Now that we are finally in the post-Dominion War events, it's going to be a new chapter altogether which will be a hell of a challenge. I like to be challenged, though. :)

Chapter Ten

A Prisoner of War

The Federation Alliance had won the war, and the Dominion surrendered. The Treaty of Bajor was signed, but millions were dead. The total of the attempted genocide of Cardassians for the rebellion was eight hundred million, the numbers rising every day.

Ezri was devastated as she was happy the atrocities committed by the Dominion were at an end. They would bother no one anymore, not when Odo himself had finally returned to the Great Link to try and get his people to live in peace with the solids now. That meant, however, that Nerys had to let the love of her life go. She was left in command of Deep Space 9 now, being the first officer. She had to let him go so that he could do what was necessary and see to it that a new Dominion would rise.

Captain Sisko had gone missing after their celebration; his runabout on Bajor was found outside the Fire Caves, but not one trace of him. Kai Winn herself had vanished without a trace. Ezri learned that Ben's pregnant wife, Kasidy, had seen him in a "vision from the Prophets" through Kira, so that meant Ben was with them in person no more, widowing his wife and leaving his young adult son without his father. Which meant they both returned to Earth to live with his grandfather Joseph, and a part of Dax felt alone because of the remainders of the man she had been friends with for a long time were going away for good because of the memories.

However, Jake had not wanted to leave because his father had been the one to rebuild this place, so this was all he had left of him, but Kasidy wanted to leave, choosing to move her cargo position to Earth. Which was also where Miles and his family had returned to, leaving Julian without another friend. Garak might not ever return from Cardassia, never mind Bashir keeping his hopes up as always.

Which left Ezri herself. It had been eight months since the war was over, and she and Julian had ended their relationship a few months ago but chose to keep their friendship going despite the worry that things would never be the same again if it didn't work out. They were among the very few to remain on Deep Space 9, Quark included - keeping the "remainder of Ferengi civilization as we know it" alive. And Worf was now named Ambassador beside Chancellor Martok, returning to Qo'noS.

She remembered giving him a kiss good-bye on the cheek, as well as remembering that she forgot to give back Jadzia's wedding ring after they returned from Cardassia, but he pushed her hand away gently with the small smile he ever managed with his wife. "Keep it. You said it yourself, the part of Jadzia inside you was the reason to wear this." So she did.

She stayed on Deep Space 9 and continued her career. Ever compassionate, Ezri was officially a counselor of her own. She was content by herself as it turned out. She was not going to get with another man anytime soon because of two other men in her life. Weyoun, for obvious reasons.

And speaking of him, he had been killed when Kira and Garak stormed the Central Command tower, apprehending the Female Changeling. Weyoun had been killed by Garak's hand; the cloning facilities had been destroyed, and he had been the last in existence. Which meant she would never see him again.

An emptiness lingered in her heart of all places. She shouldn't have felt like this, but it was there. Weyoun was gone, the tyrant of the Dominion even if the real ones were the Changelings. Odo was the last hope for reformation, it seemed.

Julian could never know of this ache in her body, and for that, she felt guilty keeping it to herself. She was a therapist; keeping anything inside meant eating you away until nothing was left. But she kept it in for her own reasons. That might have been why she began to doubt the nature of her and Julian's relationship that they had to go back to being just friends. It was also due to the fact he had been gone on assignment for the last couple months that she had no idea when or IF she would see him again herself. A long-distance relationship did not seem to bode well. But Jadzia and Worf had been that way at some times, hadn't they?

Perhaps Worf had also been right in the fact Julian's maturity level was not one hundred percent. She was afraid to use the exact words of choice, so leave it at simply a few of his holosuite programs with the exception of Vic Fontaine whom she loved to see once in awhile herself.

Today before she left, she was alone in her quarters and listening to a wonderful song from Earth that made her smile each morning, ever since the war ended.

My statures are falling

Like feathers of snow

Their voices are calling

In whispering word waiting for the morning light

Heaven is calling

From rainy shores

Counting wounded lights falling

Into their dreams still searching for an open door

The song made her want to cry sometimes because of everything lost in the end, and how everyone left to go on with their lives. Angst always followed no matter the victory.

In morning dew,

a glorious scene came through,

like war is over now

I feel I'm coming home again

The moments unfold

In the meaning of love

This war is over now

If only she could remain hopeful on the love part. Ezri sighed and sat back with her cup of tea in hand.

