This is my first story in a trilogy. Also this happens to be
the first story I have ever written :-)

Trilogy:

The Price Of Silence
The Brave Shall Fall And The Mighty Shall Weep
Bury The Past


The Price of Silence

A Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Story

Written by: MaryD
email: maryd_oz@yahoo.com 


Personal Log entry: I've been told by Anton Kief of a recent
find near Holgar on Bajor, of Cardassian records from the
Occupation. Hundreds of underground names were found in the
files, and Josii's name was next to them as informer. I do not
know how to deal with this or even if it is true.

Kira Nerys rubbed her neck and stared at the screen. The last
few hours had been difficult. If only she knew whether those
records were true...

*******

Kira sat at Quark's bar, content to drink alone. A few moments
later Dax appeared and came to sit next to her friend.

"Kira, are you all right?" Jadzia asked.

"Yes." Kira did not bother to look up.

Quark smiled at the women. "You know Major, a short time in
the holosuite would do you a world of good. I have this
wonderful program just made for you!"

"Get out of my face Quark!" Snapped Kira.

"Touchy aren't we today!" Quark snarled and walked away with
some glasses.

"You do need to relax, Kira. You haven't had any time off in
weeks," Dax told her with concern and looked at her friend.

"I don't need to relax!" Kira said and stormed off.

******

Much later, in her quarters, Kira stirred in her sleep. Old
dreams began to surface, the sound of bombs exploding, the
screams of Cardassian women and children, her name echoing in
her mind, her comrades dead around her, the blood, the
smell...

She woke with a start. She was not on Bajor. She was on DS9.
She sighed and closed her eyes, knowing that the nightmares
would continue.

She remembered the sight of Cardassian soldiers surrounding
them, the betrayal from one of their own, the humiliation of
capture, the searing pain of their interrogation, the cold of
the cell floor, her loneliness and her desire for death...

And the eyes of the Cardassian as he studied his conquest...

"Quite a coup to capture the both of you!" The Cardassian had
snarled and then laughed.

And the betrayal...
******

The computer woke Kira from a disturbed sleep.

"Incoming message from Bajor, from a Derra Kiev."

Kira struggled out of bed and went to the console.

"I hope I didn't wake you, Kira."

"Ah..no you didn't..I needed to talk to you, Derra. Those
records that were found--are they originals?"

"No they are copies...the originals are with the Cardassians
on Dentron..why do you ask?

"Could they have been tampered with? Could someone have erased
the names of the informers?"

"I suppose its possible, but this happened so many years ago.
I understand Josii was executed by the Cardassians a long time
ago. The government has no reason to open investigations."

"Yes...he was. Derra this is important to me. Would I be able
to get access to those original records from Dentron?"

"Not unless you go back into the Cardassian prison, Kira. The
Cardassians are not willing to give us information about their
atrocities."

"No..I don't suppose they would. Thank you for your help,
anyway."

"You're welcome."

The screen went blank.

There had to be a way to get those records.

Maybe Dax was right. Maybe she did need a break...

*******

Kira walked into Quark's bar hoping the place would be
deserted at such an early hour. Odo watched as Kira walked to
the bar and sat down.

"Ah the lovely Major Kira. Early for you, Major?" Quark said
placing his hands on hers.

Kira ignored them.

"Quark, I need something from you."

"You do?!...From me?...ooohhh, you have reconsidered the
holosuite?" He asked, grinning.

"No! Do you know of any Ferengi merchant ships going to
Dentron?"

"Dentron? That's the Cardassian prison planet."

"Yes I KNOW what it is. I want to know if there is any ships
going there."

"Why?"

"Don't ask so many questions Quark! Can you find out for me or
not," Kira snarled.

"I can--for a price of course..."

"Of course. How could I forget that?" Kira placed a bag on the
counter. "I need to get on that ship, Quark."

Quark's eyes lit up when he opened the sack and saw the seven
gold bars in it.

"I'll let you know later today."

"I'll be waiting," Kira warned, and walked out.

******

Odo walked into Benjamin Sisko's office. The Commander was
seated behind his desk.

"Odo? What can I do for you?"

