The BLTS Archive- Rainy Night on Bajor by Robin Cook (recook77@ix.Netcom.Com) --- "How many times I wonder It still comes out the same No matter how you look at it Or think of it It's life, and you just got to play the game" Brook Benton, "Rainy Night in Georgia" --- The war seemed remote and unreal. Odo stood on a chilly, rocky beach, studying the vicious ocean waves, the graying sea foam, the tumbling pebbles. He could become any of those things. Any of them. The thought was invigorating. He gradually dissolved his humanoid shape, letting his natural form pour over the round, flawless stones and jagged seashells. He was tired of his quarters, tired of using the same objects to practice shapeshifting. And what did he need the quarters for? He could survive in a bucket. He could probably still exist in deep space. He could go all sorts of places that solids couldn't go. He knew that because of the link. He'd learned so much in the link. . . "Odo. . .ODO?!?" Kira raced up a dry, grassy dune, searching for her friend, who could be anywhere on the beach. The water lapped over the shapeshifter; he felt himself pulled by its current into the ocean itself. He could become the water itself, and his mind quickly filled with so many blissful, rapturous fantasies that could only be realized by the link, and now he felt an ache of the paradise that couldn't be his. . . "Odo? Where are you?" WHAP! A wave collapsed on top of Kira as a thunderclap shot across the sky. Raindrops slapped the sand. She lifted her jacket over her head, then tripped and fell, pain jabbing her knee and elbows. He needed the link again. . .nothing else would. . . She spat out a mouthful of sand and looked at the blood streaming down her knee as a blitz of raindrops fell on the beach. Just a few feet away, her friend swam toward the welcoming water. . . "ODO!" What was he thinking? Sand and rain battered her face. She crouched downward, shielding her eyes. A familiar, limber shape came up to her. "Nerys." The voice was both icy and comforting. She stood up, but he quickly lifted her into his arms and carried her back across the dunes. --- Years later, after the war. . . --- The Eastern Province was smothered in mist. The rain had momentarily stopped, but Kira hoisted up her skirt as she rushed down the muddy sidewalk. Idrani Hotel loomed on the corner in the dismal morning fog, chatter echoing all the way down the block. Kira ached for home in a way she never had before. She was supposed to be on Bajor on diplomatic business for most of the week. She'd had to leave her adopted daughter, Shannon, behind on the station. Ezri Dax was staying with the girl. Kira had promised Shannon before she left that she would find a gift for her. A souvenir of Bajor. Something pretty. And still Shannon had waved a little sadly as Kira entered the docking hatch. Time moved more slowly for children than for adults. For Shannon, the week would seem like forever. Kira had tried to take a nap on the shuttle to Bajor, but she couldn't sleep the guilt away. She'd spent days in tedious meetings with Shakaar, the Vedek Assembly, Admiral Ross, and assorted members of the Bajoran militia, discussing the transition to Federation membership. The conclusion of each meeting was the same: The assimilation of Bajoran soldiers into Starfleet was going relatively well, but there were still plenty of dilemmas that needed to be worked out: determining proper rank and position fo the new officers; teaching Starfleet protocols and regulations; explaining to Starfleet's brass why the Bajorans should be allowed to continue to wear their earrings on duty. She had to attend a diplomatic party at Opaka Hall tonight. Tomorrow, she'd be going home. She was counting the hours. Incandescent light glowed from a gift shop. Kira dove inside. A matronly lady beamed at her, saying nothing. Shiny, colorful trinkets lined the shelves and reflected in the mirrored cases. Kira found an orb music box that shone pretty lights as it played a cheerful Bajoran folk song. She thought of poor Shannon, who was having so much trouble regenerating. This would be a lovely gift for her. She paid with Federation credit and exchanged pleasantries with the matron before walking out with the music box. I really should sign her up for counseling. I'll talk to Dax as soon as I return. I wonder what she's been reading in those files. I wonder what I'll say when she starts asking questions. . . The dreams got worse and worse. Tonight, Shannon dreamed about the vicious pak'tor again. She dreamed that it was on the Promenade and it was chasing after her. She was running and running; she was locked into her little girl form and couldn't change shape; the Promenade