DISCLAIMER:
Authors: Wendy-Anne and Steve.

All characters belong to Paramount Pictures. But not the ones created by me for this story. The logos that appear on this story also belong to paramount pictures. This story is mine and shall not be copied in anyway.

RATING:
NC-17

SUMMARY:

Keevan falls in love with a hybrid during a war with a new enemy that threatens not only the Federation but also the Dominion forcing them both to ally, which changes their fates forever.

Dr Julian Bashir sat down and stared into his coffee cup, he was reflecting on the past, and how things have changed…

…yes, things had indeed changed dramatically in the last two months, the Federation/Dominion War was over, and an air of relief had been hanging around the station since. He knew he should feel like the rest of the crew on board the station, but he couldn't get over the changes.

He sipped his coffee.

As the hot, sour liquid lined his throat, he thought about the changes…

Captain Sisko had disappeared without a trace, and despite Kira's assertion that he had gone to the Prophets, he couldn't believe in something he couldn't see or hear.

In his absence, Kira had been given command of the station, and although she relished the chance to run DS9, Bashir knew she was feeling the loss of Odo more than anyone.

It seemed a shame that just when Kira and Odo understood their true feelings for each other, that Odo's promise to save his people from destruction would mean that they would have to part. Life was cruel for them.

The O'Briens had left for Earth almost as soon as the war ended, Miles had decided that a life out by the battle lines for his young family was unfair, and only Earth could offer the peace and tranquillity he sought. The regular games of Squash and darts were now but a distant memory. Miles was a good friend and he missed his presence.

The O'Briens were joined on the exodus by Kasidy and Jake Sisko, Jake just wanted to get away from DS9, and too much had happened there for him to want to stay. For Kasidy, like the O'Briens, Earth offered a far more secure alternative than life in deep space.

Deep Space Nine needed new staff to fill in these posts, the Federation and Bajor agreed to hand over full command to Colonel Kira from Sisko of Deep Space Nine. Doctor Bashir and Ezri Dax were to be married soon and might stay on Deep Space Nine. Quark decided to stay on Deep Space Nine as ever. Rom and his wife Leeta had gone to live on Bajor, while his son Nog chose to stay on Deep Space Nine to do his Starfleet commission.

Garak had returned home to Cardassia. After so many years of not being an outcast amongst his own people, he had returned home a hero, and had been appointed Chief of Militia on Cardassia, with the task of rebuilding the decimated Cardassian fleet.

Deep Space Nine welcomed new replacements, a new head of engineering, new head of security and others from Starfleet. But as soon as the new staff, arrived some of them were sent on an away mission to rescue a crashed Ferengi ship on a small uninhabited planet not too far from Deep Space Nine. Kira thought it was a great way of getting them to experience a deep space mission...

Stardate 50112.2

USS Defiant

Approaching Kelstra II Surface

"Great, as soon as we arrive on Deep Space Nine we have to go on an away mission to save Ferengi!" Commander Perrie Lantern, the new First Officer of DS9 was furious, he had not even had the opportunity to meet his new commanding officer in person before he was whisked off on a mission to aid a race that he frankly didn't have the time of day for.

"Oh well…" said a woman behind him

"…look sir, I am a new security guard sent to protect you, and this is not exactly my first choice of mission's either." replies Ensign Sophie Hamill, a young Ensign on her first deep space assignment. Lantern picked this up pretty quickly, but he was still annoyed by the impetuous remark.

"In case you were wondering Ensign, Starfleet assigned me the rank of Commander because I have some experience in such missions, and not many missions are my 'first choice', but they are just as important as any you'll ever do."

Hammill sheepishly replied "Yes Sir…"

Lantern knew he had come across more stern then he had intended; he needed to get staff on his side if he was to succeed in his new post, not make enemies before he really started.

"But I do know what you mean, this is probably as bad an assignment as it gets!"

He smiled, and the mood on the bridge eased.

DS9's new Chief of Engineering, Seth Marsh raised his head and interrupted the discussion "Well sir, I don't think you can beam down to the planet at the moment, a sensor scan of the planet surface shows there's too much ionic interference, you'll have to go down in a pod."

"Well, I suppose that was bound to happen." A grin flashed across Lantern's face. "OK, who would like to accompany me on the scenic tour of the planet?"

This comment was met with a chorus of silence, and a group people more than willing to stare at their feet rather than their commanding officer.

"Ensign Hamill, it looks like you just volunteered, please accompany me." With that, Lantern turned on his heels and disappeared through the doorway.

"I guess this is what Starfleet forgot to tell us about in the recruitment manual." Hamill puffed her cheeks and scurried after her superior. "My day has got to get better from here" she muttered to herself on the way through the doorway.

Stardate 50112.2

USS Defiant Delta Flyer Avon

Approaching Kelstra II Surface

The pod descends onto the rocky landscape of the planet surface; the wreckage of the Ferengi ship is strewn across the immediate vicinity of the landing site. Lantern and Hamill leave the pod and scale across the rocky surface to the main concentration of wreckage some 500 metres away from the pod.

"Hey Hamill, are you sure you can protect us… I mean you being a bit small and all…" Lantern had decided he was going to rattle his new young Ensign.

Hamill stopped and turned to Lantern, her mood getting heavier by the second "Yes sir I can. I have a degree in martial arts and I can assure you size does not come into it, as I would happily show you if you wish"

Happy he had stirred his new colleague's emotions enough, he eased the situation "I think I'll take your word on that one, and I never had any doubt that was the case" He turned to Hamill with a contented grin on his face, Hamill then knew that she'd been "stitched" by her new superior, and her mood eased. They continued on towards the crash site.

Once there, the attention of both officers is drawn to what appears to be one of the Warp Nacelles, with what appears to be extensive scarring on the surrounding metal. Lantern takes out his Tricorder and begins scanning.

"Looks like battle damage" Hamill observes.

"Certainly looks that way, but as I am sure you've been told Ensign, looks can be deceiving."

"Well aware Sir, but that's a life lesson rather that a Starfleet Academy training assignment!"

"Indeed!" Lantern paused over the main area of scarring and passed the Tricorder over the area four or five times before finally declaring "She's been shot down alright. I'm not sure who it was, but it was a disruptor weapon of some type."

They proceed further round the hulk to find a way into the ship and find survivors, if there was indeed any to find. Hamill heard something behind her, she pulled out her Phaser ready to fight if needed, it was her natural instinct.

"Sir, I heard something in those trees over there, just a rustle, but definitely more that just the breeze." says Hamill.

Lantern immediately stops scanning the wreck and turns his attention to the surrounding forestry.

"mmm that's funny." Lantern's words display a quiet unease.

"What's that?"

"They're not Ferengi life signs, it's hard to tell what they are, but they're all around us now, and more than a few of them."

The distinct sound of weapons fire disturbs the officers, and Lantern falls to the ground. Although concerned for her fallen superior, Hamill dives for cover behind a rock face to avoid the flurry of weapons fire bouncing around.

"What the hell just happened" she thought to herself, looking out across the rock face to where her fallen commander, her thoughts briefly turned to her primary role on the mission, to protect the senior staff, which at this particular moment seemed to have been failed dismally by her.

Her thoughts were disturbed by the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps, whoever it was that got Lantern had obviously decided to finish the job.

She decided attack was the best form , and charged the approaching figures, but before she could make her move, two shadowy figures decloaked just a few feet behind her. Her senses had given her warning of this, and although she managed to fend off one of them, the burning sensation of weapons fire had pierced her chest and she collapsed to the floor.

The rock face again descended into silence, with just the sound of the Lt. Marsh coming over Lantern's comm. badge breaking the eerie silence…

Keevan looks around the walls of his cell. It's the only thing he's been doing for months now since they cloned him again. Though why the Founders ordered another Keevan clone just to be held as a prisoner was beyond him, maybe they got some kind of kick out of seeing him trapped like an animal. He would not have been here if it were not for those damn Ferengi killing him by mistake in the first place, he might have been somewhere else.

Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by his cell door opening and in walked Yelgren. Keevan stands up from his cell bed, what was Yelgren doing here to see him, and what did he want – there was always a motive with him.

"Hello Keevan, long time no see…"

"mmm, why are you here Yelgren?" asks Keevan.

"I am here to give you your freedom. A chance for you to redeem yourself, make yourself appear worthy in the eyes of the Gods. They have a mission for you and if you successfully complete it, they will grant you freedom and welcome you back into the fold." Yelgren finished with a forced smile.

"Alright Yelgren, I am all ears, what do the gods require of me"

Yelgren nods his head and smiles again "Ah, a good choice…" he then proceeds to tell Keevan all the details of the mission… his last chance.

Stardate 50127.4

Deep Space Nine

Briefing Room

"They can't have just disappeared." The statement from Colonel Kira met with silence from the gathered members of staff in the DS9 briefing room.

"We've covered every inch of the planet surface around a 1000 kilometre radius around the beam-in site, and we couldn't find a sign of them anywhere sir." Stan Marsh's tone resonated with distress.

"I know Lieutenant, and I didn't mean to sound like you missed something, I just would have liked to have met some of my new staff before I had to go searching for them. Alright, we'll pick this up on the Defiant at 0800 hours… Dismissed."

As the gathered staff files out of the doors, Kira took a moment to take the peace and quiet, things may have changed, but they haven't got any easier.

A sound broke the silence, barely audible, but there none the less. Kira focused in on the sound and the distinct voice of Benjamin Sisko rose above the sound of the power generators.

"Don't give up on them; you know where to find them…"

Despite how little Sisko had told her, Kira now understood where she needed to go to find the missing officers. Sometimes having a former commanding officer as one of the Prophets of Bajor was a blessing…

Kira tapped her comm badge, "Lieutenant Marsh, report to the Defiant immediately, we have some colleagues to rescue…"

The auburn haired woman gently opens her eyes, her vision blurred at first, but quickly she regains enough to review her surroundings. She looks around to see a chrome room; she tries to get up, but notices that she is strapped down to a biobed. She is no longer wearing her Starfleet uniform, but a yellow surgical gown. Unfazed by this, she continues to survey the room and notes lots of strange surgical instruments "This can't be good" she whispers quietly to herself. Towards the far end of the room, she can make out another biobed, with a body covered in a bloodstained sheet.

"No, this really is not good." then she wonders where Lantern could be, she had to find a way out of these restraints, but when she moved her body hurt so much. How long had she been here, she tries and tries but is distracted by the sound of phaser fire outside the big chrome doors. It sounded like someone had already escaped, at least that meant there was hope of not ending up like that figure at the other end of the room.

The doors blow open, and through the smoke she sees five figures approaching her. The figures run up to her and unstrap her. One of them pick her up, at which point the full extent of the pain she was in became apparent to her, and duly passes out…

She opens her eyes and again has to refocus on new surroundings. She detects the sounds of troubled voices and an engine, not the size of a starship, but more contained, it was the Delta Flyer they had landed on the planet surface with.

The site of approaching Vorta makes her jump "What do you want!"

"Hey Hamill, it's alright… …it's me!"

She looks closer at the face of the Vorta that spoke to her, and recognizes Commander Lantern, but with a distinct difference…

"What are you doing behind that makeup?" Hamill's voice echoed with confusion.

"It's not makeup Hamill, this is for real."

"But… …how?"

"Experiments; lab rats; that's how!" pipes up a voice from up front. The voice originates from a figure that appears Vorta, but definite traits of Klingon are there.

"Hamill, this is Gailat, he helped us escape, and his colleagues; Borelar and Vorliss now, as I'm sure you'll notice, all part Vorta.

Despite the pain, Hamill got up quickly and sprinted to the nearest glass panel to look at a reflection, and was horrified to see the features of a Vorta staring back at her.

"No, this can't be…"

Lantern grabbed Hamill by the shoulders.

"Snap out of this Ensign, we need to stay calm right now, it doesn't look like we're being followed. But then again, there was not sign of other ships in the vicinity of Kelstra II.

I need you to stay in control, we'll worry about this as and when we get back to DS9."

Hamill nods her head and battles her inner turmoil to give the appearance of calm, even though she wasn't sure where Hamill ended and Vorta began.

Gailat speaks up again

"Whoever these people are, they like mixing Vorta and other species DNA, so what you're trying to tell me we'll always be part Vorta. This is the highest level of dishonour. I will never be able to return home in such disgrace."

Borelar approached Gailat and calmed down his friend as only a Klingon could "Gailat, we will get our revenge, but today was not a good day to die. We must ensure we can find a way to defeat these P'Tagh"

Hamill now tried to get to grips with the situation. "How did we manage to get away?"

"Our captors didn't consider Human ingenuity and Klingon strength as a threat, they were wrong."

Lantern's statement brought a rousing cheer from the gathered Klingons, which in turn brought up the spirits of the two humans.

"How long have we been running?"

Three hours now, so I'm hoping we've got away now."

"That's if they were ever chasing us."

Hamill's reply brought silence to the cabin for a few moments, but Lantern was not about to get too downbeat, now was not the time.

"As that may be, I'm not about to give anyone a chance to send us back there."

