Rightful Heir ( episode ) At the Klingon monastery on Boreth , Worf sees a very real vision of Kahless the Unforgettable . Summary . Teaser . The is on its way to the Gariman sector , and undergoes a shift change in the morning . Data had the bridge overnight and hands it over to Commander Riker . Lieutenant Worf was assigned to the shift as well to relieve Ensign Torigan at tactical , but is late . Riker notes that Worf is never late for duty and brings a security team . He finds him in his quarters , absorbed in prayer . The room has been arranged like a traditional Klingon shrine . Act One . This is only the latest puzzling behavior from Worf ; he has been increasingly forgetful and slacking off on routine duties . Captain Picard goes to talk to Worf in his quarters , and he explains that , ever since the incident in the Carraya system , where he found young Klingons and taught them about their heritage , he has felt empty . As he saw their eager acceptance and recognition , he realized that he himself did not believe these things strongly , if at all . He was trying to summon a vision of Kahless that morning to reconnect with his spiritual roots . Picard asks if there is a place where he could explore these things more fully ; Worf says that place would be Boreth , where devout Klingons await the return of Kahless . It is not far from where the " Enterprise " is now and will take twelve days to reach it via shuttlecraft . Picard says that since his spiritual quest is interfering with his duties , he should consider himself on leave , go to Boreth , and return prepared to resume his duties properly . He says kindly , " " I hope you find what you ' re looking for . " " The Boreth temple is built into the side of a mountain , with many interconnected caverns and caves decorated in ancient Klingon style . Worf joins several other Klingons in intensely - focused prayer around a fire pit , repeating " " torva luq do Sel . " " ( This is pronounced Torva luk do shell . ) One very young man named Divok suddenly looks up and cries out that he sees Kahless standing before him . " " He wants something – me ! He wants me ! " " High priest Koroth congratulates Divok and says this is a vision of great power , telling him that his place among the honored dead is secure . Worf packs up to leave ; he has been there ten days and has received neither visions nor insights . Koroth reminds him of the story of The Promise : how when Kahless left , he pointed to the star around which Boreth orbits , and promised he would return there . That was fifteen centuries ago , and ten days is a relatively small amount of time . He tells Worf that this is a place of questions , not answers , and that Worf should open his heart to Kahless . Returning to the shrine , Worf prays alone ; Divok sits nearby to tend the fire . Suddenly the air shimmers in front of Worf and appears . Worf is overjoyed , but Divok is puzzled ; he sees Kahless too . While Divok runs off to get the others , Kahless holds out his hands to Worf . Rising , Worf touches him and breathes , " You are " real ! " " When the other Klingons arrive , amazed , he declares " I am Kahless , and I have returned . " Act Two . Kahless enters the temple and tells the story of how his " bat ' leth " was created . This story is known only to the high priests ; it was kept out of the sacred writings deliberately so it could be used as a test in case the real Kahless came back . Kahless explains that he has returned to unite the people , to stop the fighting and the petty wars . Koroth and his assistant Torin are convinced , and lead the pilgrims in chanting praise to Kahless . Unconvinced , Worf goes to get a tricorder scan to make sure Kahless is even a real Klingon . Kahless finds him and allows the scan . He is Klingon , but Worf is still unconvinced . Kahless then says they have met before , in a vision in the caves of No ' Mat . Still , Worf is skeptical , but wants to believe . Worf remains quiet and reserved at the party that is given in Kahless ' s honor . Kahless notices that Worf still has questions ; Worf says it is honor able to question and not take things for granted as that is the beginning of wisdom , but Kahless replies that a leader does not have to answer questions ; a real leader commands obedience . Worf says that is true if the leader is worthy . Realizing that Worf is issuing a challenge , Kahless engages Worf in single combat . The fight is brief , fierce , and seems almost equal ; it ends abruptly when Kahless turns away , laughing and a bit out of breath , and says that Klingons must fight not only to spill blood , but to enrich the spirit . He leads the people in a loud , proud chant , " " We are Klingons ! " " Not everyone is convinced at first , but his enthusiasm is infectious . Only Worf remains detached and thoughtful . Act Three . Kahless , Koroth and Torin are brought aboard the " Enterprise " - D to be transported to Qo ' noS . Chancellor Gowron has received news of Kahless ' return with something less than enthusiasm . He therefore doesn ' t trust a Klingon ship to transport Kahless . Dr . Crusher wants to run more tests to be sure he is not a coalescent being , as they have run into one before , a bioreplicant , or simply a dressed - up Klingon surgically altered . Data asks how Worf and the other Klingons will ascertain that Kahless is for real , and Worf says it is a matter of faith . He does not want to discount the possibility that he is really Kahless . Gowron intercepts the " Enterprise " in his vessel and beams aboard , and he is indignant . Convinced that Kahless is an impostor , he has brought the Knife of Kirom , a sacred knife that is supposed to have the blood of Kahless on it . He talks to Picard about how hard it is to fight an idea , and that the crew of his ship have already split up into factions over whether or not this is Kahless . It will destroy the unity of the Empire , and he wants the lie stopped now . Picard goes to Kahless and explains Gowron ' s plan . Despite Koroth ' s and Torin ' s thoughts that they don ' t have to prove anything , Kahless allows it . In sickbay , Dr . Crusher runs the analysis and the computer confirms it is a match . Now , Worf believes . Act Four . Worf invites Kahless for a drink , apologizing for the not - quite - right taste of the replicator ' s attempt to do Klingon Warnog . Kahless obviously cannot tell the difference , and says that he has forgotten many things . Asked about the next life he says he does