Chapter Five: Cooler Heads

Kira shakes her head and closes her bedroom door, leaving Chris in the main room of her quarters to ponder her claim that he's somehow managed to put his pants on backwards.

I guess I could see doing that under the circumstances.

Kira scoffs at herself.

I can't believe I pulled the trigger.

After the chaos of their introduction had subsided, Kira was overwhelmed by Chris' eagerness to ask questions—strange questions. She had shooed him out of her bedroom after striking the deal that, if he let her get changed, she'd answer all she could over breakfast.

Why'd the Prophets send this man? He seems to know so much about me, yet nothing about why he's here. What's his story?

Kira slides her robe from her shoulders on the way to her closet. She halts abruptly after two steps.

What if I was right to begin with? What if the Prophets didn't send this man? Everything happened so fast…

"Computer," Kira says quietly, "lock down my quarters. Restrict data and physical access."

Just in case.

"Affirmative," the computer responds at its normal volume level. "Data and access points are now restricted."

"What was that?" Kira hears from the other room.

"Make yourself at home!" Kira speaks up and lies.

"Uh… OK?" is Chris' uncertain reply.

Kira curses under her breath as she hurries to change.

We both have a lot of questions.

Make myself at home?

Chris looks around Kira's quarters.

I'm not touching a damn thing—at least… not unit I figure out this stupid pair of pants.

Chris sighs. He's eager to know why he's here and why he's been changed, but Kira's reaction makes it clear she's as much in the dark as he is.

"They told you I was coming?!" Chris yells to be heard through the bedroom door.

There's no answer at first, but then the door slides open and Kira peeks out.

Chris blinks twice before glancing away from the bare shoulder Kira exposes. "Sorry, I…"

"If you promise to stay over there," Kira points with her eyes, "I'll leave this open so we don't have to shout."

"OK…" Chris says timidly as Kira slides out of sight, "…but…"

Kira pokes her head out again. "But?"

"They told you?"

"Yes, but… as you can guess: they weren't very clear about it."

Chris answers with a blank stare.

Kira raises her eyebrows and cocks her head. "Or I wouldn't've threatened you with a phaser?"

Comprehension livens Chris' face. "Right. Of course."

Kira shakes her head and ducks back into the bedroom. "Since we're apparently going to do this anyway, why don't you start by telling me what the Prophets and Emissary told you."

"I…" Chris pauses as he thinks back to the torture of white. "I don't think they told me anything."

"Nothing? Then how…?"

"Wait," Chris says as he remembers 'Mike's' words. "I had this crazy dream where my friend from work told me they'd 'prepared' me, but… he must've been referring to the TV show."

"You've mentioned that twice now. I think it's time you explain what you're talking about."

Chris lets out a sigh. He knows the concept of television is familiar to some of the 'characters' on the station, but Kira isn't one of them. He recalls her general avoidance of holosuites—the TVs of the distant future.

"So, let me see if I'm following…" Kira raises her voice to reach the next room clearly. "'TV' is short for 'television', and a 'TV show' is like a holosuite program, but… it's not interactive and… it's two-dimensional?"

"That pretty much sums it up," Chris acknowledges.

"And… you 'know' me because the Prophets gave you memories of me in this 'TV show'?"

"Not just you, but… yeah."

"Then why'd you call me a different name at first?"

"Because in a TV show, the characters are fictional. The cast, a group of actors, portray them."

"So, what you called me was the name of the actor that played… me?"

"Exactly."

"Why do you think the Prophets went through the trouble? Why not just tell you?"

Chris scoffs. "So I wouldn't totally wig out, I guess. Fill my head with memories of space stations and aliens without the context of fiction and who knows how I would've reacted."

Kira suddenly realizes the nature of Chris' displacement. His ordinary appearance and the chaos of his arrival had distracted her from the fact that time and space mean little to the Prophets. She peeks around the door frame to find Chris inspecting the waistband of his still-backwards pants. Instead of a brazen intruder, she sees a meek man that's grossly out of place.

Kira is overcome with guilt for second-guessing her conclusion that the Prophets delivered Chris to her quarters. She gingerly sets her phaser out of sight.

"Chris?"

