Author's Note: Since Zara08 asked so nicely, I thought I'd post this next one. Hope you enjoy!
/-/-/-/
/- March, One Month Later
"Are you sure this is a wise plan, sir? They might not appreciated being lied to-"
"I'm telling them the truth. What they want- no, need to be told. How will they not appreciate it, Admiral?"
Hill huffed, looking to Ken Smith for support. But the Ambassador was still, ignoring his search.
"They've been lied to. Their sons and daughters have died for a secret war. Now you're about to go out there and admit to it in such a casual way. People won't react to this news well." Amen seemed to nod as if he understood and agreed. Hill continued, encouraged by this, and said, "They'll be furious. They'll blame you- guaranteeing that you'll never be re-elected- if you can manage to even get on the ticket for a third term. Those in power who haven't agreed with this war will use the public to stop it. It'll be stopped long before it ever started."
"Yes, Admiral," Amen said slowly, turning to look at the grey haired man, "I am aware of all this."
"Mr. President?" He turned at the sound of the timid voice. A handsome young brunette stood in the doorway. "They're ready."
At this, the President nodded and the young man walked away. He glanced over his shoulder, not bothering to look at the Admiral but nodded at Ken. Then, holding out his chest, raising his chin and placing a smile on his face, he marched out onto the stage, waving to the cameras. Ken sauntered out, mimicking the posture and smiling at the cameras flashing up at him.
Amen easily found his place behind the podium, gripping the sides as he looked over the sea of reporters. He let his smile falter some as he took a deep breath. Glancing over his shoulders, the three Ambassadors were standing obediently at his side. He smiled wider and began.
"Greetings to the people of the Federation. I am President Amen of the planet Earth. Standing beside me are the three members of the Federation Council. Ambassador Kennith Smith of Earth. Ambassador Tyls Ry'ok of the D'Karaian people and Ambassador Ix'au of the Hai'di.
"I know that this… press briefing has not been well explained… we are here today to tell you something that may surprise you. You have heard rumors, no doubt, but most likely tossed them aside as ridicules.
"I am here to tell you that eight years ago, Earth became an ally of the, then, newly formed Hagan government of Miko. Wait. Hold you questions. A few years later, they became an ally of the Federation."
The noise level increased. Amen shifted and cleared his throat, "But!… But that is not the most pressing of news. More rumors of this have been spread, I know. Starfleet officers telling their tales. But what they have said is true. The Federation has gone to war against the Alliance."
/-/-/-/
An eruption of noise filtered through the comm, interrupted by the cracks of static.
Riker turned and watched the reactions on the viewscreen. He had been waiting for this day and was surprised at how long it had taken to arrive… President Amen had finally announced the war to the Federation.
"Mr. President! Mr. President! Why all the secrecy? Why not let the people know about this alliance between the Earth and the Hagan?"
"Bad timing-" Riker snorted, "I did not want the alliance to sound rushed, considering the recent death of the late President Aurik. Nor did I want it to seem like it was a ploy to deflect attention from the Enterprise and the renegades."
Riker shook his head and looked away. He could have used a "deflection" back then.
Back then? Was it really so long ago? Had Captain Picard really been gone for that long?
"No, the Alliance were the aggressors in this war. Yes-?" Amen's last words caught Riker's attention. He looked quickly at the viewscreen.
"Wait! Follow up question." Riker stared at the screen. Amen shifted his weight and looked at the reporter. "What did they do and when?"
Amen paused a moment and Riker found himself holding his breath. He could hurt or help the Alliance with his next words.
"Several things… Starting with the day they attacked the U.S.S. Omega and the other Federation Starships that accompanied the Omega. That act alone was an act of war and treason…
"Many of you have heard of the grounds that several former Federation planets gave to their secession from this alliance. These grounds- this, so called proof- was false. Created by Riker and his renegades-"
Amen's face suddenly disappeared from the screen. Riker scowled at the black void now in front of him. He wasn't sure how Amen's words would be taken by the people of the Federation. He didn't care. He already knew exactly what the man was going to say. He didn't want to listen to his voice anymore.
"What is it, Will?"
Riker sighed as he turned to see Deanna observing him from the study's entrance. Sometimes that was the problem with marrying an empath- she always knew when he was upset and when he was lying. "Amen announced the war."
"Really?"
"Yeah… he's back on trying to discredit me." Will tried to shrug and pass his words off as a joke, but he knew that she had seen through to the fearsburied in his thoughts.
"You're worried some people in the Alliance might take him serious?"
"They might." Deanna didn't respond and Will knew it was because she knew it was possible as well, as much as she wanted to say it wasn't.
She sighed and uncrossed her arms, closing the space between them. She didn't say anything to try and comfort him. Deanna had learned long ago that words didn't often sway his feelings. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. He rested his chin in her hair.
"I hate this, Deanna," he thought as he closed his eyes, knowing she would hear the words.
"I know, Imzadi… I know…"
/-/-/-/
/- Around The Same Time
"Now wait," Jadzia sighed, holding out a hand to halt Kira's ranting. The other hand rubbed her forehead, creased brows displaying her confusion. "I thought you anonymously preformed good deeds on the Day of Surom."
Kira shook her head, the Bajoran smirking at the Trill. The Days of Kejs was her favorite week of the entire year. It had been her one request to the Captain to have the holiday celebrated publicly throughout the station. He had seen to it that many more were as well. "No, the Day of Surom is when we fast to thank the Profits for sending us the first Orb. These are The Days of Kejs. It's different."
"Right. Okay, sorry. Continue."
"Well, they of course want the Emissary to go to the capital city-"
"And he of course won't go."
"Right," Kira sighed, rolling her eyes. She understood, and yet she didn't, her Emissary's reluctance to consider himself the Emissary of the Profits. Her Gods had chosen Captain Sisko to be their emissary. Kira didn't think that, in the beginning, he understood what an honor this was. "Which just means hundreds of Bajorans are coming here."
Jadzia smiled at Kira's annoyance. "You know how he is about these things."
"But he likes them."
"Of course he likes them up here. He can escape to us or his office or quarters. On Bajor he knows there's no escaping."
"True. I just wish…" Kira sighed as she trailed off, her thought having no intended end.
"You wish what? That Benjamin would open up to the Bajorans a bit more?" Kira just shrugged. He wasn't Bajoran and she knew that he didn't really believe in the Profits. But still, it was frustrating on her part.
Kira shrugged, nodding before moving out of the way of a bunch of Klingons. "I don't think they're planning on joining us in the celebrations."
Dax laughed before shrugging off the topic entirely. She turned to her friend, a somewhat silly look covering her face. "So when are you and Odo going to get married?"
"Jadzia!"
"Just asking."
Kira shook her head, looking over at the passing Bajoran officer. She nodded at him and looked back to Jadzia. The Trill was smirking, putting up a pathetic attempt to hide it from her. "What?"
