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Second Sight

SISKO: Personal Log,

Stardate 47329.4.

I finally realized why I've had trouble sleeping

the last few nights.

Yesterday was the fourth anniversary

of the massacre at Wolf 359...

the fourth anniversary of Jennifer's death.

I'm not sure what bothers me more--

the date itself

or the fact that it almost passed unnoticed.

Dad, what are you doing up?

I was about to ask you the same thing.

I-I had a weird dream.

Get some hot chocolate and tell me about it.

Nah, it's nothing.

Ah, come on.

Tell me about this weird dream.

It's stupid.

Maybe so.

But the thing about dreams is if you talk about them they kind of go away faster.

Okay, but don't laugh.

I promise.

I don't know, I was...

I was on the station somewhere--

I'm not sure where-- and I was trying to get back here but I couldn't... I couldn't find my way.

I mean, every time I saw a familiar corridor it kind of led into some other direction.

See, I told you it was stupid.

You got me interested.

Well, then...

I guess I got a little scared and started looking for you.

But I couldn't find you.

Some... Somehow I ended up in Ops but you weren't in your... you weren't in your office.

And... and then it was like... like the floor started sloping and... and I couldn't keep my balance.

And all I wanted to do was find you.

And here I am.

Dad, I... I love you.

I love you, too.

Oh, I have a calculus test in the morning.

Then you better get some sleep.

Yeah.

Dad?

Hmm?

I miss her.

Me, too.

( sighs )

Beautiful, aren't they?

I don't think I've seen the stars shine so brightly.

The Bajorans call that constellation

"the Runners."

I can never figure out if they're running toward something or away from something.

Does that matter?

Sometimes it just feels good to run.

I never thought about it that way.

I'm Benjamin Sisko, Commander of this station.

I'm...

Fenna.

I'm sorry, you must be very busy.

I didn't mean to bother you.

You're not bothering me at all.

Good.

Commander of the station.

That must be very exciting-- all those ships coming and going.

Every day must bring something new.

It has its moments.

In some ways, though

I prefer this time the best when everything is quiet and...

And you can feel a kind of anticipation in the air like something wonderful is going to happen but you just don't know what it is.

( laughs )

I guess that sounds kind of silly, doesn't it?

Not at all.

That's one of the great things about this station.

You never know what's going to happen next.

Or who you're going to meet.

I like it here.

I wish I could stay longer.

Where are you going?

I'm not really sure.

I guess I'll just keep going, like the Runners.

I tell you what.

Before you run any farther why don't I show you around the station if you have the time...?

Fenna?

Good morning, Chief.

Morning, Commander.

Is this maintenance or repair?

Right now, it's maintenance.

Five'll get you ten, it'll be a repair by the time I'm through.

Admit it, Chief.

If you were on a station where everything worked you'd be miserable.

Well, you may be right, sir.

( loud pop, hissing )

But I'd be willing to give it a try.

Good morning, Major.

Computer, one Chiraltan tea with a double twist of lemon.

( sighs )

Something wrong?

No, nothing.

If something's bothering you, Major

I want to hear it.

It's just that...

Every morning for the last year

I've seen you walk in here and start your day with a raktajino.

I love raktajino.

I know. You never even talk to anyone until you've had your first cup.

Because I'm not awake until I've had my first cup.

So... how come you're drinking Chiraltan tea?

I, uh...

I just felt like having something different.

That is all right with you, isn't it, Major?

Of course. You can drink whatever you like.

Thank you, Major.

I appreciate your support.

DAX: Dax to Sisko.

Go ahead, Lieutenant.

Professor Seyetik and I are in the Science Lab if you'd like to meet him.

On my way.

Lieutenant, where's our guest?

Inside the flux generator.

What? What's he doing in there?

He could be killed.

Well, that's what I tried to tell him.

And he went in anyway.

Benjamin, have you ever met a terraformer?

No, what's that got to do with it?

You can't tell a terraformer anything.

It's an amazing talent, bringing dead worlds to life, but humility and common sense aren't part of the job description.

Oh.

( whooshing )

( rhythmic humming )

There you go, Lieutenant.

That should increase your generator output by at least five percent.

Ah, you must be Commander Sisko.

Gideon Seyetik.

Great pleasure to meet you, sir.

Professor.

I'm a great admirer of your work.

Good, a man of intelligence and taste.

I can see we're going to get along famously.

( all laughing )

My son and I visited Blue Horizon on the way to Deep Space 9.

I must say, I was impressed.

Of course you were.

I created the place, and even I'm impressed.

How did you like DaVinci Falls?

We didn't get to see them.

