Star Trek: Deep Space Nine s03e14 Episode Script
Heart of Stone
First Officer's log, stardate 48521 .
5.
Odo and l are returning|to Deep Space 9 after reviewing security procedures|at Prophet's Landing, the Bajoran colony|closest to the Cardassian border.
Those orbital sensor platforms should|give the colonists plenty of warning in case the Cardassians|decide to violate the new treaty.
Hopefully.
How did your meeting|with Security Chief Bemar go? Fine.
Was he properly impressed|by the depth of your expertise? Huh! - Odo, is something bothering you?|- What makes you say that? You haven't said five words to me|since we left Prophet's Landing.
Huh.
lf l've done something to offend you,|tell me what it is.
- lt's not important.
|- Whatever you say.
- lt's not worth making an issue about.
|- Well, glad to hear it.
lt's just When Governor Avesta|invited us to dinner at his house Go on.
- You said no.
|- And? You never asked me if l wanted to go.
You wanted to go? - Not particularly.
|- Then what's the problem? - You never asked what l wanted.
|- Odo, you don't eat.
And you hate socialising|with people you don't know.
That's beside the point.
l would have liked|to have been consulted.
You're right.
Next time we're invited for|dinner, l'll let you be the one to say no.
l'd appreciate that.
l'm picking up a wideband|subspace transmission from a Lissepian supply ship.
They've been attacked|by a Maquis interceptor.
Long-range sensors are detecting|a modified Peregrine-class courier ship, lightly armed, one man crew,|bearing 268, mark 301 .
The Maquis use|Peregrine-class courier ships.
The Lissepians didn't sustain any|serious damage.
l'm going after him.
Right.
l don't know what the Maquis have done to that ship, but it's fast.
Not fast enough.
We must catch him soon.
Wait a minute, l've lost him.
The Badlands' plasma fields|are disrupting our sensors.
lncreasing the sensor bandwidth|should compensate for the interference.
l hope you're right.
He must be somewhere|in this solar system.
There he is.
He's trying to land on one of the moons|orbiting that gas giant.
l'm following him in.
His attitude stabilisers have failed.
- Can you get a transporter lock on him?|- Too much interference.
He's trying to land on that moon.
We've lost him.
- Did he make it?|- l don't know.
Something in the moon's atmosphere|is jamming our sensors.
Then we'll have to see for ourselves.
O'Brien to Sisko.
Go ahead.
There's someone here to see you.
Who is it? - lt's Nog.
|- Nog? - Tell him it's urgent.
|- He says it's urgent.
Send him in.
l told you he'd see me.
Commander, first let me express|my most sincere thanks for allowing me to speak with you.
You're welcome.
|Now, what is this all about? l wanted to give you this.
Open it.
- What's this?|- lt's latinum.
l know it's latinum,|but why are you giving it to me? Yesterday l completed|the Ferengi Attainment Ceremony.
- l'm an adult.
|- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
|- But that doesn't explain this.
According to Ferengi by-laws,|section 1 05, subparagraph 1 0, adult Ferengi males|must purchase an apprenticeship from a suitable role model.
l choose you.
- You want to be my apprentice?|- That's right.
l want to be the first Ferengi in Starfleet.
Who do l see about getting a uniform? lf you want to be a Starfleet officer,|you have to attend the Academy.
All right.
Where do l sign up? lt's not that simple.
As a non-Federation citizen, you need a|reference from a command level officer before you can even|take the entrance exam.
A command level officer?|You mean, like you? - Well, yes.
Like me.
|- Then you'll write the letter.
- l'll think about it.
|- Thank you, Commander.
l know you'll make the right decision.
Aren't you forgetting something? Keep it.
|Consider it a token of my appreciation.
The atmospheric ionisation is jamming|the transponders of the tricorders.
- You're sure he's in these caverns?|- He wasn't in the wreckage, and in this weather no one could|survive very long.
So that leaves That's the third quake.
This moon|must be seismically unstable.
The sooner we find our fugitive,|the better.
That won't be easy.
|These caverns could go on forever, and l don't want to stay here any longer|than we have to.
Let's split up.
We meet back here in 20 minutes.
|We may have to leave without him.
lf he's smart, he'll let us find him.
Prison would be paradise|compared to this place.
l'll see you in 20 minutes.
- Kira to Odo.
Can you hear me?|- This is Odo.
l can barely hear you.
l'm trapped.
Come quickly.
|Do you read me? Stay where you are, Major.
|l'm on my way.
- Odo is that you?|- l'm right here, Major.
Odo, am l glad to see you.
- What's wrong?|- My foot is stuck.
Stuck? How? l don't know.
l must have stepped|in a fissure.
l can't get it loose.
Let me take a look.
- lt's not a fissure.
|- Then what is it? Your foot's been encased|in some kind of crystal.
And from the look of things,|the crystal is spreading.
- You're sure you can't pull it loose?|- Believe me, l've tried.
- Slip your foot out of your boot.
|- l can barely feel it.
The crystal is pressing against it|so hard, l can't get my boot off.
Hold on a minute.
- This might hurt a bit.
|- Go ahead.
l fail to see the humour in this situation.
Come on, it's pretty ridiculous.
The two of us outsmarted|by a chunk of crystal.
- l'm not giving up just yet.
|- Neither am l.
Hand me my phaser.
Are you sure this is a good idea?|lf you're not careful l may blow off my foot so Julian|can prove what a great doctor he is? Don't worry, l have no intention of|giving him the opportunity.
Stand back.
That wasn't such a good idea after all.
The crystal formation seems to have|fed off the energy from your phaser.
Odo to Mekong.
|Two to beam out.
Energise.
Odo to Mekong.
l can't contact the runabout.
|There's too much interference.
l'll have to walk back to the landing site|and try to transport you from there.
Are you worried|about leaving me here? Now that you mention it, yes.
l'll be fine, Odo.
l promise not to go anywhere.
Nog, hand me that|phase matrix recalibrator.
