In one lone corner of the Universe, designated as the Gamma Quadrant, such a beast exists, raging in its fury and leaving behind the torn and battered remnants of two ships. Shields crackling, they tumble away from the beast and come to rest not far from each other. Both hanging dead in space.

"Don’t evade the question," replied Guardian. "What have you done with him?"

"I fail to understand how I can be motherless and a son of anything…."

"See," said Power to no one in particular. "See them for what they really are and then ask yourself if I am wrong."

"Enough!" shouted Kira. "I have had enough of your bickering. Wisdom, answer the damn question." The three changelings stared at her as though no one, especially a solid, had ever had the nerve to speak to them in such a manner. Guardian stood in the center of his cell with a rather shamefaced grin on his face. Power gave a dismissive gesture and threw himself upon his bunk, arm crossed, as though waiting for justification. Wisdom rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a moment, then folding his arms across his chest and holding his head high, he spoke. "We have done with him what we do with all supernumeraries who have completed their tasks…."

"I knew it," said Guardian. "Hide bound, stubborn…"

"It is our way. It has been our way since time immemorial."

"Petty, self righteous…"

"Self righteous! How dare you? You, who have gained the rank of Guardian in exactly the same manner. If it were not for the cleansing you would still be lost, wandering the Universe in search of a home…"

"Cleansing!" said Kira. "Exactly what is the cleansing?"

"Nothin," was the reply. "You got your damn eyes closed that’s all."

Jack opened one eye only to immediately close it again when the light pierced his pupil like a knife. Damn, he thought, placing his hands over his eyes to shield them.

"Jack?" Gus called him again. "You okay?"

"My head hurts like a sunofabitch, and my eyes aren’t working properly, but other than that I’m fine." He tried to take a step forward, only to realize for the first time that he was lying on the deck. "Status."

Gus took one look at the smoke filled bridge, the shower of sparks falling from broken consoles and sighed. "We’re in one piece as far as I can tell," he replied. "Lilly’s off line, so I can’t be sure, but all primary systems seem to be down."

"Seem to be down? Why don’t you know for sure?"

"Cause hopefully I’ve only busted my pelvis, but it could be my spine or my hip. Either way, I can’t stand up to read the consoles and that damn navigational headset is too far away for me to crawl after it."

"What about the rest? Quark? Ognij? Buck?"

Gus glanced at the pile of bodies that lay in the corner of the bridge. "Still unconscious if we’re lucky. Dead if we ain’t.

"What do you mean dead?" demanded Rusawa. "I gave no one permission to die." He viscously kicked the body that lay nearest to him.

"Sorry, Boss," Grgor said cowering.

"Yes," hissed Zit giving the corpse a second kick for good measure. "If they were still alive, I would have them severely punished. Cowards." He received a cuff on the ear for thanks.

"Don’t be foolish," whispered Grgor. "We’ll put them in stasis and punish them once we get back home."

"Of course," agreed Zit, rubbing the side of his head. "How could I forget the Triads fifth rule."

"Being dead is no excuse," they recited in unison.

"Status," roared Rusawa. Grgor and Zit quickly took their stations.

"Communications dea…ah…off line," said Zit. "Navigation off line. Engines off line."

"Primary systems off line," reported Grgor. "Secondary systems operating at 25% capacity. Tactical off line. Shields at 50% and holding."

"The ship," said Rusawa impatiently. "The ship. Where is the ship?"

"There’s a vessel just off our port," replied Zit. "Sensors indicate a Jem-Hadar vessel. Scans show five life signs on board."

"That must be the one then," said Grgor with a grin. "And scans show their ship is in as bad a shape as ours. We could board them if we could only get them to lower their shields."

"Weapons, gentlemen," said Rusawa. "Get those weapons on line, now. I want those shields down and the ship in one piece. We haven’t come this far just to give up now."

"Well?" asked Kira.

Guardian shot Wisdom a venomous look and then gave Kira a nervous smile. "It’s a little hard for outsiders to understand," he began.

"Then use little words so I’ll be sure to understand," replied Kira allowing her temper to flare just enough to get her point across. She had come too far to let them off the hook now.

"Supernumeraries are sent out from the link equipped with no knowledge of who or what they are…"

"I know that. You said earlier that supernumeraries were supposed to want to go home but they weren’t actually supposed to find it. So what happens next?"

"Right. This is where it gets difficult. You see, how shall I put this, supernumeraries are really nothing more than…probes."

"Probes?"

"Probes. They’re supposed to gather as much knowledge as possible and then when they reach a certain point the programming kicks in and they start to search for home. Now, this usually takes a long, long, time, because, you see, most supernumeraries start out life among lesser life forms such as a plant or a bug or something and then work their way up the food chain. Now, Odo, because he was discovered and turned over for examination, skipped a couple of hundred years of evolution as a probe, and jumped right in the massive information absorption…."

