Standard disclaimer, everything in this story belongs to Paramount, except the story, and any extra characters that I have added those two things belong to me.
This story has more than one part, they will follow as soon as I have finished them.
I wrote this as an alternate ending to "Tears of the Prophets." I haven't seen that episode yet due to the fact that it’s not on TV yet. So if there are any errors it's not my fault. Any comments welcome, please be constructive, it might drag on but its my first attempt at writing any story, be patient, I’ll get there eventually.
Dax had just walked out of the infirmary, extremely happy and looking forward to Worf's return, if he did. That thought worried her most, this mission was dangerous. She decided to go to the Bajoran shrine to pray to the Prophets. As she approached the orb, a noise behind her caused her to turn sharply someone was transporting onto the station.
Slowly two figures began to form, they were familiar, and as they appeared she suddenly realised who they were.
" Julian" she said puzzled. Then the thought hit her, they were from the alternate universe, this Julian's companion was.........her! Her alternate,
"What do you want?" she asked reaching for the phaser.
"Well actually..." the English accented voice said "We came here to swap me for, me." As he said this he began to grin "But as you are her alone, we'll just have to change our plans."
Turning to Dax's double he said, "How do you feel about a short stay on this station, I heard my double is quite the ladies man."
"Of course, I just hope he's as exciting as you are."
Bashir turned back to her. "Well that’s settled then. Lets go!" he raised his phaser and fired.
Dax watched as her Julian activated the transporter, taking her double from this universe with him. She’d see him soon, as soon as she got the information they needed to send the Alliance running back into their space like dogs. Tail between their legs.
A transporter activated behind her, why was he coming back, the idiot! Didn’t he think she could manage this little thing. The form that materialised however was Cardassian. Dukat!
"Commander Dax." he said not aware of the change over earlier. " How nice to see you are well. Now if you would excuse me."
To her horror the Cardassian raised his phaser and fired. An intense bolt of energy hit her square in the chest. Dukat smiled as the Trill was thrown back by the energy beam. Now that she was out of the way, he could get on with his real purpose. For a second time he raised his phaser firing it at the orb this time, destroying it.
Bashir was alerted to Dax's condition by a worried Vedek. She was barely alive he rushed her to the infirmary, hoping to do something to save her. For hours he worked over her unconscious form doing his best to keep her alive. But as time passed he realised that there was nothing that he could do and the only option left was to remove the symbiont. Jadzia would have insisted that the symbiont had priority over her.
Resigned he removed the symbiont. Ending Jadzia's life but at least preserving her memories. With the symbiont safe in stasis, and Jadzia's body in the morgue. He headed up to Ops irritably ordering a young Ensign out of his way as he sat down to transmit a message to the Defiant. They had to be notified of what had happened. Worf had a right to know hopefully they would have better news.
It took him five attempts to get through to the Defiant. He was answered by the cheerful face of Sisko.
" Doctor, what good timing. We're on our way back now. Where’s Dax?"
Julian guessed his face said it all. However he had to say something to confirm what could be seen so obviously on his face.
"Dax, Dax is.........." he just couldn't say it.
"Doctor," Sisko said his expression changing." Whatever it is you can tell me. Where’s Dax?"
Kira now stuck her head over Sisko's shoulder.
"Doctor" she said in greeting, "What’s the matter? Is something wrong?"
Julian managed to regain at least some of the control that was slowly slipping away from him.
Sighing he said "Jadzia...... she’s dead. But Dax is alive, in stasis."
The expressions on both Captain Sisko's and Major Kira's faces both changed dramatically.
"Dead? " Sisko questioned "How?"
"Jadzia was found in the Bajoran shrine, she had phaser burns. She was shot then whoever did it destroyed the orb. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I did everything I could, her injuries were just too severe," Julian now watched the expressions of grief deepen.
"Who did it?" asked Kira "Isn't Odo looking?"
Sisko raised a hand " Thank you Doctor, we will be arriving at the station in two hours. We'll see you then."
Julian watched as the screen turned black, then was replaced by the Starfleet logo. He turned away from the screen, heading down to the infirmary, he had an autopsy to do before the Defiant got back.
