Quark's former lover, the Cardassian professor Natima Lang, arrives with two dissident students who are wanted by Cardassia, and Quark tries to win her back.
The station is visited by Natima Lang, a Cardassian professor and Quark's former lover, with her students Hogue and Rekelen, dissidents who want to reform the military government. Natima still resents Quark, Garak recognises them, and a Cardassian warship arrives demanding the students.
Bajor agrees to hand them over in exchange for Bajoran prisoners, and Gul Toran promises Garak a return home if he kills them. Quark persuades Odo to let the three go, and when Toran reveals that the offer to Garak was a lie, Garak kills Toran and lets the dissidents escape. Natima leaves, promising to return once her work is done.