…At least, the standard beeping that indicated an approaching ship sounded like an explosion. Bashir jumped to his feet, but Garak merely sat up and cocked his head.

"What? What's that?" Bashir stammered, trying to get his bearings.

Garak gestured toward the window. "Our welcoming committee, apparently."

"Our…oh, no…!"

But Bashir could plainly see the Cardassian ship outside the shuttle's windows.

"Admittedly, I do think they are a bit ahead of schedule," Garak mused, not seeming perturbed at all as he peered at the ship's chronometer. "I should have had another hour at least."

Bashir was already in starfleet mode. "Come on, there's a hidden storage compartment you might be able to squeeze into while I sort this out—"

"My dear doctor! I admire your bravery, but who's to say they aren't after you?"

"What do you think Cardassia would want from me?"

Garak smiled, until his persona took on that of an excited, confused Bashir as he went to the main console. "I don't know!—federation medical secrets? I can rest assured they're safe with you—though perhaps I should place a monitoring device on you, just in case they're up to something."

"What-?! How did you hear about that?!"

But Garak ignored him and typed a few commands out at the console. "Now, doctor, this is very important—I will need you to trust me. Do you think you can manage that?"

"Why should I? You're going to get us killed!"

"Sorry, my friend, but there's no time for this." Garak reached out and grabbed Bashir's face, and Bashir was suddenly looking into Garak's eyes from a few inches away, which seemed to grow dark and ominous in a moment. When he spoke it was in a low growl. "Our survival rests upon your very admirable ability to trust when you should not. Promise to trust me, now."

The way Garak said it send a chill down Bashir's spine, and as he looked in the Cardassian's eyes he was sure he should not trust Garak as far as he could throw him right now.

Still, he felt a welcome coolness on his side from where Garak's arm had been resting. He trusted him well enough then…

"Alright, alright," he said. "No problem."

"Good!" Garak's smile was back as he got up out of the console chair. "Stand up straight, now—a gul never likes to see a man slouch."

"Gul…?"

"Ah! Gul Dukat!" Garak said pleasantly to the Cardassian that suddenly materialized in front of him. "I was expecting you."