The Brave Shall Fall
And the Mighty Shall Weep

(Number 2 in the Trilogy)

Written by: MaryD

"We will attack at 23:00 hours precisely."

Commander Kira Nerys spoke to the men and women of the ShaKah.
The faces of the underground stood before her, ready to strike
a blow to the Cardassians and ready to die if needed. She knew
many would die that night - too many Bajorans had died...

She saw her young brother Josii in the crowd standing there
very proud to part of the Bajoran underground. She dismissed
them knowing that night was going to be crucial to the cause.

"Nerys can I come with your group?" Josii asked expectantly.

Kira looked at her brother--so young and eager.

"No. You will be with Anton Kief, Josii."

The disappointment showed on his face. He desperately wanted
to fight with his sister, but he was relegated to base. The
thought disgusted him.

"Nerys come on....tonight I fight for Bajor!"

"Tonight, young brother, you watch out for Bajor," Kira said
pulling Josii to her.

"You let Tamara in your team and she's not much older!"

Kira laughed.

"Tamara is older than you and more experienced. We need people
at the base in case things don't go according to plan. Your
job is important. Now go and get some rest," she said as she
watched him leave.

Kira was interrupted by Tahna Los the group's second in
command.

"Kira, everything is ready...We haven't encountered any
Cardassians."

"If we have any problems I want you to take your group to
safety. I don't want a repeat of what happened the last
time..."

*********

The night air was cool and clear as Kira's team hid behind the
brushes. The Cardassian colony of Holgar was in front of them.

"It's 23:00 hours, Commander." whispered Tahna.

"NOW!"

With her command, bombs set the previous day exploded and they
charged with phasers firing. Cardassian women and children
began to scream and yell and then Kira saw a garrison of
Cardassian soldiers run out of the buildings...

"Tahna...it's a trap!" Kira yelled. "Retreat! Retreat!"

The Cardassian soldiers opened fire. All around her
Cardassians and Bajorans alike fell, the soldiers not caring
who they killed. Bombs exploded all around them.

"Retreat!" Kira shouted.

Before she could escape she was hit from behind with a phaser
blast. She lay in the mud. A few Bajorans managed to escape
but their leader had been captured.

The screaming had stopped. The dead were strewn in the mud.
Gul Tacet, the Cardassian commander, scanned the battlefield.
He went over to the prone body of Kira Nerys.

"Well...finally." Gul Tacet looked down in satisfaction "Who
shot her? He deserves a commendation!"

"Our Bajoran "friend"!"

Gul Tacet laughed. One of her own - our appropriate!

"Is she still alive?"

"Yes sir."

Gul Tacet laughed. The Gods had favored him that day. He would
get valuable information for the Cardassian High Command from
this Bajoran and a promotion.

*********

Kira woke and found herself manacled to a beam and hanging two
inches off the ground. Her body ached. She was covered in mud.
The cell was cold and bare apart from a single chair.

The door opened and Gul Tacet walked in rubbing his hands
together.

"Good evening, Commander. Welcome to Dentron..." Gul Tacet
sneered "I'm your host," he said as he bowed and then laughed
at his own joke.

"Tell me, Nerys...can I call you Nerys?"

"Call me anything you like!" Kira answered through her teeth.

Gul Tacet laughed. He was feeling rather pleased with himself.

"How are you feeling?"

Kira looked at him. Her body ached and her head was throbbing
but she wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of knowing
she was in pain.

"I'm fine."

"You are? I hear you got hit by a phaser blast at close range.
Surely, Nerys, you are lying to me. I hope this does not set
the precedence of your stay here. I want our relationship to
be an honest one."

"Cardassian scum!" Kira snarled.

"Come now Commander, you will learn to talk to me with some
respect...I am your superior!"

With that Gul Tacet hit her. A small trickle of blood ran down
the corner of her mouth. He smiled, drew up a chair and sat
looking at his prize catch.