"Nothing…" Jadzia's voice trailed off as she shook her head. "It's just that you've been dating for a few years now and-" Kira rose her brows, looking as intimidating as she could manage. "Okay, okay, never mind."
Kira let the silence fall over them as they walked into the turbolift. All that was spoken was the level they wanted to be taken to. She rocked uneasily on the balls of her feet, clasping her hands behind her back.
Then Kira sighed, looking over at Jadzia. "So… are you ever going to have another child?"
Jadzia didn't look over at her, but Kira could see the bewilderment on her face as she thought over a response. "I'm… not sure. Never really… Julian and I haven't talked about it. Why?"
Kira just shrugged. She wasn't sure where the question had come from. "Kind of went along with marriage."
"Okay," Jadzia drawled out, glancing to her side. She observed the door, knowing out of habit that hers was next. "Bye, Kira."
"See you later, Dax."
Jadzia smiled, shaking her head some, as she turned away from Kira and into her quarters.
She paused, her smile widening. Letting out the quietest of chuckles, she crossed her arms over her chest. Then, with a few steps taking her farther into the room, she grinned at her two men.
They sat on the couch, side by side. Julian's legs were crossed as he starred intently down at his PADD. His stylus was between his teeth is other hand was tapping on the armrest. JJ mimicked the action, tapping on the armrest as he looked down at his book.
"Aren't you two adorable."
Both looked up at the same time. JJ smiled widely. Julian dropped his stylus into his lap- he was smiling at her. Jadzia shook her head when she noticed that JJ had Julian's smile.
"Hey, I thought you and Kira…"
She shrugged. "We finished early."
"Mum!" He even had his father's beautiful accent.
"Hey, sweetie. What are you reading?"
/-/-/-/
/- April, One Month Later
He felt it long before he registered what had happened.
It burned first. Burned beyond reason as if a flame had been touched to his back. He could feel it, the flame digging deeper into his flesh.
He felt his breath catch, but he wasn't thinking about breathing. His mind was solely focused on the flame.
Then, suddenly, the flame retracted, leaving searing pain burning over his back. Air surged into his lungs. His eyes stared forwards as he released a breath.
Hot blood oozed from his back, flowing over the burning skin.
It was then that he understood. Realized…
He turned, but his body was slow and sluggish. The movement took a lifetime. And yet his attacker was still there, his face masked by the shadows and darkness of the night.
He imagined, in so brief a moment, that the man- Mikolian, as his brain depicted- was smiling. No, smirking. A smug, satisfied smirk of a true killer.
He could only groan, the searing pain so fresh. He tired to move, to wield his weapon against the alien. But he could not in time, for already he felt the sensation again. His stomach burned as a second flame was forced into his gut. It was the same feeling- the flame burning his blood and catching his breathe. He looked up, mouth opened in shock.
The flame was pulled out quickly, forced back in to create a third wound, searing with a brighter, hotter pain.
He forced out his breath. His lungs burned, his head was spinning. Blood sputtered form his mouth. The taste of iron fresh and strong on his lips. He swallowed, nearly choking on his own blood.
Reality blurred around him. His attacker's form distorted, then disappeared.
He stumbled back. White pain blinded him. He turned and fell to his knees.
Pain fell to a numbing sensation, his vision returned as a distorted image pulling and stretching the world.
Bodies surround him. Face turned in the mud. Eyes staring forward, void of life. Blood mixed between friend and foe.
Cries of pain. Moans of death. Slicing and slashing of blades. Clattering of armor. Grunts and groans. Explosions.
All noise faded. It was nothing more than a buzzing.
Heavy smoke burned his eyes. The smell of blood- iron- was sent in waves to attack his nose.
It too faded.
The bodies, the blood, the smoke, and the hidden sky disappeared, fading into nothingness. He reached out his one hand, a name muttered on his lips, then he fell, eyes opened and face in the dirt.
/-/-/-/
/- Hours Later
Glass clattered noisily in the room.
A smile glowed on the faces as the toast was announced. The group took a generous sip of the drink.
"Cheers to victory! A job well done, gentlemen, a job well done."
Riker stood just behind Admiral Jackson. He gave a short nod, taking only a small sip of the ale. He hardly agreed with the Admiral.
"Birjis'hram is a tremendous victory for the Alliance. Tremendous. But it will be hard to hold her."
"We will, Admiral. Don't worry about that." Riker looked over at the Captain. One of the younger ones, but one Alliance Fleet felt was well suited to be commander of Delta Fleet- nearly a twelfth of the fleet.
Riker merely rolled his eyes at the statement. His efforts were nearly laughable. The fact that he won was quite the miracle. Forty-two hundred dead. Just over thirteen hundred Alliance personnel. Fifteen hundred civilians. Laughable at best.
Starfleet- Amen- wanted the planet. It was a priceless piece of land. They would fight, and fight hard, for it back.
But Jackson, and Captain Black, didn't care to listen to Riker. They saw only victory, they were blind to death. He was sure that, at times, they were also quite blind to an obviously imminent threat.
More cheers erupted around the room. Laughter at some joke lost upon Riker. Another toast, more drinking.
Riker sighed, staring down into the red ale. He did not want to drown his sorrows in synthehol, although he seemed the only one with sorrows there.
Let them have their break from stress, he thought, retaliation was days- weeks- away. It seemed to them that the dead would wait and the dying would understand.
/-/-/-/
/- A Week Later
Dr. Salizhan sighed when she walked in the room. Glancing around, she was relieved to finally see the object of her quest.
Lieutenant Commander Emily Reed stood over her console, watching as the computer rapidly sent back numbers.
"Commander?"
Reed didn't turn away. Instead she reached her arm up behind her, holding up her hand. "Just… one second."
Sal nodded, taking in a deep breath as Reed continued her work. She rocked back on her heels, clicking her tongue, and shoving her hands in her pockets.
Grey purple eyes turned away from the Human's back. The mechanical irises shifted, letting in less light. The lab was big enough, though Sal knew Reed was forced to share it with several others.
"Sorry, I've just been waiting for that all day."
"Anything good?" Reed shrugged, Sal just nodded, then pulled her hands from her pockets.
"You need something?"
"Yeah. You."
Reed paused a moment, as if trying to shake off some thought before saying, "Okay… What for?"
"You wouldn't be interested in commanding your own team to examine victims and their worlds, would you?"
Reed just stared blankly at Sal for a moment. Then, slowly, a smile came to her face. She grinned. Sal grinned with her, almost laughing at her elation.
"So you wouldn't want it?"
"How… how did you get them to agree?"
Sal just shrugged. "Just remember this means you own me one."
Reed smiled wider. "What if I tell you how sexy you look right now?"
Sal pretended to consider the question, then shook her head sarcastically. "I don't think so. But thanks for the compliment."
"So my own team? How many?"
Sal's smile faltered. "Not as many as you wanted."
"How many?"
"Six."
"Six? What am I going to do with six people?"
