Odo: All right, Morn, you know the rules. No sleeping on the Promenade. Go home.
Quark: The risk is to you, Lieutenant.
Dax: I could probably think better without your hand on my thigh.
Quark: Now, how did that get there? So what's it going to be? Confront? Evade? Acquire? Retreat?
Dax: Confront. Yes.
Rom: Doesn't she ever lose?
Quark: Tell me, Lieutenant, how did you get to be so good at tongo?
Dax: Actually, it was Curzon that played it all the time.
Rom: Well, that explains it. It's Curzon who's beating us, not this female.
Dax: This female happens to be a better player than Curzon ever was.
Quark: And a prettier one too.
Rom: Maybe so, but I still prefer a Ferengi female. One who never wears clothes, never talks back, and never plays tongo.
Dax: Is that how you really prefer your women? Naked and submissive?
Quark: Do you find such a lifestyle appealing?
Dax: Don't you wish.
Quark: I do. I really do.
Dax: All right. The opening risk is at five strips of latinum. The purchase is at three, the sell at eight.
Rom: No, absolutely not. This isn't the proper time.
Quark: I'm trying to concentrate.
Rom: I'm sorry, brother. It's this insolent young waiter's fault.
Pel: My apologies, Quark, but I really think you should try this.
Quark: What is it?
Pel: A way to double your beverage profits. Taste it.
Pel: You see? Just as I told you. He immediately reached for his drink.
Quark: So I did. Amazing. You don't even realize you're thirsty. What are they?
Pel: Gramilian Sand Peas. They inhibit secretion of the salivary glands while drying out the tissues of the tongue. It works every time. If you replace your complimentary dishes of lokar beans with Gramilian sand peas, you won't be able to fill your customers' glasses fast enough.
Quark: What's your name again?
Pel: Pel. So what do you think about my idea?
Quark: I think I agree with the fifty ninth Rule of Acquisition. Free advice is seldom cheap.
Pel: True, but the twenty second rule says, A wise man can hear profit in the wind.
Quark: I see you know your Rules.
Pel: All two hundred and eighty five of them, and the various commentaries as well. I don't plan on being a waiter forever.
Rom: Good, then you're fired.
Quark: Shut up, Rom. When it comes to business, my brother has the weak little lobes of a female. So, what made you take a job here at the station?
Pel: I wanted to learn from the very best.
Quark: Which brings to mind the thirty third Rule of Acquisition QUARK +
Pel: It never hurts to suck up to the boss.
Dax: What's that?
Quark: The Grand Nagus Zek's personal subspace frequency.
Rom: I wonder what he wants.
Zek: Why do you look so surprised? I told you I'd be back.
Quark: I've looked forward to your return, Nagus.
Zek: Still the perfect little toady, eh, Quark?
Quark: I try to be.
Zek: Then listen carefully. The Ferengi expansion into the Gamma Quadrant is about to begin. I'd like you to be my chief negotiator.
Quark: Me?
Zek: That's right. I'm offering you an opportunity to make more profit than you ever dreamed of. All you have to do is earn it.
Zek: Can I interest you in some Hupyrian beetle snuff?
Sisko: I don't think so.
Zek: Major?
Kira: No, thank you.
Zek: Well, suit yourself. More for me.
Zek: A little late, aren't we? So, you wanted to see me, Commander?
Sisko: I understand you're planning to host a business conference here at the station.
Zek: Yes, with the Dosi, a race from the Gamma Quadrant. A very profitable opportunity for all concerned, I might add.
Kira: Profitable for the Ferengi, maybe.
Zek: Are you implying something, Major?
Kira: Me? Not at all. No. The Ferengi's reputation speaks for itself.
Zek: A reputation of honesty, and decency, and reliability. You always know what to expect when you do business with the Ferengi.
Kira: Which is why, if you're smart, you don't do business with the Ferengi.
Sisko: I think you've made your point, Major.
Zek: As misinformed and misguided as it may be. Besides, how we do business is no concern of yours.
Sisko: Except when you conduct your business on this station.
Kira: In other words, Zek, Grand Nagus or no Grand Nagus, if we allow you to hold these negotiations here, and we find out you're cheating the Dosi, I'll see to it that you never set foot on this station again.
Zek: Did anyone ever tell you your eyes shine with the brilliance of Kibberian fire diamonds.
Kira: Not that I recall.
Zek: Well they do. So, tell me, Major, could Bajor use fifty thousand kilos of brizeen nitrate?
Kira: Of course we could. With that much brizeen, we could fertilize the entire northern peninsula.
Zek: Well I've recently come into possession of fifty thousand kilos of brizeen nitrate, and to show you how much your cooperation means to me, I'll let you have the entire shipment.
Sisko: I'll still need your assurances that the Dosi will be fairly treated while they're here.
Zek: You have my word.
Sisko: Good.
Zek: Then it's settled. Now, let's see, that's fifty thousand kilos at twenty five percent off our usual price.
Sisko: Twenty five percent? You just said you were giving it to them.
Zek: Well, you're right, Commander. We're all friends here. So I'll let you have it at cost.
Sisko: I have a better idea. Why not consider the nitrate as a gift to the people of Bajor.
Zek: A gift? That doesn't sound very profitable.
Sisko: It depends.
Zek: On what?
Sisko: On whether you want to conduct business here or not.
Zek: Your negotiation skills aren't bad for a human. Your nitrate will be delivered promptly. Anything else you need, please come see me personally.
Zek: You know Quark, I've been involved in some profitable opportunities in my time, but my lobes are telling me this may be the most profitable opportunity in Ferengi history.
Quark: Imagine that. And part of those profits will be mine.
Zek: Profit. Fame. Power. As much as you want.
Quark: Tell me, Nagus, what exactly is this great opportunity.
Zek: I can sum it up in one word. Tulaberries.
Quark: Tulaberries?
Zek: Exactly.
Quark: Go on.
Zek: Well, they're the main ingredient in tulaberry wine. Your job is to purchase ten thousand vats from the Dosi.
Quark: We're going into the wine business?
Zek: Within a single year we'll have made tulaberry wine the most popular drink in their entire sector. That's enough. Oh, I like it. Very distinguished.
Quark: Tell me, Nagus, how are tulaberries going to be the most profitable opportunity in Ferengi history?
Zek: Do I have to spell it out for you?
Quark: If you don't mind.
Zek: Tulaberries will establish a Ferengi presence inside the Gamma Quadrant. And once we get our foot in the door, they'll never get it out.
Quark: Yes, I see.
Zek: Tulaberries, Quark. Tulaberries.
Rom: Tulaberries. I wonder what they taste like?
Quark: Who cares what they taste like. They're an opportunity to get a Ferengi foot in the Gamma Quadrant door.
Rom: And it'll be your foot, brother. I'm so proud.
Quark: I'm going to make history, Rom. And I'm going to be rich. And I have the Grand Nagus to thank for it. He must really like me.
Pel: Just remember one thing. The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife.
Quark: Forty eighth Rule of Acquisition.
Pel: I'd keep it in mind if I were you.
Rom: He has some nerve. I warned you about that fellow.
Quark: Pel, do you mind telling me what you meant just now?
Pel: Did you ever think about why the Nagus is putting you in charge of such a lucrative opportunity?
Quark: Isn't it obvious? He knows I have the lobes for business.
Pel: That's only part of it.
Rom: I refuse to stand here and allow my brother to be insulted. You're fired.
Quark: Shut up. Go on.
Pel: If the negotiations are profitable, then the Nagus becomes a greater hero than ever. But if they fail, he's going to need someone to take the blame.
Quark: You mean me?
Pel: All I'm saying is, be careful.
Rom: I never heard such ridiculous lies. He's just jealous of your success, brother.
Quark: No, he's right. If something goes wrong, it'll be my fault.
Rom: Then you're going to need help, brother.
Quark: Yes.
Rom: Someone to serve as your consultant during negotiations.
Quark: Yes.
Rom: Someone like me.
Quark: No. I've been thinking about what you just said, and I probably could use some help during these negotiations.
Pel: I accept.
Quark: Good.
Pel: Then we're partners.
Quark: Not quite. I don't need a partner, I need an assistant.
Pel: All right. But I get twenty five percent of everything you make.
Quark: Fifteen.
Pel: Twenty.
Quark: Done.
Rom: But brother, what can I do to help?
Quark: You want to help? Table six is waiting.
Quark: How do I look?
Sisko: Nervous.
Quark: Who, me? What have I got to be nervous about?
Kira: It's Zek who should be nervous, with Quark here as his chief negotiator.
Kira: If you ever do that again.
Zek: Do what?
Kira: If you ever do that again, I'll stick those fifty thousand kilos of brizeen right up your
Quark: Here they come.
Inglatu: Don't worry, just a minor disagreement.
Quark: So, er, can I get anyone something to eat? All right, in that case, let's go over our offer. As you know, the Ferengi are interested in purchasing ten thousand vats of tulaberry wine. In exchange, the Dosi will receive what I consider to be a very fair trade package.
Pel: There are some very interesting items on that list. A subspace field modulator, some optical data processors.
Inglatu: We'll give you five thousand vats.
Quark: I'm afraid that won't be enough. We're looking to establish a vast distribution network in the Gamma Quadrant. We'll need at least ten thousand vats.
Inglatu: I'm offering you five thousand vats. I suggest you take it.
Pel: The Nagus will never agree.
Zyree: This is a waste of time. We should be talking directly to Zek.
Inglatu: I know we should be talking to Zek.
Zyree: Then why do you bother talking to this insignificance?
Inglatu: Now see what you've done.
Quark: What?
Inglatu: You've made me look foolish.
Quark: I didn't mean to.
Zyree: Then bring us Zek.
Pel: The Nagus has asked Quark to represent him during these negotiations.
Zyree: Are you implying that Zek is too important to negotiate with us?
Quark: We never meant to imply anything of the sort.
Inglatu: Because if we kill you, Zek will have to talk to us.
Pel: You want to do business with the Ferengi, you talk to Quark.
Quark: So, how about it? Do we say ten thousand vats?
Inglatu: We'll think about it.
O'Brien: Can I help you?
Kira: What is it?
Dax: It's beautiful.
Kira: It's latinum. Excuse me. I really can't accept this.
Kira: Did Zek really think this was going to get him anywhere?
