WHO WE ARE NOT
By Amanda A. Hilliard

~A Story of Lyris Sol, 'Narak'; including Tagen Illyana Monet, Morozov, Empok Nor, and the USS Knight

~"I have this theory that if we're told we're bad.
That's the only idea we'll ever have." Jewel Kilcher~

PART I: YESTERDAY

She stared at the phaser that was aimed at her companions on the cruiser. If she were any kind of Star Fleet officer, she would disarm its holder. If any of them were... but they weren't.

The Maquis picked a smart ship to hijack for a pickup. They were civilians and cadets... all taking a pilgrimage to Bajor. None would have expected to be held prisoner while one named Stryke piloted the shuttle... waiting for their rendezvous.

"Sol, we'll be okay," her friend whispered to her as they watched the Maquis standing above them. She fidgeted on the ground finding this situation uncomfortable. Lyris Sol had no doubts about her welfare. To her, everything happens for a reason... like her being born of two enemies.

She watched the thin one closely. This female was in charge of the troops. She seemed good, but very young... Could she really control them? That is what Sol kept asking herself.

"Ty Monet-" The young Maquis male started before Ty gave him a glare from hell.

"TY!" She corrected, "NEVER reveal who we are."

She was mean, and she didn't care. Lyris Sol almost had to respect this Ty Monet. Almost.

The petrified Bajorans were given a sigh of relief when Ty ordered no Bajoran... or Cardassian... to be hurt. Sol watched the men's eyes. Ty Monet had no control. She was too young for her job... those men would just as much love to have sex with her than listen to her. They mumbled some dirty phrases as she left. Ty Monet was younger than Lyris Sol was, but there was a drive and a determination behind the rough face of Monet that put her past Lyris. Something unexplainable.

"What's your name Cardassian?" The young one questioned Lyris pointing the end of the phaser at her forehead. She could see him following the ridges around her eyes.

"Lyris Sol," She sneered raising her intimidating eyes to look at his cruel brown ones. She never hated the Maquis. Parts of her agreed with them... but this time they ended up with the wrong ones.

Devyn squeezed her hand. He knew that Sol was an easy target. The other Bajorans watched her with either sympathy or some sense of revenge. Lyris Sol was either a devil or an angel and she couldn't control it.

"I'm just as much a Bajoran," She told him, an unwise move. But she did not fear for her life.

The ship rocked. They were under fire... the Federation had come.

Panic. Screams.

Fire.

Hit the Floor.

Darkness.

Transporter.

****Several Years Later*****

"Devyn sacrificed his life for mine... because I've had to deal with the scourge of my heritage," Lyris Sol told Korani with a heavy weight on her shoulders, a weight that's been there for many years.

"It's hardly a scourge," the Bajoran responded back looking at the sullen Cardassian.

They continued walking down the corridor of the USS Knight. The bends were new to Sol, she only had made the Knight home several months ago... several months after being a prisoner of the Jem'Hadar and Cardassians. Times Sol would rather forget.

"I am who I am, but it-" Sol started only to be cut off by Korani.

"You just answered yourself," She said as they stopped at Sol’s quarters, "You are who you are. You know it. I know it. And everybody else needs to deal with it."

Sol never smiles, but she smirked at her friend, "I’m an original alright… I’ll see you on duty."

"Until then."

Sol nodded as Korani walked away from her. She entered her dark quarters. She dropped the uniform jacket to the floor and hit the light. Her eyes stared into the mirror at the blue eyes that always glared back. It was nothing more than she.

Some people’s downfalls are their fears and intimidation’s. Lyris Sol had to dwell on heritage. She threw her undershirt to the ground and looked at the ridges across her chest and up her neck to her face. She was beautiful in her own mind, but the past told the girl she was an outcast, ugly.

"Lyris Sol, you have a priority message," a voice told her over the comm system.

She picked up a black tank top and pulled it on to cover herself. Her black hair fell out of its bun past her shoulders.

"Send it to my quarters," She answered surprised somebody was actually trying to communicate with her. Anybody she called friend was dead, except for Korani… her brother was so far off… and her mother killed long back.

The man on the screen was unfamiliar. He wore a captain’s rank and looked troubled. He wanted something.

"Lieutenant Junior Grade Lyris Sol?" He questioned looking at her through the screen.

She almost smirked, "Like you didn’t know."

"True enough. There aren’t many of your heritages in Star Fleet. Not meant to be a put down…""I understand your intentions, Sir."

"I’m Captain Luc Monet."

"Monet-" Lyris mumbled to herself immediately recognizing the connection. It made something in her heartburn.

"I’ve been looking for you and was worried I’d never find you when you were taken prisoner… I read about your capture by the Jem’Hadar," He rambled to her.

"Captain, if I may ask, why?" She wanted him to get to the point, but she had the sinking feeling that she was being recruited.

"I need you to find my daughter. Sort of."

"Your daughter? Sort of?" She was intrigued even if she didn’t like the sound of dealing with Monets.

"Your report from the attack when you were in the Academy. You mentioned Ty Monet being there."

"One of her men killed my best friend," Sol mumbled not happy with the stirring of old memories. She would rather keep them buried. Captain Monet saw this and knew this.

"I know, that’s why I need you. You have seen her… I lost my daughter to the Maquis. I don’t want to disrupt her life, but I want to know how she’s doing… She was my favorite, Sol. I hope you can understand that."

