6. Captive Pursuit

Summary

A ship comes through the wormhole, damaged and barely functioning. Sisko persuades its uneasy pilot to cut his engines so he can be towed to the docking ring and his ship repaired. O'Brien goes to the ship to find it empty...its occupant (who has the ability to make himself invisible) surprises him as he examines the engines. All the newcomer will say in response to the Chief's inquiries is "I am Tosk." The Chief shows him to quarters and tries to find out as much as he can about the mysterious, reticent stranger...which isn't much. He determines that Tosk lied about the damage to his ship, he was actually shot at, but the Chief intuits that Tosk has no hostile or criminal intent...a supposition tested when Odo finds Tosk trying to bypass the security around the weapons locker. Sisko questions him, but still all he will say is "I am Tosk," as if that explains everything. Soon, a similar ship comes through the wormhole, forcibly collapses DS9's shields, and beams three armed, helmeted people onto the Promenade. The crew provides little deterrent to their superior weapons and they find Tosk in security. Upon removing his helmet, the leader is revealed to be of Tosk's species. It comes out that this is a hunt, and Tosk is the prey. At first outraged that any society would hunt a sentient being, Sisko finds himself in a Prime Directive dilemma when the leader further explains that Tosk are greatly honored in their society, and that they condition and train their whole lives for the hunt...and that their entire reason for living is to die with honor. This Tosk, because he's been captured alive, will be dishonored and ridiculed. Tosk refuses to request asylum and Sisko has no choice but to release him to the Hunters. O'Brien helps Tosk escape the Hunters and gets him to his ship...and the hunt resumes.

Analysis

It's Episode 6, and at last we get an original, well-executed storyline. I have been known to pontificate upon the differences between TNG and DS9, and I think one of the most important ones is that DS9 plotlines tend to avoid TNG's tendency to have the characters and plotlines impose Federation morals and beliefs upon alien cultures, or at least to portray them as the only reasonable way of living. This episode does a nice job of showing that although the Hunters' culture, and Tosk's willingness to accept his role in it, may be against our own perceptions, that does not make it invalid...to the point of having one of the crew help Tosk resume his destiny. Tosk himself is a very interesting character. At first so mysterious and perhaps dangerous, the Chief feels what we feel...that he exudes nobility and integrity, and as such is inherently trustworthy. When we hear how his dishonor will be viewed on his home planet, we cannot imagine a worse fate for an individual with such an intrinsic dignity. For once, the aliens outmatch our heroes (though I find it hard to believe that Odo could be dispatched with a hard punch...wouldn't the fist just go right through him?) and the way they're written, the Hunters and Tosk both, they give the sense of having a complete culture and backstory without ever really saying as much. I enjoy the fact that they're completely unfazed at meeting the Great Federation and express no curiosity whatsoever about where they are and who these people are. A nice switch from the Federation-centric attitudes that tend to creep in. I think this is probably the second-best episode of the first season, after Duet.

Rating: 9.5

Memorable Quote:

"I have no need for fantasy adventure. I live the greatest adventure one could ever desire." -Tosk

Classic Scene:

Sisko's caught between his desire to help Tosk retain his honor and the constraints of the Prime Directive and he solves the dilemma nicely...when they detect that O'Brien is helping Tosk escape Odo starts off to catch him, but Sisko casually says "There's no rush, Constable." Everyone suppresses smiles as Odo strolls slowly to the turbolift, taking his sweet time.

Sexually Slanted Line 'O the Episode:

Kira: You might wanna take this.
Odo: Thanks, Major, you know I never use them.

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