Aventine - Station Deep Space Nine, Episode 6

by HumanMawile

Voyager returns to Deep Space Nine, brining a new prize. But old ghost return to haunt both crews and change lives. Ezri Dax faces down the Klingon Civil War after encountering a lost Klingon artifact, Zee Tigan makes a life changing choice, Julian and Ro make the next move in their chess game against the Sheliak, and Vic Fontaine steps out of his holosuite to see the outside world

Station Deep Space Nine

Episode 6

"Aventine"

TW: mind r*pe, sibling incest, illicit drugs and addiction mention

Starring:

Lt. Commander Ezri Dax

Captain Kira Nerys

Lt. Commander B'Elanna Torres-Paris

Commander Chakotay

Zee Tigan

Kes

Lt. Commander Tuvok

Crewmen Diala and Yelina Tylittle

Admiral Kathryn Janeway

Lieutenant Tom Paris-Torres

Doctor Shmullus van Gogh

Ensign Annika Hansen (Seven of Nine)

Doctor Julian Bashir

Chief Ro Laren

Ensign Terin Holm

Lieutenant Harry Kim

Captain Elias Vaughn

Worf, Son of Mogh

Captain Jean-Luc Picard

Vic Fontaine

Lieutenant Nog

Lusara Belli

Quark

Stardate 55501.3 and counting (2378)

Last time on Star Trek: Station Deep Space Nine

The great Chancellor Martok was killed by Toral, Son of Duras. This sparked a civil war between the poor of Qo'noS and the Old Klingon Empire. Worf and his brother Kurn were exiled from the Empire as Members of the House of Martok. Kurn rediscovered his original identity with the help of Ezri Dax and Kej'Ikon. He has chosen to fight for the Klingon Rebellion. Worf also has come to reject the Empire, choosing to return to his life on the Enterprise that he left years ago, but not before imploring with Ezri to save the House of Martok, as blood sister to Jadzia, should the time come…

Ezri Dax has returned from the Enterprise and has been thrust into the role of command after passing a difficult test. For the first time, Ezri has found value in her past host's connection with the Klingons. Hearing the Words of Worf, who quoted the first Kahless, Ezri has grown a new confidence and become the first officer of DS9.

Julian Bashir has enlisted the help of Ro Laren in forming a group within the Federation before the Sheliak can gain a foothold. They set their sights on former Maquis…

Introduction – Not of the Body

As told by Tuvok

A voice cries out in the blackness. She is old… decrepit… struggling for breath. There is panic in her voice, and fury. Across space and time, she searches… hunting… desperate… familiar…

She whispers across the cosmos… all that is left of her fading memory, "My mind… to your mind… my thoughts to your thoughts…"

Her frustration grows, as does the volume of her voice, "My mind to your mind… my thoughts to your thoughts…!"

The stars rush past as the spirit searches, bending the universe to her will.

"Tuvok…" She begs hoarsely. "Help me Tuvok…"

Flashes of the past, of hands tending to plants… of Vulcan… lighting meditation fires. Gas giants… Supernovas… the Q… the fury awakens!

"No! No Tuvok! Hear me! HEAR ME!" The spirit wails.

Flashes of blue as the spirits sees the wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant… sensing the power of the Bajoran Prophets. It grows louder… louder. It exits, passing by station Deep Space Nine.

"NO! NO NO NO!" The voice screeches. "YOU DID THIS TO ME! YOU WILL NOT ABANDON ME NOW!"

The stars fly by at warp speed as the spirit approaches two vessels. A smaller one… Intrepid refi-class. The spirit finds her way through the corridors of the USS Voyager, like a magnet drawn to its counterpart. Tuvok rests in his quarters… his sleep distrubed as the spirit approaches.

"Please Tuvok! Please… please…" She cries… begs. The spirit approaches Tuvok, joining with his mind.

Tuvok jolts upward from a fitful sleep, eyes wide with terror. He cries out in recognition, "Kes!"

Chapter One – A Tall Ship

As Told by Ezri Dax

Station log, Stardate 55501.3, first officer reporting: It's barely my first month on the job and Nerys… The captain… has assigned me the distinct pleasure of greeting an important group to Deep Space Nine… The crew of the USS Voyager and her former Captain. After nearly six months of refitting the ship, awards, promotions, and participation on a new project, the Voyager crew has returned to Deep Space Nine nearly seven years since it's departure from the station. And they come bearing gifts…

I adjusted my collar at the docking port, Terin bracing on his cane next to me, and Ro pacing impatiently. Time to meet another hero. I thought to myself. As the doors opened, out emerged Admiral Kathryn Janeway. With her were Commander Chakotay, Lieutenant Harry Kim, and our old XO: Captain Elias Vaughn.

I smiled and extended my hand, "Admiral. It's a pleasure to meet you!" I was starting to get used to greeting dignitaries after my time on the Enterprise. I liked it a lot better than Nerys did, which was why I ended up doing it so much.

The Admiral wore her hair up in a bun and the standard admiral's uniform, clad in a gold belt.

She took my hand with a firm shake much stronger than my own, "The pleasure's mine! It's good to be back in the Alpha Quadrant."

We began to walk, "Captain Kira will meet us in the wardroom for the meeting," I said. "She asked me to extend her apologies. Her meeting with the First Minister coincided with this meeting so she is finishing up with him first."

Janeway seemed totally unoffended, "My understanding of the captain is that she still prefers to prioritize her own people. I can understand that. I often feel the same way myself."

Commander Chakotay smiled, "I think it's safe to say the entire Quadrant would understand that after the War."

"Well…" I said. "I certainly can, Deep Space Nine has become my home, too. Though Admiral Beckford might disagree with Nerys'" I cleared my throat with a blush. "er… that is… the captain's priorities."

The Admiral seemed endeared by my affection for Nerys… though I don't know if she realized just how far it goes… She looked to Chakotay and spoke to both of us, "It seems like a tight knit station… If we hadn't been flung into the Delta Quadrant those years ago, we might've stopped by enough to be part of the family."

"Maybe so!" I smiled politely.

Ro seemed to be stealing worried glances to Chakotay… perhaps she recognized him?

Admiral Janeway spoke up, "Oh, that reminds me. The rest of our senior bridge staff will be in the wardroom soon, they just have a few things to tie up."

"That's perfectly alright." I said. "Maybe I can give you a tour of the Promenade?"

"Oh, come now commander…" She laughed. "I may be an Admiral now but that doesn't mean I need any special treatment."

I shrugged smirking adaptively, "Maybe I should take you to Quark's bar then?"

She laughed.

We ended up taking a short walk of the Promenade before meeting with the full staff and Nerys in Wardroom. We had an exciting topic to discuss. Admiral Janeway, Commander Chakotay, Lt. Commander Tuvok, Lieutenant Kim, Lieutenant Paris, Lieutenant Torres, and the former Borg that her crewmates called Seven of Nine sat at the wardroom table. Seven of Nine had a science uniform on with the rank of Ensign. On the monitor was the refit USS Voyager. The ship appeared different from a usual intrepid class. It had slightly thicker hull, and the saucer section resembled a spear tip, coming to a point at the front. The Warp nacelles were almost one quarter longer than the original Intrepid class' nacelles. Finally, the ship had up to date impulse engines slapped on the back of the arrowhead section that conform with modern Sovereign class specs, though they appear somewhat tacked-on, rather than integrated.

Janeway stood to present for Nerys, myself, Terin, Julian, Ro, Simon Tarses, and Captain Vaughn.

"As you know," She begin. "When Voyager returned six months ago, it immediately required an overhaul to get up to date with current specifications. Not only that; the data Voyager gathered in the Delta Quadrant, as well as future technology from time travel, had Starfleet engineers marveling and studying. Through both of these processes they quickly produced a new class of ship designed for long-term exploration which might be better equipped to handle unexpected missions."

She hit a few buttons and, on the screen, came a fancy new ship.

She continued her presentation with pride, "Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to present to you the Vesta class. Starfleet's first multi-mission explorer designed to be versatile in combat, speedy, and if necessary, sustain a crew of seven-hundred for years at a time."

The Admiral sat down and turned to Seven of Nine, "Seven?" She said.

Seven of Nine stood up now and hit a few buttons on the screen, showing us what was probably the coolest new feature of the ship. Seven spoke firmly, much like a Vulcan, "The Vesta is the first vessel apart from Voyager to be equipped with an Astrometrics lab. The lab has its own exclusive bio-neural circuitry to allow for near full galactic imagery within a few sectors of the ship's position. Using the bio-neural packs, the Vesta class will have an enormous asset that few other ships can risk. The vessel is also equipped with a full transpectral sensor array."

B'Elanna Torres had her turn next, she seemed nervous, as many engineers do about their presnetations, "Perhaps the most exciting feature, as an engineer, is the engines. The warp core can sustain a top speed of warp 9.9 but even more exciting is that, when necessary, the ship can switch to the prototype 'quantum slipstream drive.'"

Terin nudged me, "Oh I can't wait to try that." I smiled with excitement back to him.

Lieutenant Paris piped up in response, "Not if I try it first."

Lt. Torres continued, smirking at Mr. Paris, "unfortunately the slipstream drive uses most of the power in the ship so it's only to be used for emergencies. There were significant problems with the drive on the prototype ship, which meant that engineers had to go back to the drawing board and redesign her. The USS Vesta is sitting at Starbase Twelve undergoing refit as we speak, however, when designing the next Vesta class, the engineers manage to find the flaws and correct them on the drawing board." You could hear the stress behind her voice. She was the one who did a lot of that…

Janeway gestured to the window, "If you will follow me…"

We all stood at the wardroom windows. Janeway hit her combadge.

"Mr. Ayala, we're ready for you." She declared.

Around the corner of the station came flying the sleekest ship I had ever seen. About three quarters the size of a sovereign class and somewhat reminiscent of Voyager itself, the Ship has a rounded arrowhead shaped saucer, like the Intrepid, and long warp nacelles out the back. There is no separation between the saucer and engineering section as the engineering section makes up the bulk of the ship. No doubt to make room for the slipstream drive. I looked to Terin with awe, and he looked back. The schematics did not do it justice. The Impulse engine pulsed with power; the nacelles glowed regally.

Terin whispered to me, "I think I'm in love…"

Janeway announced, "Allow me to present the USS Aventine polished with a bottle of 2346 and ready for shakedown under the Command of Captain Elias Vaughn. This ship is officially assigned to Deep Space Nine for long term missions into the largely unexplored Gamma Quadrant. Voyager's daughter ship is the perfect fit for this task. She will be Bajor's new companion, and we believe her to be in good hands."

Commander Tuvok spoke up, "The ship is… equipped with Quantum torpedoes…" He winced, appearing to be in pain.

"Tuvok?" Janeway said.

He paused, "Forgive me, the ship is equipped with prototype plasma torpedoes as well… and both phaser blasters like the Defiant, and phaser arcs, as seen on the Sovereign class. It…" He held his head.

"Tuvok?" Janeway said with more concern.

After pause undercut by shame Tuvok requested, "I am… not well Admiral… permission to be relieved?"

She hesitated, "…granted… I expect a report later."

"You shall have it…" He left.

After an awkward pause, Chakotay spoke, "We have a small celebration planned for the christening of your new ship if you'd like to join us, but otherwise, that concludes the meeting.

I stared at the ship awhile as people left, NCC-82602… USS Aventine…

Vaughn, Paris, Terin, and Torres stayed with us.

Vaughn spoke, "Named after a founding hill of Rome… fitting…"

Mr. Paris spoke up next, "Wasn't it also the place where an revolution started?"

My mind turned to the Klingons when he said that. Something similar was happening there.

Vaughn didn't answer.

Paris turned to me next, "What about you… beautiful ship isn't it… and it looks like you get to be first officer."

I smirked without looking at him.

Terin winked at Paris, "She like starships, give her a second."

"Funny aren't you the pilot here?" I said to him with a sarcastic smile.

Paris smirked and said, "There's an old human quote form an ancient explorer… 'All I ask is a tall ship, and a star to steer her by.'"

Lt. Torres laughed… (or scoffed?) at him, "Never thought I'd hear you reciting poetry."

Harry Kim called from the door, "Hey, remember he's an 'old salt'. Janeway said."

Paris became slightly defensive, "what?"

"Isn't that John Masefield?" I said.

"You know human poetry?" He said with shock.

I shrugged, "I grew up on a human colony, I used to lock myself in my room and read poetry, science fiction… you name it… Just dreaming to get out there…"

"I see." Paris said. "Well, this is a childhood dream come true for you isn't it?"

I turned to the ship again, pondering, "I... I guess it is, isn't it?" It didn't feel real.

I began to wonder again if my dream of escaping my home was more than just getting way from my mother… I had that same urge to run off now…

Chapter Two - Violation

As told by Ezri Dax

We arrived later at Quark's for the get together. Lieutenant Paris, Lieutenant Torres, and Lieutenant Kim were at the bar talking to Quark himself and I overheard some of their conversation.

Kim spoke to Quark, "Do you remember seven years ago? You tried to scam me over some crystals?"

Quark acted baffled, though he also didn't seem to recognize Mr. Kim at all. I had no way of knowing who was telling the truth but somehow, I suspected Quark was at fault.

In defensiveness, Quark said, "Not at all… I only run an honest business. But remember customer satisfaction is not guaranteed."

Kim retorted calmly, "But I didn't buy them. Thanks to my friend here."

Paris smiled sarcastically, "We just thought we'd thank you. If you hadn't tried to scam him… we might never have become friends." Paris patted Kim on the back.

Quark smiled nervously, "I assure you I never scammed anyone, but whatever I did… I'm glad I could be of service…" He took a sip of something green colored he had made, "Now… what did you say your names were again?" I rolled my eyes at the conversation and smiled, allowing it to pass. Quark's greed had a certain charm, though I couldn't be sure if it was just nostalgia.

At my own table were the commander, the admiral, and Ro. Now that we were in a less formal setting, Chakotay turned to Ro Laren, "I'm glad to see you've found some success outside of Starfleet, Laren."

Ro smirked with what appeared to be disappointment, "I wasn't sure you recognized me at first."

"Oh no." The commander said, "I knew you were assigned here when we were briefed for this assignment… I just didn't want to interrupt anyone with heartfelt reunions."

Ro seemed almost angry at Chakotay, with a clear suppression of feeling, "I didn't expect to see you back in Starfleet…"

Chakotay took her hostility in stride, as if he were familiar with it, "Well… Starfleet was generous to our crew in light of our contribution to Voyager… we got off with formal reprimands for our time in the Maquis… so it's unlikely I'll ever make Captain... at least not without unique circumstances."

Janeway rejected this, holding a finger up for us to wait as she finished a sip of coffee, "You will if I have anything to say about it."

The Admiral and Chakotay clearly had an affection for one another. I suppose seven years all alone would do that to any small ship.

Ro didn't seem concerned with the fact he was in Starfleet though, "We could have used you I the war… you had the best crew… When you were gone there weren't many good leaders left besides me and Michael Eddington…"

"Eddington?!" Chakotay seemed surprised. My mind was flooded with memories of Benjamin's fury at Eddington. He poisoned an entire planet… It was uncomfortable… I remembered how Jadzia felt about it… she believed Ben had confirmed Eddington's beliefs about him… Then, that was the point…

Ro continued, "Yep… He went from being the annoying tactical officer to being the biggest hero we ever had… He died only after the Federation released him to enlist his help again the Dominion."

Chakotay blinked, affected by the news, "I read that he had died... but I didn't realize the other Maquis began to see him as a leader… I wish I had been there…"

"Wasn't your fault." Ro said. She spoke as if she didn't really believe it, and with vague bitterness.

A familiar voice pierced the mourning atmosphere and sent a chill down my spine.

Zee's voice called over to us sensually as she approached our table, "I hate to interrupt the all the grieving, but I see a gorgeous Admiral sitting all by herself without the company of another woman." She looked to me, "Or at least not a gorgeous woman who she's allowed to pursue…" She winked at me. Lusara was hiding behind Zee… she seemed to be afraid of something.

The Admiral seemed confused at first, glancing to me, "Is this your sister…?"

My face turned bright red. Before I had the chance to speak, Zee took the Admiral's hand and said, "Zee Tigan, at your service." Then she kissed her hand slowly, while making direct eye contact with the admiral.

I turned to the Admiral desperately as my thoughts raced. This is the end… this is how my career in command comes crashing down.

I frantically tried to reassure the Admiral, "Admiral… I am SO sorry about this…"

But Janeway just laughed, almost as if she were charmed… or amused.

Janeway politely took her hand away and shook Zee's hand, "Delighted to meet you Ms. Tigan. Though if you don't mind my saying, I think I may be a bit too old for you."

Zee was utterly undeterred, "That never stopped me before." She sat down with us. Lusara ducked behind her as she did.

Janeway turned to Chakotay with an amused smile, "I'm afraid I'll have to decline the offer… That is if I understand the offer you're making."

Zee was still undeterred, "Well okay… but I'll be around if you change your mind… In the meantime, my friend wants to meet your commander…"

Lu hid her face, "Oh my gosh…" She was blushing intensely.

Chakotay greeted Lu with an open gaze as Janeway said, "I think you have a fan."

Chakotay smiled, "I never realized there were Ferengi who respected me."

Lu stood slowly, "I… I used to be in Starfleet… but I always admired the Maquis… especially you and your ship… rejecting authority… doing what's right…"

Zee winked, "And she has the hots for you."

"Zeezee!" Lu blushed, making a face of contempt at her, "You promised!"

Chakotay laughed with only slight embarrassment, "Well there's nothing wrong with a little admiration."

My face was fully in my palm as the scene before me collapsed, but at least Janeway was having a blast. Zee started to subtly hold her head… I knew she had been having headaches, but it looks like her prescription wasn't helping…

Lu looked up shyly, "I… I just wanted to meet you… you're one of my heroes… I had to fight my way off my planet… and you had to fight to keep your homes… then you got lost… I feel lost a lot too…" She paused a moment, as if scanning for something else say, but there was nothing, "I'm sorry I'm not sure what I'm saying anymore…"

"Don't worry," Chakotay said. "I'm not offended. It's nice to meet you." He shook her hand. "And what's your name?"

As they shook, Lu's face grew excited, "Just call me Lu!" She looked as if she were going to melt. I quietly smirked at her innocent fascination with him. Frankly, it was cute… in the same way that a child meeting her favorite superhero might be. Or was that just me?

"You mentioned you were in Starfleet," Chakotay asked. "Why did you leave?"

Lu looked down, "It's a long story... but basically I got fed up. The Federation is so authority driven…" She looked over at the rest of us. "Uhm… no offense…"

"None taken," Janeway said with a smile.

"Well…" Chakotay took a sip of water. "I will say that the Maquis had its share of problems too… brawls over leadership… infiltrators…" Chakotay said. "As a matter of fact, one of my trusted Lieutenants turned out to be a Federation spy… The order on Voyager was sometimes preferable to that sort of atmosphere of distrust. Have you considered reentering Starfleet?"

Lu pondered, "Well… sometimes… I've always loved science…."

Janeway piped up, "Is that so? I started as a scientist myself."

"Really?" Lu seemed genuinely surprised.

"That's right. In fact, it was the officer Chakotay mentioned who helped me become truly serious about Command." She said.

Lu seemed skeptical.

Zee interrupted with flirtatious, "'Serious about Command'… I love woman who can take charge…"

Janeway rolled her eyeswit ha muzement as I prepared to apologize again, but I didn't get the chance.

"Kathryn." Chaoktay said, touching the Admiral's arm. He gestured her toward the entrance.

"Well speak of the devil." Janeway said.

Commander Tuvok stood at the entrance. He seemed to be scanning the room for something. He was sweating and twitching.

"Tuvok?" Janeway called, "How are you feeling?"

Tuvok ignored her, but then locked eyes with Zee of all people…

He then began to yell, "My mind to your mind… my THOUGHTS TO YOUR THOUGHTS!" It was as if he were possessed.

He charged to her powerfully. Zee stood fast, immediately pulling her long knife, "Whoa whoa! Back off!"

Ro stood up as half the patron of Quarks hid or ran. Ro blocked Tuvok off, "where do you think you're-?

Tuvok interrupted her by pushing her away with Vulcan strength. This threw her across the room.

I hit my badge, "Security and medical teams to Quark's!"

Several of us tried to stop Tuvok and we were all pushed aside. When I was pushed my head hit a table and I cried out in pain. He seemed an unstoppable force.

Janeway was pushed away as well and started to yell at Tuvok, "Tuvok! Stand down! That's an order!"

Tuvok turned to Janeway with terrifying eyes. His voice was not that of an unemotional Vulcan, but an angry voice that seemed somehow softer even within the anger. "I won't listen to you anymore Captain Janeway! Not anymore!"

Lusara yelled out, "What's going on? Please don't hurt her!"

Tuvok backed Zee into a corner. Zee swung her knife at him, "I've fought Vulcans before… I won't be easy to kill." There was pure hatred in her voice. The swing missed as Tuvok dodged perfectly.

Tuvok spoke with that same altered voice but now panicked… and guilty, "I'm not here to kill you… I must survive… I am… sorry…"

Zee snapped, "Like hell!" She swung again, giving Tuvok the chance to grab her arm. This was not effective as Zee simply swung around her arm acrobatically and kicked him in the face with her sharp heeled boots. This freed her arm. The crowd gasped.

Zee spung around and tried to stab him, but he dodged easily. But it was merely a feint. Zee managed a few slices on his arms with the distraction, and then went for his throat. As she was about to kill him in self-defense… her knife froze. She grunted, trying pushed back against whatever invisible force was in her way. Tuvok's face convulsed and rattled. He was using some sort of mental powers to hold Zee in place.

Zee growled in hatred and confusion while Tuvok's nose bled, and he screamed.

Tuvok then managed to take the knife from Zee and grab her.

"No!" I screamed. Charging after Tuvok again. A rage come over me. I refused to let him hurt her… she'd been hurt enough…

As I got behind Tuvok I was suddenly blasted back by some sort of psychic power and fell to the ground again.

Zee yelled in rage and fear and Tuvok's hand reached her face in a mind meld.

"My mind… to your mind…" He chanted angrily.

Zee struggled, nearly breaking free of his grasp, but he firmly grabbed her waist and pulled her in. Memories of what happened to the past hosts of Varal's flashed in my mind and I felt a surge of fear and adrenaline. I felt so angry and powerless very suddenly…

Janeway yelled at Tuvok, "Tuvok! What's gotten into you?!"

Tuvok yelled again and put both hands on Zee's face now and her knees grew weak.

"MY MIND TO YOUR MIND! MY THOUGHTS TO YOUR THOUGHTS!"

Zee began to scream loudly, and both of their noses bled. Something deep was being exchanged… something terrifying….

Tuvok began to scream too… They both seemed to be in a great deal of pain. Then a huge surge of some kind of electricity transferred from Tuvoks head, along his arms, and into Zee's head and they both were blown back. Both of them immediately lost conciseness.

Julian and several security people rushed into the grizzly scene….

Chapter Three – Rebirth

As Told by Ezri Dax

In the Infirmary, Julian examined Tuvok and Zee. Their neural indicators whined at a critical rate.

He had administered cortical stimulators and a stimulant.

Janeway, Chakotay, Kim, and Paris seemed very concerned particularly over Tuvok. But Lu and I were more focused on Zee.

Julian reported, "This is incredible… Zee's neural patterns are immensely overactive… There appear to be two patterns operating within her. Her own… and a brainwave pattern I'm totally unfamiliar with…."

He scanned Tuvok next, "His mind shows serious synaptic damage. He's in total disarray… if he regains consciousness at all… he may need special treatment I can't give him… whatever he transferred to her seems to have awakened a dormant condition. Though I can hardly be sure when mind melds are involved…"

Janeway seemed immediately concerned but unsurprised, as if there were something she knew that no one else did, "Condition?" She begged.

Julian spoke gravely, looking around with concern, "I'm sorry… I suspect Mister Tuvok would be disinclined to share…"

Janeway interjected, "By any chance would it be a condition that's resolved by a fal-tor-voh mind meld?"

Julian blinked in surprise, "Actually… yes… How did you know?"

Janeway looked at Tuvok with great concern, "He's already undergone that meld to cure the condition…"

Julian looked horrified, "How can that be?" He examined Tuvok again.

After a moment he spoke again, requesting, "Could I consult with his physician? It would help if I knew his history…"

"Of course!" Janeway chanted. She hit her combadge, "Janeway to The Doctor?"

A cheery voice identical to the EMH Mark 1 came over the comm, "Doctor Van Gogh if you'd please!"

Janeway rolled her eyes and spoke, "We need you in DS9's Infirmary immediately."

"Oh, very well…" said Doctor Van Gogh.

A short moment later, the famous Voyager EMH, a heavily modified EMH Mark I with a new full head of brown hair and Lieutenant's pips. He wore a mobile emitter and an updated uniform.

Julian immediately walked to him and shook his hand, "Doctor Julian Bashir, chief of DS9 medical."

As they shook, Doctor Van Gogh smiled, "Doctor Shmullus Van Gogh at your service."

Julian turned the EMH's attention to Tuvok. Before he could begin Van Gogh exclaimed, "What's happened to Tuvok?" He spoke with great concern for his friends, examining him like clockwork before Julian could even answer.

Julian proceeded to explain as we all listened intently, "The patient is suffering from what appears to be a Vulcan katra transference. But it's incomplete, as if performed by a novice. The katra pattern wreaked havoc with the Commander's mind…"

Van Gogh seemed deeply worried, "Oh no…." He scanned Tuvok for himself…

A surprisingly real fear flew over the EMH as he realized something grim, "His neural peptides are decreasing rapidly… It looks to be a relapse of his condition…"

Janeway wondered aloud, "Could he receive another meld to correct the issue?"

Van Gogh spoke as if he were handing out an epitaph, "I'm afraid not… the fal-tor-voh is a very difficult meld for a Vulcan to undergo… but Tuvok's mind has been ravaged… eh could be further damaged by any meld that isn't properly supported, but even then there's almost no way he would regain his former self…"

"What is this katra that possessed him? How did it do so much damage?" Asked Chakotay.

"I'm afraid it's not just that Commander…" The EMH continued melancholically, "with all the difficult melds Tuvok has performed over the past seven years… his mind was already greatly weakened. The fal-tor-voh essentially rewrites the neural pathways… it takes days as you may recall. But Tuvok's brain chemistry and neural patters are permanently changed… and I'm afraid… it's for the worse…"

Janeway was deeply affected by this news, "Is there any treatment?"

Van Gogh and Julian shared a glance before Julian concurred, "I'm afraid not… most patients in his condition end up institutionalized."

Janeway looked almost angry. Chakotay seemed in another world. Paris and Kim stood in disbelief.

"What about Zee?" Lusara asked.

Julian responded, talking to the EMH as well, "The katra pattern is unlike anything I've ever seen… It… seems to be overwhelming, but the Trill mind is incredibly resilient… nevertheless, Zee doesn't seem to be taking the brain pattern well…."

Van Gogh scanned Zee and a look of shock and familiarity flooded over him…

"These brainwave patterns…" he said. "The invading one is clearly… Ocampan…"

The Voyager crew present all stared upward; eyes wide. Janeway almost gasped, "Ocampan? How is that possible?"

"I don't know…," Van Gogh said with his own shock, "What's more…" He made another realization, "I know who's mind it is… I've archived these scans in my memories countless times…"

Harry Kim asked, "Who is it?"

Van Gogh turned to the group, "It's… Kes…"

Paris was the first to exclaim, "Kes?!"

Janeway had a look of deeply mixed feelings wash over her, then she stepped forward slightly and asked, "Can you wake her?"

Julian piped in, "Yes… in fact being conscious may be the best way to ensure Zee's own pattern is not overwritten…"

Janeway ordered, "Do it."

Julian grabbed stimulant and injected it into Zee's neck.

Her eyes blinked open, and she held her head, moaning in pain.

"Doctor?" She asked with surprise, and somehow, familiarity...

The Voyager crew stepped forward cautiously.

"What happened?" She asked. Her voice was unusually soft and innocent sounding. Actually… it rather sounded like mine if I'm being honest…

Her head turned to see Tuvok and anger rolled over her face, "What's he doing here?!"

She held her pained head after the outburst as Julian spoke, "He wasn't in control of his actions… He was possessed by something… and-"

Zee's eyes grew wide, "Yes… I know…" Her eyes widened in confusion. "I know?!" She spoke with two different voices, mixed together. I knew exactly how that felt.

