Star Base 217 was a newly built station at the other side of the wormhole, and Saavik's and Ba'el's present home. Orbiting near a neutral planet populated by friendly humanoid aliens, it served both as a departing point for the exploration ships that now crossed the Gamma Quadrant and as a watching outpost, since peace with the Dominion was still precarious at best.
Nothing had gone amiss during the time Saavik had been away from her headquarters, though, and after hearing the report of the base commander and one of her captains that had also just returned from his assigned mission, she went to her quarters, and so did Ba'el. Her aide had insisted during the way back of her gut feeling that something big was going on and they had to find it out; Saavik herself was not satisfied, she disliked pretty much not finishing what she proposed to do. Even if it was something as disagreeable as helping finding Ajeya. Besides, in spite of having labeled Ba'el's passionate arguments as illogical, she took them very much in consideration; she had also that odd sensation that Ajeya's missing was just the point of the iceberg. And then there was Garak, and his own concealed interests.
Garak had explained them many details about the experiments done by what he labeled rogue Cardassian scientists; the rest of them suspected that the man was just trying to hide the implication of his government in such questionable actions. All of them had tried to keep their composure, but for ones who had also suffered a long imprisonment in enemy's hands and who had had to endure torture themselves, commiserating with the Jem'Hadar warriors was just natural, and rage flared easily in their hearts, claiming for a new equally violent revenge.
Garak had excused the Cardassian leaders, but had instead pointed Koval as the one behind all the illegal detentions and testing. As for the reasons why, the former spy had just dismissed them by a shrugged, "You know, Koval always loved experimenting with biotechnology," and then a sly smile directed to Raghnill, "And the Romulan Empire surely would be interested in the advantages derived from it."
By then, Raghnill was too enraged to restrain herself; she had lunged towards him and pinned him down against the table they shared. Her right hand menacingly pressing his throat, she had vehemently defended her Empire's honor, and threatened him with death if he said otherwise. Saavik knew very well how important honor was for the Romulan commander. And Raghnill sadly knew, even if she would never admit it aloud, that her treasured Romulan Empire had in truth being implied in at least one atrocity with certain parallelisms to their present matter.
The thought came just like that, suddenly and ruthlessly. Her mother had also been involved in that project. And revulsion overtook her increasing wrath. She let go of Garak's neck, but both her hands grasped forcibly the man's shoulders instead. Fire lighted her eyes, and her voice turned even more serious and harsh, "The Empire has nothing to do with this foul project. We Romulans would never take part on it. My mother would never do."
Saavik had read clearly the stormy thoughts that had crossed her friend's mind, and so the revelation had also came to her own tormented soul. She could relate to the Jem'Hadar not just because of her own time as prisoner of war, she could relate to them because of Hellguard. Inwardly, she shuddered.
Garak had finally lost part of his cool, and a stream of sweat had crossed his now tightened features, "I'm not accusing your mother, I'm not accusing your government, I'm accusing Koval. She went after him."
That was why Saavik hated the older Ajeya. Because of Hellguard. Still, Saavik had difficulty imagining the woman taking part in a similar operation again; she had always held bitter feelings towards her dark past implications. Then, searching an answer, she had looked up to her half sister. Was her spirited defense of her mother's honor an honest belief or just a form of denial?
However, Garak was the one speaking and the one unknowingly answering their doubts as their thoughts raced.
"She wanted him down. She wanted to uncover him, and so do I," he was saying.
Raghnill had stayed for some instants still, probing him with her gaze, smoldering her temper at the same time. Finally accepting his words, and calming down, she had released him and sat down again.
"Still we don't know how," she had sobered.
Recovering himself from the indignity, he had straightened his elegant clothes, and looked at the commander in the eye again.
"The admiral knew, that's what you have to find out."
And Raghnill had said she would, even if she did not know how; she had already researched all she could without finding anything. And of course, she and Ba'el had also assured them they would investigate further; they also had no idea of what else they could really do. And so the secret meeting had ended, until any of them had something new to share. For Raghnill it was a grim agreement, the time for Ajeya, if there was still any, was running short, and she had no way of finding her yet.
The final words from Garak had done nothing to encourage her. All the installations used as jails and labs for the Jem'Hadar prisoners had been destroyed. The Jem'Hadar were missing. All the Cardassian scientists who had taken part on the project were now dead. Nothing was known of the Romulans operatives who had been involved. None of the possible involved Cardassian agents had answered him. Of course, not a word about Koval.
Listening attentively to the base commander and his non-pressing matters, as well as the returning captain, had indeed required an effort. Saavik was tired, even if she would never admit it, and an increasing headache was claiming for a much needed meditation. Raghnill had not entirely believed the Cardassian spy, she still very much distrusted him, and had asked Saavik to verify his data about the destroyed installations, as she herself intended to do. That would happen tomorrow, though, because Saavik went towards her quarters with only one idea in mind: rest. Her self-appointed mission had stirred too many old unwanted feelings, and they needed to be settled down now.
The moment the door closed silently behind her, signaling that she was finally alone and in privacy, she started to undress, as she crossed the spartan living room and headed for her bedroom. She had taken her jacket off and was about to undo her boots, when she flickered for a moment her gaze towards her private computer and saw a special incoming message waiting for an answer. It was an uncontentious simple sentence, but she knew very well the real meaning it hid. It was Spock's call.