Odo was everywhere it seemed.
His face was still prominent in the relentless swirl of the crowds.
He always seemed to be moving far slower than the crowds but he always had his neck twisted and craned to the side to look behind him, while he would head in the opposite direction of traffic.
Somehow she had been beamed down into the midst of a wild pinewood forest.
She spotted a ginormous bear standing atop a giant rock.
She decided to retreat, fleeing past the new growth trees yet somehow the bear ended up right in front of her on the same rock as if she hadn't just run a marathon to escape the bear ever in the first place.
The bear lept from the rock, pinning her chest painfully into the dirt, however the bear moaned mournfully, it's jaw wagging as it did so.
The bear took it's wet snout to her face and then it's eyes widened in recognition.
The eyes were kind and childlike, the bear struck out it's tongue in a playful fashion and then swirled his tongue around her chin and then snapped it's tongue back, jiggling the bottom of it's jaw as it's tongue rolled back into it's mouth.
The bear melted into a almost clear gelatinous glob of jello that had neon orange veins running through it.
The viscous goo formed a Pillar, pulsating as it materialized into the solid form of Odo Ital.
"I hope you know I will always be here...to look after you. I'll always be watching
"Wait who are you?"
Taya murmured consfusingly.
"We've met before.
I'm the one you come to when you need help.
I'm the one you turn to when you're in a tight spot.
I'm the one you cry to whenever you're lonely.
The stars have all gone out, they've all fallen down one by one and now I'm the only hope you have left in this galaxy.
I am your comfort and shelter in every storm.
I am your beacon, I guide you beyond the jagged rocks of every shore.
Don't deny you've thought of me, you've imagined me, you've dreamt of me continuously and constantly throughout the last 15 years.
I've always been on your mind.
Honestly Gul Dukat wasn't your first love, I was."
Taya thought this was a ridiculous statement since she had clearly met Gul Dukat before she had even encountered Odo Ital.
Then again she had never developed any real feelings for him until she was 18 years old so there was a possibility that Odo had been her first love however she was not willing to admit that.
"What do you know of Gul Dukat?"
"He was my employer, before the Bajoran Occupation came to an end.
I know all about him but you seem to know him far more intimately.
I'm wondering how intimately did you know him exactly?"
"Odo that's none of your business... that's far too personal".
Taya backed away, right into a tree, which set her whole balance off, so her back scraped down the side of the tree until she sunk down into the dirt once again.
"You knew Madred intimately.
Although not by choice but Dukat was the one you chose, you loved him by choice.
Was Garak another one of your bedfellows as well?"
"Garak was never my lover, he was my interrogator but before that he was my friend".
"So he betrayed you, he betrayed you many times didn't he?"
"No, not many, only once but he made up for it by bringing me to this station".
"THAT IS A LIE!"
Odo grappled onto her shoulder and the moment he did, she found herself in Odo's Security office, he slammed the stasis field button on the cell console and then violently he thrust her forward into the cell.
"Since you love Cardassians so much you can live by laws and by their system of justice.
Cardassia now pronounces you guilty."
"Guilty of what?"
"Guilty of lying to a superior officer, Guilty of using your superior officer's clearance to enter a Federation Alliance Space station and Guilty of hacking into the a Federation Alliance Computer system."
"I suppose I have no chance of defending myself".
"No, not in Cardassia and not by Cardassia law."
"We aren't in Cardassia!
I'm in the Beta Quadrant, the Federation laws protect me and you don't even work for the Federation.
You work under Bajoran law, you are practically a Bajoran yourself."
"I have no loyalty to Bajor or the Federation, Cardassia is law, Cardassia is justice, Cardassia is your home, Cardassia was the one that saved you, Cardassia is forever".
Odo's form shifted into Madred.
Taya forced herself awake and found her blanket and sheet horribly twisted around her legs.
She threw all sheets and blankets off of her, when she left her bed she noticed a murky yellow cadet uniform, neatly folded out upon her living area sofa.
This bothered her because she was neither a Star Fleet qualified cadet nor was she approved of by Bajoran regulations to wear this uniform as a security cadet.
She had never worked with Starfleet, the Federation Alliance or the Bajoran government for that matter.
She wore it anyways even though wearing the uniform was a mass of contradictions, she figured that's what would please the Constable, so she wore the uniform. She fumbled with the Alliance intercom badge and then headed out of her quarters, towards the security.
Odo was behind his security screens and was thoughtfully looking at his Tablet but she could tell his thoughts were beyond anything that was on that tablet screen.
"Congratulations.
You are 10 minutes early.
Impressive.
Tell me were you actually making the effort to score some extra points with me or was this premature arrival completely impromptu?"
"It is a completely impromptu arrival, I can assure you Constable".
Taya was professional and emotionless as ever.
