Rapture ( episode ) On the eve of Bajor ' s entry into the Federation , Sisko locates the ruins of the ancient lost city of B ' hala on Bajor . As the visions that are guiding him prove potentially fatal , Sisko must choose between faith and his life . Summary . Teaser . In the wardroom on Deep Space 9 , Captain Sisko , Major Kira and Jadzia Dax admire a twenty - thousand - year - old painting of the lost Bajoran city of B ' hala – the only known proof that the city ever existed . While Jadzia is surprised that the painting isn ' t a lot bigger , both Kira and Sisko are in awe of the ancient artifact , which has been recently been returned to the Bajorans by the Cardassian Government ( Sisko having used his influence as to arrange for the painting to pass through the station to get a first - hand look ) . Sisko points out a Bantaca spire in the painting , explaining that markings upon the spire describe the co - ordinates of the lost city ; however , since two of the spire ' s sides cannot be seen , the city ' s exact position is difficult to decipher . He has the picture scanned into the computer so that he can study it , prompting Kira to recall a prophecy that only one who had been touched by the Prophet s could find the ruins of B ' hala . In his office , Sisko looks at the computer scan of the painting and the markings on the spire . He notices that the symbols on the two hidden sides of the spire can be faintly seen in a nearby waterfall . Adjourning to a holosuite , he produces a recreation of the spire , and has the computer overlay images of the markings from the painting , as he begins a quest to decode the co - ordinates . Later , he is interrupted by Quark , who comes into the holosuite to inform him that it is after 3 am . After dismissing Quark ' s offer of a visit to a pleasure maze , Sisko tries to save the program to a isolinear rod . As he works a console , however , there is an explosion and the Captain is thrown to the floor , plasma energy crackling over his body . Shocked , Quark calls the infirmary . Act One . Odo hauls Quark into his office , under arrest for negligence . While Quark attempts to blame Chief O ' Brien for not assigning Rom to fix the holosuites , Odo is having none of it , suggesting Quark tell it to the magistrate . In the infirmary , Bashir concludes that the captain shows no sign of permanent neural damage , but has some odd synaptic potentials . Diagnosing Sisko with post - neural shock syndrome , he advises him that external stimuli will seem more pronounced for a while and discharges him to restricted duty for three days . Later in his quarters , Sisko finishes a meal of " lingta " roast cooked by his son , Jake . As Jake mentions the imminent return of Kasidy Yates following her six month jail sentence , Sisko is distracted by shapes on his plate , forming them into symbols resembling the markings on the spire . Back in the holosuite , he continues working on the puzzle , but is interrupted by a call from Admiral Charlie Whatley from Starfleet Headquarters . The admiral has big news ; Bajor ' s petition for Federation membership has been successful , and the Bajorans have requested the signing ceremony take place aboard Deep Space 9 . Sisko is delighted , and Whatley congratulates him on the successful completion of his mission , telling him that a promotion to admiral can ' t be far off . In Quark ' s Bar , a busy crowd watches as several of Quark ' s dabo girl s unveil a banner from the upper level . Realizing that the banner reads " Welcome Klingon s " , Quark jumps onto the bar and unfurls a second banner bearing the seal of the Federation , to appreciative applause . Chatting with Dax and Worf , Quark gleefully explains how good Bajor ' s entry into the Federation will be for business , and that he expects the place to be " busier than an Alvanian beehive " , with sales of root beer alone to increase by five . Kira explains to Worf and Dax that five years ago she wouldn ' t have been celebrating , but now her time on the station and her work with Captain Sisko have changed her mind . Seeking to congratulate Sisko , Kira enters the holosuite and finds him sitting motionless on the floor in front of the holographic Bantaca spire . Act Two . When he doesn ' t respond to her , Kira shakes Sisko out of his trance . He explains that he had been experiencing a vision of B ' hala , as if he was really there , and had for one moment understood it all : B ' hala , the Orb s , the Occupation of Bajor , the discovery of the wormhole , and the coming war with the Dominion . Kira , in awe , explains that he was having a " pagh ' tem ' far " , a sacred vision , and with guilt , realized that she had interrupted it . Just then , O ' Brien calls over the comm and announces that Kai Winn is on her way to the station . Sisko asks Kira to greet her at the airlock while he continues to work on the puzzle of the spire . At the airlock , the Kai explains to Kira that she has reservations about Bajor ' s entry into the Federation , but is willing to await the will of the Prophets . Back in the holosuite , Sisko frets over maps and charts of Bajor in search of the location of B ' hala . As he works , the doors of the holosuite open and Kasidy Yates enters , nervous but happy to be back . After kissing her passionately , Sisko tells her that her quarters are just as she left them . He wants her to come to Bajor with him to find B ' hala , as he has worked out what the markings on the spire mean and is ready to find the lost city . Swept away by his sheer enthusiasm , she agrees . Beaming down from a runabout into a series of underground passages , Sisko and Yates make their way by flashlight to a wall of stone . Using his phaser to melt the rock , Sisko exposes a cavern behind , containing the ruins of B ' hala and its Bantaca spire . Act Three . Back on Deep Space 9 , Kira , Odo and Worf argue in the security office about accommodation arrangements for several Admirals and Captains due to attend the upcoming signing ceremony . Kira is distracted , and explains that she thinks it is a sign from the Prophets that Sisko has found B ' hala . Interrupting , Kai Winn appears and asks if she can talk with the Major . On the upper level of the Promenade , the Kai asks Kira if she thinks Sisko will forgive her for doubting that he was truly the Emissary of the Prophets . She admits that she was wrong , that only one touched by the Prophets could have found B ' hala , and that she is now willing to follow the path the Emissary has laid out for Bajor . Kira is surprised and impressed , saying that it takes a lot of courage to admit when you ' re wrong . Winn is insulted , admonishing Kira and those who were in the Resistance for thinking that they were the only ones with courage , the only ones who fought the Cardassians during the Occupation . Winn reveals that she spent five years in a Cardassian prison during the Occupation and that while the Resistance had their weapons to protect them from the Cardassians , all she had was her faith – and her courage . Sitting in the ruins of B ' hala surrounded by teams carrying excavation equipment , Sisko is visited by Admiral Whatley . Skeptical , Whatley asks the Captain how he found the city , and Sisko insists it really was a vision . Whatley expresses disappointment that Sisko has been neglecting his duties on the station in the run up to Bajor ' s entry into the Federation and orders him to submit to a full medical examination on the station the next morning . As the admiral leaves , Sisko suffers a painful headache . In the Infirmary , Admiral Whatley awaits the arrival of Sisko , who is late for his medical examination . Hearing a commotion on the Promenade , Bashir and Whatley make their way to the entrance and see Sisko walking through crowds of admiring Bajorans . Sisko stops by a woman and tells her not to worry about her katterpod harvest , and then by a Bajoran Militia officer and tells him to head for home ; he doesn ' t belong on the station . Suddenly crippled by another headache , Sisko is caught by Whatley and Bashir . Looking at the Admiral , Sisko tells him that his son forgives him . Whatley is left astounded , having told no - one that he and his son were having problems . Act Four . On a biobed in the infirmary , Sisko describes a dream he had about a swarm of locusts hovering above B ' hala . The swarm flew off , he says , heading towards Cardassia . Bashir explains that Sisko could die if the visions are allowed to continue , and needs surgery ( a neuropolaric induction ) to correct his aberrant brain activity . The procedure will save his life , but will also most likely remove the visions . Not wanting to lose the visions , Sisko refuses treatment . In Sisko ' s quarters , Sisko explains to Jake and Kasidy Yates why he has refused surgery , much to their anger and surprise . Both are upset , and beg him to reconsider . Just then , Kai Winn enters and asks the Emissary if he is ready – he has asked her to guide him in his journey . He tells Jake and Kasidy that he loves them , and then leaves with Winn to consult the Orb of Prophecy . In Ops , Kira , Dax , Worf and O ' Brien discuss the captain ' s deteriorating health . Worf and Kira assert to the skeptical Dax and O ' Brien that faith and the Prophets will guide him safely through . Sisko kneels in front of the Orb of Prophecy , plagued by severe headaches . Winn is very concerned that Sisko is too unwell to handle an Orb experience , since it is a strain even on healthy people , and asks him if he ' d rather wait until after the signing ceremony . Sisko insists that he wants to proceed , telling her he needs help to understand what the visions are trying to tell him . As she leaves him , he opens the Orb box . As Federation and Bajoran dignitaries gather in the wardroom for the signing ceremony , it is now an hour since it was due to start with no sign of Captain Sisko . Although Kai Winn knows that Sisko would want to be there for such an important moment , she agrees that Admiral Whatley can begin the proceedings without him . Just as Whatley begins to give a speech , Sisko bursts in and warns that Bajor must not join the Federation . He says that Bajor must stand alone else it will be destroyed , before collapsing into a seizure on the floor . Act Five . Back in the infirmary , Admiral Whatley orders Bashir to operate , but the doctor cannot proceed without the permission of Sisko ' s next of kin . Over Sisko ' s unconscious body , Jake breaks down and tells his father that he needs him . He gives Bashir permission to operate , and Bashir begins to prepare for surgery . At the entrance to the Bajoran temple , Kai Winn expresses concerns to Kira , saying that she hopes the Prophets will forgive them for interfering with the Emissary ' s visions . Kira defends Jake ' s right to make the decision to save his father , but Winn is disappointed that he did not trust the Prophets . Kira counters that perhaps this is all part of the Prophets ' plan . Winn states that the Bajoran Council of Ministers has voted to delay acceptance of Federation membership . She says now that Sisko has found B ' hala , her path is unclear and nothing is certain . Awaking in the infirmary , Sisko reacts in anguish when he realizes that the visions are gone . Bashir informs him that they had no choice but to operate . Sisko laments that he " " almost understood it " all . " Back on his feet and in his office , Sisko again ponders the computer image of the painting of B ' hala . Admiral Whatley arrives , and asks Sisko to contact the Council of Ministers and tell them that he was wrong , and to convince them to accept Federation membership . Sisko says that he can ' t do that , because everything he said and did while he had the visions still feels right . Whatley is disappointed , and informs Sisko that he could remove his Starfleet commission for this . Sisko reassures the Admiral that he is certain Bajor will join the Federation one day . Whatley asks if he ' s speaking as a Starfleet captain or as the Emissary of the Prophets ; Sisko answers , " " Both . " " The admiral replies that in that case , he will keep the champagne on ice . Returning to his quarters , Sisko is greeted by Jake and Kasidy Yates , who are cooking jambalaya as a welcome back dinner , both for Kasidy and for him . Kasidy explains that while he may feel he ' s lost something important , he has held onto something important as well . She takes his hand and puts it onto Jake ' s . He in turn takes her hand , and adds it to his and his son ' s . Memorable quotes . " " That ' s it " ? " " " That ' s it . The city of B ' hala , painted nearly twenty thousand years ago . " " " " Hmm . " " " " Jadzia – you ' re looking at the most important Bajoran icon ever painted . The only known proof that B ' hala actually existed , and all you have to say is " hmm " " ? " " " No , it ' s just that you both gave it such a build up that I thought it would be a lot . . . bigger . " " " " Perhaps so . But there is one problem . " " " " What ' s that ? " " " " There is an ancient Klingon proverb that says . . . you cannot loosen a man ' s tongue with root beer . " " " " I was there . " " " " Sir ? " " " " B ' hala . It was the eve of the Peldor Festival . I could hear them ringing the temple chimes . " " " " You were dreaming . " " " " No , I was there . I could smell the burning bateret leaves , taste the incense on the wind . I was standing in front of the Obelisk . And as I looked up , for one moment , I understood it all . B ' hala . . . the Orbs . . . the occupation . . . the discovery of the wormhole . . . the coming war with the Dominion . " " " " You could