Disclaimer: Add Zimmerman to the list of People That Are Not Mine.

A/N: Rinne- Don't worry. There's no way that you can get rid of Bashir. Ever.

Crossbow- Thank you for the continuing support. I was kind of worried that I was too predictable, so your comment is a bit of a relief.

Chapter Six

"Right after seeing Khan…" Zimmerman accused in a strangled voice, "Right away, I should have guessed that you were somehow involved."

Lewis Zimmerman had been the one to discover that Julian Bashir himself had been genetically enhanced as a child less than a month ago. It made sense that given normal prejudices, the doctor would think that he was somehow helping Khan. "I understand the implication, doctor. And I can assure you that…"

"You can assure me," Zimmerman laughed. "And what is your word worth?"

"Must we deal with this here, doctor?" It was pretty much a given that Khan or one of his people was listening to every word they said, hoping that they might slip up and tell him something that they needed to know.

"Yes, I think we must. We may as well have it out in the open that you are a liar, a fraud, and a disgrace to the medical profession."

"What's wrong with you?" Alice demanded, frowning at Zimmerman. "He's a good guy."

"Who's this- another ex-girlfriend?" Zimmerman sneered.

"No, she was part of the crew of the ship you flew here in. And if you were at all concerned about Leeta, you'll be pleased to know that she and Rom are perfectly happy, and the wedding plans are moving along splendidly."

Dr. Zimmerman tensed slightly at the memory of being dumped by the Bajoran girl. "I don't know what she sees in that Ferengi… Don't distract me!" He looked around nervously, but their fellow cell-mates obliged him by starting up conversations to pretend they hadn't been listening.

Bashir sighed. "I wasn't distracting you. I was answering your question."

"Excuse me," Alice interrupted. "Don't we have other things to be concerned about? Like escape? If the good doctor will keep his voice down, the others are being loud enough that we might not be heard right now."

"You're very right." Julian smiled gratefully, and she winked back.

"Well, what do we know so far?" Zimmerman asked, shooting Bashir a this-isn't-over-yet look. Fortunately, though, he managed to keep his voice somewhat subdued.

"The short version: Time travel via an unusual energy wave, source unknown, brought Khan and his crew here." Not that they couldn't make a guess, but Dr. Bashir did not feel the need to add that. "He is now attempting to establish his own empire, as he had on Earth during the Eugenics wars. He will most likely begin with the planets represented by the people he brought aboard the Botany Bay."

"Speculation, Doctor."

"Do you have something better?"

"Not at the moment," he conceded. "So, about this energy wave that he wants to learn of… What do we know about it."

"Next to nothing. Besides what I've told you, we know that part of it is carried with the ship as it sends it somewhere, and that part precedes it after arrival. In other words- it can hit things that the ship doesn't. That, though, was simply a matter of observation."

"And you're sure that's everything?"

Was there a hint of guilt on his face as he remained silent, or was the doctor just suspicious of him out of hand? Either way, it only took seconds for Zimmerman to snap at him.

"You do know something else." His expression darkened. "And I know exactly why you're so reluctant to tell us."

"Khan and the others could be watching us now," Drake said innocently.

"And did the good doctor suggest this possibility?"

"Well, yes, he did… but it makes sense."

Zimmerman scoffed. "A ship like this doesn't have anything like that. It's a DY-500, isn't it?"

"The Botany Bay was actually a DY-100," Bashir corrected.

"You get my point."

"They've upgraded a lot, probably thanks to diagrams from the Enterprise. They now have warp capabilities, for example. Besides, the only thing that keeps them from physically listening to us is the fact that these people are talking, and that is… sporadic at best."

"He's right," Drake volunteered. "I think everyone's actually listening to us, 'cause every once in a while, everyone gets quiet at once."

"It's kinda funny," Alice snickered.

"It is not funny."

She grinned back at Zimmerman. "If you say so, Doctor."

"Well, for now these people are talking and will continue to do so."

"Until someone says something that catches their attention."

Zimmerman's expression became suddenly conniving. "Oh, I see. You're worried that I might say something to embarrass you."

Bashir flushed. "I wasn't thinking about that. I was thinking about the ship and time travel."

"Were you? Well, why don't you choose between them. One or the other will come out in the open right now."

In other words, if Julian didn't tell him what he wanted to know, Lewis Zimmerman would announce his genetically engineered status to the rest of the people in this room, and it would undoubtedly leak to Khan.

Taking a deep breath, he announced, "For the final time, Doctor, I can not tell you anything about the anomaly which brought the Botany Bay forward in time."

"Then these people might as well know why I don't trust you the tiniest bit. I am free with my knowledge after all."

In other words: Last Chance. Bashir shook his head slowly, and Zimmerman shrugged and raised his voice . "Fine. In that case, it should be known that the reason I do not trust this person because he, like Khan and the others that are keeping us captive, is a genetically engineered freak."

"This is one of those 'moments of silence' I was telling you about," Alice clarified.

"Yes, thank you."

Julian was partially distracted by a sudden flurry of activity outside the bulkhead door. He was not distracted enough to ignore the mistrustful and even hateful looks being cast his way from around the room. Hesitantly, he cleared his throat. "One of my theories is about to be proven right, Doctor."

"Is that so?" Zimmerman asked dryly. Julian nodded, and the cell door slid open.