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Tears of Time	By : ShriTal88 Category: Star Trek > Deep Space 9 Views: 2325 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek or any characters from Star Trek. It belongs to Paramount, CBS, Gene Roddenbury. I make no money from this.

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CHAPTER XXXI

Beads of sweat collected on Julian's forehead. He raised a hand to swipe away the moisture. Being reptilian was the only way Cardassians could have survived this hellish environment. He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck.

“Come with me, Julian.” Procal motioned to the human to step close. It would be nice to touch the skin, though it was covered with an odd looking sheen. It looked so soft and the color was so unique.

“I should return to my master,” Julian said, looking around. Garak insisted that he carry the small cooling pack. Bastard. It was not like Garak would ever want to use it.

“Why not take him a plate of food and some punch?” Procal suggested. “It would be a nice way to show him that you have been thinking about him.”

Julian nodded. He should show Garak that he had been on his mind. Garak had not been happy when the child dragged him away, but where was he? Plus Garak did not really care for sweet juice, so the cool libation would likely be given to him. It would go a long way toward making him feel better. Of course, he was not allowed to have any of the food without Garak's permission, one of his new stupid rules. Julian picked up a plate, placing some fruit and puffy bread and jumbo Bajoran shrimp on it. He knew in the future that Garak was very fond of these foods.

“Your master is very foolish,” Procal said, getting a plate for himself. Letting the pet wander around free. Procal would not allow the little human out of the house. Such a lovely and valuable creature should be kept locked up where he would be safe and available at all times. Allowing him to wander about without an escort of any kind was a mistake.

“My master is good to me,” Julian said, looking around for Garak.

Procal stepped close to Julian, touching his back. Such a lithe form. And the human had nice shoulders and such a slender, elegant neckline. The only problem was all the marks on it. They should be from someone more proficient in the arts of pleasure.

Julian shifted away around the circular table. He locked eyes with the oldest male Dukat. That Cardassian clearly felt quite entitled. He probably was involved in illegal activities. Of course, he was high up in the Cardassian Court System. He could easily make charges against him disappear if he wanted to.

“I want to show you something,” Procal said, motioning to the skittish human.

“My eyesight is quite good. Why don't you point it out?” Julian said, looking about for Garak.

“Full of sass, aren't you? Well, after I teach you real pleasure, your attitude will improve, I suppose. Not that a little bit of spirit is a bad trait. A broken lover is no fun. You strike me as full of passion.”

Julian's lip curled. Garak would never allow that man to hurt him.

“One Cardassian's spirited pet is another's unruly cur,” Julian said, lifting his head a little and turning it slightly away from the older Cardassian.

Procal snorted loudly at the implied meaning. “You need to learn some manners. Now, come with me.”

Julian looked the man over and arched a brow. They could not make him do anything, and wouldn't. Not with all the witnesses. Two glinns appeared next to Procal and glowered at Julian. Julian lifted his chin and watched them. Tskara had given him warning, and he knew that Procal was bad news from the moment he laid eyes on him.

“I don't think so,” Julian said, not daring to take his eyes off the guards or Procal to look for Garak. He tensed his shoulders. He could handle himself, but they were armed. Starting a scuffle would not end well.

They surely would not grab him in public, with hundreds of witnesses. It would be criminal to haul him about that way. They would be stripped of their rank and sent to a labor camp for a minimum of a year. But the older Cardassian would not even enter a court room except as a judge for the crime. It was a minor crime for a high ranking enough official, excepting if he proved himself valuable to a large portion of the Cardassian nobility, so a group like this one. Tskara was off limits. It was possible to be off limits to this kind of treatment.

PHOOSHT!

“AAACCCK! DADDY!”

Julian dropped the plate, whipping around. That was a phaser.

“Daddy! MOMMY!”

Julian felt his heart leap into his chest when he saw the little boy Mekor clutching his right foot and crying. A Cardassian phaser was on the ground next to him.

“MOMMY! DADDY!” The little boy screamed for his parents again.

“SKRAIN!”

A woman was on her knees next to the little boy, stroking his cheek. Tears were in her eyes as she took Mekor onto her lap.

“SKRAIN!”

Gul Dukat shoved people out of the way with the arm that was not holding Palira. What had happened? Surely no Bajorans had managed to follow him with the intent of doing his family malice. That was the reason behind their needing to stay here despite the pleas of the children to be closer to him.

Mekor's arms reached for Gul Dukat.

“D-D-D-Daddy,” he moaned pitifully. Tears poured down his cheeks. He leaned close to his father.

Julian raced to the boy. He dropped to his knees, opening his bag that had the emergency medical kit. He wiped his brow. It was almost unbearably hot.

“It's alright, Mekor.” Julian lifted the weapon. It had only been set to stun. But at the close range Mekor had shot his foot. “It's alright. I am a doctor. May I look at your foot?”

Dukat and his wife both glowered at Julian. There was no Cardassian doctor here. They had not invited people from that class. Was the human lying? Would he try to poison the child? Four arms instinctively wrapped around the boy.

Julian turned the phaser around and handed it to Gul Dukat.

