Thread by @StorySlug

I developed an insane #DS9 fan theory last night.

So, in the TNG episode "The Chase," we find out that all the humanoid aliens in the Milky Way were seeded there by a precursor race, who looked like this:

Now, I'm not the first person to speculate the first part of this: due to the similarities in makeup, and the fact that they're both played by Salome Jens, a lot of people suspect those precursors eventually evolved into the Founders, who were supposedly once like "the solids."

In later seasons of DS9, we discover that Odo can now take the shape of surprising stuff - like mist, swirling particles of light in the air, or even fire. Stuff that you wouldn't expect him to be able to control.

This suggests that the Founders are, overall, not that far away from the level where one "ascends," to become a being of pure energy. This happens kind of a lot in Star Trek.

One of the reasons they may not have crossed that threshold yet is that they're kinda, you know... fascists. That sort of hatred and bigotry would probably hold them back from the sort of inner peace that allows for a proper Star Trek-style ascension.

But after Odo rejoins the Great Link in the series finale, he would bring with them the love and tolerance and friendship he's experienced over the years, as exemplified by his relationship with Major Kira.

Odo's love for Kira specifically is the ONLY thing that kept him from rejoining the Great Link at various earlier times, when he was too emotionally vulnerable to resist the fascist urges of his people. They mention in "Chimera" that it's all that's keeping him from leaving.

If Odo hadn't been in love with Kira, he would've let the Founder execute Rom - he might've even turned him in, bringing down the minefield early and winning the war for the Dominion in the process.

And if he'd rejoined the Link earlier, not only would the Dominion never have stopped executing the Cardassian population, the War never would've ended, and every Founder would've eventually died from the virus Section 31 gave them.

Quite likely the Vorta and the Jem'Hadar would've continued fighting even after that, like that one Japanese soldier they found still fighting WW2 on an island in the 1970s because he didn't believe they'd surrendered.

The interesting thing about this is that the Prophets arranged for Odo and Kira to be together. Kira and Shakaar went to the Prophets and asked for advice whether their path was together, and the Prophets said "no."

The Prophets, incidentally, basically give Kira whatever she wants, a stark contrast to Kai Winn and even more direct and less cryptic than what they give to Sisko. Some people open the Orbs and experience nothing, but they'll let Kira time travel whenevs.

But Kira can call them up and be like "Is Shakaar the one, bestie?" and the Prophets are like "that man is WRONG for you, girl."

Anyway, a popular fan theory is that the Prophets are the Bajorans themselves - that one day, the Bajoran people will evolve to become beings of pure energy, existing outside of time, retroactively giving themselves hope through the Occupation and safety during the War.

But what if the Prophets aren't the Bajorans at all, but the Founders?

What if the Founders, set free from their hatreds, leave corporeal bodies behind entirely, and exist together inside the Celestial Temple?

Beings that exist outside of time, and don't understand much of our ways, but do know a few things for sure:

- Kira gets whatever she asks for.
- Bajor must be protected.
- Sisko is the only man for the job.

What if Odo tries to make amends for five years working alongside the Cardassians by spending all of time protecting Kira's planet, giving comfort to her people, saving them from War?

And then, because the Prophets arranged for Kira and Odo to get together, Odo's people not only *pull back* from committing genocide, but also live to see another day - and become the Prophets?

If the Founders were both the people who seeded life throughout the galaxy AND noncorporeal beings outside of time, then Weyoun was right: the Founders kinda ARE gods?

Anyway, this is all definitely not true, but it's fun to think about.