DISCLAIMER: Something you put so you don't get your uniform sued off.
Boundaries Part 6 by KyRoka <kyroka@hotmail.com> & Stacey Neustifter 

	Nerys looked at the unconscious form lying next to her on the floor, 
a worried cast to her eyes. The burns from the forcefield were 
severe, she knew; the blisters that had formed only seconds after 
he had been thrown back from the forcefield attested to that. The 
pallor of his skin gave her more to worry about than the simple 
burns, however. She was afraid he might be in the throes of plasma 
shock. If that were the case, and he couldn't get medical attention soon... 
	But there was no use worrying about that now. All she could do now 
was to make him as comfortable as possible and hope that the 
Cardassians would send a competent physician to tend to him. But 
then she wondered, even if they did send one of their medical staff, 
would she be able to trust them? She had lost a great deal of her 
natural inclination to take people at their word in the last few hours.  
	The fact that Odo had captured her and her husband had hurt more 
than she though should have been possible...but then, there had been 
something strange about him from the beginning.  Some kind of 
connection between the two of them that she really couldn't understand, 
but believed in just the same...and she had thought Odo had too.
	Apparently it had all been a sham.  Odo hadn't felt any
affinity with her, he had only been playing a part to make their
abduction more easily accomplished.  She didn't know what he
wanted with them, as he obviously worked for the Cardassians
and Bajor had never had any quarrel with the Cardassian
Empire...at least, not until now.
	Bareil shifted positions, and her attention was diverted
from her thoughts for a moment as she turned to make certain
he hadn't caused any of his wounds any more damage. 
Satisfied that he was all right, she drew her knees up to her
chest and stared out the illuminated portal in front of her.  There
were no guards present, from what she could see, but that
didn't mean they weren't there.  It really didn't make any
difference anyway.  There was no way she could carry Bareil
out of here, even if she succeeded in breaking out of the tiny
cell.  The thought of leaving him never even crossed her mind.
	As she mused, her thoughts drifted once more to Odo. 
How could he have betrayed her like this?  she had given him
her trust...what did he plan to do with them now?
	A noise outside the cell caught her attention, and she
glanced up to see what it was.  The Cardassian she had seen
earlier with Odo was standing there, as well as a deceivingly
delicate-appearing Cardassian woman. 
	"What do you want?" she asked bluntly, not caring who
these people were, knowing only that they were her enemies.
	"Nothing, Mrs. Bareil," the short Cardassian officer
said(did she hear a stress on her name?  No, that wasn't
logical) while turning off the forcefield. "We'd just like for you to
answer a few questions for us."
	"Forget it." Nerys turned away.  The image of herself
launching her body through the unsealed door onto the
Cardassian bloomed like some evil flower in her mind, the
ferocity of it scaring her more than a little.
	"We don't intend to give you a choice, madam." Her
head whipped around so she could glare at him, but the smile
on his face never wilted. "You're going to have to
cooperate...whether you like it or not."
	Quite suddenly she saw there was a phaser pointed
directly at her temple, and steeled herself-this was only the
second time in her life that had happened, but even based on
her limited experience she knew she would never be able to
become fond of the sensation.
	"All right, all right, there's no need to become violent."
She stood and faced her captor without fear. "I'll go with you-but
don't think that means you'll get anything out of me easily."
	"We weren't expecting it, madam." The Cardassian
smiled, bowing a little, mocking her.  "I'm Garak, your
interrogator."
	"Whatever." She stepped out of the cell, casting one
quick look at her unconscious husband. "I'm ready."
	"Excellent." Garak waved a hand towards Bareil.
"Trieka, would you have the Kai brought to the interrogation
lounge as well?"
	"No!" Nerys objected emphatically. "He's hurt.  He
won't be able to answer any questions you'd have."
	"On the contrary, Mrs. Bareil.  Subjects in his condition
often are the best subjects we interrogate."
	Something about the way he had said *subjects* and
*interrogate* made her very uneasy, and she suddenly had a
fairly vivid idea of what Cardassian *interrogating* was going to
entail.  In Bareil's condition, it might kill him.
	But in hers, it could do as much damage...though not
to her, but to the unborn baby that slept in peaceful slumber
beneath her heart.  Her mother's instinct howled in horror at the
thought that her child might be harmed, and though it pained
her more than she could ever possibly say, she turned her head
away and dropped it, staring in a strange sort of shame at the
floor.
	Garak seemed to consider her silence permission of
some sort, and gave a silent nod to his associate to carry out
his orders.
	"Shall we go, madam?" he asked, his eyes glittering in
a horrible sort of anticipation.
	She followed him out silently, her mind resolved to keep
her secret no matter what the cost.  If the Cardassians knew
she was pregnant, it would give them enormous power over
her...she must not let that happen.
	Even if it meant Bareil might be tortured to death.

*    *    *
	He was alone in his *quarters.*  Nothing but silence
surrounded him and for a moment he remembered.
	She had been lying there, silent, still, serene.  Her
eyes closed, Nerys had lain there before him, motionless.
	He had damned himself, damned the Prophets,
damned everyone for letting this happen to her.  Nobody could
have answered him why she had been the one to be the object
of this incurable disease.  And then he cursed himself again for
not protecting her, for not saving her, for not being there for her.
	The small viewscreen in the room flickered to life.
	"Ah, Odoital.  I trust you are enjoying yourself."
	Odo turned slowly, for the screaming in the background
threatened to drown out Garak's words.
	"Pity you aren't here.  I'm sure you enjoy a good
interrogation as much as the next person."
	Garak stepped aside almost absent-mindedly, as if to
tend to something else.
	Odo drew a sharp intake of air as the writhing form of
the Kai was revealed before him.  He had known Cardassian
torture in those of his universe, but here, where they seemed
even more bitter, even more brutal...And Bareil's tortured form
reflected that.
	"Well," said Garak, stepping back into view completely,
"I must be getting back to my questioning." And the link was
cut.
	But not before Odo caught Nerys' eyes in the
background.
	She was sitting near her husband, her face impassive. 
She had turned to the screen when she knew the conversation
was about to end.  And Odo saw in her eyes a sorrow, a fierce
anger, and a last hope for help, a hope that was diminishing
readily before Odo's eyes.
	Those eyes burned into his souls and he remembered
another pair of eyes that had stared at him in much the same
way.
	He bade the memory keep its distance for now as he
headed out the door.  He wasn't going to let there be even the
slightest possibility for regret this time.  
	Garak was a fool for underestimating him.  The simple
forcefield and two guards were easy enough to evade.  Now, if
only to find the interrogation room.  This time Nerys wasn't
going to have that hope in her die.  Not this time.

*    *    *
	The scent of blood hung heavily in the air.  That, and
the screams emanating from Bareil's throat, no longer held
back, no longer stifled.  He had tried, for an hour or so, not to
scream, not for the Cardassians.  But more importantly, for his
wife.
	He knew the burden she carried in her mind, the result
of the bundle she carried inside of her.  He would not add guilt
or any second thoughts to that.  So he endured the pain, the
mind-searing, agonizing pain.  
	He drew within himself, trying to shut off his outside
senses.      In desperation he turned to his thoughts, allowing
his vocal cords to release the fire burning through his body.
	But he found no comfort there.  Instead of calming,
soothing images he had learned to meditate on during his
training to become a Vedek, clashing, disharmonious pictures
racked his thoughts.  The tumult of his mind was something he
was not accustomed to.  He had never been in a situation
where he could not control his thoughts, had never been in such
mental agony... and somehow that hurt worse than any torture
the Cardassians could devise.
	Suddenly, the fiery spear of pain in his chest was gone,
and his body collapsed from its tensed state, landing with a
thud on the metal table.  Every nerve in his body felt numb, and
for the first time he realized the forcefield burns on his left arm
had broken open and were slowly dripping half clotted blood. 
He hadn't felt that pain.  The torture techniques of the
Cardassians were much more sophisticated than that- their
instruments left no marks, no permanent damage.
	There was a soft sound beside him and it took his poor,
confused mind a few moments to realize what it was.  *Nerys*
he tried to say, but his throat, raw from the endless screaming,
wouldn't allow the sound to come out. So he simply looked at
her, her eyes red from crying, and her face pale and frightened,
trying to convey some sense of comfort to her with his eyes. 
He wished he could take on her pain as well as his own, even
though his was killing him.
	What had they done to deserve this?  Bajor was a
peaceful world, a religious sanctuary to all who needed it.  They
hadn't even been involved in a war for over three centuries! 
Bareil wished he knew what they wanted him to tell them-but
they hadn't even asked any questions yet.
	Already shallow, his breath quickened as he thought of
who had done this to them.  Hatred was not an emotion he had
been taught to feel, and he had always thought it to be a
useless, destructive emotion, but there was no doubt in his
mind that the molten rage boiling up inside of him was caused
by pure, unbridled hatred.  What could he hope to gain by their
pain-this Odo Ital?  He was obviously more than what he had at
first appeared to be.
	He could feel the electrodes building up for another
session.  He looked at the blood leisurely tracing a path down
the already scarred tissue of his arm.
	Finally they were asking him questions.  He looked at
his wife once more before his impulses took over, once more
before the debilitating pain shot through him again.  He would
not answer any of their questions, relevant or not.  He could not
allow them a reference point by which they could gauge his
reactions.
	The energy continued to build until finally Bareil could
hear the screaming in his head and the shrieking of his tattered
body.

