The Tsalagi was a flurry of activity as the entire science department prepared for the occasion. Nerys was barely able to contain her excitement. There hasn't been a new orb in probably five hundred years. Nerys and her other Bajoran officers, her CO Colonel Bara, Security Chief Fanle and her CMO Dr. Katmus, kept running through their minds which prophecy might have alluded to this. Eventually though, all came to the same conclusion; none of the ancient texts covered this event. They were to be witness to the dawning of something new; the rebirth of the planet and people that gave rise to what would eventually become the people of Bajor. Nerys turned to her science officer, a Trill that reminded her of Jadzia Dax more and more each day.
"Hinto, do you have anything yet?"
Hinto Tade was almost Vulcan in the way he held in his emotions sometimes. Capt. Sisko had tried to introduce Kira to many Earth games and one of them was poker. He loved baseball and chess too much to spend much time with it, but one thing he did teach was the "poker face" and Hinto had the poker face down to an art. If he was excited or frightened or just having indigestion, you wouldn't know unless he chose to let you know. Jadzia had that same ability, when she chose to exercise it.
"Yes Captain" Hinto stated as he turned to meet her gaze, "I'm getting increased neutrino readings, very similar to the readings when the wormhole activates. The Orb should be in visual range about…now."
Kira turned to face the front.
"Main view screen on."
Security Chief Lt. Fanle Brins was the polar opposite of Hinto. His hands were trembling with excitement as he focused the view screen of the Tsalagi to the glowing object streaking across the open space to settle into a geo-synchronous orbit about el'Aena.
"Can we get a better view?" Kira spoke out to no one in particular.
"I think so, Captain" the ops officer Danielle Morgan answered and she focused and magnified the view screen on the Orb. It was slightly different that the Orbs of Bajor, more dark in appearance, somewhat more "earthy". Kira reasoned that the Prophets must have done that on purpose, to distinguish it from the ten Orbs on Bajor. This Orb, whether it would be the only one or not, was unique. It continued to hover, as if to decide when the right time would be to descend and begin its work.
"Captain" Hinto called out, "it's moving closer to us."
"Should we put up shields?" Fanle added.
Kira shook her head "no".
"Why?" she asked. "This is a messenger from the Prophets. It would have no reason to harm us."
"Captain?" Fanle interjected, "I'm reading another ship coming in. It's the Defiant."
"Ah, the good Commander and crew of DS9 are here to join in the festivities" Kira smiled as she spoke.
Without warning, Kira felt her world turning upside down. She watched helplessly as one bridge officer after another flew about the bridge of the Tsalagi like an angry child throwing dolls. She knew what happened, but she couldn't make herself believe it. The Tsalagi banked violently to starboard. Lt. Kristen Greene fought to regain control of the stricken ship.
"Captain" Kristen yelled above the alarms, "Inertial dampers are off-line. We're going into the atmosphere!"
Kira regained her seat and wiped away blood from her now lacerated brow.
"Go to atmospheric thrusters; land her on the surface if you have to." Kira thanked the Prophets that Starfleet Nova-class starships could land; else, this could be a bumpy trip.
"That's probably a good idea, sir" Kristen responded, "She's going down fast."
Kristen and Danielle fought with the controls. The ship was going to the surface and no amount of experience could prevent it.
"Blue Alert!" Kira called out; the code to prepare for a solid ground landing. Colonel Bara joined Kristen at the helm, fighting with jammed controls and off-line systems until finally, after long seconds; the Tsalagi leveled out, now essentially a strange atmospheric flyer. Danielle called out from the conn., putting everyone at ease.
"Controls on-line, landing thrusters active, landing struts down. I've located a good clearing away from populated areas. We shouldn't disturb the natives."
Kira breathed a sigh of relief, more relaxed once she felt the Tsalagi jolt when it touched down. The crew was safe, in spite of here error. Dr. Katmus immediately began tending to Kira's bleeding wound and any other injuries once she was satisfied that Kira would be okay. Fanle's voice broke through her thoughts.
"Captain, the Defiant is hailing; I'm afraid we can only receive audio."
"Open a channel and all stations, damage report!"
Within moments, Scott's voice cleared her head completely.
"Captain Kira, are you alright?"
