Yet again more from the dark and twisted mind of Fliss If you like this story, please take the seconds to let me know. If not, well, I have a flame-proof ego, so fire away.

All E-Mail to: dakhur@iinet.net.au

Enjoy.

High treason

by Felicity carthew

"Benjamin, there's an incoming call from a Bajoran shuttle." Dax watched as Sisko stopped just before he entered the turbolift, and groaned, before once again returning to his office. "A Colonel Duraga wants to talk to you urgently."

"Where's Kira? This will probably involve her anyway." Ben wanted to simply fall into bed and get some sleep. It had been a long shift for all of them, except for Worf who was visiting his parents on Earth, and the main crew were just about to all go off duty after nearly twenty-six hours of trying to keep the old station running smoothly.

"She's in her quarters." Dax grinned suddenly. "As she left, I heard her mutter something about sleeping for the next month." The two of them chuckled as Sisko opened the doors to his office.

"Well, put the Colonel through, but don't wake Kira just yet. I'll see what this is about first." Ben replicated a raktajino, and smiled at the Bajoran man looking seriously at him on the monitor screen. "Colonel, I don't believe we've met. I'm Captain Benjamin Sisko, commanding officer of Deep Space Nine. How can I help you?"

"Good evening, Captain. I'm Colonel Duraga Ashook of the Bajoran Intelligence Corps." The Bajoran smiled tightly, before his sombre expression returned. "I'm travelling to the station and will be staying for an indefinite period of time, until the matter I'm investigating is resolved."

"Colonel, what is the problem?" Sisko was worried, all thoughts of his coffee forgotten. The Bajoran's black uniform was hardly a new idea in intelligence corps, as even Starfleet intelligence wore black, but the man's whole attitude produced an aura of danger in the office.

"Your First Officer, Major Kira Nerys has been accused of treason by an ex-member of the Bajoran Provisional Government, Jaro Essa." Duraga saw Sisko's face harden, and put up his hand. "I know the man's reputation, I was the one who helped put him away. But, he has also made several very serious accusations that we must investigate."

"How do you intend to conduct this investigation?" Ben made a mental note to re-read the reports they had on Jaro again, just to refresh his memory. "We will give you all the assistance we can, but I would like to speak to you on the Major's behalf."

"I would like to question all the command crew, and especially any close friends she has on the station. Ex-lovers, previous suspicious contacts from the resistance, and all suspicious characters that might be in permanent residence." The Colonel frowned slightly. "I believe you have a Cardassian named Garak there? And a half-Bajoran, half-Cardassian female named Tora Ziyal as well?"

"Yes." Sisko's heart dropped into his boots. "The two people you've just mentioned will co-operate as much as you wish, as will everyone else on the station. Our security chief will co-ordinate any requirements you might have."

"Captain, this investigation must be conducted along Bajoran Militia lines. You understand what that means?" As Sisko shook his head, Duraga sighed. "I have to strip the Major of all rank and privileges, and place her under arrest, until such time as she can be cleared of the accusations."

"I was not aware that Bajor considered those under suspicion as being guilty until proven innocent." Sisko's face was hard.

"Remember that we do things differently from the Federation, Captain. You have no right to criticise the way that we do things. Especially regarding our own people." Duraga looked as though he would say more, but instead glanced at someone off screen, and then back at Sisko. "Captain, the shuttle will be arriving in one hour. Please have a cell ready for the Major, but I must ask you not to warn her that we're arriving on the station. If, and I mean if, she is a traitor, then any warning might ruin our chance of catching her. Duraga out."

After the Bajoran had cut the connection, Ben sat for a long time, before reluctantly calling Odo.

Sisko paced slowly around the security office, occasionally glancing at Colonel Duraga, who was standing silently in front of the desk. "Are you sure you have to do this?" Ben had finally stopped pacing, and glared at the officer. "You still haven't told us what the proof is against my First Officer, and that makes me very suspicious."

"Captain, as much as I hate to do this, we have to take these charges seriously. The fact is that we have found an anomaly with her account at the central bank, as well as several other damming charges."

"You can't be serious!" Ben refused to believe that his friend was capable of the charges against her. "I have known Nerys since she came to this station, and the only thing she has ever desired was for Bajor to be free, and for your people to live in peace. To suggest that she has been betraying those standards is completely outrageous!"

"Until now." Duraga wanted to say more, but at that moment, Kira entered the office, escorted by Odo and two security officers. The woman looked around the room, noting the high-ranking occupants, before turning back to Sisko with a curious expression.

"Captain, I've just been woken up by Odo and a security patrol, to be told you wanted to see me. Now, I know I don't always appear in an instant, but isn't this going a bit too far?" Kira wasn't particularly concerned about the other guest, by now it took more than a surprise visit to shake her off balance.

"Major, please sit down." Sisko looked at his friend with an expression that she'd only seen a few times before, usually when he was being forced to do something unpleasant. Kira took the chair offered by Duraga, and glanced sideways at Odo, but the Changeling refused to meet her eyes. "Major, the officer behind you is Colonel Duraga, from Bajoran Intelligence. He's here to ask you some questions about your past few years here on the station."

"I see." Kira watched as a Bajoran wearing the black uniform of his corps, walked around to take the Captain's seat, and motioned for Odo and his officers to stand on either side of Kira's chair. "Colonel, if there's a problem with my work, I'll be glad to talk to you about it in private."

"I'm afraid that's impossible, Major." Duraga nodded as Bashir and a nurse entered the room. "Major Kira Nerys, you have been accused of treason, and the deliberate betrayal of the Bajoran people." Duraga went on quickly, so as to get what he had to do over as fast as possible. "I must therefore inform you that, as of this moment, you are formally relieved of your rank and post. You are to be taken into custody immediately, all your goods and assets are to be seized, and until such time as your innocence is established, you will be treated as a prisoner under the control of the corps. Do you have anything to say or ask at this time?"

Kira stared blankly at the man, before blinking hard and turning to Sisko. "It's a joke, right? This whole thing's a joke, isn't it?"

"No, it's no joke. I wish it was." Ben wanted to help her, but he couldn't see a way out. "Hopefully this matter won't take long to settle, but until then you must comply with Colonel Duraga. Don't worry, Nerys, we'll find a way to prove you're innocent."

"Major, whom do you wish to represent you during the investigation and possibly during a trial?" Duraga wanted to get the woman into the system as fast as possible, so the questioning could get underway.

"Captain....?" Nerys' mind was in turmoil, as she stared at her former commander.

"Don't worry, Nerys. I'll be glad to help you." Ben turned to the Colonel and glared at him. "What happens now? I assume we simply start examining any evidence?"

"Not quite. First, the Major must be taken into custody." Duraga picked up a bundle of cloth. "Doctor Bashir, please escort the prisoner to her cell, and give her a full examination. She is then to change into these clothes, and return to this office. Constable, I assume you have prepared one of the solitary confinement cells for use?"

"Yes, we finally managed to get the force-fields working in one of them." Odo looked like he wanted to curl up in his bucket and pretend none of this was happening. "They don't have replicators though, so we'll be supplying all Kira's food to her."

"Make sure you're the only one to do so. If anything goes wrong, I'll only want one person to speak with." Duraga looked at Kira sadly, then nodded to the security guards. "Take her into the cells."

Nerys' mind had been trying to comprehend the Colonel's charges, and now the enormity had finally sunk in. "No, no I won't do this." Kira began to look wildly around, trying to find some support. "Odo, he can't do this to me. Why, after all I've sacrificed, would I betray my people, my friends? It doesn't make sense!"

"Kira, go with Julian, and do as he says." Sisko had placed a hand on her shoulder, and was trying to calm his friend. "I'll stay here and talk to Colonel Duraga, and sort this whole mess out. It's alright, I'm not going to let anyone get away with this, I promise us both that." As the Bajoran woman let herself be led into the cells, Ben glared at the Colonel. "I suppose it's a great part of the job, having the power to devastate a young officer and possibly destroy their career?"

"Captain, I don't want to do this any more than you want me to." Duraga sat down and began typing up his first report. "I worked with her once before, when Kira spent some time with the resistance cell I was in years ago. She's a good officer, and I don't believe these charges either. But, we have to investigate them."

"How long will this investigation take?" Odo was worried about Kira's mental health, more than the charges against her. "You can't lock up someone like Kira indefinitely, she won't stand for it."

"Are you saying you are unable to cope with one solitary Bajoran?" Duraga had something of a smile on his face. "Constable, if that's the case, perhaps you need a career change."

"I'm saying that this particular Bajoran may prove more difficult than you anticipate." Odo had a smug expression on his face, as did Sisko. "If you thought she'd be the same woman you knew back in the resistance, then you're going to be very surprised."

"That remains to be seen." Ashook handed a padd to Sisko and leaned back. "This is the full range of charges against Kira, and all the evidence against her. As you'll see, we've got not just Jaro Essa, but also a Maquis operative who has been granted asylum in return for the information against her. He was Kira's contact in the Maquis, and the one who funded her buying of Bajoran arms on the black-market. Apparently, she would then use her influence here to get the arms shipped out to the Maquis."

Sisko studied the padd thoroughly before handing it to Odo, and stared out onto an empty promenade, thinking about his friend.

"Alright Kira, I need you to take off your belt, jacket, and pants. I have to do an examination, then you have to change into these clothes." Julian looked like he'd rather be doing dental work on a Klingon.

Nerys stared at the doctor and shook her head. "No, I can't believe they can just get away with this. He can't DO this!"

"Nerys, he already has." Bashir nodded as the nurse gently began helping Kira with her jacket and belt, as the Bajoran's temper got the better of her.

"Fine." Nerys all but ripped her clothing off and threw it onto the floor. "Let him take the whole bloody lot, I don't care." Standing in nothing but her underwear, she fought back the desire to be embarrassed and lifted her chin defiantly. "Get on with it, Doctor."

Julian ran his tricorder over the woman quickly, noting she had no concealed weapons, mainly since there was nowhere to hide them. "You can get dressed now. And try to calm down, your adrenaline levels are going off the scale."

"Good." Kira pulled on the gray prison shirt and pants, noting she was left barefoot, her boots going with her uniform, which the nurse was folding up neatly. "Julian, I'm sorry, it's not your fault. I just hate feeling helpless."

"I know." Julian placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it. "I don't mind you yelling at me. I know you don't mean it." Turning, he led Kira and the nurse out of the empty cell block and back into the main security office.

Duraga stood as Bashir, Kira and the nurse re-entered the room. "All done doctor?"

"Yes, I'm finished." Julian was almost snarling, as he watched Nerys pull the thin cloth of the gray prison shirt tighter around her shoulders. "Although I fail to see why all this security is necessary, Kira isn't going to run away."

"I like to make very sure of things like this." Duraga took her uniform, and placed it in a wall panel. "Your earring as well, Kira."

Nerys looked at him in horror. "No, not that. You've taken away everything else, at least leave me my name."

"I'm sorry, but I can't. It's the rules." Duraga held out his hand and watched as Kira slowly unclipped her earring and gave it to him. "Right now, all you need to worry about is a few annoying questions, and I'm sure we'll have this cleared up in no time. Constable, would you show Kira to her cell? Try and get some sleep, and we'll begin the questioning in the morning."

"This way, Nerys." Odo placed a gentle hand on her shoulder as Kira slowly stood. Opening a side door, he took the woman into a long corridor, with seven small cells built into the walls. Odo turned and saw that Sisko had followed him, and was examining the rooms. "These cells are carved straight out of the metal, the bed is welded to the floor, and to use the bathroom, you'll have to call for a security officer to escort you to one."

"Odo, how long do I have to stay here?" Kira stepped into the room he'd indicated, but turned before the Changeling could turn on the force-field. "You don't believe what he's saying, do you?"

"No, I don't believe him. But I don't know how long you'll need to stay here." Odo pressed a switch, and the gold light of a force-field flashed on. "I'll leave you to talk to the Captain." After Odo had left, Kira slumped down against the wall, while Ben took a seat on a chair that would once have been used by Cardassian torturers.

"Firstly Kira, who do you want as your counsel? I'm glad to do it, but you might want a Bajoran to represent you." Sisko could see the worry in his friends eyes.

"If you don't mind sir, I'd like you to represent me. A Bajoran could be influenced by the Militia, and I've never seen a Bajoran intimidate you yet." Nerys tried a small smile, as Ben grinned openly.