*    *    *
	But Bareil wasn't the only one shaking.  The entire ship
was.  Garak was on the bridge in an instant, leaving the nearby
interrogation room.
	The viewscreen, mottled with smoke, displayed five
Jem'Hadar warships, all circling the Cardassian ship like
vultures surrounding a dead body.
	"Jem'Hadar closing for another round...closing fast on
Terek Nor."
	"Drop to impulse." Garak ordered.
	"Commander?"
	"Drop to impulse," he said again, emphasizing every
word.
	"Aye, sir."
	 The ship dropped out of warp, the streaks of colorful
light pounding into normal space to reform the ship. 
	"Hail Terek Nor."
	"Channel open, sir."
	"This is sub-commander Garak of the Cardassian
Empire.  I suggest you call off your welcoming committee.  I
really don't think your leader, Odoital, would appreciate being
fired upon."
	"What do you mean?" came the response over the
commlink.
	"I have your leader aboard.  I suggest you hold your fire,
if you wish him to remain alive."
	There was silence.  Then Garak backed away from the
screen .  He knew what scene would fill it when he heard the
impossibly familiar voice.
	"Garak, Garak.  You've made another mistake, my
*dear* friend," Odoital said smugly from the screen.  "Only this
time, I suspect it is your last."
	The image of Odoital in the familiar command center-
*Garak's* command center-of Terek Nor dropped away as
quickly as it appeared.  Garak swore vehemently.  If that was
the Dominion leader, then who did he have captured?  
	"Bring me the shapeshifter!" he barked to a nearby
guard, who never had the opportunity to comply because the 
ship rocked again, and the unassuming guard was thrown to the
floor.  The welcoming committee was back.
	"The station has locked on a tractor beam," some said
from far away.
	Garak smashed his fist into the arm of his command
chair, never noticing that it sliced the side of his hand wide
open. Whoever was responsible for this was going to
pay...dearly.

*    *    *
	"What are you going to do now, Garak?" Odo asked
the air as the ship rocked.  It was a simple Cardassian ship and
he knew the basic layout.  Even in two universes, they still held
the same sense of style and architecture.  Two more decks, if
the ship didn't decide to blow apart, were below him.
	He heard the hum of a transporter and through the din,
he could make out five Jem'Hadar soldiers.  He melded himself
into the bulkhead quietly.  He couldn't attract any attention to
himself.  Garak was obviously in a lot of trouble.
	He heard/sensed numerous phaser shots and cries of
surprise as the Jem'Hadar started their methodical takeover of
the ship.  The struggles continued until a only a few muffled 
orders were heard.  Odo slid into a crack in the wall, ignoring-
with some difficulty-the massacre of the Cardassian crew.  He
didn't have time for sympathy.  He had to get to the bridge and
find out what was going on.

*    *    *
	Odoital sat back in his chair.  Garak was a fool.  It was
only natural he would have made another mistake.
	"Tsk tsk," he said, shaking his head. "Make sure Mr.
Garak is placed in the brig.  And place the Kai and his wife in
our *special* accommodations."
	"Aye, sir...team four reports that the ship is
secured...Mr. Garak and the Kai and his wife have been
transported aboard the station."
	"Very good.  Have the rest of the crew thrown into the
Repository."
	The slender Jem'Hadar woman at communications
nodded curtly.  "Aye, sir."  A communique came up on her
board.  "Sir, Jirat Abaki reports that there will be roughly 380
bodies to send there."
	"Mmmm.  As excellent as the accomadations are here,
I don't think we have room for so many. Just tell him to stick
them somewhere in the habitat ring.  We'll deal with them later."  
	"Aye, sir."
	*Well, well, Garak.  Should I send you to join your crew
now or later?*  Odoital smiled, a cruel look on his vaguely
Cardassian features.  * I don' t want to rush things...I guess I'll
just have to wait and see what I am in the mood for.*
	The Changeling's form reformed into the Cardassian
equivalent of an albatross.  He often assumed this shape,
allowing for a hard fear to be instilled in his followers.  A half-
meter long beak sharp as razors, two talons with six claws
each, and  (a rarity for a bird, even on Cardassia) one-inch long
teeth.  He had once seen one of these birds rip a Vulcan sehlat
in two with no more effort than that which he had needed to
capture Garak.  Underestimating a creature was always a fatal
mistake.
	Now, Odoital hovered above his *crew.*
	"Make sure the Jem'Hadar dock that ship in working
condition.  It should serve well in my plan."  And with that, he
flew off into one of the lift shafts.

*     *     *
	He could hear a mild strain on the ship's structure, not
characteristic of the normal strain the ship felt while at impulse. 
As he listened intently, he could hear a soft hum.  
	*A tractor beam,* thought Odo.  He heard that on a few
of his undercover missions.  He continued to creep along,
closer and closer to the bridge.

*     *     *
	It was empty when he arrived.  He seeped through the
grate, and quickly reformed himself.  He looked around at the
bridge.  The entire bridge crew must have left to find some
alternative to involuntary slaughter.  The ship was still moving
under the power of the station's beam, and Odo searched over
every panel to find out just what was going on.
	He heard a noise: the lift reaching the bridge.  His
smooth face gave way to ridges and Cardassian contours.  If he
could just stay here until the ship was docked...
	He heard the Jem'Hadar soldiers talking.  But their
words were swept away by the wave of dissociation created by
a transporter, taking him...

*    *    *

Send all comments to KyRoka@aol.com.  My partner and I eagerly await them,
otherwise we
have to eat Neelix's hair pasta with just a *touch* of layola root.  


Boundaries
Part 7
by KyRoka &
Stacey Neustifter(now online at edalakher@aol.com)

*    *    *
...somewhere he was unsure of.  He would have to wait to find out.

*    *    *
	"But if she's not from this universe, then it means she's come
from
the same universe as..." started Julian.
	"...as Odo went to," finished O'Brien, tapping some more buttons
on his tricorder.
	"You know Mr. Odo?" asked Jatira.
	"Yes.  Do you?"
	"Oh, yes, Mr. Bashir." She nodded emphatically. "He was staying
with us, but he left at dinner one day.  Guess he must not like Kadellan
sauce when it's been watered down."
	"Ka..kadellan sauce, did you say?" asked Bashir.  Jatira nodded
again. "Jadzia, it must have been unbearable for him, seeing
Bareil...seeing
Bareil with Nerys after all these years of being with her himself...and
the
sauce..."
	"What about it, Julian?"
	"Odo was trying to get Nerys to eat some rice with Kadellan sauce
the morning she died."
	"...and he always has to water it down." Dax shook her head in
pity for her friend and his torment.
	"What do you mean by *all these years*?  Mother insisted she'd
only met Mr. Odo a few days ago."
	"It's a long story...um...oh, dear.  What is your name?"
	"Bareil Jatira."
	"Well, Jatira, I'm *Doctor* Julian Bashir.  This is Captain Jadzia
Dax of the Federation Starship Galen, and this is Lieutenant Miles O'Brien
of the station Deep Space Nine."
	"Deep Space Nine?"
	"Near the wormhole."
	"He works for the Cardassians on Terek Nor?!  Wait a minute. 
What's goin' on here?"
	"It's a long story, Jatira.  Maybe we better get you back to the
ship.  You see, you're in another universe..."
	Dax rolled her eyes.  If she let Bashir explain this, Jatira was
going
to be one confused girl.
	"Um, Julian, maybe you better let me handle this.  Dax to Galen. 
Four to beam up."

*    *    *
	The room he was in was dark.  A shallow access light cast
shadows before his eyes.  The place looked vaguely familiar, as if he had
seen it somewhere else in another, better light.  Then it hit him.  There
was
really only one place he could be: on the station.  But where?
	He shifted back into himself, discarding the Cardassian facade he
had used a few moments back.  Where on the station was this?  The high
ceiling, the stark walls, the thrum of the constant power being fed to the
hungry beast as it hung in space.  
	*I haven't been gone that long.  Come on, Odo, think!*
	He searched the walls for any hint at all...the pit.  That was it.
 The
pit.  It was the very bottom of the station, save the lower pylons.  The
access to the core generators.
	He stepped forward.  He must find the Kai and Nerys.  He found
himself stumbling on uneven ground.  And yet, not ground.  But rather...
	There were thousands of them: dead Cardassians.  Their bodies
lay limply on top of each other, and Odo could already see the signs of
decomposition becoming evident.  They were Garak's crew and the crew of
Terek Nor.  Apparently Odoital hadn't been in a very patient mood.  
	A slim tentacle, glimmering through the darkness, reached high
and pulled Odo up the distance to the access tube.  He watched a moment
as some of the bodies settled, and an uncontrollable shudder ran through
him.  He had to find the Kai and Nerys soon...before the pile below him
had
more *reasons* to settle.

*    *    *
	"At least she's asleep," conceded Julian.
	"Yes," agreed Jadzia, softly tucking a blanket in around her. "She
handled the whole ordeal fairly well."
	"The sedative helped, too."
	"She needed the rest."
	They quietly left the room, allowing Jatira to adjust to the
alternate
place she had found herself in.
	But somewhere, underneath the affects of the sedative, a small
voice inside of Jatira was crying.

*    *    *
	He had successfully masked the communique using an old
Resistance technique Nerys had taught him.  None of the station's sensors
had detected it.  Now he had less than two hours to find them and make it
to the Docking Ring, *without* getting caught.  Hopefully the Sisko of
this
universe was as reliable as the one Odo knew.  He continued towards the
Habitat Ring.

