CHAPTER 4. Building a Mystery

Kira found her voice first. "What?" she said in that low, intense tone that Odo recognized all too well, though it was usually reserved for Dukat's more extreme improprieties or the Kai's latest shadowy political schemes. "Biroc, I don't know what you think you've found out but I did not shoot the President!" she said. "The very idea, it's...it's insane!"

Biroc said nothing, but Odo was more forthcoming. "Commander, I understand the conclusion to which you might be tempted to leap but tachyons or no tachyons, Major Kira has an incontrovertible and verifiable alibi!"

Kira whirled around to look at him, her expression going from furious to jubilant as if by the flick of a switch. "That's right, I do!" she exclaimed, turning back to Biroc with a triumphant look on her face. "At the time the President was shot I was in the comm room talking to Commander Worf on DS9!"

Biroc nodded. "I know that, Major. My problem is that you do not appear on the security recordings from the comm room, and the communications logs show no signals either to or from Deep Space Nine in the last twenty-four hours."

The four officers just stood there, shocked into silence. Kira shook her head helplessly. "But...I was there! Worf had a message from the Kai that he didn't feel should wait. We spoke for about ten minutes!" She took a deep breath. "Call the station, Worf will confirm it!"

Biroc nodded. "Our investigation is still underway, Major. However, in the meantime, I'm afraid I have to take you into custody."

Odo stepped forward. "Listen here, Biroc, there's no way that Kira..."

She put out a hand, stopping him before he could really get going. "Odo, he's right." He stared down at her, dumbfounded.

"Nerys, you can't possibly..."

"If you had this evidence against someone, what would you do?"

He sighed. "I'd detain them."

She nodded. "Someone has arranged this," she said intently, squeezing his hands so hard her fingertips sunk into his flesh. "And I know that you will find out who."

"You're damned straight I will," he said, his eyes fairly blazing from their sockets.

"I'm not crazy about spending the night in a holding cell, but it won't kill me. Logically, the evidence warrants an arrest and it won't help me for either of us to make an issue out of it right now. Okay?"

Odo shook his head, amazed at her composure. "When did you become the calm, reasonable one? I must have been looking the other way."

"Go do your job. Find out who did this. I'll be fine. It's not like I'll be tortured or given the third degree, this is Starfleet we're talking about." She turned to Biroc. "Let's go, Commander." Biroc nodded, clearly having one of those moments when he hated his job. Odo knew the feeling.

He motioned to one of his officers. "Take her to the infirmary for a complete forensic examination, then down to holding." She nodded and took Kira's arm. Nerys cast a glance back at her crewmates. Miles and Julian attempted reassuring smiles, but Odo couldn't manage it. She looked calm on the surface, but he knew her too well. The anxiety and anger behind her eyes was achingly apparent to him and he was helpless to assuage it...for now. The officer escorted her out the door with a swish of mirror silk, leaving the three DS9 officers to fumble for a handle on the moment.

"Commander, I want to be in on this investigation," Odo said.

"Now, Major. Would you allow the fiancee of your prime suspect to assist you in an investigation?" Odo said nothing. Of course he wouldn't. "As you know, any alleged perpetrator is entitled to their own investigation. You're welcome to conduct an inquiry yourself, on her behalf."

"Believe me, I will."

"I'll give you access to our findings for your examination." He turned to go, then paused. "Odo, I'm sorry about this. I assure you that our investigation will be as thorough as I can make it. I..." He paused, considering his position and the propriety (or lack thereof) of the comment he was about to make. "I will do everything I can to prove that she didn't do this...but I have to act in accordance with the evidence."

Odo nodded. "I understand, Commander. You won't take it personally if we have your evidence verified and corroborated."

Biroc gave a "suit yourself" shrug and made himself scarce. His shadow had barely left the threshold when the three men were in a huddle, their expressions differing but the shocked look in their eyes identical.

"What the bloody blazes is going on here?" Miles hissed.

Odo shook his head. "All I know at the moment is that someone tried to kill the President and has gone to a lot of trouble to have Nerys blamed for it."

"Well, it's not going to stick," Miles said determinedly. "This evidence, if you can even call it that, it's obviously been faked. There's got to be a way to prove it."

"We have access to the evidence, I suggest we get started."

"I'll go the infirmary and examine Nerys myself," Julian said. Odo nodded absently to the doctor as he left, shrugging out of his tuxedo jacket.

"All right, Miles...let's get started."

********

Odo sighed and leaned against the bulkhead in the corridor outside the workspace Biroc had assigned them in the science labs. He and Miles had been at it for over an hour, running scans and analyses while Julian stayed with Nerys. Everything so far was in complete agreement with Biroc's findings and it all indicated that Kira was the assassin. A very neat little package indeed.

He felt a hand on his arm. "How're you holding up?" came a soft voice. He turned and looked into Briggs' sympathetic face...then he frowned.

"That sounds like a question I should be asking you," he commented, noting that her face was puffy and her carefully coiffed hair was hanging in disarray. He could almost hear the clang as a wall slammed down over her pleasantly composed features.

"I'm fine, Odo. What are you doing out here? I thought you and the Chief were..."

"He threw me out," Odo admitted, embarrassed. "He said he could get a lot more done without me hanging over his shoulder and hounding him. I guess I can't blame him."

"What exactly is the evidence? When I heard Nerys had been arrested I couldn't believe it!"

"We determined that the assassin had used a tachyon-interference pattern to mask their escape, and the only person in the building with residual tachyons on them was Nerys."

"That's hardy conclusive!"

"There's more. Her alibi cannot be substantiated. She was in the comm room talking to Worf at the time of the shooting. She says that when she entered the room there was an Andorian already there. As she and Worf spoke, the Andorian left and a Vulcan came in. He was still there when she signed off. On the security recordings, you can see the Andorian leave and the Vulcan come in...but no Kira. As far as we can tell the recordings haven't been altered, nor have the communications logs which show no record of a transmission from DS9. Biroc is waiting for the security lockout to expire so he can call Worf on the station. Hopefully he can straighten all this out. Someone could have tampered with the logs here, but they couldn't have made Worf forget he talked to her."

Briggs shifted her weight uncomfortably. "Odo, surely you know that they would not have bothered to change the comm logs if they weren't sure it would hold up...and they'd know that the first thing you'd do would be to check with Worf."

His tense expression told her that yes, he did know that...but he was still hoping for a quick solution. "The Chief is re-examining the sensor data and trying to find anything that would support her alibi, or even find another suspect. So far, nothing. We're still waiting for forensics, too." He looked up at Briggs. "Have you seen Nerys?"

She shook her head. "No, they wouldn't let me in." She frowned. "Why aren't you with her?"

He hung his head. "I don't know if I can bear to face her until I can stand there and tell her that I've figured it out and she's free to go."

The door behind him slid open and the Chief came hurrying into the corridor. "Odo, Biroc just called. They're about to contact the station."

Odo straightened and turned back to Briggs. "See you later?" She nodded as he and the Chief set off for the security office.

********

Kira was pacing in her holding cell, clad in her regular uniform which some kind ensign had fetched for her. She'd put on a reasonable, accepting face for Odo's sake but inside she was churning with impatience, confusion and most of all fury at whomever had set her up for this crime. Her only consolation was that the President hadn't died, as the real assassin had intended, and so she was only suspected of attempted assassination. She snorted to herself. Some comfort that was.

She knew without having to be told that Odo, Miles and Julian wouldn't stop until they'd figured out how this had been done and who had done it...but that didn't ease her frustration. She was unaccustomed to being forced to sit in one spot and wait for rescue. Her fingers itched to take part in her own exoneration but she had acquired enough sense over the years to realize that for the moment, that was impossible. So here she was...pacing. Her only company was the guard sitting at his console. Part of her wanted desperately to see Odo, but another, more vocal part didn't want him to see her locked in this cell like a common criminal, separated from him by a force field.

As per Starfleet regulations, her cell included a one-way monitor linked to her case file so she could remain informed of the evidence against her. As she stared idly at it an update began to scroll up the screen. She went to the monitor and read it; Biroc was about to call the station and confirm her alibi. She sighed. Hopefully she'd be out of here within the hour.

********

Odo and Miles stood back out of view of the monitor as Biroc initiated the subspace transmission. It was answered with the usual Klingon efficiency.

"Worf here."

"Good evening, Commander. I'm Lt. Commander Biroc, chief of security at Federation headquarters. May we speak in private, sir?"

"One moment." There was a pause while Worf relocated to Sisko's office. "Proceed, Commander."

"Sir, I'm afraid I have distressing news. For security reasons what I'm about to tell you is to remain confidential."

"Understood."

"A short time ago at the Order of Light ball, an attempt was made on the life of Federation President Jaresh-Inyo."

Worf's eyes widened slightly and his jaw clenched. "What is his condition?" he asked tightly.

"I'm happy to report that he will make a full recovery, thanks to Dr. Bashir."

"That is indeed good news. Commander, what has this to do with me?"

"Mr. Worf...Major Kira Nerys has been arrested for this crime."

Worf's face froze into a shocked expression. "There must be some mistake," he said.

"That's what we're trying to determine."

"Major Kira is an honorable woman, a warrior! She would never..."

"Commander, with your help we can clear her. You spoke with her a few hours ago, did you not?"

Worf blinked a few times, his face blank...then he sighed. "Can I infer that Major Kira has cited this conversation as her alibi?"

"That's correct."

"Then I regret that I must report that I have not spoken to her in two days." The room fell silent. Odo and Miles exchanged an alarmed glance. Biroc swallowed hard and continued.

"Major Kira says that you contacted her at 2243 and the two of you spoke for approximately ten minutes."

Odo could see the muscles in the Klingon's jaw knotting from where he stood. "I'm afraid that the Major must be mistaken, Commander. I would like nothing better than to confirm her statement, but I cannot. I did not contact her tonight. I will send you our transmission logs."

"That won't be necessary, Commander. Thank you for your time. Biroc out." He reached out and severed the connection, then turned to look at Odo and MIles. "Well. That makes things interesting, doesn't it?" he mused, leaning against the console and crossing his arms over his chest.

Miles winced...judging by the slight shift in Biroc's tone, he and Odo would now be the only ones proceeding under the assumption of Nerys' innocence. Before Odo could respond the door opened and Julian walked in, his face grim.

