Book 10

An ensigns work is never done . . .

Kira groaned quietly and tried to shift her weight to the other foot. 'And I thought getting posted back to Bajor would be a great idea!', she thought ruefully. At least, it had seemed a great idea when she accepted the offer of Bajoran Liaison on the station. Near to home, a promotion to Lieutenant (probationary for 6 months) and a small apartment of her own on the Officers' Deck, as befitted the First Officer. Not to mention a small but still worthy amount of bragging rights to Bajoran officers she'd served with in the Militia. All in all, not a bad life for someone only 14 months out of the Academy.

The reality, however, had turned out to be slightly less enjoyable. Replicators were worse than useless occasionally, security was holding its own but only just, and the wormhole was turning out to be the single biggest headache both Starfleet and Bajor had ever found. Once territorial rights had been sorted out, mainly by Bajor claiming it and threatening to full scale war on anyone who tried to take it off them, it seemed as if every being and their vole wanted a slice of whatever galaxy was on the other side.

"Problem, Lieutenant?" Sisko's velvet voice sounded in her ear and Kira straightened - then winced as her back twinged in complaint. The Human moved around to the opposite side of the table and faced her. "You look like you're expecting trouble."

"Nothing I can't handle, sir." She tapped some buttons at random on her console, trying to look efficient and busy. "No need for you to be concerned."

"Oh good. Glad to hear it." Sisko smiled briefly, then wandered off somewhere else.

Probably to harass some other innocent ensigns, Kira thought, then grinned as Reon entered Ops. "Constable, what can we do for you?"

Reon flashed his sister his most charming smile and handed her a PADD. "Two things; The first is that Bajor is holding a Militia conference on the station next week for it's more important commanders. You and I, as mere underlings, are not invited. However, General Kira Edon, member of the Kai's Guard, Companion of the Prophets, holder of the Medal of the Temple--."

"Grand poo-bah of Kalamazoo." Nerys muttered under her breath. "I know, I know. His list of honours takes 5 minutes to read." She scowled slightly. "So, we'll have to put up with Edon for a week. Who's he bringing with him?"

"Some Vedek he's involved with, name of Winn. She's in the running to be Kai since Opaka's death last year. We have to be nice to her, she's the only other serious contender aside from Vedek Bareil."

"Ah." Reon scowled at the soft smile that crossed his sisters face at the mention of the male Vedek. "I'll have to alert Bareil that she's coming here then."

"Seen much of the Vedek lately?" Reon didn't like the man, but there was very little he could do about it, either personally of professionally.

The smile became a light blush. "I'll be seeing him tomorrow. I have to visit Bajor to brief the counsel of ministers on the latest wormhole information. The meeting shouldn't last long, so I'll get to spend some time with him after that. Provided he's not called to the Assembly."

Reon's day began to get better as he decided not to inform her of the second piece of information. She seemed to have forgotten anyway, and he wasn't about to remind her if she couldn't. He'd have to place a subspace call. "Well, give him my regards. I'll send you the full information as soon as I get it." Reon left Ops in a better mood than he expected. He might get the Vedek out of his sisters life yet.

Odo stepped out into the greeting lounge to find exactly the wrong Kira waiting for him. "Captain," he said.

"She's going to kill you, you know," said Kira Reon.

"I have a legitimate assignment from the Corps Diplomatique..."

"I'm sure you do," he allowed with every ounce of cynicism he could carry. "If I didn't know better, I'd accuse you of purposely selecting your assignments."

"It doesn't work that way, Captain. They say, 'Odo, you spent your formative years on Bajor, head on down there and sort this out,' and I'm left no other recourse but to say, 'yes'm'."

Reon rolled his eyes, "And you do *so* well at smoothing out little annoyances. Like your presence."

Odo nodded and pretended amusement. He knew the effect he had on Nerys. Lieutenant Kira. Nerys... "You... could warn her I'm in the area..." he allowed. "Most of my business should remain in the capital... and I'll stay away unless I have good reason."

Reon walked beside him, passing for an honour guard. "Just don't go looking for any old good reason, hm? If Nerys kills you on my watch, *I* get the paperwork.

"Relax," instructed Bariel as he massaged her shoulders. "Don't force your centre to come to you. Let it open and welcome you."

Nerys, eyes closed and trying not to murmur at the Vedek's ministrations, turned her thoughts within and breathed a relaxing sigh.

"Breathe," whispered Bariel after a handful of seconds.

Good thing he said that, she thought, otherwise I would have forgotten. Fresh air flooded her lungs, and the sound of temple tourists became a dull sussurration.

"Let the bad evaporate," Bariel continued to instruct in a gentle whisper, the only voice she heard. "Breathe."

One of the tourists was getting louder. Almost loud enough for her to make out his words.

"I must say those decapitated figures are intriguing. Who do they represent?"

"This is the legendary Bajoran resistance leader . . . . "

Kira froze. She knew that voice. Damn him to the seven hells for coming here. What did he have, a radar or something? What was he, some kind of eternal Kira-missile permanently set on seek-and-annoy? All her hard won peace and tranquillity instantly went out the window. An entire week's hard work of relaxing, shot to hell. "Rrrr..."

"Nerys?" Bariel went unheeded for the first time in days as she stalked towards the source of the voice. Now she could see him, blithely telling the real story behind the gigantic frieze of Li Nalas Re-Conquering Bajor.

"Each deceased Cardassian here is supposed to represent a real victory that Mr Li was responsible for, or masterminded. I must say he looks like he's been a busy -- whulp!"

"Ex-cuse me," Kira chirped as she dragged Odo around another corner by his neck. She held him up by that same grip against the wall. "What," she demanded, "the flakk are you doing to me?"

"Who, me?"

"Cut the innocence routine, I know exactly what you're up to."

"Oddly, that should cut down on a lot of this. I honestly didn't know you were here until that untimely interruption."

"I don't believe you for one nanosecond."

"That's your own fault. Frankly, I'd rather be anywhere but here. This conference has been nothing but distilled boredom."

"Well it sounded to me as if you were having fun..." Her hackles rose just as she was putting Odo back down.

Someone was behind her.

"Nerys," Odo and Bareil chorused, "Who's your friend?" The snarling undertones were lost to Nerys, who was snarling herself, just a little. Neither man had met since since Nerys had transferred to the station a year ago and both had apparently decided that a little pretend amnesia was in order.

