Published in the Star Trek Fanzine "Eridani" in 1995.

The Healer was the last DS9 - Trek fic story I wrote. My interest in the show waned after they wimped out Major Kira after Season 3 but by then a new hero was born and her name was Xena. As they say in the classics...the rest is history :-)

THE HEALER

Written by: MaryD

(C) June 1995 MaryD

"We're here."

To'Leth looked up and saw the human Captain. He was in the
Alpha Quadrant. At last. To'Leth thanked the Captain and
prepared to disembark. It had been a difficult journey, the
last one he would take before the Deliverance.

He got out of the airlock to be confronted by a swarming mass
of people, all sizes and all races. He was amazed. He had
heard rumors about the Alpha Quadrant but didn't know whether
to believe them. Then the difficult decision to leave his home
was made...although not by him but fate.

He spotted what looked like an eating establishment and he
looked up at the neon flashing light. Quark's Bar. As he was
about to enter he collided with a tall human.

Commander Benjamin Sisko's mind was elsewhere as he walked
past Quark's. His collision with an alien brought him to the
present.

"I am sorry --" To'Leth said as he bent down and picked up his
parcel.

"It's quite all right." Sisko said and began to walk off,
leaving To'Leth at the entrance of the bar.

Commander Benjamin Sisko nodded to the two crew members that
passed him, his mind on the meeting that had just finished
between himself, Captain Picard and Admiral Necheyev. He felt
ashamed at the memory of his first meeting with Picard,
blaming him for the death of his wife and the destruction of
Starfleet's armada at Wolf 359. He was made to realize these
facts when he met the Aliens in the wormhole when he first
arrived on Deep Space Nine. He never envisioned calling the
station home. He shook his head at the realization that Picard
was far removed from the puppet that the Borg created in the
persona of Locutus.

He entered the darkened quarters. He sat on the edge of the
settee and sighed. It had been a long day ending with the
meeting and all through the day with irate Captains and
Bajoran ministers bent on making their mark on the Starfleet
Commander. He sometimes wished he was not on Deep Space Nine
and should have returned to Earth.

_And what? Miss this fun!_ he said aloud.

He bowed his head until he heard a noise and looked up.
Standing before him was a Borg but not any Borg. It was
Locutus, the man/machine that Sisko remembered so vividly
staring at while on the bridge of the Saratoga. Sisko shook
his head as if to clear it. The Borg was still
there, the pasty pale skin, the green/gray eyes looking at
him. It took one step towards Sisko and stopped and raised
his hand, and pointed at him.

"You could have saved her."

"Computer! Lights!"

Sisko shot up from the bed but the Borg vanished. He stood
in the middle of the room, wondering what had he seen. He shook
his head again.

"Computer, is the Enterprise still docked?"

"The USS Enterprise departed at 22:00 hours."

He glanced at the clock which read 22:20 hours.

_You're working too hard, Ben._ He told himself.

He went to where his son, Jake, was soundly sleeping. He
hesitated at the entrance to his bedroom watching his son.

The vision bothered him as he went to his own bed and lay
down. As soon as he closed his eyes the image of Jennifer
appeared, the image of the Starship Saratoga exploding, the
image of Locutus on the view
screen, the same pasty skin, the steely eyes, the cold blooded
murder at Wolf 359 replayed many times over as he fell into a
restless sleep.

****

"Do you want some dinner?" Jadzia Dax said to the Bajoran who
was still huddled over her console.

Kira Nerys, second in command of Deep Space Nine looked up.
"No, I have to meet with Odo about the security breach with
Quark." She spat the name out like poison causing Dax to
chuckle. Kira looked at her quizzically.

"Sometimes I think you enjoy locking horns with Quark."

"One day I'm going to catch him and he'll have a very close
inspection of the airlock."

Dax finished what she was doing and headed towards the turbo
lift. "Good night Kira."

Jadzia was hungry and she didn't really want to spend eating
dinner in her quarters. She decided to head for Quark's, at
least she would have some company.

Jadzia Dax walked inside the bar to find the place was quiet
as the dabo tables had ceased. In a corner of the bar was an
alien that Jadzia had never seen before and Morn. She smiled
to herself, Morn was always at the bar.

The Trill was tired from a long day in addition to
trying to stop Major Kira from severely injuring Quark, who
once again had caused trouble for the Bajoran. Jadzia smiled
at the thought of trying to placate the angry Major. She was
sure the major enjoyed the challenge presented to her by
Quark.

Quark had been up to his usual tricks and Kira had discovered
them as usual. The Ferengi Bar Keep met her at the door, he
gave her his most endearing smile or what he thought was an
endearing smile.