Van Gogh stepped in next, "try to remain calm… your body is under a great deal of stress…

Zee stared at him as if her were a puzzle, "You… look familiar…"

Van Gogh smiled slightly, "Do you remember my name?"

Zee seemed to soften very suddenly, her voice droning melodically, "I didn't know you had picked one yet…"

"I finally did." He said. He smiled pridefully, "Doctor Shmullus van Gogh at your service!"

Zee responded, again softly, with an almost innocent excitement, "You really did pick that one!"

Lu blinked in surprise. All of us on the station were utterly shocked that any such warmth would come from her mouth.

Zee held her head and grunted in pain yet again. Julian scanned her.

"I don't think we should be encouraging the invading personality to surface." Julian said. "Our patient is Zee, not Kes. It could aggravate her condition further."

Doctor Van Gogh seemed to object to that, "But what about this katra? Vulcans believe that it's as important as any other living thing."

Julian retained his perspective, "It's not our job to evaluate beliefs, we have to treat the patient we're given."

Van Gogh seemed to relax, "You're right… but there must be a way to save both her and Kes."

"I don't see how." Julian said frankly, more coldly than I'm used to from him.

As Zee recovered, she blinked in surprise, "Kes… that name…" Her eyes widened. "She's in my head!"

She rose angrily and shook Julian, "GET HER OUT! I WON'T SHARE MY BRAIN! SHE INVADED ME! GET HER OUT!"

Julian held her down, "Try to relax! That's a medical order."

Julian gave her some sort of hypo to help with the pain. And then scanned her. Zee was gritting her teeth, frustrated. Van Gogh looked over the scans… "Oh no… the merging process has already begun…"

Julian swore, "Damnit!"

Zee looked over to Tuvok and a wave of horror went over her, her voice softening again, "Oh gods…" She said. "I did that to him…"

Van Gogh reassured her, "No… you didn't, Kes'… 'spirit,' for want of a better term, did…"

Zee seemed to dissociate from reality then…

Lu looked worried, "What's going to happen to her?"

Julian scanned her again before making his recommendation, "Ordinarily a Vulcan procedure would be recommended, but I don't think the Ocampan pattern can be removed…" He grunted frustratedly. "It's as if they were perfectly designed to integrate… the only way for Zee to live a normal life now may be to integrate Kes' patterns within her own…"

Zee heard this as she emerged from her dissociation and began to brood. I felt a pang of empathy with her. She was about to be as confused as I used to be. Used to be. Had I really stopped?

I set my hand on her shoulder. She brushed it off of her angrily, as if she didn't want to be handled, but only a second later she seemed to change her mind and grabbed my hand with her own, not letting go.

Lu touched her leg in a gesture of comfort as well.

"Doc?" Harry Kim cried. "He's coming around."

Van Gogh scanned Tuvok as Tuvok groggily asked, "Where… am I?" He appeared to have lost all emotional control.

Van Gogh answered him, "You're in the Infirmary on Deep Space Nine. What's the last thing you remember?"

"I… I was scared..." He said. "Kes… she tried to find me… I was sleeping…" He didn't seem to remember the meeting less than an hour ago. He spoke with simplicity, like a child… He seemed innocent, but also volatile. The exact opposite of a Vulcan with strong suppression.

His eyes darted around in confusion until he saw Zee.

He pointed to her, "I know her! She is… I hurt her!"

Janeway comforted him, "Tuvok… you weren't in control of your actions…"

"No! I hurt her!" Tuvok began to cry with guilt. Tears from a Vulcan surprised everyone…

Zee watched this and stood up, unable to deal with the emotions, "I… need to go."

Julian snapped, "Oh no! I'm not letting you out of my sight."

Van Gogh held his arm, "Doctor… There's nothing more we can do… her pain is treated… the rest will just take time…"

Zee stormed out, ignoring Julian. Leaving us all to pick up the pieces.

Chapter Four – Spoiled it All

As told by Ezri Dax

Zee seemed to disappear for several hours. Many of the Voyager crew visited Tuvok, but for now he was left in Julian's care, his destiny uncertain. Tuvok seemed less ashamed of himself in the presence of a new Doctor compared to Van Gogh. Nerys, Chakotay, Doctor Van Gogh, and Seven of Nine joined me for a visit to Vic's. Doctor Van Gogh had heard about Vic and wanted to interview him. It was nice to get away from the party, the mood was off anyway after everything that happened. I kept thinking about Zee and the new ship, and Worf here and there.

Nerys seemed to notice how I was feeling and rubbed my shoulder, "I'm sure she'll be okay. After all, you made it through your confusion." She said.

"Thanks," I smiled, patting her hand back instinctively. I didn't really feel better exactly, but it was always great to know Nerys would be there for me.

As we got to Vic's it was empty, except for the band.

Vic smiled when he saw us, "Heyy! Welcome back! Who's your new crew?" He gestured to Van Gogh, Seven of Nine and Chakotay.

Being the liaison, I responded, "Vic Fontaine, meet Commander Chakotay, Seven of Nine, and-"

The EMH interrupted me, reaching out to Vic to shake hands, "Doctor Shmullus Van Gogh! Delighted to meet you!"

"Hey… that's what I'm here for," Vic smiled.

The Doctor ushered him over and began to discuss something with him.

"I understand you're a hologram who has been allowed to expand your programming, much like myself?" He asked.

Vic responded with a nervous shrug, "I've been running all the live long day if that's what you mean."

The Doctor smiled, "Oh I love that song! And yes, exactly!"

Vic continued, "Yeah, my pally Nog decided to leave me on to help him recover from an injury. I've been on… I've had a life. Ever since, it's been fat city for me."

"That's wonderful!" He looked up with pride, though a little confused by the slang, "I'm glad to Deep Space Nine is kind to its holograms!" He turned back to Vic and asked, "But have you ever wanted to have a life outside of the holosuite?"

Vica shrugged, "Hm, guess I never really thought about it."

"I've been trying to petition the Federation Human Rights Council to consider holograms with sufficient programing as lifeforms. I would like to give you a free holodeck program… It's called Photons Be Free, the revised version." He laughed giving Vic a small isolinear rod. "I had it converted to the Cardassian format so you can run it here whenever you wish!"

Vic took the rod. I smiled at the kindness, the Doctor seemed quite proud of himself, perhaps overly so.

Vic thanked him, "Well thanks… I've never run my matrix in a program other than my own… freaky stuff…"

"No need to thank me." The EMH said with a glowing ego. "I intend to propose that Federation law provide mobile emitters for any hologram who asks to that as soon as the technology is fully understood. Would you mind if I interview you?"

"Not at all, pally." Vic said. "I've been in front of camera once or twice. Been in the paper…"

"Excellent!" He proceeded with the interview.

As the rest of us sat near the bar I noticed that Nerys and Chakotay seemed to be getting along.

Chakotay was talking about a spiritual practice that he performs, "The vision quest is a sacred time. We generally don't share what we see, but the images take time to process."

"That almost reminds me of an orb experience." Nerys smiled warmly. I felt a slight pang of jealousy… I wished that Nerys and I talked about her spirituality more. Actually, it's about the one topic we rarely discuss. I didn't have a frame of reference for it.

Chakotay continued, "I've always admired Bajoran spiritually, it reminds me much of my own beliefs. Bot of which were forged through hardship and over many centuries. It's good to see Bajor coming into its own, many people in the Maquis were Bajoran."

Nerys smiled and looked down, "I always had sympathy for the Maquis. In the end I had to support the Federation for my own people... but if I hadn't been on Deep Space Nine when the fighting broke out… I might have tried to help… I'm glad they've gone easy on your crew."

Nerys touched his leg, and I felt a surge of adrenaline and guilt roll through me. I looked away…

Seven of Nine, who sat next to me bluntly pointed out, "You are uncomfortable." It was quiet so the others couldn't hear, but it seemed very loud…

I nearly jumped, "No no. I'm not." I tried to say it quietly.

She reported coldly, "You have turned to view your captain at more than twice the frequency you look to others. You also hold this gaze for longer at nearly three times the amount you do in normal conversation. You also appear nervous. Your face flushes, and you engage in laughter at approximately twice the rate."

I froze up in fear. I had had quite enough of Borg lately, and though I know she was freed, I felt a deep discomfort at being so observed. Especially since I had no idea she had been observing me.

After an awkward pause and me staring at the floor of a few seconds, she spoke again. This time with a softer tone. "Forgive me, my remaining implants allow me superior vision, I didn't not intend any discomfort."

Her softer voice really struck me, and I looked at her. I hadn't really noticed before, but she was beautiful. I relaxed, trying to laugh it off, "It's okay. I just wish… well I'm probably not her type… I've only ever known her to see men…"

"The lure of socially common dating structures is strong, it may… even lead one to misunderstand their own impulses." She said.

I turned to her, surprised by her insight, "I guess so… that;s certainly what happened to me… Thanks… that gives me a little hope."

"You should confess your true feelings." She said frankly.

I nearly panicked, "Oh no no no no! There's the chain of command and what if I ruin our friendship? I'd be devastated…"

"Then perhaps a subtle approach is necessary, I shall assist you." Seven stood up

"Wait!" I whispered, but it was too late. I walked after her to try and stop her.

She called to the Doctor, "Doctor?"

"Yes?" He called with glee.

"I have… reconsidered your offer to perform." She said

"Oh splendid!" He said, standing up sharply from the table he was sitting at with Vic.

Seven walked to Vic and asked, "Does your band know Something Stupid? By Frank Sinatra?"

"I think it's Somethin actually," Vic corrected. "But do they know it? They live it!"

She turned to me, apparently aware that I had followed her, "Are you familiar with that song?"

I nervously spoke, "Well yes, it's adorable… but-"

Seven didn't hear my objections, she was on a mission.

"Shall we perform a duet?" She said to the doctor.

"Absolutely! And what a wonderful choice!" He said.

Seven walked over to Nerys and I about lost my mind. I sat down pretending I had nothing to do with this.

Seven spoke to her, "Your first officer tells me she greatly values your friendship."

Nerys smiled warmly, "The feeling is mutual. Especially during the war, talking with her was always very… stabilizing."

My face turned bright red.

Chakotay smiled, "Stability in war is a valuable thing."

I don't think that Nerys or Chakotay understood what Seven was trying to do… That was a probably a good thing, I figured.

My new Borg friend continued, "The Doctor and I wish to dedicate this song in honor of that friendship."

Nerys smiled at me, thinking it was just a sweet gesture from the Voyager crewmen.

I smiled and looked at her and then away as quickly as possible. My eyes darted desperately for a place to put my eyes… any place where Nerys wouldn't see into my soul… The idiotic smile I had slowly faded as the song began.

The bad began the jazz rendition. The Doctor sang the main part first, with seven providing a backup.

~I know I stand in line until you think you have the time to spend an evening with me~

The Doctor's trained deep voice was no substitute for Vic, but it was very good. The largely monotone accompaniment provided by Seven was fitting for a Borg.

~And if we go someplace to dance, I know that there's a chance you won't be leaving with me~

The tones began to raise with the heightening emotions

~And afterwards we drop into a quiet little place and have a drink or two~

The Doctor looked into Seven's eyes with admiration. Speaking of attractions… I glanced at Nerys, wondering… She wasn't looking at me, but I saw the look on her face change. I hoped she didn't suspect me of anything… At least she could tell where the song was going.

Their voices quieted slightly.

~And then I go and spoil it all by saying somethin' stupid like 'I love you.'

On the next line they shifted positions. Seven began to sing the main chorus with sudden emergence of feeling as the Doctor smiled at her progress. Her voice shocked me with its beauty, and I couldn't help but admire her. She looked directly to Nerys as The Doctor smiled, raising his hand as if to send her off to Nerys. Seven's own face blushed. All of that in that one moment…

~I can see it your eyes that you despise the same old lies you heard the night before~

The song made me think of all the people Nerys had lost. Bareil… Odo… Shakaar… her family… Ziyal.

~Although it's just a line to you. For me it's true and never seemed so right before! ~

I couldn't help it. I looked back to Nerys with nearly every line. She still didn't seem to process what Seven was trying to do. I began to get a sinking feeling. Involuntary thoughts flooded my mind, I'm never going to be good enough for her… I shouldn't throw what I have away just for the chance of something more.

The Doctor took the lead again.

~I practice every day to find some clever lines to say to make the meaning come through. ~

The Doctor now sung to Nerys as Seven watched, hands behind her back.

~But then I think I'll wait until the evening gets late and I'm alone with you. ~

~The time is right. Your perfume fills my head, the stars get red, and, oh, the night's so blue. ~

~And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like 'I love you.'

I looked down in guilt and fear. Feeling hopeless.

The band jammed a moment before Seven took the lead one last time.

~The time is right. Your perfume fills my head, the stars get red, and, oh, the night's so blue. ~

~And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like 'I love you.'

Now they both sang identically

~I love you…. I love you… I love you…~

We all clapped. I did so sadly, but Nerys seemed very happy, clapping her hand on the back of her other hand as Bajorans do.

As they returned to us, I tried to look happy.

"An excellent performance," Chakotay said as they each bowed

Chakotay then turned to Nerys, "I was wondering… would you be willing to show me the Bajoran shrine? I'm curious to explore the spirituality of other species."

Nerys joked, "Well that depends, would you be willing to help me try a vision quest?"

"It's a date." Chakotaty said with a charming smile.

They both stood and left. Nerys smiled at Seven as she left, "Thank you for the song!"

She smiled at me warml, too on the way out. I don't think she noticed how upset I was, I certainly tried to conceal it.

As they left Vics I allowed myself to let go of my mask and feel the sadness... the jealousy… I felt so stupid for feeling this way. Like if I'm no brave enough ot say something of course I wont have a chance. I certainly never felt like this while Odo was around. But I met her when she and Odo were still seeing each other… So…

Seven walked over to me, confused, "My apologies… that did not have intended effect…"

I laughed it off, "That's okay." I switched to a frank and accepting tone. "I feel silly for feeling this way… I wouldn't want to stand in her way of someone else she might prefer. And I'm so happy she's my friend! I'll be okay."

The Doctor spoke as he approached Vic, "Well, I will continue our interview if you don't mind."

Seven of Nine then offered to me, "Perhaps you would like to begin a tour of your new ship slightly early? I hope I can make up for my mistake." She didn't seem to actually feel bad, it was more like she was performing social etiquette like it were programing. Still… the new ship was gorgeous… maybe it would take my mind off things…

"Alright!" I masked on again… but the events of the day were always at the back of my mind… I knew I was going to lose sleep tonight. But it would only get worse…

Chapter Five – Personal Graveyards

As Told by Zee Tigan

Zee Tigan, after her ordeal, storms to Vic's bar for a drink… Gods she is so desperate not to feel this way… to be hurt again… where else can she go? It's these things she wonders… and so she turns to alcohol. Not that bullshit sythohol… the good stuff. But she really really didn't want to be seen by real people right now. Vic would understand… he always seemed to. Hell, just last week she got turned down by a gorgeous blonde Bajoran woman… Vic was very understanding… that's how she got to helping him with the bar so much. And he was always calling her a 'fuzzy duck.' She had to look up what it meant at first but once she did, she had to try the drinking game with people in Quark's. She couldn't guess why he called her that though.

But that day when she charged up the Holosuite the computer said no.

"Holosuite is occupied, do not disturb."

She groaned in frustration, "UGH!" And sat against the wall, holding her head. She felt her throat become tight which enraged her. I won't cry, I'm fucking tougher than that! Don't cry, you stupid bitch! She thought to herself. But in order to stop herself she had to bang her hand against the wall angrily. This had the effect of sounding like a knock.

Just as she was about to stand up and take a walk, the door opened. She practically ran in.

Vic was there with an empty casino, he seemed totally distracted but Zee hardly noticed.

As soon as she saw a table, she did what she had made a habit of. It's just a hologram it's not real. She threw the table over in anger and then sat down on the one char that remained standing.

Vic took a sharp breath and an exasperated look upward at her, "Oh no… let's not have another one of these days okay, dollface?"

"DON'T CALL ME DOLLFACE!" She yelled without making eye contact.

He stood slowly trying to be relaxed, "Right… Sorry, I forgot… force of habit…"

Zee just looked away, totally ignoring his apology, "Why weren't you on? You're always on…"

"Sorry about that, kid." He said. "Been trying out this holo-program the Voyager Doctor got me. Managed to negotiate with Quark to let me run my main personality outside of Vegas for a while."

"I'm not a kid! I'm almost nine years old!" She said.

Vic smirked, "Oh yer that old, huh?"

Zee blinked a moment before groaning, "UGGGHHH… It's the is stupid FUCKING bitch in my head! Her people only live twenty years at the very most, usually only nine…"

"Oh no that noggin' smog is contagious, isn't it?" He joked.

She scoffed at life, "Apparently it is… This bastard of a Vulcan decided to force a meld with me… apparently it 'wasn't his fault…'"

"Sounds like a rough time…" Vic said.

"Yeah…" She paused, sitting with her emotions. "So, you got anything to drink or…?" She asked.

Vic cringed, "Bar's closed…"

"Closed?" She demanded in confusion. "It's fucking prime time, dude. Whaddya mean closed?"

"I haven't had the chance to set up… and to tell ya the truth… I think I might need a vacation… That program got me thinking… there's so much out there I've never seen… and technically… none of this is real…"

"Pssh," Zee scoffed. "You're not missing anything…"

He shrugged as Zee stood, pacing in frustration again, "It was good enough that even Nog went back to it," He said. "And he was a regular freakshow about it for a while there… Kinda like you."

Zee seemed totally uninterested in his life, "Can't you at least turn on some of the holographic girls for me?"

Vic smirked, "You really like those ladies, don't ya?"

She smirked, "You know me."

Vic smiled with nostalgia, "Remember that time you took Betty G out for night on the town?"

She smirked at the memory, enticed, "We were so loud the hotel staff called the cops…"

"Yeah, that's the one!" He said. Then his tone became frank and almost cold, "But she's programmed to like you… It's easy for you to come in here where everyone likes you, 'cause out there? Well… let's just say I've heard some things."

She snapped at him, "Like what?!"

"Whoa, lady, don't shoot the messenger now!" He said, holding his hands up in surrender.

She sat back down forcefully, as if she were fighting something deep within her, "Sorry…"

Vic was shocked, "Now that's a new one. I never heard ya apologize to anyone before…"

She didn't respond, making the same face of frustration.

"Anyway…" He continued reluctantly. "Been thinkin'" my life is kinda like that too… I wasn't designed for this constantly being active… it's my program… so everything always goes right for me in Vegas… at least ever since we took out Frankie Eyes…"

Zee turned to him, "Who?"

He waved the subject away, "Long story…"

"The point is…" He continued. "You always come here lookin' to get away from the real world, while I'm here wondering if my life will ever mean somethin' out there. Maybe we both need to get out there… face the people we love… ask to be part of their lives?"

She groaned, "You sound like my fucking sister…."

"See?" He exclaimed. "She's not your sister butchya you keep calling her that. Why not try to be part of her life then?"

Zee's face drooped uncharacteristically, "She doesn't like me…"

Vic challenged her point of view, speaking to her as if the problem were obvious, "Maybe that's 'cause you keep tryna sleep with her?"

"Ugh!" Zee responded, "I'm not trying to anymore… not since the first time… I'm just joking with her but she's so fucking sensitive…"

"Sensitive?" He challenged. "Maybe as sensitive as someone who comes and wrecks my bar when something goes wrong, or scares the willies outtya friend… what's her name? Lu?"

A look of guilt and shame melted over Zee's face, "Yeah…"

There was a long pause as they both sat with their feelings.

"Listen, kid. Maybe you should go out there… go exploring… don't run away at the first sign of trouble, huh? If I could do what you do, that's where I would go. So, what if something bad happened to ya? You're tough... you can handle it."

Zee seemed unusually receptive to his ideas. Most of the time she just dismissed him like every other hologram… but she felt a stronger kinship with him than she used to… because one of her best friends was a hologram… or is? She didn't know…

She stood up, "Well… okay…"

"Far out!" He set out his fist for her to bump. She smirked and bumped it back. He responded with his characteristic cool point in her direction. She had no idea, but he had been accessing the DS9 database about other Earth time periods for that one.

As Zee got up to leave, he stopped her, "Oh!"

She turned around to him, "By the way, could you ask Quark to come see me when he gets a chance? Tell him I have a business proposal for him, huh?"

She shrugged while she grabbed some chewing gum for her pocket and put it in her mouth, "Sure," she said nonchalantly.

Mr. Fontaine wasn't sure she would actually do it, but he accepted her response with a shake of the head. As her silhouette left the holosuite, he said, "crazy…"

After obliging Vic's request Zee began to wander the corridors alone. Sure, she wasn't taking his advice but for some reason she felt the urge to see Voyager. She approached the docking bay and entered it. The passage to the ship was blocked… but she had a hacking device to get around it. Her usual gaming machine could decrypt codes for her. It was breaking in but after what this crew did to her, she thought she had every right to be there.

She crawled through the maintenance tubes… Gosh this would be a great place to shoot some chemicals where no one can find me, she thought to herself. She crawled through the Jeffries tubes to an exit. Out of it she emerged to see the familiar halls of the USS Voyager.

Upon seeing it with her own eyes for the first time in nearly a year… her feelings changed. She knew where everyone's quarters were… or at least some of them. The silver walls were cool to her touch… but somehow, they felt like home… it was terrifying…

She found herself slowly walking the halls… a few crewmen passed her by… they looked familiar, but they didn't pay her much mind. It was almost creepy… the ship was practically deserted… like a ghost town or graveyard. She passed the holodeck… someone was running the old tropical island program… She almost entered when she saw an incredibly attractive holographic woman walk by… but then she remembered Vic's words and changed her mind.

Out of near force of habit, she found herself near the old airponics bay. Tch, there's no way they would have kept anything in here preserved once they got home. Still… she decided to walk in and to her great shock, it was filled with plants. Without Neelix, or a cook, or herself even… there was no reason to keep it… but they did… why would they do that.

She walked to one of her favorite flower beds: the Antarian moon blossoms… She couldn't help but smile with joy. So much growth and life… it was gorgeous… She leaned in and smelled the flower… it was intoxicating… like the scent of a woman's perfume… She touched the petals lovingly, petting them like they were Yelina's hair…

Then her face changed… she had never had a liking to plants before… what's this stupid fucking? Get out of my head you stupid bitch! She thought. Who the fuck even are you?!

She backed away from the flowers in fear, leaving the bay. She marched down the halls furiously. It wasn't long before her instincts took her to Sick Bay. As she entered it, she felt the comfort of the room, the familiarity… it was home. The feeling disturbed her even more.

The room was empty… she called out, "Doctor?"

She told the computer, "Computer, activate the EMH?"

"That program has been replaced by the program: Chief Medical Officer of the USS Voyager – Doctor Shmullus van Gogh. The Doctor is currently active via the mobile emitter and is onboard the USS Aventine. Your request had been logged. The Doctor will see you shortly."

Zee smiled warmly. He's really come a long way…

After a few moments, the Doctor appeared. He had a full head of hair now just like he did when she had traveled backward through time…

As he saw her, he smiled… though he seemed a little uncomfortable, "Kes?" he asked.

Zee became annoyed, "No, my name's Zee, dummy."

The Doctor looked hurt, but at least a little understanding, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"Ugh. Whatever!" Zee scoffed dismissively at the emotion. It was as if she didn't want to hear it but wasn't really bothered by it.

"And they say I'm abrasive…" Shmullus said. He began to scan her.

She reacted indignantly, "Hey I didn't come here for an examination!" She waived him off.

"Nonsense." He said. "You could use a good checkup after what you've been through."

She sat down with a pout on the biobed, "Fine… Geez, you're worse than Doctor Pretty Boy…"

"Who?" Shmullus asked like a concerned father.

Zee just sighed, "Y'know… Doctor Bashir on the station…"

"Hmm..." The doctor said. "You seem to be doing better, but you still have two brainwave patterns… they're in serious conflict…"

"Still nothing you can do?" She said with irritation.

He closed his medical tricorder, "Outside of your own fal-tor-voh I'm afraid not… assuming such a thing would even be possible with Ocampan and Trill physiology…"

As if to answer all their problems, Yelina and Diala Tylittle entered the Sick Bay with a security guard.

Zee immediately became happy… and flirtatious.

"Hey you!" She winked, saying 'you' with a very long vowel sound.

She walked up to Yelina and kissed her passionately. Both the twins smiled, feeling appreciated.

Zee stroked her hair, "what brings you over here?"

"Uhm… well." Diala said with a nervous smile as Zee stared into Yelina's eyes with admiration and stroked Yelina's long blonde hair.

The security officer stepped forward, "Our security grid detected in unauthorized break in on the ship…"

Yelina nuzzled Zee as Diala continued, "Our engineering grid detected the algorithms that were used… we… knew who it was… so we contacted Voyager.

Zee didn't seem upset at all as she stroked Yelina's cheeks, "Awww… are you turning me in? Throwing me in the brig would be such a tease, wouldn't it?" She winked. The twins both giggled like schoolgirls. The seemed a lot less nervous now since Zee wasn't upset."

Doctor van Gogh motioned the security officer, "It's alright Mr. Ayala… We'll just call it… a medical emergency…" He smirked at the reference to his original program's name.

Ayala nodded skeptically before leaving.

Shmullus approached the trio. Diala had leaned into the affection now and they all had their hands on each other's hips.

The Doctor scoffed slightly and scanned them, "Perhaps you should avoid getting in such a state of arousal? It could be dangerous…"

Zee looked at Diala and growled, "Ooh… 'dangerous' sounds fun, huh?"

Yelina turned to Shmullus, "Actually Doctor… we had some ideas about how to help her…"

Zee's mood changed instantly to fear, "Hey… how do you two know what's wrong?"

The looked at each other reluctantly, "Ezri told us what happened…"

Zee let go of both of them immediately, "Ugh… of course she did…"

The twins looked frightened by her sudden emotional change.

Doctor van Gogh inquired, "What's this idea of yours?"

Chapter Six – Misconception

As told by Ro Laren

I was doing my security check of the new ship, as is my prerogative as Bajoran security. It was an impressive ship to be sure… but what I was really doing was familiarizing myself with its security systems. I had already looked at Voyager… but Julian and I needed to get find every edge we could. I walked to engineering to look up an old friend.

The Engine room is more like an entire engine deck. The warp core sits in the center of a long shaft with rails on every floor, as you would expect on Starfleet ship. However, at the bottom of the shaft in the engine room its connected to a huge tube which runs nearly the length of the ship: The slipstream drive. You can only see a small fraction of it on the chief's floor. The primary engineering consoles sit on the second of four floors. I rode the engineering elevator up to see B'Elanna Torres.

"Just a minute Tabor…" She said, assuming I was him. The crewman she was referring to was several meters away. She continued grumpily, "I'll give you hand once I finish this last diagnostic…"

I smirked, "He seems to be doing okay actually."

She turned on a dime, "Ro?!"

"In the flesh." I said. B'Elanna and I got along well because we had the same attitude about a lot of things. Our own strange cultures, the moral troubles of the Federation…

She grabbed my arm in a sister's gesture, "By the hand of Kahless, I thought you were dead!" She said the Klingon phrase with the exact derision of Klingon culture I expected. We had a tendency to say the phrases of our own cultures we thought were the weirdest to each other, it was our little joke.

"Thankfully no, I managed to evade the Dominion until the Bajoran military picked me up. Starfleet decided not to prosecute because of my service in the war…" I said.

B'Elanna hesitated a moment before asking me, "Li-Paz? Nelson?" She pleaded with me to tell her they were alive with her eyes… I couldn't.

I just nodded no… Remembering their charred faces…

She let go of my arm… then after a moment she slammed her fist on the console, clenching her teeth with grief. I loved that about her… she's always as angry as she ought to be… the year we fought together before Chakotay's ship was lost was memorable. Whenever I felt like giving up… she always was there to remind me of why I was fighting.

"We all had the same feelings when your ship was lost Lanna…" I set my hand on her shoulder and turned her around. "I did everything I could to stop the Jem'Hadar from killing them… but there were too many.

She nodded knowingly. I looked to her ring.

"Married?" I asked curiously.

