Odo quickly calmed down when he realized she was fast asleep.
"You're cute Ensign.Very cute, pity you had to catch up on your beauty sleep in my chair but I suppose under the circumstances I'll let this slide for now".
Taya showed no recognition that he had said anything but instead she remained asleep.
He cautiously snatched up his tablet off of his desk so as not to wake her and then he quietly postioned himself within the opposite chair.
He decided to busy himself with a bit of reading but his mind couldn't seem to absorb any of the words, the thoughts of his transformations consumed him far too much for him to focus on any light reading.
There was a frantic rustle followed with a hollow bang, as Taya Stood up on her feet, she was completely upright and by the looks of it she was absolutely mortified.
"Reporting for Duty Constable Odo, Sir!"
She almost did a mock salute but after seeing his steely eyes staring back at her, her arm slowly drifted down to her side instead.
"At ease, Ensign.
You know you really ought to slow down, Taya, you nearly fell over and you nearly broke my chair in the process. If you're going to sleep in my chair please do me favor and take care of it."
"I'm sorry sir.
I don't know how I got here.
Wait actually yes I do.
I was getting a message sir.
It was a very important message though. One that I think you should know About".
"Oh. Was it from Dukat this time or from Madred?".
"Neither Sir. It was from Garak sir."
"Garak? Garak the simple Tailor man that claims he never was a spy? We are speaking of that slippery Cardassian that has eyes the size of Gowron's right?"
"Yes it's the same Garak sir.
The Obsidian Order Garak, Garak the former tailor and gardener."
"And Garak communicated to you because?"
"Because of Dukat sir.
I even recorded the conversation".
"Oh... that's very thorough of you Ensign.
So did you get this message here inside my office or was it elsewhere?"
"I received the Hailing from Garak in my room sir.
It was apparently urgent.
He is currently traveling with Dukat at the moment somewhere at the border of the Alpha Quadrant.
However what was so unusual about this conversation is that he wasn't just trying to contact me but you as well sir".
"First of all I'm not a sir and secondly you're going to have show me this message of yours".
"Right Away Constable".
Odo stood up pristinely from the chair and hovered over the console keys which Taya was operating with significant speed and precision.
Taya brought up the recording of Garak in a solitary and darknened room.
"This is the message that came in right before he hailed me, sir.
It was addressed to you.
Just to let you know the Hailing signal was horribly scrambled so I couldn't trace the exact location of where he was calling from.
This particular message the one you're about to see was so terribly jumbled, I had to practically spend 3 hours just to make sense if it."
"You mean manually?"
"Yes Constable, I had to do it manually because- well I sort of hacked into your office's security system, which I know sounds really bad but it was just to get past the doors.
I got some sort of weird interference. It was like static but it was kind of painful.
Then I couldn't use my telepathic abilities without getting a bad headache. So yes I had to resort to doing this manually sir".
"Well, I must say I am impressed with your determination and your efficient skills in engineering.
You really do surprise me and I could definitely see you having quite a promising in Engineering, Ensign.
You are currently only one of Two people that actually has succeeded in opening that door without my consent.
That static you were experiencing is merely some nasty feed back I placed within the security system...on purpose.
It was designed to keep people out but I had not anticipated that it would be hacked into telepathically and for that I apologize. However that's not only thing I need to apologize for.
Before I take a look at this message there is something I'd like to discuss with you first.
Please have a seat".
Odo gestured to the seat he had been in previously and he very stiffly took a seat in his usual chair.
Taya's hands were fidgeting nervously and it did not escape his attention that she appeared extremely on edge.
"First off, I would like to apologize for the way I behaved last night. I was erratic, emotional, irrational and I wasn't making any sense whatsoever. I'm afraid I wasn't myself last night and frankly I think much of my behavior was rather inexcusable.
The way I treated you was unacceptable and I'm sorry if I hurt you in any way".
"No I wasn't hurt in any way, Constable.
I have to admit you were acting kind of strangely but after you connected with my Pagh, I immediately understood afterwards. Call me crazy Constable but I think you are so used to bottling up your emotions that perhaps you forget to address them later on.
This can cause some real serious issues, believe me I understand completely, I had to learn that lesson the hard way.
You see Constable, During one of my many interrogation sessions, I used to do some pretty erratic things myself.
I gave Garak a blood nose once, I've broken bones, I've made Cardassians run for the hills and I have even done irreplaceable damage to people's brains in the past.
The point is if you aren't allowed to process these emotions properly, Constable, they can end up eating you alive and sometimes they end up swallowing your happiness along with it.
I can assure you that I didn't mentally manipulate you in any way.
