Not a long distance away Robert and Angel were at a table in the Bajoran restaurant on the Promenade. It was near the opening and gave them each a sight of the economic heart of the space station. Two plates with half-eaten hasperats were before them. "...pain in the neck," Robert was complaining. "The Klingons are insisting that we recognize their conquests from the Cardassians."
"Or they'll what? Drop out of the war?"
"That. Stop economic assistance." Robert sighed. "Command's worried they might try to grab our IU drives still on their ships. Admiral Davies suggested we should just withdraw them from the front, remove the IU drives from their ships, and let them go their own way."
"Wow. Davies is right about something," Angel laughed. She sipped at the wine glass in her hand. "But I didn't bring you here to talk about that. These dates are supposed to get you away from the Captain business."
Robert chuckled at that. "Yeah, I suppose. We do need the alone time. It seems we get so little of it now."
"Yes, well…" Angel took a drink in an effort, not entirely successful, to hide her frown. "Between your Captain duties and this mumbo jumbo training you're doing with Meridina, you don't have much time left in the day."
That drew a frown from Robert. "I'm sorry about that. But it's something I need to do. This stuff requires control."
"I still don't see how they can't get rid of it. Can't Leo try…"
"I don't want to fight about this," Robert said, cutting her off. "Can't we just enjoy a dinner together without fighting over my abilities."
"That depends," Angel muttered.
"On?"
"Can you ever walk away from this stuff and actually spend time with me again?" Angel put her glass down. She was still frowning. "Because as things are going, you spend more time with Meridina and Lucy than with me."
"Ouch."
Angel picked up her hasperat and brought it toward her mouth. "'Ouch' is damn right. That's exactly how I feel." She took a bite and started chewing.
There was little Robert could do but sigh at that. A look of guilt filled his green eyes. There were times he regretted having these abilities, this "life force power", that Meridina and Lucy also possessed.
After Angel finished chewing she rolled her eyes. "Oh no. No, don't do that."
"What?"
"The sad puppy eyes," Angel said. A glint of amusement was present in her own hazel-colored eyes. "You don't play fair with the sad puppy eyes. I'm the frustrated, anger-prone girlfriend, I shouldn't have to be made to feel like I'm kicking a puppy whenever I complain about the lack of time we have together."
That won her a chuckle. "Ah, well, I'll try not to," Robert pledged.
"That's better."
"And I'll see about getting Meridina to lower the schedule for these training excursions. I think I've learned all the control I'll need for now, honestly."
"And that's even better." Angel smiled at him. "So, how about we get the check and…"
Robert's multidevice went off.
Angel's smile evaporated.
Robert's expression was apologetic as he hit the commkey to open the channel. "Dale here."
The voice that came out the other end was Jarod's. "I'm sorry to interrupt you, Captain, but Senator Kiang is insisting on speaking to you. She wants you and Commander Andreys at her quarters immediately for consultations."
He audibly sighed in frustration. "Alright. Alright, fine. I'll be on my way."
"Duty calls," Angel sighed.
"Yeah." He leaned over the table and kissed her on the lips. It was not a deep kiss, but it was warm. "I'll talk to you later." He held out his credit chit. "I'm paying, of course."
"Of course. Go ahead." Angel motioned to the door. "Go see what the high and mighty Senator needs done absolutely right now no questions asked."
The look on Robert's face was pained. Angel immediately regretted being so sarcastic with him. She said nothing more as he left. She tried to finish her own meal but found, after two bites, that her appetite had turned sour from all of the twisted feelings welling up within her.
I wanted this relationship, she reminded herself. And yet she remained frustrated with it.
With nothing more to do she paid the bill with her own chit and left a generous tip. The Promenade was just starting to thin out when she stepped out of the eatery. It was starting to get late.
What more was there to do? She wondered about just asking for a direct beaming back to the Aurora and ending her day. Or I could go into Quark's…
She looked at Quark's big establishment and decided to check up on Cat. She went through the front door and looked to the Dabo table, but she wasn't there. "Cat?", she called out over the low din of the late evening crowd. "Are you in here?"
