Quark: Not now. Look!
Crowd: Dabo!
Crowd: Dabo!
Crowd: Dabo!
Mardah: You aren't leaving?
Okalar: Well.
Mardah: Come on. Aren't you feeling lucky?
Okalar: All right then. One more time. Let it ride.
Mardah: Karjinko. Sorry.
Okalar: Wait a minute there. My name is Okalar. What's yours?
Mardah: Busy.
Jake: You are evil.
Mardah: Who, me?
Jake: He was going to walk away a winner.
Mardah: The first rule of dabo is watch the wheel
Both: Not the girl.
Mardah: So, what's on the menu tomorrow night? Tomorrow night? Dinner with your father?
Jake: What?
Mardah: He didn't tell you? He came by this afternoon and invited me to dinner tomorrow night. In fact, he said it was your idea.
Jake: My idea? Oh, I guess I might have mentioned something about having you over. I thought he forgot.
Mardah: It is all right, isn't it? I mean, you don't mind, do you?
Jake: Oh, no. No, of course not. It'll be great. You're going to love my dad's cooking.
Quark: This is a surprise.
Boslic: A pleasant one, I hope.
Quark: So do I.
Boslic: I have some salvage for you, Quark.
Quark: This isn't a good time to be selling your kind of salvage.
Boslic: Oh, it's perfectly legal and it's really salvage this time.
Quark: I'm not looking for junk right now, but I'm more in the market for entertainment.
Boslic: I think you'll like this junk, Quark. It's wreckage from a ship that crashed in the Gamma Quadrant.
Quark: You're still going to the Gamma Quadrant? I love bold women. How much?
Boslic: Three bars of latinum and you can have it all.
Quark: What kind of ship is it?
Boslic: I don't know.
Quark: Can I see it first?
Boslic: There's no time. Quark, you and I have been doing business for years. Don't you trust me?
Quark: Three bars of latinum? It was worth it.
Quark: No. No. No.
Sisko: You bought a child?
Quark: I just thought that I was buying some wreckage. How was I supposed to know there was a baby in there?
Sisko: Maybe you should inspect the merchandise before you make the deal. Or isn't there a Rule of Acquisition for that?
Quark: There is and I do, usually.
Dax: We haven't been able to trace the Boslic Captain since she left the station. Her flight plan said she was headed for Risa, but I don't think we should put much faith in that.
Bashir: Well, I haven't been able to identify his species, but he seems to be healthy.
Sisko: Seems?
Bashir: For a humanoid, he has an incredibly fast metabolic rate. The cells in his body are dividing at a pace I haven't seen outside of a laboratory, but since there are no thyroid or hypothalamic problems, I assume this is only natural for someone of this species but I would like to do further tests.
Sisko: Very well. What do we know about the ship the boy was on?
Dax: Chief O'Brien just started to analyze the wreckage. We should have a preliminary report in a couple of hours.
Quark: Now wait a minute. I paid good money for that wreckage and
Quark: And now it's yours. Enjoy.
Sisko: Hi there.
Dax: We should contact one of the orphanages on Bajor and let them know we might have someone for them.
Sisko: Hmmm?
Dax: I was talking about an orphanage.
Sisko: Oh, right. Have Major Kira make the appropriate arrangements. And keep me informed about him.
Bashir: Yes, sir.
Sisko: What?
Dax: You are positively glowing.
Sisko: Oh, come on.
Dax: I haven't seen that look on your face since
Sisko: Since Jake stopped wearing diapers. I never thought I'd hear myself saying this but, I miss taking care of Jake when he was a baby. I miss holding him, singing to him at night, feeding him.
Dax: Listening to him cry, changing his diapers, worrying when he was sick.
Sisko: I haven't forgotten. But there are times when I would give almost anything for the days when I could make Jake happy just by lifting him over my head. Good night.
Sisko: Hey, how about a hug for the old man?
Jake: Why didn't you tell me you were going to invite Mardah to dinner?
Sisko: Well I did, weeks ago. I told you if you didn't invite her soon, I'd invite her myself.
Jake: I still wish you'd given me a little more warning.
Sisko: I didn't realize that a dinner invitation required so much warning.
Jake: It doesn't, and it's not a problem or anything. It just caught me by surprise.
Sisko: Well, dinner isn't till tomorrow night. That'll gives you a full day to prepare her for the traumatic experience of having dinner with the old man.
Jake: Yeah. I mean, there's nothing to prepare for. It's just dinner.
Sisko: Exactly.
Jake: Right.
Sisko: Right.
Jake: All right.
Sisko: You wanted to see me, Doctor?
Bashir: Yes, it's about our new visitor
Sisko: Is something wrong with the baby?
Bashir: No, but he's not a baby any more.
Bashir: There are a great many species with what we would consider accelerated growth rates. But they're usually small, physiologically simple creatures. I've never seen such a rapid maturation process in anything as complex as a humanoid.
Sisko: He looks about eight or nine years old. How old is he in reality?
Bashir: Well, judging by his cellular kinetics profile, I'd say he's no more than two weeks of age.
Boy: Who are you?
Sisko: I'm Benjamin, and that's Julian. Do you have a name?
Boy: I need food.
Bashir: With your kind of metabolism, I'm not surprised. I'll get you something in a few minutes.
Boy: Where am I?
Sisko: On a space station. Do you know what that is?
Boy: No, but I want to learn.
Sisko: I'd say we have a lot to learn from each other.
Bashir: I'll be right back.
Sisko: Advanced language skills.
Bashir: And cognitive reasoning. He didn't just pick those up by sitting there listening to us. This is either a natural ability of his species or there's been some kind of basic intelligence implanted into his genetic structure.
Sisko: Implanted? You mean artificially?
Bashir: Yes. And I tend to diskount the possibility that it is a natural ability. His biomolecular diffusion gradient already suggests that his cellular mitosis has been artificially enhanced.
Sisko: So, you're saying he may have been part of some experiment?
Bashir: Possibly. If so, he's an example of some very advanced genetic engineering. His cognitive abilities are developing without any external stimuli.
Sisko: I want you to test his mental abilities. See if they increase. Maybe he'll get to the point where he can tell us who he is and where he's comes from.
O'Brien: This is where Quark said he found the boy. It seems to be some kind of stasis chamber that was damaged in the crash.
Sisko: That could imply that they didn't want him to begin maturing while he was on board. What about the rest of the wreckage?
O'Brien: It seems to indicate this was some kind of freighter or transport vessel.
Sisko: Did you find any computers or other information systems?
O'Brien: No, not yet. Most of it's just junk. Twisted bulkheads, burnt deck plating, that sort of thing. We should have a full inventory done by tomorrow morning.
Sisko: Good. By the way, the replicators in my quarters' on the blink again. Could you spare someone this afternoon to fix them?
O'Brien: That's right. Tonight's the big dinner with Mardah.
Sisko: You know about that?
O'Brien: Well, Jake mentioned it this morning. In fact, I'd say it's the only thing on his mind.
Sisko: You would think I was going to court martial her by the way he's acting.
O'Brien: Well, I guess it's only natural. Bringing a girl home for the first time's a pretty traumatic experience.
Sisko: Quark may call her a dabo girl but she's twenty years old. She's a woman and Jake's a sixteen year old boy. It has to stop.
O'Brien: Why did you invite her over, if you don't mind my asking.
Sisko: Curiosity, mostly. I wanted to see what I was up against.
O'Brien: What if it turns out you like her?
Sisko: She's a dabo girl and she's dating my son. I don't want to like her.
O'Brien: Sixteen years old and dating a dabo girl. Godspeed, Jake.
Odo: Major.
Kira: Odo. For you.
Odo: Ah. Let me guess. Decoration for my new quarters.
Kira: Just a little something to brighten the room.
Odo: That's very thoughtful of you.
Kira: You're welcome.
Odo: I suppose you'd like to see my new quarters.
Kira: Everyone wants to see your quarters. It's called curiosity.
Odo: Ah.
Odo: It's not really finished yet. This is just the start.
Kira: The start of what?
Odo: I want to make this room into a place where I can explore what it truly means to be a shape-shifter.
Kira: I thought it had to be something like that. I mean, you don't exactly need an entire set of quarters just to sit in your bucket.
Odo: I don't use the bucket anymore. I've kept it to reminder of how I used to be. But now, when I need to regenerate, I simply revert to my gelatinous state anywhere in these rooms. Here, I can experiment with different shapes, textures. I can bring in various forms to emulate, and I can do it in private.
Kira: I'm sorry if I intruded. Maybe I should leave.
Odo: No, please. You're always welcome here, Major.
Kira: Well, where shall we put it?
Kira: Perfect.
Bashir: The boy's DNA sequence has definitely been altered. The nucleotide analysis proves that conclusively.
Dax: So he's a product of genetic engineering. But why? Was he a unique experiment or is this sort of thing common to his species?
Bashir: There's more. His blood chemistry shows he's missing a key isogenic enzyme. Without large quantities of it his circulatory system would simply shut down.
Dax: Can you replicate this enzyme?
Bashir: I've been trying and I think I've come up with a temporary substitute, but what I don't understand is why anybody would want to genetically engineer someone with such an obvious flaw.
Hortak: Nurse Hortak to Doctor Bashir. You're needed in the Infirmary immediately.
Bashir: On my way.
