Homefires,
Chapter Three:
-Grand Nagus Zek, "The Nagus"
-----
Deep within the stone walls of Rakiin's estate, medical technicians circled the stasis casket, taking tissue samples and watching the life signs of the mangled body within like Vultures picking at the form of a dying man. For days, they had worked under the blinding lights of the operating theatre, the knowledge that failure in this project would lead to their own deaths spurring them towards success.
Trapped within the icy blue glow of the stasis chamber, a dark haired man lay, his face twisted in a look of utter agony that had nothing to do with the gaping wound in his chest. It was the look of a man who had made a deal with the devil and was only beginning to understand the cost. Tattered black and red cloth hung from his frame, the remains of a uniform belonging to a now lost time and place, belonging to an organization that no longer existed.
They say that clothes make the man. What does that say about Starfleet Commander Jason Madden?
Cocconed in suspended animation, Madden lay frozen, his body paralyzed and unable to move. His vital signs hovered on the edge of death, his brain wave patterns near flatline, but his subconscious mind worked at dizzying speeds, events and memories flickering past the mind's eye like an ancient film.
Jason Madden was a prisoner, but his mind was free.
-----
Jonathan
Archer Elementary School
Jason Madden's
memories…
Jason grinned from ear to ear and bit down on his tongue, his bright eyes narrowing in a ten year old's definition of intense concentration, the metal baseball bat clenched in his fists and hovering over one shoulder. On the centre mound, Mike Perman grinned back and wound up the pitch, sending the baseball hurtling toward Jason at what seemed to be an amazing speed.
Mike was the best. No one at Archer Elementary could beat him when he was pitching. Jason could hear the sounds of a couple of hundred students watching the game, some yelling that he was gonna lose, some cheering him on. As the ball sped towards him, he laughed.
He never lost.
With an ear-splitting crack, the bat struck the ball straight on hard enough that Jason's hands stung. All of the kids, and even some of the teachers, went quiet as they watched the small sphere fly at what Jason liked to think was warp speed straight up into the sky. Even Mike Perman was watching it go, his mouth hanging open. Jason just stood there, the bat hanging at his side, watching the ball vanish.
The crowd screamed.
Jason started to laugh like an idiot, dropping the bat and taking off as fast as he could around the bases. On the pitcher's mound, Mike looked like he was about to cry, and that just made things even better. Today was Jason's day, and there was absolutely nothing that could stop him. Ever.
The bases flashed by, the other kids either staring at him in shock or desperately trying to find the baseball. The sound of a few hundred kids screaming his name surrounded him, making him laugh even harder, telling him that he was the best, that the world was his and that there was nothing that he couldn't do.
He was almost at second base when he saw it, hidden behind the edge of the school. No one else could see it happening. The grin left his face, his kid's features twisting in determination as he spun hard to the right and left the diamond, tearing across the schoolyard as fast as he could, leaving the confused crowd behind him.
This was HIS day. HIS! And things like this wouldn't happen.
He rammed into the first, sending the bigger kid flying to the ground. The second started to turn around, but Jason spun, kicking him in the back of the knee and dropping him. Both of them were on the ground now, too surprised to pick themselves up. They were big, huge. They had to be at least twelve or thirteen, but that didn't matter. Jason stood in front of them, his legs spread apart and his fists clenched, ready for a fight.
Jason glanced over his shoulder at the little kid lying on the ground. He was bruised and cut, desperately trying to wipe the blood from his face. "You okay?"
The kid nodded so hard that Jason though his head was going to fall off. Smiling, Jason turned back to the bullies, squinting as they pulled themselves up off the ground. "You want to pick on kids? Pick on me."
They ran straight for him, their fists up and swinging. Jason laughed and ran towards them.
This was his day, and NOTHING could stop him.
-----
How long had it been since that baseball game, since the world had been clearly divisible between good and bad? A lifetime ago. When had he last been that sure of anything?
When had he last been sure of who he was?
