Chapter Nineteen

"Should I wake him up?" Marina asked Dax as the Trill joined her by the door. "He just--just fell asleep! He won't go into a coma or anything, will he?"

Dax knelt beside Julian, studying him carefully. "No, I don't think so. I think he's just exhausted. I think we can let him sleep."

Marina gave her friend a grateful smile, then turned her eyes on Julian. Her heart constricted with worry. "Be all right… Please, love," she whispered, touching his face gently.

"How's Julian?" Miles asked as he and Worf joined the others.

"He should be all right," Dax said. "Looks like he's healing from whatever injuries he has. What happened to him anyway? I mean, I know Harris beat him up, but.. What kind of injuries does he have?"

"Broken ribs, cracked collarbone, lots of bruising," Marina replied. "He nearly died back there." She sighed and gently lowered Julian into her lap. He murmured something in his sleep, and she whispered softly in his ear.

"Looks like he's pulling through," Dax said encouragingly. "Sleep should be good for him, since he didn't' sustain any head injuries."

"Good," Miles said. He cleared his throat. "So… What do we do now?"

Marina looked up at him. "I've got to get to Gentanar. I would like it if the rest of you took Julian to safety--and got to safety yourselves."

"Julian would never go for that," Miles said, shaking his head. "And neither would I."

"But… He's hurt. He can't go with me to face Gentanar. Someone has to take him to safety."

"And where exactly is safety on this crazy planet?" Dax remarked. "No. There's no way that is going to work. Either we all stand together, or we all fall separated."

"Right," Miles agreed.

"Like I said before, it will be an honor to die fighting alongside you," Worf put in.

Marina looked at the three of them and smiled slowly. "All right. I see that I won't be winning an argument against the three of you. Not unless I use my mind power to manipulate you, and I'm not too fond of doing that to people." She sighed, looking down at Julian. "But what do we do about Julian?"

(LINE)

The small Federation fleet had broken through the Dominion barricade, and the Federation ships were surrounding Catronis protectively.

"This is what Starfleet should have done in the first place," Captain Sisko muttered, standing on the bridge of the Defiant. "They should have sent an entire fleet to Catronis 5, not just a small band of officers."

Kira crossed her arms, a worried look in her brown eyes. "That is especially true since we read Odo's news on Gentanar."

"Indeed. If only we had known what that man is capable of!" Sisko shook his head. "We're lucky that Garak knew all this about Gentanar. If he didn't… we would be sitting ducks."

Kira tossed the captain a phaser. "Our friends down there are sitting ducks. And they don't even know it. So let's beam down and lend them a hand."

(LINE)

"Julian, wake up. We need to get moving." Marina gently shook his shoulder. "I think I can lead us to Gentanar. Hurry."

Julian opened his eyes slowly. When he saw Marina, he smiled. "Hello there, beautiful."

Marina smiled. "As much as I would like to flirt, now, we have to leave this building." She frowned suddenly. "Do you think you can walk?"

Julian sat up on his own, wincing. "At least I can sit up." He looked around the room. It was dimly lit, and there was no one in sight. "Where are the others?"

"They're eating some rations outside. Do you want to join them?"

"Yes. I'm starving."

Marina stood and reached down to help Julian to his feet. To her surprise, he managed to stand quite easily. "That was smooth."

Julian shrugged gingerly. "Look at who you're talking about."

"I'm glad you're feeling better," Marina whispered, gently wrapping her arms around him.

"I thought you said we had to hurry," Julian whispered in reply, stroking her hair. Her long, golden tresses had come loose of their braid.

"We have time for this," Marina said quietly. "I thought you were going to die back there. I'm so--I'm so glad you didn't."

"So am I. I would have missed you terribly." He kissed the top of her head, right next to the silver hair clip. Then he bent to kiss her lips. "I would have missed you terribly," he repeated, leaning his cheek against the top of her head.

They were quiet for a moment, simply holding each other. Then, slowly, Julian pulled back from her. "Marina," he said quietly, his voice and eyes intense.

Marina held her breath. She could feel that he was about to say something incredibly important.

"Marina, I--"

"You two need to get out here!" Miles' voice floated into the building. "Dax is eating all the food!"

"I am not!"