Bashir: Listen, it's all right, no one's going to hurt you. Let's just go back inside and
Dax: Security to the Promenade.
Odo: Stop! Stay where you are!
Dax: Dax to Sisko.
Sisko: Go ahead.
Dax: I think we've solved the mystery of our young visitor, Benjamin. He's a Jem'Hadar.
Sisko: I've just spoken with Starfleet Command. They want to make sure he's healthy enough to travel and then send him to Starbase two oh one where he'll be handed over to a team of specialists.
Kira: Sounds good to me. The sooner, the better.
Odo: What sort of specialists are we talking about, Commander?
Sisko: There will be a complete team xenobiologists and exopsychologists waiting for him.
Odo: So they're going to study him like a laboratory specimen.
Sisko: He'll be very well treated.
Odo: So he'll be a well treated specimen.
Bashir: I have to agree with Odo, Commander. We can't just ship him off like some biological sample that we've found. He's a sentient life form.
Dax: True, but the Founders could have removed his sense of free will. He may be nothing more than a genetically programd killing machine.
Kira: I agree. We don't want one of them walking around this station.
Odo: Fine. If you want answers about the Jem'Hadar, I'm the one who can get them for you. Let me get to know him. I'll be responsible for his conduct while he's here.
Sisko: Odo, do you really think you can control him?
Odo: He's already shown a certain deference to me. That's probably another genetic alteration implanted by the Founders to insure the Jem'Hadar's loyalty. I can keep him from harming anyone.
Sisko: I'd like to speak with the Constable in private for a moment, please.
Sisko: Talk to me, Odo. Tell me what's really going on here. What the Founders did to the boy, to all the Jem'Hadar, is not your fault.
Odo: Maybe not, but I feel an obligation to undo some of the damage that my race has done to this boy. And I also know what it's like to be a specimen in a laboratory. Oh, I'm sure they'll treat him very well. No one will risk harming their new prize. They'll be courteous, caring, treat him like he's among friends, but in the end he'll be just another specimen to them, something to be analyzed and cataloged. Give me a chance to find out if he really is just a programd killing machine or if we can help him become something else.
Sisko: I'll tell Starfleet we have some preliminary tests to run before we send him to Starbase two oh one.
Odo: Thank you, Commander.
Sisko: Just be careful, Odo. He is still a Jem'Hadar.
Bashir: Listen to me. I'm trying to help. Your body is craving a certain chemical compound. That is why you're feeling anxious and having muscle spasms.
Jem'Hadar: There's nothing wrong with me.
Bashir: Yes, there is, and denying it won't make it go away.
Jem'Hadar: Leave me alone.
Odo: You can wait outside. I think everything is under control now.
Odo: Please, sit down. You don't look well. How do you feel?
Jem'Hadar: Something's wrong with me. I feel sick when I eat. I have pains in my head, in my chest.
Bashir: His body is addicted to a specific isogenic enzyme. Right now, he's experiencing all the symptoms of withdrawal.
Odo: Addicted?
Bashir: That's right.
Odo: Can you replicate this enzyme?
Bashir: I've had some success with triglycerides, but they're just a stopgap measure. I can't get an exact chemical formula without doing further tests, but he's shown a certain resistance to that idea.
Jem'Hadar: I don't want any more tests.
Odo: Doctor Bashir is trying to help you. You should let him.
Jem'Hadar: You may run your tests.
Bashir: Thank you.
Odo: My name is Odo.
Jem'Hadar: I don't have a name.
Odo: When your tests are done, I can get you out of here, maybe show you around the station.
Jem'Hadar: If you wish.
Odo: What do you want? Do you have any needs or desires of your own?
Jem'Hadar: I want to fight.
Odo: Who? Me?
Jem'Hadar: No. The others.
Odo: Why?
Jem'Hadar: I don't know. But that's what I want to do. Is that wrong?
Odo: Let's just say we need to find other interests for you to pursue. For the moment, why don't you relax? Try not to be so tense. Take it easy. Smile. A smile, you know.
Odo: Well, we'll work on that.
Mardah: Smells good. What is it?
Sisko: Shrimp Creole with Mandalay sauce. One of my father's recipes.
Jake: You're going to love this.
Sisko: I hope you like spicy food. This sure has a bite. So, Mardah, tell me a little about yourself.
Mardah: What do you want to know?
Sisko: Anything. Family.
Mardah: There isn't much to tell. It's a pretty familiar story. Parents killed during the occupation, raised by my neighbors until I was thirteen, then I moved out on my own. I have a sister and a brother on Bajor, but we haven't talked in years.
Sisko: Why not?
Mardah: Sarjeno and Koran were not exactly thrilled when I told them I had a job as a dabo girl. Then I told them what I thought of their lives and we stopped speaking.
Sisko: I see.
Mardah: It's amazing how some people will judge you based on nothing more than your job.
Jake: Did I mention that Mardah's quite a writer?
Sisko: Really?
Jake: Yeah. Mrs O'Brien used to say that Mardah should try to get some of her stories published.
Mardah: Jake, they aren't that good.
Jake: Yes, they are.
Mardah: Nothing like your poetry.
Jake: No, you don't have enough faith in yourself.
Sisko: Poetry? You write poetry?
Jake: Well, sort of. Not really.
Mardah: Now who doesn't have enough faith in themselves? He writes some of the most beautiful things I've ever read. That's what won me over.
Sisko: His poetry.
Mardah: And the way he plays dom-jot.
Sisko: You play dom-jot?
Mardah: Oh, your son can play. He's quite the hustler.
Sisko: A hustler?
Jake: Why don't I see how dessert's coming?
Mardah: Jake seemed like just another teenage boy at first, but there's more to him than that.
Sisko: I'm beginning to realize that myself.
Mardah: I care about him very much.
Sisko: And so do I. Now, tell me more about my poet-hustler son.
O'Brien: It's over here. This is it. We tried to run an analysis of it, but the computer couldn't make heads or tails of it. Do you really think this is the drug the boy's addicted to?
Odo: It seems logical that the Founders would've kept a supply of the enzyme aboard his ship. Hopefully Doctor Bashir can determine if this is it.
O'Brien: I still don't understand why they would engineer someone to be addicted to a certain chemical.
Odo: I suspect it's another way of insuring the loyalty of the Jem'Hadar to the Founders. If your soldiers are addicted to a drug that can't be replicated and only you can provide, that gives you a great deal of control over them.
O'Brien: Seems a pretty cold-blooded thing to do.
Odo: My people don't even have blood, Chief.
Bashir: I believe this tube intravenously delivers the chemical agent directly into the carotid artery.
Odo: How large of a dosage is required?
Bashir: I'm not sure yet. This supply could last for a week or maybe a month or even a year. I'll have to experiment to find the right dosage. All right, we'll going to start with two milligrams per minute. Let me know if you feel uncomfortable.
Bashir: Well, his heart rate is slowing. Some increase in neurotransmitter activity, and his cortical impulse readings are leveling out. Let's try three cc's.
Bashir: I think we can hold it there for now. How do you feel?
Jem'Hadar: Good. Thank you.
Odo: You should rest now. We'll talk later. I'll be in my quarters.
Jem'Hadar: Wait. I want to go with you.
Odo: The doctor will take care of you.
Jem'Hadar: I want to stay with you.
Bashir: He doesn't have to stay here as long as I can monitor his condition regularly.
Odo: Well, it seems I have my first houseguest.
Jem'Hadar: So you can change into any of these objects?
Odo: With varying degrees of success. Some forms are more difficult to emulate than others.
Jem'Hadar: Like what?
Odo: Like this one. As you can see, I haven't mastered the humanoid face. I've found it to be quite challenging.
Jem'Hadar: Why do you want to look like a humanoid? You're better than they are. You're a changeling.
Odo: That doesn't make me better, just different.
Jem'Hadar: But I know in here that I am inferior to you. But that everyone else here is inferior to me.
Odo: No. That may be what your instincts tell you, but it's not true. No one on this station is better than anyone else. We're all equal.
Jem'Hadar: Then I must be at fault, because I know that you cannot be wrong.
Odo: The first thing we have to establish is that I'm not infallible. I'm no different than you are in that respect. You have to begin to think for yourself, to make decisions based on what you want, not what I want. Do you understand? Now tell me, what do you want right now? Don't think about it. Just tell me the first thing that comes to mind.
Jem'Hadar: I, I want, I want to know more about my people. Who I am and where I come from.
Odo: I can understand that. I was also found by aliens. I didn't know who I was or what my people were like.
Jem'Hadar: Did you ever find them?
Odo: Yes, but sometimes the truth is not very pleasant. Computer, display Bridge Security log USS Defiant, stardate 48214.5, time index three one zero.
Jem'Hadar: These are my people?
Odo: Yes. They're a race of brutal warriors, but that doesn't mean you have to be like that. You can channel your feelings of aggression in other ways.
Jem'Hadar: How?
Odo: Computer, run program Odo One.
Jem'Hadar: So this is not a real person?
Odo: That's right. He can't be injured or killed. He's just a computer simulation.
Jem'Hadar: How strong is he?
Odo: As strong as you want to make him. The computer will adjust his strength, agility, speed, anything you want. In here, you can indulge yourself. You can let your instincts take over, fight until you're ready to stop. But at a price. Out there you have to control yourself. You have to learn restraint. Learn how to live peacefully among other races regardless of how you may feel, learn to contain your feelings of aggression and violence.