He didn't know anymore.
-----
Aishwarya's hand paused over the paper, her pen twitching slightly as she hesitated. With an quiet snarl, she dropped the pen and crumpled the paper, tossing it aside to join the ever growing pile at the side of her desk. Turning away from her work, a new translation of Surak's Kir'shara, she glanced out the floor to ceiling window of her study, staring out at the great city of Fatalis.
The city was a joining of disparate styles and motifs, a cross between the cities of Earth's ancient middle east and far Asia, sandstone walls merging with transparent steel windows. Enormous towers reached for the sky alongside the pyramids and mansions of the higher nobility, all cast in shadows by the early morning sun. Already the sounds of life could be heard. Marketplaces opening; transports jetting across the cityscape; people waking.
With a sigh, she removed the pins from her hair and shook it loose of the bun, running her hands through it in an attempt to relieve the tension building between her eyes. Rising from her desk, the historian crossed to the far wall and lifted her dressing gown, shrugging it over her shoulders before stepping out onto her balcony.
It had been nearly three days now since their return to Fatalis, and Aishwarya had yet to see her brother return. He wasn't dead, of that she was quite sure. No, that would be far too simple an answer, and in Fatalis, things were never simple. Leaning on the railing, she frowned as her mind churned. In Khanate society, all things were cloaked in double talk, veiled threats and outright lies. Cloak and dagger, shadow and flame. We do what we must to make our name. What kind of society taught lessons like that to their children?
They were lessons that Rakiin obviously learned well. Win at all costs. Do not merely defeat your enemies, destroy them. Oh, he learned his lessons very well, but then again, so did she. Nothing is as it appears. Gears within wheels within worlds. Just because she had not learned the same lessons as her brother did not mean that she was a useless academic.
It is much simper to destroy your enemies when they invite you in.
Behind her, there was the sound of the balcony door opening and closing again. A small smile ghosted across her lips even as she refused to turn around to face the newcomer.
"I'm certain that I taught you to be careful."
"I am being careful." Aishwarya watched a personal transport pass by a few towers away. "Anyone looking to kill me wouldn't make so much noise." Turning her back on the city, she smiled for what seemed to be the first time in ages. "Hello, Darius."
The former Warmaster smiled widely and wrapped her in his arms, laughing as he picked her up off her feet and swung her about. "Welcome home, Child. Welcome home." Placing her back on her feet, Darius stepped back and looked at her, his smile becoming a slight frown. "You look unwell, Aishwarya."
Sighing heavily, Aishwarya turned back towards the city, her eyes hidden behind streams of raven hair. "I'm quite healthy, Darius. I'm fine."
"That is not what I meant, and you know it." Darius appeared at her side, his own eyes fixed on the horizon. "You look unwell."
Absently sketching a pattern into the railing, Aishwarya glanced at Darius. "Would you care to walk with me, Darius?"
"Always, Child. Always."
-----
Madame
Chang's Chinese Restaurant, San Francisco
The memories of Jason
Madden
Jason rolled the chicken ball around the edge of his plate, doing his best to soak up as much of the sweet and sour sauce as he could. Finally spearing it with his fork, he lifted it to his mouth and bit into it, only half paying attention.
Madame Chang's Chinese was a small restaurant down by the waterfront, had been by the waterfront for nearly nine hundred years. It had been sold a few dozen times, shut down for business here and there, but when it was around, you were lucky if you could get a table. Madame Chang's was a legend at the Academy, more so than even the Launch Pad bar. Looking around tonight, Jason could see that every table was full, and he could hear the lineup outside waiting to get in.
Maybe that's what was keeping him. He was stuck in the line. Almost as quickly as Jason had the thought, he dismissed it. Nah. Alex had made these reservations three weeks ago. There was no way he'd be stuck outside.
Jason dropped his fork and picked up his chopsticks, playing with the long cold chow mein. He had already been sitting here for an hour, playing with his dinner and waiting for Alex to finally show up. How much longer was he supposed to sit here and brood?
