AN: Salutations and bienvenue! Got this chapter out faster thanks to Malice, so y'all should thank him!
Admiral's personal log, Stardate redacted...as always. It's been six months since Leanan rescued me and pushed me to get some counselling…which apparently I sorely needed. I am still torn whenever I think of her; on the one hand she is a criminal, a pirate who's moral compass is in a permanent spin. But on the other….she saw in me and my record what no-one else had for so long, understood that I carried so much pain and grief, and put my health before anyone else's. No-one has done that for me since-
Since Loraya.
It pains me to know how Leanan feels about me, and yet fear of the future means I can't give her an appropriate answer. Would my dating Leanan cause some sort of temporal disruption, since I'm due to marry again in the future? Would Temporal Investigations come after me? Would anything happen at all?
I wish I knew anymore. I wish I could say yes to her without fear. I think I love her.
We've arrived at New Romulus for the activation of an Iconian gate - because that's always a great plan. Hopefully seeing Zevil and dealing with his…madness will help take my mind off forbidden romance.
Lydana sighed as she closed her log, gazing out of the window at her adopted home. The reports she'd received about her closest friend's mental state were less than encouraging, but she had to keep trying to get through to him, for his sake.
The chirrup of her commbadge woke her from her reverie, for which she was profoundly grateful as she tapped it in response.
"Kassai, go."
"Admiral, just to let you know the Hades has just warped in."
"Thanks, Olan," she said, getting to her feet. "Bring us in range. I'm going to see if I can talk some sense into Admiral Zevil."
She tapped the badge again and strode towards the transporter room, eager to distract herself with work.
And then she found herself diverted, trapped in a stasis field, and beamed back to her ship. The look in Zevil's eyes as he glared at her through the green haze was murderous, and she knew then it would take more than words to get through to him.
"Damn him to the Gamma quadrant and back!" she swore, as she shook off the effects of the stasis field. "Olan, get me a workaround - I don't want him to pull that shit again. And have a security team on standby. I'll head down and make my rounds among the other officers and diplomats, no doubt he'll come looking for me."
"Aye ma'am, stay safe," Olan told her, still worried after the last time he let his admiral go anywhere.
"Relax Olan, I'm not dying this time," she told him cheerfully, and nodded to the transporter officer to energise. As she dissolved in a haze of blue light, Olan sighed.
"But there's no Orion pirate to save you again if you do."
Zevil found himself in a cavernous hallway as he materialized. The cavern had a river of magma running throughout it, but the glass walls and floor kept it and the heat it generated from harming him "Admiral Zevil?" Asked a Reman in a republic uniform. At Zevil's nod, the Reman said "Right this way sir, Admiral Kererek and the other specialists are already in the gateway complex. Follow me."
Zevil did so, passing by Republic officers carrying out tasks, until they arrived in a massive cavern with an equally massive gateway right in the middle of it. Zevil had an unwanted flashback to Brea III and the massive gateway there. It had taken an orbital bombardment to destroy that one, but he wasn't sure how they would deal with this one, not safely anyway.
He switched to taking in the room at large, seeing a few dignitaries and various technicians making sure everything was working correctly. Then his eyes landed on Lydana, getting a chance for a candid observation of her.
Zevil didn't know, at first, why the Bajoran admiral looked so different - she was the same diminutive, peppy, subtly threatening woman he had known for two years, and yet...something was amiss. It took several minutes of watching her, as she spoke with ease to diplomats and admirals of multiple species, for him to realise nothing was wrong with Admiral Kassai, but instead incredibly right.
For the first time since meeting her, Zevil realised that Admiral Kassai looked...whole.
For a moment, just a moment, he wondered if Morningstar protocol was- but no. Lydana might seem to be better, more well adjusted and stable, but that didn't change the fact that she has manipulated the system and buried or erased the evidence of her wrongdoings, just like she had for the Pezhal incident. She has lied, cheated, stolen, and used illegal methods to get what she wanted, and not always for the greater good.
He shook his head and walked over to a man he had wanted to meet since he learned it was his captain that had made first contact with his people.
"Ambassador Worf." Zevil said as he approached the living legend. He was dressed in the robes of his office as ambassador to the Klingon Empire, complete with an armored sash with emblems of the houses of Martok and Mogh in pride of place and a Kur'leth strapped to his back. The only thing to really separate him from other Klingons, was that his pure white hair was kept in a low ponytail that was cut short. "Admiral Xavious Vexius Zevil." He gave a slight bow to the man. "It's a great honor to meet you, sir."
