( heartbeat-like thumping )
( thumping continues )
( static hissing )
Nerys?
Vedek Bareil.
Wanna play?
Help me.
Please.
( sighs )
All right.
Who is it?
It's Prylar Bek.
No, it's not.
It's you.
Captioning sponsored by PARAMOUNT PICTURES
KIRA: Good morning.
( chuckling )
I thought you'd sleep till noon.
Shh... you're supposed to be relaxing.
Oh, I'm very relaxed.
Good.
How are you feeling this morning?
Oh, miserable.
I wish you could stay here longer.
All right, I will.
I'll stay a few more days.
You know you can't do that.
Why not?
Because in two days
you are going to be elected kai.
Hmm?
Oh, that!
You know, there's no guarantee
I'm going to win.
Of course, you're going to win.
The people need you.
Are you...
going to vote for me?
Ho, ho!
Is that why you spent the last three days here, huh?
To get my vote?
Well, I know you don't agree
with many of my views
so I thought a personal appearance
might sway your opinion.
I was going to vote for Vedek Tolena.
But I might be persuaded to change my mind.
Good.
Because your vote
is the only one that matters to me.
I may not always agree
with your interpretations of the prophecies
but I think you will make a wonderful kai.
Besides, everyone knows
that you were Kai Opaka's personal choice to succeed her.
I could never replace Opaka.
Bajor wouldn't have survived the occupation without her.
Once you become kai
we'll never have these times together.
Listen to me.
No matter how busy I become
I will always have time for you.
It won't be easy.
I didn't say it would be.
I'm not going to lose you, Nerys.
I promise you that.
Remember now, honor the Prophets
and they will always love you.
As I understand the sacred texts
the Prophets' love is unconditional.
They ask nothing in return.
Thank you, Vedek Bareil
for reminding us
how the sacred text can be so easily misinterpreted.
with an opposing viewpoint, Vedek Winn.
Somehow you never fail to do that.
I had no idea you were on the station
but perhaps I shouldn't be so surprised.
Oh, I wouldn't even try to surprise you.
I understand you've been keeping a close eye
on my activities these last few weeks.
The eyes of all of Bajor are focused on you, Bareil.
Why should I be any different?
After all, the common wisdom
is that you are destined to be the next kai.
Was that a concession speech?
Hardly.
The choosing is still two days away.
The Prophets may yet surprise us all.
Remember that, Bareil.
I would hate for you
to start celebrating prematurely.
What brings you to the station, Vedek Winn?
My child, if I thought the Prophets
wanted you to know the purpose of my visit
I would have informed you of it in advance.
Well, now that I know you're here, I'll be sure
to inform Constable Odo to increase station security.
That won't be necessary.
I feel quite safe here.
No, it wasn't your safety that concerned me.
Just what are you trying to infer, child?
I'm sure Major Kira meant
no disrespect.
No, not at all.
I just want to avoid the violence
that occurred during your last visit.
My child, I know you still hold me responsible
for the deplorable attempt on Vedek Bareil's life
but I can only pray that some day
you will be cured of this unfortunate misconception.
Well, that's one prayer that will never be answered.
What a pity, for both of us.
Ooh!
Oh! Excuse me.
Uh, excuse me.
Don't I know you?
You must be mistaken.
No, no, I've seen you before.
You're... Kubus, that's it.
Kubus Oak.
You worked for the Cardassians.
Out of my way!
Now, you wait a minute!
You're not going anywhere.
I know who you are, and I know what you did!
You're a traitor!
This is Kubus Oak!
He's a traitor!
He worked
for the Cardassians!
What's going on here?
See for yourself.
Secretary Kubus.
Last I heard, you were living on Cardassia.
I decided it was time to come home.
Welcome back.
You're under arrest.
( mutters of approval )
( heartbeat-like thumping )
The Prophets have spoken.
All blessings on the new Kai.
ALL: Blessings on the Kai.
May the Prophets guide you.
Kai Opaka.
Be at peace, my child.
You must be strong, now more than ever.
Why did you leave us?
All is as the Prophets will it to be
as you will learn.
Follow me.
Be careful, Bareil.
The path she walks is a narrow one.
See that you don't stumble.
Heed her words.
But I don't deserve to walk in your path.
You must.
It is your destiny.
Prylar Bek?
Accept this gift from the Prophets.
You must not refuse their offering.
Take it, my child.
Its venom will make you stronger.
( hissing )
There was quite a mob gathering
out there.
