The BLTS Archive - There's Something about Julian by Melissa (meister@sprint.ca) --- Disclaimer: Paramount owns the world yadda yadda yadda. Gul Kinar and Gul Gilan are mine and so is Revat. Everyone else belongs to You Know Who. Very special thanks to Babs the Beta Goddess who desperately wanted a Du/Da scene and inspired the rest of the story. CONTACT: flames, undying praise, prayers and alms can be sent. ARCHIVING: Feel free, just make sure I'm listed as the author. --- Dr. Julian Bashir paced his new quarters with irritation. His little Cardassian visit was mired in political wranglings and suspicious accusations of being an Obsidian Order sympathizer due to his friendship with Garak. Frustration was the key emotion, they had asked for his help and being the kind hearted sap he was he took the first opportunity to volunteer. Granted, it hadn't all been for the benefit of the flu victims--after years of hearing Cardassia described to him by Garak, Julian couldn't repress his curiousity and leapt at the chance of seeing it for himself. That chance had been nullified, however, as the Cardassian Council felt that though his expertise in this crisis was needed, his wanderings were to be strictly controlled and limited. Thus, most of his time here was spent in a stuffy apartment closely guarded by two large Glinns. He ran a few theorum specs through his PADD hoping to find a quick cure so he could get back to the station. Of course, it didn't work. He sighed morosely and tossed the PADD onto the low table before him, it was going to be a long, boring assignment with no distractions to help ease the tension of his duties. Creative thinking was quashed in this kind of environment. The worst part is this solitude, he thought, I just wish there was someone to talk to. If Garak had been there, they could have discussed the irritation of his current situation. Garak could argue for the confinement whilst Julian could have argued against it. It no doubt would have erupted into an intense arguement that would leave him exhausted and at the same time mentally rejuvinated. They could have discussed their latest book, "The Naked Lunch" by William S. Burroughs. Julian stifled a chortle at the thought of Garak's reaction to *that* particular piece literature. He lied back on the granite piece of furniture that passed for a couch on Cardassia and stared at the cieling. There was a crack in it. I wonder if that's deliberate? he thought, Maybe I'm under surveillance as well. Now there's a strange form of torture for whatever poor officer has to stare at me for hours. There were a couple of other cracks beginning on the far corner. He started counting their minute branches. One. Two. Three. Bored. Bored. Bored. Why do they have to keep me under lock and key, heavily guarded? Couldn't they just have someone watch over me in here? At least it would be company. He thought about the two guards standing outside of his quarters. I bet it's boring being a Glinn, he mused, Just standing at attention for hours and hours, not talking to anybody. Well, they talked to each other, I suppose. No doubt why they always guard in pairs. Julian traced one of the cracks in the cieling with his finger pointed in the air. I wonder what they talk about,he thought, looking at his door. The door hissed open and the two Glinns turned to face Julian. "Hi,"he said. They stared at him expectantly. Julian coughed. "I was just thinking, it seems awfully silly to be standing in the hall when you could very well be comfortable in here. I mean, you'd still be guarding me, right? In fact , you could say you were keeping an even closer eye on me." "You want us to come in?"The Glinn on the right asked, confusion plainly visible in his eyes. "If that's alright?"Julian ventured. The Glinn looked over to his companion who merely shrugged and with a bid from Julian they both slipped inside. "I myself have never understood the fanaticism my people have for the repetitive epic."Gilan said, "Being born, going to war, becoming a hero, dying, then the whole cycle starting over and over again. It's like constantly making the same mistakes." Julian nodded his head fervently, "I couldn't agree with you more. The whole process of life is designed that we may learn to react differently in each given situation..." "I disagree, the repetitive epic does have its merits, namely the exposition that there are certain things no-one will ever be able to change."Glinn Kinar replied. "But every situation is different!" Julian charged,"With every separate nuance, every flick of the wrist the universe changes--that's a basic fact of quantum physics."He sighed with acute satisfaction, it was grand to be back into the intellectual ring again. He hated the thought of leaving it to go to the bathroom, but nature called. "Excuse me gentlemen, I just have to..."he pointed impatiently towards the bathroom and got up, leaving the two Cardassians momentarily alone. "He's such a wonderful conversationalist."Glinn Gilan said wistfully, "I don't believe I've ever been in the company of someone so enchanting. Imagine, me talking about literature!" "Have you seen the colour of his eyes?"Glinn Kinar said to his partner, moving closer to him in a conspiratorial whisper, "How many different shades of browns and greens..." "His smooth delicate skin,"Glinn Gilan said, moving closer still to Glinn Kinar, his lips practically touching the other's as he whispered, "Don't you long to touch it and see if it is as soft as it looks?" "Of course. Did you see the way his lips blossomed into..." "That sensual pout, of course! Can you imagine those hands..." "Those long, sinewy fingers..." "Caressing..." "Touching..." "Exploring..."Glinn Gilan exhaled, his eyes fluttering shut as Glinn Kinar's fingertips stroked his chin. "He's going to haunt me."Glinn Kinar admitted. "What I would do to sleep with him."Glinn Gilan said, opening his eyes and peering into his friend's for a sign of mutual collaboration. They parted from each other's closeness, a plan understood. Julian re-entered the room, talking around yet another point, "When thinking about this work in particular, I'm often struck by how hollow the main characters are. Yes, they have their sense of