TNG - Dark Passions Vol 2

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2024-12-14 1 0 268.42KB 141 页 5.9玖币
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CHAPTER 1
FOR THE FIRST TIME, Deanna Troi was uncomfortable on the bridge of the Negh'Var,
the
flagship of the Alliance Armada. Next to her, Regent Worf reclined on his
imposing command
chair. The rest of the Klingon crew stood at their stations around the long
narrow bridge.
Troi didn't have a station. As Intendant of Betazed, she wasn't officially part
of the
Negh'Var's crew. Instead, she preferred to stand near the support beams directly
to Worf's
left, close enough that he could speak to her privately or she could make
suggestions. The
bridge was darkened except for the display panels, so she was shadowed and thus
could
observe the officers.
But her joy at being by her Imzadi was ruined by the presence of Kira Nerys.
Troi had never
imagined Kira would join them on the Negh'Var.
When Worf had heard that the new Overseer was making a grand tour of the
shipping lines
through the former Terran Empire, he changed course to intercept Kira's
starship. He
insisted he must observe her activities. Troi couldn't argue with that.
Yet within days of meeting up with the Siren's Song, Kira's ship was docked in
the largest
launching bay on board the Negh'Var At eight decks high, the Siren's Song was
really too big
for the cavernous bay, but somehow Kira had wedged it in there. One morning Troi
woke up and
found that Kira had moved her crew, staff, and slaves into quarters on the
Negh'Var She did
not appear to be in any hurry to leave.
Kira had even appropriated a spot on the bridge directly opposite from Troi, on
the other
side of Worf. Whenever Troi looked at Worf, she couldn't help but see Kira, her
short red
hair incongruous on the somber bridge. It was galling to be outflanked on her
own ship. Kira
had been nothing but a nuisance since she had become Overseer.
Troi's last attempt at getting rid of Kira had been destroyed by the death of
Winn Adami.
She wasn't sure who had killed Winn. The only evidence was a Klingon knife. But
Troi
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suspected that Kira had something to do with it. Kira didn't try to hide her
satisfaction
that her political rival on Bajor was gone.
Suddenly Kira laughed out loud, making a comment about the Dohlman of Elas to
Worf. "She
acts like a painted replica!" Troi sensed sexual overtones in Kira's use of the
word
"replica." It made Troi narrow her eyes while Worf grunted in amusement. A
moment ago he had
been irritated because the young Dohlman of Elas was resisting his demands for
additional
vessels to accompany the Armada as an "honor guard" through their sector. But
Kira seemed
capable of charming Worf at almost any time.
Troi normally would have been enjoying Worf's display of strength in
appropriating the
Dohlman's vessels. But instead, she hardly paid attention as double disruptor
beams suddenly
pierced one of the tiny vessels, blowing it up in a burst of blue-orange heat.
Sparkling
debris showered over the bridge dome, reminding Troi of the gorgeous meteor
showers on
Betazed II. She had watched them every night from the cliffs of New Hope while
she had
waited for Worf to return from Bajor last time.
Maybe she was thinking more about the revised plans for New Hope that her
architect had sent
for approval, because Worf's heart wasn't in this confrontation. Much of his
anger had been
drained by the glorious battle against the Romulans in the name of Duras. With
fresh legions
fighting on the front, continuing to press the Romulans back, the victory had
been enough to
assure Duras a place in Sto'Vo'Kor. Worf had then gone to Terok Nor, where Kira
had welcomed
the victorious warriors. After he returned, he had actually been . . . mellow.
Troi yawned as the screen showed the proud Elasian beauty humbling herself and
begging Worf
's forgiveness for the delay. Worf could lay waste to much of the Elasian
territory if he
chose, but Troi sensed his boredom. He was probably thinking, Why bother? Kira
said, "I
suppose this means we'll shift the trade route closer to the Lissepians and
choke the
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Elasians into proper obedience."
Worf agreed, "The Dohlman will learn her place in the Alliance." Without
glancing at Troi,
he ordered, "Change course to the Lissepian sector."
As Worf's crew instantly obeyed their commander, Troi exerted every bit of
empathy she
possessed to sense what Kira was feeling now. The Bajoran was excited by Worf's
display of
power and the destruction of the Elasian vessel. Her fiercely sensual reaction
disturbed
Troi. It was too much like her own emotional rapport with Worf.
Kira was clearly engaged in a rivalry with her for Worf's attention. In many
ways she had
already managed to interfere in their relationship. Just last night, shortly
after Troi had
dismissed Keiko, she and Worf had been interrupted by a request from Kira. Worf
had
disappeared for almost an hour before returning to her bed.
