#also quark and odo coming along to comfort (well odo comforts. quark is quark) him about it

[jvlianbashir]

jake canonically going to their little railing over the promenade almost every day because he misses nog when nog is away at the academy. tearing up. crying. sniffling.

[constablegoo]

@memoryfaded filed a report .

aloe: how does your muse handle grief?

NOT WELL. oh he’ll certainly try to hide it, but it will crack through even when he’s not alone (he’ll be crabbier or touchier or more cynical and depressed) and then when he IS alone, there’s no stopping it. he succumbs pretty easily to really strong emotion and i think depression especially can really get to him, even twist some of his deepest values to worthlessness in his mind. he really IS so incredibly self-sabotaging, it hurts to watch. im talking abt crossfire and the scene with quark, im talking abt how easily mora dismantles him in the alternate, about his implied alcoholism after he initially becomes solid, about how viscerally shaken he is by his criminal mistake during the occupation / how he had gotten into that mindset in the first place -- and in contrast his complete 180 on wanting to be a parent when the sick baby changeling comes along / how jarringly ecstatic he is when it’s going right that quark is sure something’s seriously wrong with him. (and the fact that he goes to quark in his happiest hour!) he doesn’t believe good things happen to him without a catch. he can’t. events keep proving him right. but the really important and magical thing is that he learns from his problems and mistakes and he turns his grief into compassion and works to nurture the happiness that does exist in his life, finally investing on a deep level in the family he finds has grown with and around him.

...just to be more specific to the question i’ll just add that by the time he loses the baby changeling, he seems equipped enough to deal with what is probably his most personal and devastating blow of the Grief of loss, and you can see later in some subtle moments how it informs his relationships w kira and laas especially... even that brief stint of parenthood really changed and matured him.

belladonna: how does your muse respond to silence? do they take comfort in soundlessness, or seek to fill the void with noise?

odo is an introvert and as such, needs time alone and away from everyone else. i think he finds a great deal of solace and some measure of peace of mind in the quiet and the moments he has to just Be... or just Think... he’s a very introspective kind of person. but... he doesn’t want to be alone, alone. he dreads to walk out of the isolation of his quarters and feel just as alone everywhere else on the station. it’s so clear he goes to quarks because it is the social heart of the station and he NEEDS company, any kind of company he can get, he needs that cohesion or he’ll simply wither away. his job title protects him from the dangers of deeper friendship (yikes!) but he can watch it from afar, takes comfort in being acknowledged by quark’s (labeled “insufferable”) banter, a recognition that grounds him as a Person just like anybody else. he needs a bit of both.

hibiscus: how does your muse view the gentler, daintier things in life? as things worth preserving & caring for, or things only bound to wither & disappear?

i was really hoping someone would ask this because it has such a cute?? answer. odo has a lot of inherent value for life, all life -- he has a line of dialogue early on about not stepping on ants and the delivery on it is so stubborn and firm, it’s almost funny -- except it’s not, because he is the ant and he’s been stepped on before. crushed, actually. hes raw and vulnerable mere centimeters beneath his seemingly untouchable exterior -- emotionally, physically. he’s lost, no matter how hard he works trying to understand himself, but the only thing he’s certain he can rely on at that point is... himself. like most things with odo, it becomes a little tragic.

BUT HERE’S THE CUTE PART OK -- it isnt long at all before we get to see odo demonstrate that kind of compassion for small or vulnerable beings. maybe the first hard-hitting example really is how he interacts with this child... he’s soft, patient, even personal and vulnerable with her, and yet it doesnt feel like a deviation from the way he’s been up to this point. it fits. their mutual respect allows them to form a really cute kind of guardian-charge friendship. then we carry on and eventually odo gets his own quarters and we see him with a plant, we see him have the chance to sort of indulge in exploring the world and the more natural objects and life forms in it -- he becomes a hawk, he becomes a mouse, etc. he grew up in a lab, and while i like to think mora didnt completely keep the natural world from odo, i also think mora was so focused on his study and development (and he was under cardassian pressure, too) that odo didnt get the chance to be out in it NEARLY as much as he might have liked, or even needed. it would have been really good for his shapeshifting and his sense of self to be in an element that feels natural to him. so thats probably like the ONE really good thing that the founders do for odo: encourage him to work past his reservations and embrace this intrinsic part of himself that he tries SO hard to hide and subdue, yet absolutely loves. LOVES. he Loves being a changeling. and of course it really comes to light in the begotten. the way odo talks about shapeshifting, about being other creatures and objects and shapes... “the pyramid is such an interesting shape” wahh oh my god. his first love is the little details about the world. he’s built to observe them and to replicate them, to exist as them... and ultimately to understand the universe from even the smallest, most fragile pair of shoes.

[ezrisdax-archive]

over and over (I keep wondering why)

@trillscienceofficer prompted over on the star trek femslash prompt meme ‘kiradax time loop’ and I had to (also here on ao3)

“I have to admit I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Nerys didn’t reply, staring deep into the Romulan ale in the glass in front of her.

“Kira?” Jadzia continued, her voice laced with worry. When she didn’t respond again Jadzia placed a hand on her shoulder. “Nerys?”

Nerys’ breath hitched in her throat at her first name, her gaze flickered over to Jadzia and she offered her a brittle smile. “Dax.”

“What’s wrong?” Jadzia asked, taking the seat next to hers and leaning into Nerys space as though she could spot what was wrong just from looking hard.

It was exactly what she’d done last time too.

And about four times before that.

Nerys leaned back, sighing deeply. “I think the prophets are trying to tell me something.” It was the only thing she could really think of.

It wasn’t a holodeck program and it wasn’t an accident from Jake and Nog messing with something on the station and O’Brien had confirmed that there weren’t any strange particles around her or on any part of the system and-

“What have the prophets done now?” Jadzia hadn’t pulled back in the least, the dim light of Quark’s made her spots almost blend all together with the shadows and Nerys didn’t bother to resist the urge to lift her hand and trace her Trill spots, her fingertips just barely pressing down.

“Nerys?” Jadzia was frowning. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I don’t know.” Nerys confessed. “I’ve just been doing this so much…”

The day started the same every time. She woke up, nothing appearing wrong around her; no security risks reported by Odo. No ships coming through the wormhole. Just a regular day.

Over and over.

She looked up, meeting Jadzia’s eyes. “Thank you.” She began, “For being there every time.”

Jadzia’s lips quirked upwards, “Benjamin once told me of an earth song-”

Nerys rolled her eyes. “‘Its going to take me a lot to drag me away from you.’ I’ve heard.” She said drily.

Jadzia pouted. “Have I used that one already? I didn’t think I had…”

Nerys pulled her hand away, laughing. “Don’t worry about it, Dax.”

“All these drinks and I’m still just Dax?” Jadzia teased, the pout still on her lips.

Nerys couldn’t help the smile that was pulled out of her. “Maybe you need to buy me another drink.”

Jadzia’s eyes lit up. “Would that work?”

“Couldn’t hurt.” Nerys said and she hadn’t gotten this conversation last time. Maybe next time it would change again but she had no doubt that if she walked out Jadzia would follow to find her. The warmth in her stomach had nothing to do with the alcohol and she chased the feeling, leaning just a little into Jadzia’s space.

“Maybe that’s what the prophets are trying to tell you.” Jadzia said suddenly.

Nerys perked up a little at that. “What?”

“To relax, have some more fun.”

Nerys snorted in bemusement. “I thought that’s what you were trying to teach me.”

“Maybe I needed the help.” Jadzia said easily and shrugged. She nudged Nerys with an elbow lightly. “We could always ask them.”

“I tried.” Nerys groaned. She’d flown to the orb of time on Bajor. She’d gone into the wormhole. She’d stayed in her room all day and just prayed and begged.

“Couldn’t hurt to try again.” Jadzia rested a hand on her shoulder. “And if you need the help I’m here.”

Nerys reached up to capture Jadzia’s hand and squeeze it, keeping her hand on top of Jadzia’s where it rested. “Thank you…Jadzia.”

“Knew you could do it.” Jadzia didn’t bother to hide her wide grin.

It would be so easy then, to lean over, to kiss Jadzia. To wipe the grin off her face and present her with a new focus. To just give in to something she’d been so unsure of for the past few years since Jadzia stepped onto the station.

Except she’d wake up.

And Jadzia would not remember.

Nerys pulled back.

Bajor looked beautiful from the view of the station.

Nerys stared down at it; barely blinking.

“Well you look deep in thought.” Jadzia’s voice rumbled next to her ear, making her jump and then shiver.

She looked back and then up, a little annoyed at Jadzia’s height and like Jadzia knew what she was thinking she straightened up to stand even taller.

