"The Saratoga put in this morning." "We are not having another party." "I promise, not more than 50 or 60..." "I can see it now." "200 people jammed into our quarters- eating drinking, laughing." "Sounds awful." "What if I promise absolutely no laughing?" "No, I mean it." "You won't see a single smile the entire evening." "It'll be the grimmest party you've ever been to." "When do you want to have this party?" "Next week." "And I was thinking maybe this evening should have... a theme." "What kind of theme?" "What if everyone came as their favorite Klingon?" "Bad idea." "Commander, your holosuite is ready." "Good." "Have fun exercising." "No party?" "I came this close." "Thank you, Quark." "Don't mention it, Major." "Glad to be of help." "Bajoran lilacs." "Is there something going on between the two of you that I don't know about?" "Oh, don't be disgusting." "I ordered them for myself." "Well, that's nice." "I thought you didn't like flowers." "I don't." "I'm confused." "Jadzia, there's such a thing as privacy." "Not between friends." "It's my mother's birthday." "She would've been 60 today and my father always said that these were her favorite." "That's a nice way to remember your mother." "I wish I did remember her." "I was only three when she died at the refugee center." "Well, I bet she'd be proud of you and what you've done with your life." "Hmm." "I'd like to think so." "I've always been proud of her." "My father always said... she was the bravest woman he ever met." "Major Kira, you have an incoming transmission." "From whom?" "Unable to identify." "Oh..." "Put it through." "Ah, Major, there you are." "I'm sorry to wake you." "What the hell do you want, Dukat?" "Oh, don't bother, Major." "I guarantee you won't be able to trace this transmission." "Well, then, why don't you just tell me where you are?" "Because that's not why I called." "I want to help you, Major, the way Captain Sisko helped me." "I have no idea what you're talking about." "Captain Sisko gave me the clarity to see beyond the lies... the self-deceptions that were controlling my life." "He helped me to see the truth about myself and now, I'm going to do the same for you." "And what better day to do it than on your mother's birthday." "Was that supposed to upset me?" "That you know it's my mother's birthday?" "She was a striking woman, your mother- although when we first met she was very self-conscious about that scar along the side of her face." "She used to try to cover it up with a strand of hair." "Nice try, Dukat... but you never knew my mother." "She died in the..." "The Singha refugee center?" "I'm afraid not, Major." "That was something your father told you because he couldn't bear to face the truth." "What truth?" "That your mother left him... to be with me." "Oh, you're lying." "Your mother and I were lovers almost from the moment we met." "And we remained lovers until the day she died." "I have had enough of this." "I see you have lilacs on your nightstand." "Your mother would've been touched." "She loved Bajoran lilacs." "There." "I told you the truth was liberating, Major." "Now, don't you feel better?" "I do." "Computer, locate Cardassian occupation files" "Singha refugee center." "Find and display Bajoran identity profile:" "Kira Meru." "You're just going to have to take my word for it." "The Battle of the Alamo would make a hell of a holosuite program." "All right, all right." "Let me get this straight because I..." "There are 200 of us trapped inside some crumbling old mission or whatever surrounded by 2,000 enemy troops." "Is that right?" "That's right." "Do we win?" "No, we lose." "Why do you want to play a program where we lose?" "Well, you're missing the point." "There's nothing more noble than a heroic defeat, especially against overwhelming odds." "In life maybe but not in the holosuite." "Chief, you were supposed to have finished recalibrating those induction modulators yesterday." "Yeah, we had a bit of a problem replacing some of the coil..." "Save the excuses." "I want it done within the hour." "Doctor, is there a reason for your visit?" "What?" "Actually, Miles and I were..." "Thought not." "We're on duty here if you don't mind." "I don't want to interfere." "Well, all right, everyone, we're not at the Replimat." "We're not here to drink raktajinos and catch up on the latest gossip." "Let's get to work." "Odo, I've just been informed of the increased criminal activity on the Promenade." "It's not as bad as it sounds, Major." "We're talking about a few incidents of petty theft." "I've already assigned two deputies." "I'd prefer that you handle the matter yourself." "If