Star Trek: Deep Space Nine s03e08 Episode Script
Meridian
- Too hot?|- A little.
Why don't you specify|a lower temperature? No, no.
Coffee should be|too hot to drink right away.
Why? lt slows down the experience,|gives you time to savour the taste.
Ah, yes, taste.
Odo, l know you don't need to eat,|but did you ever try it anyway? Once, not long after l was first|able to assume the humanoid form.
And? And since l don't have taste buds,|it was very unsatisfying not to mention messy.
- Messy?|- l'd rather not talk about it.
- Major Kira, how nice to see you again.
|- Tiron.
You left Quark's last night|when l was about to buy another round.
l was devastated|that you didn't say goodbye.
We had such a pleasant conversation.
As l recall,|you were the one doing all the talking.
Then you have me at a disadvantage.
You know all about me,|and l know nothing about you.
Er - perhaps l should be going.
|- Oh, no.
Stay.
This is Tiron,|a business associate of Quark's.
This is Odo my lover.
Wellyou're a very lucky man.
l'm a lucky woman.
Yes, we're both very lucky.
And you make|a most interesting couple.
So, Mr Odo, what is it that you do? l'm Chief of Security on this station.
Oh.
A station this size,|it must be a very challenging job.
- l hope you're well compensated.
|- Oh, money doesn't matter.
All we need is each other.
|lsn't that right, sweetheart? Yes, sweetheart.
You see, money isn't everything.
Oh, no.
But it can buy everything.
l'm afraid l must be going.
Goodbye.
Ah, good riddance.
Thank you, Odo.
|l wish you'd been around last night.
l better get back to ops.
|See you later, sweetheart.
Commander's log,|stardate 48423.
2.
Despite the threat|posed by the Dominion, we continue our exploration|of the Gamma Quadrant.
l've run an analysis|of our sensor sweeps.
The second planet|in the Kylata system is M-Class.
l wish we'd had time|to beam down for a closer look.
l'd hate to have run into a Jem'Hadar|while picking flowers.
There's no sign|of Dominion activity in this sector.
Let's hope it stays that way.
l'm picking up gravimetric distortions|in the Trialus system.
- What's causing them?|- lt's hard to tell.
Let's take a closer look.
- The system's almost in visual range.
|- On screen.
The distortions are intensifying,|but they're not coming from the star.
Where else could they come from?|There aren't any planets in this system.
There are now.
The planet has settled|into a stable orbit.
- Where did it come from?|- Was the planet cloaked? l'm not reading|any residual ionisation traces.
We're being scanned.
The beam is coming from a settlement on the southern hemisphere.
l'm reading 30 humanoid inhabitants.
- They're the only humanoids there.
|- They're hailing us.
Open a channel.
l'm Commander Benjamin Sisko of Starbase Deep Space 9.
l am Seltin Rakal of Meridian.
We were studying this star system|when your planet appeared.
lt must have come as a surprise.
You could say that.
|lt seemed to come out of nowhere.
Not nowhere, Commander, but from a dimension|that intersects with this one.
l could explain more in detail.
We were about to celebrate First Meal.
Why don't you join us? We'd like that.
l just need to know your planet won't|disappear in the middle of dessert.
Don't worry.
We'll be here for a while.
lt's good to be together|around this table again after so long.
What's more, we're fortunate to have|visitors to share First Meal with us.
l was admiring your markings.
- Are they decorative?|- No, are yours? No.
lf you don't mind my asking,|how far down do they go? All the way.
You're not eating, Commander.
My curiosity is bigger than my appetite.
l hope we can satisfy both.
You said Meridian emerged from a|dimension that intersects with this one.
Yes, you see,|our planet has a dual existence.
lt shifts between|this dimension and another.
- What causes these shifts?|- We're not entirely sure.
- Deral is studying the phenomenon.
|- With only limited success, l'm afraid.
My theory is|that the shifts are caused by fluctuations in Meridian's quantum|matrix that are triggered by our sun.
What's it like, this dimension of yours? lt's hard to explain.
lt's without form.
- We exist as pure consciousness.
|- And Meridian? lt becomes non-corporeal as well, but when we return to this dimension,|everything is just as we left it - the buildings, the trees,|even our bodies.
When you return here,|it's as if no time has passed? We only age|when we're in corporeal form.
Sounds like this other dimension|has its advantages.
Yes, but we always look forward to|this existence and its many pleasures.
Here, let me help you with that.
The trick is to scoop out the pulp|and eat the thin layer inside the rind.
Here, try some.
lt's delicious.
Especially if you've|looked forward to it for 60 years.
That's a long time between meals.
A glass of Andorian ale.
Done so soon? You were barely|in the holosuite ten minutes.
There was no reason|to stay the full hour.
l understand.
|lt's a very effective programme.
On the contrary.
l found it to be|quite dull.
Boring, boring, boring.
l'm sorry but you won't get a refund.
The contract specifically says|that satisfaction is not guaranteed.
But for a valued customer|such as yourself, l'll make an exception and allow|you try a different programme.
No extra charge.
Let's see.
Something a little bit moreunique? l have just the thing.
