 An injured cytoplasmic life-form attaches itself to Torres, tapping into her body like a parasite. Unsure of how to save his patient, The Doctor creates a holographic recreation of a non-humanoid exobiology specialist to consult the case. The consult is going well until Torres refuses treatment when it is made known that the Cardassian specialist was responsible for tortuous experiments resulting in the deaths of thousands of Bajorans.