25. Cardassians

Summary

Garak is curious about the background of Rugal, a Cardassian orphan being raised by a Bajoran, Proka. Charges that Proka is abusing Rugal lead to an investigation, although Rugal hates other Cardassians and wants to stay with Proka. Garak and Bashir go to Bajor and learn that Rugal is the son of Pa'Dar, an exarch during the Occupation who advocated withdrawal, thus opposing Gul Dukat, who concocted an elaborate ruse to make Pa'Dar leave his son behind as dead. When it is learned that Pa'Dar "abandoned" Rugal to be raised by Bajorans, he will be ruined. Garak and Bashir confront Dukat, and Sisko rules that Rugal will go home with Pa'Dar.

Summary provided by The DS9 Encyclopedia and Lexicon by kind permission of Tracy Hemenover.