''A Picnic|With The Pleasure Goddess Of Rixx.
'' - l can even provide real food for a fee.
|- l don't like picnics, Quark.
- The food here is abominable.
|- Forget the food.
You've never had a picnic like this one.
What l want is not in your catalogue.
Tell me what it is and l'll order it|for you.
lf it exists l'll get it.
That's just the point, Quark.
The programme l want doesn't exist.
|Not yet, anyway.
A custom programme?|lt'll be expensive.
For that kind of money|you can move into a holosuite.
Now what is it you want? - l want Major Kira.
|- Kira? What are you going to do|with Kira in a holosuite? No, don't tell me.
l don't want to know.
- Can you do it?|- lt isn't going to be easy.
l'd have to get her into a holosuite,|and she hates them.
Spare me the details.
Do we have a deal,|or do l take my business elsewhere? Consider it done.
- l'll keep this|- Payment on delivery.
Not a moment sooner.
Don't disappoint me, Quark.
When l walk into that holosuite|and l see Kira standing there l'd better believe it's really her.
Leave it to me.
The things l do for money.
Beyond that forest|there's a garden with a small pond.
- lt sounds lovely.
|- lt is.
Our scans showed that there are|only about 30 of you on this planet.
There were never many of us.
We're the descendants of an expedition|that was stranded here.
- Your population hasn't increased?|- lt did, for a time.
Over the last few centuries|our numbers have dwindled.
You see, we only reproduce|when we're in humanoid form, and our time here|keeps growing shorter.
ln 1 2 days, Meridian will|shift back to its non-corporeal state.
And remain there for the next 60 years.
Eventually we'll only be here|for a matter of minutes.
When that happens Meridian will be too unstable|to shift back to the other dimension.
And then what happens? The planet and all its inhabitants|will cease to exist in either dimension.
We appreciate your offer of help,|Commander.
We'll do what we can|to stabilise the dimensional shifts.
That's all we can ask.
- Here you go.
|- Do you want to play "vajhaq" with us? Maybe later.
Deral and l|are beaming up to the Defiant to run a series of helio-seismic scans|on the Meridian's sun.
l'll join you.
Good luck.
Quark, l got a message|that Morn wanted to see me.
l'm afraid you just missed him.
Really? So soon? Would you come with me, please? Listen up, everyone.
|l have wonderful news.
My one millionth customer|has just walked through the door.
And here she is, ladies and gentlemen,|Major Kira Nerys! Quark, l don't have time for this.
|Make him your one millionth customer.
- That would be dishonest.
|- That's never stopped you.
This is a special occasion.
lt only|happens once in a bar owner's lifetime.
- Let me tell you about your prizes.
|- l won something? Of course, it's part of the celebration.
- l've never won anything before.
|- Now you have.
Congratulations.
- Are you serious?|- My customers are my livelihood.
This is a chance for me|to give something back.
Let's see what we have for you.
A bottle of Kandora champagne,|vintage 2368, that's a very good year.
These are good|for five free spins at the dabo wheel, and one free hour in a holosuite|with the programme of your choice.
A visit to a holosuite?|That's perfect.
lt's Ensign Quintana's birthday.
|He'd love a free visit to the holosuite.
But, Major, what about you? You know how l feel|about the holosuites, Quark.
But thanks for the champagne.
These were our sensor readings|when we entered the system.
Look at the spectral scan.
Your sun gave off modulated gamma|bursts before Meridian appeared.
My people have no record|of that phenomenon.
Meridian was in a non-corporeal state|when it occurred.
Gamma activity seems to indicate|an anomaly in your sun's fusion cycle.
Let's find out for sure.
Send a probe|into the sun's corona to scan the core.
lt'll take a minute|to modify its shield configuration.
How do modulated gamma bursts|cause a dimensional shift? Do you always do that|when you're concentrating? - Do what?|- Bite your lower lip.
- l guess l do.
|- The probe is ready, Commander.
Target it to these coordinates|and launch.
Shields are holding.
lt's going to be a while before the probe|sends back any telemetry.
l'm sure you have things|you need to do.
Not really.
What a coincidence neither do l.
This isn't turning out|the way l'd planned.
- What do you mean?|- You've barely spoken since we left.
Seltin didn't seem too happy|to see us leave together.
She'd probably prefer if|l was walking with Keshara or Renar.
Ever since my wife died, everyone's been wondering when|l'd find myself another companion.
Why haven't you? l was waiting|for the right woman to fall out of the sky.
That doesn't happen too often.
lt only had to happen once.
Don't worry about Seltin.
After all, we both know|this is just a harmless little walk.
Absolutely.
With a brief stop to climb a tree.
|Come on.
Don't tell me in eight lifetimes|you've never climbed a tree.
That's how l know l'm afraid of heights.
Don't worry, l won't let you fall.
This is one of my favourite views.
lt's hard to believe|it all might be gone in two weeks.
- l hope not.
|- So do l.
We'd better climb down.
- lt's as beautiful as you described.
|- l knew you'd like it.
Try one.
- That's wonderful.
|- l knew you'd like that too.