"Odo," she said in mock politeness, "This is Vedek Bareil, who's been helping me with my meditation techniques and patience."

"Working on a sainthood, is he?"

Kira ignored him. "Vedek, this is Ambassador Odo. He follows me around."

"I do not," Odo lied. At least he had the semblance of indignity down.

Bareil frowned slightly. "Nerys, you didn't tell me you were friends with the Ambassador. I knew you knew each other, but . . ."

"I'm not," she told Bareil, then to Odo, she said, "You do so. How else do you explain the fact that wherever I go, there you are?"

Odo thought for a moment, "Reverse B'Karu-Banzei Syndrome?"

"Rrrr."

"From the sounds of things, Vedek, you haven't been doing your job very well."

"I was doing fine until you showed up," Bareil managed around a razor- edged smile. "The moment Nerys heard your voice, she tensed up like a razorcat in a thunderstorm."

"If you'd been doing you job, she'd have been able to ignore me."

"She did," noted Bareil. "I heard you getting progressively louder as you drew closer to us."

"That's funny," said Odo. "I didn't quite see you, all the way over there."

"Really. Your powers of observation must be sadly lacking, then."

"Oh, no you don't," Kira seized Bareil's arm and started to take him away. "You're not going to start that on any of my friends."

"Who, me?"

"But Nerys," protested the Vedek.

"Don't try," suggested Kira. "You're up against a professional."

"By the way," called Odo from behind her, "Livid purple lingerie really isn't you."

She looked down the front of her shirt, only to discover a sliver of her underwear was showing. Damn Dax and her flakking Yuletide gifts!

Dinner at the Kira household that night was interesting, to say the least. Edon was home, as befitted a General supporting Winn in the elections. Reon had made the trip to Bajor thanks to a meeting of the security council that day, although he didn't usually attend the meetings, claiming they were a waste of valuable investigation time. But since everyone else was going to be there, he'd made the effort. Consequently, it was a family reunion of epic proportions, with all six children present for dinner, something that hadn't happened in years. The table was barely big enough everyone to sit around.

Meru had a slightly harassed expression after cooking all day. She'd tried to get Nerys interested in helping, but after Nerys had managed to accidentally burn a pot of rice by 'forgetting' about it, she'd shooed everyone else out of the kitchen. Surprisingly, Edon had insisted on helping his mother and had managed a reasonable hasperat soufflé, much to everyone else's astonishment. Reon was especially suspicious with this development.

"Alright, what gives?" He glared at his brother who merely smiled.

"You should always try a new hobby." Edon sipped his drink and ignored the laugh from his father.

"Edon, I remember your reports from school." Selan was equally suspicious. "You failed Home Economics. You were so bad at cooking, your teachers actually excused you from class!"

"I grew up." He smiled again, and something about it caught Nerys' inspiration and she grinned, leaning back in her chair.

"I know what this is really about." The entire room subsided into silence as Edon froze. "This isn't about cooking." She glanced at Reon and the grin broadened. "This is about being able to entertain his girlfriend when she visits."

As everyone looked at him, Edon gave her a tight smile and offered a plate. "You've gotten smarter. Have some more hasperat."

"Ah, so that's the reason." Reon grinned as well. "And how is Vedek Winn?"

Before the conversation could sink, Meru broke in. "By the way Nerys, I saw Shakaars son the other day. He came into the shop and asked about you."

The comment did not have the desired result.

Nerys showed a renewed interest in her food. "No, mama. I am not visiting Tobias. We didn't get along, remember?"

Edon muttered something under his breath that caused both his parents to glare at him sharply and Nerys to blush furiously. Avoiding his fathers eye, he spoke a little louder. "Didn't Tobias take you to your graduation dance? You seemed to like him well enough then."

Nerys glared daggers at her brother but kept a civil tone. "That was almost ten years ago. And I went with him because he asked me."

"And you brought him home that night as well, from what I could remember. He didn't leave until after breakfast." Reon sipped his drink thoughtfully. "So what's wrong with just visiting to say hello?"

As Nerys was turned to yell at her brothers, Tabrin broke in. "I think that will do, thank you." Glaring at his two oldest sons, who had the conscience to look at least slightly embarrassed, the man took charge. "Now, I believe the twins have homework to complete, and I'm sure that Nerys and Selan have things to do as well." Standing, he pushed his and Merus dirty plates towards Edon. "And I'm sure that Edon and Reon will be happy to clean up for us all."

The family grinned as two of Bajors most powerful men were reduced to sulking ten year olds.

Selan was relaxing on the enclosed verandah at the back of the house when a hand came over her shoulder, holding a glass full of clear liquid. Taking it, she sniffed cautiously at it then turned her head to Nerys as she sat in the other lounge chair. "Don't ask?"

Nerys smiled as they clinked their drinks in salute to each other. "Don't tell." Leaning back, she looked curiously at the other woman. "Where's Nissar? I thought you would have invited her for dinner."

Selan stared at the stars, her expression unmistakable. "We aren't together any-more." She shrugged as Nerys winced silently in sympathy. "What can I say? You were right, she was a very bad idea at the time. Even for me!"

"You do seem to be able to choose partners who are . . . . " Nerys paused delicately, searching for a diplomatic phrase, "Who are your temperamental opposite, shall we say."

Selan smiled ruefully. "You mean I always pick women who have a temper." Nerys declined to comment, just smiled. Silence reigned for a few minutes as both sipped their drinks before Selan spoke up again. "What's this I hear about you and Vedek Bareil?" She allowed herself a faint leer as Nerys blushed. "I never saw you as the religious type."

Nerys shrugged, avoiding her sisters gaze. "He's a kind and gentle man, and I like him. Nothing else is important."

"Like?" Selan frowned a little. "Nerys, even I know that a relationship is supposed to be based on more than liking someone. It's supposed to be between people with a mutual attraction and respect. Everything else is important."

Kira squirmed uncomfortably. "It's . . . it's not that simple."

"Yes, it is Nerys. Because if it's not, you need to ask why it's so complicated. And you may not want to know the answer."

Jadzia winced as Bashir carefully ran the regenerator over her cut arm, tsking under his breath as he did so. "Julian, it wasn't my fault!"

"So you've said." He gazed at her steadily. "But this could have been much worse."

