It has come to my attention that I left some business unfinished. Can't have that, can we? Here's a little more of the story...
Odo was strolling along the Promenade as he used to do all those years ago, in his now outdated DS9 security uniform, taking in all the changes.
Nothing was the same as it had been. Quark's Bar was no longer; it had been replaced by Lott's Bar some years back. The Klingon restaurant had augmented its menu and was prospering. And what was once a simple tailor's shop had been replaced by an elaborate store of intergalactic fashion.
Odo couldn't resist his curiosity. Had Garak's modest business failed in the past twenty years? He walked into the store and was surprised at what he saw.
There were fabrics of all sorts of materials from many different planets lining the walls of the store. Transparent humanoid figurines stood all around, modeling ostentatious clothing. A young Bajoran lady was being fitted for a bright orange outfit on a platform in the center of the room.
A young Trill woman that Odo didn't recognize appeared next to him. "What can I do for you today, sir?" she asked helpfully, smiling. She was in an outfit that consisted of wide horizontal strips of neon pink fabric alternating with strips of bare skin. Odo couldn't help wondering what kept the strips in place.
"Ah - No, I was... just looking for someone..." Odo stammered.
"And who is that?" the young woman asked him, grinning kindly.
"His name is Garak," Odo told her.
"Garak?" the woman asked, her brow furrowing slightly as her head cocked to the side. "Elim Garak?"
Odo nodded. "Yes, that's the one."
"Well, how do you know him?" she asked, sounding awed.
"I worked on this station twenty years ago, at the same time he did," Odo said. "Is he here?"
"No, no, he doesn't live on DS9," she said, shaking her head. "In fact... I don't know where he lives, but I'm sure he lives very comfortably, wherever he is."
"What do you mean?" Odo asked.
"Well, he founded this franchise, the entire Ziyal organization," the woman said as if Odo should know this.
"The Ziyal organization?" Odo said. "He really did continue into the clothing business? That's... that's somewhat surprising."
"Why is that?" the Trill woman asked.
"Well, it's just that I was always convinced that he had some kind of hidden agenda," Odo explained, reminiscing. "He claimed to be a simple tailor, but he exhibited behaviors quite uncharacteristic of a man of such a profession."
The woman looked at Odo with a half-disbelieving, half-uncomprehending look. "Uh-huuuh... Well, I can't help you find Mr. Garak. No one knows where he is."
"You mean he's gone missing?" Odo asked.
"No, he just stays hidden. He comes out every so often - whenever he's needed - but no one really knows where he goes off to afterward." She grinned. "It's very mysterious."
Odo nodded slowly. "Well, thank you for your help," he said.
"Anytime," the woman said, smiling brightly. "Please visit us again!"
Odo left the store, still thinking. So, Garak was a big name in the clothing business, except that he had named his own business after Ziyal, who he had indeed been very fond of. However, he was still a shady character, with his mysterious periodical disappearances.
Same old Garak.
Okay. NOW I think I covered everything. But if you think of anything else I missed, please let me know!