You know me well|for someone who just met me.
l'm glad you noticed.
l can't remember|the last time l did this - stroll through a garden, climb a tree,|eat fresh berries by a pond What comes next? l think l'm starting to remember.
- How are the calculations coming?|- l'm checking them now.
They're the same as before.
Nothing indicates the gamma bursts|are causing the quantum fluctuations.
Something else must be triggering|the dimensional shifts.
Whatever it is, we'll find it.
- Sisko to Dax.
|- Go ahead, Commander.
Good news.
We've been able to get|the probe further into the sun's corona.
l'll download|some new telemetry to you.
Thank you.
lf all that fresh air and sunshine|start getting to you, you're welcome|to come back to the Defiant.
- We're managing just fine.
|- l'm sure you are.
Sisko out.
Don't you want to|take a look at the new telemetry? l'd rather sit here and look at you.
How about this -|we work for a few more hours, and then we go to your room|and count each other's spots.
- Can l go first?|- We'll see.
Take a look|at the fusion reactants in the core.
- They're out of balance.
|- That's right.
The imbalance is building toward a|cascade reaction on the quantum level.
That's what's triggering|the dimensional shifts.
- lf we can stabilise the reaction|- We can keep Meridian here longer.
Oh, Jadzia.
l've got to get this to Commander Sisko|and Chief O'Brien.
And then we can|count each other's spots.
Odo, move out of there.
|You're ruining my shot.
Odo.
Oh, Major.
Why is Quark trying|to take a holopicture of you? Looks like he's pointing it at both of us.
True, but every time l stand in front|of you he seems to get very upset.
Where are you going? Uh-oh.
- What do you think you're doing?|- Nothing.
- Then what's this?|- You mean this holo-imager? l was recording an image|of the Promenade for my mother.
You're taking a holoscan of me,|and l want to know why.
Of you? Not at all,|you just happened to get in the frame.
- Will you stop doing that?|- Not until you tell the truth.
You want the truth? l'll tell you the truth.
l was trying to get an image of you for a special holosuite programme|l'm designing.
l can imagine|what kind of programme that would be.
l'm sure you can,|but you'd be mistaken.
l'm working on a simulation|of the station's Operations Centre.
People want to know|what goes on there.
They want to imagine themselves|fending off a Cardassian attack, or facing a fleet of Jem'Hadar ships.
- Naked, l assume.
|- lsn't there some thief you can harass? Just you.
Hm.
What do you say, Major?|The public just want to work with you.
lf they want to work with me, let them|apply to the Bajoran Military Academy.
That way l can be sure everyone|in ops is wearing their uniform.
- ls that a no?|- Let me put it another way.
lf you ever point a holo-imager|at me again, you will end up eating it.
Definitely a no.
- Jadzia.
|- l've been looking for you.
- You've found me.
|- l have.
Good news.
lt will work.
We can equalise|the time between dimensional shifts.
Jadzia, that's wonderful.
Do you know what l'm going to do? l'm going to build a house, right here.
Nothing extravagant,|just big enough for two.
- Deral, l|- l know what you're thinking.
''This man who just met me|is talking about building a home for us.
'' l realise you have a life|on Deep Space 9, but now you'll have|a place here as well, for when you visit.
l can't visit for a while.
lt will take a long time|to stabilise the sun's cascade reaction.
How long?|Meridian is going to shift in five days.
Jadzia - We'll see each other again.
|- ln 60 years.
l want you with me now.
That's what l want too,|but there's nothing we can do.
Yes, there is.
l can leave Meridian and go back|to the Alpha Quadrant with you.
- lf you'll have me.
|- What do you think? Deral, we've been looking for you.
Commander Sisko told us the great|news.
Thank you for everything.
l'm glad we could help.
The next time Meridian returns here, our people will have 30 years|to get to know each other better.
- We need to discuss something.
|- Of course.
l've called a meeting.
Now that we have a future again,|we need to start planning for it.
- You need to make decisions.
|- That's why l want to talk to you.
You need to talk to Keshara.
|She's not going to wait for you forever.
- l was going to speak to her.
|- l'm glad.
Think of it, Deral.
|People can start having families again.
Eventually we may have to|expand the settlement.
Jadzia, we have a great deal|of planning to do.
l've kept the others|waiting long enough.
Come.
- You'd better go inside.
|- l'll meet you back at the ship.
You know,|the person l feel sorry for is Quark.
He thought that you and he|were made for each other.
l don't suppose|he'll let you win at tongo anymore.
He doesn't let me win! Come in.
Deral! lt's done.
l told Seltin and the others|that l'm leaving Meridian.
- What did they say?|- They asked me not to go.
Seltin feels the settlement|can't afford to lose anyone.
What did you tell her? That l understood her concern,|but that l've made up my mind.
What were you two talking about?|Not me, l hope? l was telling Jadzia she's not as good|a tongo player as she thinks she is.
- Tongo?|- lt's a game.
- And l'm very good at it.
|- We'll find out on Tuesday night.
l want you there to see for yourself.
|l'll clean you and Quark out.
- Jadzia, l have to go.
|- But you just got here.
There are things|l need to do before we leave Meridian.
