This is my first DS9 fanfiction. Please be kind. I love the Vorta and love reading stories about them. Please review and let me know what you think. Oh, disclaimer thing. I own nothing of the Star Trek world.
…
Sandra looked at the dress in the mirror and knew that this would be the last time she would ever have to wear one like it again. This was the last night she would have to be paid for her kind of services. She turned her head to her partner in crime. "So, Torbin do you think this dress is adequate for the job?"
The young Cardassian looked her over again. "Of course it is. No man could ever resist any woman in a dress like that." He curled his arms around her and kissed her ear gently then let her go. "I want to show you something." Stepping back he placed a band around his wrist and tapped it gently. He slowly turned from being a Cardassian to a Kerrikian.
"That's amazing Torbin. The red hair and small grey dots along a perfectly green face. If I didn't see it for myself I would never believe it." She reached out to touch him and was surprised to feel Cardassian skin under her fingers.
"It's not that good yet. A few years from now and I'll not know the difference."
"Are you sure no one will pull me out of a crowd? I am Human after all and the Dominion is on the station now." Her nerves were getting the better of her.
He knew that may be an issue for her and he was eager to ease her tension. He had just at much at stake as her. Their plan needed to work out. "I have arranged that you meet Yunnin straight away. That way I can get to his labs and we'll both be free of our depts. As you know the Kerrikians are a rather conservative people and Yunnin is anything but. That's why he works on a space station where he can do what he wants."
"I know, I know but I'm still nervous." He gave her a hug to settle her nerves. "Alright. Let's get this over with."
They were docked at a space station and walked about it as any normal couple. Torbin made sure he had his disguise on before leaving the ship. The station was average but there was a festival of some sort and the merchants were out with all varieties of things to sell.
Sandra looked all around taking in all the sights and sounds of that station. She looked up to see different races and caught the eye of a Vorta who nodded in her direction. Breathing in deeply she had to hold back a little bit of panic. Looking back, the Vorta was still staring at her and followed for a few steps.
"Calm down, you'll attract attention."
Before she could warn him she was ushered down a corridor. It was designed in cool colors that did not suit a habitat area of a station. There was something clinical about it. "Torbin are you sure we are in the right place?"
"Yes, this is the right place." He rang the door and waited. They were greeted by a tall man who had to be Yunnin.
"Welcome, the both of you. You are early but that is all right."
Sandra entered first and her stomach clenched. This was Yunnin's lab. Before she could turn around in protest she felt a slight pinch in her neck and everything went black. Torbin caught her before she fell to the floor. "I'm sorry but I need the money far more than you do."
….
It was always the same with each species that he observed no matter if it was the Alpha or Gamma quadrant. Each race buying and selling useless things simply for the pleasure of it or to fulfill some random act of custom that neither enjoyed nor despised. The majority of people on this particular station were rather dull despite the festivities that were being held.
For about an hour he observed and noted those that stared at him and quickly turned away or simply stared at his exotic features. The Founders had designed the Vorta well. He was rather popular among females of different species. He understood they found his features appealing, sexual even. Though Vorta do not have a proclivity towards sexuality they do understand the desire to connect in a very personal way.
Turning away from his thoughts the Vorta watched as a Human female and a Kerrikian man walked into the medical and laboratory corridor. For a moment or so he watched her, and she looked back at him and he saw the tale tail signs of panic. She was dressed in too revealing of clothing to be a woman of science. He was still new to the mating customs of the Alpha quadrant but yet found it odd that such a woman would be here. This was a science station. What made things more strange was that she was Human. Most fled from Dominion territory or stayed well hidden if they remained.
"Keevan, here is the report you requested." A JemHadar soldier handed him a PADD.
He took it and briefly looked at it. "Come with me I want to look into something." He was only doing this out of boredom. After his predecessor surrendered to the Federation he had been giving minimal duties. He knew the previous Keevan was still alive and if ever caught by the Dominion he would love to be there for the debriefing.
…..
She could feel the cold first and shivered though the bright lights burned her eyes through her lids. It was difficult to take deep breaths so she had to calm herself down or pass out again. After a few minutes a hand gently touched her arm. "Ah, you have no idea how important you are to my research. It's very hard to find candidates you know."
She tried to speak but found she was unable to do so.
"Don't try and talk. The sedative is strong and it seems to have temporarily taken your voice."
Sandra tried to look around as best she could but the lights in her eyes blocked everything out. Torbin's voice rang out in the room, helping Yunnin with something. Both of them were in a hurry to complete something fast.
