STAR TREK: The Next Generation
Rapture Aftermath
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I don't think my reverse psychology is working on my muse; she's more stubborn than a Bajoran. Still, patience is (well, one of Spike Milligan's characters said that patience was for dull buggers who couldn't think fast enough!) a virtue...
U.S.S. ENTERPRISE NCC-1701-D
AFTER CAPTAIN SISKO ADDRESSES THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
Upon receiving the hail, Data noted, "Captain, there is a message from Starfleet Command - Admiral Whatley, sir."
Hiram Whatley, Picard recalled, was currently overseeing the Denorius sector, his remit including DS9. "I'll take it in my Ready Room, Mr. Data," he nodded, rising. "You have the Bridge."
"Aye, sir."
CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM
As Whatley appeared on his viewscreen, Picard smiled. "Admiral," he greeted the younger (but more ambitious) man. "What can I do for you?"
"Just a routine notification, Jean-Luc," Whatley answered, then frowned. "At least it would be routine, except for its subject. You placed Commander Benjamin Sisko in charge of DS9, didn't you?"
"I did indeed," Picard readily replied, "with a view towards humanitarian and other aid for the Bajorans, to facilitate their petition to join the Federation. I presume that has come about."
"Actually, no," Whatley shook his head, "it hasn't. The kai and I were just about to sign all the papers, when Ben - he's a captain now - burst into the wardroom, talking about...locusts, or something. He said Bajor would be, and I quote, destroyed if it joined. Given his peculiar position as some sort of religious leader, the kai and the ministers went along with it."
"He said Bajor should not join?" Picard frowned. "That runs contrary to his entire mission. I placed him there so that he could accomplish that very thing!"
"I know. But his word carries a great deal of weight with the Bajorans - far more than it should in my opinion, since he's a Starfleet officer. But his position is absolutely firm as far as the Bajorans are concerned. I was almost inclined to pull him out of the post, if not demote him...but then there are these Prophets to consider.
"Now normally a Starfleet officer can't take sides in any religious matter, we respect all religions equally. That's been the case since before Hunter's time. But one complicating factor is that the Prophets, whatever the hell they really are, really do exist. For the Bajorans it's not a question of belief...unless you count the belief in what they are. So," he shrugged, "though it's contrary to SOP, whether we like it or not, Ben is the Emissary. As far as they're concerned, his word is law. Besides, it's a postponement, not a refusal. It will happen, just not yet."
"It doesn't make sense," Picard shook his head, still frowning. "Why on Earth should these 'Prophets' want Bajor not to join the Federation? Surely they can see the benefits. If nothing else," he added grimly, "becoming a member means we can protect them fully should the Cardassians attempt to occupy Bajor again."
"I agree. The best I can make out is that Ben had a...well, he described it as a vision. The Prophets told him that for Bajor to join right now would be a disaster. Normally I'd dismiss it as raving; he was affected by an electrical discharge, wasn't fully rational. But…" Now he looked solemn. "Somehow he knew my son Kevin and I hadn't been getting along. He told me not to worry, that he'd forgiven me. Of course," Whatley shrugged, "I was sceptical...but when I called Kevin, the first words he said were 'Dad, I forgive you'. So I can't just dismiss it. He definitely had something. I'm damned if I know what, though."
"I see," Picard noted thoughtfully, and quoted, "There are more things in heaven and Earth, Horatio/Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
"You and your Shakespeare," Whatley chuckled. "Though he knew what he was talking about. Anyway, since you have at least two Bajorans in your crew, I thought I'd let you know."
"I appreciate it, Admiral," Picard nodded. "I shall inform them. Perhaps they might have further insights."
"As long as none of them come out with prophecies," Whatley joked. "Whatley out."
With Ensign Ro, Picard thought ruefully, few things are more unlikely, .
He tapped his combadge. "Mr. Data, get me Deep Space 9, if you would. I wish to speak to the Bajoran liaison."
DEEP SPACE 9, OPS
"Call for you, Kira," Dax told her. "It's Enterprise - Captain Picard. He's asking for the Bajoran liaison."