Dax: Probably not, but it doesn't stop a Ferengi from trying.
Kira: You sound like you admire them for it.
Dax: I suppose in a way I do.
Kira: I don't understand your attitude about the Ferengi.
Dax: That's because you don't socialize with them the way I do. Looking back over seven lifetimes, I can't think of a single race I've enjoyed more.
Kira: Did anyone ever tell you that you have very strange taste?
Dax: I admit they place too much emphasis on profit, and their behavior toward women is somewhat primitive.
Kira: They're greedy, misogynistic, untrustworthy little trolls and I wouldn't turn my back on one of them for a second.
Dax: Neither would I. But once you accept that, you'll find they can be a lot of fun.
Rom: Evade.
Pel: Evade.
Quark: Retreat.
Zek: Acquire.
Dax: Confront.
Zek: Did I say acquire? I meant evade.
Dax: You said acquire.
Zek: But I meant evade.
Quark: Why don't we just play the round over.
Rom: That sounds fair.
Zek: Who asked you? And shouldn't you be plotting strategy for tomorrow's negotiations?
Quark: Believe me, Nagus, I've thought of nothing else all evening.
Rom: That must be why you're losing so badly.
Quark: And I think by tomorrow we should have an agreement.
Zek: Well I've been thinking, too, and ten thousand vats of tulaberry wine aren't enough. Tell them we want a hundred thousand.
Quark: A hundred thousand? But I'm not sure they'll even agree to sell us ten thousand.
Zek: A hundred thousand vats would mean more profit for them and for us. Now do as I say, or I'm going to take over the negotiations myself.
Pel: I think raising the stakes is a brilliant idea.
Zek: You do?
Pel: It'll show the Gamma Quadrant we mean business. No wonder Quark says you're a genius.
Zek: He says that, does he?
Quark: All the time.
Zek: That's very touching. Now bring me some fresh tube grubs. These are losing their crunch.
Quark: Right away.
Zek: So, I believe the next challenge goes to you.
Pel: I think I'll pass on this round.
Zek: Such loyalty must be expensive.
Dax: You can't buy that kind of loyalty.
Zek: You can where I come from.
Pel: Is the Nagus always this impatient?
Quark: He wants results, and he expects me to get them. But he's not making my job any easier. A hundred thousand vats. That's a lot of tulaberries.
Pel: You'll get them.
Quark: How can you be so sure?
Pel: Because you're good. And with me helping you, you're even better.
Quark: Why are you being so nice to me?
Pel: For twenty percent of your profits, why else?
Quark: Fair enough.
Zek: Quark, where are my grubs?
Quark: Coming!
Zek: Mmm, now this is what I call fresh.
Dax: I didn't know the Replimat had a Ferengi menu.
Pel: It doesn't. I like to try new things.
Dax: That's unusual for a Ferengi.
Pel: I never heard of a Trill who could play tongo.
Dax: I guess that makes us both unusual. You know, I was impressed by your show of loyalty to Quark last night.
Pel: He deserves it.
Dax: That's not the point. Any other Ferengi would have let Zek pick him to pieces, but you're not like any other Ferengi I've ever met.
Pel: Quark really likes you. He talks about you all the time.
Dax: You know he once convinced me to go up to a holosuite with him. Turns out he recreated the bedroom I slept in as a child. He overheard me describing it to Kira. Of course, most of the details were wrong, but it was a very sweet gesture, up until he tried to kiss me.
Pel: That sounds like Quark.
Dax: I don't care what anybody says, I love him.
Pel: So do I.
Dax: You really do, don't you?
Pel: What?
Dax: Love Quark. Don't bother trying to deny it. I've seen the way you look at him.
Pel: Please, keep your voice down.
Dax: Does he know?
Pel: He doesn't even know I'm a female.
Dax: You're a woman?
Pel: Please lower your voice.
Dax: I knew there was something different about you, but I've never met a Ferengi woman before.
Pel: You probably never will again. On my world, women aren't allowed to leave the house, or wear clothes, or learn to read.
Dax: And you wanted more.
Pel: Why not? I'm as smart as any man. So I made myself a pair of synthetic lobes and became one.
Dax: But why come here?
Pel: To acquire profit, of course. There's only one thing I wasn't counting on.
Dax: Falling in love with Quark.
Pel: What do you think I should do?
Dax: I don't know. But I do know there's more to life than profit.
Quark: Pel, it's time. We don't want to keep the Dosi waiting. Hurry!
Kira: Excuse me.
Zek: Ah, Major, did that shipment of brizeen nitrate arrive on time?
Kira: Yes, it did.
Zek: Good. And here you are to thank me. Have a seat.
Kira: Actually, I just stopped by to return this.
Zek: Why? Is something wrong with it?
Kira: No, it's lovely. I just can't accept it.
Zek: Then I suppose a night of wild passionate romance is out of the question?
Kira: That's right.
Zek: Just thought I'd ask.
Kira: Dax must be crazy.
Quark: Nice view, isn't it?
Zek: Don't tell me the negotiations are already over. That's fast work, Quark. Now let's see the contract.
Quark: There is no contract.
Zek: No contract? But you offered to buy a hundred thousand vats, didn't you?
Quark: Yes.
Zek: And?
Quark: And that's when they left.
Zek: The room?
Quark: The station.
Zek: What?
Quark: I begged them to stay.
Zek: This is a catastrophe. A complete catastrophe. This was your big chance, Quark, and you blew it. You may have seriously harmed future Ferengi opportunities in the Gamma Quadrant.
Pel: Hold on a minute. We said we're going to get you the tulaberries and that's exactly what we're going to do.
Quark: We are?
Zek: How?
Pel: We're going to travel to the Gamma Quadrant, find the Dosi and get them to sign the contract.
Zek: And how do you plan to get there?
Pel: We'll take your ship.
Zek: My ship? And I suppose you expect Maihar'du to pilot it for you.
Quark: We don't need Maihar'du. I can pilot the ship myself.
Pel: It's up to you, Nagus. Do you want those tulaberries or not?
Zek: All right. You can use my ship. But I'm warning you, Quark. Either you get the Dosi to sign that contract or you'll be tending that worthless little bar for the rest of your life.
Quark: I've waited my whole life for an opportunity like this.
Pel: So have I.
Quark: So far it hasn't turned out quite the way I planned.
Pel: It's not over yet.
Quark: I still don't understand why the Nagus is suddenly insisting on a hundred thousand vats.
Pel: Neither do I.
Quark: You don't think he's purposely trying to sabotage the negotiations?
Pel: Why would he?
Quark: I have no idea.
Pel: One thing's for certain, he knows more than he's letting on.
Quark: About what?
Pel: Everything. The tulaberries, the Dosi, even the Gamma Quadrant.
Quark: Well, if you ever figure out what he's up to, make sure you tell me.
Pel: Don't worry, I will.
Quark: So far the only thing I've done right is pick you as my consultant.
Pel: I'm glad you feel that way.
Quark: Now, if we could only make some profit.
Pel: Quark, there's something you should know.
Quark: You're too late. I already know what you're going to say.
Pel: You do?
Quark: It's no secret.
Pel: It's not?
Quark: I admit you've been a great help to me, but you agreed to a twenty percent share of the profits and that's all you're going to get.
Pel: I see.
Quark: Never place friendship above profit.
Pel: Twenty first Rule of Acquisition.
Quark: I'm glad you agree.
Rom: Go, just go.
Odo: Feeling a little overwhelmed, are we?
Rom: I'm glad someone notices.
Odo: When's Quark due back?
Rom: How should I know? He never tells me anything. He doesn't even bother to insult me anymore. It's Pel, that flabby eared interloper. He's stealing my brother's affections.
Odo: You're better off.
Rom: But he's my brother. Would you let someone steal you're brother?
Odo: I don't have a brother. Not that I know of, anyway.
Rom: But if you did?
Odo: Well, I suppose if I did have a brother, even one as worthless as Quark, I wouldn't let anyone come between us.
Rom: There must be something here I could use against him.
Zyree: I control the interests so I want to supervise all operation.
Dosi: That's ridiculous.
Zyree: Then find another partner.
Dosi: Let's not be hasty.
Dosi 2: I said No!
Zyree: Are you enjoying yourselves, little Ferengi?
Quark: How could we not?
Pel: Tell us, Zyree, what is this place?
Zyree: This? This is where opportunities are made.
Quark: Really? I thought it was some kind of party.
Zyree: Then you thought wrong. This is all about profit. And like the Ferengi, the Dosi are very serious when it comes to profit.
Dosi 2: You, take him away.
Zyree: Very serious.
Pel: Look who finally showed up.
Quark: It's about time.
Pel: Where are you going?
Quark: To get serious about profit.
Inglatu: Oh, it's you, Ferengi. Aren't you on the wrong side of the wormhole?
Quark: It certainly feels that way. Fortunately, all I need is your thumbscan on this very lucrative contract and I can go home.
Inglatu: You had your chance. Go away.
Quark: Not until we finish our discussion.
Inglatu: You are starting to annoy me.
Quark: Sorry.
Inglatu: I should have killed you back on that station.
Quark: But you didn't, because deep down inside you recognize a good opportunity when you see one. Just put your thumbscan here.
Inglatu: All right. You can have the ten thousand vats.
Quark: A hundred thousand.
Inglatu: I told you before, that's impossible.
Quark: One hundred thousand and I'm not leaving till I get it.
Inglatu: Fine. Then stay.
Pel: Wouldn't we be more comfortable sleeping on the ship?
Quark: No, I want to be right here in case Inglatu changes his mind. Don't worry. I don't snore.
Pel: Wait!
Quark: What about it?
Pel: The mattress!
Quark: What about it?
Pel: It looks lumpy.
Quark: Actually, it's quite comfortable.
Pel: I can't sleep on a lumpy mattress.
Quark: Well, you're in luck. There's not a lump to be found. Try it for yourself. What side to you want?
Pel: What are you doing?
Quark: Getting undressed. What's it look like?
Pel: You're not going to sleep, are you?
Quark: Why not? I'm tired.
Pel: Shouldn't we be discussing rules of strategy?
Quark: There's nothing to discuss.
Pel: But you know what the hundred and third Rule of Acquisition says.
Quark: Not offhand.
