This story immediately follows the peace treaty signing in "What You Leave Behind".
The entire senoir staff, along with various Starfleet brass, including Admiral Ross as well as Chancellor Martok and the head of the Romulan delegation, were gathered in the wardroom to witness the formal surrender of the Dominion.
Julian Bashir, station doctor, stood next to Chief Engineer Miles O'Brien, his best friend, impatient for the formalities to end.
The female shapeshifter had agreed to stand trial for war crimes and Julian knew they'd quickly take her away but he urgently needed to speak to her first.
He started to approach her once it was over but got no more than two feet when he felt Miles hand come down on his shoulder.
"Glad this damn wars finally over...and that we only lost one." He said soberly.
"Yeah, yeah...I need to talk to the Captain, Miles, if you'll excuse me." Julian answered distractedly as the female shapeshifter was led out.
Miles frowned at his retreating back.
"Where's Julian off to?" Ezri Dax, station Counselor, and Julian's lover asked joining the Chief.
"Said he had to talk to the Captain."
"What about?"
"I don't know."
"Excuse me, a word Captain." Julian requested with a nod to Martok and Ross.
"I'll be back in a moment." Sisko nodded and followed Julian to the window. "What is it?"
"I need to speak to the Founder."
Sisko didn't reply so he forged ahead.
"I keep thinking about Ekoria and the others. The Jem'Hadar gave them the 'blight' so she should know how to cure it. Right?"
"I'll contact Captain Sulek--"
"Thank you sir." Julian nodded and headed for the door.
Sisko shook his head as he touched his comm.badge.
"Sisko to Ops."
"Go ahead sir."
"Please open a channel to the Aries."
"One moment Captain."
"Ben?"
Sisko held his hand up to Ezri to wait a moment.
"This is the Aries,First Officer Ziri, how can we assist you Captain?"
"My Chief Medical officer would like to speak to the Founder about a disease the Dominion is responsible for."
"I will relay the request to Captain Sulek."
"Thank you, Dr. Bashir will be waiting at your airlock."
"Aries out."
"The 'blight'?" Ezri asked.
"He's hoping she'll tell him how to cure it."
"If she doesn't, he'll be devastated." Ezri said with concern. "Those deaths were a real blow to him."
"He did what he could...and he saved the unborn children."
"You know him Ben, he feels like he should have done more."
"Then we need to convince him he did his best."
"That won't be easy." She sighed.
"No, it won't, but that is what his friends...and lover, are for." Sisko looked at her with a slight smile.
"You know?" She asked a bit embarrassed.
"It was hard to miss the exchange between you two on the bridge this morning and Julian was more exuberant this morning than I've ever seen him. Life, even during a war, is a bit brighter when you're in love.
"Yes,it does." Ezri grinned.
"Come on, this is a celebration." Sisko smiled broadly at his 'old man'.
Julian paced at the airlock waiting for clearance to board.
The two guards on duty watched him closely with orders to allow no one access unless cleared by the command crew of the Aries and so far he'd not been cleared.
Every precaution was being taken to ensure the female changeling made it to trial.
They have to let me talk to her, it's their only hope.
He still carried the guilt of his equipment inflicting more pain but the most haunting was seeing the lesions on the children, knowing they were sentenced to a life of pain.
The only salvation he'd found was in Ekoria's son and those born after him who had been innoculated against the virus.
He looked up as the airlock rolled open.
"Dr. Bashir, Captain Sulek has granted your request. Please follow me." Commander Ziri ordered.
Julian quickly followed him to the brig where he was scanned before being allowed to enter the holding cells.
"The Captain asks that you make this brief, we would like to be underway in thirty minutes".
"I will, thank you." Julian nodded and stepped inside.
The cell holding the Founder had been modified to prevent escape and he approached it.
He presumed she had reverted to her natural shape since the cell appeared empty.
"May I speak with you?" He asked aloud.
There was no response but he spoke again.
"There is a planet in the Teplan system, Boranis III, the inhabitants were infected by a virus known as the 'blight' by the Jem'Hadar...under your orders I presume--"
"They were an example to other solids of the consequences for disobedience."
Julian still didn't see her but she clearly had formed a mouth to speak with.
"You have seen yourself and through Odo we meant no threat to you, we simply want to live in peace, so why continue to punish them? "
"I doubt the Klingons ,Romulans and Cardassians would agree."
"I didn't come here to debate with you. Will you help me help the citizens of Boranis III?"
"You care a great deal for them and other solids but you would not have cared for us in our illness."
"I helped Odo!" He defended.
"Only to stop the war." She accused.
"You're wrong! I helped Odo because he is my friend, moreover, I helped him because I am a doctor and NO doctor wishes harm to anyone!" He replied angrily to her accusations.
The slurping sound long associated with a changeling pulling itself into a solid form rang in Julian's ears as he watched 'her' reform herself.
"Odo was right...solids are complex." She answered staring at him.
"Does that mean you'll help me cure them?" Julian asked hopefully.
"It means I will answer your questions."
Julian sat his desk staring at the monitor overhead.
"You're going to be late for Vic's."
"I don't feel like celebrating."
"What did she say to you?" Ezri asked coming to him.
"There is no cure for the 'blight'." He replied emotionlessly.
"Maybe she lied...after all they were responsible for the illness so maybe she doesn't want them cured."
"She told me they didn't bother with a cure since they were examples to other solids for disobedience. I thought Jadzia was right when she chastised me for thinking there was no cure because I couldn't find it... but I was the one who was right all along." He answered bitterly.
"You're being arrogant again." Ezri scolded. "Just because they didn't make one doesn't mean there isn't one."
"Ezri! She said there was NO cure!" He snapped standing abruptly.
"There was no cure for A.I.D.S., Muscular Dystrophy, Xenopolycythemia or Andronesian encephalitis either until someone came up with them." She replied quietly.
"Why do I have a feeling I've just been lectured by Jadzia?" He muttered.
"Julian, you are a brilliant doctor but taking every illness personally will destroy you and I won't let that happen any more than Jadzia would have, moreso because I love you. You've did what you could for them and if it wasn't for you, Ekoria's son and so many others would have no future at all." Ezri took his hand in hers, "You gave them hope and they hadn't had that for generations. Don't punish yourself for doing the best you could."
Julian embraced her and sighed.
"Some days I miss Jadzia terribly but I am so very glad you are here."
"Let's go to Vic's, it's our last night all together and Miles wants to spend some time with his best friend." She smiled lovingly at him.
Julian kissed her deeply.
"You're right, we have a lot of reasons to celebrate tonight." He smiled as he turned the monitor off. Ezri knew he would never be happy until he cured all the residents of Boranis III but for tonight the only thing that he would think about was his friends... she would make sure of that.
End