*** Rafko's Log ****
We departed from Okal's quarters. I noted that my friend kept her Klingon/Cardassian friend in check, eyeing her warily. Well, at least Catava had put away the phaser, I thought. Phasers - or any type of weapon - in general made me very nervous.
I pulled out my tricorder as we all paraded through the Habitat Ring; we made an incongruous group - some of us still in formal wear from our outing to Vic's.
"What are you doing?" Okal asked me.
"Scanning your friend," I answered.
"Isn't that rude?" Okal asked, but her eyes were twinkling back at me.
"A little," I admitted. "But I am curious as to the genome conversion."
"As I am," Julian put in. "I've heard of gene therapy to convert half of one's genetic material but never have I heard of one race being genetically converted to another."
We stopped in front of Nu'Daq's quarters. Emallia was already there, looking frantic.
"I know Katja's in there," Emallia said breathlessly. "I've been trying to override the codes to get in, but I can't."
Okal and I exchanged a look. What if Nu'Daq's rage was such that he had hurt Katja? I shook my head. No, Nu'Daq was too honorable for something like that.
Odo's fingers played over the control panel and the doors slid open. We found Katja crouched on the floor, her knees drawn to her chest, her chin tucked on top of her knees. I immediately went to her side.
"I'm fine," she dismissed with a wave. "I just fainted. Nothing to be concerned about."
Odo, on the other hand, was still looking about the quarters.
"Did Nu'Daq do this?" Odo asked, waving his arm at the disarray.
"Yes," Katja said. "It was like this when I got here."
"Why?" I wondered, my eyes falling on Okal's strange friend, who was obviously very uncomfortable if not enraged with her current captivity. A Klingon through and through, I thought.
"Where is Nu'Daq now?" Odo demanded.
"I don't know," Katja said. Julian helped our half-Klingon officer to her feet. "He just rushed out of here half-mad. I don't know where he was going."
"Sir," a security officer approached. I had never seen him before in the 18 months I had been aboard DS9 but Okal nudged me in the ribs.
"He was in the holosuite," she whispered in my ear. "I remember him."
"What is it?" Odo asked sharply of the unknown security officer.
"This," the security officer held up a statue, very Cardassian in design. Bits of red held hair to the sculpture.
Julian and I exchanged a look. Pending further analysis, we were sure that this was the weapon that had been used to attack Mar'i'sel.
"You'll have to let us see that," Julian said.
"In time, Doctor," Odo said with a patient smile.
I wasn't sure that I was liking the way our originally planned evening of relaxation was going; the next time Okal planned a party, I was staying home.
Okal must have sensed my thoughts because she leaned over and whispered, "Nu'Daq hates Cardassians. Why would he have a Cardassian sculpture in his quarters?"
That, I thought, was a very good question.
*** RAFKO'S LOG ***
"I mean, don't you think it's odd that Nu'Daq would have a Cardassian sculpture in his quarters?" Okal persisted.
"Speaking of Nu'Daq," Odo broke in, "where is he?"
We all looked at each other.
"Katja?" I asked.
She shook her head, "He rushed out of here, saying that I had ruined everything."
"Ruined everything?" the constable looked confused; I didn't blame him - it isn't easy to understand Nu'Daq. Even after serving with the surly Klingon for the last 18 months, I still couldn't figure out what made him tick.
Well, no, I take that back. I did know what made him tick, but I wasn't about to reveal that knowledge to Odo.
"Computer, locate Lieutenant Nu'Daq," Odo said.
"Lieutenant Nu'Daq is not aboard the station," the computer reported in its falsely cheerful tone.
Okal and I exchanged looks. This was getting interesting...
"Odo to Security. Start searching for one Lieutenant Nu'Daq. It appears he may have removed his communicator."
Bashir leaned over to whisper in my ear.
"We should get back to the Infirmary," he said. "I'd like to know more about our Jane Doe."
"Mar'i'sel," I reminded him.
Bashir rolled his eyes, "Okay, Mar'i'sel. We need to get back to her."
Odo overheard us, "You may go if you want. Dr. Rafko, I will need to talk to you later after I debrief these three."
Bashir and I walked down to the Infirmary. I felt very tense around him, didn't know quite what to say.
"Things are a little strange, don't you think?" Bashir asked casually.
"In more than one way," I admitted.
"What do you think is happening?"
"I haven't a clue. There's a reason why I chose medicine and not security."
"You think Nu'Daq is responsible?"
I shook my head, "I don't know what to think. Nu'Daq is a good friend of mine and I know one thing about him above all us: he is very honorable. He does not act rashly."
"What we've seen tonight has been pretty rash, don't you think?"
We entered the Infirmary and made our way to the back where our Jane Doe was lying, still unconscious.
"Strange things happen here everyday," I said teasingly. "What's different today?"
