Leera Dakora: The Spirit of Betazed (Part 1)
Robin Hopper
((Resistance Cell “Nerve Center”, aka Dakora House Basement – Betazed, Circa 2376))
Betazed was dying. Once, trust and understanding had been the core tenets of their society. Lies were scarce, betrayal was rarely heard of, and cruelty was only ever a reflection of inner turmoil – a malady to be remedied, rather than a way of being. How quickly the conquered had taken to their new role as the paranoid oppressed, ever-wary of the old neighbor who would sell out your family in exchange for a bit more favour with the Founders and their Vorta pets – or even worse, the Cardassians that licked their boots.
It pained Leera to think that the mother world would be scarred beyond recognition, perhaps beyond salvation, and that her children would grow up in a changed galaxy. But, time and again, experience had proven that newcomers meant unknown risks… that fact was the only thing protecting Leera from overwhelming shame at the knowledge that, had her son not been one of the four officers they’d found, she would have left them to fend for themselves.
She wasn’t the only one who struggled to trust these days.
Zarek: You haven't been here long but you already managed to get your hands on a whiteblood weapon?
The Vulcan security officer raised his eyebrow in a characteristically-patronising manner. Leera could sense Talos’ discomfort with the interaction – clearly his men weren’t used to having their legitimacy questioned. Leera hung back, leaning against a wall and allowing them to speak their piece. Nothing she could say at this point would satisfy the others. The officers would have to convince them of their truth on their own.
Savel: I was able to recover it after the Jem'Hadar carrying it fell to his death. It was through no physical achievement of my own.
Zarek: I see ::turning to the rest of the group:: So, that one can get weapons off of dead whitebloods. What're the rest of you bringing to the table?
Chevalier: Right attitude and two pairs of hands capable of handling not just a rifle. Plus a little knowledge of combat chemistry, medicine and engineering, on top of that.
Talos stepped forward, letting himself tower over Zarek, who’s fighting spirit had always outsized his stature.
Dakora: Chevalier managed to kill that enforcer with janitorial chemicals. ::He jabbed a thumb at his chest.:: I’m a former Recon Marine-turned-Starfleet Intel Officer and Z’Vahme here ::A nod toward Z.:: can fly the crap out of anything with engines.
Z'Vahme: Response?
Before Zarek could launch any further inquisition, Talos shut it down with an authority that certainly reinforced his identity as a genuine Starfleet Commander.
Dakora: We could spend all day measuring our tholtrens, if you’d like. Or you could let us get settled in and see where we can help.
There was a pause, as Zarek read the room. Leera could sense as well as he could that everyone else was convinced, at least well enough to accept the help.
Zarek: We'll see if that's good enough. ::looking to Leera:: Hope this isn't a mistake.
Leera: Let’s not break the diamond searching for flaws. ::Turning her gaze to Talos:: I’ll take whatever hope they bring… That said, we need to do something about those uniforms. If the Dominion scopes those within a hundred meters of here, this whole block will be reduced to ash.
Dakora: If possible, could we borrow some clothes? I’d like to get these targets off our backs sooner, rather than later.
Leera glanced at Nieran and gave him a nod. Keeping track of the group’s supplies was his business. These days her house felt more like an emergency bunker than it did a home – though they had done everything they could to keep the upstairs as discreet as possible for the sake of plausible deniability.
Dwayx::With a resigned sigh:: I’m sure we can find something. Come with me.
Dakora: You guys go with Nieran and get changed. I’m going to see if I can figure out what’s next.
Chevalier: What? Yes, sir. ::nods::
Savel: Response?
As the group collected themselves to venture upstairs, Ucron – who’d just finished his service with the PDF when the Dominion struck – pulled the long-haired Vulcan aside… It made sense. They’d managed to pull most of a downed Jem’Hadar transport out of the bay. If they could figure out how to access the flight records, they might be able to pull something useful from it… If they could get it flying again, they might actually have a way to move people without raising the alarm – only, no one in their cell had any experience flying shuttles.
Dwayx: Come on, you lot. Let’s go.
As the other three officers peeled off to their respective tasks, and the excitement of the newcomers faded, everyone returned to their jobs… looking over maps of Dominion activity, decrypting communications between the cells, trying to work out weak points to strike back against the occupiers… Leera steadied herself for what was sure to be one of the most unusual and destabilizing conversations she’d ever had.
Talos let out a long slow breath, which drew her attention to him. He looked about as uncertain as she did, which did little to comfort her.
Dakora: I’m sure you have questions. ::He placed a hand to his chest.:: I know I do. Is there somewhere we can talk?
Sighing, Leera crossed her arms and nodded.
