SBA MISSION 3.7 - Vendetta

[Deleted]

ooc: I can take Long...just send me a few specs on the fellow hm? like age and such...

IC:

Long nodded at Voran, though he wasn't too pleased with the escort. "Very well, we'll follow your lead captain, though I'm unaware of any danger right now. Please let Ambassador Ezdreiana know that I am dropping by."

(voran)

Meanwhile, T'Val walked out of the holodeck, feeling somewhat calmer. Despite saying she didn't want to, she had taken the shot of theta 12 alpha and her mind felt much clearer. She noticed Yade still hadn't returned to her, knowing she was probably still with Mercy.

The absence of her own firelizard, made her remember Magellan's and wondered who was actually feeding the young bronze. Looking serene, she strolled casually through SBA's corridors until she reached Magellan's quarters. Using her medical override, she entered and stumbled upon a somewhat amusing scene.

Magellan's personal housekeeper was seemingly under attack from a very hungry bronze. T'Val hurried forward and rescued the unfortunate woman. "Leave," T'Val spoke, pointing towards the door while she scooped up Dinas, "I will take care of him." She gently stroked Dinas' back, trying to calm him as she spoke soft soothing words. "Magellan will be safe," she tried to ensure the little bronze, as she replicated the fresh meats Magellan used to feed him.

"You are sensing him, are you not Dinas?" she querried, as she placed both bowl and firelizard in her lap after sitting down in one of the luxurou's seats in Magellan's quarters. "But you do not know where he is, as Lin is as confused as the host." She continued stroking him until finally the speed of whirling colours in his eyes slowed down to a mix of blue and orange. "They will find him," T'Val promised, "Yade will let you know, and you will know immediately anyway. Have faith little bronze, you will be reunited with your bondmate soon. In the meantime, I will care for you."

She cradled Dinas as she got up again and walked out of Magellan's quarters. Dinas squawked in protest but did not fly from her gentle hold. With Dinas, T'Val walked back to Galaxy's sickbay. "Doctor Prin, we need to have a word," she called the Cardassian doctor, then proceeded to explain in detail what apparently was happening to the Vulcan doctor. "I need to be monitored, and Stuart Mercy needs to be warned in case of an emergency. Only he can help me, as only I can help him now."

[evoran]

Assailant's colossal space doors opened and the USS America entered the starbase, shortly followed by the Galaxy.

On the bridge of the Galaxy, Voran tapped his combadge, "Voran to Ezdreiana, we've arrived at starbase, Admiral Long is on his way to see you."

<Ezdreiana>

Closing the comm channel and getting up from his chair, Voran said, "Kyle, you have the bridge, I'll be on the station."

"Yes sir." Said Harris sitting down in the centre seat.

--------------------

Voran entered ops and found Zoilip.

"Zoilip, what's the word on the Tholian situation?"

<Zoilip>

[Deleted]

Long
Long walked ahead of Voran and his guards as they strode onto Assaillant. He had an air about him that spoke of superiority and confidence, and when he spoke it was as if he were speaking down on the other person, making them feel less than adequate and questioning their motivations.

Voran led him towards OPS, where he briefly met with zoillip and Loskene. "I need to speak with Ezdreiana," he spoke, his voice low and threatening, while all the same having an air of command. "Right now," he added, "it is important that I speak with her without further delay."

Long stared hard at Voran. "The captain here has delayed us already more than was necessary by bringing me here. He defied my direct orders."

(Zoillip/Ezdreiana/Voran)

T'Val
After her visit to Galaxy's sickbay, T'Val had taken Dinas with her to her own quarters. She sensed a note of change in the little bronze, and froze when he uttered a shrill shriek. She'd never even heard her own Yade screech like this.

She scooped up the bronze, stroking it while murmuring soothing words. As she touched him, she sensed confusion coming from Dinas at first which made her open her mind again to Stuart. She'd erected her mental shields to keep him from touching her confused mind, but now she needed to touch his.

What she sensed disturbed her greatly as she didn't only sense Stuart, but an ancient presence as well. In her arms, Dinas grew quieter as he seemed to understand now what was happening. "Gethin," she breathed as she recognized the presence for what he was.

Of course, she didn't like the former host of the Lin symbiont to recognize her mate's turmoil, and a sense of jealousy overcame her. Breathing hard, she sat herself on the couch, forcing herself not to react on it. After all, her mate was only trying to help Magellan and Lin. Yet she couldn't help but feeling she ought to be there, and experienced a sense of being left out.

