Of course, any characters and places you recognize are not
mine. They were conceived by the brilliant Gene Roddenberry, and copyright by Paramount.
Here we go again! This is the second story in a series. You don't have to read the first story, but it sure helps! Believe me! There are spoilers for the first story in here, BTW, so be forewarned. Well, enjoy the story. Oh, and if you have any comments, critiques, flames, etc., you can mail them to me when I finally get an address. :) Have fun!!!
Dedication: This story is dedicated to Kira, without whom the Eysu Moraht would never have existed, not to mention to my prereaders, without whom this story would not have existed. Thanks for the death threats on the previous one. You've given me a goal to reach.
Also, this story is written in loving memory of Eloise and Jimmy Hill, and of Anne King.
The Things Which I Have Seen
by Yuuki Miyaka
Chapter 1
Arys sat in her small quarters, thumbing through the book she had finally found amidst the belongings she cherished. There were actually three books, each with eleven parts. But this was the oldest of the books, it's actual paper pages yellow with age and soft with apparent use. The Bajoran was smiling a sad, fey smile.
"It's amazing how much I can remember when I read back over these. Perhaps I should give them to Jake, so that he can chronicle them in his own version." She thought about that for a while, but finally decided against it. "No. He is finished with Alliance, and he doesn't need to know everything. Not yet, anyway." She trailed off, reading again the first part, settling down for the memories to take hold.
Arys sat on Katassa's bed, wondering again why she was doing this. "Katassa, I won't speak to him," she warned her roommate, who just grinned at her.
"Oh, come on, Arys. You'd think that you would be used to working with Cardassians by now. Haven't your people worked with them enough?"
Arys looked away, her anger at having to be near a Cardassian quelled for a moment by a stray thought. She could remember at least one good Cardassian. But if he was a true sympathiser, he was probably dead by now.
A knock on the door broke her reverie, and she glanced over at Katassa, who sighed and stood. "Who is it?" The voice on the other side of the door was masculine. Not surprising, since they were paired with three men. But it was probably not that of the Cardassian's, since it sounded normal.
"It's us. Can we come in?" Katassa opened the door silently, and all three of the guys stood out in the hallway. There was the Cardassian, looking for all the world like a Terran lizard turned into a man. Arys shuddered without meaning to, and Ari caught the gesture. He nodded once in her direction, and she sighed. She would have to get used to his presence eventually, she supposed. Then there was the Ferengi. Nog was small, shorter even than her, and his eyes seemed to light up at the sight of them. Then she remembered from her Cultures class that on his world, pornography was *clothed* women. She blushed slightly, and he noticed, looking away humbly. Finally, there was the human. Not a bad speciman, she thought with a small grin. Even without the nose he was handsome by Bajoran standards. But what was more important was that he had an air of command about him, although it was equally obvious that he had never led before in his life. Arys was willing to bet that they would end up following him.
"Well, we're here." The soft words startled her. She had heard his voice before, but she still didn't believe it was that soft normally.
"That's good. We were beginning to wonder." She glanced over at Katassa, who was smiling at the Cardassian. *Ari*, her mind supplied, and she winced. Almost immediately, the object of her thoughts was beside her.
"Are you all right? You're not hurt are you?" That was all it took for Arys' temper to get the better of her.
"That's it!" She slapped Ari hard, then turned and walked out of the living room into the bedroom, wishing the door would slam behind her. Once in the bedroom, she realised that she had overreacted. "Oh, Prophets, what have I done?" She lowered herself to her bed, knowing she had messed up badly, and wanting to erase everything. At first, she didn't notice the soft knock. But when she finally did, she saw no point in hiding. "Come in."
A scaled head ventured into the room, hesitantly. Arys looked up, then stared in shock. "Myran? I think we need to talk about this."
"About what?" The words came out cold and cruel, and Arys turned away before Ari could see her pain. But even as she did so, she knew in her heart that he already had.
"About all of this. Myran, we're going to be working on this project for the next month. If we can't get along, we're going to have to say so now. I don't know if I can deal with this otherwise. I'm already in the minority, and I don't need anymore people hating me than I have to."
Arys looked down at her hands. "Dukat, do you have any idea of how bad it was during the Occupation?"
Ari shook his head slowly. "I was a child at that point. Myran, I don't remember much about it, but what I do remember, I want to change."
Arys finally looked back up at him, and he could see the bitterness in her eyes. "So you say. But do you truly expect me to believe that? I mean, come on. I'm not going to fall for it, and you know it. What's more, you know that there's nothing you can do but deal with that."
