Chimera (episode)

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Odo meets another of the hundred Changelings who were sent out to explore the galaxy.

Summary

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O'Brien and Constable Odo are re-entering the Bajoran system in a runabout, having just attended a conference somewhere. Odo purchased a "knickknack" for Kira, as well as Rigelian chocolates (her favorite), serving to remind O'Brien that he failed to get anything for Keiko. He half-seriously offers to buy the chocolates. As Odo apologetically refuses, an alarm goes off; something is gaining on the runabout from behind. It appears to be a fish-like creature of some sort, but as it overtakes the vessel, it seems to disappear.

Shortly thereafter, a Changeling oozes out of a vent in the cockpit. It seems the Changeling sensed Odo's presence and came to investigate. While Miles believes the Changeling to be a Founder, Odo realizes he like Odo is one of "the 100", Changelings the Founders sent out to learn about the Milky Way Galaxy. Nonetheless, the Changeling (who does not trust "mono-forms") allows himself to be taken into custody so long as Odo vouches for his safety.

They return to Deep Space 9, where Dr. Bashir confirms that the Changeling's morphogenic matrix is as stable as Odo's rather than infected with the morphogenic virus that has infected the Founders' Great Link. Perhaps against Captain Sisko's better judgment, the Changeling is released into Odo's custody after he asks Sisko to trust him in this matter.

As the Changeling, Laas, walks along the Promenade with Odo, he tells of how he was discovered over 200 years prior by the Varalans, alone, as was Odo at first. He too "grew up" around humanoids, but now he does not trust them. Although Odo and Laas agree that the Founders' war with the Federation is wrong, Laas simply wishes to avoid humanoids altogether. When they get to Odo's quarters and Laas sees a picture of Kira, he tells of how he once had a Varalan mate, but having children was important to her and they ended their relationship. Then Odo links with Laas, allowing the other Changeling to experience the sensation for the first time. However, during the link Odo betrays his true feelings; were he not in love with Kira, he would have returned to the Great Link and become a Founder.

The next day, Kira finds Odo in the security office and is excited to hear about the Changeling, but Odo is still troubled by Laas' revelation. He is awkward in discussing the matter but does reveal that he linked with Laas. In any case, Kira expresses interest in meeting Laas, so they decide to meet up in Quark's.

Kira now sits with Bashir, O'Brien, and Ezri as they await Odo and Laas' arrival. Unfortunately, Laas' seems to thwart attempts at starting friendly conversation; he seems to think himself somehow superior to "mono-forms" and openly expresses his dislike for humanoids as he describes how Varalans are as disruptive to the balance of nature as any other civilization. A comment about not trusting mono-forms hits a sour note with O'Brien, who does not trust Changelings beside Odo. In Laas' eyes, O'Brien only trusts Odo because he has convinced him that Odo is a mono-form himself. After an awkward silence, Odo graciously leaves with Laas.

Back on the Promenade, Laas tries to get Odo to link with him in an attempt to prove how much Odo is embarrassed of his true nature. In Laas' eyes, Odo's desire to shapeshift only in private is evidence of how intolerant the creatures around them are. He proposes that he and Odo search for others of "the hundred" and form a new link, away from the Founders and their war. The idea obviously appeals to Odo.

In Kira's quarters, Odo tells her about Laas' idea and she begins to worry about his happiness. After all, linking allows one to know a person much more intimately than talking. She fears Laas knows something she does not. She expresses that she is sorry that she can't link with him, but Odo reassures her that it doesn't matter, that he loves her more than anything and has no desire to leave.

He returns to his quarters to find a fire – no, Laas – in the middle of the room. Laas promises to show Odo magnificent things, the likes of which he has never dreamed, but Odo intends to stay on DS9. Rather than leave, he believes Laas might like to stay as well, which Laas does "as a favor" to Odo.