"Over here."
The reply wasn't from Cat. Quark was at the bar leaning against it. He'd been wiping down a glass. Angel frowned and went over to face him. "What is it?", she asked.
"You're the sister, right?", Quark asked. He leaned in. And to some surprise it clearly wasn't to get a better look at Angel in her revealing dinner wear. "She left with someone."
"Someone?" Angel gave him a look. "Someone who? One of the others?"
"Not one of your people. Not one of Starfleet's either," Quark replied. "It was one of those Asari women… although they're all technically women, aren't they?" Quark seemed to fidget behind the bar. "Listen, you didn't hear this from me… but I think that Asari is bad news."
Anyone else might have inquired, skeptically, into what Quark meant. Angel did not. The prospect that Cat might have stumbled into trouble was too worrying to listen to any doubts about Quark's honesty. "What do you mean bad news?", she asked.
"Their species might be new to our galaxy or universe or whatever you want to call it, but I know the bad ones when I see them. You can't work in all the places I've been and miss them."
Angel stared at him a moment. Fury started to build within her. "Why didn't you stop her, then?", she demanded, her voice picking up in volume to go with her anger. "You saw my sister going off with… you know, forget it." She turned away and stormed out of Quark's.
"You're welcome!", Quark called out after her.
As she approached the Promenade exit Angel's hand went to the multidevice on her wrist. "Delgado to Aurora. Jarod, are you still there?"
After a moment he replied. "Jarod here."
"I need you to scan for Cat's multidevice," she said. "And then tell me where she's gone."
"Is something wrong?"
"Maybe…" She started to jog down the crossover bridge. She was thankful her skirt wasn't the long one that might have made moving fast difficult. "And I have to make sure, one way or the other."
"Alright, we're tracking her now. Starting to... " Jarod's voice cut off for a moment. "Well, that's a problem."
Angel's heart quickened. "Jarod?! What's a problem?!" She couldn't keep the growing fear, the panic, out of her voice.
"We've lost contact with Caterina's multidevice. We can't pick up the signal." There was more silence, save for the increasing thump of Angel's heart as she began to run. "We're looking over her last location."
"Contact the station officers if you need to!", Angel demanded. "We have to find Cat!"
The warbling tone of the Cardassian communications system pulled Odo's concentration away from the reports on Ensign Merrill's murder. He reached for the comm badge he wore over his shape-shifted suit. "Odo here."
Kira spoke from the other side. "Constable, I'm relaying a hail from the Aurora. One moment…"
When the next voice started speaking, Odo recognized it as the Aurora's Commander Jarod. "We've lost track of one of our officers. She was somewhere on the Habitat Ring when the signal gave out."
Odo checked the internal security sensors. "Someone has disabled security in Section 25 of the Habitat Ring. We're completely blind there."
"Odo, we're trying to fix the problem from up here," Kira said.
"I'm checking records to see who has rented out rooms in that section," Odo explained. "But it appears to be empty."
"I'm heading toward Section 25 now," Angel said over the speaker.
"Going by the data Commander Jarod has sent, look on level four." Odo stood from his desk. "Corridor H-19. They have to be somewhere in that area. I'm on my way now."
"I'm informing Commander Meridina. I'll transport her to the station as soon as possible," Jarod added.
Caterina's mind was in a haze. Expectation, curiosity, fear, uncertainty, it all mingled together. She couldn't focus, couldn't concentrate, and her fear came from the realization she couldn't find the will to say no to the Asari.
The station quarters she was led into were sparse and barely furnished. The Asari smiled at her and motioned to a couch, where she sat. "Come here," she cooed gently.
Caterina didn't want to at this point. There was something wrong here. But she started to move to the couch anyway. Whatever she wanted, the requests of the Asari mattered more. She couldn't understand why.
Once she was seated beside the dark-clad Asari, Caterina's eyes locked with hers. "You're not the most attractive Human I've seen," she seemed to admit. "But attraction goes beyond the physical. You are intelligent. Passionate."