"Well, actually… that's including yourself." Reed's face dropped and Sal quickly added, "I'll work on getting you more."
Reed sighed, shaking her head. "I'll need a security officer who knows something about medicine. I'd like a few more, but… The rest will have to be doctors. Specializing in diseases, viruses, spreading of contagious."
"You work on a list and I'll see what I can do."
Reed looked up at Sal, the words pulling her out of her muttering. She beamed. "Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!" Reed said in a rush, voice high and childish.
Sal smiled. "No problem."
/-/-/-/
/- Around The Same Time
"Uh… um- M-Mr. President? How can I help you?"
Amen smirked at the doctor. "Follow me, doctor."
Keithers nodded, standing quickly from his desk chair. Hastily tossing aside his told and medical PADD, he rushed after the President.
Keithers followed in silence, watching Amen's back as he waited for the man to explain himself.
It wasn't until they entered the turbolift to leave the medlab that Amen said nothing. He turned. His eyes glanced over Keithers. The doctor stood, his back up against the wall.
"Tell me about the weapon. How does it work?"
"Well, it's rather complicated."
"Then just tell me what happens. Talk to me like I'm not a doctor."
Keithers nodded slowly. He sighed, scratching his nose. "Basically, when the torpedo explodes in mid-air, it releases a gas- for lack of a better word- into the air. This gas contains certain chemicals that- when inhaled- creates the desired results-"
"Which are?"
"Most people feel- probably feel a burning sensation in their lungs. Eyes and skin are also irritated as it enters the body. In the lungs, the chemicals mix with the blood and are brought to the brain. The chemicals then… basically shut down and close off the memory and language centers. They become walking zombies.
"From what we've seen, there are different degrees. Some are dangerous, some unresponsive, some just can't talk or really understand us."
"You said most react this way?"
"Right," Keithers nodded, "Sometimes- for some people- it reacts with the blood in an undesired way. We haven't actually retrieved someone with this reaction, so I am left to speculate. I believe what happens is that the mixing of the chemicals and a certain protein found in certain people cause the lungs to… liquefy. Basically, they suffocate on their own blood."
Amen nodded. He looked at the doors as they opened. Stepping out, he motioned for Keithers to follow him. "And can the Alliance doctors find a cure for this?"
"No… they shouldn't be able to."
"Shouldn't?"
"I have the notes of this thing's creation and I would be hard pressed to make one. They have nothing. See, originally this thing was designed to be completely absorbed into all living organisms. It takes a few hours- six or seven- before it… well, basically the weapon is destroyed, but not until after it has done its damage. No matter what Alliance doctors do, their scans will say that their patients are perfectly healthy."
"You said originally?"
"Yes. I've since… twicked it-"
"Twicked?"
"Now everything is still absorbed into the living organisms, but isn't entirely destroyed. By now, they will have discovered that these infected people aren't contagious. But they'll soon realize that that is no longer the case. See, now some of it lies dormant in their systems. Tactile touch is the only way to activate it."
"So touch an infected person and become infected?"
"Exactly." Keithers paused to collect his thoughts. "It takes slightly longer, but it still infects them."
"But won't they be able to find it?"
"No. They shouldn't. See, the only way to detect it on sensors should- hopefully- only be when the weapon is activated."
"So… someone would have to touch an infected person for them to locate and analyze these chemicals?"
"Right."
"Good, good. Thank-you. You may return to work." Keithers nodded, watching Amen's back as he walked away. The doctor turned around, glancing around himself, suddenly realizing that he had no idea where he was.
/-/-/-/
/- Two Weeks Later
Lieutenant Commander Reed sucked in a breath of air when she felt her body remoleculized. She shivered unconsciously. It wasn't the idea of a transporter that bothered her; it was the actual feeling that did. She hated it every time.
Quickly, she glanced around, getting her bearings. Minimal destruction around her. Most buildings were intact, no impact crater that she could tell.
With a single gesture, her six-person team split into three groups. Ensign Roger Klein followed her.
"Commander Reed to the Clarkson… we are searching the city for survivors now."
"Precede with caution, Commander."
"Aye, Captain."
She let out a sigh, nodding to Ensign Klein as they approached the Alliance Fleet building.
"What do you want to bet that they're all insane?"
Reed glared at Klein. He was a young officer- just over twenty-five. She didn't much like him, either. Especially his morbid attitude- it was unprofessional and obnoxious. He had no seriousness for their job assignment- to tag and investigate victims of the Starfleet bioweapon.
"Just open the door."
"Aye, aye, Commander."
With an over-dramatic flare, he triggered the door. Reed rolled her eyes, watching the door slid open. She knew it was men like Klein that pushed her to realizing she was gay.
An odd smell hit her when she entered the building. She walked in farther, eyes starting to sting. "What is that?" Klein just shrugged, blinking back his own tears.
"Look over there."
Reed turned. Four zombie-like figures stood around each other. They seemed to be staring off into space, oblivious to the world and the two new comers.
Klein sighed, rubbing his nose. The smell was bothering him. "Chemical of some sort?"
"You don't think something's still in the air, do you?"
Klein shrugged again, approaching the four slowly. "Never had reason to think so before."
"Great medical hypothesis." She resisted rolling her eyes, approaching the formed Alliance officers and tapping her combadge at the same time. "This is Commander Reed, we've found four. Tagging them now."
"Very good."
"How many did you say were here?"
"Thirteen."
Klein sighed, "Four down, nine to go."
"Advanced math you're doing there," Reed said sarcastically. He just scowled at her.
"I'm glad to see we're keeping it professional down there."
Reed bit her lip. If it wasn't for Captain Quinson's sense of humor and warm personality, Reed would like to think that she would have been smart enough to keep her mouth shut. "Sorry, sir." Then, with a deep breath, Reed grabbed one of the officer's arms, injecting him quickly with a tracer.
It was that moment, when he yelped in pain, that all four came alive. They were suddenly livid, raving and moaning and screaming wordlessly at the two doctors.
"It's okay. It's okay," she tried to convince them, sending Klein a tense look. But they continued to make a fuse. One hit Klein across the face, and while Reed wasn't sorry for the action, she was surprised, even afraid. They had observed that, in a state of madness, victims had no understanding of where to stop. They would kill if given the chance simply because they didn't realize what that was.
She grabbed Klein, dragging him by the scruff of his collar from the room. Locking the door, she looked around herself. They were in a small research lab.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. What the hell was that?"
Reed shrugged she as she heard Quinson say, "What's going on down there, Reed?"
"The victims we found attacked us. We'll attempt to pacify them."
"Don't do anything rash, Commander."
"It shouldn't be-" Reed broke off. She was suddenly overcome with an intense pain in her chest. She looked up at Klein. He seemed shock, but not by her. His face had gone pale and he was clutching at his chest.
"Commander? Commander Reed? What's going on down there?! Reed!"
/-/-/-/
/- Hours Later
"Sal?"
