Aisling--Siobhan--stepped through the open pneumatic doors and into the halls of Deep Space Nine. Her nose crinkled at the familiar smell of duranium and crowds. Captain Picard disembarked as well, and he nodded at Sisko and Kira.

"Welcome back," Captain Sisko greeted them both with a smile. "I believe we all know each other?"

Major Kira, Captain Picard, and Aisling all nodded; they were all at least aquainted.

"Good," Sisko said. "If you both would come with me?"

Picard blinked in mild surprise, and they followed Captain Sisko briskly down the hall.

The lot of them ended up joining O'Brien, Captain Data, Garak, Dax, Huford, and Moira in the wardroom. The company rose as two captains walked in--including Data, who stood out of respect for Picard and Sisko though he wasn't outranked.

At Sisko's gesture, everyone settled into their seats.

"Everyone, please welcome Captain Picard," Sisko began. A polite but earnest applause swept through the room. Sisko nodded, and he continued after the noise died off.

"Captain, thank you for joining us," Sisko said.

"You're quite welcome," Picard offered politely. "Is someone going to tell me what's going on?"

Sisko drew back, surprise evident on his face.

"Aisling hasn't filled you in?" Sisko asked.

Picard's expression became unreadable, and he turned to stare blandly at Aisling.

"I didn't tell him a thing," Aisling declared. "Though since I'm this much embroiled in your conflict, I will give the assembled a boon."

Aisling stood and the room regarded her curiously. Moira, in particular, was eyeing her old friend warily.

"My name is not, as you say Captain Sisko, Aisling," she began. "Aisling is a title, one in service to the queen. My name, as is proper and true, is Siobhan."

Sisko steepled his hands and inclined his head deeply.

"Very good," he commented for lack of better comment to make. "However, as delighted as I am to be entrusted with such a prize, we have very important matters at hand."

Siobhan inclined her head graciously as she reseated herself, and she gestured for Sisko to continue.

Sisko, with help from various other people in the room, gave Picard a crash course on the goings on to date.

Afterward, Picard wasn't even given any time to absorb that before Data and Bashir launched into the problem of the virus.

Siobhan and Moira turned white about halfway through Bashir's explanation.

"Let me see the scans," Moira demanded quietly once the briefing was finished.

Bashir glanced at Sisko, and at his slight nod, Bashir brought the scans up on the visual display.

"Oh my god," Siobhan breathed as her eyes widened.

"Fuck," Moira agreed distinctly.

"What is it?" Ezri asked. "What's wrong, what do you see?"

Moira turned to face Ezri and simply started shaking her head over and over.

"That's a souped of version of Elf Shot," Siobhan said in a strangled voice. "The original was banned, permanently, in our society. It's maiden deployment wiped out nearly a third of the human population at the time."

Several people surged to their feet, Kira among them. Bashir goggled at the enormity of the figure.

"But Bajor--" Kira began in a taut voice, but Moira cut her off with a raised hand.

"I will do everything in my power to stop the spread of this blight," Moira pledged. "But I need to go to Bajor as soon as possible."

Kira bit back the scathing reply on her tongue, and she simply nodded wordlessly.

"Why not bring Aisling--or Siobhan, rather--with you?" Garak asked. "Surely two minds are better than one?"

Moira glanced at Siobhan before answering; Siobhan gave the barest of nods. Moira returned her focus to Garak.

"She's of no use to me, hobbled like she is to this plane," Moira commented.

"I beg your pardon?" Garak replied, mystified. Dax and Bashir also leaned forward, intrigued.

Moira paused to consider her words.

"Siobhan, when you first met her, was locked into the energetic realm, yes?" Moira asked Garak directly.

Garak nodded.

"Well," Moira continued, "when the Prophets returned her to her physical state, they didn't release her, they--how to explain it?"

Moira tapped her face in thought, and Siobhan interjected.

"It's like they turned my bonds inside out, in a way," Siobhan offered. Moira nodded, inspired.

"Yes, exactly!" Moira replied. "Well, more or less," she ammended.

Garak blinked at her, mystified still.

"If your people locked her in one form, why not release her now?" he asked.

Moira paused again, obviously hesitant to continue.

"I lack the ability," she replied cautiously.

Garak stared pensively at her, but he didn't press any further.

"Well," Sisko said lightly, cutting across the tension. "As enlightening as this meeting has been, all things must come to a close. Does anyone have any further business to discuss here?"

The room was silent, and a few people shook their heads slightly.

"Alright, then," Sisko said. "Dismissed!"

XXIX END CHAPTER XXIX

Author's Notes: Sooo I didn't mean, plan, or even really realize that last chapter was such a cliffhanger. This chapter is meant to kind of be Right after last chap, tho, even if the action picks up a little bit differently.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Thank you for reading this far, and an extra big shout-out to anyone who takes the time to favorite, follow, or especially review. You guys make my day, every time.