Chapter Thirteen

Obedience Brings Victory

"I might be able to hotwire one of our comm badges," O'Brien was saying, "into this sensor array. That would give us a crude transmitter...but a low-powered source," he finished grimly.

Low power meant little success, so there had to be something else they could use. "What about draining one of our phasers?" Sisko suggested. They had saved enough of their weapons and equipment that they wouldn't have to worry about one of them losing a weapon.

O'Brien shrugged; type two phasers possessed more than enough power to transfer for a substitute of a communication system. "I thought about it, but I need a converter to bridge the power cells. And I can't build a converter without an ion exchange matrix." Sisko almost sighed at the bad news; no ion exchange matrix and no link to power cells, nothing. And there HAD been one when they found that damned Jem'Hadar ship last year, but the ship had gone down...which meant the matrix was far down the depths with the ship.

Just their luck.

"Captain." He looked up when Ensign Gordon came in, harried and panting. "We may have a big problem. Garak and Nog haven't reported in, and they're not answering my hails."

Benjamin found his face mirroring Miles'. Mr. Garak and Nog weren't back...what had happened to them? Other lifeforms had to be somewhere on this planet; what other explanation was there? "Ensign, get Lt. Neely and arm up," he ordered. "Chief, you're with us. We're going to find them."

This land was a desert, like one of many on Earth. Few water spots but very beautiful to take in. But beauty does a fine job in covering up any danger in every corner lurking. Suiting up again, Sisko, the chief and Gordon, and Lt. Neely who scanned the area they covered with her tricorder, headed out to search.

The group met with a small land of grass, stretching four to five acres and surrounded with small rocky mountains. So far, no signs of life, but then Neely broke it. "Captain, there's a group of lifeforms up in the cliffs," she said. "Range: seventy-five meters. Elevation: thirty meters."

With the Dominion spreading in the Alpha Quadrant, there had to be one type of life if the Federation were here. "That's where I'd be. Are they...Jem'Hadar?" Sisko looked up and shaded his eyes with one hand as he tried to search the cliffs above himself.

"I think so."

"Well, let's not make it easy with them." Ahead were a collection of ground-covered rocks for them to assume the position. "We're heading to those rocks ahead, but walk and don't run."

They had just made it to their posts in time, he thought sarcastically, for phaserfire to launch in their direction. The Jem'Hadar had apparently decided to kill them as soon as they saw them; no surprise there. Sisko shouted at the others to open fire right back.

Their strength was limited due to the long day and the crash on this isolated system, but they had to fight back. They waited between shots to hide behind their cover and then jump out to return the blasts. When the unseen Jem'Hadar didn't fire back, the group gained this as their favor in trying to fire them when their weapons were lowered.

Sisko frowned when the shots were no longer aimed for the intended targets; the Jem'Hadar were now firing to the ground before them, meters away, and dust was obscuring their vision. They were firing at the group without killing or injuring anyone, only to slow them down...were they pulling out? The Jem'Hadar were supposed to shroud and retreat, but why didn't they?

"Ceasefire!" Benjamin shouted when there were no more shots from the cliffs overhead. The others were just as weary and baffled as he was. Why didn't the Jem'Hadar kill them when they spotted them? There were too many unanswered questions that they needed answers.

~o~

Keevan moaned when his release reached its peak; his skin was sticky with himself, and if Annora saw this, he would feel ashamed of himself for not waiting for her, but he didn't know when she'd be back. Whatever was she doing with the prisoners? He would never jump to the conclusion of plotting with them to escape; he knew her better than that.

"Sorry I kept you waiting." He breathed a sigh of relief when she returned, her silhouette covering the floor of the cave. "Did you..." Her eyes landed on him covered with the thermal blanket. "...survive without me?"

Keevan felt his cheeks flush, but he nodded. "Only I couldn't wait any longer for you. It was...too much." He lowered his eyes to his no-longer existing erection which had subsided thanks to himself. She was looking where he was, but her face was unreadable.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, sadly. "I wish we weren't interrupted." She walked over and seated herself in her favorite spot, unable to look him in the eyes, and he wondered if it was because of him. "What are you planning to do with the prisoners and the others out there?" she asked when she finally looked up after a tense moment of silence.

