A Taste for Vengeance

Star Trek DS9 Fanfiction
Title:	A Taste for Vengeance
Author(s):	Yavanna
Date(s):	1995
Length:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
External Links:	http://yavanna.slashcity.net/taste1.htm (Yavanna's Realm)
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A Taste for Vengeance is a Garak/Bashir story by Yavanna. It was first published in Tarkalean Tea and is online. Warnings: Hurt/Comfort, Rape.

Summary from the author's website: "The much darker sequel to "Getting Away..." in which Dukat pursues his vendetta against Garak on DS9 and Julian's the one who gets caught between them. This originally appeared in "Tarkalean Tea". NC-17 (some non-cons.)"

Reactions and Reviews

A Taste for Vengeance begins shortly after Yavanna's earlier story Getting Away From It All. Dukat arrives at the station determined to seek revenge on Dr. Bashir and Mr. Garak for ruining his plans to have the tailor executed in GAFIA. Dukat has learned of the tailor's weak spot for the good doctor and rapes Bashir as revenge. He hopes that the rape will not only hurt Bashir, but also poison his relationship with the tailor.

This story is definately NC-17 material. Dukat's rape of Bashir is not the most graphic I have read, but it is explicit and Bashir's humilitation and pain are evident. One of the greatest strengths of the story is the treatment of the characters' emotions. Bashir is distressed by his own reactions to Dukat and Garak's initial reaction to the rape of Bashir is unwitting arousal. The couple's reactions are further complicated by the differences between Cardassians and Terrans. Bashir and Garak are in love and genuinely care about each other, but each man still treats the other one as they would one of their own species. Dukat is able to exploit the differences between the two, but the exploitation is only possible because Bashir and Garak are not completely comfortable together.

The characters' arrogence is their nearly fatal flaw. Garak is convinced that he can handle Dukat and ignores Bashir's concerns to put his plan into action. He underestimates how well Dukat understands him and overestimates Bashir's devotion to him. He treats Bashir as he would a Cardassian. Bashir arrogently assumes that Garak will tell him the truth about situations affecting their relationship because he has told Garak the truth even when it is uncomfortable. The rape of Bashir and Garak's original attempt at revenge nearly destroy the relationship between Garak and Bashir, but facing the differences gives the men the opportunity to strengthen their relationship.

A Taste for Vengeance may not be bedtime reading for some, but it is a good read. It has enough sex to satisfy any G/B fan and it has a strong plot. The reviewer highly recommends this story, but strongly suggests reading Getting Away From It All (also in the ASC archive) first.