"The cleansing…?" she prompted.

"Right. Once, the probes have reached their information threshold, they are supposed to be met in the field by a Guardian, like me, who, ah, downloads all their information and gives them new instructions and sends them back out into the field. Then the Guardian, like me, takes the accumulated knowledge back to their supervisor, who then passes that on to the Link."

"Downloads? What the hell is that?"

"Cleansed," volunteered Wisdom. "They are cleansed in the field and issued forth again."

"And what exactly does this cleansing or downloading involve?"

"It involves," said Wisdom. "The compete transfer of memory. In return, the changeling is given a task to do and the necessary knowledge and skills to complete that task."

"It means," said Power. "That everything Odo was is now part of the Link. It means, colonel, that your precious Odo is nothing more than a memory."

Gus, propped up and leaning against the bulkhead, his useless legs splayed out before him, grinned at his friend over the top of the view screen.

"What’s so funny?" asked Jack.

"Nuthin. ‘Cepting you look like a genuine Junior Spaceman in them goggles. How’s the head?"

"These goggles are the only thing that’s letting me keep my eyes open without passing out and the head will do until the pain killers wear off." He gave the headset a final adjustment. "Cheer up, Gus. We’ve been through worse."

"That we have," he replied. "But it was in our own ship and with a seasoned crew." He glanced at Quark who had one arm in a makeshift sling and Ognij who had suffered a small crack on his head, which despite their best efforts, continued to ooze a clear fluid. The only member of the crew who had apparently escaped injury was Buck. Gus shook his head. "Where do you suppose we are?" he asked.

"Until the navigational array is back up and running, your guess is a good as mine. But, I figure that since the storm was on a direct heading for the Idran System, and taking into consideration the speed of the storm and the amount of time…."

"Jack," interrupted Gus. "Now you’re giving me a headache."

"Sorry. Long and short of it is, I’m guessing we’re somewhere between Idran and the wormhole. But exactly where, I haven’t a clue. It’s just lucky for us that the Zunigians are in as bad a shape as we are."

"Don’t count on that luck holding out for long. It’s high noon for us, Jack. Whoever gets their guns up and running first wins. Now, you take ole Buck with you and get them weapons on line pronto. I’ll just sit here and…supervise."

The words rang in her ears and yet her mind rebelled, convinced she had not heard aright. Kira suddenly felt as though the temperature in the room dropped 50 degrees. She turned to Guardian. "Is this true?" she asked, surprised her voice sounded so calm.

Guardian glanced at Wisdom, who nodded and said, "He has achieved the rank of Secondary."

"Well, yes and no," said Guardian trying to buy some time. With a few words Power had jeopardized the entire mission. Guardian realized he needed Kira’s cooperation and, for reasons he could not fathom, he wanted her understanding as well. "It’s a little more complicated than just a simple matter of life and death..."

"Answer the question," demanded Kira. The look on her face told him no matter how hard he tried, it was a matter that could not be evaded.

"Yes.," he said with a shake of his head. "It’s true. I’m sorry."

Kira looked at each face, desperately trying to find just a faint glimmer of deception. Something to tell her that what she had heard was not true. She found not even the slightest thread upon which hope could cling.

"Damn you all to hell," said Kira. Without a further word, she spun on her heel and left

"Ha," said Buck as the relay hummed to life. He turned to find Jack slumped against the bulkhead. He touched Jack on the shoulder. "O kay?"

"Yeah," he replied wearily. "Pain killers just starting to wear off that’s all. Okay, now let’s see. What next, eh? Pull that panel off and let’s see how much damage was done to the navigational array."

As Buck started to remove the panel, Jack uttered a groan and slid to the deck. Buck knelt next to Jack and hesitantly touched his face. The skin beneath his fingers was cool and clammy to the touch. "Not o kay," he said.

"No. No, it’s okay, Buck." Jack attempted to gather his wits. "I’ll walk you through it."

"No." To Jack, Buck looked as though he were struggling with something. Buck eventually spoke. "Ru sa wa musdie."

"So you keep saying. Well, Rusawa’s a something all right. Now, take that panel off and just repeat what you did with the last relay…."

"No," said Buck impatiently. "Lookie. Ru sa wa want Ba uck. Mus give him Ba uck. Ru Sa Wa mus da eye."

Through the haze in Jacks mind a persistent thought began to take shape. "Buck, what the hell are you talking about?"

"I’ve asked myself the same thing," said a voice behind them.

"Quark. What do you want?" asked Jack. "We’re working as fast as we can."

"Gus sent me down here to inform you that the engines are now back on line, but we lost the shields."

