Chapter Text
Droca flew above him as they traveled, the Tilla moving easily through the forest. The bipeds looked like thing ground birds, their bodies covered in scales. They were dark, green and fast. They were kind of temperamental, so only a few would actually ride them. The one Keevan rode was Sil, a female who was a mother. She had only bitten him once, and that was because he'd trodden on her tail.That was the only time she has attacked and since then she had been a wonderful companion.
The road swiftly heading towards the riverside, and Keevan knew at any point they would meet the village guards. Keevan hope it was someone he knew because explaining everything to someone he didn't know was going to be difficult. Even with Droca with him the guards might use to shoot first and ask questions later. But that might actually serve them well if the warnings Droca had brought were true.
Keevan himself wasn't sure he believed the shapeshifter. If there really were Monsters coming to kill them then was there really any point in fighting though. There was more than one vorta who would gladly treat these beings as gods. Would kneel before them and let them take their lives.
He slowed his tilla to a halt before dismounting, and waited for Droca to join him.
"We'll walk from here."
"I don't know it may be safer to remain mounted in case we have to run."
Before they could begin to argue there was rustling in the nearby undergrowth. A young woman came darting out with a child held to her chest. Her eyes were full of panic and she stalled for a moment when she saw the two of them.
"Something has come. My village is burning." She said and I'd the tilla behind them. 'We must flee."
Keevan believed her but still had to see for himself. "Wait for me here. If I am not back by the time the sun reaches its peak leave without me."
Droca nodded and guided the women and child closer to the trees. Keevan took off at a run,keeping close to the trees and low to the ground. Being on ground level was always nerve racking but sometimes necessary. As he ran he noticed that there was smoke in the air. He could smell it coming from-
He came to a drop and saw out towards the river was a column of smoke rising high into the air. And floating above the devastation was a large Grey and gold behemoth that seemed to radiate fear. His stomach grew tight and he turned to run back to Droca and the others only to come face to face with....something hideous. Scaled skin covered a giant off what could vaguely be called a man. Before Keevan could cry out a warning it did something to the shiny shape in its arms and light erupted from the end. It was the last thing Keevan remembered before jolting awake.
He was in his quarters upon Deep Space Nine, the room small and silent. He touched his chest and the phantom memory of the plasma rifles strike. As he did he spotted his marking. It was so strange that he should look so different, as it led to all kinds of questions. Like why did the Founders take so much. Not just looks and taste, but they got rid of an entire gender in there quest to dominate the vorta. And the J'Hem Hadar? Had they once been another species. Had they once have culture and families and life. Or had they always been killing machines.
Speaking of J'Hem Hadar Keevan was still surprised that so many were rebelling. There had always been rumors of rebellion, but only a handful had ever actually attempted it. Now that the Founders had chosen the path of mass destruction to invasion, it seemed as though the whole weapons locker had blown. No matter how hard they tried the door wasn't going to close on it without some major damage control. Or major changes to the door.
Rubbing spot on his chest again even decided he wasn't getting any more sleep tonight, and got up to get something to drink. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't get images out of his head. Kept seeing the faces of Droca and that poor woman. He saw the faces of the Elders and those of friends his head to warn other tribes. An entire planet had probably been wiped clean of intelligent life and all that was left with memories pulled out of the ether by some aliens that lived on another plane of existence. To be perfectly honest Keevan wasn't sure if he would ever get used to the knowledge that poured into his head. Moments of life that may or may not have been his. Were these visions the memories of the man that killed and was cloned from, or were they just a random man who shared a little bit of his DNA. A distant relative who wore his face. Or maybe it was just a stranger who has been chosen because his memories would most deeply affect Keevan. And they did affect him.
How could they not, when he felt the emotions of those involved as though they were his own.
"Synthahol." He said to the replicator before heading over to his desk.If he couldn't sleep he might as well try and get some work done.
* * * * * * * * * *
Weyoun finally finished his debriefings it was early in the morning. He was exhausted,almost asleep on feet as he entered his quarters. He was so tired he almost didn't see Borath asleep on the couch. The moment he was going to leave him there, but relented not because he was worried about Borath's neck but because he didn't want to hear the other complain about it the next day.