“I was thinking I don’t go back often enough.”

She’d been there at least fifteen times since this began to her.

“You could always request some leave.”

“I could.” Nerys relented, going along with it.

“Think you could use the company?” Jadzia asked, a sly grin on her face.

Nerys huffed in amusement. “How about now?”

“Now?” Jadzia’s smile fell. “Kira what’s going on?”

She hated that question.

“Maybe later.” Nerys sighed.

If it ever came.

The candle didn’t shatter against the wall in any way that felt satisfying. Just a dull thud as it fell to some pieces and to the ground.

“What do you want?!” Nerys asked the ceiling without answer.

“Nerys!” Jadzia called out, striding into the room, concern written all over her face. When she reached Nerys she put her hand out, resting it on top of Nerys’ bicep.

Nerys tried to keep the tears of frustration and anger back.

“What do they want?” She asked again, the emotions draining her.

Jadzia pulled her closer, slipping her arms around Nerys and resting her chin atop Nerys’ head as she hugged her tightly.

Only twenty minutes later Nerys woke up to that morning yet again, alone.

“I have to admit I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Nerys didn’t answer.

“Major!” Benjamin’s voice shook her and made her almost turn the shuttle right around as he continued. “What is going on?”

“Sorry, Captain.” Nerys said, genuinely apologetic. “I have to try something again.”

“Nerys wai-”

She shut off the communicator at Jadzia’s voice.

She’d take her chances and hear Jadzia again if she had any luck on her side.

“Tell me about Trill.” Nerys asked, on what must have been the fiftieth loop. Or perhaps it was already one hundred. She was starting to lost count.

“Anything specific?” Jadzia raised an eyebrow as she sipped her raktajino that morning, setting the padd she was reading down.

“Anything you want.” Nerys replied, just hoping to hear something new.

“I know quite a bit about one specific Trill.” Jadzia said, smiling around the rip of her cup.

Nerys held up a hand. “Nothing about Curzon’s sexual exploits, please.”

“How about mine?” Jadzia teased.

“How about just the planet.” Nerys shot back, she might have wanted something new but hearing about all the people that Jadzia had flirted with wasn’t one of them. It left an uncomfortable jealousy that settled in her bones and simmered.

Jadzia settled back in her chair, still trying to hide that smile. “Well we don’t have as many animals as earth does but…”

Nerys took a sip of her own raktajino, letting Jadzia’s words roll over her in a comfort.

“I have to admit I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Nerys shut her eyes.

Once the shift was over Nerys made her way over to Jadzia.

“I’m thinking about trying out the holodeck again.”

“You are?” Jadzia’s eyes widened in surprise before she caught herself. “Feeling like trying out King Arthur’s court again?”

“No.” Nerys said bluntly. “Let’s try something new.”

“Something new…” Jadzia repeated, her gaze caught on Nerys and she leaned in. “You sure?”

“Yes.” Nerys breathed out, wavering on leaning in as well.

This close she could count each spot on Jadzia’s face, take in the blue of her eyes that didn’t move away.

“Let’s see what you’ve got.” Nerys challenged, swallowing hard and stepping back.

At least she could enjoy the company.

“You look tired.” Benjamin said, looking Nerys over with a frown.

“You’re the Emissary.” Nerys deflected. “What do you think about the prophets and their message?”

“You’d know it better than I would.” Benjamin sighed and laced his fingers together as he leaned forward, elbows on his desk.

“What if…what if the person they’re trying isn’t enough.” Her voice shook along with her hand. She curled it into a fist and took a deep breath. “What if the trial is too much.”

“Major.” Benjamin said, his eyes full of concern. “I am always here if you need me. As is anyone on that promenade. If you feel that your faith can’t pull you through perhaps it’s time share the burden with someone else.”

Nerys barked out a short laugh. “The only person I’d wish this burden on is Dukat. He’d never make it through.”

“We could always call him up.” Benjamin had the hint of a smile just ghosting on his lips, ready to break into a full grin at any second.

“Don’t you dare.” Nerys warned. There were a lot of things she’d put up with in during this and the one thing she could say was that she’d had so many days free of Dukat and in that it was bliss.

Benjamin gave up and laughed before settling back down. “I know that Dax would be ready to help you in a heartbeat.”

“How often has she talked to you about me?” Nerys eyed him, trying to suss out what he’d heard.

“Major I’ve heard too much.” He smiled at her again and then hummed pensively. “You could also try a new angle. Mix things up a little.”

Her mouth opened to refute that but then shut. The thought stuck with her; mixing would require two components. Two completely different and similar components.

“Major?”

“Captain, I need a shuttle.”

The orb of wisdom and the orb of time glowed next to each other in a brilliant light.

“I’m ready.” Nerys told them as the glow settled over her. “I know what I need to do.”

Live to see the next day, take the chances as they came.

“I have to admit I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Nerys looked up from where she sat at Jadzia’s bed, having marched first thing there when she returned from Bajor in the early hours of the morning.

The next morning.

Jadzia hadn’t been there when she arrived but the computer let her in regardless.

“I was looking for you, Benjamin said you’d gone to Bajor. Is everything all right?”

Rather than answer her Nerys stood up and strode across the room, once she was close enough to Jadzia she reached up and cupped Jadzia’s face in her hand.

“Kira?” Jadzia startled a little, blinking in surprise.

“Jadzia.” She said, just to watch how Jadzia’s smile slowly grew.

“Nerys.” Jadzia returned. “I thought you’d never get around to this.”

“Believe me.” Nerys sighed as she leaned in. “I was thinking the same thing.”

Jadzia, she thought, tasted like the promise of tomorrow; and all the days after.

[niennavalier]

Okay I wasn’t planning on doing a DS9 rant post but here it is, under the cut in case I get annoying about DS9 and romance and Julian in particular

Okay, so I swear, the writers went into the show with this idea that Julian Bashir was gonna be this fresh-out-of-med-school brilliant, attractive doctor with charm to spare and something like this ladies’ man kinda attitude. Maybe (hopefully) not that sleazy, but still. And then it didn’t really work in season 1 in regards to Jadzia, so they dropped that storyline (thank fuck).

But then it’s so weird when I think they’re trying to kinda keep it alive through the show, except it literally never really works quite right? Even though the DS9 writers are legitimately good with writing the other romances on the show?? Kira and Odo? Absolutely adorable, I would die for them. Jadzia and Worf? Who would’ve that that’d work? Not me! But I’d die for them too!

(Yes, all of these characters have other romantic interests at times, some good - like Lenara Kahn - and others less so - Bareil is really boring and Lwaxana Troi DID NOT need to be there - but they also get these fantastic long-term stories)

Meanwhile, for my favorite doctor? I might be missing some but here’s what I could think of whilst typing: Melora was...sorta forgettable (I forgot about the episode until I was just scrolling through all of them). Technically fine but...forgettable. Leeta...honestly I never understood this pairing. I legitimately don’t remember ever seeing them get together on screen; best I recall, they were just together one day and we were supposed to just accept it. Which...whatever, I’m not a fan, and this pairing did nothing for either of them. Serena, I actually liked; they were cute together in that one episode, but at the same time I’m torn because I truly believe the writers made the right choice in that she had to experience the world for herself. For all the cuteness, I much prefer her discovering her own self-worth and think that’s better for her as her own character.

And then. There’s Dax. The first couple seasons? Awkward as fuck. No thanks. But then him and Jadzia become like, best science buddies! And he painfully third-wheels for her date with Lenara in Rejoined! And it’s like “wow now that’s true friendship right there”. And I loved that relationship so much! We watched Julian grow up a lot since the pilot, and honestly, him becoming best friends with Jadzia matched that change really well. Going from this kinda juvenile crush and strange persistence to a much more mature friendship. I mean, there’s one episode (which I can’t place at the moment) where there’s some crisis on the station and they’re hiding somewhere, she’s hurt, and they’re both freezing. And he’s holding her, and she makes some comment on how past-him would’ve used this as an opportunity to try and spark something between them. But present-him isn’t like that anymore, and watching as the audience, there truly isn’t weird romantic tension between them. It’s intimacy and familiarity and comfort without the weight of romance. And it’s perfect.

But then all of a sudden, the back half of season 6 starts happening, and apparently he’s always loved her? And it’s like...where did this come from?? You were doing so well, writers, what happened?? It just...suddenly brought back all the awkwardness of season 1, except at least this time, he’s not acting on it. So instead it’s just weirdly angsty and 100% out of left field. (Also Quark loves her, which is random but less concerning to me cause at least it wasn’t reviving an abandoned plot point, like with Julian) (The Quark point isn’t relevant, but I just felt like saying it)

And that whole thing just put the biggest pit in my stomach, cause I knew about Ezri joining them in season 7 and I was just like “nooo pleeeease don’t get him together with Ezri”

Apparently I just live to be disappointed.