"Ah, Jadzia," He said and looked outside, searching for Major
Kira. Dax and Kira frequently eat dinner together and he had
hoped she wasn't around. "Is she still angry?" Quark said as
he tried his hands on a towel.

"Well, I wouldn't go near her for the next day or so."

Quark snorted.

"Quark -- what's wrong with the Dabo tables."

"They don't work."

"People always win on them today!" Rom said as he popped his
head from under the counter with several drinks. Quark looked
at him and gave him a slap across the head.

"I'm waiting on a repair crew. What would you like?"

Dax ordered her dinner and sat down, watching the different
races go past on the promenade.

To'Leth sat near the young woman that entered. He started to
feel warm, giddy.

"No..not again!" He whispered. "Please not again!"

The young woman looked at him when he dropped the glass he was
holding. She touched his shoulder.

"Are you alright?" Dax said leaning over the alien.

"Yes -- no -- "

"What is going on here!" Quark said as he raced over to see
broken glass on his bar and on the floor. "I'm going to add
that to your account!"

"Not now, Quark!"

Jadzia was concerned, The alien's skin had gone from a deep
gray hue to a very golden color.

"It is happening -- " To'Leth said as he looked in the young
woman's eyes.

"What is happening?"

"It is..." The alien collapsed to the ground.

"Dax to Bashir! Medical emergency at Quark's!

*****

Jadzia watched as the medical team took the alien away.
Somehow she managed to lose her appetite and found she was
tired and headed to her quarters. Jadzia's thoughts drifted on
the days events and she stopped walking.

_Oh..damn!_ she said aloud.

She entered her quarters and went to where the Batleth, the
Klingon weapon that was given to her by her dear friend Kang,
hung. She held in her arms. The light glistened off the
polished blade as her thoughts went back 95 years. The day
that her godson was born. It had been a joyous occasion as
Kang presented his new son. He bestowed a huge honor on
Curzon Dax by naming his son after him. She closed her eyes
and saw vividly the image of the screaming Klingon child and
the joy that Curzon had in holding the child.

The child did not live long enough to make it to the Rite of
Ascension. His life was taken from him by a revenge motivated
attack by a rogue Klingon named the Albino. A cowardly act
sworn to be avenged by three Klingon warriors and a Trill.
That trill was Curzon Dax, then an Ambassador on the Klingon
home world. He vowed also to avenge the child's death. Curzon
didn't live long enough to get the chance to fulfill that vow.

It was a difficult decision to make for Jadzia when three old
friend, Kang, Koloth and Kor had found the location of the
Albino. She knew that Curzon didn't make the decision to
avenge Dax's death lightly and was determined to see it
through. Benjamin tried to talk her out of it as did her
friend, Kira Nerys, but she had to go with the three Klingons
and avenge her godson's death. It was her responsibility.

The time came when she had the blade of the Batleth up against
the neck of the Albino but she froze, as the Albino could see
she couldn't kill him and taunted her until Kang managed to
raise himself and kill him.

_Happy birthday, Dax_ Jadzia said aloud.

"You should have killed him when you had the chance."

Jadzia quickly looked up and stared into the eyes of a Klingon
child.

"Dax -- "

The child vanished.

Dax stared where the vision appeared from and shook her head.

_I tried..._ She thought to herself as she put the Batleth
back in it's place. She looked back to where the child stood
and a frown creased her brow. _I really tried.._

****

Major Kira Nerys sat looking dejectedly at Odo, Deep Space
Nine's security chief. She glanced at the padd in front of
her and through it on the desk.

"Can you charge him?"

"Not on this evidence." Odo said as he placed the padd away.

Kira massaged the back of her neck and stood up. It had been a
long, tiring day that didn't give her any joy. Their attempts
to catch Quark obtaining stolen goods turned out to be a
false alarm and the discovery of holo-images of her in his
possession made her see red, enough to make a threat on his
life if she ever caught him again. She hated the Ferengi even
more than Odo did.

"We will catch him, Major."

"I guess so. Goodnight Odo."

She exited the security office and headed straight to her
quarters. The usually bustling promenade was quiet as she
made her way out. Her thoughts turned away from the antics of
the Ferengi Bar keeper to a more serious nature.

A subspace message from Bajor reminded her of the date, as if
she would forget, but it brought back the memories of the
Cardassian Occupation. Today had been the Fifteenth
anniversary of the Haru Outpost raids. The raids struck
terror to the Cardassian women and children that were
stationed with the men. The raids also brought nightmares to
the young Kira Nerys. Killing was something she had to do in
order to survive and to rid Bajor of the Cardassian invaders.
Too many Bajorans had died during those raids.