"Doctor, what have you found?" Biroc asked.

"Nothing good," Julian said. He fetched a deep sigh and consulted a PADD he was carrying, reciting his findings in a determinedly steady, pedantic tone. "Commander, I've confirmed the findings of your forensic examination. I found traces of beta-batrachotoxin on Kira's dress and on her hands. I also found traces of her DNA at the scene of the crime, as well as particulate matter from the sniper's nest on her shoes and clothing. The current levels of tachyons in her system are exactly consistent with a tachyon-shielded beamout at the time of the shooting, based on the constant rate of tachyon decay in an M-class atmosphere. I examined the comm console she used to speak to Worf, and I was unable to locate any traces of her DNA on the surface of the console or anywhere in the room." He met Odo's eyes, an anguished expression in his own brown ones.

Biroc took the PADD, nodding briskly. "I think it's time I notified the JAG office." He looked back at Odo, seemed about to comment...then he just shook his head and left the room.

"I tried, Odo," Julian said. "I couldn't find any evidence of a frameup."

"None of it is completely ironclad!" Miles insisted. "Trace evidence can be planted, the console could have been cleaned! Worf's transmission could have been faked!" He looked from the human's face to the changeling's, his brow furrowing at their bleak expressions. "What?"

"Chief, it's next to impossible to plant DNA evidence without contaminating the sample," Odo said.

"But not impossible!"

"No."

Miles moved to stare right into Odo's face, troubled by the expression he saw there. "Odo...tell me you're not thinking..."

"Of course I'm not!" Odo retorted...a little too quickly. Miles eyed him suspiciously. Odo returned his stare for a few moments then turned away, his shoulders sagging and his hand going to hide his eyes.

"You do," Miles breathed. "You think she did it."

"She didn't do it!" Odo said. "I know she didn't do it."

"But you're afraid she did it," Julian said quietly, the shadow of a long-ago conversation echoing in Odo's ears. Miles threw a sharp glance in the doctor's direction. "Let's be pragmatic, Miles. No one wants to believe this, least of all me. Nerys is my friend, too...but this evidence, it's..." He looked away. "You have to admit it's pretty convincing."

"I'm a law enforcement officer," Odo said, his back still turned. "I've spent my career relying on facts and evidence to guide me to the guilty person. If it were anyone but her under suspicion I'd be helping Biroc file the charges right now."

Miles strode forward and grabbed Odo's arm, spinning him around to face him. "Odo, I know Nerys. She lived in my home for five months! She carried my son! She did not do this! Surely you can't think..."

"Well, what am I supposed to think?" Odo burst out with sudden vehemence, his fists clenched at his sides. "On the one hand I have Nerys, my fiancee, a woman I probably know better than she knows herself and I know she did not do this and yet on the other hand..." He trailed off. "On the other hand the evidence is mounting and it all points directly to her! I love her, I believe in her, but how can I completely ignore the facts?" he said, his tone one of pure anguish. He stared at Miles, his gaze hard. "I'll never believe that she's guilty, never."

"But?" Miles prompted him.

Odo sighed. "But whoever accomplished this frameup would have to have exemplary scientific and technical skills, superhumanoid speed, advanced equipment and the foresight of the Prophets...and when I find them, I swear to you they're going to pay for planting these seeds of doubt."

Miles ran a hand through his already-disheveled hair. "Odo, this a setup, pure and simple. It's a very good one, true, but it's still a bloody lie!" He stepped closer and dropped his voice. "I know what it's like to be accused of something I didn't do. You helped get me out of it. You'll get her out of this, too. You're the best investigator in the quadrant, there's no frameup so airtight that we can't work together to expose it!"

"What if it's not a frameup?" Julian asked softly. "What then?"

Miles wheeled on him, his face bright red. "I don't want to hear that, Julian!"

"We should at least consider..."

"No! I don't have to consider anything!" the engineer shouted. "I won't listen to anyone suggest that Nerys could have committed this crime, you hear me?" He drew himself up. "I have work to do. I'll be in the lab." He stormed out. Julian contemplated Odo's inscrutable face as the changeling stared fixedly at the security monitor.

"He's right, Julian," he finally said. "She's innocent and we both know it."

The doctor nodded. "Proving it will be the hard part."

"I believe on this planet you're innocent until proven guilty."

"With the evidence they have, that won't be difficult."

"Then it's our job to find new evidence." He straightened and headed for the door. "I'm going to holding to see Nerys."

Julian held out a hand. "Odo...what if she really was guilty? What would you do?" he murmured.

Odo stood there still for a moment, staring past Julian's shoulder. "Kira's broken my heart before, Doctor." He met his friend's eyes with a piercing gaze. "But I will be there for her, no matter what."

********

He just stood watching her for a moment. She was sitting facing the security uplink monitor, her back to him. Her sagging posture told him everything he needed to know about her state of mind.

"Molly has a strange little toy," she said suddenly, startling him. "It's a little tube of woven paper. You stick your fingers in the ends but when you try to pull them out you find that you can't. You can pull and pull until you're blue in the face but you're stuck." She turned around. "The harder you try to prove I'm innocent the more guilty I'm going to seem," she said.

"This isn't over," he said. "We've barely scratched the surface."

She shook her head. "Whoever set this up, they're smarter than we are. They've been three steps ahead so far, you think that's going to change?"

"Don't talk that way. It's not like you."

She looked deeply into his eyes. "Prophets, Odo...the things that must be going through your mind. It must be galling to be engaged to a woman who'd take a potshot at an unarmed man."

"Nerys, what's gotten into you? How could you think I'd believe you guilty?"

"Because I know you," she said, rising to approach the force field. She shook her head sadly. "I've seen the evidence, it's almost got me convinced and I know I didn't do it. No matter how much you love me, you can't stand there and tell me there isn't the least little speck of doubt in your mind."

"There isn't!" He stepped closer, his hands twitching. He ached to touch her, to hold her.

"Liar," she said with a small, bittersweet smile. They were standing only a few inches apart now, the force field between them. She raised a hand as if to touch his lips. "I see the guilt in your eyes." Odo couldn't speak. "It's all right," she said intently. "It's not your fault. If you weren't at least the tiniest bit convinced by the facts you wouldn't be Odo that I know...the Odo that I love. I'm not angry...not at you, anyway," she said, her face hardening. "Whoever did this, that's who I'm angry at."

"Nerys, I swear to you that I will get you out of this. I will find the real assassin, I don't care what I have to do or how long it takes."

She nodded. "I know you will. I just wish I could help, I wish I could be with you."

"You're always with me," he said, his voice husky and his eyes locked with hers. "Don't you know that? No matter where I go or how far away I am, you're always with me."

A shudder passed through Kira's body. The need to touch him was so great it was an almost physical sensation, a pain that resonated through her pagh to match the one she saw in his eyes. "You'd better go," she whispered. "I think I'm going to cry."

He nodded. "I'll be back. Try not to worry."

She barked sarcastic laughter even as her eyes filled. "That's a good one, Constable."

"I love you." He tried to communicate everything in his heart in those three inadequate words.

"I know." She swiped a hand across her eyes and turned away. Odo hesitated, then walked out of the room, more determined than before yet more despondent than ever.

********

"Bloody hell!" Miles exclaimed, slamming a hand against the console. Julian jumped.

"What now?"

"I can't find a single chink in this suit of armor, Julian. Things that should be there aren't there and things that shouldn't be there are there. I don't know what else to do! This isn't my field, I'm an engineer, not a scientist or a bloody data analysis expert." He shook his head, fuming. "I wish Dax were here, she was the one who was good at this sort of thing."

Julian, who was trying to find an alternate explanation for Nerys' elevated tachyon levels, turned back to his research. "Well, she's not here," he said tightly.

"She's on the station," Miles said thoughtfully.

"No, she's not," Julian said, his voice decisive. "It's Jadzia's help you need and she's gone."

"Maybe Ezri could..."

"Ezri can't help us with this and you know it. She might start out analyzing the data and end up inputting gymnastics scores or reprogramming the computer to give us one of Torias' flight simulators."

Miles sighed. "I know, I know. It's just that...I don't know how much more I can do and it doesn't hurt my pride to admit it. I need some help." His expresson went thoughtful.

"What?" Julian asked.

"And I think I know just the person." He jumped up. "Keep at it. I'll be back soon." He all but sprinted out of the room, nearly colliding with Odo.

"Where are you going?" Odo called after him.

"Ask Julian!" the Chief tossed back over his shoulder. Odo stepped to the console and looked at the doctor questioningly.

"He decided he needs some help analyzing the evidence. I don't know where he went but he said he knew just the person to help and that he'd be back soon." Odo nodded and flopped into the chair Miles had just vacated. "How is she?"

"As well as could be expected. She's just so...I don't know, so calm and accepting. It's not really like her."

"Part of being a soldier is knowing when to beat a strategic retreat," Julian said. "The Kira I met when I came to the station would have torn into anyone within hearing range...but that was a different Kira. She was alone, she had no one she could count on except herself. She's not alone anymore. She has you, and she trusts you to fight her battles when she can't do it herself, like now."

"Six years ago I would never have thought Kira could ever trust anyone to do that."

"I agree." Julian smiled. "And yet you still have trouble believing she loves you?"

Odo sighed. "You know me, Doctor...always suspicious," he said, a hint of a smile lurking at the corners of his mouth.

"I don't know who you think you're fooling, Constable. We all know beneath that curmudgeonly exterior lies a heart of pure mush."

"Don't you have work to do?" Odo said, his voice sharper than he would have liked.

"Yes...but I'm going to go completely barmy unless I get some sleep. I'm all in. It's two o'clock in the morning, you know."

He nodded. "Go ahead, Doctor. I'll stay here and wait for the Chief to return."

"I'll see you in the morning," the doctor said, yawning as he left the room. Odo watched him go, knowing that he'd soon begin to feel the need for regeneration himself...but not deluded enough to think he'd ever be able to rest.

CHAPTER 5. Suspicious Minds

Miles stood in the corridor, wondering how to best phrase this request. Care for a little dry-as-dust data analysis? Want to help me free my friend, who by the way is the alleged assassin of the President? How about an all-night sensor log deconstruction, just for old time's sake? He sighed and pressed the doorchime.

