Star Trek: Deep Space Nine s01e02 Episode Script
Past Prologue
Resistance is futile.
You will disarm your weapons and escort us to Sector 001.
lf you attempt to intervene, - we will destroy you.
|- Red alert! Load torpedo bays, ready phasers.
Move us to position alpha, Ensign.
- They've locked on.
|- Reroute auxiliary power.
Our shields are being drained! Recalibrate shield mutation.
Modulation is having no effect.
- Shields have failed!|- Full reverse.
Maintain on.
Damage report.
- Damage report!|- Damage to warp core.
Containment failure in five minutes.
Direct hit! Decks one through four.
Let's get the civilians|to the escape pods, Lieutenant.
Get to your assigned evacuation area|now.
Damage to warp core.
|Containment failure in four minutes.
- l'll take care of her.
You go on.
|- Have you seen Jennifer? Jennifer? Jake! Damage to warp core.
|Containment failure in three minutes.
l'm gonna get your mom.
|You're gonna be OK.
Jennifer? OK, Jake.
We'll get your mom out|and we'll get out of here.
- Commander!|- Help me! Jennifer, hold on.
Sir! - Help me get her free!|- There's nothing we can do.
We have to leave! Warning.
Damage to warp core.
|Containment failure in two minutes.
Ensign, take the boy.
- We've got to go now, sir.
|- We just can't leave her here! Jake, you're OK.
- Stand by to launch.
|- Ready.
Jake, there you are.
- How are they biting?|- Small fries.
Threw them back.
- Want to go for a swim?|- We have to get ready.
lt won't be so bad.
l've heard|that Bajor is a beautiful world.
Why can't we live on the planet|instead of some old space station? The station is in orbit of Bajor.
|lt will be just like shore duty.
- Will there be kids there?|- Absolutely! Lots of kids.
- Bridge to Sisko.
|- Yes, Captain? We're approaching Deep Space 9,|Commander.
- Docking in seven minutes.
|- Acknowledged.
Come on.
What do you say?|We'll take the pond with us.
Computer, end programme.
ls that it? Commence Station Log,|Deep Space 9.
Commander Benjamin Sisko.
|Stardate 46388.
2.
At the request of the Bajoran government, Starfleet is to establish a Federation|presence in this system following the withdrawal|of the Cardassian forces.
The first officers, including|Chief of Operations, Miles O'Brien, arrived two days ago on the Enterprise.
The Cardassians had some fun|the day they left.
Four Bajorans were killed|trying to protect their shops.
Why hasn't anybody cleaned up? All available personnel|are repairing primary systems.
The Cardassians took everything of value.
We're virtually defenceless.
l discussed this with Major Kira, the attaché of the Bajoran government Understood.
- What about the civilians?|- A lot of them lost everything they had.
A few are trying to rebuild|but most are packing up to leave.
Welcome, Commander.
|Please enter.
The Prophets await you.
- Another time, perhaps.
|- Another time.
When my wife Keiko saw our quarters, she spoke about|visiting her mother in Kumamoto.
l wouldn't let the boy go roaming.
We're still having security problems.
Dad, there is nothing to sleep on|except a cushion on the floor.
We can get you a real bunk|off the Enterprise.
Captain Picard wants to see you|as soon as possible.
He does? Any word|on our science and medical officers? They're expected tomorrow.
Jake, l want you to stay here|until l come back.
ls this the food replicator? They're all off line.
- There's plenty of emergency rations.
|- Dad We're going to have to rough it|until we get things up and running, OK? - OK.
|- OK.
What was the designer thinking about|when they built this place? l still haven't been able to find|an ODN access.
That's the Prefect's office up there.
All others have to look up with respect.
|Cardassian architecture.
Yes, sir.
Major Kira's been using it.
ls it my imagination|or is it unusually warm? The environmental controls in Ops|are stuck at 32C.
We're working on it.
l guess it's time to meet Major Kira.
Sir, have you ever served|with Bajoran women? - No.
Why?|- l was just wondering, sir.
- They've become meaningless!|- l don't agree, Kira.
You are throwing it all away.
|All of you! - You're being a fool!|- Then don't ask my opinion next time! - Yes?|- l'm Benjamin Sisko.
l suppose you want the office.
l thought l'd say hello first|and then take the office, but we could do it the way you like.
Hello.
- ls something bothering you, Major?|- You don't want to ask me that.
l have the habit of telling the truth|even when people don't want to hear it.
Perhaps l want to hear it.
The Federation|has no business being here.
The provisional government disagrees.
The government and l|don't agree on a lot of things, which is probably why they sent me|to this godforsaken place.
l have been fighting|for Bajoran independence since l could pick up a phaser.
We drive the Cardassians out|and what do our new leaders do? They call up the Federation|and invite them in! - The Federation is only here to help|- Yes, l know.
The Cardassians|said the same thing 60 years ago.
When l was ordered here, l requested|a Bajoran as my First Officer.
lt made sense.
|lt still does, at least to me.
You and l will have to find some way to - Yes, Major?|- Odo, are you reading something at A-14? My security array has been down|for two hours.
l'll meet you there.
We've had a lot of break-ins.
No need for you to come along,|Commander.
Hurry up! Now! Now! Just stand where you are! Hold it! - That's enough!|- Who the hell are you? Odo,|this is our new Starfleet Commander.
l don't allow weapons on the Promenade.
|That includes phasers.
Nog? What's going on? The boy's in a lot of trouble.
Commander, my name is Quark.
l used to run|the local gambling establishment.
This is my brother's boy.
Surely you can see he has only|a peripheral involvement in this.
We're scheduled to depart tomorrow.
lf we could take him,|l promise you he will be severely That won't be possible.
|Take him to the brig.
Quark probably sent them here|to steal the ore samples.
There's a Ferengi legal tradition|called plea bargaining.
l might let the boy go,|but l want something from Mr Quark.
Something very important.
- O'Brien to Commander Sisko.
|- Go ahead.
Sir, the Enterprise hailed us again.
|Captain Picard is waiting to see you.
Acknowledged.
|This won't take long.
Come.
Commander, please come in.
- Welcome to Bajor.
|- lt's been a long time, Captain.
- Have we met before?|- Yes, sir.
We met in battle.
l was on the Saratoga|at Wolf 359.
l assume that you have been briefed on the events|leading to the Cardassian withdrawal.
Yes, sir.
l understand|they spent the last half-century robbing the planet of every valuable|resource before abandoning it.
They've left the Bajorans|without a means of being self-sustaining.
The relief efforts we've been|co-ordinating are barely adequate.
l l've come to know the Bajorans.
l'm a strong proponent for their entry|into the Federation.
- ls it going to happen?|- Not easily.
The ruling parties|are at each other's throats.
Factions united against the Cardassians|have resumed old conflicts.
Sounds like they're not ready.
You must do everything|short of violating the Prime Directive to make sure that they are.
l have been made aware by Starfleet of your objections to this assignment.
l would have thought that after three years|at the Utopia Planitia Yards, you would be ready for a change.
l have a son that l'm raising alone.
|This is not the ideal environment.
As Starfleet officers, we cannot always serve|in an ideal environment.
l realise that, sir.
l'm investigating the possibility|of returning to Earth for civilian service.
Perhaps Starfleet Command should be|considering a replacement for you.
- That's probably a good idea.
|- l'll look into it.
- ln the meantime, however|- ln the meantime, l will do the job l've been ordered to do|to the best of my ability, sir.
Dismissed.
lt's quite simple, Quark.
- You're not going to leave.
|- Not going to leave? - We're packed and ready to go.
|- Unpack.
l don't understand, Commander.
|Why would you want me to stay? l'm curious myself.
|The man is a gambler and a thief.
- l'm not a thief.
|- You are a thief.
- lf l am, you haven't been able to prove it.
|- Please! My officers, the Bajoran engineers,|all their families depend on the shops and services|of this Promenade.
lf people like you abandon it, this is going to become a ghost town.
We need someone|to step forward and say, ''l'm staying.
l'm rebuilding.
'' We need a community leader|and it's going to be you, Quark.
- Community leader?|- Seems reasonable.
You have the character references|of a politician.
How could l operate my establishment under Starfleet rules of conduct? This is still a Bajoran station.
|We're just here to administrate.
You run honest games,|you won't have any problems from me.
Commander, l've made a career|out of knowing when to leave and this Bajoran provisional government|is far too provisional for my taste.
When governments fall, people like me are lined up and shot.
There is that risk.
- But then you are a gambler, Quark.
|- And a thief.
That poor boy is about to spend the best years|of his life in a Bajoran prison.
l'm a father myself.
l know what your brother|must be going through.
The boy should be with his family,|not in some cold jail cell.
Think about it.
lt's up to you.
At first,|l didn't think l was going to like him.