"I… I…"
"Tell me, Caterina." The Asari grinned. "Have you ever known… affection?"
"Aff-affection?", Caterina stammered.
"The touch of another," the Asari clarified. "The caress of a lover."
"Oh. Uh… n-no…" Caterina shook her head. "I ha-haven't."
A wicked little laugh was the reply from the Asari. "Well, my poor dear. Doesn't that make you special?" Her hand touched Cat's cheek. "Haven't you ever dreamed of it, Caterina? The pleasure? The raw, pounding feeling of sex?"
She was already blushing. "Dreamed… y-yes." She had dreamed, yes. But she'd never acted on anything like that. She had always focused on her scientific passions.
And the fear. The fear of rejection. Rejection of her partner, or of her family, if they didn't approve...
Cat gasped when the Asari responded with a kiss on her neck. She felt the Asari's breath on her, the feeling of her lips on her skin, and even with the haze her body felt electrified by the touch. Her breathing quickened.
"Don't be shy," the Asari urged her.
"Wh-what's y-your na-name?", Cat asked. "I for-forgot."
"Well… I suppose it is fair for you to know." The Asari kissed her on the lips for a moment. Cat thought her heart would explode. The lips moved along her cheek to beside her ear.
Her name was spoken in a whisper.
"Morinth."
Angel found Corridor H-19 and started to run along it. "I'm here. Do you have anything for me?"
"Meridina just beamed over on the other end of the corridor in that section. She'll work her way to you. Start moving to the left."
Angel brought up her multidevice and kept going. "I'm getting life signs now. How?"
"Whatever jamming field that's been set up seems to exclude any effect from within," Jarod speculated. "Maybe whomever it is wants to be able to beam out of the field."
"Well, I'm not too far, soon I'll…"
And then Angel could hear it. Faint, obscured by the metal and structure of the station, but a sound she felt hardwired to respond to.
It was Cat.
Screaming.
Every fiber of her body seemed to vibrate with rage. Something, someone, was hurting her little sister. Angel looked down at her display again. She was close. Almost there…
To her left Angel found a door. The scream was coming from inside. She hit the keypad to open it. "Major Kira is about to override…"
Jarod's voice didn't register. All Angel could hear was her sister crying out.
She reached into the small of her back where her blouse and skirt met. Her pulse pistol was easily pulled from its hiding place - Constable Odo's regulations be damned, she wasn't about to stroll around a bunch of angry Klingons without a weapon - and brought to bear on the door. She turned it to its full setting and shot the door straight on. The Darglan-designed weapon did its job. The door half-vaporized, half-exploded in shards that flew into the room. Angel rushed in with the gun drawn.
Cat was in the arms of a dark-clad Asari. Her screams had become weak. It looked for a moment like electricity was crackling between them. Angel raised her gun at the Asari and reset the power level to something lower.
Others would have shouted a challenge. They would have demanded that Cat be released, demanded a surrender.
Angel was not other people.
The pulse pistol barked out.
An instant before it would have hit Morinth's head, blue energy surged between them. The shot dissipated before it hit anything.
Nevertheless Cat's cries stopped. The electrical effect faded. Morinth scowled at her and pushed Cat over on her back against the couch. "If you're that eager for me, you just had to wait your turn," she said.
"Step away from her you bitch!", Angel screamed. She kept the pulse pistol lifted.
"Why don't you put that gun down and we'll talk about it?"
For a moment the suggestion seemed to pierce Angel's anger. It sounded reasonable. No need to do anything else. Just lower the gun.
But it didn't quite make it. Angel was too full of anger to heed it. She fired again.
This pulse struck the field again and dissipated as the last, but with the field clearly weakening. Angel pulled the trigger again and…
Morinth scowled fiercely. Her arm shot forward. A bolt of blue energy zipped across the room and slammed into Angel. She was thrown back into the far wall. A cry of pain came from her throat as she started to stand. Rage was still twisting her features as she struggled to stand despite the pain.
