Another episode about who the characters really are that only DS9 could have pulled off. The central characters of this story of romance, espionage, rebellion and betrayal are Garak and Quark and wow are they good together. While not exactly clearing up Garak's back story we at least get some firm information that he was once somebody in the military government and has not been exiled. We also learn that there is one thing Quark cares more about than profit and that is his love for Natima, a now rebellious professor from Cardassia.
The episode opens with a damaged Cardassian ship arriving requesting repairs. Their story is that they were damaged by asteroids. There are three Cardassian's on board, Professor Natima and her two students. As they walk down the Promenade Quark interrupts Odo questioning him about a cloaking device to rush out to greet Natima only to be slapped in the face. However before they can get off the promenade they are spotted by Garak and realize the jig is up. Natima and her students go directly to Sisko. He has just learned the damage to the ship wasn't from asteroids, it was Cardassian weapons fire and she freely admits that. She also tells him her students are dissident political leaders attempting to push the military out of power. He offers them quarters while O'Brien rushes to prepare their vessel.
Meanwhile Quark has stopped by Garak's shop and their conversation starts off quite veiled, but it becomes obvious Garak is trying to get Quark to stay out of it. Just how serious he is becomes obvious soon after as a Cardassian warship shows up at the station in attack posture. Garak arrives and ops and tells Sisko the two of them need to talk. Sisko refuses to turn the dissidents over but Garak isn't done. Quark talks to the two student leaders in his bar and at first they refuse to talk to him at Natima's instruction. However when he mentions he has a cloaking device and that he will give it them them if they can talk Natima into staying behind they are very interested. Quark shows up at Natima's quarters to complete the deal but she isn't willing to stay and even shoots him with a phaser. But then realizes she loves him, but still isn't willing to stay. It becomes a non-isssue when Odo arrives to arrest her.
Sisko and Odo show up at the holding cell and tell Natima and her students that the Bajoran government has agreed to hand them over to the Cardassians in exchange for some Bajoran prisoners. Sisko isn't happy and promises to keep fighting it but there doesn't seem to be much choice. In Garak's shop a new gul stops by. He offers to let Garak come back to Cardassia if he will kill Natima and the dissidents before they leave the station and Garak agrees. Quark heads to Odo's office to try and convince Odo to let them go and tries bargaining at first, but that doesn't work. Then begging but again no luck. Finally he gives up but Odo agrees anyway because justice. He lets the prisoners go and Quark escorts them to the airlock but just as they are about to board Garak shows up armed. He takes Quark's gun and there is a long discussion about whether it is right or not which is interrupted by the gul from earlier. He takes Garak's gun and is about to kill the dissidents when Garak kills him with Quark's gun. Natima has to say good bye but promises to return for him when there is a free, democratic Cardassia.
Review: A solid episode with lots from some of my favorite characters. Garak and Quark discussing the situation through the analogy of a dress is just amazing. Also we see Garak take his first turn towards maybe not being super evil.
7 out of 10
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