"It was obviously unplanned, since your pin is currently upside down and it is just about fall onto the floor."
Odo remarked gruffly without so much as turning his gaze from his Tablet screen.
"I'm sorry sir".
"I am not a sir, not here, nor have I ever been.
I am either Officer, Constable or on brief occasions I am known as Commander.
If you're feeling chivalrous you can even call me Captain yet don't call me sir, it sounds old fashioned, archaic, almost militant.
There's also no need to be sorry.
Come here".
Taya felt her heart thump against her ribs like a jackhammer.
Odo then placed his tablet down on the security dashboard before him.
Taya avoided making eye contact with him, she turned her head ever so slightly so she could focus on the lifeless gray rug.
"Avoiding eye contact for a reason, Taya?"
"I'd rather not glower at you and where I come from it is improper to look directly into the eyes of a superior officer."
"We are not on Cardassia and you are no longer a slave, you are a free agent now, you are your own person so to speak and you will be working alongside the Alliance now, all that cooperate with the Alliance are free.
You can come closer you know, this isn't a Cardassian throne room, you may approach, closer if you wish."
"For what reason?"
Taya fearfully questioned him, her voice was sour with suspicion.
"Nervous are we?
I had expected as much.
I just want to properly adjust your communications badge.
I promise you it won't be too painful".
"Since when are Federation badges painful?
Where do you intend on pinning this, on the top of my head?"
"I don't know, you tell me. Where do you want it to be?
Ferengi put theirs inside their ears, so I'd recommend it be pinned someplace where it doesn't make contact with the skin, it works better if it's placed on something synthetic rather than organic.
Quark goes through several of these a month, he's constantly losing them and when he isn't losing them, he rarely takes them out, so the metal circuitry malfunctions from the constant body heat.
Although that's his own fault for purchasing universal translators off the black market.
I know he misuses those devices because I saw one of his ears smoking one time, when I was lingering around his bar.
No Federation Regulated Universal Translator
ever overheats, that's a sign of a bad design and cheap circuitry, at least that's what O' Brain says.
Still I wouldn't push it, that's why these intercom badge are always placed on the outside of the body, preferably on the front of the uniform, like this".
Odo removed his hands from her uniform. She hardly had felt his delicate touch through the durable fibers of her uniform.
"I'm all done with that for now. Now that wasn't so bad, now was it?"
Taya still wasn't ready to see him as her friend again.
"What's the matter?"
Odo had a peculiarly puzzled expression.
"Would it matter to you if I told you?"
"Yes. I believe it would matter considerably."
"I had a rough night if you must know."
"Understandable. First nights are always rough.
This must be an unfamiliar environment for you, it can be difficult to adjust but you'll get there.
Is there any particular reason that you had a rough night besides the new environment of this station?"
"Nightmares".
"Oh. Nightmares about what exactly?"
Odo's voice was sickeningly cheery.
"Nightmare about you".
"Are you being humorous or are you being serious?"
"I would have to have a very sick sense of humor to make a joke about that."
"Yes it would be a rather cruel joke yet I had no idea I was that terrifying".
Odo tried to remember the last time someone had actually been scared of him.
It had been a long time since anyone had cowered before him and usually it was during some investigation or it was when he had decided to appear unannounced, revealing that he had been there all the time in the form of some ordinary object.
"Don't overthink it. It's nothing personal.
It's just the usual nightly nonsense, it has nothing to do with how I see you or how I feel about you.
It's just a dream, not a Bajoran Prophecy".
"I should hope not but do let me know if anything changes.
I'd hate to be included in a Bajoran Prophecy and not know about it.
In the meantime Grab that extra tablet, We're heading to Quark's".
"Again? I thought you hated that place."
"Yes, again.
I don't hate the place itself, I just hate Quark but as much as I hate him, I have to work with him somehow.
He gives me valuable information and I have a feeling we'll be getting some very valuable information from him quite soon."
Odo really had no business being there at Quark's but after finding out that Taya barely knew Quark, he came to the quick realization that Quark had yet again lied to him.
She was no entertainer, she had never massaged his lobes and she most likey never entered that bar since she arrived onto this station.
The only reason he was heading to Quark's was to reprimand him privately, possibly scare him a bit, after all it had been a great while since he'd given anybody the shivers.
"Now as you know after last night, Quark is still under the impression that you cannot address him directly until after a 6 month period, so let me do the talking.
You can make nods to signify yes or no, you can whisper things to me or write it out for me but you are under no circumstances to speak to Quark directly in any manner."
"What about after the 6 months?"
"When the time comes I'll take care of it or rather I'll take care of him.
Just make sure that you don't speak to anybody of the male persuasion when he's within earshot.
I'll never hear the end of it he finds out this was all a fabricated ruse.
Save me the trouble, alright."
"Alright, Captain".
Taya followed this with a mock salute.
