Chapter 70

Deep In The Devil's Lair

Government Palace

Cardassia Prime

February 4, 2278

Gul Dukat was not a happy man. He knew not of the resistance building up against his rule and the aid he received from the Ragendora, nor did he know of Wildstar's foothold in his territory on Orak Tor. Instead, he was annoyed at the pace of war production from his own people. The Ragendora had ambitious goals, and they wanted them achieved soon. Their plans to conquer Earth were nearing completion, and he wanted to keep in their good graces so he could lead the enslavement of Earth's population. He'd let his homeworld be controlled by someone else for a while, because he knew that they could not hope to rule it as ruthlessly and as completely as he did.

Little did he know that the very people he trusted, the very people he swore were the most loyal to him, were the ones who were selling him out. One of those was his own second, Packna Gronk. She was, in outward appearance, your typical Cardassian female: ruthless, disciplined, and totally loyal to the state. Inside, she yearned to see the years of the civilian government come again, because the Cardassian people, in her view, grew in ways that military rule could not bring about. So it was sad to see the coup come about, but she knew that the key to getting the usurpers' grip on power to slip would be Dukat, and Dukat had more than his fair share of failings.

So when she proposed to Dureena Nafeel that she try to become his mistress, she was shocked when the alien said yes. "I've been studying your ways ever since I signed on to this mission. Believe me, I've learned how to mimic behavior to get me in to wherever I need to be. I am a trained thief, after all.," said Dureena, with much pride in her voice.

Thomas Riker and Ro Laren were worried, but relented and agreed to the change in plans. They were soon to leave anyway to help Wildstar, so the resistance would be headed up primarily by Cardassians unhappy with the military rule. What they needed was a way to manipulate Dukat, and giving him a warm and willing Cardassian female would be just the tonic to get in Dukat's head.

Dukat was married, but he was as faithful as a backsliding Christian. He cheated on his wife and didn't care who knew it. His wife was dutiful and kept her feelings over this to herself, for the most part. Inside, as Packna knew, she seethed at her husband's infidelity. The two were friends, and it was a comment said in passing that drove her to ask Dureena to play the part of mistress.

"You know, my dear, that bastard of a husband of mine doesn't even know his skirt-chasing, as the Humans say, is his main failing. If it wasn't for his penchant for bedding Bajoran whores, we may still be there," Zorla Dukat said.

Packna nodded and said, "Have you ever thought about cheating on him? I'm sure that you'd enjoy the revenge."

Zorla snorted, "What makes you think I haven't? Granted, I've been more...ambitious...in my pursuits, as well as more discreet, but I bore of it. In recent years, I've mainly stuck with government officials and those who are close to them. Hell, I even bedded Garek a few times."

Packna looked shocked, "What would your husband do if he suspects?"

"Kill me, what else," Zorla said, with a sigh. "He used to be so different in his youth. You know, the Humans have a saying: 'Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely'. If that phrase doesn't fit my husband, I don't know of any other that comes close."

Packna licked her lips and was hesitant about what she was about to say. She was putting her life into Zorla's hands. "What would you say if I told you there was a resistance building to Gul Dukat's rule?"

Zorla looked at her friend seriously, then said, "I wish them luck. I would love nothing better than that pompous ass of a husband of mine to be thrown from power. Hell, if you were involved, I would join you. Our world was so much better under civilian rule. People actually felt positive about being Cardassian. Now, they feel like they've always felt: imposed upon. I, for one, am sick of it."

"What about your son?"

"What about him? He's involved with them. He doesn't want me involved, because he couldn't bear with me losing my life. Gurla's such a fine young man, much like his father used to be until power and ambition took his soul.," Zorla said bitterly. "If you are asking for my blessing to rid my husband, you have it."

"Out of power," asked Packna.

Zorla snorted derisively and added, "Out of life!"

So, as she watched from across the room, she could see Dureena Nafeel charming the pants off of Gul Dukat. After having served with him since before he led the Bajoran occupation, she could tell when he was about to go to bed with a woman. He had that look in his eye, and she said a silent prayer to the gods that Dureena could get the information needed. Meanwhile, she had to concentrate on putting off one of the new government's bureaucrats from trying to get into her pants.

A couple of days later, she met Dureena in a secluded restaurant off the main thoroughfare in the capital. "So, how did it go?", she asked Dureena.

"In getting what I wanted, fine. In getting laid, not so well. He's lousy in bed.," she said matter-of-factly.

"I could have told you that. So how many glasses of kanar did he go through before he passed out? I wonder if he still has his high tolerance for the stuff.," asked Packna.

Dureena snorted, "More like two bottles. I can't stand the stuff. Besides, in my profession, you have to keep your wits about you, so I'm not much of a drinker. However, once he was fairly lubricated, he proved to be the soul of cooperation."

Packna nodded, adding, "Well, I'm sure you'll have plenty of stories to tell some of our mutual friends. Speaking of which, I know two of them who would love to see you again real soon."

Dureena smiled and played with her hair as a male passed nearby. "I'll do just that. They'd love to hear a few stories of my recent adventures." The two laughed like schoolgirls and passed the time further with some small talk.

That evening, Zorla greeted her husband as he came into their home from work. "Well, it's nice to know I have a husband! So, who was she this time?"

Dukat took the jibe with humor. "Please my dear! I know all too well I'm not the only one in this family who gets their pleasures elsewhere."

"At least you could have told me so the dinner I had prepared would not have grown cold! Do you know how expensive gilcenka is these days?"

Dukat licked his lips, "Well, I'm sorry I missed out. I'm off to bed, because I have to get up early in the morning."

Zorla rolled her eyes, asking, "What great military campaign are you planning this time, my dear?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just a full assault on Deep Space Nine and Babylon 5. And then, later on to Earth," Dukat said.

Zorla shrugged the chill up her spine off and said dismissively, "Well, at least you still have your ambitions."

"Indeed! That's why you love me, isn't it," he said.

"Among other things.," she smiled as she embraced him. He didn't notice the skin tab that she stuck on the back of his neck, which had him asleep in no time. She removed it and disposed of it, then went off to let her friend know of this latest twist in the plot.