written by Mary Draganis
"The Cardassian Ambassador will be arriving tomorrow for preliminary talks. DS9 was chosen, Commander, as the most suitable place for this meeting. I trust security will be taken care of?"
Commander Benjamin Sisko looked at his console at Admiral Vilicek from Starfleet Diplomatic Corp.
"Yes sir. Security will be tight. We will try and stop any Bajoran from killing them."
"Minister Anton Kief will be joining you soon to co-ordinate the meeting. I don't have to remind you Ben, that this meeting, should it be successful, will help the POWs whom the Cardassians still have in their prisons. It is imperative that NOTHING go wrong. Do you understand, Commander?"
"Yes sir."
The screen went blank and Sisko sighed. It was going to be a security nightmare. Cardassians and Bajorans in the same station...The mere mention of Cardassians raised the Bajorans' ire.
*******
Later that day Sisko called a meeting of his officers. Major Kira Nerys, the Bajoran Liaison Officer, Lieutenant Jadzia Dax, the Science Officer, Odo, his Security Chief, Dr Julian Bashir, the station's doctor and Chief Miles O'Brien, the Engineer. They sat around his office.
"In a few days we will be getting a visit from the Cardassian Diplomatic Corps.."
Kira laughed.
"Diplomatic Corps? Since when did they have a diplomatic corps!" She said scornfully.
"They just told us, Major. Starfleet was notified that the Cardassians wanted to release POWs."
"POWs! How..?"
"Major if you let me finish, I can tell you what is to happen." Sisko snapped back at Kira. "The Cardassians will release these POWs and they have requested that Starfleet intervene between Bajor and Cardassia. The reasons why they requested this is still not known. That piece of information we will find out in due course when the diplomatic team arrives. Security will be of the utmost importance."
"We don't want any dead Cardassian ambassadors on DS9." Kira said sarcastically.
Sisko looked at his second in command and sighed. This was going to be a difficult assignment.
"Ambassador Tacet will be arriving in two days."
The name hit Kira with force. Tacet. Sisko's voice echoed in the background as She remembered the Cardassian. How could she forget Gul Tacet, the commander of that infamous hellhole, Dentron. She still had nightmares. The screams of her comrades still pervaded her dreams. She forced herself to listen to Sisko.
"I trust we won't need to tell Starfleet that a Cardassian ambassador had died on DS9. Minister Anton Kief will be arriving tomorrow to brief us on the details. Security will have to be extraordinarily tight, Odo."
"Of course." Odo said as if insulted.
*******
Kira stood behind her console in the Operations Center of DS9. She was oblivious to the hub of activity around her, staring at the figures in front of her, not really paying any attention. Gul Tacet, that butcher who mercilessly tortured her for days, was coming here. She wondered if he knew she was here.
It would be his perverse pleasure to see me." Kira thought to herself.
"Kira?" Dax said placing her hand on her shoulder.
"Yes!" Kira jumped.
"I was calling you, you seem preoccupied...do you want to talk?"
"N..no. I'm fine."
"You don't look fine. You have been staring at these figures now for over an hour - they can't be that interesting!" Dax said, smiling.
'I'm just tired. I'm fine."
Dax left Kira and went back to her console, frowning.
She didn't look fine at all, to Jadzia.
******
Kira walked around the station. Looking as if she was on duty although her mind
was not on DS9. It was back on Dentron. Back where she hung like a piece of animal, laughed at and taunted by Tacet. Back watching Josii's body hanging on the end of the noose. She shook herself and stared out the view port towards the wormhole. Into empty space.
"Can't sleep?"
Kira jumped at the sound of Dax's voice.
"How about you?"
Jadzia smiled. Kira was avoiding answering the question. For close to a year she worked with the Bajoran and had come to understand a great deal about her.
"You're not answering the question."
"No...I couldn't sleep."
"It doesn't have anything to do with those figures you were glaring at today?"
Kira smiled. Jadzia Dax had a way about her that was unique aboard DS9.
