Chapter Five

Jabarra was all but standing guard in the Infirmary.
She cast a suspicious look over the two officers that
entered the room and approached them before they could
get too far inside.

"Can I help you with something?" she asked coldly.

Sisko was taken aback by the nurse's blatant anger.
He was unused to such disrespect, especially from the
normally affable woman.

Dax spoke up. "We need to talk with Julian."

Jabarra's frown deepened. "He isn't to be
disturbed."

"Not even by his commanding officer?" Sisko finally
found his voice.

Jabarra fixed her gaze on him. "They weren't his
orders."

An awkward silence descended over the trio. Dax
looked at the shut office door, then back to Jabarra. "I
know."

Her two simple words seemed to infuriate the nurse
more. "You see it now?" she said.

Dax nodded solemnly. "Jabarra, I'm so sorry. I
wish I had seen it before, but . . ."

Jabarra softened at the distressed look on Dax's
face. "I don't think it's a good idea for you to see him
right now. He came back from OPS without so much a word
and shut himself back up in his office."

"I need to see him," Dax stated simply.

Jabarra seemed to hesitate. She looked at Sisko
appraisingly. "I can't promise anything," she warned.

Dax nodded. "I understand."

Jabarra stepped aside. Dax led Sisko up to the
office door and knocked softly. When no answer came from
inside, she pushed the door open.

"Julian?" she called.

"Go away, Jadzia," came the terse reply.

Dax entered the office. Bashir was at his desk,
surrounded by tons of data padds. His computer screen
was on, and Bashir's gaze was focused firmly on what was
displayed on it.

"Julian, we need to talk," Dax persisted.

"There's nothing to talk about," Bashir replied, his
voice flat and devoid of emotion.

Sisko quietly entered the room. "From what I hear,
there is."

Bashir's head snapped up in surprise. "Captain!" he
exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"Jadzia tells me that there's something going on
between you and the rest of the senior staff," Sisko
explained. "Do you mind telling me what it is?"

Bashir ducked his head in shame and embarrassment.
"I don't know what you may have heard, sir, but there is
nothing wrong."

Sisko folded his arms across his chest. "There is
from where I'm standing."

"Really, sir, it's nothing I haven't dealt with
before," Bashir said. "I apologize for my behavior
recently. I realize it's unbecoming of a doctor, and a
Starfleet officer . . ."

"But not a human being," Dax put in softly.

Bashir turned pained eyes to her. "Please," he
whispered. "I'm fine. There is nothing you have to
worry about. It's already been taken care of. I promise
you, it won't happen again."

Sisko saw the hurt in Bashir's hazel eyes and knew
they had to fix the problem. "Julian . . ." he began
softly.

Bashir closed his eyes. "There's nothing to
discuss. If you don't mind, I have a lot of work to do."

He turned back to his console and started copying
information down on padds. Dax and Sisko lingered for a
little longer, then finally left Bashir alone.

"I see what you mean, Old man," Sisko said. "But
I'm at a loss as to what to do about it."

Dax's own eyes reflected the pain they had seen in
Bashir's. Jabarra approached them, a knowing look on her
face.

"How long has this been going on?" Sisko asked.

"Since the beginning," Jabarra replied.

"Why didn't he tell us about it?"

Jabarra's face grew sad. "Who would listen?
Captain, Doctor Bashir is a proud man, but he's also very
insecure about himself. He doesn't even know why he's
been treated this way, and so he doesn't know how to fix
it."

"Why is he being treated this way?" Dax wanted to
know. Sisko was interested in the answer to that
question himself.

Jabarra sighed, and smiled sadly. "He has such an
innocent soul," she stated. "He sees everything
differently than everyone else. A lot of people are
turned off to his rather enthusiastic approach to the
universe. His excitement, to them, is childish. His
determination, blindness. Do you see what I'm saying?"

The two officers nodded. Tears stung Dax's eyes,
and Sisko felt ashamed. He'd thought something similar
when he'd first met the young doctor.

"You should go now," Jabarra said. "I'll help him
recover from this one. Just make certain I don't have to
do it again."