She entered her darkened quarters. She took her
jacket off and through it on the chair nearby. She glanced at
the alter and sighed. She lit the candles, which gave off a
low glow to the room and raised her arms and began to softly
chant for the dead and the legacy they left behind.

"Murderer!"

A child's voice echoed. Kira stopped chanting and turned
around quickly. Whoever had been there was gone but she was
sure she heard a child's voice. She resumed a quiet
meditation as the candles slowly burned.

"Murderer!"

This time she was aware of a presence in the room and spun
around quickly to see a Cardassian child, looking at her with

"Computer! Lights!" Kira said hoarsely.

Kira looked around. The child had disappeared.

****

Sickbay was bathed in a low light as the patients lay quietly.
Dr. Julian Bashir looked around the full infirmary and glanced
at the readouts coming from one of the biobeds.

"How is our friend?" Bashir asked his nurse trying to suppress
a yawn.

"Same as before. He hasn't resumed consciousness."

Bashir looked at the alien, his skin was a deathly gray
color. Jadzia told him about this alien. He had never seen
anyone like this before.

He gave another glance at the biobed readouts and walked
towards the computer console. He had seen readouts similar to
these before but he couldn't remember where -- the readouts
suggested that the alien's brain waves were active, as if in
normal state. Julian looked at the alien again and wondered
what normal for this species meant. He was comatose but the
readings suggested he was wide awake.

_These readings don't make sense!_ he said aloud to himself.

Bashir turned around as he heard a sound behind him. He could
just make out the shadowy figure.

"Major Kira?"

"You could have saved Bareil."

Bashir was astounded. He tried everything he knew to save
Vedek Bareil after the accident on board the shuttle. He
tried desperately to keep him alive but his organs failed one
by one
and then his brain. Bashir was left without any choice even
though Major Kira urged him to replace the other half of his
brain with a machine that would have given Bareil another
chance at life but a machine without feelings.

He looked up again but found no one there. He seethed with
anger at the charge leveled at him. He glanced at the clock
which read 25:30 hours. He decided his patients needed him
more than an argument with the Major and he went back to work.

****

To'Leth struggled with the pain through his body -- he was
aware of it, surely not even here -- it couldn't happen again.

****

Chief Engineer O'Brien had enough. He got up from under the
conduit he was working and replaced the cover. At least he
didn't have to worry about what his wife, Keiko, would say
since she was on a six month Botany expedition on Bajor. He
missed Keiko but he knew she was happy doing what she loved
best and he was doing what he wanted but sometimes he wondered
whether it was the right decision.

"Computer, what time is it?"

"25:50 hours." The computer responded.

O'Brien went to a replicator that he also just finished fixing
and ordered a black coffee. He sat on the floor and quietly
drank the beverage.

_Humph_ he said aloud as he wondered about the events that
brought him to this run down space station. A Cardassian
space station that had a mind of her own and nothing worked
the way he wanted them to work. _Bloody Cardassians!_ he said
aloud and then sipped his drink. He closed his eyes.

"Why didn't you save us?"

O'Brien quickly opened his eyes, he was amazed to find a woman
standing before him, her head bloodied and her clothes in
tatters, holding a dead child in her arms.

"O'Brien to Sickbay..." He stopped mid sentence as the woman
disappeared.

"Yes, Chief?" A tired sounding Bashir said as O'Brien looked
in vain for the woman.

"Er -- sorry Julian -- false alarm."

"While I have you here, Miles, can you come to the infirmary
and fix one of the replicators?"

Miles sighed. It never ended.

"I'll be there shortly."

O'Brien picked up his equipment and glanced back to where the
woman stood. Something about the woman was familiar but he
couldn't remember what.

"Computer, how many people were in Ops at 25:50?"

"One."

"Specify."

"Chief Mile O'Brien." The computer replied.

O'Brien shook his head. That wasn't the answer he was looking
for.

_You're working too hard, Miles_ O'Brien said to himself and
took the turbo lift down.

*****

The Operations Center was a hive of activity as Commander
Sisko sat in his office. His concentration was on the
previous night's events rather the pressing problem of what
to do with a horde of Klingons who were due to arrive.

"Dax?" Sisko said as he exited his office. Jadzia didn't hear
him. "DAX!" Sisko yelled.

All of Ops stopped and stared at their Commander Officer.
Jadzia looked up surprised.

"You were calling me, Benjamin?"

"If you so kindly come into my office, please!"

Dax left her console as the turbolift came to a rest and Major
Kira exited. She was late for the first time that Jadzia
could remember which was most unlike Kira. She thought she
would ask her later.

Sisko noticed the latecomer. "So glad you could join us this
morning, Major."

Kira gave him a weak smile and sat at her console.

