Home > Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Shadow Play

DAX: Science Officer's Log, Stardate 47603.3.

Commander Sisko has assigned me

to investigate an unusual particle field

detected on the other side of the wormhole.

Odo has come along to the Gamma Quadrant

hoping to find clues to his origin.

So you see, Ensign Manwaring has spent the last two weeks avoiding the Assay Office because he thought that Freyla was in love with Lieutenant Strek but all the while, Strek was seeing Security Officer Seelee.

And Freyla was waiting for Manwaring to ask her out.

Officer Seelee has seemed distracted at work lately.

I'm going to have to talk to her about this when we get back to the station.

Odo, I didn't tell you that story to get Seelee in trouble.

Frankly, Lieutenant,

I fail to see any point in your story at all except perhaps to illustrate the foolish humanoid preoccupation with romantic coupling.

The point is that sometimes we don't see true love even when it's staring us right in the face.

How fascinating.

Let me give you another example.

You know Lysia Arlin?

The Bolian woman who runs the jumja kiosk.

I've noticed she's been making a lot of visits to the security office lately.

She has a cousin who's interested in a career in law enforcement.

You don't say.

Are you implying that Lysia Arlin is interested in me?

Ridiculous.

I would have noticed.

Exactly my point.

You must be mistaken.

And how can you be so sure?

Because women don't react to me in that manner.

Are you saying that you've never had a female friend?

I consider Major Kira a friend.

That's not what I meant.

I'm talking about... an intimate friendship.

That's a very personal question.

I'm sorry, but after seven lifetimes the impersonal questions aren't much fun anymore.

( huffs )

Looks like we found our particle field.

They're omicron particles.

Is that unusual?

Omicron particles are incredibly rare.

They can only be created by certain types of matter/antimatter reactions.

The field seems to be coming from the second planet in the system.

Let's go in a little closer.

That's strange.

The particles are concentrated in one small valley.

Sensors aren't picking up any life-forms.

The particle field could be interfering with the sensors.

We better beam down for a closer look.

I'm still getting a lot of interference.

The particle field must be blocking the tricorder functions.

The interference seems to be coming from here.

This must be the source of the field.

It's probably some kind of matter/antimatter reactor.

Lieutenant, I suggest we leave before we're discovered.

Give me a minute.

Take all the time you want.

( door chime )

It's about time.

Enter. Where have you been?

I've been waiting hours...

M-Major.

Uh, I'm sorry we're closed.

You'll have to come back in the morning.

Oh, I didn't come here for a drink.

I thought you'd like to know your cousin Kono just tried to come aboard the station.

Kono? Here?

What an unexpected pleasure.

He's gone, Quark.

When we tried to talk to him he beamed onto a departing Tellarite freighter.

There must be some mistake.

Why would Kono be coming here?

I was wondering the same thing myself, so I did a little checking.

Your cousin's wanted for robbing a museum on Cardassia V.

My guess is he thought someone here would help him sell the merchandise.

Outrageous. You have no proof of that.

Quark, get this into that little twisted brain of yours.

If you thought you were going to get away with anything while Odo's gone, think again.

I'm watching you.

Major?

You make it sound like you don't like me.

Don't like you?

You collaborated with the Cardassians.

You cheat your customers and you're a danger to this station.

I don't just "not like you."

I despise you.

Sorry I mentioned it.

A-A job? What do I need a job for?

You're 15 years old.

It's time you took a little responsibility.

Look, Nog works, doesn't he?

Yeah.

You're almost as old as he is.

When I was your age, I had a job and it was a terrific experience.

All right, I'll talk to Nog and see if he can get me a job at Quark's.

Quark's? I was thinking more along the lines of you helping out Chief O'Brien.

Chief O'Brien?

You do like Chief O'Brien, don't you?

He's okay, but I don't know anything about engineering.

This is the perfect opportunity to learn.

Besides, it'll look great on your application to Starfleet Academy.

Okay, I'll give it a try.

That's all I ask.

Are we being accused of some kind of crime?

Have you committed one?

We've just arrived here.

So you keep saying.

If you want, you can check our ship's logs and they'll prove it to you.

Logs can be tampered with.

Well, you ought to know that.

After all, you claim to be a security officer.

I am a security officer, and I've had enough of this.

If we were guilty we wouldn't even be here right now.

I'll prove it.

Computer, one to beam up.

Don't worry, he'll be right back.

What did I tell you?

