Meridian

Stardate 48423.2: Exploring the Gamma Quadrant, the Defiant arrives at a planetless star just in time to see an entire planet appear from nowhere. Its inhabitants seem friendly, and invite Sisko, Dax and O’Brien to beam down and visit. They discover that the planet Meridian and its peaceful inhabitants spend sixty years in a non-corporeal form, and emerge into solidity for only a few days at a time. The crew sets about trying to find out why Meridian disappears, and discover a possible way of keeping the planet around longer the next time it reappears in physical form. During the extended visit, Dax falls in love with Daral, but Meridian will be gone again before its existence in either plane can be stabilized, and Dax wants to stay with Daral – whether it means him leaving Meridian, or Dax shifting into a non-corporeal life form with the rest of the planet’s residents.

teleplay by Mark Gehred O’Connell
story by Hilary J. Bader & Evan Carlos Somers
directed by Jonathan Frakes
music by Dennis McCarthy

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), Brett Cullen (Daral), Christine Healy (Selten), Jeffrey Combs (Teron), Mark Humphrey (Child)