Sisko lead Dax, O'Brien, Odo, Guinan, and Kyra into the hangar, and up the steps to the *Eureka Maru's* outer airlock. He tabbed a control. "Permission to come aboard," he said.

"Granted," Dylan's voice said. The inner and outer hatches opened. Sisko lead his group in, and found Worf and K'Elyr with Dylan, Trance, Beka, Olma, and another Netizschean man.

Dylan said, "This is my tactical officer, Lt. Commander Telamachus Rhade. He's along to help take Tyr into custody."

"Mr. Rhade," Sisko said. "All of you. Welcome to DS9."

Rhade grunted.

Sisko turned to his officer. "Mr. Worf…K'Elyr."

K'Elyr smiled. "Commander. It's good to be back."

"'Back'?" Kyra said.

K'Elyr winced but held her smile. "I guess this is slightly awkward."

Sisko nodded and turned to Dylan. "Captain Hunt, I've asked Chief O'Brien to inspect your ship's systems, for the trip back."

"Thanks," Dylan said, "but the *Maru* is not my ship." He jerked a thumb at Beka.

Beka nodded. "Look, but don't touch. You break anything…let's just say it won't be good for interuniversal diplomacy." She tabbed a control on an overhead monitor. "Harper! You there?"

Harper appeared on the screen, still on the *Andromeda's* bridge. "Here, Beka, and don't worry. I'll talk Miles through it; he'll treat the *Maru* like it's his own flesh and blood. You all set, Miles?"

"Ready whenever you are, Seamus-"

"Ok, wait a second," K'Elyr interrupted. "I suppose the law of overages allows for both universes to have captains cut from the same cloth, and yeah, I can see both sides having stoic warrior types. But how did both groups end up with Irish mechanics?" She looked around. "Or am I the only one noticing that?"

Beka said, "You get a little immune to peripheral weirdness after a while." She snapped her fingers and slapped her hands together. "Now all I gotta figure out is what to do while Harper and his new buddy give the *Maru* a going over."

Kyra smiled. "Oh, there are plenty of things on DS9 a *tramp* freighter pilot would find interesting."

Beka smiled back. "And I bet you know what they all are."

"Not really. I don't know what you'd be into."

"And how would you know-"

"Major," Sisko said. "Why don't you take Mr. Worf and K'Elyr back to Worf's quarters? See if they need anything. Constable Odo can take Olma, Mr. Rhade, and Captain Valentine to look in on Tyr and Freya. And…." He trailed off as he pointed at Trance.

Guinan stepped forward. "I'll show Trance around."

"I'd like that," Trance said.

Sisko nodded. "And I will get to know Captain Hunt. And let's try and do this as quickly, people. We don't know how long the connection to our guests' home universe will last."

"Actually," Dax said, "Andromeda and I agree that the connection is very stable and shows no signs of deteriorating."

Dylan and Sisko turned to Dax, a touch of pleading in their eyes.

Dax didn't miss it. "Then again, this is an unprecedented situation, so we can't take anything for granted."

O'Brien disappeared into the engine room, and everyone else left the *Maru* and crossed the hangar. In the corridors, everyone went their separate ways, and when Dylan was sure Beka and Major Kyra were out of ear shot - Guinan and Trance following the two captains - he turned to Sisko. "Thanks for the save," he said.

"No problem," Sisko answered. "At least it's comforting to know I am not the only commander dealing with a second who's not regular military."

"Yes, more 'peripheral weirdness.'"

"So it would seem."

When they got to the turbo lift, Guinan and Trance held back. "We'll take the next one," Guinan said.

Sisko nodded. "Ops," he said. The doors closed.

Guinan looked around, made sure no one was listening, then turned to Trance. "What do you see?" she asked.

"Change, sacrifice, and death," Trance said.

"Damn. I was afraid you'd say that. It's never easy."

"No, it isn't."