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No-Winn - 1
No-Winn - 2
No-Winn - 3

A No-Winn Situation - Part Three

By Sharon

A small fighter landed a few meters from where the skipjet used to be. Two figures carrying handlights climbed out. They walked around the wreckage, shining light on its skeletal remains.

"It looks like the crash did the job," the first one remarked.

"I think you should see this," called the second figure. Her partner ran to where she stood. Her light was pointing to a phaser rifle. "It looks like at least one of them got away."

They had traveled for almost an hour before Bareil began to feel dizzy. He laid Kira down. "I just need to rest a minute."

"My leg is mostly numb now," Kira murmured. "If I can make a splint, I think I can walk on it. Where’s the phaser rifle?"

A long pause followed. "I think I left it back at the ship," Bareil said finally.

"No," Kira whispered. She covered her face with her hands and shivered.

"Are you cold?"

She shook her head. "It’s loss of blood."

Bareil took off his robe and wrapped it around her shoulders. Kira laughed nervously.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Nothing. I was just thinking." She sighed. "When I was a child in the labor camps, the Cardassians would sometimes allow religious leaders to come unhindered and minister to us — they probably believed the message of peace you taught would keep us docile." Kira gazed up at the stars. "I remember betting with the other children whether or not the monks wore anything under those long peach-colored robes. Of course, we would then dare someone to take a peek."

"And?..." Bareil prodded, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Before Kira could answer, the sound of an engine became audible and they were suddenly flooded with a bright light. Kira felt the business end of a phaser jab her back. Another person appeared next to Bareil with his phaser trained on him.

"Who are you?" the man behind Kira asked.

"She’s wearing a vedek’s robe," the second man said.

"Who are you?" Bareil asked.

The second man slapped Bareil. "We ask the questions here."

"I’m Major Kira Nerys from Deep Space Nine. The man you just slapped is Vedek Bareil."

The second man peered at Bareil. "I’ve seen the vedek. You don’t look like him."

"I don’t normally look like this," Bareil said.

"Please help us," Kira said. "There are people out there trying to kill us."

The two men looked at each other and seemed to reach a silent understanding.

"All right," the first man said. "I don’t suppose you’re in any condition to attack us."

It turned out the two men, Lenor Nals and Tai Jobin, were from Stawai, the settlement they were heading for all along. They flew back by aircar. When they arrived it seemed the whole settlement was waiting for them. Though it was still dark, the central square they touched down in was lit and about a hundred men, women and children were crowded around it.

Tai took Kira and Bareil into one of the houses across from the square. Lenor stayed behind — to do some explaining, Kira assumed.

Tai laid Kira down on a sofa in the main room and went into an adjoining room. He came back later with a stick and proceeded to splint Kira’s leg.

"That should hold you until the healer arrives," Tai said.

"There’s no healer in town?" Bareil asked.

"Nah," Tai grunted. "There’s a larger settlement a few kilometers east of here. We usually call their healer if anything happens." He pointed down a narrow hall. "You can wash up in there. I’ll check back in a few minutes to see if you need anything else."

"You go first," Kira said after Tai left. "I’ll need to practice standing on this."

The bathroom was large, considering the size of the house, and all white. There were two towels, two bars of soap, and two sets of trousers and tunics laid out. Obviously, the settlers had been expecting them.

Bareil gazed into a mirror set against one wall of the room and realized why Tai hadn’t recognized him. He barely recognized himself. He was blackened with dirt and dried blood was caked in his hair and down one side of his face.

By the time Bareil cleaned up, the healer had arrived and was tending to Kira. The splint was off and she was walking on her leg cautiously. Tai was watching her with a smile on his face. His smile disappeared when Bareil arrived.

"Oh, Prophets! You are the vedek." He fell to his knees. "Please forgive me, Vedek."

"Please stand," Bareil said. "There’s nothing to forgive. You had no way of knowing."

"Although the robe was a pretty big clue," Kira remarked. Bareil frowned at her.

The healer turned to Kira, interrupting Bareil’s meaningful look. "Now go clean those wounds and I’ll heal them for you."

Kira nodded and headed off to the bathroom.

The healer turned his attentions to Bareil, passing a scanner down him. "You have a fever and some chest congestion, but it doesn’t look serious." He loaded up a hypo. "This should clear it up."

