I can't say much for the decor either.

O'BRIEN: 

Well, it can't be all fun and games. 

I'm sure there has to be some sort of ritual 

we have to go through before The Party begins. 

…there is going to be A Party, isn't there?

ALEXANDER: 

You're asking me? 

I can barely Say My Name 

in Klingon.

MARTOK: 

Prepare yourselves, my friends, for a journey you won't soon forget.

WORF: 

These are Ma'Stakas.

(Worf hands out staves with big balls on the end.)

BASHIR: 

What do we do with them?

MARTOK: 

At the conclusion of the wedding ceremony, you will use them to attack Worf and Dax.

O'BRIEN: 

Obviously. Don't you know anything?

WORF: 

The Tradition dates back to the wedding of Kahless and Lukara, 

who were nearly killed by Molor's troops moments after they were married.
Until the ceremony, you should keep them with you at all times.

SISKO: 

I Trust that this combat is non-lethal?

MARTOK: 

It is a symbolic attack only.

(Alexander has found the buffet table.)

WORF: 

The Food is not to be eaten.

ALEXANDER: 

Then what is it for?

WORF: 

It is here to tempt us into breaking our fast.

SISKO: 

Fast?

WORF: 

There are Six Trials we must face on the path to Kal'Hyah. 

This is the first, Deprivation. 

We now begin A Fast 

that will continue until 

the day of the wedding.

BASHIR: 

That's four days away.

MARTOK: 

It is a short time, I know, 

but we must make the best of it.

SISKO: 

What are the other five trials?

WORF: 

Blood, Pain, Sacrifice, 

Anguish and Death.

BASHIR: 

Sounds like Marriage all right.

O'BRIEN: 

How would you know?

WORF: 

It is time to begin.

• • • • • • •

(Alexander has passed out.)

BASHIR: 

Alexander?

ALEXANDER: 

Grandma?

BASHIR: 

Guess again.

ALEXANDER: 

We're still on the —

BASHIR: 

The Road to Kal'Hyah, 

Day Five-Hundred.

O'BRIEN: 

Maybe we should turn down The Heat, 

you know, for Alexander's sake.

ALEXANDER: 

No, it's okay. 

I just need some water.

BASHIR: 

Now you don't want to push yourself too hard. 

You know, turning down The Heat might be a good idea.

MARTOK: 

The whole point is to push yourself 

to the limits of your endurance.

ALEXANDER: 

I Will. I want to Travel 

The Entire Path to Kal'Hyah. 

Stoke The Fire again!

WORF: 

As you wish.

MARTOK: 

Of course, we cannot expect 

you non-Klingons to have the same stamina as we do. 

If you wish to quit, 

no one will think any less of you.

BASHIR: 

Who said anything about quitting?

SISKO: 

Not me.

O'BRIEN: 

I like the heat.

MARTOK: 

That's The Spirit! 

(sings) 

Kavek ko lee ko

MARTOK + WORF: 

Eh to che mah lo Tah oo-wah kah esh to pah deh ah re! 

Yah bosh-ah! Yah bosh-ah!, Yah bosh tomah!

(Bashir and O'Brien are hanging in manacles from a rope stretched across the cave.)

BASHIR: 

Miles?

O'BRIEN: 

Yeah?

BASHIR: 

It's working. 

I've had a vision about the future. 

I can see it so clearly.

O'BRIEN: 

What is it?

BASHIR: 

I'm going to Kill Worf. 

I'm going to Kill Worf. 

That's What I'm Going to Do. 

I can see it clearly now. 

I'm going to Kill him. Kill him.

O'BRIEN: 

Kill Worf. 

Kill Worf.

[Quark's]

(Dinner is served.)

QUARK: 

One steak with mushrooms, baked potato, sour cream and chives.

O'BRIEN: 

I should've had that.

QUARK: 

One double Altair sandwich, no mustard, two bowls of linguini, Bajoran shrimp and extra cheese. 

One loaf of mapa bread.

BASHIR: 

Quark, where's the kava juice?

QUARK: 

They're still squeezing the roots. Unless you want replicated?

BASHIR: 

We'll wait.

SISKO: 

What do you think you're doing?

O'BRIEN: 

The wedding's been called off.

SISKO: 

It's back on.

MARTOK: 

Worf is apologising to Jadzia at this very moment.

SISKO: 

Quark, take it all away. 

No food for those on the path to Kal'Hyah!

QUARK: 

No refunds for those on the path to Kal'Hyah as well. Sorry.

(Worf enters.)

ALEXANDER: 

Father, what happened?

WORF: 

She refused to not Change Her Mind. 

The Wedding is still off.

(The decorations start to come down again.)

SISKO: 

Where is she?

WORF: 

In her quarters.

SISKO: 

I'll go talk to her. 

Just keep them away from The Food.

Oh God. We're Gonna Die, Aren't We?

WILLOW
I wanted to tell you. 
But I was so scared…

BUFFY
You can tell me anything, Willow.
I love you. You're my best friend.

WILLOW
Me too. I love you too.

They try to rappel closer to one another, hug. But it doesn't go very well. Instead they wait until they land on top of the elevator - and practically fall into each other's arms.

BUFFY
Let's promise to never not talk again -




WILLOW
I promise. I promise…

Now XANDER, who was following close behind them, lands on the elevator. Before he knows what hit him, Buffy and Willow are all over him with the hugs and kisses.

BUFFY
Xander!

WILLOW
Xander! 
Wonderful Xander!

Xander reacts with confusion - 
then, with mounting anxiety.
 

