Ajeya took a deep breath to calm herself, but inwardly the tension continued to build up. All the Jem'Hadar bored their eyes on her, and even when she tried to focus on the screen in front of her, her mind continued picturing her the assembled Dominion warriors and their weapons. She was the only one unarmed.

She had changed her clothes and was now dressed with the familiar Romulan uniform. She was seated in the commander's chair, and caressed the chair's arm as she usually did when she sat there. However, all those times she had been in charge of her ships, now the present troops served another. Guarding the distance so he could not be seen by their interlocutors, the real commander watched her.

Ajeya wondered if she was losing her mind, but still she thought she could agree to that charade and prevail, as she had always done. She realized the Jem'Hadar were using her; she just expected to have a chance to use them back.

The Bajoran woman at the station was intrigued, but she still managed a smile and shared the greeting as if it were routine. Ajeya had been in charge of the Romulan fleet in the Gamma Quadrant until she was captured by her personal enemies; she knew well she always informed Starfleet and Deep Space Nine with anticipation about her vessels crossing the wormhole. The colonel realized as well as her that her sudden appearance was irregular, even if it was perfectly legal.

"I didn't expect you, Admiral; actually, I thought you were already in the Gamma Quadrant," Kira Nerys casually commented.

Ajeya had been expecting that; inwardly, she smiled with satisfaction, but she did not change her composed expression. First hadn't made a gesture, but she could felt Second and Third glare on her, and heard the almost soundless move of them reaching for their weapons. Surely, the Jem'Hadar hadn't liked the revelation, but she hadn't risked to forewarn them and possibly ruin her only chance. Now they forcibly had to let her play her game; if they wanted to kill her, anyway it wasn't going to be right now.

And besides, she was not going to precisely cry for help. Unknowingly to the Dominion soldiers, she was really in an unauthorized mission of her own; she could not let neither the Federation nor her own Empire know about her whereabouts, at least not yet.

She could feign normality as well as the former freedom fighter. "You have heard about my flag ship's presence in the area," she explained with disinterest, "however I'm joining the fleet now."

Kira could not object her. She knew almost nothing of the Romulans' affairs in the Gamma Quadrant, and she had only seen her daughter Raghnil when they have docked in Deep Space Nine before; Ajeya had remained in her vessel.

The colonel frowned slightly, surely weighting her argument, and still distrusting the unexpected appearance of the Romulan assault ship and the flag officer in command. Finally, she shrugged it off, and cleared them.

The moment the communication was cut, First hastly ordered his helmsman to enter the wormhole. Ajeya turned and fixed her cool blue eyes on Second, without sparing a look at the disruptor pointing at her. "I didn't betray you," she pronounced her words slowly and forcefully.

Second's eyes were still on fire; he strained to kill her and end up her continued disregard for them. He waited for the proper order, though, the one Ajeya feared could come. She already did not serve them any purpose she could think of. She knew well if she were First, she would not keep her word. But she played the little cards she had, and if she had judged the Jem'Hadar commanding officer well, he would honor his agreement.

"But you did hide information from us." First was speaking from beside her; his choice of words was not a surprise. Ajeya moved her head slightly to face his, not showing concern. "The station's commander knew you and you did not tell me."

Again that scornful smile. "I have told you many time how ignorant you are."

"But I learnt something new today," First calmness was starting to upset her. "Your name: Ajeya," he stressed the word. "Names are important." He was utterly serious, but Ajeya thought First was the one mocking her now.

First hadn't finished, "The Bajoran colonel now can inform others of your presence in this ship."

Ajeya looked pointedly at First, "You already knew that could happen. Besides, she will not inform our chasers, and this ship is now free to go to wherever you plan to."

First decided, "Until we reach Dominion territory, you will remain with us."

Second seethed, hardly controlling his eagerness to kill the Romulan admiral; Third nodded in approval, but kept his weapon aimed at her. Ajeya also hissed her reply, "That was not our deal."

"It is now," First informed her. "Lower your weapons," he ordered the others.

Ajeya spat a vile curse, and punched the chair in frustration.

"Our alliance stands," First assured her. Ajeya didn't bother to answer his empty promises. She soured in the commander's chair, scowling deeply, and imagined the many ways she could torment the Jem'Hadar warrior; it hardly gave her any pleasure. But she was a practical woman, and she contented in the fact that she was not dead yet and the voyage to Dominion territory was long, so her sharp mind continued plotting, ready to grasp any chance to get her out of her ordeal alive and victorious.