Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
Weyoun frowned as he read over a disturbing collection of reports. These had only recently come to his attention, as Dominion officials had only connected the events recently.
The reports told of a string of deaths going back two years. The majority of the victims were Vorta, and out of them, only one was female. The victims had been found on abandoned worlds, buried with care, their blood completely drained from their bodies. His first thought was a Federation or Romulan trick, but the Jem'Hadar were mostly unharmed. They seemed unaware of what was going on, so he felt there might be a third party involved.
One report caught his eye, and he didn't understand why it was in the collection until he started reading. It was from a Vorta overseer in the Gamma Quadrant, who ran Interment Camp 371. His name was Deyos.
For the Founders, I could not recall what had happened to me. I awoke as if from a dream with a woman standing before me, with long dark hair and eyes to match. She stroked my cheek gently and called me "love", as if we had been intimate.
I ordered the Jem'Hadar to escort her to the wormhole, but why I do not know. I was compelled to do so, as if I had no choice. And I had no memory of the three days prior to her release.
All that could be found were scars: they riddled my body, on my abdomen and chest, on my neck, on both wrists, and in places I dare not name here. As I stared at the marks, I recalled some feeling of pain, and then intense pleasure, but the feeling was so fleeting I might even call it vivid imagination. I do not know. I have no idea what has happened to me, or to my memories.
If this woman has been let loose in the Alpha Quadrant, I have the feeling that others like myself are doomed. I'm not sure why I feel this way, but my intuition tells me this is true. The Vorta in the Alpha Quadrant should be on alert, as well as those still in the Gamma Quadrant, lest this woman return. For your own sakes, be careful.
He cocked an eyebrow at the last paragraph, and at the description of the woman. He scanned the other reports and found similar sitings of a woman with long dark hair and eyes, often taken prisoner on Dominion vessels. Every scenario was the same: a woman with dark features would be captured, and anywhere from three days to two weeks later, a new clone would have to be activated for that vessel as the Vorta would go missing, or be found dead. If they were found, their blood was gone, barely a drop was in their veins. The Jem'Hadar never recalled much about the time the prisoner was in their care, only that the Vorta would become more reclusive than normal, spending odd amount of time in their quarters.
He looked back over Deyos' report.
My First told me that I hardly ever spoke to him those three days, that he rarely even saw me. I gave orders that I was not to be disturbed, but he couldn't recall much about the woman. All he remembered was that she was called Lilith, and that she was human. We scanned the records, but they deny that she was ever held here.
He sat back and pondered the information. So a human woman was constantly being captured by Dominion patrols headed by male Vorta. The Jem'Hadar were, for the most part, clueless and unharmed, but he spied a few reports where multiple platoons of soldiers were found dead. They were killed swiftly and cleanly, their blood untouched. Only the Vorta were drained, and all were found with scars like Deyos. He checked the dates on all of the reports and found that Deyos' was the earliest, and that he was the only Vorta who seemingly had encountered this woman and lived. He would hardly call Keevan the traitor a Vorta.
Borath, whose former clone had served the Founders on their home planet, was found dead in his quarters a few months later. After that, the attacks escalated and moved with the Dominion into the Alpha Quadrant. A company of Jem'Hadar had discovered their slain comrades and five dead Vorta on an abandoned Cardassian planet that they were considering for possible use as a base. Kilana was among those found dead.
Weyoun sighed and continued reading, and he came to a conclusion that this mysterious human female was undoubtedly intimately connected with these attacks. He prepared a summary report and a message to send out to all personnel. He wanted this woman found and brought in, and where the Vorta went, apparently she was close behind.
…
Although she wanted to struggle against the Jem'Hadar, she let them lead her down corridors into a darkened room. She was surprised at how efficient her capture was: she never saw hide nor hair of a Vorta, and the Jem'Hadar handled everything. Since she didn't feel like imploring help from her colleagues at something so menial, she decided to cooperate.
And as she entered the room, she could feel Jem'Hadar just beyond the doorway, ready to come to their Vorta's aid if needed.
She could feel a strong Vorta presence in the room. It was masculine and domineering, and she bowed her head to hide her grin. Even she had heard rumors of one Vorta more loyal than any other, who resided here at Central Command on Cardassia Prime, and she suspected this was him. His outline was clear as he worked behind a console, but his face was hidden until he came closer to her.
The standard Vorta eyes stared at her with intrigue, and pale lips curved slightly upward into a small smile. But a surprisingly effeminate nose graced his features, making him look almost angelic. She was reminded slightly of Keevan, who had similar features, but this Vorta was ten times the man Keevan ever was.
