Stardate: 46423.7. The crew and civilian population of Deep Space Nine begin to gabble when a plague, engineered by the Bajorans as a weapon against the Cardassians, accidentally gets released into the station's atmosphere.

Stardate: Unknown. Dr. Bashir fights to save Garak's life when a device implanted in his brain, designed to alleviate pain in the event of torture, begins to malfunction and is slowly killing him.

Stardate: 48498.4. Dr. Bashir must use extraordinary measures to prolong Vedek Bareil's life long enough to allow Bareil to complete sensitive peace negotiations between the Bajorans and the Cardassians.

Stardate: Unknown. After being attacked in the infirmary, Dr. Bashir has a dual mystery on his hands: what has happened to the station while he was out and why is he aging so rapidly now?