STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE                    

                                                            “Choices”

                                         Ñ

                                                      An Original DS9 Story

                                                   Ó1996 by Patricia L. Ennis

                                                       Jadzia7627@msn.com

                                                      April 1996

 

 

The characters and locations used in this story are owned completely and solely by Paramount Pictures Inc.  I have borrowed them here in an attempt to create a fictional episode of the television show “Deep Space Nine”.  The story and all elements (other than characters and locations) of the story belong to Patricia L. Ennis.  This story is for private amusement only and may not be reprinted or uploaded elsewhere without this header intact.

 

With that small amount of legalese out of the way, please enjoy the story and let me know what you think.  Oh, a word to the hard core fans: I mean no disrespect whatsoever and do not wish to step on any toes or offend anyone’s sensibilities.  In that regard, be forewarned that this story does contain a romantic relationship between two women.  I welcome all comments and criticisms EXCEPT those involving insults in regards to the subject matter.  It is 1996 isn't it?

 

One last note.  This story does not really have a time period.  It is simply an alternate story line kind of thing.  Something that might have happened.  (If everybody was open minded that is.)  ;)   (Oh, and,  I know Sisko was promoted.  Personally, I think Commander Sisko sounds better.  So, For the sake of my story, please forgive me.)

 

***********************************************************************

 

 

           


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Major Kira Nerys leaned against the balcony at Quarks, looking down at the crowd below.  “Just the usual,”  she said to herself with a sigh.  “Businessmen, tourists, smugglers....Morn.”

 

            She sipped her drink and shook her head.  It was always so boring when Dax left.

 

            “Commander!” she called out, having caught a glimpse of Sisko through the crowd.  He smiled and made his way casually through the throng.  Not that he had to fight his way over.  Crowds always seemed to part for the Emissary.

 

            “Major,”  he grinned, with a nod.  “I trust you’re amusing yourself?”

 

            “Here?  Not Likely.  It was the only place I could think of that might be little more interesting.  When does her ship get in?”

 

            Sisko smiled at her eagerness for a friendly face.  “Well, if you mean Dax...”

 

            “Of course!”

 

            “She should be here in the next hour.  I didn’t know you were missing her quite so badly.”

 

            “Well, I will say that things are always more interesting when she's around.”  Kira grinned ruefully.  “I’m sure Odo doesn’t miss her though.”

 

            Sisko laughed.  “If she moves his furniture one more time, I think he’s likely to throw her in the brig.”

 

 

            Kira grinned.  “You know, it took me a long time to realize that Dax HAD a sense of humor.  I still wonder why she plays with Odo.”  She raised her eyebrows at the Commander.  “There are certainly more interesting targets.”

 

            “Are you volunteering Major?  Because I’m sure I could put a word in with the old man for you...”

 

            Kira laughed as O'Briens voice came over the comm.

 

            “Ops to Sisko.”

 

            “Sisko here, go ahead.”

 

            “Commander,”  Chief O’Briens voice sounded strained.  “We need you up here.”

 

            “What’s wrong?”

 

            “There’s a problem...it’s the Rio Grande.” 

 

            Kira touched his sleeve.  “That’s Jadzia’s runabout.”

 

            Sisko nodded.  “What KIND of problem?”

 

            A sound of frustration came over the line.  “We’ve...we’ve lost her.”

 

            “WHAT?”

 

            “She’s just gone, Commander.  One minute she was headed in, a bit early I might add, and the next second, she’s off the screens.”

 

            “We’re on our way.”

 

 

                                         *******************************

 

            “Unbelievable,”  O’Brien muttered to himself.  “Can’t have one quiet day...”

           

            He began to punch commands into the console. “C’mon you hunk of junk!”  With a hard kick, the computer chirped at him and began its reading.

 

            “Hardly a scientific approach.”  Sisko remarked as he and Kira entered Ops.  “Will that work on anything in this station?”

 

            “I’m sorry, Commander.  It’s just so bloody frustrating.”  He ran his hand over his face.  “I was talking to her.  Something about a distortion she was reading, but I couldn’t seem to pick it up.  Then....nothing.  I can’t locate her anywhere in this sector.”

 

            “What about the wormhole?”

