A/N: Ready for chapter 2. I had to sit and digest the 1st chapter a bit and see if I could come up with the intro to the 2nd chapter after such an intense 1st. Thanks for all the reviews. Here we go. Not edited, all mistakes are mine and I hope you enjoy my artist license I am seriously about to take.

Chapter 2

Return of the Emissary

Part II

She is laying on the bio bed and Julian is healing the bruises that litter her back. He has already healed the bruising and scratches around the rear of her neck and the lump that had formed on the back of her head.

She told him everything, every detail down to the temperature of the room and the difference in eye color between the two Dukats she had seen. Julian had listened closely, not interrupting at all, and when she had finished he had informed her of what he had been able to record with the scanner.

"It's completely different and yet totally the same. The readings I received from the scanner show you still have the same intense synaptic potentials that the captain did, but you aren't suffering from the same kind of side-effects."

Nerys wasn't sure how to respond to this new information, though she feels much more herself now and a sarcastic remark leaves her lips before she can stop it, "Same kind of side effects? Julian, I'm bruised all to shit, the captain never left his visions sporting a broken rib!"

Julian nodded and gave a rather sympathetic face before a puff of frustrated air left his lips, "I know Nerys, I realize the severity of the situation. I will do all i can to help." he offered with a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Desperate to help Julian do just that Nerys looked to him and said softly, "Maybe it has something to do with the fact that this is all happening while I sleep. The Captain's visions occurred when he was awake- mostly."

Julian gently tapped her shoulder to let her know he was done and he turned away so Nerys could pull up her uniform top.

"It's a good guess. Though, at this point I am not sure how to solve the problem. I can try giving you a neural suppressor to see if it would help keep the vision from entering into your mind, but the truth of the matter is I don't think I can actually stop it all together."

She was dressed now and came to stand before him as she looked into his worried eyes, "For now it's our only option. I can't run the station without sleep, to many mistakes are made due to sleep deprivation. We need to find a way to stop the visions so I can get on with my life."

Julian looked at her with reluctance and heaved a heavy sigh but nodded all the same, "You're right, here, this will let me monitor you all day, but when you go to sleep come here. I don't want any of this difficult patient mumbo jumbo. Until we get this sorted, I don't want you sleeping alone. You need to be monitored, understand?"

Nerys nodded but otherwise kept silent as Julian put the neural and synaptic reader just behind her ear, "thankfully I've had time to streamline the one I used on the captain. It's smaller now, far less intrusive, and I've had two years to refine the technology to be more accurate in its recording of your brain functions."

"Was that necessary? I mean, it isn't like you need to monitor this type of thing often."

Julian gave a soft chuckle, "True, but if I hadn't we'd be far less likely to find a solutions for you now. Besides, it's been rather….slow the last two years, not much to do but work on projects."

It was Nery's turn to laugh lightly, "Oh, what's the matter Julian, peace and quiet getting to you?"

"Yes, in fact, I'd give anything for a good war right about now." His good natured sarcasm made her feel just the slightest bit better and she was grateful for his humour.

"Just go about your day like normal and don't forget-"

"Here for sleep, I know...thank you...for everything. Now, I better get to work." and Nerys gave him a soft smile which Julian returned and then she was walking out the door and heading for the start of another day, the very small smile on Julian's face fading and a look of extreme worry taking its place.

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Nerys went about her day as if everything was normal, realizing as soon as she left the infirmary that Julian had in fact, streamlined the device and it was fairly well hidden. She was happy for this as too many questions right now would just throw her off.

She made her daily rounds, got updates on any new projects going on in the station and spent a good deal of time in Ops. The same ensign from the day before pointed out that she was getting the same reads from yesterday but this time they had increased. It was truly nothing to worry about, as far as Nerys could tell anyway, still, she told the ensign to keep an eye on it for any further increase.

Before she knew it she was in her office, the fatigue from earlier finally catching up to her. She retrieved a raktajino from the replicator and then sat down behind her desk.

Try as she might to focus on the pile of pads before her, her mind kept wandering to the recent events which had, in less than forty-eight hours, essentially caused upheaval in her life. She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes and brought fingers to rub gently at her nose ridges, her minds eye envisioning the two Dukats and predominantly trying to compare and dissect the differences.

One was absolutely evil, vile in all sense of the words. Rough, vulgar and dangerous. The other, gentle, soft spoken and respectful if not slightly desperate and extremely contrite.