An arrow of freedom

Is piercing my heart

Breaking chains of emotion

Given a moment to pray

Lost innocence to find its way

She always thought herself innocent in her years before joining in the war efforts and joining with the Dax symbiont, until it was all lost. But unlike in this song of trying to reclaim your life, it was impossible now. There was never going back once you crossed the line.

Feelings of sensation

A cry in the dark

Hope is on the horizon

With a reason to stay

And living for a brand new day

Yes, that was it instead of seeing that your life was on the verge of ending just because you lost so much. But when one door closed, another opened. Sometimes if not the doors, then a window was the best option. Either way, for every end there was a new beginning.

The computer beeped that a crew member was contacting her. "Kira to Dax."

"Acknowledged," she answered after taking a sip and putting it back on the table. The colonel surprised her then altogether.

"Report to Ops immediately. We have an incoming transmission from the Gamma Quadrant."

Ezri joined everyone soon after, wondering if there would be anymore trouble with the Dominion, but how would they even start anything else now that the treaty was signed? Months ago, Nog had been promoted to lieutenant and engineer. "Colonel, it's from Odo."

Odo...he was coming back? The last anyone heard from him was resigning his position and returning to his so-called family. "Onscreen," Kira said, sounding like she was out of breath. She was eager to see her former lover once again, but at the same time trying not to get her hopes too high. Ezri remembered how perfect they were despite anything that got in the way, long-lived unaware feelings in one's case, until in the end it was time to part ways. Nerys had been keeping faith that Odo would return from the link one day.

Had the time come?

"Colonel," the former constable said as his face appeared onscreen for all of Ops to see, "it's been a long time."

"Odo." His name was a breath that Dax thought she would pass out, before regained her professional self. "How do we owe the surprise after only eight months?" Her tone was slightly teasing, which Odo returned briefly before getting serious.

"Believe me, as much as I want to say it's pleasant to speak again and to see new faces in Ops, it's urgent business. I have been trying to help rebuild the Dominion into a new era of peace, but subsequent tension has remained between the Alpha and Gamma Quadrants, that I have been trying to help rebuild Cardassia without the help of the rest of the Changelings for obvious reasons. But our..." He paused there, shaking his head and lowering his eyes before returning them.

"Go on, Odo," Kira pressed gently, the worry on her face present.

"Our representative has gone missing on Cardassia."

~o~

"My loyal Weyoun...the only solid I ever trusted."

"I live only to serve you...I would give my life for you."

That was what the supposed final Weyoun had said to the Female Changeling before he was killed in front of her. He'd promised he would sacrifice himself for her, and he did...but not him, not this time.

He was shivering cold, starving to the pit of his stomach, curling into himself and into the corner of his cell. He was supposed to help make up for what the ones before him had committed on this planet, to its people and murdering the entire population - save for a small number in the tens left, leaving an endangered species behind - but he was never supposed to be captured.

How foolish he had been to expect otherwise.

His predecessors faced many dangers and death, treachery in every corner. The fighting and murdering was over, but the Cardassians would never forget it; how could they not? They would never look past his face and see he was not any of the ones they dealt with. They caught him off-guard the moment he let it down, tore his clothes off and beat him to unconsciousness and tossed him in here. He had been here for over a month, and he feared he might be killed here before anyone came to rescue him.

He fervently wished Odo was coming for him, bringing any help. He had it high on the rise as Odo never let anyone go without a fight. Not even his most trusted aide when he was not in the Link.

~o~

To live in the Link, returning and curing his people had been...indescribable bliss. Feeling complete and whole, but upon leaving, it took Odo a very long while to remember and return to reality.

The war was over, his people were saved so he was not the last of his kind. He was going to right the wrongs they did even if he had anything to say about it. But there had been a price to pay.

He had been forced to leave Nerys behind.

But now he had talked to her through subspace transmission and felt his inner self leap with indescribable joy that he had not felt in months. It was nothing compared to the love he still had for Kira, had never let go for his people. He had waited so long to return to her, to keep his promise once his work was finished, as impossible as it was.

