Bashir: I managed to save the Dax symbiont. There was nothing I could do for Jadzia.
Weyoun: Federation soldiers have landed on Cardassian soil and now you're telling me the wormhole is gone and with it any chance of getting reinforcements from the Gamma Quadrant.
Sisko: The station's all yours, Major. Let's go home, Jake.
Martok: I need a first officer for a dangerous mission.
Worf: How dangerous?
Martok: Dangerous enough to assure Jadzia a place in Sto-vo-kor.
Sisko: I had a vision from the Prophets. I was on Tiree, in the desert, and I uncovered a face. The face of a woman.
Sisko: You had a wife before Mum?
Joseph: Sarah was your mother.
Kira: You're to begin an immediate evacuation.
Cretak: I'm afraid that's impossible.
Kira: Either you remove those weapons, or we will.
Ezri: Hello, Benjamin.
Sisko: Do I know you?
Ezri: It's me. Dax. And now, the continuation.
Sisko: Dax? I can't believe it.
Ezri: I can hardly believe it myself. But I'm Dax. I mean, I'm not Jadzia Dax. I'm Ezri Dax. But I have all of Jadzia's memories. Not to mention Lela's, Tobin's, Emony's, Audrid's, Joran's, Curzon's. Am I forgetting anyone?
Sisko: Torias.
Ezri: Right. You're probably asking yourself who is this person? How did she get the symbiont? Do I even want another Dax in my life? Does she always talk this much? These are all very good questions and I wish I had good answers for you.
Sisko: The answers can wait. Right now, I'm just glad to see you.
Ezri: Really? That is so nice of you to say. I'm not usually this emotional. It must be the Emony in me. At least I think it's Emony Hi, Jake.
Jake: Hi.
Ezri: You seem taller. Or am I shorter? You know, none of this was my idea. I never wanted to be joined.
Jake: Then how did you get the symbiont?
Ezri: It was an accident.
Joseph: Some accident.
Ezri: I was on the Destiny when they brought the Dax symbiont aboard to be taken back to Trill. Halfway through the trip, the symbiont took a turn for the worse and needed to be placed in a host immediately.
Sisko: And you were the only Trill on board.
Ezri: I laid down on that operating table one person and I woke up a completely different person. Well, I should say eight different people. I was not prepared for this at all. I mean, you're supposed to get years of training and preparation before you get joined, and all I got was a fifteen minute lecture from the ship's surgeon and he wasn't even a Trill.
Sisko: I'm starting to see the problem. Please.
Ezri: You don't how much better I feel just being here with you, Ben.
Sisko: What about the Symbiosis Institute? Weren't they able to do anything for you?
Ezri: I did meet with the Evaluation Board several times.
Sisko: And?
Ezri: They gave me some books to read, some counseling, but once a host and symbiont are joined, there's really not very much they can do. My parents, my friends, my crewmates, it's like they don't even know me anymore. Which is understandable since I hardly even know myself. That's why I took a leave of absence to come here. I knew that if there is anyone who can help me through this, it would be you.
Sisko: I'll do all I can, but the truth is, we're leaving for Tiree.
Ezri: Fine. I'll come with you.
Jake: You don't even know why we're going.
Ezri: It doesn't matter. When do we leave?
Sisko: Today.
Ezri: Great. It'll be just like old times. Except different.
Worf: Jadzia Dax Vond Shoo vwee Dun Mahh kekh HuhKo Vahm Jeh Yin Moj Mah Mukh. Sto-vo-kor Pah Dahkh tin Baht leh el eegh cha yay moj.
Quark: Quark, son of Keldar. Did I come at a bad time?
O'Brien: What's he doing here?
Quark: Same thing you are. I'm volunteering for this mission.
Martok: Why? You're a bartender, not a warrior.
Quark: True, but I loved Jadzia as much as anyone in this room. With maybe one or two exceptions. And I am willing to pledge my life to see that she gets into Sto-vo-kor.
Martok: Perhaps there is some Klingon in you after all.
Quark: I wouldn't go that far. So why all the cutlery?
Martok: We shed our blood to prove we are not frightened of death.
Quark: Can't you just take my word for it?
Quark: Oww! That hurts.
O'Brien: It's supposed to hurt.
Worf: YuWee modge. Baht leh modge. Yay Dodge.
Ezri: This is so embarrassing.
Sisko: Don't worry, it's not your fault.
Ezri: I'm a trained Starfleet officer. I've no business getting space sick. But ever since I was given the symbiont, warp speed does make me a little queasy.
Jake: A little queasy?
Joseph: The main thing is the control panel's all cleaned up, so if one of you would like to get back into the pilot's seat, it would sure make me feel better. Not that I don't trust the computer.
Jake: You just prefer the human touch.
Joseph: Do you need to lie down?
Ezri: No, I'm fine, really.
Joseph: Well, it's time for my nap.
Jake: You're sure you're okay?
Ezri: But I just wish I could stop thinking about Torias.
Jake: Torias Dax? He was one of the previous hosts, wasn't he?
Ezri: He died in a shuttle accident. I still remember the last few seconds before the crash. Maybe I don't belong in Starfleet anymore. Aren't you glad you brought me along?
Jake: Actually, I am. My dad seems a lot happier ever since you showed up.
Ezri: One iced raktajino. I know you've been worried about your father, Jake, but he's going to be all right.
Jake: What makes you so sure?
Ezri: Because I've known him a long time. Besides, it's my job to know these things. I'm a ship's counselor. Well, actually, an assistant ship's counselor.
Jake: You're a therapist?
Ezri: Is it that surprising?
Jake: A little.
Ezri: You know, I wasn't always this confused. Before I was joined I was considered to be a very promising young officer. That is horrible. I hate raktajino.
Jake: Then why'd you order it?
Ezri: Because Curzon liked it.
Jake: So did Jadzia.
Ezri: Well, I don't. I have to learn to control some of these urges.
Ross: I want you to know, Colonel, that I'm as outraged as you are. The Romulans have no business placing weapons on Derna.
Kira: I'm glad we're in agreement. What are we going to do about it?
Ross: The Federation has already sent a formal protest to the Romulan Senate condemning their actions.
Kira: Well that's a start. What happens next?
Ross: They've already sent a protest of our protest. Politics.
Kira: You still haven't answered my question.
Ross: I don't know, Colonel. Eventually, the Romulans will remove the weapons.
Kira: When? Are we talking about days, weeks, months?
Ross: I don't know but it will happen.
Kira: Now you sound like a politician, Admiral.
Ross: Maybe so. But facts are facts, Colonel. And there's no way the Bajorans can drive the Romulans off Derna, not without help anyway, and the Federation isn't going to provide that help. Not now. Is that clear?
Kira: We're just not as important to the war effort as the Romulans.
Ross: That's a harsh way to put it.
Kira: The truth often is.
Ross: Colonel, I would like to help you, but my hands are tied.
Kira: Well, luckily, mine aren't.
Ross: Meaning what?
Kira: Our scans show that the weapons aren't fully operational yet. They're still missing launch sequencers. I'm going to make sure that those sequencers never reach Derna.
Ross: How?
Kira: I'm going to set up a blockade.
Ross: If you do that, Colonel, you'll have a fight on your hands. A fight you can't win.
Sisko: We're entering orbit. Prepare to beam down.
Jake: Why don't we use the ship's scanners to find the Orb?
Ezri: There's too much ionization in the atmosphere. It'll interfere with our sensors.
Sisko: You sure you don't want to stay here and wait for us?
Joseph: And miss all the excitement? Not a chance.
Sisko: All right. Well sure you're carrying plenty of water packs. That goes for both of you, too. It's dry down there.
Nurse: Doctor Wykoff, please report to Isolation Ward Four. Doctor Wykoff, please report to Isolation Ward Four.
Sisko: Did you hear that?
Ezri: Hear what?
Sisko: Forget it.
Ezri: If there is an Orb buried around here, my tricorder's not picking it up.
Sisko: I know it's out there someplace. That's why the Prophets sent me here.
Ezri: Did they give you any hint which way to go?
Sisko: That way.
Jake: The Prophets have spoken.
Ezri: I hope he heard them right.
O'Brien: Once we're close enough, we can fire an EM pulse at the sun.
Quark: The sun? I thought we were trying to destroy a shipyard.
O'Brien: We are.
Quark: Do you understand what he's talking about?
Bashir: Always.
Quark: Fine, then you explain it.
Worf: We are going to fly toward the molten heart of the sun, so close that our ship will glow like a flaming comet.
Bashir: Hopefully not that close.
O'Brien: Just close enough to trigger a solar plasma ejection. The explosion should be enough to incinerate everything within a hundred million kilometers.
Martok: Including the shipyard.
Worf: It will be a glorious firestorm that will illuminate the gates of Sto-vo-kor itself and provide a fitting welcome for Jadzia.
Quark: The things we do for love. Did you see that?
O'Brien: See what?
Quark: The way he glared at me.
Bashir: He always glares at you.
Quark: Well I'm sick of it. We're risking our lives to help Jadzia get into Sto-vo-kor. The very least Worf could do is show us some appreciation. Is it so hard to say thank you?
Bashir: Thank you.
Quark: Nice try, Doctor, but I want to hear it from him.
O'Brien: Don't do this, Quark.
Quark: Do what? All I'm asking for is two little words.
Worf: Be quiet.
Quark: That's two words all right. Just not the two I was hoping for.
