Chapter Six
Location: Sentinel Station, Cardassian Embassy
Kal tiredly rubbed his eyes as he woke up in his new apartment. He replicated his usual tasteless supplement, although this time he added a fairly high dose of caffeine in order to keep him awake, he quickly drank the "efficient" breakfast, dressed and headed to Husar's shop. He approached at mid-shift, at the front door as instructed, in order to make sure people saw him.
"Good morning." The Kazon greeted Husar yawning.
"Well, well, well...look what the vole dragged in." Husar raised an eyebrow, almost disdainfully, "I have seen more lively things lying in the mess at the bottom of a nest. Are you sick?"
"Oh I'm fine, just waiting for the caffeine to kick in." He said with a tired smile "Don't worry, it won't affect my efficiency." He promised.
"I am more worried about contagion than efficiency." Husar snorted, making a mental note to take a strong antiviral. The kid looked more pallid and pathetic than infectious so Husar decided he probably wasn't a carrier of plague.
"Don't worry." Kal laughed "Lack of sleep is not usually contagious, so what do you need doing first?"
"A simple task." Husar gave the kid a PADD, and thumped a fist on a crate, "Take that small shipment to the Cardassian embassy with my compliments. If you return -" Husar stopped, cleared her throat, "I mean if you come back -"
"If?!" Kal said alarmed "You said IF not when!"
"Oh my people can be prickly and less than welcoming. So if the guards let you be and let you deliver it then it is a good sign. Plus it helps to establish you as my hired lackey." Husar gave a less than reassuring smile. "I am sure you will be fine. More or less."
"More or less." Kal grumbled quietly but it was no good, he had to do as he was told or he wouldn't get that beacon or anything else. "Okay, I'll get it there."
"The bigger issue will be if anyone in security notices you carrying a shipment of something alive. The Cardassians will happily welcome a few fat voles regardless of whether they look more like fighting voles than ones fit for eating. Federation security might be more nosey." Husar smirked a little, "So I would be as quick as possible but try to avoid any place too public in case they become noisy."
"Right I'll try and keep to the backstreets then." Kal said "Don't worry, I'm pretty good at keeping to the shadows." And he was, Kal had stowed away on countless vessels and had not, as of yet, ever been found.
"Oh good. I do hope to see you here soon, it's hard to find good help." Husar not too gently ushered him out the door, wondering if a certain Kazon would end up in the non-too tender hands of her fellow Cardassians.
Kal did well to keep out of more public areas, a good thing since Husar's voles were squeaking and rustling, when he finally arrived at the Cardassian embassy he felt nervous. He put down the heavy box of voles and knocked.
Deben heard the knocking and was instantly alert. It had been a rather long dull afternoon and it was rare someone me by unannounced. So he composed a one hand on a phaser and opened the large main doors to find a pallid Kazon carrying a box...and one that was making an unusual noise.
He frowned a little, "Who are you and what are you doing here?"
"I'm here with this, complements of Husar." he said indicating the box.
"Really?" That made him more cautious, if the kid was associated with criminals then who knows what he really had brought as a gift. "You work for that woman?"
"I'm Husar's newest... employee..." He replied cryptically.
"Reallllly..." Deben was even more skeptical now, "Well thank you but -"
"Oh come now, Deben stop playing with - with - our guest." Seket said from behind the guard, "Please ignore the less than warm welcome and come in by all means."
"Umm... thank you…" Kal said reluctantly entering the building, he was not at all confident of his safety.
"Seket he probably has a bomb in there if the brat is associated with Husar." Deben hissed at her, using the refined High Cardassian for effect. "I would -"
Seket ignored Deben and almost elbowed him out of the way, "Yes, yes, sure, a bomb that squeaks and sounds ever so much like live voles in a small box. I somehow doubt Husar is smart enough to create that."
Kal looked apprehensively between the two as he put his box down. Seket seemed a little too nice and he was therefore more suspicious of her than he was of Deben who was directly aggressive.