Keevan gave her a knowing smile. "Captain Benjamin Sisko is out there, and I know it. Because you know him well, too, Annora, he's the best hope you and I both have for survival."

She shifted back away from him. "What is it about the captain that fascinates you?"

"Before I met you, I was in charge of hunting Captain Sisko and his unit to ensure their demise, but the search got us nowhere," he answered smoothly. "He was never found, so it was safe to assume that he hid well, and more important matters were at hand. But now, it seems, luck is on my side now that he is here. I have better intentions than to kill them all."

His ears picked up the familiar thud of boots returning. Remata'klan and six more had returned. He just hoped they followed his orders and didn't kill anyone or injured any of them. The six soldiers assumed their stance behind their leader who stood at the head, his scaled face grim, telling Keevan everything. "You found them," he said, feeling his anger arise, "but you engaged them when I specifically ordered you NOT to."

Remata'klan nodded. "Yes, but it was unintentional -"

"Unintentional or not," Keevan interrupted, his temper bubble bursting and spewing fire, "why were my orders disobeyed?!"

"Lack of white," Third Remata'klan responded calmly and slightly reproachfully, "produces anxiety among us. One man could not restrain himself when he saw the enemy."

"Which man?" Whoever fired the first shot would be severely punished for almost destroying everything he planned, but damn Remata'klan for his defense!

"I have dealt with the matter."

Keevan's patience was tried far too many times, and his voice rose several octaves enough to send Annora shifting further away from him. "I asked for his name," he growled to the Third, who continued to refuse to give the identity of the disobedient soldier in his rank.

"With all due respect, Commander, but he is MY responsibility."

"HIS NAME!" Keevan's voice had risen so high it shook and bounced off the walls, echoing down the tunnels. The sound even rattled his sensitive ear lobes.

Remata'klan glared at him defiantly and stepped forward by three, towering down over him and not afraid of him. "I may not be First," he said softly and threateningly, "but I am the unit leader. You may discipline me, but only I discipline the men. And that, sir, is the order of things."

His comeback and reminder of the "order of things" bristled Keevan, but he supposed he could accept that what had been done had been done. And no one from the Federation unit had been hurt, from his gatherings. If there had been, Remata'klan would have said so. "Very well," he said with resignation. "I'll leave him to you." But if only he knew the name, because disobedience wasn't tolerated on his watch. He could handle Remata'klan's questions, but refusal to follow orders wasn't on the chart.

"Dismissed." At his order, the men left them alone, and Remata'klan remained in his place, still gazing down at Keevan, who smiled perversely and unflinchingly as he took in Remata'klan's blank but fierce gaze.

"You've done well, Third. You may yet become First." But it was truly no, in his mind. Their time was coming sooner than they were thinking; it had been his intentions all along, but to dwell too much before would mean building it up so much that it collapsed in the end.

Now it was coming to fruition. All he needed was Captain Sisko and his doctor here. "Now...I have a new task for you."

~o~

Those Jem'Hadar being here meant they weren't safe, and who knew about their Vorta commander and his or her intentions. If they were to get out of here alive, they had to establish defenses, and now Benjamin was drawing out the plan in the earth before Miles O'Brien. Dax was still behind them in bed, trying to sleep but having a hard time.

"We'll establish three defense positions: you and Ensign Gordon on the south ridge, Lt. Neely near the lava tube, and Bashir and I near the dunes." He turned behind him when Dax joked about staying here and guarding her clothes and everything else, making him and O'Brien laugh, before Lisa Neely's voice sounded through his comm badge.

"Neely to Captain Sisko."

"Go ahead."

"A Jem'Hadar soldier has just approached my position, sir. He says he wants to talk to you...alone."