"Come in!"

Miles entered and was immediately struck by how homey these quarters were compared to how Spartan they used to be. Mementos and personal items lined the shelves, the lighting was subdued and soft music was playing. "Data?" he called, half-wondering if he had the wrong quarters.

A brief pause. "Chief?" came the surprised response. The voice was familiar, but its emotional inflection made it strange to Miles' ears. His old friend appeared in the doorway and the Chief received another shock. He was actually wearing civilian clothing for his time off-duty, something Data never used to do except when it was necessary for away missions or on the holodeck. He almost fell back a step when a broad smile split the android's face. Of course he knew that Data had acquired emotions several years ago (it had been all over the Starfleet technical and medical journals), but he hadn't actually seen him since the change. It was jarring to say the least. "Miles! What a surprise!" He bounded forward and grasped the Chief's hand, pumping it up and down with vigor. "How are you! Come in, sit down!" He bustled Miles into the living room and installed him on the couch. "I am happy to see you!"

The Chief couldn't help but grin at this enthusiastic reception. He decided he liked Data with emotions. "It's good to see you too, Data. I was surprised that you weren't on duty."

"I stopped monopolizing the overnight shifts long ago. Since I do not require sleep my nights off give me ample time to pursue other interests. Besides, for most officers part of serving on a starship is putting in night shifts in the big chair. Since I had been covering all of them, I decided that I was denying the officers under my command the chance to experience such an...integral part of starship life," he said, a wry half-smile curling his lips.

"Oh, I'm sure they're very grateful," Miles said.

"I am sure they are. Which brings up another point...you are up quite late tonight, Miles. What brings you here?"

The Chief cleared his throat. "Well, I guess you know why I'm here on Earth."

"Of course. We all watched the ceremony."

"I uh...I noticed that the Enterprise was in orbit..."

He nodded. "For an event like this, half the ships in the Fleet end up doing what the captain calls 'taxi service', we are no different." He waited as the Chief took a deep breath and bolstered his resolve.

"I need your help, Data."

Data cocked his head in a very familiar gesture. "In what capacity?"

"What I'm about to tell you is still classified."

"You must be referring to the assassination attempt."

"You know about that?" Miles said, surprised.

"Command officers on all orbiting starships were notified so we could watch for any vessels attempting to leave the system. Captain Picard and I got word a few hours ago."

"Major Kira Nerys, the first officer of DS9, has been charged with the crime."

Data's eyes widened. "The same Kira who is engaged to your friend Odo?" Miles nodded. Data was silent for a moment. "Now that, I did not know." He hesitated. "I am sorry, Miles. I take it you believe her to be innocent?"

"Of course she's innocent! There's no way in hell Nerys did this, it's a setup, it has to be."

Data regarded the engineer thoughtfully for a moment. "Do not take this the wrong way, but no one knows better than I how emotion can cloud one's judgment. How can you be certain of her innocence, especially if the evidence against her is strong enough to warrant charges?"

Miles' face hardened. "You don't know her, Data. I do. I'm not being emotional and I'm not being illogical, but I am certain she's innocent. The evidence against her has to be fake...but I need your help to prove it."

"Why me?"

He sighed. "The person who I would usually consult at a time like this is no longer with us. I'm not a data analysis expert, there's only so much I can do." He looked up at his old friend. "Will you help me?"

Data thought for a moment, but only a moment. As someone who had spent much of his life alone, he valued the friendships he had been able to forge. "Yes, of course I will help. We are not scheduled to leave for a few days, I will ask the Captain for tomorrow off. I am sure he will understand. I take it you will need me to accompany you to headquarters?"

"Yes, we've been assigned workspace there."

Data stood. "I will get into uniform and we can beam down...oh, but you simply must see the bridge before we go."

The Chief smiled. "I'd like that."

Data nodded and disappeared into the next room. "Data to Troi," Miles heard him say. The counselor was on duty on the bridge, she had cleared Miles to come aboard.

"Go ahead."

"I am bringing Miles up to the bridge and then I will be returning with him to headquarters."

"Is anything wrong?"

"Oh no, he just needs my help with something. I will explain later. Data out." He emerged in uniform, but with a red turtleneck and three solid rank pips.

"It's about time," O'Brien commented, pointing at the pips.

Data shrugged. "I place little importance on rank, Chief. I must say it seemed to mean a lot more to others than it did to me...though I suspect that Deanna regrets that I no longer have to call her 'sir.'"

They started down the hall to the turbolift. "Does he call you Number One?" Miles asked, smiling.

Data returned the smile. "Of course he does. The term goes with the office, not the officer. It did require some adjustment. For a few weeks every time he would address me in that fashion I found myself looking around for Commander Riker."

"How is he?"

"Fine. I believe he is currently deployed along the Romulan border. You may see him on Deep Space Nine soon, I heard that the Yorktown will be moving into your sector." They entered the turbolift. "Your family is well?" Data inquired.

"Oh yes. Keiko and I have a son now, you know."

"Really? Congratulations. I had not heard that. Perhaps if you would write..." he finished airily.

"His name is Yoshi, he's eighteen months old." Miles paused. "Major Kira gave birth to him."

Data frowned. "I see..." he began, clearly at a loss as to how to politely phrase the question. Miles spared him the trouble.

"Keiko was injured on an away mission while she was pregnant and Kira had to serve as a surrogate. She lived with us for the five months that she carried him."

The android sighed. "She must be a close friend indeed, Miles. I am sorry this has happened."

"Nerys is like family," Miles murmured. "I think you'll like her." The lift stopped and opened onto the bridge.

Deanna rose from the command chair and came to embrace her former crewmate. "Miles, how wonderful to see you." She glanced from his face to Data's. "What's going on?"

O'Brien filled her in, pausing only briefly to wonder if it was too classified for her ears. She expressed sympathy and support but none of the skepticism that Data had...then again she could sense his certainty on the subject.

"You know, Miles, you might avail yourself of Deanna's help as well," Data suggested.

She looked at the Chief. "I have considerable experience in criminal investigations."

He nodded. "Frankly, we can use all the help we can get."

Data looked down at her. "Can you beam down after your shift?"

"Yes, but I do have to get some sleep tomorrow. We're supposed to have dinner with my mother...remember?"

"How could I forget," Data said flatly. The Chief glanced from one to the other, suspicion forming in the back of his mind.

"Well, it was your idea, you can't weasel out of it now," Deanna said with a grin. "Come on, I'll walk you two to the transporter room." They reboarded the turbolift. "I'm very anxious to meet Odo. Mother talks about him all the time. He was my stepfather for several months, you know."

"I look forward to meeting him as well," Data agreed. "I have a great deal of respect for anyone who could spend that much time with Lwaxana..." He trailed off, silenced by a glare from Troi. He cleared his throat. "How is he handling this?" he asked, a deft change of subject.

"He's angry, of course, but I think more than anything he feels guilty."

"Why guilty?"

Troi answered before the Chief could. "Because he's having doubts."

Miles nodded. "Odo's the best investigator and law enforcement officer in the whole damn quadrant, even Worf thinks so. His instincts tell him to trust the evidence...I have to admit it is convincing."

"What a difficult position to be in," Data murmured.

"Yes. But if anyone can find who's responsible for this, he can. It'll be up to us to prove that the evidence against her is false, he'll do the rest."

They reached the transporter room. The Chief whistled as he looked around. "This is quite the ship, Data. I gotta say after six years of wrestling with barely functional Cardassian technology some nice state-of-the-art Federation equipment seems like the impossible dream."

"I think you would hate it here, Miles," Data said. "You might die of boredom. This ship has been nearly bug-free. Geordi spends most of his time coaxing the engine efficiency even higher than it already is."

"Do you want me to notify the Captain?" Deanna asked.

"No, I will call him myself in the morning. See you at 0800?" Given the tone of their earlier exchanges, Miles was scarcely surprised when his two former crewmates kissed briefly before Data stepped to the transporter pad next to Miles, who looked at him askance with one eyebrow raised. The android met his eyes briefly as they dematerialized.

"When did that happen?" Miles asked, even as their atoms were still reassembling on the pad at Federation HQ.

Data smiled shyly and seemed, incredibly, a bit embarrassed. "Seven months six days ago." They stepped down and started down the hall. "I assure you that no one was as surprised as we were. We became quite a bit closer while Deanna helped me sort out my new emotions. Even after I felt able to handle them, our friendship had been considerably strengthened."

"Yes, but...there's friends and then there's...you know..."

He chuckled. "Even now I am not certain what happened. Deanna wanted to learn to play the piano and I was teaching her. We were in the holodeck practicing and then suddenly..." He trailed off.

"You were practicing other things?" the Chief teased him, inwardly delighted.

"That is one way to put it."

"Well, I think it's wonderful."

Data looked at him. "Thank you, Chief. I agree."

"How's it going?"

"Surprisingly well...I believe. Her emotions are still something of a mystery to me."

"What about yours? Do you love her?" Miles felt like he was prying but Data didn't seem to mind and he was intensely curious...and, like most of Data's friends, he had always harbored secret hopes that the android would eventually find happiness, with or without emotions.

Data paused. "Yes, I do. She says she loves me too, and I am just beginning to let myself believe it."

Miles chuckled. "You sound like Odo."

*******

"You look seriously bummed out."

Odo snorted. "Nam Dietzbader, Master of the Obvious," he remarked sarcastically.

"Everyone's gotta be good at something."

"I suppose."

"What are you doing out here?" he said, gesturing at the gardens. "I thought you'd either be with Nerys or battling tirelessly to prove her innocence and defend her honor!" he proclaimed, thumping a fist against his chest in a big show of fiery dedication. Odo didn't take the bait.

"Doctor Bashir's gone to bed, the Chief went off somewhere to find help...I'm feeling a little useless, so I came out here to think."

Dietz joined him on the stone bench...the same one, incidentally and perhaps significantly, that had witnessed Odo and Kira's earlier abortive conversation regarding their future and the length thereof. "Solved any great puzzles yet?"

He hmphed. "I've too many great puzzles at the moment to be able to solve any of them with confidence." He fell silent for a few moments. "I knew it," he finally whispered.