was empty except for her and the pak'tor. She didn't even bother to take humanoid form like she usually did. She slithered off the bed in her natural gelatinous state and made her way to the door, still feeling scared and sick with worry. Ezri Dax snored lightly on the couch. A rippling noise woke her and she sat up. The rippling came from Kira's bedroom. Ezri patted her breasts to remind herself that she wasn't Torias. For a moment, she thought she was Leela again, and that her son was sleepwalking, but then Ezri remembered who she was and then turned on the lights. The bed was empty. Of course. Mama was still on Bajor. Shannon resumed her girl-shape and sat on the edge of the bed. Ezri poked her head in the doorway. "Hi," Ezri whispered. "You have a bad dream?" Shannon nodded. "How didja know?" "When I had nightmares as a kid, I used to sneak into my brothers' rooms and sleep on the floor. It was too scary to be in my own bedroom." Ezri sat next to Shannon. "Do you want talk about the dreams? What do you dream about?" "I keep dreaming that I'm being chased." "By whom? Is it someone we know? Can you tell me who it is?" "Uh-uh," Shannon replied. "He's not here anymore. He's dead." "He's dead but he keeps chasing you and scaring you. Why would he do that?" "'Cause I'm not like other changelings. I can't link." Ezri put an arm around Shannon's shoulders. "I'd be frightened too, to know someone was out to get me just because I'm different from everyone else. I have an idea. Your mother says you're learning to write. Is that true?" The changeling nodded. "I even have a padd!" "Every night, before you have to regenerate, just write him a note. It can be anything--what you're learning in school, what games you play, how you're feeling, anything." "He can't write back, though." "But he'll understand. I know he will." Ezri winked, and Shannon thought she saw a little of Aunt Jadzia in Ezri's sly yet comforting grin. Ezri walked the little girl back to her room, plopped Taban the hawk and Millie the sehlat on the bed, and returned to the couch. The lights went out and Ezri lay on the couch for a moment, unable to sleep herself, feeling her throat wrench with sadness. Memories of another lifetime, of a war that destroyed and ruined worlds, smashed empires to pieces. Memories of sitting at the Defiant helm, watching the white star in the heart of the Dominion go supernova, incinerating the Founder homeworld, obliterating the link. Memories of leading a glassy-eyed, sobbing Kira out to the corridor, away from the pile of ashes, away from the stench of dead changeling. --- Years ago. . . --- Kira's lungs felt strained from inhaling winds. Rain drips from her clothes and spatters on the floor as Odo walked her to the turbolift. The blood stills trickled from her cut knee. The ride to their suite at the Idrani Hotel was a quiet one. She was still chilly from her wet, clammy clothing. The door to her room unlocked and then Odo stepped back. "I'll leave you to shower and clean up," he said in an expressionless tone of voice. "Thank you," Kira said softly. She showered, toweled herself dry, cleaned the cut, and changed into a bathrobe. She ordered strong raktojino from the replicator and took a gulp. She sat on the bed, waiting for some sign from Odo. An "are you all right" or "feel better now". *He must've changed shape when he was on the beach, and that's why I couldn't see him,* she thought. The idea of Odo vanishing into the whirl of sand and rain frightened her. Being a changeling meant Odo can become sea foam, or mist, or thin air. Being a changeling meant Odo could *disappear*. She badly wanted to be his friend. Not just because of him and her concerns about him, but the very real fear that he could be driven back to the Dominion. The fate of the Alpha Quadrant depended on their friendship. What a thought. Odo, talk to me! What are you doing there? --- Years later. . . --- Kira placed a priority message to Deep Space 9. "Hiiiiii Mama!" Shannon waved from the viewscreen. "Hey kiddie pie," Kira said warmly. "Miss you, you know." "I got a surprise for you," Shannon said. "Been practicing shapeshifting?" Shannon stood still and the view pulled away as she morphed into a gray, lop-eared rabbit. The rabbit tried to hop, but the best she could do was inch forward. "You forgot to morph the hind legs," whispered Ezri. A pair of hind legs and a tail sprouted from the rabbit's hind quarters. Then, she took a big leap into the air, and the view from the screen turned gray and blurry and topsy-turvy. "WHOOPS! Bumped right into the vid receiver!" Ezri picked up the rabbit and lowered her to the ground. The rabbit hopped about a bit more until she was satisfied, and then she returned to her little girl form. Kira clapped. "I am *very* impressed. You make an *excellent* rabbit! How is school going?" "It's going good! We drew pictures an' went to the library. An' I ate a new food today. 