Dax frowned and took a second glance at her before she entered

Sisko's office and sat down.

"Dax, something happened last night that was..."

Sisko stopped as a commotion was heard in Ops and both Dax and

himself exited the office.

Standing toe to toe were Kira and Bashir. Sisko immediately
thought that Bashir would need medical attention if he didn't
calm down. The veins his neck were protruding. He had never
seen the doctor so angry.

"How dare you!" Bashir screamed.

"What are you talking about!" Kira yelled back.

"Major, you know fully well what went on last night!"

"Doctor, I don't have time to play games, go to Garak if you
want to waste time!"

"People! What _is_ going on?!" Sisko interrupted them.

"I have no idea!" Kira said and through her hands up in the
air.

"Major Kira came to the infirmary last night and accused me of
not doing my utmost to save Bareil's life!"

"I did no such thing!" Kira responded.

"Both of you in my office...Now!" Sisko demanded as he was
walking up the stairs.

Dax was trying to work out what was going on when her console
lit up. "Benjamin, I'm picking up ..."

She was interrupted by a message from the Klingon captain
asking for permission to dock. At that moment the sensors
picked up a large vessel approaching.

"Oh -- " Dax said re-reading her monitor.

"What?"

"Sensors are picking up a large vessel approaching DS9 -- "

"And?" Kira said still looking daggers at the now silent
Bashir.

"It's a huge ship -- I think it's the Borg."

Stunned silence fell over the Ops section as the enormity of
the situation was realized.

"ETA of the Borg?"

Dax looked at her monitor. "At the present speed they are
going they will be here in two hours."

"I'm going down to the infirmary." Bashir said. He would be
needed very soon.

"Red alert." Sisko said, his voice shaky. "Patch me through to

Starfleet Command."

Dax looked at him and relayed that order. Another signal came
in from the Klingon Captain.

Sisko made a face. That's all he needed, he thought. "Tell the
Klingon captain to standby, Dax, what is
happening out there..." He stopped mid sentence as he watched
the Trill's face."Dax?"

"This is weird -- it's vanished."

"What the...?" Kira said as she went to stand behind the
Trill. She turned around quickly and looked at the transporter
pad. She was sure she saw someone on it. She shook her head.
She looked up and a Cardassian soldier stood on the
transporter padd, aiming his weapon at her. She looked around
Ops but no one seemed to notice him. She picked up her phaser
and fired.

"What?!" Sisko looked at his second officer. "What are you
doing?!"

"I -- I saw a Cardassian." Kira said but she didn't quite
believe what she saw herself."

"You saw a Cardassian?" Sisko sighed and looked at the now
damaged transporter.

"Benjamin, the Borg ship -- it's vanished!"

"What? Stand down red alert." Sisko sat down, relieved that it
was only a computer malfunction although he couldn't explain
why Kira had fired on an empty transporter padd.

"It's not here any more." The trill said as she glanced at
Sisko.

"Hail the Klingons."

The Klingon captain's face reappeared. "Commander, I must
object..."

"Captain, I am sorry to keep you waiting but our sensors were
malfunctioning and we thought we had a Borg ship heading this
way. We don't."

"In that case, Commander do we have permission to dock?"

"Permission granted." Sisko smirked. "Sisko to Odo."

"Yes Commander?"

"The Klingons have docked." Sisko smiled as remembered how
much Odo liked having Klingons on board.

"Benjamin.." Dax hesitated to tell her commanding officer
about the new sensor readings.

"What now?"

Dax was dumbfounded. She thought she saw an armada of ships
moving towards the sector but it vanished.

"Nothing."

Sisko let out an exasperated sigh. "Sisko to O'Brien. Chief,
we are having problems with the sensors." He looked at Kira.
"And we also have a damaged transporter padd."

*****
Later than evening

On the bustling promenade, Quark's Bar reverberated with the
sounds of "Dabo!" and the mingling of different aliens. Quark
sat watching the Klingons who were drinking heavily.

He was glad the Dabo tables had been fixed. Klingons were good
gamblers, he chuckled to himself.

At the back of the bar, a group of Klingons sat drinking.

"How dare you accuse me of that!" A huge Klingon voice echoed
around the room as the games stopped as he backhanded thin
air which then collided with his neighbor.

Fighting broke out amongst the Klingons as Quark ducked under
the bar. The bar soon became one huge brawl as bar stools and
tables were used as weapons or bodies flung on them.

"SECURITY!" Quark screamed.

Security quickly came and attempted to stop the rampaging
Klingons. Quark hid behind his bar as the Klingons fought both
security and each other until Odo managed to get all of them
away.

