 Bashir and O'Brien travel to a lab
orbiting T'Lani III in an effort to eliminate the Harvesters — a
deadly bio-mechanical weapon used in the centuries-long war
between the Kellerun and T'Lani societies. Working with
scientists from both races, they finally find a solution, and
the Kellerun Ambassador, Sharat, orders the group to destroy the
entire remaining supply. However, just as their mission is about
to be accomplished, two armed Kellerun soldiers enter the lab
and start firing. Bashir and O'Brien manage to kill their
assailants, but fail to notice that during the fighting, a small
amount of Harvester material spilled onto O'Brien. As more
Kellerun soldiers arrive, the pair attempt to transport to their
Runabout, but are unable. Instead, they beam to the surface of
T'Lani III.
Ambassador Sharat and T'Lani
Ambassador E'Tyshra inform Sisko that O'Brien and Bashir were
killed when O'Brien accidentally activated a hidden security
device that emitted a deadly pulse of radiation. They hail the
pair as heroes and give Sisko a video recording of the tragedy.
Sisko, Dax, Odo and Kira later view the recording, and, not
realizing it has been altered, accept that their crewmates are
dead. Back on T'Lani III, however, Bashir and O'Brien are alive,
and have set up a base in a deserted military command center in
hopes of finding a way to communicate with the space station.
O'Brien begins to work to repair an old com-panel, but suddenly
feels feverish. Bashir examines him, and reveals that O'Brien
has been infected by the Harvesters.
Sisko is saddled with the difficult news of telling Keiko
O'Brien of her husband's demise. After viewing the tape, Keiko
points out a major inconsistency. The tape shows O'Brien
drinking coffee in the late afternoon — something Keiko insists
he never does. She believes this indicates the tape has been
tampered with, and Sisko travels to T'Lani III with Dax to find
out why. Meanwhile, with O'Brien's coaching, Bashir works to
repair the companel. O'Brien continues to worsen, and is
horrified to discover that he can no longer feel his legs.
Despite his condition, O'Brien is able to help Bashir get the
companel up and running, and Bashir sends out a weak distress
signal. Sadly, both realize that O'Brien will probably die if
the signal is not answered soon — by the right people.
Meanwhile, Dax tells Sisko five minutes have been erased from
the computer log on Bashir and O'Brien's Runabout, and that the
time of the erasure proves that the pair could have been alive
after they were supposedly killed. Soon afterward, E'Tyshra and
two T'Lani soldiers arrive at Bashir and O'Brien's hiding place.
The pair are thrilled to see them, until Sharat and his soldiers
also arrive. Together, the Kellerun and T'Lani officials inform
Bashir and O'Brien that they must be killed since they know too
much about the Harvesters and could reproduce them.
Just as a soldier prepares to kill them, Bashir and O'Brien are
beamed away to their Runabout, where Sisko and Dax are waiting.
Bashir immediately injects O'Brien with a hypospray and the
group flees the area. However, they soon realize that a T'Lani
vessel is pursuing them. The enemy ship fires a warning shot and
Sisko hails his assailants, who demand Sisko turn over Bashir
and O'Brien. Sisko refuses and sends the Runabout directly
toward the T'Lani vessel. Seeing no other choice, E'Tyshra and
Sharat blow up the Runabout, only to realize that Sisko, Dax,
O'Brien and Bashir transported to a second Runabout and have
left the area. The group arrives safely home, and O'Brien is
able to recover.
See Also: Image Captures |