Jem'Hadar: Can I?
Jem'Hadar: Can I do it again? Can I have a stronger opponent?
Odo: Computer, increase difficulty to level two.
Jem'Hadar: It's too easy. Make it more difficult.
Odo: Computer, increase to level three.
Kira: Can I speak to you for a moment?
Jem'Hadar: Computer, increase to level five.
Kira: I heard you let him move in with you.
Odo: It was his idea. He feels safer around me.
Kira: Of course he does, Odo. He was programd to feel that way.
Odo: It's more than that. I think I've begun to form a real connection with him. He trusts me.
Kira: But can you trust him? How long do you think you're going to be able to control him?
Odo: I'm not trying to control anybody. I'm just trying to give him some choices other than becoming a laboratory specimen or a Jem'Hadar soldier.
Kira: I never thought I would say this to you, Odo, but you are listening to your heart not your head. That boy was created in a laboratory. His body, his mind, his instincts, are all designed to do one thing. To kill.
Odo: My body, mind and instincts were designed to be a Founder. You were trained to be a terrorist. But each of us chose to be something different. I just want to give him the same chance we've had.
Kira: All right. Give him a chance. Just don't forget he is a Jem'Hadar. He's dangerous.
Odo: I'm well aware of the risk, Major.
Kira: I hope so.
Odo: Computer, end program.
Jem'Hadar: Everyone keeps looking at me. They're afraid of me.
Odo: They're mostly curious, but they're also afraid.
Jem'Hadar: They should be. I could kill any of them.
Odo: Is that all you can think about? Killing? Isn't there anything else that you care about?
Jem'Hadar: I don't think so.
Odo: But there is so much more to life than that, so much for you to diskover and experience.
Jem'Hadar: Maybe there is for you, and maybe there is for all these other people here, but for me
Sisko: Sisko to Odo.
Odo: Go ahead, Commander.
Sisko: I need to see you in my office, Constable.
Odo: On my way. Wait for me in our quarters.
Odo: Something's wrong.
Sisko: Starfleet is sending the USS Constellation to pick up the boy and then take him to Starbase two oh one. They'll be here in five hours.
Odo: I thought we had an agreement.
Sisko: I'm sorry, Odo. Starfleet considers the boy a top priority. I did everything I could, but orders are orders. I put
Jem'Hadar: You're not sending me anywhere.
Sisko: What do you want?
Jem'Hadar: A runabout.
Sisko: To go where?
Jem'Hadar: That's not your concern.
Odo: Listen to me. This is not the way.
Jem'Hadar: I know what I'm doing. I'm leaving this place and you're going with me. You don't belong here any more than I do.
Odo: All right. It won't be necessary to hurt anyone. Commander Sisko will see to it that no one interferes with us.
Jem'Hadar: If they do, I'll kill them.
Odo: Where are we going?
Jem'Hadar: To the Gamma Quadrant. It's where my people are. It's where your people are. It's where we both belong.
Odo: I don't belong there. I don't believe you do either.
Jem'Hadar: I won't allow them to put me in a laboratory. I won't go with them to Starfleet.
Odo: All right, but there are another options besides going to the Gamma Quadrant. We can find a place where neither Starfleet nor the Jem'Hadar will bother you. A place where you can grow and learn about yourself without worrying about being sent to some laboratory. It's a big galaxy. All we have to do is head out for unexplored space and keep on going. I am willing to do this with you, to help start you on this new life, if that's what you want.
Jem'Hadar: You just don't understand, do you? I want to be with my people. I don't want to be anywhere else. I'm not like these other humanoids. I'm a Jem'Hadar and that's what I want to be. You're not like these humanoids either, but they've done something to you. They've filled your mind with ideas, with these beliefs. I don't know what the other Changelings are like, but I know they're not like you.
Odo: No, they're not.
Sisko: Spread out, but remember not to fires until you hear my command or the boy fires first.
Sisko: This is as far as you go.
Odo: Let us go, Commander. I'm leaving of my own accord. I'll take the boy back to his people then return in the runabout. If he boards the Constellation when it arrives, he'll either kill a lot of innocent people or be killed himself.
Sisko: What makes you think he'll let you come back?
Odo: I don't believe he could injure a Changeling.
Sisko: When the Constellation arrives I'll tell them that I couldn't stop you from leaving, that I would've had to kill the boy to keep him here. Admiral Necheyev won't like that answer but it has the virtue of being the truth. Sisko to O'Brien. Release the security fields around the airlock, Chief.
O'Brien: Aye, sir.
Sisko: I'll see you when you get back.
Jem'Hadar: He was afraid of me. I could see the fear in his eyes.
Odo: Commander Sisko was trying to do what's best for you. He was trying to help you.
Jem'Hadar: He's not my friend. He's my enemy. And I now know that anyone who is not a Jem'Hadar is my enemy.
Odo: Does that include me?
Sisko: Captain's log, supplemental. Starfleet has expressed disappointment over what it considers a missed opportunity to learn more about the Jem'Hadar. However, I am happy to report that with the boy gone, life on the station has returned to normal.
O'Brien: I think we can get the upper sensor grid back online by morning.
Sisko: Good. We're going to need it in the next few days.
O'Brien: I thought you were going to lower the boom on the two of them.
Sisko: Well, I was, but some things came up at dinner I didn't expect.
O'Brien: Oh. Got to know her a little better? Decided you liked her after all?
Sisko: No, I actually got to know Jake a little better. Have you ever played dom-jot with him?
O'Brien: No.
Sisko: Don't.
Odo: Major, about the boy. You were right.


O'Brien: How's it going, Jake?
Jake: Fine. I've deleted half the Cardassian files from the computer. I can't believe how many subroutines it took just to run this ore processor.
O'Brien: Well, it used to be a pretty large operation. When the Cardassians were in charge, I understand they processed twenty thousand tons a day.
Jake: That's a lot of ore.
O'Brien: It must've been hell in here. I heard stories that the temperature reached fifty five degrees Celsius.
Jake: How could the Bajoran workers survive that?
O'Brien: A lot of them didn't. When you've deleted all those files, I'll show you how to download the new operating system.
Jake: You really think we can convert this place into a deuterium refinery?
O'Brien: Absolutely. It'll take us three, maybe four weeks at the most.
Sisko: I hope you're planning on eating during the next three to four weeks.
O'Brien: Commander. I guess I lost track of the time.
Jake: We're almost finished, Dad. Chief, I'm having a problem deleting one of these files.
O'Brien: Have you tried reformatting the data cluster?
Jake: Yeah, but the file's still here
O'Brien: Let me see. That's odd.
Sisko: What's that, Chief?
O'Brien: Well, the file has no name. No indication what it is. I'd better set it aside for now. I can transfer it to the central database in Ops and analyze it in the morning.
O'Brien: Wait a minute.
Computer: Unauthorized computer entry detected in Ore Processing unit five. Enter access code.
Computer: Incorrect code. You have five seconds to enter correct access code.
Jake: Or what?
O'Brien: I don't know. I'd better stop it.
Computer: Warning.
Computer: Worker revolt in progress in Ore Processing unit five. Security countermeasures initiated.
Kira: What the hell?
Dukat: Bajoran workers, your attention please. Your attempt to seize control of this facility is going to fail. You are valuable workers and we wish you no harm. However if you do not return control of this unit to your Cardassian supervisors, we will be forced to take action. You have eight minutes to make your decision.
O'Brien: The computer's engaged the magnetic seal. I can't override it.
Kira: Ops to Sisko.
Sisko: Go ahead.
Kira: Commander, what is going on down there?
Kira: We just got a recorded message from Gul Dukat regarding some worker revolt in the ore processing facility.
Sisko: We saw the same message.
Sisko: It seems we've tripped some kind of automated security program the Cardassians left. We're locked in.
Kira: We'll beam you out of there.
Computer: Enter access code.
Dax: What?
Bashir: If this security program thinks there's been some kind of worker revolt, then it must think this station is still under Cardassian rule, so it's probably waiting for us to enter an emergency code.
Kira: One that the Cardassians never bothered to give us when they left.
Odo: Odo to Ops.
Kira: Kira here.
Odo: My Cardassian access codes are still valid. I'm attempting to override the security program but it's going to take some time. I'm not sure my clearance level is high enough.
Kira: Well, keep at it. We'll try to do the same thing from up here.
Odo: Acknowledged.
Quark: Odo, do you mind telling me what this is all about? That message from Dukat is making my customers nervous, and when they're nervous they're not
Odo: Not now, Quark. I'm busy.
Quark: Well, is there anything I can do to help?
Odo: Not unless you have a level nine Cardassian security clearance.
Quark: Let's see. I think I have everything from levels one through seven.
Odo: I only have levels one through six.
Quark: Well, if you'd like a level seven, I'm sure we could make some kind of arrangement.
Odo: Leave me alone, Quark.
Quark: Oh, no. There's something very wrong going on and this is the safest place on the whole station. I think I'll stay right here.
O'Brien: Any luck?
Sisko: Nothing. It's probably magnetically sealed like the door. We'd need a phaser to blast it open.
O'Brien: Well, there's no way I can disable the program from here.
Dukat: Bajoran workers, your time is running out. But it's not too late. You can still surrender and save your lives.
Sisko: Computer. This is the leader of the Bajoran workers. We surrender.