Fear gripped at her and held her down just as well as the straps of the bio bed. Torbin turned against her for some reason and she tried to scream out but only pitifully strained whispers could be heard. The Vorta that stared at her came to mind and she prayed to whatever Gods out there that he would come and investigate who she was before her death.
Yunnin looked down at her and dimmed the lights a little. He was looking at and through her at the same time. It was as if she was the final piece of the puzzle he had been waiting for. "I've waited so long for this to work. A life time of research. For each woman I've given the same speech and you will be no different. I have found a way to alter the DNA of one species to another. Now look up."
The lights dimmed and she saw the most beautiful sight of her life. Thin wispy strands of colour swam around in an energy grid. They held no depth but they were there. As beautiful as they were she knew they would bring her life to an end. So this was the DNA Killer. Stories of five other women half mutated between two different races were found but the killer was never caught. Tears ran down her face as she was so close to leaving this life. Returning to Earth was almost in her reach.
Torbin looked down and squeezed her arm. She only looked at him with hate. How dare he do this to her? After everything they had gone through and planned. They would both have been free.
"They are so beautiful aren't they? All the other women thought so." Yunnin stepped back and held out a small vial. Torbin stepped away and went to the computer behind Yunnin. "Just one drop of this DNA and you'll be another race when combined with the beautiful strings above you. This one is my favorite. The women are so delicate and beautiful."
Anger mixed with pure raw fear caused her to shake and stare daggers at him. All she could do was stare in violence at him.
"I know you can't ask but want to. Yes, it is reversible. In theory anyway."
"Put it down Yunnin and step away."
Yunnin turned around and saw Torbin with a hand phaser. "What are you doing?"
"This research is pure latnum and I'm going to take it all."
Just then the door to the lab opened and a Vorta and two JemHadar entered. "Dr. Yunnin, we have come to ask a few questions. My name is Keevan and I am very curious what you are doing with a Human."
Torbin put the phaser away quickly and slowly walked closer to the door, acting as natural as possible. One JemHadar blocked his way.
"That is none of your business Vorta."
"I just made it my business." Keevan said with a calm smile.
While Yunnin and Keevan were arguing Torbin pushed a few buttons on the computer behind him to create an auto self destruct. Ten seconds should do it. He walked up to Sandra and smiled down at her.
"Yunnin, let him see the experiment."
By this point Yunin was beyond reason and started screaming. The computer sparked and blew sending debris everywhere. The JemHadar were thrown to the ground while Yunnin screamed as a piece of metal went through him. Torbin recovered easily and ran from the room as fast as he could.
The light strings from the container above Sandra came out as the energy grid no longer was in place due to the self destruct. She screamed and screamed at they were tearing her apart. Keevan stood up using the table as support. Her hand grabbed his for only a second sending him screaming to the floor as he felt as if a part of him was burned. He pushed himself away as he saw the thin lines devour the woman on the table. After a few minutes the lines faded and she lay very, very still.
The JemHadar got up and inspected Yunnin and the Human for signs of life. Yunnin was dead but she wasn't. For the briefest of moments she opened her eyes and looked at Keevan. She whispered the words 'help me' then passed out again.
There was something very wrong as he swore that her eyes were brown and not the deep blue violet color they were now. "She's coming with us and find that other Kerrikian. He has answers."
He touched the woman's face and noticed how quickly it was changing color. Whatever just happened he knew that it was something rather significant. He had everything confiscated and sent to the other Vorta scientists. Every bit of information about Yunnin was collected to shed some light on what just happened here and what type of research Yunnin was conducting.
It took two days to fill a complete report but Keevan smiled as he sent it to Terok Nor, for Weyoun, the Dominion Ambassador, would never be able to resist hearing a firsthand account of what happened here. This woman had stunned the most disciplined of Vorta scientists with what was happening to her and sent a report to Weyoun with as much detail as Keevan's.
He smiled down at her knowing the shock she was going to be in when she woke up and the deeper trauma she'll have when she reached Terok Nor.
…..
It was very quiet when she woke and was grateful for that luxury. Everything seemed off somehow. She turned her head and found something stopping her head slightly. She reached up and felt something stiff but her fingers were felt by that stiff mass and…ridges? Now fully awake she sat on the edge of the bed and began to feel her face.
She held out her hands and looked at their odd pale colour and delicateness of her skin.
"I'd offer you a mirror but there are none aboard this vessel."
