It was mentioned in the DS9 episode "Dramatis Personae" that Jadzia told Kira a story of how she and Curzon once met a group of hostile Kaleans on a planet called Rochani III, but never further explored. It's been difficult to continue this chapter as it needs to work without being tossed together just like that. It even begs a reason WHY the duo was there to begin with.

Chapter Two

Anywhere Is

It's been three days since I met and was handed to the great Curzon Dax, and I was on my way with him back to a planet called Rochani III to settle disputes between the Federation and a people called the Kaleans who were known to be very hostile. I'd met numerous unpleasant people on assignments and my internships taken, but the Kaleans seemed very interesting - in my mind, at least. But Curzon, of course, reminded me to not take it lightly just because I enjoyed challenge as much as he always did.

I rolled my eyes when he spoke to me. I was just getting to know him, and this was the third day in space with him, yet I already wondered if he was like this with everyone. "Let's say you are not the first initiate I have come in contact with," he told me casually when I asked him, and instead of answering with words, I nodded and looked down back at the console of his runabout. Arguing with him would be pointless, and I knew it well. Fighting with your superiors, questioning them bluntly, never ended well. To become qualified for joining with Dax one day, I had to do this carefully with Curzon.

I can never get over feeling overwhelmed being in his presence; the fact I had known his history since my younger years was what enhanced the feeling. Perhaps I could get a chance to visit Qo'noS - the Klingon homeworld - with him, see what it was like.

"If it's not going to trouble your concentration, Jadzia," he said after a while, smiling and making me blush, "I will turn on some of my wondrous tunes for you. Space can be rather...uncomfortably boring at times, is it not?"

I laughed a little. "It is. What do you have?"

Klingon opera was not much different from Terran, given its passionate themes were often of great love and battles in every form usually ending in tragedy but was still worth it in the end. I've been known to enjoy music when I needed stress relief, so I could not say no to this. Curzon introduced me to great musicians like Barak-Kadan, and one such opera called Shevok'tah gish. The former had such a powerful voice that I don't think I could ever recall such superiority in my life - and I felt myself being drawn in every sense of it. By the time the tune was over, I found myself crying.

Curzon had the nerve to laugh at my tears. "No one like this one ever," he said, "but there is one common complaint about him. His voice style never varies from performance to performance."

Now that he said it, I found myself agreeing after having just heard this. "I've always been drawn into Klingon history and culture," I told him, after recalibrating the sensors, "but to actually meet a Klingon might be exciting." I timidly looked up at him and offered a crooked grin, but he didn't return it.

"Believe me, given I have spent more time around them than anyone else, it's exciting, yes. But it's not easy as you or anyone else unfamiliar may think, Jadzia. I was not much younger than you are now when I first arrived at Qo'noS, before I was elected to secure the bridge that was the Khitomer Accords. I was...uneasy, for lack of a better word. I had always been into a fight as a younger man, and with the Klingons, it was a far more brutal knowledge to achieve. Blood spilled, bones broken, and honor being a centuries-old carrier amongst an entire people. Ensign Idaris -" Now we were back on formal terms. "- if I ever deem you as befitting to take Dax when my time is up, you have to learn the ways of the Klingon and harmonize as I have."

I lowered my eyes. "I understand, sir," I said softly.

"I see you mean well, but you will truly understand one day."

I loathed the fact he was treating me like a child, but being a grown woman now - and knowing damned well I was - I had to know he was doing this to test me and further myself. I could please him at times, but I should learn to stand up for myself when the time came. Right now, on the third day, I had done so much. And little did I know...

Now we were being hailed - and I was surprised to know it was a Klingon transmission. "Onscreen, Ensign," Curzon told me, and I opened the channel to see the face of an old Klingon warrior. My first time meeting one face-to-face if not in person. And Curzon was beyond pleased to see this face. "Ah, Kor, it's been a long time, old friend."

"Dax, you old grishnar cat, it has been!" the Klingon guffawed. "By Kahless, I was about to pop open the blood wine for us all, but Koloth insisted I save the latest barrel for you." Dax shook his head, rumbling in his throat.

"My friend, you and your drunken habits have not changed a bit, have they? I have the feeling this is not merely a social call," he said.

"Afraid not." Kor's face fell. "Kang, Koloth and I would be honored for the four of us to make the reunion."

The entire time I was listening to the conversation between the two men, I let my mind also wander to the known history of the Federation-Klingon War, and the infamous Dahar Master Kor, the last of his House, along with his comrades Kang and Koloth whom he spoke of. First Curzon Dax, and now these three...I had met so many great faces thus far, and now it was becoming so overwhelming that I knew I could not get carried away.

"I'd be honored to reunite with my brothers-in-arms," Curzon said, pulling me from my mulling, "but I have a negotiation to settle first."

"Indeed, and I would not keep you from it, my friend." I could have sworn I jumped when Kor's attention shifted to me, and he chuckled deeply. "Ahh, who is this charming lady, Curzon? A new one for your bed?" I gasped but held it in, instead sitting higher. He thought I was a lover of Dax, and a part of me was greatly offended. Curzon held his hand up to me to keep calm when he responded.

"Kor, that is not gracious to talk about a woman like that. And no, she is not my lover. This is Ensign Jadzia Idaris, my new...apprentice."

I finally had it in me to smile when he continued to guffaw at me, obviously because he found it amusing that a young Trill woman was Curzon Dax's apprentice and trainee. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kor," I said, "and what an honor as it is to be under the wisdom and guidance of Ambassador Dax." Perhaps I spoke TOO formally, but when I stole a glance at him, he was chuckling. I relaxed a little.

"So, friend," he said, "what is this situation?"

The easy air vanished as quickly as it came.

"We have found the Albino, Curzon."