*****

O'Brien looked up into the ceiling and sighed. He had had a
terrible night. He had a very restless sleep and dreamt of the
outposts he tried to defend during the war. He hated killing.
He hated what the war made him do, what he became.

He picked up his equipment and started to go down the empty
corridor when he heard noises and then screams. He turned
around but couldn't see anything. The screaming continued.

"Bloody hell!" O'Brien yelled. "O'Brien to security!"

*****

Bashir was still angry by the time he went back to the
infirmary. He couldn't believe how Kira had lied about not
knowing anything. He was determined to find out why she was
lying.

He stopped by the alien's bed. The color of the alien's skin
had turned a deeper golden hue -- he wished he knew what the normal
skin color was for this race.

He glanced at the biobed readings and he frowned. From the readings
he would say that he was wide awake. It annoyed him that he didn't
know anything about the alien.

_This could be normal for all I know!_ Bashir said aloud. He turned
as the door opened and Mrs. Nihau was helped in by her husband in
labor. Bashir briefly looked again at the alien and soon
forgot about Kira and the previous night.

*****

Odo looked at the deserted corridor. He had three men looking
around and all of the returned reporting nothing out of the
ordinary.

"What exactly did you hear?"

O'Brien sighed. "I heard women and children screaming. I'm not
mad, Odo. I know what I heard."

"I don't think you are going insane, Mr. O'Brien."

O'Brien hesitated. "Something else happened last night."

"Oh? Over here?"

"No, it was in Ops and I saw a vision."

"A vision? Of what?"

"A woman and a dead child."

Odo looked at O'Brien with what O'Brien thought what passed
for a confused look on the changeling's face.

"Did anyone else see this?"

"No, I was alone. I stayed back to finish some work and I saw
this at 25:50 hours. I'm not going insane, Odo...I did see
it!"

"Were you tired?"

"Yes it was late -- but I did see them, I checked the sensors
but nothing registered if that's your next line of thought!"

"This is most odd."

"You're telling me!"

****

"Dax, have you run diagnostics on those sensors yet?" Sisko
said as he descended the stairs from his office.

"I have. They are working normally."

"Of course they are!" Sisko said sarcastically. The turbolift
stopped and Bashir got off. "Dr. Bashir, in my office, now."

Dax looked up at the sullen looking Bashir and gave him a half
smile. She turned to her console as Sisko entered his office
with Bashir and Kira in tow.

Julian sat down opposite his Commander. The doors slid back
and Major Kira entered and sat down.

"Now, please explain the war that I witnessed this morning?
Major?"

"I don't know anything about it!"

"Doctor, do you know anything about it?"

Bashir exhaled loudly. "Sir, late last night I was working
back in the infirmary and Major Kira came in and accused me
of not doing my best to keep Bareil alive..."

Kira stood up, she was furious. "I did no such thing! I know how hard you
worked to keep him alive."

"Well you didn't believe that last night!" Bashir said
bitterly.

"What did Kira say to you?"

"She said 'You could have saved Bareil' and that was it. She
left after that."

"Major, did you go to the infirmary last night?"

"No. I was in Odo's office going over some security reports then I
went to my quarters."

"At what time did you see Kira?"

"25:40 hours." Bashir responded.

"That can't be -- I was with Odo until 25:45 hours --"

"We seem to have a mystery on our hands -- " Sisko said
looking at his two officers.

Just then the station was rocked by phaser fire. "Dax, What is
going on!" Sisko said above the din of the red alert as he
exited his office with Kira right behind him.

"I don't know! The ship decloaked and fired!"

"Damn Klingons! hail them!"

"I'm trying but they aren't returning out hails."

Another ship decloaked and fired on the other ship, exploding
the ship. The rumbling stopped.

"What the..." Sisko said as he watched with incredulity at the
events before him. "Hail them!"

The viewscreen was replaced with the Captain of the Klingon
ship.

"Captain, I am Commander Benjamin Sisko, can you please
explain why one of your ships fired on the station?!"

The Klingon captain made a face. "They were rogue Klingons.
That is all you need to know." The viewscreen went back to it's
normal view of the wormhole.

Sisko looked at Kira and sighed. "Sisko to Bashir"

"Yes sir"

"Any casualties?"

"A few minor injuries, Commander but luckily nothing major."

"Sisko to Odo! Where are the Klingons that docked earlier"
Sisko thought he heard the constable groan.

"They were released a few hours ago, Commander."

"Benjamin upper pylon 2 and 3 are damaged and minor damage to
the promenade."

"Rogue Klingons, people appearing and disappearing...what else
could go wrong!"

