Refugee
by Kathy P.
Part 12
Julian set the medilyzer down on the diagnostic bed next to his husband. Running a hand through his thick black hair, he moved over to the computer station to pull up the results of Elim's last examination. Comparing the results he saw that there were no changes.
His husband had been uncharacteristically quite since they had left Quark's, sitting motionless as he ran test after test trying to figure out the reason for Elim's puzzling behavior.
He had checked his blood level, checked for foreign chemicals, and different brain wave patterns and nothing had shown up abnormal. There seemed to be no medical reason for Elim's strange memories.
Returning to his husband he picked up both of his hands and held them gently in his own.
"Garak," he said softly, trying to rouse the Cardassian from his contemplations.
There was no response from the silent man.
"Elim," Julian said louder. "Listen to me," becoming alarmed about his husband's withdrawal. Chewing on his bottom lip he caressed the hands he held. "Elim, you have to tell me what's going on."
After a few agonizing moments his husband raised his head and looked him straight in the eyes. "I remember," he said simply. "But how can I? It's not my life." A look of confusion swept across his face.
Julian slipped up onto the diagnostic bed, sitting as close to Garak as he could. "What do you remember?"
"A life time," Garak replied. "I can remember a whole childhood that I never had." With that he pushed himself off the bed and paced around the small room that Julian had place him in for privacy.
"How can I be remembering all of this? I know my life. I know what I've done, but these memories seem to be mine," Elim said as he grew more and more agitated, flinging his arms out in disgust.
Julian moved of the bed to grab him by the arms. "Calm down Elim. Come sit on the bed,"
Garak broke free from his grasp and moved past him. "I don't want to calm down Julian. What I want is to figure out what these memories mean." He spun around to look at him. "How can they be my memories? I remember my childhood. I remember growing in a large city. I remember riding the hounds while Tain watched. I remember it all. Yet these memories are trying to tell me something else," Elim reached up and tapped the side of his head. "They tell me that I grew up in Hebitia, that I actually knew who my mother was, that...." He closed his eyes and the pain associated with the last memory swept over him.
Julian moved quickly to his side, embracing the distraught man. He was glad to feel Elim's responses as his husband's arms closed tightly around him.
"It's ok, it's ok," Julian whispered into his neck. "We'll figure it out. Everything will be ok."
His husband's body relaxed against him. Staying in the embrace for a moment he broke away gently and pulled Elim over to the diagnostic bed again.
Garak moved onto the bed without complaint but pulled Julian up with him, seeming to want to keep in contact physically with his husband.
Leaning against Elim's side he drew an arm around his waist. "Maybe you should talk to Tremane," he suggested softly, hoping that Elim would not get upset again.
"Yes," Garak said simply as he pulled Julian in even tighter against him.
They sat together in silence for a while before Garak spoke again. "After all, you know how I hate a mystery," he said lightly, starting to sound more like his old self.
"You can't stand them," Julian replied with a grin. He turned and looked him in the eyes. "So I guess we just need to solve this one quickly."
Garak gazed back at him and smile slightly. "Yes we do Julian." He said as he pulled him in for a kiss that was more for reassurance than affection. Breaking the kiss he moved back an inch. "I'll talk to him tomorrow." He promised.
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Captain Sisko sat silently behind his desk, hands clasped together, and waited for Kai Winn to arrive. He had just gotten word that the Kai had boarded the station and was requesting an immediate meeting with the Captain.
He snorted to himself over her phrasing. Captain instead of Emissary. To him this signified that the Kai was going to try to use her power as head of the Bajoran religion to get her own way.
He didn't have to wait much longer before the tone requesting entry into his office sounded. Calling out for the Kai to enter he sat back in his chair and waited to hear what the devious woman had to say.
Kai Winn came sweeping into his office, her gold robes swirling around her. "Captain Sisko, thank you for seeing me right away. I have to discuss a matter of great urgency with you."
Captain Sisko held back his sigh. Everything was a matter of urgency with her. "Have a seat please," he said as he motioned at a chair. "What is it that you need to talk to me about?"
The Kai sat down stiffly in her chair. Clasping her hand tightly in her lap she began. "To come straight to the point Captain I am here to discuss the situation with the Cardassians on board this station."
"You mean the Hebitians," Captain Sisko said bluntly, certain that the Kai was about to stir up a lot of trouble.
"Well Captain, I have consulted with the Profits and they have told me that these �Hebitians' do not belong on this station and that we should turn them away immediately. They will bring nothing but trouble with them. I want you to tell them to leave right away."
Captain Sisko just stared at her for a moment. "You want me to tell them to leave," he repeated.
"Yes I do Captain," the Kai said shortly.
"Whatever happened to Emissary?" Captain Sisko questioned, knowing that the Kai was deliberately not calling him by his Bajoran given title.
