 A young lieutenant
named Ilario is found dead in his quarters. An investigation
reveals he was shot by a TR-116 rifle, a weapon developed but
never mass-produced by Starfleet. Meanwhile, Ezri confronts one
of Dax's previous incarnations in a dream: Joran, a
self-professed murderer, urges Ezri to channel his disturbing
memories and enable him to assist her in apprehending Ilario's
killer. When Ezri awakens, she learns that a second murder has
occurred.
The latest victim is a science
officer who was also fatally shot by a bullet from a TR-116.
Sisko enlists Ezri's aid in tracking the sniper, who seems to be
targeting officers. Desperate to end the killing spree, Ezri
summons Joran in the hope that he can help her understand the
murderer's mind and thereby stop him.
Ezri finds it disturbing to work with Joran, a remorseless
predator who exhorts her to tap into her killer instincts. Joran
directs Ezri to the slain officers' quarters to search for clues
which could provide insight into the killer's psychology, but
she finds nothing suspicious. Later, in Quark's, Ezri sees an
officer being pursued by Security. Assuming he's the murderer,
the angry Ezri knocks him to the ground and raises a knife to
stab him, but Odo disarms her.
Shaken by the realization that she almost killed a man — who
turns out to be unrelated to the slayings — Ezri is then rocked
by the news that a third officer has been murdered. Ezri and
Joran investigate the latest victim's room, and Ezri uncovers
the link between them all: each is laughing in photos displayed
in their own respective quarters. She surmises that the killer
is probably a Vulcan who was traumatized by an extreme personal
loss which exacerbated his or her natural distaste for those who
show such emotions as laughter. Later, Joran spots a Vulcan
science officer and coolly informs Ezri that he is the killer.
Ezri identifies the Vulcan as Chu'lak, and learns he recently
survived a devastating massacre by the Jem'Hadar. Spurred on by
Joran, Ezri shoots Chu'lak after he takes aim at her with a
TR-116. The wounded Vulcan confesses to the murders, but rather
than finish him off as Joran urges, Ezri summons medical aid.
With the case closed, Ezri reburies Joran's memories within her,
knowing she must remain vigilant about her submerged violent
instincts.
See Also: Image Captures |