Major? Everyone else is busy repairing|the primary systems.
l suppose Starfleet officers|aren't used to getting their hands dirty.
ln the refugee camps,|we did whatever needed to be done.
Didn't matter who you were.
l was just talking|with our good neighbour, Quark.
He's laying odds|that the government's going to fall.
Quark knows a good bet|when he hears one.
This government will be gone|in a week and so will you.
What happens to Bajor then? Civil war.
You think it's inevitable? The only one who can prevent it|is Opaka.
- Opaka?|- Our spiritual leader.
She's known as the Kai.
Our religion is the only thing|that holds my people together.
lf she called for unity, they'd listen.
Leaders of all the factions|have tried to get to her, but she's reclusive, rarely sees anyone.
Commander it is time.
l apologise for the condition|in which we greet you.
The Cardassians? Your arrival|has been greatly anticipated.
Have you ever explored your "pagh",|Commander? Pagh? A Bajoran draws courage|from his spiritual life.
Our life force, our "pagh",|is replenished by the Prophets.
Breathe.
- Kai Opaka, if we could discuss|- Breathe! lronic.
One who does not wish to be among us|is to be the Emissary.
Please, come with me.
You are correct|that Bajor is in great jeopardy, but the threat to our spiritual life|outweighs any other.
- But l am powerless until|- Commander l cannot give you|what you deny yourself.
l'm sorry? Look for solutions from within,|Commander.
Come with me.
What is it? The Tear of the Prophet.
What the hell? Opaka? Ow! Hey! l'm sorry.
lt's just that this - Jen?|- Yes? Jennifer? l'm sorry.
Did we meet last night|at George's party? George? Jennifer Wait a minute.
- This is impossible.
|- Are you OK? l know this place.
|This is Gilgo Beach, where we met.
We met here before? l was carrying three lemonades.
The sand was burning my feet, and l stopped here to Ow! Do you realise|how incredible this is? No, of course you don't.
Jennifer have a lemonade.
l'm afraid l don't accept drinks|from strange men on the beach.
So tell me the truth.
|Have we really met before? No.
Then how do you know my name? l George told me at the party.
Are you going tell me your name? Ben Sisko.
|l just graduated from Starfleet Academy.
l'm waiting for my first posting.
- A junior officer?|- Yeah.
My mother warned me|to watch out for junior officers.
Your mother is going to adore me.
You're awfully sure of yourself.
lt's not every day|you meet the girl you're going to marry.
Do you use this routine a lot|with women? No.
Never before and never again.
Sure.
How about|letting me cook dinner for you tonight? My father was a gourmet chef.
l will make for you|his famous aubergine stew.
- l don't know.
|- You're supposed to say, 'Yes!' l'll probably be sorry.
Jennifer! Nine Orbs, like this one, have appeared in the skies|over the past 10000 years.
The Cardassians took the others.
- Find the Celestial Temple before they do.
|- The Celestial Temple? Tradition says the Orbs were sent|by the Prophets to teach us.
What we have learned|has shaped our theology.
The Cardassians will do anything|to decipher their powers.
lf they discover the Celestial Temple,|they could destroy it.
What makes you think|l can find your temple? - This will help you.
|- Kai Opaka l can't unite my people till l know|the Prophets have been warned.
You will find the Temple.
Not for Bajor,|not for the Federation, but for your own "pagh.
" lt is quite simply the journey|you have always been destined to take.
What? l was just thinking|how much you look like your mom.
Kira to Sisko.
- Go ahead.
|- Sorry to disturb you, Commander.
There's something on the Promenade|you might want to see.
On my way.
Step up, step up! Fortune's fates|are with you today, friends.
Dabo! That's fine.
l'll be right back - What will you have, Commander?|- How's the local synthale? You won't like it.
|l love the Bajorans.
Such a deeply spiritual culture, but they make a dreadful ale.
Never trust ale|from a god-fearing people or a Starfleet Commander|that has one of your relatives in jail.
Station Log, Stardate 46390.
1.
The Enterprise has been ordered|to the Lapolis system.
They're to depart after off-loading|three Runabout-class vessels.
Our medical and science officers|are arriving, and l'm looking forward to a reunion|with a very old friend.
lf you'd like me to give them a tour You and Dr Bashir go ahead.
|l have to put Lieutenant Dax to work.
Jadzia Maybe we could|get together later for dinner? Ora drink? l'd be delighted.
He's a little young for you, isn't he? - He's 27.
l'm 28.
|- 328, maybe.
Did you tell him about that slug|inside of you? He knows l'm a Trill.
|He finds it fascinating.
He's never met a joined species.
l wonder if he'd be as fascinated if you looked the way you did|last time l saw you.
Perhaps not.
This is going to take|some getting used to.
Don't be ridiculous.
|l'm still the same old Dax.
More or less.
l'm afraid|we've had some security problems.
- Looks like looters got in here.
|- This'll be perfect.
Real frontier medicine.
Frontier medicine? Major, l had my choice|of any job in the fleet.
Did you? l didn't want a cushy job|or a research grant.
l wanted this: the farthest reaches of the galaxy,|a remote outpost.
This is where the adventure is.
This is where heroes are made.
Right here, in the wilderness.
This ''wilderness'' is my home.
The Cardassians left behind|injured people, Doctor.
Make yourself useful by bringing|your medicine to the natives.
You'll find them a friendly, simple folk.
The monks have been studying|these things for 10000 years.
Our computers can interface|with their historical databanks.
That should give us something.
Soon as possible, Dax.
The eight other Orbs are probably|in a Cardassian laboratory, being turned upside down|and inside out.
Benjamin, l was happy|you accepted this assignment.
- l've been worried.
|- lt's good to see you, too old man.
Computer, create a database|for all references to the Orbs, including reports of any|unexplained phenomena in Bajoran space.
Time parameters? - Ten millennia.
|- lnitialising database.
Requested function will require|two hours to complete.
Curzon.
The Captain's in the ready room, Chief.
|Should l tell him you're here? That's OK.
Thanks.
- Transport me to the Ops pad, Maggie.
|- Yes, sir.
Mr O'Brien? l understand|that l just missed you on the Bridge.
Yes, sir.
l didn't want to disturb you, sir.
Ensign.
- This is your favourite transporter room.
|- Number three.
Yes, sir.
Yesterday l called down here|and l asked for you without thinking.
- lt won't be quite the same.
|- lt's just a transporter room, sir.
Permission to disembark, Captain.
Permission granted.
Energise.
Message coming in|from their Commander, Gul Dukat.
He used to be the Cardassian Prefect|of Bajor.
He's requesting permission|to come aboard to greet us.
Surely a coincidence|that the Enterprise just left.
Mr O'Brien, tell Gul Dukat|l look forward to meeting him.
Good day, Commander.
Gul Dukat.
Excuse my presumption, but this was my office|only two weeks ago.
l'm not used to being|on this side of the desk.
l'll be honest with you, Commander.
l miss this office.
l was not happy to leave it.
Drop by any time|you're feeling homesick.
You are very gracious.
And allow me to assure you that we only want to be helpful|in this difficult transition.
You're far from the Federation fleet, alone in this remote outpost|with poor defence systems.
Your Cardassian neighbours|will be quick to respond to any problems you might have.
We'll try to keep the dog off your lawn.
So tell me.
What did you think|of Kai Opaka? l know you went to the surface|to see her.
l understand|you brought back an Orb.
We thought we had all of them.
Perhaps we could have|an exchange of information, pool our resources? l know nothing about an Orb.
We will be in close proximity|if you wish to reconsider my suggestion.
ln the meantime,|l assume you have no objection to my men enjoying the hospitality|of the Promenade.
Commander.
What do you know|about the Denorios Belt? A charged plasma field.
No one gets near it|unless they have to.
ln the 22nd century,|a ship carrying Kai Taluno was disabled in the Denorios Belt,|where he claims he had a vision.
Let me guess.
He saw|the Celestial Temple of the Prophets.
Not quite.
But he said that the heavens opened up|and nearly swallowed his ship.
Are we reduced to chasing metaphors|to solve this? That's not all.
At least five of the Orbs|were found in the Denorios Belt.
There were also 23 navigational reports|over the years of unusually severe neutrino disturbances|in the same area.
l've correlated all these reports|into one analysis grid.
Our Celestial Temple? Worth a look, but we've got Cardassians|on our back doorstep.
We need to get by them undetected.
May we have your attention?|This establishment is being closed.
What do you mean?|You can't do this.
lf you have a problem,|take it up with Commander Sisko.
l intend to.
This is outrageous.
Friends, my apologies.
A minor misunderstanding that will be rectified shortly.
Give them something|to put their winnings into.
Because we were winning too much,|of course.
Leave it to Starfleet to ruin a fine day.
Rio Grande to Ops.
|lnitialising pre-launch systems.