"No, those figures are safe." Kira said and returned to the viewport.
Dax looked at her friend and leaned against the railing.
"It has something to do with the Ambassadors from Cardassia?"
Kira turned and looked at Dax.
"No...I just couldn't sleep...that's all."
"I see. Benjamin likes a hot milk drink before going to sleep. You could try that to get to sleep," Jadzia said and took a last look at the forlorn figure of Kira as she walked away.
"I'm afraid to go to sleep. No hot drink will help." The Major thought.
Kira walked down to the promenade. Quark had closed for the night. She stopped in front of Odo's office.
"Are you looking for me, Major?"
Kira jumped again and turned around to face the security chief. He had a Quizzical look on his face, although it was hard to tell what the shape shifter was thinking. "Is everyone up in this place!" Kira said.
"Who is "everyone"?"
"Never mind..."
"Do you want to talk?"
Kira frowned. She could trust Odo more than anyone on this station. She valued His opinion. He was honest.
"I came to discuss...the security measures for the visit."
Odo saw the look in her eyes. He wasn't a good judge of humanoid behavior but Major Kira Nerys was hiding something. He knew that.
"I see. It couldn't wait until the morning? Are you so worried about my security arrangements, Major?"
Kira looked embarrassed.
"No...I...There was another matter. Do you have time?"
"I have. Come into my office."
They both walked into his security office. Odo sat on the corner of his desk and watched as Kira looked uncharacteristically uncomfortable. It reminded him of the time Tahna Los came to DS9 and the difficult decision she had made to protect Bajor's future. He also remembered the little journey to Dentron prison to retrieve records.
"What is on your mid...Nerys?"
Kira looked up at the mention of her given name.
"Ambassador Tacet."
This is going to take a while if we go on like this, Odo thought to himself.
"What about the Cardassian?"
"Three years ago, I was involved in a raid on a Cardassian colony at Holgar. The raid went horribly wrong. We were betrayed."
Her face drained of any color at the memory. Odo looked on impassively.
"My capture was a coup for the Cardassians. I was taken to Dentron Prison for interrogation."
Kira looked down and the pain and the humiliation mirrored in her eyes.
"The Cardassian who took so much pleasure from my pain was Kaleb Tacet."
Odo went over and sat next to Kira.
"Is it the same Tacet?"
"Yes. " Kira whispered.
Odo placed his hand around Kira's shoulders. They didn't speak.
*********
Kira woke from a restless sleep. Her talk with Odo didn't ease her rising anxiety. Having Kief on the station would help. She got up and looked at herself in the mirror. There were dark shadows under her eyes. She dressed wearily and went to meet her friend.
The shuttle docked and the air lock rolled back. Minister Anton Kief, his silver-white hair making him look older than his 40 years, stepped through. He was a very tall man, tall enough to intimidate a lot of people, he hoped, Cardassians. He saw Kira walking up to the docking ring.
"My Nerys...it's been a long time!" He said, lifted her and kissed her tenderly.
Kira laughed, something rarely heard on DS9.
"You can put me down now, Kief!"
Anton Kief made a big show of letting her down and bowed.
"Ah...so this is DS9. Very impressive!" He laughed.
The two friends walked together to the Operations Center. Anton put a Protective arm around Kira. Sisko saw them as they got off the turbolift.
"Minister Anton welcome to DS9," Ben Sisko said, extending his hand.
"Commander, I'm pleased to be here. This meeting is important to both the Federation and to Bajor.
The three of them walked up to Sisko's office and sat down.
"I trust security arrangements have been dealt with, Commander?"
Sisko nodded. "Our security chief is well aware of the need for safety for our visitors."
"Good. Gul Dukat will be accompanying Ambassador Kaleb Tacet."
"What's Dukat's role in this?" Kira demanded, looking at Anton questioningly. "He is his...security blanket."
*******
Anton Kief and Kira walked into Quarks and sat down. Quark wandered over to them, drying his hands.
"Ah! Major Kira what can I get for you?"
"Quark special...make that two."