She bowed her head again as he started to circle her, and she collected her thoughts lest he catch her off guard. The smell pouring off of him was enough to send her into the most exceptional high of her life, and she breathed in slowly. The pleasure she felt at the scent of him went beyond simple sensual pleasure and strayed toward sexual ecstasy. She controlled herself and her thoughts and met his eye as he made another lap around her.
Weyoun leaned down and whispered in her ear.
"Do you know why you're here, Lilith?"
She turned to stare at him. "I can feel that you are very loyal to the Founders. If you want to keep that status, I suggest you back off," she hissed slowly.
He raised his eyebrows and made a little more distance between them. He knew that he was toying with a dangerous woman, if his conclusion about all these deaths was correct. One thing was obvious: she had done something to Deyos, and it seemed that she could bend minds to her will.
"My apologies, Lilith. Vorta have formed that habit over the years, and I'm sure it tends to make some people...uncomfortable."
"The habit formed due to your poor eyesight, no doubt," she smirked, raising an eyebrow. The sympathetic smile that he had given her slipped from his face slightly, and he continued with caution.
"You are here because of a string of deaths we have heard about over the last two years. It's funny, because it seems every time we get a report like this, it turns out you were in close proximity of the victims at the times of their death. I find that highly unusual considering we've found the dead buried on abandoned worlds deep in Cardassian space."
"I can understand how you might suspect me for some of those deaths, but how can you convict me of crimes that took place deep in Dominion territory? I'm human, and it's not like I own a ship and a cloaking device."
Weyoun smiled. "Because all of the victims except for one were found with certain...scars on their bodies. They mostly were found on their necks and chests, but the only one not marked was female. Her throat was slit and teeth marks were found around the wound, but no other scars were discovered. The males, on the other hand..."
He glanced at her and was disappointed to see she was unmoved.
"You're convicting me of this based on scars? I can't believe this..."
He crossed his arms and stared at her. "The scars were found in all the same places, and your fingernails," he said as he glanced at her hands, "would do quite nicely as a sharp object."
She glanced up at him incredulously. "So my fingernails are long. That's not a crime."
"You find our judgment flawed?" He wanted to get a rise out of her; her cool demeanor was starting to unnerve him.
"Yes, I do, Weyoun." He stared at her in amazement. "And if you're wondering how I know your name," she continued, grinning at his surprise, "it's written as clearly across your forehead as your emotions are on your face."
He tilted his head in confusion, and he prepared himself in case he needed to call the Jem'Hadar. This woman was strange, unreal, and very dangerous.
"Weyoun means 'faithful one', doesn't it? It's such a shame that you can't even appreciate the beauty of your own language. I think that Weyoun Naa'vem has a very nice ring to it."
The faithful one who is powerful. That's what she called him, and she could tell that he was entranced by the name, even though he hid his emotions well. She realized immediately that she could use this as leverage against him, using his own lust for power to turn him to her. It would take an immense amount of work and skill, but she felt confident in her abilities, more confident than she had ever felt before. The combination of Yulgren and Gelnon's blood had done wondrous things for her, and she felt more than prepared to take down the greatest Vorta of them all.
"I see you are more than you seem. I doubt there are many humans who could boast of your knowledge of Dominionese."
"I suppose that is true. Does that disturb you?"
"No," he replied coolly. "I simply find it...unusual."
"It's a shame more humans don't know your language. It almost reminds me of Hindi back on Earth...such a musical language..."
He raised his eyebrows. "So you are from Earth."
She glanced at him. "Yes, I am."
"Where on Earth?"
She laughed. "Now, unless you have intimate knowledge of my home planet, I'm not going to waste my breath explaining my origins to you."
He smirked. "You'll find I have more knowledge of your home than you think."
"Do you? Well then, impress me with your knowledge, Weyoun. Tell me where you think I'm from on Earth."
He glanced over her features and noted her slightly tanned skin and dark hair and eyes. It wasn't much to go by, but combining that with her accent, he thought he had a good idea where she was from.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were from the Middle East."
She laughed heartily. "Very good, oh faithful one! I'm very impressed!"
Her laughter died a little. "And you are from the Er'ee'li Mountain region on Karill Prime."
His smile died completely and he shook his head. "I'd very much like to know where you get your information, Lilith. I'll be frank...you intrigue me. You've piqued my curiosity like no other human has."
She smiled. "I'm flattered, and I'm sure that is high praise, coming from you. I can tell you like interesting things, and this post you have, dealing with those Cardassians every day...I'm sure it gets tedious and boring at times."
