The Last Temptation of Odo – Chapter 7
By
Creek Johnson and Nance Hurt
Disclaimer: We are but fleas on the elephants' posterior that is Paramount.
No infringement on their rights is intended. We hope none is taken.
Julian Bashir watched with amusement as the group dropped into a crouching position along a line of rocks. He knew from personal experience anyone looking at them from the far side of the outcropping would only see a collection of large stones, but from this side, he had no trouble seeing the rest of their bodies. Just a few feet further up the slope upon arrival, he thought, and the bandits would not have fooled him in the first place. Still, he had to recognize he most likely would not have been successful in crossing the mountains without their help. They had been traveling for days, slowly making their way down the mountain before coming to rest in this spot. Taking a step forward, he could see the rocky slope give way to a green and verdant valley. At the foot of the hill stood a group of men in earnest conversation with Houk.
"What's going on?" he asked of no one in particular.
"Jem'Hadar guard," replied Bekko.
Julian immediately dropped into a crouching position. The last thing he desired was to be taken prisoner by the Jem'Hadar. "What do they want?" he asked. He looked around to see where he had left his pack and wondered if the phaser power cell had enough of a charge left to do him any good.
"Houk, has gone to find out," Chaho replied. "It would be a great victory if we were to defeat the Jem'Hadar's Guards."
"You dream," hissed one of the other men. "The Guards would never fight a group as lowly as ours."
"Wait a minute," said Julian. Keeping low, he glanced over the rocks at the group below. "You said they are the Jem'Hadar Guards. They don't look much like Jem'Hadar to me." From his vantage point, he could just make out the features of the men, who looked for all intents and purposes like the rest of the Minami with the exception they all wore gray uniforms.
"Correct," replied Bekko.
"Let me get this straight. Are you saying they are Jem'Hadar, or are they the Jem'Hadar's Guards?"
"What I mean," he continued meeting their blank stares. "When you say the Jem'Hadar are you talking about many Jem'Hadar or just the one?"
"He makes a joke," replied Chaho. "Everyone knows there is only the one Jem'Hadar although he commands many troops."
"Aya," called out one of the men. "Houk returns."
The men were on their feet, calling out to their leader before Julian could ask another question. Just one Jem'Hadar, he thought, how could there be only one? Unless, this Jem'Hadar had somehow managed to also overcome his addiction to Ketracel White… His attention was drawn away from his own musings by the return of Houk.
The leader stood on the outcropping and raised his hands to quiet the group. "Bandits!" he said in a loud voice. "The patrol you see below you has heard our invitation to engage in battle and by way of reply they have offered us an insult!"
The crowd remained silent. No wonder, thought Julian. Even if these men were not really Jem'Hadar, they had the look about them of professional soldiers. The bandits would not stand a chance against them.
"They," continued Houk. "Have declined the ritual of tea and battle, saying they have no time to waste on sensu counters such as we are!"
Julian watched as some of the group hung their heads in shame as others exchanged glances and muttered among themselves.
"However," said Houk. "You know the leader of this patrol. It is Ogon a man without honor - a man made of straw. I say we return his words with fire and defend the honor of our profession!"
In a grand gesture, Houk swept this sword from its sheath and held it high above his head. "What say you?" he shouted.
In reply, the group as one replied with a resounding shout.
Where the woods began to thin stood a clearing. On the far side of the clearing stood a walled village. Still in shock over the death of Ty-ni and his lost opportunity to make a fortune, Quark followed the horse as it approached the village, little caring where they went. They had nearly reached the gates when he became aware of a voice.
"Where the hell have you been?" said the voice. "You're late."
Quark looked to the left and then to the right and finally under the horse, where he spotted a pair of legs. Walking around the horse, he found himself face to face with the shortest man he had ever seen. Upon closer inspection the man appeared to be a miniature of Ty-ni, except this one wore clothes. "Who are you?" he asked.
"I'm SukiDa the Manager," replied the man in a tone of voice that suggested Quark was an idiot for asking. "And what have you done with my poDosai?"
"That's an interesting question…" began Quark, as he wondered if it were not too late to run for the woods.
"If you think so you're even more feeble minded than you look. Look, I've got a village that needs a champion. You show up with the champion's horse. Now, do I call the police, or do you tell me where my poDosai is?
"He's dead," replied Quark. "Dropped dead of a heart attack yesterday morning. Follow the trail if you don't believe me."