Dax looked around the infirmary at the other members of her science team, all in various stages of repair and glared at the doctor. "Exactly how could it have been worse, Julian? That storm blew up out of nowhere! If I hadn't found those caves for us to shelter in --"

"Which promptly collapsed on top of you."

"Thank you for reminding me!" She snapped. "The point is, if I hadn't found those caves, we would have been out in the storm, and that would have been much worse than just being under a load of sand."

Switching off the machine, he helped her from the bio-bed, before fixing her with a stern gaze. "And if you remembered Nerys' warnings at all, you would have stayed out of the caves, or at least near the entrance." He ignored Jadzias' astonishment as he went on in his best lecturers voice. "Sandstone caves are not to be trusted under any circumstances."

"You remember that?!" Dax was impressed, despite her annoyance.

Bashir sighed. "Of course. Just as I hope that the two of you remember all the medical advice I've given you." He waved towards the Infirmary exit. "Off you go, and next time, check the caves stability before you enter them."

Reon and Nerys watched from a corner as the Militia conference got under-way. Both Vedek Bareil and Vedek Winn were present as the lead contenders in the upcoming elections. Winn, a tall, blond woman with a slightly ingratiating smile, was sitting next to General Kira Edon, who, as the most senior member of the Bajoran militia present, was chairing the meeting. A handsome man, Edon was popular with both his subordinates and his superiors, and was widely tipped to make the move into politics one day. He was also known as quite a ladies man, as well as someone of rather conservative beliefs, hence his support of Winns' faction.

Bareil, as a man of more progressive ideals, and an open supporter of the Federation, was currently polled as having a little more than half the votes needed to become Kai. Winn had the majority of the others, while less than five percent were split amongst the remaining contenders, ranging from those who wanted to totally submerge the Bajoran identity within the Federation, to those who thought coming down from the trees was a bad idea.

Reon stifled a yawn as yet another colonel began a long-winded speech and muttered to his sister behind an upraised hand. "Remind me; why are we here again?"

"Because Commander Sisko wants you to personally oversee security, and because he wants me to personally report on what's decided every day," she muttered back, looking as disgruntled as he did. They both knew what would happen; it would take at least a day before any serious discussions got under-way, after all the speeches, and there was every possibility that the conference could drag out until the next week. And while that wouldn't affect the senior officers, it would put them seriously behind schedule, unless both Reon and Nerys caught up on their paperwork every night after the unending dinners and factional meetings.

"Tell me, is Starfleet like this as well?" Reon sank a little lower in his chair and clapped politely as the speech ended -- then stifled a groan as yet another started.

"Starfleet is worse."

They both settled in for a long day.

"Come in." Jadzia Dax grinned as Julian strolled into the room. "You were going to be here an hour ago. What happened?"

Bashir groaned theatrically and lounged on the bunk next to his friend. "Doctor Crusher had all of security scheduled for their annual physicals this week. Commander Worf, either not knowing or forgetting, scheduled their annual unarmed combat drills at the same time. We've spent the day patching up red shirts and trying to certify them at the same time."

"Ouch!" Jadzia grinned. "Are you sure Nerys would like to be known as a 'red shirt' though?"

"Speaking of Nerys," Julian hurriedly changed the subject, "where's her message?"

"Right here." Dax flourished a data-chip. "Computer, play message 'Dax 14', from the beginning." She settled back next the Bashir to watch the message with him, slapping him playfully to swat his hand off her knee. "Stop that, you silly man."

"Jadzia, you tease." He grinned boyishly then shushed as the recording began.

"Hullo Dax, hullo Julian." Kira's image smiled at the from the screen. "Another month, another headache. We've got the elections for the new Kai coming up next week, and we've had both contenders on the station over the last month. Vedek Bareil is still the peoples choice, and he'll probably win. But the other leader is Vedek Winn, and she has a powerful following as well. Consequently, no-one can predict who will be the new Kai."

"Computer, pause playback." Bashir shot Dax a curious glance. "Is she still involved with Bareil?"

"Oh yes." Jadzia nodded her head firmly. "Very much involved." She sighed. "Which will make life all the more difficult if he becomes Kai. Kira will have to choose between being the wife of a religious leader or being a soldier."

"I have trouble seeing her in robes. But the potential power would be a strong lure to her." Julian turned back to the screen. "Computer, resume playback."

"We've also been having trouble with a species in the Gamma quadrant. Quite a few ships have reported coming under attack after venturing into particular areas of space. If they turn and leave, they escape. But those that have made a fight of it have been destroyed. We're trying to investigate who it is, but none of the species we've encountered will tell us. They're very frightened of whoever it is." Her visage frowned slightly. "Ambassador Odo came to Bajor again last week. Bareil and I ran into him at the main temple on Bajor. He was showing some Federation delegates around the complex and telling them the story of Li Nalas."

"Pause playback." This time it was Jadzia who was confused. "Is it my imagination, or is Diplomat Odo spending a great deal more time in Bajoran space than most?" Bashir shrugged and the recording resumed.

"There's a rumour going around that the Federation is going to offer Odo the position of Ambassador-in-residence on Bajor. It's probably a good position for him. He knows all about Bajoran society and the surrounding space, and he's just as familiar with non-Bajorans now. It'll be good for Bajor to have an off-world representative that can understand both worlds." She smiled then shrugged. "I'm not sure I'd like him around that much, but he might be good for Bajor, and that's what matters. I have to go, but I'll send you another message next month. Take care of yourselves out there, and let me know how you're doing when you can. Kira out."

"Thank you for sparing the time to see me, Vedek."

Winn glided towards a set of chairs by a low table. More open and welcoming than her hiding behind her office desk. "All seekers of truth are welcome in my temple, Odo," she gestured for him to sit. "I know you rarely eat or drink. Do you need anything?"

"If it makes you comfortable, we can share tea." After all, Bajoran teas had no effect at all on his silicate biology.

It evidently made her comfortable, as she busied herself with the pot and hot water. "The Federation sent you to investigate my colleague and I, didn't they?"

Odo remained standing while she did. "They sent me to investigate the political ramifications of each nominate, yes."

"And which one the Federation would best side with, of course," she bought the tray to the low table and sat. "I suspect this interview is a mere formality. My politics are well known."

"And frequently misconstrued. For example, the media's association of you with the d'jarran movement?"

"I do not wish to bring back the d'jarras, nor do I side with that Circle nonsense of a while back. I only worry about Bajor losing her cultural identity with this... flood of offworlders. No offence."

