DS9: Okanogan Incident Chapter 5

Next Morning

Garak was resting his eyes for a moment, looking out the window above, watching the various flying creatures' flit and tumble through the air. He had risen early to get some work done, as he suspected he would need to take some personal time soon to help Julian.

Julian's story had drifted in and out of his consciousness all night. What struck him was just how personal this attack was. They had been trailing Julian for eight years, tormenting him, destroying his reputation as a doctor.

Even though Julian had been living a double life, he was proud of the work he had done as a doctor, of the lives he helped and saved. So, whoever was going after Julian Bashir knew him well enough to aim where it hurt. Or was this just a lucky guess because Julian was a doctor, and it was just bias that directed them to attack his career.

Garak had known a lot of vindictive people over his own career. A person didn't stalk someone and murder people just because, over eight years, corrupting a doctor's medical computers, they must have realised it could have the effect of a patient dying. Over a simple grudge, sure the petty annoyances could be pleasing. Just most sane people would get bored after a while.

Garak had a hunch he wanted to talk to Julian about. The stalking started when Julian was thirty-four. He had been stationed on Deep Space Nine since he was twenty-seven. Julian had done several stupid things during that time, for his cover story no doubt. But Garak couldn't think of anything that the doctor had done or taken part in that would derive this level of vitriolic attack.

Before the station he had been a medical student. Students who notoriously had little free time. In Garak's mind that just left the time before the other man was Julian Bashir.

He would just have to go into more detail with Julian.

Breakfast

Garak had just finished dictating a message to one of his rivals in the council giving a biting critique of the other man's proposal about closing Cardassia's borders so that no external influences could contaminate the Cardassian Culture.

As if fighting the contamination or their earth, water and air wasn't enough, the short sighted idiot wanted to cut themselves off from any foreign money making avenues. They needed foreign terra forming equipment to help reclaim their land so that they could be fully self-sufficient.

When his office door slid open and Julian glided into the room carrying a trey holding a teapot, cups, and a plate of round dark discs. He thought Julian called them biscuits.

"What's this?" Garak said.

"Well, I could hear your rather strident dictation from the other room and thought I would stage an intervention before you had a civil war on your hands," Julian grinned at Garak as he set the tray down.

"As your replicator has limited energy reserves for treats, I thought I would share some of my supplies," Julian said as he set about laying Garak's desk for tea. Placing one of the mist matched cups that Asha so liked before them.

Julian then poured a stream of the steaming reddish liquid in each cup, curls of steam rose for the hot liquid, defusing the air with the rich aroma of the tea.

Back on the station, they had a monthly ritual of tasting the various teas from around the quadrant.

"You haven't tried this one before, well not with me," Julian acknowledged with a smile. "It's called Rooibos, and comes from the continent of Africa on Earth," Julian informed him.

Garak leaned forward and inhaled, the scent travelling over his tongue and the receptors in his nose. It was much sweeter than some of the teas he had tried.

"It can be drunk plain, with a citrus infusion or even a splash of milk," Julian told him as he added a little milk to his tea before stirring and taking a sip. "Aah!" he exclaimed.

Garak picked up the cup and by habit, blew gently on the liquid before taking a sip. He savoured the flavour, refreshing it had a fruit undertone, no underlying bitterness, and a hint of natural sweetness.

Garak nodded in appreciation, "this is good."

"And these are ginger nuts, a type of biscuit, good for dunking." Julian demonstrated by picking up the biscuit and holding it in his tea for two seconds, before withdrawing it a quickly biting into the biscuit.

Garak valiantly suppressed his gag reflex. "Well, that looked disgusting. I definitely won't be doing that," he asserted.

"Suit yourself," Julian said with a shrug, eyes crinkled at the corner in amusement.

Garak narrowed his eyes in suspicion, before taking a biscuit from the plate. He brought it to his nose and sniffed. It smelt spicy and it made his nose tickle. He took a tentative bite. As soon as the biscuit started to dissolve in his saliva, he started to feel an alarming burning sensation in his mouth.

Turning his head quickly he spat the mess on the floor, "burning," was all Garak managed before grabbing the tea and taking a drink. His eyes and nose were streaming as the spice infiltrated the area that linked throat, nose, and eyes together.

"Jesus," Julian jumped up in alarm. "If it is burning drink the milk instead, I'll get a medical solution from my bag." Julian thrust the milk jug into Garak's hands as Julian rushed from the room.

Garak drank the milk as instructed and it was helping. He had never tasted anything so vile in his life. He coughed a bit. Opening a draw with one hand he pulled out some tissues he kept there. He blew his nose to clear the excess mucus and then dried his stinging eyes.

