A plasma storm forces evacuation of most personnel from Deep Space Nine. At a time when the station is most vulnerable, renegades infiltrate the nearly abandoned station after convincing Quark with some bribes, who to his credit did not know the intentions of the intruders. The leader is Verad, a Trill who was rejected as a host for a symbiont by the symbiosis evaluation board. The proper method being closed to him, Verad comes aboard intending to join with one forcefully, and plans to steal Dax from Jadzia. The crew remaining is held hostage and Bashir is forced to transfer Dax from Jadzia to Verad. Bashir struggles to keep Jadzia alive long enough to restore Dax to her while Sisko appeals to Dax's better nature in Verad, hoping to right what is wrong.

Credits:Teleplay by John Whelpley and Robert Hewitt Wolfe Story by John Whelpley Directed by Les Landau Music by Dennis McCarthy

Guest stars: John Glover (Verad), Megan Gallagher (Mareel), Tim Russ (T'Kar), Steve Rankin (Yeto)