He simply stared at her and put up his guard.
"I really did enjoy our little chat about where we came from, but unfortunately, such a discussion is hardly fitting in an interrogation chamber such as this."
"Hardly," he repeated, cocking a cautious eyebrow.
"You needn't worry about me as a security threat. Whatever I may know, I won't reveal it to the Federation. They and I have rarely been on the best of terms, and we haven't had dealings in years."
Confusion flooded him and he wondered if he had a renegade on his hands.
"Yes, I'm aware that I'm from Earth and have spent several years there, but I would rather choose my own way than fall under the rule of such insipid masters," she said bitterly.
He would have loved to hear the story of why she detested the Federation and its people so much, but he had business to attend to.
"Business can wait, Weyoun. And its not the people I hate, quite the contrary. It's the organization they've formed, the bureaucracy. Far too tiresome for my tastes."
She laughed at his utter shock as she read his thoughts aloud to him as if they were clearly written in front of her.
"I really don't have time for your business, my dear Vorta. I have other matters that require my attention."
"Such as?" he spat.
"You," she said simply.
But she didn't get a chance to do anything. Before she said another word, the Jem'Hadar barreled in and restrained her. Confident that she wouldn't do anything, he walked up to her and smirked.
"I'm glad you were so honest with me, Lilith," he whispered, teasingly wrapping a loose lock of her hair around a deft finger, "but that honesty will cost you. Take her to the detention area, and make sure no Vorta sees her."
The guards obeyed without question, and she silently cursed herself for her overconfidence. And she had to admit that the sight and smell of Weyoun made her weak with lust, but she should be stronger than that. As the Jem'Hadar deposited her on the floor of her cell and left her alone, she laid back on the floor and gathered her thoughts.
She hadn't even had time to try and bond with him, but she sensed that this one was too smart to be caught off-guard and too strong to relent to her. No...this one would have to want the bond, but already a plan formed in her head and she stretched out her mind toward Weyoun, waiting for the moment when he was alone.
…
All day, he had felt eyes on the back of his head, and he knew someone was watching him. He pondered this as he walked back to his quarters and prepared for bed. He washed his hands in the washroom, but when he glanced up at his reflection, he nearly gasped.
He looked again, enthralled with his reflection. His eyes held a fearlessness, a determination that he found fascinating. He could almost see the power radiating from his reflection's glance, but when he blinked, it was gone, and the face in the mirror was as it always had been.
He shook his head, knowing it was either a trick or vivid imagination, but he couldn't help but imagine himself as the man in the mirror. That man was near godhood in power, and Weyoun indulged himself as he settled down to sleep, allowing his imagination run wild.
He was ruler of Earth, and all its inhabitants were his slaves. They trembled at his very name and cowered in his presence...
But after a while, he stopped and emptied his mind of thought, ready to go to sleep.
As he started to give in to sleep, he felt a presence push against his mind, trying to enter. He snapped fully awake and sat up, and the presence continued to push. He couldn't tell anything about who the force belonged to, but he decided to let them in. If things got out of hand, he was more than capable of shutting them out. He closed his eyes and opened his mind.
He found himself in his quarters, exactly as they were in the real world. But a woman was standing at the window, and the darkness of the room shrouded her features. All he could tell was that she had long hair, and suspicions started to gnaw at him as he approached her.
"Who are you and what do you want?" he murmured to her.
"I've already answered both your questions, Weyoun," she replied, turning around. He raised his eyebrows at the sight of her, but considering what she had already revealed about herself, this didn't really surprise him.
Lilith smiled. "It's good to see you again, faithful one...though I must admit that trick you played on me was cruel."
He smirked mirthlessly. "Had I not acted quickly enough, who can tell what you might have done to me?"
"Actually, I can tell you what would have happened," she countered coolly.
He raised his eyebrow in surprise and waited for her answer.
She smiled before giving him a response. "I would have given you what you've always wanted, Weyoun. And I still can, if you let me."
He laughed at that. "And what, pray tell, do I want?"
Lilith waved her hand, gesturing for him to come forward. He decided to humor her and looked out of the rounded portal.
To his utter surprise, he gazed out over a destroyed city, and he could hear screaming and phaser fire. When he looked around, the walls of his quarters disappeared, and he was instead standing on a balcony high above the city, and he turned at the sound of knocking.
Behind him was a standard room, but he had the distinct feeling he was on Earth. Two Jem'Hadar entered, dragging a woman between them. They deposited her at his feet and left.
Lilith stood right behind him as he examined the newcomer, and she whispered in his ear.