*    *    *
	She paced nervously across the room.  A difficult situation, if
she
had ever known one, was facing her squarely in the face.  Bareil was
resting, the first rest he had known for a long time.  She silently
thanked
the Prophets that they were granting him the time to build his strength
back up.  
	A light kick in her abdomen prompted her to sit down and rest
herself.  She tried to coo the small life forming within her.  Turning to
face
the stars seemed to help. 
	Bareil stirred slightly, but the anguish in his face seemed to be
lessened.  Nerys turned back to the stars to avoid becoming cold as iron
as each time she saw him in such pain she steeled herself.  The forcefield
burns had become infected,  by fault of the Cardassians, no doubt. 
Something stirred in her to cause the thought of taking on all the guards,
to
make them pay for what they had done to her husband.  
	Nerys shivered.  These thoughts had been coming to her more and
more ever since that day back at the house when Odo had left.  She had
never seen Bareil so...so...so un-Bareil.  She couldn't explain it.  How
many days had that been?  Or maybe even weeks?  
	No, she knew it had only been a matter of days.  To Bareil, it
probably seemed like months, possibly even years.  Funny how one's life
could change in the blink of an eye.  The past few days had turned her
life
upside down.
	She had never really faced such turmoil except for when she had
met Bareil.  They had had a perfect relationship until Winn had started to
interfere.  Winn had claimed that she had held Bareil's best interests in
mind; that getting involved would impair his role as Kai.  There had even
been an attempt on Kira's life, and she had been more frightened then ever
before in her life.
	Finally, Winn's *opinions* had been *subdued* and Kira became
Bareil Nerys.  Things had progressed slowly, what with Bareil assuming all
of his duties as Kai.  But Jatira had soon been born, and Nerys was happy.
	And even more frightened than when it had only been her life at
stake.
	Now, Nerys faced that same situation, and she feared for her
growing family. 
	Jatira.  Rjand.  Kerjio.  She had been so worried about Bareil, so
angry at Odo, that she hadn't even had the time to worry about them. 
Terla
would take care of them as soon as she got word.  But would they be in
any danger?  What was the extent of Odo's plan?  If he even tried
anything,
hurt one hair on her children's heads...
	Bareil was muttering something, but it was in the Old Bajoran, and
Old Bajoran was not one of Nerys' strong points.  *He must be trying to
learn from the Prophets what we're to do.*  She kept the silence that
would
allow him to do so.
	And prayed to the Prophets herself.

*     *     *
	He had managed to make it to the Habitat Ring without getting
caught.  Most likely this would be where the Kai and Nerys were being
held.  He emerged from the grate into the corridor, where he was
surrounded by shadows as the lights glowed dimly in the darkness, barely
showing him the floor.  But he knew the shadows well.
	Odo moved through the hallway silently, listening carefully for
any
noises to indicate where they were.  Nothing.
	He continued walking, praying to the Prophets, as his Nerys had
taught him, that he would find them in time.  After another hour of
searching the Ring, slowly pacing the corridors waiting for anything, Odo
gave up.
	*They aren't here,* he thought. *They may have already been
added to that *pile.*  If only I had had more light...*  He started to
ooze
through the grate...

*    *    *
	She paced the quarters.  She was scared, very scared.  She didn't
know anybody here, and she was worried about her parents.
	A chime of the door announced someone's arrival.  It was probably
Dax, as she was sharing her quarters.
	"Come in."
	"Hello, Jatira.  Are you feeling better?"
	"A little, I think, *Doctor* Bashir."
	He motioned for the two of them to sit down on the couch.
	"So, what have you been doing?"
	"Well, I woke up a few hours ago.  And I had something to eat. 
And...I guess I've just been doing a lot of thinking."
	"Well, that's understandable."
	"Captain Dax has been real helpful, too, Doctor Bashir.  She's
tried
to introduce me to some other children, but I haven't felt much like
socializing."
	"Well, I do have *some* good news.  Lieutenant O'Brien has
almost fixed the transporter, and we think we've figured out a way to send
you back home."
	"That's wonderful!...but, what about Mr. Odo?"
	"Well, that's part of the plan.  When he comes here is when we
can send you home.  But first, we have to get you back down on Bajor, to
the field where you first came through."
	Jatira nodded in acknowledgment.  Captain Dax had taken great
care to explain what had happened to her.  When O'Brien had tried to
reactivate the transporter, so Odo could return the next time he tried,
she
had been pulled through the universal barriers along a thread that was
linking the two universes.  Dax had said that Odo's transporter didn't
completely close the window, and that was what weaved the thread.  Dax
had also told Jatira that she had weaved her own thread, linking her to
her
own universe.
	"My link's not strong enough, is it?  for me to be anywhere and
still
have it work."
	"That's what Jadzia said.  That's why we want to get you back
down on Bajor."
	"Dax to Bashir."
	"Bashir here.  Go ahead."
	"Julian, the Chief's all ready to reactivate the transporter."
	"Acknowledged.  We're on our way.  Bashir out...Ready?"
	Jatira nodded, swallowing hard.  Julian held out his hand, and she
gripped it tightly in her own.
	"Let's go," she said, mustering up her strength.
	It was time to go home.

*    *    *
	...when he heard a faint crash.  He quickly reformed himself and
made his way towards the sound.  A stifled yelp led him the final
distance.
	He made his way in through the door, preparing himself for any
possible attack.  Once through, however, all Odo found was a shattered
pitcher of water and who he had been looking for.
	"Ne..." he started by the appearance of the room stopped him.  He
drank in the scene, and did not notice the move Nerys made to protect her
husband.  *My quarters,* he thought. *And yet...No, not my quarters.*  The
room was devoid of any adornment.  The standard issue Cardassian
furniture had been removed, forcing both the Kai and Nerys to reside on
the
floor.  Finally, Odo turned his attention back to Nerys.
	"Nerys..."
	"Don't come near us."
	"But, Nerys, please.  You have to listen to me.  Let me explain."
	"Explain?!  You want to explain?  Fine, explain why you tortured
my husband to the brink of death, allowed these infected wounds to
progress, made me sit and watch as he was tortured..."
	"Sounds like you're madder at Garak.  Or, at least, you should
be."
	Nerys remained silent and in a defensive posture.
	"May I explain?"
	"By all means."
	Odo tried to ignore the sarcasm seething from the woman in front
of him.
	"I am not who you think I am..."
	"You're right.  I thought you were someone I could trust."
	Odo eliminated those words from his mind and continued.
	"You see, I am from another universe, one where you and I have
been friends for many years.  I came here to search for you because *my*
Nerys had died.  I found you, but in doing so, realized that I had lost my
Nerys forever to the Prophets."
	Nerys sat in stony silence, but allowed her posture to slacken
slightly for the earnestness with which Odo told his story tugged at her
heart.  She *almost* felt herself pitying him.
	"I tried to leave when I realized I wasn't helping your life any. 
But I
can't get back."
	"Why tell me all of this?"
	"Because I need you to understand this."
	Nerys seemed to sit and consider his words.  Finally she nodded
in acceptance.  Odo sighed deeply in relief.
	"I only ask one more thing of you, Nerys.  I need you, if only
till we
are safe, I need you to trust me."
	Nerys seemed to think about this.  Odo fidgeted.  He had already
wasted precious time, but he needed Nerys to trust him again.
	"Very well."
	Odo snapped out of his reverie at her words.  It was clear she
still
despised him with every bone of her body, but that wasn't important.
	"Good, then we need to go.  Sisko should be here soon."
	"Sisko?"
	"He's a freighter captain, been working for the Ferengis mainly. 
But, he got sick of taking orders for the Grand Nagus.  She's very picky."
Odo hefted Bareil carefully over his shoulder. "He's agreed to take us a
safe distance into Federation space."
	They started to make their way to the Docking Ring, hoping that
the shadows were the only things watching.

*    *    *
	He could hear the docking clamps engaging as they rounded the
corner.
	"We'd better hurry.  He won't be able to stick around very long."
	"I'm surprised he was able to make it close enough to the station
to dock at all."
	"Apparently the captain was able to acquire a cloaking device
through one of the Ferengis he was working for.  She concluded that it
would be a most profitable investment."
	The docking doors slid apart before them and a weathered version
of Benjamin Sisko stepped up to the front of the doors.
	"Ready?" asked Sisko.
	Odo nodded.  Nerys stepped through towards the ship.
	"This man needs medical attention."
	"The Eminence?"
	"He's unconscious.  He's suffering from plasma shock, infection of
his wounds, and fatigue."
	"Well, I don't have a doctor on board.  They're too expensive..."
	"Captain Sisko," came a familiar voice from just inside the ship,
"I
suggest we be on our way.  Your engineer advises me the cloaking device
will only hold out for another fifteen minutes at the most."
	"Thank you, Mr. Bashir," Sisko replied, acknowledging the one
passenger he had managed to acquire.  Then he turned back to Odo,
"Ready?"
	Odo nodded, as he shifted Bareil on his shoulder.  It was his
rejuvenation time, and the added mass wasn't helping.
	"Prepare to seal the airlock and depart," called Sisko to his
crew. 
But a sharp cry cut through the corridor first.
	"Garak," whispered Odo.  He laid the Kai down on a nearby bench.
"Tell Mr. Bashir to tend to him.  Trust me when I tell you I know he can. 
I've seen the doctor in him on many occasions.  Make him believe you."
	Sisko nodded.
	"Give me as much time as you can spare, Captain.  I need to help
out a friend."
	"I can't wait forever, Mr. Odo!"
	Odo took off down the corridor, ignoring the disapproving looks of
Captain Sisko.
*    *    *
Send all comments to KyRoka@aol.com OR 
edalakher@aol.comOR to both.  


