The Forsaken ( episode ) An alien computer program wreaks havoc with the station ' s systems during a visit from Lwaxana Troi and other ambassadors . Summary . Teaser . Dr . Bashir sits in Quark ' s with a trio of ambassadors : Lojal , Vadosia , and Taxco , who pester him in every way imaginable ; he cannot please them no matter how hard he tries . Their conversation is interrupted as the fourth ambassador , Lwaxana Troi , cries out from the dabo table . Her latinum hair brooch has been stolen . Quark claims his establishment is not responsible for lost or stolen items , but the Betazoid seizes his lobe and demands that everyone in the room be strip - searched until her brooch is found . Fortunately , Odo arrives and , after a few brief questions , glances around the bar and apprehends a Dopterian pick - pocket who has it . Amazed , Lwaxana asks him how he solved the mystery , and he explains that , since she couldn ' t sense any guilt in the room , the thief had to be someone immune to telepathy , such as a Ferengi like Quark . However , as Odo doesn ' t believe Quark would stoop down to petty theft , he instead focused on a member of the Ferengi species ' s distant relatives , the Dopterians . As Odo leaves , Lwaxana commands Bashir to tell her " everything " he knows about the station ' s security chief , and it becomes apparent that he has caught the ambassador ' s eye . Act One . In Ops , Chief O ' Brien struggles to force the Cardassian computer system to work , as it has a tendency to argue with his suggestions and even on occasions overrules his requests . With the help of Anara , he tries to operate it manually , but continues to have trouble . The problem is so bad , he explains to Commander Sisko , that he is seriously considering completely overhauling and replacing the computer , a procedure that would take around two to three years to complete . Sisko employs his dry humor , but O ' Brien is clearly too frustrated . He allows him to do what he must . Just then , Bashir and the other three ambassadors arrive in the turbolift , having insisted on seeing Ops . Commander Sisko is forced to make conversation , but saved when a mysterious probe comes through the wormhole . The ambassadors interject a bit during the analysis , as Lojal assumes Dax is only a young woman without the necessary experience and Vadosia seems intent on being involved in what may be first contact with a new species . However , Bashir and Sisko are able to stand them down . Sisko assures them there will be a briefing later . Meanwhile , Lwaxana finds Odo in the security office and flirts heavily with him . She is fascinated by the idea of " being " with a shapeshifter . However , the constable is visibly disquieted by her advances and pretends to have business to which to attend , leaving in a hurry . Act Two . O ' Brien and Dax interface with the probe , and the chief finds that the station ' s computer is cooperating surprisingly well . However , the probe ' s computer system is unlike anything they ' ve ever seen before . After a while , Anara finds the probe is made out of a type of corundium alloy when suddenly the computer says it ' s completed an analysis much earlier than expected . O ' Brien and Dax come over to see that the probe is just a powerful computer – no communications or science modules , or hint of its origin or mission . Meanwhile , Odo passes by the group on his way to Sisko and complains to the commander about Lwaxana ' s advances ( like a Wanoni tracehound ) , but Sisko is unable to help him . He suggests he handle the matter " delicately . " As he leaves , Lwaxana manages to catch up with Odo despite his attempts to avoid her , saying she ' s reserved a holosuite with Quark for a picnic . Saying he ' s not available and tries to re - enter the turbolift , she follows him headed for one of the upper pylon s . Intent on having a picnic with him , she says she will send for her picnic basket . He finally goes on a rant about how different he is , but she ignores it . Before they reach their destination , however , the turbolift stops abruptly as the station ' s systems begin acting up . Dax attempts to beam them out with the transporter , but something causes it to malfunction . Lwaxana happily says " alone at last . " Act Three . Odo cannot shapeshift out due to exposed electric circuits running through the turbolift , so is forced to put up with Lwaxana while the chief attempts to remedy whatever is going wrong . Odo tells Mrs . Troi that he would prefer to pass the time quietly , however naturally Lwaxana isn ' t happy with that ( while also noting she tends to be attracted to quiet men ) and starts telling Odo about the time she was held captive on a Ferengi ship . Odo begins to seriously considering risking the exposed curcuit . . . In Ops , Bashir begs Commander Sisko to relieve him of his escort duties . Sisko refuses , telling the young officer that he himself had to do the same and in fact Curzon took a perverse pleasure in giving him the unwelcome duty of escorting important guests . . . until the day Ben punched one of them for trying to force a young ensign into his quarters . Sisko ends the discussion by warning Bashir not to hit any of them , since he won ' t be as forgiving as Curzon . Chief O ' Brien then tells Sisko that he ' s having a problem with the computer . . . or rather , he isn ' t . As strange as he admits that it sounds , O ' Brien claims the computer