Chapter Four

Cold Hands, Warm Lips

She was kissing Jake Sisko, here in her quarters, away from watchful eyes - including Weyoun's.

She knew she had him off-guard, and was delighted that it worked, that everything was working. He actually, if not directly, confessed his sorrows for her and her people, lowered his guard to try and understand their way of life even if he didn't approve. She had never kissed before, the act never even entering her mind. No male Vorta had ever used lip locking as a means to seduce an adversary, but females could work much harder than them if any of them thought about it. But for Vorta to kiss each other...

Kilana almost lost track of her task and deepened the kiss to a point where she felt Jake's hand come to grasp hers in his while his other one was wrapping around her torso to try and bring her closer. However, whilst she complied and moved into it just to satisfy his human pleasure at the lip lock, Kilana herself felt revolted. Not that the boy tasted unpleasant, but because she could not pretend to know his feelings towards this. Did he honestly think she was interested in him in this way?

"Mmm, Kilana..." Was it her imagination, or did she hear Weyoun's voice instead? She'd had her eyes closed for the sake of it, feeling dazed, but when she reopened her eyes with the hope that it was him - "What was that for?" Jake asked, looking her over, his lips swollen from the pressure, but the tingle left in Kilana's own was nothing but an irritable one. She kept it hidden with a forced grin.

"I really don't know," she lied evenly. "I suppose I felt...it was a thank you for understanding me. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable..."

"Not really. I haven't kissed a girl in a few years."

If he hadn't done any more than kiss a girl, then he must be what she was, and so was Weyoun and much of their colleagues and friends: untouched. The Terrans would use the terms virgin and virtuous, which meant the mentioned word, as well as the similar chaste and pure. "I've never kissed before in all of my three lifetimes."

He looked at her with wide eyes. "Does that mean you're a...I mean, you've never - been with -?" Kilana cut him off.

"Not once. Vorta seldom engage in intimacy. Unless we finally give our bodies to the ones we choose to mate with. Unlike other species, Vorta are unbroken, but it's as delicate as the cloning process."

"Oh, that sounds great! But what about...kids? Offspring?" Jake went on, pressing for more details, and now Kilana was starting to feel uncomfortable with this subject.

"It's...not possible. We're allowed to marry, but breeding is another matter altogether. Our only job is to serve the Founders in all things, not have children to raise. It's considered a distraction, so I doubt I would be able to have any of my own."

Jake's emotions to read were very clear; he also had a lot of questions to ask her, but she didn't want to talk about this anymore. "Jake, childbearing and fertility is a particularly sensitive topic for me, as it is for the other females of my species. I hope you understand that."

He got the point and nodded. "Yeah, I'm sorry," he apologized. "I didn't mean to. You said it yourself: I only wanted to understand."

"Do you now?" She leaned in, hoping the effect would take over his senses again, and it did. He was leaning in again, too, but this time, she would not kiss him. Kilana's hand moved to rub Jake's knee, though not in an overtly inappropriate manner. "Understand enough of our side of the Dominion, that it's not entirely as terrible as you think it is?"

She looked down to see the bob in his neck move up and down with each swallow as he was helpless to refuse her. He couldn't speak at first - brilliant! - so she increased the journey by applying more pressure to his thigh and moving for the base, though not touching that particular apex directly. It was then that he finally managed to answer her.

"Yes. And I'm willing to open my mind more. I want to do that interview now, if you would speak to Weyoun for me."

His eyes had closed so he didn't see her grin of triumph.

~o~

The doors whooshed open, and Weyoun and Jake both left the conference room. Dukat had not been available to join them, as he was stuck in his own office, fiddling with that insipid toy that was Captain Sisko's, grinning to himself and fantasizing that he would be the one to win the war. Cardassians were so egotistical.

"I'm glad that you came around, Jake," Weyoun told him as he let the boy leave first. "And the fact that Kilana helped you out. The interview was most satisfying, and I'll be the first one to praise it. I have complete confidence in it," he added with a genuine smile, though in his mind, he wondered what strings Kilana pulled to make Jake go through...

"Trust me, Weyoun," Jake said with the smile returned, "I didn't let you down, like before."

"Oh, not at all. Good day to you."

He watched the young reporter walk away with that big smile on his face. He allowed his own to remain before he felt it fade as he sensed her presence. "I must say, however you 'persuaded' him, it was a fine job." He whirled around to see her standing behind him, smiling softly. "Jake Sisko wasn't so willing with me, but how he broke so easily with you, I wonder."

