Star Trek's Prophets Are Powerful, But I Think There's an Even Stronger Species Out There
Warning: contains spoilers for Star Trek #29!
The Bajoran Prophets are one of the most powerful races in the Star Trek universe–but now there are hints of species and forces even stronger than them. The Prophets have been front and center in IDW’s flagship Star Trek comic, guiding Sisko on his journey to defeat Lore. Now, in issue 29, with the rest of the universe gone, the Prophets show fear for the very first time.
Sisko's quest to stop Lore will play out in the forthcoming Star Trek: Lore War.
Star Trek #29 is written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly and drawn by Tess Fowler. The Prophets inform Sisko that his universe is gone, and never coming back. Angered, Sisko vows to travel back to whatever is now out there, called by the Prophets a “construct,” and fix the damage Lore has done. As Sisko begins preparing for his trip, the Prophets ask him to reconsider. The Prophets seem terrified at what lies outside the “construct.” The Prophets fear they will become “corrupted” by whatever lies beyond, but Sisko goes anyway.
The Bajoran Prophets, Star Trek's Mysterious "Gods," Explained
Captain Sisko Has Had a Testy Relationship with the Prophets
The Bajoran Prophets were central to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Introduced in the first episode, the non-corporeal aliens living inside the Bajoran Wormhole, or the “Celestial Temple,” immediately take an interest in Ben Sisko. The Prophets, speaking through the Bajoran spiritual leader Kai Opaka, christened Sisko their “Emissary.” Sisko’s relationship with the Prophets grew and evolved over Deep Space Nine’s seven seasons, and culminated with him leaving our reality, traveling to the Celestial Temple, where he would reside with the Prophets, learning the secrets of the universe.
Throughout the series’ run, the Prophets have appeared to Sisko, but any advice and guidance they give is couched in doublespeak and riddles.
It appeared the Prophets would never return Sisko, until the first issue of IDW’s Star Trek title. Kahless II began slaughtering the gods of the universe, threatening to upend the entire cosmic order. The Prophets sent Sisko back to his reality, seemingly charging him with stopping Kahless’ reign of terror. Throughout the series’ run, the Prophets have appeared to Sisko, but any advice and guidance they give is couched in doublespeak and riddles. Sisko has grown increasingly dissatisfied with the Prophets and their vague pronouncements, leading to him defying their will at the end of issue 29.
Just How Powerful Are the Prophets of Bajor? Can They Even Be Killed?
The Prophets Have Angered Ben Sisko, Which Is Not Good
The Prophets, as seen throughout Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, are easily one of the most powerful races in the franchise. The Prophets are nonlinear in nature, meaning they do not experience the flow of time like normal life forms. This gives them extensive knowledge of events and people, but any insight the Prophets have is given in a vague fashion, which has become a sticking point for Sisko. Sisko feels that for all their power, which includes the ability to create a wormhole as well as will away an entire invasion fleet, the Prophets could end Kahless themselves.
Sorry, Starfleet: Star Trek's Newest Alien Race Really Hates You, But There's a Good Reason
In a preview for Star Trek: Lower Decks #4, the crew of the Cerritos meets a new alien species, one that is already ready to go to war with Starfleet.
Over the last two years of IDW's Star Trek comics, the Prophets' reluctance to get involved has angered Sisko. Why the Prophets were so cagey in their involvement is a mystery. It could be assumed that they too would fall before Kahless, and later Lore, but they did not seem concerned. Even when Lore threatened the other gods of the Star Trek universe during the “Pleroma” storyline, the Prophets did not seem phased. Finally, even after Lore destroyed the multiverse, the Prophets continued on, having shunted Sisko into the pocket universe.
The Multiverse Has Fallen to Lore--Will the Bajoran Prophets Be Next?
Can Anyone Stop Lore In the Wake of His Destruction of the Multiverse?
Now, the truth has been revealed: even the Prophets fear what Lore has created on the other side of the Celestial Temple, showing there are limits to even their power. The Prophets believe they will become corrupted by the energies Lore has unleashed, energies that have remade the Star Trek universe in his twisted image, suggesting that for all their power, they too must bow to the fundamental forces of nature in the universe. While no species can top the Prophets in terms of power, nature itself can humble them.
Star Trek #29 is now on sale from IDW Publishing!
