Star Trek: Wings of the Renaissance

A Star Trek fanfiction by Andrew Joshua Talon

DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan-based work of prose. Star Trek is the property of CBS and Paramount. Please support the official release.


Federation Starbase Deep Space Nine, Bajoran Sector

2370

The mechanical groan of the airlock rolling out of the way was clearly in Keiko's ears as the hatch opened. It locked and secured itself automatically, sounds soon covered by the bustle and conversations of the Promenade. She was bumped slightly from behind, and she got walking, stepping out onto the large, open space of Deep Space Nine's inner ring. She looked over her shoulder, a little annoyed at the brightly smiling Zira as the rest of the people waiting with them shuffled out and spread into the crowds.

"Daydreaming?" The Orion woman asked. Keiko shook her head.

"No, just… Thinking," she admitted. "The airlock cycle sounds different. I might have to take that into account for the assessment." She immediately had her PADD out, and was taking notes. She'd agreed to do a tactical assessment on Deep Space Nine for Commander Shran, with the hopes of learning how to better defend it against a possible attack: The 477th Squadron, after all, was the closest help if the station got into trouble.

Zira smoothly moved in front of her and rested her green hands over Keiko's. The Japanese human looked up at her with a scowl.

"You know, you don't have to immediately start work," Zira advised. " We're technically on leave, after all. Maybe you could relax a little first?" She smiled mischievously. "I'm meeting the rest of the Squadron at Quark's. Why not come along? Try a holosuite?"

"I'm not immediately starting work, I'm just taking some notes," Keiko protested, pulling her hands back. The Orion woman frowned as people moved around them. The human smiled back.

"But a drink does sound good," she said. Zira beamed happily, and took Keiko by the hand. She began to lead her on, around the Promenade.

"I'm glad," Zira said. "Usually I have to guilt Hajar into coming with me to do anything fun. I was worried you were a workaholic, with how you stay in your lab!"

"I am," Keiko admitted, "but only because it's fun."

Zira hummed and shrugged. "To each their own," she said. She grinned at Keiko a bit more widely. "But you could always stand to broaden your horizons a little."

They came to the entrance of the bar. It wasn't hard to find: The loud noises of laughing, arguing, drinking, and the dabo table all filtered out onto the Promenade. The vibrant, warm colors for the decor made it as a place to relax, and Keiko found herself approving.

"How so?" Keiko asked, as Zira led her in. They moved aside for a big Brunyg, who nodded politely as he went on by. "It's not like I have a shortage of entertainment."

The bar proper was crowded: Dozens of species, Federation and non, were drinking, eating, laughing, and talking at the bar. The Ferengi wait staff bustled everywhere, like scurry rodents in an ever changing maze of tables and patrons. Beautiful Bajoran women tended the dabo tables in shiny, revealing outfits, cheering on the gamblers. The smells of alien cooking and alcohol mixed together into a strange, pungent cloud-Not unpleasant, but ever present.

"Yes, but vids, holosuites, tinkering-It's all of a specific genre," Zira said, raising her eyebrows lavisciously. She turned to embrace Keiko and brought her face close to hers, staring into her eyes. Keiko blushed hard.

"After all," Zira murmured, "you never know what might happen in a holosuite with our dear new flight lead, hm?"

"Er," Keiko managed, her blush glowing hotter. She shook her head, too rapidly she thought. "We-We're just friends. Really."

"Keiko! Zira!"

Andross' voice broke through the clatter of Quark's. Keiko looked over Zira's shoulder: He was beaming and waving at her from a table, where Suref, Ro'ad, Mychol, and Hajar had gathered. Keiko smiled back and waved. Zira turned and waved as well, also smiling.

"You know, I don't just emit pheromones," Zira whispered as they headed for the table. "I also smell them. And right now you smell pretty interested… And I don't mean in me."

"Maybe I'm tempted to experiment," Keiko retorted quickly. Zira stopped their progress, and leaned in, her face getting close to Keiko's. The Japanese woman's face turned a brighter red as their noses touched, and their lips were getting closer… Closer…

"Ah! Stop!" Keiko sputtered, pulling away. Zira laughed, and patted Keiko on the shoulder.

"Never play gay chicken with an Orion, sweetie," she teased, smiling warmly. Keiko huffed, and glared at the table of pilots. They were all trying very hard not to stare, save for Mychol, who was a much darker blue than usual.

"I am the best!" Zira announced, holding up her hands in victory poses. Keiko collected herself, glaring a bit at the cocky Orion. Zira just smiled back, and took a seat in Suref's lap. The Vulcan blinked.