 

            “There hasn’t been any recent activity,”  Kira stated, watching a monitor a few feet away.  “The last ship through docked over an hour ago.”

 

            Sisko massaged one temple with his left hand.  “Did she say what kind of a distortion she was reading?”

 

            O’Brien shook his head.  “She mentioned a strange ionic pattern, did a bit of interesting swearing, and disappeared.  I was never able to get any kind of reading at all.  From my end, it was just her and empty space.”

 

            “Chief!” 

 

            O’Brien turned towards Ensign Brena, a lovely Bajoran female.  “What?”        

 

            “I have a ship approaching the docking ring.  It just appeared out of no where.  Readings show minimal life support and one very faint life sign...”  Brena studied her screen, then glanced at Sisko.  “It’s the Rio Grande, Sir.”

 

            “On Screen!”  Sisko and Kira barked at once. 

 

            The Ensign tapped her console and the ship appeared on the monitor.

 

            There was something very wrong. 

 

            Sisko studied it for a moment.  It was not flying so much as floating.  It hung outside the docking ring, listing slightly to one side.  “Lock on to life form and beam directly to sick bay-”

 

            “Commander!”  Kira grabbed him by the arm.  “Brena said the life form was faint.  You know transporting her in a weakened condition may harm the Symbiont.”

 

            “Do you have another suggestion, Major?”

 

            “Beam me to the ship.  I can pilot it in.”

 

            Sisko looked at her briefly, an unreadable expression on his face.  Then he nodded and turned to the Ensign.  “Is the life sign stable?”

 

            “Yes, faint, but stable for the moment.  However, I would suggest that whatever you are going to do, you do it fast.”

 

            Kira hurried to the transporter ring.  “Now, Chief.”

 

                                               ***********************

 

            As soon as she materialized, Kira drew her phaser and cautiously looked around.  The runabout seemed none the worse for wear.  Nothing was thrown about, nothing charred, or melted.  Nothing to indicate what may have happened.  Moving slowly in the dark, she felt her way along, sliding her feet across the floor until they rested up against something soft.  As she swung her light downwards, the beam cut across Dax, laying on her back in the middle of the runabout.  Kira noted absently that it looked as though she had been arranged in a comfortable position by someone else.  Kneeling beside her, she pulled out her tricorder and swept it over Jadzia’s inert body.  The lifesigns were reading stronger, but they were still rather faint.

 

            “Dax,”  She gently touched her shoulder.  “Dax, it’s Kira...Can you hear me?”

 

            Groaning slightly, Dax opened her eyes.  “Hi.”

 

            “Hi.”  Kira smiled.  “Are you strong enough to beam out?”

 

            Jadzia looked confused for a second, her hands slowly running down her abdomen.  “I think you’d better beam me out, Kira.  Now.”  Her face went slack as she passed out.

 

            Kira stood quickly and thumped on her comm badge.  “Kira to Ops, Two to beam directly to sick bay, and make it quick Chief.”

 

                                                *************************

 

            Dr. Julian Bashir sat at his console, humming along with the classical music emanating from hidden speakers.  He smiled as the music ended and whispered, “Bravo.  Now THAT was music.”

 

            He started slightly as O’Briens voice came over the communicator.  “Julian, we’re beaming two directly to you.  It’s Dax.  Major Kira is with her." 

 

            “Dax?”  Bashir frowned. “What’s happened?”

 

            “We’re not sure yet.  Major Kira found her unconscious on the Rio Grande.  She woke up for a second, and then passed out again.  Commander Sisko is on his way down to sickbay.”  O’Brien paused for a moment.  “Julian, let me know what’s going on, okay?”

 

            “I will Chief.  Beam them in.”

 

            Kira and Dax materialized before him.  Dax was lying on her back, her head cradled in Kira’s lap.  The Major looked up and Bashir saw something very close to tears in her eyes.

 

            “What happened?”   He knelt beside them and lifted her off the floor.  Carrying her over to an examination table, he gently laid her on its surface and began scanning her body from her head down.  As he passed the medical tricorder over her abdomen, he stopped, a puzzled look on his face.

