Chapter 6

Odo brushed past the guarding Cin'tisal without a word, to confront Laas. The Founder was not to be seen. But he knew Laas must be here, or there wouldn't have been a guard at the door.

"What was she doing in Kira's quarters?" he demanded of the air.

Nearly at his feet, the carpeting suddenly swelled up from the floor and took humanoid shape. Laas met his gaze almost nose to nose, obviously startled. "What?"

"What was D'kem'ir doing in Colonel Kira's quarters?" Odo repeated.

"When was D'kem'ir in your Kira's quarters?"

"Ten minutes ago."

Laas frowned.

"Did you send her there?"

"No!"

Odo studied him. "Can I believe you?"

"We do not lie to one another!" Laas was affronted.

He'd spent enough time in the Great Link to have learned when something was being concealed from him. The other Founder was telling the truth - whatever D'kem'ir had been doing, Laas hadn't sent her, and didn't know why she'd been there. He would have to talk to her again. If he hadn't been so surprised at finding her in Kira's quarters, he told himself, he would have been more attuned to what she might have been hiding.

"Where is she now?" he asked.

"I don't know. Five minutes ago she was here, she took her birif and went looking for Arlamar."

"Why is she looking for Arlamar?"

"I asked her to."

"Why?"

"There are things we need to discuss, now that we are healed. Plans to make."

"Plans to leave?"

"Yes." A beat. "I've already told you that you're welcome to join us."

"I recall the invitation. I haven't made a decision yet. But before you leave, I need to speak to D'kem'ir."

"Of course."

"If you see her first, remind her I do not make idle threats. And I do not take it lightly when threats are made against those I care for."

Laas's brow ridges shot up.

"We do not understand your ... affection for Kira, but believe me, Odo, none of us would threaten her."

"I hope not. But you may want to explain that to D'kem'ir the next time you see her."

"Odo-"

He strode out, trusting his displeasure was sufficiently expressed.

Monrow heard the footsteps entering the infirmary, and reflexively stepped out of the office to see who might be needing medical help. Raal, the head nurse that shift, was right behind her.

It was Arlamar, one of the Founders, with his gray-toned aide, both standing in the doorway that led out to the Promenade. Without the ravages of the disease, Arlamar seemed to stand taller. She couldn't help noticing that, despite his apparently middle-aged features, the Founder's eyes conveyed something younger and more innocent. She wondered if he was actually the youngest of the group, or had simply experienced the fewest difficulties with other beings to affect his perceptions of the solid universe.

"Hello. You're Arlamar, aren't you?" she asked pleasantly, to initiate a conversation.

"I am." He nodded.

"What can I do for you? Are you feeling all right, or is there something...?"

Arlamar gestured at his Cin'tisali aide. "Birif'crem believes he may have lost something here, and has come to seek it."

Monrow smiled and waved toward the intensive care ward where the Founders had been. "You're welcome to look for it," she told the Cin'tisal. "I'm sure Raal won't mind helping you."

"Founder Arlamar?"

"You have liberty to go and search," the Founder said easily.

"Raal, help him, would you please?"

"Of course. What exactly are we looking for?" The Bajoran nurse led the Cin'tisali into the ward.

Birif'crem didn't answer, following the nurse but somehow managing to look like he just happened to be going the same direction, and had no intention of striking up a conversation.

Monrow looked at Arlamar. "Your aides haven't been very friendly. We only tried to help you, and they won't really even speak to us."

He shrugged. "They are devoted to us. They do not know you."

"They don't seem to want to know us, either."

"There is no point to it, as we will be leaving soon, and we do not anticipate returning."

"Oh. I'm disappointed. I was hoping we'd be able to get to know you and the others better. I was looking forward to a chance to talk to you."

He looked at her quizzically. "Why would you wish to talk to me?"

"Why not?"

"Because you are a solid. Solids always have reasons for what they do. And as solids have no love for my people, I can see no reason for you to wish to talk to me."

"Well, for one reason," she replied in some exasperation, "as a doctor as well as a solid, I'm a multi-species specialist, and you're a species I know very little about. Neither as a Founder, nor as whatever species you look like now. So I want to talk to you for professional reasons, so I can learn. For another reason, I'm naturally a curious person who wants to learn about the universe, which is why I'm in Starfleet in the first place - and I'm curious about you. I'm glad you came here; it's a chance for me to get to know you as a species and as an individual being. How are those for reasons?"

"Those are ... not dangerous reasons," he acknowledged. "But Laas says solids do not really care about us except when they want something. D'kem'ir says one should be on guard whenever solids have an interest in us."