The voice startled her but she quickly recovered. It was the Vorta she saw on the station looking at her with a smile. "Before I answer any questions you need to understand that there was an accident and it resulted in your change of appearance." His voice was soft and he moved with great grace towards her. "Here is some water. I am sure your throat is dry."
Sandra took the water and drank it. "Thank-you." She took another drink before handing the now empty glass back to him. She reached up to her ears again. "Do I look like…you?"
"I suppose you do but we'll get to that later."
"What's your name?"
"Keevan and I'll be bringing you to a station called Terok Nor. But you may know it as Deep Space 9."
Whatever she was expecting to hear that was not it. "What happened to me?"
He explained everything that he knew and she grew cold inside. Whatever Yunnin was working on had indeed worked and Torbin held some of the most powerful information to date. She was sure he was after the research. This type of genetic manipulation could destroy civilizations. That is if the DNA change was stable enough.
"I see. Will it be possible to reverse…this." She motioned to her face.
He held a sardonic smile and tilted his head to the side a little. "Do you honestly believe that you'll be given that option? I apologize for the blunt honesty but placating you will do you very little good."
There was a pause in their conversation and he simply studied her. "Are all Vorta like you?"
"And what am I like exactly?"
"Inquisitive with an underline mean streak and yet gentle. It's rather unsettling."
Keevan only smiled and gave a small laugh. "That's how we're made. I wonder if you too will exhibit that feature in time."
"I'm. Human."
"As if that makes you devoid of a mean streak. I have seen the most peaceful of races turn into the most ruthless fighters." He stepped closer to her only feet away from her. "Weyoun will enjoy you my dear. He has grown to detest Humans and having one with a Vorta face will be a prize like no other."
That name struck a chord with her for she heard it many times. After a second she placed it and turned even paler than she already was. "What will Weyoun do to me?"
"Get inside your head and control every move you make."
A headache was beginning to form and wondered if she went to sleep if she would wake up Human again. Whatever her life was like as a prostitute it wasn't nearly as scary as this. "You don't seem to like this Weyoun very much."
"Vorta don't like anyone actually."
"Is there anything you enjoy besides scaring those under your care?"
Under his care? Yes, she wasn't harmed and not put into a cell. Delusional thoughts but he decided to play along with her for now. Now as to her question. "It depends on the Vorta. We are individual despite being clones. I enjoy languages, learning how other species' communicate."
It surprised her that Keevan never changed his tone. It was a constant smirk as if he knew something she didn't and need to know. He scared her in a way yet found him attractive. His designers knew what they were doing with the Vorta.
"What does Weyoun like?"
"Games. And you'll be part of one of them." He smiled and left her alone with that thought.
"Why are you not interrogating me? Isn't that what you do?"
"I was ordered not to. Another will handle that."
Sandra closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable to happen praying for the hours to drag into days, minutes into hours.
….
In his five lifetimes never had he read reports with such a mystery as these. The Founder was informed immediately of the events and instructed him to bring the woman to the station for further interrogation and study.
He was most curious about this Human Vorta that he read about in the reports. If the scientific reports were accurate then a whole race could be controlled within months. The potential power of this discovery would push the Founder's plans forward by decades.
No one knew of her accept for a few Vorta and JemHadar personnel. He was going to make sure that no Cardassian ever got word of her or her origins. There was simply too much at stake. The only thing that bothered him was that it was Keevan that discovered her. The female Founder awarded him a position on the station for his work. He was a disgrace as a Vorta as he had three defective clones behind him already. Founders only knew what he told the woman before she arrived here.
In his quarters he read the reports over and over again almost putting them to memory. After reading them till his eyes hurt he put the PADD down and leaned back into the sofa resting his head. He crossed his legs, placed his hand on his lap and closed his eyes. The stillness gave him focus in the madness that surrounded him.
Most species never understood the mental battering that Vorta received day in and day out. There were always two JemHadar around him at all times as his position made him a public target representing the Dominion. He remembers the days when he was a field officer and no one thought him very important. Even he didn't know the significance of his meeting with Captain Sisco all those months ago.
Now he was one of the highest ranking Vorta in the Alpha quadrant. It thrilled him to no end that he could serve the Founders in such a significant way.
A holo program was sent of the young woman's alterations and the rapidity of the changes. A Human, of all creatures to walk the stage in such a point in history. Though it really didn't surprise him too much. They seem to get involved in almost everything even if they were not invited.
He disliked everything about Humans but admired their adaptability and this odd understanding of other species in so short a time. If the Alpha quadrant was to be taken over Earth would be the planet to be controlled.