"The honor is all mine." Worf said as he gave a reciprocal bow. "I have heard much about you, both from those I had served with in Starfleet and a close ally of my house."
Before Zevil could ask who, though he had a bad feeling about who it might be, he felt a presence behind him that was followed by a whisper in his ear. "Hello, my beloved enemy."
Zevil jumped, dread filling his entire being, because he knew that voice. He turned and there was Major General J'Vasa, dressed in the armor and livery of a Klingon Honor Guard. "General J'Vasa, what a…surprise." Zevil said eventually. "I wasn't aware that you would be here or that you had been made an Honor Guard when you were promoted, congratulations."
"Thank you, I have brought honor to my house and my allies." She says with no small amount of pride. J'Vasa turned and gestured to the person behind her, "As has my sister."
'This must be a day for strange reunions.' Zevil thought, as a figure from his recent past stepped into view. Her pure white hair was longer now, but the Borg implants and the scars surrounding them were no less visible. However, the biggest change was the uniform, as Thirteen Black, the Ghost of Rihan herself, had exchanged her Romulan uniform for that of the Klingon Honor Guard.
He had to admit, she looked every bit as fierce as her 'sister' - and Thirteen's adoption into House K'gor was yet another surprise. "Commander Thirteen, I'm happy to see you're flourishing as one of the Republic's liaisons to the Klingons." Zevil said with another bow towards her. "Although I didn't know you had also joined the House of K'gor."
"Our father has been extremely blessed these last few months." J'Vasa said with a hearty slap to Thirteen's back, who didn't even move when it hit. "He has gone from only having one daughter, to two!"
"I had heard you had taken a mate, J'Vasa. I hope you two have many years together." Worf said and Zevil only subconsciously registered the muted sadness he felt from the elder Klingon's words, because all he heard was that J'Vasa was mated and therefore no longer his problem.
"You married someone?" Zevil asked, needing a verbal confirmation, barely believing his good fortune. 'No more unwanted advances? No more possible diplomatic incidents if I spurn said advances? By the Night Cloak let that be true!' He silently prayed.
"Yes! I have taken Dr. Dalla Sina as my mate and as the future Matriarch of my house!" J'Vasa, smile large and chest puffed up in pride as she thought of her bride. It was then that Zevil realized he hadn't felt the usual waves of lust and love directed at him. "I hope you can forgive the trick I pulled on you, "my beloved enemy", but I could not resist seeing you jump like a frightened grishnar cat!" she told him, cackling at the image.
"On the contrary, general, I couldn't be more happy for you!" Zevil said, genuine joy mixed with relief coloring his voice. "May you both shine brightly within the Night Cloak." The rest of their conversation was put on hold as their host called for attention.
Admiral Kererek, an older and scarred Romulan dressed in the long coat of a Republic Admiral, addressed the guests. "Welcome, everyone. The Romulan Republic is here, along with representatives from both the Federation and the Klingon Empire, to witness the dawn of a new age."
Kererek looked over to the gateway. "Harnessing the power of this gateway will change everything for our people." He looked back to the assembled group and took a breath. "I know many of you have your objections to using this gateway. We must be cautious- the Dewans tried to use this technology and it destroyed them. But we have studied this technology since Admiral Kassai helped discover it." He gave a little nod to the diminutive Bajoran who gave an embarrassed little wave, that made Zevil roll his eyes at the innocent act she was doing. "We believe that we have found where the Dewans went wrong.
"We now have the knowledge and skill to successfully adapt Iconian technology to our own uses, thanks in no small part to studying the technology gathered by Admiral Zevil and others from the Republic and the Klingon Defense Force." Zevil gave a nod of acknowledgement when some of the guests looked his way, while willfully ignoring the look Lydana gave him. "We have a few more adjustments to make and then we'll be able to-" Before Kererek can continue, he's interrupted by Worf.
"You think you have corrected the issue?" Worf says, challenge and incredulity clear in his voice. "I have encountered Iconian gateways twice before. In both instances, the finest commanders I ever served found the technology too dangerous to preserve." Worf now addressed the whole room. "So consider what happened to the Dewans…and what the results would be if the Romulans lose a second homeworld."
"I'm afraid I must agree with the Ambassador, Admiral." Zevil said as he stepped forward. "For the few years that I've served in Starfleet, I've come across multiple pieces of this technology and almost all of those instances have shown that this technology is being used by an unknown power that poses a clear threat to the galaxy as a whole, either by them directly or through secondary agents…like Taris or the Tal Shiar."
