Final Acts....
Stardate: 53839.19
Denorios Belt, The Bajoran System
Deep Space 9
Colonel Kira Nerys, Bajoran Militia, Commanding
Operations Center
It had already been a long day for Colonel Kira Nerys by the time her duty shift had ended several hours ago. There was the mountain of paper work that was had to be done and a long list of new arrivals that needed to be reviewed. There was simply a lot that still had to be done today. Colonel Kira set in the Commander's office going over shipping, security and personnel reports. It had been over a year since Captain Benjamin Sisko had vanished within the fire caves of Bajor. It was still something hard for her to get used to, that he was gone. She missed her friend dearly. She missed all of her friends. The station seemed to be very different now a days as she walked its corridors. There are days that she can almost remember the echoes of their laughter. The adventures of days past often fill her memory as she would tour the station.
Colonel Kira leaned back in her chair as she slowly turned around to look out the large window. She could see the space around where the wormhole should be. She knew it was still there, and somewhere within the Emissary watched them. Watching her from deep within the wormhole. Colonel Kira slowly took in a deep breath as she closed her eyes in hopes of hearing their voices once more. She reached back in to her memory and tried as hard as she could to remember what their voices sounded like. She let out a sigh as she thought, 'something is missing.' She hated to admit it but there was something missing around the station. She didn't realize how much she missed her friend till moments like this. When the calm of night tightened its hold over the station.
"Nerys......."
Her eyes shot open as if there was an alert. She knew that voice, it was the voice of the Emissary of Bajor. She turned around in her chair to search her office yet saw no one. She took in a heavy breath, "Great Nerys, you are going mad"
"No Nerys, your not"
Once more Nerys turned her chair in the direction of the voice and found her self in a place of nothing but white. There was nothing in this place. Just herself and HIM! Before her as if nothing had change, he stood there before her. The Emissary of Bajor! Eagerness filled her heart as she wanted so badly to rush up and give her friend a hug. There was so much to say. So much she wanted to tell him. But instead all she could do was just stand there with her mouth open shocked by his appearance to her.
He spoke to her in that ghostly voice of the Prophets,
"Nerys.." he said stepping towards her.
"Something is coming to the station."
She looked blankly as she asked, "Emissary....What do you mean.....What is coming to the station"
He smiled to her as he waved his hands before his body,
"something that has not been seen in the galaxy for a long time."
"Emissary, I....I don't understand" Nerys said stepping forward just a bit. Her heart was heavy with the message that was given to her. But more importantly, it was heavy with the reverence that she was chosen to receive it.
The Emissary only smiled as he reached out and took her by the shoulders, "
"You will, Nerys. Once more Bajor will become the center of something larger than its self. But you have to open your mind to that which you won't understand."
"Emissary, what do you mean?" she said to her empty office. Nerys rose from her chair and looked around. Her eyes filled with wonder and sadness at the same time. She wanted so much to have him back and still he was gone. She turned around once more just to make sure she was still where she thought she was. Her shoulders dropped as the sadness over came her. Once more she was alone. The buzz from her desk broke her of her thoughts. She moved back to her chair and spun around as she activated her comlink. "Yeah" she said softly as she looked out the window once more.
"Colonel we have the latest information regarding the missing runabout, the USS Susquehanna." The voice belonged to Lieutenant Ivo Hristov. A good Starfleet officer but sometimes a bit too eager to rush headlong in to a crisis. He was assigned to the station just over a year ago and had become one of her most important officers. His loyalty was something she knew she could count on. For a human, he was very attractive. She often joked how he was a blue eyed, blond hair devil that had already won the heart of more than a few dabo girls.
Colonel Kira enjoyed having the skilled officer aboard. Nerys liked him, sometimes more than she wanted to admit. His playfulness had won her friendship and his attention to his duties earned her respect. She only wished that he would learn to think before he acted. He was relativity new to the station despite his more than proven history within Starfleet. "Continue Lieutenant" she instructed.
"Yes Ma'am" he said then continued his report. "According to Starfleet, there are mixed reports that place the runabout heading deep in to the bad lands. However none of our ships have reported spotting it. We have reports of a that a Saber-class ship stopped a suspected smuggler out of the Eta Cassiopeiae system. The search crews discovered that the the smugglers flight plans had been altered. According to the true plans, the transport had recently made a stop at Terra Nova. This caused the search teams to dig deeper. While his cargo hold was empty, they did find traces of tritanium. But surprisingly, it was in his engineering space that they made a discovery. Three anti-mater bottles that matched those of the USS Valley Forge."
This was finally the break that Starfleet had been waiting on. "Where did this take place at? And is there any way we can tell how long ago the Susquehanna was aboard this ship?"
"The search teams are holding the smuggler and his crew for questioning, but they do not believe he has any further useful information. After being confronted with the evidence, he admitted that he picked up the runabout over Tarra Nova. He only spoke to one female but suspected that there was someone else aboard the ship. He was paid for his troubled in those anti-mater bottles. He took the ship and its two occupants to just outside of the badlands. The last he saw of the runabout was that it was moving in to the ring system of a gas giant as a pair of Klingon Bird of Prays were closing. That being said Colonel, there is a lot of traffic among our Klingon patrols in the sector. It would appear that they are eager to find the runabout. Something about helping the runabout and its crew on their journey to Sto vo kor." This caused Colonel Kira to laugh. "Ma'am?"
The report of that exchange hit her desk a few hours ago. She paused as she couldn't help but find the reports to be hilarious. She read the report not once but twice. About how a lone runabout bested a pair of Klingon Birds of Pray and had stolen one of their clocking devices. 'If only Worf was here' she thought with a smile on her face. She got a laugh about it then just as she was smiling while thinking about it now. How could a group of highly trained Klingons over estimate their situation so badly to allow a runabout to best them. IF she didn't know better, than this whole mess with the Susquehanna would seem more like one of those bad holo-dramas that Chief O'Brien used to make her take part in. If this was on the holodeck she would be enjoying herself. But the truth is, that this is a highly dangerous person who is bent on having her revenge against the Cardassians. For the first time in a long time, she felt bad for the Cardassians. It wasn't if they didn't have it bad enough as it was. Colonel Kira waved her hand in thin air as she said, "Nothing, please continue."
