by Peter David
The Bajoran sighed. "Are we getting anywhere near the moral, sir?"
"We're almost there," he assured her. "The point is, we can't always pick our partners. But we can play with them. And if we put our minds to it, we can be one hell of a team." He laid the barrel of the bat on his shoulder. "You and Ro," he told her, "were one hell of a team."
Kira nodded judiciously. "We were at that." She paused. "Then you don't mind the fact that we let her return to the Maquis?"
"I mind a great deal," the captain remarked. "But without Ro, we might have lost this game. I figure we owe her something for that."
His first officer folded her arms across her chest. "Is that what you're going to tell Starfleet Command? That we had one of the most notorious of the Maquis right in our hands—and we let her go?"
"Actually," Sisko said, "I was planning on blaming it all on you."
Kira's brow creased. "On me?"
"That's correct," he told her. "You're a Bajoran.
They can't discipline you the way they would me. And the Federation wants too much to maintain good relations with your people to make an incident out of a small … what shall we call it?"
"Misunderstanding," his first officer suggested.
The captain pointed the bat at her. "Exactly."
"So I'm your scapegoat?" Kira asked.
Sisko grinned. "Not at all. The fact is, you did let Roget away. I'd say you ought to take some responsibility for that."
The Bajoran frowned. "Fine. I'll … er, go to bat for you, if it means we don't have to look for another Emissary."
He nodded appreciatively. "I like your choice of metaphor, Major."
She grunted. "I thought you would."
Suddenly the captain realized something was different. He pointed to Kira's ear.
"Major," he said, "that ornament …"
"Yes, sir?"
"That's not yours."
"No, sir. I found it waiting for me in my quarters when I returned. A … friend … left it there."
"I see," Sisko said. "Do I happen to know this friend?"
Kira sighed. "Sir … in a way, I don't think anybody knows her."
And with that, she exited his office.
The captain watched her go for a moment, then turned reluctantly to his monitor. After all, civilizations could grow and wane, planets could break loose of their orbits and spin into their suns, and no one at Starfleet would raise an eyebrow. In time, they would even forgive him his dealings with Ro Laren.
But God help him if the monthly reports came in late.
As O'Brien and his family emerged from Garak's tailor shop onto the Promenade, the chief noted that the "Rom's" sign across the way had been taken down, and the "Quark's" sign put back up.
Freed from Garak's, Molly skipped ahead of her parents, twirling about in a new dress that shimmered in the subdued lighting. The little girl seemed thoroughly unfazed by her sickness, from which she had only recently recovered.
Yes, she was still easily fatigued and her appetite was not what it should have been. But Bashir had assured O'Brien and his wife that Molly would improve in both respects. And his word was good enough for them.
"You know, Mrs. O'Brien," Garak said from the doorway, "I don't recall the sound of laughter on the Promenade when this station was called Tarok Nor. It is not as unappealing as I was led to believe."
Keiko turned, her arm still wrapped around Miles, and shot Garak a proud mother's smile. "Good," she said, "because I intend for there to be a lot more laughter around here."
Garak's eyes gleamed. He tilted his head. "Then I take it you will be here more often."
Keiko glanced at her husband. "I'm not going anywhere for a long time," she replied.
"I'll second that," said the chief.
Leaving Garak behind on his doorstep, O'Brien led his family in the direction of the replimat. On the way, Molly continued to remain a good ten feet ahead of them, spinning like a tiny ballerina. She looked positively luminescent in her dress as it caught the light.
Unfortunately, Molly wasn't watching where she was going. Before O'Brien could warn her, she spun right into the tall figure of Captain Sisko. The impact caused her to stumble, but the captain's strong arm caught her and then hefted the little girl into the air.
"Let me down!" Molly cried. "Let me down!" But she was giggling mightily the whole time.
Sisko broke into a smile of his own as he turned to O'Brien. "Lose something, Chief?"
O'Brien noted that the captain's ribs had fully healed, or he could never have lifted Molly that way. "Not at all, sir," he replied. "Sorry about that."
