The BLTS Archive- Betazed Has Fallen
by Vicki L. Reid

---

Lt. Commander Worf of the Federation space station, Deep Space Nine,
entered the Ward Room with trepidation in his soul. Something was
wrong. Something was very wrong. But what he did not know. Moving to
stand beside his mate, the Trill science officer of the station,
Jadzia Dax, Worf watched as Captain Sisko posted the latest Federation
casualty list of their war with the Dominion. Quickly perusing the
list, the Klingon's rage was ignited by one word on roster of the
dead, lost, and missing.

Clenching his jaw tightly to keep from roaring at the pain and fear in
his heart, Worf growled angrily, "Betazed has fallen to the Dominion."

Although Worf attempted to keep the rage from his voice, he knew he
had failed by the worried glance exchanged by Jadzia and Sisko.  Both
were knowledgeable enough about him to know that if he were seriously
enraged, he would be capable of anything, including trying to take on
the Dominion on his own. Dax touched his arm silently, and Worf knew
she had to be wondering why he was so very angry when Betazed was of
no real military importance.

Worf looked down at her, fear uppermost in his eyes.  Although he
gazed into Jadzia's green eyes, the Klingon saw instead a pair of
glowing ebony eyes.  His heart screamed out to his love in an agony of
fear tinged with rage and frustration. *'Iw tIqwIj!* But there was no
answer.  There had not been an answer since his mating with Jadzia.

For the first time since their impromptu mating of several months
before, Worf gave no thought to hiding his feelings from his mate,
giving Jadzia the idea that her rival for Worf's love was very much
alive.  Or at least she had been.  Worf shook off her hand and strode
out of the Ward Room without comprehending completely the sadness in
Jadzia's eyes as she began to fear that soon he would leave for good.

For hours after learning of the invasion, Worf performed his duty in
an exemplary manner, but how he did not know. In his mind's eye, he
saw an exquisitely beautiful face with dark eyes and delicate features
framed by long, raven tresses which had often curled themselves around
his fingers. A face he knew--and loved--well. *Betazed has fallen,*
the dirge repeated again and again in his mind. *Betazed has fallen.*

At the end of his duty shift, Worf entered the quarters he shared with
his wife. Relieved that Jadzia was not present, he strode toward the
computer terminal purposefully. And stopped abruptly. A voice deep
inside his soul told him to leave her alone; she would not want to
hear from him. Not now when the invasion of her homeworld would make
her extremely vulnerable. Perhaps not ever again.

Another voice urged him to reach out as a friend, who had lived
through a similar experience. They had been friends once, but that was
long, long ago. Before his betrayal of their love. Before his
marriage.

For the better part of an hour, Worf stared at the viewscreen,
debating on which voice to heed. Finally, taking a deep breath, the
Klingon made his decision, knowing full well it was selfish, and would
in all likelihood cause her no end of pain and suffering. But he had
to know whether she lived or had died in defense of her planet.
"Computer," he asked, "what is the current location of the Federation
Starship Enterprise-E?"

"The Enterprise-E is in orbit around the planet Betazed," the computer
intoned impersonally, completely unaware that Worf's universe just
shattered into pieces at his feet.

"No," he growled, unable to accept even the possibility that she was
gone, lost to him forever. Rising to his feet, Worf howled his grief
to the universe, shaking the sturdy walls of his quarters with the
sound.

"Enterprise-E updated location," the computer intoned again. "The
Enterprise-E is heading toward a rendevous with other Federation
Starships in the Omicron Sector."

Heart pounding erratically in his chest, Worf crashed down into the
chair in front of the viewscreen. With one shaking hand, he entered
the proper codes to contact the Enterprise-E and Commander Deanna
Troi.

---

*Betazed has fallen,* Deanna Troi thought incredulously.

*Don't worry so much, Little One,* Lwaxana Troi replied. *The Dominion
may have overpowered our planetary defenses, but they will never
overpower the Betazoid overmind. We shall prevail.*

Turning to face her mother who held her younger brother in her arms,
Deanna touched his downy hair with gentle fingers. "I'm just glad we
got the two of you off the planet, Mother," she said, sadness still
tinging her voice.

"So am I," Lwaxana answered with a very maternal smile. "At least for
his sake. For myself, I should have remained behind. It was my duty as
a daughter of the Fifth House."

Now it was Deanna's turn to smile. "You can do more good for Betazed
if you are not in the Dominion's hands, Mother."

When her little brother began to cry, Deanna urged, "Go back to your
quarters, Mother. I'll be fine. As long as you and the Littlest One
are well, I am content."

Lwaxana eyed her daughter with concern. "Content only, Deanna?" she
asked. "Why only content? Why not happy?" When Deanna made no reply,
she added angrily, "It's because of Worf, isn't it?"

"Mother," Deanna answered, the warning clear in her voice. "I do not
wish to discuss Worf--or his wife--with you."

The youngest son of the Fifth House of Betazed gave another angry cry.
Deanna fairly pushed the two of them out the door. "I am fine,
Mother," she assured the older woman. "Now take care of your son."

For several long minutes after her mother left, Deanna stared out the
viewport of her quarters, watching the stars race by in long streamers
of white fire. *Worf,* she thought to herself. *What happened to us?
Why did you give up so easily?* But her questions remained unanswered
just as they always had from the moment she learned of his impending
marriage. Somehow she had thought that once the Klingon threat to the
station was over, Worf would return to the Enterprise-E--and her. But
instead he had chosen to remain on Deep Space Nine, becoming involved
with the station's Trill science officer. Every time Deanna  thought
of Jadzia Dax, she felt a slow rage begin to build in her soul. A rage
that threatened to destroy her. But the Trill was not the focus of her
anger, Worf was. His betrayal of their love was a constant dagger in
her heart.