"No, sir, I can’t… You want me to catch up on your daughter for you? To spy for your personal reasons." She was about to reject this.

"In a sense, BUT Star Fleet needs to know if this Empok Nor is a threat… if they are as neutral as they claim to be. You’re whom I need. You’ll fit in."

"I’ll fit in there because of how I look."

"I’m sorry to make it sound that way, but it’s true."

She sat back in her chair and glared, "I know… and this Empok Nor. I thought of it to be a myth or some kind."

"No, it’s a neutral haven. The USS Horizon was there for a time. One of its crewmembers relayed us information. It poses a threat to nobody, but it holds Maquis, Cardassian rebels, Breen… it’s a haven."

"Sounds nice. She’s there," The story of Empok didn’t impress her at all.

"She runs it with Gul Lain Derot."

"What do I get from it?"

"More doors will open up, Sol."

"When do I leave?" Something new and something different. She liked the sound of that.

"Tomorrow. You’re going there for security. You’re leaving Star Fleet because you didn’t fit in… or some story of your choice."

"Plausible."

"I know." He looked at her sympathetically. Sol saw that whoever he was, he cared for his daughter. He was a good man.

PART II: THE HAVEN

"Lyris Sol, former Star Fleet, 22, Cardassian/Bajoran. ‘Narak’," Sol heard called when the Maquis were safely aboard their transport.

She looked up with her cold blue eyes," Right here."

"No wonder you left," The Terran told her. His face was dirty and unfriendly. Sol didn’t take to him too kindly. He was the ones that made her goals hell to reach… the ones that she hated.

"If you have a problem with me, why don’t you share it right now," Lyris snapped back at him clenching the phaser in her coat pocket.

"Feisty too."

"Ignore him," She heard a man tell her. Her eyes narrowed as she looked over to the brown eyed, pale Terran. She studied his face. His eyes showed his truth. If one knew how to read eyes, they would see the world.

"Should I?" She questioned turning around quickly knocking the knife out of the hand. The speaker was trying to attack her, "Go ahead and try it again… I won’t think twice about pulling my phaser on you. No get back to doing your job."She picked up his knife and took it with her.

The Terran followed her seemingly impressed. He reminded her of some pet that would follow her wherever she decided to go. But to her, that wasn’t a bad thing where she was going."I’m Morozov," He introduced himself catching up to her. His voice reminded her of Devyn.

"Lyris Sol," She said trying to be somewhat friendly. But right now, she was Cardassian… very cold.Morozov studied her face and wondered what was behind that. Yet, he didn’t blame her for being how she is. He understood it, and oddly enough he wanted to help her.

"You mean, Narak." She saw him smile. It comforted her, but she couldn’t show it. Nobody was allowed to get under her skin anymore.

"Codenames," She told herself, "They called me Narak on Terek Nor… or Dukat’s daughter."

"I think Narak sounds less personal," He tried to joke with her.

She responded to him even if she didn’t laugh. He knew that she probably didn’t realize she did."What are you called?" For the first time her eyes actually studied his face. She could pick out that he was from Slovak decent on Terra.

"I was born Alexi Zarkov… Morozov was a close friend of mine who was killed by a…" Morozov trailed off stopping his words.She nodded her head and her eyes grew softer. The more he looked at this woman, the more he found her beautiful. She had the ridges of two different peoples and a personality to match. This mix was she… and she was beautiful to him.

"A Cardassian. You can say it," The words came from her like she’s fought hell and won. Yet, Sol was far from winning herself.

Morozov and Sol spoke the rest of the way to Empok Nor. Of course, Morozov spoke more and Sol listened to him. That was one of her talents. Never the speaker, but always the listener. She didn’t mind, though. His company was somewhat comforting to her. In some ways, Morozov was like Devyn… in a strange way. That made her happy if Lyris Sol could ever be happy. But she knew that if she opened any of herself to this man that she would be hurt. Sol could not be hurt again."Empok Nor," She said taking in the view of the Promenade. They had just walked through from the Habitant Ring. Their quarters were average size, but Sol wasn’t going to complain. They were larger than hers on the Knight were. She stood and looked up all the way to the ceiling three levels up. So much like Terek Nor… but so different.The air locks and corridor did not sum up this place… but the Promenade said haven, second chances, acceptance and freedom. Bajorans, Cardassians, Betazoids, Terrans, Breen, Vulcan… everything together in one place. This haven took her away, took her past the feelings she’s felt in Star Fleet or Terek Nor. If anything, this almost for a short time felt like it could be home. But reality hit her and she knew that she was still Star Fleet… and she was still a spy. And when Morozov found out he would hate her.

"Amazing, isn’t it," Morozov looked around at the people lining the walkways and shops.. and they weren’t afraid.

"Yea," She whispered with a pang of guilt. She wasn’t sure if she was betraying herself, Empok Nor, Morozov, or the Knight. She didn’t even tell Korisee or Tylor or anybody goodbye… did she even thank Bridger for saving her? Her thoughts drifted to the Knight again before Morozov tugged at her arm.

"Come on, we need to be in the Security office."

Lyris nodded as her heart tugged with the emotion of seeing Ty Monet again. She was seeing her again. Tagen Illyana Monet… The murderer and the daughter.