She turned around and continued her diagnostic, "Yes actually… a young man from Voyager. Tom Paris… We even have a daughter…" She paused and looked up. "Y'know she's been born for six months, and I still can barely believe it…" She smiled and laughed slightly.

"Endur-Shano'dara." I said. That basically means 'may love shower your home.'

She knew what it meant, for so many Bajorans in the Maquis said it. Ensign Tabor in the corner looked over to me with a salute when he heard the phrase. I had never worked with him… but he knew me by reputation.

B'Elanna smiled at me, "Thanks…."

"So…" I asked. "How do you like Starfleet?"

She looked away from me… bothered deeply by something… She continued her work with a slight fury under the surface.

"Let's just say that… if not for Voyager, I wouldn't be in it. The communiques from Starfleet while we were in the Delta Quadrant…" She paused and turned back to me. "They painted a rosier picture of the Federation during the war than what was actually going on."

She began listing examples, raising her voice each time with each example, "Poisoning Maquis colonies… conspiring with Cardassian spies… attempted genocide?!"

She turned away, again furious, nearly growling…

"How did Chakotay take it?" I asked.

"He… I wouldn't say he was… happy…" She was trying to balance herself. "But let's just say that he's become far too… comfortable… with some Starfleet personnel."

"I always thought you had to push him to get him to listen sometimes," I said.

She shook her head side to side, concurring with what I said, "He's a peaceful man… the moment that we realized our situation in the Delta Quadrant, he joined forces with Janeway… gave her all the power… even I grew to like her… like really respect her… but then…"

I listened intently, "Then what…?"

She laughed, "This is going to sound crazy…"

I waited.

"A… future version of herself came back to get us out of the Quadrant well before we would have made it home otherwise… In doing so she violated dozens of protocols… her own rules…"

"A hypocrite then?" I said.

"Yes… after my daughter was born… I realized…" Her emotions softened and became vulnerable, "I had to do anything to protect her… whether it's from bullies… or people like the Cardassians who cheat their way around life… and then to discover that the Captain I had looked up to for seven years now was capable of just that behavior... and Starfleet didn't even seem to mind because she gave them all the technology that she could from the future…"

She continued, "I remember a time when the Federation would have rejected future technology, but they're scared still that someone is going to come in and invade but they're the most powerful group in the galaxy now… They don't need that kind of fire power…"

She finished, "instead they're building up for another war… but against who? Who is left? Instead of helping the people on Qo'noS... for example... they're hoarding… I can't take it anymore…"

I saw what she was feeling, "Your mother is with the Klingon Rebels isn't she?"

She looked away, "Yes at least I assume…" She turned back, "Look I don't know if she's alive or dead but even if she is dead… people just like her are getting slaughtered by Toral's goons…"

I set my arm on her shoulder, "Maybe the Federation won't help them… but the Maquis will…"

"Most of us are dead… we can't revive them… and if we did, we would be discovered…"

"Would we?" I questioned rhetorically. I looked at her with a determination. Never before in my life was, I so determined to fix this broken galaxy.

I reported later to Julian in his lab… we had an ally, but he was hesitant to help.

"B'Elanna wants to help the Klingon Rebels… that's in the Federation's best interest too because the Sheliak are allied with them.

Julian shook his head, "But the Commander isn't on board... and there's no way we can convince the Admiral…"

"No." I said firmly. "You're still thinking like a Starfleet officer, but this requires a Maquis touch… we can't inform Starfleet ranks… The Maquis are tough… they can handle the consequences…"

He hesitated, resisting yet another plunge into grey morality, "Fine…" he said frustratedly.

He brought up the flight plan for the Aventine's quantum leap, "I've been giving some thought as to how gain an advantage on the Klingon front…"

He brought up a file about a special bat'leth, "The Sword of Kahless… Legend has it that the sword grants whoever can wield it the power to rule the Empire. At least by religious rites… the sword is in the Gamma Quadrant according to my information… it was left here by Worf and Jadzia… it should be…" He plotted coordinates on the map, "Here."

"We could alter the course of the Aventine so it finds it and then, if Lieutenant Torres can get the Commander on board… Voyager can take it to Qo'noS and give it to whomever would allow peaceful relations. Perhaps General Kurn of the Rebels?"

"Whatever works… we're going to have to get around security carefully…." I said.

He smiled at me, "Then it's a good thing we have our security chief keeping a lookout." He winked at me. I scratched his beard affectionately. We had our plan…

Chapter Seven – Forging New Bonds

As told by Ezri Dax

Seven took me on a tour of our new ship… and what a ship it was… We spent a lot of time going over the Astrometrics Lab, a huge feat of Borg-Federation technology. I couldn't wait to put it to use… We talked about her being a Borg, her difficulties with emotions and uncovering her identity. I was surprised how much he had in common. I told her about all the identities I had to juggle, she told me about a similar experience with drones she helped assimilated that surfaced within her…. Also, firsthand accounts of what it's like to be Borg. Jean-Luc had told me some of it, but I didn't grasp the horror of what it means to be assimilated until Seven told me. The more we understood each other the more I started to become attracted to her… Sigh… is there any hope for me. Or will I just be hopelessly pining for other women my whole life?

We ended our walk with a trip to the mess hall. The Mess Hall was rather large, after all it has to be able to seat a quarter of the over seven-hundred crew at a given time, if possible. There were about a dozen replicators along the wall and a holo-representation of the ship in the center of the room. IT spun slowly under blue lighting. There were plenty of corners and a star's view which we sat nearby. A young man was holding his baby at a nearby table while Seven and I continued our conversation.

"I see," she said as we sat down. "Then the Queen also considered you… unique…" She seemed slightly afraid when she said the word.

"Yeah…" I said. "It was helpful, though, I was able to distract her… I still can't believe that was two years ago."

"The Queen has difficulty resisting unique lifeforms," she said. "They add to perfection… Admiral Janeway's future self was able to do something similar to cripple the collective. It is now… disconnected… many drones now going through what I have…."

"For better or worse?" I asked empathetically.

"Indeed." She said.

Our eyes met in a funny way after that, then she looked uncomfortable a moment before straightening her posture.

"Commander?" She asked.

"What is it?" I said curiously.

"Forgive me if this is too personal but I understand you were a counselor… Is it… normal… to experience changes in… desires… after a traumatic experience?"

"Absolutely." I said.

"Is that what happened to you?" She inquired bluntly.

"I'm not sure what you're asking." I said frankly. "Could you be more specific?"

She straightened up again, "You are attracted to your superior officer… she is another woman… I understand that is not… common in most species. On Voyager I observed eight different crewmen engaged in homosexual courtship rituals. However, I was not encouraged to explore these aspects during my training as the Doctor simply assumed I would be interested in men."

I rolled my eyes at that, "Yeah… human doctors can sometimes be a bit… old-fashioned… If it helps, they're the exception to that rule in the Federation. Most Trill doctors are great about cross-gender love, for example. Not so much about other things… but… still."

"My research shows that humans have a long history of homosexual behavior, as well as bisexual, and even asexual behavior. When did you discover you had homosexual feelings?" She asked.

I blinked, feeling a bit surprised by the question. I knew about those words, but they seemed so medical. Growing up on a human colony as a Trill is a strange experience. Trill don't really focus on sex quite so much, at least not as the topic of fascination that so many humans did.

"Well…" I said. "I mean I think I always knew somewhere what I was feeling but I had a lot to learn before I could accept that. It was less about who I was attracted too and more that I realized who I wasn't attracted to."

"I don't understand." She said bluntly, but openly.

"Well…" I thought a moment. "I had lots of relationships with men that didn't fulfill me that much… but every time I was with a woman, everything just seemed so much more… right… I guess it's hard to be clear… I realize that's probably not helpful."

This conversation reminded me of some of the ones I used to have with Data…

"On the contrary, I believe that helps…" She said. "You remember Commander Chakotay?"

"Yeah?" I wondered.

"He and I shared a brief relationship. I had past relationships with men which I found very fulfilling, but they were before I was severed from the collective and were not… real… exactly. Chakotay and I were happy… until I began to fear the future the other Janeway told us about… I feared hurting him… But… there was an underlying relief about the idea that I was no longer… bound to him…"

She paused to gather herself as I listened intently... she had been through a lot…

"Exclusive pairings are… unusual… to me… however… I came to believe that this was a change I experienced being severed from the collective where many all rely on one another. As an individual… choice is usually emphasized about who one shares time with. I came to find this compelling…" She became unusually emotional. "I chose to break off the relationship… If I am to choose just one person… I need to be sure they are the right match for me…"

After holding space for her emotions, I offered some advice, "There's nothing wrong with wanting less commitment in your relationships… sometimes you're just not ready for more and that's okay… And it's also okay to be careful…" I laughed. "Hell, if I had been more careful, I might not have broken so many guy's hearts." As my mind turned to the literally endless list of men who had, or still had, feelings for me in my past I started to feel guilty.

After a moment, something still seemed to be bothering her. I reached back to what she had said earlier, "You wanted to ask me about my feelings for other women? Have you been having those kinds of attractions?"

She became nervous, "I… am uncertain… truthfully, I do not know if I have experienced attraction to anyone... but occasionally there are people with... traits that catch my attention… who seem to consider me with more care for whatever reason. Like Chakotay, or Doctor van Gogh… or… or yourself."

I blushed because of course I did, "Me?"

"Correct…" She said reluctantly.

I smiled… she was just as nervous about this stuff as I was… somehow that made me feel better.

She continued, "I find it… difficult to distinguish a sexual attraction from other types of attractions... but I wish to… experiment… would you… like to assist me?"

I wasn't totally sure what she was asking but I wasn't about to turn her down.

"Sure!" I tried to be as calm as I could.

She seemed somewhat frightened again, "I am… hesitant to explore too quickly or too far just yet."

"Of course! I wouldn't want you to feel pressured to do anything more than you're comfortable with." I said happily. "Actually, I should probably take thing slower in general myself." I said, recalling my own tendency to jump in without thinking. Julian, Brinnor, high school stuff…

Seven reached out with her hand. It was the one with Borg parts on it. I took it carefully. The metal was cold, but her skin was very soft. We both smiled, our faces reddening. Though her smile was much less wide than mine. I think I'm just more excitable.

We held hands across the table for a long silent moment before I decided to speak, "I'm glad we met, Seven of Nine."

"Annika…" She said. "That was… is… my name. It still feels strange… but for someone I connect with easily…"

I repeated it back, "Annika… I like that name."

She still seemed slightly uncomfortable, as if she could barely manage to admit anything, "I enjoy yours as well… it's… simple… efficient…"

I laughed.

"…and sweet…" She finished.

I looked away, slightly embarrassed, and very charmed.

The moment was interrupted by a baby crying. I looked over to see the man with the baby who was crying. I think he was the pilot from Voyager.

The crying had disrupted our moment. Annika said, "Perhaps we should leave?"

The pilot seemed desperate to stop his baby from crying. I felt a strange instinct come over me…

I stood up and let go of her hand, "Just a minute," I smiled and winked.

I walked over to the man with a baby. He noticed me and immediately apologized.

"I'm SO sorry… she gets so cranky when her mother is late for lunch…" He said.

He tried to shush her.

"It's okay… she's just a baby," said with a smile. I sat down next to him and held out my arms.

"May I?" I asked.

He seemed skeptical a moment and then decided it was worth it.

"Be my guest." And he handed her over to me.

The baby stopped crying immediately and looked up at me with complete curiosity and bewilderment. I felt an overwhelming surge of memories from when Audrid's children were babies. My voice softened and I felt a sudden and deep affection that I still can't explain.

"Hi there…" I beamed sweetly… "I'm Ezri… what's your name?"

The pilot interjected, "Uh… Miral is her name."

I smiled widely and looked back at Miral, "Oh, hello Miral!" I said excitedly but quietly. "Hello…" I held my 'o' so much longer than I intended to. Miral lifted her hands and grabbed my finger. I giggled like child myself. "Well, it's nice to meet you." I said as I shook her hand with my finger.

Then I looked at her forehead, "She has ridges!" My face darted to the pilot as I asked, "Is she Klingon?!"

"Uh, yes, one quarter on her mother's side." I felt a huge surge of emotions as I remembered Worf and Jadzia when they took care of Kirayoshi O'Brien.

I practically whined, "aww you're gonna grow up to be a good warrior aren't you!"

I poked her nose very softly and waved my finger by her eyes saying, "gung-gung-gung!"

We both giggled at the same time, which made me unreasonably happy.

The Chief Engineer entered the Mess Hall as I continued to play with little Miral. Annika was watching with a smile from the table we had been at. I smiled at her widely.

"Sorry I'm late…" The Engineer mother said. She paused when she saw me, "Oh?"

She saw me playing with Miral saying "gung-gung-gung" another time before I noticed her.

When I saw her, I stood carefully, "Oh I'm sorry! I was just trying to help."

The pilot looked ashamed as he stood to greet his wife, "I guess I don't have that woman's touch… the commander here offered to help stop her crying." He turned to me as he put his arm around his wife, "Gotta hand it to you… you're good…"

I was still bouncing the baby and I kept looking down at her, "Oh, don't give me too much credit." I said. "I just gave her something new to look at."

I walked up to them, and the pilot stuck out his hand, "Tom Paris by the way."

"That's right! You both were at the meeting!" I said as I used my free hand to shake his hand and then her's.

"B'Elanna Torres." Said the Engineer.

"Right!" I said.

"I really appreciate your help." She said. "And don't blame Tom, Miral is just a very cranky child… with all these extra shifts and extra time I'm putting into both ships, I've been staying later and later and… well… she notices." Torres seemed very tired.

"Oh no need to explain. I totally understand how it goes!" I was still rocking Miral ever so slightly

Ms. Torres was staring at me strangely… after a moment I figured out why…

"Oh!" I said and handed her child back to her. She smiled as she held her baby.

I wasn't prepared for the surge of emotions when I let go of that baby. The moment she left my arms I felt incredible grief. My eyes watered and my lips quivers and a tear very quickly found its way down my face. It was very sudden.

Paris and Torres looked at me very oddly which made me feel even more embarrassed.

I laughed, realizing how absurd I was being. Sniffling I recovered my emotions, "I'm sorry," I laughed again, wiping my eyes, "My last host was married to a Klingon… they were trying to have a baby, but she died before they could conceive." I explained. "I guess it's just residual feelings."

They both softened a great deal at that, especially Mr. Paris.

Ms. Torres broke the silence, "Well… if we're around DS9 or your new ship again and we need a babysitter, we know just who to call."

"Oh, I'd be delighted!" I said with incredible excitement. I felt so silly… I never wanted kids in my whole life… what was I feeling?

"QI'tu'lI'vaD nuqneH, SoH!" I said raising my fist.

She blinked at me, "Sorry… I only know a few Klingon phrases… you lost me there, I'm really not very Klingon," she said.

"Oh, me neither! Just some of my past hosts were. It means 'Glory to you, young mother!' or something like that." I said with a comic and mocking fist.

She laughed, "Well thank you… Commander… what was your name?"

"Oh! Ezri Dax! Sorry."

She looked taken aback, "Dax? Wasn't there a Dax in the House of Martok? Some of my family were close with the House…"

"Oh…" I said sadly… "things probably aren't so well for them right now then…"

"No… not really…" She nearly growled at the situation.

"But yeah… that's me! I'm that Dax! Or my last host Jadzia was…" I said reluctantly. "Technically I'm still part of the House too…

B'Elanna gave me look I couldn't describe... it was almost grieved... pleading? For some reason it made me think of Worf's request again…

"Well… I better go…" I said.

B'Elanna called back at me, "It was nice meeting you!"

"Drop by and see us before we leave the station will ya?" Tom asked.

I waved back as I headed back to my table with Seven, "I'd love that!"

As they left, I found myself preoccupied with their family. Thinking about them… wanting to see Miral again…

Chapter Eight – Broken Barrier

As told by Ezri Dax

Annika and I held hands all the way to the Bridge. In some ways I felt like I was helping her as much as I was enjoying her company. As we got to the top of the turbolift we let go. The Bridge, like much of the rest of the ship, was a sight to see. We entered from the right side turbolift and were greeted by a large glowing half sphere light which was lighting the bridge bright blue. Blue seems to be a big thing for this ship, though personally I thought it could use a little red in that blue, but I wasn't the designer… The bridge was impossibly crowded, with Voyager crew instructing all our new crew on the systems. Immediately to my right was the tactical console, where Kej'Ikon was being instructed by Lieutenant Ayala. The console was seated in a corner with computer consoles to the fore and aft of the user. It resembled the positioning of the tactical console on the Intrepid-class like Voyager. That wasn't surprising. However, some of the design reminded me of the Sovereign-class as well. To my left were the two entrances to the Conference Hall, surrounded on either side by the away team and ship status consoles. The doors to the conference room were connected by the ship schematics console as on the Sovereign-class.

I kept wandering the room, totally distracted by the sights. On the opposite wall, analogous to the Tactical station, was the general Operations console where Lieutenant Harry Kim was running things solo for a while. I couldn't wait to see how well Diala did there, it would be her post. The second Turbolift also sat by that position as you would expect. This back part of the bridge sat on a raised "step" much like on the Intrepid, it was separated by a rail and smaller steps to the longer center area. It has to be long to fit the Quantum Slip-stream observation area. It takes enormous computing power to run so it was no surprise that the entire half of the left side wall (by Operations) was dedicated to it and the rest of engineering. Currently there were several crewmen there, but I couldn't wait to see Nog working the console… he had to be excited to work with cutting edge enginnering. Even I was… Tobin would have buried himself in the schematics before taking on a job like that… it was all I could do to avoid doing that myself… or flying her…

As I walked along and hopped the last "step" (which was very small) I glanced to the wall opposite the engineering console. The sub-deck access sat there and environmental control in the center, while the science station sat to its left and close to the front. I imagined Lu sitting there and felt a twinge of remorse that she left Starfleet. It seemed so sudden… but she must have been having problems… right now Annika was at the station assisting Ensign Santos. I hadn't noticed it before, but Santos had a slight green tint in her skin. She must be half human, half Orion? I realized. I wondered why I hadn't noticed it before…

I turned, next, to the view screen. It was quite lengthy and almost reminded me of the old-style movie theater on New Syndey… that one was still about twice as big… but this one was… gorgeous, with a silver lining around the edge. I saw the Denorios Belt with all its purple glory… Finally, some purple… I thought. Below it was the Helm on the right side (when facing the screen) and the navigation and operations tie-in console on the left. Terin was seated comfortably at the Helm, his cane resting again the side; I approached him. He was working with Mr. Paris, who was apparently already on the Bridge… I didn't know how he got here so fast… Annika and I took our sweet time I guess.

"Well…" He said with shock, "Looks like you've got it figured out…"

I patted Terin on the shoulder, "Of course he does, he's the best pilot in the fleet."

Paris feigned offense, "Well… maybe the second best… wait 'til I show you your Delta-class shuttle." He emphasized Delta like it was a brag.

Terin said confidently, "I can fly anything. Even a Romulan ship if I want to."

Paris teased, "Well… I suppose you know all about quantum phenomena then… no need to go over the slipstream tech?"

Terin confidently said, "I'll figure it out." He almost seemed insulted. I knew he felt like a pilot seat was like his primary pair of legs… but this still all seemed like the stick waving so many men do. 'Yeah, well mine's bigger.' And so forth.

I just rolled my eyes and said, "C'mon Terin, let the poor pilot help you…" And smiled.

"Is that an order?" He said wryly.

I patted his shoulder and lean slightly closer, "I'm afraid so… Ensign."

He sighed, "Fine… you win…"

Paris reached out and stopped me before I turned around, "Hey… after we test the main ship's systems, I'll show you that shuttle, okay?"

"Why not show Terin?" I asked. "Not that I'm saying no." The idea of flying a cool new ship certainly appealed to me. In fact, it sounded like even more fun than I expected, and I was briefly stuck with just how much I had warmed up to space travel again…

"Well, the Admiral thinks that the captain ought to get a review on all ships systems and the captain decided to delegate that task to you… and he told me to tell you…" He said.

He was talking in hushed tones since Captain Vaughn was right behind us, I obliged with the same tone, "Yeah… Elias" I cleared my throat at my mistake, "the captain… likes to order people around…"

Paris whispered, "You'd think he'd be more excited about his first command…"

"Oh, he is." I said. "He's just very smug about it… I think he just thinks 'it's about time'… and he certainly wouldn't be vulnerable with the crew… I guess that's my job." I finished my statement with a shy laughter.

Paris responded, "Ah I see… well… hopefully he'll listen to you… Captains who stay close to the crew are important." He glanced over at Admiral Janeway who sat in the Advisor seat talking to Vaughn about something important.

I turned back to meet his eyes, "I hope I can make up for it…"

He set a friendly hand on my shoulder. I could feel the metal of his wedding on my shoulder as it pressed in my uniform slightly more than the rest of his hand, "From what little I've seen, I bet you'll do just fine." I couldn't understand how he believed in me so easily after having just met me…

"Thanks, Mr. Paris." I said.

"Just Tom… Honestly I think you've earned that one after holding my baby." He chuckled.

"Tom…" I smiled. We locked eyes moment and something disturbing happened… I had just met him, but he seemed too familiar… actually he rather reminded me of Torias… but there was something else… We both noticed it… and I think we were both bothered by that because we turned away from each other rather quickly with nervous smiles.

I turned around to see the Captain and Admiral discussing ship operations and the shakedown mission… and to my left, and the captain's right, was the Executive officer's chair… my chair… my chair?!

I stared at it for ten seconds… but it felt so much longer than that… I used to imagine being a first officer or a captain on a ship when I watched the ships launch at the Academy… I was in Starfleet Medical, but I still dreamt about ships sometimes even then… before Dax… before Torias… Tobin… Curzon… or even Jadzia ignited my interest in exploration… I began to wonder… if I had never been joined… where would I be now? Would I have stayed on the Destiny… stuck myself in an unhappy marriage with Brinnor? I loved being a counselor… but something happened to me as I stared at that chair… The course my life took because of being joined became clearer to me….

"Are you alright, Commander?" Admiral Janeway was smiling at me when she spoke… as if she knew something of how I felt…

I turned to her, "Oh! Yes, I'm just fine!" I turned my gaze back to the chair. "It's just…"

She stood up and walked a half meter closer to me, "It just became real…" she said knowingly.

I turned and smiled to her, "yes… exactly…"

She smiled, "When I was first officer on the USS Billings, the first time I sat in the XO's chair I had the same reaction… 'This is it… all that training… it all comes down to this…' It was like opening the window for the first time when you had never realized you could…"

My gods she's so much nicer than I had heard… I had already met her before, but I felt like I was actually meeting her for the first time right now…

"Take your seat, Commander Dax." She ordered warmly.

I wiggled my fingers anxiously and slowly sat, feeling the gravity of it… I smirked with excitement, and I settled into the faux-leather chair… The view screen was in front of us… and the pressure was on…

Vaughn spoke up with exasperation, "Now that that is over with…" He handed me a padd. "These are some of the personnel I have concerns about… See that they observe proper protocol…"

I blinked; the list was… rather long…

Janeway interjected, "If I may Captain… you'll be spending a lot of time with this crew... there's room for a more relaxed atmosphere… I've found that, for the most part, it serves well to allow the crew to get to know one another… there will be a time for discipline as well…"

Vaughn didn't seem to care much for what the Admiral said, but out of respect for her rank he said, "Understood." And then nodded to me as if to say, 'your assignment still applies.'

The captain then stood, looking particularly proud of himself, "Attention! We will be getting underway so if you'll each take your stations."

I looked around to see that we had all the crew we needed in the proper places.

Kej'Ikon at Tactical, Diala Tylittle at Operations, Lilian Santos at Science, Nog at Engineering, Terin at the Helm, and a Tellarite officer at the navigation that I had yet to meet. The Voyager crew stayed behind on the ship to observe.

"Hail the station!" Vaughn ordered.

Diala answered him, "Frequencies open, sir!"

Nerys came on the screen, "Ready to get underway, Captain?"

"I should say we are." Vaughn said frankly.

I chose to speak up, "We'll be back before you know it!"

Vaughn glanced at me with slight frustration but chose to ignore me instead.

Nerys smiled at me, "We'll see you then, Aventine. You have permission to disembark."

The call ended and Vaughn began to order, "Thrusters to one half, clear all moorings!"

Terin smirked, "Moorings cleared, what few there are on a Cardassian station… Now answering thruster command, shall I go to Impulse, sir?"

"That would be advisable, one-quarter Ensign, set course for the Wormhole," Vaughn said.

Terin's hands danced across his console with a flow as the screen began to shift with the vessel's movement. I could tell he went slightly faster than one-quarter impulse... more like one-third… but Vaughn didn't seem to notice.

As we moved away from the station, I felt a surge of excitement. I gripped the arms of my chair as I watched speed indicator on my computer go up.

"Full impulse at your discretion. Engineering, prepare for warp power upon wormhole exit." He said.

"Yes Captain!" Nog accepted the order firmly.

As we came to the wormhole it appeared in awesome blue and golden light. It seemed a little smaller… maybe because we were in a bigger ship. But it was still huge. Going through the wormhole had a whole new thrill in a new ship.

We emerged on the other side. Crewman Tylitte reported, "We have arrived at the gamma quadrant, sir!"

The screen was filled with new stars.

"Then let's begin our tests…" Vaughn said

The weapons, sensors, science and astrometrics, helm, and engines all checked out well. Outside of testing shuttlecraft, which we would do upon returning, we had just one system left to test…

Vaughn ordered, "strap in for the Slip-stream test flight."

We all activated what were essentially seatbelts.

Mr. Paris commented, "It's like driving an old Ford… Only safer…"

I think I was the only person on the bridge who actually got it and I smiled at him. Earth history was an old fascination of Curzon's…

The ship's aft most section disconnected slightly, and the drive was revealed underneath. The nacelles shifted to a perfectly perpendicular position relative to the rest of the ship. Whereas Voyager's nacelles are shifted upward, the Aventine's shift down during warp. In this case they were also dislodging to reveal the slipstream exhaust underneath. The nacelles and the after section of the drive then began to spin, and the power shifted from warp to slipstream. They glowed blue as the aft section spun faster and faster like a centrifuge.

Nog reported, "Slipstream activation in 10… 9… 8" I felt a surge of excitement and nervousness. This is what nearly destroyed the Vesta… and it was still such a risk that Starfleet specified it for emergencies only… but if it worked… we could go almost anywhere…

"7… 6… 5… 4!"

The ship began to hum with power and shake.

Nog's voice became slightly more nervous than usual, "3… 2… 1! Mark!"

The spinning drive section now left a huge burst of bright blue energy and the slipstream appeared around us. It looked vaguely like the wormhole actually. The Aventine charged forward as we were all thrown to the back of our seats. I was too excited to feel space sick… which rarely happened to me anymore anyway.

Nog reported, "automatic shutdown of the benamite system in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… Mark!"

The ship rattled and shook violently before the stream dissipated, and we slowed to warp speeds…

"Distance?" Vaughn said.

The Tellarite Ensign reported, "nearly a thousand lighters from our previous position."

Lieutenant Kim cheered, "Yes! I knew it would work!"

Admiral Janeway and Tom looked to Mr. Kim. Janeway said, "Congratulations Harry!"

Lieutenant Torres reported from engineering, "All is well down here! I'd call that a success... but we shouldn't use the drive again for at least an hour while I pick up the pieces."

I turned to Nog, "Maybe you could give her a hand?"

"Right away, Commander!" He said with a Starfleet salute. He then went to the Turbolift, "Engineering!" He commanded the computer, and he was off.

After a moment, the science indicator went off.

Lillian Santos spoke up, "Sir? … I'm detecting a metallic object. Only a few meters in size… quantum dating scans indicate it's ancient."

"Let's see it, Ensign." Vaughn said.

It moved on screen, but we could barely see more than a silver dot floating along through space.

"Magnify…" I said curiously.

She did so.

It was a Klingon bat'leth… but it looked different. After a moment of recollection, I realized what it was.

"The Sword of Kahless…" I said aloud. It spun very slowly, as if dancing or swimming in the vacuum of space.

Vaughn asked me, "You know this artifact Commander?"

I cleared my throat, "My last host and Commander Worf helped discover it and confirmed its identity… They decided to release it to avoid it throwing the Empire into chaos…"

Vaughn looked to the Admiral, "Opinions?"

Janeway shrugged, "It's your call, Captain."