Here you are, Father.
- ls it fixed yet?|- Not yet, brother.
- What's taking so long?|- We're working as fast as we can.
The replicators' power supply grid|has been shorted out.
lf you don't shut down your replicators|once a week, you risk overloads.
You said it might|overload the system.
Might.
- You should have listened to him.
|- No, l should have explained it better.
Of course it's your fault.
Everything|that goes wrong is your fault.
lt says so in your contract.
Clean this mess up before lunchtime,|or l'm taking the losses out of your pay.
Of course, brother.
l need to get a replacement|power coupling from the storage room.
l'll be right back.
Hey, Nog.
What's going on? lf you want lunch, come back in an hour.
l just ate.
Hey, that was a funny joke|you pulled on my Dad this morning.
- About wanting to join Starfleet.
|- l wasn't joking.
l won't fall for that one.
- Did you tell your father l was joking?|- Yeah, kind of.
How could you do that to me?|Tell your father that you were wrong.
All right.
Calm down.
How was l|supposed to know you were serious? You never said|you wanted to join Starfleet before.
l'm saying it now.
- So what brought this on?|- l have my reasons.
- OK, name one.
|- Why should l? Friends don't keep secrets|from one another.
lts not a secret.
|l just don't feel like talking about it.
- Why?|- Because it's personal.
Now stop asking me.
All right.
But my father's a smart guy.
lf this is some kind of trick,|he's going to figure it out.
There's nothing to figure out.
|l'm joining Starfleet and that's that.
Now, l have a lot of work to do.
Computer, lock onto these coordinates|and initiate transport sequence.
- Unable to comply.
|- Explain.
The high level of atmospheric ionisation|is inhibiting transporter lock.
Can the interference be compensated|by using pattern enhancers? Negative.
Pattern enhancers will not|function in a polarised ionisation field.
ls there any way to get a transporter|lock in this kind of ionisation field? Negative.
Computer, send out a priority one|distress signal to Deep Space 9.
Unable to comply.
Communications|systems are inoperable due to atmospheric interference.
ln that case, launch|a communications probe and instruct it to begin a continuous broadcast|of our whereabouts as soon as it clears the atmosphere.
Working.
Probe launch confirmed.
Computer, given ideal conditions, how soon can we expect help|from Deep Space 9? lt should receive the probe's distress|signal in approximately two days.
- Kira, l heard phaser fire.
|- You've missed our friend.
He came out of that tunnel.
|He was as surprised as l was.
He fired at me, and when l shot back|he ran off down the tunnel.
Don't worry, his aim wasn't any better|than mine was.
He didn't miss by much.
My lucky day.
You've requested to reassign Ensign|Vilix'pran from cargo inspection.
Given his condition, he shouldn't come|in contact with hazardous materials.
- His condition?|- Vilix'pran is budding.
His buds are undergoing|individuation in a month.
- You mean he's pregnant?|- Twins.
Reassignment granted.
l'll have to offer my congratulations|to him the next time l see him.
O'Brien and l|are throwing him a baby shower.
- He would be glad if you came.
|- Are you getting him anything? O'Brien's building him a hatchling pond.
|l've ordered baby clothes from Garak.
- Count me in.
|- Aye, sir.
Ensign Pran Commander Sisko, have you made up|your mind yet, about my letter? - Not exactly.
|- What does that mean, ''not exactly''? Look, l have to be honest with you.
You're not the first candidate for|Starfleet Academy that comes to mind.
- Why not? Because l'm a Ferengi?|- Not at all.
Your reputation on this station|leaves a lot to be desired.
Your school grades|are mediocre at best, and you've had run-ins|with Constable Odo.
OK, l've made some mistakes.
|l admit that, but l can do better.
Just give me a chance.
You wanted to see me, Benjamin? l need an inventory|of the contents of cargo bay 1 2.
- Didn't we do that last week?|- l'd like it done again.
l'll assign a crew to it immediately.
l already have someone|in mind for the job.
Really? Who? - Nog.
|- Nog? He's asked for a recommendation|to Starfleet Academy.
- Nog?|- My reaction exactly.
lt would be interesting|to have a Ferengi in Starfleet, but Nog? l know it seems unlikely, but l want|to give him a chance to prove himself.
Commander, there's a lot of|valuable equipment in cargo bay 1 2.
l know.
Maybe a couple of crewmembers|should assist him.
No.
l want him to do it alone.
No help, no interference,|no one looking over his shoulder.
l wish l could analyse this material.
Too bad our tricorders don't work.
Or our communicators,|or the transporter.
Our fugitive couldn't have chosen|a better place to hide.
Very convenient, don't you think? You make it sound|like he planned on trapping us.
Maybe he did, but it's not going to work.
l'm going to get you out of here.
- How long do you think l have, Odo?|- Long enough.
l figure at the rate|the crystal's been growing l'm going to be completely covered|in less than 1 2 hours.
Unless this cave collapses first.
There has to be a way|to shatter this crystal.
That doesn't mean we'll find it|in less than 1 2 hours.
We'll find it.
Major Do you ever look at the Criminal Activity|Reports from Starfleet Security? - Not often.
|- You should.
They make fascinating reading.
A few months ago we got a report|on a theft on Remmil Vl.
The natives spin a crystalline webbing|that they use for their buildings.
A band of Nausicaan raiders|broke in to their central museum by using a high frequency|ultrasonic generator to create a sympathetic vibration|inside the webbing and shatter it.
All we need to do is|ask the Nausicaan raiders to help us? l might be able to put together|a makeshift generator using the covariant oscillator|on the runabout.
l'll have to find the right frequency to create a sympathetic vibration|inside this crystal.
l'll go back to the runabout|and assemble the generator.
Keep your phaser handy|in case our friend comes back.
- l will.
|- l'll be back as soon as l can.
Constable.
|When we get back to the station, l'm going to start reading|those Criminal Activity Reports.
l'll make sure you get them.
