morn, there's nothing more invigorating than breakfast in a bar. where else can you get raw slug liver first thing in the morning? mmm, mmm. what's this? what do you mean, "what's this?" i didn't order it. of course you didn't order it. you don't need to order it. you have it after work every morning. well, i'm not having it this morning. i'd like... two eggs over easy, three strips of bacon and a side of corned beef hash. what kind of breakfast is that? it's chief o'brien's breakfast of choice.

bacon... corned beef hash. what's next, rom? orange juice and coffee? that might be nice. ( sighing ) i don't understand. you gave up a perfectly good job with me to work on the station's waste extraction system? a good waste extraction system is important. imagine where we'd be without one. of course it's important t my point is you're not getting the choice assignments. o'brien's got you on the night shift doing all the work nobody else wants to do. i like my work. you like standing all night long knee-deep in waste fixing some broken flow regulator when you could be here

i have a good job. i'm proud of the work i do and i know that one day chief o'brien will recognize my efforts and reward me with a position of respect and responsibility, and why? because that's just the way things are in engineering. ( plate clatters ) i'm sorry i brought it up. they were fine last night. they don't look so fine now. i can't understand it. i followed keiko's instructions to the letter. they were dry as a bone when i came by yesterday. i gave them water. i don't think it was enough. you watered them? these are idran hybrids. too much water rots their roots. oh. ( door opening ) mommy's going to be mad. i can't believe it.

she'll understand, won't she? after all, they're just plants. they're not just plants. these are her bonsai trees. she's cared for them, and nurtured them and carefully sculpted their growth for months... years. you're in trouble. listen, molly, i think you and i should both go to the airlock and welcome mommy back and then after we've hugged and kissed not me. well, don't look at me. well, you killed her plants. we killed them. you're overreacting. keiko will forgive you. it's your birthday today, isn't it? so far, it's one i'd like to forget. well, she's been away on bajor. she's missed you. bring her a gift. what kind of chocolates does she like? tellurian mint truffles but i still think you should be with me.

. just say you're sorry, and that you take full responsibility. you'll be fine. besides, i, uh... have to be in surgery... operating. on who? i'll find someone. it was julian. he over-watered them. it's not his fault. you know how he is. sometimes he doesn't even know what he's doing. i'm sorry, sweetheart. we'll buy some new ones. forget it, miles. they're just plants. exactly. it's not as if something happened to molly or the baby. right, right. i mean, everybody's fine. no problems. good. what about kira? is she back yet?

traveling around dahkur province. i thought you were going to visit them. i didn't get a chance. so, how are the fire caves? fine. and now it's time for me to tell you some news. i'm not keiko. no? who are you? listen carefully, miles. i have taken possession of your wife's body. i will hold it hostage until you do everything i tell you to accurately, and without question. everything? if you don't do precisely what i ask i'll kill your wife. are you all right? maybe there's been an outbreak of rudellian brain fever on bajor. we should go... i'm going to have to give you a demonstration of my sincerity. ( groaning and choking )

keiko! no! no, miles. you're not telling anyone. if you do, i'll stop her heart forever. [captioning sponsored by the u.s. department of education

if y let me speak to her. she can hear whatever you have to say. not good enough. i want to talk to her. i want her to talk to me. you're in no position to bargain, miles.

and every memory every passionate emotion-- gone forever. you really shouldn't let me eat all of these by myself, miles. i'm not hungry. tell me what you want me to do so we can get this over with. very well. but let me make one thing clear: i will not to anything to jeopardize this station or the people on it. don't worry, miles. all i want you to do is reconfigure some of the communications and sensor relays on the station. why? i can't tell you. you'll have to be patient. the communications and sensor relays are distributed throughout the entire station. you know your wife well, miles but she knows you even better. i know you're just playing for time until you can get to your friends-- julian, dax, captain sisko. they'll want to help you.

at least until someone figures out a way to catch me in some sort of stasis field or some other clever device you're already dreaming up. and you know what? it might work. you might be able to stop me but i promise you one thing: if you do, keiko will die. all i need is a split second to cause a massive brain hemorrhage, and... she's gone. i know this is a difficult adjustment for you to make but we don't have a lot of time. what do you want me to do? keiko: how long is this going to take? in order to keep the polarity shift invisible to security checks i'm going to have to tap into the optronic integrator on level five. you're the engineer. what is it, miles? what do you want to ask me?

