Rekelen tilted her head to the side as she studied at the portrait hanging on the wall. She had no memories of the man so it was nice to finally put a face with the name. She was so engrossed in her study that she didn't even notice that she was no longer along.
"Handsome, isn't he?" An older woman with greying auburn hair asked as she stepped up beside the young woman engrossed in the portrait.
Blinking, Rekelen turned her head, just a fraction of an inch, to see who had spoken. "He has kind eyes." It was the only other observation she made. The first being that she had his eyes. "Did you know him?" She refocused on the smiling portrait of the man.
The woman smiled. "I did. I was married to him for, oh, fifteen years." She held out her hand. "Gretchen Janeway."
"Rekelen Dal." Rekelen took the offered hand, gave it a squeeze, then released it.
"Rekelen, that's an unusual name." Gretchen was making polite small talk as she waited for the Council to finish deliberating on new information concerning her husband. "Are you a Cadet?"
Rekelen snorted and took a moment to look around the nearly deserved corridor. She was expecting her Starfleet security escort, the one she gave the slip to earlier, to come marching down the hall at any moment to take her back to the council waiting room. "No, I can't say I've had the pleasure. My world doesn't recognize Starfleet occupation."
Gretchen chuckled. "Starfleet occupation? Can't say I've ever heard it described quite like that before. You're world isn't part of the Federation?"
"No." Rekelen fell silent. "Tell me about him." She motioned towards the picture.
"Edward was the kindest, gentlest, man I ever knew." Gretchen sighed and looked back at her husband. "No many people know this but this portrait was painted just two days after the birth of our first daughter, Kathryn. It still amazes me how well the artist captured his fatherly pride." She reached up and traced a finger over his beaming grin. "This was the smile of a content, happy, man." She shook her head to clear away the memories. "So if you're not a Cadet and your world isn't part of the Federation, what are you doing here at Starfleet Headquarters?"
Rekelen turned to face Gretchen after she had finished her story. "I'm waiting for the Council to reach a verdict regarding information I recently presented them."
Gretchen blinked. "Information regarding my husband?" This girl was surely not old enough to have known Edward, he'd been gone for twenty-three years now and this girl didn't look over thirty. "How did you know, Edward?"
Before she could answer, Rekelen heard the pitter patter of little feet running down the hall. Smiling, she reached down just in time to nab her three year old son, Zarale, as he barreled into her legs. Looking down the hall, she expected to see her husband chasing their son but wasn't surprised when she didn't. The boy had a knack for sneaking away unnoticed. "Your father is going to worry when he notices you're missing." She chided her oldest offspring. "What am I going to do with you?"
Zarale started to answer his mother in their native language but stopped when she gave him a reprimanding look.
"Remember what I told you before we left home? You must speak standard here or no one will understand you." Rekelen reminded the boy and gently ran a hand through his blonde locks. "Can you say hello to Gretchen, Zarale?" Truth be told, she had forgotten about the older woman the moment her son appeared.
"Sorry." Zarale apologized and glanced at the other woman then, promptly, buried his face in his mothers neck, he was shy amongst strangers. "No wanna." He whined against warm skin.
"He's adorable. Hello, Zarale." Gretchen reached an aged hand over and laid it against the childs back. "My youngest, Phoebe, was the same way. I don't think she talked to anyone outside the family until she was six or seven. You'll imagine the problems I had when she started primary school and wouldn't talk to the teachers or her classmates."
Rekelen nodded, understanding completely. Zarale was the clingiest child in his class which caused him to be teased by the other children. But there was nothing she could do about it except wait for him to grow out of his extreme attachment to his parents. He'd soon grow tired of the teasing and taunts and learn to conform to the other childrens behavior. "He'll learn." Was all she said.
Gretchen smiled. "Is he your only one?" She couldn't help but think that the toddler looked familiar. She just couldn't place where she had seen him before.
"I also have a daughter, Ulani, named for my mother. She's three months old." Rekelen gladly bragged about her children, any proud Cardassian would. "You said you have a daughter, does she not give you grandchildren to spoil?"
"Phoebe is a free spirit, a painter. She has no desire to settle down and have a family." A sad smile tugged the corners of Gretchen's lips up. "I'm sure losing her father at such a young age has something to do with her choice."
Rekelen couldn't help but pity this woman, her biological mother. She traced a lazy pattern on her sons back and rocked him in her arms when she felt him drift off to sleep. "Your pain, your loss, has been avenged." She wanted to say something to make her feel better and she hoped her words brought comfort. "I think they're ready for us." She gestured down the hall towards the doorway, with her chin, at the two Starfleet security officers hanging just outside the doorway. Taking a deep breath she started down the hall and into the large Council chamber. She knew Gretchen was right behind her. Unlike earlier, the room was almost empty except for the head of the council and several other council members scattered about the room. As she approached the head table, she passed her sleeping son off to her brother, Joret, since Tom had his hands full with a sleeping Ulani.