"I know one who does. Occasionally." He nodded gently as Kira looked at the floor and smiled a little wider. "Now, we need to talk about your defence. The evidence is all making this an up hill battle, but you're in a pretty good position to be cleared." Sisko smiled, trying to lighten the woman's mood before she could sink into a depression. "Apparently an old friend of ours says you've been selling Bajor out--Jaro Essa."

"Jaro?" Kira sat up, a glint of her old fire in her eyes. "What's that %#$@ &*%$ #$@ doing this side of death?" Kira used several expletives that would have made a Klingon proud. Calming down, she glanced at Sisko.

"Sorry. I still don't understand the technicality that got him out of a death sentence."

"I know, I don't understand it either." Benjamin moved his chair nearer to the room, as Nerys sat as close to the force-field as she could. "The evidence is his accusations, the words of a Maquis who has been given asylum in return for his evidence against you, and that your bank account has more money than it should."

"My account?" Kira was confused. "What's my credit account got to do with it? I'm paid by the Bajoran Government, they'll have all my pay records. And who the hell's this Maquis, and what's he been saying about me?"

"That he was your contact in the Maquis and that you were being paid by him to buy illegal arms on the black-market and get them transported to the Maquis, by using your influence on the station." Sisko glanced at the door and sighed. "I think we should talk about any ideas you might have about why someone would say this about you, and about how they planted this evidence against you. I don't want any surprises if this goes to trial, so that means I need to know everyone you've had contact with who could speak or be used against you."

"You want my entire history?" Nerys laughed sadly. "Captain, any of my friends in the resistance and some of my actions on the station could be used against me. Take that incident with the soil reclamators."

"Then we'd better get talking." Ben pulled out a data padd and the two people began discussing about the Bajoran's past.

"And you have no knowledge of Kira taking bribes or accepting any payment for selling information to foreign powers?" Duraga had never met a more hostile group of people as he had in the last three days since he'd arrested Kira. Right now, he was interviewing the chief science officer, one Lieutenant-Commander Jadzia Dax, and she wasn't helping one bit.

"Kira would no more sell out Bajor than I would turn into a Romulan. She's an officer who's wants to help her people, not harm them. The only secret Kira has, is how much she wants the command office." The Trill was being icily polite, but her eyes gave away her annoyance.

"Commander, you seem very protective of this Bajoran," Duraga leaned back and toyed with a data padd, "I had heard that Starfleet officers disliked working with non-Starfleet personnel."

"When you work with someone like Nerys, you can't help but get to like Bajorans." Dax had no intention of deserting her friend and leaving her to fight on her own. "Her dedication to her work, and her faith that the people of Bajor will overcome their past reminds all Starfleet officers how the Federation was created, and why. I believe she is innocent." Dax sat back and stared at the man.

"I see." Duraga looked at the desk for a long moment, then back at the Trill. "Thank you for your time, Commander. I'll be calling you as a witness at the trial, dismissed." Watching the woman leave the office, Ashook took a deep breath. "Five interrogations, the same five answers. How can I prosecute like this, when there's no evidence?"

"It is difficult." Sisko walked into the spare office that had been given to the Colonel for his stay. "But perhaps this will convince you that Kira is innocent, no matter what your accusers say."

"Captain, are you here as station commander, or as Kira's defence counsel?" Ashook and Ben had studiously ignored each other since the Major's incarceration, acknowledging each other's existence with the barest of nods when they did meet.

"As her defence counsel." Sisko made himself comfortable on the chair before the desk, and smiled slightly. "As a matter of course, what would happen if Nerys admitted all the charges, and provided a list of all her contacts within the Bajoran Militia and government?"

Duraga looked like he'd just been hit with a wet fish. After a minute, he closed his mouth and gulped. "She would be given a dishonourable discharge, and spend at least ten years in gaol, that is if the charge is commuted from the death penalty. If she provides some names that lead to more arrests and convictions, then it could be arranged." The Colonel leant forward curiously. "Is your client ready to confess?"

"No, she's innocent." Sisko stood and walked to the door. "I just wondered what would happen if she was guilty."

"Captain," Duraga stood and called before the man could walk back onto the flowing promenade, "are you really sure she's innocent?"

"Yes. If Nerys wasn't, I wouldn't be defending her." Ben left without a backward glance, leaving behind one very confused Bajoran.

First Minister Shakaar Edon belted the ball around the springball court and wiped the sweat off his face. It had been five days since Kira had been arrested, and Shakaar had only just arrived at the station from Bajor. The trial was due to start the next day, and Shakaar had been called as a witness for both sides. Hearing the court door open, the man turned and saw Captain Sisko standing there. "Captain, they told me you were busy when I arrived, and I didn't want to disturb you."

"Ben, please, and I wouldn't have minded, I was with Nerys, finalising her defence." Sisko strolled onto the court and smiled. "This wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Kira. She enjoys springball, actually she's one of the best on the station, but when we first arrived, the players had to use a holo-suite. Chief O'Brien built this last year when we were able to re-open this part of the promenade."

"It's a good court." Shakaar and Sisko wandered out of the room, and towards the replimat, a security detail trailing along behind. "I don't suppose there's any way we can get rid of the security?"

Ben grinned. "Sorry, regulations." The men sat down in the nearly empty food hall, while the security officer tried not to look bored. "We could dismiss the officer normally, but your...personal bodyguard is unavailable at the moment." Sisko smiled sympathetically. "Nerys asked me to say hello for her, and she hopes to be able to talk to you at the trial."

"How is Nerys?" Shakaar had been forced to stay as far away from the situation as he could, regardless of his personal feelings. The political implications of his being called as a witness from Kira's past was already giving his aide gray hair.

"She's as well as can be expected." Sisko knew that the minister wanted to visit Kira, but that was definitely out of the question. "The command crew closed ranks around her as soon as this whole thing started, Duraga's been having one hell of a time trying to find any evidence to back up his accusations."

"Then why is this going to trial? If there's no evidence, the case should be dismissed." The minister was as annoyed as hell. He'd been looking forward to spending some time with Nerys next month, and now it seemed their plans were in tatters.

Sisko cleared his throat and stared at his drink. "The evidence from the central bank is that Nerys has been receiving large amounts of cash for the last year and a half. According to Jaro, another prisoner told him that Kira was supplying the Maquis with Bajoran weapons she'd bought illegally with money supplied by the Maquis, and that Nerys used her power here to see that they were sent to the Maquis. But Kira claims that she has no knowledge of the transactions, or the money she's supposed to have received. Nerys doesn't even know the man who's supposed to be her contact, and the one she's been dealing with. Besides, this isn't a trial, it's just a hearing to determine the evidence against her."

"I know, that's what Colonel Duraga told me." Shakaar shook his head in disbelief. "Kira wouldn't need to buy weapons. With her knowledge of the old resistance locations, she could have simply transferred hundreds of weapons from them. The idea that she's buying them is ludicrous."

"I know, we discussed all that. And you'd think that with all that money she'd spend some on herself." Ben looked at the Bajoran before him. "I know Kira doesn't have many belongings, but I didn't know they could be listed on only two pages of a data padd."

"You should try buying her a present." Edon chuckled quietly. "I have never met anyone else who could make you feel guilty about wanting to give them gifts." He sat silently for a moment before glancing back at the Human. "What are her chances, Ben?"

"That depends on what happens at the hearing." Ben didn't want to speculate in case the worst happened. "At the moment, things don't look good. But, that can change when the hearing begins." Sisko tried to smile brightly, but the face of the man opposite him just made him feel more miserable than before.

"How are you feeling?" Sisko stood before his friend as Odo placed the handcuffs on Kira's wrists.

"Okay." The Bajoran smiled nervously. "I couldn't eat breakfast."

"It's going to be alright, just remember to stay calm and not let Colonel Duraga get to you. This is only a hearing to determine if there's a reason to court-martial you." Ben grinned cheerfully. "We're going to beat this charge, you're not going to prison."

"I wish I could believe that." Kira hung her head as Odo opened the door to the main office and two security officers walked behind her and Ben as they marched towards the courtroom.

As they moved quickly along the almost empty promenade, Kira couldn't help but keep her head down as early morning shopkeepers watched the security party march past. Quark stood in his doorway and silently examined the Major's face before calling out. "Major Kira." The woman stopped, and glared at the Ferengi. "Good luck." The little man nodded sharply, before returning to his bar, and the officers continued to the courtroom.

As they walked through the door, Colonel Duraga glanced up from his desk, while Arbiter Els Renora turned towards them. "Captain, may I ask why you requested that this hearing begin so early?"

"The accused is...was, an officer on this station, and I feel that it is in her best interests for as few people to see her being brought here as possible. Especially if she is returned to duty." Sisko calmly set out his evidence padds, as the woman thought over his statement while looking at Kira steadily, then nodded.

"Very well. Court will convene early, but I can't guarantee when I'll declare each days recess. Now, if we're ready to start gentlemen?" The two officers nodded and Colonel Duraga began his opening address, as Kira switched off and glanced around.

Looking behind her, Nerys relaxed as she saw Dax, Odo, and Bashir sitting behind her, smiling encouragingly, but it wasn't until she glanced around the rest of the room and she spotted Shakaar sitting in a corner that a small smile finally crossed her face.

Sisko glanced at Kira and saw that she was looking at Shakaar and trod on her foot slightly, bringing her attention back to the trial. After Duraga had finished, Sisko stood and slowly walked around to face the Arbiter.

"Madame Arbiter, Colonel Duraga has stated that he is going to prove that Kira Nerys is a traitor. If he is going to do this, then it will be without any real evidence to back him up. Not one of the command crew, in the whole five years that Kira has been here, has ever seen any evidence that she has betrayed Bajor, the Federation, or her friends. On the contrary, she has gone out of her way to assist in the repatriation and re-building of Bajoran society and its admittance into the Federation. All the evidence comes down to is the word of a convicted traitor named Jaro Essa, a man who is known to have a grudge against Kira and Starfleet, a Maquis defector, who's reliability must surely be regarded as dubious at the very least, bank statements that could have been rigged, and Major Kira Nerys, an officer whose reputation and record are impeccable. Therefore, I respectfully ask that the charges are dismissed immediately." Ben bowed slightly, and sat down.

"Gentlemen, I've considered the evidence that has been presented to me by the government, and the reason I called the Major here is because I believe she has a case to answer. Request denied, Captain." The woman nodded to Colonel Duraga. "Begin your case."

Duraga bowed. "Ten days ago, a prisoner at Grantolba prison made an accusation that Major Kira Nerys, First Officer of Deep Space Nine, was selling information to an enemy power. This information had allegedly been passed to him by another prisoner, who has since been released and left Bajor. We have been unable to locate the ex-prisoner, but are prepared to transport prisoner Jaro to the station if his evidence is needed."

"The defence would like to apply for the prisoner to be brought to the station." Ben lept on the chance to confront the man himself. "He is the one who has made the accusation, we should have the opportunity to cross-examine him in person, not by communications channel."

"Agreed." Arbiter Els nodded at Duraga. "Have the prisoner on the station tomorrow to be questioned. Captain, are you able to proceed today if the Colonel calls witnesses, or will you need to wait until Jaro is presented?"

"No, we are ready to proceed today." Sisko watched Duraga carefully but wasn't able to tell if he was annoyed or not about Jaro being called."I call First Minister Shakaar to the stand." Ashook motioned for the man to stand before the court. "Minister, how long have you known the accused?"

"Almost twenty years, since she was twelve years old." Edon refused to look at his lover, even though he could feel her eyes burning into his face. "She was recruited into my resistance cell by Lorit Akrem."

"During the resistance, was Kira completely reliable, at all times, or did you have cause to doubt her loyalty to you?" Duraga watched the anger fight itself out on Shakaar's face, as the man slowly spoke.

"Nerys is one of the most reliable fighters I've ever had. If you're asking me if she ever betrayed us to the Cardassian's, then the answer's no. I've seen what she's done to suspected and convicted collaborator's, and it wasn't pretty. If she was a collaborator, we would have known, and the idea that Kira would sell Bajor to the enemies of Bajor borders on the insane." Edon's voice had lowered itself to a deadly rumble during his speech, and Sisko began to understand why Kira liked the man.

