Rating: MC
Set During: Season 1 Episode 15 “Progress”
“Well, it seems to me that the Major is learning what it means to be in charge. It isn’t easy. You have to deal with all sorts of uncomfortable problems. Sometimes you even have to do things that you hate.” Garak replied.
“Yes, but what does that have to do with Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera?” Julian was trying to follow Garak’s reasoning and failing.
“In the beginning of the book the managers find themselves in a similar position. They’ve worked hard to gain the power over the opera house, and to their dismay they discover a series of difficulties is all that they’ve inherited.” Garak presented this view with a look on his face that suggested it was fait accompli.
“So, you’re suggesting that the managers are a metaphor for the state?” Julian looked at him with amazement.
“I said no such thing, I simply pointed out that what you were telling me in regards to Major Kira reminded me of the book.” Garak grinned cleverly.
“Well, what did you think of the book?” Julian asked eagerly.
“Overall, I found the story to be superficial.” Garak replied. “Most of the other characters were hardly believable. Take Christine for example, hopelessly naïve and of poor intellect.”
Julian’s face fell. “Well, was there anything about the story that you liked?”
“I found the main character, Erik, to be very fascinating. It’s really to bad that the author insisted on giving the character physical scars, and a mask as well.” Garak scoffed at this last idea.
“That’s one of the beauties of the story. The scars are a physical representation of the pain of his past, and the mask is an attempt to escape from that pain, to fit in.” Julian argued passionately.
Garak watched and listened with interest. The Doctor was a very engaging and alluring companion. He’d have to arouse his passions more frequently, if only to indulge his own secret desires. It was really too bad that the man seemed uninterested in other types of engaging passions.
“Precisely, it’s easy, and too obvious. Very few people have scars to show such pain. The pain is hidden, or expresses itself in more subtle ways.” Garak took a bite of his stew.
“It sounds like you are well acquainted with such pain.” Julian replied seriously. “I guess as a spy you would be.” He added on a much lighter note.
“Really Doctor, you of all people know better than to believe the rumors that fly on this station. I was simply pointing out a fact. Take the Bajorans, most of them experienced some type of horror during the occupation, but they’re mostly without visible scars.”
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General comments and constructive criticism welcome. Feel free to comment.
I acknowledge that Elim Garak, Julian Bashir, Cardassia, etc. are the property of either Paramount or CBS, not entirely sure which due to the changes in 2006. The story is however mine, and done solely for entertainment purposes.
COMING SOON:
Cross-Cultural
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