~come home~ she thought idly ~please come home soon~ It wasn't an emergency yet, but it'd have to be soon.

D'Beren, who'd been brought home by Rayna earlier, crept up to his mother. "Mommy?" he enquired after observing his mother's disturbing behaviour, "mommy when is daddy coming home?"

It took the Vulcan several long minutes to realise that the three-year old wasn't referring to Tedak. In silence, she looked down on her son. "Hopefully very soon," she answered, not contesting that Stuart wasn't his father.

"Good," the boy answered, a smile appearing on his small face as he hugged his mother, shooing Dinas off to find himself another perch. "Then you'll be happy again, when daddy comes home. I want you to be happy." He cast her the innocent smile only a child could offer.

"I am happy," T'Val contested, hugging the boy close to her. Yes, she was happy, but would be happier when Stuart came home.

[Deleted]

~He's here~ Ezdreiana thought as she prepared to meet a man she hated with a passion. Anyone who knew her, knew that Ezdreiana was an easy going person, but when it came to this man all those nice feelings flew out the nearest airlock.

"Ezdreiana, Admiral Long is coming to meet you," Lily said.

"Thank you Lily, could you please give us the highest level of privacy," Ezdreiana said.

"Of course," Lily said," is there anything else?"

"No, not at this time," Ezdreiana responded,"I will be back shortly with Admiral Long."

Ezdreiana picked up her pistol and went to meet Long who by now was berating everyone in sight. She didn't have to wait long to find Long who had brought with him an entire squadron of security officers.

"Hello Andrew," Ezdreiana said as she stopped in front of the Admiral.

"Ezdreiana, lets go to your office," Long responded," the officers on this base are inadequate. They should go waste there time with the Tholians."

"Follow me," Ezdreiana said remembering why she hated the man so much. The two of them walked quickly and quietly. They didn't have anything to say to eachother. When they reached her office, Ezdreiana forbade Long's defense force to enter.

"I have my guard, I will not allow armed Starfleet personal," Ezdreiana.

"Fine, we need to discuss Baker in privacy anyways," Long responded.

"Agreed," Ezdreiana said as she walked into her office.

"What are you doing here?" Ezdreiana asked as she saw the newest member of the Ambassadorial staff.

"Is that a way to greet a friend," the man responded as the doors behind them shut tight and then came darkness.

<Tag Long and Baker>

[Ji' Zhan]

... Posting as ex-Captain Baker ...

Crouching in a Jefferies tube with his knees aching from the last several meters of crawling, Baker rested over on his hip to catch his breath. The equipment he was carrying was really to heavy for one person but he couldn’t risk the involvement of anyone else nor did he risk wearing his stolen communicator as it may give away his location. His mind raced as he got information that finally two of his targets were in reach. This fact made his body surge with hatred, as this was the apex of a twenty-year one-man mission, a mission that had spilled countless volumes of blood. ‘None of them deserved to live after prohibiting me from what was rightfully mine’, Baker thought. His mind now dizzy with the bombardment of the emotion coursing through his nerves. He had suffered with short blackouts due to this very feeling of intense loathing of the ones he was after.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, to no avail, he looked up to the junction number located in the tube; ‘I’m here’ Baker thought with an immoral grin only appearing on one side of his face. He took the cover from the EPS access and placed it under him in an effort to place him on a non-conductive foothold should his electrical skills fail him. Taking two leads from his pack, that was now setting on the access door with him, he placed them in the correct location. This action activated his equipment … equipment that would keep him isolated from the knowledge of base security and the prying eyes of Lily … and would give him the data, how-be-it limited, to the location of his … prey.

---

His readings now confirming the assembly of his bounty as a single bead of sweat ran down his back. He waited as the two talked about vain matters … as everything to Baker was now in the effects of tunnel vision. A state his mind had been in for several years caused by the void of what as taken from him. The greed of twenty years ago, produced by the thought of becoming great and wealthy, had only turned to poison in his veins. He wasn’t going to be content until this revenge was settled.

The man that was Baker, a sane man, still was fighting in the lower parts of his mind with an unforgiving force that controlled his body and his soul; the effects of years of immoral actions and thoughts. Like water penetrating a crack in a foundation where the cold effects of hate froze it and had left the foundation in a state of unusable ruble, the sane Baker was broken and left for dead. That part of him now cried in sorrow and regret being unable to influence the crazy shell of him whose hands were stained with the blood … the lie of being supernatural.