you think it's necessary." "I do." "And make sure that you keep me informed of your progress." "Of course." "Is there something else on your mind?" "Meaning what?" "Meaning I talked with Dr. Bashir." "He told me that you seemed irritable." "I see he's not exaggerating." "Would you care to tell me what's bothering you?" "I appreciate the offer, Odo but I don't think talking about it is going to help." "Sounds serious." "It is." "Well, if you won't talk about it perhaps you should consider doing something about it." "A transmission from Gul Dukat?" "This is the first I've heard of it." "That's because I didn't report it." "Why not?" "It was of a personal nature." "I tried to trace the signal, but..." "What did he want?" "He said he knew my mother, that they were lovers." "You don't believe him, do you?" "He knew certain things about her." "Personal things." "Well, Gul Dukat is a very resourceful man." "I'm sure he knows a lot about your family- about all of our families." "I keep trying to tell myself that, but I need to know." "That may not be possible, Major." "There is a way." "I can visit the temple of Iponu on Bajor and consult the Orb of Time." "Excuse me?" "I need to know the truth." "Let me get this straight." "You want to travel back in time to see if Gul Dukat and your mother were lovers." "That's right." "Major, the Federation has very strict regulations concern..." "This has nothing to do with the Federation." "I need your help as the Emissary, not a Starfleet Captain." "The Emissary can see to it that I am allowed access to the Orb." "After that, it's up to the Prophets." "If they feel that my request is worthy they'll send me where I need to go." "If not, I've made a trip to Bajor for nothing." "And if they do send you back?" "What then?" "What makes you so sure you won't interfere with the timeline?" "The Prophets will be guiding me." "Nothing will happen without their blessings." "Please, Emissary." "Please... let me seek the will of the Prophets." "Thank you." "Meru, I found Nerys." "Where was she?" "Wandering over there, scrounging for food." "Come here, sweetie, beside me, here." "Is that all?" "That's barely half a cup." "They've cut everyone's rations." "It's not enough." "How do they expect us to survive?" "The Cardassians don't care whether or not we survive." "They won't be happy until we're all dead." "Come here, sweetie, come here." "Have some soup." "Excuse me." "That soup... it's ours." "What are you talking about?" "My wife stood in line all day to get it." "If you think you can just..." "Just... what?" "It's for the children." "They're hungry." "We are all hungry." "And hunger can make people do stupid things." "Like what you're doing now." "Cardassians are the enemy." "We shouldn't be fighting amongst ourselves." "We should be trying to help each other." "That's what we were doing... helping ourselves to some soup." "Hey, you want soup you go stand in line like everyone else." "We may have to take orders from the spoonheads but we don't have to take them from you!" "Oh, thank you." "I wish we could repay your kindness somehow, but we have so little food." "That's all right;" "I'm not hungry." "Can't remember the last time I met a Bajoran who wasn't hungry." "I'm Kira Meru." "I'm... just glad I could help." "And this is my husband" "Taban, my son, Reon my son, Pohl, and my daughter, Nerys." "They're beautiful." "Mommy." "Mommy." "What is it, honey?" "What is it?" "What?" "Tell me." "She wants to know what your name is." "Me?" "I'm Luma Rahl." "It's nice to meet you, Nerys." "Attention!" "The new Cardassian Ore Processing Center orbiting Bajor is nearing completion." "The Cardassian troops stationed there will require "comfort women"" "to make their tour of duty less... stressful." "Her." "No!" "No!" "From now on, you'll receive extra rations of food and medicine... courtesy of our Prefect, Gul Dukat." "Her." "No!" "And her." "But my children..." "Your children will eat better than they have any right to." "Meru!" "Mommy!" "I love you!" "Don't let them forget me!" "I said go!" "You." "And you." "Ladies, can I have your attention, please?" "You will find food in your quarters." "Eat as much as you want... and make sure you get a good night's rest." "You'll want to look your best tomorrow." "Oh, and feel free to linger as long as you want in the sonic showers." "Cardassians value cleanliness." "Meru, listen to me." "I know things look bad but don't give up just yet." "We'll find a way to get out of here." "How?" "There must be a resistance cell operating here on the station." "We'll contact them." "They'll help us get away." "I