The black man, dressed in Starfleet Admiral attire, banged a large, smooth, black stone down onto the table causing barely noticeable sparks to fly. "Gul Paris, we have reviewed the data and information you brought to us and have decided that your account of the events leading up to, and preceding, the disappearance of Admiral Edward Janeway is true." He took a breath and folded his hands in front of him on the table. "It is a black day for Starfleet and the Federation." Dark eyes found Gretchen, he had known Edward and his family. "And it is a sad day for the Janeway family. Twenty-three years ago your husband was listed as missing. Information that we received at the time supported that. I'm just sorry that it took twenty-three years for us to finally find out what happened." He motioned for Tom to stand and address those gathered.
Tom took a deep breath, placed Ulani in her carrier, and stood. "My name is Thomas Eugene Paris and I'm a pilot aboard the Cardassian ship, Ranaghat." He moved away from his seat and approached the front of the room, where he then turned to face Gretchen. "You know who I am, I can see it in your eyes. Which makes this all the more difficult for me to explain." He took another deep breath and plunged, head first, into his explanation. "I was ten when my father forced me to go with him to Cardassia Prime. It was to be my punishment for getting kicked out of Academy Prep. But it turned out to be my lifesaver instead. Upon arrival I met the then Gul Dal and his daughter, Rekelen. Being the daughter of a Gul, it was her duty to watch over me during my stay. She not only watched over me, but she also made sure I got an education and learned the ways and customs of her people. I am forever grateful." He bowed his head towards his wife in a sign of respect. "It wasn't until later that I learned of her true heritage. Actually, it was the day after she asked me to be her mate, her husband. She sat me down, along with her father, and told me the story of Edward Janeway and his struggle to save his daughter. Kathryn was five and sick with a new strain of the flu when he found out something disturbing about his child. She was an Augment, genetically altered to be one actually. He contacted his friend, Owen Paris, my father, to tell him the news. Project Helix, a seemingly harmless study, was actually something more sinister. Owen informed the scientists working on Project Helix that they had been successful and they wanted Kathryn, oh yes, they wanted her badly. Your husband was ordered to turn Kathryn over to them but he refused. Instead, he stole a shuttle and set a course out of Federation space. He was heading for Cardassia, knowing that those who wished to take his daughter would never find, or even be allowed to look, for her there. But a plasma storm damaged the shuttle and he was forced to send out a distress call. My father's ship, the Finland, answered it and by the time he got through with the shuttle, well, let's just say that it's a miracle that anybody survived the crash." He felt tears well up in his eyes and gave Rekelen a grateful look when she stood to continue the story in his place.
"Two soldiers were sent to investigate the crash, Jasad Dal, my father, and his brother, Jorek. When Jasad and Jorek found the shuttle, it was nothing more than a mangled mess. But a noise drew their attention and they started to dig through the charred debris. They found Janeway, barely alive, and when they went to pull him away from what remained of the shuttle, they found that he was wrapped around a child. He lived long enough to get a promise from my father. A promise that he'd take care of the little girl and protect her because he knew that Owen Paris would not stop until every occupant onboard that shuttle was dead." Rekelen paused. "Owen was jealous of Edward. He made Admiral before him and now his child was the one that showed signs of being an Augment. Neither of Owen'sdaughters showed any special abilities so he thought of himself as a failure. What he did was out of hatred and revenge. Ironically, all he had to do was wait because along came Tom, five years later, with his miraculous ability to fly. Edward Janeway died a hero and I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for him. I don't remember him but Mrs. Janeway tells me he was a kind and gentle man. I'm sure I would have been proud to call him father but the fates did not wish it to be. I've been Rekelen since the day I was found and I don't intend to change that. My father risked everything to keep his promise to the dying Admiral." She caught Gretchen's eyes and held them. "Your pain, your loss, has been avenged." She repeated her earlier words then turned to address the Admiral at the table. "Admiral Jacobi, I'm glad I was allowed to tell my story. Now Admiral Edward Janeway can rest in peace." With that said she returned to her family and began to gather her things to leave. She wasn't surprised to feel a soft hand on her back.
Gretchen wiped her eyes. "You're a good boy, Tom Paris. You're mother always said so." She gave him a smile. She didn't blame him for his fathers horrible actions. When Rekelen turned, she drank in her appearance. "I should have known who you were. You look exactly like I did at your age." She just wanted to hug her long lost daughter to her bosom and never let go but she held herself back. It was all so much to take in. Kathryn was raised by a Cardassian to be a Cardassian. Phoebe would never believe this. "I was wondering if you'd like to join me for a late lunch? We could...talk?"
Joret rolled his eyes and punched his sister in the arm. "Father told you to learn about your human family before returning home, remember? He expects a full report on where you get the nose rumbling from." He pointed out and shifted his sleeping nephew around on his shoulder. "And you are to see your mother and sisters." He pointed a finger at his brother-in-law. "They are still threatening to come to Cardassia to see their little...Tommy-bear."
