Chapter One: Intelligence

Pretenses, much of Corrim's convenient placement was through calculated pretense. Sure he'd actually done a little business with the Cardassian ambassador to Andoria. The man had a knack for finding oddities, Corrim wouldn't always call them rare, but he needed a reason to be in the building. Timing was everything sometimes. The need to haggle over the price, of what would surely turn out to be a replica, of an ancient Andorian Ushaan-Tor mining blade that was supposedly used by Captain Shran in a duel had to be timed to end as the real reason for Corrim's visit was able to be approached. Corrim had managed to time his departure from the ambassador moments after his mark had walked past. The corridor wasn't empty, that would actually look better than if Corrim had tried to approach covertly. Besides, the purpose for his visit had to do with an asset that had been disturbingly quiet according to his contacts at The Obsidian order. The building was colder than Corrim would've liked, though he supposed for the Andorian's it was probably too warm. He hefted the leather satchel on his shoulder uncomfortably and followed the asset until he stopped at a lift.

"Shres P"Trell" It seems like ages since I last saw you." Zora wore her vacant smile. Like all political smiles, it wasn't her own. This time, she was ordered to infiltrate the Andorian government. She hated their light blue skin and white hair, but mostly she hated their odd antennae. Two stupid things sticking out from their foreheads with a stupid dent on the ends. If that wasn't bad enough, this was a long term assignment. She liked to get in and get out. She hated to stay in one place too long. It was too easy to get distracted and forget the objective. She was making small talk, trying to suck up to some political official who she had memorized his name, but didn't care to really listen to as he droned on about some wonderful new policy he wanted to enact. Instead, another voice caught her ear. It couldn't be. Not here. She couldn't help herself. She turned towards the lift and saw him there. She couldn't help but stare for a moment. Later, she would be grateful for her feminine Andorian disguise.

Shres now returned the grin to Corrim. "Yes" yes of course, the whole night is a complete haze to me. To be honest I can't even remember what happened after I went to talk to her." The lift doors opened, and Shres was making his excuses to say goodbye. "So nice to see you again, if you'll excuse me I have an important meeting to get to."

Corrim paused letting his smile sit for a moment before answering. "Of course, I'm sure you're quite busy, I really hope to run into you again. We can make a night of it, try to relive that night?" Shres nodded his assent but Corrim caught the look of relief just as the door to the lift was closing. He let his smile falter, and looked away from the lift thoughtfully. The truth was that he and Shres had never been on Caldar Prime, it had been Rigel 6 and Shres had been stone sober. Corrim hit the button to call the lift back again.

Once in the supply room, Zora morphed into her natural pink iridescent liquid form. She then quickly collapsed and spread onto the floor. She flowed over to the thin slit opening under the door and peeked out, seeing Corrim's satchel still on the ground. She'd have a few moments before the lift door would open and hoped it would be enough time. Through a thin stream, so as to reduce her chances of being seen, she seeped along the floorboards and the grout along the tile flooring, until she was fully inside his bag.

When the doors opened, Corrim retrieved the bag from the floor and stepped inside. He pressed the button for the lobby, fortunately the lift was empty though. By the time it arrived at its destination, Corrim had beamed away to his ship which was holding a stationary orbit. He was already sitting on the bridge when the elevator he'd been in opened in the lobby.

Corrim had laid the bag aside, and opened a subspace channel. A distinctly Cardassian face peered at him from the viewscreen. "Corrim, what a delightful surprise" To what do I owe the pleasure?" The Cardassian's tone was pleasant, behind him Corrim could see outfits and fabrics in various states of completion. His attitude was very similar to Corrim's though his hair was perhaps longer and his face fuller.

Zora would have smiled if she could. She listened intently to both sides of the conversation. Apparently the Andorian Corrim ran into by the lift was one of his contacts, a leak, a seam. But for some reason he was no longer providing Corrim with valuable information; he was no longer in his pocket. Corrim was going to try to repair the situation himself, tie up a loose end if need be, but Zora was beginning to connect a few more dots on her own, things that might be beneficial for Corrim to know too, though she would certainly benefit if she could get him on her side. They hadn't left on good terms, but it was worth a shot. Better than living on cold Andoria for years to come. While he was rubbing his forehead, she slowly began to extend out and behind him, quickly forming into the dark haired humanoid appearance he was familiar with, and she was most comfortable in. She stood relaxed in a blue t-shirt and tight, black pants with blue and white floral pumps, hair tied back in a loose pony tail and spoke softly.

"I know we certainly have a few loose ends to tie up ourselves."

To his credit Corrim didn't react to her. It wasn't that he expected her, or at least he hadn't expected her now. He did think she would turn up eventually though. There were many things going through him as his anger fought with the part of him that was still glad to see her. It was inconvenient though. Why now and what part had she already played, that he would have to ferret out. He didn't turn to face Zora, as much as he wanted to look at her, the part that was hurt by their last encounter wanted to beam her directly from the ship.

