“Afterimage” is episode three of season seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
In the precious episode, “Shadows and Symbols”, Sisko had successfully found the Orb of the Emissary – despite the Pah-wraith trying to distract him by making him think he was Benny Russell from “Far Beyond the Stars”. It also tuned out that one of the wormhole aliens had inhabited Sisko’s real mother, to ensure that he would be born. Which means that he has a very old connection with Bajor. Opening the Orb of the Emissary released this Prophet, who entered the wormhole and ejected – and as a result, killed by the looks of it – the Pah-wraith who entered it in “Tears of the Prophets”. The wormhole has reappeared and Sisko is back on the station. Along with Ezri Dax. Which may cause problems, particularly with Worf, who also succeeded in his mission, along with General Martok, O’Brien, Dr. Bashir and Quark, to dedicate a great victory in Jadzia’s name by destroying a Dominion shipyard.
The episode opens with Ezri standing next to Morn, overlooking the Promenade. Ezri is telling Morn how she feels very familiar with the place, even though she has never been there before. And Morn doesn’t know who she is. Ezri enters the temple where Jadzia was killed and Kira enters afterwards. Ezri knows that Kira is uncomfortable around her.
At Quark’s, Ezri is talking to him, and saying that she thinks that bloodwine smells awful. Ezri is planning to go back to the Destiny as the assistant counsellor, as only Captain Sisko and Quark of all of Jadzia’s friends seem comfortable around her (Ezri also remembers that Quark owes her money). Sisko is likely okay with Ezri, as he’s already been through this once before with Curzon and Jadzia, and Quark… well, Quark thinks he’s got another chance with Dax. Sisko would like her to stay on the station.
Garak is decoding Cardassian transmissions for Starfleet Intelligence, but he’s got a problem. Garak has always suffered from claustrophobia, but recently it’s gotten worse, to the point of collapsing on the floor gasping for air. Space stations are perhaps not the best place for claustrophobics. This is making Garak unable to work at decoding messages, so Dr. Bashir says he needs his head examining. As it happens, they have a counsellor (well, assistant counsellor) on the station. Ezri’s first session with Garak is rather unusual, as both have problems. Ezri is still struggling to cope with the addition of 300 years of memories, and she’s gained space sickness as a result.
Worf is definitely having problems dealing with Ezri. Sisko suggests that it’s perhaps because of the Trill custom (that cropped up in “Rejoined”) about new hosts not getting involved with those people a previous host was involved with. Ezri says it’s not that, as that doesn’t mean that she and Worf can’t be friends. Worf does not seem to want to have anything to do with Ezri, but his feelings are a little more… complicated than that.
The episode is about Ezri, and Jadzia’s friends, coming to terms with the change.