"So much for the vaunted Starfleet reputation as explorers of the unknown," declared a high, imperious voice, and Zevil buried the urge to knead his temples. This, then, was General Lyrina Tanavis Mu'dar, a Cardassian war orphan, so damaged by trauma and post-traumatic stress that she considered herself a princess of a royal family Cardassia never had.
"I thought Starfleet were ever at the ready to sail into danger, in the name of science and understanding," she said derisively, several members of the Klingon delegation - presumably the less historically-aware of her supporters - emphasising her words with mockery and laughter.
Zevil could already feel the headache he usually got when he dealt with the Cardassian "princess". Since the tentative peace had started, Zevil had to deal with the mad woman a few times, and each time was a chore. Mostly cause if he didn't play into her delusions, she would become combative and threaten war.
"Starfleet is always ready to explore the unknown and expand our understanding of the universe, that does not mean we will blindly tamper with forces we don't understand." Zevil said coolly. "Especially when we may be alerting a force of nature to our meddling, and if I may be so bold as to borrow a saying from your adopted home, your highness," Zevil surveyed the room and made eye contact with each and every Klingon in the room. "'The wind does not respect a fool'."
The Klingons began to murmur, many with respect. Not many Starfleet officers respect Klingon mythology, let alone quote the great Kahless. Worf nodded in approval and J'Vasa grinned at her friend's genius. "Have anything else to say, 'princess'?" She asked the fellow general, the sarcasm clear when she used Mu'dar's delusional title.
Commander Thirteen used Mu'dar's flabbergasted silence to add her voice to her sister's.
"There are countless officers in this room who have encountered this technology before, and who know the dangers it poses," she declared, fixing the mad general with a glare made more imposing by her Borg implants. "Admiral Kassai, when your Emissary encountered an Iconian gate, what did he do with it?"
"He blew it to pieces," the tiny Bajoran answered plainly, and Thirteen gestured back to her as she addressed the assembly once more.
"You see? When the great Captain Sisko, hero of the Dominion War, found a piece of this technology, even he knew it was too dangerous to keep. These gates should always be destroyed on sight, nothing more!" She pounded the railing beside her to emphasize her point, then took her place by her sister once again.
"Thank you, everyone, for your concerns. Proconsul D'Tan and the Senate have considered all the facts, including all of the points you just made, and decided that we will still go on with the activation." Kererek said. "This a chance for our people, all of them," he sent a glare Thirteen's way, who merely glared back in response, "To regain the lost glory we held before Hobus went nova. It is not for Starfleet or the Klingon Empire, despite our treaties with them, to dictate what we do within our own borders." He took a calming breath. "However, I am willing to allow Ambassador Worf and Admirals Zevil and Kassai to look over our modifications and technical data while coming up with possible contingencies in case the worst should happen. Is that acceptable?"
"That is…acceptable." Worf said eventually, turning to Zevil. "As long as the Admirals agree."
"I'm happy to work with the Ambassador to make sure everything runs smoothly." Zevil said, not mentioning how he felt about working with Lydana, though the unimpressed glare he sent her made it clear how he felt. She ignored this and gave a nod of agreement.
"Excellent." Kererek said, clapping his hands together. "All the technicians will happily share their stations and work with you and answer any of your questions. Again, thank you all for coming."
"I suggest we speak to the chief science officer." Worf suggested to Zevil and Lydana, before he turned to the K'gor sisters. "Keep an eye on the others here. I would not be surprised if someone were to try and sabotage the activation."
"At once, Ambassador." J'Vasa said as she and her sister slammed their fists to their chests. "Come sister, it is time to go hunting."
Thirteen unslung her bat'leth, stalking after J'Vasa.
"Finally, I was growing weary of all this ligament-chewing."
'Oh that does not fill me with confidence.' Zevil thought, the dread from earlier coming back at the realization of what it meant that those two being sisters now really meant. But he had other things on his mind "Go on ahead of us, Ambassador. I need to confer with my colleague." Zevil said, with a smile that didn't quite meet his eyes. It was the false smile that Worf had seen often since becoming an Ambassador, but he nodded and left. Once the Klingon was out of ear shot, Zevil turned on Lydana.
"Why are you here? And I want the real reason, cause I doubt a high ranking member of Starfleet Intelligence is here solely to help out of the goodness of her own heart. You've shown you don't have one, for starters." He said in her head, followed with images of their argument. His words were whispered in her mind, but Lydana still heard them and felt their sting.
