In DS9's Ops center, Quark and Pi Meson returned the phasers to the Starfleet and Bajoran guards who now flanked Muon.

Odo growled, "Confine him to quarters for now."

8

8

Telamachus Rhade blinked. The *Andromeda's* Nietzschean tactical officer watched as green light faded on the big screen, receding towards Bajor.

At the next console, Seamus Harper blinked. "What just happened?"

Andromeda appeared on another monitor. "The Nietzschean ships are still outside weapons range," she reported.

Harper rubbed his temple. "When did they get here again?"

"Continue to monitor them," Rhade ordered.

"Aye," Andromeda said. "Incoming transmission."

"On screen."

Miles O'Brien appeared on the third monitor, seated in the command chair of some kind of starship. "You guys ok?" he asked. Static crackled on the screen.

"Yes, everything appears to be normal," Rhade said. "Andromeda, can you clean up that transmission?"

"I'm sorry, Commander, but the signal itself is degrading. It appears we are losing our connection to the other universe."

Harper said, "So…we won?"

"Yes," Rhade said. "But at what price?"

8

8

In the Great Hall of the Order of the Ages monastery, light continued to dim in the orb as Worf cradled K'Elyr's body, gently rocking back and forth. Sisko, Dax, Bashir, Kyra, Guinan, Traejen and the other Monks, and Gowron and his soldiers, could only stand and watch.

Then K'Elyr's body began to glow green. It became transparent and seemed to dissolve like green mist, vanishing piece by piece. Even her blood on the floor and on Worf's clothes vanished. It was as if she had never existed.

As Worf stood, Gowron stepped closer to Worf. The growls started in the pits of their throats. Gowron's soldiers began growling, too. Then they threw back their heads and howled. In the days to come, Sisko would puzzle over how much of it was sympathy, how much of it was grief, how much was catharsis, and how much was the Klingon ritual warning to the afterlife:

'Beware, a Klingon warrior is about to arrive.'

The Klingons stopped howling. Worf nodded curtly to Gowron.

Sisko stepped closer to his officer. "Mr. Worf, I'm sorry for your loss. And I regret we could not take K'Eylr's body back to the station for a proper funeral."

"That…" Worf managed as he regained his composure, "that was only an empty shell. It is just as well it no longer exists."

"Nevertheless…"

"Thank you, Captain."

"Yes…" Gowron said as he turned to Sisko. "Captain, I don't mean to detract from the gravity of the situation, but how did I get here and why do I think someone wanted me to kill you?"

"Ah," Sisko said. "That is a long story, Chancellor. If you will meet with us on DS9, I'll be happy to explain."

"Oh," Gowron said, "one of those situations. Fortunately, I always travel with a case of blood wine. I think I'm going to need it."

Sisko half-turned to Dax. "Dax, try and contact the other universe."

"On it, Benjamin."

8

8

In the tent the Collectors had erected around the Orb of Ages, light continued to fade in the orb as Tyr cradled Freya's body, gently rocking back and forth. Dylan, Beka, Rommie, Trance, Olma, the Collector scientists, and Charlemagne Bolivar and his troops could only stand and watch.

Then Freya's body began to glow green. It became transparent and seemed to dissolve like green mist, vanishing piece by piece. Even her blood on the floor and on Tyr's clothing vanished. It was as if she had never existed.

As Tyr stood, tears streaming down his cheeks, Olma crossed to him.

Tyr managed, "I will never allow another to choose me. She...she was the only one worthy of me."

"I understand," Olma said.

"Yes…" the Duke Charlemagne turned to Dylan. "Dylan, I don't meant to detract from the gravity of these proceedings, and I don't mean to sound as if I'm not glad to see you – I am – Elsbett says 'Hello,' by the way - but how did I get here, and why do I think someone wanted me to kill you?"

Olma said, "Duke Chalemagne, tell your men to stand down. Dylan and his crew will be allowed to leave the Bajor system unmolested. When we are back aboard the *Wotan,* I will explain."

"Oh," Bolivar said, "one of those situations. Hopefully, I have plenty of wine aboard the *Wotan.* I think I'm going to-"

"Dylan," Rommie interrupted, "I'm receiving a hail from the other universe."

"On screen."

Olma and Tyr joined Tyr's former shipmates in gathering in front of the console with the largest monitor. Siko and his group were on the screen. The image crackled with static that got steadily worse.

"Captain Hunt," Sisko said, "we seem to be losing the connection between the universes. How are things on your side?"

"One casualty," Dylan said somberly. "You?"

"The same," Sisko said. "In spite of the outcome, nice meeting you and your crew, Captain."

"The same to you, Captain."

Kyra smiled. "Hey, Beka – watch your six."

Beka smiled back. "Always do. Take care of yourself, Nyres."

The static worsened and the screen blanked just as the last of the light in the orb went out, leaving it an inert black sphere floating three feet above the ground.

One of the collectors consulted his readouts. "It's radiation dead again – no signals of any kind."

Olma turned to Beka and pulled a data chip out of the folds of her gown. "The location of the item we discussed," Olma said as she handed the chip to Beka. "You shouldn't have any difficulty. Good luck Beka." She grinned. "Keep searching."

"Uh…" Beka smiled. "Yeah. Thanks."

"Yes…" Tyr crossed to Dylan. "Dylan, believe it or not, but I am pleased to see you." He scratched his back. "Although I think your aim was a little off. You'll have to spend time on the range."

Dylan chuckled. "I'll work on it." He turned serious. "Tyr… in spite of our…differences…I'm sorry for your loss. Again."

"Thank you." He turned to his former shipmates. "Well…" He trailed off, then nodded to them. Then he and Olma began to lead their troops out of the tent.

"Tyr!" Dylan called.

Tyr stopped in his tracks.

"Next time?" Dylan asked, leaving unspoken the rest of the question: 'Next time, friend or enemy?'

"Next time is next time," Tyr answered. "Until then, live well. All of you." He followed Olma out of the tent.

Dylan turned back to his crew members. "Let's go home," he said quietly.