"None taken," said Odo.

"They come to visit us and expect all the comforts of home when they get here. Domjot... Kalevian montar... Mac and cheese... They don't come to See us, they come to experience their home through us. And they don't see anything. Our history, our past, our... sense of self is being overwhelmed." She poured the tea. "I only want to keep some piece of what we were intact for the future of Bajor. A people without their past, is a people without their future."

He had seen the tourist resorts that had formed in key cities. Even lead some Federation dignitaries through a few tourist zones. They were a cardboard cut-out of the real Bajor. Sanitized for the protection of the tourist's fragile minds. "you don't want offworlders off Bajor?"

"Of course not, regardless of what they're doing to us... they're good for the economy." Realisation hit her as she sipped her tea. "This is about that misquote last month, isn't it?"

"The Bajor sound-bite, yes. That too."

"What I said was, 'Bajor belongs to the Bajorans as much as they belong to Bajor. We made her, and she made us; and we must stay loyal to her, because of that.' I'm not a word-smith, Odo. I... sometimes don't think about what I'm saying when I'm saying it. My opponent can afford a staff and advertising and a phenomenal array of cheap stunts. Meanwhile I... can't afford to turn down a backer."

"And what would you plan for Bajor, if you could?"

"Oh, the usual education and aid for those areas still hurting from the occupation. Backing of the traditional arts... Did you know nobody refines their own Jumja any more? It's been taken over by these companies, mass-producing it, and even mixing the natural sap with some... replicated goop. They say you can't taste the difference, but... I can. Occupations used to be an art form, a dedication of body and time to the Prophets--"

Odo winced at her unfortunate word choice. Any media technician would have a field day with 'occupation' in such close proximity to 'art form'.

Winn nodded an unconscious, _I know,_ as she continued. "--these days, it's all machines and bright lights and no... no soul. I wouldn't just fund the public arts, I'd do whatever I could to encourage a revival of the cottage industries... The beauty and soul in every small corner of Bajor. It's part of us. We shouldn't let it die."

Almost exactly what Bariel was saying, though his had more of a fillip towards advances and technology. There was less separating the two nominates than he thought. Winn sided with 'tradition', which was construed by others as 'going backwards', while Bariel would leap wholesale towards joining the Federation, without a thought of what he was treading on to get there.

"Perhaps you should spend a few campaign funds on a political advisor," _Or five,_ "so you don't trip over so many... verbal pitfalls."

"And be seen as a lack-witted puppet with someone else holding the strings? No matter what I do, Bariel will cast it into a bad light. So I may as well be honest and try to make that honesty shine through."

"Do you release your unedited speeches on the info-nets?"

"Of course. I have nothing to hide."

Odo sipped the tea, trying to think. This woman was genuinely interested in helping Bajor. Bariel, for all of his smooth political doublespeak, seemed interested only on saying the words that would gain him the most power. "Do you know If Vedek Bariel has anything to hide?"

"I do not stoop to muckraking."

"Ah, but Vedek Winn... You have in your chambers, right now, someone who's *job* it is to muckrake. And with the tools, backing, and skills to do the best possible work at it."

A faint smile. "You have to publish your findings, don't you?"

"Why, yes, I certainly do."

"Then please be completely thorough. For both of us. You wouldn't want to be accused of having an agenda yourself, would you?"

"Of course not."

"I must say, your quarters are much less comfortable than I expected, Vedek." Odo glanced around the room and didn't miss a thing. The rooms were surprisingly spartan, with plain but comfortable chairs and tables, with what looked like an ordinary computer system in the corner. "You know why I am here, of course."

"Of course." Bareil didn't ask, just offered his guest some hot tea. Odo didn't know whether to put this down to arrogance or his being well informed. As they took their seats, the Bajoran watched the shapeshifter over the edge of his cup. "You have already visited my colleague, Vedek Winn. I trust your meeting was informative."

"It was a very interesting discussion, yes." Odo sipped his drink and tried to look composed. If they went on like this, a ten minute meeting was going to take all day. "We spoke about her hopes for Bajors future."

"I can only imagine what she told you." Bareils poker face really was quite good. "Her own quotes should show that she looks more to the past and what was rather than what could be."

Odo put his glass down and decided to speed things along. "Vedek, I have heard the media reports, and I have also heard and read the uncensored speeches she has given. Frankly, I think Winn has an excellent grasp of the current political state." He saw Bareils eyes dilate slightly and smothered a smirk. "As Federation Ambassador, I shall be providing a full and frank assessment of the issue to them, and recommending a future course."

"Perhaps I should give you a brief overview of my opinions, as I'm sure Vedek Winn did when you met her?" He waited until Odo nodded then continued. "I believe that Bajor needs to continue to move into the Federation. Our past should be respected and admired, but we have to live in the future. And that future is as part of the Federation, not separate from it. The universe is changing, and Bajor has to change with it. Yes, some things will be lost, as some things are lost from every society. But we will emerge stronger and more powerful afterwards."

"And what will be your part in this changed society?"

Bareil smiled. "I shall be leading Bajor, if that is the Prophets will, of course." Odo was reminded of a sand-dragon who had just spotted a careless songbird. "The wormhole has the potential for bringing great wealth and power to us, power that could allow us to not only forge our own destiny, but to also control the destiny of others. Perhaps it is time for Bajor to rise up and lead the way from an ignoble past into a glorious future for all."

If there was one thing Odo knew, it was when people stated talking about glorious futures it was time to smile, nod, and leave as quietly and quickly as possible. The results could be entertaining, but only when safely out of range. Accordingly, he decided it was time to go. "As I'm sure you understand, I have been tasked with ensuring the Federation is fully aware of this event, and how it will affect their relationship with Bajor. If I can have your assurances of complete co-operation, I believe I can recommend a mutually beneficial accord."

There was a polite silence as the vedek marshalled his thoughts. "I would expect nothing less from you, Ambassador." He sat his glass down and leaned back. "Of course, I shall assist you in any way I can." Odo didn't believe it for a minute. "I know that your previous history with Bajoran society means that you will . . . perform your task to your best talents. You also might like to speak to Nerys about this, to gain the opinion of the common Bajoran."

You bastard, thought Odo viciously. You utter bastard, don't you dare bring her into this! Standing, Odo bowed, correct to a fault. "I shall indeed be speaking to Nerys, about all her views on this matter."

