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Vortex

The usual, Odo?

Nothing.

The usual.

If all my customers were like you my family would be begging in the Promenade.

Oh, I seriously doubt that-- not as long as there is a Miradorn raider for you to do business with.

Raider? You mean the Miradorn ship that just docked?

The raider.

Its reputation, like mine has probably been exaggerated.

Anyway, I don't know the ship or its crew.

You didn't make your usual welcome call inviting them in for a free drink?

The Miradorns are a quarrelsome people.

I chose to forego the usual amenities.

He looks away whenever we make eye contact.

Who?

The new arrival-- the one the Klingons brought back from the Gamma Quadrant.

Croden? He's harmless.

Really? How is it you've come to know him so well?

A man comes in for a drink, he wants to talk.

He didn't seem to want to talk much to Sisko when he arrived.

Who would?

All those Starfleet officers greeting him at the airlock-- it would scare me, too.

The Federation could learn a few things from the Ferengi about hospitality.

They scared him, huh?

Of course.

I wonder what he has to be scared about.

( door opening )

Well, now.

I believe a pair of twinned Miradorn just nodded your way.

I'm the man behind the bar.

Obviously, they want to use a holosuite.

You think the whole galaxy is plotting around you, don't you?

Paranoia must run in your species, Odo.

Maybe that's why no one has ever seen another shape-shifter-- they're all hiding!

I won't have you coming here harassing my customers.

Order a drink, play the tables or vacate the premises!

( softly ): Rom, bring a flask of my special langour.

( snarls )

MIRADORN 1: 1,000 bars of gold-pressed latinum.

MIRADORN 2: Nonnegotiable.

Ahh.

Oh, very nice.

Unfortunately, uh, there's a problem.

Problem?

Langour, anyone?

What problem?

The buyer has backed out.

You guaranteed us a buyer.

A question has been raised about the origin of this bauble.

A similar one was taken during a raid on a Vanoben transport just two light-years from here.

If you had a bill of sale...

You didn't ask for any bill of sale when we contacted you.

You will find another buyer.

A buyer who asks no questions?

That could take a long time.

We don't have a long time.

Just stay, stay, stay where you are, please.

What's this?

Don't fire!

What do you want?

No one is going to get hurt.

Just... just give me that.

MIRADORN 2: Whoever you are you're making a mistake.

Well, it wouldn't be the first and probably won't be the last.

Give that to me.

( grunting )

( groans )

( grunting )

Security and medical to Holosuite One.

Five glasses for four people?

( panting )

He's dead.

My brother.

( door opens )

Take them all to security.

Yes, take them both to his office.

Thank goodness you were close by, Odo.

All of them.

Get out. Go on.

( tricorder beeping )

( steady tone )

Have you known any twinned Miradorn, Commander?

I haven't met any before now.

In my species, we are not just twin brothers.

Together, we are a single self...

( labored breathing ) two halves of one being.

I am incomplete now.

You should have considered the risks before trying to sell stolen property.

You have no proof.

Two people were killed on the transport this object was taken from.

My brother and I purchased it from a passing Altairian trader.

His name? His ship's identification?

I am the one whose brother was killed, Commander! You have only yourself...

I'd like for you to return to your ship now!

You have my sympathies but there may be more questions.

Please don't leave the station.

I want to deal with the one who killed my twin.

The law will deal with him.

My only purpose in life from here on is to see him dead.

Well... can't say I didn't warn you about Miradorns, Odo.

I assume we are free to go?

Do you have enough evidence to hold them, Constable?

As Odo will be happy to confirm

I was just as concerned as everyone else that this was a stolen objet d'art.

Yes. Curious, but it's true.

We'll be on our way then.

You know what else is curious?

It's curious that Croden had a Ferengi phaser.

Available in many a port.

And it's curious that he knew the Miradorn were trying to sell you something of value.

How dare you suggest that my brother set up this robbery!

What an interesting theory, Rom.

If that theory should ever reach the Miradorn

I'd wake up dead one morning.

So, I'd appreciate your not spreading wild theories about casually.

Lobeless idiot, next time...

Don't you feed your prisoners?

The fact that you just killed a man doesn't affect your appetite?

It was him or me.

And if he had killed me, I wouldn't be hungry now.

I want you to understand exactly what's going to happen.

There will be a trial to determine your guilt or innocence.

