Prologue

The cool wind from the streets blew into his window, refreshing him after a long day walking thru the town; looking for someone who would give him a chance to tell his stories. It was a good thing I got out of that joint when I did, Benny Russell mused, recalling his stay at a psychiatric hospital just the year before. For a time, his doctors had been uncooperative; refusing to let him write. Only after he'd assaulted them had they realized what it meant to him. He wasn't obsessed; he was firmly grounded in reality. And whether or not everybody else liked it, things were going to change. Nothing ever stays the same, Benny mused, sitting down at his typewriter and examining the pile of paper ready for his work to begin.

His last manuscript had been accepted for consideration by a man who'd advanced him a hundred dollars towards any profit he might make on the sale. If I want to keep him interested, to see that I'm not just an amateur; I have to think of something to top that last one, he thought, considering his options. So what happens after Sisko seals the red wormhole? Could it have been opened again? And how exactly did Gul Dukat learn about the power of the Kosst Amojan? All questions worth answering, he decided, sliding the first page into the machine.

With any luck, he'd finish his efforts before the year was over. Even if his first novel was a hit, Benny couldn't live on that forever. Somewhere out on the edge of space, he wrote, a series of unusual events was about to begin which would mean life and death to the inhabitants of a space station that was all that stood between chaos and order…

Chapter I

The dry crackling winds weren't exactly pleasant to the ear, nor was the all-pervasive heat something which everyone would have found to be accommodating. But for Gul Dukat, these were many of the more familiar features of his home. In the time since his return to Cardassia, he had managed to conquer the mental illness which had afflicted him following the tragic loss of his daughter. And we all know who was the cause of that, don't we? he mused, recalling all too well the tragic day when his plans for leading the combined alliance of the Dominion and Cardassian Empires to victory against the Federation seemed to go up in smoke along with Ziyal.

Sisko had convinced those infernal prophets to intervene and prevented the arrival of the reinforcements he'd so badly needed. Instead, his people had been driven back; reduced to cowering in their homes while elsewhere the war raged on. Now, even the Romulans had turned against them; blaming their agents for the death of one of their Senators. Will the tide never turn in our favor? he wondered, knowing that his long incapacity prevented him from interfering in matters. "It does seem bleak, does it not?" a calm voice interjected and he spun about to find an aged man regarding him. The interloper did not have the gray skin of a Cardassian, but his robe obscured his head and any other features which might have revealed his species. At least it isn't a Founder or Bajoran, Dukat thought.

"I'm not used to having my thoughts criticized, stranger. There are few I find qualified to do so," he replied. "I would think you might prove more grateful to your benefactor," the man stated. "And what exactly do I owe you thanks for?" Dukat asked. "Your sanity, for one," the stranger answered. "You were one of my physicians?" the Cardassian questioned, not recalling the face from his long convalescence. Of course, he might have grown the beard since then, he conceded. "In a manner of speaking. I gave you the stability you needed to set your mind in order. That was necessary for the task you have yet to complete," the robed figure proclaimed. "You speak in riddles. No one knows what tomorrow will bring," Dukat countered. "Even a person who has been there?" the man retorted.

"You are a time traveler?" he guessed. "If I was, why would I tell you? There are those who might consider that interference with the natural course of events. Or, it could prove that it was necessary for me to have this conversation to create later circumstances that would be ultimately beneficial," the stranger declared. "What do you want with me? Get to the point!" the Cardassian demanded. "There is an artifact being held by your government which has the power to utterly defeat the Bajoran Prophets and turn the tide in this conflict," the interloper remarked. "If that is the case, why hasn't anyone used it?" Dukat asked.

"Perhaps they don't know how. Or it may be that no one believes it will do anything. But I am certain that the outcome will be quite different than they expect. Once you have its power, all you will need to do is contact one of the Orbs… the Orb of Contemplation. When you have done that, everything which you seek to accomplish shall take place. Your people shall be restored and throw off the shackles of the Dominion. More to the point, Sisko will die," the man informed him. He nodded, envisioning that moment so long delayed; in his mind's eye. Justice would at last be served, he thought. "What of the Federation? Will we rule over them at last?" the Cardassian inquired. "Let us just say that you will have to determine the outcome there on your own. There are far too many variables for me to predict the end without knowing all of the steps along the way," the stranger responded.