"And one for Minister Anton. Welcome to Quarks! Always a pleasure to have a member of the Provisional Government here at these premises especially for such an occasion..."
"Yes..."
Quark left them to get the drinks and Anton frowned.
"Security is lax here, Nerys."
Kira looked up and watched Quark.
"Quark knows everything that goes on here, Kief. He's not a problem. You can't keep a secret on DS9..."
"Yes...I suppose so. How are you Nerys? When I heard that it was Tacet, I didn't associate the name with that bastard. I'm sorry. I would have requested they send someone else. Do you want me to suggest to Sisko to ask for you to be sent to Bajor for the duration?"
"No. It is my job as Bajoran Liaison Officer to liaise with all visitors to DS9."
"How are you feeling?" Kief looked at his friend with concern. He remembered how Tahna Los rescued her and the condition she was in when they brought her back to camp.
"I can't forget his face Kief. I can't forget the humiliation, the pain. I can't forgive and now I have to act as if they are our allies."
"You don't have to act as if they are our allies. Just do your job. Nerys, this meeting is important. It will help solve the puzzle of how many of our comrades are still with these animals. We need them back. They need to escape the horrors, just as you did. They need to return to Bajor." Anton said softly.
"I know, you don't have to remind me." Kira whispered.
"Nerys, it's not going to be easy but be strong for the sake of our comrades. I will be with you."
Kira smiled at the man who, along with Tahna Lo, rescued her from the hands of the Cardassians. She admired him for his strength.
"I've missed seeing that smile." Anton said playfully.
******
The next morning, the preparations for the meeting were well under way. The Operations center was a hub of activity.
"Incoming call from Gul Dukat, Commander."
"On screen."
The face of Gul Dukat filled the screen. Kira looked on in disgust. She couldn't hide her distaste for the man.
"Ah...Commander Sisko we meet again. I trust security arrangements for our visit are in order? We don't want a diplomatic incident..."
"Of course not, Gul Dukat. Welcome to DS9. Anytime you are ready we will welcome the Cardassian Ambassador's meeting."
"That's good. Where shall we disembark, Commander?"
"Docking ring four."
The screen went blank.
"We don't want a diplomatic incident! Prophets no!" Kira said sarcastically and looked at Anton as they left to meet the delegation.
*******
Commander Benjamin Sisko, Lieutenant Jadzia Dax and Dr Julian Bashir stood to attention at docking ring four in dress uniform. Kira stood with Minister Anton Kief and Odo. The airlock slid back to reveal three Cardassians. The elder, Ambassador Kaleb Tacet, wore a long tunic style robe over his armor. Beside him stood Tacet's personal bodyguard, a young man in battle dress and Gul Dukat brought up the rear. Anton Kief looked at the young Cardassian soldier. The youth reminded him of someone but he dismissed the thought as Sisko introduced them.
"Welcome to DS9, Ambassador. This is Minister Anton Kief of the Bajoran Provisional Government. I am Commander Benjamin Sisko and this is my second in command, Major Kira Nerys. Also my Security Chief, Odo," Sisko continued the introductions.
"On behalf of the Provisional Government, Ambassador, may we both find a solution to problems that we will deal with to the satisfaction of both sides," Anton told the Cardassian.
Kira looked at Kief and wondered where the fire he once had, had gone. She reminded herself it was a different time and a different place.
****
Later that day, Kira sat at Quark's leaving Sisko and Anton to deal with the Cardassians. Tacet walked into the bar and spotted her. He came to sit next to her.
"Good day, Major."
Kira looked up at the tall Cardassian, surprised.
"What do you want, Ambassador."
"A chat with you, Major."
"Without your bodyguard?" She said sarcastically. "I thought you were with Minister Anton. What do we need to chat about?"
Tacet smiled and remembered the last time they played this charade. She was Still stubborn.
"Young Alesi is having a break." Tacet smiled. "Tell me, Major, why do you hate Cardassians so much? Isn't there room for forgiveness?"
