7. Screams of the innocent

Leliyani closed her eyes, suppressing the urge to stroll up to Dukat and smack him across the face. Her heart was thundering inside her chest, it's beating growing more profound each minute. As time winked away the seconds, it became evident that the scientists were in need of an explanation. Ulon tapped his foot impatiently, his eyes flickering with annoyance. The woman and the other scientists, however, were gazing at Leliyani with their pupils dilated. Dukat's eyes flashed with slight recognition and he stared at her, obviously expecting an answer to her abrupt intrusion.

She sank in a deep breath, glancing at the broken glass and back to Dukat, pondering over a suitable explanation. Eventually, she fought back her hostile impulse and said, "Oh, I am so sorry! I will clean it up right away!" Without considering it, she dashed back into the hall and snatched the broom. She immediately returned to the conference room, shoving Dukat aside and beginning to steer all of the glass towards the entrance. Leliyani shot out her best possible attempt to pretend like nothing was wrong, but unfortunately she was not a skilled actress. If they became aware of the fact that she had overheard their discussion, chances were she was going to be faced with adverse consequences.

Her heart pounding, Leliyani granted everyone with a fictitious smile. She doubted that her performance was convincing, but it was the only option that she could rely on at the moment.

Before she had the chance to complete her task, Dukat's voice interrupted her thoughts. "My dear, I suggest that you finish sweeping the mess in the morning. We are in the middle of a conference." Leliyani gritted her teeth. She paused, forcing her fury to subside. "Not a problem," She muttered, tightening her grip on the broom as she walked out and allowed the door to slam behind her.

After what seemed like only a few seconds, Leliyani angrily hurled the broom onto the floor. Hardly bothering to contemplate her options, she fled out of the lab and scampered along the sidewalk. Fear spilled into her chest, numbing her sense of logic. As Leliyani turned the corner, she forced her herself to think blank thoughts. She was afraid that if she reflected too soon on the event she had witnessed, her panic may grow ever more unruly than it already has. At that point, Leliyani was alert on every minuscule occurrence that was taking place all around her. Every microscopic sound that burst near her immediately sent her jumping in terror.

By the time she arrived at her home, she was trembling so much that she had to take the keys in both hands in order to unlock the front door. Leliyani stumbled into the living room, closing the door and randomly selecting a place to sit. She seated herself on a frail chair, certain that it would break under her weight. The raging shock still quivering inside of her refused to collapse. Leliyani stared at the soiled concrete floor, suddenly beginning to play the events of the past hour inside her head. Placing aside the disaster in the desert all of those years ago, she had never encountered a situation as terrible as the one she was faced with now. Not only did she discover a plot to create a potentially perilous vaccine, she was met by the man who had murdered her brothers. Her memory abruptly glided back to the moments of her greatest despair. Leliyani remembered how Dukat had beamed them down into the lifeless desert, abandoning her and her siblings to fend for themselves. Her mind then reflected on when she was kidnapped by those cannibals, reluctantly leaving her brother's unconscious body behind.

Before she knew it, grief swelled inside her chest. Leliyani hastily shoved it out of her thoughts, refusing to lose her composure. Even if she was completely alone, she could not cope with the idea of giving up control. Unfortunately, she was doubtful of her ability to manage the emotion flooding her heart. Enormous pressure boiling in her blood, Leliyani screamed and instantly stood up. Without thinking, she took hold of the chair and flung it into the wall, the top half of the spindly wood demolishing into broken pieces. She approached the mess and gathered the remains of what was not shattered.

When she placed back what was now a square-shaped stool back in its original spot, Leliyani bolted into her room. She slammed the door shut and burrowed under the covers of her bed. Even though it was in fact mid-day, it felt like midnight to Leliyani. Her stomach was churning in anxiety, threatening to prod her breakfast up her throat. She shifted her position onto her back, practically glaring up at the ceiling. Before she could jab her thoughts away, her mind wandered to what Dukat had proposed to the scientists; a vaccine that is injected into newborns and re-sequences their DNA…

Leliyani shivered, remembering the argument that Ulon had testified. What if the vaccine did cause the newborns to turn to violence? Would Ulon's theory of manufacturing medical factories eventually be established? Leliyani pondered over the thought for countless minutes. She considered her daughter's unborn child, and what would occur if the vaccine ever reached it. If the scientists were planning to conduct experimentations on local newborns, there was a great chance that the medication would access her grandchild. Her eyes widened at the idea. Soon enough, she began to visualize the following events that were to happen: hundreds perhaps thousands of innocent babies wailing overwhelming screams…