It was looking at a night and day difference between the two, red eyes versus blue, military outfit versus peasant attire. She almost thought the nice one, and she used this term only to differentiate between the two, didn't even seem like any Dukat she had ever met.

It was almost like the Dukat she knew from her everyday life had been split down the middle and ripped apart. She supposed the nicer of the two did remind her a little of the Dukat she saw when Zeyal was around.

The sudden memory of her once young ward struck a painful nerve but she couldn't deny it, if there had ever been a person alive that dukat truly cared for, it had been his daughter. His reaction to her death was no act, nor was the months he had spent in the mental health center.

Still, any Dukat, good or evil made her skin crawl and her stomach roll in anxiety and disgust. The creature of a man was nothing but hollow words and cheap tricks, manipulation and clever reuses.

To hear that Dukat had accepted the true Prophets for what they were, that the Prophets had deemed to give him a second chance and wash him of all his sins….it was enough to make Nerys want to try and go to the Celestial Temple herself.

Her eyes popped open at this thought, slowly she sat up as she continued to ponder about it, knowing it was not her right to question the Prophets but wanting more than anything to hear them say it was all a lie. She had visited the Prophets before, they sent her back in time, one had chosen her as a temporary host to battle a Pah-wraith. She was a devoted servant to them and believed in their omnipotence. The question was, would they grant her a vision, would they speak to her?

As she went to stand the door rang out a sign someone waited to enter and reluctantly she sank back into her chair and said softly, "Enter."

The door sloshed open and Nog stood, as was his usual habit, with hands behind his back and head held high.

"Commander." He said by way of greeting as he took a step into the room.

"Nog." She nodded.

The next few seconds were strange as neither said anything else, Nerys waiting for the young Ferangi to explain his impromptu visit, the young man only staring off to her right.

Finally Nerys gave a soft smile and rolled her eyes, "Is there something I can help you with Nog? Do you have something to report?"

He finally met her eyes for a second before he looked away again and then cleared his throat, "No, I mean, yes."

"But?" she asked in confusion as she felt her patients slipping.

"Well, it's of a... personal nature, sir."

Nerys nodded and let out a sigh as she leaned back and rolled her eyes, "You know about the visions."

In that moment Nog glanced to her and then let his formal pretense drop, "I was...in the infirmary this morning having my yearly physical. Nurse Brack left the room and well...my ears…" he said motioning to them as if they were more a burden than a blessing.

"Right. Well, eavesdropping aside, what is it you want to talk to me about?"

"May I speak freely, sir?"

"Of course." her brow bending in dismay at Nog's sudden strict adhesion to protocol while they were alone.

"It's just that…." He stopped long enough to sit down in the chair across from her and then said, "I am worried for you. Sir!" he corrected quickly.

"Nog. Drop the pretense, you are my first officer but also my friend. Why has this got you so riled up. Just relax and talk to me."

Nog let out a long breath and then nodded and said, "This thing your going through, with Dukat, I mean….it's not..I mean...it's….personal. I do not want to over step my bounds but...I heard...everything."

This time Nerys realized why Nog was so tense about coming to speak with her, he hadn't just heard the end, he heard everything which meant he knew what had happened in her dream. Including the attempted assault.

"Oh. I see." She said, trying her best to figure out if she felt more violated, angry or embarrassed. She gave him a measured look and then said with a little more venom than she intended, "I assume it's not too much for me to expect you to keep this information private."

"Of course! Of course I would never-" and upon seeing his commanders narrow eyes and thin lips he cleared his throat and said, "What I heard… it...upset me. I didn't like what I heard and...I was concerned...for you, sir."

Nerys felt her heart warm a little and she let out a sigh before she managed a small smile, "I appreciate it Nog, really I do, but Julian and I have it under control-"

"I am your first officer, sir. It is my job and my duty...my pleasure to serve and if necessary...protect you. Keep you safe so you can lead the station in its day to day missions and operations. But this….when I heard what happened...what that monster had tried to do to you...I can't effectively perform my duties to keep you safe, I cannot take any part of this burden from you. I want to help, but I can't."

The blasted Ferengi stared down dejectedly and Nerys couldn't help the warm smile and the water that built in her eyes. She kept the tears at bay though, kept her appearance strong. Still, she held out a hand, placing it palm up on the desk and Nog took it slowly, "If there is anything I can do, take lead for a day so you can rest, talk to my uncle about getting our hands on anything that might help...you will tell me, won't you?"

