|
|
|
The woman wept. The war with the Dominion was finally over, but the Empire the woman loved was in ruins. Maire walked sleeplessly through the Cardassian night, her legs numb, her body chilled despite the hot atmosphere. Fires raged out of control throughout the capital city and beyond. Survivors from the Jem-Hadar's aborted total war sweep searched for missing loved ones. Keening voices filled the air. Maire slumped heavily against a wall as her feet had unconsciously brought her within sight of the capital building. She closed her burning eyes and saw the face of her Legate. She sank to her knees, her body shaking. She could not approach any closer the building where Legate Damar had been killed as he led his final attack for Cardassia. The female Founder and her Vorta, Weyoun 8, used the capital building as their headquarters while they occupied Cardassian space. When Jem-Hadar forces began annihilating Cardassia, they left the Founder poorly protected. Damar's valiant attack was successful, allowing Garak and Kira to capture the Founder. Weyoun's death was small vengeance by Garak's hand for losing Damar. The Founder was off-world now, in Federation custody, facing her charges as a war criminal and awaiting trial. Cardassia was finally alone and bleeding. There would be little relief from the Federation of Planets, their resources already spread thin among their members. Cardassia would rebuild herself, but Maire knew the Cardassian night would be long and dark. Maire pulled her cloak tighter around herself. Wrapped as tightly in pain, her body succumbed to exhaustion and fitful sleep where battle still raged, blended with memories of an earlier existence. Maire was not Cardassian by birth. She was half human and half shape shifter, growing up on Earth, oblivious of her breeding until early adulthood. She left her home planet when she discovered her hybrid nature, and wandered the galaxy working many jobs, changing her features as suited her needs. Her final job was running cargo on trade routes in a small ship built from a conglomeration of technologies including, but not limited to, Federation, Cardassian, and Tellaxian. It's range was long, but it's weapons were limited. It was highly maneuverable and easily disguised on planet surfaces. The shape of her ship reminded Maire of ancient Terran rays gliding through the oceans. While conducting business on the promenade of Deep Space Nine, Maire had watched Damar's rallying speech to all Cardassians to resist the Dominion until the last Dominion soldier is driven from Cardassian soil. Her heart leapt to his passionate words and the resolute power pulsing in his eyes and voice. Maire shuddered in her sleep and her dreams carried her to meet Damar again. His odor lingered in her nostrils like a spice she couldn't quite identify. His sweet reptilian musk surrounded her and warmed her. Maire fell in love with Damar even as he joked about her ship being held together by the equivalent of bailing twine and duct tape. She promised to serve him and use her resources to provide him with any thing he needed to the best of her abilities. Maire's dream darkened and became chaotic, filled with images of death and the sharp smell of blood. Blue eyes. Lips brushing a scaled neck. The gentle caress. Dispair and loss. Only to him had she longed to show her true face. A voice whispered her name. Arms embraced her trembling body. Radiating warmth of scaled hands drew her out of a fevered sleep. Maire breathed in the scent of hot Cardassian flesh as she opened her eyes to gaze upon the familiar face before her in recognition. "Elim," she whispered. Garak gently lifted Maire to her feet. Silently they held each other. Two isolated souls on a ravaged world holding on to hope of healing, now together. In each other's arms, they would not have to face the long Cardassian night alone.
Post Script:
|
  
 FastCounter by LinkExchange |