Cardassian duty, but there's really not much else there to flesh them out, make them real. All of their relationships are painfully stunted, as if no-one in their society even looked at anyone in more or less of a political light." "Perhaps your view has been marred,"Glinn Kinar said pointedly, "For surely you cannot believe that the affair between Gul Si'ian and Gul Merric was less than passionate." Julian sucked in his breath at this revelation. "An _affair_? I didn't get a hint of that, I'm afraid. How would you come to that interpretation?" "Surely you recall the second half of book six?"Glinn Gilan said, "Where the two officers are engaged in activities that were definately *not* of a military nature?" Julian frowned, "You mean when they had dinner?"he asked innocently. "No, no, afterwards."Glinn Kinar said, "When there was that seven page description..." "Very graphic."Glinn Gilan interrupted. "Of our two heros getting even more acquainted with one another on a *very* physical level." Julian pondered this new information for a moment. "Then I'm afraid I'm at a disadvantage,"he admitted sadly, "Obviously I've been reading the abridged version. Pity, the one your talking about could have made me a big fan of that branch of Cardassian literature." Julian couldn't help but feel angry with Garak for giving him the edited version of his culture's knowledge, it made his revenge with the help of William S. Burroughs all the sweeter. Why would he hold that back? To think of all the knowledge of Cardassian physiology...now then, I've gone and answered my own question. Damn him! "I'm terribly sorry,"Julian said, feeling like the universe's heel, "It seems my arguements are now all without merit." Glinn Gilan reached out and stroked Julian's shoulder reassuringly, "Some of the points you made were well spoken," he said whilst thinking, Oh, the way his bottom lip trembles! If only I could steady it with the gentle press of my thumb. "It is no small feat to not recieve all that you need to know and yet still come to some correct conclusions."Gul Kinar replied, thinking, I want to bury my neck in his mouth. "Hmm."Julian replied, his thoughts heavily drawn inwards. "I'm getting myself something to drink, do either of you want anything?"he asked as he got up and walked to replicator. "We're fine."Glinn Kinar said quickly. He bent to whisper in Gilan's ear, "I have an idea, but it will take some co-operation from you. Do I have your assistance?" Gilan looked quickly over to Dr. Bashir who was agonizing over the translations of the Cardassian replicator, "I want him so badly I'd kill the Legate to get him. Whatever your plan, I'll run with it." Julian came back to his seat with a cup of steaming, vile Rokassa juice, Garak's usual morning drink. Just the thought of putting it to his lips made him gag, but he was thirsty and it was the only beverage he knew to ask the replicator for. He took a tentative sip. Suprisingly, it wasn't fishy at all, regardless of the smell--it in fact had a very sweet/tart combination of flavours. "Dear me, how can you drink that?"Glinn Gilan said, disgust plain on his features. "It's not bad."Julian replied honestly. "I've been thinking about your abbreviated copy of "The Never Ending Sacrifice". Since it seems to distress you so much, perhaps Glinn Gilan and I could be of some assistance to you?" "How do you mean?"This Rokassa juice was really good! "On your planet they have a phrase: A picture is worth a thousand words? Perhaps we could assist in giving you a picture. Perhaps by re-enacting the scene in question." Julian paused in mid sip. He raised his eyes over the lips of the glass to peer at Glinn Gilan and Glinn Kinar. "Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?"Julian asked. "Glinn Kinar and I would be happy to assist you in the name of Cardassian literature."Gilan replied. Julian weighed this new situation. A very strange situation, yes, but he was intrigued. Just what did Cardassians look like naked anyway? And, given the fact that these were two armed, no doubt very strong examples of their species, did Julian have the choice to refuse? "So the two of you would...demonstrate...for me." "Yes."Glinn Kinar said nonchalantly. "Would my involvement be mandatory?"Julian asked carefully. "We don't expect you to be involved, you are but a spectator."Glinn Kinar said. "As a reader is."Glinn Gilan answered. Julian felt an inward smirk. So much for a boredom! "Alright."he said, finishing his Rokassa juice in one gulp, "I'm in the mood to read a good book." He hadn't been expecting to feel aroused. As he watched the two Cardassians caressing and embracing one another he could feel his own need press urgently against the confines of his uniform. Kinar was tracing Gilan's thin, parted lips with his tongue, an action that caused a deep, throated groan to escape from Gilan. Their sounds of pleasure were alien to him, halfway between a growl and a purr. He wondered if that's how Garak sounded when he placed himself under someone's intimate touch. Perhaps even his own. The neck, obviously enough, was clearly a highly erogenous zone. The various turns and twists as they slid their ridges over one another's, reveling in the serpentine friction. They would pause when their faces periodically met and enclasp each other in a long, searching kiss that ended with their tongues mutually entwined outside of their mouths. They never touched each other's sex, only using their slender, muscular bodies to that purpose, gliding over one another in graceful tenderness. It was a suprise to Julian, to find that Cardassian love-making didn't involve rough play. Then again, two Cardassians hardly represented an entire race. Kinar shifted his weight unevenly onto his companion and Gilan let out a strangled whimper. Kinar had entered him. They were barely moving, but Gilan's whimpering had increased. He rolled his head back as if drunk and opened his lust lidded eyes at Julian. Julian gasped at his own body's reaction to the Glinn's ocular invitation. He walked up to the pair and, before he was even aware he was doing so, he pressed his lips fervently onto Gilan's welcome mouth. He ran his hand along the alien terrain of his chest--symbolic