"Quark," said Grgor, at least Quark thought it was Grgor and not Zit. Quite frankly he couldn’t tell the two apart in person much less when viewing them through the headset. "What a pleasant surprise. To what do we owe the honor? Had enough of our torpedo attacks?"

Quark shot a quick glance at Gus, who remained sound asleep in one corner of the bridge. "Look," he said with as much confidence as he could muster. Although the frequent torpedo attacks by the Zunigian ships had proved to be more of an inconvenience than a threat, Quark thought it best to ignore the question. "I was hoping we could come to some sort of an arrangement."

"An arrangement?"

"Yes, preferably one that does not include my demise."

"Ah. That kind of an arrangement. And what makes you think we would be interested?"

"You want this ship and I have it. I want to live and you, for some ineffable reason, want me dead. I think there’s room for negotiation, don’t you?"

Grgor looked thoughtful, at least Quark supposed he had taken on a thoughtful expression. His past dealings with the Jem’Hadar had been brief and painful, and although the Zunigians were not the Jem’Hadar, they were genetically similar enough to make Quark exceedingly uncomfortable. "What about the changeling?" asked Grgor. "The one called Buck?"

Quark sighed, he had hoped to keep Buck out of the equation, but a deal is after all a deal. "What about him?"

"The ship and the changeling," said Grgor. "It’s a package deal. You understand, don’t you?"

"Absolutely. So, what do you think? Do you think that some type of arrangement could be made?"

"I think," remarked Grgor. "That I’ll take your proposal to the Boss. I’ll contact you when, and if, I get his approval."

"Ah," said Quark. "Perhaps I had better contact you instead. Too many cooks…you understand."

"Of course." Grgor nodded, a slight smile on his face. "Give me, say, forty-eight hours?"

"Done. Quark out."

Grgor watched the screen go blank and turned to his companions.

"Well?" asked Zit.

"He wants to deal. It seems our little Ferengi friend has decided his life is worth more to him than his freedom."

"Give him what he wants," said Rusawa stepping out of the shadows. "And then kill him. Kill them all." He held up his hand. "But, the changeling, bring him to me."

Quark watched the screen blink to static. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, he thought and smiled. The smile was quickly replaced by a frown as he turned to find Buck standing behind him, arms crossed a stern expression on his face.

"What?" asked Quark, mentally calculating exactly how much of the conversation the changeling may have overheard. He flinched as Buck plucked the head set from around his ears. "So, I was checking to see if anyone was following us. Is that a crime?"

"Ha," said Buck.

"Ha?" replied Quark, confident now that he had not been overheard. "Ha. I see we’ve graduated to monosyllables now haven’t we?" He eyed the changeling narrowly, a thought having formed in his mind. "So, let me get this straight. You come from the Great Link don’t you?"

"Link?"

"So, everything they know, you know. Am I correct?"

"Coorr?" Buck struggled with the word.

"Never mind," said Quark motioning for him to stop. "In which case, there has to be a bit of Odo in you. You do know Odo don’t you?"

"O. Do?"

"It’s not important. But what is important is the fact that someday you will return to the Link and when you do, I’ve got a couple of messages I want you to deliver for me…"

"It’s worse than that," replied Jack. "We’re here." He indicated a spot on the star chart displayed before them. "The Zunigian ships are here on the Border. Now, not long ago, Lilly picked up a group of Jem’Hadar ships just barely on sensor range, here."

"Damn, Jack. If those Jem’Hadar keep on their current heading, we’re gonna be wedged between a rock and a hard place."

"That we are. Now, if we were able to lay low, I think we could continue on course without drawing any unwanted attention to ourselves."

"But there ain’t no way we’re gonna keep from attractin attention if those damn Zunigians keep shootin at us."

"Exactly."

"Well," asked Quark. "Is that necessarily a bad thing? I mean if those ships were to move in on our position, wouldn’t the Zunigians move off and give us a chance to get away?"

"It’s possible," agreed Jack. "We would be taking a mighty big risk."

"Risk the same, stay we here, maybe," said Ognij. "Two sides, fire us, recumbent water fowl, be we."