After the cure he carried spread throughout the Link, he returned to the surface to oversee the reconstruction of the cloning facilities. Weyoun 8's corpse had been vaporized, so he would never return because his DNA template was destroyed. The new one - number nine - surprised him altogether when he found Weyoun bowing on his knees before him, requesting that he be his aide for the times to follow - and adding that it had been Eris who saved his line and life. Odo had no use of an aide, but he'd resigned his position aboard DS9 that it seemed he had no choice. He never forgot Weyoun 6 who had actually seen the error of his ways and would have made it back with him if he had not been forced to activate his termination device.

A small part of Odo hoped this new Weyoun who had been faithfully following him the last several months would start being an independent being instead of just taking the order without consideration. He never once had a mind of his own. He didn't even know what love was, either.

And then he learned about the truth behind Ezri Dax's imprisonment on Cardassia with Worf. Everything that involved Weyoun 8 taking her into his bed and then making her his unwilling bride. It shocked Odo to his core, but number nine went on to say how he wanted to make it right if he found Ezri again. A part of his predecessor carried on these developing feelings for the Trill counselor that he could never let go. In a strange way, Odo understood what it was even if Weyoun himself didn't know.

But right now, there was the matter of his people's Vorta diplomat being in the hands of some of the surviving Cardassians who wanted nothing more of the Dominion's servants on their land to deal with. But Weyoun had been confident that he could make up for what had been done - he must be regretting his decision now, wherever he was now.

He didn't feel like he deserved all this...support from Weyoun, because he was no one special. The Vorta always made him feel uncomfortable, until the time he spent shortly with Weyoun 6 before his death; to hold him as he died in Odo's arms had cracked his heart more than Kira's anger at him for choosing to link with the Female Changeling during the occupation of DS9. Over the last several months, something inside Odo made him feel that Weyoun was a responsibility if not a servant. The Vorta did not directly say it, but it was implied that he counted on Odo more than anything. He felt he owed him by rescuing him with the help of his old friends.

"Odo."

To see her standing there again made him feel weak inside; weak as in light and fuzzy. He had missed her, missed her smell and touch, her kiss - everything. But he remained where he was as business came first as always. He would have plenty of time to catch up with her, he hoped. "Colonel. Thank you for allowing me to come." His ship had docked, without escorts as he had no need for Jem'Hadar, and he was ready to take the one addition he felt he could trust on this mission. It would not be easy, but it was now or never.

"I told you that you would come back to us," Kira told him, taking one hand in hers and then the other, still smiling at him. "But I think catching up can wait."

He nodded. "I agree. Lieutenant, it's good to see you, too."

The Trill bowed her head once, smiling as adorable as he remembered. It appeared she was no longer the learner and innocent; he saw an even greater wisdom in her eyes, ready to leave the station for adventure. Just like Jadzia before her. One time to that one planet in the Gamma Quadrant - he could never forget his short time with little Taya, either - so he looked forward to his time with Ezri on their own.

However, he could not help but wonder if they would end up in the same situation as Weyoun.

~o~

"It's just like old times, isn't it?" Ezri asked as soon as they were away from orbit of Bajor and Deep Space 9. The shape-shifter turned her way with his head and smiled slightly at her. It felt more comfortable than it was with Worf that one time she rescued him from the Badlands. Ezri always liked Odo because he was a lost soul in the start and had difficulty being accepted due to the fact he was a Changeling. He got friends in the end, he got Kira - but his people were also murderers because of being persecuted by solid beings long ago.

"It certainly is. I never thought I would be given the luxury to return to Deep Space 9, in these circumstances. I kept my promise to Nerys, but Weyoun..." He trailed off there, shaking his head and keeping them both at warp speed of six.

Ezri lowered her eyes to the console. "I never thought he'd come back," she said softly. "The last one...he was the last one, from what I heard."

"Believe me, I was surprised myself," Odo admitted. "It was another of his people to save him. Eris, we all remember her - Jadzia namely. He came to me himself, and I think the Weyoun 6 part of him dominated serving the other Changelings. But other than that, he was still...intensely loyal. He is dependent and will not think on his own as we all did under Captain Sisko. He doesn't seem to want to be his own man, if you take my meaning, Ezri."

Ezri chewed her bottom lip out of habit. All of it came down to the one simple answer as complicated as it was: all the Vorta were dependent, relying on their gods for "love" and "devotion", having difficulty making their own decisions and never questioning their leaders. That was no surprise, but as Odo went deeper into vivid details as to how he had come to look at Weyoun as his only real...companion within the Dominion but wished he didn't fear his own decision-making.

