Mean Things I've Done To Dr. Julian Bashir (Or Sue's Revenge)
by Lyda Mae (RavenDove) Huff
Chapter Eight: Turning The Knife
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The following may just be the last chapter in this story. It allowed me to finally put things in writing that I'd never had the nerve to, and allowed me to give Bashir his day in court. That is something that I never had.
I edited this for content before posting, because I put more detail in it than is good for anyone to read. What follows is what is left. I hope that I was able to keep the emotion without the pornography. The emotion was really the more important part anyway.
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Miles O'Brien just barely managed to duck as the food tray flew past leaving green gelatin splattered across the wall next to him. He looked in the direction from which it came and found Dr Bashir arguing with a nurse.
"I'm sick of gelatin and broth." Julian protested. "If Dr. Gindis says I can't have anything more substantial yet, I'd rather starve."
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That bit of rebellion had taken more out of Julian than he'd expected, and he found himself slumping back into his pillow as soon as the nurse had turned away. It was then that he noticed Miles.
Miles didn't want to let on that he had seen Julian's moment of weakness. "Fine friend you are." he joked as he brushed down the front of his dress uniform. "Captain Sisko would have had my head if I showed up in a uniform with stains down the front." He then set Julian's own dress uniform on the foot of the bed.
Dr. Gindis entered in her Bajoran Militia dress gray uniform and gave Bashir a stern look. "What have I told you about terrorizing the nurses."
"I'll stop terrorizing the nurses when you let me out of here." Julian said in defiance.
The nurse came in carrying a new tray with the same kind of food that Bashir had already refused and handed it to Dr. Gindis. "I agreed to let you out of here for Neko Sephrina's trial on the condition that you behave and that I accompany you." She set the tray in front of him, "If you don't eat what I prescribed you don't go." She handed him the spoon, "It's that simple."
Julian gave her a look that would have cut through most people. His right hand was completely useless for the time being and was encased in a metallic splint, so he took the spoon in his left hand. He then scooped up a bite of the vile gelatin, and swallowed it while making the most grotesque face possible.
"Dramatics will get you no where with me Julian." she said as she moved a chair in for her to sit on as she watched him eat.
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Captain Sisko watched from the back as the Wardroom filled. Nine Bajoran Jurors brought up from the planet, Bajoran and Starfleet security acting as bailiffs. Odo had already brought in the accused.
Neko Sephrina was a tall and what some would consider beautiful Bajoran woman with dark hair and eyes. She was well muscled and well dressed. She could have any man on the station she wanted, but what she wanted wasn't love or even just sex. She had violated and nearly killed one of his senior officers. He would never be able to understand why, but he wasn't here to understand. He was here to prove that she was guilty.
Worf and Dax entered practically dragging Quark. Then came Julian.
Sisko nearly winced when he saw Julian. He was in a wheelchair with a high back so that he could rest his head, still hooked to an IV and to machines that were still filtering the poisons from his blood three days later. Dr. Gindis had said he would make a full recovery, but the damage to his kidneys, his liver and many of his other organs would take time. His right arm was in a sling. The damage to the tendons had taken three hours of surgery to put back together correctly. One of the worst injuries for a surgeon was to damage his hands, but that wasn't the worst thing that had happened to Julian at Sephrina's ministrations. Not by a long shot.
O'Brien was pushing the wheelchair and Dr. Gindis was right behind them with a medical kit and what looked like a miniature oxygen tank with a mask.
Sisko went straight to Dr. Gindis. "Is he strong enough to testify."
Gindis looked a Sisko with concern. "He can tell them what happened," she pointed to the jury, "but the second I think he's too stressed I'm taking him back to the infirmary."
Sisko nodded, then bent down to Julian's level. "You don't have to do this Julian." he took Julian's good hand. "We have your statement, and the evidence that Odo found."
Bashir looked up at Sisko with a coldness in his eyes. "By Bajoran law it is my right to face my attacker."
"I know it's your right Julian," Sisko looked down, "but are you up to it?"
"It's something I need to do."
There was pleading in Julian's voice that another man might have missed. "Alright Julian, but the instant Dr. Gindis says it's time to go, it's time to go."
