Chapter 2: Enemies Among Us

Benjamin walked down the corridor, Doctor Bashir by his side. Bashir threw furtive glances around them as they walked, doing nothing to make Ben feel any better about the situation. Odo had gone to regenerate, and hadn't come out of it, despite the fact he was six hours overdue. Then again, he had been avoiding all his friends, something that he rarely ever did.

"Will you stop that Doctor?" Ben demanded as Julian threw another glance up at the ceiling, "It's very annoying."

"Something is wrong," he muttered, looking now at the lights, "I can feel it."

"Feel what exactly?" Ben asked, throwing him a curious look.

"Like someone is watching us," Julian replied with a side glance, "Almost a malice following us."

"You have been paranoid ever since Garak got back," Ben laughed, "Are you not sure that you are simply reacting to that?"

"Something Garak once said," the Doctor said anxiously, "Is that when the Obsidian Order worries, be on your guard."

"We have nothing to worry about Doctor," Ben shrugged his shoulders, "we are perfectly safe. If Dummat's killers had gotten on board, we would have found them by now."

"But he wasn't Dummat," Bashir protested, "He was…..Romulan."

Ben turned towards him and his mouth dropped open. "What do you mean by the man was Romulan? You never told us what he actually was until now."

"I didn't find out myself until last night," Julian explained apologetically, "Garak slipped in on Romulans being good looking like Cardassians."

"You did an autopsy man!" Ben exclaimed, "Why didn't you realize it then?"

"That's the problem," Julian said in an impatient voice, "I never did an autopsy. The body was gone by the time the meeting with Picard and Ross was over. Garak swore he didn't take it, and for once he was telling the truth."

"I don't like puzzles Julian," Ben grumbled as they continued walking, "Especially ones like this."

"We might safely say that Romulus has sided with the Dominion," Bashir grimly said.

"Not necessarily," Ben said, "For all we know, it might be another one of their games."

"I hope so," Bashir muttered to himself, "For all our sakes."

"The Sisko is in danger."

Ben turned and looked for whom ever it was that said it, but in the haze, all he saw was distorted shadows. Shadows that were blacker then black one minute, then the most violent red he had ever seen next. Sounds of dying creatures reached him, and he whirled around and saw a Prophet, in the form of Locutus of Borg, standing in front of him.

"The Sisko must not fear the immediate future, but the immediate past."

Ben started back in reality and turned around behind him, to look for anything.

"What is it?" Bashir asked, grabbing his arm, "What?"

"I just had a vision," he said in a breathless voice.

"A vision?" Julian repeated in concern.

"Let's get out of here now!" Ben shouted.

They turned and ran down the corridor. But, they barely had gone three steps before they were both grabbed around their necks from behind and thrown backwards. They lifted from the ground and flew flailing until they crashed onto the floor.

Julian recovered faster than Ben, but not enough to dodge the blow from the fist as it made contact with his face. He fell backwards and Ben tried to back up, but the fist transformed into a sledgehammer and made contact with his leg before he could get far enough away.

He felt the bones in his leg shatter like glass against a cement floor, and he screamed in pain. He didn't have much time though as the hammer came swinging back down. He barely scooted far enough away to barely avoid losing his manhood.

Julian quickly tapped his badge and shouted, "Security to Deck 8! We have changeling intruders aboa-" but he was cut off as a fist made contact with the side of his head, right by the eye socket. He was sent flying into the wall, and with stars exploding in his head, he was knocked unconscious.

Ben, unable to stand, tried to back away, but the hand transformed into a rope and lashed around his neck and tightened. It became so tight that it made escape impossible.

Now, finally, after what had seemed forever, the changeling finally took total form. He took the usual dull, expressionless, genderless features of a changeling. But, there was nothing expressionless about this creature. His eyes were alight in a fierce flame, and his mouth was twisted in a cruel smile.

"Benjamin Sisko," the changeling said, his voice showing he was actually male, "The Emissary of the Prophets. Captain of the United Federation of Planets. Father. Husband. Councilor. Lover. And warrior."

He laughed coldly and Ben struggled against the cord, but, the more he resisted, the tighter it became. He felt much like a fly in a spiders web. Allowed to move, but not leave until the spider came calling.

"Your reputation as a warrior proceeds you," the changeling scoffed, "The entire Gamma Quadrant fears you. The Dominion has been humbled by you. The Federation admires you and the Klingons are honored by you."

"And yet, I caught you with only the slightest difficulty," he said in mock pity, "What a waste of such fame. Such talent."

"Why not kill me now and flee before Security arrives?" Ben gasped out.

"They shall not come," he smiled, "I destroyed the Good Doctors' comm-badge when I threw you both. They have no idea you are here. And he shall not wake up for exactly two hours and twelve minutes. My blows were aimed to ensure that."

"Then what do you want with me?" Ben gagged, "Why keep me alive?"

"We are going to Cargo hold 4," he replied.

"Why there?" Ben asked, red spots appearing in his vision.

"You shall see," the Changeling smirked and Ben felt himself fall into the warm forgetfulness of sleep.