Tekeny Ghemor quietly opened the door to his daughter's room. She had missed breakfast and was getting concerned about her. "...Illiana?" He said quietly as he peaked into the room. "Are you all right?" He asked. He crept into the room and smiled when he found her sleeping it her chair at her desk. He walked over and gently tapped her. Slowly her eyes fluttered open and she smiled.

"Father.... What time is it?" She sleepily asked.

"You missed breakfast. Are you feeling all right?" He asked, looking at her pretty face.

"Oh, I am sorry. I must have fallen asleep here last night. I was working on a special project for you." She said as she pointed at the wrapped gift. Ghemor went to reach for it and she gently slapped his hand away. "Not now father. I will present it to you tonight at the ceremony." She smiled.

Ghemor smiled proudly. "I cannot wait." He watched her as she got out of her chair and stretched. "I do wish you would have slept in your bed, daughter."

" I am fine. It wasn't very comfortable but a little bit of stretching should do the trick." Illiana replied.

Ghemor nodded. "I will be in my study if you need me. Your mother is in the living room." He said as he left the room.

Illiana finished stretching and walked out of her room, down the stairs and into the living room where she found her mother painting. "Good morning, mother." Illiana smiled as she walked in to the room.

Dalena Ghemor was a tall and slender woman. Her features were perfect, beautiful green eyes, a petite nose, and her hair was always done in the most elaborate manner. Growing up, Dalena had everything she could wish for. Her father was a predominate figure in the Central Command and her mother was a teacher at the Bamarren Institute, where Dalena attended focusing her studies on law and inquisition. While at the school she met a young cardassian man whom she only knew as One Rekel. The use of personal names was prohibited at Bamarren so all the students were assigned designation numbers. Dalena was Two Keleni. Upon graduation she finally learned his name, Tekeny Ghemor. Instantly they knew that they were meant to be together and married later that year. The young Ghemor fought in many battles and won many honors and awards for his efforts. Dalena dedicated herself to the Central Command where she became the head inquisitor, interrogating. Both of them active members of the Cardassian government. They both loved each other but knew their work had to come first. Although Tekeny seemed to show his love for his wife more than she did to him. They knew that they needed to start a family, in order to 'fit' into the normal cardassian society (large families on Cardassia meant status). Dalena became pregnant and Illiana was born months later. They tried to have another child soon after but found out that she couldn't have anymore or it may kill her. Tekeny was happy with their one daughter and wanted to spoil her completely. Dalena on the other hand wanted to give her daughter a solid education at Bamarren. She became very displeased when Illiana decided that she would go to the Art Institute with her new boyfriend, Neelan Boheeka. Dalena urged her husband to drop subtle hints to Neelan about the military. Tekeny, being the loving husband that he was, could never say no to his wife. She was ecstatic, when Neelan stopped over earlier and told her that he applied to Bamarren and was accepted. Dalena thought since Illiana loved him so much that she would change her mind and go with him.

"Your father tells me that you and Neelan had decided to go separate ways." Her mother said with out even looking at her daughter.

Illiana bite her lower lip. "Yes, we decided tha-" Illiana wasn't even able to finish her sentence.

"I wish you could have just excepted him! He's going to make something of himself!" Mrs. Ghemor scolded. She dipped her paintbrush back into the paint and planted another stroke on the canvas.

Illiana didn't need to hear this. She didn't want to hear this. "Mothe-" Illiana tried to speak again.

"Illiana! I...just want what is best for you, that is all." She said with out taking her eyes off the canvas.

Illiana came close to her mother and put her arms around her. "I know mother. I know that you think that women should be married to military men, and I know that most women desire to be married to men in the military but, mother I'm not one of them. Now if you will excuse me I need to get ready for this evening." Illiana concluded as she turned and bounded up the stairs again.