'S called gagh." "Gagh. You tried gagh," Kira replied. "Y'know, K'Mehla? She had a gagh cass'role and she gave some to us t'eat." "Really?" I didn't know they put gagh in casseroles." Ezri nodded, her face turning pale and greenish. "Gagh casserole is a very common Klingon lunch." "We all tried some," Shannon said, "'cept for Yoshi. Can I come to Bajor, Mama?" Kira nodded. "Maybe for your school break, I'll take you to Dakhur Province. They'll be having the Gratitude Festival and it'll be a lot of fun. I'm going to be here only one more night, and then I'll be home." --- The rain was gone but menacing rain clouds still hovered in the sky. Odo forgot all about the elements as he stood on the balcony. His eyes were fixed on the tangle of wet, dripping leaves, and the small pond in the courtyard below. Kira, meanwhile, had dressed and slipped onto the balcony, as Odo leapt off, letting his humanoid form evaporate as he fluttered like a leaf and then drifted into the pond. She heard nothing. No splash and no rustle. "Odo?!? ODO????" She bolted out the door, not even bothering to put on her shoes, and raced into the courtyard. She whirled around, looking for any sign of him, any sign of rippling goo. By the Prophets, he'd *vanished*. "C'mon Odo! I'm looking for you! Dammit, Odo!" She sat helplessly on a marble stool and ignored the water that seeped through the seat of her pants. A lily pad drifted out of the pond and rippled outward, resuming humanonid form. "I'm sorry to scare you like that, Nerys." Odo stood over her. She smiled and threw her arms around him. They returned to their hotel suite and curled onto the sofa, just as the rain began again. And then they made love in Odo's room. Afterwards, as she lay dozing, Odo kissed her tenderly. He felt a guilt-ridden bliss that he'd never experienced before. He'd never desert her again. He'd never betray her again. He'd never, ever return to the Link again. When he was gone, he'd want her to only have happy memories of their time together. --- Professor Data, representative for the Federation Civil Rights Commission, smiled as he entered his large yet spartan hotel suite. Four stasis pods lay in the middle of the bed. He opened each one, and cats jumped one by one out of the pods. They mewed eagerly and crowded around his ankles as he fed them. The viewcom beeped. "On screen," Data replied, noting that the signal was sent over a neutral frequency. "Data!" It was Lwaxana Troi, as exuberant as ever, with her jiggling earrings and bobbing ringlets. "You're coming to the station, aren't you?" "Hopefully. I'm awaiting final approval from Captain Sisko." "Did you receive my information about the children?" Data opened his briefcase. Inside were pictures of a girl and a boy, both with eager smiles and neat Bajoran ridges. The girl had long black hair, dark skin, and beautiful dark brown eyes; the boy had auburn hair and lightly freckled skin. "I see they can mimic humanoid forms perfectly," Data said. Lwaxana's voice turned a little sad. "They're already aware that some people hate them. I have one woman--Ambassador Martok's mother--who wants them removed from class. It's such a pity, because they're really a joy to teach." Data nodded as a cat hopped onto his lap and began nudging him. "Captain Sisko seems to think it would be a good idea to have someone observe them for a time. I do still need the parents' approval. It's interesting to think of changelings having parents, isn't it?" "Wait until you meet Commander Kira. She can be very. . .formidable. I *do* hope that she says yes." "Ab-so-lute-ly NOT!" Kira raged. Sisko's face on the viewscreen was the image of calm. "Data already contacted me personally about coming to DS9 to study the changelings and I *told* him I would discuss it further with *you*." "You *told* him you didn't have a problem with it," Kira replied accusingly. "I *told* him that I respected the Federation Civil Rights Commission and their goals. And he appeared genuinely concerned about observing the children as an advocate for their basic rights." "How do we know this won't end up in a Starfleet file?" Sisko grew testier, his voice becoming more clipped. "Data is no longer *in* Starfleet! What is *more*, the Commission has no *connection* to Starfleet." Kira shook her head and said nothing. "I should also emphasize that Data, with his profile and influence, is a *very* valuable ally to have. In fact, I would recommend that you go out of your way to be sure he's in your