In Sunshine or In Shadow - Part 12
Creek Johnson & Nance Hurt
Disclaimer: Paramount owns what it owns. We own what we own. No infringement intended - hopefully, none taken.
"Founders!" gasped Quark, trying to disentangle himself from Pilgrim's grip. "There are Founders in there!"
Quark cringed as Pilgrim grabbed hold of his collar. If Pilgrim worked for the Dominion, he thought, then neither he nor Odo were worth the mineral contents of their bodies. Worst of all, there would be no one to freeze dry his body and sell it on the open market. No one to auction off his possessions. No one would even know they were dead. Still, he thought, looking for what could be the only bright spot on his horizon, whatever Pilgrim and his Dominion associates planned on doing to him would certainly be less unpleasant than what Kira would do if he were somehow to miraculously survive.
"What if there are Founders on my ship?" asked Pilgrim. "Do you not also share quarters with a Founder?"
"Odo never considered himself a Founder." Quark tried to break free to no avail. "I suppose you're taking us to the Gamma Quadrant. Is that where this Valley of the Shadow is? If so, my brother will pay handsomely to get me back, but only if I'm alive."
"How many times must I tell you, little man, that latinum will not save you."
"It won't?" asked Quark genuinely surprised. "Then what will?"
"Only time will tell."
Before Quark could ask what Pilgrim meant, the door to the cabin opened and a robed and hooded figure appeared in the doorway. He motioned for Pilgrim to release the still struggling Ferengi.
"Elder?" asked Pilgrim.
"Take him back to his cabin," instructed the Elder. "He is a liar and a thief. We may have need of those skills before long."
Pilgrim bowed, but his grip on Quark did not relax.
"I am not a thief," insisted Quark. There was something about the voice. He stepped forward to get a better look at the Elder, but was held in check by Pilgrim. Without another word the Elder stepped back and the door closed.
As Pilgrim steered him back to his cabin, Quark kept looking back at the doorway. That voice, he was convinced he had heard that voice before.
Kira Nerys paced the deck of the Indianapolis. Damn Founders, she thought, nothing was simple when you dealt with Founders. She turned on her companion.
"What the hell is the matter with you people?" she asked. "You lost the War. You got Odo back for your precious Link. How many times will you have to be defeated before you finally understand we won't just allow you to walk all over us?"
"There are a thousand ways to fight a war," replied Jack Fellows. He remained sitting at the table, leaning back in his chair. He had the air of a man engaged in a game he found amusing. To Kira it was the same smug air of every Founder she had ever encountered. "Armed combat is only one way. If you think you've seen the last of the Dominion, you are sadly mistaken. However, the Alpha Quadrant has one weapon going for them that it would never occur to them to use."
"And what's that?"
"You'll have to figure that out for yourself," he replied.
Kira would have beaten him senseless if she thought it would have done any good. Instead, she resumed her pacing.
"And I suppose all this has to do with Odo and his condition," she said at last.
"Do you remember when a Founder took control of the Defiant and attempted to start a war with the Tzenkethi?" asked Jack. "Do you remember what he told Odo there at the last?"
"Yes," replied Kira, not liking the direction Jack was going. "He said you were everywhere."
"There was something he didn't tell Odo. Something that would have made a world of difference, although in light of how things turned out, I don't think it would have stopped Odo from returning to the Link."
"I suppose you aren't going to tell me that either?" remarked Kira.
"And I suppose you remember a visitor to the Station in the last year of the War," asked Jack, ignoring her. "A visitor like Odo, but without Odo's sense of duty, or loyalty."
"Laas?" asked Kira, remembering all too well the disturbing visit by one of Odo's 'relations'. "But Laas was one of the Hundred, he wasn't a Founder."
"Not all of us are, Colonel."
"What are you saying? You really expect me to believe that there are Changelings in the Alpha Quadrant that aren't Founders?"