We can assign an advocate or you can request one from your home world.

I doubt if anyone on Rakhar would much care.

Really?

Isn't murder considered a serious crime where you come from?

On Rakhar, all crimes are serious... only there are no trials.

It's a shame that our first encounter with your species had to take place under such circumstances.

I'm sorry if I made things awkward.

I didn't have much choice.

Why not?

My needs exceed my skills.

Now, if I had his talents

I would have no problems at all.

I've never heard of a changeling with such versatility.

A what?!

A changeling, like you.

You've heard of other shape-shifters in the Gamma Quadrant?

Haven't they come through the wormhole yet?

I assumed, when I saw you...

It's a lie.

He heard me talking in the bar to Quark.

Well, maybe I dissemble a little.

"Lie" is a hard word.

But shape-shifters are harsh in their judgments.

Feed me and maybe I'll tell you where I met someone just like you.

I don't see that we have any choice.

We have to contact his planet.

Not the best way of introducing ourselves.

Homicide as a means to open relations-- it's not exactly how they teach it at the Academy, is it?

I think you're all wrong.

How's that?

They're going to thank us.

Thank us?

Oh, that's what I'd do.

He's probably committed all sorts of crimes in their system.

They'll be glad to have the problem taken off their hands.

There's only one way to find out. Dax?

It won't be hard to find Rakhar.

According to the logs

Croden was found in a damaged shuttlecraft about three light-years from the wormhole.

There aren't many M-Class planets in that area.

You're with me.

Major Kira, as long as the Miradorn ship is here there's a threat to Croden.

I don't want to have to tell his people that he was killed while in our custody.

I'll have Odo increase security.

Stop in to see if I'd run away?

( scoffs )

I couldn't get that lucky.

That Croden is an interesting character.

I wouldn't know.

Really?

I thought you said you got to know him rather well.

I never told you that.

I merely said we chatted when he bought a drink or two.

I've talked to several people who saw the two of you engaged in heavy conversations.

Why, Morn, here, says you even bought the fellow a meal.

Morn should keep his big mouth shut.

So what were you talking to him about?

Just being friendly.

He was... so out of place here-- alone.

I felt sorry for him.

You should sympathize with my kindness.

There's no profit in kindness.

You attribute odious motives to my every charitable act.

That's because your favorite charity is your own pocket.

Speaking of odious motives

I hear you've been making inquiries about finding a small ship to go through the wormhole.

That has nothing to do with any of this. I think it does.

I think you were trying to secure passage back to the Gamma Quadrant for Croden in exchange for staging this tragic little robbery of yours.

This could turn into a much bigger tragedy for me if you don't keep your voice down.

What did Croden tell you about himself?

Nothing.

We didn't talk about anything except business.

Inconsequential things.

What's inconsequential to you may be important to me.

Did he say anything about his home world?

No.

Other species in the Gamma Quadrant?

No.

Security to Odo.

Go ahead.

Ah-Kel and his crew are blocking the entrance to your office.

Should we clear them out?

Leave it. I'll handle them.

You were told to stay on your ship.

Understand me, shape-shifter.

He killed the part of me that made existence bearable.

I cannot stop until I kill him.

You're not going to kill anyone.

Get back to your ship and stay there.

If I find you here again, I'll lock you up, too.

You've made a lot of friends in your short stay here.

Well, I guess you'd know how that feels.

You and I have a great deal in common, changeling.

We have nothing in common.

We are both aliens here... the only ones of our kind.

Each of us is alone isolated, shut out.

Others like us only exist in the Gamma Quadrant.

I have always wondered why changelings are so distrustful of other species.

I doubt the changelings on your world would trust you.

Of course not.

There are no shape-shifters on Rakhar.

You just said...

You implied there were.

I'm sorry if I misled you.

There were shape-shifters on Rakhar at one time but that was centuries ago.

What happened to them?

They were persecuted.

Driven out.

But I know a place where there are still some left.

Of course, that was a few years ago.

And if you had the chance you'd take me there.

Sure, I would.

Why not?

Tell me where it is, I'll have a look.

Ah... No, I...

I have to show you.

There is no way that you could find it on your own.

The next time you lie

I'll save Ah-Kel the trouble of killing you.

There's that hard word again.

There are times when I don't dissemble.

Whatever you call it the truth isn't in you.

From the colony of the changelings.

We're in orbit.