A female Klingon voice boomed from the front of the cabin, "Lantern, a ship has just appeared on our long range sensors, I'm not sure of the configuration… and it's just disappeared."

A twinge of concern entered into Lantern's voice. "I think our new friends may have just finished counting to ten and are now coming to find us."

Suddenly the ship starts to shake "We are being fired upon." shouted Vorliss across the cabin.

"You don't say"

The attacking ship flies past the small shuttle and turns round for another pass, and this volley creates a devastating blow, creating a fireball within the cabin that brought screams of agony from whoever it touched.

The attackers turned for another pass, but a volley of fire from the rapidly approaching USS Defiant was enough to make the attackers turn and warp out of the system.

Defiant approached the Delta Flyer, which hung dead in space…

Stardate 50127.4

USS Defiant

Infirmary

Hours later, Ensign Sophie Hamill wakes up in another biobed, but somehow this time it felt right, she felt more at ease in this one. As she takes in her surroundings for what seems the umpteenth time, she sighs and realizes she's in the infirmary. Slowly, sits up but still felt some pain. She hears a voice behind her "Ensign, please lie back down…"

She turns to see Doctor Bashir walk in, followed by a Bajoran nurse. Sophie does as he asks and lies back down, his dulcet tones and excellent bedside manner made most patients feel at ease, but that didn't mean she had stopped asking questions.

"Doctor, how did I get here?"

Bashir's expression drops as he thinks about his reply.

"We found you floating in space; Colonel Kira took the Defiant out and found you in what was left of the Delta Flyer."

"Doctor, are the others alright, because we were attacked by cloaked ships, and I know the Klingons were eager for some revenge…" her voice trailed off as she saw Bashir look down to the floor, she now expected bad news.

Well Ensign, Commander Lantern was dead on arrival, and the three Klingons died an hour ago. They all suffered terrible burns, too much for anyone to survive."

"Oh my God, I remember now, there was a terrible fireball, I remember being flung backwards, I must have been thrown into another compartment."

"A good conclusion Ensign…"

That statement echoed behind Hamill and was followed by the figure of Colonel Kira walking round to stand alongside Dr Bashir.

"I'm very sorry to hear about what has happened Ensign…" Sophie raises her head and looks at Kira directly, knowing Kira had more to say "…and I'm sorry that we have to bring up more bad news, but the Doctor needs to talk to you about what has happened during your disappearance."

Bashir laid everything out about her physical body change, her new DNA, told how long she was missing. He told her that who ever these beings are, they managed to fuse Vorta DNA to humans DNA, she listened as the Doctor told she was not completely human anymore, and that there was no technology known in medicine that could reverse the effects.

"Essentially Dr Bashir, I have to accept being part Vorta for the rest of my life."

"Ensign, you put it bluntly but realistically I'm afraid. Obviously we can do various cosmetic modifications, but we need to let your body recover properly, it is still settling down from a severe biological alteration, and we can't judge how long that will be."

Bashir also said he found a small implant in the back of her neck. which currently had no discernable purpose, but was obviously there for a reason, he didn't want to disturb it without first finding out what it was doing?

Hamill shed her first tear since this whole sorry story began "Doctor, is it possible I could have a mirror?"

"I don't think that would be a good idea yet, I think you should wait until Dax comes and sees you. I am worried about your state of mind Sophie, your body has gone through a very dramatic change and it's in a state of shock." replies Bashir.

"Doctor please!" shouts Sophie. Bashir goes over to his desk and collects a small mirror, but before she looks at it, he slips a hypospray behind her neck and administers a sedative.

Some hours later, Kira and Ezri Dax talk in the infirmary on how best to approach the situation.

"It's an odd situation, I give it that Dax." says Kira

"You said that Ben contacted you?"

"Yes, he told me not give up on them, and then I just knew where to look, that's why I took the defiant out in such a hurry I found them being attacked by a ship that we could identify, and we lost track of it whilst we recovered the craft.

I don't think the Dominion are behind this, they wouldn't want the DNA of other species mudding with their precious Vorta clones, besides, Odo wouldn't let them start another war… No, someone or something else is behind this horror…"

"I agree" a booming voice filled the infirmary. "I thought I could hear the melody of a conversation between the lovely Colonel and Lieutenant, and I just had to confirm my suspicions." Garak had made a quick return to DS9.

"Well, and once again your suspicions appear to be correct." Kira retorted.

"They always have been." Garak replied with a beaming grin.

"Garak, just when did you come aboard?" asks Kira

"A few moments ago."

"And to what do we owe the honour of your presence." Kira said with just a touch of pretence entering into her tone.

"I am here because Cardassians are also going missing, and I have always been a firm believer in cooperation to achieve solutions, as are all Cardassians."

"You wittiness never changes, does it Mr Garak, shall we talk over a drink in Quarks?"

"What better place for a meeting of minds, I believe I know the way…" As Garak passed Kira on the way to Quarks, Kira felt a sudden sense of confidence; at least some things never change…

Days later, and Sophie is up and about, the physical danger to her life has ended and the Vorta DNA was no longer attacking the human DNA , they were now working together in harmony but her mind was not and Dax was helping her come to terms with it. Her family was contacted and were on their way to see her. The Federation now declared there was a new enemy in their midst.

As part of an almost daily routine, Sophie slowly lifts up a mirror to her face and looks at her new reflection, she looks at her once big dark green eyes were now bright almost like emeralds; her hair had remained the same golden auburn and was now curved behind two small Vorta shaped ears. Her skin was pale before, but now it had a porcelain look about it.

"That's it, you're doing fine Sophie, and those ears aren't so big now are they?" Dax smiles at her and Sophie slowly smiles back and gives Dax the mirror and feels the ridges on her new ears and asks "I am still part human aren't I?"

"Of course, that will never change." Dax said calmly. The next few days seemed to fly away in a haze, she was allowed to go back on duty with the help and rehab supervision of Dax. She stands in front of the long mirror in her quarters, her new Vorta features seemed to look out of place with her Starfleet uniform, how was she going to get used to the new her even if she was to have the surgery to remove the Vorta looks, she was never going to be the same person again. "Life goes on." she said to herself as she leaves her quarters.

She agreed to meet up with Dax at the Replimat to have a final chat before making the big step of reporting for duty, and she was late, one weakness of hers that hadn't been altered.

Sophie notices people looking at her as she walks through the Promenade, and finally gets to the Replimat and the waiting Dax.

"Good morning Ensign, a little tardy this morning aren't we?"

"I'm so sorry, it was difficult getting past so many staring faces, and I just keep feeling so paranoid."

"Try to ignore them." Dax replied "I know it's easy for me to say, but if you think about it, I have to take on different faces and personalities all the time. I wasn't always a counsellor you know. Most of the other people I have been would have hated being the person I am now!"

Dax puts her arms around Sophie and they hug tightly. Sophie finally picks up the courage and walks off to the Security Office. Her fellow officers were very kind to her, giving her little jobs to do at first, checking security files on new prisoners. After a while, she felt slightly better and almost forgot about everything until she gazed at the closing doors to the office and saw her dark reflection. As she stares into them, her head suddenly has sharp pains along with a strange voice she could not understand.

She drops the PADDs' she was holding on the floor, and screams out, holding her head and collapsing to the ground.

When she comes round, she hears worried voices around her; she was back in the Infirmary.

"My God…" she thought to herself "…will I ever leave this place?"

She sensed there was something wrong, she heard Colonel Kira shouting "Keep her out of sight in here until I find out what they want, okay." says Kira.

"Understood sir." Replied Dr Bashir.

Kira turns on her heels and exits the infirmary. In a hurry, she goes to airlock seven to greet the unwanted visitors. Garak had been informed, but Kira requested that he remained at Quarks bar until he was needed. The airlock slowly opens and reveals two Jem'Hadar they step out and a Vorta dressed in satin black pants and a red satin jacket and tunic finished with a pair of black boots appears he put s his hands together smiles and speaks softly.

"Ah hello again, Colonel Kira I believe it is."

"Keevan, I thought you wouldn't be cloned anymore for your crimes against the Dominion."

"Well, as you can see, I have been forgiven by the gracious gods." Keevan replied

"What do you want?" asks Kira

"Now, Colonel, is that anyway to talk to your new Vorta friends?" Keevan's smile widens "Can we talk somewhere more private?"

Kira nods and looks at him with venom in her eyes.

Back in the infirmary, Sophie slowly stands up from the biobed and begins to walk out.

"Ensign, where do you think you are going?" a harsh voice says behind her, it was Ezri Dax

"Something's going on, isn't there?" Sophie asks. Dax grabs her around the shoulders

"Yes there is, but we've been given orders by Colonel Kira to keep you here, it's for your own good. Anyway your family will be here soon." finishes Dax.

Kira and Keevan reach ops, followed by the Jem'Hadar. They enter the office and she sits down and plays with Siskos baseball, the Jem'Hadar stand outside, attracting the attention of the Starfleet and Bajoran officers.

"Now Keevan, what can I do for you?" asks Kira, trying to be polite.

"I am sure you are aware of the strange disappearances of different species in the Alpha and Gamma Quadrants."

"I am, and you have information about this?" replies Kira

"These people that are doing this to us are called the Sect, a deeply religious scientific race. All we know about them is that they are mixing our DNA with other species. Due to their strict non-contact policy we know very little about them other than this. The Founders have sent me to help you stop them; they are a threat to both the remnants of the Dominion and the Federation."

Kira replied in a typically gruff manner

"So you want OUR help. How the mighty have fallen!" Kira rested Sisko's baseball back on its stand. Keevan rolled his eyes at Kira's sly remark

"We also heard that some of your people managed to escape from the Sect, were there any survivors?"

Kira gazed at the Vorta before her with suspicion; she was not about to chance revealing information to the Vorta when they may well have a direct involvement in the horrors. Even if Keevan was truthful, it would probably pay to keep any information to ones self, just to keep an upper hand.

"No, all hands were lost before they made it back to DS9."

"I am very sorry to hear that Colonel." says Keevan, who looks at Kira for a moment. He knew she was lying; he could see it her eyes, she was protecting someone and he was going to find out who. He just had to bide his time until then. He smiles at her and turns to leave.

Kira calls to him, a hesitant tone in her voice "Uh, how is Odo?" she asked softly.

Keevan turns round and replies "Odo is doing fine." Kira smiles then Keevan leaves with his Jem'Hadar in tow.

In Quarks bar, Garak is talking to Quark. "So Quark, do you know who is on Deep Space Nine?"

"Yes I do, it's that damn Vorta Keevan and his pet Jem'Hadar." snaps Quark

"Didn't he die by mistake in your care Quark?"

"Care has nothing to do with it… Yes, he did so don't even go there." Quark snapped getting angry at him.

"Sorry, just small talk, sorry if I touched a RAW nerve Mr Quark!" said Garak shaking his head.

Kira got to the infirmary just ahead of Keevan and his guards. "Julian is she done?" she asks.

"She's done. You wouldn't even guess she has Vorta in her now. We've pretty much given the Ensign her old face back – and quite a sterling piece of work I must say without trying to sound to big headed!"

The thud of heavy boot behind the Infirmary entrance grew louder, the Vorta and his entourage were approaching.

"Right now people, act natural." ordered Kira.

Keevan walks in with his Jem'Hadar as Kira moves to leave.

"Colonel, I hope you don't mind me continuing to pry, but I would like to review your Doctors' findings on the bodies that were recovered from the escaped shuttle."

"Be my guest, anything to help our honoured guests." The air could have been cut with a knife. Kira turned on her heels and left the Infirmary.

As Keevan and Bashir began a deep discussion, a small auburn haired human female in a Starfleet uniform walks past Keevan and Bashir, closely followed by Dax.

Keevan's attentions suddenly turn from Bashir's medical files to this young human female. She hung her head down, trying not to look at anyone, although she could feel the Vorta's attention.

Keevan's stare scans the woman's petite figure from head to toe; suddenly he felt his heart beat faster. It was something he had not felt before, but one thing was clear to him, he liked what he saw.

What a strange feeling he thought to himself. He had to find out who that human female is.

"Uh, Keevan are you alright?" Bashir's voice snaps Keevan out of the strange feeling

"What…. …oh sorry Doctor, I was distracted for a moment, please show me more of your findings." Bashir nods and carries on talking.

Yes, Keevan had to find out who that woman is, these strange feelings that suddenly washed over him would not allow him to do otherwise.

In Quarks' Bar, Sophie is having a drink with Dax. As Sophie picks up her drink, she suddenly drops it, the glass smashes to floor

"My head is hurting again." Dax, Garak and Quark go to her aid.

"Dax, oh make the voice stop!" Sophie cries, everyone in the bar looks at her.

"I think its best we take her to her quarters, don't you?" Garak says.

"Yes I agree, until that Vorta has gone." Dax replies as they quickly carry her out.

It was now the next day, and Sophie was feeling better. She had been told that morning that the Vorta was still on Deep Space Nine from Dax. She was told to still keep a low profile until they were gone. Although she understood why she needed to remain incognito, she knew she would go crazy if she stared at the walls of her quarters any longer, so she dips out into the hallway for a quick walk. Suddenly, she stops in her tracks when she sees the tall Vorta she saw yesterday. Her eyes widen and she turns the other way, but sees two Jem'Hadar approaching from there. She was trapped, if only Dax had stayed a little longer.