Nerys didn't know what to say, she was a little overwhelmed by Nog's concern. Truth be told, she considered Nog a good friend and a close allie but she had never realized how much he really cared.

"I will." She offered as she swallowed the thick lump in her throat, "For now, I want to go about my duties as if nothing has happened. Agreed? Besides, we've beaten Dukat so many times before, I'm not even worried." and she gave a true full mouthed smile for the first time in days, Nog reciprocating with an assured nod before he stood and left the room.

Nerys watched him go, and she hoped that she would not need to call on Nog for help, prayed that this would all be taken care of after tonight. Prophets knew, she was not looking forward to facing Dukat again, especially considering this time, she truly was on her own.

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This time, when she opens her eyes she finds herself standing in the center of her room, her appearance reminiscent of years long since passed. Back when she still had her long lush hair, back when she was still somewhat naive and utterly innocent. Her dress is worn and covered in smudges of dirt and soot and her hands seem younger, less rough.

"I remember you this way." and she turns slowly to see Dukat, sans a shirt, only filthy pants and boots, his eyes a clear blue.

Her own eyes narrow, her jaw sets as she stills and prepares for whatever maybe coming next. Dukat is sitting on the couch, his hands joined between his knees as his face, carved out in that traditional Cardassian way, stares up at her with soft tender eyes and a gentle smile.

"You did this? If you are looking to relive some disgusting fantasy you can just forget it." She snips harshly, her soul hating this image of herself, this child she once was.

Dukat rises, moves towards her but Nerys stands her ground, her fear being squished under her anger and indignation at being presented as someone other than who she is, who she has become.

"I saw you this way, one time, long before you knew of me and my sadistic ways. It occurred to me, as I was burning in the caves and wishing so many horrible things on you." and Dukat raised a hand, he did not touch her but it ghosted over her face, just barely moving those few unruly strands that she could never seem to tame out of the way.

"I couldn't recall exactly when you had joined the resistance movement, but I remember seeing you on a street, near the center of town. It was after I was Gul of the station, after your mother...after...everything."

Nerys sees his eyes light up, as if this memory he is reliving is playing right before his eyes like a holographic projection. His brow shifts up, he smiles softly and she sees his eyes water as if they mean to cry.

"I was...walking...I don't recall with who. It's funny, we Cardassians are supposed to have such good memories, but I can't seem to remember. I do know I saw you, standing on the corner, sun on your face and your hair shining that fiery red. Your cheeks were pink and your lips looked soft...you were still so young... and I remember thinking...that girl is beautiful...too beautiful...and I wanted you...in that moment more than I had ever wanted anyone before."

Nerys feels her heart sink and her stomach churn in disgust, "What is your point you slimy beast." She says from behind clenched teeth and narrowed eyes, her cheeks aflame with rage.

Dukat finally manages to focus on her again and this time his hand raises up to cup her cheek, it is warm and soft and even though it disgusts her she doesn't pull away, her eyes meet his and she waits, absolutely determined and resolved to face this mess, whatever it is, with her eyes open and mind sharp.

"That day I saw you, I was married and I already had a mistress hidden away in some backwater house. Still, I wanted you, despite how full my plate was with pleasures of the flesh. I've been a philanderer, a serial adulterer, quick to adore and dote and use the word love like a Ferengi uses gold to bribe."

"Your point!" she barks out and Dukat stares at her, his eyes glancing down to her lips and then back up. His hand drops from her face and he says, "When the true Prophets washed me clean, when they gave me a second chance all my appetite for intimacy dissolved into dust. I craved nothing from any woman, the very idea of it disgusted me."

"Really. Well, how sad for you." she offers sarcastically and she crosses her arms over her chest with a rather satisfied smirk.

"On the contrary, Nerys. It was wonderful." and he sounds thrilled, as if it was some great awakening and he has been saved from some such terrible death.

"To not have such a drive anymore, it was wonderful, the voices in my mind growing quiet, no more urges or excitement filling my head with nonsense about prowess and conquests."

Nerys finally pulls away, moving out of his range and manages out an annoyed, "Wonderful. Why the hell are you telling me this? What's your point Dukat?"