Jadzia groaned as light and pain slowly filtered into the darkness that had served as her prison. Only to find that she was in another prison well at least this one had light. She could remember now as she looked round at the familiar walls of the brig. She'd been in the Shrine, about to pray to the Prophets when, when Ah yes that was it her counterpart from the alternate universe and Julian's had appeared. It would be a good guess that that was where she was now. She had been replaced. By her counterpart, who was obviously been this Bashir's lover. Well she was in for a shock when Worf got back. This thought brought a smile to her face. Which was quickly wiped of by the though of how Worf would react to the rejection not mention loathing of what in most ways would appear to be her. This universe was at war with the Klingons, Cardassians and the Bajorans, imaginatively named the Alliance.
Just then two people walked into the brig.
O'Brien and Bashir.
" Ah you're awake now. We'd been thinking that perhaps Julian had been a little to rough,” Said O’Brien
“It’ll take a bit more than that to kill me,” was Dax’s reply as she watched the two men who she knew the names of but obviously weren’t the same as her universe's versions.
“I think we should find out what she knows Smiley, I don’t trust her.”
“Julian you don’t trust anybody. I’m not going to allow you to injure her anymore. You’re going to have to take her back soon.”
Smiley: so that was what the Chief was called in this universe, and she was going back, if what he had said was true.
Smiley spoke again “I would have thought that you would want your Dax back? If she’s hurt then Sisko won’t be very pleased. He’s liable to hit you again.”
Bashir sneered at this before replying “ As if he would dare to hit me again.”
Dax decided that now might be a good time to speak, “I wouldn’t be so sure if I were you, Benjamin has quite a temper.”
She smiled at them then. Bashir swung round on her then as Smiley moved slightly he decided against his next action and marched out of the room.
Smiley turned to the guard standing by the door “Take her to the assigned quarters.”
Then turning to Dax he said “You can go back, when we get the information we need from our Dax in your universe.”
With that Smiley turned and followed Bashir.
Jadzia Dax walked along the corridor in front of a guard, who obviously wasn’t very trusting, as he kept the phaser pressed into the small of her back.
“ Stop here” the guard ordered. He entered the entry code to the quarters and pushed her through the open door. Jadzia watched as the door closed then turned to look at the quarters. They were basic crew accommodation, a couch, table, two chairs and a lower table next to the couch. Leading out of the living area was a door through which was the bedroom and through the door leading from that was the bathroom. She turned around again her eyes coming to rest on the replicator, she walked towards it before ordering “Raktajino” and to her pleasure the her order appeared. Taking the mug Dax walked to the couch and sat down, she needed to think.
Smiley stormed out of the brig following Bashir. When he did catch up with him it was Bashir who complained.
“ I can’t believe you're not going to try and get some information out of her, I returning her, I don’t believe that you're going to do that."
Smiley took a step forward and swung out with his fist, hitting Bashir square in the jaw, knocking him to the ground.
“I’ll tell you what I can’t believe, that you went to the other universe. That you abducted one of their officers and replaced them with one of us.”
Bashir pulled himself up of the ground.
“I don’t see what your problem is,” He yelled. “ We need that information, in case you haven’t noticed we're not doing too well!”
“ That doesn’t mean that you can swap people. If Sisko finds out..” Smiley let his sentence trail out, that should give the arrogant young man something to think about before adding “If Dax isn’t back in a week, then we’re going over there to explain to Sisko in person, that does mean you!”
Bashir glared at Smiley before sarcastically raising his hand in salute “Yes Sir.”
With that he turned and walked of towards the holosuites.
“ Captain we will arrive at the station in fifteen minutes” informed Nog, who was sitting at helm for this mission.”
"Acknowledged Ensign,” Sisko turned back to his brooding. The bridge was silent; it had been like that ever since Sisko announced Jadzia’s death. No one had said a word, no one knew what to say. The silence was not awkward just heavy, full of grief. Major Kira was sitting at her station praying the Chief was no longer on the bridge he had excused himself earlier with the excuse that something needed fixing in engineering.
Worf sat there at his station, running over two words that he couldn’t get out of his mind. ‘Jadzia’s dead.’ His wife was dead. He’d never hear her voice, feel her touch or see her smile. Sisko had said that who had shot her? In battle, or was it a meaningless death? That would be worse, there was no honour in a death like that. Things had been going so well, too well. Something had to go wrong eventually, it could never of lasted, it hadn’t she was dead. Had he been kidding himself in believing that this time the happiness might last that nothing would spoil it. Obviously he had. It was like a curse that would plague him to the end of his days.
“Nnnooooooo!” His chain of thought was broken by a desperate shout.
