"Please don't take me to my home planet this time, Taya.

Let's just say it's too painful to go back to".

Odo hoarsely requested of her.

"Agreed. I apologize, It was not my intention to have you relive anything painful from your past.

I will be more careful this time, I I promise you".

Odo placed his thumb upon her scar and nothing of real significance happened at least not first.

"Do you feel the Pagh?"

"What is the Pagh supposed to feel like?"

"Its like a strong and steady pulse.

You'll know when you feel it.

It will be warm but it will give you slight chills afterwards.

There are other ways to connect to the Pagh but its best to go straight to the source."

"Did you say chill?"

Odo asked nervously as he diverted his eyes to look in another part of the room.

"Yes? Why? Have you felt something like that before?"

"Yes I have actually.

I've experienced something very similar...in the holodeck you were repairing at my request.

I've been experiencing that sensation on and off lately."

"That's only natural.

Was there a warmth that followed it?"

"Yes, eventually. I still don't feel anything.

Is this absolutely necessary, Taya?

I feel rather foolish right now not to mention inappropriate.

How long am I going to have to do this Taya?

I don't think this was what Bashir meant by checking up on you".

"Bashir doesn't know what he means half of the time because he tends to open his mouth before his brain can catch up.

So don't worry about him, you're here to worry about me, not him remember".

"Did Sisko have to do this with you?"

Odo partly sneered as he said this.

"Yes to a point but the Pagh isn't just in one place.

It can be anywhere and sometimes it even tends to move around just a bit.

Sisko touched my ear as is custom by most traditional Bajorans."

"Is it possible for you to have more than one?"

"Yes and No.

The Pagh can temporarily divide itself and the energy can travel elsewhere but these various connections are merely just part of the great network of life.

These different areas are one and the same, they work together just as the body does, in the end there is only one Pagh and only one Hum. Does that make sense to you?"

"Yes it does. Wait is my hand supposed to be glowing like this?"

Odo drew his hand to eye level and noticed how his hand appeared to be reverting back to it's natural state, it was transparent yet every inch of his hand was illuminated and his hand miraculously kept it's solid shape regardless of how liquefied it appeared.

"Let me see".

Odo leapt up from the couch and strode over to the window that overlooked the Alpha Quadrant.

"No!"

He hissed as he fled to the window.

"Odo, What's wrong?

I thought you wanted me to help you".

"I do but just not in this way.

Taya as much as I enjoy your company most days, I don't believe this is quite the appropriate conduct for us to have with one another even if we are within the

privacy of your quarters.

I know you want to help and I appreciate it but I'm going to perfectly honest with you, I'm not interested in becoming any closer to you than we already are right now."

"You think that that is what this is about?

You think I'm coming onto you don't you?"

"Coming onto me?

Oh you mean romantically.

The thought had crossed my mind yes.

It's crossed my mind many times, infact.

It's the way you smile at me, in that unsettling way that Lwaxana used to when she was hunting me down.

I don't think I like it either.

I didn't like it coming from her and I certainly don't like it coming from you."

"Lwaxana? Do you mean Lwaxna Troi?"

"Yes that's precisely who I'm talking about.

She used to chase me all over this station.

She was absolutely smitten with me and I was shall we say not very pleased by her advances.

Evidently she's the one that I got stuck on Turbo Lift with, for 10 whole hours.

There was an issue with the circuitry which created a rather potent and effective stasis field which temporarily prevented me from properly regenerating.

When O' Brian finally fixed the issue it was already too late for me to retreat to my quarters and I had no choice but to revert to my natural state immediately afterwards.

This situation is no different.

I don't know what you're Pagh is capable of but whatever it's doing, it's causing my solid form to slightly regenerate and I don't like that and I'd much prefer to remain solid for the time being especially when I'm with you in your own personal quarters!"

"I didn't realize I had that effect on you.

If you let me take a look at it for a moment, I may be able to fix it for you".

"Why so I can get random chills and random hot flashes, while my solid form threatens to deteriorate on a whim?

You know it may have taken

me a few moments to figure this out but from what I've gathered so far, you're weird abilities have caused nothing but trouble and not only that but you seem to be recreating certain memories, memories I'd much prefer to stay hidden.

You made Bashir's Sick Bay look like a circus, you created absolute havoc with the power systems as well as all the handheld medical devices which Bashir claimed you rendered absolutely useless and now you are proceeding to sabotage my very existence.

You are making my life complicated, Taya.

I know I said you didn't but the moment I touched that scar of yours, I've come to the realization that you are making me relive something, something I had I had hoped I would Never have to relive again.

I want to be free of my past and don't want to relive it, you should know this by now".

"I suppose I'm only a dangerous member of the Cardassian resistance and the fact that I get compliments from Garak, clearly must mean I have connections with the Obsidian Order.

