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About fifteen minutes into 6x23 Rightful Heir, Kahless reminds Worf of a vision Worf had when he was young. But later on it is revealed that

Kahless is actually a clone with imprinted memories from the scriptures, which certainly don't include a vision had by a back then pretty unknown young Klingon.

So how does he know? Or, since Worf doesn't seem to remember, did Kahless make it up? But that would not be honorable, something a Kahless certainly wouldn't consider.

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This seeming plot-hole is actually explained in the script. Worf told Torin (the priest) about his vision as a boy and this memory was implanted into the Kahless clone:

KAHLESS : So I did not do any of the things I remember... I was never at the city of Quin'lat... I never went to the Kri'stat Volcano... (beat) But what about Worf? I remember appearing to him in the caves of No'Mat when he was a boy...

TORIN : We gave you that memory as well. Worf told me of his vision when he first arrived on Boreth.

In the episode itself, this piece of dialogue was removed.

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  • Weird, I watched this episode just this morning and cannot remember that, and the more I read from that script the more I suspect it is not accurate - I also don't remember Worf actually saying that his extraordinary achievement were joining Starfleet. Then again, it was 6 in the morning...
    – Zommuter
    Nov 20, 2014 at 11:56
  • @Zommuter - You're absolutely right. It skips straight over this piece of dialogue to the next line down.
    – Valorum
    Nov 20, 2014 at 15:53
  • I also just rewatched it. So is that script authentic and the scene was merely shortened? In that case your answer is correct nonetheless
    – Zommuter
    Nov 20, 2014 at 15:55
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    @zommuter - The script is the original show script, as written. The scripts on that site are considered to be fully canon, unless directly contradicted by the TV show.
    – Valorum
    Nov 20, 2014 at 15:59
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    It also makes sense given that Worf was an integral part of the "con". The priests' entire plan revolved around making Worf a believer, so that he would then champion Kahless' return to others.
    – Omegacron
    Nov 20, 2014 at 18:41
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This is weeks, not minutes, into his visit

Worf had spent a great deal of time seeking a vision at the monetary. Surly, when on a quest for a vision, the querent would tell the cleric of past visions. The implication in the show is that he told someone about the vision, and that memory was implanted into the clone. This is also the only way this makes sense.

The reaction of Worf in the scene in question is a face of realization. Worf does not need to be reminded of the vision. Worf speaks no words at the 00:16:00 mark, which is the face that is the root of this question. Logically it cannot be a face of remembrance, but of astonishment.

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  • What I meant was in said episode around 0:15:00. I somehow doubt all visions of Kahless ever had by every Klingon in existence were recorded
    – Zommuter
    Nov 20, 2014 at 7:09
  • How so if Kahless has to remind Worf of the vision that he apparently has forgotten since? Yet Worf does not deny it
    – Zommuter
    Nov 20, 2014 at 7:11
  • I'll have to review that scene, but I thought Kahless said something like "We have met before - you may not remember it, but you had a vision of me when you were young". To me, Worf's reaction didn't seem astonishment at him knowing (which would make no sense if he recently told someone about it, since that person could easily have told the clone without memory imprinting) but rather the memory of that vision surfacing from deep down
    – Zommuter
    Nov 20, 2014 at 7:16
  • you're right, I rewatched that scene, your answer also makes perfectly sense. I accepted Richard's answer though, since at least in the script Torin explicitly admits to this. though that makes me wonder why Kahless didn't worry about probably only remember the visions of recent visitors, or whether his head was truly filled with all visions ever reported...
    – Zommuter
    Nov 20, 2014 at 17:34
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The programmed memories included also personal information from the priests and not only the sacred texts:

All of his memories were actually programmed in from the sacred texts or from personal information the priests had. Memory Alpha

Thus it is not unfeasible to include details on Worf in the programmed memories as he is not anymore a "pretty unknown young Klingon". The Vision will most likely have been recorded when he talked to priests about it back when he had the vision.

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  • This sounds rather speculative - that would basically imply every vision ever had by a Klingon in those hundreds of years since Kahless left was imprinted, and that the clone could cope with bearing the memory of so many encounters. Even if only the visions of the last, say ten years were included I'm not sure that wouldn't be too many
    – Zommuter
    Nov 20, 2014 at 10:07
  • Worf is rather important in the federation and also well known in the Empire. I would assume that the clone should indeed be fed with such information about the most important people to appear credible.
    – C. Tomm
    Nov 20, 2014 at 13:09
  • with the script in Richard's answer that makes indeed sense. The show did unfortunately cut that subtle aspect
    – Zommuter
    Nov 20, 2014 at 17:36

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