"Okay, act natural…" she says to herself, she puts on a smile as she passes the Vorta. She felt steadily more comfortable as she headed towards the turbolift, but felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up when she heard the Vorta speak.

"Uh, excuse me officer." Sophie slowly turns round to look at the Vorta.

"Yes, how can I help you sir?" the Vorta moves closer to her. You're a member of the security staff are you not?" he asks her.

"Yes, that's right." replies Sophie

"Well, you see Colonel Kira promised me I would have Starfleet protection alongside my Jem'Hadar during my stay, and seeing as you're a security officer, would you please escort me to Ops to meet up with Colonel Kira."

She was uncertain what motives the Vorta had, but she had little reason to say no to him. "Of course Sir." She hoped that she sounded calmer then she felt as they enter the turbolift together.

Her mind was yelling at her to get the hell out of there. Her nervousness gets the better of her and starts to exit the turbolift back to the corridor. The walk becomes a run, but she feels her legs give way beneath her; she falls hard to the ground. One of the Jem'Hadar had managed to trip her up, as she gets up she sees the Vorta standing in front of her looking down on her with a smile and says to her "I know who you are… You're the only survivor from the Sect so far, I am right aren't I Sophie, that is your name, is it not?"

Keevan could feel his heart beat faster again, those feelings rushing back to him as he walks nearer to her. He could not believe that the woman he has these strange feelings for and the only Sect survivor were one of the same. Ironic he thought, but good, he could now get to know this human female.

"I am afraid Sophie that I need to speak to you at length, and it will probably be easier for all of us if the rest of the trip is made with you unconscious.". Sophie then feels a sharp pain in the back of her head and slumps in the arms of the Jem'Hadar.

Keevan taps a band on his wrist and streams of light surround them, before disappearing, leaving the hallway silent.

Deep Space Nine
Ops

"Colonel, someone just beamed out of corridor eight." the Bajoran ensign reports at her console.

"A beam out, that's where Sophie's quarters are, what's the destination?." Kira says with concern then suddenly they see the Dominion ship speed through the wormhole.

"I guess that answers my question."

Dax and Garak come up in one of the turbolifts and rush up to Kira.

"Keevan has taken Hamill." Dax says worried. Garak hands Kira a Starfleet com badge Kira takes it off him and looks at it then wraps her hand around it.

"We found it in a corner of corridor 8a."

"Her parents arrive tomorrow, what are we going to tell them?" Dax asks Kira

"Tell them the truth, the Dominion has taken her." Garak cuts in

"Yes, but I am going to get her back." Kira shouts out in anger.

Yet again, Sophie awakes in a haze, strapped down to a big strange looking chair she seemed to be in another lab oh she had stop getting caught like this and use her martial arts training properly. She hears a soft mans voice say "Sir, the subject has come around." Sophie sees two Vorta's coming towards her one young the other looked a bit older. The older looking one spoke first.

"Well, I must say they did their best to hide you from us, putting on that false face of yours to disguise your new characteristics." his face moves closer to Sophie's and looks into her big bright green eyes "Those are very different from the norm that we full Vorta have." Sophie turns away from him

"I am not Vorta, I am human and always will be!" shouts Sophie.

"Of course you are, but you also have to admit to yourself that you are now Vorta too and that's not your fault this happened to you, it was beyond your control, and now we have to deal with this mistake. You are now an abomination to the Vorta society."

"Why, because I am part human?" Sophie asks in an angered tone.

"I am afraid so." answered the Vorta, the other Vorta comes up to him whispers in his ear. The other Vorta departs, and the older Vorta pulls a leather muzzle from his pocket and places it over Sophie's mouth, despite some struggle the soft padding inside the gag is pushed into her mouth and her protests are silenced. .

"I'm afraid that now you are awake, you may wish to vocally express your anger, and I can only say that once we are sure you will act peacefully, we will not need such restraint. Please excuse me, my colleague and I have things to discuss."

As the Vorta left the room, Sophie shed a tear, she wasn't going to show these bastards just how much the last few days had affected her, but right now all she wanted to do was cry her heart out. Her muffled sobs echoed across the small metallic room…

The two Vorta walk out across the metallic main hallway. They talk quietly at the far corner of the corridor.

"What is it Amren?" the older Vorta asks.

"Borath, look at these medical charts, after all the tests we performed on her, she seems to have been genetically engineered like us to serve a higher being, and that implant in the back of her neck its not a termination one like ours. It's some kind of database containing almost every fighting skill of all the species here and in the Alpha Quadrant."

"Then how come she has not shown them yet?" asks Borath.

"Maybe her brain has not been able to access it yet for some reason." offers Amren.

"So what your telling me is that she is a fighting machine just like the Jem'Hadar." says Borath.

"I think the Sect didn't have chance to finish her programming." replies Amren.

"Why do you say that?"

"She still has a free spirit, a personality."

"I think we should put her to the test first, then let the Founders decide what to do with her." Borath said smiling.

The next day, and Sophie's parents arrive on Deep Space Nine on a Starfleet ship, the USS Morpheus, which was already en route to DS9 to pick Sophie up for tests.

"What do you mean, she's been kidnapped by who?!" shouts Mr Hamill. Mrs Hamill is sitting down crying as Dax Bashir and Garak explain to them what happened.

"She was taken yesterday by a Vorta and two Jem'Hadar." Dax says with sadness at giving them the bad news.

"Why wasn't there anyone keeping an eye on her? Well, I am going to get my daughter back from those Dominion bastards!" Mr Hamill was nearing boiling point.

"Sir, I guarantee you we will find your daughter, we have a starship hunting for them now, and they will not stop until they find her!"

"I'm sure, I just can't stand here and do nothing!" Mr Hamill states with the pain in his voice becoming more obvious with every syllable.

captain Larvis of the morpheus was furious that someone could be removed from the station so easily, especially someone with as much importance as Sophie.

"I am going to contact Starfleet about this terrible turn of events, we need to get their daughter back…" he then walks out in anger.

Following her medical exam, Sophie was now to be moved to a private cell, wary of the new fighting skills Sophie would be able to call upon at any time, Borath called for two Jem'Hadar to come with him to transfer her to the cell.

The Jem'Hadar approach Sophie and she struggles to free herself, but to no avail. Borath approaches Sophie and covers her eyes with a blindfold. Fear crept into Sophie as darkness overcame her. She felt a hypospray pushed against her neck, and felt instantly weaker, what had he given her she thought.

Her leg and arm restraint were removed and she was stood up by her captors. Her arms were pushed behind her back and a pair of heavy silver handcuffs was placed on her wrists, she felt them tighten and heard them click into their locks.

Borath spoke to Sophie "In case you're wondering what I have given you, it's just a little something that will enable us to control you better. Don't worry, it won't kill you, after all you're our prize to do what the Dominion wishes."

He signalled to the guards to move Sophie and they dragged the restrained and now very weak prisoner across the medical compound to a holding area.

The guards place her in the cell and remove the blindfold, as her eyes refocus to gather her surroundings; she makes a final, almost resigned effort to struggle free, which proves fruitless. She finally accepts the situation and relaxes. The guards take off the gag and Sophie takes in deep breaths and swallows several times before spitting at the Jem'Hadar. The angry guards prepares to hit Sophie, but is stopped by a sharp rebuke from Borath "None of that, you are Jem'Hadar, I am Vorta, I call the shots!"

The guard backs off; Borath takes the muzzle from the guard and approaches Sophie.

"Now, maybe we have given you too much too soon. You will learn that we are only trying to help."

"Like hell!"

"I'm not interested in a session of insults, maybe later." Borath places the muzzle back over Sophie's mouth, ensuring the mouth packing was in place and strapping the gag in place behind her neck. Borath turns and leaves the cell, the big heavy door bangs shut behind him.

******

Keevan was sitting down eating Rippleberries and Kava Nuts with Yelgren.

"You have done well Keevan; the Founders are very pleased with you. They welcomed you back with open arms to see you as a part of the glorious Dominion Empire." says a smiling Yelgren.

Keevan said nothing, just nodded and smiled back at his colleague. As he eats another Kava Nut, all that Keevan could think about was the young female Starfleet officer he kidnapped to gain favour with the Founders again. These odd feelings for her were driving him silently crazy. He had decided he must do something about the strange situation.

******
Sophie must have fallen asleep, because a bang along with some light forced her eyes open with a start. She slowly lifts her head to see a tall figure in the door way, the figure walks in and then the door closes. The figure slowly walks up to her and the figures image is exposed, to Sophie's shock it was the rat that kidnapped her.

Sophie snarls through her gag with a look at Keevan that could kill. Keevan sits down on the bed next to her and reaches out towards the back of her head. Sophie backs away, uncertain of what Keevan was doing. He signalled that he was trying to remove her muzzle, to which she was more than happy to let him do.

Keevan unhooks the clip to Sophie's gag and pulls it away from her face. Sophie takes the opportunity to breathe properly for the first time in hours and lick her dry lips. Anger was still etched across her face.

"What the hell do you want?!" He looks at her closely, his bright amethyst eyes looking right through her. He moves up closer to her so that his face comes close to hers.

"You do something to me Sophie, I can't explain why. I have never had these feelings before." Keevan said this very softly with a smirk on his pale face. Keevan then strokes the side of her leg with one of his fingers gently.

"Is this what you humans call love that I am feeling?" Keevan asks softly with wonder in his bright amethyst eyes. Sophie couldn't believe what she just heard him say, a look of shock washes over her face.

"I feel drawn to you Sophie." Keevan says with a smile.

"Are you joking?" Sophie asks harshly.

"Vorta never joke." replied Keevan. He slowly lifts his hand to stroke her face but Sophie turns her head away from him. Keevan gets annoyed by this and suddenly grabs her around the shoulders and says to her "I want you to be mine!"

"Let me go!" snarls Sophie. Keevan looks right into Sophie's big bright emerald eyes and attempts to kiss her, but Sophie bites him on his lower lip. It was something she had not done before.

Keevan draws back in pain; he touches his lip and sees blood on his long pale fingers. Keevan now glares at Sophie, he was not going to give up until he got what he came for, and that was her. Sophie didn't really want this after everything that has happened, plus she was still weak and drowsy from the drug that Borath gave her. The restraints didn't make it a fair fight either.

Keevan then crawls on the bed and grabs Sophie by the legs, Sophie then slowly kicks him away as best she could. Keevan then applies more pressure on her and climbs on top of her. He then grabs her head still in his hands and finally kisses her urgently.

Sophie bites him again, this time on one of his ridged ears Keevan growls at Sophie for this. He moves his mouth to her small ridged ear and whispers "I want you to be my mate." Keevan then licks her ear.

"Why me? Sophie asks in anger. "Like I said, I cannot explain it" Keevan replied.

" But a clone, a mere servant of the Dominion; how can you have these feelings?" snaps Sophie.

"It's not unheard of, cloned Vorta have taken mates before." Keevan says.

"Should you not mate with your own kind." asks Sophie.

"You are my kind, don't you understand that?" replies Keevan, looking at her Vorta features.

"But I am half human too." Sophie says in anger.

"That's what makes you more interesting." Keevan said with a big smile. He then runs his pale hand through her golden auburn hair. "I have to take you as mine," Keevan adds, his breathing becoming faster by the minute.

He then begins to undo his red satin jacket and tunic. "No you can' t have me, I already have a relationship with someone else!" yells Sophie at Keevan. He looks at her with his piercing amethyst eyes and asks "Who do you belong to?" his voice rising in anger.

"His name is Jason, he's back on Earth and we've been together for two years now." Sophie answers with a hint of sadness in her voice.

" Well, Jason is not here now; I am and I will claim you from him." Keevan says smirking.

"No, you will not have me without a fight, I will not give up my love for Jason for a Vorta scum like you!" Sophie shouts at him in heated anger.

"Oh please, I hardly think you are in any physical state to resist me." Keevan says smugly .

"You're a bastard!" shouts Sophie.

Keevan rolls his amethyst eyes "I am afraid so." Keevan replied. Keevan then grabs her and unzips her Starfleet uniform.

"No!" pleads Sophie, but Keevan was hearing none of it. He was going to make her his, and nothing was going to stop him. It was too late now; there was nothing Sophie could do to stop Keevan. He was going to have his way with her and she knew it and there was nothing she could do to prevent it; she was too weak to fight him. As she lies there, feeling Keevan take her, she closes her eyes and tries to think about Jason…

She feels Keevan's head next to hers, gently rubbing his face on hers. She felt his soft black curly hair on her skin and his hot, urgent kisses on her neck.

"Oh Jason, forgive me." she says to herself as her eyelids become heavy and she falls into darkness…

Sometime later, Sophie wakes up and finds that she is alone. Keevan had gone now that he got what he wanted from her. Oh how she wanted to go back home…

"Keevan, you look happy today." said Borath as they walk together down along a long corridor of Dominion headquarters.

"Yes, I guess I am." replied Keevan.