Full disclosure, I actually haven’t fully watched the scene where they get together, but my roommate did end up coming upon a scene of them together in bed, and I’m not that stupid. Bonus: I’m about 6 away from the end, and that in itself is kinda concerning, because now I’m double concerned that it’s gonna be rushed even worse than I thought it would. Because, as of now, she has had barely any contact with Julian, outside of just being part of the senior staff (aka being a main character). I can honestly only actively remember them having one conversation, which just existed for her to say that if Worf hadn’t shown up, then Jadzia would’ve chosen Julian. Which...okay...what now? Worf didn’t show up until season 5, wtf is this about? If Jadzia was actually in love with Julian, she would’ve done something about it. Jadzia Dax is NOT passive about what she wants, and it’s what makes her such a joy to watch. She’s even willing to act against her own culture out of her love for Lenara, despite hesitation because yeah, that’s a lot of risk. She’s willing to leave her friends to be with the dude she met in that weird world that blipped between universes. She acts with her heart and without fear, even in situations where there are barriers stopping her from doing what she wants. There was never such a barrier with her and Julian, so yeah, no, if she’d wanted him - truly wanted him - she would’ve gone for it.

The scene only exists for them to try and justify putting him together with Ezri, and it SUCKS on every conceivable level.

(Also yes, I know they have some other, normal conversations, but they’re never particularly interesting or impactful, so I don’t remember them, and that probably says something in and of itself)

For one, their lack of conversation and just...general shared screentime is so small that I can’t buy the idea that the two of them actually know each other that well. Even if they did bond off-screen, thus far, the show itself never actually gives any evidence of that while they ARE on screen. They have the same level of chemistry that Julian and Kira should have (although, strangely, the characters have much better chemistry than their screentime would seem to indicate but...well they were married IRL so...yeah). Friendly colleagues, but that’s really it. And yet, he’s gonna fall in love with her?

I don’t think so.

He’s in love with Jadzia (apparently. but that’s a different complaint, seen above). He’s in love with a past life of the Dax symbiont. That past life just happens to be contained now within Ezri, and it’s the only conceivable reason I have for why he’s interested in her at all. Realistically, had Ezri Tegan never become Ezri Dax, I doubt Julian would’ve had the same thoughts about her. Granted, people can meet by circumstance and fall in love - I’m not shitting on that idea - and I’m not implying that Julian is a dick by any means, but the show itself doesn’t give us any reason that he would fall for her. Like...what traits of Ezri does Julian find himself attracted to, aside from the fact she was once Jadzia? I don’t think the show ever actually gives any answer to that question. She may carry some shades of Jadzia’s habits and idiosyncrasies and such, because that’s how joined Trill work, but she’s also very much still Ezri. And, for the sake of her character, that should be really important? So, frankly, it’s actually just...really insulting to Ezri? That she’s not loved for who she is, but who the Dax host was. And that’s honestly just awful.

And I actually just thought of this while writing this post and complaining about that one conversation, but it also sucks for Julian a bit, too? Like, the way Ezri phrases that one line - “If Worf hadn’t come along, it would’ve been you” - it feels to me like he was very much the second choice. And...would that not feel awful to be told that? Basically that you were someone else’s back-up plan. I mean, I can’t speak from experience, but I can’t imagine that feels good. And plus, now he knows that Jadzia apparently had those feelings for him, which Ezri now carries with her. Which...wouldn’t something about that just feel wrong? These aren’t Ezri’s feelings exactly; she’s just stuck with them. And Julian is fundamentally a good person who has some idea of how the Trill work; wouldn’t this be a little like he’s...not quite using her, but allowing her to act on feelings that aren’t actually, truly hers? So the situation ends up being that she might not really love him, not as Ezri, and that would really suck for both of them.

Granted, that’s not to say she couldn’t decide that on her own; she totally could, but the show hasn’t laid the groundwork for that. And it’s also not to discredit feelings that linger from past hosts. Jadzia and Lenara are drawn to each other because of Torias and Neilani, but they also do legitimately fall in love with the people they are now and bond over their shared interests in their present forms. Honestly, the show even makes this distinction? When Ezri and Worf are stuck together, they definitely sleep together, but the show makes it fairly clear that it’s pent up tension from the two of them not talking, combined with the fact he and Jadzia were newly married. I’m pretty sure they decide it’s not really something to pursue; it was just what happened out of old instincts, not out of actual love between the two people actually involved.

Mostly, I take issue because of the first sentence of that last paragraph. The show just never sets it up. If it showed her and Julian having chemistry, I’d have far fewer complaints about this. (For fuck’s sake, I think she had a deeper conversation with JORAN. THE MURDERER. Than she really did with Julian. Now that’s a problem)

Long story short: they really shouldn’t have kept trying to shoe-horn romance in for Julian. All of his stories work better without, particularly in the long-term. The chemistry is just...never there with his long-term potential partners the writers throw at him. He really does have the best chemistry with Miles and Garak. That’s all fantastic.

(Which is to also say: I get that it was the 90s but I really wish we could’ve gotten our disaster bi doctor and his lizard spy boyfriend. Just saying)

[weerd1]

Star Trek DS9 Rewatch Log, Stardate 1908.21: Missions Reviewed, “The Quickening,” “Body Parts,” and “Broken Link.”

“The Quickening” finds Bashir, Dax, and Kira in a runabout in the Gamma Quadrant when they pick up a distress signal coming from a small planet. When they get there, they find a post-industrial civilization where everyone is infected with a disease. The disease will “quicken” and the person dies a painful death, sometimes young, sometimes after years. 

 Bashir and Dax find that this is a case of biological warfare developed by The Dominion against this rebel planet. They do find a doctor, but his only function really is the ritualization of the quickening process, making death comfortable and not trying to cure anything. Bashir takes it upon himself to try, at first getting only the support of a young pregnant woman who wants to live to see her baby grow up. At first, Bashir finds success, but all at once his patience begin to accelerate. He finds the disease was engineered by the Founders to accelerate in the presence of electro-magnetic fields; like those produced by the instruments he is using to find a cure. The local doctor curses Bashir for giving people false hope and ruining their deaths. Bashir is ostracized, but continues to try to work with what is available. His only patient is the young mother, who has quickened, and shows no sign of any treatment he has given her.  She gives birth and they find that the baby is completely clear of the disease. 

As the mother dies, Bashir realizes he has not created a cure, but a vaccine which will prevent the next generation of children from having it. He passes it to the local doctor, who now himself feels hope. Bashir returns to DS9, still hoping to find an actual cure.

A very well written and moving episode including great performances from guest stars actress and producer Ellen Wheeler as the young mother and genre staple Michael Sarrazin as the local doctor. I think this episode takes on special pertinence when placed into the context of Bashir’s genetic enhancement- he really thinks that though he me fake his way through a lot of things, when it really matters his genetically superior intellect will always save the day.  Here, yes he gets some victory, but you watch him deal with his failure and Siddig’s performance is very affecting. This episode also helps paint the Dominion as more than just an empire that wants to rule, they are vindictive bastards as well, something we will see in just a couple episodes, “Broken Link.”

There are two pretty interesting stories in “Body Parts.” The first, Quark returns from a trip to Ferenginar with news that he has a rare disease himself and will be dead in six days.  In Ferengi tradition, he puts what will be his desiccated remains (52 little plastic disks of dried Quark) up for auction to settle any remaining debts, and receives an enormous bid. He accepts, but the next day, finds out the diagnosis was wrong; he’s going to live. All is fine until Brunt, Ferengi Commerce Authority shows up. 

HE was the bidder and he wants his freeze dried Quark. According to the Rules of Acquisition, “a contract is a contract, is a contract.” Quark even considers hiring Garak to kill him rather than face the embarrassment of breach of contract. In the second tale, Bashir, Kira, and Keiko O’Brien go on a Gamma Quadrant expedition, despite Keiko’s pregnancy. After an accident, Bashir finds it necessary to transplant the O’Brien child into Kira in order to save Keiko’s life. Due to the technobabbly way Bajoran women carry children, they won’t be able to reverse the procedure: Kira will carry the O’Brien baby to term. Miles, Keiko, and Molly welcome her into their family.

 While Quark dreams he’s gone to the Divine Treasury, he sees a vision of the First Nagus telling him to break the contract- the rules were meant for Ferengi, not Ferengi for the rules. Quark does break the contract, and Brunt seizes everything in the bar. As Quark wonders what he’s going to do, the various station members start bringing things in- Bashir has a case of liquor he can’t keep, needs Quark to take it. Sisko needs Quark to keep tables and chairs from a part of the station being renovated.  Quark realizes the Hew-Mon adage of friends being treasure might be true.

