Takeny Ghemor, who considers Kira to be his daughter, arrives on DS9 and confesses that is dying. Ghemor wishes to commence the Shri-tal with Kira, a Cardassian ritual in which a dying person reveals their closest secrets to the rest of the family. But the experience dredges up Kira's memories of her own father, who suffered a fatal injury during the Occupation of Bajor.

Dax and Worf accompany Martok on his first command since being held by the Dominion. But the ship they are given hasn't seen victory in months and the crew is near mutinous, forcing Worf to decide between loyalty to his commander and loyalty to his crew.