Scanners are picking up fluctuations in the Cardassians' energy distribution net.
Their computers are crashing.
Shields and sensors are down.
|Odo's done it.
Ops to Rio Grande.
- You're in business.
|- Beginning launch sequence.
- Odo's reached the transport site.
|- Trying to lock on.
l've never done this|with a Cardassian transporter.
Damn it! What's the problem? Nice work, Constable.
- Approaching grid perimeter.
|- Slowing to one-quarter impulse.
Computer, give me visual,|bearing 23 mark 217.
Range 3,100 kilometres.
Sensors are picking up|high proton counts.
Setting a new course.
External wave intensities|are increasing rapidly, but checking There is no corresponding increase|inside the cabin.
How is that possible? - Sensors are not functioning.
|- We've lost contact with the station.
Scanners are reading|major subspace disruption at their last co-ordinates.
What the hell is happening out there? l don't know.
They're just gone.
Are your navigational readings|going crazy? - l'll recalibrate when l can.
|- Take your time.
Can you get a fix on our co-ordinates? There is a star five light years away.
|No M-Class planets.
Computer, identify closest star system.
ldran, a ternary system|consisting of twin O-type companions.
- That can't be right.
|- Basis of identification? ldran is based on the analysis|conducted in the 22nd century by the Quadros-1 probe|of the Gamma Quadrant.
We just found our way into a wormhole.
lt's not like any wormhole l've seen.
There were no resonance waves.
Could this be how the Orbs|found their way to the Bajoran system? Not an unreasonable hypothesis.
lf it's true, this has been here|for 10,000 years.
We might have discovered the first|stable wormhole known to exist.
Bring us about, Lieutenant.
l'm modifying the flight programme to|compensate for the spatial discontinuities.
We should have|a smoother ride this time.
Did you reduce impulse power? - No.
Why?|- We're losing velocity.
Forward velocity down to 80 kph.
Warning.
lmpulse system overload.
|Auto shutdown in 12 seconds.
- Disengaging engines.
|- Velocity at 20 kph.
l'm picking up atmosphere.
lnside a wormhole? Capable of supporting life.
- We've just landed.
|- On what? lt's beautiful.
You have a strange eye for beauty, Dax.
This isn't one of the most idyllic settings|you've seen? We are standing on a rock face! Do you see the storm? lt's as clear as a summer's day.
- You see it, too?|- Yes.
Low-level ionic pattern.
|lt's probing us.
Someone's idea|of shaking hands, maybe.
l am Commander Benjamin Sisko|of the United Federation of Planets.
Dax! Another neutrino disruption.
Scanners are picking up an object|near their last co-ordinates.
lt isn't a ship.
Major, there's something inside it,|some kind of life-form.
Are the Cardassians picking it up? They should be back on line by now.
Yellow Alert.
Secure Ops.
Beam it aboard, Mr O'Brien,|but put it in a level-1 security field.
Aye, sir.
Locking on.
Who are you? Who are you? lt is corporeal!|A physical entity.
What? What did you say? lt is responding|to visual and auditory stimuli.
- Linguistic communication.
|- Yes, linguistic communication.
Are you capable|of communicating with me? What are you? My species is known as human.
|l come from a planet called Earth.
- Earth?|- This is what my planet looks like.
You and l are very different species.
lt will take time|for us to understand one another.
What is this time? First Officer's Log,|Stardate 46392.
7.
We're launching a rescue mission|to find Commander Sisko, but must recalibrate our sensors|to work under the conditions reported by Lieutenant Dax.
lt is no ordinary wormhole.
My analysis suggests|that it isn't even a natural phenomenon.
Not natural?|You mean it was constructed? lt's very possible whoever made|the Orbs also created this wormhole.
The Cardassians are on a course|toward the Denorios Belt.
Mr O'Brien,|what would it take to move this station to the mouth of the wormhole? This isn't a starship.
|We've got six thrusters to power us.
- lt has to be there tomorrow.
|- That's not possible.
That wormhole might reshape|the future of this quadrant.
The Bajorans|have to stake a claim to it.
That claim would be a lot stronger|if there's a Federation presence.
Couldn't you modify the subspace field|output of the deflector generators to create a low-level field|around the station? To lower the inertial mass? lf the station is lighter,|those six thrusters are all we need.
The station could break apart|if it doesn't work.
Even if it does work,|we'll still need help from Starfleet.
The Enterprise is the nearest starship.
They could reach us in two days.
We should advise Starfleet|that we require assistance.
You have Ops, Mr O'Brien.
- Lieutenant, you're with me.
|- Aye, sir.
You too, Doc.
Time to be a hero.
Yes, sir! - Constable|- l'm in charge of security.
Security here, on the station.
l cannot justify|taking you into this wormhole.
Major, l was found in the Denorios Belt.
l don't know where l came from -|no idea if there are others like me.
All my life,|l've passed myself off as one of you, always wondering who l really am.
The answers to my questions may be|on the other side of that wormhole.
You coming? The creature must be destroyed|before it destroys us.
- lt is malevolent.
|- Aggressive.
Adversarial.
- lt must be destroyed.
|- l am not your enemy.
- l was sent by the people you contacted.
|- Contacted? With your devices, your Orbs.
We seek contact with other life-forms, not corporeal creatures|who annihilate us.
l have not come to annihilate anyone.
Destroy it now.
My species respects life|above all else.
Can you say the same? l do not understand the threat|that l bring to you, but l am not your enemy.
|Allow me to prove it.
- Prove it?|- lt can be argued that a human is the sum|of his experiences.
Experiences? What is this? Memories.
|Events from my past, like this one.
- Past?|- Things that happened before now.
You have no idea|what l'm talking about.
What comes before now|is no different than what is now, or what is to come.
|lt is one's existence.
Then, for you,|there is no linear time.
Linear time? What is this? My species lives in one point in time.
Once we move beyond that point,|it becomes the past.
The future, all that is still to come,|does not exist yet for us.
Does not exist yet? That is the nature of linear existence.
lf you examine it more closely, you will see|that you do not need to fear me.
Partial field established.
|lnstability at 12%.
Partial field? ls inertial mass low enough|to break orbit? - Procedure is not recommended.
|- l didn't ask for an opinion.
Can we get enough thrust|with only a partial field established? - Affirmative.
|- All right.
Thank you.
lnitiate transit mode,|three-axis stabilisation.
Engage thrusters.
Warning.
Field integrity declining.
|lnstability at 21%.
We have to close the gap in the field|or we'll tear ourselves apart.
Warning.
Subspace field collapse|in 60 seconds.
Transfer energy from the inertial dampers|to reinforce the subspace field.
- Procedure is not recommended.
|- Transfer the energy! Unable to comply.
Level-1 safety|protocols have cancelled request.
Warning.
|Subspace field collapse in 30 seconds.
l'll transfer it manually.
On my mark,|redirect the flow to the deflectors.
Keep the power balanced.
Field collapse in 15 seconds.
Now.
Field energy|now within flight tolerances.
Good work, sir.
Computer,|you and l need to have a little talk.
The Cardassian warship|is in visual range.
On screen.
- They're headed right to it.
|- They have to listen to reason, when we warn them|what could happen if they go in.
Most people wouldn't know reason|if it shook their hand.
You can count Gul Dukat among them.
This is Federation Ship Yangtze Kiang.
|Major Kira Nerys in command.
Yes, Major? We know you're headed for the wormhole.
Wormhole?|What wormhole is that? l strongly suggest you do not proceed.
We encountered|a hostile life-form inside.
Perhaps they will be less hostile|to Cardassians than to humans.
These people are trying to save you|from a lot of trouble.
Are you going to tell me that these are not the life-forms|that have sent the Orbs? Or that your Commander Sisko|is not negotiating for their technology? l thank you for your concern, but l think we will see for ourselves.
So much for reason.
Jennifer.
Yes, that was her name.
She is part of your existence.
She is part of my past.
|She's no longer alive.
But she is part of your existence.
She was|a most important part of my existence, - but l lost her some time ago.
|- Lost? What is this? ln a linear existence, we can't go back to the past to get|something we left behind, so it's lost.
lt is inconceivable that any species could exist in such a manner.
- You are deceiving us.
|- No.
This is the truth.
This day, this park lt was almost 15 years ago,|far in the past.
lt was a day|that was very important to me, a day that shaped|every day that followed.
That is the essence|of a linear existence.
Each day affects the next.
Listen to it.
- To what?|- The sound of children playing.
- What could be more beautiful?|- So you like children? That almost sounds|like a domestic inquiry.
l heard Starfleet officers|don't want families because they complicate their lives.
They don't often find mates who want to raise families|on a starship.
That almost sounds|like a domestic inquiry.
l think it was.
As corporeal entities, humans find physical touch|to cause pleasure.
Pleasure? What is this? Good feelings.
Happiness.