Leliyani tightened her jaw, straining herself from smacking something as a reflex. If she possessed the courage to do so, she would clarify it to the scientists and Dukat that she will not allow them to transform her grandchild into a vicious mutant. 'But…how?' She asked herself. Leliyani groaned. It was impossible for her to stop them in their tracks alone. Fatefully, she was a mere custodian compared to Dukat. For this type of situation to be handled correctly, she would need an accomplice. A powerful one that had acquired significant contacts or perhaps an organization that was far larger than she was…

For innumerable hours, Leliyani attempted to expand on the idea. Unfortunately, her thoughts guided her nowhere. It was almost as if her mind was a blank wall, useless to anyone's requirement. Before her brain had the opportunity to completely dose off, there was an abrupt knock on the front door. She moaned, forcing herself out of bed and walking into the living room to answer the door. As soon as the entrance was widened, it revealed Murana and her enormous belly, accompanied by her husband.

Instead of receiving a hello, Leliyani was granted with excited stares.

"Mother, you will not believe it!" Murana squeaked with sharp enthusiasm, almost as if she was ten years old again.

Leliyani smiled pleasantly, struggling to keep her eyes off of her daughter's swelling stomach. "What is it?"

Murana glanced expectantly at her husband. He blushed furiously. "You tell her," He practically whispered. The young woman shrugged and shifted her attention back to her mother. "Apparently, the Dominion is desperate to convince Cardassians that they are so called 'modest and charitable.' A couple hours ago, Teral received a request to interview Weyoun and Legate Damar!"

Her words burned Leliyani to the bone. She had forgotten that her son-in-law was a reporter for an illustrious news service. She found it slightly amusing that most of the men in Cardassia were in the military field, yet she had married an active scientist and Murana was with a reporter. Honestly, she loathed the idea of Teral meeting with that swindler of a Vorta. With reluctance, she flashed him a false grin and said, "Congratulations. I cannot reckon the honor you must be feeling right now." Leliyani was washed with guilt at the fact that her thoughts were the exact opposite of what she just said.

Before he had the chance to reply, Murana cut back into the conversation. "We are not sure when the interview will be scheduled, but the letter said that they will inform us as soon as we confirm the request."

Leliyani practically snorted. The Dominion nearly sickened her and she was surprised that Damar was still in league with them.

"Anyway, we arrived here to ask you if you wish to come with us to the meeting… to witness history!" Her daughter shouted fervently, her eyes bright with exhilaration. "The request also mentioned that Teral could bring two friends or relatives to watch the interview. Think of it! There is a great possibility that we will actually get to meet Weyoun and Damar!"

Leliyani glanced in the opposed direction, debating on whether Murana understood what she was even asking her. She could hardly tolerate the suggestion of standing face-to-face with Weyoun, considering that anything could take place if she accompanied them. However, if that Vorta-jackal will not be present at the appointment, Leliyani would be more than honored to attend the meeting. Unfortunately, the state of affairs was not rigged in that manner. She was beginning to doubt her daughter's amount of comprehension in politics, because Weyoun was one of the most despised men in the Alpha Quadrant. 'Besides, I have better things to worry about,' she thought as her gaze ventured down to Murana's belly.

Perceiving the fact that her visitors were expecting an answer, Leliyani glanced down at her feet, deliberating over how to place a rejection into a pleasant sentence. Oddly enough, an intricate plan was beginning to materialize inside her head. Not an idea that was designed as a response to Murana's invitation, but a plot that was assembled for something that she was already pondering over…

"The Federation…" She whispered, her jaw dropping due to the realization that the idea had not surfaced earlier. If only she could find a way to contact the Federation…

"Mother, are you alright?" Murana inquired, her eyes suddenly glimmering with concern.

Leliyani unwillingly gazed into her daughter's eyes. "I-I apologize," She stammered, "I cannot go, I…I am going on a trip."

Murana gawked at her, pure astonishment sparkling in her eyes. "You are? Where are you going?"

Leliyani shook her head. "Nowhere that you need to be worrying about," She stated carefully, refusing to make eye contact.

Her daughter continued to stare at her and at one point shot a questioning glance at Teral, who shrugged dismissively. Obviously confused, Murana turned back around and said, "Wait a minute, you did not mention that you were going on a vacation when we were walking to the laboratory."

"Well, I planned it at the last minute," Leliyani replied, her eyes trained on the floor.

"Then perhaps you should cancel the trip to watch the interview?"

"Like I have stated earlier… I apologize."