Julian nodded.
"You and Dr. Gindis can sit over here until you are called to the stand." Sisko motioned to a place behind the prosecution's table where a space had been left open for the wheelchair.
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It was just after Julian had been moved into position that a Bajoran deputy entered the room and called out, "All rise, the Honorable Magistrate Tepankor Jaxa presiding."
The command was soon followed by the entrance of a somewhat bookish looking Bajoran woman with graying hair, who took her seat at the head of the makeshift courtroom. Then a young Bajoran man with rumpled clothes who carried a stack of padds so large that he dropped two and then had to regather them all when he bent to pick up the ones he'd lost. He quickly reorganized them and set them on the desk in front of the Magistrate. The man with the padds had been introduced to Sisko earlier as Tepankor's assistant Mr. Arben.
"You may all be seated." said Magistrate Tepankor. She then banged a ball shaped gavel on the table as she looked at the top padd in the stack. "This calls the trial of the people vs Neko Sephrina to order. I will ask that both counsels approach the bench."
Sisko stepped forward along with a well dressed Bajoran man who's earring was by far the most ostentatious and tasteless thing that Sisko had ever seen on anyone, even Kai Winn couldn't top it.
The defense counsel spoke. "I must object to the Emissary acting as counsel for the Prosecution."
"I am aware of your objection Mr. Gebna," said the Magistrate, "but since the incident in question happened on this station, which is administrated by Captain Sisko, it is under his authority to name himself as Prosecutor ." She looked up from her padd, "So your objection is irrelevant."
Tepankor looked at Sisko. "I see that Dr. Bashir is present Captain." She looked at another padd briefly. "Does that mean that he will be testifying?"
"It is his wish to testify." Sisko looked back at Julian. "I don't know if he will be able to remain in the courtroom very long though."
"Call him first." said Tepankor. "We will hear him as soon as the opening statements are concluded."
"If Dr. Gindis says that the testimony is too much for him.?" Sisko asked.
"Then we will continue with other witnesses." said Tepankor. She banged the gavel down again. "We will now hear the opening statement for the prosecution."
Sisko took a deep breath and turned to face the Jury as Mr. Gebna took his seat.
"We are here today in the honor of justice." Sisko said. "Not just justice for Bajor, but for every sentient being. It is my job to show you how Neko Sephrina has denied the rights of sentients everywhere to a fellow living being. That she did drug Dr. Julian Bashir with an illegal substance that is poisonous to humans, without his knowledge, and against his will. That she did willfully commit violations of his body that he did not consent to, and that her actions caused him bodily harm and did very nearly cost him his life." At this Sisko took his seat.
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Julian looked at the faces of the jurors then back to Dr. Gindis and finally to Captain Sisko. He took a few deep breaths to steady himself.
"Would you please state your full name for the record?" the flustered Mr. Arben asked.
"Dr. Julian Subitoy Bashir." He answered.
"And you are?" Arben continued.
"I am the Chief Medical Officer of space station Deep Space Nine and a Starfleet officer with the rank of Lieutenant."
"Do you swear that all statements you will give to this court are truthful?"
"I do." said Bashir.
Sisko stepped forward, "How long have you been assigned to this post Doctor?"
"I have been the Chief Medical Officer of this station for just over four years," Julian answered, "Ever since the Cardassians retreated from Bajoran space."
"How did you meet Ms. Neko Sephrina?" Sisko asked.
"Four days ago I was having lunch in Quark's." Julian looked down. "She asked if she could share my table."
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Dr. Bashir had just ordered his lunch and was sitting at a table on the upper level of Quark's. The place was absolutely packed at this hour. A Bajoran woman in a very flattering red dress came up to his table and leaned over.
"I hope you don't mind if I share your table," she said, "I just can't see anywhere else in here to sit down."
Julian stood up and offered her a seat. "I don't mind sharing my table, if you don't mind sharing your name."
"I'm Sephrina," she said as she sat down, "Neko Sephrina."
"It's good to meet you Ms. Neko." Julian said as he sat back down.
"No," She objected, "please call me Sephrina."
