That Night

Gul Dukat strode down the corridors of Deep Space Nine as if he owned the place. Which, of course, he once had and knew he would again someday. In his mind, it was destined to return to Cardassian control. The wormhole was too valuable a commodity to remain in Federation and Bajoran hands for much longer; sooner or later, something would happen to give his people the advantage. And they would be ready.

Ah, but that was the future. He allowed his mind to dwell on more pleasant topics, more immediate gratification. He was on his way to the private quarters of Kira Nerys to fulfill their bargain. Once that was accomplished, she would be one step closer to truly understanding him and maybe even to changing her mind about him. It had been a fortunate accident of fate that he'd been nearby when he'd received the automated distress signal from the station--a signal bearing his own face. It was equally fortunate that Sisko had been incommunicado during the entire duration of his stay, and that Kira had been forced to deal with him. Most fortunate indeed.

Lost in pleasant anticipation, he didn't see Odo until he nearly bumped into the shapeshifter. "Constable!" he exclaimed, smoothing the irritation out of his voice. "I didn't see you."

"That's because I wasn't there, I was part of the wall. Until I saw you coming, that is," Odo replied blandly. Dukat blinked as he realized that this was no chance meeting, that Odo had been waiting for him, a realization that was confirmed by Odo's next words. "I've been expecting you. Do you have a moment?"

"Actually, I'm in somewhat of a hurry," Dukat hedged, studying Odo through narrowed eyes. "I have an appointment to keep. A personal appointment," he added when Odo eyed the bottle of wine the Cardassian held in one hand. "Nothing that concerns the station's chief of security, I assure you." He pasted a pleasant smile on his face, although he had a feeling it wasn't going to get him out of this. Whatever "this" was.

"That's a matter of opinion," Odo replied, and Dukat's eyes narrowed further. Odo was acting as if he knew the Cardassian's purpose this evening, which was impossible. His liaison with Major Kira was one she definitely would not advertise, if he knew her. Which, of course, he did. It was her knowledge of him that needed enhancing. "Would you mind accompanying me to my office?" It was clear from Odo's tone that this was not a request that could be refused.

Dukat followed suspiciously as Odo strode down the corridor. The shapeshifter was up to something, but Dukat still wasn't certain he knew his real purpose for his visit, and he had no intention of giving up that information if he didn't have to. Odo was a skilled interrogator, but Cardassians wrote the rather impressive book on that subject, and Dukat knew his own skills in that area were up to his race's reputation. However, he was getting ahead of himself. It was entirely possible this had nothing to do with his actual purpose for being on the station; Odo was suspicious by nature, and he might be more interested in assuring himself that Dukat's presence wouldn't interfere in the smooth running of the station.

They entered Odo's office moments later, neither having spoken another word during the walk. When Odo locked the doors and made certain they were alone, however, Dukat felt compelled to speak. "I hope this won't take long, Constable; I do have some rather important matters to take care of this evening." Best to take the aggressor's role from the start, to establish control.

"I'm certain you regard them as such," Odo agreed as he sat behind his desk and indicated that Dukat should take one of the chairs opposite. "However, I believe we need to discuss something first." He showed no sign of feeling as if he were in an inferior position, even though he was sitting while Dukat continued to stand, but he'd always managed to maintain an impressive level of self-control under any circumstances.

"And that would be?" Dukat asked as he finally allowed himself to take the seat Odo had indicated. There was no reason not to, since it was obvious that Odo was not going to allow himself to be intimidated by mere physical means.

"Major Kira," Odo replied, leaning forward in his chair and staring at Dukat's expressionless face. The Cardassian hadn't been caught enough off-guard by his words to give anything away, which meant that he'd anticipated Odo's motives for asking him here. Odo hadn't expected this to be easy. "Major Kira, and the deal you forced her to make last week," he clarified.

Dukat studied Odo for a moment, then allowed a smile to cross his face. "I didn't force her to make any deals," he countered, leaning back in his chair comfortably, his mind racing. How had Odo found out--? "I certainly didn't force her to make any deals involving the security of this station, or any of a political nature…"

"I know," Odo interrupted. "Neither the Federation nor Bajor are involved." He coughed politely. "That is, if any deals were made at all."

"As you say," Dukat agreed. "However, that means that any such deals would be of a personal nature," he pointed out. "Personal, and therefore no one's business but ours. If we had, indeed, made any such arrangement. And if we had," he added, "I somehow doubt that Major Kira would have requested your interference in any such matters. I doubt, for instance, that she asked you to speak to me this evening. Did she."