looking ridges covered his torso and his Cardassian friend shivered when he touched them. "Let me have him."he ordered Glinn Kinar. "As you wish."the Cardassian replied, and withdrew from his fellow officer. He assisted Julian in the removal of his uniform, caressing the bare flesh as it was exposed. He slid his soft, dry tongue down Julian's spine, traveling upwards again with open kisses. Kinar buried his face in the tousled softness of Julian's hair, letting out another purr of pleasure at its delightful scent and texture. Gilan shouted a painful cry when Julian entered him. "Have I hurt you?"Julian asked, hesitating, but Gilan's answer was a heartstopping sensual moan punctuated with stifled whimpers. In sweet shock Julian felt the Cardassian's entrance contract against the length of his penis in a steady rythmn, the reason, no doubt, for the restriction of Kinar's movement. Gilan shuddered and began weeping. "Am I hurting you?"Julian asked again. "It's pleasure he's feeling."Kinar reassured him, whispering into his ear. He rubbed his nape against the smooth softness of the Terran's neck. Julian gently pushed him away. "Wait."he promised. --- Morning arrived in the costume of dusk. That was the brightest Cardassia ever got, and Julian lazily stirred amidst the debris of comfortable bedding he had collapsed in exhaustion on. His two companions were equally spent, their nude bodies curled against one another for warmth, or closeness, or both. Kinar broke from his lover's embrace, disturbed from his dreams by the low daylight that had crept into the room. His body found a warmer climate, and he buried himself into its softness. Julian stroked his arm, tracing lines along his forearm that were no doubt scars. He hoped they wouldn't get into serious trouble for this indiscretion. He stroked Kinar's rugged back, teasing the tiny spines that followed the length of his backbone. He splayed his hand along the expanse of his flesh, stopping on more evidence of wounds that suffered phaser fire, deep cuts caused from hand to hand combat. His backside was smooth enough, Julian mused, but then, as he had felt last night, his entrance had evidence of severe scarring, an old, untended wound. Kinar flinched at Julian's examination, his eyes fluttering open to reveal a brief shadow of fear. Julian felt his heart lurch in sympathy and reached his hand back up to touch the heavily mapped terrain that was Kinar's face. The Cardassian's eyes, locked fervently into his, began to shine glassily with moisture. So, Julian thought, anger and subterfuge and manipulation are your masters, yet with one tiny spark of tenderness they are so quickly forsaken. "I'm a doctor."Julian said softly, "I can heal the wound properly. Do you want me to?" The body on the other end of the bed stirred and groaned. "Hmmmhm. I'm hungry."Glinn Gilan said, his voice still raspy from sleep. He blinked his eyes awake and quickly turned on his side playfully. Julian couldn't help but compare his body to his fellow officer's, he was clearly younger than Kinar, was maybe even Julian's age. His skin was completely free of damage, a testament to lack of experience. His unguarded smile, infectious in its innocence, would no doubt be replaced with a more stern disposition as Cardassia fed him into battle after battle. "I'll make breakfast for all of us," he said brightly, and bounded up to the large bed's other occupants, planting a brief kiss on both of thier lips. He jumped off of the bed and slid with haste into his trousers. Wearing nothing else, he strode out of the room. There were a series of beeps as he toyed with the replicator in the small kitchen. "He is a good cook,"Kinar promised. Julian smiled wanly. "How long have you been lovers?" "Since last night."Kinar responded. Julian felt a pang of guilt. What ramifications were there for these two, now that they had compromised themselves for his pleasure? "I hope neither of you..."Julian began, and Kinar hushed him with a fingertip. "Cardassia turns a blind eye to these things,"he assured him. --- Revat, twentysomething agent of the Obsidian Order and one of its most inept disciples reviewed what he had recorded the night before in Dr. Bashir's room. The sounds of intense lovemaking filled his small office as he watched them again, entranced. Tomorrow he could go over the entire seduction again, and many more nights into the future. Usually he hated his job, but this was certainly one of those times he got to enjoy its perks. The scene erupted into his favorite part, where that tender little human set his attentions onto Glinn Kinar. What was his name? Dr. Bash? He knew he had come from Terok Nor to do some research on a small Cardassian flu outbreak on one of the obscure farming regions on the planet, and that he was an officer from Starfleet. Revat let out a shaky sigh as he watched the Terran descend his mouth onto Kinar. How at ease this Terran was in his sensuality, how hypnotizing to watch him... Revat couldn't help but let his hand dive down the front of his trousers. His own touch gave him relief, a sensation that doubled when he closed his eyes and imagined the golden skinned Terran giving him the honour. "Revat?" He wrenched his hand free of his pants in horror, his urgent movement toppling him out of his chair. He looked up from the floor, straining his neck to see the gloating form of Gul Dukat towering over him. "I see you've found something of interest."he said, taking a long look at the small viewscreen. "We-ell. Glinn Gilan and Glinn Kinar. I'll have to invite them to my private cottage sometime. Mmm, and who is that?" He pointed to Bashir, "I could swear I've seen him before." "He's a doctor on DS9, sir."Revat said. Dukat grinned and nodded, remembering. "Ah, yes."Dukat turned to Revat, "Do you have the weapons munitions I asked you for?" "They are waiting in a shipyard, on Cardassia Four's moon."Revat answered. "Your assistance in this matter will not be forgotten,"Dukat replied, now studying the viewscreen, "When I am back in power I will make you one of my Elite guards." "It would be an honour,sir."Revat said, standing to attention. "Yes."Dukat replied absently, "He's quite talented, isn't he, that little doctor?" "Very, sir."Revat