"And what do you say?" she asked curiously.

"I am not that familiar with solids," he admitted frankly. "Before I met Laas, I had only ever known the crew of the Arlamar."

"Your name is the same as the ship you were on?"

He hesitated. "I wanted a name, but I could not choose only one, there were so many that pleased me. Then ... when they died, I wanted ... a name that encompassed them all. They were kind to me, they helped me learn, they made me welcome among them." The flash of vulnerability touched her deeply.

"Not all solids are cruel. You have seen that, you must know there is no reason to label us all your enemies, Arlamar. We are individuals, each different from the other." Her expression was compassionate. "I'm sorry you lost your friends. I think you honor them well, carrying the name of their ship as your own, as well as their shape."

He looked genuinely startled. "Friends...."

"Tell me about them-"

"Arlamar!" D'kem'ir nearly flowed up to them, the unconsciously voluptuous sensuality of an Orion turned to full volume. Her scanty clothing clung to her green skin in all the right places. Her lustrous eyes gleamed with invitation. Her smooth, darker green hair shifted as if in a breeze unfelt by anyone else. Every man on the Promenade followed her with his eyes. Her aide trailed behind, a gray shadow almost unnoticed.

"Laas is waiting for us. Where is your birif'al?" She favored Monrow with an icy, contemptuous glare. "Leave this solid to her devices."

"Hello, D'kem'ir," Monrow replied evenly. "Birif'crem is in the infirmary looking for something."

"Summon him, then. He should not have left you. We must join Laas."

"I gave him permission to go," Arlamar replied. "The be'sali are important to the Cin'tisali."

D'kem'ir only looked impatient. The aide with her nodded all but imperceptibly.

"Is there a difficulty here?" a new voice asked.

They all glanced at Kaoron, approaching the infirmary entrance. His expression was neutral. If possible, the Founder seemed to thrust her well-shaped chest out even more. Kaoron's polite gaze never left her eyes.

At that moment, Birif'crem and Raal appeared from the ward. The Cin'tisal had his hand wrapped tightly around something.

"Founder Arlamar, Founder D'kem'ir," Birif'crem said respectfully.

"Founder Laas waits," the female announced imperiously. "Now!" She stalked past Kaoron, almost edging around him.

The Cin'tisali, so fiercely protective while the Founders had been ill, then deferential and meek to the extreme when the Founders regained their health, hurried after without a word.

Arlamar also followed, although he did pause long enough to give the doctor and the nurse courteous nods.

Kaoron, Monrow, and Raal watched the two Founders and their followers as they vanished along the Promenade. Several males of various species who might have approached D'kem'ir apparently thought better of it when they took a good look at the bodyguards. One of the men gave them a wide berth, eyes fixed somewhat warily on the Orion woman.

Monrow raised an eyebrow. "At least I'm not the only one Commander Alden avoids," she muttered.

Shaking his head, the Bajoran nurse headed back to his station.

"The Orion animal women are sensuous," Kaoron commented on the obvious attention D'kem'ir continued to receive.

"Pheromones," Monrow contributed. "But I didn't think Vulcans were susceptible to them."

"They are also very jealous creatures," the science officer continued as if he hadn't heard, but one corner of his lip twitched just a bit. "And she radiates ... anger. I wonder if her behavior is from the nature of the form she wears, or if it is some innate or learned conviction that Founders and solids cannot trust each other and should not associate as equals, that led her to interrupt your conversation."

"I've got my own opinion on that." Monrow frowned, her mouth forming a moue as she shook her head. "But I hardly think any of my questions would have been cause for alarm in that respect. I suspect she had a very hard life until she joined Laas. I'll make a few allowances for her, because of that." She shrugged. "But, anyway.... So, Lieutenant, what do you need?"

"I am not in need of your medical services, if that is your concern. However...." He held up a tape. "I had borrowed some literature from Dr. Levets, and intended to return it."

"Human literature?"

"Yes. A commentary on twenty-first century Earth comedy."

Her eyebrows shot up. "A commentary on comedy? That doesn't really sound like much fun."

"To the contrary, Dr. Monrow. I found it quite useful in explaining aspects of modern Terran comedy, to examine its roots."

"If you say so...."

"And Dr. Levets' sense of humor is rare even in humans."

"Should I be insulted?" she asked archly.

"Actually," Kaoron remarked dryly, "I believe the Founder has done enough insulting today for all of us."

She couldn't help laughing.