"Minister, what is your current relationship with the prisoner?" Ashook casually leant against the table he had sat at, and stared at the man.

Edon stared back for a long moment, before answering. "We are friends and lovers. Our intimate relationship started over a year ago."

"So no matter what we ask you, you're not going to tell us the truth even if Kira is guilty." Duraga snapped back into his seat before Shakaar could answer. "No further questions."

Sisko took a deep breath and squeezed Kira's shoulder before standing in front of Shakaar. "Minister, you said you've known Kira for twenty years. Tell us about Kira when you first met her."

The Bajoran took a shaky breath. "She was...young and angry. You could tell that she'd seen a lot of pain and death. We fed her, looked after her, and she stayed to learn how to fight the Cardassian's, since all of her family were dead or missing. After a while, the four of us became good friends, still are."

"The four of you? Who else are you talking about?"

"Lupaza and Furel, two of our friends on Bajor." Shakaar smiled fondly at the memories, but still refused to look at Kira. "We all looked after each other during the occupation. They are very proud of what Nerys has accomplished, we all are."

"When you and Nerys were in the resistance, did the two of you have an intimate relationship, or did that only develop recently?" Sisko was wanting to make things absolutely clear.

"As I said, we only became lovers last year, not before."

"Thank you." Sisko turned to Els and bowed. "I don't think we need detain the First Minister any more."

"Very well. We'll have a thirty minute recess." Arbiter Els stood and swept out of the chamber, as Shakaar swiftly walked over to Kira, and cradled her head to his shoulder.

"It's okay Kira, they've finished with me now. I can visit you from now on." Lifting her head, the man kissed her deeply, before looking into her eyes for a long moment. "I haven't seen fear there for a long time Nerys, you're really scared aren't you?"

Kira nodded, not trusting herself to speak, as Bashir brought over a plate of food. "I heard you didn't eat breakfast, so I'm prescribing a bowl of cereal and a banana smoothly. No arguments will be accepted." He grinned as the Bajoran began to eat, but frowned as he saw the handcuffs still on her wrists. "Captain, get those restraints off her, it's not doing Kira any good mentally."

"We can't, Duraga's orders." Ben watched as Shakaar gently took Kira's spoon and began feeding her, as the woman allowed her hands to fall back onto the table. "Meanwhile, I'm going to find out what else we've got to look forward to today." A very nervous ensign suddenly appeared at the table, and glanced at Sisko.

"Sorry to interrupt sir, but a message has just come through for Minister Shakaar." The officer turned to the minister hesitatingly. "The government has requested your return as soon as possible, due to diplomatic problems with two Bajoran ambassadors. A shuttle is on standby."

"Typical." Shakaar glanced at Kira and hugged her again. "I have to go, I'm sorry."

"That's okay, I knew you wouldn't be able to stay anyway." Nerys swallowed tightly. "Go fix the problem, and I'll see you when this is all over."

"I think that by then you'll deserve a holiday, if Captain Sisko agrees, that is." Shakaar glanced at Sisko and was rewarded with a smiling nod. "Be strong Nerys. I'll see you soon." Standing, the man strode out of the room, leaving a very upset lover behind him.

Sisko groaned and threw himself onto his couch, closing his eyes and praying for just a moment's peace and quiet. He'd had to cross-examine not just Shakaar, but also Odo, Bashir, O'Brien, and Dax, not to mention trying to keep his Bajoran friend calm during the day's proceeding's. Clearing his mind, the man groaned as the door chime sounded in the silent room. "Yes." Ben didn't bother getting up when he saw that the visitor was only Dax. "What can I do for you, old man?"

"You can tell me how I can help you defend Nerys." The Trill wandered into the room, and sat at the computer console, seemingly ignoring Sisko. "I know you're doing this all by yourself, and I think it's time you got some help."

"I don't know it's worth getting any help." Ben was thinking about the past day, as well as the evidence against Kira. "I know she's innocent, we all do, but I can't see any way to prove it." Sitting up, he poured a drink and shrugged his shoulders. "Whoever organised this set-up has done his homework, that's for sure. He's locked Nerys up so well, that I don't know how to get her loose again."

"Benjamin, stop talking like that!" Dax had found the file on Kira and was examining the charges against her. "Kira's no traitor, so there has to be a way to prove it. This Maquis, Tal Samon, have you been able to interview him yet?"

"No, he's been on Bajor. Duraga's having him brought to the station tonight. I'm going to question him then." Sisko watched Dax study the information, wrinkling her nose. "The real problem is the statements from the central bank, that's what's going to convict her. The Bajoran's are simply going to nail this shut."

"Perhaps." Dax had a thoughtful look on her face. "Benjamin, would you mind if I have a look at this? I know that you won't have the time with the trial and your normal duties."

Sisko looked relieved. "Thank you. As this isn't station business, I couldn't put anyone on it but if you're volunteering, I'll be grateful to accept, especially before you change your mind."

Dax smiled, "Kira needs us. She's been there for us before, so I'll be happy to help out." The Trill stood and went to go.

"Dax..." she turned to her commanding officer as he continued, "Thanks, old man." Jadzia smiled at the man who, when she walked in, had looked totally beaten, but now had a glimpse of hope, and left the room.

The door chime sounded in the security office, and Odo looked up as Jadzia entered. "Commander, you know that Kira is not allowed visitors without express permission from both Sisko and Duraga..." he paused as she held up a hand.

"Constable, it's not her I came to see. But for the record, you don't believe that she's guilty, do you?"

If Odo's dour face could show expression, it was showing indignant at the moment. "Of course not! I have known Major Kira for a long time, and I have never seen her...."

"Okay, I just had to be sure." Dax had her little smile back on her face at Odo's vehemence. "Then I'm sure you'll be interested in helping me find a way to clear her?"

Odo leaned forward, "Go on."

"As you know, 'officially' we can't touch this since it's a strictly Bajoran matter, but I've spoken to Benjamin, and what we do in our free time is our business. So if you're interested..?"

"You thought I might have some spare time available? Actually Commander, I do believe I have a clear schedule for the moment. So, what exactly did you have in mind?"

Dax grinned. "We have to check this Maquis operative, and the bank statement. Ben has to deal with normal station activities, not just this trial, and I'm worried that the pressure is making it harder for him to defend Nerys. As her two closest friends on the station, I think we should help."

"Agreed." Odo had called up the official file on Tal Samon, and seemed puzzled. "This is curious."

"What?" Dax walked around to look over Odo's shoulder and examined the console. "All I see is a file."

"Yes, but that's what's strange. This man has no past." The two people looked at each other, then began the dig into the Bajoran military files.

Minutes later, he was led out onto the station, and grinned at the sight of a six man security detail headed by Colonel Duraga and Captain Sisko, with Odo completing the dangerous-looking group.

"We'll take him from here." Sisko stepped forward and nodded at the Bajoran security, who pushed Jaro towards Odo, then turned and walked away, as Essa smiled slyly.

"Captain, we meet again." Jaro nodded at Duraga. "Colonel, I seem to remember you telling me that I could give evidence from Bajor. Why am I here instead?"

"The Arbiter ruled that all evidence must be presented in person, so I was forced to have you transported here." Duraga turned slightly towards Odo. "The Constable will take care of you. Odo, see that Jaro is put into solitary confinement, I don't want his safety compromised."

Odo nodded and motioned for the security detail to surround the handcuffed prisoner. "I'll see that he's given...special treatment." As the group walked towards the security cells, Odo couldn't help glaring at Jaro occasionally, remembering exactly what the man had done to Kira. Arriving at the office, Odo dismissed the detail and opened the door to the solitary confinement cells, the same block the Nerys was in. "This way. Colonel, Captain, if you could stay here until I've settled the prisoner."

Pushing the man before him, Odo motioned to a cell two down from Kira's. "In here. Hold out your hands, and I'll remove your restraints."

"Odo, what's going on?" Kira called out from her cell, wishing she could see down the corridor."

"Major, what a pleasant surprise." Jaro stepped back into his cell as Odo turned on the force-field. "I always hoped we'd meet again."

"Meet?" Kira's voice raised in pitch as her anger began to take over. "Odo, just give me two minutes with him, I promise that's all it'll take."

"Sorry Kira, I can't. You can yell at each other all you want, but the only time you two will meet is in court." Odo left the block, leaving behind two Bajoran's who were more than happy to express just how they felt about the other.

"Correct." Tal's smile falling flat when it wasn't returned. "And you are?"

"Lieutenant-Commander Jadzia Dax. I'm assisting Captain Sisko in defending Major Kira." Dax motioned towards the promenade. "Please come with me, I need to briefly question you about your accusations, to make sure we have the right information." Sighing, Tal stood and walked with the woman to what he correctly guessed was the security office.

Sitting down, the man relaxed, confident that he would have no problems. "So, what do you want to know?"

"You claim that you supplied Kira Nerys with money to buy weapons for the Maquis, and that she used her influence here to ensure those weapons reached them. Is this correct?"

"Yes."

"I need dates and places where these transactions occurred. Also, did she use station equipment?"

"I'm...not sure, I don't have the dates with me, but I'm sure I could find them. It was about every month or two and the places varied, here, Bajor, one of the moons...."

"And station equipment?" Dax leaned forward.

"Um, I don't know. Maybe." Tal was looking slightly uncomfortable.

"Let me get this straight. You're not sure of the dates, even the most recent one, you're not sure of the places and you don't know if she used station equipment? Have I got that right?" Dax lifted an eyebrow.

"Perfectly." Tal stood and moved towards the door. "Is there anything else?"

"Sit down, Tal." Dax's voice had dropped to a lethal sounding whisper, and then man returned to seat, the first cold shiver climbing his spine. "Computer, secure door." Jadzia glanced at the padd before her, then back at the Bajoran. "I want to know why you have falsely accused Kira of these charges. If it's just because you thought that this was the only way you would be granted asylum, then admit it now. You have your request, you don't have to carry this any further."

"Commander, I accused Kira of this crime, because that's exactly what she did." Samon was leaning forward intently, watching every expression that Dax showed. "Kira Nerys has been informing the Maquis of Starfleet intentions about the zone for months now, as well as buying us weapons and classified material. She is as guilty as hell." Tal stood and walked to the door again. "I think we've finished this conversation now. I'll see you and your traitor tomorrow in court."

As the man walked down the promenade, Dax saw a security detail march out of the turbolift, with Odo, Sisko, and Duraga as well. Leaving the office, she watched Duraga walk out of the security office and meet up with Tal Samon. Murmuring to herself, Dax walked back to Constable's office. "I think we need to investigate you more, Mr Tal. A lot more."

"Better." Her voice was croaky from shouting most of the night, but it had allowed her to vent a lot of anger and fear. "Where's Jaro?"

"He's been moved to the other cell block. After last night, I'd rather not have the two of you in the same place, especially since he's giving testimony today." Sisko smiled lightly, trying to cheer the Bajoran up as he saw Kira barely even shrug as Odo placed the handcuffs on her wrists and the two other security officers stand behind her. They walked a little slower along the promenade this morning, as several of the shopkeepers smiled at Kira and murmured encouragement.

Walking into the courtroom, Kira and Jaro glared at each other, and everyone felt the tension crank itself up higher. Arbiter Els noticed the increase and glanced at Odo, who had positioned himself strategically between the two Bajorans. "Constable, at the risk of making life difficult, could we have a little more security here this morning?"

"I have another three officers on standby, if we need them."

Els nodded, and looked at Dax, who was sitting beside Sisko. "Captain, you seem to have another member to your team. Explain, please."

Ben stood and felt Kira look at him curiously. "If you don't mind Madame Arbiter, Lieutenant-Commander Dax has volunteered to act as my assistant in this case. Since I have not just this trial, but also normal station business to attend to, unlike Colonel Duraga who can give this his full attention, I respectfully request that you accept Dax as my assistant counsel, otherwise I feel I am unable to give Kira the defence she deserves." Sisko sat down, and smiled encouragingly at Nerys.

Els Renora studied Kira's face for a long moment, noting the almost pleading expression that she saw there. Finally, she nodded. "Very well, request granted. Lieutenant-Commander, I know we've met already, although under different circumstances, so I know you already understand how I run my hearings." Turning, the Arbiter glanced at Duraga. "Colonel, are you ready to begin?"

