Chapter Fourteen

Returning too Earth, the USS Enterprise and her crew where arrested and once again put on trial by Starfleet Command. However, the discovery of Reman operatives within Starfleet Command was enough for all charges against the crew too be dropped, although their methods where short of illegal, a reprimand had been placed in the permanent record of Jackson Steele and a demotion too the rank of Lieutenant, as he took full responsibility for all the actions of the crew during the interrogation of the prisoners, effectively ending any chance of a command of his own.

The next officer in line for the first officer position was Commander LaForge, turning down the position, Geordie resigned from Starfleet, after months of working for small companies across the Federation, Geordie formed a new company named Visor Designs. A small company dedicated too the design and construction of small civilian vessels, eventually it was taken over by a larger company named P.S Incorporated. Geordie remained with the new larger company as chief designer of their starship design department.

The civilian doctor, T'Lana, left Starfleet as an advisor on the Langaran plague and took over her family practice in her father's hometown.

Captain William T. Riker, remained in Starfleet onboard his ship, the USS Enterprise. Because of her many upgrades and new technologies, she was eventually relaunch and reclassified as a light cruiser of similar class too the aging Defiant Class.

Due too his abandoning his duties as commander of Deep Space Nine, Rear Admiral Sisko was demoted back too Captain and eventually returned too his posting, eventually regaining the respect of the Bajoran people.

Alison Crusher, continued too serve the Enterprise as Chief of Security, and with a promotion to Lieutenant Commander, she became the youngest First Officer in Starfleet History, and after six months, she married Lieutenant Jackson Steele. The service was performed by Captain Benjamin Sisko onboard Deep Space Nine.

Eight Months Later…

The revelations of the past few days had taken it's toll on the demoted officer, after being found guilty of abandoning his duties at Deep Space Nine, Sisko was punished by demotion to the rank of Captain. However, as a result of his new rank, he would no longer be allowed to proceed past the rank of Captain. Without the interference of the Bajoran Government, the Emissary to the Prophets as he was called by the Bajorans would serve out his career in Starfleet as Commander of the Station, something he considered more of an enjoyable task then a punishment. As he had spent much of his career serving on the ever growing Spacedock facility his task was to oversee the construction of more external dry dock facilities on the vast city in space itself and around the Bajoran system with the occasional visit too the old Space station which orbited Bajor where his wife Jennifer and his twin children spent most of their time when not onboard the large city in space.

Something of a huge pride for the Captain was his elder son, Jake. Six months ago, Jake Sisko published his first novel across the Federation and currently working on his second novel. Being the son of the Emissary, his debut novel entitled 'My Father, The Emissary' had become a best seller on Bajor and the surrounding systems earning his son a large amount of respect. Based on his own experiences of his childhood and how the discovery of the wormhole or the Celestial Temple had effected his early life from the downfall of his father in the eyes of the Bajoran People too his so called resurrection as a religious icon, his book had almost outsold the religious books written by the Bajoran people themselves, giving a greater insight into the mind of his father and how the revelation of his connection too the Prophets had shaped his life and career.

Although Jake kept his follow up novel a closely guarded secret, many of the Bajoran people had attempted too gain an insight into the new book which was believed to be about the Langaran Plague, the Reman Unity and it's effects on the Alpha Quadrant and more importantly, the Bajoran People. In 2374, Jake Sisko moved out of his family quarters on Deep Space Nine at the age of 18, and moved into the personal quarters of a Bajoran Woman named Mardah after being engaged for only two weeks. Since his mother and two siblings moved too the old Space Station orbiting Bajor due too work related assignments, Jake Sisko often visited his father once a week for a meal and too catch up on their daily lives.

Exhausted from a long 36 hour shift in the command centre of his station, Benjamin Sisko walked towards his quarters yawning as the sound of footsteps running up from behind caught his attention. Sighing deeply, and without turning too see who was walking up behind him, he spoke with no respect for the person trying too catch his attention.

"Quark, I'm very tired… whatever it is, put it in writing!"

"For the record Captain Sisko, I am still waiting" Quark said as he stepped too the Captain's side.

"Waiting for what?" Sisko yawned once more.

