VII.

They left the cave and stepped out into the daylight, reality taking a hold of them again at the sight of all the dead bodies.

"I'll go get the ship ready," Jadzia announced, knowing what Ke'sh had to do before they could leave and knowing she'd probably rather do it alone. Searching a dead body for a data chip was horrible enough even if you weren't forced to make it past a stack of other corpses first. Offering some sort of silent comfort she squeezed Ke'sh's hand before turning to make her way back to the ship. She had landed in a little valley nearby, in fact right behind the hill ahead of her, and then moved in on foot to take out the second field soldier, the third member of the assault team. She was only a few meters away from the tree line now.

"Jadzia."

She turned around again but kept walking, backwards now, amused because she knew Ke'sh too well not to know what was to come. Better late than never. She sent a challenging look her way.

"I'm glad you came back too."

A smile spread across Jadzia's face as the same warm feeling once again ran through every fibre of her body. I bet you are, she thought. Sometimes life was just so easy to embrace.

════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

In her quarters, Ke'sh was working with the computer again. There were still some things she hadn't figured out yet, a lot of things, actually, but she felt that the sooner she got off this station the better. It didn't even really matter where she went as long as it was somewhere she could be sure no one would recognize her or feel a compelling need to investigate where she was coming from. Just a few more days and she would be strong enough to be on her way.

The by now familiar signal announced someone was just outside her quarters and Ke'sh quickly shut everything down and deleted the log showing which files and programs she had been accessing.

"Come in."

She turned around to face the door and held her breath for a second when she saw it was Jadzia. She had seen less of her these past few days.

Taking one step into the room the Trill stared at her head, suddenly making her remember that there was nothing there anymore and why there wasn't. If only you knew, she thought but then came to her senses again. If she knew everything would change.

Realizing she was staring and being caught doing so, Dax revealed a slightly embarrassed smile. "I heard about your new haircut."

Ke'sh ran a hand over her bald skull. "It turned out a little shorter than I had intended."

"It looks fine," Dax shrugged. Suddenly she was very calm. A part of her wanted to be just a little angry because she had been lied to, but looking at Ke'sh and seeing how weak and wounded she still was made that nearly impossible.

Taking another step she let her gaze wander around the room and noticed a few items scattered on the couch and the table. "I see you've made yourself at home."

"A little bit," Ke'sh replied, trying to sound casual. "As good as I can considering the circumstances. It's hard to make something personal when you don't really have a personality. At least, I don't remember mine." The words just came to her without any effort, without having to think about it. Lying had always come natural except for lying to Jadzia. But since this was different anyhow…

"Yeah," Dax muttered, folding her hands behind her back. "About that." She had been sure since she had come in and Ke'sh had said her first sentence. But she wanted to hear it from her herself. "I think we may know where you come from."

Ke'sh acted surprised. Surprised and a little afraid. Probably the reaction that would be expected of her. She stared at the Trill, trying to focus on what she was supposed to act like in order to keep herself from having other, far more disturbing and distracting thoughts.

"Where?"

Jadzia walked over to the computer to pull up the file Phylos had sent her. "I just talked to an old friend of mine," she explained while working the console. "He made some inquiries based on a description and a scanner image we provided him with." The file appeared in the display. "Someone recognized you."

She turned to look at Ke'sh and found her staring at the file, surprise, fear and excitement playing over her face. And for a moment Dax was tempted to reconsider. But she knew it had to be an act. A damn good one, though. She took a step back.

Ke'sh moved closer and recognized the image of herself. The hair was longer, a little more weight, a smile much too genuine and lively to be hers, but other than that it was her.

"Your name is Jentala, you're 31, and you were born on Risa."

She cursed in her mind whilst trying hard not to let her real emotions show on her face. This was what she had been afraid of from the moment she had understood her situation. But there had never been anything she could have done about it.

"Do I…have family?"

Dax studied Ke'sh's profile as the Risian was still staring at the display showing an image of her. Her expression, the tone of her voice… Any professional actress would seem like an amateur next to her.