As Ezdreiana and Long talked, Baker setup a level ten force field. However, using his criminal genius he made adjustments to the parameters that gave it mysterious qualities.

"What are you doing here?" Baker heard Ezdreiana say.

"Is that a way to greet a friend," he heard Long say.

As the too entered into Ezdreiana’s office and the door closed, Baker shut the power to the door’s systems so that manual override wouldn’t even open the door and also turned off the lights.

Hearing Long mention the word ‘friend’ caused every molecule in his body to shake with disgust. “I didn’t think you knew the meaning of friend … Long,” Baker said in his low bone chilling voice. “The two of you have proven hard to track down but fate has shown favor to me and place you both in my hands.” Baker held a weapon in his hand that was alien in origin, a weapon that the Base’s systems couldn’t de-activate. He shot Long in the leg with a setting that matched a phasor’s stun setting; Long fell to the ground grabbing his leg. “I must admit, I normally don’t waste time with inflicting torture … but it seems appropriate at this time.”

Long reached for his personal phasor and fired at the dark shadow. The light from the beam showed Baker’s face and form allowing both Long and Ezdreiana to see the face that they had forgot. The form only shimmered as the beam hit the wall behind.

Unknown to the two at the time, Baker was still in the tubes controlling a holo-device that too was from the same alien origin. This device allowed a cloaked emitter, placed by Baker only days earlier, to project a person yet still fire a real burst to cause harm to its target.

“ … now, now Admiral … you really didn’t think I would just give you a pot-shot chance at me? … did you?” Baker said with a ominous laugh.

<tag Long and Ezdreiana>

[Magellan Lin]

Voran led him towards OPS, where he briefly met with zoillip and Loskene. "I need to speak with Ezdreiana," he spoke, his voice low and threatening, while all the same having an air of command. "Right now," he added, "it is important that I speak with her without further delay."

Long stared hard at Voran. "The captain here has delayed us already more than was necessary by bringing me here. He defied my direct orders."

"Of course Admiral" Loskene aquiesced "I ll have a crewman show you the way."

Long didnt seem especially pleased but nodded and allowed himself to be led below decks to the Ambasadorial Levels.

"Tetchy fellow" he remarked as the doors slid shut,

"Well his life is in danger" Zoilip said

"Yes well life in Starfleet is one long danger" Elarus noted dryly, "Any news on the search for Baker?"

Zoilip shook his head,
"Sharon is doing what she can, but its our guess hes already aboard in one guise or another but with so little information its hard to estblash a pattern of behaviour."

"It has something to do with Ezedrianas time in Starfleet, as far as I know she, Long and Baker all served together."

Loskene moved round the master operations table and ordered a drink from the replicator,

"Thats the problem, Baker is one of us, he knows our methods."

"No" Zoilip corrected "Our main problem is the Ambassadors unwillingness to tell us anything "

"She confided in Tedak and Ji'Zahn" Voran noted,

"True... Get them up here" Loskene ordered, "I want to know what they know..."

"Sirs," Vanetti peered round the corner of the door, "We have something, we ve been monitoring Ezedrianas offices and quarters and just detected an energy spike, Lily doesnt know anything about it...but well its the most we ve had..."

Loskene looked up,
"Take a security detail, Elarus go with her... keep your distance though. I suspect we could end up dealing with a hostage situation."


TAG ALL

[Ji' Zhan]

The night air was cold and dry as Ji'Zhan walked through the gardens on Qualinost. He was not sleepy, just like he hadn't been the night before ... or the one before that. He thoughts were on Ezdreiana and her issue. He wanted to help her find the image of the man that was Baker ... the man on her trail. But she didn't allow that to happen. Just minutes before, he got a message from the Base that Loskene wanted to see him about info on Baker. However, he knew nothing to tell him. He was trying to call up memories of the time Ezdreiana was on the planet with him ... did he touch her at all during that time? He couldn't remember ... but if she did - maybe there was a residue of an image or thought he could explore.