"Sir!" First Officer Koloth announced. "We are receiving a message from the
Groumall,
requesting permission to rendezvous with the Alliance Armada."
"Gul Dukat!" Kira exclaimed, her voice filled with loathing.
The first officer confirmed, "I have the Groumall on long-range sensors."
'Tell him to get lost," Kira said with a wave of her hand. "Who wants him
around?" Worf
frowned, pulling thoughtfully on his beard.
Troi felt a quickening of hope. Worf had fallen into the habit of doing whatever
Kira
suggested. But this time, he clearly thought it wiser to not offend a fellow
Alliance
member. From the way he glanced at Kira, he also didn't like her arrogant
assumption that he
would do whatever she said.
"Request granted," Worf told his first officer.
"But what about the festival you've been planning?" Kira asked sweetly. "Dukat
will ruin
it."
Worf clearly had not considered the Kot'Baval Festival, but he almost never
rescinded an
order. He slumped deeper in his chair, scowling. But Kira laughed and shrugged
it off. "Who
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knows? Maybe Dukat will get drunk and turn out to be the life of the party."
Troi could tell that Kira really didn't care about Dukat joining them. Her
objection had
been as fleeting as her other desires. Troi found that flightiness difficult to
understand.
As an empath, she was accustomed to judging actions according to people's
emotional
motivation. But Kira used her feelings as a playground. Emotions were called up
and romped
around, but nothing was taken seriously. Troi didn't know what was important to
Kira, but
she was certainly determined to find out. If she didn't do something fast, Kira
could
fascinate Worf beyond Troi's powers to combat.
The Kot'Baval Festival celebrated the ancient victory of Molar the Unforgettable
over
Kahless. Worf and one of his strongest warriors re-enacted the
fifteen-hundred-year-old
ritual of Kahless attacking Molar with a strange new weapon called the bat'leth.
Molar, with
his superior strength, wrested the weapon from Kahless and slew the contender
for his claim
to the Klingon Empire.
Troi's mood was lifted by the high spirits of the Klingon crew, but having seen
this
particular ritual enacted many times before, she was not really moved. Even with
the blade
singing through the air, passing within a hairsbreadth of Worf's chest, she was
hardly
concerned. She knew exactly which move Worf would make to parry the thrust and
wrest the
bat'leth away. She liked things raw and unpredictable, but Worf cherished his
rituals.
Now that the battle had been completed, Worf was at the front of the hall,
drinking and
talking loudly among his warriors. Both men and women butted their heads in
merry disregard
for their skulls. The smell of sweat and leather competed with the swirling
smoke from the
lanterns. For a moment, Troi forgot they were on a starship.
The few non-Klingon guests seemed out of place, clearly lacking Troi's unique
ability to
meld into any situation. Kira Nerys was drinking with the second officer, while
her Terran
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slave solemnly surveyed the riotous crew. A few male Rutians, with their
distinctive white
streaks of hair, gathered to one side of the hall. They drank large flagons of
bloodwine,
and seemed to be handling the intoxicant well.
The most unusual presence in the great hall of the flagship was Gul Dukat and
his aides.
Troi vividly remembered Dukat's reaction at the Alliance gathering when Kira was
named
Overseer of the fallen Terran Empire. His outrage and sense of betrayal had been
palpable,
though he hardly moved a muscle. Troi had been pleasantly surprised by his
reaction. It was
not often that Cardassians revealed themselves so clearly. Their deceptive
natures led them
to hide their most cherished desires even from themselves. It was the ultimate
way to keep
their enemies from discovering their weak points.
So Troi was pleased that Gul Dukat had joined them for the Kot'Baval Festival.
Dukat
certainly acted like an ally rather than an enemy. His pleasant smile and gently
clasped
fingers betrayed nothing but polite interest in the ritual. His face was a pale
greenish-gray spot among the dark Klingons, and the crew instinctively avoided
the table
where the Cardassians were seated.
Kira came toward Troi laughing, the effects of the bloodwine clear in her step.
But even
tipsy, she managed to look seductive with her knowing smile and swaying hips.
Kira wore a
black skin-suit, similar to the Klingon uniform Troi preferred. So Troi had
begun wearing
dresses to avoid comparisons. Worf had complimented her on her vibrant blue
dress, cut to a
deep V over one breast. He had encircled her waist with his hands, lifting her
for a kiss.
As he swung her around, her hair had loosened and came tumbling down around her
shoulders.
He insisted she leave the long dark curls free, gently kissing one tress before
leaving the
privacy of their quarters.
Feeling smug, Troi allowed Kira to approach. The Bajoran had been drinking quite
a bit and
would perhaps reveal more than she intended.