Laas as fog on the Promenade in Chimera — Laas exists as fog on the Promenade, causing disruption and alarm

The next day, Bashir and O'Brien arrive on the Promenade to discover a thick layer of fog is covering the ground which leads them to believe that the environmental controls are acting up. Before O'Brien can leave to check the controls, Odo reassures them that everything is fine; the fog is actually Laas, who is relaxing. When they express displeasure, Odo's attitude is markedly different from before as he sees nothing wrong with Laas' actions. The other Changeling changes back to his normal state, but he has gained the attention of a pair of Klingon officers. One comes at Laas with a knife, but it goes through him and he uses his shapeshifting nature to create a long sword for himself. He proceeds to kill the other Klingon before the man can draw his own weapon.

Captain Sisko, Odo, and Worf meet in the captain's office to discuss the matter. In an unusual gesture, the Klingon Empire is pursuing diplomatic avenues to extradite Laas to their jurisdiction in order to prosecute him for killing one of their soldiers. There appears to be no motive for doing so (it is normally not an honorable thing to do) other than Laas' status as a Changeling. The matter is out of Sisko's hands until the magistrate can rule on it.

Quark heard what happened and confronts Odo. Odo defends Laas stating that if the Klingons attacked a humanoid instead of a changeling they would have been the ones arrested. Quark agrees, but he states that Laas' actions didn't help matters and what he did made others uncomfortable. Odo doesn't understand why since Laas was only doing what comes naturally to his species, but Quark points out that Odo never pulled that kind of stunt and explains to him that humanoids are instinctively frightened and intolerant to beings that do not have two arms and legs. Odo asks Quark if that should excuse the Klingons behavior. Quark replies that he is merely explaining why it happened, not excusing it. As Odo is left to ponder those words, Quark reminds him that most of the Alpha Quadrant is still at war with the Founders, and until that changes the last thing that anyone wants to see is a Changeling proudly expressing himself in public.

Thinking that Odo would rather travel with Laas, Kira frees him from his cell and gives him a way to escape the station. She claims that Laas used his shape-shifting abilities to escape, but privately reveals to Odo that she released him and that he is waiting for Odo on Koralis III.

When Odo arrives at Koralis III, he tells Laas that he has chosen to stay with Kira and that Laas' perspective on the 'solids' is wrong. Returning to Deep Space 9, he goes to Kira, and transforms to an intense light completely surrounding her while she revels in the experience feeling closer to her lover than ever.

Memorable quotes

"You've given up a great deal to remain here."
"Yes I have...But I won't have anything to do with the Founders and their war."
"Odo, we linked. I know the truth - you stayed here because of Kira. If it weren't for her, you would be with our people - war or no war, you would be a Founder!"

- Laas and Odo

"Of course you trust Odo. Look at him. You've convinced him that he is as limited as you are."
"Laas..."
"You've seen through our evil plan."
"Oops, foiled again."

- Laas, Odo, Ezri and Bashir

"Watch your step, Odo. We're at war with your people. This is no time for a 'Changeling Pride' demonstration on the promenade."

- Quark

"We humanoids are the product of millions of years of evolution. Our ancestors learned the hard way that what you don't know might kill you. They wouldn't have survived if they hadn't jumped back when they encountered a snake coiled in the muck. And now millions of years later, that instinct is still there."

- Quark

"What's he [Laas] doing?"
"Being fog. What does it look like?"
"Well, can't he 'be fog' somewhere else?"

- O'Brien and Odo

"They tolerate you, Odo, because you emulate them. What higher flattery is there? 'I, who can be anything, choose to be like you'?"

- Laas

"The truth is, I prefer the so-called primitive lifeforms. They exist as they were meant to, by following their instincts. No words to get in the way, no lies, no deceptions."

- Laas

"This is just a form I borrowed. I could just as easily be someone or something else."
"I know that. But this is what you have always chosen to be: a man, a good and honest man, a man I fell in love with. Are you trying to tell me he never existed?"
"I don't know. I care for you more than anyone I've ever known. These last few months have been the happiest of my life. But, even so, part of me wishes Laas and I were out there right now, searching for the others. Existing as Changelings. Because that's what I am."

- Odo and Kira

"Mine's bigger."