"And is that all that hard to believe?" asked Jack. "You know of the Hundred. You've met Laas. You can't really believe that Odo is the only one of our kind out there?"
"But how? Where have you been all this time? Why didn't you come forward during the War?" She thought of Odo and the pain of isolation he endured the majority of his life, and felt nothing but anger toward his cowardly fellow Changelings.
"Who would have believed us if we had?" asked Jack. "You work with Starfleet, you know how much they distrusted Odo. You know that given the opportunity they would have had him back in a laboratory in a heartbeat. I hate to say it, but I know it to be true, the Federation's belief in brotherhood and trust only extends to far."
"If that's so, then how do you come to work for Starfleet?"
"It's a long story…."
"I have the time."
Jack laughed. "You have a point," he said. "The real Captain Jack Fellows died during the War. And no, I didn't kill him. His ship made the mistake of being too close to the Cardassian front. The ship was badly damaged, the crew dead or dying. Captain Fellows managed to get the ship safely away from the front lines, but none of the crew made it. Following the distress beacon, we came to her rescue, but we arrived too late."
"So, you replaced him. How did you escape detection?"
"We fixed the ship up, but not too much, and took her to the nearest Federation outpost for repairs. No one paid much attention, we are just a glorified freighter after all. Except for the cargo we haul, we're of no real strategic importance to anyone."
"Then what was the point?"
"The point, my good Colonel, was that it got Gus and I into the War. Most of our people went undercover at the outbreak of hostilities. We had no way of knowing what was going on, no way to monitor the action without risking detection. The majority of us were happy to just sit aside and let your people fight it out. Gus and I weren't. We felt we…owed…it to you to help as best we could."
"As spies?"
"No." he declared, rubbing his chin. "Well, we did send word to our people. But it could hardly be considered spying. No, we weren't in it for the Federation, but for the Alpha Quadrant. We don't want the Dominion here any more than you do. We can't afford it, and what's more the Dominion knows we can't afford it."
"They know you are here?"
"Of course they do. Why do you think they let this ship pass unmolested through the Gamma Quadrant? Why, even with you and Dr. Bashir on board, we got through with no problems? It's because of Gus and me. You see, Colonel, we are part of the Hundred.
"What?"
"You didn't think Odo and Laas were all that made it to the Alpha Quadrant did you? No, when that Founder said we are everywhere, he wasn't just talking about the Dominion. What he didn't tell Odo was that there were others who refused to return to the Link."
"And it never occurred to you to get some word to Odo? You let him think he was all alone, that he was some kind of freak because he refused to join the Link!"
"For a long time we didn't even know he existed. For over sixty years, this end of the Quadrant was just some place to be avoided. There was nothing in Cardassian space that drew our attention. With the discovery of the wormhole that changed. However, by the time we became aware of Odo, he had all ready met the Founders and we didn't know if he could be trusted. And by that time it was fairly common knowledge that the Founders were Changelings, we didn't know if Starfleet could be trusted."
"And you call us paranoid?"
They stared at each other in angry silence.
"Okay," said Kira eventually. "That explains you. What does this have to do with Odo? Why have they done this to him? And what was the point of trying to make him look like a murderer?"
Jack stretched his long legs and settled back in his chair. It was clear to Kira he was deliberately taking his time in answering. "Now, here's where the story gets a bit tricky," he said breaking the silence. "Your boy has been set up. Now, I suppose as an investigator he would have appreciated that, if he were in any condition to understand what was going on."
"Go on," prompted Kira. She swallowed hard, preparing herself for questions and answers she knew she would not like.
"From what we understand, Odo made one big mistake after rejoining the Link. He remained loyal to you and to the Alpha Quadrant. You see, he not only took the cure with him, but he took the knowledge of who made the disease in the first place."
"I see."
"No, I don't think you do. You don't cross the Link and expect to go unpunished. Once the Link was reorganized and the business of being the Dominion started up again, they were all ready to come blasting back through the wormhole, but Odo remained steady in his opposition to them. Then to make matters worse, the Federation Embassy was built on the home world. An Embassy that was a daily reminder of what had been done to them."
