Author's Note: This story begins six months after the final episode of DS9...

DARK EZRI

Chapter I - Symbiosis

Deep inside the Mirror Universe...

The Klingon cruiser Bok'ra dropped out of warp and slipped into orbit around the planet Iotia. Almost immediately shuttles departed and transporters came online, bearing supplies for the Alliance world. Conquered more then a hundred years ago by the former Emperor Tiberius himself, the quick to adapt human-like population had emulated it's masters and became a valued part of the Terran Empire.

Now they were an integral part of the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance that controlled the Alpha Quadrant, despite being quite far from the galactic hub. Here were based a massive mining and industrial operation that covered half the globe. But more importantly, at least for the stowaway onboard the Bok'ra, was Iotia's high-level detention center, isolated on an island in the western hemisphere.

Ezri Tigan, unjoined Trill mercenary, exited the cargo container that had been her home for the past week and a half, and stole through the darkened cargo hold, until she reached the nearest cargo transporter. It's Klingon operator was absorbed in her task, and Ezri didn't have to wait long.

The Officer finished transporting her allotment of cargo, then shut down the pad and headed for the lift, eager to be off shift. Ezri watched her disappear, envious at the possible fresh meal the Klingon could soon be enjoying. She herself had been surviving off of Breen nutrient packs for ten days, and some qagh would be wonderful.

But to the mission at hand. Ezri quickly powered up the cargo transporter and scanned the planet, finding her target right away. She had committed it's layout to memory and knew just where to go. She programmed the pad on a ten second delay, then slipped a device of her own design from her jacket and attached under the panel.

She thumbed it on and stepped onto the transporter.

If it works the way it should, I will be able to have it transport me back up whenever I need it, she thought to herself, and then crossed her fingers, a human habit she had picked up.

"I'm coming Dax." Ezri whispered to the galaxy at large, as the countdown ended, and she vanished in the swirl of the transporter beam...

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Two weeks ago, on the Rebel space station Terok Nor...

Ezri had had just about enough of the arrogant rebels, especially the constantly prattling Bajoran, Commander Leeta. Sure, they had captured Worf, the Regent of the Alliance himself and the flagship of the Alliance, the Regency I, six months earlier, a great triumph to be sure. But most of the Terrans thought that this was the turning point in the uprising, and now there was a massive mobilization taking place.

Hundreds of ships were already here in orbit around Bajor and the station, all "liberated" from the Alliance. Now there was a push to invade the Cardassian Empire itself, maybe try to take the spoonhead's homeworld. Ludicrous, Tigan thought, but she kept that to herself.

Ezri had gained a grudging respect for the rebel leader, O'Brien, maybe he could pull off the victory, but she would have no part in it. Ezri was a mercenary, and had no wish to sacrifice herself for a cause she didn't even believe in. Profit was her first and last motive, always had been. At least until she entered Morn's, the station's bar, that night. The night that had changed her life forever.

Captain Bashir, an unappealing human, at least Ezri thought so, though the rest of the female population seemed to disagree with her, was slumped over the bar again. As she sat down, she heard him going on again to a captivated Bajoran serving girl about Jadzia Dax, his former woman, who had been lost in a battle with Alliance forces, seven months earlier.

This was a constant thing with Bashir; get drunk on bloodwine and then dump on whoever was closest. Ezri was sick of it, despite the curiosity she had concerning the deceased fellow Trill. Bashir soon stumbled out, the girl in one hand, a bottle in the other, and Ezri watched them go as she nursed her own bitter ale. She shivered at the thought of their upcoming carnal practices, Bashir was a pig.

She almost didn't notice the person who slid in beside her, and she almost gasped when he placed his hand on her shoulder. Her disruptor pistol was out of it's holster and into the intruder's face in a microsecond, and the man flinched and let go.

"Beat it, I'm not available." she snarled, glaring at the thin and nervous man.

"I apologize, my mistake in touching you. But you misunderstand my intentions." he quickly replied back, and from his accent Ezri realized he was Betazoid.

Instantly her mental barriers dropped into place, and the stranger blinked, surprised, "Where did you learn to do that?"

"I hang around with Ferengi alot, and envied their ability to naturally block mental intrusions." she replied, still training the disrupter in his general direction. Ezri disliked Betazoids, something else she picked up from her late friend Brunt.

"So I paid a Vulcan priest to give me some pointers." her lips curled at the unintentional pun.

The Betazoid nodded, "Not bad for a beginner, but believe me you could not hold out against somebody as powerful as me for more then a few minutes." he said with a confident smile.

"Then I have this." she said indicating her weapon.

He paled again, then nodded, "So you do. But as I tried to indicate before, I have something you might want."

"I highly doubt that." replied Ezri.

"Really I do. I am serious. I had come here to sell it to Captain Bashir, but I read his mind, he could not meet my price. But from your mind I detect that you would want this even more then he would, and have more then enough credits."

"What are you talking about, Betazoid?" Ezri asked in annoyance, but she had to admit she was becoming interested.

"Call be Tam. Tam Elbron." he replied with a soft smile, as he took a Cardassian isolinear rod from his pocket, and held it up, "This my dear, this...is Dax..."

To be continued...