But this is your existence.
lt's difficult to be here,|more difficult than any other memory.
Why? Because Because this was the day that l lost Jennifer.
l don't want to be here.
Then why do you exist here? - l don't understand.
|- You exist here.
What's wrong?|What's happening? We should reach the wormhole|in two minutes.
Slowing to one-third imp Are you still there?|What just happened? More of your kind.
Another ship in the wormhole? Wormhole? What is this? The passage that brought me here.
lt is terminated.
Our existence is disrupted|when you enter the passage.
Your linear nature|is inherently destructive.
You have no regard|for the consequences of your acts.
We're aware that every choice we make|has a consequence.
But you claim you do not know|what it will be.
We don't.
Then how can you take responsibility|for your actions? We use past experience|to help guide us.
For Jennifer and me,|the experiences in our lives prepared us for the day|we met on the beach, helped us recognise|we had a future together.
When we married, we accepted|all the consequences of that act, including the consequences of you.
- Me?|- My son, Jake.
- The child with Jennifer.
|- Yes.
- Linear procreation?|- Yes.
Jake is the continuation of our family.
The sound of children playing.
Aggressive.
Adversarial.
Competition.
For fun.
lt's a game that Jake and l play.
lt's called baseball.
Baseball? What is this? l was afraid you'd ask that.
l throw this ball to you and this other player|stands between us with a bat, a stick, and he And he tries to hit the ball|in between these two white lines.
No.
The rules aren't important.
What's important is it's linear.
Every time l throw this ball,|a hundred different things can happen.
He might miss or hit it.
The point is you never know.
You try to anticipate, set a strategy for all the possibilities, but in the end it comes down|to throwing one pitch after another and seeing what happens.
With each new consequence,|the game takes shape.
You have no idea what that shape is|until it is completed.
That's right.
|The game wouldn't be worth playing if we knew|what was going to happen.
You value your ignorance|of what is to come? That may be the most important thing|to understand about humans.
lt is the unknown|that defines our existence.
We are constantly searching,|not just for answers to our questions but for new questions.
We are explorers.
We explore our lives day by day|and we explore the galaxy, trying to expand our knowledge.
That is why l am here.
Not to conquer you with weapons|or with ideas, but to co-exist and learn.
lf all you say is true,|why do you exist here? First Officer's Log, supplemental.
We've met the space station|at the co-ordinates of the wormhole.
Our scans have revealed no trace|of the wormhole or Dukat's ship.
Three Cardassian warships|have crossed the border, no doubt on their way|to search for Dukat.
Can you establish a high-energy|thoron field before they get within range? l don't want them|to scan our defence systems.
They're hailing us.
On screen.
l am Gul Jasad of the Cardassian guard,|Seventh Order.
Where is our warship? With any luck, in the Gamma Quadrant|on the other side of the wormhole.
What wormhole? Our sensors show no indication|of a wormhole in this sector.
- That's because it just collapsed.
|- What? We believe it was artificially created.
That may be why we never picked up|any quantum fluctuation patterns.
You expect me to believe|that someone created a wormhole and now conveniently|has disassembled it? That's exactly what l expect you|to believe.
They're flooding subspace|with interference.
- lt'll cut off our communications.
|- They're powering up their phasers.
Shields up.
What shields? - They're hailing us again.
|- Open the channel.
We do not accept your explanation.
Somehow you have destroyed|our warship.
Gul Jasad, l assure you We demand the unconditional surrender|of this space station or we will open fire.
l need at least a day|to make the necessary preparations.
You have one hour.
l can transfer all power to establish|partial shields around critical areas, but if they hit the docking ring,|we'll sustain heavy damage.
Constable, if you would co-ordinate|moving personnel to safer locations.
What was the last reported position|of the Enterprise? - At least 20 hours away.
|- We must hold out till they get here.
The Cardassians wouldn't attack|a Federation outpost.
- Ever read the history of the border wars?|- Yes.
Heard of the Setlik III Massacre? Surrender is not a preferable option.
You know what they do|to their prisoners, sir.
What is the point of bringing me|back again to this? We do not bring you here.
- You bring us here.
|- You exist here.
Then give me the power to lead you|somewhere else, anywhere else! We cannot give you|what you deny yourself.
Look for solutions from within,|Commander.
- l was ready to die with her.
|- Die? What is this? The termination|of their linear existence.
We've got to go now, sir.
Damn it!|We just can't leave her here.
Oh, no! - l never left this ship.
|- You exist here.
l exist here? l don't know if you can understand.
l see her like this|every time l close my eyes.
ln the darkness, in the blink of an eye, l see her like this.
None of your past experiences|prepared you for this consequence.
And l have never figured out|how to live without her.
So you choose to exist here.
lt is not linear.
No.
lt's not linear.
Their lead ship is hailing us.
Gul Jasad wants an answer.
- Are you ready, Mr O'Brien?|- Yes, sir.
When they penetrate our thoron field,|it should raise a few eyebrows.
All right, then,|let's give them our answer.
Fire six photon torpedoes|across Jasad's bow.
We only have six photons, Major.
We're not going to win this battle|with torpedoes.
Aye, sir.
An urgent hail from Jasad.
Looks like we got his attention.
On screen.
This is your answer? You think|Starfleet took command of this station without the ability to defend it? Defend it? Your space station|could not defend itself against one Cardassian warship.
You're probably right, Jasad.
lf you were dealing with a Starfleet officer,|they'd probably admit we have a hopeless cause here.
But l am just a Bajoran who's been fighting a hopeless cause|against the Cardassians all her life.
So if you want a war, l'll give you one.
Major.
Remind me never to get into a game|of Roladan Wild Draw with you.
They were using a field|to block our sensors, but we were able to penetrate it.
What are their defences? According to our scans,|an estimated 5,000 photons, integrated phaser banks.
When did they receive|these armaments? How did they install them|without our knowledge? Somehow they have created a massive illusion of duranium shadows.
- What if it is not an illusion?|- lt is.
Why risk confrontation?|The Fourth Order can be here in a day.
So can Starfleet.
Their lead ship|is asking for reinforcements.
- Yes!|- Too soon for a victory celebration.
Mr O'Brien? The ships are being deployed|in attack formation.
Battle stations.
Quickly, now.
Calmly.
Come along.
They may just be testing us.
l could run a wave|through the phaser banks.
Put out a blast|that will make them think.
Do it.
- Damage report.
|- Direct hit, level 14.
Empty storage bays.
|No casualties.
Shields down to 27%.
A fuel conduit has ruptured|on the Promenade.
- Can you divert the main power flow?|- The controls are locked.
Odo to Ops.
|l've got wounded people down here! - Have you seen that doctor of yours?|- l'm on my way.
l'll shut down the power flow|or the whole Promenade will go up.
Bloody Cardassians! l just got the damn thing fixed.
Press there, hard.
Doctor,|maybe l should find you someone Hold it there.
That should do it for a while.
Shields are at 18% and falling.
l might be able to give you|one more phaser blast.
No.
Signal the lead ship|that we will proceed with Major, l'm picking up|a huge neutrino disturbance off the forward docking ring.
lt's the wormhole.
On screen.
Hail the lead ship.
|What did l tell you, Jasad? There's your wormhole! - Rio Grande to DS9.
|- On screen.
- Go ahead, Commander.
|- Sorry to be late.
Gul Dukat had some problems|on the other side of the wormhole.
- You've had a few of your own.
|- A few, Commander.
Gul Dukat is signalling his ships|to disarm.
- Clear me for docking, Mr O'Brien.
|- Aye, sir.
Cleared for Pad C.
- Casualties?|- 13 injured, Commander, and no fatalities.
Jake! Dad! Station Log,|Commander Benjamin Sisko.
Stardate 46393.
1.
The life-forms who created the wormhole|have allowed safe passage for ships travelling|to the Gamma Quadrant.
The Cardassians have left the area.
Their warship being towed|by a Federation Runabout took the heart out of their fight.
We're not done|with the Cardassians yet, not with the strategic importance|of the wormhole.
You've put Bajor on the map.
This will become a leading centre of commerce|and of scientific exploration.
And for Starfleet,|one of our most important posts.
Captain, regarding our conversation|about someone to replace me l'm sorry.
l haven't had time|to communicate that to Command.
l would prefer you ignore it, sir.
l'm not sure that l can.
|Are you certain that's what you want? - We cannot afford to have|- l'm certain, sir.
Good luck, Mr Sisko.
So, where can someone practise|with his phaser around here? New rules? You can't cheat every customer|any more, Quark.
You are a community leader now.
Perhaps we could discuss|these 'new rules' over a drink.
lf you don't take that hand off my hip, you'll never be able|to raise a glass with it again.
l love a woman in uniform.
Three vessels|are requesting permission to dock.
We've been retrofitting the airlocks.