"You're an orphan but you're married," she stated, and Ke'sh turned to face her. "There's only one problem," she added. "According to your husband, you died. Three years ago."

Ke'sh realized it was over. The expression in the Trill's eyes, the tone of her voice… She knows.

"Died?" she kept her act up nevertheless, if only to have a little more time. "But…I'm obviously alive. I can't be her then."

"It would seem that way," Jadzia remarked with a glare. She didn't feel like playing games any longer. "I'm curious though what would happen if we compared her DNA to yours. Especially since Jentala's husband told me that his wife was only part-Risian. Half of her genetic code has always been a bit of a mystery. Apparently her parents used to travel a lot."

Ke'sh lowered her gaze and then turned away. Time to surrender. "I guess it wouldn't be hard to get a sample."

"Probably not."

Dax watched how Ke'sh took a few steps to stand by a sideboard at the wall, apparently to lean on it for some support. "It was the haircut, wasn't it?" she asked but didn't wait for an answer. "From what I read in your computers I was sure the ritual wouldn't have survived here."

"It hasn't," Dax replied. "There are only a handful of people still performing it. I used to know one of them." She still remembered how Phylos had lost his son and how Curzon had helped his friend to perform an ancient Risian mourning ritual. The shaving of the head was part of it. "Unfortunately for you my friend knows a lot of people on Risa. It only took him a day to find your husband. Or should I say Jentala's husband."

Ke'sh nodded. It was over then. Time for a back-up plan.

"It still didn't make sense because if you were from Risa Julian would have known," the Trill continued behind her. "But once I spoke to Jentala's husband it all started to add up."

Dax waited for a reaction but when there was none proceeded. "At first I thought you were travelling in time. But it would have to be forward since you've been dead for the last six months and from what I've seen that ship you were on didn't come from the past. At least not any past I've lived to see. So I'm guessing you're from a different timeline altogether. A parallel universe."

There was a long silence before Ke'sh finally spoke. "Assuming that you're right," she stated, still not turning around to face Jadzia. "Assuming I come from a parallel universe. What would happen now that you know?"

Dax frowned, her irritation suddenly gone at the defeated tone in Ke'sh's voice. She may have lied but she's still a victim. "Well, the timelines can't continue to be compromised," she stated neutrally.

"You'd sent me back."

"Assuming we find a way to do so, yes."

Ke'sh cursed in her mind, fighting the urge to jump into action right away. There was a better way to do this. "And nothing else?" she asked sceptically.

"No," Dax shrugged, "What else would there…" She hesitated at the realization. "Is that it?" she asked then, still communicating with Ke'sh's back. "Is that why you lied about not remembering anything? Because you're afraid we would force you to give up information about your timeline?"

Ke'sh turned around. "You have to admit you seemed awfully interested in…" But she didn't finish the sentence. Instead she put a hand to her forehead and closed her eyes for a moment while her other hand reached for the edge of the sideboard again.

"Are you alright?" Dax asked.

"Just a little dizzy," Ke'sh muttered, making her way over to the couch on somewhat unstable legs. "It'll be fine in a moment."

"Sure I shouldn't call the doctor?" With Ensign Peters' half-Goridian baby delivered Julian should be available this time.

"I think I had enough of your sickbay. Maybe, if you could just get me some water."

Dax nodded and walked into the next room to replicate a glass of water. She could understand Ke'sh had no desire to return to the infirmary. Lying around there all day couldn't be much fun.

Ke'sh waited until the Trill had left the room before she got up again. With a few swift steps she had reached the desk and opened the drawer. She hadn't wanted to get a weapon for fear of triggering an alarm or getting caught with it but fortunately she had changed her mind. She wasn't sure what she would be doing right now otherwise.

"What I still don't understand is why you-" Dax started as she re-entered the living area but fell silent when she found the couch empty. Sensing something to her left she turned around, only to see Ke'sh aiming a little device at her. She didn't seem to feel that dizzy anymore.

"It's not a Starfleet phaser but it can do some damage," Ke'sh warned the Trill who simply stared at her for a few moments before she seemed to regain her composure. There was a hint of anger in her expression though.

