The Monster In My Mirror

by Lyda Mae (RavenDove) Huff

Chapter Four: The Scene Of The Crime

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Julian knelt over the prone form of Commander Mainair in the cockpit of the runabout Yolja. The Grandren scientist jerked violently in the last fit of seizure then was still. Bashir tried to get the cardio stimulator to work, but it wasn't strong enough to make the reptiloid's heart quiver. He tossed it aside and began to beat on Mainair's chest. Trying to make the heart beat again.

He worked fervently for more then twenty minutes to try and revive Mainair, but it was no use. Finally Ezri and Nog pulled him to his feet.

"He's gone Julian." said Dax. "Let him go."

"Freeze Program." said a more grizzled Bashir from the other side of the holodeck. "Why did you bring me here?" he asked Sulniay.

"There is something wrong with this picture." Sulniay said. "Some detail that was missed or changed."

"No there isn't." Bashir said dejectedly as he walked over to the runabout cockpit and took a seat. "I've been here a thousand times in my mind, and I can find nothing." He rested his elbows on his knees and leaned forward to look in Mainair's dead face. "It wasn't this record that convicted me."

The distress that Sulniay felt was genuine. "The autopsy was found to be in error."

"They found Dexenine in his system." said Bashir.

"When the vial said Rorbredrine."

"And the missing Cordrazine and Mecladone in my quarters."

"As well as in your blood."

"I didn't take the drugs." Julian said as he looked her right in the eye. "I don't rely on things like that for my own use."

"Yet no one else had a reason to do this, Julian." Sulniay said then she paused as she caught something from Bashir's conscious mind. "There is something you aren't telling me that might be helpful."

"There are lots of things I'm not telling you." said Julian. "There are things that I can't tell anyone."

"Why?"

"Because no one else would understand."

"Try me." said Sulniay.

Julian started to think of the most painful thing he had ever endured in his life. Could it be close range phaser burns? Perhaps the plasma burns he had received on Ajalon Prime while the Klingons were attacking? It certainly wasn't the compound fracture he'd received on that one Planet where he got to meet the legendary Captain Sulu. Perhaps being beaten bare hand by a Jem'hadar?

Sulniay winced. "I think I get the picture."

"I'd like to go back to my cell now." said Julian as he stood up.

"Actually Dr Nurek and I have decided that it's time for you to come out of isolation."

"Somehow I don't like the sound of that."

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Julian was right not to like the sound of what he'd been told. They had assigned him to the same ward as Jack, Patrick and Loren. They were all glad to see him, but now he would have to look at life from their point of view. It was frightening.

He sat on the bed in his new room and tried to get over the shock of it all. He been a prisoner before. In an internment camp with regular people. He'd even been tossed in the station brig for real on one occasion for brawling in Quark's. But in a mental ward with antisocial characters like these three. That was culture shock.

At least they had allowed him some real cloths and a decent shower, though a nurse had had to watch him while he shaved. The isolation room had allowed him the allusion of privacy, but here there was none.

It was then that Jack entered the room. "Hi, roomy." he said as he took something from inside the dresser on his side of the room.

This was too much. "I thought that you and Patrick shared a room."

"We did." said Jack as he turned to face Bashir. "They moved some new patients into the ward since the last time you were here and had to do some rearranging." Jack came over and put a firm arm around Bashir. "Now you really are just another one of the freaks."

The smile that Jack gave him made Julian wilt inside. I need to figure out who framed me before I get comfortable with this situation.

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