"Yes Ma'am. Other reports indicate that the stolen runabout might be heading our way. A few informants suggest spotting the stolen runabout passing Olmerak at high warp. However we have not been able to confirm those reports. A Bajorian patrol ship thought that they picked up a warp signature of the stolen runabout just within system. However once they arrived to check it out, they found nothing there. Sadly, there are reports all over the sector regarding Starfleets lost runabout. We just can't pin point where the craft is to locate it. The Ministers back on Bajor are starting to ask questions. They want to know if Bajor is at risk from this person."
Nerys leaned back in her chair and remembered what the Emissary just told her. That she had to be open to what was in store for them. She wasn't sure what he meant but she trusted her faith. Something was coming and she knew better than to second guess the Emissary. "Tell them no. What ever is going to happen will happen. But still let us play it safe. Issue a general warning to all departing and arriving ships to report all sightings of any Danube-class runabouts. We will cast our net wide and see what we happen to catch. What else do you have?"
"Yes Ma'am. We also have report from security just came in moments ago. They caught Quark messing with a security sensor in one of the upper docking ports. They found a Starfleet com-badge on him. However it was not one of ours. The report said that he was acting pretty suspicious." Lieutenant Hristov finished his report
Nerys smiled at the thought that some things simply didn't change. Quark had promised to behave during the Admiral's promotion ceremony. It wasn't like he had a choice, she twisted his arm and made him promise. But deep down inside she knew that he would break his word at the first chance he got. This was the reason why she placed extra security personnel to watch him and his associates. Nerys stood up, "Thank you Lieutenant, inform security to take Quark to Odo's...." she paused as the memory of Odo was a painful blow to her heart. "I mean the magistrates office." Nerys paused as her heart felt the pain of loss love take hold of her for a moment. Odo was the person that she missed the most. Nerys stood up as she decided to deal with Quark personally. "I will teach him to break his promise to me." she mumbled as she moved for the door to her office.
Walking around her desk, she grabbed her PADD from the desk. She continued to make her way for the door and as she approached them, they hissed open for her. Within seconds she was walking across Ops for the turbo lift. She motioned towards Lieutenant Hristov, "You have Ops. Let security know that I will meet them there." She informed as she continued to walked over to the lift. Her mind let out another long sigh as it had already been a long day and she was well past ready for bed. But there would be no rest for her tonight.
Lieutenant Hristov waved his hand towards the lift as to warn the Colonel, "Don't forget that the lifts in the central core have been acting up all day." He gave a sound of frustrations, "Between the lifts and other systems malfunctions, I would think we were infested with gremlins."
Nerys came to a stop as her shoulders slumped. A frowned crossed her lips as she turned with disgust. "God I miss the old days" she said with frustration. With a nod, she turned and walked for one of the side corridors leading away from Ops, "Let security know that I will be there as soon as I can" she said as she turned to leave operations than added, "Information the maintenance teams they better get these lefts fixed tonight!"
Lieutenant Hristov nodded, "Yes Ma'am. Already on it. Maintenance can't figure out what is wrong with the systems. They think it might be somewhere between the links with the power distribution systems and the main computer. But they are not sure where."
Nerys didn't reply as she walked off the deck of Operations. She so badly missed her friends. But at the time, she had to deal with Quark. If anyone wanted on this station or to move something, they would have to go through Quark. And he had promised to behave. She even agreed to allow him to have a get out of jail free card if he could behave till the ceremony had past. Her anger at the Ferengi had clouded her thoughts as she continued to walk down the corridor. In a way she welcomed the long walk as she stormed her way from Operations. It would give her time to build up a good sound anger at Quark before she arrived to rip his ears off.
Colonel Kira didn't notice till it was too late that she was walking up to a young female Bajoran in a militia uniform. Based on the uniform and the rank, the young woman was a cadet from Bajor. With a cross look, Kira noted that her own PADD had more time in service than this cadet. The woman had long blond hair with hints of pink highlights that was rapped in a tied in a tight pony tail. There was some kind of pink ribbon woven in the woman's hair that helped keep the hair nice and neat. Colonel Kira couldn't help but question the different styles of hair back on Bajor. She rolled her eyes as she noticed the smile of the young cadet's face.
Colonel Kira noted the odd worn brown leather bag over the cadet's shoulder. Something about the bag stood out but Kira couldn't put her finger on it. There was a noticeable increase spring in her step once the young woman noticed Colonel Kira and glim was cast over the cadet's eyes. Clearly she was one of those new cadets that came aboard this morning. Colonel Kira remembered what it was like when she first came aboard. 'The cadets these days just don't have a clue' Nerys thought to herself as she dismissed further thoughts on the bag and the odd feeling came along with it.
"Excuse me, Colonel" the young officer said softly with a smile. There was a notice of nervousness on her voice as she spoke. After all, for this young cadet was meeting a legend renowned across Bajor. "Reporting to the station command" the woman said as she pushed her PADD towards Colonel Kira. It didn't take much to assume that the PADD contained the officer's orders. "Transfer from the Bajoran Military Academy" the young officer continued as she tried to push her PADD towards Colonel Kira, "and might I add, I am so honored to serve along side you Colonel."
The final statement caused Colonel Kira to roll her eyes once more at the young officer. Nerys didn't even bother to look at the PADD as she waved it off. "Do you know what time it is, Cadet? Don't you think this could have wait till morning like the rest of the other cadets?"
"Ma'am, I just want to make a good impression" the cadet said with her broad smile holding fast. She withdrew the PADD and looked down, "sorry Ma'am."
Nerys sighed heavily, "look cadet" Colonel Kira finally said after rubbing her temples. 'It had been such a long day' Nerys thought as she didn't really feel up to baby sitting tonight. She didn't have time for this. "Ops is down that corridor and then take a left at the junction. You will find a Starfleet Lieutenant named Hristov. Give him your orders. Speak to him, I will be back in about an hour. Then we could sit down and talk over a raktajino" Nerys knew what it was like to be that young eager cadet wanting to make a good impression. It might have been a long day but this young woman didn't deserve to be ignored because of it. "Inform Lieutenant Hristov that I told you to wait in Ops for my return."
