Eight
I'd give anything to have something come out of that bucket.
Julian gazed longingly at the empty bucket. Half an hour ago it was full to the brim with water that Garak had discovered in a nearby river. They'd even constructed an amateur campfire to boil it, at Julian's insistence. "Hologram or not," He'd said, "I'm going to take any chance of catching some sort of bug."
Garak had stifled at a laugh at the doctor's pun.
Julian had then promptly thrown a spare twig at him.
Julian had also stared at the bucket, praying that he would see Odo ooze his way out, telling him of some miraculous plan to rescue them. He'd come to accept that there was obviously something preventing them from being transported out, but it didn't make him feel any happier.
They had taken turns dozing throughout the day, despite Garak's protests that he did not require as much rest. The windows were closed after Garak continued to make comments about the uncomfortable sensation the breeze made across his scales, though this did nothing to appease his discomfort. He'd curled up in the opposite corner to Julian, tucked away in a manner similar to a dozing kitten.
In any other circumstance, Julian would've laughed at the sight of his friend, who was currently resembling a sleeping lizard.
Sighing, Julian gazed out the window. The sun had slowly disappeared below the windowsill, the last rays of light casting a shadow over his features. He was pondering whether to wake Garak when the tailor stirred, apparently having jerked himself awake.
Garak blindly threw a hand against the wall, using it to position himself upright. He wiped the remains of sleep from his eyes.
"Enjoy your cat nap?" Julian smirked.
"I must admit, it was refreshing," Garak straightened his jacket. "Though I must say, doctor, that you are sorely lacking in hospitable sleeping environments."
Snorting, Julian rose to his feet. "In that case, may I suggest we continue on? Perhaps the enemy caves have comfier rocks to sleep on."
"I wouldn't object to a warm rock to doze upon."
"Caves on Earth are generally cold, Garak."
"Again, you are lacking in hospitable environments," Garak stood and strode his way to the door. He recoiled at the sudden temperature drop as he stepped outside. "Are you sure it's wise to head outside in such temperatures? Perhaps we should wait-"
"Garak," Julian said harshly. "Would you rather go out in the cold, under cover of darkness and therefore be safe, or stroll out in broad daylight and be chased by every human in that village? If we want to get anything done, it has to be now. And frankly, I'm not hanging around in this program a damn second longer than I have to."
Garak smiled. "You know, doctor, you are extremely skilled in the art of being irritating."
Julian opened the door. "After you, Garak."
The duo stepped out into the twilight, making their way through the forest until they reached the outskirts of the village. They perched themselves in a large section of shrubbery, watching the final stragglers make their way into their homes for the night. Some were fathers, finishing at their jobs for the day; some were drunks staggering home from the pub. None of them cast even a remote glance towards the forest.
Julian hated to admit it, but Quark's 'friend' had certainly gone to a great deal of trouble to program such detail. He couldn't help but think of the bartender, lying half-dead in a bloody puddle because of him. I hope I get the chance to actually request a program from him again.
As the sun disappeared, the temperature took a dramatic dive. Julian soon found himself warming his hands with his breath. Garak unsuccessfully attempted to stop his shivering, ultimately deciding to sit curled in a ball next to Julian.
They'd been sitting in the bush for close to an hour when a group of men gradually emerged from an alleyway, congregating underneath the flickering lamp post. All were dressed in a similar manner to Julian's mugger, most with well-worn jackets protecting them from the crisp air. They quickly began engaging in a hushed conversation.
"Garak!" Julian hissed quietly. "See if you can spot anyone we know."
Garak nodded, clenching his jaw as he delicately hoisted himself into a kneeling position. He had only glanced at the group for a moment before he shook his head.
Funny; Garak normally loves to commentate when he's observing others. Julian frowned to himself. Must be the cold.
Before he could probe Garak further, the group of men quickly dispersed into the night. Two remained at the lamp post, seemingly on the lookout; one kept his hands firmly in his pockets and leant against the alleyway wall, the other taking a seat on the ground.
Julian instantly began pondering. It was possible that this was a trap, and that the men were specifically targeting him and Garak. It was also a possibility that this was the next part of the program, with another 'heroic' situation soon to follow.
Julian went to ask Garak his opinion when the tailor lifted a silencing finger, pointing to the two men. Both had disappeared; Julian automatically assumed that they had begun their pursuit, but he noticed the tip of one man's hat poking from the darkness of the alleyway.
Before either man could ponder the absurdity of this situation, they both observed a young woman seemingly appearing from nowhere. The uneven surface of the street meant that the woman's hurried jog ended with a sudden fall. The woman lay for a moment, clearly stunned by the impact. It meant she couldn't recover fast enough to avoid falling into the grasp of the two men, who had emerged from the alleyway to snare their pray.
Julian watched in horror as the woman was aggressively thrown against the wall of the alleyway multiple times. It wasn't until the fourth time her skull collided with the brick wall that she was knocked unconscious. One of the men began to snigger as the second heaved the woman over and surveyed her unconscious body. To Garak and Julian's horror, he grinned and began unbuttoning his pants.
Julian's mouth fell open when he finally got a glimpse of the victim's face. "Oh my God."
"Do you know her?" Garak hissed.
Julian couldn't tear his eyes away. Dressed in dark twentieth-century clothing with a period-appropriate hairstyle, he almost hadn't realised who it was. And now here she was, unconscious and about to become a rape victim.
Garak gently touched Julian's shoulder. "Doctor?"
Julian swallowed nervously. "Did I ever tell you about a girl named Palis?"
A/N: I'd appreciate some suggestions on how to take this story further! I have a general idea of what I want to do, but I'm curious to hear your thoughts.