"Wake up Borath, you can't sleep there."
"Hm, oh. Your back." Sitting up a little straighter and stretching out his neck."Whats the time?"
"You don't want to know. But I'm not expected back until no tomorrow-today." Weyoun slipped out of his jacket and went to his bedroom. He didn't bother with a shower, instead he just went to his bed and sat down, dealing with his shoes. Borath had followed him, leaning against the door frame.
"Are you okay. I heard you a had it pretty rough."
"I've got renegade J'Hem Hadar, a limited supply of white and a scientist trying to work herself to death. What little trust I have garnered is at risk because half the station thinks I planned this to try and retake the Station and I keep getting odd looks from the Bajorans because they think I've 'communed' with the gods." Weyoun, put his boots under the bed. "And I have to work with Keevan tomorrow."
"You know, If you need help I'm available for the next few days. I have less than nothing to do."
"You can rest. I might have to leave the station for a little while."Weyoun said,"So you'll have to take over my work here."
"Why do you have to go!" Borath asked, alarmed. He came and sat beside Weyoun, hand resting on his shoulder."Did something happen"
"Weyoun Seven has been converted. We need to know how much of a threat he could be to us."
Borath sat still for a moment before asking,"Why didn't the Founders order his destruction."
"I haven't a clue. I think Damar may have thought his rebellion would succeed by having a traitorous Vorta amongst them. Or he could hold him for ransom. We both know the Changelings would give alot for a converted vorta to study."Weyoun rubbed his eyes,I may have a connection to him, but I can't be certain."
"This could end very badly for us. If the conversion went wrong...."
"Can we could have a traitor on the inside of resistance."Weyoun shook his head and leaned against Borath."They'll be sending people to help them. Specialists in gorilla and subversive warfare."
Borath snorted a laugh and then apologized,"There going to send a Bajoran terrorist, aren't they."
"There sending Kira."Weyoun said and Borath went pale.
"Well, that should be...interesting."
Weyoun said nothing and just leaned into it,letting the other still sleep warm body lull his mind. He needed to sleep.
"I'm going to bed. Your welcome to stay."He said and stood So could slide off his under shirt as he went to retrieve his pajamas. Borath leaned back on his hands and watched Weyoun change his cloths,enjoying the site. Soft around the edges but not in a bad way, eyes path trailing down his back and shapely legs. On there way back up they were caught on the chest wound he had. Birth had never before seen a scar on a vorta,at least not on a live one. It was larger than he thought,and still healing. Weyoun had refused having it fully healed. He watched Weapon wince slightly as he stretched and the scar tissue pulled.
"Painful."Borath asked.
"Yes. But a pain I will live with."Weyoun touched it for a moment and then shook his head."I still can't believe I did that."
"Kill a Changeling. You didn't have a choice,it would have killed you if you hadn't made the first move."
"If I'd moved faster one of our own would still be alive. Falta wouldn't be dust in the galaxy."
Borath slipped out of his shoes before coming to stand next to his friend. "Do not blame yourself for what happened to him. You did what you could. You killed the damn thing. Justice was served and that's that."
Weyoun didn't believe him but excepted the comfort offered.
"Now lets sleep,we both need it."
* * * * * * * * * *
Kira sat staring at the mission plan and trying to figure out why the hell she had agreed to this. She was going into Cardasian territory and she was going in willingly. Hose was insane.
"Your regretting it,aren't you."
Kira jumped slightly as Odo came into room. "No. Just...worried about how this will play out."
"Everyone is."Odo waited for Kira to stand,careful not to approach to swiftly when she was in a mood like this. She was on edge and worried. Odo knew that she could go off in a heart beat.
"I just don't get how they think i'll be able to help. I gave them two dozen other names and they still want me." She stood and began to pace."I blew these people up less than ten years ago and yet they still think I'm the best choice?"
Again Odo was silent, letting Kira finish.
"And what if I can't do it. These men could be men I've met, men I'll want dead. What if I can't keep old anger from clouding my judgment?"
"Because you know the job is to important."Odo said and watched as Kira suddenly went a little limp.
"Your right, you always are. I have to do this."She sat on her couch and put her head in her hands."I'm just glad your coming with me. Together we may just accomplish the mission."