The young Bajoran smiled and let out a bold "Yes Ma'am!"
Kira rolled her eyes at the cadet's enthusiasm as she thought, 'cadets these days.' There was excitement in the cadet's voice over the idea of some one on one time with a legend. Colonel Kira nodded as she added "oh and that brown shoulder bag of yours and your hair." she said pointing out the two offenses. "neither are regulation. So I expect them fixed by morning" Kira snapped in a stern voice. But in a softer tone she added, "but tonight I will let it slide."
The young officer nodded as she said "yes Ma'am" with excitement over a personal meeting hero of Bajor.
Nerys allowed the cadet to pass and watched her for a moment as the cadet continued her way towards Ops. Nerys smiled for a moment as shook her head. "What is the academy doing sending us these air heads" Nerys wondered under her voice as she let out a slight laugh. She smiled while shaking her head and watch as the cadet vanished around a corner. She turned and continued to rush her way down to the Magistrates Officer. She had a meeting a rather painful meeting with Quark. 'At least it will be painful for him', she thought with a smile.
The young Bajoran officer vanished around a corner as she continued to make her way towards Operations. Carefully she followed the directions that were given to her and within moments she found herself coming up to the last turn that would lead in to the Ops Center. This was the center of all command and control for the station and for the entire sector. It was the nerve central that was one of the most protected areas on the station. Even reaching this far would be more than enough for any intruder. But only a few brave souls have dared to risk turning that corner and taking on both Starfleet and the Bajoran military. This was not a place for one who was weak in bravery.
And for any intruder, this would clearly be the end of the road for their attempts at wrong doing. For Seona, she knew that once she crossed this line, there could be no going back. Her life would be ending tonight and she was in complete acceptance of this fact. Coming aboard just this morning gave her the valuable time to set up her plans. Unlike her other plans, this time she didn't create an escape plan. This would be a one way trip around that corner. Seona had found that getting aboard the station would be much easier than she had suspected.
She smuggled herself aboard by hitching a ride on a Bajoran transport. It was on that transport that she took notice of the new cadets that were coming aboard. She even set down and spoke with one of the males. He couldn't stop speaking of Colonel Kira and how legendary she was. He was more than willing to answer any and all questions she had. All it took from her was a bit of batting of her eyes and that mindless blond look that she had mastered so long ago. She played the part of first time traveler perfectly. She knew what he wanted, he was hopping to get lucky with a human female. So she played it to its fullest and gathered valuable information which helped her create her plan. Luckily he didn't hold his drinks as was as he had planned. Her spiking his drink didn't help either. He would wake up tomorrow morning with one hell of a hangover and would have missed all of the fireworks.
Now, Seona stood at the apex of her goals. Just beyond that last turn, was all that she had worked towards. Everything that she needed to save the Federation was just beyond that turn. While the crew of DS9 were looking at the end of a long day. Seona was looking at the night as it was just beginning. It would be her last night alive and she meant to make the best of it. No one bothered to question the young Bajorian cadet as she made her way towards ops. Some even gave her directs to reach this point. Not even Colonel Kira bothered to question a wide eye cadet just reporting to the station. Now, it was time to finish what she started. Taking a breath, Seona started to walk those final steps towards the Operations Center of DS9.
"Tell me Major, can you feel it?" Gul Bolon said coldly. The tall Cardassian officer and former captor came up behind Seona and whispered in to her ear.
Seona's eyes widened as she spun around with a phaser from her bag in hand. She had the weapon set to heat. It would be a nasty non-leathal wound that would she hoped would force attackers to respond with lethal force. She looked down the empty corridor as her weapon searched for any target. Seona closed her eyes as she tried to get her fears under control. 'Come on Seona, this long road is so close to being over. Get a grip' she thought as she turned and leaned up against the bulkhead. She could feel his breath on her neck as he whispered to her. She fought to focus her mind on the moment. Without looking Seona lifted the flap on her bag and returned the phaser to its place. She started to search the bag for something.
It wasn't long till she pulled out a handful of empty hypo-bottles. As she pulled them out, a small number of them slipped from her grip and fell to the floor. Seona slid down to the deck as she search through the empty bottles in her hand. All of them were empty as she continued to search through her bag for others. Her heart sank as she knew what it meant. Her eyes filled with tears as her search continued more frantically. "Come on, I only need one more. Please.....one more...." Seona whimpered as she felt him hovering right over her.
"Ahhhh, no more medication, Major" he gloated as empties bottles slipped from Seona's fingers and on to the deck around her. She leaned back on her heels as hopelessness tried to take root in her heart.
"Major, you know what that means" he said as he ran his hand over her long pony tail.
"What will you do" Gul Bolon asked as he played with her pony tail.
Seona dropped the bottles as her eyes shifted to the entrance to Ops just down the corridor. She could hear them in their laughing and talking about some guy named Mordecai Noonia and some holo-simulator. Their voices carried and echoed down the corridor as they laughed during their shift. She turned her head as she rested her head against the bulkhead again. Her eyes filled with tears as she fought to keep her mind focused. Once more her hand searched the bag once more while Gul Bolon moved from beside her like a predator on the hunt. Soon he was kneeling before her with that look of victory in his eyes.
Gul Bolon smiled as got up and walked towards the opening in to the Operations center.
"Give me what I desire Major and I can help you." Seona's hand continued to search as she pulled out empty bottle after empty bottle from her bag. Each bottle slipped from her fingers and fall about the floor around her feet. Despair was starting to set in as tears blurred her vision. She knew that she needed her medication if she was to continue this. She needed her mind focused on the task of stopping Bolon from destroying the Federation. Gul Bolon peeked in to the Ops Center
"Here, tell me the code to the array and I will help you take back control over your mind." he offered.
"Tell me how to reactivate it and I can ease your suffering."
Seona closed her eyes once more as the tears welled up. She desperately needed her medicine to silence him. Finally she pulled one out as the Gul turned to face her. She lifted the bottle to the same level as her eyes. Looking through the bottle, she saw that it was just about an eighth full of a red liquid. 'Please' she thought as she looked in to the bottle and the red liquid within it. It just might be enough for her to complete what she had to do. She had to save the Federation from destruction. 'Please Crone, please give me the strength to complete this journey' Seona offered in prayer to one of the Triple Goddess of the Wiccan faith.