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"Come on, Seven!" Kira called teasingly. Turning to Troi, she added, "She's
afraid of you.
Afraid you'll read her mind ." "Sorry to disappoint you," Troi told both Kira
and the
statuesque blond Terran. "But I'm not telepathic ." "Maybe not," Kira agreed.
"But everyone
says you know what people think." She grabbed Seven's hand and pulled her even
closer to
Troi. "I bet you can't figure out Seven...' Troi was offended. "She's your
Terran slave"
"No!" Kira laughed out loud, drawing attention to them. "Seven's a Free-Terran."
Troi considered Seven in spite of herself. Her own concealed half-Terran
heritage usually
made her avoid the few Free-Terrans she encountered. At a glance, she could tell
this woman
was unique. She was quite tall, and dressed for the occasion in a Cardassian
military
uniform. The strong diagonal lines made a dramatic counterpoint to her serene
expression.
Her attitude was good-her hands were clasped behind her back and her boots
spread as if she
was poised to defend herself. Troi could sense a touch of inner uneasiness,
though her full
lips never trembled. When they began to receive more attention from the
boisterous Klingons,
Troi got the impression that Seven was always this self-possessed. Several of
the Klingons
were suggesting, not so quietly, what they could do with a woman like Seven. But
the Terran
ignored them.
"She's not what she seems," Troi said briefly.
"That's amazing!" Kira exclaimed. "You're right. Seven may look Terran, but she
was raised
as a Cardassian. I was talking to Gul Dukat over there." She jerked a thumb in
his
direction. In response, he stood up and began to approach. "He knows the family
Seven used
to live with. Ghemor is on the Detapa Council now."
"What are you doing so far from Cardassia?" Troi politely asked Seven.
"Nerys invited me to come with her on the tour," Seven replied.
Kira let out an unapologetic yawn as she languorously stretched. "And now it's
time to
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leave. Come on, my dear. The company around here is not to my taste." This last
was said
with a glance over her shoulder at the approaching Gul Dukat.
Kira glided away before Dukat reached them, swinging her hips in suggestive
appeal. Seven
supported her arm, staunchly clearing a way through the staggering Klingons.
Troi felt no
animosity from Kira. There was nothing but curiosity and, after Troi's
assessment of Seven,
admiration for her empathic skill.
Gul Dukat arrived in time to look after Kira's retreating form. His eye ridges
were drawn in
displeasure. Troi was reminded of that unguarded moment at the Alliance
gathering when his
emotions ran strong.
"You are distressed," Troi quietly said.
"No." Dukat quickly covered his momentary lapse of attention with a cordial
smile.
"It's natural for you to feel betrayed," Troi assured him. "First Kira seized
the
Intendant's post without your approval, and now she has taken the Overseer's
position from
you." "I was her commanding officer," Dukat said by way of explanation. His
urbane demeanor
belied his warrior's armor, and she wondered if he was a good fighter. Assessing
him
quickly, she decided that though he was imposing and physically well formed, his
temperament
was compelled toward covert manipulation rather than hand-to-hand combat.
Troi ventured a light laugh. "Perhaps you and Kira were closer than fellow
officers ." Now
his smile grew cold. "Not likely."
Troi was tempted to push this line of questioning, feeling his response despite
his negative
reply. He did feel an attraction for Kira, perhaps even tenderness. Unusual for
a xenophobic
Cardassian.
But before Troi could continue, Dukat gestured. "Look at her with the Regent."
Troi slowly turned, having steeled herself to never reveal her jealousy. That
would be her
undoing. Yet she knew that she was going to be sorely tested.
Kira was leaning on Worf's arm, her curvaceous body bumping into him as she
laughed. Worf
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supported her when she nearly collapsed in mirth, while he tossed back his head
and joined
in. Troi so rarely saw Worf laugh, and it made her nervous. He was off his guard
tonight,
and she knew Kira had something to do with it. The Bajoran certainly was vital,
with her
unruly red curls barely contained by a new silver foil headband. And she held on
to Worf so
tightly- "She flatters men," Dukat was saying bitterly. "She makes them want
her, love her,
do anything for her. Ironic considering she has always longed for a partner who
was stronger
than herself."
"Oh?" Troi said, startled from her observation. Could it be true? Was that what
Kira wanted?
"Perhaps that blond Terran will finally satisfy her." Dukat almost choked with
resentment.
Troi gave Seven another look. She was waiting near Kira, an island of reserve in
the midst
of the boisterous company. The Cardassian uniform seemed incongruous on a
Terran.