"If you wish to speak to me, Xavius, do it with your words, like a big boy," Lydana told him, keeping her voice low. "Unless you're worried about the reprisal of anyone who hears you?"
Her tone hadn't changed, still soft and polite, but there was a steel in her that Zevil was unused to. Oh certainly, she had been more confident and sure of herself since joining Starfleet Intelligence, but now she was…somehow the same, but more.
Zevils eye gave an involuntary twitch, before he shook it away. "The privacy was for your sake, but fine. Doesn't really matter I suppose. No one seems to believe me." Zevil said, in a whisper, but the scorn in his voice was very apparent. "I don't know why you're really here and I won't believe you if you told me anyway, but I won't let you put people's lives in danger like you did to the crew of the Phoenix …not that I could prove it now, but you already know about that, don't you."
At her confused expression he simply shook his head in disgust. "Playing innocent is just insulting, Admiral Kassai. The padd holding the sensor data Commander Burgess gave me was wiped clean electronically. Child's play for someone like you." He got close, and Lydana could feel the anger coming off his body language, but he took a breath and his mood changed to disappointment. "I went to you to try and figure out why you did that and get you to face your mistake. I presented my evidence to you and what did you do? You threaten me."
Something akin to a mask slips, and Lydana is taken aback at the pure sadness and exhaustion she sees on his face, "I was your friend Lydana." Quick as a flash, it's gone and in its place, coldness and indifference. "But I suppose I was wrong to think you were ever mine."
"We don't have the time for me to explain the many and varied ways you're wrong," Lydana told him, her voice low but heavy with concern, "and chances are you wouldn't believe me anyway. But I will tell you this: six months ago, I died, and when I came back, I could have gone anywhere. Do you understand? Literally anywhere, with no pressure on me to do anything for anyone else. I could've gone to Qo'nos, Mol'Rihan - Prophets, I could have moved to the Gamma quadrant, and no-one would have known or even cared. But I came back here, to this life, to this place. You know why?" Lydana stepped close to Zevil, pulling him down to her level. "You." She let him go again, and when she met his gaze again her hazel eyes burned with unshed tears. "I came back, because someone dear to me is in a battle he knows nothing about, and I am fighting to bring you back from the precipice of whatever insanity has taken you. You wonder if I was ever your friend?" She shook her head, banishing her tears for now. "No, Xavius. I stopped thinking of you as a friend a long time ago. I'm here, now, fighting to save my family."
Zevil looked at her for a long moment, and let out a deep sigh. "And just like my actual family, you're not listening to me. You'd rather maintain this narrative rather than do the right thing." He shook his head in disappointment and looked around, not liking the eyes on them. "But you're right, we haven't the time for this. As I said, I don't know why you're really here, but I doubt I could stop you anyway. Let's help the Ambassador at that station." Zevil turned and started walking away but stopped and, not looking at her, said "I'm glad you're not dead." and kept walking.
Zevil was glad Lydana couldn't see his face because it had confusion all over it and in his mind. Lydana was being…truthful? That didn't align with the evidence he had gathered about her wrong doings or what Captain Harper told him about her other activities. He knew that Starfleet Intelligence trained their officers to resist telepathy, but could they mask their emotions too? Or could it be a new type of technology? Section 31 had a habit of making tech that was far ahead of its time, so could that be it?
Zevil's head started to hurt from all these thoughts before subsiding. It didn't matter. Lydana was guilty and is either delusional or trying to manipulate him and everyone else to think she was innocent. It was a lie, Zevil would find the truth, and bring Lydana to justice. Even if it broke his heart to do it, because he had started to think of her as family too.
They joined Worf as he was talking to a Romulan woman in a blue uniform. Zevil had a moment to think how interesting it was that the Republic were using the same color system for career tracks as Starfleet, before the scientist noticed them. "Admiral Zevil, I'm Researcher A'dranna t'Kerhav it's nice to meet you." She turned to Lydana, "And it's good to see you again, Admiral Kassai."
"Researcher t'Kethav was just telling me how she was the one D'tan put in charge of looking over Admiral Kassai's findings here and begin working on repairing the gateway." Worf told them, wanting to bring them up to speed quickly. "We'd like to look over the data you have for the gateway."
"You're welcome to it, but it's not necessary, we're ready." A'dranna said with confidence despite her clear exhausted state. Had she been sleeping? "We've considered everything that could go wrong and plan for every contingency. The Dewans weren't as advanced as us- They hadn't even become a warp culture when they tried to repower this gateway. We have advantages they couldn't dream of."