“No!” Sisko shouted, he leapt out of his command chair falling to his knees. “No” he repeated a third time. The senior staff raised themselves and moved towards their Captain who was kneeling on the floor one arm outstretched towards the viewscreen. At that moment Chief O'Brien arrived on the bridge, he moved towards Worf and the Major who were standing a few feet away from Captain Sisko.
“No!” Sisko moaned “Don’t leave me. You can’t go.”
Sisko’s arm was outstretched towards the viewscreen on which the wormhole appeared, and then in a bright flash of light disappeared. Sisko lowered his head now, curling up where he knelled. “I failed you. I’m sorry. I failed you.”
He raised his head then still looking towards the viewscreen, “I shouldn’t have left the station. I shouldn’t have led the attack on Cardassia. I’m sorry don’t leave. Don’t leave!” With those final words Captain Benjamin Sisko curled into a ball and began to sob.
“ Who was he talking to?” O’Brien enquired.
"I have absolutely no idea Chief,” Privately Major Kira thought that perhaps the Captain had been talking to Dax; they had been close friends after all. She didn’t voice that opinion however somehow she didn’t think that Worf would appreciate it. Instead she turned to the two men.
“ We’re almost at the Station. It might be best if you help him to his quarters.”
Slowly they nodded, agreeing with her suggestion. Together they moved forwards to lift Sisko by the arms, then putting his arms over their shoulders they began to slowly walk out of the bridge, Sisko between them.
Doctor Julian Bashir stood outside of the airlock, at which the Defiant had just docked. He hated the idea of having to see the faces of the crew, who would know that he had been, unable to save Jadzia. He watched as slowly the large airlock doors began to roll back revealing the slumped form of Captain Sisko being supported by Worf and O’Brien. Quickly he moved forward pulling his tricorder from his side, scanning Sisko.
As he completed his scans, Sisko spoke.
“ I’m sorry,” he sobbed. “I didn’t know it would happen. I didn’t think it would all go wrong.”
With that said he closed his eyes his body sagging only kept upright by the support of the two officers at his side.
“ Julian, move. We’ve got to get him to his quarters, he needs to rest.”
Julian politely stepped aside allowing the three of them to pass then responding to O’Brien's order he said, “I think that rest would be a good idea. I’ll come with you run some more tests.”
He stepped in step with them letting them lead the way. The walk to Sisko’s quarters was agonisingly slow, Sisko was barely supporting his own weight and was relying on the assistance of his officers. Eventually they reached his quarters, they placed their commanding officer on his bed and after Bashir had done some scans they left him to sleep. Somebody could check in on him later.
They were silent as they walked down the corridor. As they entered the Julian finally plucked up the courage to question Lt Commander Worf about his wife.
“Commander, would you like to..” the Klingon had turned to look at him and under the dark gaze Julian Bashir was having a dammed hard time trying to find the correct words to say, he cleared his throat and tried again. “ I mean do you wish to see Jadzia’s body, you know before, before…” he couldn’t finish that sentence but he didn’t need to.
Worf finished it for him in a cold uncaring manner “ Before you place the body in a coffin.” The gaze darkened “ The dead are dead, I have no wish to see the body,” Worf said this last sentence with surprising gentleness, not that he looked any happier. As if anyone could look any happier after what had just happened. The turbo lift doors opened to Ops just then and without another word Lt Commander Worf walked out of the lift heading towards Major Kira Nerys who was now l talking to a Starfleet Admiral, explaining the situation.
“ Admiral, I understand.”
Turning she noticed Worf.
“How’s Captain Sisko?” she asked. Obviously she had been waiting to tell Admiral Rhyes this information.
Worf spoke up “ Captain Sisko is currently resting in his quarters, when he awakes Dr Bashir will see to him. We will know more then.”
This must have satisfied the Admiral because he replied “When he wakes up notify him of the current situation, and inform us of any changes. Rhyes out.”
With that the screen went blank. Nerys turned to the Klingon who seemed to be taking this rather well. Not that he every let his emotions show openly, except of course when he was with Jadzia.
"Commander” she paused “ If you could see to the repairs to the Defiant along with the Chief, I’ll get station command sorted and contact all necessary parties.”
She watched Worf carefully waiting for some sign of what he was going through, but he gave none.
“ I will begin repairs on the Defiant…” he glanced round at the Chief waiting for an answer. “ In the morning if that’s alright with you Commander?”
It looked like Worf was going to say no to that so he added “ It's just that it's been a long day, I’m tired and wouldn’t mind…”
Worf cut him off here “ Tomorrow morning Major, if that’s alright.” Kira was taken aback by the acceptance of the strategic operations officer, who was being unusually accommodating.
