Before he departed his homeworld in a lightship in the Bajoran year 9174, Akorem's brother had died in the winter. Their parents were still alive at the time of the flight. Akorem's spacecraft was damaged in an ion storm, and drifted into the Denorios belt, where he opened the Bajoran wormhole and entered the realm of the Prophets, who healed his injuries. They then returned him to the Alpha Quadrant in 2372, two hundred years later, in order to ensure that Benjamin Sisko remained as their Emissary. Upon emerging from the wormhole, Akorem believed himself to be the Prophets' Emissary, and his presence allowed Sisko to give up the role. However, Akorem believed in the D'jarra caste system that Bajor had used prior to the Cardassian Occupation, intending to bring it back to Bajor.