Disclaimer: Same old thing. The Star Trek-created characters, ships, etc. do not belong to me.

A/N: Two chapters posted in one day! They'll probably be coming fairly quickly now. Either way, I hope this'll keep you entertained for now.

Chapter Five

"Doctor? Doctor Bashir?"

"Miles?" Who else would have the effrontery to wake him at this time of day?

"No, sir."

The voice was female, and unfamiliar. Not to mention decidedly worried. Was it one of his new nurses?

"Who…"

"Alice Freeman, sir."

"Oh. Right." Still on the Botany Bay… "Sorry."

"Do you want to sit up?"

"As my own doctor, I would recommend against it."

"Um…"

"No."

"Right."

"What did those guys want?" Drake asked as Julian Bashir forced his eyes open.

"Wait a moment."

"Yes, sir. Sorry."

"Would you do me a favour and check to see if I have a concussion?"

"They took your tricorder, sir."

"I know. Just check to see if my pupils are dilated. Unless someone has a mirror."

"They probably took those, too." He glared at the crowd of onlookers. "Would you mind not blocking the light?"

A few people squished back as far as they could, which gave Drake enough room to peer at him critically. "You look okay," he pronounced. "Well, no, you look terrible. But your pupils look okay."

"You're not very reassuring. Don't ever become a doctor… Speaking of which, doesn't

anyone in your crew have medical training?"

"I… don't think so."

"No," Egor affirmed. "But usually one or more of the passengers does, so it's a pretty safe bet."

"So, that means it would be fairly useless to ask any of you if I had any serious injuries to my back, spinal cord…"

"Right."

"Right." Gingerly, he moved each of his limbs. They each functioned properly, and he could feel them all. That was something, at least. "Then, in the interests of giving everyone a little more space…"

Bashir rolled onto his side, then pushed himself slowly into a seated position. "What they wanted was an analysis of the spacial anomaly that brought them here."

"What did you tell them?" Captain Benton demanded. "Nothing that will make them hurt us, I hope."

"Whether or not they hurt us is not up to me. But what could I possibly tell them except that I didn't know what it was?"

"Did you?"

"That's not an issue."

"'Not an issue'?" he sputtered. "How can you say that? We're trapped here like you. Don't you trust us?"

"That's not an issue either, especially when we may be monitored."

"The ships detached while you were out," Cerita informed him, cutting into the silence.

"Do you know why?" She shook her head. "And why would they still be headed for Meezan IV?" he mused, more to himself than them. "I noticed that while I was on the bridge. Captain?"

"They didn't tell me anything."

"Hmm."

"What're you thinking?" Alice inquired.

"Well, maybe the question isn't why Meezan IV is their first stop. Why shouldn't it be? If their goal here really is conquest, one planet is as good as another to start with. And Meezan IV will be filled with tourists and doctors from offworld… Of course!"

Julian hated being crowded like this when he was trying to think, but at least he could deal with it. He forced himself to take in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Meezan IV will be hosting a Federation medical conference. People from all across the galaxy will be there, and without very much security. If he's looking for hostages… insights into other worlds… this could be helpful to him. Not to mention, some of them may be willing to share their knowledge of astronomy with him."

There was a slight vibration and a clunk as the Botany Bay reattached to the passenger ship. Bashir momentarily considered asking what that ship's name was, but decided that he was too embarrassed, and that the crew would probably bring up its name in conversation anyway.

"If I'm right, it's about to get very crowded in here," Bashir announced to the unfortunate passengers.

There was a general moan, which abruptly ended as the door opened, and the men and women stared up in terror at the genetically engineered man that was standing there. Entering into the hold, he herded several people towards the opening, and kept several others- presumably relations- from following. If the people had been panicked before, this only increased as they were torn apart from loved ones. The fact that this left more space did not help anyone, either.

Even this did not last long, for after a few minutes, another group was sent in. "That makes sense," Julian told Alice and Drake, the two remaining crewmembers, once Khan's people had gone. "They must be shuffling up the groups in two separate cells to prevent escape attempts."

As they nodded, a man's voice cut across the room. "Bashir? Is that you?"

A chill ran down Bashir's spine as the speaker pushed his way through the crowds to stand in front of Julian. "It is indeed, Dr. Zimmerman."