He walked to every place she had been during her short time on the planet and each place, save one, was as blank as new fallen snow. The last place he went was to the transporter site she beamed to when she left the hide out. There the feelings ... emotions were strongest. Ji'Zhan knelt down, touching the site her feet had walked. His hands felt the cold dust of the planet ... but his mind felt the empty feeling of being in danger. He couldn't, at first, see that face she was running from ... but he soon remembered he had touch her as he ushered her to his shuttle for the return flight back to the base. Broken images flashed through his mind like badly degraded data from a isolinear chip. He couldn't see a face ... but he could since the immoral heart of a mad man ... very cunning and too smart for anyone's good.

--- later ---

After Ji'Zhan arrived on the base and was before Loskene, he told him of his thoughts and ended his comments to Loskene saying, "Loskene, I can't tell you much more than that ... however, you are dealing with a mad man ... crazy thinking man full of guile and deceit ... he will stop at nothing to obtain his goals. I'm afraid for Ezdreiana, I feel her life is in great danger."

<tag Loskene>

[Deleted]

Long
“I must admit, I normally don’t waste time with inflicting torture … but it seems appropriate at this time.”

Long bit back a howl of agony as the hot phaser-beam burned into his leg, paralysing his muscles and burning the surrounding tissue. He went down on his knees as feeling disappeared from the injured limb, then he reached for his phaser. Firing in the direction the other beam had come from caused their tormentor's face to be exposed.

"A hologram," Long hissed between his teeth, still fighting the urge to groan in pain. He didn't want Baker to know how injured he truly was. "I should've known that you are still the coward you were all those years ago Baker! A coward, that's what you are!"

“ … now, now Admiral … you really didn’t think I would just give you a pot-shot chance at me? … did you?” Baker said with a ominous laugh.

"Actually yes I did," Long growled back as he moved in front of Ezdreiana. Of course he knew any attempt to protect her would be futile, but he had to try to right a wrong he had done all those years ago. "Show yourself coward, and fight like a man! If you are a man at all..you whimp! Twit!" He uttered another series of profanities as a second beam struck him in the abdomen, though he still refused to acknowledge how much Baker had truly hurt him. With difficulty, he aimed his phaser and a yowl of pain told him that he'd struck something that could cause pain.

(ezdreiana/baker)

Tedak
Tedak was rushed into OPS, together with Ji'Zhan. "Where is she!" he demanded, "is she safe?" He glowered at Loskene and the present officers, while exchanging a worried glance with the Debrune diplomat. "Did you find anything?" he urged the other diplomat, "anything at all that could help us track this Baker down?"

(Ji'Zhan/Loskene/others present)

[Deleted]

Ezdreiana looked at the holographic representation of Captain Jacob Baker. The moment she saw his face he knew that he was a hologram. Baker had long ago changed his phyiscal appearance and he wouldn't change it now. Even with this knowledge, Ezdreiana hate and anger grew as she looked at the hologram. He had caused the death of many innocent people including his entire crew.

"Your close aren't you?" Ezdreiana asked knowing that she wouldn't get a response. Baker was just to smart for that, but Ezdreiana had promised herself that this would end. Under her office she had planted a high powered bomb. It would destroy her entire office and caused substantial damage to the adjacent rooms.

"Baker, I know you," Ezdreiana said," you will torture us, but you will not be able to help yourself. You are going to kill us, not your damned hologram."

<Tag Baker>

"And since I have accepted this," Ezdreiana said," I ask for a favor."

"Ezdreiana shut the hell up," Long spat as he continued to struggle with his injury.

"Please kill him first," Ezdreiana said looking at Long. Her remark was to much for Baker, who couldn't help but roar in laughter.

"You don't have to worry about that my old comrade," Baker said," you served with distinction and for that reason you will be the final death in my vendetta against the Federation."

<Tag Long and Baker>

[Ji' Zhan]

... Posting as ex-Captain Baker ...

Baker was thrilled with the idea that he was causing pain to the Admiral. “You really need to show your pain better than that Admiral,” laughing at the sight of it all. “Oh now Admiral, so much name calling … is that all you have left … simple juvenile name calling?” He set up his device for the next shot that found Long in the abdomen. “Ha ha ha ha, yet another painful blow,” Baker said with even more disdain. “Who needs to fight like a man when you can outsmart your opponent?”

As Admiral Long fired back at the hologram, his weapon’s fire found the emitter. In Baker’s haste, he had forgotten to activate its shielding. The phaser-beam from Long’s weapon caused the control unit to spark knocking Baker back against the wall of the Jefferies Tube. Now with Bakers back touching a conductive material, the energy from the event flowed through him … his muscles tingling with the current. Baker could no longer control the involuntary movements as his body jerked irrepressible.