Do you need any help? No.
l just have to|say goodbye to some people.
l'll see you later tonight.
Tiron, l was just thinking about you.
And l was thinking about|your reputation as a man - who can get anything for a price.
|- You're embarrassing me.
l'll embarrass you even more|if you don't get me my programme.
- Not to worry.
|- ls that it? No.
lt's a high-level decryption protocol.
l'm using it to get the final information|for your programme.
lt cost me dearly.
lf it works, it's worth whatever you paid.
l was hoping you'd say that.
|l'll put it on your bill.
Fine, just get me my programme.
|l am leaving in two days.
You'll have it,|and it'll be worth the wait.
- l'll stake my reputation on it.
|- You already have.
Now, where to begin? - You wanted to see me?|- Yes.
Someone's been illegally accessing|the station's personnel files.
- Your file, to be exact.
|- Mine? They've downloaded your voiceprint,|your retinal scan, even your psychiatric profile.
l've managed to trace the data-path|back to its source.
- Let me guess, Quark.
|- Was there any doubt? With all this information he'd have no|problem generating a holo-image of me.
Shall l arrest him,|or would you prefer to do it yourself? No.
l have a better idea.
|Can you spare a few hours? l'd like to prepare|a little surprise for Quark.
The key to tongo is to confront when you're sure you're|in a better position than the others.
lf your cards match the roll of the dice,|then you win.
Deral Go on.
l'm listening.
You haven't heard|a word l've been saying, have you? l'm sorry.
|l just have so much on my mind.
You don't want to leave Meridian,|do you? - l said l would and l will.
|- l know, but what do you want? - To be with you.
|- But you're worried about your people.
There are so few of us, Jadzia.
And now that Meridian|has a future again, they need me.
- Then you have to stay.
|- And lose you? - No.
|- What if you didn't have to lose me? - What if l stayed here with you?|- l wish you could but it's not possible.
You wouldn't survive|the dimensional shift.
We could use a transporter buffer|to match my quantum matrix to yours.
- How do you know that's possible?|- l discussed it with Julian.
Jadzia.
Are you sure you're willing to do that? lt's the only way we can be together,|and l don't want to lose you either.
Come in.
Benjamin.
l was finishing my request|to Starfleet for my leave of absence.
l bet this is the first time anyone|has requested a 60-year leave.
You'll be sure that it gets to them? lf you're sure|that this is what you really want.
What l really want is|for you to say you're happy for me.
l just need to know|that you've thought this through.
lf Curzon had told had me he wanted|to go off with a woman he just met, - l would have talked him out of it.
|- You should have.
He fell in love with someone new|every other week.
But l'm not Curzon.
No.
And l've never seen Jadzia do anything|without thinking it through first.
l am happy for you.
lt's just|l'm going to miss you, old man.
You've been my friend for two lifetimes.
l can't imagine what it's going to be like|not having you around.
Leaving Deep Space 9|is the hardest thing l've ever done.
But l know it's right.
Besides,|after eight lifetimes as a humanoid, existing as pure consciousness|might be interesting.
Next time we see each other,|l'll probably be a great-grandfather.
Good, then l can call you old man.
l'll look forward to it.
l believe we agreed|l'd be paid on delivery.
l haven't seen the merchandise yet.
You know, Quark, if this|programme is as good as you claim, l might just purchase it from you|to use at home.
You have your own holosuite? Just a little present l bought myself.
His very own holosuite.
lt's good to have money.
l've been waiting for you.
Quark! - l will ruin you for this.
|- You didn't like the programme? l don't know how,|l don't know when, but l will ruin you.
Wait, what about my money? Another satisfied customer? How do you feel? Pretty good, considering l had|my molecules scrambled for six hours.
l erm l don't know what to say.
That's a first.
According to Deral's calculations, the dimensional shift should occur|within the next 4 7 minutes.
Think you'll be done overhauling|the station by the next time l see you? l doubt it.
Tell Quark l will collect|the three strips of latinum he owes me, with 60 years' interest.
Energise.
l was beginning to think|you were having second thoughts.
- No, just saying goodbye.
|- You missed Last Meal.
- l saved you some of these.
|- Thank you.
Jadzia, l want you to know how happy|we are that you're joining us.
Thank you.
Everyone's beginning to gather.
|lt's almost time.
ls there anything|l need to do to prepare? Not that l can think of.
What if l just hold on to you? We're not going to be|together like this for a long time, and l was just getting used to this.
We'll still be together, Jadzia,|in a way you can't even imagine.
- There she goes.
|- Goodbye, Jadzia.
Something's wrong.
l'm reading intense seismic activity|throughout the planet's crust.
lt'd better shift soon,|or it's going to tear itself apart.
Jadzia A singularity in the quantum matrix|is interfering with the dimensional shift.
lt's functioning almost like an anchor.
lt's Dax.
Her presence there|is destabilising the matrix.
Sisko to Dax.
Get her out of there, Chief.
l thought you'd like to know that Meridian shifted normally|once we beamed you away.
Good.
- Jadzia, l'm sorry.
|- Benjamin, don't.