admitted. "Find your way to DS9. My crew and I will arrive there in exactly three days, and you will become my newest recruit."Dukat put a strong hand on his shoulder, "I trust you, even if you are an Obsidian Order agent. If you betray me, in any way, you will live to regret it." "Understood sir."Revat said quietly. Dukat patted his shoulder jovially. "Oh, and Revat?"Dukat said as he was leaving, "Be sure to get me a copy of your little 'play'." "Yes, sir."Revat replied, sheepishly. --- "So, how was your visit to Cardassia?"Garak asked. Julian searched his face for signs of carnal knowledge and couldn't find any evidence. "Interesting."he replied truthfully. "Really? I was under the impression that you were heavily guarded and kept locked in a stuffy apartment the entire time." "Yes, but I still managed to make some friends."Julian replied, being careful to divert his gaze in as unshifty a manner as possible, "What did you think of the book?"he asked, changing the subject. Garak visibly stiffened and his mouth pressed into a thin line. Julian nearly laughed aloud. Bless you William S. Burroughs. "I'm afraid I didn't have time to read it."Garak lied. "Of course you did,"Julian rebutted, "It's alright, I understand the trepidation. This is a big leap from Shakespeare." "In what direction, exactly?"Garak asked. He didn't want to discuss this book, it had given him severe nightmares. "Doctor, the next time you give me pornography to read, I would hope it to be more pleasant. For the life of me, I can't understand this filth's appeal--there is nothing tying it together, merely long strings of descriptions of hell..." "I think you've actually understood it."Julian said in mock awe. "It was very disturbing."Garak admitted. "As disturbing as the missing seven pages in the 'Never Ending Sacrifice'?"Julian teased. "What seven pages?"Garak asked. "The pages of graphic sexual content you edited from the text?"Julian countered. "What copy did *you* get? And is it possible you could lend it to me?" Garak smiled conspiratorially. Julian furrowed his brow. "You're telling the truth."he said, dumbfounded, "Then why..." "Why what doctor?" "It's...Nothing. It's nothing."He picked up his PADD, riddled with notes, "Now, about this 'Lunch'..." --- Revat paced the DS9 docking bay, wondering if he was doing the right thing. He never could be sure. All he knew was that he hated the Obsidian Order with all its pointless rules and personal sacrifice and hopefully being one of Dukat's disciples would change that. Then again, dying on the front lines wasn't his idea of a perfect job either, and he was seriously reconsidering joining the resistance effort. What he really wanted was adventure, travel--distant lands so far away it would take months at warp ten to get there. To get as far away from Cardassia as he could. He loved his planet as much as the next patriot, but unlike his peers there was no strangling umbilical need for him to live there forever. When pinpointed in the vastness of known space, Cardassia was barely a speck of dust, rendering himself not even the size of a molecule. Once he'd realized these facts and committed them to the truth in his heart, he couldn't see the point of suffering to the death for a duty he couldn't feel. Besides, there was that doctor. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about him since that fateful night two evenings ago. Every second of his day was spent agonizing and obsessing over what he would say and how he would say it when he met him. He'd stood in front of his mirror, rehearsing for an hour--looking just the right amount of coy shyness and open invitation. Maybe, if he played his role just right, he could lure him into bed, and reap all the benefits of his erotic skills. Revat smiled to himself, lost in fantasy as he gazed the length of the station. Suddenly, in the corner of his eye, stood the glorious object of his affections. Dr. Bashir had nearly bumped into him, almost mistaking him for Garak until he realized that this Cardassian male was significantly younger and thinner. He had pale, violet coloured eyes that were turned on him in piercing ferocity. Bashir noticed the dark rings around the young man's neck scales, signs of a fever. "Good morning."Dr. Bashir said to him. The Cardassian merely stared rudely at him. Fine, he didn't have to play politeness games with a complete stranger, and somewhat ruffled by the snub Dr. Bashir left Revat alone on the deck. Revat was crushed. All of his prepartion to seduce and he couldn't even bring himself the courage to utter a meek 'hello'. He pounded a frustrated fist at his temple, "Stupid, stupid."he said to himself. This was awful, to be so close and yet... He recomposed himself, easing the tension from his frazzled nerves. What he really needed was some good advice, and though the scandal of his exile had permanently removed him from his parents' favour, Revat had no such prejudices against Garak. --- "We are approaching DS9 sir."Glinn Damar said. Dukat sat behind him in his commanding chair, lost in thought. "Sir?" "Yes, yes, I heard you."Dukat said distractedly. Damar watched his superior officer reflected in the glass. Dukat was staring rapturously at the ceiling. "What do you know about humans Damar?"he asked suddenly. Damar shrugged. "I've never met one yet, sir. From tactical standpoints..." "No, no, I know all about thier tactics."Dukat replied impatiently, "It's their bodies that fascinates me. So smooth, curvacious. They look so fragile on the outside, whereas inside they literally burn with strength." Dr. Bashir, Dukat mused, that lovely, breakable little man with eyes that could melt the High Gul. If he'd seduced one Cardassian female Dukat would have been impressed, but the fact that he had lured two male Glinns into his bed put him in the ranks of a sexual god. Even Dukat hadn't mananged that feat. He gave a once over to his second in command. At least not yet. "There's someone I need you to become acquainted with,"Dukat said to his first officer, "He may have useful information, but we need to know whose side he is willing to play for. I want you to get to know him a little--his habits, his thoughts, where his quarters are