Crossfire (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

"Crossfire" is the 85th episode of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 13th episode of the fourth season.

Plot

Odo is in his office, eagerly awaiting his weekly meeting with Major Kira to review criminal activity on the station. The meeting is interrupted by Quark, who complains on how Odo practicing shape-shifting in his quarters (right above Quark's own) causes too much noise. Odo orders Quark out of the office while confessing to Kira that it's no accident his quarters are right over Quark's. Later, the crew welcome First Minister Shakaar, visiting the station to push for Bajor's early admittance to the Federation. Odo breaks in to warn them that a threat has been made on Shakaar's life, courtesy of the True Way, a Cardassian terrorist group who have already killed two Bajoran officials. Shakaar refuses to end his visit but agrees to extra security with Worf aiding Odo. The Klingon and the Changeling have a discussion where both find common ground in disliking unwelcome guests and interruptions to their ordered routine.

At first, Odo and Shakaar get along well, sharing their concerns over the Federation's self-righteous attitude. However, Odo soon sees the bond between Kira and Shakaar and is struck when Shakaar admits he's falling in love with Kira. While doing a security sweep of a conference room, Odo finds a listening device and accuses Quark of planting it. Quark responds by noting how he knows Odo is in love with Kira and worried about Shakaar which Odo denies. Kira is forced to call off a meeting with Odo to be with Shakaar, the two almost kissing. As they take a turbolift, Odo hears the two talking about plans for the evening. When Worf's voice asks to take control of the turbo-lift, a distracted Odo grants it without asking for the security code. The turbo-lift begins plummeting but Odo changes his arms to solid pylons to stop its descent. Odo relates to Sisko that the True Way agent imitated Worf's voice to take control of the turbo-lift, admitting he failed to hear Worf's code. Sisko is surprised at Odo's mistake ("To err is human but you're not human, constable. You're not even humanoid.") and warns him not to let it happen again. Odo's mood worsens when he goes to see Kira, who admits that she and Shakaar are now in a relationship and Odo is unable to tell her his feelings. Even worse, when he returns to his office, Odo discovers that Worf has arrested the True Way operative, captured after attempting to sabotage the environmental controls of Shakaar's quarters.

Dismayed at both Kira's romance and Worf doing his job, Odo returns to his quarters and goes on a rage, destroying much of the furniture and decorations inside. Outraged at the noise, Quark confronts Odo but is thrown by how defeated the constable looks. Quark tells Odo that he has to make a choice: Either tell Kira how he feels or forget her and move on. He notes that he is losing money on a "betting pool" he sets up, which is a sign of how much people respect Odo. He leaves, Odo noting that Quark almost sounded like a friend which Quark shrugs off as "just business." Odo goes to Kira to say he can't continue their meetings as he is increasing training of his deputies and it will get in the way of their duties. Kira is surprised but Odo informs her it's just him getting back to basics. At Quark's bar, Quark expresses gratitude on how Odo is sound-proofing the floor of his quarters. Odo scoffs, claiming he is merely reinforcing the floor and the sound-proofing a coincidence which Quark pretends to accept. Odo sees Kira and Shakaar exiting a holosuite together and continues his rounds.

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Crossfire

• "Crossfire" at the Internet Movie Database
• "Crossfire" at TV.com

• "Crossfire" at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)

• "Crossfire" at StarTrek.com