He stiffened and locked eyes with O'Brien. One of the Jem'Hadar was here; he wasn't surprised that they found their base camp, but he was prepared more than ever for whatever it was. And where was the Vorta? The Jem'Hadar were never without their sly commanders. Sisko stood and turned around when the soldier himself came in through the front entrance with Neely behind him, her phaser aimed at him in case he tried to attack. His arms were spread out on either side of him, indicating that he was unarmed; he either had his weapons taken from him before entrance or left them behind. What was it, a peace talk? After the shoot-out earlier?

Benjamin nodded for Neely and O'Brien to leave them be for the moment. From the corner of his eye, Jadzia's eyes were closed, pretending to be asleep so she could hear the conversation. "I'm Captain Benjamin Sisko," he said to the visitor, who bowed his head once in acknowledgement.

"Third Remata'klan." He had paused to see if the captain had his part to speak, but Sisko would not say anything until he knew why the man was here. "Two members of your unit are being held at our base camp. We'll exchange them for you and your doctor."

The deal was unexpected. Sisko stiffened his posture. "Why do you need a doctor?" he asked suspiciously.

"The Vorta has been severely wounded."

Well, it was stupid to ask, then. He should have guessed as to why Bashir was needed, but that begged the question - "And why me?"

Remata'klan's eyes were unblinking. "The Vorta wishes to speak with you," he answered simply. "He wants to talk a deal."

He pondered this; the Vorta wanted him and his doctor in exchange of Nog and Mr. Garak. They were still on the hunt, so it seemed the Vorta wanted to catch the prey by switching with two lower ranking soldiers for the higher ones, one to save his own life and the other in the lead. He might as well end up bringing back the whole unit for his Founders and the smug Gul Dukat who took back his beloved station. "It seems like he wants to trade two low-ranking prisoners for two more valuable ones," Benjamin said coolly. "Would you make a deal like that?"

"No." The answer was still plain and simple that it rattled Ben's nerves.

"Then why should I?' he countered.

"You shouldn't."

Sisko wanted to scoff; this man's negotiation methods were not up to the standards he expected. He clearly wasn't good other than simply striking deals. "You're not a good negotiator, are you?"

"I wasn't sent to negotiate," Remata'klan said, without a shred of emotion. "I was instructed only to deliver the terms." He kept calm and collective, presenting himself as every other Jem'Hadar Captain Benjamin Sisko encountered in conflict with the Dominion, even long before the war began: sharp, commanding and efficient. But apparently, lacking in negotiation unlike the Vorta, or his first-in-command, which put to mind First Omet'iklan from last year.

"Well, then, I want to talk with someone who can negotiate. I want to speak with your First."

Remata'klan's answer surprised him. "There is no First. And no Second either. They were both killed after we crashed here," he explained. "But I command the unit."

"Under the Vorta," Sisko stated, shaking his head. He must pity the man for remaining third-in-command for whatever reason, such as disobedience or questioning orders. "Must be hard for a soldier to take orders from a Vorta."

"The Vorta command the Jem'Hadar. That is the order of things."

"Obedience brings victory," he cited, and for the first time, he saw the slightest hint of surprise on the soldier's face at the quote of their sacred vow. A soldier's life meant fighting for his people, but the Jem'Hadar lived to serve and die, which was against everything Benjamin Sisko believed in. First Omet'iklan had made it clear during the joint Dominion-Federation alliance a year ago, which Benjamin now saw as his card to turn Remata'klan against his Vorta operative even if it wouldn't happen overnight. "Before the war, I was on a mission with the Jem'Hadar once. And oh, they were good. Tough. Professional. It was an honor to serve with them." It would have been a complete honor if the First didn't make clear of his despise of their people, but their commander...

"But their Vorta...he was something different." He gritted his teeth at the memory of the slimy, sickly sweet-mannered creature with the violet eyes and soft voice. "Manipulative, treacherous - trusted by neither side. But in the end, he was killed...by the Jem'Hadar First."

