The Last Temptation of Odo – Chapter 10

By

Creek Johnson and Nance Hurt

Disclaimer: We are but fleas on the elephants' posterior that is Paramount.

No infringement on their rights is intended. We hope none is taken.

"Is the meal not to your liking?" asked Jubei.

Vivian looked up at the sound of her companions voice and realized the bowl of noodles lay quickly cooling in her hands. "No," she replied somewhat shamefaced. "It's fine. I was just thinking."

"You worry about your companions."

"Yes." Vivian contemplated her meal. She had not mentioned her somewhat puzzling conversations with the man who claimed to work for the Vorta. If Jubei had suspected something was up, she had not voiced her suspicions, leaving Vivian to wonder just how much she should say about her situation. Vivian had spent the better part of the day wondering if it were not time to test the waters a bit.

Now was as good a time as any, she thought. "Does the name Sanke mean anything to you?" she asked.

"Sanke?" Jubei thought for a moment. "No. It is not a Higoshi name."

"No not Higoshi," agreed Asahi from his place on the other side of the campfire. "But I do know of a man named sanKe, but he is most likely dead now."

"Yes," said Jubei nodding. "sanKe, I do remember."

"Dead?" asked Vivian. "What happened to him?"

"sanKe," replied Asahi. "Was one of the ruling Counsel right before the Dominion came. He was from the Minami to the South."

"The Dominion," added Jubei. "Expelled the ruling Counsel when they took over the government. Many of the Counsel remained to perform some administrative functions."

"Until the Madness descended upon us." There was something about the hushed manner in Asahi's voice that made Vivian's blood run cold.

"The Madness?" she asked.

"A period of civil war among our Dominion rulers," said Jubei. "We in the East knew little of what was going on at the time. I doubt anyone knows the truth of what transpired…"

"Bloodshed," interrupted Asahi. "It is said that the Jem'Hadar troops developed a illness of the blood that caused them to turn upon their masters. But the blood lust did not end there, some say, the Madness caused them to then turned upon themselves. That in one frightful night the Jem'Hadar troops slew each other in a great orgy of death."

"Orgy of death," scoffed Jubei. "Stories to frighten children."

"Others believe," continued Asahi. "The Dominion ordered the remaining members of the Counsel to be executed and then ordered the executioners to take their own life. No matter what actually transpired, all that is know is that from that night on no one has seen or heard from the Ruling Counsel since."

"All that is known for certain," said Jubei. "Is that all known members of the Counsel disappeared without a trace, as did many of the Jem'Hadar troops. For all we know they were transported somewhere with the Jem'Hadar troops as their guards. However, the fact remains, the Founder, the Vorta, and the Jem'Hadar still live and their rule is absolute."

"Ah," said Asahi. "But no one has ever seen the Founder in person."

"I have never seen the wind," replied Jubei. "But I know it exists."

"Doa!" shouted a young man approaching the campfire. "Come quickly."

"What is it?" asked Asahi.

"Four strangers are approaching," the young man replied. "One of them is wounded."

Vivian followed the group to the road. On the far side she could just make out a small group of men walking in the tall grass. At Asahi's orders, lanterns were brought forth and in the pale light she could see they were not of the same race as the Higoshi. Two of the men were short and rather than the long necks and v shaped heads of her companions, the strangers appeared to have no necks and their heads were as bald and as white as stones.

"Who are you?" shouted Asahi. "And do you require assistance?"

"We are travelers from Minami!" replied one of the men. "One of our companions is badly hurt and will require medical transport."

"Jubei," said Asahi turning to her. "Can you make the call?"

"I will do so now."

"You there," ordered Asahi indicating several of the young men in his group. "Take the stretcher and carry the wounded one to my camp."

"Come!" he shouted to the Minami. "There is food and water for you all. Do you require a doctor?"

The stretcher was hauled up the steep bank of the road by eager hands. Vivian watched as the Higoshi carried the stretcher away. She was about to follow when a voice carried over the din.

"Thank you," said a voice with a distinct British accent. "But I am a doctor."

Vivian turned back and watched as two men were hauled up the steep bank. She scanned their faces finding nothing she recognized. A third man appeared taller than his companions and decidedly not of the same race, although his face and head were plastered with a thick white mud. She smiled.