"How can you be so sure? What if you have only added risk to activating this gateway?" challenged Worf. He'd seen what this technology could do and it was dangerous when it worked. If something were to go wrong? Well, the Dewans are extinct, so that didn't leave much debate on that front.
"With all due respect, Ambassador, I don't think there's anything to worry about." A'dranna said patiently. "Yes, there's some risk, but anything worth doing has some risk. We wouldn't be standing on a new homeworld for my people if we hadn't been willing to take a chance and challenge the Tal Shiar." She looked at Zevil and Lydana now. "Something I hear you both know a lot about."
"Opposing Hakeev and Sela did not leave either of us without loosing something precious." Zevil said, thinking of Lydana's late wife, Loraya, and his mental health after the arena and Brea III. He had only talked about it with Desirae, his former councilor. He hadn't even talked about it with Tyufia, Vex, or even Six. It was still too raw, even now. "If your calculations are off by even a single point, you could lose not only your new homeworld, but the lives of everyone on this planet."
A'drana rubbed at her tired eyes as she digested this information before sighing deeply. "If it will make you feel better, I'll review the data my team has collected on the gateway with you." She rubbed her eyes tiredly. "Maybe I do need another set of eyes. I've… I've been having a lot of trouble sleeping."
"Lead the way." Zevil said out loud, but used his mind to say to Lydana "Take the lead on this. I want to get Worf's opinion on her." and he left her mind, not giving her a chance to argue or give a snide comment about anything. "Ambassador," Zevil said in Worf's mind, and Zevil was impressed when he only barely jumped in surprise. "forgive the intrusion, but I thought this would give us a chance to talk privately."
"...Unsettling, but effective." Worf said mentally. This wasn't his first time speaking with a telepath like this. He once had to fend off Ambassador Troi on her visits to the Enterprise and DS9, fortunately Odo and Picard usually took up most of her attention. Too late he realized that those memories might be transferred through the link and he growled as he heard Zevil chuckle.
"If it makes you feel better, my mother met her once and says she's like that with everyone." Zevil said with sympathy. He'd never met the infamous Betazoid, but he's heard enough stories about her by reputation.
"It does not." Worf growled back, really not wanting to talk about the mother of his old friend and one time paramore. "You had something you wanted to discuss?"
"What is your assessment of A'dranna?" Zevil asked, happy to get back on task.
Worf took a moment to consider the Romulan carefully and evaluated his conversation with her lone and with the Admirals. "I do not possess your abilities to sense the thoughts or truth of others words, but I have acquired a warrior's instinct over the years, and it tells me that she is not lying." He glanced in the telepath's direction. "Your assessment?"
"I didn't feel deception from her, just exhaustion." A'dranna wasn't kidding when she said she hadn't been sleeping well. Her exhausted feelings almost hit him like a ship going to warp nine. "I doubt she would sabotage the activation, but it's never foolish to double check."
Lydana, for her part, was busy going over A'dranna's reports.
"In my experience, you can't prepare for every eventuality," she corrected the exhausted scientist, "but I'll admit you've certainly compensated for a great deal."
The weary science officer beamed at the praise from someone she admired. "Oh, thank you, Adm-"
"But your refusal to see a doctor about your insomnia is a near-fatal oversight," Lydana added, and A'dranna hung her head.
"I-I'm sorry, it's just been…it's been a lot."
"I know that - more than many people, I know. But with work this volatile, and with this potential for catastrophe…there can't be any mistakes."
A'dranna was silent, and Lydana passed the padd back to her. "You're doing good work here, Adrie," she told the Romulan, using a familiar form of her name, "but you need to learn when to take a break." She smiled, patting the woman on the shoulder. "This is all in order, despite your insomnia. Go get some rest."
She moved to rejoin the two men, a disarming smile on her face. "So, what did you boys talk about while I was gone?"
"We were comparing notes on A'dranna and we both agree she does not seem likely to betray her people by sabotaging the activation." Said Worf, not bothering to have Zevil keep up the psychic link, but keeping his voice down all the same. "What about you? Was the data satisfactory?"
"Aside from A'dranna's crippling exhaustion, yes," Lydana said in equally hushed tones. "I've given her a lecture, for all the good it'll do - I know how hard it is to sleep when you're on the verge of a scientific breakthrough. Unlike her, however, I know that this particular 'breakthrough' could destroy the entire planet."