"I am, however I first wish to complain about the treatment prisoner Jaro received last night. Kira Nerys kept him awake most of the night yelling insults and abuse at him." Duraga stopped and smiled slightly, as Kira lept to her feet.

"I kept him awake? He yelled just as loudly as I did!" Sisko and Dax were on their feet instantly, trying to shush the woman, as she and Jaro glared across the room at each other, while the Arbiter rapped her gavel for silence.

"Quiet, both of you!" Renora glared furiously at the two Bajorans until they both sat down. "Now, Colonel Duraga, I understand what you're saying, but I think the actions were very probably mutual. Would I be right Constable?"

Odo nodded. "The...problems last night were certainly not one-sided in their cause. I have since moved Jaro to the regular cell block, away from Kira."

"Good. I think no more need be said about this. Colonel, are both your witnesses here today? I want this trial to end some time this century."

The Bajoran raised her eyebrows enquiringly, as Ashook nodded sharply. "Good. Then let's get started." She settled back as Duraga and Sisko again strove to prove their point of view.

"Yes." Jaro smirked at Kira as she stolidly kept staring at the wall. "I was told by a fellow prisoner, Noy Polane, that Kira was a regular supplier of arms to the Maquis, and that she would deliberately blind the station's computers when they scanned outgoing ships so the weapons wouldn't be detected. I also heard that she had support from higher up in the government."

"Do you have any idea who this supporter is?" Duraga glanced at Sisko and saw that the Human was muttering at Kira, who was shaking her head vehemently.

"No, Noy wouldn't tell me who it was." Jaro stared at Kira and Sisko. "He said say however, that her support reached to the very top of the Bajoran government."

"I see." Duraga glanced at Sisko, then back at Jaro. "Do you have any personal vendetta against Kira Nerys? We know the two of had a...difference of opinion several years ago, but how do you feel about her now?"

"Kira did her job, as any Bajoran would be expected to do." Essa hated to have to admit that Nerys had done her job thoroughly. "I know that she believes that what she has done is for the best for Bajor, even though I cannot agree with her."

Duraga nodded and sat down as Sisko walked around to stand in front of the former minister, thinking carefully about what the man had said. "Jaro Essa, after the occupation ended, what position did you have within Bajoran society?"

"I was a minister within the provisional government, until I was imprisoned." Jaro glared at Sisko, defying him to continue the questioning.

"Why were you gaoled?" Sisko decided to make the man tell his crime rather than do it for him.

"I was implicated in the attempted coup by 'The Circle', a group that wanted the Federation to leave Bajor." Jaro was seething as he ground his teeth. "Kira was the chief witness for the prosecution at my trial."

"So you do have reason to dislike her." Ben saw the hatred in Jaro's face, and pushed on. "Isn't it also true that you kidnapped and tortured Kira during your leadership of the group?"

"That was part of the charges against me." The man hadn't taken his eyes off Sisko, hating every moment of the hearing. "But due to lack of evidence, the charges were dropped." Essa grinned savagely. "Something about the 'Prime Directive'."

Ben glanced at Kira and saw that she was still staring at the wall. "Noy Pelane, what was he in prison for?"

"He was convicted for theft, but I fail to see what that has to do with Jaro." Duraga jumped up, puzzled as to where Sisko was going.

"I'm simply trying to establish the reputation of Kira's original accuser, a man who his record shows is a regular thief. If these are the type of people that the militia are basing their arrest rate on, then every officer who has ever arrested someone will probably be court-martialed at some stage."

"I understand your idea, Captain, but please get on with questioning this witness." Arbiter Els could see that this was going to be a very long hearing.

"Jaro, what evidence, if any, did prisoner Noy give you that Kira is a traitor?" Ben was still glancing at Kira worriedly as she continued to seem and ignore the hearing. "Did he simply make these accusations one day, or is there more information you haven't told us about?"

"It's very difficult to provide information in prison, Captain, but Pelane was adamant that she was guilty. He said that Kira would never be caught because she had too many powerful friends."

"I see." Ben nodded seemingly in understanding. "You may step down now, but I reserve the right to call on you again." As the Bajoran was marched back to his seat, Sisko turned to the judge. "Madame Arbiter, I request a ten minute recess before the next witness is called."

"Agreed." Renora stood. "Ten minutes, that's all."

Sisko turned to Kira, as Dax moved her seat around too. "Nerys, you've got to help me here. These people are going to put you away if we don't find some information soon."

"Captain, I'm not convinced that it's me they're after." Kira had been thinking as Jaro had talked, adding up the clues he'd let slip. "He's said that I wouldn't be caught because I had too many powerful friends to protect me. But aside from the station crew, the only other real friend I have that could do anything like that--"

"--is Shakaar." Dax interrupted as she saw the connection, while Kira nodded furiously. "Benjamin, it makes sense. If Kira does go to prison, she and Shakaar can never see each other again because it would implicate him in treason, and if she doesn't go to prison because we prove her innocence, they'll go looking for another scapegoat, one higher up."

"And we won't be able to protect him. I think it's a very good thing that Shakaar had to return to Bajor." Benjamin studied Nerys' face and shook his head. "We don't get any new information out of Tal Samon this afternoon, I'm going to ask for a days recess. Otherwise, we're not going to win this."

"We do have another option." Kira straightened up as if her spine were made of steel. "I can 'confess' to the crime, and go to prison. Odo and I have been working on tracking down several Maquis sympathisers on Bajor, and I might be 'convinced' to hand them over to protect myself, if Duraga holds to his promise and has me imprisoned, not hanged."

"You'd sacrifice yourself to protect Shakaar?" Dax gazed at her friend in understanding amazement. "You'll have a prison record for the rest of your life, not to mention never being able to go home again."

"That's assuming that Starfleet doesn't ask for you to be handed over to me, so you can be tried for crimes against the Federation." Ben looked at Kira sadly. "Nerys, if you go through with this, you might not get out of prison for a very long time, especially if you have to serve both Federation and Bajoran gaol sentences. You could die a long way from home."

"As bad as that?" Kira glanced at Sisko and Dax, then back at the floor. "If that's the only way to save Edon and Bajor's chance at a future within the Federation, then that's what I'll do. But I have to 'confess' before they can start to accuse Edon of treason, or he'll go down as well." She looked up as the arbiter re-entered the room. "Do what you can Ben, but if I have to, I'll sacrifice everything I have to protect Shakaar."

Duraga had watched the quiet exchange between the three people across the courtroom, and turned to face Jaro. "It looks like we've got them on the run. I expect Sisko will probably try to ask for an extended recess, probably a whole day. Not that it's going to get him anywhere." The Colonel laughed as Jaro smiled slightly.

"She doesn't have much of a chance, not with all the 'evidence' against her." Jaro and Duraga looked up as Arbiter Els returned to the room and took her seat.

"Colonel Duraga, are you ready to continue your evidence? I believe you have another witness to call today." The Bajoran looked tired, as if the evidence she was hearing was wearing her down as well.

"I call Tal Samon to the stand." The room watched as the red-haired man casually walked up to the witness box. "Who are you?" Duraga stood casually before the other Bajoran.

"I am Tal Samon, and until recently, I was a member of the Maquis in the de-militarised zone." Samon smiled cheerfully, as Kira stared at him then whispered urgently to Sisko.

"How do you know the accused?" Duraga had noticed the frantic whispering that was going on in the enemy camp, but reasoned it could only help his case. "Have you ever seen her before?"

"Yes, I know Kira. I've been sending her money for the last year and a half, to buy arms and information for the Maquis. She's been a very reliable supplier, too." Tal glanced at Kira and saw the hatred there, and shivered involuntarily.

"Did the Major display any regret or reluctance to help the Maquis fight the Cardassians and the Klingons?"

"Not at all. On the contrary, she was more than happy to help us, even to offering to take a 'working holiday', and help train us in Starfleet combat techniques. I actually visited the station once, illegally of course, to make sure that there were no problems with the arms supply, and stayed in Kira's quarters." Tal chuckled loudly. "Nerys was most...enthusiastic, about my visit."

The chamber erupted in chaos, as Kira half lept across the table and tried to grab the man, yelling at him in Bajoran as she did so. Odo struggled to restrain her, as did two other security officers, while Sisko and Dax tried to calm her down, pushing her back from the table. Finally, Kira stopped yelling and simply stood, her chest heaving in anger as she stared at Tal, while he stood and smirked.

"We will recess for today." Els rapped on the table with her gavel and glared around the room. "Captain, I suggest you talk to Kira about proper conduct, and Colonel, next time you question a witness in my court, I want no words that will start a riot. Gentlemen, we'll meet tomorrow at nine a.m. sharp." Standing, Renora swept out of the room, closely followed by Duraga, Tal, and Jaro with his security team.

Kira was barely hearing Sisko and Dax as they talked to her, every muscle straining against Odo's hold, while two security officers tried to hold onto her hands. "Nerys, Nerys listen to me." Sisko tried to make eye contact with his friend, but she refused to look at him, keeping her eyes firmly fixed on the disappearing prosecution team. "Kira, stand down, that's an order."

"You're not my commanding officer any more." Kira's teeth were clenched as she continued to struggle against the security team.

"Maybe not, but this isn't helping your defence." Ben finally made contact with her eyes, and sighed as he saw the fear and anger. "We have to try and stay calm, no matter what they say about you. And tomorrow, now that they know how vulnerable you are, they're probably going to say much worse, just to try and make you seem unstable."

Kira watched Sisko, fighting the desire to see reason, but she just couldn't keep the adrenaline level up. Finally she sat back down, Odo and his officers releasing their grip, but staying close by just in case. "He's lying, I swear by all I believe he's lying."

"We know, Kira. What he's saying isn't in your nature." Dax's calm voice was helping to soothe the Bajoran's frayed nerves. "But he's going to say it, whether it's true or not."

"Captain, I want to talk to you and Dax in private." Kira glanced at Odo as the Changeling shook his head. "Please Odo, can you and the team stand near the door, I have to talk to Ben alone." After a moment, Odo nodded and moved towards the door slowly followed by the security team. "Sisko, Dax, I'm going to confess." Kira saw the shock on her friends faces, and braced herself for their words.

"Nerys, you can't confess, you'll be sacrificing your whole life." Ben was astounded. "Duraga knows you're innocent, but no-one else does. Do you have any idea what they'll do to you in prison, how they'll treat you when the rest of the prisoners find out who you were on the station?"

"I know." Nerys looked completely miserable. "I expect it'll be worse than anything else I've ever known. But we're not going to win this one, Ben. And if I lose now, I can save Edon and Bajor's future." She smiled wanly. "You once told me that 'nothing is won without sacrifice.' Let this be my sacrifice, please."

"Kira, let's think about it overnight, and see how you feel in the morning, okay?" Dax glanced at Sisko and saw him nod, and Kira sighed and stared at the floor.

"Alright, but unless you find some new information by tomorrow, I'm going to take matters into my own hands." Standing, Nerys held out her wrists for the handcuffs, and was escorted back to her cell by Odo, as Dax and Sisko desperately wracked their brains for a way to save their friend.

"Not a thing." Dax wandered over and replicated her fourth cup of coffee, or was it her fifth? She couldn't remember how long they'd been in the constables office, but however long it had been, they hadn't made any progress at all. "Jaro Essa said that his 'friend', had told him Kira was supplying the Maquis, but also that she'd never be caught because Nerys had support from the highest level of government."

"Which means they've been setting up Shakaar as well," Odo growled softly. "It's a pretty neat package alright. Kira can't win without the First Minister being implicated as having been involved in a cover-up, and if she loses, an innocent woman is condemned for life."

"I've spoken with Starfleet about the situation, and they want me to apply for Kira to be extradited to a Federation prison if she's found guilty, so she can stand trial for treason under Federation law as well." Sisko shook his head as Dax and Odo gaped in horror. "They're not only going to count her out, they're going to kick her while she's down."

"So this is how Starfleet rewards an officer who's given them their loyalty and trust for the last five years, is it?" Odo's normally dour expression was twisted in anger as he gazed at Sisko. "If that's the case, perhaps I should recommend to the First Minister that he should rethink the Bajoran application for Federation membership."

"Odo, I didn't say I wanted to do this. I still believe that there must be a way to prove Nerys' innocence, but we have to find it soon, or Kira's going to say that she's guilty of the charges so that Shakaar won't be incriminated as well." Ben sighed and picked up the padds on the desk.

