Rivals

Stardate not given: A new face arrives on DS9’s Promenade, an open face with an apparently big heart, enough to listen through any hard luck story and comfort the person telling it. Unknown to his increasingly large number of friends, however, Martus is simply gathering information and awaiting his opportunity. When he finds a way to open an entertainment center that steals Quark’s clientele, Quark begins to suspect that his luck has run out. Little does he know…

teleplay by Michael Piller & Jim Trombetta
story by Joe Menosky
directed by David Livingston
music by Jay Chattaway

Cast: Avery Brooks (Commander Benjamin Sisko), Rene Auberjonois (Odo), Siddig El Fadil (Dr. Julian Bashir), Terry Farrell (Lt. Jadzia Dax), Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko), Colm Meaney (Chief O’Brien), Armin Shimerman (Quark), Nana Visitor (Major Kira Nerys), Chris Sarandon (Martus), Lawrence Monoson (Hovath), Rosalind Chao (Keiko), Barbara Bosson (Roana), K. Callan (Alsia), Max Grodenchik (Rom), Albert Henderson (Cos)

Notes: The character of Martus was originally intended to be, and was even teased in pre-season publicity as, the son of Enterprise bartender Guinan. This was finally changed to Martus simply being an El-Aurian, the same race as Guinan, though in any case this episode wasn’t even the first place that term was heard either – Star Trek: Generations identified Guinan’s species before this episode aired.