Half were damaged during the move, the others when the Cardassians|blew out the fuel conduits
You will disarm your weapons and escort us to Sector 001.
lf you attempt to intervene, - we will destroy you.
|- Red alert! Load torpedo bays, ready phasers.
Move us to position alpha, Ensign.
- They've locked on.
|- Reroute auxiliary power.
Our shields are being drained! Recalibrate shield mutation.
Modulation is having no effect.
- Shields have failed!|- Full reverse.
Maintain on.
Damage report.
- Damage report!|- Damage to warp core.
Containment failure in five minutes.
Direct hit! Decks one through four.
Let's get the civilians|to the escape pods, Lieutenant.
Get to your assigned evacuation area|now.
Damage to warp core.
|Containment failure in four minutes.
- l'll take care of her.
You go on.
|- Have you seen Jennifer? Jennifer? Jake! Damage to warp core.
|Containment failure in three minutes.
l'm gonna get your mom.
|You're gonna be OK.
Jennifer? OK, Jake.
We'll get your mom out|and we'll get out of here.
- Commander!|- Help me! Jennifer, hold on.
Sir! - Help me get her free!|- There's nothing we can do.
We have to leave! Warning.
Damage to warp core.
|Containment failure in two minutes.
Ensign, take the boy.
- We've got to go now, sir.
|- We just can't leave her here! Jake, you're OK.
- Stand by to launch.
|- Ready.
Jake, there you are.
- How are they biting?|- Small fries.
Threw them back.
- Want to go for a swim?|- We have to get ready.
lt won't be so bad.
l've heard|that Bajor is a beautiful world.
Why can't we live on the planet|instead of some old space station? The station is in orbit of Bajor.
|lt will be just like shore duty.
- Will there be kids there?|- Absolutely! Lots of kids.
- Bridge to Sisko.
|- Yes, Captain? We're approaching Deep Space 9,|Commander.
- Docking in seven minutes.
|- Acknowledged.
Come on.
What do you say?|We'll take the pond with us.
Computer, end programme.
ls that it? Commence Station Log,|Deep Space 9.
Commander Benjamin Sisko.
|Stardate 46388.
2.
At the request of the Bajoran government, Starfleet is to establish a Federation|presence in this system following the withdrawal|of the Cardassian forces.
The first officers, including|Chief of Operations, Miles O'Brien, arrived two days ago on the Enterprise.
The Cardassians had some fun|the day they left.
Four Bajorans were killed|trying to protect their shops.
Why hasn't anybody cleaned up? All available personnel|are repairing primary systems.
The Cardassians took everything of value.
We're virtually defenceless.
l discussed this with Major Kira, the attaché of the Bajoran government Understood.
- What about the civilians?|- A lot of them lost everything they had.
A few are trying to rebuild|but most are packing up to leave.
Welcome, Commander.
|Please enter.
The Prophets await you.
- Another time, perhaps.
|- Another time.
When my wife Keiko saw our quarters, she spoke about|visiting her mother in Kumamoto.
l wouldn't let the boy go roaming.
We're still having security problems.
Dad, there is nothing to sleep on|except a cushion on the floor.
We can get you a real bunk|off the Enterprise.
Captain Picard wants to see you|as soon as possible.
He does? Any word|on our science and medical officers? They're expected tomorrow.
Jake, l want you to stay here|until l come back.
ls this the food replicator? They're all off line.
- There's plenty of emergency rations.
|- Dad We're going to have to rough it|until we get things up and running, OK? - OK.
|- OK.
What was the designer thinking about|when they built this place? l still haven't been able to find|an ODN access.
That's the Prefect's office up there.
All others have to look up with respect.
|Cardassian architecture.
Yes, sir.
Major Kira's been using it.
ls it my imagination|or is it unusually warm? The environmental controls in Ops|are stuck at 32C.
We're working on it.
l guess it's time to meet Major Kira.
Sir, have you ever served|with Bajoran women? - No.
Why?|- l was just wondering, sir.
- They've become meaningless!|- l don't agree, Kira.
You are throwing it all away.
|All of you! - You're being a fool!|- Then don't ask my opinion next time! - Yes?|- l'm Benjamin Sisko.
l suppose you want the office.
l thought l'd say hello first|and then take the office, but we could do it the way you like.
Hello.
- ls something bothering you, Major?|- You don't want to ask me that.
l have the habit of telling the truth|even when people don't want to hear it.
Perhaps l want to hear it.
The Federation|has no business being here.
The provisional government disagrees.
The government and l|don't agree on a lot of things, which is probably why they sent me|to this godforsaken place.
l have been fighting|for Bajoran independence since l could pick up a phaser.
We drive the Cardassians out|and what do our new leaders do? They call up the Federation|and invite them in! - The Federation is only here to help|- Yes, l know.
The Cardassians|said the same thing 60 years ago.
When l was ordered here, l requested|a Bajoran as my First Officer.
lt made sense.
|lt still does, at least to me.
You and l will have to find some way to - Yes, Major?|- Odo, are you reading something at A-14? My security array has been down|for two hours.
l'll meet you there.
We've had a lot of break-ins.
No need for you to come along,|Commander.
Hurry up! Now! Now! Just stand where you are! Hold it! - That's enough!|- Who the hell are you? Odo,|this is our new Starfleet Commander.
l don't allow weapons on the Promenade.
|That includes phasers.
Nog? What's going on? The boy's in a lot of trouble.
Commander, my name is Quark.
l used to run|the local gambling establishment.
This is my brother's boy.
Surely you can see he has only|a peripheral involvement in this.
We're scheduled to depart tomorrow.
lf we could take him,|l promise you he will be severely That won't be possible.
|Take him to the brig.
Quark probably sent them here|to steal the ore samples.
There's a Ferengi legal tradition|called plea bargaining.
l might let the boy go,|but l want something from Mr Quark.
Something very important.
- O'Brien to Commander Sisko.
|- Go ahead.
Sir, the Enterprise hailed us again.
|Captain Picard is waiting to see you.
Acknowledged.
|This won't take long.
Come.
Commander, please come in.
- Welcome to Bajor.
|- lt's been a long time, Captain.
- Have we met before?|- Yes, sir.
We met in battle.
l was on the Saratoga|at Wolf 359.
l assume that you have been briefed on the events|leading to the Cardassian withdrawal.
Yes, sir.
l understand|they spent the last half-century robbing the planet of every valuable|resource before abandoning it.
They've left the Bajorans|without a means of being self-sustaining.
The relief efforts we've been|co-ordinating are barely adequate.
l l've come to know the Bajorans.
l'm a strong proponent for their entry|into the Federation.
- ls it going to happen?|- Not easily.
The ruling parties|are at each other's throats.
Factions united against the Cardassians|have resumed old conflicts.
Sounds like they're not ready.
You must do everything|short of violating the Prime Directive to make sure that they are.
l have been made aware by Starfleet of your objections to this assignment.
l would have thought that after three years|at the Utopia Planitia Yards, you would be ready for a change.
l have a son that l'm raising alone.
|This is not the ideal environment.
As Starfleet officers, we cannot always serve|in an ideal environment.
l realise that, sir.
l'm investigating the possibility|of returning to Earth for civilian service.
Perhaps Starfleet Command should be|considering a replacement for you.
- That's probably a good idea.
|- l'll look into it.
- ln the meantime, however|- ln the meantime, l will do the job l've been ordered to do|to the best of my ability, sir.
Dismissed.
lt's quite simple, Quark.
- You're not going to leave.
|- Not going to leave? - We're packed and ready to go.
|- Unpack.
l don't understand, Commander.
|Why would you want me to stay? l'm curious myself.
|The man is a gambler and a thief.
- l'm not a thief.
|- You are a thief.
- lf l am, you haven't been able to prove it.
|- Please! My officers, the Bajoran engineers,|all their families depend on the shops and services|of this Promenade.
lf people like you abandon it, this is going to become a ghost town.
We need someone|to step forward and say, ''l'm staying.
l'm rebuilding.
'' We need a community leader|and it's going to be you, Quark.
- Community leader?|- Seems reasonable.
You have the character references|of a politician.
How could l operate my establishment under Starfleet rules of conduct? This is still a Bajoran station.
|We're just here to administrate.
You run honest games,|you won't have any problems from me.
Commander, l've made a career|out of knowing when to leave and this Bajoran provisional government|is far too provisional for my taste.
When governments fall, people like me are lined up and shot.
There is that risk.
- But then you are a gambler, Quark.
|- And a thief.
That poor boy is about to spend the best years|of his life in a Bajoran prison.
l'm a father myself.
l know what your brother|must be going through.
The boy should be with his family,|not in some cold jail cell.
Think about it.
lt's up to you.
At first,|l didn't think l was going to like him.
Major? Everyone else is busy repairing|the primary systems.
l suppose Starfleet officers|aren't used to getting their hands dirty.
ln the refugee camps,|we did whatever needed to be done.