Julian looked away from Marina quickly. "Well, we'd best get out there. I need some food to help me get my strength back. And you certainly need food. I'm sure you're rather worn out." He looked at her again. "Your first mission has been a bit difficult on you, hasn't it?" When she didn't answer, he continued, "So much has been asked of you already. I'm so proud of you for holding out so long. You are stronger than anyone believes you to be."

Marina blushed lightly. "Come on, Julian." She took his hand. "Let's go get some supper."

They began walking toward the door. Julian walked slowly, bent over slightly. Marina held his hand tightly in hers, willing some of her strength--which she doubted was as much as he claimed--into him.

"This may be our last meal before we die," Worf was saying when the couple stepped out into the cool Catronis night air. "We should enjoy it--and the company of each other."

Harris, who stood beside the Klingon, frowned, staring down at the softly glowing heater than Miles had set up.

"Julian!" Miles exclaimed. "You're on your feet! That rest must have done you good!"

"It did." Julian reached out to pat his friend on the back. "And I'm glad to see that you've come through this ordeal unharmed."

"Luck of the Irish, I guess." Miles shrugged.

"Here. Take some of this food." Dax handed some rations to Marina and Julian.

"I thought you were the greedy one out here," Marina said, smiling at the Trill.

"Actually, that would be Worf. He has consumed more than the rest of us combined!" Dax elbowed her husband playfully.

"That is a severe miscalculation," Worf said.

"That is a joke," his wife replied.

The meal was finished in relative silence, then the officers gathered up their supplies.

"So, Lt. Richardson, which way is Gentanar?" Dax spoke up, hoisting her pack over her shoulder.

"I would assume he would be somewhere near Catronis 6--which is not far from here at all," Marina replied. "And when he spoke to me in my mind, his presence seemed to be in that general direction."

"Which way is that?" Miles asked.

Marina pointed away from the cave. "Back there. On the other side of the weather control center. I'd say a few miles. It take us more than a couple of hours to get there if we walk pretty quickly." She glanced at Julian in concern. "Julian, do you think you can do this?"

"Like we've already stated, I seem to be healing rather quickly. And I'm not letting you out of my sight. Not again."

Marina held his eyes for a moment. Unspoken promises passed between them.

"Well… shall we go?" Dax spoke up.

There was a chorus of agreement.

"Marina, you lead the way. You seem to be the navigator on this journey. Julian, you walk with her. The two of you seem to have the best eyesight. I'll take up the middle. Worf--you and Harris guard the rear." As everyone moved into position, Dax grabbed her husband's arm. "Worf," she whispered, "One reason I want you with Harris is because I still don't trust him. He may not be under Gentanar's influence, but he still dislikes the rest of us. And if he was weak-minded enough to be controlled in the first place, what's to keep it from happening again?"

Worf nodded. "Agreed. I will not only guard us from Dominion forces, but also from Harris."

"Good. I knew I could trust you." The Trill gave the Klingon a playful shove, then took her place in front of him in the line.

(LINE)

Sisko, Kira, Odo, Garak, and Quark beamed safely down to Catronis 6. The first thing that met their eyes was chaos. The base was in an uproar. People ran past them carrying weapons. The noise of explosions could be heard in the distance. And there were fierce snarling noises that none of the Deep Space Nine residents were familiar with.

Kira grabbed the arm of a woman running by, stopping her in her tracks. "What is going on?" she asked.

The woman's eyes were large and frightened. "We're under attack. The animals have gone crazy and are trying to get in. I think they want to eat us!"

"If the animals are making the growling noises, where are the explosions coming from?"

"We don't know!" the woman cried hysterically. "Phaser beams keep hitting the base!"

"Calm down," Kira said quietly. "Where are the beams coming from? Have any damaged the base yet?"

The woman shrugged, then shook her head. "We don't know where they're coming from. But they haven't yet penetrated our shields. We have very strong shields here at Catronis 6." She smiled proudly for a moment, then her smiled quickly faded into a look of fear. "I must take these weapons to the security commander."

"We're here to help," Kira said. "What can we do?"

"But… what about the others?" Odo whispered to her.

Kira glanced at him over her shoulder. "It looks like the only way we can help them is to get rid of the animal control problem. Otherwise, we won't even be able to get to them. And anyway…" She sighed and looked into the distance. "I have this strange feeling that they're coming this way. I think they're getting closer…"

(LINE)

Marina held up her hand in a fist as a signal for everyone to get down low.