PART III: SECURITY

They stood in the Security office, which was one of the larger rooms on the third level on the Promenade. There were four other officers in the room besides herself. Two Maquis and two Cardassians… Ty Monet sat on her desk like it was a chair. She played with the dagger that the woman always hid in her boot. She was almost the same still, but Tagen Monet looked older and wiser. Something was different about her. Sol wouldn’t accept that, though. This woman was still responsible for Devyn’s death.How did Ty Monet get her job? She was thin and looked weak. Sol had heard things about her from a ship called the Tigra. Good things on Tagen’s part. Maybe Ty Monet only got her job because she was sleeping with the boss. Of course, that was the explanation Sol would believe first.

Ty looked over the officers in the room. When she looked at Lyris Sol, Sol gave her a look like she should know her. Something in the back of Ty’s mind told her she should, but she didn’t know how.

"Well if it isn’t Tagen Illyana Monet," Sol sneered, "Or is it still Ty?"

Sol saw it click in Tagen’s head, "Lyris Sol or should I call you Narak?"

Tagen questioned her arching her eyebrows, "So your hate lead you back to us?"

"Let me tell you something, Ty. I just spent months of my life being held by the Jem’Hadar. I am bitter, I am hurting. I want nothing to do with Star Fleet… and it’s by chance I end up with you."

Tagen bit her lip. She had heard of the things the Jem’Hadar did. She almost sympathized for Lyris Sol. Almost.

"We shall talk of this later. Look at yourselves, Cardassians on one side. Maquis on the other. When will you begin to trust each other?" Tagen replied jumping off the table. Everybody was taken by the presence she had. Sol had to admit that she did have it

."Why should I?" One woman questioned her.

"Because as long as you serve as security on my station you’re going to be working with Cardassians. Lain Derot runs this station. And I’m going to hear no more arguments about this. I gave you all your teams to watch over. You know your shifts. Inform me of any problems, concerns, or questions. I will keep you all posted as to what’s going on. Now, go train, I trust you all," She said dismissing them. Sol turned around to look back at her.

"You’re a good officer, Ty. Maybe I can learn to like you."

"Sol, I never had any dislikes about you. I was on that ship by coincidence more than anything. I never meant to cause you any harm."

"So it seems." Sol said and left leaving Tagen Monet to sit and think about what she’s done.Morozov was waiting for her outside. He had a questioning look on his face, "Okay, Lyris Sol. I’m taking you to dinner and you’re going to tell me what’s going on with you."

She frowned even more, "Morozov…"

"Sol, I know you don’t like opening up. I know you don’t like it… but I’m you’re friend here. You know everything about my life down to which flavor ice cream I like. I want to know what this thing between you and Tagen is."

Sol nodded understanding his feelings, "It’s the least I could do…" She took a deep breath wishing she would have played that more carefully.

* * *

She turned on the light in her quarters and pulled out a Federation Standard PADD. She sat back on her bed against the wall and started to write.

‘It’s my first night here, Captain… Empok Nor is something of a fantasy that a lot of people who grew up in captivity dream of. Knowing the feelings on Terek Nor, Empok has a freedom that I had wanted since childhood. It doesn’t have the ranks and protocols that Star Fleet has. It goes by respect and understanding. People don’t walk around in fear… they walk around with faith in each other and in the Security that we can provide.

‘Captain, Tagen is happy here. She and Lain Derot love each other in a way that very few ever seem to find in their life. I don’t think she regrets anything. You should try to contact her. She isn’t an outlaw, but helping to run this neutral place. I think she would enjoy hearing from you. My problem with her here is trying to forgive her for everything she had done to me in the past. Devyn meant everything to me at the time and it was her lack of supervision, which took that from me.

`I start my shift tomorrow morning… I will inform you of anything else. Part of me looks forward to being taken back to Star Fleet in two months. The rest of me feels like I’m betraying myself and others. Lyris Sol out.’She hid the PADD under her mattress and fell asleep.

Right before she hit REM she knew that part of her wanted to be here more than Star Fleet.

*** *

She stationed her team on respective parts of the Promenade. She stood against the wall watching those who went buy her. Sometimes she mingled around and helped to solve a few arguments. It was strangely peaceful. Tagen walked by her once and just gave her an approving nod. Sol resented the fact that Tagen approved of her. She didn’t want approval. She wanted revenge deep down. Something in standing on the Promenade. Something about it all made her burn for something to fight for. Why could Tagen walk by her so happy and in love and Sol sat here hurting.

Morozov looked down from the walkway above and saw the look over Sol’s face. He was concerned for her as soon as she followed Tagen and the Breen off into one of the Corridors. He knew that she still burned from what happened to Devyn.

She knew a short cut. She and Morozov found it last night. She beat Tagen ahead and pulled the dagger out of its case. She didn’t know what she wanted. She just hurt and burned. This was her chance to prove something… to prove anything. She just wanted Tagen to hurt like she did.

Tagen was too quick, though. She sensed Sol.

"Damn Betazoids," Sol cursed to herself. Tagen grabbed her arm stopped Sol from causing any harm. She yanked Sol into the hallway and slammed her into the wall. It stung for a moment but the glare didn’t go away from the cold Cardassian eyes.

"I should have suspected," Tagen growled at her slamming Sol’s hand into the wall until she couldn’t control dropping the dagger. Tagen kicked it out of the way as Sol kneed her in the stomach. Tagen was better than she though. Tagen flipped Sol to the ground by the arm bruising the bones.