Didn't matter who you were.
l was just talking|with our good neighbour, Quark.
He's laying odds|that the government's going to fall.
Quark knows a good bet|when he hears one.
This government will be gone|in a week and so will you.
What happens to Bajor then? Civil war.
You think it's inevitable? The only one who can prevent it|is Opaka.
- Opaka?|- Our spiritual leader.
She's known as the Kai.
Our religion is the only thing|that holds my people together.
lf she called for unity, they'd listen.
Leaders of all the factions|have tried to get to her, but she's reclusive, rarely sees anyone.
Commander it is time.
l apologise for the condition|in which we greet you.
The Cardassians? Your arrival|has been greatly anticipated.
Have you ever explored your "pagh",|Commander? Pagh? A Bajoran draws courage|from his spiritual life.
Our life force, our "pagh",|is replenished by the Prophets.
Breathe.
- Kai Opaka, if we could discuss|- Breathe! lronic.
One who does not wish to be among us|is to be the Emissary.
Please, come with me.
You are correct|that Bajor is in great jeopardy, but the threat to our spiritual life|outweighs any other.
- But l am powerless until|- Commander l cannot give you|what you deny yourself.
l'm sorry? Look for solutions from within,|Commander.
Come with me.
What is it? The Tear of the Prophet.
What the hell? Opaka? Ow! Hey! l'm sorry.
lt's just that this - Jen?|- Yes? Jennifer? l'm sorry.
Did we meet last night|at George's party? George? Jennifer Wait a minute.
- This is impossible.
|- Are you OK? l know this place.
|This is Gilgo Beach, where we met.
We met here before? l was carrying three lemonades.
The sand was burning my feet, and l stopped here to Ow! Do you realise|how incredible this is? No, of course you don't.
Jennifer have a lemonade.
l'm afraid l don't accept drinks|from strange men on the beach.
So tell me the truth.
|Have we really met before? No.
Then how do you know my name? l George told me at the party.
Are you going tell me your name? Ben Sisko.
|l just graduated from Starfleet Academy.
l'm waiting for my first posting.
- A junior officer?|- Yeah.
My mother warned me|to watch out for junior officers.
Your mother is going to adore me.
You're awfully sure of yourself.
lt's not every day|you meet the girl you're going to marry.
Do you use this routine a lot|with women? No.
Never before and never again.
Sure.
How about|letting me cook dinner for you tonight? My father was a gourmet chef.
l will make for you|his famous aubergine stew.
- l don't know.
|- You're supposed to say, 'Yes!' l'll probably be sorry.
Jennifer! Nine Orbs, like this one, have appeared in the skies|over the past 10000 years.
The Cardassians took the others.
- Find the Celestial Temple before they do.
|- The Celestial Temple? Tradition says the Orbs were sent|by the Prophets to teach us.
What we have learned|has shaped our theology.
The Cardassians will do anything|to decipher their powers.
lf they discover the Celestial Temple,|they could destroy it.
What makes you think|l can find your temple? - This will help you.
|- Kai Opaka l can't unite my people till l know|the Prophets have been warned.
You will find the Temple.
Not for Bajor,|not for the Federation, but for your own "pagh.
" lt is quite simply the journey|you have always been destined to take.
What? l was just thinking|how much you look like your mom.
Kira to Sisko.
- Go ahead.
|- Sorry to disturb you, Commander.
There's something on the Promenade|you might want to see.
On my way.
Step up, step up! Fortune's fates|are with you today, friends.
Dabo! That's fine.
l'll be right back - What will you have, Commander?|- How's the local synthale? You won't like it.
|l love the Bajorans.
Such a deeply spiritual culture, but they make a dreadful ale.
Never trust ale|from a god-fearing people or a Starfleet Commander|that has one of your relatives in jail.
Station Log, Stardate 46390.
1.
The Enterprise has been ordered|to the Lapolis system.
They're to depart after off-loading|three Runabout-class vessels.
Our medical and science officers|are arriving, and l'm looking forward to a reunion|with a very old friend.
lf you'd like me to give them a tour You and Dr Bashir go ahead.
|l have to put Lieutenant Dax to work.
Jadzia Maybe we could|get together later for dinner? Ora drink? l'd be delighted.
He's a little young for you, isn't he? - He's 27.
l'm 28.
|- 328, maybe.
Did you tell him about that slug|inside of you? He knows l'm a Trill.
|He finds it fascinating.
He's never met a joined species.
l wonder if he'd be as fascinated if you looked the way you did|last time l saw you.
Perhaps not.
This is going to take|some getting used to.
Don't be ridiculous.
|l'm still the same old Dax.
More or less.
l'm afraid|we've had some security problems.
- Looks like looters got in here.
|- This'll be perfect.
Real frontier medicine.
Frontier medicine? Major, l had my choice|of any job in the fleet.
Did you? l didn't want a cushy job|or a research grant.
l wanted this: the farthest reaches of the galaxy,|a remote outpost.
This is where the adventure is.
This is where heroes are made.
Right here, in the wilderness.
This ''wilderness'' is my home.
The Cardassians left behind|injured people, Doctor.
Make yourself useful by bringing|your medicine to the natives.
You'll find them a friendly, simple folk.
The monks have been studying|these things for 10000 years.
Our computers can interface|with their historical databanks.
That should give us something.
Soon as possible, Dax.
The eight other Orbs are probably|in a Cardassian laboratory, being turned upside down|and inside out.
Benjamin, l was happy|you accepted this assignment.
- l've been worried.
|- lt's good to see you, too old man.
Computer, create a database|for all references to the Orbs, including reports of any|unexplained phenomena in Bajoran space.
Time parameters? - Ten millennia.
|- lnitialising database.
Requested function will require|two hours to complete.
Curzon.
The Captain's in the ready room, Chief.
|Should l tell him you're here? That's OK.
Thanks.
- Transport me to the Ops pad, Maggie.
|- Yes, sir.
Mr O'Brien? l understand|that l just missed you on the Bridge.
Yes, sir.
l didn't want to disturb you, sir.
Ensign.
- This is your favourite transporter room.
|- Number three.
Yes, sir.
Yesterday l called down here|and l asked for you without thinking.
- lt won't be quite the same.
|- lt's just a transporter room, sir.
Permission to disembark, Captain.
Permission granted.
Energise.
Message coming in|from their Commander, Gul Dukat.
He used to be the Cardassian Prefect|of Bajor.
He's requesting permission|to come aboard to greet us.
Surely a coincidence|that the Enterprise just left.
Mr O'Brien, tell Gul Dukat|l look forward to meeting him.
Good day, Commander.
Gul Dukat.
Excuse my presumption, but this was my office|only two weeks ago.
l'm not used to being|on this side of the desk.
l'll be honest with you, Commander.
l miss this office.
l was not happy to leave it.
Drop by any time|you're feeling homesick.
You are very gracious.
And allow me to assure you that we only want to be helpful|in this difficult transition.
You're far from the Federation fleet, alone in this remote outpost|with poor defence systems.
Your Cardassian neighbours|will be quick to respond to any problems you might have.
We'll try to keep the dog off your lawn.
So tell me.
What did you think|of Kai Opaka? l know you went to the surface|to see her.
l understand|you brought back an Orb.
We thought we had all of them.
Perhaps we could have|an exchange of information, pool our resources? l know nothing about an Orb.
We will be in close proximity|if you wish to reconsider my suggestion.
ln the meantime,|l assume you have no objection to my men enjoying the hospitality|of the Promenade.
Commander.
What do you know|about the Denorios Belt? A charged plasma field.
No one gets near it|unless they have to.
ln the 22nd century,|a ship carrying Kai Taluno was disabled in the Denorios Belt,|where he claims he had a vision.
Let me guess.
He saw|the Celestial Temple of the Prophets.
Not quite.
But he said that the heavens opened up|and nearly swallowed his ship.
Are we reduced to chasing metaphors|to solve this? That's not all.
At least five of the Orbs|were found in the Denorios Belt.
There were also 23 navigational reports|over the years of unusually severe neutrino disturbances|in the same area.
l've correlated all these reports|into one analysis grid.
Our Celestial Temple? Worth a look, but we've got Cardassians|on our back doorstep.
We need to get by them undetected.
May we have your attention?|This establishment is being closed.
What do you mean?|You can't do this.
lf you have a problem,|take it up with Commander Sisko.
l intend to.
This is outrageous.
Friends, my apologies.
A minor misunderstanding that will be rectified shortly.
Give them something|to put their winnings into.
Because we were winning too much,|of course.
Leave it to Starfleet to ruin a fine day.
Rio Grande to Ops.
|lnitialising pre-launch systems.
Scanners are picking up fluctuations in the Cardassians' energy distribution net.