Pel: Sleep can interfere with
Quark: And I don't care either.
Pel: Wait!
Quark: What is it now?
Pel: First, a toast.
Quark: To what?
Pel: To profit, of course.
Quark: Of course. Is it warm in here?
Pel: It must be the wine.
Quark: I hope so.
Pel: I was really impressed with the way you handled Inglatu.
Quark: I was good, wasn't I. Now let's go to bed.
Pel: Wait. The look on his face when you knocked over that barrel.
Quark: That was risky.
Pel: The riskier the road, the greater the profit.
Quark: Sixty second Rule.
Pel: That's right.
Quark: You really know your Rules.
Pel: And you have a very nice smile.
Quark: I do?
Pel: Quark, I have something I have to tell you.
Zyree: I'm not interrupting anything, am I?
Quark: No. Definitely not.
Zyree: Are you sure?
Quark: Positive.
Zyree: I'll come back tomorrow.
Quark: Wait! No, wait! This is all a silly misunderstanding.
Zyree: But you seem to be busy.
Quark: Busy? Don't be ridiculous. We can't wait to hear what you have to say. Besides, we could use the company. Isn't that right.
Pel: Absolutely.
Zyree: All right, then. Let me give you some advice. Inglatu will never sell you a hundred thousand vats of tulaberry wine. Not because he doesn't want to, but because he can't.
Quark: If he can't, who can? You?
Zyree: I wish I could, but there aren't that many vats on the entire planet.
Quark: Then we're finished.
Zyree: Not necessarily. If you really want a hundred thousand vats of tulaberry wine, I can put you in touch with the right people. For a price, of course.
Quark: Of course. I always said you were my favorite Dosi. Now, who do we have to see?
Zyree: The Karemma.
Pel: Who's the Karemma?
Zyree: An important power in the Dominion.
Quark: The Dominion? What's that?
Zyree: Let's just say if you want to do business in the Gamma Quadrant, you have to do business with the Dominion.
Quark: The most profitable opportunity in Ferengi history, that's what Zek called it. But he didn't mean tulaberries. No, he meant the Dominion. That's why he sabotaged the negotiations. He never wanted to do business with the Dosi. He just wanted to use them to get to a more important member of the Dominion.
Pel: Quark, we need to talk.
Quark: We are talking.
Pel: Don't you want to know why I kissed you?
Quark: You never kissed me.
Pel: Yes, I did.
Quark: No, you didn't. And I don't want to discuss it anymore. Let's just concentrate on the Dominion. I only wish Zyree would have told us more.
Pel: Maybe it's some planetary alliance or trading consortium.
Quark: Whatever it is, it's important, and I want a piece of it.
Zek: Quark, I'm very disappointed. I really wanted those tulaberries.
Quark: You and I both know my trip had nothing to do with tulaberries.
Zek: It didn't?
Rom: I must speak with you, brother.
Quark: Can't you see I'm busy. Does the word Dominion mean anything to you.
Zek: What have you found out?
Quark: You first.
Rom: Please, brother, it's urgent.
Quark: Not now. I'm waiting.
Zek: Well, most of my information consists of little more than hints and whispers, but it's enough to convince me that whoever learns the secret of the Dominion, whatever that may be, will learn the secret of the Gamma Quadrant. Unfortunately, the Dosi don't seem to know very much. I was hoping they'd lead us to someone who does.
Quark: What would such information be worth to you?
Zek: A lot.
Quark: What if I told you I can arrange a meeting between you and a powerful member of the Dominion?
Zek: If you can do that, I'll see to it that you earn a percentage of every Ferengi opportunity in the Gamma Quadrant.
Quark: That's a lot of latinum.
Zek: Give me a name.
Quark: The Karemma.
Zek: The Karemma. I always knew you had the lobes for business.
Rom: Now may I speak with you, brother?
Quark: All right. But make it quick.
Bashir: Easy now. That's quite a bump you have there.
Quark: Where's Rom?
Rom: Right here, brother.
Bashir: Luckily there doesn't seem to be any serious damage.
Quark: If you don't mind, I'd like to rest here for a few minutes.
Bashir: Of course. I'll be in the other room if you need me.
Quark: Thank you, Doctor.
Quark: You haven't told anybody, have you?
Rom: You mean about Pel?
Quark: Quiet.
Rom: I haven't breathed a word. I thought it would be best if you told Zek yourself.
Quark: Nobody's going to tell Zek anything. Is that clear?
Rom: But she's a female.
Quark: Not so loud.
Rom: Who wears clothes and is trying to earn profit. Why, she even quotes from the sacred Rules of Acquisition. Such a female must be severely punished.
Quark: I know that.
Rom: Then we must stop her.
Quark: No.
Rom: You're scaring me, brother. Could it be you have feelings for this woman?
Quark: Of course not. Don't you see? If Zek learns that I've been deceived by a female, I'd be ruined. He'd never trust me again.
Rom: But if you don't tell him and he finds out, you're certain to be ruined. You have to tell him, or I will. Let me go. I have to save you from yourself.
Quark: Forget about me. What about the bar?
Rom: The bar?
Quark: You still want it, don't you?
Rom: Don't you?
Quark: Who needs the bar when I can have the Gamma Quadrant? I'll transfer ownership immediately, but only on one condition. That you never mention the truth about Pel to anyone.
Rom: Pel? What about him?
Pel: Come.
Quark: Where are your lobes?
Pel: Over there.
Quark: Well, put them on before somebody sees you.
Pel: No one's going to see me.
Quark: Put them on, now. And wrap yourself up. Have you finished packing?
Pel: Am I going somewhere?
Quark: As far away from the station as possible.
Pel: But you need me, Quark. I'm the only one you can trust.
Quark: Not anymore. Well, what did you expect? I mean, look at you. You're wearing clothes.
Pel: Is that a crime?
Quark: As a matter of fact, it is. Look, it's just too risky for you to stay here. You can take this with you.
Pel: What is it?
Quark: Ten bars of latinum. To help you start a new life. If you're going to pretend you're a man, act like one. Take the profit.
Pel: This is not about profit anymore, it's about love.
Quark: Spoken like a true female.
Pel: I love you, Quark, and I know you care about me, too. Admit it.
Quark: What difference does it make if I do? You'd never be happy being a Ferengi wife.
Pel: Then come with me to the Gamma Quadrant. No one there cares if I wear clothes or not.
Quark: I'd care.
Pel: I guess I'd better start packing.
Quark: I guess so.
Zek: These flaked blood fleas are surprisingly succulent.
Rom: You really should try them, brother.
Quark: I'm not feeling particularly hungry.
Zek: Let me guess. Too busy thinking about how to spend all that latinum we're going to earn? Well, I don't blame you.
Quark: Come.
Rom: I thought you said she left the station.
Quark: I thought she did.
Pel: I hope you don't mind, Quark, but I couldn't leave without saying goodbye to the Nagus.
Zek: I'm glad you stopped by. I know how much you helped Quark during the negotiations. I predict a big future for you, Pel. You certainly have the lobes for it.
Pel: So, you like my lobes?
Quark: Pel.
Zek: Yes, I do.
Pel: Good. Then you can have them.
Quark: No!
Zek: It's a female!
Rom: Does this mean I don't get the bar?
Quark: Rom. Out.
Zek: Quark, this is outrageous. Now, what's going on here?
Quark: I, I, I.
Pel: Leave him out of this.
Zek: You dare give me orders! You knew about this all along, didn't you?
Quark: I
Pel: So, tell me more about my big future.
Zek: You have no future. I'll see to it that you spend the rest of your life in prison.
Quark: No.
Zek: Let me remind you that taking business advice from a female is a violation of Ferengi law.
Quark: I didn't know she was a female.
Zek: Stupidity is no excuse. Now one more word out of you and you are going to share her cell.
Quark: Then you'd better make sure it's big enough for three.
Zek: Are you threatening me?
Quark: I wonder what your associates will say when I tell them you allowed a female to represent you in a business negotiation.
Zek: I didn't know she was a female.
Quark: Stupidity is no excuse.
Zek: I see your point. It seems that Pel's identity will have to remain our little secret, but it's going to cost you.
Quark: My Gamma Quadrant profits.
Zek: I've always said you were a bright fellow, Quark. Shame on you.
Quark: I hope you're satisfied.
Pel: I'm sorry, but it's time he learned that when it comes to accumulating profit, women are as capable as men.
Quark: Well, do me a favor and don't tell anybody else.
Pel: I should go. I've booked passage on an Andorian transport. You could come with me.
Quark: I can't.
Pel: I know.
Pel: Well then, I guess if I can't have you, I'll take those ten bars of latinum after all.
Quark: So, Lieutenant, ready for another night of tongo?
Dax: Haven't you lost enough for one day?
Quark: I don't know what you're talking about.
Dax: I'm talking about Pel. She came by to see me before she left. I'm going to miss her. So are you.
Quark: You really think I'd let anyone come between us?
Dax: Nice try, Quark, but I know you better than that.


Pallra: I didn't kill him, you know. A lot of people believed it was me. That shape-shifter thought so. But he was wrong.
Quark: It was a long time ago.
Pallra: Say what you will about the Cardassians, at least they could keep the power on. Would you like more ice?
Quark: I'm fine.
Pallra: You were always very kind.
Quark: Was I?
Pallra: You made life a little easier.
Quark: I ran a black market for anyone who could pay. Never exactly thought of myself as kind.
Pallra: There was always that little extra ginger tea in that package you gave me, wasn't there?
Quark: You didn't call me to Bajor to talk about tea.
Pallra: No. I need a favor.
Quark: For old times sake?
Pallra: That's right.
Quark: I'm still as kind as ever.
Pallra: I can pay you.
Quark: I'm listening.
Pallra: My husband kept a strongbox in our shop on the station, buried in the wall. I want you to bring it to me.
Quark: What's in it?
Pallra: Nothing anyone would value.
Quark: Anyone but you.
Pallra: Sentimental reasons.
Quark: Why not take a sentimental journey back to the station, if it's your property?
Pallra: I couldn't stand being back in that shop where my husband was murdered.
Quark: Or maybe you'd rather not let Odo see you there.
Pallra: I'm sure he's forgotten about all that by now. Can you neutralize the security system? It's behind the paneled wall on the left as you enter. Four panels in, five up.