Worf: Why should I feel any gratitude toward you? I owe you nothing. You are not here to help Jadzia get into Sto-vo-kor. You are here because you wish to convince yourselves that you were worthy of her. But the truth is, none of you could ever hope to be worthy of her or even understand the kind of woman she was. It is you who should be thanking me, Ferengi, for allowing you to come on this mission and pay honor to her memory.
Ezri: Think we're getting close?
Sisko: I have no idea.
Ezri: But we're headed in the right direction?
Sisko: I hope so.
Ezri: Audrid loved to walk. Of course, she preferred the woods. Nice shady glens, cool breezes, cold streams.
Sisko: Dax, what are you trying to say?
Ezri: We've been keeping a pretty fast pace. It might be a good idea to give your father and Jake a chance to rest.
Sisko: If anyone wants to take a break, they can go back to the runabout.
Ezri: I think we should stick together.
Sisko: Hey, Dad? How're you doing back there?
Joseph: Never better.
Damar: It's only a matter of time until we break through enemy lines. When that happens, we can drive the Federation Romulan Alliance out of Cardassian territory. A bit more kanar?
Siana: Please.
Damar: To victory. On all fronts.
Weyoun: Damar, have you
Damar: Weyoun, this is Siana. We met at the dinner last night honoring Legate Hovas.
Weyoun: Damar, you and I have things to discuss. Things that your guest doesn't want to hear.
Damar: And why is that?
Weyoun: Because if she does, I'll be forced to have her executed.
Siana: I really should be going.
Damar: Until tonight.
Weyoun: What a pleasant woman. Now, it's imperative we increase production at the Monac shipyard. We need more assault ships to retake the Chin'toka system. Damar, are you listening to me?
Damar: Increase production. Yes, I heard you. By how much?
Weyoun: Fifteen percent would be ideal.
Damar: That won't be easy.
Weyoun: Oh, I'm sure you'll find a way. You're very resourceful.
Odo: A blockade? How many ships are we talking about?
Kira: Twelve impulse ships. That's all the Council of Ministers could spare right now.
Odo: And how effective do you think those twelve ships are going to be against even one Romulan warbird?
Kira: You sound like Admiral Ross.
Odo: Well, I was hoping our relationship was going to be a long and happy one, but I suppose I'm willing to settle for short and exciting.
Kira: What's that supposed to mean?
Odo: I take it you're going to be commanding the blockade?
Kira: That's right.
Odo: Then I'm going to be there with you.
Kira: You don't have to do that.
Odo: Yes, I do.
Kira: Well, I wouldn't start writing our epitaphs just yet.
Odo: All right, I'll wait until the first wave of Romulan ships decide to run the blockade.
Kira: Don't worry, I've no intention of getting into a firefight with a squadron of Romulan warbirds.
Odo: You mean you're bluffing?
Kira: If the Romulans fire on us, they jeopardize their Alliance with the Federation, and I'm hoping that's a risk they don't want to take.
Odo: And I'm hoping they don't call your bluff.
Jake: Grandpa, you sure you don't want to go back up to the runabout?
Joseph: We started this together and we'll finish it together. I owe it to Ben.
Jake: I got you.
Jake: Let's go.
Nurse: Doctor Wykoff, please come to Isolation Ward Four immediately. To Isolation Ward Four. Doctor Wykoff. Doctor Wykoff. Please come to Isolation Ward Four immediately.
Ezri: Benjamin? Benjamin. Is this it?
Sisko: I think so.
Ezri: You're not sure? Ben, that's not good enough. Ben.
Ezri: Are you listening to me?
Sisko: There.
Ezri: Where?
Sisko: That's where we start digging.
Ezri: Why there? I wasn't even aiming at anything. Ben, maybe my memories are playing tricks on me but have you gotten stranger?
Kira: Ship's log, stardate 52152.6. We've set up a blockade around Derna. So far, no Romulan ships have tried to challenge us.
Kira: Kiss Me Deadly. Interesting title.
Odo: And the book isn't bad either. I think you'll enjoy it.
Kira: I'm sure I will, but is this really the right time to start reading a book?
Odo: Maybe not, but I know how much you hate all this waiting and Mike Hammer has certain qualities I think you'll appreciate.
Kira: Such as?
Odo: He's as tough as they come and he hates waiting almost as much as you do.
Kira: Oh, I like him already.
Crewman: Colonel, there's a priority one transmission from Deep Space Nine. It's Admiral Ross.
Kira: Put him through.
Ross: Colonel Senator Cretak has just informed me that fourteen Romulan warbirds are on their way to Derna.
Cretak: They'll be arriving in eight hours with much needed medical supplies for the hospital complex.
Kira: Since when did the Romulans start using warbirds to deliver medical supplies?
Cretak: We want to make sure they arrive safely.
Kira: Well, if they try to get through the blockade, they're not going to make it at all.
Ross: That kind of talk isn't going to help matters, Colonel. I'd think you'd want to avoid a confrontation, not provoke one.
Kira: I wouldn't call those Romulan ships a peace offering.
Ross: I wasn't exactly happy to hear about that either, but we only have a few hours to reach some kind of a compromise. After that, people are going to start dying.
Kira: You can talk about compromise all you want. Any ship attempting to break through that blockade will be fired on.
Cretak: Colonel, do you seriously believe that your antiquated collection of impulse ships stand a chance against our warbirds?
Kira: We'll find out soon enough, won't we? End transmission. How'd I do?
Odo: Mike Hammer would have been proud.
Cretak: You're concerned.
Ross: Aren't you?
Cretak: Not really. The Colonel is brave woman, but she's not stupid. She's bluffing.
Jake: Right over there in the shade.
Ezri: Here.
Jake: There you go, Grandpa.
Nurse: Doctor Wykoff, please come to Isolation Ward Four. Doctor Wykoff to Isolation Ward Four.
Sisko: I wish he'd get there.
Ezri: Who?
Sisko: Doctor Wykoff. They're waiting for him in the isolation ward.
Ezri: You have definitely gotten stranger.
Martok: What about me, Worf? Would you rather I hadn't come on this mission either?
Worf: That is not what I am saying. With you, it is different. You are a Klingon and Jadzia was a member of your House.
Martok: And these men were her friends. They honor her with their presence.
Quark: I don't believe it. Gagh for breakfast, gagh for lunch, gagh for dinner. Am I the only one who thinks Klingon menus need to have more variety?
O'Brien: You want to complain about the gagh, that's fine with me. But don't complain about it when we're in the mess hall sitting at a table surrounded by a dozen Klingons.
Quark: All right, all right, I get the point.
Bashir: Good.
Quark: But I'm telling you, I think some of those Klingons agreed with me.
Bashir: Look, Worf, if this has anything to do with what just happened in the mess hall.
Worf: No, no, it does not.
Quark: What's the matter? Come up with a few more insults to throw at us?
Worf: I wish to apologize.
Quark: I'm listening.
Worf: I know Jadzia meant a great deal to all of you, and you meant a great deal to her. Many times, when we discussed our day, she would repeat something amusing that you had told her, or describe in endless details the intricacies of some new scheme of yours. She often talked about all of you. It seemed as though that even when we were alone, one of you was always with us.
Quark: I get it. You were jealous because she liked us better than you.
Bashir: Quark, would you please keep quiet.
Worf: She was my wife, my par'machkai. I did not like having to share her affections.
O'Brien: That's why you didn't want us on this mission with you. You wanted to get her into Sto-vo-kor without our help.
Worf: I wanted it to be my gift to her.
Quark: Go on.
Worf: There is nothing more to say. Except that I am pleased you're here.
O'Brien: I have never heard Worf apologize to anyone.
Quark: I don't know about you, but I was hoping for something a little more intriguing.
Bashir: Such as?
Quark: You know, like Jadzia used to call my name out when she slept, or wanted to name her first child after me.
Martok: Chief. The Monac shipyard.
O'Brien: Impressive.
Martok: Display our target.
Quark: How close do we have to get to that?
Martok: Too close.
Worf: Perfect.
Jake: What is it, Dad? Have you found something?
Sisko: Stay back.
Sisko: The Orb of the Emissary.
Ezri: What are you going to do?
Sisko: Open it.
Wykoff: Mister Russell.
Wykoff: Mister Russell, put it down.
Ezri: Benjamin what's wrong? Benjamin.
Wykoff: I said, put down the pencil. Put it down, Mister Russell.
Benny: But I haven't finished my story yet. Captain Sisko has found the Orb of the Emissary. But he hasn't opened it yet.
Wykoff: Mister Russell, you promised not to write on the walls.
Benny: No one will give me any paper.
Wykoff: I thought we agreed that you weren't going to write at all. That you needed to rest.
Benny: No, I don't need to rest. I need to tell my stories.
Wykoff: You were doing so well, Benny. Making real progress. We were all so proud of you.
Benny: I need to go home. I don't belong here.
Wykoff: We're going to send you home as soon as you're well.
Benny: I'm fine.
Wykoff: But you're not fine. People who are fine don't write on walls.
Benny: Then get me a typewriter.
Wykoff: You're not listening. The stories have got to stop, Benny. They're too dangerous.
Benny: Too dangerous to whom?
Wykoff: To you. This world you've created, this Deep Space Nine. Captain Sisko and Kira and the others. None of it is real.
Benny: Oh, it is to me. If I don't finish my story, if Captain Sisko doesn't open the Orb box, then he cannot contact the Prophets.
Wykoff: It doesn't matter, Benny. The Prophets don't exist either. They're all figments of your imagination. Get rid of them. It's the only way that you're going to get well. Now give me the pencil, Benny.