"Knew what?"

Odo jumped a bit, surprised to find that he'd spoken the thought aloud. "Nothing."

"It's not nothing. Knew what?"

He fidgeted for a moment. "That it was too good to last."

Dietz shook his head. "Don't tell me you're giving up already."

"Of course not! It's just that..."

"You spend too much time planning for the worst, Odo. It might have saved your ass a few times but it's poisoning your outlook on life," Dietz commented, unconsciously parroting Nerys.

"You have no idea," Odo said, his jaw tight. "You have no idea what it means to look on the face of the only woman you've ever loved and wonder, even for one second, if it isn't a stranger's face, if you haven't been fooled from the beginning...if she's not the person you thought she was."

"Is that what you think?"

"That's what I'm trying not to think."

"You know," Dietz said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, "sometimes I think sentience is a curse. We think, we feel. If we're very lucky, sometimes the two agree. More often than not they don't, and we tear ourselves to shreds trying to reconcile them." He glanced at his stone-faced companion. "Your mind tells you to examine the evidence and follow the logic, right? But you trust her, you believe in her, so how can you do that?" He sniffed. "The price of having both rationality and emotions is to be forever caught in the crossfire between them. It's a neverending, bloody battle and it's brought stronger beings than you or I to their knees. I've lived a long time, Stretch, and some lessons never get easier."

Odo shook his head, his eyes staring off at some distant vista. "How can I ever look her in the eye again knowing that I doubted her, even a trace?"

"Don't beat yourself up, Odo. You're not a god, no matter what the Vorta think. You can't help it." He knew without having to be told that Odo had spoken of this to no one, at least not so bluntly; he was privately flattered that he was being trusted with these most secret thoughts.

"I should be able to help it," Odo exclaimed with a sudden burst of frustration, striking his knee with a clenched fist. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, his head dropping into his hands. "No amount of evidence in the universe should be enough to make me suspect her."

Dietz sighed and stood up, laying a hand on Odo's shoulder. "I think you enjoy this," he said.

"What?" Odo said, his head coming up in disbelief.

"You're always so determined to be miserable, what other explanation is there? You must enjoy it."

"I don't..."

"Just remember that it was that attitude that kept you and Nerys apart for so many years. I'm standing here and telling you that you're allowed to doubt. I don't think she would blame you for that, given all this evidence. Heck, she's probably even wondering if she did it!" Odo marveled, not for the first time, at Dietz' knack for impersonating a telepath...he'd certainly been reading Odo's own thoughts for most of this conversation. "You can have doubts and still believe. If I'm not mistaken, every religion in the history of the universe relies on that particular truism. You love her, don't you?" Odo looked up at his friend, then nodded slowly. "Then that's all that matters. Find out who's trying to screw it up and beat the crap out of them. You'll feel better, I guarantee it." Dietz winked at him and strolled off, hands thrust into his pockets and long blue hair streaming out behind him like a flag. Odo stared at the pavement for a moment, then stood up and strode back to the building.

*******

Kira sat in the corner of her bunk propped up against the wall's right angle, her knees drawn up to her chest. She felt tired but her eyes would not close and her entire body was thrumming with tension that kept her wide awake. She'd given up trying to sort through her thoughts, tumbling over and over each other as they were and scrambled thoroughly with emotions. The foremost of these was rage.

Rage had been her ally during the Resistance. It had helped her survive more attacks and battle-traumas than she cared to remember...but at times it had frightened her with its ability to act like a haze over the mind and screen out all rational thought. The feeling of being taken over by her own fury was something she'd been every bit as glad to leave behind as she had the Occupation, but that hadn't been the end of it. It had stayed close to the surface for years, striking out with what seemed a mind of its own at anyone who dared cross her: Sisko, one of a dozen Provisional Government ministers, Quark...even Odo on occasion. He was the only one who'd seemed unaffected by it, perhaps because he knew the well from which her fury sprung, he'd been there and understood. He's always understood me, she thought, a slight smile playing over her troubled features.

She felt a lump rising in her throat, as it often did when she thought of how long he had loved her and said nothing, choosing to suffer in silence. For years, that angry Bajoran woman had found a measure of peace in the company of her closest friend, blissfully unaware of how much pain she was causing him with her very presence. Kira wondered what Odo, so insecure, would say if he knew that she sometimes worried how he could keep loving her after what she'd put him through, albeit unintentionally.

And now I'm doing it to him again, she thought...or at least someone is doing it to him through me. She could scarcely imagine how he must be punishing himself for suspecting, even for a second, that the evidence wasn't fake after all. She did not blame him for this...she blamed whoever it was that had made it so convincing. Rage rose in her again as she thought of this faceless person who dared use her for their own purposes. She rose and began to pace, grinding her teeth grimly together as she imagined just what she'd do to her tormentor when she got her hands on him.

I will make him pay, she thought. For trying to kill Inyo, for getting me thrown into this cell...but most of all for putting that look into Odo's eyes. She flopped back onto the bunk. I need to sleep, she thought...her brain felt muzzy and wrapped in flannel. She stretched out and pushed all thoughts of revenge and assassinations away from herself, focusing instead on calming thoughts. In her mind's eye she took herself through the hypnotically beautiful interior of the wormhole...she remembered being at Bareil's monastery with its softly trickling water and wafting scents of flowers and greenery...she pictured a long and uninterrupted meditation before the Orb in the temple on DS9 and the serenity she would glean from it...and she imagined herself wrapped securely in Odo's strong and loving embrace, where nothing could harm her and peace was hers.

*******

Odo came into the lab and stopped short. Seated at the Chief's console was a white-skinned stranger with striking golden eyes, studying the monitor intently, his fingers flying over the console with a speed no human could muster. He looked up as Odo approached, a friendly smile dispelling his look of blank concentration. "You must be Odo," he said, rising and extending a hand.

"Yes," Odo said, drawing the word out into an interrogative as he shook the proferred hand.

"I'm Commander Data. Miles asked me to help."

The light dawned and Odo managed to return the android's smile. "Of course, Commander. Your reputation precedes you, the Chief has spoken of you often." He paused as a sudden recollection struck him. "I understand that you are my predecessor."

"Your...predecessor?"

"As the Chief's kayaking partner."

Data grinned. "Is he still shooting those rapids? He never learns. I hope for your sake that his singing has improved."

"If it has, I shudder to think what you went through." He followed Data to the console. "I appreciate your assistance, Commander."

"Call me Data, and you are welcome. At the moment I am simply familiarizing myself with the facts of the case." He glanced up at Odo. "It is quite convincing."

"I know," Odo said grimly.

"But I find it highly unlikely that Major Kira actually committed the crime."

Odo sighed. "Agreed. I know why I think so, but why do you?"

"For the simple reason that if she did, she employed sophisticated techniques and displayed amazing foresight whilst simultaneously leaving obvious clues that implicate her while unnecessarily complicating her escape...unfortunately, common sense bears little weight in a court-martial against such overwhelming forensic evidence and a broken alibi."

Odo blinked and stared at the android. "Commander, have you ever considered a career in security?"

"Detective work is something of a hobby of mine," he said absently, turning back to the monitor. He glanced up at Odo. "I sent Miles to bed, he could scarcely keep his eyes open. You require rest yourself, do you not?"

"Yes, but..."

"Constable, I have a good deal of research to do here and I do not believe your presence is required. If you jeopardize your own health you will not be helping yourself or Major Kira."

Odo sighed. "I suppose you're right. It would be best for me to regenerate now before morning when the whole circus starts up again." He nodded to Data. "I'll see you in a few hours." He turned to go.

"Odo." He stopped and turned back as Data stood with a sigh. "Perhaps this will not mean much coming from a man who has only had emotions for a short time, but I am sorry for your situation. I can only imagine how I would feel in your place. I will do everything in my power to help."

"Thank you, Commander." He shook his head. "I only hope it's enough."

*******

The security officer nodded briefly to Odo as he came into the holding area and approached Nerys' cell. Her cell, sweet Prophets, he thought. Odo looked down at her as she lay curled on her side, asleep, a tender expression on his face. He sat down in the chair next to the cell and contemplated his fiancee as she slept...she's so beautiful, he thought. That sentiment tended to occur to him at odd moments, like this one.

"Major Odo?"

Odo looked around sharply at the security officer, a remonstration to keep quiet rising to his lips before he remembered that the cell's screening field would prevent any external noise from waking Nerys. "Yes?"

"Sir, there's an incoming transmission from Deep Space Nine for you."

Odo frowned. Who could be calling him now? "I'll take it in the security office," he said, rising to leave. The officer nodded to him and transferred the transmission.

The security office was deserted, as he'd hoped it would be. He sat down at the desk. "Computer, open channel," he said, and gave a start of surprise as an elfin face appeared on the screen, staring through at him with wide blue eyes. "Ezri! Why are you..."

"Is Nerys all right?" she interrupted. Her face seemed to be twitching beneath her skin and her eyes were shifting rapidly. Odo recognized these as signs that she was having trouble maintaining her mental composure.

"Ezri, who am I talking to?"

A shudder passed over the young woman's body. "I'm not sure...it's getting harder to tell." She snorted. "I suppose I should be glad about that...what about Nerys?"

"She's all right...did Worf tell you what's going on?"

She barked a single short laugh. "That psychopath, he doesn't tell me anything. He won't let me go on duty, I'm surprised he lets me leave my quarters! When he's not mooning over me he's having me followed...like I don't notice."

"Then how did you.."

She waved an impatient hand. "I still have connections, Odo...and nothing to do with my time but figure out ways to use them without Klingon Boy finding out. Besides, Quark still likes me." She leaned closer to the screen, her expression all business. "Listen, I found out some things I thought you and Nerys should know about."

"What?" Odo gave up questioning her...she still had eight lifetimes worth of experience to call upon, not to mention Jadzia's knowledge of station operations.

"Does the name Pelz Mauren mean anything to you?"

He thought for a moment. "No. Who is he?"

"I don't know, I wasn't able to locate his name in any database I tried...but two weeks ago he was on the station, and he managed to break into the personnel files without tripping any of your security measures."

"That's not possible," he growled, the very idea offending his professional integrity.

"Apparently it is. He seemed very interested in Kira."