"Quite a coup to capture you, Nerys...Falling in the mud like
you did is most undignified. I'm sure you are not feeling well
enough to talk to me tonight. Get some rest and we will talk
in the morning."

"What makes you think I will tell you anything!"

"Oh I don't know...just a guess..."

With that Gul Tacet stood up and left the cell smiling.

*******

The next morning Kira was brought into the interrogation cell.
The room was empty apart from a single chair. A single light
bulb hung from the ceiling. Her hands were tied to a beam. Her
mud encrusted black uniform was replaced by a gray tunic. Gul
Tacet leaned against the wall.

"Well Commander, we meet again. I hope you are well rested.
Lets start to talk, shall we?

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Oh, simple things. Let's start with the name of your second
in command and the location of the cell, and we will go on
from there."

Kira looked at him with disgust.

"Do you really think I would tell you?"

Gul Tacet played with a small dagger.

"Do you want to die, Commander?"

"Bajorans have died for the freedom of Bajor and they will die
until Bajor is free. I'm no different. I will die rather than
reveal any information to any Cardassian!"

Gul Tacet sat in the chair.

"You know, Nerys, all of you Bajorans sound alike. Did someone
program you? I could have all your comrades killed if I chose
to. Possibly I shall, if you don't co-operate with me."

"And when all the Bajorans die? What then, Tacet? Am I so
important to you that you have to kill innocent people?"

Gul Tacet looked at her. She was going to be an interesting
subject. He played with the dagger.

"You are the Commander of the ShaKah. You killed innocent
Cardassian women and children. You kill without remorse and
you maim innocent children. Yes, you are important to me,
Commander. What you have to tell me will prevent further
Cardassian bloodshed. Face it, Commander. You were betrayed by
your own precious Bajorans. How do you think we could be there
when we were? Who do you think shot you?"

Kira looked away.

"You have nothing to say? You were betrayed, Commander. One of
your own trusted soldiers sold you out. While you are here
they are free. I'm going to give you another chance, basically
because I like you. Tell me what I need to know."

Tacet came and stood in front of Kira. He stood a foot taller
than her. He held his dagger to her throat pushing it slightly
in. A small trickle of blood ran down her neck and stained the
tunic collar.

Kira didn't flinch.

"Commander be smart. You are in an unwinable position. The
only way for you is to talk and stay alive. You are not
cooperating with me as I had hoped. I can hand you over to the
5th order and they will execute you after they had their fun
with you."

He moved the dagger to the shoulder of tunic. She felt the
cold steel slide along her shoulder and heard the sound of the
fabric tearing. The soft cloth fell back exposing one side of
her chest, and her back.

Tacet surveyed his handywork and smiled. "And I don't want
that to happen."

He began to idly unbutton the rest of the tunic with his
dagger. Then he seemed to grow bored with the exercise, went
back and sat down.

"I have to tell you Commander," he said amiably. "All of my
prisoners eventually talk to me...you are just another
challenge to me. And I like to be challenged."

He left the cell and the light went out. Kira was left in the
dark.

*******

Gul Tacet sat staring at the dagger in his office. His second
in command, Jarryd, stood before him.

"Jarryd, what have you found out about Kira?"

"She is the Commander of 9th Cell of the ShaKah. The 5th order
believes this cell was responsible for the attack on their
headquarters two weeks ago. There was extensive damage to the
buildings and a few prisoners were released."

Tacet looked astonished. Anyone daring to go up against the
5th Order was either courageous or stupid. He didn't think
Commander Kira Nerys was stupid.

"Go on."

"Our informer tells me that she has a brother. Kira Josii. He
was not on the raid at Holgar."

"A brother?" Tacet mused. "How old is this brother?"

"14 Bajoran years old."

"Is he a member of the ShaKah?"

"No. That is what our informer told me."

Tacet laughed and slapped his hands on the desk.

