Through cloude of war

Chapter two: A day of work

MC2 PoV

Like I had expected yesterday, I'm the first up, and the first on the PromenaI reI reach my office and start doing paperwork. There are many things that need to be controlled, now that the cardassians are able to deactivate the mine-field. Our little resistance group is planning to interfere with their signals, and prevent the disaster. But the cardassians aren't that stupid. After the little incident with the stolen Pad they got suspicious of our little meetings. There is always somebody near us when Kira, Jake, Rom and his wife are sitting with me in Quark's. But that's no reason to quit our little breakfast sessions. Now that our plans are mostly settled, the small details need to be discussed and arranged. After my every morning security check on the station and a quick look on the list with the transports that arrive and depart from DS9 today I find my way into the bar. That little ferengi, Quark, is arguing with Damar over a bottle Kanar. The cardassian looks into the mirror behind the bar and sees me sitting down at a table in a dark corner of the establishment. He gives up on the alcohol and comes over to me.

"Odo. You here? I thought changelings don't need to feed...Oh! I understand, another of your friendly meetings with the Major and her friends...you should be careful, this little meetings of you are very suspicious, and we don't want to end up in one of our own cells, do we?"

I don't intend on responding to such an obvious offend, so I only role my eyes and sneer. He will never see the day I'm going to fall for such an easy mind-game.

"Sod off, Damar. Don't you have some other asses to kiss, this morning?" Kira appears behind the cardassian, arms crossed in front of her chest. Her mocking glare is tearing at Damars nerves, and she knows that as well as I do. Dukats second in command growls evilly and walks out the bar while Kira sits down beside me. "Is he ever going to understand, that having breakfast with some friends isn't punishable ?"

"No, I don't think so. But insulting him like that could be seen as rebellious... and rebellion is punishable." She looks me over sceptically at that remark, and I know exactly what follows now.

"Yes, and you'll be the one to arrest me for that, wouldn't you?"

I love it, when she grins at me like that. Her unbreakable optimistic mood with that touch of biting sarcasm. Soon enough Rom and Leeta arrive and sit down too. Quark comes and takes their orders and some minutes later brings the breakfast. We all start talking about the events that happened through the morning, and after finishing the meal, we say us goodbye . Kira and I arrange for lunch and then I return to my duties.

A new cardassian transport arrives with some passengers that must be checked before they are allowed to enter the station. After I'm finished with them I start checking the freight. I find some illegal bottles of Langour addressed to Quark, but after he provided Kira with some nice information about Damar, I forget that I've seen them and go on with the things on my list. That cardassian fool, who works for Damar thinking he is something special, is constantly looking over my shoulder and criticising everyone of my movements and decisions. I swear, if it continues like that, I'll be personally responsible of him never saying a word again.
Thanks God, if some higher entity exists, that lunchtime arrives soon and I can go back to Quarks and meet with Kira.

She's already sitting at our usual table in the corner and waiting for her lunch to be served. I approach her and take a seat in front of the bajoran.

"How was your day up in Ops?" a nicely formulated question to say:' my day was terrible' . But this time instead of rolling her eyes she answers me.

"They are all going crazy! Since Weyoun didn't appear this morning, every one in there is thinking they can do what they want. And Dukat has transformed into an omnipotent dictator. Well he always was one, but you can't imagine what's going on there..."

Quark comes and brings her a mixed plate with some chips, eggs, roasted tomatoes and sausages. With a friendly 'Thanks' she accepts the meal and starts eating.

"Do you know where in hells name that vorta is?" she asks between two bites.

"Well, to be honest, I've got a slight idea where he could be. I think he probably is still sleeping in his chambers."

"Sleeping?!?!" she coughs. "Why in all gods name is he sleeping?"

A knowing smile crosses my lips. " Yeah, strange time to be in Morpheus arms... but if I remember the condition he yesterday evening was in it's no wonder. He's going to have the hangover of his life." Answering her questioning look I continue:" I bought him to his chambers last night. He was even to drunk to stay upright. I think I'm going to check on him before returning to that silly goods-listing in hangar nine."

"Oh I see that supervisor Damar put you under is getting on your nerves."

"Getting on my nerves? I'm slowly thinking that Damar wanted that man . Wh. Why can't he use another form to punish that idiot. But no, instead of letting him clean the garbage-tunnels or even putting him into an arrest cell, he is torturing me. I don't know if that cardassian is surviving the day..."

Hearing Kira laugh is one of the only things I can't get enough of. She laughs so little that it's like being reborn each time she does. She continues her meal and we start joaking about what drunken persons could be talked into, and how we would use, or abuse, that situation if some of our dear cardassians were in it. After she finish I wish her a nice afternoon and direct my steps to Weyouns chambers. When I reach the vortas quarters there is no light on, like yesterday I entered them with my security codes.

"Weyoun? Weyoun are you there?" No answer. I go into his bedchamber and there he is. I find him midway to the bathroom, lying on the floor. He's unconscious. Kneeling down to his side I try to wake him, and after some minutes he responds. Slowly opening his pale blue eyes and blinking because of the light I've put on. He rubes his temples groggily and groans.

"Weyoun are you ok?" I know he is not, but I must keep up appearances. "You weren't in Ops this morning, and people started to get worried. So I've been looking for you."

"Odo?" he seems confused, but like the vorta that he is , he'll be never caught off guard. "Would you please tell me, what time it is, Odo?"

"It's past lunchtime. And everybody is already on their respective post."

"Past lunchtime?" a slightly 'oups'-look crosses his face, then again his façade is in place. His head must be throbbing like mad, and I can imagine that he'll be avoiding food the rest of the day. I ask a second time: "Are you ok?"

"Yes, yes... I'm fine, thank you. I'll think I go up to Ops. I've some important things to talk about to Dukat."

"Sure? Major Kira says, Dukat and the other cardassians are going h the there, and that the hole situation is more or less out of control. If you think you can handle them... You still look a little bit pale."

"I thank you for your concern, Odo, but yes, I think I'll be able to handle Dukat. Now if you forgive me..." he goes into the bathroom and closes the door.