Gul Bolon shook his head,
"ah Major, still not enough" he said moving back towards her.
"Give up, and give me what I want. I will ease your suffering."
Seona shook her head as she loaded the partial does in to her hypo. "It will have to be. I will never give you what you want." Seona said to the empty corridor. Then under her breath and in a painful whisper she added, "For all, tragically great are made so through a certain morbidness.... all mortal greatness is but disease." On that she injected herself one last time. All her hopes now rested on if she can complete her taste before her control ran out. Slowly Seona relaxed her arms and allowed them to lower down to her side. Her eyes drifted closed as she could feel the medication taking hold of her mind. She held her eyes closed tightly as she focused her mind. It took all of her effort to control something that was nothing less than a hurricane of thoughts and emotions deep within her own mind. Those voices that are not her own were slowly growing silent once more. The empty hypospray slipped from her grip as it fell down to the deck under her. Her mind slowly became steady and her thoughts were once more those of only her own. With her hand shaking, she reaches back in to her bag and pulls out a tricorder.
Taking a deep breath as Seona looked up and down the corridor. There was a sense of gratefulness about her as she was alone in her mind once more. Seona opened the tricorder and enters a set of commands that would start her preprogrammed plan. It would take a few moments for her program to take full effect on the stations systems. During that time she waited for the medication to take full effect. The dose was limited and now so was her time. She didn't have much time left, if she was to complete this mission. If she was to save the Federation from the horrors that she knew was coming. In her mind she knew it was coming, she could feel it just beyond her vision. But she knew it was coming. She could see the ships in orbit over numerous worlds. The death toll that would be raising. The suffering and the battles. Starfleet ships would be all be helpless to defend themselves from these unseen attackers. "No, I will not allow this to happen" Seona promised as she drove the visions from her mind.
The tricorder acknowledged that the command had been sent and her program was now starting. Seona returned the tricorder to her bag. Next she drew out a isolinear tag pistol and checked it to make sure that it was in firing order. After switching the pistol to her off hand, she reached back in to her shoulder bag and pulled out a second tag pistol. Once more she checked this weapon as well to ensure that it was in firing order. With all things finally in order, she rose herself up back to her feet. She reached across her body and felt her dampening device under her uniform and knew that it would help her reach her goals tonight. All they will see is her ghostly image and will not be able to get a transporter lock on her. "This is my end of the road. May I die tonight so that millions will live tomorrow" she prayed softly.
She lifted both pistols up to her head as she ran over her plan once more. Resting the pistols on her head, she closed her eyes. The timing of Seona's plan was critical and would take place at the same time as departing Bajoran transport. Its hold was secured for the trip back to Bajor. The tags would signal one of the station's transporter units, and the target would be beamed to that transport. She wasn't expecting the crew to remain out of contact till the transport arrived at Bajor. But the secured hold would make them spend valuable time getting out and alerting the station of what happened. All she needed was just enough time to secure the Operations Center and to carry out her plan. If all things played in her favor, she would be finished long before anyone could reach Ops to stop her. As always, time was a factor for her. After she did what she must, nothing else matter. She knew that this was going to be her final mission. One that would save the Federation from a brutal surprise attack.
She opened her eyes as she rose up to her feet. She carefully moved the rest of the way down the corridor towards Ops. Once more drawing in a deep breath and uttering a silent prayer to the Triple Goddesses. Seona readied herself for this final act of heroism. On that Seona pivoted on her feet and stepped in to full view of the Operations Center. The look on the faces of the crew members within Ops was clear evidence to the surprise that Seona had won. As they were reacting, Seona took aim at the first pair of officers located on the Security and the Operations Stations. Before either man could trigger an alarm, both Starfleet Officers vanished within seconds in a bluish transporter hum. Seona tucked and rolled towards the center of the room as a phaser beam narrowly missed her.
Lieutenant Hristov, being a highly trained security officer and combat veteran of the Dominion War, was quick and sure of what he needed to do. His quick reaction gave him a target as he shifted on his feet while taking aim with his phaser. He took aim as she was coming up from behind the center table. Seona took aim at him as he took his aim at her. He fired on Seona from behind his station just before she had a chance to fire at him. In his mind he knew that this battle was over. The red phaser ripped through the air catching Seona on the upper shoulder and burning its mark on her Bajoran uniform. The hit caused Seona to stumble back as he smiled. The phaser was set to stun and it was a solid hit. But to the Lieutenant's surprise it didn't stun her. Lieutenant Hristov yelled out, "Computer! Intruder Alert! Operations!" He took cover behind his station as a tag narrowly missed him. He heard something being beamed from Operations.
The computer made a sound as if it was attempting to speak but only gibberish was heard. The reports of Soena had already been spread across the sector. Lieutenant Hristov knew now that this had to be the fugitive that Starfleet had been hunting for for the past few days. While Seona was attempting to find her next target as the last four officers were hiding behind their consoles. Lieutenant Hristov motioned for a Starfleet Officer to join him in an attack while a female Bajoran officer would move to the security station and manually trigger the intruder alert. Lieutenant Hristov came up from behind his console as did the other officer. Both men took aim and fired. Soena managed to dodge Hristov's beam but was the second fire hit was true as it hit her. At the same time, she once more took aim and fired both her pistols. The Starfleet officer that hit her and the Bajoran running for the security station both vanished in seconds. Just as before, the stun setting had no effect on Seona.
Lieutenant Hristov knew his options were running out. He took a glimpse of where the intruder was and planned his next attack. He tapped his communicator only to hear it buzz and chirp. The sound told him that the communications were off line. Considering that there was no alert from the four phaser shots, he figured that they were cut off from support. He could see Ensign Carmody with her phaser at the ready. She motioned to him that she had set her phaser to kill. He didn't like the idea of killing the intruder. But considering that the first two hits set on stun didn't stop the intruder, it was a necessary evil to defend the station. He nodded as he motioned the location of the intruder within the room. He held up three fingers, informing her of a three count that they will begin their attack on. She nodded her understanding.
