Author's Thanks: to my reviewer eScapefreak

eS. - Bizarre, but interesting? Goody! :) That'll probably continue for some chapters, but from a different spin. If I ever lose you to confusion, please let me know. And if I don't promptly get you back, please alert me on the double. That is one problem I need hammering on. :)

--- "This is probably the longest bio on the site and nobody will even read it." Er, no... I've read some two, three times longer... & I tend to read bios of reviewers to know who they are, & sometimes I'll read an author's bio when I'm not sure if I want to read his story. I was planning to wait a little longer before updating, but I noticed how you struggle with impatience. I've had to jump through some hoops to get this up in spite of some problems I'm having with QuickEdit. :)

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Author's Note:

Though it might not be obvious for awhile, the prologue does link to the rest of the story...

It would probably help to note the location of where the different actions take place. This story has a number of DS9's normal cast & then a number of OC's—some major, some minor yet influential, & some representative. Same with species.

Review if you want more. No reviews; no more. No blaspheming or swearing, please. If you tell a joke, please put a :) after it so I don't misunderstand you. & seriously, you can be cruel. :)

Enjoy! :)

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1: Friendships :1

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- - - Cardassia - - -

In the center of a dusty, dank laboratory far underground, littered with Bajoran relics, a red light shimmered into being. Pinpricks of faint light twirled around.

As minutes, hours, days passed, the light solidified and grew in size and brightness.

Once it lit the entire room without shadow, it began with equal slowness to collapse in on itself. Reaching the size of a humanoid, it began revealing bits and pieces of a woman it its place.

A month—or several—after it began, it vanished, leaving a Bajoran woman behind.

Her skin and hair were oddly dull; her eyes strangely glowing. Something had been done to her.

When the last dot of red light faded away, she slowly turned to eye her surroundings. Her dark gaze suddenly shot up.

A vague smile on her lips, she sat and waited.

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- - - Deep Space Nine - - -

"Raktajino. Extra hot, double measure of kava."

Colonel and temporary station commander Kira Nerys took her order from the replicator and sat at the nearest table. She hesitated before taking a sip.

Lieutenant Ezri Dax sat across from her, a Til'amin froth in hand. "Too hot?"

"I always drink it like this," the Bajoran snapped.

Like the counselor she was, Ezri ignored the sharp tone. "So...?"

Nerys stared down at her mug. "When... I... looked over the security reports... with..."

The Trill nodded encouragingly.

She winced when her voice cracked. "He always had one waiting for me."

"How thoughtful," Ezri quietly commented.

"Yes." She swallowed. "He was." The Colonel finished off her raktajino and stood.

The younger woman sighed. "Nerys—"

"I'm on duty. Thank you, Lieutenant." With that, Kira Nerys went to Ops.

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- - - Urial - - -

"You sure I can't get you something?"

"I don't eat," he gruffly replied.

The Alissian boy shrugged. "If you say so." He scampered off to get some lunch.

Odo viewed the transport around him, smiling when he glimpsed his bag. He didn't eat.

Yet.

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- - - Deep Space Nine - - -

"Doesn't it ever get lonely?"

"Shut up, Quark."

"I mean, playing darts by yourself—"

"Quark."

The Ferengi raised both hands. "All right, Doctor. Don't blow up. I was just thinking that if you wanted to have a tournament it would substantially increase my profits—"

Doctor Julian Bashir turned to aim his dart at Quark.

The Ferengi promptly retreated.

Bashir smiled.

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- - - Shuttlecraft - - -

Ai kaliné shura... Tabonoi?

She eyed her writing as she finished, and she chewed her stylus. "Chul?" she asked puzzledly.

The comm beeped.

Sighing, she twirled in her pilot's seat to face the console. She absentmindedly checked the code. She hesitated, a frown forming. Should she accept it?

Yes...

Sighing, she replied. "Yes?"

"Where are you?" demanded the matron on the other end.

She didn't reply, watching the woman.

"Your father will hear of this!"

"Of what?" she quietly asked. "I'm a grown woman, and I'm taking my business where I wish."

"Don't you dare talk back to me, young lady—"

She palmed off the comm. She sighed. " 'Young lady'? How old does that make you, stepmother?"

She returned to her PADD.