"You know "my dear", it's interesting the places you turn up. I wonder though if you are here to make a fool out of me again. Perhaps the fourth time will be the charm' Exactly how am I supposed to react to your being here" Welcome you with open arms??

There was more than a hint of sarcasm as he spoke, and a hard edge to the endearment. Corrim had run this scenario through his head a thousand times, and only now realized which version would be the closest to true.

Corrim thought he understood what had happened with Shres now, but in all honesty he couldn't bring himself to care too much about the Andorian government beyond information making it out. He heard the things she said, but mostly he was hearing the things she wasn't saying. She wasn't touching on the things he wanted to hear. "Bigger than "us?" Perhaps to you it is, because you feel less than a Vulcan, except where it concerns you. I hear you speaking of government takeovers, but then I hear you say the assignment is inconvenient to you. It will take some of your precious time. I already know things that take time are the first things you run from, regardless of who you trample over on the way."

Corrim knew he was being hurtful, but she wasn't answering his immediate questions either. He pushed himself up out of the chair more aggressively than he really wanted to. He wasn't sure where it had come from. He did manage to force his self to step away from her, even though it left his back open to her. He crossed his arms over his chest and pointedly refused to look at Zora. "I'm here for one reason, you really think I care if the people you work for make it inside the government so long as I have someone in place to tell me what?s happening?"

"I know I shouldn't have lied to you?" Zora stopped herself before saying "all those times before" in fear of making it worse. Still looking at him, she added, "I'm not lying to you now. Whether or not this is bad for me or bad for the government or bad for my employer, it's still a bad situation." She looked down; she couldn't look at him as she said, "I'll have to marry the official." Andorian marriages had four partners. She wasn't looking forward to marrying one, let alone three others. She returned her eyes to meet his. "You may appreciate the irony' I need you to help me get caught."

Zora paused, not wanting to reveal this way, but knowing she owed it to him, if not more. "The other method is through stunning phaser sweeps. A high enough setting forces us to lose our focus on our form and return to our normal state." She paused again and her tone became more serious. "I need you there, to help me. If I'm going to get caught, I need someone to help me get out before they try to destroy me, or worse, experiment on me."

"No." Corrim knew there was one thing he didn't want, and that was exposure. "That's certainly not good enough my dear." He found it funny how easy it was to fall back into that role, and those words. "Unless of course part of your goal is to see me ending up on your hit list. That actually wouldn't surprise me in the least." He would need to remain anonymous in this. He still wasn't satisfied though. She wanted him to forget, to move forward and forget the past. He couldn't do that now. "I don't want to be a hero, I've never wanted to be a hero." Except perhaps to her once. Corrim stepped towards her his arms unlocking like he meant to touch her. Instead he stepped around her and started to press buttons on the console.

"Whatever the payment is it will come directly from you. Do you understand" I'm doing this, and you're going to pay." The main view screen now had an image on it of Shres. "This is going to be difficult, I assume that T"Pelle is dead, and that he's been" we'll call it replaced. I'm going to need another informant, but then again that will be my problem. Walking away from your betrothed should be easy enough for you, what with all the practice you have at disappearing. Did you make them love you?? Corrim omitted the word too from the end of that sentence.

She just nodded as he spoke of payment. She would pay him anything he asked. Money and credits she could give easily. She knew it was what she couldn't give that he really wanted, though. She consciously ignored the intent behind his last question, answering it in her own way.

Zora answered, "I will be able to provide you with the highest clearance of information from Val"Shen, at least relating to the Andorians. My people" I guess I don't have as much clearance with them as I believed, since they neglected to tell me about the new Shres. Undoubtedly there is more of my kind already planted in the Andorian political structure ?" She trailed off. She didn't like that her people were hiding things from her. This new Shres could even be there to check up on her and ensure she was doing her job. It would make being caught and revealing them more difficult.

Information was always tempting, it had been the foundation of his wish to be part of The Obsidian Order. This was different though, he would have trusted her once, now she could as easily be playing her own game. Corrim didn't doubt she wanted out of this particular operation, what he doubted was her. Don't you get it Zora?" Corrim was raising his voice again, he hadn't shouted at anyone since his old arguments with Durai. "I don't want "anything" from you." Corrim closed his eyes and turned his head away from her. He took a few calming breaths, and regained control of his emotions.

"I don't trust you anymore."