That statement threw Kira off. She looked at Tacet with contempt.
"Forgive? Who do I forgive, Commander?"
"Ambassador, Major. I am not a Commander. I serve Cardassia as an ambassador. I am a man of peace. I am not an unreasonable man..."
"No...' Kira looked down and played with her drink "No...you're not an unreasonable man...just a sadistic one."
"Come now, Major, surely you had to do what must have been done. Let's be honest. You killed Cardassians. You were no saint. Surely you took some satisfaction in their deaths..?"
Kira looked at him. She remembered his taunts, the perverse pleasure he got in watching her cry out in pain.
"I didn't take pleasure in watching people suffer," Kira whispered."Nor did I enjoy killing people. You made me what I am. Cardassians forced me to kill to defend my home..."
Anton Kief walked in and saw Tacet with Kira. He came to stand next to her.
"Ambassador, reminiscing over old times?" Anton's voice was cold. He put a protective hand on Kira's shoulder and felt her shaking.
Tacet smiled and got up from the bar stool.
"Minister, there comes a time when old enemies must lay down their weapons and their hate."
"Ambassador, with all due respect, I suggest you discuss peace arrangements with the Provisional Government."
Tacet looked at Kira and Anton, and walked out of Quarks. ***
Kira slept restlessly.
She was back in Dentron, the cold damp cell, the smell of her own blood, Tacet's eyes staring and taunting...She drew on a robe and went to the replicator.
Her door chimed. Sisko stood outside, still in his ceremonial uniform.
"May I come in?"
Kira was taken by surprise. He was the last person she expected to see.
"Yes...come in."
Sisko entered and sat on the nearest chair. He was tired from all the Diplomatic jargon and double talk. He also wanted to speak to Kira about her impressions Of the Cardassians.
"Kira, I realize it's late but I needed to talk to you about tomorrow. What was your first impression?"
"They want something." Kira said sitting on her large bed.
"I noticed that Ambassador Tacet knew you..."
Sisko looked at his second-in-command and thought he saw a shudder.
"She looks as if she's been crying," Sisko thought to himself.
Kira sat down and ran her hands through her hair.
"Three years ago I was involved on a raid on Holgar, which was then a Cardassian colony on Bajor. Tahna Los and I--"
"Tahna Los? From the Khon-Ma?"
"Yes...I was the commander of the 8th cell of the Shakaar and Tahna was commander of the 4th cell of the Khon-Ma. Our plan was to rescue our comrades from the prisons near the colony.
Kira walked over to the replicator, ordered some hot Bajoran herbal tea and sat down with the steaming mug.
"Our plans were leaked to the Cardassians and they ambushed us. I was shot by one of my own people and captured. I woke up in a dingy cell hanging four inches from the ground and covered in mud. The commander of the prison was Caleb Tacet. Our esteemed ambassador."
Kira took a sip of the tea. She remembered the night so vividly.
"I was captured, tormented and beaten. My brother was brought in and Tacet threatened to kill him if I didn't talk. Josii was hanged..."
Kira looked at Sisko and opened her robe to reveal a large ugly scar running From her shoulder down to her back.
"This was caused by Tacet running a dagger down my chest and back. Commander, after three days I was ready to tell them anything they wanted to hear if only they would stop the pain. If it wasn't for Tahna Los and Anton Kief...."
Tear welled up in her eyes and she hurriedly brushed them away.
"Kira...why are you living in the past?"
"Excuse me, Commander? I don't think you could possibly understand..."
Sisko looked down, remembering Jennifer in the ship's debris. The sound of crashing metal and the heat. The view from the escape pod as the ship blew up. He would go to sleep and dream of Jennifer.
"Kira, when my wife, Jennifer, died I felt I couldn't live without her. When I met the beings in the wormhole, they asked me why I chose to stay in the past and not go forward. You are staying in the past. To paraphrase those aliens..it is not linear."
Kira smiled. Sisko had told them about his encounter with the beings and their questioning.
"I don't know..." she whispered.