The pregnant Kira storyline me seem a little oddly intimate here between the O’Briens and her as surrogate, but the real story is even worse; at this point Nana Visitor was together with Alexander Siddig, and pregnant; this whole subplot was a way of writing the fact Major Kira is actually carrying Doctor Bashir’s baby into the story. In Quark’s vision, the first Nagus was also played by Max Grodénchik (Rom) and seeing him with a totally different demeanor and voice is neat.

 A Jeffrey Combs guest appearance is always great, but the real slam dunk in this episode is Quark watching holodeck simulations of Garak killing him so Quark can choose the best death. Not wanting the snapping vertebrae of his neck to be the last thing he hears is a fair point.

“Broken Link” begins with Garak trying to hook Odo up with a local Bajoran woman; as soon as Odo mentions he doesn’t care about such things he suffers a strange attack. Bashir finds his “goo” is in flux, and despite his best efforts he knows they may need the Founders to treat Odo.

 Despite a sudden rise in violent rhetoric from Klingon Chancellor Gowron, Sisko takes the Defiant into the Gamma Quadrant to find the Founders to help Odo. Garak comes along to ask if there were Cardassian survivors from their ill fated attack two years before. After broadcasting for help, the Defiant is surrounded by a flotilla of Jem’Hadar ships, and they beam aboard with the female Changeling. She reveals that THEY infected Odo with the virus that caused this to force him back to the Great Link to be judged for killing a Changeling at the end of season 3.

 On the way Garak asks about Cardassian survivors, only to be told by the Changeling that his entire race signed their death warrant when they attacked the Dominion. Arriving at the Great Link’s new homeworld, Sisko and Bashir wait on an outcropping while Odo is absorbed into the Link. Meanwhile, Garak tries to seize the Defiant’s weapons to wipe out the Link now, even as a suicide mission- better to save the Alpha Quadrant. Worf stops him, but Garak shows the Klingon a thing or two in fisticuffs. 

On the planet, Odo emerges from the slime, naked and disorientated. Bashir scans him and finds the Link have in fact punished Odo…by making him human. They return to the station as Gowron declares war on the Federation. Odo stares, he has some memories from being in the Link. Gowron, Chancellor of the Klingon Empire, is a Changeling imposter.

A solid season ender with a lot of frightening Dominion moments (Salome Jens as the female Changeling describing Cardassian genocide coolly to Andrew Robinson’s Garak among them) and an interesting twist for Odo. Apparently the Bajoran woman to whom Garak introduced him at the beginning was intended to be an romantic interest for Odo to pursue in the next season, but the producers didn’t feel the chemistry (and if they’re like me Odo and Kira are their OTP). The end of episode reveal of Gowron as a shapeshifter may be a red herring, but it serves as a more harrowing warning even than season 3’s “we are everywhere” delivered by the Founder Odo killed. And finally, keep an eye out here for Garak teasing Odo with his history as a gardener at the Cardassian embassy on Romulus, and the number of Romulan dignitaries who mysteriously died that year.  Andrew Robinson actually wrote a spectacular novel detailing Garak’s life, and his time on Romulus is one of the books highlights: worth finding to read as a  DS9 sequel regardless!

NEXT VOYAGE: Season 5 begins with a covert mission to stop the imposter Gowron before he ensures an “Apocalypse Rising”!

[cyrelia-j]

[Fic] Deuces VI: Billion Dollar Hand (Garak Bashir)

This got a bit long. I may switch it to AO3 next chapter or my site. We'll see. I'm not trying to kill dashboards if the cut doesn't work. 

Big thanks to @thebluemeany for the assist with Julian's crazy cousin quote. That thing is a work of art!

Previous parts are here:

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Summary: AU (no Dominion and some characters who died in the series are alive like Vedek Bareil) Garak and his surrogate daughter Ziyal find themselves on Deep Space Nine for a month on a stopover to Bajor. Their first date may not have gone so well but this time Garak's taking the lead, and he's going to see if Julian is worth the trouble

Warnings: a few seconds of language, some minor dominance/submission stuff and daddy kink

“Someone looks serious,” Ziyal teases him as he finishes fastening the high neck of the shimmering silver shirt. It’s one he wears on rare occasion- when he wants to make a point, when he wants to create a certain impression. It falls like liquid over him, a ripple of that metallic sheen down past his waist settling nicely on his hips. He decides to stay with the same black pants, opting for dark boots with several buckles stopping high on the ankle. These are the boots he wears when he doesn’t plan on taking them. Off. That’s not to say he isn’t planning on perhaps an... exciting evening. Just that it may be of a different sort than the other night. He’s certain Ziyal knows exactly what the outfit means though she knows he’s hardly going to give her any juicy detail.

He saves the details for his old friend Parmak back home. Parmak was - and still is to the best of Garak’s knowledge - Tain’s most trusted physician and he’s always been the embodiment of discretion. He’s also a deliciously corrupted and carnal soul who devours Garak’s tawdry tales like some mythical human incubus. He may also in turn respond with a few naughty little tidbits of his own. Parmak has demonstrated to him in his writings on numerous occasions that an acute knowledge of anatomy is quite useful in describing certain pleasurable acts. Really, Parmak might make a career of writing erotic pulp should he ever tire of taking Tain’s temperature and well... Garak prefers not to dwell on the other rumors surrounding his father and his old friend that Parmak vehemently denies.

“Well, if the dear boy went through the trouble of angling for a second chance, far be it for me not to put forth a comparable amount of effort as well.”

“Oh it’s a “dear boy” sort of date,” Ziyal says with a knowing grin. Garak turns away with a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“I have no idea what you’re implying. And, don’t think I didn’t notice you dressed in one of your more alluring tops.” She’s wearing a stunning sleeveless shirt with a neck high like his that proudly displays the tattoos of her arms. There are gold waves embroidered down the bottom, the color dark violet and matched with a pair of trouser of his own design- black with a high waistline, several attractive buttons and pockets sewn in contrasting patches along the legs. She has a pair of sandals on as well, her toes painted blue, and it’s certainly worth a comment. “Surely that’s not for Major Kira?”

Ziyal shakes her head and checks the time. Garak has a few minutes and he’s certainly never too busy to spend with her. Perhaps it might even give Julian a bit of pause if he lets him go a few minutes. Garak takes a seat on the sofa and she sits next to him.

“Should I be holding your hands with excitement or saying a prayer to the Ancients?” he asks lightly. He watches her take a deep breath, momentarily concerned before she waves him off.

“No it’s nothing exciting. It’s not. I mean I don’t know if it should be but I met a girl today yad’, the most clever, brilliant, beautiful girl and I really think you’d find her wit amusing and charming and I’m going to do bow-ling with her tonight. She told me I should wear shoes that come off easily so...” She says it’s not a big deal but he can see her practically vibrating.

Garak is glad. He was concerned about Ziyal finding her way on the Station and he’s been rather poor company in his avoidance of Julian but well, he may likely remain poor company for other reasons. Knowing that Ziyal is making... acquaintances sets his mind at ease.

“So have I met this charming young lady?” He asks thinking to anyone else he may have seen around the Station. He’d noticed a few Starfleet officers, a few other Cardassians who travelled with them; primarily merchants and a few researchers but... but no, she’s shaking her head. Interesting.

“Mardah works at Quarks. Actually I met her while I was apologizing to Major Kira.” Ziyal shifts on the couch with a bit of a bounce. “Would you believe that Major Kira actually trains a lot of the girls on the station for combat? She says self defense and something about Quark and grabby hands but she’s a wonderful instructor, yad’. You were right, I know I’ll learn a lot from her and Mardah... Oh she’s wonderful. She’s a few years younger than me and she thought my art was the most fascinating. She thinks that I’ll do well on Bajor and she’s studying to be an entomologist and she’s very strong and talented and well alright I might be a little excited for... for bow-ling”

“For bow-ling?” Garak asks with a little smirk standing up just in time to avoid being hit with a pillow. “Yes, let Mardah help you shore up your speed,” he practically sings, pretending he doesn’t notice her rude gesture. He laughs as he leaves a spring in his step saying a silent prayer for the best for them both.

—

Garak hadn’t specified a location, merely a time but as he imagined, Julian is standing outside of Quark’s looking just an enticing as he had the night of their first date. No, he amends, more so this time around since that air of practiced confidence and ease has been replaced with a genuine look of anxious anticipation and excitement. Julian’s entire face lights up when he sees Garak, a look of relief intermingled as well. Garak may have let him wait a few minutes just to make sure that he was properly contrite. He most certainly is, and there is admittedly anticipation and charge to the air between them as Julian practically runs that last few steps to greet him. It looks like Ziyal was correct when she was speaking with him earlier. This charming creature is already nothing like his date the other evening.

