www.odospadd.com/padd1/grn_mutin.html -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 6/16/1997
Last Visited: 10/9/2008
Gul Dukat, once and again the master of Terok Nor, stepped through the airlock and down onto the deck plates, flanked by two Cardassian guards.The Gul looked down at Kira, a head shorter than he, and smiled in a way that made Odo move minutely closer to her.
"Well, Major Kira, what a pleasure to see you!After all this time, who would have thought we would be working together again?"Dukat's voice was warm, but there was an iciness beneath its cordial tone that neither Kira nor Odo missed.
...
"Gul Dukat, the Bajoran Government would like to formally welcome you to ... to Terok Nor.We look forward to working in close cooperation with you and the Dominion toward achieving a peaceful and productive alliance for all."She squared her jaw and extended her hand."I officially transfer command of this station to you, and pledge the cooperation of myself, my staff and my crew."
"I accept that cooperation with gratitude, Major," smiled Dukat, taking Kira's hand in both of his.
...
Surprised, Dukat dropped Kira's hand.She stepped back, wiping her palm on her hip.
"*odoital*" Dukat murmured, slurring the Cardassian word so that the universal translator did not recognize it and left it unaltered.Odo, however, knew Dukat was putting him in his place, reminding him of the "nothing" that he had been before Dukat had made him security chief of Terok Nor during the Occupation."It's very rewarding to see my protege doing so well.I can't tell you how pleased I am to have you under my command again."He did sound pleased, in a way that chilled Odo to the center of his mass.The shapeshifter stood motionless and silent, allowing only his eyes to reply.The last vestiges of Dukat's artificial warmth dissipated.
"I assume you have made arrangements for quarters for myself and my staff, Major," he said to Kira."Why don't you show us to them?"
"Of course."She turned her back on the Cardassian party and marched off down the hall.Dukat and his guards fell into step behind her.
...
And just how long do you think it will take Dukat to have us found and brought back here?"
...
Ziyal, child of Gul Dukat and his Bajoran mistress, rose from her seat on a packing crate and came to stand beside Garak, taking his hand and smiling up at Odo.
...
"My orders, *and yours*, are to remain on this damnable station and work with Dukat.
...
What do you think he'll do when Dukat calls to 'regretfully inform' him that you've met with some 'unfortunate accident'?"
...
Whether his methods are crude or polished, Dukat *will* assert his power with a free and enthusiastic hand."
...
The constant stress endured during weeks of working for Dukat had used Kira's physical resources beyond the ability of a night's sleep to restore them.She sat stiffly behind her desk, rubbing the back of her neck with one hand, fatigue and tension warring within her for the right to torment her body.The muscles in her right shoulder burned as if a knife with a heated blade had been slid into them.Her jaw ached from unconscious, unceasing gritting of her teeth, and her eyes throbbed with fatigue.
...
The stylus snapped in Kira's suddenly clenched fingers ... the door framed not the slender figure of her Security Chief but the looming bulk of Gul Dukat.
...
"Dukat."The name fell like lead shielding into the air between them.
"Major," replied Dukat, his voice smooth and polite."You're working late."
...
Dukat stepped behind Kira's desk and placed his hand on her shoulder, gently squeezing it.She felt his fingers trace the line of her collarbone beneath her uniform.It took all her self-control not to spring to her feet and fire her clenched fist at his face; instead, she pushed her chair back and twisted it away from him, breaking the contact.Dukat's smile disappeared, but he maintained the pleasant tone in his voice.
...
Dukat walked with her, one hand hovering behind her back.Odo saw her look up and see him, saw the blatant plea in her wide eyes, and knew that the situation had escalated somehow.But everything went to hell before he could even reach the stairs.
* * *
As Kira and Dukat started down the Promenade together, two Cardassians approached them, holding an old Bajoran man between them.
...
Dukat, however, seemed quite pleased at the encounter.
"Why, Vedek Craston," said Gul Dukat, his voice condescending.
...
And the will of the Prophets will be your undoing, Gul Dukat.Soon ... "
Dukat cut him off with a laugh.
"The Prophets!Absentee landlords to your pitiful planet for over fifty years.If they were so interested in Bajor's welfare, why didn't they take a hand sooner?"
"It is not their way to dirty their hands with petty tyrants like you, Dukat," retorted the Vedek, shaking a finger in the Gul's face.
...
The golden mass dimmed and sloughed away, leaving Dukat gasping for breath.
"*Now* you can kill it," muttered the second guard.The setting changed, the phaser leveled on the quivering amber puddle at Dukat's side.With amazing rapidity the mass congealed into a small, dull pile and without warning shot straight up, changing in mid-air to a Bajoran bat and flapping unsteadily but rapidly off down the Promenade airspace.Phaser beams shot after it but did not connect ... Odo was gone.
Dukat hefted himself slowly to his knees."Get me to the Infirmary," he growled.
...
He'd come close to killing Gul Dukat, there on the Promenade; he'd been furious enough to do it.Odo swore he would not indulge that desire again.
He stirred in his hiding place.He had been regenerating for only a few hours, and he was still exhausted, but he knew he had to move.
...
"Gul, the diplomatic pouch to Bajor -- the transport is leaving shortly.Have you approved the contents?"
Dukat looked absently up from his desk at the young Cardassian aide."In a moment," he said."Hold the transport, and wait outside."
"Yes, sir."The officer nodded, turned briskly and left.Dukat returned his attention to the two items on his desktop -- items that had been enclosed in a sealed pouch he'd found resting there when he had entered his locked and guarded suite that morning.A Bajoran combadge, and an odd little locket.When Dukat held it flat on his palm, the release sprung open and a tiny ... something ... morphed out of the hollow confines to dance for him.Curious, he mused.Especially in light of the docking bay accident last night, in which several Cardassians had been severely injured, and two civilians killed.