"We have a job to do tomorrow, Major, I would like it if you were with me. Together we can deal with Tacet. You do not have to deal with him by yourself. That is Why we are a team."
Sisko got up and walked over to Kira.
"Get some sleep, tomorrow is going to be grueling and I need you."
*********
The next morning, everyone was assembled. Tacet smiled at everyone as he took his place. Dukat sat down next to the Ambassador and grinned. The young Cardassian stood just behind the Ambassador. He glared at Anton Kief. Kira stood at the back of the room. She looked at Anton, but he was focused on the computer pad in front of him. Odo stood next to her.
"Ambassador Tacet, as we discussed previously, you wish to make a proposal to the Provisional Government."
Tacet cleared his throat.
"Yes. We have in custody Bajoran criminals that the Cardassian Government has decided, for humanitarian reasons, to release back to Bajor and pardon their...crimes. This is a list of all prisoners..."
He gave the list to the young Cardassian who promptly gave it to Sisko, who handed it to Kira.
"What would you like in return, Ambassador?" Anton asked and smiled.
The two Cardassians look t each other and then back to the Minister.
"As we understand it, there are some Cardassian prisoners still on Bajor. We would like an exchange of prisoners, so to speak."
They handed the list of Cardassian names to Anton.
"There are more Cardassian names than Bajoran."
Tacet smiled and his eyes stopped on Kira.
"Minister, the Bajorans whom we will release are not dangerous criminals or a danger to the state of Cardassia. The Bajorans remaining in custody are war criminals...from the Kohn-Ma...and the Shakaar..."
Kira looked at Tacet with utter contempt. Odo placed his hand on hers and she looked up.
"I would like a list of ALL Bajorans currently in your custody, ambassador, and a list of all their crimes. I'm sure that the Provisional Government would be interested in finding out what these prisoners did."
"I have no objection, Minister. It will require some time to detail those crimes."
"We have the time, ambassador. Whenever you are ready, I will be here."
Sisko and Anton stood up and walked to the door. The bodyguard opened the door and watched as the Ambassador and Dukat left and followed them out.
"What do you think?" Sisko asked
"They are up to something." Kira said.
*********
Kira went to Odo's office and leaned on his door.
"Odo...what are the chances of checking these names out..."
"I don't understand."
"Unofficially. I have a feeling that Tacet is up to something. I can't believe the Cardassians would be willing to trade prisoners...even for humanitarian grounds!"
"It will take some time."
"Well, constable, as Minister Anton said...we have the time."
******
Kira sat in her quarters and was pouring over the computer pad with the names that the Cardassians had given them. The door chimed. She hoped it wasn't Sisko again.
"Enter," she said. Anton came into her quarters carrying a flask, almost certainly from Quarks and grinned at her.
"Since we had some time on our hands..."
Kira looked more female than he ever remembered. For the first time, he saw her as a woman, and not as the child he remembered from all their years with the Shakaar. The gutsy, angry twelve year old who'd come to his cell demanding to Fight had always had a special place in his heart.
But this was not that child. The anger was still there, but the raw, Unchannelled rage had been tempered by age, or was it experience? "Been a long time, Nerys," he said ruefully. "I've never seen you look so..."
"You've never seen me out of some kind of uniform," Kira retorted and took the flask.
Anton made himself comfortable in one of her chairs and watched as she brought the food.
"Some of this is replicated," Kira told him apologetically, "but the kesa is pure Bajoran."
"Wonderful," he told her as the various aromas filled the room.
"So, what is Tacet really up to?" Kira asked bluntly as they ate.
"I know even less than you, Nerys. Relax and enjoy the food. It's very good."
Kira scowled at him. "I'm not a child any more, Kief. Even after I came of age You still treated me as a child."
Anton looked at her over his draught of Bajoran wine. "Perhaps it was my only defense," he said softly.
"I want to know what Tacet is up to. He has to have an ulterior motive. He'd never give prisoners back out of the goodness of his heart. He'd kill them first, or program them to come back here and work as Cardassian moles."