He turned back, "Very well, beam it aboard." He spoke with no understanding of just what it was he was retrieving. "Better it be in our hands than a violent Gamma species… though we will bear in mind the Prime Directive."

My mind immediately shot over to Worf's request… The Sword of Kahless could alter the balance of power… if it were wielded by the right person… it could turn the tide of the war…

We transported it to the Cargo hold... what a mundane place for such an artifact….

Chapter Nine – Sisters of Qo'noS

As told by Ezri Dax

On our way back to the Alpha Quadrant, I took a chance to examine the cargo in the cargo bay myself. Compared to the rest of the ship, the cargo bay is rather stale. Decompression port for emergency dumps, and lots and lots of silver boxes of various kinds. Most are emergency rations, supplies, etc… but off to the side, in a small container just big enough to fit it, was the Sword. The only reason I even knew it was in there was because it was at the top of the pile with a special label.

I felt strange… part of me wanted to leave it there and let it get sent wherever Starfleet deemed necessary… but something made me stop… doubt? Nostalgia? I couldn't say. I found myself opening the case. There it was… so familiar… The Sword of Kahless… Jadzia must have spent weeks brushing up on Klingon history and lore in order to marry Worf… Before that Curzon learned a lot as an ambassador. The legend has it that he who wields the Sword is 'worthy of the legacy of Kahless.' The common interpretation is that this makes him worthy to lead the Empire. Either as an Emporer or Chancellor… their interpretations vary. It's all very silly, I think. Single rulers are a huge problem when it comes to abuse of power… after all what if you get a leader who isn't so good at his job but gets the job out of ambition? That's the situation right now in the Empire… and it was what happened when Gul Dukat gained control of Cardassia… Betraying his own people for power…Still, I knew the power of Klingon beliefs through Dax.

I picked it up the Sword, struggling a bit to find the balance… but it didn't take long to get my grip on it firm. I looked to the symbol of the old Empire. What a legacy to leave behind. I couldn't help myself... I started to practice with it. I was far shorter now, so I had to adjust my spacing. I remembered the breathing technique… made the bat'leth part of my arm. I practiced a swing, moving the sword back to my center afterward. I practiced a spinning strike. I still had the balance… Worf would be proud. I felt strange... but empowered. Women can't be Chancellors and I certainly had no interest in it… but somehow, I felt as strong as any Klingon man with the Sword in my arms.

As I turned in another swing, I saw B'Elanna Torres there. She had entered the cargo bay without me hearing. I was so startled that I dropped the Sword which made me jump and squeak slightly. As the bat'leth clinged and clanged on the floor I cringed heavily. My face turned the same color as my uniform collar. I picked it up and examined it to see if it was damaged. I was relieved to see it was fine.

B'Elanna smiled, "Needed a little bat'leth practice?"

I cradled the Sword carefully, "I just…" I looked at the ground… "I couldn't help myself…"

She surprised me, "I understand…"

"You do?" I asked.

"Yeah," She said. "Every time I think I'm done with Klingon stuff, it seems to come back to haunt me…" She walked closer to me, looking at the Sword herself. "I hope not… but my daughter might want to live among Klingons one day… This sword could make a better Qo'noS…"

When she said that, it had an emotional effect on me… I felt a responsibility of my own… for the child I nearly brought into the world… or that Jadzia nearly did. I promised Worf I would help… the idea of helping felt like closing a very important door. I'm still learning what I means to be Ezri… but I could feel in my soul that Jadzia would want to help if she could have… I am her 'blood sister,' I speak in her name as part of the House of Martok. It's considered my duty to do what she would do in the matters of the House and Empire. I thought of the people on Qo'noS… suffering and starving… Klingons who were just like me. No interest in 'honor' or war... but want to get out there. Or even those like Lusara and Ferengi culture… who are so trapped by Klingon culture they can't get out… They deserve more.

"It should be taken there… it's not ours to keep." I said, looking at the Sword with increasing certainty.

"You're a member of the House of Martok… my family's house was dissolved before the war, but yours… people still respect it… maybe you're an alien but… not everyone in the Empire cares about that." She said.

I turned to her with a smirk, "Are you saying I should become the Empress of the Klingon Empire?"

She shook her head and laughed, "Oh no! Though the Empire could probably do worse."

"Not much." I smiled saracastically.

"But…" She turned around, "I've been… reading up on Klingon rituals… you could present the Sword to a Champion…" She handed me a padd she had been holding.

I read it, remembering the ritual. It was an interesting interpretation of the rules for challenging a leader, but there was an interesting implication…

"So… whoever is the owner of the Sword speaks for the Klingon Heart…" I gave it some thought, pacing around the cargo hold as I considered it carefully. "Then… this is about more than just who leads the Empire… it's about where Klingons are going… doing anything at all would be a huge violation of the Prime Directive but keeping the Sword… We're already involved…"

"We have to do something!" She pressured. "They need us."

I paced quickly, frantically thinking of a solution as B'Elanna talked… then it hit me, the only solution that might leave everyone happy, the one Worf almost would have done himself, "We have to give it to the person who has always spoken for the Klingon heart… give it to the rightful heir… give him teeth in the fight… in a way… that could be seen as us simply returning the Sword where it belongs…"

"And how do we know he won't be just like all those Chancellors and Emperors hungry with power?…" She begged.

I took a deep breath, thinking of Worf and Kurn's steadfast devotion, I found my answer, "Because the people listen to him… they whisper about their leaders… gossip… but they long to hear the words of their spiritual leader... as long as they know they are hearing the true words… and not a copy… or imitation."

She blinked, "Are you… suggesting a theocracy?!"

"No! No…" I said. "At least… I hope not… But Klingons…" My mind turned to Worf again… to Kor and Kolath and Kang… They all had their problems… but Curzon and Jadzia loved them all because of one thing: honor. Not the Klingon government… or any of the excuses… there was something deeper in Klingon culture that the High Council ignored… but the people did not.

I finished my thought, "Not you, but people like Worf… my last host's husband… and so many other Klingons I've known, like Martok…" I felt a surge or… pride? I smiled with nostalgia. "Their hearts pound… their blood boils… they see their fellow Klingons and think 'these are my comrades'!"

I felt alien to my own self… like I was speaking with Curzon's voice and not mine, "They know and see the random violence in the world, and they say, "No. We must do this the right way. Now we can argue on what that is… but the belief itself… the control it offers… it's almost like Vulcan control in some ways. If we..." I stepped closer to her, feeling a surge of… something. Gritting my teeth. It was uncomfortable, but also exciting. I was in full Klingon mode now, something I didn't think I had, I held her by both shoulders in a sister's gesture, "If we… can show them that is what they should value… fight for… we may restore the good in the Klingon soul. And maybe that is all we really need."

She smiled at me, almost amused. I was quite a bit more Klingon than her in that moment. It was ludicrous.

"Y'know," She said. "I never believed in all that stuff… but I did believe in something when I was in the Maquis… doing the right thing… fighting against oppression… I think I can get behind that…"

I grabbed her arm and held it firmly upward and I smiled. It was the kind of toothy, hungry smile so many Klingons give in anticipation of violence… among other things… After I realized what I was doing I let go suddenly, smiling nervously. She was looking at me in a funny way I couldn't quite grasp… it was compelling. But she too seemed disturbed and stopped.

"Well…" I said, letting a breath of relief, "Where do we start?" I was back to normal.

"I have some… connections." She said.

I frowned with concern.

"Don't worry, it'll be okay. She said, and she left. I returned the Sword to the case, giving it a long look before I closed the case. For some reason a nameless fear rose in me then…

Chapter Ten – Haunted

As told by Zee Tigan

Zee, her favorite twins, and Doctor van Gogh sat outside of Tuvok's quarters on the USS Voyager. Despite objections from both Doctors Zee and the Tylittle twins went to Admiral Janeway herself. The only person Tuvok would even see…

Shmullus begged with us to reconsider, "I still think this is too dangerous! Tuvok might not be thinking clearly enough to make an informed decision! And there's still a chance this won't work! For that matter you aren't exactly operating a full capacity either." He said to Zee. They had already been through this.

He continued, "Fixing one improper meld with another meld of any kind is too dangerous!"

"But that's why we're here!" Diala said. She was still out of breath from dashing back from the Aventine. She had to run here when she found they were asking Tuvok.

Yelina finished for her, "We'll keep her safe! Our connection will help Tuvok and Zee stay grounded in the meld."

"And what about Kes?" He said more softly. "She could be permanently expelled."

"She was already going to die…" Zee said indignantly, perhaps cruelly.

"But you have the chance to save her life!" He said angrily. "Or what's left of it anyway…" He conceded.

Zee felt slight guilt, but she wasn't about to let him know that. "It'll be fine, Shmores." She said.

"Shmores?!" He reacted with offense. He retracted the offense though, deciding to brush it off. He rolled his eyes and scanned her "And they say I'm abrasive…"

Admiral Janeway exited Tuvok's quarters. Her look was grim…

"He's agreed to the meld." She said.

The Doctor pleaded, "Admiral… I beg you to reconsider… Even if the Betazoid twins can help Tuvok maintain enough stability to sort through her consciousness… His condition will deteriorate more rapidly. He may never be able to recover a normal life… or indeed a happy one!"

Admiral Janeway's eyes watered as she steeled her jaws, "He's made his choice Doctor." She said firmly.

"It wasn't his responsibility!" the EMH said.

Janeway continued, softer now, "He disagrees… and I have to respect his wishes…"

Janeway then turned to Zee and cupped her cheeks, "I realize you barely know me… but please… whatever part of you that does… whatever is left of Kes within you…"

Her voice broke and she took a deep breath and composed herself. She doesn't like to cry either, Zee thought.

"I'm probably already losing one friend today…" She continued. "It's your choice… but please… I don't want to lose another…"

She turned and walked away.

Van Gogh sighed in defeat, "I'll be monitoring you the entire time… if there's a hint of trouble, I do what I can to break the meld…"

The four walked into the quarters. Tuvok was shaking and winced at the light, "The door!" He whispered furiously. The group entered quickly.

He had candles set up and wore Vulcan robes, "I… am ready…"

The floor was covered in paper, Vulcan scribblings of some kind. Some were recipes… others were diary entries, the ones closest to him he was examining… they were reminders of how to perform the meld.

Zee knelt carefully, about half arms-length away from Tuvok. She knew what to do from all that training in the Delta Quadrant.

Diala and Yelina sat to his left and right. Together they formed a diamond around the candle in the center.

Tuvok glanced at the papers with every step… struggling and shaking as he tried to remember what to do. He blinked… breathed… and lifted his hands to the Tylittles.

They each closed their eyes as Tuvok's hands touched their faces. Tuvok's shaking was still profuse, but it began to slow as he calmed his breathing. Zee felt the gravity of what was happening more than she expected… and she became somewhat frightened. I'll be fine… I'm a badass… I might be a fucking bitch, but I can take it…

Tuvok chanted, "My mind… to your minds... my thoughts… to your thoughts… Our minds are... merging." He winced, "Our minds are… one…" He then relaxed a great deal.

"I can hear you… intertwined…" Tuvok smiled… "What a wonderful feeling…"

The smile stayed on his face… it was a little creepy to Zee to be honest.

The twins joined hands as Tuvok let go of Yelina with his right hand and reached over the candle to Zee.

A deep anxiety fell over Zee, but she steeled herself for the trouble ahead.

Tuvok smiled and spoke as his hand touched her face, "Our minds… to your mind… Our thoughts… to your thoughts." He seemed so joyful when he said 'our.' It made the experience less terrifying for her.

After a moment... she could hear Yelina and Diala, "Relax Zeezee… we love you… you're going to be okay…" She smiled… it was a wonderful feeling. For the first time Zee felt at home… her feelings for the twins began to move beyond the sexual... and then everything was gone…

All the candles in the room blew out and Tuvok, Yelina, and Diala were gone. It was pitch black… Zee could still see the impression of the light from the candle in her eyes.

"Hello?" She called out.

Nothing.

She slowly stood up as her eyes adjusted. Looking around Tuvok's quarters she found his bed… someone as laying in it… It was Tuvok… She reached for his sleeping body slowly.

"Tuvok?" She turned him over and discovered he was dead, and half decomposed. She jumped back in fright. He has some sort of biological growth on his face which looked as if it were eating him alive.

She bolted for the door. As she approached it, she heard a vicious screech that sounded familiar. She stopped in her tracks and hid by the side of the door. The screeching creature walked past the door… stomping violently…

Species 8472… she realized.

After it walked away, she entered the hallway. It was dark and foreboding. Totally abandoned…

Pssh. I've seen worse, she thought to herself. She stepped out bravely from the room. The noise of the door closing behind her seemed louder than usual which made her jump…

The corridors were blinking red in a red alert, but that was the only light she could see.

Zee reached for her knife only to find it was missing, how could it be missing? She thought to herself with a grumble.

She heard the sound of someone screaming… Neelix… And the buzz of the macrovirus that invaded the ship.

The corridors led into a three-way split. To the right was a hole into space protected by a force field. Harry Kim's half bloated body floated just beyond it… dead… She heard the cry of Naomi Wildman's death… But that never happened… She realized.

There were strange lights coming from the left path, so she took it. She entered the Mess Hall. The kitchen was lit but the rest of the hall was dark. The buzzing of the macrovirus could be heard intensely but there were none in sight. Zee peeked carefully over the mess hall Kitchen… nothing… except…. A small stone like mask, glowing strangely but fading… it squealed lightly… a dead Nacene… like the Caretaker. The body vibrated as it did in proximity to Suspiria all those years ago… but it wasn't frightening anymore… That was when she had learned to control her powers… that she could be more than she had been taught…

A sense of inevitability struck Zee… and loneliness. It was as if whatever was going on was trying to scare her… Zee never responded well to that, bullies on New Syndey would pick on weak kids and try to scare her too… but it didn't work… it wasn't going to work here either…

She wandered the ship for what felt like hours… Every room led to one it never connected to… it seemed like it would just be luck which room she ended up in. One room was the airponics bay, but all the plants were burned away… killed. Human and Ocampan bodies lay there in various states of decomposition. Another was the Cargo Bay, fully flooded with regenerating Borg… including Seven of Nine as she was back then…

After she left the bay The Doctor's voice echoed down the eerie halls. First like a whisper… angry… confused… "How do you make a decision Mister Neelix? Flip a coin? Pick a card!"

As she searched room, full of new horror from the Year of Hell… she heard the Doctor's voice even louder. "Don't be ridiculous Kes! I killed her! I'm a murderer! You should HATE me! But if I hadn't killed her then I would have killed Harry! So, you should STILL hate me! I'm no doctor… Doctors shouldn't be hated!"

A silence filled the space where Kes responded to him… "Tell that to Ensign Jetal…" He said gravely. "What about you? Kes? Hmm!? You had a choice! You could have stayed with your people! You could have left them! You chose… to leave! Ah but that's your right… as an organic being… I can't do that! My programming won't allow for it! I help my patients all of them!"

He had implied that she had killed her people by leaving them… He wasn't well… but it really hurt her feelings… She stayed with him so many hours in the holodeck so he wouldn't shut down before she told the captain how bad it got… It didn't do any good… at each visit he brought up Ocampa…

The voice was loud now… as Zee came to a door…the door to Sick Bay… His voice could be heard from the other side, "WHY DID I KILL HER! WHY WHY! SOMEBODY TELL ME WHY!

Zee charged the door and entered Sick Bay… there was no doctor… and it was dark. On the Medical table sat the crew of Voyager… Needles sticking in their stomachs like on the Caretaker's array… the three that were there were Janeway… Tom… and B'Elanna… Their mouths hung open, their eyes wide, but they were quite pale… and dead.

A hoarse and slight breathing could be heard from the primary surgery bed. A very old Ocampa woman lay there, eyes closed, shallowly breathing. She was sweating profusely… had dry lips… short white hair, profuse wrinkles… she looked like complete death… It was her… Kes…

As Zee approached, Kes did not acknowledge her… she wasn't even conscious… Her vital indicators were being read by the bed… they were quite low… beeping carefully… as if crawling along…

Zee decided there was nothing here so she looked in the lab where all the experiments would be. It was terrifyingly empty… No culture samples to work on… no projects… it was as if all personal growth had stopped.

Suddenly, Zee heard the vital indicators stop on Kes' biobed, indicating heart and brain failure. The sound echoed through Sick Bay like a banshee. A chill fell up Zee's spine. She walked over to see a woman in a long and silky dark blue dress looking over the body. She lifted her fingers and shut off the vital readers… continuing to stare at the fresh corpse. Her hands were simply uncovered dry bones, though her head appeared to be young flesh and blood.

Zee approached her slowly… but curiously. The woman was around the same height as Zee. With long wavy blonde hair to her shoulders and strange looking ears… Ocampan ones as it happened.

As Zee approached, the woman apparently noticed her, but did not look over. She simply said with a low... almost sweet voice, "That's it… I'm dead… all that's left of me is here…" Her voice was slightly angry... slightly grieved… slightly ethereal.

Zee did what she always does, bluntly inserted herself in the situation without a care.

"So, you're 'Kes,' huh? You don't seem so scary to me." Zee put her fist on her hip and a hand on the edge of the biobed to see her possessor.

Kes turned to her, blank faced, as if her soul had been wrenched from her. Despite this fact, Zee smiled, "You're a lot prettier than I expected."

Kes' expressionless face bloomed with life as she smiled, apparently very genuinely.

Then her bright blue eyes went black, and evil grinned across her face. The world around them collapsed as Kes' face expanded to terrifying proportions, distorting the world around them. Zee's eyes widened with disgust, fear, and slight fascination.

And suddenly the world around them changed. A memory… The desert was hot and excruciating. The desert of Ocampa. The body of Kes' lay before Zee, dehydrated like a raisin. Small insects were collecting around her body, consuming the seared flesh. The body's eyes opened, "HOW ABOUT NOW?!" Her voice echoed with power, as if coming from inside her own head. Zee's felt her own lips dehydrate as she involuntarily fell over the body.

Then, again, the world fell away to another memory. Flashes of Species 8472 invading her mind, kissing Zahir, and Neelix. All these memories appeared to Zee as if they were happening to her. She pushed the men away from her lips. Ugh… men… She thought. Another distortion. Vidiians invading the ship… killing the Voyager crew.

In Engineering, Zee suddenly found herself alone, as if frozen in time. Kes, as she appeared to her in Sick Bay, stood in the corner in the place of the hologram she saw of herself two years ago.

Zee finally managed to answer Kes' question as Kes' gazed at her with darkness in her eyes, "Well okay I'm a little freaked out… you seem like a crazy bitch… but… I've fucked worse girls… I'm not scared… not scared enough…"

Kes' eyes became blue again, "No… I guess that means this won't be as easy as I thought…"

"I don't give up my mind without a fight." Zee said firmly, stepping closer to her. They stood at nearly eye level. Zee challenged her, "Why are trying to take over my mind?"

Kes turned away… she seemed almost remorseful…

"In my early life… I became aware of technique that could be used to transfer a person's mind to a new host… a new body." The world around them disappeared and became another memory.

They sat in an Imperial Hall, in the time the warlord Tieran possessed Kes' body, Kes' continued, chanting confidently, "The experience had a profound effect on me! I began to explore the violence I first felt when I met Suspiria! I couldn't help it! I wanted to control everyone, everything… make them mine!"

The memory flashed to a meditation and meld session with Tuvok, Kes looked young, and now herself, "Tuvok helped me to realize the dangers of those urges… to control them. But my mental abilities aren't like Vulcans… they come from emotions… vision of deeper things… intuition… and passion."

Another memory, the mental image of Species 8472 appeared as a Kes, now clad in a silky red and formfitting jumpsuit, and the long hair Zee had seen before. Kes appeared slightly older, and spoke with a clam maturity, "Then the Undine contacted me… telepathic beings from another dimension… the connection awakened me to more violence… more power…" Kes now appeared almost terrified, "I felt myself changing… an awakening… on Voyager I explored the facets of emotion… but I spent so much time there… too much… with Neelix… Tom… even when I experienced a strange loop in time…"

She continued as images and worlds one couldn't possibly understand flew past Zee. The memory couldn't be held within her mind. Kes continued, "I ascended into something… saw wonders that humans would never dream of! … But I couldn't control my powers… and everything horrible that I went through came flooding back.

A memory flashed of her being beaten by a Kazon man… at such a young age…

"I thought I was ready! I thought I would be okay! I was wrong…." Kes cried. "And my anger turned to my own friends… I blamed them…" he beaten face contorted in fear and sadness.

They now saw the Engine room, as an elderly Kes drew power from the warp core…

She spoke… voice frail, "But it was me… I was the one who had left my people behind… So, I returned… but…"

The elderly Kes appeared on Ocampa, "My people had been forced to return to the surface… and slowly were dying out. A small group of dissidents were interested in me… but the rest… they believed I was a monster… and they were right." She was ashamed now, ashamed of herself.

Kes began to cry, "My people were gone… Voyager was gone… and my life… had amounted to nothing… I had seen so much… but I couldn't share it…"

Zee now stood once more over Kes' dying body as she hoarsely spoke to her, "As I laid… dying of thirst… I frantically remembered all that I had learned… I was able to project my consciousness out using my own will… to find a new body to live in. I sought out Tuvok…"

Images of starlight flying past at breakneck speeds appeared as Kes' voice returned to her mid-life cadence. They appeared before the sleeping Tuvok.

"I found him… in the Alpha Quadrant! Voyager had made it home! But… somehow it only made me feel worse… angry… and desperate… I may have spent my first year of life with my parents… but it was Voyager where I found myself… and I felt Tuvok owed me more… I was just angry…"

Zee began to feel a kinship with Kes' story. All of her own life, she struggled against an abysmal universe… In her own way, Kes, was much like her… always wanting a greener pasture… Hoping for something more… never finding it.

"But Tuvok's mind… was too disciplined… it resisted me. I managed to push myself in before I died on Ocampa… but I needed to find a compatible person…." Kes explained. She looked to Zee with certainty.

"How am I compatible?" Zee almost laughed. How could I be of any use to anyone? My mind is a terrible place.

"I'm not sure… you're different from the others… you have the same anger buried within, but you let it out where it doesn't need to go…" She said. "I can help you keep control." She suggested.

Zee reacted defensively, "Why should I hold it back?! What if I don't want to, huh?"

Kes looked to her with pity, "Because you hurt others."

A memory flashed of Zee and a young child, her mother standing over her. Her older brother with a bloody nose as Zee held him to the ground.

Her mother's voice echoed in her mind, "Ezri…" the crest of the Orion Syndicate of her home universe gleamed on her mother's dress top.

The young Zee reacted indignantly, "But he called Norvo and idiot! He's NOT DUMB!"

Her mother leaned down and yelled, "Norvo needs to toughen up, like you have, Ezri. He doesn't need your help. And if he did, that doesn't give you the right to hit Janel… He's your family! Not your enemy!"

The memory flashed away to an old lover, "I just wish you would be more… tender…"

Zee, a younger woman, felt insulted, "UGH! Why can't I be enough for you? What does she have that I don't?"

The memories flashed back to the Voyager core. Kes spoke to Zee as she is now, "Do you remember what you did after that?"

Zee's eyes were wide with guilt and rage… but at who?

"I cheated on her… She left me…"

"That's right…" Kes said. "And now you refuse commitment with anyone…"

Another memory. This time of the Intendent Kira Nerys stabbing her best friend.

Nerys spoke, "I don't much care for you, either." And the knife went into his stomach

"No!" Zee shouted.

Zee as she is today spoke, back on Voyager, "She used me! I thought she loved me… but she never did!"

Many memories flashed by of the war between the Terran Empire and the Cardassian-Klingon Alliance.

"Stop!" Zee screamed and held her head. "That isn't my home! It isn't where I want to belong anymore!"

Kes' eyes grew wide in realization, "That's why I was drawn to you… you're from another universe…"

Flashes of Zee's comparatively lavish life on DS9 began to appear in background and Zee struggled to her feet.

"You don't have to live only for yourself anymore… I can help you break free…" Kes requested.

Zee turned away, "No! I want you out of my head!"

"Why are you afraid now?" Kes asked.

Zee turned sharply, "what?! I'm not afraid!"

Kes stepped closer, setting her skeletal hand on her shoulder, "yes you are… you can't lie to me"

Zee stared at the meatless hand.

"You pretend that nothing bothers you, but the truth is… you want something more… just like I do… In life… in love… in purpose… I can help…"

Zee gritted her teeth, "How?" She demanded.

Kes rose her hands outward and the world around them became stars…. Glowing nebulae…

"If you allow me to stay with you… I can give you my powers… you can learn to use them to explore! Grow!" Kes smiled, as if intoxicated by life.

She continued, "You're a hedonist, aren't you? Think of how much pleasure you could experience with powers like mine?" Kes questioned seductively, with a hint of desperation. Maybe she would say anything just to survive.

Zee was not impressed, "Tch… You talk like I want power… Power never got my anything."

The images around them shifted to an empty bedroom, "Then I can help you release the tenderness within you… put aside your desires... and know the minds of those you love…"

Zee seemed intrigued, "Okay… go on…"

"You would be part of the world around you… you wouldn't need to revisit old memories…"

Zee's mind flashed to the agonizer under the wannabe Emperor Bashir…

"And what do you get from this?" Zee asked.

"I just want to live again… see again… finally feel fulfilled… to feel like my life reflects who I am…" She responded.

Kes walked to Zee, few centimeters away from her, "All we have to do is merge our brain patterns… We would become one person. Nothing lost… but forever changed.

Kes held Zee's face… as if she were forcing herself to, "Please… I know I invaded you and I have no right to ask…" Kes' eyes became almost crazed as she pleased with increasing urgency, "but I was just desperate... Did you not feel the same when you fled your universe? I don't want to die having wasted my nine years… I need more time… a new life… please…"

Kes fell to her knees… crying, "Please…"

The Voyager warp core began to oscillate at an incredible rate.

Zee felt… for the first time in a long time… a wave of empathy. A life wasted… just like hers… She sighed, exasperated. I guess I'll probably regret this… but I won't be able to sleep if I don't agree so fine.

Zee knelt down to the collapsed Kes and took her hand, "Okay… deal…"

Kes looked up… surprised. Then she smiled innocently, "… Really?" Her eyes shone with childlike glee, despite the decay on her body. "Thank you!" She hugged Zee tightly… like a little girl.

Zee smirked, "Yeah yeah…" And patted her shoulders.

The Warp Core then exploded.

And I guess you could say that's how I was born... or reborn… I didn't feel all that different at first… awoke from the experience as Tuvok let go of my face... almost as if it had been a dream… but my head didn't hurt anymore. Tuvok collapsed into a seizure almost immediately.

"Tuvok!" I yelled. I had this instinctive reaction to protect him.

Fortunately, the Doctor was there to grab him. After scanning him he declared, "We have to get him to Sick Bay!" I helped him without thinking.

The twins followed us as we sat him down on the biobed.

"2ccs inaprovaline?" I asked.

He blinked at me, "Why yes…"

I grabbed the medication without thinking and injected it. Tuvok's vital indicators returned to normal, but he was in a coma.

"Good." The Doctor said with relief. "That's all we needed for now."

I wish I didn't have an early shift… I want to sleep… Yelina said.

"What makes you think you're going to get any sleep?" I hinted suggestively.

The twins stared at me, and I stared back, their mouths didn't move but I heard Diala clear as day… as if it were a thought in my own head, she can hear us? Can she hear us, imzadi?"

The Doctor looked horribly confused, "What's going on?" He said.

I decided to test something. I thought of all the things I'd love to do to my precious twins… hoping they would see it in their minds. In hardly any time at all they both stared at me and blushed.

"We're connected?!" Diala seemed almost frightened… but slightly intrigued.

The Doctor scanned the three of us and pondered a moment….

"Hmm," he said. "It seems the meld has preserved a mental connection between the three of you… Fascinating!"

"That would make a wonderful research project!" I said.

He blinked at me and started to smile.

"What?" I asked, feeling genuinely confused.

"Nothing…" He said. "It's just... for a moment there… you sounded almost like Kes…"

Chapter Eleven - Responsibility

As told by Ezri Dax

B'Elanna had called a meeting on Voyager to discuss our plan to deliver the Sword… The issue quickly divided the senior staff of the ship.

Admiral Janeway shook her head, "I'm afraid I can't allow that. It would be a violation of the Prime Directive. The Federation is not in the business of determining leadership for people other than it's own. Particularly when the Empire had been making threats, it could start a war."

