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Occupation of the Mind	By : Jack-O-Lantern Category: Star Trek > Deep Space 9 Views: 666 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek: DS9, nor the characters from it (save for the OC I created within the bounds of the established universe). I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Chapter Ten
The next day, as Dr. Bashir was completing a report, he was hailed over the com.
“Bridge to Dr. Bashir.” He paused.
“Go ahead.”
“What’s your location? You have a message from Gul Dukat.”
“In medical, you can route it to my office.”
“Acknowledged.”
“Dukat?” Dr. Bashir whispered to himself as he paced over to the screen. He answered the call. “Gul Dukat, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I received a subspace message from an acquaintance in poor health and would like to check on his status.”
“Oh, ehm, name?” he asked.
“Tamir Paval.” Bashir raised his brows. Tamir had mentioned that he and Dukat were familiar with each other, but the fact that he was calling on him specifically struck him as very unusual. He was also unaware as to how Gul Dukat came by this knowledge that something had happened to him.
“Oh, I’m afraid I can’t divulge any medical information since he isn’t a direct relative. It would be a breach of doctor-patient confidentiality—”
“I’m aware of the policy, doctor. Obtain permission from him to share the information with me.” Bashir pulled a tight-lipped smile.
“I’m afraid he isn’t in any state to give informed consent.”
“Informed consent? What are you talking about? What sort of accident has he had?” He straightened up, brows furrowing.
“He can tell you if he chooses to when he’s well enough.”
“It was one of the Bajorans wasn’t it? He informed me he’s been bullied simply for being seen with me,” he shook his head. “Can your station’s security really not keep them under control? What sort of barbarians turn on one of their own for no reason? It’s disgraceful.”
“I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do for you at the present moment. I’ll let you know if that changes. Now, if that’s all, I have work to get back to.” Dukat bored holes into him before ending the transmission. Bashir sighed and rubbed his face. “Oh, boy.”
Gul Dukat’s request and its implications troubled him over the course of his shift and ultimately he decided to make a trip to the bridge to see Commander Sisko. He paced up the steps and into his office. Cdr. Sisko looked up and saw Bashir’s furrowed brow.
“Dr. Bashir. What can I do for you?” he folded his hands over the desk.
“It’s Gul Dukat, sir.” Sisko raised his brows and hummed.
“What’s he up to now?”
“He hasn’t done anything specifically, but I have some very serious concerns. He has a keen interest in Tamir Paval, the young Bajoran male that tried to commit suicide a few days ago. He’s insistent on knowing his status. Apparently, they have been maintaining personal contact and upon finding out he was unavailable due to an undisclosed accident, he came to me. I told him Tamir would have to give me express consent to share this information and when he pressed, I told him he wasn’t in any state to give it. This seemed to frustrate him immensely. He tried to get more information out of me, but I refused.” Bashir sighed. “I don’t think it’s wise for them to have contact. I don’t know the nature of their relationship, I just know that Tamir is very reluctant about him. The trouble is, I don’t have the authority to make that call. I wasn’t exactly lying when I said he couldn’t give informed consent. He’s obviously not in a stable frame of mind. But, for as much as it would be the right thing to do…I can’t withhold information. I’m obligated at this point to ask if he’d like to share his medical status with Dukat.” Sisko leaned back and tapped a finger against his mouth.
“Dukat,” he mumbled and shook his head. “Do we know why he’s keeping tabs on Tamir, how he knows him in the first place?”
“I don’t know the specifics, but according to Garak, they were acquainted on this station during the end of the occupation.” Sisko furrowed his brows.
“So…Gul Dukat is maintaining communications with one specific former Bajoran prisoner… Why?”
“I don’t know. Tamir hasn’t said much about it. He makes it clear he’s very uncomfortable with him, but other than that,” he shook his head. Sisko folded his arms.
“Do you think this…attempt has something to do with that?”
“Could be,” Bashir crossed his own arms. “Or could be the bullying from other Bajorans—though I suppose that’s indirectly caused by Dukat. Or…he’s simply suffering from severe chronic depression. It’s not out of the question: anyone can develop depression, let alone someone who’s grown up under a tyrannical oppressor.” Sisko steepled his fingers.
“I don’t like this.”
“Neither do I, sir.” Sisko’s gaze shifted to the side, before he leaned back, shaking a finger.
“I think I met this Tamir once…it was after his accident at the holosuite. He was with Gul Dukat at the time. I remember him looking to him before shaking my hand. That man has a hold on him. I want to find out what his interest is and what their history is.”
“So do I, but I can’t make any promises.”
“Well, there are three people I know of on this station who were present during the end of the occupation, and all seem to have an affinity for information. See if you can get anything from them. In the meantime, you’ll just have to do it by the book. If Tamir wants to permit him, that’s his choice, but let him understand that if he wants to distance himself, we can move to put a restraining order in place that will prevent Dukat from setting foot on this station,” he grinned. “He’ll never have to fear retaliation.
“Yes, sir.”
“Very good.”
Julian left the office and immediately headed towards his closest, most distrusted colleague for insight.
“Garak,” he greeted as he entered the shop. The man smiled.
“Dr. Bashir, how very good to see you, though unexpected.”
“Look, I have a few questions about a patient of mine. There’s something going on and I’m finding it difficult to provide adequate treatment without knowing some of his history.”
“And you think I might know something?”
“Yes. My patient was here during the occupation. Tamir. A while ago you had mentioned he and Gul Dukat were acquainted during that time. You yourself were concerned about him and Dukat’s hanging over him. Do you know absolutely anything about their time together? How they became acquainted, what happened, why Dukat continues to pursue him?” Garak took a deep breath, eyes flicking up to the ceiling as he turned.
“That’s a complicated question whose answer is propped up largely by speculation.”
“Anything you have could be useful. Anything you’ve observed.”
“Gul Dukat’s interest in Bajoran women was no secret. In fact, many officers delighted in their presence. Tamir, obviously, is another matter entirely.” He rolled his eyes down. “I can’t pretend to know how they came in contact or why Dukat was interested in keeping him—”
“Keeping him?”
“Mm. You see the comfort girls and other Bajorans amenable to the Cardassian agenda were kept on the other side of the fence where the officers were housed. Like I was saying, there were whispers about his indiscretions and even fruits from those indiscretions. Engaging in such behavior is one thing, producing evidence is quite another. I have a feeling that scared our dear friend into carefulness. I suspect he decided to play benevolent overlord with some other Bajoran whom posed less of a risk. There’s always this need, with him, to impress and convince of his superior moral character—”
“Garak, what exactly are you saying?”
“What I’m saying is, that ever since I arrived here, I have seen Tamir at his side, showboated around the Promenade, well-provided for, never escorted by anyone but himself. I’ve seen him in lonely hallways brushing our unfortunate friend’s hair back in a way to graze the backs of his fingers across his neck—a rather forward display in Cardassian culture. What I am saying doctor, is that they were close.” Julian’s brows furrowed.
“You don’t mean—”
“Ah, careful, now. This is where we tread into speculation,” he smiled with a tip of his head. “Though coincidentally he tried to have me killed shortly after I alluded to him that I thought his companion an interesting choice. Ah—and speaking of Tamir, he came into my shop just the other day and bought a wonderful garment. He said the occasion was a surprise..?” Bashir clasped his hands and pressed his lips to a thin line.
“I’m afraid the occasion he was planning…was his funeral. But I’m happy to say, we crashed that party.”
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Occupation of the Mind