Strike that; there are a couple of similarities and those are quite promising. Julian looks just as handsome. He’s wearing a pair of loose beige pants which appear to be linen, nicely draping down with a peach colored shirt, contrasting to his tanned skin. He’s still showing an appreciable amount of said skin- the few buttons on top undone a bit more daring than before but he isn’t making a show of it today. His sleeves are rolled up, hair just a bit tousled and the look which he returns to Garak well… That’s just the same if not more excited than before.

“Garak!” he exclaims then winces at the loudness of his voice. Julian seems self-conscious of his own enthusiasm, lowering his voice a few octaves and clearing his throat. “Sorry ah I’m just… I’m pleased that you’re here.” He holds out his hand, clearly trying a different tact. Garak is tempted to have a little fun with him but decides that can wait until Julian is more at ease. He’s familiar with this custom and takes Julian’s hand warmly. He can tell immediately that Julian had honored his request not to mask his scent and it’s enchanting, a strong ginger mingling with an undertone of something sweet almost like honey. Garak wants to see if his skin tastes as nice.

“I’m pleased to see you more… comfortable,” Garak says diplomatically. Julian looks away momentarily, that clasp of hands hanging on a bit long from both of them before letting go.

“I wasn’t sure if you’d actually show up. I mean not that I don’t trust you er… I mean I don’t know you well enough but ah… I just… like to trust people before I don’t… I… I have no idea what I’m saying, I’m so sorry.” Garak sees him taking a step back already so flustered outside what was obviously a carefully scripted dance before. Ziyal had said somewhat naughtily that Julian was the sort of charming she was sure he wouldn’t be able to resist and while Garak had a good idea what she was implying- damn observant girl!- he feigned ignorance on that count. Oh, doctor, I would love nothing more than to devour you.

Garak smiles and puts a hand on his shoulder, a gesture that Julian recognizes but almost seems adorably confused by.

“Why don’t I tell you what I had in mind for this evening to start and we can go from there?” He suggests, letting his hand drop starting to walk to one of the directories. Garak may have used what little free time he was able to wrangle away from Odo that afternoon to do a little research. There’s one name on the Promenade Directory that stood out most. He had stared at it a moment uncertainly before deciding to just walk over and investigate for himself. It had turned out that the “Happy Bottom Riding Club” was in fact not as the name might have implied some sordid Federation Fetish establishment- pity- but rather a nice low key somewhat dimly lit supper club with an assortment of grilled dishes from the Alpha Quadrant.

He’d had a brief moment to speak with the hostess to make a reservation and she even took the time to explain that the name had derived from some old Earth establishment and was the brain child of a Bolian on station who owned “Forbin Project”. The Bolian, Ziw Tralar, had advised giving a name that stood out and promoted a conversation. Well, the young Andorran woman had explained, they did receive a considerable amount of curiosity business along with their fair share of “misunderstandings”. She had a poorly concealed huff of irritation explaining that last bit to him; Garak could only imagine. He lets Julian know their destination as they begin walking in that direction leisurely.

Julian laughs.

“Oh god. You know when I was first stationed here and I saw that name I thought the most awful things.”

“Did you now?”

“Well I mean you know Happy Bottom Riding Club like…” Julian pauses there and gives Garak a sideways look. “Like… you know…” Garak looks back at him innocently.

“Is that a colloquialism for some Earth practice I should be aware of?”

“Well… not exactly ah… you know it’s ah… like say you and I um…” Julian stammers again and catches Garak looking just a touch too sanguine. He scowls. “Oh you know bloody well what I mean and it’s not like my misunderstanding resulted in my showing up in vinyl with a zipper mask or something.

“My, Julian, we haven’t even started our proper date and to think I’ve already learned so much more about you than before.”

“Ha, but you know I’ve never actually been there all the years I’ve been stationed here.”

“I can’t imagine,” Garak says certain that Julian’s sure thing pleasure sim has negated any need to try anything different. Julian seems to read that thought as well looking a touch embarrassed.

“Well you know because it’s always seemed so posh with those big wooden looking doors and all.”

“Of course,” Garak agrees easily, stopping then they’ve arrived. Julian does look a touch uncomfortable but Garak puts a hand on his arm seeing Julian’s expression positively melt. Oh that’s so nice.

There’s little wait given his foresight and Garak may have made a subtle arrangement with the hostess earlier in the day when he confirmed that she would be working the rest of the evening. He let her know that he would be by later with a handsome young doctor on the station, and to her credit she wore a perfect mask of professionalism when it was clear she knew exactly which doctor and was impressed that Garak had somehow diverted him from his usual “routine”. Garak wasn’t quite sure how he felt dating a man with that infamous of a reputation but it also pleases him to be Julian’s first in a number of things. Garak had informed the hostess that he would be quite appreciative if she would note the manner of their arrival. If he were to arrive with his hands in his pockets then he wouldn’t object to prompt service and a table. If, on the other hand, he were to arrive with his hand on said doctor’s arm then he would appreciate a both in the corner, particularly, one of the intimate round seaters where they might sit next to each other and enjoy a discreet unhurried meal.

She smiles at him a little knowing expression and he slips her a few strips of latinum when she leads them both to that secluded corner booth, the clean leather large enough to sit four. Garak slides right into the middle and motions for Julian to sit next to him.

“I thought, since the first time we’d followed your plan that tonight, you might indulge my in following my lead,” Garak says, waiting to see how Julian responds. The dark lights don’t allow for as much detail of Julian’s face as Garak would like but that expression says it all as Julian nearly bangs against the table moving to obey. Obey; that has a nice ring to it. Ziyal had said- again not particularly subtly- that it was her impression that Julian was the type who might find it helpful if Garak were to tell him exactly what to do. Her expression when she offered that advice left no doubt as to what she’d meant and Guls, had it really been so long ago that she had grown her final incisors? Eight years now, Elim. Right, there will be no more lamenting of years slipping away. She is grown and in this instance that’s much to his benefit because he’s certain her advice will prove invaluable.

“Oh… oh yes, that would only be fair,” Julian says, a touch breathless when he says fair. But as tempting as he is, Garak isn’t going to rush. He’s going to be careful cautious, and he smiles as he takes a drink of cold water.

“I would like very then to play a little game with you, my dear.”

“A game?”

“Yes, a very simple one. I’m going to give you directions during our dinner and I’d like you to follow them as best as you can. I may ask you a question. I may ask you to perform just a simple task for me well within your abilities. If I’m pleased with your response then you’ll get a little reward. Is that acceptable?” Garak takes a long drink of water seeing Julian processing those guidelines carefully.

“I think that will be alright. What if there’s a question or request that I have trouble with?”

“I would never try and push you into anything that would make you uncomfortable,” Garak answers seriously, putting a hand to Julian’s arm again. “Please let me know if there is something to which you truly object.” Julian nods.

“Alright then, sounds good so then-” Garak takes the menu with a smirk just as Julian reaches for it. “Right,” he says, “following your lead.” Garak is pleased with how well Julian catches on and after establishing that there is in fact apparently nothing that the man won’t put in his mouth (Julian’s words, not his) Garak orders a carefully curated selection of dishes that can be eaten with the fingers. He then sees Julian about to take a drink, stop himself, and ask with a bit of a little gleam in his eyes for permission. Garak can feel a slight surge of heat at that as he grants it and tells Julian just a little softly himself that he won’t need to ask permission. Tonight, he adds with his own daring expression and Julian spends a little too long holding that look nearly dropping his glass with a stammered apology.

“Now then,” Garak begins. “I feel that we’ve had enough conversation revolving around the matter of Cardassian politics to last us a while so why don’t you tell me something amusing.”

“Something amusing?”

“Yes, and before you begin, I would very much like your permission to touch you a shade more boldly if you’re comfortable with that.”

“Well I’m not sure what a shade is but I’ll tell you if it’s too much?” He looks so hopeful that Garak can go nothing but agree.

“Alright then,” Julian continues with a dip of his head. You’re putting me on the spot here a bit but ah… I don’t know if you’d find any of the stupid stories about my family amusing. Ziyal had so… alright so this is completely ridiculous just happened last week actually. My cousin Paddy- god the stories I could tell you about him alone- well last week I got a COM from Ops that there was some emergency transmission coming through from Earth. So they patch him through and the first thing I see is my cousin Paddy on the dial up - er… old Earth slang, sorry- from this local pub and before he so much as says hello he’s asking me how do you know if a knife hits your arteries and then he proceeds to turn ‘round and show me right there two stab wounds. Then he says he didn’t know he’d even been cut but I should see the other buggers and I’m trying to tell him he ought to be dialing a doctor that can… you know be there in person and he’s trying to have me walk him through triage like this is just a normal thing and do you know what he says to me?”