Ari sighed deeply, the pain on his face magnifying. "Myran, can we at least put our differences aside for this particular project?"
Arys nodded. "All right. But don't expect anything else out of me. I can't give that, and even if I could, I wouldn't."
Ari nodded as well. "Good enough."
Odo and Dax stared at the table in front of them. Odo never ate, and Dax wasn't hungry, but still they both had agreed to meet. Now, they didn't honestly know why. Eventually, Dax started. "Odo, we have to talk about last week."
Odo looked at the lieutenant-commander, and sighed softly. He remembered all too well what had happened on that trip, despite the amnesia drug administered by the doctor of the Kumsahmi.
"Yes, Commander. We should talk about that. I don't know what happened to us, but it got out of hand. I'm sure it won't happen again." He looked away from her piercing stare.
"And would it be so horrible if something did happen like that, Odo?" Dax asked softly. Odo looked at his hands, unable to answer. "Odo, do you know what I think? I think you're scared of facing Nerys, aren't you?"
Odo winced at that name. "Commander, please call her Kira. She deserves that much respect, don't you think?"
Dax's eyes widened as she stared at the shapeshifter in front of her. "Odo, are you all right? I thought you were calling her that."
Odo rose from the table abruptly, almost upsetting the dishes on top of it. "I can't stay here, Commander. There are investigations I need to pursue." As he turned to walk away, Dax grabbed his arm.
"Odo, do you even remember what happened? Did that drug work on you, but not me?"
Odo looked down at his hands, his eyes drowning in the pain he felt. "I remember." The words were soft, and he pulled away from Dax gently. He remembered everything, from the moment he arrived to the moment he left and all the mistakes he made in between. There was a feeling of helplessness that he couldn't bear coming from him, and he had to get away. Without another word, he left Dax standing alone in the Replimat, weaving his way through the crowds to his office, where he could think in peace.
Arys stared at the others in the room, a small grin on her face. "Well, one project and we were on Professor Aldorn's pet list. What now?"
Jake answered her. "It's the end of the year. He wants something with a laser in it. I can think of a few things we could try, but I'd like something really spectacular."
"Yeah, and the more likely to get us into trouble, the better." That comment came from Nog. He'd been amazingly good all year, rarely making sexist comments, and generally behaving like a gentleman. Unlike some people . . . .
Katassa looked up from her medical journal. "I have an idea. What if we created a trap for him? After all, he does have a really sick side, if you think about it. Why not use that against him, for once? It's almost guaranteed to earn us both the respect of the entire class and a really awful grade. I just don't know how we can pull it off."
It was Ari who finally made the suggestion. "Guys, do you remember the cloaking device we created at the beginning of the year?" His hands kneaded Katassa's shoulders a little faster, and she grinned slightly. It was amazing what science students learned, Arys thought to herself.
The group nodded, waiting for his suggestion. "What if we used that to set the trap, along with some mirrors? If we could get the angles just right, we could easily make the show spectacular."
Jake's eyes lit up, and Arys grinned to herself softly. Finally, her security training would be put to use. "But wouldn't that require going in when no one is around to check the place out?" Ari nodded, and Arys continued. "I can do that. I've had some training in investigative techniques which would work well here. Plus, I'm pretty good with mirrors, etc. I can figure out where to put them, if you like."
Jake nodded. "Arys, that's your job. Ari, Nog, you build the actual laser itself. Katassa, let us know what frequency is the best for keeping humans in without actually hurting them. Preferably something that won't show up."
"Wait a minute!" Ari jumped up from his position behind Katassa, going over to Jake. "Jake, what if we made it seem as though he was trapped when he really wasn't? That way, not only will we tick him off, we'll also embarrass him."
Arys nodded thoughtfully. "After the way he treats the girls in his class, that would be a good thing. Let's do it, Ari!" Ari grinned at his friend. In the short time it had taken for them to procure the cloaking device parts and set it up, the Bajoran and Cardassian had become fast friends. She didn't understand it, but she didn't question it either. She was too happy with the arrangement.
Jake sighed. "Well, I think that's pretty much planned out. Shall we go have dinner now, guys?"
Dax sighed, tapping her fingers on the table sharply. She knew that Kira was usually late for their meetings, but this time she was more impatient than usual. She wanted to talk to the First Officer, face to face about Shakaar and Odo, and she wasn't quite sure she knew how to broach the topic. What was more, she wanted to get it over with soon, so that it wouldn't be weighing on her chest. Besides, she knew that the moment she spoke to Kira about it, if she gave away Odo's secret, she was a dead Trill.