Twenty-two hundred hours, and his shift was finally over. Ensign Kalcheb grabbed a snack at the always-open replimat. He glanced around, seeing the various couples and groups doing the same as he was. He sighed. He hadn't been there very long, and he wasn't the kind to make friends easily. He hadn't yet made many acquaintances outside of the engineering team he worked with. He had, however, been there long enough to discover that he was the only Tellarite assigned to the station.

Feeling unexpectedly moody, he took a table in the quietest corner.

"May I join you?"

He looked up quickly at feminine nasal tones that sounded almost familiar.

His breath caught in his throat and his nostrils flared.

She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. Dark, deep-set eyes with long lashes. Smooth, glossy hair framing pale unblemished skin. Perfectly formed, prominently uptilted nose, with two small gold rings in the piercings on one nostril. A solid, shapely build that suggested strength, quickness, and a pugnacious ability to hold her own.

"Ur.... Yes, please do.... You're welcome to join me...." Kalcheb managed to stutter.

Instead of taking the chair on the opposite side of the table, the woman took the seat beside him.

"I ... didn't know there were any other Tellarites on the station," he blurted, then mentally kicked himself for his youthful blundering.

To his amazement, she merely smiled. "I have only just arrived, and I am as pleased as you to meet another of my kind here...."

"Hello Odo, Colonel."

"Good bye, Quark," Odo replied firmly, barely glancing at him as he and Kira headed for the spiral stairs to the holosuites.

"Nice dress, Colonel," he called after them. "But Odo's suit needs some color!"

He heard them laugh as they ascended.

Quark swung into action.

"Lumon!" he called urgently. "Take that drink up to Vic's, and make sure he knows we'll supply as many as he wants, tonight."

"Uh, he said he only wanted them if they were on the house, and that you said they would be," the Ferengi waiter replied doubtfully.

Quark made a face. "I was hoping he wouldn't remember.... Yes, yes, all right, on the house, that hologram's too smart to be a computer." He turned. "M'Pella, did you order the appetizers? And the real spring wine?"

The dabo girl glided closer. "We can pick them up at the Celestial Café any time we want them."

"Good. I want you to go and set up Kira's quarters, make sure the music's right, the lights are low, the wine is chilled, and the appetizers are kept warm," he ordered in a businesslike fashion.

"What about the guard at the door? What if he won't let me in?" she asked, lower lip in a slightly worried but probably false pout.

"It's Brilgar. If you can't get past him, you should turn in your dabo wheel. Now go, go...."

Quark glanced up at the upper level corridor that led to the holosuites, a smug expression on his face.

"Well, look at the lovebirds. Welcome back, Odo, it's been a long time. You too, Kira, I missed you - where ya been keeping yourself? Never mind, I know how busy ya been keeping the station together." Vic greeted them with an affectionate smile as they entered the holosuite.

"Hello, Vic," Kira replied, returning the greeting.

"It's good to see you again, too, Vic," Odo said.

"Odo, you don't know how glad I was to hear from Quark that you were back in town." Vic grabbed a passing waitress. "Hey, dollface, give 'em the corner where they can be alone. I get the feeling you two could use it. And get 'em whatever they want for drinks, on the house. I'll stop by later, when you've had time to get seated. For now, I got a set to do, and the boys are waiting."

Vic headed toward the stage, gesturing at his "boys" to warm up on their instruments. The sounds of piano, cello, drums, and horn sounded through the chamber as the crooner bounded to join them.

The waitress led Odo and Kira through the holo-crowd to a secluded corner table, half-screened by a potted Earth plant of some kind and lit only with an aromatic candle in a sconce just above their heads. Despite the fact that they were the only real people in the holosuite, it still felt better to have the privacy.

Odo couldn't help staring intently at Kira, trying to see her without the eyes of the past, and untainted by D'kem'ir's impersonation of a few hours before.

She was attired in a floor-length black-and-white gown, far from any usual Bajoran style, but appropriate for the time period and origin of the holoprogram that was Vic's. Her hair was simply styled. He noticed she looked tired, and like she had something on her mind.

For himself, Odo was garbed very like Vic, in a black suit, with white shirt and black tie - the same appearance he'd worn when he said good bye to Kira and joined the Great Link.

The waitress brought their drinks, something from the holo-bar for Odo, but a multi-layered Celestial Aurora from downstairs for Kira - it was a new creation of Quark's that was actually worth drinking.

"I found a security officer at my door this evening. Did you tell Emyn to put him there? And to search my quarters?" Kira asked when the waitress had gone. She reached for the drink.