These were all your own emotions but perhaps connecting with my Pagh, somehow,intensified these emotions just a bit.
Anyhow it wasn't intentional, really Constable".
"I know, Taya. I'm well aware that your only intention was to be of help to me and I appreciate that... a lot.
No really, Taya it means a lot to me that you have made...such an effort to help me.
I think you did help me in a way".
Taya was surprised at his complacent sentimental nature he was displaying to her right now.
"How did I help... exactly?"
Taya's lips were white and thin from constructive worry.
"I'm not really sure If I can describe it to you but I might be willing to show you instead...at another time of course".
Taya was noticably uncomfortable by this.
"I'm sorry that sounded rather peculiar. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable.
Taya I hope you know that you aren't a problem or a burden to me.
You do complicate things but not necessarily in a negative way.
It was wrong of me to treat you like you were a bother to me.
You're not a bother, you're just complicated and I myself am very complicated as well but I like for us to somehow find common ground somewhere and perhaps we can cooperate with one another and come to some sort of agreement.
I know your First day here wasn't easy. I'm not an easy man to deal with it at times, so I appreciate your patience and I wanted to thank you for telling me those things... that you did...last night... you were...very kind. I'll have you know that it was probably the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.
I don't get compliments all that often and what you told me last night was the most heartfelt and endearing compliment I've ever received...from anyone.
It was wrong of me to just leave you like that... after all...that you...said...to me".
Taya could scarcely believe what she was hearing.
She couldn't deny what she was seeing though.
Odo was being emotionally vulnerable with her, he was apologizing and he was actually thanking her for helping him.
He was hesitant and just as nervous and unsure of himself as she was.
"Funny and I was sitting here worrying that you'd be angry at me for falling asleep in your chair".
Taya attempted to make a little joke.
"Oh that's a minor technicalty, Taya and it's hardly a security violation. However hacking into my security system, that might be considered as bending the rules just a bit but considering your efforts you put into bringing me this message I'm willing to let that slide as well Taya.
However in the meantime please don't attempt to hack the doors to my office again, just to get inside, I do have security keys at my disposal if that makes it any easier".
"No I won't be hacking any more of your doors in the future Constable. I still have a slight migraine from my last experience with that door so I'm not too keen on trying that again."
"That's certainly good to hear.
Now you may proceed with the message Ensign".
"Um Constable, you can proceed yourself, you are at the control keys. You know how to press play don't you Constable?"
Odo raised one brow as if he were upset but then he followed his glare with witty smile.
"Yes I think I'll manage Taya..
without you".
Odo pressed the correct key and then the video began to play.
"Hello old Friend. I imagine you never thought you'd see my face again and I really don't blame you as I am still a Cardassian."
Odo chucked grimly at this little quip.
"I'm not here to reminisce old man, I'm here to bring you a warning, a warning about Dukat. You probably already know by now that Dukat is very much alive and that he never died in the first place. You see Sisko told much of the crew and most of Deep Space 9 that he was dead due to convenience and the desire to avoid uncomfortable questions and conflicts.
Dukat is not in his right mind he never has been ever since he came out of those caves. I'm sorry to inform you Odo but Taya's present location is not secure. I have not seen or heard anything from Madred, so you probably won't have to worry about him for quite sometime. It is Dukat you will have to worry about this time. Another thing is Dukat also knows of her fascination with you. He knows of her obsession with this station. What's even more worrisome Odo is he's thinking of using a polaran Stasis field generator and he's planning on using it on you. At the moment he has no such device on hand but most likely he will have someone make one for him. I can delay this process and I can potentially sabotage the device if it is ever made. I will delay Dukat in every way I can but I'm afraid he extremely determined to come to that station. He may even destroy it if necessary. Taya is apparently very valuable to him. You probably already know why but if you are not aware of this information, former Gul Madred trained her to be a weapon and now if Dukat has Taya under his wing so to speak he may destroy planets, nations even galaxies.Please keep her away from Dukat. Protect her at all costs. She must not fall into the hands of Dukat. I end this transmission with an apology. This was partly my fault. I will make it up to you one day. Garak Out".
Odo's eyes were brightened by horror and confusion.
"You...you were a weapon."
Odo spoke slowly and softly in disbelief.
Taya refused to make eye contact until Odo demanded her to face him and tell him the truth.
"ANSWER Me Ensign were you or were you not raised to be a weapon for the Cardassian Empire?!! Look at me when you say it Ensign!"
Taya stared down fearfully and then looked up at him, she shuddered slightly, then exhaled softly before she answered him.