corner." Kira rolled her eyes. "So when'll he be arriving at the station?" "Well, that's up in the air, isn't it, Commander? When you get back, perhaps we can arrange a meeting with the professor. Sisko. . .out." Kira lay on the bed and let out a Bajoran expletive. She thought of Shannon, practicing her bunny shapes back home. And she thought of Odo. Hours later, the rain had turned to drizzle. Kira found herself somewhere she never thoght she'd be--namely, the hotel bar. It was brightly lit and warm, but the music coming from the speakers was slow and sad: "Such a rainy night in Georgia/Lord I believe it's raining all over the world." Outside, the sky was an oppressive gray. Somewhere behind the curtain of rain was the courtyard. And it seemed that the sun was gone forever. A shadow cast over her table. Data held out his hand. "Commander Kira? I'm very happy to meet you." --- Dear Odo, Today, I drew a picture in school. It's a picture of a starship in space. Mrs. Troi my teacher said I have good esthetic sense. I don't know what that means. I'm going to give the picture to Mama as a present when she comes back. Did you ever go to school? Dax is back again. Her name is Ezri now and she is very sweet. She is a little wierd, tho. Today, she ate some gah and then spit it back out. She says she never knows what she wants to eat for dinner because she doesn't really know what her favorite foods are. That is OK. I don't know what my favorite food is either. I really like marshmallow fluff, but Mama doesn't want me to eat too much of it. What food do you like? I have to go now. Bye. Yours, Kira Shannon --- The changeling girl saved the letter to her padd and then let herself melt back into her true form. Even though she hadn't really known what to write, and Odo wasn't going to reply to her, she felt a little better. Maybe now he would no longer torment her in dreams; maybe now he would seem less like a Founder and more like a friend. They were back in Data's suite, to talk in private. They were seated at a large table, cluttered with books and data pads, cats jumping up and down. An orange one--Spot--had found her way onto Kira's lap and was purring. "Sisko says you want to study Lorkin and Shannon," Kira said. "I would certainly understand any discomfort you have about the idea," Data explained. "Good! I'm glad you're so understanding," "Seriously," Data said, "I've studied the history of your world. Bajorans adopted orphaned Cardassian during the occupation and have also adopted most of the young changelings as well. It's a remarkable aspect of Bajorans' character: the willingness to overlook hatred and racism where children are concerned." Kira gulped her ginger ale. Damn if the android wasn't a smooth talker. "Furthermore, I can assure you that the Federation Civil Rights Commission has no Starfleet affiliation." "I'm aware of that," Kira retorted. "When you say you want to study the changelings, what do you mean?" "I would like to observe their daily routines, perhaps sit in on their classes. Meet with them individually and ask them some questions." "About what?" "Their favorite foods, their hobbies, their families." Data watched Kira wince. "I won't try to be intrusive, Commander. And I won't turn them into lab specimens. That is a promise." "I'll think about it, Professor." The android nodded. "I hear your daughter's a very sweet girl." "She is. I'll think about it." Kira was riding the turbolift back to her hotel room. Dammit, Odo, why'd you have to? You didn't have to! You could've met Shannon. You didn't need the link. You didn't have to didn't have to didn't have to. . . Fifteen minutes later, Data received a message. "Professor? It's Commander Kira." There was a teary edge to her voice. "You all right, Commander?" he asked. "I'm fine. Professor, as soon as I return to Deep Space Nine, Captain Sisko and I will schedule a meeting with you and we can talk about things further. How does that sound?" "That is perfectly acceptable to me, Commander. Oh, and Commander?" "Yes?" "I. . .hope you feel better." "Thank you." She sounded grateful. --- Kira fell back on the bed. She'd go home tomorrow. She'd give Shannon her gift. She'd talk to Sisko. She'd speak to Ezri about arranging counseling sessions. First, she'd get away from this gloomy city and this sad hotel with its haunted courtyard and its rainfall of memories. --- The next day. . . --- Kira made her way down the docking corridors. The orb music box was in a brightly colored paper bag. Ezri was holding Shannon's hand. The little girl's eyes lit up when she saw the bag. Kira smiled and put her arms around her daughter. There was a soft voice in her ear: "Mama." She was home now. --- The End