"Any last words?" Grunted the sergeant, tucking his white cap officiously under one arm - he didn't want it getting accidentally sprayed with stray blood.

"Yes, actually." Julian Bashir stepped forwards, then turned to the Cardassian male at his side. "What did you mean, if I grew my hair out I'd look more like my mother? Were you disparaging my manhood?"

Garak cringed and tried to make placating motions with his hands. This was hindered somewhat by their being tied behind his back. "Julian, this is not the time..."

"This is the perfect time." The doctor snapped. "We're about to die. So I want to know if you've only ever wanted me because I remind you of a woman!"

"That's nothing like what I said."

"It's what you meant, isn't it. You want me to look more like my mother, mother is a woman - quid pro quo - you wish I was a woman!"

"I like you as a man." Purred Dax, from the other end of the line.

"Thank you, Jadzia." Julian nodded gratefully in her direction. Noting the exchange, Garak turned a grayish mauve, his lips thinning into a white line.

"You've been with the Trill!" He accused.

"It was just a fling." Julian tossed off coolly.

"I, ah, would like to say," Nog bounced up and down to get their attention, "that is, I, ah...Lieutenant Dax," he stood at attention and addressed his superior officer, "I love you."

Dax turned from smiling smugly at Garak and gifted Nog with a pleased grin instead. "Oh Nog, thank you, that's so sweet! But you know, I'm already sleeping with your Uncle."

"Quark?" Sisko raised an eyebrow, looking speculatively at his friend. "Congratulations old man. Though I'm rather surprised a Ferengi..."

"Wait a minute!" Miles O'Brien interrupted angrily, as he turned blazing green eyes on his younger friend, Julian Bashir. "You're sleeping with this...Cardassian? What about what we said on Ossiris three?"

"Well, that was two years ago, Chief." Julian defended himself sadly. "And you still haven't left your wife. Sorry if I lost my faith..."

/This is going well./ Benjamin Sisko admitted to himself. Their guards had lowered their rifles and stood in slack jawed fascination. It was lucky Jadzia had remembered the Exlet Prime's addiction to 'dime a dozen' personal relationship stories. Earth had made a fortune shipping off all their old romance paperbacks to them.

The books had been greeted with open arms. If only the current tariff crisis hadn't soured the deal, then he and his away team (plus Garak) wouldn't be in this mess, being executed as spies. He hoped Worf arrived soon to beam them away, getting him to stand off behind that moon hadn't been such a great idea after all.

Not that they looked like losing their audience any time soon. The guards were fascinated. Some had moved to cradle their weapon in their arms, others lent on them as posts. One fellow had even pulled out a packet of sweets and proceeded to pass them down the line. Munching happily the guards watched as the drama before them unfolded even more.

Garak and O'Brien rounded on each other. One got called a lecherous old man, the other a blatant coward. If you didn't know better you'd swear they were in deadly seriousness, as they continued to insult and degrade one another. Sisko felt it time to throw another thread into the story plot.

"I'm glad to hear that you admire Jadzia, ensign." He said to Nog, his voice carrying over the two arguing men easily, as they had lapsed into hissed threats. "I'd begun to worry about you and my son. You do share quarters, after all."

"Ha ha ha, sir. It was only a childhood thing, really. A diversion from the boredom of the station." Nog cringed in Ferengi fashion.

"You mean you did have a relationship with my son?!" Sisko thundered. But he let the murderous expression on his face relax as he felt the tingle of the transport beam engulf him. They were saved.

They materialised aboard the transport pad, where security waited to release their bonds.

"Well done." Doctor Bashir congratulated his two best friends, clapping them both on the shoulders. "You even had me going there." He laughed, before turning away to see about a slight injury Nog had received during their capture.

Both the Cardassian and the engineer plastered identical 'yes Julian' smiles on their faces, while their eyes continued to shoot daggers at each other. Julian missed the looks, and hurried his patient away to his quarters where he kept the Defiant's medical kit.

Commander Sisko had seen the exchange however. And he wondered what it would all lead to.

/Well, well. The truth will out, my friends. Sometimes in the strangest way./ Then a frown creased his brow. Just how close were Jake and Nog, anyway?...