"Perhaps.' Troi didn't believe that such an aloof young woman could control Kira
Nerys. "I
don't understand why you're concerned after the way she betrayed you" "Becoming
Overseer is
one thing ." Dukat was still watching Kira as she slowly detached herself from
Worf. She
managed to touch him even more as she said good night. "Holding the post is
another."
Troi finally began to smile, turning her full attention to Dukat as Kira left
Worf alone.
"Perhaps we have more in common than I realized" An eagerness quickened his eye.
"There are
many who are not pleased with the current situation."
Troi gestured for him to follow her. "Come, let's go where we can talk. . . .'
CHAPTER 2
KIRA NERYS NEVER lost sight of the fact that Deanna Troi had conspired with Winn
Adami to
have her killed. Troi had promised to make Winn the Intendant of Bajor after
Kira was dead.
Kira's primary reason for this "extended tour of her responsibilities" was to
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neutralize the
threat posed by Deanna Troi. Kira believed the Betazoid's power rested on her
relationship
with Worf. But supplanting Troi was turning out to be more difficult than Kira
had assumed
it would be.
Kira didn't want to alert the empath that she knew about the assassination
attempt, so she
did her best to forget about it. Troi wouldn't dare make a move against her
while she was on
board the Negh'Var. So Kira channeled her preoccupation with Troi into
curiosity, not
bothering to hide her admiration for the elegant woman.
Yet she was continually alert for a weakness in Troi that she could exploit.
Anyway, how could she resent Troi's interference in her life when it had given
her Seven?
Kira found it highly gratifying to know that she had thwarted an assassination
attempt
simply through her personal charms. Seven was obviously devoted. It was
intoxicating.
All in all, Kira was having a delightful time as Overseer. She loved the way the
leaders and
officials of every system jumped when she crooked her finger. A few of the
Intendants had
been sulky or downright hostile, but most understood their place and were
overzealous in
trying to please her. Kira made sure everyone knew what she wanted, and severely
punished
those who didn't satisfy her. They gave her presents and bribes until she was
afraid the
Siren's Song wouldn't be able to carry everything back to Bajor. Her quarters on
board the
Negh'Var were hung with precious fabrics and art, and decorated with objects
made of rare
gems, metals, and crystals. Spices were burned to fill the chambers with
soothing scents,
each gram worth its weight in latinum.
Her quarters were so sublime that at first she didn't want to leave them. She
knew the
Regent probably had surveillance on her, and likely Troi had her own system of
watching her
movements. Kira wasn't used to being watched, and she found it exciting in a
subversive kind
of way.
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But Kira was beginning to wonder when Troi would react. Worf clearly enjoyed her
company.
Kira took every opportunity to try to lighten his mood after she realized that
Deanna Troi
had no sense of humor. Apparently it was working, because the Klingon crew was
growing more
respectful toward her by the day. That was as unlikely, in her opinion, as a
Cardassian
being honest.
She had even delighted in teasing Gul Dukat at the Kot'Baval Festival by
parading Seven
around in a Cardassian Gul's uniform. Surely that would get back to Ghemor and
the Detapa
Council.
Seven was proving to be quite an asset. When Kira's staff had become hopelessly
mired in the
details of the Overseer's duties, Seven had stepped in and sorted things out.
She was quite
bright, really, and Kira had gratefully handed over most of the day-to-day
duties.
That meant Kira was able to concentrate on the problem of Troi. Every morning,
she
downloaded the Negh'Var's general orders to see what was new. Troi routinely
involved
herself in running the Negh'Var, including giving orders to the first officer.
Troi was also
far more deeply entrenched in Worf's duties as Regent than Kira had anticipated.
That would
make it more difficult to remove her from his life. But Kira was confident she
would win
Worf over if she persevered.
So one day, after some midmorning refreshment, the slaves were dressing Kira as
she flicked
through the daily orders on her padd. A request caught her eye concerning shore
leave on
Risa. Who wouldn't be curious about the infamous pleasure resort of the fallen
Terran
Empire? It had been preserved by the Alliance and was kept stocked with the best
luxury
services and items.
Risa was known throughout the quadrant as the premier planet for shore leave.
Now that she thought about it, Kira wouldn't mind visiting Risa. There was no
real need for
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摘要：

-CHAPTER1FORTHEFIRSTTIME,DeannaTroiwasuncomfortableonthebridgeoftheNegh'Var,theflagshipoftheAllianceArmada.Nexttoher,RegentWorfreclinedonhisimposingcommandchair.TherestoftheKlingoncrewstoodattheirstationsaroundthelongnarrowbridge.Troididn'thaveastation.AsIntendantofBetazed,shewasn'tofficiallypartoft...

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