"You must feel more at ease now that you're back with us; with the Founders where you belong." said Borath. Suddenly, something drops out of Keevan's jacket. Borath picks it up and sees that it is a white velvet box. Keevan turns round to look at Borath holding the box and Keevan becomes anxious. As he slowly opens the box, Borath sees a silver choker with a red gem floating inside it.

"Keevan, this is a Taeyonin, have you chosen a mate?" Borath asks with a shocked tone in his voice. Keevan actually felt relief now; he thought he might as well tell Borath now, as he would have found out anyway.

"Yes I have Borath. I have chosen Sophie Hamill as my lifemate!" Borath had become very fond of Keevan, even considered him a son. He knew how clever and devious he could be. He also knew that Keevan had done some stupid things in the past, but this truly was as bad as it could possibly get.

"I made her mine last night." Keevan said, not looking at Borath.

"Keevan, why her? Why not a real Vorta?

Keevan put his arms behind his back

"I'm sure you know that the Founders might not agree with your choice of mate."

"They will have to accept it!"

"Well, it's too late to turn back now; you've already taken her, what's done is done. However, this does not change my plans for her later today." Borath says, handing Keevan back the box.

"Plans, what plans?" Keevan asks, concerned etched in his voice.

"She's going to fight a Jem'Hadar." answers Borath

"Have you lost your mind, she won't be a match for the Jem'Hadar. They'll rip her apart!" Keevan shouted down at Borath.

"Keevan, she's stronger then you think. They won't kill her, they won't get a chance; trust me." Borath said smiling…

Sir, Federation starship approaching astern!"

Kira turned around in surprise, she didn't expect any other Starfleet ships out in the Gamma Quadrant at this time.

She hoped that the approaching ship wasn't about to try and stop her, she wasn't ready to turn back just yet.

"They're hailing us sir."

"Open a channel."

The screen flickered and the Captain of the approaching ship appeared. It was Captain Larvis of the morpheus He began to speak…

"Colonel Kira, I believe you may be heading for Kurill Prime to recover a member of you crew?"

"Yes sir, you are indeed correct?"

"Although Starfleet protocol requires me to remind you that the trip you are taking could be taken as an act of war by the Federation or the Bajorans on the Dominion. But I believe that we have to get our own back. So Colonel, do you require backup for your trip."

Kira smiled "Most certainly sir, welcome to the party!"

Sophie fell on the floor hard as the Jem'Hadar hit her with his fist, Keevan was getting angrier by the minute with Borath.

So this was the tests they spoke of…

"Borath, stop this can't you see the Jem'Hadar will kill her!" shouts Keevan. Borath smiles and says "Oh she won't let that happen."

As Sophie lies in pain, she feels her body start to shake and a clinking in the back of her neck. She remains on the floor, in a trance-like state for a few seconds, as information seems to flood into her mind. Whatever was happening to her, it had given her a means of fighting back.

A surge of confidence flows through her, she gets back on her feet, turns around and looks at the Jem'Hadar who attacked her. She grinned at the thought of what she could do next "Let's see how much you can hurt!"

She hits the Jem'Hadar full in the face sending him flying towards a wall. All the Vorta that are watching look on in shock, the Jem'Hadar could barely stand up. Sophie growls at him. As the Jem'Hadar comes back at her, Sophie jumps up in the air and over the Jem'Hadar and lands on her feet behind him.

"Are we having fun yet?" she shouts out in anger at her Vorta audience, the Jem'Hadar tries to hit her again, but Sophie cart wheels out of the way. She pushes her far larger opponent to the floor and then plunges her small fist hard into the Jem'Hadar's chest, pulling out his heart.

Keevan and the other Vorta look on in shock, but Borath merely smiles, happy with his discovery.

"See Keevan; I told you she would live, she's more of a killing machine then the Jem'Hadar are. This is what the Sect has done to her; they're building an army of killer Vorta, mixed with other races. They must think we are a valuable material." Borath says folding his arms. "She could be useful to us; I can prove this to the Founders tonight."

Borath pulls a hypospray from his jacket and summons four Jem'Hadar to his side.

"Sedate and secure her. Get her back to her cell."

The guards approach Sophie; two push her over the corpse of Sophie's last opponent. As she falls to the floor, all four pin her to the ground as the sedative is administered.

Despite this, she continues to resist the guards; Borath orders restraints to be brought. She is bound and gagged once more, and two of the four guards drag her away, with two guards following close behind.

On her way back to the cells, Sophie falls into a deep sleep…

In her dreamland, Sophie imagines she's back on Earth with her family and boyfriend Jason, who she had a bitter row with before she left for Deep Space Nine. They are kissing, she is running her hands through his blonde hair, but when she goes to look at his face, she is shocked to see Keevan's face smiling at her, saying how he wanted to be with her for all eternity. He then brings his face closer to kiss her, she pulls her face away but Keevan persists, and he exclaims "I love you…"

Sophie wakes up in a sweat, she sits up and looks around her cell and took time to look around. All of the bindings she had been placed in had been removed, so she felt a little more comfortable, at until she realised her uniform had been removed. Only her underwear had been left intact. The fury was building up inside her, but she knew there was little she could do here.

Her mind ran through so many things. How could she have let Keevan take her so easily, she loved Jason so much, and she felt she had betrayed him.

She tried to remember what had happened earlier, but she could only come up with horrifying and violent images, which she put down to her dream. But she was very bruised, and that worried her.

She hears a voice outside the cell door, it was Keevan telling the Jem'Hadar to open the door. As the door opens, Sophie backs off to a corner of the cell. Keevan entered the cell. As he stood there, Sophie noted he was wearing different clothes, a purple and mustard tunic and jacket, along with purple pants; even his boots were purple.

Sophie also noted he was carrying a long slender black box, which he placed on the bed Sophie had slept on.

"Did you have a nice nap?"

"No, where's my uniform?" Sophie asks in anger.

"I took it away for safe keeping." answers Keevan smiling

"Why did you do that," Sophie says getting angrier "those were my only clothes."

"Well, I have some new clothes for you to wear now, plus a gift." He opens the box and pulls out a pair of beautiful green velvet pants with a dark blue satin tunic and jacket and a matching pair of high heeled boots also in green.

Keevan lays them down on the bed next to her. "Do you like them; I thought the colours would compliment your eyes." Keevan said to her tilting his head to one side

"Lovely, next time I want to be a Vorta diplomat, I will have to ask for the name of the tailor, now I want my uniform back, I am a Starfleet officer!"

Keevan looks at her in anger the Founders wish to see you tonight and decide your fate, I want you to look appealing to the Founders in the meeting. I want the Founders to agree for you to be my lifemate."

Sophie didn't like the sound of this at all. Keevan approached Sophie until he was nearly touching noses with her. "Now, you will wear these clothes. You will be my lifemate, and you will do as I say." After the harsh comments, his voice calmed, almost pleading with her "Sophie, please put them on."

"No, and I am not your mate!" Sophie screams at him. Keevan's bright amethyst eyes turn even brighter with hurt and anger at her. He grabs her by the arms and says to her in a soft and harsh tone "You are my chosen one. When we mated last night, you were agreeing to be my lifemate until the end of time. This is my culture."

The fury grew in Sophie "It wasn't a choice for me, you forced it upon me!" she snarls.

"Whether you like it or not Sophie, this is the way it is. We can put you back in the chair and start mind control surgery, but I don't want that, I want you to be with me willingly." Keevan then forcefully kisses her, his grip tight.

Sophie wanted him to stop and warns him by biting Keevan hard on his ridged ear "Oh, the pain from you is delight!" Keevan says hurting then growls at her "I am not afraid of your growing strength like the others. I will force you into those clothes, but please don't make me hurt you my dear."

By now, she realised that at the very least, the clothes were a better choice then her own flimsy underwear, at least with clothes on she might not have a rampant Keevan following her every move. As she puts them on, she noticed Keevan in the background with an ever-increasing grin.

"That's better." Keevan looks Sophie up and down, and Sophie felt shivers run up and down her spine with the stares, she knew she had to find a way out, but she had little hope of actually managing it.

The cells door opens to reveal four Jem'Hadar and Borath. "Ah, Sophie you look lovely tonight; Vorta attire becomes you." Borath says with a big smile.

Sophie just looks away "Now, you shall be meeting two Founders tonight and their escort, Ambassador Weyoun. Keevan leans over to Borath and says "I thought Weyoun 8 was the last clone due to the cloning lab being destroyed in the war."

"Apparently not, the Founders took DNA samples from the dead Weyoun 8." Borath replied. Keevan nods to Borath, who orders the Jem'Hadar to exit the cell. Borath gestures to the confused Ensign to exit the cell "Please Sophie, follow the guards, we do not see a need to drag you everywhere, unless you make us do so." She accepts her situation for now and follows the Jem'Hadar out of the cell, followed by the two Vorta.

They walk into a brightly lit room with a huge black desk and the sign of the Dominion above them on the wall. Sophie was beginning to feel very uneasy. There were indeed two Founders at the desk, along with a small lavender eyed Vorta whose face seemed to be in pain. Sophie is ordered to sit down and be silent throughout the meeting. Sophie could feel them scanning her with their eyes, she was sure the male founder smiled at her.

Borath begins his presentation, and Sophie sits back in her seat looking down at her green boots. The meeting seemed to go on forever, then suddenly she hears a distant voice call her name. She comes out of the daydream to look at Weyoun "The Founders have agreed to let you live, under the condition that you will serve us in this new war that is dawning upon us. Please stand up." Weyoun orders.

Sophie considered what was being said, an opportunity to work directly with the Dominion may enable Starfleet to have a greater understanding of what the processes of the Dominion all meant. Hell, it had got to be better than being put to death, hadn't it?

She stands as asked, and starts to reply to the Founders conditions "I understand the terms you state, but I cannot and will not do this without being able to work here as a Starfleet Officer. As long as I can continue to serve Starfleet, I will work to serve you as you require."

Weyoun looks at the male founder, who nods to Weyoun.

Weyoun stands and talks directly to Sophie "Very well, we agree to your terms." The male founder walks out with his head down he was then followed by a Jem'Hadar.

Borath was happy, he could now start training this hybrid to defeat the Sect. Use their own creation against them he thought. His thoughts are interrupted by the sound of Keevans voice "Founder, if I may ask something of you."

"Very well Keevan." the new head female founder says

"May I have Sophie as my lifemate?" Keevan said this with his hands together and his head down to her. He hated doing this, Keevan always had, but if it meant getting what he wanted, he would suck up to the Founders as much as was needed.

"Very well, she is yours." the female Founder replies harshly.

"Hey, wait a minute, don't I get a say in this?" Sophie shouts.

"No, you don't. Not until your duties are done!" Weyoun snaps at her, "The Founder has spoken!" Weyoun says holding up his hands. Keevan smiles smugly, indeed the Founder had spoken, he got Sophie.

As the rest of the people exited the room, Sophie turned to face Keevan "Look Keevan, I know what the founder said, but once my work here is done, I am going back to Earth and Jason. I will never return here, got it?"

Keevan did not like it one bit, his tolerance was now wearing thin. Vorta have good tolerance, but his need for Sophie shortened this. "Sophie, remember I told you I had a gift for you?" He said in a harsh tone, grabbing her hand, and gesturing for her to sit down. He pulls out a white velvet box "Here, open it." Keevan says to her, Sophie takes it reluctantly, and opens the box. Inside was the most beautiful choker she had ever seen; it was silver, with a deep red gem in the middle.

"oh Keevan, it's beautiful, but why buy me jewellery? You know I can't accept it." Sophie says handing it back to Keevan.

"It's not just any piece of jewellery, it has a special purpose. It's called a Taeyonin."

"Just what purpose does it serve?"

"In your Human culture, it would compare to a human wedding ring." Keevan answered.

"What! Are you asking me to marry you? You know I love Jason!" Sophie shouts at him.

"Yes, in human terms." Keevan replies, raising his voice at her even louder.

"I will never marry you!" returns Sophie. Keevan loses his temper. This was where Keevan was different from the other Vorta; he had a temper.

"I was afraid you might say that." Keevan said looking down on her "You give me no choice now, but to force you. I don't really want to hurt you, but it looks like now l will have to." he then pulls out a hypospray and plays with it in his hands.

"The drug that Borath gave you is just to make you physically weak, until we need you for the war. But this drug makes and brings down your mental defences, makes you very open to persuasion. We used it during the war in interrogations with Starfleet officers when we caught them. It's time that we become one now."

Keevan then walks towards her, with the hypospray. He grabs her around the waist and lifts her up and throws her onto the table. If only Borath had not given her another dose of the weakening drug after the fight with the Jem'Hadar she might be able to fight back, but it was all becoming far too much for her.

Keevan pins her to the table with his arms and legs, he grabs her around the neck and gets the hypospray ready. Sophie defends herself in the only way available to her; she bites him on the hand. He pulls back looking at his bleeding hand, his fury boils over and he smacks Sophie across the face. This stuns her, and whilst she tried to recover, she feels the hypospray against her neck. Keevan then picks her up in his arms and carries her towards the exit.