Baker was beside himself when his mind told him that he voice had wailed. ‘Damn,’ he thought to himself, ‘how could I give him any pleasure of knowing I’m in pain.’ With the current now gone, he pulled himself back to the control. The phaser blast only affected the holo emitter – but the weapon was still functioning. Baker deactivated the hologram to have power for the emitter’s shielding - that he activated.

"Baker, I know you," Ezdreiana said," you will torture us, but you will not be able to help yourself. You are going to kill us, not your damned hologram."

“You don’t know me,” Baker yelled with hate, “you have never known me! The torture is now over!”

"Please kill him first," Ezdreiana said looking at Long. Her remark was to much for Baker, who couldn't help but roar in laughter.

"You don't have to worry about that my old comrade," Baker said," you served with distinction and for that reason you will be the final death in my vendetta against the Federation."

Baker turned the strength of the weapon to match that of setting six of a Starfleet issue. Finding Long and Ezdreiana, he targeted the Admiral. “You can’t hide from me Long … you will now join the rest of the Rabin’s crew,” and fired. The beam found Admiral Long’s torso and the thirty second shot burnt through his body leaving a void where his heart was. A blank look shot through the Admiral’s eyes as the last pulse of nerve energy caused his eyes to turn and look at Ezdreiana.

<Ezdreiana>

As Baker was firing at the Admiral, another device on his body alarmed. The stealth of his position was now in jeopardy. Baker instantly activated a timed charged on the control device in the Tubes – with a five minute countdown … and then he destroyed the emitter in Ezdreiana’s office. Baker made his way down to the next junction and activated a site-to-site transport that took him to another location, still in the Jeffery Tube system, but unknown at this time … … … …

<TAG base security … and to allow time for posting from Ezdreiana and others involved.>

[Deleted]

She could smell the burning flesh, tissue, and organs. It was a foul smell that she had long forgotten ed. She immediately regretted her statement, she had hoped that Baker would of shown himself instead of immediately killing one of them. As Long's dead body fell to the ground, Ezdrieana immediately got to her feet. If she was going to diem, she would face it with her face held high.

After a few seconds of nothing happening, she realized that something must of happened. Ezdreiana immediately reached to her desk and activated the bomb in her office. She reduced its explosion power and put it next to the door. She just hoped that no one was next to the door.

"I'm going to kill him," Ezdreiana said as she took her pistol and took cover. The ensuing explosion did it's job and Ezdreiana was quickly out of her office.

"Commodore Savaili, Admiral Loskene, Admiral Long is dead, Baker is probably still in the Jefferies system," Ezdreiana reported," Lily is already working on getting the exact location of the last transport and gentlemen I recommend that we shoot first and ask questions later."

<Tag All>

[Felix Savali]

After receiving the info that Admiral Long was killed Felix took a moment to think the next move through before acting on it.

"Mr. Zoillip activate a transport inhibition field, entire Starbase", Felix said

"Yes sir", Zoillip replied as he went over to the OPS console and entered in the proper commands

"Transport inhibition field is active", Zoillip replied

=/\=Savali to Ezdreiana=/\=

=/\=I have a plan to flush him out of the tubes, i suggest you vacate the tubes ASAP if you are still inside, Savali out=/\=

"Mr. Zoillip, start a 30 seconds countdown then activate the forcefields and seal the entire Jeffrey’s tube system. After it has been sealed, release the anesthezine gas to the tubes, maximum concentration per square meter.", Savali said

"Yes, sir", Zoillip replied as he went over to the console and initiated the program Savali told him to start

"25 seconds till Jeffries tube seal is complete, 30 seconds till anesthezine gas is released", Zoillip informed him

Good, Felix thought, "Mr. Zoillip be sure to deactivate all command control access on all consoles except up here in ops, cut the power to them... Actually cut power to every console that can be accessed from within the Jeffries tubes."

"Right away", Zoillip replied as he went about his business

"Jeffries tubes have been sealed, anesthezine gas is being released...", Zoillip informed

<Tag>

[Ji' Zhan]

... Posting as Baker ...