"So - young man who works for Husar - and please by all means come in and make yourself welcome - you were saying you work for her?" Seket was pouring on the charm, if nothing else she could have some fun. "And did she tell you what was in the box?"
"Yes, Cardassian voles." Kal said deliberately avoiding any mention of their purpose.
Deben went to grab the box of what was supposed to be voles, "Let me take that and dispose of it. I'll deal with this Seket."
Seket's mood shifted, she drew herself a little taller, stared right at Deben, "I have the authority here. Do you really want to challenge me?" She waited just long enough for him to recognize the threat before turning her attention to the Kazon. She held out a hand to Kal, "Please come with me...I would love to see what Husar has so kindly sent to us."
"Oh I wouldn't want to be a bother..." Kal said hastily, what he really meant was 'I'm not keen on following you into some private part of the Cardassian embassy where you could do away with me'
"I insist and it is no trouble at all to speak in private...would you like refreshments? You must have been walking a long way for the sake of your...employer." Seket kept the smile, she wanted to be able to assess this particular situation in private, it was always easier to keep it clean and messes were something she disliked.
Much harder to hide evidence or an inconvenient Kazon when you do it in the foyer of the embassy. She smiled at the thought, "Yes, we must have refreshments and then you can let me see the voles."
"Oh I'm fine really." Kal insisted, he suspected Seket might try to poison him.
"Ah but I insist and you look like you could do with a good meal. My, my, whatever is Husar doing with her employees..." Seket was barely listening to the protests, she had her own game to play and was going to enjoy this.
She deliberately chose one of the meeting rooms that were more quiet and out of the way - and where she knew she could replicate anything she wanted. Not wanting to waste good kanar on some unknown sarrku she replicated one of the milder fruit wines. It still had the taste of sour fermenting fruit and was raw enough to make the inexperienced cough...but Seket was hoping to lower the kid's defences not impress him with Cardassian extravagance.
Kal reluctantly followed Seket and much more reluctantly he accepted the drink she gave him, although he only held it, waiting to see if Seket drank hers first, he had seen it come from the same bottle but he wasn't taking any chances.
Kal liked the taste, or rather he liked that it had a taste, he knew little of food and drink, only ever consuming his supplements, and so any taste at all was a pleasant change, although he would not have admitted it.
Seket noticed the hesitation and was amused, suspicion was always entertaining and she was in a mood to play games. She drank, "Please join me..." Seket said, watching to see if he would, "And I just realized I do not know your name...?"
"Four of Six." The Kazon replied "But Four will do, and yes I work for Husar, I only came under her employment yesterday but she um... pays well..".
That was true enough in a way, to Kal the things Husar gave him were infinity precious because they had belonged to those he worshiped.
"Four? A curious name and I suspect there is a curious tale behind it." Seket smiled, a little, didn't push further. If the kid didn't spill everything at some point she could find it out another way. It just depended if he was important enough to waste her energy on...and she stood up, "However I am forgetting the issue of what gift Husar has given. I might mention that gift giving is very important for us...very important..."
Kal opened the box of voles to show Seket, they were as aggressive as is too be expected from Cardassian voles and one predictably bit him, although he did not seem particularly concerned.
"Excellent!" Seket laughed, the voles were in a truly savage mood, no doubt from being sealed in a small box and hauled across the station, "You realize what they are used for, of course - or perhaps she did not tell you. Hmmmmm..."
"Yes I know what they are." Kal replied "I clean them out for Husar, they are fighting voles."
"Fighting voles are generally too lean and vicious to be useful for eating - and are quite illegal to own throughout the Federation. They seem to have some sickly sentimentality over every nasty vicious little thing and someone no doubt was weeping for the poor voles." Seket snorted, for her it was ridiculous, especially when those nasty mean little faces were hissing up at her just wanting blood, "These are bred to fight and are quite dangerous if you do not know what you are doing...I do hope Husar thought enough to warn you to be careful?"
Kal did not agree with fighting animals, he thought it cruel and unnecessary, they were sentient after all, they had feelings... and he did not see the pleasure people found in watching the creatures kill one another, he had seen more than enough violence and death in his own life.
