James T Kirk: The Next Generation

Cat play!

Featuring

William T Riker and

Benjamin Sisko

The sunrise on Bajor, seen from the front porch of Benjamin Sisko's home, was always stunning, or so, that's what Ben always believed. In fact, instead of sleeping in, which most retired folks did, Ben Sisko always got up bright and early just so that he could brew a cup of coffee, flip some pancakes, and then sit back and watch the sun do its thing.

Kasidy Sisko, Ben's wife for many years, did not care to get up early, nor did their teenage daughter Rebecca. They were women, and if there was one thing Ben Sisko knew about women; they loved to buy shoes and sleep in. And that was fine with him. So, with a plate of pancakes in one hand, a cup of coffee in the other, Ben Sisko made his way to the front porch.

But he wasn't exactly alone, for as it would happen, the Sisko's had recently adopted a stray cat that had wandered on to their property. The cat had such a mish-mash of colors, it defied naming. Ben wanted to call the cat Swirl, because of its unique coloring. Kasidy favored calling the cat Abstract, but it was Rebecca who had won out. The stray cat's name became Klingon-Kitty. It wasn't the perfect name, in fact, Ben found it to be too fluffy, but, Rebecca insisted and so it was set in stone, such was the power a teenage girl had.

But there was Klingon-Kitten, sitting on the small table next to the rocking chair Ben sat in every morning to watch the sunrise. And, as usual, Ben had also prepared four strings of bacon. Two strings for Klingon-Kitten and two strings for himself. Ben sat back on the rocking chair, and placed the two strings of bacon on the chair for the feline to devour. And just as he was about enjoy his meal, in the distance: he saw the unmistakable shimmering effect of a Transporter signal.

The shimmering effect solidified into an old friend; Captain William T Riker. Sisko and Riker had become friends during the design of the Defiant many years ago on Mars. Ben Sisko was a different man back then, torn by the anger of losing his wife to the Borg. If Sisko had a friend in those times, it was William T Riker.

Riker came over to the porch, smiling at seeing Sisko feeding bacon to a cat.

"I think I've lived to see it all," Riker said with a chuckle. "As I recall, you hated cats back on Mars."

"Actually, I don't really care for them now," Sisko said as he smiled down at the cat, "however, this cat and I have become breakfast companions."

Riker looked at the round tummy on the cat.

"I can see that," Riker said, as he walked up the wooden stairs of the porch, and then pulled over one of the unused fold-up chair that was leaning against the railing.

"I'm sorry about Thomas," Ben said, in a somber tone. "He was a good man."

"There's no need to be sorry," Riker said, "he died saving someone's life. If I have the chance to go like that, that's the way I hope it happens."

Sisko stepped into the house, and brought out the coffee pot and another cup. As he poured Riker a cup, he looked at Riker.

"You're starting to sound like a Klingon, wanting to die with honor in some heroic act," Sisko said with a slight laugh.

Riker took the coffee offered to him, took a sip, and a strained look came over his face.

"For a man who claims to be a gourmet chef," Riker said, now with a hoarse voice, "you still can't make a decent up of coffee."

"Ahh," Sisko said suddenly, "there she is," he pointed towards the distance.

A pinprick of sunlight could be seen. Thanks to the morning haze, staring directly at the pinprick wasn't a problem. And as each second passed, the prick expanded, setting off steps of sunlight upon the valley in the distance; the view was stunning.

"I never tire of seeing of that."

"Ben," Riker said, as they watched the sun rise, "what the hell is going on with Jim Kirk? Admiral Janeway is being tight lipped about it."

"The last I heard," Sisko told Riker, "was that Kirk made it to Trianguli Gamma VI. Ever sense that time, Starfleet has done a very good job containing any information it may have."

"What about O'Brien and Commander Nog?" Riker asked. "I would think, you're being their former commander, Janeway would keep you filled in."

"Ever since I was accused of helping Kirk's wife, I haven't been briefed at all," Sisko said. "Janeway knows why I did it, and for appearance sake, she is keeping her distance."

"Did you help her?" Riker asked with a knowing smile.

"Of course I did," Sisko replied. "She is safe inside that Vulcan embassy, and will remain there until this is all cleared up." He poured himself another cup of coffee. "What about you," Sisko said to Riker, "why are you so interested in what Kirk is doing?"

"Oh I don't know," Riker replied. "I guess, just like you, when I was a kid, I was thrilled when I read about the exploits of Kirk's Enterprise. And now here he is, alive and well in our time, and I guess I want to help."

"William," Sisko said, "you're the Captain of your own starship. Your first duty is to your ship."

"I'm a starship commander without a ship. The Titan has put in for some refits, and I've got a month of leave stored up," Riker said. "I want something to do."

"Alright," Sisko finally said. "Go to DS9 and contact Quark. Tell him I sent you, and give him the following code; Grand Nagus. He is operating on point with this entire ordeal."

"You have to be kidding me," Riker said. "Quark is on point?"

"Yes, and he is taking his role very seriously," Sisko replied. "Apparently making sure Spock survives is a chief concern of his, considering all the business his association with the Vulcan ambassador has generated over the years."

Riker stood up.

"Very well," Riker said, as he downed his acid tasting coffee. "Do you want to come? It might be fun?"

Sisko shook his head.

"I can't," Sisko said, "Kasidy has me in total lock-down."

"I understand," Riker said with a slight laugh.

Riker reached down and petted the cat.

"You take care of yourself, and go easy on the bacon with this one," Riker said, "actually," Riker said, as he felt the cat's round tummy, "I think you better prepare for kittens."

A worried look came over Sisko's face.

"I'd guess," Riker said as he felt the cat's tummy, "seven or eight kittens are in your future."

And with that, Riker stepped off of the porch and beamed away, leaving Sisko to worry about the impending arrival of Klingon-kitten's kittens.

Earth…

Worf piloted the shuttle craft loaned to him by Captain Riker and landed it at the spaceport located near Moscow Russia.

He had arrived with Alexander's coffin, and would meet up with his step-mother later in the day to intern it at the family lot.

As Worf exited the shuttle craft and then entered the spaceport to arrange housing of the craft during his stay, he was unaware that he was being watched by a someone had also arrived at the spaceport to grieve over the death of Alexander…the person, a woman of mixed Klingon/Human lineage.

She also wondered if Worf would accept the fact that she was Alexander's twin-sister; and a child of Worf's as well.

continued...