"You deserve to die," Sol snarled sounding hateful. She pushed Tagen into the wall with all of her strength. When she went to punch her, Tagen rolled out of the way while pulling out her dagger. If Sol was going to die, she would do it her own way. She made no hesitation about lunging at Sol, but instead of a dagger she got Tagen’s backhand across her face sending her into the wall hard.

"Do NOT underestimate my strength," Tagen yelled at her pinning her in her spot. She raised the dagger and slammed it into the wall less than an inch from her face.

"I hate you," Lyris said trying to push her back.

Tagen tightened her grasp, "If you attack me again, I will not hesitate to kill you in self defense… but I’m setting this straight. I had nothing to do with that shuttle. Do not blame a damn thing on me," She hissed.

"You killed Devyn!" Sol accused.

"I didn’t kill anybody… Whoever he killed was not my responsibility." Tagen shook Sol back trying to knock it into her head.

"You were his superior officer."

"I had no control over him."

Sol pushed back, "You tell me what it would feel like if Lain Derot lost you… knowing that no other Maquis or Cardassian would love him again.. knowing how it felt to lose you… you tell me Tagen Illyana… You tell me if he would not want revenge on that which is responsible."

"So you would kill me for revenge and to hurt Lain… a man who never harmed you in his life," Tagen challenged pulling her dagger out of the wall, "You stop and think about yourself for a minute Narak. You are so clouded with revenge that you have lost reality."

Ty took the dagger that was discarded on the ground, "Get back to your post Narak. If you try this again, it will be your last."

Sol sat motionlessly as Tagen walked down the hallway with the Breen following her. She felt the blood running down her face and heard footsteps coming down the corridor. She hid her face so nobody would see her.

"I got Johnna to finish your shift…" Morozov told her picking up her chin. She fought his hand so he wouldn’t see her face. She was crying and she was ashamed of that fact.

Morozov tore part of his clothing to stop the bleeding and the tears and sat with him in the shadows. He put his arms around her even if she was reluctant to let him. Something about him made her feel better and to start losing the feelings that had consumed her heart for so long.

PART IV: OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS

The days went by leaving Sol in mixed emotions. Some days she wanted to let things go and some days she saw bits of Tagen that made her want to raise hell again. Her heart was divided like the lines on her face. Cold or caring? She could never decide. Lyris Sol was in turmoil… Her soul was in trouble.

"68 Tagen Monet’s on the wall…. 68 Tagen Monet’s…. shoot one down and kick it around…. 67 Tagen Monet’s on the wall… 67…" Lyris Sol sang to Morozov in one of her more aggressive moods.

He glanced sideways at her as they sat on the Promenade. She stopped singing as her eyes slowly moved to his direction. They made him shiver. They were intensely Cardassian to him at the moment. He had no trouble with Cardassians and has befriended several. Yet, the way she looked at him… She was in the ‘Narak’ persona. This was intriguing to him. One moment, she was soft and cried on his shoulder. The next moment she was ice.

"What?" She grumbled staring at his brown eyes. It had been years since Sol felt like herself… She had been scarred time after time and now, she just wanted to break and didn’t care about him… didn’t care about anybody. At least, that’s what she told herself. Somewhere inside she hurt deeply and wanted to reach him permanently. The rest of her eagerly waited for her transport away from Empok… maybe it would be less confusing.

"You can’t keep going after Ty," He spoke the truth to her.

"Why not? She let one of her officers kill the only thing that mattered to me."

Morozov listened to Sol’s voice. There was emotion there… She just needed to cry and let loose of everything. She had her Cardassian part to her that was blocking off everything. Two sides fighting against each other. Sol against Narak.

"None of us have lived the perfect life, Sol. You can’t go on and blame her forever and you can’t let you’re need for revenge go on forever."

"Come on, Morozov. Born and bred on Terek Nor… Called the daughter of Dukat for years and nicknamed Narak… to be cruel and to control. I have no clue WHO my father really is… My mother was killed in the resistance movement… let’s see… got into Star Fleet Academy… of course treated cruel for the way I looked as if I can help it or would change it… had my only thing close to love get killed by one of HER officers…. Go to see my sick friend, end up captured by the Jem’Hadar… Tortured with another man by them… the only thing I could do to keep myself from breaking was trying to buy Christopher Tylor time on his life… Come on, don’t give me anything about me not being ALLOWED to be bitter," She snapped at him not realizing how sharp her words were to him.

In fact, it burned him, "You’ve always given me the impression of being fair, Sol… and I’ve known you for awhile now… more than anybody ever has in your entire life."

"After I got on the Knight I changed… for a bit I thought maybe somebody cared… but no, Lyris Sol just does not belong in Star Fleet."

"So now you’ve taken to finally getting your revenge on Tagen Illyana… Come on, Sol, listen to yourself. Look at yourself for a bit and see what you’ve become. Do you think that your mother would be proud of what you are now? Full of this hate?"

Sol looked away from him quickly thinking about Lyris Kaela, "Don’t bring my mother into this."

"You are so bitter that it’s ugly," and the truth was that no matter how beautiful he found Sol… she was ugly when she was full of hate.