"Now Sophie, you will feel much better." and leaves the room with her. The Jem'Hadar outside go up to Keevan, he orders them to escort him to the Bonding Chapel outside.

"What is wrong with the freak Vorta?" one of the Jem'Hadar asks Keevan.

"Don't you dare say that again, or I will have you all killed! Do you understand me?!" Keevan shouts in anger.

"Yes, we understand." the Jem'Hadar reply.

"Now take us to the Bonding Chapel!" Keevan orders again.

Keevan wonders around the beach near the open Bonding Chapel carrying Sophie in his arms looking for the temple's priests. It was a warm night on Kurill Prime; the sea wafted sheets of warmth onto Keevan and Sophies faces. He spots a priest coming towards them on the beach, the priest is dressed in a long flowing red silk gown and sees Keevan holding Sophie. She was very weak from the drugging, but was still aware of her surroundings.

"Your intended does not look in a good state for the lifemate bonding." the Vorta priest says to Keevan.

"You're here to bond people, and nothing else!" snaps Keevan.

"Do you have the Taeyonin?" the priest asks.

"Of course I do." answers Keevan, handing the white velvet box to him. The Vorta priest then calls for his assistant, as the bonding ritual begins.

Keevan asks Sophie if she loved him. With the drug taking its full effect, Sophie replied as Keevan wanted.

"Yes." Sophie could feel the warm breeze flow through her auburn hair. Everything is hazy through her eyes, she felt as if she was in a dream world. She then hears strange chanting around her, she feels someone grab her hand; suddenly she felt a slight pain in her palm. She sees her right hand being held over a gold bowl; she had been cut. She felt her warm blood leave her hand in drops.

She turns her head to see Keevan standing next to her; his palm is cut and his blood drips into the gold bowl as well. She then sees the Vorta priest produce the silver choker; he then smears both of their blood on to the gem inside it.

She felt her hand being grabbed by Keevan; he puts her arm on his chest, he then did the same to her.

The priest begins to talk "Do you Keevan take Sophie as your lifemate; now and forever to come?"

"Yes I do." replies Keevan smiling. He turns to Sophie as the priest speaks again, "Do you Sophie, take Keevan as your lifemate; now and forever to come." Sophie wanted to say no, but her mouth went against her and said yes.

The priest hands Keevan the Taeyonin; he then puts it around Sophie's neck, the priest smiles and says "I now declare you both lifemates for all time to come. May the Founders bless you both."

Keevan gently grabs Sophie around her waist and passionately kisses her. Sophie feels his warm soft lips upon hers then she suddenly passes out in his arms…

"A few more conversations with this drug in place my dear, and you'll see we were meant to be together…" Keevan whispered .

******

"What is it?" Weyoun says to a Jem'Hadar at a console.

"Sir, there are two Federation starships on our long range sensors. They are hailing us."

"I'm pretty sure I know why they're here." A smirk crossed Weyoun's face. "Open a channel."

Kira's voice comes over subspace "This is Colonel Kira Nerys of the Federation Starship Defiant, you are holding one of our officers. If you do not hand her over in the next ten minutes, I will fire upon your home world."

"That course of action shall not be needed Colonel!" Weyoun answers.

The sound of Weyoun's voice on the comms system of the Defiant surprised Kira.

"Weyoun, I thought you were dead!"

"As you can hear Colonel, I am very much alive. We received intelligence information that the Sect were preparing a recovery mission, to complete the work they started on the Ensign."

"It's strange how you never shared this information with us?" Kira retorted angrily.

"As I am sure you will agree Colonel, Kurill Prime is a far more secure location that a remote Outpost such as Deep Space Nine. We are keeping your officer in good hands, she is in no danger from us. Would you please stand down your weapons so we can talk, both our peoples are in great danger…" Weyoun stops talking and another voice comes over subspace "Colonel"

Kira stands up from her chair with tears in her eyes "Odo is that you?"

"Yes Nerys, it's me."

"Oh Odo, I've missed you so much."

"Believe me, I've missed you too. Please, power down your weapons and beam down to Kurill Prime; we need to talk. I have been asked by the rest of the Founders to speak to you regarding this situation. They believe that the action taken was the best for all involved. But I do not always pander to the views of the majority. Please Nerys, beam down and we can talk this over."

"Okay Odo, I'll come down there." Kira says softly. "I'm looking forward to seeing you again."

Kira and Captain Larvis beam down and are greeted by two Jem'Hadar, Weyoun and Odo. They exchange the regular diplomatic pleasantries, but quickly move to a meeting room to discuss the issues at hand.

"Okay, let's get to the point, is Ensign Hamill alright?" Kira asks

"Nerys, she's alright! I've been told she's fine." Odo says calmly.

Captain Larvis then speaks "Are you sure Odo?"

"Yes I am…" He replies "

"Odo because her family are worried sick they're back on Deep Space Nine waiting to take her home; and trust me, Starfleet are not happy at what has taken place here."

"I can understand that."

"Then we will take her home."

"Uh, that will not be possible yet." Weyoun cut in.

Kira and Larvis look at Weyoun, "And why not?" asks Kira.

"Colonel, let me explain."

"Weyoun, please keep out of this!" Odo told Weyoun harshly.

"As you wish, Founder" Weyoun said, bowing his head to him.

"There's a lot to discuss…"

Sophie awakes up with a massive headache. She gently sits up and looks around to see she is no longer in a cell; Instead, she is in a bedroom of some sort. She spots a window that is slightly open; she slowly gets up from the big bed. Her head was really aching, then notices that she wearing some sort of necklace; she sees the gem is glowing brightly…

"My God!"

It was all coming back to her now. "Oh no!" she looks at her palm, there was a small cut that is healing. Her memory was recalling it from the haze. She was married to Keevan; that was it, she had to get out of this place and back to Deep Space Nine…

Keevan and Borath are talking in the lounge.

"Colonel Kira is here with another Starfleet captain. They want to take Ensign Hamill back to Earth." Borath told a concerned Keevan.

"Borath, they can't; she s my lifemate now. I forbid it! She belongs with me now on Kurill Prime, not Earth!" she is mine "I will not give her up!"

"Look Keevan, I know how much this bad news must be to you. I've known you a long time now, you were one of my best students. But there was one thing I never thought you would ever do; and that was taking a mate!"

"Well Borath, I never cease to amaze do I?!"

"Yes indeed! Look Keevan, I had better go; Eris needs me." Borath moved towards the exit.

"Whatever happens Keevan, you know you'll never be apart from her. You have the telepathic bond now, so don't worry; you will never lose her!"

Keevan nods, Borath smiles then leaves. Keevan senses something.

"Sophie, no please don't do that!" he cries out; his mind's eye can see what Sophie sees, and she was looking out off the window, and thinking of jumping out.

As Sophie looks down, beyond the window ledge; she feels as if someone is there with her. She looked around her, but no one was to be seen. Then a soft voice is there with her, not near her, but within her. The voice tells her not to jump, and she starts to listen intently to the soft whispers. She starts to drift into a semi-conscious state, intent on listening only to the voice.

Sophie came to when she felt the physical presence of Keevan in the room behind her.

"Don't do it!" she hears him say this to her, without moving his lips. Sophie looks at him it was him that she could hear in her mind.

"How are you able to do that?" Sophie shouts at Keevan.

"Oh my dear Sophie, when we Vorta become lifemates, a telepathic bond is developed between the two that are bonded." he answered smiling smugly.

"That's great! You're not just content with having my body, but you've taken my soul too. How could you do this to me!" Sophie screams "You drug me high into the clouds so I would be open to anything you said at that time. You Vorta are evil!" she points her pale finger at him. Keevan stands there, rolling his eyes; he grabs Sophie in his arms and says:

"You will learn to love me here." he then grabs her hand and places it on his chest

"Do you feel my heart beating Sophie? It now beats only for you."

Sophie looks up at him and then there for a moment she thought she saw good in him and he meant what he was saying. He loved her with all that he was. The scary thing to Sophie was that in that moment of closeness, she could feel herself beginning to fall in love with Keevan. She began to drown in those big amethyst eyes of his - oh this was scary; she could hear him talking to her telepathically.

"Sophie no don't be afraid of me. I promise I will not hurt you again, just love me that's all I want. I know deep down you do too." Keevan then bends down to her; she lets him kiss her and feels her senses turn dizzy.

As she felt his arms inch their way up her back, she pushes him away, runs to the window, blows Keevan a kiss then jumps.

"No!" screams out Keevan. He rushes to the window and hits the window sill with his fist; he had to alert the others to stop her. He calls out to the Jem'Hadar outside his quarter's doors to sound the alarm.

In the meeting room, Kira, Larvis, Odo and Weyoun hear the alarm go off.

"What s going on?" Larvis asked.

"A prisoner has escaped!" replied Weyoun. Odo stands up and walks over to Kira.

"I have a feeling it may be Ensign Hamill." Odo whispers very low, far from Weyoun.

"Nerys, find her and take her back to Deep Space Nine; don't let anyone know what you're doing… now go!"

Weyoun turns to see Kira and Larvis beaming out from the alert console.

"Why are they leaving Odo?" asked Weyoun.

"There going to help you look for your missing prisoner replied Odo. Weyoun looks at him strangely. Weyoun trust me."

Sophie landed on her feet, she had to remind herself that Keevan can read her thoughts now, and she knew he would use this against her and stop her from escaping.

She manages to evade the security barriers and sprints away from the Dominion compound.

She could hear Keevan's voice in her mind, telling her to stop and come back to him. Sophie refuses to and Keevan threatens to unleash all of the Jem'Hadar to capture her at any cost.

She sees a forest ahead, and heads for it. Behind her she could hear the distinctive sound of transporter beams, doubtlessly Jem'Hadar sent to find her. She starts to run faster, and enters the forest. She notices a thick, leaf-ladden tree up ahead – a perfect hiding place. She climbs the tree to its densest part.

From afar, she observes the Jem'Hadar on looking for her, if she wasn't in so much danger, she thought she would giggle, she knew silence was her protector, and she would need to be patient, and wait for her moment to run again…

On board the Defiant, Kira orders a surface scan of Kurill Prime for a Vorta human lifesign.

"Ensign, when you find a signal, beam her out of there…"

Sophie felt her leg cramp up; she moves it a little to get the blood flowing, but the subsequent rustling of leaves was enough to attract the attention of a member of the search part, who raises his weapon at the source of the sound.

Sophie sees the weapon pointing in her direction, and starts to panic, but before she can make a break for it, she is enveloped by a bright silver light. Her panic turned to delight when she realised it was a Starfleet transporter beam…

"We got her Sir!"

Kira smiled, and rushed towards the exit of the bridge, remembering that Odo would be wondering what was happening. She turned back to the Ensign who had spoken to her.

"Ensign, send a message to Odo, we have retrieved the 'prisoner', perhaps he should speak to his Vorta and the other Changelings, I think he is being deceived. After that, inform Captain Larvis that we should leave the system at maximum warp. We may be followed."

"Yes sir."

As Sophie rematerialzes on the Defiant, she collapses to the floor, her body finally drained from everything that had happened to her.

Colonel Kira runs into the transporter rooms, smiling when she sees Sophie opening her eyes again.

"I am glad to see you sir." Sophie said to her. She gets up and walks to the bridge with Kira,

Kira stops when she reaches the entrance to the Bridge.

"Let's talk in private Ensign."

Sophie was glad to be doing anything, so long as she knew she was heading home.

"What, they took her!?" Weyoun shouts at a couple of Jem'Hadar. Keevan and Borath walk in "I suggest we get her back as soon as possible."

"Borath, doing that could restart the war between the Dominion and the Federation, we must let it go.

"Not if I have anything to do with it."

Weyoun heard Keevan's angry statement and saw him storm from the office.

After a number of minutes of arguments, an intercom message interrupted Weyoun and Borath.

"Sir, someone has stolen a long range fighter"

"KEEVAN!" Weyoun's growing anger with Keevan had reached boiling point. He looked at Borath "We have to stop Keevan before this gets out of hand."

Borath went to the intercom "Prep a ship for takeoff, we are going after the rebel Keevan." Although Borath liked Keevan, he knew how much danger his decision had put them all under.

Odo approached the startled pair.

"What is the matter Weyoun, I heard a security alert was taking place.

"Founder, I think you should come with us on a mission, we need to explain some things about Keevan …"

Back on the Defiant, Kira and Sophie have a private talk. Kira looks Sophie up and down "Why are you dressed in Vorta clothing?"

"He made me wear them."

"Who." ?

"Keevan, my uh… husband or mate as they say." Sophie said with venom.

"Excuse me?" Kira was shocked by this.

Sophie then begins to cry, "He raped me. They subjected me to terrible tests, they drugged me to control my mind. Then, to make matters worse, Keevan decided for me that I should be with him for life. He forced me into some kind of ritual, that's given us a telepathic bond. He claims that this bond can never be broken." Sophie begins to shake and cries into her hands.

Kira takes Sophie in her arms and hugs the young Ensign.

"That son of a bitch. I will make sure that Starfleet takes action over this! The others should not get away with it either."