There's nothing you can do.
|l just need some time.
Just 60 years or so.
Why don't you specify|a lower temperature? No, no.
Coffee should be|too hot to drink right away.
Why? lt slows down the experience,|gives you time to savour the taste.
Ah, yes, taste.
Odo, l know you don't need to eat,|but did you ever try it anyway? Once, not long after l was first|able to assume the humanoid form.
And? And since l don't have taste buds,|it was very unsatisfying not to mention messy.
- Messy?|- l'd rather not talk about it.
- Major Kira, how nice to see you again.
|- Tiron.
You left Quark's last night|when l was about to buy another round.
l was devastated|that you didn't say goodbye.
We had such a pleasant conversation.
As l recall,|you were the one doing all the talking.
Then you have me at a disadvantage.
You know all about me,|and l know nothing about you.
Er - perhaps l should be going.
|- Oh, no.
Stay.
This is Tiron,|a business associate of Quark's.
This is Odo my lover.
Wellyou're a very lucky man.
l'm a lucky woman.
Yes, we're both very lucky.
And you make|a most interesting couple.
So, Mr Odo, what is it that you do? l'm Chief of Security on this station.
Oh.
A station this size,|it must be a very challenging job.
- l hope you're well compensated.
|- Oh, money doesn't matter.
All we need is each other.
|lsn't that right, sweetheart? Yes, sweetheart.
You see, money isn't everything.
Oh, no.
But it can buy everything.
l'm afraid l must be going.
Goodbye.
Ah, good riddance.
Thank you, Odo.
|l wish you'd been around last night.
l better get back to ops.
|See you later, sweetheart.
Commander's log,|stardate 48423.
2.
Despite the threat|posed by the Dominion, we continue our exploration|of the Gamma Quadrant.
l've run an analysis|of our sensor sweeps.
The second planet|in the Kylata system is M-Class.
l wish we'd had time|to beam down for a closer look.
l'd hate to have run into a Jem'Hadar|while picking flowers.
There's no sign|of Dominion activity in this sector.
Let's hope it stays that way.
l'm picking up gravimetric distortions|in the Trialus system.
- What's causing them?|- lt's hard to tell.
Let's take a closer look.
- The system's almost in visual range.
|- On screen.
The distortions are intensifying,|but they're not coming from the star.
Where else could they come from?|There aren't any planets in this system.
There are now.
The planet has settled|into a stable orbit.
- Where did it come from?|- Was the planet cloaked? l'm not reading|any residual ionisation traces.
We're being scanned.
The beam is coming from a settlement on the southern hemisphere.
l'm reading 30 humanoid inhabitants.
- They're the only humanoids there.
|- They're hailing us.
Open a channel.
l'm Commander Benjamin Sisko of Starbase Deep Space 9.
l am Seltin Rakal of Meridian.
We were studying this star system|when your planet appeared.
lt must have come as a surprise.
You could say that.
|lt seemed to come out of nowhere.
Not nowhere, Commander, but from a dimension|that intersects with this one.
l could explain more in detail.
We were about to celebrate First Meal.
Why don't you join us? We'd like that.
l just need to know your planet won't|disappear in the middle of dessert.
Don't worry.
We'll be here for a while.
lt's good to be together|around this table again after so long.
What's more, we're fortunate to have|visitors to share First Meal with us.
l was admiring your markings.
- Are they decorative?|- No, are yours? No.
lf you don't mind my asking,|how far down do they go? All the way.
You're not eating, Commander.
My curiosity is bigger than my appetite.
l hope we can satisfy both.
You said Meridian emerged from a|dimension that intersects with this one.
Yes, you see,|our planet has a dual existence.
lt shifts between|this dimension and another.
- What causes these shifts?|- We're not entirely sure.
- Deral is studying the phenomenon.
|- With only limited success, l'm afraid.
My theory is|that the shifts are caused by fluctuations in Meridian's quantum|matrix that are triggered by our sun.
What's it like, this dimension of yours? lt's hard to explain.
lt's without form.
- We exist as pure consciousness.
|- And Meridian? lt becomes non-corporeal as well, but when we return to this dimension,|everything is just as we left it - the buildings, the trees,|even our bodies.
When you return here,|it's as if no time has passed? We only age|when we're in corporeal form.
Sounds like this other dimension|has its advantages.
Yes, but we always look forward to|this existence and its many pleasures.
Here, let me help you with that.
The trick is to scoop out the pulp|and eat the thin layer inside the rind.
Here, try some.
lt's delicious.
Especially if you've|looked forward to it for 60 years.
That's a long time between meals.
A glass of Andorian ale.
Done so soon? You were barely|in the holosuite ten minutes.
There was no reason|to stay the full hour.
l understand.
|lt's a very effective programme.
On the contrary.
l found it to be|quite dull.
Boring, boring, boring.
l'm sorry but you won't get a refund.
The contract specifically says|that satisfaction is not guaranteed.
But for a valued customer|such as yourself, l'll make an exception and allow|you try a different programme.
No extra charge.
Let's see.
Something a little bit moreunique? l have just the thing.
''A Picnic|With The Pleasure Goddess Of Rixx.
