Disclaimer: Illiana Ghemor and all the other characters in this fiction belong to Paramount. This story is purely a fanfic.

Author Notes: After completing the first book of my trilogy, I noticed that I spelled 'Illiana' wrong. According to the Star Trek Encyclopedia it should be spelled 'Iliana'. I know I should have went through my entire story and removed the extra 'L' but I didn't think it would matter too much. However in the next book of the trilogy it will be corrected and eventually it will be corrected here as well. After seeing the Deep Space Nine episode entitled 'Second Skin' I was very eager to learn about Iliana Ghemor, sadly they never did anything with her. I'm sure she would have made a very interested character. I felt compelled enough to create my own story about her. I hope you enjoy this story, please leave some feedback and tell me what I'm doing wrong or right. Thanks! (tora_ziyal13@hotmail.com). This is an updated version with chapters to make it easier to read because I know its long:) I added a lot more detail to it also.

References: A Stitch in Time by Andrew J. Robinson

Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Second Skin (Episode #)

Star Trek Encyclopedia: A Reference Guide to the Future by Michael and Denise Okuda

Illiana Ghemor: Daughter of Cardassia

By Tora Ziyal

Illiana laid back on the warm sandy ground. The sun above Cardassia Prime beat down on her beautiful, gray, slightly scaled skin. She closed her dark brown eyes and took in a deep breath, breathing in the warm air that made her lungs feel at ease. She laid there in silence as her mind wandered off, thinking about her dreams and her desires. Time came and went but time meant nothing to Illiana. She never was a girl to pay to much attention to it, she had always lived her life from moment to moment, and never really caring on how much time she took or didn't take. She was still lost in her own dreams and didn't hear the heavy footsteps creeping behind her. Two large hands grabbed her from behind. One clasped over her mouth while the other wrapped securely around her waist.

She tried to scream but it only came out as a muffled, "Let..mmmm...gggooh!!" The attacker had a tight hold on her and was not showing any sign of releasing his grip. She tried her best to kick away from him but it was almost useless as the man's grip tightened. Illiana's mind flooded with images and sounds and her own fear mixed in with it. She tried to clear her mind from the images, trying as hard it was to devise a plan so she could escape. The man's grip tightened even more. The only thing Illiana could think of to do was to bite her assailant. She bit down, hard on his hand that was over her mouth.

"Ooowww!!" The man yelped as he released Illiana and fell back in pain onto the ground. Illiana wasn't sure if she was to run away or turn back and get a good look at her attacker's face. She took a few steps away and then spun around to get a look at the man, so she could describe him to her father.

"Neelan!" Illiana spouted out as she rushed over to him. "What on Cardassia do you think you're doing!" She demanded as she stood over him, with her hands on her hips.

Neelan stopped his cursing and looked up at Illiana. "I was just playing. You didn't need to bite me!" He growled as he pressed down on his hand to stop the flow of blood that was trickling out of the wound. Neelan Boheeka, was a tall, muscular cardassian. He always appeared to be tough on the outside but Illiana knew that inside him, he wasn't like most other cardassian men, who acted dominate and superior over the women. That was the first thing that attracted Illiana to him. She often thought it was funny when he tried to act tough. He loved to joke but sometimes his jokes went a little to far.

"And how was I to know that it was you?!" Illiana replied back, tapping her foot angrily on the sandy ground.

"I thought you'd know by the way that I was holding you." Neelan said as he rubbed his sore, bleeding hand.

Illiana crouched down next to him. "The way you were holding me, is not the way you hold me." She said as she took his hand. "Now let me see." She examined his hand, rubbed it gently and then wrapped her hair scarf around it.

Neelan looked into Illiana's large brown eyes. "I'm sorry I scared you, Illiana." He said softly to her.

"You should be." She bluntly said as she turned away from his gaze. Neelan scooted closer and put his arms around her and pulled her close to him.

"Can I make it up to you?" He whispered into her ear and kissed her neck a few times.

Illiana giggled a little and then turned her face back to his, to look into his blue eyes. "I forgive you."

Neelan smiled. "I hoped you would. Now what brings you out on this beautiful day on Cardassia Prime?" He asked as he traced the ridges around her gray skin with his fingers.

