The Wheel of Fire

Posted on Mon Feb 24th, 2020 @ 3:09pm by Lieutenant Colonel Tienn Nerra

Mission: Mission 13: The Space Between
Location: Various Locations - USS Shadow
Timeline: 1700Hrs - March 1st, 2390

1st Lieutenant Tienn 'Havok' Nerra walked into the lounge as she decided she wanted a human dish for her evening meal,
upon entry she looked around as she spotted a Cardassian wearing a Starfleet uniform, the Bajoran woman blinked as a
lot of memories came rushing back to her.

What happened to her eldest sibling before her eyes was a rather ugly incident, both of them had been forced to kill a
Cardassian guard that had been intent on taking something that Tienn Ezas was not prepared to part with, it had cost
both of them a great deal.

Tienn went over to the replicator as she ordered a pizza and a pitcher of soda with ice, she then went over to a table
but as expected the Cardassian had spotted her wearing her armor plating rather then her regular duty uniform.

Duka's paranoid side had been kicking on as he noticing the Bajoran entering the lounge. He'd been on the receiving end
from plenty of hate from that species since long before he'd joined starfleet. He'd found it was better to get it over with
and deal with them straight away rather than let any hate fester between them. Picking up the half finished soup he
walked over to the Bajoran women. " Excuse me Lieutenant is this seat taken.

Tienn indicated the chair across from her with her thumb. "By all means...Lieutenant." she inquired gently. "Why are you
here?" she decided to give him the benefit of the doubt rather then simply yank both knifes off of her belt and carve him
up as she had to resist the temptation to do just that.

" Well apart from the replicator in my quarters can't replicate food to save it circuits I do prefer the company of other
sentient life forms rather than sitting alone by my lonesome." The Cardassian replied sarcastically.

"No... How do you come to wear the uniform..?" Tienn inquired.

" A very long story my dear spanning many years and hardships." Came his reply as he leaned back slightly in his chair
his white eyes notching the knives in her belt. Better be careful he thought to himself.

Tienn raised an eyebrow as she plucked a slice of Pizza from her plate as she took a bite. "Mmm... well this tastes alright."
she mused. "Could be that your replicator just needs looking at." she shrugged. "I'd offer to do it myself but... I doubt
you'd let me do it." she then took another bite.

"Unless you have skills in engineering lieutenant i think there are far more qualified people on the ship wouldn't you
agree." Came the Cardassian's reply

Tienn raised an eyebrow as she finished the slice of food while he spoke. "I am an Engineer.... I fix what they break." she
indicated the other two marines present with her thumb. "I'm fully licensed."

" Rather skilled individual I see. You reminded me of my wife. Doesn't seem there anything she can't do." Aabrak replied feeling slightly sad with himself for mentioning his wife.

Tienn raised an eyebrow. "Ahh... handles a Bat'Leth and a paintbrush with the same ammount of skill." she commented, no snideness whatsoever in her tone. "What happened to her?" clearly she had caught the unspoken pain in his voice.

" Undercover on her homeworld. Guess she happy to be back on bajor whatever she doing there. " Came Aabrak reply his voice showing concern and sadness. " I hope she's okay."

Tienn was confused. "Wait... undercover on Cardassia?, or on Bajor?"

" Bajor. My wife bajoran believe it or not." Aabrak replied as a slight grin formed on his face.

Tienn raised an eyebrow. "No... I actually don't beleive it." the smaller Bajoran woman responded. "But... I am curious about her..."
she admitted. "is she from the southern islands?"

Aabrak nodded in reply as he continued. " Yup. Lived there for most of her life until she joined the resistance. Only left the planet when we both left to seek asylum in the federation."

"Now I'm confused... how does a Bajoran woman end up with a Cardassian.." she inquired. "She joined the Resistance and then needed to flee Bajor... what happened?"

" It a very long story. It started off when i was heading home for medical leave on a Cardassian transport ship. As we passed Bajor VI an attack fighter came out of nowhere and succeed in bringing the ship down even if it was damaged in the process. There where only two survivors me and the pilot. "

Aabrak paused for a second as memories of the snow covered mountain came flooding back. Flames from the wreck, the smell of burning flesh, the Bajoran strapped into the wreck of the fighter. The struggle as they fought over the knife until he finally knocked off her helmet. Her pale blue eyes and dark skin.