"Mmm," Kira Nerys mused. "Put him through."
U,S.S. ENTERPRISE NCC-1701-D
CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM
"I don't get it, either," Kira admitted. "After all the damn hard work he's done, the risks he's taken...and now They're saying 'no'? Still," she sighed, "it must be part of Their Plan, and who am I to argue? Anyway, he - or They - didn't say never, they just said 'not yet'. It's too soon, apparently. Funny, I thought we were ready, but…" Now Kira looked resolute. "But the Emissary has said it: Bajor should not join yet. So we won't. Yet."
"Thank you, Major. How is Captain Sisko? The Emissary? I gather he'd been ill."
"You could say that. But Dr. Bashir treated him, and he's just fine, Captain," Kira confirmed, smiling.
"Indeed. And you?"
She chuckled. "You mean my pregnancy? It's all going okay - at least, as far as it can when a Bajoran is carrying a human baby, anyway." She winced slightly. "Bit of a - what's that game you have, sodder?"
"Soccer," Picard corrected mildly. Football, really, but we'll let that slide.
"Yeah, that. I've got a bit of a soccer player in here. At least the sneezing is settling down." She sneezed. "Oops. Spoke too soon."
Now Picard chuckled. "I'm sure you'll survive, Nerys. Thank you again."
"Anything for our Federation friends."
"Quite. Picard out." He signed off, and tapped his combadge again. "Attention all hands, this is the Captain. I would like all Bajoran crew members to report to my Ready Room. Picard out."
DECK 39, JEFFERIES TUBE R-52
Ensign Sito Jaxa, performing routine (if a bit messy) maintenance for LaForge, sighed. What could that be about? She hadn't been back to Bajor since Joshua's accident. She'd gone to the Temple at Kendra Province and prayed to the Prophets for his immortal soul, and for Their forgiveness for the part she'd played in his death. She'd been ecstatic to learn via Starfleet scuttlebutt that the Prophets were real - it was just a question of what they were.
For her, of course, there was no question.
They were the Prophets, and They saw all.
"Sito to Picard: sir, I'm a bit - well, a lot - grubby. Can I clean up first?"
"That won't be necessary, Ensign," Picard told her.
She shrugged. Grubby or not, she was still in uniform, and at least she'd told him. "On my way, sir."
THE BRIDGE, HELM STATION
Ro Laren frowned. "As far as I know, Bajor's joining the Federation. I suppose that means we'll have to brush up on our etiquette."
"What it means, Ensign," Will Riker said sternly, "is that you report to the Ready Room. It might've been phrased as a request, but that was definitely -"
"- an order, yeah, I know," Ro sighed, rising. "McKnight, take over, huh?"
Kristine bristled slightly. "You don't give me orders, Ro."
"I'm not," Ro protested, "that was a request. Okay, I didn't...would you please take over?"
"That's better," Kristine allowed, and sat. "I have the Helm."
Riker hid his smile. Ro was prickly, but she was learning.
TEN-FORWARD
It was purely a coincidence that all three Bajoran crew members were a) female and b) estranged from Bajor. Li Kala, the younger sister of Li Nalas, was stocky and compact, like Kira except brunette, and she hadn't been back to Bajor in a shrimp's age. Still, Kala was Bajoran, so…
"Acknowledged, Captain. On my way, sir."
Even if I'm off-duty right now.
CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM
The three women entered; Picard greeted them in his best Bajoran. "Thank you for coming."
Ro shrugged as she sat. "An order's an order."
Picard was actually amused by this. She and Riker had been at loggerheads ever since she was assigned to the Enterprise. She'd shown herself to be entirely competent on the one hand, and argumentative to a fault on the other. Doubtless they'd had another of their personality clashes. Will, at least, should recognise how alike they are. "I believe Commander Riker has given you the wrong impression, Ensign. That was not an order. Nonetheless, I would ask you to stay."
If nothing else, he reflected, she had the utmost respect for him, as she nodded and remained where she was.
Ensign Sito blushed as he looked at her, and looked away nervously. She hadn't worked out yet that she was here because he wanted to give her a fair opportunity after her Academy blunder to redeem herself, and clearly she was doing so. In time, he knew, she would understand.