Bareil coughed and shook his head. "I’m not ill; I’ve been poisoned. Is there any way I can contact Deep Space Nine? A doctor there can help me."

"All we have is a local comm junction," Tai said. "But the nearby settlement has a subspace transceiver. I could ask them to relay a message for you."

"Let’s go."

"Just a minute." The healer picked up a protoplaser. He passed it over each of Bareil’s wounds, smiling as they faded. "I wouldn’t want you passing out on me."

The vedek smiled sadly. "I’m afraid it may be already to late."

Kira had barely finished pulling on her trousers when an urgent knock sounded on the bathroom door.

"Major Kira, you must hide quickly," came Tai’s voice. "The assassins have traced you to us!"

"No!" Kira rushed out and glanced about the empty house. "Where’s Bareil?"

"The vedek is at the comm station."

Kira rushed to the door but Tai grabbed her arm. "You mustn’t go out there. They’re looking for you."

"You don’t understand, it’s him they’re after!" She pulled her arm from Tai’s grip.

Just then the front door blasted open. Two Bajoran men in black jumpsuits stepped over the door’s remains and pointed their phasers at Kira and Tai.

"Well, well, two more," one of them said.

"Who are you?" Kira asked.

"True Believers." He grabbed Kira by the shoulder and propelled her out the doorway.

Outside, about twenty more black-garbed soldiers were lined up at the edges of the central square. They faced outward where the settlers had been gathered. Phasers were pointed at the crowd to hold them at bay. Kira was herded to the front.

On the opposite side of the square two more soldiers were marching Bareil through the crowd. His hands were secured behind his back. His face was newly bruised and his head was bleeding again. They shoved him to the center of the square where a lone woman, also wearing black, was waiting, and pushed him to kneel before her.

The woman surveyed the unwilling audience. She announced, "Just as this man has poisoned the minds of our people, so too will he be poisoned."

"You’re insane," Bareil said, loud enough to be heard by those at the front of the crowd. There were a few uncomfortable snickers.

"Silence, heathen!" She pressed a hypospray against the back of his neck.

A look of surprise crossed Bareil’s face. "May the Prophets forgive—" He managed to glance at Kira once before collapsing.

"No!" Kira screamed. She broke free of her guards and rushed to Bareil.

"Everyone, drop your weapons!" came a booming voice. Suddenly, a light flashed around her and Kira felt herself falling, falling, falling, into oblivion.

Slowly, Kira became aware of noises around her. And a steady vibration. Her eyes flickered open. The first thing she saw was Bashir’s face.

"This is definitely not the Celestial Temple," she murmured.

"I should say not," the doctor declared. "How do you feel?"

Kira swallowed. Her throat was dry. "I’ve had better days. What happened?"

"We arrived at Stawai just as you were running into the square. There were just too many soldiers with guns too close to the settlers so we decided to stun the lot of you and sort it out later. Odo stayed behind to help with the rounding up. We’re on our way to the station."

Kira sat up suddenly. "Bareil!"

"Relax." Bashir pushed her to lie again. "He’s in a stasis field until we get to DS-Nine."

"Is he—"

"Alive? Yes. Barely. He’s been injected with a small colony of nanites. I’ve been speaking to Chief O’Brien. He thinks he can rig a vertion field generator. Vertions have the same effect on nanites as gamma radiation but they’re harmless to organic tissue." Bashir smiled smugly. "So everything will be all right if you lie down and rest."

Kira closed her eyes, more to make the doctor’s self-satisfied smile disappear than because she was tired.

Several hours later Kira stood in Ops facing Minister Denna Tyme.

"I’d like to express the provisional government’s thanks to your Constable Odo," Denna was saying. "All of the so-called True Believers are in custody though we can’t get them to say anything besides some kind of memorized spiel about the poisoning of Bajoran society. Some members of the armed forces suggested applying Cardassian interrogation techniques but the provisional government voted against it two to one."

"So we’ll never know what was behind the assassinations," Kira stated matter-of-factly.

"If there was more to it than just religious zeal," Denna qualified.

Kira changed the subject. "Minister, please express my sorrow to the Vedek Assembly regarding the death of Vedek Winn." Kira heard some coughs and throats clearing behind her and hoped Denna didn’t also detect the insincerity in her voice. "I deeply regret not being able to fulfill my duty," she added.