"Somewhere in here, is the hole in their accusations. The question is, are we going to find it in time?"

"We'd better hope so, or a good woman is going to be framed for a crime she would never commit." Dax spoke softly, then began examining the data for the hundredth time that night.

Kira sat alone in her cell, thinking about the past and the future, and shivered as she remembered stories that she'd heard about Grantolba Prison, the main facility where traitors and political prisoners were sent, and where she had sent a few criminals herself. Kira had no illusions about what the inmates would do to someone like her once she was inside, since the Bajoran government didn't believe in keeping former officers separate from ordinary prisoners.

Sighing, she lay down and pulled the thin blanket over her, trying to get some sleep, on what would probably be her last night on the station. Hearing the outer door open, she roused enough to see Dax glance into the cell. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up, I can go if you like." The Trill seemed apologetic, as Kira shook her head.

"No, please, stay. I could use the company." Nerys sat up and leaned against the wall, watching her friend carefully. "You haven't been able to find anything, have you?" Dax shook her head and stared at the floor as Kira gazed steadily at the ceiling. "I didn't think you would. Duraga's done his homework, he's determined to put me away for good. If it isn't me, then it'll be Edon," Nerys looked at her friend sadly, "and I won't let him destroy Edon, not for anything in the universe."

"Even if it means your own life?" Dax had never had a situation where she'd had to watch friend admit to a crime they could never have committed to save their lover. "Do you know what the average life expectancy of an ex-Bajoran officer is once they go into prison? Two months if they're lucky." Dax was close to tears as she looked at her friend. "I don't want to have to go to a funeral Nerys, I want to applaud when you take command of this station one day when Bajor joins the Federation!"

"So do I." Kira moved to the floor to sit as close to her friend as she could. "But that's not going to happen now. Don't you see, if I don't do this, then the entire government will be thrown in chaos when Duraga implicates Shakaar, and everything we've worked for will be destroyed in one blow. If I didn't know better, I'd say that the Founders were behind this." The Bajoran looked surprised as Dax shook her head.

"We thought of that, but Benjamin thinks that this is simply a case of revenge. The connection we can't find is between Jaro and Duraga, there just doesn't seem to be a link." Dax shrugged, then laughed sadly. "But the last thing you need to hear is that we've failed you."

"No, don't blame yourself." Nerys was almost pleading with her friend. "It's not your fault, they've been planning this for a long time I think. Just stay for a while and talk to me, about the past. After tomorrow, it's all I'm going to have."

"There's still a chance." Jadzia looked at Kira for a moment as the Bajoran shook her head, then sighed. "I'm going to miss you Nerys. The place won't seem the same without you."

"Come on, let's just talk about what's been." Kira smiled as tears filled both their eyes, and the women quietly began to talk.

Sisko stood in the courtroom and glanced around, staring at Duraga with undisguised hostility for several moments, before Arbiter Els brought his attention back to the proceedings. "Captain, is your defendant ready to take the stand?"

"She is Madame Arbiter, but not in the way you expect." Sisko looked at Kira pleadingly for a moment, as the Bajoran stood beside him. "Kira Nerys wishes to plead guilty, to all charges."

For the second time in twenty-six hours the room erupted in chaos, as Duraga lept to his feet in shock. "She can't do that, we haven't finished the hearing yet!" The man could see all his carefully laid plans going completely astray.

Renora rapped her gavel twice, and the room quieted down, leaving only Kira, Sisko, and Duraga standing. "Colonel, you have spent the last three days trying to prove these accusations, and now that Kira has admitted them, you don't want to accept it? Colonel, I suggest you take the offer." Turning to Kira, she asked gently "Kira Nerys, are you sure that this is what you want to do? Because if it is, I'll have to accept the evidence against you, and treason is punishable by death."

"Madame Arbiter, I am acknowledging my guilt because I was once an honourable officer. Colonel Duraga has promised that if I provide a list of all my contacts within the Maquis and the Bajoran government, then the death sentence will be commuted to life imprisonment." Kira took a deep breath, then continued quickly. "I admit all charges, and have already provided Constable Odo with a list of my accomplices and Maquis clients, including all methods of contact, dates of meetings, methods of payment for all arms bought, and ships used to transfer those weapons to the Maquis." Nerys chuckled slightly. "I have no doubt that these people will deny even knowing me, but I think Colonel Duraga will have no trouble getting the truth out of them."

As Kira had been speaking, the Colonel had been opening his mouth wider with every moment. When Nerys stopped speaking, he stood stunned for a minute before turning to Els. "Bajoran Intelligence is prepared to recommend a gaol term for Kira, provided her supplied names are legitimate."

"Oh they're legitimate all right." Kira and Odo had spent months putting together a comprehensive list of Maquis operatives and sympathisers, and Kira thought that Duraga would undoubtedly get many years enjoyment from trying to track them down.

"Since you have already heard the evidence against Kira, I respectfully request that you be the one to pass judgement on her, rather than forcing everyone to go through this all again." Ben knew the strain that the hearing had put on Kira already, and wanted to put her out of her misery as fast as possible.

"The Military will accept your judgement, Madame Arbiter." Duraga decided to cut his losses and take what he could get. "However, we also want the names of all government officials who have assisted her in this treason."

"No members of the Bajoran government or any Starfleet officers were involved. Sometimes it's easier to blind people by gaining their trust and faith, than it is to bribe them." Kira nodded towards the Arbiter and prepared to be sentenced, but that wasn't to be.

"I'm going to need to think about this." The woman rose and faced Sisko. "Captain, I will be available from thirteen hundred hours in my quarters to hear submissions about Kira Nerys' character. I will inform all parties when I'm ready to pass judgement. Dismissed."

After everyone else had left, Kira slowly sat down and felt Sisko put his arm around her shoulders. "No going back now, is there?" She looked at the man as he shook his head slowly.

"No. There's no going back now." As the woman started crying, he cradled her head to his shoulder, while trying to work out how to tell Shakaar that his lover had sacrificed herself for his political career and for Bajor.

Shakaar was whistling quietly as he strolled to work that morning. He'd been worried about Nerys ever since the hearing started, but was confident that she'd come through okay. As he arrived at the office, his secretary glanced at him, her expression pale and worried. "Minister, there's an urgent message for you from the station."

Shakaar nodded and opened a channel as soon as he'd settled himself at his desk. Captain Sisko's worried face appeared on the monitor. "Captain, don't tell me things have gone bad?"

"I'm afraid it's worse than that, Minister." Ben didn't think there was any way to break it to the man delicately. "Kira has confessed to all the charges against her, and has provided Bajoran Intelligence with a comprehensive list of all her activities as a Maquis operative."

"She's what!!" The Bajoran clutched at his desk as the room began to spin. "Has she gone stark raving mad? Did you authorise this insanity?"

"No, it was her choice." Sisko plunged on quickly. "Duraga was beginning to hint that Kira was being shielded by someone higher up in the government, possibly you. To protect you and ensure Bajor's future, Nerys elected to confess to a crime rather than see you implicated in treason."

"She's...." Shakaar's voice faded off as he tried to comprehend the enormity of his friends actions. Eventually he spoke again. "Has she been sentenced yet?"

"Not yet. The Arbiter wants to examine all evidence, and is prepared to take Kira's character into account, as well as her past work with us on the station before she decides on the length of the sentence." Ben glanced at someone off screen and nodded. "I've just been told that Duraga has officially accepted the Arbiters decision to send Kira to prison rather than sentence her to death." Ben smiled slightly as Shakaar let out a pent-up breath. "That was part of the deal, that a prison sentence would be applied rather than the death penalty, otherwise I never would have let Nerys take the blame for this."

"Are you going to speak to the Arbiter?" As Sisko nodded, Shakaar leaned forward. "When you do, formally ask for a thirty day suspension of sentence, so you can help finalise all the evidence about this case. She'll still go to prison, but it's going to give us that length of time to try and find the evidence we need to clear her. After the month is over, she'll start to serve her sentence, and any evidence we find will have to go through a formal appeal."

"They can take months." Ben hadn't known about this little rule, and was slightly curious as to how Shakaar had. "But for now, I'll write up the formal application. You realise that you can't see her at all from today on?"

"Yes." Shakaar bowed his head in pain. "My aide has already set damage control in motion about my involvement in this, and I'll probably have to give a speech tonight about how not even my closest friends are exempt from the law." He straightened and looked at Sisko firmly. "Tell Nerys that I'm sorry, but I can't help her now. Not officially any way."

"She knows. Her greatest fear was that you would be implicated in this as well, that's why she confessed." Sighing, Sisko moved to close the channel, but pulled back. "There is one other thing. Starfleet Command has ordered me to apply for Kira to be extradited to a Federation prison so she can stand trial under Federation charges as well. However, I'm going to inform them of the real circumstances surrounding this alleged confession, and I'm sure they'll want me to retract the application."

"It would be denied anyway, Captain." Edon knew that Sisko was only doing his job, but that didn't mean he had to like it. "We Bajoran's like to make sure our prisoners know they're in prison, not a holiday camp."

"So I hear." Sisko felt his spine go cold when he remembered some of the stories he'd heard about Bajoran prisons. "I'm sorry Edon. We tried to help Nerys as best we could, but we simply ran out of time."

"I know. Good luck Captain." After the man had closed the link, Edon sat for a long time, before calling in his aide and planning what would be the toughest speech of his life.

Duraga, Jaro, and Tal were sitting in the Colonel's quarters on the station, toasting their success. "So, how long will she go down for?" Jaro had waited a long time for this, and intended to savour every moment of it.

"At least twenty years, if not longer." Duraga had enjoyed informing General Lotan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Bajoran Militia, that he had found yet another traitor to the new Bajor. "The names she's provided have gone a long way towards mitigating her case, and the Arbiter might feel sorry for her, but the General has informed her that twenty years is the minimum amount of time that is acceptable."

"We can't have her put away for life?" Tal had been hoping to never see Kira again, but having the woman disappear into the bowels of a Bajoran prison for several decades would do nicely as well.

"Unfortunately no. Her willingness to help has worked in her favour not ours." The pinging of the comm channel interrupted them, and Duraga smiled triumphantly as he read the computer panel. "The Arbiter is ready to deliver her verdict. Gentlemen, let's see if we did our job properly."

As they left the Colonels quarters, two security guards fell in beside Jaro, glancing at each other, both wondering if Captain Sisko should know that the men had met privately.

Kira stood between two security guards, with a third behind her, a holstered phaser at his side. Sisko was next to her, and he glanced sideways as Jaro, Tal, and Duraga entered the room, looking just like three cats that had been presented with a very large bowl of cream.

Arbiter Els entered the room, sat down, and rapped her gavel before fixing a steely gaze on Kira. "Kira Nerys, you have admitted to charges of high treason against Bajor and the Federation, and I hearby find you guilty as charged. Captain, does the Federation still wish to pursue its own charges against the prisoner at this time?"

"No. We have been informed that the Bajoran Government is not prepared to hand over the prisoner, and Starfleet has agreed to accept your verdict and sentence, provided it is not death." Ben was fairly sure that the arbiter wasn't going to pass the death sentence on his friend, but he wanted it to be clear that the penalty was not an option.

"I have already accepted your petition that the death penalty is not applicable, and have decided my judgement accordingly." Turning slightly, Renora faced Kira sternly. "Kira Nerys, by admitting your guilt, you have revealed your self to be the worst kind of criminal, a traitor to your own people. You deserve no pity, no consideration, none of the leniency that your friends have asked me to give you. However, I am going to show you that kindness. Therefore," Renora took a deep breath and spoke quickly. "Kira Nerys, I hereby sentence you to twenty years hard labour at Grantolba maximum security prison on Bajor, with no parole. Captain, you have the normal thirty-one day cooling off period. This court is dismissed." As the arbiter left the room, Kira stared at Sisko in stunned horror, barely feeling the tugging on her arms as the Bajoran security detail stepped in to take her away to begin her sentence.

"So, now what?" Dax glanced at Sisko and Odo as they sat in the Constables office, trying to understand what went wrong. The mood was overpoweringly depressed, and had been ever since they'd farewelled Kira a short while ago as she left the station under heavy guard to be taken to Grantolba prison.