"You've never fought a biotic before, have you?", Morinth said. "You've never had a warp field trying to tear your body's molecules apart. The pain is exquisite, is it not?"
"Won't… let you…"
Morinth threw another warp bolt. Angel flipped over along her side and hit the wall again. She lost her grip on her gun.
"I can see the resemblance," Morinth said. "A sister. I've never taken sisters together before. This will be fun." She took the steps between her and Angel with deliberate, bemused speed. Angel writhed from the effects of the warp field on her body. "Come here, lovely. I'm…"
There was a rustling of feathers on the air. Angel noticed a bird fly through what was left of the door. Morinth began to turn toward it with surprise. What's a bird doing…, Angel was thinking.
And then it wasn't a bird. It turned amber and expanded outward, like a liquid that had been under pressure, until it assumed the shape of a creature that looked like a cross between a gorilla and a lizard. When the creature struck Morinth it knocked her over with a ferocious punch and landed on top of her. Morinth cried out in pain and surprise at the impact that knocked her to the floor so violently. The creature rolled with the same impact and grabbed at one of her arms.
"Get off of me!", Morinth screamed. A wave of pure biotic power erupted from her body and threw the lizard-gorilla thing into the ceiling. Angel was thrown back into the wall from where she was trying to stand. The furnishings were all flipped or smashed by the wave. Cat was thrown over with the couch she was still laying on.
The effect was the most interesting on the attacking creature. As it hit the ceiling of the quarters its shape seemed to lose cohesion. The same dull brownish-amber fluid started to form along its limbs and torso.
Morinth rolled on the floor and threw a biotic bolt at the creature. It jumped toward the opposite wall, regaining cohesion as it did.
Angel got to her feet and charged. Morinth was too busy tracking her other target to see Angel coming. She cried out in shock when Angel's fist slammed into her jaw, knocking out a tooth in a spray of purple blood. She reached for Morinth's arm just as it came up toward her and grabbed it, twisting it behind Morinth's body in a submission hold.
Morinth gathered biotic energy to throw at Angel. But she never got a chance to use it. The lizard-gorilla thing jumped in and grabbed the other arm. Morinth screamed in frustration as Angel and her ally brought her to her knees.
Another figure appeared at the door. Meridina had her lakesh drawn and ready. Seeing what was inside she held the sword back and raised a hand. "Sleep", she intoned, backing it with a powerful mental compulsion.
Morinth howled in rage instead. "Let me go!" Her biotics flared up one more time. A pulse of biotic energy erupted from her body and threw back her attackers. Meridina focused with her own power and blocked the pulse from having any effect upon her.
The last pulse of biotic energy had exhausted Morinth's reserves for the moment. Meridina saw her short window of opportunity and seized it. "Sleep," she repeated.
This time, Morinth pitched forward. She groaned before falling into a slumber.
The lizard-gorilla got up first. Or rather, it turned into the same dull brown-amber fluid and reformed into a proper, and quite familiar, humanoid shape. Odo reached down and picked up his prisoner. He looked to Meridina. "Thank you, Commander, for your assistance."
Meridina nodded.
Angel had scrambled to her feet at this point. "Cat!", she shouted. She went to the toppled couch where Morinth had left Caterina and pulled it off of her. Her sister was laid out on the floor, completely unconscious. "Cat, are you okay?"
There was no answer.
Odo's hand went to his comm badge. "Odo to Bashir. Medical emergency in the Habitat Ring, Section 25 Level 4, Corridor H19."
Bashir's reply was immediate. "We're on our way, Constable."
"She's barely breathing," Angel said. She picked Cat up and held her close. "Cat. Cat, please wake up. I'm here." As she spoke tears began to flow down her cheeks. All of the anger, the rage, had been replaced by terrible fear. A voice inside of her terrified at the thought that she had been too late. Too late to protect her little sister as she had promised to do so long ago.
With no reaction coming from her little sister, Angel began to sob. It was the only outlet she had for the feelings swelling inside of her.
