Diclaimer: It's all Paramount's, cept for Verla, T'Valk, and Rachel. Maybe a few Maquis.

A/N: And another... I should really write longer chapters.



Chapter 3 – Thoughts of Mortality



"I'm sorry I'm late, Subcommander, I haven't gotten a lot of sleep lately," Sela said as she strolled into the Officer's Mess, taking a seat across from Toreth.

"And why is that, Commander?" Toreth asked rudely.

Sela looked down at the table. "Anniversary of my brother's death. He was killed three years ago by the Klingons."

"I'm sorry, Commander. But at least he wasn't killed by a Rihannha, as my father was," Toreth said sadly. Sela noticed the slur of her rank, and remembered the M'ret controversy.

"My mother was killed by our people. My father and sister were killed by the Federation. My father's sister, Verla, was killed 16 years ago by the Cardassians. My cousin, a defector, was killed by the Borg at Wolf 359. I've had relatives killed by every major power, including the Ferengi. They murdered my uncle over a disagreement about a certain client. I am the last of my line. Do you have any siblings, Subcommander?" Sela asked, sounding helpless.

Toreth was surprised. Sela had been one of the most respected Commanders in the Empire until Spock. Toreth never thought of her as one who could easily be so grief-stricken, but there Sela was, seemingly on the verge of tears. "Five, Commander. Four brothers and a sister."

"I hope for your sake, subcommander, that they live a long life." She was silent for only a few minutes, but those moments seemed like an eternity to Toreth. Then, finally, Sela changed the subject, asking, "I thought you were in command of the Khazara, Subcommander. Was I wrong?"

"You . . . used to be right, Commander." Toreth sighed. "Then the M'ret defection occurred. I see you've heard of my unfortunate role in it. After Rakal escaped with the defectors, before I discovered that Rakal was actually Councilor Troi disguised as one of us, I got really mad. So mad, in fact, that I went and attacked a Klingon outpost. Unfortunately, their friends showed up, and Khazara was nearly destroyed. More than half of my crew was lost. I managed to limp back to ch'Haveran, only to find a demotion waiting for me. And, here I am, second in command of the Khazara. You are young, Commander. I hope that never happens to you."

"It already has, Subcommander," Sela responded mysteriously. "Anyway, I should be briefing you on our mission. We're searching for the Space Station ARK-7 . . . "

Picard was awakened by his communicator chirping. "Picard here," he said.

"Captain, we've reached the Neutral Zone. There is no sign of Romulan Station ARK-7, or of any other Romulan craft in the vicinity. Unless they're cloaked, of course, sir," the flustered voice of an ensign, that Picard didn't seem to know offhand, said.

"Thank you, Ensign. I'll be there in a moment. Go to Yellow Alert," he responded, and stood up.

"Aye, sir. Bridge out."

Sela was also awakened by a message from the bridge. But, for her, it definitely did not bring good news.

"Subcommander Toreth here. Commander, a Federation ship has just come out of warp. We've cloaked. They're scanning the Neutral Zone . . . Seem to have found just what we did - nothing. Commander . . . It's the Enterprise." Toreth hesitated, as if she had more to say, and Sela broke in.

"I'll be there in a moment, Subcommander. Remain cloaked," Sela said, and cut

communications. She stood up, and exited into the hall.

The Enterprise, was it? It seemed that Sela would have to face Picard after all.