Four year old Jake Sisko opened his eyes then squinted at the brightness of the light. He felt sick to his stomach and attempted to curl up into a ball but heavy bandages across his mid-section prevented him from doing so. "Daddy?" Turning his head from side to side, Jake searched the strange room for his father but Benjamin Sisko was nowhere to be seen.

"I see you've decided to join us, puq." A dark skinned man with ridges up his forehead said as he entered the room with a bowl in his hand. As he neared the bed, he thrust the bowl out. "Sop." He motioned towards Jake and then the bowl. "Sop."

"I..." Jake didn't understand the strange sounding word but he reached out and took the bowl, fumbling with it slightly. "Who are you?" He questioned as he looked down into the bowl and was surprised to see the contents moving. His stomach threatened to rebel and he turned his head away.

The man, a Klingon, laughed, heartily, at the boy. "Do not turn away, puq. Sop so that you will regain your strength. Racht is good for you. It will help to settle your burgh." He patted his stomach just to be sure the boy understood.

Jake swallowed hard then looked back into the bowl. "You want me to eat worms?" He made a face but picked one up, none the less. He tried not think about how slimey it was as he placed it in his mouth and swallowed it whole, not wanting to chew. And to his surprise, his stomach did start to calm and finally settle. He sent a questioning look towards the Klingon. "It worked!" He exclaimed.

"It did. Just as I said it would." The Klingon sat down in a nearby chair. "I am Aktuh son of Tumek of the House of Olahg. And who are you, puq?"

"My name is Jake Sisko and I'm four years old." Jake said proudly as he popped another Racht into his mouth and swallowed. "Do you know where my daddy is?"

Aktuhexpression didn't change. "Do you remember what brought you to this world, puq?"

Jake grew thoughtful as he tried to remember where he was and how he got there. "Me and daddy were on a ship." He paused, thinking. "Mommy was there too. Something happened and daddy said we had to go on a smaller ship. That's all I 'member."

Reaching over, Aktuh took the half empty bowl off the childs lap and set it on it on the table beside the bed. "Your shuttle crashed not far from here, puq. You are the only one that survived and even that was uncertain until now."

"No..." Jake whispered as tears began to fill his eyes. "I don't believe you." He crossed his arms over his chest.

Aktuh gave the boy a stern look. "I speak the truth, puq. Now you must be strong so one day you may honor the name of your father."

Jake clenched his jaw then nodded. Raising a hand, he wiped the unspilled tears from his eyes. "Is my mommy coming to get me?" He finally calmed himself down enough to ask.

"No, puq." Aktuh shook his head, his wild hair flaring about his head. "Under our customs and laws, I have claimed you as my puqloD. You would do well to forget your life before now, puq." He stood. "Now leS, your QID has yet to heal." He motioned towards the boys wrapped stomach. He then turned and left the boy alone.

Once the Klingon was gone, Jake turned his head to face the wall. He wanted to cry but Aktuh told him to be strong. The news of his fathers death was a lot for the little boy to take in and soon he slipped into a restless slumber. His dreams were filled with smoke and flames and he awoke more than once, screaming.