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Chapter Seven
Julian Bashir walked into the infirmary early in the morning as he had been unable to sleep trying to sort out the Vorta, Jem'Hadar and Dominion. He walked straight up to Weyoun, and began checking his life signs.
"Weyoun?"
The Vorta slowly opened his eyes looking suspiciously at the doctor.
"I hate to ask you this, but are you cold?" He said, referring to his readings.
"I am all right; in fact I feel well." Came the answer.
"Your body temperature is lower than 37 degrees, around 35.5 degrees."
"Then I am fine. Vorta physiology is adapted to our home planet and the evolution just as yours. We normally have a temperature of 35.5 degrees."
"In that case I see no reason to keep you here, you are free to leave." Bashir said, satisfied with his readings but still a bit frustrated at having his patient point out what was normal.
He watched the Vorta slowly sit up. Despite Weyoun's intentions not to show it pain was etched on his face.
Odo walked through the door. "I'll escort Weyoun to his quarters. Even though a treaty has been signed…" He trailed off.
"I am still seen as the Vorta responsible for the loss of hundred thousands of life or was it millions?" Weyoun said bitterly pressing his lips together in a thin line. "Meaning I can't leave my so called quarters without escort?" He asked dryly.
Odo was still a bit surprised when Weyoun didn't react the way he used to do; or rather the way the clones of him usually did. He was raised from his thoughts by Dr Bashir's voice.
"The only thing you're going to do is rest in your bed."
Odo watched the familiar smile on the Vorta's face. "Come on now doctor I have things to do."
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Sisko watched Dax intently watching the readings on her console. "What is it?"
"I am not sure, but I think we are being followed. I dismissed it as a reflection before but this is larger."
"I can see no Jem'Hadar ships." O'Brien offered.
"I recommend that we ready phasers." Worf said.
"Whoever they are, they are very good at this. If it wasn't for one small mistake they would have gotten away with it." Ezri said.
"You mean to tell us they are not Jem'Hadar?" The chief asked.
"When do we reach the coordinates?" Sisko wondered.
"We would be able to reach them within minutes." The Trill answered.
"All stop." Sisko ordered.
"All stop." Ezri confirmed.
As the Defiant stopped another much larger vessel dropped out of warp beside them.
"I take it that's our so called reflection?" Sisko said, folding his arms.
"Captain, I have never seen a ship of that design." Worf said.
"No there is only one." Sisko replied, a satisfied smile on his lips.
"The Vorta?" O'Brien asked in disbelief.
"Think about it; what do we really know about the Vorta?" Worf cautioned unhappily.
"Should we hail them?" Ezri asked.
"Well they obviously want something." The Captain replied.
"This is Ezri Dax on the united starship Defiant. Please acknowledge."
"Federation vessel; this is Eris of the Vorta union star cruiser. We had hoped that Diplomatic ambassador Weyoun had found a way to reach you. We are no threat to you…"
"Forgive me Eris, but your vessel can cause the Defiant great harm." Sisko said politely.
"…we mean you no harm, we just wish for peace."
"Why have you followed us here?" Worf spoke up.
"Why have you come here if you do not believe a word of what Weyoun has told you?" The Vorta female replied.
"Point taken, we want to confirm that what he has been telling us is true." Sisko said.
"Sir I am being fed a link." Ezri said.
"On the view screen." Benjamin replied.
"That is a great start; we are here to establish a dialogue between our people and wish that you would accept our invitation." Eris said looking intently at the Federation Captain.
Benjamin nodded looking at four Vorta on the bridge on the other ship. "We do; I have a question for you. How often have you visited these coordinates?"
The female Vorta smiled. "Would you believe me if I told you we haven't dared to show up here before?" She rose from the chair she sat in and walked closer to the screen.
"You see Captain Sisko; the last time we were at these coordinates we were lucky to leave alive. A lot of our people didn't, and I am pleased to see that only debris show that here has ever been a station." Eris answered diplomatically.
"The Enterprise and the Toulouse defeated the Jem'Hadar second division not far from here. So the hopes of finding anything were minimal." Sisko explained.
"I believe that you are referring to Federation ships." The Vorta stated.
"The Enterprise is the flagship of the Federation; I have served on her once." Worf said proudly.
Ezri shook her head and smiled.