He gave up on dinner and held his head in his hands. He was in his last year at the Academy, another five or six months and he'd be receiving his orders to ship out. What was it that he and Alex had said all those years ago? Thirty years old and Captain? Yeah. Like that was gonna happen. His grades were good, he was always getting praise from his teachers, but for some reason he felt as though he was fooling everyone. What happened to the days where he was the best there was? The days where nothing could stop him? They were long gone, now.
But as long as he kept everyone thinking they were still here...
Over the crowd he could hear Alex's voice faintly, muffled as if it were on the other side of a wall. Looking up, Jason scanned the room, looking for him but not being able to tell where the voice was coming from.
"Look, I'm sorry. I know we're late, but I did make a reservation."
"A reservation for seven o'clock, Sir. I'm sorry, but it's eight o'clock."
"Alex. We are late."
"I know. I just want to know, we were supposed to meet a friend here. Did he leave already?"
Standing, Jason walked to the front of the restaurant, carefully side-stepping the other patrons. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he opened his mouth to make some smart-assed comment towards Alex for being late, but the words never had a chance to leave his mouth.
A couple of feet behind Alex, a dark haired woman stood against the wall, a shy and embarrassed grin on her face, almost as though she was the reason for Alex being late. She glanced up and caught Jason's eye, smiled and tapped Alex on the shoulder. Stopping mid-sentence, Alex turned from the restaurant's host and looked right at Jason. Looking back at the host, Alex shrugged. "Found him, thanks."
Together, the two of them left the lineup and headed towards him, and the entire time Jason couldn't look away from the woman. She was about average height, and absolutely beautiful in a strange, exotic way. For the first time, Jason could see why Alex hadn't shut up about her for six months.
"Jason." Alex shrugged apologetically, "Sorry 'bout being late."
"My fault." The woman blushed, "We… got… uhhh…. Occupied. Yeah, occupied's a good word."
Alex blushed to the roots of his hair as Jason fought to keep his jaw from dropping. Uncomfortably, Alex changed the subject. "Anyway... uhh... Jason Madden, meet Selene Weller."
Selene held out her hand. "Nice to finally meet you."
-----
She was dead now. Selene was gone. Alex was who knew where. And Jason...
Jason didn't even know who he was anymore.
The three musketeers had finally fallen.
-----
Darius knelt down and brushed his hand across the bush in front of him, grasping the petals of the flowers and rubbing them between his fingertips. Behind him, Aishwarya stood in the middle of the estate's garden, her back straight and her posture perfect. Sighing in exasperation, Darius stood and turned back to her. "You look like you are expecting an attack, Aishwarya."
Relaxing slightly, the historian smiled slightly, although Darius noticed that it didn't the smile didn't touch her eyes. "Perhaps I am."
"Good. Then I taught you properly."
"Home is the hunter." Her voice developed a singsong quality, as though she were repeating something she had heard thousands of times before. "Especially our home." With hooded eyes, she watched one of the house gardeners walk past, the young man bowing deeply as he scurried by her and back into the estate. Alone in the gardens, Darius nodded and reached into his robes, pulling out a small cylinder. Tapping one end, he winced as it emitted a high pitched buzz that rose up into the ultrasonic. Tucking it back into it's pocket, he glanced up at Aishwarya. "We're safe. Eighteen listening devices, all told, in case you are interested."
Raising an eyebrow, Aishwarya looked around. "Eighteen? I only knew about seventeen. Rakiin is becoming more proficient. He actually hid one from me."
"Nice to see that not all of the training the boy received has vanished." Frowning, Darius held his hands behind his back, the playful demeanour of the old man vanishing behind the businesslike face of the soldier. "What happened?"
Aishwarya seemed to collapse before his eyes, holding her head in her hands as her shoulders slumped. "What have you heard?"