Now, that's interesting, you disappearing like that because I've got 22 people who have disappeared without a trace.

22 missing people?

Did they all disappear at the same time?

No, it started in the fall.

But the last victim vanished six hours ago.

Six hours ago we weren't even in this system.

If you want, you can accompany us back to our station and they will verify everything we've told you.

( sighing )

Do you have any other suspects?

You were my only ones.

I'm not saying everybody here is perfect.

We have some petty thefts, an occasional fight, but... this kidnapping, murder?

Nah. Nah, we've never had anything like that before.

I see.

So... have you scanned the area for signs of transporter activity?

It was the first thing I tried.

I didn't find anything. ( sighs )

You know, I've been protector here for almost ten years.

I like to think I'm pretty good at my job.

People trust me to solve their problems.

But whoever's behind these disappearances is a lot smarter than I am.

I have to admit, I'm starting to get desperate.

Maybe what you need is a little help.

Maybe.

Rurigan.

So... these are the strangers I heard about?

Shouldn't they be in a cell?

I'm satisfied they have nothing to do with the disappearances.

In fact, Odo here is a security officer.

He's going to try to help us.

How do you plan to do that?

I understand your daughter is the latest victim.

When was the last time you saw her?

This morning at first meal.

But Taya said she saw her later in her workroom around midday.

Taya?

My granddaughter.

Colyus,

Anetra's gone, just like the others.

We're never going to find them.

How can you be so sure?

Let's just say I haven't been proven wrong yet.

I'd like to scan the area again for transporter activity in case you missed something.

Go right ahead.

I'm still not getting a clear reading.

The omicron particles put out by the reactor are creating too much interference.

Oh, must be your equipment.

Our scanners never give any trouble.

Certain kinds of transporters leave behind a residual electrostatic charge.

If we could check Anetra's workroom?

If you don't mind

I'd like to talk to your granddaughter.

Well, the last time I saw her she was across the square.

I'll take you to her.

Taya?

Don't be afraid, Taya.

This is a friend of Protector Colyus.

He just wants you to answer a few questions.

Do I have to?

Not if you don't want to.

But it would help if I could talk to you about your mother's disappearance.

She hasn't disappeared.

She'll be back.

The last time you saw your mother did she seem upset about anything?

Nervous, perhaps, or worried?

She seemed fine.

When will she be coming home?

I don't know, Taya.

Let's go; it's past your bedtime.

I'd like to ask a few more questions.

It'll wait till morning.

Chief, here's the new apprentice we discussed.

Yes, sir. Welcome aboard.

Well, let's get to work.

I was just about to run a diagnostic on the primary system core.

Mr. Sisko...

I almost forgot.

For you.

Thanks, Dad.

It's standard equipment for all station personnel.

Wait, let me get this straight, Major.

You want me to spy on Quark for you?

I wouldn't call it spying, exactly.

I just thought you might, you know, keep an eye on him while Odo's away.

When you're not busy.

Oh, it's no problem, Major.

Then you'll do it?

I look forward to it.

Garak has been lecturing me on surveillance techniques.

This'll give me a chance to try some of them out.

SISKO: Sisko to Kira.

This is Kira.

Major, I thought you might like to know

we've received word that Vedek Bareil

is coming aboard the station.

Coming aboard-- when?

His ship just arrived at Docking Bay 12.

I wish you'd given us a little more notice.

We could have arranged a formal reception.

Well, that's exactly what I wanted to avoid.

What brings you to the station?

Prylar Rhit invited me to speak at the station shrine.

Ah.

But to be honest, I...

I've been looking for an opportunity to see you.

Really?

I'm honored.

Oh, honored.

Uh, actually, I was hoping you'd be happy to see me.

Oh, I am.

Very happy.

Hello, Taya.

Remember me?

We met last night.

You wanted to ask me questions.

That's right.

About your mother.

I understand you were the last one to see her.

I guess.

What happened to your face?

Nothing happened to my face.

I'm a shape-shifter.

I just don't do faces very well.

I have the ability to change my shape to look like other things.

You mean, you're a changeling?

That's right.

There's no such thing as changelings.

They're make-believe.

Everyone knows that.

Well, I'm not make-believe.

All right, then let me see you change into something.

Maybe later.

Right now, I feel like talking.

If I were a changeling

I'd change shapes all the time.

Everyone would want to be my friend.

Ha. I wish it were that easy.

Why wouldn't it be?

