25

KIRA HEARD THAT HE WAS ON HIS WAY AND READIED HERSELF, EXCITED and anxious and a bit melancholy, all at once. She was also happy, happier than she could remember being since the end of the war. The preparations were finally complete. In less than an hour, she’d be leaving for Bajor, for the final signing, along with DS9’s senior staff. Odo would be coming, too, to stand at her side. The thought made her heart skip a beat. Politics and career and religion aside, her reunion with Odo had done wonders for her state of mind, but with everything else that was happening, all she’d worked toward for so long

things were good. Things were wonderful.

And he’ll be here to see it. Benjamin Sisko, who was on the way up, the first visit back to the station since his return from the Temple, and the first time she’d seen him since the day his daughter had been born. Rebecca, after the woman who’d raised Ben as her own; Jae, after Kas’s mother.

“Captain on deck!”

Even with her door closed, Kira could hear the boom of Sam Bowers’s voice. At his grinning declaration, everyone in ops stood up, and all of them turned to face Sisko as he stepped off the turbolift. Kira took a deep breath and tapped a contact on the desk, opening the door to her office. She wasn’t sure who started clapping but it was quickly picked up, gathering momentum as everyone cheered for Benjamin.

“At ease,” Sisko tried to say, but the words were lost to the applause. They were all smiling, laughing as they continued to clap furiously.

“At ease,” Sisko said again, louder this time, and slowly, the applause dwindled. “I appreciate the welcome,” he said as he stepped down into the pit. “It’s good to see you all. I hope to be able to catch up with each of you later, and for the chance to get to know some of you better, perhaps after the induction ceremony. But right now, I’m late for a meeting. I know I don’t have to tell you how the CO hates to be kept waiting.”

Laughter, and warm touches and smiles for him as he walked to the office. Kira watched him approach, hefting the desk ornament he’d left behind, that she’d drawn strength from in the months he’d been gone. As he stepped through the doorway, she threw it at him.

Sisko reached up and snatched the missile out of the air, grinning as he realized what it was.

“I suppose you’ll want the office,” Kira said.

Sisko turned his grin toward her, and she could tell that he remembered. It was one of the first things she’d ever said to him, when he’d come to the station all those years ago.

“Not this time, Nerys,” he said, tossing the baseball easily from one hand to the other. “The new uniform suits you, by the way.”

Captain Kira glanced down at her Starfleet uniform, touched the four gold pips on her collar, and smiled back at him. For all of her own doubts about Bajor’s induction, she thought she was finally ready. The suit felt good. That Starfleet had not only forgiven her behavior, her decision to take the Defiant, but awarded her a special commendation

it renewed her confidence in the Federation, that they had recognized her commitment to what was important. “Still haven’t gotten used to the rank. Makes me feel like I’ve been demoted. And the combadge is on the wrong side.”

“You’ll adjust,” Sisko told her, his smile turning slightly wicked. “Or maybe Starfleet will.”

He tossed the baseball back at her, a gentle lob. “And this belongs with the station’s commander, I think.”

Kira caught it, her smile fading, her heart skipping a beat. There had been no official word, no one suggesting that she step down, but she also hadn’t wanted to assume anything. “You’re not coming back?”

“Actually, Starfleet wants to make me an admiral,” Ben said. “They planned to offer it to me after the end of the war.”

“That’s wonderful news,” Kira said enthusiastically. “And well deserved. You’ll be—”

“I turned them down, Nerys.”

Kira wasn’t sure how to respond. He wasn’t coming back, but he wasn’t taking a promotion, either. Ben leaned against the closed door, calmly watching her. He was the same Benjamin Sisko she remembered, but different, too. Not changed, but more

more present.

What did you expect? He’s been to the Temple. With Them.

As it had ever since his return, the thought threatened to overwhelm her, but she did her best to set it aside. They’d been through that before, when he’d been named Emissary; this was bigger, but the essentials were the same. If he wanted to discuss Them with her, he would, but she would not pry.

“So

what are you going to do?” Kira asked.

Ben smiled. “I’m going to take my family to the induction ceremony. And after that

“

He studied her a moment, that little smile still playing across his mouth. “After that, I thought I’d stick around for a while, see what happens next.”

Kira nodded. “Something always does.”

“Yes,” he said, his smile widening. “Yes it does, doesn’t it?”

To those in the gathered crowd, it must have felt like half the planet had turned out for the ceremony, which was held just outside the great capital of Ashalla. It had been a long time since Kira had seen so many of her people in one place, though from where she stood, she could see that the assembly was far from planetary. Still and all, it was quite a sight. There was no official count yet, but she estimated several thousand people had come, drawn not only by the signing, but by the chance to see the people who’d made it possible. The appearances of Benjamin Sisko and Opaka Sulan played no small part, she was sure.

The city directors had planned well. The open stage was on a low rise, looking out over a wide field, great lengths of freshly baled kava stalk acting as impromptu seating for those who wished to sit

though as First Minister Asarem, Councillor zh’Thane, and Admiral Akaar approached the table where the documents would be signed, Kira couldn’t see anyone sitting. The massive crowd moved and pulsed, a living, breathing thing, watching with grand expectation. Kira could feel it emanating from the families and farmers, the city people, from everyone who’d come—a warm, rising wave of anticipation, of resolution at hand.