Zora took a step back as he yelled, the first movement she made since they began speaking. Her eyes softened, revealing her hurt. She may have manipulated him, but she wouldn't lie to him, not now. "You shouldn't trust me." Even as she said it, she knew she would leave him again. If he helped her out of this mess, she would leave just as quickly as she had all the times before. But this time, she would at least say goodbye, as opposed to leaving a calling card or leaving in the middle of the night while he slept. She looked down, knowing she needed to address it all. "You should have never trusted me from the start. I manipulated your feelings so I could kill Durai back on Baaja. I lied to you about my job to steal those Moinnet pieces so you would help me.

Chapter Two: Pact

Corrim was seated in room 331, he'd changed three times before deciding on a gold and green tunic over black slacks, tucked into a pair of dull black boots that rose to mid calf. He was watching the time on the electronic clock, aggravated with his self over the nerves he was feeling. It wasn't like he didn't know Zora after all. He tried settling in with a drink only to find that the glass was left untouched and he couldn't stay seated for longer than a few minutes at a time. The room itself was clean, the airy blue painted walls were part of the reason the hotel had its name. The rest had to do with the ice coated fa?ade outside. There was a bed which had been made recently a small table and a few comfortable chairs. On each side of the bed was a nightstand and a lit brass lamps. More lamps were attached to the walls as well, also lit. Corrim stood again checking the mirror and fixing any minor flaws he saw. He turned sideways and put his hand to his middle before shrugging and beginning to pace. It had been two days, just as he instructed. Earlier in the day when she had free time, she made her way to the Andorian Blue hotel and took on the appearance of a new staff member, eventually finding records of the hotel. It was impossible for her to miss Corrim's alias. Room 331 was currently occupied by Durai Tarn. It was a harsh reminder of the two men she killed, using him to unwittingly help her. She waited until evening. Eventually she found herself walking down the hallway to his room. There was no need for her to come to him as anything other than what he was familiar with. Zora appeared as her favorite version, a young human-looking woman with dark hair pulled back into a loose pony tail with strands falling around her face and neck. Small mouth. Smooth nose. Calm eyes that almost seemed to change color between brown, green, and blue, depending on how the light hit them. She wore a simple outfit. She had to dress up most of the time for the official meetings and parties, so she relished the chance to relax. She wore a floral patterned V cut shirt of pink, purple, and white with pink pants and white flats.

Zora paused a moment, trying to collect herself, then knocked softly on the door to 331.

Zora focused on what he was saying. She answered his offer with, "You're correct, but thank you." She realized even behind the closed door, he was maintaining his show for her, the same show he would put on for those he interacted with for his own jobs. This seemed to be just business for him, impersonal. She couldn't fault him for that. Trying to maintain her own impartial demeanor, she responded, "Then what is our next step?"

Corrim noticed Zora's reluctance to sitting. It was obvious how she wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible. He did his best not to take it personally. Just to show her he was fine with her indifference he did take a seat at the small table. "It's really not so complicated. We're going to play on the naturally suspicious nature of their intelligence agency." He set the drink back down, still not having taken a single sip of the thing. "I'm going to receive some poorly encrypted communications straight from Cardassian space." He crossed his ankles getting comfortable, there was no need for her to know how uncomfortable he really felt. "This will of course have them looking to bring me in for questioning. You are going to need to provide me with information. I'll need something that only your hus" fianc" would know."

Subconsciously following his lead again, she sat in one of the chairs across from him at the table. She looked down, staring at his drink, in a thoughtful trance as she said, "Val"Shen has been working on a proposal for the Phaser Dispersal Array consoles on the Kumari class ships. It's almost done. He is going to be presenting the plans in a week."

Corrim smiled at her admiringly, it was just a short lapse in his fa"ade though he wondered if she could tell the difference. "I'll need a schematic Zora, something that will implicate your" Val"Shen. I'll offer them information, trying to make a deal. They'll be coming for him, and suspecting that he is one of your people. We both know that he'll manage to pass the blood test, but you'll need to make enough of a scene for them to insist on testing you too."

"There's no reason for you to be here when I drop it off. It would only complicate things." Zora stood up from her chair and looked at him as she said blankly, "Keep in mind, the information will not be complete. I'm sure he'll be making changes on it up until the meeting. But it should be enough to get the government to take notice and believe you."

He supposed he should be relieved, at least she wasn't pretending to have feelings for him this time. Still she obviously didn't want to see him again, why else suggest that he not be there the next time she came by' Corrim wouldn't let it affect him though, he sat back in his chair and just let the old smile cross his face. "I won't want the most recent information, days old will be perfect, because when they question him, he will know that it is current, just not the most current." He gave her a conspiratorial nod, then he became suddenly more serious. "I'll give you my extra key card, I understand that Val"Shen is probably keeping you on a short chain. I'm surprised you managed to stay out of his arms long enough to make it here this long."