We were on the surface only for a few hours.

Oh, Commander, you missed Blue Horizon's crowning glory.

Imagine water cascading off cliffs the height of Mount Everest thundering through continuous rainbows straight into an ocean the color of sapphire wine.

Oh, ho, ho, ho, ho!

I'm going to have to take you there one day.

By God, I wouldn't mind seeing it again myself.

I may take you up on that.

Good, good.

But first, Epsilon 119, huh?

Yes, I understand the initial surveys look promising.

Promising?

Why, they look magnificent!

Imagine, reigniting a dead sun bringing new life to an entire solar system.

Next to that, terraforming planets will seem like child's play.

Let's hope it works.

Right now, it's a promising theory.

Of course it'll work.

I never fail.

Well, I did once.

But I found it didn't agree with me, so I swore never to do it again, and I never break my word.

( laughs heartily )

Oh, you should be glad you're coming with me, Lieutenant.

This'll be my crowning achievement.

Giving birth to a star.

Even I would have a hard time topping that one.

You're not going to let that last piece of Andorian tuber root go to waste, are you?

Why do you ask?

Because it's delicious.

May I?

Be my guest.

I'm going to need the extra calories to keep up with Seyetik.

The man works almost as much as he talks.

Benjamin?

What?

Are you looking for someone?

I'm sorry, what were you saying?

Uh, nothing important.

I have to meet with Chief O'Brien.

We are boosting the maximum speed of Seyetik's ship to warp 9.5.

If his experiment fails and that sun goes supernova we're going to need to get out of there fast.

I'll see you in Ops.

Benjamin...

I was hoping I'd see you again.

I was just thinking about you.

Were you really?

I've been thinking about you, too.

Where did you disappear to last night?

I had to go, I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to rush away like that.

Does your invitation still stand?

To show me around the station?

What would you like to see?

Everything.

Everything?

That's going to take some time.

I don't mind if you don't.

SISKO: What do you think?

It's wonderful.

I'm glad you like it.

You must come here all the time.

Not really, but when I do a ship is usually blocking the view.

We should have brought a picnic basket.

Here?

What better place?

Well, I guess there is tomorrow.

Is that an invitation?

Sounded like one to me.

Then I accept.

Good.

There's plenty left to see.

In fact, I doubt that we can see it all in one evening.

Then you can show me the rest after our picnic tomorrow.

Do you always do that?

Do what?

Say exactly the right thing.

Well, no one's ever told me that before.

There you go again.

So... tell me all about yourself.

There's not much to tell.

Whatever there is, I want to hear it.

I can't.

Can't what?

I can't tell you.

Why not?

I'm sorry, Benjamin, but I have to go.

Fenna, wait.

So, then Tiet looked down at Altrina's lunch and said, "Klingon food?

Those are worms!"

And Altrina vomited all over the table!

( laughing )

It was pretty disgusting.

That's nice, Jake.

Nice? She threw up!

( giggling )

Hmm?

Oh, I'm sorry.

I guess I must have been thinking about something else.

Dad... are you in love?

What?

You know, with a woman?

You're showing all three of the signs.

Signs?

The ones that Nog told me about:

Loss of appetite, daydreaming, smiling all the time.

You've been talking to Nog about women again?

Look, I just want you to know that if you're in love it's all right with me.

Thanks, Jake.

What's she like?

( sighs )

She's, uh... really interesting.

Interesting, huh?

So, when do I get to meet her?

I think it might be a little early to do that.

Why? She likes you, too, doesn't she?

I think so.

So, then what's the problem?

( sighs )

Well, um... it's just that, uh... she keeps disappearing.

Above all, stay alert.

If the subspace transmission I've received is correct and Villus Thed is en route to the station

I want to be notified the moment he arrives.

Keep him under constant surveillance but remember, he's a short-range telepath so stay at least five meters away from him at all times.

That's all.

SECURITY OFFICER: Yes, sir.

Commander, what can I do for you?

I need to ask a favor, Constable.

Of a personal nature.

Go on.

I'm looking for someone. A woman.

Name?

Fenna.

First name or last?

I don't know.

Species?

I don't know.

Humanoid.

What ship did she arrive on?

I... don't know.

Well... what can you tell me about her?

Let's see...

I'd say she's about 1.6 meters tall... brown skin... dark hair.

The last time I saw her, she was wearing a...

She was wearing red.

Well, that's something, anyway.

Do you think you can help me?

I don't know.

I need to find her, Constable.

I think she may be in some kind of trouble.

What kind of trouble?

Oh... let me guess.

You don't know.

