Sorry that, once again, it took me forever to get the next chapter out. Since I wasn't working on this one for so long, I started so many other projects, so I'm working on those as well as this story. Anyway, I'm glad I finally got back around to this story! Thanks so much to anyone who is still reading and reviewing!
Chapter Twenty-six
Fortunately for Marina, not long after her session in the holo-suite with Gentanar had begun, it was brought to an end. A Cardassian messenger interrupted the romantic Venetian scene just before Gentanar could kiss Marina in the gondola.
"Sir, three more men have taken ill," the messenger informed the psychogenotron leader. "The Vorta wishes to speak to you."
Gentanar cursed under his breath. "All right, all right. Tell them I'm coming." He turned to Marina as the Cardassian exited. "Marina, I sincerely apologize." He reached to trace her jaw line with his finger, which made her feel sick, though she did not show it. "Just when you were beginning to warm up to me." Then he frowned. "Though I suspect it is only for the sake of your friends."
Marina managed a weak smile. "Go with the messenger," she said. "I'll wait here."
Gentanar shrugged. "All right. There's a guard at the entrance. Feel free to play around with the holo-suite controls. I believe I've left some blank program rods near the controls. I know you love writing programs, so why don't you write us one while I'm gone?"
"All right. I'll work on that." This time, Marina's smile was easy and genuine. This was an unexpected opportunity!
As soon as Gentanar was out of the holo-suite, Marina called, "Computer, end program!" and ran to the controls. Quickly, she found the program rod with the Julian hologram on it.
(LINE)
When Gentanar returned to the holo-suite, he was surprised to find Marina looking quite calm and even a bit smug. He raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "What are you smiling about, Marina?" he asked suspiciously.
Marina looked up. "Computer, bring up the ballroom program."
Instantly, the room was transformed into a marble-floored ballroom, complete with a sparkling chandelier and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Gentanar crossed his arms and studied Marina carefully. "What's going on?"
She gave him a slow smile and walked towards him, hands clasped behind her back, hips swaying rhythmically. "I've been thinking."
The blonde man stroked his chin. "And you've reached a conclusion in this short of a time?"
"Reetan… Can I call you by that name?"
He smiled. "Absolutely."
She barely managed to hold her act at that one. "Reetan, I've been thinking about this from the very start. Especially since that crowd was… screaming my name." She closed her eyes and sighed deeply, hoping that she wasn't overdoing it. "As you know, my weakness is my pride." She quickly opened her eyes. "And perhaps…" She grinned seductively--at least, she hoped it was seductively. "Perhaps I've discovered a new weakness."
Gentanar was intrigued now. He stepped closer to her, almost so close that their toes were touching.
"You, Reetan," Marina breathed. Gods, I feel like an idiot. "You have become my weakness."
The other psychogenotron smiled, his arms sliding around her waist. "I like the sound of that."
"So do I," she replied, faking a sultry smile. Thank God I don't have a weak stomach, or I would be throwing up right now…
Gentanar pulled her close and bent down to kiss her, but before he did so, she pulled away and slipped from his grasp, quickly turning her back to him. He frowned. "What is it?"
"I--I have to say good-bye to Julian before I can fully give my heart to you," Marina said quickly. Though I don't think it's my heart you're after, you lunatic…
Gentanar frowned, a bit puzzled. Women. Even if I could read her mind right now, I'm sure she would confuse me. "All right. And how do you want to do that?"
Marina spun quickly to face him, keeping her face expressionless. "I want you to bring him here. We'll have--we'll have a ball. A party. Here in this room. And I'll dance with him and tell him good-bye. Then you'll let him go--him and all the rest of the crew of Deep Space Nine. And then…" She managed a smile. "Then I'll dance with you. And I'll be yours. And you'll be mine."
Gentanar smiled slowly. "Ah, Marina. You're such a romantic." He chuckled. "I should know. I've been inside of that pretty head of yours, inside of your sweet dreams…"
She almost didn't hold the smile that time.
(LINE)
The Jem'Hadar guards escorting Julian toward the holo-suite did not notice the smug smirk on his face, or they would have been immediately suspicious. Neither did they notice that they were being shadowed by one of their own, a certain Cardassian named Taron. And of course, they did not notice the phaser tucked inconspicuously into the pocket of the doctor's dress coat…
(LINE)
Marina stood by Gentanar's side in the grand ballroom as the antebellum dancers swirled before them. She herself was clad in a deep green hoop-skirted dress of silk, edged in black lace with a wide, shoulder-baring neckline. She absently waved her black fan with a black-gloved hand. Where was Julian? She tapped the fan nervously in her other palm.
"Calm down, my dear. Saying good-bye is never easy, but with me at your side, it will not be hard," Gentanar whispered in her ear.
"Reetan…" Her voice was shaky, and there were tears in her eyes. "It will still be hard."
He frowned down at her.
"You are wonderful," she added quickly. "But… good-byes have never been an easy thing for me."
"There, there, Marina." He patted her back gently, then slid his hand up to the back of her neck, caressing her bare neck and shoulders.