"Enough. The Gilgamesh returned home in need of quite a few repairs to her computer systems. One of the engineers assigned was heard saying that it may take months to purge the damaged systems."
"Really?" This time the smile did reach her eyes, a fact that Darius would have seen blind. That must be an interesting story.
"Yes. Also, there are reports that Herma'Taklan has been disgraced, Shade is in a coma, and that Rakiin managed to find a human from another reality."
"Anything else?"
"That the damage to the Gilgamesh was done by a single, Federation cargo ship. Am I missing anything?"
Aishwarya shook her head. "No. You have the broad strokes."
"And the details?"
"Two humans escaped. A Starfleet captain and an engineer from another reality. He is the one who did the damage to the computer systems. The other human, Herma'Taklan shot during the escape. His name is Jason Madden, and at the moment, he is being held in the medical ward in the estate's sub-levels." Her voice tightened for an instant with disgust. "Rakiin wants him as a new commander to replace Herma'Taklan."
Darius nodded, considering her story. "The humans escaped?"
"All but Madden."
"How?"
They stared at each other for a long moment before Aishwarya's lips curled upwards in a small grin. "Help from on high?"
Darius laughed, "Oh, that's a good girl. I did teach you well. You're still alive."
Aishwarya scowled and crossed her arms across her chest. "I'm only still alive because Rakiin enjoys having a pet he can beat." Sighing, she shook her head. "Herma'Taklan knows, I think, though I don't know why he hasn't told Rakiin. Shade, though..." Her voice trailed off.
"What about Shade?"
"I'm unsure. I attacked him. I'm the one who put him in a coma. If he wakes…"
"If he wakes, he tells Rakiin, and you die."
She shrugged, "Not exactly the way I would have phrased it, but true enough, I suppose."
Darius sighed as he examined the situation. "You should leave, but I have suggested that before."
"I can't leave, Darius. I'm needed here." Her eyes drifted towards the door leading back into the house. "I cannot leave Jason Madden. He is here because of me. He is becoming what he is becoming because of me. I cannot abandon him."
"And so we have to find another way to protect you." Darius shook his head, "Killing Shade is out of the question. And Madden..."
"Or what he is becoming," Aishwarya finished for him, "may become a threat."
Together, they stood in the garden, listening as the words hung in the air.
-----
In
orbit of Jupiter
The memories of Jason Madden...
It should have been easy.
The thought echoed through Jason's mind as he tore through the hallways of Sensor Platform Fourteen, the red alert klaxon ringing in his ears. A small meteor shower, very little structural damage to the platform but the sensor systems had to be recalibrated. It was the perfect mission to send a group of cadets on to get some 'on the job' training.
That was before a bulkhead had ruptured, pulling three members of his team into vacuum. Mark Conray. Jenny Dugan. Ashley Summer. Another three weeks and they would have graduated.
"Red alert. Structural integrity compromised. Red alert." Yeah, yeah. Where the hell had that alarm been five minutes ago when it would have saved those three?
Jason ran around the corner and nearly slammed into Alex, the both of them skidding to a halt inches away from each other. Alex already had his EVA suit on, the helmet in one hand. "You okay?"
What a stupid question, Jason thought. Of course I'm not okay. "Yeah, I'm fine. You?"
Alex shrugged. "Been better. Anyone else?"
"No. The other three are gone." Jason shook his head, "We have to get out of here. Now."
"Lead the way, Fearless Leader."
"Don't call me that." And Jason turned and ran, Alex only steps behind him. Together, they headed for the shuttlecraft that had brought them to the platform, and now their only way off. Unfortunately, the universe had other ideas.
An emergency bulkhead blocked the corridor two junctions from the airlock.
Jason plowed right into it, snarling as he heard his shoulder crack. Punching the wall, he shouted. "You have got to be kidding me!"
"If they are, I'm not getting the joke." Alex knelt down and pried a panel off the wall, checking the controls. "No. It's sealed good and proper. I can't open this. Not in the amount of time we have."
