Diavol Cain looked at the holographic map with wide eyes and a tighten jaw. He moistened his black pointed teeth with his long-scaled tongue. He widened the map with his long-pointed fingers and continued to analyze every minute solar system. Millions of planets with accompanied suns and moons plus trillions upon trillions of stars were seen across the moving holographic map. He slid his fingers across the side of the map and a small star chart analyzer appeared. With another quick flick of his fingers, the analyzer went to work studying every solar system with the template that it was given. Symbols, numbers and letters began scrolling down the side of the holographic projection as the star chart tool moved quickly to each viewed galaxy.

“How long until we find it?” asked a voice from the darkness of the large room. The light from the hologram showing the golden eyes upon a face of pale white skin.

“It does not matter,” replied Cain. “I have waited so long for this day that time has now become nonexistent.” He turned and his eyes gave off a red glow. He could see every detail of the large room. Every console, computer and tool of every type scattered across the room, sitting in pitch darkness. “We have found our most precious gift…and with it…I will become unstoppable.”

“It will be a glorious day,” said the creature. “A day our people have been waiting for since the beginning of life.”

“Darkness hides the most grievous of sins,” said Cain with a crooked smile. “No one knows of our existence, but soon every soul from the beginning will worship us.”

The creature gave a large sigh as his eyes closed. Cain could tell he was pondering upon the day that was so close. He opened them again. “General Noc is approaching. I sense he is wanting details on our mission.” The creature tilted his head slightly. “He is becoming difficult to handle.”

A large smile of pointed black teeth appeared across Diavol Cain’s face. “Let him ask all the questions he desires. He will do everything we ask of him because he wants what all of them want, more power.” He looked back towards the holographic map. “Soon we will not need anyone’s help…they will be begging us to let them live. We only need to find what was created and left as the final gift for us.”

The large door to the entrance of this room slid open as General Noc and his patrol was seen entering. Light began to appear around the room. Cain turned off the holographic map by creating a fist. He then turned and met the eyes of the Cardassian General. “General Noc. This is an unexpected visit. We have not yet arrived at our expected destinati—”

“Enough with your pleasantries, Mr. Cain!” yelled the General. “I do not like being kept in the dark from your secret plans.” He threw his cape over his shoulder as he began to pace around the room. “I know everything that happens on my ship…” He turned and looked at the creature who stood motionless, then looked at Cain. “Except here in this large room that you have commandeered.” He scanned the interior of the room. “You and your soldiers have designed, built and used every machine in here and have yet to share your plans with us.” Cain saw General Noc’s jaw tighten. “I have been patient. What are you planning?”

Diavol Cain smiled big. Every one of his black pointed teeth was seen making the Cardassian guards on Noc’s patrol cringe. “You only had to ask, General Noc.” He gave a light laugh. “We are aboard your vessel and are apart of your alliance.” He placed his hands together and then placed them in an apologetic gesture. “I beg your forgiveness General. Our work in this room was not supposed to be done in secret.”

General Noc’s eyes narrowed, and his nose twitched. “Do not patronize me Cain. I can toss you off this ship any time I please—”

Diavol Cain gave a long deep laugh. The guards in the General’s patrol placed their hands by their disruptors. The General raised his chin and gave a small swallow. “Do not threaten me, General. Do you not think I can scatter your most precious ship into a thousand pieces by one hail to any of my army?” Cain’s eyes narrowed. “Your alliance is but a convenience and can be terminated at any time.” He walked towards the General and stood a few feet from him. The creature stood at Cain’s side. A large smile of pointed black teeth appeared once again. “You will become the most feared General in the Universe. Millions of soldiers and thousands of ships like this one will be at your control. All of this will be a gift for your service…but can easily be taken away.” Cain moistened his pointed black teeth with his long tongue. His large nose twitched as his dark green scaled skin rippled across his face. “So, tread lightly, General.”

General Noc nodded. Sweat appeared on his forehead. “My apologies, Cain.” He looked towards the creature and back to Cain. He then took a hard swallow. “There are many in our alliance that are asking questions. Since, we have now followed through on our plan to exterminate the mining of Thanatos, the United Council is meeting to discover what has happened to your homeworld and how it happened.” General Noc placed his hands together. “We have not been able to locate Lieutenant Nasos and there are many that fear he will find help which will destroy our plan.”

“Our plan cannot be stopped,” said Cain. “Chaos is upon us, and we now are the sole possessors of this unstoppable power. Only those who join us will we share this power.” He turned towards the creature. “We will find this human named Nasos and will bring him into the light…or send him to eternal damnation.” Cain gave a small smile. “He is a true warrior, and he deserves our greatest respect.” The creature nodded. He then turned towards the General. “Do not worry about the United Council. Worry about strengthening the alliance by using the greed of power that is found in all species. Millions will come and none will care of the sacrifices that were lost to create it. Only that they now possess it.”