Bareil stood and bowed as well. "Then I look forward to reading your reports."

Sisko wasn't entirely sure why he'd agreed to this meeting. Odo was technically posted to Bajor, and although it wasn't unusual for him to visit the station, it was odd that he'd asked for a private conference. He turned as the office door opened and gave an easy grin. "Ambassador, good to see you again. What can I do for you?"

Odo relaxed back in his seat. He'd given this conversation a lot of thought. There were things he could say openly and things he couldn't. He'd has to be slightly oblique and trust that the Human was smart enough to work out what he was saying without actually saying it. "Commander, as you know, I'm here as a Federation observer for the election of Kai. Part of my briefing is to outline the possible repercussions depending on who is elected."

"I don't envy you the job." Ben smiled politely. "How can I help?"

"I've already spoken to both leading candidates, Vedek Winn and Vedek Bareil. I would appreciate your thoughts on the matter."

The Human gave the question serious consideration before he spoke. "Vedek Winn seems to speak plainly. Unfortunately, she has some misunderstanding issues with the press. I've seen and read her speeches, and the media doesn't always broadcast what she says or means. Vedek Bareil is much more publicly aware, his media releases are far better geared to the general public, and he gives better audio-spots." He cocked his head to one side. "Does that help?"

"Perhaps." Odo was non-committal. "I still have a great deal to investigate, and I'd prefer to come to my own conclusions. But I'd be grateful if you could remain available for any questions I might have regarding this matter." Standing, he turned to leave, then delivered what was commonly know as the 'door-step question'. "By the way, Commander, I understand you're a fan of an obscure Terran game called baseball. Could you clarify something for me?" He smiled to himself at Sisko's confused nod. "I believe there's a manoeuvre called 'stealing home'. What does that mean exactly?"

Sisko frowned slightly. "It's where one player hits the ball, and as they run around the bases, another player already on a base . . . " His voice trailed off as he realised what Odo was really talking about. "As you said, it's an obscure game."

"But you should never turn down the opportunity for acquiring an education, Commander." Odo bowed slightly. "I'll be speaking to your First Officer over dinner tonight and returning to Bajor in the morning. Thank you for your time."

Sisko watched him leave, and tossed his baseball from hand to hand.

Odo fought to maintain neutrality as he watched Lieutenant Kira launch herself into her meal with gusto. He'd heard her lover casually dismiss her admirable qualities less than two days ago. A man who should have held her in infinite regard, treasured and cherished her beyond his own life; who should be grateful just to bask in her pleased gaze...

Stop it, he told himself. She chose him. It appears to be mutual.

Appearances...

"Get on with it, Ambassador. What do you need to know?"

"I'd like your honest opinions about the Kai nominates. Both of them."

"Is it even a race?" Kira shook her head. "Kai Winn has no hope if she keeps siding with the isolationists and the traditionalists... Or the back-to-the-caves lunatic fringe. Bariel has... Everything." She paused to work on her food. "He's dynamic, forward-thinking, working on progress in every avenue..."

She's reciting his ad copy...

"I know what the Bajoran media is saying about him. I want to know what you think." Come to think of it, she'd recited Bariel's ad copy about Winn, too. "Your opinion of them when they're not performing for the cameras."

"I've never even met Winn. Just seen the news feeds. You have to admire someone who just keeps plugging on for a hopeless cause, like that." Ad copy again... almost verbatim from one of Bariel's glib comments to the media. "Think about it, Odo. Out of all the people he has in his orbit, he chose me."

He chose a woman who sits at the right hand of the Emissary, Nerys. He called you 'the common Bajoran' when he should have been calling you his elhan ale'al.

Objectivity.

"Why do you love him?" Odo asked.

There was silence, then she spoke softly. "He gave me worth, Odo. I was nothing, just another Bajoran who'd left to join Starfleet. I'd caused more trouble than some people would have tolerated. Antos believed I could be more that I was, and he was right." A gentle smile crossed her face. "He had faith in me, and I learnt to have faith in myself through him. We never argue, he's gentle and kind, and always polite to everyone he meets. He's everything I've ever wanted in a lover, although I wouldn't mind seeing him more often. But it doesn't matter what I want, as long as I help him serve the Prophets."

Ouch. Star-struck hero worship with a side of all the things Odo would never be. Hello, mud. So nice to be dragged through you again. It didn't seem to matter that he and she had been saving each other's tails for almost two years. Stop being in love, he told himself. He might have just as easily told himself to go all the way back to the lab and start his life all over again.

"I've been asking everyone involved about their plans for Bajor. If you go ahead and... join lives with Vedek Bariel... you'd have to resign your commission to Starfleet. Isn't that a rather... large... sacrifice?"

"Prime Directive conflict," said Kira. "By marrying the Kai, I'd theoretically be a powerful figure in local politics, with the potential to have influence over the whole of Bajoran space. Which is in direct conflict to my Starfleet oath not to interfere in the natural development of other civilizations. Something's got to give, somewhere. And I'd rather it not be my relationship with Bariel." She gnawed on her tava bread. "What do you mean, 'if' I join lives with him?"

"Just... That I can't predict the future. You may yet discover something about Bariel that you intensely disagree with. You may learn that a life in politics isn't... you."

"Do you know how many calls I get a day, asking me to 'influence' some decision of yours?"

"I know how many times you've acted on those requests. Zero."

"As if I could tell you what to do. I tell 'em all you have good reasons to do what you're doing and to leave me out of it."

"See? Now imagine how many calls a day you'd get if you were married to the Kai."

"Come on, Odo. Nobody takes the role of Kai's escort seriously any more. I'd just be... Standing in his shadow and having his babies." She sipped her drink. "Maybe helping him build a better Bajor."

"Where is your better Bajor going?"

"Onward and upward, I hope," said Kira. "Except I can't help worrying about our cultural identity eroding with the creeping tide of tourists. Did you know nobody refines their own Jumja any more?"

"I... had heard," allowed Odo.

"We used to get involved in our work," she said. "Like it was an art form. Now, it's just something that drains our energy. Another damn job to do. We should have more art in our lives."

"Tell me, Lieutenant... have you ever watched Winn's unedited speeches?"

"Ha! I barely have time to see the news feeds."

"It might be... worth pursuit. You have more influence over Bajor than you think."