I mean let's think this through, I was educated in a Vulcan Academy, I was trained in Klingon Martial arts, I could probably hack through most of your security systems, now I'm wreaking chaos and havoc, on not just the all the technological equipment and devices on this station but I'm now proceeding to use my manipulative brain powers on the rest of the staff on this station as well.

I could completely ruin you and the rest of this station.

Yet is is possible that Taya is that clueless or maybe she actually might be a spy for the Dominion?".

"Why are you referring to yourself as if you're the 3rd person?"

"Because I am the 3rd person, I am the narrator, I am the writer, I am the storyteller and for all you know I could be the inventor for these far fetched allegories".

Taya was inching towards him bit by bit as she made sure that her gaze was relentlessly unwavering.

Odo was overshadowing his once exposed hand by cradling it with his opposite one and he subconsciously recoiled his neck away from her as she approached closer to him.

She lifted her head so she could finally be face to face with him and not only did he recoil his neck from her, her arched up against the window.

"Whatever you do don't touch me".

Odo sounded rather crazed as he pressed himself closer to the glass behind him.

However he mistakenly, placed the wrong hand on the glass and the tiny lights that were amongst the vast exspanse of space, illuminated his compromised hand even more.

"You don't think I'm a spy do you?"

"I presently have no idea what you are, that's why I'm being so cautious and If this is going to be one of the side effects, I don't think I want whatever help you were planning on to give to me."

"You could just leave, that is if I'm that troublesome to you.

I really didn't mean to hurt you.

It doesn't hurt does it?"

Odo saw the sincere compassion in her eyes so he dropped his arm rather dramatically and then stood up as upright as he could manage.

"No it doesn't hurt, not at the moment anyways.

You'll have to excuse me, I don't know what came over me.

It seems I had a bit of an episode there.

Look I don't think you are a spy and to be honest the thought has never occurred to me."

"How can you tell?

I was brain washed by Cardassians for most of my life, I could be one of them, I could be a Obsidian order agent for all you know.

Why I could even be your assassin.

I could have been sent here to kill you".

"If that were the case you are doing a terribly shoddy job of it.

I think Garak could do better.

No you're not a spy.

I know a spy when I see one and I can assure you none of them ever looked anything like you.

You aren't an assassin either Because if I were your target I would be dead already."

"No, not necessarily.

I mean that wonky hand you have there could just be another one of my experimental tests.

I could just be testing you for the sole purpose of finding a effective way to kill you."

"Aw...mhmm...Let me know when you've figured that out, in the mean time I can't leave this room with my hand looking like this, so perhaps you could fix that before I leave".

"Oh dear so does that mean you can't leave until that hand gets taken care of?"

Taya smiled up at him rather wickedly.

"Yes it would seem so but don't let that get you any ideas.

I'm not staying any longer than I have to."

Odo allowed Taya to approach him and he offered her his hand as a gesture of his kind nature.

She took ahold of his hand and the moment she touched him, the abnormal glowing that was illuminating his partially gelatinous hand subsided and his hand appeared somewhat human again.

"Now how does that feel?"

"Comfortable. Thank you.

Now what?"

"That was just step one."

She gave him a privately humorous smile.

"Don't tell me there's a step 2, Taya. This isn't another one of your games is it?"

Odo sounded like a condescending father speaking to his child.

"There are no games here.

The next step is all entirely up to you, that hand is just the beginning, now the possibilities

will be as endless as the vast expanse of the stars.

You'll see."

"Are we still talking about my transformation abilities Taya or have we moved onto something else entirely?"

"The subject hasn't changed, at least not much.

The effects should take place the next time you decide to transform and you should be able to take on any shape or form you wish without any trouble immediately afterwards.

I'd start with that hand first.

The Pagh has chosen.

I mean obviously there has to be a logical reason why your hand was effected first.

So I'd go with that first just in case".

"In case of what?"

"You're always so thorough in everything you do, you can't have a single detail left out, you always have to have all the results and you can never be in the dark about anything, everything has to revealed and exposed to the light.

I admire that about you, Of course there are many things I admire you for but I won't bother you with them all, No doubt you need to head back to finish your rounds.

I shouldn't detain you any longer."

"No it wouldn't be any bother and I do have a little while longer before I need to head back and start my next shift, so I don't mind staying a bit longer, at least until you've settled in of course."

"I don't think I could get anymore settled in then I already am.

I think I'm just fine for the time being.

It's comfortable, It's still a bit nippy but that's probably cause I'm so used to that good ole sweltering weather on Cardassia.

I'm sure I'll adjust."

"As you Always do and as you always will, Taya."

"Yes that's me, durable and adjustable just like a rubber band, I always snap back into place.

Look, Odo since you're still here, I have something to tell you.

Something I think you might find very interesting."

Taya gulped ever so slightly as she gazed out at the stars from her window.

"I'm listening".

"What if I were to tell you that I could help locate both Madred and Dukat?"

"I'd first ask you exactly how you came upon this information.

You understand it is of vital importance as Chief of Security to ensure that all my information is from a reliable source.