The Cardassian glances away from the ground to look up at her with a slightly more calculating stare, his lips pursing together, "The Prophets went to all the trouble to purge me of my sexual misconduct, to end my urges so that I could lead a clean existence. Yet, when I look at you...the fires ignite. It's unsettling and I don't particularly care for it. I've asked the Prophets why but of course, they have not told me. But you know them well, have worshipped them your whole life, why would they remove all my disgusting, sadistic desires yet leave a burning desire in my veins just for you?"

She looks at him with wide eyes and clenched teeth, her smug smile at the idea that Dukat had been made impotent by the Prophets, fading. More anger filling her mind with fire as she crossed to the tall man in front of her and shoved him hard, "I knew it. I just knew you wouldn't ever change. More manipulation and lies, trying to make me feel like I'm something special, like I am some unknown true love, a promised bride from the Prophets sent to play Beauty and the Beast with a creature like you. Well, I've got news for you Dukat, I learned to see through your bull shit a long time ago, you can't trick or manipulate me, I am immune to your pathetic seduction attempts."

The Cardassian cocked his head to the side slowly as he seemed to look at her in confusion, "It is such a strange thing, to only want one woman...I've never felt such a powerful draw before, such a blossoming love in my chest. It's overwhelming." and Dukat turns and moves to the viewport, hands behind his back, eyes scanning the black ink of space dotted with the specks of distant stars.

Nerys stares at his exposed back, noticing the scales and textures of his rough Cardassian flesh. Hints of gray, blue and purple creating a rather gentle tone that would be considered beautiful if Nerys's bias hate wasn't feeding her view. Down his spine were small plates of hardened flesh, the things flaring out to create a repeating pattern that almost reminded her of wings.

"Perhaps, this is what real love feels like. I do believe I would die for you...assuming I could." and his small smile as he glances over his shoulder at her would be considered charming by most. But Nerys sneers at the sight of it and turns to leave, she is unwilling to let him play his mind games with her, but she soon finds her bedroom door will not open.

Turning to him she sees his face watching the exit intently, "Odd, isn't it? I couldn't get it to open for me either. Obviously the Prophets want us here together. I don't know why, and as was once my tenancy, so it remains, I dislike not knowing. Perhaps they hadn't wanted me to tell you about my feelings...it's too late but-"

"DUKAT!" Nerys yells quite loudly and the man glances to her, the same studious look on his face, "You're rambling. Now tell me, you just said this door is locked...as if you can't control it."

"I don't control it. The Prophets do."

This makes her pause, she thinks about this and then says with frustration, "So, the last few times that you've assaulted me...this...all this...has been the Prophets?"

Dukat seems startled at her accusation and says quickly and with a minor outrage, "Absolutely not. When that filthy Pah-wraith attacked you that vision was his doing. The Prophets sent me to protect you. I am their servant, I do as they command. This vision, it is a gift from them, the Pah-wraith cannot enter here unless the Prophets allow it."

"You, why would the Prophets send you, surely they know how I feel about you, how we feel about each other. You just admitted to wishing me dead by torture not even ten minutes ago. Why would they ever think-"

Dukat cut her off and said in a slightly pestered voice "First off, I wished you harm only before the Prophets took me and cleansed me of my vile nature. Second, it was not I who attacked you, it was a Pah-wraith encompassing the form of my evil other half-"

"What?" Nerys interjects with disbelief, "Evil other half...this isn't one of Quirk's dramatic holo-novels. People don't have two halves to them, they are either good or bad, it is based solely on their actions and words. And you, Dukat, your actions spoke louder than any words you could find. I do not believe you have even a morsel of good in a single bone in your body."

"Don't be so naive Nerys, I had just as much ability to be good as I was evil. I chose many paths in my life, most of them wrong. Driven by greed, ego and lust for power. I deny nothing of my previous actions in life. But I had the ability to be very kind, very devoted and true to those who mattered the most to me...or don't you remember Zeyal."

Nerys gives him a very hard look before she steps up to him and says in a rather cocky yet soft voice, "you also had the most uncanny ability to turn on those you loved as soon as they didn't agree or they stood in your way… or don't you remember Zeyal?"

She expects that familiar anger to slide across his face, that hiss of a voice that he used when he has been bested or a sore spot is poked. But his eyes do not darken, nor does his face twist into that stone mask of resentment. His eye doesn't even twitch, one of the most obvious tells of his displeasure, Nerys often looked forward to drawing that particular tick out.