Gulping with a suddenly very dry throat, Jason tried to remember anything his instructors back at the Academy would have said about this kind of situation. "Get your helmet on."
Alex looked up. "What?"
"Get your helmet on!" Jason snapped his into place, barely paying attention as Alex did the same. Pulling his phaser, Jason aimed at the bulkhead. "Only one way off this junkheap now."
"Jason! No! Don't...!"
Jason pulled the trigger.
The bulkhead exploded.
The explosive decompression overloaded the already stressed Structural Intgrity Field.
The platform was ripped apart around them.
The world went black.
-----
Act first. That was his problem. He had always acted first, and thought later. Oh, he and Alex had survived the collapse, he had even received a commendation. But it didn't change the truth of things.
When I came right down to the wire, he couldn't be trusted to make the right decision.
-----
The Citadel stood in the very centre of Fatalis, it's pyramidal shape looming over the great city. Ringing the kilometre wide base of the building was an enormous garden, carefully maintained against the harsh Ceti-Alphan environment. As she and Darius stepped through one of the hundreds of archways leading into the gardens, Aishwarya lowered the hood of her travelling cloak and inhaled deeply. The smells of mint and jasmine assailed her senses, and for one brief instant, she was transported far away from Fatalis, transported somewhere safe.
The instant was quite brief.
Thousands of Khanate milled about, politicians, aides, Lords, ladies... all of them no doubt wondering how best to benefit from the coming death of the Khan. Any sense of safety one had while at the Citadel was an illusion. There were, in fact, probably more assassins and killers present than there were actual politicians.
In her own mind, she was unsure which breed was worse.
"You are certain about this?"
Aishwarya glanced over at Darius, arching an eyebrow at his question. "If we are to find Rakiin, it will undoubtedly be here. Besides, I want to see the state of the empire."
"I could tell you to be careful, but I already know you will be." Darius grasped her hand and nodded, "Be safe, Aishwarya."
Bowing her head, Aishwarya smiled in return. "And you, my friend."
Without another look at her old teacher, Aishwarya turned and walked into the citadel.
-----
USS
McGann, turboshaft
three
Jason Madden's memories...
Jason prowled back and forth across the turbolift, nervously tugging on his uniform jacket in an attempt to straighten an already straight seam. Dammit. He shouldn't even be here. He'd been invited, of course, but both he and Alex knew that with the Crichton all the way on the other side of the galaxy helping repair a transwarp conduit, the chances of his attending were unlikely at best.
So, if he couldn't show up to the promotion on time, better late than never, right?
What could he say? It had sounded like a good idea at the time.
Alex was finally making Lieutenant, making it almost as quickly as he himself had, and his best friend's first promotion only happened once. Of course he'd be there. Only now, apparently, he'd mistimed the whole thing. Instead of being able to just meld in with the crowd at the beginning of the ceremony, he was going to be showing up smack dab in the middle of the ceremony.
Maybe he could sneak in, Alex wouldn't notice. He'd be too busy having that second pip attached to his collar. He'd be distracted, and no one would know that Lieutenant Commander Jason Madden of the USS Crichton had been late for his own best friend's promotion.
The lift came to a halt and Jason bolted through the doors before they even finished opening, almost barrelling into an ensign who'd had the misfortune of standing right in front of the doors. He yelled a "Sorry!" over his shoulder as he turned the corner. Come on. Come on. This was supposed to be one of the smaller starship classes. Where the hell was the damn mess hall?
He was looking so hard for the damn thing that he ran straight past it and had to backstep a few paces to look inside. The captain was at the other side of the room, Alex standing in front of him with his back to the doors. Good. No one could see him.
Jason slipped through the doors and leaned against the far wall, watching as the captain fixed a second pip on Alex's collar. The ceremony done, the newly commissioned Lieutenant turned to face the crowd, the smile on his face only getting wider as he saw Jason standing in the back of the room. Fixing the smile on his face, Jason stepped through the crowd of well-wishers until he and Alex stood face to face. "Jason! You actually made it!"