"I believe the expression is sitting ducks," said Quark.

"He’s right, Jack," said Gus. "We wouldn’t stand a chance in a cross fire."

"Well, then gentlemen," replied Jack. "It’s the lady or the tiger."

"Excuse me?"

"What he means, Quark," said Gus scratching his head. "Is we’ve got to make a choice. Head for open space and duke it out with our Zunigian friends, or head deeper into Dominion space and take our chances with the Jem’Hadar. For what it’s worth, I’d just as soon take my chances with the Jem’Hadar."

"So would I," agreed Jack. "There’s a chance we might just get away with it."

"How so?" asked Quark.

"Well," said Jack. "The way I figure it, if we wait until the next time the Zunigians launch a torpedo and we wait until it’s fairly close to us before we shoot it out of the sky, the Jem’Hadar are bound to pick up the explosion on their sensors. Then rather than wait for them to come to us to find out what’s going on, we head for them - only we pretend to be damaged in the attack. I figure that way we can then blame any irregularities in procedure on our damaged status."

"Good idea," replied Gus. "No one is gonna take a damaged ship to be much of a threat, especially when it’s one of their own ships. And I bet Lilly’s integrated herself enough into the ship’s systems to be able to handle any casual scans."

"That’s what I’m thinking," said Jack. "So, Ognij, are you with us?"

"Most heartily in the affirmative."

"That leaves you, Quark," said Gus.

"I believe there isn’t a situation that can’t be negotiated. No matter how clever we think we are, I know for certain the Jem’Hadar don’t negotiate. I’d just as soon take my chances with the Zunigians."

"So, what do ya want us to do then. Drop you off in one of the shuttles?"

No ship, no changeling, no deal, thought Quark darkly. Damn. "No," he said at length. "It seems I’m along for the ride."

"Ha!" said Buck eyeing Quark narrowly.

"There you are," said a voice close at hand. Her eyes focused on a face. Julian.

"What happened?" she asked.

"We were rather hoping you could tell us. Don’t try to move, you’ve suffered a concussion and your collar bone is broken."

"How?"

"Well, according to Captain Flato, some ambient gasses from Ginyu’s ship ignited when weapons were fired causing an explosion. What do you remember?"

"Not much. Ginyu dead only he wasn’t. Odo, only it wasn’t Odo. Marshall, only it wasn’t Marshall." She grabbed his hand. "Julian, there are other changelings on the station…" she said with some urgency.

"I know," he assured her. "It’s all being taken care of." She heard the gentle hiss of the hypospray and then nothing more.

Both Buck and Gus stared at Quark as though he had lost his mind.

"You’ve been at this for days, Quark," said Gus. "Just what the hell are you playin at?"

"I wouldn’t expect you to understand," said Quark dismissively. "I’m just sending a message to a friend. You, tell him Buck. You tell Odo that if he wants to know who was responsible for the Tilavan sculptures, he’ll just have to come ask me himself."

Buck rolled his eyes, shook his head and, muttering to himself, left the bridge.

"There," said Gus watching the confused changeling leave. "I hope you’re happy. Poor fella, life’s difficult enough for him without you stuffin his head with all this nonsense."

"It’s not nonsense. And besides that, what else have I got to do to occupy my time."

"Damned if I know."

"Dabo!"

"Dabo? What the…?"

"He doesn’t know how to play dabo! Can you believe it, all those years hanging out in my bar and he never learned to play." Quark nearly ran from the bridge. "Buck! Wait up!"

"Steady there," said Jack from the doorway, nearly avoiding a collision with Quark. He held his coffee mug away from him, in an effort to keep from spilling it over the two of them. "What was that all about?" he asked Gus.

"Just Quark and his ‘messages to a friend’ scheme again," said Gus taking the head set off and rubbing his eyes. "Damn arrogant Dominion."

"Damn arrogant Dominion. What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, that the only reason I can figure anyone would want to design a ship without a view screen is ifin you’re so cock sure you’re goin to get where you’re going without runnin into any trouble. The rest of us, well, we expect to run inta trouble, so we want to see where we’re goin."