"Yeah?" Chris looks up, surprised to find her watching.

"What time are you from?"

After a slow blink at Kira, Chris turns to a window and blows out a long, slow breath. "It had, uh… just turned 2015," he says quietly. "I don't know how long ago that was. I have no idea how Stardates work."

"But you know you've been brought through time?"

Chris nods to the window.

Kira knows that Vic Fontaine's lounge is set in 1962 Las Vegas and remembers Julian saying that would've been approximately four hundred years in the past. Her sympathy for the man in her quarters intensifies given how far removed he is from his home. She also feels awe that he's not more affected by the experience.

Kira speaks softly. "That was three hundred fifty years ago."

Chris raises his eyebrows. "I shouldn't be surprised but… still."

"Are you OK?"

"Yeah," Chris nods. "The Prophets, they… taught me a lot about this place, but…"

"But?"

Chris looks down for a second then back to Kira with an exaggerated expression of defeat. "They left out pants."

Chris' spontaneous attempt at humor hits Kira with a wave of relief. She responds with a grin. "Look, I swear they're backwards. I'll catch all kinds of hell if I let you walk around like that."

The two share a short, playful chuckle before Chris' expression sobers. "You're not surprised by all this?"

"The Prophets brought you," Kira shrugs. "They're timeless. Three centuries ago is no different than tomorrow. But… there's something I don't get."

"Just one thing?"

"Well, no, but this has been quite different from the last time they brought someone from the past."

"You mean the poet? What about him?"

"They told you about Akorem?"

"Not told… but yeah. He, uh… took over as Emissary for a bit and wanted the Bajorans to go back to following their… their…"

"D'jarras," Kira offers the term when Chris' false memory can't muster it.

"Right. I remember you trying to…" Chris stops abruptly.

"I tried to sculpt birds," Kira blushes and lets out an uncomfortable chuckle.

Chris joins in Kira's weak amusement.

Kira catches the change in Chris' mood. "You sure you're OK?"

Chris nods rapidly in an obvious attempt to quell Kira's concern. "I'll be fine."

Kira squints slightly as she starts to pull back from the doorway. "We can talk more about it later. I don't know about you, but I'm starved."

Chris nods more naturally in agreement.

Chris blinks hard as Kira disappears to her bedroom. A vivid memory of Kira sighing over a collection of deformed clay figures had stolen his focus.

What the hell was that all about?

Another vivid memory surfaces. The woman in the next room almost abandoned her post as first officer to follow her D'jarra on Bajor. Her conversation with Sisko was very emotional.

Chris sucks in a short breath. "Kira?"

"Yes?" Kira's answer from the next room is muted.

"I'm glad you didn't leave."

Kira pokes her head out again. "What are you talking about?"

"You… you almost left because of that poet. I'm glad you didn't."

Kira squints at Chris. "It's interesting what the Prophets decided to show you. I know you said you're OK, but you're not acting like it."

"I'm fine," Chris nods. "I just think… well… some of the memories they gave me are still… coming to the surface. My head's a bit of a mess right now"

"Take your time. And don't be too hard on yourself. You're doing much better than when Akorem arrived. That's why the time issue didn't occur to me earlier. He was in the infirmary a couple of days before he could even speak."

"Wow," Chris blinks. "I remember he was hurt but… they kinda left that part out."

"Maybe they didn't feel it was important," Kira shrugs. "But anyway—I'm almost ready; last chance to fix those."

Chris looks down at his pants. "Right. I almost forgot."

Finishing up getting dressed, Kira contemplates the differences between the Bajoran poet that visited the station three years ago and the man in the next room. For some reason, one was left injured and unconscious in a lightship while the other was deposited, unclad but healthy, directly in her bed.

I don't even want to try and interpret that little detail.

Akorem Laan ultimately had a singular purpose. His ideas were grossly outdated and served to remind Sisko that he was the true Emissary of the Prophets. Once his purpose was fulfilled, Akorem was returned to his own time. In contrast, the Prophets prepared Chris with a vast amount of knowledge and are asking Kira to "help him adapt."

Whatever their reasons, they brought Chris here to stay. He's not going home.