"If you stand for nothing, you fall for everything…" Sol looked at him again and stood up, "You have to have convictions, Morozov. You may not agree with mine, I may not agree with mine… But I have to do what I need to…"

"Killing her is not the answer," He said and grabbed her wrist worried for her.

"Then what is?" She challenged as he stood up staring down at her.

"Letting go of the rage, Sol…"

"It’s not so easy sometimes, Morozov. When you know my pain, then you will understand."

Sol walked away from him as she generally did. Whenever she could no longer handle the situation she walked away… and he wondered why. He had come to want to help her since the first day the met, and he had also come to know when she would walk away.

Her mind was foggy and nothing really formed into complete clear thoughts. She hurt so much that her head stung with a headache… one that she couldn’t control.

Sol walked to her quarters mumbling her song, "67 Tagen Monet's on the
wall... 67 Tagen Monet's... shoot one down and kick it around..." She
stopped mumbling when she passed by Lain Derot. She glanced away having
more of the desire to take away what Tagen had stolen from her.

She walked into her quarters and looked in her mirror. She looked at her
eyes for a very long time. The blue started to look less like hers and more
like a stranger. She looked away from the mirror at the bed. She stopped
and thought.

"My god, Sol, what have you become..."

She pulled out her PADD and started to write.. it was the only way to release anything. She started to read the last logs she wrote, very angry and very ugly. She read her notes to Captain Monet… She sounded so guarded and sheltered.

She put her hand over her heart and fell to her knees. She pulled herself up onto her bed and laid down staring out to the mirror. She studied every line and crevice of her face and she focused on her eyes. Tears started running down her face. She was a mess.

Sol didn’t know how much time went by when Morozov came to her quarters. She mumbled allowing him into her quarters. She needed her friend more than ever. She wanted Korani to be there with her. Kor would have been there for her when this time came on the Knight. This time always comes… Sol just would never admit it.

"Sol…" He whispered sitting down on the bed next to her. He set his phaser on the table and removed her weapons from her setting them there. He had been prepared for this moment in their friendship. His mother had always taught him that even those who are deeply locked off would someday break their silence. One can only keep in the anger and pain for so long… Sol had reached the point where she was breaking down and needed to let go so she could become stronger.

She tried to cover her face from him. She didn’t want to expose her wounds. He picked up her face and looked at her with his large and very caring eyes.

"Please… don’t look at me…" She whispered trying to pull her head away.

"If you want me to leave I will," He said gently starting to get up. She looked down and then put her hand on his.

"No, I need you here… I need to end this now."

"No more hating Tagen phases?"

"I will try…"

He smiled at her softly sitting back down. Then Sol did something he would have never expected. She wrapped her arms around him and lay in his arms letting the rest of the tears roll down her cheeks. As she lay there things became easier for her to bear because in Morozov she found everything that she had lost over the years. He was going to be the one thing that got her through everything.

"Talk to me Lyris Sol…" He said to her stroking her hair.

"I’ve been a fool for so long, Morozov… When I lost Devyn, I lost something I could have had. I knew that I would never have somebody to touch my heart like he did… nobody to make me feel complete, and like I really do count… So Tagen Illyana became the object that I could hate. I could hate her because she had faulted in her lack of control. She was my target…"

"I understand why you feel like you do…"

His voice was a calming whisper. She closed her eyes not knowing how to explain how she feels, "The only thing I have any right to be mad at her for is negligence… I can’t say that it’s going to be easy for me to like her…"

"I never said it would. You just have to learn to let it go."

"Morozov…" She fell silent. He knew there were words she wanted to say but Sol never could. He understood this.

"Sol… it’s okay. I understand."

She hugged him tighter.

PART V: WHERE IT HAS TO END

Things on Empok Nor started to worry Lyris. Her time was ending on Empok Nor. Captain Monet was scheduled to send somebody for her in two weeks… but she wasn’t sure she wanted to leave. She would never admit it verbally, but she had fallen in love with Morozov and didn’t want to bear hurting him.

What scared her wasn’t the leaving or the hurting… it was the names that were coming up in rumors, and it was the spy that was on Empok Nor. This spy wasn’t her, though. It was somebody else. He was somebody who was a dangerous spy.

And among all of it, there were mentions of a Gul Durana Narak coming to the station… Sol could only wonder what this Gul had to do with her. Narak was hardly a popular name in Cardassian. Sol needed to know if there was anything there.

"How’s your dinner?" Morozov asked Sol as her eyes flashed back to reality.

She picked up her drink and sipped some of it, "It’s good. I enjoy your Terran food."

"You’re thinking about the Gul Narak rumors, aren’t you?" He leaned forward.

"Do you blame me?"

"Not at all, but don’t let it consume you. If she has something to do with your past, you are just going to have to accept it."

"You’re very into this acceptance thing," She almost smiled.

He enjoyed to see her happier. She had been ever since the night in her quarters, "It helps me live."

They finished up their meal and walked onto the Promenade. Their shifts were over for the day, but tomorrow something was going to happen. They were working by rumors. Tomorrow… they had to scour the Promenade.

Sol looked over at Morozov for a moment. There was a nervousness on his face slightly. She looked down and did what he wouldn’t do. She took his hand into hers. He smiled down at her and they continued walking to her quarters. They stopped at the door.

"Alexi… you don’t have to be so nervous around me."

"I know, Sol… but I just don’t know what you want," He put his hands on her face.