The stage was overflowing with Bajoran and Federation dignitaries. Vedek Yevir and a handful of his cronies were representing the Assembly, their expressions stern and serious, and there were a number of high-ranking member officials from both the Chamber and the Militia. Opaka Sulan stood near Yevir, smiling serenely, her grounded, peaceful expression as different from Yevir’s as day from night. A lot of people wanted Opaka to reclaim her position as kai, Kira among them

but that was a resolution for another day, perhaps. For now, the joy of feeling her earring restored to its proper place reaffirmed her belief that all things were possible.

She shifted from one foot to the other, unable to hold still. Odo reached out and took her hand, squeezing it comfortably. She squeezed back. Though they hadn’t talked about it much, she knew he wasn’t going to stay. He spoke of progress within the Link, but it was also clear that there was still much to do. While it lasted, though, she meant to enjoy every minute of it. She no longer doubted that they’d be together, someday, and that was good enough for now.

Next to Odo, Taran’atar stood stiffly, his head high, as he’d stood next to Wex almost the entire time she’d been on the station. Odo had mentioned that the Jem’Hadar had expressed interest in returning to his own kind, but had admitted also that he hadn’t yet learned “everything” about the peoples of the Alpha Quadrant. He’d be staying a while longer than Odo, Kira suspected.

Next to Taran’atar stood Ro Laren and Quark, both looking mildly uncomfortable in their new outfits. Kira could see that the Starfleet uniform was chafing Ro a bit, figuratively, at least, but her chin was up. Quark—Ambassador Quark—had decked himself out in lavish purple pants and a specially made sparkling gold vest with matching leg bands, easily outshining the Grand Nagus to his right, an obviously pregnant, smiling Leeta on Rom’s arm. Rom and Leeta looked very happy. Kira noticed that her own security officer and the bartender were standing fairly close together, but decided not to speculate any further. The rumors were bad enough.

Maybe these things just have a way of bringing people together, she thought, scanning the rest of the stage. It was a diverse enough group, to be sure. Ezri and Julian were joined at the hip, as usual, standing near Taulin Cyl and Hiziki Gard. Gard was only a meter away from Trill’s president, who was expected to pardon him after a mandatory trial; the First Minister had already signed his extradition. Ambassador Worf and Chancellor Martok had made the journey, standing near Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his senior staff. Kira spotted Natima Lang and Gul Macet among the Cardassian contingent, and Vlu, who’d received a Starfleet commendation for her work during the parasite crisis

and was also supporting a fairly hefty crush from Sam Bowers, whose gaze kept wandering across to the petite Cardassian. No one had expected that, but stranger matches had been made.

Commander Vaughn and Prynn Tenmei were both onstage, Prynn doing her best to look as though she belonged there. She wasn’t a senior officer, but Vaughn had insisted

and though neither seemed entirely at ease, they were together, at least; more than could be said for Councillor zh’Thane and her son. Shar stood a good distance from his parent, near where Nog and Jake were exchanging grins over something or other. Although Shar wasn’t smiling, he seemed more at ease with himself than he’d been since returning from the Gamma Quadrant, too. Kira was glad to see it.

General Lenaris stepped to the table, joining Akaar and zh’Thane and Asarem. A ripple of good-natured laughter moved through the crowd as he searched for a pen, the general’s face flushing slightly in spite of his wide smile. Standing at the foot of the stage, Kira saw that both Yoshi and Molly were giggling, though their parents quickly hushed them, Miles slipping an arm around Keiko’s waist as they watched. They’d begged off stage duty, Keiko worried that the children wouldn’t want to stand still for any period of time. The O’Briens would be going back to Earth in a few days, to pack; then they’d be off to Cardassia. It seemed that Keiko had accepted a job there, to assist in Cardassia’s agricultural renewal. Kira had been surprised by the news, but the Chief had assured her that he was looking forward to a little more chaos in their lives.

At the front of the stage, Lenaris had signed his name on both “official” documents of induction. The hardcopies were for show, of course; the binding documents were all part of multiple computer and comnet systems by now, witnessed behind the scenes shortly before the ceremony had begun. Kira knew better, though; until people had actually experienced the pride that accompanied such a grand change, witnessed it with their own eyes, nothing was truly official.

Kira looked for, and found, Benjamin Sisko, not far from his son, his arm around Kas’s shoulders. She held their sleeping daughter against her breast, glowing as only a new mother could, barely able to take her gaze from their beautiful baby. Benjamin was watching the signing with a look of pure pleasure, his eyes sparkling. As Admiral Ross jotted down his own signature at the table in front, the final endorsement, Ben turned and looked directly at her. He nodded, a slow, sure nod, his thoughts as clear as if he’d spoken them.

We did it, he said.

Kira nodded back, smiling, wiping at the single tear that had spilled from her wet gaze. Yes, we did.

Ross held up his copy of the document; Asarem did the same, and a mighty roar rose up from all those who’d come, their faces radiant in the late sun, their voices glorious in triumph.