The Battle of Betazed - Charlotte Douglas [40]
The patrol leader frowned but held his fire. Perhaps he saw no glory for the Founders in vaporizing two dullards and a couple of women, although Deanna sensed his willingness to kill them all where they stood.
“What’s in the bundle?” He pointed to Data’s back.
With the back of her hand, Deanna whacked Data in the ribs and swallowed a grunt of pain at the impact of her hand against his bioplast sheeting. “Hey, idiot. Show this soldier our cavat.”
Falling easily into his simpleton role, Data set the bundle on the road and with irritating slowness, untied the scarf. With the knot free, cavat rolled in every direction.
“Now see what you’ve done,” Deanna yelled and cuffed Data on his ear. “You’ve bruised it, and it won’t be fit to eat.”
Another of the Jem’Hadar approached and poked at the cavat with his rifle. Apparently convinced the vegetable was what it appeared to be, he moved back into his position with the patrol.
“Where do you live in the city?” the leader demanded.
“Near the prison,” Deanna said. “My family and I work as domestics in Director Lanolan’s home and on the grounds.”
She held her breath, wondering if it would be her last or if their charade as a dysfunctional family had convinced the Jem’Hadar they were harmless.
“Next time you venture out,” the Jem’Hadar said with a snarl, “have your ID chips, or we won’t hesitate to shoot you.”
“Yes, sir,” Deanna said meekly. “Thank you, sir. May we go? We want to catch up with our friends.” She motioned to the farmers who had moved quickly ahead on the Jarkana road.
The patrol leader waved them forward. With uncharacteristic clumsiness, Data rebundled the cavat and slung it on his back. Beverly offered Vaughn the support of her arm, and the away team started toward Jarkana as fast as Vaughn’s limping old-man pace would allow. The Jem’Hadar patrol pivoted and headed in the opposite direction into the countryside.
“Nice work, Deanna,” Vaughn said.
“Thanks. I’m sorry, Data, that I had to hit you.”
“The blow was very convincing,” Data said, “but it did not hurt me. I am certain, however, the same cannot be said for you.”
Deanna gingerly massaged her bruised hand. “You give a whole new meaning to the term thick-skinned.”
Beverly flashed her a grin. “You’re quite an actor.”
Data nodded in agreement. “Once this war is ended, you must participate more often in our dramatic presentations. You would make a fine Kate in The Taming of the Shrew.”
Once this war is ended …
Deanna wondered how many of them would live to see that day—or if they would want to if the Jem’Hadar continued to hammer the Federation. She had just experienced a small but extremely unpleasant taste of what living under Dominion rule would be like.
Once the patrol had disappeared, Vaughn straightened and picked up his pace. Soon the away team caught up with the band of farmers headed for market and trailed in their wake. Even at a quick walk, Deanna had time to study the countryside. Much was as she remembered from seventeen years earlier, but here and there among Darona’s rolling fields and efficient farms were blackened swaths of scorched earth where a crop had been burned or a building destroyed, ugly reminders of the Dominion occupation.
If Darona, with only a small garrison of Jem’Hadar, was this scarred, she thought with a sinking heart, what had fifty thousand Jem’Hadar done to Betazed?
Emotions from the group of farmers drifted back to her, with fear the most prevalent, especially in the younger children who had not yet developed the capacity to shield their feelings. Although a few adults laughed and joked among themselves, Deanna sensed their efforts at making the best of a terrifying situation.
Upon nearing the city, both vehicle and foot traffic slowed, and the away team found itself detained at the end of a long line.
“Traffic jam?” Beverly asked.
Data rose on tiptoe to see over the crowd ahead of him. “It is a checkpoint. A Vorta is supervising a group of soldiers searching those entering the city.”
A sudden stillness descended on the crowd.
“No, please,”