Marina closed her eyes, shuddering inwardly at his touch. He was a handsome man, and he knew how to romance a woman, but… He was so twisted, so wholly selfish.
"What were you saying to him at breakfast, my dear?" Gentanar asked casually.
Marina's blood froze to red ice in her veins. "What do you mean?" she asked slowly, turning to look at her handsome captor.
"I sensed that you were saying… something." Gentanar's face was a study of nonchalance. "It's strange, my dear, but I keep getting these feelings that you are… stronger than you were before. Something happened at breakfast. I'm not sure what it was." He smiled crookedly. "Why I think it happened at the same time that some of my men started getting sick."
Marina swallowed. The worried look she wore took no acting. "It must have been the food, Reetan. Perhaps it gave me strength, somehow stealing strength from your men." She took his hand and squeezed it, hoping he wouldn't notice how cold her hands were. "I'm really concerned about the food here…"
Suddenly, the door to the "ballroom" opened. In stepped Julian.
Marina turned toward him, but Gentanar jerked her back around to face him, gripping her upper arms strongly. "Dance with him a few times, Marina," he whispered intensely. "Tell him good-bye. But do not forget that you are mine." He let her go, reaching to adjust his collar. He smiled again. "I hope he doesn't mind cold hands. How does that saying go? Cold hands… warm heart?"
"Yes. That's how it goes," Marina said quietly, looking away from him.
"Go to him, Marina. Say good-bye."
She walked away from her captor, dodging dancing couples, her high-heeled shoes tapping rather loudly on the beautiful marble floor.
"Marina!" He ran to meet her halfway, taking her hands as soon as they were close.
"Julian, I've got to keep up my act. You need to look sad, as if… As if we are saying good-bye."
They swept out onto the floor, dancing.
"We are going to say good-bye," Julian said quietly, glancing over Marina's shoulder. "To him. To Gentanar."
"Julian, when I go to adjust the temperature controls, I'll send you instructions," Marina whispered in his ear. They were dancing very close now. She reveled in the feel of his warmth.
"All right," he whispered back. He couldn't help it. He had to kiss her. He brushed his lips lightly against her ear. "Your ear is cold," he said quietly. "So are your hands. What's the matter?"
"I'm afraid," she said shakily.
"Don't be," he gallantly replied. "I'm here, Marina. I won't let him hurt you."
"That's not what scares me," Marina said, meeting the eyes of the man she loved. "I'm afraid that he'll hurt you."
"Marina--"
Loudly, she said, "My, but it's hot in here!" She drew back from Julian, taking his hand and pulling him away from the dance floor. She glanced at Gentanar, who was watching her with those pale blue eyes. "Reetan, darling, I'm going to adjust the temperature in this room. It's getting hot, don't you think? Then I'll finish this dance with Julian." She turned to the doctor, instructing him with her mind.
His long-lashed eyes widened at her plan, then he smiled slowly. He bowed over her hand, kissing it, then stepped back from her.
Feeling cold and shaky, Marina made her way to the control panel. She glanced nervously at Gentanar, keeping a false smile pasted on her lips.
He nodded to her, not realizing what she was doing with her fingers.
Her long, slender fingers beat out a rhythm on the holo-suite controls. Lastly, she turned down the temperature in the room. I turn this down much lower, and our breath will cloud up the room. She stepped back from the panel, flashed a sappy smile at Gentanar, and called out, "Julian?"
(LINE)
Gentanar watched Marina spin around the ballroom with Julian, barely able to conceal his envy. But after tonight, he would not have to conceal it. After tonight, it would be the scrawny little doctor who would be feeling envy. And not only envy, but also fear and pain and loneliness.
Gentanar smiled. He had no intention of letting Marina's friends go free. No, he would keep them as prisoners. And he would make Marina forget all about them…
He fidgeted with his coat buttons impatiently. This was about the longest good-bye he had ever seen. It was time for it to end. He made his way across the floor with purpose, shoving aside the holographic dangers.
(LINE)
Marina felt someone approaching. A very familiar someone. "Julian, Reetan is coming. I'm afraid this is the last time I'll ever see you. So… I have to say…" She glanced sideways at the approaching psychogenotron, then turned back to her dancing partner. "Good-bye."
"That's enough." Gentanar tapped the shoulder of the man he envied. "I'm cutting in." He turned to Marina, grabbing her into his arms.
"Actually, I'm cutting in," came a voice from behind him.
Gentanar looked at Marina. She was smirking. Then he turned to look behind him.
There stood Dr. Julian Bashir, aiming a phaser at Gentanar's face.
"What is going on?" Gentanar exclaimed, for there, beside Julian, was another Julian, staring blankly ahead.
"My girlfriend is an excellent holo-suite programmer," Julian explained smoothly, one eyebrow cocked. "You made a huge mistake in leaving her here by herself. She programmed me into this ballroom. And while she was dancing with my double (whom she activated while turning down the temperature), I managed to hide myself--and draw my phaser. You were so attentive toward Marina and her dancing partner that you never even noticed me."
Gentanar was silent for a moment.
"Computer, deactivate ballroom program," Marina called.