"Yes, I did, Nerys."

"Why?"

"Because I found one of the Founders in your quarters this afternoon."

Her hand stilled. "Doing what?"

"Supposedly, waiting for me."

She put the drink down without tasting it. "Laas promised there wouldn't be any trouble," she muttered.

"I don't think it was his doing," he replied off-handedly.

"Why not?"

"Because of the way D'kem'ir acted when I confronted her. And because I talked to Laas, and I think I would have known if he had been planning or hiding something."

"Really."

"Yes," he replied firmly. He decided not to mention that D'kem'ir had been masquerading as Kira, or her claimed reason for doing so.

"And this one is for all the lovebirds out there...." Up on stage, Vic began crooning.

Hello young lovers, whoever you are.
I hope your troubles are few.
All my good wishes go with you tonight.
I've been in love like you
. Be brave young lovers, and follow your star.
Be brave and faithful and true.
Cling very close to each other tonight.
I've been in love like you....

Odo couldn't help smiling at the description of former Over-General Krim falling over the railing in his excited effort to catch the "foul ball."

"And what then?" he asked.

"Fortunately," Kira replied with a smile of her own, "the holosuite failsafes were on - his only injuries were a sprained wrist and bruised dignity! But one of the Minister's aides was later heard to observe that even if Jolorn is ready to forgive Krim for his part in the Circle conspiracy, maybe the Prophets aren't!"

"I'm sure the Bajoran people are glad that the Captain left his baseball holoprograms here."

"We can thank Kasidy and Jake for that. It was their decision - though I wish they hadn't left them in Quark's hands."

"As long as he sees a profit in them, he'll continue to make them available."

She threw up her hands. "That's just it - he's making a profit! Kasidy says she doesn't care if he covers the cost of the holosuite, as long as it's not exorbitant. And now that he's starting to scrounge up more game programs, he could keep it going as long as he wants, even if she takes back the Emissary's programs! And it's all legal!"

"That's Quark," he replied, unable to keep a tinge of fondness from coloring his tone. "Except, perhaps, for the all legal part."

Kira started laughing. Her laughter was sweet. Odo suspected she wasn't laughing very much these days; he wished he could remedy that.

Time and again I've longed for adventure
Something to make my heart beat the faster
What did I long for? I never really knew
Finding your love I've found my adventure
Touching your hand, my heart beats the faster
All that I want in all of this world is you....

"Insubordination, being drunk on duty, throwing tantrums because he couldn't immediately command the Defiant, retreating into the conduits, brawling with the Klingons, trashing Quark's, triggering an old Cardassian failsafe and firing on the station, going AWOL and nearly precipitating an interstellar incident with the Ferengi - Lieutenant Commander Alden has certainly started off his station career ... memorably."

"Yes," she sighed. "And Starfleet doesn't seem inclined to do anything about him! If I didn't know better, I'd think somebody sent him here just to get him out of their hair!"

Odo sipped at his holo-drink. "Wasn't that the reason somebody initially sent you here?"

Kira glared at him for a moment, then a twitch of her lips turned into a rueful smile. "All right, point taken. But as I said, I know better. He requested this assignment, during the war. And it's obvious somebody in Starfleet is protecting him."

"Admiral Ross."

She nodded. "He's all but admitted it."

"Hmm. I don't suppose Julian had time to see him before he left for Cardassia?"

"Not much - just enough to suggest that he probably needed time to settle in. But that was the first day or two, before most of this happened."

"I should hope he would spread such a colorful career over more than a day. What about Ezri? Station morale and personnel stability are her responsibility. What does she have to say?"

"Uh..." She looked down at her drink; Odo got the impression Kira was searching for words to tell him what was going on without crossing lines of confidentiality.

"She's already counseling him?" he asked shrewdly.

She looked relieved. "Yes."

"And she hasn't relieved him of duty for medical or psychological reasons?"

"No."

"That should tell you something."

"I'm hoping it doesn't tell me she's become too emotionally involved in her efforts to help him, to still be objective about what's best for the station as well as for Alden," she admitted quietly.

They were silent a moment.

"Ezri may be young and idealistic," he commented, "but Dax has lifetimes of experience - and a history of dedication to duty. Admittedly, she is steadfast to her friends. She may occasionally be stubborn and over-exuberant, but do you really believe she would risk the safety of everyone here for someone she thought couldn't handle their job?"

She tapped the side of her glass with one finger, considering, but she didn't answer.