"It's always frustrating when someone you care for doesn't listen to you isn't it? Especially when you have everyone's best interests at heart." Zevil said evenly, earning him a glare from Lydana and a puzzled look from Worf, but Zevil ignored them as he continued. "Perhaps we should divide and conquer?"
"Agreed. The assembled generals and Captain Shon have been working with Kererek's forces to help with security for the activation." Worf cut a look to the Andorian in question, who was speaking to one of his security officers. "While we have recently met, I do not know the man, but he commands an Enterprise, so he must be a formidable man." He considered the captain for a moment and this mind went to another captain of the Enterprise, making his lip twitch up in a smile for a millisecond.
"Enterprise has only had the best of Starfleet as her captain." Zevil said smirking at Worf, making sure the older Klingon knew he was included in that statement, to which he received a small head tilt in appreciation from the former captain. "I have met him and he is indeed formidable, but I think it would be best if I talk to him without Admiral Kassai."
"Don't trust me to talk to a captain now, Xavius?" Lydana asked dryly, arms crossed and eyebrow raised in challenge.
"This may be hard for you to believe, Admiral Kassai, but the galaxy does not revolve around you." Zevil said not looking at her, his own dry tone even more dry with his formality, however his eyes and tone did soften as he kept looking at Shon. "His wife and daughter were on Vega that day, so he probably doesn't want to talk to you."
Whatever retort Lydana might have said, died on her tongue. She hadn't known that about the new captain of Enterprise, not that she had tried to look into the casualties of that day much. That…had not been a good start to her Starfleet career, to put it extremely mildly.
"I suggest you speak to the chief engineer, Admiral Kassai." Zevil said, his tone back to dry and painfully professional as he ignored her reaction. "You seem to have a good rapport with the team here, perhaps he might open up to you more than he would all of us?"
"I should check in with J'Vasa and Thirteen, see if they have found anything and…mitigate whatever damage they and General Mu'dar might have done." Worf growled, already feeling annoyed with the Cardassian lunatic. "I will also have them beam down more warriors to act as security."
"Very good Ambassador, we'll meet back before the activation and give our report to Kererek, agreed?" With nods from both of them, Zevil started walking over to Shon. He felt a twinge of regret on how he had handled telling Lydana about Shon's family, he knew Vega was a touchy subject for her and he could have been gentler in his delivery, but that thought quickly faded as he remembered the last time he mentioned Vega to her during their argument. If she was going to try and blackmail him when he was just trying to help her do the right thing, then he certainly wasn't going to coddle her.
He put those thoughts from his mind as he approached Shon. "Captain Shon. It's good to see you again." Zevil said with honest cheer. He'd worked with Shon twice, three including today, and he'd always appreciated his professional yet easy-going attitude.
"Same here, Admiral." Shon said, taking the other man's hand in a handshake with a sincere smile on his face. "And I think after what we've been through, you can call me Va'kel."
"Then I insist you call me Xavius." Zevil told him, a smile of his own on his face. The two were a lot of alike in many ways, and both shared a bitter sweet bond: both had lost ships and people during the same battle. They had recovered and gotten new commands, but that kind of loss forms ties between people.
"Gladly. Been a while since that fiasco with the Dominion." He said and both grimaced at the memory, but didn't dwell on it. "How are you doing? I heard about your new ship and your trip to Fluidic space."
"I'm doing well, despite the Undine and the Borg's best efforts," Zevil said with a chuckle. "And the Hades is a dream to command, how about you and the Enterprise?"
"No complaints here," Shon said, standing a little taller at the mention of the ship, pride for his command clear. "Having to live up to the legacy is daunting, but I can handle it, although having her predecessor's captain here makes that a little harder." He tilted his chin at Worf, who was dressing down the three generals who had clearly taken things too far, if the two roughed-up Republic officers were anything to go by. "We spoke briefly about sharing stories about his time on the D and E earlier." Shon said, shaking his head in amusement at the sight. "Given your interest in Starfleet history, you should join us."
"Yes!" Zevil said a little too quickly and was more than a little embarrassed of himself, especially as Shon chuckled. Clearing his throat to regain composure, and his dignity, he said "I'd be happy to, however that's not why I'm here."
"I figured as much. I'm glad you and the Ambassador said something about the risk the Romulans are taking here." Shon said, his face and voice growing serious. "I share your…concerns about the gateway. I've been dubious of this project from the start. Some things are too powerful for anyone to have."
"I'm glad to hear it because we- the Ambassador, myself, and…Admiral Kassai," Zevil paused for a moment, gauging Shon's reaction at the name, but seeing none continued, "were hoping you might have some options on neutralizing the gateway in case the worst should happen."
