Embryonic Lifeform

"Embryonic Lifeform" is a designation used by Benjamin Sisko to refer to an unidentified life form discovered in the Gamma Quadrant of the Milky Way Galaxy.

Biology
This creature apparently begins life as a luminous crystalline egg or cyst which can drain energy from technology around it and convert it into fields of gravitons at an accelerated rate. The molecular density and refraction index of this crystal is higher than Promethean quartz. When it hatches, it assumes the form of a large space-borne creature, resembling a luminous manta ray.

History
The only known individual of this species was discovered in its crystalline form by archaeologist Vash in the Gamma Quadrant, and brought to the space station Deep Space 9, with the intention of being auctioned. Vash wasn't aware that the crystal was a living creature. Soon, it started to drain energy from the station and convert it into gravitons, creating a graviton field that threatened to hurl the entire station into the nearby Bajoran wormhole. When the mysterious crystal was identified as the source of this emergency, it was successfully beamed into space, where it transformed into its mature form and moved into the wormhole to return to its quadrant of origin.

Appearances

 * Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, s01e07, "Q-Less" (1993)