Summary: The Dominion War has been over for only a short time, but a catastrophic explosion cripples the station and Dr. Julian Bashir finds himself accused of the crime. In the process of this painful experience, he loses his grasp on reality AND himself. In an effort to protect his friend, Garak gets involved in the situation and weaves a complicated web that provides protection to Bashir, but creates chaos in the process. Just be aware that not everything is as it appears.
I wrote this after being inspired by another work I saw during my time at the 'Sid City Social Club.'
Please respect my work enough to leave reviews after you read it.
Backstory: Shortly after the end of the Dominion War, Deep Space Nine suffers catastrophic damage while providing a place of temporary rest to Starfleet officers involved in the rebuilding of Cardassia Prime. Dozens of officers are killed in the incident and JAG is called upon to investigate who caused the damage and why. Their investigation reveals something shocking and they call for a meeting with Dr. Bashir to reveal their findings.
FADE IN:
CONFERENCE ROOM - DEEP SPACE NINE SPACE STATION
BASHIR (confused): Do you mind telling me why I am here?
A stern looking female Admiral is sitting at a table along with a couple of Security officers.
ADMIRAL GRAYSON: I'm Admiral Martha Grayson and I was just appointed Judge Advocate General for Starfleet. (a beat, cold) I know who you are.
BASHIR (confused): And who exactly am I to you?
ADMIRAL GRAYSON (cold): The cause of the explosion that killed dozens of Starfleet officers. (a beat) I don't know how you did it or why you did it, but I know you did. The origin of the explosion came from the infirmary! Why would you want to kill dozens of Starfleet officers?!
BASHIR (confused): I...I didn't. (a beat) I'm not in there all of the time.
ADMIRAL GRAYSON (scoffs): It's in your very nature to kill and to lie, Doctor Bashir. I know you're an Augument and you've got their tendencies to kill without feeling and to lie...why…why did you kill them?!
The Security officers rise and Bashir freezes, his eyes wide with horror as they come over to him with binders out.
ADMIRAL GRAYSON (angry): Julian Subatoi Bashir, you are under arrest for causing this catastrophe and for the murder of dozens of Starfleet officers. You will be returned to Earth to stand trial. (a beat) Guards, take him to the prison shuttle.
BASHIR (anxious): Wait, don't I get to hear the evidence against me or ask for an advocate?
ADMIRAL GRAYSON (annoyed): Do you really think Deep Space Nine has time to advocate for you after what happened? (a beat) Major Kira already knows this is taking place.
BASHIR (stunned): Nerys knows that I'm being accused of murder?!
ADMIRAL GRAYSON (annoyed): I am JAG and was asked to investigate. Even if she doesn't approve of what the outcome of my investigation is, it doesn't matter. You're guilty.
BASHIR (mad): I was in my quarters when the explosion took place!
ADMIRAL GRAYSON (scoffs): Your biosign was in Sickbay. (a beat) Or do Security feeds and logs lie now?
BASHIR (annoyed): I was in my quarters asleep. (a beat) Check my security camera.
ADMIRAL GRAYSON (mad): That area took severe damage in the explosion. (a beat) Stop trying to act like Khan, Bashir! Your little game is over! Guards, take him and get that piece of Augument trash off this station!
The guards cuff Bashir and drag him out of the office. They pass by scores of Starfleet officers trying to repair damage and move bodies from damaged areas. There is no sign of Kira anywhere and Bashir suddenly feels scared because it feels like he's being given angry looks.
CUT TO:
PRISON SHUTTLE
A couple of hours have passed. Bashir is sitting on a bench behind a forcefield while the two Security officers sit at the shuttle controls, neither of them speaking to him or each other. He is looking around and is surprised by how small the shuttle is.
BASHIR (nervous): How long until we get back to Earth? (a beat) Where will I stay? In some sort of high tech jail?
The officers look at each other, but neither offers a reply. Bashir scoffs angrily.
BASHIR (annoyed): You're not going to talk to me for the entire ride back to Earth?! I…"
Without warning, the shuttle begins to shake uncontrollably and alarms blare.
SECURITY OFFICER # 1: We're losing power and altitude. (a beat) Hold on!
Bashir suddenly finds himself sliding and slams into a wall hard. He groans, rubbing his head.
The shuttle suddenly drops and Bashir promptly loses his lunch while screaming.
SECURITY OFFICER # 2: Our landing vector's too steep! We're going to crash!
SECURITY OFFICER # 1 (upset): Environmental controls are failing! (a beat) AHHH!
The console where Security Officer # 1 is sitting explodes into flames, immediately burning him badly and rendering him unconscious as the shuttle continues to fall. Security Officer # 2 presses some buttons, but is surprised by the other console exploding. Bashir gets to his feet and starts forward as the shuttle SLAMS into something hard, causing him to slam into a wall and pass out on the ground amidst flames, alarms, and the bodies of the two unconscious Security officers.
FADE TO BLACK
VOICE: Yes, that's him! (a beat) Why was he in a burning shuttle with two dead officers?
VOICE # 2: I don't know, but Cardassian Security officers found him during their morning patrol and they remember that you two were friends on Deep Space Nine.
VOICE (annoyed): Really, Galen, don't sound so surprised or disgusted that I managed to make friends while running my tailor shop on Deep Space Nine. I am quite a social person.
FADE IN:
Elim Garak and a Cardassian doctor known as Galen are standing at the foot of a hospital bed where an unconscious Bashir is laying with a hospital gown and blanket covering his body while a monitor above the bed. Bashir is sporting bandages on his head, chest, arms, and hands all of which are visible under the parts of the body that the hospital gown does not cover.
GARAK (eyes Bashir worriedly): What on earth happened to make him like this?!
GALEN: Security reported that he was in the back of a Federation Security Shuttle. The back of those types of shuttles is usually a brig. Perhaps your friend got himself into some trouble.
Bashir suddenly stirs and the bio-monitor fluctuates. Galen goes to a communication terminal on the wall, but Garak grabs his arm.
GARAK (anxious): There's no need to tell anyone about him being here. (a beat) Not really.
GALEN (suspicious): Garak, I have to notify Security about this….intruder.
GARAK (scoffs): They have enough to do with the patrols and the looting. (a beat) Really, Galen, I'll take full responsibility for him. Julian's not going to hurt me….
VOICE (weak): Who? (a beat) Where…where am I? What is this place?
Garak and Galen look to the bed and see Bashir staring at them with an expression of deep confusion and slight terror in his eyes. Garak hurries over to the bed, but Bashir pulls away.
GARAK (anxious): Will you relax? I'm not going to hurt you. I'm simply happy to see you.
Bashir eyes Garak suspiciously, not sure what to make of him or the being at the foot of his bed.
BASHIR (weak): Who are you? (coughs) Why…why do you act like you know me?
GARAK (eyes wide): Because I do. (a beat) Don't…do you know who you are?
BASHIR (uncertain, weak): No. (a beat) Should I?
GARAK (quiet): Oh…oh dear. (walks over to Galen) It seems there's a bit of a problem.
END
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