Zora turned towards the door. He didn't want to see her, and she no longer could look at him. She took it, though. She knew she deserved whatever insults he would throw at her. Besides, she knew deep down, even after he helped her with this, she knew she would leave again. "Once I deliver the files, I can leave the key card in his belongings the day of the meeting. It will help cement his connection to you.? She hoped he would just give her the key and let her go to be alone in a full house.

Corrim felt a pain in his chest at being so blunt, what was she hurrying back to if not' he no longer wanted to think about it. He rose and stepped towards the doorway, picking up an envelope and sliding one of the cards into his hand. He put his hand on the knob and pulled the door inwards blocking it with his back and waiting for Zora to come closer.

Chapter Three: Counter Intelligence

They'd come as Corrim had planned, it was only a few hours after he'd received the encrypted message from the tailor. The information was legitimate, though poorly masked, just as he'd intended. Corrim understood intelligence agencies, they saw enough subterfuge that they would work off suspicion and always assume there was a deeper meaning. The problem however was keeping up the ruse, holding out long enough for them to believe what they saw, but not so long that they would discover it was all calculated. This of course meant that Corrim would need to be interrogated. He was restrained in a chair the room dark except for the light shining in his face to keep him from identifying his questioner. He'd done his homework though, and knew Jen"Mahr to be the only female interrogator within Andorian intelligence. That she was a female hadn't stopped her from having a good time showing Corrim that he wasn't afforded any real rights. That she could do whatever she pleased and no one would ever really know. The bruising in his eyes and blood that was leaking from the corner of his mouth was the only evidence she needed. "I've already told you my name is Durai Tarn" I demand to know why you're holding me!"

Corrim voice was full of righteous indignation, he flinched as she approached though. Maybe just enough to convince her that he might be afraid too. Jen was only warming up, but she knew he wouldn't crack under a few hits. They were a nice bonus for her, but she knew about Cardassians. Their mental fortitude was as tough as their scaled skin; that was why their interrogation techniques were known to be the best. She had learned every one she could, and she would verify that they were through her own experience testing them out. Smiling at his indignation, she spoke as she began to walk around to his back.

"Well, Mr. Tarn, you sent out some very important information. I want to know what that information was. I'm happy to leave you here as long as you like. I'm getting paid by the hour. I could do this for weeks."

Jen stood facing his back, then began to softly massage his neck scales. She could play mind games too.

Jen didn't really care if she hit one area in particular, for most males, the threat was enough. Though hitting him would be bonus. She brought her other leg up and rested it across her leg. She lounged back comfortably with her legs on his lap and continued, "I tire of this talk. Tell me something interesting and we'll make a bit of a bargain for your freedom. Maybe you overheard your baker friend saying something about some top secret government project."

Whether he said he gave the information or someone else released it to the Cardassian government, it didn't matter; she just needed to know who leaked it and how much else was out there. Even though she wanted to savor this, she didn't have the time. The documents released were going to be discussed at a public hearing in a few days and the Andorian government wanted to ensure it went as smoothly as possible. It didn't help that the documents were about a new weapon.

Corrim couldn't stop the impulse to pull back as far he could, not that it was much but every little bit would help. He clenched his jaw as she put her feet in his lap and used him like a piece of furniture. Degrading as it was though, Corrim had directed her where he needed her. She may discover one day that he'd manipulated her, now though it was time to give a little information cryptically and let Jen's mind make the connections.

"It seems to me that if you were really concerned about Andoria, you would be more interested in the "changing" face of its government. It's always so sad the way politicians just seem to shift from one form to another. One might say that all politicians are changelings. One might say that you never can tell how well you know a person."

Jen stared at him blankly for a moment. He was undoubtedly telling her something, but was it simply a distraction, or was he trying to tell her without telling her" More importantly, did she have enough time to play his game" She'd let him go on for now and see if he could give her something he could use. "Sure, every politician is two-faced, but we don't have the Changeling threat on Andoria. We have too many stop-gaps for that to happen."

If Corrim timed this right, Zora would be just about to arrive for the meeting. By the time they arrived to question and test Val"Shen the meeting would be in full swing. The charming smile returned to Corrim's face as he watched Jen"Mahr 's reactions to the things he was letting her in on.

Again, Jen looked back over her shoulder, then returned her gaze to Corrim. She stood up quickly and her voice was rushed.

"Congratulations, Mr. Tarn. You give. We give. You've earned a nice stay in our most luxurious holding room, at least for the next few hours. We'll have to make sure that you can't interfere in the public meeting, after all."

Corrim had expected to be held as well as a precaution. That wouldn't stop him from acting like he was caught by surprise. "Really now, do I look like the kind of guy who would go out of his way to be a hero' I can assure you that all I want to do is get back to my room and get off this frozen planet, my dear." He spoke with an air of sincerity that surely she had come to suspect by now.

Jen smiled. "Then allow us to do you this favor."