 

            “I don’t know.”  Kira shook her head.  “Apparently, she ran into some kind of spacial distortion and her runabout disappeared.  It reappeared about 20 minutes later, but it was dead in the water and Jadzia was like this.”

 

            Bashir massaged the side of his neck and muttered. “This isn’t right.  I’m getting some strange readings.”

 

            “What kind of readings?”

 

            He looked at her and frowned.  “If they’re accurate, then the Dax symbiont...is gone.”

 

            Kira’s jaw dropped.  “What do you mean, gone?  How can it be gone?  She wasn’t missing long enough for a procedure like that.”  She swallowed hard.  “Is that why she’s not waking up?  I know the host can’t survive without the symbiont once they’ve been joined.  Julian.....are we going to lose her?”

 

            “No, no, you’re not understanding me,” The corners of his lips turned up in a smile of amazement.  “The symbiont wasn’t just removed.  It’s as though it was never even there.”  His smile broadened at Kira’s shocked look.  “It seems as though we are going to get to meet the true Jadzia.”

 

            “That’s....unbelievable.  When will she regain consciousness?”

 

            “Well, as near as I can tell, she is in some kind of regenerative state.  Kind of like a healing stasis.  It could be two hours, it could be two days.  There’s just no way to be sure.”  Glancing up, he caught her rubbing her eyes.  “Why don’t you get some sleep, Major.  It will give me a little time to come up with some more precise answers.”  He put up his hand to stop her objections.  “I promise to call you if anything changes.”

 

            Kira gave him a slightly mistrustful look, but nodded her agreement.  “All right.  I’ll be in my quarters.  Make sure you notify me immediately if anything happens, or you will have one very angry Bajoran female looking for you.”

 

            Bashir threw up his hands in playful defense.  “Don’t worry Major.  There is nothing I fear more than that.”

 

            Kira smiled slightly and walked from the room.

 

            Once she had left, and the door had slid shut behind her, Dr. Bashir turned and stared at the lovely Trill gracing his examination table.  He reached out and softly caressed her cheek.  “My god,” he whispered.  “You are so beautiful.”

 

            "Is that your professional opinion, Doctor?"

 

            Julian turned to find Sisko standing by the door.  "I, uhm.."  Julian stammered.  "I was not expecting you this soon."

 

            "Obviously, "  The Commander gave Bashir an odd little grin, and waved his hand in a sign of dismissal.  "And how is our patient, Doctor Bashir?"

 

            Julian became all business as he read his findings to Sisko, who merely nodded calmly to everything he said.

 

            "So you're saying that she is fine?"

 

            "Health wise?  Yes, I would say that she is as healthy as she has ever been. But                   her symbiont is gone.  I cannot even imagine what that may do to her mentally."

 

            "When will she wake up?"

 

            Julian laid a blanket on her.  "If my readings are correct, she should awaken sometime in the next two days.  Maybe even as early as tomorrow."

 

            "Good."  Sisko placed his hands together, the first fingers of each hand against his chin.  "In that case, Doctor, maybe I should make something clear to you."

 

            Julian turned to look him in the face.

 

            "When Dax wakes up, she is going to be in a very fragile state of mind.  And while the man I knew as Dax is gone, I have developed quite a liking for our young Jadzia."  He stepped closer.  "And, I would be quite put out if anyone was to take advantage of her current condition.  Understood?"

 

            Julian nodded quickly.  "Understood."

 

            "Good, notify me if her condition changes."  With that, Sisko turned and left sickbay.

 

            Julian sighed heavily and turned to Jadzia.  "Talk about having friends in high places." 

 

            With that, he set Jadzia's computer to notify him if she awakened, and stretched out on a biobed well away from her.

 

                        ***************************************

 

            It was dark.  Really dark.

 

            Jadzia groaned quietly and cracked one eye open.  Correction, it was really late.  She noticed an indicator flashing above her head and switched it off.

 

            "Lights,"  she sat up and immediately regretted it as the room tilted dangerously to one side.  She was in the process of passing out again when a strong hand took her arm and steadied her.  She looked up and recognized a face through the receding haze.  "Julian?  I'm in sickbay?"

 

            "Yes,"  Julian grabbed a tricorder and quickly scanned the length of her body.  "The regeneration is complete.  Everything looks good.  How do you feel?"