When the computer terminal bleeped its announcement of a caller,
Deanna's thoughts were still on Worf--and his wife. Although she would
rather ignore the  caller, Troi feared it might be important news of
Betazed. In her gentle voice, she said, "Computer, access the call."

"Worf," she breathed, face growing still and hard as she caught sight
of the caller's image on the viewscreen.

"Deanna," he said simply, the tone of his voice almost caressing her
soul. "I called as soon as I heard."

"Betazed has fallen," Deanna said, tears filling her luminous eyes.
"Worf, Betazed has fallen."

Reaching out toward the woman he loved with every fiber of his being,
Worf touched the viewscreen with one hand. "I know, tIqqoch," he said
softly. "I was afraid . . ."

Deanna's fingers touched the screen, almost as if she could touch
Worf's. "I'm fine, Worf," she assured him. "We rescued Mother and my
little brother just before the Jem'Hadar arrived. Everyone is fine."

Worf shook his head. "You are not, Deanna," he said, eyes narrowing in
concern. "You are too pale and . . ."

"Don't, Worf," she interrupted hotly. Eyes hardening into black
obsidian, she continued, "My appearance is none of your concern. My
life is none of your concern."

"Deanna," he pleaded. "Please hear me out. I care about you."

*Liar!* she cried out in her mind, even though she said nothing aloud.
*How could you, Worf? How could you betray me? You, of all people?*

Stunned by the impact of Deanna's words in his mind, Worf stuttered,
"I am sorry, tIqwIj. I was a fool to betray you with Jadzia. Once
done, I had no choice but to wed her."

Realizing the seemingly tenuous bond between them was stronger than
she had deemed possible, Deanna said sadly, "I expected this sort of
thing with Will, but not with you, Worf. I trusted you as I had never
trusted before." Tears spilled from her eyes, flowing down her cheeks
in small rivulets. "How could you, Worf?"

Even across the light years that separated them, Deanna sensed that
Worf wanted to gather her in his arms, cradling her against his chest,
as he kissed her tears away.  But both knew that this was an
impossible dream.  When a pair of masculine hands closed on her
shoulders almost possessively, Deanna could feel Worf's jealousy
ignite, as he seemed to instinctively know who those hands belonged
to.

"Commander," he grated. "I was worried about Deanna when I heard the
news about Betazed."

Leaning down to gaze into the viewscreen imager, Will Riker grinned at
the Klingon. "Don't worry, Worf," he assured his old friend, "I'll
watch out for Deanna." Dropping a possessive kiss on her cheek, he
added, "Won't I, Imzadi?"

Bristling with obvious jealousy as he watched the byplay between the
two former lovers with growing approbation, Worf sighed deeply. 
Deanna watched as he came to the realization that he had no right to
care about her lovers--past, present, or future.  He had given up that
right the day he wed Jadzia--the day he threw their love away.  "You
are obviously in good hands, Deanna," he growled, unable to keep the
growing anger from his voice.  "I will trouble you no longer." 
Looking directly into Riker's smiling blue eyes, he grated, "Do not
hurt her, Commander.  Or I will feed you your still beating heart."

Without another word Worf terminated the connection. Deanna's tears
still flowed as she gazed up into Riker's face. "How did you know?"

"That you needed me?" he smiled gently. "I saw that there was a
transmission to your quarters from Deep Space Nine. I figured it was
Worf."

"How could he, Will?" she sobbed, as Riker pulled her into his arms.

"I have no idea, Deanna," he answered sadly. "I never dreamed Worf
would treat you worse than I did. Or that he'd have the nerve to
contact you at this late date."

Drawing some small comfort from Riker's embrace, Deanna murmured, "Why
did you make Worf think we're together now?"

"Just rattling his cage a little," Will grinned. The smiled faded. "I
don't want him bothering you anymore, Deanna. Just look at you. One
communication from Worf, and you're in tears. I won't have it. I won't
let him hurt you anymore."

Smiling through her tears, Troi asked with a faint grin, "Who made you
my keeper, Will?"

Riker shrugged with a broad grin. "What's a brother for, Deanna, if
not to protect his little sister from the big, bad Klingon?"

---

Worf flung one boot against the bedroom wall, savoring the loud thunk
the inoffensive boot made as it hit the wall. The second boot followed
with a resounding kerthunk. Knowing he had no rights to Deanna's
personal life, Worf nonetheless hated the fact that she had found
comfort in Will Riker's arms. As he strode back and forth in the small
confines of his quarters, Worf came to the realization that by
entering into this marriage where love was one-sided at best, he had
harmed more than himself. In his attempt to do the honorable thing, he
had hurt both Jadzia and Deanna. Jadzia deserved a mate who could love
her unreservedly--as he loved Deanna.

And now he was trapped for Worf could never bring himself to destroy
the love in Jadzia's heart as he had Deanna's. Although Deanna Troi
was his tIqqoch, his soulmate, he could never again hold her in his
arms as he felt their hearts beat as one. Never again would he feel
her lips tremble under his passionate kiss. Never again would he taste
her blood--the blood which still sang in his soul. Never again. Not
while Jadzia Dax lived.

---

The End