Corrim heard rustling working its way around the dark room, then was blinded as an opaque hood was placed over his head.

He heard her instruct, "Take him and blood test him." He then was hit from behind and knocked unconscious.

Val took comfort in Tala being close and her protective nature. "This is outrageous, I don't know where you got your information but I can assure you I am who I say I am." He put his arm around Tala, then looked to Raf to back him as well. The Senator never got a chance to say a word though as the woman in the lab coat produced another datapad, this one had holographic properties. She called up a set of schematics and displayed them for everyone in the room.

"Do you deny that these schematics are yours then?" Her tone was flat, and cold. Val only had to look for a moment to recognize them. His mouth opened as though to speak and then closed again.

"It is my design, though it isn't the most recent. Where did you get them?" His voice was subdued, filled with worry as to how someone had managed to get data that he'd managed to keep well hidden. The woman stepped forward, producing a hypodermic needle.

"That's classified, but it has been indicated that you may have been replaced by a changeling." She moved closer and grabbed for Val's arm. He pulled it away from her and looked to Raf.

"This is a clear violation of my rights! I've served Andoria all my life, surely you won't let this travesty stand?" Val couldn't stop the anger he felt from showing on his face. He held more tightly to Tala, needing her to support his self.

Now was her cue. Zora needed to make enough of a scene to gain suspicion of the Andorians, but she didn't want to be too over dramatic in case any of her fellow changelings might hear about it later and accuse her of treason. She pushed back her white hair, careful not to hit her Andorian antennae, looking to the woman with the needle. She stood in front of Val"Shen and said defiantly, "He is a good and honorable man. I can confirm that he has seen no one and been nowhere but in his work office or in our home these past few weeks, working hard to develop these plans.?

"Then it shouldn't bother her to be tested as well." She replaced the vile in the hypo with a fresh one and made to reach for Tala arm. "Unless anyone has some objection' I'm certain we can get this all cleared up in a few hours, the room can be locked down and everyone present can be investigated." This brought the rest of the panel to life, and Raf stood looking accusingly at Tala.

Val"Shen forestalled whatever Raf was going to say. "Show them how wrong they are my love." He looked at Tala adoringly.

Tala scoffed at the woman and looked at her as if reluctant, but begrudgingly offered her arm to her for blood draw. Inside, Zora was smiling, happy everything was working out as she and Corrim had planned. She would be caught, Corrim would help her to break out, and she would be off the hook for this awful mission to infiltrate Andoria.

The woman jabbed Tala, showing no signs of compassion as the blood filled the vial attached to the hypo. She detached it and held it aloft for everyone to see. The dark blood did nothing at first, then it began to destablilize and turn into a thick pink liquid. Behind the woman the three security officers raised their phaser rifles and pointed them at Tala.

Val"Shen let go of her as though she had stabbed him. His face held a look of betrayal. "It seems we've found our culprit." The door opened and a fourth security officer brought in a stasis box and opened it. "You'll understand if we don't want to give you the opportunity to try and escape. We'll take you to a holding cell and let you out there." The three with rifles moved to get better angles on Tala. "One way or another you are going in the box."

Chapter Five: Penned In

Corrim watched as a security detail passed by his holding cell. One female Andorian held a stasis container. She deposited it in an adjacent cell before opening it and backing out quickly to raise a containment field. The plan was working, he knew that it wouldn't be long before Zora was reconstituting. One member of the armed escort moved to stand by the door while the other two left completely. The woman in the lab coat spoke to the cell Corrim couldn't quite see into. "You'll find that the containment field has sealed off this cell, there's no cracks in the floor even the ventilation has a force field. You're going to be spending quite a bit of time with us. Not to worry though, someone will be here soon to start asking questions." The woman's smirk was cruel, Corrim found his self talking without thinking first. "I trust that someone will be by to speak with me soon, I was promised my freedom before brutally assaulted." The woman turned to look at him, angrily for interrupting her. She said nothing just headed towards the stationed guard and out the door. Zora was barely aware of what they were saying, but she recognized Corrim's voice. She slowly began to ooze out of the stasis container. She was trying to focus on the plan. He was supposed to get caught. She was to get caught. He was supposed to get out, then get her out. Honestly, all she could think about was getting out of the box and rematerializing into herself, into anything really. The phaser fire hit her harder than she thought it would. It wasn't like she had been hit that hard before. Most humanoids didn't know about that changeling weakness. They didn't, until she had Corrim reveal it for her. She'd probably regret giving out that flaw against her people one day, but for now, it did what she needed it to, get her caught convincingly. She couldn't act this pain. Slowly, her iridescent pink liquid stood about three feet off the ground, bending and molding, as if trying to form in slow motion, fighting against itself.

