Chapter Twenty-Six: Back in Command

This wasn't going to work, Dax realized as once again she gently suggested to Sisko what his orders should be, then heard him stumble over giving them. The crew called him sir as they had been directed, but she had seen the looks they gave each other when they thought no one was looking; they were losing respect for the commander as he had lost respect for himself.

She would have to talk to Bashir again, she determined; a week was certainly enough time for command to start to help if it was going to. She would strongly suggest that Bashir suspend Sisko from active duty, perhaps send him to Earth or some nearer planet for counseling.

She was jolted out of her musing by a cry from the crewman at one of the viewscreens. "Ship just uncloaked two degrees off the wormhole — she's firing, sir!"

"Shields on full — red alert!" Sisko and Dax both spoke the words at the same time, and Dax looked at the commander, startled. He was leaning forward in his chair, all trace of the slave gone from his features. "Put that ship onscreen," he ordered tersely.

"Onscreen, sir," the crewman responded, the word falling naturally from his lips now.

Dax gasped softly at the image of a ship that appeared on the large screen. "The Cayman," she breathed. "Digator's ship, sir"

"Is that so?" Sisko murmured softly, dangerously. "Hail them, Old Man — and don't let my face show in the transmission."

"Aye, sir," she responded almost gladly; despite the danger, she nearly smiled just at having an order from him to obey.

"Deep Space Nine calling Cayman; you have fired without provocation on a Federation space station in time of peace."

Digator's hypocritically smiling face appeared on the screen. "And are you the commander of that station, my girl?"

At a gesture from Sisko, the transmission switched to him. "No. I am."

Digator looked as if he had seen a ghost, dark spots standing out in sharp relief on his face. "You!" he breathed. "But you were supposed to be…" He trailed off, his eyes darting back and forth as if realizing he might have said too much.

Sisko smiled grimly. "Did you truly think so little of my crew's ability to get me back, Digator?"

"I really have no idea what you're talking about," Digator said smoothly, recovering his poise and with it his species' seeming command of everyone around him.

"We both know you do," Sisko said with equal assurance in his voice. But a moment later, he had softened. "I know why you did it, Salli," he said gently, using Digator's childhood pet name. "And I want to tell you I'm sorry…for what I did to you when we were children."

Dax scowled; Sisko might well owe Digator an apology for those old offenses, but she felt now was hardly the time for it. But she kept silent, wishing to do nothing to undermine the authority Sisko had finally found again.

Digator threw back his head and laughed. "So, is that what you think this is about?" he asked finally, tears running down his face.

"Isn't it?" Sisko asked quietly.

The Manthracite sobered, his eyes hardening into narrow slits of obsidian. "Yes," he hissed, his voice taking on the reptilian accents of his homeworld. "You humiliated me, 'Benji' — and no one humiliates a Manthracite!"

"Yet you did far more than humiliate me."

"Call it interest and back pay — if such things can be measured. Humiliation is far worse to a Manthracite than physical pain, so I think my retaliation was indeed in kind. Not that I should have to explain myself to you," he added with the scorn of someone who believed Sisko was less than nothing. "And how did you find out it was me? If that sniveling Ferengi told…"

Cold anger blazed in Sisko's eyes; Dax found herself thinking that if the amplification of a Manthracite's eyes worked over the communicator, the commander would be ready to kill. "You won't touch Quark, or any resident of this station," he fairly growled, and Dax couldn't help wondering if the power was at work.

Digator's eyes narrowed. "You and your petty space station are powerless to stop me, Sisko; I will do whatever I want to whomever I want."

"Not on my station, you won't," Sisko insisted coldly. "You don't scare me anymore, Digator. Sisko out." He brought his hand down sharply on the arm of his chair, signaling the communications officer to end the transmission.

"Get a tractor beam on that ship," he ordered quietly; "I don't want him getting away again." He tapped his combadge. "Sisko to Security."

"Security; Odo here."

"Prepare at team to beam to the ship Cayman and arrest its captain for attempted murder of a Starfleet officer."

"Aye, sir," Odo said instantly, not questioning his commander's orders or asking yet for more information.

Dax caught her breath at the charge, but she supposed murder really was the best term for what Digator had tried to do. She looked closely at Sisko, but saw no hint in his features that it was vengeance he was seeking.

"Tractor holding, sir."

"Sir, the Cayman's hailing us."

"Ignore him; he has nothing more to say that I want to hear."

Moments later Odo and five security officers poured into Ops, heading straight for the transporters.

"Lower shields just long enough to beam them over," Sisko warned.

"Why isn't he shielded?" Dax mused, almost under her breath.

Sisko half shrugged. "Arrogance?" he suggested.

"Let's just hope his 'arrogance' doesn't turn out to be well-founded," Dax said soberly in the instant before Odo and his men transported. "He had the technology to create that transporter program, don't forget."

"Yes, but you beat him," Sisko reminded her. "No matter what he has, I know my crew here can beat him again."

Dax grinned. "With you at its head," she agreed. "Welcome back, Commander Sisko."

Epilogue coming next week! (…hopefully)

I proofread all my stories at least once before posting, but if you see any mistakes I might have missed, please let me know!

Please note that I have internet access only once a week, and may not have time to respond to all reviews/messages. If you have questions regarding my Deep Space Nine alternate history, check my profile first to see if they're answered there. Thanks for your understanding! Barbie