Deanna had just rounded the corner, expecting it to be empty considering the late hour, only to find Salizhan standing, PADD in hand and biting her finger as she stared down through the observation window. Deanna walked up to the doctor, glancing through the window at the dinning/recreation area where the newest nineteen victims were currently staying. They would be moved the next day when the rooms were ready.
"Salizhan," Deanna said softly, reaching out a hand to tap her arm. Mechanically, as if her mind was still far away on other things, Sal's head turned, blue scales glimmering on her neck when the light hit them. Grey-purple eyes shifted mechanically in the light. "Hey, what are you still doing here?"
"You know something?" Deanna shook her head. She knew that tone of voice- it meant Sal was feeling guilty, and often it was about things out of her control. "The only person on that planet that became violent was a Betazoid. Teyla. She was on the team to help these people… I met her once. She was very sweet… I was thinking about that… we have thirty-two violent patients, including Teyla… twenty-six are Betazoid."
"Twenty-six?"
"Out of thirty-two. Out of the other eight, six are race; two are Vulcan."
"All telepathic races… are there any other race, Vulcan, or Betazoids that aren't violent?"
Sal shook her head. "Only a couple Vulcans… most are young. The two Vulcans are fine until someone touches them."
"You think they just can't control what they're sensing?"
"Would drive you crazy, wouldn't it?"
Deanna nodded slowly. Sal looked away, focusing on the zombie-like people still wandering around the room. Deanna followed Sal's gaze spotting the person she was focused on.
"It's not your fault," Deanna said carefully. "We couldn't have known."
"We should have been more careful."
Deanna shook her head, putting her hand on Sal's shoulder. "Emily knew what she was doing. Knew the risks."
"She was my friend- a good friend. I got her the team."
"I know," Deanna sighed, "We'll figure this out, okay?"
Sal just shook her head. "It's changed."
"Changed? Sorry?"
"The weapon."
"You mean like a whole different thing?"
"No…" Sal shook her head, eyes still gazing lazily through the window. "Essentially it does the same thing, it's just been mutated. Em and her team were infected long after it was out of the atmosphere. Long after. They were touched by some of the infected victims."
"You think it's spread by touch now?"
Sal shook her head. "Not at fist. It's airborne first… everyone in this room- plus Teyla- is contagious."
/-/-/-/
/- June, Five Weeks Later
He stumbled over his feet as he tried to return to his chair. Spinning too fast, he landed unceremoniously on the armrest.
"Report!"
Captain Jayton's words were absorbed in the sudden impact of three photon torpedoes and flying sparks somewhere above his head. He winced when he felt the burning near his ears and twisted his body to fall into his chair.
"Shields at thirty percent and falling!" Lieutenant Commander Tette said from behind him. "Two more ships on our port side!"
"Damn," Jayton muttered, looking up to where the Helm and Ops officers were seated. "Helm! Evasive maneuvers!"
The ship suddenly veered and dived, sending Jayton's stomach reeling. Swallowed hard, he stood and looked out the viewscreen. He could barely see the outline of three Mikolian ships off to the left fighting part of his fleet. They had attacked out of nowhere.
He groaned when the ship lurched and his side hit the armrest harder than necessary. The ship did a series of loops. Jayton watched on the viewscreen, growing dizzy just from watching at the planet Ketrel came into view and seemingly flipped in circles.
"Garret! Get me Alliance Fleet Headquarters!"
Jayton never heard a response from the officer but, just before he looked to check on the man, the viewscreen flickered to the aged face of Admiral Jackson.
"Captain Jayton?"
"We have eight Mikolian vessels here, sir! We can hold them off much longer."
"Hold on, Captain, re-enforcements are on their way."
Jayton nodded curtly at the screen just before the Admiral disappeared, fading into the scene of battle. "Concentrate your fire on one ship, Tette," he called out to his tactical officer when he noticed that Tette was trying to fight three Mikolian ships at once.
"Aye, sir," he responded calmly.
Jayton stood and marched over to the Helm, grabbing the chair just as the ship was hit once again.
"Pattern Gamma." The man nodded and Jayton turned to walked away. He stumbled and tried to catch himself. Suddenly the ship lurched back, the Helm officer pulling them up to avoid the Mikolian phasers. Jayton lost his footing and was thrown underneath his chair, something large pinning him underneath. He winced in pain, knowing something was wrong just before darkness overtook him.
/-/-/-/
/- Two Weeks Later
"Personal Log. Stardate: 37905.03.
"So Ketrel is officially- only one month later- a member of the Alliance.
"I'm not so sure about it. Mind, we need more ships. It can't hurt these days, but I'm not sure what they can really do. I'm more worried about their motives. The Mikolians- their sworn enemy- came and killed nearly two hundred people and left, leaving every ship in the system disabled. Four days later, talks to join the Alliance begin?
"No, they just want revenge. They're in the Alliance only so they can feel like they're doing something to thwart the Mikolians. I don't know…
"What I do know is that the Council should have turned them away. But Alliance Fleet is breathing down their necks about more ships and personnel. I should know- Lwaxana is complaining about it enough.
"Anyways… well there's not really much else going on I guess…
"Liz is… well she loves school. I think it's odd for a ten year old, but I think she'll grow out of it. Gods, is she really ten? I guess so… happened three weeks ago and I'm still not over it." Will laughed as he thought back to the party. All the cake and sweets and gifts… and kids. "It felt like half her school came over for her party."
Will paused, his smile fading. "She's ten and still having weird nightmares- haven't really stopped in… three or four years? I think Deanna is tired of explaining to me about how they help her sort out what she can sense. I don't really get it; I just hope Chamberlain doesn't get them…"
Will sighed, running his hand over his neck. "Chamberlain will be four this October. Where does time go?"
Will shook his head, letting out a small chuckle as he thought. "He learned a new phrase the other day: 'no way'." Will just shook his head. "Not sure where he picked that one up, but it's kind of cute… until he's said it for the twelfth time in one sitting. Just as long as he doesn't turn into his sister who likes to say 'ce'na' every three words. I'm still not sure what it means, but I think it's Trill…
"Well it's late…. Deanna should be getting home before long, I hope. She and Dr. Salizhan are busy with the new arrivals. Back to the old problems of limited space, limited resources, and limited personnel. I barely see her any more…
"Computer, end log."
/-/-/-/
/- Around The Same Time
Captain Mansel paced his bridge, bored, as his ship did nothing but run scans. They had been assigned to the border near Mikolian space for nearly three months and the French Captain had long ago decided border patrol was a boring job he was not interested in performing. But it was a necessary evil that would last another three months.
He sighed, turning to look over at the Operation's Officer when she announced that she had Alliance Headquarters on the comm. waiting for a report.
"Admiral Jackson," he said evenly to the man sitting in front of the screen. He took a slow breath, rubbing the back of his neck. It was a gesture he had adopted when he was young- not a nervous gesture but something he did when he was bored. "Everything looks good here, sir."