Dukat: I'm glad to see you've come to your senses. Stay where you are. When Cardassian security arrives, they will place you into custody but you will not be harmed. You have my word.
O'Brien: Whatever that's worth.
Jake: Now what?
Sisko: Well, it sounds like the program is going to wait for Cardassian security to enter the all-clear protocol. That'll give us a few minutes, anyway. What's in here?
O'Brien: Nothing at the moment. Processed uridium used to flow down that pipe to a secondary refining facility on level thirty three and be purified.
Jake: It's not locked.
Sisko: Since that pipe was filled with molten uridium, there wasn't any need for security measures.
O'Brien: It's too narrow for anyone to escape through.
Jake: I can get in there.
Sisko: Chief, if he can crawl up this pipe into the machine, cab he can get to the ore chute and open that hatch from inside?
Dukat: Bajoran workers, you have not surrendered to Cardassian security. If you do not do so in the next three minutes, I will be forced to release neurocine gas into the ore processing facility.
Jake: I can do it.
Dukat: Bajoran workers, you have two minutes left to give yourselves up to your Cardassian overseers and save your lives.
Sisko: Can you hear me, Jake?
Jake: Loud and clear, but I can't see a thing.
O'Brien: There should be a large circular opening to your right.
Jake: Okay, let me see if I can find it.
Dukat: Even if you were to escape this station
Jake: Ow!
Sisko: Jake-o, are you all right?
Jake: Yeah, I just banged my head on something.
Dukat: Back to Bajor? I can tell you
Jake: Wait a second, there's a junction here. It feels like it goes off in two directions. Which way do I go?
Dukat: The guls in charge.
Sisko: Follow this sound, Jake.
Jake: Do it again, Dad. Got it. I'm in the chute.
O'Brien: There should be a small access port in one of the walls.
Jake: Found it.
O'Brien: Open the port and feel around inside for a handle. It should be shaped like a stirrup.
Sisko: You know, I never knew how much this man's voice annoyed me.
Jake: I can reach, but I can't get hold of it.
O'Brien: You have to pull the handle down, Jake. It's the release for the hatch.
Jake: I'm trying, I can't
Sisko: Don't tense up, relax. Now just take a deep breath and try again.
Dukat: I'm sorry, but your time has run out. I was hoping you would be reasonable. Rest assured that your deaths will serve as an example to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Jake: I got it.
Kira: Dax.
Dax: Maybe if we bypass the primary command pathway and cross-connect the backup with the ODN.
Computer: Warning. Workers have escaped from Ore Processing unit five. Initiating stationwide counterinsurgency program.
Bashir: Now what?
Dukat: Attention, Bajoran workers. I will not allow this rebellion to succeed. If you do not surrender immediately, I will be forced to kill every Bajoran on this station.
Jake: Wait a second, I found something.
Sisko: What is it?
Jake: I don't know. Some kind of room. It sure is dirty. Doesn't smell too good either.
Sisko: Looks like some kind of loading bay.
O'Brien: You're right. This is where the uridium ore was separated from the rock. Then it would be dumped down that chute to the processing facility.
Sisko: Locked. Chief, is there another way out of here?
O'Brien: Just back down that chute. You know where that leads to.
Sisko: Sisko to Ops. Sisko to Security. Try yours.
O'Brien: O'Brien to Ops.
Jake: Jake Sisko to anyone who can hear me.
O'Brien: Something must be interfering with the signal.
Jake: What do we do now?
Dax: It's no good. We're completely cut off from the rest of the station.
Bashir: There must be some kind of general dampening field in place. It must be disrupting communications.
Kira: All right. It's time for a less subtle approach.
Kira: Doctor.
Bashir: The Cardassians don't miss a trick, do they?
Dax: The ironic thing is that field is probably there to protect Ops from the hoards of rebelling Bajorans.
Kira: Well we've got to find a way of disabling the security program or a lot of people are going to be killed.
Dax: If we can regain control of the main computer, we may be able to wipe the security program from its memory. Now, if I can reroute the APT relay through the secondary buffer, I might get an independent terminal working.
Bashir: You know, I've been here nearly three years and I was just finally starting to think of this place as home.
Kira: Your home was built by Cardassians, Doctor. Don't ever forget that.
Bashir: No, there's not much chance of that, is there.
Quark: What do you mean, we're trapped?
Odo: I mean we're trapped. I wouldn't be surprised if the entire station is locked down.
Quark: But you're a shape-shifter. Excuse me, a changeling. So change into something and get us out of here.
Odo: This forcefield isn't just protecting the door, it goes through the bulkheads, the ceiling, the deck. There's nowhere for me to go.
Quark: You're telling me I'm stuck here with you?
Odo: No, I'm stuck here with you. Believe me, a far worse fate. And stay away from my computer.
Sisko: Again. Okay, hold on.
Jake: Anything?
O'Brien: Not even a dent.
Sisko: There has to be something else we can do. What about all this ore? As I understand it, uridium's very unstable.
O'Brien: That's true, but in it's raw form you'd need a strong electrical charge to detonate it.
Sisko: Can we use that?
O'Brien: If I had some tools, I might be able to get in there and yank out some electrical cable.
Sisko: Tools.
Kira: How's it coming?
Dax: Almost done.
Bashir: Jadzia!
Bashir: Get me a medkit. Easy, Jadzia. I have to take a look.
Dax: I was reaching toward the ODN conduit and a small forcefield went off and it caught my hands.
Bashir: They're second degree burns but I don't think there's any neural damage. This should relieve the pain.
Computer: Warning, security in the Operations Center has been compromised. Initiating counterinsurgency program level two.
Dukat: Attention, Bajoran workers. Your failure to surrender is forcing me to take stronger measures. In five minutes, we will begin pumping neurocine gas into the habitat ring. Think of your families as you consider your course of action. All Cardassian personnel should evacuate the area immediately.
Kira: Habitat ring. There have to be hundreds of people trapped in their quarters out there.
Garak: I believe that's the point, Major. Computer, access code Garak one three five nine.
Garak: Ironic isn't it? The only place in the galaxy that still recognizes my access code is a Bajoran space station.
Kira: If you can get past the forcefields, you've got to get out to the habitat ring and start evacuating those people before
Garak: I'd like nothing better than to help my loyal customers, but it's not that simple. My access code enables me to move about the station, but unfortunately, as you've just seen, the forcefields reappear the moment I pass through a doorway.
Bashir: Have you tried using your code to shut down the security program?
Garak: Several times, but for some reason I can't begin to fathom, Gul Dukat chose not to trust me with his top level security codes during the occupation.
Bashir: Garak, do you know a way we can stop this neurocine gas?
Garak: The only way to do that is to destroy the life support system.
Kira: What are you trying to do, Garak? Get us all killed?
Bashir: No, wait a minute. He's right. The neurocine gas is released through the life support system. Destroy it and we save everyone in the habitat ring.
Dax: For twelve hours. And then everyone on the station will suffocate when we run out of oxygen.
Bashir: Well, that gives us twelve hours to regain control of this station.
Garak: Believe me, Major, it's the only way to save those people. I believe life support is controlled from over there.
Kira: Get down.
Computer: Warning. Counterinsurgency program level two has been interrupted. Initiating counterinsurgency program level three.
Dukat: My fellow Cardassians I regret to inform you that Bajoran workers have gained control of this station.
Dukat: In all likelihood, I am dead or otherwise incapacitated
Dukat: But rest assured, this station will not be allowed to remain in Bajoran hands. However, it is my duty to inform you
Dukat: That if you do not regain control within two hours, the station will be destroyed.
Computer: Self-destruct sequence initiated.
Quark: Come on. Come on!
Odo: Give me that before you hurt yourself. I checked the entire security complex. There's no way out.
Quark: I should've listened to my father. He always warned me this was going to happen.
Odo: What? That you'd spend your final hours in jail? I could've told you that.
Quark: No. He warned me never to leave home. He said there were plenty of business opportunities right outside my door. But no, I had to follow the seventy fifth Rule of Acquisition. Home is where the heart is but the stars are made of latinum. A lifetime of scheming and plotting, wheeling and dealing, and what has it got me? One measly little bar. My uncle Frin owns thirty and my cousin Gaila
Odo: I know. He owns a moon.
Quark: I told you that?
Odo: Many times.
Quark: It's a small moon, but it's enough to live on.
Odo: Oh, come on, Quark, you've done all right for yourself.
Quark: Oh, what do you know?
Odo: Quark, I've met a lot of Ferengis in my time and the truth is, although some of them may have been more wealthy, I've never met one more devious.
Quark: Really?
Odo: Would I lie?
Quark: I guess not. Thank you, Odo. That means a lot to me. Now, can I have the phaser back?
Odo: No.
Bashir: How do your hands feel?
Dax: A little better
Bashir: Good. I wish I could have done more, but I won't be able to repair the damaged tissue until we can get you to the Infirmary.
Kira: Any luck?
Garak: Plenty, Major. Unfortunately, all of it bad. My personal code can activate any terminal on the station. However, that's the extent of my access. All I can do is just look around. I can tell you exactly what's going on, but I can't do anything about it. As far as I can see, the only person who can disable the security program is Gul Dukat.
Dax: Maybe there's a way to fool the computer into thinking that you are Gul Dukat. You could try rewriting your code to match his.
Garak: Even if I could, it wouldn't do any good. If I were to input his code, the computer would scan my DNA pattern to determine if I really were Dukat.
