Author's note:
For those of my readers familiar with the Deep Space 9 timeline, this chapter is where I begin to deviate from it noticeably. Although I'm keeping Garak's trip to the Gamma Quadrant, the Cardassian-Dominion treaty and the retaking of DS9 as plot points, there are going to be some changes, minor and not so minor.
For those of you not familiar with the Dominion and the Changelings, this from Memory Alpha: "Odo was a Changeling. The Changelings were liquid-based, shapeshifting lifeforms native to the Gamma Quadrant of the Milky Way Galaxy. Changelings could take virtually any corporeal form, ranging from humanoid aliens to fog to reflective surfaces. Founders of the Dominion were Changelings, and made up the majority of the Dominion's leadership. By placing Changeling infiltrators in important positions within the governments of the Alpha and Beta Quadrant's major powers, the Dominion was able to wipe out the Obsidian Order, drastically reduce the capabilities of the Tal Shiar, nearly cause a war between the Federation and the Tzenkethi, and start a war between the Klingon Empire and the Cardassian Union, an act which concurrently caused a conflict between the Federation and Klingons."
(Taken from the articles "Odo", "Changelings", "Dominion" and "Dominion War" on Memory Alpha where there's much more information, of course.)
25.
"How many ships does he have and how far is he from Deep Space 9? Because he's coming here, isn't he? So, we need to prepare. We need to send for reinforcements, to the Federation, and to Bajor, yes, and we need to, um, strengthen our defences and…"
As Kira's hands were fluttering about her, her wrists looked so thin that they looked as if they just might break off and fly across the room. Kira had been a soldier all her life, and Odo knew she was not a great strategist, not a thinker; she didn't like being stuck in a room with admirals and generals and leaders, moving little ships around charts and crunching numbers; but she was quick to think of the easiest way to solve an immediate problem. Often, her way was the rough way, but it was effective. She was the one who cut to the chase, who spoke up and presented the situation as it was; and she was always the first to volunteer for the most dangerous mission. You might say she was fearless, or you might say she was reckless. What she wasn't was nervous. Not in a crisis situation. Not ever, that Odo could remember. Until now.
How could he calm her down? What could he say that would reassure, but not make her feel exposed? Everyone thought she was so strong, and yet she was as fragile as a bird just fallen out of its nest…
"Major Kira. You need to snap out of it, and you need to focus, now."
Well, not everyone knew that aspect of her, of course, and Commander Sisko certainly wasn't in the mood to ponder anyone's intrinsic frailties. As always, his deep voice filled the room, but his tone was sharp and had nothing of the warmth and geniality it could radiate when he wanted it to. Odo had become used to think of him as a diplomat, the governor of this small citadel they all inhabited; a reluctant religious figure; an increasingly vital player in the politics of the quadrant; and also a family man who liked to cook, to eat, to laugh with his friends, and an unfathomable game called baseball. But before and above all that, Odo reminded himself now, he was a soldier and a Starfleet officer.
"It's not a question of how many ships Dukat has, major, or where he is. If our intelligence is accurate, and it seems very likely that it is, he has negotiated the entry of the Cardassian Union into the Dominion, or is very close to signing the deal. Gul Dukat would be the leader of the Cardassian Union, as part of the Dominion, right here in the Alpha Quadrant. How many ships? If this holds true, he would have *all* the ships. How far away? Everywhere. He will be everywhere."
Kira was pressing both her hands to the table now, staring right in front of her. That's it, Nerys, Odo thought. Breathe. Just breathe. He turned to the Commander, hoping to divert his attention and give Kira time to pull herself together.
"So the most pressing question would be, *is* this information accurate? Where did it come from?"
As if in answer to his question, the door slid open and in walked Garak, followed by Worf.
"Mr. Garak, thank you for joining us."
"A pleasure as always, commander. And it is so nice of you to send Mr. Worf here as an - escort. Hardly a necessary gesture but still, much appreciated."
"Lieutenant Commander Worf is not an escort, Mr. Garak. He is Starfleet's strategic operations officer in this sector and, as such, has come across certain information. Information that we believe you can confirm or deny. You are here to do just that. No more, and no less."
"Ah. I see. Well, I am at your service, commander Sisko. You know that whenever I can help out the Federation or Starfleet, within my modest means…"
Worf leaned in very closely to Garak, who was no the only one in the room sitting and looking rather at ease. But Odo could see that Worf made even Garak nervous. Worf made everyone nervous.
"Has Gul Dukat signed a treaty to enter the Cardassian Union into the Dominion? Do you know anything about that, Mr. Garak?"
As an afterthought, Worf added: "Any information on the subject would be - extremely helpful?"
Garak looked at all of them in turn: Worf, Sisko, Kira, Odo. Then back at Kira. She was no longer leaning on the table, but standing across from Garak and looking straight at him.
"Commander. I am astonished, truly. Astonished at this news, should it be true, and astonished that you could possibly believe that I, of all people, have access to this kind of intelligence?"
"Mr. Worf?", Sisko said.
Worf was clenching his fists, Odo could hear his knuckles creaking, and he was sure Garak could too. Once he had heard Worf say that he was such a cowardly traitor as Garak must have had some Romulan blood in him…
"We intercepted some encrypted communications. It seems as if you might have received the same communications. Perhaps you have had - better luck in… deciphering them."
"How very flattering! I had no idea you considered me interesting enough to intercept my communications. Might I also add, it *is* quite illegal. And, as it seems, ineffective as well. All in all, I must say, it doesn't seem like a very good strategy, Commander."
"You are very welcome to file a complaint."
Now Sisko was hovering over Garak on one side while Worf continued to lean in from the other. Garak was no longer nervous, in fact, it seemed he was clearly enjoying the situation.
"I think I will do just that."
