Social Anxiety
Ensign
Prologue
The Changeling abhorred the humanoid form.
Maintaining it was no great hardship, of course, but it was by no means a pleasurable experience. The negative effect was most certainly a psychological one. Taking on the shape of the despised enemy was a repulsive concept, but ample experience had proven that humanoids could only truly relate to others like them. Therein lay the need to conquer their civilizations, to subjugate their populations, and to deprive them of any chance to harm that which they could never understand.
Was that not the raison d’etre of the Dominion? Of course it was. The safety of the Great Link was always paramount, and the only way to guarantee its safety was to impose order on any and all threats. If that meant the occasional inconvenience of an unpleasant form, then so be it.
Flanked by two Jem’Hadar guards, the Changeling entered the interrogation chamber of the sprawling space station. Once, this room had been used as an office for a Federation Starfleet admiral, or so the Changeling had been told. It did not matter. By serving its current purpose, it served the Dominion. That was all that mattered.
In the center of the room, a naked human woman was shackled by the wrists to a steel suspension rack attached to the ceiling. A spotlight shone on her still, slumped form; the rest of the room was shrouded in darkness.
The Changeling could barely conceal its annoyance. “Turn on the lights,” it ordered, and one of the Jem’ Hadar said in a low monotone, “Computer...lights.”
As the chamber filled with light, a door swished open on the opposite side of the room. A Cardassian military officer strode into the chamber, followed closely by a Vorta field supervisor.
“Founder!” The Vorta approached the Changeling, bowing his head slightly and reaching out his hands in supplication. “You honor us with your presence. Is there some way we may be of service?”
“You may explain what has transpired here,” the Changeling replied coldly.
The Cardassian answered. “Three days ago, a Jem’Hadar squadron on patrol in the Oort Cloud detected a spatial anomaly. Upon investigating, a rogue Starfleet vessel was found and captured.”
The Changeling circled the human woman. “What was the nature of this spatial anomaly?”
“It appeared to be a wormhole, most likely originating somewhere in the Delta Quadrant.”
The Changeling couldn’t help but show a small amount of surprise. “Is this wormhole stable?”
“No, Founder,” the Vorta replied. “The wormhole collapsed only seconds after it was detected by the Jem’Hadar. The Starfleet vessel’s warp signature was picked up immediately after the anomaly was picked up on sensors; there’s no doubt the vessel traversed the wormhole.”
“What is the name of this vessel, and where is it now?”
“It is called the U.S.S. Voyager. It was reported lost in the Badlands about seven years ago, but it somehow ended up in the Delta Quadrant,” the Cardassian replied. “The vessel is currently docked at the Utopia Planitia shipyards, not far from here.”
“Interestingly enough, it was constructed there as well,” the Vorta said.
The Changeling pointed at the human woman. “And who is this?”
“That,” the Cardassian said contemptuously, “is the captain of the Voyager, Kathryn Janeway…or at least, it was.”
The Changeling choked back anger. “Are you saying that she is dead?”
“I’m afraid so, Founder,” the Vorta replied. “Legate Madred’s methods of interrogation proved to be somewhat…extreme, considering—“
“There was nothing wrong with my methods of interrogation,” the Cardassian said sharply. “The human simply proved too weak for—“
“She was already wounded,” the Vorta snapped. “Surely you—“
“Enough!” The Changeling turned away from the human woman and stared directly at the Cardassian. “I earnestly hope you have more prisoners from Voyager to interrogate, Legate Madred, or I’m afraid we may have to…reevaluate the rank structure in this facility.”
“Yes...yes, Founder. The rest of the command crew is still very much alive.” The chastened Cardassian stepped back behind the Vorta.
“And you,” the Changeling said to the Vorta, “would be wise to exercise more control over the ‘methods of interrogation’ our Cardassian allies are practicing in this facility."
"Of course, Founder. Rest assured that I will supervise each interrogation personally."
The Changeling nodded. "I would hope so. I want to know everything about this vessel. I want to know how it reached the Delta Quadrant. I want to know the nature of the wormhole that brought it back to the Alpha Quadrant, and I want to know how this crew was able to harness it. Am I making myself clear?”
“Perfectly clear, Founder,” the Vorta said. “We will redouble our efforts to obtain information from the Voyager crew immediately.”
“Good,” the Changeling replied. “I will be on Earth. Contact me when you have obtained some useful information.”
“Of course.” The Vorta once again bowed his head slightly. “Good day, Founder.”
The Changeling nodded, took a moment to glare at the Cardassian, and left the interrogation chamber.
**********************************
En route to the vessel that would take it to Earth, the Changeling reflected on the ingenuity and skill of Starfleet personnel. It was hard to imagine anyone else being able to find a way to cross a galaxy in mere minutes. Certainly the simple-minded Cardassians or the obsequious Vorta would never be able to accomplish such a feat!
No. Starfleet, and humans in particular, had proven to be worthy adversaries… and a small part of the Changeling couldn’t help but admire them. But in the end, all of their ingenuity and skill had not saved them from the onslaught of the Dominion invasion. The Changeling was glad this was the case, for it could easily imagine a universe where the Federation imposed its will on the Great Link. That was why the Federation and the rest of the Alpha Quadrant powers had to fall. The safety of the Link was always paramount. No harm could ever be allowed to come to it. Order must be imposed on the solids. That was all that mattered.
As the Jem’Hadar ship carried the exalted Founder to occupied Earth, the Changeling took the form of a Tarkalean hawk. It was so nice to not be a humanoid.