located--and then report back to me." "As you wish sir,"Glinn Dumar said stolidly, "who is he?" "Dr. Julian Bashir."Gul Dukat replied, unable to keep a hint of wistfullness from his voice. --- Garak clasped the young Cardassian's hands into his own. "Revat! This is quite a surprise, quite a pleasant surprise. How long has it been, seven years? You're no longer a child but a grown man, and a handsome one at that." Revat's neck blushed at the compliment. "Thank you Garak. I've missed you terribly since you had to leave." "Yes,"Garak replied guardedly, "which brings me to ask why *you* have left. You didn't like the Order?" Revat shook his head. "I was thinking of becoming one of Gul Dukat's resistance fighters,"he saw Garak visibly flinch in anger, "But I've since reconsidered."he added. Garak's murderous stance relaxed. "So, what is it that has caused you to make these strange decisions? An improper handling of an investigation? I would have forgiven you, youthful inexperience is no crime." "No, nothing like that."Revat said, "I was just."How was he going to explain this? "I was bored. I sat at a desk spying on people through hidden surveillance devices all day. Watching them sleep, watching them eat. Sometimes they might have read a book." "Yes, I can see your point."Garak replied sympathetically. "I suppose it could have gone on forever,"Revat said, "Me watching everyone else have a life. Until two nights ago, I might never have found the courage to leave Cardassia." "What happened?"Garak asked. "The worst thing possible,"Revat replied, "I fell in love." "Ah, a foolish reason if ever there was one,"Garak smiled."Then tell me, who is she? The daughter of an over-protective Gul? Marktet! Of course!" "No."Revat replied uneasily, "It's not a she but a he." "Oh."Garak said, maybe a little too quickly, "That would explain it." "No."Revat said, "He has no Cardassian connections, he's alien." "A Bajoran."Garak said tersely. Revat certainly knew how to line his coffin. "No."Revat said, "A human." Very strange, Garak thought, "How did you ever manage to meet a human?" "I haven't met him,"Revat said, "I saw him. On my surveillance duty. He works here, you know, he's a Starfleet officer." "Revat, Revat, you have no idea what you are telling me."Garak said, bemused. "He's beautiful Garak,"Revat gushed, "If perfection were given a definition it would be his name. I'm sure you must have seen him." "I cannot believe you have been so foolish as to abandon your homeworld for some pathetic infatuation."Garak said sternly, "If you can arrest the surge of hormones for a moment we may be able to come up with a plan so you can return home." "I don't want to go back to Cardassia." "And just where will you go? To Earth with a human male you haven't even met?"Garak's voice was rising, "If your parents could see..." "I don't care!"In anger and frustration Revat tossed the surveillance recording at Garak, "View this in a dark room, privately, and tell me then that I'm a fool." Revat turned his heel and stormed out of Garak's shop, leaving the tailor with a stick of lit dynamite in his hand. --- Dr. Julian Bashir returned to his quarters to catch up on some afternoon reading. He had a couple of hours before his next shift started and he intended to spend it in full relaxation. He ordered a darjeeling tea from the replicator and sat down with his newest book, 'Sansess', apparently banned from Cardassia for nearly thirty years due to its 'graphic sexual content'. So far all he found evidence of was a chaste kiss from a maidservant to her employer, and even this was open to interpretation. "Incoming message for Dr. Bashir, emergency line one." "Put it through. Bashir here." "Doctor." Julian froze. That voice. "Kinar? Are you in trouble? Is Gilan..." "We're fine."the voice said. He sounded weary. "We're leaving Cardassia." "I see."Julian said, guilt hitting every molecule in his blood. "It's not your fault,"Kinar said sweetly, "There are plenty of reasons, as you well know." "Yes, I suppose so."Julian replied, remembering the look in Kinar's eyes when he had awoken, "Where are you going to go?" "Actually, it's the reason I am calling. We're already out of Cardassian space, but we need a destination that will be hospitable to two penniless exiles." Julian flinched at the word 'exile', knowing what it meant to Garak and others in his situation. "You can go to Earth,"Julian advised, "I'll give you the address of a good friend of mine from the Academy. Tell her I sent you." He sent the information along, hoping his connection with his old friend was still strong enough. "Thank you,"Kinar said softly, "Doctor. I...That is, Gilan and I will never forget you." Nor I you, Julian thought. "And we both love you." Julian felt as though he had been struck. He'd ruined two lives and now they were telling him they loved him for it. "Kinar.."he tried to explain, but they had already ended the transmission. --- Julian studied his dining companion thoroughly. Garak was talking about the nature of Cardassian sublties, how romance was a secondary, nay, even a third ranking in social importance. It was the state that required one's ardour. Something along those lines, Julian had stopped really listening fifteen minutes ago. He was puzzling over Garak's carefully placed expressions, the constant posturing of his intellectual capabilities. The way the ridges curved around his eyes, the alien alchemical decorations that adorned his animated visage, the long, blemish free ridges that aligned his neck. There was no denying it, Garak was an attractive Cardassian. It was an unwelcome thought but it came nonetheless: Did Garak suffer a similar violation to Kinar's? Did he have a scar from an untended old wound? Did Cardassia turn a blind eye to_ his_ predicament? Or was he in fact the villain of the play? "Doctor? Are you listening to me?"Garak asked. His friend was grossly distracted today, Garak mused. Another love interest, no doubt. Garak sighed, who was she this time and did her mammary glands match up to Leeta's? How unbearably single-minded the dear doctor was in his choices, it certainly left no room for aging Cardassian exiles missing the human's favorite twin appendages. Garak told himself once