"Well, Jarryd, I think our Commander Kira Nerys might
appreciate a visit by young Josii. What do you think?"

"A small visit wouldn't hurt," Jarryd agreed, smiling.

"Arrange for the boy to be brought here--and don't do anything
to hurt him."

******

Gul Tacet entered the interrogation cell. Kira was still hung
on the beam. Sweat matted her hair.

"Hello Nerys, how nice to see you again!"

Gul Tacet smiled.

"Are you thirsty?"

"Yes."

The guard gave him a bucket of water. Tacet looked at the
bucket contemplatively. Then, without warning he threw the
water in Kira's face and laughed.

Tacet continued to laugh. "Is that better, Commander?"

Water dripped from her face.

"Tell me, Nerys, do you have family."

"I had a family before the Cardassians butchered them!"

"I see. You don't have a family now, though?"

"No."

Gul Tacet looked at her. She was protecting her brother. He
stood behind her.

"You have no family?"

"No."

Tacet used the dagger and dragged it across the bared breast.
Blood stained the tunic.

"I'll ask you again...Do you have any family?"

"No."

"Nerys, you disappoint me. Maybe you need some encouragement
to remember...Jarryd will try and help you remember," he
informed her dismissively.

Tacet went to the door. Her cries of pain echoed down the
corridor as he walked to his office. He smiled.

*******

A few hours later, Kira Josii was brought into Tacet's office.

"My name is Gul Tacet, I am the Commander of Dentron, " Gul
Tacet said studying the boy in front of him. The physical
resemblance to Nerys was unmistakable.

"I am Kira Josii of the ShaKah!" Josii said sticking his chest
out.

Gul Tacet laughed at his bravado. He went over to the chair
and sat down.

"Tell me Josii, why did you join the ShaKah?"

"To kill Cardassians!" Josii spat the words out like it was
poison

"I see. Do you have any family?"

"Most of my family is dead."

"You don't have any relatives alive?

Josii hesitated. He didn't know whether Nerys was alive, the
reports from Holgar said she was wounded.

"I had a sister."

"Is she in the ShaKah as well?"

"I don't know," Josii said quietly.

"I see...what is her name?"

"Kira."

"Her given name?"

Gul Tacet looked at him. The young boy was a clever youngster.

"Why do you want to know that?"

"I'd like to know. What is her given name?"

"Nerys. Her name is Kira Nerys."

"Is she in the ShaKah?"

Josii looked at the Cardassian. A look of pain crossed his
face.

"I don't know what you are talking about," the boy said
softly.

"Josii, I like you. I don't want to do anything to hurt you
but you will have to answer my questions truthfully. Is your
sister in the ShaKah?"

"Yes...she was."

"She was? But she's not any more? Is she dead?"

"I don't know if she's alive or dead...That's the truth!"

"What happened to her?"

"I don't know..."

"Josii, you are not being honest with me."

"I don't know what happened to her!"

"What rank did she have in the ShaKah?"

"Why?"

"Because I want to know. What rank did she hold."

"Commander."

"What cell?"

"Eighth."

"You have been most helpful Josii."

Josii was led away by two burly Cardassian Guards.

*******
Gul Tacet went back in the interrogation cell. Kira's face was
swollen from the beatings, her hair matted with sweat and her
tunic stained with blood.

"So let's begin where we left off. Have you got a family?"

The sound of Kira's labored breathing echoed in the cell.

"Yes," Kira said softly.

"I can't hear you." Tacet sneered.

"Yes."

"Jarryd, she said yes! Good. Now, was that so difficult to
tell me? Are you married?"

"No."

"I believe you...now. Do you have any children?"

"No."

"Good. I think we are getting somewhere here. What family have
you got?"

"Brother."

"Good. You know Nerys, you could have saved yourself a lot of
pain if you told me this sooner. Now look at you, you're in
pain, hanging there, humiliated. Where is the great ShaKah
leader now?!"

Tacet sat across from her.