Dukat took the weapon, looking over the human. Quite a trustworthy little creature. Not that one weapon in this situation would be of much use. If he tried to kill anyone, he would be dead in an instant. But it was still a good sign. He could have tried to pocket it.

Mekor sniffled and nodded. He wrapped one arm around each parent's neck.

“Daddy, what happened?”

“Mekor has had an accident, Palira.” Dukat said, stroking his son's chest.

“Daddy, the toy hunt.” Palira wrapped her arms around one of her father's.

“Palira, your brother is badly injured.” Gul Dukat stroked Mekor's face. He leaned in, pressing his nose to the boy's cheek.

Palira reached for Mekor's hand, sitting on her father's lap. She leaned back on her father, holding her brother's hand with a soft pout.

Julian loaded a hypospray. “This will help with the pain, Mekor.”

Mekor nodded, pressing his nose alternately to each parent's face as they repeated the gesture to him.

“Can we get him moved somewhere more private?” Julian asked, dropping his gaze after he administered the hypo.

“Of course.” Gul Dukat lifted Mekor and cuddled him.

Mekor reached for his mother's hand.

“Go on. I want to see Mekor as soon as the party is over,” a Cardassian woman with steely gray hair said. She took Palira's hand. “Come with Grandma, Palira.”

“Will Mekor be okay?” she asked, looking at her brother where he snuggled tightly to her father.

“Big brother will be fine. It may take a day or two, but he will be okay. I promise, Palira.” The grandmother rubbed Palira's neck softly.

“Julian,” Palira reached for his hand. “Fix Mekor's hurt. Please. He's my brother.”

“Of course, I will. He is a strong Cardassian. You must believe in his strength.” Julian gazed briefly at each face, remembering Garak's words: 'Cardassians don't believe in luck. You survived because you're strong.'

Palira hugged Julian's leg.

“I'm going to take care of Mekor. I will see you soon, Palira.”

Julian walked behind the Dukats into the house. They led him to a large set of rooms.

Mekor whimpered as he was placed in the middle of a single bed. His mother knelt on his left and his father on his right.

“What did Daddy tell you about touching his phaser?” Gul Dukat asked, petting over the boy's face. He had almost lost the little one.

Mekor sniffled.

“I just wanted you to be proud of me.” Mekor said, turning his face from his father. He had shamed his father by disobeying him first and then by hurting himself with a weapon. He was big. He knew how to put the safety setting on it, when he was carrying it about without its holster. He never should have done it. “I'm sorry, Daddy. I'm sorry for being bad. I'll be good.”

Gul Dukat leaned close to the boy.

“I am proud of you. I just wish you had listened to me better.”

Julian removed the charred shoe and examined the injury. He ran a tricorder over the it, assessing the damage. The boy was lucky. The burn had not penetrated past the dermis. The low setting plus the shoes and socks had prevented more severe damage. He removed the dermal regenerator, activating it. He ran it over the wound.

Both adult Dukats kept a close eye on Julian. They continued their gentle caresses of Mekor's face as the boy sniffled and tucked one hand into his father's and the others into his mother's.

“You're going to be just fine in a day or two,” Julian said, smiling at the boy reassuringly. “Phasers are dangerous. You need to be more careful. You could have killed yourself.”

Mekor nodded. Tears were in his eyes.

“Thank you for taking care of my son,” Gul Dukat said. He looked over the pet.

He observed the human with interest. The human was clearly a trained doctor. How he ended up a slave here was a mystery, but he would look into it and see what he could determine. The human might be as worthwhile a purchase as his father had indicated. Having a personal doctor, just for the family, would be pleasant. Even if Julian could not be bought, surely his services could be obtained from Mr. Kamar, or whatever his name was. The human had been professional and swift to attend to the injury. He also was clearly quite comforting to the younger children. Mekor always fussed about the doctor wanting to injure him or make him sick. He refused to even see a doctor without two armed guards and his mother or father with him.

Julian nodded, “I am honored that I could help such a powerful family. With your permission, I would like to check up on him in the morning.” He stood to back up.

Mekor reached for Julian.

Julian resumed his place. He placed a hand lightly on Mekor's leg as the boy watched him for any sign of movement. He relaxed at the touch and returned to basking in his parents' affections and attentions.

“We will not forget what you have done for us today,” Gul Dukat said, nodding to Julian. “And if you would help in pre-teaching Palira, I am sure that you would not harm her.”

Whoosh.

Julian shifted a little as almost a dozen Cardassians walked into the room. Palira led them. She raced to Julian.

“Is Mekor okay?” she asked, looking over at her brother. She rested her hands on his thigh. “You are so warm.” She rubbed against the warmth.

Julian wiped his brow with his hand.

“He is going to be just fine, Palira.” Julian said, petting her hair the way she liked.

Palira reached out and pinched Mekor's phaser burned foot viciously.

“BAAAH!” Mekor yelped, glaring at the little girl. He moved his foot back to give her a kick.

Julian reached out and tugged Palira back, putting his arms between the drawn back foot and Palira.

Mekor laid his foot down without kicking. He glared at Palira.

She turned and held her arms up to Julian and moved close.