"What is it?" Worf asked quickly.

"I sense something… someone." Marina looked ahead across the rocky terrain. "I think--I think Major Kira is here… And…" She frowned, confused. "Quark?"

"Quark?" Julian repeated incredulously.

"Captain Sisko… Garak… and Odo, I think." Her hopes soared. "I think it's some sort of rescue party. And from what I can sense, they are in Catronis 6!"

"Great!" Dax exclaimed. "I guess we should try to regroup with them before facing down this psycho guy."

"An excellent idea," Worf said.

"All right, then. To Catronis 6," Dax ordered. She turned to Marina. "Navigator, take us home."

"Yes, sir." Marina saluted her theatrically, stood, and started walking once again. The others followed her.

Catronis' sun had all but disappeared beneath the horizon. The stars were beginning to glow brightly. Marina looked up at the sky and took a deep breath, feeling an odd, sickening sense of melancholy washing over her. She suddenly remembered on of her strange dream/visions, the one in which she had been looking at the stars and it had been raining in space…

"Marina, darling, are you all right?" Julian asked, his voice close and warm. He slipped an arm around her shoulders.

Marina walked closer to him and slipped an arm around his slender waist. "I'll be fine. I'm just feeling… out of place, I guess. I feel so nervous leading. Nothing sounds more appealing right now than being curled up with a good book in my room, or playing someone else in the holo-suite with you and Miles." She sighed. "I want to be anywhere but here," she whispered. "I mean--I want to finish this mission and help these people, but… I feel so inadequate, like I might mess up. And I fear that."

Julian smiled down at her. "Even if you do mess up, you'll go down in history as a hero. Look at what you've already accomplished!"

"And what is that?" Marina retorted.

"You knocked out all those Dominion troops. You found Harris and me. You got us out of the tunnels. You helped fix the weather control computers. And… you saved my life…"

Marina smiled. "That's my favorite part." She abruptly buried her face in his shoulder, watching where she was going through his eyes, his mind. "I wouldn't have done anything without you. You know that, don't you?"

"Yes," he answered candidly. "We need each other desperately. And we make a wonderful team."

Marina straightened and smiled. "Thanks for the pep talk, Julian. I feel much better about facing Gentanar now." Someone's flashlight beam from behind her reminded her to retrieve her own device. It was certainly getting dark.

"Marina, we've been through so much already, so early on in our relationship," Julian said suddenly, his words rushing out almost unintelligibly, his British accent suddenly very heavy and distinct. "We've only known each other for… what? A week, maybe. And, well, uhm--" He paused to catch his breath, which still sounded a bit ragged. He coughed lightly and cleared his throat. "Well, we seem to get along so well. I can't stand being apart from you for very long. We've told each other that we love each other, and…" His voice trailed off, and he suddenly stopped walking, staring straight ahead.

Marina, who had been staring at him, holding her breath, enraptured by his words, also stopped walking and looked ahead as well. What she saw sent a tremor through her bones.

Julian recovered from his shock before her and was able to say, "Stop! Look!"

The others all stopped and looked.

There it stood, the creature that had stopped Julian and Marina in their tracks, its eyes glowing eerily green in the flashlight beams. It was four legged and dark, built low to the ground, lean, and hairless, but with a protruding, grotesque hunchback. Its face was like a frightening parody of a cat's face, similar, but broader, with more slanted eyes and larger fangs. Its paws sported long, sharp black claws. And at the end of its long, thin tail was a stinger, like that of a scorpion.

"What is that thing?" Miles whispered, his voice breathless.

"It's some sort of animal," Dax managed.

"I know that!" the engineer replied. "But what is it?"

"Nothing like that appeared on the Catronis animal register," Marina whispered.

Julian stood protectively close to her, slowly drawing his phaser. "Do you think it will try to attack us?" he asked her quietly, keeping his eyes on the creature.

"I don't know," she replied. "Julian, I'm a scientist. I have studied animal life forms from nearly every known solar system. And I have never, ever read about anything like that."

Suddenly, words, ragged, breathless, hostile, and growling, slashed through her mind like claws.

Who are you, human?