Vorta, Vorta

[Cptn Corizon 0]

Talin Sector

Vorta Central Command Station

 

On the Vorta Command Center, located deep in Dominion Space, Keevan set brooding in the dark silence of the council chamber. He often came here to say his prayers to the Founders. Each day he knelt on one knee, placed his wrists together and opened his hands to either side and faced the window. Yet their guidance seemed to elude him.

 

And he desperately wished for it. Rumors were beginning to spread of a growing resistance against the purge, among Vorta, Jem’Hadar and Citizens alike. On the small mining world of Regash, production of ore had ground to halt as workers demanded better treatment from the Jem’Hadar. They’d even killed the Vorta Liaison in charge of the facility.

 

Keevan sighed. The entire work force had been purged. Yet production at the mine had yet to resume. The local populace refused to work. It was maddening. And with out the wise guidance of the Founders, he was lost.

 

His thoughts were interrupted by the swish of the door directly behind him. “Keevan,” a female Vorta’s voice called out. “I am sorry to interrupt you.”

 

He closed his eyes and finished his prayer quickly. Gathering himself, he turned to face the visitor. His pale amethyst eyes searched her out. “Ahh,” he said letting a small, weak smile cross his thin lips. “Eris.”

 

Eris emerged from the darkness into the pale moonlight that bathed a small section of the room. “I do apologize for interruption,” she said. Her own pale eyes finding his. “You must have much to speak to the Founders about.”

 

“They are wise in all things.”

 

“If only you could commune with them now,” her tone sympathetic.

 

“Yes, but that is not possible. I will not break Odo’s orders. By doing that, I would be no better than those…heretics.” He seemed to convulse outwardly at the very thought of the growing rebellion.

 

Eris nodded as she made her way to stand next to Keevan, who had now turned to look at the moon which the station circled. “The order is that you may not break the glorious seclusion that they have entered, correct?”

 

Keevan glanced at her for a moment, she’d been there when the order had been given. “Yes.”

 

“Perhaps there is another way.”

 

Keevan turned to her, his eyes locked on her. Eris had been a trusted advisor to his predecessor Javin 7. And her voice carried much weight in the council. “What do you mean?”

 

“Not all the Founders have gone into the Glorious Seclusion of the new Great Link.”

 

Keevan’s mouth opened, then closed. Could it be that Eris had joined the Hundred? He glanced at her more intently now. “Surely you do not speak of the Hundred?”

 

Eris turned to him with a certain playfulness in her eyes. “Don’t be silly. They may be Founders, but they are not wise.”

 

Keevan released a sigh of relief. “Then who do you speak of Eris?”

 

Her head swiveled back to the window. “There is one other Founder who can be consulted. Though thousands of light years and a wormhole lie between us and her.”

 

Surprise again returned to Keevan’s face. “Surely you joke. The Federation would never allow it, and if they did the Romulans and the Klingons would invade with in a week.”

 

Shaking her head, “Untrue. Weyoun actually thought up the idea. Rather cleaver for a ninth generation of the original. You’d think he’d start to fade by now.”

 

“What a pity he hasn’t,” Keevan said lowly. It was widely believed that Weyoun was responsible for the disaster in the Alpha Quadrant, and few Vorta chose to associate with the newest iteration of the once legendary Weyoun.

 

Iris ignored the remark and continued. “He, as you remember, is stationed at Starbase Camelot.”

 

Keevan nodded. “What of it?”

 

“He has contacted the Federation Ambassador their about the idea. She is in negotiation with her government now, but expects the request to be approved.”

 

Keevan’s eyes flashed. “How dare he! With out the Approval of the Council!”

 

“I approved the request myself.”

 

Keevan’s fury faded as he glanced at Eris. “Next time, I suggest you bring the matter before the entire Council.”

 

“You know it’s the only option we have.”

 

“And that’s why I am not having you executed. Make no mistake, these are dangerous times, and we can ill afford to have such…breaches of protocol to happen at such a high level.”

 

Iris wasn’t surprised by the threat. In fact, she’d assumed he would actually have her activate her implant. “I give you my word it will not happen again.”

 

“See that it does not,” he said dismissively. “Inform me as soon as you have word from Weyoun 9.”

 

“Of course…”