"Well, can we get rid of him, that's all I'm asking", Major Kira countered her superior's considerations. "He seems to try how fast he can upset everyone on this station, from us to Garak or Quark. I don't need to know why he's here, I just want to see him go for good".
Commander Sisko thought on this for a while. "I'm afraid not. I can't say I like him, but so far he's done nothing to break any actual Starfleet rule or regulation. He's just being as much of a pain in the neck as he can be while staying within the letter of the law".
"But this is a Bajoran station, and we definitely....."
"He is part and parcel of the Starfleet presence in this sector, which is what your government wished for. Until he does something actually reprehensible as concerns our actual laws, Lieutenant Suvuk stays, as much as I'd like to see him go, and that's the end of it".
"Major, he did cause an upset on the promenade a few days ago, but I'm afraid that was as much his Bajoran opponents' fault as his. Are you telling me to watch a perfectly innocent member of Starfleet in the hope he will sooner or later perpetrate some sort of misdeed?"
"Exactly. I want him gone, and this is the only way. He gets on everyone's nerves. Enough is enough", Major Kira almost hissed in her concentration to convince the shape-shifter.
Odo laughed mirthlessly. "There are about a dozen people on my list before him. I am trying to catch Quark red-handed for ages, and I wouldn't object to finally catch Garak at it, whatever it may be. The Vulcan is harmless and unimportant in comparison, really".
"But can you keep an eye on him? When you see him anyway? I tell you, he is a dire security risk, however indirect. Sooner or later someone is going to blow a fuse because of him, even if he stays all arrogant and cool. Prophets, how I hate his cool while he is about his business of upsetting everyone else!"
"If you put it like that, Major, I will see what I can do. If I have the time. Which isn't often. But you can't just go about banning everyone you dislike. That is injustice, the Cardassian way. If only I could see the last of Quark, and yet....."
"Lieutenant, no. Frankly, no. I am more than busy with my own work, and I don't care whether Starfleet protocol entitles you to this or that, I don't have the time beside my primary duties. If you had been a little bit more forthcoming at the beginning, I am sure things would be different. It is too late now, Suvuk".
"Very well, Lieutenant. I will find the means elsewhere. As you are the science officer of this station, I expected the cooperation due to a visiting scientist to be extended toward myself, but I do take your point. However, be sure of my discommendation for your illogical and unbecoming conduct".
"You can shove your discommendation wherever. Get stuffed! I have work to do".
"Thank you, Lieutenant Dax", Suvuk said and left.
"No, Nerys, he's past patience. I sent him packing just now, and I will use Curzon's old connections in the Fleet to have him sent to anywhere else but here. It'll take some time, but he'll have to go".
"I've already talked to Odo, but he isn't too optimistic. He even talked about injustice towards old pointy ears, can you imagine that".
Jadzia chuckled. "Injustice towards Suvuk would mean letting him stay here where sooner or later someone will do him grievous bodily harm. It will take a few months, but then he's history. Go on trying with Odo, but forget about him for now. Let's have another drink".
"Stop lurking. Lieutenant. State your business or leave the infirmary, I have work to do".
"Very well, Doctor. I shall do so. I have recorded your response on my tricorder, and will be able to prove your refusal of cooperation".
"Prove whatever, you Vulcan nitpicker, just go!"
"Jadzia, I just threw him out. As far as I'm concerned he could be mortally sick, but whatever he wanted to quote regulations for at me before telling me what is wrong, I don't care. If he comes and asks my help, I'm there for him, but not like that. I'm a doctor, I will help everyone, but I will not have read rules at me as if I did something wrong just by being there".
"Speaking of the devil", Jadzia Dax said idly. "I wonder what he wants from Quark?"
"Certainly, Sir. Certainly. Your request will be fulfilled with the utmost speed and discretion. Nothing is impossible if you just ask Quark. You have come to the right place. Here you will experience all the logical efficiency your race so much....."
"Stop your inane chattering and just do it. You have my money, now act".
"Very well, Sir. Shipped, not replicated, and within a week....", Quark whispered to Suvuk's quickly retreating back.
"Lieutenant A., I don't know quite how to say it, but you seem to be the only one still on speaking terms with him, so there it is".
"Who? Here's that wrench. What's this all about, Chief?".
"Thank you. Hold the conduit, yes, that's it. Your Vulcan friend. He's off the deep end".
"I'm not exactly, and he's not exactly, and off what end?"
"People talk of wanting him gone, and there's something going on. I don't know, it's just something I heard Kira say to Dax. Tell him to mend his ways, or he'll really have outstayed his welcome".
"Miles, I can't. I - just can't. Sorry. I'll try, though".
"I know, Suvuk, I promised to stay away, but it seems things are really getting...."
"You did. Please do so, Lieutenant. Thank you".