"We had to work together to survive. We only had a very weak signal emitter so no one found us for eight months. By that time we where found by a federation ship which was there for the talks with the Cardassians. Ellanna had been disowned by her father and declared a traitor. She asked for asylum in the federation and given she was pregnant with our daughter, I joined Starfleet. I was disowned by my own family shortly after."

Tienn raised an eyebrow as she heard the story, she also kept her silence as she regarded him, a small smile playing on her face. "Now thats just romantic." she commented with a smile when he finished his story. "I seldom meet a decent Cardassian, Lieutenant... If only more were like you..... this galaxy would a better place."

Aabrak gave a weak smile as he finished his soup and placed the spoon in the now empty bowl. " Thank you. I will admit i've done things i'm not proud off, said things i regret but i think of myself as a good man. A good father. If you don't mind me asking how did you end up here? "

Tienn raised an eyebrow as she felt herself going down memory lane, she explained. "Well I was originally from the southern islands... my family was relocated thanks to the Cardassians... they wanted my mother as a .... comfort woman." she frowned in distaste. "One evening, a Cardassian guard wanted something my eldest sibling, Tienn Ezas was not prepared to part with and so he tried to kill us both, her and me....we have no choice... we had to kill him.... while struggling with her, I was able to grab his phaser and I shot him with it." the Bajoran Marine explained. "Oh course I didn't have a clue as to how a phase worked but Ezas did.. she took the phaser and vaporized his body.... it didn't help that most of the Bajorans nearby had to go into hiding... the Cardassians killed ten Bajoran farmers because of that... my sisters went into the resistance... my father and I joined them.... starting me on the road to where I am now."

"I'm sorry." Came the Cardassians reply. " I never agreed with the occupation or what are forces did. All I did was sit in a lab on some base but I knew I was part of that abomination."

Tienn raised an eyebrow, it was still twenty plus years ago since the end of what happened and it still brought feelings of anger and rage to many people now as it did then. "It matters not." she commented. "You have a Bajoran wife and child or children.." she shrugged. "Your apology is not mine to accept and its also not yours to give..." she paused. "But at least you did something good about it..." Tienn knew he meant well, but he didn't owe her an apology. that's why she said her statement. she knows that ugly things happen in war, good people die and evil people live to do more evil deeds, but she's now finding out that there are decent Cardassians out there.

Aabrak gave a weak smile as he held up four fingers to indicate his four daughters. All of whom he loved more than life itself. " Thank you lieutenant it is nice to meet a Bajoran who doesn't treat me as if i eat babies. I look forward to working with you in the future. "

"I try to keep an open mind....but whats with the four fingers?" she inquired, the fact he held up his hand had confused her.

Aabrak smiled as he stood up from the table to take his plate back to the replicator. "You said children, I have four of them."

Tienn crossed her legs under the table, this all was a rather serious revelation that she was having a hard time processing.
"I had no idea you had a Bajoran wife and children. Do you... ever see them?" she inquired.

"I call my kids every day and my wife whenever I can. Being in Starfleet intelligence, it can take a while for her to contact me." The Cardassian replied with a smile.

Tienn paused. "We are short of Intelligence Officers aboard." she commented. "But then... at least she knows her husbands cares... how old are your children now?" she inquired.

" The oldest Mila is graduating from the academy later this year. The twins Reka and Kattor our two years behind her and the youngest Kora has just entered." Aabrak replied with a smile.

Tienn raised an eyebrow, she had no idea about any of this and the look on her face said as much. "I had... no idea..."

"Well i don't just tell everyone about them. " Aabrak replied giving her a slight wink.

"Touche." the smaller Bajoran responded. "A fair point." she added. "they all joined Starfleet, seems they are trying to tell your wife's family a little something... their grandfather on her side needs someone to cram their foot up his ass..."

" They'll have to form a queue." Aabrak replied with a laugh. " I'll talk to you later my friend I have work to do."

"Fair enough." Tienn commented with a smile. "Well.. its been illuminating and educational, talking with you..." she then raised her glass.