Benny: But my story!
Wykoff: It's over. Just let it go.
Ezri: Benjamin, what are you waiting for? Open it. That's why we're here, right?
Jake: He can't hear you.
Ezri: Jake! Jake, are you all right?
Jake: Yeah.
Kira: Ship's log, supplemental. Senator Cretak said that the Romulan warbirds would be here in eight hours. She was wrong. They're two hours early.
Odo: They'll be in weapons range in eight minutes.
Kira: Open a channel.
Crewman: Go ahead.
Kira: This is Colonel Kira of the Bajoran Militia. Any ship traveling within transporter range of Derna will be considered hostile and fired upon.
Odo: They're not responding.
Kira: Kira to all Bajoran ships. Prepare to engage.
Crewman: Sir, Admiral Ross is asking to speak to you.
Kira: Put him through.
Ross: Colonel, I'm appealing to you one last time to end this blockade.
Kira: You know I can't do that, Admiral.
Cretak: Be aware that I'm authorized to use whatever force is necessary to see that our medical supplies reach their destination. However, I'm also authorized to seek a negotiated settlement.
Kira: My government has made its position quite clear. There are to be no negotiations as long as there are Romulan weapons on Derna.
Ross: Damn it, Colonel. If you open fire on those ships, we all lose. The only way to beat the Dominion is to keep our Alliance intact.
Cretak: Besides, I would hate to see you throw your life away.
Kira: Your concern is touching, Senator. But I'm not dead yet. End transmission.
Odo: At least not for another six minutes.
Ross: You still think she's going to back down?
Cretak: She has to, because I won't.
Quark: Take me out of the oven, Moogie. I'm cooked.
O'Brien: General, I've found it. A magnetic instability near the sun's equator.
Bashir: Excellent. Now, let's trigger that solar ejection and get out of here.
O'Brien: I'm afraid it's not that simple. We have to make sure the ejection has the right trajectory to destroy the shipyard.
Martok: Well, how do we do that?
Worf: We have to get closer. Much closer.
O'Brien: He's right.
Quark: Sto-vo-kor, here we come.
Wykoff: Take it, Benny.
Benny: What for?
Wykoff: I'm offering you an opportunity few people ever get. You can wipe away all your mistakes.
Benny: You want me to paint over my story?
Wykoff: They're only words. Meaningless words that no one cares about. Get rid of them and you can walk out of here a free man.
Wykoff: Go ahead. Save yourself.
Ezri: Ben?
Sisko: Got to cover it up. Bury it.
Ezri: Ben, what are you doing?
Wykoff: It's for your own good, Benny. Wipe away the words. Destroy them before they destroy you.
Ezri: Ben, stop.
Odo: The Romulans have powered their weapons. I think they're calling your bluff.
Kira: Auxiliary power to forward shields. Kira to all ships. Hold your positions.
Odo: Nerys, if you're going to end this, I suggest you do it now.
Ross: Time to fold, Colonel.
O'Brien: Damn it. We're ready, General.
Martok: Decloak and prepare to fire on Worf's command.
Worf: Fire!
Martok: It didn't work.
Quark: Oh well, we tried. Time to go.
Worf: No. Not until we complete our mission.
O'Brien: We'll have to increase the magnetic gradient. I'll recalibrate the deflector.
Bashir: We might not have time. There are three Jem'Hadar ships are approaching bearing zero zero five mark one nine zero.
Martok: I suggest you work quickly, Chief.
Ezri: No!
Sisko: Get out of my way.
Ezri: Ben, you came here to find the Prophets, remember?
Sisko: Move!
Ezri: No, listen to me. You promised Jadzia you would make things right. Well now is your chance. Open the box, Ben.
Wykoff: No!
Scene: (Sisko watches the energy shoots past DS9 and
WHOOSH! the wormhole reopens.)
Odo: Do we stand down, Colonel?
Crewman: Sir, we're getting a transmission from Deep Space Nine. The wormhole. It's back!
Kira: On screen.
Odo: Nerys?
Kira: Open a channel to all Bajoran ships. Hold your position and prepare to fire on my command. Lock targets.
Crewman: Targets locked.
Kira: Still glad you came along?
Odo: I wouldn't have missed it for anything.
Cretak: I'm afraid the Colonel has run out of time.
Martok: Well, Worf, did I not promise you a glorious battle?
Worf: It is everything I hoped for.
O'Brien: EM pulse ready, General.
Quark: Then what are you waiting for? Fire!
Martok: By all means, Chief. Fire!
Bashir: It's working.
Quark: Great. Now can we leave?
Worf: Full impulse.
Martok: Qapla'!
Quark: I hope Jadzia appreciates all this.
Bashir: I'm sure she does.
Worf: Lohm Ict lihj. posh Machh lodge Sto-vo-kor Jadzia Dax pailodge pah dock Lih Dun. Shoo vwee vahm baht leh paolodge. Pailodge Poh Hokh Vahd Sto-vo-kor.
Odo: Nerys, they're pulling back.
Crewman: Colonel, Admiral Ross would like to speak with you.
Kira: Put him through.
Ross: You can blink now, Colonel. You've won. Senator Cretak has agreed to remove the weapons from Derna.
Kira: What changed her mind?
Ross: I told her if she didn't remove them, I would.
Kira: And what changed your mind?
Ross: You did. Remind me never to play poker with you.
Sisko: Show yourselves. I've come to speak with you.
Sarah: The Sisko has completed his task.
Sisko: Sarah?
Sarah: The Kosst Amojan no longer threatens us.
Sisko: You mean the Pah wraith? It's no longer in the wormhole?
Sarah: I have cast it out.
Sisko: Is that why the Prophets sent me to Tiree? To release you from the Orb?
Sarah: The Kosst Amojan tried to stop you with a false vision. But you did not waver. You fulfillled your destiny.
Sisko: My destiny? You talk as if my life was over.
Sarah: The Sisko must still face many tasks.
Sisko: I don't suppose you'll tell me what they are.
Sarah: The Emissary is corporeal. Linear.
Sisko: Linear or not, I need some answers.
Sarah: The Sisko is intrusive.
Sisko: Are you Sarah Sisko? Are you my mother?
Sarah: Sarah Sisko was corporeal. For a time, I shared her existence.
Sisko: You took over her body, made sure she married my father so that she'd give birth to me.
Sarah: The Sisko is necessary.
Sisko: And once you didn't need her anymore, you left her. No wonder she walked out on my father. She didn't chose him, you did.
Sarah: The Sisko would prefer different answers.
Sisko: What you're telling me isn't easy to accept. You arranged my birth. I exist because of you?
Sarah: The Sisko's path is a difficult one.
Sisko: But why me? Why did it have to be me?
Sarah: Because it could be no one else.
Ezri: Benjamin? That must have been some Orb experience.
Sisko: I'll tell you about it someday.
Worf: Welcome back, Captain.
O'Brien: We missed you, sir.
Kira: Thank you for bringing the Prophets back to us.
Sisko: I heard you've all been pretty busy yourselves.
Ezri: Odo! Nerys! Julian! It's so good to see you. Worf, we need to talk.
Bashir: Who's that?
Jake: It's Dax.
Worf: Dax?
Jake: That's right, Ezri Dax. Incredible, isn't it?
Worf: It cannot be.
Quark: She's so much shorter.
Odo: Just when you thought things couldn't get more interesting.


Ezri: It's funny. Before yesterday, I'd never set foot on this station but it's as familiar to me as the back of my hand. Isn't that odd?
Ezri: You have no idea who I am, do you?
Ezri: I didn't think so. Thanks for listening anyway..
Ezri: I was killed here. I mean, Jadzia was.
Kira: I try not to think about that. If I did, I'm not sure that I could come back here.
Ezri: It's a strange sensation, dying. No matter how many times it happens to you, you never get used to it. It must be a little diskoncerting for you, knowing that I have Jadzia's memories. No wonder you're uncomfortable.
Kira: It's a lot to get used to.
Ezri: Tell me about it. Well, I'll let you get to your prayers.
Ezri: Bloodwine.
Quark: That's the good stuff. Same vintage I served when you and Worf got married.
Ezri: It smells awful.
Quark: It used to be your favorite.
Ezri: I used to be right handed, too. A lot of things have changed since I was joined.
Quark: I can imagine. Seven lifetimes worth of memories would mix up anyone. Or is it eight?
Ezri: Who knows anymore?
Quark: It'll be a lot easier once you get settled in. Have you picked out your quarters yet?
Ezri: I'm not staying. I'm going back to the Destiny to be an assistant counselor.
Quark: You're a therapist?
Ezri: Why does everyone sound so surprised when they hear that?
Quark: Oh, it's just you're so young. Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Why not stay for a while and get to know your old friends again.
Ezri: I don't want to force things. People need time to get over losing Jadzia. You know something, Quark? Besides Benjamin, you're the only one of Jadzia's friends who doesn't seem uncomfortable around me.
Quark: She and I were close, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be close too. Remember all those late night tongo games?
Ezri: Who could forget? Wait a minute. You owe me ten slips of latinum from our last game.
Quark: I don't think so.
Ezri: I won with a Full Consortium. I remember.
Quark: Your memory's playing tricks on you.
Ezri: Don't say that, Quark. I'm confused enough as it is.
Quark: Look who's here.
Quark: I bet the two of you have a lot to talk about.
Sisko: Come in.
Sisko: Dax.
Ezri: Are you alone?
Sisko: Why are you sneaking in this way?