It was plain to see that Garak had a plan. Odo could see that he wanted something, and it seemed like he was quite confident that he would get it in exchange for the information, or rather confirmation, Sisko wanted. Which was why he was enjoying the moment, seeing the Commander and Worf squirm, while they were trying, to no avail, to make *him* squirm.
Odo could understand that, he liked to make people squirm as much as anyone, especially people in positions of authority. He glanced over at Kira again: no, this definitely wasn't the day for those kind of games. He would have to - how did they call it at the card games at Vic's? Up the ante. He would have to up the ante.
"I don't think you will do that, Mr. Garak. What I think is that you will tell us what you know and then, maybe, we will consider whatever - request you may have in mind."
"Request? Whatever can you mean?"
"Or you can come with me, we take a walk, and you tell us what we need to know anyway. Only you don't get anything out of it, except an extended stay in sickbay with your good friend Dr. Bashir."
Odo didn't expect Garak (and hopefully not Sisko or Worf either) to take that threat seriously. But he knew that Garak knew that once he *had* been that kind of a man. They had recognised each other soon enough. He just needed him to get the message.
Garak just continued to look around as if this was a pleasant tea party, with that half smile of his that could drive anyone insane if exposed to it for enough time - especially Kira. Had Odo been wrong about Garak's strategy? Maybe he already had whatever he wanted. Or maybe he had no information whatsoever, and he just enjoyed toying with them. Odo was just considering how much the discomfort of a night in the brig on some easily trumped up charge might influence Garak's position, when his comm-badge beeped.
"Ziyal to Odo."
"This is not a good time, Ms. Ziyal. I will get back to you later."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I just - I wondered if you knew where Mr. Garak is? I went by his shop and it was dark and closed, and I can't seem to be able to contact him and… I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"
"Mr. Garak is - not available right now, Ms. Ziyal. If I see him, I will let him know that you are looking for him. Odo out."
Why he had all but informed Ziyal that Garak was with him at that very moment, Odo didn't know. From the look that Sisko was giving him, he suspected he was going to get an earful about that sometime in the near future. Garak's face, meanwhile, had become completely unreadable.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you, Garak? You think you know it all, don't you? You, you always come up on top, whatever happens. Like scum. But this time you're wrong, so you better tell us. You better cooperate. Do you actually think that maybe Dukat *needs* you? Oh, he doesn't need you, he doesn't need anyone? He will come, and when he gets here, he will deal with people like you, you can be sure of that."
Kira's voice was dripping with hate. Just as he had never seen her frightened, Odo hadn't seen her as passionate as this before either, and for a moment, he felt a kind of sadness. No one spoke. Worf seemed too dumbstruck with shock to react and Sisko was probably trying to calm himself down enough to sound more or less normal when he sent Kira out of the room. He took a deep breath and was about to speak, but Garak spoke first.
"Yes. My sources confirm that Gul Dukat is indeed in the process of signing a treaty that will effectively make the Cardassian Union a part of the Dominion. The treaty will be finalised in no more than five days, but it may happen much sooner. Key points of the treaty include the advancement of Dukat to provisional leader of the Cardassian Union, of course, provisional meaning indefinite; the dispatch of a significant number Dominion troops to reinforce Cardassia; and the eventual retaking of Deep Space 9, this last item being a priority. I can have the whole communication decrypted and ready for you within the hour. Under no circumstances will I reveal the source."
Worf was the first one to manage a feeble "thank you." Garak stood up, nodded, and started walking towards the door. Just a step before he reached it, he turned around, as if he had remembered a minor detail.
"As for your offer to - compensate me for sharing this information: I require use of a runabout."
Sisko didn't look at Worf, and not at Kira either; for some reason, he looked at Odo, and Odo nodded, once.
"I'm sure you understand I'm going to need some more information before I let you use one of my runabouts.
"I'm going to the Gamma Quadrant. There's a Dominion internment camp there, one of many. A prisoner camp. This one is number 371. I have received information that one of the inmates of Internment Camp 371 is - a person of interest to me."
"So this is a rescue mission? Who is it?"
"I won't know if it's a rescue mission or not until I get there. As for who - Enabran Tain. I expect the name is not completely unfamiliar?"
"You want us to give you a ship to go the Gamma Quadrant to rescue the former head of the Obsidian Order? After what you've told us? I would laugh if it wasn't so pathetic."
Kira was very close to shrieking. Now, Sisko turned to her.
"Since Mr. Garak's - request does pertain to Starfleet equipment, Mr. Worf and I will stay behind and discuss the issue with him. Constable, Major - thank you very much, I shall be contacting you shortly to review our… options in view of this new information."
"But, Commander…?"
"The information about Dukat's pact with the Dominion does concern Bajor, of course, I expect you will want to contact the government as soon as possible, and while you're at it, please set up a meeting as soon as possible. You will not disclose our source, of course. As for Mr. Garak's - mission, as of now it is on a need to know basis, and you don't need to know."
Odo positioned himself next to Kira and hoped his presence would somehow keep her from saying or doing something that would get her into much more trouble than she already was. He knew better than to try to touch her, or even speak to her. If she hasn't moved when I reach ten, I'll have to say something, he thought, and started counting. When he reached five, she started to walk towards the door. Before reaching it, just where Garak had turned, she turned too.
"Why Tain, Garak? What is he to you?"
"I owe it to him."
His voice was as flat as it had been during the whole last part of the conversation, from the moment he had, for some unfathomable reason, decided to drop his game.
"Major? Need to know. I am not telling you again."
"It's all right, Commander. I don't mind. And while we're at it, there was another piece of information that my - source relied that might be of some interest to all of you."
"Well, what is it, Mr. Garak?"
"It seems that, for some time now, there have been *two* Changelings on the station. Someone has been replaced."