don't believe this." "Fresh moba." "Do you know how long it's been since I've seen fresh moba?" "Nice." "Nice?" "Look at this." "Katterpod beans and... hasperat... veklava... a pot of deka tea." "We could live on this for a year." "Easy." "Easy." "You don't want to make yourself sick." "Sick?" "From too much food?" "That would be a change." "If only Taban and the children were here." "The Cardassians said they would take care of them so maybe they will." "Don't count on it." "We need to find a way to get off this station." "Once we do, we'll figure out a way to free your family." "Then what?" "We'll hide in the hills." "We'll join the resistance." "I suppose that's possible." "Of course, it is." "Till then, we'll just need to bide our..." "I'm sorry." "I failed to show a Cardassian soldier the proper respect." "We all have scars of one kind or another." "Maybe... but most aren't quite so evident." "It's not so bad." "Why do you keep doing that?" "What?" "Helping me." "First, at the refugee center and now here." "I don't have many friends." "Well... you have one now." "Well done." "I can hardly believe you're the same women" "I met yesterday." "In fact, you're not." "Your old lives have ended." "Your pasts have been erased." "You have one purpose and one purpose only- to provide comfort and care to the Cardassian officers stationed here." "Fail and you and your family will be sent to a labor camp." "Now, remember, ladies... you're all easily replaceable." "Make one mistake and I won't hesitate to..." "Basso!" "That's enough." "Welcome... to Terok Nor." "I hope your stay here will be a pleasant one." "I assure you, I will do everything possible to make it so." "I suspect that many of you must be feeling a bit... uneasy right now." "I'm well aware that among the Bajoran population there is a perception that all Cardassians are to be feared, that we are a cruel and heartless people." "I hope to change that- not with words, but with actions- in the hope that you will come to appreciate the better part of our nature." "I assure you... we are capable of great kindness." "What of our families?" "Are they all right?" "Who said you could speak?" "!" "Guards!" "Stay where you are." "Your families... will be well taken care of." "That, I promise you." "What is this?" "I..." "Basso..." "Forgive me, Prefect." "I... didn't notice the imperfection." "I'll have her removed at once." "Get me a dermal regenerator." "But..." "Now." "I'm afraid to ask how you came by such a mark." "It's nothing." "On the contrary." "It's an unfortunate reminder of the gulf that exists between our two peoples." "It must be removed..." "immediately." "Just relax." "It's all right." "Relax." "There." "Beautiful." "Carry on." "Well, I'd say congratulations are in order." "You've all passed your first test." "Sit down and drink with me." "Mind telling me what you're smiling about?" "The Prophets." "I never realized they had such a sense of humor." "When I was a child" "I dreamed of having enough food to eat and pretty clothes to wear, and now look at me." "I have everything I ever wanted, and I feel horrible." "That is pretty funny in a horrible way." "I suppose if I can survive starvation" "I can survive this." "After all, we Bajorans can survive anything." "You." "Think you can stand there hiding in a corner all night?" "I don't remember seeing you before." "I just arrived yesterday." "And I bet I know what you're thinking." "You'd like nothing better than to get us all drunk so you could kill us in our sleep." "Are you sure you're not part Betazoid?" "Come." "Sit on my lap... and tell me how much you hate Cardassians." "You Bajoran women, you're all so bony." "That's because you Cardassians eat all our food." "You know, I could have you executed for that kind of insolence." "And that's one of the reasons we hate you so much." "Clever girl." "Now, pour me some more of that kanar and let's see if we can't work out our differences." "Let her go." "I said let her go." "All I said to her was..." "I don't care what you were saying." "I don't like what you were doing." "Now, get away from her." "Are you all right?" "Basso... escort this woman back to her quarters, and see that her privacy is respected." "She will not be disturbed." "I only hope you won't condemn us all for the boorish behavior of one man." "I only hope you won't condemn us all for the boorish behavior of one man." "How did you know he was going to say that?" "Let's just say this is not the first performance I've seen of this little... melodrama." "That woman should consider herself fortunate." "She's caught the Prefect's eye." "As of