I'll only miss her, when I think of her
And I'll think of her, all the time
Likely I'll spend my days -
Hearing her turn of phrase
Things I found hard to praise -
Right now, would seem sublime....

"No," she said thoughtfully, "I don't really have much time to meditate these days. I try to attend services regularly, but it's hard sometimes." She managed a little smile. "Ranjen Shayl has lectured me twice on making time for what's important, but he's also, believe it or not, recorded expositions on some of the prophecies and teachings for me, so I can listen to them when I'm in the shower or have a few minutes. He's been very supportive. He understands the situation."

"Your faith has always meant so much to you. I'd hate to see you lose it."

"I haven't lost it. I won't lose it." She shook her head. "The Prophets have never abandoned me or Bajor, even in our darkest hours, and I won't forget them. It's just hard to find time...."

"I have wondered, at times, how your people were handling the loss of Captain Sisko."

"I believe the Emissary has gone to walk with the Prophets. That's what Kasidy says, that he's gone to them, to return when the time is right. I think most of my people believe that."

"It doesn't sound like everyone believes it. Is Kasidy safe from the ones who don't - or the ones who question her relationship to the Captain?"

"Vedek Hatha will keep her safe. Under the guidance of the Prophets."

"It sounds like you support him for Kai."

"I...." Her expression was introspective. She took a sip of her drink, to give her time, he suspected, to think for a second. "I don't know who I support, just now. I hate the politics of it all. I believe Hatha has the purest heart, and is the closest to the Prophets - he's the only one of the main candidates who's had an Orb vision, and it's clear to me that he's meant to be close to Kasidy. But whether that means he should be Kai, I don't know." She shrugged. "I hate to say it, but I'm not sure he could manage all the ... other factors involved with the position."

"That doesn't sound like the Kira Nerys I know, putting politics before faith."

Kira was silent for a moment. "Maybe I am getting a little disillusioned...."

"Or maybe, wondering if the one best qualified to be Kai, would actually serve better from the side?"

She thought about that. "Maybe," she replied softly, her eyes far away.

I want to see your face in every kind of light,
In fields of dawn and forests of the night.
And when you stand before the candles on a cake
Oh, let me be the one to hear the silent wish you make
What are you doing the rest of your life?

The candle was burning down.

Kira glanced up at the candle, startled, as it guttered out, leaving them all but hidden in a pool of shadow behind the plant. Then she looked back at Odo, with a smile. "Do you realize we've been talking for hours - and all we've talked about is me and what's going on here and on Bajor?"

"I haven't been bored," he returned fondly. "It's been good to catch up on everything and everybody. It makes me feel like I'm still part of it all."

"It's important to be part of something," she said introspectively. "A family, a crew, a people...."

"A Link?"

Her eyes widened, stricken, and he felt guilty for reminding her.

"I was hoping you would feel your work with the Link was complete," she admitted quietly. "And that you would stay."

He studied his empty glass. "I'm not sure, Nerys. There are things you don't know...."

A voice interrupted whatever might have been said next. "Well, folks, it's closing time, but we had a special request for one last song, an encore, for those of you who might be looking at an encore of your own." Vic pulled up a tall stool beside the piano and began to sing again, his voice rich and deep with emotion.

It started all over again
The moment I held you so tight
It started all over again
When we kissed away the night -
'Till dawn's early light
Now we're together,
Sweethearts forever,
We'll build our romance anew.
It started all over again
The moment I looked at you....

The music faded. Vic looked around, then sent a meaningful smile in their direction. "Good night, everybody."

They looked at each other, realizing that they were the only people left in the lounge.

"Did they all leave, or did you turn them off?" Kira called softly.

"Does it matter, sweetie?"

"No. Good night, Vic. Thanks for ... a lovely evening."

Kira and Odo had scarcely left when Quark came barreling into Vic's, eager to hear the results of the evening he'd planned.

"Well?" he demanded. "Did you sing the songs I told you to?"

Vic paused long enough to smile wryly at the Ferengi. "Of course I did, pally. Every one of 'em. Ol' Blue Eyes at his best. I wanna see 'em happy as much as you do."

"I doubt it. You're just a hologram." He immediately held up his hands at Vic's look. "All right, you're more than just a hologram, sorry. I just want what's best for them."

"I know, Quark."

"So, did it work? Is Odo going to stay?"

Vic shrugged. "Beats me. I guess we'll know in a couple days. Look at it this way - we'll all have done our best, right?"

Looking frazzled, and grumbling under his breath, Quark left the holosuite. Behind him, Vic just shook his head fondly.

Chapter Seven

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