B'Elanna reacted poorly, "But they are my people, and there's already a war!"

Janeway's expression was skeptical. She questioned her, "You've always maintained that you don't want to be associated with the Empire."

Torres turned away, resisting the challenge to her psyche, "It's not the Empire… It's… all the little girls like me… who've lived in the Empire… hated by the people around them." She turned back to Janeway. "You've read the new reports… what's finally coming to light? You're an Admiral now after all." "B'Elanna seemed hostile to the idea of her former Cpatain being an Admiral. "We always knew the Empire was bad for those they conquered… but now we know how bad they've been for their own. Can we really afford to stand on the sidelines?"

I felt a strong instinct to mediate so I interjected, "Maybe we can put the Sword back where we found it? Let a Klingon find it?"

I turned to Captain Vaughn to see his opinion. He sat stoic and silent. I found it odd that he had no opinion, being the one who gave the order to retrieve it.

B'Elanna growled, "I can be that Klingon! If I have to be…"

Janeway interrupted B'Elanna, "That's no better than your original plan involving Commander Dax, it's a loophole and we cannot justify it."

B'Elanna threw her hands up in exasperation, unable to answer.

"Admiral?" Annika's voice broke the silence.

Janeway seemed to relax, "Yes, Seven?"

Annika stood and declared, "The return of the Sword could change lives in the same way that you changed mine by severing me from the Collective. Was that not also interference?"

Janeway was unfazed, "That's different, you were one individual… and you're human…"

Annika continued, her tone growing in resistance, "You severed me from the Collective in the hopes of saving Voyager, and you did so only after the alliance you forged with the Borg in the war against Species 8472 failed. Were those both not also interference? Yet you chose to do so for the greater good of your ship. As an admiral your concern has evolved to the greater good the Alpha and Beta Quadrants and indeed the entire Federation.

Janeway grew slightly angry, gaining a firmer stance, "In the Delta Quadrant we had to make difficult choices… but we tried to stay principled where we could... but now that we are home we have to return to our duties. It's not our place to dictate the course of an entire government, especially after the war."

Annika walked closer, softening her voice to reach Janeway, "Some of your crew may have taken different lessons from the experience… Perhaps that it is important to do what is right even if it clashes with your preconceived ideas."

Janeway seemed to grow angrier, "but we agreed to hold up Starfleet principles."

"To facilitate unit cohesion." Annika challenged. "And yet your 'future self' chose to violate those principles on many levels just to bring Voyager home in her past… There were those in Starfleet who believed you should be held responsible for that violation... but they ultimately decided to grant you a promotion because they believed there are exceptions to the rule. You've said so yourself many times."

"Or maybe they promoted me because I cannot be held responsible for actions I haven't taken yet. I would be negligent in my duties now if I ignored the Prime Directive, regardless of what other versions of myself might do." Janeway said.

Annika grew slightly upset, persisting in her line of reasoning, "You do not wish to see the part of yourself that would make such a decision, so you choose not to confront it! It is cowardly."

The room stared at her, especially B'Elanna, who seemed shocked that Annika came to her defense. Janeway was not amused, however.

"The Sword will not be delivered to the Empire! That is the final word on the subject." She declared.

Chakotay held her arm gently, "Kathryn…"

Janeway turned to him, still upset, "I'm surprised at you Chakotay… of all people I would have expected you would understand."

Chakotay shrugged, "I was Maquis… I think it's obvious that I don't always agree with Starfleet."

Janeway turned to the Doctor, "How is Tuvok, Doctor?"

Doctor Van Gogh responded, seemingly relieved by the topic change, "He's conscious again… but his sight is severely limited… his brain isn't going to be the same… I'm afraid the procedure damaged his brain even further… but… he will live…"

Janeway swallowed her grief, "Very well… that will be all everyone." And then she left the room.

A lot had happened to her lately… it was no surprise to me that she was resistant…

Chakotay looked out the window, contemplative…

B'Elanna scoffed, "So what now? We just give up?!"

Chakotay spoke again… he seemed more like a leader than Captain Vaughn did… Chakotay turned to his crew.

"We always knew that when we came home, we would come face to face with the issues we left behind in the Delta Quadrant… We've been fortunate… Starfleet was kinder than any of us expected." Chakotay said.

B'Elanna didn't agree, "Hardly… none of the Maquis will ever be recognized for their growth. You were one of the greatest leaders in the Maquis… but… what was it that Admiral Paris said?" She turned to Tom briefly. "'a Maquis is unsuitable for leadership, because he will never respect the chain of command'?"

Tom shook his head in shame at his father's words.

Chakotay challenged B'Elanna's point of view, "I suppose we should confirm those beliefs? Go rogue?"

"What choice are they giving us?" B'Elanna said.

Chakotay's face changed, conceding to B'Elanna's argument. I didn't know what to think myself.

The Doctor interrupted, "Wait just a moment? Are you actually suggesting going against The Admiral's orders?"

Vaughn stood abruptly and turned to me, "I must return to the Aventine. I leave you to sort out the issues on Voyager." He seemed totally unconcerned.

As he left the room, I nodded to him, though I'm certain my face looked bewildered.

Harry Kim continued the conversation, "The Doc is right, we can't just ignore Janeway's orders…"

Annika interrupted, "Stardate 52314.7. The USS Enterprise rejects Admiral Dougherty's order in favor of resisting the Son'a desecration of the Ba'ku. The crew faced no consequences as a review of their actions found them to be understandable."

She turned to the Doctor next, "Doctor… was it not true that, during the hearing about your holonovel, you were still not declared a sentient being and therefore denied full rights under Federation law? There are citizens in the Klingon Empire denied those same rights as an individual. Can you afford to stay on the sidelines while continuing your quest for holographic rights? Would you not wish to see those in the Empire freed as well?"

The doctor seemed affected by that line of thinking, looking down at the table, "I suppose not."

Annika continued, speaking directly to Chakotay, "For all of its flaws... the Borg do have one redeeming trait… they are concerned with the welfare of the entire collective… this is a good attribute in a leader. Someone like you."

Kim was exasperated, "So we really are going to do this?"

Chakotay walked to Harry and put an arm on his shoulder, "You're dismissed Harry… It will be alright…"

"Commander?" He asked.

"That's an order, Harry." He said calmly.

Harry turned his gaze to Tom a moment before standing and leaving. He looked distraught.

"Anyone else have any objections?" Chakotay asked. "Doctor?" He turned to Van Gogh.

Van Gogh seemed conflicted.

Chakotay continued to him, trying to convince him. "We'll need you Doc…"

Van Gogh responded, "The only Doctor on the ship again? I suppose it could be worse… very well…"

Everyone else in the room nodded except for me.

"Dax?" He asked me.

I pondered a moment, hesitant to agree, but I couldn't live with myself if I broke my promise to Worf… or if I didn't answer the call for Jadzia. They needed me…

"I made a promise… I can't back down now…" I said.

Chakotay announced, "Then…" He sighed, disbelieving his own words, "Talk to people… get anyone on board that you might think will help us. I'll talk to the rest of the Maquis… Dismissed"

B'Elanna seemed almost surprised. As the crew left, she set a hand on Annika's shoulder and said, "Hey… Thanks…"

Chapter Twelve – A Pawn and a King

As told by Nog

Chief of Operations Nog, personal log: Stardate 55502.4. I've chosen to spend some of my free time taking a look at Vic's holomatrix. He's expressed an interest in expanding his programming and I'm not about to turn down an old friend of mine.

I found myself at the bar. We had cleared out the crowd as I opened the holosuite maintenance panel.

He instructed me, "I wanna be able to change my outfit in a blink of an eye… y'know shake it up… really step up my performance. I'm a hologram, might as well act like it, right?"

"Absolutely!" I said. Using my lobes to listen for the right sounds from the panel.

"Hey pally, I really appreciate ya doin' this fer me. Even if your uncle nixes the offer."

My uncle Quark walked in around that time.

"Alright Vic, what's this deal you have for me?" Quark said, annoyed.

Vic greeted him, "Hey! Good to see ya, Quark!" He shook his hand.

Vic made his proposal, "Been thinkin.'… Nog here was just tellin' me how you think of me as 'competition.'" He put his arm around Quark like he was a big player at the casino he was schmoozin' up. They paced a bit while they talked. "But I'd like us to be friends. Since we both run outta the same joint, why not pool our resources? If we can get me a 'mobile emitter' I could do a performance in your bar, split the profits 50/50?"

Vic let go of him and waited for a response. Uncle Quark was skeptical, "And how much is this 'mobile emitter' going to cost me?"

Vic cringed, "Ah well… I'm not exactly sure. The one I saw was technology from the future…"

Quark looked unsurprised, "Uh huh…" He nodded dismissively, "No thanks."

As he started to walk out, I stopped him.

"Hold on uncle." I turned to Vic, "Vic! I'll build this emitter for you! No charge."

Quark was aghast, "No charge?! I knew those Starfleet ideals ruined you…"

Vic ignored Quark, "Really? You'd do that for me, too. You might just be my best non-photonic friend."

He shook my hand, "I do have one condition… make your performance the best one it can be!"

Vic turned to Quark now, "Well... if it works… you won't have to expense much of anything except the set up in your bar. Whaddya say?"

Quark looked slightly less skeptical and began to haggle, "80/20!"

Vic countered with a cool point, "60/40?"

"75… /25." Quark said, smiling at the enjoyable haggle.

Vic said, "70/30 and not cent more."

Quark pondered, "Alright… deal." He leaned down to me as I fixed the matrix, "Assuming of course this excuse for a Ferengi can make something like that in time."

"Don't worry uncle." I said.

Chapter Thirteen – Delta Flight

As told by Ezri Dax

Tom Paris and I finally had the chance to test out the Aventine's special shuttles. We had been just taken the shuttle out, which appears very much like the one on Voyager.

Tom was flying while I stood over him.

"I'm amazed Starfleet greenlit the hands-on controls." I said, looking at the pilot configuration. "I don't get to see many of these." Honestly, I think I was already in love with the design.

He bragged, "You should see the display I used to have on the right over here." He pointed to the console next to him. "It used design elements from 20th century science fiction. I made a holonovel version of an old 'sci fi' 'TV' series and I decided to 'personalize' my shuttle with it."

I blinked… I was a big fan of that sort of stuff… As silly as it was.

"Wait… which one?" I asked. It couldn't be Captain Proton, could it? I thought.

He laughed at himself, "The Adventures of Captain Proton."

I walked over to him and knelt down to eye level, "No way! I used to watch that stuff at the old movie theater on New Sydney! Proton was always my favorite! As dumb as it is." I giggled.

He looked at me with equal surprise, "You grew up on New Syndey? I had a cousin there. He was the one who first showed me Captain Proton in that theater!" We were both overcome with nostalgia as he continued, "Ah as soon as I saw it… I was so fascinated that the humans of that era ever thought the future could possibly look like that!"

"I know right?!" I said excitedly. "I always thought Constance Goodheart needed a much bigger role, though."

Tom turned and began to fly again, but was still fully engaged with our conversation, "B'Elanna said the same thing. I tried to get her to play as her once, but she didn't want to stay true to the story."

I smiled, "Well you could always rewrite it, put your own spin on it?"

"Harry and I thought about that, but we wanted to experience it in its original version first." He said. Then a sadness fell over him. "I guess I won't be playing those with him anytime soon."

I felt the urge to comfort him, so I touched his shoulder, rubbing it slightly, "Hey, you might still have the chance…" I took a look at the flight configurations as he tested the flyer. Everything was working just right.

"What do you think of our plan? Do you want to do this?" I asked him frankly.

He hesitated, "B'Elanna wouldn't have it any other way. I'm not about to turn my back on her now. I was never much a of a Starfleet officer anyway…"

I jumped in, "Oh I don't believe that."

He laughed, "You should have heard my father… when I came home, and he read everything I had done… he certainly had complaints… but it was like I was a different man. He said, 'Tom you know what your problem was? You were just' too proud for your own good' and 'you got in your own way'. 'A little humbling goes a long way'"

I knew exactly how he felt, "Yeah… my mother has told me something like that before… many times actually…"

He turned to me with sympathy, "Well, you and I have more in common than I thought."

After a pause he stood up and gestured to the pilot's seat, "Wanna give it a try?"

I smiled, "I thought you'd never ask!"

I took the chair… feeling very much like Torias… but also excited in my own right.

I felt the controls with my hands. Incredible.

Tom started to instruct me, "Now the first thing you have to worry about is…"

I interrupted him by rapidly starting it up and bringing a burst of speed to my flight. I knew how to fly.

He wobbled and nearly fell over, bracing his arms on my shoulders to keep balance. I smirked evily as I flew the flyer at full impulse spinning in making sudden turns and just having a blast.

As we finally slowed, Tom said, "Wow… you're good!"

I smiled at him, "Terin was able to help me learn some of the newer designs but… I've had some practice…. Though a year ago I would have been SO space sick after something like that."

"Oh!" He said. "My first year at the academy I was space sick all the time."

"Really?" I looked up at him. Our faces were a lot closer than I had realized…

"Oh yeah… but I didn't let it stop me. I guess you didn't either…" He gave me an affectionate look. If he weren't married, I'd say he was flirting with me…

I smiled and nodded in agreement. After a long look I think we both realized something was up and we turned away quickly. I had a minor epiphany, Am I falling in love with him? I haven't been attracted to a man since Julian… of course I'd pick a married man… not that I really want him anyway… do I?

Just like that I was confused all over again. The rest of the flight back was back to an easygoing friendly attitude. We talked about trying Captain Proton together sometime… assuming we survived, and I ever saw Voyager again. I felt vaguely dirty…

I got a combadge signal from B'Elanna after that. For some reason it made me feel exposed, even though nothing had happened.

"Ezri?" I hit my badge as she continued. "you told me you have some engineering expertise? We're a little shorthanded down here, could you give us hand when you and Tom are done testing?"

"Of course!" I felt exhilarated to be in an engine room again. And they were my engines too…

When Tobin was working as an engineer for the Trill Science Ministry, he had the chance to work in many engine rooms, but the Federation didn't exist back then, and Federation ships had far far superior engines than anything in Tobin's time. I felt a special thrill every time I had the chance to look at what was new because of that. I used to think of engines as a means to an end… maybe that's why my interest in ships has gotten so much greater after being joined: I actually knew a lot more about how they work...

I had looked over the Aventine engine room specs, but they didn't do it justice. It was one of the biggest engine rooms I had ever seen, though there were engineering monitoring consoles all across the ship for the slipstream drive.

I actually got a little lost at first, looking for B'Elannna. I eventually gave up and turned to a and Ensign.

"Ensign?" I said with as non-threatening a voice as I could. "Could you help me find Chief Torres?"

"Oh!" The young andorian man turned, "Yes. She's in the Jeffries tubes, this way Commander."

He showed me to an open crawl space near the warp core.

"Thank you!" I said, then wondering his name I said, "Ensign…?

"Thitrak, commander." He said.

"Great! I'll try to remember that." I said, before crawling in.

I had to crawl fairly far to find B'Elanna. It got quieter and quieter as I travelled, and I got worried I would get lost again. I started to wish for some breadcrumbs to follow back…

I eventually found her at the end of tube and called out, "You needed some help?"

"Oh yes! If you could give me a hand with these…" She grunted with frustration as she hurt herself with a tool. She flicked her hand to distract from the pain. "These… duotronic enhancers here?"

"Sure!" I said excitedly. I began to crawl in as I talked to her, "Why do you need my help, though?"

She looked a little embarrassed and continued to work on the conduits, "Well both crews are tied up with other tasks… recovering from the stream jump… making sure everything is up to spec… dealing with gel-pack problems… There's a reason Aventine only uses gel packs in Astrometrics…."

As I reached her, I turned up to the panel under her. In order to see, I had to lay pretty close to her.

"Some… idiot Starfleet at Earth installed this duotronic relay in such a needlessly complicated way…" She said. "Most of the ship uses multitronics, except for a few circuits here and there…. But this one…"

Her voice tapered off, so I took a look at the computer core. I pointed to a relay, "Wouldn't you need to adjust this?"

"Oh no… The isodine relay is actually…" She adjusted her body to point over elsewhere behind a slot in the ceiling. "Right here…"

After she removed her hand, I stuck it in there… I kept feeling around for it before giving up, "Where?" I asked.

She took my hand, which immediately made me blush, but she seemed un-phased. She guided my had to the relay.

"Right there." She said.

I acquainted my hand with it and I couldn't help but remark, "Wow they make them really small these days. When I was wan an engineer, duotronics was still fairly new… The relays where almost the size of this entire tube."

As I turned back to her I realize we were nearly nose to nose. Our eyes locked for a longer moment than I expected. Oh gods… is this… am I falling in love with her, too? Can I do that? How can I fall in love with three people at the same time?

In the embarrassment I realized maybe she was just confused about why I said 'I' was an engineer.

"Sorry!" I blurted. "I meant when my second host was an engineer… I mean he was… the engineer host."

My face was bright red. B'Elanna smirked and said, "I know…"

I blinked, "You… you know?"

"I looked up your service record… that's why I figured you'd be able to help." She said.

"You… oh…" I felt my face brightening again. It doesn't mean anything Ezri… it doesn't mean anything.

"If you don't mind my saying…" She started. "You… seem very different from a lot of your past hosts…"

I smiled knowingly, "Well…. My joining wasn't exactly… planned… normally you go through years of training for it…"

"Makes sense." She said.

I picked up a tool. "So, if the relay is here… is this the main enhancer?"

"No… but you're right that that's where it should be." She said bitterly.

"Wow they really did make this overly-complicated, huh?" I said with shock.

We started to work together. It was very quiet but very easygoing once we got into a flow. Here and there I would have a question, or she would need a tool, or I would need a tool, and we would talk when that happened. It was very nice actually.

But about halfway through, she spoke to me without prompting, "So… you ready for this mission with Voyager?"

I blinked, "Uhm… well, I guess… I'm not sure I'm ready to face all those Klingons…

"Me neither." She said. "I was… surprised to learn that your last host married a Klingon. It's been my experience that… most other races have a hard time relating to Klingons."

"Well," I chuckled, "I think most of that is because of Curzon Dax… his memories had a profound effect on Jadzia."

She smirked, "Seems like they've had an effect on you, too."

I laughed nervously, "Despite my best efforts to stop it."

The room grew uncomfortably quiet… I worried I had offended her, so I decided to reword it, "Well… there's a few things I like about it… they help me be a braver person… enjoy things more fully…."

B'Elanna smirked, "I guess that's true… I sometimes feel the same way."

There was another long pause. This time much more comfortable.

"I never thought I'd meet someone who isn't Klingon but has a Klingon side." She said.

I shrugged and smiled at her, "Well, most Trill are horrified that I've had so much contact with Klingons. I guess that makes me a rebel, too."

She smiled back, "Guess so."

When we finally finished, I was feeling rather insular. I started biting my nails instinctively as we reentered the engine room. The people made me nervous, but I shook it off quickly enough once I saw Paris and Zee.

Zee walked up to me, "Need a hand on your 'super-secret mission?'"

Tom turned to me, "I thought that she might want to help, since she was part of the crew once."

"Y'know I used to work with Klingons." She said. "All the time actually. I'm curious to see how different they are in this universe."

Zee certainly seemed to be coping with her ordeal well. She seemed… different… More open… But she was still the same old Zee in so many ways. Sarcastic… very interested in pleasure. She seemed a little softer spoken. She had also changed into a silky blue jumpsuit with a combadge and wore black lipstick and incredibly dark winged black eyeliner, accompanied by blue eyeshadow. Over her jumpsuit she had her usual leather jacket and her black boots. The look was a bit experimental… but it worked for her personality.

Tom and B'Elanna turned to each other after Zee finished talking and simultaneously said "I need to talk to you." In a nervous tone.

Tom then said, "You first."

B'Elanna protested, "No you go ahead."

Tom looked at Zee and I, as if hoping we would leave. I took the hint and gestured Zee out of the engine room.

"See you on Voyager!" I said happily.

I walked Zee down the hall, "So… how are you feeling."

"I'm feeling… like I don't wanna be analyzed by my sister?" She said with a smirk.

I couldn't help but smirk as I remembered Norvo, "I've heard that one before."

My thoughts turned to Norvo then… who absolutely needed to talk much sooner than he allowed himself to.

"My tone became serious as we walked, "But listen… you've been through a traumatic experience… it may seem fine now but don't be afraid to talk to someone about it. You'll probably feel some confusion… and feel pulled in two directions…"

"Eh… wouldn't be the first time," she said.

I held my smile, "Well… if you ever want to talk… I know I've been resistant before, but I know a thing or two about being more than one person at the same time…"

"Only if you'll promise to talk to me sometimes too," she said with surprising warmth.

As we kept walking, I noticed something. We both had our hands behind our back in nearly the same way while we walked… I almost expected her to be even more different from me after her experience… but she seemed more like me... though she was still chewing gum incessantly…

I shook my head, marveling at life's strange way of unraveling.

I told her, "You've got a deal… sister."

She smiled so widely when I called her that.

Chapter Fourteen – Maquis

As told by Ro Laren

B'Elanna had told me about the plan for Voyager. I couldn't believe how perfectly everything was going. I was sure that Julian and I would be caught, or something else would go wrong, but amazingly it didn't. I had set up a monitoring station so I could monitor important comm lines and cameras. Julian was going to quietly disable key systems so that Voyager wouldn't be impounded immediately. We decided to gamble and skip the weapons because of all the reports of Klingon attacks that had cropped up lately. I didn't want to risk a Klingon fleet taking advantage of the situation.

I had an earpiece on so I could listen to ops and the combadges of various crew: Admiral Janeway, Captain Kira, Ops generally, the tractor beam technicians… Julian was going to each tractor room to disable them, and I was erasing all trace of his existence in those rooms. There was this unbearable tension in the air, as if we were taking the first real step against Starfleet. It wasn't the first time for me… but it felt momentous… I guess I finally had decided that I wasn't going back…

Julian had entered the tractor emitter room by the habitat ring. Unfortunately, there was someone there, a human male crewman… I think his name is Orlando? Julian got this look on his face. He had been hoping the room was empty too. He seemed to ponder briefly. He must be doubting if he can really do this, I thought.

I tapped my combadge to let him know I was still there to support him. He tapped it back and several small static flickers could be heard in my badge. Julian seemed to gain renewed confidence. At least neither of us were alone in this.

Julian quietly took out a small sedative from his medkit and put on a mask so he wouldn't be recognized if things went south. Orlando faced away from Julian, reading something. Julian managed to sedate the man without being seen. When the sedative hit the man's neck I jumped slightly. After setting the crewman down carefully, Julian began to move quickly to disable the tractor beam. Before that moment things were slow… methodical… with a feeling that we could escape. But now we either failed or succeeded.

I checked ops… all was quiet… no indication of trouble. Julian fast walked his way to the Voyager docking ring. When he finally got there, I had to look at the schematics.

I said to the computer, "Computer, active code scramble sequence Alpha, switch to Beta, then Gamma, then Delta at thirty second intervals. Begin.

I hit my badge, "Ready on our end Chakotay, my… assistant… is at the docking ring."

"Be careful, Laren." He said to me.

I hit my badge again, "Okay Julian."

"Assistant?" He whispered in amusement.

I started to guide him through the manual docking release… it didn't take long for me to hear something in ops.

An engineering officer I didn't know spoke up, a Vulcan woman, "Captain? I'm detecting what appears to be a transmission."

"Let's hear it," Kira said with worry.

"It's entirely incoherent, Captain." She said.

"Is it Klingon?" Kira asked.

"No, sir." Said the officer.

The captain hit her combadge which pinged on me.

"Ro? Are you picking up any unauthorized transmissions on your security grid?" She asked me.

I swallowed my dread and calmly said, "No, Captain, double checking."

I hit my badge to shut out Kira and I spoke to the computer. I felt the need to whisper, "Computer switch to code beta now and reset timer."

I could hear Julian over my badge line, "Laren? What's going on?"

I glanced up to the door to my office, wishing it was more concealed. Maybe I can get some curtains from Quark, I thought.

Instead of answering Julian I hit my badge to answer Kira, "Nothing out of the ordinary. Are you sure it's not just background radiation from the Denorios Belt? Sometimes stuff like that passes through."

The Vulcan crewman insisted otherwise, "I find it highly unlikely I would make such a mistake Chief Ro."

I rolled my eyes. Why did the crewman on duty in Ops have to include a Vulcan…?

The crewman seemed baffled, "However, I am no longer detecting any obvious transmissions…"

Kira stood up, "Well might as well take a runabout to make sure."

Damnit.

I hit my badge again, "Julian, forget the safeties, we need to use the emergency release…"

"Hell…" Julian whispered disgruntledly. He hit the release.

Immediately the Vulcan woman detected it, "Captain? We have an unauthorized access to Docking Bay 4, Voyager's port."

Kira's face grew serious and concerned, "Red Alert, security to docking port 4!"

I spoke to Julian privately, "I'm going to have to send security there to avoid rousing suspicion."

I heard him struggling with the levers, "Aggh! "I'm almost there."

The docking port manual release was opened. Julian then left the airlock and closed it before finalizing the unlock.

My monitor on Voyager lit up as I heard Captain Chakotay, "Alright Tom… be careful."

In Ops, Janeway emerged from the office, "What's going on?"

Kira faced her frankly, "Someone is stealing Voyager."

Janeway seemed to know immediately who it was, "Hail them…" She commanded.

The Vulcan officer did so, "Frequencies open."

Chakotay appeared on the ops screen as Janeway grumbled at him, "Chakotay, what are you doing?"

Chakotay sighed, "The right thing, Admiral."

While this exchange was happening, I was quickly erasing all traces of Julian as he escaped. As far as anyone knew, he was doing research in his lab.

"All those years on Voyager?" Janeway shuddered.You were my conscience. We relied on each other! Are you telling me that was mistake?"

"Take a look around you Kathryn!" Chakotay begged. "Starfleet isn't the same as we left it seven years ago… it isn't good an organization as it was. Attempted genocide? Murdering senators?! Consider the mistakes it made the create the Maquis in that day. That's gotten so much worse!"

"That doesn't excuse this!" Janeway declared.

"What kind of organization are we that ignores its own allies when they're in need? The Klingon Empire is in that state it's in because of the Dominion war we started." Chakotay said. "Who are we if we don't help them now?"

Janeway commanded to the Vulcan crewman, "Tractor beam!"

On the outside of the station, the tractor emitter simply overloaded, causing a brief shortage on the station.

Janeway turned to Chakotay, "what did you do?!"

He didn't answer as Voyager broke away from the station.

"A good leader doesn't break up his family!" Janeway demanded.

Chakotay turned back, "A good leader listens to his crew and fights for them. You showed me that… I'm only following your example."

Then he closed the channel and the refit Voyager warped away.

We did it.

I got a dressing down from the captain after that. Apparently, Admiral Janeway was so upset she accused Kira of having poor security. Kira passed on the message to me with her own frustration.

In her office I stood firmly. I had gotten used to lying since joining the Maquis, but this was more difficult.

"I find it impossible to believe that this incident could have slipped under your radar!" Kira said. "Is it so difficult to catch a vandal?"

"My men couldn't get there in time… there's no footage of anyone in the docking bay." I reported.

"Are you telling me the manual release just… what… opened itself?" She said with a frustrated shrug.

"Of course not." I said firmly. I had to act normal, bury my shame, and I don't normally take kindly to being dressed down, so it was more believable if I showed resistance. I could only guess how well I did.

"Permission to speak freely, Captain?" I said.

She shrugged with a smug smile, "Oh… by all means."

I declared coldly, "When you were in the resistance, you must have had times where you just couldn't get the mission done, and also times where the Cardassians were as baffled as you are now. Sometimes… they just get away."

Kira spoke back, slightly more calmly but largely undeterred, "Well maybe so… but that just means we have a mystery to solve."

Her use of 'we' told me I had hit the right nerve. We had struggled through the years to get along, but for what it was worth, we at least both tried. That only made me feel worse about betraying her… all this time we had put into building trust…

She stood up straight now, "I'm also disappointed with the response time from your deputies. My guess is… some of them still have reservations about you. I'm ordering you to deal with that. Find a way to get to know your people." She turned my own point back on me. "In the resistance we had to do that too."

She was right about that, even though the delay was intentional.

"Yes, Captain." I said reluctantly.