Seona moved slowly around the center of the room using the main table as cover as she searched for her last two targets. She stayed low to give the last two officers as little target as possible. She would only pause long enough to get a idea of where they were, then continue to move. It was now a game of cat and mouse. Her eyes watched the only two exits of the room noting that it would be a temping escape plan for one or both of the officers. Her ears told her that there were two other heartbeats within the room. She could feel them and knew that they would not surrender the room without a fight nor would they flee for escape. Her mind focused on the task of securing the room. Her virus would only keep the computer and communications down for a short period of time. Time was running out for her and she had to put these last two targets down before her program ended its cycle.
Seona reached out with her hearing and could hear the change of a phaser setting. She heard the failed attempt to activate a com-badge. She could hear them moving about around her, hiding from her sight. Seona closed her eyes and allowed her hearing to filled in what her eyes failed to see. They had to know that the Operations Center was cut off from the rest of the station. The clock was ticking down and Colonel Kira would be arriving at the Magistrates Office, only to find the report was faked. Once that event occurred Colonel Kira would lead an armed assault to retake Ops. Seona had hoped that it would be Colonel Kira who would take her life. But for that to happen Seona had to secure Ops first. Seona moved in to a position where she knew that the two remaining officers would have the advantage. She wanted them to attack instead of bleeding out the time. She needed them to attack so she could counter it. She had to end this battle.
Noting that the intruder was just on the other side of his station, Lieutenant Hristov knew he could take her down without having to kill her. He motioned to Ensign Carmody to follow his lead. IF his attack failed, she would be able to kill the intruder. He communicated his intentions and her role in his plan. She nodded her understanding of the plan. He waited as the Intruder continued to move closer to his position and was making herself open to a close in melee attack. Lieutenant Hristov smiled as he figured that this was going to be over in just a few short minutes. Either he will disable the intruder or Ensign Carmody would kill the intruder. One way or the other, the intruder would fail.
Taking the bait, Lieutenant Hristov leaped over the console as he yelled, "NOW!" He used his arm to hold up his body, he kicked his leg out and to the side. Seona's actions was much faster then he had expected as she took aim. This forced him to change his attack in such a way that it would prevent him from being beamed out of the room. His left foot nailed Seona's right hand causing her aim to shift unexpectedly. Her right hand fired its tag just as his foot knocked this weapon off aim. The tag flew through the air and narrowly missed Lieutenant Hristov once more by only centimeters. The tag whipped pasted Lieutenant Hristov's head as he flatted his body while giving up any hopes of a second attack. The tag stuck in to the door leading to Colonel Kira's office. Within seconds the door vanished as it was beamed over to the Bajoran transport. In that moment, Lieutenant Hristov realized that he had played right in to Seona's trap. All his hopes rested on Ensign Carmody and her aim.
Despite Ensign Carmody moving from her position just before she popped up to fire, Seona's eyes were already tracking the Starfleet officer. Within moments this could be over. If Ensign Carmody could fire first, the Operations Center would be secured. Milliseconds turned in to hours as both women shifted their aim at each other. Seona's long blond pony tail flipped through the air as Ensign Carmody sprang upwards in to firing position. Ensign Carmody's short blond hair whipped upward as she came in to full firing position from behind the Science Station. Both females brought their weapons in to position to take aim. Only heartbeats passed in that moment.
Their eyes met in that brief moment in time as the two woman locked their own sights on each other. Ensign Carmody had never taken a life before this day. She had often wondered what the feeling would be like. However she was surprised to realize that in this moment, she didn't feel anything. It was all training that focused her mind. Her body reacted to years of conditioning and training. There was no fear, no hate, no emotions at all. All the Ensign could do was to think of her training and react to it.
Seona zeroed her aim with her pistol at the Ensign and fired just as the Ensign fired her own phaser. The tag flew through the air passing right below the red beam of the phaser. It hit Ensign Carmody in the gut and a soft beeping sound told the fate of the young Ensign. The red beam of the phaser ripped past Seona just as she rolled her shoulder back and down so to allow the phaser beam to pass her. The beam hit a console behind Seona and exploded it. The sparks filled the air behind Seona as the Ensign vanished from the Ops Center. Within a blink of an eye, the contest was over. Despite her courage and the miss, Ensign Carmody had joined her companions aboard the Bajoran transport. Seona didn't give herself time to think as she shifted her focus back to Lieutenant Hristov was still able to defend his station. The battle for control over the Operations Center of Deep Space Nine continued.
Lieutenant Hristov had to react fast if he was to keep some degree of the upper hand. He made a quick change in his attack as he drove both feet in Seona's chest. The powerful blow sent Seona stumbling back as she lost her grip on both weapons. Seona's back slammed against the center table as her pistols fell to the ground. Lieutenant Hristov leaped up from the console and moved to a better position against Seona as fast as he could. If Lieutenant Hristov thought that this would level the battle field, he was mistaken. Just as he was reaching for his own phaser, Seona rebounded like a coiled spring. She slammed her fist in to his chest knocking him back and heavily winding him. Her next attack was a knee to his gut forcing him to double over. She continued her combination attack on the Starfleet Lieutenant while she spun around planting her right foot in to his chest. The combination attack sent him slamming in to the back of the Security Station. The sound of his phaser falling somewhere by the Science Station indicated that both combatants would have to relay on their melee combat for victory.
"Major" Gul Bolon said from the entrance to Colonel Kira's office then added,
"Guess what?" There was that gloating again.
Seona turned her attention just long enough to take her eyes and mind off of Lieutenant Hristov. Seona never saw the attack from the Cardassian Guard as he flung himself towards her once more. He kicked her in the side of the head causing her to stumble towards the Colonel's officer. Knocked of balance and slightly dazed, Seona fought to regain her footing. It was too late as Lieutenant Hristov was on top of her before she could react to the attack. He wrapped his large arms around her neck in a sleeper hold. He didn't want to her hurt her. He knew who she was and had read her personnel file. He knew that she was suffering from mental instability. So hurting her was the last thing he wanted to do. He held the pressure against her neck hoping that her mind would let go before her body did.
"Don't resist me Major" Gul Bolon said as he walked towards Seona with a smile on his face.
