Refugee
by Kathy P.
Part 10b
Coming back over to his table he handed Marin his glass of water. His son took it eagerly and quickly drained half the glass.
"You where thirsty weren't you," Larin said fondly. He tousled his son's hair again, grinning when his son sighed and straightened out his hair for the second time.
"I told you," Marin said. He was anxiously watching the musicians set up. "Papa, can we dance the first song together?"
"Sure," Larin told him. "Why don't you see if you can request a song?"
Marin's eyes flashed with excitement at that suggestion. In a burst he was out of his chair and at the stage.
Larin watched as a tall woman knelt down to talk to him. He vaguely recognized her as a teacher from one of the higher institutes of learning from Hebitia. She taught xeno-anthropology if he remembered correctly. Hebitians were eternally curious and unlike their Cardassian cousins, they loved to learn about other cultures. It was part of their philosophy that if they could understand where a species had been in their past, they could become more aware of how they would act in the present.
He saw Marin clap his hands together and skip back to the table.
"Papa! The lady told me she will sing "The Morning Bird" for me! You'll dance with me right!!"
Trust his son to pick out a fast and lively tune. "Of course Marin." Marin absolutely loved the song about the Pretat bird native to Hebitia that was well knows for it's loud mating call that it loved to warble in the early morning. It was a silly song with funny rhymes and an infectious beat.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Jadzia and her friends come into the room. They stood just inside of the door, looking around the room.
Just then the lead singer stepped up to the microphone.
"We are just about ready to start here," she said as she looked around the room.
"It's ironic that a bunch of Hebitians are here on Deep Space Nine, a station that was built by the Cardassians, left to the Bajorans and run by the Federation. Sounds like my kind of place, I can just see the lectures I can give now," the tall woman who had taken Marin's request said with a laugh. "In case you don't know me my name is Cealti and I teach xeno-anthropology at Gerquin University." The tall woman motioned to the band behind her. "We've put together a little band here. If anyone else has any music talent hidden away you are more than welcome to take your turn at an instrument. Now for our first song, a request from Gul'en Marin. It seems that "The Morning Bird" is his favorite song in the whole universe," she said with a wink for the happy boy.
Marin jumped out of his chair, grabbed Larin's hand and pulled him onto the dance floor.
Cealti laughed at the display. "Gul'en Larin," she said with a nod. "I hope you enjoy yourself tonight."
Larin smiled back at her. "I am already having a wonderful time Cealti," he looked down at his son who was tugging on his arm in excitement. "But if you could please start the song now. I think I'm about to get my arm ripped of."
Cealti simply laughed and sketched a bow toward the Gul'en.
The dance floor quickly filled as the musicians started playing.
Pretat rises in the morning
and jumps up from it's nest
He starts to sing his song of love
puffing out his bright red chest.
Larin held onto one of Marin's hands and spun the boy around the floor. Then they clasped hands and bounced around to the beat.
The morning bird
The morning bird
It rises in the morning O
The morning bird
The morning bird
It drives the farmers crazy O
In between fits of giggling at the song Marin would be swung up and spun around in his father's arms. He tried to sing along, but was getting out of breath by the quick movements.
Larin could see Jadzia and her friends watching the dancers. Jadzia was moving to the beat while the rest watched quietly.
When the song ended a cheer went up from the dancers. Marin applauded loudly then ran over to his table to drink the rest of his water before heading over to his friends again.
As Larin came back Marrett gave him a close look. "Your just warming up aren't you?" he asked his husband. Marrett had noticed the amount of energy his mate had been storing up lately and knew that he was going to go crazy if he didn't get some physical activity soon.
"You bet!" he walked over to him and kissed him full on the lips. The younger man pulled back, his eyes flashing with mischief. "Not that it's going to save you tonight," he said seductively.
Marrett licked his lips and he watched as Elie and Larin head out on the dance floor. He couldn't wait until tonight's private party.
The older man spotted Jadzia and the others standing by the doorway. He got out of his chair and moved over to the small group. "Welcome. Why don't you come over and sit with us. Julian and Garak are with us as well and you are more than welcome to join us."
"Thank you Marrett. Lead on," Jadzia said. They moved toward the table, grabbing a few extra chairs.
Everyone at the table made room for the new arrivals.
Julian looked somewhat apprehensively at the new arrivals. He knew that Kira still had some problems with his relationship with Garak. Their work relationship had been strained for the last two months.
"Hey Julian," Jadzia said, winking at the doctor, "How did you get invited to the best party on Deep Space Nine?"
The young man laughed at the Trill. Trust Jadzia to lighten the mood. She had been one of his staunchest defenders. "Oh, I have my connections Dax," Julian said slyly.