"The same thing you want," Her eyes smiled if the rest of her face didn’t.

She let them both into her quarters. He sat down on her bed. Sol pulled something out of her dresser and walked into the bathroom. She changed into more comfortable clothing. Morozov looked around her room and wondered how many hours they had spent together since they first met. He had never enjoyed anybody’s company as much as hers. He lay down on the bed and rest his face on her pillow. He could smell her sweet smell on the pillow. He wouldn’t give it up for anything. She walked out and stood in the doorway for a moment. The thought of him being here with her made her feel complete again.

She walked over to the bed and lay down in his arms, "We have a long day tomorrow…"

"I know," He answered running his fingers through her long black hair. She looked up at him and smiled. He put his hands on her face and slowly moved towards her. Her smile meant everything to him. He pressed his lips against hers taking in everything that she was to him. He wanted to be in that moment forever. Sol ran her fingers through his hair feeling herself for the first time completely opening her soul to somebody. The longer she took in his smell and his touch the more passionate she became with him. She pulled back from him for a moment.

"What’s wrong?" He questioned running his fingers over the ridges on her neck. The feeling made her shiver in delight.

"Let’s take this slowly, Alexi… we have all the time we need," And she wasn’t lying to him. She wanted to stay on Empok Nor. She didn’t want to go back to Star Fleet. This was home.

They fell asleep in each other’s arms. Both were happier than they had been most of their lives. And they would never change any of it.

"Lyris, you notice anything yet?" Tagen tapped on her comm badge trying to look very inconspicuous.

She looked up slightly from across the second level. Her eyes fell back down on the crowd following Morozov, "Nothing yet, Ty… Wait, Morozov says he is suspicious of the red haired human, though. Forty degrees right."

Tagen nodded and looked down to see the one Morozov was following. Sol watched Tagen start to do her job. In fact, the Security Chief impressed Sol.

"Sol, I am going down on the ground floor. Chanalla, I want you to take my post," Tagen ordered and went about her way.

Sol finished sipping some of a drink she ordered from a near by bar. She finished it and put the glass on an outside table. She listened to several Terrans who walked by, "Narak they said her name was…"

Sol turned back. She had to let things take their course. She looked back down at the red haired one and took a deep breath. She knew him from somewhere and that fact could be bad for her. But nothing was going to screw up what she had going. She was becoming at peace with the world.

'Tagen Illyana Monet... she was a focus of my bitterness for quite
sometime. Words from a friend started to shift my views. The views of
a bitter child. So I hate what they made me to be, and I hate alot of
things. But maybe I have stopped hating her because she is so much
like myself,' Lyris Sol thought to herself as she stared out over the
Promenade as Ty made her way down to the level below.

The spy was looking for information. Information on Empok Nor as most were and information on Gul Durana Narak. Sol was surprised at the amount of sources that Lain Derot had.

"Sol, keep your eye on Ty's location... they will be hunting her first,"
Morozov ordered through their communications badge. Lyris made no reply
and kept looking through the crowd.

Her eyes were almost trained as well as Tagen's. She followed their
Chief through the crowd. Even if her Cardassian side wanted to see
Monet terminated... she would not allow anybody to take Monet down. Lyris Sol has to do her job.

As she followed the red haired Terran she had to wonder about this Gul Durana Narak. It was said that some Breen were helping her to escape… Cardassians framed Narak out of spite and hate. Sol wouldn’t doubt the story either because of what all went on during the times at Terek Nor. It seemed like an interesting story nonetheless.

"Morozov, she is coming in on the red haired one." Lyris communicated
quietly.

"Start making your way to get a clear shot if needed... I will start
heading to her position," Morozov continued nodding to the Breen on the
floor.

Things were slowly falling together. But something in Sol’s stomach told her that things were bound to fall apart. She was walking into murky waters… and it frightened part of her.

Lyris watched Tagen walk over to the Terran with a cloak over her head. The comm badge was open so Sol, Morozov, and Kriess could hear it.

She quietly mumbled to him as she kept his pace looking casual, "I hear
you are looking for information..." Her voice was seductive and
convincing yet powerful in it's own form. It kept them all impressed.

"The prisoner..." He mumbled glancing sideways at her, "How do you
know?"

"I have connections with some Breen. Let's move off this corridor to
speak of this... it is not for their ears," She offered veering off
through the crowd. The man followed her... she believed the Federation
to be too trusting.

Morozov watched Tagen as she played with the silver ring on her finger.
He looked up at Sol and nodded to her. He looked across at the
blank Breen and nodded. She led the Federation officer into the
corridor and he grabbed her by the shoulder.

"Do you think I am stupid?" He questioned her wrapping his arm around
her neck trying to choke her.

"Do you think I can't do my job?" Tagen snapped sending her elbows into
his stomach pushing him back away from her. She turned around and sent
her fist into his jaw. He started to reach for his phaser when Morozov
and Lyris Sol came in with their aimed at him and the Breen with its
might huge weapon.

"I'd drop it if I were you," Tagen said rubbing away the slight pain to
her neck. She held her dagger in her other fist.

He dropped the phaser to the ground and Sol went to pick it up. He
kicked Sol in chest and knocked her to the ground. He stopped
immediately when Tagen sent her dagger through the wall less than an
inch next to his face.