"Since we are supposed to trust each other, may I suggest that you beam onboard?" Sisko asked.
"I have a better proposal, you are all welcome onboard the Corritz."
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Some people turned as the Vorta and Odo carefully walked down the promenade but most of them continued what they were doing. Most of them probably considered the war to be over, and the Vorta casualties of the Jem'Hadar slaughter that was going on in the Gamma Quadrant. Although those who did look knew exactly who Weyoun was and what he stood for during the war, there was no mistake of the hatred shining in their eyes.
"The others have left for the coordinates that you gave them." Odo said somberly.
"As I said I doubt that there is anything left of it for them to find." The Vorta replied tiredly.
Odo waited for the familiar assuring smile on Weyoun's face, but it never came.
"Are you in pain?" The Changeling asked suddenly.
"I believe there is more pain in my soul than in my body."
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The Cardassian adjutant didn't believe his eyes. The Vorta was very much alive and walking down the promenade. Even the Kanar he had been drinking couldn't cause a sight like that. Cremor pursed his lips into a thin line before a smug smile tugged in the corner of his mouth. He had to give Doctor Bashir credit for his cunning. The doctor had guessed what he had been after.
The Vorta had that creepy smile on his face just like he had had when he had announced the destruction of Cremor's home; the city of Daac. Several hundred thousands of Cardassian's had lost their lives that day and for Cremor there was no defence against such actions. He was not a solider for he despised war and believed that Cardassia would once again rise from the ashes on a diplomatic way. The Federation was a strong believer of democracy and peace and therefore it had enraged him that they of all people would even consider letting the leading Vorta in the war walk freely on the station.
Cremor forced himself to calm down; rash decisions wouldn't get him anywhere he wanted. The man walking down the promenade should be dead; in fact Garak had killed him when the Federation stormed enemy headquarters. It all became something greater now and so many things were at stake.
Perhaps he could use the Vorta for his own purposes, and kill him in the process. The Cardassian smiled to himself. There would come a day in the near future when Cardassia Prime would once again reclaim the glory and power to become the dominant power it had once been; far more powerful than the Federation.
The adjutant raised his glass and emptied the content and felt it burn down his throat. That day would soon arrive. He just needed to tie all the loose ends and prepare for it.
He jumped as a hand was placed on his shoulder.
"I am sorry to disturb your thoughts, but unless you're gonna order something more I want to get paid." Quark said.
Cermor looked at the Ferengi with dismay. The species was the scum of the galaxy; always plotting and scheming.
"Put it on the Cardassian delegation." He said irritably.
"Preoccupied are we?" Quark replied annoyed. "I don't take credits from delegations; as I said they tend to leave without paying the bill."
Cremor banged his fist in the table. "Is money all you care about?" He asked in a low voice.
"Yes, one more like that and I'll charge you for the table." The Ferengi said simply.
The Cardassian was furious. "Open your eyes and look, look at the Vorta walking freely down the promenade as if he had been an allied." He said with dismay.
Quark followed his gaze. "Yes it's outrageous. I am gonna lose my bet."
"People like him shouldn't be allowed here; not anywhere. Can't they see it's a Vorta; not just any Vorta but the manipulative, devious, mischievous…"
Quark raised his forehead. "Maybe you should have a refill; it's on the house."
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Odo opened the door and the Vorta walked in.
"These will be your quarters during your stay here."
Weyoun nodded and walked over to the window staring out in space.
"I should leave you alone." The Changeling turned to leave. "And I am sorry for the tragedies my people have caused you." He added.
Weyoun turned around in surprise.
Odo saw the pained expression on his face. "Maybe you should rest." He suggested.
"You do believe me?"
Odo nodded. "Yes…when I joined the great link once after being affected by a disease the Federation couldn't cure I saw things that they tried to keep from me. However the images didn't make any sense." He looked directly at the Vorta.
"Not until you told Captain Sisko about your people." He saw Weyoun look at him intently.
"I saw the destruction of a ship I hadn't seen before, dead Vorta, slaughtered Jem'Hadar and a beautiful planet; not necessarily in that order."
"I appreciate you telling me all this." Weyoun bowed slightly.
Odo watched the all too familiar gesture of gratitude. "Please refrain from doing that; it brings back bad memories."
"As you wish." He said innocently.
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To be continued