"What would your Bajoran comrades think of you now? What is
your brother's name?"

Kira looked at him. The pain in her arms, back and head was
unbearable.

"I ask you again, what is his name?"

"Josii," she whispered.

"How old is he?"

Kira hung her head.

"How old is he?" Tacet repeated.

"14."

"Would you like to see him?"

Kira looked at Tacet with contempt.

"No."

Tacet smiled.

"That's too bad, Commander. I'm sure he would want to see his
heroic sister. Don't you think that will be a good idea
Jarryd?"

"Most definitely," Jarryd answered.

"I think I can arrange a family visit."

Tacet and Jarryd left the cell.

*******

Jarryd brought Josii back to Gul Tacet. Josii looked at the
two men unsure of what was to come. Tacet was smiling.

"Hello again Josii. I trust you had a good rest. We have
something to show you. Open the door."

Tacet opened the cell door. Josii was perplexed and looked
inside. The cell was dark and a faint moaning sounds could be
heard.

"What's that?" Josii asked suspiciously.

"Switch the light on and you will see."

He switched the light on. Shock registered on the boy's face
when he saw Kira. He ran in and held her. He brushed aside
stray hair and wiped the blood from her face. Tears welled up
in her eyes and silently trickled down her swollen face.

"Nerys..." He whispered.

"Ah...family reunions." Tacet said putting his hand on Josii's
shoulder. "Get's you here." Tacet said stabbing Josii's chest.

"Let go of me!" Josii pushed his hand away.

"She is alive, Josii."

Tacet looked at Josii and Kira and shook his head.

"So ungrateful...get him out of here!" He ordered the guards.

Josii looked at his sister and struggled as he was taken out.

Gul Tacet stood before Kira smiling.

"That was enjoyable wasn't it? No one can say I am not
generous. Now where were we? Who is your second in command?"

"I don't know."

"Not this again!" Tacet through his hands up. "When will you
learn to listen to me? I am your saviour, Commander. I can
easily hand you over to the 5th Order but I haven't. Do you
know why?"

"You like me." Kira said flatly.

Tacet grinned.

"I would like you better if you told me what I need to know.
If you do, I'll take down and give you something to eat--
Surely you must be hungry?--something to drink, and you will
be able to get some rest. That doesn't sound bad does it?"

"Not for a traitor..." Kira whispered.

"Now, let's start from the beginning. Who is your second in
Command and where is your camp...?"

********

"Did you find out where she is being kept?" Tahna Los asked.

"Yes, in Dentron."

Tahna Los, the Commander of the Eighth Cell of the ShaKah,
looked at his friend Anton Kief.

"That hellhole!"

"I've been thinking Tahna, what if Kira breaks down?"

Tahna had thought of that but dismissed the idea. Kira Nerys
would never talk.

"She won't."

"What if she does, Tahna."

"I SAID SHE WON'T!" He yelled.

Both men looked at each other.

"Do you know where Josii is?"

"Word is the Cardassians have him as well."

"We need to get her out of there," Tahna said looking at a
map.

"That place is fortified by the 5th Order...It would be easier
to get into the butcher Zelnick's office..." Anton stopped in
mid sentence by the look on Tahna's face.

"That's it. An exchange of prisoners!"

"He won't exchange prisoners! He killed his own men at
Caiafas."

"What is more precious to Zelnick than his life?"

"I don't think he considers anything more precious."

"He does Anton. He does. His precious son."

*******
Gul Tacet was frustrated. His questioning was getting him no
where. He secretly admired the Commander for her stubbornness.

We could use a bit of that ourselves," Tacet admitted to
himself.

"Commander, we can go on for as long as you like. Now, who is
your second in command? Surely you can remember your trusted
number one?"

Kira didn't answer.

"I am getting very angry with you Nerys. TELL ME WHAT I WANT
TO KNOW!" Tacet screamed.

"No."

