"Computer, engage privacy mode," Narek said with a heavy sigh as he slowly rose from his bed. His handsome Romulan face contorted into a frown as the forcefield of his holding cell turned opaque and the small, utilitarian toilet emerged from the wall. "One, two, three..."
"Privacy mode engaged," the computer said, with Narek sarcastically mouthing every word of the announcement- an announcement he had heard countless times. "Privacy mode will end in five minutes, after which time you will not be able to engage it again for another two hours. Your vital signs and brainwaves will be monitored continually for the duration of privacy mode."
"Yes, yes, I know," Narek petultantly snapped. "Is there any way for you to NOT say that every time I need to relieve myself?"
"Inmates do not have the authority to override audio announcements," the computer said as Narek sulked.
After the young Romulan had finished his business, he returned to his cell's nondescript bunk and laid back down, mentally counting down the seconds until privacy mode ended and his forcefield once again turned transparent. When it did, however, Narek was surprised to discover that he was not alone.
"Hello," the visitor- a human male in late middle age- said in an accent that Narek had difficulty identifying. "You must be mister Narek."
"I must be," the young Romuan replied, "because this is a maximum security Federation penal facility, and you wouldn't even be allowed in here without permission from someone very senior. Which means you obviously want something from me."
"You are every bit as clever as they said you were," the human said, a wide smile spreading across his face. "This makes me very pleased."
"Look, what do you want?" Narek asked. "I've already told Starfleet everything I know about the Zhat Vash, about Ganmadan, about Seb-Cheneb..."
"Yes, and the information you provided was very interesting," the human said. "I'm already looking forward to deciding how much of it was true, and how much of it was a lie."
"It was all true," Narek scoffed. "Tell me you saw the portal the synths opened and you DIDN'T think that was the end of everything?"
"Yes, I saw the footage," the human said. "I've also had a lot of experience with your people, and I know that Romulans don't always tell the truth, even to other Romulans."
"What are you trying to say?" Narek asked.
"I'm trying to say that a man of your talents is going to waste sat in a cell every hour of the day," the human replied.
"Yes, well, right now it's not like a have a lot of other choices," Narek sighed. "If I head back to Romulan space, the Zhat Vash will find me and kill me for being a traitor. If my sister was still alive she'd probably have pulled the trigger herself. I can't go anywhere in the Federation, because as a former enemy combatant, I'm a security risk. I can't even go with Picard and his crew, as they all hate me."
"Picard's crew does include a Romulan though, doesn't it?" The human asked.
"Yes, and he hates me the most of all of them," Narek sighed. "...So whatever you're offering, I'm interested."
"Who said I was offering anything?" The human asked, a curious smile spreading across his face.
"You've already interrogated me many times," Narek replied. "So you're not interested in information. You're not Starfleet, so I'm not being transferred to another facility. So the only other options are that you want something from me, or you have something for me."
"I can see we made the right choice," the human said as he lowered the forcefield and stepped into Narek's cell, flanked by two armed security guards. "I represent an organisation named Section 31. I take it you are aware of them?"
"I've heard of them," Narek replied. "What use would a Federation agency have for a Romulan agent, though?"
"Oh, you'd be far from the first Romulan to be on our books, believe me," the human said with a devilish grin. "In fact, many of our agents come from worlds not associated with the Federation. Myself included." Narek stepped back with a confused look on his face as the human's appearance began to distort, an effect the young Romulan immediately recognised as a holographic filter. What surprised Narek the most, though, was that the human male wasn't human at all- nor was he Klingon, Vulcan, Andorian or Bolian. He was Cardassian.
"Please allow me to introduce myself," the Cardassian said. "My name is Elim Garak, and I think the two of us are going to get along VERY well."