Whereas Third Remata'klan had borne the look of doubt and possible consideration of his words, now he looked surprised at the revelation of the Jem'Hadar who turned against his own commanding Vorta. "Surprised?" Benjamin asked, pleased that he might have done the trick.

The surprise vanished as quickly as it came back into the same air of blank professionalism. "Such things have been known to happen, but they are rare. In occuring units that have lost discipline."

"Oh, you mean like a unit...marooned on the shores of a deserted planet?" Sisko challenged. Such as a unit capturing two Starfleet members, firing at the first sight of their senior officers, and then their handler ordering a trade for the captain and the chief medical officer because he was dying. Sisko wanted nothing more than to see him dead, but what would happen then?

Also, if Remata'klan was the leader of the unit now, why hadn't his Vorta promoted him to first-in-command?

The man himself seemed to have taken his words in, but chose not to disobey his commander. No surprise, but he was still a living being with a fighting chance. "The Vorta," he said, resuming the real reason why he was here and not to debate on resenting his injured superior, "has instructed me to give you assurance that neither you nor your doctor will be harmed. And you both will be free to leave at the end of your meeting." He sounded like he was bordering on losing his patience, but so was Benjamin. "What is your response?"

He was hoping he'd asked. "The word of a Vorta carries very little weight with me," Ben said coldly. Especially when they twisted your own words and your methods back onto you, possessing second tricks up their sleeves. Why should this Vorta be any different?

"Then you can have MY assurances, Captain," Remata'klan said through a tight jaw, "that you go free. I have been ordered to let you leave, and you can be assured I will obey that order."

Just what he wanted to hear. Sisko looked deeper into the Jem'Hadar's eyes and saw that he would directly follow through when the Vorta would trick them any time he wanted. "Agreed," he said finally after tense silence. "We will make the trade in one hour." And by one hour, the sun would begin to set. Who knew what colors would display on this desert of a planet when you agreed to a trade like this, and when you could not turn a loyal Jem'Hadar soldier against his Vorta overseer.

There had been at least seven Jem'Hadar on the ridge today, and that must have left two guarding the prisoners and the Vorta. Without Nog and Mr. Garak, that gave them a two to one advantage.

~o~

"My wounds will heal soon, and I'll be able to move again...even give myself to you, Annora, but only when you're ready. But know that since the Starfleet presence is here, the Jem'Hadar have to be taken care of so our lives will be saved. You will go back to your people, but I can't go back to mine."

Keevan's words were crystal clear as soon as Remata'klan left to head to the base camp Captain Sisko and the others were. Sisko might not trust the word of a Vorta, but he had to if he wanted Garak and Nog back - and she herself wanted Keevan's life saved at once. They'd waited two days long enough on this rock.

But those two days had been the best of her life...and now it would be coming to an end.

Once she was given back over to the others and they would know she was alive, and Keevan giving himself up to them - it was clear behind his promise to never return to the Dominion - as a prisoner of war, then the two of them would be separated. It meant she might never see him again, or maybe she would, but on official reporter business. Unless she came up with some form of a solution to sneak to Starfleet Central Command so she could see him in secret...

She started to cry when she leaned against the bed, not caring about the hard rock agitating her back, and then a soft hand brushed against her neck and caressed her hair. "Oh, don't cry," Keevan cooed, massaging the nape of her neck and making her sigh. "I'll never go back to the Dominion as long as I live, but we'll never be parted completely. These Jem'Hadar around us and the entire Federation will be the only ones between us, and one will be taken care of soon enough. I might spend the rest of the war in a comfortable cell instead of executed and cloned again, but after that..." He sighed then himself. "I do not know. But there is still your marriage to deal with. How are you going to manage?"

She didn't want to talk about Jeffrey, not right now, but her throat was sore and squeaking with the words. "I don't...know. You know Jeffrey won't understand -" But she had to do something sooner or later. There was a possibility Jeffrey might not have been happy himself, either.

And right now, all she wanted to do was spend whatever precious time she had left with Keevan, the man she had truly fallen in love with, before Captain Sisko and Dr. Bashir arrived.