This episode was one of my official favorites, even when it has Weyoun. Defective Weyoun 6 is beloved by the fans and myself as well as Windblazer Prime and Irishchick1982. He is considered a tragic figure fanbase-wise and in the entire Trek-verse. He would have truly become a good man if he made it back alive with Odo; him dying in Odo's arms is one of the most poignant scenes ever. And Jeff Combs did say this was one of his favorite episodes because he got to play two different Weyouns; I say this is my favorite because of everything I just explained about this beloved character. :')
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Of Gods and Servants
He felt like he had fallen into a pit. A bottomless pit, forever descending into oblivion without hopes of escaping. Always falling, that clench around his heart and stomach getting worse until it engulfed every breath in his body. Because it was punishment.
He had committed a crime against the Dominion by executing loyal servants. Servants sent out to kill him, Odo, and Mia. And for that, he did not deserve the forgiveness and love of his gods, no matter how much he prayed for it.
"May the Founders forgive me." He had it in him to repeat the words again, and he could feel Odo and Mia's eyes on him, knowing what the latter was thinking. She was tired of all of this talk about the Founders being gods; she and Weyoun 5 always argued about this, and she was willing to repeat it now because she knew she was right, and wouldn't stop until it got through to his head.
"Has it ever occurred to you," Odo said, "that the reason you believe the Founders are gods...is because that's what they want you to believe? That they built it into your genetic code?"
Weyoun was surprised he even asked, when he was one of them if not a part of the Dominion. "Of course they did," he answered. "That's what gods do. After all, why be a god if there is no one there to worship you?"
"Or these beings are just playing gods and don't measure the consequences. They are physical as we are if not able to remain one form as us."
And there it was. From none other than the woman herself.
Odo turned his gaze upwards when she spoke. "There you go," he told Weyoun. "She has a direct point. My people are not gods by any means, because I keep telling you so of myself."
"That's right, and exactly what I kept telling your stubborn predecessor," Mia said, her eyes - one brown and the other blue - turning towards Weyoun now. "I refuse to speak ill of the dead, because I loved him and waited patiently long enough for him to come to his senses and to see how precious life was, but he let his own be taken even if neither of us saw it coming from Damar. Weyoun died serving a bunch of ruthless murderers and killed by one. I won't let them take you from me this time."
~o~
Vorta sexual relations varied from fierce and rough to soft and loving, and each partner took turns as equals. This was the case with Weyoun 7 and Amaya, beginning that first night she'd been presented to him by the Female Changeling. He thanked the Founder for the "gift" before taking her to his quarters; they were once Weyoun 6's, and now his. He had to say, the first time he set foot in these rooms after awakening in Borath's lab, he fancied his leprous predecessor's collection of blade work fascinating, and his hobby of working out when the Founder wasn't around, despite her awareness. But that was another story altogether.
The moment he laid his eyes on Amaya, she was the exact image of Mia Sisko even though he never met the girl before, seen her only through Weyoun 5 and 6's memories. With the exception of the rich mass of hair, graceful ears and fluid-colored eyes that his people had - Borath and his fellow scientists did a remarkable job taking their time with her more than with simply cloning one of their own. This was human DNA combined with Vorta, and more details that much complex, but Weyoun was no scientist. He wanted to know the secret, however, but the Founder would book no question, only that he had his new mate. She never intended for the real Mia to be with his predecessor all along, so she created a Vorta version in her stead. An excellent plan, indeed.
"So, you're the great Weyoun, ambassador to the almighty Dominion." He'd chuckled at her quick intelligence.
"Indeed. And you are...?"
The female had inclined her head forward, her lips curling into a sultry smile that made him feel light to the senses. "I am Amaya, Ambassador. Has the Founder not given my name to you?"
She was bold, he would give her that. Weyoun had chuckled again and shook his head, leading her into his quarters at once. "Of course, Amaya. But I merely wanted to hear it from your own lips when I met whom the Founder was giving to me after a long wait."
She'd chuckled then, bringing a delicate hand up, fingers caressing his chin and lower lip, the sensations cool but pleasant and bringing forth a reaction he never felt before, but his two predecessors experienced with one certain woman this one stemmed from. The four before all three of them never experienced such desires except for a single night or a few, all casual and not meaning anything. "Then you'll find the wait was worth it," Amaya said softly, blinking once. Her smile faded into a soft expression of mere curiosity matching his own. "Are you...up for a first night of mating? If this is too soon, but the Founder insists we bond immediately..."