Kira hugs her tightly "What was Odo doing, letting this happen?" Kira thought. As Kira comforts Sophie, a thought emerges that scares her. She would never get rid of Keevan no matter what they did with him. If it was true what he said about the bond being unbreakable, then he would always be with her in her mind. Suddenly, Kira stops hugging her and gives her something. It was her Starfleet com badge. Sophie manages a smile and clips it to her Vorta clothing.

"You'd better get changed.

"Yes, I think I will later but at the moment all I want to do is sleep.

A day later, and Sophie had met and talked with her parents. They were shocked at first by her Vorta features, but seemed to get past it after awhile. They hugged her tightly to them, she was still their little girl. She decided not tell them about Keevan forcing her to be his mate. It would only cause her father into thinking he could kill all of the Dominion. Instead, she chose to give them a message to Jason whenever they saw him again. "Tell him I love him…" Sophie said to them.

After a long talk she saw them beam away to the USS Morpheus. She cried after seeing her parents, how she wished she could have gone back with them. As the hours passed she noticed that it was strangely quiet up in her head, she had not heard Keevan now for hours. This was good, as she lay on her bed in her quarters, she had thought about getting changed into one of her spare Starfleet uniforms, but was too tired to bother getting up. She fell into a deep sleep…

Hours go by again, and suddenly in her sleep she could hear a beeping invade her peace. She slowly wakes up and answers the door, as the door slides open she suddenly jumps back as the tall figure walks in.

"Ah, you're here…" Sophie said franticly searching for her Phaser. The tall figure moves closer to her. As she finally finds her weapon in a drawer, she tried to intimidate the approaching threat "Don't come any closer or I will kill you!" she screams at him.

"You won't kill me Sophie…" Keevan said in a soft purr, almost smugly. Keevan looked really odd to her, somehow he didn't look his usual self.

"I wouldn't be so sure Keevan!" Sophie shouted. Suddenly Keevan was standing right up to her, his hand slowly taking the Phaser from her. Sophie felt strange, as if she was in a trance. Keevan was using all the strength he had in his telepathic powers to ensure her submission.

He knew now he had to be careful and stay in control of her, as the drugs she was given to make her weak were wearing off. One slip and it could cost him his life, he was now playing with fire. And he loved playing with fire.

"Sophie I love you, and now I will show you this love, and how it is supposed to be between us…" he slowly and gently grabs her by the hips and takes her in his sights.

He had not really enjoyed her to the fullest yet and he wanted to now. He could feel his penis harden under his purple pants. When this happened, he pressed it against her buttocks. As he lies her down on the bed, Sophie knew what was happening, but something else was controlling her mind, and that was Keevan.

She could feel him aroused as he pressed up to her. The strange thing was that her body was responding on its own towards Keevans body. She did not understand it, was she in love with Keevan? She did not want to believe it, was it possible without her knowing it?

Then Keevan began to undo her pants, and pulls them off along with her underwear. Keevan had Sophie on all fours on the bed. He slowly looks at her buttocks and feels them; Sophie moaned at his touch.

He pulls down his pants to reveal his hard penis, then he opens his jacket and tunic to reveal his pale muscular chest. He slowly and urgently enters her from behind. As he slid in, Keevan let out a moan. Sophie put her head back and tightly grabbed the bed sheets in her hands.

As she felt Keevan's warm penis penetrate her; Keevan wraps his arms around her waist and leans down to her and rubs his head against hers. This is how it was supposed to be; she was loving him back. Keevan had wanted this feeling from her since he laid eyes on her, and knew he wanted to be with her for all eternity.

Keevan knew he had found his soulmate. He knew from the start, they had chemistry between them. Sophie was reluctant to believe it, because of this Jason he so wished was out of the picture.

Keevan could always sense people's true feelings, and he used them in his devious and sometimes damn right evil plans to destroy his foe, which made him one of the most untrustworthy Vorta. But since Sophie came into his empty life, he also sensed he was changing.

Sophie was slowly melting his cold heart. He felt Sophie lick him along the ridges on his ear. He breathed faster and felt a divine shiver run down his spine.

"Who do you love Sophie?" Keevan asks softy. " Ah, you Keevan my love." she replied, breathing heavily. Keevan smiled at this response.

Gently, he bites her small Vorta ear and growls with pleasure. He wraps his hand around hers, and moves the grip up to and around the Taeyonin, which glows brightly. He would never hurt Sophie again, never. From now on he had to love her with all his soul. Then they both moaned in harmony as they reached the climax of their love for each other.

In Ops; Odo, Weyoun and Borath are briefing Kira on the disappearance of Keevan.

"He will do everything in his power to get her back." Borath stated.

"How did this happen?" Kira asked in shock.

Odo replied in a sheepish tone "I am afraid I was unaware of what had happened, but nevertheless, we are here now in order to recover the fugitive.

"OK, I'll alert Security to be on the lookout for him. "

"Once he is found, he will be handed over to Starfleet for trial for his crimes against our officer. Weyoun and Borath look at Kira with shock. But choose not say anything when Odo looks at them.

A nearby airlock opens, and a new group of passengers come aboard Deep Space Nine. Amongst them is a tall blonde haired brown eyed man with a handsome, tanned face. He has a well muscled body, underneath a loose fitting shirt and pants and a small bag over his shoulder. He looks around the promenade and sees Quarks bar. Good, he thought, he did need a drink.

He walks in and sits at the bar. Quark goes up to him "Welcome to Quarks bar, what can I get you?" Quark asks.

"Can I have a Saurian Brandy, please." the blonde haired stranger replied.

"Coming right up." said Quark.

The stranger looks around the place and sees aliens talking to humans, drinking and gambling. Quark lays down his drink on the bar for him; the man promptly pays for it then drinks. He looks at Quark as asks him a question.

"Excuse me." he says

"Would you like another?" Quark replied.

"No, thank you. I was wondering if you could help me."

"Okay, what would you like help with?" Quark smiled at him.

"You wouldn't happen to know an Ensign Hamill that works here would you by any chance?"

"Maybe, that depends who's asking." Quark replied looking curious.

"I'm Jason Denver, her boyfriend." he shakes hands with Quark.

"Right, yes I do. Quite a pretty little thing; works for the security department here. How long have you two been together?" Quark asks.

"We've been together now for two years now." replies Jason.

Quark and Jason both talk for awhile, and Quark tells him where to find her.

"Thank you very much Quark." says Jason, who turns to leave, but stops at the entrance. "Oh, and Quark, excellent Saurian Brandy."

Quark grins at the statement "Only the best my profit margin can buy." Jason chuckles and leaves the bar.

Jason walks into the promenade and notes two Vortas; one male and the other female, both holding hands.

Jason felt uneasy about the female Vorta, she looked different to the male. He continues to observe them. As they turn, Jason can make out the details of their faces, and upon closer inspection of the female Vorta, Jason drops his bag and rushes up to them. He grabs the woman by the arm and turns her right round so he could examine her face more closely.

Her face carried a shocked expression on it when she looks at his face. For Jason, he was uncertain of what to do after what he had just seen.

"Sophie is that you?" Jason asks.

"Jason!" Sophie replied. Keevan s face lit up with anger at the sound of his name. So, this was Jason he thought; looking Jason up and down with contempt.

Keevan was getting jealous as Jason picks Sophie up in his arms and kisses her. Keevan then speaks "Excuse me Jason, but could you let go of my lifemate?" Jason ignored the Vorta, which angered Keevan further "It's not a choice, let her go now!"

Keevan was getting very angry at Jason, who gently put Sophie down and looked at the tall Vorta.

"And who the hell are you?" asks Jason, now getting angry himself.

"I am Keevan, and Sophie now belongs to me, not you, so run along back to Earth; there's nothing here for you!" replied Keevan smiling smugly.

"Is that right Vorta…" Jason said to him as he walks up to Keevan and stares him in the face. He punches Keevan full in the face who falls hard to the floor, his nose pouring with blood. Jason now was the one with the smile.

"That's what I say to you, Vorta!" shouts Jason. All attention in the Promenade is drawn to the ensuing battle. Keevan wipes away the blood from his nose and gets up from the floor.

"Jason, stop this!" Sophie shouts. Sophie rushes up and stands between the two men. Jason notices the Taeyonin around Sophie's neck

"Is this crap yours?!" he shouts at Keevan. Jason tears it off Sophie's neck and throws it at Keevan, who catches it in his hands before it drops to the floor.

"You stay away from her, you got it Vorta?!" shouts Jason "If you don't, I'll kill you. Wrap those big ears around your ugly neck… come on Sophie." Jason says and pulls her away from Keevan.

"No you don't!" snarls Keevan; rushing up to Jason grabbing him on the shoulder.

Keevan sees an approaching security team. Knowing they must be on the lookout for him, he ran out into a mass crowd to try and blend in.

Before anything can happen, a violent shake rocks Deep Space Nine, causing people to fall and equipment to fly.

"What was that?" says Kira

"It has to be the Sect!" answered Borath.

"We must return to ops!" Kira added.

They arrive back in Ops to see Garak there with his men. Weyoun snarls when he sees him.

"Hello Weyoun, I thought I'd never lay eyes on you again."

"Oh don't worry; I am not too happy to see you either. After all, you were the one that killed Weyoun eight."

"And how happy I was to do that!" Garak added.

"Hey, this is no time to start fighting each other." Odo interrupted them

"Founder, I sincerely apologise for my outburst." Weyoun replied, bowing his head.

In the Promenade, people are panicking. Security are trying to keep everyone calm. Sophie gets up off the floor, but the rush of scared people running past her knock her down. Keevan searches desperately for Sophie, but the mass of panicked people around him made it impossible to link properly with Sophie, and it was too busy around him to see her.

"They're here!" Sophie says, her face suddenly devoid of emotions. Those voices again in her head were much clearer now, calling out her name. Her eyes turn a shade of yellow, they were calling to her to do her duty…

Back in Ops, Kira orders all civilians to safe areas of the station.

"Sir, all the Starfleet ships in the area are on there way here, but the nearest ship is 3 hours away." reports a Starfleet Ensign.

I have ordered a squadron of our fighters to aid your Starfleet ships." Weyoun adds.

"As have I." replied Garak

Kira's face expressed the grim determination welling up inside her "Let's make damn sure that there's something for those ships to fight for when they get here."

A dark shadowy figure appears on the viewscreen, and a gravely voice sounds through the Ops audio system. "Hand over your station now!"

"This is Colonel Kira Nerys of the Bajoran Alliance, what is it that you really want?" shouts an angered Kira.

The shadowy figure looks down at her "To rule over you, of course. You shall become our slaves for, as so many have before you."

Odo moves towards the centre of Ops, Weyoun tries to stop him, but Odo dismisses Weyouns concerns.

As Odo moved into the centre of the room, the figure on the viewscreen stirred. "Ah, a founder of the so called Dominion Empire. How underwhelming it is to meet one of the creators of a truly weak empire.

"Vorta…" shouted the figure "…your puny gods have no where to hide now."

"How dare you!" shouts Weyoun.

A number of dazzling points of light appear around to Ops area. When the light ceases, troops in black suits and masks appear. The Sect had beamed onto Ops.

The shadowy figure stirred again, his voice airing his almost arrogant confidence. "None of you will be killed, at least not yet!"

"Protect Odo." orders Weyoun. The six Jem'Hadar that are with the Dominion party confront the troops in black. But the Sects troops began to snap them in two as more of troops begin to beam aboard the station. Deep Space Nine was rapidly filling with the invading force.

"We really are goners this time." Quark said to Bashir, Dax and Nog as Phaser rifles were unceremoniously shoved in their faces.

"Believe me, the Dominion are nothing compared to what you will shortly experience."

Garak whickered to Borath "We are going to be lambs to the slaughter if we don't do something."

Borath slowly and quietly sneaks off towards the turbo lift, as he runs and jumps into in it, the troop's fire at him, but it was too late, he was gone.

"Where's he going?" asks Kira with her arms up the air.

"He is going to take command of one of the war ships we arrived in. There's a big troop of Jem'Hadar aboard them." Weyoun replied, whispering.

The shadowy figure disappears off the view screen, replaced by a view of a squadron of Jem'Hadar ships coming through the wormhole, meeting up with the Starfleet ship squadron, along with a few Cardassian ships and others.

In the promenade, Sophie is grabbed by Jason.

"Are you alright?" he asks her. Jason could see that something was wrong with her. She looked to be in a trance "Anyway, who are these people?" he adds.

"My masters, the rulers of all things that are; they are everything and everyone; they are the real gods…" Sophie replies, not looking at Jason. His confusion grew with every word uttered by Sophie, but before he could reply, someone grabs Jason by the arm

"Move!" a voice came from behind him.

"Hey, lay off me!" shouts Jason. He was about to hit the person that grabbed him, but before Jason could make contact the Sect troop tears his head off. Jason's bloody body falls to the floor.

The horrific sight brings Sophie out of the trance.

"Noooooo!!!" she screams, tears rolling down her face. The Sect troop comes up to her and says. "You have not been properly initiated." The troop looks at his wrist at a small data pad.

"You are subject 90086, you escaped the processing facility before obedience programming had been completed, you must come with me to the genetic labs."