DISCLAIMER: The word "Crossfire" is not in our vocabulary. 
Paramount owns all the good parts/characters of this mumbo-
jumbo.  We just through in the spices.  A little cayenne here,
some chili powder...dash of jalapeno...and then a really, really,
REALLY big, cold glass of water!!!!

Boundaries
Part 8
by KyRoka and
Stacey Neustifter (now online at edalakher@aol.com)


	Odo searched the corridors as he went, waiting for
Jem'Hadar to jump out in front of him at any moment.  He really
had no idea why he was doing this.  Garak had never been the
kind of character one would think about saving...but then, Odo
could hardly remember an instance when Garak had needed
help.
	All he knew now was that someone he considered a
friend was in trouble, and that was all that was important
presently.  The screams grew louder and still had the tone of
containment to them.  Garak wasn't one to give in easily; of this
fact, Odo was certain.
	*No guards...Interesting,* mused Odo.  He slid in under
the door.  Reforming quickly, he ducked behind a corner.  He
could barely see around the corner, and anymore shifting was
bound to seriously debilitate him.  So, Odo edged around the
corner as much as he dared.
	"You're such a fool, Garak," came the heavily accented
voice of Odoital. "I told you that one day I would return, but you
didn't listen, did you?"  The Cardassian form on the rack writhed
in pain. 
	Garak was struggling for each breath; and it was
painfully obvious that he was dying...fast.
	"What are you doing to him?" asked Odo.
	Odoital spun around, a malicious smile spread wildly
across his face.  The smile disappeared quickly as he saw his
own alternate.
	"Well, well, well," Odoital said, studying his counterpart.
"At last we meet.  I must say I've heard quite a bit about you,
Odo Ital." His words were saturated with disgust as he spit the
broken Bajoran pronunciation at Odo. "Tell me, is Elim Garak a
fool in *your* universe as well?"
	"No," said Odo, carefully watching Garak.  He couldn't
waste very much time.  It had taken him well nigh 7 minutes to
reach the torture room Odoital had allocated.  This seemed to
be one of the most frequently used one; logical, seeing as it was
near the Pit. "Garak has never shown himself to be a fool, in my
own universe or yours."  *Never a fool?  No, never.  Perhaps
blinded a few times by his feelings, by his ambition, but...*
	"Well, you are sorely mistaken, Mr. Odo.  Elim Garak
has always shown himself to be a fool, both in the past and in
the present.  Only this time, he will pay for his foolishness."
	Garak's body writhed for a full minute as Odo watched
helplessly.  It wasn't a feeling he had experienced very often,
and he didn't enjoy it.  Then, it collapsed, and Odo saw no more
struggle left in Garak's body.
	"What have you done?"
	"Oh, pity.  He must have been knocked
unconscious...*again.*  A shame.  I was enjoying myself."
Odoital left the room, and it only took a split second for Odo to
decide to follow him.  And no one noticed that Odoital had failed
to turn off the surges firing through Garak's body.

*    *    *
	"You know, Mr. Odo," Odoital started, knowing Odo
would be following him, "I never thought I would meet myself,
especially on the eve of my greatest conquest." Odo sneered at
him.  He did not like this counterpart, or his planned *conquest.*
"You don't know the Unity, do you?" questioned Odoital.  Odo
shook his head.
	"I've never heard of the Unity."
	"Come, come, Mr. Odo.  You really should become a
part of the Unity.  You have no idea what power it gives me,
being able to be in contact with all my people, being able to
make them do as I see fit.  Memories, thoughts all flow to me.. 
You could be a part of this, serve me well in my future empire."
	Odo saw the sanity gone from Odoital's eyes and
replaced with anger and pure evil.
	"The Great Link is not something I wish to be a part of."
	"The Great Link?  Is that what it is called in your
universe?  No matter.  The Unity exists regardless of what it is
called."
	"Yes." They both stood in front of the door leading to the
Pit.
	"Let me show you something," Odoital said, opening the
doors to the Pit.  A wave of what would have been interpreted as
smell charged through the door.  Odo lost his concentration, and
Odoital grabbed the opportunity and Odo's arm.  Using the
influence of the Unity, Odoital threw Odo down into the Pit.
	But the flood of thoughts and what could only be
described as essence centered Odo, and he maintained his
connection with Odoital, bringing them down into the Pit
together.
	Both shapeshifters stood, their beings still linked.  Odo
knew this would be the only way to harm Odoital.  And yet, he
didn't want to have to harm him.
	*No Changeling has ever harmed another.*  The words
came back to him, words that had been quelled for so many
years.  And yet, he had done just that: harmed...no, killed
another of his kind to save this ship and the peace the
Federation was fighting to uphold.  He looked into Odoital,
looked into the warp twisted version of himself and found that
they had no such mantra here.
	Odo allowed the link to strengthen before he made his
move.  It would take practically every ounce of strength he had
left to pull this off.  Finally, as Odo felt himself losing control,
losing his will to Odoital...he struck back.  Allowing his mind to
force Odoital from the seat of power he had gained, forcing him
from his mind, making Odoital lose control of
something...someone, was enough.
	Odoital was thrown back from Odo onto the now
hideously grotesque pile of quickly decomposing bodies.  But he
didn't care.  The only thing to do now was to gain his control of
Odo once more for he had sensed such control and such a
concept of order that he had realized that it would greatly add to
his empire.
	But Odo was ready the next time Odoital came after
him, and so this time, he struck out, clasping Odoital and
draining as much as possible from him.  All it would take was a
little more, and then this...this version of himself would no longer
exist and the universe would be safe...just a little more...
	Odo's concentration was broken by the sound of phaser
fire rocking the station both from firing and being fired upon.
	"Sisko..." If he had any hopes of saving Garak or getting
off this hell-bound station, he had to go now.
	"Next time," Odo said, knowing that in all likely-hood
there would never be a next time.  He forced all of Odoital's
essence and energy back into him, causing him to lose his form
and seep through the bodies.  He would join in their grave...for a
little while, at least.
	Odo climbed the ladder.  He just couldn't risk shifting
anymore.  By the time he made it to the top, he was sagging
from the effort.  Moving as fast has his almost lifeless body
would take him, he reached Garak.
	He was still unconscious.
	But, Odo lifted his body onto his shoulder.  Sisko had
been waiting a half an hour...if he was still waiting.   The phaser
fire continued, and Odo took this as a good sign.
	The corridors seemed longer than before, and Odo half-
walked, half-morphed to where the ship was docked.  Finally
after almost another ten minutes, Odo spied the doors that
would lead him to safety.
	He stood before them, waiting for them to open...hoping
that they would open.  He started to turn away as the sound of
Jem'Hadar soldiers began to echo through the corridors.
	Then, the doors opened to reveal Captain Sisko.
	"Glad to see you could make it, Mr. Odo.  If it hadn't
been for that spitfire of the Eminence's, I'd have left you here
five minutes ago."
	Five minutes.  Five minutes.  He had spent much time
conversing with Odoital.  He had nearly thrown his life away and
endangered the lives of those on the ship.
	"Are you coming, Mr. Odo?"
	"Yes, Captain.  Could you help me with my friend?" Odo
sagged almost to the floor by now.
	"A Cardassian..." Sisko asked hesitantly. "He hardly
looks alive."
	Odo merely gruffed and looked pleadingly at Sisko. 
Sisko considered the scene before him.  Finally, with a
*gurumph* of his own and a jolt-shrug of his shoulders, Sisko
stepped forward and heaved Garak's weight onto himself.  Odo
followed somewhat slowly into the ship.
	And as the doors closed behind them, ten Jem'Hadar
soldiers rounded the corner.

*    *    *
	The ship shot out of dock and headed for Bajor.
	"Odo, are you all right?"
	"Nerys?" Odo turned towards the now compassionate
voice. "How..." he forced himself through each word, "how is
Bareil?"
	"Mr. Bashir is making do.  I don't know how you knew,
but apparently he had taken about two years worth of courses at
the Academy." Odo smiled slightly.  He knew Julian would
always be a doctor wherever he lived. "But," Nerys continued,
"I'm afraid to tell you that Garak fellow was dead before he could
do anything." Odo hung his head in momentary grief.
	"Captain!  We've got a problem!  Four Jem'Hadar
warships closing in fast.  They're blocking our route to
Federation space."
	"Take us out, Tillser."
	"Ben, we've got warships all around us.  The only way
we've got to go is back to the station."
	"Captain, the wormhole."
	"Mr. Odo?"
	"The wormhole, Captain.  We can duck through, buy
ourselves some time before another attack."
	"But, we'd be heading into Odoital's territory!  It's
suicide!"
	"It's the only way to buy us some time to even *try* and
stay alive.  You have to take this ship through."
	Sisko was in a moment of indecision.
	"Engineering to Bridge.  Ben, we've got a major
problem.  The warp core's about to go critical; our phaser banks
are drained; and I can't squeeze any more out of these engines."
	"How long?"
	"To live or to fix it?" Sisko smiled at his Chief Engineer's
sense of humor. "Gimme four hours without warp speed, and
maybe I can do something.  O'Brien out."
	"O'Brien?" asked Odo.
	"You know my Chief Engineer?"
	"I though I did...but, wasn't that a woman's voice?"
	Sisko laughed.
	"Yes, indeed it was, Mr. Odo.  I'll be sure to pass the
compliment on to Keiko." The captain shook his head. "Pity of a
husband, though.  Miles couldn't fix a *door latch* to save his
life.  Tillser, take us into the wormhole, Warp 1."
	Odo felt the warning forming, but before he could speak,
he congealed into a puddle near the back of the Bridge.
	Tillser nodded and her red hair shone under the Bridge
lights.  It gave her an almost ethereal appearance.
	*What better person to lead us into hell...* thought
Sisko.
	The ship was soon engulfed by the wormhole, leaving
the Jem'Hadar to wonder how long it would take those on the
other side to respond.