"Dead!" He eyed Quark closely. "How do I know you're telling the truth? If you have nothing to hide why didn't you bring along the body, eh?"
"Hello? Do I look like I could sling that body on the back of a horse? The man was a giant!"
"Hmmm," replied SukiDa. He looked at the horse, which nodded its head and pawed at the ground as if to confirm Quark's story. "Guess you are right," he said eventually. "That's what I get for hiring an amateur. Dentists! Don't know a good thing when they see it."
"Wait a minute," said Quark. "Are you telling me Ty-ni was a dentist? Tall guy, ran around in a diaper? A dentist?"
"What's the matter? Am I speaking too fast for you? Using too many big words? Why am I even bothering talking to you, I might was well talk to the horse. I don't suppose," he said addressing the horse. "You would know where I can find a poDosai at the last minute do you?"
The horse snorted and jerked his head in Quark's direction.
"What? Him? Are you crazy?"
"Now just hold on…" said Quark shooting the horse a look that spoke volumes.
"I don't know," replied SukiDa rubbing his chin. "He is sorta tallish, not the giant I promised, but tall. Spread your arms."
"I fail to see…" demanded Quark but complying with the demand.
"Not bad. Not great but not bad. Do you own a sword?"
"Only the one belonging to Ty-ni…"
"Well, he's not going to need it now will he? You know," he said to the horse. "This just might work."
"Just one minute!"
SukiDa took Quark by the arm and lead him a few steps away from the horse. "Look son," he said confidentially. "What do you do for a living?"
"I own a bar," replied Quark.
"Well now ain't that grand, we're in the same line of business you and I. We both provide entertainment for those who are willing to pay. So you can understand my dilemma, I accepted a contract to provide a champion for a village that can't produce one on their own, but the talent fails to appear. As a business man what would you do?"
"I'd make my brother Rom fill in," said Quark "But I'm not…"
"This Ron fella is he taller?"
"No."
"Pity. Now look," continued SukiDa. "It's very easy. You take a sample of the jewelry produced by the good folks of Kohaku here, take them to the Capital, present them, do an exhibition fight or two and that's it. What's not to like?"
"What's your cut?" asked Quark, his ears tingling at the mention of jewels and jewelry. "And how many jewels?"
"The kid's brighter than he looks," replied SukiDa speaking once again to the horse. "A chest full of the local jewelers finest work. Seeing as how I'll be doing you a favor by taking care of this little mess with the dentist, and as how this is your first gig as a poDosai, I'll only take 50% of the proceeds."
"Don't be ridiculous." For the first time since landing on the planet, Quark felt he had some control over his circumstances. "Tell you what, I'll stay here with the body and you go on to the Capital."
"Forty percent," said SukiDa. "And I'll…ah…throw in the horse."
The horse snorted.
"Keep the horse," insisted Quark. "He's not the best of company."
The horse turned and gave Quark a look that spoke volumes.
"Thirty percent. Or I take my offer elsewhere."
"Twenty percent," replied Quark "Or do I march right into the village and tell everyone I see what a lousy poDosai I really am?"
"I like you kid," said SukiDa offering Quark his hand. "Twenty percent it is. I'll have my secretary draw up the papers and you can sign them when you reach the Capital. Here's my card. Under the circumstances I'd better collect the jewels and you can be on your way. You understand don't you? You're tall, but hardly the giant I promised."
Quark hugged the horse's head in delight once the cask had been presented and it's contents verified. "I'm going to be filthy rich," he confided to his equine companion and moved to tie his treasure securely to the saddle.
"Here's my card," said SukiDa tucking a small rectangle of cardboard in the horse's reigns. "Call me if anything happens. My service always knows where to find me." The horse shook his head dislodging the card. Picking the piece of paper up off the ground with its lips, the horse chewed on it for a moment before spitting it back out. "Poor slob," said SukiDa in a confidential tone. "He really has no idea does he? Never mind." He patted the horse on the muzzle. "That my friend is show business. If you're lucky, he'll be a quick learner."
"You are an interesting opponent," commented iSamu lowering her sword and wiping the perspiration from her brow. Odo dropped his hands and relaxed his stance. They had been sparing for some time and although he was surprised to find himself enjoying the experience, he could not shake the growing anxiety he felt at the thought of facing one of his own people again. There were so many questions that demanded answers.
