Show: Deep Space: Nine Title: The King Of Ting Tung Asteroid Author: Charon Style: Slash Rating: PG-13 Dates Written: December 1st,2002 - December 3rd, 2002 Feedback: Sure! I love it and want more of it! Oh yeah, and you can send it along to: kwaigoncainejinn@yahoo.com Codes: G/B Warnings: Slash -- although the only reason this isn't rated G or PG, is because it involves two men . . . er one male Human and a male Cardassian, both of whom are gorgeous and belong with each other . . . Episode Spoilers: Absolutely None What-So-Ever Disclaimer: Paramount don't want 'em, so I'm borrrowin' 'em! If they want 'em back, fine, but for now they're MINE! Ain't got no money, just an as yet unborn baby, and sueing for babies is as illegal as usin' other peoples' things without askin'. Answers Challenge: AU; Use any Faery Tale and re-write it using Garak and Bashir. (Prisca Banks) Author's note: This is based upon a Chinese Fairy Tale called 'The Queen Of Ting Tung Lake', where a good-hearted young man saves the life of a seal, is threatened with the loss of his, and gets his hearts desire. To keep it in the Deep Space: Nine realm and keep our heroes somewhat in character, I've changed a few things, added others, and expounded on some parts. However, the main core of the story is intact. Complete And Total Fantasy Deep Space: Nine The King Of Ting Tung Asteroid By Charon Started: 12-01-02 Completed:12-03-02 A/N: %%%%%%=Scene Breaks Julian Bashir was an ambitious young man with an eager and able mind who wanted to become a doctor. However, his family was too poor to make him a scholar, so with the eventual goal of becoming a doctor, he became an aide to a famous Starfleet admiral. One day, Julian and the admiral were flying through an asteroid field that was well known for its sudden plasma storms, but the admiral, who was very egotistical, believed they could make it completely to the other side before the next storm hit. In fact, he was so sure of himself, that he organized a hunting party to hunt the strange life forms that frequently passed among the asteroids, and though Julian loathed to go, there was not much he could do, being only an aide. So, he found himself accompanying the admiral and his small party as they sailed among the asteroids in only their environmental suits, connected by tethers. Suddenly, their lookout alerted them to what looked, to Julian, like a small pack of Terran iguanas surrounding a much larger lizard type creature. It was big and round, and had tiny legs, but it moved as gracefully as anything Julian had seen. The Admiral, being very quick, aimed his barbed weapon at the large lizard, and in moments, had pierced its back, and hauled the creature in. The others in the party congratulated the Admiral's skill and they returned to their ship. As they were undressing, they noticed that one of the small iguana-like creatures had attached itself very firmly to the tail of the large lizard, and would not let go. Very pleased with himself, the Admiral and his party went off to celebrate the kill, and Julian knew he wouldn't return, nor would he inquire later of what happened to the lizard. It was the hunt itself, and not the eating of the creature that satisfied the Admiral. Julian was the last one left in the changing room, and he looked at the creature that lay, gasping at his feet, obviously in pain. It had often been left to Julian to dispatch the poor creatures the admiral hunted, but as Julian examined it carefully, he saw that the barb had pierced the thick skin of its hide and gone in a straight line until it had broken through a flap of skin under its leg. The creature would survive if Julian could remove the barb and get it back into its own environment. Slowly, warily, he approached the creature, who hissed at him angrily and tried to move, but Julian soothed it with his voice, and stroked the massive head calmly. When he hadn't been serving the admiral, Julian had been in the sickbay, learning from the computers, as well as the medical doctor there, and he knew exactly what he had to do. He pulled a medical case down from the shelf in the environmental room, then opened it. He pulled out a general anesthetic, administered it to the creature - he would have put it completely to sleep, but had no idea how it would have affected the creature - lasered off the tip of the barb, then pulled it quickly from the creature's side. No less Quickly and efficiently, he sealed up the wounds, once more soothed the creature, and opened the inner chamber of the airlock. As if it knew what Julian intended, it crawled, again with a fluidity and grace that astounded Julian, into the airlock, and stopped, then looked at him, almost expectantly. Julian sealed the inner chamber, opened the outer airlock, and watched as the creature, and the little iguana, were sucked out into the asteroid field. In a few moments, both creatures were surrounded by what seemed to be a sea of the little iguanas, and they all `swam' - for want of a better word - into the darkness of the asteroid field. %%%%%% A year later, Julian found himself back in the asteroid field, and headed to his home. Their