Disclaimer: While the attempt has been made to be medically accurate, some artistic license has been taken, and statements made by Dr Bashir are not to be regarded as authoritative.

Synthadrenaline, xenthraholicyne, moroxapryn, and sydrolamine are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual drug and/or chemical names is unintentional.

The Zanthracite and Bentolian races are a product of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to the name of a canon Star Trek race is unintentional. Recognizable characters and plotlines are the property of Paramount and Viacom; all original characters and story © 2021 FemaleChauvinist.

Do not post without permission. Do not copy/print without including the above disclaimer in its entirety.

Dedicated to Shani8, whose reviews on my earlier DS9 stories motivated me to take a half-finished outline and turn it into a full story, and to Tamuril2, who kept me motivated for the year it took me to write and edit. And for anyone else who mentioned they've been waiting for my take on this…here we go!

Prologue

Ezri Tegan sat curled up in the viewport of the supply ship Tamson, staring dreamily out at the sparkling stars. She had become a counselor because she had wanted to help unhappy people get over their grief and to help hurt people feel better ever since she had been a teen, but her reason for joining Starfleet went back further still. For as long as she could remember, she had wanted to travel among the stars, to touch them like the girl in her childhood fairy tale book. Remembering that favorite story, she reached out to rest her fingertips on the viewscreen, imagining it would melt away and her hand would slip through to meet those shimmering points of light.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Ezri frowned, coming back to the reality of the star shuttle with a jolt to see Dr Zimmerman leaning casually against the other side of the viewport. She didn't care for the man, finding his attention a bit intrusive, but as they were the only two passengers on the shuttle, it didn't seem to be polite to refuse to speak to him entirely.

"Oh…I was just thinking about the stars…wondering what it will be like to see the wormhole." She blushed, hoping he wouldn't guess how childish her thoughts had actually been.

"Very much the same as seeing it on holovids, I should imagine."

Ezri only shook her head. He was right, it probably wouldn't look any different, but surely there would be an even greater sense of awed wonder to know it was really just on the other side of the viewport.

"I'm surprised a tourist would travel on a supply shuttle," Dr Zimmerman continued.

"I'm not a tourist!" Ezri exclaimed, uncoiling from her childish position as she slid from her perch to stand, taking a half step back from him as she did so. She wished now that she had decided to wear her Starfleet uniform for the trip. "I'm going to be part of the crew on Deep Space Nine; a counselor."

Dr Zimmerman's eyebrows rose. "A counselor? You're far too young and pretty for that, my dear. But then, I suppose you're joined…"

"No, I'm not!" Ezri flashed.

"Why? Couldn't pass the test?"

Ezri gritted her teeth, hating his patronizing tone, especially from a Terran. It was bad enough that other Trill couldn't understand she had no desire to be joined; it was worse when species who had no symbiosis couldn't understand her viewpoint. She had always wanted any accomplishments she made to be her own, not those of the symbiont or past hosts living on through her.

"I never tried," she said with forced calm. "What about you?" she questioned, more to change the subject than with any real curiosity. "Why are you going to Deep Space Nine?"

"I'm investigating Adigeon Prime," Dr Zimmerman answered.

Ezri shuddered; she of course knew what was rumored to have happened on the first planet of the Adigeon system. Genetic experiments…creating inhuman monsters… "But…why Deep Space Nine?" she asked again. "That's nowhere close to Adigeon Prime."

Dr Zimmerman winked mysteriously. "Oh, I have my reasons, my dear…I have my reasons."

First chapter coming next week…if I get enough reviews! ("Great chapter" or a request to post the next chapter don't count — I want at least one sentence telling me what you thought of this chapter :-D ) And even if you're reading this after the next chapter is up, I'd appreciate a review before you go on to read it. Thanks!

I proofread all my stories at least once before posting, but if you see any mistakes I might have missed, please let me know!

Please note that I have only minimal internet access, and may not have time to respond to all reviews/messages. (But they are much appreciated, even if you're reading this story long after I originally post it!) If you have questions regarding my Deep Space Nine alternate history, check my profile first to see if they're answered there. Thanks for your understanding! Barbie