"Hello Julian," she said. "Fancy meeting you here."

"So everything checks out?" Kira Nerys looked at the Security report and back to Ovin Bog.

"Mr. Marshall was very thorough…"

"Of course he was." Kira tapped the edge of the padd against her hand. "You've met this Mr. Pilgrim," she said eventually. "What's he like?"

"Ah," replied Ovin. "Average for a Terran."

"A Terran?"

"Ah, yes. Average build, average coloring, and average height. The only thing that would distinguish him in ah, a crowd would be that he always wears black; black suit, black shirt with an, ah, high color, black shoes…"

"I get the picture," replied Kira. "Well I'm not about to give the Centurion Corporation a lease until I meet the average Mr. Pilgrim. Set up a meeting."

"Ah," replied Ovin. "Mr. Pilgrim is no longer on the Station. But his, ah, associate just, ah, arrived."

"And who would that be?"

"A, ah, Mr. Shadow."

"And what of him?"

"He's, ah, average…"

"Fine," sighed Kira. "I get the picture. Just set the meeting."

"Actually," remarked Ovin. "Ah, according to Mr. Shadow the two of you have, or had rather, ah, a mutual friend."

"And who would that be?"

"The late, ah, Captain Fellows."

It couldn't be, thought Kira. Well, this will certainly be interesting.

"We need to talk," said Vivian. She sat on the banks of the small creek as Julian washed the mud from his face and hair. "There are things going on here that just aren't right."

"You mean like there being only one Jem'Hadar?" asked Julian.

"Yes. From what I can gather from what my 'friend' tells me the idea was we were to be disintegrated when we stepped through that field but he changed the setting to simply transport us away from the runabout. Why? I'm not certain. But I do know the runabout was recovered afterwards."

"So this sanKe fellow claims to work for the Vorta. What would he have to gain from defying his boss?"

"I don't know," replied Vivian. "But whatever his motivation, he insists the Founder is aware of our somehow surviving this disbursement field of theirs and plans on using the weapons onboard the runabout to destroy us. Why the Dominion would need our weapons and simply not use their own, I don't know."

"It almost seems," said Julian drying himself off. "That the Dominion forces left on this planet aren't aware the war is over. It's as though they crash-landed here, which would explain why they don't use their own weapons. Perhaps they don't have any."

"Or, they are aware and they don't want to be discovered."

"But why? I mean what would be gained? If there is in fact only one Jem'Hadar, then we can assume there are only one Vorta and one Founder as well. What could they possibly hope to achieve? It's not as though they could do any real damage here alone."

"Maybe," replied Vivian. "The only thing they wish is to be here, alone. Maybe they don't want to be discovered because they don't want to go back?"

"Perhaps. But it does not agree with anything we know of the Dominion. It is possible that Jem'Hadar can overcome an addiction to ketrecel-white although I know of only one who ever has. And it may be possible that this one Founder was never exposed to the disease that plagued the Link. I just find it highly unlikely that they both should wind up on this planet."

"You don't suppose they are just lying low waiting to be rescued do you?" asked Vivian.

"It's possible," agreed Julian. "Or knowing how advanced the Dominion is when it comes to genetics, they may have been part of some sort of experiment to breed an Alpha Quadrant specific species of the Dominion…"

Vivians comm. badge chirped to life and she held up her hand to forestall further comment. Holding her finger to her lips as a warning to Julian, she activated the comm.

"sanKe?"

"I cannot speak for long," he said, a note of urgency in his voice. "When you arrive in the Capital, proceed to the Castle. The first courtyard will be the marshalling area for pilgrims. Do not enter the interior courtyard for that is where the battle for contracts takes place and anyone without a jutuba will be denied entrance. From the exterior courtyard follow the interior wall to the left. There you will find a small garden. In the far wall of the garden is a small door. Knock upon the door and tell the guard you travel from the Far North and you carry an urgent message for the Vorta. I will come and let you in. Do you understand?"

"Yes," replied Vivian willing to take a chance. "But sanKe tell me one thing."

"Yes?"

"How did you survive the Madness?"

There was a long pause at the other end of the signal and Vivian was beginning to believe she had made a mess of things. She glanced at Julian who returned her look with a puzzled expression on his face.