"How did you get a weapon?"

"The replicator," Ke'sh explained, motioning towards the machine in the next room. "I realize you can't replicate phasers or disruptors without hurting security protocols and trigger alarms but you'd be surprised how easily you can get the basic components of a modest but efficient weapon if you modify some otherwise harmless instruments and put them together."

"I'm sure I'd be fascinated," Dax resorted to sarcasm. She hadn't thought anything of it but it seemed to stir something in her adversary who stared at her for a long moment before slowly coming closer, the makeshift weapon still aimed at her. How could she have been so careless? She should never have confronted Ke'sh alone. But she truly hadn't seen this coming, hadn't thought their guest posed a threat, not even after things had started to add up. Apparently 300 years and seven lifetimes weren't enough to keep her from misjudging people.

"I don't want to hurt anyone and I certainly don't want to use this, but I will if I have to."

Realizing it was her communicator Ke'sh was going for Dax remained still when the badge was removed from her uniform. "Then what do you want?" she asked, angry because she had misjudged the situation so gravely, and even if she didn't want to admit it, because she would have to explain this to Benjamin.

"I need to get off this station," Ke'sh stated truthfully, a little angry herself, and not even because her plans had been foiled but because it had to be Jadzia who was foiling them. Of course. It couldn't be anybody else forcing her to point her phaser at them.

"Why?" the Trill asked, her curiosity seemingly genuine.

"I thought that's rather obvious. You just pointed it out."

"I told you, nobody's going to force you to give us any information. We respect the integrity of time." She seemed to hesitate for a moment. "Nobody's going to torture you."

Ke'sh laughed cynically. "Trust me that's not what I'm worried about. I don't think there's anything you could do to me that hasn't already been done. Besides, I believe you."

"Then why-"

"I need to get off this station, now," Ke'sh repeated insistently. She didn't have time for debates. The Trill could already have told others or they could have come to the same conclusions she had and find out for themselves. "If you help me, no one will get hurt."

Dax gritted her teeth. There was no doubt about what she would do but she hated the situation she had put herself in.

"We don't have time," Ke'sh urged her. "What's it gonna be?"

Dax struggled for another moment however before answering. "Your best chance is to take a runabout."

"Can we transport there directly? Without anyone noticing?"

"No," Dax stated truthfully. "I'm afraid we have to get there the old-fashioned way."

Again that cynical smile on Ke'sh's face. "What's the shortest way?"

"Over the promenade and then the turbo lift to the shuttle bay."

Ke'sh cursed. The promenade. Perfect. "Sure. Why not stop by at Ops while we're at it. There has to be another way."

"There is," Dax agreed calmly. "But I doubt you're in the condition to climb down all 42 decks through Jefferies Tubes and maintenance corridors." She suddenly had a feeling Ke'sh wouldn't actually hurt her although she couldn't tell why. Hopefully not her next misjudgement.

Ke'sh pondered her options. The Trill was right. She wasn't sure how many decks and levels exactly they would have to climb down but it would be too many. She wasn't strong enough. Maybe she had to take the risk of a site-to-site transport after all. If she was fast enough… Oh, whom am I kidding? It would take them a second to locate the destination of the transport and another one to shut down the shuttle bay. She would be trapped.

"Alright," she declared, "the promenade it is." She wanted to go on and remind the Trill that she better didn't get any ideas because she wouldn't hesitate to shoot if she had to. But looking into Jadzia's eyes and suddenly being all too aware of the phaser weapon she was aiming at her, her mind was blank for a moment.

"Just don't forget I'm armed," she finally uttered.

But Dax had noticed the look in Ke'sh's eyes and it only confirmed the intuition or feeling she had had before. "I don't think you'll shoot me," she said, calmly putting the glass of water she had still been holding on to on a table and folding her hands on her back as she straightened up again.

Ke'sh stared at her, then glared, but didn't even try to deny it. "Maybe not," she admitted, moving backwards towards the door. "But there are a lot of people on this station."