It was as if Odo was asking Ezri to step in and help him with the role. Also, almost as if...

"Odo, he told you about us, didn't he?"

"He did."

She closed her eyes, feeling shame return. The secret embedded deep within herself had come back, but then she felt Odo's warm, clay-smooth hand on hers, making her jump a little. "Don't be ashamed, counselor. It was in the past, and it was nothing you could help. However, in Weyoun's case..."

The therapist in her could not deny it any longer. "He was starting to change, but not so fast. Something inside him was festering because of...me," she whispered, looking ahead the window of space and streaks of light at warp. Everything began to spin and jolt when she thought of how heartless he seemed, possessive of her, but at the same time...tender and caring. She wasn't a hopeless romantic, but emotions to read off was a natural of hers. Weyoun had been hard to figure out, but it was no secret he made when he angrily - no, devastatingly - spoke of how she betrayed them both, that he was a weak fool to think he could feel something in his heart -

"Oh, God, no," she moaned when she felt it clench painfully and lean back in her chair, squeezing her eyes tightly shut at the onslaught. This couldn't be - it just couldn't...!

"Ezri, I'm sorry," Odo said quickly, and she felt him move closer to her. "But whatever it is, I want you to keep a clear head until we get him away from Cardassia -"

The communication system beeped, signaling they were getting a transmission. "It's from Cardassia," Odo said, shaking his head. "Guess from whom." The screen flashed on, and a Cardassian man's face was for them both to see. "I'm surprised to hear from you so soon, Gul Adenor."

Gul Adenor was placed in charge of the slowly growing new Cardassia, with the help of Garak whom they had not heard from yet. But from her gathering, Adenor was not a very reasonable man. He snorted as he looked between the shape-shifter and the Trill. "I had to make sure that the Vorta still had his 'friends' coming for him. He's not exactly doing good."

Also by the sound of him, he shouldn't even be the new leader of Cardassia. "What have you been doing to him, Adenor?" Ezri demanded, her cool shell dropping and allowing the more personal side taking over. When did this start happening? She never let her personal feelings overtake reason, but she was. Because if they did anything to Weyoun over the last month, then she would lose control. She glared at Odo when he turned his blue gaze on her, urging her to remain calm.

The Cardassian laughed. "What did you expect, Lieutenant? He's the one responsible for what happened to our planet. He doesn't deserve to even walk the galaxy, shape-shifter," he added to Odo, who went rigid in his seat. "As a matter of fact, we should not even negotiate a release. We don't just give prisoners away to you. The old Cardassian system -"

"The old Cardassia was destroyed, and a new one is in the process of being rebuilt!" Odo returned. "What you've done is kidnap an unarmed, unaccompanied representative of mine, who answers now to me and me alone, made damned sure that he would set things right to the wrongs his predecessors made enforcing -"

"Odo, we do not need your speech and defense," Adenor snapped. "We just want assurances that the Dominion does not even try to interfere with our business again. Cardassia has gone through enough, and we need to reproduce our race again as much as possible if we want our people to survive. We're barely in the hundreds as it is. Our jurisdiction would be to try the guilty and execute or imprison for life, but because Garak had the nerve to talk us into just giving the Vorta to you just like that..." Ezri felt her temper snap just like that.

"Stop calling him 'Vorta', Gul Adenor. Call him by his name. Weyoun."

"Very well, Trill," he said insolently. "Weyoun is waiting for you two, so I'll let you go until we receive your arrival. Adenor out." The screen turned black, leaving both Changeling and Trill alone. Ezri supposed she would deserve anything Odo had to say to her even if he wasn't Worf or Ben.

"Ezri, that was very..."

"Uncalled for, I know," she said, sighing. "I'm sorry, Odo. That's not usually me, that I remember."

"On the contrary, that's impressive. You're a little...stronger than last time. I'm sure Worf would have said the word honorable."

It had been months since she last saw Worf, but she agreed. To use the word stronger? She felt exactly what the word was and wouldn't let any Cardassians make her feel otherwise.

It's really difficult to continue a story after the events of the show, so I hope this is going in a good direction. Last few days have just been so tough on me with Christmas shopping and finishing decorating the house. Other than that, I got a good idea with the issue of building a new Cardassia that brings the trio in. :)