5/15/94 DS9 "Crossover"
This is the first Mirror Universe story since the original and it's pretty damn good.
We start with some humor. Bashir and Kira are on their way back to the station from the Gamma Quadrant. Julian cannot shut up, and even when he does, he's still annoying Kira!
Weird accident in the wormhole and we're in the MU. Those Klingons were terrified of Kira.
Garak is 2nd in command and all the nasty things we think he may have done in our universe are on display here. Slinky!Kira (aka the Intendant) appears and she seems thrilled with her doppelganger. She sends Bashir to the mines, which are overseen by Odo, and brings Kira to her office, where she explains about the last crossover between the universes and how Spock weakened the Terran Empire enough that the Alliance (Klingons and Cardassians) were able to take over. I love how Kira doesn't recognize the name Kirk.
The Intendant initially appears much like our Kira, just less inhibited. She claims, "Unlike my First Officer, Mister Garak, I have no taste for violence. I regret using it even when it seems necessary." She loves that Kira understands her. Kira initially hopes to learn from the Intendant to make a strong Bajor back home.
It really wouldn't take much to make Odo a fascist, would it? He has a need for order that makes him a good security head no matter who's in charge. Bashir has heard of Kirk and read about the MU adventure back in the Academy. The only thing they know is that transporters were involved, so Julian decides to talk to this O'Brien. Kira goes to the bar and finds out this Quark is also a bit shady. But it turns out he's helping Terrans escape and is arrested by Garak.
MirrorSisko enters the bar and he is very different. He appears a little crazy. He and his crew do acts of piracy for the Intendant. Brooks is electrifying here. I couldn't keep my eyes off him.
Bashir tells MirrorO'Brien about his Prime Universe self. "Smiley" is obviously unhappy but too scared to help.
The Intendant is a lot like Dukat. She likes to appear caring and reasonable.
INTENDANT: You did it because you felt sorry for these Terrans. You hate to see them suffer just as I do.
QUARK: Yes, Intendant.
INTENDANT: But where would we be without them? Who would perform the labor for the Alliance? (to GARAK) A quick death. Don't make him suffer any more.
She's also a narcissist, who is in love with the idea of her double.
GARAK: In love with you, my dear. She's all a-twitter about you, can't talk about anyone else. You're the perfect gift for the girl who has everything. She's taken you into her heart like a Drathan puppy lig left on her doorstep. Who else could she share her deepest secrets with, tell her troubles to, trust with her life?
Garak tells Kira that if she impersonates the Intendant after he kills her, he'll help her and Bashir escape, but threatens Bashir is she doesn't agree. Kira realizes it's time to get the hell home and tells Julian to try to escape. Then she goes and tries to talk Sisko into helping, but he refuses.
There's a gas leak in the mine. Bashir kills Odo(!) and goes into the access tunnels, where he finds O'Brien, who agrees to help him if he can go to the other universe with them. They get caught.
The Intendant throws a party, with her and Kira dressed identically. Guards bring in Bashir and O'Brien. The Intendant is *really* upset that Odo's dead and hands them over to Garak for a very public punishment and execution. When she asks O'Brien why he did it, he gives a lovely speech about how Julian has changed his view of what Terrans could be. Colm does an amazing job here - very calm and heartfelt. He is such a good actor! His speech changes Sisko's mind and Sisko and his crew help them all to escape. O'Brien joins Sisko's crew (and rebellion) and Kira and Bashir return home through the wormhole.
Sidenote: between the leather outfit, the bath, and the party dress, I realized that Nana Visitor is Super Hot.
