Sandstorm on Dozaria (Indiscretion)
(I used the name Skrain as first name for Dukat. I know it is not mentioned during the series DS 9)
Skrain was amused about being on such a harsh planet with Major Nerys. Because he felt good in the heat while she definitely didn’t. She hid it well, he had to give her that, but her face was red and the short hair stuck to her forehead.
The mission in itself wasn’t amusing at all, but Skrain used Nerys’ discomfort to lighten his own dark mood.
“I am not sure we are going in the right direction.” Nerys stopped and moved her tricorder from left to right. Then she shook it with impatience. “Damn thing, I need a signal!”
“Let us get up there.” Pointing at a hill not too high, Skrain didn’t wait for the Major’s agreement. They would have a better view from up there, even with the technic from the Federation, that was always a good idea.
Concentrating on the ground, since it was sandy and tricky, Skrain only looked up when he had reached the top. Nerys was a few steps behind him. She might struggle with the heat on Dozaria but she was fit enough to keep up with him nonetheless.
In front of them there was nothing except more sand covering more hills. But when he turned, Skrain’s eyes widened. “Fuck.” Behind them, the sky was dark. Not the kind of dark during night, but the kind of dark that promised a storm. A sandstorm. It held a distinct tint of darkness, combined with the sense of dread that spread over the ground.
Major Nerys swore when she saw it. She immediately tapped her communicator. “Kira to shuttle, beam us out.”
The shuttle was closer to the storm, maybe already in the middle of it, but it would be a safer place for them than out here, with no shelter.
Nothing happened.
“Probably interferences.” It wasn’t uncommon for a sandstorm to play havoc on the technology, no matter how advanced and Skrain already scanned their surroundings for at least a bit of cover. While Nerys swore and tried to establish the connection to the shuttle, the air around them got heavier. There was no other word for it, though it wasn’t truly what happened. But it felt heavy, charged. The sky changed colour, not only getting darker but redder, as if it was sending a warning about the incoming storm.
In their vicinity, and nothing further than a few hundred meters was close enough for them to reach before the storm hit, was nothing truly of use. A few small bushes, patches of grass and pebbled areas (they should steer away from them because getting hit by pebbles instead of sand was worse).
There were a few stones, not too small to be carried away by the wind though by far not big enough to truly be a protection. If he was alone, Skrain might curl together where he was standing and simply wait. His skin was thick enough and the heat was no problem. But first, he didn’t know how sandstorms on Dozaria took place and second, Major Nerys wasn’t as equipped for such a weather as he himself was. He might be amused by her discomfort but he didn’t want to get her killed.
“I can’t get a connection.” Nerys lowered the tricorder.
The wind already picked up and brought more heat. And swirled the first grains of sand through the air. They had a few more minutes, tops. “There are some stones, I guess they have to be good enough to protect us against the worst of the storm. We can’t outrun it and we won’t be able to get back to the shuttle in a sandstorm.”
Skrain started walking and strangely enough, Nerys followed without argument. Skrain made sure Nerys didn’t get lost when their vision decreased due to more and more sand. The last few steps to the stones, Skrain grabbed Nerys’ wrist so she wouldn’t accidentally wander in the wrong direction. He didn’t have to tell her to lie down, as soon as she saw the biggest of the rocks, more red than grey in the eerie light, she curled together, her back against the stone and her forehead pressed to her knees.
Within seconds, the Major was covered by a fine layer of red-brown sand. She looked very small and Skrain felt the sudden urge to protect her. Instead of curling together beside her, he lay down, facing Nerys, and curled around her. He was so much bigger, he made a solid wall of cardassian body against the storm.
“Dukat, if you touch me I’ll skin you, sandstorm or not.”
“Major, I’m merely trying to help.” Not a complete lie. “I won’t suffer as much from the storm, it is only sensible that I shield you from it.”
“Fine.” Ground out between clenched teeth. “I’ll skin you if you touch me in any way that is improper.”
Skrain smiled. She was fierce and always so angry, it was fascinating. Scooting as close as possible, Skrain laid his hand over Nerys’ face, to create a small hallow space in front of her mouth with as little sand as possible. It wouldn’t be much help, but maybe just enough to not make this hell. In return, Skrain buried his nose in Nerys hair. That would be no help at all, but her hair felt nice, all soft and light, and it smelled sweet. How utterly delightful, to find out that Nery’s smelled sweet.