"And Odo defended them as well." He would, Kira thought.
"Exactly. Not only defended them, but seemed to prefer spending time with them. An action that was totally unforgivable in the Link's opinion."
"So, they think he betrayed them?" asked Kira.
"No. In the Link's opinion, no Changeling is ever totally responsible for their actions outside the Link.. They blamed the Alpha Quadrant for damaging him. In their opinion, he was insane. It's been known to happen in the Link. Minds get locked on an idea - someone becomes obsessed with a thought. It happens to every species."
"And?"
"And, the Link saw this as the perfect opportunity. They contacted their agents here and had them set in motion a campaign to ruin Odo's reputation within the Alpha Quadrant. Small things at first leading up to more serious crimes."
"Nigel Dunlap," said Kira.
"Exactly. But the Founder you killed was only one of the team, there are others."
"But why?"
"So, if their plan failed, they wanted to make sure he could never return to the Alpha Quadrant. You see, Colonel, the plan was for the agent to kill you and then be killed while trying to escape. Thanks to you, only part of the plan worked."
"Wait a minute," she said shaking her head. "I get the part about wanting me dead. But I still don't understand what they did to Odo. What was the point of all that?"
"The one treatment for an insane Founder is the complete removal of the offending thought or memory. The treatment had all ready started when the Vulcans got in the way."
"Gevrik."
"Yes, Gevrik. He suspected the Link had managed to do something to Odo. He appealed to them for help and they refused. The rest of the plan was set in motion the second Gevrik got Odo off the home world."
"They knew?"
"Not only knew, but allowed it to happen. It fit in perfectly with what they intended to do. You see, with Odo declared insane and safely off the home world, it was much easier to pin all their cooked up criminal activity on him. He no longer had an alibi."
"But surely…."
"But surely nothing, Colonel. Once Odo left with Gevrik, he was clearly once again under the influence of the much despised Solids. His criminal acts would be blamed on their influence."
"And to make sure there were criminal acts, Nigel Dunlap was in place."
"Bright girl."
"Okay, let me get this straight," said Kira. She ran her fingers through her hair and took a deep breath. "As soon as Odo was back on the Station, the agent we thought of as Nigel Dunlap appeared with the intent of killing me and allowing himself to be killed escaping. And the whole thing would be pinned on Odo."
"Correct."
"The idea being that my death would make it impossible for Odo to ever return to the Alpha Quadrant. The death of the Founder would what? Prove that Odo was even more insane than they thought?"
"Yes. He killed one of his kind before. It wouldn't be that hard to believe he could do it again."
"But wasn't the Link aware of all this? Who would they have to convince? Why not just kill him at home?"
"To understand that is to understand the Link. They aren't just a group of minds. There's a structure, a society, if you will, based on rank, classification and function. Some function inside the Link, some in the field. As much as they like to tell you that it's the complete merger of thought and form, it's not. Much of the time, one hand does not know what the other is doing."
"Which is why agreement is so important." And why Odo did not fit in, she thought. It was not like him to go along with the crowd. An outsider even among his own. Her throat tightened with anger and sadness.
"Not only agreement, but complete agreement," said Jack. "On the issue of Odo, there would never be complete agreement."
"So, he had to be taken out of the picture," said Kira softly. "Tell me, what was supposed to happen once the Founder and I were out of the way?"
"The Link would insist he be returned to them to stand trail. Only this time he wouldn't be turned back into a Solid. This time he would be erased and in his memory, the War starts all over again. Only this time it's a holy war."
"Erased?"
"Only one Founder has ever harmed another, Colonel. They couldn't kill him if they wanted to, it would destroy everything. No, he would be stripped of everything that ever made him who he was. He would have no memory of his former life, he would be nothing more than a tool of the Link."