Garak is laughing at Julian’s animated recounting, hearing that accent of his changing slightly the longer he goes on.

“What’s that?” Garak doesn’t need to affect his interest as Julian clears his throat and recounts quite comically,

“He says “I said to Jimmy, I said “ what’d you call one of the muppets down the ozzy for? Our kid’s a reet good doctor! He can learn us through it and it’ll be aber twice as good with none of the agro. Won’t even have to leave the bar. Now, go on our Ar La… ”” The translator seems to miss most of that, Garak trying to puzzle it out. Julian looks a bit sheepish as he repeats it in a more standard dialect. Garak grins as Julian continues recounting the ridiculous affair of trying to talk his cousin through treating his own stab wounds with the aid of “Jimmy” the owner of the bar and an array of likely unlicensed medical equipment. It’s a rather fantastic story, and Garak decides it certainly deserves a reward. Julian is laughing softly to himself as he concludes that as of this morning his cousin appears to be on the mend. “So is that satisfactory?” he asks, eyes moving to Garak’s hand when he sees it lift towards his face. Garak doesn’t answer immediately, instead letting his knuckles slowly and lightly drag over Julian’s cheek, seeing that his breath catches just a bit, the rest of him completely still. Now that is a lovely picture, he thinks, pulling back from that small gesture satisfied that Julian is left tongue tied when the waitress arrives and takes their order.

“Was there…” Julian licks his lips. “-anything else I might regale you with?” Garak thinks on it a moment and then instructs Julian to tell him something that he would be amazed to know, giving a sly warning that he’s quite familiar with a wide variety of subjects over multiple cultures. Julian rises to that challenge, informing him that there is a puzzle that he’s certain Garak could not possibly slither his way out of. Clever. There’s no way to confirm the veracity of your statement without the puzzle here. There may not even be a puzzle. But I wouldn’t know that. Garak is exceptionally pleased.

“That’s a good boy,” he says, this time that touch to Julian’s face lingering longer, fingers trailing down Julian’s neck with deliberate pacing, a long idle motion that leaves his eyes fluttering as he leans into that touch. This time Garak stops right at the end of his neck appreciating the way that Julian has to force his eyes to remain open. Garak has his full attention tonight, not merely a dating subroutine running on autopilot. Garak then says playfully that he’s going to tell Julian a story of his own to see if his clever boy can guess which part of it is false. Of course the entire story start to finish of their trip on the shuttle to the station is a complete fabrication but there is a point where he recounts the doctor traveling with them where he deliberately allows his body language to slip just a bit, a looks of his eyes elsewhere and Julian spots it immediately. Nice, then he can be observant when called for.

And then just to throw him, he turns back to the matter of the puzzle. Garak calls Julian’s bluff declaring that he doesn’t believe there to be so readily some trap from which he cannot escape. Julian surprises him again.

“Oh you say that now but I’ve absolutely got you.” He rubs his hands together excited with a bounce in the seat. “You really had me earlier what with the finger trap and all. I still have no idea how you pulled that one off but… I guarantee you that I have a trick you absolutely won’t be able to puzzle out.” Garak raises a brow ridge leaning in. He places a hand over Julian’s, lightly stroking the back of his hand, see a little shiver in response.

“You have my complete attention, Julian.” He sees Julian breathe out slowly.

“Right… God I don’t know how you make me feel so good with just your hands… not like that! I mean certainly like that I’m sure but-” Garak moves his hand, holding them both up.

“Is that better?” he teases as Julian already starts sliding out of the seat.

“Maybe. But you’re going to love this. Be amazed and delighted. You know when I was younger I thought it might be fun to do magic. Like you learn that all magic is really just tricks, sleight of hand, that sort of thing.” Julian has Garak come to the edge of the booth and cross his arms, feet flat on the floor facing out. “My cousin Alastair now he could do some fantastic displays but now… Is it alright if I touch here?” Julian asks pointing to the center of his own forehead. Garak nods, wondering just what it is he’s going to do. And then Julian gives a devilish grin and places a finger right at the bottom of his chufa. “Now try and stand up,” Julian says looking utterly charming with that looks of self-assurance.

Garak is certain he won’t be able to, thinking of the matter of leverage and balance and finds that assessment to be correct. He can’t stand even after gamely trying a few more times and failing.

“Is that good enough?” Julian asks teasing, just a hint of expectant desire for approval.

“It’s sufficient,” he answers with a grin and Julian releases him sitting back down, proud,sitting up a bit straighter in his seat after that.

Their food arrives and Garak rewards him by feeding him a sweet bite of char grilled utoxa. Garak wouldn’t have ever thought such a manner of cooking for the usually tough meat himself, but the description of the tenderizing marinade was too good to pass up. Julian seems to agree, eyes shutting a moment as he eats with a happy sigh.

“You know,” he says as Garak enjoys a taste as well, “My father always used to get on me about eating too quickly and you know, not properly savoring a meal but well, my mother is a fantastic cook just ah… to her own tastes. That’s brilliant right there. So how do I earn a bit of that darker piece there?” So Garak asks him another question in exchange for another piece of meat, letting his fingers just brush Julian’s lips as he slips him those bites, seeing his face start to tint just a bit darker, eyes bright and eager. He loses track of the time that passes as they clear the two plates brought out. Garak breaks that tension up volunteering a few bits of information about himself- some true, some not, but that’s the fun of it, he’s always found. Especially when Julian calls him on an especially unbelievable story during his time as a gardener and Garak quite smugly lists off every night flowering plant native to the Elaran continent, reveling in Julian’s wide surprised eyes.

“Alright,” he concedes. “I really have no idea if half the words you’re saying are even true but we are playing a game, right… You know that’s what Kipling’s Kim was all about too- the Great Game they called it,” Julian says dramatically, a bit carried away but full of energy. Garak takes a drink of the win recommended by the waitress finding it just suited for the Cardassian palette, she’s also ben keeping their water full rather unobtrusively as well. He makes a note to tip generously.

“The Great Game?”

“Well, it started as a matter of British and Russian Imperialism; a battle for the soul of India. But it’s rather like that. I mean- you could even say the battle for the soul of Bajor. Because of course Cardassia lost like Russia had all Bolshevik Revolution toppling the government and I mean the parallel is so obvious…” Julian stops suddenly, looking like he wouldn’t mind the table up and swallowing him right about now. Garak recalls Ziyal telling him that Julian’s silly tactics stemmed primarily from a fear of giving offense and well, given the chaff that Garak has imagined him bedding before now it’s hardly an unfounded concern. It rankles him to think that such a delightful mind was so vapidly wasted on dull witted Guls all these years.

Garak is far from offended. Instead he laughs, taking Julian’s hands with a reassuring squeeze. He is looking forward to having many a fiery conversation in a more intimate setting where they might… converse more freely. Julian really does get so passionate and Garak finds himself already with a rejoinder to that little verbal challenge.

“I take no offense and in fact I should very much like to peruse the work you mention just to see these... parallels.” He sees Julian nearly sag in relief. “Now how about a little reward for being such a good boy,” he all but purrs leaning in to Julian’s soft protest that he’s done nothing to warrant a reward. “Let me worry about your worthiness for rewards, my dear,” Garak says keeping hold of Julian’s hands, leaning in and delicately scenting the air around him. His tongue pokes out but doesn’t touch, letting Julian feel the warmth of Garak’s breath on his neck. He can feel Julian squeezing his hands back tightly as he moves down to the little bit of exposed skin, scenting that heady Julian musk, feeling a few heavier breaths drifting down and to think that he would be so aroused by such simple things. Garak squeezes back before letting go.

“Now, take a breath, as many as you need and tell me something that you’d like to happen in the next five minutes.”

“Five minutes?”

“Five minutes.”

“Alright I... if it’s not too forward, I’d very much like to kiss you.” Julian nearly looks away but holds Garak’s eyes when he makes that request. It’s a far restrained cry from the other evening but so achingly exciting nonetheless. It makes Garak bold and just a touch reckless. He’s silent a moment, watching Julian watch him back.

“Remember what I said earlier, Julian. Now then.” He pauses and lets his voice drop in cadence to a much lower, softer tone. “Put your hand on the table. Palm up.”

Julian looks at him a moment before obeying, letting his left hand rest on the tablecloth.

“Good boy. Now look at me and don’t stop looking at me until I tell you to stop.”