~o~

"The Albino," I repeated as soon as the transmission ended. We were still on our way to our intended destination, to begin the settlements, but after hearing the entire conversation and the decision to return to the Klingon homeworld soon, I saw that the toll was written in Curzon's face.

He nodded brusquely. "Our sworn enemy who destroyed the lives of us all," he said gravely. "Especially when he took the life of my godson - Kang's son, whom he named after me."

I gave him a soft smile even though it was hard. "Curzon, was it?" I asked.

"Dax," he corrected, not looking at me. "It was an honor for such a namesake."

"Tell me about the Albino." I already knew the story, but I still wanted to hear it from his own lips. He sighed and reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose.

"Oh, one of the worst enemies against the Federation and Klingon colonies in existence, and no one was safe from him - as you know," he said, finally looking at me and giving that look. "That is, until my friends - Kor, Kang and Koloth - banded together and destroyed enough of what he had to weaken him and take in every one of his renegades. However...the Albino fled, but not before he swore against the three most powerful Klingon warriors for ruining him. The pirate he was, he infected the firstborn sons of each of my friends - and one of them being my namesake, Kang's son." He stopped there, and this was the first time I saw the mighty Curzon Dax's lips quiver as he fought back his emotions. "And for that," he said, clearing his throat, "we took our blood oath to one day reunite once we found him as soon as he reemerged."

Oh, blood oaths could never be broken. Not any form, especially when they involved revenge for any wrongdoing. All of this had happened not even eighty years ago, and now their worst enemy had returned. I was not sure now where they would be going with this, or what I would do now. My new mentor had been contacted by old friends that the time had come for them, and for that, I was afraid. For Curzon and all three great warriors I knew only from history. And the way Curzon spoke next added to it.

"We promised each other that someday we would tear out that monster's heart and then feast on it before his still-living eyes. A sight you yourself would faint from."

~o~

I know I said before that the Kaleans were hostile, and they certainly were. When Curzon and I continued our assignment, we were less than treated fairly, but they did let us go. I admit I was a little intimidated by them, but Curzon was there as he was the man who took charge, and so I followed his lead.

"You were impressive," he praised me as soon as we were back on the ship and on our way to the next stop: Qo'noS. The home of the Klingons. The Klingons weren't bad as the Kaleans, but they did enjoy blood and combat. Something I myself was not entirely made for as I had no true military experience unlike Curzon.

"Thank you," I said sweetly, feeling proud of myself. But it still left the big question: "But what will happen now? You're off to rejoin your friends, but what about me?"

He inhaled through his nose. "You will be off the assignment and on temporary leave for the time being."

I gaped at him, feeling my body crack in and out. He - Curzon - he was telling me he had put me ON TEMPORARY LEAVE?! "Why?" I managed, unable to think of an insult to say, given I was suddenly angry. He was putting me into hiding as though I were some helpless damsel when I was a promising young officer under his wing!

"Because it's for your own protection," Curzon answered matter-of-factly, "and I can't have the Albino take your life if I bring you along. Given that I know this man more than you, and your life is more precious than mine."

I wanted so much to explode, and he sensed it all. "Jadzia, it's an order," he said firmly, and that was what stopped me. He was giving me an order as the final touch; looking into his eyes, I saw that there was more than just him being my commanding officer and field docent. He actually was concerned for me, but WHY?

Unfortunately, I could not get the answer because I reluctantly - and begrudgingly - agreed to stay on Qo'noS as this was the other reason we were heading there. "How long will it be?" I asked.

"However it needs to be."

I turned away from him and sighed heavily. This had only gotten more challenging and wrenching to the guts than I thought.

Why was it that every moment I spent, every day that passed, was always a wave that just enjoyed playing cruel tricks on me? Everything moved past me like the ocean, just splashing me around for their own amusement and testing me to see if I could survive. Now I couldn't help but wonder, as I stared ahead at the stars through the window, if I'd end up losing my way for sure. Curzon putting me on leave had to be a sign of it, and I wouldn't play a fool and think otherwise.

"You're more fragile than I am," Curzon said as we neared our destination, getting at warp six, "but you might find it more enjoyable than you thought. You do want to prove you are a worthy successor, don't you?" He was testing me again, and I was gonna let him think again.

"Yes, Curzon. I want to learn how to live amongst Klingons, no matter how uneasy it is." I looked back out the window to gaze at the stars and streaks of light passing us by.

"Oh, my dear, it's more than uneasy," he promised me. "The Klingons might respect you, but when it comes to any provoked combat, you won't stand a chance."

When we finally reached Qo'noS, I gaped at the sight. It was...beautiful in its own way. Mountains and valleys, and I could have sworn I saw deserted ruins in the distances beyond. The architecture was reminiscent of ancient times, given the Empire was born at the hands of the legendary Kahless who was a god in their eyes.

The Klingons were time-honored with their tastefully sharp architecture and temples. The flags were passionately powerful with the symbols of valor, the color scheme about dominated by red, the color of blood, rage, fire and all things fierce. I'd taken a step in a new realm that existed only in my imagination - and I knew then and there that the adventure had truly begun.

I'm so sorry it took so longer than expected. Internet was down, but I had time to do chapter 3 which is coming soon. :) With that said, in case no one knew, Worf's personal favorite of Klingon opera was Barak-Kadan, and I'd thought it'd be funny to include Shevok'tah gish, which Ezri had thought he'd sung before she rescued him from the Badlands in season 7's "Penumbra".

I originally wanted one particular conflict for Curzon to be based off of his mentioned history in "Dax" from season 1, but in terms of brainstorming before I began this story, it wasn't working out - until I remembered the epic "Blood Oath" which hit home. :)

Now Jadzia is on the verge of having something else added to her un-joined life that she NEVER expected. Stay tuned!