Kira wonders if Chris was told as much. "Hey, Chris? I'm not sure what…"

"I got it!" Chris' excited declaration cuts her off.

"Got what?" Kira asks as she pops her head out to see. She finds Chris holding his pants up in front of himself, staring closely at the fly.

Chris replies with his voice still raised, unaware that Kira is staring right at him. "I figured out the… the whatchamacallit!"

Kira watches Chris lower the pants below eye level and catch sight of her. His eyes widen and face reddens. She rolls her eyes and retreats to her bedroom.

"Does that mean you believe me now?" Kira calls out.

"It's not that I didn't believe you; I just… nevermind."

Kira chuckles at Chris' embarrassed tone, but she straightens her face as she ponders the unasked question.

Either he's taking this tremendously well, or he has no idea that he's stuck here.

Chris can feel the heat of his flushed face. The knot in his stomach slowly unwinds as he quietly puts his pants on the 'correct' way. The victory of discovering the concealed front access, employing a fastener only vaguely resembling a zipper, now feels like a decided defeat.

Damn. Future pants one; Chris zero.

Chris takes a seat to put on pleasantly straightforward shoes. "All right. I'm Decent again," he says with lingering embarrassment.

Kira emerges from the bedroom in her red, Bajoran uniform. It looks exactly like Chris remembers from the TV show: a seemingly one-piece, form-fitting jumpsuit. His stare is unintentional.

"What?" Kira asks in response to Chris' gawking.

Chris' eyes snap to Kira's. "Nothing. Sorry. These future clothes are just a bit… strange to me."

Kira dips her chin. "You're a terrible liar, Chris. From what you've told me, I bet you knew exactly what my uniform would look like."

Chris shrugs and wrinkles his nose as he nods.

Kira blinks. "What's that face supposed to mean?"

"I, uh…" Chris feels his face flush again. "I kinda liked the old one better."

Kira glances down before nodding to Chris with a smirk. "So did I. Some garbage about a promotion. But enough about clothes; let's go get some food."

Kira points the way as Chris steps from her quarters. He freezes as soon as he turns down the hallway.

"Chris?"

Kira feels an emotional tug. She imagines a petrified expression on Chris' face as he's confronted with by the scale of the station. Stepping past him, she turns to find a wondrous smile of awe.

Kira smirks with relief. "It's just a hallway, Chris."

"I know, I know. I just… I can't believe it's all real. And how the Prophets made me remember it like a TV show is… unbelievable."

Kira shrugs, still wearing a smirk. "They're the Prophets." She gestures down the hall and the pair makes their way to a turbolift station.

Chris continues to look around in wonder. "I guess it makes sense this was one of my favorite shows."

"One of?" Kira raises an eyebrow.

Chris backpedals. "Well… I…"

"Relax," Kira smiles. "I'm just teasing."

Chris chuckles uneasily.

Kira's smile gives way to a sympathetic frown. "I know you're sick of me asking, but are you alright?"

Unlike his quick responses earlier, Chris hesitates. "This is all so strange. This place, you… It's exciting, but it's also…"

"Overwhelming?" Kira guesses at Chris' feelings. She comes to a stop and takes hold of Chris' arm. "Chris, this is a tremendous change, and…" Kira trails off. She exhales slowly as her brow wrinkles.

"And?"

Kira sighs. "When the Prophets told me about you? They said they couldn't send you back. I don't understand how that can be, but… I'm sorry."

Chris nods subtly. "I didn't remember it at first, but… I was told the same thing. Thanks."

Kira's interest in the Prophets immediately consumes her focus. "You remember more? What else did they say? Did you talk to them? See them?"

Chris takes a small step back in response to Kira's sudden eagerness. "I… vaguely remember seeing Sisko's face, but nothing that he said—if he said anything. The only one who spoke was the one that looked like my friend from work. I know they're your gods. I'm sorry I don't have more to share."

Kira nods as she watches a mixture of emotions vie for control of Chris' face. "I didn't mean to change the subject. I had to ask."

"I know. It's just… I get it."

"No; I'm sorry. What else did your friend say?"

Chris scrunches his forehead as he tries to remember. "He only told me that… I wasn't going home and they'd done all they could to get me ready."

