Star Trek; Deep Space Nine
Blood Island

Chapter 5

The medical complexes on the Island were vast. Adjacent to the medical complexes were the numerous housing structures where the citizens, all inflicted with the virus, lived. Bashir, Dax, Kira and Jerev sat in a small shuttle that flew over the modern city that flourished on the Island below.

"No one could deny you are putting a lot of investment in to the comfort, and lives, of these people." Bashir said to Jerev. "Perhaps I was out of line earlier."

"With all due respect to Minister Jerev," Kira said to Bashir, "most of these buildings were built by Bajoran slave labor, under the watchful eye of Dukat's henchmen and Bajoran collaborators."

Jerev nodded. "Kira is right," Jerev said, "but regardless of why they were built Major, they are providing homes for these people."

"Whatever you say, Minister Jerev." Kira said with a forced smile.

Dax looked down upon a grass field that they were flying over. There was a large gathered crowed observing some kind of sporting event with what appeared to be younger children.

"I notice that there are a lot of children, younger children, who have the disease." Dax said. "Neline seems to be the oldest child I have seen who has the virus, and she is nine years old."

Jerev nodded. "As I told Commander Sisko, even as recent as ten or so years ago, after nearly thirty years of the occupation, it was becoming apparent the occupation wouldn't last forever. We suspect that it was around that time the Cardassians began to put the virus into the food supplies and water here on the Island, where most of the collaborating Bajoran population lived."

Bashir picked up Dax's line of questioning. "So when did the first victims start showing any signs of having the virus?"

"Nearly three years ago. It took that long for the virus to start showing its effects." Jerev said.

"Excuse me Minister," Bashir said, "a seven year gestation period can happen, but it is very rare, especially in a closed population such as the one on this Island."

"Julian, what are you trying to say? It was triggered?" Dax asked.

Bashir looked out the windows and saw that the shuttle was returning to the medical complex, the tour was soon to end. "I'm not sure Jadzia, and I won't be until I read some of the data they have. But the more I think about it, the more I think this virus was created with much forethought. And, if I am correct, who ever created it had a very detailed understanding of Bajoran DNA."

"Or just maybe," Kira said to Bashir, "there are forces at work that are more powerful than Cardassian and Federation scientists."

They all knew what Kira meant by that subtle, yet straight forward statement.

The shuttle landed at the large medical complex. The passengers stepped off of the shuttle and headed towards the main medical complex. Another male Bajoran, and a younger Bajoran female, came out of the complex and headed toward them. They stopped to greet Jerev and the others. One of them was an older Bajoran, just like Jerev, who had a name badge that read Gyem. The female had a name badge as well, her name was Anthier.

Jerev spoke to Kira, Bashir and Dax. "Please let me introduce you to the Islands senior administer, Doctor Gyem. He is, without doubt, one of our foremost leading scientists."

Gyem bowed his head.

"And this beautiful young woman is Doctor Anthier," Jerev said with a smile, "not only is she Gyem's chief assistant, she also happens to be my daughter."

Anthier shook her head. "Oh father," Anthier said, "do you always have to state that to everyone?"

Jerev smiled at his daughter. "Well, what kind of father would I be if I didn't show pride in my own daughter?"

Kira, and Dax, could tell that Bashir was quite taken with the beautiful Bajoran doctor.

Gyem, looked to the guest, and then spoke. "Let me show you our medical center. We are quite proud of what we have accomplished here."

The others followed Gyem towards the complex. Dax walked to the side of Bashir and leaned closer to him.

"Don't get distracted, Julian." Dax said with a twinkle in her eyes as Bashir saw that she had caught him admiring Anthier, who walked just ahead of him.

Bashir nodded.

They entered the large medical complex.

Meanwhile, aboard Deep Space Nine.

Chief O'brien and Odo sat inside of Odo's office at security headquarters. The door opened and Commander Sisko walked into the office.

"I got your message," Sisko told them both. "What's wrong?"

Odo looked up at Sisko. "After the tour of the Island, they went inside the main medical complex."

Sisko nodded. "Well, with any luck, we will know soon if the effort there is real, or just a facade."

O'brien shook his head. "Sir," O'brien said, "we've lost track of them."

Sisko did not like the sound of that at all.