exploratory mission was almost over for that sector and he was happy to be going home. However, only a day into the return trip, one of the field's notorious plasma storms swept through the field, and destroyed virtually everything in its path. The ship was torn apart, but the crew all managed to get into escape pods. Julian was one of the last ones left on the ship, not wanting to go until he was sure that everyone had escaped, and he barely made it to a lone pod, just before the ship was completely destroyed. Unfortunately, his pod had been in need of repair (all the rest of the more important crew took the good ones), and he drifted, caught in one small gravitational pull after another, and was mercilessly buffeted and tossed inside his directionless craft, until he was finally sucked deep into an asteroid cave, whose, the moment his pod crashed into it, mouth completely and irreversibly, collapsed. Julian had lost consciousness the moment his pod had gone through the cave's mouth, and when he revived, he found himself in complete darkness, but fortunately, not badly injured. He forced open the door of his pod, and found that the air, though dank, damp, and heavy, was breathable. He hefted a handheld light, and looked first one way, then the other. The pod itself cut off his escape in one direction, while in the other, the cave continued on, though he couldn't tell how far. He packed his meager medical kit, some water, and what few rations the pod carried, and, determined not to give up, walked into the darkness of the unknown cavern. His chronometer had been broken in his flight, so he had no idea of how long he actually walked before the cave grew bigger, until the roof could no longer be seen, and in the distance, saw a light that brightened the closer he got to it. His energy and his spirits, as well as his ever-present curiosity was renewed, and he all but ran toward the light. When he finally emerged into it, all he could do was stare. All around him, for as far as his eyes could see, lay lush, green hills, golden plains, and deep forests. The air was clean and as fresh as any he'd smelled on Terra, and he took several deep lungfuls of it. He stepped forward cautiously, and the grass sprang back as he padded across it. He headed into one of the forests, and knew that where there was vegetation, there had to be water. However, as he entered the forest, he realized that he was tired, and that he was badly in need of rest. He chose a large, deep thicket and gratefully lowered himself down, then was fast asleep a moment later. He had no idea of how long he actually slept, or what had woken him up, but when he woke, he was ravenous and very thirsty. He went to sit up, but as he did so, his ears caught the sound of voices and laughter, and he cautiously raised his head, and gazed between the trees. What he recognized as an arrow whizzed past his head, and he held himself perfectly still as riding hounds made their way among the trees and perched atop them, were what Julian recognized as men, and humanoid at that, though they had raised ridges that circled their eyes and traveled down their necks to their shoulders, and all of them had beautiful, though different, scale-like markings. They all wore dark, thick, armor-like clothing, and each carried very large bows, as well as what looked like spears held at their sides. Julian remained still and merely watched as the group of young men passed, and a moment later, the party was followed by what looked to be very small boys bearing large baskets and jars. Julian had no idea what to do, but as one of the boys tarried behind the others, Julian cautiously stepped out of his hiding place, and approached him. "Excuse me, but can you tell me where I am, please?" He asked politely, and the boy started, then stared at him with disconcertingly round eyes. "You are in the hunting grounds of the Ting Tung asteroid field." He answered, then blinked. "But what are you doing here? You don't belong here . . ." "I know." Julian nodded. "But my ship was destroyed by a plasma storm and my lifepod crash landed in the mouth of a cave which collapsed." He sighed. "I am lost, and very hungry and thirsty as well." "Well . . ." The young boy sighed. "Hunger and thirst are easily enough satisfied." He handed Julian some of the provisions from his basket and handed him one of the jars he carried. "But if you value your life, you'll get out of here before the king sees you." With that, he ran off, and followed the men, who were still laughing, joking, and singing. If they were hunting, they would catch nothing that day, and Julian, mindful of the boy's warning, circled the hunting party, and walked through the woods for what seemed miles. He finally came upon a path, and he followed it until it came to a very large, very white rock wall. Around the wall ran a cheerful brook, and in the distance, was a rope bridge that led to the wall. Cautiously, he approached the bridge, crossed it, and came to a gate that he was just able to peer over. He opened the gate, and it soundlessly swung inward, then just as soundlessly swung shut behind him. He tested