Odo felt the proverbial smoke beginning to come out of his ears. "What did he find out?"

Ezri shrugged. "That I'm not sure of. I've been digging for days and all I know is that he was in her file for 23 minutes. Whatever he accessed, he covered his tracks perfectly."

Odo thought. "And yet he didn't bother to cover up the fact that he'd been there." He sniffed. "That just about fits the pattern." He nodded at the screen. "Thank you, Dax."

"Odo, wait..." She took a deep breath. "We haven't had much of a chance to talk since...you know."

"No, we haven't," he said quietly.

"There just doesn't seem to have been the opportunity...it's just that, well..." She paused, thinking. "There are things Jadzia wished she'd had the chance to tell you, things I want you to know." Odo nodded...the intermingling of third and first person was something one got used to when conversing with Ezri Dax. "She wished she'd told you...how happy she was for you, for both of you."

"I know she was," Odo said softly, suddenly missing Jadzia terribly.

"She always wished she'd known you better."

"She knew me as well as anyone."

"Anyone?" Ezri challenged, a smirk on her lips and one eyebrow arched high into her forehead. Odo fought back a gasp...at that moment, he could almost see Jadzia peeking out from behind Ezri's face.

"All right...almost anyone." He cleared his throat. Once upon a time such frank talk about feelings would have sent him running for the hills...amazing how being in a relationship can alter one's perceptions about what is and is not comfortable to discuss. "Jadzia was a good friend to me."

"And I'm not," she said, looking away.

Odo smiled. "Give it time. Perhaps...it would help to rearrange my furniture?" he suggested.

She laughed and then fixed a clear gaze on him, her face and body suddenly calm and composed. "I always knew, Odo. I could always see it."

He sighed. "That I loved her."

"No. That she loved you." Odo stared at her, amazed, but she just sat there with that inscrutable Mona Lisa smile on her face. "Good luck, Odo. Give Nerys my love and keep me informed. Dax out." The screen went blank.

After a brief pause to collect his thoughts, Odo composed a message to Data telling him of Ezri's findings. He considered launching his own search for the mysterious Pelz Mauren, but he was beginning to feel the inexorable pull of nature upon him.

He retired to the ambassador's suite set aside for their use. Miles was sprawled on the bed in the main bedroom, still in uniform, and Julian was asleep in one of the easy chairs in the sitting room, his long legs propped up on the coffee table and his head cricked back against the chair at what looked like an uncomfortable angle. He'll feel that tomorrow, Odo thought. After a moment's consideration he gently plucked the whisper-thin doctor from the chair and relocated him to the second bedroom. No reason he has to suffer through neck and leg cramps tomorrow, he thought. This task accomplished Odo surveyed the room...my, the Federation certainly has a love affair with carpet. Comfortable for humanoid feet, not so comfortable for sleeping shapeshifters. He finally found bare floor beneath the workstation and collapsed into a puddle, falling almost immediately into uneasy dreams.

CHAPTER 6. Keeping the Faith

"Biroc to Odo." Julian came out of the bathroom, toweling his hair and looking around for Odo. "Odo, this is Commander Biroc, come in please," the disembodied voice repeated.

"Odo! Where are you?" Julian called. No sooner had he spoken than the workstation chair suddenly shoved itself away from the console and Odo's semisolid form rose quickly from the floor. Julian jumped back, startled and clutching his chest, as Odo rubbed his head and winced.

"That's what I get for sleeping under a chair," he muttered, then tapped his combadge. "Odo here."

"We've uncovered some new evidence you might want to see."

"We'll be right there." He looked at Julian. "Where's the Chief?"

"In the lab," Julian said around a mouthful of bagel as he zipped up his uniform.

"Let's go, he can meet us there." The doctor grabbed the rest of his bagel and jogged to catch up with Odo's swift strides out of the suite.

********

Biroc and his lieutenants were clustered around the console when Odo and Julian arrived just ahead of the Chief, on the run from the lab in response to Odo's call. "Has Data found anything?" Odo asked him quietly as they approached Biroc.

"No," Miles said with an exasperated headshake. "So far everything hangs together. He's about to run some secondary sensor recombinations."

"Gentlemen," Biroc said, a sad expression on his face. "I'm afraid I can't say good morning, given what we've just found."

The three men exchanged a glance. "What is that?" Odo asked, sounding like he was dreading the answer.

"What we've been lacking...motive." He motioned them to the conference table and activated the wall monitor. "As you can see, we've been looking into Major Kira's background and her records on Bajor as part of our investigation. Our findings show that she has received payment equivalent to half a million Bajoran litas over the past month. It's rather cleverly hidden in a number of bank accounts under false names as nonliquid assets but it's definitely there...if you know where to look."

"Who would have hired her to assassinate Inyo?" Julian said, incredulous.

"The Orion Syndicate," Biroc said, his voice holding just enough of a trace of magician's flourish to be grating. The officer paused to let that sink in. "We've known for awhile that the Syndicate has a particular problem with Inyo, his policy reforms have done more harm to their business than they're willing to tolerate. We have intelligence that they have had plans on his life for years...though we never expected them to use someone like Major Kira to do their dirty work." He motioned to the monitor again. "We've traced some of the transactions to a man named..."

"Pelz Mauren," Odo finished. Biroc looked at him, surprised.

"Yes, that's correct. You know him?"

"Not at all...but last night I was informed by a resourceful friend that he spent some time on DS9 poking around in Kira's personnel files. Who is he?"

"He's a Syndicate middleman who reports directly to the Orion Council. We've learned that he engineered the monetary transactions. I'm sure it appealed to their sense of irony to use a non-Federation citizen to assassinate the Federation President, whose long-standing..." An odd sound made him stop midsentence. Slowly, five heads swiveled to look at Odo, who was...laughing? Yes, chuckling low in his chest and shaking his head at some internal witticism. Biroc exchanged an alarmed glance with Bashir, wondering vaguely if the Constable had finally snapped. "Odo? Have I said something amusing?"

"Oh no, Commander." He leaned forward. "It's just that you've taken a great weight off my shoulders."

"How is that?" Biroc asked, tight-lipped, feeling like the butt of someone else's joke.

"You've just removed all doubt of Kira's innocence."

Biroc frowned. "But...this only strengthens the case against her!"

"Only because you don't know her, Biroc," Odo said, sobering. "But I do." He rose and went to the monitor to face the security chief. "Much as she and I might hate to admit it, the truth is that Nerys is capable of violence...but only to defend herself, someone else, or in pursuit of a cause she believed in passionately. If I had to, I might be able to accept that she could do something like this if there were some reason for it that she felt gave her actions moral justification." He moved closer and leaned towards Biroc, his words spoken with deliberate emphasis. "The very idea that she would do it for money is so ridiculous as to be offensive. Anyone who knows her at all, be they friend or enemy, would find it completely unbelievable. That, Commander, is why this new evidence bolsters my confidence."

Biroc sighed. "That may be, Odo, but it still doesn't help her legally."

Odo straightened up. "Leave that to me." With a curt nod, he turned and walked out, Julian and Miles jumping up to follow him.

********

"The Orion Syndicate, I should have known," Odo fumed, pacing, his arms crossed over his chest. "Biroc's right, Inyo's been their worst nightmare since he took office...they'd be the first ones I'd suspect would try and have him killed. Mauren probably engineered the setup, that's why he was on the station and in her personnel files."

"That won't do any good if we can't break this evidence," Julian said.

"Tell them about the comm signals," Miles broke in, elbowing Data, who had been sitting silently at work during this entire conversation.

"If Worf's transmission to Kira was falsified," he recited calmly, "which seems a logical conclusion, then there may be an extraneous comm signal coming into headquarters which cannot be accounted for. If we could locate it we might be able to trace its source and find out from where and by whom it was transmitted."

"Is there an extra signal?" Odo said, coming to peer over Odo's shoulder.

"No...but that does not mean it does not exist. It could have been piggybacked onto another carrier wave. I have done it myself, albeit with Klingon transmitters. The likely candidates would be the messages being sent by the two individuals who were in the comm room at the time the Major received the transmission."

"Any luck locating either of them?"

"No," Miles said. "They probably work for the Syndicate as well."

"A Vulcan working for the Syndicate?"

"He could be another race, surgically altered," Julian put in.

"I will have to run a complete quantum reconstruction on these comm signal logs and even then, there is no guarantee I will find the extra bandwidth, if the piggybacking was done with sufficient skill," Data said.

"This isn't getting us anywhere," Odo growled. "I have to find the person who set this up."

Julian crossed his arms. "Odo, you're not thinking..."

"All this data analysis is so much hand-waving. If I want to clear Nerys' name I have to find direct evidence that the Syndicate framed her for their assassination attempt...and I have to find the real assassin."

"Which brings up something else I've been wondering about," Miles put in. "How did the real assassin pull this off?"

"Oh, is it too early to slit my wrists?" Julian moaned, clutching his forehead.

"Take heart, Doctor...once I find the culprit I think I can convince him to tell us how he accomplished the impossible," Odo said, a grim little smile on his face. They all turned as the door swished open and a woman in a Starfleet uniform entered, small and lovely with dark hair and large eyes that bore the mark of fatigue. She smiled serenely at the agitated men.

"Sorry I'm late," she said. Miles smothered a grin at the way Data's face lifted when she entered. "You must be Odo!" she said, her smile broadening as she approached him and clasped his hand in both of hers.

"Yes, I am," he said, returning the smile. "You're Lwaxana's daughter Deanna?"

"Yes. I can't tell you how glad I am to meet you, though I feel like I already know you."

"I know what you mean. I appreciate your help."

"Odo, you helped my mother escape that horror of a husband...thanks to you I have a lovely small brother that I'm actually allowed to see. It's my pleasure to do whatever I can to assist you."

Odo's combadge chirped. "Biroc to Odo."

"Go ahead."

"The JAG officer will be meeting with Major Kira within the hour. Your presence has been requested."

"I'm on my way." He nodded to the others. "I'll be back soon."

"Good luck," Miles said, then held up a hand as Odo opened his mouth to protest. "I know, you don't believe in luck, but I do, so good luck."

"Thank you, Miles."