Dax: But what if we disabled the sensors in Ops so that the computer couldn't scan you?
Garak: What a creative idea. It certainly is worth a try.
Bashir: The question is, can we diskonnect the sensors without getting anyone else hurt.
Kira: We're just going to have to take that chance.
Dax: We could switch the sensor input from the primary scanners to the backup scanners. The computer shouldn't see that as a threat, but it'll blind the system for a few seconds while we make the changeover.
Garak: If it works, a few seconds are all I'll need.
Dax: Major, I'm going to need a hand.
Garak: Tell me, Doctor, what is it exactly about this situation that's making you smile?
Bashir: You, Garak. Just wondering how many other tailors can rewrite Cardassian security protocols?
Garak: I wouldn't even venture a guess. Which reminds me, those pants you wanted altered are ready to be picked up. Oh, this is a problem.
Bashir: What's wrong?
Garak: I always suspected that Dukat was a little paranoid. He's left a rather large number of interrogative subroutines imbedded in his access code.
Bashir: Meaning what?
Garak: Meaning the computer is constantly challenging to prove I am who I say I am. Lieutenant, how much long before you can disable those sensors?
Dax: At least another ten minutes.
Garak: I'm not sure we have that much time. In fact, I'm sure we don't.
Computer: Warning. Unauthorized use of command code. Initiating counterinsurgency program level four. (The replicator builds a weapon and starts firing energy beams. A red-shouldered extra is vaporised.)
Sisko: On three. One, two, three.
Jake: You did it.
O'Brien: Okay we have the power cable. Now we need to pack the uridium around the door.
Kira: My phaser's on the Ops table. Can anyone get to it?
Bashir: The answer, Major, is no.
Kira: Well, we can't stay here and do nothing.
Garak: I respectfully disagree, Major. Nothing is about all we can do.
Dukat: Let me guess. Someone tried to duplicate my access code.
Kira: Dukat, what the hell are you doing here?
Dukat: A short time ago, I had a very strange experience. There I was, patrolling the Demilitarized zone, when I received a distress signal from me. Or at least a recording of me. It seems the Bajoran workers were rioting on Terok Nor. I must admit, it piqued my curiosity. I see the auto-destruct program has begun. Well, well, well. You are in trouble. Where's Commander Sisko? I trust he wasn't vaporized while asking for one of those raktajinos he's so fond of.
Dax: No. Last we heard, he was trapped in the ore processing unit.
Dukat: Hmm. I wish him well.
Bashir: Well, can you help us or not?
Dukat: Oh, most certainly. All I have to do is enter my command code and shut the program.
Kira: Then do it!
Dukat: All in good time, Major Kira. All in good time. But first, there are a few things we should discuss. Red leaf tea, please.
Dukat: Doctor.
Kira: What do you want, Dukat?
Dukat: You'll find I don't react well to that tone of voice, Major. Garak, groveling in a corner. That alone makes my trip worthwhile.
Bashir: Garak!
Garak: Easy, Doctor. It would appear that the computer is only targeting non-Cardassians.
Dukat: If you had been on the station when I designed this program, I would have made an exception in your case.
Garak: Well, you've always been shortsighted. It's held you back over the years. As I recall, your father had the same flaw.
Dukat: My father's only flaw was trusting you.
Garak: Funny, at his trial your father said his biggest flaw was that his ambition outweighed his patriotism.
Kira: Maybe you two could settle this at another time!
Dukat: You're right, Major. Oh, believe me, Garak, that time is coming. Major, why don't you join me in the Commander's office where we can talk in private. Oh. I forgot. The replicator. Well, it's the least I can do.
Dukat: You can all rise now. You're safe, for the moment. Major.
Dukat: I know time is of the essence, Major, so I'll be brief. I think it is time to re-establish a permanent Cardassian presence aboard this station. Nothing too elaborate, mind you. A garrison would suffice. I can deploy troops from my ship immediately. And in return, I'll solve your current dilemma.
Kira: You know I'm never going to agree to that.
Dukat: I'm not sure you have much of a choice, do you?
Kira: Dukat, you and I both know neither Bajor nor the Federation will ever honor an agreement negotiated under a death threat.
Dukat: I don't expect them to be happy about it, but once my troops are in place I think you'll find it very difficult to get them to leave.
Kira: Well let me put this another way. I will destroy this station before I ever give it back to the Cardassians.
Dukat: Yes, I'm sure you would. But would you allow two thousand people aboard this station to die simply because you don't like us? Well, there's no need to decide just yet. We still have a little time left. Thirty minutes, in fact. Why don't I return to my ship so that you'll have time to think about it.
Dukat: I'll be back in say, twenty five minutes. Dukat. One to transport. Energize. Energize.
Kell: Dukat, if you are seeing this recording, it means you tried to abandon your post while the station's self-destruct sequence was engaged. That will not be permitted.
Dukat: This is outrageous.
Kell: You have lost control of Terok Nor, disgracing yourself and Cardassia. Your attempt to escape is no doubt a final act of cowardice. All fail-safes have been eliminated. Your personal access codes have been rescinded. The destruct sequence can no longer be halted. All you can do now is contemplate the depth of your disgrace and try to die like a Cardassian.
Dukat: Computer, abort the self-destruct sequence. This is a priority one override. Clearance level nine. Authorisation Dukat five one one six green.
Computer: Request denied. All authorisation codes are void. Time to self-destruct, twenty-five minutes.
Garak: Even your own computer program turns against you. I always knew your shortsightedness would be your downfall.
Dukat: I don't see you coming up with any ideas, tailor.
Kira: Look, if you two are finished with the insults, we could use some help here. Now, what can you tell us about the self-destruct sequence?
Dukat: It's very simple. When the countdown is completed, the computer will order the main fusion reactor to disengage the reaction stabilizers, causing it to overload, destroying the station.
Dax: What about the reactor? Is there any way to shut it down?
Dukat: It may be possible to manually disengage the laser fusion initiator, but in order to do that we have to be in the reactor room.
Dax: Not necessarily. We can disengage the initiator from one of the control junctions on level thirty four.
Bashir: But now that the computer's wiped out the access codes, not even a Cardassian can get out of this room.
Kira: Well then, maybe we should concentrate on trying to eliminate the forcefield protecting the door.
Dax: We don't have time to eliminate every forcefield between here and level thirty four. What we need to do is find a way to deactivate all the forcefields on the station at the same time.
O'Brien: Okay, that should do it. If we use much more we run the risk of bringing the whole room down around our ears.
Sisko: All right, we'd better take cover.
O'Brien: Would you like to do the honors, sir?
Sisko: Keep your heads down.
Jake: It worked!
Dukat: I set up this program, and I assure you, Major, I will find a way to defeat it. There's no dilemma that cannot be solved by a diskiplined, Cardassian mind.
Garak: It's not going to work, you know.
Dukat: What are you babbling about now?
Garak: I'm talking about Major Kira
Kira: What about her?
Garak: She's much too busy trying to save this station to be impressed with your incessant posturing.
Dukat: Garak!
Garak: And even if she weren't, she has much better taste than to be attracted to you. And you, a married man
Dukat: I should've had you executed years ago.
Garak: You tried, remember?
Bashir: Garak, this isn't helping.
Dax: Wait a minute. What about the power supply grid? If we could overload the grid, we might be able to cause a power surge and short out all the forcefields on the station.
Kira: It might even be enough to eliminate the dampening field that's been keeping us from using our communicators.
Dukat: Tell me something, Major. The Cardassian neutralization emitters that were under here. I assume you deactivated them when you control of the station?
Kira: That's right. We prefer our containment fields to be non-lethal.
Dukat: But are the emitters still in place?
Kira: As far as I know.
Dukat: Excellent. That means they have not been affected by the counterinsurgency program. That means we still have control of them.
Dax: Then if we can get the emitters back online, we can use them to overload the power grid.
Dukat: Exactly.
Kira: Do you think it'll be enough to eliminate the forcefields?
Dax: Unfortunately, we'll lose the turbolifts and the transporters, but they aren't much use to us right now anyway.
Kira: Let's give it a try.
Sisko: Anything?
O'Brien: I only got a couple hundred meters and I was stopped by a forcefield. How about you?
Jake: We didn't even get that far.
O'Brien: There's got to be some way up to Ops.
Sisko: The turbolift shaft. We can climb it all the way to Ops. Let's see if we can get these doors open.
Kira: Dukat, we're running out of time.
Dukat: I'm almost done. I've got the emitters wired into the control panel. Now all I have to do is reattach them to the power grid like so. All right, I'm ready.
Dax: Brace yourselves.
Kira: Kira to Sisko.
Sisko: Go ahead Major.
Kira: Commander, am I glad to hear you. What's you location?
Sisko: Level twenty nine section D. What's your status in Ops?
Kira: We've got about ten minutes before the main reactor core
Kira: Overloads and destroys the station. The only way to stop it is to disengage
Kira: The laser fusion initiator at one of the control junctions on level thirty four.
Kira: But the turbolifts and transporters are offline.
O'Brien: They'll never get there in time.
Sisko: But we might. Major, Mister O'Brien and I will handle the reactor. You begin evacuating the station.
Sisko: Get as many people as you can to the Defiant and the runabouts.
Kira: Understood. Good luck.
Sisko: Jake, I want you to head for runabout pad C.
