Future Reflections
Chapter Three
The Intendent stirred to wakefulness, but remained still so that she could eavesdrop on her visitors.
"She should be healed up enough to be relocated to the brig tomorrow." That sounded like Bashir's voice.
"Can we send her to the brig for crimes she committed in another dimension?" Sisko asked honestly.
"We can't indict her for something she didn't do here, no. But we can charge her for the attempted theft of an Orb. That's a minimum of five years."
The Intendent tried to lean forward and discovered a force-field prevented her.
"You're finally awake." Kira observed.
The Intendent smiled broadly. "I never knew that Terran Bashir would make such a good doctor." She glanced over at him. "Makes me want to get injured all over again." She rolled her shoulders and stretched suggestively.
"You're going to find the men here are harder to seduce." Kira warned.
"They're all the same everywhere." She purred. "Hello, Sisko."
Sisko could see she struggled to keep the affectionate mask on; the corners of her lips and nostrils twitched with a natural scowl just below the surface.
"How are you doing?" The captain asked out of formality.
"Why don't you come over and check me for yourself?"
"I don't think so."
"See? I told you." Kira said matter-of-factly.
The Intendent suppressed a laugh as she watched Sisko leave.
"So, five years in a Bajoran prison? Doesn't sound so bad."
"It's the least you deserve." Kira hissed.
"So hostile!" The Intendant giggled. "Afraid I'll steal all your men?"
A clearing of the throat at the door announced the arrival of the Constable.
"I uh, hear the prisoner has regained consciousness?"
Odo's voice reached the Intendent's ears, and she squealed with glee. "Odo!"
Kira couldn't believe it. The Intendent's eyes actually lit up when she saw the shapeshifter - the spark of genuine love was undeniable. So your feelings for him really are genuine. Just like mine.
"It's so good to see you! Oh, Nerys, you didn't tell me you still had your Odo!" Her smile broadened. "Does this one value order and obedience, too?"
"I've read reports about you, so whatever you're planning, don't. It will save everyone time." Odo warned.
And just like that, the smile faded, and the spark died. Kira's mouth opened just slightly at the knowledge she had likely witnessed the last facet of goodness die within the Intendent.
"I have some questions for you, if you don't mind." Odo continued, oblivious to the inner workings of the Intendent.
"Anything." The wickedness had returned in her eyes.
"The man who attacked you. Can you identify him for me?"
"Are you seeking vengeance over what he did to me?" An attempt to rekindle the spark.
"Actually, I am seeking justice. Battery is a violation of the law. I follow the same protocol for everyone."
The spark failed to light. It seemed this Odo was all business.
"And what will I get in return for answering your questions?"
"I will arrest him." He answered plainly, as if that were enough to appease her.
"Sorry. His identity must have slipped my mind."
"What do you get out of protecting him?" Odo asked, his head shaking slightly.
"What do you get out of arresting him?"
Odo snorted and looked over to Major Kira. "Is she always this difficult?"
"Only when she's not getting her way." Kira commented passively with arms folded. "Come on. There are other ways to find him."
"Come visit me later, Odo. I'd love to make up for lost time!" Intendent giggled as they both left.
She looked around the infirmary, then rested her eyes on the doctor, who had squirreled himself away into his office without detection while she had been preoccupied with the others.
"So, what are you doing over there, all by your lonesome?"
"None of your business." Bashir answered.
"Are you always this cold to your patients?" She was rewarded with silence.
Only the ones who wouldn't hesitate to kill me. He didn't bother replying out loud.
She sighed. She thought he would be the easiest to seduce, but she quickly found he was nothing like her version.
Her Bashir was prone to emotional outbursts. She could push his buttons and goad him into doing anything. It was funny how easy it was to toy with him. But this one! There was something unique and dangerous about this one. He was quiet, solemn. Calculating. Reserved.
I wonder what happened to make him so different? She pondered passively, then determined that whatever had occurred, he couldn't possibly be valuable enough to be worth a second more of her attention.
Nearly an hour passed in silence before Odo's voice returned, this time in the form of a communique from the doctor's badge.
"Odo to Doctor Bashir."
"Yes, constable."
"My prisoner is complaining of headaches and is requesting to see you."
"Really? He should have recovered from the concussion by now." Bashir supposed he could give him some mild pain reliever. "I'll be over shortly."
"He insists on seeing you."
"Does he." Now what was this about? Julian's curiosity was piqued. "Alright."
Not even five minutes had passed before he heard Garak and Odo approach.
"Ah, doctor! So good to see you!"
The Intendent's head snapped to face the direction his voice originated from, her startled reflex catching Odo's eye. Wide eyes. Body ridgid. Shoulders squared. Breathing quickened.
I see, Odo thought. Very telling.
"Hello, Garak. Headache?"
"Actually, no."
