Stardate not given: Odo has arrived on his home world, greeted
by his fellow shapeshifters. He at last learns of his
origins - he, along with hundreds of other
newly-formed shapeshifters, were dispelled into the
far reaches of space and genetically programmed to
return home with their knowledge later; Odo is the
first to make it back. But his homecoming is not
without its complications - his fellow shapeshifters
consider him tainted by the many years he has spent
in the comapny of "solids," and he has much
to learn about his heritage. In the meantime, Sisko and Bashir, having escaped the Defiant in a shuttle, are picked up by Dax and O'Brien, who return them to DS9. Negotiations are now apparently
underway between the Dominion and the Federation, but
some of the proposed treaty's stipulations have
sinister undercurrents; the Romulans are being
excluded from the talks, though the Cardassians,
Ferengi and Klingons are being welcomed, and it is
revealed to Sisko that the station - and Bajor - are
being handed over to the Dominion. As the Jem'Hadar
being walking over the station's inhabitants, Sisko
and his crew - and unlikely ally Garak - take up arms
to try to take DS9 back from its new owners.
Meanwhile, on the planet of the shapeshifters and
unknown to all, the Founders lie in wait, conducting
a terrifying experiment.