Ezri: I didn't want to go through Ops in case Worf was there. We bumped into each other last night in Quark's.
Sisko: It didn't go well, I take it? You weren't expecting him to accept you right away, were you?
Ezri: Of course not. But he wouldn't even talk to me.
Sisko: Perhaps he was just trying to respect your customs. He knows that the joined Trill aren't supposed to get involved with people who were married to their previous hosts.
Ezri: But that doesn't mean we can't talk to each other. Worf knows that.
Sisko: Are you sure?
Ezri: I told him all about Trill traditions. Jadzia did. We discussed them. They discussed them.
Sisko: I understand.
Ezri: These pronouns are going to drive me crazy.
Ezri: Look at him, Benjamin. He's in pain.
Sisko: How can you tell?
Ezri: I was his wife. I can tell. I don't want to put him through any more heartache than he's already going through. It's a good thing I'm going back to the Destiny.
Sisko: You're still planning on leaving.
Ezri: I can't stay. I couldn't do that to him. Besides, I think it might be easier for me on the Destiny. There are too many memories here.
Sisko: I'm going to miss you, old man.
Ezri: I'm going to miss you too, Benjamin.
Bashir: If you feel that strongly, Miles, you can be Crockett. I'll be Travis.
Odo: And who am I going to be again?
Bashir: General Santa Anna.
Odo: Santa Anna.
Bashir: When can our costumes be ready?
Bashir: Garak?
Garak: Hmm?
Bashir: Our holosuite costumes. When can they be ready?
Garak: Oh, I'm afraid you're going to have to find them from somewhere else. The shop's closed.
O'Brien: Still?
Garak: Well, Starfleet Intelligence is keeping me quite busy these days.
Bashir: What if we let you be Crockett?
O'Brien: Hey.
Garak: Even if I was interested, I don't have the time. Do you have any idea how long it takes to decode a Cardassian military transmission? I mean, I invented some of the basic encryption protocols when I was with the Obsidian Order, but it still takes me several days to decipher the simplest sentence.
Bashir: You've got to take a break sometime.
Garak: Well I intend to. Just as soon as the Dominion is driven off Cardassia. Must you stand so close?
Bashir: That was a bit harsh.
Garak: Well, I don't like people looming over me. I have to get back to work. Thank you for your company, gentlemen.
Odo: Starfleet intercepted another Cardassian military transmission. Are you all right? Garak?
Garak: I can't breathe.
Odo: Garak! Odo to the Infirmary. We have a medical emergency. Garak.
Odo: He had a claustrophobic attack in his shop.
Sisko: His shop? I don't understand. That's a good sized space.
Garak: I know. I've been claustrophobic for as long as I can remember, but lately it seems to have gotten worse. Rooms that I once found completely tolerable now suddenly feel alarmingly cramped.
Bashir: I wish I had an explanation, but I don't. He checks out fine.
Garak: Well, I don't feel fine. Would you gentlemen mind terribly if we continued this conversation on the Promenade?
Odo: Better?
Garak: A little.
Sisko: Mister Garak, as much as I appreciate with your situation, I'm not sure why you asked to see me.
Garak: I was hoping you'd be kind enough to express my regrets to Starfleet Intelligence. When I get this way, my concentration isn't what it should be. I'm afraid I won't be decoding any transmissions for a while.
Sisko: Can I tell them when to expect you back on the job?
Garak: I wish I could say. Believe me, I'm not happy about this either. I want to see an end to this war just as much as you. And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go hem some pants. For some reason, sewing seems to calm me down.
Odo: Sewing?
Sisko: We can't afford to lose Mister Garak right now. Is there anything you can do for him?
Bashir: To be blunt, our friend Garak needs to have his head examined.
Ezri: Me? You want me to work with Garak?
Sisko: You're a counselor, aren't you?
Ezri: Assistant counselor. I'm still in training.
Sisko: Oh, come on, Dax. What are you going to learn in the next few months that you haven't already learned in the last three hundred years?
Ezri: Oh, how to keep from breaking into tears for no reason. How to resist the urge to stand on my head. Things like that.
Sisko: Why are you standing on your head, by the way?
Ezri: Emony used to do it.
Sisko: The gymnast?
Ezri: She found it relaxing.
Sisko: Do you?
Ezri: Actually, it's giving me a headache.
Ezri: Why can't Julian work with Garak?
Sisko: Julian's a good doctor, but he's no counselor. Not even an assistant counselor. And besides, he doesn't have eight lifetimes worth of experience under his belt.
Ezri: I bet he doesn't stand on his head for no reason, either.
Sisko: That's a good point. Come on, old man, you can do this.
Ezri: All right, I'll try. I just wish I had as much confidence in me as you do.
Quark: So what do you think?
Bashir: About what?
Quark: About her.
Bashir: About who?
Quark: Dax.
Bashir: Oh, Ezri. She seems nice.
Quark: Meaning what?
Bashir: Meaning nice.
Quark: Oh, come on, Doctor. I know the way you felt about Jadzia.
Bashir: She's not Jadzia.
Quark: She's the next best thing. So, are you interested?
Bashir: Sounds to me like you're the one who's interested, Quark.
Quark: It's not every day you get a second chance with a woman.
Bashir: It's not the same woman.
Quark: She's still Dax, isn't she?
Bashir: More or less.
Quark: Well, that's good enough for me. Ready for a little competition?
Bashir: You're insane.
Quark: And you are going to lose.
Ezri: Am I interrupting?
Garak: Ah. You must be Ezri Dax. The Captain told me that you'd be dropping by to counsel me.
Ezri: Is that all right?
Garak: Oh, it all depends on what it involves. I'm a very private person.
Ezri: I understand. So is it helping? The sewing. Is it making you feel better?
Garak: Thankfully, yes.
Ezri: You're lucky, nothing helps me.
Garak: Are you claustrophobic too?
Ezri: Why would you say that?
Garak: You just said
Ezri: No, I get spacesick. Ever since I was joined. I'm very sensitive to motion. I can even feel the station spinning.
Garak: Really?
Ezri: It's because of what happened to Torias. He was killed in a shuttle accident.
Garak: But why would that make you spacesick?
Ezri: Because I blame myself for what happened.
Garak: You were piloting?
Ezri: Yes. No. Depends on how you look at it. Torias was my fifth host. Didn't I say that?
Garak: No.
Ezri: Well, he was. And I think the reason that his death has stayed with me for so long is because I just can't seem to forgive him for getting himself killed.
Garak: But you said it was an accident. So if he's not to blame, then you're not to blame, either.
Ezri: I know. But somehow I can't help but punish myself for it.
Garak: By getting spacesick.
Ezri: Exactly.
Garak: Don't take this the wrong way, but it sounds to me as if you're the one that needs to see a counselor.
Ezri: You're probably right. But I didn't come here to talk about myself, I came to talk about you.
Garak: So you did.
Ezri: Do you remember anything traumatic happening to you when you were young. Something involving getting trapped in a confined space.
Garak: If I had been that careless, my father would have left me there to teach me a lesson.
Ezri: Sounds like he was strict.
Garak: He didn't get to be the head of the Obsidian Order without a sense of diskipline.
Ezri: Did he diskipline you?
Garak: He punished me when I misbehaved. What father wouldn't?
Ezri: Tobin.
Garak: My second host. He could not bring himself to diskipline his children, no matter what they did. But that's another story. How did you say that your father punished you?
Garak: He'd lock me in a closet.
Ezri: Why didn't you mention that when I asked if you'd ever been trapped in a confined space.
Garak: I wasn't trapped. I knew he'd let me out as soon as I learned my lesson.
Ezri: Learned your lesson? Did you think you deserved to be locked in that closet?
Garak: I could be very stubborn.
Ezri: You blame yourself. Just like I blame myself for that shuttle accident. Maybe you get claustrophobic for the same reason that I get spacesick. We're both punishing ourselves for things that weren't our fault. That's it. Don't you see? We both have to let go of all this misplaced guilt.
Garak: And if we do, our problems will simply disappear?
Ezri: Not overnight, but it's a step in the right direction.
Garak: Well, I'll certainly give your advice some thought.
Ezri: Me too. Are you all right?
Garak: To tell the truth, I'm starting to feel a little claustrophobic.
Ezri: Probably because we've been talking about it. Actually, I'm starting to feel a little spacesick myself.
Garak: If it's all the same to you, I think I'll go back to my sewing.
Ezri: Good idea.
Garak: Thank you for stopping by.
Ezri: My pleasure.
Ezri: Hello, Worf.
Worf: Ensign.
Ezri: Ensign? That's all you have to say to me?
Worf: What more is there to say?
Ezri: I was your wife.
Worf: You are not Jadzia. Jadzia died and went to Sto-vo-kor. I do not know you. Nor do I wish to know you.
Ezri: Come in.
Sisko: Dax?
Ezri: Do you think the Chief could adjust the inertial dampers so the station would spin a little slower?
Sisko: I don't know. Why?
Ezri: Never mind. To what do I owe the pleasure?
Sisko: I'm not going to say I told you so, but Garak stopped by Odo's office this morning to pick up the latest Cardassian transmissions for decoding.
Ezri: Really?
Sisko: It looks like Garak's claustrophobia is under control.
Ezri: I guess our talk helped him.
Sisko: I told you so.
Ezri: I thought you said you weren't going to say that.
Sisko: I couldn't resist.
Sisko: Are you all right?
Ezri: I talked with Worf. He doesn't want to have anything to do with me.
Sisko: Perhaps I should have a talk with him.