When I was younger people were always asking me to change shape for them.

They'd pretend to be my friends, but all they wanted was to see me become a chair or an animal.

None of them ever really cared about me.

Maybe they were scared of you.

Some of them probably were.

I'm not afraid of you.

I'm glad to hear that.

Were your parents changelings, too?

I never knew my parents.

I've been looking for them for a long time.

My father died when I was four.

I don't remember him very well.

The last time I saw my mother she was in her workroom making pottery.

When I went to get her for the midday meal she was gone.

How did she act when you last saw her?

Happy.

She was making a vase for Mr. Depnen, the baker.

He really likes my mom so he always saves us the best loaf of grain bread.

Has your mother ever gone anywhere before?

A trip, vacation?

We don't go on trips.

Never?

No, we never leave the valley.

Why not?

Nobody ever leaves the valley.

Everything we need is right here.

I see.

My mother's never coming back, is she?

Why do you say that?

It's what my grandfather told me.

Taya, I don't know where your mother is but I promise you

I'm going to do everything I can to find her and bring her back to you.

Okay, one more time.

These are all isolinear rods.

The ones with the white labels contain data relating to the engineering systems controls the red-labeled ones are for library and information storage and the blue ones are...?

I'm never going to get this.

Give yourself some time.

I didn't get a handle on this stuff until almost a year after I joined Starfleet.

I mean, it's not like you're going off to the Academy tomorrow, is it?

( sighs )

What's wrong?

Nothing.

It's just that, why does everyone assume that I'm going to the Academy?

Well, you want to go, don't you?

Not really.

Does your father know?

He wouldn't understand.

I know how you feel.

You know what my father wanted me to be?

A musician.

It's true.

I was supposed to be a cello player.

He made me practice every day.

I got to be pretty good.

When I was 17, he sent a recorded audition to the Aldebaran Music Academy.

What happened?

Oh, I got in.

It was the happiest day of his life.

I didn't know how to tell him

I didn't want to go.

So, two days before I was due to leave

I went into town and signed up for Starfleet.

What did your dad do?

Oh, he was furious.

But once he calmed down a little he saw how much I wanted to join.

Nowadays when I go home, he introduces me as...

"My son

Senior Chief Specialist Miles Edward O'Brien."

The point is you've got to live your own life.

I don't want to disappoint my dad.

Hey, your dad's not a bad guy.

He'll come around.

Just give him some time.

( clears throat )

So...

What did you think?

Of your speech?

Mm-hmm.

I liked everything about it... except the content.

You disagree with my interpretation of the Eighth Prophecy?

"Disagree" is a bit of an understatement.

"Passionately disagree" is more like it.

The way you have of taking a prophecy and showing that it can mean exactly the opposite of the accepted interpretation is...

Oh, it's brilliant.

Uh... insightful.

Infuriating.

Maybe we should talk about something else.

Like what?

Well, the Ilvian katterpod crop maybe?

Or, uh... the new nature preserve in Hedrikspool Province.

Hmm? No?

Maybe the standings in the Springball Championship.

You follow springball?

Religiously... if you'll pardon the expression.

I even used to play a little.

Me, too.

I had Chief O'Brien design a springball holosuite program.

Really?

Let's go.

You want to play springball?

Why not?

Well, unless you have a more pressing engagement.

Not that I can think of.

Good.

I could use the practice.

From what I understand you... helped found this colony.

That's right.

I'm the oldest one left.

This colony must be very important to you.

You helped found it, you raised a family here.

I'm very proud of what we've accomplished.

Then explain something to me.

This colony is undergoing a serious crisis.

Your daughter is among the missing.

Yet, you hardly seem concerned.

There is nothing I can do to change things.

I wish there were.

Now, is there anything else, or can I go?

Are you sure you're all right?

Why wouldn't I be?

You seem to be in a great deal of pain.

Why do you say that?

I can see it in your eyes.

Perhaps you'd like to sit here for a moment and rest.

Well, it wouldn't do much good.

You see, I'm dying.

I'm sorry.

Well, I've had a good life.

No regrets.

I wish I could see my daughter once again.

Now, if there are no more questions...

Actually, there is one thing

I've been wondering.

How come... no one ever leaves the village?

I haven't met anyone yet who's ever been outside this valley.

Any idea why?

I suppose it's because people around here don't like to travel.

After all, there's no place to go.

How can you be so sure?

Have you ever left the valley?

Now that you mention it... no.

