I'm back! Sorry it's been a while. I've just been preoccupied with other stories, and I've been very forgetful lately; just ask A.J. She'll tell you! Anyways, I've been at Girl's Camp, too! How exciting, right? I had a total blast! We did a ton of stuff, like swimming and making books and secretly giving each other presents! We went up to Utah, me and nine other girls plus six leaders and two priesthood leaders and the bishop (for the last two days). We sang some great new and old camp songs and-- oh, it was so much fun in a you had to be there kind of way!

Chapter Twelve: Take It

Bashir

Regretfully, Doctor Bashir left the Infirmary, trying to convince himself that his staff could handle the heavy casualties as they had in the past. In his arms, he carried a clear, empty box that only reminded him of the nerve-wracking task ahead of him. Bashir walked swiftly to Odo's office, knowing he would be less than enthusiastic to "melt" into the box and be carried all the way to Ops.

Bashir stepped into the ever-orderly office and looked around. Where was Odo? "Constable?" Bashir called out. "Are you here?" Then, before his eyes, a goldish liquid grew in Odo's chair into the shape of a man. He seemed to have formed from thin air!

"I'm here, Doctor," Odo assured him. "And I'm ready." Using his naturally long strides, Odo walked across the room and instantly reverted to his natural golden state in the box. Bashir was stunned at his eagerness and, with eyebrows arched, closed the box. He figured that Odo knew the tight time limits placed on their little predicament.

They were ready.

Bashir walked briskly across the Promenade, balancing the liquefied Odo in his arms. He whipped into a turbolift and bade it take him to Ops. The ride seemed to take longer than it should have, and when he finally stepped into Ops, the tension in the room was obviously stuck to the back of everyone's neck. The air was thick with anticipation as Sisko turned and said, "Ah, here's the good doctor now." Dukat's impatient face was enlarged on the viewscreen. Bashir had obviously gotten there too late for the Cardassians' taste.

In Bashir's arms, Odo squirmed about and fought, making himself expand in the blink of an eye to fit the entire box and shrink again for another burst. He's not a bad actor, Bashir thought to himself as he tightened his grip. "Here it is, sir," Bashir said to Sisko with a glare in Dukat's direction.

"Good," Sisko replied. He wore a convincingly reserved and defeated look on his face as he turned to see Dukat's smug grin. "Well, it's yours now," he said. "Take it if you want it."

Dukat signaled that it should be beamed out, and immediately, the box evaporated from Bashir's outstretched arms. "Thank you, Commander." Dukat's voice sounded thick and sappy. "It was such a pleasure to do business with you." The Cardassian face was replaced by Cardassian ships with a dull click. Everyone held their breath as they waited for the Cardassians to leave.

When the fleet did peel away from the station, some people released their breath, but others would continue to hold it until Odo was safely home.

Johnson

"Increase the intensity of the shield," Lieutenant Johnson commanded. "We don't want that thing getting away."

As leader of his group of six Federation officers, Johnson was responsible for catching the rogue changeling and for making sure it stayed right where it was. Whenever the changeling fought, striking at the force field in a futile attempt at freedom, Johnson and the rest of his group was visited by the fear that it just might find a way through. The shield would hold, but it was a sensible precaution to strengthen it. No one would argue that they had taken enough injuries as it was.

Johnson kept thinking about Commander Sisko's brief meeting with him, when he had come to see the changeling in the Habitat Ring. He had only had time to ask a question or two before he was called to Ops to sooth the impatient Cardassians. Then he had said simply, "Good work," and gone on his way. Those words echoed in his head. He had been personally congratulated by the Commander of the station! Like a little child, he felt giddy at that fact, like had done something right.

Odo

Aboard the enemy ship, Odo was sloshed around in his box as a Cardassian carried him uneasily into an empty room. Quickly, he dumped Odo into a wide tube and sealed it rather tightly, presumably to make sure he didn't try to escape. Then, as an extra measure, he activated a force field around the tube. Before leaving, he took a look at Odo, who lay motionless on the table, under the tube's roof. When Odo became aware of his gaze, he threw himself at Cardassian, splattering himself on the thick glass. The Cardassian jumped back and ran out of the room, startled.

If Odo were in humanoid form, he would've smiled. But then, perhaps not, because there was so much work to be done.

Oh my goodness! I have officially finished DS9, and I have to say it was INCREDIBLE! Oh, boy, that was great! Once you get past the first two seasons, it's awesome! That wasn't how I would've ended it, but whatever. I'm sad it's over, but now I can watch Voyager! I doubt it could be as good, though. Thanks for reading; now review!