Well, it's not much to go on but I'll do what I can.

I appreciate your help, Odo.

( scoffs )

Benjamin, do you have a minute?

In my office.

What's on your mind, Dax?

I was hoping you had something to say to me.

I don't follow you.

You really have no intention of telling me, do you?

Telling you what?

Come on, Benjamin!

I saw you with her last night on the Promenade.

What's her name?

Fenna. But believe me, Dax, there is nothing to talk about.

You used to tell Curzon everything.

Not everything.

You know what I mean.

It's because I'm a woman now, isn't it?

( cackling ): Don't be ridiculous!

No, I understand.

It's hard to talk man-to-man with a woman.

That has nothing to do with it.

Then tell me what's going on.

I will.

As soon as there is something to tell.

SISKO: Personal Log, supplemental.

Odo continues to search for new information about Fenna.

In the meantime, Professor Seyetik has invited me

and the senior staff to dinner aboard the Prometheus.

A great terraformer needs the green thumb of a gardener the eye of a painter and the soul of a poet.

And of course, it doesn't hurt to be a raging egomaniac.

( all laughing )

Which makes you eminently qualified.

Of course!

Terraforming is amazing enough but I don't understand how you intend to reignite a dead sun.

Basically, I'll use a remote piloted shuttlepod to deliver protomatter into the dead star.

This will cause a cascade effect which will transform the star's carbon and oxygen into elemental hydrogen.

And then we just stand back and watch the fireworks.

Of course, if it doesn't work it might be the last thing we ever see.

Oh, come now, Lieutenant.

Nothing of worth was ever created by a pessimist.

I don't know about that.

Van Gogh, Beckett, Y'Raka--

I wouldn't exactly call them optimists.

Precisely, and look at their work-- dark and dreary and dismal.

Art should be an affirmation of life.

For example, take my own work in the field.

I once saw an exhibit of your paintings at the Central Gallery on Ligobis X.

They certainly were memorable.

I don't think I've ever seen such huge canvases.

Doctor, nobody ever accused me of understatement.

Certainly not anyone who's ever read your autobiography.

Nine volumes and counting.

( chuckles )

You know, I always said

I wanted to write as many books as I've had marriages.

Ah... which reminds me.

Wait till you taste the food my wife has created for you.

None of that replicated nonsense you're used to, no, no, no.

Every dish was prepared entirely by Nidell's own sweet hands.

I can't wait to meet her.

And so you shall.

She should be just about ready.

I'll go and get her.

Commander, do you think he'd notice if we weren't here when he got back?

Don't even think about it, Major.

I've had dinner with about two dozen Bajoran ministers.

I think you owe me this one.

Besides, Seyetik is one of the Federation's greatest minds.

I know, he told me.

Well, I, for one, find him remarkably entertaining.

Ladies and gentlemen

I'd like you to meet my wife and my inspiration... Nidell.

Now we have something to talk about.

I can't eat another bite.

That was delicious.

Do you think I could have the recipe?

You'll have to ask Gideon. It's his creation.

Well, it took me years to perfect it.

The secret, you see, is to sear the Kalo roots slightly before layering them over the slices of roasted Waroon.

But the most important...

She acts like she doesn't recognize me.

...one liter of clear Rumall stock...

It is the same woman, isn't it?

She looks the same.

...of Vulcan redspice half a dozen Humat pods and a dash of ice salt.

And then you reduce it in an Andorian boiler cook it exactly 500 degrees Kelvin and then you just pepper to taste.

Any questions? Ah, maybe you should write that down.

( laughter ) Of course.

No trouble at all.

Well... I think we should continue this conversation in the other room.

We shall be more comfortable there.

Commander, can I help you with something?

I hope so.

It would have been a lot easier if you'd told me you were married.

I don't understand.

Yesterday... on the Promenade... you had plenty of opportunity.

Commander, I don't know what you're talking about.

I've never met you before tonight.

I suppose you never told me that your name was Fenna.

Would you like to talk about this?

Commander, obviously you have mistaken me for someone else.

Seems that way... doesn't it?

I'm telling you, Dax, it was the same woman.

The face, the voice-- it was Fenna.

Maybe you have to talk to her when her husband isn't around.

Dax, she's a married woman.

That would have never stopped Curzon.

It's just that this was the first time since Jennifer's death that I felt... drawn to someone.

ODO: Commander, may I have a word with you?

I thought you should know

I've checked this week's docking and transporter logs and there is no record of anyone matching the description you gave me.

Thanks, Odo.

But you can call off your search.

I've already found the woman I was looking for.

You did?

And where was she, if you don't mind my asking?

