Chapter Text
The Intendant was relaxing in her Roman inspired bathhouse with her playmates when a messenger arrived. It was so steamy she could barely see him at first. He turned his nose up at the strong scent of perfumes. There was dried petals in the water almost like those bathing were steeping themselves in tea. She knew she wouldn't like whatever he had to say by his simpering demeanor. She snapped her fingers and a servant covered her with a warmed towel as she exited the luxurious water. Interrupting bath time was almost as bad as interrupting sex so she was already inconvenienced.
"What?"
"The Emperor wants an audience," was all the little man needed to say.
She hurried to slip on something modest yet sexy before she took the most powerful man in the galaxy's call. She could never be too confident she was in his good graces.
"Your Imperial Majesty," she addressed him but didn't bow or curtsey as a test.
Emperor Worf snarled in approval, "Intendant, it has been too long since I visited Terok Nor."
"Indeed," she grinned.
Only she could get away with not groveling to him. He found her mild defiance refreshing and she had shown him plenty of submission in the bedroom to make up for it. Klingons liked their women to make a show of strength and dominance only to strip it from them during mating. That was ultimate victory for them: Subduing women. Typical of the male species.
"This is not a call for pleasure, though, is it?"
"Disappointed, are we?"
"I serve my emperor," she said, "as best as I can."
"That is good to hear. Now you must honor your words. We have retaken Empok Nor from the Terrans. You have experience commanding such space stations. You are the obvious choice to oversee the establishment of order there."
"Sounds simple enough, your majesty. Too simple. What's the catch?"
"A Cardassian presence is required there alongside a Bajoran one."
"Who will represent the Cardassians?" she dreaded the answer.
"Legate Dukat."
With that announcement, it took every ounce of self control in her body not to rage. Of course it would have to be him!
"Couldn't you merely send him and leave me out of this?" she couldn't help herself. "Am I to abandon Terok Nor? I have duties here that you assigned me yourself, need I remind you?"
"Need I remind you that I am Emperor?" his tone sounded dangerous. "This is temporary. The people on your station shouldn't mutiny in a day if you rule correctly. We are an alliance, Klingon, Cardassian, and Bajoran. That must be made clear. In space, we work together."
"I am your slave, your majesty," she reassured him. "I am merely concerned about the time away from here and the choice of Cardassian. I don't mind working with most others. You know that. I have plenty on this station. The Legate has lost stations in the past. This very one, to me, in fact! Will my time on Empok Nor be indefinite?"
"That depends on you and the Legate. I am aware of his history. That simply means he ruled that station for a long while successfully before you took over."
She nodded stiffly.
"When will you grace us with your presence again?" she tried to soften him and keep the conversation from ending on a sour note. "Perhaps after this task is complete?"
"It is more likely I will next see you at Empok Nor to witness how efficient you are."
She pouted, "I want you all to myself."
"If I am satisfied by what I see, I'll escort you back to Terok Nor and reward you."
"Oh, I can't wait!"
"Until then..."
Emperor Worf's face faded from the screen and it reverted back into a window. The Intendant took a breath.
"Ziyal, are you there?"
"Yes," the hybrid girl was at her side promptly.
"I suppose I'll have to leave Ezri in charge."
"Will she be able to keep order without you?"
"She's led mercenary groups before, has the wisdom of multiple life times and my love. She's a Trill but if anyone crosses her, they must know they cross me. Upon my return, I'll deal with them if she hasn't already."
"Can you trust her not to seize the station herself?"
"She couldn't keep it without my backing. If she somehow betrayed me, I'd denounce her. My servants would kill her. Otherwise the Alliance would. She's not stupid!"
Ziyal didn't look convinced.
"You know I wish I could leave you in charge," the Intendant stroked her cheek.
"You can't and we both know it. I'm a hybrid you have to cloister away. But I am going with you."
"You should stay with Ezri."
"No. My father is on that station."
"That's exactly why you shouldn't be there!"
"Who will protect you from him?"
"The main reason I ousted him was to protect you! Revenge and power was secondary!"
"And I love you for it. But I'm a woman now. He should see that for himself."
"It would be priceless to see the look on his face," the Intendant nearly squealed. "Normally I wouldn't be so careful and I'd do anything to spite him. But is there something else wrong? You really don't like Ezri?"
"She's not you."
"Don't flatter me to distract me, girl! You don't like my newest lover any more than Garak did! Don't tell me you agreed with that loathsome reptile!"
"Garak was sincerely acting as your advisor when he said to watch that one. She got her spotted claws in you so quick-"
"You have been wrong before. You liked Bareil and look how that turned out! You were the one that scouted out Ezri for me!"
"As a playmate! She managed to fool me into thinking she was merely an adorable young girl. If I had known you would take her as an equal consort-"
"Now you really do sound like Garak!" the Intendant rolled her eyes. "I thought the two of you would become good friends!"
"So did I. You are right. I've been off the mark about many things lately. I used to have good instincts about people."
"I think you are jealous. I have less time for you when I'm with Ezri. What are you going to do with your hara cat?"
"Plenty of the servants love Mia. She will be fed, watered, and groomed. She'll miss me, but she knows I'd never really leave her."
The Intendant shook her head.
"My father is on that station," Ziyal repeated through gritted teeth. "If I want to confront him, that should be reason enough."
The Bajoran woman gazed at the hybrid for a long spell and finally nodded. She would never say it aloud, but she needed the girl's support.