"Good. Start your investigation then, I'll expect regular reports on your progress. Dismissed."

I left the office. On my way back to the Promenade I couldn't help but eye that Vulcan Ensign and her flat gold collared uniform. "What's your name Ensign?"

She stood formally, "Ensign Ten'pla, sir."

"Miss TEN-pluh…"

She corrected me, "ten-PLAH, sir."

"Sorry, Ensign Ten'pla. Meet me and my deputies in the docking bay, you'll be assisting with my investigation. If your duties permit." I ordered.

"I believe they do, Chief." She said.

She and I walked to the Turbolift and entered. I told myself I had seen her skill and wanted her to expose any cracks in my plan so I could learn from them. But a small part of me wondered if what I really wanted was to be exposed. She nearly discovered me… and I had already betrayed Starfleet once….

Chapter Fifteen – A Danger Shared

As told by Ezri Dax

I couldn't believe what we just did. There were a lot of crewmembers that Chakotay had to confine to quarters, though most of the crew were on shore leave at the station. Nearly all the former Maquis agreed to help, and the senior staff was filled with nearly only former Maquis, though I knew that Tom barely qualified. All except for me. Chakotay had decided to make me the first officer by my rank, but that only made we wonder if my career in Starfleet would end after this. I didn't help anyone steal the ships, but I knew about it and didn't stop it. I had some plausible deniability but all that seemed like a poor justification.

We decided to run as silent as we could to avoid being attacked on our way through the Empire so there was a lot of spare time. I was in the holodeck, practicing my Klingon fighting technique, and just about constantly thinking of the implications of what I was doing. I must have dropped the mek'leth I was practicing with a hundred times, being only about one and half meters tall really threw off my balance and I was having an easier time with the mek'leth than the bat'leth. Fortunately, I had fought Worf… or Jadzia had… a thousand times so I knew some of the moves and what counters to expect. I was really hoping I wouldn't have to use any of them though.

It wasn't long before Zee and the Doctor entered the room.

The Doctor seemed cheery for some reason, "Time for your physical!" He called to me.

I was immediately embarrassed to be seen doing Klingon things and practically hid the mek'leth behind my back. I nearly cut myself trying to do so…

"A physical?" I asked. "But I'm not part of the Voyager crew."

"You are now! Miss Tigan thought it might be helpful to transfer a copy your medical records. In case you thought to stay with Voyager when this is all over." He said. He began scanning me.

Zee started some conversation with a wry smile, "Shmullus is excited to have a joined Trill on board."

"Oh really?" I said shakily. Feeling my deep fear of doctors start to creep back up on me. That was something Jadzia and I had in common…

"Oh yes!" Van Gogh said. "The physiology of joining is fascinating especially after the recent revelations… medical science owes you a debt of gratitude for that one." He laughed.

Zee smiled… almost sweetly at the Doctor's excitement, which was a little unnerving.

I decided to break the silence that occurred after that, "So, Zee… did Diala and Yelina stay on the station?"

Zee gave a much more familiar enticed smile, "They decided to… conveniently be on the ship for some 'repairs' when it got taken..." Zee's face changed somewhat to an almost guilty smile, "I don't deserve them."

Then Zee made this face as if she were listening intently to something, and then blushed bright red, appearing almost frustrated.

I had read the report of what she had been through, so I smiled, "I take it they disagree?"

"Ugh… yeah…" Zee said. "It so fucking weird hearing them in my head Ezri… They're trying not to listen to me too much so we can get used to each other but…"

I smiled knowingly at her, "Is it nice to have someone who knows your thoughts, though?"

She was too embarrassed to respond but she made a shy smile which told me I hit the nail on the head.

Then, as if the room weren't already crowded enough, both Tom and B'Elanna entered the holodeck. They immediately both made eye contact with me. It was frightening because they seemed concerned about something. The first thing that went through my head was, oh no I've come between them and their marriage… But then I began to feel that was paranoid. I hadn't actually done anything, nor had either of them. I began to feel a wave of frustration at the galaxy for continually putting me in drama like this, I mean… can't I just explore the galaxy already?

Suddenly I felt something it my knee and my leg jolted a bit. The entire movement scared me, and the rest of my body jolted alongside it.

I looked up to see the doctor had just performed the leg reflex test. After so many centuries we still used the ol' tiny hammer…

The Doctor said, "They say it's more effective when it's a surprise." He smiled jovially and he began examining my lungs, "Though that has the effect of also testing out other reflexes, hahah."

He turned on a scanner and set it against my back, "deep breath." He ordered. I obliged, though I'd swear I could feel the scanner examining my lungs, as if it were beaming something directly in them…

Zee opened up a tricorder and began to examine me. Already feel overly seen and knowing her… 'interest' in me, I couldn't help but say, "No peeking, okay?" I was annoyed and the longer the physical went on the less comfortable I felt.

Zee answered me with a sultry smile, "It's my job to peek."

"Zee…" I said.

"I'm only kidding, geez…" She said defensively, but she didn't seem as offended as she might have been before.

The Doctor shook his head at her and said, "I think we might need to review patient socialization protocols…"

Tom and B'Elanna were waiting around awkwardly, pacing. They clearly wanted to talk privately… B'Elanna and I locked eyes and she gave me this… desperate look. Something was bothering her, but my counselor's instincts couldn't tell much else from here.

Zee stopped scanning me and took my hand. I jumped again.

"Hey…" she said unusually calmly, "It's okay… you don't like doctor's, do you?"

I sighed and turned my eyes to one side, feeling like small child, "No…" I chuckled after that… "I went to Starfleet Medical too… and I'm still scared of them…" I thought of Julian then and said, "Well… most of the time anyway…"

Van Gogh said, "I'll try not to take that personally."

Zee just responded, "Don't listen to him… close your eyes…"

For some reason despite her earlier comments, I felt comfortable closing them.

When I did a strange feeling came over me. I could almost feel the blood rushing in my body slow down, and me muscles relax. My immediate thought was, by the Prophets, please don't let me fall in love with her too… that would be really uncomfortable. But somehow, even in the midst of that feeling, I felt relaxed. I didn't think there was any danger of that afterall.

I opened my eyes… nearly knowing when they were ready. I felt so content… When I saw Zee again, she was smiling. The look on her face told me that she had, somehow, done that for me.

"How did you…?" I asked.

Van Gogh answered instead, "Kes had amazing powers. It wouldn't surprise me if some of them were preserved thought the combination."

Van Gogh finished the last of his scans and said, "Well that about covers it. It's good to see you keeping in shape though, Commander." He turned to Zee. "Come along now Zee!"

Zee followed him dutifully. I had never ever seen her take such delight in helping others before. But she was still the same old Zee, because on her way out she winked at B'Elanna and kissed the air in her direction. Then she turned and waved to me, striding confidently with her boots clunking on the holodeck floor.

Tom and B'Elanna stepped forward as I watched, both a little bewildered.

"Is that your sister?" B'Elanna asked. "She looks just like you."

I stared at the exit smiling slightly, "Yeah… yeah she is…" It was the first time I really believed it… I had a sister… I started to feel the Emony in me rising up with those tears again… I quickly pushed her down by shaking my head.

"Uhm. What can I help you with?!" I said a little louder than I intended to.

Tom and B'Elanna looked at each other, then B'Elanna turned back, clearly very embarrassed, "Well we… we were wondering…"

She turned back to Tom, asking him to explain it with his eyes. The anxiety in my stomach returned.

Tom finished, "We were wondering if you had some free time. Chakotay let me leave the Bridge and…"

B'Elanna gained her confidence, "We would have to bring Miral but… we would love the chance to spend time with you… you're…"

B'Elanna looked to the side, afraid of something, but I felt huge relief and responded, "Oh absolutely!" I laughed. "I'd love that chance, too. You both seem like great people… your daughter too!" I realized how silly what I said was and interrupted myself, "Oh I mean even though she's just a baby…"

Tom rose a hand and laughed, "Glad to hear it. We were thinking of showing you a movie in one of my programs. You had mentioned you grew up with that old style theater…"

B'Elanna picked up the line of thought, "Tom has really expanded on the program… it's…" She smirked, "One of our favorite date programs."

"Oh no! I wouldn't want to invade on your private time together!" I said. I was already quite concerned that I had disrupted their marriage.

Tom and B'Elanna looked at each other, before Tom turned back and said, "I don't think you understand what we're asking…"

I made a puzzled face, turning my head with confusion… and then it hit me. Do they want to bring me into their relationship? That couldn't be right, I mean we just met, this is insane. Right?!

And of course… that's when the order came over the internship com.

The lights flashed red and Chakotay's voice echoed, "Red alert! Senior staff to the Bridge! Battle stations!"

We all looked at each other with a mix of amusement, relief, and disappointment. We left together as I grabbed my uniform and put the rest of it back on.

Chapter Sixteen – "Fly Me to the Moon"

As told by Kira Nerys

I wouldn't say I was angry at Ezri. In fact, it all made perfect sense to me, but for some reason I felt this… need to be upset at her. Was it just because she left? Maybe, but that wasn't simple enough. But for whatever reason I felt her absence very strongly. But now I was learning that the Klingon Empire had begun to drag neighboring empires into their civil war. Sadly, many powers were eager to gain a foothold against the Empire, or the Federation. The Gorn… the Tholians, and of course the Sheliak Corporate. The Sheliak government had officially denied any involvement in supplying the Old Empire and was officially 'neutral,' meanwhile the Gorn were being captured and used as battle slaves, which is something Klingons hadn't done since the 23rd Century… And the Tholians were more than happy to supply them with weapons since they had long spoken out against the Federation's expansion into their "territory." Thousands of internal skirmishes had emerged across the galaxy, and I felt a certain fatigue… Klingon ships had been reported raiding nearby to DS9… just earlier we had picked up a vessel which had sustained heavy damage. Whatever Ezri and Voyager were doing, I needed it to work…

After finishing up the report on the raided ship I sat back, already tired of war… dreading what was to come. I found myself praying to the Prophets… praying that Opaka could negotiate a peace… praying that the aggression would be over quickly… praying that Bajor wouldn't come under threat…

I whispered, "Please… if danger should find its way to Bajor… to the Station… please… save us…"

I felt something within me shift as I finished. They heard me. I knew it to be true…

I stepped out onto Ops, again thinking of the Emissary. Nog was at his station tinkering with this strangely shaped orange and blue device. It was partly Cardassian, partly Federation in design and shaped with fourteen sides. It looked as if there were one larger cube in the middle with three blue screens. It reminded me a bit of the "teevee set" in Vic's apartment. The entire shape had little tiny legs, like those of small nightstand, on the top and bottom.

Nog was adjusting it and I heard Vic's voice come out of it. His voice was tinny, and his face appeared on the screen in black and white, "Y'know, kid, this ain't exactly what I had in mind…"

"Hold on…" Nog said with pure engineer's focus… and a little frustration. It almost reminded me of Miles.

"Right right… it's just that it's a bit of blank void in here… It's a little distressin' to tell you the truth." Vic said. I had never seen him so concerned, he's usually so easy going, even when Frankie Eyes took over his casino.

"You're sure it'll work this time?" He said to Nog. "Cause you said it would last time."

"It'll work eventually," Nog said.

"Right… right…" Vic said.

Nog tweaked the device with a hydrospanner and I heard it adjust.

He talked to me as I passed him, but didn't look up, "Agh, I wish my father were here… he knows more about holo-emitters than anyone…"

Vic's voice came through the device, "Say how's he doin'? He and Leeta still together?"

"That they are." Nog declared. "Dad has his hands full with all these Ferengi breaking the new laws… Leeta has been helping out with fee-male rights…. Sorry, that's woh-man's rights."

I took a look at the console and made fun of Nog's pronunciation, "You almost got it."

"Y'know… I always wondered… here in Vegas… or at least this Vegas… when marriage happens… usually the woman who takes the man's family name… but what do Bajoran's do? Did Leeta have to give up hers?"

Nog answered first, "Ferengi don't have family names… just extensive family records. So, no…"

"Huh…" Vic said in confusion.

I finished answering him, "Bajoran family names come first, but the couple chooses based on their own wishes."

Vic laughed in approval, "I like that."

Nog piped up, stopping his adjustment of the emitter, "Wait… what's Leeta's family name?"

I couldn't believe my ears and I looked at him, "You don't know?"

Vic concurred with Nog, "Come to think of it I don't think I know either."

I looked between them. How did this never come up?

"Srya." I said frankly and turned back around to the Ops console.

Vic pondered the name, "Ser-ee-uh…"

I rolled my eyes and the mispronunciation. SrEE-uh I said in my head, but I decided to leave it alone… there were more important tasks.

Something beeped affirmatively on the emitter and Nog said, "There we go! Try that old pally!"

Vic closed his eyes, and the emitter began to beep. From the top of the device a ray of light sprayed out and there in Ops appeared Vic Fontaine…. In the flesh… so to speak.

Vic looked around… then smiled, "It worked!" He was so excited I couldn't help but smirk. He walked around Ops as all the officers stared at him. The light that was emitting him had a faint glow which followed him around the room like a shadow.

"Wow… so this I where you cats work, huh?" He said with wonder.

His eyes turned to the viewscreen and the expression on his face turned to awe as he saw the stars.

"Would ya look at that?" His voice tapered off.

He stared out for a long time with pure, child-like wonder…

"So, this is what spring really like up here…" He declared.

At that moment the Celestial Temple burst open as a ship left for the Gamma Quadrant. The holy blue light shooting across space.

"Whoa! Hahah!" Vic smiled excitedly. "Well, if that ain't the bees knees, eh?

He turned around to me with totally admiration. I wondered if a hologram could truly grasp the concept of the Prophets.

"Yes… it is." I said with knowing agreement.

Vic dashed over to Nog, "Thanks again pal!" He shook his hand.

"I'll have to put you back in there and take you back to the holodeck, but we should be ready for the show soon." Nog said.

Vic said, "Now I just need to find a band."

"I'm sure my uncle Quark can help with that." Nog said.

It wasn't long before the happy moment was lost.

Ensign Ten'pla, who had returned from Ro's disturbingly fruitless investigation and now sat a science, reported for us all, "Captain, the detection grid at the edge of Bajoran space has detected several tachyon distortions incoming."

"Klingons…" I said. "Yellow alert. Encode a message to Starfleet, 'Cloaked Klingon fleet likely headed to DS9, request assistance.' Then get me Captain Vaughn."

Chapter Seventeen – Unforgettable

As told by Ezri Dax

The red alert on Voyager had been from a Klingon scouting vessel. They attacked us for rightly violating their territory, despite the fact we told them we were on a peaceful mission to return a Klingon artifact. The battle didn't last long, the new Voyager was easily able to defeat a Bird-of-prey… but the Klingons knew we were here now. It was a very confusing situation… if they had believed us that the real Sword of Kahless were on its way… we might have passed through easily. But we were almost to Qo'noS now…

Ensign Tabor was at Ops, and he announced, "Captain, picking up another ship…"

"Klingon?" Chakotay asked.

"No…" He said. "Federation… and this one out guns us…"

"On screen."

The USS Enterprise appeared before us, and I felt a huge relief at the sight of it.

"Do they have their weapons charged?" Chakotay asked.

"No…" Tabor said.

"Wait." I asked. "Hail them."

They answered straight away.

"This is Captain Picard of the Enterprise. We're relieved to see you're in one piece Voyager."

I smiled, "It's good to see you Captain!"

Picard smiled, "Ah, Commander Dax, I heard you were on board. I hope you'll be able to keep that promotion."

"As do I… but this was something I had to do…" I felt immediate guilt. Even though Picard didn't seem particularly disturbed by my actions, I cared a lot about his opinion of me.

Chakotay asked with a slightly challenging tone, "Is there something we can do for you Captain?"

Jean-Luc spoke frankly, "I'm afraid my ship has been sent to bring you in."

Chakotay stood firm, "Maquis don't exactly go down without a fight."

Picard responded in kind, "Nor did I expect you too, however…"

Picard glanced over, "There are those officers among my crew who understand the lengths you're going to." The viewscreen panned out, showing us Commander Worf, reinstated.

As he appeared on screen he said in Klingon, "Qapla'! Soh'par'machIm." Success! Sister through love.

I smiled, "Qatlho'maH." We thank you.

Picard smirked and turned back to Chakotay, "We will escort to you Qo'noS… our tactical officer is needed there for other matters. We will have to drop him off before we can escort you back to Deep Space Nine. And we are protecting stolen Federation property after all. With my reputation among the Empire, few will dare challenge us."

"Very well," Chakotay said.

The hail dropped and Chakotay returned to the captain's chair. I stayed standing and approached the screen, standing next to Tom. The stars were beginning to look familiar…

I said my thoughts out loud without realizing, "I've seen these stars so many times…" The gravity of what we could be doing hit me the hardest at that moment… all those adventures I'd Imagine as child, saving the galaxy… this was something like that… but it was real… and I had all of Curzon's memories of the Empire. A star to the right, was one great victory, and to the left a great failure… written long ago in song and story. For the very first time, I felt proud to be in the House of Martok… to think I was so reluctant before…

Tom touched my shoulder, seeing the emotions in my eyes… the wonder… I smiled at him. B'Elanna appeared to my right shoulder.

She spoke with a certain fear, "I've never been to the Empire… hard to believe this is where half of my people are from." Her hand rested nervously on my other shoulder.

I felt like I had totally lost my mind, but in that moment I didn't care. I couldn't distinguish myself from Dax … and I had no need to.

We passed increasingly large Klingon ships, before finally coming on the green hazy capital of the K'Thar system, lit by the rise of K'lai Klinzhai, Qo'noS. Around the planet where the shattered remains of pIraqSIS (the famous Klingon moon), and the 23rd century atmospheric controller created by the Federation to save the Empire during its first venture for peace. I remembered Khitomer, and watching Captain Kirk stop a Federation conspiracy to destroy the Empire… I was there when he and his crew beamed in. Today, a massive fleet blockaded the planet. From time to time a Klingon ship would decloak and be destroyed. There were also a few Alpha'Hadar fighters spinning around. It was time.

I took a deep breath, "Hail them."

On screen appeared the Qang'Hom. Basically, the secretary to the Chancellor.

"I am Kin'ThaH! I see two heavily armed Federation ships entering or territory! This is not your war humans! Leave!" He said.

Chakotay stood and straightened his uniform, "This is Captain Chakotay of the Maquis ship Voyager. We are under escort by Jean-Luc Picard of the Enterprise, and we are not here to start an incident. Only to deliver a priceless Klingon artifact in the hands of its current wielder."

"Pah! We know all about your 'Sword of Kahless.' Have you any idea how many fakes have been claimed to be found. Especially during times of war?!"

Kin'ThaH was not having this, and Chakotay made it worse by being polite.

"We understand that, however, we are able to prove it is the real the Sword. We have various scientific techniques which…"

"Gah!" Kin'ThaH stopped him, "I already know you do not tell the truth! There is no conviction in your voice! Where is your certainty of purpose?! Where-"

I had to act quickly. I took a short breath and slammed my arms on the console in front of me, yelling, "mev'yap!". I charged to the front of the screen to make sure I covered it. This shocked the Bridge into silence.

My stomach was swirling with nerves, but I wasn't about to stop now, "You doubt the word of a Klingon warrior?! I am DAX! Soh'par'machIm of Worf! Sister to the House of Martok! If you doubt my word! You can meet me on the field of battle, insufferable vengWi'!"

A dreadful, stomach-churning silence fell over the room as I stared him dead in the face.

A brief look of disgust came over his face before the Klingon began laughing, "You have spirit for such a small thing! But as I recall, your house was dissolved! Even if it weren't… the Council does not hear the pleas of a woman… especially an alien."

"Would the Council hear the words of Curzon Dax?!" I snapped back. "As you may recall, I hold all of his memories. I can assure you that he would be most displeased to be ignored… In fact, he IS!"

That got his attention. His face changed, almost fearful, "Curzon Dax holds an… honorable legacy…"

"He may be an 'alien', but he would not lie to the Klingon people!" I said. "And was it not your own chancellor who said that it is he who's heart is Klingon who is Klingon?"

Kin'ThaH scowled, "… Show me the Sword…"

I held out my hand. After a moment, the Sword was beamed into my hand. I hardly felt worthy of it, but I had to believe I was. I swung the bat'leth in a warrior's motion, ending with one knee down and holding it out so the symbol of the Ancient Empire could be seen.

Kin'ThaH took a breath, "Very well… but the dishonored cannot fight for themselves, do you stand alone? Who is your cha'DIch?"

I looked to B'Elanna. She looked very nervous but stepped forward anyway.

"You have to introduce yourself formally." I whispered softly.

She stuttered at first, but her nervous tone became firmer as we moved on, "I am B'Elanna… Torres, daughter of Miral, daughter of L'Naan, daughter of Krelik."

Kin'ThaH looked through his computer, "Your family is dead… B'Elanna Torres."

Her voice shook, "I… I know."

"Then you, too, fight for your honor?" He asked.

"Yes." B'Elanna said.

Kin'ThaH hit a few buttons, "Here are the coordinates. Be advised we will determine its authenticity ourselves! And remember. You are here today as Klingons! Not Starfleet…"

The channel disappeared and we were allowed to enter orbit.

I let out a huge sigh of relief, releasing the tension in my body.

Then Tom began to clap, and the rest of the Bridge joined in. It was short, but I turned around just intime for it to stop. I was very embarrassed…

Looking to Chakotay I said, "Sorry for… interrupting you and all that."I bit my lip with guilt.

He smiled, "None taken, as long as you don't make a habit of it."

I looked around, stunned by all the eyes on me.

"Well?" Tom said.

Chakotay finished for him, "You'd better get down there…"

B'Elanna and I entered the transporter room in full Klingon garb. I adjusted the furry gloves and the chest piece. I was very uncomfortable.

"I swore I'd never wear one of these again…" I said, fidgeting with the outfit.

"So did I…" B'Elanna said. Tom helped her while I grabbed the sword. I couldn't help but smile at it, though as I stepped onto to the transporter pad with B'Elanna my nerves shot up again. We were beaming down next to the hall where we would meet the rest of the House of Martok, at least those that could make it to see the council. We had done a scan of the region… it was impossibly crowded… Being surrounded by tall Klingons with at least twice my strength, if not more, mortified me beyond belief. Each one of them could kill me easily.

Tom stepped on the pad with us so that he could support B'Elanna. Maybe he wanted to support me too? I caught myself wondering.

I turned to B'Elanna and stuttered out, "Ready?"

She stuttered back, but with a smirk, "No… but I won't ever be."

"I just hope we don't have to eat any of the food…." I said, swallowing my disgust.

I nodded to the transporter Chief after taking a deep breath. "Energize…" He said.

Moments later we appeared in the smoggy city. I was immediately hit with the smell. Intense body odor, industrial metals, rust, choking smoke… I knew I had to breathe it like I enjoyed it… and resist the fatigue I felt in my legs. Holding the Sword helped, I felt more confident… focused.

There were hundreds of Klingons around us. Worf had joined us, also clad in Klingon attire. Only Tom wore his uniform. Many of the Klingons were yelling and calling, with guards blocking their path. Others looked hungry, desperate, and begged us with their eyes. A young Klingon boy met my eyes past the arms and legs of the adults that surrounded him. I felt my very soul vibrate with pity and love… It for him that I was here.

I looked to my team of support. The man who was my husband… and new treasured friends (or more) who seemed to know me intuitively. I only wished Nerys were here, too. I turned ahead to lead the group, took a deep disgusting breath, and began to walk. As we walked by the line of guards and yelling people, I could feel the tension growing. A few of the Alpha Jem'Hadar were around in Klingon uniforms. For what it was worth, they seemed almost happy… though they were difficult to read.

We saw the great hall towering over us… much larger than I expected. Here, century after century… Klingon law was dispensed. Or at least what passed for such…. Its age was impressive. To think what we did here today could end it… or end us… I shuddered at the idea of dying on this horrible planet. As much as she loved Klingons, Jadzia would agree…

We crossed the bridge over the deep and dry moat, and to the gates of the Hall. They were black, steel slabs of doors. In the corner of my eye, I could see Worf breathing in the sight. I don't think I could make it through this without him. He had an infectious bravery.

The doors opened and several warriors greeted us, including the leader of the Alphas. He carried the device which was to determine authentication. A small scanner, black and dark green, with a red flashing light. A silence fell over the crowd, hushed in anticipation.

Decin smiled at me with an angry hunger, as if he knew it to be a fake. I held out the Sword with as firm a grip as I could.

He scanned it.

My gods… what if it is a fake? I thought.

But as he continued to, his face grew more and more frightened. Eventually he stood frozen, unable to process the scan. The Klingon Guard of the People, who stood to his right, looked to him.

"Jatlh." He commanded. But Decin did not speak. The guard grabbed the scanner and look for himself. The guard's eyes grew wide, and he looked to me with horror, as if he himself were a traitor to the Empire, and he knelt.

"By the hand of the true Kahless…. It IS the Sword!" He declared to the crowd.

Nearly the entire crowd behind us knelt as well, a few began to weep (as much as a Klingon can… no tear ducts). I turned to see the wretched people… some looked to be in horror, others reverence, a few were suspicious… but most just utter bewilderment. I felt entirely unworthy… but more than that I realized just how badly this violated the Prime Directive… I'm in over my head… But I couldn't quit now… I refused to… I don't quit…. I'm a Dax.

Decin looked at me with utter disdain. Nerys had told me about him, but I could tell I had made an enemy of him that day… we walked on… I knew convincing the Council would be a much less simple matter.

We climbed the steps, Tom glanced around like a little boy at all the sights, B'Elanna looked very frightened, but each time she did, she seemed to look at me and gain something from it. I could only guess as to what, I was just glad I could help.

At last, we reached the chamber of the Chancellor, Toral sat on the throne, surrounded by Alphas and the Klingon Council. He scowled. Near him was the cloned Kahless, watching with stoicism, waiting to judge the bearer of his predecessor's Sword. I still couldn't believe that was me. I remembered being called to Principal Nguyen's office in fourth grade for throwing mud at a boy… I was horribly frightened then… but nothing compared to this. Even at the time I was adamant, and I needed that stubborn nature now, I only hoped it was for the right reason this time.

I lifted the Sword and stared Toral in the eye, "'Ij!" My declaration rung out

The room fell silent, scowls everywhere. A few curious looks.

"'e'SrI DaqS jIH!" My name sure sounds a lot more intimidating in Klingon. Then again, so does everything else.

"The Council and Chancellor shall hear you, carrier of Dax." Said the Council spokesman. He was an older man, beard greyed and his body sagging slightly. I couldn't tell for sure, but he looked familiar.

I nodded and began to look to each Klingon as I spoke, locking eyes with Kahless as frequently as I could.

"Before my sister joined the House of Martok, she assisted the late Dahar master Kor and Worf, Son of Mogh, in retrieving the Sword from the Hur'q."

I tried to put more gusto in my voice, "They had taken it to their home in Gamma Quadrant. Where the Sword outlasted them, just as the Klingons had!"

I turned as excitedly as I could to other Klingons on the other side of the room. Some scowled with skepticism, others listened intently like young warriors.

I turned to Toral. "But the Son of Duras sought to steal the sword from us!" I pointed to Toral, who scowled in silence.

The crowd murmured in disbelief and shock. Toral simply stared at me coldly.

Emperor Kahless spoke, much to the surprise of the room. He faced the Chancellor, "Is this true? You kept the will of the first Kahless from the Klingon people? You would take the Sword from those who found it?"

"Mev'uch." I said holding my hand calmly. "The son of Duras was defeated and fled." Some of the crowd shook their head, unsurprised, others seemed shocked. "But the lure of the Sword's power took hold of both of my blood brothers, Worf and Kor." Though it was much later, when I last saw him, I thought of the day Kor died, and I glanced to Worf, feeling a surge of emotion. I used the surge to raise the excitement of my tale. I was even starting to enjoy it a little.

"A battle ensued! First of words and then of fists. The men fought over who should have the Sword! Gowron, or the Emperor… Then they began to covet that power for themselves, and I had to take the Sword from them… By the time we reached our ship… we had felt the Sword would divide the Empire at a critical time. We chose to release it to space, rather than begin a war over the Klingon heart."

I turned to the Chancellor again, "But that war began without the Sword's help. The same battle which plagued the Dahar master and the Son of Mogh, now plagues the heart of every Klingon…" I looked to one of the Alphas, "No matter their birth." I turned to the doors to indicate the poor outside. "No matter their luck. Brother… fights brother. It is as if the Sword itself were waiting for it's time to come home. And that is when I found it, drifting in the path of my ship."