Ezri: Absolutely not. You intimidate him.
Sisko: Me?
Ezri: Don't tell him I told you.
Sisko: I intimidate Worf, huh?
Ezri: You like that, don't you?
Sisko: Of course not.
Ezri: Come on. I've been a man, I know.
Sisko: Look, we're not talking about me and Worf, we're talking about you and Worf. Now, I sympathize with what he's going through, but as far as I'm concerned, you have as much right to be here as he does.
Ezri: What are you getting at, Benjamin?
Sisko: The war certainly has not been good for morale around here. I've been thinking the station could use a good counselor. I can't think of anyone better suited for the job.
Ezri: Thanks for saying that. But even if Worf wasn't an issue, I'm still just an assistant counselor.
Sisko: I took the liberty of talking to Starfleet Medical. They're willing to waive the rest of your training and give you a commission as a full counselor with the rank of lieutenant.
Ezri: How'd you talk them into that?
Sisko: I asked them what they thought you might learn in the next few months
Ezri: That I haven't already learned in the last three hundred years.
Sisko: They saw my point. I hope you do, too.
Ezri: It means a lot to me that you want me to stay, but I can't.
Sisko: Because of Worf?
Ezri: Mostly.
Sisko: Well, you just say the word and I will intimidate him for you.
Ezri: Idanian spice pudding. No, cancel that. I'll have a kilm steak, rare. No, Tobin was a vegetarian. Give me
Bashir: Two Fanalian toddies, hot.
Ezri: How'd you know?
Bashir: Lucky guess. Care to join me?
Ezri: Sure.
Bashir: So here we are.
Ezri: What was that?
Bashir: What was what?
Ezri: That look.
Bashir: This might be the last thing you want to hear, but you have Jadzia's eyes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything.
Ezri: Don't flirt with me, Julian. Please.
Bashir: I'm not.
Ezri: I remember the way you used to flirt with Jadzia.
Bashir: It was just an observation.
Ezri: Good. Because I'm not like her. She knew how to handle it. Actually, she quite enjoyed it.
Bashir: Really?
Ezri: You didn't know?
Bashir: I always suspected.
Ezri: You can be very charming. You want to know something? If Worf hadn't come along, it would have been you.
Ezri: You really miss her, don't you?
Bashir: Yes, I suppose I always will. But somehow, talking to you seems to help.
Talpet: Deputy Talpet to Doctor Bashir.
Bashir: Go ahead.
Talpet: We have a medical emergency in airlock seven. It's Garak, sir.
Bashir: I'm on my way.
Bashir: Garak! What's he doing in there?
Ezri: Garak, open the door.
Garak: Let me out! Let me out!
Ezri: Breathe in, and out. In and out. Better? It's beautiful, isn't it? Look at that sky. It just goes on and on.
Garak: But it doesn't. It's an illusion. There's a holosuite wall not ten meters in front of us.
Ezri: But you can't see it.
Garak: I can feel it.
Ezri: We could call up another program.
Garak: I can't believe the way I humiliated myself back there. I just wanted to get out. I couldn't breathe.
Ezri: If you were looking for fresh air, you sure were knocking on the wrong door.
Garak: I have to get this situation under control. If I don't, I'm going to be forced to leave the station, and then where will I go? I can't go back to Cardassia. I doubt if I'd be welcome on Bajor.
Ezri: You're not going to have to leave the station. I'll talk to Quark and tell him to leave this holosuite available to you twenty six hours a day. So the next time you feel like jumping out the nearest airlock, come here instead. It's going to be all right. We're going to get this under control. I promise.
Garak: If you don't mind, I'd like to sit here and be alone for a while.
Ezri: I'll come and check in on you later.
Bashir: Hold still. I think I've got something.
Quark: I knew it. Never get a tympanic tickle from an amateur.
Bashir: Tympanic tickle?
Quark: It's
Bashir: Never mind. I don't want to know. Hold still. I'm going to get you some antibiotics.
Worf: We need to talk.
Bashir: About what?
Worf: Do not toy with me, Doctor. I know how you felt about Jadzia.
Bashir: That was a long time ago.
Worf: I saw you with her.
Bashir: Jadzia?
Worf: You know who I'm talking about.
Bashir: No, you've got it all wrong.
Worf: Stay away from her.
Bashir: Now wait just a minute. You have no right to tell me who I can be friends with.
Worf: If you dishonor Jadzia's memory, you will regret it. And that goes for you too, Ferengi.
Quark: What did I do?
Ezri: Garak? I thought you were going to stay in the holosuite for a while.
Garak: I got tired of staring at a fake landscape, pretending I was outside. No, no, no, work is the answer. My father always used to say that people should throw themselves into their work. Do your chores, Elim. I told you to do your chores.
Ezri: And if you didn't? What would he do to you?
Garak: Oh, no, no, no. Please, don't start. Spare me your insipid psychobabble. I'm not some quivering neurotic who feels sorry for himself because his daddy wasn't nice. You couldn't begin to understand me.
Ezri: I'd like to try.
Garak: Oh, I'm sure you would. You'd like nothing more than to pry into my personal affairs. Well, I'm not interested in dissecting my childhood. I only want to save my people from the Dominion. I don't need someone to walk in here and hold my hand. I want someone to help me get back to work. And you, my dear, aren't up to this task. I mean, look at you. You're pathetic. A confused child trying to live up to a legacy left by her predecessors. You're not worthy of the name Dax. I knew Jadzia. She was vital, alive. She owned herself. And you? You don't even know who you are. How dare you presume to help me? You can't even help yourself. Now get out of here before I say something unkind.
Sisko: What's this all about?
Ezri: What does it look like? I'm resigning from Starfleet.
Sisko: Why?
Ezri: Because I can't do my job. Garak was right. How can I help other people when I can't even help myself?
Sisko: I know this has been a hard time for you, old man, but you see
Ezri: Don't call me that! I'm not the old man. I'm not Curzon. Or Jadzia.
Sisko: No, you're Ezri. Ezri Dax. And you've been given eight lifetimes worth of experience. Now I know this is confusing for you right now, but in time you'll see it's a wonderful gift.
Ezri: It's a gift I don't deserve.
Sisko: If that's the way you feel, then go back to Trill. Talk to the Symbiosis Commission. Maybe you can convince them to take the symbiont out of you.
Ezri: I wish they could. But removing the symbiont would kill me, you know that.
Sisko: Well, if you're leaving Starfleet, you'll have to find something to do. Let's see. Maybe you could be one of the people who takes care of the symbiont pools? It's quiet in those caves. No one around. No one expecting great things from you. You could spend the rest of your life underground, in the dark, stirring mud. Eighty or ninety years of that might be just what you need. And as for Dax? That symbiont had eight amazing lives. So what if the ninth was a waste.
Ezri: Stop it, Benjamin. I thought you of all people would understand.
Sisko: I do understand. And you were right. You don't deserve the Dax symbiont. Quite frankly, you don't deserve to wear that uniform. I'll pass this on to Starfleet Command. Dismissed.
Worf: Enter.
Worf: Oh, no. Not again.
O'Brien: Compliments of Doctor Bashir.
Worf: He sent you?
O'Brien: No, that was my idea. Now, if you want to skip the drinking and get right down to the talking, I'm game.
Worf: What do you wish to discuss?
O'Brien: Julian swears there's nothing going on between him and Ezri. There's no reason for you to be jealous.
Worf: This has nothing to do with jealousy! I know that Doctor Bashir cared for Jadzia, but this woman is not Jadzia, and treating her as if she were dishonors her memory.
O'Brien: Wrong. Treating Ezri like a stranger dishonors Jadzia's memory.
Worf: It doesn't make sense. She is not Jadzia, yet she is. How can I honor the memory of the woman I loved when she is not really dead?
O'Brien: I don't have an answer for you, Worf. Let me ask you this. How do you think Jadzia would wanted you to treat Ezri?
Worf: There's no way to know.
O'Brien: Yes, there is. And the person who can tell you is the person you've been avoiding ever since she got here.
Garak: Well, I didn't think you'd darken my doorstep again.
Ezri: I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I wish I'd been able to help you.
Garak: So do I.
Ezri: Well, you don't have to worry about me bothering you anymore. I'll be leaving in the morning.
Garak: Yes, I'd heard that the Destiny was going to arrive tomorrow.
Ezri: They're putting in for supplies before they head to the front. But I won't be going with them. I've decided to go back to Trill.
Garak: How nice for you.
Ezri: Actually, the Destiny's going to be joining the Seventh Fleet at Kalandra.
Garak: Kalandra?
Ezri: Those transmissions you decoded last week must have convinced Starfleet that it's a good place to launch a new offensive.
Garak: Yes, the transmissions did indicate that it was somewhat vulnerable.
Ezri: If the offensive goes well, Starfleet will have you to thank for it.
Garak: That's most gratifying.
Ezri: I just thought you should know.
Ezri: Are you all right?
Garak: Yes, of course I'm all right. That's very good news about Kalandra.
Ezri: Let's just hope it goes well. The Cardassians will put up a strong fight.
Garak: Oh, indeed they will. But in the end, they'll lose.
Ezri: How can you be so sure?
Garak: Because they won't be expecting an attack. Because they have no idea that I broke their code. All those Cardassians are going to die because of me.
Ezri: I suppose that's one way of looking at it.
Garak: What other way is there?
Ezri: That by helping to end the war, you'll be saving lives.
Garak: Saving lives? And what lives would I be saving? Human? Klingon? Romulan?
