Chapter nine
Recollections/Return of the Founders
AS the Appalachia and Defiant return to DS9, Voyager, Titan and Enterprise arrive as well. All five ships dock, and for the first time in some years all the respective and former crews. The reunion among some is short lived as the two humans founds on the ship are taken to the infirmary. Bashir is joined the Doctor and by Dr.Crusher. They work on both and stabilize them. The female awakens, "Where are we?"
"Your on a Federation space station. You are safe now."
"Federation? Where's the captain?" she asks.
"Which one? Riker, Picard, Chakotay-"
"No. No-it's Captain Ar- Archer. Jonathan Archer." She says as she drifts into unconsciousness.
All three doctors are shocked as Picard and Janeway look on. They can't believe who she was speaking of.
"Doctor, try to find out who they are? We need to know immediately."
"My first priority is their care, then I'll find out their identity. If you'll excuse us." As the hologram pushes out the ranking officers.
Meanwhile, O'Brien and Worf find themselves in familiar surroundings as they are greeted by a shocked and shaken Ezri Daz and Nog. They share embraces as the old comrades exchange pleasantries.
"Chakotay, should we see them, or do you think it would be awkward?" asks Torres with Paris and Seven nearby.
"She'll find us. After all she could be in a lot of trouble." Chakotay says as the former ops officer of Voyager comes near them.
"Harry! He are you? How's your assignment aboard the Titan?" his former commander asks.
"It's just fine, Captain. It couldn't be bet-" As he stops as they all see the guest from the Enterprise walk by.
"Was that-Spock!" Harry Kim asks awestruck.
"I think so." Torres answers, who is just as shocked. "Why is he-"
"I believe he was aboard the Enterprise. Is the ambassador of some importance?" Seven asks as she and Paris walk over.
Spock turns for a second, and then continues on his way. He is walking toward Janeway and Picard who have been joined by Riker.
"Captain, we need to talk." He says as he sees the admiral. "I don't believe we've met. I am Ambassador Spock."
"Admiral Kathryn Janeway of Voyager. Pleased to meet you Ambassador."
"What have you found?" Picard asks.
"Something very disturbing. We need to talk alone." He says as a crowd gathers around the most famous commanders in Starfleet history.
As the four commanders leave for the lift to ops, the others make their way to Quark's. Worf, O'Brien, Dax and Nog are joined by Chakotay, Torres, Paris, Kim and Seven. They all make their way to the bar where Quark is. Morn is in Seven's way and she gives him a stern look. He scurries off as she takes his spot.
"Well if it isn't some faces from the past. I was just telling someone yesterday that things may change but some stay them same." The cocky Ferengi announces. "I didn't think I would ever see either of you here again."
"Well so much for what you think Quark. We're only here temporarily. By the way do you have any-"
"No. I deleted all of your battle to the death holosuite programs. It just gave people bad memories of the past. You could see that couldn't you Chief"
"I'm not a chief anymore. I'm a professor. I just want to be called Miles."
"I afraid you are chief again. Sorry to disappoint you." Kira informs as she hands him a pad.
"What the Hell!? I've been drafted. Who is responsible for this?" he angrily asks.
"Captain Picard. And you're partially correct. You're not a chief. You've been promoted to the field commission of Lieutenant Commander."
"What? How could they do this. I'm not s soldier. I'm an engin-professor." O'Brien says, as he changes his old phrase.
"Well you're an engineer again. You'll be assigned to the station. Lt. Nog your permanently assigned to Defiant."
Thank you, Ma'am." He responds.
"Mister Worf. It's nice to see you again."
"You as well, General. Congratulations on the promotion." He says.
"You as well. You've been given command of the Valiant."
"I am pleased. I will command to the best of my-"
"Welcome back, Gentlemen. Now if you'll excuse me. I have some meetings."
"Yes, Ma'am." They all say.
As they turn their attention to Quark again he speaks first, "Don't even think of ordering root beer. I finally got rid of my last barrel two months ago. Some Klingons wanted something different."
"That's not what I was going to ask? So who were you speaking with about the past?" The Lt. Commander asks.
"Me." A voice says from behind.
"Jake. Come on over. How have you been?"
"Miserable." He responds. "How have you been?"
"Just great. I've been drafted."
"So I heard."
As Chakotay and crew look on at this, Quark looks at Paris and Kim and recalls something.
"Don't I know you two hu-mans.?" He asks in a sneaky way.
"Nope. We've never met." Paris responds as he and Harry quickly leave to find a table.
Chakotay, Torres and Seven stand there wondering what that was about. The they ask for drinks and join their friends. The former station crew also settle to a table near the famous dart board. It is unpowered, but Nog and O'Brien bring it to life again.
As the others enjoy themselves, the three medical officers cure the two strangers they found on the sleeper ship. They are still weak but want to tell what happened. So with assistance from the doctor, they are taken to the conference room where Picard, Kira, Riker, Janeway and Spock await them.
