Chimera
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 15 February 1999
- ON
- First-run syndication
- STARDATE
- None given
- DIRECTED BY
- Steve Posey
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 564
WRITTEN BYWritten by René Echevarria
Odo meets Laas, another of the infant Changelings sent out into the galaxy, who has lived among humanoids for centuries and offers Odo a very different future.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
Returning from a conference, Odo and O'Brien encounter Laas, a Changeling who, like Odo, was one of the Hundred sent out as infants by the Founders. Laas has never met the Founders and knows nothing of the Dominion. Once he is cleared of the Founders' disease, Sisko lets him stay on the station under Odo's supervision. Laas has lived for two centuries and holds humanoids in contempt, and he cannot understand why Odo clings to a solid form. The two link, and Laas sees that Kira is what keeps Odo on the station. He urges Odo to leave with him and search for others of the Hundred. Tensions explode when Laas, taking the form of fog on the Promenade, is confronted by Klingons and kills one in self-defence. Facing prosecution, he is quietly freed by Kira, who will not hold Odo through obligation. Odo chooses to stay, and shows Kira his love by surrounding her in a glowing golden form.
- 01Laas is played by J.G. Hertzler, Martok himself. He chose to be credited as Garman Hertzler, his middle name, so Laas would be seen as distinct from Martok.
- 02The producers wanted an established actor who could match René Auberjonois's performance. Hertzler tried to disguise his voice, but many viewers still recognised it.
- 03Laas is the second of the Hundred, the infant Changelings sent out by the Founders, to be seen on screen, after Odo himself.