- Laas

"Don't be a fool. What are you holding on to? Even she [Kira] knows this is what's best for you. Why else would she have helped me escape?"
"You really don't know, do you? You've no idea what it means to love someone enough to let them go."
"She let you go so that you could find out where you belong."
"I know where I belong."

- Laas and Odo

"You've done many things, been many things, but you've never known love."
"Compared to the Link, it is a pale shadow. A feeble attempt to compensate for the isolation that mono-forms feel because they are trapped within themselves."
"Perhaps the fact that it's not easy is what makes it worthwhile."

- Odo and Laas

Background information

Story and script

This episode originated in the writers' desire to indicate to viewers, before they got into the final ten-hour, nine-episode arc, that Odo was deeply conflicted about his attitude to the Founders, and that despite all they'd done, he still wished to be with them a great deal. René Echevarria felt that Odo's decision to return to the Great Link in "What You Leave Behind" would only make sense to viewers, if viewers understood that Odo's conception of his people has changed. As Echevarria explains, "It was our sense that because all of the Changelings we'd seen were evil, that it was easy for Odo to say he didn't want to be involved with his people, because they were all bad guys. So it was never a fair choice for Odo. He'd never really faced his own nature. That was the spark: 'What if he meets a Changeling who's had no contact with the Founders? That would throw his life into turmoil.'" (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)
Echevarria's original version of the story was very different from the finished episode; under the influence of Laas, Odo decides that humanoids are all racists and species-ists, and he decides to leave with Laas and go in search of the one hundred infant Changelings. In a last ditch attempt to get Odo to stay, Sisko comes to see him, and he admits that Odo is right, that all humanoids are racists, and they do fear that which is different, but that it's just the way it is, it's the way humanoids are, and it can't ever change. So impressed is Odo by Sisko's honesty that he decides to stay. Of this version of the story, Echevarria comments, "It was preposterous." (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion) It seems likely, nevertheless, that some of Sisko's dialogue about what is inherent in Humanity may have ended up in Quark's speech about genes.
René Echevarria had originally composed the scene where Odo envelops Kira for the fifth season episode "A Simple Investigation", and it was to involve Odo and Arissa. It was abandoned at the time because Ira Steven Behr felt it was important for Odo to make love as a solid. When writing "Chimera", Echevarria was glad that the scene was dropped from the earlier episode, as he felt it carried a great deal more significance in this episode than it would have done in that one; "The scene was just magical. It moved their relationship to a new level, with him trying to be Human like her, and her meeting him halfway. You can see on her face that she is experiencing something special." Special effects supervisor David Stipes calls the scene, "a visual expression of love." Rene Auberjonois was on-set when Nana Visitor was filming it, and afterwards, he approached her and said, "God, you make me look like such a great lover!" (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)

Production

J.G. Hertzler normally portrayed General Martok on the show, although he had also previously appeared in the pilot episode, "Emissary", as "Saratoga Captain", under the name "John Noah Hertzler". For the role of Laas, he was credited as "Garman Hertzler". Hertzler's real name is in fact John Garman Hertzler, but he dislikes the name John. Taking a cue from his friend J.T. Walsh, Hertzler decided to start going by his initials, J.G. But when shooting "Emissary", he hadn't hit on this solution yet, so he called himself John Noah (his own name, and his grandfather's name). Amusingly, during production of this episode, Hertzler himself started a rumor that Garman was his reclusive brother from New York (something which some fans still think is true, and which some websites continue to claim ).
The reason the producers cast a recurring actor in the role of Laas was because they wanted someone who could stand up to Rene Auberjonois, and who could pull off what is an extremely complex character. They held auditions for the role, but they found no-one in whom they were even mildly interested. Frustrated, they began to consider the possibility to giving the role to a familiar face. Initially, Ira Behr thought about offering it to Jeffrey Combs, but he was already playing two recurring characters at the time. Next they considered Andrew J. Robinson, but it was decided that his voice was unmistakable, and fans knew Garak too well and were too protective of the character to approve of Robinson playing somebody else. The producers finally decided on Hertzler. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)

Odo as light — "...Odo has become a gossamer cloud of plasma-like energy, an aurora borealis of golden color and light. She watches in wonder, then the cloud descends around her, wrapping her inside its dancing light". (*"Chimera" script*)

Laas as spacefaring lifeform — Digital Muse's LightWave model of Laas' creature form.

