Spices

      Garak found some of the Federation`s principles irrational, other ones overly naive, and the rest of them imprudent. This was probably the source of constant debates with a young federal doctor Julian Bashir. Their differences had become an exquisite spice for every conversation, and Garak secretly didn`t want to part with it.              Their relationship was pleasingly predictable, laced with a reasonable dose of surprise, and Garak assumed that nothing would change in the near future. He hadn`t expected a night visit of an extremely agitated doctor.              The door to the apartment opened on its own, although Julian usually didn`t use neither medical codes for no reason, nor... Garak put down the PADD and stood up, aware that his door just had been hacked into, which meant that Julian had chosen to bypass the security system rather than use accesses he had.              «My dear, what happened?» Garak asked, seeing that Julian wasn`t going to — or wasn`t daring to? — speak first.              «They... know». He took a step forward and put his hands on Garak`s shoulders in a gesture of desperation. «Do you understand?»              «No». Garak didn`t pull away, the touch of the hot hands was pleasant, and there weren`t many really pleasant moments on DS9. «But if you explain, I`m sure I`ll understand much better.»              Julian threw his head back for a moment, like a swimmer before jump into water, took a fitful breath, and finally said:              «I`m genetically enhanced. Genetic enhancements…»              «...are forbidden in the Federation. From the perspective of the law you are a criminal and even more — the one who attempted to get place of a Starfleet officer.» Garak tilted his head slightly. «And you`ve been hiding it, but now…»              «…they know». Julian dropped his head. «I don`t have much time. I have to run.»              «And so you came to me, didn’t you?» Garak asked, a bit surprised.              «I know how we can get back to Cardassia together». Now they looked into each other`s eyes. The feverish fire in Julian`s eyes was not at all like the one Garak got used to notice during their arguments. Nor did it remind of the flames that Garak had been observing when Julian had been found a solution for a new patient. No.              This Julian really couldn`t stay in the Federation any longer.              «Tell me.» Garak said, drawing him to the sofa. «Since we don`t have much time.»              It was irrational and imprudent to pursue genetic improvements, and naive to outlaw them. Garak stared at doctor`s face and wondered how the coincidence of their interests and feelings could also feel so... spicy.       

***

      Bypass the security system, select one of the shuttles, launch lockdowns, hidden from the federal operating system installed over the cardassian one, that put the entire once Terok Nor into emergency mode… When their ship left the station, there were more important things in there to worry about than the medical chief, suddenly disappeared.              Having the course set, Julian leaned back in his chair and looked at Garak as if inviting him to talk.              «I assume you`re waiting for a question.» Garak chuckled. «You want me to ask, how did you find out?..»              «I keep monitoring certain channels.» Julian nodded. «The order of my detention will reach commander Sisko tomorrow.»              Garak glanced at the dashboard and followed the indicated course. The plan was risky, but elegant. And while his success was doubtful, it was the combination of risk and grace that might prompt one important figure to help them.              «I`m sure Tain will be interested.» Julian said casually.              And suddenly Garak realized that this was the first time he had ever seen him like this — stripped of the mask of a naive and sympathetic youth, burning with the ideals of the Federation. This Julian Bashir turned out to be focused, rational and tough.              Like a new spice in a familiar dish. Garak needed to appreciate the new taste.       

***

      «The Federation betrayed you, and you decided to betray the Federation?»              They sat in the living room of Tain`s house. As if they were old friends. Holding a thin glass of sky-blue kanar between his fingers, Garak watched Tain`s every move. Julian, on the other hand, seemed extremely relaxed.              «Did I betray the Federation by being here?» he paraphrased the question. «I don`t think so. I am a project that runs counter to her great spirit.» The smile that flickered across his lips was quite skeptical. «In our negotiations I am rather a thing, a condition that will allow our mutual acquaintance to terminate his exile.»              «Exile.» Tain repeated disdainfully. «Extended vacation. This will be more accurate. But you should understand, Julian, — he smirked, — that cardassian interrogation techniques can make you tell a lot more than that, shouldn’t you?»              «I`ll be more useful alive.»              Garak noted that Julian — oh, where had that naive and slightly awkward federal doctor gone —had not taken a sip from his own glass. The pause dragged on, as if Tain had missed the question.              «We know how to keep alive those we want to question,» he said at last.              «You forget that I am a doctor.» Julian`s smile was predatory, and ice in his eyes made even Garak feel uneasy. «A doctor who figured out the features of the Obsidian order’s implant perfectly. And who is able to embed a lot of intriguing devices into his own body. I`m much more useful alive,» then he spread his hands. «But in any case I`d rather die than return to the Federation or…» he paused, «betray the Federation.»              Yes, some of the Federation`s principles were definitely irritating, while others seemed frivolous. But Garak had already noticed that part of them was still... very curious.              «Fine.» Tain accepted the terms. «I retired a long time ago, but I still have connections…»              Garak smirked, not believing a word of it. The game has begun.       

***

      «Why did you choose me?» Garak asked when they were alone in their assigned house. Cardassia Prime was so close, but for now they had to take shelter in one of the colonies.              «Did I have a choice?» Julian examined the replicator, his abilities in kardasi exceeded expectations, but were still limited.              «You could turn to Gul Dukat with the same suggestion. He would have given you shelter with equal zeal.» Garak moved closer and activated the panel, selecting a few simple dishes that he thought would have tasted good to Julian.              «Gul Dukat is too close to commander Sisko. In their political dance I would become a pawn.» Julian took the appeared tray and stepped back to the table. «And I prefer the role of another chess piece.»              «Such as?» Garak looked at him, intrigued.              «I like to feel myself a queen, if you understand…» Julian didn`t look up at him, busying himself with tasting instead. «Hmm, I think I can get used to... cardassian cuisine. »              Garak sat across from him. He wasn`t used to not get answers.              «And still, Julian, why did you come to me and not, for example, directly to Tain?» he repeated.              Now they were looking at each other again.              Garak tried to imagine an answer. Would an ex-federal doctor refer to the need to trust someone? Will he say that he considers him a reliable ally? Will he indicate that he has another plan in which Garak himself will be the condition for sealing the contract?..              «Maybe because I love you?» as though Julian suggested instead. «There are many reasons, but now it seems to me it is the only one worth voicing.»              Garak gasped for a moment, as if the dish was too spicy. Julian wasn`t joking, and his look was direct and firm. He didn`t doubt his own feelings or his choice.              It didn`t look like his plan was created at the last moment. Not like that at all…              «How long have you known that the Federation started hunting you?» Garak asked, as if it mattered now.              «Did I ever say that it... started hunting?» Julian chuckled. «The hunt never stopped. They just finally collated the data and got my name.» He resumed eating, and the tension became so palpable that Garak`s eyes narrowed. «I`ve been monitoring information about searches for me since graduation from school.»              «And it took them so long to find you?» Garak couldn’t help it.              «And they wouldn`t have found me, if I hadn`t helped them do so». Julian`s voice didn`t change, he didn`t change his pose, he didn`t stop eating. «But if I hadn`t, would you have agreed to run away with me, Elim?»