"It wasn't much. Just me offering my friendship to him, if only he agreed to submit a story with your quoted 'balanced perspective'," she answered deviously, her eyes twinkling with her smile. "He's a nice boy who accepts something like friendship too easily. He might be an excellent judge of character, but it was too simple between him and I. You understand, Weyoun."

"All too well."

"Would this call for a celebration of some kind, then?"

"Oh, and how do you propose this? Celebrating breaking Jake Sisko?"

"Would Quark's be too inappropriate?" she asked with a barely stifled laugh. How could he refuse? Weyoun threw his head back and laughed, agreeing on the spot. "What would this call for?"

"Just anything the Ferengi can do for his Vorta overseers."

~o~

"I never thought the Vorta could engage in such unquenchable activities reserved for Cardassians."

Both Vorta looked up from their tall glasses of kava juice to lower down the alcohol levels their immune systems fought against, glaring at the unwanted face of the man whose shift ended and he was here for his beloved kanar that he so earned. "Go away, Damar," Kilana spoke for the both of them, softly and coldly. "We're having our very own private party."

"And for getting Jake Sisko's first article out since his father left the station," Quark piped up, coming up to them while cleaning a glass. "Your kanar is waiting for you at the bar if you don't want to lose what little break time you have."

Damar glared at the Ferengi. "Thanks, and go ahead and pour it for me while I finish up some business," he said, returning his attention to the Vorta. "What's this about Mr. Sisko? Have you been blocking his news articles about new life on this station in the last few months? Then you must really have a cause to celebrate." His face changed into a nasty leer which made Weyoun seethe.

"That was done for, and Jake was biased. Now he came to his senses and interviewed me for the good cause; he sees that we are not enemies, but we are friends. Just as the Dominion and the Cardassians -" He narrowed his eyes at the Glinn. " - AND the Bajorans will be, no matter what you say, Damar."

Damar's mouth parted to say a retort, but Kilana stepped in. "Before you say one word, Damar, you're wrong about us never coexisting peacefully. It's never easy in the early days, but it WILL get better." She winked at him, but he only snorted and turned to make way for the bar where his kanar waited, uttering Cardassian phrases under his breath.

"He's in over his head, thinking his people are better." She scoffed. "His people are already taken over, and he doesn't even know it."

"As does Dukat," Weyoun agreed, twirling his finger through the juice out of habit before bringing it to his mouth. "I'd love to see that smug smile off his face the sooner he comes to that realization." Kilana sighed dreamily. How would that be the day.

The evening passed by smoothly until they began to leave Quark's, and he was dropping her off at her quarters. "Well, that was fun," Kilana was saying, happier than she'd been in a while. "I haven't felt so much better in a long time, Weyoun." For the moment, it was like nothing else was in the way of her fun with Weyoun - just the two of them - and she wished he could stay with her a little longer in her quarters...

The sooner she was inside after the doors closed, her comm system was beeping. It was Dukat. "I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time, Kilana. My other gift for you has arrived, if you would come to my office, please."

She barely had time to freeze. Go to his office...alone...that was bad news. But before she could move, Dukat spoke to her again. "If you bother bringing Weyoun along, or even let him know you're coming, then I'll know."

That still said something was not right. Her first instinct was to bring her Jem'Hadar, but on second thought, he would know about them, too. Or maybe not. Either way, she needed First Dira'tarak's protection and that of Second Mirar'datar. Holding her breath, she pressed the button on the console to summon them both. "I'm heading to Gul Dukat's office. The both of you stand guard outside and keep an eye in case anything happens to me."

"Yes, Kilana," they both said. She nodded and started outside for her doom she knew was waiting for her.

"Ah, Kilana, I was beginning to think you weren't coming," Gul Dukat said, leaning back and smiling from ear to ear. The sight of him made her want to retch. That look she always went to Weyoun about was back; he never seemed to get enough of her.

"I won't stand here and play games with you that you would with Major Kira," she said calmly, stoically, standing guard. "So, where is it? It's bad enough I still have the other one." She reached up to briefly finger the double-strands around her neck, which made him laugh.

"Oh, please, I know you've grown to love it as much as I did. I would have done the same to the major, but she isn't so much as feminine as you are."

"Excuse me?" Kilana blinked, thinning her lips. Was he insulting her femininity with Kira's? "Are you implying because I'm more appealing than the major, or because I'm easier to play with than Kira? Vorta are the ones to start the game plays, not others we deal with."

"But Cardassians love to play, too. That's why I think we both make a great alliance. And with alliances, we must play nice with each other."

