“The Emperor’s New Cloak” is episode twelve of season seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Ezri is in Quark’s with Julian, and Quark is not happy about this. He’s jealous, and thinks that Odo should arrest Dr. Bashir. Then Rom rushes in and says that their mother has contacted her. The Grand Nagus has disappeared; he had said he was going away for 5 days, to look for new business propositions, and that was 12 days ago. Quark thinks that Rom is overreacting, and that the Nagus is fine. And probably relaxing on Risa.
That evening, Quark is saying his prayers – which involves paying money as a bribe – and, as well as for business success, is asking for Julian to be absent from the station for a few months and help Quark progress with Ezri. When Ezri arrives at Quark’s door, it seems like a very quick answer to his prayers. Ezri is dressed, and made up, rather unusually, and is also acting rather strangely. And pulls a knife on Quark – because it isn’t Dax.
It seems she’s carrying a message from the Grand Nagus. Ezri has been sent to get Quark’s help by the Nagus – and it is Ezri. The Nagus is trapped in the alternate universe; this is Ezri, but mirror Ezri. The Nagus is being held prisoner by the Alliance. The Nagus will be released by the Regent in exchange for a ship cloaking device – it seems they lack them in the alternate universe. Which Zek considers a missed opportunity for profit, and wishes he’d known. Mirror Ezri is acting on the Regent’s behalf, not the Nagus’, and if Quark doesn’t secure a cloaking device in three days, the Nagus will die.
So Quark gets Rom’s help to steal a cloaking device from a Klingon Bird of Prey. The cloaking device is itself cloaked whilst they are carrying it, although it is still heavy. Captain Sisko and General Martok stumble across them during the theft, but don’t notice the cloaking device. Although they are heading for the ship it was stolen from. In order to make sure that the Nagus is released, Quark and Rom accompany her back to the mirror universe. Just as Martok arrives having found the cloaking device was missing.
As they arrive on Terok Nor, Ezri says they need to hurry, for this is a rebel base and they are working for the Alliance. At which point Vic Fontaine enters – and it seems he’s real – only to be followed by some others, including Bashir. Who kills Vic. Bashir is not happy about the idea of the Alliance getting a cloaking device.
O’Brien and Bashir aren’t going to give the cloaking device to the Alliance. Bashir says they are traitors, but it seems Ezri is more of a mercenary than anything. Quark won’t return home with the Nagus, but they aren’t going to be able to exchange the cloaking device for the Nagus. Mirror Kira, who is also imprisoned, is making friends with the Nagus. For she will be released too, in exchange for the cloaking device.
Quark and Ezri have a discussion about why he is helping the Nagus. Ezri believes in working for money – as does Quark – but the latter isn’t expecting to get paid for this. Then Brunt arrives and breaks them out of the brig. Mirror Brunt, who is much nicer – which Rom and Quark find scary. He also has the cloaking device. Rom is finding the alternate universe confusing. The Regent is Worf and Garak is his advisor. Quark is concerned about being double-crossed, and he’s right to be concerned.