“But if the truth is told and Nasos finds favor with the Federation and others, we may find ourselves against an uprising that has never been seen,” Noc stated with his eyes twice their size. “I feel the path we are on will take us into all-out war.”

“Wasn’t that the plan all along?” Cain asked with a small shrug. “Do not expect them to bow before you, General. You must first break their knees.”

General Noc swallowed hard. His breathing became erratic. “Millions of Cardassians will be lost. We were first to create an alliance and negotiated the terms. This path was not part of the agreement.”

Cain turned to the creature and laughed. “The General only cares about his own. He loves to do the killing as long as there is no retribution. That is not the heart of a warrior.” Cain turned his back to the General and began walking in the opposite direction. “You wish to have this power given to you. You believe your status has earned you the right to possess it.” He held out his hand and looked around the room. “Your creation was built because of the power I gave you. This ship can conquer any other that it faces. But if you have not the heart and the will to face your enemy knowing that you may perish, then you do not deserve this gift.” He turned to the General and saw the same wide eyes. “Do not let fear rule your actions, General.” Cain gave a crooked smile. His long tongue moistened his lips. “Or I will find someone worthy of this power.”

General Noc nodded once again towards Cain. “And if the truth is told at the United Council? If Lieutenant Nasos finds favor among the Federation?” The General raised his chin. “What do we do then?”

“Then respect his ability to overcome his adversary,” stated Diavol Cain at the surprise of the General. “Know that you have been beaten and tell them the truth. Let them know that many in the Federation, in the Romulan Empire, the Klingons, the Vulcans, the Ferengis and many others were willing to sacrifice the weak to gain power. If they wish to take it away, then we will be waiting.”

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“You want us to declare war at the United Council?” asked General Noc. “It is a beacon of peace. A place for all to come and find common ground.”

Cain held up his chin and gave a mighty laugh. It sounded deep and sinister. He then looked at the General and shook his head. “You cast the blame upon another and then hope that they may forgive you because you hide behind this so-called beacon of peace.” Cain smiled and his long tongue moistened his teeth again. The General closed his eyes and looked down. “You create havoc but then do not wish to suffer the consequences if it means that you are to blame.” Cain quickly approached and stood inches from the General’s face. The General’s head guards stepped forward. The creature eyed the head guards, and they stepped back. “You are an embarrassment. You have no honor. You wish only to fight the weak.” Cain’s tongue protruded from his mouth and then he gave a large smile. “What you need to be taught his what true courage is.” Cain stepped back and looked at the creature. The creature nodded and pointed to two of his soldiers. They immediately responded by exiting a side door. A minute later, they reentered with a person between them. His hands were restrained. They brought this individual and stood him next to the creature. “I so hoped that I would be able to question Commander Kilo in secret, but now General you have made that impossible.”

“Why is Commander Kilo restrained?” asked General Noc with narrowed eyes. Sweat was seen pouring from his brow. “He is a part of the United Council. If word gets out that he is arrested on a Cardassian vessel—”

“Silence!” yelled the creature. General Noc’s eyes grew twice their size as he took a step back. His patrol stepped back as well.

“You still care only about yourself,” Cain stated while shaking his head. “Let us ask the Klingon why he is restrained.” He turned towards Commander Kilo.

The Klingon looked at General Noc and then at Cain. “I was trying to prevent war. We agreed Asani would not be hurt. Then these assassins were sent to kill him. Now you all wish to blame him for doing what we planned to do in the first place. That is not honor.”

“Do you see, General?” Diavol Cain asked with a pleasant smile. “That is courage. He does not look for excuses or begs for his life. He knows his cause and looks to defend it, even with his own life.” Cain looked at the Klingon. “A true heart of a warrior. But he is also a traitor. He is the reason why the human Nasos knew that the human Byers was alive. He has also been sharing secrets of our plans and shipments of our prize possession. A penalty of death.”

“You cannot be serious?” General Noc asked with his mouth hung open. “How will we tell this to the council? To those of our alliance?”

“You tell them the truth,” Cain explained with his brow furrowed. “You either believe in the cause and follow it with a warrior’s heart or you do not join.”

“I will not cast judgment on a Klingon Commander,” the General said. Sweat continued to pour from his forehead. His breathing became erratic. “Let us ask the leaders of our alliance…what his…punishment should be.”

“I have already decided his punishment, General.” Cain tossed a Klingon d’k tahg at the feet of Commander Kilo. “We will let him take his own life with his own d’k tahg. The honorable way of a Klingon warrior.”

The Klingon Commander smiled. “You lied to me. Where is honor in that? You tell me that we need Asani’s help. We get him to do what we ask and then you go back on your word…and decide to kill Asani. You then decide to manufacture this rock and sell it to the highest bidder, hoping to create war.” The Klingon Commander looked at General Noc and then at Cain. “I never signed up for this.”