“Okay,” Julian agrees and Garak doesn’t know what insanity is possessing him to ask so much, to push so far but... Guls he wants this so badly. Julian’s hazel eyes are dark as they watch him and he picks up the steak knife making sure that Julian can see it. There’s a slight dilation of pupils in response to that sight and Julian gives a start when the point of the blade brushes the juncture of his thumb and palm. There’s an averted jerk of his head to watch but he remains there, a lick of his lips, a dart of his tongue uncertain but obedient watching Garak. And Garak watches him back as he slowly traces the tip of the blade over Julian’s palm- practiced enough, having read the Julian’s slightly rough callouses to know just the right amount of pressure. It’s a tickle. He sees Julian’s breaths hitch as he lets the blade circle, skimming over skin, seeing Julian shift in the seat, the moment dragging out, his motions slowing down until the tip rests in the center of Julian’s palm and his lips are parted slightly, breaths coming heavier as Garak lets the tip push in infinitesimally as if he might dare to push it through the rest of the way.

Garak knows when the skin will break but he doesn’t know when Julian will. Julian is silent, breathing harder, Garak scenting a slight increase in that heavy musk as he leans in closer, closer, letting up with the knife as his his lips meet Julian’s with that same delicate pressure, his tongue that experimental blade never breaking skin, flicked, gone, that press of mouths no more than a half a breath. He pulls back, feeling hot, feeling the swell of ridges around his neck somewhat embarrassed but doesn’t dwell on his own physiological reactions for long. Not when Julian is sitting there chest heaving, eyes half shut like he just fucking came.

“Such a good boy,” he murmurs in praise, petting the back of Julian’s neck, his hair softly, watching his head lull boneless to that touch.

“Thank you... daddy...” slips out in an unconscious hush just barely caught by his ears. Garak decides right then they’re not finishing dinner.

(Part 7 is now up HERE)

[weerd1]

Star Trek DS9 Rewatch Log, Stardate 1909.11: Missions Reviewed, “One Little Ship,” “Honor Among Thieves,” “Change of Heart,” and “Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night.”

The Defiant is on a rare scientific mission when “One Little Ship” begins, escorting a Runabout with Bashir, Dax, and O’Brien into a subspace compression, which will actually objectively compress their molecules until they are comparatively miniaturized. This experiment may lead to advanced in transwarp technology, but must be preformed precisely, with the Defiant keeping them under tractor beam to pull them out exactly along the path they went in. Suddenly the Runabout is shaken, and the Defiant loses control of them.  When they do find the Defiant, it was captured and attacked by the Jem’Hadar, and the Runabout is now about three inches long.  They know they have to help and actually use a venting port to fly their ship inside the Defiant. There they observe that the Jem’Hadar is forcing the crew to fix the warp drive, damaged in the Dominion attack. They realize that Sisko and crew are faking much of what they’re doing, trying to recapture the bridge controls.  The Wee Folk decide to help, and go fly stealthily to the bridge where O’Brien and Bashir have to enter a computer to reroute control to Sisko. 

The Starfleet takeover is made easier as the Dominion has now engineered new Jem’Hadar in the Alpha Quadrant, and the “Alphas” and “Gammas” among them are developing an unhealthy rivalry.  With control directed to Sisko, and a couple of anti-personnel photon torpedoes from a tiny Runabout, the Jem’Hadar are killed, and the Defiant can take the shuttle back to the Compression to excise it properly and restore them to size.

 When telling the story at Quark’s later, Odo mentions that he thinks Bashir and O’Brien may be a few centimeters shorter. As they rush out to the infirmary to check, Quark smiles at Odo. “And they say you have no sense of humor.”

It’s “Fantastic Voyage” come to Trek and in an episode that wisely doesn’t take itself too seriously.  The effects are neat, as is the crew interaction as we get to see the crew working their subterfuge against the Jem’Hadar from the “miniature” perspective. The sets for when Bashir and O’Brien are in the computer are appropriately absurd.  The introduction of Alpha and Gamma Quadrant Jem’Hadar is a neat idea, but unfortunately one that the show will never revisit.  As technobabble filled as this episode is, the acknowledgement that oxygen molecules would be 2000 times too big for them to breathe is neat, as is Dax’s solution of beaming a pocket of miniaturized atmosphere from the ship into the sealed computer space.  It does make me wonder why a fully stocked Runabout—miniaturized or not—doesn’t have spacesuits O’Brien and Bashir could wear.

Time to screw with O’Brien again in “Honor Among Thieves,” as his technical acumen has made him the best person to work a mission for Starfleet Intelligence. He’s to approach some low-level operatives in the Orion Syndicate, earn their trust, and find out about a mole the Syndicate has in Starfleet. While on this mission, O’Brien begins to genuinely like the mid-level boss, Bilby (and his cat), but is assured that Intel just wants him to go to jail, after they find the mole.  

That actually proves fairly easy, and O’Brien is ready to go home, when the next level boss introduces Miles’ gang to a Vorta, who is planning to have the Orion Syndicate pull a mission of some sort for the Dominion.  Intel extends O’Brien’s mission, and he finds Bilby is to assassinate the local Klingon ambassador and make it look like Gowron did it to sow discord in the Empire and have them pull away from the Federation again. O’Brien reports, and his handler tells him that they have warned the Klingons, which means Bilby will be killed rather than arrested. O’Brien tries to warn Bilby, but the criminal knows he is a dead man anyway because he vouched for O’Brien. Bilby goes to meet his fate, and O’Brien returns to DS9 with his cat, unsure of the moral outcome of this work.

Sure, it’s Star Trek’s “Donnie Brasco,” but it is also well done and performed well by everyone involved.  Anyone with a HUMINT background will feel for the Chief and the dreaded situation when a source is going to get burned. Interesting to note that the Starfleet intel agent is actually Michael Harney who plays Healy on “Orange is the New Black” with Kate Mulgrew from “Voyager.” I suppose my only real complaint here, it like the Alpha/Gamma Jem’Hadar in the last episode, we don’t see O’Brien’s new cat again as I recall.

“Change of Heart” also brings Starfleet intel into the fray as Worf and Dax, while planning their honeymoon, are sent to retrieve a message from an operative in the Cardassian government.  When they get the message, he tells them he knows how many Changelings are in the Alpha Quadrant, and where they are.  He won’t share though until he is extracted. 

 Worf and Dax agree to try, and are rather enjoying their mission together, crossing a jungle to meet the spy, until they are ambushed by Jem’Hadar. They prevail, but Dax is wounded, and thanks to the nature of Jem’Hadar weapons, she is infected with an anti-coagulant, and will likely bleed out. She tries to continue mission, but simply cannot. She tells Worf to go ahead and get the Cardassian, and she will wait for him to come back. Each knows she will not last the time it will take to get the spy, get back to this position, and then get back to the Runabout. Worf goes as duty demands, but can’t continue.

 He goes back and saves Dax, extracting her, and leaving the Cardassian to be killed when he tries to re-enter his base. Worf tells Sisko he knows he did not perform either his Klingon or Starfleet duty…but Dax was more important.  Sisko sympathizes, but reprimands Worf, effectively pulling him off the command track for his future career.

A very well told episode, and the writing/performances of the Dax and Worf marriage here are very strong. Their banter and romance are heartwarming and believeable, and heartbreaking when Worf has to make the decision to leave her to die. Yet he cannot, and a lesser show would have somehow had him save her AND the Cardassian agent. This show doesn’t give tidy endings however, and it’s a better tale for it. There is also a B-story about O’Brien and Bashir deciding to play Quark at Tongo, but Tongo psyches out the genetically “superior” Bashir by reminding him that he loved Jadzia and let her get away.  This becomes more relevant next season after…Oh god, I’m not ready.  It just matters later, OK?

In “Wrongs Darker than Death or Night,” Kira is preparing to celebrate what would have been her mother’s 60thbirthday when she mysteriously receives a call from Dukat who confesses that he had an affair with her mother years before. Kira doesn’t believe it, and uses the Orb of Time (previously recovered in “Trials and Tribbleations”) to go back 28 years in time to Dukat taking command of Terok Nor, and taking Kira Maru on as his “comfort woman.”

 Major Kira is appalled and joins the contemporaneous resistance, planning to put a bomb in Dukat’s quarters when she sees Maru get a message from Nerys’ father, who thanks her for what she’s doing, as they are receiving more food for the kids (including little totes adorbs Nerys) since Maru took to Dukat’s bed. Kira has a flash of conscience, pulling both Maru and Dukat out of the blast zone before the bomb explodes, but with the explosion, returning to her present in 2374. She is torn about what to think of her mother and debating whether it was collaboration or just protecting her family.