Their computers are crashing.
Shields and sensors are down.
|Odo's done it.
Ops to Rio Grande.
- You're in business.
|- Beginning launch sequence.
- Odo's reached the transport site.
|- Trying to lock on.
l've never done this|with a Cardassian transporter.
Damn it! What's the problem? Nice work, Constable.
- Approaching grid perimeter.
|- Slowing to one-quarter impulse.
Computer, give me visual,|bearing 23 mark 217.
Range 3,100 kilometres.
Sensors are picking up|high proton counts.
Setting a new course.
External wave intensities|are increasing rapidly, but checking There is no corresponding increase|inside the cabin.
How is that possible? - Sensors are not functioning.
|- We've lost contact with the station.
Scanners are reading|major subspace disruption at their last co-ordinates.
What the hell is happening out there? l don't know.
They're just gone.
Are your navigational readings|going crazy? - l'll recalibrate when l can.
|- Take your time.
Can you get a fix on our co-ordinates? There is a star five light years away.
|No M-Class planets.
Computer, identify closest star system.
ldran, a ternary system|consisting of twin O-type companions.
- That can't be right.
|- Basis of identification? ldran is based on the analysis|conducted in the 22nd century by the Quadros-1 probe|of the Gamma Quadrant.
We just found our way into a wormhole.
lt's not like any wormhole l've seen.
There were no resonance waves.
Could this be how the Orbs|found their way to the Bajoran system? Not an unreasonable hypothesis.
lf it's true, this has been here|for 10,000 years.
We might have discovered the first|stable wormhole known to exist.
Bring us about, Lieutenant.
l'm modifying the flight programme to|compensate for the spatial discontinuities.
We should have|a smoother ride this time.
Did you reduce impulse power? - No.
Why?|- We're losing velocity.
Forward velocity down to 80 kph.
Warning.
lmpulse system overload.
|Auto shutdown in 12 seconds.
- Disengaging engines.
|- Velocity at 20 kph.
l'm picking up atmosphere.
lnside a wormhole? Capable of supporting life.
- We've just landed.
|- On what? lt's beautiful.
You have a strange eye for beauty, Dax.
This isn't one of the most idyllic settings|you've seen? We are standing on a rock face! Do you see the storm? lt's as clear as a summer's day.
- You see it, too?|- Yes.
Low-level ionic pattern.
|lt's probing us.
Someone's idea|of shaking hands, maybe.
l am Commander Benjamin Sisko|of the United Federation of Planets.
Dax! Another neutrino disruption.
Scanners are picking up an object|near their last co-ordinates.
lt isn't a ship.
Major, there's something inside it,|some kind of life-form.
Are the Cardassians picking it up? They should be back on line by now.
Yellow Alert.
Secure Ops.
Beam it aboard, Mr O'Brien,|but put it in a level-1 security field.
Aye, sir.
Locking on.
Who are you? Who are you? lt is corporeal!|A physical entity.
What? What did you say? lt is responding|to visual and auditory stimuli.
- Linguistic communication.
|- Yes, linguistic communication.
Are you capable|of communicating with me? What are you? My species is known as human.
|l come from a planet called Earth.
- Earth?|- This is what my planet looks like.
You and l are very different species.
lt will take time|for us to understand one another.
What is this time? First Officer's Log,|Stardate 46392.
7.
We're launching a rescue mission|to find Commander Sisko, but must recalibrate our sensors|to work under the conditions reported by Lieutenant Dax.
lt is no ordinary wormhole.
My analysis suggests|that it isn't even a natural phenomenon.
Not natural?|You mean it was constructed? lt's very possible whoever made|the Orbs also created this wormhole.
The Cardassians are on a course|toward the Denorios Belt.
Mr O'Brien,|what would it take to move this station to the mouth of the wormhole? This isn't a starship.
|We've got six thrusters to power us.
- lt has to be there tomorrow.
|- That's not possible.
That wormhole might reshape|the future of this quadrant.
The Bajorans|have to stake a claim to it.
That claim would be a lot stronger|if there's a Federation presence.
Couldn't you modify the subspace field|output of the deflector generators to create a low-level field|around the station? To lower the inertial mass? lf the station is lighter,|those six thrusters are all we need.
The station could break apart|if it doesn't work.
Even if it does work,|we'll still need help from Starfleet.
The Enterprise is the nearest starship.
They could reach us in two days.
We should advise Starfleet|that we require assistance.
You have Ops, Mr O'Brien.
- Lieutenant, you're with me.
|- Aye, sir.
You too, Doc.
Time to be a hero.
Yes, sir! - Constable|- l'm in charge of security.
Security here, on the station.
l cannot justify|taking you into this wormhole.
Major, l was found in the Denorios Belt.
l don't know where l came from -|no idea if there are others like me.
All my life,|l've passed myself off as one of you, always wondering who l really am.
The answers to my questions may be|on the other side of that wormhole.
You coming? The creature must be destroyed|before it destroys us.
- lt is malevolent.
|- Aggressive.
Adversarial.
- lt must be destroyed.
|- l am not your enemy.
- l was sent by the people you contacted.
|- Contacted? With your devices, your Orbs.
We seek contact with other life-forms, not corporeal creatures|who annihilate us.
l have not come to annihilate anyone.
Destroy it now.
My species respects life|above all else.
Can you say the same? l do not understand the threat|that l bring to you, but l am not your enemy.
|Allow me to prove it.
- Prove it?|- lt can be argued that a human is the sum|of his experiences.
Experiences? What is this? Memories.
|Events from my past, like this one.
- Past?|- Things that happened before now.
You have no idea|what l'm talking about.
What comes before now|is no different than what is now, or what is to come.
|lt is one's existence.
Then, for you,|there is no linear time.
Linear time? What is this? My species lives in one point in time.
Once we move beyond that point,|it becomes the past.
The future, all that is still to come,|does not exist yet for us.
Does not exist yet? That is the nature of linear existence.
lf you examine it more closely, you will see|that you do not need to fear me.
Partial field established.
|lnstability at 12%.
Partial field? ls inertial mass low enough|to break orbit? - Procedure is not recommended.
|- l didn't ask for an opinion.
Can we get enough thrust|with only a partial field established? - Affirmative.
|- All right.
Thank you.
lnitiate transit mode,|three-axis stabilisation.
Engage thrusters.
Warning.
Field integrity declining.
|lnstability at 21%.
We have to close the gap in the field|or we'll tear ourselves apart.
Warning.
Subspace field collapse|in 60 seconds.
Transfer energy from the inertial dampers|to reinforce the subspace field.
- Procedure is not recommended.
|- Transfer the energy! Unable to comply.
Level-1 safety|protocols have cancelled request.
Warning.
|Subspace field collapse in 30 seconds.
l'll transfer it manually.
On my mark,|redirect the flow to the deflectors.
Keep the power balanced.
Field collapse in 15 seconds.
Now.
Field energy|now within flight tolerances.
Good work, sir.
Computer,|you and l need to have a little talk.
The Cardassian warship|is in visual range.
On screen.
- They're headed right to it.
|- They have to listen to reason, when we warn them|what could happen if they go in.
Most people wouldn't know reason|if it shook their hand.
You can count Gul Dukat among them.
This is Federation Ship Yangtze Kiang.
|Major Kira Nerys in command.
Yes, Major? We know you're headed for the wormhole.
Wormhole?|What wormhole is that? l strongly suggest you do not proceed.
We encountered|a hostile life-form inside.
Perhaps they will be less hostile|to Cardassians than to humans.
These people are trying to save you|from a lot of trouble.
Are you going to tell me that these are not the life-forms|that have sent the Orbs? Or that your Commander Sisko|is not negotiating for their technology? l thank you for your concern, but l think we will see for ourselves.
So much for reason.
Jennifer.
Yes, that was her name.
She is part of your existence.
She is part of my past.
|She's no longer alive.
But she is part of your existence.
She was|a most important part of my existence, - but l lost her some time ago.
|- Lost? What is this? ln a linear existence, we can't go back to the past to get|something we left behind, so it's lost.
lt is inconceivable that any species could exist in such a manner.
- You are deceiving us.
|- No.
This is the truth.
This day, this park lt was almost 15 years ago,|far in the past.
lt was a day|that was very important to me, a day that shaped|every day that followed.
That is the essence|of a linear existence.
Each day affects the next.
Listen to it.
- To what?|- The sound of children playing.
- What could be more beautiful?|- So you like children? That almost sounds|like a domestic inquiry.
l heard Starfleet officers|don't want families because they complicate their lives.
They don't often find mates who want to raise families|on a starship.
That almost sounds|like a domestic inquiry.
l think it was.
As corporeal entities, humans find physical touch|to cause pleasure.
Pleasure? What is this? Good feelings.
Happiness.
But this is your existence.
lt's difficult to be here,|more difficult than any other memory.