"Starfleet has yet too make reparations after the death of my nephew onboard one of your… ships!"

Clenching his fists tightly, Sisko turned before he grabbed the Ferengi by his tunic and pushed him against the wall as he spoke with a deep voice.

"Nog, was a Starfleet officer. He knew and accepted the dangers that came with his Uniform…"

"As his… legal guardian, I was responsible for his safety. He joined your… Star-Fleet against my will"

"He made his choice… Ferengi!" Sisko growled. "Need I remind you, you are here at my will. Your government has constantly requested you return home too face trial. That could easily be arranged!"

"Release me sir!" Quark growled. "I expect the reparations to be made by close of business in two days time"

"You can expect a lot… In the eyes of your people, you should not even be trading. You where granted a… licence to trade within the Federation by ME! That licence is up for review in two months time… Do not anger me Quark!" Sisko growled as he threw him against the wall.

"Need I remind you who Nog's father was?"

"Need I remind YOU, your brother wants you back home too stand trial? Now, get out of my sight… good night!" Sisko smiled.

As he walked away from the strange little Ferengi, He smiled slightly as Quark yelled after him with a tone of voice which was supposed too sound menacing.

"You're making a mistake Sisko!"

"The only mistake I made Quark, was not turning you over too your government. Annoy me again, I shall have you removed from this station… and dragged back too Ferenginar by your lobes…"

Starfleet made contact with the Ferengi decades ago, although their vessels and technology where comparable too Starfleet at the time, little was known about the Ferengi as a species. Random attacks on Starships and outposts deep inside Federation space made the Ferengi seen as a possible threat to Starfleet. After several attacks by Ferengi vessels, official first contact was made by Commodore Matthew Decker on Stardate 4202.9 after the Starship Constellation rescued a crippled Ferengi Vessel from inside the Neutral Zone after it was attacked by what became known as a Reman Heavy Cruiser which prowled the region of space. Discovered to be far from the enemy Starfleet once believed them too be, they eventually signed a none aggression treaty with the Federation after attempting to make Reparations for the many attacks on Federation property.

Finally approaching his assigned quarters, Sisko yawned once more as he entered and looked around the darkened room.

"Lights!" He yawned. "Computer, lights!"

As the door closed behind him, the only light in the room was from the consoles on the far wall which he used as an unofficial office. Clenching his fists tight once more, he carefully entered his quarters before pain rippled through the back of his head as he lost his balance and fell too the floor unconscious.

Several minutes later, his eyes opened slowly as the throbbing pain from the back of his head took over him. Slowly, he tried too raise his hand to check for blood, only for his hands too be stopped by whatever was holding him down.

"What the… who's in here?" He called out. "Release me!"

From his chair, he could see a darkened out hooded figure working the consoles on the far wall.

"Who are you. What are you doing?" Sisko demanded.

Slowly, the figure stood and walked towards him. Kneeling before him, Sisko's eyes widened as he saw who was facing him.

"What are you doing?" Sisko said in shock.

"I'm sorry Ben… Sorry I had too hit you like that. I can't risk being seen… it's better for you if it looks like you've been taken hostage"

"Let me out of here"

"Trust me. I made sure there was no blood. You may have a headache for awhile until the painkillers kick in. I don't have much on me…"

"Let me loose, I can help you!" Sisko whispered.

"No need. I didn't kill him, I didn't kill anyone Ben. I've been set up"

"Steele… Jack, I can help you, you know that"

Slowly, he removed his hood as he looked at the Captain before him. His tired eyes told Sisko everything he needed too know in an instant as the stress of the last few days echoed in the young man's eyes.

"What happened?"

"It's a long story. I didn't mean for any of this too happen. You where supposed to be on duty, when you got back… you wouldn't have known anything, at least for awhile" Steele said with regret.

"Jack, let me help you!"

"No! I've gotten you into enough trouble as it is. Your rank, your career is almost over because of me. Every life I touch ends badly… I won't let that happen too Alison… or anyone else"

"Stop this Jack, turn yourself in. You can explain…"

"I've seen the video. They think I killed an Admiral out of revenge, how do you think that will go for the top brass? Everyone in Starfleet is looking for me, my only choice is to go underground until I sort this mess out" Steele sighed.