"Especially for one who does not possess a ChauLi." She pointed to the stone hung round his neck. Each day he wore it; it became a darker shade of green. "The stone warms to you," she commented.
"You can't seriously believe…" His response was cut short as iSamu quickly brought up the dull blade to renew her attack. An unexpected blow to her sternum sent her crashing to the ground.
"I believe," she said ignoring his outstretched hand. "That although you are much faster than you look." In one swift movement she swept his legs out from under him and regained her feet so that their positions were reversed. "You are far too confident in your own abilities."
"I thought you said it was my fear that would defeat me," he replied, not bothering to stand. "Now I am too overconfident?"
"Mock me if you will," she replied putting away her sword. "But I do not believe this weapon can cause you harm no matter how skillful the opponent. However, I also believe despite your physical strength you may be destroyed by a single skillfully spoken word or deed. For it is here you are most fragile." She pointed to her head and her heart. "These are the places you are most vulnerable."
"Am I so transparent?" he asked. Having spent his life masking his emotions, it was an alarming thought to realize a stranger could see though him so easily.
"It is my job to look for weaknesses where ever I find them. Not all opponents are as thorough. You must be prepared for any contingency. A clever opponent will explore all your weaknesses, be they physical or mental. You must dig deep within, search out your own weaknesses and defeat them before someone uses them against you."
"What do we do now?" he asked, suddenly reminded of his last conversation with Kira. How, he had asked, can I be what you need for me to be when I don't even know who I am? He grudgingly had to admit to himself that there was a great deal of truth in what iSamu said. He had allowed his fear to take control, but he was damned it he knew how to get his life back.
"I," replied iSamu. "Am going to take a bath. I suggest you do as the Old Man instructed and simply just be."
Julian watched with trepidation the drama unfolding before him. From his hiding place a safe distance from the fighting, he was well aware part of him regretted the promise he had forced upon his "pupils" that they not use what they had learned to kill another being. If this patrol was in the service of the Jem'Hadar, even if it were just one Jem'Hadar, then the bandits may well find themselves in the position of having to kill to defend themselves.
Trepidation turned to amazement, when after the initial engagement of the two forces, it became apparent the bandits were holding their own against superior forces. Amazement turned to pride as Julian watched his five pupils hold their own and turn the tide of the battle. Pride overwhelmed him with joy as, in a final rush, the bandits forced the Jem'Hadar's men to concede defeat by throwing down their weapons and surrendering the field.
Without giving his actions a second thought, he leapt to his feet and shouted.
Any further exclamations died on his lips, as the leader of the patrol looked his way. Julian saw the look of pure hatred on the man's face turn to suspicion at the sight of Julian. The man spoke sharply to Houk before gathering up his wounded and setting off across the valley.
Left alone while iSamu bathed in the nearby river, Odo lay in the tall grass. All of his life, he had been urged by just about everyone he had ever encountered to be something. Even his own people expected him to be something he was not. The trouble was he had never really spent much time considering what he was as opposed to what was expected of him.
A remark made long in his past was called to mind. 'I have just spent two hours being everything in that garden,' he remembered saying, 'and I have no more idea of what it is to be a rock than I did before.' All this time, he thought, I've traveled so far only to discover I've spent my life being me and I have no more idea of what it is to be me than I did before.
Feeling as though the weight of the universe threatened to crush him, he attempted to shake off the feeling by concentrating on what the Old Man had advised. Closing his eyes, he thought of the first time in his life he understood his place in the Universe.
His thoughts drifted to the first time he stood on the Founders home world. The first time he touched one of his own kind and the small miracle of his first taste of what it was to link with another changeling. He shivered at the memory. How large the Universe became in that instant. How full of wonder and possibility. He felt his spirit soar with the memory. How after a lifetime of longing he had finally come home.
His right hand tingled as he remembered the Founder's touch, how he had stared at his hand as though he had never truly seen it before. Nerys had held that same hand when they had left the planet together, her touch different, solid, reassuring.
Nerys. He closed his eyes, seeing her face in his mind's eye. She was always there for him. His one constant in an ever-changing universe and yet… He thought of the last time he had seen her and how in the end even she had sent him away.
An irrational fear gripped him, leaving him gasping for air. He felt as though he were suffocating.
Always the outsider, he thought, his emotions plunging him back into despair. No, he thought. This could not be what the Old Man had meant.