But now, he simply stares at her, his face relaxed, his eyes inquisitive and his lips giving a gentle smile, "Yes. I suppose for all my ability to love, my desire for power and control was always greater. But, we have been muttering too long. I have been sent to give you a message from the Prophets, I best do it before the good Doctor wakes you. Hmm?"

Though Nerys is surprised at the lack of response from her rather harsh jibe she swallows and watches Dukat saunter back to the couch where he sits and pats the spot next to him, "Please, Nerys. Our time is short. The sooner you listen to what I have to say the sooner you can be gone from me."

Nerys can't argue with that and so moves to the couch and sits down, her body language speaking her discomfort at sitting so close to him.

"First...may I ask….you referenced something earlier…" he brought a fisted hand to his mouth, a thumb gently tapping at his bottom lip in thought, "What is that obscure reference you made, to, what was it...beauty and the beast."

"What? Why does that matter?" she asks, her brain trying to switch from talk of the Prophets to something so random she didn't even recall saying it.

"Please, just answer me, what is it?"

Nerys sighs, trying to remember what it was from, "It was...um...some story Julian told me about. An old Earth fairytale. Something about a young girl who saves her father's life by taking his place in prison. The creature that held her father was a cruel and twisted beast, an evil spell had been placed on him. The curse the beast was under could only be broken by learning how to love and be loved honestly in return."

Dukat continued to stare at her a moment before he looked away and nodded, seemingly putting it out of his mind quickly, "Very well, on to business. The Prophets have sent me to protect you, as well as warn you of a very serious threat."

This time Dukat has her whole attention as she sits staring at him quizzically, "And what threat could possibly dictate them calling you into the fold."

Dukat gave her a narrow eyed smile and said, "The pah-wraiths have found a way to breach the walls of their prison." Nerys stills at this and takes a moment to digest the news.

"That's impossible. The pah-wraiths were placed in the fire caves by the Prophets. They cannot escape, not unless the Prophets allow it or someone opens the have been trapped for thousands of years, why would they suddenly be able to get out now?"

"Ah, always the clever one aren't you. You are right, the Prophets are the only ones who can release them, unless, someone like the Kia has the right information, as was the case with Kia Winn."

"That was all your doing Dukat. You can't deny that Kia Winn would not have pursued such blasphemy if you hadn't seduced and manipulated her into it."

"This is true, I altered the course of the Prophets, changed the outcome of their plans. For this, I was sent to the fire caves to live out eternity at the hands of my would-be Gods. However, this was a strategic error on the part of the Prophets, they did not anticipate what the Pah-wraiths could do with something as simple as mortal flesh."

Nerys considered this statement a moment and then looked at him out of the corner of her eye, "They didn't just torture you did they." it's a statement, one Nerys isn't sure she wants the answer to. Still, she waits to hear his answer and Dukat looks at her with such a still face, his eyes sharp as ever and that particularly cunning expression rests there, a certain amount of clever excitement, "No, they did not just torture me. They experimented. Twisted and broke my body day after day, healing it only to brutalized me all over again. Their only goal was to make absolutely sure they couldn't use me to their advantage. Between possession, genetic coding and matter manipulation they found out that if they have a host, an actual carbon based body, they can slip through a rift in their prison. They have found only one flaw, and that is, the rift can only bring them so far…"

"What do you mean?"

"It brings them here, to the subconscious universe held by every living creature. The state in which we mortals rest, recuperate and digest the days events, it is an open door to them. That is why the Pah-Wraith has such easy access to you, why you are experiencing the same synaptic potentials as Benjamin did but aren't suffering from the mental and physical degradation. The Pah-Wraith is actually here with you, in your mind, possessing your subconscious. The Prophets only spark your ability to visit them in their own plan, the experience is hard on your neurogenic pathways, they can't handle repeated exposure which is why Benjamin started to fall apart. He couldn't exist jumping back and forth between our realm and theirs constantly. But the Pah-Wraiths realized if they come to you while you sleep, through the rift they've found...they can do it as often as they want Nerys. There isn't any stopping them."

"I don't understand, if they are coming to me in my dreams, how can they hurt me. Dreams are just a construct made by chemical releases in the brain, the Pah-Wraiths shouldn't be able to hurt me...or anyone else for that matter. It's not possible."

"Ah, but enter in the element of carbon, and things start to get a little more complicated."

