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Odo and Kira have landed on a lone
planet in the Omarion Nebula, which they have discovered is
Odo's homeworld. A Female Shapeshifter encourages him to begin
the slow process of learning who he is, and discovering the bond
they share, known as the "great link." Odo is pleased to be
reunited with his people, but they don't like Kira because she
is a "solid" lifeform. Meanwhile, forced to abandon the Defiant
during the Jem'Hadar attack days before, Sisko and Bashir are
traveling alone in a shuttle when O'Brien and Dax, who have met
the Founders, rescue them. Upon returning to the space station,
Sisko learns that the Federation is negotiating a peace treaty
with the Dominion, represented by one of the Founders, Borath.
When Sisko finds out that the
Romulans have been excluded from the peace talks, he expresses
his concern to Admiral Nechayev, but she dismisses his fears. On
the other side of the wormhole, Kira is unable to contact Sisko
because of interference from a hidden power source, while Odo
struggles with his "lessons" at shapeshifting. Later, the Female
Shapeshifter tells Odo that they came to this secret planet a
long time ago, as a result of persecution at the hands of the
Solids, then reveals he was sent as an infant to explore the
galaxy, then return home.
While looking for Odo, Kira discovers a locked door — something
for which shapeshifters would have no use. This arouses her
curiosity. Back on the space station, a fight erupts between
O'Brien and a Jem'Hadar soldier because the newcomers have been
given free reign. Sisko then discovers that the Federation has
signed the treaty, agreeing to give control of the Bajoran
sector — including the station and the wormhole — to the
Dominion. Over Sisko's objections, he and his crew will be
reassigned.
A happy Odo tells Kira he has decided to remain with his people,
but Kira asks him to help her get to the hidden power source
before she departs. He is intrigued when Kira reveals it is
behind the locked door she has found. Meanwhile, Jem'Hadar
soldiers shoot Romulan officer T'Rul in cold blood, then attack
an outraged Sisko. Deciding that matters have gotten
out-of-hand, Sisko then bands with Garak, Dax, Bashir, and
O'Brien on a suicide mission to steal a Runabout, collapse the
wormhole, and keep the Dominion on its side of the galaxy
forever.
Garak is killed while Sisko and the others escape. Once aboard
the Runabout, they fire on the wormhole, collapsing it in a
blinding explosion. Meanwhile, Odo unlocks the mysterious door,
where he and Kira find Jem'Hadar soldiers waiting. The two are
taken to an interrogation room where Sisko and the Defiant crew
sit with their eyes closed, devices attached to their heads.
Borath is there, revealing that he is really a Vorta,
experimenting on the crew to determine how much they will
sacrifice to avoid war with the Dominion. The Female
Shapeshifter then arrives, disclosing that her people are the
mysterious Founders. Saddened that his own race is responsible
for so much death and misery, Odo demands that his friends be
released, then chooses to return with them. Surprised that their
experiences since the Defiant attack didn't really happen, Sisko
and the crew head back to the station. Knowing the truth about
his people, Odo realizes now that, even though he may feel like
an outsider, his place is with his friends.
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