*    *    *
	They had been waiting for about three hours as the
Chief had gotten everything set up, and Jatira was getting
nervous.  She wanted to go home, see her mother and father.  A
little part of her even wanted to see Rjand and Kerjio again.  A
very little part.  They would have been spending the past day or
so at Terla's.  What fun that would be!  But, with her parents
gone, how could she have fun.  Jatira sighed.
	"Don't worry, Jatira.  I'm sure it won't be long.  Miles has
almost got the quantum frequency resonator set up, and once he
does, you'll be on your way home."
	Jatira smiled a shallow smile.

*    *    *
	They had found a small planet just outside of the
wormhole in the Gamma Quadrant.  Here they had staked their
claim for almost five hours.
	"How's it comin', Keiko?" asked Sisko.
	"Well," the svelte woman said, "I think I've just about got
it." She snapped one more piece of titanium into place and
crawled out from under the console. "That should do it," she
remarked, slapping her hands together in satisfaction.
	"Tillser, fire her up."
	"Aye, sir!" She was more than happy to be able to do
*something.*
	"Sisko to Bareil."
	"Yes, Captain?"
	"I thought you'd like to know that we're gonna take her
back through."
	"My wife and I are on our way."

	"But, Bareil...you're in no condition to get out of bed!"
	"Nerys, please.  I may be able to be of some help."
	Nerys regarded her husband critically and saw that this
was one thing he was not going to relent on.
	"All right; let's go.  Prophets know why I put up with
you."
	Bareil chuckled, but it turned into a short, spasmodic fit
of coughing.  Nerys sent a silent prayer to the Prophets, hoping
that she'd have to *put up with him* for a long time yet.
	
	The engines throbbed to life under all those who stood
in a mixture of anxiety, expectation, and fear.  The crowded
Bridge now contained Sisko, Tillser, Nerys, Bareil, Bashir, and
Keiko, not to mention Odo who was quietly regenerating back
towards the corner.
	"I'm surprised you encountered no Jem'Hadar, Captain,"
commented Bareil.
	"As am I, Mr. Bareil.  As am I."
	Sisko buried a look of worry.
	"Kasidy," he said finally, addressing his wife for the first
time since they had left Terek Nor, "raise shields and have
whatever's left in ours phaser banks operational.  We'd be a
sitting duck with the cloaking device; the wormhole'd give us
away faster than I head for the replicator in the morning for
some raktajino."
	"Gotcha, Ben," Kasidy replied, smiling a smile only she
could for she had seen him stumble over furniture more than a
hundred time to get a cup of raktajino.
	"Everyone ready?  Very well.  Tillser, she's all yours."
	"Aye, sir!" She accented the *sir* with enthusiasm.  They
hadn't had a good battle in a few months, and they were long
past their due. "Entering the wormhole."

*    *    *
	"All set."
	"Good; let's get this over with.  The sooner Odo's back
where he belongs the better."
	"Engaging the quantum resonator.  Sequencing the
transporter.  I think we've got him this time."

*    *    *
	Odo felt a strange sensation.  If he was pulled back now,
en route to the Alpha Quadrant via the wormhole...

*    *    *
	Odoital slammed his fist down and shattered the desk
he was sitting at.  His troops had reported the freighter had
entered the passageway nearly ten minutes ago.  He had twelve
Jem'Hadar warships waiting just for them.
	Where could they be?

*    *    *
	"Commander, I'm reading an increased neutrino level."
	"Are there any ships scheduled to come through?"
	"No, sir, and our Gamma Quadrant outpost reports
seeing no ships enter the wormhole."
	"Lieutenant, can you give me any readings on the ship?"
	"It appears to be a simple freighter.  However, I'm
showing charged phaser banks, and they have their shields up."
	"What the hell is going on?" muttered Shelby. "Red
Alert.  Raise shields."
	"Aye, sir...She's coming through."
	"Open a channel."
	"Channel open."
	"This is Commander Shelby of the Federation station
Deep Space Nine.  Power down your weapons.  We have no
quarrel with you."
	The screen flickered on, and the visage of Captain
Benjamin Sisko appeared before Shelby's now very shocked
face.
	"Captain Sisko?"
	"Yes?  Do I know you?"
	"Captain...I thought you were headed for the Delta
Quadrant."
	"What?  Listen, uh, Commander, I don't know who you
think I am but..."
	"Captain, perhaps you'd better let me talk to the
Commander," said Odo, reforming stiffly in his corner and
stepping forward.
	"Constable...I was unaware you had returned..." Shelby
continued with a surprised look. "Ensign, send a message to the
Galen.  Inform Captain Dax that the Constable has returned."
	The young ensign nodded and allowed his fingers to fly
nimbly across the comm board.
	"What's taking so long, Captain?" came a voice from
off-screen. "My husband is still in need of some medical
attention."
	"If you will be patient, Mrs. Bareil, I assure you I will
have this ship docked as soon as possible..." He turned his
attention, which had been diverted towards Nerys, back to
Shelby. "I must congratulate you, Commander.  I had no idea
the Federation was so powerful.  To have captured Terek Nor,
or...Deep Space Nine as you called it, to have captured it in so
short a time, I am certainly impressed."
	"What?" asked Shelby futilely, for now she was totally
confused...but she wasn't the only one.
	"I'll explain once we've docked, Commander."
	"I think that'd be an excellent idea, Constable.  Looks
like Docking Ring 4 is open."
	Sisko nodded and closed the channel.
	"I'll be in my office," sighed Shelby. *I think I definitely
need to sit down.*

*    *    *
	"Miles, nothing is happening."
	"I kinda noticed that, Julian."
	"What's wrong, Dr. Bashir?"
	"I'm not sure, Jatira." Bashir looked down at Jatira.  She
was a sweet girl, and he was sure Nerys was a very proud
parent.
	"Dax to Bashir."
	"Bashir here.  Jadzia, we've..."
	"Julian, we've..."
	"...got a problem," they both finished in unison.
	"Jatira's still here," interjected Julian quickly. "Apparently
the Chief's transporter..."
	"...did work," finished Jadzia.
	"What?" asked Julian.
	"We just received a message from DS9 reporting that a
freighter just came through the wormhole carrying Captain Sisko
and Odo."
	"Captain Sisko?  I thought he and Kasidy..." Julian
Bashir, who had graduated second in his class at Starfleet
Medical, slapped his palm to his forehead. "Stupid!  You
mean...please, don't say..."
	"Sorry, Julian." Dax's voice was weary. "We've pulled
over people from another universe...again."
	Miles and Bashir groaned in unison.
	"I *HATE* alternate universes!" O'Brien shouted.
	Jatira looked up at him. 
	"Do you have a lot of problems with them?" she asked
Miles.
	"Good God, yes." O'Brien tapped his communicator.
"Dax?"
	"Yes?"
	"Maybe you'd better beam us up."
	"Good idea."

*    *    *

End Part 8.

Okay, so we had a brainstorm.  Estimated length of Boundaries
is now at 11 or 12 parts.  Unless, of course, nobody's reading
and you just want us to bring in Q to fix everything.
Comments can be sent to KyRoka@aol.com or edalakher@aol.com


DISCLAIMER: Speak for yourself, sir.  [This story and its writers]
plan on living forever.

Boundaries
Part 9 
By KyRoka &
Edala Kher(formerly known as Stacey Neustifter)


	"Please don't ask me to understand this.  I'm still a little
confused."
	Odo shrugged, tired.  "It's all right, Commander Shelby. 
I'm not surprised."
	 They were in DS9's Infirmary.  Bareil and Nerys were
being tended to-although Nerys had needed very little treatment. 
Bareil had been healed very quickly, despite extensive internal
injuries.  The rest of the _Broniec's_ crew ( the _Broniec_ was
Captain Sisko's ship in that universe) were crowded into the
Infirmary too, causing Dr. Sarah Smith a huge headache.
	Captain Sisko and Kasidy were sitting side by side on a
biobed not too far from the one Bareil was resting on.  Miles and
Keiko O'Brien were talking to Keiko O'Brien (this was one of the
things that confused Shelby most-she'd never had to deal with
two of the same person before).  *Mr.* Bashir kept trying to flirt
with her, and though she found his advances flattering (he *was*
very cute, after all) this wasn't exactly the time for it.
	"All right, now what exactly is going on he-oh."
	Shelby spun.  Captain Dax, Mr.-*Dr.* Bashir, Miles
O'Brien and an adolescent girl she didn't recognize came into
the Infirmary.  Julian was the one who had been talking, but the
sight of himself-his *other* self-wrapping his arm around Shelby
must have stopped him.
	"Captain, Doctor,"  Shelby removed Mr. Bashir's arm
from her shoulders.  "Nice to see you."
	"You too, Commander."  Dax smiled.  "I-"
	"Mother!"
	Jatira tore her hand from Dax, who had been holding it
comfortingly, and ran to Nerys.
	"Jaty?!"  Nerys clasped the girl to her.  "Jaty!  Prophets! 
What are you doing here?"
	"Oh, Mother!  I'm so glad you and Father are all right!  I
was so worried about you!" Jatira clung tightly to her mother, as
if to make sure she would never disappear on her again.  Nerys
slowly rocked her daughter and stroked her hair.
	"Commander," continued Dax. "I see you've got your
hands full."
	"You have no idea, Captain."
	"What do we do now?" asked Nerys.