again that it didn't matter if his affections would never be returned, at least he had this valuable, rewarding friendship. Don't be an idiot.'his inner voice boomed, you can lie to the universe and yourself but it doesn't change the fact that you go home every night and stroke yourself to sleep whilst thinking of him. "Garak,"Julian said, not meeting his gaze. How soft his voice was when he said his name, like a vocal kiss. "What was it like for you the first time?" Ah, the way the shadows angled his face..."The first time I did what?"Garak asked. "The first time you made love."Julian said, as if he was asking for a pant hem. Garak cleared his throat nervously. "Wh-Why would you ask me that question?"Garak stammered. "I'm just curious." "Then so am I, what was it like for *you*?" "No, no, I asked you first."Julian replied. "My first love has always been for Cardassia."Garak explained. Julian waited, but Garak was already finished. "So you made love to the entirety of Cardassia. Quite a feat."Julian said, annoyed, "I'm sorry, Garak, I just thought that we could at least talk about that innocent section of your life."If it is innocent, Julian thought. Garak smiled grimly, "I'm afraid you are making an awful lot of assumptions, doctor." "Such as?" "You are assuming I have had a first time." Julian blinked. "Are you telling me you--you're a--"Julian swallowed around the word, "_virgin_?" "I was a member of the Obsidian Order, doctor, surely you know that sexual contacts were strictly forbidden. Only its leader was permitted to take a wife and have a family, and even then it was considered unorthodox." "No, I don't believe you clued me in."Julian said, flabbergasted. --- "I shouldn't be doing this,"Revat thought as he rummaged through Dr. Bashir's dresser. He'd found the doctor's quarters and had rung the doorchime, hoping to apologize for his rude behaviour earlier. He'd already formulated a long history of why it was important that they engage in a conversation, but it was all forgotten when the annoying of the chime quashed his resolve. He wasn't home. Revat was ready to leave, but then thought, Maybe if I got inside and took a look around I could get to know him that way, so when I do meet him again I'll have a bit of ammunition to line my arrow. He broke through the security lock easily enough--one small thanks to the Obsidian Order. The doctor's quarters gave him some interesting information. He seemed quite fond of Cardassian literature and was currently making notes on a banned piece of Enigmatic Romance. Medical texts abounded, holosuite programs casually tossed on the side of his bed. Well, now, he was in Dr. Bashir's bedroom. Revat sat on the bed--the human slept here on a regular basis. He could feel all the pulses in his neck accelerate like an electrical charge. He placed his lithe, graceful body between these sheets every night, he dressed in those clothes... Compulsion for nearness, and yet too afraid to pursue it, Revat went for the closest thing that had been near the beautiful doctor. --- Julian drank his coffee as if it were a life-saving drug. His shift had finally ended, the near abandoned replimat was dimmed in the appearance of nightfall and Julian still had a few reports that needed some final revisions. He scratched at his scalp, hoping the massage would force some new blood into his brain. "Interesting prose."a voice behind him said. Julian half turned in his seat to see a male Cardassian Glinn standing behind him. He was gesturing to the neglected PADD on the other side of the table. "It's beat lit."Julian explained, "Latter 20th century Earth. If you want to read it, be my guest, but be warned it's not for the faint of heart." "I see that."the Cardassian said, retrieving the PADD and frowning over a particular paragraph, "What would ever possess anyone to write this let alone read it?" "An obsession with words and narcotics."Julian said, giving a once over to this new critic, "Have a seat, we can discuss it." The Cardassian glanced at the human seated before him, hesitating slightly. What strange eyes this creature had, so earnest and bright. "Very well."Glinn Damar replied, and sat in the adjoining seat. --- Garak was about to watch the recording when he received a hail from Odo. "Odo to Garak." "Constable! Rather late for your rounds, isn't it?" "I've put in some overtime, I need to speak with you in my office. About a certain 'friend' of yours--Revat." Garak groaned in frustration. So, he was being pulled into this ridiculous web even more. "What has he done now?"Garak asked, his voice punctuated with boredom. "I suggest you come to my office, Garak." Suddenly the tailor felt no small amount of concern. Just how far would Revat go to realize his fantasy with this human? An involuntary shiver ran down his spines as he considered all of the possible equations. He will have to disassociate himself from Revat completely. "I'll be there as soon as I can."Garak replied. --- "Revat, I have heard of people doing stupid things in the name of love, but this is truly abominable!"Garak pressed his face intimidatingly close to his young friend, "What were you planning on doing with these things of his, exactly?" Revat's neck ridges blushed darkly in embarassment and he couldn't meet Garak's gaze with shame so rampant through his senses. "I was going to...try them on." Garak grimaced. "On second thought, there are things even an Obsidian spy wouldn't want to know, let alone simple tailors. Constable Odo will make sure that this little blight will remain permanently on your record, you understand? You can never go back to the Order now.." "I hated the Order!"Revat blurted. Garak stood up, fighting the urge to silence the prisoner with a backhanded blow. He pushed his tension through a sigh and leaned on Odo's desk. Where was the Constable, anyway, he should be here making sure Garak didn't resort to the kind of questioning his Obsidian Order training had given him. Very strange for Odo to be so trusting, then again he was no fan of Cardassians in general. Perhaps he felt this domestic matter was best taken care of by its own culture. "I give up on you, Revat, you no longer have any connection to me,"Garak replied coldly, "If you