******
Later that evening, Kira sat in Quark's nursing a drink, her mind on
the days events, and the previous night's appearance of the Cardassian
child. She could still hear the tiny voice calling her a murderer. She
knew in her heart she wasn't a murderer, she did what she had to do.

"Mind if I sit down?" Jadzia Dax said as she slid in next to her
friend.

Kira looked up and nodded. She wished to be alone but she liked the
Trill and enjoyed her company.

"So."

Kira looked at her quizzically. "So?"

"Light target practice at Ops today." Dax said without a trace of a
smile.

Kira looked down at her drink. "I saw a Cardassian -- he was real to
me...at the time."

Both friends sat in silence as Rom brought Dax's drink. She stared
at her own drink thoughtfully. "I saw Dax."

Kira looked up and frowned. "Your symbiot?"

"No -- my godson, Dax. I saw him last night in my quarters."

"At least you didn't fire your phaser at him --" Kira said and
smiled for the first time. "I saw a Cardassian child last night --
in my quarters."

"Did it say anything?"

"Yes."

Dax waited. She could tell Kira was trying to decide whether to say
it or not.

"She called me a murderer." Kira said and took a gulp at her drink.

******

Bashir looked after the last patient and sat down. He ran his
fingers through his hair and sighed.

_Frontier Medicine he said and snorted. He remembered his
first day on board and the excitement he felt at being posted
to Deep Space Nine. A totally new experience for him -- away
from the everyday normal routine he would have faced back on
Earth.

He also remembered the look on Major Kira's face. Her eyes
seared through him as she reminded him that the wilderness he
seeked was her home. He didn't think they got off to a good
start. He couldn't blame her for that, he was excited.

Three years was a long time and since that auspicious
occasion, he found Kira to be a passionate woman. Passionate
about her home and her beliefs. He even managed to get her to
call him Julian which was an achievement.

That was why the previous night's incident hurt so much. Kira
knew he tried everything to save Bareil. He could have believe
that the Kira he first met actually accusing him of negligence
but not the Kira he knew now. Something was wrong.

*****

Sisko sat alone in his office as the hours wore on. He sat
looking at a holo-image of Jennifer and his mind went back to
the Saratoga. The image of his wife, buried under the support
beams burned into his mind forever. He didn't see Dax standing
outside his office until she tapped on the door.

He motioned for Dax to come to his office and set the holo-image
aside.

"Are the sensors still working?"

Dax gave him a wry smile. "As far as I know but I don't think your
door alarm is. What made Julian so angry this morning?"

"I'm sorry -- my mind was elsewhere." He picked up the baseball on his
desk and rolled it in his fingers. "Julian claims that Kira came to the
infirmary and accused him of not trying to keep Bareil alive."

"I can see why he got so angry. He did everything he could to
keep Bareil alive -- "

"Yes I know but Kira claims she was with Odo last night going
over some security reports and I can't see why Kira would lie
and Odo wouldn't lie either --"

"That's odd -- " Dax sat there pensively.

"You're right...it is odd. And they said this was going to be
a quiet assignment!" Sisko snorted.

"Kira also saw a Cardassian child in her quarters last night --"

"And the Cardassian, today..." Sisko finished.

"Remember this morning you were going to tell me something odd
that happened to you last night?"

"Yes --" Sisko said as he continued to twirl the ball around his fingers.
"I saw Locutus." He said remembering the
vision so well, the pasty skin and the lifeless green eyes. It
sent the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

Dax stared at him. "Locutus? The Borg?"

Sisko nodded. "He told me I could have saved Jennifer."

"That isn't possible!"

"I know but I wasn't dreaming, Dax. I was wide awake. Then
this morning Bashir is angry enough to confront Kira about
something she didn't do but Bashir believed she did."

"What do you think it means?"

"I don't know but I'm hoping it's just that we need a break
but somehow I don't think that's it. Everyone doesn't just go
about behaving strangely at the same time."

"You can add me to the list as well."

"What happened to you?"

"I went into my quarters and I was thinking
about my godson, Dax, because it was his birthday and when I
turned around there he stood! But he was gone before I had a
chance to do anything else."

Sisko looked at Dax and frowned.


*****

Sisko ordered his senior staff to a meeting in Ops. He noticed
Bashir looked very uncomfortable sitting near Kira and he
smiled to himself. He would be uncomfortable if he accused the
Major of doing something she says she didn't. He couldn't see
why Kira would lie.

"Strange events have been happening on this station..."

"You can say that again." O'Brien said as he sat down.

"Now, the previous night I saw the Borg, and in particular
Locutus."

"Captain Picard? That can't be..." O'Brien interjected.

"Yes I know that Chief. It's not possible for Locutus to be on
board the station, did anyone else have any strange
occurrences.

