"The Abandoned" is the 52nd episode of the syndicated American science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the sixth episode of the third season. It is directed by cast member Avery Brooks, who portrays Commander Benjamin Sisko. Brooks directed nine television episodes in this series overall. It was written by D. Thomas Maio and Steve Warnek, and aired October 31, 1994 in syndication. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures on Deep Space Nine, a space station located near a stable wormhole between the Alpha and Gamma quadrants of the Milky Way Galaxy, near the planet Bajor. The Gamma Quadrant is home to the Dominion, a hostile empire ruled by the shape-shifting Changelings, which maintains control through its genetically-engineered soldiers, the Jem'Hadar. In this episode, an abandoned unknown alien infant found aboard the station grows into an adult Jem'Hadar (played by Bumper Robinson). Plot An infant is found in the wreckage of a ship that the bartender Quark (Armin Shimerman) buys as salvage. The boy grows at a phenomenal rate, developing in appearance to an eight-year-old in only a few hours. Dr. Bashir (Alexander Siddig) determines that the child is the result of genetic engineering. As the boy continues to develop, his aggression, evolving appearance, and reverence to security chief Odo (a rogue Changeling) reveal that he is Jem'Hadar. Odo (René Auberjonois) convinces Commander Sisko (Avery Brooks) that the boy should not be sent to Starfleet Command as a specimen to be studied. He believes that he can control the boy because Jem'Hadar are bred to serve the Changelings. Odo tries to show the boy, physically now a teenager, options for his life besides violence, but the boy's only drive seems to be to fight. When it is discovered that Starfleet has sent a ship to pick up the boy, the boy pulls a phaser and refuses to go along. Odo insists on returning the boy to the Gamma Quadrant and Sisko reluctantly agrees. In a side plot, Commander Sisko's son Jake (Cirroc Lofton) is dating an older woman named Mardah (Jill Sayre), who is a Dabo girl at Quark's bar. Commander Sisko is very concerned and invites Mardah to dinner. Though originally intending to intervene and end the relationship, the Commander discovers through Mardah a hidden side to his son he realizes must be allowed to flourish. Reception Reviewing the episode for Tor.com in