"That's not much to go on."

Chris shrugs. "I thought it was a dream. Now… all of this?"

Kira puts a hand on Chris' shoulder and squeezes. "Are you up to seeing the Promenade? It's busy this time of day. We can slow down. There's a replicator in my quarters if you'd prefer."

Chris takes a deep breath and straightens his posture. "No. I need to see it. I need to see the others."

"Others?" Kira had been oblivious to it till now, but some of Chris' eye contact hasn't been with her eyes. She touches the ridges of her nose. "You've never seen anyone that's not human."

Chris shakes his head slowly. "Not in real life; no."

"There's going to be a lot of us up there."

"I know, and I want to see them before I have too much time to think about it."

Kira pats Chris' shoulder. "Alright. If you're sure you're up to it. Let's go."

The final stretch to the turbolift is travelled quietly. They step on and Kira gives the command to be carried to the Promenade. She watches Chris stare blankly at the wall in front of him.

"I know it's not much of a comfort," Kira says, "but I'll be right beside you."

"With what the Prophets did for me… it is. Thank you."

Kira is amazed at the relative comfort this stranger feels around her given she's an 'alien' from his distant future. The effect has been contagious: the knowledge the Prophets gave Chris is already proving its worth. "Just let me know if you get uncomfortable. We can ditch the crowd anytime."

"I'll be fine; really. And you know… I don't understand why being stuck here bothers me at all." Chris looks down to study the floor. "I… I'd kinda hit a low. I used science fiction as an escape, and now… now I'm in the middle of it. I should be thrilled."

"We should talk about that 'low' sometime, Chris, but… rationalize it all you want; you've been taken from your home."

As the turbolift reaches the Promenade, Chris quickly replaces unease with wonder. Aliens walk casually through the Promenade—many more than were usually seen on the show. He recognizes several races, but he also spots a few he's never seen before.

"Whoa."

"Are you…?" Kira stops herself. "I'm sorry I keep asking."

"I'm… I'm OK. This... is… amazing." Chris beams.

"In that case," Kira says with a smile, "the replimat's right over here. What would you like?"

Chris tries to think of foods he remembers from the show as they walk through the crowd. He ultimately settles on familiar fare. "Maybe a… large black coffee and a blueberry bagel?"

"That took some thought," Kira says with an uncertain grin. "I think I can manage those. Here; hold this table and I'll be right back."

"Sure. Thanks," Chris says as he takes a seat.

Sitting alone in the bustling Promenade, Chris doesn't know where to look. The crowd of aliens is almost overwhelming, so he turns his attention to the upper level. The architecture is simultaneously fantastic and familiar, but the windows to space immediately command his gaze.

It's going to take a while to get used to seeing that.

Kira returns with a tray holding his bagel and coffee along with an unusual pastry, what looks like some fruit, and another mug which Chris assumes is raktajino. He forces a smile, despite feeling overwhelmed, to head off another query about whether he's 'OK'. Kira takes a seat and passes his requests across the table.

Chris blinks in surprise as he gets a whiff of the steaming bagel. "Wow. It's like it just came out of an oven!"

"I can get you a cold one if you'd like," Kira says as with a smile, "but that one seems to agree with you."

Chris takes a deep breath of fresh, blueberry awesomeness. "It most certainly does."

"You sure that's all you want? It doesn't look like much."

"It may not look it, but these things have a ton of calories. I'm trying to lose weight." As soon as Chris finishes his sentence, he remembers the transformation he's undergone.

"Lose weight?" Kira scoffs. "But you looked…" Kira blushes and quickly turns her eyes to her plate.

"Oh my god," Chris says in shock. "You saw me—before I woke up. You saw everyth…"

"In my defense," Kira points, "I woke up with a stranger."

As the pair fall into an awkward silence, Julian Bashir, who'd been waiting for an opportune moment, steps over to the table.

"Pardon the interruption," Julian says as he looks back and forth between the two, "but my curiosity is piqued. Who is…?"

"Julian," Kira says in a tone someone uses when trying to abandon a subject. "This is Chris. Chris… Julian."

Julian holds a hand out for a shake. Chris stands to accept.

