Stardate 50074.3: Sensors indicate that an unstable wormhole has recently opened in a nearby star system. It is deemed possible that this wormhole leads to the Alpha Quadrant. One of the planets in the system is the home to a pre-industrial civilization, but Tuvok registers traces of replicator use. When Chakotay and Paris beam down to the planet named Takar, they find the two Ferengi Arridor and Kol, who got stranded at the far end of the Barzan Wormhole seven years ago. They now pose as Takar's "Holy Sages" as they are described in old tales, and are worshipped by the population. Janeway has the two beamed up, but Arridor explains that the planet would fall into chaos without the Sages. So Janeway beams them down again but sends Neelix, disguised as a messenger of the Grand Nagus, the Grand Proxy. Neelix orders Arridor and Kol to return with him, and he begins to give back some of their accumulated wealth to the Takarians. However, he has to reveal his true identity when the two attempt to kill him. Chakotay, who has learned how the tale from the Sages ends, sends Neelix back to pose as the "Holy Pilgrim" who has come to bring the Sages home "on the wings of fire". The Takarians take this all to literally - they prepare to burn Neelix, Arridor and Kol on the stake. Chakotay and Paris have to disable the Ferengi generator that blocks the transporter, so the three can be beamed up as late as the stake is already on fire, thereby fulfilling the prophecy. Aboard Voyager, everything is ready to enter the wormhole that has been temporarily stabilized. The Ferengi, however, escape from the ship. They emit a graviton burst from their shuttle that destabilizes the wormhole again. The Ferengi shuttle slips through the wormhole before it closes, leaving Voyager behind in the Delta Quadrant.

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