it, and it swung outward, and he nodded. Satisfied he'd be able to get back out, he entered what looked like a very large, very elaborately planned park. He moved forward, and sighed at the opulent beauty that surrounded him, as well as the sense of peace that had pervaded him the moment he'd entered. He wandered through the park, until finally he heard more laughter, and bright music. He crept forward until he entered a grove of trees that finally emerged into a lush clearing that was filled with more of the ridged and scaled humanoids, all of them dashing and handsome males, though each one of them was more handsome than the next, in spite of the fact that they were so completely different from Julian's smooth, caramel-colored skin, wavy, dark hair, and brown eyes. But then, the sea of laughing males parted, one stepped forward, and Julian gasped at the great beauty of the man. He was tall, muscular, had markings far more arresting than any of those who surrounded him, and his ebony hair was pulled back, which revealed a pair of stunning blue eyes. His robes were of the softest, obviously very richest material, and it did nothing to hide the grace and sinuous movements of his body. He lowered himself to the ground, and was served a warm, fragrant tea whose smell reminded Julian that he hadn't eaten in quite a while. He was gracious to those around him, and he smiled and laughed with them, though it was clear he was of a much higher rank than they. The man/reptile, who was obviously a prince of some sort, finished his tea, and regally placed the cup on the ground. One of his lords-in-waiting pulled a large book from a pack, then handed it to the prince, who smiled, blushed, and opened it. The men took seats around him, and the laughter quieted, as the prince read to them. Julian's pulse quickened in his veins, and he blinked as his heart thudded in his chest at the beauty of the poetry the man read, and he was filled with wonder and feelings he'd never before had. Julian could have listened to the man read forever, but the sky grew dim, and the prince closed his book, then stood. He smiled at those around him, and they gathered their things together, then cavorted away into the trees, until Julian could no longer hear them. He crawled from his hiding place, and approached where the prince had sat. Julian sighed and ran his hand over the grass, then stopped as he spied a red scarf of what he assumed was only the purest silk as it lay, half-covered, by a nearby bush. He picked it up, held it to his face, and inhaled the scent of what he knew had to have been the prince. He remembered the voice that had come to him as he'd read the poetry, and suddenly, had to respond in kind, if only to himself. He sat in the clearing, pulled a pen from his meager belongings, and wrote his own verses over the scarf until it was completely covered with love poetry, all of which was dedicated to the magnificent prince who he knew had irretrievably stolen his heart . . . and his love. However, he knew that he should go, and preferably before he was seen, so he tried to find his way out of what he knew he child have realized were royal grounds. However, as he wandered, he came face to face with one of the young lords-in-waiting, who had his eyes on the ground, and was just as startled to see Julian as Julian was to see him. "Who are you!? How did you get here!?" He demanded, and Julian swallowed, then bowed his head. "Forgive me, but I am lost. I wandered in here by accident, and am looking for the way out." "I see." The lord-in-waiting frowned. "I too am looking for something lost, and if you help me find it, I will help you find the exit. Have you, by any chance, seen a red silk scarf anywhere?" Julian nodded, then pulled the ink-covered cloth from his sleeve, where he'd tucked it for safekeeping, and held it out to the man, who took it, then frowned sadly. "I'm sorry, but now I can't help you if I wanted to. This is the prince's favorite scarf, and he wears it constantly. Now that you have covered it in writing it is useless to him." He looked at Julian and shook his head. "It is truly a pity too. You seem a pleasant enough . . . whatever creature you are, and you do write well. I really should have liked to have helped you." The young man ran off into the trees, and Julian tried to follow, but it was no good. "I'm a Terran!" He called out, but whether the ridged being had heard him or not, he wasn't sure. Julian tried, desperately, to find his way out of the maze of grounds, but only succeeded in finding his way back to the clearing. He had sat down for only a moment, when the man ran up to him, breathless. "I have been looking for you!" He gasped. "And I have good news! His highness has read your verses, and instead of being annoyed and insulted, he was absolutely delighted! Be patient, and you may yet go free. The prince also sent these for you." He held a bundle out to Julian, who took it, then smiled. "I must go, but please, do not climb trees or walls. That is unpardonable by anyone." Julian opened the bundle and found that it contained food and drink. He made himself as comfortable as he