"Well," Sisko settled into his chair more, "We've got thirty days to find enough evidence to clear her, otherwise the sentence begins to be served officially, and any evidence we find will have to go through the entire appeal process, instead of being heard by Arbiter Els. If the Arbiter hears our evidence by then, she has the power to overturn her decision automatically."

"So where do we start?" Dax looked at Odo. "How are we going on tracking Duraga, Tal and Jaro?"

"Done. If they so much as look at each other, we'll know. My contact within Losarn Prison is going to inform me if Jaro has any visits from anyone. He's also going to find out how a man like Jaro Essa could be transferred to a minimum security prison so soon after his conviction."

"Good, however, if they are part of a group, it's unlikely that they'll be in touch with each other, to avoid suspicion. But we might be able to find a link, one person that two or all of them get in touch with, so keep tabs on all of their communications records. And the instant they talk to anyone even remotely suspicious, I want to know everything about that person." Sisko picked up a data padd and began examining it again. "We have thirty days people. Let's make every single one of them count."

Kira's head was bowed as she entered the gates of the Grantolba prison. She knew what the prison looked like; she'd visited enough over the last few years dropping off prisoners to know every flagstone and every crack in the floor and walls and ceiling to the point of total and utter boredom, but she never imagined in her darkest nightmares that she would ever be a prisoner herself. The gates closed with a resounding thud, and Kira started. Hearing a voice, she looked up as a guard walked over and took her case file from the officer behind her. "Right, we'll take care of her from here." After the officer had left, the male guard nodded and threw a bag at her. "This is all you're permitted to have as yet. It's got everything you'll need. Your number is F240631, memorise it. Now, shut up and start walking." He motioned towards a corridor and fell in behind her.

Stubbing her toe through the soft material shoes she wore on a flagstone, Kira stopped to rub it, falling to the ground when the man pushed her roughly, and she overbalanced. Cursing, Kira got up, catching a baton in the ribs for the noise. "No speaking," the guard growled. She gave him a dirty look, and he gripped the baton a little harder, as they walked on.

The corridors rang with the sound of footsteps as they twisted and turned through the winding halls. Kira passed cells she recognised, saw faces peering out behind of bars, hands reaching for something or someone to touch, and tried to keep as far from them as she could. In prisoners' faces, she saw the horror of being buried alive in society, of being ignored by their people, their friends, their family. She could see some sleeping figures lying on beds, against walls and in corners. Others were standing, waiting to see if whoever was coming through their cell blocks were to see them, or to let them out. Kira couldn't feel sorry for them; this was minimum security, these people would leave in a short time while she would only leave when the state thought she was no longer a threat.

Nerys was led to the maximum security ward, a series of cells off a central corridor, a hundred metres below the surface. It was warm, uncomfortably so, but this was what she would be living in for the next twenty years or so of her life. The cells were numbered, and in the doors were small barred viewing holes, and through holes, she could see people she knew from her time on the station, and her time in the Resistance.

There was Tahna Los, some Vedek who'd spoken out against Kai Winn only two months ago, and various members of the attempted take-over of DS9 several years ago, including the former Colonel Day. As she passed Tahna's cell, she heard him run to the door, and imagined him looking down the corridor for as long as he could, watching.

Arriving at a cell, a guard opened its door and prodded her in the back with his baton again, and when Kira took one final look back down the corridor, the guard belted her across the back of her knees, and she fell to the ground, hard. Kira turned to face the guard while lying down, hatred in her eyes, as he slapped the baton into one hand, and gave a sly smile.

"The rules. You're woken at 0600. Showers in the communal block then breakfast from then 'til 0700. In the mines from 0700 to 1300, lunch from 1300 to 1400, mines again from 1400 to 2000, then evening meal from 2000 to 2100, and lectures from 2100 to 2400. Bed at 2400 hours, and then you sleep. Work clothes are provided at the shower block and handed back each night, when you'll shower again." His smile grew harder. "Welcome to the next twenty years." He gave a short, sharp bark of a laugh as the door slammed.

Kira peered around the cell, taking in everything. A toilet in the corner, a sink against a wall. No sharp edges, the walls surprisingly soft, and a board hanging off the wall with a synthetic mattress for her bed. Kira looked at her prison issued bag on the floor next to her, and pulled a quilt out, spreading it on the bed. No pillow; that was fine. She'd gotten by without one during the Resistance, she'd get by without one now. Next came a change of clothes, a simple shirt and trousers set, and a pair of flat-soled shoes. She placed the shoes and the clothes on the bag at the end of her bed, and hung the prison issued towel over the sink.

Nerys looked around and found the safest position in the room, which happened to be the head of the bed, and curled up into a foetal position, touching her earring softly, the one thing that had been returned to her before she left the station. As the lights went out signalling the sleep period, she kept looking out through her arms at the tiny hole in the door.

The clanging of the opening cell door woke Kira up from the fitful sleep that she'd managed to get on her first night in gaol. Kira stared at the people walking past, some of them faces she knew, but one face appeared and actually smiled. Tahna leaned in the doorway and saluted cheekily.

"Morning. Word in the block is that your here for treason. That true?"

"Yes." Kira stood and moved uncertainly towards the door, picking up the towel she'd been issued. "I suppose it's useless to tell you I was set up?"

"Everybody says that when they get here. You'd better come out, the guard's be around soon to check that we're all out of the block." The two Bajorans walked quickly down the corridor, talking as they went. "So, did you sell arms to the Maquis? It doesn't sound like the Kira Nerys I met at the station all those years ago." Tahna glanced at Kira, smiling slightly.

Nerys stared at him for a moment. "I didn't sell those arms, but the way Colonel Duraga set me up, I didn't stand a chance. How did you...?"

"It's pretty hard to keep a secret around here, and the guards like to brag about who's coming in, and how long they're here for." As they stood in line for the showers, Los watched Kira carefully. "Twenty years is a long time Nerys." He collected two sets of boots and overalls, handing one set to Kira.

"I know, but Sisko's got a cooling-off period to try and clear me." She shrugged uncertainly. "Hopefully it'll be enough."

"Don't bet on it." Tahna glanced at a nearby guard, and pushed Kira down to two empty showers. "Shared showers Kira. Hurry up, they like to keep you moving around here. When you're finished, find the locker with your prison number on it and put your clothes in. Don't worry, Nerys, I'll look after you till you get the hang of things."

"Thanks." Nerys got undressed and tried not to feel self-conscious, as Tahna chuckled quietly and showered himself.

"It's alright Nerys, or don't you remember those long nights when you were with the Khon Mar?" As the woman grinned for the first time, the man nodded and set about telling her about how to survive in the prison.

"Captain, the Ferengi transport is ready to leave docking bay five." Worf had arrived back from his holiday on Earth, to discover the disaster that had happened while he was away. It had been a week since Kira had been sent to prison and no new evidence had come to light to clear her. Life had returned to some semblance of normality, and the new First Officer, a man named Gara Rasle was settling in rapidly, picking up his duties with little trouble.

"Give them clearance and alert the Vulcan freighter that it can dock as soon as the Ferengi are gone." Sisko and Dax had been working on only four hours sleep for the last week, trying to do both their normal station duties, break in a new First Officer, and still examine the evidence they were gathering to try and clear Nerys. "Commander, I'm finished my shift now, if you want me I'll--"

"Be in the Constables office for the next few hours." Worf gave what passed for a Klingon smile. "I'll take care of the station sir. Good night."

Nodding, Ben left Ops, and minutes later was in Odo's office, looking at the latest communications made by their three suspects. "How recent are these reports?"

"I took them off the computer just before you walked in." Odo had been working just as hard as the others, and was feeling every bit as tired as they were. "Two anomalies have appeared in Duraga's communications. He called someone at the central bank four times today, and then transferred a large amount of cash from his own account, but I can't find out where it went. Yet." Odo grinned fiercely, a truly scary experience.

"Track it down. There's nothing unusual about someone moving money around, but I'd like to know where it went. And if that trail leads back to Tal or Jaro, we're on the way to the evidence we want."

"I'll do what I can, but I can't promise anything." Odo sat down and began to swiftly punch his console, as Sisko smiled.

"Constable, you've been performing miracles for years now. I'm certain you can continue." Ben continued to read the rest of the data, slowly comparing it to already-known troublemakers.

Shakaar walked slowly through the fields of his farm as dusk fell on Dakhur province. Wondering if Nerys was looking at a sunset, the minister reminded himself that maximum security prisoners were held in underground cells so there was no chance of escape. Arriving back at his simple house, Shakaar saw his two oldest friends, Lupaza and Furel, sitting at the table.

"So, are you simply going to let her rot in prison, or are you going to help her?" Lupaza sipped her drink, not looking at his face but just staring at the sunset.

"I can't help her, not officially. All I can do is try and help Sisko find the evidence he needs to clear Nerys." Shakaar sat down, not bothering to ask how his friends got into the locked house. Sometimes it was better not to know these things. "I'd give anything to be able to help her, but I can't, and neither can anyone else."

"So, in twenty years time, we look forward to standing at the gates of the prison and collecting a woman who hasn't seen daylight for two decades." Furel snapped at his former resistance leader, as the man's head sunk lower towards the table. "Kira won't recognise the world when she comes out, how's she supposed to pick up her life?"

"I don't know!" Shakaar lifted his head and yelled at the man. "I don't know how she's going to do all that, I don't even know if she'll live long enough to taste freedom again. Officers don't survive very long in Grantolba, the other inmates tend to exact their revenge very effectively." Edon stood and leaned in the doorway, looking at the stars. "All I can do is try and make sure there's a Bajor for her to come out to."

"If this is how Bajor treats its loyal officers, then why would Kira want to come back?" Lupaza gazed at Shakaar as he shook his head, before starring silently at the sky.

Kira wiped the sweat off her face and sat down for a second on a nearby rock. Ten days had passed since she'd come to hell, and so far, Nerys had adapted as best she could. Few of the other inmates had spoken to her since she'd arrived, aside from a few that Tahna had introduced her to at breakfast the first morning. The mine work was the hardest to get used to, the heat and sweat making it difficult to concentrate for long. Some of the guards were understanding, and made allowances for the discomfort, but others pushed the prisoners even harder the hotter it got.

Standing, Nerys began drilling into the rock again, using the old hand-held electric drills that the prison issued. Few of the other women could handle the unwieldy old machines, but Kira's fitness level and the physical training from the station had meant that she had little trouble using one.

"So Major, how are you enjoying your stay?" Nerys shut off the drill and turned to find four other inmates standing behind her, two men and two women. A man stepped forward, and she recognised Colonel Day, the officer who had killed Li Nalas, the hero she had risked her life to return to Bajor.

"Day, I thought I recognised your slimy smell, but I couldn't be sure." Kira collapsed in agony as the man punched her in the face, splitting open her lips and sending stars flying through her eyes.

"No Starfleet officer to protect you here, bitch." Day spat on Kira before dragging her up to lean against the wall. "I've got a score to settle with you." As one woman stood guard, the others took in turns to batter Kira's body, not giving her time to defend herself, before finally throwing her to the ground and running off as a siren signalled the end of the afternoon shift.

Moaning, Kira stood as best she could, and headed back to the main area to drop off her tools. Meeting one of the guards, he glanced at her face and stopped her.

"What happened, prisoner?" The man had a fairly good idea. This was a political prisoner, and things never went well with "pols", as they were called.

"I was caught under some rocks that the drill shook loose." Kira coughed slightly, and winced as she felt at least two broken ribs. "If possible, can I see the doctor after dinner? The rocks were pretty heavy."

"I'll see what I can do." The man took the drill and motioned towards the corridor to the showers. "Get changed and I'll let the section commander know you were hurt."

Kira nodded and headed towards the showers, knowing that every eye was watching her, seeing the injuries and the pain. Tahna pushed his way over to her, and sat his friend down against the wall. "How bad did they beat you?"

"Bad enough." Nerys winced as he touched the bruises under her shirt, then glanced at him through bruised eyes. "Why are you being nice to me? I put you away too, when are you going to beat me up?"

"I'm not going to. You're going to have enough trouble with everybody else trying to get you, for a while at least." Looking up, he saw a guard moving their direction, and pulled Kira to her feet. "Come on, you need a shower and clean clothes. The hot water is going to make the bruises hurt like hell, but it'll help." Pushing her into an empty shower, Tahna whistled silently as he saw the bruises when Kira pulled off her shirt.