"For starters," Bashir said. "We have this woman, Mar'i'sel, who came aboard Deep Space Nine three days ago. In a weird twist, she ends up conked on the head in Quark's holodeck. Medical analysis shows that mitochondrial DNA matches that of our Commander Dax's."
"I'll give you that," I nodded as I made my way to the console to check on the latest readings.
"Then a former Klingon woman who is now Cardassian shows up in Ensign Catava Okal's private quarters," Bashir continued. "And then we find Lieutenant Katja in Nu'Daq's quarters, which incidentally are a mess."
"You think it's all related?" I asked.
"It seems so random," Bashir said. He looked over my shoulder. "What are you doing?"
"I'm isolating the specific DNA," I told him. "Here is Laizia's DNA, here is Commander Dax's and here is Worf's. Obviously, Captain Worf's mitochondrial DNA does not match theirs or Mar'i'sel's."
"I still don't see how that is possible," Bashir said.
"It is possible if this woman is Trill."
"I hate to state the obvious, Doctor," Bashir said with a slight sneer. "But she is very much Klingon."
"We just saw a Klingon woman who is now Cardassian," I argued. "Why is it not possible for a Trill to become a Klingon?"
Bashir's eyes brightened, "You might have something there, Xenia. Jadzia has a sister back on Trill, doesn't she?"
I nodded, "I've heard mention of one, yes."
"I wonder if this is her sister," Bashir said.
"If so, that would agree with the DNA findings," I said. "Both Jadzia and her sister would have the same mitochondrial DNA, as passed down to them from their mother."
Bashir was already moving quickly, his hands moving rapidly across the console.
"I'm picking up faint Trill genetic residue, for the lack of a better term," he said in a low voice.
"I think we should get Commander Dax down here," I said.
"Agreed."
"Rafko to Dax," I said. "Please report to the Infirmary."
At Dax's acknowledgement - "I'm on my way" - Bashir and I both turned to look at the strange woman.
"If that is the Commander's sister," Bashir said. "Why would she choose to alter her genetic code?"
Echoing an earlier sentiment I had had, I responded, "That is a very good question."
**** Nu'Daq's Log ****
Nu'Daq ducked into a corridor to avoid the security guard headed his way. He felt his heart beat heavily, he raised his mek'leth, ready to attack the guard if he spotted him. The security guard was lucky, he didn't see Nu'Daq and walked off.
Nu'Daq emerged from his hide-out and rushed on towards an empty guest quarter. He opened the door and entered the empty room. Immediately he looked for the computer terminal.
"I need to access the security scanners, I have to find La'Zra.....". Nu'Daq accessed the computer and entered his access code. It worked. Now for the security scanners. "I hope that shapeshifter doesn't detect my access", Nu'Daq thought to himself.
He knew, that Odo was security chief and a highly regarded officer on the station, but he was a shapeshifter. And thus he was the enemy. Nu'Daq trusted him the least of all these Federation lackeys. --- Odo was sitting in his office, pondering over the recent events. A Klingon woman, who was a Trill. A Cardassian woman who was a Klingon. A missing Chief of Security from the Valjean. It just didn't make any sense.... His thoughts were interrupted by the flashing of a computer panel. Odo raised his head and looked at the terminal. "Aha, someone using Nu'Daq's security codes is in the system. What? He's trying to access the security system. Okay, I'll let him do that." Odo moved fast, he headed for the guest quarters...... --- Nu'Daq looked at the computer scans of the station. For every second he got more and more impatient. "It's just a matter of time, before someone notices..... There she is. Damn. This is going to be tough" Nu'Daq shut down the computer and hurried out. As he exited, he could hear someone coming towards him, so he moved on into a Jefferies tube. As he closed the tube behind him, he saw that shapeshifter rushing by without noticing him. "Perfect. A good thing I went over the schematics of the station on my arrival. All that time in Klingon Intelligence was good for me." He headed for his destination. --- Odo opened the doors to the guest quarters, but they were empty. "Too late. But he won't get away from me again. I have to raise the security level, this is too many suspicious acts." Odo headed back to his office. As he sat down in his chair to enforce new security measures to get Nu'Daq, the doors opened. As Odo raised his head, he saw a large Klingon entering with a mek'leth raised in his hand.
"Lt. Nu'Daq I presume?" Odo said. "You decided to give it up and come to me. Wise decision."
Nu'Daq looked at him with fiery eyes. "Do not flatter yourself, shapeshifter. I see you have a Klingon woman, La'Zra, in your brig?!"
Odo nodded in response.
A slight grin formed on Nu'Daq's face.
"In that case I as a member of the Klingon Empire do in accordance with Klingon law and the Klingon-Federation Treaty claim my Right of Vengeance and demand you release La'Zra, so that I can duel with her and kill her in order to restore my family honor."
The satisfaction in these words was apparent on Nu'Daq's face. His eyes glowed with anticipation and the lust for battle had come to him.......