The transporter’s blue haze cleared and Baker was standing in another junction just a few sections down. The control device that he was using just before exploded and knocked out power for that section of the base. Communication to that area and any possible actions from OPS wouldn’t be realized in that section. The entrance to the junction started the tell-tell signs of a force field that was trying to erect itself but couldn't due to the blast's effects on that section. Baker activated a stolen personal shielding device that allowed him to jump into an access that led to a vacant room. The reaction from the two fields shorted out the device and gave Baker a large shock that laid him out on the floor. With his ears ringing and his mind whirling from the event, he looked at the hand display that would show him the location of Ezdreiana; it to was not working from the same event. Baker threw it down to the floor as he heard voices from the corridor.

Baker manually opened the door to the corridor just enough to see as two guards passed. Then three other unknown people passed and he heard her voice. He opened the door the rest of the way and with one quick motion grabbed Ezdreiana holding her tight in his painful grasp. The action dislodged her own weapon from her hand as it fell to the floor. Her body flinched from the pain of the hold as Baker pressed a hand phasor into her neck, “Plucked from the very hands you thought made you safe from the likes of me. You should have known that I would get you … you are the last … the last person who stopped me from my destiny.”

<Ezdreiana>

--- an inner dialog with the sane Baker and the insane one---
'You must stop this, you must stop this madness', as the sane Baker tried one last time to influence the lie that took hold of his own body. 'Why, so you can coward down and be sent to some cell on some asteroid in a unknown system,' the insane Baker replied. 'You know just as well as I that your life is over, its me that took your pitiful life and tried to do something with it', the insane Baker said. 'You... you must not harm this one, she has done nothing wrong', the sane Baker pleaded. The emotion in him was like an intense war between long feuding people. The fact that no one on the outside of him could see this happening just made it more prudent to the event. Understanding the crazy man who controlled Baker's body was born out of lust and over time turned into blood poison through his body. It was of no use, to much time had passed. The sane Baker made one last attempt and lashed out, 'Stop! this isn't your life, you were a honorable man, don't take her life!' The insane Baker rose in his mind and with the final inner blow quietened the sane voice for the last time ...

The guards that were escorting the Ambassador rushed into the room, Baker yelled, “Drop your weapons or I will shoot … and no mater how fast you act, the blast from my weapon will already have killed her – DROP THEM!”

<TAG base security – others>

[Deleted]

The Jefferson was soon coming home. T'Vall was both surprised and estatic about the news; it couldn't have come at a better time. Despite the medications Ji'Zhan was providing her with, it was becoming harder and harder to keep her thoughts organized. Because she didn't share a full marriage bond with Stuart but only an emotional one, T'Val knew he was only experiencing part of what she was experiencing.

Under the circumstances, T'Val was glad that they didn't for then Stuart would've been forced to abandon his mission and give up the care for someone they both cared for very much. Glancing sideways at Dinas, who hadn't left her side since she'd picked him up from Magellan's quarters, she did note the change in the little bronze's behaviour. He was quieter and more at peace it seemd. Walking past the bronze, she lightly ran her hand over the creature's body, smiling as he crooned in response, extending his wings as he stretched his body.

Yade hadn't returned yet, but she expected her own green to remain with Stuart until he returned. She sat down in the middle of her bed, closed her eyes and let her mind just wander. She lowered the mental barriers that had kept Stuart blocked out for now and allowed her mind to brush with his, feeling his love for her.

~come home soon~ she thought as she suppressed the fire that ran through her veins at a rate that was difficult to contain ~I need you...I have time, but not too long~

She opened her eyes, drew her robe tighter about her as she got up then walked out of her quarters, knowing Rayna would arrive soon to pick up D'Beren. She wanted to be in sickbay when they would bring Magellan in, wanted to make sure everything was in order so that the medical officers could continue their excellent care without interruption.

"T'Somba!" she called as she entered sickbay, smiling brightly as she approached the head nurse of the Starfleet ward. "Have you heard the good news? Jefferson is coming home soon, they have recovered Magellan and he seems to be responding well to treatment given."

[Deleted]

~We're going to get him~ Ezdreiana said to herself as she was joined by security personal. Long's death would have long lasting effects in the intelligence community, but no one would cry at his passing. The only thing left was to find Baker and bring him to justice.

"He's close, so keep your eyes open," Ezdreiana said as she lead the group through the corridors. As she led them, she heard a small noise and entered the office adjacent to her former office. Everything was fine until she experienced a pain that forced her to drop her pistol and scream out in pain.

“Plucked from the very hands you thought made you safe from the likes of me. You should have known that I would get you … you are the last … the last person who stopped me from my destiny.”