She thought of the pathetic being on the Defiant. Then she thought of Odo as she had seen him last, in the Infirmary, in pain and very confused. "From what I've seen, they succeeded."
"It may look that way, Colonel," conceded Jack. "But there is hope. Which is why it's so important to know what the Agent said before he died."
"Why? What's so important about a dying Founders words anyway?"
"At our moment of death, we cannot lie," replied Jack. "I guess it comes from having spent our lives having to practice a mild form of deception - from having to wear a mask in order to conceal who we really are. When our time comes, we cannot maintain the shape of another, and we cannot lie."
"How about when you are alive?"
"We can lie just like everybody else," Jack replied with a grin. "Only I've told you nothing but the truth."
We'll see, thought Kira. Another thought occurred to her. "You mentioned the Resistance earlier and you made it sound as though you were also part of a resistance movement. What did you mean?"
He smiled. "The answer to that question you can't get from me. The answer to that question will only come once we reach our destination."
"And that is how I was able to set up a bar on Terok Nor…."
Quark peered at Odo. Still no response. He never thought he would live to see the day when Odo's silence would be a burden.
Quark was beginning to worry. It had been days since his aborted attempt to get a message back to Deep Space Nine. Following his encounter with Pilgrim and the Founder called Elder they had been moved to another cabin. Twice a day someone would come to bring Quark his meals and once a day Pilgrim would come to check on Odo, but in each instance his questions would be met with silence.
He looked at Odo. The Changeling said nothing. He rarely moved. It was all starting to get on Quark's nerves. He fought the urge to kick Odo just to see if it would provoke some sort of reaction.
Quark threw himself on his bunk and writhed in frustration. The waiting was killing him. "He is a thief and a liar," he said mocking the Elder. "Thief and a liar."
He suddenly lay still, the voice of the Elder ringing in his ears. Where had he heard that voice before? He was just about to remember when he was distracted by the door sliding open. It wasn't time for a meal or for Odo's check up, he thought. Sitting up, he saw Pilgrim enter with two of his crew.
"Hey wait a minute," said Quark as the two crew members bent to pick up Odo. "Where do you think you are taking him?"
"That is none of your business, little man," replied Pilgrim. "We are expecting guests and there is much preparation."
"Guests? What kind of guests?" asked Quark. He received no reply. "And what sort of preparations!" he shouted to the closed door.
Looking around him he never felt the cabin to be this lonely.
Quark was starting to worry.
"We're here," said Jack Fellows as Kira stepped into the cockpit of the Indianapolis' shuttle. She looked out in wonder. There were no recognizable star systems and the old station hung in space like abandoned laundry. She studied it's design and realized she recognized it - only last time she had seen it, was not in her time.
"Is that K-7?" she asked.
"No." replied Jack. "But it is of the same design. It's been abandoned for years. Not even scrap merchants are interested in her anymore."
It took only moments to dock. Jack lead her to the airlock. They were met by an extremely tall man dressed only in black. Kira was amazed to find the Station apparently fully functional. She remembered seeing no lights when viewed from the Indianapolis. It occurred to her that they must have either blocked the viewports or painted them black.
"Who is this?" asked Pilgrim before introductions could be made. It was clear to Kira, he was not happy to see her. "And why have you brought her here?"
"You know damn well who she is, Pilgrim," replied Jack pushing his way past. Kira took a nervous glance at Pilgrim and decided to follow Jack down the corridor. She could hear Pilgrim following them. "She said," called Jack over his shoulder. "She said she wouldn't give us the information until she made sure Odo was okay. So, just show her where he is and we can get on with it."
In two strides Pilgrim pushed past Kira and caught up with Jack. "What have you told her?" he demanded grabbing Jack by the arm. "What does she know?"
"Enough," replied Jack. "And nothing more."
"Remind me to buy you a dictionary, Shadow," hissed Pilgrim. "Your definition of enough varies drastically from mine."