It couldn't be true. Vulcans never did anything like it, and yet, here it was. Unauthorized access to the medical computer, stock lists, substance formulae, everything. Clear to see for anyone with eyes. If he did something like that, he could at least have concealed it better. He must be off his mind.
"Bashir to Dax....."
"Dax to Kira...."
"Kira to Odo. Dr. Bashir just discovered that Lieutenant Suvuk has hacked into the infirmary computer, and accessed the replication formula to some totally off-limits substance. We can get him now".
"Getting him. Hold on. I'll call you back".
Odo fiddled his controls. "Computer. Locate Lieutenant Suvuk".
"Lieutenant Suvuk is in Quark's bar, Promenade".
"So, this little business of yours completed, you can accompany me to my office and try to explain everything. Starting with what you got from Quark just now".
"It wasn't me, it wasn't me, don't be so unfair, Constable. I just passed him this letter from a passing Talaxian merchant. For a small fee. Please have mercy on me, I only did as...."
"I don't want you this time, Quark. Not this time. This time, I want the Vulcan".
"Odo to Kira. I have him. He received some substance from Quark, and I'm a Denebian slime devil if that stuff is legal. Come to my office, and we will see what we can do with him".
"Kira to Sisko. Odo caught the Vulcan at it finally. Come to the security office, if you have a moment, and we'll get it all done".
"Kira to Dax. If you come to Odo's office now, you'll see the haughty Vulcan humbled. It should be quite fun!"
"Odo to Bashir. If you'd care to come to my office with your medical tricorder, I am sure we can soon conclude this business about Lieutenant Suvuk to the satisfaction of all of us".
"Bashir to O'Brien. If you come to Odo's office now, you will see something noteworthy".
Sisko was at his best menacing calm as he stood with Bashir, Dax and Kira behind Odo seated at his desk. A small package lay in the middle of all the electronic equipment. "As Dr. Bashir's medical tricorder informs us, this stuff is heroin, still one of the most forbidden substances within the Federation. What did you want with it."
"Sir, if you'd care to look up Starfleet regulation number....."
"Don't quote regulations at me! Out with it!"
Suvuk put his shivering hands on the surface of Odo's desk. His head dropped, his shoulders shook, and he said not a word.
"Out with it!"
Suvuk murmured something.
"Louder".
"You will kill me, and within your rights, but I will stay silent. No! I will not speak! No! I will not...."
"O'Brien to Lieutenant A.".
"Is the conduit playing up again?"
"No. Drop whatever you're doing, and come to Odo's office at once. I'm outside, and I think you are needed urgently".
Commander Sisko thought on this for a while. "I'm afraid not. I can't say I like him, but so far he's done nothing to break any actual Starfleet rule or regulation. He's just being as much of a pain in the neck as he can be while staying within the letter of the law".
"But this is a Bajoran station, and we definitely....."
"He is part and parcel of the Starfleet presence in this sector, which is what your government wished for. Until he does something actually reprehensible as concerns our actual laws, Lieutenant Suvuk stays, as much as I'd like to see him go, and that's the end of it".
"Major, he did cause an upset on the promenade a few days ago, but I'm afraid that was as much his Bajoran opponents' fault as his. Are you telling me to watch a perfectly innocent member of Starfleet in the hope he will sooner or later perpetrate some sort of misdeed?"
"Exactly. I want him gone, and this is the only way. He gets on everyone's nerves. Enough is enough", Major Kira almost hissed in her concentration to convince the shape-shifter.
Odo laughed mirthlessly. "There are about a dozen people on my list before him. I am trying to catch Quark red-handed for ages, and I wouldn't object to finally catch Garak at it, whatever it may be. The Vulcan is harmless and unimportant in comparison, really".
"But can you keep an eye on him? When you see him anyway? I tell you, he is a dire security risk, however indirect. Sooner or later someone is going to blow a fuse because of him, even if he stays all arrogant and cool. Prophets, how I hate his cool while he is about his business of upsetting everyone else!"
"If you put it like that, Major, I will see what I can do. If I have the time. Which isn't often. But you can't just go about banning everyone you dislike. That is injustice, the Cardassian way. If only I could see the last of Quark, and yet....."
"Lieutenant, no. Frankly, no. I am more than busy with my own work, and I don't care whether Starfleet protocol entitles you to this or that, I don't have the time beside my primary duties. If you had been a little bit more forthcoming at the beginning, I am sure things would be different. It is too late now, Suvuk".
"Very well, Lieutenant. I will find the means elsewhere. As you are the science officer of this station, I expected the cooperation due to a visiting scientist to be extended toward myself, but I do take your point. However, be sure of my discommendation for your illogical and unbecoming conduct".
"You can shove your discommendation wherever. Get stuffed! I have work to do".
"Thank you, Lieutenant Dax", Suvuk said and left.