"Damn. And the Zunigians?"

"Scans show the only system they have on line is tactical, but, lucky for us, they apparently can’t power weapons yet."

"Well, with no shields, we aren’t about to wait around to find out if they are successful. Tell Gus to get those engines warmed up and let’s just hope they stay on line long enough for us to get out of range."

"Shields are down," reported Zit. "They’re warning up their engines."

"Can we beam over?" asked Grgor.

"Negative. We’ve had to reroute all available power to try and get weapons on line."

"Then give me weapons," demanded Rusawa. "If they get away, it will be very bad for the two of you."

"No weapons," reported Grgor, his hands flying over his console.

"They’re moving away," shouted Zit.

"Tractor beam," said Grgor. "We can route available power to the tractor beam."

"Do it," said Rusawa. "Then we can board them at our leisure."

"We did what we thought was necessary. You have no idea how many of us perished with the plague…"

"So, what did you do with the vessel? Where did you send the Secondary?"

Wisdom had the grace to look somewhat shamefaced. "The vessel was sent on a mission of great importance to the security of the Link."

"I’m sure. Where? Is the Secondary somewhere it can be retrieved?"

"If you are suggesting what I think you are suggesting, the answer is…"

"Just answer the question, damn you."

"The Secondary cannot be retrieved."

"Suicide mission eh? I should have known, you just couldn’t stand to have someone around who had any sympathy for outsiders could you?"

"It wasn’t like that," insisted Wisdom. "We had no choice. There was no one else."

"There’s always a choice," replied Guardian. "He saved your miserable lives, if you can call what you do living, and you reward him with a suicide mission."

"It was important for the security of the Link." Wisdom threw up his hands in frustration. "This discussion is pointless. You of all people should realize it was naïve of Odo to assume he could return to the Link and remain as he was. In the whole of our existence no supernumerary has ever been allowed to go beyond his programming."

"Behold a child of the Dominion in whom we are well pleased. Don’t make me laugh..."

"Those words meant something to you once. Your time among the outsiders has made you a poor changeling."

"My time among the outsiders has made me a better changeling than you will ever be. You have no idea what life is like outside the Link. You sit in your little portion of the Universe and scheme and plot and take no notice that the Universe has grown beyond you understanding. No supernumerary has ever been allowed to go beyond his programming. Listen to yourself. It is the very nature of sentience to strive to grow beyond your programming. It’s what life’s all about, but how would you know?"

"Teach me then," said Wisdom.

"What?"

"Return to the Link with me. There are only a few of our line left. Take your place as Justice and show us what you have learned. It was not Odo’s place, but it is yours."

"You’re crazy."

"I’m serious."

"Would you release Odo’s memories into a new vessel if I did?"

"That’s not for me to decide…"

"Just answer the question."

"It is a matter for the Elders, it is not my…."

"Just answer the goddamed question."

"I fail to see…"

"My point exactly."

They stared at each other, each knowing they were at a stalemate.

"Look, " said Guardian eventually. "If I go, and I’m not saying I will, someone will have to take my place. It is my right to choose and I choose Odo. Now answer the question."

"We have learned all we can from Odo. The seeds of understanding have been planted, but without care they will wither and die. Odo cannot do this, it is not his place…"

"And…" prompted Guardian.

"If it were up to me, yes, I would release Odo’s memories into a new vessel."

"Then I’ll think about it," said Guardian. He walked to the back of the cell and looked directly at the security camera. "So you see, Mr. Marshall," he said softly. "Eventually, we all have to choose what side we are on."

Quark held up his hand, his chest heaving. "Wait a minute while I catch my breath," he said.

"Well?"

"They’ve got a tractor lock on us. Gus says that there’s no way to shake them. Their engines aren’t on line yet and we’re towing them along like a tin can on a string. Whatever that means.. "

"Damn."

"It gets worse," said Quark.

"How?"

"Gus figures they’ll try to board us as soon as they can get enough power to their transporters."

"Damn. Damn. Damn."

"Gus wants to know if you can think of any way to break us free."

"No," said Jack, as he buried his face in his hands, suddenly sick to death with everything. He could only think of one way to get them out of the situation but it would most likely mean the destruction of their own vessel.

"Jack?" said Quark, starting to worry.

"Ru sa wa musdie," Buck volunteered.

"Rusawa must die," replied Quark with a shake of his head. "You’ve been saying that for weeks now Buck. Well, I tell you what, just hold on a little while longer and you can tell Rusawa to his face."

"What?" asked Jack. "What did he say?"

"Rusawa must die. Hadn’t you figured that out? Of course not, he doesn’t follow you around babbling at you like he does me. He’s been going on like this since Torquros IV. Rusawa must die. Buck kill must Rusawa. It Buck’s des-tin-y. Oh, I admit pretty exciting stuff on first hearing, but it gets monotonous after awhile. Especially when it’s just crazy…."

