Solok's eyes opened, despite the splitting headache, he sat up. Right off Solok could tell he was in a holding cell of some sort given the minimal lighting and seating. From what he could deduce, he and T'Var had just been thrown in and left. T'Var...Solok squinted and could see a large lump and was able to spot the gold color of his pilot's collar, he crawled over and checked T'Var for a pulse. Still beating...Good.
He made no effort to wake his companion and crawled back over to the wall and sat, waiting for the inevitable meeting with his captors. Escape didn't seem like much of an option at the moment. That would take time as he was largely unfamiliar with the makings of Dominion ships. He had no idea why they were even still alive. Possibly kept so in case the Dominion could find use of them. Likely tortured for information, which if the case he was going to die before he gave up anything. So he slipped into meditation to build upon his barriers and disciplines in preparation for such activities. Also making a conscious effort to shield as much as he could from T'Pel. He wasn't going to be surprised had a changeling took his place, and as much as he wanted to try to send her a message, he trusted that she would figure it out soon regardless. All members of his crew were efficient. The "founder" would not last long.
It seemed as though hours had passed when he heard the locks on the door begin to crack open. T'Var was sitting across from him now, awake and staring at the door. They both shielded their eyes when the door finally opened and a bright light flooded through.
"I see you are awake. Good. I have some questions." Came a woman's voice, "I trust you slept well?"
Solok let his eyes adjust a moment, and he caught sight of her. About 5'6", thin, short hair with long ears. Same description he had read for the Vorta. He ignored her hollow question and said nothing.
"No matter. I hear you Vulcan's are resilient. I am looking forward to seeing just how resilient you are. What is this?" She asked, tossing a data padd to the floor by his feet, "We found it with your belongings. I have to say...I find it rather fascinating."
Solok looked down at it and recognized it as T'Pel's research into vibrations and emotional control, and his heart skipped a beat, but his voice rang through steady and calm, "It is my side project." He answered, a blatant lie, however he was not going to give them any reason to go forth and hunt down the T'Kumbra if he could avoid it. He had a feeling he knew why T'Pel's research interested them, and he knew what they were going to do to get as much information as they could. To not lie, would put his whole crew in danger, just to get to T'Pel. Which he was not about to let happen. Sacrifice one to save hundreds. It was the most logical choice to lie.
"It seems a little odd that a Vulcan would be interested in finding ways to manipulate and control emotions with sound waves, vibrations, and music. Having trouble in that department are you?" She asked silkily, a smirk curling the edges of her lips.
Solok simply raised a brow, "I do not. However it is an effort to assist others in finding a more logical and rational balance to their life with greater ease."
"Ah...yes, because Vulcans still will not entirely admit to the fact that emotional races irritate them to no end." She smiled and gave a chuckle, "What ever you say, Captain. I am going to inform you what you likely have assumed already with your impeccable intellect, that I have plans for such studies. The Dominion can make use of this, and I will need your help in...tailoring it to our needs."
Solok said nothing, she was correct. He knew that was what they wanted from him, however he wasn't going to be able to comply because it was not his research, and he simply stared at her blankly. A hint of defiance twinkling in his ice blue eyes.
Her eye's narrowed at his silence, "I should warn you, Captain, I am not like you federation types. I will be cruel and unforgiving to get the information I seek."
"And I do not negotiate with terrorists." Solok said firmly, glancing at T'Var. Who by the look in his eyes told him that his pilot knew what was coming. His eyes returned to the Vorta's and the woman had pursed her lips tightly together.
"Unwise." She nodded to T'Var and barked at her soldiers, "Grab him." The two Jem'Hadar complied and hoisted T'Var to his feet, who gave no struggle. "I might bring him back to you alive." Then they left.
Solok leaned his head against the wall. He knew T'Var had prepared himself for such a possibility, however there was a heavy feeling in his chest. He found himself hoping against his Vulcan logic that she show him mercy.
T~V~T~V~T~V~T~V~T~V~T~V~T~V~
The door to T'Pel's quarters chimed and Larkin came through the door soon after, "Did you speak with him?" He asked instantly, a sense of urgency taking over his entire demeanor.
"I did not. He has avoided me all day. Even so much as to turn and head off the other way when he saw me in the corridor." T'Pel answered, motioning to the tea on the table and for Larkin to help himself.
"I can say the same. There is also word circulating throughout the crew. We are not the only ones who suspect he is a changeling. N'Vay confided in me earlier today that there have been several attempts at gaining access to many ship wide files. She was unable to trace any of it back to any one person, however she admitted her own suspicions regarding Solok." He continued, pouring himself a cup.
T'Pel nodded, "I am sensing much of the same from many. The number is growing. We must move fast before he realizes we are onto him and he switches to someone else."
"You are correct. I sent a small but detailed report to Samok. Coded. He will be the only one to open it if it is him. We should also look into a safe place to stage a coo. Rising alarm will only cause him to shift to someone else." Larkin answered, looking at T'Pel's sullen features, "What is wrong?"
She hesitated a moment, "I suppose this means we have lost the real Solok, then?"
Larkin blinked. With the bond to Solok, she had not fallen to grief yet so he had not thought the worst. However it had not occurred to him that she might suspect the bond, and he wasn't about to tell her that just yet, "I would not say that. They likely captured him for information. They cannot get it from him if he is dead. I have no doubt he is still alive. For now."