"No, Nerys, he's past patience. I sent him packing just now, and I will use Curzon's old connections in the Fleet to have him sent to anywhere else but here. It'll take some time, but he'll have to go".
"I've already talked to Odo, but he isn't too optimistic. He even talked about injustice towards old pointy ears, can you imagine that".
Jadzia chuckled. "Injustice towards Suvuk would mean letting him stay here where sooner or later someone will do him grievous bodily harm. It will take a few months, but then he's history. Go on trying with Odo, but forget about him for now. Let's have another drink".
"Stop lurking. Lieutenant. State your business or leave the infirmary, I have work to do".
"Very well, Doctor. I shall do so. I have recorded your response on my tricorder, and will be able to prove your refusal of cooperation".
"Prove whatever, you Vulcan nitpicker, just go!"
"Jadzia, I just threw him out. As far as I'm concerned he could be mortally sick, but whatever he wanted to quote regulations for at me before telling me what is wrong, I don't care. If he comes and asks my help, I'm there for him, but not like that. I'm a doctor, I will help everyone, but I will not have read rules at me as if I did something wrong just by being there".
"Speaking of the devil", Jadzia Dax said idly. "I wonder what he wants from Quark?"
"Certainly, Sir. Certainly. Your request will be fulfilled with the utmost speed and discretion. Nothing is impossible if you just ask Quark. You have come to the right place. Here you will experience all the logical efficiency your race so much....."
"Stop your inane chattering and just do it. You have my money, now act".
"Very well, Sir. Shipped, not replicated, and within a week....", Quark whispered to Suvuk's quickly retreating back.
"Lieutenant A., I don't know quite how to say it, but you seem to be the only one still on speaking terms with him, so there it is".
"Who? Here's that wrench. What's this all about, Chief?".
"Thank you. Hold the conduit, yes, that's it. Your Vulcan friend. He's off the deep end".
"I'm not exactly, and he's not exactly, and off what end?"
"People talk of wanting him gone, and there's something going on. I don't know, it's just something I heard Kira say to Dax. Tell him to mend his ways, or he'll really have outstayed his welcome".
"Miles, I can't. I - just can't. Sorry. I'll try, though".
"I know, Suvuk, I promised to stay away, but it seems things are really getting...."
"You did. Please do so, Lieutenant. Thank you".
It couldn't be true. Vulcans never did anything like it, and yet, here it was. Unauthorized access to the medical computer, stock lists, substance formulae, everything. Clear to see for anyone with eyes. If he did something like that, he could at least have concealed it better. He must be off his mind.
"Bashir to Dax....."
"Dax to Kira...."
"Kira to Odo. Dr. Bashir just discovered that Lieutenant Suvuk has hacked into the infirmary computer, and accessed the replication formula to some totally off-limits substance. We can get him now".
"Getting him. Hold on. I'll call you back".
Odo fiddled his controls. "Computer. Locate Lieutenant Suvuk".
"Lieutenant Suvuk is in Quark's bar, Promenade".
"So, this little business of yours completed, you can accompany me to my office and try to explain everything. Starting with what you got from Quark just now".
"It wasn't me, it wasn't me, don't be so unfair, Constable. I just passed him this letter from a passing Talaxian merchant. For a small fee. Please have mercy on me, I only did as...."
"I don't want you this time, Quark. Not this time. This time, I want the Vulcan".
"Odo to Kira. I have him. He received some substance from Quark, and I'm a Denebian slime devil if that stuff is legal. Come to my office, and we will see what we can do with him".
"Kira to Sisko. Odo caught the Vulcan at it finally. Come to the security office, if you have a moment, and we'll get it all done".
"Kira to Dax. If you come to Odo's office now, you'll see the haughty Vulcan humbled. It should be quite fun!"
"Odo to Bashir. If you'd care to come to my office with your medical tricorder, I am sure we can soon conclude this business about Lieutenant Suvuk to the satisfaction of all of us".
"Bashir to O'Brien. If you come to Odo's office now, you will see something noteworthy".
Sisko was at his best menacing calm as he stood with Bashir, Dax and Kira behind Odo seated at his desk. A small package lay in the middle of all the electronic equipment. "As Dr. Bashir's medical tricorder informs us, this stuff is heroin, still one of the most forbidden substances within the Federation. What did you want with it."
"Sir, if you'd care to look up Starfleet regulation number....."
"Don't quote regulations at me! Out with it!"
Suvuk put his shivering hands on the surface of Odo's desk. His head dropped, his shoulders shook, and he said not a word.
"Out with it!"
Suvuk murmured something.
"Louder".
"You will kill me, and within your rights, but I will stay silent. No! I will not speak! No! I will not...."
"O'Brien to Lieutenant A.".
"Is the conduit playing up again?"
"No. Drop whatever you're doing, and come to Odo's office at once. I'm outside, and I think you are needed urgently".