Robert and Julia had excused themselves from Senator Kiang's staff room the moment they were informed of what happened. Sisko met them in the infirmary where Cat was laid out on a bed, wearing one of the DS9 medical gowns. She was still completely unconscious.
Angel was sitting beside her, holding Cat's hand and running the other hand over her face. Her blouse was slightly torn on the right side. Tears were still flowing down her pale cheeks. Robert didn't need his new senses to know just how she was taking it - rage and hate and fear and horror were all mixed up inside of her. He stepped up and embraced her from the side wordlessly. There was nothing that could be said to diminish Angel's worry. "What happened?", he asked, the question directed to everyone.
"She was attacked by this Asari…", Angel began. "She did something to Cat. Got her to follow her to a room in the Habitat Ring. She was making her scream by the time I got there."
"Once I secured her condition I scanned Lieutenant Delgado to determine what happened," Bashir said. "Her nervous system has suffered extensive damage. I won't know the extent of it, and if she will recover, until we run some more tests. Doctor Gillam is already running some advanced tests with his medbay's equipment which should help us determine an appropriate treatment course."
That brought the rapt attention of Odo. "Doctor, are you saying this is what happened to Ensign Merrill?", he asked.
The reply was joined by a nod. "I am fairly certain, yes."
"So this Asari has already killed someone." Robert looked over at them.
"So it seems." Sisko nodded. "Constable, what do we know about the prisoner?"
"She arrived on the station yesterday," Odo answered. "According to her identification her name is Rila t'Gomi. But I suspect that identification has been forged. I've sent inquiries to Citadel Security to see if they have her on file. If not I will move on to the Asari security forces."
"There's more than one, I think," Robert said. He was still keeping a supportive arm around Angel.
Odo looked at him. "Hrm?"
"The Asari Republics are a loose confederation of e-democracies, Constable," Julia explained. "They have a lot of different police and security agencies between them. I'm not sure how networked or linked they are."
"Representative Irissa might be able to help," Robert suggested. "We could ask her in the morning before the next summit meeting."
"I'll make the arrangements myself," Sisko said. "In the meantime, I want a full watch on our prisoner. Tell me if she says anything."
"Of course, Captain." Odo nodded to him and then to Robert and Julia. He departed the infirmary.
"I'll see you in the morning, Captain Sisko," Robert said.
The reply was a wordless nod, after which Sisko also departed.
"As if this summit wasn't tense enough," Julia sighed. She looked over at the bed where Cat was laying. "Poor Cat. What was she doing with that Asari?"
"Knowing Cat, she followed her across the station asking questions," Robert said softly. "Julia, I'll be staying with Angel. Alright?"
Julia very nearly protested that. Robert was part of the delegation too. He needed rest to be at his best form. But the look on his face told her that he would need some time. "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow."
One of Bashir's Bajoran nurses had already acquired another chair for him. Robert sat into it, beside Angel. He put his hand on top of Angel's, which was still holding Cat's hand. "Between Bashir and Leo, she's in good hands, Angel," Robert assured Angel. "And I'll be here with you the entire time."
Angel nodded. "Thank you."
Odo returned to the security office and pulled out the pail he used for resting into his natural state. There could be no chances taken with the prisoner in the cells, not when she was capable of such displays of power.
A quick check of the comm logs showed that C-Sec had registered his request for information. He had never had an opportunity to work with the agency so he had little idea how long it would take.
Before taking to his pail, Odo stepped back into the cells. The largest cell with the strongest forcefield held the Asari prisoner. She was still unconscious for the moment. Standing a distance away from the cells was Commander Meridina in her duty uniform. Odo noted that her memory-metal blade was in its place on one hip with an Alliance pulse pistol on the other. "Has she woken up?", he asked.
"No," Meridina replied. "I am not keeping her in a sleeping state. I would suggest, from my knowledge of biotics, that her body exhausted much of its immediate energy reserves in her battle with you and Lieutenant Delgado. I expect she will be hungry when she wakes up." She turned her head to face Odo. "If it is permissible to you, Constable, I would like to post guards. Dorei personnel. Asari have some telepathic capability and the Dorei are resistant to mental influence."