Quark: Four in, five up.
Pallra: And I can pay you five bars of latinum.
Quark: Five?
Pallra: And as always my personal gratitude.
Quark: A day, maybe two. Commence Station Security log. Stardate 47282.5. At the request of Commander Sisko, I will hereafter be recording a daily log of law enforcement affairs. The reason for this exercise is beyond my comprehension, except perhaps that humans have a compulsion to keep records and lists and files. So many, in fact, that they have to invent new ways to store them microscopically, otherwise their records would overrun all known civilisation. My own very adequate memory not being good enough for Starfleet, I am pleased to put my voice to this official record of this day. Everything's under control. End log.
Quark: Now, when we get to the entrance, you stay flat against the wall. It's a pulsatel lockseal. I can get it to release in twenty five seconds.
Rom: Twenty five seconds? But somebody will see us. Let me do it.
Quark: You? We'd be at it all night.
Rom: All night? No, only about ten seconds.
Quark: How would you get a pulsatel lockseal to release in ten seconds?
Rom: You have one on the storeroom door.
Quark: So?
Rom: Sometimes, when you forget to leave me the desealer, I have to get the storeroom open.
Quark: You've unsealed the storeroom without my knowledge?
Rom: Only to serve a customer's needs.
Quark: In ten seconds?
Rom: You forget fairly often.
Quark: Ten seconds. We'll see how you handle the desealing rod.
Rom: That's all right. I have my own.
Quark: What?
Rom: Nog made it for me. The boy's always been clever with his hands.
Quark: My storeroom.
Rom: Time this, Brother. You'll be very proud. There, you see?
Quark: Thief. Don't deny it. You've been stealing from me.
Rom: Brother, I'd never
Quark: Tomorrow morning, I'm changing my entire lock system. Four in, five up. Here. It's behind this one. Keep an eye on the Promenade while I burn off the panel.
Rom: The glare could attract attention. I have a better idea.
Quark: A better idea?
Rom: I took the liberty of bringing along a small vial of magnasite drops.
Quark: Magnasite drops? What are magnasite drops?
Rom: A compound that will eat through duranium one on each corner and the panel will fall off.
Quark: How do you know that?
Rom: When you were in the Gamma Quadrant overnight we did very good business. Naturally, I had to keep your profits safe, but you had the only key to the latinum floor vault.
Quark: You got into my latinum floor vault with that?
Rom: I didn't want to tell you because then you'd know I'd burned off your floor plates, but I replaced them out of my own salary, brother.
Quark: My floor vault.
Rom: Should I take it out for you?
Quark: Don't touch it. Don't you touch anything ever, ever, again.
Quark: Just a piece of paper?
Rom: A treasure map, perhaps? What does it mean, brother?
Quark: I have no idea. Eight names. All of them Bajoran. I want to get a picture of this list before I reseal the box. Go, get me an imager. Go.
Quark: You can't be in here. We're closed.
Quark: Well, if you really want a drink. She sent you, didn't she?
Trazko: She knew you couldn't resist opening it. I'm sorry.
Quark: Yeah. Me too.
Rom: Brother! Brother? Brother? Help! Somebody help! My brother's been killed!
Bashir: Ten cc's of cortolin. I want an anti-grav lift in here, stat! Ready the cortical stimulator. What kind of weapon? I am waiting for an answer!
Odo: Whatever it was had to get by the scanners. My best guess is a compressed tetryon beam weapon.
Bashir: Okay, okay, that's consistent with what I'm seeing here. Get the stimulator over here.
Sisko: Doctor?
Bashir: Thoracic cavity ruptured. Extensive neural trauma. Now.
Odo: Rom says it was a robbery attempt.
Sisko: Was anything taken?
Odo: He says he doesn't know, but he knows.
Kira: Security's stopping everyone at the airlocks but it took them five minutes to get in position. The assailant may already be on a ship.
Sisko: Delay all outgoing vessels as long as you can. Advise their respective security details.
Bashir: We've got to get him to the surgery. Help me get him up here.
Rom: He's dying, isn't he? He's dying. What am I going to do if my brother dies?
Odo: Do? Oh, you'll have a lot to do once this place is yours.
Rom: But if he dies. Mine?
Odo: Wives serve, brothers inherit. Rule of Acquisition number one hundred thirty nine, if I'm not mistaken.
Rom: I hadn't thought of that.
Odo: Really? I had. Because it's a solid motive for murder.
Rom: Yes, actually, I have heard of a few untimely deaths that seemed. Wait a minute, you're not suggesting that I?
Odo: I've had my eye on you for a long time, Rom. You're not as stupid as you look.
Rom: I am too. I would never
Sisko: Constable, it's his own brother.
Rom: My own brother.
Sisko: I hardly think
Odo: Stay out of this, Commander. I know these Ferengi. They'd sell their own flesh and blood for a Cardassian groat.
Sisko: Odo, he's a family friend. His son is very close to my boy.
Odo: Well, you'd better tell his son that Dad's going to the lunar prison on Meldrar One. Two hundred degrees in the shade.
Rom: I didn't! It's not true! Oh! Irony of ironies. I finally get the bar and I'm falsely accused of my brother's murder.
Sisko: Rom, as a friend, if you know anything that might be helpful, I think you should tell us.
Rom: It was a list. The man who shot my brother stole a list.
Odo: What kind of list?
Rom: Of names. Eight Bajoran names. It was in this box we, we found.
Odo: Found?
Rom: In a manner of speaking.
Odo: You...
Rom: My brother was hired by someone on Bajor to retrieve it.
Odo: Who?
Rom: He didn't tell me. He never told me anything. I tried so hard to earn Quark's trust. Now he's dead, and I can never earn his trust.
Odo: Just his share of the profits.
Rom: I swear I don't know who hired him. All I know is that the box had been hidden years ago.
Odo: How many years ago?
Rom: I'm not sure. When the Cardassians were here. When the ship's store used to be the chemist shop.
Odo: The chemist shop?
Rom: That's right.
Odo: Here? This is where you found the box?
Rom: Behind a duranium wall panel. I'll show you which one. Do you want me to open it? I can do it in ten seconds.
Odo: You asked to see me?
Dukat: Yes, yes, please come in. I'm Gul Dukat. We've met before.
Odo: Have we?
Dukat: I wouldn't expect you to remember. I was one of the guests at the reception at the Bajoran Center for Science. It must have been two years ago.
Odo: Ah, yes, when the Cardassian High Command was invited to view me.
Dukat: You were very amusing that night.
Odo: Was I?
Dukat: Yes. You did a Cardassian neck trick that brought the house down.
Odo: The Bajoran scientist who worked with me thought you might find it entertaining. He made me practice for weeks on the Cardassian neck trick.
Dukat: Gul Hadar couldn't stop talking about it. He wanted to send you out to entertain the troops. I, on the other hand, began to wonder if you couldn't provide a more valuable service for the Cardassian Empire. I've stayed informed about you, Odo, ever since you walked out on your Bajoran keepers.
Odo: I simply felt I could learn more outside a laboratory.
Dukat: Yes, you've become quite the student of humanoid nature, haven't you?
Odo: Just what is it you need, Gul Dukat?
Dukat: Have you ever seen a dead man before?
Odo: Yes. In your mines.
Dukat: Oh, those are casualties. This is murder. And I've decided you're going to investigate it.
Odo: Me? Why me? I'm no investigator.
Dukat: Ah, but I suspect you'd make a good one, shape-shifting your way into places the rest of us can't go.
Odo: I have no intention of being a Cardassian agent.
Dukat: Not an agent. An investigator.
Odo: There's a difference?
Dukat: We can't have these Bajorans running around murdering each other, now can we? I'm talking about order here, justice.
Odo: There's very little justice in the Cardassian occupation of Bajor.
Dukat: Don't push me, Odo. My superiors would have me solve this murder by rounding up ten Bajorans at random and executing them. I'm hoping you'll give me a better alternative. Now, these Bajorans won't talk to us but they seem to trust you. I understand you used to sort out petty disputes concerning food, blankets, everyday sorts of things. They come to you.
Odo: I suppose I'm considered a neutral observer.
Dukat: Of course. You're not one of them. And for that you should be thankful. So, here's one more petty dispute, only this time I'm bringing it to you. Find the murderer.
Odo: Are there any witnesses?
Dukat: I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Mrs Vaatrik. This is Odo. He'll be investigating your husband's death. Perhaps you two already know each other.
Pallra: Have you been into the shop?
Odo: No, I don't use chemicals.
Dukat: I've assigned this space to you. We'll get you anything you need. Madam, my sympathies. Good hunting.
Odo: I'm sorry for your loss.
Pallra: Thank you.
Odo: Do you have any idea who might have done this?
Pallra: I have a very good idea.
Odo: You do?
Pallra: May I be honest with you?
Odo: That might be helpful.
Pallra: My husband was having an affair. Some girl showed up on the station a couple of weeks ago. He became infatuated with her, I don't know. Why are men like that?
Odo: Believe me, I have no idea.
Pallra: We had two wonderful years together, till she arrived. And now
Odo: You loved him very much.
Pallra: Of course I did.
Odo: Then, perhaps you could explain something I don't understand.
Pallra: What's that?
Odo: Mister Vaatrik was found dead two hours ago. Mrs Vaatrik hasn't shed a tear.
Pallra: What makes you think
Odo: By necessity I'm an observer, Mrs Vaatrik. When a humanoid cries, the epidermis below the eyes swells noticeably. Your epidermis is perfectly normal.
Pallra: I've been too angry to cry. I, I, the shock, I
Odo: Of course. So, you were about to accuse this other woman of the murder, I believe?
Pallra: He confessed his indiskretion to me days ago, but said it was over
Odo: And when he broke it off with her, she killed him in a jealous rage.
Pallra: Something like that.
Odo: Do you know her name?
Pallra: No, but I can point her out to you.
Guard: Move along. Step back from the gate. That's enough.
Comm: Attention, all bio-organic materials must be disposed of according to regulations.
Odo: When was the last time you saw Mister Vaatrik alive?
Pallra: At dinner. He went back to the shop to do some inventory work afterwards.
Odo: You don't live in community quarters.
Pallra: No. We were lucky enough to be assigned a private room. I guess because we ran the shop, but at least we had a little privacy. There. That's her.