"Now is not the time," sanKe replied eventually. "Just get to the Capital. Hurry!"

"What exactly was that all about?" asked Julian.

"Just playing a hunch."

Quark stabbed the embers of the fire with a stick. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked as his companion rose.

"It will be time for me to regenerate soon," Odo replied his voice weary with tension.

"You can't run off and leave me here. We have no idea where iSamu is much less when she's going to come back. If she comes back."

"I'll only be gone for an hour or so. You will be fine."

"I'm coming with you then."

"I will not have you gawking over me while I regenerate," declared Odo. "Look," he said relenting a little. "I'll just be over here in the grass. If you need me, just call out."

"Fine," replied Quark stabbing the fire again. "Leave me here all alone will you?"

Odo rolled his eyes but wandered off a short distance anyway, allowing his form to melt into the grass. Quark glanced at the horse, which stood seemingly content to munch on the grass opposite the fire.

"Why don't to go over there and eat," suggested Quark. "If I'm lucky you just might bite Mr. I Have to Regenerate in the a…" The words froze on his lips as he heard something moving in the undergrowth nearby.

Thinking he might have imagined it, he sat perfectly still. The horse muttered to itself and snapped its head to attention as the sound erupted again, closer this time.

"Odo…"

"I heard," he replied stepping out of the darkness.

"What should we do?"

"Hello!" called out Odo.

"Great," muttered Quark. "Something big and possibly dangerous is rattling around in the dark and he invites it to join us. You know, that's one of the differences between you Changelings and the rest of us. We learned a long time ago that if something wants to eat you, you don't invite it to dinner."

"Shut up, Quark."

"Good Evening," said a voice quite close to them. Quark leapt up to find iSamu behind him. She dropped a struggling bundle by the fire. "We have a guest."

The bundle thrashed around and eventually a head emerged out from under the cloth covering it. Quark immediately recognized it as belonging to the small man who had accosted him days earlier. "You!"

"I should have known," spat the small man. "I should have known you would have hired thugs of your own."

iSamu sat serenely by the fire and warmed her hands. "I believe the situation requires tea," she said.

"Have you eaten?" asked Odo, pouring her a cup of tea from the pot left from Quark's meal.

"Thank you. A meal would be most welcome."

"Well isn't this nice and civilized?" remarked the man. He crossed his arms and glared defiantly at the group around him. "So, what happens next?"

"What happens next," said Quark drawing his sword and waiving it threateningly. "Is you are going to tell us who you are and why you wanted to rob me."

"Why should I tell you anything?" spat the little man.

"Cause I'll hurt you if you don't." Quark brought the sword up only to have the blade caught by Odo's hand.

"Give me that," he commanded. "Before you hurt yourself. You," he turned to their captive. "Will answer the question."

The captive started to object until he caught the look in Odo's eye. "My name is kuJaku," he said with ill grace.

"And?" prompted Odo.

"It was not my intention to rob you of the jewels."

"Ha!" commented Quark.

"What was your intention then?" asked Odo ignoring the outburst from Quark.

"I wanted the sword."

"Why?"

"I just did."

"He's lying," said Quark. "If all he wanted was the sword then why did he hire those thugs to attack us?"

"I do not lie!" replied kuJaku. "I am a man of honor."

"It's been my experience," said Odo handing iSamu a bowl. "That honorable men do not hire thugs to beat up other people."

"They aren't thugs," replied kuJaku. "They are miners. They mine the jewels that are used in the jewelry the village manufactures. I only hired them to take the sword. They were not instructed to harm anyone."

"Why?" asked Odo. "Surely swords are in plentiful supply. What is so important about this one?"

"It's not the sword," remarked iSamu. "It is what the sword represents."

"Exactly," agreed kuJaku. "The sword you carry represents the village from which it came. That is why I wanted it. Can I go now?"

"No." replied Odo and Quark in unison.

"What is so important about this sword in particular?" asked Odo.

"I…I come from goshiKi."

"Goshiki?" scoffed Quark. "What's that?"

"See!" demanded kuJaku. "Do you not see? He does not even know the name of the village he represents!"

"So what if I don't?"

"Quark," warned Odo.

"There wasn't time. It was all rather rushed…"

"And you," continued Odo ignoring Quark. "Feel the sword rightly belongs to you?"