now, she's off limits to the rest of us." "As for you..." "I know." "I know- more kanar." "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh." "Now, one foot in front of another." "Don't tell me what to do." "I'll put my feet wherever I want." "I'm a Cardassian." "Whatever you say." "Just try not to stumble out of any airlocks on your way home." "I'm not going home;" "I'm coming in with you." "No, you're not." "You're going back to your quarters and you're going to sleep." "I want comfort, and I want it now." "You are a comfort woman, aren't you?" "You're dressed like one." "Oh, don't let appearances fool you." "Mm." "That mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble someday." "Now, let's go get some... sleep." "I have a better idea." "You go sleep in your quarters." "I'll sleep in mine, and tomorrow..." "Tomorrow, you'll be all mine to do with as I please." "Oh, I can hardly wait." "Meru, I'm back." "I'm going to have to shower for a week to get the smell of that Legate off of me." "I'll be sure to tell him you said that." "What are you doing here?" "Where's Meru?" "Looks like you're going to have these quarters all to yourself, at least for a little while." "I said where's Meru?" "She's moving up in the world." "Your friend must have hidden talents I wasn't aware of." "Our beloved Prefect has invited her to share his quarters." "I want to see her." "Do you?" "I said take me to her!" "Hey!" "So, tell me, how's work going on the ore processing center?" "You ought to join the work detail sometime- find out for yourself." "All in good time." "Once the center's up and running we'll all be slaving away down there." "I have news for you." "About my friend?" "I know why you haven't heard from her in the last few weeks." "She hasn't been on the station." "What are you talking about?" "Word has it she's been off on a little vacation with Gul Dukat." "They just got back today." "Why is that woman so important to you?" "She's nothing but a collaborator." "She is not a collaborator." "She's a comfort woman for the spoonheads, isn't she?" "Mm-hmm." "So was I." "For a day." "But I've been watching you." "You have no love for the spoonheads." "Neither does my friend." "Look, I told you already." "I don't want to join your resistance cell." "Just leave me alone." "I will." "I promise." "But first, I need for you to draw a map for me." "A map of what?" "The Cardy side of the station." "Well, like you said, I was only there one day." "Well, anything you remember will help- quarters, corridors, meeting rooms." "Why?" "What are you planning?" "It doesn't concern you." "Now, are you going to help us or not?" "You." "Follow me." "You may enter." "Luma." "Oh!" "Are you all right?" "I've been worried about you since the night they took you." "I know." "I wanted to get a message to you." "Has he hurt you?" "Who?" "Dukat." "Hurt me?" "No." "He hasn't hurt me." "I, I wish I knew how to explain to you these past few weeks... make you understand." "Understand what?" "That I'm not the monster you think I am." "You see?" "I told you" "I'd find a big enough vase." "What do you think?" "They're beautiful." "I don't think your friend approves of the flowers." "Or of me." "Meru... are you sure this is the woman you want as your companion?" "Yes." "As you wish." "The fact is..." "I've treated Meru with nothing but kindness and consideration." "If you don't believe me ask her." "I'll be back as soon as this meeting is finished." "It's true." "He's very different from what I expected." "Don't let that smile fool you." "He's still the enemy." "It's not that simple." "Yes." "It is." "Meru..." "listen to me." "While you're in here playing parlor games he's busy carrying out the extermination of our people." "That's not true." "He's written to Central Command urging them to rethink their policy towards Bajor." "I don't care if he played you a holo-recording of him on his hand and knees begging Central Command to end the occupation." "It would still be a lie!" "Like that first night when he saved you from that Gul- that wasn't real." "He set the whole thing up to win you over." "He told me." "He tells me everything." "You just don't know him." "I don't need to know him." "I know the things he's done." "Look what he did to you." "He took you away from your family- from your children." "He's promised to help them." "He's going to send them food and medical supplies." "That still doesn't make it right." "What about your husband?" "Taban loves you." "How can you forget him so quickly?" "I have not forgotten him." "What do you expect me to do?" "Kick and bite Dukat every time he comes near