"Yes... it's true...I was. I was raised to be a weapon, that's why I was given so much training on how to defend myself. I was taught about technology and Battle Strategy since I was 10 years old Constable. I'm fluent in over 200 alien languages, I was educated privately by Vulcan Tutors. I'm literally aquipped with all the skills to overthrow any space vessels, space station, or planet.
I could overthrow governments, I could make nations crumble and I was designed to destroy galaxies Odo."
Taya's eyes burned into Odo's gaze.
"What do you mean you were designed?"
Taya stood up so quickly that it took Odo a moment to process the speed in which she went from the chair to being right in front of the closed Security doors.p
"I was designed to be a monster!! Is that what you want to hear me say?! I'm dangerous, if you ever had a fear or doubt about me, all of them are true! You were right about me! I am dangerous! I could destroy this entire station. Garak is right, you were right, I am a danger to this station."
Taya nearly sobbed these words out as angry tears crept out from the corners of her eyes.
Taya wanted to leave and run to her quarters but she felt a hand on her shoulder stop her before she could go any further.
Odo guided her shoulder to face him.
"You are not a monster Taya regardless of how the Cardassians trained you to be and I don't believe you are a danger to this station. Yes I admit I had my suspicions, my share of worries, fears and concerns but that is because I am the Head of security it is my duty to suspicious of everyone who walks through those entrance doors. I think perhaps you are under the impression that I enjoy making these dark scenarios in my head about people's character but I don't. I don't get a perverse pleasure from seeing people as melodramatic villains in my head. I never once wanted to believe that any of my suspicions of you were true, Taya".
Taya was frozen by his tender gaze.
"I know I just... thought maybe it would be easier for you to see me as a threat than as a friend".
Odo felt his chest liquefy again, his chest felt soft and vulnerable and immediately he felt someone had punched him there.
"Then you are greatly mistaken Taya, I'd rather have you as a friend than as a threat. I eliminate threats I don't befriend them so be thankful you aren't a threat to me any longer Taya".
Odo smiled casually and then plucked one of her loose strands of hair that was in her face and then placed it lovingly aside.
"You shouldn't assume you know what I'm thinking or how I feel about certain situations. You may walk with the Prophets and Pal around with the Emissary but you don't know everything. There are certain things I hold back even from you. I'm what people call complicated. I'm a man of mystery so to speak. I'm not denying that you have certain unique abilities but please do yourself a favor don't assume you know a person by the way they behave. I've found people are so much more than how they act, look or feel.
Ensign you are... dismissed... for now"..
"But sir-".
"Don't Sir me, Taya, you can go. You were up most of the night and you need to rest. That's an order. GO!"
"Yes Constable".
She left his office confused and exhausted, even after taking the Turbo Lift to the Habitat Ring she still didn't understand why Odo trusted her so much.
She curled up uncomfortably on the sofa and stared out the window lost, her eyes empty and her heart numb.
She wasn't even aware that any time had passed until she heard familiar whoosh of the mechanical doors unseal themselves.
"Ensign...are you doing alright?"
Taya got up with a start as she saw Odo's quizzical eyes studying her, his neck craned in puzzled curiosity.
"I'm fine... Why do you ask?"
Her voice was vacant and robotic again.
"How did you even get in here?"Taya demanded almost angrily.
"I have security keys, security codes, I pretty much access to every door in this station, it comes with the territory of being Security Officer. You could even call it a perk".
"Odo, I'm fine... I just want to be alone that's all".
"Yes I can see that and that's understandable. I don't wish to intrude or disrupt your personal time Ensign but Rom is looking for you and he's loitering the promenade right now as we speak, just to wait for you."
"Oh I forgot. I'm supposed to have dinner with him at Quark's."
"Interesting choice. So do you intend on ignoring Quark for the rest of the evening or are you actually planning on breaking your scared vow of silence with him?"
"That was your sacred vow of Silence Odo".
"NO, it wasn't, that was Sisko's idea. Wasn't it? I don't remember either way you'll have to decide what to do with Quark. However do Let me know if he follows you home or starts stalking you around the station. I have my ways of dealing with him".
"So you're not upset that I'm going to Quark's?"
"No, I was surprised of course since I know you don't drink or deal hands at dabo yet it would be wrong of me to interfere with your recreational activities, so I thought it best to let you decide."
"That's mighty wight of you i must say".
"Yes I know I thought so too. Um by the way ...if you find yourself ever in need of company or comfort I'm right across the way if you need me."
"Thank you". Taya was still stunned by how kind he was being towards her today.
"No problem, don't mention it, now if you excuse me, I need to finish my rounds".