"What do you mean?" Denna asked. "Vedek Winn is alive."

Behind Kira, Sisko raised an eyebrow.

"That’s impossible!" Kira exclaimed. "She was separated from us with assassins behind her."

"Vedek Winn said she was able to hide from them," Denna explained. "After they left, she sent a distress signal to the capital."

"I see," Kira said. "Well, I’m . . . relieved that Winn is fine."

"I will pass on your good wishes to her." Denna nodded then the viewscreen became transparent again.

Kira turned to face Sisko. "She was in a hallway. There was no place to hide. She couldn’t have survived."

"And yet she did," Sisko said. "Which means she must have somehow convinced the True Believers not to kill her."

"Then why would she lie about it?" Kira asked. "Unless she didn’t need to convince them," she answered her own question. "Winn was in league with them. It all makes sense now."

"I don’t follow you, Major," Sisko said.

"Don’t you see? Bashir told me that the nanites were programmed to cause the symptoms of the common cold. Well, Bareil didn’t catch a cold until after we arrived at the depot. And Winn did most of the cooking. She must have been putting poison into the food the whole time."

"But you didn’t get sick," Dax said.

"That’s because I prepared my own meals. I refused to accept favors from Winn." Kira turned to Sisko. "We have to inform the provisional government."

"Your evidence is compelling, " Sisko said, "but all circumstantial. We can’t prove anything. We have no samples of food at the depot. It would be your word against hers." And we all know who the provisional government would believe. Sisko left the rest of the statement unspoken.

"So we let Vedek Winn get away with murder again?" Kira said disgustedly.

"I don’t see—" Sisko began.

"Commander Siskoooo..." Quark stepped off the turbolift in Ops, waving a PADD. "This is outrageous. You have to put a stop to this."

"What is it, Quark?" Sisko sighed.

"It’s that meddling provisional government. They’ve subpoenaed me to testify at some hearing in the Vedek Assembly. You can’t let them do this! I have a business to run. I don’t have time for side-trips to Bajor, especially unprofitable ones."

Sisko took the PADD and read it. "It seems Vedek Winn is petitioning to have Bareil dismissed from the Vedek Assembly for certain... indiscretions." He refrained from reading the specific charges aloud, instead handing the padd to Kira.

She glanced at the PADD. "This is ridiculous. These charges won’t stand up to any kind of scrutiny."

"Perhaps they don’t need to, Major," Sisko said. "Bareil may be vindicated in the eyes of the law but what about in the minds of Bajorans? The scandal this is bound to cause won’t be soon forgotten. And when the time comes to choose the next Kai..." He left the sentence hanging.

"Has someone informed Vedek Bareil of these charges yet?" Odo asked.

"You mean he doesn’t know?" Dax asked.

"Unlike Federation law, Lieutenant, there’s no provision in Bajoran law that states the accuser must face the accused. Trial in absentia is perfectly acceptable, even preferred, on Bajor. It tends to prevent the more unpleasant confrontations." Odo snorted. "In fact, Winn is probably hoping to slide this hearing by while Bareil is recuperating off planet."

"I have to tell him," Kira said.

Sisko nodded. "Very well, Major."

"Wait!" Quark followed Kira, who was still carrying his padd. Then he stopped and turned to Sisko. "What about me?"

"I’m sorry, Quark. This is a Bajoran station. We have to abide by Bajoran law. I suggest you begin packing."

In the infirmary, Bareil watched Kira as she read out the list of charges.

"When put like that, I’m tempted to resign from the Vedek Assembly myself," he commented after she was finished.

"What are you going to do?" Kira asked.

"Go back to Bajor. Face the voles, so to speak." He sat up and slid to the side of the bed.

"Oh, no," Bashir interrupted. "You’re still under observation."

"If I don’t face the Assembly, Dr. Bashir, then Winn will succeed, and whether I live or die will be of no consequence."

"Well, I would quite put it that way..." Kira began.

"No consequence to me," Bareil added.

"I’m sorry." Bashir shook his head. "I can’t allow it. You’re still to weak to travel. If you leave now, you might not even make it to Bajor."

"You can’t stop me."

"Are you challenging me?" Bashir wielded his hypospray menacingly.