I had to call in extra security
to disperse it.
I never doubted your ability to handle the situation, Odo.
You always were good at your job.
I could say the same for you, Secretary Kubus...
special liaison between the Cardassian occupation forces
and their pawns in the Bajoran government.
I served the only recognized government
on Bajor during the occupation.
Recognized by the Cardassians.
If it wasn't for us, the situation on Bajor
would have been ten times worse than it was.
Maybe, but I don't see how you could know that
seeing that you spent nearly all your time here on the station.
I remember Gul Dukat telling me once
that you were his favorite Bajoran.
Really? Well, I never could stand that arrogant tyrant!
You hid your feelings well.
It kept me alive.
Bajor is my home.
I never should have left it.
KIRA: But you did...
and you're going to have to live with that decision.
This is Major Kira
the highest-ranking Bajoran on the station.
Then I suppose you're the one I should be talking to.
Make it brief.
I don't enjoy talking to collaborators.
I'm not asking you to like me.
I'm simply requesting that I be allowed to return home.
Your request is denied.
I doubt if you have
the authority to make that decision.
The decision has already been made.
In the Ilvian Proclamation
every Bajoran who was a member
of the Cardassian occupational government
was sentenced to exile.
Your name was number four on that list.
Personally, I think you all got off too easy.
Major...
I'm an old man.
I don't have many years left.
What's the harm of letting me live them out on Bajor?
When the Cardassians needed
a new group of Bajorans to work in the mines
who approved those work orders?
The Bajoran government.
Whose signature was on those authorization forms?
Mine.
And you had to know
that those authorizations were death sentences.
Did you ever once refuse to sign them?
No.
And that's why you can never be allowed
to set foot on Bajor again.
Because, if you do, it would dishonor
the memory of every person you sentenced to death.
Vedek Winn.
What can I do for you?
Emissary...
it has recently come to my attention
that there are some on Bajor who believe
that my relationship with you is not all it should be.
Really?
Personally, I find
such a perception, however inaccurate
to be most distressing.
I suppose the question
we have to ask ourselves
is whether or not that perception is inaccurate.
Don't tell me that you yourself, Emissary
believe that you and I are...
how shall I put it?
Enemies?
At odds.
Well...
let's see.
How could I have come to such a conclusion?
Maybe it has something to do with the fact
that the last time you were here at this station
you claimed that I was a danger to Bajor;
that I was here to destroy your people.
What I was really saying—
what I have always maintained—
is that you, Emissary, were sent here by the Prophets
to challenge our long-held beliefs.
Am I correct in assuming that you no longer consider
the Federation to be an enemy to Bajor?
Emissary, I admit
I had some concerns
about Bajor's application for Federation membership
but now, I see that the Federation's
presence here is essential
for our long-term security and growth.
Then, you support the notion of Bajor joining the Federation?
If that is the will of the Prophets
I would never oppose it.
I'm glad you said that.
And I would be grateful
if you would tell it to the Bajoran people.
Nothing could make me happier
than to please you, Emissary.
Perhaps you and I could address
the Vedek Assembly together
so everyone can celebrate our new friendship.
An excellent idea.
Perhaps sometime next week.
Why wait, Emissary?
I'm sure the Assembly would grant us an immediate audience.
I'm sure they would.
Unfortunately, if we were to appear together
in public before the choosing, it might be misconstrued
as an endorsement of your bid to become the kai.
Oh, I doubt that, Emissary.
It's common knowledge that you support Vedek Bareil
although I have been pleasantly surprised that you haven't made
any public statement to that effect.
The election of the kai
is strictly an internal affair to Bajor.
As a Federation officer, I would never interfere.
What an enlightened philosophy.
So then, it's agreed.
I'll be seeing you sometime next week.
I look forward to it.
Odo to Major Kira.
This is Kira.
Sorry to disturb you, Major
but I thought you should know
that Secretary Kubus about to leave for Bajor.
How can that be?
Vedek Winn has granted him sanctuary.
I'll be right there.
Kira to Ops.
DAX: Go ahead.
Dax, has Winn's ship left the station?
Not yet.
I was about to clear them for departure.
Well, keep those docking clamps locked on.
I don't want that ship going anywhere until I say so.
Understood.
Tell me what happened.
Kubus requested a private meeting
with Vedek Winn.
They talked for ten minutes
after which, Winn asked for the use of my computer.
She accessed some information from the library system.
And?
And then she called the provisional government
and informed them she was granting Kubus sanctuary.
Do you know what she looked up?