"Excuse me Flight Officer, I do not think this is appropriate-"

"You're very warm, Suref, so I'm fine where I am," Zira replied, shifting a bit to get comfortable. Ro'ad hooted a bit, and Hajar sighed. It was impossible not to notice she was trying to hide her smile though. This also left the seat next to Andross empty. Keiko noticed this easily, as did Andross. He smiled at her, and gestured to the chair.

"Come on, let's get some drinks!" He said. "You never know when a crisis might erupt and we all get pulled away."

"Ah," said a deep, male voice that made Keiko jump, "that is all too familiar."

Keiko spun around and smiled brightly. The tall, black man in civilian clothes smiled back, his white teeth gleaming.

"Commander Sisko!" Keiko said happily, reaching out to hug the tall man. He returned it, big burly arms wrapping her up in a warm hug. He laughed, patting her on the back. He pulled back, looking her over with some confusion in his eyes.

"Last I heard you were back at Utopia Planitia," he said. "What are you doing here?"

"Ah," Keiko began, her eyes sliding to the left. Sisko's gaze became stony.

"Keiko," he said, disapprovingly. Keiko took a deep breath.

"Maybe it's something to discuss in private," she admitted. Sisko glanced over her shoulder, and slowly nodded.

"It would be good to catch up," he said. Keiko turned around and smiled apologetically: Her gaze focused mostly on Andross, who looked confused. Zira raised an eyebrow speculatively.

"Commander Sisko and I are old friends," she explained. "We're just going to catch up-Real fast, be right back!" She turned, and at Sisko's open hand gesture, she headed for the stairs to go up to the second level of the bar. Sisko followed, stopping only when she stopped at a small table overlooking the bar. She turned and sat down, clasping her hands together. Sisko sat down across from her, his expression grave.

"Well?" He asked. Keiko winced, looking at her hands.

"I… Might have lost my temper with the new project manager," she admitted quietly. Sisko raised his eyebrows.

"In what way?" He asked. Keiko rubbed her hands together, suddenly feeling chilly.

"In the… I punched him in the nose sort of way?" She admitted. Sisko sighed heavily, and it made Keiko wince to hear that sound.

"Keiko-"

"He was going to shut down the Defiant project and scrap it!" Keiko said defensively. "I tried arguing with him, endlessly! I really did! The project was already practically mothballed but we were still developing so much from it! Then he… He…"

"He?" Sisko prompted. Keiko looked down at her hands. She rubbed them together again.

"He… Mentioned World War 3, and… Asked if I was looking forward to repeating it," she murmured, quiet but angry. She glared up at Sisko. "You can't tell me he didn't have it coming!"

"No. He did," Sisko said gently, "but not from you. You report that to his superior, you don't just lash out." Sisko sighed. "What happened then?"

"Admiral Jin was in charge of the overall management. She agreed to keep it running in low preparation, given everything we've done but… Well, I had to leave," Keiko admitted. "And so, here I am."

Sisko sighed and shook his head slowly. "Keiko…"

Keiko's eyes narrowed. Yes, he was disappointed in her but damnit…!

"I can't believe these idiots keep getting positions of power!" Keiko hissed. "Over and over again they shove a bunch of holier than thou hippies into military projects!" She looked intensely at Sisko. "How many-How many more people have to die before these morons understand there are forces in the universe that you can't just make speeches at to stop them?!"

"I know, Keiko," Sisko growled low in his voice. "I know."

Keiko pulled back, biting her lower lip. After all… She knew full well what had brought Sisko onto the Defiant project.

"The trouble is," Sisko said, a bit more tightly but not as harsh as before, "you can't just change everyone immediately. You're up against almost a century of people who started to see Starfleet as a social club: A means of moving up in the world, not the organization responsible for defending the Federation and keeping it safe and free. Even the Borg aren't powerful enough to make that shift in the organization happen immediately." He leaned forward over the table. "More than that, we don't just fight: We also explore, do humanitarian aid, make first contact-"

"I know, I know!" Keiko insisted. "I would never say we have to stop doing that! The militaries of my time did that too… The good ones, anyway," she admitted. "But if we aren't able to do the job of protecting everyone, then what's the use of the rest of those missions?"

"'We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm', I know," Sisko agreed, "but losing your temper and taking it out on these people doesn't help. All it does is relegate you to where you can't help anymore, all because you couldn't control yourself!"

Keiko glared back angrily at Sisko. Sisko returned the glare, steely and unbending. Keiko sighed, and closed her eyes tightly.

"... You're right," she admitted quietly. "You're right." She looked down. "It's just… I can't escape seeing… All that death."

"I know," Sisko said, reaching out to squeeze her hand tightly. "I know."

"I know you do," she said softly, squeezing his hand back. Sisko took a deep breath and sighed.