"It's about Major Kira, Commander--"

"What about her?" Sisko walked to the viewing port looked out
over his operations centre.

"She was at Quark's this morning. I understand from Quark that
she has requested passage on a Ferengi merchant ship."

"I know she wants time off. I have given her a leave of
absence. I don't see your concern, Constable."

"She wants to go to Dentron."

"The Cardiassian prison planet? Why?"

"I don't know...She didn't tell Quark."

"Do you know if Quark can get her on that ship?"

"I suppose he can...for the right price he would sell Tribbles
to Klingons if he wanted to!"

"Then I suppose you will have to "tag" along. I think we can
manage without you for a few days."

*******

Later that day Kira returned to Quarks and pulled him aside,
away from the crowd that had gathered there.

"Well, did you find out for me?"

"You know Major, you really do need to relax a bit..."

She pulled him up by his collar.

"Quark! Get on with it!"

"All right...you don't have to get so touchy! There is a
Ferengi merchant ship leaving tommorrow at 0700 hours. The
captain is willing to take you to Dentron--for a price. He has
some business there but he will leave when his business is
complete."

"Good..."

Quark grinned as he watched her go. A bar stool slowly
reformed itself into Odo's familiar shape.

"I really think she needs the holosuite. You know Odo you're
lucky Morn didn't sit on you!

Odo scowled at Quark with disgust and strode out.

******

On board the Ferengi vessel Kira sat on the alien bed.
Hopefully she would be able to get those records and get out
again before the Cardassians suspected anything.

She went to the replicator.

Behind her Odo reshaped himself.

"Kira what are you up to?"

Kira jumped at the sound of his voice.

"What are you doing here?"

"That's the same question I want answered from you."

"Quark...that slimy little--"

"What's so important that you have to risk going to Dentron
for it?"

"Ghosts..." Kira said cryptically, and looked away.

"Ghosts?"

"You wouldn't understand, Odo."

"Try me." Odo sat down in the only chair. "We have the time."

"You have heard about the recent excavations on Bajor and the
records they found?"

"Yes."

"Those records indicated that a Bajoran informer betrayed the
underground to the Cardassians. For years I wondered who that
was...our plans, the route we would take, the strength of our
numbers...everything. The raid on the colony went wrong. Many
good comrades died or were captured. I was one of the lucky
ones--or unlucky ones, as I soon found out." A look of
profound pain crossed her face. "My brother Josii was also
captured. Those records found on Bajor indicate he was the
informer."


"Is your brother still alive on Dentron?"

"No...they killed him."

"So why are you going back?"

"To find the truth. You see, the records found on Bajor are
copies. The originals are still on Dentron and the Cardassians
will never release them to the Provisional Government."

"So, you are going to steal them from the Cardassians. Just
how do you intend to accomplish that?"

"I'm going to get into the prison archives and break into
their computer net. Wrestling with those Cardassian computers
on DS9 has equipped me for this only too well," she told him
darkly.

"I see," Odo mused. "And what if you get caught...Cardassian
hospitality is not pretty."

"I don't intend to get caught Odo. I know Dentron...once
you've been inside you never forget."

********

The Ferengi ship moved into orbit around Dentron and its
captain proceeded with business. Kira and Odo were transported
to the surface with the last load of cargo.

"We have 2 hours to get in and out," Kira warned as they
slipped out from between the storage modules.

"How do you intend to get in?"

"I'm going to climb the west wall, over there."

Odo nodded. "I'll meet you inside...be careful Kira."

Kira quietly walked up to the walls of the prison and threw a
grapling hook over the wall.

So far so good..no Cardassians in sight...

She got half way up when she spotted a group of Cardassian
soldiers marching her way.

"Halt!" A voice from the darkness yelled out.

Before she had a chance to move a disruptuer blast hit her and
she fell to the ground.

Five Cardassian soliders gathered around her.

"A Bajoran!"

"I've heard of them wanting out...never in!" One of them
muttered in disbelief.

******

Kira woke slowly. Her head ached. She found herself manacled
to a wall. Panic welled up inside her.

The door bolt sounded and a Cardassian commander walked in.

"Well..We meet again."

"Do you always shoot your visitors?"

