Odo, Garak, Dax and Sisko are thrown into Odo's memories of the occupation.
Returning from a conference on Bajor, Sisko, Odo, Dax and Garak pass through a strange anomaly and arrive at the station in a coma. In their shared experience they find themselves on Terok Nor during the occupation, living as Bajorans who were executed for an attempt on Gul Dukat's life they did not commit.
The illusion is built from Odo's memories. Odo eventually admits that he, not his predecessor Thrax, was the security chief who let the innocent Bajorans be executed on thin evidence because Dukat wanted an example made. Bashir later explains the anomaly caused a telepathic link, and Odo confesses his long-hidden guilt to Kira.