"Only if you'll call me Julian." he said with a smile.
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"So you agreed to meet her after your shift was over and give her a tour of the station" said Sisko.
Julian nodded, "That is correct."
"And what happened when you went to meet her?" Sisko asked.
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Sephrina answered the door to her quarters wearing a robe with a towel rapped around her head. "I'm running a little late Julian." She gestured to the couch. "If you'd care to have a seat I can get you a drink while you wait."
Julian made his way to the couch, "A synthale please." he said as he took a seat on the couch. "I'm still on call." he said as he readjusted his his comm badge on his blue civilian shirt. He had taken a shower after his shift and changed into civilian clothes, because he didn't think it would be polite to arrive covered in what his last patient had so graciously expelled all over the infirmary.
Sephrina handed him a full glass and made her way back into the bedroom where she could dress.
Julian drank nearly half of the synthale in one gulp and leaned back into the couch trying to relax. He closed his eyes for what seemed like a moment and when he opened them the room started to spin.
Sephrina reentered the room wearing a black dress that seemed more appropriate on a dobo girl. "Are you ready." she asked.
Julian tried to stand, "I don't feel so well." He managed to stand and was heading for the door. "I think I need to go back to my own quarters and lie down."
Sephrina put a hand on his shoulder, "Why don't you lie down here."
"I don't think that would be appropriate." he said. He tried to make it to the door.
"Oh, but I insist." said Sephrina. She had him by the shirt collar, and was steering him toward the bedroom.
"I would rather go to my own quarters." Bashir insisted yet again. He turned toward the door and he heard his shirt rip.
"I could make it worth your while to stay." said Sephrina, as she pulled off Julian's now ripped shirt.
Julian tried to fight her, but found himself on his knees. "I really don't think this is a good idea."
"Why wouldn't it be?" Sephrina asked as she she helped Julian to the floor and began to kiss his bare chest.
"I didn't come here for this." Julian protested.
"What have you got to lose Julian." She said.
He moved his hands to try and stop her, though he didn't have the strength. "I didn't come here for this!" he repeated more firmly.
Julian found his heart racing...
He shuddered as he felt her hands on his bare skin...
"No Sephrina," he pleaded, "please don't!"
He was paralyzed with fear and by the weakness of his body...
He tried to find his communicator, but he couldn't see it...
This was not happening...
He could not move...
He did not want this...
Her nails pierce the skin on his back as he tried to struggle...
He felt his stomach tighten, and he wanted to retch...
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When the violation had ended he found the strength to move, though his body felt like lead. He found his communicator in the folds of his discarded shirt. He activated it with one touch, and said the only thing that came to mind. "Help."
Sephrina came to life with that and smacked him across the face. "You don't need help you ungrateful..." She stood and kicked him in the ribs. She grabbed a chair from the near by table and threw it against the wall. It was smashed to pieces and she beat Julian with the one leg.
Julian tried to grab the chair leg, but once she had finished with it she grabbed a knife off of the table.
They struggled with the knife and when she tried to aim for his chest Julian put up his right hand to block the blow, the knife went clean through flesh and bone as she tried to twist it loose she learned it would not move.
It was then that Julian finally blacked out.
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Dr. Gindis held the oxygen mask to Julian's face. "I need to get him a shot of Reglazine." she said to the Deputy. "If you could just hold this up to his face." The Deputy did as he was told, and Dr. Gindis managed to deliver the hypo to Bashir's neck.
Julian pushed the mask aside as the shot took affect. "I didn't go to her quarters with the intent of having sex with her." He struggled for a calm that was not there.
"I object your Honor." Sisko's voice boomed over Bashir's. "Mr. Gebna is leading the witness, and making personal attacks against a man who is too ill to defend himself."
Magistrate Tepankor banged the gavel down "Objection sustained." she said. "This is not the place to make such lewd comments, Mr. Gebna. It is a matter of whether Dr. Bashir consented to what Ms. Neko did at the time it was done." She looked over to Julian, "Dr. Bashir, when you entered Ms. Neko's quarters, did you consent to being drugged?"
