Finally we are getting to some more above average stories! It took a bit of watching before I remembered which episode this was, but when I did figure it out I was pretty pumped about it. Both the A story and the B story are really good this time. I had completely forgotten that O'Brien can't stand Bashir at first. All I remembered was how much fun they had together on the holosuite which made it surprising when Miles is clearly uncomfortable spending a few hours in a runabout with Julian. And speaking of, is Bajor really two hours flight time in a warp capable craft from DS9? I mean, I guess they could have just gone slow for some reason, but isn't there a village at risk of destruction?
DS9 is hosting a diplomatic conference between the leaders of two factions of Bajorans so O'Brien gets to fly/help Bashir with a crisis on Bajor. O'Brien tries to get out of it but Sisko insists and we learn that the reason he doesn't want the job is that he can't stand Bashir. The two of them have an uncomfortable flight over where Bashir keeps trying to break the ice but O'Brien isn't having any of it. They arrive at the village and find everything to be pretty much ok. It seems the village elder is dying and for some reason they are all convinced they are doomed if he dies, but not just in general. They are worried they will be destroyed that night by something called the Dal'Rok. On the station Sisko tries to break the ice between the two factions by starting with an informal meeting, but one of the leaders, the 15 year old Varis Sul throws a drink in Quarks face and storms out when he calls her a little lady. However Nog and Jake spot her on the promenade and Nog falls instantly in love.
In the village Julian tries to treat the elder but it is hopeless, he is succombing to massive organ failure due to extreme age. He can however give him medicine to make him more comfortable and the elder awakes. He first grasps Bashir's hand but says he isn't the one sent by the prophets. He then calls for a clearly uncomfortable O'Brien and declares he is the next elder. On DS9 Nog can't resist visiting Varis' quarters but is too nervous to ring the bell and starts fighting with Jake outside. She hears them and invites them inside. The three of them leave together to go watch the wormhole open. Down in the village it is nightfall the the elder insists on leading the village against the Dal'Rok. The creature appears as a strange energy cloud which approaches and shoots out bolts of lightning. The elder starts telling the story but collapses before he can finish. He demands O'Brien help him and Miles leads the village to form a cloud of glowing light which somehow defeats the monster. The elder then passes away and O'Brien is greeted with joy by the villagers.
O'Brien can't figure out what to do, the people all believe in him but he doesn't feel like he can lead them. He tries to science his way out but there isn't time. A man follows him home and when his back is turned tries to stab him. O'Brien and Bashir fight him off and he explains he was the apprentice elder but two nights earlier failed to fight off the monster and the elder picking O'Brien is his way of punishing him. O'Brien clearly wants him to take the job but when a villager sees the robe being put on the apprentice he freaks out. On the station Jake and Nog stop by Varis' quarters but she is upset by the negotiations not going well. They want her to give up a bunch of land but she doesn't want to do it and seem weak. Nog tells her she needs to find something she wants so that even in giving something up she will profit and that really cheers her up. To celebrate Nog does a much dumber thing and breaks into Odo's office and takes his bucket. He pretends to spill Odo on Jake but instead just dumps oatmeal on him. All three of them are laughing about it until Odo comes in.
On Bajor things are looking grim. O'Brien heads up the hill to lead them against the monster but it isn't working. The lighting starts striking but the glow cloud that defeated it last time isn't happening. At Julian's insistence the apprentice rushes forward and leads the people and the glow cloud shows up and the day is saved. On DS9 Varis meets with Sisko. She tries to take the blame for the Odo incident but also admits one of the reasons she has been hanging out with Jake was to get a read on his father. She takes his advice and agrees to a trade deal that will benefit her people in exchange for giving up the land which prevents a war. Before going into the final conference she kisses Nog on the cheek.
Review: The A story in this episode feels like it would have been a fun story in just about any Trek series, but the B story is pure DS9. No other show has had bored teens looking for adventure and this series shows why that was a failing.
8 out of 10
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