Tears of Time

Julian paced around the small observation room, occasionally touching his face to feel the new silkiness of the skin. It had not been this smooth since before he hit puberty.

 

He looked through the viewer, and groaned.

 

How long was Garak going to stare at that man? It had been almost four hours. Why didn't Garak ask him some questions, torture him, do something? Anything?

 

“I confess,” the man's head fell forward and he stretched his arms toward Garak.

 

Julian looked in the window with a dropped jaw.

 

The man in the room was rapidly spilling his guts about helping Bajoran children, knowing some members of the dissident movement, anything he could think of that would be of interest.

 

Garak continued to stare at the man until he spoke his entire piece, then stood and pressed a button on the table.

 

Two glinns came in and dragged the man away.

 

Garak sat back in his chair, smiling.

 

“You can come out here, Doctor.”

 

Julian shoved the door open and sighed.

 

“How long were you going to do that?”

 

“As long as it took,” Garak said, adjusting the bag on his shoulder. “And that was not half as long as I thought it would be.”

 

“Who was that man?”

 

“Dr. Parmak, a troublemaker as you saw. Now that that is over. I thought we might take a walk through one of the local parks.” Garak shuddered as they walked from the interrogation room. He placed a hand on Julian's arm, rubbing softly.

 

Julian looked him over. He could see the pulse racing in the large artery in his forehead, and his pupils were contracted. The Cardassian's breathing was fast. He slipped closer, wrapping an arm around Garak's upper back.

 

Garak slid his hand to the hip of his companion. He straightened up and walked confidently through the halls. He led Julian as quickly as he could outside, exhaling and looking upward. He inhaled the humid air deeply.

 

“Let's go.” He dragged Julian by his wrist and waist from the seemingly innocuous building and down a maze of streets.

 

Large ovular monitors were streaming messages from the government.

 

Julian looked every direction, trying to take in the amazing structures. The last time he remembered seeing the great city, it was in shambles.

 

The beautiful curves of the buildings and the perfect symmetry of the design was breath taking. Everything seemed to exist in some sort of multiple of three. Every street corner had the emblem of the Cardassian Union painted on it in rich colors.

 

Garak rubbed Julian's hip, sliding his hand back to squeeze the muscular glutteals as he pulled him through a large gate and onto a gravelly path. He sighed, slowing his pace.

 

Julian panted a little.

 

“Are you feeling better, G—Sir?” Julian asked, stepping closer to Garak.

 

Garak breathed deeply and sighed. He opened his arms and walked slowly.

 

Julian stepped up and placed two fingers to the large Cardassian cranial artery.

 

Garak swatted his hand away.

 

“This air is refreshing, isn't it?” Garak said, releasing Julian as he wandered through the line of thorny trees to a large rocky field.

 

Garak sat down on a large sandy rock, pulling Julian with him.

 

“Invigorating,” Julian agreed, trying to check Garak's pulse again. It did seem to have relaxed; his breathing was more even, how it should be. He wiped a few beads of sweat from his forehead.

 

“Why don't you tell me how we met?” Garak said, flopping on his back and staring up at Julian.

 

“You were there, weren't you?”

 

“You know if you want sex, there is no need for all your coy devices.”

 

Julian flushed. He shoved back the memory of the heavy hands massaging his thigh and buttocks. He would not rise to Garak's bait. He panted a little.

 

He had dated a man once. It had been the worst date of his life. He spent most of the evening darting away from all the attempted caresses. That experience had played a small part in his response to Garak's introduction. He was not opposed to dating men. It had just been a negative experience. He had always chased women passionately, if he wanted them, but he kept his hands to himself.

 

“You said you didn't believe my story.”

 

“And so I don't.” Garak said, staring at Julian's mouth. He did owe the good doctor a kiss.

 

“Then why listen to it?”

 

“I am an excellent liar. I may be able to give you some pointers with your technique.”

 

“Under Federation law, I am not allowed to reveal aspects of the future to you.” Julian shifted, observing Garak's neck ridges for any sign of more shedding.

 

“Under Cardassian law, I am encouraged to use any means at my disposal to attain your cooperation and extricate your information.”

 

“I don't think you will hurt me.”

 

“Your optimism and faith seem misplaced.”

 

Julian looked down at Garak, and tucked his knees up, peeking over the top of the bushes in front of the rock. In the valley below was a long play area. About twenty young children were dashing about on it, laughing.

 

He looked back down at the Cardassian. He knew Garak.

 

“Do Cardassians really flirt by arguing and annoying each other? Purposefully saying things that the other might find objectionable?” Julian asked, thinking back on the conversations where Garak would sit back and grin as he wildly gesticulated to make his point.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Are you telling the truth?”

 

“Would I lie to you?”

 

“Yes. Even if you were dying...you would still spin out the lies. And if I saved your life by risking my own, you would tell me that the lies are especially true.”

 

Garak smirked. Apparently, his future self was a winner.

 

“D.S. Nine.”

 

“What?” Garak asked, rolling to his stomach. “You know, doctor, the back of my neck is itching.”

 

“Where we meet.” Julian reached over and moved the black hair to the side. “It's not far.”

 

“There are no Federation stations by that name near here.”

 

“I never said it was either,” Julian said, fighting back his delight as he rubbed the finer scales of the nape of Garak's neck.

 

“Now, Doctor. You won't keep me guessing, will you?” Garak rested his cheek on his arms.

 

“I thought you enjoyed a good mystery.” Julian brushed the scales away.

 

“Trying a traditional enigma tale? Doctor, you forget that the suspects are always caught and always guilty. My job is determining from where your guilt stems.”

 

“What if I told you something about you?”

 

“I know all about me.”

 

“I was merely willing to see if I could make you believe my story. I know that being a man out of his time, I could not think of a better friend to help me than you. You are clever, devious, manipulative, and an eloquent conversationalist.”

 

“Doctor, you think so highly of me. Really, the interrogation today would be enough to support your first three adjectives, and the first and last adjectives, could be determined from the enjoyment you take in verbally needling me.”

 

“Humans flirt differently.”

 

“I offered to let you sleep with me. How do they flirt?”

 

Julian rocked a little, looking over as Garak closed his eyes. He looked so innocent basking in the sun like a Risian tourist, but he had the strength, reflexes, and temper of a crocodile with a toothache.

 

“EEEEEEEECK!” a loud squeal of rage and pain pierced the air.

 

Bashir was on his feet and racing down the hill toward the sound.

 

“Come back here.”



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