Ezri: And Cardassian.
Garak: No, not Cardassians. They're going to fight to the bitter end. The Dominion will see to that. Don't you understand? Don't you see? I wanted to believe that I was helping my people, liberating them, but all I've done is to pave the way for their annihilation. I'm a traitor! I've betrayed every
Ezri: Dax to Infirmary, I need a medical team.
Ezri: How are you feeling?
Garak: Well I'm breathing much better now.
Ezri: At least we found out what's been triggering these claustrophobic attacks you've been having.
Garak: You know, when I first agreed to help Starfleet, I was convinced it was the right thing to do. I didn't allow myself to doubt it, even for an instant. I never realized how much it was gnawing at me. I suppose I was looking for a way out and the claustrophobia gave me an excuse to stop fighting my people.
Ezri: Now that you know that, what are you going to do?
Garak: Get back to work. What else can I do? The Dominion must be stopped. Even if it does mean the destruction of Cardassia.
Ezri: The Captain will be glad to hear that you're back on the job.
Garak: Well, he has you to thank for it. And so do I. And what about you? Are you still planning to go back to Trill?
Ezri: No. I'm going to stay in Starfleet.
Garak: I'm sure the Captain will be glad to hear that as well.
Ezri: The Captain!
Sisko: What now?
Ezri: It's my request to be reinstated into Starfleet.
Sisko: I can't send this to Starfleet Command.
Ezri: Why not?
Sisko: Because I never submitted your resignation.
Ezri: I had a feeling you didn't mean all those things you said to me. You were just trying to rattle my cage.
Sisko: You've done it to me often enough. I'm glad it worked. Mister Garak has asked that the latest Cardassian transmissions be sent to the Infirmary. Well done.
Ezri: Thanks. Somehow I thought you'd be happier that I was staying in Starfleet.
Sisko: I'd be happier if you would stay here at DS Nine.
Ezri: Me, too. But you know I can't.
Sisko: I hope Captain Raymer knows how lucky she is. She's getting one hell of a counselor.
Ezri: Yes?
Worf: May I come in?
Ezri: Of course.
Worf: I understand that you are leaving in the morning.
Ezri: That's right.
Worf: I am not certain that I have treated you the way that Jadzia would have wanted.
Ezri: You'll get no argument from me there.
Worf: I loved her with all my heart.
Ezri: And she loved you.
Worf: Part of me is glad to know that she is not gone forever. But in some ways it would be easier if she were.
Ezri: I know.
Worf: I have heard that the Captain offered you a position as station counselor. I would not want you to decline on my account.
Ezri: Worf, I can't stay. I couldn't do that to you.
Worf: Do you wish to stay?
Ezri: Very much.
Worf: Then do. Jadzia would not have wanted you to leave because of me.
Ezri: Thank you.
Worf: It will be a long time before I can accept what has happened. Until then
Ezri: You need your breathing room. I understand.
Sisko: Congratulations, Lieutenant. I want you to take a good look around. You have just agreed to take responsibility for the mental health of everyone in this room. You have your work cut out for you.
Bashir: Well, I'm glad they made you a lieutenant. It would have been hard taking advice from an ensign.
O'Brien: Since when did you take advice from anyone?
Odo: Why don't you join us for dinner tonight?
Ezri: I don't want to put you out.
Kira: Oh, no, please come. It'll take the pressure off me. All he does is sit there and counts how many times I chew.
Ezri: I'll be there.
Jake: She is cute.
Sisko: She's also about three hundred years too old for you.
Quark: I took the liberty of putting together a plate for you.
Ezri: Thanks, Quark. Worf isn't here, is he?
Quark: Good question. Excuse me.
Garak: It's quite a nice turnout. Congratulations.
Ezri: I hope it isn't too crowded for you.
Garak: Oh, not at all.


Kira: Kira to Sisko.
Sisko: Go ahead, Colonel.
Kira: Captain Solok of the Starship T'Kumbra is here to see you.
Sisko: Send him in.
Sisko: Welcome to Deep Space Nine, Captain.
Solok: Your welcome is acknowledged.
Sisko: Have a seat. It's been a long time.
Solok: Ten years, two months, five days.
Sisko: You mean you don't know it to the minute?
Solok: Of course I do. But humans are often irked by such precision. Especially the more emotional humans. Our repair list. I understand you were recently honored with the Christopher Pike Medal for Valor. Congratulations.
Sisko: Thank you. And congratulations to you. I heard you received your Medal last month.
Solok: My second, actually. The T'Kumbra has been in combat for over six months. Spending time behind the lines will be a welcome change.
Sisko: This isn't exactly a safe harbor. We have seen our share of action.
Solok: Of course you have.
Sisko: We can upgrade your inertial dampers by the end of the day, but to begin to overhaul your warp core would take at least a week.
Solok: That is most inefficient.
Sisko: War's an inefficient business.
Solok: A somewhat unprofessional attitude. However, I have come to expect a lack of professionalism and efficiency on starbases run by human officers.
Sisko: You're welcome to take your ship to a Vulcan station. I think there's one about fifty light years away. If you're planning to stay here with us behind the lines, my Chief of Operations will see to your requests.
Solok: Very well. There is another matter not listed on the formal report. I need use of a holosuite. The T'Kumbra holodecks are currently under repair.
Sisko: To arrange holosuite time you have to go through Quark. He owns the only ones on the station.
Solok: Then I will speak to Quark. I have created a special program for my senior staff and they are quite eager to resume using it.
Sisko: Really?
Solok: Yes. In fact, you may find the program of some interest. It is based on an Earth game.
Sisko: And what game would that be?
Sisko: Colonel, assemble the senior staff in the wardroom. Now.
Sisko: As you probably know, the Starship T'Kumbra is docked at our station. What you may not know is that their Captain considers his crew, an all Vulcan crew by the way, to be the finest in the fleet. I happen to think the people sitting at this table comprise the finest crew in the quadrant.
Ezri: You're not going to get much of an argument from this group.
Sisko: I didn't think so. Which is why when their Captain challenged us to a contest of courage, teamwork and sacrifice, I accepted on your behalf.
Worf: We will destroy them.
Sisko: I was hoping for that reaction.
Bashir: So, when is this clash of the titans?
Sisko: Two weeks, in holosuite five.
Kira: What's the contest?
Sisko: Baseball.
Kira: Chapter twenty five. The infield fly rule is invoked in instances where, with both first base and second base occupied, or with first, second and third base occupied
Worf: What if there is a runner at home?
Nog: There's never a runner at home.
Kira: Okay. And fewer than two outs, the batter hits a high fly.
Worf: Fly. The term for a batted ball while it is in the air.
Kira: Oh, right. Er, fewer than two out, the batter hits a high fly which in the judgment of the umpire can readily be caught by an infielder or the pitcher or catcher inside fair ground. The batter is then called out regardless of whether the ball is subsequently caught or not.
Nog: That seems simple enough.
Kira: An attempt to bunt, however, under the conditions noted above, which results in a fair fly shall not be regarded an infield fly. What's a bunt?
Bashir: A bunt. A ball which has been deliberately tapped into the area between the pitcher and the catcher by the batter in order to force the fielding side to throw out the batter and allow a runner to advance.
Ezri: Right. Chief, what's a grand slam?
O'Brien: Er, a home run hit when the bases are crowded.
Ezri: Right, except it's bases loaded. Now, what's a Fancy Dan?
O'Brien: A what?
Bashir: You're making that up.
Ezri: I most certainly am not.
Leeta: Hi. Jake told us about the game against the Vulcans. It sounds really exciting.
Ezri: You should come watch.
Bashir: Fancy Dan. A fielder who puts an extra flourish on his movements while making a play in hopes of gaining the approval of the spectators.
Leeta: Actually we were thinking of doing more than watching.
Rom: If we can. That is, if there's still room for other potential players to possibly try and
Leeta: We want to try out.
Rom: Nog always talks about how Captain Sisko and Jake play baseball and how it brings them closer together. Since Nog and I haven't seen much of each other lately, I thought this might be a good way of spending some time together.
Leeta: And I decided to make it a complete family outing.
Ezri: That is so sweet.
Leeta: Isn't it?
Quark: Idiotic, is what it is. You're going to make a fool out of yourself.
Rom: I will not.
Quark: And you can barely spin a dabo wheel, much less kick a ball around a field.
Leeta: Shows how much you know. You don't kick the ball. Do you?
Quark: You won't make the team.
Rom: At least we're trying out. What about you?
Quark: I don't have the slightest interest in this human game.
Leeta: You know why? Jake said it's a game that takes heart, and you sold yours a long time ago. Come on, Rom.
Quark: What time are tryouts?
O'Brien: Thirteen hundred. Holosuite four.
Sisko: Hey, hey! All right. Yes. First day of practice! And it's an exciting time. Am I right?
All: Oh, yeah.
Sisko: Yeah, there we go, there we go! That's the spirit! Now, first let me introduce you to our pitcher and our secret weapon, Jake The Slider Sisko.
Bashir: Good luck, Jake.
Worf: Very nice.
Sisko: Now, all of the other positions are open for tryouts. Every one of you here today has seen at least one baseball game with me in a holosuite. Now I know it looks simple. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. But it is not that easy. It's a difficult game. It was a difficult game to play even for seasoned professionals who spent their lifetime practicing, and now we have less than two weeks to build a team and face the opponent. Now, I know what some of you are thinking. How can we beat the Logicians? They're all Vulcans. They're stronger and faster than any one of us, except for Worf and our genetically enhanced doctor. But there is more to baseball than physical strength. It's about courage, and it's also about faith, and it is also about heart. And if there's one thing our Vulcan friends lack, it's heart. I think we can beat them. I know we can beat them.