Then the storm hit full force. It was hot and sandy and most uncomfortable. The wind tugged on Skrain, the sand rubbed over his skin and the heat burned. He tightened his hold on the Major, because these temperatures couldn’t be good for her. She didn’t protest, which was a bad sign.
It took seemingly forever for the storm to pass. Breathing was difficult and Skrain concentrated on every single breath he took. If he inhaled too fast or too deeply, he’d have to cough and he wanted to avoid that. To distract himself from the unpleasantness of the weather, Skrain paid attention to every movement from Major Nerys. She didn’t move much but he could feel the rise and fall of her chest and now and then she shuffled a bit, just the tiniest bit.
She was small and vulnerable right now, which astonished Skrain because he had never before seen Nerys as either of these two things. Her confidence and persistence compensated for her physique. Well, she was strong and she definitely wasn’t small. But curled against his chest, she was a soft female, smelling slightly sweet and it was such a contrast to her usual appearance that Skrain was amazed by it. He savoured it, all the softness and sweetness. Just for himself. Just because. And maybe to annoy her since she would hate that he had seen her like this. Later, when the storm was over. She’d hate him more for having seen her vulnerable.
It was fine, it would bring another layer of hatred into their relationship, at least from her side. He didn’t hate the Major.
It would also bring another memory in which Skrain had been superior. He was superior right now and Nerys would hate that as well. Which was why he loved it.
The storm ended abruptly, as if someone had simply switched the wind off.
Skrain had expected Nerys to push him away immediately, but she remained lying in the same position. “Major?” Moving his hand away from her face, he touched her shoulder carefully. When he got no answer, he decided to take stock of his own body first.
He rolled onto his back, which hurt but not overly much. His armour had protected him well enough. He stretched his legs and arms. Then he scrambled onto his knees and brushed the sand out of his eyes and his nose. Fuck, it stuck everywhere, even underneath his clothes. Able to open his eyes and to breathe (a little) through his nose, Skrain looked over at the major. She was alive, but her clothes were rubbed thin on a few places and her suit was light brown instead of red.
The sun was out again, yet the air wasn’t as burning hot as it had been during the storm. Funny, that.
“Major Nerys, time to get going.”
Finally, she moved, uncurling on the sand the same as he had done. She sat up, shaking her head to get the sand off, then rubbed over her face. She blinked, eyes red-rimmed and face pale. She coughed, winced, shook her head again. She looked like hell but except for the wince, she didn’t complain. She struggled onto her feet and reached for her water bottle. Not completely steady, Skrain watched her. He wouldn’t catch her should she fall, he would enjoy it too much to see her stumbling and weak.
As soon as she looked at him, he smiled. “You owe me.”
“What?” Voice a bit raspy from the heat and the sand, the confusion was hearable well enough.
“Because I protected you. Probably even saved your life. You owe me.” Skrain would leave no room for misunderstandings. To be able to tell Nerys that, to have her indebted to him, it was delicious.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Outrage now, quite clearly, and Skrain’s smile widened. Oh, how he enjoyed angering her.
“I don’t kid. And I plan to collect. I’m sure this debt of yours will come in handy one day. Maybe you will have to protect me and save my life.” At her obvious disbelief, Skrain continued: “I’m looking forward to it.” He did. It was the full truth.
He began to walk, into the direction they had been going before the storm had hit. He didn’t wait for the Major, she’d follow soon enough, as soon as she had her anger under control. She was probably sore but he didn’t care because she was strong, she wouldn’t let the aftereffects of the storm slow her down. Not when it didn’t slow Skrain down.
It was wonderful, all that had happened so far. Skrain had seen Major Nerys weak and vulnerable, he had felt her softness, he had protected her, something she would’ve never permitted him to do if it hadn’t been to save her life. And now she owed him. Fuck, it was fantastic.
With a wide grin, Skrain trudged through the sand. The sky was clear, the storm had completely vanished. It was warm and sunny. It was a beautiful day.