'' - l can even provide real food for a fee.
|- l don't like picnics, Quark.
- The food here is abominable.
|- Forget the food.
You've never had a picnic like this one.
What l want is not in your catalogue.
Tell me what it is and l'll order it|for you.
lf it exists l'll get it.
That's just the point, Quark.
The programme l want doesn't exist.
|Not yet, anyway.
A custom programme?|lt'll be expensive.
For that kind of money|you can move into a holosuite.
Now what is it you want? - l want Major Kira.
|- Kira? What are you going to do|with Kira in a holosuite? No, don't tell me.
l don't want to know.
- Can you do it?|- lt isn't going to be easy.
l'd have to get her into a holosuite,|and she hates them.
Spare me the details.
Do we have a deal,|or do l take my business elsewhere? Consider it done.
- l'll keep this|- Payment on delivery.
Not a moment sooner.
Don't disappoint me, Quark.
When l walk into that holosuite|and l see Kira standing there l'd better believe it's really her.
Leave it to me.
The things l do for money.
Beyond that forest|there's a garden with a small pond.
- lt sounds lovely.
|- lt is.
Our scans showed that there are|only about 30 of you on this planet.
There were never many of us.
We're the descendants of an expedition|that was stranded here.
- Your population hasn't increased?|- lt did, for a time.
Over the last few centuries|our numbers have dwindled.
You see, we only reproduce|when we're in humanoid form, and our time here|keeps growing shorter.
ln 1 2 days, Meridian will|shift back to its non-corporeal state.
And remain there for the next 60 years.
Eventually we'll only be here|for a matter of minutes.
When that happens Meridian will be too unstable|to shift back to the other dimension.
And then what happens? The planet and all its inhabitants|will cease to exist in either dimension.
We appreciate your offer of help,|Commander.
We'll do what we can|to stabilise the dimensional shifts.
That's all we can ask.
- Here you go.
|- Do you want to play "vajhaq" with us? Maybe later.
Deral and l|are beaming up to the Defiant to run a series of helio-seismic scans|on the Meridian's sun.
l'll join you.
Good luck.
Quark, l got a message|that Morn wanted to see me.
l'm afraid you just missed him.
Really? So soon? Would you come with me, please? Listen up, everyone.
|l have wonderful news.
My one millionth customer|has just walked through the door.
And here she is, ladies and gentlemen,|Major Kira Nerys! Quark, l don't have time for this.
|Make him your one millionth customer.
- That would be dishonest.
|- That's never stopped you.
This is a special occasion.
lt only|happens once in a bar owner's lifetime.
- Let me tell you about your prizes.
|- l won something? Of course, it's part of the celebration.
- l've never won anything before.
|- Now you have.
Congratulations.
- Are you serious?|- My customers are my livelihood.
This is a chance for me|to give something back.
Let's see what we have for you.
A bottle of Kandora champagne,|vintage 2368, that's a very good year.
These are good|for five free spins at the dabo wheel, and one free hour in a holosuite|with the programme of your choice.
A visit to a holosuite?|That's perfect.
lt's Ensign Quintana's birthday.
|He'd love a free visit to the holosuite.
But, Major, what about you? You know how l feel|about the holosuites, Quark.
But thanks for the champagne.
These were our sensor readings|when we entered the system.
Look at the spectral scan.
Your sun gave off modulated gamma|bursts before Meridian appeared.
My people have no record|of that phenomenon.
Meridian was in a non-corporeal state|when it occurred.
Gamma activity seems to indicate|an anomaly in your sun's fusion cycle.
Let's find out for sure.
Send a probe|into the sun's corona to scan the core.
lt'll take a minute|to modify its shield configuration.
How do modulated gamma bursts|cause a dimensional shift? Do you always do that|when you're concentrating? - Do what?|- Bite your lower lip.
- l guess l do.
|- The probe is ready, Commander.
Target it to these coordinates|and launch.
Shields are holding.
lt's going to be a while before the probe|sends back any telemetry.
l'm sure you have things|you need to do.
Not really.
What a coincidence neither do l.
This isn't turning out|the way l'd planned.
- What do you mean?|- You've barely spoken since we left.
Seltin didn't seem too happy|to see us leave together.
She'd probably prefer if|l was walking with Keshara or Renar.
Ever since my wife died, everyone's been wondering when|l'd find myself another companion.
Why haven't you? l was waiting|for the right woman to fall out of the sky.
That doesn't happen too often.
lt only had to happen once.
Don't worry about Seltin.
After all, we both know|this is just a harmless little walk.
Absolutely.
With a brief stop to climb a tree.
|Come on.
Don't tell me in eight lifetimes|you've never climbed a tree.
That's how l know l'm afraid of heights.
Don't worry, l won't let you fall.
This is one of my favourite views.
lt's hard to believe|it all might be gone in two weeks.
- l hope not.
|- So do l.
We'd better climb down.
- lt's as beautiful as you described.
|- l knew you'd like it.
Try one.
- That's wonderful.
|- l knew you'd like that too.