Anton shook his head gently. She never did take time to listen. "Your guess is As good as mine, Nerys. We'll find out eventually."
"We'll find out sooner than that," she told him, stood up and went to stand by the viewport. "Odo is doing some checks. He's got more Cardassian connections than any one I know. If there's anything to be found, he'll find it."
"This Odo--someone special?" Anton asked. Kira missed the faint edge in his voice.
Kira smiled a little to herself. "I think so. He's a friend. A good friend." Then a wave of sadness washed over her face and she turned way.
Anton looked at her curiously. Kira was not one to make friends. Her trust was sparingly given, and even more difficult to earn.
"Memories of Dentron are not easily laid to rest," he said softly. "I'm sorry we couldn't get you out sooner."
"So is Josii," she whispered. It was unfair, and she knew immediately that it had hurt him, even without turning.
Without even thinking about it she came to his side and knelt at his side, as she had so many times, in so many camps, and rested her head on his arm.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
He ruffled her hair with a large hand. "You've never let it grow."
"It would just get in the way." Kira took the large, callused fingers in hers and looked up at him. He had changed too. His silver hair, had been salt and pepper grey last time they met, and the lines in his face had deepened, but he was still one of the most attractive men she'd ever seen. His gentle grey eyes, eyes that could turn to glaciers in a moment on those rare occasions that he got angry, searched her face as she studied him.
Kira reached out and touched his face, found her fingers trembling. He took Them and held them, his other hand cupping her head as he leaned forward and kissed her gently. When he moved to draw away Kira found that she didn't want him to.
She covered his mouth again with hers and kissed him back, feeling, first, his surprise, then his response to the strength of her passion.
Anton lifted her into his arms and kissed her hard, exhilarated by her response.
"Nerys," he whispered when he lifted his head, "I have waited a long, long time. Are you sure this is what you want?"
Kira moved the hair from his brow, traced one of the deep creases in his cheek and kissed it. "Didn't you ever guess, Kief?"
His eyes grew over-bright with memories of lost time, lost years. Then he Lifted her and carried her to the big Cardassian bed Kira had gradually modified to something near Bajoran comfort.
Her soft dress slid away easily as his mouth covered hers once more. Kira Shivered with pleasure at the touch of his roughened fingers against the soft flesh of her breasts and groaned as they trailed down, across her belly to move like feathers across her thigh.
Kira had waited so long to be with him, resigned herself to the possibility of never seeing him again so many times, that she felt as though everything was happening in slow motion.
It was easy to pull his ceremonial Bajoran smock over his head. His scars remained, reminders, as were those of Tahna Los, of what they had been through, what had to be done for Bajor. For every scar, there were a dozen good people who didn't make it back from a mission, or disappeared during Cardassian crackdowns.
No, Anton would not part easily with his scars and neither will she, it was a reminder.
Kira kissed his shoulder, tracing a raised red welt with her lips, as he moved His lips to her ear, her throat, her breasts.
Then he was kissing her again, taking her mouth with his and telling her how Much she meant to him, had always meant to him as he moved over her and she rose to meet him in the exultation of Bajoran love making. Their meeting was an explosion of denied passion, a sensual Bajoran dance of two lovers becoming one.
Kira found herself lost in the drives of her ancestors, carried along by the wild, erotic force of their desire. Anton lifted her, his hands hot against her skin, as they drove harder and harder toward the peak of their frantic, passionate coupling.
Kira began to cry out, to rake her hands over his still hard, heavily muscled Torso as her time came, and Anton covered her mouth with his, sharing the moment, and then sharing his, the consummation of their union a blur of sensation and motion, until both lay, exhausted, sweat drenched and exulted, holding each other as tenderly as their love-making had been intense.
Kira could hear the staccato beat of Anton's heart beneath her ear as she lay curled in the circle of his powerful arms. As intense as her passion had been, there was now, somehow, a kind of sadness between them. She could feel it in the way he held her, as if to hold on to something he expected to lose.
