((CO’s Office, Deep Space Nine))
CloQ ignored the human’s nonsensical bait and instead pressed their badge, bringing them forward in time to the moment where Vreenak was holding the data rod aloft, mid-rant. CloQ looked at them all for a moment.
CloQ: If it helps, he’s saying “it’s a faaaaaake”.
Jovenan: He knows? I-if the Senator manages to send a word about Sisko’s betrayal to Romulus, it will mean that the Romulans won’t join the war, or that they will fight the Federation.
CloQ grinned - they were piecing it together at last. They were particularly overjoyed to see the human lowering his head as he uttered a single word of defeat.
Silveira: Yes.
CloQ: There you go - now you’re getting it.
Sadar/Dakora: Response
The Edo walked to the closest computer interface, clearly clutching at straws.
Jovenan: Sisko’s in the wardroom, Mr Tolar appears to be in his quarters, while the tailor… um, I can’t actually locate him. Maybe he has left the station.
Silveira: I assume this happens after the holodeck forgery. We can't be sure how long.
CloQ: Not long, I assure you.
Sadar/Dakora: Response
Jovenan: We saw Senator Vreenak’s shuttle when it arrived to Romulus. We, uh, had a close look at it. It wasn’t much larger than a roundabout, I’d think it could fit in the landing pads for example.
The human frowned.
Silveira: A little too discreet for a Senator.
CloQ pursed their lips, clearly enjoying the group tiptoeing around the correct and inevitable realisation of the truth.
CloQ: Unless they’re on a discrete mission, of course.
Sadar/Dakora: Response
Silveira: It would be the best place to sabotage it.
CloQ pointed at the human with the forefingers of both hands, declaming happily as they did so.
CloQ: Ding ding ding! We have a winner!
Jovenan/Sadar/Dakora: Response
Silveira: There’s one thing to consider. What if the missing tailor took the matter into his own hands?
CloQ rolled their eyes again, and shook their pale head.
CloQ: Nope - Mister Garak carried out the sabotage under the purview of your Captain Sisko… Well, Sisko felt guilty about it, but I assure you, he could live with it. But he hired Garak because he knew precisely that the Cardassian spy would do the “right thing” even if Starfleet held back Sisko himself. Any questions?
Sadar/Dakora/Silveira/Jovenan: Response
CloQ grinned at the quartet as they tapped their badge.
CloQ: Leave them for the end of the tour, sorry, should have said.
And a white light flooded their vision, and everyone else’s involved in their little story.
((Bridge, USS Artemis-A))
CloQ looked about the bridge for a moment, impressed with carpeting in particular. They leaned forward to peer at Captain Addison MacKenzie, who was seated in the Captain’s chair. To her right, was seated Talos Dakora, and to her left Genkos Adea. The rest of the senior staff were arranged around the bridge, all frozen in a single moment of time. On the viewscreen, Deep Space Nine floated in front of them. CloQ gestured to it languidly.
CloQ: Captain, welcome back.
MacKenzie: Response
CloQ: Right time, wrong place. The timeline is all hunky-dory, back to normal. No thanks to your crew - they were so desperate not to murder, not to escape, not to piece together Sisko’s crimes, it was rather embarrassing. I’m embarrassed for you.
MacKenzie: Response
CloQ: Still, this is the best crew you’ll have for a while - and I love the new ship. ::they ran a finger along the top of a console, as if checking for dust:: Shame what’ll happen to it. ::they grinned:: Keep an eye on the Betazoid, by the way, not everything is what it seems with them.
MacKenzie: Response
CloQ pressed their combadge that was shaped like a clock face one last time and the ship started to move again in time. The crew all jolted forward as their physical bodies restarted. CloQ looked around them all individually, taking their time to take in every single one - to remember their faces. Some they had spent considerable time with, others not so much.
CloQ: Well, until next time… Ciao.
And without moving what a medical professional might have termed a muscle, but was infinitely more complex, CloQ simply melted from sight… For now.
Fin
-----------------------
CloQ
Time-Obsessed Member of the Continuum
(they/them)
as simmed by...
Commander Genkos Adea MD
Chief Medical Officer
USS Artemis-A
G239502GS0
Time, he's waiting in the wings
He speaks of senseless things
David Bowie