"Let's start form the beginning. Who are you and where are you from?" Picard asks.
The male responds as the female is still shocked by the technology. He tells, "I am Lieutenant Travis Meriwether. I am the helmsman of the Enterprise, NX-01. This is Lt. Hoshi Sato. She is the communications officer. We were aboard our ship until something pulled us inside a structure. We were separated from our crew. We don't remember much after that. Just faint images of strange things."
"It was like a dream, but we couldn't wake up." Hoshi responds. "We couldn't help the others we saw. They suffered for us." As she begins to become upset..
"I think that is enough. They both need rest." Crusher informs.
"I'm fine. Take he back to the sickbay." Travis says.
"No! I don't want to leave you." She cries out.
"It's alright. Their Starfleet, we'll be safe. We won't be harmed anymore."
As Crusher leads Hoshi out, the Doctor and Bashir remain.
As the questioning, mostly from Spock continues, Travis describes the interior. He describes a shadowed figure which seemed to be the leader, but he wasn't sure. After an hour they have more information, then ever before. Just then, they receive a call on the comm..
"General Kira. There is a message for Ambassador Spock."
Looking at Picard, Spock is concerned, because no one is supposed to know he is there. When he sees who it is who is hailing he is surprised.
"Is that you Spock. You look the same the last time I saw you." The older man says. Picard and Riker notice who it is right away, but Janeway and Kira do not.
"You look the same as well, Captain Scott. I find it highly unusual that you would be. Perhaps the years have been good for you."
"No necessarily. I was stuck in a damned transporter for 75 years." He says, as a shocked Lt. Sato returns much better than she was an hour ago. Travis goes to her to comfort her.
"I'm not going into that thing. Scrambled my molecules all over space! No way!" she responds to Scotty's comment.
"You speak as though Dr. McCoy would if he were here." Spock says.
"That he would. May he rest in peace." Scotty informs.
"I feel the loss. He was truly and worthy opponent. I will miss the arguments." Spock responds to the death of his friend of many years.
"Yes. He was a great man. By the way this isn't a social call. I'm on my way. I'll be there in 10 minutes."
"Very well, I see you when you arrive. Spock out."
As the communication ends the entire operations crew are shocked not just to see one legend, but now another coming.
As the two legends discuss the goings-on on what brought them there they both are prepared to tell some secrets that they were going to take to the grave. McCoy just had, and Kirk did a long time ago. They recall Chekov's disappearance in 2305, the same year that Picard was born. They remember Uhura's family disappearances from a ship described as a massive black thing. They remember the encounter the Excelsior had with it, and Captain Sulu's encounter where the ship was nearly destroyed; It was only saved by the Enterprise-B and Captain Harriman. These things have only been known by them and are in a sealed file in the office of Section 31, which some think was fictional. Spock explains that it was he and Chekov that created the first concept for a covert intelligence section of Starfleet to prevent such action such as the Khitomer attack after the assassination of Gorkon. That is why Chekov disappeared, Spock believed, which is why he left Starfleet, for good.
As all of the crews prepare to meet, they wonder what will come of this threat. They assemble a large conference table in the holosuite, to include everyone they need to. The DS9 command crew, the current Voyager crew, the Appalachia, the Titan, The Enterprise crew, and Spock and Scotty enter to begin when a sensor alert starts.
"Kira to ops. What is going on?" she demands.
"You won't believe this General. There is a Jem'Hedar warship coming out of the wormhole." The crewmember responds.
"Red Alert! Raise shields!" she orders.
"It's too late someone beamed aboard the promenade." The frightened young officer calls out over the comm..
Kira and some others run out to see what or who it is. When they catch sight they are in utter disbelief. When Quark catches sight of the person, he screams and runs. The person is dressed in robes of heavy cloth. But soon disappears as it is revealed to be a changeling. Three security teams surround the shapr-shifter, one ahead, one from behind where the crews are gathered, and on form the above catwalk.
The Starfleet security chief arrives and orders, "Surround the changeling. If it moves, shoot it."
"That wouldn't be a wise idea, Commander. I am no threat to you. I am here to help." The shape-shifter responds. Kira, as does the rest of the station crew recognize the voice. The changeling turns to reveal his identity. Kira's anger turns to joy as he utters the name she has wanted ever since he left.
"Odo! Odo, is it really you." She cries out.
He runs to her and says, "Yes Nereys, it is me. And before you ask, I am here to stay."
As Garek and Jake arrive to see what the commotion is the see Odo and Kira embrace. They both look glad to see the former Constable. They, along with the former and current station crew join Kira. They ask what he is doing there and why he is there. But, has business. He goes to the ranking officers, Picard and Janeway.
"I offer my services as Ambassador to the former Dominion." He offers.
"Granted." Janeway says dryly.
"We have much to discuss." He tells them.
"We do indeed. We surely do indeed." Spock responds.