Stardate 48423.2: In the Gamma Quadrant the Defiant crew witness how a planet appears where there was previously none. A woman named Setlin invites them to their world. She explains that Meridian is subject to dimensional shifts in the course of which the planet reappears after 60 years during which its inhabitants exist as pure consciousness. But the phases of physical presence are becoming shorter each time. With just a few days left for now, Dax devises a method to stabilize the planet's sun in order to equalize the time between the dimensional shifts. While working on the problem she falls in love with Deral, a man from Meridian. Deral decides to leave the planet to stay with Dax, but his departure would destabilize Meridian's society. Determined not to give up Deral, Dax alters her molecular structure so she would be able to join Meridian on the dimensional shift. But the attempt fails, and Dax has to be beamed up to the Defiant to allow Meridian to shift, leaving a saddened couple that would not be able to meet again for the next 60 years.

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