Past Tense

"Past Tense" is a two-part episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The episodes originally aired in January 1995.

Sisko, Bashir and Dax are transported to 2024 Earth, where they find themselves involved in a conflict that will change Earth history and lead to the formation of the Federation.

Summary[]

Part One[]

Commander Sisko brings the Defiant to Earth, where he is to meet with Starfleet to discuss the Gamma Quadrant situation. Transporting down to San Francisco, Sisko, Dax and Bashir find themselves in the year 2024. Sisko and Bashir are taken to a sanctuary district, a government-run area of American cities where the unemployed, the homeless and people with mental health problems live. Dax is found by businessman Chris Brynner, who takes her to his office to help her.

Sisko realises that they have arrived just days before the Bell Riots, a violent civil disturbance where the residents of the sanctuary district seize control of the area and take guards as prisoners. The government puts down the disturbance by sending in the National Guard, who kill hundreds of civilians. The Bell Riots have a positive effect, in that the American people are so shocked by the events, the sanctuary districts are closed and American society is transformed. Gabriel Bell, the leader of the sanctuary district residents, becomes an American hero.

Sisko and Bashir meet B.C., a violent resident known as a “ghost” and Michael and Danny Webb, two residents known as “gimmies”. When B.C. attempts to steal Bashir’s food card, Gabriel Bell tries to help Bashir but is stabbed to death by B.C. Sisko realises who Bell is - Bell was not supposed to die this way. Back in the 24th century, Major Kira and Chief O’Brien are preparing to travel back in time to rescue Sisko, Dax and Bashir but realise that the timeline has been altered - the Federation has been erased from history. In 2024, B.C. takes hostages and Sisko plays along - as Gabriel Bell.

Part Two[]

Sisko tries to keep order and prevent B.C from killing the hostages, and enlists Michael Webb’s help in explaining to the outside world the truth about the sanctuary districts. The government cuts off Webb’s broadcast, but Sisko and Webb negotiate with Detective Preston of the SFPD. Jadzia is able to convince Chris Brynner to override the government block and allow the residents to broadcast their stories, but the governor of California refuses to close the sanctuary district and orders the use of force. Webb and B.C are killed, and Sisko is shot while protecting Vin. A grateful Vin lets Sisko and Bashir go, promising to tell America what he has seen. Back in the 24th century, Bashir looks up Gabriel Bell in the historical database and finds that his picture is that of Sisko.

References[]

Characters[]

Part I characters[]

Julian Bashir • Gabriel Bell • Christopher Brynner • Bernardo Calvera • Biddle Coleridge • Jadzia Dax • Kira Nerys • Lee • Miles O'Brien • Odo • Quark • Benjamin Sisko • Vin • Danny Webb • Michael Webb

Referenced only: Belongo • Helen Burke • Robert Chen • Drazman • Ngomo • Judith Sisko • Wright • Zek

Part II characters[]

Julian Bashir • Christopher Brynner • Bernardo Calvera • Biddle Coleridge • Jadzia Dax • Henry Garcia • Grady • Kira Nerys • Lee • Miles O'Brien • Odo • Preston • Benjamin Sisko • Vin • Danny Webb • Michael Webb

Referenced only: Will Bailey • Gus Barnes • Buck Bokai • Helen Burke • Robert Chen • Errol Flynn • Jimi Hendrix • Gus Lloyd • Mike Mason • Charley Mulaney • Manuel Prado • Buddy Sencio • Will Bailey • Charley Delaney • Winky Gaines • Killer Kanel • Muggs Magoo • Mike Mason • Mickey Mason • Kid McCook • Manuel Prado • Sailor Vido

Referenced only: Cardassian • Romulan

States and organizations[]

Bajoran Militia • Brynner Information Systems • San Francisco Police Department • Starfleet • United Federation of Planets • United States of America • United States National Guard

Referenced only: Dominion • Gaullist • London Kings • Neo-Trotskyist • New York Yankees • Pan-Caribbean government • Starfleet Security

Other references[]

1930s • 1960s • 1999 • 1990s • 2015 • 2048 • ablative armor • annular confinement beam • automobile • baseball • Bell Riots • boxing • cellular phone • Channel 90 • chroniton • cloaking device • communication satellite • detective • dollar • dress uniform • Dutch language • Earth satellite network • e-mail • English language • Ferengi Rules of Acquisition • football • ghost • governor • Heisenberg compensator • helicopter • Hippie • Interface • internet • jazz • mayor • Molotov cocktail • orbital habitat • ration • retinal scan • schizophrenia • singularity • shotgun • soccer • spacedock • speakeasy • subspace bubble • Starfleet Symposium • tattoo • temporal displacement • temporal displacement policy • temporal polarization • tennis • transit pass • transporter • transporter shock • UHC card • wristwatch

Appendices[]

Related media[]

Chronology[]

20th century

21st century

2010s
- 2015: The London Kings have a superlative season, in the 2024 opinion of Vin. (Part II)
2020s
- 2022: Henry Garcia moves to San Francisco to work in a brewery. (Part II)
- 2024
2040s
- 2048 (alternate timeline)

24th century

2370s
- 2371

Background[]

Notable cast and crew[]

Images[]

Part I images[]

Part II images[]

Connections[]

Timeline[]

published order
Previous episode: Fascination	DS9 episode produced	Next episode: Life Support
Previous episode: Fascination	DS9 episode aired	Next episode: Life Support
chronological order
Previous Adventure: Pathways Chapter 12, Section 11	Pocket	Next Adventure: Federation Part Four: Chapter 3
Previous Adventure: Fascination	Deep Space Nine Adventures	Next Adventure: Life Support

External links[]

Past Tense, Part I article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
Past Tense, Part II article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
Past Tense (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.