"No," said Jack. "It’s not crazy. As a matter of fact, it may the sanest idea yet."

"What?"

"We’ve been thinking of this all wrong. We’ve spent the entire time just trying to get away..."

"Getting away is a solid policy in my opinion…"

"Look, Quark. We’re dead men. We have no weapons except side arms. We’re stuck to Rusawa and his bunch like Siamese twins. We’ve run out of options. We can’t out run them any longer, it’s time to fight. I don’t know about you, but I’m with Buck. Now, listen this is what you’re going to do."

At a terminal in the back of the Security Office, John Marshall, sat back and sighed. He slid the recording rod from it’s slot and held it up the light, Admiral Ross’ promises of forgiveness for past offenses, promotion, and the blessings of a grateful command sounding in his memory. Placing the rod in his pocket, he turned the terminal off. "Eventually we all have to choose," he said softly to himself. "We do indeed sir, indeed we do."

"Does that help?" he asked.

"Nope. I lost feelin in my legs about an hour ago, but it at least gives me somethin to do."

"Five minutes to impact," announced Lilly calmly.

"So, you think this is going to work?" Jack asked quietly.

"What? Blowin up ole Rusawa’s ship? Don’t see why not. It’s a good plan - them Zunigians ain’t got their engines up and running yet, and as long as they got that tractor beam locked on us, they go where we go. If the boys do as instructed and arm them torpedoes properly afore droppin them out the aft air lock the only way ole Rusawa’s gonna avoid havin them hit his ship is ifin he drops the tractor beam. Given ideal circumstances, once that tractor beam is dropped, there’s enough torque in them engines of ours to shoot us free of the blast. A good plan. ‘Ceptin it’s got one flaw."

"We’re counting on them dropping the tractor beam in time for us to get our shields up before those torpedoes explode."

"That’s the flaw. Ifin they don’t let go of that tractor beam, we’ll just as likely be blowed up at the same time."

"Four minutes to impact," said the voice of Lilly.

"Gus, what do you think our chances are?"

"Hell, Jack I didn’t expect us to make it this far. Did you?"

Jack laughed. "Not really," he confessed. Sobering, he extended his hand to Gus. "Gus…," he said. "Just in case we don’t make it…"

Gus stared at Jacks hand. "Jack…I ain’t got the words…"

"I know. Neither do I Gus. I guess…I just wanted to say…thanks for always being there."

Gus reluctantly took Jacks hand and shook it. "It’s been one hell of a ride ain’t it?"

"That it has, Gus, that it has."

"Three minutes to impact." The mechanical voice echoed though the corridors outside the aft air lock. Quark found he was unusually calm considering they faced certain death. "I suppose we ought to take cover," he said to no one in particular.

"Think you a difference it make?" asked Ognij.

Quark glanced out the window of the air lock to see the tractor beam still firmly locked on to the ship. "No," he said. "I suppose not."

"Ru sa wa…"

"I know damn it," said Quark. "Can’t you say anything else?" Buck just stared at him. Quark shook his head and grabbed Buck by the forearms. "Look, if anyone has a chance of surviving this whole fiasco it’s most likely going to be you. If you get back to the Link, I want you to tell Odo that I don’t care what he’s doing, he has to drop everything and get back to Deep Space Nine. There’s a woman waiting for him who loves him more than life itself, don’t ask me why, but she does. He has friends there, more friends than he deserves, who would give their right arms for him. A home, the love of a good woman, the respect of his friends and his enemies. Most men spend their entire lives hoping to have just a little of what he has and it’s…it’s…criminal…for him to turn his back on it."

"Two minutes to impact."

"What of you?" asked Ognij. "Friend you are to Odo this? Message have you of Kvaark?"

"Me?" asked Quark. "You want me to give Odo a personal message?"

"Yes."

"No. Absolutely not. He knows how I feel."

"One minute to impact."

"Chance lastly," Ognij reminded him gently.

Quark glanced from the benign face of Ognij to the puzzled face of Buck and back. "What the hell," he muttered under his breath. Placing both hands behind Buck’s head and pulling his face towards him, Quark quickly placed a kiss on Buck’s forehead. "There," he said to Ognij. "Happy?"

"Impact."

Quark watched as Ognij raised his hands to Yestos, the ship lurched suddenly sideways, then the world went black.

"Thirty seconds until we have full power to the transporters," reported Grgor.

"What the hell is that?" asked Zit, pointing to the small black objects racing towards them.

"What the hell is that?" asked Rusawa pointing beyond the Jem’Hadar ship to the swirling mass of light that suddenly flared to life.

Chapter 11