Julian took a deep breath. "No your Honor, I did not."
"When you entered Ms. Neko's quarters, did you consent to being beaten with a chair leg or being stabbed through the hand?"
"No your Honor." Julian's voice grew a little weaker.
"Did you consent to committing sexual acts with the defendant Ms. Neko?"
"No." Julian's eyes rolled back and his head fell forward.
Dr. Gindis ran a tricorder over Bashir. "I am afraid your Honor, that your witness has passed out, and I am demanding that he be excused from any further testimony."
"You are out of order." yelled Mr. Gebna.
The magistrate banged the gavel again. "No Mr. Gebna, It is you that are out of order." Tepankor signaled to the deputy. "You will help Dr. Gindis to remove the witness to the infirmary."
The room filled with chaos in the wake of Julian's removal, and the Magistrate was forced to bang down the gavel repeatedly. "Under Bajoran law I declare that Dr. Bashir's right of testimony has been fulfilled. Furthermore I do now rule that he cannot be recalled to the stand for further testimony or cross examination." she gave Mr. Gebna a very cold stare. "This court is at recess until tomorrow at 11:00 hours. At which time the Prosecution may call its next witness." Magistrate Tepankor banged down the gavel and left before anyone else could object.
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Sisko, Dax and O'Brien stood in a room just off the patient ward in the Infirmary.
"I think that Julian's testimony was very moving, but far too risky Benjamin." Jadzia said.
"Since this trial is being run by Bajoran law I had to let him take the stand Old Man." Sisko said as he looked over to where they were tending to Julian. "Now that the Magistrate has ruled that Julian can't be recalled to the stand I don't intend to let him leave this infirmary before the verdict is read."
"I'm sure Dr, Gindis will back you up on that one." said O'Brien.
Dr. Gindis came just within earshot at that last remark. "Back who up on what?" she asked.
"Back me up on keeping Julian here until the trial is over." said Sisko.
"I'll back you up on that and then some." the Bajoran said under her breath. "He's resting right now. I can't allow any visitors until tomorrow."
"Is he getting any better?" O'Brien asked.
Gindis took a deep breath, "He's had a minor set back today, but he will still recover physically from the beating and Ejanik powder that he was given." She looked back at her sleeping patient. "It will take longer for him to recover from everything else."
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"Will you please state your full name for the record?" Mr. Arben asked.
"My Name is Odo." the Constable answered.
"My records list your name as Odo E'tal." said Arben.
"Then your records are incorrect." Odo said with a stern look. "I dropped the E'tal some time ago."
"May I ask why?" Arben questioned.
"Is it relevant?" Odo asked.
"It is not relevant." said Tepankor. "Move on Mr. Arben."
Arben frowned, "What is your position on this station?"
"I am the Station's Chief of Security."
"Do you swear that all statements you will give this court are true?" Arben asked.
"I do." said Odo.
Sisko stepped forward, "When the call for help that we just heard was received by security, who was the first person to respond to that call?"
"Deputy Sarn and Ensign Kia'ac arrived before me, but I was the first to enter Ms. Neko's quarters." said Odo.
"What did you find when you entered those quarters?"
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"Computer, Security override on privacy seal to guest quarters 38J." Odo said. The door opened and Odo entered followed by his men with their phasers drawn. What they saw was not what Odo expected. A Bajoran woman was kicking the prone form of Dr. Bashir. He was bleeding and bruised, and nearly naked.
When his men had pulled the woman aside, Odo knelt at Bashir's side and felt for a pulse. "Dr. Bashir," he asked, "Can you hear me?" There was no response, and Odo could barely discern that Julian was alive. Odo activated his communicator, "Odo to Infirmary, we have a medical emergency in 38J."
"I'll call Dr. Bashir." came the voice of one of Bashir's nurses over the comm channel.
"Dr. Bashir is the medical emergency." Odo called out. It was then that Julian went into convulsions. "You better get someone here quickly, because I don't think he can be transported." Odo tried to hold his friends head until Dr. Gindis arrived by transporter.
Dr. Gindis ran a tricorder over Julian as the convulsions ended. "He's been poisoned."
