The sun hadn't risen yet. Elim rose from his sleeping spot to a chilly fog that hung thickly in the air, leaving everything damp and dripping.
He had always been an early-riser, and after the fire had died shortly after midnight, he was left feeling so cold that he had struggled to remain asleep.
He tiredly slung the strap of his rifle over his shoulder. Across the dead fire, the Intendent slept peacefully. He drank in her beauty, admiring the curve of breast and buttock. A part of him regretted rejecting her advances the night before - but the thought of him and her together quickly twisted into the feeling of shame and repulsion. Even then, he couldn't stand the thought of her with another.
With a grumbling belly, he left camp on light feet. He hoped to find something near a clearing he had spotted the day before: Maybe he could catch a deer, fish, or fowl. Anything to curtail the gnawing hunger.
He walked for a distance without seeing much in the way of food, until something made his scales lift in alarm. The sound of his own voice emenated from behind him.
"Don't move."
A startled gasp emanated from Elim, and the whites of his eyes shone in the dim light. He frantically fumbled for his rifle with nearly numb fingers- the rifle, he realized, had still been shut down after the swim to shore - and spun around. By the time he saw his alternate standing on high ground, nestled between the trunks of two evergreen trees, a phaser was already pointed directly at him.
"No, no no no." Garak tskd. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to shoot you," He lied smoothly, "But if you test me, rest assured I will." He nodded to the rifle. "Put it down." With a clenched jaw, Elim slid the strap off his shoulder. The rifle clanked on an exposed patch of moist dirt and bedrock between them, and he raised his hands in surrender. "Wise decision." Garak leaned down and claimed his booty. "It isn't even powered up! Elim. I'd expect this kind of oversight from a Glinn in training, not from you." He powered up the weapon and smiled with satisfaction as it hummed to life.
"If you intend to shoot me, then do it."
"Now where's the pleasure in that?" He saw Elim's expression and couldn't help but feel sympathy for the dumber man. "It is what you would do to me if I were in your situation."
With smooth motion he switched from phaser to rifle; a trade up by any standard. "Oh, you look disappointed. Surely you didn't expect me to share Starfleet's vapid morals?"
The Ferengi had intimated Garak was dangerous. Elim had hoped they were lying, but as he watched his other self, he realized just how truthful they had been. Garak carefully stepped forward. "Where is the Intendent?" He asked quietly, scanned the area quickly, and in seeing no sign of her, he locked his eyes back on his carbon copy. "Why are you alone."
The corner of Elim's mouth twitched, but he remained silent.
Without an answer, Garak had to conclude she was nearby. To assume any less would be reckless. "Tell me, does she know we're here? Elim, if you don't start answering me I will shoot you."
"We saw the Sprague leave orbit. She believes her plan worked, but I had my doubts."
"There's no reason why you couldn't let her continue to think it did."
"Why? Aren't you here to protect the orb?" His temporary look of confusion shifted in realization. "Or did she bribe you, too?"
"She wishes to replace you with me as her First Officer."
"And you believe she will follow through? For you?"
"I do," He answered honestly. "But I find that position is far below my talents. I used to be the protege of the Head of the Obsidian Order! I'll not be licking some spoiled child's boots, begging for scraps." Garak said with a sneer, then rounded Elim, whose hands were still raised. "We both deserve more than that. Imagine it! What we can do with that orb, together!" He said in a passionate whisper. "As Equals!" He paused for effect. "When the intendent steals the orb, kill her. Then bring it to me."
"I can't do that."
"Oh, come on, Elim! What did she offer you that I can't? Sex? You should be immune to that sort of thing! I had high hopes for you, but now I see th-"
"You see nothing!" Elim spat. "You have no idea why I'm here or why I need her alive!" Garak thought he had seen pain in the armored Cardassian's eyes and felt confused.
"You didn't need her alive back on the station."
"That was before I learned about the Orb of Time. I can't stress how important it is that I have it."
"You need the orb. Why do you need her? Can't you use it yourself?"
"It's a Bajoran artifact I know nothing about. And as much as I'd love nothing more to see her dead, she-"
Both Cardassians' heads turned to the same area in the woods. They saw nothing, but had clearly heard the sharp sound of crunching leaves under someone's foot. The Intendent was near.
"Get out of here, reunite with the Intendent and make her think you got lost. We never spoke." Garak hissed quickly, then shoved him backwards with the end of his rifle. "Go!" He watched as Elim ran away as instructed, then made his way through the trees to where he heard the rustling leaves. He hoped Elim wouldn't stumble across their camp where he had left the Major sleeping and thus - for the time being - vulnerable.
He spotted the Intendent several yards away and called out to her. "Ah, intendent! Fancy we should cross paths again." He said with a smile and lowered his rifle. She approached without fear.
"Come alone, did you? I see Nerys isn't with you. Finally come to your senses?" She deduced, sauntered towards him, and slapped him across the mouth. "That's for trying to interrogate me." She rubbed her sore hand afterward. "Now, have you killed my First Officer yet?"
He rubbed the side of his jaw slowly, eyeing her carefully. She saw his eyes had turned dark. Like scolding a wild targ, he would need to be tamed and brought to heel.
"I thought he was with you." He said simply.
"He's wandered off. Wouldn't be the first time he's deserted me. You make sure it's his last." She commanded and turned to walk away. "I've figured out how we can get into the Temple without interacting with security-"
"-Before we get ahead of ourselves," He interrupted. "I want an amendment to our bargain." She slowed to a stop and turned. "I find your offer a bit lacking. I don't care for the role of First Officer." He explained. She raised an eyebrow and inhaled, as if holding back judgement.
"Once I become Regent, I could name you the Overseer of Cardassia. But you would have to remove the current one. Tain. He was always beyond my influence."
"That's..." He paused, taken off-guard by the information she had inadvertently given him. So, there is another Tain, wise enough to steer clear of the Intendent. Was that one a better father? He considered the possibilities of meeting that version. Could I bring him here? Did she know the nature of my relationship to him and that I would find her suggestion offensive? "...Better." He lied, then stared below her eyes with an intentional leer.
She clapped her hand to her chest. "Oh, you want me? I didn't think you were interested! I'm flattered." She almost giggled with glee.
"Not just you." He corrected. "I want you exclusively; no one else may touch you but me."
Her smile faded quickly. "Well that is a problem, since everyone wants me exclusively. I'm too expensive for just one man."
He knew which man she was referring to, who was likely hiding nearby and overhearing the conversation. He hoped Elim was feeling more than a little jealous.
Their surroundings were brightening with the coming morning, and birds began to chirp to welcome the rising sun. He would have to get back to camp and back to the Major soon. Lifting his rifle to the lightening sky and beginning to back away, he said: "My terms are non-negotiable. And my time is valuable. Perhaps you should work it out amongst yourselves and get back to me. With the orb."