T'Pel inhaled deeply and nodded, "You are correct. That just means he will be tortured to death." Which obviously did not make her feel any better as she stared coldly at Larkin.
"Very Likely. Unless we can get to him before then." He said, hoping to instill a little more hope in her.
T~V~T~V~T~V~T~V~T~V~T~V~T~V~
Solok clamped his eyes shut tightly in a futile attempt to push out the buzzing in his head. He was trying to remember just how long he had been confined in this room. One...two days? For the first time in his 45 years, he was unsure. The buzzing had started shortly after they had given him a computer and loaded it with what they thought he would need for the information they wanted. They had told him that he would feel better once he had given them the information, which he just scoffed at.
His eyes fell on T'Var who was fast asleep. After about the third time they had taken him and brought him back more battered than the last time, he could no longer justify letting him be the only one taking a beating. They were both going to die, and he felt it his obligation to share some of the burden. At least this way T'Var was able to rest before their demise. The Dominion wasn't going to get anything either way, so it did not much matter to him if he was tortured.
Though, there had been a moment that Solok wanted to scorn T'Pel. For her damned research. Had he not possessed it, they would not be here. No, you fool. You would both be dead as you were captured. The moment quickly passed as it was not her fault and once he read through it in his cell, he understood again why she was doing it. To help herself and others control their emotions more efficiently. He had seen into her mind and knew well what she dealt with on a daily basis. It was a noble goal.
He fell back onto the floor, burying his face in his hands, "T'Pel..." He whispered. The thought calmed the buzzing in his head, but only for a moment. He could feel his boundaries beginning to break, one by one. Slowly, emotions were beginning to surface and he wondered if they knew just what they were doing to him.
He focused on her face. The almost unreadable expression she wore countered with the moments it bloomed into something more. It was the only thing that seemed to be quelling his growing anxiety. Every once in a while he had to hug himself to stop the sudden shaking. Solok could feel himself going mad.
T~V~T~V~T~V~T~V~T~V~T~V~T~V~
T'Pel stopped suddenly and looked up from her computer. She turned her gaze to the impostor Solok, and expression of utter confusion filling her pale features, that Solok (thankfully) wasn't paying any attention to. Samok noticed, however and he calmly walked over and rose an inquiring brow. She shook her head in a "Not now" gesture and he moved past, knowing he would be informed later.
Over the next hour, it was difficult for her to concentrate on anything. Her breath would catch in her chest and she would get a sudden chill. A distant sense of fear, sadness, and...desire and yurning? It was Solok's vibrations, she was sure of it. However when she looked at the Solok on the bridge, the imposter, it was cold and unfeeling, almost spiteful in a way. They had yet been able to formulate a plan to subdue him in the last two days, but the plan to do it was only a few hours away.
However once her shift ended, she nearly ran down to sick bay, storming into Larkin's office locking the door behind her.
Larkin looked at her in mild alarm, "What has you so flustered? Has something happened?" He asked, fearing the worst.
"I have no idea. I...I can sense Solok. I can feel him almost...calling for me? Is he calling for me? I am not sure. This is not coming from the changeling. I can read something very different from him. But I feel Solok's..." she raised a hand to the side of her head and waved it a little, "...his mind? I can feel fear...and sadness...a sense of mourning...and a warmth...is it...love?" She yammered on, her confusion only seeming to worsen.
Larkin stared at her a moment before grabbing her hands and looking her straight in the eyes, "Calm down. Now...you can sense Solok? His feelings?" He pushed.
"Yes. At least I think. But it is confusing." T'Pel answered slowly.
"You are absolutely sure it is him?" Larking pushed further.
She raised a brow, "Yes. But it is nothing I have ever felt from him before. And I do not understand how this can be. I cannot read anything beyond the barrier of the plasma streamers. Larkin...what is going on?" She asked, finding his reaction odd.
He released her hands and took in a breath, delaying telling her of their bond any longer was illogical, "Being able to sense him, even now, is possible only by one way."
"Spare me the cryptic nonsense, Larkin. What is it you have hidden from me?" She said firmly, having picked up on his thoughts.
A little taken aback, he continued, "Solok confessed to me before he left that he has a lower level bond with you. That he has hidden from you since Vulcan. I can only assume that his mind has come under great duress, causing his boundaries to fall, leaking his thoughts and feelings to you." He answered, pausing to hear her response.
T'Pel simply stared at him a moment, feeling a surge of irritation that this had been kept from her growing. "Bonded."
"Yes." Larkin answered, unsure of what she might do if he made any sudden movements.
"To Solok. Who kept this from me, why?" She asked, her voice gaining an octave or two.
"He said he did not wish to burden you with such news after Vulcan...nor with a war beginning. I also suspect that he required time to come to grips with it himself."He answered softly.
T'Pel sat down, her eyes firmly on the floor.
"T'Pel?" Larkin inquired.
"I will admit that I am unsure if the fear I feel is mine...or his. I...I have no idea what to think." she gave a small pause, "No. I know exactly what to think. I will regain focus on the task at hand. Getting that changeling off this ship. Then we will rescue Solok." She stood again.
"Assuming Starfleet is agreeable with that." Larkin added. T'Pel only shot him a stern glare as she headed out. Determination in her steps.
"I suppose that could have gone worse." He muttered to himself.