Kal however would not say this to Husar, he might have disagreed with what she was doing but for someone who wanted to belong to a collective Kal was actually very selfish, that and he had very little will-power, so long as she continued to provide him with Borg stuff he would do whatever she wanted. He certainly was not going to express his opinion in front of Seket, he was actually a little scared of her and anyway, he did not want to mess anything up for Husar.
"Yes I've been warned... and bitten, the males are the worst." Kal said showing the Cardassian women a large cut where one of Husar's voles had attacked him the other day "If I was going to place a bet on who would win then it'd be that one." He said pointing to the culprit.
Seket went and looked in the box by way of an answer, "Now most people who bet on fighting voles go for the males...like that one. They can be vicious and use size and strength to tear the opponent apart. However -" Seket moved quickly, grabbed the biggest one from behind the skull, squeezing hard on the skin at the back of the neck. It shook and twisted a moment before calming down...hissing but otherwise not making a move to attack.
Kal looked with intrigue at the way in which Seket handled the voles, making a note that that was how he'd pick them up next time, she was clearly very experienced with the creatures.
"Me - personally I prefer to bet on the quiet ones. Like that female, very quiet, no overt aggression just waiting and watching. I would be more watchful, my young Kazon and approach her with caution and from behind so you are less likely to meet the teeth." Seket dropped the first vole back. It landed, rolled, was instantly ready for an attack from it's fellows. "But where are my manners? Please drink while we talk business..."
Kal nodded. The females are usually the most dangerous members of any species he thought, and he was not thinking of voles, he was thinking of the very scary Cardassian women he'd met.
"Sure… uh… what did you want to talk about? A message for Husar?" He asked
Seket smiled a little, the last thing she wanted was to send Husar anything other than an arrest warrant, "Actually I was wondering how long you had been helping Husar."
She folded her hands together, studied the Kazon to see what his reaction would be.
"Oh I only met her yesterday." He said. He was quite determined to remain loyal to Husar, or at least he remained loyal to her box full of Borg treasures, either way he would not give away any secrets easily.
"Really? Only yesterday? And she trusts you will such a dangerous - I mean precious, cargo?" Seket took a deliberate sip of her drink and debated. So far the kid was resistant to drinking but she had another idea.
"Like I said... she pays well" the Kazon replied cryptically, he would not give away too much about himself either if he could help it.
"Really? That is interesting..." Seket replicated some food - nothing too exotic but some very sweet cakes. If the Kazon was like most humanoids he would be persuaded by the sugary flavor of the muffins, combined with nut and toffee drilled over the top. She came back, put them down close enough to Kal to be enticing... "Have you tried these? They are popular in the Federation and even we Cardassians like them more than we should."
The cakes looked very inviting to Kal, his diet was very limited and looking at those cakes reminded him of a time when it was not, a time before he became obsessed with the Borg.
He could almost see his mother baking cakes in his mind's eye. So long ago it felt, that happy childhood, destroyed by war. He shook his head reluctantly "To be honest... I've been a little worried you might be trying to um... to poison me.." He admitted.
"Now why would I invite you back here only to mean you harm?" Seket laughed, and took a sticky sweet muffin, "You clearly have heard too many horror stories about Cardassians - but well if you do not want to try some food then I will have to eat alone."
"So if you don't want to kill me, then what do you want?" Kal asked suspiciously, but he edged his hand towards the tray of cakes.
"I merely wished to discuss some simple business." Seket paused, broke the muffin in half, "You realize your employer is connected to some questionable people...rumor has it..." Seket looked around, lowered her voice, "The criminal element on Cardassia."
"You should not believe everything you hear in rumors..." Kal said dryly.
"We cannot get anyone close enough to be sure of course," Seket said, and it was almost true, "But if you come across anything concrete...any information...I could see to it that you are rewarded for it." Abruptly with a sweet smile she pushed the food towards Kal, "You simply must try this...you will thank me for the experience!"
Finally Kal relented and tried a cake. The sweet taste was overwhelming to his unused taste-buds, he smiled and his eyes lit up and for a second, for just a second he wondered why he denied himself these pleasures.
