Distant Voices 

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?

Director:

Alexander Singer

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (based upon "Star Trek" created by), Rick Berman (created by)

Stars:

Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Alexander Siddig

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Avery Brooks	...	Cmdr. Benjamin Sisko
Rene Auberjonois	...	Odo
Alexander Siddig	...	Doctor Bashir (as Siddig El Fadil)
Terry Farrell	...	Lt. Jadzia Dax
Cirroc Lofton	...	Jake Sisko (credit only)
Colm Meaney	...	Chief Miles O'Brien
Armin Shimerman	...	Quark
Nana Visitor	...	Major Kira
Andrew Robinson	...	Garak
Victor Rivers	...	Altovar
Ann Gillespie	...	Nurse Jabara
Nicole Forester	...	Dabo Girl

Storyline

Quark introduces Altovar, a Lethean, to Dr. Bashir. He wants to buy biomimetic gel. Being a restricted substance, Bashir rebuffs the request. Soon, he finds the Lethean breaking in to the infirmary. Altovar attacks Bashir with a telepathic weapon and the doctor passes out. When he awakes, the lights are malfunctioning. No one answers their communicator, and the entire station seems to be deserted and in a state of disarray. Julian catches a glimpse of himself, notices he has gray hair, and seems to be rapidly aging. The sound of whispers and loud noises coming from the bar sends Julian there where he finds Quark, afraid and trying to hide. Quark mentions someone is going to kill them all, then runs for his life. The questions are: who is going to kill them, why does Dr. Bashir appear to be aging rapidly, and why are the few people still on DS9 acting so abnormally?

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Plot Keywords:

elim garak character | rapid aging | psychic attack | 30th birthday | birthday | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 April 1995 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The reason it was pointed out in this episode that a pre-ganglionic fiber and a post-ganglionic nerve are nothing alike was pressure from Celeste Wolfe, Robert Hewitt Wolfe's wife. According to Wolfe, ever since Bashir first told that story, his wife had been bugging him to do something about it. In reality a pre-ganglionic fiber and a post-ganglionic nerve really are completely different, and as Celeste (a pre-vet) pointed out, no one would ever mix them up. As such, Wolfe explains, having Altovar point this out "was my way of saying, 'Well okay' to Celeste."

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Quotes

Doctor Bashir: How did we get back here?
Chief O'Brien: You tell me. It's your mind.

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Soundtracks

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Main Title
(uncredited)
Written by Dennis McCarthy
Performed by Dennis McCarthy

User Reviews

The doctor gets older

When Dr Bashir finds an alien trying to rob his infirmary he is attacked, as he awakens he realises something is wrong; there doesn't appear to be anybody else on the station, he also appears to have gained a few grey hairs. As he searches the station he eventually finds some other people but none of them are acting quite as they should. He has other problems too; he is ageing rapidly and the alien who attacked him is there too and he hasn't finished with the doctor.

For much of the episode I had no idea what was causing the doctor's ageing problem or the disappearance of all the inhabitants of DS9 this gave the episode a rather claustrophobic feel. Alexander Siddig did well as the ageing doctor and those responsible for his ageing make-up also did a fine job.