Lieutenant (j.g.) Li was more of a stranger, having been assigned courtesy of a routine personnel swap with the Excalibur, but by all accounts was shaping up well under Chief O'Brien. "Religious people can sometimes be a problem in Starfleet, sir," O'Brien had said, "but Kala - Lieutenant Li, that is - doesn't let it get in the way of her duty. But she's like Ro in that she insists on wearing her earring." He'd shrugged. "If Captain Hunter could wear a feather in her hair and be one of our best, Li can wear an earring. Doesn't affect her work, sir."
"I've asked you here because I have some news of Bajor. As you know, the Cardassian Occupation is over, and Bajor is putting itself back together with the aid of the Federation. Deep Space 9 is coordinating these efforts; Captain Benjamin Sisko is in command."
"The Emissary," Kala breathed.
Picard frowned. "So he is termed by the Bajorans, yes."
But Kala shook her head. "Sir, it's not us who declared him to be the Emissary. The Prophets did, bless Their name. Kai Opaka only saw the truth as They presented it to her, when she read Sisko's pagh."
"You actually believe that, don't you?" Ro jibed cynically.
Offended, Kala retorted, "Better to be godly than godless! I -"
"As you were, ladies," Picard interrupted mildly.
Ro frowned. "Are you talking to me, sir? I'm no lady."
"But as you yourself have said, you are Bajoran," Picard pointed out. "You wear your earring to emphasise that very point."
She saw his point, and sighed. "True. Sorry, Kala. You have your beliefs, I have mine."
Placated, Kala settled back. Jaxa asked the only relevant question. "Sir, you said you had news of Bajor?"
"I did, and indeed I do," Picard nodded. "As you are doubtless aware, Bajor has progressed in its recovery to the point of submitting an application to join the Federation - and it was accepted. However...Captain Sisko - the Emissary, if you will - has stated that Bajor should not join." All three looked surprised. "Thus the kai and the Council of Ministers have elected to postpone the joining."
"But - but why?" Kala asked, baffled. "Membership of the Federation would only benefit Bajor! Many were calling for her to maintain her independence, it's true, but there are the Cardassians to consider! They might try again, Prophets forbid! They need Starfleet to help keep the Cardies out!"
"Agreed," Picard nodded, "and said membership was precisely why I appointed then-Commander Sisko to DS9. But there must be a reason; Benjamin Sisko knows his duty as well as any Starfleet officer, perhaps more than most...after Wolf 359. He must have had a compelling motive."
"It can only be the Prophets," Jaxa stated.
"I agree," Kala concurred. "We've always known They have a Plan for Bajor. Somehow this is part of it. But it's not for us to see the whole picture; only when we Ascend can we do that."
"Starfleet's already established that the Prophets definitely exist," Ro conceded, "but they're just wormhole aliens, not gods -"
"Prove it!" Kala snapped defiantly.
"I -" Ro stumbled. She realised she was on shaky ground. Rooted as she was in the rational, she couldn't accept the divine status of the Prophets until it was proved to her. But by the same token, no-one, not even Starfleet, had any proof that they weren't.
So…
Ro sighed. "Okay. I admit I don't know for sure, Kala. Maybe you're right." She glanced at Picard. "Didn't Shakespeare have something to say about that?"
Picard chuckled. "He did indeed."
"So...Bajor isn't joining?" Jaxa inquired, puzzled.
"Not at present, no. The decision is not carved in stone; I gather from consultation with the Bajoran liaison, Major Kira Nerys -"
"Former freedom fighter," Ro noted, "damn determined, but an advocate of the Prophets if ever there was one."
"- that the Emissary said it was, and I quote, 'too soon'. He did not say it would never occur. His task continues, therefore. Presumably the reason for the deferment will become clear in time. Being Bajoran as you are, I thought you should know."
"Prophets bless you, Captain," Kala said in Bajoran, her words translated by his combadge.
"May you walk with Them," Jaxa agreed.
"Whatever," Ro shrugged.
THE END