The pleasure did not last long though, soon he remembered why he couldn't enjoy these things on a regular basis, he had to be efficient, he had to be worthy… but... but what harm would it do to have another now?
"Um... sure.. I'll let you know if I notice anything." He lied "Although Husar is clever, I'm sure that even if she was involved in such things she wouldn't let me know." He sounded at least semi-convincing as he tried to speak lightly.
He had no intentions of doing anything of the sort, after all, what sort of reward could Seket offer that would better than what Husar had?
He actually meant to ensure that his new master knew every detail of this conversation, including what Seket had asked of him, if he showed her his loyalty then perhaps she would let him have the beacon sooner he thought.
Oh just to see that beacon again… The crazed Kazon thought.
Seket raised an eyebrow, studied Kal speculatively, "Sure you will..." She smiled a little, "Such loyalty to her kind is either admirable or foolish."
"Well I really must be going..." Kal said awkwardly "It has been a pleasure meeting you..." He looked longingly at the remaining cakes.
"Now, now, you cannot run out of here while there is still food on the table...not unless you wish to cause offence." Seket smiled again, "I suggest you avoid causing offence...and anyway I have a little information for you."
Kal looked at the women intrigued. He did have a price, but he did not trust Seket well enough to share that price with her just yet. He had been open with Husar easily because she had shared her own secrets, or at least some of them and because he knew that she would not judge the illegal aspects of his... collection… but he was not so sure about Seket.
He shook his head "I am afraid I can't help." He said, a bit reluctantly, this women seemed powerful, there was every chance she could get him what he wanted most... but he was too afraid to share what he wanted... and it did not seem right to betray Husar, she was the closest thing he'd had to a friend in a very long time.
"What do you know about Cardassia? Probably not much and much of it just exaggeration or rumor..." Seket said and reached into the box of voles again, grabbed out one of the smaller meaner females. "There are two main powers one of which is the Scravvan families, petty criminals the lot of them. Small...nasty...hissing voles much like this one." The vole twisted in her grip trying to turn around enough to bite.
"And I suppose I'm working for one of these vicious voles?" He asked a little bit sarcastically.
"If you think a vicious little criminal vole will not rip your throat out when you are no longer valuable or useful think again." Seket didn't release her grip for one minute and the vole just barely settled down enough to hang there, hissing in fury.
Seket reached into the box with her free hand, grabbed one of the quieter ones. In contrast it didn't make a move, just remained content to stare balefully at Seket - and the other vole - then Seket again.
"Then you have the ones who hunt her kind and establish order. Generally working in silence and in the shadows, not giving too much away. Both sides keep trying to gain an advantage by spying on and infiltrating the other if we can."
"How do I know that you are to be trusted any more than Husar?" he asked "My price… the Cardassian government might not exactly agree with it… at least I know what Husar has to offer."
"We are beyond the Cardassian government." Seket said truthfully, "So think about which side you want to ally with - and who is more likely to be able to reward you."
Kal looked intensely at Seket, trying to decide what to say. Should he tell her what he wanted? Could she get him nanoprobes? He had been trying to get a hold of Borg nanoprobes for years, he wanted to try and inject himself, and, failing that, he would need them for his research. He did not want just any nanoprobes though, he wanted assimilation nanoprobes and harvesting them was not exactly easy.
"Oh please eat, you look positively undernourished my young Kazon. And I do not want an answer now...especially one that is oh perhaps not true. Not that I doubt your honesty of course..." Seket smiled almost kindly and put down the second vole she had selected, the one that reminded her ever so much of an agent of the Obsidian Order. It took up a watchful stance in the box, dark eyes staring at Seket as if waiting for her next move.
"Thank you… I will... I'll think about it." He said, he could at least promise that much. He now felt very torn, he had intended on telling Husar the details of the meeting straight away but now he was unsure.