You know me well|for someone who just met me.
l'm glad you noticed.
l can't remember|the last time l did this - stroll through a garden, climb a tree,|eat fresh berries by a pond What comes next? l think l'm starting to remember.
- How are the calculations coming?|- l'm checking them now.
They're the same as before.
Nothing indicates the gamma bursts|are causing the quantum fluctuations.
Something else must be triggering|the dimensional shifts.
Whatever it is, we'll find it.
- Sisko to Dax.
|- Go ahead, Commander.
Good news.
We've been able to get|the probe further into the sun's corona.
l'll download|some new telemetry to you.
Thank you.
lf all that fresh air and sunshine|start getting to you, you're welcome|to come back to the Defiant.
- We're managing just fine.
|- l'm sure you are.
Sisko out.
Don't you want to|take a look at the new telemetry? l'd rather sit here and look at you.
How about this -|we work for a few more hours, and then we go to your room|and count each other's spots.
- Can l go first?|- We'll see.
Take a look|at the fusion reactants in the core.
- They're out of balance.
|- That's right.
The imbalance is building toward a|cascade reaction on the quantum level.
That's what's triggering|the dimensional shifts.
- lf we can stabilise the reaction|- We can keep Meridian here longer.
Oh, Jadzia.
l've got to get this to Commander Sisko|and Chief O'Brien.
And then we can|count each other's spots.
Odo, move out of there.
|You're ruining my shot.
Odo.
Oh, Major.
Why is Quark trying|to take a holopicture of you? Looks like he's pointing it at both of us.
True, but every time l stand in front|of you he seems to get very upset.
Where are you going? Uh-oh.
- What do you think you're doing?|- Nothing.
- Then what's this?|- You mean this holo-imager? l was recording an image|of the Promenade for my mother.
You're taking a holoscan of me,|and l want to know why.
Of you? Not at all,|you just happened to get in the frame.
- Will you stop doing that?|- Not until you tell the truth.
You want the truth? l'll tell you the truth.
l was trying to get an image of you for a special holosuite programme|l'm designing.
l can imagine|what kind of programme that would be.
l'm sure you can,|but you'd be mistaken.
l'm working on a simulation|of the station's Operations Centre.
People want to know|what goes on there.
They want to imagine themselves|fending off a Cardassian attack, or facing a fleet of Jem'Hadar ships.
- Naked, l assume.
|- lsn't there some thief you can harass? Just you.
Hm.
What do you say, Major?|The public just want to work with you.
lf they want to work with me, let them|apply to the Bajoran Military Academy.
That way l can be sure everyone|in ops is wearing their uniform.
- ls that a no?|- Let me put it another way.
lf you ever point a holo-imager|at me again, you will end up eating it.
Definitely a no.
- Jadzia.
|- l've been looking for you.
- You've found me.
|- l have.
Good news.
lt will work.
We can equalise|the time between dimensional shifts.
Jadzia, that's wonderful.
Do you know what l'm going to do? l'm going to build a house, right here.
Nothing extravagant,|just big enough for two.
- Deral, l|- l know what you're thinking.
''This man who just met me|is talking about building a home for us.
'' l realise you have a life|on Deep Space 9, but now you'll have|a place here as well, for when you visit.
l can't visit for a while.
lt will take a long time|to stabilise the sun's cascade reaction.
How long?|Meridian is going to shift in five days.
Jadzia - We'll see each other again.
|- ln 60 years.
l want you with me now.
That's what l want too,|but there's nothing we can do.
Yes, there is.
l can leave Meridian and go back|to the Alpha Quadrant with you.
- lf you'll have me.
|- What do you think? Deral, we've been looking for you.
Commander Sisko told us the great|news.
Thank you for everything.
l'm glad we could help.
The next time Meridian returns here, our people will have 30 years|to get to know each other better.
- We need to discuss something.
|- Of course.
l've called a meeting.
Now that we have a future again,|we need to start planning for it.
- You need to make decisions.
|- That's why l want to talk to you.
You need to talk to Keshara.
|She's not going to wait for you forever.
- l was going to speak to her.
|- l'm glad.
Think of it, Deral.
|People can start having families again.
Eventually we may have to|expand the settlement.
Jadzia, we have a great deal|of planning to do.
l've kept the others|waiting long enough.
Come.
- You'd better go inside.
|- l'll meet you back at the ship.
You know,|the person l feel sorry for is Quark.
He thought that you and he|were made for each other.
l don't suppose|he'll let you win at tongo anymore.
He doesn't let me win! Come in.
Deral! lt's done.
l told Seltin and the others|that l'm leaving Meridian.
- What did they say?|- They asked me not to go.
Seltin feels the settlement|can't afford to lose anyone.
What did you tell her? That l understood her concern,|but that l've made up my mind.
What were you two talking about?|Not me, l hope? l was telling Jadzia she's not as good|a tongo player as she thinks she is.
- Tongo?|- lt's a game.
- And l'm very good at it.
|- We'll find out on Tuesday night.
l want you there to see for yourself.
|l'll clean you and Quark out.
- Jadzia, l have to go.
|- But you just got here.
There are things|l need to do before we leave Meridian.
