3

Cursing loudly, Ro broke into a run, dragging Pat and the woman with her.

With adrenaline feeding her energy, she reached a rock outcropping and threw herself behind it, the other two landing unceremoniously on top of her.

A huge blast shook the ground and as Ro raised her head she could see the explosion ripping high into the brightening sky.

Just as suddenly as it had started, it was over.

Somewhere in the distance, Ro could hear something burning but she had no desire to see what it was.

Pat was the first one to stand shakily to her feet, "I can't believe it, we're still alive and in one piece."

Ro shook her head, they had no time to marvel at their good fortune; they had to get back to Shakin as quickly as they could.

A shout sounded from behind them, "Ro Laren!"

Hesitantly Ro stepped out from behind the rock, her disruptor drawn, "Yes?"

James Brown strode up towards her, "What kind of crazy stunt where you pulling out there? We had to get a special transport just to come get you guys."

Ro holstered her disruptor, "Is the rest of the team safe?"

"Yeah, the transport took us as soon as the packs went off. I had to pull extra favors to come back here at all."

"You already mentioned that," Ro said dryly.

Pat had come out to join Ro, "Are you going to talk all day? We need medical attention."

Brown walked behind Ro and quickly examined the woman they had rescued.

After he was finished he tapped his transmitter, "Brown to Shakin."

"Shakin here."

"Do you have all four signals?"

"Yes but we can only beam you back in groups of two."

"Fine, beam back Beckett and the other person first. Ro and I will go last."

"Understood sir, Shakin out."

A few minutes later the only thing at the site was the still burning Cardassian camp.

8888

"Ro, your actions were rash and irresponsible! You put the rest of the team in danger so you could go back and help someone. You could have been killed and Beckett with you!"

Ro studied Benjamin Deanic, the leader of this Maquis cell, as he paced his "office".

"Sir, I know that I acted without orders but at the time it seemed like the right thing to do."

"And how did you reach that conclusion?" Deanic yelled, throwing himself in a rickety chair.

"She was a Bajoren in a Cardassian camp," Ro said simply.

"So?"

"I wasn't going to let her die along with those…" Ro couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence without her anger choking her.

It was just for a second but Ro thought she saw a glimmer of understanding come into his face.

Then he stood up and she couldn't be sure if she had seen anything at all.

"I see…" he said slowly, "Dismissed."

Just before Ro could exit the door Deanic's voice stopped her, "Ro."

"Yes?"

"Good mission."

8888

When Ro stepped out of her meeting she was greeted by Pat, "Hey Laren! The woman you rescued has been treated and she wants to thank you."

Pat began to jog towards the village square with Ro following her.

When they reached the square, Ro was surprised to find it almost empty.

Before she opened her mouth to ask a question, the only Bajoren in the square came forward and grasped Ro's hand warmly, "I wanted to thank you for what you did. Many people would have been more concerned with escaping themselves but you came back and saved my life."

Ro felt a flush creeping up her cheeks, "I'm glad I could help, but really, we wouldn't have made it if Pat hadn't come back when she did."

"She's already thanked me," Pat whispered in Ro's ear.

Ro tried to smile warmly, "well it was a pleasure meeting you ma'am."

"Ro Talia."

"Excuse me?" Ro asked as the blood drained from her face

"My name is Ro Talia," the woman said simply.