Due to a computer error, we lost|the manifest on this entire cargo bay.
Commander Sisko would like you|to re-inventory its contents.
- The entire cargo bay?|- That's right.
By myself? Look, Nog, Starfleet isn't just|about diplomacy, exploration.
A lot of the time, it's just hard work.
When does Commander Sisko|want it done? He'd like the manifest on his desk|first thing in the morning.
He'll have it tonight,|before he goes off duty.
Tomorrow morning will be fine.
lf you don't mind, Lieutenant,|l'd like to get started.
How long do you think it'll take the|generator to find the right frequency? lt's hard to say.
lt could take hours.
l don't suppose|there's any way to speed things up? l didn't think so.
Don't worry.
l intend to get us back to the station|by tomorrow night.
Chief O'Brien is counting on it.
What does O'Brien have to do with it? - We have an appointment.
|- What kind of appointment? Talk to me, Odo.
lt helps pass the time.
The Chief and l are supposed to|go kayaking together in a holosuite.
You're kidding.
|How did he talk you into that one? He didn't talk me into anything.
- lt's really quite enjoyable.
|- You've done it before? Twice.
He invited me one evening,|and seeing l had no plans l accepted.
l'm sorry.
l'm having trouble imagining|the two of you together in a boat.
- He's the one who does all the singing.
|- He sings? He says it's necessary|to establish a smooth paddling rhythm.
This gets better and better.
|What songs does he sing? Ancient human sea chanties, mostly.
He's particularly fond of one called|''Louie, Louie''.
l've never pictured O'Brien|as a nautical type.
Next to his work and his family, ''shooting the rapids''|is his favourite activity.
He's had the holoprogram|since he was on the Enterprise.
How long do|these boat trips usually take? - That depends.
|- On what? On how many times we capsize.
- lt must be a very difficult programme.
|- lt's extremely difficult.
According to him, he's dislocated|his shoulder half a dozen times trying to make it down those rapids.
- Then why does he keep doing it?|- Because he loves it.
And it's been my observation that you humanoids have a hard time|giving up the things you love, no matter how much they might hurt you.
- l'm glad you're here, Odo.
|- l'm glad l'm here, too.
Odo! - Major?|- l'm all right.
What about the generator? lt's fine, but it still hasn't found the|right frequency to shatter the crystal.
Tell it to hurry.
A few more tremors like|that last one and this cave collapses.
We'll have to make sure|that doesn't happen.
We've come out|of worse situations all right.
Name three.
l can't think of any either.
No, it's not that.
lt's just that|that wasn't the response l expected.
What do you mean? ln the detective novels Chief O'Brien|gives me to read, when the hero says, ''We've been in tougher situations|than this one,'' his friends always agree.
l never read any of those books.
There must be some humanoid|platitude l can use to cheer you up.
l don't have much use|for platitudes, Odo.
l'd rather face the truth of a situation|and go on from there.
- l feel the same way.
|- l know.
- That's why we get along so well.
|- l suppose it is.
But in this case, the truth is we are|going to get you out of here, Major.
And that's no platitude.
- This is impressive work.
|- lncredible is more like it.
He inventoried the whole cargo bay|in under five hours.
You're sure he didn't have any help? According to the internal sensors,|no one else entered that cargo bay.
He did learn something|working in his uncle's storeroom.
l assume that all our equipment is|where it's supposed to be? lf you're asking if he stole anything,|the answer is no.
He even found some things|we missed on our last inventory.
OK, now we know he's a hard worker.
|The question remains: Why does he want to join Starfleet? l have no idea.
l don't understand it.
l've run through|the entire harmonic spectrum, and no frequency|has had any effect on the crystal.
lt's almost as if|the structure of the crystal is mutating to keep us|from finding the right frequency.
Odo.
Yes, Major.
l wish there was|something else l could do.
Just keep talking to me.
- What do you want me to say?|- Anything.
Tell me a story.
- A story|- Tell me how you got your name.
My name? Now that you mention it,|that is an amusing story.
Tell it to me.
Well, as you know, when Doctor Mora|first brought me to his laboratory, it was under Cardassian supervision.
All specimens had to be|clearly labelled in Cardassian, so the overseers would always know|what the scientists were working on.
Since no one|was exactly sure what l was, Mora labelled me ''Unknown Sample,'' which the overseer translated|into Cardassian as "odo'ital.
" So, your name is ''Unknown Sample''? No, no.
"Odo'ital" literally means|the word ''Nothing''.
Even after it became clear|that l was sentient, the Bajoran scientists|kept calling me that.
As a joke, they split it into two words, like a Bajoran name: Odo ltal,|which eventually got shortened.
To Odo.
But the thing is, for the longest time, whenever anyone would use my name, the first thing l would think of|was what it meant: ''Nothing''.
What better way to describe me? l had no family,|no friends, no place where l belonged.
l thought it was the most appropriate|name anyone could give me.
And then l met you.
And the others -|Sisko, Dax, even Quark.
And now,|when l hear one of you call me ''Odo'', l no longer think|of myself as ''Nothing''.
l think of myself as me.
l'm sorry, Major.
That story wasn't|as amusing as l'd hoped it would be.
No, l liked it very much.
The ultrasonic generator|isn't going to work, is it? No, l'm afraid it's not.
l don't suppose|you have any other ideas.
l wish l had.
Neither do l.
lt doesn't make sense.
The ultrasonic generator should|have worked.
Something's not right.
Odo, you've done your best.
- lt's time for you to go.
|- Go? This place will collapse any minute.
That Maquis probably died in a cave-in.
- There's nothing more you can do.
|- lf you're asking me to leave As your superior officer, l'm telling you to take the runabout|and get the hell off this moon.
That's an order.
Odo, l told you to get out of here.
- l'm not leaving.
|- Constable, l gave you a direct order.
You can order me all you want.
|As of now, l'm resigning my commission.
- lf you stay here, you'll die.
|- You don't know that for certain.
