Vortex (episode)

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference

"Vortex"
DS9, Episode 1x12 Production number: 40511-412 First aired: 18 April 1993
←	11th of 173 produced in DS9	→
←	11th of 173 released in DS9	→
	{{{nNthReleasedInSeries_Remastered}}}th of 173 released in DS9 Remastered
←	263rd of 727 released in all	→
Written By Sam Rolfe Directed By Winrich Kolbe
Unknown (2369)
	Arc: {{{wsArc0Desc}}} ({{{nArc0PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc0PartCount}}})
	Arc: {{{wsArc1Desc}}} ({{{nArc1PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc1PartCount}}})
	Arc: {{{wsArc2Desc}}} ({{{nArc2PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc2PartCount}}})
	Arc: {{{wsArc3Desc}}} ({{{nArc3PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc3PartCount}}})
	Arc: {{{wsArc4Desc}}} ({{{nArc4PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc4PartCount}}})

For the Xindi propulsion technology, see subspace vortex.

A fugitive attempts to trade evidence about Odo's people for freedom.

Contents 1 Summary 2 Memorable quotes 3 Background Information 3.1 Video and DVD releases 4 Links and references 4.1 Guest stars 4.2 Co-star 4.3 Uncredited co-stars 4.4 References 4.5 External links

[edit] Summary

Ah-Kel and Ro-Kel, a pair of Miradorn twins, arrive on Deep Space 9 to offer an expensive item to Quark. Quark expresses concern that it was stolen but just as he does, another man enters the room, Croden, and demands to be given the item at gunpoint. One of Quark's waiters drops his tray of glasses, one of which reforms into Odo as it hits the floor. Croden fires his gun at Ro-Kel, killing him. Before Ah-Kel gets a chance to fight back Odo hauls Croden away to the security office.

Ah-Kel, furious about his twin's death, vows vengeance against Croden. However, as Croden is still being held in the brig, Ah-Kel returns to his ship in frustration. Odo visits Croden who tells him stories he'd heard about Changelings, something which piques Odo's attention. He goes on to tell Odo that the Changelings live in an unusual nebula in the Gamma Quadrant. Croden then shows Odo an unusual pendant containing a miniature Changeling.

Using the Rio Grande, Commander Sisko and Lieutenant Dax locate Croden's homeworld and speak to Hadran, the Exarch of Nehelik Province. It transpires that Croden is wanted for multiple crimes on his planet and Hadran demands his immediate return to face execution.

Odo is ordered to return Croden to his homeworld, but decides to pass through the nebula en route. Just before the Ganges gets to the nebula the Miradorn ship catches up with them and start firing at the runabout. (Listen^file info) Odo takes the ship into the nebula to evade them for a while. Croden directs Odo to a small planetoid, but when they arrive there are no Changelings present. Croden heads to a stasis chamber and revives his daughter Yareth. On the way back to the runabout, the Miradorn vessel fires at them and Odo is knocked out. Croden goes back for him and rescues him.

While leaving the planetoid, Odo leads the Miradorn ship into a pocket of volatile toh-maire gas. Just before the runabout is fired upon, Odo moves the it out of the way. The gas ignites, damaging the Miradorn ship.

A Vulcan ship, the T'Vran, intercepts the runabout Ganges and asks if they can be of any assistance. Odo asks if they would take the two Rakhari back to Vulcan with them. They agree and Croden thanks Odo for his kindness and for saving his life.

[edit] Memorable quotes

"The usual, Odo?"
"Nothing."
"The usual."

- Quark and Odo

"Whoever you are--you're making a mistake."
"Well, it wouldn't be the first and probably won't be the last. Give that to me."

- Ro-Kel and Croden

"Five glasses... for four people... !?"

- Quark, after he realizes that Odo was masquerading as a glass

"Have you known any twinned Miradorn, commander?"
"I'm afraid I haven't met any before now."
"In my species, we are not just twin brothers... together we are a self... two halves of one being. I am incomplete now."