"Relax, Doctor," Kira said. "Isn’t there already a long tradition in Starfleet of leaders who ignore their CMOs’ prescriptions?"

Bashir paused. "I suppose," he finally admitted, "with those CMOs who have no control over their patients."

"Of which you’ll be in good company," Kira finished.

Bashir sighed. "Very well, Major. But I insist on coming with you, in case anything should happen."

"Thank you, Doctor," Bareil said. He stood up and managed two steps before faltering.

Bashir grabbed him. "Are you sure you won’t change your mind?"

Though Kira had managed to replicate another robe for Bareil, he insisted on remaining in civilian garb for the duration of the trip to Bajor. He claimed he didn’t want all the fuss being recognized would bring. However, Kira noticed, he seemed fascinated in a very un-vedek-like way by all the lurid rumors about him that were circulating and occasionally asked some of DS9’s non-Bajoran residents to elaborate.

Despite Sisko’s tact, Kira discovered many of the station’s residents were already gossiping about the charges in detail, especially those residents leaving Quark’s...

The Orinoco landed in Bajor’s capital early the next morning carrying Kira, Bahsir, Bareil and a very sour Quark.

Bareil invited them to pass the hours before the hearing at the monastery. Quark laughed out loud at first then suddenly seemed to change his mind, claiming that the peace and quiet would do him some good. Kira left him wandering about the arboretum. She rejoined Bareil and Bashir by a reflecting pool on a level of the monastery looking over the capital city.

"This is against my better judgment," Bashir was saying as he loaded a hypo with cordrazine. He gave Kira a knowing look as the hypospray hissed against Bareil’s arm. "That should last for three to four hours. Let me know when you start to feel tired again." He stood and stretched. "I think it’s now time for me to get some enjoyment from this impromptu shore leave."

"So..." Bareil began after Bashir left.

Kira was gazing up at the sky. "Here we are. Again." She looked at him. Bareil leaned towards her but Kira turned her face so the kiss landed on her cheek.

"Please," she said. "I don’t think this is appropriate under the circumstances. The last thing you need is to give the vedeks a reason to believe Winn’s charges."

Bareil hugged her. "I don’t care what the vedeks think."

"But I do," Kira said, pulling away. "And I can’t do this." She laughed bitterly. "Ironic, isn’t it? I pray to the Prophets for guidance but I don’t want them to dictate my life—" She looked away. "—or my relationships."

"You still believe that I’m only interested in you because of a prophecy?"

Kira didn’t answer.

"Well," Bareil said after a long pause, "perhaps you could help me with something else. When I took you to see the Orb of Prophecy and Change, may I ask what you saw?"

Kira felt her face getting hotter. "W– why do you ask?"

"I hope it might help me to understand... everything."

"The vision had nothing to do with you," Kira said too quickly. She winced.

"I see."

Kira stared at Bareil in disbelief. "Why do you always do that?"

"What?"

"Accept everything. You don’t question whether I’m lying. You don’t seem the least bit worried about what Winn is trying to do to you."

Bareil looked puzzled. "What purpose would worrying serve? Events will come to pass as the Prophets intend it."

"I believe," Kira began, "the Prophets help those who help themselves."

Bareil smiled. "You’re such a fighter, Nerys."

"And you roll over whenever Vedek Winn’s claws come your way. What will happen if you’re elected Kai? Are you going to give in to every petty bureaucrat who glares in your direction? Are you such a..."

"Coward?"

"I didn’t say that."

"But it is what you’re thinking." Bareil gazed at the distant spires of the capital city. "Bajorans were a peaceful people once, before the occupation, before the Cardassians taught us to fight. I want to show Bajor that violence is not the only way to solve our problems. We must have faith in the hands of the Prophets."

"Even if it means putting your life in the Prophets’ hands?"

"Have I not done that already?"

Kira stood, exasperated. "You live because Commander Sisko pushed Vedek Winn’s assassin out of the way. And because Dr. Bashir found a way to get rid of the nanites. Not because of the Prophets. With all these attempts on your life, have you considered that maybe the Prophets want you to die?"

And with that Kira stormed away, leaving the astonished vedek staring after her.

Kira returned to the arboretum, hoping its serenity would help her cool down, and felt a strange sense of déjà vu. She had come full circle, back to where it all began, except so much was different now.

