Something wasn't right, Ben Sisko could feel it. They were going to need him soon, which meant that he would have to leave his family again. Somehow though, he felt like it wasn't going to be for as long as it had been in the past, They wouldn't need him for quite as long, the things they had told him were coming would take place soon. It didn't make sense now; being in the linear realm did that. But when he had been There with Them, it had made perfect sense.

So in being drawn back Sisko went to the back porch of his home in Bajor's Kendra Province. It was night, and he looked out into the sky, in the direction of the Celestial Temple. It wasn't long before Kassidy joined him. She was holding their infant daughter Rebecca in one arm as she slid the other around one of his strong arms.

"I woke you up didn't I," Sisko said apologetically.

"Not really, I was thinking about you anyway, so I couldn't sleep. You've seemed further away these past few months than you have since you came back," Kassidy said with great concern in her voice.

Sisko looked at his wife and daughter, he felt close and distant at the same time, as if he had never returned to them at all. "I'm sorry, it's just… Something is wrong with the Prophets, they are concerned that something which will happen very soon will destroy them."

"You have to go back don't you?" She lowered her gaze from his face; she didn't want to lose him, not again.

"Yes, but that is something we knew would happen," he took his hand and caressed her face gently with it. Then he brought them closer to himself in an embrace. His forehead pressed against Kassidy, and he told her that it would be all right. "They brought me back to you once, they'll do it again. I promise you that I'll never leave you forever, and I'll be here for Rebecca as she grows up."

"I want to believe you Ben, but it's hard," tears fell slowly from her eyes. "Just tell me one thing, why do they need you Ben?"

He struggled for the words that would make sense to that question, because the answer was harder to explain than it was to accept. "They gave me life, and they need someone who understands the linear realm, which is why they created me. It's hard to understand, and harder to explain, but I am necessary for them. It, it's not something that I can explain…"

Kassidy finished for him, "It isn't linear. Maybe this is the sorrow they warned us about then, that they would keep having to take you back to themselves instead of remaining here with your family."

"Yes, I believe it is."

"When I married you I said that I was willing to accept this life, and I still am. I love you Ben Sisko, I always will."

"I love you too Kassidy Sisko."

He kissed her lips gently, and he touched baby Rebecca's soft head. Soon he would be leaving the people he loved, but they would never leave him, because they were part of each other.

Later that week he took a shuttle into the wormhole, the ship returned later the same day without him aboard.

"You want me to go where," Kira exclaimed to Anareth. They were in Kira's quarters again, and Kira had just been told where the Orb of Clarity was located.

"The orb is on Cardassia Prime."

"Why would you put an orb there!"

"The Cardassians are important to the plans of the Prophets, just as Bajor is. It won't be hard for you to go there, since you are a captain in the Federation, which is helping with the reconstruction of that planet. You can even contact someone to escort you there, maybe the man called Garak?"

"Why him?"

"He is a high ranking official in the Cardassian government, and you are already acquainted with him, it makes sense for him to accompany us as we retrieve the orb."

Nerys scowled, but eventually consented. She went to her communications console and she sent a message to Garak saying that in a week she and a guest would need him to accompany them to Ladaic City, which was destroyed by the Dominion at the end of the war. Then Kira set to preparing for her departure.

Within the dwelling of the Pah-wraiths there was a swell of activity, as if all the beings there knew something big was about to happen. A red being approached the One who was waiting their instruction. "Your task is at hand."

"I will do whatever you ask of me," Dukat answered.

"Good," the fiery being replied. "We do not know it's outcome, but you must win, so that we can be restored to our rightful place within the Temple."

"I will do your will, I will not fail you."

The entity smiled at Dukat. "That has always been our hope. We must continue your training now, so that you are prepared to meet Their emissary."

So Dukat was again taken into the arduous training of his lords, the Pah-wraiths.

Elim Garak had been surprised that Kira wanted to come to Cardassia, she was one person who he knew never wanted to set foot there. Although she had spent a considerable amount of time there when they fought to free it from the Dominion, and after that to help establish good relations between their two worlds again, he could tell she hated Cardassia. He also knew that she wasn't overly fond of him. He was curious to know who the person accompanying her would be.

He let his thoughts drift to the station for a moment. Julian Bashir was there, and he was the only person in the galaxy who knew who Garak really was, besides Garak of course. Garak had written Bashir a lengthy letter, which was his autobiography. He wrote it to Bashir because Julian was the only person who was just as good at keeping secrets as he was. When they had met Garak thought the doctor was naïve, but when it came out that he was genetically engineered, Garak realized that he had underestimated Julian.

It was interesting for Garak to live amongst the denizens of Deep Space Nine while they had no idea of what he knew. Most of the species that lived there he found a great distaste in, but he could still find some qualities in them that he could appreciate. Even the Ferengi had certain traits that he admired; though he would never admit such a thing. Ferengi were organized, calculating, and had very good memories, all of which were traits Garak found to be positive.

But as the shuttle carrying Kira and her companion landed, he refocused on the task at hand: figuring out who Kira's associate was, taking them to Ladaic City, and figuring out what it was that they had come for.

He recognized Kira; she looked rather tired and slightly older than she had since the last time he had seen her over a year ago. Her companion was strikingly beautiful, in his opinion, even for someone who was not Cardassian. The way she carried herself seemed to suggest that she was very cautious and knowledgeable, even suspicious of others. While he would continue to be suspicious of her, he decided that he liked her. So with a slight smile he went over to greet his guests and take them to their transport to Ladaic City.

TBC...

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