Even if it were true,|l'm not going to abandon you.
- l want you to get out of here.
|- Don't you understand? l can't.
You have to.
Odo, please.
No.
l won't leave you.
- Why?|- Because Because l'm in love with you.
So, now you know.
Odo l'm in love with you, too.
You wanted to see me, Commander? Nog.
l've given your request|a lot of thought.
l appreciate that, Commander.
- But l'm afraid l have to turn you down.
|- Turn me down? - Did l do something wrong?|- lt's not anything you did.
You're just not Academy material.
Here.
- This belongs to you.
|- Can't we talk about this? There's nothing to talk about.
You'd|never make it through the Academy.
You couldn't handle|the workload or the discipline.
- You wouldn't last two weeks.
|- That's not true.
- l'm a hard worker.
l proved that to you.
|- lt doesn't matter.
l won't risk my reputation|to satisfy some whim of yours.
lt's not just a whim.
|l'm serious about joining Starfleet.
l don't have time for this, Nog.
You can forget your little scheme.
|l'm not giving you that letter.
lt's not a joke or a scheme.
|l want to join Starfleet.
l want it more than anything|l've ever wanted in my life.
You're a Ferengi.
Why would you|want to be in Starfleet? Where's the profit in it? - l don't care about profit.
|- What do you care about? Come on, tell me.
Why is it so important|that you get into Starfleet? Why are you doing this? Because l don't want to|end up like my father.
Your father.
That's right.
My father.
He's been chasing profit his whole life,|and what has it gotten him? Nothing.
|And you know why? Because he doesn't have the lobes.
And neither do l.
- And ''A Ferengi without profit|- ''is no Ferengi at all.
'' The 1 8th Rule of Acquisition.
My father is a mechanical genius.
He could have been chief engineer|of a starship if he'd had the opportunity.
But he went into business,|like a good Ferengi.
The only thing is,|he's not a good Ferengi - not when it comes to acquiring profit.
Now all he has to live for|is the slim chance that someday, somehow, he might|be able to take over my uncle's bar.
l'm not going to|make the same mistake.
l want to do something with my life,|something worthwhile.
Like joining Starfleet? l may not have an instinct for business, but l have my father's hands|and my uncle's tenacity.
l know l've got something to offer,|l just need the chance to prove it.
All right.
l'll see that you get that chance.
You'll recommend me|to Starfleet Academy? l'll send the letter|first thing tomorrow morning.
Commander,|l don't know how to thank you.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Don't thank me yet.
|You still have a lot of work ahead of you.
Don't worry.
|You're never going to regret this.
- Odo?|- Yes, Major.
You haven't said a word to me|in over an hour.
l've just been going over|a few things in my mind.
l'm sorry l waited so long|to tell you how l feel about you.
lf l'd told you earlier, maybe things|would have been different.
Ah.
What are you smiling about? l think l've finally figured out|what's going on here.
This whole situation hasn't seemed|right since the beginning.
There've been too many coincidences,|too many unanswered questions.
Are you still trying to prove|that this is some kind of conspiracy? The Maquis was standing here|when he shot at you? - That's right.
|- How tall was he? My height? No.
Maybe shorter.
- Like this?|- More or less.
- Why does it matter anyway?|- lt matters.
From this position,|you're blocking those phaser hits.
There's no way someone standing here could hit those rocks|without hitting you first.
Maybe he was standing|somewhere else.
Maybe.
Or maybe you were lying to me.
Which makes two times|you've lied to me today.
What are you talking about? You lied|when you said you were shot at, and when you said you loved me.
- l do love you.
|- l wish you did, but you don't.
l pride myself on my ability|to observe human nature.
l've watched you|for the past three years.
l never saw any indication that you|had those kinds of feelings for me.
You like me,|you think of me as a close friend.
But love? l'm afraid not.
Maybe l told you l loved you because|l thought it would make you feel better.
l thought|that's what you wanted to hear.
You're lying again.
The Kira l know has|far too much regard for our friendship to lie to me,|even for the best of reasons.
- Odo, l can explain.
|- Good.
You can start by telling me who you are and what you've done with Kira.
Well done, Odo.
You really are|quite a skilful investigator.
And you're quite a skilful changeling.
You still have much to learn.
lf you want to share your wisdom,|tell me where Major Kira is.
- Close by.
|- You were the fugitive, weren't you? That's correct.
How did you get a Maquis ship? Now, Odo, you can't expect me|to give you all the answers.
But why lead us here?|Why replace Major Kira? l needed to understand why you live with the solids|rather than your own people.
l suspected it had something to do|with Major Kira.
- Now l'm certain of it.
|- Your plan was to let me think she died.
You thought that would|take away my link to the solids? - Then you would return to us.
|- Nothing will ever make me do that.
- l wouldn't be so sure.
|- Tell me where she is.
And if l don't, then what?|You'll shoot me? No changeling|has ever harmed another.
There's always a first time.
Major Kira is down that tunnel,|200 metres south of here.
Save her if it suits you,|but it won't make any difference.
She's never going to love you.
How could she? You are a changeling.
- Major, wake up.
|- Odo, what happened? - What am l doing here?|- lt's a long story.
Right now|we have to get you to the Mekong.
There's one thing l don't understand.
lf that Founder wanted to test|your allegiance to the solids, why did she impersonate me? l suppose it's because|you happened to be with me.
lt could have just as easily been|Commander Sisko, Dr Bashir What made you realise the truth? She made a mistake.
She said|something you would never say.
- What was that?|- Just a slip of the tongue.
Nothing important.
l tell you, l won't stand for it.
No nephew of mine disgraces|our family name by joining Starfleet.
- But Uncle Quark|- My mind is made up.
- l forbid it.
|- No, you don't.
- Rom, stay out of this.
|- l will not.
When it comes to the bar,|you may be in charge, but when it comes to my son,|l make the decisions.
Fine.
You tell him he can't go.
Nog Good luck.
l would be proud|to have a son in Starfleet.