"I hadn’t thought of it like that. I just hate wearing the damn thing that’s all. Any idea where we’re going?"

"Nope. Ever since we limped inta place behind the convoy, they’ve maintained the same speed and direction. If we keep up at this pace, we’ll be near the Idran System before too much longer."

"But that’s near the Wormhole isn’t it?"

"Yessir. I gotta hand it to ya Jack, as far as ideas go, this one was a doozy."

"Maybe. But we’re not there yet, so let’s hold off the congratulations for the time being."

"Even so, by cuttin through Dominion Space rather than goin around, we’ve shaved weeks off the trip."

"Maybe. Look, Gus. All this Quark business has got me thinking."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I’m thinking that…" Jack was interrupted by a signal from Lilly. "Lilly?"

"In coming transmission, Jack."

"Live or recorded, Lilly?"

"Recorded, Jack."

"What do they want then, Lilly."

"The lead ship has detected a magnitude five ion storm on a direct trajectory with the Idran System. The convoy is being diverted to the Jotura System for safety. Shall I acknowledge the transmission?"

"Yes. And Lilly, standby for further instructions."

"Acknowledged, Jack."

"Well," said Jack. "It was nice while it lasted." He turned to the star chart. "There it is." he pointed to the Jotura System on the map.

"Damn," said Gus. "That’s going to take us a couple of hundred light years deeper into Dominion Space and further away from the Wormhole."

"Exactly, and I don’t know about you, but I think that the further we get from the Border the more likely it is we’re going to attract attention."

"Granted. So, lemmie see, we can’t keep on this course or we’re goin to run straight into that storm."

"And if we head straight for the Border, someone from the convoy is bound to notice."

"But," said Gus. "What if we were to adjust course with the convoy, only we make it look like we’re suffering from power interruptions and then gradually cut our speed, I’m betting the convoy will take off without us. Then, once they’re outta sensor range, we plot a course for the Border. I’m thinkin the Zunigians have bound to have given up by now."

"Let’s hope you are right."

"Now, let me get this straight," said Kira, clutching her forehead as if to ward off a headache. They were in the infirmary. Kira pointed to a series of biological samples displayed on the large screen monitor in Julian’s office. "You are saying that this sample," she pointed to the image on the top of the screen. "This sample is Odo’s?"

"Yes," agreed Julian. "That was taken about a year prior to the end of the war."

"And this," she pointed to the next image down. "Is from…I don’t even know what to call him…"

"Patient #1?" suggested Ezri.

"Prisoner #1," stated Flato.

"Whatever," said Kira. "The Odo I brought back from Bajor - and they are the same."

"In every detail," agreed Julian.

"And this," Kira pointed to the third image down. "Is the changeling pretending to be Marshall?"

"Prisoner #2?" whispered Ezri.

"With a vengeance," agreed Flato.

"Yes," said Julian. "And again the same as Odo in every detail."

"But how?"

"I have no idea," confessed Julian. "I can speculate but that’s about it."

"And these," she pointed to two images to the right of the Odo line. "Are?"

"The first is a sample taken from Laas when I tested him for exposure to the changeling disease. The second from the Ginyu/Odo changeling."

"Prisoner #3?" whispered Ezri.

"Don’t even get me started on that one," said Flato.

"And these two are different?" said Kira.

"Yes," agreed Julian. "Don’t get me wrong. All five share 98% of exactly the same characteristics. However, these three, for lack of a better term let’s call them the Odo line, are exact in every detail. Whereas these two share only 98% of the characteristics that make up the Odo line and 2% of the characteristics are unique unto themselves."

"So," said Flato. "These five could almost be brothers then?"

"Yes," said Julian. "If you allowed for these three to be triplets and the other two to be older or younger siblings. Yes, they could well be brothers."

"Brothers or not," said Kira sitting down as though her legs could no longer bear her weight. "I want them locked up until we can sort this all out."

"Yes, sir." said Flato.

"What about this?" continued Kira picking up the Marshall changelings weapon from where it lay on the console.

