"How could they have known?" N'iv whispered, her voice tight. "How could they have known about anything in those logs?"

Garak remained calm, his face impassive as the pair observed the scene unfolding from a safe distance. "It would appear that someone transmitted them."

"Impossible," she snapped. "I destroyed those logs, Garak. You saw it yourself."

He didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the delegates.

A sinking feeling settled in N'iv's stomach, realization dawning. She looked at Garak, really looked at him, seeing the secrets in his eyes, the hidden truths.

"You," she whispered, the word a venomous hiss. "It was you."

Garak finally looked at her, cool and unreadable. "Now, now, N'iv. Let's not jump to conclusions."

"Furious" was too small a word for what she was feeling. Betrayed, used, manipulated–she wanted to scream, to hit him, to make him feel a fraction of the hurt she felt. But they were in public, and she knew she had to restrain herself.

"You used me," she said, her voice trembling with anger. "This is all just some game to you."

Garak's expression didn't change, but there was a hint of something, a flicker that in the right light might have been regret.

"The game is never simple, my dear N'iv," he said quietly. "And sometimes, we must make choices that are not easy."

"You know why I needed those logs hidden," she whispered, glimmers of rage in her eyes. "You know the danger they pose to my people."

"I did what I had to do," he said, his voice firm.

"For Cardassia?" she questioned, her voice dripping with contempt. "Or for yourself?"

He didn't answer, turning back to watch the drama ahead.

N'iv felt a cold emptiness settle in her chest, a void where trust and friendship had once been. She looked at Garak and realized she didn't know him at all.

"The information they received contained nothing regarding the Alar or the location of their planet."

"It doesn't matter," she breathed, her face flushed. "It's still more dangerous than if they had no information at all."

"It was necessary," he said curtly, his eyes cold. "Bashir is already well on his way to identifying Kallim's species and locating his planet, all on his own. Without a big enough distraction, we both know they'd have you cornered before lunch."

N'iv's anger gave way to confusion, uncertainty. She looked at Garak, trying to see past the masks he wore, trying to understand the man behind the enigmatic facade.

"They're going to think I leaked the information," she said finally.

"Because you did."

"No, I didn't!"

"Yes, you did." He reiterated with emphasis.

N'iv shook her head in disbelief. "Garak, Odo will want to arrest me."

"Oh I'm sure he will."

"Garak!" It came out as a raspy, barely contained whisper.

He held up a finger to indicate there was more. "You've drawn enough suspicion to yourself already. They weren't about to stop digging, and we both know your cover is shaky at best."

"And how is getting thrown in one of Odo's holding cells going to help?"

"If you can't remove suspicion, the next best thing is passing it off on others."

N'iv grimaced. "I never should have trusted you."

"My dear, I don't believe you have a choice."

"I could tell them it was you–that you stole the files from me. It's the truth. They'd have to believe me."

"And then what? How will you explain your concealment of them in the first place? Believe me, you'll be better off taking the credit."

She let out an indignant huff. "What am I supposed to say when they asked me why I did it?"

"I don't know, fabricate some ethical convictions if you like. Or tell them it was an act of artistic expression, a performance art piece meant to challenge the boundaries of secrecy and information sharing in the galaxy. I'm sure you'll think of something. But whatever you decide, I recommend adding a dramatic flair."

"Why?"

"Oh, it's far more entertaining that way."

N'iv opened her mouth to argue further but he brushed her off, indicating someone was coming.

"N'ivryn. Garak." Odo acknowledged with a tight lipped wariness. "Enjoying the entertainment?"

Garak offered an innocuous smile. "Ah, Constable Odo, just curious observers of the galaxy's drama, nothing more."

N'ivryn nodded in agreement, trying to reign back in her nonchalance. "Yes, just taking in the sights and sounds of the Promenade. It's quite a lively place."

Odo's eyes narrowed slightly, his attention keen on the pair. "Lively indeed, especially with three high-profile representatives making such remarkable claims."

"Yes, it's quite the spectacle," Garak offered. "One wonders what could have prompted such allegations."

Odo gave a noncommittal grunt. He turned back to N'ivryn. "I couldn't help but notice that the irretrievable logs from your ship seem to, inexplicably, be the source of all this consternation, and just days after your arrival here on the station. Quite a curious coincidence, wouldn't you say?"

"That is quite the theory, yes."

"If you don't mind coming with me, I think we should have a chat to discuss some of the finer details at play."

"Of course, Constable. Happy to help."

Garak gave a curt nod as the pair trailed off towards Odo's office. He sighed and shook his head. There went his little protege–to sink or swim, he wasn't entirely sure yet. Either way he'd soon know if she had the resolve to make his mentorship worth the while. It surprised him to find he was rather hoping she would.