see the future as well as the past ? " " " " And for one moment , I could see the pattern that held it all together . " " " " You had a " pagh ' tem ' far " – a sacred vision . " " " " I don ' t know what I had . But it felt . . . wonderful . " " " " The Prophets chose well when they made you their Emissary . So how does it all fit together ? " " " " I wish I knew . " ( playfully ) " Someone woke me up . " " " " It is naval tradition " " " " So is keelhauling . . . " " " " I wonder if the Prophets can help us find quarters for Captain Rifkin ? " " " " Those of you who were in the Resistance , you ' re all the same . You think you ' re the only ones who fought the Cardassians , that you saved Bajor single - handedly . Perhaps you forget , Major , the Cardassians arrested any Bajoran found to be teaching the word of the Prophets . I was in a Cardassian prison camp for five years , and I can remember each and every beating I suffered . And while you had your weapons to protect you , all I had was my faith . . . and my courage . Walk with the Prophets , child . I know I will . " " " " Do not attempt to convince them , Major . They can not understand . " " " " Since when did you believe in the Prophets ? " " " " What I believe in . . . is faith . Without it , there can be no victory . If the captain ' s faith is strong , he will prevail . " " " " That ' s not much to bet his life on . " " " " You ' re wrong . It ' s everything . " " " " Charlie , I just need a little more time . " " " " For what ? " " " " To find answers . There ' s clarity here . I wish I could explain it better , but I can ' t . " " " " You ' re scaring me with this , Ben . " " " " I ' m a little scared , too , Admiral . " " " " But then a shadow blocked out the sun . We looked up and saw a cloud filling the sky . It was a swarm of locusts . Billions of them . They hovered over the city , the noise was deafening . . . but just as quickly as they came , they moved on . Now I know where they were going . Cardassia . " " " " Dad , please think about what you ' re doing . These visions , they ' re not worth dying for . " " " " I remember the first time I held you in my hands . You were just a few minutes old , and when I looked down at your face , it was almost as if I could see your whole life stretched out in front of you , the joys it would bring , and the bruises . It was all there , hidden in your scrunched up , little face . The baby I ' m holding in my hands now is the universe itself . And I need time to study its face . " " " " I have to tell them ! " " " " What is it , Emissary ? Have the Prophets revealed something to you ? " " " " Locusts ! They ' ll destroy Bajor unless it stands alone ! " " " " Ben , what the hell are you talking about ? " " " " It ' s too soon ! Bajor must not join the Federation ! If it does , it will be destroyed ! ! " " " " Before Captain Sisko found B ' hala , my path was clear . I knew who my enemies were . But now nothing is certain . " " " " Makes life interesting , doesn ' t it ? " " " " No . No ! You took them away ! ! " " " " We had no choice . You were dying . " " " " I almost had it . Almost understood it all . Now it ' s gone . " " " " Are you speaking as a Starfleet officer , or as the Emissary of the Prophets ? " " " " Both . " " " " In that case , I ' ll keep the champagne on ice . " " Links and references . References . Alvanian beehive ; archaeology ; B ' hala ; Bajor ; Bajoran ; Bajoran Militia ; Bajoran prophecy ; Bajoran resistance ; Bajoran State Museum ; Bajoran transport ; Bajoran wormhole ; bantaca spire ; basal ganglia ; " bateret " ; bicycle ; Bolian ; Cardassia ; Cardassian ; central nervous system ; Chamber of Ministers ; champagne ; com signal ; Colti ; Council of Ministers ; Dominion War ; Dominion cold war ; dizziness ; Emissary of the Prophets ; Federation ; Federation Council ; headache ; holosuite ; icon painting ; Ilvia ; isolinear rod ; jambalaya ; katterpod ; keelhauling ; Klingon ; latinum ; " lingta " ; locust ; magistrate ; Maquis ; ; Naval tradition ; negligence ; neural sheath ; neuropolaric induction ; obelisk ; Occupation of Bajor ; Orb ; Orb of Prophecy ; " pagh ' tem ' far " ; Peldor Festival ; physical ; pleasure maze ; post - neural shock syndrome ; prison camp ; Promenade ; Prophet s ; Quark ' s ; restricted duty ; Rifkin ; Rifkin ' s starship ; Rom ; root beer ; runabout ; sensor array ; Sisko image file 376 ; Starfleet ; Starfleet Command ; Starfleet Headquarters ; Starfleet uniform ; swarm ; toast ; tricorder ; Veta ; Vulcan ; ; Yridian ; Zocal ; Zocal ' s Third Prophecy