you're about to ask a question. it's something only a wife would notice. why keiko? why take control of her? why not me? i'm the one who can do the work. it'd be more efficient. ( door chimes ) come in. i hope i'm not interrupting anything. yes, you are. we're busy. miles, don't be so rude. aw, bajoran spiny basil-- how thoughtful. it's the least i could do after... you. you are coming to the party tonight, aren't you? i'll be here. i guess it's not a surprise anymore? oh, i can't believe i did that. i arranged a birthday dinner for you tonight but i wanted it to be a surprise. well, that's okay. i don't like surprises. well, i'd better be going. i left a patient on the operating table. i'll see you later.

a party? tonight? it is your birthday. we can't have all those people here. we have to cancel. and raise suspicions? it's better if the dinner goes on as planned. keiko went to a lot of trouble to arrange it for you. you better get back to work. you don't want to be late for your shift briefing and i've got a lot of cooking to do. ( sighing ) diagnostic and repair technician junior grade rom reporting. right. you're duarte's replacement. have a seat. i'm on the swing shift? for a day or two. what's the matter with duarte?

is this where duarte sits? so, what are you drinking? raktajino. great. is that what we drink on the swing shift? you can drink anything you want. i'll have a raktajino. it's not like this on the night shift. we don't drink raktajino. we really don't drink anything. g. change of plans today, people. i need to recalibrate the optronic integrator on level five. what is it, rom? i volunteer. i like phase-shifting reconfigurations. thank you, but i'll take care of that myself. the rest of you concentrate on the new inertial couplings. i want all 64 couplings done today. whatley, you and tekoa cover the docking ring.

any questions? good. since i'll be working alone today, i'm going to be very busy so i don't want to be interrupted by anything unimportant. is that clear? yes, sir. computer... locate keiko o'brien. keiko o'brien is in her quarters. computer, initiate full identity scan of keiko o'brien and note any inconsistencies with existing medical records. scan complete. no inconsistencies found. identity confirmed. how long would it take a level three stasis field to render keiko o'brien unconscious?

calculate the time if anesthetine gas were used. 1.4 seconds. what about a phaser set on stun? 0.9 seconds. damn. god help me. hi mom... just checking back to see how you're doing. i'll be alright. but it was a shock. i never saw it coming. i know. i can't believe they would let you go,

things are starting to sink in. i realize i've got decisions to make. like how to replace the life insurance i had through work. life insurance? i'd think you'd have other priorities. my priority is making sure you don't get stuck with a lot expenses if something happens to me. mom, there's no reason to think anything is going to happen. a couple of days ago, there was no reason to think i'd lose my job. no one likes to think about it, but you have to be ready for it. you're right. actually, i found a massmutual policy that's affordable let me show you... if you're age 50 to 75, there's an easy, affordable way to get life insurance. it's called guaranteed acceptance life insurance, from massmutual. it can help cover final expenses, such as funeral costs, medical bills, and other debts. rates can start at less than $10 a month, and you can choose how and when to make payments.

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jake: there you are, chief. i was beginning to think

have you seen keiko? she's in the bedroom helping molly try on different shoes-- a little fashion crisis. as usual, your wife handled everything. keiko has really outdone herself this time. take it from an old cook-- q'parol is a very time-consuming dish. ( door opens ) happy birthday, daddy! ? for... ? all: ? he's a jolly good fellow ? ? for he's a jolly good fellow ? ? for he's a jolly good fellow ? . ? happy birthday, sweetheart. make a wish. ( all applauding ) keiko: single malt irish whiskey. neat. molly wanted to wear her new purple shoes for you. doesn't she look pretty? very pretty. now all the food's set out on the table

( softly ): i want to talk to you. not right now, miles. we have guests. ( door opens ) sorry i'm late. dax, i was afraid you weren't coming. well, i heard you were serving q'parol and how could i miss it? what's the matter, chief? you look a little preoccupied. everything all right? well, there's, um... there's something i forgot to tell keiko. would you excuse me for a moment? of course. jake: did you see any pah-wraiths? pah-wraiths? odo was telling me the fire caves were haunted by some sort of weird supernatural beings. don't tell me you believe in wraiths. odo: well, i may have mentioned the bajoran legends about creatures living in the caves but i never said i believe in them. the only thing i saw were some beautiful and botanically fascinating fungi.