I'm trying to find that out right now.
Ah...
That's Prylar Bek.
Now, why would Winn be interested
in another Bajoran collaborator?
I'm not sure.
But Bek and Kubus did know each other.
Bek was the liaison
between the Cardassians and the Vedek Assembly
at the same time that Kubus was secretary
to the occupational government.
They spent a lot of time together on the station.
Hold on a minute.
See if Winn accessed any information
about the Kendra Valley massacre.
You're right, she did.
Do you think Kubus told her
something new about the massacre?
What else is there to know?
Kai Opaka's son and 42 other Bajoran freedom fighters
were ambushed and killed, because Bek gave the Cardassians
the location of their encampment.
He made a full confession in his suicide note.
Well, you were here then.
You must have read it.
( door opens )
Major Kira, may I speak to you, please?
Of course.
I was told you were the one
who stopped my ship from leaving.
Yes, I did.
You know, you're the last person I would expect
to help a collaborator like Kubus
unless, of course, he has something you need.
My needs are no concern of yours, child.
Now, I suggest
you allow my ship to depart immediately.
Oh, you're free to leave
anytime you like.
Unfortunately
in light of public feelings about Kubus
I can't allow any ship with him on board
to leave the station until it's undergone
a thorough security check.
To prevent sabotage.
And that includes
a molecular scan for nanotechnology.
And how long would such a scan take?
Oh, I'm no expert
but I'm sure it could take days... even weeks.
Very well.
It seems the Prophets have decided
you will have a part in this, after all.
In exchange for sanctuary, Kubus has agreed to provide
the name of the man responsible for the massacre
at Kendra Valley.
Prylar Bek was responsible for the massacre.
Everyone knows that.
Bek was a pawn, an intermediary.
He killed himself
to prevent the discovery of the real traitor.
The real traitor?
Bek's superior—
the person who ordered him to reveal
the location of the rebel base to the Cardassians—
the man who was truly responsible for the massacre—
Vedek Bareil.
Do you really think I'm going to let you get away with this?
You know, no one's going to believe
the word of a convicted traitor like Kubus.
I never said I believed him.
I'm only trying to protect the spiritual life of Bajor.
Don't flatter yourself.
You're trying to grab power, nothing more.
My child, do you want to risk the consequences
of having a collaborator as the next kai?
He is not a collaborator.
That's yet to be determined.
But if he is chosen
and turns out to be guilty
the ramifications for Bajor would be catastrophic.
It would shatter faith in the authority of the kai
and without a strong kai, Bajor cannot survive.
You can't condemn Bareil without proof.
I don't intend to.
I was planning to conduct a quiet investigation
when I return to Bajor
but I didn't know whom to trust
with such a delicate assignment
until now.
You want me to do your dirty work for you.
All I care about is the truth
and I believe the Prophets have chosen you
to help me find it.
I'll find out the truth. Don't worry about that.
But I want you to keep Kubus' accusations
from becoming public
until I have a chance to prove Bareil's innocence.
You have my word.
Let the Prophets be my witness.
But if you discover proof that he's guilty...
Whatever I find out, I will share with you.
Then it's decided.
Oh, and, child, one last thing.
I know you're under a terrible strain
but if you're wise
you will never speak to me with such disrespect again.
Were you aware at the time
that Prylar Bek was a collaborator?
He wasn't a collaborator.
He was only a messenger
between the Cardassians and the Vedek Assembly.
At the time, I could, I could see
in the weeks prior to the massacre
that something was bothering him.
He was tense and nervous
and he was in constant communication
with the Vedek Assembly.
Do you know who?
Not at the time
but the day after the incident
Vedek Bareil came to visit him at the station.
Did you see them together?
I saw Bareil
enter Bek's quarters
which were in the same section as mine.
He was in there for a couple of hours
and at times
I could hear shouting through the bulkhead.
WINN: Did you hear what they were saying?
No, but I saw Bareil when he left the station.
He was upset.
In the morning
Bek hanged himself.
This...
is all the evidence you have?
Well, isn't that enough?
Bek was obviously
working with Bareil
and when he realized the enormity of what he'd done
he must have wanted to confess.
Bareil wouldn't allow it
so Bek took the only way out he had.
That's a fascinating story, but it is pure conjecture.
There have to be a dozen explanations
for why Bareil came
to see Bek.
And it's up to you
to find out which of these explanations is true.
What exactly is it you're asking me, Nerys?
( sighs )
I guess I'm asking whether or not
you came to the station to see Bek that day.