"You've lost contact; how is that possible?"

"Some kind of dampening field," Odo replied. "They don't want anyone looking inside that place unexpectedly."

"Great," Sisko said softly, "just great."

Bashir and Dax, after completing the tour, headed straight for Neline's hospital room. The main hospital complex was the largest building in the medical compound. Bashir had never seen anything like. The medical staff was quite large, and the current patient population was nearly six thousand. The hospital was for those who had the more serious symptoms, and who faced death.

Bashir and Dax walked through one of the many corridors, while on their way to see Neline. Bashir was speaking with Anthier while Dax spoke with Gyem.

Bashir looked to Anthier. "So you're telling me," Bashir said, "that once the symptoms reach the critical stage, like Neline's, death comes in a couple of weeks, if not days?"

Gyem nodded in the affirmative.

Bashir continued; "But before that happens, the Island population lives with-in the various housing complexes we saw on the tour of the city, and when they start showing the serious symptoms they are finally sent here, to the hospital; to die."

Anthier nodded. "Yes, a very general description, but yes," the Bajoran female replied. "This disease is insidious Doctor Bashir. I might add that it is quite possible that someone could have the virus, and not even knowing, contaminate others, and die weeks after the symptoms arise. That is why the Bajoran government wants to know the whereabouts of all those contaminated."

Gyem looked to Bashir, "Had Neline not been hidden from us, we may have been able to stabilize her condition with medicines that may have extended her life far longer. But sadly, due to her father's shortsightedness, she will die; quite soon."

Bashir was going to respond, but Dax beat him to it. "Doctor Gyem," Dax said, "I don't understand why someone would knowingly evade coming to the Island, especially knowing the deadly conditions it can manifest."

Gyem thought for a moment. "I won't deny there is a growing stigma in Bajoran culture about coming here to the Island. Many of the adults don't believe it is fair to put their infected children on this Island, just to spend their last years waiting to die."

"And let me guess," Bashir said coldly, "since its all by the will of the Prophets, well then to hell with any dissention."

Anger came to the face of Gyem, and his words. "Please refrain from attacking our belief system Doctor Bashir. They have served us well for thousands of years."

Bashir came right back at Gyem, "What is the penalty for hiding a child inflicted with this virus in the general public, off the island?" Bashir asked.

Anthier, wanting to dissolve the tension, answered for Gyem. "The child will not be punished, of course. But the father, and his sister, Neline's aunt, purposely lied about her not having the disease. The aunt took her in, and had she not joined the choir, and gotten sick up on Deep Space Nine, she may have contaminated many more in the process. Their case will be decided in a court set-up for such violation of the law."

Bashir shook his head. "You have told us the only way someone can get the virus is by birth, or the exchange of bodily fluids. I don't believe Neline is engaging in such behavior."

"True," Gyem said, "but what if she had been injured, and blood from her wound came into contact with someone not infected."

Dax shook her head, "What are the chances of that really happening?"

"Enough that we have decided to send those people here." Gyem said. "And then, once they are here, we treat them and try to find a cure."

Before Bashir could press the issue, they arrived at the door to Neline's hospital room. A Bajoran security officer waited outside the door.

Anthier spoke to one of them. "Is her father still visiting?" she asked.

The guard replied. "Yes Doctor, he is. We gave him extra time to visit. But pretty soon we will be taking him for processing over at the holding camp."

Bashir didn't like the sound of that at all.

"Excuse me," Bashir said to Gyem, "but Neline doesn't have long to live, according to you. Couldn't he be given an exemption for punishment for now?"

"Do not be worried, Doctor Bashir," Gyem replied. "Once he has been processed at the holding camp, he will be allowed to visit her for two hours a day."

"Why not let him stay with her, day in and day out, until she is gone?" Bashir pressed.

"I'm sorry Doctor," Gyem replied, "but these rules and regulations have been implemented for the safety and wellbeing of not only the patients, but the staff and general population of Bajor."

Bashir looked to Dax; she understood his concern but, but there was nothing they could do.

"I would like to see her now," Bashir said softly.

"Of course, Doctor Bashir." Anthier replied.

The guard pressed a button on the door and then the door slid open. Anthier entered, and the others followed.

- continued