"Your offer is accepted, Commander," Odo replied.
She nodded. "Will Angela face any recriminations for the damage she caused?"
Odo allowed himself a thin smile. "I don't think there will be an issue."
"Thank you. She cares so deeply for her sister." Meridina's expression remained calm. But Odo could see there was a great deal of concern behind the calm, hidden in the specific tremors of her voice and the look in her eyes. "What of Caterina?"
"Lieutenant Delgado's condition is stable." Odo looked back to the Asari. "She had more luck than Ensign Merrill." A moment passed. "You have had more contact with the Asari than I, Commander. Have you ever heard of any possessing the ability to fry out a being's nervous system?"
"I have not," Meridina replied. "Although I admit I am hardly an expert." A thought came to her. "Mastrash Satrin has been visiting Thessia to learn more about Asari culture. I will sent an inquiry to her and share the reply with you."
"Your assistance is appreciated, Commander." Odo felt fatigue ripple through his being. Holding his humanoid shape was becoming a real burden and the urge to return to his basic state was strong. "I'll be in the security office resting if you need me."
Meridina nodded. "Of course, Constable. May you rest well."
Stimulants and coffee were keeping Robert awake when he and Captain Sisko entered the quarters assigned to Representative Irissa. An Asari with a purple complexion met them at the door. "The Representative will be with you shortly, sirs," she said politely. "May I get you any refreshments?"
"No thank you," Robert answered.
"That won't be necessary," Sisko added.
"This way, please."
The main living area of the quarters had been converted into a meeting room for the Asari diplomatic staff. Several of them were here and there, going over digital readouts on their omnitools or writing on the main computers with hard-light keyboards. Sisko took a seat beside the head of the table. "Long night?"
"I was with Angel all night," Robert answered. "Watching over her sister."
Sisko nodded in understanding. "Doctor Bashir will do everything he can to help your officer."
"I know." Robert shook his head. "I just don't like the coincidence. This Asari serial killer shows up just as this summit starts?
"I can see what you mean," Sisko said. "And there is the matter of dealing with the prisoner. The Bajorans don't have the facilities to deal with a being like that."
"The Gersallians do." Robert rubbed at his eyes. His thoughts were sharp now, but once the caffeine and the stimulants started to metabolize fully his thoughts would slow to a crawl. It was something he knew from experience. "The issue becomes, will Bajor and Starfleet agree to an extradit…"
The door to the bedroom opened and Representative Irissa stepped out. She had the cultivated grace of an Asari official about her that hid the cold, unfeeling persona Robert had already experienced in the prior day's talks. She had been utterly ruthless in the prior day's debates, cutting into his and Sonek Pran's arguments while being quick to smack down the Klingons if she wanted to. Robert waited for Sisko, as commander of the station, to begin the conversation. "Representative." He stood and offered his hand. Irissa appraised the offered hand for a moment before giving it a quick and imperceptible handshake. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with us."
"I warn you, Captain, that I will not discuss any of the matters before the summit in this environment," Irissa announced. She looked to Robert. "With either of you."
"That's not why we asked for this meeting." Sisko returned to his seat. Robert exchanged the same quick, professional handshake with Irissa as she sat down at the head of the table. "Have you heard of an Asari calling herself Rila t'Gomi?"
Irissa shook her head. "I have not."
"She arrived on the station a few days ago," Sisko revealed. "We believe her responsible for the murder of a Starfleet officer and the attempted murder of one of Captain Dale's officers."
Irissa's lips thinned. Robert's developing senses detected a hint of displeasure that didn't seem surprising. "Whomever she is, Captain, I will look into the matter." Irissa folded her hands together. "Tell me… what was her method of killing? It will assist in determining potential suspects from our files."
Robert's senses were starting to give off warning signals. Irissa's question sounded innocent enough, yes, but he started to feel that there was more to it.
"According to Doctor Bashir, the victims' nervous systems had been burnt out with some sort of weapon," Sisko answered. "We have a witness to the second attack who can give further testimony."