Open hailing frequency.

Open.

This is the Federation Starship Rio Grande attempting to make contact with the planet Rakhar.

Please respond.

One of your people committed a homicide and we have him in custody.

His name is Croden.

I'm picking up a signal in the southern hemisphere.

They're hailing us.

On screen.

I am the Exarch of Nehelik Province.

You will transport Croden to this location.

I'm afraid we haven't brought him with us.

Your communication clearly stated that he was in your custody.

On our space station.

Perhaps I should explain where we come from.

We are well aware of the traffic through the newly discovered passage.

We simply have no interest in contact with anyone from your Quadrant.

I am sorry to hear that but we certainly will respect your wishes.

We just felt it was necessary after Croden was arrested.

Croden is an enemy of the Rakhari people!

We request that he be returned immediately.

He's scheduled to be tried for his crime on our station.

Tried? Croden has already been declared guilty in absentia for myriad crimes on this world.

That judgment supersedes your charges.

Return him, and I can assure you his punishment will be appropriate to your crime as well as ours.

I would feel more comfortable if we could find...

I do not know what kind of people you are--

I do not care to know-- but if your society purports to respect the rules of our society you will return him without delay.

Expect him to return in a vessel just like this one within 52 hours.

It's an amalgam of organic material and some sort of crystal.

You mean... it's alive.

More or less.

It's almost like a transitional phase between organic and inorganic matter.

I've only seen one life-form that even remotely resembles it.

Me.

In a way... this stone might qualify as a distant cousin of yours.

Maybe there's a clue to your origins here.

Where did it come from?

Unfortunately, the only one who can tell me is less reliable than Quark.

How do you like my stone, changeling?

Where'd you get it?

What would telling you get me?

Nothing.

Ah.

Well, that's too bad.

I was hoping you'd feel sorry for me seeing as we're the only two here from the other side of the passage.

I feel nothing for you but contempt.

You're a thief and a killer, and who knows what else.

Typical. It's typical.

Of "changeling behavior"?

Yes, I'm sure.

Uh, excuse me.

In my sector there is a nebula called the Chamra Vortex.

There are millions of asteroids in it.

I found this stone on one of them.

I could take you to it, changeling.

Others must know where it is.

No, no, the Vortex is uncharted but, as a thief and a killer and who knows what, I hid there often.

I found this colony of changelings by chance and I know my way back.

( door chimes )

Come in.

Yes, Commander?

Constable, I want you to escort the prisoner back to his home planet.

He's... not to stand trial... here?

Croden apparently committed crimes on Rakhar.

His government is adamant and the Bajorans have agreed to release him.

We're going to have trouble getting him past the Miradorn.

Yes, I know.

Ah-Kel's been screening every ship leaving this station.

How soon can you be ready?

I'm ready now.

There's a Rigelian freighter leaving here for the Gamma Quadrant in an hour.

Maybe we can use them to run interference between you and the Miradorn ship.

I'll move the prisoner to the runabout right away.

Constable, once you're on the other side you'll be on your own.

The Miradorn vessel can outrun any of our runabouts and, if they do come after you a warning from us will just point an arrow to you.

Understood.

So you're finally taking me up on my offer.

I'm taking you home.

O'BRIEN: Commander.

The Rigelian freighter's ready for departure.

Signal Odo.

KIRA: The Miradorn ship is scanning the freighter.

Doesn't look like they're reading the runabout.

How do you stand it, changeling?

Living where you don't belong?

Are you happy?

I'm as much a part of the place as anyone else.

Oh, I doubt it.

They tolerate you, but you're not one of them.

Being what you are you can pour your square shape into a round hole but you don't really fit, do you?

You're like my stone.

I think I finally figured out what crime you were found guilty of on your world.

What's that?

You talk too much.

( laughs )

Maybe you're right.

Perhaps that is how it started.

Perhaps I asked one question too many.

Anyway, that's as good an explanation as any.

Explanation for what?

For why they came that night.

I was never told, and, to this day, I don't know.

They broke into my home just before dawn and, before I had time to stop them they had murdered both my wives.

You see... on my world the punishment for being an enemy of the people is the death of your family.

I had no sophisticated weapon... only a short slaughter knife that I used for cutting the necks of fowl that we would prepare for supper.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the necks of the security officers were no more difficult to cut than the birds'.

Even the sound they made as the blade crossed their gullets were similar.

