DEEP SPACE NINE: "The Darkness... " - REV. 11/01/96 - ACT FOUR   41.

37   CONTINUED:

	Kira closes her eyes for a moment, tries to keep the 
	pain of loss from overwhelming her.

					KIRA 
			Did they die quickly?

					BASHIR

			Instantly.

	Kira reaches up and takes the earring from her ear and 
	looks at it. There's nothing more for Bashir to say 
	and he doesn't even try. After a beat, Odo ENTERS from 
	the Infirmary.

					ODO
			Doctor, may I... ?

	Bashir nods and waves him in. Odo comes over to Kira 
	as Bashir EXITS to give them a moment alone. She 
	stares down at the earring in her hand.

					KIRA 
			I was thirteen when I joined the 
			Resistance. I'd been hanging 
			around the Shakaar base camp for 
			a few weeks, running errands, 
			cleaning weapons, that kind of 
			thing.
				(beat)
			One night they had an ambush 
			planned, but they were a man 
			short. I volunteered to go, but 
			everyone said I was too young, too 
			small. But Lupaza stuck up for 
			me... said I had the heart of a 
			sinoraptor and this was no time to 
			be choosy.
				(beat)
			Furel made some joke... I don't 
			remember what it was, but I 
			remember Lupaza hitting him -- she 
			always did that. They loved each 
			other in a way. But it was up to 
			Shakaar, and he stared at me for
			a long time before deciding that 
			maybe I was big enough to carry 
			a phaser rifle after all.
				(beat)
			So that night, we set up an ambush 
			on the ridgeline and waited. It 
			was cold and my hands kept 
			shaking.