I visited Bek, yes.
That hardly makes me a collaborator.
I know that.
It's Vedek Winn who needs convincing.
Oh, poor Winn.
Her desire to become kai has clouded her judgment.
I wouldn't take her so lightly, if I were you.
She is determined to ruin you.
Believe me when I tell you
there's no reason to worry.
I had nothing to do with the massacre
and Winn will never be able to prove otherwise.
All right.
But... I still need to know why you came to the station.
Bek was a deeply troubled man seeking spiritual guidance.
His guilt at betraying the Kendra Valley base
was overwhelming.
He called me for help.
I came as soon as I could.
I only wish I could have done more for him.
What did he tell you about the massacre?
Nerys, you must understand
he was a monk speaking in confidence to his Vedek.
I cannot betray that trust.
I understand.
Is there anything else you think I should know about Bek
about the massacre?
Nothing that will satisfy Winn.
All right.
I'll keep looking
but one way or another
I am going to prove to Winn that you are innocent.
Thank you, Nerys.
Ha, just as I thought.
When the Cardassians left
they purged all records of communication
between the station and Bajor.
Then we'll just have to get the information
from the other end.
I'll establish a computer link
with the Bajoran Central Archives.
That way, I can access the files
of the Vedek Assembly.
Are you all right?
I'm fine.
You don't seem fine.
It's nothing.
Uh-huh.
If you say so.
He says he's not guilty.
I know he's not guilty.
But you're afraid he's guilty.
I love him, Odo.
Really?
Well, I, uh...
What?
I was just wondering
when you were going to figure that out.
You humanoids.
When it comes to emotional attachments
you never see the obvious.
Ah, I'm into the Vedek Assembly files.
Can you retrieve the communication files
between the station and the Assembly?
I'll need a time frame.
Uh, try the week leading up to the Kendra massacre.
That's odd.
What?
All the communications records between the Assembly members
and Bek for that week have been sealed.
Sealed? By who? It doesn't say.
It just indicates a security seal.
In the Assembly records?
Who has that kind of authority?
Only a Vedek.
QUARK: One, two, three
four, five
six, seven
eight, nine, ten.
Okay, okay.
Eleven...
Fine, 12, 13, 14.
( giggling )
And not a strip more.
I hate payday.
( clears throat )
Whatever she told you, I didn't do it.
Relax, Quark.
No one's accusing you of anything.
Eh, the day's still young.
Don't be so defensive.
I can't help it.
I'm developing a persecution complex.
KIRA: I'm sorry to hear that.
All right.
What's going on?
You want something from me, don't you?
How did you guess?
It's simple.
We've been here more than a minute
and we haven't insulted him, threatened him
or arrested him.
Exactly. So, what is it?
And how much trouble is it going to cause me?
No trouble at all.
We just need you to bypass a security seal.
Isn't that illegal?
Oh, spare us.
Quark, this is important.
We need access to certain communication files
in the Vedek Assembly records.
Perfect— not only is it illegal, it's sacrilegious.
I'm sure the Prophets won't mind just this once.
Okay, but I'm going to have to have
written authorization from you, countersigned by Commander...
Just do it, Quark!
Sure, when things go wrong, I take the fall!
Nothing is going to go wrong!
That's what you think!
But I happen to be a firm believer
In Rule of Acquisition Number 285:
"No good deed ever goes unpunished."
You can access the Vedek Assembly records
through the Bajoran Central Archives.
Of course, I can
if I wanted to barge in like some rank amateur.
This is going to take a little while.
I'll let you know when I'm done.
It happened right about here.
Bek hanged himself in front of dozens of witnesses.
Caused quite a stir.
At least he had the decency
to feel guilty about what he'd done.
Strange.
Bek and I were passing acquaintances
here on the station.
From what little I knew about him
I always thought he was a good man.
A good man does not betray his own people.
The one thing I've learned about humanoids
is that in extreme situations
even the best of you are capable of doing terrible things.
QUARK: Hey.
Hey, Odo.
The good news is
I broke through the security seal.
The bad news is, the file is empty.
All the messages have been erased.
They're erased, all right.
Is there anything you can do about it?
I could scan the empty file for traces
of recurring data fragments.
There's always a faint residue
of the original data, if you know where to look.
But to unscramble those fragments
so they make a coherent pattern
could take a while.
So, what you're telling me is
we're never going to retrieve that information.
Well, not in time to do you any good.
But hold on a second.