You're both insane.
Like father, like son.
5.
Odo and l are returning|to Deep Space 9 after reviewing security procedures|at Prophet's Landing, the Bajoran colony|closest to the Cardassian border.
Those orbital sensor platforms should|give the colonists plenty of warning in case the Cardassians|decide to violate the new treaty.
Hopefully.
How did your meeting|with Security Chief Bemar go? Fine.
Was he properly impressed|by the depth of your expertise? Huh! - Odo, is something bothering you?|- What makes you say that? You haven't said five words to me|since we left Prophet's Landing.
Huh.
lf l've done something to offend you,|tell me what it is.
- lt's not important.
|- Whatever you say.
- lt's not worth making an issue about.
|- Well, glad to hear it.
lt's just When Governor Avesta|invited us to dinner at his house Go on.
- You said no.
|- And? You never asked me if l wanted to go.
You wanted to go? - Not particularly.
|- Then what's the problem? - You never asked what l wanted.
|- Odo, you don't eat.
And you hate socialising|with people you don't know.
That's beside the point.
l would have liked|to have been consulted.
You're right.
Next time we're invited for|dinner, l'll let you be the one to say no.
l'd appreciate that.
l'm picking up a wideband|subspace transmission from a Lissepian supply ship.
They've been attacked|by a Maquis interceptor.
Long-range sensors are detecting|a modified Peregrine-class courier ship, lightly armed, one man crew,|bearing 268, mark 301 .
The Maquis use|Peregrine-class courier ships.
The Lissepians didn't sustain any|serious damage.
l'm going after him.
Right.
l don't know what the Maquis have done to that ship, but it's fast.
Not fast enough.
We must catch him soon.
Wait a minute, l've lost him.
The Badlands' plasma fields|are disrupting our sensors.
lncreasing the sensor bandwidth|should compensate for the interference.
l hope you're right.
He must be somewhere|in this solar system.
There he is.
He's trying to land on one of the moons|orbiting that gas giant.
l'm following him in.
His attitude stabilisers have failed.
- Can you get a transporter lock on him?|- Too much interference.
He's trying to land on that moon.
We've lost him.
- Did he make it?|- l don't know.
Something in the moon's atmosphere|is jamming our sensors.
Then we'll have to see for ourselves.
O'Brien to Sisko.
Go ahead.
There's someone here to see you.
Who is it? - lt's Nog.
|- Nog? - Tell him it's urgent.
|- He says it's urgent.
Send him in.
l told you he'd see me.
Commander, first let me express|my most sincere thanks for allowing me to speak with you.
You're welcome.
|Now, what is this all about? l wanted to give you this.
Open it.
- What's this?|- lt's latinum.
l know it's latinum,|but why are you giving it to me? Yesterday l completed|the Ferengi Attainment Ceremony.
- l'm an adult.
|- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
|- But that doesn't explain this.
According to Ferengi by-laws,|section 1 05, subparagraph 1 0, adult Ferengi males|must purchase an apprenticeship from a suitable role model.
l choose you.
- You want to be my apprentice?|- That's right.
l want to be the first Ferengi in Starfleet.
Who do l see about getting a uniform? lf you want to be a Starfleet officer,|you have to attend the Academy.
All right.
Where do l sign up? lt's not that simple.
As a non-Federation citizen, you need a|reference from a command level officer before you can even|take the entrance exam.
A command level officer?|You mean, like you? - Well, yes.
Like me.
|- Then you'll write the letter.
- l'll think about it.
|- Thank you, Commander.
l know you'll make the right decision.
Aren't you forgetting something? Keep it.
|Consider it a token of my appreciation.
The atmospheric ionisation is jamming|the transponders of the tricorders.
- You're sure he's in these caverns?|- He wasn't in the wreckage, and in this weather no one could|survive very long.
So that leaves That's the third quake.
This moon|must be seismically unstable.
The sooner we find our fugitive,|the better.
That won't be easy.
|These caverns could go on forever, and l don't want to stay here any longer|than we have to.
Let's split up.
We meet back here in 20 minutes.
|We may have to leave without him.
lf he's smart, he'll let us find him.
Prison would be paradise|compared to this place.
l'll see you in 20 minutes.
- Kira to Odo.
Can you hear me?|- This is Odo.
l can barely hear you.
l'm trapped.
Come quickly.
|Do you read me? Stay where you are, Major.
|l'm on my way.
- Odo is that you?|- l'm right here, Major.
Odo, am l glad to see you.
- What's wrong?|- My foot is stuck.
Stuck? How? l don't know.
l must have stepped|in a fissure.
l can't get it loose.
Let me take a look.
- lt's not a fissure.
|- Then what is it? Your foot's been encased|in some kind of crystal.
And from the look of things,|the crystal is spreading.
- You're sure you can't pull it loose?|- Believe me, l've tried.
- Slip your foot out of your boot.
|- l can barely feel it.
The crystal is pressing against it|so hard, l can't get my boot off.
Hold on a minute.
- This might hurt a bit.
|- Go ahead.
l fail to see the humour in this situation.
Come on, it's pretty ridiculous.
The two of us outsmarted|by a chunk of crystal.
- l'm not giving up just yet.
|- Neither am l.
Hand me my phaser.
Are you sure this is a good idea?|lf you're not careful l may blow off my foot so Julian|can prove what a great doctor he is? Don't worry, l have no intention of|giving him the opportunity.
Stand back.
That wasn't such a good idea after all.
The crystal formation seems to have|fed off the energy from your phaser.
Odo to Mekong.
|Two to beam out.
Energise.
Odo to Mekong.
l can't contact the runabout.
|There's too much interference.
l'll have to walk back to the landing site|and try to transport you from there.
Are you worried|about leaving me here? Now that you mention it, yes.
l'll be fine, Odo.
l promise not to go anywhere.
Nog, hand me that|phase matrix recalibrator.
Here you are, Father.