So the real question is where exactly are you getting this information from?

What is your source?"

"Let's just say my source wishes to remain anonymous".

"Aww... now that's likely a story, not to mention one that's highly over used but nice try And Just so you know, these so called Prophets that love to talk to you so much, don't count, at least not in my eyes, so I would recommend you provide me with a better answer than that.

Remember I don't know the prophets, you do, so who is this source of yours again now?

Do they have a name?"

"Oh yes they most certainly do."

"It's not Quark is it?"

"Oh goodness no, of course not.

No this source is much closer to the truth probably far closer than I will ever be."

"Why are you dragging this out for me?

Why all this mystery and why aren't you just giving me a straight answer?"

"Okay, Okay, I'll tell you but I'm just not sure if you'll believe me".

Taya furrowed her brow in fear.

"Try me, I'm sure you'll be surprised in the things I'll believe".

"Dukat is my source.

Dukat contacted me through a modified synaptic stimulator, the same kind I invented on a whim when I first taken captive by the Cardassians.

He must have learned how to make one himself or he had someone help him make one for him instead.

He said it was based on my design.

Anyhow at first I thought it was a dream or a vision but the more I talked with him the more began to realize he wasn't just some hallucination.

He told me he was real and that he was nearby but then he asked for my coordinates.

I of course refused, I gave him a few hints but nothing that would really narrow down my present location.

I'm sure if I was able to access the communication relay system and the sensor relays as well, I could probably discover his exact location".

"And what of Madred?

How do you intend to track him down?"

"That's simple Madred will be soon to follow.

I know Madred, he won't be tracking me just yet, no he'll be tracking him not me because he knows Dukat will lead him straight to the source.

Dukat sounded worried and a just a little bit paranoid which means Madred is already on his trail as we speak.

Apparently he's desperate, very desperate, desperate to find me before Madred does."

"Well I must say that is a most extraordinary story.

It certainly dose make me wonder why he is so desperate to find you, Taya, yet that's not the most troubling part of this story of yours Taya.

What's troubling is Dukat has been reported as deceased for the last 20 years."

"What do you mean?"

Taya peered up at Odo as if he was playing a cruel joke on her.

"How do I put this delicately?

It seems I can't at the moment so I'm just going to be brutally honest with you, Taya, Dukat is dead and he's been dead for the last two decades.

Last I heard he was poisoned.

I never heard of anyone recovering a body but then again I wasn't there and I wasn't even at this station at the time of the event.

All I know is he isn't coming back unless...unless...this is a different Dukat somehow".

"A different Dukat?

You mean like a Dukat from another timeline or from a another alternate dimension?"

"That is possible yes but when I say a different Dukat, I mean that this Dukat may be some sort of imposter.

Has it ever occured to you that this Dukat that contacted you could be a shapeshifter?"

"No it certainly has not.

It is a possibility but I doubt it."

"What makes you so sure?"

Taya felt a twinge of pain strike her skull.

The pain rippled through to her abdomen, all the way down to her feet, so that she staggered slightly and she nearly flopped onto to the floor if it weren't for Odo who was nearby.

Odo saw her foothold slip and he saw her descend knee first towards the floor but he caught he long before her knees even touched the floor below her.

However his quick reflexes didn't make this situation any less awkward for him because as soon as he caught ahold of her, the station's regulated gravity caused her to plunge forward, so that her head rather inconveniently rested upon his chest.

His first inclination was to shove her away but instead, he swiftly hoisted her up from his chest, so that she was no longer leaning into him but instead propped back up onto to her feet.

He still kept her steady, he even managed to steady her with one arm while his other attempted to awaken her in someway.

Taya as usual wasn't responding.

Odo wasn't prone to panicking but after he realized that sickbay was closed and Bashir was most likely in bed at this hour, the truth began to sink in;he was alone and he was in charge and now it was up to him to save her yet again.

Only he wasn't sure he knew how.

He'd done it before but he had no idea if he would be that lucky again.

Meanwhile who was going to help him now if he couldn't manage to wake her up again?

"Permission to Enter Constable".

Odo heard a long transmission beep follow extremely familiar voice.

He was alarmed because who ever was asking to come in must have known he was here and in order for this person to know he was here, they would have had to have followed them both to this location within the habitat ring.

Odo wanted to demand who it was but he already knew, so there was no need to ask.

Odo still had to figure out what to do with Taya, so ge ultimately decided to carry her to the couch.

He took special care to make sure she was laying down comfortably on the soft green sofa.

He'd have much preferred to carry her to the bed that was located in the other room that served as her sleeping personal quarters but the couch was closer and he was much too alarmed by the visitor that lay outside the door to worry about doing that just yet.

He reassured himself that be would just do it later if the situation called for it.

He cautiously approached the release hatch console for the door as he had expected a horrible monster to be waiting on the other side.

There was no monster on the other side, there was only Rom.