try to speak to me or contact me again I will have you dealt with." "I don't care,"Revat spat, "I don't owe you or that dust bowl of a planet I was unfortunate enough to have been born on any explanations." "You have one explanation to make, and it's to your dear object of affection." Revat paled. "No, Garak, don't make me do this." "You will have to apologize to him,"Garak said thinly, "And give him back his belongings." "I can't..." "You will."Garak ordered, his voice the sound of a gavel, "Now, what is this man's name?" Revat refused to meet Garak's gaze. "Dr. Julian Bashir."he said, defeated. There was a pregnant pause. It still didn't give Revat time to prepare for the stinging slap that Garak suddenly weilded against his face. It left his ears ringing. "You stole underwear,"Garak hissed in pure fury, "from MY Julian?!?" Understanding suddenly dawned on Revat as he gauged his friend's passionate reaction. He had developed an unhealthy crush on Garak's lover. And the fact that Garak was so shocked at the revelation meant he hadn't yet viewed what was on the recording. "Oh no."Revat groaned, and buried his face in his hands. --- Damar felt as though he had pulled every single muscle in his body. The memory of the injuries brought a smile to his lips, and he shifted his weight on the bed. His armour was scattered throughout the bedroom, intermingled in a fabric and metal puzzle with the Starfleet uniform. He pressed his face deep into the pillow, the doctor's scent heavily embedded in its fibres. His own scent was mingling with it and he wondered absently how long Julian would let it linger before changing the sheets. "Joooleeeanne."he whispered in a long stroke into the pillow, the human's name tasting like candy on his tongue. He smiled at its oral texture. Somewhere in the small quarters he could hear the sound of running water, his beloved washing away the evidence of their pleasure. That was a little disappointing, but then, he hadn't been told he couldn't stay the night. He allowed a deep, contented sigh to escape his exhausted, satisified body as he drifted into the most comfortable sleep he had ever known. Julian massaged his aching muscles under the pulses of hot water that cascaded over him. Guilt was again manifesting its ugly head. Had he ruined this Glinn's life as well? He hadn't planned on sleeping with the Cardassian, but as the short conversation about 'The Naked Lunch' turned into a treatsie on stream of consciousness and the idea of the subconscious overtaking our waking states by more measures than we realise--it naturally progressed into an invitation to bed. Julian felt his sex stirring at the mere thought of the naked Damar laying spent between the sheets--he was a significantly more experienced lover than Kinar and Gilan. Three. Dammit he slept with three Cardassian soldiers. It was all very confusing, he'd never been attracted to men before, women had taken up all of his preferences. But there was something about the Cardassian male...intelligence and strength, exotic physiques, an eagerness to please. Julian sighed, this was quickly turning into less of a case of simple curiousity and more into a bona fide sexual orientation. The water shut off and he stepped out of the shower and towelled himself dry. He wrapped the damp terrycloth swag around his waist and strode into the living room to grab a cup of tea. "I was wondering when you would decide to venture forth, " Julian peered into the gloom, making out the form of a naked Cardassian on his couch. "Da.."he started, then recoiled in horror as his eyes grew used to the dimness, "Dukat!" "I hope you don't mind the unorthodoxy of my visit. Then again, you're hardly a man of rigid rules, are you? When it comes to what you desire? I hear you have certain...preferences,"the Gul explained, "I've taken it upon myself to determine if the rumours are true."He lay back on the couch, completely at ease in his nakedness, and draped his arm over the back of his head as a wanton pillow. "I'm hoping they are."he added, "Because I am very willing to ease any of your...cravings." Contrary to the wishes of his erection, Julian was horrified. "They might be."Julian said, guardedly, being very careful not to disclose of Glinn Damar's prescence in the bedroom by looking in that direction. Gul Dukat swiftly rose from his prone state and approached the doctor. He ran a grey fingertip along his clavicle bones and Julian couldn't resist an involuntary shiver of delight. "Don't you think you're overdressed?"Dukat teased, and wrenched the towel from Julian's waist. With his aching desire exposed, Julian knew he had no hope of escape now. He willed Damar to remain sleeping in the bed. Dukat traced Julian's trembling bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. "So very soft."he whispered, then swooped with a hawk's grace onto his mouth in a cool, musk tasting kiss. Julian moaned into the oral caress of Dukat's tongue. "I really should be pushing him off. "Julian thought, but facts had no logic with the subconscious so clearly in control. "Smoother than Thalian silk."Dukat said, sliding his body down Julian's length until he was on his knees on the floor, accenting the descent with tasting kisses. "It looks harmless enough,"Dukat mused aloud, "But then, I know better."He devoured Julian's penis in one sudden movement, and Bashir dug his hands into the strange texture of the Cardassian's hair--like thin wisps of synthetic fibres. "I really shouldn't be doing this."Julian groaned. He'd had this honour bestowed on him many times before, but Dukat was by far the resident expert. Julian was finding it difficult to stand. His door chime! Both he and Dukat froze in thier positions. "Dr. Bashir, it's Odo and Garak. I'm afraid we have an embarassing situation to resolve." "Really?"Julian shouted to the door, "Give me a minute, I just got out of the shower." He grabbed Dukat by the shoulders and the officer gave a passionate moan. "Snap out of it!"Julian hissed, "Do you really want Odo and Garak to catch you here like this?" Dukat's eyes widened in abject horror. He broke from Julian's embrace and began scrambling for his uniform. "There's no time to put it on,"Julian whispered harshly as he