The glorious ballroom and its colorful denizens faded away, leaving Marina, Julian, and Gentanar standing in a cold, bare room.
"You are really something, Marina," Gentanar said at last, his voice thick with barely controlled emotion. "You are an amazing woman. I consider myself an amazing man, you know… I thought that we made an excellent match."
"Julian is the amazing man in this room, Gentanar," Marina said proudly, lifting her chin. "I could never leave him for you."
"That's my girl," said Julian.
Gentanar spun to face Julian. "Your girl, is she?" He pressed his lips together, focusing on the young doctor.
Suddenly, Julian cried out, doubling over, his eyes squeezed shut.
"Stop it!" Marina screamed. "Stop it!" She hadn't planned for this, hadn't thought that her enemy would be so daring.
"Get back, Marina," Gentanar answered, still focused on Julian.
Julian had collapsed to his knees, his arms wrapped around his body, his head hanging.
"Leave him alone!" Marina shouted. She reached out with her mind, striking out at Gentanar's presence, trying to distract him from Julian.
Gentanar gave a cry of surprise at her assault. He sent one last burst of power toward the doctor, satisfied when Marina's friend crumpled to the floor, then spun on Marina. "You insolent wench! I will make you mine! You will never escape me!" He lashed out at her with his mind.
Frantically, Marina blocked his outburst of energy with her mind. While her mind was so occupied, she had forgotten about her body.
Gentanar took advantage of this, grabbing her upper arms, his strong fingers biting into her skin.
Marina yelped, letting down her guard.
The aggressive psychogenotron burst into her mind, taking control. Using his mind inside hers, he held her still as he bent his head and kissed her lips.
It was a terrible kiss, Marina thought. Hard and rough and selfish and painful.
Gentanar jerked her into his arms, controlling every movement of her body that had once been voluntary. He forced her to wrap her arms around him, to bend her head back, to part her lips to receive his second kiss.
Inside her mind, Marina desperately fought him. She managed to release his hold on her long enough to pry one arm free from him. With it, she grabbed his chin and shoved his face back before he could take a third kiss from her.
Gentanar laughed and grabbed her arm. "Just give in, Marina. You can't defeat me. You may have a wealth of power, but you are not nearly as experienced as I am. And my physical strength far outweighs your own…" He gave a low chuckle at this.
"You're right," Marina gasped out as his arms tightened around her waist. "But there's one thing I have that you don't…"
"What is that?" he asked, leaning in for another kiss.
"Julian."
Gentanar frowned and drew back from her, then abruptly collapsed to the floor.
And there stood Julian, panting, holding one hand to his side. In the other hand, he held his phaser. It was pointed to the place where Gentanar had once stood.
"Julian…"
"Marina, I'm fine," Julian said. Then he staggered to his knees, the phaser clattering to the floor.
Marina flung herself to the floor beside him, wrapping her arms around him, shaking with fear for him. She let out a sigh of relief when his arms came around her, weakly, but they came. "Oh, Julian. I thought he'd killed you! Then I saw you there behind him, and--"
"Shhh. Shhh. It's okay now." He buried his face in her neck, closing his eyes.
"Did you kill him?"
"No. Just stunned him."
"How bad are you hurt?"
"Not bad. He just brought back some old wounds."
"Let me heal you."
"Not how. I just want to hold you."
"But you're hurt--"
"It doesn't bother me. Mind over matter, and all that."
They clung tightly to each other, exhausted and trembling, but alive and triumphant, rocking back and forth gently.
That was how the others found them when they burst into the holo-suite, victorious in overthrowing Gentanar's weakened and confused forces.
Miles started to rush forward, but Kira shook her head. "Let them be alone for awhile," she said quietly. Somehow, she had managed to once again be beside Odo, holding his hand.
"She's right. Let's get out of here and let them have a little romance," Dax whispered, grinning.
(LINE)
Still clinging to Julian, Marina reached into the doctor's mind, touching it gently with her own. Ignoring his protest, she proceeded to take over the damage control center, sending healing signals to his injuries. In a very short time, he was completely healed.
"Thank-you," Julian said quietly, drawing back from her and taking her face between his hands.
"I should be thanking you," Marina said, also speaking quietly. "If you hadn't stunned him when you did…"
He silenced her with a kiss. She couldn't help but compare it with Gentanar's. By contrast, Julian's kiss was tender, smooth, sweet, and oh so seductive.
"I love you," he whispered when he took his lips from hers.
She couldn't help but pick up on the silent longing emanating from Julian. "I love you, too," she said softly, her eyes large and searching.
"What?" he asked, tilting his head sideways.
She shrugged, blushing.
"Are you reading my thoughts again, my love?" he asked, his hands sliding gently down her cheeks and neck to rest on her shoulders.
"Not thoughts this time. Feelings." She ducked her head almost shyly.
He didn't have to be a mind-reader to pick up on her blush. He grinned crookedly. "I suppose I'll have to marry you, then, won't I?"
She looked up, eyes shining. "Oh, Julian! Do you mean it?"
"Yes." He kissed her. "I do."
(A/N: One more chapter to go! Love is in the air!)