Shon cut his eyes to Lydana, who was busy talking to the Chief Engineer, before speaking again. "I'm guessing either she opted out of talking to me or you asked her not to come over with you?"
There was no censure or anger in his words or emotions, so Zevil relaxed but still felt a little chagrined. "I'm sorry Va'kel, I wasn't sure how you'd react to her given your shared…history, but I should have left that up to you."
"I appreciate the thought, Xavius, but it's okay. I don't blame her for what happened to my family." It was only a moment, but Zevil was sure he felt guilt coming off his friend, but the emotion fell into the background of Shons's mind as he shook his head. "Hell, she not only lost people too that day, but she lost her first ship. She gave the survivors of Vega IX a chance to build new lives for themselves, how could I hate her after doing all that?"
Zevil considered this, comparing Lydana's past to her present. She had done a lot of good in her time in Starfleet, including helping to ensure this planet was habitable for the Romulans to call it home and defending it from the Elachi, but now she was sacrificing good Captain's and crews to satisfy her curiosity, spying on their allies, and using her Mirror Universe counterpart to kill a whole city of innocents if the dossier that Captain Harper gave him was to be believed. It was hard to reconcile that the two woman were actually the same person, maybe he was- no, the evidence was clear. Whoever Lydana was at the start of her career had either died with her wife or was just an act to hide who she really was.
"Back to the matter at hand." Shon said, unknowingly interrupting Zevil's spiraling thoughts. "While I don't agree with the activation, it's my job to do what Starfleet Command orders, so the Enterprise is here to assist and represent the Federation." He said what amounted to Starfleet's company line with a straight face, but as Zevil smirked at him and raised his brow at the line Shon smirked too. "But it's also my job to protect my ship and the Federation, so I had my engineers work up some contingency plans."
"The Ambassador is already speaking to the generals about bringing down some security teams to bolster the Republic forces in case of an attack." No sooner had the words left Zevil's mouth, the red haze of Klingon transporters appeared, materializing fifteen klingon warriors that quickly followed the barked orders from the three fearsome femals that were their C.O.s.
"Since the generals are bringing in extra ground troops to deal with any unwelcome visitors, that should narrow down our options." Shon double tapped his badge and four large round devices, that Zevil recognized as spacial mines, appeared on the ground between them. "I had my Cheif Engineer make up these just in case. They have enough power to take out the gateway. If we attach them to the base of the pylons we should be able to stop a disaster before it happens."
"I knew you'd have something up your sleeve Va'kel." Zevil said as he psychically lifted one of the charges, giving it a cursory once over. "Hopefully we won't have to use them. I'd honestly rather not since we're her on the Republic's invitation, but it's better to be safe than sorry."
"My thoughts exactly Xavius. I can count on you to place the charges? I'd do it, but I doubt the Romulans would like a Starfleet captain placing bombs on their gateway, but an Admiral on the other hand…" Shon didn't finish the sentence, it wasn't necessary, and simple gave an apologetic smile Zevil's way.
"Leave it with me, Captain Shon." Zevil said in an overly official voice, winking at Shon as he lifted up the rest of the charges with his mind and startEd towards the gateway. He sent them ahead of him, placed them, and activated the magnetic seals. This interrupted Lydana and the Chief Engineers talk.
"Hey! What are- Oh! Good idea." Said the Chief as he got a good look at the charges and figured out what they were. Clearly, he didn't like the idea of the activation either and welcomed a backup plan.
Admiral Kererek was a different story. "What exactly do you think you're doing, Admiral Zevil?!" He seethed as he stomped over to the younger Admiral. "You were cleared to look over data and come up with possible contingencies, not to harass my officers, practically invade our facility, or attach bombs to our gateway!"
"I apologize for the treatment of your officers, Admiral. The generals were…overzealous with my orders." Worf said as he joined them, throwing a glare towards the women in question. The generals, however, did not look apologetic. Mu'dar went so far as to sniff snidely as she lifted her nose in the air as if she were the one offended.
"However, the extra security forces and bombs are part of our contingencies, admiral." Zevil said as he stood straight and with his hands behind his back, face defiant. "The bombs will only be used if the gateway looks like it will go critically unstable or if enemy forces try and come through, which is what the security forces are for."
"Calm down, Kererek, you old blow-hard," Lydana said, walking up beside the taller officer with a grin. "Xavius is one of Starfleet's best tacticians, and he's as adept at backups and contingencies as he is at making plans up in the moment. Believe me, if I were you I'd be glad he's attaching explosives to the gateway, because it may just take something that drastic to shut the damn thing down if it all goes wrong."