Kilana smirked to one corner of her mouth. Perhaps if she played along, she would get out of here unharmed. "That doesn't seem to be the case with you and Weyoun. All this time, and nothing improved."

Dukat waved his hand. "Your 'friend' has no sense in understanding, shows me no respect when we are alone in discussion. But you, my dear..." He stood up, one hand behind his back, and walked around the desk to stand in front of her. "...I believe I said I was sorry not that long ago for my behavior towards you, and I'd have thought my gift -" His eyes fell to the charms around her neck. "- was enough. If not, then I have something to complete."

She wanted to say that jewelry was not good enough to buy respect and win her over, since that was what he was playing at, and when he brought his hand around, she saw it was a ring this time. "What's the story behind this one this time?" She cringed when he took her right hand and slipped the thing around her middle finger. It fit perfectly, but it was a bother. Both that and the necklace, unlike her favorite earrings.

"Oh, rubies and diamonds fit for royalty, but it doesn't have to be for royalty. The moment I laid my eyes on this little circle, it was filled with such an impeccable fire that resists myself." She looked up at him in disgust, understanding the meaning behind the words, and jerked her hand away, baring her teeth in a snarl, her cool gone. He returned the look with a curl of the lips.

"I never thought I would use Kira's words," Kilana snapped, "but you're flattering yourself, Dukat. I would also call it petty, as Weyoun would."

His sneer faded, replaced with a laugh. "Using the words of someone higher than you, are we? Tell me, don't you know any words for yourself?" He leaned in then, the smell of kanar on his breath. "Weyoun filled me in on how younger you were than him, which got me thinking about a little girl being on this station, nothing compared to the major who I've known long before you. She handles herself with her fists and a phaser, but you -" He smiled most unpleasantly. "- you are like the rest of your people. You can't even lift a finger to fight back other than with your persuasive language. But since it is you and I alone together, do you think you can TRY?"

"We'll see about that. My Jem'Hadar are outside, and they're watching through your doors at the first sign of trouble," Kilana told him threateningly, although she felt her skin violently shiver. She wished she'd brought Weyoun after all, but it was too late for regrets. What was Dukat going to do to her?

"Believe me, my dear, they won't with the position we switch. Besides, they won't understand the difference between what I could do to you in front of them...and this." With that, Dukat seized her by the wrist, though not brusquely, and dragged her to the other side of the office through another doorway. "I used to charm Bajoran women, but now that my daughter is living on this station, I must confess that I have not had the time for such worldly pleasure. I'm a patient man, Kilana, but even patience runs out."

Now that she knew he was intending to act out on his desires, Kilana struggled against him when he pulled her close to him. "You won't get what you want from me," she ground out. "If you kill me in the end, the Founders will activate a new clone, and I'll remember every moment of it. You'll be found out eventually if they investigate..." Her voice failed when he started to laugh again.

"But who's going to tell them? Weyoun?" he mocked. "And what makes you think your 'god' will care in any way about you? I assure you, I'm untouchable." Curse that Cardassian ego! Furiously, she lashed out her open palm and cracked it against his face. The sound bounced off the walls in a piercing echo. She tried to take advantage of this and run, but he caught on quick and grabbed her from behind, his fist taking a hold of her shirt's clasp, tearing it open and ripping her shirt from her body, as well. She was free for only a short-lived moment before she was grabbed once more, one hand slapped over her mouth and the other arm wrapping around her to hold her against him again, pulling her back in and throwing her onto the table, her bare back hitting the cold surface and knocking the air out of her lungs. She felt her exposed breasts tremble physically with the impact, much to the delight of her tormentor.

She fought against Dukat, but he overpowered her. Both her wrists were held down and above her head with one of his hands while the other explored her body. The touch was vile and disgusting, violating. "You have such beautiful breasts, Kilana, and not compared to any others I have taken into my bed - except two times. Ziyal's mother, and of course, Major Kira's when she was just a little one too young to remember what happened." That hand was taking long moments in between squeezing and fondling both of her breasts, but she held her breath and turned her face away, wishing Weyoun was in his place. This was not right...this was not right...! Her mind was screaming those words over and over, cruelly not blocking out Dukat's words.

And then the ministrations stopped, the hand removing itself and tracing over the long, rough line down the middle of her abdomen. "Ah, where did you get this from?" That ugly reminder of the punishment from the Female Changeling brought the tears to the corners of her eyes, and she could not - would NOT - tell him her dark secret. This made him angry. "Punishment, was it? I wonder if anyone had you before me that they gave this to you..."