She tightened the circle of her own arms for a moment, and kissed te place where his heart beat so loudly, the still-dark hair of his chest wiry against her cheek. Then she leaned back in his arms and looked into his eyes, surprising a kind of loneliness there that brought tears of recognition to her face.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
He smiled a little and caressed her face, her hair with his big fingers. "Don't be sorry, little one," he told her.
"We could have had so much more time together..." Kira said mournfully.
"No. There was never a time for us, Nerys," he said hoarsely, and kissed her tenderly. "Not even now," he finished, moisture blurring the depthless clarity of his grey eyes.
In fifteen years of pain, suffering and horror, Kira had never seen Anton Kief cry. His had been the benchmark by which she'd measured her own strength, until she came to DS9. Until then, no-one on Bajor had ever seen Kira Nerys cry, either.
"Don't," she whispered, her soft eyes filling swiftly. In her heart she knew that while Gul Tacet and all the Gul Tacets in the galaxy still lived, there could be no time for them. She put her arms around his neck and held him tightly.
Anton returned her embrace with all the love he'd kept in his heart since the first time he'd seen the doe-eyed, angry urchin storm into his camp and confront his long dead cell leader, Aron Tael, demanding a weapon, and the right to fight.
It was a long time ago, a part of history. He watched her drift off to sleep. He smiled.
*******
Anton Kief woke and lovingly looked at Kira's still form. He smiled and kissed her gently. He was happy that she had for one night banished the specter of Dentron from her dreams. Kira stirred and opened her eyes. She met his grey eyes and smiled.
The communicator on her uniform beeped and they both groaned.
"Odo to Major Kira."
"Yes, Odo?"
Anton brushed stray hair from her eyes and started to kiss her.
"I may have the information you require..."
"I'll be right with you."
Anton looked at Kira with expectation.
"I suppose we had better get up..." Kira said reluctantly.
*******
Everyone was assembled in Sisko's office. Kira and Anton walked in together and sat down. Kira looked at Jadzia and smiled.
"What have you found, Odo?" Sisko turned to the security chief and asked.
"Does the name Alesandro Zelnick mean anything to you?" Odo asked, looking at Kira and Anton.
Anton looked at Kira and said, "The only Zelnick I know was the Commander of The 5th Order at Holgar but he would be over 50 years old now."
"It seems this Alesandro Zelnick may be the son of Commander Zelnick."
"No, Commander Zelnick had one son and he was killed."
"Are you sure?" Odo asked.
Anton looked at the Security Chief.
"Tahna Los and I kidnaped Zelnick's wife and son to bargain for the release of two of our comrades. His son was killed."
Kira looked up at Anton and remembered Tahna telling her about the abduction when she grew stronger after they rescued her from Dentron.
"Could it be possible that he had the other son somewhere else and the underground didn't know about it?" Sisko asked.
"It is possible...I don't understand why the Cardassians would go to this charade just for one prisoner."
"Minister, don't you find it a bit too contrived that former members of the Shakaar: yourself and Major Kira, are present at these negotiations and that the Commander of Dentron Prison, is now the Cardassian ambassador?"
"Odo, the majority of the Provisional Government were involved in the underground, either in the Shakaar or Khon-Ma and many others. I am the Minister of Internal Security, therefore it was only natural I would head the delegation for the negotiations. "
"Or it just might be what the Cardassians said it is, a prisoner exchange." Dax said.
"I find that hard to believe, Lieutenant." Anton told her.
"Minister, are you sure that the boy that was killed was in fact Zelnick's son?"
Anton remembered the night. They lay in ambush waiting for the right moment. The housekeeper, a Bajoran, had motioned to them that the guards were away for A few moments. Doubts started to creep into his mind. He remembered holding the phaser to the young boy asleep in bed.
"It was Zelnick's house..."
"You could have been betrayed," Kira said quietly.
"No...after the initial betrayal we took precautions and only a handful of us knew the exact details...Zelnick would not have released our prisoners had it been a dupe."
