The transport room of the Orion was empty but for the transporter chief, a Ninjarian woman named Mkaya Kym, and Commander Lakahn. The latter was eager for the exchange. Captain Hughes had asked whether he was conflicted; he'd answered in the negative as expected, but it was true.
He was a Bajoran, but he was also a Starfleet officer. Cardassians had the reputation, more or less universal, of being untrustworthy and cruel, but Lakahn was inclined to reserve judgement. He knew very well that stereotypes were rarely accurate. And he was very excited at the prospect of being the first Starfleet officer since before the Fifty Years' War to be welcomed aboard a Cardassian vessel.
"The Gavran says she's ready, sir." Kym glanced over her console at the Commander, as if unsure whether to salute as well. She was new, he recalled. He gave her a tight smile and a nod: At ease. Visibly reassured, the Ninjarian looked back at her screen. Commander Lakahn straightened his shoulders and looked at the empty transport pad.
"Energise," he said.
Behind him, Kym nodded and slid her fingers up her screen, bringing the settings to their correct levels. There was a hum as the transporter activated, and a Cardassian materialised on the transport pad.
She was a tall woman, about half an inch taller than Lakahn was, and if he hadn't looked twice at her face he would have been prepared to swear he was looking at a man. She had angular features and a prominent jaw, and wore her hair short and slicked back from a high, domed forehead. The ridges around her eyes and on her forehead were sharp, angled shapes. Her skin was grey and her eyes black and flinty. Lakahn wasn't afraid of much, but his mouth suddenly felt dry as he regarded the Cardassian.
If she noticed his nervousness, she gave no sign of it. "Glinn Vekal, here to relieve you, sir." She had a very soft voice, not what he would have expected. He was reminded of a snake.
But etiquette was to be observed. So he swallowed his nervousness and nodded. "First Officer Commander Lakahn. I stand relieved."
The Cardassian dipped her head. "I've never been aboard a Federation ship before," she observed, sounding amused, mouth curving up slightly at the corners. "It's colder than I expected," she added with a chuckle, then frowned briefly. "Is it always this... bright?"
"Well, yes." Lakahn grinned. He was about to comment, but then remembered himself. "This way, Glinn Vekal." Pause. "Oh, sorry. Commander. My apologies."
Vekal smiled. "'Commander'," she repeated. "Now there's a title I never thought I'd hear applied to me." She followed Lakhan into the corridor, scanning the faces and uniforms that passed by with interest. Lakahn had to remind himself that these must be new sights to the woman. To him, they were the same faces and uniforms he encountered every day, but he supposed it might be overwhelming to someone like the Cardassian. She'd probably never been this close to an 'alien' before, and the Orion was one of the most diverse ships in the quadrant.
"Have you ever gone through one of these exchange programs before?" Lakhan asked, making conversation. But the Cardassian shook her head.
"Never!" Vekal exclaimed, and then chuckled at herself. "It was unheard of, Commander. Until a few years ago, officially at least, friendly contact with other races was considered nothing short of treason," she said bluntly. "It wouldn't have been permitted, though frankly I think the Federation wanted nothing more to do with us than we did with them." She paused. "I've read every declassified file we have on Federation ships and their crew, but there wasn't much. And most of it is horribly out of date, of course. Not to mention that the current information was geared towards -how shall we say- somewhat more hostile encounters."
"Sounds a lot like our files," Lakhan joked. They entered the turbolift. It was one of the most brightly it places on the ship; the Cardassian squinted. Lakahn felt something in the primitive part of his mind flicker to life at the change in her features. It was a blind squint, reflexive, but it made her look like some reptilian predator from ages gone by. "Deck One," Lakahn said firmly to the computer. You're imagining things, he told himself. Read too much of their history. He remembered being shocked at the accounts of the occupation of Bajor. But the Cardassians had evolved since then.
His combadge clicked. "Bridge to Lakahn," the captain's voice said.
"Here, sir."
"The Gavran reports ready for transport. They request permission to beam you over immediately."
"Why?" Glinn Vekal asked. She sounded surprised. Lakahn glanced at her, and echoed her question: "Did they say why, Captain?"
"Some sort of emergency. Gul Narat refused to be any more specific."
Vekal had her eyes narrowed and her head tilted to one side. Lakahn considered for half a second, then nodded. "I'll go to the transport room now. Lakahn out." He tapped his badge and turned to the Cardassian. The turbolift stopped. "Well," he said. "Good luck."
After a second's pause, the Cardassian dipped her head and stepped out of the turbolift and onto the bridge. As soon as the doors had closed, a humming filled the air and Lakahn felt his form begin to dissipate. He looked around in confusion and realisation.
Then he disappeared from the Orion.