"What does carbon have to do with anything-"

"Carbon is the bases for all organic life in the universe as far as we know it. Even the Prophets have the carbon element in their ethereal forms, carbon creates solidity."

Nerys stares at him in confusion but doesn't say anything and Dukat realizes she isn't following.

"Right." he says with a sigh, he seems to think a moment and then stands, "Alright, let me give you an example." Dukat closes his eyes for a moment and Nerys waits until the man opens his eyes again and glances to the right and behind her.

Slowly Nerys turns in her seat and then feels her jaw drop at the sight of her father, "Don't get excited Nerys. This image of your father is from your memory, from dreams you've already had. Go to him, touch him. Tell me, if you notice anything different than other dreams you've had."

She stands then, slowly crosses to the frozen imagine of her father, the way he looked right before he died. She approaches, tears resting in her eyes but not falling and Nerys touches his face, slides her hand down to rest on his collarbone bone and just like every other dream she can't actually feel him, no heat or cold, no texture. It's like that hazey ghost of a memory that happens, she knows when she wakes she won't remember exactly what he looked like, her mind won't remember the texture of his skin or the feeling of his shirt. She stares at his frozen face and wishes she could talk to him.

"What do you feel?" comes the soft but deep whisper of Dukat from right next to her ear and Nerys manages to contain her urge to jump at his sudden appearance behind her. She sets her jaw and then says with bitterness, "Nothing, I feel nothing."

"Exactly, just like every dream we mortals have, we can recall them but we don't ever actually feel anything. We could react to drowning or falling but we don't really feel it, only the fear. That's why dreams are so wonderful. Now, give me your hand." he says gently.

Nerys turns around, away from her father, to face Dukat. She reluctantly holds up her hand and Dukat takes it, placing it on his bare chest, "Now, feel me." he says gently.

Despite her squirming gut, when her hands touches his chest she is shocked, it's warm, almost hot. In surprise, she runs her hand up his chest, over his neck ridges to gently finger the hard skeletal rim of his right eyes. She doesn't notice the way Dukat's eyes flutter closed, or how he takes in a near silent gasp of air at her touch.

Nerys can feel every ridge, scale, bump, and dip of his flesh, she realizes she can smell him, that sharp Cardassian smell that accompanies them, not unpleasant but harsh if you aren't used to it. "Carbon, in large quantities when sent through the rift, can be used to directly influence and connect with the carbon in your own body. Thus, you can feel me...and I...can feel you." and Dukat raises a hand and runs his fingers down her cheek. She feels the tickle, feels her nerve endings tingle at the contact.

Her minds curiosity is overruled by her dislike of this man and she turns away sharply, leaving him behind her, hand still in the air, frozen mid-stroke.

"You've explained a lot, truthfully I don't understand most of it...but you've left one thing out...the most important thing, actually."

"And that is?" Dukat asks softly.

"Why and how should I trust you, and more importantly, how are you going to prove it." and she turns to look at him, her eyes intense and narrow as she waits for his response.

Dukat runs his tongue along the inner part of his cheek, another old habit when he was thinking of some proper response, a measured lie, but instead of spouting some grandiose speech or trying to win her through clever words he says the most simple thing in the world, "As with all things regarding the Prophets, you must have faith. I cannot grant you that, it comes from within."

He looks at her a moment and then turns and walks away, fading from her view just as her surroundings start to blur.

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Nerys woke up slowly this time, her eyes fluttering open to stare at the ceiling of the sick bay, Julian's face coming into view seconds later.

"Good morning." he said softly and with a satisfied smile.

"You seem perky." Nerys said in return with a bemused frown.

Clearing his throat and stepping back to allow Nerys to sit up he seemed rather pleased, "Why shouldn't I be? You slept through the night without any nightmares, your brain waves remained calm and tranquil and those synaptic potentials were much weaker than last time. The chemical imbalance I detected before also seems to be stabilizing, from what I see your dream was a pleasant one and-" a pad was handed to her as Julian cocked a brow with pleasure, "I have much more data than I did before."

Nerys looked at the pad before her and her eyes grew wide, she looked to Julian and then back still shocked by what she was seeing on the pad. She didn't want to believe it but if she understood what was in front of her she was about to have a lot more problems than just getting a decent night's rest.

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Dukat sits on a rock, one bare foot perched halfway up another, a lazy stream flowing by below and to the side. The shrrounding landscape is extra vibrant, glowing and emitting a hyper vision of what actually is.