"That's nothing." Kira turned on the water, and clutched at the smooth wall when the heat hit the damaged muscles. "At least two of my ribs are broken." She glanced at Tahna. "Let's hope I get their respect before they kill me."

Duraga gazed out the window of his office, smiling to himself at the thought of what the next few months would bring. He had already rounded up several of the people Kira had informed him had helped her, and was surprised that they were actually involved in the Maquis. A knock at the door brought him back to reality. "Come in." A small man scurried into the room, and Duraga swore angrily. "What are you doing here? If someone sees you, the whole operation could be blown open. Get out!"

"No, I can't. Someone's tracked down the last payment, and when I arrived at work this morning, they'd confiscated all bank transactions for the last ten days." The man glanced out the window, then moved to the door. "I don't know about you, but I'm cleaning house, because I'm not going to go to prison for you."

"Listen to me, Coran." Duraga walked quickly over to the man and grabbed his shoulders. "Go back to work, and act like nothing's wrong. They're not going to find that money, and you're not going to prison. The cause needs you to be there for us. We might not have succeeded this time, but soon, Shakaar will be all alone, and we will be able to control him as we wish." Duraga opened the door, and pushed the other Bajoran out it. "Now, get going before you're missed. I'll take care of things from this end." Slamming the door shut, Ashook took a deep breath, then placed a call to Tal. As the man's image appeared on the monitor, Duraga nodded. "We have a problem."

"Prisoner Kira," the guard stopped her as Nerys sat down to lunch, dripping sweat from the morning in the mines. "Prisoner, hurry up with your lunch, you've got a visitor." As the man walked away, Kira sat down and began to eat, as the others at the table stared at her. Several more prisoners had begun to talk to her, ever since she'd refused to tell the section commander who had beaten her up, earning their trust.

"You have a visitor?" Tahna had forgotten his lunch in shock. "Ask what the weather's like. And news, what's happening outside."

"I'll do my best." Kira was gulping down her food in a rush to find out who the person was. "I suppose you want me to find out who won the springball championships as well?"

"Of course!" Tahna grinned as Nerys ditched the tray into a reclamation bin, and walked to a guard at the main door.

"Prisoner F240631 reporting. I've been told I have a visitor."

"This way." The guard opened the door, and Kira stepped into a small room with only a table and three chairs, to see Sisko and Dax there.

"I never thought I'd see you two again." Kira found herself being hugged tightly by both officers, before they sat down at the table. The guard had entered the room too, locking the door behind her, before standing in a corner, baton at the ready.

"How are you, Nerys?" Ben watched his friend carefully and saw the uncertainty in her eyes.

"It's been an...interesting experience," She lifted her head and smiled hopefully, "But you've come to get me out, right?" When the others didn't speak, Kira's fear began to rise. "You are going to get me out, aren't you? I can't stay here, they've already beaten me up once."

"Nerys, we're doing all we can." Dax reached out and held the Bajoran's hand tightly. "But it's taking time to get the evidence."

"I don't have time." Kira stood and paced around the room, seeing the guard in the corner grip the baton tightly. "In two weeks, I start serving a twenty year gaol term." Sisko and Dax watched as the woman stalked around the room for a while, then sat down again. "I have to get out of here, or I'm not going to survive."

"We're working on it, Nerys." Sisko held her hand and smiled. "We haven't forgotten you, I promise."

"But how long will you remember me for?" Kira had tears in her eyes. "Others in here never get anybody to see them."

"How could we forget you, Nerys?" Dax smiled lightly, trying not to cry herself. "We've known you for five years, we could never forget all the things that we've shared. But you have to trust us to do the best we can."

"I know." Kira sat silently for a moment, then glanced at the officers. "The others want to know what the weather's like outside. We never see the sun down here."

"It's warm, a nice winter day. There are a few clouds around, but they're more like decoration than serious rain clouds." Ben grinned as he saw the smile cross Kira's face.

"Time's up. You have to return to the mess hall, prisoner." The female guard moved forward, seeing the two Starfleet officers flinch at the way she described their friend.

"Don't people have names down here?" Sisko glared at the guard.

"All prisoners are given a number when they arrive." The woman turned to Kira. "Who are you prisoner?"

Nerys steeled herself. "Prisoner F240631." Kira looked at the floor. "I have to go back to work. At least the mines are keeping me fit, and I've come across a few old friends." She smiled wanly. "Remember Tahna Los? Well, he's here too."

"How's he treating you?" Ben became instantly more concerned about Kira's welfare, especially with someone like Tahna around.

"He's been a good friend. Prison has changed him a great deal." Kira hugged her friends again then walked back to the door. "I'll see you sometime in the next week then?" She looked hopeful.

Ben nodded sharply. "I hope so, Nerys." The Bajoran turned and walked back to the other prisoners, while Dax and Sisko looked at each other worriedly.

"What's the status of our investigation?" Sisko marched into Odo's office as soon as he and Dax arrived back from seeing Kira on Bajor, both officers more determined than ever to clear their friend.

"Colonel Duraga has been a busy man." Odo's dour face had a savage grin. "He's had a visit from a clerk named Coran Wet, who works at the Central bank this morning, and after that he made a call to Tal Samon, who contacted Jaro Essa. They spoke for half an hour, then Tal called Duraga, who called the clerk." Ben had a bemused smile on his face as he listened to the Changeling. "Then they tried to break into the confiscated files and change them. Unfortunately, I'd already made several copies and placed them in secure locations.

"Good." Sisko picked up the data padd and began examining the documents. "Has General Lotan been informed of our suspicions?"

"Yes, and he's is prepared to have Kira re-instated at her rank and position as soon as she's cleared by the Arbiter." They looked up as Dax walked into the room. "What's happening in Ops?"

"Nothing that Worf can't handle." Dax settled herself into a chair and picked up a padd. "Quark is taking fifty to one odds that we'll get her back."

"Don't make any bets yet. We've got a long way to go." Sisko sat and the three officers began compiling yet more information into reports, trying to find the break they needed to help their friend.

"Three weeks, and I still haven't heard from Sisko." Kira grumbled worriedly at Tahna, who opened his mouth to speak, but was beaten to it.

"All prisoners fall in." The section commander bellowed at the people in the mess hall, as they relaxed after dinner. "Hurry up, we have a special visitor tonight, the Kai herself has decided to talk to you, so I expect you all to be on your best behaviour."

"The Kai!?" Kira began cursing under her breath and heading towards the back of the room with Tahna. "Just what I need."

"You and the Kai don't get along then?" Tahna grinned as Kira used several very uncomplimentary words. "I'll take that as a no, shall I?"

Chuckling quietly, Kira and Tahna sat at the back of the hall, as the guards formed a line across the top near the dais. Minutes later, her Eminence Kai Winn entered the room. Winn had been on a personal retreat for the last few weeks, and so had no idea of what had happened to Kira. So as she was talking, and her eyes were sweeping over the prisoners, she was shocked to see a familiar red-haired woman at the back of the room. Faltering only for a moment, Kai Winn swept on, but her eyes kept returning to the figure every few minutes.

Kira had noticed the Kai's actions, and grinned. "She's spotted me," Nerys muttered to Tahna, at the same time trying to keep an eye on the nearest guard. The nightly lectures were normally given by the section commander, or the prison superintendent, but occasionally by a visiting dignitary, and were designed to force the prisoners to listen to where they had gone wrong in their lives, and to help them realise that although they were imprisoned for now, one day they would be free to help re-build Bajor, if they accepted their punishment and were prepared to change. It also gave the guards a chance to observe the prisoners, and to see how they were surviving.

Kai Winn wrapped up her speech after exhorting the prisoners to keep their faith in the Prophets, and to be prepared to change so they could help Bajor when they had paid for their crimes. After she was safely ensconced in a private office, while being profusely thanked by the section commander, Winn waved towards him impatiently. "I'm glad I had this opportunity. Tell me, did I just see a prisoner named Kira Nerys out there?"

"Yes, she came down a few weeks ago." The commander blinked hard. "Did she do something to upset you, an insult that we did not detect?"

"No, nothing like that." Winn turned away for a moment, then looked back at the commander. "I'd like to talk to Kira if possible. Alone preferably, unless you consider her a dangerous prisoner?" The Kai smiled as sweetly as she could as the commander shook his head.

"Not at all, so far, she's been a model inmate. I would like at least one guard present though, just in case." After Winn nodded, he nodded to the nearby guard, and a few minutes later the officer returned with Kira. "Officer Van here will escort you back to your cell after the Kai has dismissed you." Bowing, the section officer left, as Kira bowed to Winn.

"Eminence, I'm honoured that you even recognised me." Kira had expected the woman to crow over the situation, but instead, Winn motioned to some nearby chairs, as the guard retired to a corner.

"Kira, what are you doing here? What happened to you?" the cleric was aghast at seeing the officer there. "When I went on retreat, you were going to win the court case, what went wrong?"

"That depends on who you believe." Nerys wasn't sure how much to tell Winn, but decided that the truth couldn't hurt. "Colonel Duraga set me up for treason, but I could have escaped that. Unfortunately, it would have possibly implicated Edon, and with the government still unstable,--"

"That would have taken us straight back to where we were when the occupation ended, if not into civil war." Winn gazed at Kira steadily. "So you decided to admit a crime you did not commit?"

"Exactly." Kira sighed and glanced at the cleric. "Eminence, I'm scared. Captain Sisko has another ten days to clear me, but I don't think he's going to be able to do it, the evidence against me was just too well prepared."

"How long are were you sentenced for?" Winn reached out and held the woman's hands gently.

"Twenty years hard labour." Nerys gulped a little as the Kai's expression became one of shock, and she bowed her head.

After a few moments, Winn lifted her head and looked at Kira sadly. "Child, would you like me to pray with you?" Kira nodded, not able to speak. Understanding the fear that the woman must be feeling, Winn began to quietly intone the ancient Bajoran prayers of comfort and strength.

"Duraga, I'm not overreacting!" Tal paced around the room, drinking as he went, while Ashook, Jaro Essa, and Coran Wetik watched him silently. "These people are going to find us out, and then we'll be the ones in prison, not Kira."

"They are already too late." Duraga calmly poured himself another drink and looked out the window. "Major Kira has begun a twenty year term in hell, one which she will not survive."

"How did you arrange that?" Coran spoke up, then caught himself quickly. "No, don't tell me, I don't want to know."

"Smart man." Jaro raised his glass to Duraga. "I must say, I admire your thoroughness in this operation. You have not only disposed of a very annoying, not to mention highly inconvenient officer, but you've totally undermined the First Minister's emotional state as well."

"It wasn't that hard, actually." Ashook tried to look modest but failed miserably. "Once I learned of their relationship, it was simply a matter of falsifying the documents, and wrapping the whole package up as tight as a could, with the help of yourselves, of course."

"Are you sure they can't find out it was us?" Tal was still pacing around the room nervously.

"Tal, relax. Even if they do, by the time the appeal goes through, she'll be dead." Jaro couldn't be happier. "Soon, Shakaar will step down, and the Bajoran people will want to elect a strong new leader, someone who won't bow and scrape to the Federation." The men glanced up as a loud pounding sounded on the door.

"Come in." The group shot to their feet as a squad of fully armed Bajoran officers swept into the room, closely followed by Sisko, Dax, and General Lotan. "What is the meaning of this outrage?"

"Forget it Duraga. You've just admitted to treason, attempted murder, and falsifying official records, not to mention the illegal imprisonment of a Bajoran Officer." Lotan was fuming, as he motioned for his officer to handcuff the group of dissenters. "Nothing's going to stop me from seeing you rot in prison, Duraga, just as you wanted Kira to do."

"You have no proof." The officer sneered as his hands were cuffed before him. "Listening outside a door won't stand up in court."

"You're right." Sisko grinned evily. "That's why you should always have a Changeling on your side." As he spoke, a piece of wall coalesced into the well-known form of Constable Odo. "Some days it's just not worth getting out of bed, is it?"

Duraga didn't reply, snarling instead as he was lead away to his own cells. Lotan turned to the other officers and nodded. "Thank you for your assistance. I doubt we would have caught him without you."

"I'm glad we could help. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have another appointment. Odo, you stay here and fill the General in on all our evidence to date." The two Starfleet officers beamed away, as Lutan and Odo headed back to headquarters to begin interrogating the prisoners.