"This is Humanity. She is the representation of all of Earth's people, and she is now yours, to do with as you please. She's not completely in tune with your wishes, though. You'll have to break her, but I know how much you enjoy a challenge."
Despite himself, he smiled at her words, then knelt down before the human and lifted her chin. She gazed at him with defiance, but he could see fear behind her eyes. He tilted his head as he regarded her, and Lilith laughed.
"Then, of course, there's that fascination you have with mating rituals."
He could see the woman before him start to pant and sweat as he experimentally stroked her face. He stopped and looked back to Lilith.
"What of it?"
"Would you rather my face take the place of Humanity?"
He twisted back around as her voice came from Humanity's mouth, and her face replaced that of the woman. He found he liked the change, and that wasn't lost on her.
"Do you want to dominate me, Weyoun?" she asked carefully and softly. "To control me?"
Her eyes filled up with fear as he thought about his answer. "Yes...yes, I do," he admitted finally.
"Then let me be your slave," she whispered to him, reaching out to stroke his face. "Let me help you win this war against the Federation. I know my people, and I know how to bring them to their knees."
He considered his answer, then ripped her hand away from his face. "Don't touch me," he commanded.
She bowed her head submissively. "As you wish."
He smiled at her submissiveness and gripped her wrists, pulling her to her feet and holding her close. He crushed her to his body and let his eyes roam over her face. She looked paler here than she did in the interrogation room, but her eyes still danced with some inner light. She breathed in deeply, and her eyes closed and her lips parted slightly. He found he liked the sight of her like that.
"Why do you do that?" he whispered, tilting his head.
She opened her eyes slowly and stared at him hungrily. "You really want to know?"
He nodded and gripped her wrists tighter. "Answer me."
She smiled slowly. "Because...you smell amazing..."
His brow furrowed slightly and he shook his head. "Fascinating..."
"Yes, faithful one, you smell irresistible. But I shouldn't get carried away, even in here."
"Why not?" he asked, intrigued.
She leaned forward and held his amethyst gaze. "The results aren't pretty..."
He realized what she was talking about, and he immediately shoved her away. She grinned at him with those sharp teeth, and he felt a slight twinge of fear.
"What do you want with me?" he breathed, slowly backing away from her.
"Isn't it obvious?" she said with a knowing smile. He snorted and looked at her with contempt.
"You humans are all the same..." he murmured to himself, shaking his head.
She laughed. "Oh, come now, Weyoun! You've never felt a woman's lips on your skin, so don't dismiss it as if it were vulgar and insulting. You know you want to feel what it's like..."
He glared at her, but he hated to admit that she was right. But he would never admit to such a thing, especially in front of her.
"I don't need to participate in such activity. I can watch."
"And miss all the pleasure? You're going to come up with a better excuse than that, Weyoun."
In two strides, she reached him and cautiously reached out to him. He looked at her hand, then took it tentatively. She pulled him to her and trapped him in a passionate kiss.
He breathed in sharply at the new sensations that flooded his senses, and he was surprised at how naturally the behavior came to him. He carefully and slowly caressed her lips with his own, taking guilty pleasure in the warmth of her skin. Her lips were so soft and delicate, yet so delightfully skillful as she pressed against him, and he moaned in unbidden satisfaction.
Her hands explored his face and neck with urgent fervor, and he gasped as her fingers played with his ears. She slowly and sensuously ran her tongue along his lips, and his fingernails dug into her back. His lips tingled and his ears...he had never felt anything like that before.
When he felt he might lose control, he yanked her hand away from his ear and pushed her away.
"Get out. Now."
She simply smiled and disappeared into thin air, and out in the real world, he opened his eyes.
He breathed in slowly as he adjusted back to reality, and he was left with more questions than answers. He was even more certain that she was the Vorta killer, but he knew he didn't have enough evidence to convict her.
Her words played over and over again in his head. Let me be your slave...Those five words sent chills down his spine and made him tingle with desire. Because he feared her, it would be so...satisfying to see her knocked off her pedestal, to see her tremble before him as he explored her bare skin...
He shook his head vehemently; he mustn't think of such things! True, that kiss had been...intoxicating, but that was no excuse to lose control. And one thing he strove to maintain in his seven lives was control. To live without it he would be lost, misguided. He would cease to be Weyoun.
But if he could push himself, find control and still manage to explore what she offered him...that would be paradise. He would have to be careful, to be devious and clever to make sure he didn't play right into her hands. He knew she wanted him, but he also sensed that she was hiding something.
He would find out what that something was.