You expect me to believe this appalling tale?

Would it make any difference if you did?

No.

Well, then believe it because it's true.

Oh, my return will be celebrated, changeling.

They'll be very grateful.

You'll be a hero.

Perhaps you might even use this as an excuse to exchange envoys.

If you don't stop talking

I could sedate you for the rest of the trip.

Sorry. I didn't...

I didn't know I bothered you.

AH-KEL: Get in there!

He's going to kill us!

He says we were in with Croden.

Where is he, Quark?

Croden? He's in security.

You're lying!

( gasping )

He's gone!

You're hiding him.

You've been in this together all along.

You're as responsible for my brother's death as he is.

Ah-Kel, no.

This is Odo's doing.

Don't you see?

He wants to turn us against each other.

Why should I believe you?

Tell me where Croden is or you can die in his place.

I don't know where he is but maybe I could find out if you'll just release me.

( gasping )

Get me the security chips.

Level four clearance.

( snapping fingers )

It isn't at all clear...

The coordinates are very clearly stated right here in the log entry.

One more thing, little Ferengi-- you better be telling me the truth or I'll be back... to finish this.

Oh, you are clever, brother.

Now Ah-Kel will rid us of Croden and Odo.

Unless Odo is sensible, and gives up his prisoner.

Oh, no!

Then Croden would tell Ah-Kel the truth about our plan.

We're dead. We're dead.

You shouldn't have told him how to find them.

Be quiet.

Odo will never give up his prisoner.

He'll just get himself killed.

Do you really think so?

Oh, get out of here, you fool!

Get!

Yes, Chief?

The Miradorn ship is leaving the station.

Major, do whatever you can to delay them.

Ops to Miradorn ship... please hold your position.

Stand by for departure instructions.

No response.

They're still moving.

Dax, how long before Odo reaches Rakhar?

Just over five hours.

KIRA: Miradorn vessel... you are in violation of Bajoran transit regulations.

Please return at once to the docking ring.

They've increased power to their thrusters.

On screen.

You'd save time going through the Vortex.

It's a long way around it.

Aren't you the least bit curious about your own people?

Of course, I am.

Unfortunately, I don't have the liberty of pursuing that curiosity right now.

They don't maintain a humanoid shape, you know.

They refused to assimilate on my world.

They're a proud species.

That's why they were so persecuted.

But I will say this for them-- they treated me well enough when I landed at their colony.

I was badly wounded.

They could have allowed me to die.

They didn't.

You're one of them.

That's for sure.

You have the sense of decency, of justice...

You don't give up, do you?

( beeping )

( explosion )

Computer, what was that?

COMPUTER: A temporary loss of stability resulting from the impact of a concentrated plasma charge.

We're being attacked?

COMPUTER: Affirmative.

Pursuing vessel approaching from 181 mark 12.

Put it on the monitor and identify.

COMPUTER: Miradorn vessel, Theta class.

He's hailing us.

AH-KEL: The first shot was a warning.

You will surrender the Rakhari prisoner to me.

I don't give up my prisoners, Ah-Kel.

Very well.

Then you can die with him.

( explosion )

COMPUTER: Warning. Damage to shields.

Computer, evasive maneuvers!

COMPUTER: Warning. Shields at 41%.

Your computer's not going to outsmart him.

I'm a security chief, not a combat pilot!

Then give me the controls!

You?!

I can get us through the Vortex.

The ionized gasses would screen us from his sensors.

Drop your suspicious nature for a minute, changeling.

Can't you see? It's our only chance!

( grunts )

Why are we slowing down?

The Vortex is riddled with volatile pockets of a gas we call toh-maire.

If we destabilize them they could ignite, and blow this ship apart.

You really have been through here before.

Sometimes I do tell the truth.

How do you remember what's true and what isn't?

( explosion )

I thought you said they couldn't detect us in here.

He must be following our impulse wake.

Computer, disengage impulse engines.

Go to thrusters.

COMPUTER: Acknowledged.

Thrusters engaged.

What are you doing?

Once our impulse wake drops off he might try to pick up the discharge of our thrusters.

We'll be better off if we land.

So, changeling

I guess I'm going to take you home after all.

Hurry! This way!

ODO: Croden!

Slow down, Croden!

Stay where I can see you.

Croden!

What's your hurry?

What's in here?

I told you-- the colony.