“ That’s fine by me Commander. Perhaps we should all get some rest, as the Chief said, it’s been a long day.”
As Worf entered his quarters he was violently reminded of what he had lost. Jadzia had left her clothes scattered around as usual. Her night-clothes still draped over the couch PADD’s still lying on the table. He entered the bedroom, the bed was unmade, and a towel was in a heap in the corner.
Worf noticed all these things, things that normally he would not notice, but today he noticed every little sign that Jadzia had been here. It only helped to drive home the fact that he had lost her. This morning she had left their quarters with him, they had said goodbye at the airlock never imagining that it would be their last.
He had gone into battle and Jadzia had remained on the station, he had thought that she would be safe here. Some time between him leaving and Dr Bashir contacting the Defiant, she had been shot, and had died from the injuries. Slowly he bent down to begin tidying up, something stopped him. Perhaps it was the fact that these were the last things Dax had touched, maybe he wanted to prolong the feeling that she was still with him, then again he might just be so tired that he couldn’t be bothered to clean up the place.
The fact was that Worf just couldn’t face the fact that his wife was dead and he would never see her alive again, and somewhere inside he wanted to keep that memory of her alive as long as possible. Turning away from the towel he removed his clothes and got into the large bed alone.
Jadzia woke up to the chiming of the door. Someone wanted to speak to her, or let her go. As long as it wasn’t that creep that was Julian’s double. Jadzia pushed herself off the bed it was strange sleeping alone. She hastily got dressed and hurried to answer the insistent chimes of the door.
“Come in,” she called as she headed towards it, to her relief O’Brien’s double walked in.
Smiley - that was his name.
“ Hello, sorry if I woke you,” he seemed sincere enough. “ I just felt that I owed you an explanation,” he continued.
“ I’m listening.” She replied with only a hint of anger in her voice.
He looked at her anxiously “ I didn’t tell him to bring you here you know,” another pause. “ I think that I should start from the beginning. Can I sit?”
Nodding her head Jadzia walked over to the replicator ordered herself a drink and sat down in front of Smiley.
“ Whenever you're ready,” She told him.
He grinned “ Okay, from the top. I don’t know how much you know about this place but here’s the overview. The Alliance used to be in control of DS9, however we gained control of it two years ago, and with the help of your Sisko we were able to successfully defend it against the Alliance with the Defiant, which we built.”
He paused to go and get himself a drink, sat back down and then continued.
“ So now two years later we need to expand to survive we have two Defiants but we need different things, things we don’t have. I decided that if I went to your universe and asked I might just get what we needed. However as you might have noticed, our Bashir is nothing like yours. He decided that that wasn’t good enough for him so he took matters into his own hands. That’s when he took you. I didn’t tell him to, not that he ever does anything I tell him anyway, but as I think you can see I’m trying to make the best of an bad situation.”
Again he paused this time to take a sip of his drink.
“ As soon as I can I will return you to your universe, but I think that I would be better to wait for our Dax to come back. We really do need that information, and after what Julian did, I doubt that Captain Sisko would be very accommodating.”
He had a point there she had to admit after Benjamin found out that they had abducted one of his officers, he wasn’t likely to be very helpful.
“ If our Dax hasn’t returned in one week. I promise I will take you back and explain everything to Sisko. Is there anything that I should know about your life on your DS9?”
Jadzia sat back wondering if she should answer that question, if she did they might keep her here longer or then again “ I think you should know, that in my universe I’m married,” Dax decided to leave it at that for now.
“ Married! Who to?” that was a surprise.
She allowed herself to smile as she answered “ I’m married to Lieutenant Commander Worf, he’s the Strategic Operations officer on DS9.”
This answer surprised him even more. This was becoming enjoyable
“ A Klingon!” gasped Smiley “ Oh dear, do you have any idea how one of our officers will react to a Klingon!”
Jadzia had a very good idea how they would react but she said nothing.
Smiley stood abruptly “ Excuse me. I have to go.” With that he walked out of the room.
“ Well it seems that that was the right thing to say after all?“ Dax spoke to herself, pleased that her answer might just get her home a little bit quicker.
Bashir was on the Defiant when Smiley entered;he had been flirting with one of the young girls that had been rescued a few days ago. She had been impressed that he was a Captain.
“ Bashir you idiot!” came the familiar Irish bellow of Smiley. He turned to met the Irishman.