could on the ground, and after eating his fill, slept until the dawn came. A short while after the sun had risen over the trees, the lord-in-waiting once more ran up to him, and bore another bundle. "The prince has sent more food for you, and though I asked him if I may help you find your way out, he said `no, not yet.' I am afraid the prince makes his own decisions in his own time, and the best we can do is to wait. Once more I must leave you, but please, do not stray from here." He ran off, and Julian sighed, then ate the breakfast that had been provided for him. It was around midday, that day, when the lord-in-waiting rushed up to him. "I am so sorry!" He exclaimed. "Something terrible has happened! One of the more gossipy lords has told the king about the red scarf, and the verses written by a Terran, and the king is furious! Now I am afraid for your life!" Julian was about to question him further, when they heard female voices as they approached them. Suddenly, they faced an entire phalanx of armored women who were, obviously, serious, and deadly, royal guards. They carried heavy chains and manacles in their hands and surrounded Julian as if they were a living wall. Behind them, came several serving boys, and the one in the front suddenly started, almost violently. "Incredible!" He suddenly exclaimed. "It can't be! But it is! It's Terran Julian Bashir! Indeed it is!" He suddenly placed himself between Julian and the much larger women, who muttered among themselves. "Wait!" The boy called out and held up his hand. "I must see the king at once! Do nothing until I return!" Reluctantly, the women stepped back, and Julian was surprised at the obvious power the boy wielded, and though he was grateful for the reprieve, he was understandably nervous and more than a little confused as to how the boy knew him. Neither the women nor Julian moved, even as the serving-boys whispered, stared, and pointed at him. Julian knew a long moment of dread, until, at last, the boy ran back. "His majesty, the king asks the Terran Julian Bashir to come to him at once!" He cried out breathlessly, then grabbed Julian by the hand and pulled him through the maze of trees and clearings he knew he never would have been able to navigate on his own. Julian didn't even try to understand the new turn of events, he was just grateful for them. The women followed the procession to the palace, their chains clanking ominously against their body armor, and as they entered a massive, imposing, curving, spire and minaret- towered palace, the guards took up posts at various doors and corridors that were no less winding or confusing than the grounds had been. Finally, what was left of the procession: Julian, the boy, the other serving boys, and four guards, stood before a set of large, double, ornate, beautifully etched, gem-encrusted, glass doors. The boy threw open the doors, then all but ran into the room. "The Terran, Julian Bashir!" He announced in a voice twice as big as his small size, and the others marched into a grand, lavish, and extravagant throne room that was empty save for three golden, gem- encrusted thrones on a richly carpeted platform. On the center throne, sat a rather large, rotund man, who wore brilliantly colored robes, and who was handsome in his own right, despite his obvious girth. Julian was led directly to the stairs that led to the platform, and he stopped at the bottom, then knelt in supplication to the obviously powerful king. "Your majesty." He said softly, though he never raised his head. "Please forgive me any intrusion I may have made in your kingdom in my ignorance. I was marooned in a plasma storm, and I beg you to set me free." The king rose from his throne and helped Julian to his feet. He smiled gently, and placed his hand on Julian's shoulder. "The Terran Julian Bashir, I owe my life to you. Had my people known who you were, I assure you, you would never have fared so badly in my realm. Can you forgive us?" He asked, and Julian blinked, surprised, but before Julian could speak, the king ordered a sumptuous banquet to be prepared. Servants led Julian away to a set of rooms, where he bathed and changed into a brilliantly colored, brocade robe that was provided for him. When he was finished, the servants led him back to the throne room, where the banquet was completely ready, and the king at the head of the table. The king sat Julian next to him, then smiled. "It is fortunate that you found my son's scarf." He said. "He will be honored to become your spouse. I can truly think of no better match for him." To Julian, the news was amazing, wonderful, and certainly welcome, indeed. However, since he could understand nothing of any of the events, he remained nervous and anxious. Finally, not long after the banquet was over, a servant approached the king and whispered in his ear. The king stood, which signaled everyone to do so as well, and Julian went right along with them. "His Highness, the Prince Elim Garak, is now ready for the ceremony." The king announced, and he led everyone to an even larger room, that was carpeted in leaves of brilliant hues as well as flower buds and petals