Dax considered taking Ke'sh down right there and then. She should at least try to stop her before they left her quarters. But she dismissed the idea very quickly. She just couldn't get herself to attack someone who'd been through what she knew Ke'sh had been through. How ever unfounded her fears were, she was only trying to protect herself. She didn't want to hurt anyone. Maybe I can still convince her that this is unnecessary.

"I promise not to do anything to stop you, if you give me your word that you won't hurt anyone."

"No sabotage, no secret attempts to communicate or alert anyone?"

She shook her head. "No."

Ke'sh nodded. "Good enough. I'll need your help to clear the station but as soon as I'm safely away you're free to go," Ke'sh stated, letting the makeshift phaser disappear in her clothing and taking another step backwards. The door opened and she stepped out into the corridor, motioning for Jadzia to follow.

¤¤¤

"What's taking so long?"

Dax quickly worked the operating panel. "I need to circumvent security protocols if I don't want to set off an alarm as soon as this air lock opens."

"How long?"

"Just a minute," she mumbled, realizing she could trigger a silent alarm now or even tap into the security system and erect a force field around this section. It would be just the two of them locked in, nobody else in danger, and she still didn't think Ke'sh would hurt her. But for some reason she didn't trigger an alarm, didn't warn Ops, didn't tap into security.

Ke'sh wiped the sweat of her forehead. The way hadn't been that long – why did she feel so exhausted? But she could rest soon. Only a few more minutes.

"Got it," the Trill announced and a second later the heavy red gear wheels rolled to the side, revealing the last few meters of the escape route. Ke'sh motioned for her hostage to go first and followed after taking a last look around to make sure no one had seen them. Midways through the air lock, though, she suddenly tumbled and had to lean against the sidewall not to loose her balance.

Sensing Ke'sh wasn't behind her anymore, Jadzia stopped and looked back. "Feeling dizzy again?" she remarked sarcastically but then noticed the sweaty forehead and the paleness of Ke'sh's face.

"I think this time it's for real," Ke'sh replied when her sight started to get blurry. She could hear the blood pulsing through her veins.

Dax hesitated but then moved. With two swift steps she had reached Ke'sh and put her arm around her waist to support her. It caused the by now familiar reaction. Ke'sh flinched and jerked back as if she had touched an open plasma relay. "Come on," Dax urged and after another rmoment of resistance Ke'sh gave in and they were on their way again. Once inside the shuttle Jadzia let her weakened kidnapper slide into one of the piloting chairs.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" she asked. "You don't look too good and considering you're still recovering from multiple injuries-"

"I'm fine," came the stubborn answer.

"Sure." Why did she even bother.

"Just show me how to get all systems online," Ke'sh demanded, trying to sit up straight. "Then leave."

"You don't know how to fly this thing," Dax concluded with a sigh.

"I'll catch on while I'm on my way. I'm a quick study."

Thinking back to her own abilities to adapt to the strange ship's systems after only a few minutes, Dax was sure that Ke'sh wouldn't have any trouble to figure out the runabout under normal circumstances. But looking at her right now…

"You'll be quick to lose consciousness," she argued. "This is unnecessary. Let me beam you to the infirmary. No one needs to know about-"

"Your concern is touching," Ke'sh countered, her voice cold and meant to warn the Trill. "But I don't need it." She raised her phaser. "Now get this thing online and release the docking clams and I'll be on my way."

"Or what?" Dax retorted, angry because this was silly and she was out of patience. "You're gonna shoot me?"

"If I have to!"

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

For a moment they glared at each other, both angry at the other one's stubbornness. Finally Jadzia dropped into the second pilot seat and started working the console in front of her. Shortly after, the shuttle started moving.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting us out of here."

"Us?"

"Do you want to leave the station or not?"

"I wanted to leave. Alone. I don't need anyone to come after me in some stupid rescue attempt because you're still on board."

"And I don't need to have to explain to my commanding officer how we lost a shuttle because I let someone pilot it who was halfway unconscious and not familiar with the systems. Now if you don't mind I have to get us out here."

Both aware of how ridiculous the situation was they simply glared at each other one more time before leaving each other alone.