"Your guess is as good as mine," replied Flato. "I’ve run it through every database of weaponry available to us and have found no match. I’m not even sure if it’s a energy weapon or a projectile."

"I may have an idea what it is," volunteered Ezri. "When going through the wreckage of the bridge, we found what appeared to be the remains of a modified biological sample container."

"Modified?" asked Kira. "How?"

"Well, it was pretty badly damaged, but the modifications appear to be a locking devise."

"So, what are you suggesting?"

"What we’re suggesting," said Ezri. "Is that the only reason we could think of for anyone to place a lock on a biological container would be not to keep the sample from being broken into, but to keep the sample from breaking out."

"And," continued Julian. "One would only assume the biological sample could escape if one assumes the sample would in some way want, or need, to return to the donor. Now, it never occurred to me before that the bits of a changeling that are removed are in any way sentient…"

"But if left to themselves," concluded Kira. "They will return to their owner." Of course, she thought, that would make sense. "So, what you are suggesting is that this weapon could be used to secure a biological sample from an unwilling donor?"

"That’s what we think," said Ezri. "But of course, it’s just speculation."

"No, " said Kira. "I think you may be on to something." She turned to Flato. "Any word on where the real Marshall is?"

"His, ah, evil twin, was very cooperative on that point. He’s on Cardassia Prime. In a holding cell. It appears the changeling that took his place told Cardassian authorities that our Marshall was a con artist posing as a Starfleet officer and that he was not to be released into the custody of anyone but a member of DS9’s security force. I dispatched Deputy Tubor to go collect him, but I didn’t give him any details."

"Good. Now, how many people know about all of this?"

Julian, Ezri and Flato exchanged glances. "Well," said Julian. "It’s common knowledge Ginyu is dead and that someone was posing as him. It’s been the topic of conversation at Quarks for days now. However, to the best of my knowledge no one knows for sure it was a changeling."

"It’s also safe to say," continued Ezri. "That just about everyone knows there was an explosion on Ginyu’s ship in which you were injured, but I don’t think anyone outside the security detail and the medical detail know that there were changelings on board with you."

"I can vouch for my people," confirmed Julian.

"And I can vouch for mine," asserted Flato. "With the station at near capacity and now that it looks as though we will have to shut down traffic through the wormhole due to the ion storm in the Gamma Quadrant, a changeling scare is the last thing I want on my hands right now."

"I don’t know," said Gus. "At first I figured it was just a shadow, but no such luck. It’s a Jem’Hadar ship all right and she’s gainin on us slowly but surely."

"Oh no," whispered Quark.

"Oh no, what," said Gus, who’s hearing was better than most. "What do you mean, oh no?"

"Nothing!"

"Nothing my ass. What have you done?"

Quark sputtered and backed away from the two until he had backed into a bulkhead. "How was I to know they would be monitoring transmissions?"

"What transmission?" asked Jack.

"And tell the truth," warned Gus, "Or the Jem’Hadar will be the least of your troubles."

"I…I tried to locate Grgor through subspace. Yesterday. But, the Zunigians were nowhere to be found."

"You what?"

"I thought we could make a deal."

"Thought you could sell us out is more like it…"

"No, nothing like that, I swear. Look, I’m not without friends in this area of space. I thought if we could come to some type of arrangement about the ship the Zunigians would let us go and we could find an alternate way home. That’s all."

"That’s all. Listen to him will ya?" said Gus. "I swear, if I had a rope…"

"What’s done is done, Gus," said Jack shaking his head. "Go on, Quark, get out of my sight."

"But I can fix this, I swear. I know someone in the Drebina System - it’s just outside Dominion Space. If we plot a course there…"

"Don’t you think you’ve done enough?" asked Gus. "Now get, or I’ll…"

"I’m going." They watched in silence as Quark slithered off the bridge.

"What do ya think?" asked Gus.

"I think we should have left him on DeLok Station," replied Jack. "But we’re stuck with him. Just keep him off the bridge."

"Done."

"Oh, and Gus. Plot a course for the Drebina System."