Kira: Odo. We haven't picked up anyone at the airlocks. I can't hold up outbound traffic any longer.
Odo: I'm sure he disposed of the weapon before he left.
Kira: I heard about the list, the one that Quark got out of the wall.
Odo: Rom said it had been hidden there during the occupation.
Kira: I couldn't help wondering if it had something to do with Vaatrik.
Odo: I've been wondering the same thing. Security log, stardate 47284.1. In this job, there is no unfinished business. The assault on Quark reopens a five year old murder case that I've never, not for a moment, closed. Patience is a lost virtue to most. To me, an ally.
Rom: I barely saw it. I'm sorry. I don't remember any of the names.
Odo: All right, all right, let's just relax for a moment.
Rom: I really ought to be getting back to my bar.
Odo: He's not dead yet, Rom.
Rom: They're not keeping him alive by artificial means, are they? My brother wouldn't want that.
Odo: No, he's clinging to life all on his own.
Rom: Typical.
Odo: All right, let's try again. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Clear your mind of everything in it, if there's anything there. Breathe. Breathe. Now, what do you see?
Rom: The bar.
Odo: Yes?
Rom: With my name on it.
Odo: The past, Rom, not the future. The box opens. There's a piece of paper inside it.
Rom: Yes, yes, I see it.
Odo: Quark unfolds it. There's a list of names, Bajoran names.
Rom: Right.
Odo: The one at the very top catches your eye. And the first letter is?
Rom: C! It's a C.
Odo: And the next letter is?
Rom: Er, er.
Odo: Skip to the last letter in the name, Rom.
Rom: O! It's an O.
Odo: Starts with a C, ends with an O.
Rom: And, and there's a mark in the name.
Odo: An apostrophe?
Rom: Ches'so!
Odo: You're sure?
Rom: Yes. Maybe.
Odo: Maybe?
Rom: It's something like Ches'so. I think.
Odo: Call me day or night if you remember something else.
Kira: Anything? Ches'so.
Odo: Might be the first name on the list. Remember anyone from those days on the station with that name?
Kira: No, but I wasn't here very long.
Odo: So I recall.
Kira: We never talked about it.
Odo: We never had to.
Kira: I would have been executed.
Odo: You were innocent of the crime I was investigating.
Kira: That wouldn't have mattered to the Cardassians.
Odo: It mattered to me.
Guard: Work detail tomorrow. Surrender your passes. You there, keep moving. This way, this way.
Comm: Radiation crew, report to observation level. Radiation crew, report to observation level.
Odo: Do you mind if I join you?
Comm: Sector four salvage team report at once to your work station.
Odo: A pretty girl like you shouldn't be eating alone.
Kira: I don't do whatever it is you want. Not for money, not for food.
Odo: No, you misunderstand. I'm sorry, of course I can see how you could. Let me start over.
Kira: Are you some kind of a security officer?
Odo: How did you know that?
Kira: You are, aren't you.
Odo: Unofficially, I suppose that's true.
Kira: Unofficially? What's that supposed to mean?
Odo: Gul Dukat asked me to investigate the murder of a Bajoran man named Vaatrik. I understand you knew him.
Kira: Who says I did?
Odo: His widow.
Kira: I suppose she also told you I killed him.
Odo: Did you?
Kira: No.
Odo: On the contrary, you were in love with him.
Kira: No.
Odo: But he was in love with you.
Kira: No.
Odo: It doesn't sound like much of a romance.
Kira: We weren't having a romance.
Odo: Then why would he tell his wife that you were?
Kira: You'll have to ask him.
Odo: If you were having an affair, I promise you I'll find out about it.
Kira: All you're going to find is that I've been here for two weeks. I met the man right after I arrived. He had Pyrellian ginger tea. How he managed to get it I don't know, but I happen to like ginger tea. We became friends. Maybe he was attracted to me. It never went anywhere. Why do you think Dukat wanted you on this investigation?
Odo: I'm sure he had good reasons.
Kira: Why not his own security people?
Odo: No Bajoran would talk to them.
Kira: That never stopped the Cardassians before. They have ways of getting their information. Something to think about.
Odo: Where were you last night?
Kira: I was at the bar. I heard the Ferengi are allowed to hire some Bajorans for dog work. It's better than the mines.
Odo: You haven't spent any time in the mines.
Kira: How do you know?
Odo: Your hands.
Kira: You're not bad at this. You're right. My last job was at a replicator plant on Bajor.
Odo: You're not allowed to quit those jobs. What happened?
Kira: I hit a supervisor for trying what I thought you were trying a few minutes ago.
Odo: I appreciate your restraint this time. You're not planning on leaving the station soon?
Kira: If I were, would you have the Cardassians stop me?
Odo: Yes.
Kira: Then I'm not planning on leaving the station soon. Let me tell you something. Unofficially or not, you're working for the Cardassians. Sooner or later, you're going to have to decide whose side you're on.
Odo: I don't choose sides.
Kira: Everybody has to choose sides, Constable.
Pallra: I don't know what you're talking about.
Odo: You knew nothing about a list?
Pallra: Nothing.
Odo: Why would your husband have hidden a list of Bajoran names?
Pallra: I can't imagine why. Are you sure it was his?
Odo: No.
Pallra: Maybe the Cardassians put it there before they left.
Odo: Someone on Bajor told Quark where to find it.
Pallra: I wish I could help. I sort of liked that little Ferengi.
Odo: Don't write his eulogy yet. He's still with us.
Pallra: I thought you said
Odo: He was shot at point blank range. The Federation doctor saved his life.
Pallra: Good for him.
Odo: Does the name Ches'so mean anything to you?
Pallra: I don't think so. Who is it?
Odo: Oh, just someone I'd like to talk to. Thank you for seeing me.
Pallra: If this has anything to do with my husband's murder, I want to be of help in any way I can.
Odo: Oh, there was one other thing. I understand your power was recently terminated for lack of payment.
Pallra: That's right.
Odo: Yet you were able to transfer funds to the power company this morning.
Pallra: I don't appreciate your looking into my private affairs.
Odo: Just part of a routine investigation. If you could tell me where you got the money?
Pallra: A loan from a friend.
Odo: Of course. And your friend's name?
Pallra: Odo, this really has nothing to do with your investigation.
Odo: Good. Then you won't mind giving me the name.
Pallra: I'm sorry. My friend is married. I won't drag him into this. Security Log, supplemental. The Ferengi holds on to life like it's gold-pressed latinum. Maybe he just doesn't want his brother to get the bar, or maybe he knows he's the only real witness I have.
Bashir: The next several hours will tell the whole story. We've done everything we can for him. I'll keep you updated.
Kira: I've got some good news and some bad news. I think I've found our Ches'so.
Odo: Who is he?
Kira: A Bajoran mining engineer. He's been very active in charity work for the war orphans.
Odo: What makes you think he's our man?
Kira: Some connections from my past suggested he might be. His work brought him to the station a lot. The bad news is he's dead. Drowned in a pond on his property last night.
Odo: I'm responsible.
Kira: How?
Odo: I mentioned the name Ches'so to the Vaatrik woman. If she recognized it as Ches'sarro, and thought he might lead us to her. Security to the Infirmary.
Security: Acknowledged.
Odo: Major, I need some help. Advise the Medical Examiner that I want a complete autopsy on Ches'sarro, and that his death is to be treated as a suspected homicide. I'll need the communication records for the Vaatrik home for the past fifty-two hours and have the Central Bank keep a supervisor on duty all night. I'll need several bank records as well.
Kira: Whose?
Odo: I don't know yet.
Odo: I want round the clock armed security on Quark. No visitors.
Guard: Yes, sir.
Quark: Stop by one of the holosuites. Two programs for the price of one.
Odo: I'm looking for the proprietor of this establishment.
Quark: Does he owe you money?
Odo: No.
Quark: Are you here to arrest him?
Odo: No.
Quark: Then you've found him. Quark, at your service. First drink on the house. An old and dreadful Cardassian tradition. What'll you have.
Odo: I don't drink.
Quark: A soft drink, then.
Odo: I don't drink.
Quark: I guess that's why we don't see you around here much.
Odo: I'd like to ask you a few questions about the death of the Bajoran chemist.
Quark: Wait a minute. You're the shape-shifter. You're the one who's working for Dukat.
Odo: I'm not working for Dukat. I'm just trying to solve a murder.
Quark: No, I've heard about you. You do some Cardassian neck trick, am I right?
Odo: Not anymore.
Quark: That could go over big in this room.
Odo: I'm checking on the alibi of a young Bajoran woman, red hair, named Kira Nerys. She says she was here last night
Quark: Yeah, I remember her. She wanted a job.
Odo: How long was she here?
Quark: Long enough.
Odo: Long enough for what?
Quark: Oh, you know.
Odo: No, I don't. Why don't you tell me.
Quark: She was showing me her, er, initiative.
Odo: Is that some sort of sexual reference?
Quark: These jobs are hard to come by. Her credentials were very impressive. Hey, listen. Listen here, what's the problem?
Odo: The problem is you're lying.
Quark: You've got me all wrong.
Odo: I want the truth otherwise I'll just turn you over to Gul Dukat and he can get it for me.
Quark: Okay, fine, I didn't realize we were dealing with a murder here. She didn't pay me enough for that anyway.
Odo: She paid you for an alibi? I wonder how Gul Dukat will react when I tell him about that.
Quark: I'm sure it'll cost me a case of Cardassian ale.
Dukat: Two cases at the very least. A broken alibi. That sounds like progress. Is there someone you want me to arrest?
Odo: Not yet.
Dukat: But soon. I need a name, Odo.
Odo: You'll get your name when I'm certain it's the right name.
Dukat: Listen to the way he speaks to me, Quark. You're not afraid of anyone, are you, shape-shifter? Not even me. I was right about you. You are the man for this job.
Quark: Listen, I feel you and I, we've gotten off to a bad start here. Let me make it up to you. You need anything? A little ginger tea? No, you don't drink. Chocolate? Maybe companionship?
Sisko: You look like you just lost your best friend, Constable.
Dax: Is Quark?
Odo: Quark is stable.
Sisko: What's this?
Odo: The list.
Dax: You found it?