"Blast you, Bajoran scum!" He yelled insanely and began to
beat her.

********
Outside the home of Supreme Commander Zelnick, a small band of
ShaKah members watched and waited for the right opportunity to
strike.

"Tahna, the guards will change soon." whispered Anton.

"We wait."

***
*********

Gul Tacet sat in his office feeling very frustrated and
angry. A single Bajoran female was getting the better of him.

"Fanatics!" He said to himself aloud and banged his fist on
his desk.

*********

The lights of Zelnick's house had gone dark when Tahna gave
the signal for his team to move in quietly. The Cardassian
guard was overpowered with little noise. Tahna entered the
house. The Bajoran housekeeper was still in the house and
showed Tahna the way.

Tahna made his way into the bedroom where Zelnick's son
slept..

He put a phaser to the boy's head and watched as he roused.

"Make no sound and I will not kill you."

The boy nodded fearfully.

"At last, a Cardassian that takes orders!"

The boy was ushered out of the rooms together with his mother
and quietly led away. The Cardassian guards' rotation was due.

*******
Gul Tacet looked at Josii. The boy was brought to him.

"Can I see my sister?"

"No."

Josii looked with disgust at Gul Tacet. His hatred for the
Cardassians was palpable.

"Being in my position, I find I have to do some...pursuading."

"She won't tell you anything!"

"Yes...unfortunately Commander Nerys doesn't want to cooperate
with me."

"It's Commander Kira." Josii corrected him.

Tacet sneered.

"I don't care what you want to call her. She is a war
criminal. She will die but you will die also. You will be
executed tomorrow. "

"I die for Bajor."

"You will die because your sister refused to talk. That is the
price of silence."

"I will die for Bajor and one day Bajor will be free and
Cardassians will be driven from our home!"

"Yes...that may be, but you won't be around to see it!"

*******

The sun rose over the mountains.

Tahna Los looked at his captives. He thought of his own
family. He thought of Nerys...

"Have they discovered them missing yet?"

"The housekeeper told me Zelnick had half the 5th Order
looking for them for most of the night."

Both men chuckled at the thought of the Butcher sending his
elite to look for hostages!

"Patch me through."

A terminal was set up.

At Zelnick's house, a young Cardassian soldier approached his
Commander.

"Sir, there is a message for you...from the ShaKah!"

Commander Zelnick ripped the terminal from the young soldier.
He turned it on.

"Commander Zelnick. I am Commander Tahna Los of the ShaKah. I
have your son and wife."

"What do you want?"

"The release of Commander Kira Nerys and Kira Josii from
Dentron."

"Who?" Zelnick asked impatiently.

"Commander Kira Nerys and Kira Josii. For your sake,
Commander, I hope they are still alive. I will call you at
0800 hours. I expect you to tell me they will be released. If
not your family will die...be assured of that." Tahna ended
the transmission.

"Get me Gul Tacet!" Zelnick screamed.

*******

Kira stood before Tacet in his office.

"I gave you a choice Commander and you refused. I have now
only one option open to me - you force me to kill your
brother."

"Did you think I would talk?"

Tacet studied her for a moment.

"It's still up to you Commander. Tell me what I want to know
and I will spare his life."

"No." Kira whispered.

"Is your precious Bajor so important to you? More important
than your brother's life?"

Kira looked at him.

"Damn you Bajoran fanatics!" Tacet yelled. "Bring the boy."
he ordered.

Josii was brought in and stood beside Kira. He stood proudly.

Kira tried to comfort him but was unable to because of the
bonds. She desperately wanted to hold him. He was so desperate
to fight for Bajor.

"I'll ask you again: reconsider your decision."

"She doesn't have to. I am willing to die." Josii said,
looking at Kira.

"Bajoran fanatics!" Tacet screamed! "Prepare his execution!"

Josii was led to the courtyard where a noose awaited him.. He
walked bravely to the podium, his hands bound.