Sophie felt all her dark emotions rise up within her, she felt strange however, because the build up of anger seemed only to focus her more on what she had to do to escape.

"Not today you son of a bitch!" screams Sophie. She jumps up in the air and kicks the troop in the face, the troop falls back trying to fire his Phaser rifle. Sophie rolls out of the way, jumps behind him, grabs his arms and snaps them. The troop falls down screaming in pain, and Sophie takes the opportunity to take the Phaser rifle and shoots him in the chest.

Although she knew she should move on, her curiosity got the better of her. She pulls off the troop's face mask Sophie and was taken back by what she saw. The troops face was not there at all, just what appeared to be a congealed tangle of flesh.

"Looks like the Sect didn't finish you either." Sophie said with tears still rolling down her face. Jason was gone now, but she knew she had to focus her hatred in a positive way. She could grieve Jason later. People needed her, Starfleet needed her.

Keevan, who has been searching for Sophie after coming out of hiding, finally finds her in the panicky chaos. He could feel Sophie's pain. Jason had been killed; he should have felt happy at his demise, but Keevan did not. All he could think about was the pain Sophie felt for Jason.

He goes to hug her, but Sophie pushes him away. "I need to get to a ship." she then runs off, firing her way through with Keevan in tow. As she runs screaming, firing her rifle at any enemy troops who stood in her way, she hears Keevan's voice in her head, telling her to think before she acts. She ignores him and runs faster. Keevan loses sight of her; she arrives at Airlock 17, where a Jem'Hadar fighter was docked. As she opens the airlock and moves inside, she has four Phaser rifles thrust in her face.

"Put them down!" she orders. The Jem'Hadar recognise her and lower their weapons.

"Now, you're going to take orders from me, got it?!" Sophie says harshly. The Jem'Hadar look at her and nod, replying in unison.

"We understand; the Vorta command the Jem'Hadar; that is the way of things."

"Sure." Sophie says, not really caring. "We are going on a possible suicide mission we need to save the Alpha and Gamma Quadrants from these evil bastards!

Sophie walks aboard the ship, and turns to face her new crew; this "Order" the Dominion had was coming in very useful. "And remember, obedience brings victory. First, you take weapons; Second, you check and raise shields."

"It shall be done." replies First. Sophie then notices a headset on a nearby console; she goes over to it and puts it on. Through it, she sees two Sect ships as they depart from a chaotic Deep Space Nine and join the array of fighting ships on the perimeter of the Bajoran Wormhole.

Keevan, who had been captured by the Sect troops after losing track of Sophie, had been taken to Ops, where Odo, Kira and Weyoun are being held. Keevan is pushed towards them.

"Where's Ensign Hamill?" whispers Kira to Keevan.

"She's out there in one of our fighters." replied a worried Keevan. The shadowy figure appears again on the viewscreen.

"Well, who let the dogs out!" he said laughing. "No matter, let the games begin!" he laughs even louder. Suddenly Kira could no longer hear anything in the environment around her. Kira is afraid; but a familiar face calms her. As Sisko appeared in front of her, he spoke with a concerned tone. "Yes, I am afraid for the first time in my life I don't know what to do." Sisko walks up to Kira and says "Nerys, the Universe will be saved by the higher beings that see everything."

"You mean the prophets?" Kira offers.

"No." Sisko replied.

"Then who?" Kira shouts.

"Be brave and take heart; have faith in us and the higher beings. The new enemy and the higher beings are one of the same." Sisko touches her face, and bright white light envelopes Kira before recognising that she is back in ops.

Kira whispers to Odo "I had a vision from the Prophets, Sisko said we will be saved."

"I hope he's right." a concerned tone from Odo was not really what Kira needed to hear right now…

Sophie suddenly sees a rift opening up in space, not far from the wormhole. She could see it now; they are coming from somewhere else, but where?" she asked herself.

"Take us towards that rift, now!" Sophie shouts. The Jem'Hadar look at her, but loyally carry out their orders. Sophie keeps the headset on.

Aware of the growing sense of concern on the bridge, Sophie decided to try and gain further loyalty from the Jem'Hadar. She reaches for a case behind the console she is standing next to. She opens the case, instinctively knowing what was contained inside.

She pulled out a tube of ketracel White and handed it to First. "Take this white, as a gift from the gods." Sophie says. She hoped deep in her thoughts that the Jem'Hadar would follow her through this

They enter the swirling hole, and emerge in nothing more then white surroundings. Before anyone could acclimatise to the new conditions, a person appears on the bridge, making Sophie jump. The Jem'Hadar get their weapons ready; the figure walks up to Sophie and says "I know why you're here."

"I want to stop this invasion!" shouts Sophie.

"You're Sophie Hamill, formally Ensign of Starfleet, now part of the infamous Dominion."

"Hey, I am still a Starfleet officer, Sophie says pointing to her com badge.

"Starfleet badge on Vorta clothing, a bit of a clash as far as fashion statements go, but I am sure we can forgive the transgression on this occasion."

The arrogance made Sophie think, yes, she knew this man, or at other who were just as arrogant. "You're Q!" Sophie says surprised.

"Well guessed my lovely hybrid. May I congratulate you on doing your homework at the Academy. The creatures that have invaded you are a part of the Q Continuum, I am afraid to say they once were Q, but they became evil and rebellious towards us. As such, we banished them to a life of permanent imprisonment; but it would appear some of the Q have been neglecting there duties and not watching them so much like they used to a 1000 years ago. We admit we have made a slip up."

Sophie suddenly grabs hold of Q by the scuff of his neck "You have to stop them!" shouts Sophie "We already are dear, now do you mind letting go of me, before I get angry, and believe me you don't want to make me angry!" says Q.

Sophie lets go of him with a little shove, pushing Q back into the wall. "You had better be doing something!"

In Deep Space Nine's Promenade, the Sect round up their slaves; human and alien alike. Odo hugs Kira, Weyoun had to protect Odo while Keevan thinks about Sophie and tries to telepathically link to her, without success. She's not dead, he thought as the Taeyonin he holds in his hand is still glowing bright red.

Q disappears from Sophies bridge and Sophie and her Jem'Hadar suddenly find themselves back in normal space, she looks through her head set, and sees a Sect ship out of control coming their way. She orders the Jem'Hadar to move the ship out of its path, but to no avail. The Sect ship hits them hard, sending them crashing down to a planet with it.

Sometime later Sophie, opens her eyes to a cloudy grey sky pouring rain down upon her. She slowly moves to see she is lying down on wet grass. She feels cold, as she moves she feels a slight pain in her arm. She looks at her lower arm and sees a gash she then slowly stands up to see her surroundings. She sees the fighter not far away, it was lying on its side, severe damage to hull indicated that it was going nowhere fast.

She hears footsteps behind her, and quickly turns round to see three of her Jem'Hadar

"You're awake." says Second, "We dragged you out of the wreckage."

"Thank you Second." replied Sophie "Where's Third?" she asks.

"Third did not survive the crash." Fourth replied, Sophie nods her head "I assume our ship is no condition to fly?"

"What wreckage remains is unusable I am afraid." reports First.

"Oh great, do you know where the Sect ship is?" Sophie asks.

"Yes, it's over that hill, but we have not seen any one come out of the ship yet."

"I wonder why not." Sophie says to herself. Third suddenly gets his weapon ready

"Third, did you see something?"

"Over there, in the trees." he replied.

"Move in slowly." Sophie whispers. Second goes down under weapons fire.

Sophie felt shivers of fear go through her body, it was happening again, just as it had on Kelstra II. Five sect troops appear from the tree line. and behind them a tall shadowy figure emerges.

The dark figure walks up to her as the Jem'Hadar and the Sect troops fight behind them "So, you are one of the few that eluded me." he says to her with a deep voice "You shall not elude me again." He gets out a double edged dagger from his armour.

"Of course I could kill you much easier, but I prefer the old fashioned approach. Those who do not obey me die." he then swipes at her with the dagger. Sophie jumps back and somersaults over him and lands behind him.

"Good move, but not enough to defeat me!" he shouts. The Jem'Hadar and the sect troops have killed each other but the Sect leader and Sophie are too took up with their own battle to notice. Sophie jumps up on to his back, pushes him down and pins him to the wet grass.

As they fight, the rain comes down harder on them and thunder blazes across the dark sky. Sophie double punches him in the chest and he winces.

"I know that hurt!" shouts Sophie as the Sect leader doubles up in pain. She gets up but suddenly he grabs hold of her leg and pulls her back to the ground. He climbs on top of her and holds her down and quickly stabs her in the small of her back. She screams out in agony and kicks him off. Sophie then crawls away, her back felt on fire. She was in trouble here, and she quietly prayed to herself that it wouldn't all end in such a dark and lonely place.

Back on Deep Space Nine, Weyoun suddenly feels sharp pain running over his body, and promptly collapses onto the cold floor of the corridor.

"Weyoun, are you alright?" asks Odo.

"I am not sure." Weyoun picked himself back up and continued his walk with Odo to the waiting Sect prisoner ship. Once there, they bump into Bashir, Dax, Garak, along with Quark; looking scared and staying close to Nog. Garak walks up to Keevan "And I thought you lot were a bad bunch." he snarls but Keevan doesn't acknowledge the insult.

Weyoun begins to double up in pain again.

"Ah, what is wrong with me?" he moans

"Here, let me take a look…" offers Bashir, then suddenly they hear weapons fire around them.

"What the hell is going on!" shouts Dax, and then they see Q appear along with others, that must have been members of the Q as well.

"What does this have to do with the Q." says Quark. Kira remembers what Sisko told her about the higher beings, of course he was talking about the Q. Weyoun passes out in Bashirs arms while a big fight between the Sect and the Q erupt around them. On the wet planet.

Sophie's pain is getting the better of her as the Sect leader stabs her again twice in the stomach, the pain was intense turning her body numb. The Sect leader looks into her big emerald eyes and whispers in her ear "I was the one that created you."

"No, only my parents have the claim to that!" Sophie replied, with blood beginning to emerge from her mouth. He smiles at her "No, I created the person that you became, and now I will be the one to destroy it!" He swipes at her again, and Sophie continues to fight him off. She could feel her warm blood seep into her clothes on to her pale skin while the rain made it turn cold as it left her body.

As he was about to give her the last devastating blow, he suddenly disappears in a ball of light. Sophie sighs at his sudden disappearance; she tries to move but can't the pain was too much, the heavy rain begins to give her chills and she closes her eyes and falls to the floor. She thought she heard someone shouting near by, then she looks up to see a Jem'Hadar looking down on her, her sight was beginning to blur as another figure comes into view, the dark haired figure kneels down next her and gently grabs her.

Sophie heard the voices said, but she could not respond, her mouth was rapidly filling with blood. The figure orders another two Jem'Hadar to pick her up. She cries out in pain when they do, then they beam away…

Sophie opens her eyes again, but the intense pain was still there. She looks around the room she's laying in now and notices a figure looking at her. The figure walks closer to her and begins to talk.

"Sophie, can you hear me?" the voice asks. She nods her head, then the figure comes out from the shadows and a face comes clear to her eyes, it is Borath.

"Sophie, I cannot save you, your wounds are too severe..." Sophie turns her head away from Borath tears rolling down her face. Borath notices this, and goes up to her.

"I am sorry." he says softly. Suddenly Sophie feels sharp pains go through her body, she wondered if this was the final moments. Borath gently takes her in his arms, her tears leave her face and fall onto Borath's brown jacket sleeves. Sophie lifts her head and turns to look Borath in the eyes.

"Tell Keevan I think I lov…" death catches her before she can finish the sentence, but Borath could make out what Sophie was trying to tell him. He brushes his palm across her face to close her now vacant eyes. Borath slowly lays her back down and looks at the lifeless body of the Human/Vorta hybrid who had made an impact on his people.

Clarity returns to Borath's thoughts. He walks over to a medical tray and grabs a laser scalpel, he lifts Sophie's head up and turns it so that the back of her neck is facing him, and then he begins to cut the skin. He makes a small incision and inserts his fingers, as he feels around he suddenly stops when he finds what he wanted; the implant.

He removes the small metallic disk and checks it for damage. He smiles, this was advanced technology and will become very valuable to the Dominion. He looks at it closer, he notices that the number 90086 is punched into the meta. It hits him that maybe it would not work without the host, but the host is dead.

He looks at Sophie's body and says with a smile "I am not letting this go to waste." Borath knew secrets about Sophies new existence; one was known by the Founders and the other he knew alone. "Yes…" he said "…this is not over."

Back on Deep Space Nine, Kira and the others are relieved that Q came to stop the Sect. It may have been a short war, but it was without doubt a costly one. Q stood there looking at them

"Thank you Q." Kira says with more than a little venom in her tone.

"Yes, thank you is good… and don't worry, the Sect shall not bother you again. It's an embarrassment to think that we share ties with them." Q shakes his head and turns to his colleague.

"We should go."

The six figures disappear in sharp points of light.

"They're related to those sons of bitches." Quark said in anger.

"It would appear so." piped up Garak. Bashir intervenes "We have to get Weyoun to the infirmary now."