*    *    *
	He had never been a patient man, not when it came to
regaining control.  And today was no different.
	He boarded his ship once again and set a visage of
power and scorn on his face, ready to pummel his enemies.
	Did they actually think they could hide in there?  They
would soon find out how wrong they had been.
	The passageway was not a very large place.  He would
find them and gain control over the one he had lost.

*    *    *
	"Ops to Shelby."
	"Shelby here.  Go ahead."
	"Commander, we're reading elevated levels of neutrinos
again, but there still aren't any ships scheduled to come
through!"
	"I'm on my way...Constable, Captain, would you care to
join me?"
	Odo nodded, as did Dax with a cordial smile on her
face.  And the three of them left, leaving some very confused
people behind.

*    *    *
	The light flashed brilliantly and then disappeared from
before them, to be replaced by black space.  Odoital sent a
message to the station, reprimanding them for their faulty
reports about the _Broniec_.  He was in no mood for sitting idly
by and planning any longer.  He knew there could only be one
place for Odo Ital to hide; and besides, he had been planning an
attack on Bajor for almost three days now.
	As the elite six ships of the third fleet streamed past the
station, Odoital smiled in anticipation of the world he was about
to conquer.

*    *    *
	"Commander, receiving message from one of the ships
that just emerged from the wormhole."
	"Put it on screen."
	"You fools!  How many times have I told you to never
underestimate your opponent?!  Useless, I know." The tone of
the voice changed. "Have the Sweepers at Bajor in sixteen
hours.  I suspect the people will be more than ready to be placed
into the camps.  Overseer out."
	Ops was silent.
	"Odo, that looked a lot like...like you," commented Dax.
	"Except for the Cardassian ridges, that would be a fair
assessment, Captain.  But, unfortunately, this mean we have a
new problem."
	"Not another one," commented Shelby quietly.
	"If Odoital is intent on conquering Bajor, he will do it. 
That is, unless we stop him."
	"It looks like he's only brought seven ships through. 
Hopefully, no one else will follow him.  Starfleet can have their
best at Bajor in less than four hours; the Galen can be there in
two."
	"That may not be enough for Bajor."
	"Too true, Constable," commented Commander Shelby,
"but we're going to do the best we can.  I think I can convince
Captain Worf to take the Defiant out of the cobwebs.  She hasn't
really been used much as a convoy to the Klingon Empire since
Starfleet and the Empire haven't been speaking to each other
for the past four months." Shelby smiled.  She knew sitting in
dock had nearly driven Worf past the brink of insanity.
	"I'm sure that Captain Sisko will want to lend a hand. 
From what I can tell, his crew has been missing the chance to
actually *fight* for something worth fighting for," said Odo.
	"At this rate, we may not even need Starfleet."
	"I highly doubt that, Captain."
	Dax shrugged.  One never knew...
	The three of them each contacted their appropriate
ships, and set the protection of Bajor into motion.

*    *    *
	Odoital looked down at the weak planet below him,
waiting for his troops to finalize their preparations for the
takeover.  There was less than thirteen hours before the
Sweepers would arrive, and he needed to be sure they could
proceed easily.
	The lights phased in and out.  Odoital sighed calmly. 
The fleet was maintaining a position above Bajor's northern
magnetic pole to avoid sensors.  They would never know what
hit them.  
	Wild eyes blazed with victory out into the cold darkness
of space.

*    *    *
	The _Broniec_, the _Galen_, the _Defiant_, the
_Trafalgar_, and various other smaller class ships moved into
position around Bajor.  If the space around the planet could
have held its breath, the anticipation would have been
suffocating.

*    *    *
	"Any signs of Odoital's fleet yet?"
	"No, sir.  We're trying a low magnetron pulse right now."
	"Good thinking, Mr. Terell," said Dax from the Captain's
chair. "They're most likely hiding from whoever they think is
after them...and if we have any luck, *they* won't be looking for
*us.*"

*    *    *
	Dr. Julian Bashir paced the bridge of the Defiant
anticipating the casualties.  It was not something he was looking
forward to, especially since *Mr.* Bashir was down in Sickbay...
getting tips from the nurse.
	"Bashir to Bashir," he called, lifting his head toward the
ceiling.
	<<Bashir here.  Go ahead.>>
	"Julian, how's the training going?"
	<<Well, Julian, I don't know how much of this I'm going
to remember.>>
	"That's okay, Julian.  With any luck we won't need you."
	<<Thanks for the vote of confidence.>>
	"I try.  Bashir out."
	Julian Bashir shook his head, trying to dispel the
remnants of the conversation he had just had with someone who
in almost everyone's eyes would be himself.  *Almost.*
	He sighed as he considered his life as a champion
tennis player instead of a doctor...and gratefully thanked the
heavens that he hadn't won that last game.

*    *    *
	"I just don't see why I had to stay on board the station. 
I'm not proving any useful purpose here."
	"Calm down, Constable.  I know Captain Dax explained
this all out to you."
	"Yes, yes; Dax told me all about the interdimensional
balance."
	"That's right.  And your alternate has the pull of an entire
universe upon him *because of you.*  If you were to be killed, it
would be very easy for Odoital to stay in our universe."
	"I realize that, Commander, but it still doesn't make me
feel very important." *Especially now that I don't have anything
to do but wait.*

*    *    *
	They were waiting.
	Odoital had made no move, hostile or otherwise.
	Crewmembers tried to busy themselves, keep their mind
off the battle that was almost certain to ensue.  And when a
voice broke through the silence, everyone almost sighed.
	"Captain, reading landing teams appearing on Bajor. 
Phaser fire is abundant."
	"Hail Odoital on all band frequencies, Lieutenant.  I want
to make sure he can hear us."
	"Aye, sir.  Channel open."
	"This is Captain Data of the Federation Starship
Trafalgar.  I would request that you remove all of your people
from the surface of the planet we both orbit.  The Federation is
sworn to protect this planet and will do so with all necessary
force."
	"I don't care about you simple-minded Federation.  By
the time you get reinforcements, I'll already have conquered this
pitiful planet and moved on to the next."
	"Am I to assume you are the one known as Odoital?"
	"Foolish imbecile!  I'm surprised you ever made it to
*captain.*  I've course I'm Odoital...but soon you may call me
the Overseer."
	"I am afraid I will be forced to attack if you do not
remove your people from the planet."
	"You'll have to find me first."
	"The channel has been cut, sir."
	"Very well, Lieutenant.  Jackins, lock onto the lead ship
and reconfigure phasers for twenty percent."
	"Aye, sir.  Locked on and ready."
	"Fire."

*    *    *
	Odoital knocked around slightly as his ship was tapped
by the phaser blast from the Trafalgar.
	*So, he wants to play games.  Very well.*
	"Dispatch the fleet!"

*    *    *
	The ships that were to be the protection of Bajor all
signaled a red alert as five ships emerged from above the
planet, like vultures sweeping down on its prey.  
	The massive attackers stopped short, just as the Galen
and company were ready to attack.  Enormous cavities opened
in the ships and out of each came twenty heavily armored
Jem'Hadar warships, each baring their teeth.
	The first shots rang out within seconds of sighting them.

	The battle had begun.

*    *    *
That's all for now.  We know, we know.  Nothing that exciting or
suspenseful.  La dee da dee da.  Guess we can just take our
time with the next part.
Send comments/pleas/fleas/flames/ginger ale to
KyRoka@aol.com
Okay, okay.  So it may be a *little* hard to get ginger ale into one
letter.


Boundaries 
Part 10
by KyRoka 
& Edala Kher

	"Port shields down to 60%; Aft shields at 73%."
	"Sir, I'm reading two ships, bearing 298 mark 4."
	"Take us to 184 mark 3," ordered Dax, "and prepare to
fire photon torpedoes."
	"Aye, sir."
	The Galen cut quickly around one of the moons of
Bajor; she may have been a science ship, but she was one of
the sleekest in the fleet.  As they cleared the moon, Dax saw
one of the "mother ships" straight ahead.
	"Lock on and fire photon torpedoes!"
	The enemy ship caught the full brunt of the torpedoes as
the Galen cut around the moon so fast that the sensors didn't
even have time to register.  
	"Enemy shielding down to 34%."
	"Sir, I'm reading four Jem'Hadar warships, bearing 193
mark 7."
	"Evasive pattern Delta Omega Four; prepare to fire
phasers."

*     *     *
	"Another of the "mother ships" has been destroyed, sir. 
Sensors indicate only three remaining."
	"How many Jem'Hadar?"
	"46, sir, but half of those have gone back to their
"mother ship.""
	Captain Data sat quietly contemplating his next move. 
For good reason, he didn't think about it for very long.
	"Very well.  I think it is time we paid some very special
attention to the "mother ships."  Close in on the ship nearest our
current position and fire."
	The Trafalgar sped towards a "mother ship," ready to
clip its wings.
	"Starboard and forward shields down to 48%.  We can't
stay in a fire fight like this one for much longer."
	The "mother ship" had fought back hard, but not hard
enough.  The darkness of space would have been lit by the brief
explosion, but it was overcastted by the battle being waged
around it.
	"Next."