seems " nicer " somehow , ever since he downloaded the information from the probe . Additionally , every time he leaves Ops , a new problem comes up – as if the computer wants to keep him busy . Act Four . Sisko meets with Dax and Kira in Ops and they attempt to come up with an explanation for what is happening . Dax hypothesizes that the information in the probe might be a type of sentient non - biological lifeform . O ' Brien suggests it ' s not malevolent , as it ' s not doing damage , so he suggests uploading the probe ' s files back to the probe . However , Sisko and Kira realize that it may be time for Odo to regenerate , meaning he will revert to his liquid state unless they can get him out of the turbolift . When O ' Brien attempts to re - download the information into the probe , the lights go dim and the station shuts down . In the turbolift , Lwaxana finishes talking about her life and asks Odo if he wants to talk about himself for a while . Although it takes a while for him to open up , Odo starts to tell her about how he began his life being studied by a Bajoran scientist as he learned to become self - sufficient . He then begins to tell the Betazoid that , after that , he tried to fit in by entertaining people at parties , which is why he hates parties so much . Lwaxana tells him that , if he goes to one of hers , she promises everyone will be there to entertain him . Odo finds that , despite his initial reluctance , he is starting to appreciate Mrs . Troi ' s company . However Odo is also starting to feel pain , as he tries to hold off his need to regenerate . Meanwhile , O ' Brien has come up with a plan to distract the lifeform that has taken over the station ; as he slowly tries to cut it off from the station ' s systems , Sisko , Dax and Anara give the computer increasingly complex commands . The plan seems to be working , but something goes wrong and the system overloads . A fire erupts in one of the corridor s , where Bashir is escorting the ambassadors to their quarters . They are trapped . Act Five . Breaking through the doors sealing Bashir and the ambassadors in the corridor will take longer than expected , so Sisko and Kira work on it . In Ops , O ' Brien comes up with a plan . Thinking of the lifeform as a puppy , he realizes it thrives on attention and begins to " build a doghouse , " although Dax has no idea what he is talking about . As Odo begins to lose his ability to hold his shape , Lwaxana can see that his is in pain , yet he turns his back toward her and refuses to show his weakness . He tells her that he ' s not ashamed , it ' s just a part of himself that he ' d rather keep private and no - one ( other than the Bajoran scientist ) has ever seen him like this . Just then Mrs . Troi holds forward her hair , revealing it to be a wig . Odo turns around to see Lwaxana with her real black hair tightly pinned up , telling him that no - one has ever seen " her " like this . Odo assures her that she looks fine , but Lwaxana tells him she looks ' ordinary ' , something she ' s never cared to be and she herself changes who she is . Odo tells Lwaxana that she isn ' t at all like he expected , and Lwaxana gratefully accepts the compliment and kindly offers to take care of him . Finally trusting Mrs . Troi , Odo transforms into his liquid state and houses himself in a fold in her dress . Kira and the others continue to try to get into the corridor while O ' Brien prepares to set his plan into action . He sets up a special program through which all station commands can be performed , transferring the " puppy " into the doghouse . Satisfied to be at the center of the action , the lifeform returns the station to normal . As a result , Sisko and a team finally manage to enter the corridor where Bashir and the ambassadors were trapped , and the fire - suppression system s begin to work . After being briefly thought dead , Bashir and the ambassadors emerge from a conduit , sooty and disheveled but completely uninjured , with the ambassadors ' opinions of Bashir considerably changed , having been quite humbled by the experience . Meanwhile , Odo and Lwaxana finally emerge from the turbolift , shape and wig restored . Odo thanks Lwaxana for her company , telling her that can ' t have been what she intended for their picnic . Lwaxana assures Odo that all that really matters on a picnic is the company , and promises him they will meet again . Sisko asks O ' Brien how he resolved the situation , and he explains he isolated it into a subprogram ( but not sent back to the probe ) . Surprised he suggests keeping it around , O ' Brien assures him it won ' t bother them and he ' ll give it attention . Sisko tells him to " keep it off the furniture . " Memorable quotes . " " You are dealing with a daughter of the Fifth House , holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx , heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed ! " " " " Ah ! My ear , please ! " " " " Yes , and I know where it hurts the most , you little troll ! Now I want this room sealed , and I want everyone in it strip - searched until you find my brooch ! " " " " What seems to be the problem ? " " " " Well , my brooch has been stolen . It ' s been in my family for 36 generations , it ' s absolutely priceless and I want it back ! " " " " You ' re certain you were wearing it today ? " " " " Yes , of course I ' m certain . I never use this hair without it . " " " " Obviously the young