Determination flared in both Starfleet officers, and
they left to take care of the problem, once and for all.

~~*~~

Ferat stood before the assembly in the cargo hold of
their ship. Hundreds of white candles adorned every
covered surface, all lit and shining brightly.

"We gather today to begin the celebration of our
savior," Ferat began. "Our people have waited a long
time, and now salvation is at hand."

The small crowd cheered joyously.

"The Ryku has been anointed with our holy water, and
we are ready to begin our celebration!" Ferat shouted.
"Our next step is the uncovering of truth. Our Ryku will
know of his true nature, and of those around him. May
the Goddess bless our holy task."

"Sie Tzat," the crowd replied.

~~*~~

Bashir shuffled out of the Infirmary reluctantly.
Jabarra had sent him to go eat a late lunch, with the
threat of bodily harm. Bashir didn't believe that his
nurse would actually do something like that, but it was
better to eat than incur her wrath.

He was hoping to avoid all of the senior staff. He
didn't want to see anyone, not after that morning. He
was humiliated that the captain knew his problem, as well
as Jadzia. It was bad enough believing that there was
something wrong with him, that he couldn't make friends,
but to have those two know it . . . how would they ever
look at him the same?

He was so lost in thought that he didn't see Kyren
until the would-be healer was at his elbow. "Doctor
Bashir?"

Bashir jumped, then turned to Kyren. He forced a
smile on his face. "Kyren, hello. What can I do for
you?"

"I was hoping you would meet some friends of mine,"
Kyren said. "I told them about you, and they're very
anxious to meet you."

"Well, all right, I suppose," Bashir agreed
reluctantly.

"Wonderful!" Kyren took Bashir's arm and guided him
through the crowd at the Replimat to Quark's bar. Bashir
glanced furtively about, hoping no one he knew was there.

"Doctor Bashir, may I present to you my friends
Ferat, Vinnis, and Saren," Kyren said.

Bashir looked at the three men, all dressed in plain
brown clothes. The three of them stood and bowed deeply.

"It is an honor to meet you," one man with jet-black
hair greeted reverently.

"Er . . . likewise," Bashir replied uncertainly.

They sat down at the table. A Ferengi waiter
deposited five glasses of water on their table and
quickly left.

"Kyren tells us that you are an accomplished
healer," the man with the black hair stated, sipping his
water. "On our planet, that is a highly respected
position."

"So Kyren tells me," Bashir said carefully.

The man nodded. He leaned forward. "Tell me,
Doctor; are you happy here with your job?"

Bashir laughed nervously. "Yes, quite. My work
here keeps me very busy. I'm quite content here on the
station."

"That isn't what we have observed," the man stated
simply.

Bashir froze. He felt as if a cold wind had blown
through him. "What?" he asked.

Kyren leaned close to Bashir. "We know."

Bashir fought off his panic. "Know? Know what?"

"We have been watching you," the man said. "We have
seen your colleagues, and their behavior towards you.
One man telling you he'd rather not waste his time with
you, and then blaming you for adhering to his wishes."

"A woman who cannot stand the sight of you, because
of who you are," a second man, this one with blond hair,
spoke up.

"How you are always disregarded as a thing of low
significance or unimportance," the third man with white
hair added.

"You would be highly revered with us," the first man
said.

Bashir stood and backed away. "What is this? Have
you been spying on me?"

The first man clamped a hand around Bashir's wrist,
trapping the doctor. "You are wasting your talent here.
Come with us. You will be regarded in the highest honor.
No one will treat you this way again."

"Is there some sort of problem?"

At Quark's voice, the man released Bashir. Bashir
instantly retreated to Quark's side.

"No, there isn't," Bashir replied. "I was just
leaving."

With a wary look to the four Alentari, Bashir
hurried back to the Infirmary.

Quark waited until he'd left before approaching the
table. In a low voice, he said, "I'd be very careful to
stay away from him. It may not look like it to you, but
there are people here who would be very . . . unhappy
should something happen to him. Am I making myself
clear?"

He left without waiting for a response.

End Chapter Five