Jake: It's too far. I'll never make it.
Sisko: Listen to me, Jake.
Jake: I'm going with you.
Sisko: All right. Let's go.
Computer: Warning. Main fusion reactors will overload in seven minutes.
Quark: Tell me something I don't already know.
Kira: Kira to Odo.
Odo: Go ahead, Major.
Kira: We're beginning evacuation procedures. The forcefields have been deactivated and all the doors on the station should be operable.
Odo: All except one. It seems the forcefield around my office are still in operation.
Kira: I'll send a work team down immediately.
Computer: Warning, main fusion reactors will overload in six minutes.
Quark: Are you telling me we're the only ones still locked in?
Odo: This forcefield must be on a separate system from the others.
Quark: But why go to so much trouble to keep people out of the Security office?
Odo: It's not to keep people out, it's to keep me in. I suppose during the occupation the Cardassians considered their security chief a security risk.
Quark: And I know why.
Odo: Oh, do you?
Quark: It's because they knew you were an honorable man. The kind of person who would do the right thing regardless of the circumstances. And now your integrity is going to get us both killed. I hope you're happy.
Computer: Warning. Main fusion reactors will overload in five minutes.
Sisko: Chief, did you ever finish those upgrades on the deflector shields?
O'Brien: Yeah, why?
Sisko: We may not have time to disengage the fusion initiator. What if we directed the explosion into the shields?
O'Brien: That's not a bad idea. The shields are the only thing on the station that can absorb that much energy.
O'Brien: That power surge we felt must've blown out one of the plasma conduits. The corridor's completely blocked for the next fifty meters.
Jake: Can't we get around it?
Sisko: We don't have time.
O'Brien: There might be a way. There's a maintenance conduit adjacent to this corridor. If it's not blocked, we might be able to get around the debris and get to the reactor control junction. Give me a hand.
O'Brien: I can feel heat through the door.
Sisko: What's wrong?
O'Brien: See for yourself.
Computer: Warning. Main fusion reactors will overload in three minutes.
Sisko: I want you to wait here.
Jake: But
Sisko: I mean it this time.
Sisko: I'll go first. Follow five meters behind me. If one of us runs into trouble in here
O'Brien: I know, I know. The other one keeps on going.
Sisko: O'Brien!
Computer: Warning. Main fusion reactors will overload in ninety seconds.
Sisko: Sisko to O'Brien.
Sisko: Chief, can you hear me?
Sisko: Chief, answer me.
Computer: Warning. Main fusion reactors will overload in sixty seconds.
Computer: Warning. Main fusion reactors will overload in thirty seconds.
O'Brien: Jake, I thought your father told you to stay out of there.
Jake: If you don't tell him, I won't.
Computer: Warning. Main fusion reactor overload.
O'Brien: O'Brien to Sisko.
Sisko: Chief, you're all right?
O'Brien: Yeah, looks like we all are.
Odo: It's about time. All right, Quark. You can leave now.
Quark: A self-important con artist who's nowhere near as clever as he thinks he is. That's your official security evaluation of me?
Odo: Quark, I told you to stay away from the computer.
Quark: Two hours ago you told me I was the most devious Ferengi you ever met.
Odo: I thought we were going to die. I was trying to be nice.
Quark: Name one Ferengi who's more devious than I am.
Odo: The Grand Nagus.
Quark: All right, name another.
Odo: DaiMon Tye.
Quark: One you personally know.
Odo: Your brother, Rom.
Quark: My brother?
Odo: Your uncle Frin, your cousin Gaila.
Quark: Gaila? The one with the moon?


Odo: Too hot?
Kira: A little.
Odo: Why don't you specify a lower temperature?
Kira: No, no, no. Coffee should be a little too hot to drink right away.
Odo: Why?
Kira: It slows down the experience, gives you time to savor the taste.
Odo: Ah, yes, taste.
Kira: Odo, I know you don't need to eat but did you ever try anyway?
Odo: Once, not long after I was first able to assume the humanoid form.
Kira: And?
Odo: And since I don't have taste buds, it was very unsatisfying. Not to mention messy.
Kira: Messy?
Odo: I'd rather not talk about it.
Tiron: Major Kira, how nice to see you again.
Kira: Tiron.
Tiron: You left Quark's last night just when I was about to buy everyone another round. I was devastated that you didn't say goodbye. We were having such a pleasant conversation.
Kira: As I recall, you were the one doing all the talking.
Tiron: Well in that case you have me at a disadvantage. You know all about me, and I know next to nothing about you.
Odo: Er, perhaps I should be going.
Kira: Oh, no. Stay. This is Tiron, a business associate of Quark's. This is Odo, my lover.
Tiron: Well, you're a very lucky man.
Kira: I'm a lucky woman.
Odo: Yes, we're both very lucky.
Tiron: And you make a most interesting couple. So, Mister Odo, what is it that you do?
Odo: I'm Chief of Security on this station.
Tiron: Oh. A station this size, it must be a very challenging job. I hope you're well compensated?
Kira: Oh, money doesn't matter. All we need is each other. Isn't that right, sweetheart?
Odo: Yes, sweetheart.
Kira: You see? Money isn't everything.
Tiron: Oh no. But it can buy everything. Well, I'm afraid I must be going. Goodbye.
Kira: Oh, good riddance. Thank you, Odo. I wish you'd been around last night. I'd better get back to Ops. See you later, sweetheart. Commander's log, stardate 48423.2. Despite the continuing threat posed by the Dominion, I've convinced Starfleet that we must continue our exploration of the Gamma Quadrant.
Bashir: I've run a preliminary analysis of our sensor sweeps, and the second planet in the Kylata system is definitely M-class.
Dax: I wish we'd had time to beam down to the surface and take a closer look.
O'Brien: I'd hate to have run into a Jem'Hadar patrol while we were down there picking flowers.
Sisko: Fortunately there's no sign of any Dominion activity in this sector.
Bashir: Let's hope it stays that way.
Dax: I'm picking up very unusual gravimetric distortions in the Trialus system.
Sisko: Any idea what's causing them?
Dax: It's hard to tell at this range.
Sisko: Let's take a closer look.
O'Brien: The system's coming into visual range.
Sisko: On screen.
Dax: The gravimetric distortions are intensifying but they don't seem to be coming from the star itself.
O'Brien: Where else could they be coming from? There aren't any planets in this system.
Dax: There are now
Dax: The planet seems to have settled into a stable orbit.
Bashir: Where did it come from?
Sisko: Could the entire planet have been cloaked?
O'Brien: If it was, there should be residual ionization traces but I'm not reading any.
Dax: Commander, we're being scanned. The beam is coming from a settlement on the southern hemisphere. I'm reading approximately thirty humanoid inhabitants. They seem to be the only humanoids on the planet.
O'Brien: They're hailing us.
Sisko: Open a channel. I'm Commander Benjamin Sisko of the Federation Starbase Deep Space Nine.
Seltin: I am Seltin Rakal of Meridian.
Sisko: We were studying this star system when your planet appeared.
Seltin: I expect it must have come as something of a surprise.
Sisko: Well, you could say that. It seemed to come out of nowhere.
Seltin: Not nowhere, Commander, but a dimension that intersects with this one. I could explain more in detail, if you're interested. We were just about to sit down for First Meal. Why don't you join us?
Sisko: We'd like that. I just need to know your planet is not going to disappear in the middle of dessert.
Seltin: Don't worry. We'll be here for a while.
Seltin: It's good to be together again around this table after so long. What's more, we're fortunate to have visitors to share First Meal with us.
Deral: I was admiring your markings. Are they decorative?
Dax: No. Are yours?
Deral: No. If you don't mind my asking, how far down do they go?
Dax: All the way.
Seltin: You're not eating, Commander.
Sisko: I guess my curiosity is bigger than my appetite.
Seltin: I hope we can satisfy both.
Sisko: Well, you were saying Meridian emerged from a dimension that intersects with this one?
Seltin: Yes. You see, our planet has a dual existence. It shifts between this dimension and another.
Dax: What causes these shifts?
Seltin: Well we're not entirely sure. Deral has been studying the phenomenon.
Deral: With only limited success, I'm afraid. My theory is that the dimensional shifts are caused by fluctuations in Meridian's quantum matrix. Fluctuations that are somehow triggered by our own sun.
Bashir: What's it like, this dimension of yours?
Seltin: It's hard to explain. It's without form. We exist as pure consciousness
Sisko: And Meridian?
Seltin: It becomes non-corporeal as well, but when we return to this dimension, everything is just as we left it. The buildings, the trees, even our bodies.
O'Brien: Are you saying that when you return here, it's as if no time has passed?
Seltin: We only age when we're in corporeal form.
Bashir: Sounds like this other dimension has its advantages.
Deral: Yes, but we always look forward to this existence and its many pleasures. Here, let me help you with that.
Deral: The trick is to scoop out the pulp and eat the thin layer inside the rind. Here, try some.
Dax: It's delicious.
Deral: Especially if you've been looking forward to it for sixty years.
Dax: Sixty years?
O'Brien: That's a long time between meals.
Tiron: A glass of Andorian ale.
Quark: Done so soon? You were barely in the holosuite ten minutes.
Tiron: There was no reason for me to stay the full hour.
Quark: I understand. It's a very effective program.
Tiron: On the contrary. I found it quite dull. Boring, boring, boring.