"What kind of poison?" Odo asked.
Gindis shook her head, "I need a sample if I'm going to treat him."
Odo stood and looked at the woman. "What did you give him?"
"I gave him nothing." Sephrina spat back.
It was then that Odo noticed the glass on the floor where it had fallen. He ran his own tricorder over the puddle on the floor. "Ejanik powder." he said to Dr. Gindis. "He was given Ejanik powder."
Dr. Gindis activated her communicator. "Gindis to infirmary, prepare surgery for a human and have a blood filtration unit ready." She loaded a hypo with an anti-toxin and gave it to Bashir. "Gindis to Ops, two for transport to the infirmary." she placed a hand on Julian's chest. "Energize."
Once Gindis and Bashir had disappeared Odo looked at Sephrina, "Do you have any idea how deadly Ejanik is to humans?"
"Why should I care?" She asked.
"Because you may find yourself on trial for murder."
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"Did you actually find evidence that it was Ms. Neko who put the Ejanik in Dr. Bashir's drink?" Mr. Gebna asked.
"Deputy Sarn found a case with a small amount of the substance in her personal belongings." Odo Answered. "It is illegal to posses Ejanik powder in both Bajoran and Federation space."
"You have already stated that you believe any sexual relations between my client and Dr. Bashir were not consensual on Dr. Bashir's part." said Mr. Gebna. "Can you tell the court why you believe that?"
"Because his shirt was torn from behind." said Odo. "If he had torn it off himself it would have been torn from the front."
"Are you certain of that fact?"
Odo gave Mr. Gebna a very sour look and harrumphed. "I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't certain."
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Dr. Gindis, You were the first person to give Dr. Bashir an examination after the incident in question." Sisko did not ask this, but stated it as a fact.
"That is correct." said the Bajoran.
"What was his condition at that time?" Sisko asked.
"He had multipal contusions, cuts on his back that most likely came from Ms. Neko's fingernails, three broken ribs, several tendons and bones in his right hand that were cut and broken, and a concussion. He was also unconscious, having a hypoxic seizure, and was very near to complete respiratory arrest."
"What had caused him to be in such a state?"
"He had been poisoned with Ejanik and physically assaulted."
"Was there evidence that he had engaged in sexual activity with the defendant?"
"He was nearly naked and had his own seamen and the defendants DNA on his genitals. There were traces of her saliva and vaginal fluid."
"In your medical opinion, is it possible that the sexual activity was consensual on Dr. Bashir's part?"
"The rate of genetic degradation of the bodily fluids and the rate of metabolization of the Ejanik in Dr. Bashir's system would indicate that he ingested the drug before the sexual activity took place." Gindis looked down a moment. "That would lead to the conclusion that it was not consensual on Julian's part."
"What is Ejanik powder Dr. Gindis?" Sisko asked for the court to hear..
Gindis took a deep breath before she answered. "Ejanik is a drug that is refined from the Janik plant on Bajor's Southern continent."
"What does the drug do?"
"In Bajorans it causes euphoria and sexual arousal." Gindis answered.
"So it is an aphrodisiac?" Sisko asked for clarification.
"To Bajorans it is, and it is illegal."
"Why is it illegal?"
"Because it can be used to coerce someone into having sexual relations against their will. Cardassians sometimes used it on comfort women for that purpose."
"Is this use common now?"
"More common than most Bajoran's would like to admit."
"What would happen to a Human given The same amount of Ejanik it would take to coerce a Bajoran into sexual relations?"
"They would die."
"Why is that, and why is Dr. Bashir still alive."
"In a Bajoran it causes euphoria, in a human it can cause both voluntary and involuntary paralysis as well as seizures. They could stop breathing, or swallow their tongue. The throat can swell shut in some cases. If they survive the first stages of poisoning it causes the liver and kidneys to shut down. They can die from build up of toxins in their own blood, or be left with permanent paralysis from muscle and nerve damage."
"The reason why Julian is still alive is that he didn't actually ingest the whole glass of synthale. He didn't receive the entire dose that Ms. Neko had given him. And he was able to call for help and receive treatment before the drug's effects hit the second stage. With proper treatment he can make a full recovery."