If that was the will of the Founder, he would gladly get right to it. Weyoun smiled down at her and leaned down, pressing his mouth innocently against hers and cutting her off. He wasn't sure if he could call it love at first sight, because this was arranged and not of his own will - but the will of the Female Changeling, and he would do this for both her and this new face and addition to their ranks. He'd murmured and purred against her mouth, pleased she returned it and deepened it for the both of them. Her hand left his cheek and glided up to stroke his ear, deliberately deepening the hum his body revved, but no more than the lower half of his body which longed to have another join with it. He'd broken the kiss to breathlessly suggest that they take this in his bed.
They'd went at it like hungry animals craving flesh and blood, removing each other's clothing without tearing them off, admiring skin and sensitivity with great speed enough to imprint in memory, caressing and holding on until they couldn't take it anymore, and Weyoun took charge first, being on the brink of madness himself while in this very position he had her in. She'd laid flat on her stomach, skin shining with pearly sweat as his was, the sight of her arched back and rear, legs spread for greater access, irresistible. "Are you ready?" he'd asked as he leaned over and shifted his hips after grasping both her thighs and dragging her down the bed with him; he'd been standing on both feet for the whole time even when she nodded her affirmative and cried out with beastly lust when he entered her from behind and began to vary his thrusting from circular to straight to back and forth. The experience was memorable in the end.
And now they were sneaking away from Damar for the time being until the news came that the Rio Grande was destroyed; he would relish the victory of eliminating his treacherous predecessor and his Federation harlot - and Odo, unfortunately - but the Founder constantly asked if they located Weyoun 6. He wasn't sure how much longer he could hold it off before she asked once more, and what if she found out he had been stalling? That meant severe punishment for him as well as Amaya, given her involvement.
He was on his bent legs, squatting on the bed as Amaya sat in his lap with her legs wrapped around and taking equal control this time. He could call this a form of early celebration for them both when their predecessors - or should he say, client for her - would be gone soon enough, and the flexible strain of their legs wound added more balance and ultimately a fall back onto the bed once their peaks were reached. Once it was over, Weyoun fell onto his back to let his legs stretch out and regain their circulation, panting as his heart beat rapidly, skin pouring with moisture, and Amaya on top of him though keeping her legs around his hips.
"Sorry to disturb you both."
He roared and pushed Amaya aside, sitting up and glaring furiously at the doorway. "Damn it, Damar, have you no respect?!" But the Cardassian chuckled and shook his head, kanar glass in hand again obviously.
"Sorry," he said again, taking another swig, "but we have bad news regarding the Jem'Hadar ship. Get dressed and join me right now."
"Will you need me, dear?" Amaya asked as she joined him in getting dressed again once Damar was gone. Weyoun scoffed, already knowing what the "bad news" was before he joined the Cardassian Legate.
"Not at the present." He left without another word. The viewscreen regarded the severe damage to the single ship they enlisted for this "simple" mission. He gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes. Odo and Miss Sisko couldn't have figured out how to outmatch the Jem'Hadar on their own.
"I don't understand this." Damar shook his head. "How could one runabout destroy a Jem'Hadar fighter?"
Well, only one extra passenger aboard that ship knew about the vulnerabilities of Dominion cavalry. "Isn't it obvious?" Weyoun asked calmly. "My predecessor must have helped Odo get past the ship's defenses. We must stop them now by sending more ships. Send a whole battalion if necessary and have them fire on sight." He would finish this all in one day if that was the last thing he ever did...
"Fire at whom?"
The Founder and her two Jem'Hadar had appeared in the doorway, face expressionless and hard, eyes cold as ice as she stepped inside. Weyoun hadn't heard her come in, but then again, she was known to make her appearances without notifying she was present. "Founder, you honor us with your presence. How may I serve you?" Weyoun asked, doing his best to keep calm.
"By answering my question," she said simply. "Would that be...Weyoun 6 and Amelia Sisko by any chance?"
Something snapped inside him when he looked past her and saw none other than Amaya slip past the Jem'Hadar and join the Founder's side, a wry smile on her face that fueled his fury. You told her without consulting me, he raged beyond the boundaries it could go. Her secret smile - to him and not the Founder and Damar - made him angrier.
I did, because she deserved the good news. But no need to worry about me telling her about Odo. If word ever gets out about Odo's demise, there will be another explanation to come up.