“ What on Earth have I done to upset you now?” he inquired in his noticeable English accent.
“Did you have any idea that when you left your lover on that station, her counterpart was married to a Klingon officer.”
Smiley was obviously annoyed “ Sisko’s going to be coming and coming soon, and when he gets here it’s going to be you who’s going to be sprawled upon the floor.”
“ A Klingon! Why the hell would she marry a Klingon? She shouldn’t even talk to those animals!” Bashir exclaimed.
“ She married a Klingon because, one, in their universe they are allies with the Klingons. Two I expect she married him because she loved him.”
Personally Smiley couldn’t see anything in a Klingon that you could love, but this Dax wouldn’t be married unless she did love him.
“ Are you sure she isn’t lying?” Bashir questioned. “ After all if she thinks it’ll get her home quicker I’m sure she will tell you anything.”
That was what Smiley had thought, but some how he didn’t think that this woman was lying, he just had a feeling that she was telling the truth.
“ From the impression I get Julian, I don’t think that she’s the kind that lies. Another thing is I don’t think that the swap was a good idea, a lot of damage could be done if anything goes wrong.”
Bashir frowned “ Fine, I’ll go and talk to her myself. Go and get the truth out of her.”
He made to get up but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
“ You’re not going to go near her. I will talk to her no one else. Besides I don’t think she likes you very much,” Smiley left then; he decided to get something to eat then maybe later he might go and talk to the Trill.
Bashir watched as Smiley walked off the bridge and left the ship. Dammed if he was going to do anything that Irish idiot said. He’d go and talk to the Trill and he’d get the truth out of her. By any means necessary. Still considering the possible forms of persuasion that he could use to get the information out of her he got up and left the Defiant, heading straight to Dax’s quarters.
She might not be the same Dax in mind but she was in body. He arrived at the quarter’s ten minutes later and had just about decided on the course of persuasive techniques that he could use. Ignoring the guard, Bashir entered the entry code and stepped through the door. The room he stepped into was well lit but he couldn’t see Dax anywhere. Moving quickly he walked towards the door that led to the bedroom, well he thought the bedroom is as good a place as any. Laughing to himself he stepped through the door and came face to face with Dax, and she didn’t look too pleased.
“ What the hell are you doing here?” questioned the irate Trill.
“ Well,” began Bashir “ I thought I might introduce myself a little more thoroughly.”
Smiling he stepped forwards raising his hands to catch the Trill by the shoulder. Seeing his intent Jadzia stepped backwards avoiding the hands that reached for her. By now she was pretty sure of how he wanted to introduce himself and that didn’t sit very well with her, after all Jadzia Dax was a married women. Not that she wouldn’t mind watching Worf rip this Doctor Bashir to shreds. Bashir’s second attempt to grab her was successful and angrily he slammed her against the wall. Thrusting his face close to hers, repulsed Jadzia turned her head to the side desperately trying to find fresh air to breath, this Bashir had a bad case of bad breath.
“Get off me!” She yelled lifting her knee and hitting him hard. Bashir doubled over in agony giving Jadzia enough time to back out of the bedroom and out towards the door. She could hear Bashir’s groans of pain, ‘serves him right’ Dax thought still backing away.
“ Hey. Lookout!” A voice said behind her, spinning to confront this second person she recognised him.
“Smiley,” She began relieved. He didn’t give her a chance to finish what she had been about to say.
“ What’s going on?” a muffled groan came from the bedroom, “ Who’s in there?”
“ Bitch! Bitch!” groaned Bashir as he staggered out of the room clutching himself. Upon seeing Smiley standing just behind Dax he groaned again. “ It’s not what you think…”
“ I hope it isn’t. Get out of here Julian. I told you that you weren’t to bother her.”
Turning to Dax he continued “ I’m sorry. I didn’t know that he was here, I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Both Smiley and her watched Bashir straighten himself and stalk out of the room.
“ Now that he’s gone,” said Smiley looking apologetic. “ I was wondering if you could help us.”
“Help you? After you abducted me? You have got to be kidding?”
Although the look on his face suggested otherwise.
“ We really need your help, any thing you can tell us would be helpful..” He paused glancing at her then around the room. “ I’ll come back later, and I’ll make sure that he doesn’t bother you again.” With that he turned and walked out leaving Dax to contemplate what had just happened.
End of Part One.
E-mail me at ziggy@messes.freeserve.co.uk