"Interrogation"

Logan stepped into sickbay and looked around the room. Several of the beds were still occupied by the personnel that had been injured by the Jem’Hadar prisoner who had escaped the previous day. The crew had been luckily, only one person had been killed, Lieutenant Commander Vossik. He was down to sickbay when the rampaging creature that had been recovering from the injuries sustained during his comrades’ attack on the Federation base. He had just stepped into sickbay and ran into the Jem’Hadar on his way out, full force. There was nothing Doctor Kahfre could do for the Vulcan, his internal injuries were too great and with the chaos that surrounded her, it was a miracle that there were no other fatalities.

The one good piece of news was that the Vorta that had remaining onboard with the rescued elite Jem’Hadar had not got wind of the fact that there was one of the rogue Jem’Hadar onboard. If they had, the fragile alliance that had emerged from the attack would have been severely tested. Personally Logan would have preferred to have let the creature die of it’s injuries down on the planet, but the Commander wanted him alive in the belief that it would be possible to get some information on the whereabouts of the kidnapped Federation scientists.

"Can I help you Lieutenant ?" A female voice announced from the far side of the room.

"Yes Doctor, I’d like to know if you think our prisoner is fit enough to be questioned yet." Logan asked. "From yesterday’s events I would say that he was more than ready, but you’re the Doctor."

"He’s suffered no further injury from his escape." Rahel replied. "Unfortunately."

Logan detected a note of hatred for the Jem’Hadar in Rahel’s voice but thought no more of it. She had taken the loss of Vossik very hard, Logan had heard rumours that she had almost attacked the prisoner after his re-capture. "Then I’d like to take a vial of ‘White’ from the stores along with me when we question the prisoner." He requested.

"Why ?" Rahel enquired. "He seems to be doing just fine on the substitute, more than fine in my opinion."

"But the substitute is only effective for a short period of time." Logan replied. "There’s nothing like the ‘real’ deal."

"Lieutenant, I hope that you aren’t going to torture the prisoner." Rahel asked. "Because I will come down on you like a ton of bricks if I find out you have. The Jem’Hadar is still my patient, whether he is in sickbay or the Brig."

"Relax Doctor. I’m only going to use the ‘White’ as a bit of an incentive, to maybe loosen his tongue a little." Logan replied slyly. "And the Commander’s going to be right beside me during the interrogation."

Rahel looked at Logan, she had already seen the reaction he had made when the Commander had told the senior staff that the Vorta and the Jem’Hadar that they had rescued only a few days ago were to remain onboard indefinitely. She had felt very similar, especially after the Jem’Hadar has escaped and injured half of her medical staff." She headed to the back of sickbay and returned a few moments later with a single vial of ‘White’.

"Here you go Lieutenant." Rahel said passing the vial to Logan. "Our ‘friend’ was due for his next dose anyway and now that we have the supplies from the Dominion vessel, I don’t see any reason not to give it to the prisoner as well."

Logan left sickbay and headed straight down to the Brig’s interrogation room. As he entered to room, Commander Buford was already sat behind the desk. Logan sat down beside the Commander and looked across the divide into the other room that was separated by a forcefield.

"Logan to transporter room one, we are ready to interview the prisoner." Logan announced, as he tapped his comm badge.

Moments later the Jem’Hadar prisoner appeared in the other room and immediately started to look around at his new surroundings. The room was completely sealed off from the rest of the ship, the only visible way out was in the direction of the interrogation room beyond. The Jem’Hadar attempted to hurl himself at the Commander and Logan, but was forced back by the field that kept the two rooms separated. The Jem’Hadar reeled from the attack, but made a second attempt before admitting defeat and instead just stood staring at the two Starfleet officers in the other room.

"Why did you attack the base on Juno III ?" Commander Buford asked.

The Jem’Hadar prisoner said nothing, standing still staring at the two officers on the other side of the forcefield. The Commander repeated his question, but still no answer was forthcoming.

"Where is your base ?" AJ asked. "Where are the two Federation scientists that your friends kidnapped ?"

"It seems our prisoner is incapable of speech." Logan announced. "But he was making enough noise the other day when he broke out of sickbay. Let’s see how long it is before he needs another shot of ‘White’."

At the mention of the one thing that he needed to survive, the prisoner started to show the first signs of co-operation.

"The Doctor has told me, the effects of the ‘White’ substitute should be wearing off soon and from what I know, the results as it’s effectiveness is reduced the pains becomes unbearable, even for a Jem’Hadar." Logan continued. "Now we have a supply of fresh ‘White’ right here, the real deal, but if our prisoner is not willing to co-operate in finding our people, it seems a waste to give it to him."