She was so lost in thought that she almost tripped over Quark, who was kneeling by one of the bushes.

"What are you doing, Quark?" He seemed to be digging up the roots of a plant.

"Major!" Quark swung around, spreading his arms in a futile attempt to hide his handiwork.

Kira suddenly noticed a whole row of uprooted plants resting at the side of the path. "Quark!"

"These are rare plants, Major," the Ferengi explained quickly. "And there’re so many of them here. I’m sure Vedek Bareil won’t miss a few. Besides, I think I deserve some kind of compensation for this otherwise unprofitable trip. Think of the latinum I’m losing because I have to leave Rom in charge—"

"Quark!" Kira hissed. "Put them back now!"

"But—"

"Now!"

"Oh, all right." Quark turned away from her. "You’re only upset because he’s your boyfriend."

Kira, Bashir and Quark entered the Vedek Assembly and suddenly felt out of place. On Deep Space 9, the Bajoran religious leaders stood out in a crowd, but here it was the crew of DS9 who stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb among the one-hundred-member Assembly. Everyone else was garbed in ubiquitous red- or peach-colored robes.

A large ring-shaped table stood in the center of the chamber. The ring was broken at one end to allow passage on the outer and inner side of the table. All of the vedeks were seated at various points around the table with the exception of twelve noticeably vacant seats. By coincidence — or by design, Kira wondered — Vedeks Winn and Bareil ended up seated next to each other. However, the seating did nothing to stimulate conversation. Winn made a point of turning her back on Bareil and chatted with the vedek on her other side. Bareil sat with his arms crossed, studying the wood grain of the table.

Around the outside of the chamber were five tiers of seats containing government officials, prominent citizens and members of the armed forces scattered in no particular order.

A woman who introduced herself as Vedek Doben greeted the trio and led them to the lowest tier at the far end of the chamber. They would sit there for the duration of the hearing.

"What time is it?" Bashir asked.

"Fourteen hundred hours," Kira replied.

"It’s been five hours. I think I should give him another shot before the show starts." Bashir grabbed his hypospray and made his way towards Vedek Bareil.

"Halt!" a voice rang out. The chamber suddenly fell silent. All faces turned to look at Bashir. "By whose permission do you take the floor of the Assembly, human?" Vedek Doben demanded.

Bareil stood slowly. "I gave him permission, Vedek Doben. He’s my doctor."

"I see. And why was I not informed?"

"I forgot. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately."

"Understandable," Doben conceded. "But see that it doesn’t happen again."

"It will not." Bareil turned to Bashir as conversations resumed in the Assembly.

"... and drug addiction on top of everything else..." Vedek Winn was saying.

"I’m sorry," Bashir whispered. "I thought you might need this."

"I’m afraid that’s not nearly enough to get rid of the pain at my side."

"Really?" Bahsir reached down and felt his ribs. "Where exactly does it hurt?"

"Never mind, Doctor. I’ll be fine. Just administer the cordrazine."

Bashir still looked puzzled but he obeyed without further comment then returned to where the others were seated.

A few minutes later Doben’s voice rang out again, calling the Assembly to order. She introduced Vedek Winn briefly then let her take the floor. Winn moved to the inner side of the table.

"Fellow Bajorans," she began. "It brings me great sorrow to have to stand here today. I take no pleasure in bringing this matter before you. Vedek Bareil has done much to reunite our people. Indeed, I am aware that he is highly regarded in the Assembly, so much so that he might become the next Kai. However, though I regret it, I feel I must bring this matter up now, while it is not too late to address the problem."

"Vedek Winn," an old, frail-looking vedek piped up. "I would like to finish this hearing before I am called to the Celestial Temple. Please get to the point."

"Of course, Vedek Bwan," Winn said smoothly. "We have tolerated many things from this man, ostensibly because he is popular with the people.

"He constantly challenges interpretations of prophecies that have been accepted for generations. He twists their meanings to imply the opposite of what we know to be true.

"He defiles the Celestial Temple. More than once I have heard him refer to it by that blasphemous term ‘wormhole.’"

"Is this true, Bareil?" Vedek Bwan asked.

"I was speaking to Federation citizens," Bareil replied. "They would not understand me if I used the term ‘Celestial Temple’."