********

An ensign showed Odo into a large corner office at Starfleet JAG Corps headquarters in Houston, Texas. The importance of this case was evidenced by the fact that Captain Venable, the most senior JAG officer on the planet and vice-commander of the entire Corps, was handling the matter herself. Odo was immediately impressed by the force of Venable's presence as she rose to approach him, made all the more striking by her physical diminution...he put her height at no more than four feet ten inches, and if she weighed more than ninety pounds he'd be surprised. She had deep-set blue eyes that were very much like the ones Odo saw in the mirror every day, and they shone with quick intelligence. Though her hair, worn in a rather severe crewcut, was snow white, her age-indeterminate face was smooth and unlined. She did not smile as she extended a hand to him. "Major Odo," she said. "Have a seat." Her voice was exceedingly low and smooth, and he had no doubt she knew how to use it to hypnotize a jury. He gave an inward shudder at the prospect of incurring this woman's determination to see Nerys behind bars. There was a conference table placed with its short end against the front of Venable's desk, Odo took the chair nearest the Captain. She sat back down in her leather desk chair, folding her short legs yoga-style beneath her, then sat staring at him in silence for a few moments.

Odo glanced around, a bit uncomfortable. "Where is Major Kira?"

"They'll bring her shortly. I thought you and I might have a chat first."

He ducked his head. "Very well."

She picked up a PADD and tossed it towards him. "I've been reading up on you."

"Reading up on Changelings, you mean," Odo said. This was something he was used to. People often felt the need to do research about his species before dealing with him, as if they were looking for advice on how to behave in case he should suddenly decide to liquefy and go on a rampage.

"No, your service record." Odo blinked, a little surprised. "Very impressive. Any chance I can persuade you to join my investigating staff?"

"I already have a job, Captain."

"Of course. Then again I shouldn't be surprised...Order of Light members aren't known for their mediocrity." She cocked her head and regarded him thoughtfully for a moment. "Did she do it?" she asked bluntly.

Odo returned her frank stare and didn't flinch. "Absolutely not."

Venable nodded thoughtfully and toyed with a stylus. "Constable, I've spent most of my life in security and in bringing the guilty to justice, as have you. I can read your thoughts as clearly as if they were written on your face. Conspiracies, frameups, manufactured evidence, it's all very tempting when one wants so much to believe."

"But?"

"All things being equal, the simplest explanation is usually the right one. The ingenuity of criminals, I've found, has been greatly exaggerated by a few standouts with the assistance of the popular media and the entertainment industry. If a crime is committed and the evidence all points to your prime suspect you're usually going to find out they're guilty."

Odo sighed. "A very narrow view, Captain."

"Perhaps, but it doesn't matter." She leaned forward, dropping her legs to the floor. "Major, do you understand that it makes no difference whether or not I think Major Kira is guilty? I represent the United Federation of Planets without bias, and I will present their case accordingly."

"I understand, Captain," Odo said...but inside, he felt cautious relief. Her statement was indicative of an open mind, which was something he'd come to know as a humanoid rarity.

Venable touched the desktop comm unit. "Send them in," she said shortly. The door opened and Kira entered, followed closely by a security guard. He motioned her into the chair opposite Odo. Her back was straight and her head held high, but she kept her face averted. Odo couldn't take his eyes off the determined set of her jawline. Why won't she look at me? he thought. He reached across the tabletop and closed his fingers around her wrist...her eyes fell shut at the contact. She kept her face toward Venable but her hand turned and squeezed his fingers briefly before releasing them and retreating under the table.

Venable leaned forward, her face somber. "Major, this meeting is merely a preliminary conference. There are some details that have to be attended to before your case can proceed." She glanced down at a PADD before her. "First there's the matter of advocacy. Because you are a military officer, this case does fall under the jurisdiction of the JAG Corps. However, you are not a Federation citizen, therefore you will require a Starfleet officer to act on your behalf as your advocate until you are able to obtain an attorney, be it one of your choosing or one of our defenders."

Kira nodded. "Yes, Captain, I've dealt with the JAG Corps before."

"The Corps will assign you an officer to act in this..."

"That won't be necessary," came a new voice as the door swished open. The three officers looked up at the imposing visage of Captain Sisko, his expression one of his best don't-screw-with-the-Emissary stares. "Benjamin Sisko, Captain Venable. I will be acting as Major Kira's advocate." He took the seat next to Kira, tossing her a brief reassuring glance and nodding to Odo.

Venable nodded, the only outward sign of her surprise being a slight elevation of the eyebrows. "Captain Sisko, your reputation precedes you...however, it does not entitle you to barge in on one of my meetings without so much as a by-your-leave."

Sisko inclined his head slightly. "My apologies, Captain, but you'll understand that I consider this matter one of utmost personal importance. My first officer requires my assistance and I intend for her to have it. I'd appreciate your approving me as her advocate as soon as possible."

Odo blinked. If he didn't know better, he'd think the Captain sounded like his old self. Venable sighed. "Very well, Captain. Consider yourself approved. My clerk will provide you with the materials and instructions you'll need." She looked back at Kira. "Major, we can avoid a lot of time and effort if you're willing to acknowledge your guilt right now. If you'd like to consider a plea, I'm listening."

Kira's back straightened and she looked Venable right in the eyes. "Captain, I am innocent of this crime. I have no intention of pleading guilty," she said tightly.

Venable nodded. "I suspected as much." She stood up. "I think that's all we need to take care of at the moment. Captain Sisko, I will contact you later."

The security officer reappeared as if by magic and moved to Kira's elbow. She met Odo's eyes for one agonizing second, then turned and left the room with her gold-uniformed shadow. Sisko and Odo stood outside Venable's office for a moment, watching as she disappeared down the hall. "I've never seen her like that," Sisko said. "She was so...restrained. She could hardly bring herself to look at you, or me."

"Self-preservation," Odo said quietly.

He looked at his security chief curiously. "How do you mean?"

"She's humiliated to be seen in this state, a prisoner. It's a condition she associates with helplessness, and that's not something she's used to." He sighed. "And she's so mad she can hardly see straight." He glanced at Sisko. "I'm no therapist, but I do know something of the psychology of incarceration, and a great deal about the psychology of Kira Nerys. Life has forced her to learn how and when to shut her emotions away where they can't harm her." The two men started down the hallway towards the transporter center. "I appreciate your help, Captain. I can't think of anyone Kira would trust more to look after her interests."

"Except you, perhaps."

"I'm going to be otherwise occupied."

Sisko nodded. "What are you planning?" he asked quietly.

Odo hesitated. "I have to go to Orion. The only way I'm going to free her is to find the real perpetrators. When you see the evidence you'll understand."

They walked in silence for a few moments. "You were right, Odo."

"About what?"

"I'm not in the habit of turning away from those who need me."

Odo smiled. "Like Kira?"

"Yes, like Kira." They had reached the transporter center. "I need to stay here and look over the case," Sisko said as Odo stepped to the platform. "When are you leaving?"

"As soon as I can. Quietly," he added, a significant look in his eyes.

Sisko nodded. "I'll handle Venable. Just...find out who did this. And try not to worry," he added, managing to do without sounding patronizing.

"I trust you, Captain," Odo said as he dematerialized. Sisko turned to leave, bolstered by that simple vote of confidence.

********

Odo returned to the lab to a group of somber faces. Julian, Miles and Data were each seated at their own console, wearing near-identical expressions of frustration and growing despair. They all looked up as he entered. "I suppose I don't need to ask how things are going," he said.

"No better than this morning," Julian grumbled.

"Worse, in fact," Data added neutrally. "We have eliminated several theories we had proposed to explain the DNA evidence. If it was planted or cloned, then it was done in a way that is beyond my ability to detect."

"What did the JAG officer say?" Miles asked.

"Nothing much. Captain Sisko's volunteered to act as Kira's advocate."

"That's good news, at least."

Odo nodded, his thoughts elsewhere. The three men watched his face.

"What are you going to do?" Julian asked.

Before Odo could comment, the door swished open to admit a weary-looking Deanna Troi. "Where have you been?" Data asked, rising to put an arm around her. She let him guide her to a chair, which was in itself evidence of her fatigue...as if the bags under her eyes weren't enough.

"I've been sitting in an observation room, watching Major Kira while Biroc and his officers questioned her," she said. "I'd hoped to get more information about what they know and how they're proceeding."

"Did you?" Odo asked, not sounding like he had much hope for a helpful answer.

"No, I didn't...but I can tell you one thing," she said. "She's innocent. At no time did I sense any deception or guilt from her at all."

"Unfortunately that doesn't help us," Julian said tightly. "Telepathic impressions are not admissible according to Federation laws of evidence. Odo, do you think that..."

That was as far as he got before Odo, who had other things on his mind, overrode him. "Chief...let's say someone needed to obtain a ship," he said in a speculative tone, idly tapping one finger on the console.

"Hypothetically speaking?" Miles asked, a gleam coming into his eye.

"Of course."

"Well, first I'd want to know where this person planned to hypothetically go."

"Suppose they wanted to go to Orion." Everyone in the room was watching this exchange with a great deal of interest and not a little bit of apprehension. The Chief nodded, stroking his chin with two fingers.

"An interesting problem. It's not as if they could take the Def..." He cut himself off and harrumphed. "It's not as if they could take a starship without anyone knowing they'd gone. I'd guess...hypothetically...that secrecy would be a factor?"

"Correct."

"They would need a smaller vessel that wouldn't be missed, at least not right away. But they would still have a good deal of trouble bypassing the launch security systems."

"I don't think that's a problem. This person would have, hypothetically, spent a lot of time observing someone who's an expert at bypassing security systems."

"They'd be shot down before they could reach the planet's surface."

Odo frowned. "Could their shield be modified to conceal their identity?"

"It's been done before...but I would have to get to the ship ahead of time to make the modifications."

"This person isn't willing to risk anyone else's life or career except his own, Chief. What you suggest is out of the question." Odo fell silent, thinking. Miles' jaw ground for a moment, then he suddenly struck the console in frustration.

"Dammit! We're running out of options here!" He whirled on Troi. "Why can't you at least give a statement to Biroc about your reading of Kira?"

Julian shook his head. "It's meaningless, Miles! That kind of evidence has no standing!"