Hertzler has said that he partially based Laas' distinctive way of speaking on William Shatner: "I wanted to find a way to keep this character sort of annoyingly judgmental, because of his politics. He felt that these humanoids were so far beneath him that it was like talking to dogs. His pro-environmentalist point of view, feeling that humanoids ruin things, seemed like almost a passionate adherence to the Prime Directive. And that reminded me of James Kirk. William Shatner has a theatrical way of delivering lines by taking breathing pauses and holding onto the ends of words. I thought, 'That would work for Laas.' So that's where the voice came from. It's me doing my best imitation of Laas doing William Shatner doing Kirk!" (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)
David Stipes based Odo's transformation at the end of the episode on the Aurora Borealis. Stipes commented: "At first the producers wanted to have Odo on the sofa, and when he turns to goo, Kira would snuggle into it. Everybody thought, 'Ugh. That sounds disgusting'. Then they decided to have snow fall on her. Well, that sure sounded warm and reassuring! Nobody knew what the heck to do. Finally, I was talking to my wife, Patricia, and she recounted the story of how she'd first seen the aurora borealis up in Michigan. She said she couldn't believe how beautiful it had been." (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)
Stipes elaborated on the experience of his wife: "She was from the upper peninsula peninsula of Michigan, and one day she was walking on the shore on one of the Great Lakes, and she looked up in the sky and saw this great field of color shifting and shimmering. Of course, it was the aurora borealis. As a teenager she was so impressed and shocked in awe, that she fell to her knees and couldn't believe what she was seeing. I remembered that story, and I said, 'What about [Odo] becoming like an aurora borealis with magical color and shimmering iridescence?' And that's what it became. Steve Posey and Nana were able to take that imagery and do a really great job". (Cinefantastique, Vol. 32, No. 4/5, p. 64)
With the concept of the scene decided upon, the actual filming of the scene and the development of the visual effects began. Stipes commented: "We wound up with a combination of several approaches, getting together with Steve Posey and Jonathan West who is the director of photography. Steve was involved, of course, in setting up the geography, along with Nana. Jonathan West did some very nice interactive lighting that was like little shimmers of light that danced across Nana and the set. We also had Rene [Auberjonois], who did a nice performance, moving from the two hands together and then up. We were able to segue from that, into computer generated imagery of Odo transforming into his goo state, and then from goo into energy. The transformation from goo into energy was done at Digital Muse, by David Lombardi and Matt Merkovich. It became four shots, and several different angles, finally with a push in. That became quite elaborate, as it needed to have rotoscoping. Laurie Resnick did the rotoscoping. It involved a lot of people's efforts at Digital Muse, also at Pacific Ocean Post. They had to track the environment that Kira was standing in, so that they could have the zoom in. As you zoom in, the effect moves past you. The bands of color were three-dimensional elements that were created in the computer, primarily in LightWave 3-D. that could go in front of and behind Nana. Those elements were brought back over of Pacific Ocean Post to Davy Nethercutt, the editor/compositor and Kevin Bouchez, the digital animator, painter, who also enhanced and created additional elements. We combined various levels of elements, twinkle, sparkles, stretching and shimmering colors to do the whole thing. There were some really wonderful things that Digital Muse did, where some of the textures swooped up gently and stroked across Nana's face. It really became quite lovely. I really wanted it to appeal to women, while the whole idea of snuggling into a gelatinous pile of goo doesn't sound very romantic, doesn't sound warm and cozy. After the sequence was finished, women seemed to respond favorably to it, and that was one of the things I wanted to really try and do". (Cinefantastique, Vol. 32, No. 4/5, pp 65-66)
To represent Laas's space-dwelling form, the design team thought about reusing the footage of the computer generated model of the Space-dwelling lifeform from VOY: "Elogium" to save on budget. However, the team decided to create a brand new design, which was illustrated by John Eaves. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)
Laas' creature-form was created by Matt Merkovich at Digital Muse. David Stipes commented: "All of the actions of the creature, with the tentacle waving and undulation, are mathematical expressions. It's not frame by frame animation. It's all done by mathematical formulas that Matt was able to come up with and apply in LightWave. The creature really looks wonderful, and undulates, and is very rhythmic. It's just really elegant, all done with mathematics by somebody who is able to think in that abstract way and it is just really brilliant". (Cinefantastique, Vol. 32, No. 4/5, p. 66)