Odo: No, I assembled it from the Vaatrik woman's communication records. She's been talking to each of these people a lot. Odd thing is, she'd never talked to any of them until two days ago.
Sisko: When the list was stolen.
Odo: Interestingly, every one of them has transferred exactly one hundred thousand Bajoran litas into her bank accounts within the last twenty six hours.
Sisko: Blackmail?
Odo: Blackmail.
Sisko: What did they have to hide?
Odo: For one thing, that they'd come out of the occupation with that kind of money.
Dax: You think they were working with the Cardassians.
Odo: Selling out their own world for a profit. Collaborators. Not even a Ferengi would do that. It explains a lot of things.
Sisko: Do you have enough to charge her?
Odo: Not yet, but I'd like to bring her in for questioning. With your permission, I'll ask the local Bajoran authorities transport her here.
Odo: Nobody ever had to teach me the justice trick. That's something I've always known. A racial memory from my species, I guess. It's really the only clue I have to what kind of people they are. Are these kinds of thoughts appropriate for a Starfleet log? I don't care. There's no room in justice for loyalty or friendship or love. Justice, as the humans like to say, is blind. I used to believe that. I'm not sure I can anymore.
Kira: Yes, I lied about my alibi. That doesn't make me a killer.
Odo: Where were you when he was murdered?
Kira: Asleep, alone.
Odo: No one saw you in the community quarters.
Kira: I wasn't there. I've found a small corner in
Odo: You're lying.
Kira: I
Odo: Don't bother. Your whole face changes. I should have seen it before. You don't lie well.
Kira: Thanks.
Odo: So why don't you start telling the truth?
Kira: Whose side are you going to be on, Constable?
Odo: I'm not going to play your game.
Kira: When I tell you the truth, you'll have to choose.
Odo: No. No, that's why I was given this job. That's why all of you always come to me with problems. I'm the outsider. I'm on no one's side. All I'm interested in is justice. If you're innocent, you'll go free. If you're not, I'll turn you over to Cardassian authorities. That's the only choice here.
Kira: I didn't kill him. When he was killed, I was on level twenty one.
Odo: Twenty one? Ore processing?
Kira: Check the Cardassian security logs. You'll see a breach on twenty one last night. I'm in the Bajoran underground. I came here to commit acts of sabotage against the Cardassians. Last night, I succeeded.
Odo: The ore processor was damaged by a sub-nucleonic device at twenty five hundred hours last night. It'll be out of operation for two weeks.
Kira: Give the mine workers a little time off at least. I'll describe the device I used if you still don't believe me.
Odo: That's why you needed an alibi from Quark.
Kira: If you tell the Cardassians the truth, none of this will matter. I'll be executed for the sabotage. Who cares about Bajorans killing Bajorans when you can hang a rebel.
Dukat: Is this her?
Odo: I told you when I have the name
Dukat: Is this her?
Odo: No. You can go.
Dukat: If you're lying, shape-shifter.
Odo: If you know as much about me as you say you do, Gul Dukat, you know I don't lie. I am convinced that she did not kill Vaatrik.
Trazko: Is it too late for visitors?
Guard: I'm sorry, sir. No visitors are permitted here.
Trazko: Perhaps you could just put these in water for him.
Guard: Of course.
Odo: Odo to Bashir. Report to the Infirmary immediately.
Bashir: On my way.
Odo: It's over, Rom, over. You're a hero.
Rom: I am?
Odo: You saved your brother's life.
Pallra: I've never seen him before in my life.
Odo: Really? Your communications records indicate that you made several calls to his home, and received several as well.
Kira: You also transferred a large sum of money into his account two days ago.
Pallra: I want to confer with my advocate.
Odo: Certainly. I'll make arrangements for you to speak with him. Meantime, the two of you can introduce yourselves to one another.
Pallra: I don't care what you think you know, shape-shifter. You will never be able to prove that I killed my husband because I didn't.
Odo: I know.
Kira: When did you realize?
Odo: The possibility occurred to me when you got the name Ches'sarro so quickly. Your friends from the underground must have already suspected him of being a collaborator. Once I knew the eight names were a list of collaborators the murder of Vaatrik made sense for the first time. He must have been a collaborator too. He had the money for ginger tea. He had the private quarters. I never had a motive for his murder until now. He kept his wife in relative luxury. She surely wouldn't have killed him. So who would kill a Cardassian collaborator? Someone in the Bajoran underground, of course.
Kira: A colleague of mine was given the job of sabotaging the ore processor. Vaatrik was my responsibility.
Odo: You were here to execute him.
Kira: No. I was here to find the list. The names of the Bajorans who were selling us out. We'd been informed that Vaatrik was their direct link to Dukat.
Odo: That must have been why Dukat chose me to investigate. He had to stay as far away from this incident as he could so as not to endanger his network of Bajoran sympathizers.
Kira: Obviously, I never found the list. But that's what I was looking for in his shop when Vaatrik walked in on me. I didn't have a choice.
Odo: I misjudged you, Major. You were a better liar than I gave you credit for.
Kira: You were working for the Cardassians.
Odo: I haven't been for more than a year. You've had all that time to tell me the truth.
Kira: I tried to tell you the truth a hundred times. What you think of me matters a lot. I was afraid.
Odo: That might affect our friendship? Maybe it doesn't have to.
Kira: Will you ever be able to trust me the same way again?


Scene: Personal log, stardate 47329.4. I finally realize why I've had trouble sleeping the last few nights. Yesterday was the fourth anniversary of the massacre at Wolf three five nine. The fourth anniversary of Jennifer's death.
Sisko: I'm not sure what bothers me more. The date itself, or the fact that it almost passed unnoticed.
Jake: Dad what are you doing up?
Sisko: I was about to ask you the same thing.
Jake: I had a weird dream.
Sisko: Get some hot chocolate and tell me about it.
Jake: Nah, it's nothing.
Sisko: Come on. Tell me about this weird dream.
Jake: It's stupid.
Sisko: Maybe so, but the thing about dreams is, if you talk about them, they kind of go away faster.
Jake: Okay, but don't laugh.
Sisko: I promise.
Jake: I don't know. I was on the station somewhere. I'm not sure where. And I was trying to get back here but I couldn't find my way. Every time I saw a familiar corridor, it kind of led into some other direction. See, I told you it was stupid.
Sisko: You got me interested.
Jake: Well then, I guess I got a little scared and started looking for you, but I couldn't find you. Somehow I ended up in Ops but you weren't in your office. And then it was like the floor started sloping and I couldn't keep my balance and all I wanted to do was find you.
Sisko: And here I am.
Jake: Dad, I love you.
Sisko: I love you too.
Jake: I have a calculus test in the morning.
Sisko: Then you'd better get some sleep.
Jake: Yeah. Dad? I miss her.
Sisko: Me too.
Fenna: Beautiful, aren't they? I don't think I've seen the stars shine so brightly.
Sisko: The Bajorans call that constellation the Runners. I can never figure out if they're running toward something or away from something.
Fenna: Does that matter? Sometimes it just feels good to run.
Sisko: I never thought about it that way. I'm Benjamin Sisko, Commander of this station.
Fenna: I'm Fenna. I'm sorry. You must be very busy. I didn't mean to bother you.
Sisko: You're not bothering me at all.
Fenna: Good.
Fenna: Commander of the station. That must be very exciting. All those ships coming and going. Every day must bring something new.
Sisko: It has its moments. In some ways, though, I prefer this time the best, when everything's quiet and
Fenna: And you can feel a kind of anticipation in the air like something wonderful's going to happen but you don't know what it is. I guess that sounds kind of silly, doesn't it?
Sisko: Not at all. That's one of the great things about this station. You never know what's going to happen next, or who you're going to meet.
Fenna: I like it here. I wish I could stay longer.
Sisko: Where are you going?
Fenna: I'm not really sure. I guess I'll just keep going, like the Runners.
Sisko: I tell you what. Before you run any farther, why don't I show you around the station? If you have the time.
Sisko: Fenna?
Sisko: Good morning, Chief.
O'Brien: Morning, Commander.
Sisko: Is this maintenance or repair?
O'Brien: Right now it's maintenance, but five'll get you ten it'll be a repair by the time I'm through.
Sisko: Admit it, Chief. If you were on a station where everything worked, you'd be miserable.
O'Brien: You may be right, sir. But I'd be willing to give it a try.
Sisko: Good morning, Major. Computer, one chiraltan tea, with a double twist of lemon. Something wrong?
Kira: No, nothing.
Sisko: If something's bothering you, Major, I want to hear it.
Kira: It's just that every morning for the last year, I've seen you walk in here and start your day with a raktajino.
Sisko: I love raktajino.
Kira: I know. You never even talk to anyone until you've had your first cup.
Sisko: I'm not awake until I've had my first cup.
Kira: So how come you're drinking chiraltan tea?
Sisko: I, er, I just felt like having something different. That is all right with you, isn't it, Major?
Kira: Of course. You can drink whatever you like.
Sisko: Thank you, Major. I appreciate your support.
Dax: Dax to Sisko.
Sisko: Go ahead, Lieutenant.
Dax: Professor Seyetik and I are in the science lab, if you'd like to meet him.
Sisko: On my way.
Sisko: Lieutenant, where's our guest?
Dax: Inside the flux generator.
Sisko: What? What's he doing in there? He could be killed.
Dax: Well, that's what I tried to tell him.
Sisko: And he went in anyway.
Dax: Benjamin, have you ever met a terraformer?
Sisko: No. What's that got to do with it?
Dax: You can't tell a terraformer anything. It's an amazing talent bringing dead worlds to life, but humility and common sense aren't part of the job description.
Sisko: Oh.
Seyetik: There you go, Lieutenant. That should increase your generator output by at least five percent. You must be Commander Sisko. Gideon Seyetik. Great pleasure to meet you, sir.
Sisko: Professor. I'm a great admirer of your work.
Seyetik: Good. A man of intelligence and taste. I can see we're going to get along famously.
Sisko: My son and I visited Blue Horizon on the way to Deep Space Nine. I must say I was impressed.
Seyetik: Of course you were. I created the place and even I'm impressed. How did you like Da Vinci Falls?
Sisko: We didn't get to see them. We were only on the surface for a few hours.