His tongue still felt like it was burning, so he took some more milk.

Julian darted back into the room with his medical kit. He quickly scanned Garak, before reaching in his bag and mixing up a solution. "Quick, swish this in your mouth and then spit it out. That will counteract the chemical reaction." Julian handed Garak the little cup.

Doing as Julian told him, Garak washed his mouth with the solution. Almost immediately the burning sensation ceased, and his nose didn't itch quite so badly.

"I am just going to give you an antihistamine," Julian said holding up the hypospray for Garak to see. He didn't inject the Cardassian until he got the nod of consent. He then pressed the dispenser against his neck and pressed the button for the injection.

Garak's eyes were still watering but the rest of him was starting to feel a bit better.

"I have some eye drops in my bag that would calm your eyes?" Julian told him.

Garak managed a simple "yes."

Drawing out a small tube containing clear liquid, he passed it over to Garak. "Just use two or three drops in each eye," Julian instructed.

Garak did as he was told. He closed his eyes for a minute before opening them again and wiping his eyes.

"I am so sorry!" Julian said own eyes wide, face pale, a sheen of sweat on his forehead. "I have never seen anyone react to the spice in a ginger nut like that before," Julian exclaimed. "Are you feeling any better?" Julian placed a concerned hand on Garak's shoulder while he looked extremely guilty. He quickly scanned Garak again, checking his vital signs. His heart rate and breathing were a little elevated, but no longer outside the normal range for a man Garak's age.

"I really am sorry," Julian reiterated, hovering beside the Cardassian.

"I am fine doctor, please sit down," Garak said, waiving Julian back to his seat. Julian looked reluctant but he did sit down.

"I had hoped to provide a pleasant interlude to your morning's work, not poison you," Julian said morosely, mouth turned down.

"It was certainly a break from the infighting of the Depak council for sure," Garak attempted a little humour as his heart rate returned to normal.

"Make sure to add ginger to your allergy list and for all that's holy, do not eat raw or candied ginger," Julian commanded, his own pulse returning to it naturally low rate.

Garak grimaced and nodded his agreement, before leaning down and wiping up the mess on the floor, with a spare tissue.

Julian reached out with trembling hands for his tea. Hoping the familiar taste will help sooth him. He swears he will never give ginger to unsuspecting alien again.

They sit in silence while they both recover their equilibrium.

As he is sipping his tea, Garak attention drifts to the pad that Julian had left on his desk when he had carried in the tea set.

"Did you want to show me something?" Garak nodded towards the pad sitting on his desk.

Julian's eyes followed the direction. "Oh, we hadn't finished our discussion from yesterday. I brought you the copy of the two Cardassian hacks. One from Ezri's files and the other from my computer on the Okanogan," Julian explained.

"But we don't have to look at it right now," Julian quickly said.

"No, my dear doctor. The reason I was working early this morning, was so we can work on your case," Garak gently assured his friend.

Julian looked at Garak for a beat, before nodding and picking up his pad. His long deft fingers quickly glided over the surface of the pad. Opening the screen and then navigating to the files he was looking for.

"Here, tell me what you think," Julian said, before sitting back in his chair and waiting patiently for Garak to review the files, while he examined the Cardassian's face.

Garak frowned in concentration, his entire focus taking up by the data in front of him. His grey fingers easily flicked through the screens, pausing now and then to look in more detail at the code.

The code used had been instantly familiar to him. It was puzzling why they were using Military command code. The hack itself was sophisticated enough for the military but fell well short of the subtlety the Obsidian Order would use.

When he had gained all the information, he could from the data he looked at Julian, in his hazel eyes.

"It's standard Military grade code, the style follows Military Intelligence, not the Obsidian Order," Garak said, head tilted slightly at this new puzzle.

"That's what I deduced," claimed Julian. "What do you make of it?" he asked Garak.

Garak rocked slightly in his chair, the evidence before him conflicted with his earlier supposition. "It looks like they knew you had connections in Cardassia," Garak started slowly.

An absent finger tapped against his now empty cup. "And they don't have access to Obsidian Order codes," Garak said tentatively.

"Or they don't know that the Obsidian Order exists," Julian interjected, eyebrow raised. "It's hard to gauge. I knew about the Obsidian Order, long before I arrived on station. I didn't know you were on board until I saw you on the mezzanine of Deep Space Nine," Julian smiled warmly at Garak. "I am probably biased at knowing how widespread your agency was."

Garak nodded. He had his own biases. "Well, the other intelligence agencies knew about us, as we knew about them. You excepted of course." Garak nodded in Julian's direction.