He sat up, suddenly aware of a burning sensation at the spot on his chest where the stone touched his skin. He quickly held it away from him, the stone hot to the touch. Glancing up, he saw iSamu sitting nearby, a faint smile on her lips.
"Wrong memory," she said simply.
Kira Nerys sat in her office and stared out the view port. A week had passed since their last communication from the team sent to KuruTame and still no word from Odo. She berated herself for allowing him to leave as he did. Not that she believed for a moment he would not return. She knew in her heart that he would come back; he would always come back, just as she would always be here waiting for him. But still…
At the sound of a throat being loudly cleared, she suddenly was reminded she was not alone.
"Colonel?" asked Ovin Bog, Leasing Manager for the Promenade. "Is there a problem?"
"Sorry," she said. "You were saying?"
"As you are aware, at any given point, the occupancy rate of the Promenade runs consistently at around a rate of 80-85% full. As you know, the Ministry of Trade has been after us for some time now to make the most of the space provided for businesses, namely…"
"Namely, the Ministers are interested in us turning a profit as far as the Promenade is concerned. Yes, I know. Have you reminded them that this is essentially a Military Installation?"
"As instructed," he replied. "The Ministers feel we are a bit too…conservative…in our selection of the type of business allowed on the Promenade."
"I will not," said Kira sharply. "Under any circumstances, allow the type of business that caters to the…"
"Colonel."
"Massage parlors. Thinly veiled houses of ill…"
"I'm very aware of your position…"
"Quark's is bad enough…but at least his holosuites have to pass certain health…
"I think I've found a solution," Ovin said quickly.
"You have?" She looked at the little man and was once again reminded how much he reminded her of a bird. "How?"
"A proposal recently received from a company called the…" He consulted his padd. "The Centurion Corporation. They want to rent all available space on the Promenade and they are willing to pay…ah…quite a generous amount, actually."
"And what exactly does this Centurion Corporation do?" asked Kira.
"I have no idea, actually," confessed Ovin. "They call themselves…information brokers…whatever that means."
"Why would information brokers need all that space?"
"For their own computer systems, supposedly. When I explained that they would only have limited use of the Station's computer systems, their agent said that…ah…basic functions, such as environmental controls and light, would be all they needed as they would be bringing their own independent systems."
"Their agent?" asked Kira.
"Yes. One Mr. Pilgrim. Not exactly a…ah…talkative man, actually."
"I see." Suspicion was slowly dawning on Kira. "Have Security run a thorough check on this Centurion Corporation and report their findings directly back to me. Stall this Mr. Pilgrim if necessary."
Okay, Mr. Pilgrim, she thought turning back to the view port. What kind of game are you playing?
Julian watched as the group danced around the burning effigy of a straw man in celebration of their victory. Although he was pleased they had managed to win with few injuries, he was still haunted by the look on the face of the leader of the Jem'Hadar patrol. It was the look of a man who would make it his life's work to get even in any way he could.
"Why do you not celebrate?" asked Bekko as he sat heavily down on the ground next to Julian. "It is a great victory!"
"But at what price?" he asked. "The leader of the Jem'Hadar…."
"Ogon?" asked Bekko. "I wish my wife were here to have seen the look on his face…"
"You know him then?"
"Yes. He was once one of us."
"He was a bandit?" asked Julian somewhat surprised.
"Once. But he was dishonest and was driven from our ranks. We found out later that he had gone to the Capital and eventually joined the Jem'Hadar's troops."
"A dishonest bandit?"
"Sensu counters!" shouted Chaho, dancing up to them. "Oh my friends it is a great day!" He quickly executed a giddy jig that sent him tumbling to the ground laughing. "Bekko! Ogon has been defeated and I fear I am drunk with happiness."
"Chaho," replied Bekko. "Ogon was not worthy to be a sensu counter. Now it appears he is not worthy to guard the Jem'Hadar either! It is a great day indeed!"
Pushing himself in to an upright position, Chaho studied Julian with interest. "Doctor," he said soberly. "We are greatly in your debt. But you do not celebrate the…sensu counters…victory?"
"I very much doubt Ogon will allow your victory to go unpunished."
Chaho snorted, but Bekko held up his hand to forestall him from replying. "Upon reflection, I fear the Doctor is correct," he said. "Ogon is not a honorable man. He will not accept defeat lightly."