"I thought I saw a dying woman with a child here in Ops last
night and then yesterday when I was working in an empty
corridor I heard screaming."

"I checked it out and we couldn't find the source. Although I
didn't hear anything." Odo said sitting with his hands folded.

"I saw my grandson, Dax. It was weird because I was thinking
about him."

Sisko looked at Kira. "Did anything happen to you, Major?"

"Yes -- a Cardassian child appeared in my quarters."

"Doctor Bashir saw you in the infirmary. Somehow all these
events have to be linked..."

Dax's computer console lit up as a vessel approached.
"Benjamin, there is a large ship coming through the wormhole."

The wormhole majestically opened as a large vessel exited and

* Message split, to be continued *
@Via ifmail 3:690/660.1000@fidonet, Fri Jun 9 1995 at 12:58 (2.5)


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Msg#: 640 Pvt Rec'd Date: 09 Jun 95 12:47:20
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To: Peter Bryce Mark:
Subj: Part 2 The Healer - Final Draft
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* Continuation 1 of a split message *

came to rest off the station.

"We're being hailed."

"On screen."

The image of a humanoid looking alien appeared but their skin was a deep
grey hue and mottled.

"I am Commander Benjamin Sisko, commander of Deep Space Nine.
How can I help you."

"Greetings Commander, We are."

Sisko looked at Dax and raised his eyebrows. "You are?"

"Yes we are. We are here looking for To'Leth."

"What species is he?"

"Species? He is one of us. We understand you have him in your
custody."

Sisko looked at Odo who blinked and shrugged.

"I'm sorry...Captain but we have no one by that name in our
security cells."

The alien looked dejected. "The Healer, To'Leth is here --" The link
went silent as the Aliens conferred.

"Commander, we urgently need to find To'Leth. It is of vital importance
to our people. We have reason to believe he is with you."

"You are welcome to look. You can dock at upper pylon..." Sisko
turned to Dax.

"Four." Dax said as Sisko returned to the viewscreen.

"Upper pylon 4."

The viewscreen went blank.

*****

The airlock opened and four aliens walked out. Sisko liked first
contact meetings. The aliens that stood before him were humanoid
in shape but with gray skin. Sisko immediately thought of decaying
fruit but dismissed the idea quickly. The tallest of them came
forward and bowed.

"I am Regal D'Kenar. I am pleased to meet you."

Sisko extended his hand. "I am Commander Benjamin Sisko, this is my
first officer, Major Kira Nerys."

"Commander, we are on an urgent mission."

"Maybe we can discuss this in my office." Sisko said as he ushered
the aliens away from the promenade.

*****

To'Leth opened his eyes. His people had arrived but he will
not go with them. He had caused them to much pain. He looked
around the infirmary. He had caused pain here as well. It had
to stop. The pain had to stop. He closed his eyes. He had to get
away -- there would be no peace if he remained.

*****

Bashir made his way back to the infirmary. His thoughts
strayed back to the incident with Bareil. He entered the
infirmary and stopped by the comatose alien.

He was about to leave when he alien grabbed his arm. Bashir
was startled and looked down on the now conscience alien. His
eyes a bright red color as his skin turned from the grayish
color to a deep gold color.

"I have to leave --"

Bashir checked the readings of his biobed. They went off the scale.
He returned to his patient but he was half way out of the door.

"No! Wait!" Bashir cried but the alien ran out into the bustling
promenade.

****

To'Leth stumbled and leaned against a wall. He had to leave. He
had caused to much suffering. His breathing became labored as
he looked around at the bustling promenade again. He stumbled
into a vacant corridor and stopped. He closed his eyes and leaned
on a pylon. He decided to rest before he would move again.
He needed to rest. He slid down and sat on the floor, resting his
head in his hands and sighed.

****

Regal D'Kenar stood in Sisko's office watching the stars from the
view port. He sighed.

"Different stars." He whispered to himself. He turned around and
went and sat down. "Commander, To'Leth is very important to us --"

"Is he a fugitive?" Kira said as she sat opposite the alien.

D'Kenar hesitated. "No, Major. To'Leth is regarded in high esteem on
my world, he is a healer."

"A healer?"

"Commander, many years ago my world was at war with itself. The reasons
for it buried along with the millions that had died. My world has but a
few Healers -- gifted men and women who helped the grieved and eased their
pain. There is nothing worse than killing your own kind -- "

Sisko and Kira looked at each other waiting for him to continue.

"We were a peace loving people, our world had never seen war but it
occurred and when the fighting ended we had many casualties and our
society was one. Then rose the Healers. To'Leth was one of the first
Healers. He took it on himself to help as many as he could. He lived
their fears, their guilt and their regrets. He took away their
sorrow."