"Our proposal is the opportunity of a lifetime!" Murana protested, "Surely you would like to meet two famous men in the whole Alpha Quadrant rather than taking a lousy vacation-"

Leliyani snickered at her daughter's hideous exaggeration. "I'm sorry to disappoint you!"

"What is the matter with you today, Mother? Did something occur at work? From the minute I walked in here I knew that something was on your mind!"

Leliyani briskly shook her head, clearing her mind of all negative thoughts. "I assure you, everything is as it should be."

Murana raised an eyebrow. Teral took hold of her arm, whispering an unknown message into her ear. The young woman nodded, not acknowledging her mother's intense gaze. Overwhelming sorrow ached in Leliyani's heart, impelling her to spill out the emotion that was trapped within her. Left with no other alternative, she thrust her distress into the rear of her mind and lunged forward. She quickly coerced her visitors to the opposite direction and shoved them out of the exit.

"Mother, what-"

"I'll talk to you tomorrow," She interrupted, ignoring the fact that what she had just uttered was a malicious lie, "I- I-"

Lacking the courage to explain herself, Leliyani slammed the front door, taking the precaution to turn the lock. When nothing ominous occurred, she sunk down to the ground. She was thankful for the armored stomach that she had developed through the years, considering that she was able to keep her growing anguish in check. She felt increasingly dreadful at the thought that she had hopelessly confused her guests, but it was for their own good. Something told her that they would have never understood the heat of her situation. Even if they did, they would still be unable to assist her.

For the next hour, Leliyani sat and stared at her hands. She reviewed her intended course of action, scanning for any flaw that may lead her into potential danger. For all she knew, the Dominion might have played some part in the plot to create the vaccine. If that were true, then it would not be an option for her to inform Damar or Weyoun about the state of affairs. Another route to choose was to contact someone who had acquired far more knowledge on the subject than she ever has. However, there was no one that she could think of who would fit that profile.

In this condition of circumstances, the option that was currently outshining the others was to notify the Federation of this scheme. Leliyani was disgusted at the idea of committing treason, but at this point she was convinced that they would have the appropriate equipment and level of expertise to handle this sort of thing. To the extent that she was faced with now, she had no one else to turn to. Leliyani doubted that she would be much of an aid to the Federation if she did contact them; nevertheless she had picked up specific combat techniques while living with Dukat and still had them fresh in her mind.

The only question that was defying her plan was how? What strategy was she going to use in order to reach the Federation? Leliyani remained at her spot for another hour, pondering over a reasonable guideline for her to follow. Before long, a full-sized procedure was mapped out inside of her mind…

Later that night, Leliyani set out of her house and into the murky darkness. She securely locked the door, suspicious of the slightest creature that set foot near her property. Draped over her was an obscure cloak, and concealed in her arms was a box. If she recalled correctly, it held twelve ration packs that would last her approximately two weeks, or perhaps longer. At the present, she was prepared for any hazard that would follow her trail. As she shot one last glimpse at her home, she could not help but burn in trepidation. The risk that Leliyani was undergoing could be punishable by almost anything, for the Dominion was a sole enemy of the Federation. If the officials learned that one of the Cardassian citizens were lending significant information in the middle of a war, who knows what would occur?

Shoving away the fear that was buzzing in her thoughts, Leliyani hurriedly scampered along the dirt road, glancing behind her every couple of minutes. For an indefinite reason, her instincts were telling her that something was horrifically warped. At the moment, she could not decipher any evidence that supported her impulse. However, the impression that someone was watching her was her most prominent sense. 'Stop being ridiculous,' She thought to herself, 'forget your worries and get the job done.'

Within about ten minutes, Leliyani was at the entrance to the laboratory. She was desperately fiddling with the key pad, finally unlocking the door and walking in. Silently, she took the precaution to lock the access once she was inside, just in case her impression of being watched was not an illusion. Sinking in a bottomless breath, she took another glance at the door before racing down the gloomy hallway and into the main laboratory. There, she dashed up to the garment hooks that were lined up on the wall. Assembled in a row were the scientists' uniforms with their ID tags pinned to the jackets.

Leliyani removed her cloak, setting aside the box and scanning through the names that were printed on the tags. She was confident that she would come across an appropriate label, considering that the majority of the scientists who worked in the lab were women. Before long, a specific name caught her attention:

Ledara Tain

Neurobiologist

Laboratory Advancements & Engineering

'Perfect,' she thought, placing the coat on her shoulders and gathering her items. After that was done, she strolled across the room and up to an undersized table. A padd was sitting precisely in the center. Leliyani took it in her hand, meticulously examining the words depicted in the screen.