"Yes," admitted kuJaku. "I went to the Elders and asked that I be allowed to represent the village in ritual combat during the Festival. They refused."

"Why?"

"It is tradition."

"The Nishi," remarked iSamu. "Due to their diminutive stature are not schooled in the martial arts. They are primarily tradesmen and craftsmen. This region is known for its jewelers and clockmakers. To the north are villages known for their skills in the manufacture of computer parts and precision medical instruments."

"It's our hands," said kuJaku. "It is believed these hands are made for delicate, precision work and not the rough world of combat."

"It is tradition," said iSamu gently. "You are wrong to go against the Elders."

"Tradition be damned!" declared kuJaku. "We sit in our houses and worry that those stronger than we are will some day take all that we work for. We place our financial future in the hands of hirelings and hope they will be honorable. I say no. How will we ever hope to be respected if we do not stand up on our own? But no one listens."

"So," said Odo. "Your idea was to take the sword and go represent your people at the Festival?"

"Yes."

"Are you any good with a sword?"

"Not really," kuJaku admitted. "But the point is to try."

"What are you thinking?" demanded Quark.

"I'm thinking," replied Odo. "That this might be the poDosai."

"He might," agreed iSamu. "Only time will tell."

"What will you do now?" asked Julian. They stood on the edge of the clearing, the small plane standing by as the stretcher containing Chudan was secured for take off.

"We will rejoin the group," replied Bekko.

"And make Ogon pay," agreed Chaho. "Perhaps we will meet again in the Capital."

"Yes," said Bekko. "It would be an honor."

"I would like that," replied Julian.

"I don't know how to thank you," remarked Vivian.

"No thanks are necessary," replied Jubei. "I am just happy you have located one of your companions."

"If there is anything I can do…"

"Here is your pilot," said Jubei indicating a young man in a blue uniform. "viVian. This is Toshi."

Toshi stopped as he reached the group. He took a hard look at first Vivian and them Julian. "More strangers?" he asked. "How many of you are there?"

Kira Nerys powered down her office terminal and sighed. It had been a long day and she was looking forward to a meal and a hot bath. It was times like this that she missed Odo the most. Whispering a quick prayer to the Prophets for his safe return, she left her office.

Glancing around Ops, she noted the night shift at their stations the day shift having gone off duty with the exception of Bryan Landis who stood at the Ops table in conversation with a tall dark skinned man in a Starfleet uniform. At the sound of her office door opening, both men looked up.

"Colonel," said the man at her approach.

"I've all ready informed Lieutenant Commander McKinley," remarked Landis cutting his companion off in mid sentence. "That you were off duty and he should schedule an appointment tomorrow."

"Thank you Mr. Landis," replied Kira. "Mr. McKinley, I'm afraid Mr. Landis is correct. It's been a long day and unless this is an emergency whatever you require can wait until tomorrow."

"I understand completely," conceded McKinley. "However, I have here Admiral Pendergasts requirements for his office accommodations." He held out a padd. "My instructions…"

"This really is a matter for Mr. Landis. As Station Liaison…"

"Forgive me, Colonel, but my instructions as Admiral Pendergasts Liaison are to deliver this padd to you personally upon my arrival. The Admiral was very specific…"

"I'm sure he was," replied Kira taking the padd from him without giving it a glance and handing it to Landis. "Consider your duty executed and good night."

Raising one eyebrow, she crossed her arms and waited for McKinley to leave Ops. He stood for a moment as though uncertain what to do before reading the look on her face and deciding a strategic retreat was in order. With a slight bow, he turned and left in the turbolift.

"Admirals!" said Kira to no one in particular. With a shrug, she bade Landis a good night and took a step toward the lift.

"Colonel!"

"Yes, Mr. Landis?"

"You might want to take a look at this," he said holding the padd out to her. "In particular item number 27."

"What is it?" Kira scanned the document quickly. For the most part the Admirals requests struck her as pompous but not unreasonable. Then she saw it. It was phrased not as an order, but as a request.

Item #27: For the safety of the Station and the Security of the Ninth Fleet, it is humbly requested that all Changelings be restricted from residence on the Station, unless requested by the Federation to enjoy temporary residence of a diplomatic nature.

In the sudden silence of Ops she heard the voice quite clearly.

"Choose."