"I trust you will think about it...and any time you make a decision just come by. The door will always be open." Seket kept the vole in a firm grip, more interested right now in seeding the ground. If she planted just a few ideas in a particular Kazon brain she should get useful information. Once the table was more or less empty Kal looked at Seket for permission to leave.
"Now I suppose you must be running along before Husar thinks you have disappeared." Seket said, "And - oh I really must be generous." She touched the communicator and snapped an order in Cardassian.
"Oh thank you." Kal said, he felt very relieved, Seket had certainly made him think, and he could not help consistently considering her offer even as he tried, he was wondering what to tell Husar.
"As you leave Deben will have a box for you, just a few snacks. I swear your employer looks like she plans to starve you...oh well." Seket looked more sympathetic than she actually was, "You do not have to tell her where it came from - in fact I suggest you do not."
"Thank you, you are very kind." Kal said polity, fighting between his urge to not eat the cakes because that would reduce his efficiency and the urge to do so because they were so delicious.
"And when...I mean if you have any useful information that you want to exchange for a price...just come back. I think you will find we have more resources than Husar and are more generous." Seket smiled, it was true at least and it couldn't hurt to give the Kazon some added incentive to watch his boss.
Kal looked tentatively at Seket, it was so so tempting to tell her what he wanted... but no… not yet… he would have to think about it… perhaps make sure he had his beacon first before considering any betrayal.
"Thank you, what should I tell Husar, about the voles?" He asked.
Seket gave a short nod, sighed, "Oh yes where were my manners? Please thank dear Husar for this delightful, generous gift. I am sure we will send a similar token of appreciation soon enough..."
"Well goodbye." Kal said, he sighed with relief as he exited the embassy but his stomach turned when he realized he had to go and find Husar, what was he going to tell her?
After the Kazon left, Deben came in, still prickly as a zabu with a sore on his butt. Seket smiled at the mental image and looked at him, "You look frustrated...why whatever is wrong?" She guessed of course but equated him with a less intelligent form of life… and one unable to even begin to comprehend the games and machinations of the Obsidian Order.
"I don't know what game -" Deben started to complain, clearly not understanding her motives.
"No you do not." Seket cut him off, the vole in her hand felt her anger and shook a little, "The Kazon may prove valuable since he is connected to Husar. When he returns –"
"If he returns," Deben grumbled, "I think the little brat will stay well away."
"He will return. At some point he will find reason to betray Husar: right now I do not know what his price is but he must have one." Seket stroked the vole a little with her free hand, noticing how every muscle trembled in response. "Make sure the Kazon is able to come and see me when he wants to without anyone being stupid enough to stop him."
"As you wish." Deben gave a barely polite bow, as mocking as anything he had done.
Seket snorted and pinned the vole a little. The sharp little teeth snapped, hoping to find her but failing consistently. She should put the creature back and recycle them, be done with it. Especially when the other voles kept hissing, sensing Seket was near and wanting blood. Instead of releasing it she ran a hand along the spine, just studying it's reaction and vile temper.
"What do you want done with those?" Deben pointed at the box.
"The embassy cannot be connected with anything illegal of course…." Seket kept a firm grip on the nasty spitting vole, thinking of Husar and petty criminals like her…yes as she thought of Husar she twisted one of its legs. The thought occurred how easy it would be to twist Husar's head…squeeze her. Eradicate her. Make her and her kind vanish…painfully.
The vole let out a shrill cry and Seket looked down. She shook her head, almost embarrassed at her display of temper. The small vicious creature was yelping a little, holding a forelimb at an odd angle….
"Such a pity," Seket said quietly, tossed it back into the box.
The voles turned on the wounded one with sharp cries. It would not last long but Seket didn't watch. She had little interest in vole fighting and even less in watching them tear each other apart.
Seket shrugged, "Send them to the Cardassian Café, let them turn them into stew."
Deben raised an eyebrow, "Fighting voles are not fit for eating."
"Hah, slow cook in a stew and who will know the difference." Seket said, glanced over at the box. "Besides, these ones are not much good for fighting." She stood up, "Get rid of them while they are quiet, I do not care how."
Deben bowed again, "As you wish."
