 A peaceful afternoon is shattered
when Garak's shop is destroyed by an explosion. Although the
blast initially appears to be accidental, further investigation
reveals that the explosion was, in fact, rigged to look like an
accident. Sisko and Odo ask Garak who might want him dead, but
the Cardassian is, as always, secretive. However, Odo learns
that the blast was triggered by a sensor favored by Flaxian
assassins, and realizes a Flaxian named Retaya arrived that
morning.
Questioning Retaya reveals
nothing, and Odo allows him to leave, then cancels Garak's
security escort, hoping this will coerce Garak into sharing what
he may know about the assassination attempt. Later, when Odo
boards a Runabout to follow Retaya, Garak awaits him. Odo
reluctantly agrees to let him go along as he follows the
suspect. Unfortunately, they learn little about Retaya's motives
— his ship explodes just as he goes into warp.
An analysis reveals that the Romulans were behind the explosion.
Odo surmises that they hired Retaya to kill Garak — but why? Odo
learns from an informant that the Romulans may be planning to
invade Cardassia. He is also told that five former Obsidian
Order operatives "coincidentally" died the day Garak's shop
exploded. Odo shows Garak the list of dead men, then confronts
him with the deduction that Garak blew up his own shop just to
get Odo involved. Garak finally admits that he and the deceased
were all associates of Enabran Tain, the past leader of the
Obsidian Order. Realizing Tain might also be in danger, Garak
attempts to contact him, and upon learning his former boss left
mysteriously the day before, sets off with Odo to find him.
Garak instructs Odo to head for a planet near the Cardassian
border where Tain has a safe house. Before they arrive, however,
they are intercepted by a Romulan Warbird and captured. Inside
the ship, they are brought before Tain, who shocks them with the
news that he ordered the attempt on Garak's life.
Tain tells the pair that the Romulan Tal Shiar and the Obsidian
Order have joined forces, preparing to take a fleet of Romulan
and Cardassian warships into the Gamma Quadrant. Their mission
is to destroy the Dominion by eliminating the Founders, after
which Tain plans to resume his post as head of the Order. Hence,
the reason why he ordered the deaths of Garak and anyone else
with information that could be used against him. However, now
that Garak is on board, Tain offers his protege a chance to work
with him again. Despite Odo's warnings not to trust Tain, Garak
says yes, leaving Odo to face the Romulans and an uncertain
fate.
See Also: Image Captures |