Seyetik: Oh, Commander, you missed Blue Horizon's crowning glory. Imagine water cascading off cliffs the height of Mount Everest, thundering through continuous rainbows, straight into an ocean the color of sapphire wine. I'm going to have to take you there one day. By God, I wouldn't mind seeing it again myself.
Sisko: I may take you up on that.
Seyetik: Good, good. But first, Epsilon one nineteen.
Sisko: Yes, I understand the initial surveys look promising.
Seyetik: Promising? They look magnificent. Imagine, reigniting a dead sun. Bringing new life to an entire solar system. Next to that, terraforming planets will seem like child's play.
Dax: Let's hope it works. Right now, it's a promising theory.
Seyetik: Of course it'll work. I never fail. Well, I did once, but I found it didn't agree with me. So I swore never to do it again and I never break my word. You should be glad you're coming with me, Lieutenant. This'll be my crowning achievement. Giving birth to a star. Even I will have a hard time topping that one.
Dax: Benjamin, you're not going to let that last piece of Andorian tuber root go to waste, are you?
Sisko: Why do you ask?
Dax: Because it's delicious. May I?
Sisko: Be my guest.
Dax: I'm going to need the extra calories to keep up with Seyetik. The man works almost as much as he talks. Benjamin?
Sisko: What?
Dax: Are you looking for someone?
Sisko: I'm sorry, what were you saying?
Dax: Nothing important. I have to meet with Chief O'Brien. We're boosting the maximum speed of Seyetik's ship to warp nine point five. If his experiment fails and that sun goes supernova, we're going to need to get out of there fast.
Sisko: I'll see you in Ops.
Fenna: Benjamin, I was hoping I'd see you again.
Sisko: I was just thinking about you.
Fenna: Were you really? I've been thinking about you, too.
Sisko: Where did you disappear to last night?
Fenna: I had to go. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to rush away like that. Does your invitation still stand? To show me around the station?
Sisko: What would you like to see?
Fenna: Everything.
Sisko: Everything? That's going to take some time.
Fenna: I don't mind, if you don't.
Sisko: What do you think?
Fenna: It's wonderful.
Sisko: I'm glad you like it.
Fenna: You must come here all the time.
Sisko: Not really. But when I do, a ship is usually blocking the view.
Fenna: We should have brought a picnic basket.
Sisko: Here?
Fenna: What better place?
Sisko: Well, I guess there is tomorrow.
Fenna: Is that an invitation?
Sisko: Sounded like one to me.
Fenna: Then I accept.
Sisko: Good. There's plenty left to see. In fact, I doubt that we can see it all in one evening.
Fenna: Then you can show me the rest after our picnic tomorrow.
Sisko: Do you always do that?
Fenna: Do what?
Sisko: Say exactly the right thing.
Fenna: No one's ever told me that before.
Sisko: There you go again. So, tell me all about yourself.
Fenna: There's not much to tell.
Sisko: Whatever there is, I want to hear it.
Fenna: I can't.
Sisko: Can't what?
Fenna: I can't tell you.
Sisko: Why not?
Fenna: I'm sorry, Benjamin, but I have to go.
Sisko: Fenna, wait.
Jake: So then Tiet looked down at Altrina's lunch and said, Klingon food? Those are worms. And Altrina vomited all over the table. It was pretty disgusting.
Sisko: That's nice, Jake.
Jake: Nice? She threw up.
Sisko: Hmm? Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I was thinking about something else.
Jake: Dad, are you in love?
Sisko: What?
Jake: You know, with a woman. You're showing all three of the signs.
Sisko: Signs?
Jake: The ones that Nog told me about. Loss of appetite, daydreaming, smiling all the time.
Sisko: You've been talking to Nog about women again?
Jake: Look, I just want you to know that if you're in love, it's all right with me.
Sisko: Thanks, Jake.
Jake: What's she like?
Sisko: She's really interesting.
Jake: Interesting, huh? So when do I get to meet her?
Sisko: I think it might be a little early to do that.
Jake: Why? She likes you too, doesn't she?
Sisko: I think so.
Jake: So then what's the problem?
Sisko: Well, er, it's just that, er, she keeps disappearing.
Odo: Above all, stay alert. If the subspace transmission I received is correct and Villus Thed is en route to the station, I want to be notified the moment he arrives. Keep him under constant surveillance, but remember, he's a short-range telepath, so stay at least five meters away from him at all times. That's all.
Deputy: Yes, sir.
Odo: Commander, what can I do for you?
Sisko: I need to ask a favor, Constable, of a personal nature.
Odo: Go on.
Sisko: I'm looking for someone. A woman.
Odo: Name?
Sisko: Fenna.
Odo: First name or last?
Sisko: I don't know.
Odo: Species?
Sisko: I don't know. Humanoid.
Odo: What ship did she arrive on?
Sisko: I don't know.
Odo: Well, what can you tell me about her?
Sisko: Let's see. I'd say she's about one point six meters tall. Brown skin, dark hair. And the last time I saw her, she was wearing, she was wearing red.
Odo: Well, that's something, anyway.
Sisko: Do you think you can help me?
Odo: I don't know.
Sisko: I need to find her, Constable. I think she may be in some kind of trouble.
Odo: What kind of trouble? Let me guess. You don't know. Well, it's not much to go on, but I'll do what I can.
Sisko: I appreciate your help, Odo.
Dax: Benjamin, do you have a minute?
Sisko: In my office.
Sisko: What's on your mind, Dax?
Dax: I was hoping you had something to say to me.
Sisko: I don't follow you.
Dax: You really have no intention of telling me, do you?
Sisko: Telling you what?
Dax: Come on, Benjamin. I saw you with her last night on the Promenade. What's her name?
Sisko: Fenna. But believe me, Dax, there is nothing to talk about.
Dax: You used to tell Curzon everything.
Sisko: Not everything.
Dax: You know what I mean. It's because I'm a woman now, isn't it?
Sisko: Don't be ridiculous.
Dax: No, I understand. It's hard to talk man to man with a woman.
Sisko: That has nothing to do with it.
Dax: Then tell me what's going on.
Sisko: I will. As soon as there is something to tell. Personal log, supplemental. Odo continues to search for new information about Fenna. In the meantime, Professor Seyetik has invited me and the senior staff to dinner on board the Prometheus.
Seyetik: A great terraformer needs the green thumb of a gardener, the eye of a painter and the soul of a poet. And of course it doesn't hurt to be a raging egomaniac.
Kira: Which makes you eminently qualified.
Seyetik: Of course.
Bashir: Terraforming is amazing enough, but I don't understand how you intend to re-ignite a dead sun.
Seyetik: Basically I'll use a remote-piloted shuttlepod to deliver proto-matter into the dead star. This will cause a cascade effect which will transform the star's carbon and oxygen into elemental hydrogen. Then we just stand back and watch the fireworks.
Dax: Of course, if it doesn't work it might be the last thing we ever see.
Seyetik: Come now, Lieutenant. Nothing of worth was ever created by a pessimist.
Sisko: I don't know about that. Van Gogh, Beckett, Y'Raka. I wouldn't exactly call them optimists.
Seyetik: Precisely, and look at their work. Dark and dreary and dismal. Art should be an affirmation of life. For example, take my own work in the field.
Bashir: I once saw an exhibit of your paintings at the Central Gallery on Ligobis Ten. They were certainly memorable. I don't think I've ever seen such huge canvasses.
Seyetik: Doctor, nobody ever accused me of understatement.
Dax: Certainly not anyone who's ever read your autobiography.
Seyetik: Nine volumes and counting. You know, I always said I wanted to write as many books as I've had marriages. Which reminds me, wait till you taste the food my wife has created for you. None of that replicated nonsense you're used to. No, every dish was prepared entirely by Nidell's own sweet hands.
Kira: I can't wait to meet her.
Seyetik: And so you shall. She should be just about ready. I'll go and get her.
Kira: Commander, you think he'd notice if we weren't here when he got back.
Sisko: Don't even think about it, Major. I've had dinner with about two dozen Bajoran ministers. I think you owe me this one. Besides, Seyetik is one of the Federation's greatest minds.
Kira: I know. He told me.
Bashir: I for one find him remarkable entertaining.
Seyetik: Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like you to meet my wife and my inspiration. Nidell.
Dax: Now we have something to talk about.
Bashir: I can't eat another bite.
O'Brien: That was delicious. Do you think I could have the recipe?
Nidell: You'll have to ask Gideon. It's his creation.
Seyetik: Well, it took me years to perfect it. The secret, you see, is to sear the kalo roots slightly before layering them over the slices of roasted waroon.
Sisko: She acts like she doesn't recognize me.
Seyetik: The most important thing is the broth. One liter of clear Rumall stock. A tumbler and a half of Gremish, two clusters of Vulcan redspice.
Dax: It is the same woman, isn't it?
Sisko: She looks the same.
Seyetik: Half a dozen humat pods, and a dash of ice salt. Then you reduce it in a Andorian boiler, cook it exactly five hundred degrees Kelvin and then just pepper to taste. Any questions?
O'Brien: Maybe you should write that down.
Seyetik: Of course. No trouble at all. Now, I think we should continue this conversation in the other room. We shall be more comfortable there.
Nidell: Commander, can I help you with something?
Sisko: I hope so. It would have been a lot easier if you'd told me you were married.
Nidell: I don't understand.
Sisko: Yesterday, on the Promenade. You had plenty of opportunity.
Nidell: Commander, I don't know what you're talking about. I've never met you before tonight.
Sisko: I suppose you never told me that your name was Fenna? Would you like to talk about this?
Nidell: Commander, obviously you have mistaken me for someone else.
Sisko: Seems that way, doesn't it?
Sisko: I'm telling you Dax, it was the same woman. The face, the voice. It was Fenna.
Dax: Maybe you ought to talk to her when her husband isn't around.
Sisko: Dax, she's a married woman.
Dax: That would have never stopped Curzon.
Sisko: It's just that this was the first time since Jennifer's death that I felt drawn to someone.
Odo: Commander, may I have a word with you? I thought you should know I've checked this week's docking and transporter logs, and there is no record of anyone matching the description you gave me.
Sisko: Thanks, Odo, but you can call off your search. I've already found the woman I was looking for.
Odo: Did you? And where was she, if you don't mind my asking?
Sisko: Aboard the Prometheus.
Odo: The Prometheus? Are you sure?