Anxious to see them again, are you?

Yes. Of course.

Whatever it is you came here for, you can forget it.

We're leaving.

No! Now!

How much of it was true? Any of it?

Any of it?!

No. No.

On Rakhar, we tell stories about changelings.

I thought they were myths until I met you.

The stone!

I have no idea where it came from.

Rakhari merchants buy stones just like it from off-world traders.

It's used as a key.

A key to what?

To my only reason for living.

And it's ahead, in that cavern there.

Please, help me.

There's been a cave-in.

What is it?

A stasis chamber.

It's my daughter.

The only member of my family I could save.

Help me.

It shapes itself to fit the lock.

( hissing )

( door opens )

Father?

I was dreaming about you.

I'm here now, Yareth.

You don't have to dream anymore.

Hello.

This is Odo.

He's a security officer.

No, no, he's not going to hurt you.

He's going to take you to a place where you'll be safe.

Won't you?

Where are you going?

I'm going home.

But you can't. They'll kill you.

Yareth, I must answer for my crimes.

But all you did was try to protect us.

Their sensors must have picked up our life signs.

We've got to get back to the runabout.

Odo!

Is he badly hurt?

There's no way to tell.

I don't know anything about his species.

I'll carry him back to the ship.

What's the matter, Father?

( explosion )

Nothing, darling.

Nothing.

Nothing.

Go! Go!

( moaning )

You're heavier than you look.

You could have left me behind.

Don't thank me.

I already regret it.

I haven't been able to lose them.

Sooner or later, one of his photons is going trigger a toh-maire explosion and kill us all.

Let me have the controls.

Find us one of those toh-maire fields.

I just told you, you don't want to go anywhere near one changeling.

Find us the closest toh-maire field.

Six degrees to starboard.

Changing course.

He's chased us everywhere else.

Maybe he'll follow us in there, too.

His sensors may not be able to detect how volatile the field is.

If he fires on us in there, the whole thing will ignite.

That's what I'm counting on.

Set a course along the interior perimeter.

Done.

Computer, shut down all engines.

COMPUTER: Engines disengaged.

Maintain emergency readiness to reengage impulse on my command.

We're an awfully easy target.

He's hailing us.

On screen.

Are you prepared to surrender your prisoner?

I have a full array of Starfleet weapons trained on you, Ah-Kel.

Frankly, I don't know much about them but I understand they equipped this little vessel with some pretty powerful stuff so I suggest you withdraw while you still can.

There will barely be a trace of your little vessel when we are finished with you.

He's coming about.

Powering his shields.

His starboard photon bank is armed.

Computer, engage!

He's firing photons.

( alarm bleeping )

Is everybody back there in one piece?

Yes.

Good.

Take us out of your precious Vortex.

I only have one last favor to ask.

Yareth is going to be alone on your world just as you've always been.

She's going to need someone to look after her.

If you're asking me what I think you're asking...

We know you could use some company, changeling.

You'll deny it, but we both know it's true or this stone would have meant nothing to you.

COMPUTER: Incoming subspace signal.

Vulcan band frequency.

On screen.

Starfleet Runabout this is the Vulcan Science Vessel T'Vran.

Are you in any difficulty?

Chief of Security Odo from DS9.

We're fine, Captain.

We detected a major eruption in the Chamra Vortex.

I was afraid a small ship like yours might have suffered damage.

I appreciate your concern.

What's your course?

To the wormhole, then home to Vulcan.

I've beamed over two survivors from a ship that wasn't so lucky.

I have to complete a mission.

Could you give them transportation to Vulcan?

Easily done.

We will rendezvous with you shortly.

Prepare for transport.

Don't thank me.

I already regret it.

How?

How will you explain not delivering me?

I'll tell them you were killed when Ah-Kel torpedoed the asteroid.

This dissembling must be catching.

You're going to have to get used to living in an alien society.

Like you... but I know where my home is and perhaps, someday

I'll be able to go back again.

I hope this helps you to find where you came from.

VULCAN CAPTAIN: T'Vran to Ganges.

Ready for transport.

Stand by.

Are you really a changeling?

Yes...

I suppose I am.

Go on.

We don't want to keep the Vulcans waiting.

Energizing.

Computer, set a course for the wormhole.

Course laid in.

Ready engines.

Home.

Where is it?

Someday we'll know... cousin.

Engage.