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The Alternate (DS9 episode)
Encyclopedia
"The Alternate" is 32nd episode
of the science fiction
television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
.
scientist who studied Odo when he was first discovered, arrives on Deep Space Nine
and tells Odo that he has picked up DNA
signatures similar to Odo's on a planet in the Gamma Quadrant. Mora, Odo, Dax
, and Mora's assistant travel to the Gamma Quadrant and during the trip Mora tells embarrassing stories about Odo as many fathers would. Odo is offended.
Upon reaching the planet, the four of them beam to the surface, where they discover a tiny life form that may be a distant relative of Odo. Mora calls it "Odo Junior". Before they can return to the runabout, however, an earthquake
releases volcanic gas
es into the air. The other three pass out, but Odo, unaffected because he does not have a respiratory system
, beams them back to the runabout.
The life form is brought to the science lab on DS9, where O'Brien
tries to identify it, with little success. However, it appears to be growing and he puts it in a containment field. That night, Kira
contacts Sisko
and informs him someone has broken into the science lab. Further investigation reveals that the life form appears to have broken out of its container and escaped through an air vent. O'Brien discovers that there was a power interruption and a temperature increase at the time of the incident. While searching a conduit, he hears a strange sound, and a minute later he discovers a puddle of goo. It is the life form's remains.
Bashir
is studying the dead life form in the Infirmary that night when he is attacked by a strange creature. He fends it off and later discovers that the same power interruption and temperature rise occurred during the attack as when the life form broke out of its container. Dax discovers the DNA of the life form and the creature are different, but Mora decides to search for commonalities between the two. Dax tells him the computer will finish analyzing the DNA in a few hours, but Mora recognizes it and tells Odo that the traces left by the creature match his DNA.
Mora points out that the attacks occurred approximately sixteen hours apart, at times when Odo is due to revert to his gelatinous form to regenerate. Odo should have been in his pail during the attacks. They realize the gas on the planet in the Gamma Quadrant might have affected Odo somehow, turning him into some sort of creature during his regeneration period. Panicking, Odo begins to head for the Infirmary, but Mora claims Bashir will not understand and will treat Odo like a monster. He presses Odo to come back to Bajor with him, and as he does so, the increasingly agitated Odo again transforms into the creature.
Security picks up a power drain in Odo's office, but when they arrive to investigate they find nothing amiss. Having seen Odo's violent reaction to him, Mora explains to Sisko and Kira that he is what triggers the metamorphosis
. The first time, he explains, the creature was trying to rescue the organism Mora had contained in the science lab; the second time, it appeared in the Infirmary, where Mora was a patient; and the third time, Odo and Mora were in the middle of a heated debate. He helps the crew lure the creature to the Promenade, where it is contained in a force field and reverts to normal. Once the effects of the gas are removed, Mora apologizes to Odo for causing him pain, and the two finally become close.
Episode
An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
of the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
.
Overview
Odo's former teacher believes he has found a life form similar to Odo in the Gamma Quadrant.Plot
Dr. Mora Pol, the BajoranBajoran
In the Star Trek science-fiction franchise, the Bajorans are a humanoid extraterrestrial species native to the planet Bajor. They were first introduced in the 1991 episode "Ensign Ro" of Star Trek: The Next Generation and subsequently also featured in episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and...
scientist who studied Odo when he was first discovered, arrives on Deep Space Nine
Deep Space Nine (space station)
Deep Space Nine is a fictitious space station, and is the eponymous primary setting of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It serves as a base for the exploration of the Gamma Quadrant via the Bajoran wormhole, and is a hub of trade and travel for the sector's denizens...
and tells Odo that he has picked up DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
signatures similar to Odo's on a planet in the Gamma Quadrant. Mora, Odo, Dax
Jadzia Dax
Jadzia Dax , played by Terry Farrell, was a main character during the first six seasons of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine....
, and Mora's assistant travel to the Gamma Quadrant and during the trip Mora tells embarrassing stories about Odo as many fathers would. Odo is offended.