"You son of a......," Ezdreiana tried to say but to no avail. Baker still seemed to think that he deserved the respect given to a Starfleet Captain.

"Now, now, Ezdreiana those young security officers outside are still children, we don't want to set a bad example," Baker said laughing.

"They know you're here, they are on there way," Ezdreiana said laughing back at Baker. For some reason Ezdreiana continued to laugh. She knew that she would die soon, but she wouldn't let Baker take away her pride. The security guards that

“Drop your weapons or I will shoot … and no mater how fast you act, the blast from my weapon will already have killed her – DROP THEM!”

"DO IT!" Ezdreiana ordered hoping that they would leave. Baker was right in saying that they were only children, they couldn't be older than her own son. "LEAVE NOW!"

"But Ambassador," one of them responded.

"LEAVE!!" Ezdreiana screamed loud enough for everyone near them to hear. If only she hadn't dropped her pistol. At the moment Baker was holding her so hard that she wasn't able to move.

"Just do it, just kill me now," Ezdreiana said.

"No, I want you to see your eyes when you die," Baker said turning her around carefully. As Ezdreiana faced her worse enemy she saw the hate in his eyes. Her years of training with her husband wouldn't have helped her read his emotions.

"Baker if you do kill me today, just know that I'll see you'll in hell," Ezdreiana said," and I'll die knowing that it was I who ruined you."

Her words pushed him and she got the response she wanted when he hit her across the face which sent her flying across the room. Hopefully it would be near the pistol and to her marvelous luck she landed on it.

Baker quickly was on top of her and lifted her up. He laughed seeing her bloodied face, but that quickly disappeared with a face of complete shock. Ezdreiana had pulled the trigger on her pistol.

Baker tried to aim his weapon at Ezdreiana, but she kicked him in the jaw which caused him to release it.

"Like I said, see you in hell," Ezdreiana said as she pulled the trigger once more. Baker's eyes widened surprised to know that he was about die. When blood started to trickle down his face, both knew that he was dead.

The very next moment, security officers, Commander Zolip and Commodore Savali rushed in the room. Ezdreiana turned to them and showed them her hand which was covered in blood.

"It's done," Ezdreiana said as she left the room and quietly began to cry.

[Ji' Zhan]

... Posting as Baker - last time ...

... the emotion of the moment as the security guards left the room. The anticipation of her death was like good food in his mouth. His eyes beamed red with hate as he spun her around so she could see what she had made ... what she had made him to be. Insults, quick blows to her face, laughing, blood ... he rushed to jump on top of her. As he lifted her body he felt the searing pain in his side. He tried to aim his weapon as his jaw felt the numbing shock of being kicked.

"Like I said, see you in hell," Ezdreiana said as she pulled the trigger of her weapon.

With his last breath he uttered, "... Only the hell I'm leaving ..." His eyes became gray as they widened. Baker could see the light getting farther away as all went black. Ezdreiana would never know who said those final words ... was it the crazy man who spilled so much blood - or what was left of the sane man she once knew.

[Deleted]

Only seconds after the Romulan ex-diplomat had followed Zoillip and Savali into the Trill ambassador's office, he saw Ezdreiana run from the room in a rush. Briefly torn between staying behind to view the damage or run after her, he finally decided to have a quick glance at what had transpired, then follow her.

Gazing past the two officers, all he saw was a crumpled and bloody corpse on one side of the room, and another in the middle. Both were male, Long and Baker, Tedak assumed. After surveying the scene, the Romulan turned and broke into a run to catch up with Ezdreiana. "Ambassador, wait!" he called as he caught up with her.

He panted for breath as he finally pulled her over to stop. Seemingly, the long hours behind a desk, working as mayor for SBA was finally beginning to demand it's toll on his body as he was growing fairly out of shape. He'd been neglecting his training over the last days, and it was starting to show. Turning the Trill woman over to face him, he noticed the tears rolling down her cheeks. Staring at her briefly in astonishment, he reached over and quietly wiped the tears from her face. "There there now," he soothed as he drew her into a loose embrace, "you're safe now. He's dead, he can't harm you anymore."

Tedak pulled Ezdreiana over into the nearest empty office and sat her down on the couch that was present. "Feeling better now?" he asked as he handed her a steaming mug of coffee from the replicator. "Do you want to go past sickbay to get you something to calm down? I'm certain T'Val will gladly help you, she's on duty as far as I know."