not have those answers , but is merely a traveler . While he is corporeal , he knows only the here - and - now . Kahless changes the subject , saying he wants Worf to be near him while he builds his new Empire . Gowron is convinced the whole situation is a ploy for Koroth and the other priests to seize power . In the observation lounge , he points out to Worf that they want him on their side , because Kurn now sits on the Klingon High Council and , as Kurn ' s older brother , Worf has influence . Worf pleads with Gowron to keep an open mind and listen to Kahless , giving himself a chance to have his faith restored , before taking up arms . Gowron goes to meet Kahless in the holodeck , where the temple has been recreated . Kahless enters and ignores the introduction , instead telling the story of a man who would not go inside the city walls of Quin ' lat when a storm blew up . He faced the storm and was killed . " The wind does not respect a fool , " he says . " " Do not stand before the wind , Gowron " " he challenges . Gowron counters , challenging Kahless to remember details about the man in the story . Kahless says it does not matter , only that he has come to restore honor to the people . Gowron contemptuously challenges him to combat . As before , Kahless seems not to be able to fight very well , and tries to distract everyone with laughter and talk about fighting in the right spirit , but Gowron is unmoved and at last defeats Kahless , knocking him to the floor . Gowron laughs mockingly . Act Five . Now convinced that this is not Kahless , Worf wants answers . So does Kahless . Koroth explains slowly that the problems with Kahless ' s memory and his inability to fight like a real Klingon have to do with " the way he returned . " The priests used Kahless ' s original genetic material to create a clone . All of his memories were actually programmed in from the sacred texts or from personal information the priests had . Worf is shocked and outraged , but the priests claim they did it to unite the people . Worf returns to the holodeck temple and finds two of Gowron ' s men still there ; they still believe . Data is also there , interested in the men ' s faith , and asks how Kahless ' s defeat has affected Worf ' s faith . Worf is unable to answer . Data tells how he was first activated by officers from the on Omicron Theta and told he was only a machine , but believed he could become more than a collection of circuits and sub - processors . He calls this a leap of faith , and Worf is impressed . In the observation lounge , Worf chooses to tell Gowron , in front of Koroth and Kahless , that Kahless is a clone . Gowron is vindicated , but Worf points out it does not matter . The people do need something to unite them and put a halt to the strife and corruption in the Empire , so they should be told of Kahless – the whole truth . Instead of becoming leader of the empire in Gowron ' s place , however , Kahless can be the Emperor , a figurehead but also a moral guide who inspires the people to return to true Klingon ways . Even though he will not really be Kahless , he will be Kahless ' s rightful heir . Gowron accepts this with reservations and they all bow to Kahless . As Kahless prepares to leave in a transporter room , he tells Worf that perhaps what Kahless gave the people – the unique ways of thinking and behaving that make them Klingons – is more important than Kahless himself . He also insists that Worf should be proud of his achievement . Perhaps it does not matter if the real Kahless never returns , because his spirit lives in the heart of every true Klingon . Memorable quotes . " " Worf ! What the hell are you doing ? " " " " On your feet , Lieutenant ! " " " " Mr . Worf , your personal affairs are strictly your own concern until they interfere with the operation of this ship . You have now crossed that line . " " " " It ' s a pity that you didn ' t try the holodeck instead of setting fire to your quarters . " " " " My behavior has been . . . " " " " Inexcusable . . . and understandable . " " " " I am Kahless . . . and I have returned . " " " " You still do not believe it is me , do you , Worf ? " " " " I want to believe . " " " " That is a beginning . " " " " Long ago , a storm was heading for the city of Quin ' lat . Everyone took protection within the walls except one man who remained outside . I went to him and asked what he was doing . " I am not afraid , " the man said . " I will not hide my face behind stone and mortar . I will stand before the wind and make it respect me . " I honored his choice and went inside . The next day , the storm came , and the man was killed . The wind does not respect a fool . Do not stand before the wind , Gowron . " " " " Worf , no offense but I have trouble believing that the man that I escorted from deck eight is supernatural . " " " " What was his name ? " " " " What ? " " " " If you were really there , you should be able to tell us the name of the man who stood outside the walls . Describe him to us . How tall was he ? What was he wearing ? ! ? What color . . . were his EYES ? ! ? " " " " They grew you in a test tube , like some kind of fungus - - then programmed you like a MACHINE ! " " " " We will tell them the truth . All of the truth . But we will also tell them that even if he is not the real Kahless , he is the rightful HEIR to Kahless . " " " " Kahless left us , " all of us , " a powerful legacy . A way of thinking and acting that makes us Klingon . If his words hold wisdom and his philosophy is honorable , what does it matter if he returns ? What is important is that we follow his teachings . Perhaps the words are more important than the man . " " Links and references . References . Alwanir Nebula ; " bat ' leth " ; bioreplicant ; Boreth ; " Bortas " , IKS ; Carraya IV ; Carraya system ; Caves of Boreth ; Caves of No ' Mat ; coalescent organism ; empirical data ; exobiology ; Federation ; figurehead ; Followers of Kahless ; fungus ; Gariman sector ; genetic analysis ; ; Human ; ; Klingon ; Klingon Empire ; Klingon High Council ; Klingon sacred texts ; Klingonese ; Knife of Kirom ; Kri ' stak volcano ; Kurn ; Lake of Lusor ; Mogh ; Molor ; ; neurophysiology ; Omicron Theta ; painting ; Qo ' noS ; Quin ' lat ; shrine ; Starfleet ; statue ; " Sto - vo - kor ; " Story of the Promise , The ; Sword of Kahless ; test tube ; Toq ; tricorder ; tyrant ; ; " Vorch - dog - baghk , Kahless ! " ; " warnog " Unreferenced material . B ' nok faction ; Duras sisters ; Endora VII