"Just tell us where he is. The sooner we get this taken care of the sooner we'll be on our way." To Kira's relief, Pilgrim nodded his head and ushered them to a turbo lift. "Don't take him seriously," said Jack to no one in particular. "You ought to see Pilgrim when he's not happy to see me."
They spent the rest of the ride in silence. Kira stared at Pilgrim's back. It was clear the two men knew each other well. If, she speculated, Pilgrim worked with Jack, then either he was a Changeling as well, or he was in their employ. And if he was in there employ, then how many others were as well? How many of her own people? She glanced at Jack and found him looking at her a slight smile on his face. She found no comfort in his wink.
Quark paced the narrow room. It had been hours since they had transferred them to the Station and no one had offered a word of explanation. He had tried sitting, but sitting only made him more nervous. Walking helped, but not much.
Pilgrim's insistence that Odo was more valuable to him than mere currency bothered Quark, especially as no mention had been made as to his value. Then again the Elder had said he had skills that they may need. What those skills were, the Elder had not elaborated on.
He halted in his steps as the door to the room slid open. For a moment he thought he was dreaming. Behind Pilgrim stood Captain Jack Fellows and Kira Nerys.
"Colonel," he cried stepping forward. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you."
He would not have been so happy if he had known he was going to walk straight into her fist.
Kira was fed up with speculation, by the time they reached the quarters where Odo was being held, she had decided she could trust no one. Finally recognizing she was out of her element, she swore to commit herself to only those issues she had some control over.
The door slid open and she followed Pilgrim and Jack into the narrow room. Her eyes automatically sought out Odo, and she did not see Quark at first. It was not until he approached that he drew her attention. Fine, she thought, and without a word punched him in the mouth.
She caught him as he fell.
"What the hell was that for?" asked Quark blood on his teeth.
She touched the blood and watched as it remained blood on her fingers. "I had to know if you were really you," she whispered. "What the hell is going on?"
"Then why didn't you just ask?" hissed Quark. "And while we're at it, how do I know you are who you say you are?" His hand hovered near her right breast.
"Touch me and I'll take a knife and cut off your…"
"Point taken."
"And stuff it down…."
"I said point taken."
"Did I mention I'd use a dull knife?"
She pushed him away from her. She glanced at Odo, who sat motionless. She started to approach him when Pilgrim spoke.
"You said you wanted to see him. You have done so. Now tell us what we need to know."
"How do I know this is Odo?" she asked. She glanced at Quark, who shrugged his shoulders.
"You do not," replied Pilgrim.
And he was right, she thought. There was really no way to tell under the circumstances. "Fine. What do you want to know?"
"What did the Founder say?" demanded Pilgrim.
"He said Odo's death would be his salvation." There was no reply. She turned to face Pilgrim and caught him exchange a glance with Jack. "What?" she asked. "Isn't that what you wanted to know? If not, then you've wasted your time and mine."
"It's what we wanted to know," replied Jack. "But it's not what we wanted to hear."
"This will make matters more difficult," said Pilgrim. "I must report this." He turned to leave and was met at the door by a man Kira guessed was a member of his crew. They conferred for a moment before Pilgrim turned to her. "Come this way," he said.
"Why?" asked Kira. "I'd just as soon stay here." She needed to confer with Quark. She didn't want to go any further before finding out what he knew.
"That is not possible. You are wanted by the Elder."
"The Elder?" asked Jack clearly distressed. "What is he doing here?"
"That is none of your concern," replied Pilgrim. "He is here and that is all you need know. Come."
"Well," Jack said in a soft voice as they moved down the corridor. "Here is a pretty howdy do."
At the end of the corridor they stopped before a door. Pilgrim punched in the access code and stood aside to allow them entry. As the door slid open there was a flash of light and Kira found herself stepping to….
Ops.
Standing at the central control table were four men. As her eyes adjusted she realized that each and every one of them looked exactly like Odo.