Seona panicked as the arms of the Cardassian Guard was cutting off her air supply. She could feel her body growing weak under the submission attack. She drove her elbow in to his side trying to weaken his grip on her. Despite the power of the blow and the cracking of ribs, the attack failed to gain any ground for her. the guard let out a deep grown under the pain of the attack but he didn't loosen his grip on her. She could see Gul Bolon smiling as he stood there. There was victory in his eyes as he stood there. But she knew he wasn't there. Or was he!? She simply couldn't tell anymore. She could feel his pleasure over her suffering. She knew that the Cardassian Guard behind her was real. She could feel his heartbeat through the choke hold. Or was he an illusion of her mind as well. 'Is Gul Bolon really here!' her mind thought in a panic.
"Come on Major" he said gloating.
"You knew that this was where it all had to end. All your plans had to bring you back here." Gul Bolon laughed as he held his distance from her.
"We both knew that you would come home once more."
Seona fought hard to remain focused but she could see the Gul Bolon's officer back on Velos around her. He had brought her back to Velos! Her mind tried hard to refocus. "I will not let you destroy the Federation!" she managed to say to Lieutenant Hristov's surprise. Seona grabbed her right fist and used her left arm as a power multiplier. She drove her right elbow in to Lieutenant Hristov's side. "I will stop your attack" she cried and added, "If it is the last thing I do! I WILL STOP YOU BOLON!"
She repeated the attack with more power as she was filled with anger over what she knew was happening. She kept driving her elbow in to the side of Lieutenant Hristov. Seona could see the ghostly illusions standing around the center table. They were looking over a large illuminated map of this region of space. Their distorted voices echoed in her mind as she continued to drive her attacks home. She couldn't make out what they were saying but she knew what they were planning. She knew that they were plotting to destroy the Federation. Seona let out a scream as she drove her elbow in to the side of the Cardassian Guard.
The power of the hit sent Lieutenant Hristov slightly in to the air as he fought for control over Seona's neck. She was much stronger than he had ever imagined. It was all he could do to just hold on to her let alone keep the sleeper hold intact. He tried to tightened his grip on her neck as he fought to keep the woman under control. Another elbow broke his grip and sent him stumbling back. Before he realized it, she was back to her feet and in full motion. She spun hard slamming her left foot in to the side of his head. Lieutenant Hristov spun to the right as he was flung on to the center table. Even as he was trying to recover from the attack, he felt two powerful punches to his lower back. The blows knocked the wind out of him. This time, he was the one fighting to keep the blackness at bay. It took all of his might just to turn over with his back still up against the center table.
Seona planted her hands around the Cardassian's neck. She would kill him right here, right on Gul Bolon's desk. She tightened her grip around his neck as his eyes grew larger.
"Look in to his eyes Major" Gul Bolon whispered in her ear.
"How many times did I allow him to rape you. I can't remember." Seona lifted up the Cardassian from the table by his neck and slammed him back on to the thick glass table.
"That's right Major. Kill my guard. Its okay. I will allow this for you, my love" Gul Bolon whispered once more.
She hated this guard like no other. She knew what his touch felt like. She hated him when he touched her. She hated it, when he was inside her. There was a female scream from somewhere in the room. Or was it in her mind. Seona could no longer tell anymore. All she could feel was that this monster had to pay for what he did to her. She tightened her grip on his neck as the flashbacks ripped through her mind. She could feel his touch on her skin all over again. She could feel him inside her once more. She slammed his head against the table once more as anger filled her mind. All she saw was the Cardassian Guard who was aloud to rape her when Gul Bolon was too tired or bored to do it himself.
Lieutenant Hristov's eyes started to roll up in to the back of his head as he made a last ditch effort to loosen the grip on his neck. He hit both her forearms with his own arms. The attack was feeble and weak as it had hardly any effect on Seona or her grip. Seona looked in to the Cardassian's eyes as she knew his death was at hand. It was all she could do was to have this bit of revenge.
"Kill him Major" Gul Bolon said with a hint of laughter in his voice.
"Its okay. I never really liked him anyway. Always whispering behind my back. Always plotting against me." Once more the room was filled with a female scream. Seona looked up from the Cardassian and saw herself standing by the turbolift.
But she wasn't here on the station. It was more like looking through a window in to another place, another time. Seona couldn't explain what she was looking at, but she knew it was her. She felt herself looking back. She had seen this before and knew it was true. The woman on the other side of the Ops screamed out Seona's name once more. Seona only gazed at herself standing there in some snow covered wooded area.
Seona's eyes widen as her mind couldn't understand what was going on any longer. Seona turned back to see the Cardassian on the verge of death. His body failing, his eyes no longer moving.
"FOCUS!" Seona heard herself cry out from the other side of Ops. Seona closed her eyes and shook her head. When she opened them she could see the Starfleet Lieutenant near death. In shock, she backed up letting him go. Without any grace or control, he slipped from the table and flopped to the floor below. He cough and fought for breath as he laid on the floor. Seona continued to back up as she searched the room once more. Her hands were shaking uncontrollable. Her eyes were filled with tears as she couldn't control her own mind any more.
Scanning the room, she noted that Gul Bolon had vanished once more. She looked down at the Starfleet Lieutenant who was still coughing as he fought to regain breath. She moved backwards to the back side of the Operations Station and reached down to pick up one of her pistols. She nodded and walked past Lieutenant Hristov while he rolled over to his hands and knees. He would survive this day, but Seona knew she wouldn't. Without looking at him, she took aim with the pistol and fired. Within seconds his coughing faded from the room as he was beamed with his friends.
She took her shoulder bag off and dumped out the contents on the center table. Two phasers slid across the table. Each were set for the heat setting. It was part of her final stand plan. Along with the phasers, an explosive grenade wired to a harness fell from the bag as well. A deactivated bioscanner was linked to the detonator of the greade. If she was stunned, the harness would explode and ensure her final stand plan. She would save the Federation, and then die the way she was meant to have died with the rest of her unit back on Velos.
Seona pulled a metal case from the small pile and set it on the side. Under the case were a set of Mek'leths banded together with a leather straps. The blades were coated in blood as were the leather straps that held them together. Seona looked at them with a sense of wonder as if she had never seen them before. Without thinking she picked them up and took the straps off of the blades. She positioned them behind her back and pushed them under her belt for safe keeping. Along side the mess of odds and ends was her tricorder, the same one that she used to hack her way in to the computer core of the
USS Thunderchild. In the center of the pile was a holopicture of Maura, Jackson and herself. They were teenagers standing by a large rock next to a waterfall. A tear filled her eye as she looked at the picture.