me?" "How is that going to help Taban or the children?" "Oh, is that what you tell yourself- that you're doing it for the children, the clothes, the food, the easy living- that you're doing it all for them?" "Are you that deluded?" "It's not for them." "It's for you." "You like it here." "You enjoy playing house with that murderer." "Don't you see what you are?" "What you've allowed yourself to become?" "You're a collaborator." "A collaborator?" "Because I share Dukat's bed?" "No, because you like sharing his bed- because you've fallen in love with him!" "Where are you going?" "Back where I belong." "It's composed of ultritium resin which means it's doubtful that the Cardassian sensors will pick it up." "Of course, there's always a chance." "You let me worry about that." "You sound like you've done this before." "You'd be surprised." "Remember- the bomb is set to go off three minutes after it's activated." "And once it's activated, it cannot be disarmed." "So make sure you have enough time to get away." "How large of a blast radius are we talking about?" "20 meters." "I suggest you plant it somewhere in Dukat's quarters." "I'll pick the right spot for it." "What about that Bajoran mistress of his?" "What about her?" "You cannot risk telling her what you're doing... not even to save her life." "Why would I do that?" "Like you said, she's a collaborator." "She deserves whatever she gets." "I'm beginning to find you very tiresome." "Yeah, I don't like you much either." "Now, I need you to take me to Kira Meru." "I have better things to do than to shuttle you around this station." "It's time you decided which side of this gate you want to be on." "I have." "Now, take me to Kira so that I can apologize to her." "Guard." "A wise decision." "I didn't expect to see you again." "I came because I owe you an apology." "The things I said, they were unfair." "I'd like us to be friends again." "So would I." "Whatever makes you happy, my dear." "Can I get you something?" "Maybe later." "All right." "First thing we do is get you some new quarters something close by." "Sounds good." "I have a copy of that transmission you requested." "Ah, thank you, Basso." "That'll be all." "What about her?" "Don't concern yourself with Luma." "She's not going to cause us any more trouble, are you?" "That's not what I'm here for." "No, it isn't." "Well, Basso, you heard- find her some new quarters." "Right away." "This is for you." "I think you'll find it very interesting." "I'll be in my study if you need me." "I'll see to my quarters." "Okay, Luma." "Meru, I hope the Cardassians aren't lying to me and that they really will send this message to you." "I know it's only been a few weeks that we've been back home, but you should see the children." "It's like they've been transformed." "Reon and Pohl are laughing and playing together." "They've never been happier." "And I swear, little Nerys must have gained five pounds." "Of course, they keep asking for you." "I've told them that you're still at the refugee center." "I think that's best, at least for the time being." "I can't believe how much I miss you." "I think about you all the time." "You've saved all our lives." "I hope you realize that." "Never forget it, not even for an instant." "Every day, I pray to the Prophets that you'll find some peace in this new life of yours." "I believe that even in the worst of times we can still find moments of joy and kindness." "If you can find that kindness, hold on to it." "And remember, no matter what happens..." "I love you, Meru." "I'll always love you." "Come on, we've got to get out of here." "Why?" "Dukat, get out here, now!" "Go!" "What?" "There's a bomb." "Meru!" "Get out of the way!" "Meru..." "Meru." "I've always hated collaborators." "I mean, what could be worse than betraying your own people?" "During the occupation, if I ever had any doubt about what their fate should be" "I would think of my mother- how she gave her life for Bajor." "She was a hero." "They were traitors." "It was that simple." "Or so I thought." "She did what she had to do to save her family... to save you." "It doesn't make it right." "Maybe not but it was her decision to make." "I did some checking." "She died in a Cardassian hospital seven years after she met Dukat- seven years." "Do you know how many Bajorans died in the labor camps during that time- died- while my mother sat sipping kanar with Dukat?" "Tell me something, Nerys." "If you hate her that much, why did you save her life?" "Believe me... there's a part of me that wishes that I hadn't." "But the fact is... no matter what she did... she was still my mother."