The sun is bright here, the grass is green and he savours the feel of the heat on his bare skin. Inhaling deeply and closing his eyes he wishes he were on the real Bajor and not this perfect purgatory the Prophets had made for him.

This is his home, no matter how much he may miss Cardassia he can no longer lie about it, Bajor will always be his true home. It is never hot enough and when it rains it pours. There are bugs here that are much more irritating than on his own home world and the air smells sickly sweet and steams with humidity.

Yet, even as he thinks of all the reasons to hate this place his heart swells at being here, at feeling Bajor's splendor caress his senses and fill his mind. He breathes deeply again before he exhales and turns his attention to the Prophet suddenly standing next to him.

"My Prophet." He says gently as he bends his head in respect and acknowledgment.

"You are the broken one." it is not a question and Dukat gives a soft smile as he stands and nods, "That is what they say, but as of late I have been feeling much better."

The Prophet has appeared to him as a beautiful woman, her skin dark and eyes the color of caramel. Dukat notices a very minor squint to her right eye, an almost imperceptible raise at the corner of her mouth and then she holds out her hand.

"You may call me Sarah." the Prophet says in a slightly warmer tone.

"A Prophet with a name?" he asks in surprise.

"You question me?"

"Never." Dukat amends quickly with another bow of his head.

The Prophet nods and then turns to walk, "Come." She orders.

Dukat follows and walks beside her, his hands held behind his back but his posture not denying his now humble nature.

"I am known to my own kind as the ancient one, one of the oldest of our race."

"Then I am most humbled to be graced with your presence. To what do I owe such an honor?"

The Prophet walks beside him silently a moment before she stops and looks to him, "I am responsible for things that need to be, linearity is not a way of life it is only a perception. Control is an illusion and fear is wisdom in the face of danger."

Dukat stares a moment unsure how to respond to that. It wasn't a coherent sentence, it was almost as if Sarah was just reciting random quotes. He swallows and tries his best to respond, "Those are wise words...but I do not understand why-"

"You must take the Bajoren known as Kira Nerys." the Prophet says quickly.

Dukat is once again dumbfounded, his eyes narrowing in the noon day sun as his thin lips roll together and he lets out a rather arduous sigh, "You are not the first Prophet to so bluntly state a desire for me to couple with the beautiful colonel. But as I have told the others, Kira Nerys does not want a thing to do with me, she hates me in fact and as far as I am aware there is little I can do to change her mind."

"You and Nerys must join. It is important to Bajor, to the Bajoren people…"

"My most holey and highly regarded Prophet, I understand what you are asking me, and you can have full trust in me trying to accomplish this task. But I say again, Kira Nerys will never have me. You would do wise to choose someone else."

The Prophet stares at him a moment and Dukat, no longer filled with his inflative ego looks away reluctantly, guilt and regret etched on his face.

"Far be it from me to deny the true Prophets anything they request. You have shown me great leniency and understanding, cleansed me of my wicked wiles and I am greatful to the point that I cannot even begin to explain. And do not think my refusal is because I no longer care for her. She is the only one, she burns inside me like a million suns, I cannot get her out of my mind. I do want what you ask, perhaps even more than you-"

"You must make this pairing work, the future of Bajor and Cardassia rest solely on this."

Dukat grows frustrated but keeps his tone with the Prophet before him, his natural curiosity at the show of such indevidialisim among the Prophets still shocking.

"Why?" Dukat dares to ask.

"What? You question me?" and the tone is more curious than angry so Dukat presses on.

"I must know, please my Prophet, why is it so important that I mate with Nerys. It's my wildest dreams come true but before me you have set an impossible task. I have tried for years, surely you have seen it...my peacocking and strutting, I went so far as to have her kidnapped...I am now only half the man I was before and even see all the horrible mistakes I've made, but if I could not win her heart as I was how could I do it now, as I am?" and Dukat looks at the Prophet desperately, needing answers, guidance, anything to sate his endomidable curiosity and honest confusion.

The Prophet Sara actually smiles, it is a small hidden thing at the corner of her mouth, and she raises a hand to gently cup his face which Dukat notices instantly quells his fear. He lets out a long slow breath and meets those caramel eyes, "Kneel with me Skrain Dukat, son of Procal, father of many."