A larger pile of empty hypo bottles rolled across the table and many fell on to the floor. She had made her medicine while she was at Jackson's home on Mars. She had thought she had made enough, but it was clear that her estimates were off. Seona knew that her condition was growing worse by the moment. Now, those empty bottles reminded Seona of the ticking clock against her. There were three PADDs within pile as well. One such PADD was what she attempted to show Colonel Kira.
She picked up the case as she rushed over to the Computer Pit and leaped down in to it. She opened the case revealing a set of isolinear chips that were each attached to the case by a flat ribbon. She pulled a series of chips from the central computer of DS9 and replaced them with her own. Seona took her time to make sure of each chip she pulled as she tied her case in to the central computer. She looked up from the case as she spoke, "Computer, scramble all command codes for the next thirty minutes."
Within seconds the computer responded in a female voice, "Unauthorized attempted access. Verify Identity, please"
Seona returned her attention to the case as she pulled a few more chips and once more replaced her own chips with those that she pulled out. Once more she double checked the link between her case and the central computer of Deep Space Nine. Once more she looked up, "Computer, scramble all command codes for the next thirty minutes." Seona waited for the computer to answer. If she didn't have the right combination than she would be locked out of the computer and trapped in Ops.
The computer's female voice returned, "Acknowledged. All Commander Codes are now scrambled for the next thirty minutes."
Seona nodded as she knew that she had done it. She was in control of Deep Space Nine. "Computer, activate all security force fields across the entire station. Seal off Operations and the central core with a level ten security force field." As the computer acknowledged the commander Seona climbed out of the pit and started to get to work. Seona knew that the force fields would not stop Colonel Kira. By now, Colonel Kira had to know that the station had been hijacked. But it would slow the Colonel down enough. Seona paused as she approached the center table once more. "Computer" Seona said as an after thought, "Scan the Central Core and Operations. Are there any Cardassians in the area?"
After a few moments the voice of the computer was heard once more. "Negative" the computer responded as Seona looked around the room almost as if she didn't trust what her eyes were telling her.
"Computer, open security protocol. Run a continuous scan for any Cardassian bio signs within the Central Core or within Operations. Alert base personal of the location of any Cardassian bio signs detected once they enter the security protocol zones. Trap the Cardassian within an isolation field till Security can respond. Configure the protocol and encrypt it" Seona said as she returned to her case and moved more chips around and further bypassed the security protocols of the station's mainframe.
The computer responded, "New Security Protocol configured and encrypt."
Seona walked over to the central table and all of her things. Her cherished memories were now laying on the table. Pictures that she had taken since the beginning of this wild adventure. Seona wanted to try to understand what was driving her. So she took as many holopictures as she could. "Computer run the new security protocol in shadow mode" she said as looked down at the different pictures with a bit of sadness in her heart. She knew that this would be the only record left for anyone to truly understand what she had done and why. She recorded her performance on Terra Nova. She recorded the image of the homeless family that she protected against thieves. It was all within this little camera. "I hope that someone will understand why I am doing this" she said softly and added, "there is just enough suffering in the galaxy as it is."
The computer acknowledged her commands once more as Seona picked up the hand full of PADDS and headed for the science stations. "Time to get to work" she said as she stood behind the station. She held the PADD over the station as she paused once more. She scanned the room carefully once more before placing the PADD on the terminal. "Computer, create file folder named Seona AVP-One" she commanded and waited for the creation to be confirmed. Seona nodded, "upload the following data at this station. Transfer all data to Seona AVP-One. Run Preprogrammed Encryption, titled Night Wind. Once these tasks for this station are complete, ease all data located on this PADD."
Once more she waited for the computer to accept the commands that she gave it before moving over to the communications station. She placed the second PADD on the terminal. "Computer realign all subspace antennas to the coordinates within this PADD" Seona ordered and set the PADD on the upload port.
This time the computer refused the command, "unable to comply. Instruction would sever Deep Space Nine from the Federation or Bajoran Subspace Networks."
Seona let out a huff of frustration as she moved back to the computer pit and her case. She leaped down in to the pit and dropped to her knees once more. She scanned the chips remaining within the computer control relays. She pulled a couple more out and replaced them with her own chips that were hard wired in to her case. "Computer realign all subspace antennas to the coordinates within the PADD located on the Communications uplink station" Seona ordered.
This time the computer complied, "All subspace antennas are currently being realign to uploaded coordinates. Communication Black Out in two minutes. Advised to stop current course of action. Communication Black will prevent all communication to and from the station along Allied Subspace Networks."
"Computer, continue with the realignment" Seona said with a nod as she once more climbed out of the computer pit and walked back across the operations center. She reached the science station once more and started to run her fingers across the station's controls. "Computer, aside from my own protocols, are there any other non-Starfleet or non-Bajoran programs running in the background of the mainframe of the central computer." Seona continued to scan the station for any other programs currently running. Her eyes raced over lines of code as the computer scanned its own operations.
"There are no other programs that meet the prescribed parameters" the computer replied with.
Seona nodded, "Computer, copy the file Seona AVP-One"
"File Copied"
Once more the demon spoke,
"Ah Major, what are you doing?" Gul Bolon said as he walked around the central table of Operations.
Seona looked up in shock as she spoke, "Computer, are there any Cardassians in Operations?" She couldn't stop looking at him. Fear filled her heart as she prayed it wasn't here.
"There are no Cardassian Bio-sign located within Operations" replied the computer.
Seona shook her head, "run a complete diagnostic on all internal sensors"
"Diagnostic is currently being run"
Seona turned her head away from Gul Bolon as she attempted to refocus her mind, "Run the copy of Seona AVP-One"
"Copy Seona AVP-One currently being run"
"Major, you can't keep playing these games with me. How long do I have to hurt you" Gul Bolon said as he ran his hand through her hair. He leaned in so close that she could smell his breath. She hated it. Her hands started to shake as his hand ran down her hair and across her cheek.
"Tell me what I want to know Major and all this will end."