Corrim was fairly certain that they were trying to figure out what to do about Zora. The usual interrogation methods were all but useless against her species. Eventually though someone came. He wasn't surprised to see Jen"Mahr step through the doorway. She stepped up to Corrim's cell and looked him up and down dismissively. "I'm of a mind to keep you in there Mr. Tarn."

Corrim laced his fingers in his lap and smiled at her, his head tilting ever so slightly to the left. "Please, call me Durai, everyone does." He stood up grabbing his wrist and holding it in front of him. "The way you say that though, would I be mistaken in believing someone else is of a different mind?"

Jen"Mahr frowned, she turned to the guard and gave a nod. The barrier in front of Corrim dropped and he stepped out. He panned his vision around, saving Zora's cell for last. Jen moved to a table and sat down pushing an envelope forwards and indicating that Corrim should sit across from her. "Fine, Durai. You will be free to go, but I need you to verify that your belongings are intact." That she wasn't talking about it only made Corrim sure that she had been ordered to let him go.

He sat down and opened the envelope, pulling out everything and examining them all before stowing them away. "Everything seems to be in order." He pushed his pen into a pocket on his shirt and looked across at Zora. "Is that the changeling?" Corrim pretended to be fascinated by the Andorian in the holding cell. "How can you tell, she looks very much like every other Andorian woman." Jen flinched at his dig.

Even though she looked perfect, Zora was still trying to pull herself together on the inside. She could rest while Corrim was mostly keeping the focus on him. She felt comforted when he pushed the pen into his pocket. That was the device that was going to free her by making a small disturbance in the force field, enough for her to mold through to escape.

Chapter Six: Shifting Alliances

The light was raised to blinding in the brig, the holding cells were empty except for one. Andorian intelligence was doing everything it could to keep the changeling uncomfortable while they gathered what they would need to begin questioning it. Things were moving quickly, though it may not seem so to those who were waiting. In a scant three hours they had managed to secure all the necessary paperwork, and get input from other federation agencies. The infiltration had started a frenzy of testing and perhaps that was the real hold up. A guard was stationed outside the door, he would come in every so often and change a setting, on some environmental function in the room. Whatever it took to keep the changeling disoriented. She had eventually stopped her yelling, and gone quiet. Three hours.

The time would have been long enough for her. Zora never stayed in the same place too long. That's why she hated being assigned this long term mission on Andoria. But she had planned to get out if it, with Corrim's help. Everything had been going according to plan. She was caught and he was there to rescue her. But this time, like all the times she had done to him, he left her. She yelled for so long. She almost wished she had a humanoid throat that she could have gone hoarse. At least then she would have the physical pain to focus on instead of her emotional one.

Zora just sat in the back corner of her cell now. When she had pounded against the walls, the shielding injured her, since it knew exactly what setting to be on. They knew because Corrim gave her the information. He knew, because she gave it to him. She gave him all he needed to exact his revenge on her. If she was him, she probably would have done it. All the physical and emotional stress was wearing her body down. She would need to revert back to her liquid form soon to recuperate. Scared they would try something worse on her while she was down, she tried to focus on her form, though she could only focus on him.

Raf"Chthon stalked the corridor, he wanted to see this changeling for his self and more than that he wanted a little time alone to question her on a few things. He'd been kept waiting for hours while measures were put into place. Still he used his pull to get inside the building and more importantly stepping into the brig and in front of the holding cell that Zora occupied. He looked at her cruelly, his pale eyes full of hatred. The antennae on his head moved with his aggravation.

"This is unacceptable, I thought you were so much stronger, but here you are cowering." Raf scoffed at her biting the end of his tongue as his gaze drove deeper into her. "Now that you're here, it won't be long before the rest are caught as well.?

Zora thought he seemed cocky for a humanoid. He should know enough about her people to know they were a force to be reckoned with. But he was right, she would need something to collect herself in, when she wasn't able to hold herself together any longer. Even she was starting to see her blazer and pants beginning to seep down in an unnatural way. She hated the thought, but being in the trash can would be better than that stasis box if he tired anything. In the box, she could easily be locked inside again and who knows where he would take her. In the can, at least she could ooze out and try to escape if he let his defenses down. She looked up at him from her position on the floor and said dryly, "So are you going to find out and give me the can' I'm sure you'd love the symbolism. You could even take pictures and use it for your next political campaign. "Raf"Chthon. Taking out Changling trash." "

Raf bent down and picked up the trash can. He was still young by Andorian standards and fit. He moved to the console and dropped the force field. The bucket was held beneath one arm as he walked to the now open cell that held the changeling. "Perhaps I will have pictures taken, or maybe I will just have you paraded around with me, the obedient little changeling on a leash. Raf"Chthon tamer of the founder."