"No Mikolian ships in the area? Starfleet?"
Mansel shook his head. "None, sir." It still sounded odd to him to hear the word 'Starfleet' spoken with malice. He had trouble remembering, sometimes, that Starfleet was the enemy. He honestly didn't know what he was doing in Alliance Fleet, though he knew it was a good move to leave Starfleet.
"What about the Ketrelian support? How are they working out?"
Mansel let out a silent sigh, forcing down the urge to roll his eyes. He had protested the use of such primitive and weaker ships as border patrols. He had been even more adamant when he discovered that they would be assigned to areas of both Federation and Mikolian space. He was annoyed with them long before he even got to the border- it went downhill from there. The Captains of the six Ketrelian ships were conceited bastards, in his opinion. They thought of themselves in very high regard and didn't understand the fact that they had only once ever been in a battle situation- which, he had pointed out, they'd practically lost.
"They are… well they've got a lot to learn in terms of military strategy, sir."
"But, other than that?"
Mansel sighed. He didn't care to begin another argument, especially not in front of his bridge crew. "Nothing that I would care to address at this point, sir."
"Very good. Carry on then, Captain."
"Thank-you, sir. Man- what the hell?" Admiral Jackson's face formed into a question mark as Mansel turned to see what had set off the emergency alarm.
"What is it, Captain?"
Mansel looked up at the Admiral before looking back to his tactical officer for an explanation. "The Ketrelian ships just jumped to warp."
"Heading?" Mansel asked.
The Lieutenant paused for just a moment before looking up at his Captain and answering. Mansel looked back at Admiral Jackson, his furrowed brow exaggerating the wrinkles on his aged face. "The Nitogaro System, sir… that'll take-"
"- take them to Miko. I know…" Jackson's voice trailed off as he nodded. "Damn."
/-/-/-/
"Stand down! I repeat! Stand down!"
Ziphros scowled at the voice, not caring about the fact that the Human Admiral could not see his face. "I do not have to answer to you, Admiral Jackson. I will not stand down nor will I abandon my mission."
"What mission! What you're doing is suicide! I repeat, stan-"
A quick motion of his hand silenced the Admiral. Supreme Commander Ziphros watched with a growing frown as the stars shrank back to normal size and his ship came out of warp. In an instant, weapons were firing at the Mikolian ships surrounding the planet.
Around him, his crew worked calmly, doing everything without the necessity of orders. He glanced to his left to see the young Nilaain operating the tactical station. He had no qualms with the other races of his world, but he did think of himself- a Cadda- as far more capable of the job. The young Nilaain brushed a long strand of dark hair from his eyes before looking up at the Supreme Commander.
His blue eyes were darker than normal, hiding the fear Ziphros knew his was feeling. The young officer nodded once in a curt gesture before his eyes returned to his console. Ziphros let out a slow breath before turning away, his own blue eyes staring out the viewscreen at the sphere named Miko.
"Take us to the designated coordinates!" he shouted at the Helm officer.
His ship veered, followed by several others of his command. He watched the battle take place. Several ships were giving their lives to protect the nine following his own. He watched as several dozen more Mikolian ships dropped out of warp to protect their homeworld. A twisted smile grew on his pale lips, a light shinning in his crystal eyes.
He stepped back away from the Helm console. His long limps swayed casually as he walked, the thick material of his uniform conforming awkwardly to allow the movement. He ran a hand through his thin amount of black hair before it ran down his pale cheek. He turned and sank his lean figure into the center chair. His posture was strict, his back straight and shoulders square. He kept his gaze focused straight ahead and his chin up as he waited and watched… watched as Miko's sun grew larger in the viewscreen as his ship grew closer.
Yes, the Admiral was correct. It was a suicide mission, but one the Human Admiral could not understand… that was what Ziphros thought minutes before his ship and nine others was exploded in a brilliant ball of light, sending waves of violent shockwaves into the sun just as planned.
Seconds later, nothing remained of the Nitogaro System…
/-/-/-/
/- July, Two Weeks Later
"What in Darina were you thinking?!"
"We didn't tell them to attack the Mikolian's homeworld!"
"No! But I doubt you stopped it!"
"Why would we? They're fleet has been momentarily crippled. They have lost their homeworld-"
"And now they're more than pissed," a quiet voice said from behind the bickering Ambassadors.
Lwaxana leaned to look over the Ketrelian Ambassador's shoulder to see the uniform of an Alliance Fleet officer. She snickered. This matter was none of their business, but they often didn't see it that way.
"If I may?" He said kindly, bowing his head just slightly at Lwaxana. She sighed, face impassive as she recovered from her yelling. "I don't agree with the Ketrelians for going after the Mikolians. That was irresponsible. Now their own fleet is crippled and they have little resources to fix it. We hardly have much to spare. Our ships are limited, they're borders are now barely protected, and the Mikolians will surely want revenge."
He took a pause, just long enough to take a breath and collect his thoughts. Lwaxana was watching him intently. She didn't even know his name- only that he appeared to be a rather young Captain. He wore red and obviously had some diplomatic skills, judging by the scolding, yet gentle tone of his voice. His face was wrinkled, but held a youth to it that made Lwaxana question his age. He stood with his back straight and shoulders square and with an air of confidence Lwaxana had found in most Human Captains, but he did not stand very tall. She would imagine that he stood just passed her shoulder.
The Captain took a few steps towards the table. By then, all three Ketrelian Ambassadors were watching him- it annoyed Lwaxana that the planet could not unite enough to send only one, and annoyed her more that the Alliance was willing to accept that.
"You have, however, done Alliance Fleet a great favor. The Mikolians will be licking their wounds for a while. Their defenses will be down and they wouldn't have half as many advanced ships as we originally planned on. For that, we're grateful you acted rashly."
"Excuse me, Captain, but what are you doing in here?"
"Well, Ambassador, I couldn't help but overhear your argument from outside- I just got out of a meeting-"
"I don't care what you just did." Lwaxana was surprised by her own harshness, but the Captain was annoying her, the Ketrelians were annoying her, the Alliance was annoying her, everything was annoying her. "Why are you here?"
"I just thought I might point out a few things…" His voice trailed off and Lwaxana could sense that his mind was not disciplined enough to hide his final words. She scowled at him, but he didn't seem overly taken aback by the action.
"You've done just that, Captain. If you wouldn't mind."
The Captain shrugged. She could tell he was holding back a smug grin; she could feel it just on the edge of his mind. With another bow to the table, he turned on his heels and walked towards the door.
Lwaxana pulled her thoughts away from the man, looking back at the table with the four other members of the Council and three Ketrelians across from her. She had nothing else to say. Annoyingly enough, the Captain had said it all for her.
She groaned, tilting her head to the side. She didn't realize until she was standing again and half way to the door that she had excused herself.
"Captain?"
The man spun around. She could sense his surprise and amusement at hearing her voice. "Yes, ma'am?"
