Bashir is informed by Doctor Louis Zimmerman that he has been chosen as the model for Starfleet's holographic doctor program. As part of the process, Zimmerman must learn everything he can about Bashir, from childhood quirks to interpersonal relationships, a procedure that includes interviews with Bashir's family, friends, and co-workers. Uncomfortable, Bashir requests that Zimmerman refrain from speaking with his parents. Nevertheless, Bashir's parents arrive on Deep Space Nine soon afterward, and he becomes fearful that the project will expose a dark secret from his past.