He was inside and staring down at her in the corner. His face held the cruel smile once again as he squatted to look her in the eye. "What shall I call my pet changeling anyway' Tala is far too good a name for you. How does Puddles sound?" He let his eyes fall to the oozing blazer and then back onto her face.

She would have waited until he had been in awhile and have exchanged a bit more dialog with him to get him comfortable, relaxed, and off guard. Not like she had time to spare, but his words already cut her while she was down. "Can puddles do this!"!? Reverting to an ooze, she lunged forward to knock him down and try to make her escape.

Raf stepped from the holding cell, and reactivated the energy barrier. "I'm afraid it's too late. It's done, and yes, I don't doubt that their experiments will kill you. At least it won't be one of us doing the killing." He stepped away from the console one last time. "By now the others have gone, I'll be gone shortly too. Raf"Chthon will have disappeared. You will remain, and they will ask you questions that you won't be able to answer." Raf turned into another security officer and turned the recording device back on. He stepped through the doorway where the previous guard position was conspicuously empty. Raf waited for the door to close before heading down the corridor.

Zora rose to a standing position. Her whole body felt awkward, like she didn't know how to move it. She didn't. She walked to the edge as he began to walk out. "No!? she screamed in a foreign shriek and began to hate herself for wishing to feel her vocal cords strain. As he walked out the door, she began to pound on the clear shielded wall without thinking. It hit her hard in her humanoid body and she let out a blood curdling scream as she fell backwards in extreme pain that she had never felt before. Laying face down on the floor, she tilted her head back to try to catch her breath.

She never needed to breathe before, but she was grateful for being able to breathe now, though even it pained her to do so. She looked down at the floor. Blood was dripping from her mouth. She could taste the warm metallic flavor from it. Hoping for a miracle, she watched the blood droplets, begging them to become her pink iridescent liquid form to prove to her this was all some elaborate joke. They didn't. Instead, added to the blood were little droplets of water. She was crying. She didn't even know how she was doing it. She laid her head back down on the floor, feeling the warm watered down blood on her skin, and began to weep.

When Raf entered, Corrim became confused. Corrim was used to subtlety, listening to the man bait her He couldn't help but talk.

"He's toying with you Zora, don't you fall for it." Corrim realized as he looked around that he'd stood up but couldn't remember having done so. He held the console as Raf managed to push Zora into her attack.

Corrim's fingers gripped the edge of the console angrily. He tried to tell himself one last time that this is what Zora deserved, until he realized a few things. The first was that Zora was in pain, the cell had been constructed for a shape shifter. The second was that the methods Jen was going to use on Zora would kill her. The last thing he realized is that it would be his fault, just like Tora. It may not be his hand on the trigger this time, but it was he who had orchestrated this. Corrim was moving before he really knew what he planned to do.

Zora was fading in and out of consciousness in her cell. This humanoid body was so fragile. She didn't know how to control it yet, that's what she told herself in her infrequent bursts of awareness. She heard an explosion nearby. She could feel as she lay on the floor in a small pooling of her own blood. It was enough of a jarring to get her to wake up and open her eyes. She turned her head down slightly so she could see the door, dragging her cheek along the floor. She had heard of this humanoid symptom - hallucinating. She must have been, since she saw Corrim running through the door.

Corrim hated the cold, his Cardassian physiology required heat. It was strange that it was that cold which would get him into the building. He wasn't able to transport directly inside, a dampening field made it impossible. He was able to beam onto the roof though, the cold would ensure he wasn't spotted. The lock on the door had to be bypassed, but he'd brought along a tricorder and made short work of it.

Zora regained consciousness.

Slowly, she looked around. The bland beige walls of the monochromatic room seemed to press in on her like a" Wait. She wasn't in her cell on Andoria anymore. She closed her eyes, trying to focus and remember. There were explosions. Then Corrim. Did he save her" She opened her eyes and was able to identify a few of the medical devises and consoles in front of her. Her vital signs were displayed, her humanoid vital signs. She had mimicked vital signs before, but she had to concentrate to do so. Those numbers were coming up all on their own. The blood pressure and pulse figures began rising and it grew increasingly harder for her to breathe.

It had been difficult when he first got her back to the ship. He'd had to leave her in order to break orbit and get the ship out of Andorian space. It was quite likely that he wouldn't be able to come back there again, at least not with this ship. Once the course was set, and the autopilot engaged Corrim had returned to the medical bay. It was small by most standards, a single bio-bed and the equipment to treat the most common things. If she'd needed surgery though, that would have been a problem.

Corrim was sitting in a chair nearby, he'd been listening to her breathing for the better part of two hours. It was long enough to know when something had changed. He looked up from the page he was writing on. "Try not to move too quickly, you were pretty bad off before I started carting you through the building like a rucksack."