Weyoun sighed, his boiling point lowered by a few degrees so he could answer the Female Changeling in a more controlled manner. "Yes, it is them. We will have them finished off within the hour, in a matter of time."
"Good." She canted her head forward once. "But I doubt more of our fleet will be necessary, Weyoun. I was considering a more...personal sending out."
He could not read past her smooth face, but her tone was enough without the need for words. "Anything, Founder. What would you have me do instead?"
"You and Amaya possess the combat. Call it an eye-for-an-eye, if you might. I deem it more appropriate if the two of you went and settled this yourselves. Captain Sisko's daughter will be a start to weakening his will, and Weyoun 6's treachery will at last be finished. Permission is granted to leave at once, if you must."
Of all the things, he had not expected this. Nor have I, Amaya sent, another smile in place. But think of this as an exciting challenge. We get to finish off our predecessors ourselves. How often does any clone get that chance? To see our enemies fall at our hands?
You're a created clone from a human progenitor, he told her, returning the smile, but you do have a point. I ought to finish Weyoun 6 off myself. I will personally see him fall then. And his lover with him, as well as that seed she carries with him. And Odo got himself into this, because I see that he is no god befit for my respect. They'll all die.
He looked behind him to see Damar's reaction. The other man looked incredulous between him and the Female Changeling, but all Weyoun could do was smirk at him. The decision had been made; he would go with his mate after the runabout.
~o~
No more Jem'Hadar attack ships, but that didn't mean any more wouldn't be coming. Mia knew the Dominion would catch on sooner or later once they noticed their vessel was missing from the charts. In the meantime, the atmosphere had lightened up in the Rio Grande for the time being, and she had just got done finishing singing the song Love Story by a twenty-first century country-pop superstar named Taylor Swift, whose youth and energy - and fairytale dream song such as this - reminded her of herself, and the song itself paralled to her and Weyoun in so many aspects, except for the ending which was a long way off for them both.
She burst out laughing at the looks Odo and Weyoun were both giving her, and in time they shared it with her, having a good time even at a time like this. Why shouldn't they? They were still on their way back to Deep Space 9 in another hour or two, so make the best of it.
Weyoun seemed to be doing the best of it, too, even if it was sampling the replicator's menu. Speaking of which, she started craving for an ice cream sundae, which was chocolate chip cookie dough topped with whipped cream and strawberry filling. But Weyoun couldn't settle on just one item of food; in fact, she and Odo saw him take a bite of this, a bite of that, even disposing of it once he was finished. The latest was a pepperoni pizza, and he was humming as he took a bite of it, constantly saying "Mm-hmm" as he did with the other foods before it. Mia had to admit, as she enjoyed her sundae - and Odo didn't eat or drink - Weyoun getting curious about all the food due to his lack of taste was too adorable to resist.
"Well," he said, putting the tray aside and wiping his mouth, "that was filling."
"I would hope so," Odo said. "You sampled the replicator's entire menu."
Weyoun chuckled, still chewing what was left in his mouth. He was stuffed silly, more than she was. "I enjoy the different...textures," he told Odo, and the constable looked surprised and slightly looped.
"You mean taste, don't you?"
"No," Weyoun answered, laughing. "The Vorta sense of taste is quite limited. The only things we really enjoy are kava nuts and rippleberries from Kurill Prime. She knows it, too." He nodded in Mia's direction.
"Ah." Odo nodded, understanding now. "I take it that this is another result of your genetic programming, am I right, too, Mia?"
She swallowed the latest spoonful of ice cream and nodded. "Yes, but he'll explain it better than I will." She still remembered every detail of how the Vorta became what they were today, but her lover seemed more excited to tell than she was.
"She's right again, Odo. It's the Founders' way of making sure we remember our past. Surely you must know the story of how they created the Vorta?" Odo shook his head; that was Weyoun's cue to look at Mia again, surprised. "Why, Mia, I'm surprised. I would have expected you to tell him after all this time."
"Because, like I said, you're better at explaining than I am," she returned. Because I want to hear those words roll off your tongue, she teased through the link, making him chuckle again, shaking his head at her rousing him again. Once he was composed but still giddy with excitement like a child, he shifted his body back to Odo and began the tale.
"The Vorta used to be...quite different from what we are today. We were forest-dwellers. Small, timid ape-like creatures living in hallowed out trees."