Sisko studied the chief's daughter, then lowered her gently to the ground. "She's getting her color back," he noted, as Molly ran to her mother's arms. "She's making good progress, I take it?"
"Getting stronger by the day," Keiko replied, as she lifted Molly. "And wearing me out."
The captain nodded approvingly. "That's the kind of news I like to hear." He turned to O'Brien. "Welcome back, Chief." Then he addressed Keiko again. "That goes for all of you."
With that, he headed for his office in Ops. O'Brien watched him go, then took Keiko's hand and resumed their journey toward the replimat.
It had been kind of Sisko, the chief thought, to give the command crew some much-needed time off with their mission successfully completed. He certainly relished the idea of a day or two without any pressures of any sort—or anyway, the kind that could be foreseen. He could do without isolinear chips and fused wires for a while.
A moment later, he and his family rounded the last corner to the replimat. As Molly eagerly began scouting out a table for the three of them, O'Brien started wondering about what to order for her. Perhaps it was time for her to try something from one of the more exotic worlds.
His thoughts were interrupted when he spotted Dax across the way, getting up from her own table, her meal completed. She smiled at the sight of the chief and his family.
Abruptly O'Brien realized he had something to say to her. He glanced at Keiko and said, "Excuse me, will you? I won't be more than a second or two, I promise."
His wife chuckled. "A second or two. I'll hold you to that."
The chief wove his way through the tables toward Dax. As he approached, he got her attention.
"Chief?" she said.
O'Brien sighed. "I've a confession to make," he admitted. "Back in the captain's office, just before you remembered—"
Dax held up a hand. "You don't have to say it. I was there, remember? You were about to ask for permission to leave the station."
The chief frowned. "Not exactly. The truth is I was going to resign from Starfleet. Hand over my uniform and get down to Bajor any way I could."
The Trill looked at him. "I see. And?"
"And I wanted to tell you it would've been the wrong decision. If I'd left as I intended, that problem on level seven might've gotten out of hand. The infirmary might've been affected. And you might never have developed the cure."
Dax thought about that for a moment. "There's no need for an apology," she said finally. "We Trills have an expression—at forty, you think you know everything. At four hundred, you realize you know nothing." She shrugged. "Anybody can make a mistake. Don't beat yourself up about it."
O'Brien smiled. "Thanks."
His eyes locked with Dax's for a moment. And for the first time, he saw the depth of wisdom in those eyes. They were ancient eyes, full of knowledge and delight in the learning of it. Eyes that wanted to see everything they could.
But he could also tell that those eyes had known pain and mourning. And that they had cried only recently.
He nodded in acknowledgment of the bond between them—the bond of what it meant to be a parent. It gave them a common ground—a new way of learning from each other. O'Brien looked forward to it.
Then he remembered that his family was waiting for him. "I'll see you later," he told the Trill.
"Later," she agreed.
; As the chief made his way back through the replimat, he took in the sight of his wife and child, and a feeling of completeness settled over him. It was a feeling he wanted to preserve forever.