She heard him speak and knew she couldn't deny what had happened, all of it. "Oh, oh no?"She began to moan softly and trying to get up just as slowly. "No. No, you left me to die?" She sat up and held her side, leaning over in slight pain, but any pain to her was intense. "You should have let me die," she said meekly.

Corrim shook his head, he looked away for a moment then looked back to her and smiled. "You told me when you gave me the means to detect you with a blood test. I admit I merely suspected when I pulled you out of that cell. The blood on the floor it had been separated from you for some time, but it was still blood." He turned to a drawer and opened it. "If that weren't enough, your clothes still have blood on them, the clothing itself didn't shift back to your real form. The dermal regenerator was the final clue."

She was still shaking her head. She would have been able to deduce all that before. Being a humanoid had made her lose her edge. She said, not really in response to anything he said, "Ok?" She slowly pushed off the bed and rose to a standing position. She balanced herself, still holding on to the edge of the bed. She began walking to the door as she said, "I think I'll go lay down in my room for a little while." She didn't realize what she had said. She had stayed there before, then had promptly left while he slept. When she got to the doorway, she turned around and looked at him. It was reminiscent of the last time he had seen her before running into her on Andoria, but this time, she wasn't running away, being lost in a crowd. She said softly, "Thank you."

She wasn't acting like the Zora he knew, though she had fooled him in the past. He didn't think this was the same though. Her condition was traumatic for her, that much was certain. Had he done this to her" Should he be feeling guilty' Those were questions he would eventually answer, right now he knew that no this wasn't his doing beyond leaving her behind when he'd promised to get her out. He watched her walk away unsteadily, she'd get used to how her muscles worked soon enough. Maybe he did feel guilty, but it was over breaking his promise to her. "Of course, my dear.?

Zora walked to the bedroom and looked around. Everything was just as she had left it, though she hadn't disturbed it much. She sighed and began to settle herself in. Unlike before, she would be staying awhile.

When she awoke, she was happy to feel so weak that she didn't even think she had the energy to crawl to get food. After a day and a half, she was forced to eat just enough to make the headache and nausea go away. If she thought she was in a continual state of pain before, nothing prepared her for the pain of that headache. She thought she was going to die from the pain, but it was taking too long in killing her. She went on like that for over a week, only eating when the pains became too great, hoping that eventually the body would waste away around her, like she had wasted away on the inside. Corrim eyed her coldly. "You obviously don't have to, but right now I doubt you could take a noseless Caprezian by surprise." The species had no eyes to see with, or olfactory membranes, having evolved to see on an entirely different spectrum. "Let alone fend one off if you tried." She looked as bad as she smelled, and not all of that was due to the unkempt hair and pallid features. She was going gaunt and hollow cheeked. It was only this that clued him into her true desires. It was this weakened state that had him moving now. His size, coupled with the seeming age of the Cardassian belied his speed. Without so much as a warning he cleared the distance between them. His open hand clamped onto her throat, catching her up and pinning her against the wall. "I get it Zora, you hate this life, you want it gone." The words spilled from his mouth like poison from a snake's bite. "But I'm not going to let you kill yourself. I certainly didn't save you so that you could die by your own hand. Not when my own will be much more satisfying." Slowly his fingertips tightened, a five pointed vice on her throat. He stepped into her, the muscles in arm and shoulder tightening as he lifted Zora from the floor, keeping her pinned to the bulkhead.

Corrim's hand tightened even more, then it disappeared altogether in a flash of reflex that had him letting go and turning away from her to let gravity take care of the rest. "But, I've changed my mind. You're no longer worthy to be destroyed by me. Look at you, a skeletal reflection of the woman I?" He didn't finish, that would give too much away to her. "Clean yourself up! Figure out how to bring back some small part of who you are. I'll be more than happy to kill you, when there's some challenge to it. If ever you have that in you again." He didn't bother to look at her, knowing that his own self-loathing for the things he was saying and doing would be evident on his face. "Until then, we have work to do." After collapsing onto the floor, Zora gasped and coughed while rubbing her neck. Her head still pounding, she could do nothing but keep her head low. Pulling her arm away to look at it, she saw what he had meant. She was a shell of the woman that he had known, the being that she once was. But she was better than this. If the humanoids could sustain their limited lives in these defeated bodies, she should be able to thrive. She *would* thrive, as soon as she rested long enough to be able to get herself up. Corrim's glance over his shoulder was brief. Enough to ascertain that she was moving, if slowly. There was nothing more to say, to try would be to risk what had been accomplished. He couldn't apologize, or show any kind of regret for treating Zora harshly. His hand went to the door panel, and he thumbed the button to open it. He was barely able to keep his own shaking hand under control, a fact that had him give a derisive grunt. It was centered at himself, however it was perceived by Zora he wouldn't know because he was out into the corridor before the thing had finished opening.