 

            "Odd."  Jadzia shook her head, as if to clear it.  She slowly set her hands on her abdomen.  A look of infinite sadness crossed her face.

 

            "Jadzia,"  Bashir began.

 

            "It's okay, Julian.  You don't need to tell me.  I already know.  I'm alone."  She looked up at him through tears.  "All I want to know now, is how it happened."  A determined look replaced the tears.  "And how we are going to get Dax back."

 

            Bashir squeezed her shoulder.  "We'll find out.  I promise, I will do everything within my power to bring Dax back to you.  But, for right now, I need to notify a couple of people that you're awake.  If I want to live that is."  He smiled and tapped his commbadge.  "Bashir to Major Kira...."

 

                        ***************************************

 

            "Are you sure you're all right?"  Kira asked with concern.

 

            "I feel fine."  Jadzia gave her a small smile.  "Just....lonely."

 

            "Don't worry, old man,"  Sisko nodded at her reassuringly.  "O'Brien, Bashir, and I are going to go over the Rio Grande with a fine tooth comb.   It may take us a little while.  But we will find some answers for you."

 

            "Thank you, Benjamin."  She looked very tired.  "I'd like to go to my quarters now."

 

            Sisko glanced at Bashir.

 

            "She should be okay, but someone should really watch her.  I'd be more than happy to-"  Julian began, but Sisko cut him off.

 

            "Major Kira, "  He turned to her.  "I would like for you to look after her for the next couple of days." He moved in closer and said in a low tone.  "Take her to your quarters.  I don't think being in hers will do her any good right now."

 

            "Understood."  She turned to Jadzia and said softly.  "C'mon, come to my place.  I've got a great replicator program for Bajoran breakfast cakes."

 

            Jadzia smiled and took her offered hand.  Leaning heavily against her, they walked out of sickbay.  What an odd couple they must make, she thought.  A six foot Trill being supported by a woman much smaller and slighter than her.

 

            Sisko watched them go then turned to Bashir.  "Well Doctor, I hope you got a little bit of sleep.  Our day starts now.  Contact the Chief and have him meet us on the Rio Grande.  I need some coffee.  I'll be at the replimat."

 

            Bashir stifled a yawn and called for O'Brien.  "Bring your sense of humor,"  He added.  "It’s going to be a long day."

 

                        ***************************************

 

            Kira sat on the side of her bed, thinking Jadzia looked very young as she slept, tucked under the covers.  She shook her head.  Tucked under the covers??  Where the hell had that come from?  She stood and walked away from the sleeping area.

 

            She requested tea and sat at her computer console.  She punched up the docking bay where Sisko and his crew were going over the Rio Grande.  She watched as Bashir ran his tricorder over every inch of the hull.  His thoroughness earned a grudging respect.  Aside from how he acted when Dax was nearby, he was professional and completely competent.  Not that she would ever tell him as much.  She liked having him a bit nervous when she was around. 

 

            She checked over all of the reports that had been pieced together so far.  Aside from some fair sized scratches under each of the nacelles, there was nothing odd about the ship.  She magnified the scratches and was staring at them intently when she sensed someone behind her.  "How do you feel?"  She asked, turning around.

 

            "Better."  Jadzia stretched, putting her arms over her head and arching gracefully.

 

            Kira was momentarily flustered. She attributed it to seeing Jadzia do something she had never seen Dax do.  She was beginning to notice what Bashir had commented on, about meeting the true Jadzia.  There was definitely something different about her, something softer, yet stronger as well.  It was going to take some getting used to.

 

            "I was just about to wake you up.  Are you hungry?"

 

            She thought about it for a few minutes and then smiled.  "I think so.....it's so strange."

 

            "What is?"

 

            "I don't know if I can explain.  It’s like everything is new....almost.  I've never had the opportunity to see the station this way." She looked hopefully at Kira.

 

            "Oh, I don't know."  Kira hedged.  "You've just been through something pretty major.  I think Sisko wanted you to rest."

 

            "And how often have you put what Benjamin wanted first?"  She had a perfectly charming smile on her face that Kira had never seen before.  It seemed to be infectious.  "Come on, Nerys.  You know you want to do this for me."