Do you need any help? No.
l just have to|say goodbye to some people.
l'll see you later tonight.
Tiron, l was just thinking about you.
And l was thinking about|your reputation as a man - who can get anything for a price.
|- You're embarrassing me.
l'll embarrass you even more|if you don't get me my programme.
- Not to worry.
|- ls that it? No.
lt's a high-level decryption protocol.
l'm using it to get the final information|for your programme.
lt cost me dearly.
lf it works, it's worth whatever you paid.
l was hoping you'd say that.
|l'll put it on your bill.
Fine, just get me my programme.
|l am leaving in two days.
You'll have it,|and it'll be worth the wait.
- l'll stake my reputation on it.
|- You already have.
Now, where to begin? - You wanted to see me?|- Yes.
Someone's been illegally accessing|the station's personnel files.
- Your file, to be exact.
|- Mine? They've downloaded your voiceprint,|your retinal scan, even your psychiatric profile.
l've managed to trace the data-path|back to its source.
- Let me guess, Quark.
|- Was there any doubt? With all this information he'd have no|problem generating a holo-image of me.
Shall l arrest him,|or would you prefer to do it yourself? No.
l have a better idea.
|Can you spare a few hours? l'd like to prepare|a little surprise for Quark.
The key to tongo is to confront when you're sure you're|in a better position than the others.
lf your cards match the roll of the dice,|then you win.
Deral Go on.
l'm listening.
You haven't heard|a word l've been saying, have you? l'm sorry.
|l just have so much on my mind.
You don't want to leave Meridian,|do you? - l said l would and l will.
|- l know, but what do you want? - To be with you.
|- But you're worried about your people.
There are so few of us, Jadzia.
And now that Meridian|has a future again, they need me.
- Then you have to stay.
|- And lose you? - No.
|- What if you didn't have to lose me? - What if l stayed here with you?|- l wish you could but it's not possible.
You wouldn't survive|the dimensional shift.
We could use a transporter buffer|to match my quantum matrix to yours.
- How do you know that's possible?|- l discussed it with Julian.
Jadzia.
Are you sure you're willing to do that? lt's the only way we can be together,|and l don't want to lose you either.
Come in.
Benjamin.
l was finishing my request|to Starfleet for my leave of absence.
l bet this is the first time anyone|has requested a 60-year leave.
You'll be sure that it gets to them? lf you're sure|that this is what you really want.
What l really want is|for you to say you're happy for me.
l just need to know|that you've thought this through.
lf Curzon had told had me he wanted|to go off with a woman he just met, - l would have talked him out of it.
|- You should have.
He fell in love with someone new|every other week.
But l'm not Curzon.
No.
And l've never seen Jadzia do anything|without thinking it through first.
l am happy for you.
lt's just|l'm going to miss you, old man.
You've been my friend for two lifetimes.
l can't imagine what it's going to be like|not having you around.
Leaving Deep Space 9|is the hardest thing l've ever done.
But l know it's right.
Besides,|after eight lifetimes as a humanoid, existing as pure consciousness|might be interesting.
Next time we see each other,|l'll probably be a great-grandfather.
Good, then l can call you old man.
l'll look forward to it.
l believe we agreed|l'd be paid on delivery.
l haven't seen the merchandise yet.
You know, Quark, if this|programme is as good as you claim, l might just purchase it from you|to use at home.
You have your own holosuite? Just a little present l bought myself.
His very own holosuite.
lt's good to have money.
l've been waiting for you.
Quark! - l will ruin you for this.
|- You didn't like the programme? l don't know how,|l don't know when, but l will ruin you.
Wait, what about my money? Another satisfied customer? How do you feel? Pretty good, considering l had|my molecules scrambled for six hours.
l erm l don't know what to say.
That's a first.
According to Deral's calculations, the dimensional shift should occur|within the next 4 7 minutes.
Think you'll be done overhauling|the station by the next time l see you? l doubt it.
Tell Quark l will collect|the three strips of latinum he owes me, with 60 years' interest.
Energise.
l was beginning to think|you were having second thoughts.
- No, just saying goodbye.
|- You missed Last Meal.
- l saved you some of these.
|- Thank you.
Jadzia, l want you to know how happy|we are that you're joining us.
Thank you.
Everyone's beginning to gather.
|lt's almost time.
ls there anything|l need to do to prepare? Not that l can think of.
What if l just hold on to you? We're not going to be|together like this for a long time, and l was just getting used to this.
We'll still be together, Jadzia,|in a way you can't even imagine.
- There she goes.
|- Goodbye, Jadzia.
Something's wrong.
l'm reading intense seismic activity|throughout the planet's crust.
lt'd better shift soon,|or it's going to tear itself apart.
Jadzia A singularity in the quantum matrix|is interfering with the dimensional shift.
lt's functioning almost like an anchor.
lt's Dax.
Her presence there|is destabilising the matrix.
Sisko to Dax.
Get her out of there, Chief.
l thought you'd like to know that Meridian shifted normally|once we beamed you away.
Good.
- Jadzia, l'm sorry.
|- Benjamin, don't.
There's nothing you can do.
|l just need some time.
Just 60 years or so.