Leera: Yeah. Come with me. I have one more job to do… ::Leading him up the stairs:: …Relieving two of our most valuable people, who are both probably starting to worry.
Dakora: Response?
Leera led him upstairs to the basement door, pushing it open with a bit of effort. The frame had been removed on the interior wall, and a cupboard filled with linens attached to the other side to disguise the entrance. It was sufficient for the odd inspection, but she knew it wouldn’t hold up to any sort of intense scrutiny the way the tunnel entrance would.
The ‘nerve center’ was only ever meant to be a temporary measure. That’s how it had all started really. Leera wasn’t a rebel, she was just a sympathiser. She’d agreed to allow friends of the resistance movement to stay there in times of need, offered them a temporary safe harbour. But as time wore on, and the situation evolved, things had gotten away from her and she’d quickly found herself more deeply embroiled than she’d ever expected. There was no going back now.
Around the corner and down the short hallway, which led to the kitchen, was her office – the only room in the house with a locked door. Leera pulled a necklace from within her jacket, which held a key, and used it to unlock the door with a gentle ‘click’. In the brief moment that passed before she opened it, she brought a warm smile to her face, doing what she could to rekindle the small flame of hope that still burned within her.
((OOC – The following scene / dialogue has been discussed with Talos’ writer in order to avoid powersimming.))
Leera: ::Opening the door:: How are are my two favourite secret agents?
Her sons wrapped her in a tight hug, and she placed an arm around both of them, ruffling Hanek’s wavy hair fondly. A wave of relief washed over her, as it always did, when she came home from an operation and found them waiting for her, safe and sound. Her office was where they would count down the time until she returned, or… if the day came that she didn’t come home, where they stored the backpacks they’d take with them as they left home behind. It was a grim, but necessary plan – and to help explain it, she’d printed them both little badges, identifying them as ‘honorary BIA agents’.
Hanek: Mom! We heard voices in the hall. Talos was scared.
Dakora(10yo): ::To Hanek:: Was not! ::To Leera:: I just missed you. ::Noticing the man with her:: A Starfleet Commander?! Holy Strokes!
Leera: ~~ ::Furrowing her brow:: Talos, you know how I feel about that rude language. ~~
Dakora(10yo): ~~ Sorry. ~~
It felt a little strange, parenting her son, when the man he would grow up to be was standing immediately behind her – but a mother’s prerogatives wouldn’t be sidelined by anything. Not even time travel.
Dakora: Response?
Leera: Little Bear, take your brother and grab some of the leftovers in the fridge. We’ve got a few extra mouths to feed, so we’ll need to stretch the rations – but I want you boys to eat first, alright?
The younger Talos nodded, seemingly in awe at the sight of the man in uniform. It was, after all, a rare sight. The last time anyone on Betazed had seen a living Starfleet Officer was probably nearly two years ago. She gave him a little push out the door, and his brother followed.
Leera: We’ll be out in a minute.
Dakora: Response?
As the boys made their way to the kitchen, still blissfully unaware of the true depth of the trouble facing their world, Leera shut the door behind them, giving the handle a push and twist to lock it. This room was the closest thing to privacy they could hope for, given the number of telepathic resistance members currently filling her basement. Here, they could talk, and hope that the others were distracted enough not to pick up any stray thoughts.
Leera: There… ::Moving across the room and leaning against her bookshelf:: …I hope you have a better idea of what’s going on than I do, because – the Four forgive me – I’m just trying to accept that this isn’t a strange dream. Why are you here? Why now?
Dakora: Response
Leera: Do you… ::Trying to think of a question worth asking:: Do you remember any of this? From when you were a boy?
Dakora: Response
She nodded slowly. She’d done her best to shelter Talos, and especially Hanek, from the harsh realities of the occupation – of the work she’d done for the resistance. It was getting harder, and she had no doubt that both of them had seen and heard things they would never forget; Traumas that could never be truly healed. It broke her heart. But the worst of it was still a distant fog for them, and she hoped to keep it that way as long as possible.
Of course, the other edge of the sword then, was that Talos would have little idea of what was going on out there, beyond the walls of his home and their little village by the sea.
Leera: Alright, then I guess I better fill you in.
She moved to her desk, sliding aside old architectural drawings and uncovering a map of the local area. Taking a pen, she marked a site across the bay.
Leera: Once the Federation’s first attempt to liberate Betazed failed, the Dominion realized our world had an abundance of untapped natural resources to mine, and labour to exploit. Those accused of dissidence, or found guilty of any small crimes, were enlisted in a ‘freedom through work’ program building the ketracel white plants, here.
Dakora: Response
((OOC – Happy to continue backsimming here, feel free to continue the scene as you wish! I’ll post a “Part 2” today jumping ahead to the follow up briefing scene in the basement.))
TBC