"Very amusing.
Try not spill anything this time, Got it".
"No spillage this time, I promise you".
Odo noticed that Taya in her enthusiasm was marching ahead of him.
"Good to hear but please either remain by my side or a little ways behind me, you might give people the wrong idea.
They might think you're the one that's in charge of this investigation".
Odo guided her back by her shoulder, so she wasn't racing ahead of him.
"Nobody knows who I am, they all know who you are though.
So I doubt they'll think I'm in charge of anything, let alone an investigation."
Taya felt his touch this time, although he was clearly being just a gentle guide for her, the pressure from his grip, made her tense up.
She remembered in her dream that he had gripped onto to her shoulder and it was the same exact shoulder as well.
"Regardless, I don't feel comfortable with the idea of you getting to my investigation before I do.
You could get into trouble or start trouble or worse be the trouble.
I'm keeping an eye on you remember?
Does Security Clearance ring any bells?"
"I know, I was supposed to fix that this morning. I'm sorry".
She sounded guilty and highly unsure of herself.
"Would you Stop saying you're sorry.
Save it for a situation that actually requires you to be sorry about something, otherwise that word may lose it's validity, not to mention it's sincerity.
The security logins can wait.
I have Quark to deal with right now".
Taya realized they were very cloely approaching Quark's establishment.
"Good morning Constable, What Can I do for you on this fine morning?"
Quark attempted to be civil but it just sounded like Quark was trying to charmingly kiss up to him.
"Save the charm, Quark.
I have something I wish to discuss with you privately, if you don't mind".
"Well I don't exactly have a office like you do not but you can take a step back in the storage room if you'd like".
"Yes, that would do.
Taya stay here.
Don't get in any trouble while I'm gone."
Odo gave Taya a stern side glare just as he was about to turn around and follow Quark to the storage room behind the bar counter.
Quark unlocked the security lock on the front of the storage room door and they both slid inside.
Odo snatched onto Quark extravagant coat collar and nearly flung him against a few boxes that were resting on a storage shelf.
The boxes teetered slightly and threatened to fall for a few short seconds.
"QUARK, this is the last time I'll have you lie to me!
I wanted information, not far fetched fantasies from your feverish imagination.
She is no entertainer, she never entered this bar and I know for a fact, that she never asked you for a job in this infernal establishment of yours!
So I suggest you start talking unless you want to take this conversation back to the security station which will be looong and arduous, I'll even make sure that there's paperwork involved".
"Okay, okay, alright alright, I'll fess up, I saw Garak bring her in here and it was Garak who told me all about her.
I was at the Docking Bay, I saw her then but I was never formally introduced to her, so no I never talked with her, not directly at least.
I did speak with Garak though".
"Obviously.
Was there a Romulun vessel there?"
"Um...I really can't say".
"Maybe a little paperwork regarding your profits might persuade you".
Odo growled at him while dragging him closer to him by his collar.
"Oh please anything but that.
You wouldn't bring the inspector here would you?"
"Yes that can be arranged but that's entirely up to you.
Talk and I might not have to summon the inspector".
"Yes, yes, yes, it was a romulun ship with a cloaking devices, warp drive and huge bulkhead torpedos."
"Oh that doesn't sound like a cargo ship to me".
"No it's not, it's just a escort ship like the defiant but it's been modified for battle somehow."
"Was it a vessel belonging to the Maquis?"
"Why would the Maquis come here?
Aren't they decommissioned or something?"
"The Maquis is still around.
Is it a Maquis ship or not, Quark?!"
"I don't know".
Quark whined and let out a fake tearless sob.
"Yes, you do, know Quark, now
tell me before I lose my patience!"
"It's a rebel ship but noone told me what kind.
Garak said something about a Cardassian underground... I think."
"So it's not a cargo ship and it doesn't belong to the Maquis.
Thank you Quark, you've been most helpful.
Oh before I go, if you try talking to that new girl, I'll not only have paper work and the inspector at my front desk, I'll have you safely tucked away behind a stasis field.
It should be interesting seeing you handle that Inspector while you're in a prison cell.
Just thought I'd let you know.
I hope you enjoy, the rest of your day, Quark".
Odo pretended to straighten out his uniform and he stood up as tall as he could as he left Quark stunned in the storage room.
"Now we can go.
You need to attend to those logins remember".
"Yes Commander Ital".
"Oh it's Commander now is it?
I like the sound of that.
What I'd like even better is to hear a full report of exactly how you got here on this station.
There are a few details I believe you left out.
I'd like you to fill me in on those details, if you don't mind".
Taya saw there was nothing in the least bit threatening about his demeanor but what bothered her was his secretive smile.
He knew something and he wasn't going to tell her what he knew until they arrived back to the security station.
Taya stayed behind him and hid a gulp as she followed him back to security.