- Ah-Kel, to Commander Sisko

"You could've left me behind."
"Don't thank me, I already regret it."

- Odo and Croden

"Morn should keep his big mouth shut!"
"..."

- Quark and Morn

"Home? Where is it? Some day we'll know... cousin."

- Odo, looking at the Croden's pendant

[edit] Background Information

• Peter Allan Fields' original idea for this episode was based upon the 1953 Anthony Mann movie The Naked Spur and, as such, Fields hired that movie's writer, Sam Rolfe, to do the teleplay. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)
• Randy Oglesby portrays both of the Miradorn twins. He played several other characters in various Star Trek series, including Silaran Prin in the DS9 Season 5 episode "The Darkness and the Light" and the recurring role of Degra in the third season of Star Trek: Enterprise.
• Morn is first identified by name in this episode. It is also in this episode that the notion that he talks too much is introduced, something that became a running joke for the duration of the series.
• This episode marks the first time that we see Odo smile. Actor Rene Auberjonois felt that this scene was an important one in the development of the character, believing that "a smile is sort of a gift that Odo gives only on very special occasions." (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion) This is also the first episode in which the term "Changeling" is used to describe Odo.
• The exterior visuals of the Chamra Vortex are re-used shots of the Mutara Nebula from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, recolored slightly and flipped upside-down.
• According to Robert Hewitt Wolfe, Odo's line "I'm a security chief, not a combat pilot" is a tribute to Leonard McCoy's running line in Star Trek: The Original Series, "I'm a doctor, not a...." (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)
• In the shot in which Rom places the bottle of langour onto the drinks tray, we see that there are now five glasses instead of four. The script highlighted the change, and directed that the camera focus on the fifth glass in homage to Alfred Hitchcock's 1946 film Notorious. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion (CD))
• The Miradorn makeup was one of makeup supervisor Michael Westmore's favorite designs from the first season of Deep Space Nine. In particular, Westmore liked the throat area. Originally, the throat had been designed with a loose flap of skin hanging down over the Adam's apple. However, costume designer Robert Blackman wanted to use a necklace as part of the Miradorn costume, but Westmore felt that to place a necklace over the flap of skin would render it useless and spoil the effect. As such, it was decided to let the necklace run under the flap of skin, and glue the skin down at the bottom, so it was no longer loose. (Michael Westmore's Aliens: Season One, DS9 Season 1 DVD, Special Features)
• Croden did speak some truth about the Changelings – they did live in an unusual nebula in the Gamma Quadrant, on a rogue planet within the Omarion Nebula ("The Search, Part II")
• Gordon Clapp's costume from this episode was sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay and maybe re-used in Star Trek Generations. [1]

[edit] Video and DVD releases

• UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 6, 4 October 1993.
• As part of the DS9 Season 1 DVD collection.

[edit] Links and references

[edit] Guest stars

• Cliff deYoung as Croden
• Randy Oglesby as Ah-Kel and Ro-Kel
• Max Grodénchik as Rom
• Gordon Clapp as Hadran
• Kathleen Garrett as Vulcan captain
• Leslie Engelberg as Yareth

[edit] Co-star

• Majel Barrett as the computer voice

[edit] Uncredited co-stars

• Michael Zurich as a Bajoran security deputy

[edit] References

Ah-Kel and Ro-Kel's raider; Altoran; Chamra Vortex; Changeling; Ganges, USS; Klingon; langour; latinum; Miradorn; Miradorn raider; Rakhar; Rakhari; Rakhari shuttlecraft; Rio Grande, USS; Rigelian freighter; shapeshifting locket; T'Vran; Theta-class; toh-maire; Vanoben transport

[edit] External links

• Vortex (episode) at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Vortex (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) at Wikipedia

Previous episode: "The Nagus"

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1

Next episode: "Battle Lines"