of every kind and description, most of which Julian didn't recognize. Shuttered lanterns gave the entire room a mystical cast, and a door opened in the back of the room. Julian turned, looked, and his heart thudded in his chest as hard it had the first time he'd seen the magnificent prince, and love filled him. The handsome man wore his ebony hair down, and his robe of midnight blue brought out the almost silver cast of his eyes. He held his head up, and smiled at Julian as he walked forward. Finally, he stood next to the Terran, and the king married them. The entire court held a festival that seemed to go on forever, and when it ended, Julian and the prince retired to their chambers the king had presented them in the castle. Julian knew that he had been most fortunate in his life, but also knew that he could not rest until he actually understood all of what had taken place. "My precious Elim." He sighed into his beloved spouse's ear later that night. "I was nobody special. I was marooned and lost. I found your scarf purely by chance and dared scrawl pitiful love verses onto it, and it almost cost me my life. Then all of a sudden I was showered with kindness, and given the greatest of gifts when you became my spouse. Please tell me, to what do I owe all of this great fortune?" "No one has told you?" The prince smiled and stroked the Terran's hand, then held it in his, and his smile widened as Julian shook his head. "Do you remember, a little over a year previous, when an admiral you served, shot what your people called a lizard as it meandered among the Ting Tung asteroids?" "I do, yes." He blinked, surprised. "But how do you know of that?" "The so-called lizard whose life you saved was one of the shapes often taken by my father, his serene highness, Enabran Tain, the ruler of all of the asteroid field. Due to that admiral, and others like him, any time we catch a Humanoid in our field, my father calls up the storms, and they destroy the ship." "I can understand that." Julian heaved a sigh as he thought of all the things that had been killed over the years by carelessness and stupidity. "But what about the serving-boy who recognized me? I'm quite sure I've never seen him before." "Do you also remember the little, I think your people called it an `iguana', who held so securely to the lizard's tail?" "Yes." Julian nodded, and the prince smiled. "That was the brave little serving boy who refused to abandon his king. So, of course, he recognized you." At last, Julian understood, and joy truly entered his heart, but there was still one more thing he had to ask in order to be truly content. "I was told when you saw there scarf covered in ink, you intended to have me put to death. Why did you keep putting it of? Why did you send your lord-in-waiting out to me with food and drink?" The prince sighed and pulled the Terran closer to him, and smoothed the disheveled hair. "When I read the words you had written, words that were written so clearly and beautifully, as well as so obviously from the heart, I fell in love with the one who had written them. I hoped to have time to find a way to soften my father's heart toward you." Julian sighed happily, wrapped his arms around his spouse, and had no more questions to ask. %%%%%% Ten years passed, and each year found Julian and Elim more in love than the year before. It was on their anniversary, that, as they were gliding among the asteroids in a fabulous ship decorated with all the gleaming gems and minerals the asteroids had to offer, they happened upon a lone lifepod that drifted aimlessly among the empty rocks. Julian's heart almost broke, and at the sadness on his face, Prince Elim's heart softened as well. He ordered that the pod be brought aboard the ship and opened. The occupant inside was male, and Terran, and Julian's face burst into a delighted smile as he recognized the face of his friend, Felix, whom he hadn't seen since they'd graduated from formal school together. Felix had been able to get into Starfleet Academy, and the last Julian had heard, he was on a ship exploring the Gamma quadrant. Julian and the Prince threw a fabulous banquet for the man, who was, understandably, confused. "Forgive an old friend's curiosity, mate." He finally said to Julian, once the lavish dishes of the banquet had been cleared away, and tea brought out. "When we last met, you were in far worse circumstances, were you not? So bad that you were made an aide to an Admiral so you could try and save money to go to Starfleet Medical Academy?" Julian laughed and gazed into his spouse's eyes. "I was. But tell me, is this your first trip home since then?" "Yes." The man answered, and sighed. "I was in the Gamma quadrant, and we decided to pass through the Ting Tung asteroid field as a shortcut to home." He looked down at the table. "But we were caught in one of the plasma storms, and our ship destroyed. My lifepod was damaged by the storm, and I had no navigational equipment, or indeed, steering available to me. I think I was floating in that pod for two days." "Do not worry, my friend." Julian's grin was bright. "Your pod has been repaired, and the computer