A centuries-old Bajoran vessel mysteriously exits the wormhole, and its passenger, a legendary Bajoran poet named Akorem Laan, is immediately beamed to the Infirmary. Shocked to learn more than 200 years have passed since he left Bajor, he tells Sisko and Kira that he had an accident in space and was saved by the Bajoran Prophets, which has led him to believe that they have chosen him to be the Emissary. Sisko, never comfortable with the role of Emissary, steps aside to let Akorem assume the revered position. Akorem's first act is to return Bajor to the old ways — including strict adherence to the D'jarra, a restrictive and discriminating caste system, which throws life on the station, and Bajor's relationship with the Federation, into turmoil.

Richard Libertini (Akorem Laan)
Rosalind Chao (Keiko O'Brien)
Hana Hatae (Molly O'Brien)
Robert Symonds (Vedek Porta)
Camille Saviola (Kai Opaka)
David Carpenter (Onara)
Grace Zandarski (Latara)
Laura Jane Salvato (Gia)

• Kira's D'jarra is the artist/sculptor. First Minister Shakaar's D'jarra is the farmer.
  
• Keiko informs Miles she is pregnant with a baby boy. When Worf finds out, he tells Chief O'Brien that he will be away on Earth visiting his parents. Worf helped deliver Molly in the Next Generation episode "Disaster".
  
• Sisko experiences an "Orb Shadow" — a warning from Kai Opaka.
  
• Vedek Porta pushes a Bajoran monk from the top level of the promenade for refusing to resign because his family's D'jarra is "unclean."
  
• The wormhole aliens ("the prophets") send Akorem back to his own time. He was not the Emissary, but he was "for the Sisko." Sisko finally accepts, and welcomes, his role as the Emissary of the Prophets.