"Don't think I was trying to miss," She told him and motioned to Morozov
to pick the guy up. Tagen helped Sol up from the ground and pulled her
dagger out of the wall. Morozov and the Breen took the Federation spy
to the brig where Tagen was going to question him later.

She looked at Sol who was trying to pretend she didn't hurt, "It hurts,
you don't have to hide it Miss Lyris," Ty smiled slightly.

Sol's eyes fell to the ground. She was hiding something from Tagen,
"What is it Sol?"

"Just something I've overheard about the information being sought
for..." Tagen nodded understanding her.

"What about it?" Something about the light changed the features on
Sol's face. The Cardassian to her seemed to emanate more than
anything... something was pulling at Sol's soul... something that made
her seem like the Narak she has been called for so many years.

"The information is about a prisoner that escaped through supposed Breen
help..." Sol's voice grew more sullen and dark.

"It's all rumor until we find the truth. In this lifestyle you should
know that Lyris Sol." Tagen tried to sound more like a parent than
anything. She had to try to ease this tension that Sol felt within
herself.

"The prisoner is a Cardassian female..."

"Yes, I know…"

"Gul Durana Narak is her name... Narak, Tagen... I want to know why they
gave me her name."

Tagen was surprised that Sol had all of this information, "Rumors get around quickly… Sol I promise you will get all of your answers."

Oddly Sol trusted Tagen Illyana.

PART VI: PIECES OF YOU

Tagen had ordered her to go to the brig with Morozov to see this spy, but something else happened too suddenly.

"Sol, take a team down to the docks. The Breen ship with this Gul Narak has arrived… I’d like you to be there," Tagen ordered her through the comm badge.

"Understood," She sounded very unsure of this decision.

Morozov looked at her and smiled, "It can’t be that bad, Sol. I’ll be here for you no matter what."

"I know," She whispered as he kissed her on the forehead and walked away. Something about this made her feel terribly uneasy. She rounded up her team and kept trying to calm her nerves. Captain Monet was sending for her in a short time. She had to last here that long… She had to figure out what to do. Most of all, she had to figure out how not to hurt Morozov.

They walked through the long corridor to the docking ring. She rested her back against the wall starting at the airlock. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to know what was behind it. There were parts to her life that she had always wanted to know. She wanted to know the truth. Yet, as something stared her in the face, she wished those secrets stayed in the shadows. Gul Narak had something to do with her, and she wanted to know what. The timing couldn’t have been worse.

As the airlock moved back, Sol’s eyes focused on one Cardassian woman who stood out amongst those around her. Her eyes were deep blue and her hair a long black. The lines on her face reflected time and shared with Sol a story of hard times as well as high times… most of all, the lines on Gul Narak’s face reflected the Cardassian one’s of her own… and her heart leaped into her throat.

"Gul Durana Narak," The words formed on her mouth like a poison and a fear. Her brow furrowed and her eyes welled up.

The eyes of the Gul lit up in disbelief. Every line and ridge that was Cardassian were identical on either. Sol saw an older version of her Cardassian self, and Durana Narak saw the daughter that she was forced to give up minutes after birth. Both were confused; Sol was afraid. This isn’t how it was. Narak had to be somebody else. Lyris Kaela was Sol’s mother, but why the nick name? Why did they call Sol ‘Narak’ ever since she could remember? What was this?

"Narak Sol…" She whispered walking to the frightened girl with caution and yet a need to be with the girl… a need to reach out and tell the truth, to discover this life. Sol moved back into the wall trying to get away not wanting to face this.

"Don’t call me that," She raised her hand trying to back down the hallway, "Who are you? What is going on?"

"Look at me child… I never thought I’d see you again. Fate has brought us back here… You need to know the truth. I am your mother," Durana said trying to reach her. This was as astonishing and amazing to her. She didn’t blame Sol for being outraged. This was something uncontrollable and unexpected.

In one minute, everything Sol had thought to be true completely shattered into tiny shards of pain and misery, "No! Lyris Kaela is my mother!"

"Sol look at me… You have all of my ridges, all of my marks. You can’t deny any of this… I never thought this would happen. Destiny brought us both right here…" She grabbed the girl’s arm.

"Let go of me!" She fought back, but Gul Narak was stronger in her years.

"Listen to me! I gave birth to you… Dukat talked me into giving you up. He gave you to Lyris Kaela to raise…"

"You are not my mother!" She pulled herself away from Gul Narak, "Just- just follow me and don’t talk to me… Tagen Monet needs to speak to you."

Gul Narak tried dearly to talk to Sol as they walked through the corridors. This was something unexplained and emotional for the both. Narak wanted to reach out to this girl to find the truths and share the truths. She wanted much.

Sol wanted nothing. She wanted this to be over. She wanted to be with Morozov. She wanted to be in her quarters lying in his arms. There she felt safe. Everywhere else she was unprotected and hiding.

She walked into the brig glad to see Morozov standing against the wall across from her. His eyes grew sympathetic and concerned for her, as she looked at him overwhelmed. He reached to her with one hand and motioned to Narak to sit down in one of the chairs to wait for Tagen Illyana.

"Sol, what happened?" He looked into her eyes.

"Not now, Morozov… I- I can’t deal with it right now," She wished she could just go away.

The more Morozov studied both of the women he slowly began to understand what was going on. He closed his eyes and put his arms around Sol trying to comfort her. Durana watched this and it reminded her of the times she had before Sol was born.