 

            Kira did a double take.  Dax had never called her that before.  Then again, Dax had never looked as irresistibly young before.  "Okay," she shook her head even as she was agreeing.  "Sisko's going to kill me, but, what the hell.  After you eat, I'll take you anywhere on the station you want to go."

 

            Jadzia smiled again and the Major couldn't help but smile back.  "Do I remember you saying something about Bajoran breakfast cakes?"

 

            Kira strode over to the replicator and came back with a plate filled with small steaming cakes.  They smelled of honey and cinnamon.  Jadzia's mouth began to water.  She set the plate in front of her, along with a cup of tea.  As she did so, she noticed that the night shirt she had lent Jadzia was more than a little short on her.  "I'll run to your quarters if you'd like me too.  I can grab some stuff you'll need over the next few days."

 

            Jadzia looked at her for a long moment and then grinned.  "I didn't realize for a moment what you were referring too.  Wouldn't Julian love to see this shirt?"

 

            "HE wouldn't be the only one."  Kira muttered under her breath.

 

            "Really?"  She licked some syrup off of her fingers.  "These are really good, Nerys. I've never had them before."  She wiped off her hands and stood.  "I think I'd like to go with you to get my stuff."

 

            Kira gave her a concerned look.

 

            "I have to go eventually.  I know what you're worried about.  But I am going to have to face this situation and I would rather do it now than later."

 

            "Okay, okay.  Get dressed."  Kira watched her disappear into the bedroom.  "Sisko is going to kill me."

 

                        ***************************************

 

            "So,"  Sisko sipped his fourth cup of coffee.  "What do we have so far?"

 

            O'Brien looked at Bashir and sighed.  He knew he'd end up being the mouth piece.  "Well, so far, not very much.  The biggest clues we've found are those scratches on the nacelles.  If I were to hazard an opinion, I would say they are definitely clamp marks of some kind."

 

            The Commander stroked his beard.  "You're saying someone or something tractored the runabout and physically held it immobile?"

            "That would explain the engine shut down.  An overload is the only reason it would go off line like that."  He scratched his head.  "At this point, it's the only reasonable answer."

 

            "Why don't we just take the next logical step?"  Bashir finally cut in.  "Let's follow the flight computer back along its original course."

 

            "There's no guarantee that the individual responsible will still be in the same area."  Sisko punched a few buttons on his PADD.  "Maybe...."

 

            "Maybe what?"

 

            "Maybe she did something to attract attention.  O'Brien, you said she was running a scan on a strange ionic pattern, correct?"

 

            "That's right."

 

            "Well, what if we did the same thing.  If we follow her flight course and scan for the last ionic pattern in the computer, we have a good chance at picking up a trail!"

 

            O'Brien checked the console.  "The pattern is still there, Sir.  I think that just might work."

 

            Sisko smiled.  "You have one hour gentleman.  Get cleaned up and meet me back here.  We're going hunting."

 

                          ***************************************

 

            Kira and Jadzia stopped outside of Dax's quarters.  Kira looked at her expectantly.

 

            "I think I should go in by myself, Kira.  I know you want to be there for me, but, this is something I really need to do by myself."

 

            Kira nodded and Jadzia keyed the door.  She walked inside and waited for the door to close behind her.  "Lights."

 

            The room was illuminated and Jadzia could not help but feel that she was trespassing somehow.  It wasn't that she didn't remember her things.  She knew exactly what everything was, she just couldn't remember why she had kept them.  Her glance fell to a gleaming Bat'telh hanging on one wall.  She walked over to it and ran her palm down the blade.  There was nothing.  Nothing except a deep feeling of loss, a shadow of a memory.  Nothing more. 

 

            One tear rolled silently down her cheek as she realized that she hadn't kept very many things that were truly her own.  Whether she had decided that there would be plenty of time later, or she had let her feelings of inadequacy stop her from collecting her own memories, she could not remember. 

 

            She quickly grabbed some leisure clothes, slammed them into a bag and headed out the door.  In the hallway, Kira stood waiting for her with a smile that quickly turned down when she saw Jadzia.  Placing an arm around her, she led her away.