Lwaxana resisted scowling at the word, deciding she didn't much feeling like scolding him for something as trivialas that. "What's your name?"
"Captain Brian Baylie. Field commander of the Beta Fleet."
"Good for you… I still want to know what you were thinking, walking into my Council Chambers like that. Uninvited and unannounced."
The Captain- Baylie- glanced down at his shoes before finding her eyes again. "I can't honestly give you an answer to that, ma'am-"
"Ambassador Troi."
"Sorry, Ambassador. You just didn't seem to be getting very far with them. I thought you might like some help-"
"You thought wrong."
"I apologize then. If you'll excuse me?" She could sense his embarrassment, but that hardly considered her. It angered her some that he actually held no guilt for his actions, but intrigued her at how well he was taking the reprimand. But then she was annoyed again at the fact that he decided he had more important things to be doing.
"Fine. But next time I see you in the Council Chambers, you better have been invited."
"Yes, ma- Ambassador." He gave a curt nod, waited just a moment before turning on his heels for a second time and marching away.
Lwaxana just stood there, mentally annoyed with herself at her actions. There really hadn't been a need. And he had been right… they wouldn't have gotten as far even after another hour. And this fact alone angered her.
She was angry at the world and the galaxy and every star in the universe, and yelling did her no good.
/-/-/-/
/- Around The Same Time
He sighed and ran a hand over his face. It was late. Really late. So late Will was almost certain it was well into the morning.
He called out softly to the computer, eyes closed and head in his hands, elbows resting on his thighs. He winced at the computer's volume- he personally wanted one that matched the user's volume- when the female voice told him, "The time is three-thirty-two." Will just groaned.
He didn't moved for a long time as he tried to stay awake long enough to gather the energy to stand.
Deanna still wasn't home. He had intended on working just until she got back- suffice to say, he hadn't stopped working since the kids went to bed. He didn't mind catching up with work, but he was worried about his wife. She was spending later and later hours at the medical center. He understood why, but he never got to see her, and the kids saw her even less. There were times when he questioned why he bothered taking the assignment on Betazed.
His tired feet lead him through the halls on autopilot as his brain had shut down hours ago. Rubbing the exhaustion from his face, he did everything he could to suppress a yawn but failed in the attempt. He paused as he yawned and, without knowing what possessed him, he turned out into the garden.
It was a cool night, as it was most every night in the past weeks. A light breeze was playing through the plants. He stepped out, inhaling the scent of freshly fallen rain and the variety of plants before him, closing his eyes as the wind caressed his cheek and played with his hair.
Another yawn overcame him, but he didn't try to beat it down. He turned his head as he sucked in a deep breath, intending to turn around and go to bed. But the sight before him halted this thought before he even realized he was thinking it.
"Deanna?" The dark figure didn't move, but Will walked up to it. As he grew closer, the light reflecting off the moons allowed him to see Deanna sitting rigidly on the bench, her back to him and still wearing her Alliance Fleet uniform. "What are you doing out here this late?"
Again, she didn't respond with words, but she did lower her head. Will sighed, his mind working, albeit slowly, for the first time in hours. He walked around her, taking a seat next to her on the bench. It was then that he noticed it was the same one he had often meet her at when she would sneak out of her house to see him. Those days seemed like a lifetime ago.
"I don't know what I'm doing."
"Sorry?"
Will watched her. He could faintly see all the emotions running over her face in the moonlight. If the situation were any different, he would have commented on how beautiful she looked sitting there, but he was too worried to truly think about it.
"With our patients," she said suddenly. She still wasn't looking at him, but Will just watched her as she stared at her hands as they played with some invisible object. "They… I can't help them… I don't know what I'm doing there. It's changed, the weapon. I told you about that."
"Yeah," Will nodded. He didn't know what had happened, but he had almost expected her to breakdown at some point. She wasn't weak- he didn't think that at all. But he wasn't blind to the stress she was constantly under. He just couldn't imagine what her friend, Dr. Salizhan, was feeling at the moment.
"We didn't know what to do about it before… now…" her voice trailed off. Will knew what she was thinking; she had spoken about her fears briefly over the years. About how far from anything they had been since the beginning. They weren't getting any closer, and lately they seemed to be getting farther away.
Will had nothing to say. So, rather than words, he merely draped his arm over her shoulders, drawing her closer to him. His cheek fell naturally against her dark curls as he rubbed her one arm. "Come on, let's go inside. It's late." She nodded against his shoulder but didn't move at first. Then, slowly, she broke away from him. He smiled reassuringly at her when she turned back around to look at him. He felt his eyelids drooping and noticed her smile for just a second- he assumed at the sight of him. Then Will stood and, taking her hand, walked her back into the house.
/-/-/-/
/- Around The Same Time
"Have a seat." Azia looked at the Human President, who had stood when he entered. Commander Azia entered the office most every day, and every day the man offered him a seat. Every day, he declined. "No really. Sit down," Amen continued. Azia rose an eyebrow, unnoticed by the Human, but sank down into the chair. "How are you doing?"
"Doing?"
"Well, you're homeworld was just destroyed. You must have had some family on Miko." Amen looked at the Mikolian, but Azia said nothing. "Tell me about them, Azia- you don't mind if I call you that?" Again the Commander said nothing, but he shook his head, continuing to contain his emotions. "Good. Now, tell me about your family."
He took a breath. Amen assumed it was simply to calm himself; truthfully it was because Amen's peculiar orders annoyed Azia. "My parents died during the civil war… they were against the Hagan ideals. My brother was one of the leaders of the Hagan movement. He died as well when the Royal Guard stormed one of the cell outposts. My nephew… his son, joined the Hagan army a few years ago, but I do not know where he is or if he is still alive. Uziel is his name… I have not seen him in some time… I do not know the fate of his mother either. She perhaps died as well with her husband."
"I'm very sorry. That must have been very hard on you."
"Mikolians and Humans… we have different views on death. We do not mourn as you do. There is nothing for you to feel sorry for. Nothing for me to regret."
Amen gave him a thoughtful nod. "Good. I guess… I guess that's a good attitude then."
"Revenge, however, is something we do share."
"You can't avenge this. Not yet. The Mikolian fleet is in poor shape. We need what is left to guard the border… and Bolius. I don't care how you do it, but I want you to get that across to your people. Is that understood, Commander?"
Azia gave his customary curt nod of understanding. "Yes."
"You will get your revenge… that I promise." Amen paused for just a moment, considering if he wanted to say more. He shook his head- deciding not to, and then said, "Now, go. Get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long, hard day."
Azia merely stood; Amen knew he never hesitated to react to an order. He clicked his heels together, much like he had done several times before, hitting his chest with his fist at the same time, and was then gone.
Amen shook his head lightly, turning away from the closing door. "Strange fellow, that Mikolian is. What am I saying?" he asked himself, "All of them are like that." With that thought in mind, he looked over at his abandoned chair and paints. He walked over to them, looking down at the painted canvas. "Now let's see… where was I?"