It was not a question, but Odo responded anyway. "No, she did not. And you are correct; she wouldn't do so under the circumstances we've been postulating."

"Then we have nothing further to discuss." Dukat stood. "If you'll excuse me, Constable, I have an appointment to keep that is anything but hypothetical." He hefted the wine bottle suggestively.

"Are you absolutely certain you wish to do so? Perhaps you might want to hear what I have to say first." Dukat, alerted by Odo's tone, slowly retook his seat and gestured for the shapeshifter to continue. "I realize that what you are saying is true; however, there are circumstances you are unaware of, circumstances that might cause you to reconsider your actions this evening. After all," he added, "I know you're a very proud man. Are you so certain you wish to have that legendary Cardassian pride battered?"

"My pride?" Dukat was intrigued, in spite of himself. "In what manner?"

"I wonder how willing you would be to continue your original plans if you realized that Major Kira apparently feels the only way to meet her obligation to you is by administering an aphrodisiac."

Dukat raised an eye ridge. "I would hardly be in need of such--oh," he interrupted himself as he realized what Odo was telling him. He frowned as he thought through the implications. "Are you certain she would feel justified in going to such an extreme in order to meet this…obligation you are referring to? And how did you come across such information in the first place?"

Odo ignored the last part of the question, as Dukat knew he would. However, he nodded in response to the first part, not allowing himself the luxury of annoyance at Dukat's continued coyness. If that was the only way the Cardassian was willing to play it, he was willing to go along, if only for the sake of expediency. "Quite. All I can tell you is that the information is legitimate; however, Major Kira is unaware of either my knowledge or my involvement in this situation."

"I see," Dukat murmured, then sat there, chin bowed, for a long minute as he digested what Odo was saying-and what he was not saying. "I realize that you hardly have my best interests at heart, Odo, and I also realize which party in this situation you would be concerned about, but you are correct; it would hardly suit my purposes if a drug had to be administered in order to respond to any personal overtures I might make. And I'm going to tell you something else," he added thoughtfully. "Because I do care what some people think of me. Especially you."

"And that would be?" Odo asked. It was his turn to be intrigued in spite of himself; it appeared Dukat was going to offer some sort of justification for his actions, something Odo had never expected to hear. Especially in light of the less-than-straightforward nature of their conversation this evening.

"If I were to make such a proposition to the major, it would not be for the mere satisfaction of having forced her to do something against her will, you do understand that," Dukat said. He waited for Odo's unwilling nod before continuing: "If, and I stress the 'if,' I had required such a favor in return for my assistance with this station, it would only be because I felt it was the only way I could convince Kira to see how…compatible…we are. That we are not so different as she would like to believe. That we can, indeed, become closer in spite of our past," he concluded. "Perhaps even because of it."

Odo didn't bother to keep the disbelief from his face as he listened to Dukat. "And you think a drugged evening's pleasure will make her see that?"

An annoyed look flashed across Dukat's features before he smoothed them back to diplomatic blandness. "I believe we've both agreed that is not a situation I would feel comfortable with."

"Does that mean you no longer feel such an urgent need to keep your appointment this evening?" Odo pressed.

"On the contrary; if it had something to do with Major Kira, I would find it even more necessary to be there," Dukat replied. "If only to ascertain whether or not she had done anything foolish and required…medical assistance."

Odo noted the slight hesitation in Dukat's voice, and his eyes narrowed as he warned: "And if she does require such assistance I would expect you to contact me at once."

"But of course." Dukat shrugged. "As I said, if my business were with Major Kira, and if she were to do something as foolish as you claim, it would be my duty to make sure she received the proper care."

"I would like your word that, should the situation arise, you will, indeed, contact me."

Dukat looked at Odo, then gave a slight nod. "You have that word, Constable. And my word that this is not the way I would have wanted things to turn out. And now," he added, rising from his seat, "if you'll excuse me, I do have some rather urgent business to attend to."

"Of course." Odo stared suspiciously after Dukat as he left the office, wondering if he should follow. He dismissed the thought immediately; Dukat had given his word, and that was one thing the Cardassian held inviolate. Of course, pinning him down long enough to extract that word was never easy, but once given he would never take it back.

Then again, there was always a first time. Odo just hoped this wouldn't turn out to be that first time.