I let some of my own personality come through, "Now… I'm not much of a Klingon, but I know what this Sword means to Empire. Whoever owns the Sword is said to be the rightful ruler. I could claim that power for myself. But as I said… I'm not Klingon… not even at heart. Curzon and Jadzia may have been… but Ezri never wanted to be anything more than a Starfleet officer. But when I see the war out there…" I pointed again. "I see glorious battles yes, but broken souls. Your entire Empire is asking what it means to be Klingon, and I know struggles like that, and that is why I am here… as a member of the House of Martok, I won't stand by when I can help."

I stood firmly as my tale came to a close, "It is not my place to decide your path. Not only would that betray my principles, but I suspect few of you would accept someone like me as a leader. However, the Sword chose to appear to me… someone who can only deliver it… not wield it. It's as if the voice of the first Kahless came alive to return where he belongs. If the Sword had not been taken, would it not be passed down to the heirs of Kahless? Is it not true that this Empire has constantly asked itself since the day of Kahless' loss 'what is it to be Klingon?! T'Kuvma had his ideas, the Son of Duras has another, but there is only one person here today who can tell us what The Unforgettable would believe. What he who founded the Empire would say of Klingons today. The Sword is here, I believe, to show you that that man is indeed the Kahless the Empire needs."

I turned to face to the emperor and began to walk to him. The room stared in awe, a few knelt. As I reached Kahless I knelt as well and said, "As the finder of your Sword, I choose to return that which was lost long ago… to you. I held it out firmly for him to take, looking him in the eye.

Kahless stared at me, shocked. He slowly reached one hand on the Sword. I let go of one hand as he looked down at me. We now each held one half of the Sword.

He smiled at me slightly, "You say your heart is not Klingon… But despite the laws we have held… I see a warrior, as proud and strong as the rest of us. You are as worthy of the title as anyone in this room."

Much of the room seemed shocked by his words. Many looked down, as if ashamed of their views. As Kahless took the other side of the Sword, I smirked back. I think I understood Klingons more in that moment that I ever had before.

Kahless held the Sword, and the confidence grew in his eyes. He gripped it firmly and turned to Toral, who scowled with anger.

Kahless spoke unforgettable words, "I have sat in this Council for years now, not knowing if I am the true Kahless. But remembering the words he said all those years ago. I remember speaking to them clearly. 'You are Klingons, you need no one but yourselves.' One day I promised to return, for one day I would be needed again."

He looked to the Council, towering over them with a confidence that he did not have in his height. "Now I know that day I appeared to the Son of Mogh." He turned to Worf, who's eyes were gleaming. "Was the day I was to return. Perhaps not in the way I expected, but I am needed again. For you have lost your way. You have forgotten what makes honor, honor. You have forgotten what it is you defend, what it is that honor protects. Even this woman," He pointed to me. "Of another world, of another life… knows better than so many of you. This is not your fault, it is mine. The Empire I designed did not preserve that which I thought it would. Therefore, something new must take its place. For an Empire which starves its people is no Empire at all."

"That is the will of Kahless. What say you?" He said to Toral.

Toral stared him in the eyes, deep and cold. The power was slipping away from him, the power his House had sought for so long, and yet he would face a challenge before his reign had properly begun.

He grumbled, scarcely making eye contact with him, "I do not hear the words of false kings..."

The spokesperson, who stood next to Toral, turned to him in shock, "False? Did you not hear the story we were told?"

Toral turned to him slowly, "And you believe the words of an alien?"

The Councilor became frustrated, "Was it not you who said that an alien can have a heart of this world?!" Many in the crowd looked to me again. I had rejoined Worf, B'Elanna, and Tom.

Toral pushed the man over, now seething.

Kahless said, "Both those who find their Klingon heart, and those born of this world are Klingon. It is as I taught. The wind will not respect a fool."

Toral stood up as if her were about to attack Kahless, but he stopped, regaining his composure trying to remain dignified, "There are those who would say the Duras family is the wind which cannot be stopped."

The room roared in derision and began to divide between those loyal to Kahless, and those loyal to Toral. Very few were left with Toral. But even still, Toral stood firm. You almost had to admire his tenacity.

Kahless held his Sword in a battle pose, "Then as my first and last act and the Emperor, I challenge your seat. You are unworthy to rule, Toral, Son of Duras."

Toral gave a cold stare and held out his hand. Decin handed him his modified mek'leth. And the battle for the Klingon soul began… I felt far more anticipation than I ever expected.

Toral was a worthy opponent, But Kahless stood firm. A quiet chant of Kahless' name began. A few murmurs of Toral as well, but they barely registered.

The men paced around one another, scanning for weakness… then Toral struck, with several sideways swipes to feint Kahless. Kahless was undeterred, so Toral rose up in a downward stroke, roaring slowly with anger. The first clank of metal-on-metal rung out in the hall, and the crowd practically cheered. There wasn't a single Klingon whose blood didn't rush, whose heart didn't cry out. Not even me…

Toral seemed entirely unconcerned with the crowd being against him. He snaked around, trying to flank Kahless, scoring a few hits as the crowd jeered. They were slight cuts, and Kahless barely reacted as the blood found its way down his leg. Instead, his eyes were already on the mek'leth, blocking another strike. Immediately following the downward strike, Toral circled his swing in an upward strike. This flung the Sword upward, which nearly left Kahless' hands. But before Toral could plunge into his belly, Kahless had flipped around elegantly, and punched his face, knocking him back. The emperor wasted no time in charging to him, but Toral was nimble and light and managed to duck under. To avoid an opportunistic swing from Toral, Kahless swung with a growl. As he missed and regained his stance he smiled hungrily.

"You fight with Klingon spirit!" He cheered to Toral. Privately I remembered the words. Respect thy enemy, spoken by the first Kahless. Words long forgotten… But not by him.

Toral actually smirked, "My spirit will outlive yours." He said.

Kahless just said, "A leader is not judged by the length of his reign, but by the decisions he makes. AHH!" Kahless swung again as he roared and locked swords with Toral. The cheering for Kahless reached a fever pitch.

"Kahless! Kahless!"

Kahless taunted with an eager smile, "The room is against you! Do you give in Son of Duras?!"

Toral growled back, "NEVER!"

"Good! Hah Hah!" Kahless cheered and smiled, "That is the response of a Klingon! Be sure you remind Kortor of your conviction as you fight for your right to Sto'vo'kor! AAAh!" He charged again.

Toral dodged and spun around Kahless. Kahless feinted slightly, switching the Sword to his right hand, giving Toral an opening. Toral took it and charged forward, but Kahless was ready and grabbed his arm, pulling him further forward and just to the side of him. Then he swung underhanded and the bottom of the Sword pierced Toral's belly.

Toral screamed, but persisted, tripping Kahless down. As both men fell, the Sword clanged on the ground. Metal on stone… The cheering stopped, making way for glorious anticipation and fear.

Toral rose, holding his side as it oozed with blood, he grabbed the Sword and swung down on Kahless. But Kahless hands were free and he held the Sword back by the handles, struggling to prevent his death.

Toral jeered through his pain, "Ready to meet the true Kahless, old man?"

"Indeed." Kahless said straining to push away his own bat'leth from his face. "But let me ask you, is today a good day to die?"

"What?" Toral asked with confusion.

Kahless had managed to free his right food and he kicked Toral in his wound as hard as he could.

Toral's pain was so great he only let out a small grunt. The wind knocked out of him and blood remaining on Kahless' boot. Toral's grip had loosened and Kahless was able to stand, the Sword returned to him. As Toral nearly double over, Kahless hit him with the blunt side and knocked him on his back. The Sword of Kahless then pierced Toral's heart, and it was over. Toral screamed a rebellious roar of pain as the very Klingon Empire Kahless created, met it's end by his hand, with the death of the last Duras…

Toral's eyes rolled back and closed, and the crowd cheered. But Kahless rose a hand for silence and the room hushed. He checked Toral's eyes… the life had vanished. Then the heir of Kahless cried out to clear the path to Sto'vo'kor for the Son of Duras.

Then Kahless rose, taking his Sword and the blood-stained ends and raising it high. It was a victory, and a turning point for all Klingons. I felt proud to be among them.

The crowd began to cheer for Kahless, and someone put the Chancellor's robes on him. Again, he rose a hand.

"No…" He took them off and laid them over Toral. "It is here the Empire dies, but the fight for the Klingon heart is just beginning. Join me, my fellow Klingons, tonight we shall enjoy food and wine! For tomorrow may bring death… as we fight for a new era!"

The room cheered for Kahless, and chant that did not stop for some time.

Worf then began a song of victory.

His voice low, over a hushing room, calling out like a rising sun

~ "bagh DaH tuHmoH! chojaH Duh ro'!" ~

~ "bagh DaH tuHmoH! yIja'Qo'Qo'!" ~

The crowd began to sing all together now.

~ "maHDaq, 'oH DuH. jIHDaq, maDu'" ~

~ "pa'Daq, cha' ba'. bu' raQchu'Qo'" ~

When the song began again, even more of the Hall joined in… including me.

~ "bagh DaH tuHmoH! chojaH Duh ro'!" ~

~ "bagh DaH tuHmoH! yIja'Qo'Qo'!" ~

I felt exhilarated and sung with passion and heart. Yeah… I know. I was surprised, too.

Chapter Eighteen – Death Throes

As told by Kira Nerys

The USS Sovereign managed to circle back around to assist us, I had taken command of the Defiant and Vaughn of the Aventine. The Geronimo and the Cutlass were on the way but would only make it just in time. The station had been given as full of a repair as it was going to get, and Admiral Janeway was in charge of Ops. We knew the Klingon fleet was close… We could only guess that they were hostile, but the Klingons, especially with Toral as chancellor, were already known for enslaving people… Bajor was in grave danger…

We were at full Red Alert… ready to face Klingons once again. It wasn't long before an entire fleet decloaked. Several Negh'Vars, Vorcha-classes, and dozens and dozens of K'Vort Birds of Prey.

I felt my stomach tie into a knot. Hopelessly outnumbered….

"We are being hailed by the fleet, Captain," Ten'pla said from the Defiant communications console.

I put on my best poker-face.

"On screen."

A Klingon with one of the most frightening foreheads I had ever seen appeared.

"I am General Ka'DaQan of the Klingon Empire! A Federation ship has been seen entering our territory from this station. One of your officers has landed on Qo'noS to challenge us! We claim your station and your planet for this aggression!"

I stood as strong as I could, knowing the futility of my words, "As far as I'm aware that ship is a rogue vessel operated by the Maquis, and it has made no aggressive moves. Even if it had, I assure you it did not do so with Federation authority."

"Silence woman! This is not a discussion! This station and the wormhole will be ours! As will your pathetic planet!" He declared. "Surrender! Or we shall take it by force!"

At least their much more direct than the Cardassians.

"I think you'll find the Bajoran people much more resilient than you're expecting General. End transmission."

I sat in the Defiant's command chair, "Helm charge quantum torpedoes and begin a strafing course around the station. Hail the Sovereign."

The face of Captain Zachary Ross appeared on screen, the son of the Admiral we worked so closely with. He was something of an unusual man, sitting cross legged and with longer blond hair to his shoulder.

"I'm sorry to end your career as a Captain so soon." I said apologetically.

He smirked, "Oh I wouldn't count us out just yet."

His Chief Engineer, a Bolian man, yelled from his own console, "We defeated Matan and his sun killer with our shields locked at 10%! We'll do better than you think!"

His helmsman spoke next, a Bajoran girl by the name of LoMar Kiska. I actually knew her mother, and older woman who I fought with in the resistance LoMar Trini.

"At least we'll die defending Bajor…." She said proudly.

Finally, his weapons officer spoke next, "I'm still hoping these phased torpedoes will help us out of this."

Captain Ross spoke again, "As you can see my crew is more than prepared. We'll make it count."

"Very good, you'll stay based at the station and try and keep fire off of it for as long as possible. The Defiant, Geronimo, and Cutlass will launch precision strikes on the targets you specify."

His first officer, Commander Larson, said, "The Captain has incredible skill when it comes to selecting the most threatening targets and drawing them away."

His science officer explained, "Right, but usually toward us."

The captain answered with a laugh, "Well let's just hope that translates. Acknowledged, Captain."

As our call ended the Geronimo and Cutlass cut in from behind, catching a few Klingons ships as they cloaked.

The battle had begun.

As Captain MacCray of the Geronimo destroyed several Birds of prey mid cloak, he sustained several disruptor hits from Negh'Var carriers, and had fighters harassing him the entire way to the station. The Sovereign took care of them but not before he lost most of his shields.

Overwhelming force would seem to defeat the purpose of honorable battle. I thought to myself. I probably will never understand Klingons though.

The Klingon carriers slowly moved to the station, imposing. Once they made it here it would be all over. Janeway had the station firing furious flurries of Cardassian torpedoes. The Tractor beam was back on and any time bird of prey decloaked, the tractor would repel it and blast it with disruptor fire.

The Defiant was closing on a Vorcha-class which Captain Ross had directed us to.

"Alright Ensign Holm, don't hold back." I said to our good pilot.

"Do I ever?" He said confidently.

Ro called to him, "Just make sure I have the chance to actually fire on it."

Holm took manual control and the Defiant spun efficiently and stylishly across space.

"Fire at will!" I said to Ro. And fire she did. Several phaser blasts with perfect precision disabled the bottom shields and a few quantum torpedoes were all we needed to destroy it. But not before the upper pylon it was attacking was badly damaged.

Janeway hailed us, "Think you can step up the fire rate? I'm holding of a dozen different ships!" A stream of smoke sprayed out over Ops as they were fired upon again.

"We're doing our best Admiral!" I said.

After the call ended, I felt frustration well up in me, "Damnit! These Klingons are ruining my station!"

At that moment the Defiant jolted as a Bird of prey fired on us. Our shields buckled.

"Amorak!" I exclaimed. It's a Bajoran curse which basically means 'banish you.' "Try to lose them Terin!" I commanded.

Terin executed a strange horizontal spin that turned the Defiant in a full 180 with barely any warning. We all nearly fell out of our seats. But it put the Bird of prey in firing range just as it cloaked and Ro fired, destroying it.

From this angle we could see most of the battlefield. The Sovereign had about five ships firing on it at once. It would be quickly destroyed at that rate, despite the Geronimo's best efforts.

"Hail Captain Archer on the Cutlass. We'll need her help." I said.

"Exactly what are we doing?" Terin said eagerly.

"Technically we're going to violate a treaty, but a cloak is just what we need right now, and those Negh'Vars might not do well against small ships like us, if we can distract them. Hitting the bulk of the fleet just might give DS9 time to reload and repair…

After sending out orders, The Sovereign and Geronimo began drawing the Klingon ships back to the Negh'Vars. It was about to get incredibly dangerous. The Negh'Vars began utterly pounding the Akira class, as well as Ross' ship. But the Cutlass was able to slip through the shields that failed and make several critical blows on one of the Negh'Vars.

Meanwhile we engaged our cloak to the far side. Klingon Negh'Var classes tend to avoid running with shields until they must since they use so much power to run. So, the one furthest from the battle had not put theirs up yet. We slipped over undetected and managed to get right under it before uncloaking and unleashing a flurry of torpedoes and phaser bursts. We got several lucky shots near their warp core and got away just as the ship was badly disabled. On our way back however, I saw a sight that I could barely bare.

One of the Negh'Vars had made it in firing range of DS9. It had broken through one of the sections of shields and now that upper pylon had been blown clean off. I didn't want to know the casualties…

"Intercept course!"

I saw the Aventine desperately trying to ward off the Negh'Var along with several Birds of Prey. The Geronimo was adrift, and the Sovereign's shields were utterly destroyed…

Despite our efforts… It was looking like the end…

Chapter Nineteen – Mother

As told by Ezri Dax

It was sometime later, and the singing and eating had begun. Klingons from nearly all walks of life on Qo'noS had joined us, though the crowd was smaller now. I was practically hoarse from singing, though after the first song I had grown tired and mostly kept going to avoid the expectation of eating the food… B'Elanna and I seemed to be in the same boat, though even she avoided singing where she could. Tom and Worf, though? They were having a blast. Worf always did at these sorts of things, but I hadn't realized Tom would be so interested. Or maybe he was just trying to play the part… I genuinely couldn't tell if he enjoyed the food or not, but the smell of it was more than enough for me to avoid it.

I was starting to let my normal personality slip through again. A Klingon woman put her arm around me and asked quite loudly, "Tell us DaqS! Sing for us a song from your world! Surely one such as yourself has many battle songs!"

I felt very inadequate and laughed off, "Oh… most of the songs I listen to aren't really about battle or glory or any of that…"

"Nonsense!" The woman said. "Humbleness does not become you! Surely you must have one?!"

A few of the other Klingons grunted in agreement, "Sing! Sing!"

I searched my mind, my face flushing in embarrassment, "Sorry everyone…."

"Bahhh!" They all groaned in disappointment.

"Wait!" I said. One had just struck me. It wasn't really my song, but I didn't think Miles would object.

I turned to Worf, "Worf what was that song Miles used to sing, especially early on in the war?

Worf and I scanned our minds…

I remembered the first line…

~The minstrel boy to the war is gone ~

That jogged Worf's drunken memory, and we both sang now

~In the ranks of death, you will find him ~

~His father's sword he hath girded on ~

~And his wild harp slung behind him ~

The Klingons cheered.

~ "Land of Song" said the warrior bard ~

~ "Tho' all the world betrays thee ~

~ One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard ~

~ One faithful heart shall praise thee" ~

The Klingons cheered again, louder this time. Now we all sang.

~The minstrel boy to the war is gone ~

~In the ranks of death, you will find him ~

The song continued as I received a communication from Voyager.

I took a moment to move to the side and hit the communicator I had hidden under my sleeve.

"Yes, Captain?" I asked Chakotay

I heard Voyager's Red Alert sound out as he spoke, "Are you about done there? We've received a distress call from DS9."

"Oh, you're a live saver…" I said. "I don't know how much longer I can avoid eating the gagh… Are you okay up there?"

"Oh, just a minor skirmish. Some of the old Chancellor's people started attacking us, but half the fleet turned on them. The Enterprise is refusing to get involved." He said.

"DS9 is in trouble?" I said with concern.

"Apparently a Klingon fleet loyal to Toral has been detected headed their way." He said.

"Are… are we going to help?" I begged.

"Yes. We'll deal with who is staying and leaving after we clear them out."

"Yes, sir!" I said eagerly.

I gathered Worf, Tom, and B'Elanna for a cheerful goodbye. And we were off…

It didn't take long for the fight to finish, and Voyager now led a fleet of Kahless' ships, plus the Enterprise, but it would still be a day for two at maximum warp. We could only hope they received assistance already… Knowing Nerys was in danger had me worried, so I was up late reading. It was a huge relief to be out of those Klingon uniforms and back in my favorite shirt.

I had decided to read up on Klingon religion after our ordeal. I found it more compelling than I did during my studies on spirituality at Starfleet Medical. So many things are up to interpretation when it comes to religion…

The door to my quarters rang, jerking me out of my reading.

I was a little confused about who would be calling on me this late. It was about 2200 hours Earth time.

I opened the door and Tom and B'Elanna were there.

"Oh hi!" I said. "What are you two doing up so late? Can I get you anything?"

I gestured to let them in but, they didn't move.

B'Elanna spoke, "Actually." She was clearly nervous. "We were… wondering if you'd like to come stay with us tonight."

Tom interjected, "We realize this is a little sudden, so…"

B'Elanna gained some confidence and interjected, "We just thought, since you might be going to DS9 soon and we might not see you again for a while we…"

B'Elanna paused, unable to finish, and Tom picked up the train of thought, "We thought it might be nice to spend some time together. Nothing terribly intense…"

My face flushed, but I couldn't help but smile, "Yeah… I think I'd like that…"

They both smiled so widely, and I felt… very appreciated… perhaps even loved… was it too soon to say that sort of thing?

On the way, B'Elanna asked me, putting a hand on my shoulder, "What we're you reading?"

I looked at the padd I had been holding mindlessly, "Oh!... Just the Paq'batlh." I chuckled. "After what happened down there, I thought I'd refresh my memory."

"Do you… believe in it?" She almost seemed as if she were looking for approval from me.

I shrugged, "I don't know if I would say that. There's a lot in it I have personal objections to but… well… understanding it seems important. Whether I like it or not ''e'SrI DaqS' is a name among Klingons." I laughed, realizing I felt uncomfortable with that idea. Probably even more so than I felt when it came to the Bajorans revering me. At least some of them anyway.

"I can't say I was ever a great fan of Klingon beliefs myself. But… sometimes I feel more connected to it, like today." She said.

I could only agree, "Me too…."

We reached their quarters and I heard Miral crying. Audrid's instincts went full on.

I practically rushed as Tom and B'Elanna smirked at me.

"Awwww." I said with a sympathetic smile. I scooped her out of the crib and looked into her eyes. Her crying moved to just a whimper as she looked at me.

"Good evening, Miral? We're you getting lonely?" I said. I rocked her slightly and set her over my shoulder. When that didn't help, I realized she needed a hug.

When I saw Tom and B'Elanna, they looked at me like I was a fairy queen.

I felt like a different person as I advised them, "This is your first child. Some babies don't mind being left alone but I can tell Miral needs more attention. You'll want to take her with you when you can or leave her with the Doctor."

I was mindlessly stroking Miral's head. It was such a habit with babies I barely had to think about it. I started to hum, swept up in the moment, I didn't even notice. It was Miles' 'Minstrel Boy' that we sang earlier.

After a while Miral softened and fell asleep.

"There we are… there we are…" I said warmly. I set her down carefully into the crib, giving the mobile a light spin. I smiled at her a moment, barely noticing B'Elanna had leaned over my shoulder.

I felt totally confident and put an arm around her as we watched Miral, "You really do have a beautiful baby."

Tom stood at my other side, "Would be nice to have you around, somehow… I think Miral would really like to see you again."

I smiled up at him. Miral was way too young to really remember me I'm sure, but I got the feeling he didn't really mean Miral would miss me, but they would.

As I stared at Miral, I started to get a headache. It came on very suddenly. I held my head and grunted in pain.

"Are you okay?" B'Elanna asked.

"Yeah I'm…." Then suddenly everything seemed to disappear, as if I were whisked away in the wind.

Around me it was white now, and I could hear an intense heartbeat.

"Hello?" I called out.

It wasn't my voice at all, but a low and soothing Audrid's. I was her suddenly.

I now appeared in the Paris-Torres quarters, Tom and B'Elanna circling me.

'Tom' spoke to me, "No… you are misleading The One. She is not ready for your skills yet. She must not abandon Bajor."

"The Prophets?!" I exclaimed. I was Jadzia now.

The B'Elanna Prophet spoke to me, "This is not the One's path. She is of Bajor."

"Is this a vision? Like what Benjamin used to have? Why are you talking to us?" I asked.

"You are a guardian." 'Tom' said.

"You must keep her on the path," 'B'Elanna' said.

I spoke again as I appeared on the Bridge of Voyager, was Ezri again, "Keep me on the path? Isn't my path my own to choose?"

Annika stood before me, "No…" The Prophet version of her said. "Your path is our path… the paths have not yet diverged. We must have our future to have our past."

"What?" I asked. "What does that mean?

The Chakotay Prophet stood near me, "What confuses you?"

We flashed now to Deep Space Nine. A Prophet of Nerys stood before me.

"Why does what I do affect you?" I begged.

"You are the One." She spoke with warmth and admiration. Almost love. Seeing Nerys' face say that… I felt drawn to the Prophet who spoke it.

I was so confused… "But what does that mean? You made Benjamin the Emissary, but I still don't understand what you want from me." I asked.

"We don't want anything." She said

Then from the corner, a Worf Prophet said, "And we want everything." In a very demanding tone.

"We ask only for our future." She said.

"How can I give you your future when I don't even know my own?! I could die tomorrow for all I know" I asked.

"Death… prevents you from seeing your future?" She asked with confusion.

"Yes, of course it does." I said frankly.

"We must understand this ceasing… We must seek our own end to uncover the secret." She said. She seemed almost confused. "It's the only way to learn the truth. We must die."

"Whoa, what's this about death? I don't want you to die." I said. I was a little surprised by how protective I felt. There was something about the Prophets when they talked to me… Ezri in particular….

The world flashed to what I could only guess was the real Defiant. It was shaking and convulsing and smoking… I saw Nerys, the real one.

She had a bump on her forehead, "Prepare to return fire!"

They were fighting hordes of Klingons.

The Prophet spoke to me, "But Bajor will be lost… and we too shall be lost… we need you. You must not take this path; it is not for you. We do not wish it for you…"

A vision of me on Voyager, wearing a Maquis outfit appeared. Klingons swarming around the ship. A ring was on my hand, one that looked just like Tom and B'Elanna's…. It was the future…

"What would be so wrong about this? They seem to like me… looks like they might even love me?" I said. I felt warmth seeing myself with them in this future. Belonging… understanding.

A vison of Deep Space Nine appeared, controlled by Klingons. A new occupation of Bajor… a new base for the Old Empire. Then I saw Nerys' grave…

The prophet Nerys looked at me with the purest sadness I had ever seen, "This is not our path…"

A surge of fear went over me, and grief, "I don't want this…. But how do I stop it? …"

The Nerys Prophet knelt down and hugged me. I was very confused, "You must come home… you are missed." She looked up at me, innocent and pure. She didn't seem like the real Nerys at all.

"But we can't get home quickly enough…" I said in despair.

She stood up, glowing at me, "Yes you can… look to your family…"

"My family? What do they have-"

But the vision ended there.

I regained my sense of reality in sick bay. I woke up with Doctor Van Gogh hovering over me

"She's coming around!" He called to Tom, B'Elanna, and Zee.

Zee seemed very concerned and was holding a hypospray.

Van Gogh explained, "You were in some sort of dissociative state. No matter what we tried we couldn't get you out of it. Your brain activity was off the charts. Actually, it rather reminded me of Vulcan mind melds…" He spoke with exasperation.

"It wasn't a mind meld… it was a vision…" I said murmuring and sitting up.

"What?" Tom said.

"There's no time to explain…"I said, feeling judged.

I stood up and Van Gogh hollered after me, "but I still need to run tests!"

"Meet me in the engine room!" I said.

I hit my badge, "Commander Dax to Captain. Sorry to wake you but I need you to meet me in engineering. We need to find a way of getting home faster …"

He groaned, "This couldn't wait until morning?"

"No… There might be nothing left of DS9 by then…"

Chapter Twenty – Miracles and Mistakes

Part 1

As told by Zee Tigan

Ezri had explained how she had this fucking vision from the Prophets. Wormhole aliens or some shit. Apparently, they can communicate across space and time, and considering what I had just been through I guess it made sense. Still, I wished she would fucking sit still know? She needs to take it easier…

She, Tom, B'Elanna, Chakotay, and Seven of Nine were all debating on ways to get to DS9 quickly. B'Elanna was frustrated. I found it very compelling, if you catch my meaning. I love another angry woman.

She said, "I can't just build a quantum slipstream overnight! It took months to build the one on the Aventine!

My sister said, "I know I know, I'm sorry Lanna."

Tom proposed, "what about an artificial Wormhole?"

Chakotay shook his head, "We couldn't get more than one ship through before it collapsed, let alone our whole fleet."

Ezri began to bite her nails, "C'mon Dax… think think think…"

They continued to babble about ideas while I drifted my attention to the warp core. I remembered when I… when Kes… got her small shuttle all the way out to Voyager two years ago… Could I do that with the ship? The fleet?

I reached out with my heart, tuning out the noise… I saw deeper… seeing the deuterium and antideuterium colliding in the dilitium crystals… flowing the energy out to the warp field. If I just focused carefully enough… I could increase the reaction rate…

It was working. I could use these new powers to control the reaction precisely… The warp field began to increase, enveloping the other ships. I expanded my vision out and I touched the warp core, bringing the other ships into the gigantic warp field. I felt my mind straining, and my head begin to hurt. Blood dropped from my nose, but I ignored it.

I'm not sure which the others noticed first, me touching the warp core, or the warp core reacting at a rapid rate.

I heard B'ELanna yell, "we're exceeding Warp TEN?!"