woman doesn ' t have the necessary experience , I ' m . . . " " " " The " young " woman over there has over three hundred years experience , ambassador . " " " " Is Odo your first or last name ? " " " " Yes . " " " " You are the thin , beige line between order and chaos . " " " " I understand you ' re a shapeshifter . " " " " That ' s correct . " " " " I ' ve never been with a shapeshifter . " " " " . . . " Been " with ? " " " " All the men I ' ve known have needed to be shaped and molded and manipulated , and finally I ' ve met a man who knows how to do it himself . " " " " Procreation does not require changing how you smell , or writing bad poetry , or sacrificing various plants to serve as tokens of affection . " " " " Constable , you can handle thieves and killers , but not one Betazoid woman ? " " " " I understand thieves and killers . I don ' t understand . . . " her " ! " " " " I ' ve always wanted to see an upper pylon . " " " " I don ' t eat ! This is not a real mouth . It is an approximation of one . I do not have an esophagus , or a stomach , or a digestive system . I am not like you . Every sixteen hours , I turn into a liquid ! " " " " I can swim . " " " " Great . Everything ' s in working order , except nothing ' s working . " " " " All of us have had these assignments , Doctor . " " " " Have you , sir ? " " " " As a matter of fact , Curzon Dax used to take perverse pleasure in assigning me to take care of VIP guests . " " " " Ah , so now you take the same perverse pleasure in doing it to me . " " " " Exactly ! " " " " Nothing makes them happy ! They are dedicated to being " un " happy and to spreading that " un " happiness wherever they go ! They are the " ambassadors " of unhappy ! " " " " I guess you could say I was the life of the party . " " " " I don ' t think I understand . " " " " My way of trying to fit in . I found I could be entertaining . ' Odo , be a chair . ' I ' m a chair . ' Odo , be a razorcat . ' I ' m a razorcat . Life of the party . . . I hate parties . " " " " Maybe you ' ve just been to the wrong ones . Come to one of mine , I ' ll make sure that " all " the guests are there to entertain " you " . " " " " No one ' s ever seen " me " like " this " . " " " " Why ? It looks fine . " " " " It looks ordinary . I ' ve never cared to be ordinary . So you see , Odo , even we non - shapeshifters have to change who we are once in a while . " " " " You are not at all what I expected . " " " " No one ' s ever paid me a greater compliment . " " " " I know that wasn ' t exactly what you had in mind for your picnic . " " " " When it comes to picnics , the only thing that really matters is the company . " " " " Keep it off the furniture . " " Links and references . References . 2366 ; adaptive interface link ; alloy ; ambassador ; Andevian II ; Arbazan ; baby ; backup system ; Bajor ; Bajoran earring ; Bajoran master data bank ; Bajoran Research Center ; Bajoran serena ; Bajoran wormhole ; bed ; beige ; Betazed ; Betazoid ; bipolar torch ; Bolian ; brooch ; carbon reaction chamber ; Cardassian ; Cardassian operational guidelines ; chair ; Chief of Operations ; child ; circuit ; combadge ; com line ; communications system ; computer array ; computer virus ; concert ; conduit ; Constable ; control network ; control relay ; Corado I transmitter array ; core memory ; corundium ; crew level ; DaiMon ; daughter ; ; ; day ; Deep Space 9 levels ; deuterium ; dice ; digestive system ; docking port ; docking ring ; doghouse ; doorstep ; Dopterian ; earring ; electromotive coil , emergency crew ; emulator module ; engineer ; ensign ; ; EPS power flow ; esophagus ; exposed multi - phasing alternating current ; Federation ; Ferengi ; Ferengi cargo ship ; Ferengi sex program ; Fifth House of Betazed ; fire ; fire extinguisher ; fire - suppression system ; first contact ; first year officer ; furniture ; fusion powerplant ; ; gargoyle ; guest quarters ; habitat ring ; hair ; hairstyle ; hardware ; heart ; high resolution scan ; historical database ; holoprogram ; holosuite ; Holy Rings of Betazed ; hour ; humanoid ; isolinear rod ; killer ; " Krayton " ; KSC ; laboratory ; latinum ; laser - induced fusion ; level 1 diagnostic ; liaison officer ; lifeform ; load detection ; long range sensor ; manual fire gear ; mating ritual ; memory node ; meter ; minute ; mirror ; moon ; Mora Pol ; mother ship ; mouth ; necklace ; Nehru colony ; New France colony ; non - biological lifeform ; oo - mox ; ops ; Ops O2 sensor ; oxygen ; pail ; petty theft ; phaser ; picnic ; picnic basket ; plant ; plasma ; plasma burn ; plasma surge ; poetry ; positioning mechanism ; probe ; procreation ; Promenade ; " Pup " ; puppy ; pylon ; Quark ' s ; razorcat ; recalibration sweep ; regenerative cycle ; replicator ; root canal ; runabout ; Sacred Chalice of Rixx ; scanner ; scientist ; science module ; second ; security chief ; security office ; security sweep ; sensor ; sex ; shapeshifter ; shield generator ; shorthand ; sir ; soul ; Starfleet ; Starfleet captain ; Starfleet Command ; starship ; station log ; stomach ; strip search ; subprocessor module ; subprocessor pattern ; subprogram ; subspace emitter ; subspace link ; subspace link - up ; swimming ; syntax ; tech manual ; thief ; Tog ; tongue ; toranium ; transporter ; transporter pad ; ; troll ; turbolift ; turbolift power net ; viewscreen ; volt ; Vulcan ; waltz ; Wanoni tracehound ; wanted poster ; wig ; woodpole ; wormhole ; wrestling ; year