"But even on Cardassia, we were known in the higher echelons of government and military. But I would say the average grunt had no more idea of us as the Flaxian flea has of a dog," Garak said.

"I know from Odo's files," here Julian paused to grin broadly at Garak. "That Quark had and was selling level seven military security codes," Julian continued.

"Yes, so it would be possible for your assailant to procure the codes, from a Quark type person," Garak speculated aloud.

Julian nodded eagerly. "That is what I thought. Our friendship was well known on the station and rumours had always swirled about you," Julian said.

"Mmm, they could have assumed that one Cardassian security code was the same as another," Garak said. He stilled his finger, how did this tie into the life of Julian Bashir, before he was, well Julian Bashir. He frowned fiercely while looking intensely at Julian.

Julian fidgeted in his seat from Garak's intense look. It made him feel unexpectedly uncomfortable for some reason.

"You mentioned before that your people had infiltrated Cardassian Data networks," Garak state boldly.

Now Julian felt confused where this was going.

"Exactly how many of your people had access to the Cardassian Network?" Garak asked breaking eye contact at last when he saw Julian looking uncomfortable. He needed the other man comfortable to be able and willing to answer his conversation truthfully.

Julian paused for a moment. "Including me... Four," he stated.

"FOUR!" Garak didn't know whether to believe Julian or not.

Julian shrugged. "I am the main expert on Cardassian culture, there's a computer expert that maintains the access to the network and makes sure of our security. One of our leaders and an anthropologist as a back-up to me," Julian explained. "If anyone wants access, they have to come through at least two of us and then out expert gives them temporary access."

"Why so few," Garak didn't know if he should be insulted or impressed.

"You weren't our focus of interest. We have a hundred people monitoring the Federation at any one time and three times that many working in Star Fleet," Julian said with a shrug. "Sorry Garak, Cardassia was more of a passion project of mine," Julian admitted, looking a bit flushed.

"A passion project!" Garak just stared at Julian; he had never felt so insignificant in his whole life. He could only imagine what his father Enabran Tain would think of such an idea.

Julian stared back, his smile looking a bit stiff. "Actually, that reminded me of that present for you that would be a great help for you." Julian abruptly stood from the chair. "I'll go and get it right now."

Without another word Julian fled the room.

The Gift

In the five minutes since Julian left the office to fetch his mysterious gift, Garak used the time to tidy the tea things. He neatly re-stacked the tray, and the empty packets and tissues. He then walked through to the food preparation room to recycle the debris of their misfortunate snack.

On the way back to his office, he noticed that Asha had left him a note on the entertainment system's screen: 'Gone to library to study with Sarein and Kalin. Will be home for lunch. Asha'.

Garak had just gotten resettled in his chair behind the desk when his office door opened.

Julian re-entered Garak's office a little more decorously than he left.

Garak eyed the black box the other man held in his hands.

When Julian reached his desk, he set the box gently down in front of Garak, before reclaiming his chair. He was eager to see Garak's reaction. He had noted how perturbed Garak had been when he told him only four people monitored the Cardassian Network.

This was mainly because Flix was the very best computer programmer in the Alpha Quadrant and had written many automatic routines that monitored for information regarding their people.

Secondly Julian was well versed in the Cardassian language and with this knowledge was able to create his own search patterns looking for potential danger to his people. It was his programmes that eventually gave them the lead to the Prophets, his people's progenitors.

Julian had discovered what the Cardassian's were doing to the Bajoran people. They were forbidden to use their abilities to help others. But not forbidden from following his conscience. One day he was going to have to admit that he had been forwarding intelligence to the Bajoran resistance fighters.

He couldn't help but feel that both Garak and Nerys were going to feel betrayed by his actions. Garak because it had led to Cardassian's deaths and Nerys because he could have done more to save Bajoran lives. He truly had been in between 'a rock and a hard place'.

His Primes kept a tight control over their people, to keep them safe. They had been betrayed numerous times over their ten thousand years existence. They were an extremely long lived species. They never forgot anything. They had seen empires rise and tumble. It had taught them the importance of non-interference.

The more you helped a people, the less capable they were of helping themselves. But due to their design they were naturally drawn to help people, to fight. So, the Primes allowed them to participate, but only as a mortal would.

But due to their long lives each immortal came to this realisation at some point or another. And with the unique genetic makeup of their people, they only gained power with age, linked to the generation they belonged to. So, the younger members of their species may have the will to interfere in the lives of mortals but didn't have the power to enact that change.

While the older members had the power, but not the will to interfere.

The only consolation was that Kira Nerys, would probably be informed of his existence before he saw her next. Julian was thankful for small mercies at least.

