Chapter 280

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Note: Bashir and Garek are both characters from "Star Trek: Deep Spac Nine."

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Julian Bashir was a doctor, dedicated to saving lives. He occassionally alienated even his friends, but he always tried to be a good doctor. Bashir tried to stop this recent plague, with no success. They died, he had failed. On the other hand, if the ambassador was right, those who had died of the plague were in Heaven right now, leaving Bashir here in Antarctica. He had been able to reconnect with some of his old friends here, but not everyone. After the dissapearences, Bashir was relieved to find one old "friend" Garek. Garek lived in exile from the Cardasian Empire, was on Deep Space Nine during Bashir's service. At first Bashir didn't trust Garek, tried to avoid him. Over time they became friends, but Bashir still didn't trust Garek completely. Now, here Garek was, in the flesh.

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Bashir: I'm glad you're out of Hell.

Garek: So am I. It makes me wonder how competant this "Good" really is.

Bashir: I'd like to ask you a few questions, if you can finally tell me the truth.

Garek: I will, if you'll promise to tell me the truth to some of my questions.

Bashir: That's only fair. Were you ever part of the Obsidian Order?

Garek: Yes. Do you really want to know what war crimes I might be guilty of?

Bashir: I want to know what you really did to earn your exile.

Garek: I already told you.

Bashir: You probably did, but you told me so many stories it's impossible to say which version is true.

Garek: Fair enough. I was ordered to interrogate these bajoran children, the oldest couldn't have been more than 14, the Order probably just grabbed some random refugees off the street. It was clear they knew nothing, not that we were sticklers for reasonable doubt. I was suppossed to turn them over for execution, but my judgement was clouded. It was cold, and I was hungry. I just wanted a hot meal and to get out of the cold. So I let them go. That was why I was exiled, for showing mercy to children. I assure you, it was a fluke.

Bashir: Is that the real truth?

Garek: You know I consider "truth" to just be an excuse for lack of imagination. Is there any oath I can give that you'd believe?

Bashir: Probably not.

Garek: But you promised to answer some of my questions, doctor.

Bashir: Ask away.

Garek: The first time we met, you were uneasy around me. Why?

Bashir: I believed you were a spy. You made that business deal with those klingon sisters, but made sure that the Federation knew what was going on.

Garek: This was just after a terrible war. I was hardly the only displaced person struggling to survive. I didn't know how long the provisional government would last, how long the Federation would stick around, what those two klingons would do if I refused to do business with them. I had to ask myself certain questions. Things like "Which course of action would increase my chances for survival?" "Which course would decrease my chances for survival?" But I've always suspected that there was another reason why you were so uneasy around me.

Bashir: Do you really want to know?

Garek: I've been truthful with you.

Bashir: The truth is I was afraid.

Garek: Afraid of me.

Bashir: More like I was afraid of myself.

Garek: I'm not sure I understand.

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With that Bashir kissed Garek.

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Bashir: That's what I was afraid of. That I was developing feelings, or already had feelings, for you.

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Garek seemed initially suprised, but then he kissed Bashir. These two had denied their feelings for so long, now they could finally be together, for a little while at least.