Bashir convinces Sisko to let the savants stay so Sarina will have familiar faces while he finalizes his treatment. Sarina's modifications enhanced her brain power far beyond what her senses can process, creating a disconnect that renders her unable to interact with the world. Bashir works out a way to improve her neural pathways, but even O'Brien can't figure out a way to modify their existing machinery to do what Bashir needs. Luckily, the savants whip up a new machine to meet the task. They perform the surgery, but Sarina doesn't seem affected. Bashir takes her on a walk around the promenade, and she begins looking around. When Bashir asks what she's looking at, she responds, "Everything!"
Sarina is amazed that she can speak and interact with the world after so long. She joins her savant friends, but Jack is annoyed by her marble-mouthed way of speaking, so he leads the group in a singalong to fix her speech. As Bashir watches Sarina sing, he falls instantly in love with her. Bashir and Sarina spend some time together, and Sarina solves the virus that Bashir was working on. When he leaves for work, she tries to hang out with the other savants but realizes that she doesn't fit in with them anymore. When Bashir returns, he finds Sarina imitating her previous catatonic state because the savants are more comfortable with her that way.
After a fashion makeover courtesy of Lauren, Sarina goes on a triple date with Bashir and his friends, and she impresses everyone with her thoughtful and empathetic observations of them. Looking out at the stars, Sarina wonders which point of light she'll visit next, and Bashir asks her why she needs to go anywhere before kissing her. The savants figure out that Sarina won't be returning home with them and get offended, but Bashir has big plans for his new girlfriend, including a vacation on Risa. Sarina seems uncertain about how fast things are going and is still figuring out how to process the stimulation around her. Even O'Brien advises Bashir to slow down, but Bashir is too smitten, telling Miles how long he's waited to meet someone else like him, a genetically enhanced person who can function in society.
When Sarina misses their date, Bashir seeks her out and finds her unresponsive once again. He can't figure out what went wrong, but the savants fill him in: She's not catatonic, she's just choosing not to react. Bashir pleads with her to open up to him and let him help her. Coming back to life, she admits that she is confused about what she should feel but knows that she owes everything to Bashir and wants to be the woman he wants her to be. Bashir realizes that he's been smothering her before she's able to process her role in the world. He arranges for her to leave the station and take an internship on a science station so she can have the time and space to figure herself out. At the airlock, Bashir bids Sarina farewell and promises to never forget her.
Tropes
- Aborted Arc: In her previous episode, Sarina's secret was that she had a crush on Jack. This is never mentioned in this episode.
- Adult Child: Patrick still behaves like a child, while Jack and Lauren are more like teens than adults.
- Ascended Extra: Sarina does little more than stare blankly throughout her first episode, but she carries this episode. The contrast between her roles in each episode was so stark that the producers required the actress to re-audition for the character she'd already played just to make sure she was up to the task.
- Bavarian Fire Drill: How the Jack Pack gets back on Deep Space Nine. They dress Patrick up as an admiral and have him say "That's a stupid question!" if anybody tries to stop them. It works.
- Beautiful Singing Voice: For all their personality foibles, all of the savants are excellent singers, and they sing scales to help Sarina correct her pronunciation.
- Birds of a Feather: This is why Julian believes he and Sarina are perfect for each other, since they are both genetically augmented and, unlike the other savants, capable of normal social interaction.
- Continuity Nod:
- Sisko hasn't forgotten what happened the last time the savants came aboard the station, namely their attempt to give classified intelligence to the Dominion.
- Jack performs another gymnastic spring, just like he did in his previous episode to demonstrate his physical augmentation.
- Lauren mostly stands during the episode, but she finds a few moments to sprawl across the couch like she did throughout her previous episode.
- The savants attempt to recreate the quarters they received the first time they were on the station, even arguing about the exact placement of the couch.
- Crazy Enough to Work: You wouldn't think dressing up as an admiral and saying "That's a stupid question" would fool people, but it does. Gets a Call-Back later.
- The End Is Nigh: Displayed while the Jack Pack try and prevent the death of the universe in a few trillion years.Jack: The fact is that the universe is going to stop expanding and it is going to collapse in on itself. We've got to do something before it's too late.Patrick: How much time do we have left?Jack: Sixty trillion years, seventy at the most.Patrick: Oh, no.
- "Flowers for Algernon" Syndrome: What appears to be happening with Sarina. Subverted as she turns out to just be unsure about her feelings for Bashir.
- Impersonating an Officer: The three speaking savants impersonate Starfleet officers to sneak Sarina aboard the station. Sisko is not pleased once he hears about it.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Bashir only realizes at the end how utterly foolish he's been, rapidly pursuing a relationship with his patient and causing her to retreat back inside herself.
- Obvious Stunt Double: Jack's front flip is very obviously performed by a stuntman.
- Pygmalion Plot: Bashir falls for Sarina after making her able to speak and respond to stimuli for the first time, and even tells O'Brien that she's his ideal woman.
- Relationship Upgrade: A particularly egregious example, with Bashir and Sarina. It doesn't go well.
- She Cleans Up Nicely: Once Sarina breaks out of her catatonia, she loses the greenish pallor in her face and suddenly becomes much more attractive. Bashir notices the difference when she starts singing. She's portrayed as even more attractive once Lauren gives her a makeover.
- Suddenly Voiced: Sarina, much to everyone's astonishment, including hers.Bashir: Sarina? What are you looking at?Sarina (slowly): Ev... ry... thing.
- Swiss-Cheese Security: The savants are able to bluff their way onto a Starfleet ship and travel to Deep Space 9, apparently with little difficulty.
- Took a Level in Kindness: Jack is much more mellow this time around. The fact that he's gone through great lengths to help Sarina in this episode is a far cry from his introduction, when he threatens to snap her neck over a triviality. Even his most rude moment, when he criticizes Sarina's pronunciation, is quickly followed by him leading a cooperative singalong that promptly fixes her problem, much to her delight.
- Verbal Tic: Jack's verbal tic of saying "Hmm? Hmm?" after making a statement is present but much more subdued than before.
- When She Smiles: In sharp contrast to the vacant, haunting stare she wore permanently in her cataleptic state, Sarina's eyes positively light up when she begins smiling.
- The World Is Just Awesome: Sarina feels this way about all of her new experiences, which causes Bashir to appreciate things like the sound of a tricorder in a whole new light as well.