/-/-/-/
/- The Following Week
Report after report. Chart after chart. Nothing seemed to have an end any longer. Julian sighed, his thoughts silently mussing about a day when paperwork was little less than an hour. Maybe two or three on a really bad day. Not any more though.
Eyes scanned another page, no longer paying half the attention deserved. Something about supplies. It all looked in order, though not really enough of what he needed was there.
Dr. Bashir sighed. Sure, he had complained before, but things were on short supply. And the higher ups claimed the front needed more. He scratched his nose, staring all the time blankly at the PADD.
So many dead. So many wounded. Too many. Too many things. And-
The sound of his son's voice met Julian's ears. He looked up, smiling as he saw his son waddling into his room. "Da!" the boy exclaimed again, running up to the bed and slapping his hands down on it in excitement.
"Hey you."
JJ smiled, pulling his one leg onto the bed. Julian laughed as the boy got stuck in that position, not having the strength to get the other over. He put a hand on his butt, helping to pull him up.
"No!" the young Trill shook his head. "Mine big boy. Mine get up by mineself!"
Julian smiled, then laughed as JJ hopped off the bed, trying again to get up. This time Julian didn't help, but clapped when JJ managed to get up on his own.
"Mine did it!"
"All by yourself."
"Yeah!"
The boy climbed into his father's lap, snuggling against his chest. He laid his chubby hands on Julian's thighs. "What you doin'?"
Julian sighed. "Work." JJ seemed to ignore his words, taking his hands and wrapping them around him. Julian smiled rubbing JJ's hands with his thumbs.
"Hey! No tickle me!"
Julian stopped, bringing his chin to the boy's shoulder. "Never get any older, okay?"
"Y-no."
"No?"
"Nooo," he droned, giggling as Julian tickled his stomach. "Hey."
Julian stopped, laying back against the wall, JJ falling back against his chest. "Comfortable?"
"Yes."
/-/-/-/
/- Around The Same Time
She let out a slow sigh. It was the first time in months that she had been allowed on her own ship. Engineers had been crawling all over Voyager for weeks since they returned from Vulcan and they hadn't allowed her on.
Captain Kathryn Janeway perched herself carefully on the edge of her desk chair. Her sharp eyes surveyed her ready room closely. It was tidy as always, the damage from all her battles disappeared.
It was confusing, she had to admit. For seven long years, she and her crew had worked tediously to return home. She had dreamed of returning back to the Alpha Quadrant.
She had lived in her quarters, in her office, on the bridge, and in the Mess Hall. She didn't know when she had started to call them home. She said that was where they were going- where they were struggling to return- but she called her quarters home and her crew her family. She didn't know when that had happened.
And then, there she was, seven years later and standing on Betazed, in the Alpha Quadrant. She walked into the Alliance Fleet Headquarters and had allowed herself to be pulled back into it. But it wasn't right.
Maybe it was because she couldn't go to Earth. Maybe it was because she couldn't see her mother or what had become of her friends- of her fiancé, a man she hadn't truly thought of in years. Maybe it was because of the new uniforms or the fact that she was no longer Starfleet but Alliance Fleet.
But she knew it wasn't that. It was that she had grown so accustom to being alone. Not in the physical or emotional sense, but in the military sense. She had existed for seven years, having only one ship at her command. She had no one to back her up or come to her aid. But she also had no one to tell her what to do. No orders but her own to follow. After seven years of that, she found it hard to remember there were some higher ranking than her.
She had longed to see Earth again, but she had also feared the day. It was the day that she knew her crew would be spread out- separated. She had feared most for the Maquis. They were wanted by the Federation- Alliance as well. They were criminals. But they had also become her family and her crew and she knew most all of Voyager had forgotten that fact. She had.
But her crew- almost all of her crew- was returning to Voyager in the following weeks. Even the Maquis.
She had spoken to B'Elanna. The half-Klingon might have hated Starfleet and might have despised her first year onboard Voyager but she had certainly fallen into the chief engineer role well over the years. And, even though she was still nursing her twenty month old baby, she couldn't wait to get her hands on her engines. Couldn't wait to help the Alliance Fleet engineers figure out what was what- though Janeway suspected she was more worried about what damage they might have caused. Engineers were strange that way.
Her husband, Tom Paris- Janeway had spoken to him as well- was frantic. He wanted to get back in space- he had mentioned something about loosing his space-legs, which she didn't think one could loose in that short a time- and wanted to get his hands on the helm. But he was still adjusting to being a dad and an Alliance Fleet officer.
She sighed. Tuvok would be joining the crew soon. He still had matters to attend to on Vulcan. She missed her old friend; he had been one of her calming voices on the ship.
Chakotay was the only other. She had been weary about making him her first officer in the beginning, seeing that he was the Maquis's Captain, but he had proved to be one of her best friends and greatest confidants. He knew when she needed to laugh, and when she needed someone to reason with her. When she needed a light in the dark. And he always provided.
The past year had been hard. She had barely heard from Chakotay- or much of the crew. They had had meetings together and would often go out to get something to eat afterwards. Sometimes they bumped into each other while they had been roaming the corridors of Voyager. She had actually run into several people that way.
Harry Kim had been one of them. He had been assigned to help the repair crews and the crews trying to analyze some of the new technology. She was quite amazed by the young man. He had been so green and eager when their mission started. She had cried very few times during their seven years: once for every person she lost and once that first week there. She had cried for the young ones like Harry who wouldn't speak to his parents again. Who would see too much too soon.
But he had made it. Had matured and had surprised her so many times. All of them had…
And then there had been Seven. Seven of Nine, a former Borg. Janeway felt that she was way over her head so many times while trying to help the former Borg readjust. She was always worried that Seven could never grasp some of the simplest things. But she had.
Seven was one of the few not returning to Voyager. Janeway hadn't received a detailed explanation, but she understood.
Icheb wasn't either. The other former Borg her ship had taken in had one last year to complete at the Academy. She joked that she would see him after that. Maybe she would.
Seven years in the Delta Quadrant had been hard. But one year back had been harder. They had adapted so quickly to the Delta Quadrant because they had to. The adaptation to the Alpha Quadrant was taking a lot longer. Maybe it was because they had each other and they had had a common goal that fueled every day of their being.
Janeway didn't know what this war was about. She didn't understand what had taken place over the past seven years while they were away. She didn't much care.
Some days she wished to be back there. Some days. Not for the death, not for the new alien races trying to kill them, but for the family she had found.
/-/-/-/
/- The Same Day
Janeway walked out of her ready room hours later. She liked to do work there, whether or not it had anything to do with her ship. She was comfortable in there.
She walked across her bridge. It was fixed and clean and empty of life except for herself and two Ensigns checking something at the engineering station. They snapped to attention, but she waved her hand at them to say it wasn't necessary.