*     *     *
	"Do you have a lock on those ships?" asked Dax.
	"Yes, sir."
	"Then, fi..."
	"Wait...Captain, something strange just happened to
those fighters."
	"Explain."
	"They suddenly veered of course for no explicable
reason, and in no pattern.  It was almost as if they were out of
control."	
	"Galen to the Trafalgar.  Captain, we've just witnessed
some very strange behavior on the part of some of the
Jem'Hadar fighters.  They seemed to veer off course for no
reason."
	"Indeed." Captain Data seemed to consider the matter
duly. "I believe that, upon this observation and others I, myself,
have made, it may very well be safe to assume that the
Jem'Hadar fighters are connected to the "mother ships" in a
hive-like manner."
	"So," concluded Dax with a grin, "destroy the "mother
ship" and the fighters follow."
	"Sir," started one of the lieutenants on the Bridge of the
Galen, "I've scanned those four Jem'Hadar ships, and I'm
reading no life signs."
	Dax nodded in acknowledgment. "It would appear,
Captain, that your hypothesis is correct.  There's no one piloting
those fighters."
	"Then, it would be logical to ignore the fighters and
concentrate on the "mother ships".  Thank you, Captain.  You
have been most helpful." The channel closed and Data was
running a bizillion (literally) strategic possibilities through his
head.  Finally, he stood with a snap of his fingers. "Lieutenant,
open a channel to the Defiant."
	The familiar visage of Captain Worf appeared on
screen.
	"I suggest you talk fast."

*    *    *
	The Broniec zipped in and out of Jem'Hadar fighters,
firing random shots as she went.
	"Shields down to 32%!"
	The ship rocked with every shot now, and Sisko was
beginning to feel her falling apart under his very feet.
	"What about the rest of the fleet?"
	"The Galen's knee-deep in these damn fighters...The
Trafalgar's taking on one of the "mother ships.""
	"What about the Defiant?"
	There was a moment of silence.
	"She doesn't show up on my scans."
	Damn.  That's all they needed was to lose a ship.
	"Containment field on the warp core is down to 23%. 
One more hit and I don't think I'll be able to hold this piece of
junk together."
	"Thanks for the commentary!" Sisko shouted back at
Kasidy.  Leave it to her to have a sense of humor at a time like
this.
	Their few torpedoes had been exhausted long ago, and
their phaser banks were almost depleted.  As the Broniec came
around to fire on the "mother ship," two Jem'Hadar fighters bore
down from behind.
	"Two Jem'Hadar fighters closing fast!" But before
anything else could be said the ship rocked again.
	"Well, that's done it!  There's nothing I can do now."
Kasidy threw up her arms in surrender, knowing nothing short of
a new ship was going to fix this one.
	"How long?" Sisko's mind was already looking for
another way out, something that wouldn't just leave them
exploding in space, something that would count for something.
	"I'd say about 40 seconds...Make that 38."
	Sisko rolled his eyes.  If nothing else, he'd be glad to be
rid of that woman's humor.  
	His fingers flew across the panel in front of him (which
he had occupied after the pilot had been killed due to a panel
explosion) and plotted a course...directly for the "mother ship."

*    *    *
	By the time Dax realized what the Broniec was doing, it
was too late.  An explosion devouring both the Broniec and the
"mother ship" flared up on the screen of the Galen.

*    *    *
	"Move us into position, Ensign." Data calmly took a
stance in the middle of the Bridge. "Lock phasers on the "mother
ship."  It is time they paid a little more attention to us."
	"Phasers locked and ready, sir."
	"Fire, sporadic bursts.  Make sure we can keep it up for
at least two minutes."
	Beams of seemingly liquid fire shot forth from the
Trafalgar and impacted against the only remaining "mother
ship."
	The "mother ship" responded in kind, shooting angry
green streams at the Trafalgar.  The Soyuz-class starship
rocked under their rage, but managed to hold itself together
somehow.  Phaser beams continued to hack away at the
"mother ship's" shields...which were weakening steadily.
	"Our shields are down to 43%!"
	"Keep the bursts steady, Ensign.  Just a few moments
more."
	The entire bridge crew of the Trafalgar held their breath
as the two ships remained locked in their mutually destructive
battle.
	"Their forward shields are failing...They've just
reinforced them.  Their aft shields...seem to be about 12% of
normal."
	*Good,* thought Data as he settled back into his chair. 
"Continue phasers...and fire the last photon torpedo."

*    *    *
	From the Galen, Dax watched the deadly battle between
the Trafalgar and the last remaining mother ship with a heavy
heart.  
	"Weapons status!"  She shouted to the ensign at
Tactical.
	"I'm sorry, sir, but we just can't milk any more out of
them. The phaser output nodes have been fused."
	Dax spun back again to the viewscreen, futile anger
welling up in her because of her inability to aid the others.  She
watched as the "mother ship" bore down on the Trafalgar,
waiting for the inevitable destruction of Captain Data's ship...
	...and then gasped as the Defiant decloaked directly
behind the looming Jem'Hadar "mother ship."  Fresh phasers
shot out at the enemy ship, striking unerringly on its target, the
unprotected rear warp nacelles.  
	"I had been given reports that the Defiant had been
destroyed!"
	"The Broniec sent us that information just before they
ram - just before they were destroyed.  It must have been false."
	Dax stared at the viewscreen, watching in hopeless
fascination as the Defiant furiously beat at the enemy ship. 
*Phasers aren't going to do it, Worf,* she thought, *I hope to
God you've got a few photon torpedoes up your sleeve...*
	No sooner than the thought had crossed her mind did
three photon torpedoes zoom away from the small warship in
quick succession, each exploding as they struck various
sections of the warp nacelles.  The "mother ship" halted all fire
as the Trafalgar and Defiant retreated as fast as they could.  It
hung in space for a moment, totally motionless.  And then it
exploded in one of the most violent, dazzling burst of flames
Dax had ever seen.
	"Yes!"  The ensign at Tactical exclaimed jubilantly.
	Dax felt a surge of relief as a exhausted grin covered
her face.  She felt exactly the same way.
	"Dax to Defiant!"
	"Yes, Captain."
	"I never knew you were the 'knight in shining armor
type,'  Worf,"  Dax collapsed back into the command seat, "But
I'm sure glad you decided to give it a try today."

*    *    *
	Odoital sat in the command chair of his ship - the *last*
ship, the one hidden by Bajor from their sensors - and felt the
fury rise in him like some horrendous beast clawing its way up
from the grave.  *They couldn't have destroyed all my
ships...they couldn't have...*
	The bridge was dead silent, not one of his crew making
a sound in order to protect themselves from his wrath.  
	Finally, he spoke.  "Take us to Terek Nor."
	The ship sped out of orbit, unseen by the Federation
ships still nursing their wounds.
	Odoital's only advantages lay in the fact that though the
Federation ships may have declawed the beast, they weren't
aware of one fact.	
	This beast still had teeth.

*    *    *
	Shelby turned to Odo, a smile lighting up her face.  "The
Galen just reported in.  The Jem'Hadar warships have been
neutralized."
	Odo closed his eyes in relief.  "Losses?"
	"The Lederman and the Marigold were destroyed.  The
McCaffrey, Kiraly and the Peacock were seriously hit, with major
casualties.  The Galen's weapons systems are inoperable, and
their life support is down to minimum."  Shelby hesitated.  "The
Broniec was also destroyed."
	Numbness flooded Odo's body as this news struck him. 
Captain Sisko, Kasidy, Chief O'Brien (Keiko)...all dead?  *I'm
sorry,*  he thought, wishing he could say it to them,  *and thank
you.*
	"Mr. Odo?"
	Odo turned around slowly, focusing his grief stricken
eyes on the two figures who had just entered Ops.
	"Hello, Jaty." Odo acknowledged the girl, a sad smile
tugging at his lips.  It seemed to take him awhile to even register
who the other person was. "Mrs. Bareil."
	"Odo, we..." Nerys stopped. "I just wanted to say thank
you, for everything you've done."
	Odo harumphed, thinking how he had actually been the
cause of this whole mess.  He was trying to think of something
else to say when Shelby's voice rang out through Ops.
	"We've got a ship approaching the station. 
Configuration appears to match that of..." Shelby hesitated.
"Odoital's ship."
	Odo spun around at the sound of his nemesis' name.
	"What?!"
	"Shields up!  Go to Red Alert!"  Ops took on a darker
tone, flooded in the blood red lights warning everyone of the
upcoming danger.  
	"We're being hailed."
	"On screen," Shelby ordered, trying to mask her defense
posture into a more diplomatic one.
	"Fools!  Why have you raised your shields?"
	"I am Commander Shelby of the Federation outpost
Deep Space Nine.  I am afraid you are sadly mistaken if you
believe this station to be under your command..." Before she
could say anything further, the channel was severed. "Well, this
certainly isn't a good sign."

*    *    *
	So, the Federation had gained control of Terek Nor. 
Very well; he would just have to insure that they posed no threat
to him.
	"Lock weapons on the station and fire at will."