"Because I chose to let some aliens order me around, instead of my own people?" She shook her head. "Any influence I have on Bajoran politics is purely imaginary."

"Odo, good to hear from you again." Dax smiled brightly and held out a hand to someone off screen.

Odo allowed a small smile. "How much?"

"Ten credits. Julian was out by a month." Her expression became serious. "Now, what can we do for you?"

"I've been sent to Bajor as Federation observer for the Kai elections. So far, the only people telling me the truth are Kira and Vedek Winn. And I can't trust Kira's word because . . . " He trailed off uncomfortably.

Dax nodded. "Because she's involved with Bareil and blinded by her feelings for him." She sighed and hunched in to the computer. "You know, I thought he would be good for her. A kind of link on Bajor after she'd been away for so long. It's not turning out to be such a good idea."

Odo found himself nodding. "I agree. In fact, my investigation has led me to believe that this is a very bad relationship for her, and she will probably be hurt very badly in the near future."

Dax looked shocked. "Odo, what do you know?" When he didn't say anything, just looked at her, she was stunned. "Oh no, not that." Her voice was so soft it was almost merely a breath of sound. "He's just using her, isn't he?"

Odo didn't comment, just looked away uncomfortably. "As I said, I'm still investigating and observing the situation. Hopefully, I'll be proved very wrong."

The comm-channel closed with a static blip, leaving Jadzia and the silent Bashir in shock.

Dax had delayed this comm for a week, hoping it would seem easier. It didn't.

"Nerys! Great to see you!" The Trill smiled, glad Kira couldn't see her hands clenching and unclenching beneath the table. "How are things on DS9?"

"Great, as I told you in my message last week." Nerys wasn't worried. She knew what it was to be lonely when a close friend had been posted somewhere else. "The election is coming up at the end of next week, and it looks like Bareil will win." She scowled slightly. "Although it seems that Vedek Winn's speeches have improved lately. I'm suspicious that she's gotten some extra help from a mutual friend of ours."

"Really?" Dax decided to try for light and ignorant. "So, it really will be a choice of who Bajor believes is the better leader?"

Kira seemed almost grudging. "She seems to have improved. Her speeches are now speaking to more ordinary Bajorans, and she does seem to have a point. Mainly about how we've sacrificed so much that we've lost touch with out past, and how our art history is being dismantled and forgotten."

"You sound like you might agree with her."

Kira became dismissive and almost defensive. "Bareil is the future of Bajor. He has the vision and presence to guide us forward."

Dax held up a hand. "Nerys . . . stop. You sound like an audio-com propoganda. Have you listened to yourself? Where's the Kira Nerys I knew who made up her own mind about things?"

Kira almost exploded. "Who are you to ask me what I believe? Bareil loves me! He loves me, and doesn't want me to be anything other than me. If this is what you think, then I'm glad I'm here! And one day, when I stand behind him when he's Kai, what you, and that flakking shapeshifter, and the rest of the universe thinks won't matter. All that matters is what he thinks." She punched the transmission closed, hot tears pouring down her face, and slumped into her seat.

Ten forward was busy, save for this one corner, where he and Jadzia sat and hunched over their drinks.

"I don't like it," Julian repeated himself.

"Neither do I, but it has to be done. Someone has to tell her."

"But a charisma cult? You can't just tell someone in a charisma cult that they're... in a charisma cult. Sometimes you have to spend weeks trying to convince them. And even then, it's not certain."

"I know, but we have to try," said Jadzia. "She out and out told me that what she thinks matters less than Bariel's thoughts. She said only his thoughts matter. She's in deep and someone has to tell her."

"And in certain circumstances, it's not nice to be Someone," said Julian, chief Someone nominee. "Can't Odo tell her? He's almost unkillable..."

"Julian..." She sighed. "This has to come from people who care about her."

"She won't listen. We both know Kira's stubborn about these things. Anyway, Odo cares about her, or he wouldn't have bothered going to this much trouble."

" He's tried already, and she wouldn't listen to him. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try again."

Julian stared into his root beer as if trying to scry answers in the bubbles. He sighed. "Okay. Next question. How do 'we' tell Kira without getting yelled at - again?"

Dax placed the most miserable comm-call of her life. "Sorry, Odo. She's refusing to take my calls now. There's nothing more I can do."

Odo nodded, looking equally unhappy himself. "Thank you for trying, Lieutenant. She's not speaking to me either, if it's any consolation. It wouldn't make any difference anyway, Bareil is going to win. But I've set Vedek Winn up with some good media people, so she can keep making statements in the future. Hopefully, that will mean she has enough public opinion to be able to question his actions and see to it that he's kept in some form of control. But the election has been lost."

Jadzia sighed and nodded. "Then there's nothing more to do but deal with the consequences." She watched him worriedly. "What about Nerys? What will Bareil do with her once this is over and he's won?"

Odo shrugged. "I'm not sure, but I doubt he's going to want her to continue seeing him. I suspect he'll phase her out of his life, once he has claimed power. To be honest, a mere lieutenant on a distant space station isn't all that important in planetary affairs."

"So he's going to use her and break her heart. Probably by making it seem her fault." She grimaced. "And we'll get to pick up the pieces. Wonderful."

"I agree." Odo glanced at something off screen. "I have to go. There's only a few days until the election, and the Bajoran council of ministers wants me to oversee the final details of the organising, to make sure that everyone agrees it's fair and above board." He sighed again. "I'll speak to you as soon as I know what happens with Nerys and Bareil. Odo out."

Kira clung anxiously to Bariel's arm, watching his numbers slowly rise above Winn's. The shapeshifter's little helpers hadn't helped Winn enough. She was loosing, but the margin was getting thin. "We're winning in Hedrikspool," she murmured.

"We?" said Bariel. Then he smiled and laughed. "I'm certain our guests would like some refreshments. Nerys, could you make sure the servers have enough ice? We need them to start circulating soon."

By the time she found him again, he was chatting in a tight circle with some of his heavy contributors. "Antos..."

"In a moment, Nerys. I have to thank my contributors. Why don't you keep some of my other guests entertained? Tell them some of your little shapeshifter stories..."

Stunned, she watched as he headed off to face the vid-recorders once more, the aristocratic center of a chattering group of advisors, leaving her to hold the drink she been about to hand him. Watching as he smiled charmingly and claimed a tentative victory, all in the name of progress for Bajor, she felt herself go cold as he thanked everyone – but not her. In fact, the longer she stood there and the longer he spoke, the more she was convinced Kira Nerys had just been written out of existance.