Logan raised the vial of ‘White’ in his hand to show the prisoner that he did indeed have what the Jem’Hadar wanted. He was quiet for about a minute, his eyes moving rapidly from the vial to the Lieutenant and back again. Then for the first time he spoke.

"My name is Ger’Tax, batch gamma seven-two-nine, I was matured in 2364 your calendar and will serve the Dominion until the end." The Jem’Hadar announced.

"Now it talks. Why did you attack the base on Juno III ?" Commander Buford asked once more.

"We were told to find and remove the two targets using any means possible." Ger’Tax stated.

"By whom ?" AJ enquired.

"Vorta Exis’Ta." Ger’Tax replied.

The fact that the Vorta Exis’Ta was involved made the Dominion’s story more truthful, but even so the Commander still didn’t trust their version of events as the whole truth. There were still too many unanswered questions in the story to be taken as gospel.

"Do you know why the Vorta wanted the two scientists or how they knew that the they were on Juno III in the first place ?" AJ asked.

"We were just following orders." The Jem’Hadar replied. "The reasons for wanting the Federation scientist was between the Vorta and First Goran’Agar. He is the only one who speaks to the Vorta."

"What about your base ?" AJ asked. "Where is it ?"

"I would rather die than give over the location of our base." The Jem’Hadar replied. "I will not dishonour my batch brother nor my Vorta to the Federation. I will uphold the honour of the Dominion and all that it stands for until the end."

"The honour of the Dominion." Logan announced, half laughing. "The Dominion has branded you rogues, enemies of the Dominion and your attack on the base has also now made you and your batch brothers enemies of the Federation."

"This is not so." Ger’Tax announced. "We serve the Dominion as we always have, my batch brother told me so. First Goran’Agar is not a dishonourable soul and I was honoured to serve with his Special Forces unit when he asked."

*Could this be how they are recruiting new Jem’Hadar, by claiming that they are working on some top secret mission for the Dominion.* Logan thought.

"You are a prisoner of the Federation and an enemy of your own people. Your First and his Vorta have deceived and manipulated you and your kind. Think about that for a while." AJ announced, rising from his seat.

"What about my ‘White’ ?" Ger’Tax enquired. "If I understand your Federation’s laws, I am a prisoner of war and as such must be treated for any medical condition I may have. Is not that the reason you repaired my injuries and provided me with this inferior ‘White’ substitute ?."

"So why try to escape ?" Logan asked. "You injured over a dozen people during your trip through the ship."

"Is it not a prisoner of war’s duty to attempt to escape." The Jem’Hadar replied.

Logan looked to the Commander who nodded his approval. Logan tapped a control on the console on the desk and a small hole appeared in the forcefield, through which Logan passed the vial of ‘White’, placing it on the table beyond. He retracted his arm and re-established the field.

The Jem’Hadar was quick to pick up the vial and removing the almost empty vial, replaced it with the one containing the fresh ‘White’. Almost immediately the Jem’Hadar started to convulse in pain, clutching at it’s throat as if he couldn’t breath.

Logan was quick to react, but not stupid enough to drop the forcefield. Instead he opened the supply locker and took out a tricorder. He started to scan the Jem’Hadar through the forcefield and immediately tapped his comm badge.

"Brig to Sickbay." Logan announced. "We have a medical emergency."

[What’s wrong ?] Rahel replied.

"Our prisoner appears to be having some kind of attack." Logan replied.

[What happened ?] Rahel asked.

"We had just concluded our interview and had passed the vial of ‘White’ to the prisoner. Then he started to convulse and fit." Logan explained.

[Have him transported to sickbay immediately.] The Doctor ordered.

"Is the secure area still set up ?" Logan asked.

[Yes.] The Doctor replied.

"Then prepare to receive the prisoner. McQueen out." Logan reported. "Transporter room one, prepare to transfer the prisoner to the secure area in sickbay immediately."

[Understood.]

The Jem’Hadar disappeared from the interrogation room.

"Let’s get to sickbay." Commander Buford suggested.

Five minutes later, the two officers entered sickbay and were greeted by a sad looking Doctor.

"He didn’t make it." Rahel announced.

"Any idea what or how he died ?" Logan asked. "Could it have been the ‘White’ ?. Was it poisoned ?."

"I doubt it." Rahel replied. "We gave a dose to the Elite guard Jem’Hadar six hours and none of them have shown any symptoms. It’s possible, but unlikely that the ‘White’ was poisoned, unless you did it Lieutenant. I’ll need to perform an autopsy to determine the cause of his death."

"Understood." AJ replied. "Let me know what you find out."