"Only those who try to climb our prison walls. Still they are
usually on the other side of the wall..." The Cardassian's
face became harsh. "Let's stop playing games. What were you
doing climbing the walls, Kira Nerys?"

Kira looked on in silence. She knew what was to come, knew
their interrogation methods. She hoped Odo managed to get in.
Hoped she could hold out again the onslaught that was to come.

********

Odo had seen Kira fall to the ground. He changed quickly to
avoid capture. After the soldiers took Kira inside Odo slid
through the cracks in the wall and made his way to the central
computer office. He slid through the locked security doors
leading to the net.

The sound of voices coming towards the computer net made Odo
reluctantly morph into a Cardassian rodent so that he could
scuttle between the consoles and continue to listen.

Two Cardassians walked in, deep in conversation. One dropped a
personnel record on his console.

"Yes I remember her now. She was a hard one to crack. We spent
hours interogating her. She was one of those responsible for
that raid on the colony. Many women and children were killed.
Thanks to our "friend" we were able to capture them. Without
his help it would have been impossible. Kira Nerys--I never
thought I would have the pleasure of seeing her again!" He
laughed.

"She hasn't talked about what she was doing here though."

"No but she will--all of these Bajorans talk with a little
encouragement. You learn that pain is a tool to be used to
your advantage. Used correctly you can make them talk, confess
to any crime. They come to want death, but you deny them
death. You continue the pain--the harder they resist, the
longer you persist. That is how I got results. Soon I will
demonstrate how I will make Kira Nerys talk. With a little
encouragement she will sing like a bird. And then you can have
some fun..."


********


Odo's contempt for the Cardassians was palpable. His efforts
to find the records was frustrating. He hoped the Major could
withstand the Cardassians for a short period until he could
retrieve those records.

*******

Kira's arms began to ache.

The Cardassian guarding her didn't bother to look her way but
kept looking straight ahead. Gul Tacet walked in smiling.

"Well, Nerys--or should I say Major Nerys," he said with
distain. Have you decided to talk?"

Kira stared at him impassively.

"What do you want to know?"

A look of surprise crossed Gul Macet's face and he glanced at
Tacet who was smiling broadly.

"Who is helping you?"

"No one...I'm alone"

Gul Tacet grew angry and struck her across the face with his
hand.

"Don't play games with me Nerys! My friend over here was sorry
to see you go the last time you were here, he will continue
from where you left off the last time and maybe then you will
talk to me"

"IT IS THE TRUTH!" yelled Kira.

"Who is helping you? You can't be doing this by yourself!"

"I am."

Gul Tacet grew angrier and shook his fist in her face. He
turned to Macet.

"I don't care how you do it, I don't care what methods you
use! Get me the information I want!"

He glared at Kira and stormed out of the cell.


********

Odo finally found the files he needed. It needed just a little
more time to download the information. Just a little more
time.

He retrieved the records quickly, changed to get out of the
office, and headed down the passage way when he reformed. If
only he knew the layout of the prison. He had to hurry it was
getting close to when he had to return to his true form. All
of the changing was taking its toll on his system.

Odo slid past several Cardassian guards and found himself in
the interogation cells. He could see Kira in the manacles on
the wall, time was running out.

*******

Gul Macet leered at Kira. "Well Nerys...here we are again. If
I remember correctly the last time we were together you didn't
enjoy my company."

"I still don't," Kira said sarcasically.

"Ah, still with that attitude...you know your brother was of
valuable assistance to us. It's too bad you don't talk as much
as young Josii did."

Tacet had struck a nerve.

The colour drained from Kira's face and Tacet knew he had
her. Josii was young, and eager to talk, too eager... with a
little encouragement.

"If it wasn't for young Josii, there are a great many things
we wouldn't have known."

"Josii wasn't an informer"! Kira screamed at him.

"Oh but he was, Major, and a very valuable one at that. It's
too bad he had to be killed because you didn't want to talk."

Macet grinned sickeningly.

"Such a shame ... I liked the boy"

Tacet looked on as the force of his words struck Kira more
than any blows would have.

He had hurt her.

He laughed and walked out of the cell leaving Kira by herself.

He had her.