A hand rested gently on her shoulder, and without even looking around, she knew who it was. "I'm sorry, Nerys." She glanced sideways, saw the pity on Odo's face and looked away, gulping the drink in her hand. "I thought it might turn out like this. I tried to warn you, but . . . " His voice trailed off, and she didn't need to hear the rest.

Nodding. "I know. I was carried away in the moment and didn't listen. Not to you, or to Dax, or even my own family." She gave a bitter laugh. "Even my own sister saw this and I just told her it wasn't important." She gave a deep, shaky, breath, then turned back to him. Her eyes were bright but there were no tears. "I'll speak to him in a day or two, maybe this is just a mistake; he's gotten carried away in the heat of the moment." Odo looked incredulous and she held up a hand. "Don't . . . don't say it. Please." She glanced down, toying with the glass. "He has to say it, to me. I need to hear it from him." She glanced up, a ghost of a smile on her face. "It's the Bajoran way, Odo. You know that."

Odo bowed and nodded. "I know." He gave a sigh and crossed his arm, looking at the new Kai with what she could have sworn was near hatred. "Remember, you still have friends, good friends who love you and care what happens."

"Even if I tell them I don't want to speak to them again and refuse their calls?"

He placed his hand on her shoulder again and gave a gentle shake. "Even if you damn us to the pagh-wraiths and the fire caves, we would still love you, Kira Nerys."

Bareil watched as the numbers continued to roll in and smiled. It was a close run election, but it looked like he was ahead. Winn had recovered lost ground in the last two weeks, thanks to Odo's assistance, but it hadn't been enough to shift the sand to her favour. By dawn, he would be the new Kai.

A hand rested on the small of his back and he turned. "Kira." He saw the look on her face and wondered if the pretence was worth the effort. It was probably best to keep it up for the rest of the night at least, the last issue he wanted was for her to make a scene on the night of his triumph. "Is there something I can help you with?"

Nerys swallowed and gave a tight smile. "I was hoping you might want to spend some time with me, for a while at least." She waved a hand at the crowded hall. "You're going to be very busy Antos, I probably won't be able to see you for a while after this."

He patted her shoulder. "I don't think so, lieutenant. I would imagine I'm going to be very busy for some time; far too busy to have junior officers visit." He motioned vaguely around the hall. "I'm sure you can find someone else to spend your time with."

She watched him turn away as his media advisor plucked at his sleeve and they began yet another vid-conference, to tell Bajor that he would graciously accept the election results as the will of the Prophets and closed her eyes. Her chest felt like it was being sliced open from the inside.

Three days had passed for Kira, waiting in the hotel for word or message, or something to let her know that his abrupt dismissal had been nerves or something resulting from winning the election. No such word had come. Not even a text message.

Kira had not wasted her time, twiddling her thumbs and hoping. She sent off messages, tried to call, even disguised a few covert missives disguised in gifts. All returned, detoured, or otherwise shoved back to the point of origin. Sometimes with a terse message explaining that the new Kai was busy with his duties and could not be disturbed.

Most of the time with no explanation at all.

Three days was far too long. Which was why she had quit the hotel and marched all the way to the temple, only to be told she needed an appointment.

"Fine," she said. "Make one. In the meantime, I am going to sit right here and wait. He has to come out of there, sometime."

The secretary let her stew for four hours before she found and excuse to enter the offices.

Tired and weary, "Then send her in..."

Kira entered, to discover Bariel in his golden robes, occupying a largely tidy desk. She'd expected clutter.

"Lieutant," he said, as if addressing an unwelcome relative with loud, antisocial habits. "I thought you'd be back to your posting by now."

Lieutenant. Not Nerys. She knew. She could tell. She could have told three days ago, but she didn't want to believe. "I was waiting..." she began.

"I'm a very busy man." He watched her in apparent amusement. "What were you waiting for?"

Nerys swallowed, determined to see this through to the end. "To hear from you. For you to say thank you for being there; for supporting you through it all; and that you'd like to see me again after things have settled down."

Now the new Kais' expression was almost derisive. "I don't think that will be necessary, do you?"

"So . . . . " Kira stared at the Vedek and fought back the tears welling into her eyes. "So, all I was to you was just a way to become Kai!"

Bareil smirked and relaxed into the chair behind his desk and steepled his fingers. "Don't pretend to be that naive, Kira. You were using me just as much as I was using you." He quirked an eyebrow at her as she choked back a sob. "Come now, you must have known that the only reason you're on the station is because I requested you being posted there. Bajor needs someone in the command crew that we control, someone we can make sure will see to it that Bajoran interests are the top priority, not Starfleets."

"A Bajoran you can use . . . " Kira's anger grew greater than her distress. "You think you can use me?" She gave a savage, hacking laugh. "Bareil, you and Bajor will never use me ever again!" She turned to leave.

The Kai shot to his feet. "Lieutenant, you will show me the proper respect I deserve." His voice dropped to a menacing growl. "And you will see me and serve me whenever I demand your presence. Do we understand each other?"

Nerys stared at him for a long moment, then turned her gaze out the window, before turning back to the desk and leaning over it to rest her knuckles on the tabletop. Her nose almost touching his, she matched his voice snarl for snarl. "Emminance, you may be Kai, and I am a dutiful daughter of the Prophets. I shall show all proper forms in public, never doubt. But if you ever threaten me or mine again, or try to harm me and mine in any way, you will learn how a Starfleet officer defends themselves and theirs. Do we understand each other?"

Bareil slowly nodded just once as he sat back down and turned his attention to the various PADD's scattering his desk. "Dismissed."

Kira straightened and marched from the office. She made it all the way to the bathroom at the end of the hall before she finally gave in to the heartbreak and collapsed in the empty room, weeping.

Nerys nursed her glass of Romulan ale at a table in the back of Quarks. In the month since Bareil had revealed his true nature to her, she had rarely spent a night not in the bar for at least a short while. And while her work wasn't being affected yet, both Reon and Sisko were beginning to worry about her. Sisko had called her in to his office a few days before and asked if she would like to transfer off the station, a move that had her asking if he was unhappy with her work and vehemently insisting she was doing the best she could. Sisko, not in the least unhappy with her performance, back-pedalled madly and told her he was merely concerned and they left it at that.