A com signal broke his stillness. "Weyoun, Keevan will be arriving at airlock five in twenty minutes."
"Thank you. I'll be there. There are to be no Cardassians at the gate."
"Understood Weyoun."
The JemHadar are the only ones he would trust with this.
…..
Keevan was standing next to her. "I hope the clothing fits alright."
"It's fine thank you. Better this than a torn dress. You wouldn't want any Vorta to look like a whore now would you?"
"Don't be thanking me yet. Honestly I wouldn't care as I have no use for one as a Cardassian would."
She turned to him. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"In part I suppose. It is in a Vorta's nature to put those before us at ease. Here we go. Your new life awaits." They stepped off the ship and waited for the large doors to open.
The doors opened and she stepped aboard the station to be greeted by the man called Weyoun.
…..
Weyoun kept his face neutral as he glanced at Sandra and then spoke to Keevan. "I found your reports most informative. I'll inform you of your new duties in a short time. Here is the information you require." He handed Keevan a PADD and watched as he was escorted by two JemHadar. Weyoun turned to face Sandra who seemed to becoming paler by the second. He gave her a large smile. "Welcome to the station, Sandra. I am Weyoun and I hope that you'll feel comfortable here."
Sandra knew that many Vorta were in diplomatic positions and were designed to put anyone they meet at ease. Everything about him was soft but well controlled. "Thank you."
"There are no thanks needed. I promise to make your stay here as comfortable as possible." He saw the worry in her eyes and that his words were not comforting her. They were making her more scared. Weyoun sighed and spoke softer. "There are simply no words that could describe what you must be going through. So much to take in, in so short a time. First I will escort you to your quarters and I will answer any questions you may have."
She nodded and was led in silence to her quarters. It was small but spacious enough for her. He motioned for her to sit across from him. "I hope these quarters are to your liking."
"Better than a cell I suppose." She regretted the words as soon as she said them.
Weyoun simply laughed. "Oh, that is so good that you feel comfortable enough to be so honest. No my dear, you will not have to endure the harshness of a cell. Speaking of honesty you will be asked a lot of questions over the next few days. You must understand that you are a complete mystery. You must understand that Vorta are rather curious creatures."
"No one knows what happened to me?" She tried to hide her concern but it was useless as she was still too tired to hide any emotion. Only Torbin and herself knew what happened to her and how.
"Only in parts we were hoping you could fill in some of the puzzle. We understand that you were not conscious for most of what happened. Any question can wait. You need rest to have a clear mind."
Weyoun was a charismatic person who was used to being in control of a situation. For now she was under his control without argument and had no plans to leave. Perhaps in time she can get a message out somehow to the Federation.
He saw her fear as well as he could feel it. She was still in shock and it was still too early for what happened to her to sink in. "You will stay in these quarters until it is required of you to be moved to other ones. You will not leave these quarters without full escort and the only people that you will meet are either JemHadar or other Vorta."
Sandra wasn't surprised by that. "I wouldn't have expected any different." Once again she thought she spoke out of turn.
"I am sure you have many ideas about the Dominion. This is all for your protection, I assure you. All I ask is that you keep an open mind. You have been taken care of thus far and I promise you that you will not be harmed."
She said nothing for a moment. "What will happen to me? I mean after all the questions, tests and I don't know what else. What will happen to me? I don't see myself simply being let go."
He gave a soft low laugh. "How very perceptive of you. No, you will be a welcomed member of the Dominion. You'll want it no other way in time I am sure."
Part of her bristled at that statement. She had experience with many difficult men but Weyoun was a different animal all together that she was used to dealing with. He learned where to push her and at what time.
"I suppose any contact with family on Earth is out of the question."
Weyoun's features remained so soft and relaxed though his voice hardened instantly. "Just to make sure you fully understand the seriousness of your situation I'll explain what will happen if you try to make contact with anyone outside myself, other Vorta or the JemHadar. Anyone you try to contact or send a message through will be killed instantly. These are rather comfortable conditions and if you wish to remain comfortable then you'll resist the urge to make contact."
His words hit the mark. She reclined back in defense, understanding the unveiled threats. "I understand and like I said I would expect do different of the Dominion."
He started to laugh. "How you misunderstand us but given time you'll see how peaceful we really are. Now I'll leave you to get some rest."
She watched him leave her new quarters and slowly the realization that she was very much trapped was beginning to sink in. Exhaustion hit her and she made her way to the bedroom avoiding at all costs the mirror that would shatter the last remaining part of her denial.
….
Please, please, please review. Let me know what you think!