Illiana closed her eyes and sighed lightly. How she loved his touch. "You know how I love these days. Why stay indoors on such a sweltering day like this?" She laughed. She picked up his un-bruised hand and squeezed it gently. "Besides, soon will both be at the Art Institute and we won't have much time to spend outdoors."

When Illiana said this Neelan's smile faded and he glanced down at the ground below him. "I...I wanted...I need to tell you something..." He stuttered as he tried to find the words.

Illiana watched concerned as he nervously drew circles in the sand with his fingers. "Neelan what is wrong?"

He abruptly stopped and looked up at her. His face held a look of sadness, fear, and hope. "I....won't...I won't be going to the Art Institute with you, Illiana."

Illiana's look of concern melted away and a look of shock came over her. "Wha...what do you mean? I-I thought we were going to go there together?" She stammered.

"Illiana, your father is right. The Art Institute is no place for me. I can't make an honest living as an artisan." Neelan replied.

Illiana glanced away and then looked back. Her own eyes filled with a look of sadness, fear, and hope. "Please, please don't tell me you've decided to join the Cardassian military?" She said softly, shaking her head.

"I thought you'd be proud of me for making this kind of decision." He said as he touched the ridges on her neck. "Being in the military is the best thing for me, the best thing for us, and the best thing for our future family."

Illiana brushed his hand away form her neck. "The military doesn't bring families together, it tears them apart!" She shouted as she jumped up to her feet.

Neelan to jumped up and stood facing her. "That isn't true and you know it, Illiana! Your father, Gul Tekeny Ghemor, is a predominate figure in the Cardassian military. He provides food, clothing, a home, protection, and status to you and your mother."

"And you think that I need all these things?! I will be happier if we live a simple life and raise our children accordingly!" She retorted back.

Neelan shook his head. "I don't want to be a nobody in Cardassian history. I want to make a mark. I want to do something to be remembered by!" He shouted angrily.

Illiana shot a look of displeasure at him. "Then this is all about you! You don't care about me or our would be family! Listen to you, acting like a self-absorbed, egotistical cardassian militant man! Sometimes I don't understand you, Neelan Boheeka!"

"Your father and mother will be proud of me!" He said as he paced back and forth a few times. Then he stopped and looked back into her eyes again. "He always said you'd be better off with a military husband than you would an architect. I love you Illiana and I want to give you the life that is best for you!"

Illiana turned around so that she wasn't facing Neelan anymore. "If you love me, then don't join the military. She waited for him to say something but there was only silence. She turned around to face him again. "Neelan, the military is very hard, it takes years of hard work, dedication, and there is always that chance that you will never come back. I-I don't know what I would do if I lost you." Tears began to run down her pale gray skin, she turned around again and began to wipe the tears away.

Neelan stood there watching for a moment. His hardened expression vanished and was replaced with a look of love and care. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her small, slim waist and nuzzled his face close to her neck and began to kiss. "Oh Illiana, I love you." He whispered softly. "You have such a kind and gentle heart. I do not want to lose you...ever. You must understand that when I go into the military and do not return home to your loving arms, you will be taken care of. The government will see to that. However, if I died as an artist they wouldn't give you much support ."

His words were true. The Cardassian government always gave the best support to families that lost a family member if they were involved with the military is someway or another. They hardly gave anything for non-military people. She thought about it a minute more and then she thought about how unhappy her mother was. Her mother was the wife of Tekeny Ghemor, a military figure and a man of great importance to Cardassia. Although, Illiana's mother loved her husband very much, she wasn't truly happy with their lifestyle. She herself was a government worker at the Central Command, and barely had time for Tekeny or Illiana. When they did go out, they almost had to put on an act, like they were the perfect Cardassian family. They chatted with all the high ranking guls, legates, and political figures. Always in the eyes of the public, never any alone time together. Illiana didn't want that to happen to her. She wanted a husband that led a simple, honest job. That way they would be able to go places and just enjoy each other's company and not everyone else's. She had made up her mind, as much as this was going to pain her. She turned to face Neelan, looking straight into his ice blue eyes. "I won't be with you if you join the military."

Neelan held her gaze far a moment. "I've made up my mind, Illiana. I won't change it."

"Not even for me?" She asked with a bit up hope. He said nothing, just looked at her with those cold blue eyes. "Good-bye, Neelan. I wish you well in your life." She said, softly as she began to walk away.

"Good-bye, my love." He spoke quietly as he watched her figure disappear beyond the hills.