Jason grasped Alex's hand and shook it firmly, his smile never wavering. "Took a leave from the Crichton. Think I'd miss your promotion?"
"Well, you were all the way on the other side of the Delta Quadrant, I didn't actually expect..."
A small shape cut between them and grabbed Alex, kissing him full on the mouth. "Congratulations, Mr. Carver."
"That's Lieutenant Carver to you, Ensign Carver." Alex wagged his eyebrows as Selene let him go. "And what you just did is against regs."
"Really? Well, that could lead to some problems, now couldn't it?" Selene grinned and glanced at Jason. "Jace! You made it!"
"Yeah, I was just telling Alex..."
"Great! Listen, Alex and I are having a party in holosuite six later this evening. Buffet and dancing in ancient Marseilles. You've got to come."
"Yeah, sure. I'll be there." Jason flashed the smile again. The one he'd been using for years. The one that said, 'Don't worry. Everything's good. I'm fine.'
'I'm in complete control.'
-----
At least that was what he told everyone. He was always in complete and utter control of things. He was the best, no one better.
A shame that the truth was that his life always seemed to be out of his control.
-----
The Senate chambers of Fatalis were ancient, one of the first buildings constructed when the Khanate had returned to the site of Khan Noonien Singh's exile to found their great holy city, the capital city of their Empire. As such, the chamber was enormous, designed to symbolize the greatness of the Khanate people as they crushed the Milky Way beneath their heels. It was from here that the empire was controlled, given form. Thousands of Khanate Lords and Ladies, each ruling their own separate realms, were present, either in person or by proxy, as the Senate met.
From her vantage point high in the chamber, Aishwarya looked down on a seething mass of cultures. Ancient Indian, Celtic, Norman, Egyptian, Asian. It was as though the ancient peoples of Earth had been allowed to flourish to their technological and societal ends. To a historian such as herself, it was a fascinating study.
A shame that each of them was tainted by the ambition and ancient hatreds that were her people's legacy.
And watching it all, the Khan sat in the enormous ebony throne, it's intricately carved frame almost hiding the empire's ruler from view. Narrowing her eyes and leaning forward slightly, Aishwarya struggled to make out a clear image of the figure that sat slumped in the chair.
He was covered head to toe in black robes trimmed in gold, a hood over his head and an onyx mask covering his face. What hair that was visible within the hood was shock white, a far cry from the jet black she remembered from the last time she had attended the senate. And he was still, so unmoving that for long seconds she wondered if he had already died, but the she noticed his shoulder move, stiffly, as though he were shrugging off a pain.
Not three months ago he had been the very embodiment of a Khanate Warrior, and now, he seemed to have aged a hundred years. How much of that was the poison, she wondered, and how much was the loss?
"The return of the Gilgamesh to Fatalis in such a state demands investigation! If the Federation has developed the ability to damage one of our ships and escape, then perhaps we have left them for too long!" The words resounded around the chamber, inciting a chorus of cheers and shouts of agreement that nearly deafened Aishwarya. Far below, Ahzul, Lord of what had once been the Romulan Empire, stood in the centre of the marbled floor, his elaborate red and gold armour flashing in the lights. At his side, twin curved swords hid in their sheaths, their Asian influence visible even at this distance. Typical of Ahzul to attend a Senate meeting dressed as though he expected to walk into battle at any second. His realm was possibly the most warlike of them all, and, when one considered the Klingons, that was saying something.
"For six hundred years, we have left that pitiful remnant of the Federation alone, an act of foolishness that we must now suffer for! We have done what we could to impede their progress, but now we see it was all for nothing! They have taken the time to prepare, as my ancestors said they would! We should have wiped them out six centuries ago!"
Another roar of agreement, brought to an end only with a raised hand from the Khan himself. As the volume lowered, so did the hand. Was this always the answer? War? Genocide? The Khanate were supposed to be a more evolved mankind, and yet they could always resort to the old ways used by even the lowliest primate.