Ezri came up to me, with a worried look, "Zeezee what are you doing?!"

I strained, sweating, but remained focused, "I can do it…" I said.

I heard the Tylittle's in my head. Whatever I was doing woke them up and they came running into the Engine Room. Having them there… hearing their thoughts… Zeezee we can see it… this is incredible. It helped so much…

"It's working!" Tom said. He looked at me with admiration.

Chakotay hit his communicator. "Chakotay to all hands! Battle stations! This is not a drill! Repeat: this is not a drill."

I could see the future… the past… I saw us reaching DS9… I saw myself as a young girl… both of my selves. Somewhere in there… I lost consciousness…

Part 2

As told by Kira Nerys

The Geronimo had been destroyed… they had managed to launch escape pods, but only a few made it back to the station. Bajor had landed several ships to try and help, but it didn't do any good. Both the Sovereign and the Defiant were severely damaged and the station was about to be boarded. I made the choice….

"Helm… Ramming speed…" Our weapons were totally out… no shields or cloak. "Prepare for warp speed…."

Terin, Ro, and the rest of the crew all began to make terms with our coming fate. I looked to the Celestial Temple… believing I would be there soon... hoping I was wrong, and that my time in this life wasn't over. We directed the Defiant to the last remaining Negh'Var when Ensign Ten'pla reported something.

"We are detecting multiple signatures inbound… Largely Klingon… two Federation… They're moving at impossible speeds… warp 10?" She said, her scientific mind shocked.

I couldn't believe it, "On screen!" I begged.

And we saw as several ships warped into the system, right in the midst of the fighting. They were led by the rogue Voyager. I smiled. Ezri's home.

Voyager fired several quantum torpedoes and phaser burst from its new armaments, crippling several ships upon entry. As if they knew exactly which ships threatened us, Voyager destroyed the Klingons who were about to destroy us. The other Klingons then began attacking those aggressing DS9. The Enterprise came to the aid of the Sovereign and the adrift Cutlass. After saving us, Voyager cleared the path for the Aventine, her sister ship, and finally DS9 herself. It wasn't long before the Old Empire was in full retreat. The non-Vulcan bridge crew cheered, as Ten'pla said, "very impressive," with a raise of the eyebrow.

The battle was over, but the damage had been done, DS9 had almost no weapons, and no way to keep Voyager from getting away again.

Part 3

As told by Ezri Dax

Zee fell unconscious but healed up nicely. Van Gogh fussed over her, but she discharged herself to the bridge.

We now hailed DS9. Nerys and Janeway greeted us with mixed emotions.

"On behalf of Starfleet, we thank you for your assistance," Janeway said. She seemed much calmer this time. I looked at Nerys… but she wouldn't look back at me. She seemed impossibly stressed.

"We're beaming over some of the crew who wish to return, or that were unlucky enough to be caught up in this…" Chakotay nodded to Ensign Tabor.

"I don't suppose we can convince you to stay, answer for what you've done," Janeway asked sarcastically.

"Ordinarily I would…" Captain Chakotay said. "But there's too much out there… Klingons seeking freedom, Remans, even Romulans, Jem'Hadar… There's never been a better time for a New Maquis…"

Janeway sighed and told the communications officer, "Hail the Enterprise…"

Chakotay nodded to Tom and said, "Mister Paris?" He then nodded to Ayala, "Ayala?"

Then Voyager fired precision phasers at the Enterprise's then unshielded weapons and warp nacelles. Perfect disabling technique.

Janeway shook her head, "Adding more charges to the list, are we?"

"Majority of the crew has been transferred Captain…" Ayala said. Even the Tylittle twins had left, leaving Zee looking sad. There was only one member left who hadn't made her decision…

Chakotay turned to me, "Well… the time has come to decide… fancy being a Maquis commander?"

I felt a deep longing and looked to Tom and B'Elanna, who each seemed to ask me to stay with their eyes. But then I looked to the screen and I saw Nerys looking to me with those same eyes… My soul quivered and I realized I couldn't refuse them…

"I can't… Deep Space Nine is my home…" I said frankly, sadly. But seeing Nerys' face light up with pride… that's when I knew I had made the right decision.

I looked around at the crew, they all nodded with understanding.

"I think the crew of Voyager can probably understand that even more than most." He stuck his hand out to shake mine, "It's been an honor… it would be a shame if they demote you for this… you're a fine officer."

"Thank you, Captain."

That was when Zee exploded, "WHAT?!" She ran up to me. "You're going to give up the chance to be a freedom fighting outlaw on Voayger? These people are great! They took care of me! WE could go on adventures! But you want to go back to your precious station?"

Chakotay spoke up, "You'll always have a place here, Kes."

She turned on a dime and yelled at him now, "I'm not KES! Not anymore…"

"You wouldn't want to leave Lusara or the twins behind, would you Zee?" I asked.

"Ugh! No! But Lulu doesn't even like the Federation, why can't they come with us? But if even you won't stay…" Zee's emotions changed then, "But these people, even some of them… they were my family…."

I hit my communicator, knowing there was nothing I could say, "One to beam over, Admiral."

Just as transport began, Zee groaned loudly like a young child, "UGH!" and grabbed my hand, sending her over in transport with me. When I appeared on Ops, she walked away and left, immediately grumbling… but she seemed angrier at Voyager, "Why did they have to do this… why did they do this to me…" she muttered.

I walked to Nerys' side. Nerys didn't look at me. Now I saw Tom and B'Elanna from this side.

"Goodbye… I won't forget you." I said.

B'Elanna snarked back, "You better not." I smiled back.

Chakotay, faced Janeway again, "they say home is where the heart is… Well… may we each find our way back home."

"You're flying away with mine… Captain…" Janeway said with remorse.

"Then one day I hope she'll fly back again…" He said.

Then the channel closed, and Voyager turned and warped away… Her nacelles lifted and glowed, and in an instant, she was gone. Off to the unknown…

That moment seemed to last forever before Janeway turned to me. She seemed to be sizing me up, as if she wanted to say something. I stood at attention, not looking at her. But she just turned to Nerys and said, "I'll be returning to Starfleet headquarters on the Enterprise. We should have a repair fleet here soon…"

"Yes, Admiral…" Nerys said. And Janeway left. I found out later Starfleet assigned her to the Romulan sector, probably because the Bajoran sector was too personal for her now…

Nerys and I stood, staring out the window together for a long time. I couldn't look at her either…

Then she took a deep breath, "My office." She ordered.

She walked over there with great power. I followed behind only after she entered it.

Before entering the doors, I took a deep breath.

I walked in a stood at attention, "Captain!"

She didn't answer, just looked out the window with her arms crossed. After a moment of silence and tension she spoke…

"Did you know Admiral Beckford has been screaming for me to demote you?" She said. There was a deep frustration in her voice, and I felt shame bubble up. Stand firm, Ezri, take responsibility.

She turned around, "Well?"

"No, Captain!"

"Do you think you deserve that?" She asked.

"I'll accept whatever punishment you deem necessary, sir!" I declared.

She walked closer to me, "No no… that's not good enough... I need to know why. Because I insisted that would be the wrong move to the admiral. I told her it wasn't your decision to go rogue, that it was Vaughn who ordered the retrieval of the Sword and Janeway who didn't object." She poke with exhaustion, and annoyance. "Is that true?"

"Yes, Captain!" I said. I felt like a first year cadet again.

"But then I find out that taking the Sword to Qo'noS was your idea!" She said.

"Yes, Captain. I… made a promise to Worf to save the House of Martok." My eyes wandered to the floor…

"A promise? Didn't you tell me once you had no interest in anything Klingon anymore?" She asked.

"Yes, Captain."

She lifted an exasperated hand, "Well, it looks like you had a change of heart, then…" There was another pause as Nerys contemplated her next words. She turned to me again, "Y'know Jadzia used to run off on adventures like that, even against orders. Can I expect the same from you?"

I didn't know what to say…but I knew what I wanted to say…

"Well?" She demanded.

"Permission to speak freely?" I asked.

She sighed, relaxing somewhat, "Of course."

"With all due respect, the Station might not have survived if we hadn't supported Kahless. Even with a fleet, DS9 might have been overwhelmed…"

"I know…" She said. "That fact is probably the only thing that might sway the Admiral…" She breathed in and spoke more calmly now. "Fine… I understand… But there's one thing I need to know…" she continued.

I nodded, preparing for the question.

"When you were planning this whole thing…. Did you give ANY thought to how it might affect Bajor? That it might make it a target?!" Her voice was almost hurt.

I felt a horrible, sickening feeling in my stomach and in my heart when I heard her say that. Gods… I didn't think about that at all… she's right.

I swallowed my shame as best I could… but I failed…

"No, Captain…" I said, my eyes unable to look at her, and turning to the ground again.

She nodded, "Good… I couldn't imagine you thinking of it and just disregarding it. I trust you'll be more careful in the future?"

I stood firm, "Sir, yes sir, absolutely, sir!"

Nerys looked exhausted then sighing deeply and looking almost ashamed herself, "Good… I need to be able to trust you… I've never doubted that before. It's good to know you aren't planning to give me cause to again…"

She looked up to me, "I'll be issuing a formal reprimand. Admiral Beckford wouldn't accept it if I took no action at all… sop this is the bare minimum…. Dismissed."

I nodded, a lump in my throat forming. I turned to leave but I stopped right at the doors… something made me stay…

Nerys looked up from the desk after sitting, "Yes?"

I felt my eyes water slightly, "Permission to speak freely… as… as your friend?"

She warmed up, "Always."

I turned around, feeling shy and putting my hands behind my back, "What you think of me…" My voice cracked so I paused. "…Matters a lot… I understand what you have to do when it comes to Starfleet protocol… but… do you understand why I did what I did?"

I didn't intend to sound so desperate for her approval, but I think I betrayed some of those emotions…

"I'm not sure…" Nerys said.

I stepped forward, with a new way of explaining it, "If... if Odo… had come to you and told you that you were the last hope for his people to become... whole… to be set on a better path… even though it meant some danger… some difficulties… would you still have done it?"

She soaked in my question and understanding washed over her face, "I admit… I probably would…"

I felt a slight smile, and a tear or two overflow. There was that Emony in me again… I nodded firmly and left the office… As long as I knew we met eye to eye, even if she has to be the Captain sometimes…

Conclusion – "That's Life"

Part 1

As told by Lusara Belli

I feel like every time we have major crisis, I have to clean up my shop and throw out half my stock because so much of it gets burned or stained… or something else just as horrifying. This was one of the worst times in recent memory, and of course it was caused by fucking Klingons… A whole bunch of things just happened while I wasn't looking. We all almost got killed by Klingons, Zee went through… something… I hadn't even seen much of her yet, but it hurt that I didn't know what was going on with her... that she just went off without saying anything… But I decided to just take a page from Doctor Bashir's book and just focus on my art. I had been making some really interesting pieces lately. A lot of the Starfleet crew really liked my space themed clothes. Hell, I had probably started more fashion trends on DS9 and Bajor than I ever did back home.

I was sorting through some of my pieces in the half-damaged shop, some of which I couldn't even account for, when Zee came storming in. She was looking incredible with her new outfit, but she was clearly very angry, and I couldn't help but flinch when I saw her. Oh no, not again…

She shut the door and started knocking over some of my tables, after knowcking over a few I saw her lift her hand and crush one with some sort… psychic power? I was instantly terrified and hid under a table. After she finished, she huffed and sat down on a chair.

I lifted my head out to see her and she yelled at me, "Ugh! You don't have to hide from me!"

I've heard that one before, I thought.

She seemed to be able to tell what I was feeling for once, but I don't know if that helped.

Zee glanced around the room at the destruction, some of which she had wrought. She huffed again and looked away, speaking quietly as if she didn't actually want me to hear her, "I'm sorry, okay? I'm just angry."

I slowly came out from behind the table, "You're not gonna hit me with one of those things, are you?"

"I! … No?!" She said with offense. "Why would you think I would?"

My eyes passed over the table she had crushed like an old aluminum can.

"Ugh! Fine… if you don't wanna deal with me I'll go somewhere else!" She started to storm off but as she reached the door she stopped, as if she didn't want to go. I just watched.

She grunted and started destroying things again, but she cooled down a little faster and just started lightly kicking the wall.

"I don't understand it! Why'd they make me choose? I wanted to stay on Voyager and now they made me miss them every day!" Her voice suddenly broke…. "The she began kicking the wall as her eyes watered, "No NO No!" A kick for each no. She whispered to herself, "I'm stronger than this… I'm stronger than this…" As she clenched her fists.

I felt my heart soften… she didn't actually say it… but this implied that she would have missed me too if she had gone with Voyager. Or maybe it was just wishful thinking…

I walked to her slowly and set my hand on her shoulder. This seemed to affect her and she banged her hand on the wall.

"It's okay to cry you know… I won't tell anyone." I said.

Her eyes changed, surprised by the tenderness and she started to laugh slightly, smiling in a way I hadn't known her to.

Then there was an echo… as if it came inside of my own mind… or from her? … the low and soft voice of a different woman. It's okay, Zee.

And that was when she broke down. I had never seen, Zee cry before, and it was as if every tear she ever refused to cry came pouring out of her. Her face contorted, her voice heightened, and she sobbed like a little girl.

She hung onto me immediately, her knees going weak. I braced against the wall and led her slowly to the floor, her head in my lap. She laid out as she squealed, "LuLuuuuu… Why does everyone always leave meeee?!"

My dress was soaked in her tears before long and she continued to cry, "My mom throws me to the syndicate… they kill my only real brother…"

She paused to convulse, and cry further. I felt the warm tears puddling in my lap. It was almost disturbing to see her like this. This was the same woman who had pushed half the station's women against a wall and ravished them? But somehow it felt right… I felt blessed to be the person she chose too vulnerable with. She spent more time with the twins than me but…

"And Nerys was so sweet to me and made me feel so good… but then I had to choose… I was so lonely… I made the wrong choice…. Now it's happening again…. Will it ever stop Lulu?!"

I took my left hand and scratched her scalp carefully. My nails were long which helped, except for my index and middle fingers of course…

As I pet her hair she seemed to calm down, her cry turned to sniffing.

"And I had to choose between my people and Voyager… I made the wrong choice… I…"

She stopped, and became almost sleepy, "That… that feels nice…."

I felt warmth overcome me as I continued to stroke her hair and her ears a little bit too. Ferengi habit…

I whispered quietly, "It's okay… I'm here…"

More tears fell down her face, but they didn't seem so sad anymore. She just reached her hands around my hip and held me… We sat there for a long time… Thinking of lost homes…

Part 2

As told by Ezri Dax

The repair fleet had arrived and began repairing the station. Vic had considered postponing his debut performance but after what the station had been through, we thought it would be nice to have the performance anyway, bring morale up.

After Nerys and I had our talk as Captain and Commander, things went back to normal with our friendship. I was worried it wouldn't at first, but she came by to ask if I would join her to see Vic, of course I said yes.

We had sat down at the bar facing the spot where the dabo table normally is. That was where the band would perform. Quark had brought them in to play for Vic, including a keyboardist who was Terellian. Or maybe he was from Talemstra? I couldn't remember which… The important bit though is he had four arms and a single large nostril on his nose. He was a larger man and had already started playing a piano jazz tune with a keyboard edge.

Nerys smiled, "Odo would be impressed, he was getting quite good at the piano."

"Yeah." I agreed, taking a sip of tea. "Though his species is known for having musical skill. You should see the instruments they have. I don't think anyone with only two arms could even begin to play them."

This particular Terelllian was engaged in conversation with a few guests and drinking what appeared to be smoothie while he played the keyboard with two of his hands. He was having a blast. Quark was greeting guests while his waiters dealt with ticket sales (outside of what had already been sold out). Plenty of people were just watching from outside... but of course Vic got us front row seats. Ro was handling security… But so far no one else had showed.

Zee and Lu walked in next. When Zee saw me, she immediately came to sit by my side.

"Hey girl!" She sat at the bar stool with her usual confidence, wearing a simple pink vest and black pants. Sort of a party outfit. Her arms seemed thicker in the vest, showing off the strength she had built in the other universe.

I smiled softly, "Hey. Excited to see Vic?"

"Are you kidding?" She said. "I'd never miss this."

A few more of the bland showed up. A couple Starfleet officers, a Bajoran woman with a Tevara… I was VERY curious to see how that instrument would work in Jazz. We were just missing our Saxophone player.

"Where do you suppose Mister Kim is at?" Nerys asked.

Julian found his way to the bar next while we wondered.

"Julian!" I cried out when I saw him. I walked over to him to give him a hug. He obliged with a smile as he sat next to Nerys.

"Out of the Infirmary Doctor?" Nerys asked.

"Oh yes, yes… I wouldn't miss Vic's big night." He smirked.

The band had started whispering, wondering where their last band member was, when suddenly everyone looked to the door. He was holding Tuvok's hand and arm, leading him carefully to the bar. Tuvok was wearing light-shielding glasses to protect from photo-overstimulation. He was stimming with a small wooden idle with Vulcan writing. People tried not to stare but failed.

"Now we're going to sit over here by Zee, is that okay Tuvok?" Harry asked.

Tuvok nodded, as if struggling to communicate.

"And Doctor Bahir will be right over there if you need anything, okay?" He pointed to Julian who waved with a smile.

"Thank you… Harry." Tuvok said innocently, and carefully. He seemed a totally different man from the one I first met. I could only imagine how Harry was dealing with it.

The look on Zee's face was of pure guilt and regret, even though it wasn't her fault, the part of her that was Kes probably felt responsible.

"Hey Tuvok…" Zee said. "You here to listen to the jazz?"

Tuvok rocked back and forth and smiled, "It swings!"

I called over to him, I had dealt with a few patients like him, though they were born with their conditions, "If it gets too loud, you'll let us know?"

"Yes yes…" He nodded. He wasn't annoyed, in fact he seemed grateful everyone was so attentive to his needs.

Harry, clad in a Tuxedo, found his way to his Sax and the band, "Sorry I'm late everyone."

He started warming up slightly as the last of the crow tapered in. Soon the lights went down, and Quark grabbed microphone.

"Ladies, Gentlemen, and species with other genders. Welcome to the breakout performance of Vic Fontaine and the Moonwalkers! Let's hear it for the band! On Sax: Lieutenant Harrison Kim!"

Harry took a bow. As the crowd clapped their wrists in tradiational Bajoran style.

"Jiwul Terunda on keyboard!"

The Terellian.

"Olinin Pelu on the Tevara!"

The Tevara player bowed now.

"Joel Barak on the drums!"

A dark-skinned human man at the drums rose up and bowed.

"And last but not least Gubin Teliak on bass!"

A heavy set Bolian man stood with his double bass.

"And finally, let's hear it for the man of the hour! Vic Fontaine!"

The lights dimmed again as we clapped the loudest a few people cheered. A small box-like device that had been sitting in the middle of the band lit up. I hadn't noticed it before.

The band began to play, starting with the bassist. It was "Fly Me to the Moon."

We heard Vic's voice, casual and calm, but it came from the box, with a tinny sound that, though it projected, was not what we were expecting.

~ Fly me to the moon. Let me play among the stars. Let me see what spring is like on… A-Jupiter and Mars. ~

People were looking around for Vic. You could see the looks on people's faces. Is this it? Didn't Quark say it would be 'in the flesh?'

~ In other words, hold my hand. In other words, ~

Harry played a few proud notes on his Saxophone.

~ baby, kiss me…~

Then the band picked up the pacing and became a little more excited. The keyboardists hit a few buttons on his keyboard to add echoes to his fellow band members' instruments.

The drummer started a stronger beat, and Harry played a louder note as the box emitted a beam of light and there appeared Vic Fontaine. The crowd cheered, Nerys and I laughed quietly and people clapped.

~Fil my heart with song! Let me sing forever more! You are all I long for, all I worship and adore! ~

Vic was lucid and ecstatic. Happy to be free… I hadn't noticed Terin enter, but I did notice the way he smiled at that part… he loved it.

Vic began to shimmy around the room, and more people laughed. He looked us all in the eye with innocence and glee.

~ In other words, please be true. ~

Harry was clearly enjoying the chance to practice his skills. Though, I don't know if Tom had mentioned his skill was quite good enough for this.

~In other words, I love you~

The drummer picked it up again in a near drum roll and the Emitter shifted and changed Vic's tuxedo to a shining white one which glowed almost like Earth's moon. In fact, the costume seemed deliberately evocative of the moon. He began to ascend the steps and sing up above for the patrons who had collected there. From here though he looked almost like a moon in the sky as the emitter's spotlight shone on him.

The band jammed a bit as Vic danced, soloing on Harry for a bit again. Vic pointed to each band member as they had their moment and shone the spotlight on them. He was smiling with pride.

As the spotlight returned to him, he cheered.

~ Fill my heart with song, let me sing forEVER more! You are all I long for, all I worship and ADore! ~

~In other words, please be truuuuue! ~

Vic held his hand out as he held the note and the drummer really got going.

~In other words! In other wooords! ~

Vic found his way back down to the lower level and he pointed to several people cooly.

~I… love… ~

The pianist finished off the song as he sang the last word.

~You! ~

The crowd roared; I couldn't help but cheer myself. Nerys looked so proud, we both looked at each and just knew each other's thoughts… I wish Odo were here to see this.

As the band bowed, Vic talked to us with his microphone.

"Heyyy, everybody! How are we all doing tonight?!"

Everyone cheered. I tried to do it loudly to get everyone else in the spirit, but I saw Tuvok wince when I did so I stopped quickly. He was bopping his head, very focused, and smiling, so I figured no harm was done.

"Vic's mic screeched a bit and he said, "Whoa! Sorry about that everyone." He held the microphone away, but his voice kept projecting.

"Oh wait! Guess I don't need this do I? Quark here has an amazing set up. Here watch this…"

He walked over to his emitter and his own face appeared on the screen.

"Say, handsome devil, how've you been treatin' yourself?"

He positioned the mic to his own face on the screen. It wasn't another him, just his appearance in the emitter, but he was pretending it was.

The version of him in the box spoke into the useless mic and it projected just like it would have if he were standing there.

"I'm keepin' great, thanks for asking Vic!"

Vic responded to himself, "Any time Vic."

The crowd chuckled.

Vic stood back up, "I think I'll keep the mic though, gives me something to do with my hands so I have an excuse not to play an instrument." He smiled and crowd laughed again.

"But real talk, I wouldn't be out here performing for you all without the engineer that started it. My pally, Nog!"

Vic shone the light on Nog who was sitting at a table with a couple of dabo girls. He waved off the compliment and smiled, "Ah. Nothin' to it daddy-o!" He said.

"Aw." He turned to the crowd. "Modesty. The essential trait of the engineer. But for real give 'im a round of applause folks."

We obliged and Nog smiled shyly. Usually, Nog loved praise but not as much lately. Can't say I couldn't relate, praise always made me feel weird, at least… in most settings. Nog deserved it though, he really came through for him like Vic did for him those years ago. Gods, that was three years ago?

As the crowd stopped the light shone on Vic again, "This next song is in honor of my friend here, who always believed in me."

We clapped again as the song began.

"It's Only a Paper Moon," was the tune. The band played up the opening notes in a grand gesture of introduction, then Vic sang.

~It's only a paper moon. Sailin' over a cardboard sea. But it wouldn't be make-believe if you believed in me. ~

The pianist was clearly enjoying this one, with a flood of joy on his face.

~Now, it's only a canvas sky hanging over a muslin tree. But it wouldn't be make-believe if you believed in me. ~

The band bopped to the music they made. The sound of the Tevara was an interesting echo as Pelu swayed.

~Without your love, it's a honky-tonk parade. Without your love, it's a melody played in a penny arcade! ~

I looked to Nerys and bopped my head. She smiled at me, I noticed Tuvok was moving his body with the music and even Julian was tapping his foot, admiring his friend's progress.

Vic was wondering around the bar, bouncing along as his moon tux shone out like

~It's Barum and Bailey world. Just as phony as it can be. But it wouldn't be make-believe if you believed in me. ~

The band took a verse or two to themselves, spotlight on them again. I noticed that spotlight gave them an extra shine too that I hadn't noticed before.

They continued to shine as Vic continued.

~Without your love it's a honky-tonk parade. Without your love, it's a melody played in a penny arcade! ~

~It's a Barum and Bailey world. Just as phony as it can be. But it wouldn't be make-believe if you believed in me. ~

Vic got the spotlight again

~No, it wouldn't be make-believe if you… believe… in me!~

The band finished and we all clapped. Slightly more subdued this time.

Vic began to talk to us again, "Well I hate to sour the mood, but it seems wrong not to mention the troubles we've been having lately…"

He looked around the room, "Klingons nearly destroying us, people having to make some hard choices, and choose new paths. As a matter of fact, I wish some of the folks on Voayger were here tonight, there's a few I'd like to thank myself. But I wish 'em well. It's going to a be a rough time saying goodbye." He set a hand on Harry's shoulder and looked him in the eye, then he moved to the bar where he eyed Zee, Tuvok, and I. "In the end, we all made our choice of home. Maybe we might regret that choice, or maybe not. But… and I don't mean to sound cold here… it's like the man said, 'that's life.'

The keyboardist picked up with the tune of the same name, as did the drummer, and Vic finished, "Here's to makin' it through hard times here on DS9, a thing we always manage to do."

The main part began, with the electric organ sound from Msiter Terunda.

~That's life! ~

The band members who could sing echoed him.

~That's liiiiife! ~

Vic walked around the room with a frank confidence

~That's what all the people say. You're ridin' high in April; shot down in May. But I know I'm gonna change that tune. When I'm back on top, back on top in June."

The keyboardist played in circles, spinning the mind.

~I said, 'That's life!'~

~That's liiife! ~

~And as funny as it may seem. Some people get their kicks stompin' on a dream. But I don't let it, let it get me down. 'Cause this fine old world it keeps spinnin' around. ~

I looked over at Zee, who had been joined by the twins. But I could swear I saw a third person, and alien woman I had never seen, arms around her. She glanced at me with a smile, and then I blinked, and she was gone.

~ I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet…~

My mind turned to Tom and B'Elanna, changing into Maquis outfits and watching Miral with regrets…

~a pawn and a king. I've been up and down and over and out, and I know one thing…~

I thought of Annika and Doctor Van Gogh. Maybe Annika would find another woman on Voyager to help her explore herself? Maybe the Doctor would wear a white coat now, rather than a uniform?

~ Each time I find myself flat on my face… I pick myself up and get back in the race! ~

~That's life! ~

~That's liiife! ~

Harry played with rhythmic acceptance, and controlled grief.

~I tell ya. I can't deny it! I thought of quitting baby, but my heart just ain't gonna buy it.~

I thought about Nerys, and how I felt about her, wondering if I should say something to her about it. I couldn't help but look at her for a long a moment, her eyes shining in the light as she watched.

~And if I didn't think it was worth one single try! ~

I felt the words hit me, almost too strongly, and I had to look way from her. I didn't notice that just as I stopped looking, she looked at me…

~I'd jump right on a big bird! And then I'd fly! ~

~ I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet… a pawn and a king~

The mood in the room began to raise as people's hearts were touched. We weren't the only people on that station who had lost people, had their lives turned over.

~ I've been up and down and over and out, and I know one thing…~

~Each time I find myself layin' flat on my face. ~

I looked at Julian who seemed affected by the song slightly, and I wondered what I missed in his life while I was on the Enterprise. I thought of Worf too, hoping he was settling back with his old Starfleet family and if Kurn was talking to him again…

~ I just pick myself up and get back in the race! ~

The spirit of the song rose, and Vic called out in song.

~ That's life! ~

~ That's liiife! ~

The band sang higher, refusing to give up. Harry was playing with deep emotions; I could see it in his eyes and movements.

~That's life! And I can't deny it! ~

My mind turned to the future, Captain Vaughn meeting with an Admiral to discuss the first exhibition into the Gamma Quadrant after the Aventine is repaired, wondering where we would be headed.

~Many times, I thought about cuttin' but my heart won't buy it! ~

I started to look forward again and looked out the window to see the Aventine herself, a beautiful ship. I couldn't wait to help lead her into the unknown. Maybe I deserved it, or maybe not, but wouldn't waste this opportunity. But I wouldn't forget to come home… the first real home I had ever known…

~But if there's nothin' shakin' come this here July! ~

~I'm gonna roll myself up… in a big ball… and die! ~

~My… my…! ~