Vectors Read Free Page B

overpowering there I have no idea how anyone can stand it' he said as he tilted his head slightly. "Not that here's much to eat in the first place."
    Dukat would not get into political discussions with this man. He was on Terok Nor because Dukat cared for his Bajoran workers. He was here because a healthy worker was a strong worker. The more uridium the Bajorans processed, the better for all concerned.
    "What is this disease?" Dukat asked.
    "If I knew, I might be able to help them." There was a controlled frustration in Kellec's voice. "So far, we've lost twenty Bajorans, and these two aren't far behind. They look good, don't they?" Dukat nodded, then asked, "What is the odor?" Kellec glanced at Narat, who nodded that he should continue. Kellec set the padd down on the instrument table. "Exactly what you think it is. Their bodies are decaying internally. I keep them sedated, but this disease, whatever it is, is incredibly painful. Some of the others broke through the sedatives before they died-I couldn't give them enough medication to ease the suffering."
    Somehow, he made that sound like Dukat's fault. But Dukat had done nothing to cause this disease. Some Bajoran had brought it onto the station. He had left it to the Bajorans to cure. They handled their own health. That was why he allowed them Kellec Ton. If they needed specific supplies, Kellec Ton was sup posed to act as liaison with the Cardassians.
    "You should have notified us sooner. Perhaps Narat has something that will-"
    "No, I don't," Narat said.
    "Well," Dukat said, "I don't like diseases that destroy my workers. You should have brought this to me before it got out of control."
    "The disease first showed up a day and a half ago," Kellec said. "I've been a bit busy since then."
    "And it will only get worse," Narat said.
    Dukat turned to him. Narat's face looked even more pinched than it had moments ago. "Why is that?"
    He took Dukat's arm and led him to the edge of the nearest guard's bed. Up close, the greenish color was mottled. The ridges around the guard's eyes and down his neck were flaking, and a pale gray liquid lined his mouth and nostrils.
    Dukat kept his distance, even though he knew the guard was surrounded by a quarantine field.
    "This does not look like the same disease to me," Dukat said. Narat had told him earlier, when asking permission to have Kellec and two Bajorans brought to the medical lab, that the Cardassians were now infected with the disease that was killing the Bajorans.
    "It doesn't look like the same disease," Narat said, "because you are looking at the symptoms. If you were looking at the disease itself on microscopic level, you would see that it is the same virus-even though it attacks Cardassians differently than it attacks Bajorans."
    "So you'll be able to cure them," Dukat said.
    Narat shook his head. "Not unless we discover something quickly."
    "But if you know its cause," Dukat said, "then you should be able to find a counteragent."
    "Should," Narat said, "and probably will." He glanced at Kellec Ton, who was standing near the door. Neither of them seemed as certain as doctors usually did. "But?" Dukat asked. "But we don't have the time," Kellec said.
    "The disease progresses rapidly," Narat said. "That's a trait it shares in both Barjorans and in Cardassians. These guards came in complaining of dizziness and lack of coordination. Now they cannot sit on their own. The mucus that you see-" and he pointed to the grayish fluid leaking out of their eyes, noses, and mouths. Dukat grimaced in spite of himself "This is filling their lungs. They will drown by tomorrow if we do not find a way to stop this."
    "Drown?" Dukat repeated. He couldn't imagine anyone drowning on Terok Nor. If he had to predict a way his people might die here, it would not be by drowning.
    "That's the net effect," Narat said.
    "This is not possible," Dukat said. "Bajorans and Cardassians cannot contract the same diseases. We have known that-" he caught himself.