"Diagnostic on internal sensors complete. All sensors are operating within their normal parameters" the computer said out of the blue.
"Ah Major what do we have here?" Gul Bolon said as Seona reached behind her back and grabbed one of the Mek'leths. She pulled Mek'leth from behind her and held it before her face so she could see it.
"Computer" Seona said as despair filled her voice. "Scan Operations for any Cardassian Bio-Signs" Seona said as her eyes filled with tears and her voice echoed the pain of her heart. Part of her wanted there this Cardassian to be real while another part of her didn't. She gripped the Mek'leth with so much force that her fingers nearly went numb.
"There are no Cardassian Bio-Signs within Operations or the Central Core"
Seona let our a heart felt cry as the Mek'leth was driven in to her hand.
"Why Major? Why do I have to hurt you?" the force behind the blow snapped the blade leaving part of it in her hand.
Seona looked down to see his hand on her blade. She cried out in pain as her knees gave way under her. Only her hand which was now stuck to the table kept her up. "Leave me alone!" she cried out with so much pain and with tears almost flowing. She reached up and pulled her self back up, "I will stop you Bolon, I swear it."
But Gul Bolon wouldn't be denied as he motioned for his guards to come forward.
"Major you belong to me. You always have, and you always will"
"Warning a hostile viral program has been detected within the Short and Long Range Sensor systems" the computer said with a simple alert to warn the operations crew of the new discovery.
Seona pulled the Mek'leth blade from her hand and dropped it on the console. She then reached over and up the third PADD and placed it on the console. Her blood covered the PADD as she returned her mind to its task. "Computer, upload the following files. Copy and run the copy. Encrypt the original files in to Seona AVP-One. Same as before."
"Warning, Deep Space Nine is no longer part of the Federation or Bajoran Subspace Networks. Deep Space Nine is currently in a state of communication's black out" the computer warned and then it added, "It is advised that the Supspace Antennas be realigned to their original coordinates."
"Time is fading Major" he said as he ran his hand over her head.
"Stop fighting me and give in to what I desire. Damn the Federation and Starfleet. Accept me as your owner."
Seona pulled out the second Mek'leth from behind her and swung it at Gul Bolon as she let out a cry. "I wont let you destroy the Federation" she promised as she swung again.
Each attack he easily dodge as he backed up. One of his guards came up behind Seona and kicked the back of her knee causing her to fall to her knees. She never saw or heard the attack coming. Her blade hit the console as it dug deep in to the metal. It was then knocked from her grip by a second attack from behind. Before she could recover, the second guard came up beside her and kicked her in the back of the head. This attack sent her flopping to her stomach. Before she knew it, both Cardassians were stumping her as if they were putting out a small fire.
"Major, please don't make this any harder on you than it has to be. I want the codes for the array. If you tell me what they are, I will tell my men to stop."
Seona tried to fight back but the men had the upper hand on her. Each time she tried to get off the ground, they pushed their attack even more. Within seconds her body reflected the brutally of the attack that she was under. Her face bloodied, her body broken and bruised. "Computer" Seona cried out for help. "Lock transporters on Cardassian bio-signs within Operations" she struggled out as blood spit from her mouth. "Beam them to security" she ordered.
"Unable to comply, there are no Cardassian Bio-signs within Operations or the Central Core."
As the brutal attack continued as Seona struggled to defend herself from the two Cardassian guards standing above her. "Computer, disable ALL force fields! INTRUDER ALERT OPERATIONS!
An alarm was sounded that echoed across the station as the Computer answered the call, "All Security Personnel Alert. INTRUDER ALERT has been activated in Operations. ALL SECURITY PERSONNEL ARE TO RESPOND." The computer spoke up again, "All files have been compiled and encrypted. Hostile viral program within Long and Short Range Sensor systems has been cleaned. All sensors are now functioning correctly." there was a pause, "Warning, a Cardassian scout ship has been detected at the edges of the long range sensors. All subspace antenna have been realigned to their new coordinates."
"Major, I wont let you resist me" Gul Bolon said as he waved off the two guards.
"Tell me what I want to know or this will continue!"
Seona's face was covered in blood as she looked at Gul Bolon with hate in her eyes. "I will never stop resisting you" she spat at him. "Computer, Transmit Seona AVP-One across all Supspace Antennas."
"Unable to comply with instructions. Instruction requires manual commands from the Communication Console"
"See Major, even our computer knows that you have lost" Gul Bolon said with a smile on his face.
This was it, everything she worked for. Her entire plan now rested on one button on the communication's console. Seona started to crawl towards the communications station. Gul Bolon stood up and motioned for one of his men to continue their assault on her. Each blow was painful, but not one would stop her from crawling across the floor towards the communication station. Behind her a small broke trail of blood as she dug her nails in to the metal floor and pulled herself along. She knew that she had to stop him from attacking the Federation. So many lives were depending on her. She reached out with each and every being she could muster. With each movement, the attack continued. She knew that Bolon would never allow her to send her message. Never allow her to save the Federation. She didn't have a choice.
Each blow crushed her bones and caused internal injuries, but none would stop her. "I've danced my last dance and with this final act I sing my last song...." Seona said just loud enough for the computer to hear it but not understand its meaning. "I pray you found both of them to your liking ... my dearest sister...." she said as she reached up for the station. She could see her goal just inches away from her finger tips. "You died for me, now it is my turn to die for them" she said softly as she reached for the activation button. The flashing button waiting for her to active it and transmit her signal. Tears filled her eyes as the pain could not longer be denied. All she could do was to focus on the console and the command to start the transmission. Within moments it would all be over and her heart accepted this as the end.
Her hand reached for the controls but a second pale hand grabbed Seona's hand by the wrist. Seona looked up with a bloody face and saw Colonel Kira Nerys looking down at her. "What the hell happened here?" Seona's vision went blank as the pain finally over came her minds ability to ignore it. The last thing Seona heard was Colonel Kira Nerys saying, "Somebody get me a Flash Message to USS Thunderchild!"
Narrator's note: Seona's quote "I've danced my last dance and with this final act I sing my last song. I pray you found both of them to your liking ... my dearest sister." was offered by our own TA, superseen1
Act Two, Scene Three