From the other side of the chamber, a tall and regal woman dressed in dark clothes stepped forward, bowing to the Khan before she began to speak. Kayla, custodian of the library planet of Memory Prime. "Though I agree with Lord Ahzul that the time has come to finish the Federation, I cannot agree with the method. Time must be taken to analyze the damage done to the Gilgamesh, to understand the method of her disabling. If they posses the technology to do this, we must be cautious in our plans. We cannot allow this to happen again."
"Sit and think. Is that all you wish to do, Kayla?" Kijani, a dark skinned woman from the wilds of the Delta Quadrant stood and joined the group on the Senate floor. "I must agree with Ahzul. Kill them all, and kill them now!"
This time, the Khan did not have the chance to stop the outcry. A single tap against the marble floor echoed above the cacophony, drawing everyone's attention, including Aishwarya's own, towards the entrance to the Senate chamber.
The Lady Morrigan had arrived.
And Rakiin was directly behind her.
-----
The memories were coming faster now, cycling through his mind the way water seems to speed up as it nears a drain. His life flashing before his eyes, every second of his life replayed in fast forward as he sat watching, a captive audience. He saw every path he had taken, every choice he had made, every decision he had acted upon. He saw everyone he had ever known, stood everywhere he had ever been. For one long, terrifying, beautiful moment, he saw everything that had made Jason Madden the man he was.
The stasis field collapsed.
His mind exploded with pain as the effect of his chest wound made itself known, fire burning through his limbs and melting away the last remnants of the ice. Panic stricken, Jason gasped for air, desperate to breathe with his damaged lungs. Black spots blurred the edges of his vision as his brain began to collapse, death no longer being held at arm's length.
It was here.
And then everything was taken away.
The memories. The feelings. The experiences. His entire life. They were all gone, replaced by darkness.
-----
Morrigan.
If there was one person in this universe that Aishwarya hated even more than Rakiin himself, it would be her. The woman was a credit to her name, as warlike and bloodthirsty as the goddess spoken of in the myths of ancient Ireland. Aishwarya was certain that Morrigan's hand had been involved in her father's death somehow, and Rakiin's longstanding alliance with her only served to strengthen that belief.
"Am I hearing a call to war?" Her voice was rusty, as though it was seldom used, but it still echoed around the chamber, drawing everyone's attention. "War against the Federation. My, my. How... fascinating."
Ahzul stepped forward, his armour clanking with every movement. "Lady Morrigan. Your presence is... unexpected, but welcome."
"I regret the tardiness of my arrival, but it seems I was left unaware of the meeting." She glanced at the Khan, and even through the mask covering his features, Aishwarya could sense the ruler's irritation. "I am certain that my notification was simply misplaced, was it not, my Lord?"
The Khan made no response. Because he wouldn't, she wondered, or because he couldn't?
Morrigan hobbled to a seat on the very edge of the floor, thousands of pairs of eyes upon her as she settled into it. "As far as the annihilation of the Federation is concerned, Lord Rakiin and I have discussed the matter and believe that we agree with the majority. The time has come for an end to the Federation, once and for all."
"And what of the damage done to your flagship, Rakiin?" Kayla crossed her arms, a coldly mocking expression on her face. "Would you send our fleets into battle against an enemy that possesses a weapon capable of that level of damage?"
"I ask no one to send their fleets into battle." Rakiin spoke for the first time. Aishwarya leaned forward, resting her head on folded hands as she watched him step away from Morrigan and address the assembly. "This is personal. They did this to me, and I will see them suffer for it. My forces will attack the Federation and my forces will destroy them. I need no one else."
"You?" Ahzul laughed, "You're nothing, Rakiin. A pale imitation of your father's greatness. A whelp in the robes of a King. You have fewer than five cruisers, one of which is currently in orbit under repair! Your fleet has lost Herma'Taklan, that Jem'Hadar you so laughingly called a Commander, and now you wish to take them all into battle?" The Japanese lord shook his head. "Do it. Be gone with you. When you fail, we will collect the pieces."