Why? Because Because this was the day that l lost Jennifer.
l don't want to be here.
Then why do you exist here? - l don't understand.
|- You exist here.
What's wrong?|What's happening? We should reach the wormhole|in two minutes.
Slowing to one-third imp Are you still there?|What just happened? More of your kind.
Another ship in the wormhole? Wormhole? What is this? The passage that brought me here.
lt is terminated.
Our existence is disrupted|when you enter the passage.
Your linear nature|is inherently destructive.
You have no regard|for the consequences of your acts.
We're aware that every choice we make|has a consequence.
But you claim you do not know|what it will be.
We don't.
Then how can you take responsibility|for your actions? We use past experience|to help guide us.
For Jennifer and me,|the experiences in our lives prepared us for the day|we met on the beach, helped us recognise|we had a future together.
When we married, we accepted|all the consequences of that act, including the consequences of you.
- Me?|- My son, Jake.
- The child with Jennifer.
|- Yes.
- Linear procreation?|- Yes.
Jake is the continuation of our family.
The sound of children playing.
Aggressive.
Adversarial.
Competition.
For fun.
lt's a game that Jake and l play.
lt's called baseball.
Baseball? What is this? l was afraid you'd ask that.
l throw this ball to you and this other player|stands between us with a bat, a stick, and he And he tries to hit the ball|in between these two white lines.
No.
The rules aren't important.
What's important is it's linear.
Every time l throw this ball,|a hundred different things can happen.
He might miss or hit it.
The point is you never know.
You try to anticipate, set a strategy for all the possibilities, but in the end it comes down|to throwing one pitch after another and seeing what happens.
With each new consequence,|the game takes shape.
You have no idea what that shape is|until it is completed.
That's right.
|The game wouldn't be worth playing if we knew|what was going to happen.
You value your ignorance|of what is to come? That may be the most important thing|to understand about humans.
lt is the unknown|that defines our existence.
We are constantly searching,|not just for answers to our questions but for new questions.
We are explorers.
We explore our lives day by day|and we explore the galaxy, trying to expand our knowledge.
That is why l am here.
Not to conquer you with weapons|or with ideas, but to co-exist and learn.
lf all you say is true,|why do you exist here? First Officer's Log, supplemental.
We've met the space station|at the co-ordinates of the wormhole.
Our scans have revealed no trace|of the wormhole or Dukat's ship.
Three Cardassian warships|have crossed the border, no doubt on their way|to search for Dukat.
Can you establish a high-energy|thoron field before they get within range? l don't want them|to scan our defence systems.
They're hailing us.
On screen.
l am Gul Jasad of the Cardassian guard,|Seventh Order.
Where is our warship? With any luck, in the Gamma Quadrant|on the other side of the wormhole.
What wormhole? Our sensors show no indication|of a wormhole in this sector.
- That's because it just collapsed.
|- What? We believe it was artificially created.
That may be why we never picked up|any quantum fluctuation patterns.
You expect me to believe|that someone created a wormhole and now conveniently|has disassembled it? That's exactly what l expect you|to believe.
They're flooding subspace|with interference.
- lt'll cut off our communications.
|- They're powering up their phasers.
Shields up.
What shields? - They're hailing us again.
|- Open the channel.
We do not accept your explanation.
Somehow you have destroyed|our warship.
Gul Jasad, l assure you We demand the unconditional surrender|of this space station or we will open fire.
l need at least a day|to make the necessary preparations.
You have one hour.
l can transfer all power to establish|partial shields around critical areas, but if they hit the docking ring,|we'll sustain heavy damage.
Constable, if you would co-ordinate|moving personnel to safer locations.
What was the last reported position|of the Enterprise? - At least 20 hours away.
|- We must hold out till they get here.
The Cardassians wouldn't attack|a Federation outpost.
- Ever read the history of the border wars?|- Yes.
Heard of the Setlik III Massacre? Surrender is not a preferable option.
You know what they do|to their prisoners, sir.
What is the point of bringing me|back again to this? We do not bring you here.
- You bring us here.
|- You exist here.
Then give me the power to lead you|somewhere else, anywhere else! We cannot give you|what you deny yourself.
Look for solutions from within,|Commander.
- l was ready to die with her.
|- Die? What is this? The termination|of their linear existence.
We've got to go now, sir.
Damn it!|We just can't leave her here.
Oh, no! - l never left this ship.
|- You exist here.
l exist here? l don't know if you can understand.
l see her like this|every time l close my eyes.
ln the darkness, in the blink of an eye, l see her like this.
None of your past experiences|prepared you for this consequence.
And l have never figured out|how to live without her.
So you choose to exist here.
lt is not linear.
No.
lt's not linear.
Their lead ship is hailing us.
Gul Jasad wants an answer.
- Are you ready, Mr O'Brien?|- Yes, sir.
When they penetrate our thoron field,|it should raise a few eyebrows.
All right, then,|let's give them our answer.
Fire six photon torpedoes|across Jasad's bow.
We only have six photons, Major.
We're not going to win this battle|with torpedoes.
Aye, sir.
An urgent hail from Jasad.
Looks like we got his attention.
On screen.
This is your answer? You think|Starfleet took command of this station without the ability to defend it? Defend it? Your space station|could not defend itself against one Cardassian warship.
You're probably right, Jasad.
lf you were dealing with a Starfleet officer,|they'd probably admit we have a hopeless cause here.
But l am just a Bajoran who's been fighting a hopeless cause|against the Cardassians all her life.
So if you want a war, l'll give you one.
Major.
Remind me never to get into a game|of Roladan Wild Draw with you.
They were using a field|to block our sensors, but we were able to penetrate it.
What are their defences? According to our scans,|an estimated 5,000 photons, integrated phaser banks.
When did they receive|these armaments? How did they install them|without our knowledge? Somehow they have created a massive illusion of duranium shadows.
- What if it is not an illusion?|- lt is.
Why risk confrontation?|The Fourth Order can be here in a day.
So can Starfleet.
Their lead ship|is asking for reinforcements.
- Yes!|- Too soon for a victory celebration.
Mr O'Brien? The ships are being deployed|in attack formation.
Battle stations.
Quickly, now.
Calmly.
Come along.
They may just be testing us.
l could run a wave|through the phaser banks.
Put out a blast|that will make them think.
Do it.
- Damage report.
|- Direct hit, level 14.
Empty storage bays.
|No casualties.
Shields down to 27%.
A fuel conduit has ruptured|on the Promenade.
- Can you divert the main power flow?|- The controls are locked.
Odo to Ops.
|l've got wounded people down here! - Have you seen that doctor of yours?|- l'm on my way.
l'll shut down the power flow|or the whole Promenade will go up.
Bloody Cardassians! l just got the damn thing fixed.
Press there, hard.
Doctor,|maybe l should find you someone Hold it there.
That should do it for a while.
Shields are at 18% and falling.
l might be able to give you|one more phaser blast.
No.
Signal the lead ship|that we will proceed with Major, l'm picking up|a huge neutrino disturbance off the forward docking ring.
lt's the wormhole.
On screen.
Hail the lead ship.
|What did l tell you, Jasad? There's your wormhole! - Rio Grande to DS9.
|- On screen.
- Go ahead, Commander.
|- Sorry to be late.
Gul Dukat had some problems|on the other side of the wormhole.
- You've had a few of your own.
|- A few, Commander.
Gul Dukat is signalling his ships|to disarm.
- Clear me for docking, Mr O'Brien.
|- Aye, sir.
Cleared for Pad C.
- Casualties?|- 13 injured, Commander, and no fatalities.
Jake! Dad! Station Log,|Commander Benjamin Sisko.
Stardate 46393.
1.
The life-forms who created the wormhole|have allowed safe passage for ships travelling|to the Gamma Quadrant.
The Cardassians have left the area.
Their warship being towed|by a Federation Runabout took the heart out of their fight.
We're not done|with the Cardassians yet, not with the strategic importance|of the wormhole.
You've put Bajor on the map.
This will become a leading centre of commerce|and of scientific exploration.
And for Starfleet,|one of our most important posts.
Captain, regarding our conversation|about someone to replace me l'm sorry.
l haven't had time|to communicate that to Command.
l would prefer you ignore it, sir.
l'm not sure that l can.
|Are you certain that's what you want? - We cannot afford to have|- l'm certain, sir.
Good luck, Mr Sisko.
So, where can someone practise|with his phaser around here? New rules? You can't cheat every customer|any more, Quark.
You are a community leader now.
Perhaps we could discuss|these 'new rules' over a drink.
lf you don't take that hand off my hip, you'll never be able|to raise a glass with it again.
l love a woman in uniform.
Three vessels|are requesting permission to dock.
We've been retrofitting the airlocks.
Half were damaged during the move, the others when the Cardassians|blew out the fuel conduits