Quark: I'm sorry to hear you say that, but if you're asking for a refund, forget it. The contract specifically says that satisfaction is not guaranteed. But for a valued customer such as yourself, I'll make an exception and allow you try a different program. No extra charge. Let's see. Something a little bit more unique. Oh, I have just the thing. A picnic with the Pleasure Goddess of Rixx. I can even provide real food for a small fee, of course.
Tiron: I don't like picnics, Quark, and the food here is abominable.
Quark: Forget the food. Believe me, you've never had a picnic like this one.
Tiron: What I want is not in your catalog.
Quark: Well, tell me what it is and I'll order it for you. It may take some time, but if it exists I'll get it.
Tiron: That's just the point, Quark. The program I want doesn't exist. Not yet, anyway.
Quark: A custom program? It'll be expensive.
Quark: For that kind of money you can move into a holosuite. Now, what is it you want?
Tiron: I want Major Kira.
Quark: Kira? What are you going to do with Kira in a holosuite? No, don't tell me. I don't want to know.
Tiron: Can you do it?
Quark: It isn't going to be easy. I'd have to get her into the holosuite and record her image, and she hates holosuites.
Tiron: Spare me the details. Do we have a deal, or do I take my business elsewhere?
Quark: Consider it done. Now I'll just keep this
Tiron: Payment on delivery, and not a moment sooner. Don't disappoint me, Quark. When I walk into that holosuite and I see Kira standing there, I'd better believe it's really her.
Quark: Leave it to me. The things I do for money.
Deral: Just beyond that forest there's a garden with a small pond.
Dax: It sounds lovely.
Deral: It is.
Dax: Deral, our scans showed that there are only about thirty of you on this entire planet
Deral: There were never many of us. We're the descendants of an expedition that was stranded here millennia ago.
Dax: And your population hasn't increased since then?
Deral: It did for a time, but over the last few centuries our numbers have dwindled. You see, we only reproduce when we're in humanoid form, and our time here keeps growing shorter. In twelve days, Meridian will shift back to its non-corporeal state.
Dax: And remain there for the next sixty years.
Deral: Eventually we will only be here for a matter of minutes. When that happens Meridian will too unstable to successfully shift back to the other dimension.
Dax: And then what happens?
Deral: The planet and all its inhabitants will cease to exist in either dimension.
Seltin: We deeply appreciate your offer of help, Commander.
Sisko: If there is a way to stabilize the dimensional shifts, we'll do everything we can to find it.
Seltin: That's all we can ask.
Sisko: Here you go.
Lito: Do you want to play vajhaq with us?
Sisko: Maybe later.
Dax: Deral and I are beaming up to the Defiant. We're going to run a series of helio-seismic scans on Meridian's sun.
Sisko: I'll join you.
Seltin: Good luck.
Kira: Quark, I got a message that Morn wanted to see me.
Quark: I'm afraid you just missed him.
Quark: Really? So soon? Would you come with me, please. Listen up, everyone! I have wonderful news! It's my pleasure to announce that my one millionth customer just walked through the doors and here she is. Ladies and gentlemen, Major Kira Nerys!
Kira: Quark, I don't have time for this.
Kira: Why don't you make him your one millionth customer.
Quark: Major, that would be dishonest.
Kira: That never stopped you before.
Quark: This is a special occasion. An event like this only happens once in a bar owner's lifetime. Let me tell you about your prizes.
Kira: You mean I won something?
Quark: Of course you won something, it's part of the celebration.
Kira: I've never won anything before.
Quark: Well, now you have. Congratulations.
Kira: Are you really serious about this.
Quark: My customers are my livelihood, Major. This is a chance for me to give something back to them. Now, let's see what we have for you. A bottle of Kandora champagne, vintage twenty three sixty eight. That's a very good year. These are good for five free spins at the dabo wheel and last but not least, one free hour in a holosuite with the program of your choice.
Kira: A visit to a holosuite?
Quark: Offer good today only.
Kira: That's perfect.
Quark: Right this way.
Kira: It's Ensign Quintana's birthday. He'd love a free trip to the holosuite.
Quark: But, Major, what about you?
Kira: Oh, you know how I feel about the holosuites, Quark. But thanks for the champagne.
Dax: These are the Defiant's sensor readings from when we first entered this system. Take a look at the spectral scan.
Sisko: It indicates that your sun was giving off modulated gamma bursts right before Meridian appeared.
Deral: My people have no record of that phenomenon.
Sisko: That's not surprising, since Meridian was in a non-corporeal state when it occurred.
Dax: Gamma activity would seem to indicate an anomaly in your sun's fusion cycle.
Sisko: Let's find out for sure. Chief, I want you to send a probe into the sun's corona to scan the core.
O'Brien: It'll take a minute to modify its shield configuration.
Dax: How do modulated gamma bursts cause a dimensional shift?
Deral: Do you always do that when you're concentrating?
Dax: Do what?
Deral: Bite your lower lip.
Dax: I guess I do.
O'Brien: The probe's ready, Commander.
Sisko: Target it to these coordinates and launch.
O'Brien: Shields are holding.
Dax: It's going to be a while before the probe starts sending back any telemetry.
Deral: Well, I'm sure you have things you need to do.
Dax: Not really.
Deral: What a coincidence. Neither do I.
Deral: This isn't turning out exactly the way I'd planned.
Dax: What do you mean?
Deral: You've barely said a word since we left the settlement.
Dax: I don't know if you noticed or not, but Seltin didn't seem too happy to see us leave together.
Deral: She'd probably prefer if I was walking with Keshara or Renar. You see, ever since my wife died everyone's been wondering when I was going to find myself another companion.
Dax: Why haven't you?
Deral: I guess I was waiting for the right woman to fall out of the sky.
Dax: That doesn't happen too often.
Deral: It only had to happen once. Don't worry about Seltin. After all, we both know this is just a harmless little walk.
Dax: Absolutely.
Deral: With a brief stop to climb a tree. Come on. Don't tell me that in eight lifetimes you've never climbed a tree?
Dax: That's how I know I'm afraid of heights.
Deral: Well don't worry, I won't let you fall.
Deral: This is one of my favorite views.
Dax: It's hard to believe that it might all be gone in two weeks.
Deral: I hope not.
Dax: So do I.
Dax: We'd better climb down.
Dax: It's as beautiful as you described.
Deral: I knew you'd like it.
Deral: Try one.
Dax: Mmm. It's wonderful.
Deral: I knew you'd like that too.
Dax: You know me pretty well for someone who just met me.
Deral: I'm glad you noticed.
Dax: I can't remember the last time I did this. Stroll through a garden, climb a tree, eat fresh berries by a pond. What comes next?
Dax: I think I'm starting to remember.
Dax: How are the calculations coming?
Deral: I'm checking them now. They're the same as before. There's nothing to indicate the gamma bursts are causing the quantum fluctuations.
Dax: Then something else must be triggering the dimensional shifts. Whatever it is, we'll find it.
Sisko: Sisko to Dax.
Dax: Go ahead, Commander.
Sisko: Good news. We've been able to get the probe down another thousand kilometers
Sisko: Into the sun's corona.
O'Brien: We picked up some additional telemetry. I'll download it to you.
Dax: Thank you, Chief.
Sisko: If all that fresh air and sunshine start getting to you, you're welcome to come back up here to the Defiant.
Dax: We're managing just fine.
Sisko: I'm sure you are. Sisko out.
Dax: Don't you want to take a look at the new telemetry?
Deral: I'd rather sit here and look at you.
Dax: How about this? We work for a few more hours and then we go back to your room and count each other's spots.
Deral: Can I go first?
Dax: We'll see.
Dax: Take a look at the fusion reactants in the core.
Deral: They're out of balance.
Dax: That's right, and the imbalance is building toward a cascade reaction on the quantum level. That's what's triggering the dimensional shifts.
Deral: Now if we can stabilize that reaction.
Dax: We can keep Meridian here longer.
Deral: Oh, Jadzia.
Dax: I've got to get this to Commander Sisko and Chief O'Brien. And then we can count each other's spots.
Quark: Odo, move out of there. You're ruining my shot.
Kira: Odo?
Odo: Oh, Major. Why is Quark trying to take a holo-picture of you?
Kira: Looks to me like he's pointing it at both of us.
Odo: True, but every time I stand in front of you he seems to get very upset.
Quark: Where are you going? Uh-oh
Kira: What do you think you're doing, Quark?
Quark: Nothing.
Kira: Then what's this?
Quark: Oh, you mean this holo-imager? I was just recording an image of the Promenade to send home to my mother.
Odo: Ha!
Kira: You're trying to take a holo-scan of me and I want to know why.
Quark: Of you? Not at all. You just happened to get in the frame.
Odo: Ha!
Quark: Will you stop doing that?
Odo: Not until you start telling the truth.
Quark: You want the truth? I'll tell you the truth. I was trying to get an image of you for a special holosuite program I'm designing.
Odo: Oh, I can just imagine what kind of program that would be.
Quark: I'm sure you can, but you'd be mistaken. The fact is, I'm working on a simulation of the station's Operations Center. People want to know what goes on up there, and they want to imagine themselves fending off a Cardassian attack, or facing a fleet of Jem'Hadar ships.
Odo: Naked, I assume.
Quark: Isn't there some petty thief you can harass?
Odo: Just you.
