Chapter Text
Comfortable. Just so comfortable. He was warm at last and the brightness of the lights no longer mattered. Nothing did. Could be better though, he thought, so turned the dial up. It only took a few seconds for the wave to hit him. He turned it again. Every sensation became better, sharper. The carpet beneath his bare feet was now soft, the heavy, scratchy fabric of his clothes was now pleasant. He ran his fingers through his hair, it was so smooth, so delicate. Even breathing was now a pleasure. But his mouth was dry.
He got up, walked over to the replicator and requested a glass of water. He waved his hands through the air, it was almost as if he could feel the atmospheric molecules part as he moved. He wasn't sure whether his movements would appear graceful or ungainly, they felt both controlled and out of control. In fact, that was an accurate description of how he felt entirely. He had never turned his 'Wire' up so high before; he had never been so high before. The water felt silken within his mouth. He had no idea that such simple things could bring such contentment. Part of him was disgusted in himself for getting into his current state but most of him was just enjoying the ride. He had not felt so relaxed in a long time, he was bordering on aroused.
The computer announced it was 0850 hours, time to head to his shop. Socks and shoes on and controller in his pocket, he prepared to leave his quarters. He caught a glance of himself in the mirror - he looked his normal, well groomed self, though his pupils were but pinpoints, he wondered how it was even possible to see through such tiny pupils?
He walked to corridors of the station with a smile. He was not oblivious to the stares, sideways glances, muttered comments or the one incident of projectile oral secretions that accompanied him to his shop, he just didn't care today. He was untouchable, impenetrable. He spent some time admiring the materials he had, their textures, patterns, weights, etc were all so much more interesting now. At some point during the morning he turned the dial on his control up to maximum. He tried to cut out a pattern in a pale yellow fabric but failed several attempts to cut straight so abandoned it. He turned instead to what he thought of as his other business venture.
"Computer, show me personal files of all senior staff on Deep Space Nine"
"Authorisation required"
Hacking into the files turned out to be a much simpler task in his intoxicated state than cutting the cloth had been. Old habits die hard, he supposed. In order to stay on the station, he planned to show Starfleet and the Bajoran officials that he meant the no harm, even gain their endearment through telling them tall tales of personal hardship and misfortune and claiming asylum if he must. But he would much prefer to gain their respect rather than pity. If he was respected, it would be easy for him to become part of the society of the station, privy to all sorts of information. If could get enough intelligence on Starfleet he may, one day, prove himself to still be useful enough to gain back Tain's favour. He could but hope. He needed an angle, he was to start with befriending someone.
He didn't bother to look at the Commanders file, heading straight for the top would never look sincere. The second in command was a Bajoran Major - a former resistance fighter no less- there was no point in going there either. The Science Officer, Jadzia Dax was a joined trill. Joined trill were notoriously difficult to manipulate. The Chief Engineer appeared to be a family man, that could be useful, but he had once been a soldier fighting against the Cardassians. Perhaps not then. There didn't see to be much information the Chief of Security at all, which was very interesting, he was not Starfleet and had been on the station a few years. Although not Starfleet himself, there was potential there. Then there was the Chief Medical Officer.
'Aha!' He thought. The Doctor was human and young, straight out of medical school in fact. This was his first Starfleet commission, he did not appear to have spent much time off Earth and, judging by the picture, was very attractive. Garak smiled to himself, he may have hit the jackpot in more ways than one.
"Computer, locate Doctor Julian Bashir"
"Doctor Bashir is in the replimat."
Excellent, he smiled. It was time to make his presence known.