"How do you know he is here?"

"Commander, all Healers share a bond, I know he is here and he knows
we are here. We want him to come home. He isn't a fugitive -- "
D'Kenar stopped and sighed. "To'Leth is dying, Commander. His
abilities to heal have waned because of some disease which our
doctors cannot treat. Our people don't want to see him die on some
alien world."

"Do you think he will try and leave?"

"I have no doubt in my mind that To'Leth will attempt to leave this
station. If it were me, that's what I would do."

"Why does he want to get away from you." Kira said.

D'Kenar looked at the Bajoran. He understood she had been touched by
To'Leth and marveled at the way she was able to handle her inner
pain. "He doesn't want to come home -- he wants to die alone."

"Why don't you let him?"

"Major, you have been touched by To'Leth and I feel he has brought
you great pain, To'Leth has no control over his abilities. A Healer
cannot live life and know he has caused other sentient beings pain.
I know he has touched a great many beings here and has caused the
death of a crew. We monitored activity with the attacking ship on
the station."

"What do you suggest we do, Regal?"

D'Kenar thought for a moment. It was the only way to stop To'Leth
leaving but he had to ask it from the Commander. "Prevent any ships
from leaving the station."

****

To'Leth opened his eyes. He didn't know how long he was here but
judging from the noise level which had gone down, he wondered
whether it was time to move on. He needed to find a way off this
station. He slowly rose. His body ached from the cramped position he
hid in and slowly made his way down the empty corridor. He had to
find a way off this station. He hid again when he heard voices
approaching.

"Position two guards on all levels. No one is to leave the station."

The security guards passed. To'Leth sat down again. He sighed. He
only way off the station was via a freighter. He had to come up with
another plan. He had to leave.

****

"We have secured all areas, Commander." Odo's voice filled the
office. D'Kenar was pensive. He knew it would be impossible for
To'Leth to escape now.

Sisko looked at him. "Is he dangerous?"

"Only to himself." D'Kenar said. He wanted to weep. He didn't think
that it would come down to hunting To'Leth. He deserved more.
"Commander, when your security catch him, please, don't hurt him."

"You have my word." Sisko said and stood as D'Kenar exited the office.

****

To'Leth listened carefully. He knew what had to be done. He bowed his
head. The Deliverance had to come here. He stood up. He was not a
wild animal that had to be hunted, he thought.

_I am a Healer_ he said aloud.

He slowly made his way down the corridor.

****

D'Kenar made his way down the promenade with his assistant. He
looked around at the promenade and then entered Quark's Bar.

"We will wait here."

"How do you know he will come?" His assistant said as they sat down."

"I know."

The two aliens sat at the table and waited. D'Kenar closed his eyes.
He could feel that To'Leth was near. His mentor and friend will soon
be back home.

****

To'Leth made his way slowly towards the promenade. He turned and saw
an angry looking Klingon approaching. The Klingon walked past
muttering to himself.

To'Leth closed his eyes and concentrated. His Deliverance had
arrived. He opened his eyes and followed the Klingon into the
promenade.

He stopped and concentrated on the Klingon. He could do this for one
last time. _I am sorry_ he whispered to the departing Klingon.

"K'Dar!" To'Leth screamed.

The Klingon stopped and turned. He couldn't believe his eyes. His
most hated enemy was standing just meters away from him. He snarled.

"What's the matter, K'Dar...afraid?"

The Klingon spat and withdrew his dagger. "Your blood will flow like
Romulan Ale!" He said and moved forward.

D'Kenar turned around at the commotion and caught sight of To'Leth.

"NO!" He screamed.

The Klingon approached To'Leth and attacked him with the dagger.
To'Leth opened his eyes and smiled. "It is done."

The Klingon's face changed from gratification of killing his most
despised foe to seeing the face of the alien dying before him.
D'Kenar dropped to his knees beside his dying friend.

"To'Leth.."

****

Commander Sisko and Major Kira stood at the air lock. D'Kenar turned
before entering his ship.

"He deserved more than this."

"What will happen now?" Sisko said.

"We will take his body back to our world where he will be mourned."

D'Kenar bid farewell to the two officers and left. Sisko and Kira
turned and went their separate way. Kira stopped outside the
infirmary and then entered.

The infirmary was quiet. Dr. Bashir sat at a console reading.

"Julian?"

Bashir turned around and was startled to see Kira. "What can I do
for you Major? Is everything alright?"

"Yes, fine." She hesitated. "I just wanted to tell you that I do
think you did your best to save Bareil."

"Thank you -- it means a great deal to me."

Kira looked at the young doctor and half-smiled. "Good night Julian."

The End