Dukat, so surprised to hear both his true name and the name of his father instantly complies, eyes wide and face serious as the Prophet Sara joins him on the ground. They sit under the shade of a tree next to the lake, Dukat not looking away from this special Prophet, the one who is different, who seems, dare he even think it, more human.

"I cannot aid you in your quest, but I have seen the future, and you're future and Kira's lay together. One bed, one home, and two children. Within this a very special future for Bajor and Cardassia will rise, for one cannot exist without the other. Two planets, mated for all time, wrapped in something not so linear... beyond purchase of the mortal mind."

Dukat is hungry for more knowledge, for as evil as he once had been the quest for knowledge was never an evil thing, how he used it was always the final deciding factor. But he wanted to know, so badly what was to come...for the Prophet Sara claimed she had seen a future where Nerys was his, in his bed, willing to bare him children.

His heart ached for something so wonderful, such an intelligent, cunning strong willed woman by his side, yet gentle and kind hearted and a true woman of the people. His pleasure could not be destroyed despite the fact he knew better and then something came from him that he did not expect, "It is wonderful news, and it makes me want to try harder...but she does not care for me in such a way...can never love me so...I do not wish to push myself upon her and I know no other way to do what you ask. I want Kira to be happy, and that happiness cannot be found with me. I am cruel, cold and homicidal-"

The Prophet Sara placed a hand to his mouth, "We have washed you of your evil, the Gul is gone. Only Skrain remains. He is nothing but good, could never hurt anyone...do you not feel the difference...the purity?"

"I do." Dukat answers with a desperate gratitude, "The voices are gone, my urges to hurt and control destroyed….I crave nothing and am satisfied with what I have...this purgatory you have made for me while I repent my sins."

"This is not enough. Nerys, she will be yours, as it is written."

"But she will not have me. Please, you must listen...no matter what I do or say, no matter what I tell her...she will not come to me, she will not join with me. I repel her, my past actions, the crimes against her people, nothing will sway her-"

"place your palm on my forehead and close your eyes." the Prophet said suddenly.

Dukat had learned quick not to resist and instantly complied and in his minds eye he saw Nerys with Doctor Basher, she looked frustrated. Her voice was muffled at first then came through more clearly.

"Julian, these readings are WRONG!"

"The readings are correct, your endophines, saratonine and dopamine were the only things elevated while you slept. There is nothing to be ashamed of, every person has dreams like that."

When Kira does not respond Julian tries again, "I thought you'd be happy...better A dream like that than a dream...like...this isn't about the dream itself is it." He states bluntly as realization dawns on him.

"No." She whispers out with a shake of her head.

"Or about the substance of the dream." He offers.

Another shake of her head as her hard eyes stare into space.

"This is because of who the dream was about…"

"Yes." She says bitterly, "I refuse to believe I would ever release hormones of that kind in association with that lizard of a man."

"Nerys, please, this has all the readouts of a slandered dream, I cannot even say for sure the findings aren't just residual traces of your previous visits. It actually makes more sense for you to have a regular old dream about Dukat that is a little bit on the questionable side. Your mind was just processing everything you've been through, and you can't deny that at the base of it all, including this red eyed version of him, sex has been a continuous occurrence. Just give yourself time to wake up and relax before you jump to conclusions, let me look at the data. Please?"

Kira is reluctant but eventually nods before she pulls her jacket down to sit on her more securely and heads for the door, "I'm going to Ops."

"Back for bed!" Julian calls after, glancing with a sad frustration at the Padd he had hoped would make Nerys feel better.

Dukat is pulled back from his view and looks at Sara with wide eyes, "She...she…" But he cannot finish, he often muses that it was his evil half which had been so eloquent with words and he is starting to believing it.

"You are not without hope, but I cannot help you. However, my son can."

"Son?" Dukat asks as he watches the Prophet Sara rise and she moves to the think trunk of the tree, where from the far side out steps Benjamin Sisko.

"Hello Skrain." He says in that all too familiar baritone and Dukat is officially lost for words.

A/N: THANK YOU FOR ALL THE REVIEWS, SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG, I REALLY HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS AND KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR CHAPTER 3. PLEASE R&R AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. ANY MISTAKES, MISSPELLED WORDS, NAMES, PLACES OR INCORRECT HISTORY AND BAD GRAMMAR IS MY FAULT, AS THIS WAS NO EDITED. THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL SEVEN OF YOU WHO REVIEWED.