"Why bloody not?"

"Because," came a new voice from the doorway, "telepaths can be fooled." Briggs walked forward, glancing around at the agitated group.

Deanna shook her head. "It's never been shown that any sentient lifeform has the ability to consciously deceive a telepath."

Briggs nodded. "You must be Commander Troi." She put out a hand. "I'm Nora Briggs. Nice to meet you." Deanna shook the hand mechanically, but her face was tight and she was staring at Briggs with a wary expression. She didn't let go of Nora's hand, just stood there frozen with her eyes locked on the lieutenant's face.

"Deanna?" Data asked, rising. "What is wrong?"

"You're not human," Deanna whispered, still gripping Briggs' fingers.

"I think my parents would disagree with you on that," Nora said with a grin, making no attempt to reclaim her hand.

"How...but I..." She trailed off. "What are you?" she finally whispered. She stepped back and dropped Nora's hand as if she'd been burned. She glanced briefly over at Odo, who was watching them with a vaguely bemused expression. "I don't feel anything from her at all, it's like she's not there!" She fell back another step, her breath speeding. "It's very...disorienting."

Briggs closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. "Is that better?" Deanna met her eyes again and sucked in a sharp breath, her hand going to her throat.

"Just a moment, please." She watched Nora for a moment then relaxed. "Yes. I can sense you normally now." She sank into a nearby chair. "I've never felt anything like that from a human being," she said. "How do you do that?" she asked, amazed.

"It's amazing the skills you can pick up during a year at a Vulcan thought monastery."

Data laid a hand on Deanna's shoulder and looked over at Briggs. "Was that demonstration really necessary? She is exhausted," he said, a note of annoyance creeping into his voice.

"Perhaps not, but I believe I made my point. Now, I couldn't help overhearing your hypothetical conversation," she went on, giving Odo and Miles significant looks. "And it seems to me that what this Orion-bound person needs is a hypothetical partner who works for a hypothetical agency that just happens to own a number of hypothetical ships that would be up to the task."

Odo glanced at Miles and Julian, then turned back to Briggs, tentative hope rising in his chest. "You'd do that for her?" He wasn't sanguine about placing others at risk, but the prospect of acquiring Briggs (and all her skills) as a partner was too valuable an opportunity to pass up.

She nodded. "Yes. I'd do that for her, and for you, and because it needs to be done and it's my job to do things that need doing that no one else can do."

Odo smiled. "Thank you, Lieutenant."

"When do we leave?"

He sighed, his face tightening. "Tonight."

********

Ensign O'Reilly, the officer on duty in the security holding area, had been surreptitiously watching his agitated prisoner for some time, wondering how long it would be before her relentless pacing wore a bald patch in the carpet beneath her feet. It had been a more-or-less steady stream in and out of here all day. Biroc and his investigators, a few forensic technicians, and some bald captain he didn't recognize had been in here three times...but Odo had been conspicuous by his absence. O'Reilly privately thought that if it was his fiancee in jail you'd have to drag him away from her cell with a tractor beam...but word around the campfire was that Odo was trying to prove her innocence. He supposed that was keeping him busy enough.

As if O'Reilly's thoughts had summoned him, the door slid open and Odo entered. He knew he should probably just leave the planet without saying anything to anyone but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He had to see her.

She stopped pacing and forced a smile at his approach. "I'm glad it's you," she said as he stood before the force field. "If I see another Federation investigator today I'll scream."

"Had a few visitors, then?"

She nodded. "And they all look at me like I'm a rabid haracat." She sighed and slumped down on the edge of her cot. "Thank the Prophets for the Emissary. If it wasn't for him I think I might have done or said something to them that wouldn't have helped my case." She looked up at him. He was staring at her with such an odd expression, his gaze intense as if he were trying to commit every detail to memory. "What's going on?" she said softly, not wanting the guard to overhear.

His eyes flicked to the side for a moment, indicating that he shared her disinclination to make his words public knowledge. "Nerys, I'm leaving. Tonight."

With effort, she kept her face and posture casual. "Orion?"

He nodded. "When you see me again, you'll have been cleared of any wrongdoing."

"It's too dangerous," she whispered. "I wish I could tell you not to go."

"I have to go. I have to find the person that did this."

"I don't suppose I can convince you not to go alone?"

"Briggs is coming with me."

Kira's face relaxed noticeably. "Good. She's just the person to have with you in a fight. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about." She bit her lip. "What about Dietz?"

"Julian and Miles are going to have their hands full, so he's going to stay here to look after you."

"Odo, I think I'm covered. I'm in a damned holding cell."

"Briggs is concerned that...well..."

"That the real assassin will try something?"

"Yes. It's a concern I share. A dead scapegoat is the safest kind." They just stared at each other for a long moment, not speaking. "I should go. Briggs is waiting," he said, sounding reluctant.

She sighed and leaned back against the bulkhead. "Just one thing before you leave."

"Anything."

She paused, then seemed to come to some internal decision. "I'd like to finish our conversation," she said firmly.

He frowned, puzzled. "Which conversation?"

"Back in our quarters, the first morning I was here...before all this insanity. I asked you how long you'd loved me."

"Yes, I remember." He still wasn't quite sure where this was heading.

"Aren't you the least bit curious about me?" she asked.

He blinked, the question taking him completely by surprise. "Well, I uh..." He shook his head. "I never really thought about it." Liar. He'd only wondered about a thousand times. He met her eyes. "All right then...how long?" He wasn't altogether sure he wanted to know. "Since that first night at Vic's?"

A slight smile curved her lips. "No. Go back further."

"Dax's stag party?"

Her smile grew. "Further."

Odo was already nearly too amazed to speak. "Gaia?" he ventured, incredulous.

She stood, never dropping her eyes from his. "Vaatrik," she said quietly.

Odo shut his eyes and shook his head. "No. I don't believe it."

She shrugged. "All right, maybe not. But I'll tell you this. When you told me that you didn't take sides, and all you wanted was the truth and if I was innocent I'd go free...I knew you were sincere, that it wasn't just a line for you. I'm not sure if I can say what that meant, to me. I'd spent my life among those who were without hope and under the thumb of people who talked of order and honor but who'd just as soon stab you in the back as look at you. I'd stopped thinking that there were people in the universe who really believed in justice, and lived by it." Her face fell. "When you let me go, thinking I was innocent..." She paused a moment. "I felt worse about that than I'd felt about anything I'd done my entire life. It stayed with me, you stayed with me, for a long, long time...and even though the guilt was bad, I felt better. It sounds silly, but after I'd left the station I thought of you a lot. The knowledge that there was someone Dukat didn't control..."

"Oh, but he did..."

"No, he didn't. Not really. No one ever did, or could. That helped me, it really did." She glanced away, coloring slightly. "I never told you this before, I feel a little strange about it."

"Go on," he said softly. "Tell me."

She sighed. "I sort of...developed this image of you in my head." She looked away and her eyes went unfocused as she traveled back to a place in her mind that was now unfamiliar. "Standing on a wall, with chaos on one side and tyranny on the other...always trying to keep your balance and stay up there, and always trying to pull everyone else up there with you. Sometimes when I'd find myself in a bad situation, trying hard to hang onto the shreds of my morals and get through the Occupation with my self-respect still intact, I'd think of that. I'd think of you on that wall, and I'd wonder what you would do if you were in my place...or what you would think about the decisions I was making." She looked up, coming back from the past, and met his astounded gaze with a smile. "Believe it or not, you got me through some tough times and you didn't even know it. I think...I started to love you then, even if I didn't really realize it. When I came to the station and found you still there, I knew the Prophets had sent me a sign that I was in the right place...that maybe I'd finally managed to climb up on that wall with you." She took a step closer. "Okay, so it wasn't love at first sight. But you were important, more so than you realized, almost from the very beginning. After the Occupation you became more than just a symbol, you became a friend too, and I felt lucky for it." She cleared her throat and crossed her arms over her chest. "When you found out the truth about Vaatrik, I felt like this big gaping hole was opening under my feet to swallow me up. I didn't know if I could live with myself if I ever saw you look at me the way I'd seen you look at Dukat...with contempt." She trailed off.

"Oh, Nerys," Odo breathed. "We're such fools, both of us."

She nodded. "Well, I can't argue with that."

"All these years I was a symbol of justice and honor to you, and you were a symbol of strength and passion to me...why didn't we ever just think of each other as people?"

"Things might have been a lot different if we had." She swiped a hand quickly over her eyes.

"Why didn't you ever tell me these things before?"

"I don't know. I guess...I was a little bit embarrassed. I didn't know what you'd think of the fact that I used you as some sort of moral compass and rallying cry when I was in the Resistance."

"Well, just for the record, the Order of Light pales in comparison."

She looked up at him. "But I wanted to tell you now, just in case..."

"Shh. Don't say that."

"I can't even think it." She fetched a deep sigh. "Promise me you'll be careful. I can't lose you, not again."

"I will." I should leave now, he thought. Just turn around...go to the ship...but he couldn't tear his eyes away from her. "I wish I could touch you," he whispered.

"Me too," she said, barely mouthing the words. As if on cue, the force field separating them snapped off with a brief "zzzzzip." Kira flinched backwards, looking around suspiciously. Odo glanced over his shoulder to the ensign on duty, who was standing there with his hands behind his back, whistling softly and casting his eyes innocently towards the ceiling. Odo smiled, but didn't waste time musing over the man's motives. He stepped into the cell and Kira came into his arms, clutching her own around his neck. Her heart was racing as she gripped his face in her fingers and began to kiss him feverishly, almost...ferociously. Odo was a bit taken aback. For all her fiery temperament, when it came to intimacy she wasn't particularly aggressive or rough. At this moment, however, it almost felt as if she were trying to tear chunks of his flesh away from his body. She pressed herself tightly against him, small sounds of urgency escaping her lips as they kissed. Catharsis, Odo thought in some remote part of his mind. Ezri would call this a catharsis. Whatever it was, he felt himself getting caught up in it...but then she abruptly pushed herself away, leaving his arms gripping the air where she had been mere seconds before. The muscles in her jaw knotted and Odo saw the glimmer of tears at the corners of her eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered. He said nothing, not requiring an explanation. She stepped closer and kissed him again, once, tenderly. "Take that with you," she breathed against his cheek. "I love you."