"You heard all of that, didn't you," Chris mumbles. His embarrassment outweighs the excitement of meeting another main 'character' from the station.

Julian nods but continues to shift his focus between Chris and Kira. "I did; and I imagine there's a fantastic story to be told."

"Chris is a guest of the Prophets," Kira says, hoping to steer the subject.

Julian looks Chris over with elevated curiosity. "A guest of the Prophets?"

Chris retakes his seat and points to one of the empty chairs. "Have a seat, doctor."

Julian smiles at the invite and sits. He's now keenly focused on Chris as he waits for clarification.

Kira works to push the conversation further from the topic of Chris' arrival. "They've given him… memories of us—and the station. He's never been here before this morning, but he remembers it as if he's been here for years."

Chris squirms in his seat at being put in the spotlight. "Not exactly. It's… hard to explain."

"Fascinating," Julian says as he leans in and eyes Chris closely. "What kind of memories did they give you?"

Kira answers. "For one, he knew I'd seen my own grave on Gaia."

"You did?" Julian blinks a queried eye at Kira before intensifying his stare at Chris.

"Exactly my point," Kira says while throwing a hand in the air. "I didn't tell anyone. Odo knew, but I don't think he did either."

"Do you have memories like this of everyone?" Julian asks Chris.

Chris shrinks under Julian's scrutiny. "I uh… they're mostly about the main cha… I mean… senior staff."

"Excellent." Julian's face lights up with fascination. "What do you remember about me?"

"Uh…" Chris flounders. "You have, uh… a teddy bear?"

"I do," Julian glances at Kira to gauge her reaction to the embarrassing trivia.

"You named it Kukalaka," Chris adds with more confidence.

Kira stifles a short chuckle as Julian's reaction clearly indicates a true statement.

"I, uh… didn't know who know that already," Chris says as he cringes.

"What else?" Julian asks after clearing his throat.

"About the bear?" Chris raises an eyebrow.

"Let's move on from the bear."

"OK. You've, uh… had some interesting run-ins with Section 31—an agent named Sloan."

Julian narrows his eyes at Chris as he considers his next question carefully. "Do you know where Sloan is now?"

Chris blinks. "He's um… is this a trick question?"

"What do you mean?" Julian feigns ignorance.

"Because as far as I remember… Sloan's dead."

Julian leans forward to stare at Chris more closely. "How did he die?"

"Haven't you heard enough?" Kira jumps in to interrupt what's become an interrogation. "Let the man eat his breakfast. I'm sure there'll be plenty of time to pick his brain later."

Chris tilts his head at Kira. "That's… kinda how Sloan died. Julian and Miles were 'picking Sloan's brain'. He killed himself to try and stop them from finding the cure to the morphogenic virus."

"Is that true?" Kira's eyes widen. "When you cured Odo, I…"

"We lied," Julian says. "No one but Miles and the captain knows how we really got the cure. Unless…" he eyes Chris with heightened suspicion, "… you're Section 31."

Kira shakes her head. "Julian, we need to talk about Sloan and that virus sometime, but what Chris knows about Gaia proves he has knowledge beyond even their reach."

Julian's scrutiny wanes only slightly. "Of course."

"So, cut it out," Kira glares.

"Sorry," Julian says as he ends his intimidating lean.

Chris breathes a soft sigh of relief. "It's OK. I still don't quite believe it all myself."

"Now," Julian shifts his eyes between the others. "There was some talk about your physical condition?"

"Damn," Kira mutters under her breath.

"I heard that," Julian comments.

Chris' face begins to flush.

"Now I'm doubly intrigued," Julian says with a grin. "What's the story?"

Kira groans.

"The Prophets changed me," Chris answers meekly. "Physically."

"How'd they change you?" Julian asks. "And why does it trigger embarrassment for the both of you?"

"I'm… more 'fit' I guess you could say?" Chris cringes as he looks to Kira. "And I'm pretty sure she got a good look at the 'after' version."

"Hey," Kira scoffs. "You were in my bed when I woke up. I had every right to know how badly I needed to hurt you for it."

Chris looks at Julian out of the sides of his eyes. "I was… uh…"

"He was naked, Julian," Kira says in a hushed tone. "In my bed."