Tahna was worried. Kira had been getting more and more stressed as time went by, but the last few days she seemed to have given up altogether. Thinking about his friend, he jumped when a crashing sound came from up ahead in the tunnel. Running forward, Tahna saw that an entire section of rock had collapsed into the tunnel, sending rocks and dust clouds down the tunnel. Pulling people towards him, he pushed them back to the main area, as several guards raced down the corridor. "What's happened?"

"Tunnel collapse." Los stumbled forward, coughing in the dust. Peering through the thick air, he stood stunned as he saw Kira single-handedly holding up a roof support while another prisoner tried to drag a guard out from under the rocks. "Get out of there, he's gone." The man tried to pull Kira away from the post, but she refused to budge.

"Get him out, even if he is dead. It's important." Nerys stared at the man, as he looked at her for a moment, then reached down and helped pull the dead guard out from under the fallen slide. Passing the body back to the rescue team, he turned to Kira.

Every muscle was straining in her back, as she held the pole up, fighting its attempts to crash to the ground and bury them all. As she watched the body of the officer be passed back, and the other prisoner stagger away, she took a firmer grip on the pole. "Tahna, get out of here. The instant I let go of this, the whole cavern's going crash down."

"I'm not leaving you here." The man shouted over the stressed metal and crashing rocks. "I'll be damned if you'll die like this."

"No choice." Nerys laughed crazily. "I always wanted to go out in a hopeless cause."

"No you don't, not today." Tahna grabbed one of her arms, and glanced back up the now-empty tunnel, to where he could just make out the first staging area for the mines. "Tell me something, Nerys - how fast can you run?"

Looking up the tunnel, she glanced back at Tahna and grinned. "Faster than you can." Kira let go of the pole and the two people bolted up the hallway, trying to ignore the crashing sounds from behind them as the structure collapsed completely. Reaching the stage, they glanced back prepared to keep going if needed, but stopped as they saw that the metal ceiling was holding.

Collapsing against the wall, Tahna caught his breath and watched as Kira did the same. "Why did you try to stay down there?"

"It seemed the only option." Nerys glanced at the man and saw that he was still watching her. "It's a personal problem."

"You can't afford those down here." Los kept staring at his friend, until she finally sighed and bowed her head.

"Three days ago, my last chance to get out of here ended. Since I'm still here, Captain Sisko didn't get the evidence he needed to free me." Nerys gazed at Tahna and ignored the other guards and prisoners around them. "I'm stuck here for the next twenty years Tahna, and it wasn't my fault."

Los moved over to his old lover and cradled her head to his shoulder as she began crying for a life that was slipping away.

"Emissary, I'm glad you could spare the time to see me." Winn led the Human into her office, and indicated towards the couch. "Please, I would like to talk to you about Major Kira."

"What exactly are we discussing?" Ben knew just how vindictive the Bajoran could be, and he braced himself for the Kai to brag about Kira's disgrace.

"Her welfare." Winn poured them a drink and sat back. "Several days ago, I was delivering a speech at Grantolba prison and was shocked to see Kira there. I spoke to her afterwards, and she was very distressed about what has happened to her, and the chance that you might not be able to free her. What I would like to know, is have you been able to gather the evidence to have the Major released?"

Sisko was surprised, as this was the last thing he had expected the Kai to say. "The decision hasn't been made yet." Ben sipped his drink, and wondered just how much he should tell the leader. "We hope she will be set free, but there's no guarantee from Arbiter Els." Sisko stood and nodded at the Kai. "Thank you for your interest. I'll be sure to inform Minister Shakaar that you have seen Kira, and that she is alright."

"Captain, I don't want to Kira to stay in prison." Winn stood and looked at the man sincerely. "Kira Nerys has always been a...consistent officer, and one who cares about Bajor and its future a great deal. The idea that she has betrayed her people should never have been taken seriously and I'm surprised it ever was." The woman opened the door and smiled. "If there's anything I can do to aide in her release, please let me know."

As Sisko left the monastery, he was amazed that just when he thought he'd got a Bajoran worked out, they went and did something completely beyond what he thought they would. Grinning, he headed back to Shakaar's house, where he and Dax were waiting, to discover whether they would be taking their friend home, or whether they would be visiting her in prison again.

Dax, Lupaza and Furel were just sitting down to lunch when Sisko and Shakaar burst through the door of Shakaar's study. "Grab your things, we're going to bring her home!" Staring at the man, it took a moment for his words to sink in, but when they did, the people grabbed their jackets, and raced to the runabout in a nearby field. Taking a seat, Furel looked enquiringly at Shakaar, as Sisko and Dax flew the ship towards the prison.

"I'm assuming you're talking about Nerys, but I thought we'd run out of time to help her?" The man was a little confused, as was Lupaza.

"We got the evidence to the Arbiter in time, and she was able to suspend the sentence until Judge Gal could examine all the evidence, both for and against Kira, and make a judgement." Shakaar was barely able to sit still as they landed near the prison. "He just sent me word that he'd decided in her favour, and that Nerys was free."

"General Lotan has already agreed to reinstate Kira at her rank and make sure she's posted back to the station, if that's what Nerys wants." Sisko smiled at the Bajoran's and motioned towards the open door. "She should be being released soon, shall we wait here or at the gates?"

"The gates." Shakaar bolted out of the craft and all but ran over to the metal wall, as the others walked over at a slightly slower pace.

"Minister, it will take a while for her to be cleared from maximum security and brought to the surface." Dax wasn't being disrespectful; she knew exactly how the man felt about Nerys, and understood his impatience.

"Shakaar, we might not be her favourite people at the moment, Kira might think we abandoned her." Lupaza spoke softly and Furel nodded. They had both been worried about their friend, and nothing had distressed them more than not being able to help her.

"If Nerys does feel like that, then she'll need all the love we can give her, to let her know that we did care." Shakaar spun as the gates opened and Nerys walked out, blinking in the bright sun. "Nerys?" Edon's voice was soft, and holding more questions than it did delight.

Kira saw her lover standing there, with her friends behind him, and finally let herself believe that she was really free. Running the few steps toward them, she launched herself into Shakaar's arms, oblivious to the others crowding around her. After a soul restoring kiss, she finally looked up at him. "I thought I'd never see you again."

"I missed you too." Edon grinned triumphantly then released Kira, as the others hugged her tightly too.

"I told you we'd get you out." Ben smiled at his friend as she laughed cheerfully.

"That you did." Looking over at Dax, Kira reached out to hug the Trill. "Thank you, both of you. They didn't tell me exactly what happened, but the section commander did say that he'd keep my cell warm for Duraga for me. What'd he mean?" The group laughed as Shakaar pulled Kira back to lean against him.

"Colonel Duraga, Tal Samon, and a bank clerk named Coran Wetik are all being charged with several offences, one of which is attempted murder. Your attempted murder. It seems that the they had arranged for you to be killed in prison somehow."

"Charming. Do I get to testify against them?" Nerys was becoming more like her old self with every moment.

"Maybe. We'll see what Doctor Bashir says, that is if you want to come back to the station. General Lotan is going to officially offer you back your position, at the rank of Major." Ben almost held his breath waiting for her answer, as Kira looked at Shakaar for a long moment, then back at him.

"I'll be glad to come back."

"It'll be good to have you back. Life was getting boring." Jadzia joked easily, as the group returned to the runabout, then back to have lunch together at Shakaar's.

So let me get this straight." Kira had devoured two plates of Hasperat with Tomah sauce, and was lying comfortably on Shakaar's lounge, her friends around her, and a drink in her hand. "Duraga wasn't after me, he really was after Edon, so he set me up to try and manipulate him."

"Right." Sisko was enjoying not just having his First Officer back again, but also meeting her closest Bajoran friends. "Your decision to plead guilty was just a bonus to his plans. It turns out that Duraga was one of Jaro's supporters, but he'd managed to cover up his involvement with the Circle through his influence in the military."

"After we confiscated his bank statements, he began to make mistakes by talking to the other people involved, and when he actually had a visit from the clerk at the bank, it was only a matter of time before something cracked under the strain. In this case, it was Duraga and Jaro's ego's in deciding to all meet and celebrate the beginning of your gaol term." Dax grinned as she saw Kira's slack jaw. "We got the evidence together with only two hours to spare."

"They decided to make a party of it? How insane does it get?" Kira snuggled further into Shakaar's embrace, as the man's arm tightened around her waist. "So what's going to happen to them?"

"A court-martial for Duraga, and the others will be tried under Bajoran law." Edon looked at Nerys and smiled. "I think there won't be any trouble with them being found guilty, and sentenced to a long prison term."

"Good." Nerys sat up and poured another drink, thinking deeply for a moment. "While I'm on Bajor, I want to visit the Kai as well."

"Excuse me?" Shakaar paused while he stared at the woman.

"While I was in gaol, the Kai spoke at one of the lectures. She didn't know I was there until she saw me in the hall. After the lecture, the Kai prayed with me for several minutes. It helped me stay strong." Nerys looked at the others and smiled. "Well, you have to admit that she's probably the only Bajoran who could legally see me."

"I'll arrange an appointment." Shakaar reached out and pulled Kira back to lean against him again. "Sometime around the end of the week."

Sisko glanced at a clock and stood. "Well, Dax and I have to get back to the station. Enjoy your holiday, Kira, and I'll see you again in two weeks."

Kira nodded and watched as her friends beamed away, then turned to the other Bajorans. "So, what shall we do for my holiday?"

"For a start, we are going home." Lupaza winked at Furel, and the two walked to the door. "I expect we won't see you two for at least a day, but drop by when you come up for air." Ducking as Nerys hurled a pillow at her, Lupaza winked at Shakaar and left with Furel, leaving the minister with his lovers undivided attention.

"Duraga Ashook, you are the lowest form of life in this universe." Judge Gal's voice was thick with disgust as he spoke to the man before him, at the sentencing hearing after his court-martial. Kira was sitting in the court, as were Shakaar and Sisko. It was two weeks since the Major had been released, and she'd spent that time on leave with Shakaar, and giving two days worth of evidence at the hearing. "Your actions towards your fellow Bajoran were deplorable and not even worthy of a Cardassian, let alone a Bajoran. I will not waste any more breath on you, and hearby sentence you to life imprisonment, with no parole. Court is dismissed."

As the room cleared, Shakaar hugged Kira tightly for a moment, then shook Sisko's hand as the Human strolled over to them. "Captain, I suppose you've come to take Nerys back to the station."

"I'm afraid so. We can only get along without her for so long." Ben grinned as Shakaar chuckled merrily.

"Well, take care of her for me, Ben. And next time she decides to try and protect me, could you call me first please?" Edon looked at his lover and smiled. "You look after yourself, okay?"

"Promise. I'll see you in a month." Kissing the man goodbye, Nerys turned to her commanding officer. "Sir, if you don't mind, I'd like to pay a visit to a friend for a moment. He's been busy for the last few weeks, but he starts his new job today, and I'd like to wish him luck."

"Of course, but we have to be back on DS9 by tonight." Nodding at Shakaar, Ben waited as Kira stole a final kiss from Edon, and the two officers beamed aboard the Rio Grande. "Now, where are we going?"

Tahna Los dumped his bag onto the bed, and looked out a window at green fields for the first time in five years. Breathing deeply, he was startled by a gentle cough from behind, and turning around, he smiled as he saw Kira standing outside the bars of the cell.

Kira looked at the cell, with it's window looking onto the fields and the plain bars instead of a full metal door, and nodded approval. "It's still a gaol cell, but at least you can see the weather. And there's no more mines, I hear you'll be making replicators. You always were good at electronics."

"It'll make a big difference." Los settled himself onto the bed and cocked his head to one side. "I take it I have you to thank for this change of scenery?"

"I don't know about that." Nerys grinned at him cheekily. "I just mentioned to the parole board that you deserved a second chance. They must have taken my advice." The two Bajoran's grinned at each other for a moment before Kira smiled ruefully. "I have to get back to the station, but I'll drop by whenever I'm on Bajor."

"It'll be good to see you again Nerys." Tahna stepped up to the bars and reached out to hold Kira's hand briefly. "Don't forget about me, please."

"I won't. But don't you let me down either." As Tahna nodded, she walked down the hall while he turned back again, to stare out the window at the view beyond.