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Paradise (DS9 episode)
Encyclopedia
"Paradise" is 35th episode
of the science fiction
television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
.
and Sisko
discover human life signs on an uncharted planet. Beaming to the surface, they suddenly discover that a duonetic energy field has disabled all of their electronic devices. They meet Joseph and Vinod, part of a group of colonists who became stranded ten years ago in a similar fashion. Sisko reassures them and the other colonists that someone will find the runabout in orbit, the leader of the colonists and Vinod's mother, Alixus, announces that she is proud of what they have accomplished and intends to stay.
As Kira
and Dax
search for Sisko and O'Brien, Sisko discovers that prior to becoming stranded, Alixus was a philosopher and critic of mankind's dependence on technology. Meanwhile, O'Brien searches for something he could use to contact the runabout, but Joseph admits that the colonists threw away all of their technological devices. Although he was the last "convert" to accept Alixus's philosophy, Joseph is pleased with what he and the others have accomplished.
One of the colonists, Meg, is dying and could potentially be cured with the runabout's medical supplies, but when Sisko and O'Brien discuss possible methods of contacting the runabout, Alixus takes Sisko outside. She tells him that such talk is not productive; he disagrees and she tells him that he will eventually have to do things her way. Leaving him, Alixus suggests Sisko take off his uniform, as it gets hot in the afternoon. Sisko joins the other men in the field, but the opening of a metal box
takes their attention away from their work.
A young man named Stephen emerges from the box, barely alive, having been put there the day before for stealing a candle. Alixus insists that such methods of punishment are effective and were approved by the entire community, including Stephen. That night, a colonist named Cassandra attempts to seduce
Sisko. When confronted about it, Alixus admits that she sent Cassandra but attempts to rationalize her behavior, which Sisko calls contemptible. She then assigns him to stand watch the rest of the night.
The next day, Alixus asks Sisko if he will be able to work his regular shift in the field. O'Brien objects, angrily noting that Sisko has just finished standing watch at her request, and she reassures Sisko that it is okay if he cannot work. However, Sisko insists on working his regular shift. Alixus suggests "some more comfortable clothes" for the task. Meanwhile, Kira and Dax discover Sisko and O'Brien's runabout aimlessly travelling at low warp
.
Alixus informs the village that Meg has died and notes that no one was prouder of what the village has accomplished than she was, using this as a segue by which to announce that O'Brien has been discovered "defiling her memory." She announces that O'Brien was "wasting precious time" trying to activate his technological devices and, as his commanding officer, Sisko is placed in the punishment box. Once his punishment period is over, Alixus offers him water — if he will change out of his uniform. She leaves him alone with a change of clothes, but shortly thereafter he re-emerges still in his uniform. Sisko staggers toward the box and climbs inside.
Dax and Kira work on a way to find the runaway runabout's point of origin as O'Brien continues to work on a way to bypass the duonetic field. Joseph warns him but agrees to look the other way. O'Brien uses an improvised compass
to locate the origin of the field, where he discovers a generator of some kind buried beneath the sand. Before O'Brien can investigate further, an arrow flies past his head. Vinod chases O'Brien, who manages to outsmart the younger man and brings him back to the village.
O'Brien opens the punishment box with his now-functional phaser and reveals to the colonists that the field was artificially created. However, when Sisko attempts to contact their runabout he finds it missing. Alixus emerges and admits that she destroyed the runabout and created the duonetic field, but she defends her actions by justifying them with the way in which each of the colonists has discovered potential they did not know they had. When Kira and Dax arrive, Sisko and O'Brien assume the colonists want to come with them, but Joseph intervenes:
"It's time for those of us who don't belong here to leave," Alixus says, and with that she, Vinod, O'Brien, and Sisko beam up. As the colonists go about their business, two young children are left staring at the point where the four vanished, having never seen anything like that in their entire life.
Episode
An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
of the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
.
Oveview
Sisko and O'Brien find themselves stranded on a world, populated by survivors of a shipwrecked expedition, where none of their devices will function.Plot
While on a reconnaissance mission of star systems near the Bajoran wormhole, O'BrienMiles O'Brien (Star Trek)
Miles Edward O'Brien, played by Colm Meaney, is Chief of Operations in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Before DS9, he appeared as a recurring transporter chief in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
and Sisko
Benjamin Sisko
Benjamin Lafayette Sisko, played by Avery Brooks, is the main character of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Early life and career:...
discover human life signs on an uncharted planet. Beaming to the surface, they suddenly discover that a duonetic energy field has disabled all of their electronic devices. They meet Joseph and Vinod, part of a group of colonists who became stranded ten years ago in a similar fashion. Sisko reassures them and the other colonists that someone will find the runabout in orbit, the leader of the colonists and Vinod's mother, Alixus, announces that she is proud of what they have accomplished and intends to stay.