"No," she choked out, against her better judgment, which pleased him.

"Well, no matter. No one knows but me; this will be our little secret. Am I right that no one else knows?" Knowing that he would strike her into answering and that she didn't want it, she nodded wordlessly. She cried out in pain and humiliation when he leaned down and began to suckle on her left breast, the sensitivity painful, and then his free hand trailed down for her pants, slipping underneath to painfully probe and pinch her for his own amusement.

What came next was the ultimate defilement, even worse than the marking permanently etched into her skin.

~o~

Weyoun had gone back to his quarters to work on the latest reports for the Founder when he decided to stop by afterwards to Kilana's and see how she was doing, if she'd even gone to bed yet. Or if the Founder finally gave her something useful to do. Nevertheless, he put up the finishing touches before leaving his rooms and turning down the corridor for his fellow Vorta's.

He was surprised to find her Jem'Hadar not standing guard, telling him she had gone out and taken them with her. A part of him was infuriated; what had happened? Did she decide to go out when Dukat could very much -? He brushed it off and turned on his heel for the turbolift, ordering for the Promenade as he knew this was the one sure place she could be, if she was with Jake again...

His prayers were answered when he was finally off the lift, nearly running into her. "Oh, I was just looking for you!" he exclaimed with a laugh before he noticed she wasn't - most importantly, how strangely quiet she was. Looking at her more closely, Weyoun saw the piercing violet eyes once shining bright were now dull with pain. She wasn't smiling, her posture was stiffer than normal, and both her Jem'Hadar were stone-faced, but First Dira'tarak looked more grim and knowing...and regretting not doing anything to stop...

Weyoun tore his eyes away from the Jem'Hadar to Kilana, a sudden fire burning in his throat and shooting downwards to the passageways until it reached his heart's core. "Dear Kilana, what happened to you?" he demanded, softly and seething; deep down, he knew who played a part in whatever happened to her.

She didn't respond, just started for the turbolift with her guards flanking, and he followed them, shouting to the computer to take them for the habitat ring. Neither of them spoke a word, and Weyoun would not pressure her, but once they were alone, he would find out for himself. And then he would handle who was responsible. Kilana was still silent and rigid when she and her escorts got off, Weyoun still behind them, but as soon as they got to her quarters, she rounded on him.

"Weyoun, I don't want to talk about what happened."

"And I respect that," he answered, swearing immensely, "but tell me who did this, and I WILL make sure he's dealt with by my hand."

She shook her head. "He's too powerful, even for us when we are not a physical match. He said if I breathed a word to anyone - even you - he would keep me as his personal slave." Her eyes lowered, refusing to look at him. "Not that I'm not his whore now."

"W-w-whore?" Weyoun spat furiously, moving to put his hand on her face, but she winced and pulled away, making his heart sink. "You are no one's whore, dearest. He wants you to think like that, and I'm going to see he pays for it." In his mind, he was consumed with grief and regret. He'd promised to protect her, but now he didn't, and look what happened. She started crying and leaned into him; at least she let him hold her, but as he did, he felt his eyes burn and wouldn't be surprised if they had turned red. He had warned him - warned him that if he tried anything, then Weyoun would make him regret it, and he never wasted words.

"You'll pay dearly for this, Dukat," he promised to the ceiling, with a humiliated and heartbroken Kilana still weeping in his arms. The young, vibrant and timid female had been replaced with a broken, terrified animal who needed his watchful eye and warm embrace more than ever. He kissed the top of her head, inhaling her soft scent in the process, then gently pried himself from her and placed another on her forehead. No longer caring about what he was doing, Weyoun laid a few more on her cheeks to wipe the tears away...and finally one on her lips for the first time.

When life brings me to my knees

When my back's against the wall

You are standing there right with me

Just to keep me standing tall

She melted into him in response, moaning and whimpering at the same time. He heard himself murmuring against her mouth as he deepened this promise that he would always keep her by his side so nothing EVER happened to her again, nothing like this, and no matter if the Founder wanted to send her away. He would do everything he could to ensure Kilana was safe with him.

Though a burden I may be,

You don't weary, you don't rest

You are reaching out to carry me

And I know I'm heaven blessed...

So, it was VERY difficult to do that to Kilana, but Dukat can never keep his primal urges under control. He would have broken free from his patience eventually, especially when he can't have Major Kira.

Now that Weyoun knows what Dukat did, he will exact his revenge. ;D And in the meantime, he will "always be there" for Kilana. That was the last of the song "Always There".