Garak, with a flick of his eyes to Julian he cautiously drew he box closer. The box was a black mat colour. On further inspection Garak realised in was a holo-memory pack. The largest one Garak had ever seen. It was approximately 20cm square, with an inbuilt holo-projector on one side. There was even a connection port that would allow the contents to be downloaded to a holo-suite.

"It's biometrically accessed," Julian informed him quietly, though a hint of excitement could be heard in his voice.

Garak picked up the box in his hands, the material was smooth and warm to touch. He brought it closer to his face. As he rotated it in the light he noticed a sensor pad. Placing the box back on the table, he pressed his thumb to the sensor pad.

Immediately a hologram display opened in front of him. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the introduction of 'Welcome to The Imperial Cardassian Museum of Cultural Heritage'.

There was a menu command, by selecting it a contents menu appeared. It appeared to Garak to be complete from his memory of the Museum. It had been considered one of the finest museums in the Imperium. A must see for any Cardassian. It held a millennium of cultural heritage of the Cardassian Union.

Garak's heart thudded in his chest.

With trembling fingers, he selected a historic period at random, and eventually a delicate porcelain pot appeared before him. In the holo-field he could touch the object and turn it this way and that, examine every aspect of the ancient historic artefact.

As far as Garak knew the entirety of the museum had been destroyed during the bombardment of Lakarian City, during the war. Even the electronic backup had been destroyed except for a few fragments here and there, where planets of the empire had been displaying individual collections.

"If downloaded to an holo-suite, the entire museum is contained within the memory of the device, including all out of rotation items, or artefacts currently under investigation. The entire building was captured from basements to attics," Julian gently explained.

"There are even tours given by Doctor Thonar Marak, as well as lectures delivered by Lirin Maril and Vira Tare," Julian said with a hopeful look on his face.

Garak continued to swipe through the vast catalogue, dipping in out of various time periods and collections. There was even a 'guided tour' section were there was a staggering number of experts who were long dead to choose from.

He had wept at the loss of this valuable piece of Cardassian psyche.

"But how?" Garak said staring at Julian. Overcome at receiving such a precious gift for himself and his people. They had thought it had been lost. There had been much debate over the last five years, ever since they had emerged from the worst of the destruction of their planet. Of how they could be Cardassians without their proud history and culture.

"As I said earlier, Cardassia was a passion project of mine. I found the history and culture of Cardassian to be intriguing," Julian said, looking a little embarrassed at his confession. "So, I commissioned a complete holo-catalogue of all artefacts held by the museum. That all lectures be recorded and that the senior staff gave tours and presentations on their specialist subjects." Julian just shrugged.

Garak shut down the holo-projector and hugged the device to himself. "I can't express what this means to me," Garak said in a hushed voice. Garak spun his chair away from Julian observant eyes so that he could regain his emotional control.

Julian sat in silence, pleased that Garak had accepted his gift and that it had been as meaningful as he predicted.

The seconds ticked by, and Julian patiently watched the dust mites dance in the sunbeam before him while he waited for Garak to compose himself.

At last, after several minutes, Garak took a deep shuddering breath and turned back towards Julian.

"Thank you, again dear friend," Garak said, his usual smooth voice a little gruff.

Julian grinned. "I wasn't being quite as altruistic as you implied," Julian said, a sparkle to his eye. "I wanted you to help me and I thought you might need to appease your fellow council members to allow you the time off," Julian explained.

"Aah, and you thought I could dangle this reward in front of them to manipulate them?" Garak concluded.

Julian just nodded.

Garak studied his friend carefully. Every day he knew Julian, the more mysterious he appeared to be.

"When you say commissioned The Imperial Cardassian Museum of Cultural Heritage, you mean exactly what?" Garak said.

Julian laughed happily for a moment. "I sent them an official order from the 67th Cardassian Detapa Council in 2289, to start the project and maintain the holo-record right up to the Dominion War," Julian explained, totally unrepentant from outwardly appearance.

"Oh!"

Well certainly answered one of his questions, whether Julian had existed before 2342. It seems he had. Though Garak was unclear to the mechanism that he did so. He wondered if Julian's people exchanged bodies like the Trill people. Julian had told them the previous evening that he had a cousin who was near nine thousand years old.

Garak contemplated Julian's gift again. He was nothing if not a political opportunist. He could already see how he could use this cultural find to his advantage.

"You had already given aid to me and Cardassia, that I could never repay. I didn't need a gift to help you with your troubles, but I thank you my dear friend." Garak nodded in gratitude.

Even though he received this priceless gift from Julian, he was glad he had cut-off his peoples access to the Cardassian data network.