He stroked her cheek and forced a smile, then stepped over the cell threshold. The force field snapped back into place. "I love you too," he said quietly. She closed her eyes, her arms folded tightly over her chest, as Odo turned away and walked to the door. He paused by O'Reilly's station, not meeting the ensign's eyes. "Thank you," he murmured.

O'Reilly spared him a brief glance. "Must've been a blip in the power, sir. It happens."

Odo nodded and left the room, pausing in the corridor as the door slid shut behind him. He shut his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and strode down the hall with renewed purpose.

********

"Miles, this is by far the least likely scenario you've come up with yet."

"Just don't try to tell me it's impossible because it's not bloody impossible!"

"I suppose that's true mathematically, the probability is not zero..."

"Actually, it is point zero zero zero zero..."

"Thank you, Data."

"You're too attached to probability analysis, Julian. You're starting to sound like Jack!"

"Well, maybe that's a good thing! If Jack were here we'd probably have this all figured out by now!"

"Gentlemen," Odo grumbled as he entered. "This hardly seems constructive."

Julian rose and pointed across at Miles. "Well, he's trying to convince me that an assassin could have executed a successful near-warp beamout with tachyon shielding and with the security fields in place. Is that constructive?"

"I haven't seen you making any stellar contributions yourself, Mr. Genetically Enhanced!"

Data stood up between them, both hands raised, an exasperated look on his face. "Will you both please SHUT UP!" he exclaimed. That did it. Miles and Julian closed their mouths with audible snaps and looked contrite. If you make Data mad, you've probably stepped over the line. "Odo is right, this is not helping. I suggest you both turn your attentions to other matters...ones that might actually lead to results," he added under his breath.

"This doesn't inspire confidence," Odo grumbled.

"We're on top of things," Julian said, sitting down at his console.

"We'll get to the bottom of this if it kills us...and it just might," Miles added grimly.

Odo and Data exchanged a mildly amused glance. "Very well," Odo said. He glanced at each of their faces in turn. "Good luck while I'm gone."

"Be careful," Miles cautioned, already hip-deep in a new analysis.

"And keep us updated," Julian said, pausing long enough to smile encouragement up at the shapeshifter.

Data walked with Odo to the door. "Do not worry," he said in that infuriatingly calm tone which Odo had learned was his normal one. "Miles and I have fought through tougher problems than this." He started to turn away, then paused. "But not many," he added with a half-smile. Odo nodded to him and left the room, treading over his anxiety.

********

He heard the voice...her half-dreaded voice...when he was still three doors down the hall from their docking bay. He paused, wondering how rude it would be to go back and beam himself into the ship, then squared his shoulders and pressed onward. She was on him as soon as he stepped over the threshold.

"Oh, my dear, I can't believe you're just flying off like this and into such a dangerous situation I just can't believe it! It's impolite, that's what it is. There's still the Ambassador's reception...and I know all about poor Kira and it's so terrible I was up all night worrying about it but she wouldn't want you to just rush off to who knows where..."

"It's supposed to be confidential, Lwaxana."

"Oh I know but that lovely young lieutenant told me where your ship was docked after I explained to her just how urgent it was..."

Odo glanced up to the Class-2 shuttle's cockpit window. He could just see Briggs' face as she conducted pre-launch checks. Her entire face was quivering, her lips clamped tightly shut to hold back the giggles. "Thanks, Briggs," he called.

"Oh, my pleasure."

"Now, Lwaxana, what's so urgent that you had to see me?"

"Well, we have something for you," she said, holding out her arm towards Dr. Mora, whom Odo had not even seen standing there. Then again, Lwaxana did tend to dominate one's entire field of vision. Mora stepped forward with a shy but telling glance at Lwaxana, who twined her arm through his and smiled bewitchingly at him. Odo sighed and rolled his eyes. Poor Mora. Like a target on a phaser range.

"Here," the scientist said, holding out small disc like the one Dietz wore. Odo took it.

"Is this what I think it is?"

"Yes. Your friend Dietz came to see me about making one for you, tailored to your energy signature so you could wear it and still keep your ability to shapeshift. He was concerned that the Founders may have provided the Syndicate with the kind of detection technology that these discs were designed to circumvent."

"Mora, I'll just have to pretend that I didn't hear any of that."

"Of course," Mora said, nodding. "I understand this is all top-secret."

Odo hmphed. "I believe the definition of 'top-secret' is a little more relaxed on this planet than what I'm used to. It seems like everyone in this building knows about my mission. I'm sure I don't know how any covert activities are carried out with any confidentiality." He turned the disc over in his fingers. "Thank you," he said quietly. "This is very helpful. You must have stayed up all night to finish it."

"Your friend was very helpful. He provided me with all the schematics. It wasn't hard to construct one to fit you."

"I'll have to thank Dietz too, when I return."

"Just make sure you do return," Lwaxana said, her tone turning more serious.

"I have good reason to." Odo shook Mora's hand. "I appreciate this...Pol."

Mora smiled, blinking quickly. "And I appreciate that, son."

Odo started towards the ship, taking Lwaxana's arm to lead her a short distance away. "Lwaxana, please go easy on Mora. He's spent his whole life in a laboratory, he's very...sheltered."

"Whatever are you talking about, you silly thing?"

"You know what I'm talking about. I saw you with him. You've got...that look. I know that look."

She shrugged and smiled mischievously. "Well, since I can't use it on you anymore he's the next best thing!"

"Lwaxana..."

"Such a family resemblance...but I'm afraid he doesn't have your adventurous spirit. He'll be a much tougher nut to crack than you were," she said, laughing.

Odo rolled his eyes. "Just don't get any...funny ideas."

"Those are the only kinds of ideas I have, dear!" she said, clapping her hands. She kissed his cheek with a loud "smack" and minced back over to Mora. With a final wave they swished out the door. Odo stood there for a moment, unsure whether the urge to laugh that he was feeling was appropriate, then boarded the shuttle, shaking his head.

Briggs was in the pilot's chair. Odo sat down next to her, sparing her a single glance. "I'll get you for that," he grumbled.

"Oh now, be nice. They just wanted to give you the disc, which you must admit is a very good idea."

"You didn't have to tell them where..."

"So they wanted to say goodbye! Where's the harm? They know to keep their mouths shut, Odo, and the more they know about what we're trying to do, the more they'll realize how important their silence is. You have to know who to trust."

Odo found he had no adequate reply, so he said nothing. Briggs returned to her systems checks. Odo drew the disc into his chest, testing its functioning. He could still shapeshift, and the telltale vibration that he'd experienced when he'd used a less sophisticted model was absent.

"Are you, ahem, sure you have everything?" he asked sarcastically, eyeing the array of bags, cases and equipment that cluttered the back of the tiny shuttle. "And is this flying turbolift the best Section 31 can do?"

She glanced at him, then returned to the pre-launch sequence. "I'll have you know that this 'flying turbolift' is equipped with state-of-the-art retractable warp nacelles, experimental slipstream drive technology, an advanced prototype metaphasic cloaking shield, quantum torpedoes and cyclical harmonic phasers."

Odo began to wish he hadn't brought it up. "Didn't mean to offend your vanity, Briggs."

She grinned. "Just want to make sure you know what a sweet ride this is." They were silent for a few moments. "What's that?" she asked, nodding her head towards the PADD he was studying.

"It's the best blueprints of Syndicate headquarters I could find. Unfortunately the intelligence isn't complete."

"I know, I wrote it. Unfortunately I didn't spend that much time at headquarters when I was with the Syndicate, mostly branch offices. And the few times I was there, I had other things on my mind." Odo frowned at her grim tone. "But it's not a problem, we don't need it."

He gaped at her. "What do you mean, we don't need it? Accurate intelligence will be essential if we're to..."

"We have something better," she said, pulling another PADD out of her knapsack. "This is for you."

"For me? What is it?" he asked, taking it.

"The complete schematics of Syndicate headquarters. It was sent to me this morning by a very reliable source. He said it had been given to him by one of his organization's top Syndicate experts. It's far more complete than ours, and it includes a number of lockcodes, bypasses and secret little tricks that we might find useful."

"Are you sure you can trust it?"

"Positive."

"Why give this to me? You're the expert."

"Because it arrived with a private note addressed to you."

He stared at her for a moment, surprised, then accessed the note. His eyes widened in amazement as he read the words: "I knew my 'lost years,' as I've taken to calling them, would pay off someday. If this information helps you, then my sacrifice won't have been completely in vain. It's a dangerous place you're going to, make no mistake...trust no one, keep a wall at your back and try to blend into the shadows if you can. Please take care of yourself, and study the tips I've given you. I promise you they can save your life, and it's a life worth saving. I hope your mission is successful. I have never forgotten you or your kindness and I'm glad I could help you. I have tried to keep track of you over the years...I know that I hurt you once, but from what I've heard it has worked out for the best, for both of us. Your Kira is a lucky woman. As someone who's experienced firsthand your skills as an investigator, I have no doubt that you will prove her innocence. Good luck, and I wish you much happiness." It was unsigned, but he knew who had written it. He sighed and dropped it on the console.

"Briggs...your source. Is he, perchance, I'danian?"

"Yes. We maintain a close working relationship with I'danian Intelligence, it's the best in the entire quadrant if not the universe. They're very quiet about it, but they know absolutely everything...even that we're going on this mission, probably." She nodded towards the PADD. "Do you know who that's from?"

"Just an old...friend."

"Man, I could use more of those kinds of friends." The console beeped at her. "Prelaunch sequence complete." She smiled at her copilot. "Ready to rock and roll?"

He blinked. "I thought you'd want to say goodbye to Dietz."

She reacted almost as if he'd insulted her mother's virtue, the smile dropping off her face with a near-audible "clank." "I don't have anything to say to him." The casual animosity behind her words felt like a slap across the face. Odo decided it was probably best just to ignore it, for now.

"Then let's...rock and roll, as you say."

The shuttle rose off the docking bay floor and moved forward, its metaphasic cloaking device allowing it to pass through the bay doors unnoticed...and unnoticed, it streaked away from Earth towards the planet Orion and whatever secrets might be found there.

Ahead to Part 3

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