BUFFY
Xander - you know we love you, right?

WILLOW
We do. 

Totally.

XANDER
Oh god. We're gonna die, aren't we?

WILLOW
No - we just missed you.

The girls squeeze him even more tightly. 

Xander, sandwiched between his two hugging friends, finally goes with it and grins goofily… 

Looks up at the descending Giles.




 

XANDER
(calling up)
Giles, hurry up! 

You definitely want to get down here for this!

 [Klingon bridge]

(An altar of sorts has been set up.)

WORF: 
Jadzia Dax Vond Shoo vwee Dun Mahh kekh HuhKo Vahm Jeh Yin Moj Mah Mukh. Sto-vo-kor Pah Dahkh tin Baht leh el eegh cha yay moj.

(Worf is about to cut his palm when Quark enters.)

QUARK: Quark, son of Keldar. Did I come at a bad time?

O'BRIEN: What's he doing here?

QUARK: Same thing you are. I'm volunteering for this mission.

MARTOK: Why? You're a bartender, not a warrior.

QUARK: True, but I loved Jadzia as much as anyone in this room. With maybe one or two exceptions. And I am willing to pledge my life to see that she gets into Sto-vo-kor.

MARTOK: Perhaps there is some Klingon in you after all.

QUARK: I wouldn't go that far. So why all the cutlery?

MARTOK: We shed our blood to prove we are not frightened of death.

(Martok cuts his palm.)

QUARK: Can't you just take my word for it?

(So Martok cuts Quark's hand for him)

QUARK: Oww! That hurts.

O'BRIEN: It's supposed to hurt.

WORF: YuWee modge. Baht leh modge. Yay Dodge.

(Worf cuts his palm and places it on the bulkhead between the candles.)

[Klingon bridge]

O'BRIEN: Once we're close enough, we can fire an EM pulse at the sun.

QUARK: The sun? I thought we were trying to destroy a shipyard.

O'BRIEN: We are.

QUARK: Do you understand what he's talking about?

BASHIR: Always.

QUARK: Fine, then you explain it.

WORF: We are going to fly toward the molten heart of the sun, so close that our ship will glow like a flaming comet.

BASHIR: Hopefully not that close.

O'BRIEN: Just close enough to trigger a solar plasma ejection. The explosion should be enough to incinerate everything within a hundred million kilometres.

MARTOK: Including the shipyard.

WORF: It will be a glorious firestorm that will illuminate the gates of Sto-vo-kor itself and provide a fitting welcome for Jadzia.

QUARK: The things we do for love. Did you see that?

O'BRIEN: See what?

QUARK: The way he glared at me.

BASHIR: He always glares at you.

QUARK: Well I'm sick of it. We're risking our lives to help Jadzia get into Sto-vo-kor. The very least Worf could do is show us some appreciation. Is it so hard to say thank you?

BASHIR: Thank you.

QUARK: Nice try, Doctor, but I want to hear it from him.

O'BRIEN: Don't do this, Quark.

QUARK: Do what? All I'm asking for is two little words.

WORF: Be quiet.

QUARK: That's two words all right. Just not the two I was hoping for.

WORF: Why should I feel any gratitude toward you? I owe you nothing. You are not here to help Jadzia get into Sto-vo-kor. You are here because you wish to convince yourselves that you were worthy of her. But the truth is, none of you could ever hope to be worthy of her or even understand the kind of woman she was. It is you who should be thanking me, Ferengi, for allowing you to come on this mission and pay honour to her memory.

MARTOK: 
What about me, Worf? 
Would you rather I hadn't come on this mission either?

WORF: 
That is not what I am saying. 
With you, it is different. 
You are a Klingon and Jadzia was a member of your House.

MARTOK: 
And these men were her friends. 
They honour her with their presence.

(The non-Klingons enter.)

QUARK: I don't believe it. Gagh for breakfast, gagh for lunch, gagh for dinner. Am I the only one who thinks Klingon menus need to have more variety?

O'BRIEN: You want to complain about the gagh, that's fine with me. But don't complain about it when we're in the mess hall sitting at a table surrounded by a dozen Klingons.

QUARK: All right, all right, I get the point.

BASHIR: Good.

QUARK: But I'm telling you, I think some of those Klingons agreed with me.

BASHIR: Look, Worf, if this has anything to do with what just happened in the mess hall.

WORF: No, no, it does not.

QUARK: 

What's the matter? 

Come up with a few more insults to throw at us?

WORF: 
I wish to apologize.

QUARK: 

I'm listening.

WORF: I know Jadzia meant a great deal to all of you, and you meant a great deal to her. Many times, when we discussed our day, she would repeat something amusing that you had told her, or describe in endless details the intricacies of some new scheme of yours. She often talked about all of you. It seemed as though that even when we were alone, one of you was always with us.

QUARK: I get it. You were jealous because she liked us better than you.

BASHIR: Quark, would you please keep quiet.

WORF: She was my wife, my par'machkai. I did not like having to share her affections.

O'BRIEN: That's why you didn't want us on this mission with you. You wanted to get her into Sto-vo-kor without our help.

WORF: I wanted it to be my gift to her.

QUARK: Go on.

WORF: There is nothing more to say. Except that I am pleased you're here.

O'BRIEN: 

I have never heard Worf apologise to anyone.

QUARK: 

I don't know about you, but I was hoping for something a little more intriguing.

BASHIR: 

Such as?

QUARK: 

You know, like Jadzia used to call my name out when she slept, or wanted to name her first child after me.