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Sisko and the Ops crew pull in a
small, severely damaged Cardassian vessel containing three
passengers — Professor Natima Lang and her students, Hogue and
Rekelen. Natima explains that their ship was damaged when they
were caught in a meteor swarm, and Sisko says the trio can stay
until the vessel is repaired. Meanwhile, Odo tries to confirm a
rumor that Quark has obtained a small cloaking device. Quark
begins to deny the accusations, but loses his train of thought
when he suddenly sees Natima, who happens to be the former love
of his life. Quark goes after Natima, hoping to pick up where
they left off years before, but Natima insists she wants nothing
to do with him. Their interaction is observed by Garak, the lone
Cardassian on the station. When Natima sees him, she hurries her
students out of the bar, desperate to leave the station
immediately. Meanwhile, O'Brien, who has been working on
Natima's ship, tells Sisko that it was really damaged by a
Cardassian attack. Natima admits this is true, and that her
students will be killed if they don't get to safety.
Natima explains that her
students are leaders of the Cardassian underground movement
which is fighting the military establishment to build a
non-violent future for their people. Their views have made them
fugitives, so Sisko agrees to hurry the repair work on their
vessel. Soon afterward, the station is approached by a
Cardassian warship which prepares to attack the station. As it
does, Garak appears in Ops and tells Sisko they need to talk.
 Garak says that the students are terrorists and urges Sisko to
turn them over to the Cardassian government, but he refuses.
Meanwhile, Quark, still hoping to get to Natima, tells her
students he will give them the cloaking device for their escape
only if they convince her to remain behind with him. But when
Quark later arrives at Natima's quarters with the device, she
tells him she no longer loves him and will not stay, then takes
a phaser and reluctantly shoots him.
Quark is more surprised than hurt, and Natima, unable to deny
her feelings any longer, admits she still loves him, but feels
she cannot abandon her cause. Quark, however, finally convinces
her otherwise. Unfortunately, no sooner does Natima agree to
remain there than Odo arrives to arrest her. Sisko explains that
the Bajoran government has agreed to a prisoner swap with
Cardassia, and he is forced to abide by their decision.
Meanwhile, Gul Toran arrives on the station and meets with Garak,
who informed the Cardassian government about Natima and her
students. Toran tells Garak this alone is not enough to end his
exile, and that if he hopes to return to Cardassia, he must kill
the fugitives.
Quark convinces Odo to release the prisoners, but as the trio
prepares to leave, Garak shows up, ready to kill them all. Then
Gul Toran arrives, sensing Garak's hesitancy, and decides to
kill the prisoners himself. But Garak will not allow it, kills
Toran, and lets the students go. Natima tells Quark that she
must leave with them, and Quark does not stop her, knowing he
will wait faithfully for the day when they can finally be
together again. |