Sisko: Yes, we just left there a few minutes ago.
Odo: That's impossible.
Sisko: What do you mean?
Odo: I checked the de-embarkation logs as part of my search. With the exception of Professor Seyetik, no one has left the Prometheus during the entire time it's been at the station.
Quark: Commander?
Quark: I thought you could use this.
Sisko: No thanks, I was just leaving.
Quark: Stood you up, didn't she? When you've worked in a bar as long as I have, you get to recognize that look. I've even seen it in the mirror once or twice.
Sisko: I'd better be getting home.
Quark: If you'd like, we could go down to the bar and talk. You know, about women.
Sisko: I don't think so.
Quark: Don't forget, the holosuites are always open.
Fenna: Benjamin!
Fenna: I missed you. Is there something wrong?
Sisko: I just had dinner with someone who looks exactly like you.
Fenna: Like me? How strange?
Sisko: Then you're telling me that your name isn't really Nidell and you're not the wife of Gideon Seyetik.
Fenna: Of course not. I'm Fenna, you know that.
Sisko: Right now, I'm not sure what I know. I don't suppose you have a twin sister, do you?
Fenna: Not that I know of.
Sisko: Fenna, I need to know where you came from, what you're doing on this station.
Fenna: Does that matter?
Sisko: Of course it matters. I need to know who you are.
Fenna: You do know me, Benjamin. When I came here, I thought I was looking for a place, somewhere I belonged, but I was wrong. I wasn't looking for a place, I was looking for a person. I was looking for you.
Fenna: Benjamin.
O'Brien: All right, Lieutenant. I've got the warp drive on the Prometheus purring like a kitten. It'll do nine point six in a pinch but I wouldn't take it any faster.
Dax: I thought the theoretical maximum for those engines was warp nine point five?
O'Brien: It was.
Seyetik: Must I remind you, Lieutenant, some of us only have one lifetime.
Dax: I'll be right there.
O'Brien: Good luck, Lieutenant. Commander.
Dax: Come to see us off, Benjamin?
Sisko: Not exactly. I'm going with you. After all, how often do you get to see a star reborn.
Dax: Do you really think this is a good idea?
Sisko: I need answers, Dax, and the key to Fenna's disappearance could be on that ship.
Piersall: Have you finished loading the protomatter device into the shuttlepod?
Dax: All set. The containment fields are holding fine, remote guidance systems are fully operational.
Seyetik: I'm telling you, Commander, by the time I was through with New Halana, it was a veritable paradise. How are we doing, Mister Piersall?
Piersall: We'll be initiating preliminary scans in a few hours.
Seyetik: Let me know when we get there.
Sisko: Well, Professor, you must be eager to get started. What did you call this? Your crowning achievement.
Seyetik: Don't remind me. Commander, my entire life has been a series of escalating triumphs. It's what I live for, knowing that no matter what I achieve, there's always another triumph waiting for me.
Sisko: And now?
Seyetik: Are you familiar with the Klingon poet G'trok?
Sisko: A little. The Fall of Kang is required reading at the Academy.
Seyetik: So honor the valiant who die 'neath your sword.
Sisko: But pity the warrior who slays all his foes.
Seyetik: Yes, well, a bit obvious perhaps, but true nonetheless. So, what were we talking about?
Sisko: You.
Seyetik: Of course. My favorite subject. Where was I?
Sisko: You had just finished terraforming New Halana.
Seyetik: Ah, of course. Well, you can imagine how grateful the Halanans were. Endless parades and receptions. Got to be a bit of a bore actually. But then I met Nidell. She was the daughter of a local dignitary. She was utterly infatuated with me from the very start. I can't say I blame her, actually. The first time she saw me, I was surrounded by crowds of people, unveiling a statue they'd commissioned in my honor. I could tell from the start she was something special. You know, she'd never been off world before she met me. I promised to show her the galaxy. I'd have given it to her if I could've.
Sisko: She must love you very much.
Seyetik: She does, Commander. Don't ask me why, but she does.
Sisko: Fenna?
Fenna: Benjamin, I'm so glad to see you.
Sisko: Dax, report to my quarters immediately.
Dax: On my way.
Fenna: Benjamin, what's wrong?
Sisko: The last time I saw you, you vanished.
Fenna: I'm with you now and I'm never going to leave you again.
Sisko: I wish I could believe that.
Fenna: You have to, Benjamin.
Sisko: Dax, this is Fenna.
Fenna: What is she doing?
Sisko: It's all right. She's not going to hurt you.
Dax: I'm not reading any cellular structure. No DNA patterns. Just pure energy.
Fenna: Benjamin, what is she talking about?
Sisko: I think it's time we found out.
Seyetik: Help her. She won't wake up.
Dax: She's in shock. Her respiration is shallow, her heartbeat irregular and falling. Her blood pressure's dropping. Benjamin, she's dying.
Seyetik: You've got to do something!
Dax: I don't know that I can.
Seyetik: Fenna. I should have known. But you can't be here. Nidell promised me you'd never come back.
Fenna: I don't know what you're talking about.
Seyetik: Just look at her.
Fenna: She looks like me.
Seyetik: Of course she looks like you. She is you. The real you.
Sisko: Professor, what the hell is going on here?
Seyetik: That thing over there isn't real. She's an illusion, created by my wife's unconscious mind.
Fenna: That's not true! Benjamin, you know that he's lying.
Seyetik: Nidell is a psychoprojective telepath. Fenna's just another one of her projections.
Sisko: Lieutenant?
Dax: I've never seen readings like these. Her occipital lobe is giving off enormous amounts of energy. I don't see how she can survive more than an hour or two like this.
Seyetik: She's dying. You've got to something.
Dax: There's nothing I can do.
Sisko: Get Fenna to my quarters, Dax, and notify Doctor.
Seyetik: No!
Sisko: Get her out of here, Dax.
Fenna: Benjamin, I want to stay with you
Sisko: It'll be all right, Fenna. I just want to talk to Professor Seyetik here.
Sisko: All right, Professor, if what you're saying is true, Nidell's psychoprojective abilities are killing her and I need to know why.
Seyetik: Nidell doesn't even know this is happening. In times of deep emotional distress Halanans sometimes lose control of these abilities. My wife is very emotionally distraught. This happened once before, three years ago on Terosa Prime. It nearly killed her then. She swore to me it'd never happen again.
Sisko: Obviously it has.
Seyetik: You may have noticed, Commander, that I tend to invoke strong emotions from people, particularly my wives. Oh, they all start out loving me, but a few years of togetherness soon cures them of that. My others all had the good sense to leave me.
Sisko: Why can't Nidell? What keeps her with you.
Seyetik: Halanans mate for life. She can never leave me, no matter how much she might want to.
Fenna: Benjamin, I've never seen Seyetik or that woman before. I don't know why he's saying those things about me but they're lies. I'm as real as you are.
Sisko: Oh, how I want to believe that. But can you tell me where you came from? How you got to the station? Can you tell me a single memory of your life before we met on the Promenade?
Fenna: Benjamin, I'm so frightened.
Sisko: Nidell's dying, Fenna. She only has a few hours.
Fenna: What happens to me if she dies?
Sisko: You no longer exist without her. But you can save her, give her back the life she gave to you.
Fenna: I don't know how.
Sisko: You can go back to her. I've seen you do it three times.
Fenna: But even if she lives, then I die, and everything you and I have dies with me.
Sisko: Fenna, what we have is a dream. I wouldn't trade it for anything, but it's still just a dream. Nidell's dream.
Fenna: And she won't remember any of it, will she?
Sisko: There's no way to be sure.
Fenna: I love you, Benjamin, and I always will.
Dax: Commander, you'd better come to the Bridge right away.
Sisko: What is it?
Dax: It's Seyetik. He's launched the shuttlepod toward Epsilon one nineteen, and he's on board.
Sisko: On my way.
Dax: He's opening a channel.
Piersall: On screen.
Seyetik: I hope this transmitter is working. I'd hate to go to all this trouble without an audience.
Piersall: Professor, you'll be killed. What do you think you're doing?
Seyetik: Making history. You might want to record this for posterity and all that.
Dax: He's about sixty seconds from impact.
Sisko: Gideon, you don't have to do this. We've found a way to save Nidell.
Seyetik: I had a feeling you would, Commander. This is the only way I can really set her free. I owe her that. Besides, this'll be my crowning achievement. Remember The Fall of Kang. Well, this is one warrior who refuses to be pitied.
Piersall: What's he talking about?
Sisko: Klingon poetry.
Dax: Thirty seconds from impact.
Sisko: Gideon, I want you to turn the shuttlepod around now. That's an order.
Seyetik: Too late, Commander. I've already entered the gravity well of the star.
Sisko: Engage the tractor beam.
Piersall: He disabled it before he left.
Seyetik: Commander, when this is over, you'll find a case among my personal belongings. There's something in there you need to find.
Sisko: What is it?
Seyetik: My obituary. I wrote it myself. After all, I couldn't leave such an important document to some stranger. Do me a favor and see to it that it's sent to the Daystrom Institute for publication. Which reminds me, I didn't get a chance to update it before I left. Let the record state, 'He sacrificed himself on the altar of science.'
Dax: Ten seconds.
Sisko: I'll be sure they get it.
Seyetik: I'm sure I can count on you.
Dax: Five seconds.
Seyetik: Keep you eyes on the viewscreen, Commander. You'll never see anything like this again. Let there be light!
Sisko: Captain's log, supplemental. Epsilon One Nineteen continues to burn brightly, a fitting memorial to a brilliant man. Meanwhile, I'm happy to report Nidell has made a complete recovery. Unfortunately, she has no memory of Fenna's experiences.
Nidell: Commander.
Sisko: Nidell. How did you know I was here?
Nidell: Lieutenant Dax told me.
Sisko: So, when does the Prometheus leave?
Nidell: Soon. I just wanted to say goodbye and thank you. It'll be good to get home.
Sisko: How long do you plan on staying on New Halana?
Nidell: For the rest of my life. I've been gone too long as it is. I wish that I could remember Fenna, what she did, how she felt, but I can't. I'm sorry.
Sisko: That's all right. I can remember for both of us.
Nidell: Tell me one thing.
Sisko: If I can.
Nidell: What was she like?
Sisko: Fenna? She was just like you.