Irissa seemed to contemplate Sisko's reply. "I see." She went into deep thought. After several moments she activated her omnitool. "Gentlemen, may I suggest that it might be best if you turn custody of your prisoner over to my people?"
Sisko put his hands on the table. "I don't have the authority to agree to such a transfer, Representative. While this station is under Starfleet regulations, the system is Bajoran territory."
"And since it was our officer she nearly killed last night, the Alliance also has a right to trying her," Robert pointed out.
Irissa surveyed them each coldly. "Gentlemen, I assure you that we will deal swiftly and justly with the killer. But under no circumstances can we accept leaving this Asari in your custody. It would be… irresponsible."
"Irresponsible?", Sisko asked.
"She is a biotic, obviously. Your people have no experience in the incarceration of biotics," Irissa pointed out. "I would abhor the thought of this killer getting free to inflict harm on the people of an innocent world, and wherever else she might go upon her escape. And trust me, Captains, she would escape."
"You seem awfully sure for someone you've never heard of," Sisko remarked. "Representative, for the good relations of our people, I hope you're not hiding anything from us."
"I am fulfilling my purpose…"
Irissa continued to state her argument. Robert was more focused on the thoughts coming from her. He was nowhere near the level he needed to sense things like Meridina.
That didn't mean he couldn't do anything, though. He could sense the aggravation and concern radiating from her.
Though those feelings, a specific word was prominent in her thoughts.
Robert brought his hand up. "Pardon me, Representative?""
Irissa looked away from the scowling Sisko to him. "Captain?"
With great care Robert put his hands together on the table and spoke. "This Rila t'Gomi… would she happen to be an Ardat-Yakshi?"
For a moment Irissa's eyes widened with shock. Stifled anger and disbelief radiated from her in a way that Robert could feel even now. When she resumed speaking, it was nearly through clenched teeth. "The Ardat-Yakshi are a myth, Captain. I don't know where you heard about them, but I will not tolerate you spewing those lies about my people!"
Robert nearly leaned back in his chair. Irissa's anger was almost inconceivable in the face of the question. "It was a simple inquiry, Rep…"
Irissa turned her glare to Sisko. "Captain Sisko, I will arrange for an Asari team to remove your prisoner to face judgement on Thessia. Rest assured she will pay for her crime."
Sisko met the glare calmly. "And as I have already stated, this station is Bajoran territory, and the last time I checked, the Asari Republics do not have any standing agreements with Bajor for extradition of Asari criminals." Sisko shook his head. "Until such a time as the Bajorans say otherwise, Miss t'Gomi will stay in our holding cells."
Irissa clearly did not like that. But it was a cold smile that crossed her face. "Of course," she said. "You are doing your duty. Rest assured, Captain Sisko, you will have just such an extradition order from the Bajorans on your desk quite soon." She turned back to Robert. "As for you, Captain Dale, I advise you show more care in talking about such things. As things are now, the Asari people are deeply sympathetic toward your Alliance and supportive of your war effort against the Nazi German Empire. To learn that the Alliance's representatives were speaking of such things might change that." She stood. "If you will excuse me, Captains, I must get ready for the day's sessions."
"Of course, Madame Representative. Thank you for your time." Sisko's response was the formal gratitude expected, regardless of the exchange. He seemed as agitated as Robert felt.
The two departed the quarters together and walked toward the nearest lift. "It's obvious they're hiding something," Sisko stated upon entering a lift. "What have you heard about these 'Ardat-Yakshi'?"
"Nothing." Robert shook his head. "It was just a term I've heard of, related to the Asari and killings."
"Do you have any way of finding out more?"
"Perhaps. Not too likely, I'd guess." Robert thought on it. "One of Meridina's old teachers is on Thessia as part of a cultural study tour, though. She might have heard something. I'll make inquiries and share what I find out."
"Good. In the meantime, you'd better get ready for the summit meeting."
Robert nodded in reply. He was not particularly looking forward to the summit meeting. Having Irissa mad at him would make it even less enjoyable.