Mekor shifted, giving Julian a wide eyed look.

Julian reached over and placed his hand comfortingly on the boy's uninjured leg again.

“That was mean, Palira. Why did you pinch him?” Julian asked, tilting her chin up.

“He ruined my birthday,” Palira said, leaning forward and putting her cheek on Julian's shoulder.

“You are lucky to have him.” Julian petted the soft hair.

“Hush. Palira, do not torture your brother. It was an accident,” Gul Dukat said, stroking the spoon shaped bone decoration on the boy's forehead. He withdrew his hand long enough to tap his wrist communicator. “Gul Dukat to Gil Damar.”

Palira shifted and went to her father. She leaned her cheek on his lap.

“Damar here.”

“Find Mr. Kamar and bring him into the house and to the second floor, the fifth door down on the left.”

“Understood.”

Julian stood. He wiped sweat from his head again. He took a step back.

“Don't go,” Mekor said, watching Julian closely.

“I'm not going anywhere.” Julian reassured the boy with a soft touch to his thigh. “May I walk around where you can see me?” The air blowing on the sweat would help to cool him faster.

Mekor nodded, “Where I can see.”

He wandered about the room in a circle. He lifted his head as he heard voices and footsteps. How miserably hot. Damn Cardassian taking the cooling packs. He wandered toward the door.

Garak walked into the room a moment later led by Gil Damar and Dukat's mother and father.

Julian walked to Garak, circling around to stand just behind. He reached for the leash as he saw the oldest male Dukat eye him again. The leash caused him to be viewed as an extension of Garak, and as such was off limits to being touched.

Garak reached for Julian. He was acting quite strangely, and he was shiny and wet.

“Gul Dukat, I trust your son will make a full recovery.” Garak said, nodding and reaching back to tug Julian around in front of him.

Julian shifted, putting his hands on Garak's shoulders. He gave Garak's right neck ridge a long stroke. The ridge darkened slightly under the touch.

Dukat walked Garak and Julian a short distance away, allowing the rest of the family to get close to the injured Mekor and offer him comfort.

“Thank you for your concern. The quick attention of your well trained slave has ensured a speedy recovery.” Dukat rose to his full height.

Garak turned to Julian. He shifted his neck so the human understood that that type of caress was not suitable in their current environment.

Julian gave him a small glare and moved closer. He slid his hand down to run along the covered clavicular ridge, stopping over the heart plate bone. He stood in such a way as the placement of his hand was obscured from the rest of the room.

Garak squeezed Julian's waist tighter. What had agitated his Julian? Normally, the human shied away from the leash and scowled after it was attached, pouting openly over it for the whole of Cardassia to witness his tantrums. Now, Julian was acting eager for the association and not taking his eyes off him. It was nice, but perplexing.

“Lady Dukat, your gardens are very beautifully kept. I took the liberty of strolling.”

The woman nodded. She stroked Mekor's forehead.

“I fear we have imposed upon you long enough,” Garak said, reaching up and clipping the leash to Julian's collar.

“NO, Dung Beetle. You said Julian wo--”

“PALIRA!” Gul Dukat wrapped an arm around Palira lifting her up. He swatted her bottom three times.

“DADDY! NO!” she sobbed and whimpered as she was placed down.

“How dare you disrespect Mr. Kamar. Apologize to him at once,” Gul Dukat said, pointing to Garak.

Julian moved toward the little girl who sniffled morosely. Swatting her was mean. Poor dear. She was just a little girl.

“He is m-m-mean to m-me,” Palira pointed at Garak as more tears welled in her blue eyes.

“He is your elder. You are to respect him, regardless. That was so very rude. You shamed your family with that behavior. Apologize.”

“I'm s-s-sorry, Mr. Kam-mar.” Palira moved toward her parents for comfort. Both parents withdrew a pace.

“Mwaah!” Palira turned to Julian. She went and hugged his thigh.

Julian knelt and stroked her hair.

“You're alright. You have to be more respectful. You are a big girl. Big girls are not rude.”

“I'm little,” Palira said, rubbing her nose against Julian's throat. “You're all wet.”

“It is how humans cool themselves,” Julian explained. “This temperature is very hot for my species.”

Palira put her thumb in her mouth.

“It would be best to take my pet home now,” Garak said. “He is close to over heating.”

“I want him to stay.” Mekor said, reaching for Julian. “What if I need him? I'm hurt.”

Julian turned to Mekor.

“Please.”

“I promise that I will see you in the morning. The best thing for you right now is a good night's rest.”

“Stay till I fall asleep, please.” Mekor asked, blinking his large eyes.

Julian turned to look at Garak for permission.

“If your parents do not object,” Garak said, nodding to the lad. Another little fan of Julian's. This would only pull him in closer to the family, making his investigation that much easier.

The Dukats nodded.

“Julian is quite welcome here. We are certain that the story of his saving Mekor will be aired tomorrow. We are going to contact the Cardassian Information Service later this evening.”

Garak nodded as Gul Dukat motioned a welcome to sit in the chair. He took a seat and Julian slid down to sit on the floor next to him.

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Tears of Time