"‘Term Celestial Temple.’ See how he belittles what is sacred to us? However, what is most damning of all, he took his lover — a heathen woman — to view the Orb of Prophecy and Change without the permission of the Vedek Assembly, something only the Kai can do."

"No one has invoked that formality for years, Winn," Bareil said.

Winn shook her head sadly. "Does that mean it is any less valid, child? Don’t you realize when we throw away our traditions we begin to destroy the foundations of our beliefs?"

Winn turned to the tiers. "I would like to call Mr. Quark to testify. He is the owner of a holosuite establishment on Deep Space Nine that Vedek Bareil is known the frequent while on the station."

Bareil looked to Vedek Doben. "I don’t see how my private life is relevant to any of this."

"I’m sorry," Winn interjected before Doben could answer. "I believe Bareil misunderstands... I’m sure the Assembly has no objection to you carrying on with some trollop. We only ask that you be more discreet in your choice of venue. What kind of example are you setting for Bajorans who look to you for leadership? I question your judgment, or lack thereof, Bareil."

"I’m sorry you feel that way. I was actually playing springball in the holosuite with ‘my trollop.’"

"Springball? I’m not aware of that... technique."

"It’s a game. I’m sure any Bajoran child would be happy to explain the rules to you." Bareil stood. "In fact, I question your judgment, Vedek Winn, when a term as innocent as springball seems to conjure some carnal connotation to you."

"That’s enough, both of you," Doben said. "Let us not forget where we are. We must endeavor to keep this hearing civilized."

"That would be a first," Bareil mumbled, sitting down again.

"Pardon me, Vedek Bareil?" Doben asked.

"I remarked that the Vedek Assembly has always been known for... vigorous debate."

Doben seemed doubtful but she let it slide.

"Did I mention," Winn commented, "how certain members of the Assembly seem to favor Bareil with more latitude that the rest of us receive?"

Doben let that slide too. "Are you finished with Mr. Quark, Vedek Winn?"

"No, I am just getting started." She walked over to where Quark was sitting.

Quark eyed Vedek Winn suspiciously. "You were the one who subpoenaed me?"

"Yes. Is that relevant somehow?"

Quark stood up, though no one noticed. "I testify that Vedek Bareil is a model citizen. The only time I saw him frequenting my fine establishment was when he was preaching to some Bajorans who had turned away from the Prophets. He doesn’t use the holosuites. Doesn’t play Dabo. He wouldn’t even touch my synthale, for the Nagus’ sake! I daresay he’s probably a virgin. However, if any of you ever visit DS-Nine, just mention this hearing for a complimentary hour of holosuite—"

"Stop it!" Winn cut him off. "These are all lies. Why do you lie to us, Ferengi?"

"I’m not lying. Why would I lie? There’s no profit it it." Quark sat down and snickered to himself, "Only satisfaction."

"Are you out of your mind?" Kira whispered fiercely, grabbing Quark’s sleeve. "You lied to the Vedek Assembly!"

"I saved your boyfriend, which is more that you’re able to do." He gave her a toothy smile. "I guess this means you owe me, Major."

Kira had no retort.

Vedek Winn tried a different tactic. "Are the Ferengi’s claims true, Bareil?"

But Bareil was staring at Quark as open-mouthed as the rest of the Vedek Assembly.

"Bareil!" Winn slammed her hands on the table.

He jumped. "I’m sorry. I didn’t hear the question."

"Yes, Winn," Vedek Doben said. "Please repeat the question for the Assembly."

"I asked, Bareil, if what the Ferengi said was the truth."

"Not all of it."

"Would you care to elaborate, Vedek?"

"Well, I’m not a virgin." There was a smattering of chuckles in the background.

Vedek Winn approached Bareil again. "Let me rephrase the question. Yes or no: Have you ever frequented Mr. Quark’s establishment?"

Bareil sighed. "Yes."

"Was your objective to minister to heathen Bajorans?"

"No."

"Have you used the holosuites there?"

"Yes, but—"

"Yes or now will do. Have you had sexual relations with Kira Nerys?"

Bareil looked at Vedek Doben. "I fail to see what that has to do with anything."

Winn leaned over the table, glaring at him. "It has to do, Bareil, with your lust overcoming your sense of good judgment — a rather large failing for the future leader of Bajor to have."

"The question will be answered," Doben said.