Jake: Yeah.
Sisko: We are going to beat them. Am I right?
All: Yeah.
Sisko: I can't hear you.
All: Yeah. Yes, sir!
Sisko: I can't hear you. Are we going to beat the Vulcans?
All: Yes, sir!
Sisko: All right then, let's play some baseball! First I want you to pair off. Spread yourselves about ten meters apart and play some catch. Just a little throw and catch, nice and easy.
Ezri: You almost had it.
Bashir: Don't throw it to her. You've got to throw it to someone who's looking at you.
O'Brien: Oh, come on, Quark.
Jake: This is going to be two long, hard weeks.
Sisko: Jake, I don't care how hard and these two weeks are, but I'm not going to lose to Solok in a baseball game. We're going to win.
Odo: Umpire?
Sisko: That's right. Will you do it?
Odo: Well, wouldn't a holographic umpire be more accurate?
Sisko: I don't want a computer program calling a baseball game. That's something Solok would do. I want a real person behind the plate, not just some collection of photons and magnetic fields. I also want a person who can be completely impartial, and I can't think of anyone I'd trust more.
Odo: Well, that's very flattering.
Sisko: It's the truth. Will you do it?
Odo: All right.
Sisko: Outstanding. Here are the rules. If you have any questions, I'll be with the team in the Infirmary.
Odo: The Infirmary?
Sisko: We had a few problems at practice today. Remember, the game is in less than two weeks, so you better start to work on your moves.
Odo: My moves?
Ezri: I can't believe this. I used to be an athlete. At least I remember being an athlete. My third host Emony was an Olympic gymnast. I keep expecting my legs to react like hers did, but I fell all over myself. It's like I don't know my own body anymore.
Quark: I don't know what you're complaining about. At least you didn't require major surgery.
Kira: Knitting together a couple of bones is not major surgery, Quark.
Quark: It is if the bones are in the back of your skull. I hope you've learned your lesson.
Rom: Always look behind you before swinging a bat.
Sisko: So, how are my casualties doing?
Kira: We'll live.
Ezri: If you believe Julian. Personally, I'm not sure I'm going to make it.
Sisko: That's the spirit, old man. Don't lose your sense of humor.
Jake: How's the shoulder, Chief?
Bashir: He's out, I'm afraid. His rotator cuff was badly torn.
Sisko: Can't you repair the damage? I need him on third and he's anchoring the second half of the lineup.
Bashir: I've repaired the rotator cuff, but the ligaments need time to knit together with the clavicular joint. I can't let him to play.
Sisko: Damn!
O'Brien: I'm sorry, sir. I was really looking forward to the game.
Sisko: Well, there's an old saying. Those who can't, coach. As for now, you are batting, pitching and first base coach.
O'Brien: Great. Which one was first base?
Sisko: We'll go over that again later. All right, practice tomorrow morning at oh seven thirty. Don't be late.
O'Brien: We'll be there.
Bashir: Well, excuse me, I still have to realign Worf's zygomatic bone.
Rom: Tell him I'm sorry.
Jake: We can move Ezri over to third
Sisko: No, no, no. I need her in center. Oh, I know who we can get. I'll have to pull a some strings, but I think I can do it.
Jake: Who?
Sisko: Welcome home.
Kasidy: Oh, music to my ears. Does this mean you missed me?
Sisko: Like a piece of my heart was missing.
Kasidy: Sweet words and flowers too? Are you feeling all right?
Sisko: Now that you're back, I feel outstanding.
Kasidy: I could get used to this.
Sisko: Well, you should. Are you going to be here long?
Kasidy: As a matter of fact, my next three cargo runs have been reassigned.
Sisko: Really.
Kasidy: Bureaucrats. Who knows why they do anything?
Sisko: Who knows?
Kasidy: So, what are we going to do with all my time off?
Sisko: I have a few ideas.
Kasidy: I bet you do.
Sisko: So tell me, how's your throwing arm holding up?
Sisko: There you go, Kas! That's what I'm talking about. All right, heads up, people. There's a runner on first and one away.
Rom: I got it! I got it! I got it!
Sisko: How many is that?
Nog: Today? I think he's missed ten.
Sisko: Damn. All right, batting practice.
Leeta: What's he doing here?
Sisko: He's scouting us.
Worf: If he is taking the time to conduct reconnaissance, he must be worried.
Sisko: He should be. Next week on this field, that man is going to get a painful lesson in humility.
Nog: Batter up!
Rom: Today I'm going to hit the ball. You just watch.
Sisko: All right, Rom, remember what we talked about. Keep your eye on the ball. Follow the ball from the pitcher's hand all the way to the bat.
Leeta: Oh.
Rom: Sorry.
Leeta: You can do it!
Bashir: Hang in there, Rom!
Sisko: All right, Rom.)
Rom: Uh oh. Sorry.
Sisko: That's it. You're done.
Rom: I'll do better tomorrow, Captain.
Sisko: No, you won't. You are finished, gone, off the team.
Nog: Sir, can't you give him another chance?
Sisko: Is anyone talking to you, Ensign?
Rom: I can't play?
Sisko: That's the smartest thing you've said all week. You can't play! Now get your gear. Get out of here! Worf, you're up!
Rom: Captain Sisko hates me.
Leeta: He doesn't hate you, Rom.
Quark: Sisko was just blowing off steam. He'll get over it.
Nog: That's right. I'll go talk with him in the morning. Maybe he'll change his mind.
Rom: No! I don't want him to kick you off the team too.
Nog: I don't care about the team. If you can't play, I won't either.
Leeta: Oh, that goes for me too.
Quark: And me.
O'Brien: And us.
Ezri: Benjamin was way out of line today, Rom.
O'Brien: Yeah, this game is supposed to be fun, not a life or death struggle.
Bashir: So we've decided to quit unless he reinstates you immediately.
Rom: No! Please!
Kira: Rom, we're on your side.
Rom: I don't want to make the team like this. I had my chance but I wasn't good enough. Let's face it, the Captain's right. I'm hopeless. I don't deserve to be on the team. You play. You've earned it.
Nog: Playing baseball doesn't mean anything to me.
Rom: But it should. You're good at it. So are you, and I want to see you play. I want to see all of you play. I want to see our team beat the Vulcans, even if I'm only watching from the, the er
Nog: The stands?
Rom: Right. Please?
Kira: If that's the way you feel about it.
Leeta: Rom, there are moments when I know exactly why I married you.
Bashir: What are you eating?
O'Brien: I'm not eating, I'm chewing.
Bashir: Chewing what?
O'Brien: Gum. It's traditional. I had the replicator create me some.
Bashir: They just chewed it?
O'Brien: No, they infused the gum with flavor.
Bashir: What did you infuse it with?
O'Brien: Scotch. Here, try some.
Bashir: Mmmm.
Sisko: All right, you got a runner on first, you got a runner on second, one away. Ground ball hit to the second baseman. Kira, what do you do?
Kira: I go for the double play, unless the runner on third is already on his way home, in which case
Kasidy: Okay, relax. Keep your weight on the balls of your feet. Back elbow up. Yeah, good.
Quark: Faster! Come on, come on! Faster! Come on. Faster. Oh, yeah, good.
Ezri: I got it!
Bashir: Mine!
Bashir: Well don't look at me. You called it. I was out of position!
Ezri: That was yours all the way! Oh, come on, Julian!
Odo: Safe!
Odo: Safe! You're out! You're out!
Kasidy: Oh, that's quite a knot. Your back is like a minefield of bruised muscles.
Sisko: Yeah, you tell me something I don't know.
Kasidy: Okay. You're lifting your foot at the plate.
Sisko: What?
Kasidy: Okay, take a swing.
Kasidy: Stop! Right there. Look. You're lifting your foot in the backswing. It's been messing up your whole rhythm. Not that bad. I know that look. It's the 'I'd really like to smash something but she'll think I'm crazy' look. Well, don't let me stop you. They're your quarters. Smash away if it'll make you feel better.
Sisko: The only way I'll feel better is to beat Solok tomorrow.
Kasidy: So, do I get to hear the Solok story now? And before you say no you'd better consider the fact that if you don't tell me, you won't have a third baseman.
Sisko: We were in the same class at the Academy. One weekend I was with some friends at a bar off campus, the Launching Pad. and Solok came in with some Vulcan cadets. He said they were doing research on illogical human bonding rituals. We didn't take kindly to that.
Kasidy: And you'd had a few drinks
Sisko: One or two. We got into a debate. Solok said that Vulcans were naturally superior to humans and other emotionally handicapped species. Of course I took the opposite position. So there I am, drunk and debating logic versus emotion with a smug and very sober Vulcan. Well, to make a long story short, I decided the best way to prove that humans were every bit the equal of Vulcans was to challenge him to a wrestling match.
Kasidy: Wrestling?
Sisko: All I wanted to do was to wipe that arrogant look off his face, so in the heat of the moment I challenged him.
Kasidy: And?
Sisko: I ended up in the Infirmary with a separated shoulder, two cracked ribs and a very bruised ego.
Kasidy: Oh, Ben, I don't mean to laugh, but what did you expect? A Vulcan has three times the strength of a human.