Looking down for a few minutes, she didn't notice the Major approaching. "Hello, Jadzia." Dax looked up, surprise apparent in her face.
"You made it. And you're only five minutes late. What happened?"
Kira sighed. "There was a small emergency in Ops. I had to take care of it before Captain Sisko got there." Kira flushed, and Dax knew what she was thinking about. It was still difficult for her to work side-by-side daily with a legend. Even if he didn't view himself as one.
"Kira, we have to talk." Kira nodded, unsure as to what Dax was getting at. "It's about Shakaar." Dax immediately regretted the wording the moment it was out of her mouth.
"Shakaar?! Is something wrong?!" Kira's eyes were wide, her face pale. Shades of Bariel were in her eyes, and Dax hung her head in sorrow.
"No, it's nothing like that. I just wanted to know where the two of you stand, that's all." Dax hated having to lie like this, but better not to tell her immediately, she decided.
"Oh. Is that all?" Kira's shoulders sagged in relief, and Dax again felt guilty. She hated that feeling, and rarely did it get her. But this time, it was a good one. "We're still together, if that's what you mean. I care about him a lot."
"Do you love him?" Dax persisted quietly. It wouldn't do to have Odo hear her asking this, if he was around. And she never could tell anymore.
"I . . . don't know. I loved Bariel, but this is so much different. I wish I knew myself better." Kira hung her head and sighed, and Dax did along with her. As the years had passed, Dax had observed the gradual change in her friend from loose cannon to caring first officer. She was glad of that difference now.
"I suggest you make up your mind soon. You may just lose out on other possibilities if you don't resolve this before too long." With that, Dax stood up, leaving the bewildered Kira to think about this.
Katassa sighed in frustration, pulling at the short skirt on her new uniform. "Guys, why do I have to be the one to distract Professor Pervert? Arys could do it just as well."
Arys just grinned at her. "Katassa, you're the one who's more comfortable in a skirt, and besides, you *did* volunteer for this duty, since your medical skills, such as they are, won't help here. Now stop that, before you rip the thing and make it even shorter than it is." Katassa's face blanched at that, and she put her hands to her sides, mumbling something about roommates and assassins. Arys just grinned.
Jake hushed the two of them as they approached the classroom. Taking only a second to compose themselves, the five walked into the room sedate and calm, although Arys' heart was beating a wild tattoo against her chest. She started as Jake put a hand on her shoulder, ready to bolt, but when she saw his face, she calmed down slightly. They could do this, she thought.
The professor eventually began class, and it went as usual, with him eyeing all of the girls in the class. Or perhaps ogling would be a better word. Arys sighed, remembering why she hated this class. He wasn't quite obvious enough to get fired, so it didn't matter. But she still felt uncomfortable in this room. Almost on cue, the professor walked toward Katassa, eyeing her legs but asking if her project was ready. Showtime.
Arys stood, her finger on a small controller in her hand. Her lips quirked as she said softly, "Yes, sir. We're ready." Two seconds, and the professor was in position. Arys fired.
The laser shot out from nowhere, the source having been concealed by use of their cloaking device. It bounced of mirrors which were also concealed, but which had been carefully manipulated so that the laser could see and react to them. Mirror after mirror caught the beam of light, bouncing it another way, and finally the show was over. Several students, whose desks had been right under the mirror, were breathing hard, a terrified look on their face. But the most perfect look of all was the shock on the professor's himself. He was encased in a prisondome of light, as Arys had planned.
Arys grinned at the unlucky professor, her eyes glinting with unholy amusement. "Wow, looks like it worked, Jake," she said in trembling tones, trying to suppress her laughter. Jake just nodded gravely, putting on a supreme act. Arys went up to the dome. "Ummm, Professor? There's just one small problem. I was going to get you to help me with this, but I guess you can't. We never made an off switch." This was, in fact, true. They didn't have to make the switch. The laser was connected to the lights of the room.
The professor's face turned red with rage, and he built up breath. But before he could say a thing, Arys and the others walked out of the room. Nog turned back to shut off the lights, calling out the frequency of the laser as he left. The professor made a quick deduction. The laser would be invisible in darkness. He was trapped, for however long they wanted to keep him there.
Kira stepped into the familiar office, and remembered the times she had spent there before the meetings had been called off. Odo had been acting strangely for a while now, she thought quietly. She cleared her throat, and Odo swung his chair around to face her. The look in his eyes told her he would rather be anywhere than where he was at that moment.