Bareil glanced at Kira. "Yes. I did have... relations... with Major Kira but," he added quickly before Winn could cut him off, "it was the will of the Prophets."

"You blaspheme!" Winn moved to strike him.

"Vedek Winn!" Doben exclaimed, causing her to withdraw. Doben turned to Bareil. "Would you care to elaborate?"

Bareil stood to face the Assembly. "The Orb of Prophecy and Change gave me a vision in which Major Kira and I were... together. I admit I hardly believed it at first, much less accepted it. But the image appeared to me again the next time I visited the orb. And after Li Nallas took over Kira’s posting on the station—"

"The orb told you to lie down with this woman," Winn said with disbelief. "So like the pious man you are, you immediately obeyed its instructions. Do you seriously expect this Assembly to believe that?"

"Yes!" A new voice rang out. Kira suddenly found herself standing, confronting the Assembly. Bashir began to applaud until Kira punched his shoulder. Kira went on, "Because it’s the truth. Because—"

Winn scoffed. "As his lover, you’re hardly an impartial witness, my child."

Kira continued heedless of Winn’s outburst. "Because the Prophets spoke to me too."

This time there was an audible gasp from those gathered in the room.

"Nerys!" Bareil moved towards her but Kirk waved him away. She stepped onto the floor of the Assembly.

"I wouldn’t believe it either. In fact," Kira looked pointedly at Winn, "I broke off relations with this man because I refused to believe that an outside force was shaping my destiny. But that doesn’t change what I saw. And neither does this — this—"

"Witch hunt?" Bashir filled in helpfully.

Kira ignored him and marched to the center of the room. "Vedek Winn is the real enemy. Her crime is persecuting an innocent man in her... lust... for political power."

"This is outrageous!" Winn exclaimed, looking at Vedek Doben. "No one has given her permission to take the floor."

"I give myself permission," Kira glared at Winn, "to expose this mockery of a hearing. You judge this man because he does not behave within your narrowly defined boundary of orthodoxy. Yes, he does not follow tradition. But why should he? ‘Tradition’ made us Cardassian slaves for generations. This is a new Bajor and it needs new leadership, new traditions. The Bajoran people choose Vedek Bareil. Are they all misguided? Kai Opaka hand-picked him as her successor. Did she, too, lack judgment?"

Kira left the question hanging. The Assembly was silent. Vedek Winn for once was speechless.

Doben was the first to speak. She nodded to some security officers at he entrance to the chamber. "Please escort Major Kira and Dr. Bashir outside."

"What?" Kira exclaimed, but she allowed herself to be led out of the room. Behind her, the guards re-entered the Assembly and the heavy wooden doors closed again, shutting in all sounds.

"Well, I’ve had my fill of Bajoran politics," Bashir said, trying to fill the gap in conversation.

Kira didn’t reply. Bashir wasn’t even sure she heard him. She was staring at the doors to the camber as if she was trying to see through them.

They waited in stony silence.

After what seemed like hours but was probably only minutes, the doors opened again and the vedeks began to file out, walking past Kira and Bashir without saying a word. Kira didn’t see Bareil among them.

Then the other observers came out of the Assembly chamber. In the middle of that crowd Kira spied Bareil walking with... Quark? She pushed her way through the throng. Quark saw her coming first. He grinned from ear to ear and threw his hands in the air.

"We won, Major!"

"The Vedek Assembly voted to dismiss all charges, including the ones Winn wanted to bring against you for breach of protocol," Bareil finished.

They were back on Deep Space 9, sitting at a table in a secluded corner of Quark’s. In an almost unheard-of gesture of generosity, Quark had offered Kira and Bareil one free drink each.

Kira sipped her Genai Starburst, the most expensive drink on Quark’s menu. She didn’t really like the taste but she did get pleasure from Quark’s scowl when she ordered the drink. The Ferengi’s scowl had only deepened when, adding insult to injury, Bareil only ordered water.

"So, once again you came to my rescue," he said. "You know, Dr. Bashir was telling me of a fascinating Terran tradition."

"Oh, really?" Kira wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear it, knowing the source.

"At the end of such rescues, the hero usually receives a kiss." Before she could answer, he leaned over the table and gave her one long, sweet kiss.

And in the background the crowd shouted, "Dabo!"

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