Upon reaching the planet, the four of them beam to the surface, where they discover a tiny life form that may be a distant relative of Odo. Mora calls it "Odo Junior". Before they can return to the runabout, however, an earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
releases volcanic gas
Volcanic gas
|250px|thumb|right|Image of the [[rhyolitic]] [[lava dome]] of [[Chaitén Volcano]] during its 2008-2010 eruption.Volcanic gases include a variety of substances given off by active volcanoes...
es into the air. The other three pass out, but Odo, unaffected because he does not have a respiratory system
Respiratory system
The respiratory system is the anatomical system of an organism that introduces respiratory gases to the interior and performs gas exchange. In humans and other mammals, the anatomical features of the respiratory system include airways, lungs, and the respiratory muscles...
, beams them back to the runabout.
The life form is brought to the science lab on DS9, where O'Brien
Miles O'Brien (Star Trek)
Miles Edward O'Brien, played by Colm Meaney, is Chief of Operations in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Before DS9, he appeared as a recurring transporter chief in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
tries to identify it, with little success. However, it appears to be growing and he puts it in a containment field. That night, Kira
Kira Nerys
Kira Nerys , played by Nana Visitor, is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Backstory:Per Bajoran custom, her family name, Kira, precedes her given name, Nerys. She has two brothers , and her parents' names are Kira Taban and Kira Meru...
contacts Sisko
Benjamin Sisko
Benjamin Lafayette Sisko, played by Avery Brooks, is the main character of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Early life and career:...
and informs him someone has broken into the science lab. Further investigation reveals that the life form appears to have broken out of its container and escaped through an air vent. O'Brien discovers that there was a power interruption and a temperature increase at the time of the incident. While searching a conduit, he hears a strange sound, and a minute later he discovers a puddle of goo. It is the life form's remains.
Bashir
Julian Bashir
Lieutenant Julian Subatoi Bashir, M.D., played by Alexander Siddig, is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Bashir is the chief medical officer of space station Deep Space Nine and the USS Defiant.-Overview:...
is studying the dead life form in the Infirmary that night when he is attacked by a strange creature. He fends it off and later discovers that the same power interruption and temperature rise occurred during the attack as when the life form broke out of its container. Dax discovers the DNA of the life form and the creature are different, but Mora decides to search for commonalities between the two. Dax tells him the computer will finish analyzing the DNA in a few hours, but Mora recognizes it and tells Odo that the traces left by the creature match his DNA.
Mora points out that the attacks occurred approximately sixteen hours apart, at times when Odo is due to revert to his gelatinous form to regenerate. Odo should have been in his pail during the attacks. They realize the gas on the planet in the Gamma Quadrant might have affected Odo somehow, turning him into some sort of creature during his regeneration period. Panicking, Odo begins to head for the Infirmary, but Mora claims Bashir will not understand and will treat Odo like a monster. He presses Odo to come back to Bajor with him, and as he does so, the increasingly agitated Odo again transforms into the creature.
Security picks up a power drain in Odo's office, but when they arrive to investigate they find nothing amiss. Having seen Odo's violent reaction to him, Mora explains to Sisko and Kira that he is what triggers the metamorphosis
Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops after birth or hatching, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the animal's body structure through cell growth and differentiation...
. The first time, he explains, the creature was trying to rescue the organism Mora had contained in the science lab; the second time, it appeared in the Infirmary, where Mora was a patient; and the third time, Odo and Mora were in the middle of a heated debate. He helps the crew lure the creature to the Promenade, where it is contained in a force field and reverts to normal. Once the effects of the gas are removed, Mora apologizes to Odo for causing him pain, and the two finally become close.
Arc significance
- Although mentioned in "The ForsakenThe Forsaken (DS9 episode)"The Forsaken" is the 17th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Overview:Dr. Bashir is assigned "babysitting" duty for four visiting ambassadors, O'Brien deals with an alien computer program downloaded from a probe, and Odo copes with a deeply infatuated...
", this is the first appearance of Dr. Mora, who studied Odo in a laboratory during the occupation. Odo finally begins to come to terms with Mora's treatment of him during that time.