Commence station log,
Deep Space Nine,
Commander Benjamin Sisko,
Stardate 46388.2.
Deep Space Nine,
Commander Benjamin Sisko,
Stardate 46388.2.
At the request of the Bajoran Provisional Government,
Starfleet has agreed to establish
a Federation presence in this system
following the withdrawal of
Cardassian occupational forces.
Bajor Monastery
OPAKA:
Your arrival has been greatly anticipated.
(She caresses his left ear.)
OPAKA:
Have you ever explored your pagh, Commander?
SISKO:
Pagh?
Pagh?
OPAKA:
A Bajoran draws courage from his spiritual life.
Our life-force, our pagh,
is replenished by The Prophets.
(She squeezes the lobe.)
OPAKA:
Breathe.
SISKO:
Kai Opaka, if we could discuss -
OPAKA:
Breathe!
Ironic. One who does not
Breathe!
Ironic. One who does not
wish to be among us -
is to be The Emissary.
Please, come with me.
is to be The Emissary.
Please, come with me.
(She touches a control and the pool reveals itself to be a hologram hiding a staircase downwards)
[Secret cavern]
OPAKA:
You are correct that Bajor is in grave jeopardy,
but it is the threat to our spiritual life that far outweighs any other.
SISKO:
Perhaps, but I'm powerless until...
OPAKA:
Commander.
I cannot give you what you deny yourself.
SISKO:
I'm sorry?
OPAKA:
Look for solutions from within, Commander.
Nine Orbs, like this one,
have appeared in the skies
over the past ten thousand years.
The Cardassians took the others.
You must find The Celestial Temple
before they do.
SISKO:
The Celestial Temple?
OPAKA:
Tradition says the orbs were sent
by The Prophets to teach us.
What we have learned has
shaped our Theology.
The Cardassians will do anything
to decipher their powers.
If They discover the Celestial Temple,
They could destroy it.
SISKO:
What makes you think I can find your “Temple”?
(Opaka hands him the Orb box.)
OPAKA:
This will help you.
SISKO:
Kai Opaka -
OPAKA:
I can't unite my people till I know
I can't unite my people till I know
The Prophets have been warned.
You will find The Temple.
Not for Bajor,
Not for The Federation,
But for your own pagh.
Not for Bajor,
Not for The Federation,
But for your own pagh.
It is, quite simply, Commander,
The Journey You Have Always Been Destined to Take.