Star Trek; Deep Space Nine
Blood Island

Chapter 4

Bashir accompanied Neline to Minister Jerev's transport vessel. He saw to it that the medical equipment the Bajorans brought along with them was sufficient to keep her stabilized until they arrived on the Island. Confident that it was, Bashir was about to return to the infirmary to pack a few last items to take along with him. As he turned to leave, Neline reached up and tugged at his arm.

"I'm glad you're coming," Neline smiled. "I want you to see that the will of the Prophets guide my life, my Pagh. There is no better path than the one they have chosen."

Bashir smiled, it was he could really do. "Get some rest now." He told her.

The young girl closed her eyes, and Bashir headed off to the infirmary.

Quark stood at his bar and crumbled up a piece of paper and threw it on the ground. Odo, who had come into his bar on his routine rounds, and on official business, walked over to the bar.

"Don't you have trash receptors?" Odo asked, in his usual gruff voice.

"Yes, constable, I do." Quark replied, pointing at the trash receptor as he did.

Odo nodded. "I see, well, looks like you were aiming way off target." Odo said as he motioned at the piece of paper on the ground.

"That is why I have hired help," Quark replied. "It's beneath me to pick up after my own mess."

Odo gave Quark a sarcastic look, "I see," Odo replied.

At that moment there was a large cheer from the crowed at the Dabo table.

"Excuse me," Quark said to Odo, "I better get over there and tell the Dabogirls to raise the top of her outfits, and show more flesh, so I can get some of those winnings back."

Odo watched as Quark scurried over to scold the Dabogirls. With Quark gone, Odo slipped around the bar to pick up the discarded piece of paper. Odo read the writings on the paper and realized what it was. It was a proposed gambling line, and the predicted odds, of the little Bajoran girl living or dieing from her illness.

Odo looked over to Quark who was yelling at the women to show more of their breasts to the customers, so as to divert their attention from their gambling. Odo thought a little more highly of the Feringi, who clearly had decided not to stoop so low as to allow gambling on the little girl's outcome. Quark caught Odo's glance, and saw him holding the paper. Odo nodded at Quark. Quark nodded back, and then went on yelling at the Dabogirls. Odo ripped the paper to shreds, and deposited the scraps into the trash receptor on the way out. He also decided not to press the issue as to why he really came to the bar; to give Quark a citation for violating the noise levels of the Promenade. Odo would let it slide; for now.

Bashir had packed his last few items and prepared to head back to the transport when all of a suddenly Miles O'brien entered the infirmary.

"Hello Doctor, I'm glad I found you before you left." Miles said with a warm smile.

Bashir smiled back. "Hello Chief O'brien, I was just about to leave. Can I help you?"

O'brien reached out and removed one of the pips from Bashir's collar, and replaced it with another. Bashir just watched in stun silence.

"What is this?" Bashir asked.

"Well," O'brien replied, "Commander Sisko asked me to give you an insurance policy, just in case. It's a transponder, this way we can track you no matter where you are on Bajor."

"Nothing is going to happen," Bashir replied as he tried to remove the new pip. O'brien reached out and stopped him.

"All the same sir," O'brien pressed, "you are Starfleet. And the commander, and I, will not accept no for an answer."

"What about Jadzia and the Major?" Bashir asked.

"The Major almost took my head off for even suggesting it," O'brien said with a smile. "But Jadzia said yes after Sisko twisted her arms."

O'brien reached up and straightened up Bashir's collar.

"Just try and stay out of trouble." O'brien added.

"I'll do my best." Bashir added with a wry smile.

Minister Jerev's ship dove through the clouds of Bajor, and soon banked out of them. Bashir, who sat with Neline and Kira in the aft compartment, looked out the windows and was impressed with the beauty of the Bajorn ocean. In the distance he could see a large land mass.

"The Island, I presume?" Bashir asked out loud.

Kira, who was not impressed with the scenery, and more specifically the Island, didn't even bother to look out the window toward their eventual destination.

"Yes Doctor," Kira replied, with a tone of irritation, "that is the Island."

Neline, who was still laying in a special med bed, opened her eyes at the sound of Kira's voice.

"The Island," Neline said with a small burst of energy, considering her condition. "Is it true? Are we there? Now I can see my daddy!"

She tried to sit up but Bashir walked over to her to calm her down.

"Now you listen here," Bashir said to Neline, "you need to keep your strength up. I'm sure we will see your father soon enough." Bashir said, as he looked over at Kira.

Kira's look on her face conveyed that of someone who had little interest of meeting the girl's father, who was most likely a traitor of some kind in Kira's eyes.

The ship made its final bank and soon prepared to land. Dax sat with Minister Jerev, and the pilot of the Transport, in the command compartment.

"Why such the long approach pattern?" Dax asked Jerev. She also noticed a large construct that appeared to be some kind of generator. "And what is that building?"

Minister Jerev looked to her. "The Bajoran Infrastructure Department is building a shield generator, and today they were to practice field levels on this part of the Island."

"Why is there such a need for a shield generator?" Dax inquired.

"Security precautions, I admit." Jerev replied. "I won't lie to you Lt. Dax. The Bajoran Science community is very worried that someday, in the near future perhaps, this virus may mutate to an airborne variety. Such an evolutionary adaptation could jeopardize the entire population of Bajor. We can not allow that."

Dax nodded in agreement. "I would agree that is a possible threat. But Minister, why hasn't Bajor asked for outside help on this matter before? Unless Neline had become ill on Deep Space Nine, all of this would still be a secret even now."

"I think you know why." Jerev replied. "We knew the external pressure that would come had we taken this to the Federation. Your Admiral Satav's attitude was like that of an adult talking to the punished child. This virus is not only attacking the body of the Bajoran people, but it is also attacking our very souls. My people must come to terms with this in our own way."

"The Federation would never allow Bajor to become a member under circumstances like this. So why not let us help now so that your inclusion in the Federation is less doubtful."

Jerev smiled. "I have great respect for the Federation, I really do. Your assistance with ending the Cardassian Occupation will always be a special connection between us."

Dax was about to respond, but Jerev held up his hand to hold her off, and then continued.

"I have read much of the Federation's past. And even you must admit that there are matters that only an indigenous population can really find answers to. Some of the issues you, your commander, and the admiral have raised, I share. But we must deal with them in our own way with out the mighty Federation showing us the way."

"We're talking about innocent lives." Dax pressed. "Even you can't be blind to that."

The Transport vessel settled down on the large landing platform. In the distance a large city could be seen. It was modern in more ways than even the capital of the planet, Dax deduced.

Bashir watched as several attendants came aboard and prepared to take Neline off the vessel and to the medical compound. Satisfied they were sufficient, Bashir waved goodbye Neline for the time being. The attendants took her away.

Dax came back and joined Bashir and Kira, as they too, prepared to leave the vessel.

"This Island is about as modern as anything I have seen on Bajor." Dax told Kira.

Kira seemed unimpressed. "It should, Jadzia. It was the den of the traitors. It was paved with the blood of the rest of the planet. In the resistance we had a name for this Island. We called it Blood Island."

Kira stormed past Dax, and headed for the exit.

Bashir and Dax exchanged worried glances.

Continued-