There was no question that one of the scientists had left the padd once the meeting with Dukat was officially over. Leliyani chuckled. 'This could be useful,' she thought as she began erasing all of the sentences portrayed on the screen. Dense concentration conquering her mood, she placed the other items on the table and started typing false orders into the padd. Leliyani felt like she was processing data for an hour when it was in fact five minutes. By the time she was finished, she had collected her belongings in her arms and was preparing to depart from the lab.

Before she had the chance to make any further movements, a slight noise interrupted her train of thought. Leliyani's eyes widened, certain that it was a footstep she had heard. Panicked, she gripped the items in her hands and sprinted out of the emergency exit.

Her heart pounding in alarm, she made a frantic dash towards the rear of a nearby shop and tossed the cloak into an incinerator. At this point, if someone was pursuing her while in the process of undergoing a furtive scheme, it was best to abolish any evidence of her existence. Gulping down the terror that was pulsating within her, Leliyani scurried out of the block, keeping a steady pace once she had left the familiar portion of the city.

Based on her observations, her pursuer had vanished. However, she was not certain if she could rely on that factor due to her follower's talent of discovering another entrance to the lab. The idea of someone uncovering her plan was the least that Leliyani wished to endure at the moment. Fighting the urge to turn around and give up, she continued to jog along the road, ignoring the slight pain that was throbbing in her limbs. After an extended amount of time, Leliyani succeeded in reaching her destination…the nearest military base.

Upon the moment of her arrival, she quietly drifted up to the metallic fence, gazing at the flawless row of shuttlecrafts assembled at the other side of the base. Various Cardassian soldiers were stationed close to them, their eyes wandering around the lot. Leliyani shuddered, clutching the items in her hands and forcing her fervent doubt of her ability to disappear. Adrenaline was flowing in her blood, causing her to be motionless. 'I can do this,' she told herself as she vehemently shoved her fear away and slowly approached the nearest soldier.

He immediately spotted Leliyani and gave her an expressionless stare. She smiled slightly, hoping that her seemingly 'happy' demeanor was believable. "Hello, I am-" She shot a quick glance at the name tag- "I'm Ledara Tain, a neurobiologist at Laboratory Advancements and Engineering. I have an item to be delivered to a lab called Prime Research Corporation in Lakarian City, which I have been asked to transport personally."

The soldier eyed her for a minute, obviously scanning her for anything suspicious. She handed him the false orders, which he took and skimmed through. Leliyani waited patiently, anxiety growing in her heart and spreading throughout her body, causing her to tremble. Fortunately, she managed to remain still as the man nodded and turned to the opposite direction. He tapped his communicator and stated, "Femar to tower, there is an item to be delivered to Lakarian city. Orders were to transport it by shuttle; Ledara Tain was instructed to deliver it personally."

After what seemed like only a few seconds, a reply sounded from his communicator, "Air clear for immediate departure."

The soldier turned to Leliyani and nodded, granting her the signal to follow.

Leliyani sat at the control panel, eyeing the soldier with total concentration. It has been approximately fifteen minutes since they had boarded the shuttle and set course for Lakarian city. Apprehension was gnawing at her stomach, causing her to feel nauseated. Although her husband had taught her how to operate a shuttle, she had allowed the soldier to run it, considering that he was the one who was accompanying her on her so called 'transport.' Leliyani sighed, gulping down the guilt that was racing up her throat. The man that was sitting next to her had never wronged her, yet she had no choice but to harm him…

Trembling, Leliyani excused herself and stood up. She meandered up to the metal box containing the field rations, taking it in her hands and sneaking up behind the soldier. Before she had the chance to fully consider what she was doing, Leliyani gritted her teeth and slammed the box solid against the soldier's head, causing him to fall over from his seat in unconsciousness. She stared at him for a moment, analyzing his breathing activity to make sure that he was actually knocked out.

As soon as his unconsciousness was confirmed, Leliyani sighed in relief, stripping off that ridiculous lab coat and setting aside the box. She seated herself in his original spot, gazing at the control panel and deliberating over her future course of action regarding the body. One option was to beam the soldier back down to the military base, but Leliyani had a feeling that if she did, the others would soon catch her and she would be charged with treason. Considering that her grandchild's condition was in her hands, she was not going allow any trail of her existence to slip into anyone's grasp. Lacking any other choices, she directed the shuttlecraft higher into the air. Leliyani carefully selected a location to beam down the man, which was a far distance from the military base and a remarkably darkened area of the city.

Leliyani beamed him down to an alley in between two shops, hoping that everything will proceed according to plan. Her heart thundering in anticipation, she maneuvered the shuttle out of the area and set course directly for the Federation border.