Reception

Rene Echevarria was very pleased with "Chimera", commenting that it: "is probably one of the five shows that I have done on Star Trek that I am the most proud of. It was a hard row to hoe".
Echevarria also remarked: ""Chimera" turned out to be one of my favorite episodes. It's a good example of how we don't guide DS9 so much as it guides us. My assumption when I sat down was that if there was a problem between Odo and Kira, it was Odo's problem. Since he's only pretending to be human, something would be missing in physical intimacy for them. I realized it was the exact opposite. It was really Kira's inability to be with him in way he could be with another Changeling. In the end, Odo transforms and they link in some way". ("DS9 Goes Out Strong and Defiant to the End", Star Trek: Communicator, issue 124)
Quark's comment to Odo in the episode about people's suspicion to Odo and Changelings is one of Armin Shimerman's three speeches in the show that he is most proud of for what it had to say. ("The Once and Future Ferengi: Armin Shimerman Reflects on Quark", Star Trek Communicator, issue 130)

Trivia

The title of the episode is a reference from Greek mythology. The Chimera was the daughter of Typhon and Echidna, and sister to Cerberus and the Hydra. Legend says that she had three heads; the head of a lion, the head of a dragon, and the head of a goat (which could breathe fire). Obviously, the relevance for the episode is to be found in Laas's ability to be anything; similarly, Chimera was no one thing. Interestingly, Chimera was ultimately slain by Bellerophon, riding on the winged horse Pegasus. The very next episode that went into production after "Chimera", "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges", features the USS Bellerophon.
Another, very subtle nod to Greek mythology is found in the episode's ending scene. Odo enveloping Kira in the form of a shining mist is reminiscent of the mythical motif of Danaë being impregnated by Zeus in the form of golden rain, which has also been a popular motif in visual arts throughout the ages. ^{(citation needed • edit)}
Given the fact that Odo was actually infected with the morphogenic virus (though he believed himself not to be at the time), it is likely that he spread the virus to Laas when they linked. This issue was something of which the writers were aware, and something they guessed fans might question. According to Ira Behr they seriously toyed with the idea of bringing Laas back into an episode or two of the ten-hour, nine-episode arc so as to deal with his infection, but it proved to be impossible, and his whereabouts have become one of the great unanswered questions of the series, such as what happened to Thomas Riker. This issue was addressed in the novels set after "What You Leave Behind", wherein Laas has joined the Founders in the Gamma Quadrant, and in so doing is cured.
This is the second and final time after the discovery of the Dominion that Odo is referred to as a "shapeshifter" instead of a Changeling, following Damar's use in "Treachery, Faith and the Great River". Odo asks Laas "You've never met another shapeshifter?"
When Odo is explaining to Laas what linking is like he says that it is about sharing "thought and form, idea and sensation." This is exactly the same phrase used by the Female Changeling when she is explaining it to him in "Behind the Lines", an episode also written by René Echevarria.
Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko) does not appear in this episode.

Video and DVD releases

UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 7.7, 5 July 1999.
As part of the DS9 Season 7 DVD collection.

Links and references

Previous episode:
"Field of Fire"

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Season 7

Next episode:
"Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang"

Chimera (episode)

Contents

Summary

Memorable quotes

Background information

Story and script

Production

Reception

Trivia

Video and DVD releases

Links and references

Starring

Also starring

Guest star

Co-stars

Uncredited co-stars

References

External links

Fan Feed