"You haven't failed, Keiko," he insisted. "The things we worked on the Defiant-Ablative armor, the power distribution systems, the shields, the engines, the quantum torpedo-They're all being introduced into the next generation of starships. You've done so much already, Keiko, despite everything that was thrown in our way. So why toss it away now?"

Keiko was silent for a while. Her eyes locked onto her hands, intertwined with Sisko's. She took a long, deep breath, and let it out. Only then did she speak.

"Because the tech isn't the problem, Ben," Keiko admitted. "It's the people. And I don't know how to fix them."

Sisko nodded, squeezing Keiko's hand back. He rested his other hand over hers, making her look up at him. "I know. It's never been easy for you. It's not easy for us either though. We all have our own struggles. But you don't have to face them alone."

Keiko nodded. Sisko took another breath, centering himself. Then he spoke:

"I'm going away for a week with my son. When I get back, I'll see what I can do about reassigning you to Deep Space Nine."

"Ah?" Keiko asked, surprised. Sisko leaned forward a bit, a smile on his lips.

"As it turns out, I feel the tactical acumen of the station has been slipping a bit. And the Cardassians might have some things to teach us-I can't think of anyone better for the job, and who could work with the Chief. He could certainly use your expertise, and I think you'd get along fine. He's seen war himself. He'd understand," Sisko explained. "Working here for a while would help raise your profile, and get you even better assignments down the line. Assignments to help protect the Federation."

"I… I don't know what to say," Keiko said. Her eyes turned down to her squadron mates. Zira had slipped an ice cube down Hajar's uniform, and the human woman had retaliated by producing a recording of the Orion on her PADD: One the green woman was desperately trying to get back from the taunting Hajar. The rest of the squadron was watching in laughter, or in Suref's case interest. Andross himself laughed and slapped Mychol on the back, trying to get the little Tullian to loosen up. Sisko followed her gaze.

"Unless… You're happier where you are," Sisko said, a slight hopeful smile on his face. Keiko flushed a bit.

"They're… They're my friends," she said. She knit her fingers in front of her, trying to regain her composure. Sisko nodded.

"DAD!"

Sisko turned his head. A young black boy in his early teens was grinning as he walked in, wearing a hopelessly ugly jumpsuit under a long jacket-probably one of his father's. Keiko managed not to wince-Fashion sense in the 24th century was really terrible. She'd heard it was because aliens had different aesthetics than them and adopting those aesthetics had become popular, but she prayed it was only a fad that soon ended.

Jake's eyes widened as he took in Keiko.

"Oh! Miss Matsunaga!" Jake said, coughing a bit in nervousness. "It's um, it's good to see you!"

"Hey Jake," Keiko said with a wide, genuine smile. She stood up and closed the distance to hug the tall boy. "It's been forever! Look how big you've gotten!"

"Ah, y-yeah," Jake managed, his voice breaking slightly. He awkwardly hugged her back. "I-I'm gonna hit two meters soon."

"Good for you!" Keiko said happily, squeezing the boy's shoulder. He may not have been the little, fun loving boy who had visited his daddy at work anymore, but he was still very sweet. She leaned up a bit to kiss his cheek, making him blush hard. "How's everything been?"

"It's been great," Jake admitted, suddenly standing up straight and trying to make his voice sound deeper. "Um… W-We're going on a field trip to the Gamma Quadrant… F-For a science project," he admitted. Keiko grinned.

"That so? What about?" She asked.

"Uh, planetary survey," Jake managed. "I-I thought of it myself!" Ben stepped in, wrapping an arm around his son's shoulders. He grinned at Keiko, and patted Jake's shoulder.

"It's going to be fun," he said. "All packed up?"

"Yeah, just waiting for you, Dad," Jake admitted. "Um, I'll see you at the runabout then?"

"Definitely," Sisko said warmly, with a hint of a grin on his face. Jake nodded.

"R-Right… Um… Nice to see you again, Keiko," Jake managed. "You-You look great! I didn't tell you before, but you look really great!"

"Thanks Jake, you're becoming very handsome yourself," Keiko replied with a smile. Jake nodded, and turned away to begin awkwardly heading way towards the exit. Sisko and Keiko watched him go, and Keiko waved back as the young teenager threw an awkward wave back.

"He didn't react like that to the dabo girl he dated," Sisko observed wryly. Keiko smirked, and posed a bit.

"Well, I did work as a gravure girl to pay for college," she said with a smile and wink. Sisko laughed.

"Just don't let Jake see any of that, or I'll never get him out of his room again," he warned. Keiko chuckled.

"I'll keep it in mind," she said. She turned to Sisko and smiled, giving him another hug. "Thanks, Ben."

"You're welcome," he said. "Now go on. Your friends are waiting."

Keiko nodded back. The commander turned and headed out through the exit. Keiko watched him go for a time, lost in thought.


More to come!