- ls it fixed yet?|- Not yet, brother.
- What's taking so long?|- We're working as fast as we can.
The replicators' power supply grid|has been shorted out.
lf you don't shut down your replicators|once a week, you risk overloads.
You said it might|overload the system.
Might.
- You should have listened to him.
|- No, l should have explained it better.
Of course it's your fault.
Everything|that goes wrong is your fault.
lt says so in your contract.
Clean this mess up before lunchtime,|or l'm taking the losses out of your pay.
Of course, brother.
l need to get a replacement|power coupling from the storage room.
l'll be right back.
Hey, Nog.
What's going on? lf you want lunch, come back in an hour.
l just ate.
Hey, that was a funny joke|you pulled on my Dad this morning.
- About wanting to join Starfleet.
|- l wasn't joking.
l won't fall for that one.
- Did you tell your father l was joking?|- Yeah, kind of.
How could you do that to me?|Tell your father that you were wrong.
All right.
Calm down.
How was l|supposed to know you were serious? You never said|you wanted to join Starfleet before.
l'm saying it now.
- So what brought this on?|- l have my reasons.
- OK, name one.
|- Why should l? Friends don't keep secrets|from one another.
lts not a secret.
|l just don't feel like talking about it.
- Why?|- Because it's personal.
Now stop asking me.
All right.
But my father's a smart guy.
lf this is some kind of trick,|he's going to figure it out.
There's nothing to figure out.
|l'm joining Starfleet and that's that.
Now, l have a lot of work to do.
Computer, lock onto these coordinates|and initiate transport sequence.
- Unable to comply.
|- Explain.
The high level of atmospheric ionisation|is inhibiting transporter lock.
Can the interference be compensated|by using pattern enhancers? Negative.
Pattern enhancers will not|function in a polarised ionisation field.
ls there any way to get a transporter|lock in this kind of ionisation field? Negative.
Computer, send out a priority one|distress signal to Deep Space 9.
Unable to comply.
Communications|systems are inoperable due to atmospheric interference.
ln that case, launch|a communications probe and instruct it to begin a continuous broadcast|of our whereabouts as soon as it clears the atmosphere.
Working.
Probe launch confirmed.
Computer, given ideal conditions, how soon can we expect help|from Deep Space 9? lt should receive the probe's distress|signal in approximately two days.
- Kira, l heard phaser fire.
|- You've missed our friend.
He came out of that tunnel.
|He was as surprised as l was.
He fired at me, and when l shot back|he ran off down the tunnel.
Don't worry, his aim wasn't any better|than mine was.
He didn't miss by much.
My lucky day.
You've requested to reassign Ensign|Vilix'pran from cargo inspection.
Given his condition, he shouldn't come|in contact with hazardous materials.
- His condition?|- Vilix'pran is budding.
His buds are undergoing|individuation in a month.
- You mean he's pregnant?|- Twins.
Reassignment granted.
l'll have to offer my congratulations|to him the next time l see him.
O'Brien and l|are throwing him a baby shower.
- He would be glad if you came.
|- Are you getting him anything? O'Brien's building him a hatchling pond.
|l've ordered baby clothes from Garak.
- Count me in.
|- Aye, sir.
Ensign Pran Commander Sisko, have you made up|your mind yet, about my letter? - Not exactly.
|- What does that mean, ''not exactly''? Look, l have to be honest with you.
You're not the first candidate for|Starfleet Academy that comes to mind.
- Why not? Because l'm a Ferengi?|- Not at all.
Your reputation on this station|leaves a lot to be desired.
Your school grades|are mediocre at best, and you've had run-ins|with Constable Odo.
OK, l've made some mistakes.
|l admit that, but l can do better.
Just give me a chance.
You wanted to see me, Benjamin? l need an inventory|of the contents of cargo bay 1 2.
- Didn't we do that last week?|- l'd like it done again.
l'll assign a crew to it immediately.
l already have someone|in mind for the job.
Really? Who? - Nog.
|- Nog? He's asked for a recommendation|to Starfleet Academy.
- Nog?|- My reaction exactly.
lt would be interesting|to have a Ferengi in Starfleet, but Nog? l know it seems unlikely, but l want|to give him a chance to prove himself.
Commander, there's a lot of|valuable equipment in cargo bay 1 2.
l know.
Maybe a couple of crewmembers|should assist him.
No.
l want him to do it alone.
No help, no interference,|no one looking over his shoulder.
l wish l could analyse this material.
Too bad our tricorders don't work.
Or our communicators,|or the transporter.
Our fugitive couldn't have chosen|a better place to hide.
Very convenient, don't you think? You make it sound|like he planned on trapping us.
Maybe he did, but it's not going to work.
l'm going to get you out of here.
- How long do you think l have, Odo?|- Long enough.
l figure at the rate|the crystal's been growing l'm going to be completely covered|in less than 1 2 hours.
Unless this cave collapses first.
There has to be a way|to shatter this crystal.
That doesn't mean we'll find it|in less than 1 2 hours.
We'll find it.
Major Do you ever look at the Criminal Activity|Reports from Starfleet Security? - Not often.
|- You should.
They make fascinating reading.
A few months ago we got a report|on a theft on Remmil Vl.
The natives spin a crystalline webbing|that they use for their buildings.
A band of Nausicaan raiders|broke in to their central museum by using a high frequency|ultrasonic generator to create a sympathetic vibration|inside the webbing and shatter it.
All we need to do is|ask the Nausicaan raiders to help us? l might be able to put together|a makeshift generator using the covariant oscillator|on the runabout.
l'll have to find the right frequency to create a sympathetic vibration|inside this crystal.
l'll go back to the runabout|and assemble the generator.
Keep your phaser handy|in case our friend comes back.
- l will.
|- l'll be back as soon as l can.
Constable.
|When we get back to the station, l'm going to start reading|those Criminal Activity Reports.
l'll make sure you get them.
Due to a computer error, we lost|the manifest on this entire cargo bay.
