Chapter 2


"Ambassador Spock," Sisko managed to whisper.

"Indeed, Captain Sisko. Thank you for coming to see me."

"The honor is mine, Ambassador." Despite himself, Sisko stared, for he was standing face to face with one of the true legends of Starfleet and the Federation. Of course, a while ago he had been secretly within earshot of the famous Vulcan science officer during the time-travel incident with Darvin, but that entire affair had been so surreal the memories were already hazy. Not so now; the Ambassador was standing in front of him, real as could be, clothed in a simple dark brown tunic.

"I apologize for going to such lengths to meet with you in such a manner, but it was necessary," Spock said gravely.

Finally getting a hold of himself, Sisko nodded. "To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?" he asked.

Spock was silent for a moment. "You are, no doubt, aware of the gravity of the situation the Federation currently faces," he began.

Sisko nodded again. "Yes, Ambassador. The Dominion threat grows daily," he said, remembering what he saw this morning.

"I have been… engaged in delicate negotiations with the Romulans for some time now." This statement was interesting but not entirely informative; Ambassador Spock had mysteriously disappeared around the time of the death of his father several years ago, and to the best of his knowledge had not been heard from since. All sorts of crazy rumors had spread around Starfleet HQ about it—that he was dead, or even that he had defected to the Romulans. "Unfortunately, they have proved most reluctant to join with the Federation and the Klingons in common defense against the Dominion threat. Therefore, my mission here is to engage in—" again he paused, "—unofficial talks with other Alpha Quadrant powers, to try and convince them to assist us."

"And you came all the way out to Bajor to do so?" Sisko asked.

Spock nodded. "I believe such talks, held 'in the shadow of the beast', as it were, may provide my diplomatic colleagues with a fresh perspective on the manner," he said, a small smile actually crossing his wizened face. "But security is paramount, Captain. No one must know of my presence here, not even your senior staff."

"Oh?" Sisko said, surprised and even a little suspicious.

Spock suddenly looked apologetic. "Again, my apologies, Captain, but we must not allow the Dominion to know anything of my efforts." He paused. "Changeling infiltration of the Alpha Quadrant is a threat we cannot ignore."

"Indeed," Sisko agreed. First with Colonel Lovok, then Admiral Krajensky, and finally Martok himself. And perhaps? Sisko resisted the urge to step away.

"Rest assured, Captain, I am not a Founder," Spock said dryly.

He hated to say it, but: "That's what we thought about General Martok."

There was an uncomfortable silence. Spock broke it: "I have a solution: you may bring your doctor here to my ship, and he could verify my identity."

Inwardly Sisko breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Ambassador." Spock bowed fractionally. Sisko touched his chest. "Sisko to Bashir."

"Bashir, here, Captain."

"Please report to Lower Docking Pylon 2 with a medical scanning kit, set up for Procedure C."

"Captain?"

"You heard me, Doctor. And come alone."

"Yes, sir. On my way."


Dr. Bashir's reaction was no different than Sisko's had been. "Ambassador Spock? This is an unexpected pleasure—"

Sisko interrupted him. "Doctor, if you'll please."

"Oh, yes, sir." Julian took out his medical tricorder and began scanning Spock. Once finished, he said: "Computer: link with Starfleet personnel database and compare scan results with those of Ambassador Spock of Vulcan. Authorization: Bashir 1783D."

"One moment, please." The tricorder compared readings, then said: "The scans are identical within specified error margins."

Sisko and Bashir shared a look. "Excuse me, Ambassador, if you will please?" Dr. Bashir held out a hypospray. Spock raised an eyebrow, then rolled up his sleeve and proffered his left arm. Julian drew some blood, then took out another hypospray and injected him. He then took out his tricorder and began scanning.

"As one scientist to another, may I ask what are you doing?" Spock asked.

"General Martok's deception to the contrary, blood tests can be effective," Bashir responded. "We just need to make sure it's actually your blood we're drawing. I've injected you with a harmless radioactive tracer dye, which will illuminate your internal systems on tricorder scan. We believe even a changeling cannot sufficiently mimic a human—or Vulcan's—body from the inside out to fool such a test."

"Most clever," Spock replied equably.

Julian worked the tricorder for a while, not speaking. "Your conclusions, Doctor?" Sisko asked.

Dr. Bashir continued scanning in silence, then lifted his head up and smiled. "Well, I can't guarantee 100% that a changeling couldn't outwit my tests, but as far as I can tell, Ambassador Spock is exactly who he says he is."

"'Trust but verify' is as valuable in science as it is in diplomacy," Spock said.

"Indeed." Much more at ease, Sisko asked: "What are your requirements, Ambassador?"

"A secluded locale on Bajor, for one week's duration," Spock replied. "My colleagues should be arriving over the next few days. They will come to you concerning the location of 'the old man.' When they do so, please direct them discretely to my whereabouts."

"Understood, Ambassador. I'll contact you when the arrangements are made."

"Thank you again, Captain Sisko."

"My pleasure, Ambassador." He turned to Julian. "Remember, Doctor: you are under orders not to reveal to anyone the presence of Ambassador Spock on Deep Space Nine or in this sector."

"Understood, Captain."

"Very well, I must return to Operations." With a slight bow, Sisko turned and left the Vulcan ship.

As Julian turned to follow, Spock said, "Doctor Bashir, may I have a word with you?"

Somewhat surprised, Bashir said, "Of course, Ambassador." Spock gestured to an adjacent conference room on the ship.

Stepping inside, Julian said enthusiastically, "If I may be so bold, Ambassador, I've always been intrigued about the circumstances concerning your 'resurrection' on the Genesis Planet. What we've been taught at the Academy has always seemed so inadequate, I was wondering." He paused. "Ambassador?" Bashir began to turn around—

—and before he could react, Spock reached up and pinched him in the shoulder near the base of his neck. Julian was able to emit only a single, startled gasp before he lost consciousness.

"Perhaps another time, Doctor," Spock said coldly. He lowered him roughly to the ground. Another door on the other side of the room opened and someone stepped in.

"I'm impressed," the man said in an acerbic voice, standing over Dr. Bashir's still form. "I thought they would agree no questions asked."

"Never assume, that is the first rule of victory," Spock replied. "You know what to do."

The man snorted. "I'm a soldier, not a doctor."

"What you were is irrelevant, what matters is what you will be." Spock glared coldly at him, saying nothing further.

The man's demeanor deflated, but only a bit. "Of course, 'Ambassador'!" He gave a mocking salute.

"Proceed immediately. Time is of the essence."

The man was puzzled. "I thought we had all the time in the world?"

Spock actually grinned. "We do—but we don't." Without another word he left the room.