"Odo, I just had the strangest conversation with Dax. I was wondering if she had spoken to you about it?" Those words hurt. Kira hadn't realised how jealous she was of Odo's relationship with Dax until that moment.
But that's stupid, she thought savagely. Why should I be jealous? He is capable of having more than one friend at a time. Still, the voice inside her whispered that she wanted Odo all to herself.
"What did the two of you talk about?" Odo's voice was casual, as though he really didn't care. Kira winced slightly, knowing she was bothering him about something he had nothing to do with, but he was the person she always spoke to. She sat down in the chair provided for her, and saw him stand up. Her eyes widened.
Odo went over to the small replicator in his office, speaking softly. "Raktajino." The replicator answered with a shimmering whine, and the cup was there. He handed it wordlessly to Kira, who accepted it with a small smile. It seemed he saw the similarity to their Tuesday morning meetings as well.
"We were talking about Shakaar. She wanted to know if I loved him." Kira looked down at the cup in her hands, miserable.
"And your reply was . . . ?" She could feel Odo's regard, and knew he was just waiting for her answer. But she didn't know why.
"I just don't know, Odo. I mean, I love being with him, but I can't help remembering all the times he skipped out on women during the Occupation. I don't think I could handle that now. And I don't know if I'm strong enough to deal with that should it actually happen." She glanced up at Odo, and noticed he had an odd look in his eyes.
"Major . . . Kira, you're one of the strongest people I know. If anyone can handle this, you can. You don't have to make up your mind anytime soon. Just let it happen naturally."
Kira grinned at the shapeshifter, her eyes even darker than normal. "It's almost funny."
Odo cocked his head to one side. "What is, Major?" She laughed.
"I'm asking you for advice about a Solid's relationship. Don't you see the irony of that?"
Odo nodded, understanding her completely, but still hurt. "Why did Dax want to know?"
Kira sighed, remembering the conversation that had brought her here in the first place. "She said that if I didn't make up my mind soon, I might miss out on other opportunities. I'm not sure what she meant, but it's really bothering me." She looked at Odo, and noticed his eyes take on a different shade than she had ever seen them.
"I . . . see. Well, don't worry about what she said. If you rush into this, you may make a mistake that you would regret for the rest of your life. That wouldn't be good."
Kira smiled softly. "Thank you, Odo. You're such a good listener. I'm lucky to have a friend like you." And after twisting the knife, she stood, walking out of the office blithely.
Arys looked around the station, amazement written on her face plainly. "Jake, this is incredible! And you spent how many years here?" Jake laughed at her.
"About four or five. I kind of lost track. It was a lot of work, believe me. Half of the time, the replicators didn't work, or the energy output would be cut in half. I don't know how Dad stands it."
Arys' eyes lit up even more at the mention of Jake's father. "Jake, I hate to ask you, but can I possibly get to meet the Emissary? I've . . . I've always wanted to."
Jake laughed. "He's just my dad. Of course you can meet him. You're going to have dinner with us several times, you know. If not all the time." His lopsided grin was contagious, and she lost her shyness. "Hey! There he is!" Jake ran off without her, and Arys watched him go, following at a more sedate pace. In front of her, she could see an older man, bald, but with a goatee. He was handsome, in an authoritative way, much the same as his son.
"Dad!" The older man grasped Jake to him, hugging him. "Dad, I want you to meet someone, both as my dad and as the Emissary." She noticed the captain's shoulders sag almost imperceptibly, and she smiled. He didn't want to be the Emissary, she realised, and she could understand that. After all, she wouldn't want to be a religious idol for a race of people not her own, either.
"Emissary, I am honored." The greeting was more formal than it needed to be, she knew. She couldn't help it. It just seemed to come out of her mouth. Perhaps she could be more informal when she knew him a little better.
"As am I, Cadet Myran." Her eyes lit up. She loved being called that, even after all this time. It was a mark of how well she had done, in her mind.
"Please, Emissary, call me Arys." She glanced at Jake, who nodded back at her.
"If you will call me Benjamin," the captain returned. Jake grinned from ear to ear, and Arys wanted to slap him. She was still so shy, but she couldn't be rude.
"As you like, Em . . . Benjamin." She laughed a little at herself, and to her surprise, Benjamin joined in with her. "Jake's told me a lot about you. He loves to tell me how well you cook." Her eyes sparkled. She couldn't make anything edible, having grown up on field rations.
"Come, Arys. I'd like to talk to you. Jake, go down and see Dax. She wants to chat with you for a while." Jake nodded, knowing that he would never be able to get out of that. He turned and left, and Arys walked with his father for hours, discussing all sorts of things.