"Was Dr. Bashir aware of the effects of Ejanik poisoning in Humans before that night in Ms. Neko's quarters?"
"He treated four cases of the condition before that night."
"And what happened to those cases Dr. Gindis?"
"Two of them died before making it to the infirmary, and were believed to be members of The Orion Syndicate looking for a new product to sell." Dr. Gindis answered. "The second one was just experimenting and only took a little with his Bajoran girlfriend. He survived, but had to have one of his kidneys removed. The last one was a suicide that took twice the lethal dose before being found in a holosuite. She died after two days on life support."
"Thank you Dr. Gindis." Sisko said before taking his seat.
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Julian had watched Dr. Gindis's testimony from a view screen in the infirmary. It was not easy to watch as his condition was described in detail. he found himself staring at the splint on his hand and seeing the knife wedged between the bones again. Reliving the violation in his mind. He would live with that memory for the rest of his life. The memory of what had been taken from him against his will.
As this day's testimony ended he wondered how the next day would go. Would the Jury see the truth, or would they twist the knife into him further.
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"Mr. O'Brien, is it not true that Dr. Bashir's girlfriend left him recently?" Mr. Gebna asked.
"He and Leeta did split up recently, but I don't see what relevance that has here." O'Brien answered.
"Was your friend deeply upset about the break up?" Gebna was reaching.
"What are you trying to imply, sir?" Miles was a little confused.
"We just heard Dr. Gindis say that one of the cases of Ejanik poisoning on this station was a suicide."
O'Brien tried hard to stifle a laugh.
"Do you find the notion funny Mr. O'Brien?" Mr. Gebna asked as he grew incensed.
"Yes I do." O'Brien said with more than a little anger. "Julian may not have been completely happy about breaking up with Leeta, but he was hardly distraught."
Mr. Gebna turned away from O'Brien. "No further questions, Your Honor" he said as he took his seat.
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Julian was staring at the monitor above his bed with more than a little anger about Mr. Gebna's line of questioning. This trial was nothing more than a farce to Sephrina and her lawyer. With him as the butt of the joke. "Could someone please turn that monitor off." he yelled to where Dr. Gindis was examining a group of new transfers.
Gindis signaled to one of the nurses to do as Bashir had requested. "There was a reason why I thought you might be better off if you didn't watch the rest of the trial." She finished with the last crewmen, and walked over to Julian. "Do you want to be there when the verdict is read?" she looked down as she asked, pretending to readjust her tricorder.
"Does it matter if I am?" Julian asked.
"To the court it won't," Gindis said, "but to you it might."
Bashir thought about the comment. "I would like to be there, but only if I can walk into the room on my own power this time."
"I think you're strong enough for that." she said running the tricorder over him. "I can take you off the blood filtration unit in another hour." Gindis put her tricorder away. "Your liver and kidneys have responded to the enzymatic treatment enough that you should only need one more treatment tomorrow," she took his right hand, "and I can remove this splint now."
Once his hand was free Julian flexed it and winced. "I'll probably need some physical therapy to get my dexterity back."
Gindis cocked her head to the left. "A little, but you'll be back preforming neural surgery in a week." She smiled at Julian, "But you'll be sleeping in your own bed tonight."
Julian leaned back into his pillow and sighed. "That sounds really good to me."
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Sisko's voice was strong and unwavering when he spoke. "The defense has tried to paint Ms. Neko as an abused woman. A former victim of the occupation who was nothing more than a sex object to her Cardassian masters. That may be true, but it does not excuse what was done to Dr. Bashir."
"They have tried to prove some doubt about Dr. Bashir's story. That he wanted to have sex with Ms. Neko , that it was she trying to fend him off, yet there wasn't a mark on her."
"Ms. Neko has refused to take the stand in her own defense, and has not been able to prove that her encounter was anything other than what it appears to be. A clear cut case of rape and assault by her on Dr. Bashir."
