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Chakotay was courting the scientist. There was really no other way to say it. He was flattering, admiring, without being so over the top that the Cardassian would catch on. There was just enough dislike, just enough judgment in his tone, that Moset still felt secure.

Secure enough to—oh, what was the slang word Chakotay had used a few hours ago when Moset had left the room—spill his guts.

Sekaya thought, with a surge of the old rage, that she wished she could literally spill Moset’s guts. It was alarming how gratifying an image that was.

She returned her attention to what the scientist was saying, and it was shocking enough that it kept her attention.

“There’s a way of holding a Founder in solid form,” Moset rattled on. “Relatively simple, actually. All you needed to do was set up a device that emits a quantum stasis field. That inhibits the biochemical process by which Changelings can shape-shift. But Ellis—that’s how I think of him, as that’s the appearance he’s had for most of the time that I’ve known him—was shot by something much more sinister. It changed him on the molecular level and locked him permanently into human form.” He preened a bit as he amended, “Well, it would have been permanent had not I come along.”

“But why?” Chakotay sounded sincerely curious. “What had he done that the Founders would be so upset with him?”

“Blazed ahead without orders, apparently,” said Moset. “Gul Dukat’s deal with the Dominion included the destruction of the Maquis. The Dominion gave him the coordinates, and most of them were wiped out.”

“But Tevlik’s moon was supposed to be spared.”

Moset’s eyes brightened as he regarded his apt pupil. “Exactly! This was the place where, if they could manage it, most of the Maquis sent their children, to keep them safe. There were more children on the moon than adults, many times more. In fact, most of the Maquis who operated out of the base were elsewhere at the time of the attacks.”

“The Founders were concerned about the lives of Solid children?” Sekaya tried to sound as curious and interested as Chakotay, but she knew she sounded more skeptical than intrigued.

His comment proved her attitude the correct one. “Oh, no, it wasn’t any kind of a moral issue. It was a practical one. The Dominion knew that Starfleet would, albeit unhappily, accept the massacre of adult Maquis, who were, after all, technically outlaws. But they feared that an attack against children might rouse the Federation into retaliation. That didn’t happen, of course, at least not at that time, but that was their worry. So Tevlik’s moon was never considered as a target.”

“But the Changeling—Arak Katal at the time—took it upon himself to tell the Cardassians about it anyway,” Chakotay finished.

“Precisely. He acted on his own initiative, as an individual, not as part of the Great Link. And that,” Moset finished, as if he had just told an exciting story to a group of wide-eyed youngsters, “was why he was condemned to be locked into Solid form.”

“But the weapon wasn’t perfect,” said Sekaya. “That’s why you were able to somehow reverse the process.”

“It’s indeed lucky that the Changeling found me. I doubt if anyone else could have done it.”

Or would have, Sekaya thought bitterly. Genetic tampering like this has been illegal for decades among all civilized, sane people.

“That’s why he’s given me my wonderful little friends,” Moset finished. “They’re my reward for all my hard work on his behalf.”

Chakotay started to open his mouth, then closed it again, frowning. Moset didn’t miss the gesture. He jumped on it like a bird on an insect.

“What?” he asked, concerned.

Chakotay said, “Nothing.”

“What?” Moset insisted.

Chakotay hesitated, and then said, “You think Ellis gave you the colonists to experiment on to thank you for helping him, right?”

“Of course, that’s what he said, and I have no reason to doubt him. I’ve done him an enormous favor.” His bright eyes narrowed. “Don’t you think I deserve that