Aboard the Prometheus.

The Prometheus?

Are you sure?

Yes, we just left there a few minutes ago.

That's impossible.

What do you mean?

I checked the de-embarkation logs as part of my search.

With the exception of Professor Seyetik no one has left the Prometheus during the entire time it's been at the station.

QUARK: Commander...

I thought you could use this.

No thanks, I was just leaving.

Stood you up, didn't she?

When you've worked in a bar as long as I have you get to recognize that look.

I've even seen it in the mirror once or twice.

I'd better be getting home.

If you like we could go down to the bar and talk... you know, about women.

I don't think so.

Don't forget... the holosuites are always open.

FENNA: Benjamin!

I missed you.

Is there something wrong?

I just had dinner with someone who looks exactly like you.

Like me?

How strange.

You're telling me that your name isn't really Nidell and you're not the wife of Gideon Seyetik?

Of course not.

I'm Fenna. You know that.

Right now, I'm not sure what I know.

I don't suppose you have a twin sister, do you?

Not that I know of.

Fenna...

I need to know where you came from and what you're doing on this station.

Does that matter?

Of course it matters.

I need to know who you are.

You do know me, Benjamin.

When I came here, I thought I was looking for a place-- somewhere I belonged-- but I was wrong.

I wasn't looking for a place; I was looking for a person.

I was looking for you.

Benjamin...

( groans )

All right, Lieutenant.

I've got the warp drive on the Prometheus purring like a kitten.

It'll do 9.6 in a pinch but I wouldn't take it any faster.

I thought the theoretical maximum for those engines was warp 9.5.

CHIEF: Well, it was. Must I remind you, Lieutenant some of us have only one lifetime?

I'll be right there.

Good luck, Lieutenant.

Commander.

Come to see us off, Benjamin?

Not exactly-- I'm going with you.

How often do you get a chance to see a star reborn?

Do you really think this is a good idea?

I need answers, Dax.

And the key to Fenna's disappearance may be on that ship.

Have you finished loading the protomatter device into the shuttle pod?

All set. The containment fields are holding fine.

Remote guidance systems are fully operational.

SEYETIK: I'm telling you, Commander by the time I was through with New Halana it was a veritable paradise.

How are we doing, Mr. Piersall?

We'll be initiating preliminary scans in a few hours.

Well, let me know when we get there.

Well, Professor you must be eager to get started.

What did you call this?

Your crowning achievement.

Ah, don't remind me.

Commander, my entire life has been a series of escalating triumphs.

It's what I live for... knowing that no matter what I achieve there's always another triumph waiting for me.

And now?

Well...

Are you familiar with the Klingon poet G'Trok?

A little.

The Fall of Kang is required reading at the Academy.

Ah... ( clears throat )

"So honor the valiant who die 'neath your sword..."

"But pity the warrior who slays all his foes."

Well... yes, well... a bit obvious perhaps but true nonetheless.

( sighing )

So, what were we talking about? You.

Ha! Of course. My favorite subject. Where was I?

You had just finished terraforming New Halana.

Ah, of course.

Well, you can imagine how grateful the New Halanans were.

Endless parades and receptions and...

Got to be a bit of a bore, actually.

But then I... I met Nidell.

She was the daughter of a local dignitary and she was utterly infatuated with me from the very start.

Well, I-I can't say I blame her, actually.

The first time she saw me

I was surrounded by crowds of people unveiling a statue they'd commissioned in my honor.

Well, I could... I could tell from the start she was something special.

You know, she'd never been off-world before she met me.

I promised to show her the galaxy.

I would have given it to her if I could have.

She must love you very much.

She does, Commander.

Don't ask me why, but... she does.

Fenna!

Benjamin, I'm so glad to see you.

Dax, report to my quarters immediately.

DAX: On my way.

Benjamin, what's wrong?

The last time I saw you... you vanished.

I'm with you now, and I'm never going to leave you again.

I wish I could believe that.

You have to, Benjamin.

Dax, this is Fenna.

What is she doing?

It's all right.

She's not going to hurt you.

I'm not reading any cellular structure.

No DNA patterns.

Just pure energy.

Benjamin, what is she talking about?

I think it's time we find out.

Help her. She won't wake up!

She's in shock.

Her respiration is shallow.

Her heartbeat is irregular and falling.

Her blood pressure's dropping.

Benjamin, she's dying.

But you've got to do something!

I don't know that I can.

Fenna!

I should have known.

But you can't be here!

Nidell promised me you'd never come back.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Just look at her!

She looks like me.

Of course she looks like you!

She is you-- the real you.