"Captain?" She said innocently.
"Never mind," he said with a negating wave of his hand. The last thing he wanted was to be pulled into a power struggle with the woman. "I'm afraid I have to disagree with you about the Hebitians. I don't feel they are a threat and I have no intention of asking them to leave this station."
Kai Winn rose from her chair and looked down at him. "I must insist Captain. Their presence is an affront to all of Bajor and I demand that they leave the station at once."
"First Minister Shakaar has authorized the Hebitians presence here. I'm glad to say that you have no say on this matter," Captain Sisko replied evenly.
A smug look quickly settled on the Kai's face. "Oh but I do Captain. Shakaar is on a religious retreat for the next few days and according to Bajoran law, when the First Minister is on retreat the Kai will handle all emergencies, and this, my dear Captain, is an emergency. I plan on contacting the Governor of Golana and order him to take back his offer to relocate the Cardassians to the planet."
A cold look settled on Sisko's face as he stared at the Kai. "As I have said before, I have no intention of asking the Hebitians to leave. I think that you should reconsider you opinion on this matter. The Hebitians have a wealth of knowledge on the Dominion positions and strength in the Alpha Quadrant and we need their cooperation to get that."
"I don't care Captain. They are probably lying to us anyway. They are Cardassians after all," she said harshly. "They cannot be trusted. I want them off this station in forty-eight hours and I am more than willing to contact your superiors at Star Fleet to make sure this happens."
Without waiting for him to acknowledge her, or kick her out of his office, she quickly turned at stormed out.
Activating his comm link he contacted Admiral MacDonald and asked to meet with him right away.
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Heading back to his quarters after leaving Marrett and the children with Alieanne, Larin thought about his father's upcoming talk with Elim. He wished he could be there but he was due in another meeting in a couple of hours.
His attention was so totally turned inward that he didn't hear the soft voice calling his name at first.
Looking up he saw the Bajoran singer Tre'ela that he saw preform the other night. Smiling at her, he moved closer.
"I'm sorry. I was lost in my thoughts. Can I help you," he said politely. He quickly noted that the woman looked nervous and kept glancing around as if looking for someone.
"I need to talk to you Lar..I mean Gul'en," she said quickly.
"Please, call me Larin. My quarters are just down the hall, we can talk in there if you like," he said, motioning down the hall.
A look of relief passed over her face. "That would be fine Larin."
They walked silently to his quarters. When they entered the room, the singer noticeably relaxed.
"Please have a seat," Larin said motioning to the couch. "Can I get you something to drink?"
"No, thank you Larin," she said as she sat down. " I can't stay long. I just wanted to give you a warning."
"Oh?" Larin said raising an eye ridge as he moved over to sit on the arm of a chair. "A warning about what?"
Tre'ela met his eyes, and look of regret on her face. "My brother, Tren, you remember from the other night?" she said and continued when Larin nodded. "I'm afraid that he stirring up trouble against you and your people. He came back on the station this morning with Kai Winn. I'm not sure what they are up to, but knowing him it can't be anything good."
Larin smiled reassuringly at the distressed woman. "Don't worry. I'm sure there is nothing that he can do to us. It's not like we've done something wrong."
"It doesn't matter Larin," Tre'ela said. "I've heard stories about the Kai's abuse of power and if she is in cohorts with Tren then the Profits only know what they will be up to. Most Bajorans refuse to believe that her abuse of power could happen, but it does. Please tell me you will be careful."
"I will Tre'ela. Thank you for telling me this. I must admit that I am a little surprised that you seem to trust me so much."
Tre'ela laughed at that. "I know, it's strange but I do trust you. Not everyone would interfere in a fight like you did and defend a perfect stranger. I'm not the kind of person who prejudges others. Actions speak louder than words and your actions speak very highly of you. Besides, you seemed to like my music a lot and that earned you some extra points," she said impishly as she rose to leave.
Larin joined in her laughter as he stood up as well. "I can't wait to see you preform again," he said as they walked over to the door. Pausing he turned toward her again. "Thanks again for the warning. I definitely mean to take it seriously."
"Take care of yourself Larin. I would hate for something bad to happen because of my brother. If I see him, I will try to talk some sense into him but it is like talking to a brick wall," she said as she left.
Larin wandered back over to the couch and curled up in the corner to think. He planned to bring this new situation up at the meeting that was to be held soon. It would be disastrous if something was to happen to disrupt the talks.
For the Hebitians on the station as still out in space, there was no other option available than these negotiations. They had laid themselves bare to the Federation and Bajor, and only the knowledge they possessed on the Dominion gave them any ground to stand on.
With one damaged ship there was no way they could all leave the station and there was no other place in the quadrant that would welcome them. Hopefully nothing would go wrong.
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To be continued.
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