Ensign Melora Pazla, the first Elasian officer in Starfleet, arrives from the U.S.S. Yellowstone to do some research in the Gamma Quadrant. Coming from Elasia, whose low surface gravity allows Elasians to fly around, she must sit in a low gravity field actuator while aboard the Station.

Bashir and O'Brien have had to modify passageways in the Station to accomodate the officer, and Bashir helps her adjust to life aboard DS9. Bashir falls in love Melora, and she in turn is drawn to the doctor. Meanwhile, Quark's former partner, Fallit Kot, who he once sold out to the Romulans in order to save his own skin, has finally been released by his captors and seeks revenge against Quark. Melora happens to be at the scene when Kot is about to muder Quark. She is shot by a phaser set on kill, but survives due to the new neurostimulator treatment the Doctor had been implementing. Melora recovers to overpower Quark's assasin.

Bashir is thrilled that his therapy is working to help Melora adapt to Earth's gravitation, and had hopes for a long-term relationship, but Melora ultimately decides she would rather stay in a chair than lose her identity as an Elasian.

Credits:Teleplay by Evan Carlos Somers and Steven Baum and Michael Piller & James Crocker Story by Evan Carlos Somers Directed by Winrich Kolbe Music by Dennis McCarthy

Guest stars: Daphne Ashbrook (Melora), Peter Crombie (Fallit Kot), Don Stark (Ashrock), Ron Taylor (Klingon Chef)