[Deleted]

She knew the man that was trying to console her, but her mind couldn't process the information needed. As she looked at him the only name that came to her mind was that of T'Reed, her husband. She rose from where she was seated and tried to reach out for her mate. They had long ago discovered that they best shared their feelings with touch.

The moment she made contact she realized that she had been mistaken. The man that was beside her was not her husband, but another man. Ezdreiana tried to calm down her thoughts and emotions which allowed her to see her mistake.

"I am sorry Tedak, I mistook you for someone else," Ezdreiana said embarrassed at her mistake. The emotions of what she had just doen were still coursing through her body. She had just killed a man in cold blood, something that she had vowed to never do again. She didn't even have to look at her hand, it was still smeared with the Baker's blood.

"Feeling better now?"

Without even realizing it Ezdreiana threw the coffee mug in her hand, which effectivly told them both how she was feeling. She had blood on her hands and it could never be washed off.

"Do you want to go past sickbay to get you something to calm down? I'm certain T'Val will gladly help you, she's on duty as far as I know."

"No, she cannot help, no one in this damned universe can help me," Ezdreiana shouted back," I don't need to calm down from this. Who am I to take a man's life? I didn't have to kill him, but I wanted to and I enjoyed it. No one can help me with that. Not T'Val, Federation Counsellors, or even you!"

"Ezdreiana, let me help you," Tedak said determined to help her through the pain she was feeling," I know what you are going through."

"Don't you listen, I want you to leave me the hell alone," Ezdreiana responded," I don't need a pep talk, coffee, or drugs. I just want time to think and to be left alone!"

She was so angry: at Baker, herself, Tedak, everyone. She didn't care that she might be hurting his feelings, she needed to be selfish at the moment. Ezdreiana looked at Tedak and wanted to strike him. To prevent that Ezdreiana without saying another word took off her commbadge and walked out of the office.

<Tag Tedak or anyone else who wants to run into a really made Trill>

[Deleted]

In reflex, Tedak ducked as Ezdreiana swung her arm and released the mug that still contained the hot coffee. He felt the hot fluid burn his skin as he was splattered by it, but at the moment he didn't care. He thought he'd seen it all but seeing the usually calm Trill diplomat in a hysterical rage was something new. He understood that when she'd reached for him, it was someone else she had been reaching for. He knew very well that Ezdreiana was married and he hoped she understood he had no other intentions but to be her friend. Certainly, she was an attractive woman...who didn't like spots? But he knew where he stood.

"Don't you listen, I want you to leave me the hell alone," Ezdreiana responded," I don't need a pep talk, coffee, or drugs. I just want time to think and to be left alone!"

"As you wish Ezdreiana." The Romulan was determined to help her, and even more determined not to leave her alone at a time like this. "No pep talk, coffee or medication. However, I am not going to leave you alone. Not like this."

Ezdreiana looked at Tedak and wanted to strike him. To prevent that Ezdreiana without saying another word took off her commbadge and walked out of the office.

The Romulan waited for the Trill to respond, seeing by her stance that she was fighting the urge to lash out. He wouldn't duck or retalliate if she did, understanding her need to do it. He steeled himself for the upcoming blow, but it never came. Instead, she tossed her combadge on the ground and walked out. "Ezdreiana wait," he called, striding after her once more. He took hold of her arm then tapped his combadge. "Lily, two to transport directly to Ezdreiana's quarters. Alert sickbay and have a medic meet us there."

He smiled softly at her. "Like it or not, you're stuck with me until you calm down. I'm not leaving you alone right now...you might do something stupid." Seconds later, they materialised in her quarters and were met by one of Starfleet's nurses. "She's going to give you a slight sedative now, please relax." He nodded towards the nurse who, without warning, pressed her hypospray against Ezdreiana's arm. "There, you'll feel better soon. And as for understanding what you're going through, I am not lying. I know exactly what you are going through. I used to be a Tal Shiar agent, and I too went into diplomacy to avoid bloodshed. You may remember that I won't touch any other weapon but my honour blade, if I can help it. However, you wielding that weapon was what saved your life. What if you hadn't done it? Then your husband would now be a widower, and half a man. I know what a broken bond feels like too. You see? I understand more of your ordeal than you may think. Talk to me Ezdreiana, it will make you feel better. I promise. We're kindred spirit, you and I."