¤¤¤

In Ops the alarms finally went off.

"Captain," O'Brien announced, "We have an unauthorized shuttle launch. It's the Rio Grande, two life signs."

"Hail them," Sisko ordered.

"No response."

"Lock onto them with the tractor beam."

"Aye, Sir," the Chief confirmed but shook his head when an unmistakable sound came from his console. "Tractor beam has been disabled." He looked up in surprise. "It seems they tapped into our system."

"What? How?"

"I'm not sure, Captain. But they couldn't have done it without the right security codes."

"Can we beam them out, Chief?"

O'Brien's hands flew over his console, pushing buttons with the elegance of a pianist. But again the unmistakable audio signal heralded bad news.

"Negative, Sir. The transporter signal is being scrambled. I can't get a lock on them."

Sisko slammed his fist on the nearest table and clenched his teeth. The only option left was opening fire but without knowing who was on the runabout that was out of the question.

"They're going into warp," O'Brien reported, looking up from his console and watching as the shuttle disappeared into space. "They're gone, Sir."

Sisko seemed like a volcano seconds short of an eruption. Taking a deep breath he tried to calm down. "Are you sure they didn't just bypass the system?"

"Positive, Sir. They definitely entered the correct codes."

"And those are only known to the senior staff," Sisko complemented. But which of his senior officers would steal one of the runabouts and leave the station without permission? Suddenly a premonition overcame him whose origin he couldn't identify.

"Computer, locate Lt. Commander Dax."

"Lt. Commander Dax is not on board the station."

Sisko and O'Brien exchanged a brief look, then the Captain hit his com badge. "Constable," he barked.

"Go ahead, Captain."

"Lt. Commander Dax just stole a runabout and left the station without authorization. I want you to find out who was on board with her and if she accompanied that person voluntarily. Retrace every single step Dax has made today and report to me as soon as you got something. I'll be in my office."

"Understood, Captain."

With a last angry glare at the screen Sisko turned around and disappeared into his office. Taking a deep breath O'Brien glanced to the screen as well, a worried expression on his face. He just hoped Dax was alright.

¤¤¤

"So how did I die?"

Sitting at one of the side consoles in the rear of the shuttle, Dax swung her chair around. Neither of them had said a word since they had left the station but she had thought about it the entire time and now her curiosity had finally gotten the better of her. Ke'sh hadnt moved and was still sitting with her back to her, but it was obvious every muscle in her body had tensed at Jadzia's words. Other than that there was no response though.

But no denial either, Dax noted. So she really was dead in that other timeline. She sighed. She had thought that much. Choosing her next words very carefully she tried to find any hint as to how Ke'sh was reacting to her words.

"You said you lost someone, you performed an ancient mourning ritual, and you've been reacting very strongly from the moment you first saw me." She didn't want to aggravate the situation but maybe she still had a chance to convince Ke'sh to return to Deep Space Nine with her. If she understood what had happened. "You could barely look at me, much less be in close proximity, and I guess my presence added to your stress levels." If she was right, she could only begin to imagine how it must have felt like for Ke'sh. "How close were we?"

Ke'sh spun around, anger clouding her senses. "We? We weren't anything." How dare her… "We have never met until a few days ago."

The Trill cast her eyes down for a moment, a compassionate or rather pitiful expression forming on her face. "Of course," she stated then with a slight bow of her head. Ke'sh could sense the apology under way.

"Since you've been so observant," she pre-empted, "you might also remember that I said that I don't want to talk to you."

"Actually you said you needed time."

"Then I guess I still do," Ke'sh grumbled aggressively. "This conversation is over." She turned back to her console. "I think I can handle this shuttle on my own now. As soon as I detect another vessel you'll transport off board and let them take you back to your station."

She didn't hear any protest and glancing over her shoulder she saw Jadzia had turned back to her console as well. They were sitting back to back again.

Dax checked the sensor readings. That went well. She would have to do better next time. There had to be a way to make Ke'sh talk to her and she had to find it fast. There were no other vessels within sensor range yet but that could change any minute.