"Eating nuts and berries," Odo added. Weyoun nodded, his cute grin still in place before it vanished with the next part, replaced with sullen and gloom.
"And living in fear of the many predators that would hunt us for food." The smile returned. "But everything changed when one day, a wounded Changeling came stumbling through the forest, fleeing from a mob of angry solids."
"Why were they chasing him?"
Weyoun scoffed. "What does it matter, Odo? Solids have always feared and mistrusted shape-shifters, you know that." Not me; he never scared me, not even when we first met. His eyes moved briefly to the corner at her message before continuing at Odo's nod for him to proceed. "Well, a family of Vorta hid the Changeling from his pursuers. And in exchange for saving his life, the Changeling promised the Vorta that one day..." He raised both his hands when his voice took on a more wistful level, dreamy of the future that had come. "...we would be transformed into powerful beings, that we would become an important part of a great new empire that would stretch across the galaxy."
It sounded like a fairytale that came true when others didn't believe a word of it; it still seemed like it had to Mia, because it was TOO good to be true. Sometimes she thought - she closed this from him so his feelings wouldn't be hurt - that the Founders put this into his people's genetic makeup so they could feel grateful that they had their "gods". And Odo seemed to think so, too, but he said instead, "And the Changeling kept his word."
"Yes!" Weyoun was ecstatic. "Imagine Odo, Mia: my people were once little more than apes, and look at us now. Look what you and your people have done for us."
This was his way of thanking Odo for everything, for being better than his people ever were, but the appraisal did nothing for how Odo himself felt. "Well, if the story were true," he said, lowering his eyes to the console before him, "it would at least prove that my people are actually capable of...generosity and kindness."
If the story WAS true, Mia whispered to Weyoun, getting a sad expression, then poor little Vorta for letting their hearts of gold get the best of them when they helped that Changeling.
"You care about your people, don't you? In spite of everything that's happened between you." Weyoun looked like he was fighting to keep the emotions in, but Mia wasn't close to it. She would always feel for Odo, but not for his people - especially that female. Weyoun's liquid blue eyes darted in her direction, brushing against her mind as means of telling her to be nice while Odo confessed the truth.
And when he did, he was grim and on the verge of melting into his natural state. Family was messy business; as the saying went, "Nothing is thicker than blood". "Maybe I do, but that does NOT change the fact that they are responsible for a war that's killed millions."
"And that's why the Founders need to be overthrown."
His bold statement shocked both her and Odo. He had rebelled against the tyrants he once served, proclaimed that they ought to learn to live in peace with her people, but to have them overthrown and apprehended? That had come out of the blue. But he'd been keeping it in until he found the right time to voice it. And how right he was; the Founders were not suitable leaders with their conquering. He was also looking at a possible new leader for the Dominion.
But Odo looked baffled once more, though still piqued with interest. "Meaning what?" he asked.
"Think about it, Odo," Weyoun breathed, leaning forward, eyes glimmering. "You have an opportunity to rectify the mistakes your people have made. Once they have been dethroned and the Federation won the war, you can take their place and build a NEW Dominion based on cooperation, not conquest. On peace and not war." He was shuddering as though in ecstasy, letting loose the chance that Odo would have and make himself a great man and idol the people beneath him would look up to, as Mia always looked up to him. The whole time she was listening, she almost cried with happiness that Weyoun was encouraging Odo to become a great leader instead of merely a law enforcer. He would become a symbol, an everlasting icon.
"A new order under your leadership."
The side of Odo's face was facing her, so she could read him a little better. He was taking all of this in and without trouble; he wanted to correct the wrongdoings his people committed, and Weyoun couldn't have been a better advisor, but that didn't mean Weyoun wasn't asking for a spot in this...new order. "And what's your role going to be?"
"Whatever you want it to be. I wish only to serve you."
She hated how he thought of himself as a servant and not a free man. He'd spent lifetimes serving shape-shifters; why couldn't he just settle down and be in peace, with her now that they were having a baby? My love, he spoke when he heard the question, I'll be at peace with you once this war is over and I -
His message was cut off when the both of them and Odo both heard the alarm go off. More trouble had come as predicted before.
Weyoun 6 really believes in peace, wants to clean the mess up if only the damned Damar, Weyoun 7 and the Jem'Hadar didn't interfere. And the song "Love Story" is a kind of telling of the Romeo and Juliet story, which was referenced in an earlier chapter if anyone remembers. Awesome parallels to Mia and Weyoun, the song is. :D