has been given a set of coordinates that will lead you through the field, and to home. However, I wish to present you with something as a token of my esteem and friendship. Do you remember this?" He pulled a tattered, though oft repaired, stuffed teddy bear from next to his cushion, and Felix grinned. "Of course I remember that ratty old thing." He laughed. "You hauled that bear everywhere you went. Whenever we went on camping trips, it was with you. If there was a field trip, you had it there too. As I recall, I had to keep you from getting beaten up numerous times because of that thing. Kukulaka, isn't it? And he was going to be the reminder of why you wanted to become a doctor, right?" "Yes, that's right." Julian smiled and handed the bear to his friend. "I no longer need him for the security, safety, and comfort he provided is more than adequately supplied by my spouse, and I am content with that. Please, take him as a souvenir of our meeting." He sighed, even as he handed the stuffed bear over to Felix. "However, as pleasant as this reunion has indeed been, I'm afraid we must be on our way soon." Both he and Elim stood and walked the man to his lifepod. A few moments later, the lifepod was ejected from the ship, and Julian and Elim returned to their chambers. %%%%%% Felix puzzled about the strange meeting all the way through the asteroid field, and out into Federation Space, where he was taken aboard a ship called the Defiant, which was on its way back to a Deep Space Station called Deep Space: Nine. He was taken into a small dining room, and was soon ensconced at a table where a Trill woman, a Founder, a Bajoran woman, and a Terran male were seated together, and after he'd been fed, he looked at those gathered. "Do any of you remember, when an Admiral Stiles ship went into the Ting Tung asteroid field?" He asked, and those gathered snorted. "Remember it?" The blond, curly-haired engineer demanded, his Irish accent strong. "It was the sensation of the year! Of course, being the grandson of the man who tried to challenge the infamous Admiral James T. Kirk, then lost the Excelsior to him, was bound to make a screw up like that. I'm telling you, the whole family was doomed from then on to lives of dismal failure." "Unfortunately, he didn't doom just himself in that. He endangered his entire crew with his extreme foolishness." The Trill sighed, and shook her head. "Could always have been worse, though." The Bajoran woman shrugged. "He only lost the life of one crew member, and it wasn't anyone important, either." "The loss of any life is important." The Founder gently chided her, and she nodded. "Okay, good point." She smiled, then frowned at Felix. "But, why do you ask?" "Because a friend of mine whom I haven't seen in a very long time was on that ship, and I met him in the asteroid field. He has not aged a day in the last twenty years, was in a fabulous ship and he was very wealthy. His spouse is some sort of royalty. They gave me a fabulous dinner, repaired my pod, and entered the coordinates I used to find my way home . . ." "Which crew member would that have been?" The Irishman grinned. "I'd like ta'meet him me'self." "His name is Bashir . . ." An uncomfortable silence met his statement, then the Trill cleared her throat. "Bashir? As in Julian Bashir? Captain Stiles' aide?" Felix nodded, and they glanced uncomfortably at one another. "Forgive me . . ." The Founder said quietly. "But you were in that pod a long time, and according to this man . . ." He pointed at the engineer. "Some of your oxygen had somehow become contaminated. Your systems were completely corroded when we found you and pulled you out of the pod." "Yeah, you must ha' dreamed that, because that's impossible." The Irishman declared. "Why?" Felix was truly puzzled, and the Bajoran woman put her hand on his arm. "Julian Bashir was the crew member who died. They found the signal from his lifepod, but when they followed it, they found he'd crashed into one of the asteroids, and there was no way they could get to it. He's been dead for ten years." "I . . . see." Felix swallowed, and bowed his head. "I'll return to my quarters now, if you don't mind." No one said anything, and he left the dining room, then walked back to the small quarters they'd provided for him. Once he entered his quarters, he went to the pack of belongings he'd been able to salvage, opened it, then took out the stuffed bear he'd certainly recognized. He handled it carefully, then smiled, genuinely happy for his friend, who had truly deserved every ounce of good fortune he'd encountered. Felix never again repeated the encounter he had with his friend, but every time word reached him about a lost life being rescued from the Ting Tung asteroids, he just smiled, and thanked his friend for his kindness and generosity. As for the bear named Kukulaka, it became more precious than any pearl to him, and he vowed never to get rid of it. In fact, it is still in possession of his family, protected by them as he had protected it, and it passes from generation to generation, the secret told only to the next generation upon the death of the last. The End!