Look for STAR TREK fiction from Pocket Books
Star Trek®: The Original Series
Enterprise: The First Adventure • Vonda N. McIntyre
Final Frontier • Diane Carey
Strangers From the Sky • Margaret Wander Bonanno
Spock's World • Diane Duane
The Lost Years • J.M. Dillard
Probe • Margaret Wander Bonanno
Prime Directive • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
Best Destiny • Diane Carey
Shadows on the Sun • Michael Jan Friedman
Sarek • A.C. Crispin
Federation • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
Vulcan's Forge • Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz
Mission to Horatius • Mack Reynolds
Vulcan's Heart • Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz
Novelizations
Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Gene Roddenberry
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan • Vonda N. McIntyre
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock • Vonda N. McIntyre
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home • Vonda N. McIntyre
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier • J.M. Dillard
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country • J.M. Dillard
Star Trek Generations • J.M. Dillard
Starfleet Academy • Diane Carey
Star Trek books by William Shatner with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
The Ashes of Eden
The Return
Avenger
Star Trek: Odyssey (contains The Ashes of Eden, The Return, and Avenger)
Spectre
Dark Victory
Preserver
#1 • Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Gene Roddenberry
#2 • The Entropy Effect • Vonda N. McIntyre
#3 • The Klingon Gambit • Robert E. Vardeman
#4 • The Covenant of the Crown • Howard Weinstein
#5 • The Prometheus Design • Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath
#6 • The Abode of Life • Lee Correy
#7 • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan • Vonda N. McIntyre
#8 • Black Fire • Sonni Cooper
#9 • Triangle • Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath
#10 • Web of the Romulans • M.S. Murdock
#11 • Yesterday's Son • A.C. Crispin
#12 • Mutiny on the Enterprise • Robert E. Vardeman
#13 • The Wounded Sky • Diane Duane
#14 • The Trellisane Confrontation • David Dvorkin
#15 • Corona • Greg Bear
#16 • The Final Reflection • John M. Ford
#17 • Star Trek III: The Search For Spock • Vonda N. McIntyre
#18 • My Enemy, My Ally • Diane Duane
#19 • The Tears of the Singers • Melinda Snodgrass
#20 • The Vulcan Academy Murders • Jean Lorrah
#21 • Uhura's Song • Janet Kagan
#22 • Shadow Lord • Laurence Yep
#23 • Ishmael • Barbara Hambly
#24 • Killing Time • Della Van Hise
#25 • Dwellers in the Crucible • Margaret Wander Bonanno
#26 • Pawns and Symbols • Majliss Larson
#27 • Mindshadow • J.M. Dillard
#28 • Crisis on Centaurus • Brad Ferguson
#29 • Dreadnought! • Diane Carey
#30 • Demons • J.M. Dillard
#31 • Battlestations! • Diane Carey
#32 • Chain of Attack • Gene DeWeese
#33 • Deep Domain • Howard Weinstein
#34 • Dreams of the Raven • Carmen Carter
#35 • The Romulan Way • Diane Duane & Peter Morwood
#36 • How Much For Just the Planet? • John M. Ford
#37 • Bloodthirst • J.M. Dillard
#38 • The IDIC Epidemic • Jean Lorrah
#39 • Time For Yesterday • A.C. Crispin
#40 • Timetrap • David Dvorkin
#41 • The Three-Minute Universe • Barbara Paul
#42 • Memory Prime • Gar and Judith Reeves-Stevens
#43 • The Final Nexus • Gene DeWeese
#44 • Vulcan's Glory • D.C. Fontana
#45 • Double, Double • Michael Jan Friedman
#46 • The Cry of the Onlies • Judy Klass
#47 • The Kobayashi Maru • Julia Ecklar
#48 • Rules of Engagement • Peter Morwood
#49 • The Pandora Principle • Carolyn Clowes
#50 • Doctor's Orders • Diane Duane
#51 • Enemy Unseen • V.E. Mitchell
#52 • Home is the Hunter • Dana Kramer Rolls
#53 • Ghost-Walker • Barbara Hambly
#54 • A Flag Full of Stars • Brad Ferguson
#55 • Renegade • Gene DeWeese
#56 • Legacy • Michael Jan Friedman
#57 • The Rift • Peter David