"She snores?" Gretchen asked the young Cardassian. "Edward used to snore like one of those old time freight trains. He used to snore so loud that he'd wake the baby." She chuckled. "If he woke her, then he got to feed and change her."
Rekelen glared at her little brother. "Why did I allow you to come along on this trip, little brother?" She asked him.
"Because you can't deny me anything." Joret told her, honestly. And it was true. Ever since he was a baby, he had his big sister wrapped around his little finger. "Your human mother mentioned something about food, tell her that we'll join her so I can eat."
Chuckling, Tom lifted Ulani out of her carrier and offered her to her human grandmother. "He got a point there, Rekelen."
Gretchen took the baby, delight shining in her eyes. 'She was a grandmother!' She wanted to scream to the world. "I know this little place downtown that serves all kinds of interesting food. I've only been in there once but I think you'll like it."
"Lead the way, Mrs. Janeway." Rekelen motioned for her take the lead.
"Please dear, call me Gretchen." Gretchen said as she walked past the three adults and the sleeping toddler. How could a day that started out so grim turn out so beautiful? It was a question she didn't care for an answer to because it didn't matter how it got to be beautiful as long as it stayed that way for a long time to come.
Jagul Dal paced the length of the holding cell. He'd stop every few feet to make a face at the stench then continue on his way. "I have to give you credit, Admiral, no one has ever lasted this long." He shot the man sitting on the small cot a look of pure distaste. "But I have no use for you any longer so you can either start talking about what you know about the Augments and save yourself or make peace with whatever Gods you worship."
"What makes you think I'd start talking after this long? You'll never find out the secrets of the Augments!" The man referred to as Admiral said. "So you myswell get on with the torture."
A smirk pulled at the corners of the Jagul's lips. "There will be no torture just a nice, slow, painful, death." Jasad stopped his pacing and placed his hands behind him back. "I did what I always said I'd do." He bragged.
The Admiral tilted his head to the side, his shaggy, dirty, grey hair hung limply over his too thin face. "And what's that?"
"Why don't I show you instead?" Jasad pulled a small, roundish, coin out of his uniform and held it in the palm of his hand. After a second, it began to glow and then a small representation of Rekelen appeared, plain as day. As he stood there, palm open, the miniature Rekelen addressed the Federation Council on behalf of the deceased Admiral Edward Janeway. The emotion in the tiny voice was apparent. After several minutes the coin stopped glowing and Rekelen faded away.
"Kathryn." The Admiral whispered after watching the scene play out. "What did you do to her?!" He demanded to know. "What did you do to my little girl?"
Jasad placed the device back into it's place. "You mean my little girl, don't you Edward?" His smirk turned cruel. "Rekelen is the perfect daughter. I couldn't ask for better." Again he was bragging. "She's very loyal to her people. Did you know that she's a Gul? No, of course you wouldn't." He fell silent, letting his words have a chance to sink in. "She's on Earth right now getting to know her birth mother and little sister."
Edward gritted his teeth together. "She won't be yours for long once she finds out that I'm alive!" He spat, hating this man even more than before.
"You're assuming that she doesn't already know." Jasad clicked his tongue. "You probably don't know this but..." He paused for effect. "I brought her to several of your torture sessions to show her how weak humans really are. The look of disgust in her eyes, as you cried out in pain, was a sight to behold. You want to know what she said to me on that day? How silly of me, of course you do. She said 'Yadik, that is not a man. A man does not scream like a siml. That is an tunka that has no right to live.' She was seven at the time."
"I don't believe you!" Edward hissed out wanted noting more than to strike the demon standing before him, taunting him. "Kathryn would never..." He trailed off when he realized that he really didn't know him daughter. She was a child when their shuttle had crashed and now...now she was a woman. For twenty-three years he had hung on, waiting, watching, for a way to escape.
Jasad knew he had won something of a victory. "Your Kathryn does not exist, not anymore. I took her in all those years ago. I raised her, trained her, loved her, not you. I am who she calls Father. I am who she is loyal to."
Edward clutched the cot. "Lies!" He bellowed in anger.
"Truths." Jasad had no reason to raise his voice. "Your precious Starfleet now thinks you're dead thanks to Rekelen. She has done her part well. I look forward to the information she brings back with her." He started for the door. "Too bad you won't live long enough to see Cardassia bring the Federation to its knees. And think, it'll be all because of our daughter." He sneered, mockingly. As the door opened, he stepped out and motioned for the guard outside to go in. "Make sure he screams like the tunka that he is." Was his only command as he started down the corridor of the underground complex. As the screams, of the once proud Admiral, behind him started, he started to hum a lullaby his wife used to sing to Rekelen when she was small. As he exited the complex and stepped out into the sun, he made a mental note to contact his daughter and tell her the news, he was sure that she'd be pleased. She was, after all, his daughter.