Quark: What do you say, Major? Give the public what they want. They're not asking for much. Just the chance to work side-by-side with you.
Kira: They want to work with me? Then let them apply to the Bajoran Military Academy. That way I can be sure everyone in Ops will be wearing their uniform.
Quark: Is that a no?
Kira: Let me put it another way. If I ever catch you pointing a holo-imager at me again, you will end up eating it.
Quark: Definitely a no.
Deral: Jadzia.
Dax: I've been looking for you.
Deral: You've found me.
Dax: I have. Good news. It's going to work. We'll be able to equalize the time between dimensional shifts.
Deral: Oh Jadzia, that's wonderful. Do you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to build a house right here. Nothing extravagant, just big enough for two.
Dax: Deral, I
Deral: I know what you're thinking. You're thinking this man who just met me is talking about building a home for us. I realize you have a life on Deep Space Nine, but now you'll have a place here as well, for when you visit.
Dax: I won't be able to visit for a while. It's going to take a long time to stabilize the sun's cascade reaction.
Deral: How long? Meridian is going to shift in five days. Jadzia?
Dax: We'll see each other again.
Deral: In sixty years. I want you with me now.
Dax: That's what I want too, but there's nothing we can do.
Deral: Yes, there is. I can leave Meridian and go back to the Alpha Quadrant with you. If you'll have me.
Dax: What do you think?
Seltin: Deral, we've been looking for you. Commander Sisko told us the great news. I can't thank you enough for all you've done.
Dax: I'm glad we were able to help.
Seltin: The next time Meridian returns here, we'll have thirty years for our people to get to know each other better.
Deral: I need to discuss something with you.
Seltin: Of course. I've called a meeting. Now that we have a future again, we need to start planning for it. And you need to make some decisions as well.
Deral: That's what I want to talk to you about.
Seltin: The person you need to talk to is Keshara. She's not going to wait for you forever, you know.
Deral: I was going to speak to her, as well.
Seltin: I'm glad. Think of it, Deral. People can start having families again. Eventually we may have to expand the settlement. As you can see, Jadzia, we have a great deal of planning to do. Well, I think Iwe've kept the others waiting long enough. Come, lets get started.
Dax: You'd better go inside.
Deral: I'll meet you back at the ship.
Bashir: You know, the person I feel sorry for is Quark. He always thought that you and he were made for each other. I don't suppose he'll be letting you win at tongo anymore.
Dax: What are you talking about? He doesn't let me win.
Dax: Come in. Deral!
Deral: Well, it's done. I told Seltin and the others that I'm leaving Meridian.
Dax: What did they say?
Deral: They asked me not to go. Seltin feels the settlement can't afford to lose anyone.
Dax: What did you tell her?
Deral: I told her I understood her concern, but that I've made up my mind. So what were you two talking about before I interrupted? Not me, I hope?
Bashir: Actually, I was just telling Jadzia that she's not as good a tongo player as she thinks she is.
Deral: Tongo?
Dax: It's a game. And I'm very good at it.
Bashir: Now we'll find out on Tuesday night.
Dax: And I want you there to see for yourself. I'm going to clean you and Quark out.
Deral: Jadzia, I have to go.
Dax: But you just got here.
Deral: There are some things I need to take care of before we leave Meridian.
Dax: Do you need any help?
Deral: No. I just have to say goodbye to some people. I'll see you later tonight.
Quark: Tiron, I was just thinking about you.
Tiron: And I was thinking about you, and your reputation as a man who can get anything for a price.
Quark: Stop, you're embarrassing me.
Tiron: I'll embarrass you even more if you don't get me my program.
Quark: Not to worry.
Tiron: Is that it?
Quark: No. It's a high-level decryption protocol and I'm going to use it to get the final information I need for your program. It cost me dearly.
Tiron: If it works, it's worth whatever price you paid for it.
Quark: I was hoping you'd say that. I'll put it on your bill.
Tiron: Fine. Just get me my program. I'm leaving in two days.
Quark: You'll have it. And I assure you it'll be well worth the wait. I'll stake my reputation on it.
Tiron: You already have.
Quark: Now, where to begin?
Kira: You wanted to see me?
Odo: Yes. Someone has been illegally accessing the station's personnel files. Your file, to be exact.
Kira: Mine?
Odo: They've downloaded your voiceprint, your retinal scan, even your psychiatric profile. I've managed to trace the data-path back to its source.
Kira: Well, let me guess. Quark.
Odo: Was there any doubt?
Kira: With all this information he'd have no problem generating a holo-image of me.
Odo: So, shall I arrest him, or would you prefer to do it yourself?
Kira: No. I have a better idea. Can you spare a few hours? I'd like to prepare a little surprise for Quark.
Dax: You see, the key to tongo is to confront when you're sure you're in a better position than the other players. And if your cards match the roll of the dice, then you win. Deral?
Deral: Go on, I'm listening.
Dax: You haven't heard a word I've been saying, have you?
Deral: I'm sorry. I just have so much on my mind.
Dax: You don't want to leave Meridian, do you?
Deral: I said I would and I will.
Dax: I know what you said, but what do you want?
Deral: To be with you.
Dax: But you're worried about your people. DERAL There are so few of us, Jadzia, and now that Meridian has a future again, they need me.
Dax: Then you have to stay.
Deral: And lose you? No.
Dax: What if you didn't have to lose me? What if I stayed here with you?
Deral: I wish you could but that's not possible. Your molecular structure wouldn't survive the dimensional shift.
Dax: We could use the transporter buffer to match my quantum matrix to yours.
Deral: But how do you know that's possible?
Dax: Because I discussed it with Julian after you left my quarters.
Deral: Jadzia. Are you sure you're willing to do that?
Dax: It's the only way we can be together and I don't want to lose you, either.
Dax: Come in. Benjamin. I was just finishing up my request to Starfleet for my leave of absence.
Sisko: I bet this is the first time anyone's ever requested a sixty year leave.
Dax: You'll be sure that it gets to them?
Sisko: If you're sure that this is what you really want.
Dax: What I really want is for you to say you're happy for me.
Sisko: I guess I just need to know that you have thought this thing through. If Curzon had told me he wanted to go off with some woman he'd just met, I would've tried to talk him out of it too.
Dax: And you would have been right. He fell in love with someone new every other week. But I'm not Curzon.
Sisko: No, and I've never seen Jadzia do anything without thinking it through first. I am happy for you. It's just I'm going to miss you, old man.
Dax: You've been my friend for two lifetimes. I can't imagine what it's going to be like not having you around. Leaving Deep Space Nine is the hardest thing I have ever done but I know it's right. Besides, after eight lifetimes as a humanoid, existing as pure consciousness might be interesting.
Sisko: Next time we see each other, I'll probably be a great grandfather.
Dax: Good. Then I can call you old man.
Sisko: I'll look forward to it.
Quark: Now I believe we agreed I'd be paid on delivery.
Tiron: I haven't seen the merchandise yet. You know, Quark, if this program is as good as you claim, I might just purchase it from you to use at home.
Quark: You have your own holosuite?
Tiron: Just a little present I bought myself.
Quark: His very own holosuite. It's good to have money.
Kira: I've been waiting for you.
Tiron: Quark! I will ruin you for this, Quark.
Quark: You mean you didn't like the program?
Tiron: I don't know how, I don't know when, but I will ruin you.
Quark: Wait. What about my money?
Kira: Another satisfied customer, Quark?
Bashir: How do you feel?
Dax: Pretty good considering, I spent six hours having my molecule's scrambled in the transporter.
Bashir: I, er, I don't know what to say.
Dax: That's a first.
O'Brien: According to Deral's calculations, the dimensional shift should occur within the next forty seven minutes.
Dax: Do you think you'll be done overhauling the station by the next time I see you?
O'Brien: I doubt it.
Dax: Tell Quark I'll be back to collect the three strips of gold latinum he owes me, with sixty years interest.
Sisko: Energize.
Deral: I was beginning to think you were having second thoughts.
Dax: No, I was just saying goodbye.
Deral: You missed Last Meal. I saved you some of these.
Dax: Thank you.
Seltin: Jadzia, I just wanted you to know how happy we are you've decided to join us.
Dax: Thank you.
Seltin: Everyone's beginning to gather. It's almost time.
Dax: Is there anything I need to do to prepare?
Deral: Not that I can think of.
Dax: What if I just hold onto you? After all, we're not going to be together again like this for a long time and I was just getting used to this.
Deral: We'll still be together, Jadzia, in a way you can't even imagine.
O'Brien: There she goes.
Bashir: Goodbye, Jadzia.
Deral: Something's wrong.
Bashir: Commander, I'm reading intense seismic activity throughout the planet's crust.
O'Brien: It'd better shift soon, or it's going to tear itself apart.
Deral: Jadzia.
O'Brien: Picking up some kind of singularity in the planet's quantum matrix. It's interfering with the dimensional shift.
Bashir: It's functioning almost like an anchor.
O'Brien: Commander, it's Dax. Her presence there is destabilizing the matrix.
Sisko: Sisko to Dax.
Bashir: Get her out of there, Chief.
Sisko: I thought you'd like to know that Meridian shifted normally once we beamed you away.
Dax: Good.
Sisko: Jadzia, I'm sorry.
Dax: Benjamin, don't. There's nothing you can do. I just need some time.
Dax: Just sixty years or so.