Commander Sisko would like you|to re-inventory its contents.
- The entire cargo bay?|- That's right.
By myself? Look, Nog, Starfleet isn't just|about diplomacy, exploration.
A lot of the time, it's just hard work.
When does Commander Sisko|want it done? He'd like the manifest on his desk|first thing in the morning.
He'll have it tonight,|before he goes off duty.
Tomorrow morning will be fine.
lf you don't mind, Lieutenant,|l'd like to get started.
How long do you think it'll take the|generator to find the right frequency? lt's hard to say.
lt could take hours.
l don't suppose|there's any way to speed things up? l didn't think so.
Don't worry.
l intend to get us back to the station|by tomorrow night.
Chief O'Brien is counting on it.
What does O'Brien have to do with it? - We have an appointment.
|- What kind of appointment? Talk to me, Odo.
lt helps pass the time.
The Chief and l are supposed to|go kayaking together in a holosuite.
You're kidding.
|How did he talk you into that one? He didn't talk me into anything.
- lt's really quite enjoyable.
|- You've done it before? Twice.
He invited me one evening,|and seeing l had no plans l accepted.
l'm sorry.
l'm having trouble imagining|the two of you together in a boat.
- He's the one who does all the singing.
|- He sings? He says it's necessary|to establish a smooth paddling rhythm.
This gets better and better.
|What songs does he sing? Ancient human sea chanties, mostly.
He's particularly fond of one called|''Louie, Louie''.
l've never pictured O'Brien|as a nautical type.
Next to his work and his family, ''shooting the rapids''|is his favourite activity.
He's had the holoprogram|since he was on the Enterprise.
How long do|these boat trips usually take? - That depends.
|- On what? On how many times we capsize.
- lt must be a very difficult programme.
|- lt's extremely difficult.
According to him, he's dislocated|his shoulder half a dozen times trying to make it down those rapids.
- Then why does he keep doing it?|- Because he loves it.
And it's been my observation that you humanoids have a hard time|giving up the things you love, no matter how much they might hurt you.
- l'm glad you're here, Odo.
|- l'm glad l'm here, too.
Odo! - Major?|- l'm all right.
What about the generator? lt's fine, but it still hasn't found the|right frequency to shatter the crystal.
Tell it to hurry.
A few more tremors like|that last one and this cave collapses.
We'll have to make sure|that doesn't happen.
We've come out|of worse situations all right.
Name three.
l can't think of any either.
No, it's not that.
lt's just that|that wasn't the response l expected.
What do you mean? ln the detective novels Chief O'Brien|gives me to read, when the hero says, ''We've been in tougher situations|than this one,'' his friends always agree.
l never read any of those books.
There must be some humanoid|platitude l can use to cheer you up.
l don't have much use|for platitudes, Odo.
l'd rather face the truth of a situation|and go on from there.
- l feel the same way.
|- l know.
- That's why we get along so well.
|- l suppose it is.
But in this case, the truth is we are|going to get you out of here, Major.
And that's no platitude.
- This is impressive work.
|- lncredible is more like it.
He inventoried the whole cargo bay|in under five hours.
You're sure he didn't have any help? According to the internal sensors,|no one else entered that cargo bay.
He did learn something|working in his uncle's storeroom.
l assume that all our equipment is|where it's supposed to be? lf you're asking if he stole anything,|the answer is no.
He even found some things|we missed on our last inventory.
OK, now we know he's a hard worker.
|The question remains: Why does he want to join Starfleet? l have no idea.
l don't understand it.
l've run through|the entire harmonic spectrum, and no frequency|has had any effect on the crystal.
lt's almost as if|the structure of the crystal is mutating to keep us|from finding the right frequency.
Odo.
Yes, Major.
l wish there was|something else l could do.
Just keep talking to me.
- What do you want me to say?|- Anything.
Tell me a story.
- A story|- Tell me how you got your name.
My name? Now that you mention it,|that is an amusing story.
Tell it to me.
Well, as you know, when Doctor Mora|first brought me to his laboratory, it was under Cardassian supervision.
All specimens had to be|clearly labelled in Cardassian, so the overseers would always know|what the scientists were working on.
Since no one|was exactly sure what l was, Mora labelled me ''Unknown Sample,'' which the overseer translated|into Cardassian as "odo'ital.
" So, your name is ''Unknown Sample''? No, no.
"Odo'ital" literally means|the word ''Nothing''.
Even after it became clear|that l was sentient, the Bajoran scientists|kept calling me that.
As a joke, they split it into two words, like a Bajoran name: Odo ltal,|which eventually got shortened.
To Odo.
But the thing is, for the longest time, whenever anyone would use my name, the first thing l would think of|was what it meant: ''Nothing''.
What better way to describe me? l had no family,|no friends, no place where l belonged.
l thought it was the most appropriate|name anyone could give me.
And then l met you.
And the others -|Sisko, Dax, even Quark.
And now,|when l hear one of you call me ''Odo'', l no longer think|of myself as ''Nothing''.
l think of myself as me.
l'm sorry, Major.
That story wasn't|as amusing as l'd hoped it would be.
No, l liked it very much.
The ultrasonic generator|isn't going to work, is it? No, l'm afraid it's not.
l don't suppose|you have any other ideas.
l wish l had.
Neither do l.
lt doesn't make sense.
The ultrasonic generator should|have worked.
Something's not right.
Odo, you've done your best.
- lt's time for you to go.
|- Go? This place will collapse any minute.
That Maquis probably died in a cave-in.
- There's nothing more you can do.
|- lf you're asking me to leave As your superior officer, l'm telling you to take the runabout|and get the hell off this moon.
That's an order.
Odo, l told you to get out of here.
- l'm not leaving.
|- Constable, l gave you a direct order.
You can order me all you want.
|As of now, l'm resigning my commission.
- lf you stay here, you'll die.
|- You don't know that for certain.
Even if it were true,|l'm not going to abandon you.