When I asked Colyus if he searched outside the valley for the missing people, he looked surprised as if he'd never thought of it before.

I find that very peculiar.

Where I come from we would have searched the entire countryside.

Yes.

I suppose Colyus thought there was no point to it.

But I guarantee you... there are no missing people out there.

You're sure of that?

Absolutely.

TAYA: And then the great Minra said to the evil changeling

"Maybe you can turn into a mountain

"or a Ghergher Beast or a tornado

"but those are big things, and big things are easy.

"I bet you can't turn into something small like a loaf of grain bread."

And the changeling said, "Yes, I can" and he did.

Then do you know what happened?

The great Minra gobbled him up.

How'd you know that?

The changeling in your story wasn't very smart.

Could you turn into a loaf of grain bread?

I suppose I could.

Show me.

And let you gobble me up?

I don't think so.

See that tree?

Sometimes we go there to play.

That's the furthest I've ever been from the village.

ODO: Wait here.

TAYA: But I want to come see, too.

ODO: Please, do as I say.

Lieutenant, would you come with me?

I'm still not reading any other life-forms and no indication of any power source.

Did you see that?

It just vanished!

It happened just as we passed those bushes.

Taya.

Taya, don't come any closer!

But I brought you some Harrid berries.

Odo says you know what happened to the missing villagers.

I think I do.

It's a little complicated to explain.

It'd probably be easier if I showed you.

May I have your cloak?

My... my cloak?

Please.

Well...

Thank you.

Now, stand back.

( sniffs )

I'm waiting.

This may take a minute.

I don't want to make a mistake.

That was my favorite cloak!

Please, stay where you are.

Are you saying somebody used our reactor to transport the victims away?

DAX: No.

It's not a transporter.

It's a holographic projector.

It creates an omicron particle field and then manipulates the field to form physical objects like your cloak.

Well, what does this have to do with the missing people?

The people are made up of omicron particles, too.

You mean they're... holograms?

I'm afraid so.

You see, the component that controls the particle field-- it's breaking down and that's why people are disappearing.

Well, that's ridiculous!

Some of the victims were my friends.

One of them is my nephew.

If I'm right everyone and everything in this village is a holographic projection.

And I thought I was desperate to find an answer.

Listen to her, Colyus.

I know this is difficult to accept.

It's going to take a whole lot more than a vanishing cloak to make me believe I'm some kind of hologram.

I'd be skeptical, too, if I were you but we have further proof.

What kind of proof?

The holographic field ends just outside this valley, and earlier today

Taya tried to reach past the edge and her arm disappeared.

Is she all right?

She's fine.

Her arm re-materialized as soon as she pulled it back inside.

Where exactly did this happen?

We could show you if you'd like.

I think you'd better.

I'm sorry.

Don't apologize.

I should have seen it coming.

Where did you learn to play like that?

My brothers and I used to play at the Singha refugee camp.

There wasn't much else to do.

Yeah, I was at Relliketh.

And, uh, now... uh, here we are.

Well, uh, uh, that, uh... that was delicious.

Well... thank the replicator.

Here, let me help.

That's not necessary.

Your shoulder...

Never felt better.

Maybe I do need some help after all.

I'll have to remember to thank Prylar Rhit for inviting you here.

You'd better tell him soon.

Prylar Rhit... is going to be returning to Bajor.

It appears he fancies himself something... of a dabo player.

Oh... really?

Mm-hmm.

He's run up a... sizable gambling debt.

It's caused... quite a scandal in the Vedek assembly.

Let me get this straight-- the man who invited you here to the station... owes money... to Quark?

Who?

The little troll who runs the dabo tables?

I got to go.

But why?

I need to talk to Prylar Rhit.

I think I know the real reason he invited you here.

( crowd clamoring )

COLYUS: People, please!

Please!

Quiet!

( shouting continues )

Quiet!

Calm down!

Quiet!

Calm down, everybody. We have to make a decision here.

Colyus, you should be out looking for my wife and all the others who are missing!

Not wasting time listening to these strangers and their lies.

You all witnessed what happened when they brought us to the edge of the field.

Merruk, we both saw your hand disappear.

It could have been a trick.

It wasn't a trick.

Then how come we've never learned of this before?

Because none of you ever tried to leave the valley.

It's possible we were programmed not to leave so that we wouldn't learn the truth.

Now, we have to shut down the system.

If we don't fix it soon, the whole village will disappear.

