Garak was exiled from Cardassia by the Cardassian Central Command in 2368. Since then Garak has operated a clothing shop on the Promenade of Terok Nor/Deep Space Nine, remaining there after the Cardassian withdrawal. His father was Enabran Tain, the leader of the Obsidian Order and the man resposible for Garak's exile. In 2370 he teamed up with Dr. Bashir to investigate the true circumstances behind the adoption of a young Cardassian named Rugal by a Bajoran couple in 2362. Using his computer skills, Garak discovered that Rugal had not been killed in a Bajoran raid on his parents house as was believed. Garak's involvement in this incident and his apparent knowledge of things far beyond the grasp of an average tailor has convinced Dr. Bashir that Garak is not as plain and simple as he claims to be. This is further evidenced by the fact that Garak has been teaching Bashir tips on surveillance techniques. Further information regarding Garak's mysterious past was revealed later that year when Dr. Bashir learned that Garak was having severe headaches and was experiencing trouble breathing. An examination showed that Garak had a small device implanted into the post central gyrus of his brain with filaments connecting the device to his entire central nervous system. Scarring in the surrounding tissue indicated the device, which was now malfunctioning, had been implanted several years prior. Bashir also noticed that the implant had caused deterioration in Garak's cranial nerve cluster. When questioned, Garak revealed that the device had been implanted by Enabran Tain as a means of protecting the classified information that Garak knew. If interrogated, the device was designed to increase Garak's endorphin levels and to stimulate the pleasure centers of his brain, rendering him immune to physical torture. Garak also revealed that the implant was probably malfunctioning because it had not been designed for continuous use. Miserable because of his exile from Cardassia and from the uncomfortable environmental conditions of the station after the Cardassian withdrawal, Garak had designed a device that allowed him to turn the pleasurable effects of the implant on and off at his command. Soon he found himself leaving the implant on all the time, his body eventually becoming used to the increased endorphin levels. When Garak was unsuccessful in acquiring the necessary equipment to repair the device, Bashir was forced to remove it surgically when he detected erosion and a build up of toxins in Garak's lymphatic system. Bashir later learned that the toxin build up was caused by an alteration of Garak's leukocytes, possibly a security measure built into the implant designed to kill the recipient upon the malfunction or removal of the implant. Upon recovering from his ordeal, Garak, who had told Bashir three separate stories concerning the events surrounding his exile, evaded Bashir's questions and flatly denied that he had any connection at all with the Obsidian Order. Garak was instrumental in helping Starfleet destroy the Dominion's supply of White. He was the only one able to use the Jem'Hadar's view screen without experiencing severe headaches; therefore, he and Captain Sisko took turns watching for Dominion ships. Also, the supply base was in Cardassian territory, and Garak, being a Cardassian, knew the area well. Gul Dukat's daughter Ziyal, was in love with Garak, but Garak didn't understand how Ziyal could possibly love him. Upon learning of Ziyal's death, Garak greatly regretted that he hadn't told Ziyal that he had feelings for her too.