Odo had a look pass over his face that Kira didn't like much."What was that look for."
"You didn't get the message. Its not just us coming."
"Who else. Sisko? Bashir?"
"Garak. Garak will be joining us. He knows the planet, the culture and the still has connections. They may not be useful but they will give us a place to start." He went and sat beside her and smiled."We'll be leaving tomorrow. Sisko want's us ready for debriefing by 12:00 hours."
"Why on earth do they think bringing Garak is a good idea."
"I have a theory, but I need to speak with Garak himself before I can be sure."
Leaning against Odo Kira felt his arm wrap around her."Well be sure to let me know. I don't want to be left out of the loop where Garak is involved."
"You'll be the first to know."
* * * * * * * * * *
Sisko sat in his office and thought not about the vorta but another one of his crew. Bashir. His doctor was a good man,brilliant and kind if not a little over eager. His enhanced status was a shock but meant nothing to Sisko. Bashir had proven himself time and again and no one who knew him believed him a danger. The doctors who changed him had been careful not to repeat past mistakes. Careful not to create another Khan.
It seemed as though others were attempting to repeat the process.
Garak and Bashir had found evidence that was circumstantial at best,but it was drawing a picture that was terrifying to hear. The federation,or Section 31,was attempting to create more like Bashir. Men of brilliant minds and physical presence who weren't a risk to there creators. Spies and assassins who were loyal only to the federation.
And that in turn led to another fear that Sisko couldn't get rid of. In their grasp were vorta who hand't been converted yet. Whose minds were still loyal to the Dominion. Whose genetics were loyal. Genetics that Gould be studied and transferred. It looked suspiciously like Section 31 was.trying to create super human slaves. The thought made Sisko sick. His forebrain was saying no,that wasn't something that would be allowed. They wouldn't do that. But this was also a group of people who had infected an innocent, had infected Odo with a virus that would murder his kind. In the back of his head he was contemplating ways to revealing these plans. How to stop his hideous betrayal of Federation Codes and Morals that none could forgive.
And it was happening whilst he sat at his desk. The investigation was quietly being blocked. Information was going missing before it could be read,people were suddenly unavailable to talk or data logs were 'accidentally' erased from the system. And now Garak was being sent to the most dangerous place for himself at that moment. He wasn't meant to be going with Kira and Odo. He was meant to be decoding messages and helping O'Brien find a way to get around Cardassian defenses. Instead he was being sent to help rebels. Men who held no love for the Obsidian Order,and enemies who would love to see him dead. And without his Bashir would have no choice but to work alone and without the help of the one man who could help him most. Sisko had tried to find where the orders had come from,but so far he had been led in circles. Someone didn't want anything other than circumstantial evidence left. And considering Bashir had had someone try and remotely access his private logs,someone didn't want that seen either.Someone was standing ion the way of a very big secret.
And Sisko didn't know how to deal with it. There were still so many who feared genetic altering to an almost hysterical point. If anyone had been born there was a very good chance they could be sentenced to live out there lives in exile. The thought was a disgusting one. Whoever was born was an innocent. Julian Bashir had no choice in his enhancements. His parents were to blame for that. Yet if the Federation had wanted they could have made his life hell. Angering Julian would cause far to many problems. But leaving him be, letting him live his life.... would make him think twice about risking it all.
Sisko had spoken a long time with Juliann and the more he listened the more he began to realize why Julian was so angry. Not that his DNA was being used illegally, not that so many like him were treated so badly, but because his father and the doctors involved may have planned for this. That when changing him they had made sure to keep samples to offer up should they be found out. They were willing to create more enhance humans. Unless that had been the plan all along.
Had Julian's father seen the chance to be forever remember in the child he had produced. Rather than be forgotten as the man with the dull child, create something better, and be remember as the man who created the new, improved humanity. Richard Bashir wouldn't be the first. Or it could have been Julia's mother who suggested it. Both? There were far to many variable.
And none could be proven without more evidence. Sisko could only hope they had a breakthrough soon, because he had a bad feeling. And this bad feeling had him fearing not just for Bashir, but everyone else in the federation.