 

            They walked all around the station, watching the wormhole out of the ports, and as they did, Jadzia's mood lightened.  When the finally ended up at Quarks, they were both laughing and enjoying themselves.

 

            "Ladies," Quark said ingratiatingly.  "I had a feeling you might be dropping by, so I saved you the best table in the house."

 

            "You mean you heard we were heading this way.  I know you Quark."  Jadzia's tone was harsh, but her smile was playful.  "C'mon Quack.  Lead the way."

 

            "The name is QUARK Lieutenant."  He scratched his lobe.  "I must say I have never seen you in this good of a mood.  It suits you."

 

            "You know something, Quark,"  Kira had a strange look on her face that melted into a lovely smile.  "I never thought I would say this, but I agree with you."

 

            Her commbadge beeped.  "Sisko to Major Kira."

 

            "Kira here, go ahead."

 

            "We've decided to take the runabout out for a spin, Major.  I think we may have found some answers, but we want to do some more checking before we jump to any conclusions.  How is Jadzia?"

 

            "I'm fine, Benjamin."  Jadzia called over Kira's shoulder.

 

            "And more obnoxious than ever."  Quark commented.

 

            "Major,"  Sisko's voice had dropped a couple of octaves.  "Where are you?"

 

            Kira made an 'I told you so' gesture to Jadzia and cleared her throat.  "We're at Quarks, Commander."

 

            "That wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I asked you to look after her."

 

            "It was my idea, Benjamin."  Jadzia cut in.  "I didn't really give her any choice."

 

            "And how are you feeling, old man?"

 

            "I feel fine. I'll feel better when you have some answers.

 

            "We're working on it, and we'll keep working on it until we have an answer."

 

            "Thank you, Benjamin."

 

            "No problem.  We'll notify you when we get back.  Sisko out."

 

            "Quark, a bottle of Bajoran spring wine and two glasses."  Kira began to walk away and then stopped smiling wickedly.  "And clear out holosuite one."  She took Jadzia by the arm.  "I have a program I want to share with a friend."

 

            Quark sighed and went to do as she had asked, mumbling something under his breath about Rule of Acquisition #94.  If it were anybody but the Major, he would have laughed in their face.  Somehow, Kira never seemed to get that kind of response from him.

 

                       ***************************************

 

            "So, what are we doing?"  Jadzia asked.  She was sitting in the middle of the holosuite floor with a basket full of items Quark had 'donated'.

 

            "Wait," Kira pressed a finger to her lips.  "Watch."

 

            Jadzia glanced around her as Kira called out, "Computer, run program Kira-4B."

 

            As she watched, a soft wind came up and caressed her body.  Jadzia sighed at its pleasant touch, then gasped as the sun began to peek out over the tops of Bajoran mountains.  To the left was a lake, small, but clear and beautiful.  She could smell the water on the breeze and heard the sounds of small animals waking to the morning light.

 

            "Kira," she breathed.  "This is gorgeous.  Where are we?"

 

            "At Nerys Lake.  So named by my father.  This is part of my family land on Bajor."

 

            "It's beautiful."  She glanced at Kira.  "Just like its namesake."

 

            The Major felt her face begin to flush and turned away.  It had been a long time since someone had told her she was beautiful, that's all, she told herself.  She stretched out next to Jadzia on the blanket that had come with the program and opened the basket.  Inside were two bottles of spring wine (Leave it to Quark to try to suck up.) two stemmed glasses, a plate of has'brak, and another one of gagh.  She immediately set the latter as far away from her as possible.  As she was opening one of the bottles, she noticed Jadzia nibbling on the gagh.

 

            "Guess you didn't lose your taste for that...stuff." She muttered.

 

            "Hmm...no, I guess not."  She took a glass from the Major and sipped it.  It was sweet and full.  A light red wine, it reminded her of a type of fruit that Benjamin had given her once, but she could not remember the name of it.  "Mmm, very nice.  Looks like I've just developed another taste."

 

            They drank both of the bottles of wine and ate all of the has'brak.  They watched the day pass, and slept.  When they woke, they swam in the lake and lay out in the sun once again to dry off.  They left the holosuite 5 hours after they entered it.  They were both happy and relaxed.