"And after that?"

"I don't know. Either I succeed… or I'll die trying" He said with regret.

"What about your wife?"

"Alison is… strong, she'll get over it!" He replied with regret.

"Jack… turn yourself in. There's something you should know…"

"All I know is, that I was framed for this… this goes all the way too the top Ben. I came here because I think I can trust you. You've put your career on the line for us many times…"

"Jack, the Enterprise is on her way here… She'll be here in six hours" Sisko said quickly.

"Then I have little time too act…"

Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, placing it on a sofa next too Sisko, he nodded slightly as he turned and walked towards the door, stopping for a moment, he turned as he spoke.

"Do me a favour, give that too Alison, she'll know what it means"

"What is it?" Sisko said as he nodded.

"My wedding ring… tell her if I survive this… I'll find her, she can give it back too me, assuming I fix this"

Slowly, Jack stepped forwards slightly as he spoke.

"Tell her, I'm sorry!"

"She's pregnant Jack…"

"What?" He said with a smile.

"Once the news broke, I contacted Enterprise. For her and your unborn child, turn yourself in!" Sisko begged.

"Then my… mission is more important too me. I can not allow my child too be born into a universe where I have been played, since the start. Those binds will dissolve soon… contact your security and tell them everything that happened here. Odo will know what too do, I've placed a file on your computer… just incase I fail"

"JACK!" Sisko yelled.

The sound of the door opening behind him made Jack turn quickly, seeing a figure in the doorway, he reacted purely on instinct as he raised his elbow with force connecting with the figure's jaw. As the figure fell too the floor, Jack looked on in shock as he looked at who he had hit. Quickly pulling the figure inside, he checked the figure for a pulse before he sighed with relief as Sisko looked on in shock.

"Jake!" He cried out.

"He's okay, his just knocked out for a moment… Ben, I'm sorry"

Grabbing a cushion off the closest chair, he placed it under Jake Sisko's head before he reached inside his pocket for a piece of medical equipment he was carrying. Healing the wound on Jake Sisko, he looked up at Ben as he attempted too force his way past the restraints before the binding on his left arm snapped from the sheer force, pulling off the bind on his right arm and legs, Sisko ran towards his son as Jack stood in shock.

"This is getting out of control. Sisko, hit me"

Standing, Sisko threw a powerful punch at the Lieutenant sending him crashing too the ground as blood ran from his nose and top lip. Staggering too his feet, he handed Sisko the Dermal Regenerator as he moved backwards slowly. Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulled out a Starfleet issue Phaser as he spoke.

"I'm sorry… I'll fix this"

Turning quickly, the door too Sisko's quarters opened once more as Jack came face to face with a young Bajoran woman, seeing Jake Sisko on the floor and the phaser in Jack's hand. The young woman screamed in terror before he ran out of Sisko's quarters and along the corridor. Running along the corridor, Jack checked if anyone was following him however, as he turned he ran into a Starfleet officer. Shocked at who ran into him, the officer backed away slowly as he reached for his communicator.

"O'Brian too Security… Jack Steele is onboard. Send a security team too my location… NOW!"

"I'm sorry sir!" Jack said quickly.

Swapping the phaser from his left hand too his right, he quickly reached back and punched O'Brian in his jaw. Catching him before he hit the ground, he lay him softly on the deck before he ran along the corridor as Starfleet Security beamed into their location and began chasing him through the Station. Phaser blasts slammed into the bulkheads and deck plating as Jack swiftly attempted too avoid the weapons fire, he was about too reach the safety of an airlock before phaser fire hit his lower back and he stumbled too the ground. Forcing himself too stand, he fired at the ground before the Security officers, forcing them too fall back before a hand grabbed his arm and pulled him into the airlock. Looking up with shock, Jack winced in pain as a voice called out too him.

"You look like crap Steele… I thought you could use the extra help!"

"Tom? Tom Paris?"

"I'm not the Easter bunny! I've got a ship waiting… She's not much, but she'll do!"

The End.

Star Trek: A Different Perspective. To Be Concluded in…

Star Trek DS9: A Different Perspective

Story by:

Ariston-1