Zevil gave the diminutive admiral an odd look. He genuinely didn't understand her…well, to be honest, he never really understood her even when they were still friends, but now she was making less sense than before. She breaks several laws and codes of conduct, threatens him, tries to blackmail him, and has the audacity to label him as crazy for telling the truth, but she says things like this and wants to act as if they're still friends. What is her game?
"...Thank you, Admiral Kassai." Zevil finally says, the words fighting him as they leave his mouth almost involuntarily. "Admiral Kererek, while I do not believe this activation is a good idea, I respect that it is ultimately the Republic's decision to activate this gateway. I want you to succeed, but I also want to stop another disaster befalling your people." He took a deep sigh next, not wanting to say this, but it was true. "...And I know that Admiral Kassai loves this world and your people too much to not say or do anything that would prevent the activation of this gateway if it really was unsafe to do so." He pointedly did not look at Lydana's reaction, but he still felt the grateful, if not a little confused, feelings coming from her. At least he wasn't alone in being confused.
Kererek looked like he was going to argue, but just sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "Very well. Are you finished? I don't want to delay the activation any further." Getting nods of approval from the three of them, Kererek gathered everyone that wasn't necessary for the activation behind the main control console.
"Initiating power transfer." Said the Chief Engineer as he tapped away at the console.
"Power output rising." Said A'dranna at the other station across the room. Looking at the data readouts, she had a hopeful smile on her face. "Power levels are within expected parameters."
"Activating the gateway…now." A translucent image of a large room began to slowly come into existence. Zevil was trying to see if he could make out anything more about the room when alarms started to sound. "We're getting an energy spike! Trying to compensate!" The chief tapped at the console, but it kept sounding negative tones. "No good!"
The room began to shake as the gateway began to overload. "Abort! Abort the mission!" Shouted Kererek, panic clear in his voice as rocks started to fall from the ceiling.
"I can't! It's not responding!" The chief said, right before the console blew up, sending him to the floor. He was dead before he landed, his wide unseeing eyes empty and his burnt chest not rising.
"Shut it down!" Worf roared as boulders started to fall now.
"Now, Shon!" Zevil ordered as he used his abilities to knock a boulder off course from flattening a Xindi delegate as he made his way out of the chamber.
"Detonating charges!" Shon warned as he pulled out his tricorder and sent the triger command through. The bombs blew, but the pylons were still standing.
"No effect! Get everyone out of the chamber!" Worf ordered and the few people that had not yet moved, either in fear or shock, made a run for the entrance.
Zevil was urging people out when he saw three massive boulders falling straight for the exit and about to kill several people. With as much power as he could muster, Zevil sent a wave of telekinetic force towards the entrance and push the people through the exit and clear of the boulders.
Zevil fell to one knee as he was hit with exhaustion, the effort to use that much power was still too much after his last mission. Lost in regaining his bearings, he didn't see the boulder heading straight for him till it was too late. Time seemed to slow as he saw the massive rock come right at him. 'I'm sorry Six, I love you.' He thought, knowing he wouldn't be able to get out of the way or push the rock off course with his mind in time.
Almost a foot away from him, two blades swung at the rock, cleaving it in an 'x' pattern with their simultaneous hits, and breaking it into rubble from the force. The owners of the blades were Worf with his Kur'leth and J'Vasa wielding the Shard of Kahless. "Come, Xavius! Today may be a good day to die, but not like this!" Said the one eyed general as she picked him up by the back of his uniform and effortlessly lifted him up to his feet, Thirteen running up with Shon to support him.
"There goes our way out!" Lydana said as she looked over to the well and truly blocked off exit. "Now what?"
Worf Looked around and considered the situation, but there was only one viable escape option. "Into the gateway! Now!" He ordered and the remainder of the people in the chamber ran in.
The last thing Zevil saw before they ran into the gateway was the ceiling completely giving way and falling towards them. 'Well, I guess the gate is going to be destroyed after all.' That was the last thought he had before an errant rock hit him on the head seconds before they went through and all he knew was black.
AN: Cliffhanger! Hopefully Malice and I will be just as fast with updates, so you guys won't have to wait long!
As you can probably tell, I combined a few elements of STO Worf and Picard Worf. STO did a good job, but I liked the calm and cool warrior master that we saw in Picard, so I made a few changes.
Till next time, I bid you adieu!