"Her statements before this trial began were that she was not aware that Ejanik was poisonous to Humans, and that the Ejanik in Dr. Bashir's synthale was not put there by her." Sisko took a deep breath. "But if she didn't put it there who did, and why was it found in her possession and not Dr. Bashir's. Is her ignorance of Ejanik's toxic nature to humans an excuse for her poisoning Dr. Bashir with it." he paused for effect. "I don't think it is, and I'm certain she knows that."
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Julian sat at the table in his quarters and was just finishing the last bite of his breakfast when the door chimed. "Come in." he said as he wiped the last bit of jam from his mouth with a napkin. Captain Sisko entered and Julian stood up to greet him unfortunately he stood a little too fast and found himself reaching for the chair again to steady himself. Sisko saw how unsteady Bashir was and rushed forward to help him, but Julian gestured for him to stand back. "It's just a little vertigo, it will pass."
Ben straightened up, and brushed his dress tunic smooth. "I'll just have to take your word for that."
Julian looked at his commanding officer with hurt eyes. "I just have to remember to stand up more slowly for a few days."
Sisko took a deep breath, "The verdict is in." he said. "They are just waiting for everyone to be present before it is read."
Julian was already wearing his dress trousers and a gray undershirt, and had left his dress tunic draped across the back of the chair in his living room. He picked up a hypospray from the table and placed the injector to the inside of his left forearm, giving himself a dose of the hypo's contents. Then he put on his dress tunic. "I'm as ready as I'm going to get."
Sisko reached out to Julian and straightened his communicator then nodded his approval. "You look a lot better than you did when this trial began."
Julian nodded at the comment and headed for the door. "Let's just get this over with."
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Julian actually stood for the Magistrate this time, and he held his breath as she called for the Jury Foreman to read the verdict. "On the charge of Possession of an Illegal Substance we find the Defendant Neko Sephrina Guilty." said the young Bajoran man. "On the charge of Assault with an Illegal Substance we find the Defendant Neko Sephrina Guilty." The Foreman took a breath. "On the charge of First Degree Physical Assault we find the Defendant Neko Sephrina Guilty." The Foreman looked directly at Bashir, then back down to the padd in front of him. "On the Charge of First Degree Sexual Assault, we find the Defendant Neko Sephrina Guilty." The Foreman lowered the padd he was reading from. "On the charge of Attempted Slaughter of a Sentient, we the Jury find the Defendant Neko Sephrina Guilty."
As the last verdict was read Sephrina reached out with her hand and struck her lawyer Mr. Gebna across the face. "You are an idiot!" she yelled.
Magistrate Tepankor banged her gavel down demanding order. "You will remove the Defendant from the court room."
Once Sephrina was gone Tepankor banged down the gavel again. "This court has found the Defendant Guilty of violent and heinous crimes against a Federation Citizen. I am therefore ordering that she be remanded to the custody of Federation Security for sentencing and rehabilitation." She looked to Sisko. "She is all yours Captain." She banged down the gavel one last time. "This trial is concluded."
It was only once the wardroom began to clear that Julian remembered to breathe again. He had won, and lost at the same time. He had won because his attacker was convicted, but at the same time he had lost because the part of him that was still denying that it had ever happened had to come to terms with the fact that it actually had.
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Julian sat at a table on the upper level of Quark's. He was a few tables over from where he had first met Sephrina, and though he tried not to look at that now empty table, he couldn't help himself.
Jadzia came up behind him and said, "You look like a man that is crossing his own path."
Julian turned back to face the Trill. "I don't think I've ever heard that one before."
"It means that you have returned to the scene of the crime." said Dax.
"I still don't get what you mean." Julian admitted. "The scene of the crime isn't anywhere near here."
"Not the crime committed against you." Jadzia said as she took a seat next to Bashir. "The place in time that you wish to start over from."
Bashir nodded, finally understanding. "The place where I could have brushed her out of my life, before she'd had a chance to hurt me."
"It isn't your fault Julian." Dax said. "You could never have known what she was planning in her head." She put her hand on his shoulder. "You need to quit turning the knife on yourself."
"I keep telling myself that." said Julian. He shrugged "Maybe one day I'll believe it." At that he finished what was left of his drink. Then he slowly stood up and walked out the upper level door.
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