Now that he was getting more familiar with the communications system, he was able to upload the messages and send them on their way in a matter of minutes. He patted the console fondly and was off the bridge before anyone noticed him missing.

Several hours later and many light years away the messages were delivered.

On the Zunigian flag ship, Grgor nearly danced with glee as he plotted the course for the Drebina System, confident his career, and his life, had been spared. He would have to remember to thank Quark before he killed him.

Deep within Drebina Space, General Yamcha ordered his ships to alter course and head for home. He had been plotting a way to get even with the Ferengi for years and now he would have his chance.

"You need not look so disappointed," he remarked.

"It’s nothing personal, sir," said Flato, tossing the vial into the bioreclamation unit. "You might put it down to a girlish fantasy, but having tossed one of my old bosses into the slammer, I was sort of looking forward to tossing my present one in as well."

"Perhaps someday I may oblige you, captain, but right now I’d prefer being brought up to date on what happened while I was detained."

"Certainly, sir. The colonel is in a meeting now - coordinating the shut down of traffic through the Wormhole due to the ion storm, but she wants to see you right after."

"Did it not occur to you that as head of station security, I should be attending that meeting?"

"We had to make sure you were the head of station security now didn’t we? I’m sorry, but my orders were very explicit, sir." She handed him a padd. "In the meantime, you received this message from Admiral Ross. It’s marked urgent."

"Would you expect any less?" asked Marshall as she headed for the door.

He keyed his security code and watched as the face of Admiral Ross appeared on the screen.

"John," said the image of Ross. "I need your assistance in this changeling situation."

Curiouser and curiouser thought Marshall as he listened to the rest of the message.

"Zunigian ships are still bearing down on this location," replied Jack. "They’re powering weapons. What are the odds that third group of ships coming from Drebina are going to come to our rescue?"

"I’d say about as slim as the Jem’Hadar on our tail joining in to help us. I figure those new boys are just the local law come out to make sure the Jem’Hadar don’t mess with their territory."

"They’re powering weapons as well. I do not like the look of this."

"Hell, Jack," said Gus with a grin. "You really didn’t think we’d get out of here alive now did ya?"

Jack stared at his friend a slow smile easing the tension in his face. "Well, now that you mention it, no."

"Right then. Tell me who to target and let’s get this over with."

"Target the lead ship at 300 mark 27."

"Ready."

"On my mark….What the hell?"

"What?"

Jack blinked, unsure if what he had just witnessed was true. The lead ship from the local fleet, rather than firing on them, had altered course and engaged the Zunigian ships. "Gus stand by for a course correction. Hard a port and get us the hell out of here!"

Down in what used to be the Vorta’s quarters, three men sat waiting for death. Ognij prayed. Quark pleaded. Buck stood silently by and watched. All three jumped at the sound of a shout from the doorway.

"Quark!" shouted Jack. "What the hell have you done?"

"All right, all right, I did it." shouted Quark in return. It was bad enough having to die so far from home, but having to endure a dressing down prior to death was just asking too much. "I sent two messages. I snuck on to the bridge when you weren’t looking. I told the Zunigians we were heading for the Drebina System. Then I sent a message to a contact I have in the Drebina System who's still a little upset over some silly misunderstanding about a shipment. General's they can be so touchy."

"Quark."

"Anyway, I told him I was in a Zunigian ship headed for the Drebina System and that we were following a Jem’Hadar ship that once we had secured I would be more than happy to sell him. It was a plan that in a rightly ordered universe would have worked. But this isn’t a rightly ordered universe - my brother is evidence enough of that - so if you want to kill me, go ahead, and end my miserable life. You’d be doing me a favor."

The man in the doorway and the two men in the room stared at Quark in silence.

"Well Quark," said Jack breaking the silence. "I just wanted to tell you that your plan did work. But, before we congratulate ourselves, I should remind you that we are now in the unenviable position of having one very curious Jem’Hadar ship on our tail and a very large ion storm directly ahead of us. So, unless someone else on this ship has hidden talents, I suggest we all prepare for a very bumpy ride. And Quark, one more thing, if you ever disobey an order again, I will kill you."

Chapter 9