DISCLAIMER: Star Trek is not mine, neither are the characters. Don't sue me.

It's not too long, but not all that short either, the storyline's being extended by request. Thanks to Amorcia for reviewing and reading!

Onward with the reclamation of DS9...


MENDING OLD WOUNDS

"They've gutted DS9, sir. I'm doing what I can, but I don't exactly know when it'll be operational," Miles O'Brien said directly into his combadge.

"Your best has to be better, Chief. The task force can't guard us forever, and we don't know when Dominon reinforcements are going to come pouring through that wormhole," came the calm and, as usual, collected voice of Captain Sisko.

"Alright, Captain, I'll try..." he trailed off, and as an afterthought, added, "O'Brien out." Pulling out a microspanner, he went back to work repairing some of the electrical conduits that powered the Promenade. Ops was already done, as was the infirmary and other main areas.

"Of course they had to gut DS9..." he muttered, stringing a loud combination of curse words together as he hit his head, and then starting off on a litany about the 'damned Cardies'.

It just wasn't his day.


Lieutenant Dax was more than a little tired. She had been working with Julian almost the entire day, helping him get the infirmary back together. What did she have to say about it?

"No offence, Julian, but I'm really glad I'm not a doctor," she remarked in her lilting voice.

"Oh, but it's enjoyable! Finding a cure for a disease, helping people--"

"And going out to drink with Miles after hours, right?" she laughed in a strange tone of voice. "Maybe I'll join you... you know he's leaving DS9 for Earth after the war's over, right?"

Bashir stopped where he was, his back to Ezri. He turned slowly around, a stunned look on his face.

"What?"

"I said, he's leaving for Earth. He's been offered a lead position in Starfleet Academy, and he took the offer. Keiko'salready making arrangements for a house there," she said, now sorry that she had told him. It had obviously been something Miles didn't want to tell Bashir yet, and now she had ruined it. "I'm so sorry, Julian, I thought he had told you!"

She gently tried to wrap her arms around him to comfort him, but was pushed off, not in anger, but distraction.

"I've got to find Miles and talk to him. Watch the infirmary for me, Ezri. I should be back—soon."

With that, Julian Bashir walked out of the door.


Sisko placed the baseball he had gotten from Dukat back on his desk, a bit troubled. His son was growing up, seeing more of the world and how cruel it had become. He had seen innocent people slaughtered for this station, and so much blood spilled from the outcome... could he ever hope to comfort him?

"Ops to Sisko," Worf said, looking at him through the glass door seperating his room form Ops.

"Sisko here," he said evenly, voice betraying no emotion whatsoever.

"We're being hailed by Starfleet and they'd like to talk to you, sir. It is a Priority One message."

"Direct it to my office. Sisko out."

He popped up a small monitor from his desk as Admiral Ross appeared on-screen.

"Ben, it's good to see you. How are you doing?"

"A little shaken up, Admiral, but while the battle goes, there's not enough time to rest," he replied almost jovially.

"More than agreed. But I didn't call on you for chitchat. Starfleet wants you in a higher level position. Now, there are two candidates, but you're the best man for the job. If you don't want it, he gets it. It's a one-star admirality position, you'd be back on Earth, see the family--"

"Forgive me for this, but I really hate deskwork, Admiral. Is that what you're asking?"

"Well, not exactly, but yes more or less," the nervous and tenative answer came.

"I'll pass on it this time. If I never get a position there," he paused to take a breath, "I'll be a happy man."

"As you say, Captain. Ross out."

The transmission cut out, and all that Sisko could do was thank the Prophets he was on the admiral's good side.


Odo was sitting in his normal security area, fixing a few basic things he knew how to. Sparks were still flying, and from examination of what was left of the tapes, he was able to make sure that, once again, the Cardassians, aided by the Jem'Hadar, had completely and totally wrecked the station before leaving, and on purpose.

It was getting tiring. Day in, day out, he wondered more and more what it would be like to be a god to people that would never fail him. People that would take every word he said as if it were a drop of gold. How many Founders were there? How many out there to be worshipped? And while that happened, the virus Starfleet had sent along was killing them. His people were dying because he was told to withhold the cure. But why?

Perhaps the Female Founder had the right idea, after all. Perhaps she knew what she was doing. It was then that he found the datachip with his name on it, cautiously hidden underneath the papers left on his desk.


"Weyoun! I want a status report, please," the female-like shapeshifter ordered.

"Of course, Founder, one moment and I will report," said the musical Vorta, his voice pleasant on the ears of all but the Founder, who hated him. Hated everything he was. The fact that he was still a mere mortal.

"The Federation task force seems to not be in much of a hurry to leave the wormhole unguarded, Founder," he said, too eager to please.

"Very well. Leave me. I will be here should an emergency arise," she said, wondering about her other endeavor. To bring Odo to her, she had to first set the bait...and wait for him to bite.


"Odo, I know you're watching this. I can only hope to explain to you why we left this for you. First, you are a Founder by right, not a Solid! You belong here. We all miss you, every one of us. You could have people to cater to your every whim!" she said with honey-coated words. It was the Female Founder, of course. She paused to let him think before continuing. "It is an insult to your abilities to be commanded by a mere Solid, when you could soon command him and others better than he. If you wanted, you could keep Deep Space Nine for yourself. Command it apart from the Dominion. But we need you...I need you." At this, Odo snorted and continued playing the chip for the amusement of it. She was groveling with him, trying to make him do what she wanted him to. "And now, Odo, the choice is yours. The Great Link awaits you at our side. I hope you make the correct one."

Odo considered it. He could rejoin the Great Link permanetly... perhaps...


Not long but it works. I'm getting there, I'll expand the story more if you want.

Review please!

-Anij Jinn