Rakiin smiled, and Aishwarya felt a shiver run down her spine at her brother's expression. It was the smile of a man who had just forced an enemy into a corner. Something was wrong here. Something had changed.
"You're correct, Ahzul. I have only three operational ships, and Herma'Taklan has failed me. I have no fleet, and I have no commander. What shall I do?" Rakiin shrugged and backed away, turning to stand again at Morrigan's side. "Although, perhaps... perhaps I should use my new fleet, and my new Commander. Perhaps that would be enough."
Aishwarya's eyes narrowed. New fleet? What in the name of Khan Noonien Singh was he speaking of?
Morrigan's laughter filled the room, an awful cackling that felt like fingertips down a chalkboard. Raising her head, the old woman looked directly at the three Khanate standing on the Senate floor. "I would like you all to be the first to hear of Lord Rakiin's impending marriage to my granddaughter, Moira. As such, my fleet of fifty ships is now his to command."
All of the blood drained from Aishwarya's face as she fell back in her chair. This wasn't possible. An official and permanent alliance between her brother and Morrigan? This went beyond the worst case scenario.
"During my mission to Earth, my forces captured three humans. The captain of the vessel that destroyed the Sol Communications array, as well as two humans from a parallel dimension where the Federation did not fall!" Rakiin spread his arms wide, attracting the attention of the entire assembly. "Both of these men are trained Starfleet officers, both using technology beyond even this empire! One of them, Alexander Carver, managed to escape and damaged the Gilgamesh on his own, but the other, a man named Jason Madden... we managed to recapture."
"Then where is he?" Ahzul broke in, "Where is this Jason Madden?"
"Dead, unfortunately." Rakiin shook his head, "He suffered massive injuries during the battle, and though we placed him in stasis immediately, he died not an hour ago."
Even though she had been expecting this, Aishwarya felt a small kick in her heart. Jason Madden was dead, and now she saw where her brother was leading.
"Of course, this is not a total loss." Rakiin smiled, "An autopsy has already revealed a group of Borg nanites in the base of his skull. My scientists are already working on accessing the information within them. I believe that, by the time we arrive on the Federation's doorstep, we should be prepared for anything they could possibly throw at us.
"Of course, this leads me right back to my only remaining problem, doesn't it, Ahzul? I need a man to command my fleet. A man with the ability to not only adapt to, but anticipate, every move the Federation, and especially Alexander Carver, makes against us.
"And I have him."
A figure stepped into the room, his shock white hair contrasting the jet black uniform of a Khanate Commander. He moved gracefully, but proudly, as though he had been serving in the military for years. Aishwarya forced herself to remain focused on the newcomer, even though all she wanted was to look away from the travesty taking place below.
Jason Madden's clone snapped to attention beside Rakiin, ready to lead his armies into battle.
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AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Hi everybody! I REALLY want to apologize for this chapter taking so long. Real Life concerns forced their way into my life again (How dare they!). Also, I had to rewrite this chapter a dozen times because it just didn't flow right. Not to mention, some of the earlier drafts tended to make Aishwarya look like some sort of helpless victim, which I absolutely hated (And I'm sure you would have too, Jadziakathryn). And with little to no action in the chapter, I had to find a way to make exposition exciting. Not as easy as it sounds, trust me.
But.
I will say that Homefires, Chapter Five, is actually almost done already. With any luck, I'll have it up within a week. And then, THEN, comes the season finale. You won't want to miss that, trust me. BIG changes are in the wind.
Also, small little side note: Doctor Who fans may notice a small tribute I placed in one of Jason's flashbacks. The USS McGann is named for Paul McGann, who played the eighth Doctor only once in the TV movie "The Enemy Within".(Hence, the McGann being one of the smaller classes of starship.)