Sisko: And they're faster too. But you're right. I got what I deserved. And if it had ended right there, it would have been fine. But it didn't. Solok took every opportunity to remind me of the match. He used to point me out whenever I walked across the campus. In fact he wrote five psychology papers about our match. I became the living embodiment of why Vulcans were inherently superior to humans.
Kasidy: You don't mean he was gloating? A Vulcan?
Sisko: That's exactly what I mean. He may have hidden it beneath that Vulcan calm, but he loved every minute of it. And you'd think that once we graduated it would have stopped, but it didn't. Over the years, Solok wrote over a dozen papers on Vulcan human comparative profiles and in the beginning of every paper is an analysis of that damned wrestling match!
Kasidy: And now he comes to your station and announces that he's put together a baseball team.
Sisko: He doesn't care about baseball. All he wants to do is rub my nose in it one more time. But now he is using my game. My game!
Kasidy: You should tell that to the Niners. They don't understand why you're so caught up in this.
Sisko: Oh, no. I'd rather they think I'm just caught up in some baseball game than pursuing an adolescent rivalry.
Kasidy: Just tell them the truth. They'll understand. They need to know how personal this is to you.
Sisko: Oh, no. No. I mean it. And you can't tell them either. I want you to promise me.
Kasidy: All right, I promise.
Kasidy: He made me promise not to tell you, so you have to keep this under your hats.
Ezri: Curzon and Jadzia always wondered why Benjamin hated Solok but he'd never talk about it.
Kasidy: Well, he's embarrassed. He's calling it an adolescent rivalry, but Solok's the one that's kept this thing going.
O'Brien: And now he's trying to beat the Captain at his own game.
Worf: It is a dishonorable motive.
Nog: I'm beginning to hate him myself.
Quark: So, what are we going to do about it?
Kira: I'll tell you what we do. We go out there tomorrow and we put that Vulcan in his place. We win it for the Captain.
Bashir: And for all our emotionally handicapped races.
O'Brien: Now there's something worth fighting for. Right?
Kasidy: Niners.
All: Niners!
O'Brien: Okay, Niners, let's go, let's go, come on. Show these guys.
Sisko: Let's dispense with the crowd. My team has never played in front of people before.
Solok: If you wish. Computer, eliminate the spectators.
Odo: Play ball!
Odo: Batter up!
Sisko: All right, Niners, let's hear some chatter.
Kasidy: Hey, batter, batter, batter, batter.
Leeta: Hey, batter, batter, batter, batter.
Worf: Death to the opposition.
Kasidy: Strike him out.
Sisko: Lucky swing. All right.
Nog: Hey, don't worry, you'll get the next one. Okay? Okay?
Jake: Okay.
Nog: All right.
Sisko: All right. You're making mental errors out there. Stupid mistakes! You have to start thinking about what you're doing. Colonel, you have to charge the ball, don't wait for it to come to you. Ezri, you're playing too deep. They rattled you.
Jake: Yeah. They're pretty good.
Sisko: What are you talking about, they're pretty good? You'd better stop admiring them and start striking them out!
Odo: Batter up.
Sisko: Let's play ball.
Odo: Strike three.
Odo: Strike three.
Odo: Strike three.
Sisko: Let's go. (In the fourth, the scoreboard reads - Logicians 4 1 1 1 - 7 runs, 9 hits, 0 errors. Niners 0 0 0 0 - 0 runs, 2 hits, 3 errors.)
Odo: Out!
Kira: You want to try that again?
Sisko: Hey, hey, hey. Colonel, stay cool! Don't do anything to get yourself thrown out.
Kira: I wouldn't dream of it, Captain. You're out, by the way.
Sisko: Play ball.
Nog: Was that slide at second legal?
Kasidy: Afraid so.
Bashir: Doesn't seem very sporting.
Jake: These guys are playing to win. Sporting doesn't enter into it.
Odo: Safe!
Sisko: It's about time!
Odo: Strike one.
Sisko: If you're not there, let it go, all right? Don't reach for it.
Odo: Ball one.
Sisko: Hey, now. Good eye, Worf, good eye.
Odo: Ball two.
Sisko: Remember what we talked about. Keep your eye on the ball.
Odo: Foul ball. Strike two.
Sisko: Big stick. Good eye, Worf. Good eye.
Odo: Ball three.
Worf: Time.
Odo: Time.
Odo: Let's go, batter.
Worf: Do not rush me.
Odo: Strike three!
Worf: What? What are you talking about? That ball was at least half a meter! How could you call it a strike! Reverse the call! Reverse the call!
Sisko: That was low and outside.
Worf: That was clearly outside.
Sisko: What the hell were you looking about? You can't tell me that ball was over the plate. What were you doing, regenerating?
Odo: It caught the outside corner.
Worf: The outside corner?
Sisko: Outside corner, my foot. That was a ball and you know it. We have two men on! Two men on! Two men on!
Odo: Gentlemen, you are trying my patience.
Sisko: No way, no way. You stole the run from us. You stole it just as if you'd reached up and tore it off the scoreboard!
Odo: You. You're out of here!
Sisko: What?
Odo: No player shall at any time make contact with the umpire in any manner. The prescribed penalty for the violation is immediate ejection from the game. Rule number four point zero six, subsection a, paragraph four. Look it up, but do it in the stands. You're gone.
Sisko: It was a ball. It was no strike. I know it was a ball.
Bashir: Chief?
O'Brien: What?
Bashir: I think that means you're in charge now.
O'Brien: You're right. What are you standing around for? You never seen a man thrown out of a game? Come on, get your gloves and get on that field. Let's go! Come on. Quark, wake up, you're in right. Julian, you're on second, Leeta, you're in left. Come on, let's go, let's go! We got a game to play. Come on, move it.
Odo: Play ball. Ball one.
Odo: Strike one.
Leeta: Grab it, Ezri.
Sisko: All right!
Ezri: Yeah.
Bashir: Now that is a Fancy Dan!
Rom: All right!
Odo: Batter up.
Kasidy: Home, Worf! Bring it home!
Nog: What's wrong?
O'Brien: He didn't touch home, Nog.
Nog: Is that true? What do I do?
Worf: Find him and kill him!
O'Brien: Just tag him out! Jake, cover home!
Nog: Which one?
Sisko: Tag 'em all!
Jake: Come on, Nog. Hurry up!
Rom: No. Tag the next one.
Nog: Jake!
Odo: You're out!
O'Brien: Yay! Nog, well done.
Nog: Great catch.
Sisko: He's out. Did you see that? That's what I love about this game. You never know what's going to happen next. Every situation is different.
Rom: It looks like a lot of fun.
Sisko: Rom, come here. Let's go.
Rom: Where're we going? (9th innings, Logicians 10 runs, 14 hits, 0 errors. Niners 0 runs, 6 hits, 4 errors).
Odo: Safe.
Sisko: Chief? Chief, Chief, call time out.
O'Brien: Why?
Sisko: You're making a substitution.
O'Brien: What?
O'Brien: Time!
Odo: Time!
O'Brien: You're up, Rom.
Quark: Oh, you've got to be kidding. We've got a man on third. We could score.
O'Brien: Sit down, Quark. Go ahead, Rom.
Leeta: You can do it.
Nog: All right, Dad. Come on, you can do it.
Kasidy: Okay, let's play ball.
Sisko: Computer.
All: Come on, Rom.
Announcer: Your attention, please. Now pinch hitting for Jake Sisko, number thirteen Rom.
Nog: Come on, Dad you can do it. I hope.
Odo: Strike one.
Nog: Come on, Dad.
Leeta: You can do it. Come on, Rom.
Odo: Strike two!
Leeta: It's okay, Rom.
O'Brien: Julian. What was that thing called, you know, when you just tap the ball down the baseline?
Bashir: A bunt?
O'Brien: That's it, a bunt. We've to give him the sign. Rom!
Rom: What? What?
All: Go!
Odo: Safe!
Ezri: Rom, you did it!
Solok: Umpire, this is completely improper. The game is not over.
Odo: You're gone!
Sisko: Hey, Jake that was a hell of a game! A hell of a game!
Jake: I gave up ten runs.
Sisko: They're Vulcans. If they were humans you'd have held them to just two or three.
Jake: When you put it that way.
Sisko: Yes. Now, pardon me. I owe you an apology.
Rom: No. Unless you really want to.
Sisko: I'm sorry.
Rom: Apology accepted.
Sisko: If you have some time one day, maybe you can teach me how to bunt.
Rom: Sure. What's a bunt?
Nog: That's my dad.
Solok: I fail to see why you are celebrating. The Ferengi's bunt was an accident. And you still lost the game.
Sisko: You are absolutely right. And I couldn't be happier. Quark, a round of drinks for the house on my tab.
Quark: I'm way ahead of you, Captain.
Solok: You are attempting to manufacture a triumph where none exists.
Kasidy: I'd say he succeeded.
Bashir: To manufactured triumphs.
Sisko: Manufactured triumph. Hear, hear!
Niners: Hear, hear!
Solok: This is a typical human reaction, based on emotionalism and illogic.
Sisko: Did I hear irritation in that voice?
Solok: Certainly not.
Bashir: That sounded positively defensive to me.
O'Brien: With a hint of anger.
Quark: And just a touch of jealousy.
Kasidy: And a lot of bitterness.
Ezri: Are you always this emotional?
Solok: I refuse to engage in this human game of taunting.
Ezri: Human? Did I forget to wear my spots today?
Quark: All that intelligence and he still doesn't know what a human looks like.
Kira: Captain. Here's something else for your desk.
Sisko: Well, will you look at that. Would you like to sign it?
Sisko: No.