. i've always wanted to meet a pah-wraith. maybe you will. you never know. i've done what you asked. that's terrific, miles. we'll talk later. molly: can i have cake now? keiko: oh, in a bit, sweetie. ( groans ) miles, are you bleeding? no. it's... it's nothing. let me take a look. i said i'm all right! i'm sorry. i'm sorry, everybody. excuse me. get ahold of yourself. look, i've done everything you asked me to.

but recalibrating the optronic integrator was only a test. i had to be sure i could trust you. tomorrow the real work begins. now it's time to get back to our guests. we don't want to raise suspicions, do we? is molly asleep? yes. the q'parol was a huge success. look, no more tests, no more games. just tell me what you want done. we'll talk about it in the morning. it's late and you're working a double shift tomorrow. i want to talk about it now!

everything's going to be fine as long as you do what i ask. let's go to bed. i'll sleep on the couch. don't be childish. what if molly has one of her nightmares and comes running in? you'll sleep in bed with me just like you always do. i'll be there in a minute. don't be too late. you've got a busy day tomorrow. computer... give me the record of all bajoran legends concerning the pah-wraiths. there are 6,427 entries in the data banks that reference that subject. please specify.

sleep well. ( sighs ) another weakness of you corporeal life-forms-- your need for physical intimacy. it's especially irritating in your young. i have to get molly ready for school. i'll do it. you have a big day ahead of you.

e's staying there until this is over. do you really think that's wise? a little girl needs her mother. molly would be lost without hers. you stay away from her. miles, i'd never do anything to hurt your daughter... unless you force me to. these are your instructions. follow them precisely. in sisko. captain sisko is in security. miles?

hey, man you okay? yeah, just a little shook up. this car...for a second, i thought it could be sue's. color, same year even. i see what you mean. i've been thinking about it all morning... i mean, what if something did happen to one of us? what would our family do? don't you have life insurance? no-we keep putting it off. just not sure we can afford it. well, i make the same as you, and i have a policy- you know, just something to help cover expenses. is it legit? it's from massmutual.

will you-but you'll feel better knowing you are taking care of things. look, at lunch today, if you like, i can show you that policy online... yeah, i'd like that. if you're between age 50 and 75, there's an easy, affordable way to get life insurance. it's called guaranteed acceptance life insurance, from massmutual. it can help cover final expenses, such as funeral costs, medical bills and other debts. rates can start at less than $10 a month-and you n to make payments. policies range from $2,000 to $25,000, so you choose an amount that fits your budget. it provides a lifetime of coverage-your payments are guaranteed to never increase, and your coverage never decreases. and massmutual pays the money quickly to your beneficiaries. with guaranteed acceptance life insurance, there are never any medical exams or health questions-you cannot be turned down. and, it's from massmutual-a company

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you didn't see anyone near her before she fell? nobody, but i was passing underneath the walkway and i had my back toward her. weren't you supposed to be working on optronic circuitry on level five? i was going to the replimat for lunch. bashir: keiko will be all right. she's lucky she landed the way that she did. it distributed the impact. a fall from that height could easily have killed her or left her paralyzed. is she conscious? yes, but she's still in shock. she has a broken femur and a hairline fracture of the right parietal lobe. can i see her? in a couple of hours.

an i really need to see her now. doctor. all right... but only for a few minutes. don't excite her. keiko? you were going to tell them about me. how did you know? i know everything your wife knows and she knows you. i told you we have to trust one another. you violated that trust. now look where it's led us. i want my wife back, do you hear? i want her... then stop trying to fool me. how much more damage do you think this body can take? now... no more tricks.

agreed. good. you know what you need to do. you should get back to work. i'll have everything completed in 36 hours. you have 13 and not a minute more. i can't do it that fast. you're a very resourceful man. i'm sure you can find a way... for keiko's sake. you bloody... all right. she does need to rest, chief. tell molly i'll be home soon. tell her mommy's fine. don't scare her. miles... give me a kiss. i'm counting on you. she'll be back on her feet soon, i promise.

clock activated. chief. i heard about keiko's accident. how is she? julian said she'll be home soon. that is good. if there is anything i can do... i wish there was. i really do. i'd better get going. i'm falling behind schedule. computer, time remaining? eight hours, 22 minutes and three seconds remain. chief! sorry. i didn't mean to startle you. rom, what are you doing here? reporting for my next assignment. i've completed calibration tests on the inertial coupling ports on all three upper pylons.

how did you finish so quickly? i just did the work. i didn't allow myself to get caught up in any of the distracting discussions the other workers engage in. ferengi can be very focused, especially when no one bothers to talk to them. i see. not that i mind. i'm used to being ignored. is something wrong, chief? i can work slower if you want me to. rom... i need your help and i need you to keep your mouth shut. can i count on you? is that a trick question? rom, this is serious. you can depend on me, chief. we're going to make some modifications to several of the station's systems. i don't want you to breathe a word of this to anyone.

worf... they don't know? of course they know. well, at least some of them do but they have to pretend that they don't. this is a top secret starfleet operation. culpable deniability. i understand. don't worry about me, chief. my lips are sealed. nobody will get anybody out of me. not even my name. rom, everybody on the station knows your name. right. but i won't confirm it. where do we start?