Worf crossed his arms and looked disapprovingly at the dance floor. He turned to Marrett and Nieret, growling, "I do not know how you can tolerate their behavior. It is a disgrace to you both."
Everyone glanced toward the dance floor. A slow song was playing and Larin and Elie were dancing together. Their fingers were twined together, their bodies pressed together and they moved around the dance floor together seductively.
Marrett laughed at the Klingon's disapproval. He was the only one to notice the darting glances and sly smile Larin was shooting him.
Neiret touched Marrett on the arm. "They look good together," he said calmly, watching his lithe husband move around the floor.
"And the brats know it," Marrett replied. His eyes took in the seductive sway of his husband's slender body. He knew the two men were putting a display on for their husband's sake.
"I'm secure in the fact that my husband loves me Worf. They are just having fun," Marrett told the Klingon.
Jadzia had a big smile plastered to her face as she watched the two dance. "It does look like fun," she said wickedly. She laughed at Worf's long suffering sigh.
Marin came running back to the table, stopping when he saw the strangers sitting at the table. He climbed into his father's lap, looking shyly at them.
Marrett put his arms around his son when he sensed his nervousness. "Marin," he told his son, "These are some friends." He introduced all the officers to the boy.
The young boy suddenly flashed the new arrivals a bright smile. "Hello. I remember you from yesterday," he said to Odo. "Captain Sisko said you can change into a vole! I like voles. Can you change into anything you want?"
Kira's stern facade melted at the boy's enthusiasm. She turned to her lover and saw his face softening as well.
"Yes I can Marin," the Changeling told the boy.
"The Changelings rule the Dominion," Marin said innocently. "They can be really mean. But you don't seem mean. Can we be friends?"
Odo chuckled at Marin's statement. The boy was obvious very inquisitive. "I think we can Marin."
Marin smiled winningly at him then turned to look at Kira. "You're Bajoran. Kali is half Bajoran," he told the Major. "She is really pretty. You're really pretty too. Your hair is so red."
Kira laughed at the boy's rambling. "Thank you Marin. Your pretty cute yourself."
Marrett started to grin at Marin's little speeches. His son had definitely inherited Larin's ability to charm people. He decided to let Marin continue. There was no better way to relax the officers.
The young boy turned to Jadzia next. "You smiled at me on the pron..pom.." he thought for a moment looking for the right word. He glanced up at his father for help,
"Promenade," he said.
"Promenade. I remember your spots. You have nice eyes," he told the Trill.
Jadzia reached forward and ruffled the boy's hair. "Thank you Marin," she told him. She looked up at Marrett. "I wonder whom he takes after," she said with a wink.
Marrett winked back at her.
Marin looked shyly at Worf. He took a little breath. "Hello," he said to the big Klingon. "You're really big. Can you fight really good? Papa is a really good fighter. He's teaching me to defend myself."
Worf looked at the small child. He reminded him of Alexander at that age. He softened toward the child. "It is good to be able to defend yourself. You must continue your studies."
"I will sir," Marin said eagerly. "I want to be a master like papa."
"A master at what?" Larin said as he and Elie came back to the table. " I'm good at so many things."
Marin giggled and moved over to Larin's lap when he sat down. "Your silly," he told his daddy. "I am going to be a master a Ten'han, just like you."
He started to wiggle in his father's lap. "Can we show them a little Ten'han? I bet they never saw it before."
Larin lifted him off the chair. "Sure little one. Lets show them a little bit of the warm up. Do you remember?"
"Yep," the small boy said. He took his place in front of the table beside his daddy.
Garak's interest was piqued at this. He watched intently as father and son moved to stand together.
Larin looked at Marin and nodded his head. Together they raised their arms up from their side then moved them out in front of themselves, their palms placed together. They bent at the knees slowly.
The group at the table watched the two go through the ritualistic movements. It was full of very graceful moves, and the officers could tell that this was a sophisticated fighting art.
Garak watched them maneuver through different positions. He started to have a feeling that he should know this.
///"You move your arm like this," a patient voice told him. "Here, let me help."
An arm came around him and showed him how to move his arm properly. "You see?"
He tried the move again, this time successfully. "I got it!" he cried happily.
"Now lets try that twenty more times," he was instructed.
Garak applied himself to preforming the move perfectly this time, deeply pleased that he had finely mastered it.///
Garak came back to himself feeling Julian's hand on his arm. He looked up into the concerned eyes of his husband.
Julian leaned toward him. "Are you feeling well Elim? This is the second time tonight that you've been unresponsive," the doctor said softly.
The tailor patted the hand on his arm reassuringly. "I'm fine Julian," he said. He was reluctant to discuss the strange memories that were coming to him. The unknown memories were starting to alarm him.
