Notes and disclaimer:This story is based on the episodes "Unification Part I" and "Unification Part II" from Star Trek: The Next Generation and the episode "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges" from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It is also based on my own story "Befriending the Enemy". It is not necessary to have read this story first but it is recomended. The characters Ajeya and Raghnil belong to Kerry (Kerjen).

Federation year 2377

First hardly spared a look at the woman who lied motionless on the lab's floor. All his attention was focused on the other Cardassian who stared at him, fear clearly written in his pleading eyes.

"You are a friend," said the Jem'Hadar reassuringly. "You live."

The middle-aged Cardassian slumped his shoulders, and sighed loudly in relief. However, utter panic showed again in his eyes when he saw the soldier raise his weapon and fire. He doubled his body in pain and fell to the floor. Blood poured from the inflicted wound, and he looked up in shock.

The gun lowered now, as expressionless as ever, the Dominion warrior repeated, "You live. You are not suspect this way."

The Cardassian scientist gazed again at his wound and realized the meaning of the Jem'Hadar's actions and words: it was not fatal; he would survive. He tried to smile in gratitude, but he only returned a pained grimace. He collapsed against one of the examination tables.

First just turned and left the room.

All had left, but Fourth lingered in the detention area, looking intently at the only closed cell. He was not sure of what to do. Nobody had cared for the prisoner in that cell. Nobody had minded to leave her behind. But First had not said to do so. And Fourth did not want to. He doubted another instant, and then unlocked the cell's door.

The old woman inside blinked when she saw the Jem'Hadar at the door, but she did not react in any other way. She gazed at the warrior with a dispassionate and somewhat haughty look. She was seated on the floor and did not make any attempt to get up.

Fourth stood still for some seconds, watching the woman. The first word that came to his mind to describe her was a disquieting one: Romulan. And a Romulan soldier, even if she had been stripped of her uniform; Fourth had seen it when she was brought in a few days ago. A high ranking officer too, he had noticed the rank insignia she wore proudly and let everybody know that she was an admiral.

In her underwear, clearly weakened by the imprisonment, and unable to stand, she still held herself with an authoritative manner. Fourth appreciated that, but also this made him distrust her. Some of the people who had kept them captive were also Romulan; they wore that same uniform and they wore it with the same pride. Is she really any different?

None of them uttered a word as they looked and studied each other. Fourth, however, had already come to a decision. He was going to release her, as she had seemed to try to free them. Isn't that the reason for her confinement?

He neared the Romulan woman and said simply, "You helped us. I help you." And without more words, Fourth reached down and took the woman delicately.

The Romulan frowned, but made no comment; and in her debilitated state, she let the Jem'Hadar soldier carry her away.

The Cardassian scientist remained in the lab, trying only with his hands to prevent his open wound's bleeding. It hurt and he did not attempt to conceal the pain. He was gripping a communicator and counted the seconds as they went by, waiting for the moment to call the authorities, once the former Jem'Hadar prisoners were safely away. He thought he was alone.

However, the other woman in the corner was not dead yet. A minute after the Jem'Hadar leader had exited the room, she moved with suffered difficulty. She slowly reached out her hand to take her own communicator that laid not far from her, struggling against her pain and her blurring mind. Her fingers touched it. She felt nausea again; unconsciousness called for her, she fought against it.

"Traitor," she whispered in a very hoarse voice, directing all her hate and contempt to the one who only a few minutes ago had been her trusted colleague.

But these were her last words; that was her last move. She was too seriously injured, and even if she tried with all her power, her fingers never opened the communicator, and her words were lost in an empty room. She died, just as the Jem'Hadar supposed she would, and the other scientist never even heard her insult.