"Alright Julian, we'll have to carry him there, the transporters are off line." Dax says.

"Here, let me help you take him there Odo offers Kira I'll be back soon Odo adds Kira nods she then looks at the mess around her that is Deep Space Nine as the clean up begins and everyone licks there new war wounds Dominion and Starfleet ships dock at Deep Space Nine with there dead and nerves in tatters Keevan comes out of his trance and suddenly picks the Taeyonin out from his jackets pocket and sees what he did not want to see the red gem was no longer glowing.

Keevan then slowly falls down to the floor, as his legs give way beneath him. He screams out and everyone turns to look at the tall Vorta. Keevan then began to cry, he had not cried before; it was painful, he could feel his heart breaking.

"What is it?" asks Kira.

"I have lost Sophie, the only woman I have ever loved." replied a deeply upset Keevan.

"No… No she can't be." Kira said, as the unpleasant reality hits her.

Kira looks at Keevan, then walks over to him, kneels down and slowly puts her hand on the weeping Vortas' shoulder. Kira looks at the others as a sad expression washes over her face. They all look at each other, and hang their heads down in sorrow.

Hours later, a Dominion ship docks at DS9 and Borath appears with Sophies body. He takes her to the infirmary, where Bashir is tending to the now conscious Weyoun

"Doctor…" Borath says behind him.

Bashir turns round to see Borath carrying Sophies lifeless body

"Oh no…" Bashir says to himself. Kira and Dax enter with a Starfleet Admiral

"We will contact her parents and give them the news… this part of my job that is always the most difficult." Admiral Sielak moans.

"Who does?" Dax cuts in.

Sielak shakes her head, and leaves the infirmary to contact Sophies parents. As two Bajoran nurses take Sophies body away, Kira walks over to Bashir, who is looking at all the casualties and the dead that are arriving in the infirmary.

"How is Weyoun and Keevan?" Kira asks

"Well, Weyoun seems alright now, his pain suddenly vanished." Dax cuts in.

"Keevan is not speaking at all, I've tried to talk to him, but all he does is stares at the walls holding that necklace up to his chest. I never thought I would see the day that one Vorta would care for another…" Dax finished. Suddenly Weyoun appears, still looking ill, with Odo in tow behind him.

"Why, Lieutenant? Because we are Dominion, it does not mean we can't care. We Vorta are flesh and blood too, and we deserve to be loved just like everybody else does." Weyoun said with anger and hurt, although he seemed a little shocked with himself at the emotional outburst.

Odo and the others are taken aback by Weyoun's outburst of feelings, then Borath behind them breaks the silence.

"May I speak with Keevan?"

"I don't see why not." Kira replied

"He's through here." Dax says and Borath follows. He sees Keevan sitting down on the floor next to his biobed in the near crowded infirmary, his head in his hands.

"I want a few minutes alone with him." Borath says to Dax, who nods and leaves.

Borath kneels next to Keevan, and begins to speak to him "Keevan, I am sorry that you lost your lifemate."

Keevan says nothing, just keeps his head down.

"Keevan, do not give up hope there is a way you can see Sophie again, she just won't be yours alone this time…" Borath added quietly as people rush past them. Keevan lifts up his head at this comment, his eyes sore and red from crying. He looks intensely at Borath, and slowly starts to smile at him.

******

Days pass, and the terrible news reaches Ensign Hamill's parents. Although the life of a Starfleet office was always a perilous one, the news that their only daughter and her fiancee' both to die so needlessly was the worst kind of horror. But the trip to DS9 was too much for the couple.

Arrangements were made for the bodies to be returned to Earth for a proper burial, but a requiem was to be held before the return, so that all of the people who knew Sophie in her short stay on the station could pay their respects.

Kira stood in the middle of the Bajoran Temple, with a gathered crowd of Starfleet and Bajoran personnel gathered to honour their fallen comrades.

"We are gathered here today to pay respect to our honoured dead. The dedicated men and women who lost their lives in the line of duty will be sorely missed. Their memory will live forever in our hearts...

…let us pray." the gathering hold there heads down for a moments prayer and silence.

Kira utters the final words almost silently "May the prophets walk with them…"

A male Starfleet officer walks out from behind Kira and stands in front of her and gently blows on a silver whistle…

Some hours after the service, Kira sits in her office looking at Sisko's baseball, thinking about the recent terrible events. Starfleet had closed the case on Ensign Hamill at the sudden request of her family. They did not want any more pain then was needed.

This meant that the bastard Keevan would get away with what he did to her. She shakes her head at this. Most of the ships had left Deep Space Nine now, and Borath had left and had taken the so called "heart broken" Keevan with him back to Kurill Prime. Odo, however, had stayed behind on Deep Space Nine, which meant Weyoun had remained at Odo's side, as always, which made expressing her true love for Odo exceptionally difficult. As her thoughts wonder, she is suddenly interrupted by a beep from the office entrance doors.

"Enter…" mutters Kira.

Dax enters with Odo and Weyoun in tow. They all have sad expressions on their faces, something bad had happened - she was getting that vibe from them.

"What's wrong Odo?" she asks, not really wanting to find out.

"Kira, a couple of days ago the Sect wiped out eighty Founders in total." Odo replied, his voice breaking which made Kira ache for him.

Weyoun was holding his head down "Yes, this is a very dark hour for both our peoples." Weyoun said softly not looking up from the floor.

"I am so sorry Odo." Kira said with hurt in her voice, she felt now for him more then ever.

As Kira took Odo to her quarters for some quality time together, Weyoun was left alone after he told his Jem'Hadar to leave and go back to the ship. He had to think about things. His thoughts begin to emerge about the bad chain of events over the last few months; Founders had died at the hands of the Sect.

He stood there alone in the Promenade, watching people go by, trying to get Deep Space Nine back to order. His thoughts shifted to Borath, who had sent him a message through sub space saying that he urgently needed to talk to him. Weyoun had chosen to ignore it thinking that Odo was more important then Borath needing him.

As Weyoun entered Quark's, he received some strange looks; he was used to this now, as it happened to his predecessors before him. His thoughts drift to Dukat and Damar, who were always trying to kill him off altogether, but obviously it did not work.

Weyoun considered this, both of them ended up dead, but not him; he was having the last laugh on them. He sits down at the bar and Quark turns to see him. A little surprised, but nonetheless happy to have another customer, Quark walks up to Weyoun, glass already in hand as all good bartenders did. "Can I get you something Weyoun?"

"Yes, can I have a glass of K'Nar" he replied. Quark nods then Bashir walks in with Dax, their arms around each other. Bashir spots Weyoun with his head down at the bar and walks over to him.

"Weyoun, how do you feel?" asks Bashir, standing next to him Dax looks on Weyoun, who slowly lifts himself up to look at the Doctor. His lavender eyes weren't as bright as usual.

"Things have been better Doctor…" Weyoun quietly replies. Bashir and Dax sit next him at the bar.

Bashir approached Weyoun with more than a little trepidation "I heard about the Founders that died, I am so sorry."

Weyoun looks at him as he grabs the glass of K'Nar from Quark, but remains silent, just smiling and nodding. He already knew that Bashir could not really be sorry. After all, they were enemies only a short number of months ago, before the Sect came along forcing them to both ally with each other.

Bashir looks at Weyouns hands "Weyoun, are you feeling ill again?" he asked.

"Why do you say that doctor?"

"Well, your hands are shaking." Bashir replied concerned.

Weyoun looks down at his hands and sees that the doctor was indeed right.

"Oh, so they are. I had not felt them shaking."

"Perhaps you should come back with us to infirmary." Bashir says, now quite concerned for his latest patient.

"There's no need for a physical, I am feel fine really." Weyoun said while drinking his K'Nnar quickly, trying not to spill it over himself. Sure, he could not explain why he had suddenly fell ill, he kept having pain in his back and his stomach.

One thing that did come rushing into his thoughts was the hybrid Ensign Hamill. Whenever he was around her, he felt uneasy. Unease was an odd feeling that he didn't like and is this situation, he couldn't explain. That's why he did his best not to have much contact with her when she was on Kurill prime… Ah, he was thinking too much. Suddenly, he began to shake all over "What's happening to me…" Weyoun said confused and with more than an edge of terror in his voice. Weyoun slips off the chair falls down to his knees. Dax and Bashir go to aid him

Quark and a few others look on. "Weyoun, I must now insist that you come to the infirmary." Bashir had his serious face on, something he didn't use often, but it had its desired effect. Weyoun was too confused to say no to Bashir.

Bashir and Dax gently drag him to the infirmary an airlock near by opens up and two big Klingons emerge then a third Klingon comes from behind them it was Worf tired and fresh from the battles days before he was here to see how Deep Space Nine and his friends had coped in the war with the sect.

Bashir and Dax lie Weyoun down on a Biobed and lets a Bajoran nurse tend to him while they have a private talk.

"It's obvious that Weyoun is ill…" says Bashir to Dax.

"I agree, but I don't think its all physical. I think Weyoun may be having a nervous breakdown…" Dax offers. "…Think about it. He has lost a lot of his Gods and been through another war." Dax added, Bashir nods then the Bajoran nurse comes back with a tube of Weyoun's blood

"Here's the blood sample you wanted doctor." the nurse said before again disappearing. Bashir then runs it through the medical computer and looks up with shock

"Julian, what s the matter…?" Dax asks.

"I don't believe it, oh my, Weyoun was the one the sect used to create ensign Hamill into a hybrid."

"Are you sure Julian?" said Dax.

"I bet my life on it. One moment, let me find the sample I took from Hamill when she escaped from the Sect" Bashir runs over to the computer terminal and punches in some command that returns just what Julian was looking for. He walks back over to Dax.

Ezri, look here it matches up to Weyoun's. See the same branches and strains here and here; that only happens when two people share the same DNA like families have. Hamills DNA is different in places because she was still part human but you can clearly see Weyouns DNA merged with hers." Bashir explained

"So they were related; in a sense you could say they were family"

"…and I think Weyoun knows nothing about it."

Dax was eager to get to the conclusion of this puzzle "So, Weyoun was abducted by the Sect the Dominion must then have got him back and erased his memory of it ever happening." offered Dax. "That's how I think Weyoun knows nothing of it, they don't want him to know Ezri."

Bashir said with unease "Don't want me to know what, Doctor…" a voice boomed from behind them they quickly turn round to find Weyoun looking paler then usual with a serious expression on his face.

Weyoun approaches them, trying not fall down in the process. It was too late now to keep him from the truth. Weyoun looks at the two DNA samples on the screen behind them.

"There are two samples of my DNA, I don't remember the nurse taking two tests. Anyway, one appears to be different, why?" confusion was etched across the Vorta's face.

"Weyoun, the second sample is not from you, it's from a Starfleet officer, Ensign Hamill." Bashir answers slowly, Weyoun looks into the doctors brown eyes, he was not lying, he was telling the truth and Weyoun knew it. He was very good at detecting lies, it was part of his job as ambassador, and part of his genetic makeup.

"How can this be?" Weyoun asked more confused. Something dawned on him Boraths' message said it was really urgent that he speak to him about a classified subject, could it be about this he thought. Dax approached Weyoun and tried to rationalise the situation.

"We think you taken by the Sect; tested; the Founders retrieved you and erased the event from your memories." Dax knew this seemed far fetched, but everything about this situation seemed unusual, she looked at the Vorta with unease, waiting for his reply. Weyoun raises his bowed head and looks at her oddly, and his expression gives away his feelings, it all made sense to him now.

"Right, do you think Odo knows of this?" Bashir asks.

"No I don't, Odo would have said something to me. They must have also kept this from him in the Great Link replied Weyoun.

"I must say this has come as quite a shock to me after everything that has happened…" Dax and Bashir looked at Weyoun with sad expressions on their faces. "It would explain a lot" Weyoun says under his breath. Odo kept looking at the small Vorta on the other side of the ships' Bridge, he was just standing there, his arms behind his back his head tilted to one side. Now and then a Jem'Hadar would go up to him and he would just tell them to go away with a wave of his hand this was not like Weyoun at all Odo thought he knew how deeply upset Weyoun had been over the deaths of the Founders that he worked for during the war.

"Weyoun, are you alright?" Odo asks

"Uh what… oh Odo I am so sorry I didn't hear you, how can I be of service to you" Weyoun holds his arms open and bows to Odo.

"Weyoun, you seem not your usual self"

"I'm fine…" The long pause suggested otherwise.

"…really Odo, I am still very upset over the Founders we lost." Weyoun replied, trying to look calm and professional.

"Are you sure there's nothing else bothering you Weyoun?" Odo asks looking at him, trying to figure him out.

"Founder, really there is nothing wrong, please is there something I can do for you…" Weyoun quickly changes the subject Odo shakes his head and walks away

Odo didn't believe him, and Weyoun felt this. Odo couldn't know, not yet, not until he himself had all the facts at his disposal. Weyoun stands at a console next to a Jem'Hadar looking at Odo - oh yes now he was ready to talk to Borath, a long and informative talk. He was going to get everything out of Borath one way or the other. Weyoun's lavender eyes glee at the thought.

To be continued…