- l want you to get out of here.
|- Don't you understand? l can't.
You have to.
Odo, please.
No.
l won't leave you.
- Why?|- Because Because l'm in love with you.
So, now you know.
Odo l'm in love with you, too.
You wanted to see me, Commander? Nog.
l've given your request|a lot of thought.
l appreciate that, Commander.
- But l'm afraid l have to turn you down.
|- Turn me down? - Did l do something wrong?|- lt's not anything you did.
You're just not Academy material.
Here.
- This belongs to you.
|- Can't we talk about this? There's nothing to talk about.
You'd|never make it through the Academy.
You couldn't handle|the workload or the discipline.
- You wouldn't last two weeks.
|- That's not true.
- l'm a hard worker.
l proved that to you.
|- lt doesn't matter.
l won't risk my reputation|to satisfy some whim of yours.
lt's not just a whim.
|l'm serious about joining Starfleet.
l don't have time for this, Nog.
You can forget your little scheme.
|l'm not giving you that letter.
lt's not a joke or a scheme.
|l want to join Starfleet.
l want it more than anything|l've ever wanted in my life.
You're a Ferengi.
Why would you|want to be in Starfleet? Where's the profit in it? - l don't care about profit.
|- What do you care about? Come on, tell me.
Why is it so important|that you get into Starfleet? Why are you doing this? Because l don't want to|end up like my father.
Your father.
That's right.
My father.
He's been chasing profit his whole life,|and what has it gotten him? Nothing.
|And you know why? Because he doesn't have the lobes.
And neither do l.
- And ''A Ferengi without profit|- ''is no Ferengi at all.
'' The 1 8th Rule of Acquisition.
My father is a mechanical genius.
He could have been chief engineer|of a starship if he'd had the opportunity.
But he went into business,|like a good Ferengi.
The only thing is,|he's not a good Ferengi - not when it comes to acquiring profit.
Now all he has to live for|is the slim chance that someday, somehow, he might|be able to take over my uncle's bar.
l'm not going to|make the same mistake.
l want to do something with my life,|something worthwhile.
Like joining Starfleet? l may not have an instinct for business, but l have my father's hands|and my uncle's tenacity.
l know l've got something to offer,|l just need the chance to prove it.
All right.
l'll see that you get that chance.
You'll recommend me|to Starfleet Academy? l'll send the letter|first thing tomorrow morning.
Commander,|l don't know how to thank you.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Don't thank me yet.
|You still have a lot of work ahead of you.
Don't worry.
|You're never going to regret this.
- Odo?|- Yes, Major.
You haven't said a word to me|in over an hour.
l've just been going over|a few things in my mind.
l'm sorry l waited so long|to tell you how l feel about you.
lf l'd told you earlier, maybe things|would have been different.
Ah.
What are you smiling about? l think l've finally figured out|what's going on here.
This whole situation hasn't seemed|right since the beginning.
There've been too many coincidences,|too many unanswered questions.
Are you still trying to prove|that this is some kind of conspiracy? The Maquis was standing here|when he shot at you? - That's right.
|- How tall was he? My height? No.
Maybe shorter.
- Like this?|- More or less.
- Why does it matter anyway?|- lt matters.
From this position,|you're blocking those phaser hits.
There's no way someone standing here could hit those rocks|without hitting you first.
Maybe he was standing|somewhere else.
Maybe.
Or maybe you were lying to me.
Which makes two times|you've lied to me today.
What are you talking about? You lied|when you said you were shot at, and when you said you loved me.
- l do love you.
|- l wish you did, but you don't.
l pride myself on my ability|to observe human nature.
l've watched you|for the past three years.
l never saw any indication that you|had those kinds of feelings for me.
You like me,|you think of me as a close friend.
But love? l'm afraid not.
Maybe l told you l loved you because|l thought it would make you feel better.
l thought|that's what you wanted to hear.
You're lying again.
The Kira l know has|far too much regard for our friendship to lie to me,|even for the best of reasons.
- Odo, l can explain.
|- Good.
You can start by telling me who you are and what you've done with Kira.
Well done, Odo.
You really are|quite a skilful investigator.
And you're quite a skilful changeling.
You still have much to learn.
lf you want to share your wisdom,|tell me where Major Kira is.
- Close by.
|- You were the fugitive, weren't you? That's correct.
How did you get a Maquis ship? Now, Odo, you can't expect me|to give you all the answers.
But why lead us here?|Why replace Major Kira? l needed to understand why you live with the solids|rather than your own people.
l suspected it had something to do|with Major Kira.
- Now l'm certain of it.
|- Your plan was to let me think she died.
You thought that would|take away my link to the solids? - Then you would return to us.
|- Nothing will ever make me do that.
- l wouldn't be so sure.
|- Tell me where she is.
And if l don't, then what?|You'll shoot me? No changeling|has ever harmed another.
There's always a first time.
Major Kira is down that tunnel,|200 metres south of here.
Save her if it suits you,|but it won't make any difference.
She's never going to love you.
How could she? You are a changeling.
- Major, wake up.
|- Odo, what happened? - What am l doing here?|- lt's a long story.
Right now|we have to get you to the Mekong.
There's one thing l don't understand.
lf that Founder wanted to test|your allegiance to the solids, why did she impersonate me? l suppose it's because|you happened to be with me.
lt could have just as easily been|Commander Sisko, Dr Bashir What made you realise the truth? She made a mistake.
She said|something you would never say.
- What was that?|- Just a slip of the tongue.
Nothing important.
l tell you, l won't stand for it.
No nephew of mine disgraces|our family name by joining Starfleet.
- But Uncle Quark|- My mind is made up.
- l forbid it.
|- No, you don't.
- Rom, stay out of this.
|- l will not.
When it comes to the bar,|you may be in charge, but when it comes to my son,|l make the decisions.
Fine.
You tell him he can't go.
Nog Good luck.
l would be proud|to have a son in Starfleet.
You're both insane.
Like father, like son.