Julian pursed his lips together. "If you say so Elim," he said to his elusive husband. The doctor had a hunch that there was a lot more going on than the Cardassian revealed. He vowed to himself to keep a closer watch on him.
Larin and Marin finished up the ritual, coming to stand at attention. Marin beamed at the applause that was given them.
Sitting down in his chair again Larin turned to Julian. "So, am I going to get you out on the dance floor tonight?"
"We'll see," Julian said reluctancy. He didn't want to let Garak out of his sight for a moment. The doctor was surprise when the Hebitian backed down immediately after throwing a quick glance between the two men.
The group around the table continued to talk about the events of the past few days. Neiret entertained them with a couple of old Hebitian tales that had them laughing when Marin asked the historian all sorts of questions.
"Maybe he should join the security force," Odo said dryly. "He certainly knows how to conduct an interrogation."
Everyone chuckled as Marin puffed up from the Changeling's praise. Larin reached over and caressed his son's cheek fondly, pushing his unruly hair back behind his ear.
Just then the musicians started the opening measures of a slow and stately song.
Reaching for his husband's hand, Marrett stood up with him and headed out to the middle of the dance floor. Other couples gathered around them, but the two men were obviously the center of attention in this dance.
Garak gripped the edge of the table as the familiar music brought on another flash of memory that assaulted him.
//It was a celebration. There was music and dancing all around him. Feeling a gentle hand on his shoulder he turned toward the familiar presence.
For a moment he marveled over the fact that he was almost as tall as her now. His latest growing spree had added inches to his height.
He was led to the dance floor as a slow song started, aware that he was the center of attention. He moved around the dance floor easily with his partner. Looking up at her he smiled, totally content with life.//
"Garak. Garak! Can you hear me...."
//He was so sleepy. He let gentle hands lead him to his soft bed and sighed as a light blanket was drawn over him and his hair softly brushed back from his forehead. A soft kiss was the last thing he felt before sleep rose up to claim him.
A crash in the next room woke him. Sitting up in bed he blinked sleepily and crawled out of bed to investigate.
A muffled thump came from behind his door. Slowly opening the door he stepped into the next room.
His eyes widened in horror when he saw the graceful figure sprawled across the bed, one limp hand hanging over the bed, bright eyes now staring blankly.
With a cry he rushed over to her when he was grabbed from behind. His struggles where easily suppressed and he felt himself being pulled away.
Using one of the Ten'han moves he had been taught he tried to break free again. A sharp pain blossomed on the back of his head dragging him down to the darkness that took him away from everything that he ever knew.//
Elim jerked back as a light slap brought him out of his trance. He was aware of the concerned eyes of his husband but his attention was held by Larin who had stopped dancing as was looking at him with a strange mixture of hope, compassion and concern.
Pushing himself out of his chair he staggered toward the Hebitian. "What is going on? Where are these memories coming from?" he demanded of the younger man. He was positive that Larin knew exactly what was going on with these memories.
Larin stepped forward, coming closer to the distraught man. "Garak, listen to me. You need to talk to Tremane. He can tell you everything you want to know."
"Not good enough," Garak growled as he grabbed the younger man by the upper arms. "You have been watching me ever since you arrived. I want to know why. Now!" He shook the smaller man to emphasize his point.
Bringing his hands up the younger man did not try to fight back. "Please Garak. You need to talk to Tremane. You're right. We have been watching you but it's a very complicated situation. Tremane has all the answers. Trust me." He gasped slightly as Garak tightened his grip on his arms. Glancing at Marrett he silently pleaded for his husband not to interfere. The man was clenching his fists, not happy to see his husband being handled so roughly.
Julian stepped forward and laid his hand on Garak's arm. "Elim, let him go. Come to the infirmary with me and let me run some tests." He tugged at his husband's arms trying to get him to release the Hebitian.
"Julian, you have to get him to Tremane. He can help him," Larin said earnestly.
"I'm sorry Larin, I need to get him to the infirmary," Julian said firmly. Again he tugged at Garak's arm, willing him to come with him.
Garak pushed the Hebitian away, into Marrett's arms, and brought a hand up to his forehead. His head felt like it was going to split open.
"Julian? My head..." He started to say.
Julian brushed a soft hand across his forehead. "Come with me Elim. Let me help."
With a soft sigh of frustration Garak let himself be led away by his husband.
Behind him he heard Larin call out, a note of desperation in his voice. "Garak you have to talk to Tremane. He can help you. You have to believe me."
He didn't reply as Julian wrapped his arm around him, leading him out of the room through the noisy bar toward the infirmary.
*************
Next
Home