"I’m proud you can love somebody who is soft skinned," Narak said wanting to make a connection.

"Just leave me alone! You keep pushing the pins in deeper… Don’t you see that right now in this one moment my ENTIRE life has been destroyed!" Sol snarled at the Gul with Morozov trying to calm her.

"Don’t think that I don’t know what it is to have things taken away. I had you taken from me because I knew that one of us would be killed because you were half Bajoran… Dukat killed my love because he was Bajoran… I was framed for something I didn’t do and I spent the last years in prison… I have no family I have nothing. My family was killed a long time ago… I need to tell you the truth. I need to know who my daughter is…" Her eyes grew soft, "But if you want nothing to do with me, I understand that and will respect it. At least I know you are alive."

Sol looked over at her for a long while. She memorized every line and every color. Her attention was immediately turned as the spy was escorted back into the brig. He stared at Sol for a long time as she looked at him with dread. She quickly realized where she knew him from. He tormented her in the Academy, and he most likely knew her mission here. He had seen her at the Starbase before she left.

In one quick swipe he broke the hold of the two guards and lunged at her. Morozov quickly took to action and knocked him away from him. He tried to push Morozov off of him while screaming; "You bitch! You are such a liar! She’s playing you all for fools! She’s the threat and the spy!"

"You shut up!" Morozov yelled at him dragging him to his cell. Sol sat on the floor with her eyes glazed in front of her. Her body was ridden in fear. What was going to happen? She knew they couldn’t believe the spy over her. They trusted Sol. Everybody but Tagen did.

Morozov helped her up and told Chanalla that he was taking Sol back to her quarters. The spy started yelling other things about how Star Fleet sent her and about how Captain Monet knew. Somehow he knew too much. She thought harder about him… She wanted to slap herself. He was a Betazoid. She knew she didn’t trust him for a reason.

"Are you okay?" He put his arm around her.

"No, I’m not," She blurted out very angry again and scared for her status on the ship.

"Come on, we’re going to my quarters. I need to get you out of all of this… Why would anybody accuse you of anything?"

"I don’t know," She mumbled walking down the corridor. Her heart was sinking lower knowing that Tagen would be able to tell the spy of speaking truths. They shared that common bond.

They walked into Morozov’s quarters and she flopped down onto his bed wanting to wake up as another person or in another time and place. She needed out of here… She needed peace.

"Sol, talk to me…"

"I…" She didn’t have any words. She needed to tell him the truth. He deserved that much, "I have something to tell you…"

The bell to his quarters went off and Tagen Monet stormed into it carrying Sol’s PADD in her hand. Sol clenched her hands in fists not knowing if she was going to make it out of this one alive. She saw her mother peering in from the door. That was somehow the only comfort in this situation.

"Tagen? What’s going on?" Morozov stood up as Tagen threw the PADD at Sol.

"Why don’t you ask her? SO he speaks truth Sol. How long were you planning on playing us for a fool?" She accused stepping closer to Sol.

She was backed up into the wall, "Ty- your father-"

"Sent you to spy on me."

"No! He cares about you-"

Tagen wrapped her hands around Sol’s neck before she could say anything else.

"You keep his name out of it, and pray that you will be alive when you leave this station."

Morozov didn’t look at Sol any further and ran out of the room pushing Narak away.

"Alexi-" Sol gasped.

"Don’t call me that ever again," He yelled to her and was gone just like that.

Sol pushed Tagen away from her and made a run for the hallway. Tagen pulled her phaser and shot Sol in the shoulder. Sol fell forward in pain and pulled out her weapon firing back at Tagen hitting the bulkhead above her instead. Sol fell forward against the wall when she was struck again. And as she lay there she waited for Tagen because she wanted to die. In the days before this, Sol had found everything she had wanted from her life. It was all gone like everything else in her life. So she waited for Tagen to kill her. Narak saw this as Tagen approached the waiting girl. Monet pulled her dagger and held it to the neck of the injured Sol.

"Give me one reason not to kill you right now…" She hissed, as Sol made no effort to beg for her life.

"Kill me, Tagen… you want to, you have to," She gasped as the pain in her shoulder spread to her body.

Narak ran down the hallway and barreled her body weight into Tagen. Quickly she pulled Sol off the ground and picked her up. She ran with her down to the docking ring.

"No, let me die!" Sol cried.

"I will not let you die like that… you have honor, I know you do. And when you die, it will be with your honor," Narak told her, "I will not see my daughter die like this."

"I want to die…"

"Live, Sol, live… you are more than I could ever be."

She put Sol into the care of the Breen who had rescued her from prison. They promised Narak to get her to safety and contact Captain Monet. Narak kissed the forehead of Sol before they departed and wished her health and happiness. She told Sol that she would deal with Tagen.

When Sol opened her eyes again she was in the care of Dr. Bashir on Deep Space Nine. He informed her that Captain Monet would be arriving shortly to take care of her well being and the closing of her mission. Sol never said a word to him or anybody else. Her heart was too much in pain and her mind wanted too much to die.

She played a game with people and her life. She learned something about herself and about the people around her. She would be going back to the USS Knight with a heavy heart and decisions to make.

And every time she closed her eyes Morozov was all she could see.

~Fin~

This story concludes on Empok Nor currently. Lyris Sol is back home.