"JOSII WASN'T AN INFORMER!" Kira screamed after him.


******

Odo watched as Macet left. He hoped the Cardassian would move
quickly. Time was running out. The Ferengi ship was leaving
soon.

Kira had her head bowed.

He hoped the information he got from the computer net would be
what she wanted. He had to do something to get the guard away.
Before he could move though, the guard bolted the door to the
cell and left.

Odo slid beneath the door and changed back into his usual
form. He went over to Kira and placed a Ferengi communicator
on her.

"Ferengi vessel - two to beam up, now!"

Both of them disappeared in a transporter beam and onto the
platform of the Ferengi ship...

*******


Their departure for DS9 was interrupted by the Cardassians.
In spite of the Ferengi Daimon's protests, they boarded the
vessel to search for their missing prisoner.

Gul Tacet towered over Daimon Kinzek.

"We are looking for a Bajoran female. "If Major Nerys is
aboard your ship, Ferengi, the conseqences will be severe.
Tell us where she is and things will go easier for you."

"Gul Tacet, I protest! I have a cargo to deliver. All this
business is keeping me from my work. Surely you don't think I
would have a Bajoran on board. No one boards my vessel without
paying me first!" Kinzek declared in an overly loud voice.

"However, if you must search..." He waved a hand. "I'm telling
you though, there is no Bajoran on board my ship. And I will
be lodging a complaint with the appropriate authority about my
treatment--"

"Do what you like, " Tacet growled and motioned to his troops
to do a thorough search.

Odo, who was listening intently, morphed into a hollow console
wall, covering the injured Kira so that she was hidden from
sight.

After a thorough, but fruitless search, the frustrated
Cardassians assembled again on the bridge.

"Did you find your Bajoran?" The Ferengi drawled.

"We did not. If she had been here, Daimon Kinzek, you would
have regretted it." With that the Cardassian commander barked
an order into his communicator and was beamed off the vessel.

"You can come out now," Daimon Kinzek yelled in a self-
satisfied voice to Odo.

Odo changed back and carried Kira to her bunk. He stood next
to her for a moment, remembering all of the time they had been
together.

With a tiny shake of the head he left her alone. It was time
for him to rest.

*******

Several hours later Odo ran the information through the
computer console.

Kira lay in her bunk, hurt and tired from her ordeal. She
opened her eyes and watched Odo.

"Odo," she said slowly, "thank you."

"No need for thanks Major." Odo turned without surprise "Tell
me about Josii ..."

"Has the computer processed the reports?"

"Not yet. I had to sweep all of the reports..it will take a
couple of hours."

Kira struggled out of bed and sat on the edge.

"Josii was 14 years old when the raid on the colony happened.
He wanted to fight for Bajor, he wanted to fight alongside me.

"Did he?"

"Yes but I didn't want him there. There was too great a chance
of the Cardassians capturing some of us."

"That's what happened?"

"Yes..."

Kira looked down, lost in thought of her little brother, old
enough to fire a phaser and old enough to have the fire in his
eyes for freedom of Bajor.

"He knew our plans for the raid on the colony and wanted so
badly to be a part of the resistance..."

"Could he have told the Cardassians?"

"NO! He wouldn't have. He hated the Cardassians. We both
did..."

"How did he end up with you on Dentron?"

"They captured him, and brought him to me." Kira closed her
eyes. "They thought if they brought him to me I would reveal
the whereabouts of the others...."

"You didn't...talk?"

"I couldn't," she said bitterly. "And they killed him for my
silence!"

"Records complete" The computer responded.

"Computer isolate the name of Kira Josii," Odo told it.

"Working.....There is one reference to Kira Josii."

Kira looked at Odo.

The truth...

"Continue," Odo ordered, without looking away from Kira.

"Kira Josii: brother of Bajoran underground force commander,
Kira Nerys, arrested for subversive acts against Cardassia.
Imprisoned at Dentron Prison Camp. Interogation of Kira Josii was
conducted by Gul Jaryd. No new information gleaned. Kira Josii died
two days after his arrest. Case closed."

Kira put a hand over her face.

"The records on Bajor are false..."

"So they are," Odo agreed gently. "So they are...

THE END