***
You just hate us now, don't you?
Not to fear.  THERE WILL ONLY BE ONE OTHER PART.  No,
we're not lying this time.  We promise.  And it won't take us
another six months either.  It might only take us a couple of
hours...well, maybe days. Okay, at the most a week.  But that's
it!  :)
Send comments to
KyRoka@aol.com


Boundaries 
Part 11
by KyRoka
and Edala Kher

DISCLAIMER: Screw it.  We've come this far.  They haven't
cared so far.  They won't care now.
Comments to KyRoka@aol.com

	The station rocked under Odo's feet.  He knew from past
experience that no matter how updated, DS9 was still not
equipped to handle an attack of such determined intensity.  If
only there were some way to send him back where he
belonged...
	He had once tried to go somewhere he had not
belonged by using a transporter that operated on electrons in
quantum flux.  If they could use *protons* in the same state, as a
weapon aimed at Odoital's ship, perhaps it would be enough to
send him back where he belonged.
	Odo worked away at his console, reconfiguring the
phasers.  They would only have one shot.  Any more, and it
could cause a spatial rift.  He relayed his plans, and aimed at
the ship.  *He* was the one who had to fire this shot, to put to
rest the horror *he* had caused.
	And so, with one steady finger, he pressed the key that
unleashed the proton beam.
	The beam penetrated the ship's shields easily as the
protons phased between quantum states.  The ship bore little
damage but the effect was clear.  
	Floating dead in space, Odoital's ship had lost all ability
to function as it seemed to momentarily disappear sporadically. 
As she drifted away from the station, the tension seemed to
drop...and yet, Odo could not help but wonder what would
happened if she drifted too close...
	The wormhole opened in its usual foray of color.  Pulled
by the gravitational force, Odoital's ship entered the wormhole... 

	...and disappeared into a universe where Death had
gained rule and *nothing* existed.  Odoital realized all too soon
that this was not his universe.  To be condemned to a place
where the only order was chaos and the only substance was
nothingness.
	Odoital laughed insanely, easily seeing the irony in his
predicament.
	It seemed the gods had a sense of poetic justice after
all.

*    *    *
	Despite its alien configuration and complicated circuitry,
O'Brien had surprisingly little trouble cobbling a device that
would enable their "borrowed" Jem'Hadar warship to realign its
quantum signature enough to make the return trip home.  Of 
course, the device would short out after their first (and only) trip
through the wormhole.  (O'Brien was slightly annoyed that he
hadn't worked out that particular bug yet, but figured it was
probably for the best.)  The Bareils were ready to leave as soon
as he had finished the alterations - after all, they had left their
two young sons in their own universe.
	Odo was waiting at the docking bay when they arrived to
board the jerryrigged warship (which had been affectionately
dubbed the "Ruby Slipper.")  He seemed a bit uncomfortable,
but seemed equally determined to see them off properly.
	"Kai Bareil, it was a pleasure to have known you," Odo
cordially said, offering the Bajoran his hand.  The other man
took it, a bit gingerly, but met his eyes frankly.
	"Likewise, Mr. Odo."
	There seemed to be little more to say; by unspoken
mutual agreement all past hostilities had been forgotten.
	"Bye, Mr. Odo.  I'll miss you." Jatira came up to him,
then surprised him wholeheartedly by throwing her arms around
him and hugging him tightly.  After a moment, Odo responded in
kind.
	"Take care of yourself, Mr. Odo.  And your kids too."
	Odo frowned in puzzlement at that last remark, but
because he had never informed Jatira of the fact that he had no
children dismissed it.
	"Good bye, Jaty.  Good Luck."
	Jatira hurried up to catch up to her father, who had
already boarded the Ruby Slipper.
	"Well," Nerys said as she approached Odo, an aire of
uncertainty hovering around her features.  
	"Well," Odo responded, unsure of how he was supposed
to say good-bye.
	"Listen, Odo, I know I haven't exactly returned your
friendship in kind lately, but I want you to know that I'm really
grateful for everything you've done, both for me and my family. 
I... I just hope you know that you'll never be forgotten."
	Odo was overwhelmed with emotion, and could feel
tears welling up in his eyes.
	"Thank you," was all he could manage.
	Then, with a kiss on the cheek, Nerys was gone.
	Again.

*    *    *
	Odo returned to their home.  It would always be theirs,
whether she was there or not.  He would always have his
memories, and now with his adopted daughter (whom he had 
affectionately named Jatira), he could make some new
memories.  But first, he had a little work to do.  There were
numerous messages, most of them condolences.  The fact that
they were all addressed to him seemed odd.  First Ministers
received a lot of messages, but he had rarely received any. 
One was titled "Look at this one, Odo."  Odo was still a bit of an
infant, and so he looked.  He couldn't help it; curiosity begged
him to. 
	"Hello, Odo..."  *Not Bashir *again** thought Odo. 
"...No, wait.  This one's different." Bashir's face struggled on the
screen. "Nerys gave me something for you.  She...she didn't
want you stumbling across it before...well, anyways.  She wasn't
a fool, Odo; she knew she was dying, was ready to face it."  Odo
remembered their last conversation.  Nerys had seemed
anything but ready.  "...She recorded this message about four
months before she died.  I don't know what exactly she said, but
I think it's supposed to help." Then Bashir's face disappeared. 
Odo paused the message.  He wasn't sure if he could face her,
the real her.  And yet, he had to know what she had said, what
she had wanted him to hear.  He unpaused the message and
braced himself.
	"Hi, Odo." There was a pause, and Nerys seemed to be
searching for the words that would not come. "I asked Julian to
give this to you after I had died.  I know you, Odo.  You can't let
my death cheat your life.  I'm serious, Odo.  You have to move
on.  Don't forget me; don't you *dare* forget me."  At this, both
Nerys and Odo smiled.  The cynicism was still there. "But you've
got a home, a life here on Bajor.  I want you to live for those
things.
	"There's something I never told you, Odo.  Now seems
like the only time.  When Bareil died..." Nerys' voice steeled
itself. "...I resented a lot of people.  Winn, the Cardassians, even
Bashir a little bit.  But, I also resented you." Again Nerys paused,
and Odo reversed the message to make sure his ears had not
deceived him.  Then he waited for Nerys to continue. "I resented
you because after Bareil died, you distanced yourself from me. 
That little incident after Prophet's Landing didn't help either. 
You were one of the few people I could talk to back then, and
then all of a sudden you weren't around.  And then..." Nerys
looked away, a smile playing on her lips. "...then you told me for
the first time that you loved me, and all that changed.  Bit by bit,
it changed." Odo smiled.  And yet, as he remembered that day,
a mixture of emotions flooded him. "But, Odo, there's something
else that I never told you.  That's the true reason for this
message.  I love you, Odo, you know that.  But, I've never
forgotten Bareil; I loved him too much to forget him.  After he
died, I shut down my heart, determined not to let anybody else
in.  But, eventually, I learned that that wasn't the thing to do.  It
wasn't fair to Bareil; it wasn't fair to me.
	"Odo, you were always learning from everybody else. 
Don't stop now.  You don't have to forget me to move on, but
you must move on.  Please, honey, for me...Keep in touch with
Julian and Jadzia, maybe try to fix them up.  Jadzia's the one
you'll have to convince, but they deserve each other..." She
stopped, at a loss for words.  "Good-bye." She paused again,
struggling to keep her voice steady and ignoring her tears. "May
the Prophets walk with you, my love."  And the screen went
blank.  Odo hung his head in thought.  He didn't know if he could
do what Nerys asked of him.  But before he had a chance to
lower himself into a contemplative state, the screen blinked on
again.
	"Oh, and, sweetheart?  Better make sure you find
someone who likes their Kadellan sauce watered down." She
flashed one last smile and faded from the screen forever.
	Odo ended the message silently, and looked at the
remaining message.  It was from the adoption agency inquiring
about the finalization procedures. *...but you must move on. 
Please, honey, for me.*  Perhaps, perhaps he wouldn't be able
to find another mate, but he would have someone he could love,
someone who would allow him to move on and yet never forget.

*    *    *
	"Pel dor joy, Doctor!"
	"Pel dor joy to you too, Odo.  Looks like a fabulous
party."
	"Well, hopefully it will help the salt from the wound."
	"But will it help the wound?"
	"Oh, I doubt that, Julian.  I doubt that.  That's one wound
not even the best doctor in the universe can fix."
	"Well, I *did* try," chuckled Julian.  Odo smiled,
genuinely, for the first time in a long time.
	"I'm glad to see you're doing better, Odo," said Julian,
genuine.
	"So am I, to hear you say that especially," said Odo,
cynicism starting to creep into his tone.
	"Why?" questioned Bashir.
	"Because," injected Jadzia, "now he can finally get you
to leave."
	"Ha, ha, Jadzia.  Very funny." Bashir never could get
used to being the brunt of so many jokes.
	The festival lasted a few hours at Odo's before everyone
began to start saying their good-byes.  Julian approached Odo.
	"Well, I guess I won't be seeing *you* for awhile."
	"I hope you're wrong, Julian." The two friends shook
hands, communicating so much more than words ever could. 
Then Julian addressed the entire room.
	"Well, I really must be going," he sighed dramatically.
"I'm sure they can't get along without me any longer at the
Cherry Colony.  Pel dor joy, everyone."
	And then, as he turned to go, a deafening chorus of
voices replied with one word that made Doctor Julian Subatoi
Bashir cringe:
	"Ch'ari!"

--- go to part 2---