Author's Thanks: to eScapefreak!
eS - Mumps? /grimace/ Don't worry about it. Thanks for the input—it helps to know what strikes readers. I'm glad you really like my story. Intrigue can be hard. How many details, at what point, where… And then how do you keep it all understandable? /shudder/ ;)
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Author's Reminder: don't blaspheme or swear, but do tell me your thoughts & do put a smiley after jokes!
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Author's Note:
Criticism is greatly appreciated. I'm not ignorant of the time it takes, I assure you.
Enjoy! :)
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4: Returns :4
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- - - Deep Space Nine - - -
"Jake!"
"Kas!" The young man hugged his stepmother. He stepped back. "How's the baby brother?"
Kasidy Sisko bounced the infant on her hip. "Healthy and happy, as usual."
A pause ensued.
"Do you think the Prophets protect him?"
"Why not?" The wife of the Prophets' Emissary smiled. "He's so easygoing, it's unnatural."
"They didn't do that to me!" Jake mock-protested.
"Of course not." She smiled at her stepson's scowl. "Your grandmother was still trapped in the Orb of the Emissary."
"I didn't think of that." He took his stepmother's bags. "Do you really think…?"
The former freighter captain rolled her eyes. "With the Prophets, who knows?"
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- - - Memory - - - see episode 485: "Crossfire"
"Time?" She would be coming, soon.
"Oh-seven fifty-nine hours," replied the computer.
One minute. He readied her PADD where she'd sit and got her raktajino ready… Extra hot and double sweet, as she liked it. He made sure everything was just right for her…
•••••
"Do you have to stare like that? I think it's making people nervous."
I'll stop if you ask me to, he thought, but responded, "Good."
A few seconds passed in silence as they watched the crowd. She shifted, and he gave her his undivided attention.
"You know, I've been meaning to ask you…" She gestured to his waist. "How come you don't wear that belt, anymore?"
"I don't know." He looked down at where the item had once been. "It didn't really serve a purpose… It's not as if I needed it to hold my pants up." He felt awkward and wondered why she brought this up.
"I just thought it looked good on you, that's all."
Good on me? Pleasure came from her words. "Really?"
"Really."
"If you say so…" He resumed the belt. "Better?"
"Much."
- - - Urial - - -
Odo jerked awake. Unused to sleeping, it took him several seconds to catch his bearings.
He felt inordinately pleased about his first dream since his time as a solid had ended. By the time he reached the station, he'd probably need fluids.
Glancing around the transport, he saw that most of his fellow passengers were asleep, some snoring. The Alissian boy had curled up beside his seat. He smiled.
Careful not to nudge him, Odo extended his arm to get into his bag. He pulled out a fluffy handwoven blanket and tucked it around the youth. He leaned back, examining his work.
The lights came up. "We will enter the wormhole shortly." The captain's voice came over the intercom. "This is a sight none should miss. After that we have three hours to Bajor."
"Will you help us find a transport to Deep Space Nine?!" yelled the Alissian, fast lucid.
"I'll do that," offered Odo.
The boy grinned at him. "Never mind!" he hollered at the captain.
He then noticed the blanket, smirked at Odo, and handed it back to him. "I'm fine, thanks."
Odo reluctantly accepted the return. "You're welcome."
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- - - Cardassia - - -
"Kanar?"
Reclining on his couch, the woman nodded suavely. She matched the right half of the left Cardassian female in the painting. "Thank you, Elim."
He filled two glasses and offered a toast. "To old friends."
"And fellow mercenaries," she returned with an amused grin and swallowed some of her alcohol. An un-Cardassian action, as if it mattered to him. A troubled look passed over her face. "Elim…"
"Yes, my dear?"
"About… The lab you've found… With the strange Bajoran test subject?"
Her knowledge of the top-security matter didn't surprise him. She'd infiltrated the Obsidian Order, back when he was young. He poured himself more kanar. "What of her?"
"Follow her suggestions."
He stopped his glass at his lips, eyeing her. She stared at the far wall with a long face. He returned his kanar to the table, leaned forward, and squeezed her hand—his people's version of the Human kiss on the cheek, and she knew it. "My dear?"
She glanced at him, sighed, and turned away. "Nothing," she quietly replied. "I'm just… tired… of the game."
Only her tone's bitterness made him realize she wasn't referring to him. "I see." His mind scanned everything he knew of her, trying to figure out what might be the problem. There were too many possibilities, and he promptly gave up. "Have you kept up with Iliana?"
For some reason, his visitor found that hilarious. Once she settled down from laughing, she gave him a grateful smile. "She's married Retorin."
Garak frowned. "Retorin…"
"Jeyer, Retorin."
He blinked. "Jeyer? But I thought…"
"You thought wrong," she returned. "He was on B'Zhor all along."
"Bajor."
"Pardon?"
"What you so primly call 'B'Zhor' has been 'Bajor' for quite some time."
Her face blanked. "Oh, yes." She sipped more kanar and continued. "Unfortunately, last I heard, she was trapped in the alternate universe, and Retorin was infected. Pity, isn't it?"
Garak watched her keenly. "Yes," he agreed. "It is."
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- - - Terok Nor - - -
"I don't care if she's helped us—she's Bajoran!"
"Julian—"
"Shut up, Smiley! Find that woman!"
"You won't find her."
She heard Bashir strike the Trill. "Get out there and find her!"
Listening intently, she heard the others leave Captain Bashir. She shifted incrementally in the conduit, wary of her bulging stomach. Just because he could take more abuse than most unborn infants didn't mean she was going to let him have it.
She managed to get out her scanner. One lifesign in that room.
She drew a silent breath and kicked out the grate. Her momentum carried her in, her weapon out and pointed at Captain Bashir before he could react. A quick glance judged him, and she decided to borrow an old friend's tactic. It was currently legitimate… sort of. "Of course you wouldn't find me. We found you."
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- - - Deep Space Nine - - -
"What's this?" Leiutenant Harrison glanced up as Colonel Kira Nerys dropped a PADD on his desk.
"Your transfer orders. Bajor will again handle this station's security. Your treatment of Plié didn't go over well with the Council of Ministers."
The Starfleet officer glanced back somewhat guiltily. "I don't know where my head was."
"Guess you'll have to get it screwed back on," she lightly replied. "If you'll excuse me, I'll see my charge, now."
"Your charge?"
"I'm taking custody."
The Human's eyebrows shot up. "I see."
Ignoring him, she stepped back to the cell, finding the little girl curled up on her bunk. She deactivated the forcefield and lightly shook her.
The scrawny child immediately squirmed and darted away before recognizing the Colonel. After that, she looked confused.
Nerys took Plié's hand and led her out.