   

             Quark, however, was livid.  He literally had to bite his tongue as they were walking out.  He didn't even want to think about how much money he had lost.  The only up side was the favor that the Major now owed him.  All he had to do was convince her she owed him one.

 

                        ***************************************

 

            Kira and Jadzia were silent as they walked back to the Majors quarters.  It was a very comfortable silence that carried with it a new warmth between them.  When they reached her door, Kira turned to her.  "I need to check on the station.  I was having such a lovely time that I forgot I was supposed to meet Odo 15 minutes ago.  Will you be okay until I get back?"

 

            Jadzia's smile was slow and intimate.  "I'll be fine Nerys.  Do you want me to come with you?"

 

            "No, you look a little tired.  Why don't you get some rest."  Kira looked at the floor.  "Would you like to have dinner tonight?"

 

            This time, Jadzia's smile lit up her eyes as well.  "I would like that very much."

 

            "Great, I'll be back in about an hour and a half.  Feel free to use anything you want."

 

            Kira showed her the door code and left as the door slid shut.  She felt glorious.

 

                        ***************************************

 

            Sisko sat in silence on the Rio Grande and listened to Bashir and O'Brien argue about darts.  There was absolutely nothing to do but let the computer navigate the ship and watch the scanners.  So far, their plan had worked perfectly but without results.  They were about 40 minutes from the farthest point Dax could have been at when the ship disappeared.   He was beginning to think they were on the wrong track when the main engines went off line.

 

            O'Brien immediately placed a hand in the air to still Bashir, who had been going on and on at the moment about his newest set of darts.  He moved to the runabouts main console.  "Well, Commander, it looks as though we've found something.  The ionic pattern she was scanning has intensified 274 percent in the last 12 minutes.  Our engines are off-line...I can't raise them.  Shields are not responding....actually, nothing is responding."  He glanced at Sisko.  "We're dead in the water."

 

            Bashir cocked his head to one side.  "Listen," he whispered.  "Do you hear that?"

 

            Both of them fell silent and listened as a faint hum became more pronounced.  It sounded like a ships engine running at half impulse.  From the sound, Sisko judged that it should be in visual range.  Moving to the window, he looked out and his heart stopped for a moment.  Directly outside of the window was a ship.  At least, he thought it was a ship.    It had the sheen of an unknown metal and was glowing a faint pink.  He watched as two clamps extended from its hull and grasped the runabout with a solid 'thud'.  A beam flashed from the ship and scanned across all three of them.  Apparently satisfied, the scan shut off and a transporter beam lit up the runabout.  When it faded, a woman stood where it had been.

 

            "Is there assistance you require?"  Her voice was rich and deep.

 

            "Yes," Sisko moved forward a step and bowed slightly.  "I am Commander Benjamin Sisko.  These are my companions Dr. Julian Bashir and Chief Miles O'Brien.  We are here because of assistance that you have already given to another member of my staff."

 

            "Oh?"  The woman's features shifted and Dax stood before them.  "This creature is the one of whom you speak?"

 

            "Yes!"

 

            "The creature from which I removed the parasite."

 

            "Correct, well, somewhat correct."  Bashir interjected.  "The creature you removed was not a parasite."

 

            "Not a parasite?"  Dax flickered back into the woman who had first appeared.  "Explain."

 

            Bashir looked at her suspiciously.  "Did Dax not tell you anything when you first asked her if she required assistance?"

 

            The woman looked sad for a moment. "I'm afraid she could not have answered me if I had asked.  She had expired before I boarded this ship."

 

            "Expired?  How?"

 

            "The fault was mine.  I answered her scan with one of my own.  I was unfamiliar with your humanoid type species.  It terminated her."  The woman placed her hands behind her back.  "This was not acceptable, so I have reversed that termination.  In the process, I discovered the organism within her.  I removed it."

 

            "That organism was half of a joined species."  Sisko informed her.  "And the remaining half wants him back, badly."

 

            She looked confused for a moment and then nodded.  "I do not begin to understand her want of the parasite, but if what you say is true, I will re-implant the organism within her.  But there is something you should know, Commander."

 

            "And what is that?"  Sisko asked, a bad feeling had taken root in his chest.