“Strange Bedfellows” is episode nineteen of season seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
In the previous episode, “‘Til Death Do Us Part”, Sisko had married Kasidy Yates despite warnings from the Prophets that this was a bad idea. Ezri and Worf had been handed over to the Dominion by the Breen, as the Dominion and the Breen are forming an Alliance. And Gul Dukat, disguised as a Bajoran, had insinuated himself into Kai Winn’s life as he matched up with things that the Kai saw in her vision from the Prophets. Which vision was probably sent by the Pah-wraiths, who, with Dukat, are deceiving Kai Winn. She has also become attracted to Dukat as a result; Winn’s arrogance and self-importance may finally be about to cause serious problems.
This episode opens on board the Breen ship. The female Changeling, who is still very well, transforms herself with an effort before meeting with the Breen. She tells them that, should the face to face meetings go as well as did their subspace communications – this is presumably why she asked for a secure comlink in “Penumbra” – she sees no problem in signing the treaty.
Damar did not know about the communications or the treaty. He is also not happy that the treaty requires the Cardassian Union to make unspecified territorial concessions to the Breen Confederacy. Concessions which he isn’t even allowed to know. The Breen, along with Ezri and Worf, head back to Cardassia Prime on the Jem’Hadar ship.
Ezri and Worf (whose relationship is still prickly) will be tried and executed on Cardassia unless they help Weyoun. Who makes a fatal mistake and gets his neck snapped by Worf as a result; something that Damar finds highly amusing. Although he does point out that the Founders will simply grow another Weyoun clone – which they do, Weyoun Eight – and that Worf should have killed Damar himself instead. Damar, however, is becoming increasingly unhappy about how the Dominion is treating the Cardassians.
On DS9, General Martok speaks to Sisko about the war on the domestic front – Sisko’s recent marriage. For Martok says it is a war, even though it would seem to be one he enjoys. Kasidy is having difficulty adjusting to how her Bajoran crew are treating her now that she is the wife, not simply the girlfriend, of the Emissary of the Prophets.
Kai Winn is getting increasingly close to Gul Dukat, until she has another vision from the Prophets. Only this time they reveal that they are the Pah-wraiths. The Kai is horrified by this (yet never questions Dukat’s presence; surely she must have realised that the Pah-wraiths sent him?) and vows to do whatever it takes to regain the faith of the Prophets. Then Gul Dukat gives her a ‘Turn to the Dark Side’ speech. Will Kai Winn actually do whatever it takes to regain the Prophets’ trust? Such will require sacrifice, which is not something that suits her personality.