Let me see something.
I may not be able to get you the data
but I might be able to find out who erased it.
Their retinal scan would have been noted
by the authorization subroutine when they logged on.
But wouldn't the scans
have been erased, too?
Sure, but even a fragment of the retinal scan
might be enough to identify the user.
Here. I'll run a sweep of the authorization subroutine
see if we can find out anything.
Okay.
These are mathematical representations
of a fragment of the retinal scan.
We can use these to reassemble a portion of the original image.
Not bad.
Now we'll cross-reference this
with the Assembly's main archive
see if we can find out who it is.
I think we've got something.
ALL: Blessings on Kai Bareil.
MAN: You.
I trusted you.
I needed you.
And you let me die.
You will be rewarded.
Accept this gift from the Prophets.
( grunting )
( dagger scraping )
May the Prophets comfort you, my child.
May they comfort us all.
( knocking )
Come in.
Nerys.
Did you really believe I wouldn't learn the truth?
The truth is not always easy to recognize.
I recognize it now
and I don't like what I see.
Why did you do it?
Why did you erase
those transmission records?
Don't make me do this.
I don't have any choice.
Winn is waiting to hear from me.
Do you really want me to tell her
that you ordered Bek
to give the Cardassians
the location of that resistance base?
That you are responsible
for the deaths of those 43 people?
That you killed Kai Opaka's son?
The Cardassians were determined
to eliminate all resistance in the Kendra Valley.
If someone hadn't told them the location of that base
they would have wiped out every village in the area.
That would have meant the death of 1,200 innocent Bajorans.
I could not allow that.
I believed in you...
I defended you
and Winn was right all along.
And now she's going to destroy you.
No.
I've destroyed myself.
What's our status?
Everything is under control.
You received a subspace transmission
from Vedek Winn.
She seemed anxious to talk to you.
Open a channel to the Vedek Assembly.
Put it on monitor seven.
I might as well get this over with.
I was wondering when you'd contact me, child.
I was waiting to complete my investigation.
I must congratulate you
on a job well done.
I knew the Prophets were right in picking you to assist me.
You sound like you already know what I'm going to tell you.
Oh, but I do.
Bareil has just made a surprise announcement
to the Vedek Assembly.
He's withdrawn himself from the choosing.
He no longer wishes to be the next kai.
I know this is painful for you, child
but you've done a great service for all of Bajor.
Whoever is chosen tomorrow as the new kai
will owe you a debt of gratitude.
May the Prophets guide you.
( sighs )
Are you all right?
It doesn't make sense.
Vedek Bareil is an honorable man.
He wouldn't hide from the consequences
of his actions by covering them up.
I'm missing something.
Chief.
I need to get back
into the Vedek Assembly archives.
Yes, sir.
Kai Winn.
Your pagh is strong, my child.
Be at peace.
In time, you will learn I am not your enemy.
I hope that's true.
I know you do.
Oh, and tell Commander Sisko
I must postpone appearing with him before the Assembly.
At least for now.
( indistinct conversation )
Nerys?
I didn't expect to see you here.
You forgot to erase the transit files.
I'm not sure I understand what you mean.
Oh, you did a wonderful job erasing the transmission reports
but you forgot all about the transit files
the files that prove you weren't a collaborator.
It's over.
Let it rest.
The people have chosen Winn.
Only because you withdrew and you didn't have to.
The transit reports clearly show
you were on a personal retreat
at the Dakeen Monastery during the week
leading up to the massacre.
I checked the Dakeen transmission reports.
You had contact with no one
except one transmission after the massacre
ordering you back to the Vedek Assembly.
That's enough.
No, it is not enough.
There is no way you ordered Bek
to reveal the location of the Kendra Valley encampment.
You were covering up for someone else.
Someone who meant more to you than me.
More to you even than becoming kai.
Please, Nerys, don't.
Why not?
It's the truth, isn't it?
Who else meant that much to you?
It had to be Kai Opaka.
Opaka knew where
the resistance cell was located...
because her son was a member.
She was the collaborator, wasn't she?
She sacrificed her own son to save 1,000 people.
I had to protect her.
So...
instead of you, we have Winn to lead us.
It is the will of the Prophets.
The question is...
where will she lead us?
Down paths she cannot possibly imagine.
She's going to need our help along the way
even if she doesn't realize it yet.
What happens to us?
What do you want to happen?
( sighs )
Let's go pay our respects to the new Kai.
Captioning sponsored by PARAMOUNT PICTURES
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org