Reon, after trying and failing to get her to talk with him, had tried another route and used a few contacts on Bajor, where he learnt that Kai Bareil was now seen escorting various prelates and ranjins at official dinners and outings. From there, it wasn't too great a leap to work out what had happened. Reon knew that Nerys' pain at the betrayal of trust would be acute, but as neither were novices in the lists of love, he knew she would get over it eventually and be wiser for the experience.

The problem was that, even after a month, Nerys herself felt no better for the passage of time. She knew that things should have started to improve by now, but she still felt the humiliation and agony as if it had only happened moments before. Hence, the nightly glass in the bar.

A figure came to the table and pulled out a chair. Spinning it around so he could straddle it, Reon sat opposite his sister and examined her face in concern. She looked stressed and tired, and her eyes had a haunted look to them that hadn't been there a month ago. "Nerys, you can't go on like this."

"I know." She took a swallow of her drink and went back to staring at the table. "I just can't get him out of my head, 'Re. Even after all he did to me, how he used me . . . I still can't get him out of my mind." She glanced at her brother, her eyes wet with tears. "And part of me would take him back in a heartbeat."

Reon reached out to gently take her hand and cradled it in his. "I know. But what he did to you is unforgivable. He used you so he could become Kai, so it looked like he was progressive. But you can't keep thinking about him, you have to move on. He betrayed you, 'Rys, he betrayed all of us who believed in him. And one day, the Prophets will give us our revenge. But until then, we just have to make the best of what we have."

Nerys sighed and nodded, but kept staring at the table. "I know, 'Re, but it's just . . . . it's just that I feel so . . . . so used! And I don't like being used."

"I know." Reon smiled and squeezed her hands companionably. "And one day, he'll make a mistake and we'll get him. We just have to wait until then." Standing, he slid the glass out of her hands. "Now, Lieutenant, I think you should go home, have a shower, and get some sleep before work tomorrow. Yes?"

Nerys looked up at her older brother and smiled. "Yes." As they left, Reon playfully ruffled his sisters hair, getting a grin out of her at last.

Dax, Bashir, and Odo watched Nerys as she strolled down the Promenade, her hair still damp from the showers after springball practice. They had already been to see Reon after the Enterprise arrived earlier that morning, to be told it was Nerys' day off, so they had gone searching for her on the Promenade, to find her at the courts.

Odo leaned against the railing, his eyes drinking in the sight of the young Bajoran as she strolled between the shops and stalls, chatting with the shopkeepers and looking at the goods. "She doesn't seem too stressed by what Bareil did to her."

Dax nodded, also watching Kira intently. "Reon said that she was deeply hurt and felt humiliated by how Bareil treated her."

"Knowing Nerys, she'll be holding it inside." Both Dax and Odo looked at Julian in surprise. "But she'll heal. Eventually she'll have another relationship and Bareil will fade into the past."

"You're not aiming that high, are you?" Jadzia couldn't resist teasing the man a little, and felt slightly pleased as he reddened, then remembered Odo was present. She glanced at the Changeling to see him staring back at Nerys while Julian answered.

"No, not Nerys." He smiled slightly. "She'd never see me that way, we're friends."

"Friendships can change." Dax spoke quietly, more to Odo than Bashir, and was gratified to see Odo's eyes lock onto hers, a frightened look in them. She took a deep breath and turned to Bashir. "Julian, why don't you go and get the four of us a table at Quarks, somewhere quiet." Julian nodded and hurried off to the bar, while Dax gently gripped Odo's arm and repeated "friendships can change."

Odo swallowed, his gaze still frightened. "How do you know . . . . ?"

"I've seen the way you look at her when she's not looking at you." Jadzia hoped that they wouldn't be interrupted; this was too important and had been delayed too long. "And I know she cares deeply about you. When you had been kidnapped by 'The Circle', she worked tirelessly to find you and rescue you. She was the one who managed to get us the runabout when we located you. And I know that she's been using that holo of Bajor that you gave her."

"But she went with Bareil." Odo turned back to look down at the Promenade, noting idly that Nerys had stopped at a sporting goods stall and was examining the springball bats. "She could never care for me, Jadzia, we're too different. She's a Bajoran, she likes to be with Bajorans."

"Odo," Jadzia saw Bashir returning and lowered her voice, speaking quickly. "Odo, she thinks you can't care about her for the same reasons. Bajorans hurt you, kept you from being you. To her, she must be your most hated enemy. You need to convince her that she's not your enemy, and that you want her to be more than just your friend."

"Hmm." Odo made an uncertain noise as Julian pattered up to them.

"We've got a table on the third level and I've ordered us drinks." He smiled cheerfully, totally ignorant of the tension between the other two. "So, all we have to do is let Nerys know we're here."

Odo gave a small smile. "She already knows." Dax and Julian looked over the railing to see Nerys standing below looking up at them, hands on her hips, and a wide grin on her face.

"So, how long are you staying?" The group had adjourned to Kira's quarters and were making rapid inroads into her spring wine stock. She was at one end of the lounge while Dax was sprawled at the other, with Bashir and Odo taking the two pouffes at the coffee table.

"The Enterprise is supposed to be here a week, but you know how these things go." Julian poured himself another glass of wine and smiled that boyish smile of his. "We're conducting tests on the wormhole, trying to estimate just how large a ship can use it."

"Are they thinking of sending the Enterprise through to the Gamma quadrant then?" Kira liberated the bottle from the man's grasp and refreshed everyone else's drink as well.

Jadzia and Julian exchanged a look, then Dax turned back to Kira and smiled. "We don't know."

"Right." Kira tipped her glass in a salute. "I shouldn't have asked."

"Should Starfleet be able to send such large craft through the wormhole," Odo rested an elbow on the coffee table and stared off into space, "they might be able to sort out the trouble others are having with various areas. Somewhere on the other side is a species who seriously value their privacy."

"So far we've mapped out a rough guide to what they seem to claim as their space. But until we make contact and can get certain intelligence, it's all guesswork." Kira drained her glass and rubbed her eyes. "But that's for command to decide, not us."

Taking the hint, Jadzia stood. "We should be going, you're on duty tomorrow." Reaching over, she gave Nerys a gentle hug, as the others also made to leave. "We'll see you when you finish your shift tomorrow."

End of Book 10