pushed the Cardassian into his bedroom. Dukat gave a questioning glare to the sleeping form of Damar on the bed as Julian continued to push him into his closet. His uniform was thrown in after him. "Damar, wake up!"Julian said through clenched teeth. "Hmmm?" "Get in the closet." "What?" "I can't have any evidence of either of you here, my career could be ruined. Now get up and get in the closet." Damar staggered lazily out of the bed. "Either of us? Who else..."He got his answer when he was pushed unceremoniously into the closet and beheld the naked body of Legate Dukat. His Glinn uniform, intermingled with the doctor's was thrown between them and Julian slid shut the door and locked it. He grabbed his robe on the way to the front door and opened it, breathless. "I just ran out of the shower,"he explained, breathless and still tying the robe's belt around his waist. Odo and Garak entered Dr. Bashir's quarters accompanied by a dejected looking Cardassian male. "This is Revat,"Garak said tonelessly, "And he has something to tell you."Garak allowed himself a lingering look at the substantial cleavage that Dr. Bashir's robe revealed. His chest was as smooth as Garak had imagined it and it took all the years of taught self control he learned in the Obsidian Order not to march him into his bedroom and seduce him. Thankfully, his tunic was covering his strained erection. Revat was holding a box containing what looked to be articles of clothing. "These are yours."Revat said unhappily, his eyes downcast, "I stole them." Julian frowned when he looked in the box. "My underwear? Why did you steal these?" "He wanted to try them on."Garak replied cruelly. Revat wanted to crawl beneath the floor tiles. Julian grimaced. "Oh, then, keep them." "He can't keep them!"Garak said, stunned, "This is part of his punishment!" "Why should I be punished, then? I'm not going to wear underwear that's been in his-" Julian waved a hand at Revat, "backyard." Revat looked a little familiar, Julian realized. "Aren't you that Cardassian that snubbed me in the docking bay?" "I didn't snub you,"Revat replied nervously, "I didn't know what to say to you. I wanted to start a conversation, but I lost my nerve." Julian felt a pang of understanding, he knew what it was like to have a puppyish crush on someone, he'd spent years having one on Dax. "Well, you could've stole something other than my underwear,"Julian chided, "How about a copy of 'The Naked Lunch'?" Garak snickered. Revat shook his head, "No, I'm more of a Kerouac fan. But thank you just the same." ...meanwhile, in Julian's closet... "I think this one's mine."Dukat asserted, holding up the black shirt, "No it's too small, it must be yours." "These pants are too long."Damar hissed, "They're yours." "This is a piece of Glinn armouring." "Size 13, these must be your boots."Damar held up the black shirt, "This is definately too small. You sure it doesn't fit you?" "No."Dukat then ahhed in understanding, "It must be Dr. Bashir's." Damar sighed in acute frustration. "It's hard enough to figure out how to get Cardassian uniforms on without having it mixed up with someone else's."He angrily tossed the too small shirt on the closet floor. Dukat eyed him with mischevious speculation. "Well...we don't necessarily have to get dressed in a hurry, do we?" --- Garak pulled Revat out of the doctor's quarters by the ear, shouting at him in Kardasi. Odo lingered behind and quickly slipped a dilithium chip into Julian's hand. "You might want to make sure you aren't being watched next time,"he warned, "This little recording was very educational, and it could have been deadly if Garak had the chance to view it. He never would have forgiven you." Julian paled. "Ahm. Thank you Odo, I owe you one." "It was no easy feat hiding out in Garak's quarters to get an advance viewing. His little friend Revat was the officer on duty during your little menage a trois and he gave this to Garak as an explanation of why he wanted you so badly. Personally, I think you could stand to gain a little weight..." "Thanks Odo."Julian said curtly, and closed the door to his quarters. "Well, at least all that's taken care of."he said to the empty room, "Now for some other explanations." He walked into his bedroom, bracing himself for two angry Cardassians ready to tear him limb from limb. It was strangely quiet. "Dukat? Damar?"he was answered with a series of whimpering moans and it was impossible to tell who's it was. "I'm glad that problem resolved itself." he said to his bed. --- ONE MONTH LATER.... "I find your conclusions about this piece very strange, doctor. I hardly think that there was anything going on between the two officers."Garak asserted. "Gul Si'ian and Gul Merric's relationship is actually woven into their patriotism of Cardassia. Cardassia had taken on several sexual metaphors for them, as you can see in Chapter Five...." "Julian, this is ridiculous."Garak interrupted, "Patriotism is the fire that fuels every Cardassian writer." "But it's hardly as stimulating as sex."Julian countered, watching his friend intently, "You ought to try it sometime." "When I find some spare moment..."Garak said with sarcasm. "Oh, no, if I was going to have sex with you, I'd take my time."Julian teased. He lounged back in his chair, watching Garak's eyes darting fervently in reaction to his statement. "I'd caress the ridges here...and here." Julian pointed to Garak's eyes, "Then I would progress...here."he pointed to the small scaled lines along his jaw, "And then, naturally, here..."He poised his golden finger in the air, tracing Garak's delicate neck ridges from inference. "What you wouldn't expect, is that afterwards I'd proceed...here." He moved his finger in the air along the length of Garak's throat, not stopping until he reached the table, "Unfortunately, the table is blocking my continued descent." Garak's neck scales were now darkening so deeply they were ringed completely in black. "If I wasn't so sure of your preference for beautif ul women I'd be under the impression you were trying to seduce me."Garak let out a wry laugh, "And we both know how ridiculous that sounds." "Garak," Julian smiled, enjoying every second of his triumph, "You are so naive." --- The End