Odo rolled his eyes. "More lies?"
"Yes. Really Odo, you should know better."
The Intendent watched with mild interest.
"What can I do for you." Bashir asked flatly.
"I was getting bored and needed to stretch my legs. Those holding cells are so drab and dull!"
"It's supposed to be that way." Odo said with exasperation. "Jail is intended to be a deterrent."
"Surely we can give him one of my books or something?" Bashir asked. "After all he's not even supposed to be there." He whispered.
"Exactly! And as much as I dislike human literature - no offense, doctor - I am desperate!"
"I suppose I can allow one book." Odo grumbled.
Bashir handed him a PADD from his desk. "Here, it's George Orwell. I'm almost finished."
"Thank you doctor, Constable. Now, I don't suppose you would consider placing me under house arrest in my quarters instead of that holding cell?"
"And risk making it look like I'm pampering a Cardassian suspect? There'd be riots on the promenade!"
"But those beds are so uncomfortable, it can't be good for my back." He looked to Bashir for medical confirmation.
"I think you're pushing your luck, Garak." Bashir advised.
"Half of that mob are still convinced you are the perpetrator, and quite a few of them are adept at breaking locks, as indicated by the current state of your shop." Odo reminded him.
"If you were to allow me access to the station locking algorithms, I can resolve that problem very quickly."
The Intendent laughed. "Oh, you are good!"
"Ah, the Intendent, I take it?" Garak surmised.
"I see my reputation precedes me. How did you get Odo to pamper you while in a holding cell? He and that doctor won't even talk to me." Just goes to show how soft this universe is: My Odo would have had him tortured and executed by now. She mused silently.
"Don't give her too much information, Garak." Bashir warned. "She's a master manipulator."
"Master Manipulator!" She laughed. "I'm flattered you would think so! But it's not me you should be worrying about. I can see this Garak retained his mental faculties. If he's anything like mine, he's a dangerous traitor."
"That's not a secret, Intendent." Odo dismissed her warning. "Now, if you will excuse us." He clapped Garak on the shoulder.
"Right. Back to my cell." He smiled at the doctor sarcastically. "Do come visit."
"Of course." Bashir agreed as he watched Garak reluctantly follow the shapeshifter out of the Infirmary.
"Bring a kotra board!"
"Let's go." Odo ordered, and both he and Garak disappeared out of sight.
"Can you help me stretch my legs, too?" She asked seductively.
"I think you're doing fine on your own." He rebuffed and receded back into his office.
She exhaled. Damn it, he was a tough egg to crack. Kira was right; these men were harder to seduce. Was it the same for the women? She thought she had seen Ezri outside the infirmary earlier.
Hours passed uneventfully, and she was left in silence. Bashir eventually left for the night.
She had overheard she would be relocated tomorrow to the brig, then sent to Bajor to stand trial for the attempted theft of the Orb of Contemplation.
"Trusting Bareil was such a mistake." She whispered to herself.
At least he was dead here, too.
She didn't know she had dozed off until the sound of retching awoke her.
The infirmary was dark. She remained quiet and scanned the darker corners of her surroundings.
The sound of someone shuffling about, knocking over canisters. A hypospray. A grunt, cough, and more retching. Fast, labored breathing.
Just what is this thing? Should she call out or remain quiet?
The sound of another hypospray, and another. Mechanical hiss after mechanical hiss. She could barely make out his form in the supply closet. Elim.
Her Elim.
"They know you're infected. They're expecting you." She warned.
With her eyes adjusted, she could see he was holding on to the shelving for support.
"I plan to be...long gone before they arrive." He struggled to reply.
Another hypospray hissed in the dark.
"Do you even know what you're injecting yourself with? You'll make yourself sicker."
"Better sick than dead, like you."
"Oh they aren't going to kill me. I'll be relaxing in a prison on Bajor for a couple years. I hear they don't even torture their prisoners. It's illegal." She almost laughed at the absurdity. "Does it bother you to know I'm going to get away with it? And be comfortable and happy?"
He knocked over canisters as he returned to his primary objective. The doctor was all out of antivirals. He hoped whatever he had dosed himself with would work and not kill him in the process.
"Let me out of here. I'll make it worth your while." She offered.
"You have nothing I want."
"That's not true." She replied. "Last time I was here? I learned about an Orb the Bajorans worship here. It lets you travel through time!" That piqued his curiosity, and he approached her bed cautiously.
The last time he was this close, he almost succeeded in killing her. She tried to put on her best smile.
"Imagine what we could do with something like that! We could stop them from building the Defiant. We could execute Sisko, Ezri, Bashir, and O'Brien, all of them, before they even become a problem! You would still be my second. We can even get your son back. Think about it."
"What guarantee do I have that you won't betray me?"
"It's in both of our interests." She reasoned with a supressed smile. "Think about it."