Dax... you said if you can fix the machine you might be able to bring back the missing people.

We hope so.

What if you turn off the projector and you can't get it back on?

Then this village will cease to exist.

The system's only a few months away from complete failure anyway.

At least this way we have a chance to save you.

Grandfather, please.

Let her try.

What do you think?

Well, we can't go on like this.

I guess we should let her shut it down.

Are there any objections?

Then it's settled.

I can't wait to see my mother.

Your face isn't so scary... once you get used to it.

Thank you, Taya.

All right, here we go.

Odo...

RURIGAN: Don't look so surprised.

I'm as real as you are.

RURIGAN: I was happy living on Yadera Prime.

That is, until the Dominion took over and changed our whole way of life.

And I realized one morning that I didn't really belong there anymore.

So I came here.

And I used a hologenerator to recreate all the things that I'd lost.

I've lived here in my village for nearly 30 years.

And I've watched the people marry... have children... grow old... and sometimes I even forgot that they were holograms.

But it's over.

It's over.

And I would appreciate it if you'd take me back to Yadera Prime.

But what about the villagers?

What about your granddaughter?

She's not real.

Technically, I suppose you're right.

Maybe, by our definition, Taya's not real.

Her memories are stored in a computer.

Her body is made up of omicron particles.

But who's to say that our definition of life is the only valid one?

I'm sure if you asked her, she'd say she was real.

She thinks, she feels.

She only seems to.

It's all an illusion.

An illusion I created.

Well, you said you created the village 30 years ago.

Taya's only ten.

I designed the program so the villagers could have children if they wanted to.

Then Taya's personality is a combination of her parents' personalities.

Just like a real child.

You had nothing to do with it.

But she's still a hologram.

Maybe... but I saw the way you held her hand when she was sad.

I saw the way you tried to comfort her when she was frightened.

I... I didn't want her to get hurt.

If she's not real, what does it matter?

It matters.

It matters to me.

Why should it matter to you if a hologram cries?

Because I love her.

And she loves you.

Don't you see?

She's real to you.

And she's real to me, too.

They're all real.

And you can't turn your back on them now.

Jake, how was work?

Okay.

It's kind of fun working with Chief O'Brien.

But it would be better if I knew what I was doing.

You'll get there.

I guess so.

I'm glad you decided to stick with it.

Yeah.

Dad...

I don't want to join Starfleet.

Since when?

S-since forever.

Starfleet is too much like you.

I need to find what's me.

Does that make any sense?

Perfect sense.

It does?

It's your life, Jake.

You have to choose your own way.

There is only one thing

I want from you.

Find something you love then do it the best you can.

I'll try.

Good.

Then you'll make the old man proud.

( clears throat ) I'd better go study.

I'm still trying to figure out those isolinear rods.

( buzz of conversation )

KIRA: Hello, Quark.

Major.

To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?

I just thought I'd let you know-- we caught your cousin trying to slip back onto this station and guess what we confiscated from him?

Bone carvings.

Stolen from a museum on Cardassia V.

I always knew Kono was no good.

I only wish we could have caught the two of you together.

Life is full of disappointments.

By the way, Prylar Rhit tells me that you encouraged him to invite Bareil onto this station.

That a crime?

Not at all.

I just wanted to thank you.

I found him very... diverting.

Not diverting enough.

All right, nothing to do now but reactivate the system and see what happens.

Wait.

Lieutenant, I'd like to ask a favor.

If this works, please don't tell the others that I'm... not like them.

I don't want to be treated any differently than before.

Of course.

( crowd murmuring )

TAYA: Mother?

TAYA: Mother?

TAYA: Mother!

Well, you did it.

We upgraded the system's memory core and realigned the field generators.

I don't think you'll have to worry about anyone disappearing now.

We just have to get used to the fact that we're holograms.

We're alive and we have our families back.

That's the only thing that counts.

I wonder who created all this?

ODO: Whoever it was did a fine job.

COLYUS: They did, didn't they?

Well, it was good working with you, Odo.

Next time you're on this side of the galaxy

I hope you come by and see us.

I would like that.

We don't get that many visitors.

Odo.

My mother's back.

I'm glad.

You're leaving.

I'm afraid so.

I'll miss you.

I'll miss you, too.

Thank you for bringing my mother back.

I hope you find your parents, too.

Thank you, Taya.

So do I.

Taya...

( giggling softly )

Computer, two to beam up.