"It seems we will have to trust the Cardassians. Odo, continue with your search." Sisko said.
********
Anton came back from Bajor and walked into his quarters.
He planned to surprise Kira with a bottle of Bajoran wine and a drawing he'd made. He looked at the sketch of Kira in her battle fatigues, her face streaked with traces of mud. He remembered when he drew that picture. She was a young 17 year old, bright and eager. They were knee deep in mud after the seasonal rains had flooded their escape tunnels. He remembered that he promised her a mud free bottle of the best Bajoran wine. He could still remember that laugh.
He started to open the bottle and he heard the door swish open. He wasn't going To let her see the wine, and kept his back to the door.
"Kira, I have a surp....."
He didn't finish the sentence.
A young Cardassian soldier drew his dagger and plunged it into his back. He watched as the Minister fell to the floor, dying. The bottle of Bajoran wine shattered over the drawing.
"A life for a life..." The soldier snarled.
The Cardassian stood for a moment over the dying minister and then walked out of Anton's quarters and down the corridor.
********
Odo and Kira sat in the security chief's office. Kira leaned over his shoulder studying the reports Odo had received earlier that day.
Sisko walked in with Dax and sat down.
"What have you found Odo?"
"It seems that Commander Zelnick had three sons. Ibhor, who was killed by the Shakaar, Alesandro Zelnick, who during the occupation was stationed near Holgar and was a junior officer. There is also Alesi Zelnick. Alesi was back on Cardassia during the time his father was stationed on Bajor."
"Tacet came to talk to me at Quarks yesterday. I mentioned that his bodyguard was missing and he mentioned his name as Alesi," Kira told them, suddenly on edge.
Odo punched a command into the terminal and a family portrait of the Zelnicks appeared.
"The young man to the left is Alesandro Zelnick and Ibhor, and this.." Odo pointed to a young boy standing next to Ibhor. "...is Alesi."
"That's him. The bodyguard is Alesi Zelnick!" Kira said looking at the photo.
"What does all of this mean?" Dax asked, looking at them.
"It could also be a coincidence that Alesi Zelnick is here." Sisko said.
"Where is Minister Anton?" Odo asked suddenly.
"He was going to Bajor this morning. He should be back." Kira said still looking at the photo.
Odo struck his communicator with some urgency. "Odo to Minister Anton."
There was no response. Kira looked at Odo and knew panic.
"Computer, where is Minister Anton Kief?" She demanded.
"Minister Anton Kief is currently in his quarters." The computer responded.
"Kira to Kief..."
There was only silence. Odo and Kira headed for the door, followed by Sisko and Dax.
They reached the living quarters and Kira pressed the door chime. There was no answer. Odo punched in the command override and the door swished open.
Kira walked into the room and saw Anton Kief sprawled on the floor. The dagger had fallen nearby.
"Kira to Bashir! Medical emergency in the Minister's quarters!"
"On my way Major!" Bashir's voice echoed.
"Don't die on me, Kief. Don't." Kira held Anton's head in her lap.
Moments later the doors swept open and Julian Bashir rushed in.
He felt for a pulse but nothing could be felt. Sisko, Odo and Dax stood watching as the frantic efforts of Dr Bashir to save the Minister's life.
"He's dead, Major. There is nothing I can do."
Odo picked up the dagger and showed it to Sisko.
"It's Cardassian."
********
Sisko sat in his quarters. Gul Dukat's face filled the view screen.
"I had no idea, Commander. The express purpose of these negotiations were prisoner exchange."
"That may be, Dukat. The death of Minister Anton Kief wasn't on the agenda."
"Gri Zelnick didn't tell me he was going to kill the minister, Commander. I find that it will make the exchange difficult to implement."
"He is responsible for the death of Minister Anton. The Bajoran Provisional Government will want to bring murder charges on your officer."
Gul Dukat looked at Sisko and smiled.
"I'm afraid Commander, I cannot do that. Gri Zelnick cannot be given over to the provisional government.... Minister Anton was just another casualty of this conflict."
The screen went blank.