Kira straightened her tunic, as if Commander McKnight could hear her sloppiness.
"We're none the worse for wear, Scott."
"What the hell happened?"
"Obviously, the Orb fired at us, the question is why?"
"I thought so" Scott barked, "Shields up!"
Kira was glad that Scott was not going to make the same mistake and assume the good intentions of the Orb. She would note it as well; never assume that angels from heaven are there for good reasons. She glanced at the damage reports scrolling across the display at her right armrest.
"Do you need my people to beam down?" Scott asked.
"No, we can handle it. There's no sense in you lowering your shields to beam down to us. Fortunately, the only real damage is to us, the ship is okay."
"I'm very glad to hear that. When the Tsalagi went into the atmosphere, you went in pretty steep. That was some fine flying to bring her down safe. My compliments to your pilot and your bridge crew for that little trick. Anyway, Captain. We'll keep an eye on the Orb and wait for you. Defiant out."
One problem down, now for the big question, Why did the Orb fire? Just what the hell is really going on here?
Scott looked out at the view screen at the hovering enigma. Why did the Orb fire at the Tsalagi? Why didn't it fire at the Defiant? For that matter, why did it fire? He turns to the science station; if anyone could begin to answer these questions, the person to ask would be Rachel.
"Lieutenant, can you scan the Orb without it deciding to take us out? Unlike the Tsalagi, Defiant can't land very well."
Rachel turned to Scott and raised her eyebrows in an almost Vulcan move.
"I noticed that. I can certainly try to scan it and see what happens. We have better shielding than Tsalagi, not that it helps much against an Orb."
"Ask it nicely first, maybe it will simply tell us."
Rachel smiled to herself and began the scan of the mysterious object. It wasn't long before she turned to Scott with that I-don't-have-any-good-news look.
"Sorry Scott, whatever it has in mind, it's keeping it all to itself."
Scott frowned slightly. "I was afraid of that."
The bridge was suddenly filled with a blinding flash of light and Scott found himself standing in a cloud of blank whiteness. His heartbeat drummed in his head and filled his ears. He knew what this was, the famous Orb Experience, but he never thought that he himself would go though this or perhaps he had hoped that he wouldn't. In his eyes, he could see his parents, his sister, Rachel and finally Benny, the young prophet. Scott shook his head and his vision cleared to see Ben Sisko standing before him wrapped in the whiteness like himself.
"Sisko? Where am I?"
Sisko smiled his broad, friendly smile. "That would take some explaining and I don't think I could do a very good job of it. Commander, I know that you wanted to be here for the Orb, but please don't worry about Kira and why the Orb fired on them. Suffice it to say that the Orb meant no harm; it simply 'overreacted'. Kira and her crew were needed on the planet and the Orb simply did not know how to get them there gentler. It is young."
Scott thought on this for a moment. It never occurred to him and perhaps others that the Orbs were a life form in themselves. As such, they deserved much more attention.
"So you're saying that you're glad to see me, but go home. Is that it?"
Sisko smiled again. "Essentially."
Scott smiled now and shrugged his shoulders. "Who am I to question Ben Sisko? Fine then, I'll go home."
"Good, you'll have enough there to keep you busy, I guarantee that. Don't worry either, Kira has a good crew and she certainly knows how to take care of herself."
As quickly as it started, it was over and Scott found himself staring at the view screen of the Defiant, his crew sat motionless, staring at each other and Scott knew, they had been having similar conversations. The entire bridge crew turned slowly, gathering their thoughts.
"Commander" Major Tayna spoke first, "did you get the same 'suggestion' that I did?"
Scott nodded his head slowly, as well as everyone else on the bridge within earshot. The comm. channel beeped and Scott tapped his badge to answer.
"Scott, this is Megan. Did anything unusual just happen to anyone on the bridge?"
"Apparently to everyone."
"So, what do we do?"
"Like Sisko told us. Major, send a message to the Tsalagi that we are returning to DS9 but not to worry, we have it on good authority that she will be fine."
Joyel turned to her console and sent the message. It was clear that Kira and the members of her senior staff had received similar visits as well. All was well.
"Rachel, get us back to the station, maximum impulse and then warp 4 as soon as possible."
Defiant spun around and left the vicinity of el'Aena, leaving the Orb alone to watch over its new charge.