#58 • Faces of Fire • Michael Jan Friedman
#59 • The Disinherited • Peter David
#60 • Ice Trap • L.A. Graf
#61 • Sanctuary • John Vornholt
#62 • Death Count • L.A. Graf
#63 • Shell Game • Melissa Crandall
#64 • The Starship Trap • Mel Gilden
#65 • Windows on a Lost World • V.E. Mitchell
#66 • From the Depths • Victor Milan
#67 • The Great Starship Race • Diane Carey
#68 • Firestorm • L.A. Graf
#69 • The Patrian Transgression • Simon Hawke
#70 • Traitor Winds • L.A. Graf
#71 • Crossroad • Barbara Hambly
#72 • The Better Man • Howard Weinstein
#73 • Recovery • J.M. Dillard
#74 • The Fearful Summons • Denny Martin Flynn
#75 • First Frontier • Diane Carey & Dr. James I. Kirkland
#76 • The Captain's Daughter • Peter David
#77 • Twilight's End • Jerry Oltion
#78 • The Rings of Tautee • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
#79 • Invasion! #1: First Strike • Diane Carey
#80 • The Joy Machine • James Gunn
#81 • Mudd in Your Eye • Jerry Oltion
#82 • Mind Meld • John Vornholt
#83 • Heart of the Sun • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski
#84 • Assignment: Eternity • Greg Cox
#85-87 • My Brother's Keeper • Michael Jan Friedman
#85 • Republic
#86 • Constitution
#87 • Enterprise
#88 • Across the Universe • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski
#89-94 • New Earth
#89 • Wagon Train to the Stars • Diane Carey
#90 • Belle Terre • Dean Wesley Smith with Diane Carey
#91 • Rough Trails • L.A. Graf
#92 • The Flaming Arrow • Kathy and Jerry Oltion
#93 • Thin Air • Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Dean Wesley Smith
#94 • Challenger • Diane Carey
Star Trek: The Next Generation®
Metamorphosis • Jean Lorrah
Vendetta • Peter David
Reunion • Michael Jan Friedman
Imzadi • Peter David
The Devil's Heart • Carmen Carter
Dark Mirror • Diane Duane
Q-Squared • Peter David
Crossover • Michael Jan Friedman
Kahless • Michael Jan Friedman
Ship of the Line • Diane Carey
The Best and the Brightest • Susan Wright
Planet X • Michael Jan Friedman
Imzadi II: Triangle • Peter David
I, Q • John de Lancie & Peter David
The Valiant • Michael Jan F
riedman
Novelizations
Encounter at Farpoint• David Gerrold
Unification • Jeri Taylor
Relics • Michael Jan Friedman
Descent • Diane Carey
All Good Things... • Michael Jan Friedman
Star Trek: Klingon • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Star Trek Generations • J.M. Dillard
Star Trek: First Contact • J.M. Dillard
Star Trek: Insurrection • J.M. Dillard
#1 • Ghost Ship • Diane Carey
#2 • The Peacekeepers • Gene DeWeese
#3 • The Children of Hamlin • Carmen Carter
#4 • Survivors • Jean Lorrah
#5 • Strike Zone • Peter David
#6 • Power Hungry • Howard Weinstein
#7 • Masks • John Vornholt
#8 • The Captain's Honor • David and Daniel Dvorkin
#9 • A Call to Darkness • Michael Jan Friedman
#10 • A Rock and a Hard Place • Peter David
#11 • Gulliver's Fugitives • Keith Sharee
#12 • Doomsday World • David, Carter, Friedman & Greenberger
#13 • The Eyes of the Beholders • A.C. Crispin
#14 • Exiles • Howard Weinstein
#15 • Fortune's Light • Michael Jan Friedman
#16 • Contamination • John Vornholt
#17 • Boogeymen • Mel Gilden
#18 • Q-In-Law • Peter David
#19 • Perchance to Dream • Howard Weinstein
#20 • Spartacus • T.L. Mancour
#21 • Chains of Command • W.A. McCay & E.L. Flood
#22 • Imbalance • V.E. Mitchell
#23 • War Drums • John Vornholt
#24 • Nightshade • Laurell K. Hamilton
#25 • Grounded • David Bischoff
#26 • The Romulan Prize • Simon Hawke
#27 • Guises of the Mind • Rebecca Neason
#28 • Here There Be Dragons • John Peel
#29 • Sins of Commission • Susan Wright
#30 • Debtor's Planet • W.R. Thompson
#31 • Foreign Foes • Dave Galanter & Greg Brodeur
#32 • Requiem • Michael Jan Friedman & Kevin Ryan
#33 • Balance of Power • Dafydd ab Hugh
#34 • Blaze of Glory • Simon Hawke
#35 • The Romulan Stratagem • Robert Greenberger
#36 • Into the Nebula • Gene DeWeese
#37 • The Last Stand • Brad Ferguson