So, this is one of those exception to the rule episodes.  I find this one actively awful. First of all, it seems quite a stretch that form 2346 when the station was commissioned until 2369 when the Cardassian Occupation ended and the Federation moved in that Dukat was the ONLY prefect Terok Nor had.  And yes, they insinuate that Dukat was all about Bajoran babes, but he stayed with Maru SEVEN YEARS, and then there was Ziyal’s mom and then there was at least one other Bajoran mistress, all while somehow being the prefect of Bajor, commander of Terok Nor, and managing to have a wife and seven kids of his own on Cardassia.  In ‘The Maquis’ they told us he took command of the station in 2360, but he was apparently living there for 14 years as prefect first and …it just doesn’t make sense in the end, and as much as I wanted to see Dukat remain a foil for Kira rather than Sisko, making her mother his mistress seems particularly contrived. Indeed, now we know he saw Nerys in 2346 several times, yet he doesn’t seem phased when he will see her again on DS9 in “Necessary Evil” after he appoints Odo as chief of security, or when he repeatedly sees her when she takes over as First Officer of DS9.  At least when they almost bonded over Ziyal, you would think he might have mentioned there was a closer family relationship than she knew, either through her mother or the mysterious bomber woman. And as for Kira, sure, you hear something freaky about your mom so your first reaction, and actual plan, is to GO BACK IN TIME. Even using Bajoran methods, this sounds a little risky.  Indeed, she tries to kill Dukat! Surely, as pissed off as she might be, unraveling ALL OF ALPHA QUADRANT HISTORY is a little overreaction.   This timeline doesn’t work for me, this situation doesn’t work for me, and dammit, Kira Nerys deserves better. When Nana Visitor in a slinky dress can’t fix your episode, it is wayyyyyyy broken.

NEXT VOYAGE: There’s a traitor on Deep Space Nine and a Starfleet investigator is ready to make an “Inquisition.”

[weerd1]

Star Trek DS9 Rewatch Log, Stardate 1908.25: Missions Reviewed, “Apocalypse Rising,” “The Ship,” “Looking for par’Mach in All the Wrong Places,” and “Nor the Battle to the Strong.”

“Apocalypse Rising” begins with an all-out war raging between the Federation and the Klingons.  Sisko receives orders from Starfleet based on Odo’s revelation that Gowron is a Founder that they need to reveal that publically to the Galaxy in any way possible. Sisko, O’Brien, and Odo disguise themselves as Klingons and along with Worf plan to infiltrate a ceremony in the heart of the Klingon Empire, where Gowron will be presiding. 

They have to install small transmitters that will keep the Changeling from maintaining shape. They catch a ride on Dukat’s stolen Bird of Prey, and infiltrate. Once there, nothing goes according to plan, and they are captured. Martok, Gowron’s General talks to them in jail, and reveals that he has suspected Gowron for some time. Martok releases them, but without the devices, they will have to kill Gowron, so the Changeling will revert to a liquid state. As they make their way to the hall, Worf attacks Gowron and is about to kill him, when Odo comes to a realization- Martok is the Changeling. 

He attacks, revealing the Founder whom every Klingon in the room collectively shoots.  Gowron calls a cease fire, and negotiations are set to begin.

This is a pretty well made episode, but follows a long standing Starfleet tradition of BATSHIT CRAZY MISSIONS. Starfleet intel doesn’t activate agents they must surely have operating in the Empire, no! They take three humans (Odo counts right now) and surgically alter them, making them learn to be Klingons in a couple days, and send them with an actual Klingon, who is the most reviled man in the Empire right now.  This whole plan is nuts. But, it’s fun watching Sisko lean into being a Klingon, similar to how he leaned into being Mirror Sisko in the MU episodes. At least this time he only slaps around a fellow crewmember rather than have sex with two of them. The Klingon Hall of Heroes having a statue of Chang from “The Undiscovered Country” is a nice touch. It’s also neat to demonstrate that the Klingons didn’t go bad for going bad’s sake…but the threat has been the Founders all along.

‘The Ship” begins with the Federation looking to mine a small world in the Gamma Quadrant when a Jem’Hadar ship crashes there. Sisko and team go to claim it when another Dominion ship arrives and destroys their Runabout in orbit.  The Defiant is on the way, but will be a couple days before it will get there. Sisko plans to keep the ship, but expects a direct assault. 

Yet, the new Vorta on the scene, Kilana, wants to negotiate. After several feints and attacks, Sisko and Dax finally find what’s so important: there is a wounded Founder on board who dies. Sisko and Kilana realize that if they had tried to trust one another, each of them would have had what they wanted, her the Founder, and him the ship…and he wouldn’t have lost five crewmembers along the way.

A neat little siege episode with a small mystery, and another look at how cruel the Dominion can be. There’s a subplot with a dying crewmember who didn’t take too bad of a hit, but keeps bleeding out because Jem’Hadar weapons are made with a built in anti-coagulant.  There is mention of Weyoun from ‘To the Death’ whom we still think is dead rather than cloned; though, the show in the future is a little cloudy on how many of a Vortas memories get transferred into the next clone. This is something that Ron D. Moore will of course play with more in “Battlestar Galactica,” as the Cylons’ minds are transferred during their resurrection process.

Grilka, the Klingon woman Quark was once married to, comes to visit DS9 and Quark is hoping to rekindle something between them in “Looking for par’Mach in All the Wrong Places.” Problem is Worf is rather smitten himself and feels the touch of par’Mach—Klingon love—and hopes to try to win her.  When he is rejected for being from a fallen house, a weird Worf/Quark collaboration opens up a-la Cyrano De Bergerac, with Worf even letting Dax wire him to Quark’s brain so Quark can challenge Grilka’s head body guard to a bat’leth fight. 

While this is happening, Kira is living with the O’Briens and begins to develop an intimacy with Miles that neither of them are very comfortable with. When Keiko tries to force them to go on vacation together to “ease tensions” both realize what a terrible idea this is, and put a stop to it. Meanwhile, Worf is frustrated that Quark has now managed to win Grilka, while Dax is frustrated Worf hasn’t noticed HER intentions. She challenges him to a swordfight, and the episode ends with all four of them in the infirmary due to the extremely physical nature of Klingon mar’Mach.

A cute episode, with lasting consequences as we FINALLY have Dax and Worf hook up. The interaction between Worf and “The Ferengi Barkeep” is always fun to watch, and getting Joseph Ruskin (Galt from TOS) back as Grilka’s right hand is nice. The Kira/Miles thing is a little creepy, and odd that it never really gets mentioned again; though if my wife were forcing me to rub Major Kira’s feet…well, let’s just not do that.

In “Nor the Battle to the Strong,” Jake and Bashir are cruising along on a small mission during which Jake is supposed to write a piece on Julian. Julian is being very verbose about medical things when they receive a distress call.  The cease-fire with the Klingons has broken down and they have invaded a Federation colony. There is a lot of ground fighting and the hospital needs doctors. Bashir is reluctant, but Jake talks him into it, hoping for an interesting story. Instead they walk into a bloodbath. Jake helps out in the hospital all he can, including talking to a Starfleet security officer who shot himself in the foot with a phaser to get off the front lines. 

Eventually the Klingons advance, knocking out power. Bashir and Jake plan to run back to the Runabout to get a portable generator, when they fall under enemy fire. Jake also freaks out and runs, ending up in a foxhole with a dying officer who admonishes him for leaving the Doctor on the battlefield.  When the officer dies, Jake makes his way back to the infirmary to find Bashir is back and got the generator himself. 

Jake is ashamed of having run, but when the Klingons attack, he is pinned down by their advance.  He grabs a phaser rifle and starts randomly firing, which collapsed the tunnel, halting the Klingons. That also brings the roof down on him. He awakens to Bashir and his Father as the Defiant has arrived and the Klingons are pulling back. Jake writes about his experience, brutally honest with himself about what fear can do to a person, and Benjamin tells him that anyone who has been in combat would recognize what Jake says, and that honesty is a bravery itself. 

Pretty heavy episode and well told.  Cirroc Lofton carries this episode and doesn’t shirk at all when it comes down to it.  It’s a powerful performance watching him go from eager to see some action to realizing what war REALLY means. His discussions about being on the station when it is under attack versus receiving fire from an enemy one can see are interesting from the SF standpoint, and his fear in combat is well handled from a human standpoint.  Nice to see the Klingons as scary one more time before the inevitable peace to fight the Dominion as well. Trek doesn’t cover a lot of ground war usually, and this is a well DS9 will drink from again, and in each case, do it with intensity. One last note- Bashir getting the generator back on his own; a reference to his superior genetic engineering?

NEXT VOYAGE: A temporal displacement sends the Defiant back a century in time to face a turning point in history in “Trials and Tribbleations.”