"And what is this relic? How do I use it?" Dukat wondered. "It is called the Kosst Amojan. You must recite a specific phrase in Bajoran, then break it in two. Once you have done so, you will bear the power of the Prophets' mortal enemies; the Pah-wraiths. You will have enhanced strength and the ability to incinerate a target merely by focusing your willpower. Reaching your goal should be quite easy for you," the robed figure observed. "And suppose that they simply won't give this item to me? Damar and Weyoun haven't exactly proven friendly since my recovery," he reasoned. "Then it may be that you will have to seize it for yourself. At this moment, it is being held in the Chin'toka system," the man related.

The Cardassian frowned, then said, "It seems odd that such a thing would be located so far from here; especially since that area is strategically important to our defenses." "It is your choice as to whether or not you wish to believe me. However, I believe you will find that your government has recently deployed a large quantity of orbital weapons platforms to that area recently; while relocating many of your ships to other regions. These facts should make it easier for you to go there, if that is your desire," the stranger informed him. "Why are you doing this? What is your motive? How do I know that anything you've told me is true?" Dukat demanded. In answer, the robed man lowered his hood; revealing the distinctive points to his ears. Now that his face was clearly visible, he realized that it was somehow familiar to him.

"Tell me, Skrain Dukat; would a Vulcan do this unless there was an eminently logical reason behind his actions?" the alien asked. "I suppose not. And I can't see how giving me something which will help to win this war can benefit the Federation. But you could be lying about that. No, don't bother to deny it," the Cardassian advised, then went on, "Your people are quite capable of deception, if it suits their purposes. But why should I go personally? Even if Damar and Weyoun found my suggestion to be completely outlandish, what harm would there be in indulging me? After all, they might win because of this information."

"This data is not privileged. I have good reason to believe that spies from the Federation know that I will pass it along to you. Within a day, maybe two; they will launch a covert mission from Deep Space Nine. If they reach Chin'toka first, then you won't be able to succeed. Therefore, delay is not advisable," the Vulcan related. "Or it might be, to see who they send. And given their actions in the past; I'm willing to be that will be my old friend, Benjamin Sisko," Dukat mused. "Which will give you a chance to avenge your daughter's life," the alien added. "You certainly know a great deal about me. But you haven't answered my question? What is your motive?" Skrain demanded. "I seek nothing less than a means of saving my people from destruction," the man answered. "And betraying the Federation is going to do that?" he countered.

"Not today, or tomorrow; but very soon… the loss of Vulcan is inevitable. Unless those who will bring it about are destroyed," the stranger told him. "Whereas letting us prosper keeps them alive," the Cardassian remarked. "Your conclusion is correct. I would not hesitate more than a day or two. By then, events will have been set in motion and you will not be able to prevent something you most definitely wish to avoid," the Vulcan concluded. "There is something else you can do, to convince me of your story," Dukat suggested, then elaborated, "Perform a mind-meld. Allow me to see your thoughts. If what you say is true, then such contact won't matter in the long run. Either I listen to your words, or Sisko gets this artifact first. What do you have to lose?"

The alien seemed to hesitate, then nodded and stepped to his side. The stranger's fingers went to the Cardassian's face, finding certain spots with ease. "My mind to your mind, my thoughts to your thoughts…" the man whispered, as the first hints of connection grew between them. The touch felt familiar to him, confirming at least part of the alien's account. But is the rest true as well? he wondered, attempting to look deeper. He saw the barren soil of Vulcan as seen from space, watched as the world seemed to implode; then vanish in a flash of light.

Then they broke free and the alien said, "Now you see what I seek to prevent. The events which cause this to happen are yet to come. By acting now, we can prevent them." Skrain Dukat nodded, then regarded the interloper with new understanding as he stated, "You feel responsible for their deaths." "In a way, I was," the stranger told him. "Why have you kept your identity from me? Didn't you know that would only cause further doubt?" he asked. The Vulcan sighed, then declared, "My name… is Spock."