"True," agreed Chaho regaining his feet. "Let him but try to engage us again and I will personally take his jutuba and make him eat it!" He danced away from them shouting as he went.
With a shout from the others, Bekko rose to join them. "Will you not dance?" he asked.
"No. I'm not much of a dancer," confessed Julian. "But do not let me keep you."
"Bekko," he called out as the young man started to walk away. "What exactly is a sensu counter?"
"Sensu…? It is a derisive name for our profession."
"But what have sensu to do with being a bandit?"
"Nothing," cried Bekko. "It is a derisive name for accountants."
"But…you're accountants?" asked Julian clearly puzzled.
"Of course!" replied Bekko with pride. "Certified and licensed each and every one." Reading the look on Julian's face, he laughed. "You did not think we were…you are a funny man, Doctor… Bandit is the name of our team!"
The Vorta wrung his hands as he paced the corridors outside his quarters. He had spent the evening wondering how exactly he could disable the weapons systems on the spacecraft without it appearing to be sabotage, finally giving up when he admitted to himself he did not know enough about the craft to do anything. There was only one alternative left open to him. He would have to contact someone from the ships crew. It was a risk, but he would have to take it.
He had spent the last five minutes attempting to go to the ship, only to stop himself at the last minute. No, he thought. I have to do this and set off at a trot. Not far into the public areas of the castle, he literally ran into one of the officers of the Guard.
The Captain apologized for not looking where he was going and had turned to take his leave before the Vorta had the presence of mind to ask him why he was in such a hurry.
"Urgent reports from the countryside," replied the Captain. "Strange occurrences, I thought it best to report as quickly as possible."
"I'll accept the report," said the Vorta. "The Jem'Hadar is busy at the moment. Ah…preparations for the Festival."
"Sir!" The Captain handed over the report. "It is most likely nothing," he confided. "But better safe than sorry."
"Excellent Captain. You are to be commended."
The Vorta scanned the report quickly. Oh dear, he thought. There were reports of a stranger seen in the Southern Hoku district that disrupted a village festival and when challenged, refused to fight with the jutuba. Even more disturbing was the body of a dentist found in the forests of Nishi. The dentist's last known companion was a stranger who belonged to no known Prefecture. Another report placed a strange woman traveling with a group of pilgrims from the Higoshi region. The woman had a piece of jewelry that apparently concealed a communications device.
The Vorta froze in his tracks. A woman with a piece of jewelry…communications device…of course, it had to be. Hastily tucking the report away, he ran as fast as he could for the runabout, totally unaware the pages of the report fluttered out of his sleeve as he ran.
Through a pair of binoculars, Ogon watched as the group of accountants left the last of the rolling foothills and waded into the tall grass of the valley, his eyes seeking out the stranger in their midst. Neither Higoshi nor Hoku, he began to suspect the stranger of being much more than merely an outsider from another prefecture.
Putting the binoculars away, he signaled for one of his subordinates.
"Doa," said the man springing to attention.
"Take the wounded back to our barracks," ordered Ogon. "And report what you have seen to our superiors in the Capital."
"Sir!" replied the subordinate. "What about the rest of the patrol?"
"They will stay here with me," replied Ogon looking off into the distance with narrowed eyes. "We have a score to settle with these Bandits."
Vivian waited until she was sure the camp was settled for the night before cautiously moving a short distance from the last tent. Apparently not everyone was asleep as a few tents still were lit with the soft glow of lanterns, but she was confident anyone hearing her pass would assume she was on her way to the public conveniences and not challenge her.
She had just passed the last of the tents when the sound of her comm. nearly caused her to jump out of her skin.
"Who is this," she whispered sharply.
"Ah…Hello?" said a voice she recognized as the person who had contacted her before. "Is anyone there?"
"This is Vivian Landis," she replied. "Who are you and what have you done with my runabout?"
The Vorta paused, uncertain how much to tell. "Ah…" he said eventually. "My name is sanKe." He giggled. It had been many years since anyone had called him by his name.
Oh great, thought Vivian, a giggler. Most likely a teenager with too much time on his hands. "Listen Sanke," she said slowly. "This is very important. Where are you exactly?"
"Where I am is not important," replied the Vorta. "You are in danger and I want to help, but first I must know how to dismantle the weapons systems on your craft. Do you know who can help me?"
What the hell is this? thought Vivian.