Ardent

[Cptn Corizon 0]

The USS Ardent cruised swiftly through Dominion held space. The stout Defiant-classed vessel was quite with nervous anticipation. They’d arrived at their first set of coordinates supplied by their “guide,” the Vorta Weyoun to find little more than a small relay station.

 

Weyoun said that the Founders had not made this quest easy, and this was the first step of their journey. At the Relay Station, he’d input a series of codes and received another set of coordinates. The next stop was just over nine days away in a remote asteroid field

 

The irony of the situation had not been lost on the Commander. The galaxy seemed to have a since of humor; not five years ago the man hoe sat not three decks below him had tried with every fiber of his cloned being to rid the galaxy of the Federation and the Alpha Quadrant in general. Now, the continued survival of that man’s one, true passion depended upon those he’d tried to destroy. A small smirk crossed the Dameon’s face.

 

~

 

“Come in,” Weyoun called as the door signaled a guest. A few moments later in strode the Dameon, a rather straight look upon his face.

 

“You asked for me,” Corizon’s voice was matter-of-fact, though he disliked the idea of being called from the bridge to satisfy the Vorta.

 

“Ah yes Commander Ah-Windu Corizon,” Weyoun said motioning to the chair opposite him. “I’ve so wanted to meet you.”

 

Left-ear twitching sideways, “I was under the impression we’ve already met, several times.”

 

A small smile appeared on Weyoun’s face. “Yes,” he acknowledged. “But have we really met yet?”

 

Corizon took a seat, his annoyance finally showing through. “If you’re expecting me to entertain you…”

 

“Of course not,” Weyoun shook his head in a motion he so often used when he was trying to be diplomatic. “I merely hoped to get to know the man who will be remembered as savior to the Dominion.”

 

A slight twinge went over Corizon. “Don’t make it sound so…”

 

“Honorable?”

 

“No,” Corizon half-lied. “Valiant.”

 

“Why Commander,” Weyoun said, “Do you not realize the impact this mission will have on the course of Dominion history?”

 

“All to well,” Corizon said directly.

 

Lifting a brow, Weyoun assessed that response for a few moments. “You’re Dameon aren’t you?”

 

“I’ll be sure to add ‘observant’ to the Starfleet File on you.”

 

“You race fought nobly against the Dominion, I was quite surprised at the resistance you offered against the Jem’Hadar.”

 

A slight snarl proceeded Corizon’s next response. “Perhaps it would be best if we did not discuss…old wounds?”

 

“As you wish,” Weyoun said. “I was merely making an observation; a compliment at that.”

 

“You don’t get it, do you?”

 

“Apparently not,” Weyoun said ambivalently. “To what should I be getting?”

 

Tapping his claws against the metal table, Corizon surpassed an urge to flay the Vorta wide open on the spot. The wounds he’d mentioned we still fresh in his mind. “You tried to annihilate the Federation. You attacked my homeworld. You plunged our Quadrant into a horrific war, and for what? You own insecurities? And now…and now you expect us to be all...hunky-dory?”

 

Silence filled the room as Weyoun stared at Corizon, and Corizon stared at him. “I thought you would understand, perhaps better than anyone else I’ve met from the Federation.”

 

“Understand what? That your people are so insecure that you waged war for no other reason than you just didn’t trust us, based on the machinations of some globs of goo?”

 

Weyoun took in a deep breath. “I’ll excuse your heresy for the moment…”

 

“Good,” Corizon said sharply. “I wouldn’t want to kill you so early in the mission, and given the state of the Vorta Cloning facilities, I doubt they have another of you just lying around.”

 

“Are you always this…confrontational?”

 

“Only when the man who prosecuted one of the most vile wars in the last 100-years expects me to act as if that war never happened.”

 

“Oh come now Commander,” Weyoun retorted. “It’s not as if your own species has a spotless record. As matter of fact, I do believe reading somewhere that during your long conflict with the Gorn that your people were accused of…feeding the bodies of prisoners to soldiers.”

 

Corizon could feel the hair on his neck to begin to rise as his ears pinned back. “That was a long time ago…”

 

“And if you can so easily dismiss that,” Weyoun continued. “Why is it so hard for you to forgive us?”

 

“Because we recognize the past, and deeply regret it,” Corizon quipped. “You on the other hand…you would, given the chance, try and conquer Earth again.”

 

He had a point. Weyoun still felt, despite their recent friendship, that the Federation posed a great threat to the Dominion; and once the Scorpiads had been dealt with, and the Hundred crisis resolved, the Federation would once again become the sole concern of the Dominion. “Perhaps your right,” he said lowly, “I am sure you have much more important things to do than engage in a philosophical debate with me, Commander. I apologize for the distraction.”

 

Looking over him for a few moments, Corizon relaxed. “No apologies required, Weyoun. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll contact you once we arrive at the coordinates for the second location. If you need anything at all…”

 

“I know where to find you.”

 

Corizon nodded and stood to leave the room. Just as he was about to exit, “And Commander…”

 

“Yes?”

 

“You are a hero to the Dominion.”

 

“My life long ambition…”