As Kira
Kira Nerys
Kira Nerys , played by Nana Visitor, is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Backstory:Per Bajoran custom, her family name, Kira, precedes her given name, Nerys. She has two brothers , and her parents' names are Kira Taban and Kira Meru...
and Dax
Jadzia Dax
Jadzia Dax , played by Terry Farrell, was a main character during the first six seasons of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine....
search for Sisko and O'Brien, Sisko discovers that prior to becoming stranded, Alixus was a philosopher and critic of mankind's dependence on technology. Meanwhile, O'Brien searches for something he could use to contact the runabout, but Joseph admits that the colonists threw away all of their technological devices. Although he was the last "convert" to accept Alixus's philosophy, Joseph is pleased with what he and the others have accomplished.
One of the colonists, Meg, is dying and could potentially be cured with the runabout's medical supplies, but when Sisko and O'Brien discuss possible methods of contacting the runabout, Alixus takes Sisko outside. She tells him that such talk is not productive; he disagrees and she tells him that he will eventually have to do things her way. Leaving him, Alixus suggests Sisko take off his uniform, as it gets hot in the afternoon. Sisko joins the other men in the field, but the opening of a metal box
The Box (torture)
The box, also known as a hot box or sweatbox, is a method of solitary confinement used in humid and arid regions as a method of punishment. Anyone placed in one would experience extreme heat, dehydration, heat exhaustion, even death, depending on when and how long one was kept in one...
takes their attention away from their work.
A young man named Stephen emerges from the box, barely alive, having been put there the day before for stealing a candle. Alixus insists that such methods of punishment are effective and were approved by the entire community, including Stephen. That night, a colonist named Cassandra attempts to seduce
Seduction
In social science, seduction is the process of deliberately enticing a person to engage. The word seduction stems from Latin and means literally "to lead astray". As a result, the term may have a positive or negative connotation...
Sisko. When confronted about it, Alixus admits that she sent Cassandra but attempts to rationalize her behavior, which Sisko calls contemptible. She then assigns him to stand watch the rest of the night.
The next day, Alixus asks Sisko if he will be able to work his regular shift in the field. O'Brien objects, angrily noting that Sisko has just finished standing watch at her request, and she reassures Sisko that it is okay if he cannot work. However, Sisko insists on working his regular shift. Alixus suggests "some more comfortable clothes" for the task. Meanwhile, Kira and Dax discover Sisko and O'Brien's runabout aimlessly travelling at low warp
Warp drive (Star Trek)
Warp drive is a faster-than-light propulsion system in the setting of many science fiction works, most notably Star Trek. A spacecraft equipped with a warp drive may travel at velocities greater than that of light by many orders of magnitude, while circumventing the relativistic problem of time...
.
Alixus informs the village that Meg has died and notes that no one was prouder of what the village has accomplished than she was, using this as a segue by which to announce that O'Brien has been discovered "defiling her memory." She announces that O'Brien was "wasting precious time" trying to activate his technological devices and, as his commanding officer, Sisko is placed in the punishment box. Once his punishment period is over, Alixus offers him water — if he will change out of his uniform. She leaves him alone with a change of clothes, but shortly thereafter he re-emerges still in his uniform. Sisko staggers toward the box and climbs inside.
Dax and Kira work on a way to find the runaway runabout's point of origin as O'Brien continues to work on a way to bypass the duonetic field. Joseph warns him but agrees to look the other way. O'Brien uses an improvised compass
Compass
A compass is a navigational instrument that shows directions in a frame of reference that is stationary relative to the surface of the earth. The frame of reference defines the four cardinal directions – north, south, east, and west. Intermediate directions are also defined...
to locate the origin of the field, where he discovers a generator of some kind buried beneath the sand. Before O'Brien can investigate further, an arrow flies past his head. Vinod chases O'Brien, who manages to outsmart the younger man and brings him back to the village.
O'Brien opens the punishment box with his now-functional phaser and reveals to the colonists that the field was artificially created. However, when Sisko attempts to contact their runabout he finds it missing. Alixus emerges and admits that she destroyed the runabout and created the duonetic field, but she defends her actions by justifying them with the way in which each of the colonists has discovered potential they did not know they had. When Kira and Dax arrive, Sisko and O'Brien assume the colonists want to come with them, but Joseph intervenes:
- "Miles, this is our home. Whatever Alixus may be guilty of, she did give us our community. I'm not sure if we'll leave the device on or off now that we know it's there. And we'll have to decide if we want to establish contact with the outside world. But Alixus is right: We have found something here that none of us is willing to give up."
"It's time for those of us who don't belong here to leave," Alixus says, and with that she, Vinod, O'Brien, and Sisko beam up. As the colonists go about their business, two young children are left staring at the point where the four vanished, having never seen anything like that in their entire life.