First left his place near the command chair and walked towards the main view screen. The Romulan ship was facing them again, decloaked, awaiting. They had not fired a single shot and that was extremely odd. First wondered if their weapon power could be down, but the vessel looked untouched.

First directed another glare around the bridge; he was angry at all their malfunctioning equipment. "Hold your fire," he ordered his second and tactical officer as he turned his eyes to the enemy warship again. Behind him, Second complied, muffling a grunt.

Time passed by, slowly and painfully, but to everyone's relief the Romulan vessel continued still and unbelligerent. First calculated his chances to destroy the D'Deridex class warbird if it really was unable to use its arms; they were still slim, but the possibility of really surviving the combat lifted up his spirit.

"Second, fire—"

First was suddenly cut off by Third, "I'm getting a communication from the Romulan ship!"

First's eyes narrowed dangerously. He despised being interrupted. Third should know proper discipline. However, curiosity ruled his decisions in the first place. "Put it through," he commanded.

At first, only static came, and both First and Third seethed as the last one struggled with his damaged station. First kept glancing at the alien vessel in front of them, while Second's hands caressed the tactical controls, ready to carry out his superior halted order at any moment.

Then, finally, an image formed on their screen and a voice could be heard, a familiar voice.

At that moment First realized he had completely forgotten Ajeya. She had sent several messages to the bridge when they were first attacked, demanding information and being carried to the bridge, next First had cut off communications with her cabin; it was not the time to deal with her. However, First grimly accepted, the time was now. For in front of him but at the other side of the communication channel was none other than Ajeya, wearing the same dress she had had that morning when they shared breakfast.

"Admiral Ajeya?" First warily asked.

Ajeya was smirking, "Surprised?" she questioned back, her eyes sparking her satisfaction. "Your ship is practically debris, First, most of her systems are inoperative. There was no difficulty in finding the only Romulan on board and beaming me up."

"You are not a prisoner," the Jem'Hadar leader noted, ignoring Ajeya's remark but processing the information in his sharp mind. First had also noticed the other Romulan woman standing behind Ajeya. She was a younger copy of the admiral, she had the same features, the same uncommon blue eyes. She was a close relative, First knew for sure. Most species tended to think that aliens looked all just the same, but First, as any other Jem'Hadar, had been trained to distinguish the different races' individuals from one another, and he could say they were too similar for not being related. "You are not in our captors' ship."

"You are still stupidity trying to destroy us," Ajeya reminded the Dominion warrior, her feral smile not leaving her lips.

"I did not know," First sobered. Then, he drew itself tall, and answered fiercely, "We were attacked."

Ajeya conceded the Jem'Hadar the information, "Not by us, but by another Romulan ship that it's right now trying to get rid of a Federation vessel." She looked away, presumably checking her data, "Yes, they are still there. And so you are going to be, aren't you? Not moving very far away."

First had always disliked that smile of her. Most of his present bridge crew despised it. "We are allies," First forcibly said.

"Are we?" the Romulan admiral sardonically retorted. "You kept me locked in a cabin, unable to communicate."

First's featured tightened, "I freed you. I have protected you since then and treated you well. We were allies."

"Prove it," she demanded. "Your ship is debris, so you all will transfer to the Rhian'Unnr, my flag ship. Be my guess."

The Jem'Hadar leader turned around to look at his people and his ruined craft. "We will not leave this ship. It's all we have."

"You can be towed, if you prefer, but you will be coming with us."

"We are going back to the Dominion. We are going to be free now."

"Oh, I'm the one making the decisions now, and for the moment, you are coming with us. Later, you can go and do whatever you plan."

First scowled, not trusting Ajeya at all.

"Allies?" she asked again.

The Jem'Hadar knew well he had not a choice; he nodded, grunting.

"Put all engines down and don't interfere. That ship of yours will not stand much more stress and we're going for a ride."

"Where?" First quickly interjected.

"We're going to meet our former jailers. We have matters to settle, don't you think?" Her smile broadened, and as her interlocutor remained silent, she went on, "Revenge, don't tell me you have never thought about revenge."