Running her hand along the banister above the Captain and Commander's chairs, she walked onto the turbolift, smiling when she saw that both Ensigns were already once again engrossed in the readouts on the console.
The doors shut in front of her and Kathryn Janeway realized she had no idea where she wanted to go. Not her apartment- she didn't much like returning to her apartment in the Alliance Fleet complex on Betazoid's moon. She wanted to go back to her home, her quarters on Voyager. But that wasn't an option. There was nothing for her to do on Voyager nor was there anywhere she wanted to be.
With a sigh, she called out a random deck. The doors opened and Janeway stepped out, turning to the right without realizing where she was. She didn't think, just let her feet steer her in a familiar direction. Suddenly she found herself walking into Engineering.
Her grey eyes glanced around, studying first the warp core before going on to inspect the rest of the room. She glanced up at the second floor catwalks and stations before wondering around the area. The room was brighter then she remembered it and people seemed to buzz around every console.
Gradually, her pace slowed and a grin formed over her face. "Harry?" she said when she recognized the back of the dark haired man. "I'm surprised to see you still here."
The newly promoted Lieutenant looked up and smiled as he saw Voyager's Captain walking up to him. "Yeah well, we're almost done here and I thought I'd finish up."
"Almost done with…?"
"We're, um, done. Most of these guys are going to clear out and start replicating all this. A couple of them are going to stay and help me fix some of this up. Hopefully they'll let us start bringing back the crew soon. I know B'Elanna must want to get her hands on Voyager again."
Janeway laughed, pushing a stray strand of graying red hair from her face. "I know she does. So you're seriously almost done with all this?"
"Yep. She'll be all yours before you know it." Janeway grinned wider at the Korean man before her. He smiled back before excusing himself and returning to his work. Janeway nodded, taking a deep breath before continuing along on her journey through Voyager.
It had been something she started years before when insomnia became part of her life and was something she occasionally did when she was allowed onboard her ship. She simply strolled, checking how everything was and exchanging greetings with anyone she knew- that had once been everyone but now very few faces were familiar to her.
/-/-/-/
/- August, A Couple Weeks Later
His eyes feel closed against his will. He yawned and leaned back against the wall.
The day had been unbearably long. A dozen or so Starfleet ships attacked the station. Deep Space Nine and the Defiant were still licking their wounds from the last attack. If it hadn't been for the three Klingon ships and the six Alliance Fleet ships that had just been stationed in the area, DS9 and the wormhole would be in Federation's hands.
Julian blinked his eyes opened, closing them seconds later when he yawned again.
The border had been cut oddly, in his opinion, when the Federation had split. A very thin line of Alliance space blocked the Bajoran system from the Federation. And, unfortunately for DS9, there just wasn't enough ships to properly guard it. He had heard rumors, however, that Bajor might join the Alliance and therefore more ships would come to their aid.
The turbolift doors opened and the doctor stepped out.
There was nothing worse for Julian than the amount of civilians he treated after battles. He hated that about the station. A lot of civilians were leaving. Many were Bajorans and heading back to their planet. Stations personnel family made up the majority. He had heard Betazed was offering to house families for a short time. Denobula and Vulcan had as well. Even the Vigolian government was considering doing the same.
Julian flinched when sparks flew by his ear. Most of the station was in bad condition. Miles hadn't had any time to repair everything before it was all damagedagain.
It wasn't something they talked about, but Julian knew Miles wanted his family off the station. Julian wouldn't have been surprised if Keiko and the kids left on the next transport to Betazed. Julian was tempted to send JJ and Jadzia on it as well. But he knew Jadzia couldn't- wouldn't- go.
The transport would arrive in two weeks.
Stepped through the half opened door, Julian sank down into the nearest chair, just barely suppressing a yawn. "Sorry I'm late."
"It's okay, Doctor. How-" Julian looked up at Sisko. "How bad?"
Julian looked back at his hands. It was always had- very bad. The burns and the blood, and the crying and begging and dying. It was bad the minute one person died. Very bad when two died. Horrible the minute a child was brought in.
Three children were hurt- not bad, but hurt. All he saw was JJ each time. He nearly cried when the first child was brought in- it hurt to say he was relieved when he saw that it wasn't his son.
"Bad, sir," Julian said quietly, not looking at anyone, not even Jadzia who he knew was gazing worriedly at him, "Really, really bad…"
/-/-/-/
/- Two Weeks Later
Jadzia watched, her arms crossed over his chest. Her body slouched against the window that gave her a clear line of sight of the starship as if undocked from the station.
The Lay'lon was a Betazoid medical vessel. It had delivered supplies and was departing with the critically injured and civilians wanting to leave.
Keio was on board. She had her daughter- Molly was nearly eleven and furious about leaving her friends- and her son- Yoshi was six and he only cared that he was being forced to leave his dad. Poor Miles, was all Jadzia could think. He had been mopping the last week and she had a feeling that his mood would only grow worse.
And Benjamin. She knew her captain and friend had tried for two weeks to get his son, Jake, to leave. But Jake was a man now, and a reporter. He wanted to stay where the stories were.
She had said good-bye to her son that morning- just an hour ago. He was with Keiko. She had agreed to watch him until they came back. That could be months. JJ would be so big by then. Would he still remember her?
Jadzia shook off the thought. Of course he would.
Julian had said his good-byes the night before. The station had been hit by a single Mikolian ship, but it had done a lot of damage. Julian was still in the Infirmary with patients.
"Hey." Jadzia didn't turn at the quiet voice or gentle touch on her shoulder. She had been expecting Kira to find her.
"Hey."
"How are you holding up?"
She pulled her eyes from the ship; they rested on Kira. The Bajoran leaned against the wall, arms crossed, almost mimicking Jadzia's stance.
Jadzia sighed and looked back at the starry landscape "I miss him already."
"I know you feel."
An amicable silence fell around them. Jadzia closed her eyes, knowing that the Lay'lon would jump to warp soon. Her eyes opened and the ship was gone.
"My two little boys off to Betazed." Jadzia turned her head to look at her friend; Kira was still looking out the window.
With her loss so fresh, Jadzia had forgotten how it affected Kira as well. She loved Jadzia's son as if her were her own. She loved being his godmother- she said it gave her the warm feeling of love without the need to go through pregnancy, diapers, or "those other bothers". Dax had just laughed at her.
And then there was Yoshi, who she also considered as a good as her own son. There was a bond between the two no one had been able to deny. It was no surprise, for she had, after all, carried the child to term and gave birth to him. It was quite the story- though Jadzia had heard many different versions. Suffice to say, Kria still blamed Julian for getting her pregnant.
"I'd rather have them here… but I would never be able to forgive myself if something happened."
Kira nodded, extending a hand to rub her friend's arm. "They'll be back soon." Jadzia looked away, brushing away a strand of hair from her face. "What is it, hon?"
For a moment, Jadzia refused to meet Kira's eye. And then she said softly, "I'm pregnant… and Julian doesn't know…"