"Freedom for Bajor!" Josii yelled.

Kira watched helplessly. Tears ran down her face.

"It's not too late to reconsider your decision Commander.
Hanging is clean but still and all...barbaric. Do you want to
change your mind?"

"No." Kira said quietly.

Gul Tacet gave the signal and the trap door was pulled. Tacet
watched Kira's face. Josii's body swung for a few moments then
stopped

"Another fanatic gone. Jarryd take Nerys back to the cell. I
feel I have a long day ahead."

Jarryd led Kira away. Tacet remained at the window looking at
Josii's body.

"Too bad. I actually liked the boy." He said aloud.

"Incoming transmission from Commander Zelnick," the computer
alerted Tacet.

"Patch it through."

The drawn face of Zelnick appeared on screen.

"What do I owe the pleasure, sir?"

"Tacet have you got a Commander Kira Nerys and Kira Josii in
your custody?"

"I have only Commander Kira Nerys, sir" he said looking
outside.

"Where is Kira Josii?"

"Dead."

The color drained from Zelnick's face.

"I am sending for Commander Kira Nerys."

"But sir, I am just at the point where I can get useful
information about the activities of the ShaKah..."

"Gul Tacet, are you disobeying my orders?"

"No sir. But I would like a little more time--"

"NO!"

The screen went blank.

*******

Tahna Los sat in his tent. The time for his next encounter
with Zelnick was close.

"Do you think he will do it?" Anton asked.

"Yes I'm certain of it. Hopefully Kira and Josii are not
dead...for his sake!"

"Tahna, we are ready," Tamara called.

Tahna sat at the console.

"Commander Zelnick I trust you will comply with our request."

Zelnick hesitated.

"I can only comply with one of your requests. Kira Josii was
executed for crimes against Cardassia this morning."

Tahna looked at Anton. Nearby Tamara wept openly.

"What of Commander Kira Nerys?"

"She will be delivered to you as planned. An exchange can be
made at Holgar..."

Tahna laughed scornfully.

"Commander you do not think we are that stupid? You will leave
them at the Bajoran camp at Seldar. When I find Commander Kira
is safe, then I will release your family. Understood?"

"Please, don't hurt my son..."

"No harm will come to your son, Commander," said Tahna
quietly.

******

Gul Tacet entered the cell. Kira had been tied to the beam.
Jarryd leaned on the far wall.

"Take her down."

"Why? I thought you wanted to continue the interrogation?"
Jarryd asked.

"It seems this Bajoran has another appointment...with the 5th
Order!"

Jarryd looked Kira and shook his head.

"My but we are important!" Jarryd taunted.

"Commander Zelnick requested that she be brought to him."

Jarryd whistled. He knew the man's reputation for brutality.
No prisoner had survived his interrogation.

Two of Zelnick's 5th Order Guards came into the cell and
dragged Kira away leaving Tacet and Jarryd alone.

Before the convoy could move out of the vacinity of Dentron,
they were ambushed. The Cardassian guards were killed.

"Tahna!" Anton yelled as he opened the doors

Kira lay on the floor, bound.

"Nerys..." Tahna lifted her and released her bonds.

*********

Tahna Los led his team back to camp. One thing still had to be
done.

"My father will hunt you down!" The boy, Ibhar, announced.

"I'm sure he will...but you won't be around to see it," Tahna
said, raised his phaser and fired.

The boy fell to the ground, dead.

"A life for a life..." Tahna said chillingly.

The dead boys mother cradled her son in her arms and wept.

"Tahna, Zelnick is waiting..."

Tahna Los sat down in front of the console.

"Where is my wife and son?" Zelnick demanded.

"Your wife will be at the Dentron gates Commander."

"And my son?"

"He's dead."

"You promised me they would be safe!" Zelnick cried.

Tahna stared at the screen coldly.

"I lied."

The computer screen went blank.


The End.

(C) MaryD - July 1993