**** Dax's Log ****
"Well we cooked; you boys get to clean up..." I announced, getting up from the table with a grin to Laizia. As anticipated, Kang began to protest, but was silenced by a look from his father.
I brush a kiss to Worf's ridges, "I need to have *some* time to go over the reports before we head out tomorrow, 'Captain'..."
The brown-eyed glare Worf and I receive from our son at the words 'Head out tomorrow' makes us both wince. Heading out on the Valjean is probably the best career move of our lives - who'd have thought that Starfleet Command would actually give my LoD'Nal the captaincy he deserves! - but we have to leave our son behind... which impresses him about as much as it does us... but Kang is terribly vocal about it...
The impending whine is cut off by the sound of a communicator chirping. Worf puts his hand into his pocket to check his communicator and shakes his head... Damn - where did I put...
"Thanks Lai," I drop to a squat and hug her before taking my communicator from her small hand.
"Rafko to Dax. Please report to the Infirmary."
That's an unusual request... The three people I'm usually called to the Infirmary for are here and safe, "I'm on my way," I tell Rafko - soon to be CMO of the Valjean - before I sever the connection.
"That's out of the blue... I'll be back as soon as I can..." Sliding my feet into my slippers I head out, down to the Infirmary.
*** Laizia's Log ***
"Well we cooked; you boys get to clean up...." Kang scowled at the mention of "leave tomorrow."
Laizia smirked at her six-year-old brother, who had been whining from the first mention of the mission about not being able to go.
" Why do YOU get to go? You're just a dumb girl," Kang complained.
"Because I'm older than you....and Lam're said I'm old enough to go. Which you're not," she shot back smugly. "You gotta stay HERE and stay with Odo and Aunt Nerys."
Kang muttered something under his breath, glaring at his sister with eyes as dark as their father's.
"That's because you know Odo won't let you get away with what you do normally when Daddy isn't looking."
"Shut up," Kang growled, trying to be intimidating but not succeeding.
Laizia smirked. "Make me, Kang."
"Laizia, stop teasing your brother," their father ordered.
"Yes, Vavoy." Kang looked smug but when Worf's back was turned, Laizia stuck her tongue out at Kang. Before he could put up a protest, the commline beeped.
"Rafko to Dax. Please report to the Infirmary."
Her mother looked confused and Laizia realized that she didn't have her com badge on. Spotting it on a table, she snatched it and handed it up to her.
"I'm on my way," she told Rafko. "That's out of the blue... I'll be back as soon as I can..."
"Mommy, can I come with you?" Laizia pleaded. She wanted out of their quarters and away from her whining brother--even if it was only a boring trip to the Infirmary. At least she wasn't sick, so Julian or this Rafko--who was going to be the Valjean's doctor, wouldn't be poking and scanning her.
Jadzia looked thoughtful for a minute, then agreed.
"You can stay in the Andorian's shop while I talk to Dr. Rafko. Remember the rules and I don't think I'll be long."
Laizia nodded eagerly and taking her mother's hand, they headed out into the habitat ring.
*** Rafko's Log ***
After I received Dax's acknowledgement, I turned back to look at the Klingon woman.
"I still don't know why she is in stasis," I said.
"Don't tell me you think she's Vulcan too," Julian teased.
I furrowed my brow, "Hmmm... now that you mention it..."
Julian shook his head, "And you question me."
"Just the one time," I protested. "I'm entitled to my opinion."
Julian rolled his eyes, "The next time you call my medical judgement into question, remember this."
"I'm sorry about that," I said sincerely. "Really, I am."
"Apology accepted."
At that moment, Commander Dax entered the Infirmary, trailed by her 11 year-old daughter, Laizia. I had hoped that Dax would have arrived by herself because I wasn't quite sure what we would say to her, but as it was, I had to deal with the child too.
"Something the matter?" Dax asked, her glance immediately falling on Julian. Julian indicated the Klingon woman, Mar'i'sel.
"We're trying to get to the bottom of a mystery here," Julian said.
"If you don't mind, Commander," I said. "I would like to run some scans on Laizia and also on you."
Dax nodded, "That's fine."
I pulled out my tricorder and ran a few tests on Laizia. The tests came out exactly as I thought they would - the child's mitochondrial DNA exactly matched that of the Klingon woman's.
I wanted to ask Dax more questions, but I didn't want to in front of Laizia.
"Commander," I said. "Do you mind if Julian and I talk to you alone?"
I stressed the last word. Dax nodded.
"Laizia, remember what I said about visiting the Andorian's shop?" Dax asked. "Why don't you go there now while I visit with the doctors? I shouldn't be long."
Julian and I exchanged a look. There was no way we could abbreviate this conversation...
After Laizia left, Dax looked at us.
"What's going on?" she asked.
I sighed, "It's like this, Commander."
Go to Part 4
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