"Naked?" Julian blinks.

"I had nothing to do with that," Chris argues.

"I know that now," Kira rolls her eyes.

"You almost gave me a heart attack when you shot at me."

"You shot at him?" Julian says as the two carry on.

"I was angry," Kira replies to Julian. "I had no idea he was from the past. I thought he might've…" Kira stops and sighs. "I'm… sorry, Chris. That must've been terrifying."

"It's alright," Chris says with a nod. "I'm OK now."

"The past?" Julian chimes in. "Did I catch that right?"

"The Prophets pulled him from over 300 years ago," Kira says.

"It was 2015," Chris specifies.

"358 years, depending on the month," Julian says as he blinks in amazement. "How are you not…?"

"In shock?" Kira finishes his sentence. "For whatever reason, they brought him here to stay. They gave him those memories to get him up to speed, and… and I'm supposed to help him fit in."

"Huh?" Chris cocks his head at Kira. "You said they told you I was coming, but…"

"They told me to help you adapt—to keep an eye out for you."

"Oh," Chris lowers his gaze to the mostly untouched bagel on his plate. "Thanks."

Julian clears his throat after catching a slight sobering to Chris' tone. "That's not to say any of us wouldn't want to help you in any event—given your situation."

Kira blinks at Julian, then Chris. "I-I didn't mean to make it sound like…"

"It's OK," Chris says as he looks up from his plate. "I know that's not what you meant."

"I know that's not what she meant," Julian says, "but I've known the colonel for seven years."

"In a sense… so have I."

"That is… wonderfully peculiar," Julian smiles.

"It's going to take some getting used to, that's for sure," Kira nods. "Listen, I just remembered I haven't filled anyone in as to why I discharged a weapon in the habitat ring. Finish your breakfast and perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to let the doctor look you over. I'll do my best to make time to give you a proper tour of the station later on."

"I'd like that," Chris smiles, but it vanishes instantly. "Your report…"

"I won't bring it up," Kira shakes her head. "But if they specifically ask what the 'intruder' was wearing I… I can't promise anything."

Chris groans.

"And I really am sorry—for shooting at you."

Chris nods.

"You going to be OK with the doctor?"

Chris turns to see the fascinated expression on Julian's face. "As long as he keeps in mind that I'm gonna be a bit nervous around medical technology of this century… I'll be fine."

Julian smiles at Kira. "He'll be fine."

Kira eyes Julian sternly. "Don't let him get lost."

"Of course not," Julian assures her.

"I'm sorry we didn't have more time to talk, Chris," Kira says with a pleasant smile and a pat on the arm. "I'll catch up to you as soon as I can."

Chris nods as Kira turns away. He stares after her until she disappears in the crowd. He turns back to find Julian wearing a subtle grin on his face.

"What?" Chris asks.

"I know that look," Julian's grin widens. "You… have an interest in the colonel."

Chris scoffs. "I just got here; how could I…?"

Julian clicks his tongue. "You may have just arrived, but you said it yourself: you know us pretty well."

"But…"

Julian taps his temple. "That means you know that I'm…"

"Genetically enhanced. So?"

"My perception is quite refined. That includes picking up on subtle body language."

Chris glances back to where Kira had faded into the crowd. "I didn't have memories of any of this, or any of you, before this morning."

"That's too bad, I think she rather likes you."

"What?!" Chris turns to Julian in surprise. "What makes you say that?"

"She was quite pleasant this morning."

"Are you forgetting something? she shot at me!"

"No…" Julian rolls his eyes. "Here in the replimat. Ever since Odo left, she's been progressively… shall I say: not pleasant. She actually smiled at you. That's been a rare sight lately."

Chris groans. "I think you're reading too much into it. She's just happy she got to speak with the Prophets."

"Rubbish," Julian says. "But time will tell. Grab your plate. You can finish while I start some tests. We'll give you a good once-over."

Chris rolls his eyes as he grabs his coffee and bagel.

A/N

A quick note about the nature of Chris' false memories. He's been fed memories of the TV show, but no surrounding resources or information. He hasn't seen Wiki pages or other sites that would give him supplemental information on things like stardates.