“Do not be so coy, Commander,” stated Cain. “Your greed controlled you. You were promised a portion of the prize like everyone else. You wanted power.” Cain’s eyes narrowed. His jaw clenched. “You did not respect the cause and the choices that had to be made. The human called Nasos became too much of a threat. He had to be eliminated but was a much stronger warrior than once thought.” Then Cain’s crooked smile returned. “And what did you think would happen once we created Thanatos? Do you believe it would bring peace? Its power would make the weak and the strong equal and the true warrior will win.”

“You are pure evil,” said the Commander. “This is madness.”

“It…is…chaos,” stated the creature. “Only a true warrior will be victorious.”

“Pick up your weapon,” Cain commanded. “Be the true warrior of your ancestors. Follow the judgement of the Klingon Empire of one who is a traitor to the cause.”

“You are not a part of the Klingon Empire,” stated Commander Kilo. “I will not obey your command.”

“Then Datak will have to execute you,” stated Cain as he looked to the creature. Datak removed two short blades from their holsters and turned to meet Commander Kilo’s stare.

“You gave the judgement,” said Commander Kilo. “Kill me yourself.”

Cain gave a large smile and nodded towards the Klingon. He then picked up the d’k tahg and stood in front of the Klingon Commander.

“Wait!” yelled General Noc.

Cain gave a quick glance to the creature who then walked over and stood between the General and Cain. “Remove his restraints.” One solider quickly unlocked the restraint and both moved away. Diavol Cain then lifted the Klingon knife and swung the handle towards the Klingon. He then nodded towards the Commander.

The Klingon’s eyes narrowed. Sweat was beginning to drip from his forehead. He slowly moved his hand towards the d’k tahg and grasped the handle with his eyes staring at Cain’s. He then slowly brought it back.

Cain put out his left hand and the creature placed a short blade in his hand. Then Cain took a battle stance. The Klingon did as well. Cain gave a large smile with the pointed black teeth showing and then ran his long tongue across his lips. He then attacked. Commander Kilo was taken by surprise but was able to block the attack from being a lethal hit. The Klingon did suffer a deep cut on his left arm. He quickly stepped back and readied himself for another attack.

Cain began to pace around the Klingon. His eyes never left those of Commander Kilo’s. The Klingon followed Cain’s movement. Then Cain attacked. Three quick strikes and Commander Kilo blocked everyone. A smile appeared on the Klingon’s lips, but quickly left as Cain went for a lethal hit once again. Commander Kilo grabbed the wrist of Cain’s right arm just before the blade pierced his neck. The tip of Cain’s blade nicked the Klingon’s skin. Green blood dripped down his neck.

The Klingon swung his Klingon dagger down towards Cain. He grabbed the Klingon’s wrist. They circled around each trying to break free. Then Cain gave his large smile. He then pulled the Klingon towards him and gave him a nasty headbutt. The Klingon staggered backwards. Cain then kicked Commander Kilo in the chest and sent him sliding across the floor. His d’k tahg went flying from his hand. The Klingon rose quickly and ran to retrieve it as Cain walked causally towards Commander Kilo.

“You have the warrior’s spirit, Klingon,” Cain said as he brought his blade to neck level. “But you have let yourself become slow and fat--” Cain lunged at the Klingon with four quick swings. The Klingon withdrew, trying desperately to block the strikes. Two landed giving him a large gash in his leg and side. The Klingon’s breath became very erratic. He raised his weapon again. His hand shook and sweat poured from his face and hands. Cain lowered his weapon to his side and nodded towards Commander Kilo. “Take your best shot, Klingon.”

Commander Kilo’s eyes narrowed. He brought his Klingon weapon to eye level. He saw the blade continued to shake. He then lunged. His knife missing by mere millimeters. Another lunge and he felt he connected, but his knife did not penetrate Cain’s light armor. Then Cain grabbed the Klingon’s arm and slammed it across his knee. His weapon went flying. Then Cain did a quick flick with his blade, and Commander Kilo felt a deep gash in his chest. He immediately fell to his knees. Cain saw General Noc step forward, but he did not dare step any closer as Noc saw the eyes of the creature.

Cain then slowly walked to retrieve the d’k tahg and then handed the weapon to Commander Kilo. The Klingon eyes were wide. His mouth hung wide open. Sweat continued to pour from his face. It puddled at the base of his neck. Green blood poured from slices on his arm, side, leg, and chest. He was having trouble breathing as he tried to stand. “You are beaten Klingon,” said Cain. “Now do the honorable and take your life with your Klingon blade.”

Commander Kilo fell on his backside. His eyes were beginning to close. Cain could tell death was close. The Klingon grabbed his d’k tahg in both hands and looked at Cain with his piercing yellow eyes.

Cain knelt by Commander Kilo and smiled. “You fought well, Klingon. I have no doubt the afterlife will be most rewarding. Today…is a good day…for you to die.”

Commander Kilo shook his head. “I hope you burn in hell, you…demon bastard.” He then spat in Cain’s face as he plunged his own weapon into his own chest.