SISKO: Professor what the hell is going on here?

That thing over there isn't real.

She's an illusion created by my wife's unconscious mind.

That's not true!

Benjamin, you know that he's lying.

Nidell is a psychoprojective telepath.

Fenna's just another one of her projections.

Lieutenant?

I've never seen readings like these.

Her occipital lobe is giving off enormous amounts of energy.

I don't see how she could survive more than an hour or two like this.

But she's dying!

You've got to do something!

There's nothing I can do.

Get Fenna to my quarters, Dax. And notify Lieutenant...

No!

Get her out of here, Dax.

Benjamin, I want to stay with you.

It will be all right, Fenna.

I just need to talk to Professor Seyetik, here.

All right, Professor, if what you're saying is true,

Nidell's psychoprojective abilities are killing her and I need to know why.

Nidell doesn't even know this is happening.

In times of deep emotional distress

Halanans sometimes... lose control of these abilities.

My wife is very... emotionally distraught.

Oh, this happened once before, three years ago on Terosa Prime.

It nearly killed her then.

She swore to me it would never happen again.

Obviously... it has.

You may have noticed, Commander, that I tend to evoke strong emotions from people particularly my wives.

Oh, they all start out loving me, but... a few years of togetherness soon cure them of that.

The others all had the good sense to leave me.

But why can't Nidell?

What keeps her with you?

Halanans mate for life.

She can never leave me no matter how much she might want to.

Benjamin, I've never seen

Seyetik or that woman before.

I don't know why he's saying those things about me, but they're lies.

I'm as real as you are.

Oh, how I want to believe that.

But can you tell me where you came from?

How you got to this station?

Can you tell me a single memory of your life before we met on the Promenade?

Oh, Benjamin, I'm so frightened.

Nidell's dying, Fenna.

She only has a few hours.

What happens to me if she dies?

You no longer exist without her.

But you can save her.

Give her back the life she gave to you.

I don't know how.

You can go back to her.

I've seen you do it, three times.

But even if she lives, then I die and everything that you and I have dies with me.

Fenna... what we have is a dream.

I wouldn't trade it for anything but it's still just a dream--

Nidell's dream.

And she won't remember any of it, will she?

There's no way to be sure.

I love you, Benjamin and I always will.

DAX: Commander, you'd better come to the Bridge right away.

What is it?

It's Seyetik.

He's launched the shuttlepod toward Epsilon 119 and he's onboard.

On my way.

He's opening a channel. On screen.

I hope this transmitter is working.

I'd hate to go to all this trouble without an audience.

PIERSALL: Professor, you'll be killed.

What do you think you're doing?

Making history.

You might want to record this for posterity and all that.

He's about 60 seconds from impact.

Gideon, you don't have to do this. We found a way to save Nidell.

I had a feeling you would, Commander.

But this is the only way I can really set her free and I owe her that.

Besides, this'll be my crowning achievement.

Remember The Fall of Kang?

Well, this is one warrior who refuses to be pitied.

What's he talking about?

Klingon poetry.

30 seconds from impact.

Gideon, I want you to turn the shuttlepod around now.

That's an order.

Too late, Commander.

I've already entered the gravity well of the star.

Engage the tractor beam.

He disabled it before he left.

Commander, when all this is over you'll find a case among my personal belongings.

There's something in there I want you to find.

What is it?

My obituary.

( laughs )

I wrote it myself.

After all, I couldn't leave such an important document to some stranger.

Do me a favor, and see that it's sent to the Daystrom Institute for publication, huh?

You have my word.

Oh, which reminds me

I didn't get a chance to update it before I left.

Let the record state that he sacrificed himself on the altar of science.

Ten seconds.

I'll be sure they get it.

I'm sure I can count on you.

Five seconds.

Keep your eye on the viewscreen, Commander.

You'll never see anything like this again.

Let there be light!

SISKO: Station Log, supplemental.

Epsilon 119 continues to burn brightly--

a fitting memorial to a brilliant man.

Meanwhile, I'm happy to report

Nidell has made a complete recovery.

Unfortunately, she has no memory

of Fenna's experiences.

Commander.

Nidell.

How did you know I was here?

Lieutenant Dax told me.

So... when does the Prometheus leave?

Soon.

I just wanted to say good-bye and thank you.

It'll be good to get home.

How long do you plan on staying on New Halana?

For the rest of my life.

I've been gone too long as it is.

I wish that I could remember Fenna.

What she did... how she felt.

But I can't. I'm sorry.

It's all right.

I can remember for both of us.

Tell me one thing. If I can.

What was she like?

Fenna?

She was just like you.